A year has almost elapsed since the Seven Year Plan has been launched
with characteristic vigor and noble enthusiasm by the American Bahá'í
Community. For no less than six consecutive years this two-fold and
stupendous enterprise, which has been set in operation, must, if the American
believers are to prove themselves worthy of their high calling, be wisely
conducted, continually reinforced and energetically prosecuted to its very
end. Severe and unprecedented as may be the internal tests and ordeals
which the members of this Community may yet experience, however tragic
and momentous the external happenings which might well disrupt the fabric
of the society in which they live, they must not throughout these six
remaining years, allow themselves to be deflected from the course they are
now steadily pursuing. Nay, rather, as the impelling forces which have set
in motion this mighty undertaking acquire added momentum and its potentialities
are more fully manifested, they who are responsible for its success must
as time goes on evince a more burning enthusiasm, demonstrate a higher
sense of solidarity, reveal greater depths of consecration to their task, and
display a more unyielding determination to achieve its purpose. Then, and
only then, will the pleas, the hopes and wishes of `Abdu'l-Bahá, eternally
enshrined in the Tablets of the Divine Plan, be worthily acknowledged and
fulfilled. "Let your exertions, henceforth, increase a thousandfold" is the
earnest appeal voiced by Him in those Tablets. "Summon the people," He
exhorts them, "in these countries, capitals, islands, assemblies and churches,
to enter the Abhá Kingdom. The scope of your exertions must needs be
extended. The wider its range the more striking will be the evidences of
Divine assistance." "The moment," He solemnly affirms, "this Divine Message
is carried forward by the American believers from the shores of America
and is propagated through the continents of Europe, of Asia, of Africa
and of Australia ... this community will find itself securely established upon
the throne of an everlasting dominion.... Then will the whole earth resound
with the praises of its majesty and greatness." The Seven Year Plan, to
which every American believer is fully and irrevocably pledged, during the
closing years of the First Century of the Bahá'í Era, is in itself but an
initial stage in the unfoldment of `Abdu'l-Bahá's vision of America's spiritual
destiny--a destiny which only those who will have successfully accomplished
this preliminary task can enable the rising generation who will labor
after them to fulfil in the course of the succeeding century.
April 14, 1938