wledge,
to attain to great spiritual perfection, to discover hidden truths and to
manifest even the attributes of God; but still man cannot comprehend the
Essence of God. Where the ever-widening circle of man's knowledge meets
the spiritual world a Manifestation of God is sent to mirror forth His
splendour.

Divine Manifestations

Is the Divine Manifestation, God?

Yes, and yet not in Essence. A Divine Manifestation is as a mirror
reflecting the light of the Sun. The light is the same and yet the mirror
is not the Sun. All the Manifestations of God bring the same Light; they
only differ in degree, not in reality. The Truth is one. The light is the
same though the lamps may be different; we must look at the Light not at
the Lamp. If we accept the Light in one, we must accept the Light in all;
all agree, because all are the same. The teaching is ever the same, it is
only the outward forms that change.

The Manifestations of God are as the heavenly bodies. All have their
appointed place and time of ascension, but the Light they give is the
same. If one wishes to look for the sun rising, one does not look always
at the same point because that point changes with the seasons. When one
sees the sun rise further in the north one recognizes it, though it has
risen at a different point.

NOTES OF A CONVERSATION WITH 'ABDU'L-BAHA

A Coloured man from South Africa who was visiting 'Abdu'l-Baha, said that
even now no white people really cared very much for the black man.

'Abdu'l-Baha replies: Compare the present time and the feeling towards the
coloured people now, with the state of feeling two or three hundred years
ago, and see how much better it is at present. In a short time the
relationship between the coloured and white people will still further
improve, and bye and bye no difference will be felt between them. White
doves and purple doves exist, but both kinds are doves.

Baha'u'llah once compared the coloured people to the black pupil of the
eye surrounded by the white. In this black pupil you see the reflection of
that which is before it, and through it the light of the Spirit shines
forth.

In the sight of God colour makes no difference at all, He looks at the
hearts of men. That which God desires from men is the heart. A black man
with a good character is far superior to a white man with a character that
is less good.

IDEALS OF EAST AND WEST

One of the organizers of the Races Co