Evening star., 1909-07-11

scribed entertainingly conditions about
Akka, in Syria. the prison home OF the
prophet, and now the home of his son,
Abbas Effendi. known as Abdul Bahai.
and also headquarters for pilgrims from
all parts Of the world. Mr.. c. NJ. Remey
was next called and spoke briefly of the
spread OF the Bahai faith and its rapid
roofing in the western well as in the
eastern nations. A lady teacher next
spoke for a few moments. and Miss
Barney announced that the program was
concluded. Ice cream, cake and lemonade
were then served.
1t is a mistake to designate this peo-
ple and there are now fifteen million or
them, as a sect of the MOhammedans
or a sect of any other religious system;
while they accept 'the spirit of truth IN
prophet Baha'o'llah. with all his oriental
imagery, interprets the writings of these
several religions with ltberality and
perSpicuity that challenges admiration.
however paradoxical their posltlon may
appear to some of us. upon limited ex-
animation.
Their industrious efforts have helped to
awaken renewed interest in the western
world, in the writings of all these historic
systems Of philosophy and religion. and
they have especially focused attention
upon the famous Oath of Mohammed,
in which he declared his fraternal ana
tolerant policy toward all Christian peo-
pies This Oath OF Mohammed Is little
known outside Of Islam, and little needed
within its pale. One paragraph OF II runs
as follows:
..ShouId any Christian woman be mar
ried to a Mussulman such marriage must
NOT take place except after her consent,
and she must not be prevented from going
to her church for prayer. Their churcnes
must be honored and they. must not be
withheld from building churches nor from
repairing converts.
Another utterance reads:
mo one is allowed to plunder their the
Christian) pilgrims, or to destroy or spoil
any of their churches. or houses OF Wor-
tanned within these houses. to bring it
into the houses of Islam. This important
document was issued In the second year.
El-Hajrih, signed by Mohammed and
twenty-two of his FIRST assistants and
was the enforced policy during his active
years. though it was not held so sacred
by later leaders and by some intolerant
caliphs. The Bahais emphasize the 'Oath
of federation as the true Spirit of the
Koran" and the real spirit of Mohammed.
And they call special attention to the fact
that Mohammed referred to Jesus and
Moses as his elder brothers, en1oining
that his followers should heed their words
as sent by God.
movement, an inspiration. new awaken
ing Of the spirit of religion.
i: !;
The Figaro of Paris, in an extended
article some time ago by Guy Dares as
translated by Miss Laura Barney, said
of the Bahais:
This young religion-it is not yet fifty
wears old-has conquered faithful people
to it's faith. in all the land of Islam, India,
America and on the banks of the Seine
But that does not content its ambition.
With the confidence of vigorous youth it
says: We shall group all the peoples
of the world in a common ideal This
ambitious hope is rooted in the conviction
it feels as to its mission and It's message,
which may be briefly stated in the words
of one OF their disciples: We do not say,
as so many before have said: BE my
brother or 1 Will slay you. but rather
we say: You are my brother, therefore
/ love you.'''''
Bahaism had beginning that was both
romantic and tragic. And it is not i'm
proper to emphasize the fact in the brief