Dear and Valued Co-workers:
The Canadian Baha'i Community, having recently entered the second phase of
the World Spiritual Crusade so auspiciously launched by the followers of
the Faith of Baha'u'llah, on the morrow of the hundredth anniversary of
the birth of His prophetic Mission, may well pride itself on the quality
as well as the number of achievements which, in both the teaching and
administrative spheres of Baha'i activity, have distinguished its
stewardship to His Cause ever since its emergence as an independent
national entity in the world-encompassing Baha'i Brotherhood. Its mission
in foreign lands has been befittingly inaugurated in the course of the
opening phase of this world-girdling Crusade. The expansion and
consolidation of its activities on the homefront have kept pace with the
progress of the work initiated by its pioneers beyond the borders of its
homeland in both the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific Islands. It has,
moreover, launched upon its twofold historic enterprise aiming at the
acquisition of its new national administrative Headquarters and the
purchase of the site of its future Temple. It has, in addition, been
enriched through the donation and legal transfer of a House(35) uniquely
associated with 'Abdu'l-Baha's historic visit to the Dominion of Canada,
and destined to be regarded as the foremost Baha'i shrine throughout that
Dominion.
The years immediately ahead must witness an intensification of effort, on
the part of all of its members, as well as its elected national
representatives, which will at once safeguard the prizes won in distant
fields, and lend a notable impetus to the consolidation of its
administrative institutions within its borders.
The selection of the site for the national Haziratu'l-Quds and for the
first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar in Canada must be made with the utmost care
and promptitude. Measures must, without delay, be taken for the
construction of the administrative Headquarters of its National Assembly.
The process of multiplication of isolated centres, groups and Assemblies
must gather momentum in the course of the current year. The incorporation
of firmly established Local Spiritual Assemblies must simultaneously be
accelerated in order to strengthen the structure of these newly
established institutions, and pave the way for the establishment of local
Baha'i endowments. The one remaining virgin territory assigned to it must
be speedily opened, and every precaution taken to ensure its preservation
in the future. Particular attention should be directed to Iceland and
Greenland, as the two foremost objectives of this community in connection
with the work of consolidation assigned to its members. The meritorious
effort exerted so devotedly and patiently by its national elected
representatives for the purpose of obtaining official recognition by the
Civil Authorities for the Baha'i Marriage Certificate should be pursued
with the utmost diligence, vigilance and caution.