O thou who art firm in the Covenant! Three consecutive letters have been
received from thee. From their contents it became known that in Cleveland
the hearts are afflicted by the murky breaths of the Covenant-breakers and
harmony hath decreased among the friends. Gracious God! A hundred times it
hath been foretold that the violators are lying in ambush and by every
means desire to cause dissension among the friends so that this dissension
may end in violation of the Covenant. How is it that, notwithstanding this
warning, the friends have neglected this explicit statement?
The point at issue is clear, direct and of utmost brevity. Either
Baha'u'llah was wise, omniscient and aware of what would ensue, or was
ignorant and in error. He entered, by His supreme pen, into such a firm
Covenant and Testament with all the Baha'is, first with the A_gh_san, the
Afnan and His kindred, and commanded them to obey and turn toward Him. By
His supreme pen He hath explicitly declared that the object of the
following verse of the Kitab-i-Aqdas is the Most Great Branch:
'When the ocean of My presence hath ebbed and the Book of My Revelation is
ended, turn your faces toward Him Whom God hath purposed, Who hath
branched from this Ancient Root.' Its meaning briefly is this: that after
My ascension it is incumbent upon the A_gh_san, the Afnan and the kindred,
and all the friends of God, to turn their faces to Him Who hath branched
from the Ancient Root.
He also plainly saith in the Kitab-i-Aqdas: 'O ye people of the world!
When the Mystic Dove will have winged its flight from its Sanctuary of
Praise and sought its far-off goal, its hidden habitation, refer ye
whatsoever ye understand not in the Book to Him Who hath branched from
this mighty Stock.' Addressing all the people of the world He saith: When
the Mystic Dove flieth away from the orchard of praise to the Most Supreme
and Invisible Station--that is, when the Blessed Beauty turneth away from
the contingent world towards the invisible realm--refer whatever ye do not
understand in the Book to Him Who hath branched from the Ancient Root.
That is, whatever He saith is the very truth.
And in the Book of the Covenant He explicitly saith that the object of
this verse 'Who hath branched from this Ancient Root' is the Most Mighty
Branch. And He commandeth all the A_gh_san, the Afnan, the kindred and the
Baha'is to turn toward Him. Now, either one must say that the Blessed
Beauty hath made a mistake, or He must be obeyed. 'Abdu'l-Baha hath no
command for the people to obey save the diffusion of the fragrances of
God, the exaltation of His Word, the promulgation of the oneness of the
world of humanity, the establishment of universal peace, and other of the
commands of God. These are divine commands and have nothing to do with
'Abdu'l-Baha. Whoever wisheth may accept them, and anyone who rejecteth
them may do as he pleaseth.
Now some of the mischief-makers, with many stratagems, are seeking
leadership, and in order to reach this position they instil doubts among
the friends that they may cause differences, and that these differences
may result in their drawing a party to themselves. But the friends of God
must be awake and must know that the scattering of these doubts hath as
its motive personal desires and the achievement of leadership.
Do not disrupt Baha'i unity, and know that this unity cannot be maintained
save through faith in the Covenant of God.
Thou hast the desire to travel that thou mayest spread the fragrances of
God. This is highly suitable. Assuredly divine confirmations will assist
thee and the power of the Covenant and Testament will secure for thee
triumph and victory.