The question regarding the devotional part of the Feast has
been obscured because once he used the term "devotional" in its
strict sense, which of course means prayer, and once loosely, in the sense in
which the Bahá'ís usually understand it, and that is the meeting together and
reading from the teachings which precedes the administrative — or consultative
— aspect of the Nineteen Day Feast. The two statements in no way change the
method of holding this part of the Feast which, in the East at any rate, is
always opened with prayers and afterwards Tablets and excerpts from Bahá'u'lláh's,
or the Master's or the Guardian's, writings may be read or, for that matter,
the Bible or Qur'an quoted.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
11 April 1949 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Nineteen Day Feast)
