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STAR OF THE WEST
"We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; that all nations shall become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened, that diversity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be; these fruitless strifes; these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come."—BAHA'O'LLAH.
Vol. 10 Jalal 1, 75 (April 9, 1919) No. 2
Tablets of Abdul-Baha recently revealed
AGNES ALEXANDER
To the maid-servant of God, Miss Agnes Alexander.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH-El-Abha!
He Is God!
O thou daughter of the Kingdom!
Although your letter has not yet been received, yet we do answer it. Praise be to God, that in Japan thou hast been assisted in the accomplishment of a distinguished service. Thou hast raised the Call of the divine Kingdom and hast led the people to an illumined world and a heavenly Cause; thou hast become the cause of enlightenment and the wisher for the education of human souls. For those regions are in a sheer need of divine teachings and are endowed with sufficient capability. Those souls must be emancipated from the obscurity of blind imitations and be illumined by the light of heavenly instructions. Whoever arises for such a work, divine confirmations shall assist him and the power of the Kingdom shall be made manifest.
Effort must be exerted that the East and West may be reconciled, that the darkness of bigotry may vanish, that the unity of mankind may be made manifest and that East and West, like unto two longing souls, may embrace each other in the utmost of love. For all are the sheep of God and God is the Real Shepherd and is kind to everyone.
In accordance with the wish of the attracted maid-servant of God to the love of God, Mrs. Maxwell, go thou to Canada and stay there for a time and then hasten back to Japan for in Japan you will be assisted and exalted.
Some letters are enclosed for the friends in Japan. Forward them.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Shoghi Rabbani, Haifa, Palestine, December 27, 1918.)
TOKUJIRO TORII
To his honor, Mr. Tokujiro Torii, Toyko, Japan. (Care of Miss Agnes Alexander.)
He Is God!
O thou possessor of a seeing heart!
Although, materially speaking, thou art destitute of the physical sight, yet, praise be to God, spiritual insight is thy possession. Thy heart seeth and thy spirit heareth. Bodily sight is subject to a thousand maladies and ultimately
and assuredly will be obscured. Thus no importance may be attached to it. But the sight of the heart is illumined, it discerns and discovers the divine Kingdom and is everlasting and eternal. Praise be to God, therefore, that the sight of thy heart is illumined, and the hearing of thy wit responsive.
The meetings you have organized, wherein ye feel heavenly emotions and comprehend realities and significances,—that meeting is like unto the firmament with those souls as resplendent stars shining with the light of guidance.
Happy is the soul that seeks, in this brilliant era, heavenly teachings, and blessed is the heart which is stirred and attracted by the love of God.
At present the Sun of Truth has dawned upon the land of Japan and the hope is that it may be illumined by heavenly teachings.
Convey on my behalf utmost love and longing to Mr. D. Inouye and similarly to Mr. S. Saiki.* My hope is that those two blessed souls may shine like unto two heavenly stars from the horizon of Japan and may be the cause of its enlightenment.
That land has acquired material civilization and ephemeral advancement; we hope that it may acquire heavenly civilization.
Convey to thy respected wife my greeting and my message and the same to the young babe†, Akira, whose name may be ever blessed for it is quite an appropriate one.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
*A poet and a Buddhist priest. †The child of Mr. and Mrs. Torii. The first child to be born in a Bahai home in Japan. The name "Akira" means in Japanese, "shining light", which the mother saw before the birth of the babe who was born on March 11, 1918.
(Translated by Shoghi Rabbani, Haifa, Palestine, December 27, 1918.)
FUYO MUCHIZUKI
To the maid-servant of God, Fuyo Muchizuki, Tokyo, Japan.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha. (Care Miss Agnes Alexander.)
He Is God!
O thou beloved daughter!
Thy letter was received and was perused in the utmost of joy, that, praise be to God, in the land of Japan, the light of the love of God has appeared resplendently and a torch, such as thee, has been enkindled. For thy heart overflows with the wine of the love of God and thy spirit is ablaze. Like unto a shrub, thou art fresh and tender, growing and flourishing through the outpourings of the cloud of Bounty. My hope is that thou mayest soon bloom and blossom and bring forth delectable fruits.
The Real Shepherd is undoubtedly kind unto His flock and is in the utmost of attachment, mercy and solicitude. This is only a natural fact. Rest thou assured, therefore, that thou art always within sight and art encompassed by tender cares.
The people of Japan are like unto a soil that has been deprived of rain for cycles and generations and has had no share of the outpourings of rain and even of dew. Certainly it is quite a thirst. Now you should become the divine gardener and should satisfy that thirsty soil with the water of divine teachings, so that heavenly bounties may be poured out and the flowers of reality and the
fragrant herbs of human perfections spring forth and that land may turn into a paradise of Eden.
Upon thee be greeting and praise!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Shoghi Rabbani, Haifa, Palestine, December 27, 1918.)
CHARLES MASON REMEY
To his honor, Mr. Charles Mason Remey, Washington, D. C.—Upon him be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He is God!
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!
Since the extinction of the fire of war four successive letters have been received from you. The utmost happiness they brought for they carried with them the glad-tidings of the health and welfare of the friends of God.
Praise be unto God, that throughout this violent storm the Ark of the Covenant hath attained unto the shore of Salvation. The danger was imminent and the occasion for fear and apprehension prepared. The friends in all regions remained safe and preserved under the shade of divine protection, particularly in the Holy Land where the danger and calamities were infinite and limitless. Every day brought a new trial and every hour carried with it a special difficulty. In brief, had not divine protection been extended, existence for a single day would have been absolutely impossible. This, verily, is one of the miracles of God that I and the friends in the Holy Land should remain safe and protected while being held in the strong grip of a group of sanguinary persons.
Prior to the war, numerous letters were dispatched to America wherein it was manifestly recorded that a severe commotion was ahead and a great agitation lay in the near future; that the people of the world would be involved in crucial danger and affliction, and trying tests would come to pass; that the pillars of comfort would quake from the intensity of commotion and that blessed souls would shine resplendently like unto the stars of the Supreme Horizon.
Praise be to God, the showers of the blessings of the Blessed Beauty (BAHA'O'LLAH) are abundantly pouring and the grace and bounty of the loving Lord are complete. At present these gloomy clouds are in the process of dissipation from the horizon of the world. The friends of God must, in accordance with the prescribed directions which have formerly been sent, forget everything, hasten to different lands and regions and promulgate the divine teachings. For this blood-thirsty war has made the world of mankind tired of life, all ears eager to hearken to the call of universal peace, to the declaration of the oneness of the world of humanity, to full understanding, to the annihilation of estrangement and the hoisting of the standard of affection. The majority of the people are ready to listen to the divine teachings. Opportunity must not be let slip away for at another occasion such a capacity will not be found and endeavor and effort shall be in vain. Today is the day of teaching, for all men are athirst and divine teachings are as the refreshing water. Later on, the thirst shall not remain so severe. Hence one should sieze the opportunity so that possibly all races and creeds shall unite and this enmity and rancor may vanish from among men.
(Continued on page 27)
STAR OF THE WEST
PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR
By the BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the postoffice at Chicago, Ill., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Editorial Staff: ALBERT R. WINDUST — GERTRUDE BUIKEMA — DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI
Honorary Member: MIRZA AHMAD SOHRAB
Terms: $1.50 per year; 10 cents per copy
Make Money Orders payable to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
To personal checks please add sufficient to cover the bank exchange.
Address all communications to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
TABLET FROM ABDUL-BAHA.
HE IS GOD!
O thou Star of the West!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Vol. 10
No. 2
Eleventh Bahai Convention and Congress
To be held in New York City, April 26th to 30th — Letter sent forth by the Bahai Temple Unity
April 9, 1919.
Dear friend in the love of the Most Glorious:
The Eleventh Bahai Convention and Congress will be held at the Hotel McAlpin, Broadway and 34th St, New York City. It is probable that the combined sessions will extend over five days, that is from April 26th to April 30th, inclusive.
Everyone who has attended the Conventions of the past has received a great divine bestowal. Those who traveled across the continent to the Convention and Congress which were held at the Panama-Pacific Exposition will always remember it with the greatest thankfulness and joy. All the past Conventions have been a preparation for this gathering which is now being made ready in New York, and it is the desire of Abdul-Baha that the largest possible number shall attend.
This attendance should not be limited to delegates or alternates, but should include everyone who is attracted to the universality of the divine teachings. The doors are flung open to the lovers of Truth everywhere. The greatest possible publicity should be given in each city so that the largest number of souls who are attracted may attend.
The world is in a ferment. During the days and the nights it is crying out in pain and agony. Some remedies which are being applied give temporary relief, but others increase the suffering of the patient. One physician succeeds another with bewildering rapidity, while the patient steadily grows weaker.
Mirza Ahmad has brought the story of the terrible sufferings of the people in Syria during the war. He tells us that during the days and in the middle of the nights, one could hear the cries of the starving, lifting their voices hopelessly, as they became steadily weaker, crying, "hungry, hungry, hungry." With the spiritual ear do we not hear the same cry being uttered by the hungry, starving souls of men?
During the long weary days of the war, while cut off from all outward communication with his friends, Abdul-Baha was engaged in providing spiritual
sustenance for the world. Now the doors are opened and through the protection of BAHA'O'LLAH a messenger has reached the shores of America. Abdul-Baha said to Mirza Ahmad that he wished him to arrive in time for the Convention and that he should do this at any cost. Every difficulty was removed and Mirza Ahmad has arrived and is in Washington translating the great messages of Abdul-Baha. These are to be given out at the Convention and Congress meetings in accordance with the instructions of Abdul-Baha.
To a degree never before known these gatherings are being planned and carried forward under the direct guidance of Abdul-Baha. In a more wonderful sense than ever before realized it is the Convention of Abdul-Baha. The program for the Convention and Congress will revolve around these great messages which will be brought forward in nine presentations.
It is sufficient to suggest that everyone who attends these meetings will be astonished at the import and significance of these messages. No words can describe them, for they are the Creative Word, itself. They are the illumination of the world of humanity, the essence of hope to every despondent one, the full explanation, the radiant, powerful traces of the brilliant Sun of Truth. Wonderful constructive days are now beginning of which these messages are the pivot.
Come all ye people, all ye worshippers of the Sun of Reality, and hear with the outer and inner ear the melodies of the Heavenly Singer! Can ye discern behind the veil of words that this is the Call of God, in His Manifest Grandeur? Come ye with hearts pure, radiant, thankful, open, and with your beings clear, like a white page upon which will be written the traces of the Godly instructions!
This is an epoch-making gathering, not alone to the Bahais, but to the entire world. All are in His Assembly.
A number of the friends called into consultation with Mirza Ahmad, who have been permitted to obtain only a glimpse of Abdul-Baha's messages, found themselves submerged in the sea of forgiveness, and swept into the realm of his presence and his all surrounding love. Their breasts were dilated and their minds were quickened at the contemplation of the manifest gifts of God, and with our hearts and souls we longed for everyone to share in this heavenly table.
In these gatherings the heavenly feast will be spread and all who long for this sustenance are invited, from the highways and byways of the world of existence.
In the name of Abdul-Baha, we bid ye welcome, all ye who are thirsty, all ye who are hungry, all ye who are confused, all ye who are longing, all ye who are hopeless, for He has come. The doors are open, the call is raised, the sacrificing hearts are yearning for servitude. Will ye come?
In the love of the Spirit,
CONVENTION AND CONGRESS COMMITTEE OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
By Harlan Foster Ober, Secretary.
[The following letters addressed to all the friends by Mirza Ahmad Sohmb were included in this communication:]
Washington, D. C.,
March 30, 1919.
My dear brothers and sisters in the Cause!
It is indeed a great joy to be back in America and feel the warmth and heat of the love of Abdul-Baha in the hearts of the friends! The greatest happiness in this life is to associate with the believers and see in their faces the light of Truth, in their hearts the jewels of wisdom and in their souls the fragrance of constancy.
Six years have rolled on, and I have been absent from your midst; but although absent in body, yet all of you were often remembered at the Threshhold of BAHA'O'LLAH and in the presence
of the Center of the Covenant. I have brought for you his boundless love and greeting, his heavenly spirit and his devotion to the Cause, his beauty and loveliness of spirit, his majesty and humility, his earnestness and enthusiasm to serve the Cause and promote love and unity amongst the friends.
Aside from these ideal gifts, I have carried with me from his presence some most wonderful, world-wide, heavenly instructions, the unfoldment of which will give the vision of the future humanity, perfected and beatified. I am now busily engaged in the translation of these instructions, and I hope they will all be ready to be presented to Bahais at the coming Convention, in New York City, April 26-29.
As this occasion will be more or less unique in the history of the Bahai Movement, and as these instructions belong to all the friends in the United States and Canada, it is certain that all those who can attend the sessions of the Convention without injury to their business will receive a great spiritual blessing.
The coming Bahai Convention and Congress will be like a magnet, attracting the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abha and encircling the friends with the white light of joy and happiness. Its object will be creative, its aim constructive, its desire the promotion of the oneness of the world of humanity, its hope to unite all hearts in the love of God, and the servitude in the Holy Threshold, its longing to draw all minds to the source of all good, and its keynote to unfold the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. It will be the realization of the dream of that seer and poet, Lord Tennyson, who in his "Memoriam" says:
"One God, one law, one element
"And one far-off Divine Event
"To which the whole creation moves."
I am,
Your faithful brother,
Ahmad Sohrab.
Washington, D. C.
April 7, 1919.
Dear Bahai brothers and sisters:
We are on the eve of a great Bahai Convention, which will be held in New York the latter part of this month.
From every standpoint the coming Bahai gathering will be unique in the history of the Bahai Movement.
Our beloved Abdul-Baha has promised me that he would be present in our midst. Now it depends upon us to create that heavenly atmosphere of divine love and unity to make him happy and rejoiced as he looks upon us from his celestial station.
Many of us have felt strongly that with the inauguration of this convention a new era of spiritual activity will be opened before the faces of the friends and the universal vision of Abdul-Baha, the Center of the Covenant, will so uplift the souls that they may find themselves in his presence.
Once Abdul-Baha said: The Arabs before the day of Mohammed had a custom that during eleven months of the year they quarreled, pillaged and ransacked the goods of the caravans, killed and carried lawlessness into every corner of Arabia. But during the sacred month they set aside all their strife and contention. People traveled from one end of Arabia to the other in perfect security, no one molesting or robbing them of their property.
Now let us all realize that the four or five days of the Convention are sacred and holy. Let us come to the Convention with nothing but love in our hearts and with nothing but the light of service in our faces and with nothing but humility and submission at the Threshold of BAHA'O'LLAH. Let the spirit of peace and brotherhood, unity and amity be spread from that Convention, with hearts dedicated to the service of humanity, with souls ablaze with the fire of the love of God and with minds ready
to receive the eternal impression of the words of the Beloved of our life.
Let us all meanwhile pray day and night that we may be fully prepared to be submerged in the sea of divine love and let the glorious song of "Ya-Baha-el-Abha!" be raised from all the hearts intoxicated with this new wine which Abdul-Baha has prepared for us and which will be offered to us through his divine instructions at this Convention.
The whole world, now weary with war and bloodshed, must receive great spiritual blessing from the Bahai Movement, and now is the time for us to show and demonstrate whether we can rise to the heights of this golden opportunity; whether we can serve our fellow-men unitedly and with one accord; whether we can forget the past and grasping in our hands the imperial sceptre of light, walk in the pathway of the Kingdom of Abha and raise a great acclamation of rejoicing through the hearts of the people of the earth.
Hoping that we will all meet in that sacred Convention, receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and go forth into the world with a new power, a new vision, a new strength, and dedicate anew at the Convention our service to the world of humanity through the divine teachings of the Center of the Covenant.
Your sincere brother in the Cause,
Ahmad.
--PHOTOGRAPH--
February 28, 1919 Haifa, Syria
Dear Sir:—
In accordance with the desire of our Beloved Master, I enclose here-with a copy of a Tablet that has recently been revealed to a friend in Persia which He wants you to publish fully in the Star of the West.
Sincerely yours,
Shoghi Rabbani
(grandson of Abdul Baha)
--PERSIAN TEXT--
Recent Tablet to an eminent Bahai in Persia
Translation of the blessed Tablet revealed by the Center of the Covenant, Abdul-Baha, and sent to the STAR OF THE WEST by him for publication.
To his honor Agha Mirza Mohammad Bakir Khan, Shiraz, Persia.—Upon him be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He is God!
O thou who art firm in the Covenant and steadfast in the Testament!
Your letter has been received in the best of time. For some years not a melody has reached the ear of the longing ones from the district of Shiraz. This letter is a faithful messenger that has arrived in this Blessed Spot from
--PERSIAN TEXT--
that fragrant and pure country. It is the message of that kind friend and the cause of joy and fragrance.
Thanks be unto God! The friends in Shiraz, notwithstanding the cessation of news, were confirmed in firmness in the Covenant, through the favors of the Orb of the horizons. I am hopeful that the melody of the Kingdom will so arise as to make that section envied by all regions. It was written in the past, my hope is that the queen of songs from Shiraz may reach the ears of the Supreme Concourse. The aim was that the friends of God may be so ablaze with the fire of divine love that the fragrances
--PERSIAN TEXT--
of God may be diffused to other parts. That was the purpose of this Servant.
All the governments and the nations of the world have fallen in painful torture from the mischief of this universal war; the edifice of mankind quaked and the world of humanity fell into a great crisis. All the sects have become targets for the arrows of calamities; but through the infinite bestowals of the Blessed Beauty (BAHA'O'LLAH) this oppressed party (the Bahais) in all countries remained safe and protected. This is from the blessings of the divine teachings. All the nations and governments are assured that the party of God has no other purpose and desire save peace, reconciliation, the oneness of the world of humanity, harmony and kindness. Even all the enemies give testimony to this. For this world-consuming war has become the cause of the fulfillment of that which had been explicitly recorded in the divine Tablets and like unto the sun in the setting horizon, has become manifest and evident. There remains no room of denial for any soul. The evidence is complete. Some of the enemies who composed books merely for corruption and to ignite the fire of hate, have recorded in their own books these divine behests which had emanated from the Supreme Pen and were printed and distributed more than thirty years ago. They have even interpreted and explained some of the words that were slightly obscure so as to agitate the authorities of the enemy to strike and uproot the Blessed Tree! Even the well-known Mirza Mahdy Khan, wrote in the book of his delusion* these divine records. For example, he put in parenthesis the word "Constantinople" for "O thou point that art situated between the two seas" in order to disturb the
*Abdul-Baha refers to a book called Meftah Bab-el-Abwab—the key of the door of doors—written by Mahdy Khan in Egypt in the years 1907-1908.
celebrated personage* and to make him understand that "verily, upon thee hath been established the throne of oppression" meant himself—the Sultan. These enemies were indeed the heralds. Now that these divine behests have, after years, become fulfilled, there remains no room for denial for any soul, because as above written, these were recorded and printed in the writings of the enemies. Every one who denies may refer to them.
Undoubtedly, you have perused the European papers. This Servant in all gatherings, assemblies, synagogues and churches, declared at the top of his voice: "O ye who are present! O ye who are hearing! The continent of Europe is like unto hell! Below the surface the earth is filled with combustible materials. It is an arsenal and a storehouse for ammunition and it depends only upon a spark to have its flames suddenly reach the zenith of heaven! The fire of war will envelop the horizon and assuredly this shall come to pass! O ye people, strive and make great efforts, perchance this world-consuming fire may become suppressed and extinguished. Otherwise, countries shall be overturned, the world from the east to the west will become devastated, the human edifice shall be upset and in the world of His creation the structure of rest and happiness shall fall!"
These explicit talks were spread in the papers of the year 1912. Now, according to the divine texts the susceptibilities of Universal Peace are emanating from the hearts. The wise among the people who considered this great Cause as an impossibility and thought of it as superstitions, have now arisen in its promotion. The divine texts are being used by the mouths of the well-wishers in different expressions.
Unquestionably, you have heard of the splendid addresses delivered by His Highness the President (Woodrow Wilson)
*The Sultan of Turkey, Abdul Hamid.
in great gatherings and you have read them. His Highness the President, explained his fourteen points in these great meetings, that they are the cause of progress and prosperity of the world of humanity. Twelve of these fourteen points were recorded in the divine Tablets fifty years ago. They were printed and most of them were translated and distributed. Consider how the law of God is being spread by ideal forces.
The ascension of some of the friends to the infinite realm was the cause of sorrow to these wandering ones. Yet for those blessed souls, their departure was the cause of joy and happiness. The prisoner became free and the victim of deprivation hastened to the meeting-place of manifestation in the invisible world.
In regard to the book of the illiterate Jawad* there is no significance to it whatsoever, because every just one who reads such writings will instantly know the truth and will understand that these statements emanate from the world of doubts. This book is not from the composition of the illiterate Jawad, it was published in his name according to instructions
*Mohammed Jawad Gazvini lives in Acca and was well known among the early believers but now is a violator.
from the center of violation. Likewise, other books that have been distributed are composed by the center of violation but known in the name of different persons. Let us leave aside this hearsay; become rejoiced in the fragrances of God and act according to the blessed commands. In the Epistle of the Kings, (BAHA'O'LLAH) quoted the following verse: "My heart is depressed by men of weak elements! My hands desire to reach the Lion of God* and Rostem".†
Thanks be unto God! Their honors Khans‡ are safe and guarded under the shadow of divine protection and engaged in completing their studies. When the way becomes open and traveling facilitated, they will return to those regions with utmost longings.
Convey on my behalf, the greeting of the yearning one unto all the friends and unto each individually.
Upon thee be El-Baha-el-Abha.
(Revealed March 23, 1919. Translated by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, April, 1919).
*The "Lion of God" was a title given to Ali the brave son-in-law of the Prophet Mohammed.
†Rostem was a great Persian hero.
‡Sons of Agha, Mohammed Bakir-Khan at Beirut College.
Tablets of Abdul-Baha recently revealed
(Continued from page 19)
Convey on my behalf to the two respected personages, Mr. Richard Mayer and Mrs. Ledyard the utmost love and kindness. I beg and supplicate to the divine Kingdom and beseech for these two purified souls limitless favor that they may sprout in the Paradise of Abha on the banks of the Water of Life and grow and flourish by the outpouring of the Cloud of Bounty.
The designs of the Mashrekol-azkar have been perused. All are good. That which is chosen by the Committee of the Temple is best. The report which thou hadst written of thy travel with Mr. Latimer to the various parts of the world, to Honolulu, Hawaii, and other regions has been noted. Praise be to God, thou has been assisted in such a great service.
Upon thee be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Haifa, Palestine, January 8, 1919.)
GENEVIEVE COY
To the maid-servant of God, Genevieve L. Coy, Columbis, Ohio.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He is God!
O thou who hast sought guidance from the Kingdom of God!
Thy letter, dated October 24, 1918, was received. The purport was conducive to happiness. Praise be unto God, thou hast been freed from the fetter of agnosticism (I know nothing) which is indicative of utter ignorance, and hast hastened to the Realm of "Verily, I know everything!" For heavenly souls acquire the power of perception and ultimately reach unto a station at which they comprehended the realities of things. Formerly they were agnostics; later on they became true and firm believers. My hope is that thou mayest attain such a station.
In that city, although the fire of the love of God has not yet been set ablaze, soon it shall become aflame; blessed souls shall enter the divine Kingdom, shall arise with righteous aim and chaste deeds in the service of the world of humanity, shall raise the call of the Kingdom and shall ignite a candle in every heart.
I pray in behalf of the inhabitants of that city and beg for them the light of supreme guidance, that spirits may be illumined and hearts may be gladdened by the glad-tidings of God.
Upon thee be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Shoghi Rabbani, January 9, 1919. Home of Abdul-Baha, Haifa, Palestine.)
ANNA VAN BLARCOM
To the maid-servant of God, Anna Van Blarcom, Montclair, New Jersey.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He Is God!
O thou who art encompassed with the blessings of God!
Thy letter was received. Praise be to God, it contained good news, namely that a group of colored men have become illumined and have acquired a new zeal and ardor. When I was in America, I exerted a great deal of effort in order to promote a great harmony and union among the white and the colored, for men are like unto doves which associate in perfect concord and amity whether white, black, yellow or red in color. My hope is that this may happen among men. Consider ye, that color has been obliterated among birds, among whom distinction in color does not prevent intimate association. The same applies to animals which give no importance to color, but rather take into consideration the species.
How then can man, who is the highest type in the world of creation, attach importance to unimportant matters and make difference in color the cause of alienation and enmity?
Endeavor ye, therefore, to bring about absolute affiliation between the white and the colored. This variety in color is indeed an ornament. If in a rose-garden all the flowers are unicolored, what beauty may be found therein?
Whereas if thou beholdest a garden wherein multicolored flowers bloom, infinite grace and beauty will appear therefrom.
Likewise if the world of mankind were of one color what preference would it have? Whereas multiplicity of color is an emblem of the Power of the Merciful.
Convey to Mrs. Beede the utmost kindness on my behalf and to Mr. Randall the glad-tiding of the Kingdom and my utmost love to the Edsalls and Reids.
Upon thee be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Shoghi Rabbani, Haifa, Palestine, January 9, 1919.)
EMMA CARMICHAEL
To the maid-servant of God, Mrs. Emma Carmichael, Brantford, Ontario, Canada.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He Is God!
Your letter dated November 14, 1918, was received. From its contents it became known that you are in Canada, and are turning your face, with a clean and pure purpose to the Kingdom of God.
Among the inhabitants of Canada, the attracted maid-servant of God, Mrs. Maxwell, is in reality in the utmost attraction and enkindlement. Convey my greeting to her. I hope that, having joined hands together, you may strive for the promulgation of divine teachings and thus be the cause of the enlightenment of that region. Those souls of the Kingdom who are attracted in these days are like unto a gardener, are ceaselessly sowing seeds, are bestowing growth through the outpourings of the cloud of guidance and are heaping up piles of crops and harvest. My prayer to God is that you may also act similarly.
Concerning what you had written about your husband, be thou not grieved for, praise be to God, he has attained unto everlasting life and has reaped the fruit of his existence on earth, and this is faith and the complete turning of the face toward the Kingdom of God. This is verily everlasting health, this is eternal comfort, this is heavenly exaltation and this is merciful bounty.
Convey on my behalf greeting and kindness to the maid-servants of God, Mrs. Mabel Davis Reley and Mrs. Emma Reasner. Although their two supplications have not materially arrived, yet the heart from their contents is indeed gladdened.
Upon thee be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Shoghi Rabbani, January 9, 1919. Home of Abdul-Baha, Haifa, Palestine.)
MARTHA ROOT
To the maid-servant of God, Martha L. Root, Cambridge Springs, Pa.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He is God!
O thou enkindled with the fire of the love of God!
Your detailed letter dated November 7, 1918, was in these days received. The contents produced great joy, for they indicated a benevolent purpose, an untiring and an extended tour around the different parts of the globe.
Today the promulgation of the ideal principles of His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH, which are manifestly recorded in the Books, is the spirit of this age and the cause of the realization of assistance and confirmation. Assuredly whenever thou holdest fast to it, in whatever enterprise thou mayest engage, thou shalt find the doors of might and power flung open to thy face. My hope from the blessings of His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH is that thou mayest become self-sacrificing in His path, that thou mayest forget rest and composure and like unto a swift-flying bird, thou mayest cover long distances and in whatever land thou tarriest thou mayest reproduce the melody of the Kingdom and engage in songs and music in the best of tunes.
At present the whole world is prepared for the call of the Kingdom. The past war has given rise to a wonderful capacity among men, for the underlying foundation of the teachings of God rests upon the comfort and the well-being of the denizens of the world and upon the establishment of Universal Peace.
As ears are awaiting the summons for Universal Peace, it is therefore advisable for thee to travel, in case comfortable journey is possible, to the different parts of the globe and roar like unto a lion in the Kingdom of God. Wide-reaching consequences thou shalt witness and extraordinary confirmations shall be exhibited unto thee. His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH has said: "Verily, We gaze upon ye from My Abha Horizon and shall come to the assistance of him who has risen to the service of My Cause with the phalanxes of the Supreme Concourse and with a legion of chosen and favored angels." Thus the diffusion of divine fragrances is above all the most important matter.
I very much desire that thou shouldst visit the Holy Land and thus to meet thee, but teaching stands above everything else and if thou deemest it advisable, engage thou in the spreading of it throughout the regions of the world.
His honor Mr. Harry Randall is indeed the herald of the Kingdom of God, serves His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH and the friends of God beyond his own endurance and is the cause of the extension of the sphere of teaching.
His honor Mr. Roy Wilhelm is in reality a true servant. He has no thought save service to the Kingdom of Abha and is therein engaged day and night.
Mr. Richard Mayer is self-sacrificing in service to the world of humanity and is the cause of the diffusion of Divine fragrances. His efforts are accepted at the Kingdom of Abha.
As to Green Acre, it is indeed an important spot. Far-reaching consequences shall result from the gathering at that spot. May the spirit of (her honor) Miss Farmer rejoice and rest in peace and may her reality be glorified in the Kingdom of Abha! I always beg assistance and confirmations for the friends in Green Acre.
His honor Agha Abbas Ali is indeed the Abbas of Baha, i. e. the lion of BAHA'O'LLAH, for he roars and proclaims the call of "Ya-Baha-el-Abha!" on mountains and in jungles.
Concerning the Esperanto language, numerous letters have been written by the friends and have been spread over all the world. My hope is that the Esperantists may become attracted by these epistles, may consider the magnitude of confirmation bestowed upon some of the important Tablets of His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH and propagate them all around. I trust they may turn their faces towards the Abha Kingdom and may solicit assistance and confirmation in this noble undertaking.
O thou beloved maid-servant of God! I presently implore and entreat at the Kingdom of God and beg for thy late mother unbounded forgiveness that
her chaste and pure essence may become sanctified from the pollutions of sins and may turn out bright and resplendent by the glorious Light in the limitless Kingdom.
Convey, on my behalf, the wonderful Abha greetings to all the friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful.
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Shoghi Rabbani, January 10, 1919. Home of Abdul-Baha, Haifa, Palestine.)
MABEL NICKERSON
To the maid-servant of God, Mabel A. Nickerson, Chicago, Ill.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He Is God!
O maid-servant of His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH!
Thy letter dated September 25, 1918, was received. Thou hadst solicited confirmation. Know thou verily that the magnet of confirmation is the promulgation of divine teachings. Whosoever arises for the diffusion of the fragrances of God, the confirmation of the Kingdom will assuredly surround him to such an extent that he will himself remain confounded.
However, this is conditioned upon the conformity of words with deeds. The people of Bahá must strive to diffuse the fragrances through deeds more than through words, for a single deed, motived by the Essence of Sanctity, so promulgates (The Word) that its sweet-scented fragrances are transmitted to all the regions of the world. My hope is that thou mayest be confirmed and assisted.
Thou hast asked for permission to attain the court of presence. Whenever travel in comfort and ease is made possible, then thou art granted permission.
Convey to all the friends and maid-servants of God respectful greetings.
Upon thee be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated Haifa, Palestine, January 10, 1919.)
GERALDINE LUXMORE
To the maid-servant of God, Geraldine Luxmore, Akron, Ohio.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He is God!
O thou who hast sought illumination from the light of guidance!
Praise thou God, that He hath directed thee to the Light of Truth and hath invited thee to enter the Kingdom of Abha. Sight has been illumined and heart has been turned into a rose-garden. I pray for thee that thou mayest ever grow in faith and assurance, shine like unto a torch in the assemblies and bestow thereupon the light of guidance.
Whenever an illumined gathering of the friends of God is instituted, Abdul-Baha, although bodily absent, is yet present in spirit and in soul. I am always a traveler to America and am assuredly associating with Godlike and illumined friends. Distance is annihilated and prevents not the close and intimate association of two souls that are closely attached in heart even though
they may be in two different countries. I am therefore thy mate in association in songs and melodies!
Upon thee be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Shoghi Rabbani, January 10, 1919. Home of Abdul-Baha, Haifa, Palestine.)
BELLE LUXMORE
To the maid-servant of God, Belle B. Luxmore.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He Is God!
O thou respected one!
Praise God and be grateful that thou hast become the recipient of divine bounty, has illumined thy sight and heart with the light of guidance, hast responded to the call of the Herald of the Kingdom and hast turned thy face to the Most Exalted Summit.
Appreciate thou the value of this supreme bounty and praise and thank the Lord day and night.
Upon thee be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Shogi Rabbani. January 10, 1919. Home of Abdul-Baha, Haifa, Palestine.)
HENRIETTA WAGNER
To the maid-servant of God, Henrietta Clark Wagner, Akron, Ohio.—Upon her be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
He is God!
O thou firm in the Covenant!
Thy letter dated October 24, 1918, was received. Praise be to God that, like unto the shower of bounty, thou hast caused every soil to be fertile and every plantation luxuriant.
Thou wert only complaining of Cleveland. The reason why this inactivity prevails is because some heedless and thoughtless ones are corresponding with some of the people of that city. But this depression and inactivity is like unto a mist which the Sun of Truth shall eventually dissipate through the heat of its rays. Thus the obscurity of error shall give way to the morn of guidance.
Praise be to God, thou art engaged in service and art occupied in promulgating the Divine Teachings.
Appreciate thou the merit of such confirmed deed and thank thy Lord for it day and night. The gratitude for this favor consists in thy adoption of divine morals, thy teaching the Cause of God and thy holding fast to His Covenant.
I beg for thee the Bounty, the Favor and the Blessings of God.
Forward the enclosed letters.
Upon thee be BAHA'O'LLAH El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Shoghi Rabbani, January 10, 1919. Home of Abdul-Baha, Haifa, Palestine.)
