The matter of Teaching, its direction, its ways and means, its extension,
its consolidation, essential as they are to the interests of the Cause,
constitute by no means the only issue which should receive the full
attention of these Assemblies. A careful study of Baha'u'llah's and
'Abdu'l-Baha's Tablets will reveal that other duties, no less vital to the
interests of the Cause, devolve upon the elected representatives of the
friends in every locality.
It is incumbent upon them to be vigilant and cautious, discreet and
watchful, and protect at all times the Temple of the Cause from the dart
of the mischief-maker and the onslaught of the enemy.
They must endeavor to promote amity and concord amongst the friends,
efface every lingering trace of distrust, coolness and estrangement from
every heart, and secure in its stead an active and whole-hearted
cooperation for the service of the Cause.
They must do their utmost to extend at all times the helping hand to the
poor, the sick, the disabled, the orphan, the widow, irrespective of
color, caste and creed.
They must promote by every means in their power the material as well as
the spiritual enlightenment of youth, the means for the education of
children, institute, whenever possible, Baha'i educational institutions,
organize and supervise their work and provide the best means for their
progress and development.
They must make an effort to maintain official, regular, and frequent
correspondence with the various Baha'i centers throughout the world,
report to them their activities, and share the glad-tidings they receive
with all their fellow-workers in the Cause.
They must encourage and stimulate by every means at their command, through
subscription, reports and articles, the development of the various Baha'i
magazines, such as the "Star of the West" and the "Magazine of the
Children of the Kingdom" in the United States of America, the "Baha'i
News" of India, the "Sun of the East" (Khurshid-i Khavar) in Turkestan,
the "Star of the East" in Japan, the "Sun of Truth" in Germany.
They must undertake the arrangement of the regular meetings of the
friends, the feasts and the anniversaries, as well as the special
gatherings designed to serve and promote the social, intellectual and
spiritual interests of their fellow-men.
They must supervise in these days when the Cause is still in its infancy
all Baha'i publications and translations, and provide in general for a
dignified and accurate presentation of all Baha'i literature and its
distribution to the general public.
These rank among the most outstanding obligations of the members of every
Spiritual Assembly. In whatsoever locality the Cause has sufficiently
expanded, and in order to insure efficiency and avoid confusion, each of
these manifold functions will have to be referred to a special Committee,
responsible to that Assembly, elected by it from among the friends in that
locality, and upon whose work the Assembly will have to exercise constant
and general supervision.
These local Spiritual Assemblies will have to be elected directly by the
friends, and every declared believer of 21 years and above, far from
standing aloof and assuming an indifferent or independent attitude, should
regard it his sacred duty to take part conscientiously and diligently, in
the election, the consolidation and the efficient working of his own local
Assembly.