Tablets, this is insisted on as a duty, “so that the whole world,” as declared in the Tablet of Ishráqát, ”may thereby be considered as one native land and one part.”
The ultimate choice of such a universally accepted international language, which is to be taught “to the children in the schools of the world,” must be made by agreement among the nations of the world, either through their present rulers, or if they fail to do so, by the House of Justice, when, in the divine providence, the duties of universal administration shall be placed upon its shoulders. In the mean time, however, there is an obvious step to be taken, if in any way possible, in the creation and voluntary use by all who recognize the principle of one international language, to be thoroughly tested in every way; that when the time comes for final official choice and universal instruction in the chosen tongue, those who are to decide shall have abundant experience to guide them, whether they are to ratify the language already in wide use, to accept it with modifications or to decide upon a different one.
In the creation of Esperanto, this condition has been fully met. Dr. Zamenhof, its author, grew up from boyhood with an inborn love of mankind and longing to bring about a reconciliation among its conflicting elements. His lifework was inspired, not like the efforts of his unsuccessful predecessors, by a mere desire to facilitate commercial, scientific or diplomatic activities, or to promote the comfort and pleasure of travelers, desirable and valuable as these and other uses of an international language certainly are, but primarily to destroy the causes of misunderstanding and hate among his fellowmen by furnishing them with a means of coming to a better understanding. The light that reached him, and found him ready to follow its guidance, was, though he knew it not with his intellectual realization, the divine radiance. As a result, his work remains, bringing forth constant fruits for good. It would take many pages to enter into detail regarding Esperanto and its accomplishments. Suffice it to say here that its followers are found in every land, and constitute a cross-section of every branch of human society. It is being used for myriads of purposes by an ever-increasing number of adherents. It breathes in itself a spirit of international fellowship; and the feeling of comradeship among Esperantists everywhere is almost incredible in its intensity.
That the mission of Esperanto is in harmony with the divine teachings, is manifest by a multitude of proofs. Chief of all is the repeated expression by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá of his approval of the Esperanto cause and his earnest wish that all followers of the Bahá’í truth shall adhere to it. In his message to Esperantists in 1912, he wrote: “All through America I have encouraged the Bahá’ís to study Esperanto; and to the extent of my ability I will strive in its spread and promotion.” Again, in 1913, He said in Paris: “Now, praise be to God that Dr. Zamenhof has invented the Esperanto language. It has all the potential qualities of becoming the international means of communication. All of us must be grateful and thankful to him for this noble effort; for in this way he has served his fellowmen well. He has invented a language which will bestow the greatest benefits on all people. With untiring effort and self-sacrifice on the part of its devotees it will become universal. Therefore everyone of us must study this language, and spread it as far as possible, so that day by day it may receive a wider recognition, be accepted by all nations and govern-
