t one single matter cannot, by
itself, influence the human reality as it ought and should, for until the
minds of men become united, no important matter can be accomplished. At
present Universal Peace is a matter of great importance, but unity of
conscience is essential, so that the foundation of this matter may become
secure, its establishment firm and its edifice strong.

Therefore His Holiness Baha'u'llah fifty years ago, expounded this
question of Universal Peace at a time when he was confined in the fortress
of Akka and was wronged and imprisoned. He wrote about this matter of
Universal Peace to all the great sovereigns of the world, and established
it among his friends in the Orient. The horizon of the East was in utter
darkness, nations displayed the utmost hatred and enmity towards each
other, religions thirsted for each other's blood, and it was darkness upon
darkness. At such a time His Holiness Baha'u'llah shone forth like the sun
from the horizon of the East and illumined Persia with the light of these
teachings.

Among his teachings was the declaration of Universal Peace. People of
different nations, religions and sects, who followed him, came together to
such an extent that remarkable gatherings were instituted, consisting of
the various nations and religions of the East. Every soul who entered
those gatherings saw but one nation, one pathway, one teaching, one order;
for the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah were not limited to the
establishment of Universal Peace. They embraced many teachings which
supplemented and supported that of Universal Peace.

Among these teachings is the independent investigation of reality, so that
the world of humanity might be saved from the darkness of imitation and
attain to the truth; might tear off and cast away this ragged and outworn
garment of one thousand years ago and put on the robe woven in the utmost
purity and holiness in the loom of reality. As reality is one and cannot
admit of multiplicity, therefore different opinions must ultimately become
fused into one.

And among the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah is the oneness of the
world of humanity; that all human beings are the sheep of God and He is
the kind Shepherd. This Shepherd is kind to all the sheep, because He
created them all, trained them, provided for them and protected them.
There is no doubt that the Shepherd is kind to all the sheep; and should
there be among these sheep ignorant ones, th