through the
breaths of Thy Holy Spirit. Enlighten the eyes by the vision of these
radiant lights, and make the ears joyful through the anthems of Thy call
to service. O God! Verily, we have gathered here in the fragrance of Thy
love. We have turned to Thy Kingdom. We seek naught save Thee and desire
nothing save Thy good pleasure. O God! Let this food be Thy manna from
heaven, and grant that this assemblage may be a concourse of Thy supreme
ones. May they be the quickening cause of love to humanity and the source
of illumination to the human race. May they be the instruments of Thy
guidance upon earth. Verily, Thou art powerful. Thou art the Bestower.
Thou art the Forgiver, and Thou art the Almighty.

In the world many banquets, assemblages and meetings have been organized,
but those gatherings have been commercial, political, educational or
social in their purpose and motive. Meetings are held for the promotion of
financial plans or promulgation of the arts and sciences. Others have
sought to establish agricultural industries or consummate territorial
agreements. Innumerable assemblages have been held for consultation upon
subjects of learning and education. All such meetings have for their
object the advancement of civilization. But--praise be to God!--this banquet
and this assemblage are for none other purpose than love, for the purpose
of announcing the divine Kingdom, for the manifestation of the ineffable
traces of God, for reflecting the effulgences of the Kingdom of God, for
binding hearts together, for service to the world of humanity, for the
promulgation of humanitarian and altruistic realities, for the advancement
and advocating of international peace, for the illumination of the whole
world. Therefore, such an assemblage is matchless and peerless because
other assemblages are held for a limited object and personal motive,
whereas this meeting is for God and God only, for His love and purpose. It
is for love of the hearts of men and the oneness of the world of humanity.
Therefore, we should offer thanks to God, for He has confirmed us in
attaining to the happiness of this occasion. He has appointed us servants
of the human world, advocates of peace and unity among the religions,
heralds of universal agreement among the races and nations, founders of
divine reconciliation among all peoples.

It is my fond and fervent hope through the favor of God that this present
meeting may be instrumental in ushering in t