“For it must be clearly understood, nor can it be
sufficiently emphasized, that the conjunction of the resting-place of the
Greatest Holy Leaf with those of her brother and mother incalculably reinforces
the spiritual potencies of that consecrated Spot which, under the wings of the
Báb's overshadowing Sepulchre, and in the vicinity of the future
Mashriqu'l-Adhkar which will be reared on its flank, is destined to evolve into
the focal centre of those world-shaking, world-embracing, world-directing
administrative institutions, ordained by Bahá'u'lláh and anticipated by
'Abdu'l-Bahá, and which are to function in consonance with the principles that
govern the twin institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of
Justice. Then, and then only, will this momentous prophecy which illuminates
the concluding passages of the Tablet of Carmel be fulfilled: ‘Erelong will God
sail His Ark upon thee (Carmel), and will manifest the people of Baha who have
been mentioned in the Book of Names.’”
“To attempt to visualize, even in its barest outline, the
glory that must envelop these institutions, to essay even a tentative and
partial description of their character or the manner of their operation, or to
trace however inadequately the course of events leading to their rise and
eventual establishment is far beyond my own capacity and power. Suffice it to
say that at this troubled stage in world history the association of these three
incomparably precious souls who, next to the three Central Figures of our
Faith, tower in rank above the vast multitude of the heroes, Letters, martyrs,
hands, teachers and administrators of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, in such a
potentially powerful spiritual and administrative Centre, is in itself an event
which will release forces that are bound to hasten the emergence in a land
which, geographically, spiritually and administratively, constitutes the heart
of the entire planet, of some of the brightest gems of that World Order now
shaping in the womb of this, travailing age.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a message
dated December 21, 1939; ‘Messages to America’)
