100 Years Ago. Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris says we must not be discouraged by the smallness of our numbers.

WE MUST NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY THE SMALLNESS OF OUR NUMBERS

November 25th, Paris, 1911

When Christ appeared He manifested Himself at Jerusalem. He called men to the Kingdom of God, He invited them to  Eternal Life and He told them to acquire human perfections. The Light of Guidance was shed forth by that radiant Star,  and He at length gave His life in sacrifice for humanity.

All through His blessed life He suffered oppression and hardship, and in spite of all this humanity was His enemy!

They denied Him, scorned Him, ill-treated Him and cursed Him. He was not treated like a man—and yet in spite of all  this He was the embodiment of pity and of supreme goodness and love.

He loved all humanity, but they treated Him as an enemy and were incapable of appreciating Him. They set no value on  His words and were not illumined by the flame of His love.

Later they realized who He was; that He was the Sacred and Divine Light, and that His words held Eternal Life.

His heart was full of love for all the world, His goodness was destined to reach each one—and as they began to realize  these things, they repented—but He had been crucified!

It was not until many years after His ascension that they knew who He was, and at the time of His ascension He had  only a very few disciples; only a comparatively small following believed His precepts and followed His laws. The  ignorant said, ‘Who is this individual; He has only a few disciples!’ But those who knew said: ‘He is the Sun who will  shine in the East and in the West, He is the Manifestation who shall give life to the world’.

What the first disciples had seen the world realized later.

Therefore, you who are in Europe, do not be discouraged because you are few or because people think that your  Cause is of no importance. If few people come to your gatherings do not lose heart, and if you are ridiculed and  contradicted be not distressed, for the apostles of Christ had the same to bear. They were reviled and persecuted,

      cursed and ill-treated, but in the end they were victorious and their enemies were found to be wrong.

If history should repeat itself and all these same things should happen to you, do not be saddened but be full of joy,  and thank God that you are called upon to suffer as holy men of old suffered. If they oppose you be gentle with them,  if they contradict be firm in your faith, if they desert you and flee from before you, seek them out and treat them  kindly. Do harm to nobody; pray for all; try to make your light shine in the world and let your banner fly high in the  Heavens. The beautiful perfume of your noble lives will permeate everywhere. The light of truth kindled in your  hearts will shine out to the distant horizon!

The indifference and scorn of the world matters not at all, whereas your lives will be of the greatest importance.

All those who seek truth in the Heavenly Kingdom shine like the stars; they are like fruit trees laden with choice fruit,  like seas full of precious pearls.

Only have faith in the Mercy of God, and spread the Divine Truth.

THE CRUEL INDIFFERENCE OF PEOPLE TOWARDS THE SUFFERING OF FOREIGN RACES

November 24th, 1911

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:

I have just been told that there has been a terrible accident in this country. A train has fallen into the river and at  least twenty people have been killed. This is going to be a matter for discussion in the French Parliament today,  and the Director of the State Railway will be called upon to speak. He will be cross-examined as to the condition  of the railroad and as to what caused the accident, and there will be a heated argument. I am filled with wonder  and surprise to notice what interest and excitement has been aroused throughout the whole country on account  of the death of twenty people, while they remain cold and indifferent to the fact that thousands of Italians, Turks,   and Arabs are killed in Tripoli! The horror of this wholesale slaughter has not disturbed the Government at all!  Yet these unfortunate people are human beings too.

Why is there so much interest and eager sympathy shown towards these twenty individuals, while for five thousand  persons there is none? They are all men, they all belong to the family of mankind, but they are of other lands and  races. It is no concern of the disinterested countries if these men are cut to pieces, this wholesale slaughter does  not affect them! How unjust, how cruel is this, how utterly devoid of any good and true feeling! The people of these  other lands have children and wives, mothers, daughters, and little sons! In these countries today there is hardly a  house free from the sound of bitter weeping, scarcely can one find a home untouched by the cruel hand of war.

Alas! we see on all sides how cruel, prejudiced and unjust is man, and how slow he is to believe in God and follow  His commandments.

If these people would love and help one another instead of being so eager to destroy with sword and cannon, how  much nobler would it be! How much better if they would live like a flock of doves in peace and harmony, instead of  being like wolves and tearing each other to pieces.

Why is man so hard of heart? It is because he does not yet know God. If he had knowledge of God he could not act  in direct opposition to His laws; if he were spiritually minded such a line of conduct would be impossible to him. If  only the laws and precepts of  the prophets of God had been believed, understood and followed, wars would no  longer darken the face of the earth.

If man had even the rudiments of justice, such a state of things would be impossible.

Therefore, I say unto you pray—pray and turn your faces to God, that He, in His infinite compassion and mercy, may  help and succour these misguided ones. Pray that He will grant them spiritual understanding and teach them tolerance  and mercy, that the eyes of their minds may be opened and that they may be endued with the gift of the spirit. Then  would peace and love walk hand in hand through the lands, and these poor unhappy people might have rest.

Let us all strive night and day to help in the bringing about of better conditions. My heart is broken by these terrible  things and cries aloud—may this cry reach other hearts!

Then will the blind see, the dead will be raised, and Justice will come and reign upon the earth.

I beseech you all to pray with heart and soul that this may be accomplished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

100 Years Ago -- 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris -- The Heavenly Father gave the priceless gift of intelligence to man . . . .

THE PERFECT HUMAN SENTIMENTS AND VIRTUES

November 23, 1911

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:

You should all be very happy and thankful to God for the great privilege that is yours.

This is purely a spiritual meeting! Praise be to God, your hearts are turned to Him, your souls are attracted to the Kingdom,  you have spiritual aspirations, and your thoughts soar above the world of dust.

You belong to the world of purity, and are not content to live the life of the animal, spending your days in eating, drinking,  and sleeping. You are indeed men! Your thoughts and ambitions are set to acquire human perfection. You live to do good and  to bring happiness to others. Your greatest longing is to comfort those who mourn, to strengthen the weak, and to be the cause  of hope to the despairing soul. Day and night your thoughts are turned to the Kingdom, and your hearts are full of the Love of God.

Thus you know neither opposition, dislike, nor hatred, for every living creature is dear to you and the good of each is sought.

These are perfect human sentiments and virtues. If a man has none of these, he had better cease to exist. If a lamp has ceased  to give light, it had better be destroyed. If a tree bear no fruit, it had better be cut down, for it only cumbereth the ground.

Verily, it is better a thousand times for a man to die than to continue living without virtue.

We have eyes wherewith to see, but if we do not use them how do they profit us? We have ears wherewith to hear, but if we are  deaf of what use are they?

We have a tongue wherewith to praise God and proclaim the good tidings, but if we are dumb how useless it is!

The All-loving God created man to radiate the Divine light and to illumine the world by his words, action and life. If he is without  virtue he becomes no better than a mere animal, and an animal devoid of intelligence is a vile thing.

The Heavenly Father gave the priceless gift of intelligence to man so that he might become a spiritual light, piercing the darkness  of materiality, and bringing goodness and truth into the world. If ye will follow earnestly the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, ye shall  indeed  become the light of the world, the soul for the body of the world, the comfort and help for humanity, and the source of  salvation for the whole universe. Strive therefore, with heart and soul, to follow the precepts of the Blessed Perfection, and rest  assured that if ye succeed in living the life he marks out for you, Eternal Life and everlasting joy in the Heavenly Kingdom will  be yours, and celestial sustenance will be sent to strengthen you all your days.

It is my heartfelt prayer that each one of you may attain to this perfect joy!

Abdu'l Baha in the UK, 1913 Baha in the UK, 1913   
The Diary of Abdu'l Baha's Translator



Beware of Offending Hearts; Help All as One Family
In a word: Beware lest ye offend any heart! Beware lest ye speak against any one in his
absence! Beware lest ye estrange yourselves from the servants of God! You must consider
all the servants of God as your own kith ?4
 and kin! Let your whole effort be directed
towards rejoicing every offended one, towards feeding every one who is hungry, clothing
every one who is without clothing, glorifying every one who is humbled. Be a helper to every
helpless one and be kind unto all. This is to gain the good will of God. This is that which is
conducive to eternal felicity for you. This is conducive to the illumination of the world of
humanity. As I seek from God eternal glory in your behalf, I therefore am giving you this
exhortation.
Peace Not War
You all see what is happening in the Balkans
 ?5
! How human blood is being shed! How little
children are torn into pieces! How men's properties are pillaged! How cities and towns are
sacked! It is a world enkindling fire that is astir in the Balkans! God has created them as
men to love one another; but they bleed each other! God has created them in order that
they may co operate with each other; but they pillage each other's property and shed each
other's blood. God has created them to be the cause of felicity and peace to one another;
but they are causing trials and hardships unto each other.
Lofty Efforts, Universal Peace and International Assistance
As to you: Your efforts must be made lofty. Exert yourselves with your heart and soul, so
that perchance through your efforts the Light of Universal Peace may shine, and this
darkness of estrangement and enmity may be dispelled from amongst men; so that all men
may become as one family and be kind unto one another; that the East may assist the
West; that the West may aid the East, for all are the denizens of the one planet, and all
are peoples of the one nativity, and all are the flocks of the one Shepherd.
Prophets and Sages
Consider how the Prophets who have been sent, and the great souls who have appeared
from amongst men, and the sages who have arisen in the world, have all given
exhortations unto men. They have all taught love and affection to humanity. They have all
guided human souls towards union and harmony. These great Prophets and saints and

seers and philosophers have all sacrificed their lives in order to establish these teachings
amongst men.
Prophets Unheeded; God Loves All
Consider how heedless the world is, for notwithstanding all the pains taken by these
Prophets of God in their time, the people are still fighting one another! Notwithstanding all
the Heavenly Commandments to love one another, they are shedding each other's blood!
How heedless are these people! How ignorant are these people! How in darkness are these
people! They have such a compassionate God who is so kind towards all men, and yet they
act against His good pleasure! And yet they live in opposition to His behests! God is kind
towards all men, and yet they show the utmost enmity each towards the other! God gives
life unto them all, yet they destroy each other's lives! God blesses and builds their houses;
they raze and sack each other's homes! Consider how heedless are such people! Consider
how ignorant are such people!
Baha'is are Aware and Have No Excuse Before God; Live Life of Light
As to you: Your duty is of another kind, for you are informed concerning the mysteries of
GOD. Your eyes are illumined! Your ears are made hearing! You must therefore look
towards each other, and then towards all mankind, with the utmost love and kindness; for
you have no excuse to bring before GOD if you do not live this way, for you are informed of
that which constitutes the good pleasure of God. You have heard His Commandments. You
have hearkened unto His Words of Advice. You must, therefore, be kind to all men; you
must even be kind to your enemies as your friends. You must even consider your evil
wishers as your well wishers. You must consider as agreeable, those who are not agreeable
towards you; so that, perchance, this darkness of conflict may disappear from amongst
men and the Light of the Divine may shine forth; so that the Orient may be illumined; that
the Occident may be filled with fragrance; nay, the East and the West may embrace each
other in love and deal with one another in the utmost affection! Earth into Paradise
Until man reaches this high station, the world of humanity shall not find rest and the
eternal felicity shall not be attained by men! But if man lives up to these Divine
Commandments, this world of earth shall be transformed into the world of heaven, and this
material sphere shall be converted into a Paradise of Glory.
Success in High Calling
It is my hope that you shall be rendered successful therein, so that you may cast light upon
the world of humanity like unto lamps, and quicken and stir the body of existence like unto
a spirit. This is Eternal Glory! This is Everlasting Felicity! This is Immortal Life! This is


Heavenly Loftiness! This is being created in the image and likeness of GOD, and unto this I
call you, and I pray to God to strengthen and bless you!

100 Years Ago - 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Paris speaks about the history of the past and the luminous age that has come.....November 21, 1911.

THERE CAN BE NO TRUE HAPPINESS AND PROGRESS WITHOUT SPIRITUALITY

November 21st

Ferocity and savagery are natural to animals, but men should show forth the qualities of love and affection. God sent all His Prophets into the world with one aim, to sow in the hearts of men love and goodwill, and for this great purpose they were willing to suffer and to die. All the sacred Books were written to lead and direct man into the ways of love and unity; and yet, in spite of all this, we have the sad spectacle of war and bloodshed in our midst.

When we look into the pages of history, past and present, we see the black earth reddened by human  blood. Men kill each other like the savage wolves, and forget the laws of love and tolerance.

Now this luminous age has come, bringing with it wonderful civilization and material progress. Men’s intellects have widened, their perceptions grown, but alas, in spite of all this, fresh blood is being spilt day by day. Look at the present Turco-Italian war; consider for a moment the fate of these unhappy people! How many have been killed during this sad time? How many homes are ruined, wives desolate, and children orphans! And what is to be gained in exchange for all this anguish and heartache? Only a corner of the earth!

This all shows that material progress alone does not tend to uplift man. On the contrary, the more he becomes immersed in material progress, the more does his spirituality become obscured.

In times gone by progress on the material plane was not so rapid, neither was there bloodshed in such profusion. In ancient warfare there were no cannons, no guns, no dynamite, no shells, no torpedo boats, no battleships, no submarines. Now, owing to material civilization, we have all these inventions, and war goes from bad to worse! Europe itself has become like one immense arsenal, full of explosives, and may God prevent its ignition—for, should this happen, the whole world would be involved.

I want to make you understand that material progress and spiritual progress are two very different things, and that only if material progress goes hand in hand with spirituality can any real progress come about, and the Most Great Peace reign in the world. If men followed the Holy Counsels and the Teachings of the Prophets, if Divine Light shone in all hearts and men were really religious, we should soon see peace on earth and the Kingdom of God among men. The laws of God may be likened unto the soul and material progress unto the body. If the body was not animated by the soul, it would cease to exist. It is my earnest prayer that spirituality may ever grow and increase in the world, so that customs may become enlightened and peace and concord may be established.

War and rapine with their attendant cruelties are an abomination to God, and bring their own punishment, for the God of love is also a God of justice and each man must inevitably reap what he sows. Let us try to understand the commands of the Most High and to order our lives as He directs. True happiness depends on spiritual good and having the heart ever open to receive the Divine Bounty.

If the heart turns away from the blessings God offers how can it hope for happiness? If it does not put its hope and trust in God’s Mercy, where can it find rest? Oh, trust in God! for His Bounty is everlasting, and in His Blessings, for they are superb. Oh! put your faith in the Almighty, for He faileth not and His goodness endureth for ever! His Sun giveth Light continually, and the Clouds of His Mercy are full of the Waters of Compassion with which He waters the hearts of all who trust in Him. His refreshing Breeze ever carries healing in its wings to the parched souls of men! Is it wise to turn away from such a loving Father, Who showers His blessings upon us, and to choose rather to be slaves of matter?

God in His infinite goodness has exalted us to so much honour, and has made us masters over the material world. Shall we then become her slaves? Nay, rather let us claim our birthright, and strive to live the life of the spiritual sons of God. The glorious Sun of Truth has once again risen in the East. From the far horizon of Persia its radiance is spreading far and wide, dispersing the dense clouds of superstition. The light of the unity of mankind is beginning to illumine the world, and soon the banner of Divine harmony and the solidarity of nations will be flying high in the Heavens. Yea, the breezes of the Holy Spirit will inspire the whole world!

Oh, peoples and nations! Arise and work and be happy! Gather together under the tent of the unity of mankind! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Although ‘Abdu’l-Bahá greatly enjoyed the beautiful scenery, and the comfortable and quiet setting of Lake Mohonk, He was glad to come back to New York. He loved the Riverside Park area. He had selected a secluded spot there where He liked to go daily and walk by Himself or “sleep on the grass” a few minutes to rest. “When I am alone, exhaustion is removed and I am relaxed,” He said. Sometimes, He allowed the friends to go with Him to this “hallowed spot,” “His Garden,” as the friends named the place and a recurring name in Juliet’s and Mahmud’s diaries.

Juliet Thompson -- As I got off the bus at Seventy-Eighth Street and Riverside Drive I saw Him at the centre of a little group standing beside that strip of park that drops low to the river--the part we love to call "His garden", a forever hallowed spot to us, for there we sometimes walk with Him in the evenings, there He takes His daily exercise, or escapes from the house to rest and pray.

When He was tired during these days He would often go alone in the afternoon to the park near Riverside Drive. He explained: `When I sleep on the grass, I obtain relief from exhaustion and am freed from cares. If I am not alone, I will talk and perspire and will not become relaxed and free of cares.' As always, people were continually coming and going both day and night. Everyone was anxious to see Him and He spoke to them continuously. It was impossible for Him to get any rest except when He went out alone.

On going to the Master’s home the next morning, Juliet found Him in the street near “His Garden,” with a group of friends whom He was anointing with attar of rose. Then He welcomed a young man who turned out to be Walter Hampden, the actor playing the part of Jesus in a play. Mr. Hampden, afterward, came every day to visit.

One evening Juliet and some of her friends were following ‘Abdu’l-Bahá down the paths of His Garden when a band of screaming children rushed out from the bushes, laughing and throwing stones at the group. The Master swept at them at a distance, saying with sorrow: “The people of the world are blind.” The children “melted back into the shadow as if they had never existed.” Later the Master added, “they laughed at Me, yet My dress is the dress of Jesus, just the same that He wore.”

12 April 1912

Talk at Studio of Miss Phillips

39 West Sixty-seventh Street, New York

Notes by John G. Grundy

3.1 I give you greeting in love and unity. The affairs of this world are to be accounted as nothing compared to the joy and heavenly happiness of meeting the friends of God. It is to experience this great joy and blessing that I have come here although weary from my long voyage upon the sea. Tonight I am in the greatest happiness, looking upon this concourse of God. Your meeting here is surely an evidence that you are upholding the Cause of God, that you are aiding and assisting in establishing the Kingdom of God. Therefore, the culmination of my happiness is to look upon your faces and realize that you have been brought together by the power of the Blessed Perfection, Baha'u'llah. In this meeting you are upholding His standard and assisting His Cause. Therefore, I behold in you the making of a goodly tree upon which divine fruits will appear to give sustenance to the world of humanity.

3.2 With hearts set aglow by the fire of the love of God and spirits refreshed by the food of the heavenly spirit you must go forth as the disciples nineteen hundred years ago, quickening the hearts of men by the call of glad tidings, the light of God in your faces, severed from everything save God. Therefore, order your lives in accordance with the first principle of the divine teaching, which is love. Service to humanity is service to God. Let the love and light of the Kingdom radiate through you until all who look upon you shall be illumined by its reflection. Be as stars, brilliant and sparkling in the loftiness of their heavenly station. Do you appreciate the Day in which you live?

3.3 This is the century of the Blessed Perfection!

3.4 This is the cycle of the light of His beauty!

3.5 This is the consummate day of all the Prophets!

3.6 These are the days of seed sowing. These are the days of tree planting. The bountiful bestowals of God are successive. He who sows a seed in this day will behold his reward in the fruits and harvest of the heavenly Kingdom. This timely seed, when planted in the hearts of the beloved of God, will be watered by showers of divine mercy and warmed by the sunshine of divine love. Its fruitage and flower shall be the solidarity of mankind, the perfection of justice and the praiseworthy attributes of heaven manifest in humanity. All who sow such a seed and plant such a tree according to the teachings of Baha'u'llah shall surely witness this divine outcome in the degrees of its perfection and will attain unto the good pleasure of the Merciful One.

3.7 Today the nations of the world are self-engaged, occupied with mortal and transitory accomplishments, consumed by the fires of passion and self. Self is dominant; enmity and animosity prevail. Nations and peoples are thinking only of their worldly interests and outcomes. The clash of war and din of strife are heard among them. But the friends of the Blessed Perfection have no thoughts save the thoughts of heaven and the love of God. Therefore, you must without delay employ your powers in spreading the effulgent glow of the love of God and so order your lives that you may be known and seen as examples of its radiance. You must deal with all in loving-kindness in order that this precious seed entrusted to your planting may continue to grow and bring forth its perfect fruit. The love and mercy of God will accomplish this through you if you have love in your own heart.

3.8 The doors of the Kingdom are opened. The lights of the Sun of Truth are shining. The clouds of divine mercy are raining down their priceless jewels. The zephyrs of a new and divine springtime are wafting their fragrant breaths from the invisible world. Know ye then the value of these days.

3.9 Awake ye to the realization of this heavenly opportunity. Strive with all the power of your souls, your deeds, actions and words to assist the spread of these glad tidings and the descent of this merciful bounty. You are the reality and expression of your deeds and actions. If you abide by the precepts and teachings of the Blessed Perfection, the heavenly world and ancient Kingdom will be yours -- eternal happiness, love and everlasting life. The divine bounties are flowing. Each one of you has been given the opportunity of becoming a tree yielding abundant fruits. This is the springtime of Baha'u'llah. The verdure and foliage of spiritual growth are appearing in great abundance in the gardens of human hearts. Know ye the value of these passing days and vanishing nights. Strive to attain a station of absolute love one toward another. By the absence of love, enmity increases. By the exercise of love, love strengthens and enmities dwindle away.

3.10 Consider me -- in the years of my advanced age, burdened with physical infirmities -- crossing the wide ocean to look upon your faces. It is my hope that through the life of the spirit you may all become as one soul, as one tree adorning the rose garden of the Kingdom. It is my hope that the endless treasures of the bestowals of God may be yours here and hereafter. It is my prayer that the Supreme Concourse may be illumined by your brilliant lights shining forever in the heavens of eternal glory.

DISCOURSE AT ‘L’ALLIANCE SPIRITUALISTE’

DISCOURSE AT ‘L’ALLIANCE SPIRITUALISTE’ Salle de l’Athenée,  St Germain, Paris,  November 9th, 1911                 'Abdu'l-Bahá' said the following as part of His address to the group which appears to be a Protestant organization rather than the Catholic Faith of the majority.

I wish to express my gratitude for your hospitality, and my joy that you are spiritually minded. I am happy to be present at a gathering such as this, assembled together to listen to a Divine Message. If you could see with the eye of truth, great waves of spirituality would be visible to you in this place. The power of the Holy Spirit is here for all. Praise be to God that 84 your hearts are inspired with Divine fervour! Your souls are as waves on the sea of the spirit; although each individual is a distinct wave, the ocean is one, all are united in God.

Every heart should radiate unity, so that the Light of the one Divine Source of all may shine forth bright and luminous. We must not consider the separate waves alone, but the entire sea. We should rise from the individual to the whole. The spirit is as one great ocean and the waves thereof are the souls of men.

We are told in the Holy Scripture that the New Jerusalem shall appear on earth. Now it is evident that this celestial city is not built of material stones and mortar, but that it is a city not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.

This is a prophetic symbol, meaning the coming again of the Divine Teaching to enlighten the hearts of men. It is long since this Holy Guidance has governed the lives of humanity. But now, at last, the Holy City of the New Jerusalem has come again to the world, it has appeared anew under an Eastern sky; from the horizon of Persia has its effulgence arisen to be a light to lighten the whole world. We see in these days the fulfilment of the Divine Prophecy. Jerusalem had disappeared. The heavenly city was destroyed, now it is rebuilt; it was razed to the ground, but now its walls and pinnacles have been restored, and are towering aloft in their renewed and glorious beauty.

In the Western world material prosperity has triumphed, whilst in the East the spiritual sun has shone forth.

I am very glad to see such an assembly as this in Paris, where spiritual and material progress are met together in unity.

Man—the true man—is soul, not body; though physically man belongs to the animal kingdom, yet his soul lifts him above the rest of creation. Behold how the light of the sun illuminates the world of matter: even so doth the Divine Light shed its rays in the kingdom of the soul. The soul it is which makes the human creature a celestial entity!

By the power of the Holy Spirit, working through his soul, man is able to perceive the Divine reality of things. All great works of art and science are witnesses to this power of the Spirit.

The same Spirit gives Eternal Life.

Those alone who are baptized by the Divine Spirit will be enabled to bring all peoples into the bond of unity. It is by the power of the Spirit that the Eastern World of spiritual thought can intermingle with the Western realm of action, so that the world of matter may become Divine.

It follows that all who work for the Supreme Design are soldiers in the army of the Spirit.. . .

THE BENEFITS OF GOD TO MAN

100 Years Ago:  'Abdu'l-Bahå in Paris speaks about the Faith to visitors to His apartment at 4 Avenue de Camoéns,

October 27, 1911, Friday: —— THE BENEFITS OF GOD TO MAN

         

        God alone ordereth all things and is all-powerful. Why then does He send trials to His servants? 

        The trials of man are of two kinds. 

(a) The consequences of his own actions. If a man eats too much, he ruins his digestion; 

if he takes poison he becomes ill or dies. If a person gambles he will lose his money; if he drinks too

 much he will lose his equilibrium. All these sufferings are caused by the man himself, it is quite clear

 therefore that certain sorrows are the result of our own deeds. 

        (b) Other sufferings there are, which come upon the Faithful of God. Consider the great sorrows endured 

by Christ and by His apostles!  Those who suffer most, attain to the greatest perfection. 

        Those who declare a wish to suffer much for Christ's sake must prove their sincerity; those who proclaim 

their longing to make great sacrifices can only prove their truth by their deeds. Job proved the fidelity of his 

love for God by being faithful through his great adversity, as well as during the prosperity of his life. The 

apostles of Christ who steadfastly bore all their trials and sufferings--did they not prove their faithfulness? 

Was not their endurance the best proof? 

 These griefs are now ended. 

        Caiaphas lived a comfortable and happy life while Peter's life was full of sorrow and trial; which of these 

two is the more enviable? Assuredly we should choose the present state of Peter, for he possesses 

immortal life whilst Caiaphas has won eternal shame. The trials of Peter tested his fidelity. Tests are

 benefits from God, for which we should thank Him. Grief and sorrow do not come to us by chance, 

they are sent to us by the Divine Mercy for our own perfecting. 

 While a man is happy he may forget his God; but when grief comes and sorrows overwhelm him, then

will he remember his Father who is in Heaven, and who is able to deliver him from his humiliations. 

        Men who suffer not, attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardeners is that one which, 

when the summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit. 

        The labourer cuts up the earth with his plough, and from that earth comes the rich and plentiful harvest. 

The more a man is chastened, the greater is the harvest of spiritual virtues shown forth by him. A soldier 

is no good General until he has been in the front of the fiercest battle and has received the deepest wounds. 

        The prayer of the prophets of God has always been, and still is: Oh God, I long to lay down my life in 

the path to Thee! I desire to shed my blood for Thee, and to make the supreme sacrifice.

100 Years Ago, October 1, 1911,

 100 Years Ago, October 1, 1911, London — 'Abdu'l-Bahá performs a marriage before leaving London



October 1, 1911, London: Toward the end of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit in London a marriage was performed.

The bride journeyed from Baghdad accompanied by her uncle in order to meet her fiancé and be married

before ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s departure from England. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said “Never have I united anyone in marriage

before, except my own daughters, but as I love you much, and you have rendered a great service to the

Kingdom of Abhá, both in this country and in other lands, I will perform your marriage ceremony today.

It is my hope that you may both continuing the blessed path of service.”



pp. 77-80, ‘Abdu'l-Bahá in London, Bahá’í Publishing Trust, London, 1987 (Commemorative Edition)

Août 1911,

  Durant ce mois d'Août 2011, les Bahá'is d'Europe, et plus particulièrement, ceux de France (1), vont commémorer le centenaire de l'arrivée sur le Contient européen du Maître 'Abdu'l-Bahá. 

'Abdu'l-Bahá quitta le port d'Alexandrie, en Égypte, le 11 Août 1911, accompagné de 4 compagnons, afin de se rendre à Marseille, puis en Angleterre via Thonon-les-Bains. 

Le Maître arriva à Marseille le 16 Août 1911 (2) où Il fut accueilli par Hippolyte DREYFUS (le premier Bahá'i français), venu spécialement de Paris pour recevoir le Maître à Sa descente du Paquebot «L'Orénoque», mais on ne sait pas si d'autres personnes accompagnaient ou non Monsieur DREYFUS.

            Lors de ce premier voyage en Occident, en 1911, 'Abdu'l-Bahá resta, au total, 80 jours en FRANCE, dont 61 jours à PARIS, ville qui avait accueilli le premier Groupe bahá'i de tout le Continent européen. Lors de Son second voyage, en 1913, le Maître resta 113 jours à Paris, par conséquent, la capitale de la France eut l'honneur de Le recevoir au total durant 193 jours (3).

            Aucune autre ville, en Occident, n'a eu une telle bénédiction !  On ne peut qu'être certain du futur spirituel glorieux de PARIS, "Ville Lumière" et de la FRANCE, destinée à devenir un "Jardin de Roses" !

            Nous savons tous que le voyage et le séjour en Occident de 'Abdu'l-Bahá est un événement historique, par un Personnage unique dans l'Histoire religieuse de l'Humanité !

            Mais, savons-nous réellement quel est l'honneur qu'ont eu les pays qui ont reçu le Maître et les personnes qui ont pu lui rendre visite !?

            Afin que nous puissions nous rendre compte de cet immense honneur, de cette bénédiction, je joins, ci-dessous, de larges extraits d'une Épître de Bahá'u'lláh, révélée à Saint-Jean-d'Acre, à l'intention du Maître 'Abdu'l-Bahá qui, momentanément, était parti à Beyrouth pour une courte visite.

Les précisions entre [crochets] sont de votre serviteur (le texte complet de cette Épître est ci-joint).

           

« Louange à Lui [à Dieu] qui a honoré la terre de Bá [Beyrouth] par la présence de Celui ['Abdu'l-Bahá]autour de qui tous les Noms gravitent. Tous les atomes de la Terre ont annoncé à toutes choses créées que, de derrière la porte de la ville-prison [Saint-Jean-d'Acre] est apparu l'Orbe de la Beauté de la puissante, de la plus Grande Branche de Dieu – Son mystère antique et immuable –, qu'au-dessus de son horizon il a brillé, alors qu'il cheminait vers un autre pays.

L'affliction, ainsi, a enveloppé cette ville-prison tandis qu'une autre terre [Beyrouth] se réjouissait. (…).

Béni, doublement béni est le sol que Ses pas ont foulé, l'œil que la Beauté de Son visage a réjoui, l'oreille qui a eu l'honneur d'entendre Son Appel, le cœur qui a goûté à la douceur de Son Amour, la poitrine qui s'est dilatée à Son souvenir, la plume qui a célébré Sa louange, le parchemin qui a porté le témoignage de Ses Écrits.

Nous implorons Dieu – qu'Il soit béni et exalté – qu'Il [que Dieu] nous fasse l'honneur d'une rencontre prochaine [avec le Maître]. Il est en vérité Celui qui entend tout, le Tout-Puissant, Celui qui est prêt à répondre ! »

         Quel est donc ce rang éminent de 'Abdu'l-Bahá pour que Bahá'u'lláh parle ainsi de Lui, et quels affectueux liens filiaux existaient entre eux pour que la "Beauté Bénie" (4) ne supporte même pas l'éloignement provisoire du Maître et souhaite "une rencontre prochaine" !?

         Et quels formidables résultats, imprévisibles pour nous, donneront les séjours historiques de 'Abdu'l-Bahá en Europe, et notamment en France et à Paris !?

« Béni, doublement béni est le sol que Ses pas ont foulé,

l'œil que la Beauté de Son visage a réjoui,

l'oreille qui a eu l'honneur d'entendre Son Appel !... »

                        Bien à vous,   Rochan MAVADDAT