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.
There are certain souls whose aim is equally lofty, their desire is also affinity between members of the human family; but they practice it only to the extent of verbal demonstrations. They are not ready to give up their lives for its accomplishment. There is a great difference between the man who rests on the bed of luxury and selfishness, and the man who in the arena of activity willingly sacrifices all for the attainment of a sacred object.
Philosophers and those who see visions dream safely in the
security of their own houses, but the faithful servants of the Almighty did not
merely dream high ideals in homes of comfort. In order to prove their
sincerity, they gave up their houses and lives. The earth became crimson with
their blood; the cross adorned their holy temples; their bodies and their heads
decorated the points of spears. Thereby we can judge of their sincerity. This
is the station of sacrifice. This is the station of martyrdom. The man who
desires the improvement of the human race must ever be ready to sacrifice his
honor, glory and life. In this century the Bahá’is have sacrificed their lives
so that fellowship and affection may become realized in the hearts, so that the
world of humanity may become radiant, the children of men be resuscitated with
a new life, and the earthly world become a mirror reflecting the divine world.
When a holy and divine messenger appears on earth, this power of unity and
agreement is made possible.
One of these means of unity and agreement is made possible
in this very meeting. The Nineteen Day Feast was inaugurated by the Báb and
ratified by Bahá’u’lláh, in His holy book, the Akdás, so that people may gather
together and outwardly show fellowship and love, that the divine mysteries may
be disclosed. The object is concord, that through this fellowship hearts may
become perfectly united, and reciprocity and mutual helpfulness be established.
Because the members of the world of humanity are unable to exist without being
banded together, cooperation and mutual helpfulness is the basis of human
society. Without the realization of these two great principles no great
movement is pressed forward.
It is an established fact that this plant, or that palm
tree, can grow and develop alone. Some animals live in the solitary life, but
not so man. He does not live and grow up by himself. It is beyond the range of
his ken and ability to live independently of his fellowmen. For example, he
cannot at the same time engage in agriculture, cook his own food, make and sew
his robe, and gather the materials to build his house. The human cry is for
cooperation and reciprocity.
There are two kinds of cooperation: material and spiritual.
Cooperation in the material world will insure happiness and fellowship, and
will facilitate the progress of humankind; but the ideal, the most real and
virtuous cooperation is spiritual. That is realized when people gather together
to investigate and discuss principles impartially, to talk over the divine and
philosophic principles of the age and to assist each other in pursuit of divine
knowledge and wisdom. This real cooperation and mutual assistance is the
foundation on which the super-structure of material reciprocity is based.
Through this spiritual inter-assistance the prosperity of the world of man is
unveiled.
Consider the divine ones who lived in bygone ages. Consider
the sacred souls and philosophers of the past. Of their knowledge and wisdom
those contemporaneous to us are the inheritors. They left as a divine heritage
for future generations lore gathered from the laboratories of nature. This is
indeed spiritual cooperation, valid, age-abiding, because the requirements of
one age are passed on to other ages.
In brief, this is my hope: that the Nineteen Day Feast
become the cause of great spiritual solidarity between the friends, that it may
bring believers into the bond of unity, and we will then be so united together
that love and wisdom will spread from this center to all parts. This Feast is a
divine Feast. It is a Lord’s supper. It attracts confirmation of God like a
magnet. It is the cause of the enlightenment of hearts.
Every day great feasts and banquets are being spread with
the object of material enjoyment and relish of food. People partake of certain
delicacies and waters from various fountains, that they may have a good time.
Balls and dances follow. All these are for the body, but this fellowship is of
the enjoyment of God, for the partaking of spiritual food, for the elucidation
of spiritual subjects, for the discussion and interpretation of the teachings
and counsels of God. It is absolute spirituality.
It is my hope that the Nineteen Day Feast may become firmly
established and organized so that the holy realities which are behind this
meeting may leave behind all prejudices and conflict, and make their hearts as
a treasury of love. Even if there is the slightest feeling between certain
souls -- a lack of love -- it must be made to entirely disappear. There must be
the utmost translucency and purity of intention.
They must enjoy the love of God, acquire the power for the
promotion of the happiness of mankind and the Word of God. With such high
mention must this Feast become an established institution. When they gather in this
meeting, all those present must turn their faces toward the Kingdom of Abhá,
and from their hearts supplicate, invoke and entreat toward the lofty throne,
beg of God’s forgiveness for all shortcomings, read the teachings and arise to
His service.
Then spread the feast and give refreshments. Assuredly great
results will be the outcome of such meetings. Material and spiritual benefits
will be assured. All who are present will be intoxicated with the breezes of
the Love of God, and the Breath of the Holy Spirit will with tremendous power
inspire the hearts.
If this meeting be established on such a rock, it will
become a power which will attract heavenly confirmations, be the means of the
appearance of the Light of God, and the reality of every subject will become
unfolded. Such a meeting will be under the protection of God. It is my hope
that you will continually hold these meetings and that each time it will become
more and more the center of all the virtues, the point for the effulgence of
God.
May your hearts be enlightened!
May your faces become radiant!
May your spirits be illumined!
May your thoughts find wider range of vision!
May your spiritual susceptibilities be increased!
May the realm of God surround you, and may your hearts
become the treasury of heaven!
This is my hope.
~ ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha at a Nineteen-Day Feast in
London, December 29, 1912; Baha’i News no. 33, July 1929)