To Mrs. Ralston

O thou my daughter of the Kingdom! Thy letter full of significances imparted spiritual joy and stirred the hearts into cheerfulness. It was an indication of thy inward illumination and a brilliant proof of the fact that thou art drawing the rays of Truth from the fount of Mercy. From the time of our separation up to this hour thou wert and art ever in my mind. I have not forgotten thee even for one day, similarly Mr. Ralston; for both of you are most dear to me. Praise be to God, that your eyes are seeing and your ears hearing and your hearts illumined with the Light of the Most Great Guidance. Your trip to New York was most seasonable and the means of the tranquility of heart and soul. I hope that during this winter you may spend your time with the utmost rejoicing, but you must be present in the meetings of the believers and become the means of love and affinity of one toward another. Soul-cheering news reaches us from New York, that good-fellowship is realized amongst the friends and union and accord is perfect. I hope that Mr. Ralston and thyself may become the means of holding such meetings, the harvests of which may be abundant, day by day the believers may become more loving and kind toward each other and always good news may arrive from New York, granting joy and happiness to the hearts of the yearning ones. Convey on my behalf kindness and greeting to each and all the friends and the maidservants of the Merciful.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas.

(Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 13, November 4, 1918)

To the believers in Khurasan, Persia

He is God!

O fragrances of God, waft with perfume! O breezes of God, pass with aroma and seek the valley of the Merciful, the assembly of knowledge, the Sahara of Khorassan ! Become diffused before the friends of God and His faithful ones. Perfume the nostrils of His chosen ones—those whose faces shone forth, whose stars became brilliant, whose feet stood firm, whose banners unfurled, whose hearts grew strong, whose roots and branches flourished, whose breasts dilated in the day of meeting, and who became loyal to the Covenant of God in the world of eternity. Then convey thou to the dwellers of those regions and hills, the greetings of thy Lord, the Supreme, and announce to them the glad tidings of the days of God.

By my Lord! This is a bounty that was desired in the past centuries by the dawning points of lights and stars, and the recipients of the inspiration of thy Lord, the Dear, the Self-subsisting. Their eyes were flooded, their tears flowed, their lamentations arose in yearning and longing for it. May you enjoy this table that has descended from the heaven of the favor of your Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate!

O breezes of longing and fragrances from the flowers of faithfulness! Stand in the courtyard of the friends, the rose-garden of whose hearts thrived by the flooding clouds of the love of God, and their faces shone with the light of the knowledge of God. Convey to them my longing, yearning and attachment; declare and announce to them my devotion, affection and fondness in their mention. Say to them:—

To an illumined American minister who became a believer when ‘Abdu’l- Bahá visited America

O my revered! Thy letter that thou hast written in the utmost sincerity and love was the cause of perfect joy. Indeed, with soul and heart thou art striving in order that thou mayest be confirmed by the good pleasure of God. Undoubtedly, this blessed intention has a great effect. A good intention is like unto a brilliant candle, its light shines in all directions. Now, thanks be to God, thou hast risen with utmost effort to light a candle of guidance in that country, and to plant in the garden of the world of humanity a tree of love and gentleness, to herald to the Kingdom of God, to become the cause of awakening of the heedless, to give healing to the spiritually sick, to become the cause of broadening the thought, to train characters, to impart progress to the minds and souls, to bring the lost sheep to the shadow of the real Shepherd, and to guide the migrant birds of the rose-garden of reality.

Rest thou assured that the confirmations of His Holiness Baha’u’llah will come.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 12, October 16, 1918)

To a philosopher in India

He is God!

O thou lover of reality! His Highness, the Merciful, has manifested love and harmony to the world of humanity, so that all of the individuals may find a complete connection with each other and the lights of the Oneness of God may appear in the human world. For this He sent the Holy Manifestations, revealed the heavenly books, established the divine religions, so that these holy souls, these revealed books, and these divine religions may become the cause of unity, agreement, harmony and love in the world of humanity.

When we consider the reality of divine religions, we see that reality is one because all of the divine religions are reality, and reality does not accept multiplicity or division. Alas, that the foundation of reality has disappeared and imitations, customs and ceremonies that are the foundation of dissension, the cause of obstinacy, the means of war and struggle have appeared. The original purpose of the appearance of the Holy Manifestations and the establishment of the divine teachings have passed away.

When this black darkness, that is, the imitations of fathers and forefathers, surrounded the world and the original illumination of divine religions became obliterated, the Morn of Truth dawned and the Sun of Reality (Baha’u’llah) shone forth from the horizon of Persia and cast the rays of heavenly oneness upon the world of humanity. He brought down the edifice of the imitations of the ignorant, the human conduct and customs that emanate from the prejudices of the ancient. These divine teachings are established in the heart of the horizons like unto the penetration of the spirit in the bodies. Thus, at present in Persia, through the breathing of the Spirit of God, different people have torn asunder the curtain of superstitions, become free from the imitations of the ignorant, reached reality, and in the utmost harmony and love are associating with people of different religions. Great assemblies are being organized consisting of Muslims, Jews, Zoroastrians and sometimes Buddhists, including many races. Turks, Arabs, Persians, Kurds, English, French and Americans mingle together as kind and happy brothers. Like the lambs of God, they graze in the meadow of reality, under the shadow of the training of the heavenly Shepherd.

For a martyr in Ardakan, Persia

He is God!

Verily, those who quaffed the cup of the great martyrdom in the path of God, are favored from the bounty of Thy Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate. They are the ones whose hearts God has chosen for His love. Their faces are shining with the light of God in the paradise of the rose garden. The angels of mercy receive them and announce to them the glad tidings of holy resting places and of the canopy of sincerity in the Kingdom of their generous Lord. Their enemies will be repulsed and degraded to the lowest of the lowest as thou hast seen others in manifest loss. Verily, there is in this an example for those who are mindful. God shall do away with the helpers of the unjust.

O my Lord, confirm the relatives of these martyrs in serving Thy Cause, elevating Thy Word, spreading Thy Religion, igniting Thy Love in the hearts of Thy servants and guide those who are lost in the wilderness of error. Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Dear, the Exalted!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 10, September 8, 1918)

For the friends in the Orient

[for the friends in the Orient, at Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee]

He is God!

With regard to the assembly, there must be spiritual consultation therein; discourses about the manifestation of the Greatest Orb, the effulgence of the Sun of Reality, the greatness of the blessed Cause, the power and penetration of the Word of God, the might of the divine Covenant and Testament must be mentioned. This will be conducive to the spirituality and illumination of the hearts. Every discussion besides this, will not give complete results. Therefore, you must have no secrets in your assembly and no word should be spoken that, were it made public, might be the cause of depression or sorrow to any soul.

The utterances of all must be concentrated in consultations concerning teaching and the promulgation of the Cause of God. In this way, there will be no secrets that might be spread. We have nothing to conceal, thanks be to God. We are famous for our devotion and all of the creatures jeer at us for our love in the path of God. Besides this we have no aim. It is impossible to have a secret that will not spread. It has been tried many times, especially when among a number of souls. It is said that every secret going beyond two people will go farther, because every member of the assembly must have a confidant in whom he has perfect trust, and oneness of condition. That person also has a confidant and, unquestionably, will not keep it from him. Therefore, it is much better not to have among you privacy and secrecy. May all of our secrets be a sacrifice to the secret of Baha, and all of our confidentials be a ransom to Him. The secrets of Bahaare: The oneness of the world of humanity, universal love, mercy and compassion to the broken-hearted, sympathy to the suffering, peace and happiness to the world of humanity, merciful breath, attraction to the fragrance of God, severance of the heart from attachment to the transitory world, liberty, purity, relief from worries and anxieties of the earth, etc. Should such secrets spread they would become the cause of the life of the world.

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 10, September 8, 1918)

If marriage partners prevent each other from becoming Baha’i

As to thy question: "If the husband prevents his wife from entering into the Light, or the wife prevents the husband from entering into the Kingdom of God."’ In reality neither one of them prevents the other from entering into the Kingdom of God, unless when the husband has a great attachment to the wife, or the wife to the husband. When either one of the two adores the other instead of God, then each will prevent the other from entering into the Kingdom of God.

-‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 7, July 13, 1918)

Husband and wife and the bond that unites them

As to thy question concerning the husband and wife, the tie between them, and the children given to them by God, know thou, verily, the husband is one who has sincerely turned unto God, is awakened by the call of the Beauty of Abha and chants the verses of oneness in the great assemblies. The wife is a being who wishes to be overflowing with and seeks after the attributes of God and His names; and the tie between them is no other than the Word of God. Verily, it (the Word of God) causes the multitudes to assemble together, and the remote ones to be united. Thus the husband and wife are brought into affinity, are united and harmonized, even as though they were one person. Through their mutual union, companionship and love great results are produced in the world, both material and spiritual. The spiritual result is the appearance of divine bounties. The material result is the children who are born in the cradle of the love of God, who are nurtured by the breast of the knowledge of God, are brought up in the bosom of the gift of God and are fostered in the lap of the training of God. Such children are those of whom it was said by Christ: "Verily, they are the children of the Kingdom.

Consequently, O thou maidservant of God, reach the maidservants of the Merciful One, and tell them from the tongue of ‘Abdu’l-Baha: O maidservants of the Merciful! It is incumbent upon you to train the children from their earliest babyhood! It is incumbent upon you to beautify their morals! It is incumbent upon you to attend to them under all aspects and circumstances! Inasmuch as God—glorified and exalted is He!—hath ordained mothers as the primary trainers of children and infants; this is a great and important affair and a high and exalted position, and it is not allowable to slacken therein at all.

If thou walkest in this right path thou wilt become a real mother to the children, both spiritually and materially.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 7, July 13, 1918)

To the honorable Mr. Charles loas

O thou who hast advanced toward God! By God, I rejoiced when reading thy letter which declares thy belief in the unity of God and thine acknowledgment of the appearance of the Kingdom of God. This is a matter whereby thy face shall brighten in the Supreme Concourse, and thy forehead shall sparkle among the people. Then know the worth of this gift, the lights of which shone forth unto all directions and indicate the attraction of the Concourse of Abha, the Most Glorious. Then be firm in this Cause, and thou wilt behold thyself in a lofty station, having all that is in earth under its shadow, because, this is verily that gift which is mentioned in the Gospel. O how good is this bounty in this day, when the commemoration of the true God is published and spread in all directions!

Baha be upon thee!

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 6, June 24, 1918)

Tablet Revealed when learning the passing of Arthur Pillsbury Dodge, at New York City, October 12, 1915

To Mrs. Dodge, and ‘William, Wendell and Paul Dodge—May their lives be happy—

O ye afflicted ones!

A most terrible news reached my ears and that was the death of his honor, Mr. Dodge. Truly, this bereavement is unbearable and the hearts are afflicted with the utmost sorrow and grief that that divine personage hid his face from the world, hastened to the universe of God and left the friends in the remorse and regret of separation. In reality that honorable soul served the Cause of God and endured many hardships and vicissitudes. His services are registered in the everlasting book in the Kingdom of God and mentioned by the Supreme Concourse. They shall never be forgotten. Ere long they will yield great results and will become the means of happiness to that household and conducive to the honor of its members. I will never forget him and supplicate for him graces and bounties from His Highness the Almighty. Be ye not sorrow-stricken nor do ye lament or bemoan; for that drop joined the ocean, that ray returned to the sun, that thirsty one reached the fountain of eternal life and that fish swam in the sea of God’s forgiveness. Although his star set in the horizon of this world yet he dawned with the utmost brilliancy from the horizon of eternity. You will find him in that divine universe. Consequently he is not counted among the lost ones.

Upon ye be greeting and praise !

(Signed) ‘Abdul-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 6, June 24, 1918)

“some of His [Bahá’u’lláh] signs”

He is God!

Praise be unto the One who created the world and made every existing thing wonderful! He gave the sincere praiseworthy stations and made the invisible visible, but all others are groping in their deep sleep. He laid the foundation in the erection of the lofty palace and the glorious light; created the new creatures in a manifest resurrection! — and still the people are heedless in their slumber. He blew the horn; the (first) trumpet sounded; the drum was beaten; those in the world of existence were stunned! — and still the dead are dormant in the graves of their bodies. Then the second trumpet sounded; it brought the breath of life to some of the dead; even the nursing mothers forgot their infants! — and still the people in their unconsciousness do not comprehend.

The day of judgment has come; the hour has struck; the path is extended; the balance (scale of justice) is set up; all the contingent beings are gathered (for judgment)! — and still the people are afflicted with blindness! The light has shone forth; the Mount of Tôr became illumined; the soft breeze of the rose-gardens of the forgiving Lord blew gently; the fragrances of the Spirit were diffused; the dead were resurrected from the graves! — and still the heedless are asleep in their tombs. The fires are blazing; heaven is nigh; the meadows are blooming; paradise has become a wonder! — and still the ignorant are wading in the stagnant pools of their imaginations. The veil is removed; the curtain is lifted; the clouds are torn asunder; the Lord of Lords is manifest! — and still the criminally negligent are at loss.

To the friends of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful, Muskegon, Michigan

Upon ye be Baha’u’l-Abha!

He is God.

O ye who are attracted to the Kingdom of Abha!

Verily, I have read your letter, which indicates illumined consciences and hearts filled with the love of God. Blessed are ye, for ye have attained to a Bounty which was the desire of the greatest holy men in past centuries and which is befitting for those who are like unto ye.

Verily, I ask God to make ye the signs of guidance among mankind and to bestow upon ye stability and uprightness.

Perhaps papers of doubts will come to ye from souls who have emerged from the Kingdom of God. Care ye not therein. Arise with a firm foot in the Covenant, in order that the people of hypocrisy becomes hopeless, even if they should come with the greatest intrigues, evil suggestions and discords.

This is what we inform ye in the days of tests...

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 16, December 31, 1917)

Revealed for the Persian Baha’is

He is God.

O ye beloved and ideal friends of God!

The divine voice from the invisible Kingdom of Abha is reaching those who are asleep in the valley of unconsciousness with the call:— O ye heedless, awake! O ye drunken, be sober! O ye dead, arise! O ye wilted, be revived and full of vigor! O ye dumb, speak! O ye silent, cry out!

The voice is the melody of the Covenant, and the effulgences are from the Light of the bountiful bestowals of the horizons. It is the breeze of the meadows of singleness that is blowing and the effusion of the fragrances of the rose gardens that are wafting; it is the candle of the favor of the Ancient Beauty (Baha'u'llah) that is lighted in every assembly; it is the outpouring of the clouds of mercy that is bestowing freshness to every garden and lawn; it is the verse of oneness that is uttered in the glorious Book, and the tablets of the unique Lord of the Kingdom are unfolding the mysteries of "they are clothed by the new creation"; incline your ears in order that ye may hear the melody of joy, and open your eyes to see the lights.

The favor of the Truth is abundant and His ancient bestowal is uninterrupted. His cycle is all light. His century fulfills all the signs. Be not hopeless neither disappointed. It is the day of hope and the century of the Glorious God. It is the first resurrection and the dispensation of the Beauty of Abha!—May my soul be a ransom to His Blessed Threshold.

Commune to be read by the friends of God in Persia

He is God!

Thou seest me, O my God, on this lofty mountain; the sublime and supreme threshold; the shelter of every great one and the refuge of all the glorious and noble.

Verily, the youths whose hearts were burning with the fire of the love of God in the past ages have taken shelter therein—the meeting place of the prophets, the refuge of his holiness Elijah, the shelter of Isaiah. The spirit of God, Jesus, the Christ—upon Him be greeting and praise!—passed over it, and in the Supreme Threshold, pressed by the feet of the Lord of Hosts.

O Lord, this is a mountain to which Thou hast given the name Carmel in the Torah. And thou hast attributed it to Thyself in the innermost heart of the tablets and scriptures.

O Lord, verily, I invoke Thee in this Supreme Threshold, under the wing of the gloomy nights; pray to Thee with throbbing heart and flowing tears, imploring Thee, supplicating between Thy hands and cry, O my Lord, verily, the fire of battles is raging in the valleys, hills and streams, and the fire of war is burning even under the seas and high in the air, in destruction and devastation. The earth is enveloped by its own fires and the seas are encompassed by its storms, thunderbolts and floods.

O Lord, the souls are stifling, the death rattle is in their throats, the earth quakes and has become so small that even the birds are frightened in their nests and the animals terrified in their lairs and caves.

We hear only the sighs of the maidens and the cries of the orphans, the moaning of the mothers, the tears of the fathers because of false reports. We see only tears flowing from every bereaved mother and the heart of every father, bereft of sons, burning. Towns are being devastated, people are perishing, the children are made orphans and the women are becoming widows. And this is only because of our heedlessness of Thy commemoration and our deprivation of Thy love. Verily, we have been occupied with ourselves. The intoxication of passion seized us; we have taken the road of heedlessness and blindness; have abandoned the path of guidance and have chosen the path of obstinacy and forgotten the commandments of the ancient scriptures. We have forsaken the exhortations in the preserved tablets and parchments—the great verses.

To Jenabe Amin

He is God!

O Jenabe Amin!

Although the doors are closed, the ways and the roads are severed and the means of communication are lost, yet the ideal ties and inner communications still exist. Though the mirror and the lights are far apart, yet the uniting force of the rays and the outpouring of reflections are strong and continuous.

The friends of God must move and conduct themselves with the utmost uprightness and power, so that all that are in the world of existence may become amazed at their firmness and steadfastness, their dignity and might.

This servant day and night is thinking of the friends in the utmost joy and fragrance, supplicating to His Holiness, The Merciful, for unlimited confirmations, so that every drop may become like unto the ocean, full of waves, and every atom expand in the rays of the sun. This is not much to ask of the favor of God.

Convey the utmost longing to every one of the friends. Praise be to God! through the assistance and the bounty of His Holiness, the Single, we are in perfect health on Mount Carmel, at the home of his honor, Aqa Abbas Quli. On account of the severance of communication, to inquire about the friends and convey news of the safety here, his honor, Haji Ramazan is sent, because no one else is able to travel this road in these days.

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 14, November 23, 1917)

Bahá’u’lláh’s ascension and the growth of the Faith

O ye friends of God and assistants of ‘Abdu’l-Baha:

When the Sun of Truth was concealed behind the cloud of glory, the orb of the universe disappeared from the dawning-place of the visible and shone forth in the invisible world, and conferred successive bounties upon the contingent world, then from the unseen realms, the bats began to move, opened their wings and flew around. They supposed they could interrupt the glorious bounties of that beautiful face, quench the shining rays of the Sun of Truth; extinguish the ignited fire and destroy the praiseworthy light; for they imagined that on account of the departure of His Highness the desired One, the divine foundations would be demolished and the blessed tree uprooted. Evil was that which they imagined and thou findest them in this day in manifest loss.

For, according to what was heard, the enemies in some of the lands, upon receiving the news of the most great disaster, held banquets. They rejoiced and made merry, celebrated festivals, burned incense, served sweets and flowers, lit many a candle, mixed honey and wine, played lutes and harps, spent that evening in cheerfulness and gladness until dawn, and sought delight and pleasure. But (they were) heedless that the bounty of that Sun has no end, the torrent of that rain is free from interruption, the radiance of that blessed Orb is continual, and that the dominion of the “Merciful One (who) is established upon the Throne” is permanent. Nay, rather, the human temple, like unto a cloud, prevents (people) from beholding the rays of the Sun. Therefore, it is said in the Gospel that when His Highness the Promised One comes, he shall be mounted on a cloud; but when that noble cloud is concealed, then shall the disk of the sun become manifest and transmit intense rays throughout all regions.

To Miss Jean Masson, Chicago

O thou respected one, a herald of the Kingdom of God!

The article that thou hast written concerning the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar contained eloquent paragraphs and wonderful and subtle significances. At the time of writing the power of attraction was manifest and apparent and the real Teacher was instructing and inspiring. Consequently, it was composed in the utmost fluency and eloquence.

Today, whosoever turns his face toward the Lord of the Kingdom and, with sincere intention, taking the pen in his hand, engages his time in writing, there is no doubt that the Holy Spirit shall confirm him and the power of the Kingdom of God shall instruct him.

Therefore, rest thou assured in the divine graces and occupy thy time with the utmost power and seriousness in writing and composition, in talking and explanation.

Consider, how in former ages a number of women became confirmed and assisted in the demonstration of faith and assurance and how in this mortal world they left behind immortal names.

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)

How to view “the day of trials”

O ye beloved of God! When the winds blow severely, rains fall fiercely, the lightning flashes, the thunder roars, the bolt descends and storms of trial become severe, grieve not; for after this storm, verily the divine spring will arrive, the hills and fields will become verdant, the expanses of grain will joyfully wave, the earth will become covered with blossoms, the trees will be clothed with green garments and adorned with blossoms and fruits. Thus blessings become manifest in all countries. These favors are results of those storms and hurricanes.

The discerning man rejoiceth at the day of trials, his breast becometh dilated at the time of severe storms, his eyes become brightened when seeing the showers of rain and gusts of wind, whereby trees are uprooted; because he foreseeth the result and the end (of these trials), the leaves, blossoms and fruits (which follow this wintry storm); while the ignorant (short-sighted) person becometh troubled when he seeth a storm, is saddened when it raineth severely, is terrified by the thunder and trembleth at the surging of the waves which storm the shores. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West. vol. 8, no.1, March 21, 1917)

“Baha'u'llah has breathed the Holy Spirit into the dead body of the world”

In this age His Holiness Baha'u'llah has breathed the Holy Spirit into the dead body of the world, consequently every weak soul is strengthened by these fresh Divine out-breathings —every poor man will become rich, every darkened soul will become illumined, every ignorant one will become wise, because the confirmations of the Holy Spirit are descending like torrents. A new era of Divine consciousness is upon us. The world of humanity is going through a process of transformation. A new race is being developed. The thoughts of human brotherhood are permeating all regions. New ideals are stirring the depths of hearts, and a new spirit of universal consciousness is being profoundly felt by all men. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West. vol. 8, no.1, March 21, 1917)

To Mrs. A. E. Magee

May her soul be happy!

O thou afflicted one!

In this great catastrophe [1] the eyes are weeping and the hearts are burning, because that incomparable plant was growing and developing with infinite joy and fragrance in the garden of the love of God. She was stirred into cheerfulness by the wafting of the breeze of providence; day by day she was progressing, and she was at all times the cause of the consolation of the hearts of the friends. I will never forget her, for she was one of the most important personages. But it was destined that she might become free from this material world, the world of physical sufferings and tribulations, and hasten toward the heavenly universe, so that through the showers of the cloud of grace she may obtain the utmost freshness and infinite delicacy and yield luscious fruits. Consequently be thou not unhappy, nor be thou grieved, for she is not counted amongst the dead. Nay rather she was dead, she became alive; she was evanescent, she became eternal; she was earthly, she became heavenly; she lived in the material world, she became wholly spiritual. Like unto a bird she was a prisoner and captive in the cage of this body. This cage was broken; that bird winged its way heavenward, and in the celestial rose-garden she became the associate and companion of other divine birds. Thou shalt find her in that rose-garden with the utmost joy and fragrance.

Convey on my behalf the utmost kindness and love to Mr. and Mrs. Inglis. I beg of God that in this affliction He may bestow upon them patience and consolation, and that they may educate their dear son in accord with their highest and purest standard.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

[1] Refers to the death of her daughter, Harriet Magee.

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 19, March 2, 1917)

To the maid-servant of God, Miss MacCutcheon

Upon her be greeting and praise!

Thy letter was received. On account of the death of thy father and brother the utmost sorrow and regret was produced. How unfortunate it is that that young man was killed instantly by the sudden shock! But his spirit flew from this world into the world beyond and the spirit of thy father soared toward the heavenly realm. Be thou not sad or unhappy for these two heavenly birds flew toward the rose-garden of eternity and attained to the infinite immensity of the Kingdom. Although those two lamps were extinguished in the earthly glass yet they became the enkindled lamps in the everlasting lamp of the Kingdom. At this moment they are in the utmost state of joy and happiness and so they shall be throughout all eternity. Consequently do thou not grieve nor be thou dispirited.

Convey my longing greeting to all the friends of God.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 19, March 2, 1917)

For Germany: To the friends of God (Revealed to Mrs. Alice Schwarz, Stuttgart)

Upon them be greeting and praise!

O ye true friends and ye who are firm in the love of God!

Although it has been a long time since I have written you a letter of any kind, the heart and soul were nevertheless in constant communication, and I supplicated to the Kingdom of Abha that you might be protected and preserved.

Although the unrests of the world are limitless and boundless, my hope is nevertheless that they may end and the dark clouds disappear from the horizon of the universe and that the sun of peace and unity may shine above all horizons.

We must under no circumstances be prevented from praying and the mentioning of God. We must always be enraptured with the fire of the love of God, be attracted by His Knowledge and be heralds of His Words, so that His invisible confirmations like unto the breeze of dawn, become the cause of spiritual life.

Pray then, that the universe may become a new universe and this dark world a world of light.

Convey my greatest love and affection, greetings and praise to all the friends.

Upon ye all be greetings and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 17, January 19, 1917)

To Mr. Fred Mortensen, Minneapolis, Minn

Upon him be Baha'u'l-Abha!

O thou illumined youth!

Thy letter was received. Its perusal produced the utmost joy; for its contents indicated faith and its significances were proofs of firmness in the Covenant. That trip of thine from Minneapolis to Green Acre will never be forgotten.[1] Its mention will be recorded eternally in books and works of history. Therefore, be thou happy that, praise be to God, thou hast an illumined heart, a living spirit and art vivified with a merciful breath. Convey my greeting, longing and respect to the Editor of Labor Review and say: "This paper of yours in the future ages will become superior to all the newspapers of the world, because you have published in its columns the proclamation of the kingdom of Abha. I hope thou wilt become assisted to promote the teachings of Baha'u'llah. Then thou wilt observe that this paper has become a luminous star and the cause of the illumination of the hearts of humanity."

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 17, January 19, 1917)

[1] Refers to his riding on the bumpers between railway baggage cars and on freight trains from Minneapolis, Minn., to Green Acre, Maine, in order to see ‘Abdu’l-Baha

To Mr. and Mrs. Harlan F. Ober

O ye two firm ones in the Covenant!

Although we are living in the holy land and you are dwelling in the United States, yet the spiritual relations and the communication of the hearts are firm and steadfast because the unity of the Divine Essence has bonded us together. In this material world we are cemented together and, God willing, in the Universe of God, the world of the Kingdom, we will be the associates and intimates of each other. Truly I say Mr. Ober rendered a great service to the Kingdom of God and undertook a long and arduous trip to India, and during our stay in America, Mrs. Ober served with heart and soul. Both of them are encircled with the Divine Favors and are firm and steadfast in the lordly Covenant.

Upon ye be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 17, January 19, 1917)

To the maid-servant of God, Doctor Pauline Barton-Peeke

Upon her be greetings and praise!

O thou the inheritor of the great, respected Mrs. Peeke!

Although that beloved maid-servant of God ascended from this mortal world to the world of immortality, praise be to God, she left thee behind as a token of herself. All the dwellers of the Kingdom and myself are pleased with thy services to the Kingdom of God. Truly I say the believers of God and thyself are displaying every effort in the promotion of the teachings of God in Cleveland. The evidence demonstrating this fact is that you have not forgotten us, nay rather with the utmost exertion and endeavor you are engaged in the service of Truth. Thank ye God that ye are confirmed therein. Ere long ye shall observe most important results and ye will behold the doors of the everlasting glory open before your faces. I am ever expecting to receive good news from you and the Cleveland believers, and in your behalf I supplicate and entreat toward the Kingdom of God, that every one of you may become ignited with the fire of the love of God and bestow the light of guidance upon that region and continent.

Upon ye be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 17, January 19, 1917)

To the maid-servant of God, Miss A. Boylan

Upon her be greeting and praise!

O thou who art firm in the Covenant!

Although it is a long time that I have not written a letter to that steadfast one in the Testament, still thou art ever before the sight and never forgotten. Now and then letters are being received from those friends that, praise be to God, they are engaged in service and are holding in their hands the candle of guidance, dispelling the darkness of superstitions and doubts. Convey to the dear daughter, Mrs. Krug, my respectful greeting. Some time ago I wrote her a brief note. It is hoped that her illumined meeting is still continued and the maid-servants of the Merciful gather in that assembly and are occupied in the commemoration of His Highness, the Almighty, are engaged in the establishment of unity and concord. Those days that meetings were held in her home and I used to present myself there and talk with the friends of God shall never be forgotten.

Upon thee and upon her be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 17, January 19, 1917)

To the maid-servant of God, Mrs. Georgia Ralston

O thou spiritual daughter of the Kingdom!

The letter that thou hast written to Mirza Ahmad Sohrab was perused. It imparted exceeding joy, joy to the heart, for it contained very good news, that, praise be to God, the friends of God, notwithstanding the interruption of the means of correspondence, are in the state of the utmost joy and fragrance. This must indeed be the condition of those souls who have entered the Kingdom. They must not be discouraged by any obstacles, nay, rather, they must, day by day, increase their attraction and enkindlement, for confirmations are descending upon them from the heavenly Spirit. You must be firm and steadfast to such a degree that not only the interruption of the means of communication, but should ‘Abdu’l-Baha hasten from this world to another world and soar from this mortal prison to the immortal rose-garden, none of you must be shaken or disturbed; nay, rather, moment after moment the strength of heart be augmented and firmness and steadfastness be increased. For when the lamp of the love of God is ignited in the heart, its flame must become purer and whiter day by day—thus from head to foot he may become a torch of flaming fire. When his holiness the Bab and his holiness Baha’u'llah ascended to the Supreme Concourse, the intensity of the fire of the service of the friends of God became an hundred fold and in the assemblages of humanity they shone out with the utmost sanctity and purity. I hope you will likewise attain to such a station.

Convey longing greetings, on my behalf, to each and all the friends. Should we enjoy life after this war, we shall correspond with all the believers.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 17, January 19, 1917)

Tablet revealed by 'Abdu'l-Baha

 He is God!

O God! O God! Thou dost behold me, how my forehead is laid upon the dust of humility and submission and how my face is covered in the ground of the threshold of thy singleness. O thou my Lord, the Unconstrained! Thou seest me lowly and contrite, supplicating, entreating and imploring toward the Kingdom of thy light by day and by night, that thou encircle us with the eye of thy providence and the glances of the outlook of thy mercifulness.

O Lord! Forgive our sins, pardon our shortcomings and deal with us through thy grace and generosity under all circumstances. O our Lord! We are sinners, but thou art the merciful forgiver. We are transgressors, but thou art the clement pardoner. Absolve our iniquities, remove our sorrows, destine for us through thy bestowal severance from the world, occupation with thy mentioning, enkindlement with the fire of thy love, perpetual contemplation of thy signs, the knowledge of thy words, meditation over thy verses and the attraction of thy lights.

O Lord! O Lord! These are thy servants; they have turned their faces toward thy countenance and they have resolved their joy and happiness in thy favor and bounty. Strengthen their backs in thy obedience. Reinforce their lives in thy adoration. Perfume their hearts with the fragrances of thy holiness. Ordain for them presence in the paradise of thy meeting. Suffer them to become such servants as peruse the verses of unity in the assemblages held in thy name; that attract the rays of singleness from the lamp of thy bestowal; as those drawn towards thy beauty, humble before thy glory; who have abandoned aught else save thee and are relying upon thy protection and preservation; as those rendered meek by the sway of thy Word, made submissive before thy beloved ones; as those diffusing thy fragrances, disclosing thy mysteries, informing people with thy teachings and suffering mankind to become rejoiced through thy glad-tidings. Verily, thou art powerful over that which thou wiliest and thou feedest whomsoever thou desirest with thy hand. The world and the Kingdom belong to thee and thou art the mighty, the omnipotent and the beloved!

O ye believers of God! O ye dear friends of ‘Abdu’l-Baha!

Portion of a Tablet to Mrs. Cora Ditmars, of Spokane, Washington

O thou happy and blessed one!

In this holy Cause the question of the education and the maintenance of the orphans has the utmost importance. Towards the orphans the utmost consideration must be shown, they must be taught and instructed; especially the teachings of his holiness Baha’u’llah must be given freely to every orphan according to the means at hand. I beg of God that to the orphaned children thou mayst become a kind father and mother, to quicken them with the fragrances of the Holy Spirit—thus they may attain to the age of maturity, and each one may become the real servant of the world of humanity—nay rather, they may become as bright candles in the assemblages of mankind.

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas 

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 13, November 4, 1916)

To the friends of God, men, women and children in the photograph of the First International Bahai Congress, San Francisco, California

Upon them be greeting and praise!

O you real friends and lovers of the Kingdom of God!

In these days the scroll of the photograph of the blessed faces of those pure souls, which was taken during the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, was received.

Praise be to God that the faces are radiant, indicating the sanctification of the hearts. All those who have looked at the photograph have obtained immediate joy—outflowing, and inexhaustible.

I beg infinite grace from the Kingdom of God for each one of those friends who were present in that gathering, wishing for them heavenly powers so that the members of that congress may irradiate the white rays of the Sun of Reality to all parts and illumine the cities, counties, towns and villages of the United States.

The magnet whereby to attract these favors and bounties, is firmness and steadfastness.

Upon you be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas 

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 13, November 4, 1916)

To “be imbued with the same spiritual state that ‘Abdu’l-Baha manifested while traveling in America”

After my return from America and Europe, owing to the difficulties of the long voyage and the innumerable inconveniences of the journey, a reaction set in and I became sick. Now, through the favor and bounty of the Blessed Perfection, I am feeling better; therefore I am engaged in writing to thee this letter, so that thou mayest realize the friends of God are never forgotten under any circumstances.

Now is the time that the believers of God may imitate the conduct and the manner of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Day and night they must engage in teaching the Cause of God, but they must be imbued with the same spiritual state that ‘Abdu’l-Baha manifested while traveling in America.

When the teacher delivers an address, first of all his own words must have a supreme and powerful effect over himself, so that every one in turn may be affected. His utterance must be like unto the flame of fire, burning away the veils of dogmas, passion and desire. Moreover, he must be in the utmost state of humility and evanescence, that others may be mindful. He must have attained the station of renunciation and annihilation. Then, and not until then, will he teach the people with the melody of the Supreme Concourse. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 10, September 8, 1916)

To the maidservant of God, Mrs. J. P. Addison, Portland, Oregon

Upon her be greeting and praise!

O thou respected maidservant!

The letter that thou hast written to his honor Sohrab was perused. Praise be to God, that it contained the good news of the health and safety of the friends of the Almighty. It was also a proof of their firmness and steadfastness in religion and faith. Thank ye God that ye presented yourselves in the divine International Congress in California and were engaged in the service of the word of God. Consider ye the power and the influence of the celestial teachings that the President of the Exposition expressed his gratitude and thankfulness for your services to the world of humanity. Truly I say the believers of God in that Congress became assisted in the accomplishment of most great services. The photograph of the Congress was also received and imparted great happiness. The persons who delivered speeches at its sessions, such as Dr. F. W. D'Evelyn, Mr. Hooper Harris, Mr. Charles Mason Remey, Mr. Howard MacNutt, Mr. William H. Randall, Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, Mr. Howard C. Ives, Mr. William H. Hoar, Mr. Joseph H. Hannen, Mr. Albert R. Windust, Mr. Alfred E. Lunt, Mr. Albert H. Hall, Mr. Edwin T. Cooper, Mr. Harlan F. Ober, Mr. J. A. Britton, Mrs. Mary Hanford Ford, Mr. William C. Ralston and Mirza Khan—were assisted with divine confirmations and inspired with the powers of the Holy Spirit. The results and spiritual influences of those talks are endless and eternal. They will become apparent in the future.

Likewise the meetings which were held in the city of Portland and the persons who spoke to the various audiences were supremely assisted by the angels of the Supreme Concourse. They scattered pure seeds in that virgin western soil. Truly, I say, Mr. Remey and Mr. Latimer are displaying the utmost effort in the diffusion of the fragrances of God. I supplicate and entreat toward the Kingdom of God and beg for each and all heavenly confirmation and assistance.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 10, September 8, 1916)

To his honor Mr. Charles Mason Remey, Washington, D. C.

Upon him be greeting and praise!

O thou herald of Reality!

Thou hast written that thou art spending the winter with thy parents, but thou dost not know thy duty for the spring and summer. The best way is this, in company with his honor Mr. George Latimer travel thou throughout America and the Hawaiian Islands and summon thou the people to the Kingdom of God. The doors of investigation are open and the people of reality are running to and fro. In these days great capacity is witnessed in America and the population is ready to listen to the divine teachings. Synthesize and compose ye in a simple and effective manner the heavenly principles and present them to the listeners in meetings and gatherings. Through the ideal glad-tidings and the lordly suggestions breathe ye a new spirit into the hearts of the friends of God and encourage and incite them in the promotion of the word of God. Convey to all the friends my longing greeting, especially his honor Mr. George Latimer.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 10, September 8, 1916)

To Mr. Joseph H. Hannen, Washington, D. C.

Upon him be greeting and praise!

O thou who art firm in the Covenant! Praise be to God, that the friends of God in Washington are occupied in the service of the Kingdom and are displaying perfect firmness and steadfastness in the faith. The meetings which are being organized are in reality the reflections of the Supreme Concourse. The sweet breezes which are wafting toward us from America and the perfumed air which reaches our nostrils from that far off region are most fragrant; therefore they impart joy and happiness to all the hearts.

Convey to his honor Doctor........ my longing greeting and say to him: I have not forgotten his kindness, and it is my hope that, in accord with the divine teachings, he may become the ensign and the flag of the oneness of the world of humanity.

Announce to the maid-servant of God, thy respected wife, my wonderful, glorious greeting.

Upon thee be greeting and praise.

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 10, September 8, 1916)

To Dr. Zia Bagdadi and Zeenat Khanum (Mrs. Zia M. Bagdadi,) Chicago

O ye two doves of the nest of the Love of God! Although it is a long time that no news has reached us from you, yet we are continually thinking of you. You must at least send us a monthly post card giving us in brief the news of your health and safety and the spirituality of the friends of God. For this will become conducive to the happiness of the hearts. Praise be to God, that under the shade of divine Providence we are safe and enjoy good health, expressing our thanks at the threshold of the Almighty.

In the great Book, the divine Qur’an, God says: "If ye offer praise unto Me, I will increase My favors unto you." Therefore we have unloosened our tongues in continual thanksgiving, supplicating confirmation and assistance from the spirituality of His Holiness Muhammad, the Messenger of God—upon Him be praise. We are likewise praying for your success and prosperity. The mother of thy respected wife, her brothers and sister are all well and in good health.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 10, September 8, 1916)

To Mrs. Corinne True, Chicago

Care of Mr. Joseph H. Hannen, Washington, D. C.

My dear sister in the Cause of God: — Days and months are slowly creeping on and the hearts of millions of people are longing for peace, praying for peace and calling fervently and ardently on the powers of peace. During such days ‘Abdul’-Baha has not forgotten you and He has revealed a Tablet for you, the translation of which is as follows:

O thou my daughter of the Kingdom! Praise be to God, that thou art assisted and confirmed in the service of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar and art spending thy effort in the erection of this edifice. The construction of this great building is the first divine foundation of the people of Unity in America and it will be like unto Mother unto the temples of God. All the temples which will be built in the future are born from this great Temple.

God says in the great Qur’an: "The building of the Mosques of God is carried along by those souls who believe in God and in the day of judgment." In other words: The construction of the divine mosques is undertaken by the believing, pure and blessed soul. It is my hope that thou mayest become assisted in building this edifice and become conducive to the firmness of the people in the Covenant and Testament.

Endeavor thou as much as thou canst so that the members of thy household become believers in the Unity of God and declare: "Verily, God is single!", become attracted to the Kingdom of God and the promoters of the divine teachings.

Convey my respected greeting to thy daughters.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 10, September 8, 1916)

To Mr. Windust, Miss Buikema

O ye two servants of the Kingdom of God! Praise be to God, that your services are accepted in the divine threshold and your songs impart joy and happiness to the ears of the dwellers of the Kingdom.

Persia praises your articles and is praying to God that the ways may be opened and correspondence between Persia and America find the utmost expression and facility, so that your melodies and anthems may become conducive to the exhilaration and cheerfulness of the meetings of the spiritual ones. What wonderful and joy imparting songs are raised from the pages of the Star of the West! Truly, I say, they are the means of the happiness of many hearts.

Endeavor ye, as far as possible, to publish such valuable, interesting and instructive articles as to give joy and fragrance to the friends in all parts of the world.

Upon ye be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 10, September 8, 1916)

Tablet to “the friends of God and the maidservants of the Merciful in the Central States”

To the friends of God and the maidservants of the Merciful in the Central States

O ye heavenly souls, O ye spiritual assemblies, O ye lordly meetings!

For some time past correspondence has been delayed, and this has been on account of the difficulty of mailing and receiving letters. But because at present a number of facilities are obtainable, therefore, I am engaged in writing you this brief epistle so that my heart and soul may obtain joy and fragrance through the remembrance of the friends. Continually this wanderer supplicates and entreats at the threshold of His Holiness the One and begs assistance, bounty and heavenly confirmations in behalf of the believers. You are always in my thought. You are not nor shall you ever be forgotten. I hope by the favors of His Holiness the Almighty that day by day you may add to your faith, assurance, firmness and steadfastness, and become instruments for the promotion of the holy fragrances. In the great book, the divine Qur’an, God, addressing His Messenger, His Holiness Muhammad (upon Him be greeting and praise!) says: "Verily Thou dost guide the people to the straight path." In other words: Thou dost show mankind the direct road. Consider how guidance is a matter of infinite importance; for it points to the loftiness of the station of His Holiness the Messenger.

Tablet to “the friends and maidservants of God in the Southern States”

To the friends and maidservants of God in the Southern States

Upon them be greeting and praise!

O ye heralds of the Kingdom of God!

A few days ago an epistle was written to those divine believers, but because these days are the days of Naw-Ruz therefore you have come to my mind, and I am sending you this greeting for this glorious feast. All the days are blessed, but this feast is the national fete of Persia. The Persians have been holding it for several thousand years past. In reality every day which man passes in the mention of God and in the service of the Kingdom of God that day is his feast. Praise be to God, that you are occupied in the service of the Kingdom by day and by night. Therefore all your days are feast days. There is no doubt that the assistance and bestowal of God shall descend upon you. In the southern states of the United States the friends are few, that is, in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Consequently you must either go yourselves or send a number of blessed souls to those states, so that they may guide the people to the kingdom of heaven. His Holiness Muhammad, the messenger of God, says: "If a person becomes the cause of the illumination of one soul it is better than a boundless treasury." Again He says: "O Ali, if God guide through thee one soul it is better for thee than all the riches." Again He says: "Direct us to the straight path," that is, show us the direct road. In brief, I hope you will display in this respect the greatest effort and magnanimity. It is assured that you will become assisted and confirmed.

Upon ye be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 10, September 8, 1916)

Tablet to “the believers of God and the maidservants of the Merciful in the Provinces of the Dominion of Canada”

To the believers of God and the maidservants of the Merciful in the Provinces of the Dominion of Canada:

O ye daughters and sons of the Kingdom!

Although in most of the states and cities of the United States—praise be to God—the fragrances of God are diffused and innumerable souls are turning their faces and advancing toward the Kingdom of God, yet in some of the states the flag of oneness is not upraised as it ought to be and must be, and the mysteries of the Holy Books, like the Bible, the Gospel and the Koran, are not promulgated. Through the unanimous effort of the friends, the banner of oneness must be unfurled in those states, and the divine teachings be promoted, so that they may also receive a portion and a share of the heavenly bestowals and the most great guidance. Likewise in the Provinces of Canada, such as Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Ungava, Keewatin, Mackenzie, Yukon and the Franklin Islands in the Arctic Circle—the believers of God must become self-sacrificing and like unto the candles of guidance become ignited in the provinces of Canada. Should they show forth such a magnanimity, it is assured that they will obtain universal divine confirmations, the heavenly cohorts will reinforce them uninterruptedly, and a most great victory will be obtained. Perchance, God willing, the call of the Kingdom may reach the ears of the Eskimos, the inhabitants of the Islands of Franklin in the north of Canada, as well as Greenland. Should in Greenland the fire of the love of God be ignited, all the ices of that continent will be melted and its frigid climate will be changed into a temperate climate—that is, if the hearts will obtain the heat of the love of God, that country and continent will become a divine garden and a lordly orchard, and the souls, like unto the fruitful trees, will obtain the utmost freshness and delicacy. Magnanimity is necessary, heavenly exertion is called for. Should you display an effort, so that the fragrances of God be diffused amongst the Eskimos, its effect will be very great and far-reaching. God says in the great Koran: "A day will come wherein the lights of unity will enlighten all the world. The earth will be irradiated with the light of its Lord." In other words: "The earth will become illumined with the light of God. That light is the light of unity." "There is no God but God." The continent and the islands of Eskimos also are parts of this earth. They must similarly receive a portion of the bestowals of the most great guidance.

Upon ye be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 10, September 8, 1916)

Tablet to “the believers of God and the maidservants of the Merciful in the Western States”

To the believers of God and the maidservants of the Merciful in the Western States

O ye sons and daughters of the Kingdom!

Day and night I have no other occupation than the remembrance of the friends, praying from the depth of my heart in their behalf, begging for them confirmation from the Kingdom of God and supplicating the direct effect of the breaths of the Holy Spirit. I am hopeful from the favors of His Highness the Lord of bestowals, that the friends of God during such a time may become the secret cause of the illumination of the hearts of humanity, breathing the breath of life upon the spirits—whose praiseworthy results may become conducive to the glory and exaltation of humankind throughout all eternity. Although in some of the western states, like California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado, the fragrances of holiness are diffused, numerous souls have taken a share and a portion from the Fountain of Everlasting Life, they have obtained heavenly benediction, have drunk an overflowing cup from the wine of the love of God and have hearkened to the melody of the Supreme Concourse—yet in the states of New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada, the lamp of the love of God is not ignited in a befitting and behooving manner, and the call of the Kingdom of God has not been raised. Now, if it is possible, show ye an effort in this direction. Either travel yourselves, personally, throughout those states or choose others and send them, so that they may teach the souls. For the present those states are like unto dead bodies; they must breathe into them the breath of life and bestow upon them a heavenly spirit. Like unto the stars they must shine in that horizon and thus the rays of the Sun of Reality may also illumine those states.

God says in the great Koran: "Verily God is the helper of those who have believed. He will lead them from darkness into light." This means God loves the believers, consequently He will deliver them from darkness and bring them into the world of light.

Tablet to “the friends and maidservants of God in the Northeastern States”

To the friends and maidservants of God in the Northeastern States

Upon them be greeting and praise!

O ye heavenly heralds!

These are the days of Naw-Ruz. I am always thinking of those kind friends! I beg for each and all of you confirmations and assistance from the threshold of Oneness, so that those gatherings may become ignited like unto candles in the Republics of America, enkindling the light of the love of God in the hearts; thus the rays of the heavenly teachings may begem and brighten the states of America like the infinitude of immensity with the stars of the most great guidance.

The northeastern states on the shores of the Atlantic—Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York—in some of these states believers are found, but in some of the cities of these states up to this date people are not yet illumined with the lights of the Kingdom and are not aware of the heavenly teachings; therefore, whenever it is possible for each one of you, hasten ye to those cities and shine forth like unto the stars with the light of the most great guidance.

God says in the glorious Koran: "The soil was black and dried. Then we caused the rain to descend upon it and immediately it became green, verdant, and every kind of plant sprouted up luxuriantly." In other words, He says the earth and the soil is black, but when the spring showers descend upon it that black soil is quickened, and variegated flowers are pushed forth. This means the souls of humanity belonging to the world of nature are black like unto the soil. But when the heavenly outpourings descend and the radiant effulgences appear, the hearts are resuscitated, are liberated from the darkness of nature and the flowers of divine mysteries grow and become luxuriant. Consequently man must become the cause of the illumination of the world of humanity and propagate the holy teachings revealed in the sacred books through divine inspiration. It is stated in the blessed Gospel: Travel ye toward the East and toward the West and enlighten the people with the light of the most great guidance, so that they may take a portion and share of the eternal life.

"O ye who are turned to the Supreme Appearance!"

He is Abha!

O ye who are turned to the Supreme Appearance!

Day and night, morn and eve, at sunrise and at sunset we are remembering, with all our hearts and souls, the friends of the Merciful One, asking God's help and confirmation that the believers of the pure territory, the Holy Land, may become excellent in all conditions of morality, characteristics, behavior, manners, conduct and actions, that they may appear with ecstasy, enthusiasm, love, consciousness, assurance, steadfastness, firmness, concord and harmony, with bright faces and splendid beauty in the community of the world.

O ye friends of God! Today is the day of union and this age is the age of harmony in the world of existence. "Verily, God loveth those who are working in His path in groups, for they are a solid foundation." Consider ye that He says "in groups," united and bound together, supporting one another. "To work," mentioned in this holy verse, does not mean, in this greatest age, to perform it with swords, spears, shafts and arrows, but rather with sincere intentions, good designs, useful advices, divine moralities, beautiful actions, spiritual qualities, educating the public, guiding the souls of mankind, diffusing spiritual fragrances, explaining divine illustrations, showing convincing proofs and doing charitable deeds. When the holy souls, through the angelic power, will arise to show forth these celestial characteristics, establishing a band of harmony, each of these souls shall be regarded as one thousand persons and the waves of this greatest ocean shall be considered as the army of the hosts of the Supreme Concourse.

What a great blessing it is that when the torrents, streams, currents, tides and drops are all gathered in one place, they will form a great ocean and the real harmony shall overcome and reign in such a manner that all the rules, laws, distinctions and differences of the imaginations of these souls shall disappear and vanish like little drops and shall be submerged in the ocean of spiritual unity. By the Ancient Beauty, in this case and condition, the blessings of the great ocean will overflow and canals shall become as spacious as an endless ocean and each drop shall become as a boundless sea!

To the maid-servant of God, Miss Agnes Alexander

Upon her be Baha’u’llah!

He is God!

O thou my dear daughter! Thy letter was received. It imparted great happiness. Praise be to God, that that dear daughter is sacrificing herself in the path of Baha’u’llah and enduring every difficulty.

It is now more advisable for thee to depart directly to Japan and while there be engaged in the diffusion of the fragrances of God. . . .

Today the greatest of all divine bestowals is teaching the cause or God, for it is fraught with confirmations. Every teacher is confirmed and is favored at the divine threshold. In the estimation of the Ideal King, the army which is in front of the battlefield is encircled with the glances of His mercifulness and in the sight of the Divine Farmer, the sower of the seed is accepted and favored.

I hope that thou mayest be like unto a realm-conquering army and a farmer. Therefore, thy voyage to Japan is preferred to everything else. Still thou art perfectly free.

Upon thee be Baha’u’l-Abha!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 5, June 5, 1916)

To Mr. Bannerjee, the founder of the Devalaya Society in Calcutta, India

O thou wooer of Reality!

His Highness the Merciful One hath caused the appearance of the splendors of love and affinity in the world of humanity, so that the individuals of mankind might be perfectly united and the rays of unity be revealed amongst the children of man. Hence He sent forth the holy Manifestations, inspired Their hearts with the contexts of the heavenly books and instituted divine religions, in order that These sanctified Personages, these revealed books, these religions of God might become the means of unity and accord, love and good fellowship in the human world.

Should we study the divine religions with the perception of truth, we would then conclude that their underlying principle is the One Reality. All the religions of God are the reality. Reality does not accept multiplicity and division. But alas! that the fundamental reality is laid aside and forgotten and a catalogue of creeds, dogmas and rites have taken its place which are the basis of difference, the cause of hatred and prejudice and the establishment of the religion of God is totally forgotten and quite neglected.

When this impenetrable gloom—that is, the gloom of the traditions of forefathers and ancestors—surrounded the world and the pristine, primal light of the divine religions was changed into the darkness of the ideas of men, then the true morn dawned and the Sun of Reality (Baha’u’llah) arose from the horizon of Persia, reflecting in the mirror of the world of humanity the effulgence of the heavenly unity. Thus He destroyed the foundations of the structure of blind dogmas, and man-made creeds and rituals which are the results of ignorant prejudices. It is owing to this fact that this Light is spreading with the greatest rapidity in all the countries of the world. The influence of these divine teachings in the heart of the world is like the influence of the spirit over the bodies.

“This is the century of the Merciful One and the Period of Joy and Gladness.”

Thy mission in America for the present is this: Thou must travel as far as possible to every part and pass through cities and towns, summoning everyone to the Beauty of Abha raising the Call of the Kingdom and proclaiming at the top of thy voice:

A hundred-thousand glad tidings be upon ye that the Sun of the Reality of the Beauty of Abha hath shone forth from the Horizon of the Contingent Being and hath illumined the regions with the lights of the Most Great Guidance. The realities of the Old Testament and the Gospel are already fulfilled and the Mysteries of the Heavenly Books have become manifest. This is the century of the Merciful One and the Period of Joy and Gladness.

O ye heedless ones, become mindful! O ye sleeping ones, be awakened! O ye blind ones, become seeing! O ye deaf ones, become hearing! O ye dumb ones, become speakers! O ye dead ones, become living! O ye deprived ones, take a portion!

This is the effulgence of the Merciful and the moving of the Depthless Sea. This is the outpouring of the wonderful new springtime and the falling of the showers of the Bounty of the Most Great Lord!

This is thy mission.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 1, March 21, 1916)

“the Promised Age”; “the ‘Resurrection Day’”; “the great ‘Day of Judgement’”

This period of time is the Promised Age, the assembling of the human race to the "Resurrection Day," and now is the great "Day of Judgement." Soon the whole world, as in springtime, will change its garb. The turning and falling of the autumn leaves is past; the bleakness of the wintertime is over. The new year hath appeared and the spiritual springtime is at hand. The black earth is becoming a verdant garden; the deserts and mountains are teeming with red flowers; from the borders of the wilderness the tall grasses are standing like advance guards before the cypress and jessamine trees; while the birds are singing among the rose branches like angels in the highest heavens, announcing the glad tidings of the approach of that spiritual spring, and the sweet music of their voices is causing the real essence of all things to move and quiver.

O my spiritual friend! Dost thou know from what airs emanate the notes sung by those birds? They are from the melodies of peace and reconciliation, of love and unity, of justice and security, of concord and harmony. In a short time this heavenly singing will intoxicate all humanity; the foundations of enmity shall be destroyed; unity and affection shall be witnessed in every assembly; and the lovers of the love of God at these great festivals shall behold their splendor.

Therefore, contemplate what a spirit of life God hath given that the body of the whole earth may attain life everlasting! The Paradise of Abha will soon spread a pavilion from the Pole-star of the world, under whose shelter the beloved shall rejoice and the pure hearts shall repose in peace. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 1, March 21, 1916)

To the Bahais of Germany, through Frau Consul Schwarz

O dear friends!

Praise be to God, we are all well and safe under the shelter of divine patronage and protection. We are in the utmost harmony; we pray night and day and beseech God's mercy for all the people of the world, that He may not look at the capacity of His creatures (at what the people deserve), but may He deal with them through His mere Blessing and Grace, so that the means of comfort and joy may be attained; so that the hearts may become lamps for (His) lights, and the souls (people) may attain God's pleasure. This is our utmost desire and longing. And you also pray that the ocean of bounties may rise in waves, and all the people may become immersed in the ocean of God's forgiveness.

God be praised! Strong love is produced between Germany and Islam. The Islamic world is in love with the Germanic world. The former loves exceedingly, the latter. What a good friendship is produced! We hope that this love and friendship will give rise to great results, that it will influence others (nations) also.

By the grace of God, we are well and happy. We hope that you are happy too. Your postal cards were received. As they bear the glad-tidings of your good health, they became the cause of our delight and joy. May peace be upon you!

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Translated on July 25, 1915; Star of the West, vol. 6, no. 13, November 4, 1915)

To Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, New York City

The confirmation of the Kingdom of Abha shall descend uninterruptedly upon those souls who are firm in the Covenant. Thou hast well observed that every firm one is assisted and aided and every violator is degraded, humiliated and lost. It is very astonishing that people are not admonished. They have observed how Mirza Mohamed Ali on account of the violation of the Covenant descended to the lowest degree of humiliation, and yet they do not become mindful. They have seen how others through disobedience to the Testament have fallen into a well of degradation, and yet they are not awakened. This Covenant is the Covenant of His Holiness, Baha'u'llah. Now its importance is not known befittingly; but in the future it shall attain to such a degree of importance that if a king violates to the extent of one atom he shall be cut off immediately.

Consider that during the life of Christ—May my life be a sacrifice to Him!—His Cause had no importance whatsoever; nay, rather the people scoffed and ridiculed Him, and according to the text of the Gospel they called Him Beezlebub. Now you can see the importance which it had later.

Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(From a Tablet to Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, New York City, translated on August 2, 1913; Star of the West, vol. 6, no.12, October 16, 1915)    

Concerning “Any person who comes to America from the East”

Convey this message to each and all the believers in New York: Any person who comes to America from the East, whether Baha’i or non-Baha’i, although he may be one of my relatives, such as Mirza Jalal, Mirza Mohsen and Mirza Hadi (the three sons-in-law of Abdu’l-Baha), who has not in his hand a letter of permission in my handwriting and signature, the believers of God must not at all approach him, but shun him and know that he is a wolf—he has come to scatter the flock; a thief—he has come to rob the house. . . . . .

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(From a Tablet to Miss Juliet Thompson, New York City, translated on October 29, 1913; Star of the West, vol. 6, no.12, October 16, 1915)    

Any Persian who “goes to America without permission has no other aim save sedition and the violation of the Covenant”

If a Persian comes from the East to those parts—supposing the impossible: Although he may be my own son, or the only daughter of Abdul-Baha—without having in his hand an epistle with my own hand and my own signature, to meet and hold conversation with him is forbidden. For whosoever goes to America without permission has no other aim save sedition and the violation of the Covenant.

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(From a Tablet to the friends of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful, United States of America; translated on April 19, 1914; Star of the West, vol. 6, no.12, October 16, 1915)   

[1] These words are in the handwriting of Abdu’l-Baha

In response to a letter detailing the circumstances attending the arrival in San Francisco of two Persians from India (via Honolulu), without credentials, and their appearance at a Baha'i meeting

O thou who are attracted to the Kingdom of Abha! Thy letter was received. Its details concerning those two persons (Persians) became known. You have acted most reasonably. Every Persian, or non-Persian, who comes from the East and has not in his hand a letter from me, although he may be one of my relatives, the believers must not receive him, neither should they let him enter into their meetings. For some wolves are coming from Persia to those parts in order to tear the sheep of God, and to scatter the seeds of corruption and to become the means of division—especially the followers of Mirza Yahya. To receive those souls would be like permitting a thief to enter a home, or like letting a wolf into a flock (of sheep). Unquestionably this is not permissible!

A man may receive his own enemy into his house and show him the utmost respect and consideration, but it is not allowable to receive a thief into his house, nor a traitor into his home, nor a wolf into the flock. This would be injustice. Although the heart of the wolf is displeased at this, yet the sheep of God must be protected…

Show ye the utmost kindness toward enemies, that is, ignorant enemies, but not toward traitorous and treacherous enemies. I hope that through the divine bounty and favor you may be guarded and protected.

Say to those two persons (Persians): "Because! we have explicit instructions in regard to this matter we cannot disobey them. It would have been better for you to have gone first to Akka, and, receiving permission and credentials, to have come to America from there. Then you would have experienced the utmost consideration. You must likewise obey this command. If you are sincere believers, act according to this clear injunction."

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Baha Abbas

(From a Tablet, translated on September 30, 1913; Star of the West, vol. 6, no.12, October 16, 1915)   

[1] These Persians were advised to leave and return to their hotel and were entertained subsequently in the home of a believer.