Tag: haileselassie

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the U.S. President F.D.Roosevelt – 1954

New York – Friday, May 29 1954

“This country is happy to be visited by the courageous Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie, and to entertain him as an honored guest.

Older people will remember his passionate plea to the League of Nations for the protection of his country against the invading Italian forces in 1935. And it will also be remembered that Ethiopia sent its contingent of soldiers to Korea. The Ethiopians were among the finest groups of soldiers who visited the United Nations General Assembly in Paris in 1951 to be congratulated by that body for their services in Korea.

In my short address to them at that time, I quoted from a speech made to them by Emperor Haile Selassie when they left for the front. It was one of the finest statements I had read of the purpose for which the U.N. was fighting in Korea, and it held high standards up for these soldiers to live by.

I hope those who greet the Emperor here will remember the fine record of his soldiers in Korea, when they fought side by side with our own men.

Ethiopia is largely a Christian country, with religious traditions going back to the earliest days of Christianity. Our citizens will be anxious to learn more of conditions in the Emperor’s country and of the ways in which our two countries can cooperate for the improvement of world conditions.”

Hyde Park – Tuesday 2nd June 1954

“On Sunday morning we had the pleasure of having the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia visit us here at Hyde Park. He laid a wreath on my husband’s grave, then paid a short visit to the home and the Memorial Library. He was much interested in my husband’s variety of interests, looked at the model ships and went through the stacks where papers and books are kept.

He reached my cottage just at 1 o’clock, when the recording of his appearanee on the television program, “Youth Wants to Know,” was shown. The young people had asked him many questions and he had answered them willingly and cordially. Naturally, he wanted to see and hear the recording as it was going out over the country, so for half an hour we watched television.

Since his schedule required him to be in New York City by 4:30, he had to leave here between 2:15 and 2:30. You can imagine that a buffet lunch served to 40 persons in three-quarters of an hour is rather hurried! But I think several people had a chance to talk to the Emperor while he ate; and I had a few minutes of conversation with him quietly before he left. (…)

I found the Emperor a most delightful person. His son is very unassuming and charming, and so is his granddaughter. In fact, I have rarely had a more enjoyable official party here. Though they were hurried, they behaved as though everything was just the way they wished it to be, and I hope they will carry away pleasant memories of their short time with us.”

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Teachings

I&I Should Be Proud in Spirit

“If you keep the pledge you gave to your country and Your Emperor, you will be proud in spirit. A man who is proud in spirit will always have confidence in himself and his conscience will not reprimand him.” #QHS

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Teachings

Education must be the Principal

“The general happiness of mankind today is rather scant and insecure; but We should have to live and do Our best to ameliorate it. Education of the youth is the surest guarantee of a better life. Therefore, among the many projects undertaken for the welfare and prosperity of Ethiopia, We have planned that education be the principal. Many foreign teachers have been brought in to feed the youth like a gardener feeds his plants with fresh water.” #QHS

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Anecdotes

The Age of the World

“One evening at the dinner table a conversation was going on in French between some of the guests. Suddenly the Emperor turned to me and asked, ‘What do you believe? How old is the world?’ #QHS

‘If we are to believe the Bible,” I said, “it is about six thousand years old.’

‘Impossible,’ someone spoke up. ‘It is at least six million years old.’ This person attempted to explain how scientists had discovered certain animals in artic regions and how they reasoned that the world must be millions of years old to allow time for all the changes in the earth to come about.

‘To me it is not a question that concerns my salvation,’ I replied ‘and I never argue with anyone as to how old the earth is.’

The Emperor agreed at once, saying, ‘That is true. Salvation is sure, and these things really do not matter.‘ #QHS

(Taken from: “For God and Emperor”, Herbert and Della Hanson, 1958, page 150)

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

Dr. E. C. Pearce, Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University – 1924

Cambridge, UK, 18th July 1924

“Your Highness! As we have heard of your initiative and perseverance in leading your country Ethiopia in wisdom and knowledge, we bestow upon you the honorary degree of Doctor of Law.”

(…)

“Your Highness!

The poet Homer says the Ethiopians are blameless. Herodotus says the Ethiopians are longlived because they do not drink wine at all.

It is a fact that the Ethiopians refused to pay tribute to Cambyses and to the Persian kings. Subsequently, they turned back victoriously all who came to take their country by force. Who does not know that the Queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame, came by camel bearing spices, gold, and gems to try the king with riddles? Who does not know that she returned to her country to be the mother of all the kings? Who does not remember, as the centuries unfolded, their descent from David? Who does not know of their being of the family of Queen Candace? All this proves the establishment of their Christianity over the whole of Ethiopia and their possession of an ancient faith over a long history.

A man who had studied at Christ’s College in Cambridge University has, in recent years, revealed to the English people the literature and law books of Ethiopia.

Today there is amongst us Tafari Makonnen, Ethiopia’s Crown Prince. He follows in the footsteps of his ancestors and possesses knowledge exceeding that of orientals and Egyptians. He explores ancient and modern knowledge. He has studied all the ancient Christian traditions. He endeavours to acquire modern science. H.H. Tafari Makonnen is the first Ethiopian Crown Prince who has gone up in an aeroplane.

He has caused the books of John Chrysostom and of Mar Yeshaq to be translated from Ge’ez into Amharic and had them printed at his own press. These books can be found in the Cambridge University Library. Furthermore, he has built a school for the children of Ethiopia.

We therefore make known to all of you here Ethiopia’s great Crown Prince and Regent, H.H. Tafari Makonnen, the hope of Ethiopia, who is descended from ancient kings.”

 

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

Archibishop of Canterbury Randall Davidson, Head of the Anglican Church – 1924

London, 11th July 1924

“Your Highness!

It gives me very great pleasure to welcome Your Highness to Lambeth Palace which is the main centre of the English Church. From time to time I receive those who are the important representatives of the branches of the Church of Christ. But there has never before visited Lambeth anyone whose church stands, in terms of antiquity, in first place among the Christians of the world.

Your Highness! Your Church has an ancient history of about 1600 years. Its beginnings approach the even earlier period of the apostles of Our Lord. Your Church has a history which is related to the time of Athanasius and his companions. Your Highness is not only holding on to ancient traditions, but it is your glory to develop Christian civilization for the future and to spread the Christian scriptures among your people.

From your printing press issue not only ancient and modern religious books. But you yourself are an active participant in the work. The Ethiopian books which Your Highness has caused to be printed have an introduction by you: Everyone who studies the books of Chrysostom and of the monk Mar Yeshaq will derive much benefit.

It is not to be doubted that the main object of your present journey is to acquaint yourself with the modern western world. Be it in spiritual or in secular terms, your visit is to all of us a perpetual joy. I feel assured that your country’s spiritual and secular wellbeing is well placed in your hands and that there is due to you every possible assistance for your beneficent endeavours.

With cordial friendship and high hopes we wish that everything for which you have come here may prosper.“

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Teachings

The Oldest Books have been kept by Ethiopia only

“Indeed, our copyists in the first centuries have translated into ethiopian language several works produced in the mediterranean world. Copy by copy, these works have come down to us today, and it happens that the original has disappeared since long time, and only our humble translation in our old language remains, copied by our monks and scholars. In this way, the oldest text of the Apocalypse of Peter has been found within the collection of the National Library of Paris. Every day, just to speak about the collections in Europe, sages of all nationalities descover texts of the highest interest.”

HIM Haile Selassie I

(Translated from the book given by His Majesty in French language, “L’Invasion de l’Ethiopie”)

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Teachings

Africa for the Africans

Inaugurating the hydro-electric dam of Kale, Guinea.
Kale, Guinea, October 12 1963
“Our struggle for ‘Africa for the Africans’, the success of which looked remote not only to colonial powers but also to Africans has become a reality today.
We cannot say Africa is for Africans when the economy of an African country is run by foreigners while the people have only nominal independence. We dare say that Africa is for Africans only when we see such economic projects as this dam constructed with the partecipation of Africans and when we cherish the hope that Africans will be the sole proprietors of such works of progress in the near future.
We can say that the President and people of Yugoslavia think and work for the liberation and progress of Africa, as Africans themselves do. They have stretched their helping hand not only here in Guinea, but they have also helped Ethiopia in similar ways.
We have fully realized the fact that the people of Yugoslavia work for others as hard as they do for their own country while they were working in Our own country.
(…) Now if this great undertaking had not got the right receptive hand it would not have materialized to the extent of becoming the country’s vital economic project.
We would like to thank you for the kind and respectful gesture you have bestowed upon Us for opening and inaugurating this dam.
Long Live African Unity. May We express Our fervent desire and hope in the evolution of the final phase of this unity.”
Categories
Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

Dimetri Papapouleas, Head of the University of Athens – 1924

Athens, 19th August 1924

“Your Highness!

It is in the midst of Athens University that the soul of Greece is being revealed. This evening we are pleased to welcome the representative of a people tied to Greece by inseparable ties and by a friendship that is based on ancient historical traditions.

Your Highness’ presence amongst us is apt to strengthen and to renew those memories of 1600 years.

Two Greeks, the sons of Meropius the merchant, Frumentius and Aedesius, were taken prisoner at the Ethiopian seaboard and thus entered the country. They founded the Church of Ethiopia by teaching the country’s inhabitants and by becoming apostles of the faith.

Your Highness, the affection which binds the two countries together began at that time. In the year 325 Athanasius, the great bishop of Christian Greece, bestowed at Alexandria the name of founder of the Church of Ethiopia upon Frumentius and did so with great glory. And he also anointed him bishop of the Ethiopian Church.

Again, in a different context, Heliodorus of Emesa refers to these historical memories in the book of romance which he wrote. In this book he presents the Ethiopian king’s daughter as beautiful and comely.

The Ethiopians were very well known to Homer and to Herodotus who refers to them in his history and to Strabo who speaks about them a great deal in his geography. By virtue of these old traditions the kings of modern Ethiopia have always cultivated true friendship with Greece. Above all, Emperor Yohannes and Emperor Menelik have uttered words of sincere affection for our country in exchanges of letters with the Greek Government.

Your Highness! Our brothers who live in your country are always telling us with feelings of deep gratitude of the welcome and friendship they have encountered among your people. This goes so far that it is virtually granted to them to be like brothers. We are very glad, therefore, to receive today as guest amongst us the representative of this people.

Greek writers, who have described the details of their journeys and whose books are read with benefit, have emphatically shown the extreme natural beauty of Ethiopia. They have described the different kinds of air currents, trees, and leaves as well as the beauty of the sun which, through its light, reveals the beauty of the country.

Your Highness! For a long time now the Greeks have considered everything that is good for your country as their own advantage. Each time they find an opportunity they affirm the thoughts of friendship which they have for the kings of Ethiopia and for the people.

This feeling does not only arise from the friendship which you have for us. What we have achieved in our past history and by our character is due to our respect for the supremeness of learning and complete love of freedom to the point of heroism. Therefore, it is not at all a strange thing for us to consolidate our friendship for the Ethiopian people through the study which our history affords us.

We are aware that Ethiopia’s success in guarding her independence at all times arises from the mountains which have been given to her by nature and which separate her from all the other African countries. It is proper to say that Ethiopia has been the bastion of Christianity for more than a millennium among the savages and pagans in the arid desert. Homer said of the Ethiopians that they excelled above others. Diodorus speaks of their virtue. He admires their fight for their freedom.

At the time of Alexander the Great and his heirs Greek culture had entered Ethiopia and had opened a new road of civilization. It left written monuments (a map) which demonstrate its progress. The Ptolemies and the Byzantine kings desired the Ethiopian people to establish a basis and to extend their rule up to the Red Sea. When Byzantium fought with the Persians, it threw into the battle the might of the Ethiopians. Your Highness’ country was a crossroads and meeting point of the civilized nations in the Mediterranean and Indian areas. Since the Greeks were at that time held in great honour in Ethiopia, the Ethiopian kings are said to have known the Greek language.

According to those who have studied the history of the Ethiopian Church, in the fourth century this Church, strong in its faith, was doing everything that was necessary to enable the Christian religion to spread over all the distant lands in Africa. But the rise of Islam and its constant and progressive growth greatly weakened the strength of the Ethiopian people as Islam defeated, by the force of the sword, the countries in North Africa.

But eventually, defending themselves with the heroism which derives from their nature, the Ethiopians overcame the might of the Muslims. They built once again the Church of Aksum at the place to which the Muslims had set fire. It may be said that the rebuilding of this Church is a great good fortune and luck for Ethiopia.

By the intelligence of its kings and rulers since the last century, this country has once again taken the road of renewal. It is this road of renewal that is leading this beloved and courageous people towards national unity in equality.

The University of Athens, at this place where the leaders of the Greek people are assembled, greets the courageous ruler of the Ethiopian people, the son of Makonnen.

The Greek people request that you will accept their best wishes for the prosperity of the Ethiopian people as well as their firm resolve for a progressive strengthening of the ties of friendship which exist between the two nations.”

 

Categories
Haile Selassie I - Testimonies

Philip Noel Baker – Nobel Prize 1959

Philip Noel-Baker, British Politician and Academic, Nobel Prize 1959 for his efforts towards world disarmament.
Letter to His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I
London, December 5 1959
“Your Imperial Majesty,
I have just received Your Majesty’s most gracious letter about the Nobel Prize, and I write at once to express my deep appreciation of what Your Majesty was good enough to say.
When I think of the gallant struggle of Ethiopia in 1935-6, the non-violent but magnificent resistance until 1940, Your Majesty’s courageous return, and the wonderful way in which the Ethiopian people regained their freedom without inflicting any reprisals on the Italians who had behaved so badly, I think it one of the most inspiring pieces of modern history.
I find no less inspiring the way in which Your Majesty has reconstructed the country, and is building up its social system, its economic strength and its spiritual power.
I do everything I can to make known to my compatriots and others what a wonderful example Your Majesty and Your Majesty’s people have given to the world.
With my gratitude again, and my humble duty and devotion.
Your Majesty’s obedient servant, PHILIP NOEL-BAKER“