The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-05-11

ire of the Rev. Peter y. Easton, who
has been missionary since 1873 at
Tabriz, in northern Persia, and who
is now in London. In speaking to a
correspondent, Mr.. Easton, who Is
shortly to leave London for Persia
said:
'I am firmly convinced that strong
utterances should be made to awaken
American Christians to the truth of
Abdul Baha's propaganda. Bahaisn
Is not Christian, it is not Mohammed-
an; on the contrary it is essentially
anti-Christian and snti-Mohammedan
and the manner n which men like
DR.. Campbell and Archdeacon WILDER
force in England have taken up Abdul
BAHIA simply proves them to be as
credulous as the lawyer in a pending
case who sent Ave pound notes to
spirits. l greatly fear that this cult
of Bahaism may find fruitful grounds
in the United States and l am anxious
20 raise my voice and urge Christians
to crush it in its infancy.
Last September l called on Abdul
BAHIA, the head OF the Bahastic sect
in London to tell me what was the
creed a new gospel or what l found
him man of great affability and
courtesy. He was glad to meet with an
Occidental who could talk with him in
Tatar Turkish, the language of Aver
beijan, Persia, in which and in the adj
joining Caucasus have been laboring
as a missionary since 1873.
After some Introductory converse
ton l asked him what his message
was, had he anything to add to the
New Testament teaching of repent
ance toward God and faith toward our
Lord Jesus Christ?
Instead of answering my question
he turned the conversation into an
other channel. Several times l en-
deavored to bring it back to the origi-
nal topic, but beyond certain general
statements as to his belief in all the
prophets, l could get no definite reply.
So far, therefore, as an answer to my
question was concerned my visit was
a failure.
LET rs now see what can be done
in other directions. On page 8 of
Sprague's Story of the Bahai Move
ment,' a work written by man who
is himself a Bahai, Comte de Gobineau
is mentioned as one of those who have
spoken favorsbly of the Bahais' or Be
hais, as they are now called. Bahism
according to the Comte, is "the lates
expression of the eclectic evolution
growing out of the innate pantheisn
of the Iranian mind Here then We
have an important statement in regard
to the character of the movement.
"It is a pantheistic, not a Christian
not even a Mohammedan movement;
one of the long series of such move
ments beginning with the very begin
ming of Persian history and continuing
to the present day, a movement like
wise akin to the pantheistic sects o.
other lands such as Mormons, Spirit
lists, Theosophists, Christian Scienti
lists, etc. What then is the essentia
characteristic of Pantheism? 1t is th'
doctrine that there is no persona
God who creates, governs and con
trolls all things, but only divine es
sence out of which, all things ar,
evolved, the various orders of tn
world marking the stages of evolu
tion-first mineral, then plant, ANNA
and finally man.
I'm every age this impersonal es
sence finds expression in some individ
ual who is to all intents and purpose
the god of that age. In some case
these persons call themselves God, i
others they do not, but in every cas-
they claim supreme authority and d.
mand blind obedience from their di'
ciples.
"Who then in this Behai movemer
is this head? Is it Abbas Efendi AL
dull BAHIA, the present leader? No, &c
Abdul BAHIA means the servant of Bah
the father of the present leader, VIII
died at Acre, Syria, in 1892. TIL
movement is also called, from hin
the Bahai movement.
what sort of man was this BAHIA
His first prominent role was that
an Absalom. After the death of tn
Bah, the founder of the movement,
1850 Bahas half-brother, Suth-i-Eze
became the head of the sect, holdin
undisputed and absolute sway over tn
Babist Church. BAHIA, joining him ate
his flight to Bagdad in 1852, was el
trusted by Suth-i-Ezel with the pra
teal direction of affairs, Npositio
which BAHIA used to steal the heart
of his brothers followers.
when banished to Acre along wit
some of the followers OF Suth-i-Eze
who were sent there by the Turks
Government to watch his movement
every one OF these men was ASSASSIN