CHAPTER VI.

BIGAMY IS NOT A SIN.

Christians of the East and West, except the Mormons, considered bigamy, or rather to marry more than one wife, a sin, a crime, yet they permitted morganatic marriages to their great people and rulers. Judaism, Mohammedanism and other religions never regarded bigamy as a violation of God's laws, for He did not prohibit it in their Scriptures nor in any known revelations. Christianity permits bigamy to its followers except bishops. "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach." 1 Timothy 3:2. Christ himself did not prohibit it.

My object in writing this is to prove to the whole world that Beha 'U'llah did not make a mistake.

Dr. Wilson struggled hard in his work to ascribe to him an error, because he married more than one wife, and his teachings permit bigamy.

On page 158, he said: "Can we believe that the "Incarnated Father of all has revealed a new 'Most Holy Book,' in which bigamy is permitted? Akstag fur Allah! God forbid!"

True civilization demands established facts and

gladly accepts and adopts them, and at the same time expels untruths and avoids them. Upon these grounds I hereby declare and state that, if a man marry at the same time more than one wife, he does not commit a sin; but if a woman marry at the same time more than one husband, it is a gross crime. To verify this statement and prove beyond any doubt its truthfulness and accuracy, I invite every reasonable and just man to take up this question, and thoroughly investigate all its phases, and pay strict attention to my proofs, which are as follows:

It was proven in the previous chapter that no action in itself is a sin, for it must be performed according to the laws laid down by God to govern this world, and consequently it is in perfect harmony therewith. Also Christ taught, God wished for our good and development and made the human family of husband, wife, and child as a garden, so he surrounded it with a hedge, an organization. Consequently every action which violates that hedge, or rather the organization, is a sin, otherwise it is

not.

Now if a man marry many wives, every child of his wives knows his father and his mother, so there is no violation to that sacred organization and consequently it is not a sin. But if a woman will marry more than one husband at one time her children will know their mother, but none of them could know his father. This destroys the organization and puts man on a level with the wild beasts of the field; therefore this action is a sin and a gross crime. This is the main reason why God has not

prohibited man from marrying more than one wife in all his Scriptures, for it is not a sin.

Beha 'U'llah in Kitabul Ackdas, did not prohibit it by saying: "God hath decreed unto you to marry. Beware of marrying more than two; and whosoever is contented with one, attaineth peace for himself and her." But rather he gave us advice equivalent to stating-"Eat not too much bread." Then in the same text, he advised us to marry one only if we wished to live a happy and peaceful life. Also in the same Book he enjoined on every believer to obey the laws of the country where he lived. Therefore, every American Behai obeys the command of Beha 'U'llah if he obeys the laws of the United States of America, and marries only one wife. Besides this let it be known that the laws given by Beha 'U'llah are not for the Christians only, but for the people of the world.

The following is another great reason which encourages me to state, that Beha 'U'llah (glory be to Him) did the right thing by marrying three wives. Because it was prophesied in the Bible that when the Deity visits this world with goodness, and manifests His Perfection, He will have wives (i. e., more than two wives, as the plural of the original language is not less than three, for it has the single, the dual and the plural). This prophecy is the whole 45th Psalm, and it reads as follows:

1. "My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

2.

Thou art fairer than the children of men:

grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee forever.

3. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

4. And in thy majesty ride prosperously, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.

5. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. 6. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.

7. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

8. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

9. Kings' daughters were among thy honorable women (more than two), upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

10. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house.

11. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty; for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

12. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.

13. The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

14. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.