| A passage by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in which He
describes how in this 'century of light' world unity shall come about,
like the illumination of candles, one by one (although not necessarily
in this order): 'The first candle is unity in the political realm, the early
glimmerings of which can now be discerned. The second candle is unity
of thought in world undertakings, the consummation of which will ere
long be witnessed. The third candle is unity in freedom which will
surely come to pass. The fourth candle is unity in religion which is the
corner-stone of the foundation itself, and which, by the power of God,
will be revealed in all its splendour. The fifth candle is the unity of
nations — a unity which in this century will be securely established,
causing all the peoples of the world to regard themselves as citizens of
one common fatherland. The sixth candle is unity of races, making of
all that dwell on earth peoples and kindreds of one race. The seventh
candle is unity of language, i.e. the choice of a universal tongue in
which all peoples will be instructed and converse. Each and every one
of these will inevitably come to pass, inasmuch as the power of the
Kingdom of God will aid and assist in their realization.'6 |
