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Farewell words of `Abdu'l-Bahá
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O NOBLE friends and seekers for the
Kingdom of God! About sixty years
ago in the time when the fire of war
was blazing among the nations of the
world, and bloodshed was considered an honour
to mankind; in a time when the carnage of
thousands stained the earth; when children were
rendered fatherless; when fathers were without
sons and mothers were spent with weeping; when
the darkness of inter-racial hatred and animosity
seemed to envelope mankind and blot out the
divine light; when the wafting of the holy breath
of God seemed to be cut off--in that time
Bahá'u'lláh rose like a shining star from the
horizon of Persia, inspired with the message of
Peace and of Brotherhood among men.
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He brought the light of guidance to the world;
He kindled the fire of love and revealed the great
reality of the True Beloved. He sought to destroy
the foundations of religious and racial prejudice
and of political rivalry.
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He likened the world of humanity to a tree, and
all the nations to its branches and the people to its
leaves, buds and fruits.
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His mission was to change ignorant fanaticism
into Universal love, to establish in the minds of
His followers the basis of the unity of humanity
and to bring about in practice the equality of
mankind. He declared that all men were equal
under the mercy and bounty of God.
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Then was the door of the Kingdom set wide
and the light of a new heaven on earth revealed
unto seeing eyes.
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Yet the whole Bahá'u'lláh's life was spent in
the midst of great trial and cruel tyranny. In
Persia He was thrown into prison, put into chains,
and lived constantly under the menace of the
sword. He was scorned and scourged.
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When He was about thirty years old He was
exiled to Baghdád, and from Baghdád to
Constantinople, and from there to Adrianople
and lastly to the prison of Akká.
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Yet under chains and from His cell He
succeeded in spreading His cause, and uplifting
the banner of the oneness of humanity.
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Now, God be praised, we see the light of Love
shining in the East and in the West; and the tent
of fellowship is raised in the midst of all the
peoples for the drawing together of all hearts and
souls.
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The call of the Kingdom has been sounded,
and the annunciation of the world's need for
Universal Peace has enlightened the world's
conscience.
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My hope is that through the zeal and ardour of
the pure of heart, the darkness of hatred and
difference will be entirely abolished, and the light
of love and unity shall shine; this world shall become
a new world; things material shall become
the mirror of the divine; human hearts shall meet
and embrace each other; the whole world
become as a man's native country and the
different races be counted as one race.
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Then disputes and differences will vanish, and
the Divine Beloved be revealed on this earth.
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As the East and the West are illumined by one
sun, so all races, nations, and creeds shall be seen
as the servants of the One God. The whole earth
is one home, and all peoples, did they but know it,
are bathed in the oneness of God's mercy. God
created all. He gives sustenance to all. He guides
and trains all under the shadow of his bounty. We
must follow the example God Himself gives us,
and do away with all disputations and quarrels.
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Praise be to God! the signs of friendship are
appearing, and as a proof of this I, today, coming
from the East, have met in this London of the
West with extreme kindness, regard and love, and
I am deeply thankful and happy. I shall never
forget this time I am spending with you.
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Forty years I endured in a Turkish prison.
Then in 1908 the Young Turks "Committee of
Union and Progress" shook the gates of
despotism and set all prisoners free, myself among
them. I pray that blessing may be upon all who
work for Union and Progress.
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In the future untrue reports will be spread
regarding Bahá'u'lláh in order to hinder the
spread of Truth. I tell you this, that you may be
awake and prepared.
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I leave you with prayer that all the beauty of
the Kingdom may be yours. In deep regret at our
separation, I bid you good-bye.
____________________
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The translation of the valedictory having been
read by Professor Sadler, `Abdu'l-Bahá closed the
meeting by giving his blessing in undulating
rhythmic tones.
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By the time these lines appear `Abdu'l-Bahá
Abbás will have left our shores, but the memory
of his gracious personality is a permanent
possession. His influence will be felt for many
days to come, and has already done much to
promote that union of East and West for which
many have long yearned.
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