is, to the degree required, so that no child,
whether girl or boy, will remain illiterate. Should the father fail in his
duty he must be compelled to discharge his responsibility, and should he
be unable to comply, let the House of Justice take over the education of
the children; in no case is a child to be left without an education. This
is one of the stringent and inescapable commandments to neglect which
would draw down the wrathful indignation of Almighty God.

102: O TRUE COMPANIONS! ALL HUMANKIND ARE AS CHILDREN ...

O true companions! All humankind are as children in a school, and the
Dawning-Points of Light, the Sources of divine revelation, are the
teachers, wondrous and without peer. In the school of realities they
educate these sons and daughters, according to teachings from God, and
foster them in the bosom of grace, so that they may develop along every
line, show forth the excellent gifts and blessings of the Lord, and
combine human perfections; that they may advance in all aspects of human
endeavour, whether outward or inward, hidden or visible, material or
spiritual, until they make of this mortal world a widespread mirror, to
reflect that other world which dieth not.

O ye friends of God! Because, in this most momentous of ages, the Sun of
Truth hath risen at the highest point of the spring equinox, and cast its
rays on every clime, it shall kindle such tremulous excitement, it shall
release such vibrations in the world of being, it shall stimulate such
growth and development, it shall stream out with such a glory of light,
and clouds of grace shall pour down such plentiful waters, and fields and
plains shall teem with such a galaxy of sweet-smelling plants and blooms,
that this lowly earth will become the Abha Kingdom, and this nether world
the world above. Then will this fleck of dust be as the vast circle of the
skies, this human place the palace-court of God, this spot of clay the
dayspring of the endless favours of the Lord of Lords.

Wherefore, O loved ones of God! Make ye a mighty effort till you
yourselves betoken this advancement and all these confirmations, and
become focal centres of God's blessings, daysprings of the light of His
unity, promoters of the gifts and graces of civilized life. Be ye in that
land vanguards of the perfections of humankind; carry forward the various
branches of knowledge, be active and progressive in the field of
inventions and the arts. Endeavour to rect