“The friends must, at all times, bear in mind that they are,
in a way, like soldiers under attack. The world is at present
in an exceedingly dark condition spiritually; hatred and prejudice
of every sort are literally tearing it to pieces. We, on the
other hand, are the custodians of the opposite forces, the
forces of love, of unity, of peace and integration, and we must
continually be on our guard, whether as individuals or as an
Assembly or Community, lest through us these destructive,
negative forces enter into our midst. In other words, we
must beware lest the darkness of society become reflected in
our acts and attitudes, perhaps all unconsciously. Love for each
other, the deep sense that we are a new organism, the dawn-breakers
of a new World Order, must constantly animate our
Bahá’í lives, and we must pray to be protected from the contamination
of society which is so diseased with prejudice.”