hen man casts even a cursory glance of reflection upon the question of
the universe, he discovers it is very ancient. A Persian philosopher was
looking up into the heavens, lost in wonder. He said, "I have written a
book containing seventy proofs of the accidental appearance of the
universe, but I still find it very ancient."

Baha'u'llah says, "The universe hath neither beginning nor ending." He has
set aside the elaborate theories and exhaustive opinions of scientists and
material philosophers by the simple statement, "There is no beginning, no
ending." The theologians and religionists advance plausible proofs that
the creation of the universe dates back six thousand years; the scientists
bring forth indisputable facts and say, "No! These evidences indicate ten,
twenty, fifty thousand years ago," etc. There are endless discussions pro
and con. Baha'u'llah sets aside these discussions by one word and
statement. He says, "The divine sovereignty hath no beginning and no
ending." By this announcement and its demonstration He has established a
standard of agreement among those who reflect upon this question of divine
sovereignty; He has brought reconciliation and peace in this war of
opinion and discussion.

Briefly, there were many universal cycles preceding this one in which we
are living. They were consummated, completed and their traces obliterated.
The divine and creative purpose in them was the evolution of spiritual
man, just as it is in this cycle. The circle of existence is the same
circle; it returns. The tree of life has ever borne the same heavenly
fruit.

5 July 1912
Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York

Notes by Emma C. Melick and Howard MacNutt

You are very welcome, very welcome, all of you! In the divine Holy Books
there are unmistakable prophecies giving the glad tidings of a certain Day
in which the Promised One of all the Books would appear, a radiant
dispensation be established, the banner of the Most Great Peace and
conciliation be hoisted and the oneness of the world of humanity
proclaimed. Among the various nations and peoples of the world no enmity
or hatred should remain. All hearts were to be connected one with another.
These things are recorded in the Torah, or Old Testament, in the Gospel,
the Qur'an, the Zend-Avesta, the books of Buddha and the book of
Confucius. In brief, all the Holy Books contain these glad tidings. They
announce that after the world is surrounded b