LECTURE GIVEN AT A STUDIO IN PARIS

November 6th

This is in truth a Baha'i house. Every time such a house or meeting place is founded it becomes one of the greatest aids to the general development of the town and country to which it belongs. It encourages the growth of learning and science and is known for its intense spirituality and for the love it spreads among the peoples.

The foundation of such a meeting-place is always followed by the greatest prosperity. The first Baha'i a.s.sembly that existed in ?ihran was singularly blessed! In one year it had grown so rapidly that its members had increased to nine times their original number. Today, in far-away Persia, there are many such a.s.semblies where the friends of G.o.d meet together in the fulness of joy, love and unity. They teach the Cause of G.o.d, educate the ignorant, and draw heart to heart in brotherly kindness.

It is they who help the poor and needy and give to them their daily bread.

They love and care for the sick and are messengers of hope and consolation to the desolate and oppressed.

Oh, ye in Paris, strive that your a.s.semblies may be like unto this, and may bear even greater fruits!

Oh, friends of G.o.d! If ye will trust in the Word of G.o.d and be strong; if ye will follow the precepts of Baha'u'llah to tend the sick, raise the fallen, care for the poor and needy, give shelter to the dest.i.tute, protect the oppressed, comfort the sorrowful and love the world of humanity with all your hearts, then I say unto you that ere long this meeting-place will see a wonderful harvest. Day by day each member will advance and become more and more spiritual. But ye must have a firm foundation and your aims and ambitions must be clearly understood by each member. They shall be as follows:

1. To show compa.s.sion and goodwill to all mankind.

2. To render service to humanity.

3. To endeavour to guide and enlighten those in darkness.

4. To be kind to everyone, and show forth affection to every living soul.

5. To be humble in your att.i.tude towards G.o.d, to be constant in prayer to Him, so as to grow daily nearer to G.o.d.

6. To be so faithful and sincere in all your actions that every member may be known as embodying the qualities of honesty, love, faith, kindness, generosity, and courage. To be detached from all that is not G.o.d, attracted by the Heavenly Breath-a divine soul; so that the world may know that a Baha'i is a perfect being.

Strive to attain this at these meetings. Then, indeed and in truth will ye, the friends of G.o.d, come together with great joy! Render help one to the other, become as one man, having reached perfect unity.

I pray to G.o.d that daily ye may advance in spirituality, that G.o.d's love may be more and more manifested in you, that the thoughts of your hearts may be purified, and that your faces may be ever turned towards Him. May you one and all approach to the threshold of unity, and enter into the Kingdom. May each of you be like unto a flaming torch, lighted and burning bright with the fire of the Love of G.o.d.

BAHa'U'LLaH

November 7th

'Abdu'l-Baha said:

I will speak to you today of Baha'u'llah. In the third year after the Bab had declared his Mission, Baha'u'llah, being accused by fanatical Mullas of believing in the new doctrine, was arrested and thrown into prison. The next day, however, several ministers of the Government and other influential men caused him to be set free. Later on he was again arrested, and the priests condemned him to death! The Governor hesitated to have this sentence carried out for fear of a revolution. The priests met together in the Mosque, before which was the place of execution. All the people of the town gathered in crowds outside the Mosque. The carpenters brought their saws and hammers, the butchers came with their knives, the bricklayers and builders shouldered their spades, all these men, incited by the frenzied Mullas, were eager to share in the honour of killing Him.

Inside the Mosque were a.s.sembled the doctors of religion. Baha'u'llah stood before them, and answered all their questions with great wisdom. The chief sage in particular, was completely silenced by Baha'u'llah, who refuted all his arguments.

A discussion arose between two of these priests as to the meaning of some words in the writings of the Bab; accusing Him of inaccuracy, they challenged Baha'u'llah to defend Him if He were able. These priests were entirely humiliated, for Baha'u'llah proved before the whole a.s.sembly that the Bab was absolutely right, and that the accusation was made in ignorance.

The defeated ones now put Him to the torture of the bastinado, and more infuriated than before brought Him out before the walls of the Mosque unto the place of execution, where the misguided people were awaiting His coming.

Still the Governor feared to comply with the demand of the priests for His execution. Realizing the danger in which the dignified prisoner was placed, some men were sent to rescue Him. In this they succeeded by breaking through the wall of the Mosque and leading Baha'u'llah through the opening into a place of safety, but not of freedom; for the Governor shifted the responsibility from off his own shoulders by sending him to ?ihran. Here He was imprisoned in an underground dungeon, where the light of day was never seen. A heavy chain was placed about his neck by which He was chained to five other Babis; these fetters were locked together by strong, very heavy bolts, and screws. His clothes were torn to pieces, also His fez. In this terrible condition He was kept for four months.

During this time none of His friends were able to get access to Him.

A prison official made an attempt to poison Him but, beyond causing Him great suffering, this poison had no effect.

After a time the Government liberated Him and exiled Him and His family to Ba_gh_dad, where He remained for eleven years. During this time He underwent severe persecutions, being surrounded by the watchful hatred of His enemies.

He bore all evils and torments with the greatest courage and fort.i.tude.

Often when He arose in the morning, He knew not whether He would live until the sun should set. Meanwhile, each day, the priests came and questioned Him on religion and metaphysics.

At length the Turkish Governor exiled Him to Constantinople, whence He was sent to Adrianople; here He stayed for five years. Eventually, He was sent to the far off prison fortress of St. Jean d'Acre. Here He was imprisoned in the military portion of the fortress and kept under the strictest surveillance. Words would fail me to tell you of the many trials He had to suffer, and all the misery He endured in that prison. Notwithstanding, it was from this prison that Baha'u'llah wrote to all the Monarchs of Europe, and these letters with one exception were sent through the post.

The Epistle of Na?iri'd-Din _Sh_ah was confided to a Persian Baha'i, Mirza Badi _Kh_urasani, who undertook to deliver it into the _Sh_ah's own hands.

This brave man waited in the neighbourhood of ?ihran for the pa.s.sing of the _Sh_ah, who had the intention to journey by that way to his Summer Palace. The courageous messenger followed the _Sh_ah to his Palace, and waited on the road near the entrance for several days. Always in the same place was he seen waiting on the road, until the people began to wonder why he should be there. At last the _Sh_ah heard of him, and commanded his servants that the man should be brought before him.

'Oh! servants of the _Sh_ah, I bring a letter, which I must deliver into his own hands', Badi said, and then Badi said to the _Sh_ah, 'I bring you a letter from Baha'u'llah!'

He was immediately seized and questioned by those who wished to elicit information which would help them in the further persecutions of Baha'u'llah. Badi would not answer a word; then they tortured him, still he held his peace! After three days they killed him, having failed to force him to speak! These cruel men photographed him whilst he was under torture.(7)

The _Sh_ah gave the letter from Baha'u'llah to the priests that they might explain it to him. After some days these priests told the _Sh_ah that the letter was from a political enemy. The _Sh_ah grew angry and said, 'This is no explanation. I pay you to read and answer my letters, therefore obey!'

The spirit and meaning of the Tablet to Na?iri'd-Din _Sh_ah was, in short, this: 'Now that the time has come, when the Cause of the Glory of G.o.d has appeared, I ask that I may be allowed to come to ?ihran and answer any questions the priests may put to Me.

'I exhort you to detach yourself from the worldly magnificence of your Empire. Remember all those great kings who have lived before you-their glories have pa.s.sed away!'

The letter was written in a most beautiful manner, and continued warning the King and telling him of the future triumph of the Kingdom of Baha'u'llah, both in the Eastern and in the Western World.

The _Sh_ah paid no attention to the warning of this letter and continued to live in the same fashion until the end.

Although Baha'u'llah was in prison the great Power of the Holy Spirit was with Him!

None other in prison could have been like unto Him. In spite of all the hardships He suffered, He never complained.

In the dignity of His Majesty, He always refused to see the Governor, or the influential people of the town.

Although the surveillance was unremittingly strict He came and went as He wished! He died in a house situated about three kilometers from St. Jean d'Acre.

GOOD IDEAS MUST BE CARRIED INTO ACTION

November 8th

All over the world one hears beautiful sayings extolled and n.o.ble precepts admired. All men say they love what is good, and hate everything that is evil! Sincerity is to be admired, whilst lying is despicable. Faith is a virtue, and treachery is a disgrace to humanity. It is a blessed thing to gladden the hearts of men, and wrong to be the cause of pain. To be kind and merciful is right, while to hate is sinful. Justice is a n.o.ble quality and injustice an iniquity. That it is one's duty to be pitiful and harm no one, and to avoid jealousy and malice at all costs. Wisdom is the glory of man, not ignorance; light, not darkness! It is a good thing to turn one's face toward G.o.d, and foolishness to ignore Him. That it is our duty to guide man upward, and not to mislead him and be the cause of his downfall.

There are many more examples like unto these.

But all these sayings are but words and we see very few of them carried into the world of action. On the contrary, we perceive that men are carried away by pa.s.sion and selfishness, each man thinking only of what will benefit himself even if it means the ruin of his brother. They are all anxious to make their fortune and care little or nothing for the welfare of others. They are concerned about their own peace and comfort, while the condition of their fellows troubles them not at all.