a century of light, capacity for action is assured to mankind.
Necessarily the divine principles will be spread among men until the time
of action arrives. Surely this has been so, and truly the time and
conditions are ripe for action now....

("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Baha
during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912", p. 121) [32]

33: This has come to pass. The powers of earth cannot withstand the...

This has come to pass. The powers of earth cannot withstand the privileges
and bestowals which God has ordained for this great and glorious century.
It is a need and exigency of the time.... Let this century be the sun of
previous centuries, the effulgences of which shall last forever, so that
in times to come they shall glorify the twentieth century, saying the
twentieth century was the century of lights, the twentieth century was the
century of life, the twentieth century was the century of international
peace, the twentieth century was the century of divine bestowals, and the
twentieth century has left traces which shall last forever.

("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Baha
during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912", pp. 125-26)
[33]

34: The most momentous question of this day is international peace and...

The most momentous question of this day is international peace and
arbitration, and universal peace is impossible without universal suffrage.
Children are educated by the women. The mother bears the troubles and
anxieties of rearing the child, undergoes the ordeal of its birth and
training. Therefore, it is most difficult for mothers to send to the
battlefield those upon whom they have lavished such love and care.
Consider a son reared and trained twenty years by a devoted mother. What
sleepless nights and restless, anxious days she has spent! Having brought
him through dangers and difficulties to the age of maturity, how agonizing
then to sacrifice him upon the battlefield! Therefore, the mothers will
not sanction war nor be satisfied with it. So it will come to pass that
when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world, when
they enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws and politics,
war will cease; for woman will be the obstacle and hindrance to it. This
is true and without doubt.

("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Baha
during