I wish, in particular, to express his gratification at the success that
has attended your annual Convention this year, and at the recommendations
and decisions taken by the N.S.A. with the view of intensifying the
teaching campaign throughout India and Burma. He would strongly urge your
Assembly to maintain the standard of the teaching work, and to appeal to
the friends to rise up to the call of the hour, and to be ready to undergo
any sacrifice that their sacred task requires.
Above all he wishes through you to reiterate his wish, already expressed
in his recent cable to the N.S.A., that the National Fund, which
undoubtedly constitutes the bedrock upon which all the activities of the
Cause ultimately rest, should receive the continued and whole-hearted
support of all the believers. Both the local Assemblies and the individual
believers should realize that unless they contribute regularly and
generously to that Fund the progress of the Faith in India and Burma will
not only be considerably retarded, but will inevitably come to a
standstill. There should be a continual flow of funds to the National
treasury of the N.S.A., if that body wishes to properly administer the
manifold and ever-increasing activities of the Faith. Every Baha'i no
matter how poor, must realize what a grave responsibility he has to
shoulder in this connection, and should have confidence that his spiritual
progress as a believer in the World Order of Baha'u'llah will largely
depend upon the measure in which he proves, in deeds, his readiness to
support materially the divine institutions of His Faith.
With reference to your question in connection with the observance of
Baha'i Holy Days; the Baha'i day begins and ends at sunset. The night
preceding a Holy day is therefore included in the day, and consequently
work during that period is forbidden.
The Guardian is most delighted to hear of the activities initiated
recently by various local Assemblies in India, and wishes you to convey to
these dear friends, and particularly to Prof. Abdu'l-Aziz of Hyderabad and
the members of his teaching group, the expression of his keenest
appreciation of their labours for the spread of the Cause. He would urge
them each and all to lend every effort to assist your N.S.A. in its
nation-wide teaching endeavours, and is most ardently praying that they
may be assisted and guided by the confirmations from on high.
[From the Guardian:]
I am deeply touched by the varied and compelling evidences of the vigour
and loyalty which characterize the National Assembly's conduct of Baha'i
affairs in both India and
Burma. The Cause, as a result of their self-sacrificing endeavours and
inflexible resolve, is being firmly consolidated and widely propagated in
those regions. Perseverance will enable you to attain your goal and to lay
an unassailable foundation for your future work in both the teaching and
administrative spheres of Baha'i service. I will continue to pray for you
from the depths of my heart.