Let us then, affectionate brothers and sisters, ponder for a while upon
the underlying reason that had made God’s divine Messengers prefer a life of
torture to one of ease, and those blessed martyrs, so many of them cut off in
the springtime and promise of their youth, choose death with faces radiant with
joy. What did the Bab sacrifice His promising youth for except out of a burning
desire to have mankind live in unity and peace; and what was the spirit that
animated those bold and heroic martyrs but love and adoration to a Cause they
wished to triumph? What made Baha’u’llah, born and brought up in opulence,
fling away all earthly possessions and choose upon Himself unspeakable
hardships and deprivation, save for an earnest appeal to the world at large to
turn their hatred for one another into genuine love and to make a world
seething with blood a peaceful home for God’s children; and why did
‘Abdu’l-Baha who could have chosen a life of ease and comfort, prefer to lead a
crusade against the strongholds of human hearts and make a direct appeal to
individuals as well as groups that unless we love one another with all our
might and with all our heart we are absolutely doomed. He carried a crusade not
with a sword of steel but with a sword of love and affection. And if we dare
call ourselves Baha’is it simply means that we have to follow in their wake. It
means that we must always have the public weal in mind and not give up
ourselves wholly to our inclinations and desires, and it means that we must
picture before us the perseverance and self-sacrifice of those early volunteers
and make a whole-hearted effort to be like unto one of them; and it shall be
only in this way that we can safeguard this great Cause of God.
This in brief, is what our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, is patiently
and eagerly expecting from every single one of us. This, he says, should mark
us from all other men and this should differentiate us from those to whom
religion is something to believe in and not to inspire to action. ...
Finding that the individual letters were too many to answer in person and
not wishing the progress of the Cause to be hampered by the slightest thing he
sacrificed sending his personal messages of love and encouragement to the
individual friends and he expressed his heart-felt sentiments in general
letters to Assemblies and countries. The organization of the Assemblies was
thus moving rapidly forward, the Cause was being spread in every country and
Shoghi Effendi’s heart the happiest for it all. Such were the conditions when
he received to his utter astonishment letters that he noted showed lack of love
and unity among the loved ones of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. It grieved him very much to see
some of those whom the Master so dearly loved, bear ill feeling towards one another
and through their lack of love and unity and through denial to follow the
advice of their Spiritual assemblies, relegate the whole standard of the Cause
to a mere philosophy of life. Such news had great effect upon his tender heart
and it reflected upon his physical health. Whereupon the wish and desire of the
friends then present in Haifa, and through mine and the family’s insistent
appeal, he consented to take a rest during the hot summer season.
All the happy news that we had received from abroad and that we had
forwarded to him so filled his blessed heart again with encouragement and joy
that upon his return from his summer rest he resumed his work with an
astonishing zeal and activity. His heart was joyful and in his evening meetings
with the friends he always shared the news he had received from abroad and
through his encouraging words he instilled such a fervor in every single one
present that they all felt they would fly away and share in this noble task.
Indeed his love for those earnest workers had grown so great that he had
decided to make an effort and append to the answer of each letter a short
personal message in his own handwriting.
Again the unexpected took place and the news reached from some centers
that the spirit which ‘Abdu’l-Baha said should characterize every Baha’i
community does not prevail and that many have belittled the guidance of the
different spiritual assemblies. His heart was thus sore and depressed and he
again decided to seek seclusion until the friends realized their great
responsibilities and make an effort toward real unity. I and the members of the
holy family did all in our power to give him the happy news we had received
from some countries and we begged him to change his decision but he said:
‘My heart is very sensitive to such things. Inasmuch as I am rejoiced
when I hear of true love and fellowship among my brothers and sisters, in an
equal measure if not more I am grieved when I hear that such is not the case.
It is quite true that every Baha’i heart swells with love and adoration at the
mention of the Bab, Baha’u’llah or the Master’s name, and stands firm and true
to the last Will of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, and for that I am very thankful to them, but
you agree with me that this alone cannot be the emblem of this world Cause.
There should be love and sympathy among the individuals of every group and true
affection for one another should be the stamp for their hearts. Suppose a
non-Baha’i should ask us as to what should denote a Baha’i and to differentiate
him from everybody else, and were we to answer a hero-worship and adoration to
the Center of the Cause that makes a Baha’i willing to give up his life and
property, he would be sure to answer you that that alone will not bring about
the regeneration of the world. That alone will not wipe out international
hatred fostered for ages past, and will not solve the economic plight before
which the world stands aghast today. And were we to tell him that our religion
proclaims certain principles that no one can challenge or deny, we would be
told that principles alone are no proof of its effect either, and not until the
Baha’is first translate these principles into their own everyday life and live
according to the standard of the Cause they proclaim, will they be qualified to
invite the whole world to come and follow their teachings. It is when the
Baha’is prove their religion by no greater argument but actions and deeds that
we are sure to be promulgating the Cause and that men will come and willingly
join our ranks.’
And when he said, ‘Many are carefully watching today the life and
behaviour of the Baha’is and many are trying to estimate the true value of the
Baha’i Movement and the effect that it shall have in future through the ideas
and self-sacrifice of its followers. The friends must therefore be very careful
to wipe out of their ranks all feeling of hatred or misunderstanding and to
replace it by genuine love. Just as discord among the friends has deeply
grieved me, in every manner will their unity and harmony fill my heart with joy
and win over my life and strength to themselves. I shall now leave and when I
see that the conditions have changed and that sincere affection is the reigning
force in every Baha’i community, I shall at once return and cooperate with them
with my heart and soul. Send this message to all my friends abroad.’
After these touching remarks, two weeks ago he again left us to
ourselves.
Now brothers and sisters remember what our Master ‘Abdu’l-Baha tells us
in His last Will. Let us recollect the passage where He asks us not to do
anything that will depress and grieve Shoghi Effendi or mar the shining
brightness and radiance of his heart, but always to try to help him in raising
this lofty edifice of world-brotherhood. May we not keep that always in our memory
and strive forward toward a unity that shall not only win the heart of every
non-Baha’i, but shall to a larger and larger measure gladden our own and dear
Guardian.
My days are numbered and my life is flying to a close and yet I feel
certain that those dear ones abroad will accept this eager and humble appeal,
and will make me cherish the hope that before I am called away and ready to
separate in body from you, I can see genuine love and unity prevail among those
my Master so dearly loved and I can witness with human eyes my Guardian’s heart
overflow with joy. This is what I beseech you and may it be fully realized.
(Baha’i News, no. 65, August 1932)
