South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-11
Abdul BAHIA Comes
as Prophet of Peace
BY Ebert Hubbard

e'O POPeidtloh OF Persia from Mo-
hammedanism. Throughout all Asia.
Europe and the United States there
are constantly growing bodies of adj
herents 10 the faith of Abdul Bahia.
rms man comes 10 the western
Worlo on distinct mission. and no
one who meets him can doubt his sin
certify
The message ne brings is the until
cation or the world in the bonds OF
Drotherly love. and an understanding
which Heans peace on EARTH good
Will toward men.
According TO Abdul BAHIA. we viii
soon live in a period Of time that
marks the beginning OF the millennium
"a thousand years OF peace, happi-
ness and prosperity.
After that Abdul BAHIA does not say
what will happen, but he does not
preach disaster.
He thinks that after the thousand
years still better things are in store
for US. lie has the wOrld-visiOn, and
sees clearly this new time upon which
we are now reaching. He upholds the
dawn of the Great Peace upon the
horizon of the world. His business is
TO proclaim.
The refrain Of his message is al
ways and forever: The day of the
Lord is at hand. Gods kingdom OF
peace and love shall be established
upon the earth, and the dreams Of all
the prophets and poets are TO become
true"
Literally. POLITICALLY and symbolic
ally, the desert shall blossom like the
rose, and the waste places shall be
made green, and sorrow and signing
shall fee away.
One distinguishable and peculiar
thing about Abdul BAHIA is that he
does not make war upon, or even
criticise, any other religious faith.
Every faith fits a certain attitude of
mind. 1t is ali a part Of the work Of
the Creator, and it is good in its time
and place; and at the right tine it viii
be sloughed and left behind, and the
pTisoned soul will burst its bonds, and
the captive shall be made free.
Abdul Bahia is now 20 years old. He
began his public work when IS. For
just % years rs has proclaimed his
faith.
But from his 42nd 10 his 66th-24
years-he was in prison. But even
his jailers dared not forbid him send
ing out his messages of faith.
In prison he was still in touch with
the world of thinkers and the world
OF doors.
He was treated with a reverence
and awe that is not very difficult to
understand when you meet the man.
Abdul BAHIA has magnetism, plus.
His zeal, enthusiasm, animation, hope
and faith run over and inundate every
thing.
No man can argue with him. No
man can dispute with him. Every
one has 10 agree with him-and every
one docs. He is what he is. He was
born to his work, and for this work,
and considers himself divinely ap-
pointed.
Mohammedanism ranks fourth to-
day in the number of its followers,
christianity coming first. Confucian-
ism second and Hinduism third.
Abdul BAHIA leads a revolt from Is
lam. and takes with him as followers
today the intellectual pick of MOham
mechanism. He is TO Persia what EN-
erson was to America-only more so.
Abdul BAHIA does not give his mes
sage TO the lOwly and the ignorant
The man is regal in his way of liv-
ing. and in his mental attitude. He
travels with a retinue of servants, sec
retaries and followers, all caftan?
robed. Evidently he is well supplied
with money. Wherever he goes ne
rides in automobiles and stops at the
best hotels. lie is in touch with big
people on an equality.
Let him visit any bank, factory, Of
fee building, church, and everything
is laid aside, and eyes bulge and ears
listen until he takes his departure.
When he went TO Washington and
swept through the capitol even the
supreme court of the United states
saw tit 10 adjourn; the house the
same; and the senate, for while, at
ieast, forgot matters of investigation /
When Abdul BAHIA went TO the white /
d oh he
was going with the intent to take
possession of it.
But his is not a kingdom of this /
world, so far as a desire TO rule IS con- I
cerned. Governments are mere mat /
tiers OF detail matters OF business, and /
they do not much interest this servant |
OF God.
Yet, for the business genius of the /
west Abdul Bahia has a great regard. /
He says we must teach the people /
Of the east how to plant and SOW ard |
reap.
Persia automobiles, plows, reapers, |
threshing machines, traction engines /
locomotives, trolley cars proves Tor
him, his case.
And so he, in degree. repays US by /
bringing 70 us the message OF love /
and goodwill.
war; ne says Is 10 ht uoAc away 1
with, absolutely. The governments of .
the world are merely to be business 7
institutions We are learning what is
best. and what is best is righteous and I.
right. Sin is merely the wrong thing,
and sin brings bad results.
There is no greater wiC1edness than
that men should kill one another, de-
stroy one another. seek 10 thwart and
embarrass one another. Let every
man live his life and do his work the
best he can. We must be no cause of
grief TO any one. We must love HUI
mainly so much that we VIII be kind
to all people, even TO those who do
wrong. having full faith that they. in
time. will see that error brings pain.
and love and unselfshness bring hap
piness and every good thing.