banished. At that time very little was known about it in any part
of the world. Even in Ba_gh_dad there was but one believer who had been
taught by Baha'u'llah Himself in Persia. Later on, two or three others
appeared. You will see, therefore, that at the beginning the Cause of
Baha'u'llah was almost unknown, but on account of being a divine Movement
it grew and developed with irresistible spiritual power until in this day,
wherever you travel--East or West--and in whatever country you journey, you
will meet Baha'i assemblies and institutions. This is an evidence that the
Baha'is are spreading the blessings of unity and progressive development
throughout the world under the direction of divine guidance and purpose,
while other movements which are only temporary in their activities and
accomplishments have no real, universal significance.

23 April 1912
Talk at Howard University
Washington, D.C.

Translated by Amin Banani

Today I am most happy, for I see here a gathering of the servants of God.
I see white and black sitting together. There are no whites and blacks
before God. All colors are one, and that is the color of servitude to God.
Scent and color are not important. The heart is important. If the heart is
pure, white or black or any color makes no difference. God does not look
at colors; He looks at the hearts. He whose heart is pure is better. He
whose character is better is more pleasing. He who turns more to the Abha
Kingdom is more advanced.

In the realm of existence colors are of no importance. Observe in the
mineral kingdom colors are not the cause of discord. In the vegetable
kingdom the colors of multicolored flowers are not the cause of discord.
Rather, colors are the cause of the adornment of the garden because a
single color has no appeal; but when you observe many-colored flowers,
there is charm and display.

The world of humanity, too, is like a garden, and humankind are like the
many-colored flowers. Therefore, different colors constitute an adornment.
In the same way, there are many colors in the realm of animals. Doves are
of many colors; nevertheless, they live in utmost harmony. They never look
at color; instead, they look at the species. How often white doves fly
with black ones. In the same way, other birds and varicolored animals
never look at color; they look at the species.

Now ponder this: Animals, despite the fact that they lack reason and
understanding, do not make color