The Reconciliation of Races and Religions | Page 2

Latin collect, 'Cui
servire regnare est.'
Abdu'l Baha (when in Oxford) graciously gave me a 'new name.'
[Footnote: Ruhani ('spiritual').] Evidently he thought that my work was
not entirely done, and would have me be ever looking for help to the
Spirit, whose 'strength is made perfect in weakness.' Since then he has

written me a Tablet (letter), from which I quote the following lines:--
_'O thou, my spiritual philosopher,_
'Thy letter was received. In reality its contents were eloquent, for it was
an evidence of thy literary fairness and of thy investigation of Reality....
There were many Doctors amongst the Jews, but they were all earthly,
but St. Paul became heavenly because he could fly upwards. In his own
time no one duly recognized him; nay, rather, he spent his days amidst
difficulties and contempt. Afterwards it became known that he was not
an earthly bird, he was a celestial one; he was not a natural philosopher,
but a divine philosopher.
'It is likewise my hope that in the future the East and the West may
become conscious that thou wert a divine philosopher and a herald to
the Kingdom.'
I have no wish to write my autobiography, but may mention here that I
sympathize largely with Vambéry, a letter from whom to Abdu'l Baha
will be found farther on; though I should express my own adhesion to
the Bahai leader in more glowing terms. Wishing to get nearer to a
'human-catholic' religion I have sought the privilege of simultaneous
membership of several brotherhoods of Friends of God. It is my wish to
show that both these and other homes of spiritual life are, when studied
from the inside, essentially one, and that religions necessarily issue in
racial and world-wide unity.
RUHANI. OXFORD, August 1914.

CONTENTS
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
I. THE JEWELS OF THE FAITHS
II. BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL
III. BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL (continued)
IV. BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL; AMBASSADOR TO
HUMANITY
V. A SERIES OF ILLUSTRATIVE STUDIES BEARING ON
COMPARATIVE RELIGION
BAHAI BIBLIOGRAPHY

INTRODUCTION
TO MEN AND WOMEN OF GOODWILL IN THE BRITISH
EMPIRE
_A Message (reprinted by permission) from the Religious Society of
Friends_
We find ourselves to-day in the midst of what may prove to be the
fiercest conflict in the history of the human race. Whatever may be our
view of the processes which have led to its inception, we have now to
face the fact that war is proceeding upon a terrific scale and that our
own country is involved in it.
We recognize that our Government has made most strenuous efforts to
preserve peace, and has entered into the war under a grave sense of
duty to a smaller State, towards which we had moral and treaty
obligations. While, as a Society, we stand firmly to the belief that the
method of force is no solution of any question, we hold that the present
moment is not one for criticism, but for devoted service to our nation.
What is to be the attitude of Christian men and women and of all who
believe in the brotherhood of humanity? In the distress and perplexity
of this new situation, many are so stunned as scarcely to be able to
discern the path of duty. In the sight of God we should seek to get back
to first principles, and to determine on a course of action which shall
prove us to be worthy citizens of His Kingdom. In making this effort let
us remember those groups of men and women, in all the other nations
concerned, who will be animated by a similar spirit, and who believe
with us that the fundamental unity of men in the family of God is the
one enduring reality, even when we are forced into an apparent denial
of it. Although it would be premature to make any pronouncement
upon many aspects of the situation on which we have no sufficient data
for a reliable judgment, we can, and do, call ourselves and you to a
consideration of certain principles which may safely be enunciated.
1. The conditions which have made this catastrophe possible must be
regarded by us as essentially unchristian. This war spells the
bankruptcy of much that we too lightly call Christian. No nation, no
Church, no individual can be wholly exonerated. We have all
participated to some extent in these conditions. We have been content,
or too little discontented, with them. If we apportion blame, let us not
fail first to blame ourselves, and to seek the forgiveness of Almighty

God.
2. In the hour of darkest night it is not for us to lose heart. Never was
there greater need for men of faith. To many will come the temptation
to deny God, and to turn away with despair from the Christianity which
seems to be identified with