Excerpt from The Chosen Highway by Lady Blomfield, Concerning `Abdu'l-Bahá and the Japanese Diplomat (1912)
The Japanese Ambassador to a European capital (Viscount Arakawa--Madrid*) was
staying at the Hotel d'Jéna. This gentleman and his wife had been told of
`Abdu'l-Bahá's presence in Paris, and the latter was anxious to have the
privilege of meeting Him.
"I am very sad," said Her Excellency. "I must not go out this evening as my
cold is severe, and I leave early in the morning for Spain. If only there were
a possibility of seeing Him."
This was told to the Master, Who had just returned after a long, tiring day.
"Tell the lady and her husband that, as she is unable to come to me, I will
call upon her."
Accordingly, though the hour was late, through the cold and rain He came, with
His smiling courtesy, bringing joy to us all, as we awaited Him in the Tapestry
Room of the Hotel d'Jéna.
`Abdu'l-Bahá talked with the Ambassador and his wife of conditions in
Japan, of the great international importance of that country, of the vast
service to mankind, of the work for the abolition of war, of the need for
improving conditions of life for the worker, of the necessity of educating
girls and boys equally.
"The religious ideal is the soul of all plans for the good of mankind.
Religion must never be used as a tool by party politicians. God's politics are
mighty, man's politics are feeble."
Speaking of religion and science, the two great wings with which the bird of
human kind is able to soar, He said: "Scientific discoveries have increased
material civilization. There is in existence a stupendous force, as yet,
happily undiscovered by man. Let us supplicate God, the Beloved, that this
force be not discovered by science until spiritual civilization shall dominate
the human mind. In the hands of men of lower nature, this power would be able
to destroy the whole earth."
__________
* Japanese Foreign Office records list Viscount Minoji Arakawa as being
Ambassador to Spain at that time. Spelling of the last name differs in the
original text.
Chapter 8 Chapter 10