NEw HoPE FOR MINORITY PEOPLES Emeric Sala

:J..LJ. ~.~.n. KHANUM, THE GREATEST HOLY LEAF Della C.

THE CITY OF LIGHT, Poem •

SouTH MISSION, Part Two Fanny

WITH TTR READERS •

World Order '~as founded March 21, 1910 as Baha'i News, the first organ of the American Baha'is. In March, 1911, its title wa~ changed to Star of the West. Beginnincr l\ovcn1her, 1922 the magazine appeared under the natne of The Baha'i !lfagazine. The i~sue of April, 1935 carried the present title of World Ordf.r, combining 1.llzc Balui'i Afaga­ zine and World Uni-ty, wh· ch had b cu founded Octoh .. r, 1927. The pre cut number represents Volutne XXXVII of the continuous ll·tlui'i publication. ----·--

WORI D ORDER is puLli hed montlly 1n Wilmette, Ill., by th Publi~hing C mnlittee of the National SI iritual A~s 1nbly of the Baha'Is of the United States and Canada. EDITORS: Eleanor S. I!utchen~, W1lliam Kenneth Chri tian, Gertrude K. H€ nning, Horace Holley, Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick.

Editorial Office Mrs. Gertrude K. Henning, Secretary 69 AnnoTTSFORD RoAD, WINNETKA, ILt:.

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DECEMBER, 1946, VoLu:rv.rE XII, NuMBER 9

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CHANGE OF ADDRESS SHOULD BE REPORTED ONE 1\iONTH IN ADVANCE 0 The Baha'i Magazi.De

VoLUME XII DECEMBER, 1946 NUMBER 9

Religion and the Church

MABEL HYDE PAINE N OLD hymn contains a verse In another address 'Abdu'l­ which gives a definition of Baha characterizes the church as the church which is still, doubt­ "a place where people of differ­ less, the ideal of its deeply loyal ent thoughts and divergent ten­ followers: dencies where all races and na­ "The church's one foundation is Jesus tions come together in a perma­ Christ her Lord, nent fellowship." She is His new creation through These two ideas of the church water and the Word, From Heaven He came and sought founded in Christ, and "drawing her to be His holy bride, all men unto it", would, I think, With His own blood He bought her be accepted by all true followers and foT her life He died." and lovers of the church of 'Abdu'l-Baha in one of His Christ. American addresses explains the Religion, the Baha'i teachings church and its spiritual origin in define, in one place, as "the reve­ much the same way. He compares lation of the will of God, the di­ Christ to the seed and the Chris­ vine fundamental of which is tian community which He found­ love." And again, "Religion has ed to the tree. "The seed sacri­ been intended by God to be the fices itself to the tree that will means of grace, the source of life come from it. His Holiness Christ and cause of agreement." In these outwardly disappeared. His per­ explanations of what religion is, sonal identity became hidden both Baha'is and Christians from the eyes even as the iden­ doubtle!SS agree. I tity of the seed disappears, but That this thought of unity was the bounties, divine qualities and central in Christ's teaching we perfections of Christ became know from the prayer He uttered manifest in the Christian commu­ for His disciples and for that nity which Christ f o u n d e d body of which they were to ·be­ through sacrificing Himself." come the nucleus: "Neither pray 257

• 258 WORLD ORDER I for these alone, hut for them God." Jesus answered, "Blessed also who shall believe on me art thou, Simon," And why was through their word; that they all Simon blessed? "for flesh and may he one; as Thou, Father art blood hath not revealed this unto in me and I in Thee, that they thee, but my Father which is in also may be one in us: that the heaven." And then Jesus went on world may believe that Thou hast to say, "Thou art Peter, and upon sent me." this rock I will build my church "That the world may believe and the gates of hell shall not pre­ that Thou has sent me." Here we vail against it." have the rock foundation of the Peter, in this moment of pro­ Christian church, faith in Christ found insight, had gained a great as sent by God, even as one with faith. Upon this faith, as upon a God. rock, Christ would build His In a sense the crowning event church. And whenever this faith in Christ's ministry was Peter's in Christ has been strong, the confession of faith. It came spon­ church has been strong; when­ taneously, heaven-sent, for Christ ever it has been weak the church always left people free to make has been weak. their own discoveries and deci­ The poet Keats wrote of the sions. He had been with the dis­ marvel that dwelt in the eyes of ciples for some time without de­ the one who, first of all the Euro­ claring himself as the Son of pean world, looked upon the God. He had even avoided an Pacific. open declaration when John the He "and all his men Baptist sent messengers to Him Looked at each other with a wild asking Him to declare Himself. SUI'M'YI'Jllis,e-e- Silent upon a peak in Darien." But when He saw the time was It was like the experience of a ripe He drew from one of His "Watcher of the skies disciples a marvelous confession When a new planet swims into his of faith. First, He had asked them ken." what people thought of Him, and But such discoveries in the they had answered, "Some say world of nature are tame com­ Elias, some Jeremias, some, one pared with this discovery of Pe­ of the prophets." Then He asked ter's. The Jews revered Moses as them, all of them, "But whom say the Giver of the Law, the great ye that I am?" And only one an­ Teacher who had talked with swered. That one was Simon Pe­ God, the great upholder of the ter, who said, "Thou art the unity of God as taught by that Christ, the Son of the living other more remote Great Prophet, RELIGION AND THE CHURCH 259 Abraham. But here was a fuller above the literal and the personal Revelation, brought by one so it is, perhaps, impossible to say. near to God that he called himself However that may be, in seizing the Son of God, one who said he upon a statement of Christ and was one with God. establishing thereon a firm organ­ T his astounding discovery ization they have succeeded in made by Peter had awakened in maintaining a greater degree of him a great faith. Christ con­ unity than the rest of the Chris­ firmed this faith and likened it tian world. to a rock on· which He would At the time of the Renaissance build His church. The Roman and Reformation with their in­ Catholic Church has put a literal creased emphasis upon the in­ interpretation on this statement of dividual rather than the organ­ Christ's by asserting that Christ ized whole, a large number of founded His church on Peter. But Christians broke off from the if we consider Christ's words Roman church. They felt that the carefully the following explana· organization had become corrupt tion given by 'Abdu'l-Bah:i, the and over formal and they longed Interpreter of the Baha'i Faith, for a more direct relation with seems more reasonable: God than the Church offered "Christ wished . . . to confirm them. In breaking away from the the words of Peter; so . . . He Roman Church they deprived said 'and upon this rock I will themselves of some pure teach­ build my church', meaning, thy ings as well as some corrupt ones. belief that Christ is the son of the But they made the Bible the pro­ living God, will be the foundation perty of every one. On the other of the Religion of God; and upon hand, the widespread reading of this belief the foundation of the the Bible opened the door to all· Church of God which is the Law kinds of private interpretation, of God shall be established." and so began that multiplication The Roman Catholic Church of sects which has continued and has not only put a literal and per­ still continues until now there are sonal interpretation on this dec­ about three hundred. laration of Peter's faith, but has The Protestant Reformation built on it a hierarchy. How much was not the only break which had this interpretation was due to the come in the unity of the church. felt need for a firm organization, Earlier than this the Eastern • ' how much to the desire for power church had separated from the I over the multitude, how much to Western, and both churches were I simple human inability to rise always more or less tom by con- I 260 WORLD ORDER troversies. All these controver­ that are within. For the former, sies and schisms can be traced to it is certain that heresies and the fact that the organization of schisms are of all others the the Church of Christ did not rest greatest scandals, yea, more than upon the explicit directions of corruption of manners ... So that Christ Himself. The features of nothing doth so much keep men that organization, as the Guard­ out of the church and drive men ian of the Baha'i Faith has point­ out of the church, as breach of ed out, were inferred from umty.• "vague and fragmentary refer­ "As for the fruit {of unity) to­ ences" scattered through the Gos­ wards those that are within, it is pel. peace, which containeth infinite In the Baha'i Faith the need of blessings. It establisheth faith; it a firm organization has been met. kindleth charity; the outward Its organization, in contrast to peace of the church distilleth into the one which the Fathers of the peace of conscience and it turneth Church established after the pass­ the labors of writing and reading ing of the First Apostle, rests controversies into treatises of de­ upon an indestructible founda­ votion." tion, for it has been bequeathed Our times are witnessing a re­ to the Baha'is in a document vival of discernment along the penned by the Divinely-appointed line of the prime importance of Interpreter of the Baha'i Faith. unity. The Protestant denomina­ The loss of unity in the church tions are making an effort to which came with the Protestant unite. There is an awakening to Reformation was deplored by the ideal set up by Christ in His some wise souls of the time. That prayer: "That they all may be wise man of the ages, Francis one; as Thou, Father, art in me, Bacon, in an essay on unity in re­ and I in Thee, that they all may ligion wrote: . be one in us."· Yet the effort to­ "Religion, being the chief ward Protestant unity is along or­ bond of human society, it is a ganizational rather than spiritual happy thing when itself is well lines. As one churchman has contained within the true bond written, "That noble effort to­ of Unity. wards Reunion in which so many "The fruits of Unity {next unto idealists have been engaged is the well-pleasing of God, which not aimed at an inward and spir­ is ali-in-all) are two; the one to­ itual union through spiritual edu­ wards those that are without the cation, but at an outward union church, the other towards those through compromise on formu- RELIGION AND THE CHURCH 261 laries, systems of government and of our time, both within and with­ the like." Some thoughtful lead­ out the church, are plain in their ers in the church question whe­ expressions of dissatisfaction. ther true unity can be obtained One church leader voices this in­ without a revival of the spirit. tense dissatisfaction and longing From time to time there have for a truer and stronger church in been heart-stirring revivals of these words: faith, which, even though they "A just and durable peace will violated unity, yet showed, as in not come after this war by mere the Quaker movement, and the negotiation and the devising of Wesleyan revival, a renewal of further 'international machinery. faith in and loyalty to Christ. The We need that machinery, to be Missionary m o v em e n t, too, sure; but no machine can ever be springing up in the Protestant built which men maddened by churches in the nineteenth cen­ wrong thinking will not break into tury, showed a renewed capacity bits unless there comes a revival for spiritual growth. of religion. When I speak of re­ And the Gospel of Christ has vival I would not be taken to in­ lived on and still lives on in good tend emotional exhortations and men and women, often unherald­ a sawdust trail to a more or less ed and even unknown, those who fake mourners' bench. I mean the are the "salt of the earth", real thing. I mean a return in "Christ's true congregation", as penitence deeper than tears from some one has called them. They our foolish ways of denying the have had the same kind of intui­ great and asserting the little, to tive faith in Christ which Peter straight thinking about God in had. Through them the spirit of and through all things." Christ's Message has been pre­ Another, a great archbishop, served. They have made it effec­ enjoined his clergy in a broadcast tive. It is to Christ's Message that a special and pressing duty working through such people that at this crisis is to make an at­ we owe many of our best insti­ tempt to let the light of Christ's tutions and reform movements. Revelation shine upon this mod­ Some of these people are in the ern world and all that it contains, church; some, although not in for "the lamp of religion has al­ the church, received their moral most gone out. Spiritual faith and social ideals from parents hardly survives. Moral principles who were devout Christians and are unhonored. Miseries and dis­ church members. orders in consequence spread. Yet the most thoughtful people The churches seem impotent to

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' 0 ' ·--- 262 WORLD ORDER check the decay, to relieve the Revelation brought by Christ was despair." Instances might be mul­ a further development of a simp­ tiplied of such confessions of the ler Revelation brought by Moses. weakness of the church made by "The law was given by Moses, leaders of thought. but grace and truth came by In an address to the Free Re­ Jesus Christ." Thus we see that ligious Association or Unitarian the Bible itself teaches that re­ Congress in 1912 'Abdu'l-Baha ligion is subject to change and spoke of the need of change in development. religion. All institutions, all hu­ In the Bible we find often the man thoughts, He explained, tend term "Day" given with the mean­ to become stagnant unless re­ ing of "era". The Bible mentions five such days or eras, the Day of newed and revivified by• new thoughts and a new spirit. Just as Noah, the Day of Abraham, the the world in this marvelous twen­ Day of Moses, the Day of Christ tieth century has received great and the Day of His Second Com­ scientific developments, a great ing. The comparison of these eras widespread call to freedom in to days is fitting, for in each era the political world, so the relig­ or dispensation the spiritual light ous world must be quickened and comes from the great Prophet renewed. who ushers in that Day. Christ Consider how many people are said, "I am the Light of the not alive to questions of religion. World," meaning that those who For the most part people do not received and practiced His teach­ mention religion. If the subject is ings would be able to reflect to brought to their attention they the rest of the world the will of may say, as one person did, God for His Day or Dispensation. "Why, I never thought what I The Bible does not dwell on do believe," or they say they are all these days, eras or dispensa­ Methodists or Baptists or Jews tions with equal force or at equal because their fathers were. It length. The Day of Noah, the seems plain that there is a lack most remote of the five eras, is of spiritual growth among the merely sketched in, but it is evi­ people. dent that Noah found a degen­ 'Abdu'l-Baha points out that erate people, showed them the the source of all spiritual growth will of God for their time and and change is Divine Revelation. that all but a few turned from his The church recognizes that it re­ counsel and were submerged in ceived such a revelation from a sea of calamities. Christ com­ Christ. It also recognizes that the pared the Day of Noah to the Day RELIGION AND THE CHURCH 263 of His Second Coming. "But as to God. Through a power given the days of Noah were, so shall Him by God His call was e:ffec- also the coming of the Son of tiVe.• • Man be. For as in the days before Moses inaugurated the next the flood they were eating and great day or era in God's plan of drinking, marrying and giving in progressive revelation. His dis­ marriage, until the day that Noah pensation is more fully recorded entered into the ark, and knew in the Bible. Though a stammerer not until the flood came and took He lifted an enslaved nation into them all away; so shall also the freedom, and established a relig­ coming of the Son of Man be ... ious and civil law which later be­ Watch, therefore, for ye know not came the foundation of the high­ what hour your Lord doth come." est possible civilization of that Abraham is characterized in period, the period of Solomon the Bible as a great Prophet who and the later Hebrew prophets. received a special call from God These great Prophets must to leave his native land and thus have been guided by a super­ become a blessing to all mankind. natural power. He believed, in the midst of a We have a tendency to pass faithless, idol worshipping na­ lightly over the achievements of tion, in one God. This faith in great souls who are distant from Him God blessed and made it a us in time and environment. The bulwark of preservation for a Christian church for example, whole nation, through whom, in has a tendency not to recognize their subsequent Prophets, Moses the supremacy of Moses. Yet and Christ, the world received when we examine the Bible care­ this blessing of faith in God. fully and with an open mind we We have to make an effort of find that it places Moses on the the imagination to envisage these same spiritual plane as Christ. To ancient Prophets, Manifestations be sure, Moses did not reveal of God, as the Baha'i Faith calls such advanced spiritual truths as them. We are prone to dwell on did Christ, but progressive reve­ the One by whose light we have lation means that God reveals been illumined. But reflection Himself and His truth in propor­ shows us that at the dawn of each tion to the capacity of the people new era history repeats itself. to whom He speaks through His The light of faith had become Manifestations. That Moses did dim. Wickedness abounded. Peo­ not voice such deep spiritual ple had forgotten God. A Man truths as did Christ does not arose Who called the people back mean that He was not conscious 264 WORLD ORDER of such truths. The wise teacher Will. A few Jews of humble ori­ gives only what his pupils are gin and little education recog­ ready to receive. nized the Divine Light that shone There are several passages in in Christ and carried His gospel the Bible that represent Moses as of salvation from sin and self to the mouthpiece of God. Of Him, the world of their time. God said to Aaron, "He shall he We do not realize how violent to thee as God." Also Moses is was the transition which the dis­ distinguished from lesser proph· ciples of Christ had to make. ets in these words: "If there he a They were Jews, brought up in prophet among you, I the Lord the tradition of the elders, taught will make myself known unto him by the scribes, whose word was in a vision, and will speak unto law. But they felt the power of blim in a dream. My servant Christ. They saw that His teach­ Moses is not so, who is faithful in ings went deeper than those of all my house. With him will I Moses, and they were able, speak mouth to mouth, even ap· through a God-given power to parently and not in d a r k advance from the old to the new, speeches; and the similitude of to give up the idea of the finality the Lord shall he behold." Christ of Moses' Revelation. It was is prophesied as one who will he doubtless much harder for them like Moses in these words: "The to do this than we now realize. Lord Thy God will raise up unto And this same idea of the final­ thee a Prophet from the midst of ity of the Revelation on which thy brethren like unto me; unto they have been nurtured now en­ Him ye shall harken." cumbers the Christian church and 'i Thus, when Christ appeared, hinders its spiritual progress. It ' I the Jewish leaders had the oppor­ is an unreasonable idea, this, i tunity to see Him as the One pro­ "that all Revelation is ended, that phesied by Moses. But they had the portals of Divine mercy are become immersed in the minutiae closed, that from the day-springs of the law and the traditions. of eternal holiness no sun shall They had fallen into the old hu­ rise again, that the Ocean of ever­ man error of not being able to lasting bounty is forever stilled, distinguish between the essential and that out of the Tabernacle of and the non-essential in the Reve­ ancient glory the Messengers of lation from God which had been God have ceased to he made entrusted to them. They chose the manifest." beaten path, which was in reality, The majesty and the power of a by-path from the Way of God's Christ so impressed the early RELIGION AND THE CHURCH 265 Christian church that there arose the Kingdom He taught men to a view of His place in the history pray for, a Kingdom already ex­ of religion which may have been isting in Heaven and destined to allowable in the past, when come to this earth. Christ taught knowledge of other great religions that this Kingdom must first be was unobtainable, when men still established in human hearts. His dwelt in corners of the earth and message was for the individual, a knew not of other corners, but necessary preparation for the es­ which the wider knowledge and tablishment of a system which broader vision of a world begin­ should embody this Kingdom. ning to sense universal truths can His followers of the early centur­ no longer uphold. ies of Christianity, feeling the need of an organization to em­ When Christians come to see body His Cause, established a both the reasonableness of the faulty one. The world had not yet idea of progressive revelation evolved to the point of establish­ and its development as recorded ing the Kingdom of Heaven on in the Bible it will be easier for earth. Neither had Christ given them to see that God has revealed any such plan. The time was not Himself through other great Pro­ ripe for such a plan. phets, such as Zoroaster, Mubam­ But Christ did foretell His Sec­ mad and Buddha, whose names ond Coming as a time when the are not mentioned in the Bible. Son of Man should come "in the For in the teachings of all these Glory of the Father". What more we find the same spirit, the same natural than that this Second reality, the same fundamental Coming should be the time for teachings, such as the immortal­ the beginning of the answer to ity of the soul, the Fatherhood of the prayer which He had taught God and brotherhood of man, His followers to · pray: "Thy the duty of prayer. Kingdom come, Thy will be done Having recognized the truth of on earth as it is in Heaven." progressive revelation, the mind This is the Baha'i teaching, and heart naturally open to the one of its central beliefs, that possibility of a Revelation for God has been leading men by pro­ this day and age. Christ prepared gressive steps through the agency men's hearts for a social religion. of Great Prophets or Manifesta­ In His teachings He showed the tions of God, to the time when great objective of the Christian His Kingdom should come, His era to be the unification of the Will be done, on earth as in hearts of all mankind. This was Heaven. •

- New Hope for Minority Peoples

EMERIC SALA ELIGIONS of the past have Baha'u'llah offers world jus­ been successful in instilling tice as the highest moral prin­ moral responsibility in individ­ ciple for our present stage of evo­ uals, families, tribes and even, lution: "The best beloved of all with certain reservations, in na­ things in my sight is Justice." tional communities. The way Justice, as Baha'is conceive it, is seems to have been paved for a the collective moral expression of world religion which can com­ the community. The range of mand universal allegiance to the moral awareness of the individ­ one and same God, and develop uals that- compose a community, a world conscience without which determines the area in which jus­ there is no hope for justice nor tice can function. If the range of peace among minority peoples. individual conscience does no' The Baha'i Faith, founded one project across national frontiers hundred years ago in Persia, is world justice is impossible. not another creed to compete with One of the distinctions of the the older faiths. It does not of­ Baha'i Faith is that it can, unlike fer a new path to immortality, Christianity, project its faith into nor does it attempt to abrogate the realm of social action. In the religions that have preceded Baha'i experience, divine love of it. It upholds the principle that the individual is transformed to "religious truth is not absolute divine justice in the community. but relative and that divine reve­ Baha'i religious practice does not lation is progressive, not :final." consist only of formal worship The pivotal message of the and adherence to certain rituals, Baha'i Faith is the consciousness but rather of membership in an of the oneness of mankind. "Re­ organically united world commu­ gard ye not one another as strang­ nity which satisfies the individual

' ers ...", declares Baha'u'llah, and collective needs of men. I the founder of the Faith, "Of one ' tree are all ye the fruit and of A NEw CoNCEPTION OF one bough the leaves . . . It is DEMOCRACY not for him to pride himself who Under our party system, loveth his own country but rather which is inherently divisive, mi­ for him who loveth the whole norities cannot hope to attain an world." equal status with majority group~ 266 MINORITY PEOPLES 267 At best, they are tolerated. Our our unintegrated democracies to democratic form of government, anything resembling a concerted perhaps the best so far developed, national effort. boasts of being government of the In contrast, the Baha'i concep­ people, since it derives its au­ tion of a democratic form of gov­ thority from the majority of the ernment, which already operates electorate. The minority groups in an embryonic form in more feel separated and neglected, the than seventy countries of the nation is pulled apart by a cross­ world, establishes a new standard, current of racial, religious, re­ of social responsibility, unknown gional, economic and party in­ in the history of political or ec­ terests, preventing it from func­ clesiastical institutions. tioning as an integral unit. No Baha'i can join a political The justification of the demo­ party or a religious group which cratic party system is vigilance. divides a community into parts. The party in power is mistrusted It is inconsistent with the Baha'i by those who are not in power. The attitude of life to sacrifice the opposition checks and criticizes whole for a part. No Baha'i can the party yielding power for fear conscientiously subscribe to a that it might usurp it. This atti­ program w h i c h discriminates tude, therefore, is uncooperative. against a class, a race, a religion, It watches jealously and critically or a nation. Nor can a Baha.'i the actions of its avowed political take sides in any economic, po­ enemies. The net result is a house litical or military conflict. He is divided against itself. In such a not a conscientious objector, for democratic house the minority it would be inconsistent with the communities, fighting for their Baha'i requirement for law-abid­ own existence, cannot hope for ing citizenship. Nor is he a paci­ equal treatment. In a divided fist, for Baha'is accept the neces­ house loyalty belongs to the part rity of enforcing just laws. He is and not to the whole. The divisive first of all a citizen of the world, forces within our own democra­ and in any dispute between na­ cies offer a premium for alleg­ tions he sees no settlement unless iance to a group rather than to the interests of all parties are re­ the nation. The circle of interest, . spected. and the world to which most Baha'u'llah speaks to kings people belong, is usually smaller and rulers as the trustees of man­ than that of the nation. Only an kind. He admonishes them to dis­ attack from outside, or a major pense "justice" rather than "love". crisis from within, could arouse He refers to just governments and 268 WORLD ORDER Houses of Justice as "one soul Under our present system the and one body," with a collective party in power tends to extend its conscience, collectively respon­ favor to those who contribute to sible to God. Baha'u'llah's great­ the party fund and to those who est contribution lies perhaps in might vote for it at the next elec­ the projection of individual con­ tion. Such favoritism, inherent in science into collective action, the system, is made at the expense

through the establishment of lo­ of the rest of the communitv.• So- cal, national and the universal cial justice under such patronage Houses of Justice. For in the is unobtainable. It leaves the mi­ Baha'i community responsibility nority problem unsolved. to God is coexistent in the indi­ MEETING THE MINORITY vidual and society. PROBLEM The world plan of Baha'u'llah calls for democratic elections at With the shrinking of the regular intervals without political world into a neighborhood the parties, without any campaign minority problem can no longer promises or party platform, with­ be shelved. Migration of large out candidates or nominations, groups of people has not been and without party funds. The peo­ stopped. If the pressure of fu­ ple chosen do not represent any ture conflicts is to be relieved, the party or group interest. They are movement of populations will chosen for their ability, character continue. The tendency in favor and past service to the commu­ of larger and larger political ad­ nity, rather than for their politi­ ministrative units will increase cal views or personal interests. rather than lessen the minority The local, national and universal problem. And when this tendency Houses of Justice elected by the culminates in the political feder­ Baha'is are, contrary to present ation of all the peoples of the democratic practice, not respon­ world, every majority group of sible to the people who elect today will find itself a minority them, nor are they allowed to be in such a world federation.

• ' swayed by public opinion, mass The social laws of Baha'u'llah I' emotion or the convictions of the have an answer to the minority electorate. They are bound only problem. To appreciate them, by the promptings of their own however, understanding of the conscience, a conscience which in Baha'i principle of consultation the process of Baha'i education is necessary, a principle which, is transmuted into the collective incidentally, reconciles freedom minoritie~ conscience of the community.• with authority, witr MINORITY PEOPLES 269 majorities, and mercy with jus­ closed mind. Baha'i training does tice. Each Baha'i community exactly the opposite, by constant­ elects once a year a House of Jus­ ly testing and purifying one's tice (temporarily called a Spirit­ ego. ual Assembly), consisting of nine In Baha'i consultation each adult members, to legislate and mind gives as well as takes, is adjudicate on all matters of com­ constantly trained to remain munity action. When these nine open, and to understand an ap­ people meet, they may represent preciate points of view other than different temperaments and cul­ its own. The ideas born in such tures, and will probably differ in a meeting are the result of cre­ their points of view. The chair­ ative interaction w i t h other man chosen from their midst en­ minds, inspired by a common courages opposing views and faith and a common aim: the every side has a hearing for "the welfare of the whole community. shining spark of truth cometh As social responsibility is shifted forth only after the clash of dif­ from the individual to the assem­ fering opinions." bly, individual opinion tends to What makes this meeting become more and more imper­ unique is that, when each mem­ sonal. A mind freed from per­ ber gives his conscientiously con­ sonal ambition and detached sidered opinion, he gives it away. from the ego, can see more clear­ Once a vote is taken, it is no lon­ ly. It is the detached attitude of a ger his, and if carried by a ma­ scientist absorbed in an objective jority, though usually modified, search, and yet with a passion for it becomes an expression of the truth. It is a new process of in­ collective conscience of the com­ tercreative thinking. It cures the munity. Since the majority as opinionated person whose mind well as the minority surrender is all made up. their personal views to the assem­ One who obeys his conscience bly, the decision reached is not has overcome his baser instincts. the wish of the majority, but of A community with a collective all nine members. That is why it conscience overcomes the desire is not likely that two Baha'is will for national supremacy, for mon­ argue with each other. They will, opolistic privileges or for ra~ial after presenting their case as well priority. The Baha'i administra~ as they can, try to understand the tive system not only incorporates other point of view rather than de­ individual good will into a social fend their own. The religious mechanism, but produces a qual­ mind is considered usually a ity of the soul which can be born

•

·,y 270 WORLD ORDER only out of a collective ex- a House of Justice and will ex­ penence.• press their social attitude towards Justice as an abstract idea is others as one organic unit, with relative. It is often mistaken for a collective conscience, trained legalized revenge. Justice is the for collective action, collectively balance between reward and re­ responsible to God. tribution. This balance is impos­ Justice cannot be enshrined in sible between individuals with­ any constitution. No book can out love. Between nations, or be­ contain it. Justice like love can­ tween minority and majority not be preserved in a legal docu­ groups, this love ·is expressed ment or established by precedent. through justice. Though love and Justice like love cannot be sep­ justice spring from the same di­ arated from conscience. When vine source, their expression is conscience goes, justice goes with different. One hundred true Mu­ it. Social justice is impossible bammadan, Jewish or Christian without a collective conscience. believers will, as individuals, And it is this collective conscience show the same qualities of love which is the basic working prin­ and goodwill as one hundred true ciple of the Baha'i House of Jus­ Baha'is, but with this difference tice, and the new hope for mi­ --'the hundred Baha'is will elect nority peoples of the future.

I I

The prime requisites for them that take counsel together are purity of . motive, radiance of spirit, detachment from all else save God, attraction to ' His Divine Fragrances, humility and lowliness amongst His loved ones, pa­ tience and long-suffering in difficulties and servitude to His exalted Threshold. Should they be graciously aided to acquire these attributes, victory from the unseen Kingdom of Baha shall be vouchsafed to them. In this day, assemblies of consultation are of the greatest importance and a vital necessity. Obedience unto them is essential and obligatory. The members thereof must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may arise. This can be attained when every member expresseth with absolute freedom his o'Wn opinion and setteth forth his argument. Should any one oppose, he must on no account feel hurt for not until matters are fully discussed can the

' right way be revealed. The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the '' clash of differing opinions. If after discussion, a decision be carried unani­ mously, well and good; but if, the Lord forbid, differences of opinion should ' arise, a majority of voices must prevail. -'ABDU'L-BAHA • ' j•' ...' "' "' ' ,.----C..diloria Women and Baha'i Ideals

MONG the teachings of Baha- They may and do prove their 'u'llah is the equality be- ability in the line of research, but tween men and women. It may top positions which this ability seem strange to the privileged might be expected to lead to are women of the Western World not open to them. This author that it should be necessary to writes: "Even the most casual make, what we accept as true survey of the personnel of indus­ and largely accomplished, a part try in this country shows that, in of religion. We must understand respect to control and direction, that the Revelation of Baha- it is still a man's world." She 'u'llah is for the whole world, also states that capable women Occident and Orient alike. It is are employed "at about seventy­ true that women in the Western five percent of their capacity he­ world have gone far in obtaining cause their sex prevents their con­ educational opportunities, voting, sideration for appointment to a property and other rights. But the job equal to their full abilities." vast majority of the woMen in Examples might be multiplied the Orient are barely beginning· to show that in the most favored to emerge from a condition of in- countries there is a long way to feriority to men and of degra- go before prejudice toward worn­ dation in some cases lower than en in many fields is wiped out. animals. The powerful force of But the most pressing need is religion is needed to hasten their that women in every country release. should be recognized for what Even in Western countries they are, God's loved ones. Men where women have proved their and women alike are created in ability to excel in almost every the image and likeness of the one field the prejudice of men against God. "He who is purest in heart, women in high places of industry whose knowledge exceeds and and sometimes in the professions who excels in kindness to the serv­ is still marked. One writer warns ants of God is nearest and dear­ women who wish to enter the field est to the Lord our Creator, irre­ of industrial science of the many spective of sex." Those who say difficulties which they may ex- that this is not a new truth are pect solely because of their sex. right. It has never been made a 271 272 WORLD ORDER part of a revealed religion. It is a Baha. The home certainly is not great fundamental fact, a part to be neglected for we are told of the Oneness of Mankind. Like that one great reason why women this more inclusive truth we have should have excellent education

• come to the time in our progress is that since they are the mothers in civilization when it must be they have great influence over realized universally in the world the children. On one occasion He of action. Here and there said that women must study arts throughout history have been out­ and sciences, especially agricul­ standing examples of women who tural and industrial sciences. Al­ have proved their equality to men ways her object must be not fame by their achievements. 'Abdu'l­ or fortune but benefit to mankind. Baha in some of His talks in this Women have an especial call to country has told the stories of aid in establishing universal Zenobia, of Catherine the Great, p e a c e. Q u it e emphatically Mary Magdelene and others to 'Abdu'l-Baha says: "When all illustrate that women can and mankind shall receive the same have excelled in both religious opportunity of education and the and secular spheres. It is lack of equality of men and women be education only, He declares, that realized, the foundations of war has held back the mass of women will be utterly destroyed." from their rightful place. Until this complete equality comes about, the great advance in Today we have the beautiful, material and spiritual civiliza­ heroic lives of Tahirih and • tion which God has destined for Bahiyyih Khanum to show us that mankind will not be fulfilled. I, great spiritual development is a ' . 'Abdu'l-Baha likens humanity to I necessary characteristic of the I a bird with two wings, the male distinguished woman of the New and the female. "So long," He Age. And as we read the life says, "as these two wings are not story of Bahiyyih Khanum told equivalent in strength the bird on other pages of this issue, we will not fly .... When the two realize that with none of the wings or factors become equiva­ outer aids of education she lent in strength, enjoying the through spiritual development at­ same prerogatives, the flight of tained the highest station among man will be exceedingly lofty and women. extraordinary. Therefore woman

' Some definite suggestions for must receive the same education ' ' fields in which women should ex­ as man and all inequality be ad- cel have been given by 'Abdu'l- justed. B. H. K.

' ' ' 'l- f' ' '• Bahiyyih anum, the Greatest Holy Leaf

DELLA C. QUINLAN

"He is the Eternal! This is my testimony for her who hath heard my voice and drawn nigh unto Me. Verily, she is a leaf that hath sprung from this pre­ existant Ro·ot. She hath revealed herself in My name and tasted of the sweet savors of My holy, My wondrous pleasure. At one time We gave her to drink from My honeyed Mouth, at another caused her to partake of My mighty, My luminous Kawt;!lar. Upon her rest the glory of My name and the fragrance of My shining robe ... Verily, We have elevated thee to the rank of one of the most distinguished among thy sex, and granted thee, in My court, a station such as none other woman hath surpassed."

are the words of Baha­ the nineteen pages in the fifth vol­ 'u'llah's Pen addressed to ume of The Baha'i World devot- · Bahiyyih Khanum, His daughter ed to her ascension to the Su­ and His faithful believer. This is preme Concourse, we have almost the woman whose position in the nothing. The little we have cannot Baha'i Revelation is by the side be compared to what we have of of Tahirih• in the Revelation of the life of Tahirih• in The Dawn- The Bah, Fatimih in that of Mu- Breakers. Some day we will have }:lammad, the Mother of Jesus in an adequate knowledge of those His, and Ayesha, the daughter of deeds of hers which enrich the Pharaoh, in Moses' Revelation. glorious story of the Heroic Age Of her, the Guardian of the Baha'i of our Faith. There are hints of Faith has said, she is one of their nature in the letter from the "these three incomparably pre­ Guardian sent to the West when cious souls, who, next to the three she left us. But that time has not Central Figures of our Faith, come yet. What we discern from ,., tower in rank above the vast mul­ the small amount of material titude of the heroes, Letters, mar­ which we have at present is a fig­ tyrs, hands, teachers and admin­ ure heroic in service, saintly in istrators of the Cause of Baha­ life, standing just below 'Abdu'l­ 'u'llah." Baha in the example she gives to Here in the West we know lit- the. world of . what God has des-. tie at the present time of the de- tmed that Hts creature, man, 1s tails of her life and great service to be. to the Cause of God. Outside of We know she was born two the data that can be gleaned from years after her distinguished 273 •

274 WORLD ORDER Brother, the eldest son of Baha­ possession and privilege, its 'u'lhih, in 1846; and that there­ homes pillaged and ravaged by fore this year, 1946, is the hun­ mobs. dredth anniversary of her birth; What an experience for a child that she was born into an illus­ of such tender years! It seems a trious and noble family of Persia. miracle that she came through it She was the daughter of Mirza with her sanity intact, her spirit I_:Iusayn 'Ali Nuri and Asiyih and courage undestroyed. Khanum, who combined in their Her Father, Mirza I_:Iusayn marriage two of the largest for­ 'Ali Nuri, had become an adher­ tunes of the country, and so she ent of The Bah, whose message enjoyed during the first six years that the Great Day of God had of her life all that such wealth dawned at last, had run through and position can bestow. We can Persia like a flame and aroused ·imagine her during these child­ the fury of the Mul;mmmadan hood years running about in the clergy. There had been cruel mar­ lovely Persian gardens of her· tyrdoms which had unhinged the father's mansion in the capitol minds of some young men, who city or in the Shimaran moun­ had attempted the life of the ,. tains. We can see her in that Shah; and this in turn let loose a happy family life, with her beau- whirlwind of terror into which all tiful mother, Asiyih Khanum, the followers of The Bah it who was so "full of consideration 'fihran had been sucked, and witt

. for everybody, gentle, of a mar­ them Mirza I_:Iusayn 'Ali Nuri, • • vellous unselfishness," and with whose birth and position had not her noble Father, ever caring for protected Him from the panic . i j the poor and the unfortunate, His which seized the Court of the t home thronged with friends and Shah. He was imprisoned in what dependents whom His generous was probably the worst dungeon hospitality had drawn to His in the whole world; filthy, malo­

. doors; her companions, her older dorous, damp and without a ray • Brother 'Abbas and the young of light or a breath of air. His MihdL For six short years this family was left without His pro­ :, I • li life of happiness and security en­ tection, hidden away from the •..• • dured, until that day of terror fury of the mob, deserted by all dawned when within twenty-four but two or three relatives and by hours this noble and highly all their retinue of servants with placed family was hurled from the exception of one man and one the heights of fortune to the ut­ woman. • • most poverty; stripped of every Bahiyyih Khanum long years ,,

'• . i. ,. • • • ! •• , , BAHIYYIH KHANUM 275 afterwards described to a West­ very little girl served the samo­ ern believer how her mother ac­ var." And another glimpse of a companied by her young Brother lonely little girl longing for com­ only eight years old, would go out panions, opening the house door at night during those months of to peep at two little girls next terror, to seek for news of her door and being scolded by her Husband, to learn if He still half-uncle, Mirza Y a:Qya, who lived. While she would cower in would not permit the least com­ the dark with her younger brother munication with any one, he was in her arms, shivering with terror in such fear of his life. And at the sound of the drums which again, this very little girl, draw­ invariably accompanied the fiend­ ing water from a deep well in the ' ish torturing of some poor Bahi; house, lifting a heavy bucket not knowing whether it might not with ropes that were hard and he her mother or Brother who was rough. ' ' undergoing that torture. It seems to he to this Baghdad I' ' This, the experience of a six­ period, hut when she was a hit ,, year old! older, that the Guardian of the ~ ' The day came when that dun­ Baha'i Faith refers when he men­ 'i, geon gave up its Prisoner, when tions the important services she ' • He came hack to His family. But performed for her Father's Cause 't how changed, with the marks of while still a girl. He tells us: I

the chains bitten into the delicate "At a later time this revered II·

skin of His neck, and His feet in and precious member of the Holy !' . a pitiable condition from the bas­ Family, then in her teens, came tinado and the wounds untended! to he entrusted by the guiding We can imagine the effect of this hand of her Father with missions sight upon a child whose heart . that no girl of her age could, or was such a well of tenderness that would he willing to perform, with never through her life could she what spontaneous joy she seized hear that even an enemy should her opportunity and acquitted

he unhappy. herself of the task with which she ',, 'I We kriow nothing more of her had been entrusted! The delicacy • until the Baghdad days, when and extreme gravity of such func­ there is a glimpse of a small girl tions as she, from time to time, carrying a heavy samovar up­ was called upon to fulfill, when stairs and moving an old lady to the city of Baghdad was swept by exclaim, to the amusement of her the hurricane which the heedless­ Father, "One proof that the Bahi ness and perversity of Mirza teaching is wonderful is that a Y a:Qya had unchained, as well as 276 WORLD ORDER the tender solicitude which, at so has said of this time: "The throat early an age, she evinced during Thou didst accustom to the touch the period of Baha'u'llah's en­ of silk Thou hast, in the end, forced retirement to the moun­ clasped with strong chains, and tains of Sulaymaniyyih, marked the body Thou didst ease with her as one who was both capable brocades and velvets Thou hast of sharing the burden, and willing at last subjected to the abasement to make the sacrifice, which her of a dungeon ... Both bread and high birth demanded." water which Thou hast, through These are all of the personal Thy all-embracing mercy, al­ pictures which we have of lowed unto the beasts of the field, Bahiyyih Khanum, whether of they have, for a time, forbidden her childhood, youth or maturity. unto this servant." After this the rest is inference. The climax of the woes of this When her Father, now known band of devoted ones was

. as Baha'u'llah (Glory of God) reached in the prison-town of ' I was exiled from Persia to 'Iraq 'Akka, which was used as a penal I' and then to Turkey, and, after be­ colony by the Turks. The air and '"' ' ing moved from city to city there, water there were so foul that the '" ~ was finally sent to 'Akka on the people of the town were wont to l \ coast of Palestine, the family and declare that a bird flying over it ) 'I a small band of devoted believers would drop dead. The Baha'is I ' refused to be separated from were on their arrival crowded "• Him and accompanied Him wher­ into two small rooms. The food

.' ever He was exiled. The jour­ was so bad that most of them fell . ' '· neys were all arduous, some were ill and those who were spared ' ' ordered in severe winter weather, nursed the sick. This was the time I and were often through mountain when th&ir affliction was at its 1,, country. They had to be accom­ height. i: ,,,. plished on foot, on horseback, or After a time the imprisonment ' ' when circumstances were fortu­ was lightened. Baha'u'llah was nate in howdahs on the back of a permitted to leave the barracks horse. These howdahs were not and live in a small house. When comfortable affairs but were the He became known to the gover­ best means of travel the country nors, their severity relaxed and afforded. There was little food; He was able to meet the believers ,.,, in fact, we spoiled Westerners who had journeyed long miles on • ' '(•' would consider that the band of foot to visit Him. When this re­ exiles were traveling under star­ laxation of His Imprisonment vation conditions. Baha'u'llah was reported to Constantinople • • • BAHIYYIH KHANUM 277 another governor would be sent service of her Father's glorious to 'Akk.a and again conditions Cause. Whether in the manage­ would become severe. During all ment of the affairs of His house· these years Bahiyyih Khanum hold in which she excelled, or in served her Father devotedly, giv­ the social relationships which she ing Him a single-minded service so assiduously cultivated in or· both in the household whose large der to shield both Baha'u'llah numbers and many visitors laid and 'Abdu'l-Baha, whether in the a heavy burden of physical labor unfailing attention she paid to on its women folk, and in the the every day needs of her Father, vicissitudes of His life with the or in the traits of generosity, of world outside the home. With the affability and kindness, which passing years she came to be the she manifested, the Greatest Holy support of this home in misfor­ Leaf had by that time abundantly tune and its center of happiness demonstrated her worthiness to in times of ease. The Guardian rank as one of the noblest figures pays this tribute to her illustrious intimately associated with the services in those days of many life-long work of Baha'u'llah." dangers: It was into her hands that the "Not until, however, she had affairs of the Faith were left when been confined in the company of 'Abdu'l-Baha left Haifa for His Baha'u'llah within the walls of memorable visits to Europe and the prison-city of 'Akka did she America in the period just before display, in the plentitude of her the first World War. And when power and in the full abundance the shock of His passing to the of her love for Him, those gifts Supreme World fell upon the that single her out, next to Holy Family, it was to her that 'Abdu'l-Baha, among the mem­ Shoghi Effendi, the eldest grand­ bers of the Holy Family, as the son of 'Abdu'l-Baha, turned for brightest embodiment of that love comfort and support when the which is born of God and of that unexpected burden of the Guar­ human sympathy which few mor­ dianship was laid upon his shoul­ tals are capable of evincing. ders through the Will and Testa· ''Banishing from her mind and ment of 'Abdu'l-Baha. What she heart every earthly attachment, meant to him in those sorrow­ renouncing the very idea of mat­ laden days is reflected in these rimony, she, standing resolutely words of his at her passing: by the side of a Brother whom "How can my lonely pen, so she was to aid and serve so well, utterly inadequate to glorify so arose to dedicate her life to the exalted a station,. so impotent to 278 WORLD ORDER • portray the experiences of so which from now on will ever bear sublime a life, so disqualified to her name and be consecrated to recount the blessings she show­ her memory... " ered upon me since my earliest These are the events of her life childhood how can such a pen as we are able to glean them from repay the great debt of gratitude the few pages of data which are and love that I owe her whom I available to us in English at pres­ regarded as my chief sustainer, ent; and from the inferences my most affectionate comforter, which we may draw from our the joy and inspiration of my knowledge of the life of Baha­ life?" 'u'llah, which she shared. Long, long years of service What impression has she left were hers; eighty long years on those who knew her? What from that day of terror when she have been the tributes rendered to was but six years old to a day in her saintly life and magnificent July in 1932 when the Guardian's services? • message telling the Baha'i world First of these is the opening of its irreparable loss was sent to words of this article taken from

I the believers. He again in an­ a Tablet Baha'u'llah revealed for I her and which informs us of her I nouncing her death called atten­ j tion to the greatness of her sta­ great station, a "station such as tion: "Holy Family cruelly di­ none other woman hath sur­ l vested of its most precious great passed." Throughout this Tablet '• Adorning. I for my part bewail He voices His love for His "leaf sudden removal of my sole earth­ that hath sprung from this pre­ ly sustainer, the joy and solace existant Root"; and finally we of my life." come to these words, so eloquent Six years later the Guardian of the feeling which everyone linked her memory with that who was privileged to know her memorable undertaking of the at all intimately ever and always American Baha'is which had en­ express: "How sweet thy presence joyed so large a share of her so­ before Me: how sweet to gaze on licitude, the erection of the Madt­ thy face, to bestow upon thee My riqu'l-Adhkar, the first Baha'i loving-kindness, to favor thee House of Worship in the West. with My tender care." In a cablegram sent on.., Novem­ How these words of 'Abdu'l­ ber 29, 1938 he, in offering a Baha's chime in with those of thousand pounds in her name to Baha'u'llah: "0 thou my affec­ the construction fund, spoke of tionate sister! In the day-time "the Temple Construction Fund, and the night-season my thoughts , , BAHIYYIH KHANUM 279 ever turn to thee. Not for one mo­ but so exquisite is it that who can ment do I cease to remember forbear: thee. My sorrow and regret con­ "Her balance, sense of fineness cern not myself; they center and fitness and practical judg­ around thee. Whenever I recall ment she displayed in creating thine a:fflictions, tears that I can­ order and grace in the household, not repress rain from mine eyes." and all the elements that make and in a Tablet addressed to His for well-being she blended in an eldest daughter He says, "all her ambient of harmony. Her strong days she was denied a moment will was never used to override of tranquility. She was a.stir and and her decided opinions were restless every hour of her life. never pressed upon another. Her Moth-like she circled in adoration ways were gentle ... round the undying flame of the "In her you met with no exac­ Divine Candle, her spirit ablaze tions, no biddance: she beckoned, and her heart consumed by the smiling, and would have no one fire of His love." Surely no high­ come heavy-footed or bent to her er praise can be spoken. will ... "She left spirit and body alike In quoting the words of Baha­ utterly free, demanding nothing 'u'llah, 'Abdu'l-Baha and the of those she loved . . . Guardian that are used in speak­ "So light was her touch that ing of the Greatest Holy Leaf, she woke in them no sense of re­ does it not seem that we are hand­ sponsibility or conscious grati­ ling jewels? Did ever any woman tude. Even when she comforted, famed in history or legend re­ her caress was feather soft: for ceive such love and praise? she knew that those in sore need Do you want to know why she, can be bruised by the least pres­ of all that devoted band who fol­ sure of compassion. She would lowed their Beloved from land to give the balm itself and add no land, was singled out for praise weight of her own hand ... coveted by every member of the "You were sure that if one worldwide Baha'i Community? tried to hurt her she would wish to console him for his own cruel- Then read the description of her • which you will find in The Baha'i ty. For her love was uncondi- World, Volume V, written by an tioned, could penetrate disguise American believer who knew her and see hunger behind the mask at the end of her long life. Here of fury ... is a bit from it though to quote "So alive was she to the source in part from it is to mutilate it- of all bounty that she had no con-

i • l j 280 WORLD ORDER sciousness of her own bounty. soul, search where you will When she made a gift she seemed throughout the literature of the to be thanking you for it. It was world. Though it is prose, it almost as if she did not distin· reads like a poem. When you lay guish giving from receiving . . . it down, Bahiyyih Khanum, the "To serve her was not duty; it Greatest Holy Leaf Khanum.­ was high privilege. But she took is a real person whom you have nothing for granted in the way of met, she lives and breathes. And devoted service and even in her you can never forget her, and you last hours she whispered or are not the same. smiled her thanks for every lit­ And so we leave her. We know tlest ministration as she would so little of her personal life; in­ not lock away her small treas­ deed, she seems never to have hed ures, neither would she store up a personal life, so dedicated to her wisdom and her riches of ex­ her Faith was she. But when our perience. In her, experience left knowledge is greater, the Guar­ no bitter ash. Her flame trans­ dian assures us we shall under­ muted all of life, even its crude stand that history, no less than and base particles, into gold. And the annals of our immortal Faith, I' this gold she spent ... shall record for her a share in the "In the face of test and dan­ advancement and consolidation ger she neither hurried nor held of the world-wide community back, but entered the perilous which the hand of 'Abdu'l-Baha way with quiet breath." had helped to fashion, which no I These are a few roses from a one among the remnants of His garden of fragrance; I think the Family can rival. greatest and sweetest tribute ever This is the first article in a series pre­ paid by a human being to a great senting heroes of the Baha'i Faith.

THE CITY OF LIGHT I cannot find myself sometimes until, for a moment, I have stepped aside from the way where multitudes tread, And have a-tiptoe, gazed back over the faltering throng Into the darkness, And have wonderingly turned to see splendid and dim in the distance-e - The City of Light. Submitted by a Baha'i youth South African FANNY KNOBLOCH In Collaboration With Bertha H. Kirkpatrick Part Two One hot summer's day when I menton the Cape of Good Hope. was back in Capetown during my We met in the historic home second trip to South Africa I re- known as Hull House. An au­ ceived a cable from my sister dience of from forty. to fifty Pauline in Washington, D. C. greeted the speaker who through saying, "I am coming." her patient and convincing an- Many months had elapsed swers to questions asked at the since my first arrival in South close of the discourse, won the Africa, and so busy was I with love and esteem of those present. duties in the Cause that I was Many inspiring meetings fol­ not aware of the serious condi- lowed in the home of our host­ tion of my health. Yet the close ess and in other houses. tie of love caused my sister to One of the marvelous expe­ sense this condition and she has- riences was the discovering of a tened to my side on the first brilliant soul, William Fraetes, steamer to sail. After five weeks who was in New York in 1912 of continuous storms at sea she and had the blessed privilege of reached port and landed at sun- meeting 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Ser­ rise Sunday morning. There were vant of God. 'Abdu'l-Baha in em­ only two passengers. Slowly the bracing him called him "My steamer moved into her dock. son" and gave him a message for The horizon became more and South Mrica. During this inter­

more brilliant, the glow of red view 'Abdu'l-Baha had asked ,'1 changing to red-gold, touching him how the British and Afrika­ the mountain peaks and sea with ander were cooperating and Mr. marvelous beauty and grandeur Fraetes replied, "They are be­ at this, the break of day--God's coming more united." 'Abdu'l­ New Day. Baha told him that only the sur- Pauline had scarcely landed face of Africa's wealth in min­ when she received an invitation erals and precious stones had to speak in nearby Muizberg to been touched, but that when peo­ the Helping Hands, an organiza- ple would turn to agriculture and tion composed of leading women live in unity and harmony, treat­ of that picturesque British settle- ing the natives justly, South Af- 281

- _j 282 WORLD ORDER rica would lead the world in roses, and with rows of the mar­ prosperity. He also said that velous jackaranda trees covered, South Africa was the land for in season, with deep violet blue youth. Like many gifted souls blossoms. Mr. and Mrs. Fraetes were poor In this city Mr. and Mrs. in the world's goods, yet many Carey generously supported the hundreds of men and women Cause by opening their home as from all walks in life found their the center of Baha'i activities. way to their hospitable though The first South African Baha'i humble home high up on the Assembly was organized there. mountain side in Muizenherg. On Mr. Carey, a Mason of high one occasion the government sent standing, brought us in touch Mr. Fraetes on a difficult mission with members of that order, as among some wild tribes in the well as with men representing hinterland. Although they had branches of the government. never seen a white brother, yet These became, at that time, deep­ because of their sensitiveness to ly interested. On one occasion the approach of friend or foe, he a group of eight of Mr. Carey's was received as a friend. In one friends came to hear more about instance when Mr. Fraetes, the Cause. Seated at the long through his interpreter, asked an table sipping tea they listened old wrinkled chief, "Do you be­ attentively to the history of the lieve in God?". The instant re­ Cause. Questions arose which ply was, "We know that there is Mrs. Hannen answered with ref­ a force which seeth all things and erences from her Bible. One dis­ knoweth all things." What a defi­ tinguished elderly Mason, who nition for the word God, un­ had made notes on his white cuff, known to him! William Fraetes turned to our host and voiced the and his dear wife, both believers, desire of all present: "May we were a power for good in the he favored with another hour of Cape Colony. study?" As they departed Mrs. Hannen suggested that they bring PRETORIA their Bibles next time. Pretoria is the capital of the Again assembled around the South African Republic. The table, with no absentees, these unique Union Building, where inquirers were given exact refer­ Parliament holds some of its ses­ ences in the Bible. As they read sions is surrounded by the niost these prophecies of the time and beautiful terraced gardens with place of God's Manifestation in hedges of plumbago and white this Day there were exclamations SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION 283 of surprise. "I have read these sessed a large herd of cattle verses many times," said one, which furnished milk and cream "and never stopped to think, tak­ for cheese and butter manufac­ ing it for granted that they re­ tured in Klogolong. Then, too, ferred to Jesus." he sold the wool from his sheep, Colonel Cresswell, a member and it was at shearing time that of Parliament, made it possible we visited him and his wife. for us to address a large au­ Word had gone across the veldt dience in Parliament Hall. and men and women came from Among the first to grasp our forty to sixty miles to hear the hand after the talk was a Mrs. Baha'i message. A tiny speck in Spero, truly a citizen of the the distance, looking like a bee­ world. Having been a personal tle, eventually proved to be an­ I friend of Dr. and Madam Zamen­ other auto bringing callers. I' hof and an Esperanto enthusiast Daily this occurred. The isolated she expressed her appreciation life these people lived made of the tribute to Dr. Zamenhof, them very earnest and they were whose love for his fellowmen en­ intensely interested in t h e abled him to overcome all ob­ Teachings. A well attended talk stacles in the working out of a was given in the only church in universal auxiliary language. He Westbury. Later correspondence had caught the divine ray sent proved that these eager seekers out by Baha'u'lhih. 'Abdu'l­ were still reaching out for more Baha declared that many people information who had never heard of Baha­ 'u'llah were yet doing His will, HEIDELBERG because the power of His word In the Transvaal lies Heidel­ impresses them to do so. berg a picture of peace and tran­ quility, with its little white THE ORANGE FREE STATE houses dotted among the gar­ ' The Orange Free State is prac­ dens. As one approaches he is tically all Afrikaander, formerl} greeted by the fragrance of roses known as Boers, the Dutch word everywhere. Here we were enter· for farmers. Here lived Mr. and tained at the home of Professor ' ' Mrs. Radloff, thirty-six miles Johann Spruyt, an Afrikaander, I from Westbury, the nearest set­ and Mrs. Spruyt of Danish par­ j tlement. Mr. Radloff had trans­ entage. Almost a year before this formed miles upon miles of veldt during our brief visit in Lower or prairie land into productive Unkamaas, Natal, Mrs. Spruyt fields and orchards. Also he pos- had heard and accepted the great 284 WORLD ORDER Message. Through correspond· pressive news of the promulga· ence she had shared with her par­ tion of the Cause. ents all she had learned. As a re· suit her father made the trying RHoDESIA journey of eight hundred miles A three days trip through the to hear the Message direct. He hinterland where there had been made no interruption until we no rain for fifteen months had finished and then, turning to brought me to the colorful city his wife, said: "Mother, we have Bulawayo. Natives and wild ani­ been Baha'is for several years mals had greatly suffered be­ only we did not know it." cause of the drought. Stops at the railroad water tanks were fre­ He had lost his faith during quent and brought many sur­ college years in Stockholm. prises. Natives extended hands Years later, through a God­ for anything edible or for coins. fearing churchman, he became In spite of their crying need for an ardent student of Swedenborg, food and water the youngsters but eventually found that these appeared joyous and happy teachings no longer sufficed. while entertaining us by dancing Something more must come, he and singing. The elders offered reasoned. Among the first book­ for sale various articles made lets sent by his daughter Anna from corn husks hats, fans, was the one containing the twelve trays, baskets and mats and ex­ basic Baha'i principles. "We citedly begged us to purchase. studied these," he said. "Noth­ Others sold crudely carved wild ing more practical can be of­ animals or articles of pottery fered to humanity. We have em­ while still others displayed for bodied these lofty ideals in our sale python skins remarkably lives, and that explains to you well cured and a great variety of the long journey and costs to pelts of wild animals beauti­ hear your Message. This is the fully tanned. • Message of God to our world in At one stop wild boars were this day." passing not more than sixty feet What a blessing this family from our train. They halted un­ was later to the young engineers til the train pulled out, then out in a desert mining center! In rushed to the water feeder to their hospitable home instructive moisten their parched tongues guidance was generously given with the few drops let fall. At an­ to many. Correspondence from other stop twenty-six baboons time to time since then brings im- strayed along, never once glanc- SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION 285 ing at the passengers, but wait­ others in autos. After tea had ing patiently for the few drops been served the history of the of water. Cause was given. As the t r a i n proceeded The next morning we were up through the heat suddenly day­ at six ready for the trip which light gave way to twilight. Just would take us to another farm as suddenly there was a rattling home. An hour's ride in a high sound. Locusts! A fluttering cur­ wheeled buggy brought us to the tain of silvery white caused by farm owned by a retired banker, the sun shining on.. the out­ Mr. Hall, and his invalid wife. stretched wings;· descended, cov­ Their married daughter and fam­ ering everything. Our engine ily expected us and after break­ wheels whirred madly, the train fast we met with them and the slowed and stopped, for · the house guests. Every moment was wheels could not grip the greasy devoted to spreading the Glad rails covered with locusts. Every Tidings. The invalid mother, man passenger, as well as rail­ making an exception to not see­ road employees, was soon clear­ ing people, asked for my pres­ ing the track for a long distance ence. Kneeling at the side of the ahead and thus we continued our bed, in answer to her questions journey and were only two hours so gently put we unfolded the late in reaching Bulawayo. great love and exalted station of Four never- to- be- forgotten God's Holy Messengers. Mrs. weeks in Bulawayo, the largest Hall, gently drawing me near, city in Rhodesia! Although I was the first and only one who, knew only one family, many not understanding, counseled me souls were quickened by the rays to the only path of salvation as of divine love. Sunday, the day she understood it. "Pray," she after my arrival, a fourteen mile whispered. Reverently, a Baha'i trip brought us to the large es­ prayer was said, and on our part tate of Major and Mrs. Carter. the fervent hope expressed that The latter was the second in some day we should meet again South Africa to receive a Holy with our love for each other even Tablet from 'Abdu'l-Baha. A more deep and comprehensive. meeting of friends had been ar­ Mrs. Hall entered her true and ranged. They arrived in all sorts everlasting rest soon after. of conveyances, some in carts Back to Bulawayo with its un· drawn by fourteen oxen, some in paved streets of swirling sand old-fashioned English cabs, some half a block wide! There were no in high-wheeled buggies and trams or rickshaws. A lecture

- • 286 WORLD ORDER was given at the Methodist able seating space was occupied church, which was filled to ca­ with many standing outside in pacity and more, with many on the brilliant moonlight. The next the outside leaning against the morning a number of these men sills of the open windows. This called and some in the afternoon. talk opened the way for giving The chief of the Rhodesian the Baha'i teachings in a number railroad, a Mason, s t a t e d: of homes. "Many new Isms. have come to us Mrs. McKeurtain, club woman from the States, some rather and welfare worker, introduced helpful. this Teaching calls for herself. Her first words were: investigation, study, and that is "Our Salvation Army meets this work, real work. Where can we afternoon. Will you come and get the books?" Books were pre­ tell them what you have given to sented to the Masonic Library me?" We chose to speak on the and Public Library and accepted Golden Rule as given by differ­ after an outline of the Teachings ent Prophets, and this caused had proved acceptable to the li­ surprise and wonder. Could it be brarian. A similar request had that the Golden Rule had been been · made by other librarians given by others preceding the before accepting Baha'I books. Savior? The next morning the · And so scattered throughout officer in command of the Rho­ this vast country of magnificent desian Salvation Army called on distances are many books and me. He explained that the band many friends of the glorious had listened to me instead of Cause of Baha'u'llah. In Durban, practicing the previous after­ the principle city of Natal, in noon. "Now," he said, "they are Bloomfontain of the Orange clamoring for more. Will you Free State, in Maritzburg, Stel­ favor them? I can promise you lenbosch, Wynberg, St. James, that all the boys will be there, Kalk's Bay, Simon's Town, Cale­ also the younger women." The don Springs, Kimberly in all invitation was accepted. The one­ these cities and in others the call ness of true religion was made of the Kingdom has gone forth plain as well as the signs of the through various organizations times and prophecies which are and family groups. Three separ­ being fulfilled in our day. ate trips were made and in all • A ·Baha'i lecture was also some SIX or seven years spent given in a new, white stone, one there. But the work is not com­ story Masonic Temple to Ma­ pleted. Sunny Africa is calling sons and their friends. All avail- still. WITH 0 READERS

S NOTED in Della Quinlan's story Come in the November, 1946, issue. of the life and character of Her home is in Urbana, Illinois. Bahiyyih Khanum, this year, 1946, marks the centenary of the birth of Emeric Sala is well known as the her who was "one of the most dis­ author of This Earth One Country, a tinguished" among her sex. It seems carefully reasoned survey of present fitting that we do not let the year day world pro·blems leading logically pass without calling to mind her to a presentation of the Baha'i Faith great contributions tO' the Cause of as a solution of these problems. Baha'u'llah. Our readers will like to "New Hopes for Minority Peoples" supplement this article by reading shows the same careful reasoning and Shoghi Effendi's tribute to her, the spirit of high hope. Mr. Sala has Greatest Holy Leaf, and also Marjory traveled widely in Europe and Latin Morten's appreciation of her. Both America as well as in this country are found in volume V of The Baha'i and Canada. He and Mrs. Sala re­ World. Mrs. Quinlan has served the turned a few months ago from a sec­ Baha'i Faith in many ways. At pres­ ond trip through Latin America. ent she is a member of the national These trips have the double purpose Baha'i committee for reviewing radio of promoting his import-export busi­ lecture scripts and of the World Lan­ ness and promulgating the Baha'i guage committee. Her home is in Faith. Brooklyn, New Y m·k. Mr. Sala tells us that he is of Hungarian birth, has lived under Mabel Hyde Paine's timely article, eight crowned heads in Europe and "Religion and the Church", helps us studied in the schools of three Euro­ to understand both the strength and pean countries. At the age of eighteen weaknesses of the Christian religion he considered himself an agnO'stic, a as exemplified in the institution of humanitarian and citizen of the the Church, and the relation of the world. At twenty he worked his way Baha'i Faith to Christianity. She on a British freighter to Canada makes it clear that the Bible teaches where he rose through dish-washer, that revelation is progressive. Our day laborer, and office boy to an readers know Mrs. Paine as the com­ executive position in a leading im­ piler of The Divine Art of Living pOTt-export firm in Montreal. It was which appeared in eighteen consecu­ in Montreal that he learned of the tive numbers of World Order (April, Baha'i Faith and changed from an 1940-September, 1941). Later this agnostic to a Baha'i, but found no compilation was slightly revised and reason for ceasing to be a humanitar· published in book form. Mrs. Paine ian and citizen of the world. The also contributes articles to our maga­ Salas live in St. Lambert, a suburb zine. Her last previous contribution of Montreal. Our readers will re­ was a review of The Promised Day Is member Mr. Sala's articles on Islam 287 288 WORLD ORDER in our February and March, 1945, ing that this is not a day of rest or issues; also his article on Venezuela quiescence. This is a day of action in March, 1941. in all the arenas of human power. And only definite, positive, passion­ In her editorial Bertha Hyde Kirk­ ate action can win this cO'lossal bat­ patrick hints at the well developed tle of the forces of good against and well balanced social order of the those of evil out of which must future when, among other things, emerge, like gold from the fire, the women will be developed to their full new humanity which can alone es­ • capacity. tablish the long awaited New WO'rld Part II of "South African Mission" Order of Baha'u'llah." completes the interesting account of It is thoughts such as expressed Fanny Knobloch's experiences in above and actions resulting from carrying the Baha'i teachings to these thoughts and implemented by South Africa during the early 1920's. belief in Baha'u'llah which are the She is a sister of Miss Alma Kno·bloch answer to those who view the ruin who was a pioneer in teaching the and evil in the world with despair Baha'i Faith in Germany. The three and hopelessness. One editor of ' Knobloch sisters, Alma, Fanny and Christian weekly journal who spent Pauline (Mrs. Hannen) were famil­ the summer in England, Europe and iar names among Baha'i teachers and the Near East, after dwelling on the workers in the early days of the Faith tremendous effort necessary to repair in America. the outward physical damage done tc Europe, asks: "But what will repair * * * the inward damage, the spiritual de­ One of our readers, in reflecting . struction? Note that I do not ask on the tremendous powers of evil what can, but what will repair these which are active in the world today, inward ravages. Nothing. Something writes: "Our passionate desire for has happened to Europe's ideas of gO'od must be greater than the world's honor, of morality, of faith, hope and passion for evi1. Constant prayer is charity which goes so deep that no needed, constant fervent effort to restorative power now in evidence know and perform the will of God. will measure up to the task of re­ And constant vigilance in our own storation." vulnerable fortress, the heart. We Baha'is in no way minimize the must diligently search our hearts and forces of evil let loose in the world expel from the!fl all satanic impulses, today. They agree that the old Eur­ for once we open this transmitter it ope is destro'Yed. But they know that broadcasts not only our powerful evil spiritual forces are already working but becomes a clear channel for the even in Europe, not to restore the old evil forces of others. Just as Go·d uses Europe but to build a new one, part men as His instruments for the power of the New World Order of Bah&. of good to flow earthward, so evil 'u'llah. Groups of Baha'is, small usurps and makes its instrument any though they be, are in evidence. In heart that will open to it. them is the spiritual leaven which will "It behooves us then to be on a restore the morality and faith in twenty-four hour alert, remember- Europe. THE EDITORS Baha'i Wo1·ld Faith

This book contains a representative selection of the Writings of Baha'u'lliih and of 'Abdu'l-Bahit, and is thr: large~ t eollection of Baha;i literature in English translation now available in one volume.

A detailed 11ahle of Contents and an Index make the Baha'i teacll­ ings readily accessible for study as '\\"ell as reading and 1neditation.

The plan of thP book arrangeg the contents in nine chapters, as follo\v~ :~- , Part One Writings of Baha'u'lhih Chapter One The Great Announcentent

Chapter Tu1o The Pron1.ised One • Cha,pter Three The Life of the Soul • Chapter Four Latvs of the New Age Chapter Five The llfystery of God

Part Two- --Writings of 'Ahdu~l-Baha Chapter Six---The Faith of Balui'u'llah Chapter Sevenf--Soul, Mind and Spirit • Chapter Eight The Loont of Reality Chapter Nine--The Divine Platz. -

Each of these chapters has been tr(iated as a unit of significance, and the sequence of the nine chapters <·onveys a sense of the unfold­ ment of th

The passages selected have been taken .from fifteen different pub­

lications as '¥ell as from the National Archives• •

Printed on thin light paper a~d bound in green fahrikoid. 465 pages. Per copy, $1.50.

BAHA'i PuBLISHING COMMITTEE 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois

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