ve thousand centuries. The
apotheosis in which such a life attained its consummation marks, as
already observed, the culmination of the most heroic phase of the Heroic
Age of the Baha'i Dispensation. It can, moreover, be regarded in no other
light except as the most dramatic, the most tragic event transpiring
within the entire range of the first Baha'i century. Indeed it can be
rightly acclaimed as unparalleled in the annals of the lives of all the
Founders of the world's existing religious systems.

So momentous an event could hardly fail to arouse widespread and keen
interest even beyond the confines of the land in which it had occurred.
"C'est un des plus magnifiques exemples de courage qu'il ait ete donne a
l'humanite de contempler," is the testimony recorded by a Christian
scholar and government official, who had lived in Persia and had
familiarized himself with the life and teachings of the Bab, "et c'est
aussi une admirable preuve de l'amour que notre heros portait a ses
concitoyens. Il s'est sacrifie pour l'humanite: pour elle il a donne son
corps et son ame, pour elle il a subi les privations, les affronts, les
injures, la torture et le martyre. Il a scelle de son sang le pacte de la
fraternite universelle, et comme Jesus il a paye de sa vie l'annonce du
regne de la concorde, de l'equite et de l'amour du prochain." "Un fait
etrange, unique dans les annales de l'humanite," is a further testimony
from the pen of that same scholar commenting on the circumstances
attending the Bab's martyrdom. "A veritable miracle," is the pronouncement
made by a noted French Orientalist. "A true God-man," is the verdict of a
famous British traveler and writer. "The finest product of his country,"
is the tribute paid Him by a noted French publicist. "That Jesus of the
age ... a prophet, and more than a prophet," is the judgment passed by a
distinguished English divine. "The most important religious movement since
the foundation of Christianity," is the possibility that was envisaged for
the Faith the Bab had established by that far-famed Oxford scholar, the
late Master of Balliol.

"Many persons from all parts of the world," is 'Abdu'l-Baha's written
assertion, "set out for Persia and began to investigate wholeheartedly the
matter." The Czar of Russia, a contemporary chronicler has written, had
even, shortly before the Bab's martyrdom, instructed the Russian Consul in
Tabriz to fully inquire into, and report the circumstances of so