Fazl-e-Umar — Page 169
Fazle Umar 169 public-spirited persons, who took an interest in comparative religion, thought that it would be a good opportunity to hold a “conference of the principal religions of the Empire” to which representatives of those religions might be invited to deliver addresses expounding the principles and teachings of their respective faiths. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] accepted the invitation to participate in the conference. However, the main and primary object of undertaking the long journey by sea was to study personally the social, economic and political conditions in Europe, which more than the logic and truth of Church Christianity stood in the way of Islam. Referring to the invitation in a statement printed in the “Al Fazl” of 24 June 1924, Hadh- rat Khalifatul Masih remarked that the office and position of the Khalifa is not one of a lecturing preacher or missionary that he should feel constrained or called upon to lecture now here and now there as the need arose. He also warned that the trip would not suffice to win the allegiance of Europe to Islam. He admitted that extraordinary changes sometimes did take place with extraordinary speed but these were never due to mortal endeavour; they were brought about by the powerful hand of God. T w O dR E A M S This statement of June 1924 also contains an account of two significant dreams of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] , one about three or four years prior to the occasion and the other two or three months before. Huzur states: - “I saw myself present in an assembly comprising prominent members of the Parliament, Lords of the realm and Members of the Cabinet. The gathering had the air of some important function and Mr. Lloyd George was addressing the audience. While he was speaking, a remarkable change came over him and he started pacing up and down in the hall. Unusual signs of agitation were witnessed in him which gave the impression that his mind had given way under