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The Bicentenary of the Birth of The Bahá’í Canada W INTER 2020 | D OMINION 176 B . E . VOL . 33 N O. 1 The bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb From the Writings before your eyes, as indeed inscribed in the presence of This is a letter from God, the Help in Peril, the Self- God in the Mother Book. God hath indeed made Me Subsisting, unto God, the Almighty, the Best-Beloved, blessed, wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon to affirm that the Bayán and such as bear allegiance to Me to observe prayer and fortitude so long as I shall live it are but a present from me unto Thee and to express on earth amongst you. my undoubting faith that there is no God but Thee, that – The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 47. the kingdoms of Creation and Revelation are Thine, that no one can attain anything save by Thy power and that He Whom Thou hast raised up is but Thy servant In this mountain [Máku] I have remained alone, and and Thy Testimony. I, indeed, beg to address Him have come to such a pass that none of those gone before Me Whom God shall make manifest, by Thy leave in these have suffered what I have suffered, nor any transgressor words: “Shouldst Thou dismiss the entire company endured what I have endured! I render praise unto God of the followers of the Bayán in the Day of the Latter and yet again praise Him. I find Myself free from sorrow, Resurrection by a mere sign of Thy finger even while still inasmuch as I abide within the good-pleasure of My Lord a suckling babe, Thou wouldst indeed be praised in Thy and Master. Methinks I am in the all-highest Paradise, indication. rejoicing at My communion with God, the Most Great. – The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 7. Verily this is a bounty which God hath conferred upon Me; and He is the Lord of unbounded blessings. – The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 16. I am, I am, the promised One! I am the One whose name you have for a thousand years invoked, at whose mention you have risen, whose advent you have longed to witness, Behold how great is the Cause, and yet how the people and the hour of whose Revelation you have prayed God are wrapt in veils. I swear by the sanctified Essence of to hasten. Verily I say, it is incumbent upon the peoples God that every true praise and deed offered unto God of both the East and the West to obey My word and to is naught but praise and deed offered unto Him Whom pledge allegiance to My person. God shall make manifest. – The Báb, as quoted in The Dawn-Breakers, p. 315-16. Deceive not your own selves that you are being virtuous for the sake of God when you are not. For should ye truly The substance wherewith God hath created Me is do your works for God, ye would be performing them not the clay out of which others have been formed. He for Him Whom God shall make manifest and would be hath conferred upon Me that which the worldly-wise magnifying His Name. The dwellers of this mountain can never comprehend, nor the faithful discover … I am who are bereft of true understanding unceasingly utter one of the sustaining pillars of the Primal Word of God. the words, ‘No God is there but God’; but what benefit Whosoever hath recognized Me, hath known all that is doth it yield them? Ponder awhile that ye may not be true and right, and hath attained all that is good and shut out as by a veil from Him Who is the Dayspring of seemly… Revelation. – The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 11. - The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 86. I am the Mystic Fane which the Hand of Omnipotence Purge your hearts of worldly desires, and let angelic hath reared. I am the Lamp which the Finger of God virtues be your adorning … The days when idle worship hath lit within its niche and caused to shine with was deemed sufficient are ended. The time is come when deathless splendor. I am the Flame of that supernal Light naught but the purest motive, supported by deeds of that glowed upon Sinai in the gladsome Spot, and lay stainless purity, can ascend to the throne of the Most concealed in the midst of the Burning Bush. High and be acceptable unto Him. ... Beseech the Lord – The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, p. 74. your God to grant that no earthly entanglements, no worldly affections, no ephemeral pursuits, may tarnish the purity, or embitter the sweetness, of that grace which Do not say, “How can He speak of God while in truth flows through you. I am preparing you for the advent His age is no more than twenty-five?” Give ye ear unto of a mighty Day. Exert your utmost endeavour that, in Me. I swear by the Lord of the heavens and of the earth: the world to come, I, who am now instructing you, may, I am verily a servant of God. I have been made the Bearer before the mercy-seat of God, rejoice in your deeds and of irrefutable proofs from the presence of Him Who is glory in your achievements..” the long-expected Remnant of God. Here is My Book – The Báb, as quoted in The Dawn-Breakers, p. 93-4. Winter 2020 Contents February | Dominion 176 B.E. Vol. 33, No. 1 Published for the Bahá’ís of Canada Universal House of Justice 4 Following the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb Social media and non-involvement in politics National Spiritual Assembly 7 Message to the Bahá’ís of Canada About this Issue 9 From the History of the Faith 10 Khadíjih Bagum’s recognition of the station of the Báb A Twofold Mission: Some Distinctive Characteristics of the Person and Teachings of the Báb Feature 17 Glimpses from the bicentenary From Across Canada 22 Strengthening the institute process from one bicentenary to another Montreal exhibition commemorates bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb Dawn of the Light film sparks conversations “The spirit of the bicentenary moving on its own” ON THE COVER A painting by Lorraine Celebrating the Birth of the Báb in schools Pritchard entitled Return to Green (2019). Photo: Guy L’Heureux Information 32 Bahá’í Canada (ISSN 1199-1682) is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada three to four times per year. 7200 Leslie Street, Thornhill ON L3T 6L8 phone: (905) 889-8168 fax: (905) 889-8184 e-mail: [email protected] Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Records Department 7200 Leslie St., Thornhill ON L3T 6L8 email: [email protected] Publications Mail Agreement 40050758 UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE Roof of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. Photo: Bahá’í International Community Following the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb came arenas for intensified activity of all kinds, as the From the Universal House of Justice to the Bahá’ís knowledge of what the community could accomplish— witnessed at the last bicentenary—prompted a release of of the world, 8 November 2019. tremendous energy and enterprise, supported by a sound process of preparation and reflection. There are so many highlights to acknowledge. Celebrations within families Dearly loved Friends, and among families featured prominently; gatherings organized by youth for their peers were likewise a strength. Opportunities for animated retellings of the he measure of what you have achieved—not only lives of the Báb and His early disciples were eagerly seized. in the last few weeks, but during a two-year Festivities were given added depth through conversations Tperiod of remarkable advance now brought to a stunning on the needs of society, often begun by the parents of climax—compels us to address you who are the visible young children. The bicentenary elicited artistic works of hosts of a movement that has proved itself irrepressible. beauty and feeling, creative expressions of devotion too Far from being merely a memorable event, the celebration numerous and diverse to describe. And the way that each of the bicentenary of the Birth of the Báb was the fruit avenue of activity became a natural invitation to engage of eight cycles of devoted effort, carried out in unity and with the institute was especially noticeable. We were with a sense of undaunted initiative. We rejoiced to see the much encouraged by the capacity shown to bring the friends so assured in their response to the call to service. broadest possible spectrum of people into the embrace Local communities, neighbourhoods, and villages be- of the community’s activities. Surely, this illustrates how 4 Bahá’í Canada Winter 2020 | Dominion 176 B.E. moments sacred in human history and commemorated at text, further developing their moral and spiritual Holy Days have immense power to uplift individual souls qualities; how institute courses can yield much-needed and to weld a people together through shared experience. skills and capacities; how the path of service can widen What great promise for advances at the level of culture to accommodate large numbers; how real hope for the lies in the universal celebration of such Festivals in place betterment of society can be demonstrated in action; after place in the years to come! and how all of God’s peoples can be enabled to take The reality that there is abundant receptivity in the world inspiration from His new Revelation, and souls who at large is not in doubt.
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