-- provisional translation
O ye lovers of Truth and servants of the world of humanity!
Since a sweet scent was wafted towards me from the rose
garden of your thoughts and aspirations, my heartfelt wish compels me to write
you this letter.
You will see how the world is upset with internal conflicts,
and many lands are dyed in human blood, nay the earth is kneaded with gore. The
flame of war is so ablaze that such terrible struggle finds no parallel in the
war records of any of the middle or recent ages. Heads have become like grains
and the ruined cities completely wrecked and thriving towns annihilated.
Fathers have lost their sons, sons are made fatherless, and mothers have shed
tears of blood over the death of their youthful sons. Children are made
orphans, women are helpless, and the world of humanity is forced backward in
all respects. The wailing cry of fatherless children is raised abroad and
mothers' pathetic lamentation reaches the high heavens.
The source of all these catastrophes is racial fanaticism,
patriotic fanaticism, religious fanaticism and political fanaticism. The source
of these fanaticisms is ancient imitations, religious imitations, racial
imitations, patriotic imitations and political imitations. As long as following
such imitations persists, the very foundation of humanity is wrecked and the
world of man is in great jeopardy.
Now, in such a shining age when the realities have become
manifest, and the mysteries of the universe are disclosed, the morn of Truth
has dawned and the world is illuminated - is it allowable that such dreadful
war should occur to throw the world of humanity into manifest loss? No, by God!
His Highness Christ called all men to peace and
reconciliation and ordered His Holiness Peter to sheath his sword. This was the
council and commandment of His Highness Christ. But now all the Christians have
drawn their swords! How can this be relevant to that clear text of the Gospel?
In sum: Sixty years ago His Holiness Baha’u’llah dawned from
the dayspring of Persia like unto the Sun and proclaimed that the horizon of
the world is dark and this darkness will provoke dire results and violent wars
will ensue.
From the prison of 'Akka He clearly warned the Emperor of
Germany that a fierce war will break out and Berlin will be filled with wailing
and lamentation.
