November 7, 1912Home of Mrs. Parsons, Washington, D. C.
Although this evening I feel quite fatigued, yet now that I
am face to face with you I suddenly feel animated; therefore I shall speak to
you.
Consider events in the Balkans today, where a great
conflagration is furiously raging and so much blood is being shed. You can say
the whole world of humanity is virtually lamenting and mourning because of the
revival of this warfare Governments are in the process of change and
transformation. The sovereignty of the Orient at large is tottering; it is
subjet to the greatest uncertainty. I desire, therefore, to touch upon this
subject.
Most especially do I wish to touch upon the phases of this
war which Baha’u’llah prophesied forty years ago fully and completely. He
addressed a letter to the sultan of Turkey during his exile and while he was
under surveillance in the prison of Akka. He likewise addressed epistles to
Napoleon III and to the Shah of Persia. All these letters which he sent to the
crowns heads of the earth were compiled in a book which was published thirty-five
years ago in Bombay, India.
It was published years ago. There are several editions of
the book. The first edition was about thirty-five years ago, and another
twenty-two years ago. I have with me a copy of the edition of twenty-two years
ago.
