You are welcome this afternoon, most welcome. I am ever happy
to see you. I ask God that meeting me may be productive of results;
that it may not be like ordinary gatherings, for those who hold
meetings where groups of people assemble usually have some
interest to further. Praise be to God! I have no personal interests. I
have an interest in the Kingdom, and this is a sincere intention. I
have perfect love for you; therefore, I have traveled this long distance
to meet and greet you. I hope that these gatherings may be
productive of great results, and there is no greater result than the
love of God. There is no greater result than bonds of service in the
divine Kingdom and attainment to the good pleasure of the Lord.
Therefore, I desire that your hearts may be directed to the Kingdom
of God, that your intentions may be pure and sincere, your purposes
turned toward altruistic accomplishment unmindful of your
own welfare; nay, rather, may all your intentions center in the
welfare of humanity, and may you seek to sacrifice yourselves in
the pathway of devotion to mankind. Even as Jesus Christ forfeited
His life, may you, likewise, offer yourselves in the threshold of
sacrifice for the betterment of the world; and just as Bahá’u’lláh
suffered severe ordeals and calamities nearly fifty years for you,
may you be willing to undergo difficulties and withstand catastrophes
for humanity in general. May you bear these trials and tests
most willingly and joyously, for every night is followed by a day,
and every day has a night. Every spring has an autumn, and every
autumn has its spring. The coming of a Manifestation of God is the
season of spiritual spring. For instance, the appearance of Christ
was a divine springtime. Therefore, it caused a great commotion
and vibrant movement in the world of humanity. The Sun of Reality
dawned, the cloud of mercy poured down its rain, the breezes of
providence moved, the world became a new world, mankind
reflected an extraordinary radiance, souls were educated, minds
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were developed, intelligences became acute, and the human world
attained a new freshness of life, like unto the advent of spring.
Then gradually that spring was followed by the autumn of death
and decay. The teachings of Christ were forgotten. The Christly
bounties ceased. Divine moralities disappeared. Day ended in
night. The people became negligent and oblivious. Minds
weakened until conditions reached such a crisis that material science
rose in the ascendant. Knowledge and sciences of the Kingdom
became obsolete, the mysteries of God deepened, and the
traces of the bounties of Christ were completely obliterated. The
nations were enmeshed in superstition and blind imitation. Discord
and disagreement arose, culminating in strife, war and bloodshed.
Hearts were torn asunder in violence. Various denominations appeared,
diverse sects and creeds arose, and the whole world was
plunged into darkness.
