Inspired Messengers

Sources: 'abdu'l-baha In London

When asked if it would be always necessary for prophets to come from time

to time--would not the world in the course of events through progress

reach to a full realization of God?--'Abdu'l-Baha replied: Mankind needs

a universal motive power to quicken it. The inspired messenger who is

directly assisted by the power of God brings about universal results.

Baha'u'llah rose as a light in Persia and now that light is going out to

the whole world.



Is this what is meant by the Second Coming of Christ? Christ is an

Expression of the Divine Reality, the Single Essence and Heavenly Entity,

which hath no beginning or ending. It has appearance, arising, and

manifestation and setting in each one of the Cycles.



Those who have been with 'Abdu'l-Baha notice how, often, after speaking

earnestly with people, he will suddenly turn and walk away to be alone. At

such times no one follows him. On this occasion, when he finished speaking

and went out through the orchard gate into the village, all were struck

with his free and wonderful walk which has been described by one of our

American friends as that of a shepherd or a king.



As he passed along the ragged children clustered about him by dozens, the

boys saluting him as they had been taught in school, showing how

instinctively they felt the greatness of his presence. Most noticeable was

the silence of even the roughest men when 'Abdu'l-Baha appeared. One poor

tramp exclaimed He is a good man, and added, Ay, he's suffered!



He took particular interest in the sick, crippled and poorly nourished

children. Mothers carrying their little ones followed him, and a friend

explained that this great visitor had come over the seas from the Holy

Land where Jesus was born.



All day long people of every condition gathered about the gate for a

chance of seeing him, and more than sixty drove or cycled to Vanners to

see him, many wishing to question him on some special subject. Among them

were the clergy of several denominations, a head master of a boys' public

school, a member of Parliament, a doctor, a famous political writer, the

vice-chancellor of a University, several journalists, a well known poet,

and a magistrate from London.



He will long be remembered as he sat in the bow window in the afternoon

sunshine, his arm round a very ragged but very happy little boy, who had

come to ask 'Abdu'l-Baha for sixpence for his money box and for his

invalid mother, whilst round him in the room were gathered men and women

discussing Education, Socialism, the first Reform Bill, and the relation

of submarines and wireless telegraphy to the new era on which man is

entering.



During the evening a young betrothed couple in the village, who had read

some of the Baha'i books, begged permission to come to him. They entered

shyly, the man, led by the girl. 'Abdu'l-Baha rose to greet them, and made

them take a place in the circle. He talked earnestly to them upon the

sacredness of marriage, the beauty of a real union, and the importance of

the little child and its education. Before they left he blessed them, and

touched their hair and foreheads with a Persian perfume.