nscience dieth, his mind is blotted away, his
perceptions are eroded. It turneth the living into the dead. It quencheth
the natural heat. No greater harm can be conceived than that which opium
inflicteth. Fortunate are they who never even speak the name of it; then
think how wretched is the user.

O ye lovers of God! In this, the cycle of Almighty God, violence and
force, constraint and oppression, are one and all condemned. It is,
however, mandatory that the use of opium be prevented by any means
whatsoever, that perchance the human race may be delivered from this most
powerful of plagues. And otherwise, woe and misery to whoso falleth short
of his duty to his Lord.(44)

O Divine Providence! Bestow Thou in all things purity and cleanliness upon
the people of Baha. Grant that they be freed from all defilement, and
released from all addictions. Save them from committing any repugnant act,
unbind them from the chains of every evil habit, that they may live pure
and free, wholesome and cleanly, worthy to serve at Thy Sacred Threshold
and fit to be related to their Lord. Deliver them from intoxicating drinks
and tobacco, save them, rescue them, from this opium that bringeth on
madness, suffer them to enjoy the sweet savours of holiness, that they may
drink deep of the mystic cup of heavenly love and know the rapture of
being drawn ever closer unto the Realm of the All-Glorious. For it is even
as Thou hast said: 'All that thou hast in thy cellar will not appease the
thirst of my love--bring me, O cup-bearer, of the wine of the spirit a cup
full as the sea!'

O ye, God's loved ones! Experience hath shown how greatly the renouncing
of smoking, of intoxicating drink, and of opium, conduceth to health and
vigour, to the expansion and keenness of the mind and to bodily strength.
There is today a people(45) who strictly avoid tobacco, intoxicating
liquor and opium. This people is far and away superior to the others, for
strength and physical courage, for health, beauty and comeliness. A single
one of their men can stand up to ten men of another tribe. This hath
proved true of the entire people: that is, member for member, each
individual of this community is in every respect superior to the
individuals of other communities.

Make ye then a mighty effort, that the purity and sanctity which, above
all else, are cherished by 'Abdu'l-Baha, shall distinguish the people of
Baha; that in every kind of excellence the people of God shal