...If between the friends true love -- based on the love of
God -- could become manifest, the Cause would spread very rapidly. Love is the
standard which must govern the conduct of one believer towards another. The
administrative order does not change this, but unfortunately sometimes the
friends confuse the two, and try to be a whole spiritual assembly, -- with the
discipline and justice and impartiality that body must show, - - to each other,
instead of being forgiving, loving and patient to each other as individuals.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter written
on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 18, 1950;
compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)
