When I
entered this city, I saw there was quite a stir. I asked the reason and was
told that an agricultural convention was being held. I remarked that
Bahá'u'lláh, too, organized a convention in Persia. The difference is that your
congress is of this world but Bahá'u'lláh's is divine. Great persons have come
to the congress but their motive is earthly as they have assembled to consider
questions concerning agriculture. But in that other congress holy ones have
gathered who irrigate the field of hearts with the water of eternal life, as
their motive is heavenly. This congress is decorated with earthly lamps while
that is embellished with heavenly lights. The music of this is terrestrial
while the strains of that are celestial. This convention meets in a private
hall while that gathering is held under the tent of the unity of mankind and
international peace. The queen of this congress is a lady bedecked with
ornaments and embellishments of this mortal world but the king of that congress
is the King of the Throne of Eternity, Whose sovereignty is divine. When I compared
these two congresses I became extremely glad and prayed that God may bless your
farming and bestow upon you spiritual strength and capacity for life
everlasting.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, September 29, 1912, Salt Lake City, USA, recorded by
Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
