And Bahá’u’lláh took decided steps to prevent the corruption of His Faith into sects. He wrote His teachings, and as a result oral tradition was struck a blow. He abolished the authority of a priesthood. He forbade the creation of sacrements. And He appointed ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, His eldest Son, as the Center of His Covenant, the point of unity to Whom all should turn on questions of interpretation of the teachings.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá had been born in 1844 and shared the series of exiles with His Father. He himself continued a prisoner until in 1908 the revolution of the Young Turks released all religious prisoners. In 1910 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá began a series of missionary journeys which extended over a period of three years. He visited Egypt, Europe, the United States and Canada. Everywhere He was greeted with respect, scholars and noted men visiting Him. In pulpit, synagogue, and college hall, He freely proclaimed His Father’s Faith. The result was a great strengthening of the little group of Bahá’ís in the West.

At the death of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921, the Faith entered a new period of development. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left a Will and Testament in which He appointed Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, His eldest grandson, as Guardian of the Faith. This remarkable document not only made Shoghi Effendi the interpreter of the teachings but it