hest to lowest degree of advancement. It is
evident, therefore, that mankind differs in natal capacity and intrinsic
intellectual endowment. Nevertheless, although capacities are not the
same, every member of the human race is capable of education.

Jesus Christ was an Educator of humanity. His teachings were altruistic;
His bestowal, universal. He taught mankind by the power of the Holy Spirit
and not through human agency, for the human power is limited, whereas the
divine power is illimitable and infinite. The influence and accomplishment
of Christ will attest this. Galen, the Greek physician and philosopher who
lived in the second century A.D., wrote a treatise upon the civilization
of nations. He was not a Christian, but he bore testimony that religious
beliefs exercise an extraordinary effect upon the problems of
civilization. In substance he said, "There are certain people among us,
followers of Jesus, the Nazarene, who was killed in Jerusalem. These
people are truly imbued with moral principles which are the envy of
philosophers. They believe in God and fear Him. They have hopes in His
favors; therefore, they shun all unworthy deeds and actions and incline to
praiseworthy ethics and morals. Day and night they strive that their deeds
may be commendable and that they may contribute to the welfare of
humanity; therefore, each one of them is virtually a philosopher, for
these people have attained unto that which is the essence and purport of
philosophy. These people have praiseworthy morals, even though they may be
illiterate."

The purpose of this is to show that the holy Manifestations of God, the
divine Prophets, are the first Teachers of the human race. They are
universal Educators, and the fundamental principles they have laid down
are the causes and factors of the advancement of nations. Forms and
imitations which creep in afterward are not conducive to that progress. On
the contrary, these are destroyers of human foundations established by the
heavenly Educators. These are clouds which obscure the Sun of Reality. If
you reflect upon the essential teachings of Jesus, you will realize that
they are the light of the world. Nobody can question their truth. They are
the very source of life and the cause of happiness to the human race. The
forms and superstitions which appeared and obscured the light did not
affect the reality of Christ. For example, Jesus Christ said, "Put up thy
sword into the sheath." The meaning