last longest. Christianity, on the other hand, which after twenty centuries still retains its millions of votaries, had to take far slower steps and await a century or two before attracting much attention from the world.
Moreover, how could we expect the people to understand and appreciate in a short period of time such a number of teachings and accept so high a claim as the Bahá’í Movement puts forward?
Other movements in most cases uphold only one or two principles, the comprehension of which is far easier. One short leaflet is enough to convince one that the League of Nations, though far from being perfect, is a step towards the ideal. On the other hand, months and perhaps years of continuous study and meditation may be needed to awaken a soul to the importance and greatness of the Bahá’í Cause. This is not due to any inherent defect in the teachings but to the magnitude of the issues involved.
Those of the Bahá’ís who have had some experience in teaching the Cause and advocating its principles will agree, that though many become great admirers of the movement, comparatively few are willing fully to identify themselves with it. In the majority of cases the reason is that the people have come to be suspicious of any movement that has a religious element in it. They have seen so much lack of sincerity in certain professedly religious people that they are apt to generalize and attribute this characteristic to all. It is for the Bahá’ís, therefore, to live up to the life their leaders have so perfectly exemplified for them, and by actual deeds prove to these people that this generalization is unwarranted and that they must set aside this suspicion and render to the Cause its due honor and support.
In conclusion I may quote ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who said: “The spirit of the Cause is pulsating in the arteries of mankind.” It is the spirit of the Cause that has aroused responsive souls to throw aside their antiquated beliefs, found new schools of thought, give their lives for progressive aims and serve noble Causes. But should their adherents continue to follow these leaders once the greater and more comprehensive movement is proclaimed? Should they be satisfied with small and limited things when the nobler and greater Cause commands their allegiance?
THE UNITY OF CIVILIZATION
By Y. S. Tsao
Y. S. Tsao, the President of Tsing Hua College, is a Yale praduate and his wife a charming American lady. Tsing Hua College was founded in 1911 as the result of the return to China, by the United States government, of the Boxer indemnity.—Editors.
A FEW weeks ago I had the privilege of hearing an address by Dr Luce, entitled “Interpreting the Signs of the Time.” The speaker, dreaming of a Utopia, asked himself what are the signs leading to a millennium on earth. I thought these signs should at least first lead to “The Unity of Civilization and the Universality of Religion.” Civilization without unity is not civilization—but superficiality; religion without universality is not religion but superstition or dogmatism.
One of the most remarkable movements toward the unity of civilization was the World Conference on Education held in San Francisco.