This is a Unitarian church, and in the Arabic tongue this day may well be
called Yawm-al'Ittihad ("the Unitarian Day"). Therefore, I consider it
appropriate to speak to you upon the subject of unity.
What is real unity? When we observe the human world, we find various
collective expressions of unity therein. For instance, man is
distinguished from the animal by his degree, or kingdom. This
comprehensive distinction includes all the posterity of Adam and
constitutes one great household or human family, which may be considered
the fundamental or physical unity of mankind. Furthermore, a distinction
exists between various groups of humankind according to lineage, each
group forming a racial unity separate from the others. There is also the
unity of tongue among those who use the same language as a means of
communication; national unity where various peoples live under one form of
government such as French, German, British, etc.; and political unity,
which conserves the civil rights of parties or factions of the same
government. All these unities are imaginary and without real foundation,
for no real result proceeds from them. The purpose of true unity is real
and divine outcomes. From these limited unities mentioned only limited
outcomes proceed, whereas unlimited unity produces unlimited result. For
instance, from the limited unity of race or nationality the results at
most are limited. It is like a family living alone and solitary; there are
no unlimited or universal outcomes from it.
The unity which is productive of unlimited results is first a unity of
mankind which recognizes that all are sheltered beneath the overshadowing
glory of the All-Glorious, that all are servants of one God; for all
breathe the same atmosphere, live upon the same earth, move beneath the
same heavens, receive effulgence from the same sun and are under the
protection of one God. This is the most great unity, and its results are
lasting if humanity adheres to it; but mankind has hitherto violated it,
adhering to sectarian or other limited unities such as racial, patriotic
or unity of self-interests; therefore, no great results have been
forthcoming. Nevertheless, it is certain that the radiance and favors of
God are encompassing, minds have developed, perceptions have become acute,
sciences and arts are widespread, and capacity exists for the proclamation
and promulgation of the real and ultimate unity of mankind, which will
bring forth marvelous results. It will reconcile all religions, make
warring nations loving, cause hostile kings to become friendly and bring
peace and happiness to the human world. It will cement together the Orient
and Occident, remove forever the foundations of war and upraise the ensign
of the Most Great Peace. These limited unities are, therefore, signs of
that great unity which will make all the human family one by being
productive of the attractions of conscience in mankind.
Another unity is the spiritual unity which emanates from the breaths of
the Holy Spirit. This is greater than the unity of mankind. Human unity or
solidarity may be likened to the body, whereas unity from the breaths of
the Holy Spirit is the spirit animating the body. This is a perfect unity.
It creates such a condition in mankind that each one will make sacrifices
for the other, and the utmost desire will be to forfeit life and all that
pertains to it in behalf of another's good. This is the unity which
existed among the disciples of Jesus Christ and bound together the
Prophets and holy Souls of the past. It is the unity which through the
influence of the divine spirit is permeating the Baha'is so that each
offers his life for the other and strives with all sincerity to attain his
good pleasure. This is the unity which caused twenty thousand people in
Persia to give their lives in love and devotion to it. It made the Bab the
target of a thousand arrows and caused Baha'u'llah to suffer exile and
imprisonment forty years. This unity is the very spirit of the body of the
world. It is impossible for the body of the world to become quickened with
life without its vivification. Jesus Christ--may my life be a sacrifice to
Him!--promulgated this unity among mankind. Every soul who believed in
Jesus Christ became revivified and resuscitated through this spirit,
attained to the zenith of eternal glory, realized the everlasting life,
experienced the second birth and rose to the acme of good fortune.
In the Word of God there is still another unity--the oneness of the
Manifestations of God, Abraham, Moses, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, the Bab and
Baha'u'llah. This is a unity divine, heavenly, radiant, merciful--the one
reality appearing in its successive Manifestations. For instance, the sun
is one and the same, but its points of dawning are various. During the
summer season it rises from the northern point of the ecliptic; in winter
it appears from the southern point of rising. Each month between, it
appears from a certain zodiacal position. Although these dawning points
are different, the sun is the same sun which has appeared from them all.
The significance is the reality of Prophethood which is symbolized by the
sun, and the holy Manifestations are the dawning places or zodiacal
points.
There is also the divine unity or entity, which is sanctified above all
concept of humanity. It cannot be comprehended nor conceived because it is
infinite reality and cannot become finite. Human minds are incapable of
surrounding that reality because all thoughts and conceptions of it are
finite, intellectual creations and not the reality of Divine Being which
alone knows itself. For example, if we form a conception of Divinity as a
living, almighty, self-subsisting, eternal Being, this is only a concept
apprehended by a human intellectual reality. It would not be the outward,
visible reality, which is beyond the power of human mind to conceive or
encompass. We ourselves have an external, visible entity; but even our
concept of it is the product of our own brain and limited comprehension.
The reality of Divinity is sanctified above this degree of knowing and
realization. It has ever been hidden and secluded in its own holiness and
sanctity above our comprehending. Although it transcends our realization,
its lights, bestowals, traces and virtues have become manifest in the
realities of the Prophets, even as the sun becomes resplendent in various
mirrors. These holy realities are as reflectors, and the reality of
Divinity is as the sun, which, although it is reflected from the mirrors,
and its virtues and perfections become resplendent therein, does not stoop
from its own station of majesty and glory and seek abode in the mirrors;
it remains in its heaven of sanctity. At most it is this: that its lights
become manifest and evident in its mirrors or manifestations. Therefore,
its bounty proceeding from them is one bounty, but the recipients of that
bounty are many. This is the unity of God; this is oneness--unity of
Divinity, holy above ascent or descent, embodiment, comprehension or
idealization--divine unity. The Prophets are its mirrors; its lights are
revealed through Them; its virtues become resplendent in Them, but the Sun
of Reality never descends from its own highest point and station. This is
unity, oneness, sanctity; this is glorification whereby we praise and
adore God.
O my God! O my God! Verily, these are servants at the threshold of Thy
mercy, and maidservants at the door of Thy oneness. Verily, they have
gathered in this temple to turn to Thy face of glory, holding to the hem
of Thy garment and to Thy singleness, seeking Thy good pleasure and ascent
into Thy Kingdom. They receive effulgence from the Sun of Reality in this
glorious century, and they long for Thy goodwill in all great affairs. O
Lord! Illumine their sight with a vision of Thy signs and riches, and
quicken their ears with hearkening to Thy Word. Render their hearts
replete with Thy love, and gladden their spirits with Thy meeting. Deign
to bestow upon them spiritual good in Thine earth and heaven, and make
them signs of unity among Thy servants in order that the real unity may
appear and all may become one in Thy Cause and Kingdom. Verily, Thou art
the Generous. Verily, Thou art the Mighty, the Spiritual. Thou art the
Merciful, the Clement.
(To the children in the Sunday School)
I am glad to see these bright, radiant children. God willing, all of them
may realize the hopes and aspirations of their parents.
Praise be to God! I see before me these beautiful children of the Kingdom.
Their hearts are pure, their faces are shining. They shall soon become the
sons and daughters of the Kingdom. Thanks be to God! They are seeking to
acquire virtues and will be the cause of the attainment of the excellences
of humanity. This is the cause of oneness in the Kingdom of God. Praise be
to God! They have kind and revered teachers who train and educate them
well and who long for confirmation in order that, God willing, like tender
plants in the garden of God they may be refreshed by the downpour of the
clouds of mercy, grow and become verdant. In the utmost perfection and
delicacy may they at last bring forth fruit.
I supplicate God that these children may be reared under His protection
and that they may be nourished by His favor and grace until all, like
beautiful flowers in the garden of human hopes and aspirations, shall
blossom and become redolent of fragrance.
O God! Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thine
orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden. Let Thy rain
fall upon them; let the Sun of Reality shine upon them with Thy love. Let
Thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and
develop, and appear in the utmost beauty. Thou art the Giver. Thou art the
Compassionate.
16 June 1912
Talk at Home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard MacNutt
935 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York