The following is the third part of an article by Betty Reed. The subject is particularly apt, as, only a few weeks ago the Seat of the International Teaching Centre was officially opened and the Arc was completed. We thank Betty for her willingness to share her own particular thoughts at this time.
The Bahá’í Community’s Role in the Age of Transition. (PART THREE)
In the Message to the Montreal Conference, mentioned earlier, the Universal House of Justice wrote: "Less than a score of years remain until the end of this century which the Master called "the century of light", and He clearly foresaw that are its termination an advanced stage would have been reached in the striving towards the political, racial, and religious unity of the peoples of the world, unfolding new horizons in scientific accomplishments, universal undertakings and world solidarity.'
In the Message to the Montreal Conference the House of Justice did not mention the Lesser Peace. That is mentioned in the Message to the Youth Conference held in lnnsbruck (1984).The exact date of the Lesser Peace is not mentioned there but those youth - as already quoted - were told that "you will live your lives in a period when the forces or history are moving to a climax, when mankind will see the establishment of the Lesser Peace.". That is a tremendous statement.
It only remains now to see if there is guidance in the Bahá’í Writings associated with the establishment of the Lesser Peace. For this we turn to 'Abdu'l-Bahá. In the first part of His Will & Testament the Master says, “….that contention and conflict amidst peoples, kindreds, nations and governments may disappear..." and continues: "Should differences arise they shall be amicably and conclusively settled by the supreme Tribunal, that shall include members from all the governments and peoples of the world.”
Concerning the supreme Tribunal, Shoghi Effendi wrote to an individual believer: “The supreme Tribunal is an aspect of a world superstate: the exact nature of its relationship to that state we cannot at present foresee. Supreme Tribunal is the correct translation, it will be a contributing factor in establishing the Lesser Peace. - - -“ (Bahá'í News No.. 210, p3 8-48)
The Supreme Tribunal is mentioned in the Tablet ‘Abdu'l-Báha wrote to the Central Organisation tor a Durable Peace on the 17th December 1919 (this Tablet is known as 'The Tablet to the Hague') In it are several references to universal peace, as well as the following (which is taken from 'selections from the Writings or ‘Abdul’Báhá ", pp. 32O-21):
"For example, the question of universal peace, about which Baha'u'llah says that the supreme Tribunal must be established; although the League of Nations has been brought into existence, yet iris incapable or establishing universal peace. But the Supreme Tribunal which Bahá’u’lláh has described will fulfill this sacred task with the utmost might and power And His plan is this: that the national assemblies of each country and nation - that is to say parliaments - should elect two or three persons who are the choicest of that nation, and are well informed concerning international laws and the relations between governments and aware of the essential needs of the world or humanity in this day The number of these representatives should be in proportion to the number of inhabitants of that country. The election of these souls who are chosen by the national assembly, that is, the parliament. must be confirmed by the upper house, the congress and the cabinet and also by the president or
monarch, so these persons may be the elected ones of all the nation and the government. The Supreme Tribunal will be composed of these people, and all mankind will thus have a share therein, for every one or these delegates is fully representative of his nation. When the Supreme Tribunal gives a ruling on any international question, either unanimously or by majority rule there will no longer be any pretext for the plaintiff or ground of objection for the defendant. In case any of the governments or nations, in the execution or the irrefutable decision of the Supreme Tribunal, be negligent or dilatory the rest or the nations will rise up against it, because all the governments and nations of the world are the supporters of this supreme Tribunal Consider what a firm foundation this is! But by a limited and restricted League the purpose will not be realised as it ought and should. This is the truth about the situation, which has been stated…”
From this there is every indication that there will be nations. there will be governments that will bring into existence the Lesser Peace We do not know exactly how it will be done We do not know what the world must pass through before it is done, but we can be confident that the Lesser Peace will be established.