Regarding association with Oriental travelers and residents in the United
States and Canada, I desire to emphasize afresh the vital necessity for
the exercise in these days of the greatest vigilance and reserve, prudence
and caution, on the part of the American believers in their dealings with
them, either in an official or private capacity, whether in business
transactions or for purely religious purposes. As the Movement grows in
prestige, fame and influence, as the ambitions, malice and ill-will of
strangers and enemies correspondingly wax greater, it becomes increasingly
important for every individual and Spiritual Assembly to be on their guard
lest they fall innocent victims of the evil designs of the malevolent, the
self-seeking and greedy.
Touching the publication of articles and pamphlets bearing on the
controversial and political issues of the day, I desire to remind my
dearly-beloved fellow-workers that at the present stage when the Cause is
still in its infancy, any minute and detailed analysis by the friends of
subjects that are in the forefront of general discussion would often be
misconstrued in certain quarters and give rise to suspicions and
misunderstandings that would react unfavorably on the Cause. They would
tend to create a misconception of the real object, the true mission, and
the fundamental character of the Baha'i Faith. We should, while
endeavoring to uphold loyally and expound conscientiously our social and
moral principles in all their essence and purity, in all their bearings
upon the divers phases of human society, insure that no direct reference
or particular criticism in our exposition of the fundamentals of the Faith
would tend to antagonize any existing institution, or help to identify a
purely spiritual movement with the base clamorings and contentions of
warring sects, factions and nations. We should strive in all our
utterances to combine the discretion and noble reticence of the wise with
the frankness and passionate loyalty of the ardent advocate of an
inspiring Faith. While refusing to utter the word that would needlessly
alienate or estrange any individual, government or people, we should
fearlessly and unhesitatingly uphold and assert in their entirety such
truths the knowledge of which we believe is vitally and urgently needed
for the good and betterment of mankind.
The copy of the minutes of the 1925 Baha'i Convention has been received
and, despite the pressure of work, read with deep pleasure and keen
interest.