.'
'Abdu'l-Baha wrote a beautiful prayer in the autograph book and earnestly
pleaded with him to go back to Japan and spread these lofty ideals."

The prayer follows: "O God! The darkness of contention, strife and warfare
between the religions, the nations and peoples has beclouded the horizon
of Reality and hidden the heaven of Truth. The world is in need of the
light of Guidance. Therefore, O God, confer Thy favor, so that the Sun of
Reality may illumine the East and the West."

(December 30, 1912. Translated by Ahmad Sohrab)

9: Excerpt from The Chosen Highway by Lady Blomfield, Concerning
'Abdu'l-Baha and the Japanese Diplomat (1912]

The Japanese Ambassador to a European capital (Viscount Arakawa--Madrid(22)
) was staying at the Hotel d'Jena. This gentleman and his wife had been
told of 'Abdu'l-Baha's presence in Paris, and the latter was anxious to
have the privilege of meeting Him.

"I am very sad," said Her Excellency. "I must not go out this evening as
my cold is severe, and I leave early in the morning for Spain. If only
there were a possibility of seeing Him."

This was told to the Master, Who had just returned after a long, tiring
day.

"Tell the lady and her husband that, as she is unable to come to me, I
will call upon her."

Accordingly, though the hour was late, through the cold and rain He came,
with His smiling courtesy, bringing joy to us all, as we awaited Him in
the Tapestry Room of the Hotel d'Jena.

'Abdu'l-Baha talked with the Ambassador and his wife of conditions in
Japan, of the great international importance of that country, of the vast
service to mankind, of the work for the abolition of war, of the need for
improving conditions of life for the worker, of the necessity of educating
girls and boys equally.

"The religious ideal is the soul of all plans for the good of mankind.
Religion must never be used as a tool by party politicians. God's politics
are mighty, man's politics are feeble."

Speaking of religion and science, the two great wings with which the bird
of human kind is able to soar, He said: "Scientific discoveries have
increased material civilization. There is in existence a stupendous force,
as yet, happily undiscovered by man. Let us supplicate God, the Beloved,
that this force be not discovered by science until spiritual civilization
shall dominate the human mind. In the hands of men of lower nature, this
power would be able to destroy the whole earth."