is mind was luminous; his face was luminous. Truly, he was a point of
light.

Then it is evident that excellence does not depend upon color. Character
is the true criterion of humanity. Anyone who possesses a good character,
who has faith in God and is firm, whose actions are good, whose speech is
good--that one is accepted at the threshold of God no matter what color he
may be. In short--praise be to God!--you are the servants of God. The love
of Baha'u'llah is in your hearts. Your souls are rejoicing in the glad
tidings of Baha'u'llah. My hope is that the white and the black will be
united in perfect love and fellowship, with complete unity and
brotherhood. Associate with each other, think of each other, and be like a
rose garden. Anyone who goes into a rose garden will see various roses,
white, pink, yellow, red, all growing together and replete with adornment.
Each one accentuates the beauty of the other. Were all of one color, the
garden would be monotonous to the eye. If they were all white or yellow or
red, the garden would lack variety and attractiveness; but when the colors
are varied, white, pink, yellow, red, there will be the greatest beauty.
Therefore, I hope that you will be like a rose garden. Although different
in colors, yet--praise be to God!--you receive rays from the same sun. From
one cloud the rain is poured upon you. You are under the training of one
Gardener, and this Gardener is kind to all. Therefore, you must manifest
the utmost kindness towards each other, and you may rest assured that
whenever you are united, the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abha will
reach you, the heavenly favors will descend, the bounties of God will be
bestowed, the Sun of Reality will shine, the cloud of mercy will pour its
showers, and the breeze of divine generosity will waft its fragrances upon
you.

I hope you will continue in unity and fellowship. How beautiful to see
blacks and whites together! I hope, God willing, the day may come when I
shall see the red men, the Indians, with you, also Japanese and others.
Then there will be white roses, yellow roses, red roses, and a very
wonderful rose garden will appear in the world.

10 November 1912
Talk at 1901 Eighteenth Street, NW, Washington, D. C.

Notes by Joseph H. Hannen

I am greatly pleased with the friends in Washington and experience real
happiness in meeting them. Likewise, I am pleased with the friends from
Baltimore, for I have observed that