Similar to these invasions of the province of science and Cæsar is the attempt to improve philology by "revelation." Following the Bab again, Baha Ullah promulgated a new alphabet. The Babi alphabet, unlike the Arabic and Persian, was written from left to right. "Each letter consists of thick, oblique straight lines, parallel and equidistant from each other, running down to the left, to which thin hooks and curves are appended to make separate letters." It is called the Khatti-Badi. There were nineteen kinds of it; one kind was called the Khatti-Baha. It was intended for the time when Babism would be prevalent. It appears that Bahais have a new alphabet, different from that of the Babis. In the Akdas and in the sixth Ishrak[90] it is commanded that the "House of Justice" must select one tongue out of the present languages, or a new language, to teach the children in the schools of the world. Let us suppose they decide on Persian or Arabic. The Anglo-Saxon children must all begin to learn Arabic. Suppose they decide on English. Then Germans, French, and Russians will have an additional reason for opposing the religion. Suppose that Abdul Baha decides on Esperanto, as he seems inclined to do, then will it be heresy for some one to invent a language as much superior to Esperanto as it is to Volapuk? Had not a "universal religion" better let linguistics alone? The spirit of Christianity gives a free field to all tongues--this is the essence of liberty, of universality. After this brief review of some of the provisions of the "New Revelation," we can deny the claim that "its statutes meet the necessity of every land," and that they can serve the world well for 1,000 years. FOOTNOTES: [18] Phelps' "Life of Abbas Effendi," p. 144. [19] "Some Answered Questions," by Barney, p. 19. [20] _Star of the West_, May 17, 1913, p. 68. Abbreviated hereafter as _S. W._ [21] Page 158 f. [22] "Story of the Bahai Movement," p. 23. [23] Phelps, _ibid._, p. 256. [24] Phelps, "Jewels of Wisdom," p. 237. [25] _Ibid._, p. 145. [26] _Ibid._, p. 144. [27] "The Bahai Movement," p. 20. [28] "Bahai Proofs," p. 78. [29] Chase, "The Bahai Revelation," p. 178. [30] _S. W._, March 2, 1913, p. 10. [31] See _S. W._ [32] Addresses in New York and Chicago, 1900. [33] _S. W._, p. 10, March 2, 1913. [34] _S. W._, 1913, p. 267. [35] Prof. E. G. Browne has translated various books of the Bahais; among them are "The Episode of the Bab," or the "Traveller's Narrative," and the "New History." His investigations and comments have given offense to the Bahais, while his praises of them often wound the Christian reader. I have been kindly permitted by Doctor Kheiralla to examine his English translation of the "Kitab-ul-Akdas" in manuscript. [36] _S. W._, July, 1912. See Chapter X. [37] See "Sacred Mysteries," p. 100. [38] _S. W._, Sept. 8, 1913, pp. 170-174. [39] See "Facts for Behaists." [40] Dr. H. H. Jessup in N. Y. _Outlook_, June, 1901.