4/28/16

To the maidservant of God, Margarethe Döring, Stuttgart

Through Mirza Yutanna Dawud, London, to the maidservant of God, Margaret Döring, Stuttgart

He is God!

O daughter of the Kingdom!

Your letter arrived, and its contents showed that Mr. Gregory, by visiting the blessed Tomb, [1] hath received a new power, and obtained a new life.  When he arrived at Stuttgart, although black of colour, yet he shone as a bright light in the meeting of the friends. Verily, he hath greatly advanced in this journey, he received another life and obtained another power. When he returned, Gregory was quite another Gregory. He hath become a new creation. Reflect on the Grace of the Kingdom of Abhá and see how it enlightened such a person. It has made him spiritual, heavenly, divine and a manifestor of the graces of the world of humanity. This man shall progress.

Thank God that you esteem Miss Knobloch, because she was the cause of your guidance.  With weeping and supplication I ask from the Kingdom of Abhá, that He may vouchsafe heavenly blessings upon your father, mother, sisters and brothers; and graciously enlighten Frl. Schaffer, Frl. Andrassy and Frau. Kusterer with the Light of Guidance.

Convey my greetings to Herr Kruttner, and Herr Richard Bauerle. I supplicate to the Divine Glory, and ask for them bright hearts, merciful spirits, seeing eyes and hearing ears.

I ask God to make you a firm rooted, verdant and fruitful tree in the Paradise of Abhá.

Upon thee be the Glory of the Most Glorious!

(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 17, January 19, 1912)
[1] Shrine of Baha’u’llah in Acca

4/22/16

To the friends in Stuttgart, Germany

Frau Maria Schweizer, Frl Margarethe Doring, Frl. Louise Warnke,  Frl Julie Stabler,  Herrn Friedrich Schweizer, Frau Henrietta Kusterer, Frl Anna Seifert, Frau Sofia Stabler, Alma S. Knobloch, Herrn Emil Ruoff and son Erwin    

Upon them be the Glory of the Most Glorious.

He is God!

O friends and maidservants of the Merciful!

Thanks be to God! that you have been gathered together and celebrated the birthday of the Báb with much joy and amity and were engaged in remembering God.

From the rose-garden of that meeting a beautiful fragrance has reached to the nostrils of these friends; and the light of God's love hath shone; therefore, it was a cause of delighting the hearts of these friends. I ask God, by His infinite mercy, that such meetings may be held often.

Likewise, that the entertainment every nineteen days may become current among you; so that the friends and maidservants of the Merciful may be engaged in praising and remembering God and singing to Him, and may become the cause of guiding the people.

Upon you all be the Glory of the Most Glorious!

(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 17, January 19, 1912)

4/17/16

To an individual believer

He is God!

O servant of the True One!

What thou hadst written was known.  It was a clear evidence of thy thoughtfulness and mindfulness in the Cause of the most Merciful One. I supplicate God that thou mayest at every moment advance in the grades of divine love and devotion, spiritual attraction and merciful sentiments; and be benevolent and a comfort to both friends and strangers.

It is mentioned in the Gospel that a man called His Holiness, Christ, "Good Master".  His Holiness said unto him, "Why callest thou Me good? None is good save One, that is God." So 'Abdu'l-Bahá wishes a sin covering eye and conceals the people's faults as far as possible; for he considers himself incapable and deficient in the Servitude of the Lord. Therefore, being engaged in his own short-comings, he does not care about the sins of others, but always asks remission and forgiveness for them, and seeks bounty and grace in their behalf.

If a fault is committed by someone and I treat him with kindness, this is not on account of my negligence; but as I acknowledge my own short-comings and am cognizant of my own state, I do not show any opposition to others.

4/1/16

To the friends of God and the maidservants of the merciful in America

He is God!

O ye friends of God and the beloved maidservants of the True One!

'Abdu'l-Bahá has the utmost longing to meet you, but now he is obliged to return to the East, for he has promised many friends and they having travelled a long way, will be disappointed if the meeting is not brought about. Therefore, he has returned to Egypt, and hopes that during the next Spring no obstacle may arise, so that with infinite joy and fragrance he may hasten to America to meet the friends, to unfurl the banner of rejoicing, to spread the Glad-Tidings of the Kingdom of Abhá, to illumine the meetings and gatherings with the Rays of the Sun of Truth, to perfume the nostrils with the Fragrances of Holiness, to impart gladness and delight to the hearts, to attract the souls to the Realms of Might, to grant the outpouring of the Holy Spirit-so that in this nether world the congregation of the Righteous Ones may be firmly established.

Glad Tidings!  Glad Tidings!  The bounties of the Most Great Name are descending. 

Glad Tidings!  Glad Tidings!  The Lights of the Kingdom of Abhá are shining. 

Glad Tidings!  Glad Tidings!  The Doors of Heaven are opened and the call of the Kingdom is raised.

Upon you be Bahá'u'l-Abhá!

(Signed) 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas
(Star of the West, vol. 2, no, 16, December 31, 1911)