EDUCATION

Three Cardinal Principles

Excerpt from a statement made by Abdul-Baha to President Bliss of the American College of Beirut, Syria,, at Haifa,

The universities and colleges of the world must hold fast to three cardinal principles:

“First: Whole-hearted service to the cause of education, the unfolding of the mysteries of nature, the extension of the boundaries of science, the elimination of the causes of ignorance and social evils, a standard universal system of instruction, and. the diffusion of the lights of Knowledge and reality.

“Second: Service to the cause of morality, raising the moral tone of the students, inspiring them with the sublimest ethical ideals, teaching them altruism, inculcating in their lives the beauty of holiness and the excellency of virtue, and animating them with the graces and perfections of the religion of God.

“Third: -Service to the oneness of the world of humanity; so that each student may consciously realize that he is a brother’ to all mankind irrespective of religion or race. The thoughts of universal peace must be instilled in the minds of all the scholars, in order that they may become the armies of peace, the real servants of the body politio-the world. God is the Father of all.. Mankind is His children. This globe is one home. Nations are the members of one family. The mothers in their homes, the teachers In the schools, the professors in the colleges, the presidents in the universities, must, teach these ideals to the young from the cradle to maturity”