the people of the world. To safeguard the religion of God and reinforce
its power, the friends must make use of effective means: their love must
be so great that they worship one another, and shut any mutual ill-feeling
out of their hearts.

'If, for example, the non-Baha'is should ask the friends, "What
differentiates you from all the rest?", and if, to this, the friends
answer, "In the pathway of our love for the Centre of our Faith, we would
sacrifice our lives and possessions," those of the civilized world would
never be content with such a reply. They would merely say: "Your love,
your sacrifice for a single individual cannot possibly serve as a remedy
for the chronic ills which plague society today." If the friends then
answer: "Our religion provides principles and moral teachings whose value
the wisest of the day cannot deny," this will be the response: "Noble
principles and teachings will produce an effect on human character, and
heal the mortal sicknesses which afflict society, only at such time when
those who claim to believe in and support them are themselves the first to
act upon them, and to demonstrate and incorporate the value and the
benefits of them in their own everyday transactions and lives." Unless
this comes about, there is nothing to distinguish the Baha'is from the
rest.'

He also told us: 'The people of the world are carefully watching the
Baha'is today, and minutely observing them. The believers must make every
effort, and take the utmost care to ward off and remove any feelings of
estrangement, and consider themselves duty-bound to comply with the
decisions of their Spiritual Assemblies. To the same degree that
ill-feeling among some of the believers has cast its shadow on my heart,
to that same degree will my heart reflect their mutual agreement,
understanding and loving affection, and their deference to the authority
of their Spiritual Assemblies. And whenever I shall feel such lights
reflected, I will at once return to the Holy Land and engage in the
fulfilment of my sacred obligations. Convey this message of mine to all
the friends.'

It is now two weeks since he made this touching statement and left the
Holy Land.

O dearly-loved ones of 'Abdu'l-Baha! We know from His sacred Will that we
must 'Take the greatest care of Shoghi Effendi ... that no dust of
despondency and sorrow may stain his radiant nature' and that the tree of
his spiritual being may bear fruit. We must ever keep thi