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Citadel of Faith
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Pages 104-105
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SCOPE OF THIRD SEVEN YEAR PLAN WIDENED
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For unlike the First and Second Seven Year Plans, inaugurated by
the American Bahá'í Community, the scope of the Third Seven Year
Plan, the termination of which will mark the conclusion of the first
epoch in the evolution of the Master Plan designed by `Abdu'l-Bahá,
will embrace all the continents of the earth, and will bring the central
body directing these widely ramified operations into direct contact with
all the national assemblies of the Bahá'í world, which, in varying
degrees, will have to contribute their share to the world establishment
of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, as prophesied by `Abdu'l-Bahá and
envisioned by Daniel--a consummation that, God willing, will be
befittingly celebrated on the occasion of the Most Great Jubilee
commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the formal assumption
by Bahá'u'lláh of His Prophetic Office.
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The vision now disclosed to the eyes of this community is indeed
enthralling. The tasks which, if that vision is to be fulfilled, must be
valiantly shouldered by its members are staggering. The time during
which so herculean a task is to be performed is alarmingly brief. The
period during which so gigantic an operation must be set in motion,
prosecuted and consummated, coincides with the critical, and perhaps
the darkest and most tragic, stage in human affairs. The opportunities
presenting themselves to them are now close at hand. The invisible
battalions of the Concourse on High are mustered, in serried ranks,
ready to rush their reinforcements to the aid of the vanguard of
Bahá'u'lláh's crusaders in the hour of their greatest need, and in
anticipation of that Most Great, that Wondrous Jubilee in the joyfulness
of which both heaven and earth will partake. `Abdu'l-Bahá, the
Founder of this community and the Author of the Plan which constitutes
its birthright, to Whose last wishes its members so marvelously
responded; the Báb, the Centenary of Whose Revelation this same
community so magnificently celebrated, and to the building of whose
Sepulcher it has given so fervent a support; Bahá'u'lláh Himself, to the
glory of Whose Name so stately an edifice it has raised, will amply bless
and repay its members if they but persevere on the long road they have
so steadfastly trodden, and pursue, with undimmed vision, with unrelaxing
resolve and unshakable faith, their onward march towards their
chosen goal.
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That this community, so young in years, yet withal so rich in
exploits, may, in the months immediately ahead, as well as in the years
immediately following this coming Jubilee, maintain, untarnished and
unimpaired, its record of service to our beloved Faith, that it may further
embellish, through still nobler feats, its annals, is the dearest wish
of my heart, and the object of my constant supplications at the Holy
Threshold.
[November 23, 1951]
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