I am well pleased with every person here this evening and most happy in
meeting the friends of God and maidservants of the Merciful. Praise be to
God! The faces are radiant, and the hearts are attracted to the Kingdom of
Abha. Faith is evident in the countenances of all, and this is a source of
joy. The Blessed Perfection, Baha'u'llah, endured hardships and
vicissitudes nearly fifty years. There was no ordeal or difficulty He did
not experience, yet He endured all in perfect joy and happiness.
Those who beheld Him were assured of His great happiness, for no trace of
sadness or sorrow was ever visible upon His face. Even in prison He was
like a king enthroned in majesty and greatness, and He ever bore Himself
with supreme confidence and dignity. When the officers and grandees of the
government were presented to Him, they became respectful at once. His
majesty and dignity were awe-inspiring. Remember: He was a prisoner--He was
in prison. He endured ordeals and calamities for the sole purpose of
illuminating us and in order that our hearts might be attracted to the
Kingdom of God, our faces become radiant with the glad tidings of God; in
order that we might be submerged in the ocean of lights and be as
brilliant and shining candles, illuminating the dark recesses and flooding
the regions with brightness. Now, as I look around, I observe that your
faces--praise be to God!--are shining, your hearts are filled with the love
of God, and you are thinking of service in the Cause of God. Therefore, I
am very happy to be here, and I hope that this happiness will be with you
always--an eternal condition.
We visited San Francisco and from there went to Los Angeles. In these
places we found most devoted friends. Truly zealous and aglow with the
fire of the love of God, their sole purpose is ever to serve the Kingdom
of Abha. I hope that you may serve even more faithfully and take
precedence over all the other friends. May the fire of the love of God be
so enkindled in Chicago that all the cities in America shall be ignited.
This is my hope.
My third visit here expresses the degree of my longing to see you and the
extent of my love. It was thought that I should go direct from San
Francisco to New York and thence to the Orient; but impelled by excessive
love, I have visited Chicago again to associate with you in fellowship and
fragrance. I hope that these three visits may be most productive of future
results. May you all become signs of unity; may each one be a standard of
Baha'u'llah, each one shine as a star, each one become precious and worthy
in the Kingdom of God. May you attain such a condition of spirituality
that the people will be astounded, saying, "Verily, these souls are proofs
in themselves of the validity of Baha'u'llah, for through His training
they have been completely regenerated. These souls are peerless; they are
truly the people of the Kingdom; they are distinguished above the people
about them. This is in reality a proof of Baha'u'llah. Behold how educated
and illumined they have become."
When this Cause appeared in the Orient, the friends and followers were
self-sacrificing to the utmost, forfeiting everything. It is a significant
and wonderful fact that, although the most precious thing on earth is
life, yet twenty thousand people offered themselves willingly in the
pathway of martyrdom. Recently, in Yazd two hundred of the Baha'i friends
were cruelly slain. They went to the place of martyrdom in the utmost
ecstasy of attraction, smiling with joy and gratitude upon their
persecutors. Some of them offered sweetmeats to their executioners,
saying, "Taste of this in order that with sweetness and enjoyment you may
bestow upon us the blessed cup of martyrdom." Among these beloved and
glorified ones were a number of women who were subjected to the most cruel
manner of execution. Some were cut to pieces; and their executioners, not
content with such butchery, set others on fire, and their bodies were
consumed. Throughout these terrible ordeals not a single soul among the
Baha'i friends objected or recanted. They offered no resistance, although
the Baha'is in that city were most courageous and strong. In physical
strength and fortitude one of these Baha'is could have withstood many of
their enemies, but they accepted martyrdom in the spirit of complete
resignation and nonresistance. Many of them died, crying out, "O Lord!
Forgive them; they know not what they do. If they knew, they would not
commit this wrong." In the throes of martyrdom they willingly offered all
they possessed in this life.
It is stated in certain prophecies that when the standard of God appears
in the East, its signs will become evident in the West. This is truly good
news and glad tidings for you. I hope that this promise may be fulfilled
in you and that all may be able to testify to the spirit and truth of the
prophetic announcement, saying, "Verily, the standard of God did appear in
the East, and its tokens have become resplendent in the West." This
realization will be a source of great joy to all the friends in the Orient
who anticipate the good news and await the glad tidings from the land of
the Occident. They look forward to hearing that the friends in the West
have become firm and steadfast, that they have distinguished themselves by
establishing the oneness of the world of humanity, that they are even
offering their lives for the foundations of international peace, that they
have become the lights of the Kingdom and have proved to be the
manifestations of divine mercy, that the friends in the West are the
expression of the favors of the Blessed Perfection, the very stars of the
bestowal of God, blessed trees and flowers in the garden of His purity and
sanctity. Any good news from here is the cause of rejoicing in the East
and a source of deep gratitude to them. They hold a feast and praise God
for the blessed tidings. If the occasion demanded, they would give their
lives for you without the least hesitation. The friends in the East are
all united and agreed.
There are none who waver in the East, none who oppose the Covenant of God.
There is not a single soul among the Baha'is in Persia who is opposed to
the Covenant. They are all steadfast. If any soul wishes to speak in this
Cause, they will ask, "Is this a word of your own, or is it by the
authority of the Center of the Covenant? If you have the authority of the
Center of the Covenant, produce it. Where is the letter from Him? Where is
His signature?" If he produces the letter, they will accept it. If he
fails to do so, they say, "We cannot accept your words because they
emanate from you only and return to you. We have no command from the
Blessed Perfection, Baha'u'llah, to obey you. He has revealed a Book in
which He has covenanted with us to obey an appointed Center of the
Covenant. He has not covenanted with us to obey you. Therefore, the
statement you make is rejected. You must furnish proof of your authority
and sanction. We are commanded to turn to one Center. We do not obey
various centers. The Blessed Perfection has made a Covenant with us, and
we are holding to this Covenant and Testament. We do not listen to
anything else, for people may arise who speak words of their own, and we
are commanded not to pay attention to them."
It was not so in former dispensations. Christ, for instance, did not
appoint a center of authority and explanation. He did not say to His
followers, "Obey the one whom I have chosen." Upon one occasion He asked
His disciples, "Whom say ye that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said,
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Christ, wishing to make
firm the faith of Peter, said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church," meaning that the faith of Peter was the true faith. It
was a sanction of Peter's faith. He did not say that all should turn to
Peter. He did not say, "He is the branch extended from my ancient root."
He did not say, "O God! Bless all who serve Peter. O God! Degrade those
who are not obedient to him. Shun him who is a violator of the Covenant. O
God! Thou knowest that I love all who are steadfast in the Covenant." This
has been revealed, however, in all the Books, Writings and Epistles of
Baha'u'llah regarding the appointed Center of the Covenant in this
dispensation. Therefore, the Baha'i dispensation is distinguished from all
others in this fact, the purpose of Baha'u'llah being that no one could
arise to cause differences and disunion. After the departure of Christ
various sects and denominations arose, each one claiming to be the true
channel of Christianity, but none of them possessed a written authority
from Christ; none could produce proof from Him; yet all claimed His
sanction and approval. Baha'u'llah has written a Covenant and Testament
with His own pen, declaring that the One Whom He has appointed the Center
of the Covenant shall be turned to and obeyed by all. Therefore, thank God
that Baha'u'llah has made the pathway straight. He has clearly explained
all things and opened every door for advancing souls. There is no reason
for hesitation by anyone. The purpose of the Covenant was simply to ward
off disunion and differences so that no one might say, "My opinion is the
true and valid one."
Any opinion expressed by the Center of the Covenant is correct, and there
is no reason for disobedience by anyone. Be watchful, for perchance there
may be violators (naqidin) of the Covenant among you. Do not listen to
them. Read the Book of the Covenant. All have been commanded to obey the
Covenant, and the first admonition is addressed to the sons of
Baha'u'llah, the Branches: "You must turn to the appointed Center; He is
the expounder of the Book."
Should any soul so clearly violate and disobey this command, can he even
say he is a Baha'i? If anyone disobeys the explicit command of Christ, can
he truthfully say he is a Christian?
In conclusion, I would say that I am greatly pleased with this meeting. I
shall pray for you, seeking confirmation from the Blessed Perfection.
Praise be to God! You must be grateful that He has chosen you from among
the people of the world, that such glorious bestowal and such endless
graces and favors have been specialized for you. You must not look at
present accomplishments, for this is but the beginning as it was at the
time of Christ. Before long you will see that you will be distinguished
among all people. In every way the divine confirmation will uphold you,
and the radiance of the Kingdom of Baha'u'llah will illumine your
countenances. Be truly grateful for all these blessings. I hope I may
always hear good news of you, showing that the friends in Chicago are
occupied with service in the divine Cause, filled with the joy of
promoting the Word of God, engaged in spreading the teachings of
Baha'u'llah and manifesting love and kindness to all humanity. This is my
hope and anticipation. I am sure that you will endeavor to accomplish this
so that the friends in Persia and I may experience the happiness of the
good tidings. May you be a source of joy and happiness to us, a source of
tranquillity and composure.