The spread of the Cause of God since the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh

In the morning ‘Abdu’l-Bahá addressed an assemblage of friends concerning the spread of the Cause of God in both the East and the West and the union of the various sects and denominations under the shadow of the Word of God. He stated:

Soon after the ascension of the Blessed Beauty I wrote:

Erelong ye shall see the banner of the Covenant
Hoisted over the world.

And again:

Shed splendors on the East,
In the West scatter perfumes,
Invest the Slav with life.
Carry light unto the world. [please see ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ for an alternate translation]

Some of the ignorant scorned us, saying, ‘How can the East and the West be illumined with the light of the Cause and the whole world be perfumed by the sweet fragrance of the Word of God?’ Now behold how this great union has come about and how the hearts of the people of the East and the West have been enlightened with this manifest light. The Blessed Tree has taken firm root in the earth and the signs of its greatness have encompassed all regions.

He then gave an account of the appearance of the Manifestations of God. ‘Outwardly’, He said, the holy Manifestations of God were completely humiliated and despised. They were mocked by all. But in a short space of time the penetrative influence of their words filled the hearts and the sun of their greatness and majesty illumined the world.