A Gift for the Queen — Page 74
74 HADRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD hands of the Sikhs. Our family is indebted to the government in every way. This relation has been strengthened because of Your Holiness. The favours of the government on our Community provided the additional incentive for us to do more than our contemporaries. First : The nearby mosque and our residence were illuminated greatly. A house in my possession outside the town in the village of Sarwani Kote was also illuminated. All the houses were first painted white, lights were fixed in a variety of ways and the follow- ing inscription was made on one of the walls: ‘God save our Empress. ’ There was more lighting at our home compared to most of the remaining city. Due to wind, the illumination could not take place on the 22nd. The whole city was illuminated on the 23rd except for elevated places due to wind. Second : Three arches. One at the head of the street and two were erected in front of our home. The following inscriptions were written on them in gold. First, at the head of the street, ‘Congratulations on the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. ’ Second, ‘Welcome’ was written in English on the door of our house. Finally, on the third arch in front of the house was written, ‘Long Live the Empress of India. ’ A trifle arch was also erected in Sarwani Kot. Third: At six o’clock in the evening on June 22nd, the members of our Community gathered and prayers were offered in the court of God Almighty for Her Majesty, the Queen and Empress of India, her empire and her long life. We prayed that may God Almighty favour her as she has favoured us and may He include