Ahmadiyyat - The Renaissance of Islam — Page 235
THE RENAISSANCE OF ISLAM 235 hended and absorbed by the average listener. He did not strike poses and took no flights into the intellectual strato- sphere. His purpose was to stimulate and arouse rather than to overwhelm and incite wonder and admiration. His tone was most of the time easy and conversational. The audience felt at home with him and responded to him in fullest measure. They felt that they were in the company of a deeply loving father who was instructing them in the easiest and most familiar manner in the appreciatlon of values that could be of the greatest benefit to them in all walks of life. No one experienced any fatigue or burden and at the conclusion of the meeting the general feeling was not of relief but of regret that the banquet had not continued longer. Everyone felt refreshed and invigorated. By Divine grace the period of the second Khilafat extended over more than half a century and was crammed with a succession of events that covered many aspects of individual, communal,- national and international life. A detailed history of the second Khilafat would take up several volumes, and would be beyond the scope and limits of this study. Weare thus compelled to make a selection of certain events which might serve as illustrations of the service that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II rendered to the cause of Islam and of humanity. It has been noticed that Khalifatul Masih II was, under the Divine will, called to his great office at the age of 25. It was the common practice of the leaders of the dissident group to refer to him as a child or as a raw youth. They derided him and professed great concern that the destinies of a Movement of great potential had u. nfortunately been committed into the hands of an inexperienced young man. The record will demonstrate how mistaken was their estimation of the capa- cities and high resolve of that young man, and how perfect and justified was his reliance on the grace and mercy of God. Some idea of the progress made by the Movement under the fostering care and wise leadership and guidance ofHazrat Khalifatul Masih II might be formed on the basis of the