And now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath
ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must be elected
by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers. Its members must be
manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of knowledge and
understanding, must be steadfast in God's faith and the well-wishers of all
mankind. By this House is meant the Universal House of Justice, that is, in all
countries a secondary House of Justice must be instituted, and these secondary
Houses of Justice must elect the members of the Universal one.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
III, The National Convention)
