O thou servant of Baha"!
Thy letter***was received. Correspondence between the believers of the Orient and the Occident, as well as between the different states of America, is of the utmost importance and is conducive to the enkindlement and attraction of the hearts. Show thou great consideration to this matter.
Thou hast written concerning the translation of Tablets. Perfect translation will be made at a time when a committee of translators is organized. The members of that committee must be composed of several Persians and several Americans, all of whom must have the utmost proficiency in both the Persian and English languages. Then the Tablets will be translated through this committee. For the present the organization of such a committee is not possible. Therefore, whenever the publication of a Tablet becomes necessary, have a proficient person translate it, then circulate it and the end will be attained.
Regarding the station of this servant: My station is Abdul-Baha, my name is Abdul-Baha, my qualification is Abdul-Baha, my praise is Abdul-Baha, my t.i.tle is Abdul-Baha. All the friends of G.o.d must declare this word, in order that all of them become united and harmonized upon it. No difference must arise. Collect, translate, print and spread all the Tablets written by me regarding this question.
Concerning the Book of Akdas: Undoubtedly it must be translated by a scientific committee of translators. The translation of one person is not sufficient.
Concerning the spiritual a.s.sembly of Washington: I supplicate G.o.d that it may finally become the cause of the unification of all the nations of the world.
The maid-servant of G.o.d, Miss ......., hath not yet returned from Persia.
G.o.d willing, we will direct her to travel to those parts.
Thou hast written regarding the believers of Baltimore. Undoubtedly whenever opportunity affords, the believers of Washington must go to Baltimore, become engaged in teaching the Truth, spread the carpet of feasting and prepare the heavenly table.
Convey respectful greeting on my behalf to the maid-servant of G.o.d, Miss ........, and say: "O thou divinely attracted one! Day and night, with an eloquent tongue, teach thou the heedless ones; awaken those who are speechless and silent. Undoubtedly the confirmation of the Holy Spirit will descend upon thee."
Announce, on my behalf, respectful greeting to the attracted maid-servant of G.o.d, Miss ........, and say: "O thou beloved maid-servant of G.o.d! Now is the time, now is the moment in which, like unto Mary Magdalene (who loosened her tongue in the city of great Rome), thou mayest arise and become engaged in teaching the coming of the Kingdom of G.o.d and spread far and wide to the ears the glad-tidings of the Realm of Eternity!"
In brief, O thou servant of Baha"! Strive ye that the souls be engaged, in all parts of Europe, with the utmost purity and sanctification, in the diffusion of the fragrances of G.o.d.
Undoubtedly teachers both from among the women as well as the men must go to Australia and New Zealand whenever the means and opportunity are brought about. Now make ye an effort that perchance through correspondence some souls, in those parts, may become illumined with the light of the Kingdom.
O thou servant of Baha"! Rest thou a.s.sured. I supplicate from G.o.d that thou mayest be delivered wholly from pa.s.sion and desire and become the faithful and sincere servant of the Beauty of Abha.
"O thou who art firm in the Covenant!..."
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!
Thou hast written to his honor ........ concerning the Feast.
This Feast was established by His Highness the Bab, to occur once in nineteen days. Likewise, the Blessed Perfection [Baha"o"llah] hath commanded, encourage and reiterated it. Therefore, it hath the utmost importance. Undoubtedly you must give the greatest attention to its establishment and raise it to the highest point of importance, so that it may become continual and constant. The believers of G.o.d must a.s.semble and a.s.sociate with each other in the utmost love, joy and fragrance. They must conduct themselves (in these Feasts) with the greatest dignity and consideration, chant divine verses, peruse instructive articles, read the Tablets of Abdul-Baha, encourage and inspire each other with love for the whole human race, invoke G.o.d with perfect joy and fragrance, sing the verses, glorifications and praises of the Self-subsistent Lord and deliver eloquent speeches. The owner of the house must personally serve the beloved ones. He must seek after the comfort of all and with the utmost humility he must show forth kindness to every one. If the Feast is arranged in this manner and in the way mentioned, that supper is the "Lord"s supper," for the result is the same result and the effect is the same effect.
O thou sincere servant of the Beauty of Abha! Thou hast written concerning Baltimore. Convey respectful greeting on my behalf to Miss ........ and say: "Exert thyself as much as thou canst in order that thou mayest illumine Baltimore, lay there an eternal foundation and ignite a lamp whose rays may shine throughout cycles and ages."
Thou hast written concerning the Tablet of Baka Ya Ali-Baka Ya Vafi (Tablet of Protection). This Tablet is for the healing of ailments.
Whenever one is anxious about the recovery of an ill one, he may read this prayer with a melodious voice while in a state of the utmost attention and concentration.
Thou hast written regarding Buddha and Confucius. Buddha was an ill.u.s.trious personage. Confucius became the cause of civilization, advancement and prosperity for the people of China. Now it is not the time when we discuss concerning the stations and positions of those who are pa.s.sed away. We must concentrate our attention upon the present. What hath transpired in a former time is past. Now is the time when we restrict our discussion to the Most Great Luminary of Peace and Salvation in the Age, to talk of the Blessed Perfection [Baha"o"llah] and to voice His exhortations, behests and teachings. Buddha and Confucius were kings in bygone ages who have disappeared. Their sovereignty in this world is ended and their cycle is completed. Now the Throne of the Kingdom of Abha is established and the Blessed Perfection is sitting upon the Throne of Grandeur. We must raise this Call, promulgate the Word of G.o.d and live in accord with the teachings and advices of the Beauty of Abha.
Thou hast written regarding ........, the resident of Calcutta (India), that he hath forwarded to thee some addresses so that thou mayest correspond with them about the Cause of G.o.d. If thou doest write to them there is no harm done, nay, rather it is advantageous.
But regarding the tests: Undoubtedly they must be violent so that those souls who are weak may fall back, while the souls who are firm and sincere may shine forth from the horizon of the Most Great Guidance like unto the sparkling stars.
"O thou sincere servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou sincere servant of G.o.d!
Thy letters are received regularly and by reading them joy was produced.
Thou hast written regarding the building of the Mashrak-el-Azcar in Washington. This matter was discussed with the maid-servant of Baha", Miss ......... It hath been concluded that when she arrives in America she will discuss this question with you. Whatever will be the conclusions of your discussion write to Acca. The maid-servant of Baha" is in Paris; she will go to America. These services of thine are in reality worthy of praises, that thou hast sacrificed thyself wholly to the True One.
Mr. ........ and Mr. ....... arrived and stayed a few days here. The, with the utmost joy and fragrance, they started toward India.
"O thou who art firm in the Covenant!..."
O thou who art firm in the Covenant!
Thy letter***was received and its contents became the cause of the happiness of the heart of this grieved one, for it was an evidence of exertion and magnanimity in the service of the Cause of G.o.d.
Thou hast written regarding the publication of a magazine. If thou shouldst edit one magazine every six months-two in a year-then forward it to the Holy Land to be corrected and returned, after due correction, for its publication-it is very acceptable and will be the cause of the penetration of the Word of G.o.d.***
Thy former articles were received. I have not yet had time to read them.
However, one of thy articles was corrected and forwarded and thou hast it printed and circulated. Now write thou a new article and send it here to be corrected. It is better.
Regarding the proposition which thou hast suggested that one of the maid-servants of the Merciful reside in the Land of Desire and be the medium for the regulation of correspondence, now it is not according to wisdom.
Therefore, now edit thou a magazine in Persian and English, then forward it here to be revised and sent back for publication.
Convey the wonderful Abha greeting to all the friends of G.o.d.*** ***O thou my kind friend!
I have the utmost love for thee and I ask G.o.d that thou mayest become a.s.sisted in the world and in the Kingdom and precede Paul and Peter in spreading the Word of G.o.d and diffusing the fragrances of G.o.d and become a manifest ensign in the regions of America.
Perhaps thou wilt meet a person in Paris who is thoughtless and followeth his own desire. Forget thou wholly his vain sayings and know thou that in future again thou wilt become in touch with such souls, but-praise be to G.o.d!-the fire of thy love is to such a degree that the suggestions of such souls do not at all affect thee.
In brief, arise thou in the service of thy Lord with the utmost firmness and steadfastness. I was very much pleased with thee. Undoubtedly this favor will become the cause of the greatest development for thee.
Likewise, thou and his honor Mirza ........ are two brothers and like unto two birds living in one nest and singing one melody.
"O thou who art firm in the Covenant and Testament!..."