You are the children of whom Christ has said, "Of such is the kingdom of
God"; and according to the words of Baha'u'llah you are the very lamps or
candles of the world of humanity, for your hearts are exceedingly pure and
your spirits most sensitive. You are near the source; you have not yet
become contaminated. You are the lambs of the heavenly Shepherd. You are
as polished mirrors reflecting pure light. My hope is that your parents
may educate you spiritually and give you thorough moral training. May you
develop so that each one of you shall become imbued with all the virtues
of the human world. May you advance in all material and spiritual degrees.
May you become learned in sciences, acquire the arts and crafts, prove to
be useful members of human society and assist the progress of human
civilization. May you be a cause of the manifestation of divine
bestowals--each one of you a shining star radiating the light of the
oneness of humanity toward the horizons of the East and West. May you be
devoted to the love and unity of mankind, and through your efforts may the
reality deposited in the human heart find its divine expression. I pray
for you, asking the assistance and confirmation of God in your behalf.
You are all my children, my spiritual children. Spiritual children are
dearer than physical children, for it is possible for physical children to
turn away from the Spirit of God, but you are spiritual children and,
therefore, you are most beloved. I wish for you progress in every degree
of development. May God assist you. May you be surrounded by the
beneficent light of His countenance, and may you attain maturity under His
nurture and protection. You are all blessed.
(To the Friends)
I am going away, but you must arise to serve the Word of God. Your hearts
must be pure and your intentions sincere in order that you may become
recipients of the divine bestowals. Consider that although the sun shines
equally upon all things, yet in the clear mirror its reflection is most
brilliant and not in the black stone. This great effulgence and heat have
been produced by the crystal clearness of the glass. If there were no
clearness and purity, these effects would not be witnessed. Should rain
fall upon salty, stony earth, it will never have effect; but when it falls
upon good pure soil, green and verdant growth follows, and fruits are
produced.
This is the day when pure hearts have a portion of the everlasting
bounties and sanctified souls are being illumined by the eternal
manifestations. Praise be to God! You are believers in God, assured by the
words of God and turning to the Kingdom of God. You have heard the divine
call. Your hearts are moved by the breezes of the paradise of Abha. You
have good intentions; your purpose is the good pleasure of God; you desire
to serve in the Kingdom of the Merciful One. Therefore, arise in the
utmost power. Be in perfect unity. Never become angry with one another.
Let your eyes be directed toward the kingdom of truth and not toward the
world of creation. Love the creatures for the sake of God and not for
themselves. You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for
the sake of God. Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every
human being, and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the
people themselves. But if you look toward God, you will love them and be
kind to them, for the world of God is the world of perfection and complete
mercy. Therefore, do not look at the shortcomings of anybody; see with the
sight of forgiveness. The imperfect eye beholds imperfections. The eye
that covers faults looks toward the Creator of souls. He created them,
trains and provides for them, endows them with capacity and life, sight
and hearing; therefore, they are the signs of His grandeur. You must love
and be kind to everybody, care for the poor, protect the weak, heal the
sick, teach and educate the ignorant.
It is my hope that the unity and harmony of the friends in Chicago may be
the cause of the unity of the friends throughout America and that all
people may become recipients of their love and kindness. May they be an
example for mankind. Then the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abha and the
bestowals of the Sun of Reality will be all-encircling.
5 May 1912
Talk at Plymouth Congregational Church
935 East Fiftieth Street
Chicago, Illinois