In order to eliminate the root cause of all forms of class hatred He proclaimed, “Do ye know why We have created you from one clay? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder in your heart how ye were created. It behooveth you, since We have created you all from the same substance, to be even as one soul, in such wise that ye may walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land; that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. This is My counsel unto you, O ye concourse of Light! Heed ye this counsel, that ye may obtain the Fruit of Holiness from the Tree of Wondrous Glory.”

Thus by taking away all the causes of differences Bahá’u’lláh sought to establish the Oneness of Mankind and to abolish definitely international and class war.

Up to the present religion has been static in nature. At the time of its appearance it satisfies the needs of humanity, solves its problems and improves its condition, but being rigid in its laws, fails to keep pace with civilization and slowly falls behind, loses its influence and becomes a drag on development. Bahá’u’lláh, however, has laid down some basic principles which can be applied to all stages of human progress, and then empowered the International House of Justice, which is a purely democratic institution, to amend these laws and mould them to the needs of the time. He says, “Inasmuch as for each time and day a particular law and order is expedient, power is given to the ministers of the House of Justice, so that they may execute that which they deem advisable at the time.” So, according to the Bahá’í ideal religion will become a progressive and dynamic institution and remain a source of inspiration and progress.

During the last two or three decades various progressive movements have appeared with rather similar aims, proclaiming very much the same principles. Yet hardly has anyone of them to my knowledge given such a comprehensive and perfect program of reform. They have each, as a rule, confined themselves to only a few of the vast and varied problems of the age, oblivious of the fact that, so long as one single sore remains neglected, germs may find their way in and endanger the life of humanity. For, how could universal peace be insured when religious and racial differences breed hatred or even when the multiplicity of languages hampers mutual understanding.

The service rendered by these various progressive movements is undeniably great and their efforts are highly valued by all Bahá’ís who on this occasion would like to place on record their sincere and profound appreciation.

In addition to the constant and appalling persecution the Bahá’ís have suffered at the hands of the fanatical elements in Persia, they have been the target of some misleading criticism from various writers of the West. Unable to deny the beauty and potency of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, these critics have not ceased to declare that such lofty principles were only inspiring ideals and not practical reforms attainable by mankind. These progressive movements have fortunately opened the eyes of the world not only to the practicability but also to the absolute and urgent need of our present civilization for the League of Nations. They have taught the world that a narrow nationalism was the curse of the present age and the recent past, and that the sooner we accustom ourselves to think super-nationally, the more easy it will become to manage our intricate international affairs.