ication of man. International peace is the
assurance of the welfare of all humankind. There are no greater motives
and purposes in the human soul. As we are agreed upon them, the certainty
of unity and concord between Baha'is and Theosophists is most hopeful.
Their purposes are one, their desires one, and spiritual susceptibilities
are common to both. Their attention is devoted to the divine Kingdom; they
partake alike of its bounty.

Today the human world is in need of a great power by which these glorious
principles and purposes may be executed. The cause of peace is a very
great cause; it is the Cause of God, and all the forces of the world are
opposed to it. Governments, for instance, consider militarism as the step
to human progress, that division among men and nations is the cause of
patriotism and honor, that if one nation attack and conquer another,
gaining wealth, territory and glory thereby, this warfare and conquest,
this bloodshed and cruelty are the cause of that victorious nation's
advancement and prosperity. This is an utter mistake. Compare the nations
of the world to the members of a family. A family is a nation in
miniature. Simply enlarge the circle of the household, and you have the
nation. Enlarge the circle of nations, and you have all humanity. The
conditions surrounding the family surround the nation. The happenings in
the family are the happenings in the life of the nation. Would it add to
the progress and advancement of a family if dissensions should arise among
its members, all fighting, pillaging each other, jealous and revengeful of
injury, seeking selfish advantage? Nay, this would be the cause of the
effacement of progress and advancement. So it is in the great family of
nations, for nations are but an aggregate of families. Therefore, as
strife and dissension destroy a family and prevent its progress, so
nations are destroyed and advancement hindered.

All the heavenly Books, divine Prophets, sages and philosophers agree that
warfare is destructive to human development, and peace constructive. They
agree that war and strife strike at the foundations of humanity.
Therefore, a power is needed to prevent war and to proclaim and establish
the oneness of humanity.

But knowledge of the need of this power is not sufficient. Realizing that
wealth is desirable is not becoming wealthy. The admission that scientific
attainment is praiseworthy does not confer scientific knowledge.
Acknowledgment o