ty of the
Garden of Ridvan, Ba_gh_dad, third holiest city of Baha'i world, on the
occasion of the world-wide celebrations of the Most Great Jubilee,
commemorating the Centenary of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah to the Throne
of His Sovereignty.

Current Baha'i history must henceforth, as second decade of second Baha'i
century opens, move rapidly and majestically as it has never moved before
since the inception of the Faith over a century ago. Earthly symbols of
Baha'u'llah's unearthly Sovereignty must needs, ere the decade separating
the two memorable Jubilees draws to a close, be raised as far north as
Franklin beyond the Arctic Circle and as far south as the Falkland
Islands, marking the southern extremity of the western hemisphere, amidst
the remote, lonely, inhospitable islands of the archipelagos of the South
Pacific, the Indian and Atlantic oceans, the mountain fastnesses of Tibet,
the jungles of Africa, the deserts of Arabia, the steppes of Russia, the
Indian Reservations of North America, the wastelands of Siberia and
Mongolia, amongst the Eskimos of Greenland and Alaska, the Negroes of
Africa, Buddhist strongholds in the heart of Asia, amongst Lapps of
Finland, the Polynesians of the South Sea Islands, Negritos of the
archipelagos of the South Pacific Ocean.

The broad outlines of the world-encircling plan were divinely revealed.
Its course was charted by 'Abdu'l-Baha's infallible Pen. Its shining goals
have been set. The requisite administrative machinery has been created.
Signal has been given by the Author of the Plan, its Supreme Commander.
The Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings has pledged unfailing aid to every
crusader battling for His Cause. Invisible battalions are mustered, rank
upon rank, ready to pour forth reinforcements from on high. Baha'u'llah's
army of light is standing on the threshold of the Holy Year. Let them, as
they enter it, vow with one voice, one heart, one soul, never to turn back
in the entire course of the fateful decade ahead until each and every one
will have contributed his share in laying on a world-wide scale an
unassailable administrative foundation for Baha'u'llah's Christ-promised
Kingdom on earth, swelling thereby the chorus of universal jubilation
wherein earth and heaven will join as prophesied by Daniel, echoed by
'Abdu'l-Baha: "on that day will the faithful rejoice with exceeding
gladness."

Call upon fifteen Hands from five continents, by virtue of their supreme
functio