We cannot believe that as the Movement grows in strength, in authority and
in influence, the perplexities and the sufferings it has had to contend
with in the past will correspondingly decrease and vanish. Nay, as it
grows from strength to strength, the fanatical defendants of the
strongholds of orthodoxy, whatever be their denomination, realizing the
penetrating influence of this growing Faith, will arise and strain every
nerve to extinguish its light and discredit its name. For has not our
beloved 'Abdu'l-Baha sent forth His glowing prophecy from behind the
prison walls of the citadel of Akka--words so significant in their forecast
of the coming world turmoil, yet so rich in their promise of eventual
victory:--
"How great, how very great is the Cause; how very fierce the onslaught of
all the peoples and kindreds of the earth! Erelong shall the clamor of the
multitude throughout Africa, throughout America, the cry of the European
and of the Turk, the groaning of India and China be heard from far and
near. One and all they shall arise with all their power to resist His
Cause. Then shall the Knights of the Lord, assisted by grace from on high,
strengthened by faith, aided by the power of understanding and reinforced
by the legions of the Covenant, arise and make manifest the truth of the
verse: 'Behold the confusion that hath befallen the tribes of the
defeated!'"
Dearly beloved friends, upon us devolves the supreme obligation to stand
by His side, to fight His battles and to win His victory. May we prove
ourselves worthy of this trust.
Your true brother,
SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
February 12, 1927.
Letter of February 20, 1927.
To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the
United States and Canada.