wals of God, is acceptable at the threshold of
God--whether his color be white, black or brown; it matters not. Man is not
man simply because of bodily attributes. The standard of divine measure
and judgment is his intelligence and spirit.

Therefore, let this be the only criterion and estimate, for this is the
image and likeness of God. A man's heart may be pure and white though his
outer skin be black; or his heart be dark and sinful though his racial
color is white. The character and purity of the heart is of all
importance. The heart illumined by the light of God is nearest and dearest
to God, and inasmuch as God has endowed man with such favor that he is
called the image of God, this is truly a supreme perfection of attainment,
a divine station which is not to be sacrificed by the mere accident of
color.

1 May 1912
Talk at Dedication of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar Grounds
Wilmette, Illinois

Notes by Joseph H. Hannen

The power which has gathered you here today notwithstanding the cold and
windy weather is, indeed, mighty and wonderful. It is the power of God,
the divine favor of Baha'u'llah which has drawn you together. We praise
God that through His constraining love human souls are assembled and
associated in this way.

Thousands of Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars, dawning points of praise and mention
of God for all religionists will be built in the East and in the West, but
this, being the first one erected in the Occident, has great importance.
In the future there will be many here and elsewhere--in Asia, Europe, even
in Africa, New Zealand and Australia--but this edifice in Chicago is of
especial significance. It has the same importance as the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar in I_sh_qabad, Caucasus, Russia, the first one built
there. In Persia there are many; some are houses which have been utilized
for the purpose, others are homes entirely devoted to the divine Cause,
and in some places temporary structures have been erected. In all the
cities of Persia there are Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars, but the great dawning
point was founded in I_sh_qabad. It possesses superlative importance
because it was the first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar built. All the Baha'i
friends agreed and contributed their utmost assistance and effort. The
Afnan devoted his wealth, gave all he had to it. From such a mighty and
combined effort a beautiful edifice arose. Notwithstanding their
contributions to that building, they have assisted the fund here in
C