cause of unity and love, that it must be the means of binding hearts
together, the cause of life and illumination. If religion becomes the
cause of enmity and bloodshed, then irreligion is to be preferred, for
religion is the remedy for every ailment, and if a remedy should become
the cause of ailment and difficulty, it is better to abandon it. Today in
Persia you will see Muhammadans, Christians, Zoroastrians, Buddhists
assembled together in the same meeting, living in accordance with the
teachings of Baha'u'llah, manifesting utmost love and accord. Rancor,
hatred, antagonism and violence have disappeared; they live as one family.

And ye, who are the people of the Orient--the Orient which has ever been
the dawning-point of lights--from whence the Sun of Reality has ever shone
forth casting its effulgence upon the West--ye therefore must become the
manifestations of lights. Ye must become brilliant lamps. Ye must shine as
stars radiating the light of love toward all mankind. May you be the cause
of love amongst the nations. Thus may the world become witness that the
Orient has ever been the dawning-point of illumination, the source of love
and reconciliation. Make peace with all the world. Love everybody; serve
everybody. All are the servants of God. God has created all. He provideth
for all. He is kind to all. Therefore must we be kind to all.

I am greatly pleased with this meeting. I am joyous and happy, for here in
these western regions I find Orientals seeking education, and who are free
from prejudice. May God assist you!

[Photograph with the following caption:]

'Abdu'l-Baha in Oakland, California, 1912, at the home of Mrs. Helen
Goodall, an early California Baha'i. Mr. Yamamoto, holding one of his
sons, can be seen in the front right. Mr. Fujita is standing between trees
at the top left. It was during those days that Mr. Yamamoto arranged for
'Abdu'l-Baha to speak before the Japanese Independent Church in Oakland.

7: Excerpt from a Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Baha

O thou who art firm in the Covenant!(21)

The International Congress of Religions was organized this year (1906) in
the capital of Japan. Many souls hastened to that empire from different
parts of the world, in order that they might talk of and discuss the
principles of their own religions, each one longing to convert that
assembly to his own religion and establish the validity of his own
particular belief. This congress had under discussion the p