To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the
United States and Canada.
Dearly-beloved co-workers:
I have been acquainted by the perusal of your latest communications with
the nature of the doubts that have been publicly expressed, by one who is
wholly misinformed as to the true precepts of the Cause, regarding the
validity of institutions that stand inextricably interwoven with the Faith
of Baha'u'llah. Not that I for a moment view such faint misgivings in the
light of an open challenge to the structure that embodies the Faith, nor
is it because I question in the least the unyielding tenacity of the faith
of the American believers, if I venture to dwell upon what seems to me
appropriate observations at the present stage of the evolution of our
beloved Cause. I am indeed inclined to welcome these expressed
apprehensions inasmuch as they afford me an opportunity to familiarize the
elected representatives of the believers with the origin and the character
of the institutions which stand at the very basis of the World Order
ushered in by Baha'u'llah. We should feel truly thankful for such futile
attempts to undermine our beloved Faith--attempts that protrude their ugly
face from time to time, seem for a while able to create a breach in the
ranks of the faithful, recede finally into the obscurity of oblivion, and
are thought of no more. Such incidents we should regard as the
interpositions of Providence, designed to fortify our faith, to clarify
our vision, and to deepen our understanding of the essentials of His
Divine Revelation.