in future. Rest assured, and never feel
disconsolate...

The celebration of Baha'i festive anniversaries, I feel, should also be
suspended during a period of nine months.

16: Your highly impressive and touching message ...

(48) Your highly impressive and touching message brought much relief to my
weary soul. I thank you from the depths of my heart. I greatly value the
sentiments expressed on behalf of a local community, the members of which
have, by their services, their devotion and loyalty, contributed, to so
great an extent, to the joy and satisfaction of the hearts of both
'Abdu'l-Baha and the Greatest Holy Leaf. My great attachment to each one
of you, as well as my immense love for our departed and beloved _Kh_anum,
have prompted me to add these few words in person. I will continue to pray
for the success of your efforts, as well as for your spiritual
advancement.

17: The passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf has ...

(49) The passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf has filled my heart with
unutterable sorrow. My comfort is the thought that the measure of success
achieved, under your wise and able leadership, by the collective efforts
of the American believers has brightened considerably the last days of her
precious life. Would to God that the continued endeavours of this little
band of her devoted lovers who have brought so great a joy to her blessed
heart, may bring further satisfaction to her soul, and realize, at the
appointed time, her dearest wish and fondest hopes for the Cause in your
land. To complete the Temple, to clothe its naked dome, and terminate its
exterior elaborate ornamentation, is the best and most effective way in
which the American believers, the recipients of her untold favours, can
demonstrate their fidelity to her memory and their gratitude for the
inestimable blessings she showered upon them.

18: O well-loved friend, ...

(50) O well-loved friend, The emotions that have possessed my grieving
heart are such that they cannot be put into words, and tongue and pen are
helpless to describe them. The one consolation of this servant is the
steadfastness and the redoubled services of those dearly-loved ones in
Iran, and the good news of energetic efforts being exerted by the friends
in that land. This is what dissipates the clouds of my grieving, and
dispels the darkness of my anguish, and quiets the flames that consume my
very being, and casts a ray of joy across the da