O thou who art firm in the Covenant and Testament!
Thy letter***was received and its contents became known. Thou hast written regarding the election of a committee(217) . This is very acceptable, is conducive to the glory of the Cause of G.o.d and the spreading of the fragrances of G.o.d in those regions. I hope that this committee may progress day by day until it become a merciful a.s.sembly.
Thou hast written regarding the correspondence with other parts, that from now on it will be carried under the name of The Bahai a.s.sembly of Washington. This is also acceptable. I hope that this committee becometh established and its members be of the utmost unity and affinity. If the Bahai a.s.sembly of Washington ariseth in a befitting manner to love, service and magnanimity, the lights of the love of G.o.d will be cast upon all sides from the a.s.sembly and it will find more importance day by day, until it attain to the Most Supreme Station. ***
"O thou my beloved friend!..."
O thou my beloved friend!
For a long time thou didst have the longing to visit the Blessed Spot and the yearning to meet this imprisoned one. Finally this gift became realized, but it was for one moment and as the dew to the rose-garden of the hearts. The destiny was such and the means were brought about in this way. I became sad and disappointed more than thyself. But I hope that this meeting became as the wick of the lamp and the fire-that as soon as it was touched it became ignited. I am expecting the results of this meeting, that I may see thee lighted as a candle and burning thyself as a moth with the fire of the love of G.o.d, weeping like unto the cloud by the greatness of love and attraction, laughing like unto the meadow and stirred into cheerfulness like unto the young tree by the wafting of the breeze of the Paradise of Abha!
All the believers in the East and in this Spot are expecting the receipt of letters from thee.
"The letter was received and its contents became evident...."
(218) The letter was received and its contents became evident. Thou hast written regarding the days of summer, that thou hast vacation for three months and a half. Shouldst though find any companions, make thou a trip to Persia, for during three months and a half it is possible to reach Teheran, stay there a few days and then return; but the time is not sufficient to come to the Holy Land. If the trip to Persia cannot be brought about, then to Ishkabad(219) .
Regarding the question of matrimony: Know thou that the command of marriage is eternal. It will never be changed nor altered. This is divine creation and there is not the slightest possibility that change or alteration affect this divine creation (marriage).
Regarding the remains of his honor the beloved Breakwell-him who hath attained to the meeting of the countenance of his Lord in His great Kingdom-must be interred in that very land, not in some other place, for to transfer the remains of the believers from one city to another city is against the test of the Book.
Concerning the word Baha"o"llah: It must be written with O and not with U.
Regarding the Moronites: All the communities of the world will finally become familiar with this great and most holy Cause and all of them will enter under the shade of the Word of G.o.d.
Convey my respectful greeting to Mrs. ........ and say: "We hope that day by day thou mayest take higher flights, attain to greater spiritual attraction, thy word become more penetrative through the power of the Spirit and through the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abha become more illumined. This is the path of salvation and prosperity. This is the attractive power of the Holy Spirit from the Supreme Concourse."
"O thou who hast confessed and believed in the Words..."
O thou who hast confessed and believed in the Words of G.o.d!
Thank G.o.d, for He hath uncovered the veil from before thine eye, and that thou hast witnessed the great signs of the greatest glad-tidings which have been revealed in the Gospel, Bible and the Psalms; and wert confirmed that verily those glad-tidings have been allusions to the appearance of the Kingdom of G.o.d during this time, and that the horizons shall brighten through the light of the effulgence in this age, which is the age of the lights and the century of thy G.o.d, the Powerful, the Almighty!
What a great gift is this guidance, the standards of which are raised, the traces of which are published and the breeze of which has blown, the garden of which is ornamented, the basins of which have poured out, the birds of which have sung and the joy of which is completed!
I beg G.o.d to cause thee to be a crier unto His Kingdom in that region, wherein the Sun of Truth hath newly commenced to disseminate and the dawn of guidance hath risen from its horizons.
"O thou who art a.s.suredly believing in G.o.d!..."
O thou who art a.s.suredly believing in G.o.d!
Verily, I am informed of thy letter which showeth how thou art praising G.o.d, hast acknowledged the unity of G.o.d, art attracted to His kingdom and art thanking Him for His favor; that He hath strengthened thee in guidance, hath illumined thine inner sight with the light which is shining forth from the Kingdom of El-Abha, hath caused thee to hear the Call of the Merciful from the Supreme Concourse and hath made thee one of the chosen ones in His brilliant and holy Threshold. O glad-tidings be unto thee for this great gift! O blessed art thou for this worthy deed!
"O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!..."
O thou maid-servant of G.o.d!
What thou hast written was perused. It is evident that thou hast all thy life been seeking the Lord of signs, until now thou hast found the path of Truth and discovered the Lord of Hosts and attained His Kingdom.
If thou shouldst stand firm and steadfast, thou wilt progress day by day in this condition, and this flame of fire will become a luminous lamp. If it be possible for thee, turn thy face toward that city and be a cause of guidance to some souls there. It is not now advisable for you to write secretly; the time will come for that. When you go there yourself you will be confirmed to teach some of the people.
"O thou who art advancing toward G.o.d!..."
O thou who art advancing toward G.o.d!
Verily, I read thy long letter, which showed thine abundant joy for the appearance of the Kingdom of G.o.d and the longing of thy heart for the knowledge of G.o.d. endeavor with thy soul, so that the fountain of knowledge may flow within thy heart and the bounties of mysteries may pour upon thee from the Kingdom of Lights. Then thou wilt understand the meanings hidden and recorded in symbols in the Holy Scriptures.
O maid-servant of G.o.d! Hold fast to the Covenant which hath emanated from the Supreme Pen and which is scintillating with the light of the Orb of the Horizons. Know thou verily, Baha"o"llah is the Promised One in all the Books and Tablets, and verily, this servant, is the herald of the Kingdom of G.o.d.
And know thou, that verily, he earthly world is as a prison to the holy souls and these long for the Kingdom of Sanct.i.ty, as birds long for their nests in the gardens of beautiful and wonderful trees, flowers and fruits.
And know thou, verily, that those who were following the steps of Christ, detached their souls from the desires of the world, and made their hearts to depend on the bounties of heaven. Such as the people of the Kingdom and they are in no need of return for apprehending the bounty of the Kingdom.
The consciences of such souls are clear, their inmost hearts are pure, [they] have obtained their aim, have betaken themselves to the vicinity of the mercy of their Mighty Lord, and thus they are in no need of being refined, developed and again endowed with sight.
I beg of G.o.d to grant all thy wishes and to cause to appear unto thee the reality of the Cause and the divine teachings through a heavenly bounty from the heaven of the Covenant.
Send my greetings and peace to thy revered husband. Every one of my household, the firm ones in the Covenant, present unto thee greetings and praise.
"O thou who hast prayed to the Kingdom of G.o.d!..."
O thou who hast prayed to the Kingdom of G.o.d!