Chapter 14

The beloved Guardian of the Cause is nowadays in good health and through the magnificent efforts the friends are exerting in every country to strengthen and augment their bond of unity and love for one another, his grief has been lightened and so we have great hope that he will return to the Holy Land before long. Here he will resume his personal touch with the friends the world over and will inspire them with his guidance to still greater activity.

The Ladies of the Holy Family and I are always remembering you dear friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha and praying for your confirmation and happiness. I am thankful to all the dear friends who so faithfully and lovingly responded with their excellent deeds to my affectionate appeal for greater unity and love. May the Blessed Beauty and 'Abdu'l-Baha reward them richly and crown their sincere services with great results.

86: From this hallowed Spot I send heavenly ...

(217) From this hallowed Spot I send heavenly greetings to those two faithful servants of the holy Threshold of the Abha Beauty. Indeed, no word of compliment could be compared to this expression of praise and commendation, whereby, thanks be to God, you both have distinguished yourselves as the devoted servants of His divine Threshold and as the sincere, the self-sacrificing bond-slaves serving at the door of His mercifulness. You have always proved yourselves untiring in your noble efforts and are continually striving with utmost endeavour to discharge your important and glorious duties. This can be attributed to naught save to the unfailing bounties of the Abha Beauty and to the invisible aid that 'Abdu'l-Baha has graciously accorded you.

87: In this Day nothing is so important as service. ...

(218) In this Day nothing is so important as service. Did not 'Abdu'l-Baha voluntarily call Himself the 'Servant' of Baha, manifesting also in His life the perfections of servitude to God and man?

We, wishing to follow the commands left by Baha'u'llah, spread and lived by 'Abdu'l-Baha, we can take no greater step toward the Heavenly Kingdom--can give no greater joy to the present beloved Guardian of the Cause, Shoghi Effendi--than that of loving service to all mankind.

88: It always cheers my heart to hear from the ...

(219) It always cheers my heart to hear from the dear friends whose hearts are so full of love and devotion, and desire to serve this Blessed Cause which has been proclaimed by Baha'u'llah to all the world, so that all national, racial, and religious prejudices will be abolished, and the world of humanity recognized as one home, and all men as brothers.

I certainly shall pray specially for you that you may be richly blessed in your work and service to the Blessed Cause. One soul who becomes entirely selfless and devoted and filled to overflowing with the spirit of love and service will do much for the progress of the Cause in whatever locality he is. Be assured, if you arise to serve, the Beloved Master says Nothing shall be impossible to you if you have faith. As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be. I convey to you the warm love and Baha'i greetings of Shoghi Effendi, and all the family, and again assure you of our earnest prayers that you will be enabled to render much service to the Kingdom.

89: My heart is always cheered when I meet or ...

(220) My heart is always cheered when I meet or hear from the dear friends in America, for the Beloved Master spoke so much to us about His visit to your land, and we feel confident that the teachings of the Blessed Perfection which He heralded forth have not fallen on barren soil and the day is not far distant when a rich harvest will be garnered therefrom.

90: At the holy Threshold of the Abha Beauty ...

(221) At the holy Threshold of the Abha Beauty we fervently pray at all times for outstanding success to attend that exalted body.(222) Indeed, by virtue of the brilliant achievements won and the distinguished services rendered by those blessed souls, the heart of this lowly one is filled with utmost joy and assurance, and there is no doubt that through the loving-kindness of God this measure of joy and happiness will be multiplied day by day.

You have asked me about my own knowledge and recollections concerning the holy Houses in Tihran. Unfortunately, due to my tender age at that time, those blessed places and quarters have faded from my memory.

Upon you be His glory and praise.

91: O dear sisters, ardent lovers of Baha'u'llah, ...

(223) O dear sisters, ardent lovers of Baha'u'llah, may my soul be offered up for your devotion, your staunchness, and your steadfastness!

The letter from the honoured members of that spiritual assemblage, telling of the women of that land, their fervour, their fiery love for God, their services to His Cause, their unity and mutual kindness and loving fellowship, their grieving over the departure of the world's Day-Star--has reached this afflicted one. Reading it, I begged most humbly of our Living and Eternal Lord, to aid and bless those handmaids at all times and under all conditions. He is verily the One Who is near to us all, and answers our prayers.

To us who sorrow here, there is truly no joy in life save only the good news that the lovers of God and of 'Abdu'l-Baha, may my life be sacrificed for the Spot which enshrines His holy Dust, are steadfast and firm, and that those loyal handmaids have girded themselves to serve the Faith, and casting aside on the pathway of God their ease and comfort, are proclaiming the Teachings, calling souls to life, and making sure that the sacred blood of the Primal Point, the afflictions and the captivity of the Abha Beauty, the anguish of 'Abdu'l-Baha shall through you, men and women alike, through your steadfastness today, yield goodly fruit for all on earth to see.

I presented your letter to the Chosen Branch, the Guardian of the Faith, Shoghi Effendi, and upon reading it he expressed great joy and satisfaction. He expressed gratitude to the Lord that men and women have been raised up and are gathered beneath the banner of the Covenant, every one of whom, in the field of divine knowledge, can put armies of error to flight. Through souls such as these is God's promise fulfilled: 'We shall aid whosoever will arise for the triumph of our Cause with the hosts of the Concourse on high and a company of Our favoured angels.'

92: Your letter, laden with many a graceful ...

(224) Your letter, laden with many a graceful phrase, many a wondrous inner meaning, has been received. Its perusal brought composure and tranquillity to my soul and gladness to my heart, inasmuch as from between its lines I could discern the tokens of your unswerving constancy in God's Mighty Cause and of your intense devotion to the almighty Lord. I beseech God to illumine your heart with the light of His love, to unloose your tongue in magnifying His praise and in extolling His glory, to strengthen you with so mighty a power that you may vindicate the truth of His Faith by expounding infallible proofs and conclusive testimonies.

You have told me about your taking part in special gatherings for the training of Persian and American Baha'i children. Excellent indeed is what you have done. Rest well assured, O handmaid of God, in the gracious favour of your Lord. Verily He will sustain you in your efforts for the advancement of His Cause and in rendering service to the world of humanity. Exert your utmost endeavour, and expend whatever is dear to you in this glorious path that you may earn the crown of righteousness, imperishable and everlasting.

Indeed the peoples of the world spend their days in idle imaginings, wholly oblivious to the Truth. Know of a certainty that the ornament of life is to be arrayed with the vesture of praiseworthy conduct and be attired with the crown of goodly deeds.

All the members of the family and myself are enjoying excellent health and we send our loving greetings and best wishes to you and to all the beloved friends there. I earnestly beseech from His holy Threshold that He may purge you from every affliction, grant you perfect health and may aid you to serve His sublime Cause in this glorious Day.

FOOTNOTES

1 Dedicatory Passage. From a Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf, inscribed in the original Arabic on her Monument. (See The Baha'i World, vol. V, p. 171)

2 From a Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf. (See The Baha'i World, vol. V, p. 171)

3 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

4 From a Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf. (See The Baha'i World, vol. V, pp. 171-172)

5 From a Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf. (See The Baha'i World, vol. V, p. 172)

6 From a Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf. (See The Baha'i World, vol. V, p. 172)

7 From a Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf. (See The Baha'i World, vol. V, p. 172)

8 From a Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf. (See The Baha'i World, vol. V, p. 172)

9 From a Tablet addressed to Munirih _Kh_anum, the wife of 'Abdu'l-Baha. (See The Baha'i World, vol. V, p. 172)

10 From a Tablet addressed to Diya'iyyih _Kh_anum, eldest daughter of 'Abdu'l-Baha. (See The Baha'i World, vol. V, p. 172)

11 Daughter of 'Abdu'l-Baha.

12 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

13 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

14 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

15 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

16 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

17 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to Haji Mirza Hasan-i-_Kh_urasani

18 Haji Mirza Hasan-i-_Kh_urasani (see H. M. Balyuzi, 'Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 86, 124).

19 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

20 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

21 Tiberias.

22 Jesus.

23 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

24 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

25 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

26 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

27 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to the Greatest Holy Leaf

28 From an unpublished Tablet addressed to Munirih _Kh_anum

29 April 1922, announcement to the Baha'is in the west. (Translated from the Persian) (See Star of the West, vol. 13, pp. 81-82, and Baha'i Administration, p. 25)

30 21 March 1932, to the Baha'is of the United States and Canada. (See The World Order of Baha'u'llah, pp. 67-68)

31 Construction of the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.

32 15 July 1932, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada. (See Messages to America, p. 1)

33 15 July 1932, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the British Isles

34 3 Kalimat 89 (15 July 1932 A.D.), to the Baha'is of the East. (Translated from the Persian)

35 The numerical value of the letters composing 'Hin' indicates 1268 A.H. or 1851-52 A.D.

36 Adrianople.

37 Akka.

38 17 July 1932, to the Baha'is of the West. (See Baha'i Administration, 1974 edn., pp. 187-196)

39 18 July 1932, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

40 18 July 1932

41 1 August 1932, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

42 15 August 1932

43 23 August 1932

44 23 August 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Yonkers, N.Y.

45 25 August 1932

46 30 August 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Berkeley, California

47 30 August 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Racine, Wisconsin

48 1 September 1932, to the Baha'is of Washington, D.C.

49 1 September 1932, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

50 5 September 1932. (Translated from the Persian)

51 10 September 1932, to the Baha'is of Glendale, California

52 10 September 1932, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

53 10 September 1932

54 11 October 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Teaneck, New Jersey

55 27 October 1932, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

56 2 Masa'il 89 (13 December 1932 A.D.), to the Baha'is of Iran. (Translated from the Persian)

57 14 January 1933, to the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

58 Included in Sections I and II.

59 21 April 1933, to the Baha'is of the United States and Canada. (See The World Order of Baha'u'llah, pp. 81-82)

60 From the West, after the ascension of Baha'u'llah.

61 8 February 1934, to the Baha'is of the West. (See The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 98)

62 25 December 1938, to the Baha'is of the United States and Canada. (See The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 37)

63 5 December 1939, to the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

64 25 December 1939, to the Baha'is of the East. (Translated from the Persian)

65 The remains of the Purest Branch and those of Navvab.

66 Munirih _Kh_anum.

67 1944, God Passes By, p. 108

68 Baha'u'llah's.

69 The Most Exalted Leaf.

70 1944, God Passes By, p. 347

71 27 November 1954, to the Baha'is of the World. (See Messages to the Baha'i World, p. 74)

72 The International Archives Building.

73 15 August 1932

74 Members of the Holy Family.

75 Refers to the Annual Convention held in April 1932, at which the delegates and friends responded in an impressive manner to the need of the Fund associated with the name of the Greatest Holy Leaf, initiated in order to complete the exterior ornamentation of the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. Mrs Parsons spontaneously removed a valuable pearl necklace from her neck to assist in meeting the Fund's goal. See Baha'i News, No. 62, May 1932 for a report of that Convention.

76 23 August 1932

77 23 August 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Yonkers, N.Y.

78 25 August 1932

79 30 August 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Berkeley, California

80 30 August 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Racine, Wisconsin

81 30 August 1932

82 1 September 1932, to the Baha'is of Washington, D.C.

83 5 September 1932. (Translated from the Persian)

84 9 September 1932. (Translated from the Persian)

85 9 September 1932. (Translated from the Persian)

86 10 September 1932, to the Baha'is of Jacksonville, Florida

87 10 September 1932, to the Baha'is of Monroe, Washington

88 10 September 1932, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

89 15 September 1932. (Translated from the Persian)

90 15 September 1932. (Translated from the Persian)

91 15 September 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of _Sh_iraz. (Translated from the Persian)

92 15 September 1932, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

93 4 October 1932, to the Baha'is of Australia

94 4 October 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Phoenix, Arizona

95 6 October 1932

96 7 October 1932

97 8 October 1932, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Adelaide, Australia

98 10 October 1932

99 11 October 1932, to the Baha'is of Teaneck, New Jersey

100 18 October 1932

101 29 October 1932

102 9 November 1932

103 9 November 1932

104 30 November 1932

105 15 March 1933

106 29 May 1933, to the Baha'is of Bournemouth, England

107 6 March 1945. (Translated from the Persian)

108 See facsimile of original, facing page 157

109 12 Muharram 1307 A.H. (8 September 1889 A.D.)

110 14 _Sh_avval 1310 A.H. (1 May 1893 A.D.)

_ 111 Dh_i'l-Qadih 1314 A.H. (3 April-2 May 1897 A.D.)

112 Elijah.

113 9 Muharram 1315 A.H. (10 June 1897 A.D.)

_ 114 Dh_i'l-Hijjih 1316 A.H. (12 April-11 May 1899 A.D.)

_ 115 Dh_i'l-Hijjih 1316 A.H. (12 April-11 May 1899 A.D.)

116 7 Muharram 1317 A.H. (18 May 1899 A.D.)

_ 117 Dh_i'l-Qadih 1318 A.H. (20 February-21 March 1901 A.D.)

118 Undated, postmarked 9 April 1901

_ 119 Dh_i'l-Qadih 1321 A.H. (19 January-17 February 1904 A.D.), to a believer in Tihran

120 The Imam Husayn.

121 Jamadiyu'_th_-_Th_ani 1322 A.H. (13 August-10 September 1904 A.D.), to a Baha'i family

122 Safar 1323 A.H. (7 April-5 May 1905 A.D.)

_ 123 Dh_i'l-Qadih 1323 A.H. (28 December 1905-26 January 1906 A.D.), to a believer in Yazd

124 Safar 1325 A.H. (16 March-13 April 1907 A.D.)

125 1 January 1921

126 Undated, to the President of the Baha'i Women's Society in Chicago

127 Undated

128 Undated

129 Undated

130 Elsewhere in this letter reference is made to one of the female relatives of the recipient.

131 28 November 1921, to the Executive Board of Baha'i Temple Unity

132 14 December 1921 (date received), to the Executive Board of Baha'i Temple Unity

133 Covenant-breakers.

134 22 December 1921 (date received), to the Executive Board of Baha'i Temple Unity

135 17 January 1922 (date received), to the Executive Board of Baha'i Temple Unity

_ 136 Sh_a'ban 1340 A.H. (30 March-28 April 1922 A.D.), to the Servants of the Blessed Beauty and the dear friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha. (See Star of the West, vol. 13, pp. 82-83)

137 See III, 1, page 21.

138 Feast of Ridvan 1922 (21 April-2 May 1922 A.D.), to the friends in America. (See Star of the West, vol. 13, pp. 88)

139 1 May 1922 (date received), to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada

140 Ramadan 1340 A.H. (28 April-27 May 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Tihran

141 Ramadan 1340 A.H. (28 April-27 May 1922 A.D.), to the Baha'is in Iran

142 Ramadan 1340 A.H. (28 April-27 May 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Tabriz

143 Ramadan 1340 A.H. (28 April-27 May 1922 A.D.), to a Baha'i family in Tabriz

144 Ramadan 1340 A.H. (28 April-27 May 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Qazvin

145 Ramadan 1340 A.H. (28 April-27 May 1922 A.D.), to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Tabriz

146 The word camphor derives from Arabic kafur, as in Qur'an 76:5. Camphor has been used as a refreshing tonic in Eastern medicine.

147 cf. Qur'an 18:93: 'Verily, Gog and Magog waste this land ...' The rampart here described was of iron and molten brass, so that Gog and Magog could neither scale it nor dig under it.

148 Qur'an 14:29.

149 Qur'an 13:18.

150 The Book of My Covenant.

151 Qur'an 37:164.

152 cf.Matthew 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-7.

153 On p. 14 of 'An Epistle to the Bahai World' written by Mirza Badi'u'llah, translated by Dr Aminu'llah Farid, and published by the Baha'i Publishing Society in Chicago in 1907, there is the following passage concerning the falsification by Muhammad-'Ali of a Tablet in which Baha'u'llah relates the misdeeds of Mirza Yahya, to whom He refers as 'My brother'. Mirza Badi'u'llah writes: 'A few moments passed and I saw him [Muhammad-'Ali] take up the Tablet, erase "My brother" and replace it with "My Greatest Branch". Having seen this, I immediately said: "This deed is a great sin and a breach of trust. If you show this Tablet, this servant will divulge the whole account, will point out the interpolation, and this will cause all the writings in your possession to be considered unreliable. Hereafter whatsoever of the writings traced by the Supreme Pen you may show me, I will not accept as authentic until I have carefully compared the manuscript with the original handwriting which is elsewhere preserved and have examined the same with a magnifying glass."'

154 Qur'an 22:11.

155 Khusif.

_ 156 Sh_avval 1340 A.H. (28 May-25 June 1922 A.D.), to the Baha'is in _Kh_usif

_ 157 Sh_avval 1340 A.H. (28 May-25 June 1922 A.D.)

_ 158 Sh_avval 1340 A.H. (28 May-25 June 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Tabriz

_ 159 Sh_avval 1340 A.H. (28 May-25 June 1922 A.D.), to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Ardikan

_ 160 Sh_avval 1340 A.H. (28 May-25 June 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Karachi

161 Jesus.

162 26 _Sh_avval 1340 A.H. (22 June 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Qazvin

_ 163 Dh_i'l-Qadih 1340 A.H. (26 June-25 July 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Miyanaj

_ 164 Dh_i'l-Qadih 1340 A.H. (26 June-25 July 1922 A.D.), to a believer in _Sh_iraz

_ 165 Dh_i'l-Qadih 1340 A.H. (26 June-25 July 1922 A.D.), to the Baha'is in _Kh_urasan

_ 166 Dh_i'l-Qadih 1340 A.H. (26 June-25 July 1922 A.D.), to the Friends of God

_ 167 Dh_i'l-Qadih 1340 A.H. (26 June-25 July 1922 A.D.), to a believer in _Kh_urasan

168 12 _Dh_i'l-Qadih 1340 A.H. (7 July 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Takur, Nur

169 15 _Dh_i'l-Qadih 1340 A.H. (10 July 1922 A.D.), to the Baha'is of Husayn-Abad, Yazd

170 19 _Dh_i'l-Qadih 1340 A.H. (14 July 1922 A.D.), to the Baha'is of Miyanaj

171 The Bab.

172 22 _Dh_i'l-Qadih 1340 A.H. (17 July 1922 A.D.), to a believer in I_sh_qabad, Turkistan

173 20 July 1922, to the Baha'is in America

174 4 August 1922, to the Baha'is in the West

175 'Abdu'l-Baha.

176 15 _Dh_i'l-Hijjih 1340 A.H. (8 August 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Tihran

177 9 August 1922

178 See Qur'an 12:93.

179 10 August 1922, to a believer in Alexandria, Egypt

180 20 Muharram 1341 A.H. (12 September 1922 A.D.)

181 22 Muharram 1341 A.H. (14 September 1922 A.D.), to a believer in _Kh_urasan

182 22 Muharram 1341 A.H. (14 September 1922 A.D.), to the members of the Spiritual Assembly of _Sh_i_sh_avan, a village in A_dh_irbayjan

183 24 Muharram 1341 A.H. (16 September 1922 A.D.), to the Baha'is of Gav-Gan, a village near Tabriz

184 Qur'an 29:2.

185 1 Safar 1341 A.H. (23 September 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Tihran

186 22 Safar 1341 A.H. (14 October 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Tihran

187 2 Rabi'u'l-Avval 1341 A.H. (23 October 1922 A.D.)

188 2 Rabi'u'l-Avval 1341 A.H. (23 October 1922 A.D.), to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Tihran

189 Muhammad-'Ali.

190 5 Rabi'u'l-Avval 1341 A.H. (26 October 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Isfahan

191 5 Rabi'u'l-Avval 1341 A.H. (26 October 1922 A.D.), to the Maidservants of the Blessed Beauty in Sang-i-Sar

192 25 November 1922

193 Undated, to the friends in Yonkers, New York. (See Star of the West, vol. 13, p. 220, of November 1922)

194 2 December 1922, to a believer in Egypt

195 15 Rabi'u'_th_-_Th_ani 1341 A.H. (5 December 1922 A.D.), to a believer in Tihran

196 15 Rabi'u'_th_-_Th_ani 1341 A.H. (5 December 1922 A.D.), to the members of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Tihran

197 15 Rabi'u'_th_-_Th_ani 1341 A.H. (5 December 1922 A.D.), to the members of the Chicago Temple Fund Committee in Tihran

198 25 Rabi'u'_th_-_Th_ani 1341 A.H. (15 December 1922 A.D.)

199 11 December 1922

200 23 July 1923

201 9 Safar 1342 A.H. (21 September 1923 A.D.), to the members of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of _Sh_iraz

202 4 Rabi'u'_th_-_Th_ani 1342 A.H. (14 November 1923 A.D.), to a believer in Tihran

203 28 November 1923, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Yonkers, New York

204 3 December 1923

205 21 _Sh_a'ban 1342 A.H. (28 March 1924 A.D.), to the members of the Spiritual Assemblies and all the Friends of God in the East

206 3 _Sh_avval 1342 A.H. (8 May 1924 A.D.), to the Friends of God and the Maidservants of the Merciful

207 Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 104.

208 cf. Matthew 10:16.

209 27 May 1924, to the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Hamadan