I was delighted to hear of the progressive activities of that
dearly-beloved spot, Green Acre, upon which the Master has bestowed His
tender care and loving-kindness, and of which we are all hopeful that it
may become, while the work of the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar is in progress,
the focal center of the devotional, humanitarian, social and spiritual
activities of the Cause. The sacrifice of the time, energy and money made
by our dearly beloved friends, Mr. and Mrs. Randall, Mr. and Mrs.
Schopflocher, and those who have helped them in their task, I shall never
forget, and will fervently pray on their behalf that our Beloved may
fulfill their heart's desire. I feel that no interference with its present
organization should be attempted, as it enjoys in its present condition
unique opportunities for the diffusion of the Baha'i spirit and the
promotion of the Word of God.
I am glad to report that the situation of the houses in Ba_gh_dad is free
from immediate danger, though the issue has not yet been definitely
determined. I wish in this respect to express my high admiration and deep
gratitude for the promptness, caution, and care with which you, and
particularly Mrs. Parsons and Mr. Mills, have approached and handled this
delicate question. I shall inform you of any future developments in this
matter.
With regard to the Star of the West, I have been impressed by the beauty
and force of the various articles contributed to the Journal by Mr. Horace
Holley and Mr. Stanwood Cobb, and would indeed welcome with genuine
satisfaction an even more active participation on their part in the
editorial section of the Baha'i Magazine.
I have addressed a few days ago a cable to the secretary of the National
Spiritual Assembly, requesting the friends to exercise restraint and
caution in the use and distribution of the record of the Master's voice.
In my view, it should be used only on special occasions and be listened to
with the utmost reverence. The dignity of the Cause, I am sure, would
suffer from too wide and indiscriminate use of one of the most precious
relics of our departed Master.
Regarding the short film of the Master, for which, as well as for the
record of His voice, I am deeply indebted to the selfless efforts and
services of my dear brother, Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, it would be undoubtedly
better to combine it with other films representing various scenes in the
history of the Cause, taken in countries visited by the Bab and
Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha. As this would take considerable time and
preparation and would entail much expense I wonder whether it would be an
expense and burden to you to forward only to the Holy Land one copy of the
actual film, as it would impart untold happiness and consolation to the
bereaved ladies of the Holy Household.
I am gratified to peruse the able and masterly work of my dear
fellow-worker, Mr. Horace Holley, a work(10) which I have no doubt will by
virtue of its subject matter, its comprehensiveness and uniqueness arouse
widespread and genuine interest in the Movement. I am looking forward
eagerly to similar productions by the pen of such able and gifted servants
of Baha'u'llah.
I am enclosing for all the friends recent translations of those highly
significant utterances of Baha'u'llah, revealed some fifty years ago, and
pregnant with His divine wisdom. His ringing call to humanity in its hour
of peril sounds prophetic in these days of utter gloom.
I am forwarding also a copy of the transliterated Oriental terms with few
corrections of minor type errors. I am confident that the friends will not
feel their energy and patience taxed by a scrupulous adherence to what is
an authoritative and universal, though arbitrary code for the spelling of
Oriental terms.