ation of the doings and
sayings of the present generation, we can not fail to be struck by the
evidences of moral decadence which, in their individual lives no less than
in their collective capacity, men and women around us exhibit.

There can be no doubt that the decline of religion as a social force, of
which the deterioration of religious institutions is but an external
phenomenon, is chiefly responsible for so grave, so conspicuous an evil.
"Religion," writes Baha'u'llah, "is the greatest of all means for the
establishment of order in the world and for the peaceful contentment of
all that dwell therein. The weakening of the pillars of religion hath
strengthened the hands of the ignorant and made them bold and arrogant.
Verily I say, whatsoever hath lowered the lofty station of religion hath
increased the waywardness of the wicked, and the result cannot be but
anarchy." "Religion," He, in another Tablet, has stated, "is a radiant
light and an impregnable stronghold for the protection and welfare of the
peoples of the world, for the fear of God impelleth man to hold fast to
that which is good, and shun all evil. Should the lamp of religion be
obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue, and the lights of fairness, of
justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine." "Know thou," He, in
yet another connection, has written, "that they who are truly wise have
likened the world unto the human temple. As the body of man needeth a
garment to clothe it, so the body of mankind must needs be adorned with
the mantle of justice and wisdom. Its robe is the Revelation vouchsafed
unto it by God."

No wonder, therefore, that when, as a result of human perversity, the
light of religion is quenched in men's hearts, and the divinely appointed
Robe, designed to adorn the human temple, is deliberately discarded, a
deplorable decline in the fortunes of humanity immediately sets in,
bringing in its wake all the evils which a wayward soul is capable of
revealing. The perversion of human nature, the degradation of human
conduct, the corruption and dissolution of human institutions, reveal
themselves, under such circumstances, in their worst and most revolting
aspects. Human character is debased, confidence is shaken, the nerves of
discipline are relaxed, the voice of human conscience is stilled, the
sense of decency and shame is obscured, conceptions of duty, of
solidarity, of reciprocity and loyalty are distorted, and the very feeling
of pe