members of the human family, whether peoples or governments,
cities or villages, have become increasingly interdependent.... Hence the
unity of all mankind can in this day be achieved. Verily this is none
other but one of the wonders of this wondrous age, this glorious
century.(6)

During the long years of imprisonment and banishment that followed
Baha'u'llah's refusal to serve the political agenda of the Ottoman
authorities, 'Abdu'l-Baha was entrusted with the management of the Faith's
affairs and with the responsibility of acting as His Father's spokesman. A
significant aspect of this work entailed interaction with local and
provincial officials who sought His advice on the problems confronting
them. Not dissimilar needs presented themselves in the Master's homeland.
As early as 1875, responding to Baha'u'llah's instructions, 'Abdu'l-Baha
addressed to the rulers and people of Persia a treatise entitled _The
Secret of Divine Civilization_, setting out the spiritual principles that
must guide the shaping of their society in the age of humanity's maturity.
Its opening passage called upon the Iranian people to reflect on the
lesson taught by history about the key to social progress:

Consider carefully: all these highly varied phenomena, these concepts,
this knowledge, these technical procedures and philosophical systems,
these sciences, arts, industries and inventions--all are emanations of the
human mind. Whatever people has ventured deeper into this shoreless sea,
has come to excel the rest. The happiness and pride of a nation consist in
this, that it should shine out like the sun in the high heaven of
knowledge. "Shall they who have knowledge and they who have it not, be
treated alike?"(7)

_The Secret of Divine Civilization_ presaged the guidance that would flow
from the pen of 'Abdu'l-Baha in subsequent decades. After the devastating
loss that followed the ascension of Baha'u'llah, the Persian believers
were revived and heartened by a flood of Tablets from the Master, which
provided not only the spiritual sustenance they needed, but leadership in
finding their way through the turmoil that was undermining the established
order of things in their land. These communications, reaching even the
smallest villages across the country, responded to the appeals and
questions of countless individual believers, bringing guidance,
encouragement and assurance. We read, for example, a Tablet addressing
believers in the village o