The purchase of your national headquarters, he feels, was an important
milestone in the history of the Faith in Canada, and he hopes that it will
be put to good use, during the coming years, by your Assembly. To this
institution you will soon be adding the Maxwell Home(29) in Montreal,
which should be viewed in the nature of a national shrine, because of its
association with the beloved Master, during His visit to Montreal. He sees
no objection to having one room in the house being used as a little museum
associated with Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell.
He was most happy to hear that all of your goals were achieved. This
augurs well for the future of your activities, especially during the Ten
Year Plan just launched. He wishes through your body to thank all the
pioneers, teachers and Baha'is who helped achieve this great victory. They
have every reason to feel proud of themselves, and grateful to
Baha'u'llah. Undoubtedly His divine assistance, combined with their
determination and faith, enabled them to fulfill their objectives.
He was very happy to know that Charlottetown not only achieved Assembly
status, but that the believers there are mostly self-supporting, as this
is a sound basis for the expansion of the work in any place, especially in
such a difficult one.
The Baha'i Exhibit held at the Canadian National Exhibition was an
excellent means of obtaining publicity. He hopes that advantage will be
taken of similar opportunities in the future.
He urges your assembly to press for recognition of the Baha'i marriage in
Ontario, and, gradually, where the Cause is strong enough, in other
Provinces.
Regarding the question you asked him about one of the believers who seems
to be flagrantly a homosexual--although to a certain extent we must be
forbearing in the matter of people's moral conduct because of the terrible
deterioration in society in general, this does not mean that we can put up
indefinitely with conduct which is disgracing the Cause. This person
should have it brought to his attention that such acts are condemned by
Baha'u'llah, and that he must mend his ways, if necessary consult doctors,
and make efforts to overcome this affliction, which is corruptive for him
and bad for the Cause. If after a period of probation you do not see an
improvement, he should have his voting rights taken away. The Guardian
does not think, however, that a Baha'i body should take it upon itself to
denounce him to the Authorities unless his conduct borders on insanity.
The Guardian attaches the greatest importance, during this opening year of
the Ten Year Campaign, to settling the virgin areas with pioneers. He has
informed, or is informing, the other National Assemblies that there is no
reason why believers from one country should not fill the goals in other
countries. In other words, Canada should receive foreign pioneers for her
goals, who would operate under her jurisdiction; likewise, Canadians could
go forth and pioneer in other countries' goal territories if the way
opened for them to do so. Naturally, they must feel their first
responsibility should be toward the Canadian part of the Plan, as they are
Canadians, but sometimes health, business openings or family connections
might take people into other goal countries.
He realizes that the objectives in the far north are perhaps the hardest.
On the other hand, the harder the task, the more glorious the victory.
You may be sure that he is praying for your success, and, what is more, he
is confident that this young, virile Canadian Community can and will
succeed in carrying out its share of the World Spiritual Crusade, so vast
and challenging, upon which we are now launched.
With warmest Baha'i love,
R. RABBANI.