To Miss Agnes Alexander

O thou daughter of the kingdom! Thy letter dated July 15th, 1916, received. Its contents indicated that thou hast organized a meeting in Japan. Consider thou what a great favor God has bestowed that such spiritual meetings are being held in Tokyo and such heavenly gifts are being distributed! God says in the Qur’an: “The example of the people of faith is like unto a field which obtains freshness and verdancy from the rain descending from the clouds, attaining to full fruition and finding the blessing of the Kingdom! There is no doubt that day by day it will grow and develop and in the end the ears of the sheaves will be laden with God’s benediction, bringing forth an hundred fold.”

Now, ye are the fields of the plain of Reality and are under the protection of the educative rays of the Sun of Truth. At every moment ye obtain a new vitality from the rain of divine bestowals and ere long ye will produce full grown seeds which are blessed by the care and attention of the Divine Farmer. There is no doubt that such will be the end.

Convey on my behalf the utmost longing greeting to the friends residing in Tokyo as well as the recently arrived travellers and say to them: All the individuals of humanity are farmers. Every soul sows a certain kind of seed, but at the season of the-harvest there will be gathered no result, except from the seeds which are sown by the believers of God. That alone will obtain heavenly blessing. Reflect that His Holiness Christ and His Holiness Muhammad scattered such holy seeds the fruits of which are being gathered till now; but all the other farmers were finally doomed to regret and disappointment.

Upon ye be greeting and praise.

‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

To Mr. Fulsuta San

O thou who art guided by the Light of Guidance! Thy first and second letters were received. Praise be to God, that the light of guidance shone forth, the glass of the heart became luminous and the darkness of ignorance dispelled. The Most Great Guidance is a crown, the brilliant gems of which will shine upon all the future ages and cycles. If it is placed on the head of a servant, he will become the object of the envy of the kings; for this is an imperishable crown and an everlasting sovereignty. God says in the great Qur’an: “He specializes with His mercy whomsoever He desireth.”

Praise be to God, that thou hast become specialized with divine favor and bounty. Thou didst become awake, beheld the lights and hearkened unto the melody of the Supreme Concourse. In the glorious Gospel it is said: “Freely ye have received, freely give.” That is you have found this bestowal; you have paid nothing for it: therefore give it to others without any exchange. Now with a heavenly power, with a lordly gift, with spiritual morals, with God-like deeds and with supreme glad tidings be thou engaged in the promotion of the teachings of God in Japan. The confirmation of the Kingdom shall encompass you and the cohorts of the realm of might will grant triumph.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas 

(Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

To the maidservant of God, Miss Agnes Alexander

Upon her be greeting and praise!

O thou heavenly daughter!

Thy letter through Mr. Hannen received from Japan, likewise the letters of Mr. Fukuta. The contents of both letters imparted exceeding joy, for each word was an eloquent tongue explaining the wonders of the love of God and elucidating the story of the attraction of the heart with the breaths of the holy spirit.

Praise be to God, that thou hast become assisted to promulgate the Word of God in Japan. Ere long this circle in Japan will be enlarged, obtaining heavenly blessing.

God says in the glorious Qur’an: “A seed, growing out of it seven ears and every ear containing one hundred kernels, and God is able to double this for whomsoever He willeth." This verse means this: Whenever the word of truth is proclaimed it is like unto a seed which sown in a pure soil brings forth seven ears and every ear produces one hundred kernels and God says again that for whomsoever He desireth He will double this number, that is: He will make the seven hundred kernels fourteen hundred.

Now I hope that thy call in Japan may be like unto that seed, so that it may obtain heavenly blessing and benediction and the souls be educated and taught the oneness and singleness of God, the truthfulness of the prophets and the usefulness of the divine teachings.

An answer is written to the letters of Mr. Fukuta and forwarded. Present it to him.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas 

(Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

To Maria P. Wilson, Malden, Mass.

O thou my respected hostess! The days that I was a guest in thy home are ever before my sight. They then include happy days, for they passed away in joy.

Truly, I say, with all thy power thou didst serve us and displayed towards us the utmost kindness. This service appeared through the sincerity of thine intention, thy love for humanity, and thy praiseworthy morals. At present, also, thou art engaged day and night in the service of the Kingdom of God, and art occupied in the promotion of heavenly teachings. Plant thou a tree which may yield sweet fruits throughout all eternity. Scatter thou such pure seeds which may produce various crops in the future ages and cycles, This is made possible through self-sacrifice in the path of God, and complete evanescence in the love of God—so that no trace of self, ego and desires be left behind; thus thou mayest consecrate thyself wholly and entirely to the heavenly Beloved.

Convey on my behalf to each and all the friends—men and women—my loving and yearning greetings.

Upon thee be greeting and praise.

- 'Abdu’l-Baha  (Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

‘Abdu’l-Baha’s vision for Green Acre

O thou maid-servant of God! Thy letter was received. Thy desire to serve Green Acre is in reality a very important matter. This name (Green Acre) must appear with all its significant meaning, that is Green Acre must become the reflection of the plain of Acca, and attain to the utmost verdancy, greenness and artistic beauty. Its charms and wonder lie in this, that it may become the center of the Baha’is and the cry of 'Ya Baha’u’l-Abha' be raised from all its direction. I hope that all thy aspirations may become fully realized. Upon thee be greeting and praise."

- 'Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)

“seeds which are sown by the believers of God”

All the individuals of humanity are farmers. Every soul sows a certain kind of seed, but at the season of the harvest there will be gathered no result, except from the seeds which are sown by the believers of God. That alone will obtain heavenly blessing. Reflect that His Holiness Christ and His Holiness Muhammed scattered such holy seeds the fruits of which are being gathered till now; but all the other farmers were finally doomed to regret and disappointment. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 5, June 5, 1917)