the people, is none other than this wronged community. For
while all sects and races in Persia and Turkestan are absorbed in
promoting their own interests and only obey their governments either with
the hope of reward or from fear of punishment, the Baha'is are the
well-wishers of the government, obedient to its laws and bearing love
towards all peoples.

Such obedience and submission is made incumbent and obligatory upon all by
the clear Text of the Abha Beauty. Therefore the believers, in obedience
to the command of the True One, show the utmost sincerity and goodwill
towards all nations; and should any soul act contrary to the laws of the
government he would consider himself responsible before God, deserving
divine wrath and chastisement for his sin and wrongdoing. It is
astonishing that, in spite of this, some of the officials of the
government consider the Baha'is to be ill-wishers while they regard the
members of other communities as their well-wishers. Gracious God!
Recently, when there was general revolution and agitation in Tihran and in
other provinces of Persia, it was proven that not a single Baha'i had
taken part nor intervened in these affairs. For this reason they were
reproached by the ignorant because they had obeyed the command of the
Blessed Perfection and refrained absolutely from interference in political
matters. They were not associated with any party, but busied themselves
with their own affairs and professions and discharged their own duties.

All the friends of God bear witness to the fact that 'Abdu'l-Baha is, from
every standpoint, the well-wisher of all governments and nations, and
prayeth sincerely for their progress and advancement, especially for the
two great states of the east, for these two countries are the native land
and the place of exile of Baha'u'llah. In all epistles and writings he
hath commended and praised these two governments and hath supplicated
divine confirmations for them from the Threshold of the One true God. The
Abha Beauty--may my life be a sacrifice for His loved ones--hath offered
prayers on behalf of Their Imperial Majesties. Gracious God! How strange
that, notwithstanding these conclusive proofs, every day some event
transpireth and difficulties arise. But we, and the friends of God, should
on no account slacken our efforts to be loyal, sincere and men of good
will. We should at all times manifest our truthfulness and sincerity, nay
rather, we must be constant