Introduction
In December 1914, through a conversation with friends who had met 'Abdu'l-Baha, and the loan of a few pamphlets, I first became acquainted with the Baha'i teachings. I was at once struck by their comprehensiveness, power and beauty. They impressed me as meeting the great needs of the modern world more fully and satisfactorily than any other presentation of religion which I had come across - an impression which subsequent study has only served to deepen and confirm (6:1)

In seeking for fuller knowledge about the movement I found considerable difficulty in obtaining the literature I wanted, and soon conceived the idea of putting together the gist of what I learned in the form of a book, so that it might be more easily available for others. When communication with Palestine was reopened after the war, I wrote to 'Abdu'l-Baha and enclosed a copy of the first nine chapters of the book, which was then almost complete in rough draft. I received a very kind and encouraging reply, and a cordial invitation to visit Him in Haifa and bring the whole of my manuscript with me. The invitation was gladly accepted, and I had the great privilege of spending two and a half months as the guest of 'Abdu'l-Baha during the winter of 1919 - 1920. During this visit 'Abdu'l-Baha discussed the book with me on various occasions. He gave several valuable suggestions for its improvement and proposed that, when I had revised the manuscript, He would have the whole of it translated into Persian so that He could read it through and amend or correct it where necessary. The revisal and translation were carried out as suggested, and 'Abdu'l-Baha found time, amid His busy life, to correct some three and a half chapters (Chapters 1, 2, 5 and part of 3) before He passed away. It is a matter of profound regret to me that 'Abdu'l-Baha was not able to complete the correction of the manuscript, as the value of the book would thereby have been greatly enhanced. The whole of the manuscript has been carefully revised, however, by a committee of the National Baha'i Assembly of England, and its publication approved by that Assembly (6:2)

I am greatly indebted to Miss E. J. Rosenberg, Mrs. Claudia S. Coles, Mirza Lutfu'llah S. Hakim, Messrs. Roy Wilhelm and Mountfort Mills and many other kind friends for valuable help in the preparation of the work (6:3)

As regards the transliteration of Arabic and Persian names and words, the system adopted in this book is that recently recommended by Shoghi Effendi for use throughout the Baha'i World. - J. E. ESSLEMONT - Fairford, Cults, - By Aberdeen (6:4)

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