ublican form of
government, it is necessary that all the citizens shall take part in the
elections of officers and take part in the affairs of the republic.

O thou firm one in the Covenant! We give thee Thahbet (the Firm) for a
name, so that this name be an example of firmness and in the future thou
mayest, even more than before, be confirmed in service, and upon thee be
El-Baha-el-Abha!

"O thou Thahbet (Firm) in the Covenant!..."

O thou Thahbet (Firm) in the Covenant!

Thy letter was received. It indicated firmness and steadfastness;
therefore, it gave me joy and gladness.

Today the greatest of all affairs in the Cause is firmness and
steadfastness. A tree will not give fruit unless it be firmly rooted. A
foundation will not last unless it be firm. There is nothing in this world
of man greater than firmness. A soul who is firm will become a son of the
Kingdom of God and will be confirmed with the power of the Holy Spirit.

For this reason I have named thee Thahbet (meaning firmness) and I ask the
True One and supplicate Him that thou shalt remain firm in the Cause of
God as an unshakable mountain and that the whirlwinds of test shall never
have any effect upon thee; nay, rather that thou shalt be the cause of the
firmness of others.

With me thou art beloved and I ask God that thou mayest become the
lighthouse of guidance in those regions and that thou mayest shine with
the lights of oneness in this world of man.

"O thou who art firm in the Covenant!..."

O thou who art firm in the Covenant!

The letter, which thou hast written to his honor Mirza ........, was
considered.

Be thou happy! Be thou happy! that thou hast put aside rest and composure;
that thou hast traveled through and visited different states and endured
innumerable inconveniences so that thou might diffuse the fragrances of
mysteries and perfume the nostrils of the spiritual ones. When thou wert
engaged in the service of the Cause, thou wert my partner in all trials
and difficulties. Thou hast been my associate and companion and both of us
were intoxicated and exhilarated with the wine of the love of god.

Praise be to God that thou hast been confirmed in the service and I have
likewise been assisted in visiting the Holy Threshold. In one day(144) the
world hath become another world and the chains and manacles of prison and
incarceration have been broken to pieces, and Abdul-Baha hath attained to
the meeting of the Holy