I am greatly pleased with these expressions of kindly feeling and
evidences of spiritual susceptibility. Tonight I am very happy in the
realization that our aims and purposes are the same, our desires and
longings are one. This is a reflection and evidence of the oneness of the
world of humanity and the intention toward accomplishment of the Most
Great Peace. Therefore, we are united in will and purpose. In the world of
existence there are no greater questions than these. Oneness of the world
of humanity ensures the glorification of man. International peace is the
assurance of the welfare of all humankind. There are no greater motives
and purposes in the human soul. As we are agreed upon them, the certainty
of unity and concord between Baha'is and Theosophists is most hopeful.
Their purposes are one, their desires one, and spiritual susceptibilities
are common to both. Their attention is devoted to the divine Kingdom; they
partake alike of its bounty.
Today the human world is in need of a great power by which these glorious
principles and purposes may be executed. The cause of peace is a very
great cause; it is the Cause of God, and all the forces of the world are
opposed to it. Governments, for instance, consider militarism as the step
to human progress, that division among men and nations is the cause of
patriotism and honor, that if one nation attack and conquer another,
gaining wealth, territory and glory thereby, this warfare and conquest,
this bloodshed and cruelty are the cause of that victorious nation's
advancement and prosperity. This is an utter mistake. Compare the nations
of the world to the members of a family. A family is a nation in
miniature. Simply enlarge the circle of the household, and you have the
nation. Enlarge the circle of nations, and you have all humanity. The
conditions surrounding the family surround the nation. The happenings in
the family are the happenings in the life of the nation. Would it add to
the progress and advancement of a family if dissensions should arise among
its members, all fighting, pillaging each other, jealous and revengeful of
injury, seeking selfish advantage? Nay, this would be the cause of the
effacement of progress and advancement. So it is in the great family of
nations, for nations are but an aggregate of families. Therefore, as
strife and dissension destroy a family and prevent its progress, so
nations are destroyed and advancement hindered.
All the heavenly Books, divine Prophets, sages and philosophers agree that
warfare is destructive to human development, and peace constructive. They
agree that war and strife strike at the foundations of humanity.
Therefore, a power is needed to prevent war and to proclaim and establish
the oneness of humanity.
But knowledge of the need of this power is not sufficient. Realizing that
wealth is desirable is not becoming wealthy. The admission that scientific
attainment is praiseworthy does not confer scientific knowledge.
Acknowledgment of the excellence of honor does not make a man honorable.
Knowledge of human conditions and the needed remedy for them is not the
cause of their betterment. To admit that health is good does not
constitute health. A skilled physician is needed to remedy existing human
conditions. As a physician is required to have complete knowledge of
pathology, diagnosis, therapeutics and treatment, so this World Physician
must be wise, skillful and capable before health will result. His mere
knowledge is not health; it must be applied and the remedy carried out.
The attainment of any object is conditioned upon knowledge, volition and
action. Unless these three conditions are forthcoming, there is no
execution or accomplishment. In the erection of a house it is first
necessary to know the ground, and design the house suitable for it;
second, to obtain the means or funds necessary for the construction;
third, actually to build it. Therefore, a power is needed to carry out and
execute what is known and admitted to be the remedy for human
conditions--namely, the unification of mankind. Furthermore, it is evident
that this cannot be realized through material process and means. The
accomplishment of this unification cannot be through racial power, for
races are different and diverse in tendencies. It cannot be through
patriotic power, for nationalities are unlike. Nor can it be effected
through political power since the policies of governments and nations are
various. That is to say, any effort toward unification through these
material means would benefit one and injure another because of unequal and
individual interests. Some may believe this great remedy can be found in
dogmatic insistence upon imitations and interpretations. This would
likewise be without foundation and result. Therefore, it is evident that
no means but an ideal means, a spiritual power, divine bestowals and the
breaths of the Holy Spirit will heal this world sickness of war,
dissension and discord. Nothing else is possible; nothing can be conceived
of. But through spiritual means and the divine power it is possible and
practicable.
Consider history. What has brought unity to nations, morality to peoples
and benefits to mankind? If we reflect upon it, we will find that
establishing the divine religions has been the greatest means toward
accomplishing the oneness of humanity. The foundation of divine reality in
religion has done this, not imitations of ancestral religious forms.
Imitations are opposed to each other and have ever been the cause of
strife, enmity, jealousy and war. The divine religions are collective
centers in which diverse standpoints may meet, agree and unify. They
accomplish oneness of native lands, races and policies. For instance,
Christ united various nations, brought peace to warring peoples and
established the oneness of humankind. The conquering Greeks and Romans,
the prejudiced Egyptians and Assyrians were all in a condition of strife,
enmity and war, but Christ gathered these varied peoples together and
removed the foundations of discord--not through racial, patriotic or
political power, but through divine power, the power of the Holy Spirit.
This was not otherwise possible. All other efforts of men and nations
remain as mere mention in history, without accomplishment.
As this great result is contingent upon divine power and bestowals, where
shall the world obtain that power? God is eternal and ancient--not a new
God. His sovereignty is of old, not recent--not merely existent these five
or six thousand years. This infinite universe is from everlasting. The
sovereignty, power, names and attributes of God are eternal, ancient. His
names presuppose creation and predicate His existence and will. We say God
is Creator. This name Creator appears when we connote creation. We say God
is the Provider. This name presupposes and proves the existence of the
provided. God is Love. This name proves the existence of the beloved. In
the same way God is Mercy, God is Justice, God is Life, etc. Therefore, as
God is Creator, eternal and ancient, there were always creatures and
subjects existing and provided for. There is no doubt that divine
sovereignty is eternal. Sovereignty necessitates subjects, ministers,
trustees and others subordinate to sovereignty. Could there be a king
without country, subjects and armies? If we conceive of a time when there
were no creatures, no servants, no subjects of divine lordship, we
dethrone God and predicate a time when God was not. It would be as if He
had been recently appointed and man had given these names to Him. The
divine sovereignty is ancient, eternal. God from everlasting was Love,
Justice, Power, Creator, Provider, the Omniscient, the Bountiful.
As the divine entity is eternal, the divine attributes are coexistent,
coeternal. The divine bestowals are, therefore, without beginning, without
end. God is infinite; the works of God are infinite; the bestowals of God
are infinite. As His divinity is eternal, His lordship and perfections are
without end. As the bounty of the Holy Spirit is eternal, we can never say
that His bestowals terminate, else He terminates. If we think of the sun
and then try to conceive of the cessation of the solar flame and heat, we
have predicated the nonexistence of the sun. For separation of the sun
from its rays and heat is inconceivable. Therefore, if we limit the
bestowals of God, we limit the attributes of God and limit God.
Let us then trust in the bounty and bestowal of God. Let us be exhilarated
with the divine breath, illumined and exalted by the heavenly glad
tidings. God has ever dealt with man in mercy and kindness. He Who
conferred the divine spirit in former times is abundantly able and capable
at all times and periods to grant the same bestowals. Therefore, let us be
hopeful. The God Who gave to the world formerly will do so now and in the
future. God Who breathed the breath of the Holy Spirit upon His servants
will breathe it upon them now and hereafter. There is no cessation to His
bounty. The Divine Spirit is penetrating from eternity to eternity, for it
is the bounty of God, and the bounty of God is eternal. Can you conceive
of limitation of the divine power in atomic verities or cessation of the
divine bounty in existing organisms? Could you conceive the power now
manifest in this glass in cohesion of its atoms becoming nonexistent? The
energy by which the water of the sea is constituted failing to exert
itself and the sea disappearing? A shower of rain today and no more
showers afterward? The effulgence of the sun terminated and no more light
or heat?
When we observe that in the kingdom of minerals the divine bounties are
continuous, how much more shall we expect and realize in the divine
spiritual Kingdom! How much greater the radiation of the lights of God and
the bounty of everlasting life upon the soul of man! As the body of the
universe is continuous, indestructible, the bounties and bestowals of the
divine spirit are everlasting.
I praise God that I am privileged to be present in this revered assembly
which is quickened with spiritual susceptibilities and heavenly
attraction--its members investigating reality, their utmost hope the
establishment of international peace and their greatest purpose service to
the world of humanity.
When we observe the world of created phenomena, we discover that each atom
of the atoms of substance is moving through the various degrees and
kingdoms of organic life. For instance, consider the ethereal element
which is penetrating and traveling through all the contingent realities.
When there is vibration or movement in the ethereal element, the eye is
affected by that vibration and beholds what is known as light.
In the same manner the bestowals of God are moving and circulating
throughout all created things. This illimitable divine bounty has no
beginning and will have no ending. It is moving, circulating and becomes
effective wherever capacity is developed to receive it. In every station
there is a specialized capacity. Therefore, we must be hopeful that
through the bounty and favor of God this spirit of life infusing all
created beings shall quicken humanity, and from its bestowals the human
world shall become a divine world, this earthly kingdom become the mirror
of the realm of Divinity, the virtues and perfections of the world of
humanity become unveiled and the image and likeness of God be reflected
from this temple.
I am most grateful to the president of this society and express my most
respectful greetings to him. It is my hope that all of you may be assisted
in attaining the good pleasure of God. The spiritual susceptibility of
those present has made me very happy, and I beg of God assistance and
confirmation for all.
31 May 1912
Talk at Town Hall
Fanwood, New Jersey