Address Given By 'abdu'l-baha At The City Temple
Sources: 'abdu'l-baha In LondonSunday, September 10th, 1911
O noble friends; seekers after God! Praise be to God! Today the light of
Truth is shining upon the world in its abundance; the breezes of the
heavenly garden are blowing throughout all regions; the call of the
Kingdom is heard in all lands, and the breath of the Holy Spirit is felt
in all hearts that are faithful. The Spirit of God is giving eternal life.
In this
everywhere the soul inhales the holy perfume. The sea of the unity of
mankind is lifting up its waves with joy, for there is real communication
between the hearts and minds of men. The banner of the Holy Spirit is
uplifted, and men see it, and are assured with the knowledge that this is
a new day.
This is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world are
luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It
is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all
races and all classes. You are loosed from ancient superstitions which
have kept men ignorant, destroying the foundation of true humanity.
The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of
mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease
between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come;
the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers.
In the days of old an instinct for warfare was developed in the struggle
with wild animals; this is no longer necessary; nay, rather, co-operation
and mutual understanding are seen to produce the greatest welfare of
mankind. Enmity is now the result of prejudice only.
In the Hidden Words Baha'u'llah says, Justice is to be loved above all.
Praise be to God, in this country the standard of justice has been raised;
a great effort is being made to give all souls an equal and a true place.
This is the desire of all noble natures; this is today the teaching for
the East and for the West; therefore the East and the West will understand
each other and reverence each other, and embrace like long-parted lovers
who have found each other.
There is one God; mankind is one; the foundations of religion are one. Let
us worship Him, and give praise for all His great Prophets and Messengers
who have manifested His brightness and glory.
The blessing of the Eternal One be with you in all its richness, that each
soul according to his measure may take freely of Him. Amen.
This Address is printed by kind permission, from The Christian
Commonwealth of September 13th, 1911. Spoken by 'Abdu'l-Baha in
Persian from the city Temple pulpit, the above translation was
then read to the congregation by Mr. W. Tudor-Pole.
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