O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These
hearts are radiant with Thy love. These minds and spirits are exhilarated by
the message of Thy glad tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become
glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and
render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise
the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to
become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the
world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of
Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 30 April, 1912, Chicago, Illinois; ‘The Promulgation of Universal
Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States
and Canada in 1912’)
