. The wisdom in raising up such buildings is that at a given hour,
the people should know it is time to meet, and all should gather together,
and, harmoniously attuned one to another, engage in prayer; with the
result that out of this coming together, unity and affection shall grow
and flourish in the human heart.

59: 'ABDU'L-BAHA HATH LONG CHERISHED THE DESIRE THAT A ...

'Abdu'l-Baha hath long cherished the desire that a Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar
be upraised in that region. Praised be God, thanks to the strenuous
efforts of the friends, in recent days the joyful news of this hath been
announced. This service is highly acceptable at the Threshold of God, for
the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar inspiriteth the lovers of God and delighteth
their hearts, and causeth them to become steadfast and firm.

This is a matter of the utmost significance. If the erection of the House
of Worship in a public place would arouse the hostility of evil-doers,
then the meeting must, in every locality, be held in some hidden place.
Even in every hamlet, a place must be set aside as the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar, and even though it be underground.

Now, praised be God, ye have succeeded in this. Engage ye in the
remembrance of God at dawn; rise ye up to praise and glorify Him. Blessed
are ye, and joy be yours, O ye the righteous, for having established the
Dawning-Point of the Praises of God. Verily I ask of the Lord that He make
you standards of salvation and banners of redemption, rippling high over
the valleys and hills.

60: ALTHOUGH TO OUTWARD SEEMING THE MASHRIQU'L-ADHKAR ...

Although to outward seeming the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar is a material
structure, yet it hath a spiritual effect. It forgeth bonds of unity from
heart to heart; it is a collective centre for men's souls. Every city in
which, during the days of the Manifestation, a temple was raised up, hath
created security and constancy and peace, for such buildings were given
over to the perpetual glorification of God, and only in the remembrance of
God can the heart find rest. Gracious God! The edifice of the House of
Worship hath a powerful influence on every phase of life. Experience hath,
in the east, clearly shown this to be a fact. Even if, in some small
village, a house was designated as the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar, it produced
a marked effect; how much greater would be the impact of one especially
raised up.

61: O LORD, O THOU WHO DOST BLESS ALL THOSE WHO