A continent [Europe] occupying such a central and strategic
position on the entire planet; so rich and eventful in its history; so
diversified in its culture; from whose soil sprang both the Hellenic and Roman
civilisations; the mainspring of a civilisation to some of whose features
Bahá'u'lláh Himself paid tribute; on whose southern shores Christendom first
established its home; along whose eastern marches the mighty forces of the
Cross and the Crescent so frequently clashed; on whose south-western extremity
a fast evolving Islamic culture yielded its fairest fruit; in whose heart the
light of the Reformation shone so brightly, shedding its rays as far as the
outlying regions of the globe; the well-spring of American culture; whose
northern and western fringes were first warmed and illuminated, less than a
century ago, by the dawning light of the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh; in whose
heart a community, so rich in promise, was subsequently established; whose soil
was later sanctified by the twice-repeated visit of the appointed Centre of His
Covenant; which witnessed, in consequence of the rise and establishment of the
Administrative Order of His Faith, the erection of two of the foremost pillars
of the future Universal House of Justice…
(Shoghi Effendi, ‘The Unfolding Destiny
of the British Baha'i Community’)
