writing this present letter as well.

I would like to remind the friends of these words from 'Abdu'l-Baha's Will
and Testament, as written down by His pen of bounty: 'No doubt every
vainglorious one that purposeth dissension and discord will not openly
declare his evil purposes, nay rather, even as impure gold, would he seize
upon divers measures and various pretexts that he may separate the
gathering of the people of Baha.'

In another Tablet He calls on us to understand the intent of every
individual by the course of his speech, and to see through his purpose.
And from the Blessed Beauty: 'Place not your trust in every new arrival,
and believe not every speaker.'

Over and over, in countless Tablets, do we find the like of these
precepts. It is obvious that the purpose behind them is to awaken and warn
the people of Baha, so that the mighty citadel of the Cause will remain
safe and secure from the plottings of those with evil intent, and the
bright lamp of His Word will be shielded from the contrary winds unloosed
by those who follow their evil passions and corrupt desires.

It is irrevocably decreed that whatsoever has been revealed and written
down by the Supreme Pen and the holy hand of 'Abdu'l-Baha will come to
pass and be fully realized in this world, wherefore does it behove the
people of Baha, the souls attracted to His Splendour, to become all eyes
and ears, and to be in body and soul and limbs and members all sagacity
and prudence. Addressing the believers, Christ tells them: 'Be ye harmless
as the submissive dove, and wise as the serpent.'(208)

In this momentous matter there must be no laxity, no inattention, for a
whisper might become an axe laid to the root of the Tree of the Faith--a
word from an ambitious soul could be a spark tossed into the harvest of
the people of Baha. We take refuge with God! May He guard us ever, from
the recklessness of the insistent self.

For the harbouring of an evil purpose is a disease which shuts out the
individual from all the blessings of Heaven, and casts him deep into the
pit of perdition, of utter ruin. The point to make is that anyone, high or
low, rich or poor, learned or unlettered, although to all appearances he
may be a jewel among men, and the fine flower of all that is best--if he
gives utterance to some pronouncement or speaks some word from which can
be detected the scent of self-worship, or a malicious and evil purpose,
his aim is to disintegrate the Wor