Later, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá encountered a group of young people, to whom he
bahaistories.com archive · Read original
When in Bahá'í history

Later, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá encountered a group of young people, to whom he told this story in relation to the effects of the Peace Conference: Once the rats and mice held an important conference on the subject of which was how to make peace with the cat. After a long and heated discussion it was decided that the best thing to do would be to tie a bow around the neck of the cat, so that the rats and mice would be warned of his movements and have time to get Out of his way. This seemed an excellent plan until the question arose as to who should undertake the dangerous job of belling the cat. None of the rats liked the idea and the mice thought they were altogether too weak. So the conference broke up in confusion. Everyone laughed, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá with them. After a short pause He added that this is much like these Peace Conferences. Many words, but no one is likely to approach the question of who will bell the Czar of Prussia, the Emperor of Germany, the President of France and the Emperor of Japan. Faces were now more grave. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá laughed again: "There is a Divine Club", He said, "which shall break their power in pieces."
Source: Earl Redman, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Their Midst, p. 131
Collected from bahaistories.com (Subject: peace).
Cite this story
Various. *bahaistories.com archive*. https://bahaistories.com/subject/peace
Record yourself reading this story
Recording stays on this device only. Nothing is uploaded.
Related stories
‘Abdu’l-Bahá returned to the same theme the next day when speaking
‘Abdu’l-Bahá returned to the same theme the next day when speaking about the peace conference: Once I wrote the Persian friends that if the workers of peace conferences do not apply in their own lives what they advocate, they are like…
The Light in Every Lamp
In a busy hotel ballroom in Seattle, 'Abdu'l-Bahá told two hundred people of many different faiths one simple, beautiful idea — that goodness shines like light, no matter which lamp it burns in.
The Biggest Crowd of All
Almost two thousand young students filled a great hall to hear 'Abdu'l-Bahá — and He told them that being kind to everyone is one of the oldest ideas in the whole world.
First Steps Ashore: The Master Arrives in New York
Mahmúd's Diary records the first hours of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America: the SS Cedric pulling into New York harbor on April 11, 1912; the rush of newspaper reporters at the dock seeking to know His purpose; and His steady answer that He had crossed an ocean for *the unity of humankind*.