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Bahá'í Administration
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Pages 67-70
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Letter of November 24th, 1924.
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To my dearly-beloved brothers and sisters in `Abdu'l-Bahá: care of the
American National Spiritual Assembly.
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Dearest friends:
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The day is drawing near when, for the third time, we shall commemorate
the world over the passing of our well-beloved `Abdu'l-Bahá.
May we not pause for a moment, and gather our thoughts?
How has it fared with us, His little band of followers, since
that day? Whither are we now marching? What has been our
achievement?
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We have but to turn our eyes to the world without to realize the
fierceness and the magnitude of the forces of darkness that are
struggling with the dawning light of the Abhá Revelation. Nations,
though exhausted and disillusioned, have seemingly begun to cherish
anew the spirit of revenge, of domination, and strife. Peoples, convulsed
by economic upheavals, are slowly drifting into two great
opposing camps with all their menace of social chaos, class hatreds,
and worldwide ruin. Races, alienated more than ever before, are
filled with mistrust, humiliation and fear, and seem to prepare themselves
for a fresh and fateful encounter. Creeds and religions,
caught in this whirlpool of conflict and passion, appear to gaze with
impotence and despair at this spectacle of unceasing turmoil.
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Such is the plight of mankind three years after the passing of
Him from whose lips fell unceasingly the sure message of a fast-approaching
Divine salvation. Are we by our thoughts, our words,
our deeds, whether individually or collectively, preparing the way?
Are we hastening the advent of the Day He so often foretold?
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None can deny that the flame of faith and love which His mighty
hand kindled in many hearts has, despite our bereavement, continued
to burn as brightly and steadily as ever before. Who can question
that His loved ones, both in the East and the West, notwithstanding
the insidious strivings of the enemies of the Cause, have displayed
a spirit of unshakable loyalty worthy of the highest praise? What
greater perseverance and fortitude than that which His tried and
trusted friends have shown in the face of untold calamities, intolerable
oppression, and incredible restrictions? But such staunchness
of faith, such an unsullied love, such magnificent loyalty, such heroic
constancy, such noble courage, however unprecedented and laudable
in themselves, cannot alone lead us to the final and complete triumph
of such a great Cause. Not until the dynamic love we cherish for
Him is sufficiently reflected in its power and purity in all our dealings
with our fellow-men, however remotely connected and humble
in origin, can we hope to exalt in the eyes of a self-seeking world
the genuineness of the all-conquering love of God. Not until we
live ourselves the life of a true Bahá'í can we hope to demonstrate
the creative and transforming potency of the Faith we profess.
Nothing but the abundance of our actions, nothing but the purity
of our lives and the integrity of our characters, can in the last resort
establish our claim that the Bahá'í spirit is in this day the sole agency
that can translate a long-cherished ideal into an enduring achievement.
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With this vision clearly set before us, and fortified by the knowledge
of the gracious aid of Bahá'u'lláh and the repeated assurances
of `Abdu'l-Bahá, let us first strive to live the life and then arise with
one heart, one mind, one voice, to reinforce our numbers and achieve
our end. Let us recall, and seek on this sad occasion the comfort
of, the last wishes of our departed yet ever-watchful Master:--
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"It behooveth them not to rest for a moment, neither to seek
repose. They must disperse themselves in every land, pass by every
clime, and travel throughout all regions. Bestirred, without rest,
and steadfast to the end, they must raise in every land the triumphal
cry `Ya Bahá'u'l-Abhá!' (O Thou the Glory of Glories).... The
disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all earthly things, forsook
all their cares and belongings, purged themselves of self and passion,
and with absolute detachment scattered far and wide and engaged
in calling the peoples of the world to the divine guidance; till at
last they made the world another world, illumined the surface of
the earth, and even to their last hour proved self-sacrificing in the
pathway of that beloved One of God. Finally in various lands they
suffered glorious martyrdom. Let them that are men of action
follow in their footsteps!"
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Having grasped the significance of these words, having obtained
a clear understanding of the true character of our mission, the
methods to adopt, the course to pursue, and having attained sufficiently
the individual regeneration--the essential requisite of teaching--
let us arise to teach His Cause with righteousness, conviction,
understanding and vigor. Let this be the paramount and most
urgent duty of every Bahá'í. Let us make it the dominating passion
of our life. Let us scatter to the uttermost corners of the earth;
sacrifice our personal interests, comforts, tastes and pleasures; mingle
with the divers kindreds and peoples of the world; familiarize
ourselves with their manners, traditions, thoughts and customs;
arouse, stimulate and maintain universal interest in the Movement,
and at the same time endeavor by all the means in our power, by
concentrated and persistent attention, to enlist the unreserved allegiance
and the active support of the more hopeful and receptive
among our hearers. Let us too bear in mind the example which
our beloved Master has clearly set before us. Wise and tactful in
His approach, wakeful and attentive in His early intercourse, broad
and liberal in all His public utterances, cautious and gradual in the
unfolding of the essential verities of the Cause, passionate in His
appeal yet sober in argument, confident in tone, unswerving in
conviction, dignified in His manners--such were the distinguishing
features of our Beloved's noble presentation of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh.
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If we all choose to tread faithfully His path, surely the day is
not far distant when our beloved Cause will have emerged from the
inevitable obscurity of a young and struggling Faith into the broad
daylight of universal recognition. This is our duty, our first obligation.
Therein lies the secret of the success of the Cause we love so
well. Therein lies the hope, the salvation of mankind. Are we fully
conscious of our responsibilities? Do we realize the urgency, the
sacredness, the immensity, the glory of our task?
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I entreat you, dear friends, to continue, nay, to redouble your
efforts, to keep your vision clear, your hopes undimmed, your determination
unshaken, so that the power of God within us may fill
the world with all its glory.
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In this fervent plea joins me the Greatest Holy Leaf. Though
chagrined in the evening of her life at the sorrowful tales of repression
in Persia, she still turns with the deepest longings of her heart
to your land where freedom reigns, eager and expectant to behold,
ere she is called away, the signs of the universal triumph of the
Cause she loves so dearly.
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SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
November 24th, 1924.
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