otest, and in 1908 he
was compelled to surrender the territory to the administration of
the Belgian government.

5 The processes that brought about these changes are reviewed in some
detail by A. N. Wilson, et al., _God's Funeral_ (London: John
Murray, 1999). In 1872, a book published by Winwood Reade under the
title _The Martyrdom of Man_ (London: Pemberton Publishing, 1968),
which became something of a secular "Bible" in the early decades of
the twentieth century, expressed the confidence that "finally, men
will master the forces of Nature. They will become themselves
architects of systems, manufacturers of worlds. Man will then be
perfect; he will then be a creator; he will therefore be what the
vulgar worship as a god." Cited by Anne Glyn-Jones, _Holding up a
Mirror: How Civilizations Decline_ (London: Century, 1996), pp.
371-372.

_ 6 Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha_ (Wilmette: Baha'i
Publishing Trust, 1997), p. 35, (section 15.6).

7 'Abdu'l-Baha, _The Secret of Divine Civilization_ (Wilmette: Baha'i
Publishing Trust, 1990), p. 2.

_ 8 Makatib-i-'Abdu'l-Baha _(Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha), vol. 4 (Tehran:
Iran National Publishing Trust, 1965), pp. 132-134, provisional
translation.

_ 9 ibid. _

_ 10 ibid. _

11 The school was closed in 1934, by order of Reza Shah, because it had
observed Baha'i Holy Days as religious holidays. The closing of all
other Baha'i schools in Iran followed.

12 See _The Baha'i World_, vol. XIV (Haifa: Baha'i World Centre, 1975),
pp. 479-481, for history.

13 Shoghi Effendi, _The World Order of Baha'u'llah _ (Wilmette: Baha'i
Publishing Trust, 1991), p. 156.

14 "The outermost circle in this vast system, the visible counterpart
of the pivotal position conferred on the Herald of our Faith, is
none other than the entire planet. Within the heart of this planet
lies the 'Most Holy Land,' acclaimed by 'Abdu'l-Baha as 'the Nest of
the Prophets' and which must be regarded as the center of the world
and the Qiblih of the nations. Within this Most Holy Land rises the
Mountain of God of immemorial sanctity, the Vineyard of the Lord,
the Retreat of Elijah, Whose return the Bab Himself symbolizes.
Reposing on the breast of this holy mountain are the extensive
properties p