g upon him. The gifts and graces of the
period of youth, although timely and sufficient during the adolescence of
the world of mankind, are now incapable of meeting the requirements of its
maturity. The playthings of childhood and infancy no longer satisfy or
interest the adult mind.

From every standpoint the world of humanity is undergoing a reformation.
The laws of former governments and civilizations are in process of
revision; scientific ideas and theories are developing and advancing to
meet a new range of phenomena; invention and discovery are penetrating
hitherto unknown fields, revealing new wonders and hidden secrets of the
material universe; industries have vastly wider scope and production;
everywhere the world of mankind is in the throes of evolutionary activity
indicating the passing of the old conditions and advent of the new age of
reformation. Old trees yield no fruitage; old ideas and methods are
obsolete and worthless now. Old standards of ethics, moral codes and
methods of living in the past will not suffice for the present age of
advancement and progress.

This is the cycle of maturity and reformation in religion as well.
Dogmatic imitations of ancestral beliefs are passing. They have been the
axis around which religion revolved but now are no longer fruitful; on the
contrary, in this day they have become the cause of human degradation and
hindrance. Bigotry and dogmatic adherence to ancient beliefs have become
the central and fundamental source of animosity among men, the obstacle to
human progress, the cause of warfare and strife, the destroyer of peace,
composure and welfare in the world. Consider conditions in the Balkans
today: fathers, mothers, children in grief and lamentation, the
foundations of life overturned, cities laid waste and fertile lands made
desolate by the ravages of war. These conditions are the outcome of
hostility and hatred between nations and peoples of religion who imitate
and adhere to the forms and violate the spirit and reality of the divine
teachings.

While this is true and apparent, it is, likewise, evident that the Lord of
mankind has bestowed infinite bounties upon the world in this century of
maturity and consummation. The ocean of divine mercy is surging, the
vernal showers are descending, the Sun of Reality is shining gloriously.
Heavenly teachings applicable to the advancement in human conditions have
been revealed in this merciful age. This reformation and re