You are welcome this afternoon, most welcome. I am ever happy to see you.
I ask God that meeting me may be productive of results; that it may not be
like ordinary gatherings, for those who hold meetings where groups of
people assemble usually have some interest to further. Praise be to God! I
have no personal interests. I have an interest in the Kingdom, and this is
a sincere intention. I have perfect love for you; therefore, I have
traveled this long distance to meet and greet you. I hope that these
gatherings may be productive of great results, and there is no greater
result than the love of God. There is no greater result than bonds of
service in the divine Kingdom and attainment to the good pleasure of the
Lord. Therefore, I desire that your hearts may be directed to the Kingdom
of God, that your intentions may be pure and sincere, your purposes turned
toward altruistic accomplishment unmindful of your own welfare; nay,
rather, may all your intentions center in the welfare of humanity, and may
you seek to sacrifice yourselves in the pathway of devotion to mankind.
Even as Jesus Christ forfeited His life, may you, likewise, offer
yourselves in the threshold of sacrifice for the betterment of the world;
and just as Baha'u'llah suffered severe ordeals and calamities nearly
fifty years for you, may you be willing to undergo difficulties and
withstand catastrophes for humanity in general. May you bear these trials
and tests most willingly and joyously, for every night is followed by a
day, and every day has a night. Every spring has an autumn, and every
autumn has its spring. The coming of a Manifestation of God is the season
of spiritual spring. For instance, the appearance of Christ was a divine
springtime. Therefore, it caused a great commotion and vibrant movement in
the world of humanity. The Sun of Reality dawned, the cloud of mercy
poured down its rain, the breezes of providence moved, the world became a
new world, mankind reflected an extraordinary radiance, souls were
educated, minds were developed, intelligences became acute, and the human
world attained a new freshness of life, like unto the advent of spring.
Then gradually that spring was followed by the autumn of death and decay.
The teachings of Christ were forgotten. The Christly bounties ceased.
Divine moralities disappeared. Day ended in night. The people became
negligent and oblivious. Minds weakened until conditions reached such a
crisis that material science rose in the ascendant. Knowledge and sciences
of the Kingdom became obsolete, the mysteries of God deepened, and the
traces of the bounties of Christ were completely obliterated. The nations
were enmeshed in superstition and blind imitation. Discord and
disagreement arose, culminating in strife, war and bloodshed. Hearts were
torn asunder in violence. Various denominations appeared, diverse sects
and creeds arose, and the whole world was plunged into darkness.
At such a time as this Baha'u'llah dawned from the horizon of Persia. He
reformed and renewed the fundamentals and realities of Christ's teachings.
He endured the greatest difficulties and underwent the severest ordeals.
Praise be to God that the teachings of God are revoiced, the light of
reality has dawned again, the effulgence is increasing daily, and the
radiance is shining more gloriously in the zenith. From the cloud of mercy
a deluge is descending; the Sun of Reality is brilliant in its eternal
station. Again we are hopeful that the same springtime may pitch its tent
and that these boundless bestowals may appear once more among us. Through
your efforts and sincerity this is made possible. If you arise in the
Cause of God with divine power, heavenly grace, the sincerity of the
Kingdom, a merciful heart and decisive intention, it is certain that the
world of humanity will be entirely illumined, the moralities of mankind
will become merciful, the foundations of the Most Great Peace will be
laid, and the oneness of the kingdom of man will become a reality. This is
the great bounty I desire for you, and I pray and supplicate the divine
threshold, imploring in your behalf.
O Thou merciful God! O Thou Who art mighty and powerful! O Thou most kind
Father! These servants have gathered together, turning to Thee,
supplicating Thy threshold, desiring Thine endless bounties from Thy great
assurance. They have no purpose save Thy good pleasure. They have no
intention save service to the world of humanity.
O God! Make this assemblage radiant. Make the hearts merciful. Confer the
bounties of the Holy Spirit. Endow them with a power from heaven. Bless
them with heavenly minds. Increase their sincerity, so that with all
humility and contrition they may turn to Thy kingdom and be occupied with
service to the world of humanity. May each one become a radiant candle.
May each one become a brilliant star. May each one become beautiful in
color and redolent of fragrance in the Kingdom of God.
O kind Father! Confer Thy blessings. Consider not our shortcomings.
Shelter us under Thy protection. Remember not our sins. Heal us with Thy
mercy. We are weak; Thou art mighty. We are poor; Thou art rich. We are
sick; Thou art the Physician. We are needy; Thou art most generous.
O God! Endow us with Thy providence. Thou art the Powerful. Thou art the
Giver. Thou art the Beneficent.
24 April 1912
Talk at Home of Mrs. Andrew J. Dyer
1937 Thirteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C.