Thy letter was received. Thou hast written of the organization of an
assembly in that city. Look not at the small number; nay, rather seek the
pure hearts. One holy soul is better than one thousand other souls. If a
few souls gather together in a beloved meeting with the feelings of the
Kingdom, with the divine attractions, with pure hearts and with absolute
purity and holiness, to consort in spirit and fragrance, that gathering
will have its effect upon all the world. The conditions, the words and the
deeds of that gathering will lead a world to eternal happiness and will be
an evidence of the favors of the Kingdom. The Holy Spirit will strengthen
them and the hosts of the Supreme Concourse will render them victorious
and the angels of Abha will come in succession. By angels is meant the
divine confirmations and heavenly powers. Angels are also those holy souls
who have severed attachment to the earthly world, who are free from the
fetters of self and passion and who have attached their hearts to the
divine realm and the merciful kingdom. They are of the kingdom, heavenly;
they are of the merciful One, divine. They are the manifestations of the
divine grace and the dawns of spiritual bounty.
The spiritual meetings, which are organized in this cycle of God and this
divine century, have never had their simile or likeness in bygone cycles.
For the great meetings were under the protection of aristocratic men,
while these meetings are under the protection of the bounty of El-Abha.
The helper or supporter of those was either a prince or a king; either a
priest was the principal, or a great republic; but the helper, the
assistant, the confirmer and the inspirer of these spiritual meetings is
His Majesty the everlasting God.
Consider not the present condition, but rather foresee the future and the
end. A seed in the beginning is very small, but in the end a great tree.
One should not consider the seed, but the tree and its abundance of
blossoms, leaves and fruits.
Consider the days of Jesus, when there was only a small body of people,
and then observe the great tree which grew from that seed and what an
abundant fruit it produced. This is greater than that, forasmuch as it is
the calling of the Lord of Hosts and the voice of the trumpet of the
living God; it is the summons unto the harmony and unison of the world,
and it is the banner of faithfulness, trustworthiness and friendship among
the different nations and sects of the universe; it is the light of the
Sun of Truth and the spirituality of the Majestic One. Verily this great
cycle will encompass all the horizons and ultimately all the nations will
gather together under this standard.
O ye who are firm in the Covenant!
'Abdu'l-Baha is constantly engaged in ideal communication with any
Spiritual Assembly which is instituted through the divine bounty, and the
members of which are in the utmost devotion turning to the divine kingdom
and are firm in the Covenant. To them He is heartily attached and with
them He is linked by everlasting ties. Thus correspondence with them is
sincere, constant and uninterrupted.
The Spiritual Assemblies which are organized for the sake of teaching the
truth, whether Assemblies for men, Assemblies for women or mixed
Assemblies are all accepted and are conducive to the spreading of the
fragrances of God. This is essential. Likewise the public meetings in
which one day during the week the believers gather to be engaged in the
commemoration of God, to read Communes and deliver effective speeches is
acceptable and beloved. But now is not the time--it is utterly impossible
to establish the House of Justice which is mentioned in the Book of Aqdas,
nay rather it is impracticable and not to be thought of, that is for the
time when the Cause is proclaimed and the Commands have become effective.
Therefore now is not the time for the House of Justice, which must be
established by general election. Its mention is not permissible and its
realization impossible.
Endeavor ye as much as possible that differences may not arise in the
affairs; let not every insignificant matter become the cause of
disagreement. If such conditions exist the end will be complete
dispersion. The believers and maid-servants of the Merciful must all
consider how to produce harmony, so that the unity of the human world may
be realized, not that every wholly unimportant subject become conducive to
differences of opinion.
It is my hope that the friends and the maid-servants of America become
united on all subjects and not disagree at all. If they agree upon a
subject, even though it be wrong, it is better than to disagree and be in
the right, for this difference will produce the demolition of the divine
foundation. Though one of the parties may be in the right and they
disagree that will be the cause of a thousand wrongs, but if they agree
and both parties are in the wrong, as it is in unity the truth will be
revealed and the wrong made right.
The members of the Spiritual Meeting must endeavor, by the power of the
Holy Spirit, to make the souls real Baha'is. If they attain this glorious
purpose, that country will be illumined and that land will become a
veritable paradise, all nations will look to that assembly and from the
explanation and exposition thereof receive realities and meanings.
Trust no man save him whose breast hath been dilated by God through the
light of faith, whom God hath confirmed in His religion, and who is
severed from all else save God and attracted by His fragrances.
In future, of course, certain people will come to you claiming faith; do
not believe them nor trust them, unless after critical examination, search
and investigation, and a long period of waiting, they shall appear to be
faithful and truthful in word, confident in heart, attracted in spirit,
pure in intention, patient in hardship, enduring the most severe tests;
then associate with them. Because some sects will send certain men to
mingle with you in order to throw suspicion upon those who are weak,
therefore avoid them carefully. But let such be hidden that you may not
become a cause of hindrance.
Thou hast written regarding the articles and papers which are written by
the believers of God and the forwarding of them to this land for
correction. This servant, on account of the multitude of works and
occupations, hath no time whatever to attend to this matter. If these
articles are read in the spiritual assembly of each city in America and
the printing and spreading of them is advised and approved by the
assembly, it is acceptable. This permission is granted so that those souls
do not become disappointed and may be engaged in the composition and
printing of instructive papers.