When we review history from the beginning down to the present day we find
that strife and warfare have prevailed throughout the human world. Wars,
religious, racial or political, have arisen from human ignorance,
misunderstanding and lack of education. We will first consider religious
strife and conflict.
It is evident that the divine prophets have appeared in the world to
establish love and agreement among mankind. They have been the shepherds
and not the wolves. The shepherd comes forth to gather and lead his flock
and not to disperse them by creating strife. Every divine shepherd has
assembled a flock which had formerly been scattered. Among the shepherds
was His Holiness Moses. At a time when the tribes of Israel were wandering
and dispersed, he assembled, united and educated them to higher degrees of
capacity and progress until they passed out of the wilderness of
discipline into the holy land of possession. He transformed their
degradation into glory, changed their poverty into wealth and replaced
their vices by virtues until they rose to such a zenith that the splendor
of the sovereignty of Solomon was made possible and the fame of their
civilization extended to the East and the West. It is evident therefore
that His Holiness was a divine shepherd for he gathered the tribes of
Israel together and united them in the power and strength of a great
nationhood.
When the Messianic star of Jesus Christ dawned, he declared he had come to
gather together the lost tribes or scattered sheep of Moses. He not only
shepherded the flock of Israel, but brought together people of Chaldea,
Egypt, Syria, ancient Assyria and Phoenicia. These people were in a state
of utmost hostility, thirsting for the blood of each other with the
ferocity of animals; but His Holiness Jesus Christ brought them together,
cemented and united them in his cause and established such a bond of love
among them that enmity and warfare were abandoned. It is evident therefore
that the divine teachings are intended to create a bond of unity in the
human world and establish the foundations of love and fellowship among
mankind. Divine religion is not a cause for discord and disagreement. If
religion becomes the source of antagonism and strife, the absence of
religion is to be preferred. Religion is meant to be the quickening life
of the body politic; if it be the cause of death to humanity, its
nonexistence would be a blessing and benefit to man. Therefore in this day
the divine teachings must be sought, for they are the remedies for the
present conditions of the world of humanity.
At a time when the Arabian tribes and nomadic peoples were widely
separated, living in the deserts under lawless conditions, strife and
bloodshed continual among them, no tribe free from the menace of attack
and destruction by another,--at such a critical time Mohammed appeared. He
gathered these wild tribes of the desert together, reconciled, united and
caused them to agree so that enmity and warfare ceased. The Arabian nation
immediately advanced until its dominion extended westward to Spain and
Andalusia.
From these facts and premises we may conclude that the establishing of the
divine religions is for peace, not for war and the shedding of blood.
Inasmuch as all are founded upon one reality which is love and unity, the
wars and dissensions which have characterized the history of religion have
been due to imitations and superstitions which arise afterward. Religion
is reality and reality is one. The fundamentals of the religion of God are
therefore one in reality. There is neither difference nor change in the
fundamentals. Variance is caused by blind imitations, prejudices and
adherence to forms which appear later, and inasmuch as these differ,
discord and strife result. If the religions of the world would forsake
these causes of difficulty and seek the fundamentals, all would agree, and
strife and dissension would pass away; for religion and reality are one
and not multiple.
Other wars are caused by purely imaginary racial differences; for humanity
is one kind, one race and progeny inhabiting the same globe. In the
creative plan there is no racial distinction and separation such as
Frenchman, Englishman, American, German, Italian or Spaniard; all belong
to one household. These boundaries and distinctions are human and
artificial, not natural and original. All mankind are the fruits of one
tree, flowers of the same garden, waves of one sea. In the animal kingdom
no such distinction and separation are observed. The sheep of the East and
the sheep of the West would associate peacefully. The oriental flock would
not look surprised as if saying, "These are sheep of the Occident; they do
not belong to our country." All would gather in harmony and enjoy the same
pasture without evidence of local or racial distinction. The birds of
different countries mingle in friendliness. We find these virtues in the
animal kingdom. Shall man deprive himself of these virtues? Man is endowed
with superior reasoning power and the faculty of perception; he is the
manifestation of divine bestowals. Shall racial ideas prevail and obscure
the creative purpose of unity in his kingdom? Shall he say, "I am a
German," "I am a Frenchman," or an "Englishman" and declare war because of
this imaginary and human distinction? God forbid! This earth is one
household and the nativity of all humanity; therefore the human race
should ignore distinctions and boundaries which are artificial and
conducive to disagreement and hostility. We have come from the East.
Praise be to God! we find this continent prosperous, the climate
salubrious and delightful, the inhabitants genial and courteous, the
government equable and just. Shall we entertain any other thought and
feeling than that of love for you? Shall we say, "This is not our native
land, therefore everything is objectionable?" This would be gross
ignorance to which man must not subject himself. Man is endowed with
powers to investigate reality, and the reality is that humanity is one in
kind and equal in the creative plan. Therefore false distinctions of race
and nativity which are factors and causes of warfare must be abandoned.
Consider what is happening(3) in Tripoli; how the poor are being killed
and the blood of the helpless is being shed upon both sides; children made
fatherless, fathers lamenting the death of their sons, mothers bewailing
the loss of dear ones. And what is the benefit after all? Nothing
conceivable. Is it therefore justifiable? The domestic animals do not
manifest hatred and cruelty toward each other; that is the attribute of
the wild and ferocious beasts. In a flock of one thousand sheep you will
witness no bloodshed. Numberless species of birds are peaceful in flocks.
Wolves, lions, tigers are ferocious because it is their natural and
necessary means for obtaining food. Man has no need of such ferocity; his
food is provided in other ways. Therefore it is evident that warfare,
cruelty and bloodshed in the kingdom of man are caused by human greed,
hatred and selfishness. The kings and rulers of nations enjoy luxury and
ease in their palaces and send the common people to the battlefield; offer
them as the food and targets of cannon. Each day they invent new
instruments for the more complete destruction of the foundations of the
human race. They are callous and merciless toward their fellow-creatures.
What shall atone for the sufferings and grief of mothers who have so
tenderly cared for their sons? What sleepless nights they have spent and
what days of devotion and love they have given to bring their children to
maturity! Yet the savagery of these warring rulers causes great numbers of
their victims to be torn and mutilated in a day. What ignorance and
degradation, yea even greater than the ferocious beasts themselves! For a
wolf will carry away and devour one sheep at a time whereas an ambitious
tyrant may cause the death of one hundred thousand men in a battle and
glory in his military prowess saying, "I am commander-in-chief; I have won
this mighty victory." Consider the ignorance and inconsistency of the
human race. If a man kills another, no matter what the cause may be, he is
pronounced a murderer, imprisoned or executed; but the brutal oppressor
who has slain one hundred thousand is idolized as a hero, conqueror or
military genius. A man steals a small sum of money; he is called a thief
and sent to the penitentiary; but the military leader who invades and
pillages a whole kingdom is acclaimed heroic and a mighty man of valor.
How base and ignorant is man!
In Persia previous to the middle of the nineteenth century, among the
various tribes and peoples, sects and denominations there existed the
greatest animosity, strife and hatred. At that time too all the other
nations of the East were in the same condition. Religionists were hostile
and bigoted, sects were at enmity, races hated each other, tribes were
constantly at war; everywhere antagonism and conflict prevailed. Men
shunned and were suspicious of each other. The man who could kill a number
of his fellow-creatures was glorified for his heroism and strength. Among
religionists it was esteemed a praiseworthy deed to take the life of one
who held an opposite belief. At this time Baha'u'llah arose and declared
his mission. He founded the oneness of the world of humanity, proclaimed
that all are servants of the loving and merciful God who has created,
nourished and provided for all, therefore why should men be unjust and
unkind to each other, showing forth that which is contrary to God? As He
loves us why should we entertain animosity and hate? If God did not love
all He would not have created, trained and provided for all.
Loving-kindness is the divine policy. Shall we consider human policy and
attitude superior to the wisdom and policy of God? This would be
inconceivable, impossible. Therefore we must emulate and follow the divine
policy, dealing with each other in the utmost love and tenderness.
Baha'u'llah declared the "Most Great Peace" and international arbitration.
He voiced these principles in numerous epistles which were circulated
broadcast throughout the East. He wrote to all the kings and rulers
encouraging, advising and admonishing them in regard to the establishment
of peace; making it evident by conclusive proofs that the happiness and
glory of humanity can only be assured through disarmament and arbitration.
This was nearly fifty years ago. Because he promulgated the message of
Universal Peace and international agreement, the kings of the Orient arose
against him for they did not find their personal and national benefits
advanced by his admonition and teaching. They persecuted him bitterly,
inflicted upon him every torment, imprisoned, bastinadoed, banished him
and eventually confined him in a fortress. Then they arose against his
followers. For the establishment of international peace the blood of
twenty thousand Baha'is was spilt. Their homes were destroyed, their
children made captives and their possessions pillaged yet none of these
people waxed cold or wavered in devotion. Even to this day the Baha'is are
persecuted and quite recently a number were killed, for wherever they are
found they put forth the greatest efforts to establish the peace of the
world. They not only promulgate principles; they are people of action.
In Persia today through the teachings of Baha'u'llah you will find people
of various religious beliefs and denominations living together in the
utmost peace and agreement. The former enmities and hatred have passed
away and they exercise the utmost love toward all mankind for they realize
and know that all are the creatures and servants of one God. This is
directly due to the divine teachings. At most it is simply this; that the
ignorant must be educated, the ailing must be healed, those who are as
children in the scale of development must be helped to reach the age of
maturity. We must not be unfriendly to any one because of ignorance,
neither must we reject the immature or turn away from the sick but
administer the remedy for each human need until all are united in the
providence of God. Therefore it is evident that the essential foundations
of the divine religions are unity and love. If religion be productive of
discord among mankind it is a destroyer and not divine for religion
implies unity and binding together and not separation. Mere knowledge of
principles is not sufficient. We all know and admit that justice is good
but there is need of volition and action to carry out and manifest it. For
example, we might think it good to build a church but simply thinking of
it as a good thing will not help its erection. The ways and means must be
provided; we must will to build it and then proceed with the construction.
All of us know that international peace is good, that it is conducive to
human welfare and the glory of man but volition and action are necessary
before it can be established. Action is the essential. Inasmuch as this
century is a century of light, capacity for action is assured to mankind.
Necessarily the divine principles will be spread among men until the time
of action arrives. Surely this has been so and truly the time and
conditions are ripe for action now. All men know that verily war is the
destroyer of human foundations and in every country of the world this is
admitted and apparent. I find the United States of America an exceedingly
progressive nation, the government just, the people in a state of
readiness and the principle of equality established to an extraordinary
degree. Therefore it is my hope that inasmuch as the standard of
international peace must be upraised it may be upraised upon this
continent, for this nation is more deserving and has greater capacity for
such an initial step than any other. If other nations should attempt to do
this the motive will be misunderstood. For instance, if Great Britain
should declare for international peace it will be said that it has been
done to insure the safety of her colonies. If France should hoist the
standard other nations will declare some hidden diplomatic policy
underlies the action; Russia would be suspected of national designs if the
first step were taken by that people, and so on with all the European and
eastern governments. But the United States of America could not be accused
of any such selfish interest. Your government has, strictly speaking, no
colonies to protect. You are not endeavoring to extend your domain nor
have you need of territorial expansion. Therefore if America takes the
first step toward the establishing of world peace it is certain to be
ascribed to unselfishness and altruism. The world will say, "There is no
other motive than altruism and service to humanity in this action by the
United States." Therefore it is my hope that you may stand forth as the
first herald of peace and hoist this banner; for this banner will be
hoisted. Raise it aloft, for you are the most qualified and deserving of
nations. The other countries await this summons, expect this call to the
standard of reconciliation, for the whole world is distressed because of
the excessive burden and irreparable damage of war. Taxes are levied to
meet its drain. Every year the burden increases and the people have come
to their end. Just now(4) Europe is a battlefield of ammunition ready for
a spark; and one spark will set aflame the whole world. Before these
complications and cataclysmic events happen, take the step to prevent it.
The foundations of all the divine religions are peace and agreement, but
misunderstandings and ignorance have developed. If these are caused to
disappear you will see that all the religious agencies will work for peace
and promulgate the oneness of humankind. For the foundation of all is
reality and reality is not multiple or divisible. His Holiness Moses
founded it, His Holiness Jesus raised its tent, and its brilliant light
has shone forth in all the religions. His Holiness Baha'u'llah proclaimed
this one reality and spread the message of the "Most Great Peace". Even in
prison he rested not until he lighted this lamp in the East. Praise be to
God! all who have accepted his teachings are lovers of peace, peacemakers
ready to sacrifice their lives and expend their possessions for it. Now
let this standard be upraised in the West and many will respond to the
call. America has become renowned for her discoveries, inventions and
artistic skill, famous for equity of government and stupendous
undertakings; now may she also become noted and celebrated as the herald
and messenger of Universal Peace. Let this be her mission and undertaking
and may its blessed impetus spread to all countries. I pray for all of you
that you may render this service to the world of humanity.