Infant School Assembly

INTRODUCTION Introduction to The Bahai Faith...Mankind is One. The Story of Edward Granville Brown's meeting with Baha'u'llah.

THE BICENTENARY 200 years ago in 1817 Baha'u'llah was born. He came to unite all the people on earth and spread Justice and peace. He came to make sure every child had a home and a school to go to and food to eat and water to drink. And above all he came to stop peiople quarrelling anmd spread love and happiness nthroughout the world He was like the Sun spreading light and happinness on every one!!

WE ARE DROPS We are Drops of one ocean we are waves of one sea...come and join us in our quest for unity its a way of life for you and me. All the world is one country, man is one cant you see...come and join us in our quest for unity its a way of life for you and me.

THE COAT Abdu’l-Bahá preferred inexpensive clothes for Himself. When He had extra clothes He always gave them away to others. One day He was going to entertain the Governor ofAkká. His wife felt that His coat was not good enough for the occasion. Well ahead of time she went to the tailor and ordered a fine coat for Abdu’l-Bahá. She thought He surely would not notice that His old coat had been replaced; He desired, after all, only to be scrupulously clean. When the day of the Governor’s visit arrived, the new coat was laid out forAbdu’l-Bahá, but He went searching for His old one. He asked for His old coat, saying that the one laid out could not be His. His wife attempted to explain that because of the occasion she had bought him a new coat, but He would not accept it. He told her that for the price of this one coat they could buy five simple ones like He normally wore. He told her that there was no reason to spend so much money on a coat just for Him. If He needed a new one, they could send the expensive coat back to the tailor and order five ordinary coats for the same amount of money. “Then, you see, I shall not only have a new one, but I shall also have four to give to others!”

HOW TO TREAT YOUR ENEMIES Hear how he treats his enemies. One instance of many I have heard will suffice. When the Master came to ‘Akká there lived there a certain man from Afghanistan [Haji Siddiq], an austere and rigid Mussulman [Muslim]. To him the Master was a heretic. He felt and nourished a great enmity towards the Master, and roused up others against him. When opportunity offered in gatherings of the people, as in the Mosque, he denounced him with bitter words.

‘This man,’ he said to all, ‘is an imposter. Why do you speak to him? Why do you have dealings with him?’ And when he passed the Master on the street he was careful to hold his robe before his face that his sight might not be defiled. Thus did the Afghan. The Master, however, did thus: The Afghan was poor and lived in a mosque; he was frequently in need of food and clothing. The Master sent him both. These he accepted, but without thanks. He fell sick. The Master took him a physician, food, medicine, money. These, also, he accepted; but as he held out one hand that the physician might take his pulse, with the other he held his cloak before his face that he might not look upon the Master. For twenty-four years the Master continued his kindnesses and the Afghan persisted in his enmity.

Then at last one day the Afghan came to the Master’s door, and fell down, penitent and weeping, at his feet. ‘Forgive me, sir!’ he cried. ‘For twenty-four years I have done evil to you, for twenty-four years you have done good to me. Now I know that I have been in the wrong.’ The Master bade him rise, and they became friends. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Centre of the Covenant, p. 101)

THOMAS BREAKWELL On a hot summer day in 1901, a young man named Thomas Breakwell walked the quiet streets of Paris, France, where he was visiting. The day was very still. Flowers did not nod in the gardens; there was no wind to make them dance. Leaves did not hum in the tall trees; there was no wind to make them sing.

Suddenly, Thomas felt the air begin to move. It rushed all around him, and the breeze seemed like a sweet voice saying "Christ has come again! Christ has come again!" The sound was so loving and happy that it made Thomas happy, too. He wondered if Christ really had come again, and when and where it might have happened.

The next day, Thomas went to see his friend, May Maxwell. May Maxwell was a Baha'i from America who went all over the world teaching the Baha'i Faith. She and Thomas had talked about God before, but she had not told him about the Baha'i Faith. When he spoke to her of the sound like a sweet voice in the wind that had said "Christ has come again! Christ has come again!", she told him that she was a Baha'i, and that Baha'is believe in Baha'u'llah, the Glory of God. Baha'u'llah, she said, had the same spirit as Christ, the Holy Spirit, and He was the One Who Christ promised would come. She also said that Baha'is must help all people to know and love Baha'u'llah, so that they will love each other and live in peace together.

As soon as May Maxwell had told Thomas about Baha'u'llah, he, too, became a Baha'i. He learned that Baha'u'llah's son, 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Servant of the Glory, lived in the great prison of 'Akka, and he wanted very much to see Him. He wrote 'Abdu'l-Baha a letter:

"My Lord, I believe; forgive me. Thy servant, Thomas Break well. "

'Abdu'l-Baha said that Thomas could come to see Him, so Thomas and another young Baha'i named Herbert Hopper sailed on a ship to 'Akka. As they traveled across the deep sea, they looked with wonder upon the sky and the wide waters. All things seemed beautiful because the two men were filled with the love of God.

At the end of their journey, they came to 'Akka. Big stone walls enclosed the whole town. No one who lived in 'Akka could go beyond those walls. They were all like prisoners.

Thomas and Herbert were allowed to go into the prison through the gate in the high wall, to 'Abdu'l-Baha's house. In a large room, some Baha'is from the East sat talking. They wore long robes and had turbans on their heads. Herbert Hopper smiled and sat down with them, but Thomas sat down alone.

"Who are these people?" he asked himself. "What am I doing here?" He felt sad and sick. He was sick with doubt. He did not trust God. He did not remember that God loves everyone. His faith had weakened.

Suddenly a door opened, and Thomas saw a wonderful light. It looked as though the sun were rising in the room. Thomas jumped up and saw that the light was 'Abdu'l-Baha's love for everyone, a love which came through Him from God. Thomas never doubted God's love again; he never lost his faith.