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BY- CHARLES-MASON 'REHEY
THE NEW DAY
THE BAHAI REVELATION
A Brief Statement of its History
and Teachings
By
CHARLES MASON REMEY
1919
THE NEW DAY
By CHARGES MASON REMEY
Distributed by
BAHAI PUBLISHING SOCIETY
P. O. Box 283, Chicago, 111.
GIFT
CT
FOREWORD.
This pamphlet, compiled from previously approved and
circulated articles, is published in order to meet the present
increasing need for propaganda literature in the field of Bahai
teaching. Its contents summarizes information which can
be found in a less abridged form in the standard literature
of this movement. C. M. R.
Washington, D. C.,
May 28, 1919.
418435
DISSERTATION
By Abdul Baha Upon
THE NEW DAY.
"Do you know in what day you are living? Do you realize
in what dispensation you are alive ? Have you not read in the
holy scriptures that the consummation of the ages there shall
appear a day which is the sun of all the past days?
"This is the day in which the Lord of Hosts has come down
from heaven on the clouds of glory ! This is the day in which
the inhabitants of all the world shall enter under the tent of
the word of God. This is the day whose real sovereign is His
Highness, The Almighty. This is the day when the East and
the West shall embrace each other like unto two lovers. This
is the day in which war and contention shall be forgotten. This
is the day in which nations and governments will enter into an
eternal bond of amity and conciliation. This century is the
fulfillment of the Promised Century.
"The East shall become illumined, the West perfumed and
the children of men shall enter beneath the all-embracing can-
opy of the oneness of the world of humanity.
"The foundation of divine religion is love, affinity and con-
cord. Praise God that this cycle is the period of illumination !
Minds have made great progress; intelligences have been un-
folded ; the means of unity and agreement are brought about ;
communication between the races of men is rapidly established.
Now is the time that all of us may embrace the law of peace
and treat each other with honesty and straightforwardness.
Let the religious prejudices be wiped away. Let the law of
racial supremacy be discontinued. Let political expediences
8 THE NEW DAY
be done away with. Let the love of country be superseded by
the love of the world. Let us all deal with each other with
infinite kindness. We are all the servants at the one Divine
Threshold. We are all receiving the rays of truth from the
same Sun of Reality. We must all believe in all of the
prophets. We must all acknowledge the divine authority of
all the heavenly books. We must wash our hearts free of all
human prejudices. We must serve God. We must propagate
the oneness of the realm of humanity. We must be the cause
of the appearance of the perfections of the world of man. We
must not be like the beasts of prey. We must not allow car-
nage and bloodshed. We must regard the blood of man as
sacred. We must not shed the holy blood of man for the
paltry earth. We must all agree upon one fundamental prin-
ciple— that principle is the oneness of the kingdom of humanity.
"In this age, BahaVllah has breathed the Holy Spirit into
the dead body of the world. Consequently every weak soul is
strengthened by these fresh divine outbreathings. Every poor
man will become rich, every darkened soul will become illum-
ined, every ignorant one will become wise, because the confir-
mations of the Holy Spirit are descending like unto torrents.
A new era of divine consciousness is upon us. The world of
humanity is going through a process of transformation. A
new race is being developed. The thoughts of human brother-
hood are permeating all regions. New ideals are stirring the
depths of hearts and a new spirit of universal consciousness
is being profoundly felt by all men."
THE BAHAI REVELATION.
THE BAHAI REVELATION
THE RELIGIOUS NEED OF THE TIME.
In this day the religious formulae of the past — superstitions,
creeds and dogmas — no longer ease the conscience of the world
nor bring satisfaction to the mind of the individual adherent
of these systems of thought. Humanity is in need of a spiritual
power and knowledge with which to meet and solve the prob-
lems and conditions of this new day and age. Hence, the
general changing and unsettled condition of the religious world
which is causing a large and an increasing number of progres-
sive people to quit thinking within the prescribed limits of
the religious thought of the past, and to search diligently for
those universal fundamental truths of the spiritual realm of
life and being, the knowledge of which truths is the religion
of God.
The Bahai Movement offers to the world an all-inclusive,
universal, spiritual teaching, so broad that people of all races-
and of all creeds find place therein. It is essentially a religious
movement, a spiritual teaching, free from the limitations of
sect and "ism," and constructive in its building upon the true
faith of the individual and upon the pure teachings of the
past, thus increasing love and devotion to God and creating
within each soul the desire to manifest the light of these divine
attributes through brotherly service to one's fellowmen.
OBJECT.
The object of the Bahai Revelation is the religious unifica-
tion of all people. The teaching has come into the world to
fulfill all divine teaching of the past. It stands as the goal
toward which truth has always worked, through its appearance
in the prophets sent unto various peoples of the past ages,
and it is the beginning of that age of divine enlightenment and
peace, the coming of which has been the theme of all reve-
lations of the past — The Kingdom of God on earth. Thus
the Bahai Movement establishes the universal religion which
is the foundation of inter-religious, inter-racial and inter-
national brotherhood and peace. It offers to mankind a practi-
12 THE NEW DAY
cal basis of unity, one which is in direct line with the great
world needs of this age, and it is paving the way for the great
universal civilization which will evolve as people of all religions,
races and nations unite both spiritually and materially intc
one great world people.
DIVINE REVELATION.
Man, being finite, can not comprehend the essence of tht
Infinite God, which is beyond any and all human conception.
However, through the manifestation of the Spirit of God or
"The Word," that power which has spoken to the world
through the Prophets and Chosen Ones of the past, humanity
learns of God, knows His attributes, and is quickened by His
Spirit.
Mankind needs and seeks spiritual guidance. This divine
guidance has come to humanity through the instrumentality of
the manifestations of God or the Prophets or Revealers of
Truth. These chosen souls have been the founders of the
freat religious world-movements. They have manifested the
pirit of God to the people of the world, and through them
men have known God and have become quickened by the
life of The Kingdom.
THE ONENESS OF THE MANIFESTATIONS.
Though the personalities of the Prophets differed, yet the
divine power which spoke through each one was the same in
spirit and reality. Each Prophet revealed God and the law
of the divine kingdom in proportion to the needs of the age
to which He ministered, and in terms and parables familiar to
its people.
In their purity, all religious teachings are in perfect accord ;
.all teach the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
Human differences, imaginations and superstitions have been
the causes of religious division, dissension and disintegration,
T)ut true spirituality has ever been the source and mainspring
of man's unity in religion and advancement in civilization.
Each of the great world civilizations has had its conception and
l)irth in a spiritually active religion, and the downfall of civ-
THE NEW DAY 13
ilizations has been brought about by spiritually lifeless relig-
ions, shrouded in forms and in superstitions.
THE NEW REVELATION.
As the former ages have had certain spiritual or religious
needs, so this present and coming universal age, upon the
threshold of which the world now stands, has its own peculiar
spiritual and religious needs. The world is now ready for the
spiritual unity and harmony of its people. The universal
religion now comes, in order that the universal civilization may
be realized.
The Prophets of the past foresaw this latter-day religious
need, and They also foresaw the coming of two great teachers
and Prophets Who would minister to the whole world, and
fulfill the covenant of God in establishing the universal religion
or The Kingdom upon earth.
The Hebrew prophets dwelt at length upon the coming of
the "Ancient of Days," and the glory of His epoch ; Jesus, the
Christ, spoke many times of His second coming and the estab-
lishment of His Father's Kingdom upon earth; the Prophet
Mohammed taught that the Mahdi would come, followed by
the Manifestation of God Who would establish the Kingdom ;
Zoroaster taught of the triumph of light over darkness, of truth
over ignorance, and His followers expect The Promised One
Whom they call Shah Bahram, to accomplish this victory;
Gautama, The Buddha, foretold the coming of the great Fifth
Buddha, Who would bring enlightenment to all the world;
the Hindu holy books mention another incarnation of Krishna,
or the Divine Spirit, Whose mission would be universal en-
lightenment; while the poets and prose writers of all times
have depicted the beauty and the perfection of the Utopian or
millennial age, to be realized when The Great World Master
appeared on earth to establish God's rule among the nations.
In reality all testified to One Who was to come. These prom-
ises of the Prophets of old are now realized in the coming of the
Bahai Revelators and in the movement which They have estab-
lished, the people of the various religions find the fulfillment of
the sacred teachings of the past, and also the solution of the
14 THE NEW DAY
great latter day problem of religious unity. The Bahai Teach-
ing confirms and completes all religious teachings which have
gone before, and offers a practical philosophy which meets
the present day spiritual needs of humanity.
THE BAB.
On May 23, 1844, there arose in Shiraz, Persia, a young
man, Ali Mohammed by name, who declared Himself to be
The *Bab, or the forerunner of "He whom God would Mani-
fest'*— a great teacher, Who was soon to appear with manifest
signs of divine power, through Whose teachings the religious
unity of all peoples would be accomplished.
Through His purity of soul and spiritual wisdom The Bab
drew unto Himself many followers who in turn promulgated
His doctrines with so much fervor that within a short time
many believed and joined His ranks.
The Bab was met early in His career of teaching by great
opposition on the part of the Mussulman clergy, and at their
instigation, was placed under military surveillance. In spite
of this He continued His teaching, exhorting the people to
holiness and sanctity of living, in order that they might be
fitted to meet the Promised One, shortly to appear, and to
become as mirrors which would reflect His spiritual perfec-
tion. Thus the first two years of His ministry passed, at the
end of which time, He was seized, by the order of the opposing
clerical authorities, and thrust into prison.
The Bab's imprisonment lasted four years, during which
time He taught His followers through letters and espistles
smuggled by faithful friends past the guards of the prison.
This was followed by a trial in which He was condemned to
death upon the charge of heresy. With one of His followers.
He suffered martyrdom in the cause of truth in the city of
Tabriz, Persia, on July 9, 1850.
The mission of The Bab being that of precursor of "He
whom God would Manifest," the institutions and ordinances
which He established were for the time being only. With the
*"Bab" is the Arabic word for door or gate.
THE NEW DAY 15
appearance of the Promised One, the followers (Babis), were
commanded to turn their faces unto Him, when He, who was
to come, would reveal His teachings, divine laws and ordi-
nances, thus completing the foundation of The Kingdom on
earth.
The Bab was not alone in being persecuted by the Mussul-
mans, for with His martyrdom came upon His followers
troubles of the most dire nature. Over twenty thousand of
these willingly gave up property, family and life rather than
deny or recant their faith. As late as 1901, there were one
hundred and seventy souls martyred in this cause at one time
in Persia.
BAHA'O'LLAH.
During the days of The Bab's ministry, while His cause was
being promulgated by His followers throughout Persia, there
were many believers who never met with Him in person.
Among these was Baha'o'llah, a young man of noble family,
who warmly espoused the cause, publicly upholding and teach-
ing it in Teheran. In 1852, shortly after The Bab's martyr-
dom, when the persecution of the Babis was at its height,
Baha'o'llah, with others of the new faith, was imprisoned in
Teheran, and later on with a number of the followers was sent
in exile to Baghdad in Irak-Arabi.
During the exile in Baghdad Baha'o'llah, through His teach-
ings and spiritual insight, gradually brought calmness and as-
surance to the believers. As the movement gained strength
the clerical authorities began to show fear. This led to an
international arrangement made between the Turkish and
Persian governments by which Baha'o'llah with a band of the
followers was ordered to a more distant exile in Constantinople.
In April, 1863, on the eve of His departure from the land of
Irak, Baha'o'llah declared Himself to be The One whose com-
ing The Bab had foretold, "He whom God would Manifest."
From Constantinople the exiles were sent to Adrianople,
where they remianed until 1868, when they were finally sent
to the fortified town of Akka (Acre), a penal colony on the
Mediterranean just north of Mt. Carmel in Syria. There in
16 THE NEW DAY
the land of Carmel, where "the coming of the Lord" in this
latter day had been foretold by the prophets, Baha'o'llah lived
and taught; many traveling from great distances to receive
instructions from Him, while others received teaching through
His writings.
With the coming of Baha'o'llah the mission and teachings
of The Bab were fulfilled and completed; so from that time
on the movement became known as the Bahai Movement, and
the believers, hitherto called Babis, became known as Bahais,
this new name being a derivative of Baha. In the spring of
1892 the mission of Baha'o'llah being finished, He passed quiet-
ly from this world.
ABDUL BAHA.
During Baha'o'llah's ministry His revelation was complete,
yet His cause was not explained nor established in the world in
general. To this end He, in His testament, as well as in various
parts of His teachings, commanded His followers upon His
departure to turn their faces toward His eldest son, Abbas,
more widely known by this title, "Abdul Baha," whom He had
chosen as their spiritual guide : "The Center of The Covenant"
of God to the people of the world, the expounder of His teach-
ings, the one who would establish this great movement and
to explain and demonstrate it before the world — the one upon
whose shoulders His mantle would fall.
Abdul Baha was born in Teheran, Persia, on the 23rd of
May, 1844, the day upon which The Bab first declared His
message. During all the trials and vicissitudes of the mission
of Baha'o'llah, Abdul Baha was at His right hand promulgat-
ing His cause and serving His followers. He was the first of
all to recognize Baha'o'llah as The Promised One and to voice
the Mighty Message of the coming mission of the "Lord of
The Ages."
Abdul-Baha wishes to be known as the servant of humanity.
He seeks no higher station than this, yet when one understands
all that this means one realizes the combination of humility
and exaltation which it implies. He makes but one claim for
himself, as to his spiritual station, that of service in the path
of God. He signs himself "Abdul-Baha Abbas," which, being
THE NEW DAY 17
translated, is "Abbas, the Servant of God." Abdul-Baha is
acknowledged by the Bahais as their spiritual leader, and the
one to be emulated in the teaching of this great faith in the
world. He, through his example, is bringing the spiritual life
of BahaVllah within the reach of his followers, the Bahais.
He is the first fruit of the consummation of God's Latter Day
promise to the world, and he is the center from which the light
is now being radiated to the world ; therefore he in his mission
lives and exemplifies his title of "The Center of The Covenant."
Abdul-Baha's life is one of active service to humanity. There
is no element in the daily life of this world too small to receive
his attention. The great motive power manifesting through
him is not of this world but is of God. He is working to serve
God, yet by serving God he serves mankind. From his early
childhood until his 64th year he was an exile and a prisoner;
yet the light of his life and teachings has reached and penetrat-
ed to the far corners of the earth. For forty years Abdul-
Baha was a prisoner in the fortress of Akka — held there by
the Sultan of Turkey for no other reason than that his teaching
was bringing enlightenment and freedom of thought to all who
came within the radius of its power. With the fall of the old
despotic regime of Turkish government and the establishment
of a constitutional rule, which occurred in the summer of 1908,
Abdul-Baha was liberated from prison, and now is free to
come and go as he wills. During the summer and fall he visit-
ed England and France, where he spent some months in teach-
ing; and in 1912 he spent eight months in America, traveling
and teaching from coast to coast, visiting many cities and
towns where he had friends and where there were those to
listen to his explanations of religious questions and seeking
that vitalizing spiritual force which so characterizes his
presence.
Upon this tour, in both America and Europe, the pulpits
of many Christian churches of various sects and cults, institu-
tions of learning, and the platforms of philosophical and hu-
manitarian movements of various types sought Abdul Baha
and welcomed his message of the Oneness of the World of
Humanity. The people who heard him were rejoiced by the
spirit which he radiated, and those who came within the field
18 THE NEW DAY
of his spiritual love and power, were strengthened and inspired.
Abdul Baha has the power of really penetrating the souls
of men, of understanding the needs of each individual soul,
and of ministering to them in the most beneficial manner. He
is the spiritual physician who is treating humanity. Many
beautiful and touching incidents are related in the East of
the way in which, through long suffering and kindness, he has
won the hearts of those who, because of their prejudices,
formerly were his enemies. Caring for the sick and protecting
the oppressed form a large part of his daily duties. One of
the titles applied to him in the Orient is "father of the poor."
Abdul-Baha's power is that of love. In going into his pres-
ence something within one's soul seems to respond to his soul.
Thus a spiritual bond is made which is most far-reaching, for
it is of the nature of divine love and always remains with one.
Through his life and example, he is teaching people the life and
the way of The Kingdom. He has a message for every one,
and as one meets and contacts with him in spirit it is as if a
new force were added to one's nature. The power of the love
of God is brought very close to those who come in contact
with Abdul-Baha.
At the present time, Abdul-Baha is in Palestine, where, dur-
ing the past years of war, he has been serving and relieving
the sufferings and misery of the people brought about by this
great world calamity of war. His friends in various parts of
the world are now awaiting the time when travel will again
be possible between the Orient and the Occident in the hope
that they, and others, may be able to go to him and receive that
divine love which he gives so freely to humanity.
From many countries have gone to Abdul-Baha people of
different beliefs to receive spiritual help, and upon leaving him
they have returned to their various homes to share with others
the joy and assurance of his spiritual message and to follow
in his path of service. His is the perfect life, and as the people
contact with him they find in him the center of this spiritual
light of this new day and age. From this center is flowing the
regenerative Bahai spirit, which is making things anew, re-
establishing religion, reviving faith in God and uniting human-
ity in the one universal brotherhood of God's kingdom.
THE NEW DAY 19
THE BAHAI WRITINGS.
The collective writings of The Bab are known as "The
Beyan." These treat chiefly of the coming of Baha'o'llah, con-
taining exhortations to the people calling them to purify them-
selves and prepare to meet the Promised One that they might
be fitted to serve Him.
Baha'o'llah wrote many treatises in the form of books and
epistles, in which He demonstrates the oneness of the spirit
of all of the former religious teachings; also treating of the
present teachings in its relations to the religions of the past.
A number of these writings were in reply to special questions
asked by men of learning and were therefore written from vari-
ous points of thought, Moslem, Jewish, Christian, etc.
The writings of Abdul-Baha are many and are chiefly in the
form of letters, explanatory of the spirit and the teachings of
Baha'o'llah. In Abdul-Baha's life of service to humanity is
his method of teaching, through which means he gives life,
vigor and a penetrative force to his words. His verbal teach-
ing, much of which is reported and circulated in manuscript
and in printed form, consists of explanations, given to various
inquirers, regarding the cause and its doctrines, together with
exhortations to the followers and certain principles and truths
the pursuance of which is conducive to the best secular as well
as spiritual welfare of mankind.
ETERNAL LIFE.
Eternal life is the state of soul of spiritually-quickened man.
All souls exist as entities after the separation from the material
body. However, from the spiritual standpoint, this mere ex-
istence is not "life." Only those souls who are awake to the
glory of God can be said to be divinely awake and alive and of
the life eternal. This spiritual awakening is from God. It is
His gift and greatest bounty to man. By virtue of the truth
and spirit revealed to humanity through the Prophets and
manifestations, man's soul is awakened from slumber, and,
though in the world, yet he lives in a higher realm from which
he receives divine strength and force.
20 THE NEW DAY
According to the Bahai Teaching heaven and hell are con-
ditions of the soul. The soul which lives in God is in that
divine state called heaven, while one not yet awakened to the
glory of God is in a state of darkness, or hell. The coming
of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth has been the one theme
of Christ and the Prophets. All have spoken of this epoch in
different terminology, but in reality They all spoke of the one
great age of divine enlightenment — a time when faith should
replace unbelief, and when divine knowledge should replace
ignorance and superstition, and the Bahai Cause teaches that
the world is now in the early dawn of that new day and age.
SOCIAL REFORMS, LAWS AND ORDINANCES.
In addition to the purely spiritual teachings of Baha'o'llah
He ordered certain changes in the manners and customs of
people, through the observance of which the world in general
will be helped both materially and spiritually. He exhorts the
Bahais to be tolerant, and in no way to separate themselves
from other people, nor denounce those of other beliefs. All
men are free to believe as they wish, but all are advised to unite
in faith and to lay aside the prejudices and superstitions of past
ages. Warfare should be abolished and international ques-
tions settled by arbitration. A universal language is favored
as a means of bringing people together in unity. Legislation
should be representative. The Bahais should be peaceful and
law-abiding citizens. Their thought should be humanitarian
before all else. Faith without works is not acceptable. One's
worship should be supplemented by a pure and useful life in
the world. Men and women should marry. Asceticism is dis-
couraged. Monogamy is taught. Harshness and hatred are to
be overcome by gentleness and love. Man should not use in-
toxicants as a beverage. Opium and kindred drug habits are
denounced, as is also gambling.
Baha'o'llah forbade mendicity, slavery, cruelty to animals
and many other abuses which our western civilization has
already remedied, so it is hardly necessary here to mention
them. The following of these ordinances is already producing
its good effect in the many Bahai centers throughout the world,
and good fruits are coming therefrom.
THE NEW DAY 21
MASHRAK-EL-AZiKAR.
Prayer supplemented by a pure and useful life in this world
form the elements of true worship. Faith without works is
not acceptable. Every man should have an occupation which
conduces to the welfare of humanity, the diligent pursuance of
which is in itself an act of worship.
In this cause there is no priesthood nor clergy. Each soul
approaches God in prayer without sacred rite nor ceremony.
Temples open to all people of all religions are to be provided
for reading, meditation and prayer. These are to be surround-
ed by hospices, hospitals, asylums, schools, universities, etc.,
the whole group of buildings to be known as a "Mashrak-El-
Azkar," which translated from the Persian literally means
"The dawning point of the mentions of God." In these insti-
tutions is symbolized both the spiritual worship and the hu-
manitarian service as taught by BahaVllah.
A few years ago in the city of Echkabad in Russian Turk-
istan a Mashrak-El-Azkar was built. At present the Bahais
throughout the world are uniting in the work of building the
first Mashrak-El-Azkar in America, which is to be erected
upon the shore of Lake Michigan near the city of Chicago.
Of the Mashrak-El-Azkar to be built in Chicago, Abdul
Baha has spoken as follows :
"Now the day has arrived in which the edifice of God, the
divine sanctuary, the spiritual temple, shall be erected in
America."
"The accessories of the Mashrak-El-Azkar are numerous.
Among them are the school for orphans, the great college for
the higher arts, hospital, home for the cripples and hospice.
The doors of these places are to be opened to all sects — no
differentiations. When these accessories are completed, and,
by God's help and aid, the departments fully systematized, it
will be proved that the Mashrak-El-Azkar is to human society a
great bounty and a great blessing.
"In brief, through the unlimited bounties of God, I am hope-
ful that the beloved ones of God in America may be aided
and confirmed in founding this mighty and solid foundation
and gradually annex thereto its accessories."
22 THE NEW DAY
"When these institutions, college, hospital, hospice and estab-
lishments for the incurables, university for the study of higher
sciences and giving post-graduate courses, and other philan-
thropic buildings are built, its doors will be opened to all the
nations and religions. There will be absolutely no line of de-
marcation drawn. Its charities will be dispensed irrespective
of color or race. Its gates will be flung wide open to mankind ;
prejudice toward none, love for all. The central building will
be devoted to the purpose of prayer and worship. Thus, for
the first time, religion will become harmonized with science,
and science will be the handmaid of religion, both showering
their material and spiritual gifts on ALL humanity. In this
way the people will be lifted out of the quagmires of slothfulness
and bigotry."
EDUCATION.
Through a broad and liberal education along scientific, ma-
terial and intellectual lines, balanced by a knowledge of man's
moral and spiritual duties and relation to God, the Bahais
believe that the superstitions of the past will disappear and
with them the prejudice and ignorance which have always
made for man's limitation. The Bahai Movement stands
strongly for the freedom and education of woman, even going
so far as to teach that it is more necessary for parents to edu-
cate their girls, than their boys. Women being the mothers
and the early teachers of the children of the race, it is more
necessary that they be educated than men. In the Orient, where
the condition of ignorance and general degradation among
the women is so widespread, the condition of the Bahai women
is so far superior to that of the women in general in the coun-
tries in which they live as to be one of the clear demonstra-
tions of the awakening of these peoples and their freedom
from their former religious institutions which denied educa-
tional advantages to women. Particularly in the Moslem
countries are the women denied culture and education by the
established rule of theology, but now through the dawn of
this new day and age all these limitations of the past are dis-
appearing before the light of Truth.
THE NEW DAY 23
PEACE.
Religious differences have been the chief cause of warfare,
while religious sympathy and understanding have always made
for peace and prosperity. Prior to the beginning of the Bahai
Movement, little or nothing was being taught nor written
about peace, arbitration, universal language, suffrage nor other
universal institutions. During the past three-quarters of a
century, however, the world has awakened to the necessity for
all of these institutions for which the Bahai Cause stands ; and
now the most enlightened people are realizing that the lack of
spiritual or religious understanding, with the accompanying
lack of moral perception, is the real cause of our human ills
and the cataclysmic conditions through which the world is now
passing.
While Baha'o'llah's teaching was ahead of the world of His
day, the world of today is realizing more and more the value
of that teaching. The supply and the demand are now meet-
ing, from which better conditions will result.
The Bahais believe in a federation of all the nations, both
large and small, and the establishment of a world parliament
for the judicial settlement of international disputes. In treat-
ing of this matter of peace between the nations, Abdul Baha
says:
"A tribunal will be under the power of God, and under the
protection of all men. Each one must obey the decisions of
this tribunal, in order to arrange the difficulties of every nation.
"About fifty years ago in the Book of Akdas, Baha'o'llah
commanded the people to establish the Universal Peace and
summoned all the nations to the Divine Banquet of interna-
tional arbitration so that the questions of boundaries, of na-
tional honor and property and of vital interests between nations
might be decided by an arbitral court of justice.
"Remember these precepts were given more than half a
century ago — at that moment no one spoke of universal peace
— nor of any of these principles, but Baha'o'llah proclaimed
them to all the sovereigns of the world. * * * They are the
spirit of this age ; the light of this age ; they are the well-being
of this age."
24 THE NEW DAY
SCIENCE AND RELIGION.
The imaginations and superstitions of the religious sys-
tems of the past, are against common sense and science, for
these are but the thoughts of men of the ages. The universal
basic spiritual truths of religion, upon the contrary, accord
with science. When men understand the true principles of
religion no conflict will be found between them and the ma-
terial sciences.
EVOLUTION OF MAN.
According to the Bahai teaching spirit or life force is of five
kinds: vegetable, animal, human, the divinely spiritual life of
the soul, and the Infinite unknowable spirit of God. Man was
created man, a species apart and above the vegetable and animal
conditions. Through the spiritual influences of the manifesta-
tions of God's Word, or the Prophets, man becomes charac-
terized by the divinely spiritual qualities, and adds to his human
nature the spiritual nature, or the life eternal.
The Bahais see true religion itself as a scientific fact, for
lo them the true philosophy of religion is the statement or the
science of the higher spiritual laws of that plain of being
known as The Kingdom of God. Through the working of
these divine laws and a knowledge thereof, humanity arises
from the state of spiritual ignorance which characterizes the
so-called "natural" or savage man, and becomes quickened
by the process of the higher life. Thus, through a knowledge
of the basis principles of religion, and through the wisdom
which the living spirit of religion instills into the soul, the
true religious man is freed from the thraldom of ignorance
and superstition, which imprisons the soul, and he finds ample
opportunity and scope for the development of the highest and
noblest virtues peculiar to that plane of being known as The
Kingdom of God.
ORIENTAL-OCCIDENTAL UNITY.
One of the greatest obstacles to overcome before universal
brotherhood and peace can come is the natural lack of confi-
dence and understanding between the oriental and occidental
THE NEW DAY 25
peoples. The Orient has always been the source of the
world's spiritual inspiration, while in the Occident has appeared
the fruition of this inspiration in the form of a highly evolved
civilization. Through the Bahai Teachings this chasm between
the East and the West is bridged, and for the first time in his-
tory oriental and occidental are meeting on a common ground
of sympathy and understanding.
ECONOMIC QUESTIONS.
Co-operation is the basic principle upon which all institutions
should be founded. The co-operation of all for the good of all.
Laws should be so regulated that it will be impossible for one
man to enrich himself at the expense of another. Through
the proper adjustment of political and commercial relations
between individuals and nations all will live in harmony, hap-
piness and in plenty.
THE HOUSE OF JUSTICE.
Baha'o'llah arranged for the guidance and the welfare of
His cause by appointing Abdul Baha "The Center of His
Covenant," to whom the people were to turn for guidance.
After Abdul Baha all matters are to be referred to "The House
of Justice," a body of men to be chosen from the believers
because of their spiritual qualifications for wisdom and divine
knowledge.
The business affairs of the Bahai Movement are conducted
by these assemblies of consultation. In addition to the local
Houses of Justice, there will be a general assembly of consul-
tation composed of representatives from all parts of the world.
This will be known as "The Universal House of Justice."
THE METHOD OF TEACHING.
The teaching is given without money and without price.
Teachers are usually self-supporting, giving their time and
services, the recompense for which is the joy and satisfaction
of serving in the cause of Truth, but in rare instances persons
of means have been known to provide traveling and living ex-
26 THE NEW DAY
penses enabling certain speakers and teachers for a time to
extend the field of their labors. Teaching consists of first
living the principles of the cause in one's inner life and then
speaking to others. Unless a teacher lives the life of which he
preaches his words will have no effect upon the hearts of
others.
All Bahais are servants of the cause and are supposed to
promulgate the teachings, each in his own sphere — each work-
ing according to his ability. Some are able to go about
through the world teaching and preaching, while others carry
on their religious work in conjunction with their material
affairs. The Bahais in no way form a close sect or cult. They
do not separate themselves from other people. Their work is
ever outward and in the world where they are diffusing spir-
itual knowledge and serving humanity.
In the following words of Abdul Baha he instructs teachers
how they should teach:
"The intention of the teacher must be pure, his heart inde-
pendent, his spirit attracted, his thought at peace, his resolu-
tion firm, his magnanimity exalted and in the love of God a
shining torch.
"Should he become as such, his sanctified breath will even
affect the rock; otherwise there will be no result whatsoever.
As long as a soul is not perfected, how can he efface the defects
of others?
"Unless he is detached from aught else save God, how can
he teach severance to others?"
GROWTH OF THE MOVEMENT.
The movement under The Bab was practically confined to
the Islamic countries. During the ministry of Baha'o'llah the
message was taken to various other countries of the Orient
and now under the ministration of Abdul Baha it has spread
the world around. There are not only centers of Bahai teach-
ing in China, Japan, Burma, India, Persia, Turkistan, Caucasia,
the Turkish countries and in Egypt, but there are strong Bahai
centers in France, Germany, England and throughout the Unit-
ed States and Canada. This growth has been a comparatively
THE NEW DAY 27
slow but a steady one. It is not limited by religious nor racial
conditions, which is proven by the many heterogeneous ele-
ments which this cause is assimilating and fusing into one ele-
ment, which is the world type of man.
The universal principles of Truth which the Bahai Movement
is teaching are already clearly seen in the way in which this
teaching appeals to people of all religions, races, and nation-
alities. When a soul becomes touched by the Bahai Spirit he
becomes a citizen of the world, quite freed from the limitations
of his former environment, while his social and religious preju-
dices inherited from forebears and environment are changed
into a desire to do something toward world brotherhood through
tangible service to his fellow men. In the Bahai meetings —
notably those in the East — one sees Christians, Jews, Moslems,
Zoroastrians, Hindus and Buddhists mingling as brothers and
eating at the same tables. It has been the writer's privilege to
travel extensively and to attend many such reunions. He has
spent much time in the oriental countries and has seen the
spiritual blending of the Orient and Occident, which process
is being brought about by the love and devotion of the Bahais
one for another. These people are really demonstrating the
power of divine love, for with them it is so powerful as to
overcome all religious and racial antipathy and is producing
real brotherhood and peace.
Distributed by
Babul Publishing Society
P. 0. Box 283, Chicago, Illinois
These books are sold at a price
just sufficient to cover the cost of
printing and handling.
The Mashrak-El-Azkar
By Chas. Mason Remey.
Comprising — Quotations from
Abdul Baha's words — An his-
torical sketch of the Bahai
Movement — A general explana-
tion of tlie Mashrak-El-Azkar
(Bahai Temple) — A description
of the Mashrak-El-Azkar in
Eshkhabad in Russian Turkistan
and — An account of the pre-
paratory work for building the
first Mashrak-E 1 - A z k a r in
America, with descriptions and
illustrations of an exhibit of
nine preliminary designs for
this building, showing various
treatments in different styles of
architecture.
This book contains a portrait
of Abdul Baha and nineteen
architectural illustrations.
A large volume, bound in cloth,
$1.00.
Postage — additional.
This book weighs 2 pounds. For
postage, see parcel post rate between
your town and Chicago.
Bahai Teaching.
By Chas. Mason Remey.
Containing quotations from the
Bahai Sacred Writings and sev-
eral previously published articles
upon the history and aims of the
Teaching.
Bound in cloth $ .60
Postage, 5c additional.
Constructive Principles of the
Bahai Movement.
By Chas. Mason Remey.
A booklet containing a brief sum-
mary of the history, institutions
and object of the Cause, with
special emphasis upon those uni-
versal principles for world prog-
ress, religious, social, and eco-
nomic which are foremost
amongst the burning questions
of the day now uppermost in
the minds of thinkers.
Bound in cloth $ .40
Postage, 5c additional.
Through Waning Countries to
the Mountain of God.
By Chas. Mason Remey.
An account of some of the ex-
periences of two American Ba-
hais in France, England, Ger-
many, and other countries, on
their way to visit Abdul Baha
in the Holy Land, in the year
1914.
This book of travel is in the
form of a fac-simile of the au-
thor's manuscript. It contains a
hitherto unpublished portrait of
Abdul Baha, with twenty-eight
photographic illustrations o f
groups of people and places con-
nected with the Bahai Cause.
A large volume bound in
doth $2.00
Postage additional.
This book weighs 2 pounds. For
postage, see parcel post rate between
your town and Chicago.
The Bahai Movement
By Chas. Mason Remey.
This book describes the principles
of the Bahai Movement and out-
lines the history of the Cause.
Bound in cloth $.50
Postage lOc additional.
Observations of a Bahai
Traveler.
By Chas. Mason Remey.
Treats of travels among the
Bahais of the Orient and of the
Teachings from the viewpoint of
the various world religions; also
a brief history of the Movement.
Has 12 illustrations and one map.
Bound in cloth f .60
Postage lOc additional
The Bahai Revelation
and Reconstruction.
By Chas. Mason Remey.
A brief history of the Bahai
Movement and an exposition of
some of its most salient principles
with special emphaesis upon its
peace program and the influence of
religion for the harmony and the
peace of the nations.
Contains a portrait of Abdul
Baha.
Bound in cloth $1.00
Postage, lOc additional.
The Peace of the World.
By Chas. Mason Remey.
A presentation of the Constructive
Peace Tradings of the Bahai Re-
ligion.
Bound in cloth $ .75
Postage. lOc additional.
The New Day.
By Chas. Mason Remey.
A brief statement of the history
and teachings of the Bahai Revel-
ation.
A booklet bound in paper.
Price $ .15
6 copies $ .75
100 copies $12.00
Postage 2c per copy additional
and in quantities at parcel post rate.
Observations of a Bahai
Traveler.
By Chas. Mason Remey.
Treats of travels among the
Bahais of the Orient and of the
Teachings from the viewpoint of
the various world religions; also
a brief history of the Movement.
Has 12 illustrations and one map.
Bound in cloth f .60
Postage lOc additional
The Peact
By Chas. Mai
A presentat
Peace Tradi
liffion.
Bound in clot
Postage, 1
The Bahai Revelation
and Reconstruction.
By Chas. Mason Remey.
A brief history of the Bahai
Movement and an exposition of
some of its most salient principles
with special emphaesis upon its
peace program and the influence of
religion for the harmony and the
peace of the nations.
Contains a portrait of Abdul
Baha.
Bound in cloth $1.00
Postage, lOc additional.
The New Da;
By Chas. Maso
A brief state-
and teachings
ation.
A booklet bout
Price
6 copies
100 copies
Postage 2c pe
and in qnantitie
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General Library
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY
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