The Pen of Bahá’u’lláh, the voice of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, have time
and again, insistently and in terms unmistakable, warned an unheeding humanity
of impending disaster. The Community of the Most Great Name, the leaven that must
leaven the lump, the chosen remnant that must survive the rolling up of the
old, discredited, tottering order, and assist in the unfoldment of a new one in
its stead, is standing ready, alert, clear-visioned, and resolute. The American
believers, standard-bearers of this world-wide community and torch-bearers of
an as yet unborn civilization, have girt up their loins, unfurled their banners
and stepped into the arena of service. Their Plan has been formulated. Their
forces are mobilized. They are steadfastly marching towards their goal. The
hosts of the Abhá Kingdom are rushing forth, as promised, to direct their steps
and reinforce their power.
(Shoghi Effendu, from a letter dated July 5, 1938;
‘Messages to America’)
