Ye have written regarding the erection of the Temple and the purchase of
the ground, or the finding of a place to be as a home for the gathering of
the believers. At this moment that 'Abdu'l-Baha is immersed in the ocean
of calamities, this news caused him joy and happiness, that--praise be to
God!--the friends and the maid-servants of the Merciful are thinking to
serve the Kingdom of God.
Concerning the erection of the Temple: Now all the believers must become
united, so that the Temple may be built soon in one place. For should the
believers undertake the erection of the Temple in many places, it will not
become completed anywhere; and as in Chicago they have preceded every
other place to plan the erection of the Temple, undoubtedly to cooperate
and help them is nobler and a necessity. Then, when it is built in one
place, it will become erected in many other places. If, for the present,
you prepare or establish a home in New York, though by renting it, to
become a center for the gathering of the believers of God, it is very
acceptable. God willing, in all the states of America in the future there
will be erected Temples with infinite architectural beauty, art, with
pleasing proportion and handsome and attractive appearances; especially in
New York. But for the present, be ye satisfied with a rented place.
O friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha and His co-sharers and partners in the servitude
of the Lord of Hosts! Verily the greatest affair and the most important
matter today is to establish a Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar and to found a Temple
from which the voice of praisings may rise to the Kingdom of the majestic
Lord. Blessings be upon you for having thought to do so and intending to
erect such an edifice, advancing all in devoting your wealth in this great
purpose and in this splendid work. You will soon see the angels of
confirmation following after you and the hosts of reinforcement crowding
before you.
When the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar is accomplished, when the lights are
emanating therefrom, the righteous ones are presenting themselves therein,
the prayers are performed with supplication towards the mysterious
Kingdom, the voice of glorification is raised to the Lord, the Supreme,
then the believers shall rejoice, the hearts shall be dilated and overflow
with the love of the All-living and Self-existent God. The people shall
hasten to worship in that heavenly Temple, the fragrances of God will be
elevated, the divine teachings will be established in the hearts like the
establishment of the Spirit in mankind; the people will then stand firm in
the Cause of your Lord, the Merciful. Praise and greetings be upon you.
Now the day has arrived in which the edifice of God, the divine sanctuary,
the spiritual temple, shall be erected in America! I entreat God to assist
the confirmed believers in accomplishing this great service and with
entire zeal to rear this mighty structure which shall be renowned
throughout the world. The support of God will be with those believers in
that district that they may be successful in their undertaking, for the
Cause is great and great; because this is the first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar
in that country and from it the praise of God shall ascend to the Kingdom
of Mystery and the tumult of His exaltation and greetings from the whole
world shall be heard!
Whosoever arises for the service of this building shall be assisted with a
great power from His Supreme Kingdom and upon him spiritual and heavenly
blessings shall descend, which shall fill his heart with wonderful
consolation and enlighten his eyes by beholding the glorious and eternal
God!
The contribution that thou hast made to the Temple is beloved. The Temple
is the most great foundation of the world of humanity and it hath many
branches. Although the Temple is the place of worship, with it is
connected a hospital, pharmacy, pilgrims' house, school for the orphans,
and a university for the study of high sciences. Every Temple is connected
with these five things. I hope that now in America they will build a
Temple and gradually add to it the hospital, school, university, pharmacy
and pilgrims' house with the utmost efficiency and thoroughness. Thou
shouldst make known to the believers these details, so that they may
realize how important the Temple is. The Temple is not only a place for
worship; nay, it is perfect in every way.
Thy letter hath arrived and the contents have given glad-tidings that the
ground for the Temple hath been bought and also told about the meeting
which was held concerning the needs for the Temple. From this news great
fragrance and joy were produced. Thanks be to God that thou hast helped to
establish a meeting for this purpose. I hope that the members of this
meeting will become the receivers of the divine benevolence and be aided
by the heavenly assistances. But consult with the House of Spirituality of
Chicago. Ye must all be perfectly united and harmonious until, through
this harmony, ye may perpetually receive help from the Kingdom of God.
Concerning the members of this spiritual meeting, you suggested that they
be selected from all the spiritual meetings of the other cities of
America. I quite approve and am very much pleased with this plan. This
will become the cause of harmony in the Word in all America. Therefore,
ask every spiritual meeting in the other cities that they will each select
one and send him, and from these selected ones and with those who are
selected from the Chicago meeting, establish a new meeting for the
provision of the needs of the Temple. If this be established with perfect
fragrance and joy, it will produce great results. In this new meeting,
especially for the establishment of the Temple, women are also to be
members.
Give to all the divine friends the glad-tidings of the boundless heavenly
blessings and tell them that the glances of the eyes of Providence are
upon them and the perfect favor and bounty are descending upon them.
Thy detailed letter was received. Its contents indicated that thou didst
travel in the cities of America and visited the friends of God until thou
didst reach the general Convention held in Chicago for the building of the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar. In thy letter thou hast written in praise and
commendation of the illumination of that Convention. Truly I say, the
Convention of the Baha'i delegates in Chicago was a heavenly gathering and
confirmed by Divine Assistance.
The splendor of the Kingdom of Abha shone forth and the soul-refreshing
breeze wafted from the direction of Providence.
It was an effulgence from the rays of the Sun of Truth that the friends of
God gathered in that illumined Assembly with the utmost love, unity and
concord. The intentions of every one were reinforced by divine
confirmation, the aim of every one was service in the Cause of God,
servitude in the Threshold of the Almighty and the erection of the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar. The results of that Convention in the future will
be far-reaching and most important, and evident signs shall become
manifest. As it was the first general Convention in America, it displayed
wonderful influence. The gathering of that illumined Assembly in such a
short space of time would have been impossible without the power of the
divine Covenant and Testament. But the Covenant has such a great sway that
it astonishes the minds. In every region the sign of the power of the
Convention is apparent and manifest.
For instance, in Iran the fire of revolution blazed in such wise that all
communities, government and nations, became afflicted with the most severe
trials; but the power of the Covenant protected the Baha'i friends to such
a degree that in this turbulent storm no dust fell upon them, except in
one locality, which became the cause of the spreading of the Religion of
God and the diffusion of the Word of God. Now all the parties in Iran are
wondering how the people of Baha were guarded and protected. Praise be to
God that in Tihran and all the provinces of Iran the Call of God has been
raised, the Ensign of the Covenant has been unfurled, the cry of
"Ya-Baha'u'l-Abha!" has been heard and the melody of the Kingdom of Abha
has been promulgated among the people of intelligence....
Thou hast written concerning the organization of a council for the
building of the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar. This news brought much spirit and
fragrance, for the nine delegates, sent by the various assemblies,
gathered in that meeting and consulted concerning the building of the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar.
The Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar is the most important matter and the greatest
divine institute. Consider how the first institute of His Holiness Moses,
after His exodus from Egypt, was the "Tent of Martyrdom" which He raised
and which was the traveling Temple. It was a tent which they pitched in
the desert, wherever they abode, and worshipped in it. Likewise, after His
Holiness Christ--may the spirit of the world be a sacrifice to Him!--the
first institute by the disciples was a Temple. They planned a church in
every country. Consider the Gospel and the importance of the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar will become evident.
In fine, I hope that all the beloved of God, collectively, in the
continent of America, men and women, will strive night and day until the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar be erected in the utmost solidity and beauty.