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Indeed His three years of travel, first to Egypt, then to Europe and later to America, mark, if we would correctly appraise their historic importance, a turning point of the utmost significance in the history of the century. For the first time since the inception of the Faith, sixty- six years previously, its Head and supreme Representative burst asunder the shackles which had throughout the ministries of both the Bab and Baha'u'llah so grievously fettered its freedom. Though repressive measures still continued to circumscribe the activities of the vast majority of its adherents in the land of its birth, its recognized Leader was now vouchsafed a freedom of action which, with the exception of a brief interval in the course of the War of 1914- 18, He was to continue to enjoy to the end of His life, and which has never since been withdrawn from its institutions at its world center.
(279:4)
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