The Universal Races Congress was good. The result of it was intended to be the furtherance and progress of unity among all nations, a better international understanding. The purpose was good. The causes of disputes among different nations are always due to one of the following classes of prejudices: (a) Racial, language; (b) theological; (c) personal; (d) beliefs, customs, traditions.
It requires a universal active force to overcome these differences. A small lamp could light a room, a larger could light a whole house, a larger still could shine through the city, but the sun is needed to light the whole world. A small disease needs a small remedy, but a disease which pervades the whole body needs a very strong remedy.
The differences in languages cause disunion between nations. There must be one universal language. The diversity in Faiths is also a cause of separation. The true foundation of all Faiths must be established, the outer differences abolished. There must be a oneness of Faith. To end all these differences is a very hard task. The whole world is sick—this is a very bad illness to cure.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Discourses given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)