The Bahá’í World : Volume 1 : 1925-1926

CIVILIZATION emerged from its cradle somewhere in Asia and started on its march following the sun around the world. It gathered its arts, religions, wars and languages as it journeyed into Northern Africa and Southern Europe. It built cities, organized states and went on in its cycles of failure and success. Northern Europe and the British Isles soon became the abode of a culture. The final episode of this encircling movement was the colonization of the American continents. Now the great western outpost of this moving civilization is at the Golden Gate of California. Across the Pacific we again meet some of the oldest organized social groups. The elder brothers, Mongol, Malay and Aryan Sr., along with their numerous friends and relatives, are somewhat disturbed at the remarkable activity, egotism and blustering of the young runaway Aryan Nordic, Jr., yet they are willing to listen to his story of adventure. They have heard rumors to the effect that he has been very quarrelsome with his cousin Slav. He seems to be somewhat erratic like an adolescent youth. At times he is highly idealistic, sometimes cruel, often selfish, yet at times showing signs of great generosity.

The great meeting place of the civilizations of the world is on the shores of the Pacific. This thought has been in the minds of the social students who have been observing the meeting of the Orient and the Occident. Early in April the idea of making San Francisco the center for a conference that should be organized for the purpose of promoting a better inter-racial, inter-religious and international understanding and co-operation was conceived. Through the untiring efforts and irresistible enthusiasm of Mrs. Charles Miner Cooper these ideas began to crystalize into a very definite plan. A brief survey revealed the fact that many prominent workers in the field of international relations could be found in this region and that there was a wealth of material that should be made available to the public. Mrs. Cooper, in her spirit of service, generously contributed time and money to bring this conference into existence. She invited an interested group to meet with her, and out of this meeting a committee on arrangements was organized, consisting of the following members: Dr. Rudolph I. Coffee, chairman; Professor Kenneth Saunders, Professor J. V. Breitwieser, Mrs. Kathryn Frankland, Mrs. Ella Goodall Cooper and Mr. Leroy C. Ioas, secretary.

As the result of the work of the committee, a “Conference for World Unity” was organized and an interesting program was given before large and enthusiastic audiences.

The first address, by Professor Kenneth Saunders, dealt with India’s contribution to World Peace. Professor Saunders has been an intense student of the influence of Oriental thought and philosophy on the civilization of the world, and in a very scholarly manner presented the ideals of peace, contentment and non-resistance as they are taught by the Hindoo writers and philosophers.

Dr. Ng Poon Chew, the genial editor
of Sai Yat Po, pointed out