The loss of the dear Hand of the Cause, Freddie Schopflocher(30), is going
to be much felt. He was so intensely loyal, so vigilant in watching over
the interests of the Faith, so steadfast and tenacious in serving it, that
he will be much missed in the national work. For over thirty years, he
promoted, not only the interests of the Faith, but those of the Canadian
Baha'i Community, and rendered on a national and an international scale,
through contributions and many teaching trips, valuable services to the
Cause of God.
The Guardian was very happy that dear Fred could be buried so close to
Sutherland Maxwell(31). Montreal has indeed been blessed in more ways than
one; and, as the Mother Community of Canada, should become increasingly
active and united, and live up to the high expectations the Master
cherished for her future, and prove herself worthy of the many blessings
she has already received.
Another thing which your community has had to pass through this year--both
a blessing and a calamity--is the departure of so many active members(32)
of your National Body for the pioneer fields abroad. It should be a source
of great pride that one-third of the membership of your Body set sail for
such distant goals, and will render services during the Ten Year Crusade,
of such a nature, he feels sure, as to bestow honour upon the entire
Canadian Community.
He likewise feels that you have every reason to be satisfied over the
progress which has been made during the first year of the Plan in settling
the goals entrusted to your care. It is very unfortunate that Anticosti
should prove such a hard nut to crack. He appreciates very much the
determined efforts which your Body, and particularly Mr. Rakovsky(33),
made to get a pioneer into it before last Ridvan. No doubt eventually your
efforts will be crowned with success; but you will have to be very tactful
and careful in order not to arouse a permanently resistant attitude on the
part of the Company that owns the Island.