The matter of
international peace was instituted by His Highness, Bahá'u'lláh, sixty years
ago in Persia in the year of AD 1851. From that time innumerable epistles and
tablets were spread first in Persia and then in other parts of the world, until
about fifty years ago He clearly stated this matter of universal peace in the
Book of Aqdas and has commanded all the Bahá'ís to serve faithfully with heart
and soul in this great cause, give up their possessions and wealth for it and
sacrifice their lives in case of necessity. He has taught them to spread the
unity of nations and religions and proclaim in all the regions of the world the
oneness of the kingdom of humanity.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet addressed to Albert
Smiley, the founder of Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration;
Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 15, December 12, 1911)
