representatives, whether local, regional, or national, who, in their
capacity as the custodians and members of the nascent institutions of the
Faith of Baha'u'llah, are shouldering the chief responsibility in laying
an unassailable foundation for that Universal House of Justice which, as
its title implies, is to be the exponent and guardian of that Divine
Justice which can alone insure the security of, and establish the reign of
law and order in, a strangely disordered world. The second is mainly and
directly concerned with the Baha'i youth, who can contribute so decisively
to the virility, the purity, and the driving force of the life of the
Baha'i community, and upon whom must depend the future orientation of its
destiny, and the complete unfoldment of the potentialities with which God
has endowed it. The third should be the immediate, the universal, and the
chief concern of all and sundry members of the Baha'i community, of
whatever age, rank, experience, class, or color, as all, with no
exception, must face its challenging implications, and none can claim,
however much he may have progressed along this line, to have completely
discharged the stern responsibilities which it inculcates.
A rectitude of conduct, an abiding sense of undeviating justice,
unobscured by the demoralizing influences which a corruption-ridden
political life so strikingly manifests; a chaste, pure, and holy life,
unsullied and unclouded by the indecencies, the vices, the false
standards, which an inherently deficient moral code tolerates,
perpetuates, and fosters; a fraternity freed from that cancerous growth of
racial prejudice, which is eating into the vitals of an already
debilitated society--these are the ideals which the American believers
must, from now on, individually and through concerted action, strive to
promote, in both their private and public lives, ideals which are the
chief propelling forces that can most effectively accelerate the march of
their institutions, plans, and enterprises, that can guard the honor and
integrity of their Faith, and subdue any obstacles that may confront it in
the future.
This rectitude of conduct, with its implications of justice, equity,
truthfulness, honesty, fair-mindedness, reliability, and trustworthiness,
must distinguish every phase of the life of the Baha'i community. "The
companions of God," Baha'u'llah Himself has declared, "are, in this day,
the lump that must leaven the peoples of the world. They must show forth
such trustworthiness, such truthfulness and perseverance, such deeds and
character that all mankind may profit by their example." "I swear by Him
Who is the Most Great Ocean!" He again affirms, "Within the very breath of
such souls as are pure and sanctified far-reaching potentialities are
hidden. So great are these potentialities that they exercise their
influence upon all created things." "He is the true servant of God," He,
in another passage has written, "who, in this day, were he to pass through
cities of silver and gold, would not deign to look upon them, and whose
heart would remain pure and undefiled from whatever things can be seen in
this world, be they its goods or its treasures. I swear by the Sun of
Truth! The breath of such a man is endowed with potency, and his words
with attraction." "By Him Who shineth above the Dayspring of sanctity!"
He, still more emphatically, has revealed, "If the whole earth were to be
converted into silver and gold, no man who can be said to have truly
ascended into the heaven of faith and certitude would deign to regard it,
much less to seize and keep it.... They who dwell within the Tabernacle of
God, and are established upon the seats of everlasting glory, will refuse,
though they be dying of hunger, to stretch their hands, and seize
unlawfully the property of their neighbor, however vile and worthless he
may be. The purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself is to
summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity, to piety and
trustworthiness, to resignation and submissiveness to the will of God, to
forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom. His object is to
array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him
with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds." "We have admonished all the
loved ones of God," He insists, "to take heed lest the hem of Our sacred
vesture be smirched with the mire of unlawful deeds, or be stained with
the dust of reprehensible conduct." "Cleave unto righteousness, O people
of Baha," He thus exhorts them, "This, verily, is the commandment which
this wronged One hath given unto you, and the first choice of His
unrestrained will for every one of you." "A good character," He explains,
"is, verily, the best mantle for men from God. With it He adorneth the
temples of His loved ones. By My life! The light of a good character
surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof." "One righteous
act," He, again, has written, "is endowed with a potency that can so
elevate the dust as to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens. It
can tear every bond asunder, and hath the power to restore the force that
hath spent itself and vanished.... Be pure, O people of God, be pure; be
righteous, be righteous.... Say: O people of God! That which can insure
the victory of Him Who is the Eternal Truth, His hosts and helpers on
earth, have been set down in the sacred Books and Scriptures, and are as
clear and manifest as the sun. These hosts are such righteous deeds, such
conduct and character, as are acceptable in His sight. Whoso ariseth, in
this Day, to aid Our Cause, and summoneth to his assistance the hosts of a
praiseworthy character and upright conduct, the influence from such an
action will, most certainly, be diffused throughout the whole world." "The
betterment of the world," is yet another statement, "can be accomplished
through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct."
"Be fair to yourselves and to others," He thus counseleth them, "that the
evidences of justice may be revealed through your deeds among Our faithful
servants." "Equity," He also has written, "is the most fundamental among
human virtues. The evaluation of all things must needs depend upon it."
And again, "Observe equity in your judgment, ye men of understanding
heart! He that is unjust in his judgment is destitute of the
characteristics that distinguish man's station." "Beautify your tongues, O
people," He further admonishes them, "with truthfulness, and adorn your
souls with the ornament of honesty. Beware, O people, that ye deal not
treacherously with anyone. Be ye the trustees of God amongst His
creatures, and the emblems of His generosity amidst His people." "Let your
eye be chaste," is yet another counsel, "your hand faithful, your tongue
truthful, and your heart enlightened." "Be an ornament to the countenance
of truth," is yet another admonition, "a crown to the brow of fidelity, a
pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of
mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon
of virtue." "Let truthfulness and courtesy be your adorning," is still
another admonition; "suffer not yourselves to be deprived of the robe of
forbearance and justice, that the sweet savors of holiness may be wafted
from your hearts upon all created things. Say: Beware, O people of Baha,
lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds.
Strive that ye may be enabled to manifest to the peoples of the earth the
signs of God, and to mirror forth His commandments. Let your acts be a
guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or
low, differ from their conduct. It is through your deeds that ye can
distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness of your
light can be shed upon the whole earth. Happy is the man that heedeth My
counsel, and keepeth the precepts prescribed by Him Who is the
All-Knowing, the All-Wise."
"O army of God!" writes 'Abdu'l-Baha, "Through the protection and help
vouchsafed by the Blessed Beauty--may my life be a sacrifice to His loved
ones--ye must conduct yourselves in such a manner that ye may stand out
distinguished and brilliant as the sun among other souls. Should any one
of you enter a city, he should become a center of attraction by reason of
his sincerity, his faithfulness and love, his honesty and fidelity, his
truthfulness and loving-kindness towards all the peoples of the world, so
that the people of that city may cry out and say: 'This man is
unquestionably a Baha'i, for his manners, his behavior, his conduct, his
morals, his nature, and disposition reflect the attributes of the
Baha'is.' Not until ye attain this station can ye be said to have been
faithful to the Covenant and Testament of God." "The most vital duty, in
this day," He, moreover, has written, "is to purify your characters, to
correct your manners, and improve your conduct. The beloved of the
Merciful must show forth such character and conduct among His creatures,
that the fragrance of their holiness may be shed upon the whole world, and
may quicken the dead, inasmuch as the purpose of the Manifestation of God
and the dawning of the limitless lights of the Invisible is to educate the
souls of men, and refine the character of every living man...."
"Truthfulness," He asserts, "is the foundation of all human virtues.
Without truthfulness progress and success, in all the worlds of God, are
impossible for any soul. When this holy attribute is established in man,
all the divine qualities will also be acquired."
Such a rectitude of conduct must manifest itself, with ever-increasing
potency, in every verdict which the elected representatives of the Baha'i
community, in whatever capacity they may find themselves, may be called
upon to pronounce. It must be constantly reflected in the business
dealings of all its members, in their domestic lives, in all manner of
employment, and in any service they may, in the future, render their
government or people. It must be exemplified in the conduct of all Baha'i
electors, when exercising their sacred rights and functions. It must
characterize the attitude of every loyal believer towards nonacceptance of
political posts, nonidentification with political parties,
nonparticipation in political controversies, and nonmembership in
political organizations and ecclesiastical institutions. It must reveal
itself in the uncompromising adherence of all, whether young or old, to
the clearly enunciated and fundamental principles laid down by
'Abdu'l-Baha in His addresses, and to the laws and ordinances revealed by
Baha'u'llah in His Most Holy Book. It must be demonstrated in the
impartiality of every defender of the Faith against its enemies, in his
fair-mindedness in recognizing any merits that enemy may possess, and in
his honesty in discharging any obligations he may have towards him. It
must constitute the brightest ornament of the life, the pursuits, the
exertions, and the utterances of every Baha'i teacher, whether laboring at
home or abroad, whether in the front ranks of the teaching force, or
occupying a less active and responsible position. It must be made the
hallmark of that numerically small, yet intensely dynamic and highly
responsible body of the elected national representatives of every Baha'i
community, which constitutes the sustaining pillar, and the sole
instrument for the election, in every community, of that Universal House
whose very name and title, as ordained by Baha'u'llah, symbolizes that
rectitude of conduct which is its highest mission to safeguard and
enforce.
So great and transcendental is this principle of Divine justice, a
principle that must be regarded as the crowning distinction of all Local
and National Assemblies, in their capacity as forerunners of the Universal
House of Justice, that Baha'u'llah Himself subordinates His personal
inclination and wish to the all-compelling force of its demands and
implications. "God is My witness!" He thus explains, "were it not contrary
to the Law of God, I would have kissed the hand of My would-be murderer,
and would cause him to inherit My earthly goods. I am restrained, however,
by the binding Law laid down in the Book, and am Myself bereft of all
worldly possessions." "Know thou, of a truth," He significantly affirms,
"these great oppressions that have befallen the world are preparing it for
the advent of the Most Great Justice." "Say," He again asserts, "He hath
appeared with that Justice wherewith mankind hath been adorned, and yet
the people are, for the most part, asleep." "The light of men is Justice,"
He moreover states, "Quench it not with the contrary winds of oppression
and tyranny. The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men."
"No radiance," He declares, "can compare with that of justice. The
organization of the world and the tranquillity of mankind depend upon it."
"O people of God!" He exclaims, "That which traineth the world is Justice,
for it is upheld by two pillars, reward and punishment. These two pillars
are the sources of life to the world." "Justice and equity," is yet
another assertion, "are two guardians for the protection of man. They have
appeared arrayed in their mighty and sacred names to maintain the world in
uprightness and protect the nations." "Bestir yourselves, O people," is
His emphatic warning, "in anticipation of the days of Divine justice, for
the promised hour is now come. Beware lest ye fail to apprehend its
import, and be accounted among the erring." "The day is approaching," He
similarly has written, "when the faithful will behold the daystar of
justice shining in its full splendor from the dayspring of glory." "The
shame I was made to bear," He significantly remarks, "hath uncovered the
glory with which the whole of creation had been invested, and through the
cruelties I have endured, the daystar of justice hath manifested itself,
and shed its splendor upon men." "The world," He again has written, "is in
great turmoil, and the minds of its people are in a state of utter
confusion. We entreat the Almighty that He may graciously illuminate them
with the glory of His Justice, and enable them to discover that which will
be profitable unto them at all times and under all conditions." And again,
"There can be no doubt whatever that if the daystar of justice, which the
clouds of tyranny have obscured, were to shed its light upon men, the face
of the earth would be completely transformed."
"God be praised!" 'Abdu'l-Baha, in His turn, exclaims, "The sun of justice
hath risen above the horizon of Baha'u'llah. For in His Tablets the
foundations of such a justice have been laid as no mind hath, from the
beginning of creation, conceived." "The canopy of existence," He further
explains, "resteth upon the pole of justice, and not of forgiveness, and
the life of mankind dependeth on justice and not on forgiveness."
Small wonder, therefore, that the Author of the Baha'i Revelation should
have chosen to associate the name and title of that House, which is to be
the crowning glory of His administrative institutions, not with
forgiveness but with justice, to have made justice the only basis and the
permanent foundation of His Most Great Peace, and to have proclaimed it in
His Hidden Words as "the best beloved of all things" in His sight. It is
to the American believers, particularly, that I feel urged to direct this
fervent plea to ponder in their hearts the implications of this moral
rectitude, and to uphold, with heart and soul and uncompromisingly, both
individually and collectively, this sublime standard--a standard of which
justice is so essential and potent an element.
As to a chaste and holy life, it should be regarded as no less essential a
factor that must contribute its proper share to the strengthening and
vitalization of the Baha'i community, upon which must in turn depend the
success of any Baha'i plan or enterprise. In these days when the forces of
irreligion are weakening the moral fiber, and undermining the foundations
of individual morality, the obligation of chastity and holiness must claim
an increasing share of the attention of the American believers, both in
their individual capacities and as the responsible custodians of the
interests of the Faith of Baha'u'llah. In the discharge of such an
obligation, to which the special circumstances resulting from an excessive
and enervating materialism now prevailing in their country lend particular
significance, they must play a conspicuous and predominant role. All of
them, be they men or women, must, at this threatening hour when the lights
of religion are fading out, and its restraints are one by one being
abolished, pause to examine themselves, scrutinize their conduct, and with
characteristic resolution arise to purge the life of their community of
every trace of moral laxity that might stain the name, or impair the
integrity, of so holy and precious a Faith.
A chaste and holy life must be made the controlling principle in the
behavior and conduct of all Baha'is, both in their social relations with
the members of their own community, and in their contact with the world at
large. It must adorn and reinforce the ceaseless labors and meritorious
exertions of those whose enviable position is to propagate the Message,
and to administer the affairs, of the Faith of Baha'u'llah. It must be
upheld, in all its integrity and implications, in every phase of the life
of those who fill the ranks of that Faith, whether in their homes, their
travels, their clubs, their societies, their entertainments, their
schools, and their universities. It must be accorded special consideration
in the conduct of the social activities of every Baha'i summer school and
any other occasions on which Baha'i community life is organized and
fostered. It must be closely and continually identified with the mission
of the Baha'i youth, both as an element in the life of the Baha'i
community, and as a factor in the future progress and orientation of the
youth of their own country.
Such a chaste and holy life, with its implications of modesty, purity,
temperance, decency, and clean-mindedness, involves no less than the
exercise of moderation in all that pertains to dress, language,
amusements, and all artistic and literary avocations. It demands daily
vigilance in the control of one's carnal desires and corrupt inclinations.
It calls for the abandonment of a frivolous conduct, with its excessive
attachment to trivial and often misdirected pleasures. It requires total
abstinence from all alcoholic drinks, from opium, and from similar
habit-forming drugs. It condemns the prostitution of art and of
literature, the practices of nudism and of companionate marriage,
infidelity in marital relationships, and all manner of promiscuity, of
easy familiarity, and of sexual vices. It can tolerate no compromise with
the theories, the standards, the habits, and the excesses of a decadent
age. Nay rather it seeks to demonstrate, through the dynamic force of its
example, the pernicious character of such theories, the falsity of such
standards, the hollowness of such claims, the perversity of such habits,
and the sacrilegious character of such excesses.
"By the righteousness of God!" writes Baha'u'llah, "The world, its
vanities and its glory, and whatever delights it can offer, are all, in
the sight of God, as worthless as, nay even more contemptible than, dust
and ashes. Would that the hearts of men could comprehend it. Wash
yourselves thoroughly, O people of Baha, from the defilement of the world,
and of all that pertaineth unto it. God Himself beareth Me witness! The
things of the earth ill beseem you. Cast them away unto such as may desire
them, and fasten your eyes upon this most holy and effulgent Vision." "O
ye My loved ones!" He thus exhorts His followers, "Suffer not the hem of
My sacred vesture to be smirched and mired with the things of this world,
and follow not the promptings of your evil and corrupt desires." And
again, "O ye the beloved of the one true God! Pass beyond the narrow
retreats of your evil and corrupt desires, and advance into the vast
immensity of the realm of God, and abide ye in the meads of sanctity and
of detachment, that the fragrance of your deeds may lead the whole of
mankind to the ocean of God's unfading glory." "Disencumber yourselves,"
He thus commands them, "of all attachment to this world and the vanities
thereof. Beware that ye approach them not, inasmuch as they prompt you to
walk after your own lusts and covetous desires, and hinder you from
entering the straight and glorious Path." "Eschew all manner of
wickedness," is His commandment, "for such things are forbidden unto you
in the Book which none touch except such as God hath cleansed from every
taint of guilt, and numbered among the purified." "A race of men," is His
written promise, "incomparable in character, shall be raised up which,
with the feet of detachment, will tread under all who are in heaven and on
earth, and will cast the sleeve of holiness over all that hath been
created from water and clay." "The civilization," is His grave warning,
"so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences, will, if
allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon
men.... If carried to excess, civilization will prove as prolific a source
of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the restraints of
moderation." "He hath chosen out of the whole world the hearts of His
servants," He explains, "and made them each a seat for the revelation of
His glory. Wherefore, sanctify them from every defilement, that the things
for which they were created may be engraven upon them. This indeed is a
token of God's bountiful favor." "Say," He proclaims, "He is not to be
numbered with the people of Baha who followeth his mundane desires, or
fixeth his heart on things of the earth. He is My true follower who, if he
come to a valley of pure gold will pass straight through it aloof as a
cloud, and will neither turn back, nor pause. Such a man is assuredly of
Me. From his garment the Concourse on high can inhale the fragrance of
sanctity.... And if he met the fairest and most comely of women, he would
not feel his heart seduced by the least shadow of desire for her beauty.
Such an one indeed is the creation of spotless chastity. Thus instructeth
you the Pen of the Ancient of Days, as bidden by your Lord, the Almighty,
the All-Bountiful." "They that follow their lusts and corrupt
inclinations," is yet another warning, "have erred and dissipated their
efforts. They indeed are of the lost." "It behooveth the people of Baha,"
He also has written, "to die to the world and all that is therein, to be
so detached from all earthly things that the inmates of Paradise may
inhale from their garment the sweet smelling savor of sanctity.... They
that have tarnished the fair name of the Cause of God by following the
things of the flesh--these are in palpable error!" "Purity and chastity,"
He particularly admonishes, "have been, and still are, the most great
ornaments for the handmaidens of God. God is My Witness! The brightness of
the light of chastity sheddeth its illumination upon the worlds of the
spirit, and its fragrance is wafted even unto the Most Exalted Paradise."
"God," He again affirms, "hath verily made chastity to be a crown for the
heads of His handmaidens. Great is the blessedness of that handmaiden that
hath attained unto this great station." "We, verily, have decreed in Our
Book," is His assurance, "a goodly and bountiful reward to whosoever will
turn away from wickedness, and lead a chaste and godly life. He, in truth,
is the Great Giver, the All-Bountiful." "We have sustained the weight of
all calamities," He testifies, "to sanctify you from all earthly
corruption and ye are yet indifferent.... We, verily, behold your actions.
If We perceive from them the sweet smelling savor of purity and holiness,
We will most certainly bless you. Then will the tongues of the inmates of
Paradise utter your praise and magnify your names amidst them who have
drawn nigh unto God."