June 29th, 1912
Address from stenographic notes by E. Foster
[To see some pictures of this historic event please visit: 'Abdu'l-Baha Visits the West]
This is a good gathering. With sincere intentions have you all gathered here. The intention of all is the attainment of the virtues of God. The purpose of all is unity and agreement. The desire of all is attraction to the Kingdom of God. Since the intention of all is toward unity and agreement, it is certain that this gathering will be productive of great results. It will be the cause of attracting a New Bounty. This is a New Day and this hour is a New Hour wherein we have come together here; all are turning to the Kingdom of Abha, seeking the Infinite bounties of the Lord. Surely the Sun of Reality, with its great and full effulgence, will illuminate us and all dark disagreements will surely disappear. The utmost of love shall result. The favors of God shall encompass us. The pathway of the Kingdom will be made easy. The souls like unto candles will be ignited and made radiant through the lights of the Great Guidance.
This gathering has no peer or likeness upon the surface of the earth, for all other gatherings and assemblages are due to some physical basis or material interests. This outward meeting is a prototype of the inner and complete spiritual meeting; likewise are the other meetings and assemblages in different parts of the world which are thus held.
The Baha’i meetings are the mirrors of the Kingdom wherein images of the Supreme Concourse are reflected. The lights of the most great guidance are visible therein. The summons of the Kingdom can be heard from the Baha’i assemblages and the call of the Supreme Concourse can reach every ear. The efficacy of such meetings as these is permanent throughout the ages.
This assembly has a name which will last forever and ever. Hundreds of thousands of meetings shall he held to commemorate such an assembly as this and the very words I utter to you on this occasion shall be reiterated by them in the ages to come. Therefore be ye rejoiced, for you are being sheltered beneath the Providence of God, and be happy and joyous because the bestowals of God are intended for you.
Rejoice because the breaths of the Holy Spirit are directed to you!
Rejoice, for the heavenly table is prepared for you!
Rejoice, for the angels of heaven are your assistants and helpers!
Rejoice, for the glance of the Blessed Beauty, Baha’u’llah, is directed to you!
'Rejoice, for Baha’u’llah is your protector!
Rejoice, for the Glory Everlasting is destined for you!
Rejoice, for the Life Everlasting is for you!
How many blessed souls have longed for this blessed century and their utmost hopes and desires were centered upon the enjoyment of one such day. In longing anticipation of this age, how many nights did they pass sleepless, passing the time in lamentation until the very morn. They yearned to realize even an hour of this time. God has favored you therewith, and you have been the ones who have been specialized for the realization of these blessings. Hence you must praise and thank God with heart and soul for the appreciation of this great time, for the attainment of this infinite bestowal, that such doors have been opened unto your faces, such a cloud of mercy is pouring down its abundance and such refreshing breezes of the Paradise of Abha are resuscitating you. Therefore all of you must become of one heart, of one spirit, of one susceptibility. Thus may you become, as the waves of one sea, as the stars of the same heaven, as the fruits adorning the same tree, as trees of the same garden, in order that the oneness of humanity may pitch its tent within the human realm in the world, for you are the ones who are to be the cause of establishing the cause of the oneness of mankind.
"First, you must yourselves become united and agreed. First, you yourselves must be exceedingly kind and loving towards one another. You must be willing to forfeit life in the pathway of each other. You must sacrifice your possessions for one another. The rich among you must exercise compassion toward the poor, and the well-to-do must look after those in distress. The friends in Persia offer their lives for one another, each individual striving to look after and conserve the interests of all the others. Every soul looks after the welfare of all the others. They are in the utmost state of unity and agreement. And you, like the Persian friends, must be perfectly agreed and united, to the extent of sacrificing your lives for one another.
Your utmost desire must be to confer happiness upon each other. Each one of you must be the servant of the others. Each one of you must be thoughtful of the comfort of the others. Each one of you must be thoughtful of the happiness of the others. In the path of God one must forget himself utterly. He must not consider comfort for himself. He must seek comfort for the rest. He must not wish for glory for himself. He must not ask for radiance for himself. All the gifts of God must he seek for his brothers and sisters. It is my hope that you may become like this; that you may attain to the great bestowal; that you may become imbued with such spiritual qualities so as to forget yourselves entirely, and with heart and soul may you become sacrifices for the Blessed Beauty. Of yourselves you should have no will; of yourselves you should have no desire; everything you should seek for the beloved ones of God and together must you live in the utmost state of love and amity. Thus may the favors of the Blessed Beauty, Baha’u’llah, encompass you from all directions. This is the great bestowal! This is the greatest bounty! These are the endless favors of God! (Star of the West, vol. III, no. 8, 1912)
