Today there is no greater glory for man than that of service in the cause
of the "Most Great Peace". Peace is light whereas war is darkness. Peace
is life; war is death. Peace is guidance; war is error. Peace is the
foundation of God; war is satanic institution. Peace is the illumination
of the world of humanity; war is the destroyer of human foundations. When
we consider outcomes in the world of existence we find that peace and
fellowship are factors of upbuilding and betterment whereas war and strife
are the causes of destruction and disintegration. All created things are
expressions of the affinity and cohesion of elementary substances, and
non-existence is the absence of their attraction and agreement. Various
elements unite harmoniously in composition but when these elements become
discordant, repelling each other, decomposition and non-existence result.
Everything partakes of this nature and is subject to this principle, for
the creative foundation in all its degrees and kingdoms is an expression
or outcome of love. Consider the restlessness and agitation of the human
world today because of war. Peace is health and construction; war is
disease and dissolution. When the banner of truth is raised, peace becomes
the cause of the welfare and advancement of the human world. In all cycles
and ages war has been a factor of derangement and discomfort whereas peace
and brotherhood have brought security and consideration of human
interests. This distinction is especially pronounced in the present world
conditions, for warfare in former centuries had not attained the degree of
savagery and destructiveness which now characterizes it. If two nations
were at war in olden times, ten or twenty thousand would be sacrificed but
in this century the destruction of one hundred thousand lives in a day is
quite possible. So perfected has the science of killing become and so
efficient the means and instruments of its accomplishment that a whole
nation can be obliterated in a short time. Therefore comparison with the
methods and results of ancient warfare is out of the question.
According to an intrinsic law, all phenomena of being attain to a summit
and degree of consummation, after which a new order and condition is
established. As the instruments and science of war have reached the degree
of thoroughness and proficiency, it is hoped that the transformation of
the human world is at hand and that in the coming centuries all the
energies and inventions of man will be utilized in promoting the interests
of peace and brotherhood. Therefore may this esteemed and worthy society
for the establishment of international peace(2) be confirmed in its
sincere intentions and empowered by God. Then will it hasten the time when
the banner of universal agreement will be raised and international welfare
will be proclaimed and consummated so that the darkness which now
encompasses the world shall pass away....
The powers of earth cannot withstand the privileges and bestowals which
God has ordained for this great and glorious century. It is a need and
exigency of the time. Man can withstand anything except that which is
divinely intended and indicated for the age and its requirements. Now,
Praise be to God! in all countries of the world, lovers of peace are to be
found and these principles are being spread among mankind, especially in
this country. Praise be to God! this thought is prevailing and souls are
continually arising as defenders of the oneness of humanity, endeavoring
to assist and establish international peace. There is no doubt that this
wonderful democracy will be able to realize it and the banner of
international agreement will be unfurled here to spread onward and outward
among all the nations of the world. I give thanks to God that I find you
imbued with such susceptibilities and lofty aspirations and I hope that
you will be the means of spreading this light to all men. Thus may the Sun
of Reality shine upon the East and West. The enveloping clouds shall pass
away and the heat of the divine rays will dispel the mist. The reality of
man shall develop and come forth as the image of God his creator. The
thoughts of man shall take such upward flight that former accomplishments
shall appear as the play of children;--for the ideas and beliefs of the
past and the prejudices regarding race and religion have ever been
lowering and destructive to human evolution. I am most hopeful that in
this century these lofty thoughts shall be conducive to human welfare. Let
this century be the sun of previous centuries the effulgences of which
shall last forever, so that in times to come they shall glorify the
twentieth century, saying the twentieth century was the century of lights,
the twentieth century was the century of life, the twentieth century was
the century of international peace, the twentieth century was the century
of divine bestowals and the twentieth century has left traces which shall
last forever.