The Strong Rope
Star of the West Editors, Star of the West, (1913), Bahai News Service · Read original
When in Bahá'í history
Los Angeles (today: Los Angeles, California, USA)
The Star of the West of June 5, 1913, printed a short Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá under the heading The "Strong Rope." It was addressed to Mrs. Harriet Cline of Los Angeles, and it had been translated in Paris on March 29, 1913, while the Master was staying there.
Mrs. Cline had written to Him. His answer began by telling her what her letter had shown: that she was spending her days in the remembrance of Bahá'u'lláh, that she was firm and steadfast in the Covenant, and that she was "holding fast to the 'Strong Rope.'"
Then He explained why this mattered:
Today firmness in the Covenant is the means of the promotion of the Word of God, and conducive to the effect of the word of man.
Any explanation that did not accord with the Covenant, He wrote, would have no effect whatsoever, while whoever heralded the Covenant of God would unquestionably be confirmed. "This has been tried a thousand times." A soul who violated the Covenant even in the least degree would be cut off at once, and even in this material world would be afflicted with remorse and regret.
He ended with a charge. As much as she was able, Mrs. Cline was to call the people to the Covenant and make the souls firm and steadfast.
The Covenant of which He spoke is the one Bahá'u'lláh established in His Will, naming 'Abdu'l-Bahá as the Center to whom the believers should turn.
A retelling based on Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 5 (June 5, 1913), "The 'Strong Rope,'" Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to Mrs. Harriet Cline. For the fuller account, see the original.
Cite this story
Editors, S. O. T. W.. (1913). *Star of the West*. Bahai News Service. https://bahai-library.com/star_of_the_west_volume_1
Record yourself reading this story
Recording stays on this device only. Nothing is uploaded.
Related stories
Corinne True Is Asked to Speak
Before leaving for Minneapolis, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked Corinne True to speak about the Faith in public; when she protested that she had no training, He told her to turn her heart wholly toward Him.
The Special Work
A woman asked ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for a special work. He entrusted to her the orphaned son of her worst enemy, and she wept that she now knew what the Bahá’í Cause means.
Have No Fear and Be Not Down-Hearted
On my return from Beyrouth I was sorry to find out that you had left for Italy and I missed seeing you before you left.
Books on a Shelf in Tokyo
In March 1916 Agnes Alexander wrote from Tokyo of new people at her Friday meeting, students at her door, a blind Russian friend hearing Some Answered Questions, and Bahá'í books placed in a library, one of which a stranger had already found.