In Persia among the various religions and sects there were
intense differences. Bahá’u’lláh appeared in that country and founded the
spiritual civilization. He established affiliation among the various peoples,
promoted the oneness of the human world and unfurled the banner of the Most
Great Peace. He wrote special Epistles covering these facts to all the kings
and rulers of nations. Sixty years ago He conveyed His message to the leaders
of the political world and to high dignitaries of the spiritual world.
Therefore, spiritual civilization is progressing in the Orient, and oneness of
humanity and peace among the nations is being accomplished step by step. Now I
find a strong movement for universal peace emanating from America. It is my
hope that this standard of the oneness of the world of humanity may be upraised
with the utmost solidity so that the Orient and Occident may become perfectly
reconciled and attain complete intercommunication, the hearts of the East and
West become united and attracted, real union become unveiled, the light of
guidance shine, divine effulgences be seen day by day so that the world of
humanity may find complete tranquillity, the eternal happiness of man become
evident and the hearts of the people of the world be as mirrors in which the
rays of the Sun of Reality may be reflected. Consequently, it is my request
that you should strive so that the light of reality may shine and the
everlasting felicity of the world of man become apparent.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a
talk, New York, 14 April 1912; ‘The
Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His
Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
