c certain features of the stirring history of the Faith, and
the range and character of its teachings.

Every laborer in those fields, whether as traveling teacher or settler,
should, I feel, make it his chief and constant concern to mix, in a
friendly manner, with all sections of the population, irrespective of
class, creed, nationality, or color, to familiarize himself with their
ideas, tastes, and habits, to study the approach best suited to them, to
concentrate, patiently and tactfully, on a few who have shown marked
capacity and receptivity, and to endeavor, with extreme kindness, to
implant such love, zeal, and devotion in their hearts as to enable them to
become in turn self-sufficient and independent promoters of the Faith in
their respective localities. "Consort with all men, O people of Baha," is
Baha'u'llah's admonition, "in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. If
ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of which others are
deprived, share it with them in a language of utmost kindliness and
goodwill. If it be accepted, if it fulfill its purpose, your object is
attained. If anyone should refuse it, leave him unto himself, and beseech
God to guide him. Beware lest ye deal unkindly with him. A kindly tongue
is the lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the spirit, it
clotheth the words with meaning, it is the fountain of the light of wisdom
and understanding."

An effort, moreover, can and should be made, not only by representative
Baha'i bodies, but also by prospective teachers, as well as by other
individual believers, deprived of the privilege of visiting those shores
or of settling on that continent, to seize every opportunity that presents
itself to make the acquaintance, and awaken the genuine interest, of such
people who are either citizens of these countries, or are in any way
connected with them, whatever be their interests or profession. Through
the kindness shown them, or any literature which may be given them, or any
connection which they may establish with them, the American believers can
thereby sow such seeds in their hearts as might, in future circumstances,
germinate and yield the most unexpected results. Care, however, should, at
all times, be exercised, lest in their eagerness to further the
international interests of the Faith they frustrate their purpose, and
turn away, through any act that might be misconstrued as an attempt to
proselytize and bring undue press