I have come from America. For nine months, I visited the various places of America. I went to every city. I spoke at the churches, synagogues, and gatherings of every town. I attended numerous conferences - such as the conference at Lake Mohonk, to which I was invited - and was present at many colleges. Wherever I was invited to speak, there I went, and the basis of all my talks was the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
With these teachings, I summoned everyone to universal peace among the religions, universal peace among the races, and universal peace among the nations, and adduced proofs which attested to the need to establish peace.
Through these intellectual proofs, I demonstrated that the most vital and pressing issue of this day is that of establishing universal peace, which will bring tranquillity to the world of humanity and serve as the most effective means of solving the problems which beset us, inasmuch as this is the century of light. It is the century of the progress of minds and thoughts, and the century of the education of souls. It is the century of the revelation of the mysteries of creation, and the era of the dawn of the Sun of Truth. It is the era of peace and tranquillity, and the era of love and fellowship. In such an era, it befits all the nations to become harmonized, and all the religions to become united.
The countries of the world must become even as one country, for the world of humanity is even as a single tree, and the religions and nations are like its branches and offshoots. Humankind, therefore, must exist in a state of perfect fellowship; it must be nurtured with the warmth of the Sun of Truth, and grow and develop with the showers of divine bestowals. Thereby shall the world of humanity become illumined and heavenly. Thus will perfect unity exist amidst the people, and concord among the nations be realized. In truth, numerous gatherings devoted to the subject of peace have been held. The people have eagerly sought such gatherings, and they have accepted our summons with the utmost receptivity.
Now, I have come to Europe. Praised be God that a peace conference has been convened in this city! This truly is a cause of happiness - that in this important centre of society, and before the representatives of the nations, a conference such as this has been held. It is my hope, therefore, that the lights of universal peace will shine forth. I hope, moreover, that this noble nation and this just government will establish in this place what shall lay the firm foundation of universal peace, which is the basis for the appearance of tranquillity in the world of humanity.
I hope that the Balkan War shall come to an end, and that the rights of both belligerents be protected and preserved. Otherwise, the flame of this war shall devour the earth – in particular Europe, which is even as an arsenal filled with explosives, and needs only a single spark to utterly obliterate the entire continent.
Thus, there is no recourse but to embrace universal peace. This, indeed, is the most pressing issue of the day; I pray God that this peace will be realized. America and Europe have advanced to the utmost in terms of material civilization; day by day, they continue to make material progress. My hope, however, is that divine civilization shall likewise be established in these countries - a civilization whose foundation was laid by the prophets of God, whose success depends on the realm of saintly character and spiritual education, and whose existence shall be the cause of spiritual advancements in the world of humanity.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 24 December 1912, London, England recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)