cord shall
remain.

19 May 1912
Talk at Brotherhood Church
Bergen and Fairview Avenues, Jersey City, New Jersey

Notes by Esther Foster

Because this is called the Church of Brotherhood, I wish to speak upon the
brotherhood of mankind. There is perfect brotherhood underlying humanity,
for all are servants of one God and belong to one family under the
protection of divine providence. The bond of fraternity exists in humanity
because all are intelligent beings created in the realm of evolutionary
growth. There is brotherhood potential in humanity because all inhabit
this earthly globe under the one canopy of heaven. There is brotherhood
natal in mankind because all are elements of one human society subject to
the necessity of agreement and cooperation. There is brotherhood intended
in humanity because all are waves of one sea, leaves and fruit of one
tree. This is physical fellowship which ensures material happiness in the
human world. The stronger it becomes, the more will mankind advance and
the circle of materiality be enlarged.

The real brotherhood is spiritual, for physical brotherhood is subject to
separation. The wars of the outer world of existence separate humankind,
but in the eternal world of spiritual brotherhood separation is unknown.
Material or physical association is based upon earthly interests, but
divine fellowship owes its existence to the breaths of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual brotherhood may be likened to the light, while the souls of
humankind are as lanterns. The incandescent lamps here are many, yet the
light is one.

At a time in the Orient when even physical brotherhood was not in
existence Baha'u'llah appeared. At first He set forth the principles of
physical brotherhood and afterward founded the spiritual brotherhood. He
breathed such a spirit into the countries of the Orient that various
peoples and warring tribes were blended in unity. Their bestowals and
susceptibilities became one, their purposes one purpose, their desires one
desire to such a degree that they sacrificed themselves for each other,
forfeiting name, possessions and comfort. Their fellowship became
indissoluble. This is eternal, spiritual fellowship, heavenly and divine
brotherhood, which defies dissolution. Material civilization advances
through the physical association of mankind. The progress you observe in
the outer world is founded mainly upon the fraternity of material
interests. Were it not for this phys