d the greater part of his doctrinal works, and where he died in
1892 A. D. (May 29). He had confided to his son, Abbas Effendi Abdul-Baha,
the work of spreading the religion and continuing the connection between
the Bahais of all parts of the world. In point of fact, there are Bahais
everywhere, not only in Mohammedan countries, but also in all the
countries of Europe, as well as in the United States, Canada, Japan,
India, etc. This is because Baha'o'llah has known how to transform Babism
into a universal religion, which is presented as the fulfillment and
completion of all the ancient faiths. The Jews await the Messiah, the
Christians the return of Christ, the Moslem the Mahdi, the Buddhists the
fifth Buddha, the Zoroastrians Shah Bahran, the Hindoos the reincarnation
of Krishna, and the Atheists--a better social organization! Baha'o'llah
represents all these, and thus destroys the rivalries and the enmities of
the different religions; reconciles them in their primitive purity, and
frees them from the corruption of dogmas and rites. For Bahaism has no
clergy, no religious ceremonial, no public prayers; its only dogma is
belief in God and in his Manifestations (Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus, et al.,
Baha'o'llah). The principal works of Baha'o'llah are the Kitab-ul-Ighan,
the Kitab-ul-Akdas, the Kitab-ul-Ayd, and numerous letters or tablets
addressed to sovereigns or to private individuals. Ritual holds no place
in the religion, which must be expressed in all the actions of life, and
accomplished in neighborly love. Every one must have an occupation. The
education of children is enjoined and regulated. No one has the power to
receive confession of sins, or to give absolution. The priests of the
existing religions should renounce celibacy, and should preach by their
example, mingling in the life of the people. Monogamy is universally
recommended, etc. Questions not treated of are left to the civil law of
each country, and to the decisions of the Bait-ul-Adl, or House of
Justice, instituted by Baha'o'llah. Respect toward the Head of the State
is a part of respect toward God. A universal language, and the creation of
tribunals of arbitration between nations, are to suppress wars. "You are
all leaves of the same tree, and drops of the same sea," Baha'o'llah has
said. Briefly, it is not so much a new religion as Religion renewed and
unified, which is directed today by Abdul-Baha.--(Nouveau Larousse
Illustre, supplement, p. 66.)