‘Abdu’l-Bahá in New York/The Tablet Of The Branch

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THE TABLET OF THE BRANCH

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(This Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh, referring to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as His successor, was first translated into English and published under ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s direction, in New York City, December 2, 1912—three days before ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s departure from America.)

THIS has been revealed in Adrianople for Mirza Ali Riza in order that he may be nourished by the Favors of God.

He is Eternal in His Abhá Horizon!

Verily the Cause of God hath come upon the Clouds of Utterances and the polytheists are in this day in great torment. Verily the hosts of revelation have descended with banners of inspiration from the Heaven of the Tablet in the name of God, the Powerful, the Mighty. At this time the monotheists all rejoice in the victory of God and His dominion and the deniers will then be in manifest perplexity.

O ye people! Do ye flee from the mercy of God after it has encompassed the existent things created between the heavens and earth? Beware lest ye prefer your own selves before the mercy of God, and deprive not yourselves thereof. Verily whosoever turneth away therefrom will be in great loss. Verily mercy is like unto verses which have descended from the one heaven and from them the monotheists drink the choice wine of Life, whilst the polytheists drink the fiery water (Hameen); and when the verses of God are read unto them, the fire of hatred is enkindled within their breasts. Thus have they preferred their own selves before the mercy of God, and are of those who are heedless. [Page 52]Enter, O people, beneath the shelter of the Word, then drink therefrom the choice wine of Inner Significances and Utterances; for therein is hidden the Kawther of the Glorious One—and it hath appeared from the horizon of the will of your Lord, the merciful, with wonderful lights.

Say: Verily the ocean of pre-existence hath branched forth from this most great ocean. Blessed therefore is he who abides upon its shores, and is of those who are established thereon. Verily this most sacred temple of Abhá—the Branch of Holiness—hath branched forth from the Sadratu’l-Muntahá. Blessed is whosoever hath sought shelter beneath it and is of those who rest therein.

Say: Verily the Branch of Command hath sprung forth from this root which God hath firmly planted in the ground of the will, the limb of which has been elevated to a station which encompasses all existence. Therefore exalted be He for this Creation, the Lofty, the Blessed, the Inaccessible, the Mighty!

O ye people! draw nigh unto it (The Branch is referred to in this Tablet both as “It” and “His”) and taste the fruits of its knowledge and wisdom on the part of the Mighty, the Knowing One. Whosoever will not taste thereof shall be deprived of the bounty, even though he hath partaken of all that is in the earth—were ye of those who know.

Say: Verily a word hath gone forth from the Most Great Tablet and God hath adorned it with the mantle of Himself and made it sovereign over all in the earth and a sign of His grandeur and omnipotence among the creatures; in order that, through it, the people shall praise their Lord the mighty, the powerful, the wise; and that, through it, they shall glorify their Creator and sanctify the self of God which standeth within all things. Verily this is naught but a revelation upon the part of the Wise, the Ancient [Page 53]One! Say: O people, praise ye God for its manifestation (the Branch), for verily it (the Branch) is the most great favor upon you and the most perfect blessing upon you; and through Him every mouldering bone is quickened. Whosoever turns to Him hath surely turned unto God and whosoever turneth away from Him hath turned away from my beauty, denied my proof, and is of those who transgress. Verily, He is the remembrance of God amongst you and His trust within you and His manifestation unto you and His appearance among the servants who are nigh. Thus have I been commanded to convey to you the message of God, your Creator; and I have delivered to you that of which I was commanded. Whereupon, thereunto testifieth God, then His angels, then His messengers, and then His holy servants.

Inhale the fragrances of the Ridván from His roses and be not of those who are deprived. Appreciate the bounty of God upon you and be not veiled therefrom—and verily we have sent Him forth in the temple of man. Thus praise ye the Lord, the Originator of whatsoever He willeth through His wise and inviolable command!

Verily, those who withhold themselves from the Shelter of the Branch are indeed lost in the wilderness of perplexity—and are consumed by the heat of self-desire—and are of those who perish.

Hasten, O people, unto the Shelter of God, in order that He may protect you from the heat of the day whereon none shall find for himself any refuge or shelter except beneath the shelter of His Name, the clement, the forgiving. Clothe yourselves, O people, with the garment of assurance, in order that He may protect you from the darts of doubts and superstitions, and that ye may be of those who are assured in those days wherein none shall ever be assured and none shall be firmly established in the Cause except by [Page 54]severing himself from all that is possessed by the people and turning unto the holy and radiant outlook.

O ye people! Do ye take unto yourselves the Jebt (an idol) as a helper other than God, and do ye seek the Taghoot (an idol) as a Lord besides your Lord the Almighty, the Omnipotent? Forsake, O people, their mention, then hold the Chalice of Life in the name of your Lord the Merciful. Verily by God, the existent world is quickened through a drop thereof, were ye of those who know.

Say: In that day there is no refuge for any one save the command of God, and no salvation for any soul but God. Verily this is the truth and there is naught after truth but manifest error.

Verily God hath made it incumbent upon every soul to deliver His Cause (the Message) according to his ability. Thus hath the command been recorded by the finger of might and power upon the Tablet of majesty and greatness.

Whosoever quickens one soul in this Cause is like unto one quickening all the servants and the Lord shall bring him forth in the Day of Resurrection into the Riḍván of Oneness, adorned with the mantle of Himself, the Protector, the Mighty, the Generous. Thus will ye assist your Lord, and naught else save this shall ever be mentioned in this day before God your Lord and the Lord of your forefathers.

As to thee, O servant: hearken unto the admonition given unto thee in the Tablet; then seek the grace of thy Lord at all times. Then spread the Tablet among those who believe in God and in His verses; so that they may follow that which is contained therein, and be of those who are praiseworthy.

Say: O people, cause no corruption in the earth and dispute not with men; for verily this is not worthy of those [Page 55]who have chosen in the shelter of their Lord a station which shall indeed remain secure.

If ye find one athirst, give him to drink from the Chalice of Kawtha and Tasneen; and if ye find one endowed with an attentive ear, read unto him the verses of God, the Mighty, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Unloose the tongue with excellent utterance, then admonish the people if ye find them advancing unto the sanctuary of God, otherwise abandon them unto themselves and forsake them in the abyss of hell. Beware lest ye scatter the pearls of Inner Significance before every barren, dumb one. Verily the blind are deprived of witnessing the Lights and are unable to distinguish between the stone and the holy, precious pearl.

Verily, wert thou to read the most mighty, wonderful verses to the stone for a thousand years, will it understand, or will they take any effect therein? No! by thy Lord the Merciful, the Clement! If thou readest all the verses of God unto the deaf, will he hear a single letter? No! Verily by the Beauty, the Mighty, the Ancient!

Thus have we delivered unto thee some of the jewels of Wisdom and Utterance, in order that thou mayest gaze unto the direction of thy Lord and be ‎ severed‎ from all the creatures. May the Spirit and Glory rest upon thee, and upon those who dwell upon the plain of holiness and who remain in the cause of their Lord in manifest steadfastness!

My Lord the Helper of every assembly gathered for the exaltation of the Word of Thy Mercy and the Strengthener of every party that agreed to the service of the Threshold of Thy Oneness:

I ask Thee by Thy Beauty which is secreted in Thy Brilliant (ABHÁ) Unseen Worlds, that the Favor of the Eye of Thy Mercy may embrace them and strengthen them with [Page 56]most Mighty Power, and to gird up their loins by Thy Power which is victoriously successful in all things.

Verily, Thou art the hearer of prayer and verily, Thou art the powerful above all things.

In this day, the gathering of a board for consultation is of great importance and a great necessity. For all, obedience to it is a necessity, especially because the members (of the Board) are the hands of the Cause.

So they (the members) must confer and consult in such a way that neither disagreement nor abhorrence may occur. When meeting for consultation, each must use perfect liberty in stating his views and unveiling the proof of his demonstration. If another contradicts him, he must not become excited because if there be no investigation or verification of questions and matters, the agreeable view will not be discovered neither understood. The brilliant light which comes from the collision of thoughts is the “lightener” of facts.

If all views are in harmony at the end of a conference, it will be excellent; but if—God forbid!—disagreement occurs, then the decision must be according to the greater number in harmony. If, after reaching the result, one or the others of the members does not agree with it, neither of the other members nor any one must argue with or reproach him, but keep silence; then they will write to this Servant (the Master).

None (of the members of the board) must spread the matters or methods pertaining to the conference. At the opening of the conference they are to ask God for special assistance and help and for their Ruler and his assistants and for the Governors of the Country.

During the conference no hint must be entertained regarding political affairs. All conferences must be regarding the matters of benefit, both as a whole and individually, [Page 57]such as the guarding of all in all cases, their protection and preservation, the improvement of character, the training of children, etc.

If any person (soul) wishes to speak of government affairs, or to interfere with the order of Governors, the others must not combine with him (in such a matter) because the cause of God is withdrawn entirely from political affairs; the political realm pertains only to the Rulers of those matters; it has nothing to do with the souls who are exerting their utmost energy to harmonizing affairs, helping character and inciting (the people) to strive for perfections. Therefore no soul is allowed to interfere with (political) matters, but only in that which is commanded.

O, ye chosen ones! O, ye heralds! O, ye advancing ones! O, ye deliverers of the Truth! Verily I stretch out the hands of supplication to God, that He may confirm you in serving the Word of God, in His Great Vineyard, so that ye may spread the Signs of God, explain His Proofs and arguments and demonstrate the Manifestation of His Kingdom among the Creatures.

Know ye! Verily your assembly is under the Protection of God and your persons are favored by the glances of the Eyes of Mercifulness. Make firm your feet, be steadfast in the Cause of God, trust in God and rely upon His confirmations under all circumstances.

Verily your Lord has chosen you from among the multitude and hath assisted you through His Angels, so that ye may arise with all your powers in diffusing the Fragrances of God, protecting the Word of God, guiding the souls, training the minds and establishing the Religion of God in those parts.

This is a Bounty which nothing equals, even the Kingdom of the whole earth. But at present it is concealed from eyes [Page 58]and its value is not known except to the people of discernment among the righteous; verily they see it great and glorious! Its greatness, exaltation and loftiness shall surely appear throughout all regions.

Reflect upon the Disciples of Christ in the early centuries. The people did not care for their Assemblage, the power of their hosts nor for the greatness of their station, nay they supposed them as the (ordinary) people. But before a long time had elapsed, their augmentation appeared, their signs were promulgated, their Fragrances were diffused, their lights shone forth throughout all parts.

As to you, O, ye chosen ones! Use all your endeavors concerning your spiritual meeting and be steadfast in the Divine Cause. If people despise you be not grieved, nay rather grow in firmness and steadfastness in this Cause; so that you may find the Angels of Heaven assisting you and the Holy Spirit strengthening you in every important and momentous matter.

Upon ye be greeting and praise!

O ye beloved friends of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:

The news of your spiritual assembly reached this Illumined Spot and the heart of this yearning One was rejoiced on account of your concord, unity and affinity. What wonderful meetings and brilliant gatherings were those—whose fame will become world-wide and whose melody will ere long reach to all the Kingdoms, that in the regions of America the believers are real companions and associates with each other and are as beloved friends among themselves, that they bring about gatherings of friendship, engage themselves in the praise and glorification of the Glorious Lord, deliver eloquent speeches, establish the proofs and arguments of the Manifestation of the Sun of Truth, spread the Divine Teachings and shed broadcast the [Page 59]muskdiffusing Fragrances of the Kingdom;—so that the nostrils become perfumed and the eyes become brightened.

O ye friends! O ye maid-servants of the Merciful!

Those assemblies are the emblems of the Supreme Concourse and the prototypes of the Congregations of the spirits in the ABHÁ Kingdom. Avail yourselves of the opportunities of this time, neither let the occasion slip by unheeded. The season of the soul-refreshing spring will not appear at all times, neither will the breezy dawn be at every moment. Now is the time of proclamation and the occasion of supplication and invocation toward the Kingdom of ABHÁ.

Therefore, sing ye with the sweet melody in the assemblages, entreat ye at the Threshold of the Kingdom of the Lord of Hosts and beg ye for Confirmation and assistance. The Guide of Providence will appear and the Beloved of Divine Gifts will unveil her luminous countenance.

Upon you be Bahá EL-ABHÁ!

O ye who are persevering in the service of the Cause of God! O ye who are sincere in the religion of God! O ye who are mentioned in this merciful assembly through the Bounty of God!

Verily, by day and by night I mention you, and will not forget you in the mornings nor in the evenings.

I supplicate God to uphold you with a Divine Power, heavenly might, merciful confirmations, and everlasting success, that ye may become luminous lamps; spreading the lights of knowledge to the people of the contingent world, and proclaiming the Name of God, saying, “the doors of the Kingdom have been opened before the face of every man; the sea of favors has moved, casting the pearls of gifts on the sides of the hearts and spirits; and the Sun of [Page 60]the Most Great Gift has shone in these days, from which dazzling rays are abundantly sent to all regions.”

O ye friends of the Merciful! be tranquil and have all confidence that the mercy of God shall surround you from all sides, and the Spiritual Breath shall quicken your spirits at every minute and time. Therefore, God be thanked for these heavenly gifts, these unseen favors, and these merciful abundances.

It is incumbent upon you not to be remiss in exalting the Word of God by day and by night. Be severed from the world and turn your faces to the Most Great Grace in the Kingdom of heaven, that the Mighty One may uphold you with the greatest gifts in this first growth.

Send monthly reports of the minutes of that Spiritual Assembly, that constant communications might continue between the Blessed Spot and that Spiritual Assembly.

May salutations and praise be upon you.

O, ye faithful ones! O, ye chosen ones! O, ye attracted ones! O, ye who have arisen to the service of the Cause of God, and the promulgation of His Word among the inhabitants of the world!

I supplicate to God that He make your gathering-place a glorious Tabernacle, a holy Throne, and a center of the divine emotions; so that you may become luminous lamps, and that from your faces radiate the lights of guidance among mankind, that you may hear the Call of the Almighty from the Supreme Concourse, opening your mouths in the glorification of the Beauty of Abhá, spreading divine teachings in that vast country, and educating humanity with heavenly education which conduces to the quickening of the souls and spirits.

By the life of Truth, I say with you, verily the Hosts of the Supreme Concourse are ranked expecting the time that [Page 61]the glorious personages move forward in the Place of the love of God, and arise to help the Cause of God, in order that the Angels of Holiness confirm them with divine and unheard of power.

Hasten ye! Hasten ye! O, ye righteous ones! Hasten ye, Hasten ye, O, ye chosen ones! Hasten ye, Hasten ye, O, ye intelligent ones! Avail the opportunity! Do not expend one eye’s wink uselessly in this heavenly Rose-Garden, until you behold that the Doors of the Bounty are opened before your faces, and the lamps of Guidance ignited in your hearts.

Verily your Lord is the Merciful, the Compassionate, the Bestower!

O, ye sons of the Kingdom!

Your letter was received and from the contents of the report the utmost of joy was obtained, for it indicated firmness and was a proof of your arising to serve.

When the intention is for God, ultimately the object is attained and unity and accord will appear.

I am hopeful that when I come to those regions and meet the friends perfect unity and accord will ensue.

Praise be to God in Paris and London there is not a trace of discord. They are in perfect accord and agreement; all are engaged in service. Day by day they are advancing spiritually, and are guiding new souls. The good leaves, the ladies who returned from Europe have certainly detailed the account.

The circle of friendship among the human race must be enlarged and (you) must associate and unite with the good souls who have no purpose save goodness and are striving for Universal Peace and desire the solidarity and the oneness of the human world. They must awaken them in regard to the Divine Kingdom, for their intentions are [Page 62]good but they do not know that the powers in the world are incapable of establishing the Universal Peace and promulgating the oneness of the world of man save through the power of the word of God and the breath of the Holy Spirit. This power alone can remove differences, warfare and strife from among (the people) inasmuch as the Congress of Universal Peace and the Unity of the Races are radiant but are like the candles; a limited circle only do they illuminate, but the whole world is now made radiant through the rise of the Sun of Truth and darkness is entirely dispelled. This matter must be known to those important souls in the Congress for International Peace.

Consider how many conferences for philanthropy were held in the olden times, people braving difficulties and the utmost ordeals but their benefits were limited, but the rise of the light of Truth and the morn of Guidance through the power of the Holy Spirit affords unlimited benefits. Therefore in good intentions you must seek help from the boundless Power.

O ye sons and daughters of the Kingdom!

Your letter of felicitation (November 26, 1913) was received. Its contents were the proof of your firmness, and evidence that you have turned your faces toward the Kingdom of ABHÁ, holding fast to the Covenant and that your hearts are attracted by the Orb of regions.

Today all the nations of the world are submerged in the darkness of ignorance and the superstitious religions, racial patriotic and political prejudices, but the lights of the oneness of the world of humanity are shining and irradiating from your faces, and the fire of the love of GOD is ignited and set aglow in your hearts.

Praise be to God that you have no other aim save the Unity of mankind, entertain no other hope except the [Page 63]guidance of all the people and harbor no other wish save the good pleasure of the Lord. I hope that you may become so illumined as to enlighten all the regions; each one of you may become a bright candle, the sign of the Love of GOD, the herald of the Kingdom of GOD, the means of communication between the hearts of all humanity and be confirmed for bringing about the confederation of all the religions;—so that this dark world may become luminous, the foundation of warfare and battle be utterly destroyed, the standard of Universal Peace be upraised in the center of the world and the Feast of Love be spread amongst the children of men.

With the utmost humility and meekness I supplicate and implore in your behalf toward the Kingdom of ABHÁ and beg confirmation for you,—so that the City of New York may become the center of the Most Great Guidance and the lights may be scattered to all parts of the world from the hearts of the believers!

O ye beloved friends of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!

You have written that there is a difference among the believers concerning the “Second Coming of Christ.” Praise be to God!—time and again this question hath arisen and its answer hath emanated in a clear and irrefutable text from the pen of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that what is meant in the prophecies by the “Lord of Hosts,” the “Promised Christ” is the Blessed Perfection (Bahá’u’lláh) and His Highness the Supreme (the Bab). The faith of everyone must revolve around this palpable and evident text.

My name is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, my identity is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, my qualification is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, my reality is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, my praise is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem; and servitude to all the human race is my perpetual religion. [Page 64]Through the bounty and favour of the Blessed Perfection, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the ensign of the Most-Great-Peace, which is waving from the supreme apex; and through the gift of the Greatest Name he is the Lamp of Universal Salvation, which is shining with the light of the love of God. The Herald of the Kingdom is he, so that he may awaken the people of the East and of the West. The Voice of Friendship, Uprightness, Truth and Reconciliation is he, so as to cause acceleration throughout all regions. No name, no title, no mention, no commendation hath he nor will ever have except ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This is my longing. This is my supreme apex. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory! Express ye the same thing which is issued from my pen. This is the duty of all. Consequently the friends of God must assist and help ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the adoration of the True One; in the servitude to the human race; in the well-being of the human world and in divine love and kindness.

O ye friends of God! Through the appearance of the Blessed Perfection the theories are abrogated and the facts are established. The time of superficiality is gone by and the cycle of reality hath appeared. One must become the incarnation of servitude, the personification of love, the embodiment of spirituality and the mirror of mercy.

The believers must become the cause of life; deliver the people from heedlessness, call the souls to the perfection of humanity, beckon nations to unity and agreement, destroy the foundation of foreignness, make everyone as friends and associates, treat the negligent souls as their own children and train and educate them with the utmost love—so that the ignorant become wise, the blind become endowed with sight, and the deaf be given hearing.

O ye friends of God, beware! Beware of differences! By differences the Temple of God is razed to its very [Page 65]foundation, and by the blowing of the winds of disagreement the Blessed Tree is prevented from bearing any fruit. By the intense cold of the diversity of opinions the rose-garden of unity is withered, and the fire of the love of God is extinguished!

O ye friends of God! ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the Manifestation of Thraldom and not “Christ.” The servant of the human realm is he and not a “chief.” Non-existent is he and not “Existent.” Pure nothingness is he and not “Eternal.”

There is no outcome or result to these discussions. We must put aside these disputes and controversies, nay rather must we consign them to utter oblivion and arise to do that which is indispensable and which is demanded of us in this day. Controversies are words and not significances, theories and not realities.

The quintessence of truth is this: We must all become united and harmonized in order to illumine this gloomy world, to abolish the foundations of hostility and animosity from among mankind, to perfume the inhabitants of the universe with the holy fragrances of the nature and disposition of the beauty of Abhá, to enlighten the people of the East and West with the light of guidance, to hoist the tent of the love of God and suffer each and all to enter under its protection, to bestow comfort and tranquillity on everyone under the shade of the Divine Tree, to astonish the enemy by the manifestation of the utmost love, to make the ravenous and blood-thirsty wolves to be gazelles of the meadow of the love of God; to administer the taste of non-resistance to the tyrant, to teach long-suffering and resignation of the martyrs to the murderer, to spread the traces of oneness, to chant the praises and glorification of the glorious Lord, to raise the voice of “Ya Bahá El-Abhá!” to the supreme apex and to reach the ears of the inhabitants of the Kingdom with the outcry. This is reality! This is [Page 66]guidance! This is service! This is the consummation of the perfection of the realm of humanity!

O ye believers of God! Each person must summon the people to the servitude of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and not the Christhood, and no soul must either publicly or privately utter one word against or in contradiction to the general teachings, and no one must believe that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the “Second Coming of Christ,” nay, rather he must believe that he is the manifestation of servitude, the mainspring of the unity of the human world, the herald of the True One with spiritual power throughout all regions, the commentator of the Book according to the divine text, and the ransom to each one of the believers of God in the transitory world.

Print ye this tablet and spread it throughout all countries.

O ye elect and chosen ones of the Kingdom!

Thank God that the Greatest Name selected and elected that gathering, ushered it into the Kingdom of Eternal Glory, honoured and crowned it amid the Supreme Concourse.

He placed upon each head a glorious diadem of guidance and established each one upon the throne of eternal reign. This is not known now but shall become evident and clear hereafter.

The seed when growing, at first doth not attract attention, but later it becometh green and thriveth, adorning the rose-garden and the orchard. Now, likewise, this divine bounty is unknown, it is not yet revealed, but soon will its splendour illumine the horizons and brighten the East and the West.

[Page 67]I have been in your gatherings many times. I have not attended one-tenth of the number of meetings in other cities which I have attended in this city, but with you I have been in meetings day times, during evenings, with you individually, with you collectively and I have told you the teachings and exhortations of His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh. I conveyed unto you the glad tidings of God, I explained unto you the wishes of the Blessed Perfection; that which is conducive to human progress have I explained to you, and that which leads to the most great humility. I have given you a thorough explanation of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

I have stayed in New York a long time. Although at times I went away, I have always returned to New York, because I wished New York to advance greatly. In former times New York was the Bahá’í center. It had precedent over other cities from every standpoint, even in point of numbers. I would like to see New York now as it was formerly, that is, with many friends. I would like to see this assembly increase day by day, and this is contingent upon one thing, that is, you must set aside all differences and become one in thought. This is the call of the Kingdom of Abhá. When water is distributed through various channels or founts, none of the fountains shall have sufficient strength and power, all of them will be meager. But when you shut off the sources and force the water in one direction, you will see a tremendous outflow. Even so it is with the thought of mankind. When human thought is not centered, it is working here and elsewhere; no thought force will be strong, but if you shut off all other forces and make all as one thought, there will be a tremendous power in that one direction. Therefore, you must forsake all thoughts, be united, set aside all intentions and hold only to one intention. This is the summons to the Kingdom of [Page 68]Abhá. This is the invitation to the Great Kingdom of the Lord. If this is accomplished, New York, in the course of a year, will become bright; it will become fragrant; it will become a rose-garden; it will be delightful. The rays of the Sun of Light will shine. The faces will be most happy. Human realities will develop, the station of revelation and discovery will be attained, and the Stars of God will become resplendent.

Consider how all the people are asleep and ye are awake. They are dead and ye are alive through the breaths of the Holy Spirit. They are blind while ye are endowed with perceptive sight. They are deprived of the love of God but in your hearts it exists and is glowing. Consider these bestowals and favors.

Therefore in thanksgiving for them, ye must act in accordance with the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. Ye must read the Tablets, Hidden Words, Ishrakhat, Glad Tidings—all the Holy Utterances, and act according to them. This is real thanksgiving, to live in accord with these utterances. This is true thankfulness and the divine bestowal. This is thanksgiving and glorification of God.

I hope you all may attain thereto, be mindful of these favors of God and be attentive. It is my hope that I may go away from New York with a happy heart, and my heart is happy when the friends of God love each other: when they manifest the mercy of God to all people.

Strive you day and night that you may establish the power of the Covenant. Today the power that is able to quicken the heart of the world is the power of the Covenant. As the believers of God in New York, praise be to God, have found a new power in the Covenant and Testament, therefore they have gained happiness, attraction and [Page 69]motion. The more the Covenant is established, the more the power of the Holy Spirit will become manifest.

Truly, I say, if the believers of God become united with heart and soul, in a short time they will shine forth like unto the sun. They will obtain joy and happiness—the splendor of which will be cast upon all the regions of America.

New York is the candle of America, but on account of discord and differences of opinion, it had become extinguished. Now, praise be to God, it is illumined again. My hope is such that New York may become so luminous that it may illumine all the American continent. Now that unity is established, undoubtedly the confirmations of God and infinite assistance will be obtained.

Every one of the friends who travels to America reaches New York first, and hastens to the assembly of the friends.

Should he become intoxicated from the chalice of unity, he would travel in that country as if he were dancing with joy. But otherwise, unquestionably, he would become depressed and dispirited. In short, for the friends in New York, I beseech heavenly bounty and spiritual confirmations.

I hope that the Northeastern States, especially New York, may attain to the utmost state of perfection in the cause of God, and in the matter of teaching and the promotion of the Word of God, they may precede the friends of other parts. New York is the first and greatest city of the Western Hemisphere and the numberless passengers who come to America, come and pass through this city. Therefore, its important position is quite secure and must be taken into consideration. The friends of this city must be in the utmost love and amity, so that their unity may serve as an example to the other States. [Page 70]It is my hope that the meetings of the Bahá’í Assembly in New York shall become like meetings of the Supreme Concourse. When you assemble you must reflect the lights of the heavenly kingdom. Let your hearts be as mirrors in which the radiance of the Sun of Reality is visible. Each bosom must be a telegraph station; one terminus of the wire attached to the soul, the other fixed in the Supreme Concourse, so that inspiration may descend from the Kingdom of Abhá and questions of reality be discussed. Then opinion will coincide with truth; day by day there will be progression and the meetings become more radiant and spiritual. This attainment is conditioned upon unity and agreement. The more perfect the love and agreement, the more the divine confirmations and assistance of the Blessed Perfection will descend. May this prove to be a divine meeting and may boundless bestowals come down upon you. Strive with all your hearts and with the very power of life that unity and love may continually increase. In discussions look toward the reality without being self-opinionated. Let no one assert and insist upon his own mere opinion; nay rather, let each investigate the reality with the greatest love and fellowship. Consult upon every matter and when one presents the point of view of the reality itself, that shall be acceptable to all. Then will spiritual unity increase among you, individual illumination will be greater, happiness more abundant and you will draw nearer and nearer to the kingdom of God.

O ye sons of the Kingdom!

Concerning the erection of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár: Now all the believers must become united, so that the temple may be built soon in one place. For should (the believers) undertake (the erection of a temple) in many places, it will not become completed anywhere; and as in Chicago they have [Page 71]preceded every other place to plan the erection of the temple, undoubtedly to co-operate and help them is noble and a necessity. Then when it is built in one place it will become erected in many other places. If, for the present you prepare or establish a home in New York, though by renting it, to become a center for the gathering of the believers in God, it is very acceptable. God willing in all the States of America in the future there will be erected temples with infinite architectural beauty, art, with pleasing proportion and handsome and attractive appearance.

O ye faithful, O ye sincere!

Verily, in the midst of nights and with a heart overflowing with fervent supplications and earnest prayers, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá beseeches his Lord to shower down upon you the divine gifts of the heavenly table, that ye may rejoice through His bounty, munificence and the abundance of His Lights and be illumined by the sun of His Reality, the dawn of which is dazzling upon the East and the West.

O beloved of God! Great, great is the matter! Illustrious illustrious is the victory! Glorious, glorious is the Age! Steady, steady is the abundance, and the lights have encompassed all regions.

Arise with divine power, merciful intention, heavenly zeal, spiritual character, resolute aim, and rely upon God, the Peerless, endeavor in the service of the Cause of God, put every effort in the vineyard of God, utter the praise of God, spread the fragrances of God, characterize yourselves with the characteristics of God, clothe yourselves with the vestments of angels, and adorn yourselves with the excellencies of merit which is the real ornament of man.

Be the guideposts of favor, the banners of perfection, the lighthouses of science and knowledge, the standards of unity and the signs of the gift of the glorious Lord. [Page 72]This is that whereby your faces would be illumined in the Supreme World and your breasts dilated with joy through the favors of the Lord of the Sublime Heaven.

I desire distinction for you. The Bahá’ís must be distinguished from others of humanity. But this distinction must not depend upon wealth—that they should become more affluent than other people. I do not desire for you financial distinction. It is not an ordinary distinction I desire; not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction. For you I desire spiritual distinction; that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. You must become distinguished for loving humanity; for unity and accord; for love and justice. In brief, you must become distinguished in all the virtues of the human world; for faithfulness and sincerity; for justice and fidelity; for firmness and steadfastness; for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world; for love toward every human being; for unity and accord with all people; for removing prejudices and promoting international peace. Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and acquiring the bestowals of God. I desire this distinction for you. This must be the point of distinction among you.

In brief, whenever you witness in any soul the image and likeness of God, know ye of a certainty that he (or she) is a Bahá’í, that is, the signs of the effulgences of Bahá’u’lláh, are revealed in him; the sanctification and purity of Bahá’u’lláh, the virtues of Bahá’u’lláh, the perfections of Bahá’u’lláh, and the might and dominion of Bahá’u’lláh. Whenever you witness the rays of His bestowal in any soul, the image and likeness of Bahá’u’lláh reflected, know that he assuredly is a Bahá’í, that he is the [Page 73]servant of Bahá’u’lláh, that he is related to Bahá’u’lláh, he is the sign of Bahá’u’lláh. Otherwise he is not at all related to Bahá’u’lláh. Bahá’u’lláh is free from him; He has nothing to do with him. Therefore, strive, have no rest day or night, until you attain to the characteristics of the angelic kingdom. May you become the signs of guidance. May you become the lamps of the Kingdom of God. May you become shining stars in the Kingdom of Everlasting Glory. May you illumine the world of humanity. May you become the very spirit of the world of humanity, so that the world may be likened unto a body and you the spirit animating that body. May you bestow life. May you illumine. May you enlighten. These are the characteristics of the people of Bahá. This is the behavior of the people of Bahá. These are the aims of the people of Bahá. It is my hope that all of you may become assisted and confirmed therein. Praise be to God, you are all under the shade of His protection! Praise be to God, that you are surrounded with the glance of His mercifulness! Praise be to God, that you are related to Him! Praise be to God, that you are receiving lights from His Sun! Ere long you shall witness that the rays of the Sun of Bahá’u’lláh have illumined the Orient and the Occident.


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