19-Day Feast
London, December 29, 1912
[At the Time of the Meeting of International Peace
Arbitration Committee]
These delegates who have gathered in the Peace Conference
are like merchants; each strives to compete for victory with his rival. Even if
peace were established it would be but temporary. Years ago there was an
international peace agreement, but wars have continued notwithstanding. If such
conferences were endowed with the power to establish an enduring peace, the
world would have been at rest long ago.
Praise be to God, souls have assembled here with pure
intention. That which is the means of love and fellowship in the world of
humanity is acceptable at the divine threshold, and that which is conducive to
the warfare of mankind, or any movement which brings rancor, hatred and
animosity, is not acceptable.
All the holy and inspired messengers who have appeared in
the history of the world have, as the fulfillment of their mission, the
promotion of love and amity in the hearts of the people. In order that the
members of the world of humanity might associate with each other, these divine
souls have utilized every means, for it has been the aim of all the prophets of
God to bring about reconciliation and fellowship among the sons of men. The
divine philosophers and scholars of history strove with all their power to
bring about this ideal condition. In this highway they have given up wealth,
property and possessions. For this central principle of peace more than twenty
thousand in the Orient have given up their lives. While under the sword of
execution, their great desire was this fulfillment; while in pillory they
longed for the effulgence of the Holy Spirit; while actually being hewn
asunder, they went to death with the greatest joy and felicity, knowing that
their martyrdom hastened the millennium. Consider to what an extent they were
self-sacrificing. They were happy and ready to give up everything, even to life
itself.