, any
decision arrived at previously, though that decision be not right, for
such criticism would prevent any decision from being enforced. In short,
whatsoever thing is arranged in harmony and with love and purity of
motive, its result is light, and should the least trace of estrangement
prevail the result shall be darkness upon darkness.... If this be so
regarded, that Assembly shall be of God, but otherwise it shall lead to
coolness and alienation that proceed from the Evil One. Discussions must
all be confined to spiritual matters that pertain to the training of
souls, the instruction of children, the relief of the poor, the help of
the feeble throughout all classes in the world, kindness to all peoples,
the diffusion of the fragrances of God and the exaltation of His Holy
Word. Should they endeavour to fulfil these conditions the Grace of the
Holy Spirit shall be vouchsafed unto them, and that assembly shall become
the centre of the Divine blessings, the hosts of Divine confirmation shall
come to their aid, and they shall day by day receive a new effusion of
Spirit."

So great is the importance and so supreme is the authority of these
assemblies that once 'Abdu'l-Baha after having Himself and in His own
handwriting corrected the translation made into Arabic of the I_sh_raqat
(the Effulgences) by _Sh_ay_kh_ Faraj, a Kurdish friend from Cairo,
directed him in a Tablet to submit the above-named translation to the
Spiritual Assembly of Cairo, that he may seek from them before publication
their approval and consent. These are His very words in that Tablet:--"His
honour, _Sh_ay_kh_ Faraju'llah, has here rendered into Arabic with
greatest care the I_sh_raqat and yet I have told him that he must submit
his version to the Spiritual Assembly of Egypt, and I have conditioned its
publication upon the approval of the above-named Assembly. This is so that
things may be arranged in an orderly manner, for should it not be so any
one may translate a certain Tablet and print and circulate it on his own
account. Even a non-believer might undertake such work, and thus cause
confusion and disorder. If it be conditioned, however, upon the approval
of the Spiritual Assembly, a translation prepared, printed and circulated
by a non-believer will have no recognition whatever."

This is indeed a clear indication of the Master's express desire that
nothing whatever should be given to the public by any individual among the
friends, unless ful