Regarding the establishment of "National Assemblies," it is of vital
importance that in every country, where the conditions are favorable and
the number of the friends has grown and reached a considerable size, such
as America, Great Britain and Germany, that a "National Spiritual
Assembly" be immediately established, representative of the friends
throughout that country.
Its immediate purpose is to stimulate, unify and coordinate by frequent
personal consultations, the manifold activities of the friends as well as
the local Assemblies; and by keeping in close and constant touch with the
Holy Land, initiate measures, and direct in general the affairs of the
Cause in that country.
It serves also another purpose, no less essential than the first, as in
the course of time it shall evolve into the National House of Justice
(referred to in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Will as the "secondary House of Justice"),
which according to the explicit text of the Testament will have, in
conjunction with the other National Assemblies throughout the Baha'i
world, to elect directly the members of the International House of
Justice, that Supreme Council that will guide, organize and unify the
affairs of the Movement throughout the world.
It is expressly recorded in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Writings that these National
Assemblies must be indirectly elected by the friends; that is, the friends
in every country must elect a certain number of delegates, who in their
turn will elect from among all the friends in that country the members of
the National Spiritual Assembly. In such countries, therefore, as America,
Great Britain and Germany, a fixed number of secondary electors must first
be decided upon (95 for America, including the Pacific Islands; 95 for
Germany; and 19 for Great Britain). The friends then in every locality
where the number of adult declared believers exceeds nine must directly
elect its quota of secondary electors assigned to it in direct proportion
to its numerical strength. These secondary electors will then, either
through correspondence, or preferably by gathering together, and first
deliberating upon the affairs of the Cause throughout their country (as
the delegates to the Convention), elect from among all the friends in that
country nine who will be the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.
This National Spiritual Assembly, which, pending the establishment of the
Universal House of Justice, will have to be re-elected once a year,
obviously assumes grave responsibilities, for it has to exercise full
authority over all the local Assemblies in its province, and will have to
direct the activities of the friends, guard vigilantly the Cause of God,
and control and supervise the affairs of the Movement in general.
Vital issues, affecting the interests of the Cause in that country such as
the matter of translation and publication, the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar, the
Teaching Work, and other similar matters that stand distinct from strictly
local affairs, must be under the full jurisdiction of the National
Assembly.
It will have to refer each of these questions, even as the local
Assemblies, to a special Committee, to be elected by the members of the
National Spiritual Assembly, from among all the friends in that country,
which will bear to it the same relation as the local committees bear to
their respective local Assemblies.
With it, too, rests the decision whether a certain point at issue is
strictly local in its nature, and should be reserved for the consideration
and decision of the local Assembly, or whether it should fall under its
own province and be regarded as a matter which ought to receive its
special attention. The National Spiritual Assembly will also decide upon
such matters which in its opinion should be referred to the Holy Land for
consultation and decision.
With these Assemblies, local as well as national, harmoniously,
vigorously, and efficiently functioning throughout the Baha'i world, the
only means for the establishment of the Supreme House of Justice will have
been secured. And when this Supreme Body will have been properly
established, it will have to consider afresh the whole situation, and lay
down the principle which shall direct, so long as it deems advisable, the
affairs of the Cause.