erance of Baha'u'llah's mansion at Bahji from the hands of the
enemy; the unprecedented increase in the volume of work resulting from the
rise and expansion of the Movement in various parts of the world--these and
other issues, no less pressing in their demand upon my time and energy,
have gradually affected my health and impaired the efficiency required in
the discharge of my arduous duties. But, though body and mind be sorely
strained by cares and perplexities which a Movement such as ours just
emerging from obscurity must needs encounter, yet the spirit continues to
draw fresh inspiration from the manner in which the chosen deliverers of
the Faith in the Western world, and particularly in the American
continent, are proving themselves increasingly worthy of such a stupendous
yet so noble a task.

Persecutions in Jahrum

Grave and manifold as are the problems confronting the struggling Faith of
Baha'u'llah, none appear more significant, nor seem more compelling in
their urgency, than the incredible sufferings borne so heroically by our
down-trodden brethren of the East. Recent reports confirming the news
which I have lately communicated to you have all emphasized the barbarous
severity practiced on the innocent followers of our Cause. They reveal the
possibility of the extension of this agitation, partly instigated for
political purposes and selfish motives, to neighboring towns and
provinces, and dwell upon the traditional slackness of the local
authorities to inflict prompt and severe punishment upon all the
perpetrators of such abominable crimes. It has been ascertained that in
the town of Jahrum women have suffered martyrdom in a most atrocious
manner, that the knife of the criminal has mercilessly cut to pieces the
body of a child, that a number have been severely beaten and injured,
their bodies mutilated, their homes pillaged, their property confiscated,
and the homeless remnants of their family abandoned to the mercy of a
shameless and tyrannical people. In other parts of Persia, and
particularly in the province of A_dh_irbayjan in the town of Mara_gh_ih,
the friends have been pitilessly denied the civic rights and privileges
extended to every citizen of the land. They have been refused the use of
the public bath, and been denied access to such shops as provide the
necessities of life. They have been declared deprived of the benefit and
protection of the law, and all association and dealing with them d