and glorious gift.

"O ye members of the shining assembly!..."

O ye members of the shining assembly!(222)

The letter which was written by you, was not a letter, but a musk sack.
For the fragrances of the rose-garden of its significances perfumed the
nostrils of every heavenly one; evincing firmness in the love of God,
steadfastness in the Covenant and Testament and affinity among the
friends.

This yearning one was enflamed and burning intensely, but when I perused
that letter, a gentle breeze wafted and an extraordinary freshness and
delicacy was imparted to me. I turned my face toward the Threshold of the
Almighty and supplicated Him imploringly thus:

"O thou Eternal One! Make the friends of that country prosperous, acquaint
them with the mysteries; usher them into the divine rose-garden and reveal
to them the hidden realities and significances; make their hearts the
association of truth and their souls full of divine melodies and sacred
(choral) music!"

"O God! This respectful assemblage are my relatives and kindred and the
cause of the happiness of this afflicted one. Bestow upon them a shining
face and grant them a musk-diffusing character. Show them the mystery of
the Kingdom and suffer them to hear the soul-elevating harmony of heaven!
Awaken (the people) by the breeze of the Paradise of Abha and make them
alive by the power of the Holy Spirit. Verily, Thou are the Powerful and
Omnipotent, and Thou art the Bestower and generous!"

"O thou dear servant of God!..."

O thou dear servant of God!

Thy letter is received and its contents were the cause of happiness.
Regard the bounty and forgiveness of the Mighty Creator: Though Abdul-Baha
is in this blessed and illuminated Spot and thou in St. Peter (Minn.)--the
other side of the world--thou hast inhaled the divine breath
notwithstanding the great distance, and beheld the heavenly Light. There
are thousands of people in the Holy Land associated with us and yet they
are deprived and have no hope in God. This is naught save a blessing from
the heavenly Father which hath enlightened that face (i.e., thy face) and
made that heart (thy heart) divine. I ask God that thou wilt be so
animated by the breaths of the Holy Spirit that thou wilt cause that
region to become an Eden of Paradise and illumine many souls with the
brilliant Light.

Though we cannot see each other physically at this time, thank God the
Spiritual Breath is a messenger betw