hey are of the kingdom, heavenly;
they are of the merciful One, divine. They are the manifestations of the
divine grace and the dawns of spiritual bounty.

The spiritual meetings, which are organized in this cycle of God and this
divine century, have never had their simile or likeness in bygone cycles.
For the great meetings were under the protection of aristocratic men,
while these meetings are under the protection of the bounty of El-Abha.
The helper or supporter of those was either a prince or a king; either a
priest was the principal, or a great republic; but the helper, the
assistant, the confirmer and the inspirer of these spiritual meetings is
His Majesty the everlasting God.

Consider not the present condition, but rather foresee the future and the
end. A seed in the beginning is very small, but in the end a great tree.
One should not consider the seed, but the tree and its abundance of
blossoms, leaves and fruits.

Consider the days of Jesus, when there was only a small body of people,
and then observe the great tree which grew from that seed and what an
abundant fruit it produced. This is greater than that, forasmuch as it is
the calling of the Lord of Hosts and the voice of the trumpet of the
living God; it is the summons unto the harmony and unison of the world,
and it is the banner of faithfulness, trustworthiness and friendship among
the different nations and sects of the universe; it is the light of the
Sun of Truth and the spirituality of the Majestic One. Verily this great
cycle will encompass all the horizons and ultimately all the nations will
gather together under this standard.

O ye who are firm in the Covenant!

'Abdu'l-Baha is constantly engaged in ideal communication with any
Spiritual Assembly which is instituted through the divine bounty, and the
members of which are in the utmost devotion turning to the divine kingdom
and are firm in the Covenant. To them He is heartily attached and with
them He is linked by everlasting ties. Thus correspondence with them is
sincere, constant and uninterrupted.

The Spiritual Assemblies which are organized for the sake of teaching the
truth, whether Assemblies for men, Assemblies for women or mixed
Assemblies are all accepted and are conducive to the spreading of the
fragrances of God. This is essential. Likewise the public meetings in
which one day during the week the believers gather to be engaged in the
commemoration of God, to read Communes and deli