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)