own as Christians. These
enjoy the superlative degree of moral civilization. Each one of them is a
great philosopher because they live together in the utmost love and
good-fellowship. They sacrifice life for each other. They offer worldly
possessions for each other. You can say of the Christian people that they
are as one person. There is a bond amongst them that is indissoluble in
character."

It is evident therefore that the foundation of real brotherhood, the cause
of loving co-operation and reciprocity and the source of real kindness and
unselfish devotion is none other than the breaths of the Holy Spirit.
Without this influence and animus it is impossible. We may be able to
realize some degrees of fraternity through other motives but these are
limited associations and subject to change. When human brotherhood is
founded upon the Holy Spirit, it is eternal, changeless, unlimited.

In various parts of the Orient there was a time when brotherhood,
loving-kindness and all the praiseworthy qualities of mankind seemed to
have disappeared. There was no evidence of patriotic, religious or racial
fraternity but conditions of bigotry, hatred and prejudice prevailed
instead. The adherents of each religion were violent enemies of the
others, filled with the spirit of hostility and eager for shedding of
blood. The present war in the Balkans furnishes a parallel of these
conditions. Consider the bloodshed, ferocity and oppression manifested
there even in this enlightened century; all of it based fundamentally upon
religious prejudice and disagreement. For the nations involved belong to
the same races and nativities, nevertheless they are savage and merciless
toward each other. Similar deplorable conditions prevailed in Persia in
the nineteenth century. Darkness and ignorant fanaticism were widespread;
no trace of fellowship or brotherhood existed amongst the races. On the
contrary, human hearts were filled with rage and hatred; darkness and
gloom were manifest in human lives and conditions everywhere. At such a
time as this His Holiness Baha'u'llah appeared upon the divine horizon,
even as the glory of the sun, and in that gross darkness and hopelessness
of the human world there shone a great light. He founded the oneness of
the world of humanity, declaring that all mankind are as sheep and that
God is the real and true shepherd. The shepherd is one and all people are
of his flock.

The world of humanity is one and God is equa