nets, and its verities.

It is, therefore, to the teaching requirements of the Seven Year Plan that
the community of the American believers must henceforth direct their
careful and sustained attention. The entire community must, as one man,
arise to fulfill them. To teach the Cause of God, to proclaim its truths,
to defend its interests, to demonstrate, by words as well as by deeds, its
indispensability, its potency, and universality, should at no time be
regarded as the exclusive concern or sole privilege of Baha'i
administrative institutions, be they Assemblies, or committees. All must
participate, however humble their origin, however limited their
experience, however restricted their means, however deficient their
education, however pressing their cares and preoccupations, however
unfavorable the environment in which they live. "God," Baha'u'llah,
Himself, has unmistakably revealed, "hath prescribed unto everyone the
duty of teaching His Cause." "Say," He further has written, "Teach ye the
Cause of God, O people of Baha, for God hath prescribed unto everyone the
duty of proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it as the most meritorious
of all deeds."

A high and exalted position in the ranks of the community, conferring as
it does on its holder certain privileges and prerogatives, no doubt
invests him with a responsibility that he cannot honorably shirk in his
duty to teach and promote the Faith of God. It may, at times, though not
invariably, create greater opportunities and furnish better facilities to
spread the knowledge of that Faith, and to win supporters to its
institutions. It does not, however, under any circumstances, necessarily
carry with it the power of exercising greater influence on the minds and
hearts of those to whom that Faith is presented. How often--and the early
history of the Faith in the land of its birth offers many a striking
testimony--have the lowliest adherents of the Faith, unschooled and utterly
inexperienced, and with no standing whatever, and in some cases devoid of
intelligence, been capable of winning victories for their Cause, before
which the most brilliant achievements of the learned, the wise, and the
experienced have paled.

"Peter," 'Abdu'l-Baha has testified, "according to the history of the
Church, was also incapable of keeping count of the days of the week.
Whenever he decided to go fishing, he would tie up his weekly food into
seven parcels, and every day he would eat one