Haifa, Palestine.
November 26, 1923.
Letter of January 4th, 1924.
To the members of the American National Spiritual Assembly.
My dearest friends:
On November 28th I received the following communication from the President
of the National Spiritual Assembly of Great Britain:
"I have now to bring to your notice, though possibly you are already aware
of it, a matter which is of the first importance in the opinion of the
National Spiritual Assembly as you will see from one of the paragraphs of
the enclosed minutes of its first meeting, which was held on October 13th.
So far the programme of the conference on the 'Living Religions within the
British Empire' is in a somewhat nebulous condition, but I have
ascertained from Miss Sharples, the honorary secretary of the committee of
organization, that the conference has been approved by the authorities of
the British Empire Exhibition 1924 and will last for ten days, covering
the last week of the month of September and the first three days of
October. It is proposed that all religions taught and practiced throughout
the British Empire shall be represented at the conference, including the
Christians, Muhammadans, Buddhists, Brahma Somaj, Theosophists and others,
and that each one in turn shall have at its disposal a day or part of a
day for a meeting to expound its principles and deal with its organization
and objects."
In their last letter, the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of
Great Britain further informed me that the idea of the above-mentioned
conference has originated with the Theosophical Society, but these having
later dropped its management, the organization of the conference passed
into the hands of the School of Oriental Studies and the Sociological
Society. You will also note from the enclosed copy of a letter addressed
by the same Miss Sharples to the President of the British National
Spiritual Assembly that the time offered to the Baha'i representatives
will be very limited, and that most probably the allotted time will be
just sufficient to read their papers or deliver their address and engage
in the discussion that might arise after their formal presentation of the
Cause.
As the British Empire Exhibition, of which this conference forms a part,
is itself a semi-official undertaking, and receives actually the generous
support and active participation of the government authorities throughout
the British Empire, I feel that the opportunities now offered to the
Baha'i world should not be missed, as this chance, if properly utilized,
might arouse and stimulate interest among the enlightened public.
As so much will depend upon the nature and general presentation of the
theme, rather than upon the personality of the reader or speaker, I feel
that, first and foremost, our attention should be concentrated on the
choice and thorough preparation of the subject matter as well as on the
proper drafting and the form of the paper itself, which might possibly
have to be submitted afterwards to the authorities of the conference.
I feel the necessity of entrusting this highly important and delicate task
to a special committee, to be appointed most carefully by the National
Spiritual Assembly of America, and consisting of those who by their
knowledge of the Cause, their experience in matters of publicity, and
particularly by their power of expression and beauty of style will be
qualified to produce a befitting statement on the unique history of the
Movement as well as its lofty principles.
I am enclosing an article on the Baha'i Movement which I trust might serve
as a basis and example of the paper in question. An account of the most
salient features of the history of the Cause, a brief but impressive
reference to its many heroes and martyrs, a convincing and comprehensive
presentation of its basic principles, and a characteristic survey of the
Master's life, as well as a short but graphic description of the present
position and influence of the Movement both in the East and the West,
should, in my opinion, be included and combined into one conclusive
argument. Its length should not surpass that of the enclosed article, and
its general tone, expression and language should be at once dignified,
sober and forceful.
The greatest care and caution must be exercised in choosing those who can
best provide and fulfill the above mentioned requisites and conditions.
I shall be most pleased to offer my views and suggestions once the paper
has assumed its final shape, and wish you to obtain the assistance and
advice of those whom you think able to judge amongst the friends in
England and elsewhere.
Mr. Simpson, the President of the British National Spiritual Assembly,
writes that Miss Grand from Canada has suggested the names of Dr. Watson
and Mr. J. O. McCarthy of Toronto to represent the Canadian Baha'is. I
would be pleased to receive your views as to who should represent Canada
at the Conference. India is the only other country within the British
Empire that can send a native Baha'i representative to the conference, and
it is rather unfortunate that the United States of America should have to
be excluded, as the speakers at the conference must necessarily be
subjects of the British Empire.
I am enclosing recent translations(11) of the prophetic and most
remarkable words of Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha which I trust you will
all find of great value and interest in the great work you are doing for
the Cause.
May this great project yield an abundant harvest for the Cause, and your
efforts be richly blessed by the guiding Spirit of 'Abdu'l-Baha.
Your fellow-worker,
SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
January 4th, 1924.
Letter of February 23, 1924.
To the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout
America.
My dear fellow-workers:
I gather from various sources that the Cause of Baha'u'llah, in the course
of its sure yet toilsome march towards the salvation of the world, has
encountered of late further obstacles, which in the eyes of some appear to
retard its progress and hinder its growth. I have learned with feelings of
sadness and surprise that some vague sense of apprehension, a strange
misconception of its immediate purpose and methods, is slowly gaining
ground, steadily affecting its wholesome growth and vigorous development
throughout the continent.
Though such signs should appear from time to time, and however
unrepresentative they be of the vast and growing mass of its convinced and
zealous supporters, the world over, what, I wonder, could have caused this
uneasiness of mind? Are such misgivings possible, though on the part of
but a few, in the face of the remarkable manifestations of so remarkable a
movement? To what extent do they form a part of those mental tests and
trials destined at various times by the Almighty to stir and reinvigorate
the body of His Cause, and how far are they traceable to our imperfect
state of understanding, to our weaknesses and failings?