principles in numerous epistles which were circulated
broadcast throughout the East. He wrote to all the kings and rulers
encouraging, advising and admonishing them in regard to the establishment
of peace; making it evident by conclusive proofs that the happiness and
glory of humanity can only be assured through disarmament and arbitration.
This was nearly fifty years ago. Because he promulgated the message of
Universal Peace and international agreement, the kings of the Orient arose
against him for they did not find their personal and national benefits
advanced by his admonition and teaching. They persecuted him bitterly,
inflicted upon him every torment, imprisoned, bastinadoed, banished him
and eventually confined him in a fortress. Then they arose against his
followers. For the establishment of international peace the blood of
twenty thousand Baha'is was spilt. Their homes were destroyed, their
children made captives and their possessions pillaged yet none of these
people waxed cold or wavered in devotion. Even to this day the Baha'is are
persecuted and quite recently a number were killed, for wherever they are
found they put forth the greatest efforts to establish the peace of the
world. They not only promulgate principles; they are people of action.

In Persia today through the teachings of Baha'u'llah you will find people
of various religious beliefs and denominations living together in the
utmost peace and agreement. The former enmities and hatred have passed
away and they exercise the utmost love toward all mankind for they realize
and know that all are the creatures and servants of one God. This is
directly due to the divine teachings. At most it is simply this; that the
ignorant must be educated, the ailing must be healed, those who are as
children in the scale of development must be helped to reach the age of
maturity. We must not be unfriendly to any one because of ignorance,
neither must we reject the immature or turn away from the sick but
administer the remedy for each human need until all are united in the
providence of God. Therefore it is evident that the essential foundations
of the divine religions are unity and love. If religion be productive of
discord among mankind it is a destroyer and not divine for religion
implies unity and binding together and not separation. Mere knowledge of
principles is not sufficient. We all know and admit that justice is good
but there is need of volition and action to c