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Bahá'í World Faith (`Abdu'l-Bahá's Section Only)
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Pages 414-419
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THE MASHRIQU'L-ADHKÁR
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Ye have written regarding the erection of the Temple and the
purchase of the ground, or the finding of a place to be as a home
for the gathering of the believers. At this moment that `Abdu'l-Bahá
is immersed in the ocean of calamities, this news caused him
joy and happiness, that--praise be to God!--the friends and the
maid-servants of the Merciful are thinking to serve the Kingdom
of God.
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Concerning the erection of the Temple: Now all the believers
must become united, so that the Temple may be built soon in one
place. For should the believers undertake the erection of the
Temple in many places, it will not become completed anywhere;
and as in Chicago they have preceded every other place to plan
the erection of the Temple, undoubtedly to cooperate and help
them is nobler and a necessity. Then, when it is built in one
place, it will become erected in many other places. If, for the
present, you prepare or establish a home in New York, though
by renting it, to become a center for the gathering of the believers
of God, it is very acceptable. God willing, in all the states of
America in the future there will be erected Temples with infinite
architectural beauty, art, with pleasing proportion and handsome
and attractive appearances; especially in New York. But for the
present, be ye satisfied with a rented place.
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O friends of `Abdu'l-Bahá and His co-sharers and partners in the
servitude of the Lord of Hosts! Verily the greatest affair and the
most important matter today is to establish a Mashriqu'l-Adhkár
and to found a Temple from which the voice of praisings may
rise to the Kingdom of the majestic Lord. Blessings be upon you
for having thought to do so and intending to erect such an edifice,
advancing all in devoting your wealth in this great purpose
and in this splendid work. You will soon see the angels of confirmation
following after you and the hosts of reinforcement
crowding before you.
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When the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is accomplished, when the lights
are emanating therefrom, the righteous ones are presenting themselves
therein, the prayers are performed with supplication towards
the mysterious Kingdom, the voice of glorification is raised to the
Lord, the Supreme, then the believers shall rejoice, the hearts shall
be dilated and overflow with the love of the All-living and Self-existent
God. The people shall hasten to worship in that heavenly
Temple, the fragrances of God will be elevated, the divine teachings
will be established in the hearts like the establishment of the
Spirit in mankind; the people will then stand firm in the Cause
of your Lord, the Merciful. Praise and greetings be upon you.
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Now the day has arrived in which the edifice of God, the divine
sanctuary, the spiritual temple, shall be erected in America! I
entreat God to assist the confirmed believers in accomplishing this
great service and with entire zeal to rear this mighty structure
which shall be renowned throughout the world. The support of
God will be with those believers in that district that they may be
successful in their undertaking, for the Cause is great and great;
because this is the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in that country and
from it the praise of God shall ascend to the Kingdom of Mystery
and the tumult of His exaltation and greetings from the whole
world shall be heard!
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Whosoever arises for the service of this building shall be assisted
with a great power from His Supreme Kingdom and upon him
spiritual and heavenly blessings shall descend, which shall fill his
heart with wonderful consolation and enlighten his eyes by beholding
the glorious and eternal God!
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The contribution that thou hast made to the Temple is beloved.
The Temple is the most great foundation of the world of humanity
and it hath many branches. Although the Temple is the place
of worship, with it is connected a hospital, pharmacy, pilgrims'
house, school for the orphans, and a university for the study of
high sciences. Every Temple is connected with these five things.
I hope that now in America they will build a Temple and gradually
add to it the hospital, school, university, pharmacy and pilgrims'
house with the utmost efficiency and thoroughness. Thou
shouldst make known to the believers these details, so that they
may realize how important the Temple is. The Temple is not only
a place for worship; nay, it is perfect in every way.
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Thy letter hath arrived and the contents have given glad-tidings
that the ground for the Temple hath been bought and also told
about the meeting which was held concerning the needs for the
Temple. From this news great fragrance and joy were produced.
Thanks be to God that thou hast helped to establish a meeting for
this purpose. I hope that the members of this meeting will become
the receivers of the divine benevolence and be aided by the
heavenly assistances. But consult with the House of Spirituality
of Chicago. Ye must all be perfectly united and harmonious until,
through this harmony, ye may perpetually receive help from the
Kingdom of God.
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Concerning the members of this spiritual meeting, you suggested
that they be selected from all the spiritual meetings of the
other cities of America. I quite approve and am very much pleased
with this plan. This will become the cause of harmony in the
Word in all America. Therefore, ask every spiritual meeting in
the other cities that they will each select one and send him, and
from these selected ones and with those who are selected from the
Chicago meeting, establish a new meeting for the provision of the
needs of the Temple. If this be established with perfect fragrance
and joy, it will produce great results. In this new meeting, especially
for the establishment of the Temple, women are also to be
members.
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Give to all the divine friends the glad-tidings of the boundless
heavenly blessings and tell them that the glances of the eyes of
Providence are upon them and the perfect favor and bounty are
descending upon them.
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Thy detailed letter was received. Its contents indicated that
thou didst travel in the cities of America and visited the friends
of God until thou didst reach the general Convention held in
Chicago for the building of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár. In thy letter
thou hast written in praise and commendation of the illumination
of that Convention. Truly I say, the Convention of the Bahá'í
delegates in Chicago was a heavenly gathering and confirmed by
Divine Assistance.
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The splendor of the Kingdom of Abhá shone forth and the soul-refreshing
breeze wafted from the direction of Providence.
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It was an effulgence from the rays of the Sun of Truth that
the friends of God gathered in that illumined Assembly with the
utmost love, unity and concord. The intentions of every one were
reinforced by divine confirmation, the aim of every one was service
in the Cause of God, servitude in the Threshold of the Almighty
and the erection of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár. The results of that
Convention in the future will be far-reaching and most important,
and evident signs shall become manifest. As it was the first general
Convention in America, it displayed wonderful influence.
The gathering of that illumined Assembly in such a short space of
time would have been impossible without the power of the divine
Covenant and Testament. But the Covenant has such a great
sway that it astonishes the minds. In every region the sign of the
power of the Convention is apparent and manifest.
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For instance, in Írán the fire of revolution blazed in such wise
that all communities, government and nations, became afflicted
with the most severe trials; but the power of the Covenant protected
the Bahá'í friends to such a degree that in this turbulent
storm no dust fell upon them, except in one locality, which became
the cause of the spreading of the Religion of God and the
diffusion of the Word of God. Now all the parties in Írán are
wondering how the people of Bahá were guarded and protected.
Praise be to God that in Tihrán and all the provinces of Írán
the Call of God has been raised, the Ensign of the Covenant has
been unfurled, the cry of "Yá-Bahá'u'l-Abhá!" has been heard
and the melody of the Kingdom of Abhá has been promulgated
among the people of intelligence....
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Thou hast written concerning the organization of a council for
the building of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár. This news brought much
spirit and fragrance, for the nine delegates, sent by the various
assemblies, gathered in that meeting and consulted concerning the
building of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár.
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The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is the most important matter and the
greatest divine institute. Consider how the first institute of His
Holiness Moses, after His exodus from Egypt, was the "Tent of
Martyrdom" which He raised and which was the traveling Temple.
It was a tent which they pitched in the desert, wherever they
abode, and worshipped in it. Likewise, after His Holiness Christ
--may the spirit of the world be a sacrifice to Him!--the first
institute by the disciples was a Temple. They planned a church
in every country. Consider the Gospel and the importance of the
Mashriqu'l-Adhkár will become evident.
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In fine, I hope that all the beloved of God, collectively, in the
continent of America, men and women, will strive night and day
until the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár be erected in the utmost solidity
and beauty.
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