ry 8, 1917, in Baha'u'llah's room at the house of Abbud
in Akka, and addressed to the Baha'is of the twelve Central States of the
United States: Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota,
Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas. _

1

_He is God!_

O ye old believers and intimate friends:

2 God says in the great Qur'an: "He specializes for His Mercy whomsoever
He willeth."(16)

3 These twelve Central States of the United States are like unto the heart
of America, and the heart is connected with all the organs and parts of
man. If the heart is strengthened, all the organs of the body are
reinforced, and if the heart is weak all the physical elements are
subjected to feebleness.

4 Now praise be to God that Chicago and its environs from the beginning of
the diffusion of the fragrances of God have been a strong heart.
Therefore, through divine bounty and providence it has become confirmed in
certain great matters.

5 First: The call of the Kingdom was in the very beginning raised from
Chicago. This is indeed a great privilege, for in future centuries and
cycles, it will be as an axis around which the honor of Chicago will
revolve.

6 Second: A number of souls with the utmost firmness and steadfastness
arose in that blessed spot in the promotion of the Word of God and even to
the present moment, having purified and sanctified the heart from every
thought, they are occupied with the promulgation of the teachings of God.
Hence the call of praise is raised uninterruptedly from the Supreme
Concourse.

7 Third: During the American journey 'Abdu'l-Baha several times passed
through Chicago and associated with the friends of God. For some time he
sojourned in that city. Day and night he was occupied with the mention of
the True One and summoned the people to the Kingdom of God.

8 Fourth: Up to the present time, every movement initiated in Chicago, its
effect was spread to all parts and to all directions, just as everything
that appears in and manifests from the heart influences all the organs and
limbs of the body.

9 Fifth: The first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar in America was instituted in
Chicago, and this honor and distinction is infinite in value. Out of this
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar, without doubt, thousands of Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars
will be born.

10 Likewise (were instituted in Chicago) the general Annual Conventions,
the foundation of the Star of