led in the life of every single Baha'i.

As is well known, at the time when the Day-Star of the Covenant did set,
the Chosen Branch was absent from this luminous Spot, and when he received
the terrifying news of that direst of ordeals, he was overcome by a grief
such as no words can describe. Broken in health, his heart brimful of
sorrows, he returned to this blessed place. At that time the unfaithful,
with extreme perversity and at a high point of rebellion, were openly and
secretly spreading their calumnies, and this behaviour of theirs added
still more to the Guardian's burden of grief. He left, therefore, and
spent some time in seclusion, carrying on the affairs of the Faith, seeing
to its interests and its institutions, communing with God, and imploring
His help.

The Lord be praised, because of the divine bounties, during his absence
there were such evidences of staunchness and loyalty and high resolve and
unity and love and fervour among all the friends, men and women alike,
both of East and West, and in the Holy Land--that on the one hand the
Centre of Sedition, and the arrogant and the malevolent, found themselves
utterly defeated, their hopes of making a breach in the Faith bitterly
disappointed, while on the other, the exemplary quality and sound
condition of the believers, as referred to, was a comfort to the
Guardian's heart. Thus he was able, happy now and in perfect health, to
return to this Spot, and to carry out his sacred obligations.

By this time a great many matters of the utmost importance had
accumulated, and letters were coming in continuously from individuals and
communities, which for lack of time could not be dealt with individually.
The Guardian therefore dispensed with replies to individuals and sent out
general letters to the Spiritual Assemblies, in which in the clearest
terms he set forth the obligations devolving upon all, and gave the
friends his instructions. These basic spiritual guidelines were received
by the believers with great delight and the utmost joy; they immediately
put them into practice, and thus the preliminary steps were taken, and in
every area progress was being made to an ever-increasing degree.

Now, however, as the letters continually streamed in, the contents of one
or two of them showed that among some of the believers a certain
ill-feeling had arisen, and further, that some did not, as they should,
respect and duly defer to their Spiritual Assembly. It is obvio