Belief in the Everlasting Covenant as exemplified in the Will & Testament of Abdu’l-Baha is belief in the fact that the Guardianship continues through the Aghsan lineage. Again, there are two criterion and two criterion only; that he is a son (Aghsan) and that he is appointed. Period. Nothing else. This is the way the Throne line has existed for three thousand years. It is prophesied in the bible that the Gentiles would inherit the Kingdom and that this would be the “times of the Gentiles” being fulfilled. That is, that there would be a time that the Throne line (Kingship) would be inherited by Gentiles (non-Jewish) and this time has come and gone and a “natural branch” (Jew) was grafted back into the Tree.
Pepe adopted and appointed Neal Chase in the same style and manner that Abdu’l-Baha adopted Mason. He announced publicly to everyone calling him “MY SON” and as Abdu’l-Baha says as quoted in Mason’s diaries:
‘Abdu’l-Baha to his only son Mason Remey:
“I have adopted you as my son [Persian: aghsan]. You have to appreciate this favor very much indeed. One should see that you are living according to the requirements of this sonship. You should be aware of your responsibilities. My prayers will help you. I always pray for you.”
(‘Abdu’l-Baha to Mason Remey, cf.“The Diaries of Mason Remey”, Folio 2, “A Pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Reminisces of the Master, 1921”, pp. 127-129. New York Public Library Collection)
So Abdu’l-Baha counsels Mason that being his son took on certain “requirements”
and “responsibilities”, these of course being the fact that Mason is “Aghsan” now and that means he would end up being the only candidate for the job of Guardian and Abdu’l-Baha knew this and knew that it would be a huge test for the believers, but it would only be those believers who would not deviate a hairs breadth from the promise of the Guardianship through the Aghsan lineage who would pass this test. The test of there always having to be a Guardian is over, Mason told the believers in Washington that that test was over but now it would be a test of who the Guardian is. Two criteria. Son, appointed. Mason had only one son through adoption, at the passing of Mason that would mean there is only one choice as to who could be Mason’s successor, his son. Period. this is the “Straight Path” of God’s Divine Will. Any deviation from this path through excuses and reasonings and theologies is not the Straight Path of the Covenant. Pepe addressed Neal as his “Son” in the same way as Abdu’l-Baha addressed Mason and at the passing of Pepe, there is only one choice as to Pepe’s successor and this would be the only one who fulfills the requirement of being a son in the same context as that of Abdu’l-Baha and Mason and this is Neal Chase.
Victor