ed in the number of their attendants, in the tone of the public
addresses, in the undisturbed atmosphere of their proceedings, and the
general impressiveness of their organisation, have been publicly held in
?ihran, under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Baha'is of Persia. Particularly significant and impressive were those that
were held in the Haziratu'l-Quds, the administrative and spiritual centre
of the Faith in the Capital, on the occasion of the twin Festivals
commemorating the declaration of the Bab and the birth of 'Abdu'l-Baha, at
the chief of which no less than two thousand representative Baha'is and
non-Baha'is, leaders of public opinion, State officials and foreign
representatives were officially invited. The addresses stressing the
universality of the Teachings of the Cause, the formal and ordered
character of the proceedings so unusual a feature to a gathering of such
proportions, the mingling of the Baha'is with the recognised
representatives of progressive thought in the Capital who, by virtue of
their high office and stately appearance, lent colour and weight to the
concourse of attending believers, have all contributed to enhance the
brilliance and spiritual significance of that gathering on that memorable
occasion.

Moreover, reports of a highly encouraging nature are being continually
received from local Assemblies and individual believers, giving the names
and stating the numbers of influential Persians who, hitherto reluctant to
declare openly their faith in Baha'u'llah, are as a result of this
reassuring and promising state of affairs emerging from the obscurity of
their concealment and enlisting under the erected banner of Baha'u'llah.
This has served to embolden the followers of the Faith to take the
necessary steps, under the direction of their local Assemblies, for the
institution of Baha'i schools, for the holding of public gatherings, for
the establishment of Baha'i hostels, libraries and public baths, for the
construction of official headquarters for their administrative work, and
for the gradual execution among themselves, within the limits imposed upon
them by the State, of the laws and ordinances revealed in the
Kitab-i-Aqdas. Words fail me to describe the feelings of those patiently
suffering brethren of ours in that land, who, with eyes dim with tears and
hearts overflowing with thanksgiving and praise, are witnessing on every
side and with increasing force the unf