BAHAISM TO-DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 79

BAHAISM TO-DAY.

By W ii.HEr.iMNA Sherriff Bain. I. In 1844 a beautiful young Persian aroused his country by proclaiming the advent of a great leader. He became known as the Bab (the’ gate, or door); while, like a modern John the Baptist, he told the crowds who gathered around him that “He whom God shall manifest would very soon appear. Almost needless to state, the local reljgious factions united to oppose him, and eventually compassed his death. At the age of 30 he was martyred in the public square of Tabriz. An eye-witness wrote thus at the time: “'the Bab kept perfectly silent. His pale and beautiful face, his delicate hands, his figure and distinguished manner—everything in his person and in his dress aroused the sympathy and compassion of the spectators. . . . He had characteristics truly great and noble, and was a man of firm and settled convictions. His moral character was high, and lie aimed to bring ail his countrymen into a community, united by intellectual and moral ties.'’ Another outsider (Profess or Ross, of University College, London) has said : . “ His wonderful life needs no comment. If ever a life spoke for itself, it is the Bab's, with its simplicity, integrity, and unswerving devotion to the truth that was born in him. . . . He felt that truth in him, and in proclaiming it .he moved neither hand nor foot to spare himself, but unflinchingly submitted to injustice and persecution, and finally to an ignohiinions death.” The martyrdom of the Bab was followed by persecution of his followers—persecution as virulent as any recorded in history ; but in the midst of it Baha’ O’llah arose, and avowed himeelf as “ He whom God shall manifest.’’ Mohammedanism flamed out, and Baha’ O’llah was exiled to Constantinople, to Adrianople, and at last to Acca—the Acre of many tragedies; a

town noted for malarial conditions. Seventy men. women, and children, adherents of the prophet, were herded like cattle in one compartment of the prison, while Baha’ O'llah was confined alone in the highest room of the prison The treatment was as dreadful as the conditions. and almost everyone, including the guards, became ill. One attendant was left to the multitude—Abbas Etfendi, the youthful son of Balia’ O'llah. And yet there was recovery, and after a time the prisoners were allowed the range of the valley from Acca to Haifa, nine miles a wav.

It was during the period of most rigid seclusion that Baha’ O’llah sent forth his famous “Letters’ 1 to Queen Victoria, the Pope at Rome, the President of the United States, and the other potentates of the dav. and made predictions concerning Louie Napoleon, the Khedive of Egypt, and others, which were remarkably 'verified in due course. Exiled and a prisoner, he taught and wrote for many years. In 1890 he was visited by Professor Browne, Lecturer in Persian, Cambridge University, who thus narrated; “ The face of him on whom I gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it. Those piercing eyes seemed to read one’s very soul, power and authority sat on that" ample brow, while the deep lines on the forehead and face implied an age which the jetblack hair and beard,' flowing down in almost indistinguishable luxuriance almost to the waist, seemed to belie. No need to ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a devotion and love which kings miMit envy and emperors sigh for in vain.” Before passing away in 1892 Baha' O'liah commanded the believers to turn their faces toward his son. Abbas EfTondi, Abdul Baha, as the centre of the covenant of light, Jove, and peace which he -had founded, and the Servant of God in the new revelation. Abdul Balia was born at the very hour of May 23, 1844, when the Bab made his first announcement. He has ever been eminently noble and eminently beloved. lie was only nine when he accompanied his father into exile, and from that time onward ho has manifested such qualities in every kind of hardship that lie has always been named “The Master.” Professor Browne wrote of him in 1890: “ One more eloquent of speech, more ready of argument, more apt of illustration, more intimately acquainted with the sacred books of the Jews, the Christians, and the Mohammedan*, could scarcely bo' found even among the ready, eloquent, and stubtlo race to which he belongs. These qualities, combined with a. bearing at once majestic and genial, made me

cease to wonder at the influence and esteem which he enjoyed even beyond the circle of his father’s followers. About the greatness of the man and his power no one ■who had seen him could entertain a doubt.’’ Full 40 years did Abdul Baha fulfil the Acca imprisonment; then, on the downfall of the .late Sultan, he was released. Yet he lingered in the Holy Land, only nine miles from Mount Carmel, only 20 miles from Nazareth, because of the need for him there. At last he assented to the wishes of the Western millions, who gladly name themselves Bahais, and for two years past he has been travelling continuously in Europe and in the United States of America. As an Orientalist he travels in his own garb and with his own suite, expressing himself in Persian or Arabic, and interpreted by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab. Love and veneration attend him wherever he goes; it is everywhere seen that he is a great master, delivering a great message.