Scanned and formatted by Robert Stauffer,
2001;
Proofread and formatted for the web by Jonah Winters, 01/02: online edition close facsimile
of original; only minor formatting changes were introduced for online presentation. -J.W.
Tablets, Instructions and Words of
Explanation
Revealed
by
Abdul Baha Abbas
Introduction to this online edition
Tablets, Instructions and Words of Explanation was the first
publication of the entire Tablets of the Divine Plan by
'Abdu'l-Bahá, the series of tablets sent to American and Canadian
communities as the charter for the spread the Bahá'í Faith
throughout the world. Five of the tablets had already been mailed to the United
States and published in the Star of the West magazine in 1916 and again
in 1918 previous to this publication. (See Appendix) The remaining tablets, not sent on
account of the dangers imposed by WWI, were translated and delivered in person
by one of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's secretaries, Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, at His behest
soon after the war ended. These were "unveiled" for the first time by the
distribution and oral presentation of Tablets, Instructions and Words of
Explanation by Sohrab himself at the "Eleventh Annual Mashrokel-Azkar
Convention and Bahai Congress" held at the McAlpin Hotel, New York City, April
26-30, 1919. The five tablets previously sent in
1916 were also included in this publication and unveiled at the
Convention.
A slightly altered version of Tablets, Instructions and Words of
Explanation was published in Star of the West magazine, Volume 10,
Nos. 4 (May 17, 1919) through Volume 11, No 2 (April 9, 1920). (See Appendix)
Tablets, Instructions and Words of Explanation also contains Sohrab's
record of other talks by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the circumstances surrounding
the revelation of the Tablets of the Divine Plan (i.e. Words of
Explanation). These may be considered to be "pilgrim notes" which fall
outside the authoritative Words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, but are nevertheless
rare insights of the Master during those days. Sohrab published much of his
Words of Explanation again in The Story of the Divine Plan in
1947, years after he had fallen away from the Bahá'í
Administrative Order. His book describes in greater detail his sojourn to
America and the controversies surrounding the unveiling of the Tablets of
the Divine Plan at the Convention of 1919, and hence the early signs of the
adversarial relationship developing between him and the Bahá'í
heterodoxy.
The next time the Tablets of the Divine Plan was published again in
English in its entirety was in 1936 under the title of America's Spiritual
Mission. This was a re-translation, relying heavily on Sohrab's original
translation but without his Words of Explanation. Beginning in 1959 and
in subsequent editions, this work was re-titled Tablets of the Divine
Plan.
- Robert Stauffer, 2001
[cover]
Tablets, Instructions and Words of
Explanation
Revealed
byAbdul Baha Abbas
For the
Assemblies and Meetings
Of the Bahais of the United States
and
Canada. Presented in Talks given by
MIRZA AHMAD
SOHRAB
At the Eleventh Annual Maskrekol-
Azkar Convention,
Bahai Congress,
And Feast of El-Rizwan
April Twenty-Sixth to
April Thirteenth, Inclusive
Nineteen Hundred and
Nineteen
HOTEL McALPIN
NEW YORK
CITY
[page 2]
TABLE of CONTENTS
THE UNVEILING OF THE DIVINE PLAN
FIRST TALK.......................................................................3
First Tablet to the Northeastern States...................................5
Second Tablet to the Northeastern States..................................7
SECOND TALK.....................................................................11
First Tablet to the Southern States......................................12
Second Tablet to the Southern States.....................................13
THIRD TALK......................................................................20
First Tablet to the Central States.......................................22
Second Tablet to the Central States......................................23
FOURTH TALK.....................................................................28
First Tablet to the Western States.......................................29
Second Tablet to the Western States......................................31
FIFTH TALK......................................................................36
First Tablet to Canada...................................................37
Second Tablet to Canada..................................................38
SIXTH TALK......................................................................44
First Tablet to the Assemblies of the United States and Canada in
Reference to Alaska, Mexico, Central America, South America,
The West Indies and other islands of the Western Continent...............46
Second Tablet in reference to the above mentioned countries..............48
SEVENTH TALK....................................................................54
Tablet to the Believers and the Maid Servants of the Merciful of
The Bahai Assemblies and meetings in the United States and
Canada in reference to Europe, Asia, Africa and the islands of
The Pacific..............................................................55
EIGHTH TALK.....................................................................62
Tablet to the Believers of God and the Maid Servants of the Merci-
ful of the Bahai Assemblies of the United States of America and
Canada, regarding Teaching...............................................66
NINTH TALK......................................................................73
Words of Explanation and Exhortations of Abdul Baha......................75
Practical Suggestions for carrying out the program outlined above........81
APPENDIX
List of excerpts as published in Star of the West
[page 3]
SECOND EDITION
THE UNVEILING OF THE DIVINE PLAN
FIRST TALK
Baha'o'llah in the Tablet to the Pope of Rome says:
"Arise in the Name of thy Lord the Merciful, amidst the assembly of beings,
and take the cup of life in the hand of assurance; drink thou therefrom first,
then give to drink to those who advance of the people of different
religions."
Dear Friends! It is indeed a great joy be present at this spiritual gathering
and a blessed privilege indeed to offer to you the Cup of Life prepared for you
by our Beloved Abdul Baha;-- so that you may drink of His Life-giving Words and
then go forth -- offering it to all the religionists of the world.
I bring you the greeting and love of Abdul Baha and his hope and prayers for
your spiritual advancement and illumination. During the last four years the
Beloved has often spoken of your faithfulness and sincerity in the Cause, and
of your yearning to serve, teach and help to further the cause of the oneness
of the world of humanity.
There are many meetings held in this world. Each having a certain object in
view, that object may be commercial, educational or economic, but I am sure
that the object of this great Convention is to draw the hearts nearer together,
to spread the knowledge of Truth, to uphold the ideals of God, to proclaim the
Revelation of Baha'o'llah and to express our devotion and adherence to the
Center of the Covenant Abdul Baha, and carry out his instructions regarding the
building of the Mashrekol-Azkar. Under the dome of this Temple all nations and
religions may worship their God with the utmost freedom.
I come to you from the East, the land -- from the horizon of which -- all the
Suns of Reality have arisen in the past, -- the land which has been the
birth-place of Zoroaster, Abraham, Moses, Christ and Mohammed and in this Day,
His Holiness the Bab, Baha'o'llah and Abdul Baha.
I bring to you not worldly gifts which perish after a few years, but the
jewels of the Kingdom of Baha'o'llah -- His Universal Instructions.
The great events of the last four years have changed the minds of men,
producing a mental and spiritual revolution which cannot be healed without the
power of the Holy Spirit.
Most every one feels that we are today, standing on the threshold of an age of
material, intellectual and spiritual regeneration. All the hidden forces of
humanity are being stirred; political, social and economic principles of the
last two generations are more or less set at naught and the wise men of every
nation are thinking to reconstruct the body politic from top to bottom. There
is not a man or woman in the remotest corners of Asia and Africa who has not
felt the thrill of the coming change, and the spirit of transformation sweeping
all over the world, has brought about tremendous unrest and upheaval. This
great war and its perfect machinery for the destruction of men and property
have appalled the ideal conscience of mankind and have made them realize more
than anything else that War is death, while peace is life; war is
[page 4]
hate, peace is love; war is darkness, peace is light; war is destructive peace
is constructive. All the beneficent forces of society have sprung up through
the interplay of the forces of love, peace and association, and thus the vision
of a better state of being has taken hold of the minds of men all over the
world, without exception. They long and pray for a. more rational religion,
they work for a higher standard of truth, they pray for a nobler state of
existence, they aspire toward a loftier plane of consciousness, and they dream
of the perfections of humanity. They aim to eliminate the poverty of body and
soul, and through the laws of a social religion recover the lost vision of
beauty and love. For as James Dealy, in his book on Sociology, says: "Back of
statistics, heartless laws, agnosticism and materialism, is a belief in the
perfectibility of mankind, whether in this world or the next . . . the
perfection of humanity on earth, however, lies far in the future, and it may be
that thousands of years will be needed before its possibilities become real,
yet the human mind is so constituted that it will continue to dream of the good
time coming, and, as it frees itself front error and illusion, its utopianism
will gradually merge into a science of prevision, and social energy will strive
methodically to bring about a social reconstruction, founded on reason and
inspired by the hope of final achievement."
It is this divine optimism, this dream of the perfectibility of mankind, that
characterizes more than anything the Bahai Movement. It is the dynamic spirit
of the age, the up-rushing breeze of the Garden of Truth, the ideal picture of
the oneness of humanity, that inspires our hearts and swells our breasts with
bright hopes and eager expectations to behold the countenance of brotherhood,
to unfurl the banner of international solidarity and to co-operation for the
realization and perfection of a League of Nations based upon justice and
righteousness. Our great spiritual leader, Abdul Baha, has been teaching and
upholding these universal principles all through his life and has shown in his
daily life and deeds that it is possible for men to live with their neighbors
peacefully and without quarreling, and it is also possible to manifest the
divine life in our material world, suffering it to become the prototype of the
heavenly realm. I believe that from every standpoint Abdul Baha is portraying
to us the ideal perfections of God and humanity, and therefore his instructions
are all based upon spiritual wisdom and celestial sagacity. Whatever he says or
writes is for the good of humanity and the progress of social and divine
order.
During the last few years, while the war was raging all over the earth and the
doors of communication were closed with the outside world, Abdul Baha was not
only praying for the friends of God and the suffering humanity, but he was also
drawing a wonderful plan, a great Law, a Bill of Rights for the spiritual
guidance and regeneration of the world.
When the thunder-cloud of war broke over our heads in Palestine and the wheels
of social and religious activities became clogged, Abdul Baha divided his time
between Haifa, Acca, Bahjee, Tiberias and Adasyah. Often for months he would
stop in an adjoining building in the sacred Tomb of Baha'o'llah and of course I
had always the privilege of accompanying him, humbly walking in his divine
footsteps, trying to learn the beauty and wisdom of his simple yet sublime life
and portraying with as much skill as I could
[page 5]
command, the height and depth of his character, the beauty of his stature and
the peaceful harmony of his inner life.
It was during the months of March and April of 1916 that I had the greatest
joy of my life, to live -- with Abdul Baha in Bahjee. I may claim without grave
apprehension of contradiction that in the future those two months will be
considered as the most significant, the most fruitful months in the Bahai
History, and this, our Convention, as the most Constructive Convention ever
held in America.
The life of Abdul Baha in Bahjee during those two months was not only
prayerful and calm as the surface of a pure river but active and earnest, full
of life and beauty; the highest ideals of the Kingdom, like jewels were failing
from his lips; the garden of his heart was adorned as it is always adorned with
the imperishable roses of Truth and the Elysian field of his mind was begemmed
with violets of spiritual emotions arid hyacinths of divine wisdom.
On Monday morning March 26, 1916, he was sitting peacefully in his room in
Bahjee, now and then looking out of the window over the olive grove, beyond the
sea and far into the infinitude. Suddenly he turned his wonderful, penetrating
eyes upon me and asked me to chant one of the prayers of Baha'o'llah. As I
continued my chant I felt a strange power coming over me, realizing my
unworthiness in being permitted to live so long and so near the divine presence
of Abdul Baha. When I finished the prayer he looked at me with charming
sweetness, that soft, dancing light in his eyes and said: "Thou must be
infinitely grateful to Baha'o'llah that He has chosen thee to be with me for so
long a time. Surely it must be for a great purpose that is not apparent at the
present time. It will become clear in the future. Now bring pen, paper and ink
and I will dictate a Tablet for America."
When I was ready to take down his thoughts, the following heavenly words
adorned the white page as the necklace adorns the neck of a queen:
TABLET
"To the friends and maid servants of God in the NORTHEASTERN States:
"Upon them be greeting and praise!
"O ye heavenly heralds:
"These are the days of Naurooz. I am always thinking of those kind friends! I
beg for each and all of you confirmations and assistance from the threshold of
Oneness, so that those gatherings may become ignited like unto candles, in the
Republics of America, enkindling the light of the love of God in the hearts;
thus the rays of the heavenly teachings may begem and brighten the states of
America like the infinitude of immensity with the stars of the most great
guidance.
"The Northeastern states on the shores of the Atlantic -- Maine, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and New York -- in some of these states believers are found, but in some
of the cities of these states up to this date people are not yet illumined with
the lights of the Kingdom and are not aware of the heavenly teachings;
therefore, whenever it is possible for each one of you, hasten ye
[page 6]
to those cities and shine forth like unto the stars with the light of the most
great guidance. God says in the glorious Koran: "The soil was black and dried.
Then we caused the rain to descend upon it and immediately it became green,
verdant, and every kind of plant sprouted up luxuriantly." In other words, he
says the earth and the soil is black, but when the spring showers descend upon
it that black soil is quickened, and variegated flowers are pushed forth. This
means the souls of humanity belonging to the world of nature are black like
unto the soil. But when the heavenly outpourings descend and the radiant
effulgences appear, the hearts are resuscitated, are liberated from the
darkness of nature and the flowers of divine mysteries grow and become
luxuriant. Consequently man must become the cause of the illumination of the
world of humanity and propagate the holy teachings revealed in the sacred books
through the divine inspiration. It is stated in the blessed Gospel: Travel ye
toward the East and toward the West and enlighten the people with the light of
the Most Great Guidance, so that they may take a portion and share of eternal
life. Praise be to God, that the Northeastern States are in the utmost
capacity. Because the ground is rich, the rain of the divine outpouring is
descending. Now you must become heavenly farmers and scatter pure seeds in the
prepared soil. The harvest of every other seed is limited, but the bounty and
the blessing of the seed of the divine teachings is unlimited. Throughout the
coming centuries and cycles many harvests will be gathered. Consider the work
of former generations. During the lifetime of Jesus Christ the believing, firm
souls were few and numbered, but the heavenly blessings descended so
plentifully that in a number of years countless souls entered beneath the
shadow of the Gospel. God has said in the Koran: "One grain will bring forth
seven sheaves, and every sheaf shall contain one hundred grains." In other
words, one grain will become seven hundred; and if God so wills He will double
these also. It has often happened that one blessed soul has become the cause of
the guidance of a nation. Now we must not consider our ability and capacity,
nay, rather, we must fix our gaze upon the favors and bounties of God, in these
days, who has made of the drop a sea, and of the atom a sun.
"Upon you be greeting and praise!
"(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS."
Translated April 26, 1916.
Nearly ten months passed. Meanwhile the above Tablet had been forwarded to
America and its circulation amongst the friends of that section had created a
great deal of active interest in the promotion of the Cause. But during the
months following, the talk's of Abdul Baha on various occasions pointed to the
fact that that Tablet was not final and that when the proper time came he would
reveal another and more wonderful Tablet for the guidance of the Friends. Thus
I was made very happy when this Lordly promise was fulfilled and on Friday
morning February 2nd, 1917, while he was walking in a small room in his house
at Haifa he dictated the following spiritual firman for the believers of the
northeastern states ending with a supplication to be read by the teachers going
into the field of activity spreading the light.
[page 7]
"To the believers of God and the maid servants of the Merciful of the
Northeastern States of the United States of America.
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York.
"He is God!
" O ye real friends!
" All the regions countries in the estimation of the True One, are one region
and all cities and villages are ideally equal and similar to each other.
Neither holds distinction over another. All of them are the fields of God and
the habitation of the souls of men. But through faith and assurance and the
precedence of one part over another the dweller imparts holiness and
sanctification to the dwelling and some of the countries become exceptional,
attain to the most great distinction.
"For example, notwithstanding that some of the countries of Europe and America
are distinguished for the purity of the air, the wholesomeness of water, and
the charm of mountains, plains and prairies and are preferred above all the
rest, yet Palestine became an honor to all other regions of the world: Because
all the holy divine Manifestations from the time of His Holiness Abraham to the
time of the appearance of the Seal of the Prophets, have been either living in
this region or emigrated to or travelled through here. Likewise, Yathroh and
Batha attained to the most great bounty and the light of the Prophets have
shone from that horizon. For this reason Palestine and Hedjaz are distinguished
above all other Regions.
"Likewise as the Continent of America in the estimation of the True One is the
field of the effulgence of lights, the Kingdom of the Manifestation of
Mysteries, the home of the righteous ones and the gathering place of the free,
therefore every section thereof is blessed; but because these nine states have
been favored in faith and assurance, hence thro' this precedence they have
obtained spiritual privilege. They must realize the value of this bounty;
because they have obtained such a favor and in order to render thanksgiving for
this most great Bestowal, they must arise in the diffusion of Divine
Fragrances; so that the blessed verse of the Koran: "God is the light of heaven and earth: the similitude of His light is a niche
in a wall, wherein a lamp is placed, and the lamp enclosed in a case of glass;
the glass appears as if it were a glistening star. It is lighted with the oil
of a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East, nor of the West; it wanteth
little but that the oil thereof would give light, although no fire touched it.
This is the light added unto light. God will direct unto His light whom He
pleaseth."
-- may be realized.
He says: "The world of nature is the world of darkness, because it is the
origin of a thousand depravities, nay, rather, it is darkness upon darkness."
The illumination of the world of nature is dependent upon the splendor of the
Sun of Reality. The grace of guidance is like unto the candle which is
enkindled in the glass of knowledge and wisdom and that glass of knowledge and
wisdom is the mirror of the heart of humanity. The oil of that luminous
[page 8]
lamp is from the fruits of the Blessed Tree and that oil is so refined that it
will burn without light. When the intensity of the light and the translucency
of the glass and the purity of the mirror are brought together, it will become
light upon light.
"In brief, in these nine Blessed States Abdul Baha journeyed and traveled from
place to place, explained the wisdom of the heavenly book and diffused the
fragrances. In most of these States he founded the Divine Edifice and opened
the door of teaching. In those States he sowed pure seeds and planted blessed
trees.
"Now the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful must irrigate
those fields and with the utmost power engage themselves in the cultivation of
these heavenly plantations so that the seeds may grow and develop, prosperity
and blessing be realized and many rich and great harvests be gathered in.
"The Kingdom of God is like unto a farmer who comes into possession of a piece
of pure and virgin soil. Heavenly seeds are scattered therein, the clouds of
divine providence pour down and the rays of the Sun of Reality shine forth.
"Now all these bounties exist and appear in full in these nine States. The
divine Gardener passed by that holy ground and scattered pure seeds from the
lordly teachings in that field, the rain of the bounties of God poured down and
the heat of the Sun of Reality, that is: -- the Merciful Confirmations -- shone
with the utmost splendor. It is my hope that each one of those blessed souls
may become a peerless and unique irrigator and the East and the West of America
may become like unto a delectable paradise -- so that all of you may hear from
the Supreme Concourse the cry of "Blessed are ye, and again blessed are ye!"
"Upon you be greeting and praise!"
The following supplication is to be read by the teachers and friends daily:
"O Thou Kind Lord! Praise be unto Thee that Thou hast shown us the Highway of
Guidance, opened the doors of the Kingdom and manifested Thyself through the
Sun of Reality. To the blind Thou hast given sight; to the deaf Thou hast
granted hearing; Thou hast resuscitated the dead; Thou hast shown the way to
those who have gone astray; Thou hast led those with parched lips to the
fountain of guidance; Thou hast suffered the thirsty fish to reach the Ocean of
Reality; and Thou hast invited the wandering birds to the rose-garden of Grace.
"O Thou Almighty! We people are Thy servants and Thy poor ones! We are remote,
we yearn for Thy Presence; we are thirsty for the water of Thy Fountain; we are
ill, longing for Thy medicine. We are walking in Thy Path and have no aim or
hope save the diffusion of Thy Fragrances -- so that the souls may raise the
cry of: "O God! Guide us to the straight Path!" May they open their eyes by
beholding the light and become freed from the darkness of ignorance! May they
walk around the Lamp of Guidance! May the portionless receive a share! And may
the deprived ones become the confidants of the Mysteries!
"O Almighty! Look upon us with the glance of Mercifulness! Grant us Heavenly
Confirmation! Bestow upon us the breaths of the Holy Spirit! So that we may
become assisted in service and like unto brilliant stars we may
[page 9]
shine in these regions with the light of Guidance! Verily! Thou art the
Powerful, the Mighty and Thou art the Wise and the Seeing!
"(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS."
The next morning when I took the transcription of it to him for correction, he
took it in his hands, read it slowly and added a few words here and there. Then
raising his head, said: "Come and take this, Mirza Ahmad. Let me See what you
can do. Let me see what the friends of God in these States will do. Will they
arise with a superhuman energy and spread the lights of the Sun of Reality in
all those great cities, towns, villages and hamlets? I have pointed out to them
the highway of service. Will they walk in it? I have drawn for them the plan of
God, will they, like experienced generals, attack the enemies from all sides?
Come! Take it and let us see the results. And what are you going to do? Are you
going to take a hand in this divine campaign? Now you are witnessing its birth.
The time will soon come when you will have to work for its realization with all
the power and energy that God has given thee."
These words were uttered a long time ago and on that day little did I realize
that I would be here, standing before you and talking, taking an humble part in
the inauguration of this great campaign of our supreme general.
On another occasion he said:
"The believers must arise in perfect unity in teaching the Cause of God and
grasping each other's hands be engaged in the diffusion of the fragrances of
God, and know of a certainty that the confirmations of His Holiness Baha'o'llah
shall descend upon them.
"I hope that the. Northeastern States, especially New York, may attain to the
utmost state of perfection in the Cause of God, and in the matter of teaching
and the promotion of the Word of God they may precede the friends of other
parts. New York is the first and greatest city of the Western Hemisphere and
the numberless passengers who come to America, come or pass through this City.
Therefore, its important position is quite secure and must be taken into
consideration. The friends of this City must be in the utmost love and amity,
so that their unity may serve as an example to the other States.
"When thou art standing in their midst, tell them:
"The Bounties of the Kingdom of God are great. The glances and favors of the
Blessed Perfection are with you; the invisible cohorts are your support. Now
step forward in this field of teaching. Then shall you see the greatness of
results. Do not turn your faces away because of any difficulties and
oppositions. The greater the difficulties the greater must he your firmness and
steadfastness. Then you shall observe that the fame of the Cause will be more
widely spread and the Confirmations of the Kingdoms of Abha appearing with
greater effulgence. Hence, you must, first of all, arise in teaching the Cause
and calling the people to the manifestation of the Kingdom; so that God's
assistance may encircle you from all sides. Should you not render this service
and should you not win this goal in the hold of action,
[page 10]
others coming after you will accomplish this work. Yet it is my hope that in
this age you may become assisted in rendering these great services."
It is hoped that the delegates and the friends front these parts will realize
their great responsibility, for they have a great task before them. It is not
the work of one or two or ten or twenty years but for it long stretch of years.
It is indeed a divine responsibility to be called upon -- a population of more
than twenty-one millions or nearly one-fourth of the inhabitants of the United
States. Think of New York and its five millions, Philadelphia one million and a
half, Boston with its seven hundred thousand, adding to this the- thrifty
inhabitants of hundreds of New England towns, Pittsburgh with its half million,
Rochester two hundred and fifty thousand -- thus I may go on enumerating all
the important centers of industries in these nine States. How are you going to
teach these millions of people about the principles of the oneness of humanity,
the brotherhood of the. races and the love of God as revealed in the writings
of Baha'o'llah and Abdul Baha?
Leaving this question to be answered in another talk, I now call on Margaret
P. Randall and Bertha Holley to come forward to unveil the great Spiritual
Charter of the Northeastern States, while all of us are standing. And as I have
chanted many, many times the wonderful Supplication of the original in the
presence of Abdul Baha, also in the Tomb of Baha'o'llah and at the sacred
Mausoleum of the Bab, I will close this session of the Convention by chanting
the Prayer for you.
[page 11]
THE UNVEILING OF THE DIVINE PLAN
SECOND TALK
Baha'o'llah says in the Book of Akdas:
"It behooveth the one who hath drunk today the Elixir of Life from the Hand of
his Lord, the Merciful, to be pulsating like unto an artery in the body of the
universe; thus the world may be moved through him and every mouldering bone be
clothed with flesh."
Today the world of humanity is hungry for the bread of life and thirsty for
the water of Truth. Now that men have realized more than ever before that all
their former institutions have been based upon a foundation of sand, they are
trying to do away with all the past evils and build on the solid rock of the
Word of God a palace of human prosperity which shall last forever. No doubt
this new structure w ill not be built by a single man or by a single nation. It
is only through the co-operation and mutual assistance of all men and of all
races and of all clinics that this divine edifice will be raised. Its
foundation must be laid in the hearts, and its walls rising to the seventh
heaven of human consciousness. It is only through the power of God and the love
of humanity that the builders will be inspired to set aside their national
prejudices and traditions, merging them in the strong white light of
internationalism and brotherhood. For has it not been said of old: "Love
conquers everything!" Without love nothing succeeds, nothing goes forward. When
altruism and the love of God join hands, then we have really a dynamic and
divine civilization. And it is only through the establishment of this divine
civilization, that humanity shall enter through the portals of regeneration
into the garden of Truth.
It is evident that every institution, both religious and social, has been
subjected in the past to the law of change and modification, Most of the former
movements, because they could not adapt themselves to a new environment, became
little by little static, lost their pliability and elasticity, became lifeless
and died from inanition. But in this age the law of religious truth and social
energy has taught us a new lesson, i.e., a movement cannot survive the
cataclysm of the ages unless it is permeated with a strong telic policy.
Now I believe from what we have seen and experienced of the Bahai Movement --
have felt the effects of its ethical and practical laws and its religious and
scientific aspects -- we may assert that of all other movements of the last
age, this Movement is endowed with an extraordinary amount of telic energy and
the power of adaptation. The unveiling of the Great Tablets to the believers of
the Northeastern States must have demonstrated to you in a striking manner what
this power of adaptation and telic energy must mean to the Bahais in the
future. It is only through the constant application of these two fundamental
laws and the assistance of the Holy Spirit that we shall be enabled to teach
the Cause of God and the brotherhood of races to all these millions of men.
[page 12]
At this season we will take another step, and bring within the range of our
human vision the larger divine vision of Abdul Baha by reading to you the
translation of the two Tablets revealed to the Southern States. The first
Tablet was revealed on Wednesday morning, March 27th, 1916. The
Beloved of our hearts was sitting on a chair in the midst of the fresh wild
flowers, looking at them and admiring their color and beauty. After a few
minutes of silence, he began to dictate the following heavenly ideals:
"To the friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful in the Southern
states:
"Upon them be greeting and praise!
"O ye heralds of the Kingdom of God!
"A few days ago an epistle was written to those divine believers, but because
these days are the days of Nourooz, therefore you have come to my mind and I am
sending you this greeting for this glorious feast. All the days are blessed,
but this feast is the national fete of Persia. The Persians have been holding
it for several thousand years past. In reality every day which man passes in
the mention of God, the diffusion of the Fragrances of God and calling the
people to the Kingdom of God, that day is his feast. Praise be to God that you
are occupied in the service of the Kingdom of God and are engaged in the
promulgation of the Religion of God by day and by night. Therefore all your
days are feast days. There is no doubt that the assistance and the bestowal of
God shall descend upon you.
"In the Southern States of the United States, the Friends are few, that is, in
Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Consequently you must either go yourselves or
send a number of blessed souls to those states, so that they may guide the
people to the Kingdom of heaven. One of the Holy Manifestations, addressing a
believing soul, says: 'If a person become the cause of the illumination of one
soul, it is better than a boundless treasury.' Again He says: 'O Ali! If God
guide, through thee, one soul, it is better for thee than all the riches!'
Again He says: 'Direct us to the straight path!' that is, show us the right
road. It is also mentioned in the Gospel: 'Travel ye to all parts of the world
and give ye the glad tidings of the appearance of the Kingdom of God.'
"In brief, I hope you will display in this respect the greatest effort and
magnanimity. It is assured that you will become assisted and confirmed. A
person declaring the glad tidings of the appearance of the realities and
significances of the Kingdom is like unto a farmer who scatters pure seeds, in
the rich soil. The spring cloud will pour upon them the rain of bounty, and
unquestionably the station of the farmer will be raised in the estimation of
the lord of the village, and many harvests will be gathered.
"Therefore, ye friends of God! Appreciate ye the value of this time and be ye
engaged in the sowing of the seeds, so that ye may find the heavenly blessing
and the lordly bestowal. Upon ye be Baha El Abha!"
"(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS."
[page 13]
The second Tablet for the Southern States, which is now given to the world for
the first time, was dictated by Abdul Baha on Monday morning, February 3d,
1917, in his little cottage in his home in Haifa. It is as follows:
"To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful of the Southern
States.
"Upon them be Baha'o'llah El Abha!
He is God!
"O ye blessed, respected souls!
"The philosophers of the ancients, the thinkers of the Middle Ages and the
scientists of this and the future centuries have all agreed upon the fact that
the best and the most ideal region for the habitation of man is the temperate
zone, for in this belt the intellects and thoughts rise to the highest stage of
maturity and the capability and ability of civilization manifest themselves in
full efflorescence. When you read history critically and with a penetrating
eye, it becomes evident that the majority of the famous men have been born,
reared and have done their work in the temperate zone, while very, very few
have appeared from the torrid and frigid zones.
" Now these sixteen Southern States of the United States are situated in the
temperate zone, and in these regions the perfections of the world of nature
have been fully revealed. For the moderation of the weather, the beauty of the
scenery and the geographical configuration of the country display a great
effect in the world of minds and thoughts. This fact is well demonstrated
through observation and experience.
"Even the Holy, Divine Manifestations have had a nature in the utmost
equilibrium, the health and wholesomeness of their bodies most perfect, their
constitutions endowed with physical vigor, their powers functioning in perfect
order, and the outward sensations linked with the inward perceptions, working
together with extraordinary momentum and coordination.
"Therefore in these sixteen states, because they are contiguous to other
states and their climate being in the utmost of moderation, unquestionably the
Divine Teachings must reveal themselves with a brighter effulgence, the Breaths
of the Holy Spirit must display a penetrating intensity, the ocean of the Love
of God must be stirred with higher waves, the breezes of the Rose-garden of the
Divine Love be wafted with higher velocity, and the Fragrances of Holiness be
diffused with swiftness and rapidity.
"Praise be to God that the Divine Outpourings are infinite, the melody of the
lordly principles is in the utmost efficacy, the most great Orb shining with
perfect splendor, the cohorts of the Supreme Concourse are attacking with
invincible power, the tongues are sharper than the swords, the hearts are more
brilliant than the light of electricity, the magnanimity of the friends
precedes all the magnanimities of the former and subsequent generations, the
souls are divinely attracted, and the fire of the love of God is enkindled.
"At this time and at this period we must avail ourselves of this most great
opportunity. We must not sit inactive for one moment; we must sever ourselves
from composure, rest, tranquillity, goods, property, life and attachment to
material things. We must sacrifice everything to His Highness, the Possessor of
existence; so that the powers of the Kingdom may show greater penetration and
the brilliant effulgence in this New Cycle may illumine the worlds of minds and
ideals.
[page 14]
"It is about 23 years that the Fragrances of God have been diffused in America,
but no adequate and befitting motion has been realized, and no great
acclamation and acceleration has been witnessed. Now it is my hope that through
the heavenly power, the Fragrances of the Merciful, the attraction of
consciousness, the celestial outpourings, the heavenly cohorts and the gushing
forth of the Fountain of Divine Love, the believers of God may arise and in a
short time the Greatest Good may unveil her countenance, the Sun of Reality may
shine forth with such intensity that the darkness of the world of nature may
become entirely dispelled and driven away; from every corner a most wonderful
melody may be raised, the morning birds may break into such a song that the
world of humanity may be quickened and moved, the solid bodies may become
liquefied, and the souls who are like unto adamantine rocks may open their
wings and through the heat of the love of God fly heavenward.
"Nearly 2,000 years ago, Armenia was enveloped with impenetrable darkness. One
blessed soul from among the disciples of Christ hastened to that part, and
through his effort, erelong that province became illumined. Thus it has become
evident how the power of the Kingdom works!
"Therefore, rest ye assured in the Confirmations of the Merciful and the
assistance of the Most High, become ye sanctified above and purified from this
world and the inhabitants thereof, suffer your intentions to work for the good
of all, cut your attachment to the earth and like unto the essence of the
spirit become ye light and delicate. Then with a firm resolution, a pure heart,
a rejoiced spirit, and an eloquent tongue, engage your time in the promulgation
of the Divine Principles; so that the Oneness of the World of Humanity may
pitch her canopy in the apex of America and all the nations of the world may
follow the Divine Policy. This is certain, that the Divine Policy is justice
and kindness toward all mankind. For all the nations of the world are the sheep
of God, and God is the Kind Shepherd. He has created these sheep. He has
protected them, sustained and trained them. What greater kindness than this?
And every moment we must render a hundred thousand thanksgivings that, praise
be to God, we are freed from all the ignorant prejudices, are kind to all the
sheep of God, and our utmost hope is to serve each and all, and like unto a
benevolent father educate every one.
"Upon you be Greeting and praise!
"Every soul who travels through these cities, villages and hamlets of these
states and is engaged in the diffusion of the Fragrances of God, must peruse
this Commune every morning:
"O my God! O my God! Behold me! Notwithstanding my lowliness and my lack of
capability and ability, I am bent upon the accomplishment of the greatest
works, aiming to promote Thy Word amongst the republics and resolved to spread
Thy Teachings amongst all mankind. Far be it from me to become confirmed in
this work save Thou may assist me with the Breaths of the Holy Spirit! Make me
victorious through the armies of Thy Supreme Kingdom and encircle me with Thy
Confirmations, which shall make the moth the eagle, the drop the river and the
seas, and the scintillas the suns and the moons!
"O Lord! Confirm me with Thy insuperable Power and Thy penetrating
[page 15]
Potency, so that my tongue may speak out Thy praises and glorifications
amongst Thy creatures, and my heart become overflowed with the Wine of Thy Love
and Knowledge, verily, Thou art the Powerful to do that which Thou willest, and
Thou art mighty over all things!
"(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS."
It is significant to observe that Abdul Baha, in writing to the Southern
States, takes the example of farming, and applies it to the spiritual farming,
for as we know most of the states are primarily agricultural. The world looks
to the South for its cotton, and thousands of factories would be closed in case
of a bad harvest. Now the desire of Abdul Baha is that just as the Southern
people are clothing the bodies of millions of men with finely woven textures
out of their cotton, they may also clothe the spiritual body of mankind with
the heavenly characteristics of divine attributes. Just as they sweeten the
tongues with the sugar cane of Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia, they may sweeten
the lives of men and women who have lost their bright hopes of a better
state.
The sixteen Southern States have more than five times the area of the
Northeastern States, and we can get an idea of the vastness of this section
when we realize that Texas alone is larger than the entire group of the
Northeastern States; nevertheless the population is only about 23 millions; not
much more than that of the Northeastern States. The problem of how to reach
this great mass of humanity, and how to spread the Message of the Kingdom in
all parts of the South, is a subject that only time, knowledge and discretion
will disclose to us. It is not a matter to be decided upon in a decade or two.
Once we are inspired with this glorious vision of man's spiritualization, and
once there is a telic policy guiding all our aims and hopes, I am sure we will
go on advancing from step to step till the final goal is achieved. We may not
see that goal, but still ours will be the greatest satisfaction, to have laid
the foundation of this work, not on the crumbling rocks of human policies, but
in the pure hearts of men and women gathered here in this meeting. Look on the
map for a moment, and the whole South is dotted with large, thriving cities,
the inhabitants intelligent and hard workers. Here we have Washington, with a
population of nearly 500,000, the Capital of the United States, the seat of the
National Government, with the President and the Congress; here also we have the
representatives of the nations of the earth. Then Baltimore, with more than
500,000; New Orleans with about 350,000; Nashville with 120,000, San Antonio
with 100,000; Richmond with 130,000; Memphis with 140,000; then Birmingham,
Augusta, Charleston, Chattanooga, Covington, forth Worth, Houston, Mobile,
Oklahoma City, Savannah, Wilmington, and many others with large populations and
prosperous agricultural and industrial communities.
The Bahai Cause, whose basic spiritual principles are the Fatherhood of God
and the brotherhood of man, must permeate every stratum of society in the
South; so that this section may become the paradise of glory and happiness,
flowing with milk and honey. All the racial and religious prejudices must be
wiped away, that every face may shine with the light of the
[page 16]
Kingdom. This, I can assure you, is the supreme desire of Abdul Baha, and the
sooner this ideal condition is brought about, the nearer we are to the Golden
age of Universal Peace.
And now I must bring this second talk to a close by quoting to you two short
talks of Abdul Baha. Here is the first. Having looked over and corrected the
second Tablet to the South, he handed it to me, saying:
"Come my son, take it. I have corrected it. The importance of this Tablet will
be revealed in the future. In these vast sixteen States the lights of the Sun
of Reality shall shine with great power and the dark clouds of ignorance and
human prejudices will be dispelled from its horizon. Mr. Gregory must
demonstrate a self-sacrificing spirit in teaching the Cause amongst the black
race, diffuse the Fragrances of God in every part of the South, and let his cry
of Ya-Baha El Abha reach to the apex of heaven, in their meetings, gatherings,
churches, colleges and schools. The believers of God with the utmost firmness
and steadfastness must go forth and teach the heavenly institutes to the
inhabitants of the South. They must not turn their faces from any difficulty.
Like unto a waving sea they must be tumultuous and full of divine acclamation.
And similar unto the thankful birds they must be always singing the songs of
love, light and life. Every person in accordance with his capability and
ability must be engaged in teaching the Cause of God and show an effort in the
illumination of the souls, so that praiseworthy results may appear and become
manifest from him. I desire nothing else from the believers of those States
save teaching the Cause of His Highness the Almighty. See with what love, with
what attraction, with what exhilaration I wrote this Tablet for them. One of
the wisdoms of this universal war is no other than the writing of these
Epistles, so that the believers may realize that the Cause of His Holiness
Baha'o'llah must ultimately encircle the globe. Having thus clearly perceived
their duty they will spare no effort to hasten its consummation. The prominent
believers of the South, like Mr. Remey, Mr. Hannen, Mrs. Parsons, Mr. Gregory
and others must come together, hold meetings of consultation and devise
efficient ways and means for the teaching of the people of this great section
and promote amongst the inhabitants the spirit of brotherhood, unity and the
love of His Holiness Christ and Baha'o'llah. Do thou present thyself in their
meetings, and through the inspiration of the Holy spirit make them realize and
feel how this question of teaching is one of the utmost importance in the
Cause. Tell them: Do not let your thoughts and ideals be crystallized around
particular matters. Close your eyes to outward differences and look upon each
other with the eye of universal oneness. Like unto the cup-bearers of eternity
turn ye round in the assemblages of mankind the overflowing goblets of guidance
and intoxicate them with the wine of the Love of God. Walk ye always in the
pathway of lights and let the pillars of shining Bahai inspiration lead and
direct you to your glorious destination. Let your thoughts be of Baha'o'llah.
Like unto sanctified souls, associate ye with the people of the world and show
ye that which ye have. Do ye not hide the precious jewels of the Kingdom under
the earth. This day is the day of revelation! This Manifestation is the
Manifestation of Knowledge and Understanding!"
[page 17]
The second talk was given one morning in February, 1918, while he was walking
in his lovely garden. The names of the Southern States were brought to his
attention, and his face was suddenly brightened with the light of inspiration.
Then, as he continued his walk, he uttered the following poetic message,
redolent with the fragrance of the Garden of Abha: --
"Praise be to God that the dark ages have passed away and the Century of Light
has come. Praise be to God that the traces of prejudices and superstitions are
effaced, and the horizon of the minds and the hearts of humanity are broadened.
Praise be to God that the seas of idle fancies of the religionists are calmed
down and the oceans of the realities and significances of the Blessed
Perfection are set in motion. Praise be to God that the gloomy nights of
ignorance have flitted away across the receding ages, and the bright dawns of
intelligence and wisdom are becoming visible. Praise be to God that the cold
winter of fanaticism and bigotry, with its chilling hand and irrational
heterodoxy has come to an end, and the soul-refreshing springtime of the
imperishable flowers and hyacinths of universal love and toleration, has
dawned, perfuming all the nostrils with the sweet odors of trust and
confidence. Praise be to God that the black clouds of human limitations and
man-made restrictions are dispelled, and the world enlightening sun of the
Kingdom hath dawned from the Horizon of the hearts! Praise be to God that the
chains of injustice and the fetters of the opposition of the Pharoahs of the
earth and the despotic rulers of men have crumbled to dust, and the age of
justice, equity, brotherhood and real democracy is inaugurated. Praise be to
God that the crowns of the depots have fallen to the earth, and the thrones of
the absolutists are shaken to the foundation. But the real diadems of glory and
power and the royal seats of just governments and democratic institutions were
raised high. Praise be to God that the period of satanic suggestions have come
to a close, and the cycle of angelic ideals and seraphic thoughts hath opened
before the eyes of men.
"The past age was an age of wondrous achievements. All the inventions were
perfected; new discoveries created new fields of human activities; new
undertakings gave deeper significance to the law of co-operation; new arts
helped to make life more beautiful and new international laws are now in the
process of formation to bind all nations of the earth together. The
international tribunal of justice will soon be organized in accordance with the
Principles of Baha'o'llah, and then all the differences will be adjusted before
the members of that impartial tribunal.
"Therefore, as a result of these changes in the outward world, it has become
part of the heavenly wisdom in the inner world to create a new spiritual plan
for the propagation of the religion of God; thus the divine believers may
obtain a new joy and a new happiness and display an extraordinary effort in the
promotion of the reality of the religions of God; to deliver the nations from
old, superannuated prejudices and diffuse the fragrances of the flowers of the
primal truth; to unfurl the flag of the love, amity and the oneness of the
world of humanity and remove the international misunderstandings from amongst
the nations of the world. From their hearts and souls they must cry out:
"Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! That the illumination of heavenly brotherhood
hath encircled the East and the West!
[page 18]
"Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! That the doors of the Kingdom of Mercy are wide
open!
"Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! That the melody of the Supreme Concourse hath
reached the ears of every old and young one!
"Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! That the banquet of the Lord is spread in the
assemblages of the friends!
"Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! That the period of bloodshed and carnage hath
passed away and the century of Universal Peace and gathering together of
nations of the earth hath dawned upon us!
"Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! That the weeping eyes are made joyous and
laughing, and ere long the diamond age of the Kingdom of Abha will be
established in the hearts!
"Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! For the sleepy ones are awakened and the
negligent ones are made mindful!
"Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! That the call of the Merciful is raised, the
resurrection is set up, the dead are resuscitated, the lame are dancing unto
the gazelles, the deaf are endowed with hearing and the dumb are granted the
power of speech!
"Glad Tidings! Glad Tidings! That the Breaths of the Holy Spirit confer life
and day by day the world of humanity advances toward the goal of perfection.
"O ye inhabitants of the world, awaken ye! awaken ye!
"O ye factions of the earth, become ye mindful! become ye mindful!
"O ye devotees of religions, obtain life! Obtain life!
"O ye sects and denominations, move ye! Move ye!
"O ye lovers of the beauty of the True One, become ye self-sacrificing! Become
ye self-sacrificing!
"O ye enkindled ones! O ye supplicating ones! Become ye the confidants of the
mysteries! Become ye the confidants of the mysteries!
"O ye birds of the rose-garden of Abha! Sing ye the anthems of mercy! Break ye
into the songs of beatitude!
"O ye brilliant stars of the heaven of God! Shine ye!
"O ye teachers of the Cause of the Supreme Lord! Travel ye, teach ye!
Destroy ye the foundation of hatred, malice and contention from amongst the
children of men, and lay ye the basis of the palace of love and universal
Peace!'
"The lights of the oneness of the world of humanity are scintillating like
unto precious jewels; scatter their rays to all parts! Upraise ye the banner of
unity, fraternity, co-operation and reciprocity amongst all the people; so that
there may not be left from prejudice aught save a name, and from ignorance not
even a shadow; the religion of God may pitch its tent over the East and the
West, the light of the Kingdom may illumine all hearts, perfect agreement and
association may be realized between races, religions and nativities, and the
world of creation may find composure and tranquility."
On another occasion, he said: "Give my greeting to the friends in Washington
and say: O ye believers of God! I am always thinking of the days that I
associated with you. Never will I forget you and the spiritual meetings held in
your city. I beg from the Favors of the Blessed Perfection that ye may become
assisted to promote the Cause of God and promulgate
[page 19]
the Word of God in the Southern states, that just as Washington is the
political center of the American Republic, she may become the dawning-place of
merciful susceptibilities, and celestial feelings. Arise ye without any fear in
the promulgation of the religion of God! Become ye firmly rooted in this great
aim, send ye teachers to all directions, and become ye not apprehensive should
ye meet strong opposition. The contradiction of others is more conducive to the
strength of the Cause of God. Ever so I beg for you divine Confirmation. My
Spirit is with each one of you. So ye not look upon your own capacities. Rest
ye assured in the Bounties of the Blessed Perfection. He shall change the drop
into an ocean and the moth into an eagle. He changes the stone into the
precious ruby and the scintilla into the world-illuminating sun. Open ye the
eloquent tongues and day and night consult with each other regarding the
promotion of the Cause of God, so that in the end you may crown your heads with
this diadem and carrying in your hands the swords of light, ye may conquer the
kingdoms of the hearts."
And now that the Divine Plan for the Southern states is given to you, the
Misses Helen and Mary Hotchkiss will come forward to unveil the same, so that
we may all look upon the Great Charter of Spiritual Freedom. Then I will chant
for you the original of the Commune that the Beloved has revealed for the
teachers of this section. Many, many a time have I chanted it in the Holy Tomb
of Baha'o'llah, in the presence of Abdul Baha, and now while you are going to
listen to it, I would like you to feel the spirituality of its words and the
beauty of its expressions.
[page 20]
THE UNVEILING OF THE DIVINE PLAN
THIRD TALK
"Is this day the day of rest? No, by the Lord of the worlds. Is this day the
day of silence"? No, by Myself, the True One, were ye of those who know. Verily
all things are stirred with the Fragrances of Revelation. Are ye resting on
your seats and ye call yourselves the sincere ones?"
Baha'o'llah (from Appendix of Surat El Haykal)
In the above stirring appeal Baha'o'llah calls His followers to a high station
of service and action. From it we gather the idea that those who call
themselves Bahais, must not sit idle, nor must they remain silent. Through
their words and deeds they must show their love for all humanity, and from
their faces there must appear the joy of heaven. In their minds must center the
loftiest ideals of this age, and in their hearts must dwell the sweetest
sentiments of sympathy and kindness towards all creatures. In their search for
truth they must be impartial, and in their march along the path of right, they
must show fearlessness and courage. Enthusiasm must be their watchword and
broad-mindedness their ultimate aim. Perseverance in the investigation of
reality must be their guide, and conviction of the final victory of the cause
of brotherhood their inspiration. They must work day and night, so that the
satanic world may become angelic, the darkened hearts may be illumined,
confidence may replace distrust and the sweetness of love may remove the
bitterness of hate.
It is it well known fact that the power of love leads men to work together and
co-operate with each other in all the undertakings of modern civilization. In
all the transactions of human society, in the harmonious adjustment of the
relation of capital and labor, in the balancing of the law of supply and
demand, in the working out of the principle of production and consumption, and
in the practice of the theories of exchange anti distribution, we must
invariably use the universal solvent of the love of God and the love of man, if
we are desirous of avoiding any future social disorganization. The law of love
opens on all sides, the innumerable avenues of human and divine progress. For
example, let us consider the, history of the twelve Central States, how over a
century ago, there were scarcely any souls living there, excepting Indians and
a few scattered trappers. Now there are about 27 millions living peacefully in
those States; large cities are built, giant factories founded, thousands of
schools established, agriculture and industries advancing by leaps and bounds.
For example, the site of Chicago, which to-day is the second city in size in
the New World, in 1804 was nothing but a great bog, and probably at that time
no one would have dreamed that a century later such a magnificent city would
rise over that piece of marshy ground. In 1830 it boasted of only 12 families,
of poor people; in 1840 it had about 4470 inhabitants, but now it has the huge
population of more than two million and a half! This single example shows us in
a concrete and clear manner
[page 21]
how the power of love and co-operation changed the desert and wilderness of
these States into blooming gardens and prosperous communities. Now if the
sphere of this human love be widened, so as to include the various aspects of
the Divine Love; if the people would realize that the security and permanence
of the national progress is dependent upon international progress -- then we
could feel sure that our advancement would not be hindered by racial or
religious fanaticism which surges now and then from the unknown depths of the
animal man.
The pioneer discoverers of the West have demonstrated to us, through their
lives and actions, that if we are zealous in the promotion of the Divine
Principles, and do not turn back when confronted with opposition, we shall at
last gather many harvests. Consider the lives of Joliet and Father Marquette,
who in 1673 braved all dangers, set out from Mackinaw to find the source of the
Mississippi River. Day after day they kept on their silent journey on the bosom
of the Mississippi, now gliding by castle-shaped cliffs, now coming into the
sunlight of open prairies, now entering the long shadows cast by miles of
unbroken forests, past the muddy torrents of the Missouri, past the lovely
mouth of the Ohio, and finally reached the mouth of the Arkansas. From there
they returned, pathently paddling their way back. It was indeed a tremendous
piece of uphill work, battling for more than a thousand miles against powerful
currents. Let us also get a glimpse at Sturt, one of the greatest of Australian
explorers. His aim was to reach the center of the Australian continent. By the
end of the summer of 1844, he reached a spot near Mount Poole. Here he found
himself shut in on all sides by a terrible summer drought. Autumn brought no
relief; ink dried on pen, lead dropped out of the shrivelled pencils, the
wood-work of drays almost fell to pieces. Sturt and his companions vainly tried
to find a way. At last, worn with despair and stricken with scurvy, they sat
idly day by day in a sort of cave which they had dug in the hillside to protect
them from the scorching sun. In the middle of July, after six months of
torture, rain came in torrents. A month later, Sturt set out again over the
plains. On his return, hot winds blazed about him till his thermometer burst.
When he reached the outskirts of civilization, his health was completely
shattered, and his eyesight permanently destroyed. He was borne back to
Adelaide, and thence to an invalid sanatorium in England.
All these examples go far to show us that if there were men in the past, and
there are men and women in our days who were and are ready to give up even life
for material reward or fame, how much more we who call ourselves Bahais must be
prepared to sacrifice everything to undergo every danger, so that the knowledge
of God may increase, the brotherhood of man may be proclaimed, and the noble
ideals of life be shared by all men, irrespective of race and color.
Having now proven that nothing must daunt us when the line of our duty is
quite plain, I take pleasure in reading to you the translation of the first
Tablet revealed to the friends in the Central States, on Wednesday morning,
March 29, 1916. Picture in your mind the patriarchal presence of Abdul Baha,
with his long, flowing robe, walking in the beautiful Garden of Bahjee, and
dictating these words of wisdom to his followers across oceans and continents,
directing them to arise with all their hearts and souls in the
[page 22]
promulgation of the Word of God and the proclamation of the Manifestation of
God.
"To the friends of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful in the Central
States:
"O ye heavenly souls, O ye spiritual assemblies, O ye lordly meetings!
"For some time past correspondence has been delayed, and this has been on
account of the difficulty of mailing and receiving letters. But because at
present a number of facilities are obtainable, therefore, I am engaged in
writing you this brief epistle so that my heart and soul may obtain joy and
fragrance through the remembrance of the friends. Continually this wanderer
supplicates and entreats at the threshold of His Holiness the One and begs
assistance, bounty and heavenly confirmations in behalf of the believers. You
are always in my thought. You are not nor shall you ever be forgotten. I hope
by the favor of His Holiness the Almighty that day by day you may add to your
faith, assurance, firmness and steadfastness, and become instruments for the
promotion of the holy fragrances. In the great book, the divine Koran, God,
addressing His Messenger, His Holiness Mohammed (upon him be greeting and
praise!) says: 'Verity thou dost guide the people to the straight path.' In
other words; Thou dost show mankind the direct road. Consider how guidance is a
matter of infinite importance; for it points to the loftiness of the station of
His Holiness the Messenger.
"Although in the States of Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota
-- praise be to God -- believers are found, who are associating with each other
in the utmost firmness and steadfastness -- day and night they have no other
intention save the diffusion of the fragrances of God, they have no other hope
except the promotion of the heavenly teachings, like the candles they are
burning with the light of the love of God, and like thankful birds are singing
songs, spirit-imparting, joy-creating, in the rose-garden of the knowledge of
God, -- yet in the States of Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas few of the believers exist. So far the summons of
the Kingdom of God and the proclamation of the oneness of the world of humanity
has not been made in these States systematically and enthusiastically. Blessed
souls and detached teachers have not traveled through these parts repeatedly;
therefore these States are still in a state of heedlessness. Through the
efforts of the friends of God souls must be likewise enkindled, in these
States, with the fire of the love of God and attracted to the Kingdom of God,
so that section may also become illumined and the soul-imparting breeze of the
rose-garden of the Kingdom may perfume the nostrils of the inhabitants.
Therefore, if it is possible, send to those parts teachers who are severed from
all else save God, sanctified and pure. If these teachers be in the utmost
state of attraction, in a short time great results will be forthcoming. The
sons and daughters of the kingdom are like unto the real farmers. Through
whichever state or country they pass they display self-sacrifice and sow divine
seeds. From that seed harvests are produced. On this subject it is revealed in
the glorious Gospel: When the pure seeds are scattered in the good ground
heavenly blessing and benediction is obtained. I hope that you may become
assisted and confirmed,
[page 23]
and never lose courage in the promotion of the divine teachings.. Day by day
may you add to your effort, exertion and magnanimity.
"Upon ye be greeting and praise!
"(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS."
The above was the first general order for the mobilization of the forces of
the Kingdom, and it was mailed in April of the same year. I have understood
since my arrival in this Country that a good deal of pioneer work of teaching
has been done in these States, and that many souls have gone forth into new
fields, so that they might sow the seeds of the New Divine Knowledge. I am sure
that Abdul Baha will be most pleased to hear that the friends are at least
trying to carry out his behest.
And now I would like to read to you for the first time the translation of the
Second Tablet revealed to the friends of the Central states, on Thursday
morning, February 8, 1917, when he was staying in Acca. He was then living in
the very room where Baha'o'llah passed his last years in the prison city, and
so the atmosphere of the place brought to one's mind sweet memories of other
spiritual and significant events transpiring in the same spot.
"To the believers and the maid-servants of God in the central states:
Upon them be Baha'o'llah El Abha!
He is God!
"God says in the great Koran: --
'He specializes for His Mercy whomsoever He willeth.'
"O ye old believers and intimate friends!
"These twelve central States of the United States are like unto the heart of
America, and the heart is connected with all the organs and parts of man. If
the heart is strengthened, all the organs of the body are reinforced, and if
the heart is weak all the physical structures are subjected to feebleness.
"No praise be to God that Chicago and its environs from the beginning of the
diffusion of the Fragrances of God have been a strong heart. Therefore, through
Divine Bounty and Providence it has become confirmed in certain great
matters.
"First: The Call of the Kingdom was in the very beginning raised from Chicago.
This is indeed a great privilege, for in future centuries and cycles, it will
be an axis around which the honor of Chicago will revolve.
"Second: A number of souls with the utmost firmness and steadfastness arose in
that blessed spot in the promotion of the Word of God and even to the present
moment, have purified and sanctified the heart from every thought, they are
occupied with the promulgation of the Teachings of God. Hence the Call of
praise is raised uninterruptedly from the Supreme Concourse.
"Thirdly: During the American journey Abdul Baha several times passed through
Chicago and associated with the friends of God. For some time he sojourned in
that city. Day and night he was occupied with the mention of the True One and
summoned the people to the Kingdom of God.
Fourthly: Up to the present time, every movement initiated in Chicago, its
effect was spread to all parts and to all directions; just as everything that
appears in and manifests from the heart influences all the organs and
structures of the body.
"Fifthly: The first Mashrekol-Azkar in America was instituted in Chicago, and
this honor and distinction is infinite in value. Undoubtedly out of this
Mashrekol-Azkar thousands of other Mashrekol-Azkars will be born.
"Likewise the general Annual Conventions, the foundation of the STAR OF THE
WEST , the Publishing Society, for the publication of books and Tablets and
their circulation in all parts of America, and the preparations now under way
for the celebration of the celebration of the Golden Centenary Anniversary of
the Kingdom of God. I hope that this Jubilee and this Exhibition may be
celebrated in the utmost perfection; so that the call to the world of unity,
"There is no God but One God, and all the Messengers, from the beginning to the
Seal of the Prophets (Mohammed) were sent on the part of the True One!" may be
raised; the Flag of the Oneness of the world of humanity be unfurled, the
melody of universal peace may reach the ears of the East and the West; all the
paths may be cleared and straightened, all the hearts may be attracted to the
Kingdom of God, the Tabernacle of Unity be pitched on the apex of America, the
Song of the Love of God may exhilarate and rejoice all the nations and peoples,
the surface of the earth may become the eternal paradise, the dark clouds may
be dispelled and the Sun of Truth may shine forth with the utmost intensity.
" O ye friends of God! Exert ye with heart and soul, so that association,
love, unity and agreement be obtained between the hearts, all the aims may be
merged into one Aim, all the songs become one Song and the power of the Holy
Spirit may become so overwhelmingly victorious as to overcome all the forces of
the world of nature. Work! This is the great Work, should ye become assisted
therein: Thus America will may become the fulcrum of merciful susceptibilities,
and throne of the Kingdom of God be established upon earth with the greatest
joy and majesty.
"This phenomenal world will not remain in an unchanging condition even for a
short while. Second after second it undergoes change and transformation. Every
foundation will finally become collapsed; every glory and splendor will at last
vanish and disappear, but the Kingdom of God is eternal and the heavenly
Sovereignty and Majesty will stand firm everlasting. Hence in the estimation of
a wise man the mat in the Kingdom of God is preferable to the throne of the
government of the world.
"Continually my ear and eye are turned toward the Central States; perchance a
melody from some blessed souls may reach my ears, souls who are the
dawning-places of the love of God, the stars of the horizon of sanctification
and holiness -- souls who will illumine this dark universe and quicken to life
this dead world. The joy of Abdul Baha depends upon this! I hope that you may
become confirmed therein.
"Consequently, those souls who are in a condition of the utmost severance,
purified from the defects of the world of nature, sanctified from attachment to
this earth, vivified with the Breaths of Eternal Life-- with luminous hearts,
with heavenly spirit, with attraction of consciousness, with celestial
magnanimity, with eloquent tongues and with clear explanations, -- such souls
must hasten and travel through all parts of the Central States. In every city
and village they must occupy themselves with the diffusion of the
[page 25]
Divine Exhortations and advices, guide the souls and promote the oneness of the
world of humanity. They must play the melody of international conciliation with
such power that every deaf one may attain hearing, every extinct person may be
set aglow, every dead one may obtain new life and every indifferent soul may
find ecstasy. It is certain that such will be the consummation.
"The spreaders of the Fragrances of God recite this prayer every morning:
"O Lord! O Lord!! Praise and thanksgiving be unto Thee for Thou hast guided me
to the Highway of the Kingdom, suffered me to walk in this straight and
far-stretching path, illumined my eye by beholding the lights, made me listen
to the melodies of the birds of holiness from the Kingdom of Mysteries and
attracted my heart with Thy love among the righteous ones.
"O Lord! Confirm me with the Holy Spirit, so that I may call in Thy Name
amongst the nations, and give the Glad-tidings of the manifestation of Thy
Kingdom amongst mankind.
"O Lord! I am weak, strengthen me with Thy Power and Potency. My tongue
falters, suffer me to utter Thy commemoration and praise. I am lonely, endear
me through my entrance into Thy kingdom. I am remote, cause me to approach to
the threshold of Thy Mercifulness.
" O Lord! Make me a brilliant lamp, a shining star and a blessed tree, adorned
with fruits, its branches overshadowing all these regions! Verily Thou art the
Mighty, the Powerful and Unconstrained!
"(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS."
Having revealed the above wonderful Tablet for the Central States, the Center
of the Covenant spoke often about the future work of the friends God, and I
have gathered his scattered words into one heavenly rosary. May I be permitted
to present to you this string of pearls?
He said: "In reality the geographical position of the Central States has great
importance, for just as I dictated to you now, it is like the heart of America.
Passengers going East or West, North or South pass through that section.
Similarly, it is a point of connection for the friends of God. The believers in
Chicago must be so enkindled with the Fire of the Love of God and must be so
characterized with the characteristics of unity and agreement, that other
States may learn from them this all-important lesson; that their pure lives and
holy words, their selfless services and deeds may affect the hearts of all the
outsiders. Just as the earth attracts everything to the center of gravity and
every object thrown upward into space will come down; so also material ideas
and worldly thoughts attract man to the center of self. Anger, passion,
ignorance, prejudice, greed, envy, covetousness, jealousy and suspicion prevent
man from ascending to the realms of Holiness, imprisoning him in the claws of
self and the jail of egotism. The physical man, unassisted by Divine Power,
trying to escape from one of these invisible enemies, will fall unconsciously
into the hands of another. No sooner does he attempt to soar upward than the
density of the love of self, like the power of gravity, draws him to the earth.
But the only power that is capable of delivering man from this captivity, is
the power of the Breaths of the Holy Spirit.
[page 26]
The believers in the Central States must through this all-conquering power
free the inhabitants from the claws of self, negligence, lust and imagination.
The attraction of the power of the Holy Spirit is so effective that it keeps
men ever on the path of upward ascension. The malevolent forces of no enemy
will touch those sanctified souls who have made this Universal Power their
guide. With tranquil heart and assured spirit they are flying upward day and
night and are journeying through the illimitable space of the Teachings of
Baha'o'llah. The believers in America must be like lighthouses, lightships and
searchlights, so that in the tempestuous sea of the world the arks of lives may
reach the haven of security. Each individual Bahai must be a life-saver who,
facing the rough waves of the sea, may plunge into the whirlpool and save the
souls from drowning. To sit, to talk, to listen -- there is no virtue in that.
To rise, to act, to help -- that is a Bahai life. The sincerity and earnestness
of the friends in the Central States must appear through deeds. Deeds are the
standards! I done all that is necessary. I have drawn for them the plan of God
which must guide them through all the coming years, I have explained to them
the Principles of Baha'o'llah. Now the promotion of those principles depends
upon their co-operation with each other and their turning their faces to the
Kingdom of Abha. Without walking, a traveller will not reach his destination.
Without working, a poor man will not obtain wealth. Without diving to the
bottom of the sea, a. diver will not gather pearls and corals, and without
going through the lower classes, a student will not be able to take up the
higher courses in sciences and literature. The believers of God, in reality,
display much effort; but this effort must be expended in the right direction. A
sagacious thinker will always perceive the end before he takes up a certain
kind of work. A youth desiring to prepare himself for a medical career must
study those courses which are directly or indirectly connected with his
profession, so that he may become efficient and skilful.
"Consequently, the friends of God must themselves become the fountain heads of
divine characteristics and attributes, and then call others to this exalted
station. They must first be attracted and enkindled, then try to attract and
enkindle others. Let them cleanse their own hearts like unto clear mirrors,
then strive in the purification of the hearts of mankind.
"In brief, I hope that the friends in the Central States may become assisted
in rendering these great services. May they become centers of merciful
susceptibilities and spiritual guides to the Kingdom of Abha! From every
standpoint, ways and means for the teaching of the Cause of God must be
prepared. The question of teaching, like any other question, is evolutionary
and not revolutionary. This matter must become very plain to everyone, so that
all the friends, like so many spirits in one, temple, may arise in the
accomplishment of this great Service.
"When the foundation of the Maskrekol-Azkar is laid in America, and that
divine Edifice is completed, a most wonderful and thrilling motion will appear
in the world of existence. The Maskrekol-Azkar will become the center around
which all these universal Bahai activities will be clustered. From that point
of light, the spirit of teaching, spreading the Cause of God and promoting the
Teachings of God will permeate to all parts of the world. I hope that ere long
the foundation of this celestial Temple will be
[page 27]
laid -- thus it may become conducive to the happiness of the heart of Abdul
Baha.
"All the inhabitants of the world are in these days engaged in warfare and
strife, but the friends of God are striving with heart and soul to lay the
basis of this Palace of the Kingdom, so that the call of prayers and
supplications may ascend to the heights of heaven. The flowers of material and
divine civilization shall grow in the Mashrekol-Azkar perfuming the nostrils
with the fragrance of Truth. Its doors will be open before the faces of all
nations, religions and sects. Whosoever enters therein is welcomed. Baha'o'llah
is the Universal Shepherd. All mankind are His sheep, and the adherents of all
religions are welcomed in the Maskrokel-Azkar to worship the Father of all
humanity with perfect freedom and reverence and obedience.
"Likewise, great importance must be given to the development of the STAR OF
THE WEST . The circle of its discussion must be widened; in its columns must be
published the essential problems pertaining to the Bahai life in all its
phases. Its contents must be so universal that even the strangers may subscribe
to it. Articles must be published, dealing with the universal principles of the
Cause, the writers proving that this Cause takes a vital interest in all the
social and religious movements of the age and is conducive to the progress of
the world and its inhabitants. In short, the STAR OF THE WEST must promote the
aspirations and the ideals that will gather little by little around these
general Tablets, bringing into the light of the day all the historical,
religious and racial knowledge which will be of the utmost value to the Bahai
teachers all over the world.
"In a similar manner, the scope of the Bahai Publishing Society must be
greatly enlarged, so that books and pamphlets may be translated into different
languages and published. These short pamphlets and historical reviews, giving
the proofs and arguments of the Cause, must be written in accordance with the
intellectual and spiritual capacity of each people. In short, for the diffusion
of the Fragrances of God the friends must think of detailed ways and means and
year by year add to their efficiency, practicality and thoroughness. They must
organize classes for teaching the young and preparing teachers to go to all
parts of America. God willing, the believers like unto bright candles will
illumine the assemblage of the world of humanity with the Light of Truth."
Having given you the message of Abdul Baha, I will now chant the Commune
revealed at the end of the Tablet to the Central States. I have chanted it many
times in the Tomb of Baha'o'llah, in the Presence of the Master, and all over
Mt. Carmel. And after my chanting, Rouhieh Jones and Jeffrey Parsons will come
forward and unveil this great Spiritual Charter, so that all of its may see
with our own eyes the work of the Master Architect of the World.
[page 28]
THE UNVEILING OF THE DIVINE PLAN
FOURTH TALK
"Arise thou amongst the people in the Name of this Incomparable Cause. Then
summon the nations to God, the Most High, the Most Exalted!" -- Baha'o'llah.
"Conquer the cities of the hearts with this most great Name, and be thou a
herald of this Call amongst all nations!" -- Baha'o'llah.
The mission of every Bahai in this world is to promote to the extent of his
ability the Idea of God, the Idea of Beauty, the Idea of Right, the Idea of
Justice and the Idea of Virtue. For the world of Ideals is a world of reality.
Once I begin to hold the Idea of goodness within my mind, speak about it and
banish all those tendencies which lead to evil, I create an atmosphere around
myself that is bound to tell on my character. Now in this age and cycle the
Idea of God, the Idea of Divine Morality, is almost forgotten. The advancing
forces of material civilization have banished from the consciences of millions
of men and women the Idea of God. They are daily breathing the air of the Idea
of man, and live and have their beings according to the exigencies of the
animal kingdom. The concept of God is a deep reality to them no more. It does
not stir their hearts nor influence their minds. The world of sense and reason
is the only criterion with which every proposition is tested and weighed.
Tennyson, in his Ode on the death of the Duke of Wellington, said:
"On God and God-like men we build our trust."
That was in his day, but in our day we are doing nothing of the kind. We do
not build our trust on God because we have lost the sense of His holy Presence.
We do not follow the exhortations of God-like men because our insight is so
blurred with material things that we do not seem to see anything else except
gross matter. Spirit, God, Truth, Love, have no meaning in our cars. We live a
life of selfishness, we aspire after no higher realm, we are satisfied with
water and clay, the appetites of the flesh satisfy us completely, we crave for
no spiritual light, we yearn after no heavenly gift. Complacent and
self-satisfied, we strut about as though we possessed the whole world, and yet
spiritually we are poverty-stricken. We think of the rustic chatter of our
village as the great wave that echoes round the world. We have banished God
from our midst and cherish an illusion in our breasts.
Now the mission of the Revelation of Baha'o'llah is to recover for us this
lost vision, to lead us back again into the sanctuary of holiness, to enkindle
anew the Fire of the Love of God, to consume the veils of superstitions and
imaginations, and to fill the hearts with the how Ideals of God, Love, Beauty,
Constancy and Happiness as portrayed in the Writings of Baha'o'llah and Abdul
Baha.
This means that we are called upon to solve some of the most crucial problems
of this age. In order to render this service, we must not lag behind,
[page 29]
but be in the vanguard of the forces of this new Ideal Civilization. We must
universalize our aims, spiritualize our thoughts, renew our beings, exalt our
ambitions and dedicate ourselves to the service of humanity. We must become
fully conscious that all past efforts and services in comparison to the efforts
that we have to make after this Convention have been pastimes and child's play.
Abdul Baha summons us to a brilliant height, the contemplation of which dazzles
the mind and overpowers the heart. If we desire to put in execution his great
plan, we must rise to his full stature, be imbued with his enthusiasm and drink
from the chalice of his love. We must walk in his footsteps, live his life, be
intoxicated with his wine and be filled with his spirit. We must be humble
before his presence and obedient to his will. His kindness and forgiveness must
teach us many valuable lessons, and his catholicity and simplicity inspire us
to follow his example. Looking upon myself, I see how little I have really
learned from my divine Beloved. Although I have lived with him for nearly eight
years, yet I have not been able to master even the Alphabet of the Bahai Life.
Often my temper gets the better of me. Now if I am living in this condition,
how am I going to teach self-control to another? If I am always trying to find
the faults of my brother, how am I entitled to be called a Bahai? And whenever
I am in this mood, I think of these lines:
"And yet we cannot be kind to each other here for an hour:
We whisper, and hint and chuckle and grin at a brother's shame.
However we brave it out
We men are a little breed."
Abdul Baha teaches us that the Cause of the Blessed Perfection is the solution
of all modern problems, and for this reason he calls upon us to arise and teach
this wonderful Revelation to all men. Thus it was that oil Saturday morning,
April 1, 1916, while living in Bahjee, he revealed a beautiful Tablet to the
friends of God in the eleven Western States, enjoining upon them to arise and
teach the Cause in all those parts. The translation of that Tablet is as
follows:
"To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful in the Western
States:
He is God
"O ye sons and daughters of the Kingdom!
"Day and night I have no other occupation than the remembrance of the friends,
praying from the depth of my heart in their behalf, begging for them
confirmation from the Kingdom of God and supplicating the direct effect of the
breaths of the Holy Spirit. I am hopeful from the favors of His Highness the
Lord of Bestowals, that the friends of God during such a time may become the
secret cause of the illumination of the hearts of humanity, breathing the
breath of life upon the spirits -- whose praiseworthy results may become
conducive to the glory and exaltation of humankind throughout all eternity.
Although in some of the Western States, like California, Oregon, Washington and
Colorado, the fragrances of holiness are diffused, numerous souls have taken a
share and a portion from the Fountain of Everlasting Life, they have obtained
heavenly benediction, have drunk an overflowing
[page 30]
cup from the wine of the love of God and have hearkened to the melody of the
Supreme Concourse -- yet in the States of New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho,
Utah, Arizona and Nevada, the lamp of the love of God is not ignited in a
befitting and behooving manner, and the call of the Kingdom of God has not been
raised. Now, if it is possible, show ye an effort in this direction. Either
travel yourselves, personally, throughout those States or choose others and
send them, so that they may teach the souls. For the present those States are
like unto dead bodies: they must breathe into them the breath of life and
bestow upon them a heavenly spirit. Like unto the stars they must shine in that
horizon and thus the rays of the Sun of Reality may also illumine those
States.
"God says in the great Koran 'Verily God is the helper of those who have
believed. He will lead them from darkness into light.' This means: God loves
the believers, consequently He will deliver them from darkness and bring them
into the world of light.
"It is also recorded in the blessed Gospel: Travel ye throughout the world and
call ye the people to the Kingdom of God. Now this is the time that you may
arise and perform this most great service and become the cause of the guidance
of the innumerable souls. Thus through this superhuman service the rays of
peace and conciliation may illumine and enlighten all the regions and the world
of humanity may find peace and composure.
"During my stay in America I cried out in every meeting and summoned the
people to the propagation of the ideals of universal peace. I said plainly that
the continent of Europe had become like unto an arsenal and its conflagration
was dependent upon one spark, and that in the coming years or within two years,
all that which is recorded in the Revelation of John and the Book of Daniel
would become fulfilled and come to pass. This matter, in all probability, was
published in the San Francisco BULLETIN, October 12, 1912. You may refer to it,
so that the truth may become clear and manifest; thus ye may fully realize that
this is the time for the diffusion of the fragrances.
"The magnanimity of man must be heavenly -- or, in other words, it must be
assisted by the divine confirmation, so that he may become the cause of the
illumination of the world of humanity.
"Upon ye be greeting and praise.
"(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS."
When the believers in the Western States received the above instructions, they
all arose to fulfill them, and I believe much preliminary teaching has been
accomplished during the past three years. But now I bring to them another
wonderful Tablet, another Magna Charta, embodying new pictures of the Kingdom
and inciting them to continue their work with greater faith and hope. This
Second Tablet was revealed on Thursday night, February 15, 1917, in the room of
Baha'o'llah, in Acca. Many believers were present, and the rain was pouring
down like a torrent. When he came to the end of the Tablet, he looked out of
the window and then turned, saying: "I pray that the heavenly Bounties may
descend upon the Western States like this rain." And now let us for a few
moments listen attentively to the translation of this Tablet:
[page 31]
"To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful in the Western
States of the United States: New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, California,
Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Utah. Upon them be Baha'o'llah El
Abha!
He is God!
"O ye friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful, the chosen ones of
the Kingdom!
"The blessed State of California bears the utmost similarity to the Holy Land
that is, the country of Palestine. The air is in the utmost temperance, the
plain very spacious, and the fruits of Palestine are seen in that State in the
utmost of freshness and delicacy. When Abdul Baha was traveling and journeying
through those States, he found himself in Palestine, for from every standpoint
there was a perfect likeness between this region and that State. Even the
shores of the Pacific Ocean, in some instances, show perfect resemblance to the
shores of the Holy Land -- and even the flora of the Holy Land have grown on
those shores -- the study of which has led to much speculation and wonder.
"Likewise in the State of California and other Western States, wonderful
scenes of the world of nature, which bewilder the minds of men, are manifest.
Lofty mountains, deep canyons, great and majestic waterfalls, and giant. trees
are witnessed on all sides, while its soil is in the utmost fertility and
richness. That blessed State is similar to the Holy Land and that region and
that country like unto a delectable paradise, in many ways identical with
Palestine. Now just as there are natural resemblances, heavenly resemblances
must also be acquired.
"The lights of the Divine Traces are manifest in Palestine. The majority of
the Israelitish Prophets raised the call of the Kingdom of God in this holy
ground. Having spread the spiritual Teachings, the nostrils of the spiritually
minded ones became fragrant, the eyes of the illumined souls become brightened,
the ears were thrilled through this song, the hearts obtained eternal life from
the soul-refreshing breeze of the Kingdom of God and gained supreme
illumination from the splendor of the Sun of Reality. Then from this region the
light was spread to Europe, America, Asia, Africa and Australia.
"Now California and the other Western States must earn an ideal similarity
with the Holy Land, and from that State and that region the Breaths of the Holy
Spirit be diffused to all parts of America and Europe, that the Call of the
Kingdom of God may exhilarate and rejoice all the cars, the Divine Principles
bestow a new life, the different parties may become one party, the divergent
ideas may disappear and revolve around one unique center, the East and the West
of America may embrace each other, the anthem of the oneness of the world of
humanity may confer a new life upon all the children of men, and the Tabernacle
of Universal Peace be pitched on the Apex of America; -- thus Europe and Africa
may become vivified with the Breaths of the Holy Spirit, this world may become
another world, the body politic may attain to a new exhilaration, and just as
in the State of California and other
[page 32]
Western States the marvellous scenes of the world of nature are evident and
manifest, the great Signs of the Kingdom of God may also be unveiled; -- so
that the body may correspond with the Spirit, the outward world may become a
symbol of the inward world, and the mirror of the earth may become the mirror
of the Kingdom, reflecting the ideal virtues of Heaven.
"During my journey and traveling in those parts, I behold wonderful scenes and
beautiful panoramas of nature, orchards and rivers; national parks and general
conclaves; deserts, plains, meadows and prairies, and the grains and fruits of
that region greatly attracted my attention; even to the present moment they are
in my mind.
"Particularly was I greatly pleased with the meetings in San Francisco and
Oakland, the gatherings in Los Angeles, and the believers who came from the
cities of other States. Whenever their faces cross my memory, immediately
infinite happiness is realized.
"Therefore I hope that the Divine Teachings like unto the rays of the sun may
be diffused in all the Western States, and the blessed Verse of the Koran: "It
is a good City and the Lord is the Forgiver!' may become realized. Likewise,
the significance of another Koranic Verse: 'Do ye not travel through the land
and behold the traces of the Morey of God?' become revealed in the utmost
effulgence.
"Praise be to God that through the Divine Bounty and Providence, in that
region the field of service is vast, the minds are in the utmost degree of
intelligence and progress, sciences and arts are being promoted, the hearts
like unto mirrors are in the utmost state of purity and translucency, and the
friends of God are in perfect attraction. Therefore it is hoped that meetings
of teaching will be organized and instituted, and for the diffusion of the
Fragrances of God wise teachers may be sent to cities, even to villages.
"The teachers of the Cause must be heavenly, lordly and radiant. They must be
embodied spirit, personified intellect, and arise in service with the utmost
firmness, steadfastness and self-sacrifice. In their journeys they must not be
attached to food and clothing. They must concentrate their thoughts on the
outpourings of the Kingdom of God and beg for the Confirmations of the Holy
Spirit. With a divine power, with an attraction of consciousness, with heavenly
glad-tidings and celestial holiness they must perfume the nostrils with the
Fragrances of the Paradise of Abha.
"The following Commune is to be read by them every day:
"O God! O God! This is a broken-winged bird and his flight is very slow --
assist him so that he may fly toward the apex of prosperity and salvation, wing
his way with the utmost joy and happiness throughout the illimitable space,
raise his melody in Thy Supreme Name in all the regions, exhilarate the cars
with this Call, and brighten the eyes by beholding the Signs of Guidance!
"O Lord! I am single, alone and lowly. For me there is no support save Thee,
no helper except Thee and no sustainer beside Thee. Confirm me in Thy Service,
assist me with the Cohorts of Thy angels, make me victorious in the promotion
of Thy Word and suffer me to speak out Thy Wisdom
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amongst Thy creatures. Verily, Thou art the custodian of the poor and the
Defender of the little ones, and verily Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty and
the Unconstrained!
"(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS."
When the original of the above Tablet was corrected the next morning by Abdul
Baha, he, handed it to me and slapped me hard on both my cheeks, laughing
heartily, saying: "It is very good. It sticks. This was thy wage for today in
writing over that Tablet. Now let us go and take a walk in the streets of
Acca." As he walked along the narrow lanes, he turned his face to me and said:
"Speak!" The contents of the Western Tablet being fresh in my mind, I related
to the Master how in 1848 gold was discovered in the stream gravels of California, and how when the news was spread, tens of
thousands of persons in the Eastern States left farms, factories and homes in a
mad rush for the gold fields, and how many thousands died on the way before
reaching their goal. The Beloved thought for awhile, and then said: "Consider
how men, in order to gain wealth and honor, threw themselves in the midst of
all kinds of danger! How cheerfully they accepted all these extraordinary
hardships, left homes and factories and travelled thousands of miles through
deserts and over mountains, in order to reach the gold mines! But now in this
day the mines of the Kingdom of Abha are being discovered, and the precious
Jewels of the Spirit are exposed. These mines are inexhaustible. The more they
dig the greater will be the output of the ideal precious gems, silver, gold and
diamonds. The believers of the Western States must find their way from these
earthly mines to the spiritual mines. They must realize how their forefathers,
in order to obtain gold, underwent the most incredible adversities, exposed
their lives to danger and accepted all the difficulties with a firm resolution.
The friends also, in order to guide the souls, to promote the Word of God, to
discover the unseen treasures of the Kingdom, and to prospect the invisible
mines of the Realm of Might, must be willing to undergo ally difficulty, so
that they may achieve greater results and enrich the world with the boundless
wealth of Truth. To the friends of the Western States, the self-sacrifice of
the old pioneers and the patient gold-diggers must serve as a great example of
perseverance. The mines of the Kingdom of Abha and their precious jewels are
the praiseworthy attributes and characteristics. These divine perfections are
hidden from the sight of men. The believers of God must by day and by night
strive in their exposition;-- so that their luster and brilliancy may increase.
The material mines make man independent during his earthly life, but the mines
of the Kingdom of Abha will enrich him throughout all eternity, and deliver him
from crudeness, ignorance and poverty. The Western friends must become laborers
in these great, spiritual mines, and fill the markets of the world with the
gold and silver of the Kingdom of Righteousness. For every head they must make
a heavenly crown of self-sacrifice; for every neck a necklace studded with the
scintillating jewels of humility; for every ear an earring of Truth in
obedience; for every hand a bracelet of universal service, and for every finger
a ring or sympathy; -- so that the wonders and beauty of the world of the
Kingdom may encircle the globe."
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Another day I spoke to the Master, while he was coming out from the Tomb of
Baha'o'llah, about the system of irrigation in Southern California, and how the
waste and barren deserts are turned into a paradise of flowers, fruit trees and
sweet homes. He quickly turned to me and said: "When thou travellest in those
parts, tell the people: The Heavenly Irrigator appeared 70 years ago in Persia
and taught His disciples how to flood the dry fields of the hearts. Through His
Knowledge and Inspiration they were enabled to transform the waste, deserts of
the minds and souls into the luxuriant gardens in which the rivers of light are
flowing from the inaccessible Mountains of God.
"Now O ye friends of the Western States, just as your Government is spending
extraordinary effort and money in the matter of irrigation, building dams on
the tablelands to save the winter rain, so that the valleys, the plains and the
orchards may be flooded during the Summer season, --you must also exert
yourselves in the irrigation of the hearts of men. Learn ye perseverance from
your Universal Teacher, Baha'o'llah, who was not disheartened by any obstacle
from irrigating the hearts of humanity. Kings and nations arose against Him,
and banished Him to distant lands and countries. Nevertheless, whenever He
entered a new place, fearlessly He occupied His time in the spiritual
irrigation and the sowing of the seeds of knowledge and wisdom in the prepared
fields of Spirit. Through His tender care the wildernesses were changed into
rose gardens, the sad hearts were made happy, the sleepy ones were awakened,
and the weak ones strengthened. Irrigation! This is the real and permanent
irrigation of the Lord! One drop from this water will allay the thirst of all
mankind, suffering the fields of all hearts to become green and luxuriant
throughout all eternity. If the ground of the spirit is flooded with this pure
water, it will not be followed by any drought; its flowers will never fade and
its freshness never pass away. I hope that the Western friends may become the
spiritual irrigators of the Kingdom, allay the thirst of the thirsty ones and
let the waters of Divine Knowledge, the Ideal of the Fatherhood of God and the
brotherhood of man, flood the world of humanity."
I will now bring this talk to a close with the reproduction of another Word of
my Beloved. Many days later, while I was following him through his garden in
Haifa, he again asked me to speak. I talked about the wonderful natural scenes
in the Western States. I dwelt on the hot geysers of Yellowstone Park, the
wonderful waterfalls or the Yosemite Valley and the strangely formed cliffs of
the Grand Canyons of Colorado. I spoke about the wooded valleys, the
snow-capped mountains, the wonderful bursting springs, the shimmering lakes,
the granite peaks, and the giant trees. The Master always made a big capital
about my love for America, and laughed at my enthusiasm in half-earnest,
half-joking manner. Then he said: "Why didst thou not tell me about these
wonderful things when we were travelling in America? Now that we are living so
faraway, thou comest to me with such fairy tales, praising America to such an
extent as though God has not created another country in the world!" Then he
became serious, and said: "All these majestic scenes of nature, in reality,
prove the greatness of the Creator and the antiquity of the world. This globe
is indeed millions of years old, and its Creator has had no beginning and will
have no ending. He has been,
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is and will be the Alpha and Omega. A creator presupposes creatures, just as
light presupposes the existence of the sun.
"Now just as these wonderful scenes of the world of nature are witnessed in all
the Western States, I hope the rare signs and traces of the Kingdom of Abha may
also become incarnated and personified; such souls may appear from these States
w ho will be considered the wonders of the age and the geniuses of the time;
from their services infinite results may become manifest in the world of
existence; their words be penetrative, the trees of their lives fruitful, each
one a Flag of the victory of the Cause of God and a column of light to guide
the wanderers to the Religion of God. Then the nether world will attract and in
turn reflect the virtues of the world of the Kingdom. Within the short space of
our lives or the lives of generations, very little changes will come over these
natural scenes and no practical results are witnessed from their mineral lives.
But the life and teachings of a single human wonder transforms the whole world.
Columbus was a genius in his time. Consider what world-encircling results
appeared from his voyage of discovery! Copernicus, Kepler, Laplace and Newton
were all geniuses, and their contributions have made them benefactors The
inventors and discoverers of telegraphy, telephony, electricity, wireless,
etc., have all, through their distinguished labors and discoveries made man a
monarch over the laws of Nature, broadened his vision and freed him from the
lower, miserable life of the savage, ever fighting with the beasts of the
jungle in order to satisfy his bare wants.
"This is, of course, in the material world. But if we concentrate our
attention on the spiritual world and the rich results issuing therefrom, we
observe that through the Teachings of Christ and the self-sacrifice of His
disciples, Europe and America were adorned with the bright jewels of divine
civilization, ferocious characters were refined and the love of humanity
spread.
"In a similar manner in the Bahai Cause, there must appear extraordinary
spiritual geniuses, wonders of the Kingdom of God, souls who in knowledge,
sciences, sociability, tenderness, loving kindness, universality, joyfulness,
may be considered unique and peerless. Should such heavenly beings appear in
the Western States, the power and the creative energy of the kingdom of Abha
will become manifest and apparent: Souls who have discovered their ways to the
mines of the Kingdom; souls who are the irrigators of the grounds of the hearts
of humanity; souls who are the wonders of the realm of Truth. Then and not
until then will the spiritual creation of the Almighty become perfected in
those States; the miracles of the transforming power of the Spirit embodied,
the Mysteries of the Holy Books be revealed and the golden age of peace and
brotherhood be established."
We all know that the Western States are thinly settled; that the population of
these eleven states is only about seven million, while that of the Northeastern
and Southern States together is over fifty million. Still, everyone realizes
that the West is the seat of a mighty, virile civilization, that the
possibilities of its development are unlimited and with this important idea in
mind, and with a clear realization of all the wonderful promises of the Center
of the Covenant of God regarding the future of that country, I ask Miss Lenore
Powell and Miss Katherine Nourse to come forward and unveil the great Tablet
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of the West, and then I will chant for you the Supplication revealed by Abdul
Baha for the teachers who are going to arise after this Convention to carry the
light of love and peace to every corner of that spacious land.
___________________________________
THE UNVEILING OF THE DIVINE PLAN
FIFTH TALK
Baha'o'llah says, in the Appendix of the Book of Akdas:
"Proclaim! Verily the Water of Life is the Love of the Merciful in the
contingent world! Blessed is he who seizing it, drinks thereof in My Name, the
Mighty, the Wonderful!"
In another place, He says:
"Sell everything save My Love! I declare by God all the wealth on the face of
the earth and all the treasures of the world are not equal to it. Preserve thou
the Pearl of the Love of the Merciful in thy heart."
In the world of existence, there is no greater bounty than Love. God is Love;
His Will is Love and His Word is Love. All the Manifestations of God have come
into this world to create Love amongst mankind. Love is the universal law of
attraction that binds all the heavenly Constellations in the harmonious bond of
a sidereal system. Without Love there will be no light and no life. Love is the
sweet breeze of the young dawn, wafting from the direction of the rose-garden
of Beauty, over the newly-awakened heart. Love is the clear Water of Life that
gushes forth front the fountain of the pure hearts, to flood the dry, black
soil of strangeness, causing the springing up of the fresh roses of adoration
and the modest violets of attachment. There are various degrees of love; the
love of the animal for its young, the love of the mother for her child, the
love of the divine teacher for his followers, and the love of God for His
creatures. The love that is permanent and everlasting is the love of the
Manifestation for His believers; the love of God for all mankind. It is this
love that Baha'o'llah tells us is the "Water of Life," the source of all beings
and the joy of all minds. When the fragrant roses of this Love bloom in the
garden of the heart, one dedicates his whole life to the service of humanity,
and forgetting self, rises toward the empyrean realm of renunciation. Our
Heavenly Teacher, Abdul Baha, teaches us daily the law of this love, and
invites us to drink from this overflowing Cup of the Love of God; -- so that we
may lose all our lower ambitions and be enamored with the Beauty of the
Beloved. It is this love that enshrines vestal thoughts in the translucent
fanes of a pure Spirit. It is this love that once balanced on the lightsome
wings of the Bird of the Paradise of Abha, suffers us to soar toward the palace
of high emprise! It is the magic power of this love that immerses our beings in
the rich, roseate foreshadowings of the world! It is this love that makes the
face rosy-kindled with the light of divine inspiration!
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With this love we surmount every difficulty, rise over every obstruction and
although living in the cell, our hearts are in the homes of the nightingales of
soul-entrancing melodies.
With the power of this love Moses delivered the Israelites from the lands of
Pharoah and brought them into the Land of Promise.
With the light of this love Zoroaster taught the ancient Persians the unity of
God and the efficacy of the rays of the Sun of Truth.
With the magic of this love, Christ made the humble fishermen of Galilee, the
vivifiers of the world.
With the strength of this love, Mohammed freed the ignorant tribes of the
Peninsular Arabia from polytheism and cruel rites. With the sweetness of this
love the youth of Shiraz, the Bab, proclaimed the dawn of a new day and the
coming of a new divine Springtime. With the majesty of this love Baha'o'llah
announced the oneness of the world of humanity and the passing away of the old
order, and sent His Great Tablets from behind the prison bars to the Kings of
the earth, summoning them to partake of the Heavenly Banquet and usher in the
era of Universal Peace and the establishment of a universal arbitral Court of
Justice.
With the vigor of this Love, Abdul Baha, the Center of the Covenant, has been
serving all through life the poor and the fallen, the downtrodden and the
outcast. I can hear him in my mind even now, talking, as he often talks, on the
wonder and heavenliness of this Love. Love is Light. Love is Life. Love is
Truth. Love is a crown studded with brilliant jewels. Love is the imperishable
rose. Love is the boundless sea. Love is the fruitful tree. Love is the world
illuminating sun. Love is the rain of Mercy pouring from the Clouds of
Sublimity. Love is action and not words. The love of this age is not individual
but social, human and divine.
And now, my dear friends, it is to this height of spiritual, impersonal love
that Abdul Baha calls the friends of Canada. It was for the promotion of the
attar of this love amongst the six millions or more inhabitants of Canada that
he sent three years ago his first call to arise and teach the Cause in that
country. That Tablet was revealed on Wednesday morning, April 5th, 1916, in the
garden of the Blessed Tomb of Baha'o'llah at Bahjee, and in order to remind
ourselves of its significant contents, I read it to you:
"To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful in the
Provinces of the Dominion of Canada:
He is God!
"0 ye daughters and sons of the Kingdom!
"Although in most of the states and cities of the United States -- praise be
to God -- the fragrances of God are diffused and innumerable souls are turning
their faces and advancing toward the Kingdom of God, yet in some of the states
the flag of oneness is not upraised as it ought to be and must be, and the
mysteries of the Holy Books, like the Bible, the Gospel and the Koran, are not
promulgated. Through the unanimous effort of the friends, the banner of oneness
must be unfurled in those states, and the divine teachings be promoted, so that
they may also receive a portion and a share of the heavenly bestowals and the
most great guidance. Likewise in the Provinces of Canada, such as Newfoundland,
Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New
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Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia,
Ungava, Keewatin, Mackenzie, Yukon and the Franklin Islands in the Arctic
Circle -- the believers of God must become self-sacrificing and like unto the
candles of guidance become ignited in the provinces of Canada. Should they show
forth such a magnanimity, it is assured that they Will obtain universal divine
confirmations, the heavenly cohorts will reinforce them uninterruptedly, and a
most great victory Will be obtained. Perchance, God Willing, the call of the
Kingdom, may reach the ears of the Eskimos, the inhabitants of the Islands of
Franklin in the north of Canada, as well as Greenland. Should in Greenland the
fire of the love of God be ignited, all the ices of that continent will be
melted and its frigid climate will be changed into a temperate climate -- that
is, if the hearts will obtain the heat of the love of God, that country and
continent will become a divine garden and a lordly orchard, and the souls, like
unto the fruitful trees, will obtain the utmost freshness and delicacy.
Magnanimity is necessary, heavenly exertion is called for. Should you display
an effort, so that the fragrances of God be diffused amongst the Eskimos, its
effect will be very great and far-reaching. God says in the great Koran: "A day
will come wherein the lights of unity will enlighten all the world. The earth
will be irradiated with the light of its Lord." In other words: "The earth will
become illumined with the light of God. That light is the light of unity."
"There is no God but God." The continent and the islands of Eskimos are also
parts of this earth. They must similarly receive a portion of the bestowals of
the most great guidance. "Upon ye be greeting and praise!
"(Signed) ABDUL BAHA ABBAS."
At that time, the above Tablet of instruction was mailed to our dear sister,
Mrs. May Maxwell, and although the last three years have been years of war and
confusion, a good foundation has been laid for further work in the immediate
future, which everyone hopes will be taken up with much zeal after this great
Convention. But in order to gain a clearer comprehension of how the Beloved
Abdul Baha looks upon Canada and its future, and what should be the
characteristics of those teachers who shall arise to teach and promote the Word
of God, I am going to read to you the translation of the second Tablet,
revealed for the Canadian friends on Wednesday, February 21st 1917, in the room
of Baha'o'llah in Acca:
"To the believers of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful in the Dominion
of Canada, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick,
Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba. Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon,
Mackenzie, Keevateen, Ungava, Franklin Islands and Greenland:
"Upon them be Baha'o'llah El Abha!
He is God!
"O ye kind friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful!
"In the great Koran, God says: 'Thou shalt see no difference in the creatures
of God.' In other words, He says: From the ideal standpoint, there is no
variation between the creatures of God, because they are all
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created by Him. From the above promise, a conclusion is drawn, that there is
even no difference between the various countries; nevertheless the future of
the Dominion of Canada is very great, and its historical events infinitely
glorious. Thus it shall become the object of the Glance of Providence and the
manifestation Of the Favors of the Supreme Lord.
"Abdul Baha during his journey and sojourn through that Dominion obtained the
utmost joy. Before- my departure, many souls warned me not to travel to
Montreal, saying, the majority of the inhabitants are Catholics, and are in the
utmost fanaticism, that they are submerged in the sea of imitations, that they
have not the capability to hearken to the Call of the Kingdom of God that the
veil of bigotry has so covered the