High hopes are cast to the ground, great expectations are unrealized—and souls lose vision, then confidence—but why—when a million voices herald the spring, and the inner heart is singing a wondrous song.

For some countries the year has been one of confusion through lack of ability to unite conflicting opinions.

Progress has been made in the movement to outlaw war and make it a crime subject to punishment by the nations of the world.

In the United States the extreme position of isolation which was the reflex of the war, has become more moderate, and it is hoped that America’s destiny as “The first nation to upraise the banner of the Most Great Peace” may be speedily realized.

There is no doubt that the spirit of the age is for greater and greater freedom of thought. The young men, and the young women, especially of the colleges, are very responsive to this spirit and are preparing for vital active leadership of the constructive forces of the world.

These young people who are the hope of the world, are not blindly worshipping the unhappy, and unsuccessful events of the past, but are holding fast to the realities of their vision, and working for a practical program for a future great world.

There never was a time when it was more evident that the supreme need of humanity is for a spiritual executive power that can unite in one bond those noble plans that are being developed in all parts of the world, and make them effective.

Since real peace—or the Most Great Peace as understood by the Bahá’ís means not only peace between nations, but also peace between races, religions and classes, not overlooking justice and opportunity both to the rich and to the poor, it is the particular province of the Bahá’í to spread far and wide this most fundamental realization.

The benefits of Universal Peace are clearly established and acknowledged by mankind. The destructive nature of war, and the ruin and defeat of both victor and vanquished is also known. Yet the knowledge of these undesirable indisputable facts is not sufficient to establish Universal Peace throughout the world.

In this matter it is evident that the human power crystallized in governments and other agencies is falling short of the perfect accomplishment and stands in need of the reinforcement of the spiritual power.

Nearly all the people of the world know that exaltation of character is commendable, and desirable, and that vileness and depravity in man is despicable. Yet the great majority of the people are lacking in the commendable attributes and characteristics. The direction of the affairs of the world is determined by the purity and magnanimity of the hearts of men.

Powerful aspirations like a mighty wind must stir these hearts, and lift them into the realm of spiritual ideals and exalted aims. The emotions stirred by the greatest of human thoughts are too weak to accomplish this great purpose, but a mighty spiritual power and intense spiritual emotions, alone will provide the means, and bring into actuality, the hopes and longings of men.

This spiritual force is no other than the Power of the Word of God, and the Divine Instructions are the confirmations of the Holy Spirit.