The Guardian wishes to once again stress the immediate tasks which face
your Assembly: the important--and almost miraculous--work achieved during
the closing years of our first Baha'i Century in forming so many
Assemblies, most of them in virgin territory, should be carefully
consolidated through travelling teachers, additional pioneers (if
necessary), extension of financial help, etc., so that none of them will
be weakened and forced to revert to group status. Also the newly formed
groups should be given every assistance to enable them to become
Assemblies and take part in the administrative order of the Cause in
India. He urges you to concentrate on these three things: the publication
and distribution of the newly translated books; the firm consolidation of
the new Assemblies; and the development of existing groups, that they may
speedily achieve Assembly status.
Important as new teaching undertakings are they should not be given
precedence at the present time until these other objectives are well on
the way to being realized.
In closing let me assure you that the beloved Guardian cherishes the
brightest hopes for the future development of the Cause there, and expects
great things of the Indian believers in view of the truly remarkable tasks
they have been accomplishing these last few years with such a spirit of
zeal and devotion. His loving prayers are offered on your behalf and for
your fellow-members of the N.S.A., that you may be blessed and guided
always.
[From the Guardian:]
The achievements of the Indian Baha'i Community during the closing years
of the first Baha'i Century have shed a great lustre on the record of
their imperishable services ever since the inception of the Faith in their
vast and promising country. Both in the teaching and administrative
spheres of Baha'i activity they have assiduously laboured, nobly
persevered, generously given of their resources, consistently
collaborated, achieved mighty victories and raised to a new level the
standard of Baha'i stewardship. The field now stretching before them
during the opening year of the second Baha'i Century is vast and highly
promising. The call is urgent, the opportunities priceless, the need of
the waiting masses desperate, the machinery for the execution of the
Divine Purpose already erected and vigorously functioning, the promise of
signal victory clear and definite. A higher degree of administrative
efficiency; a closer collaboration between the various elements
constituting the organic Baha'i Community; a greater measure of self
sacrifice; a still more intensified exertion aiming at the consolidation
and preservation of the newly constituted Assemblies and the rapid
conversion of the existing groups into full-fledged Assemblies; a
systematic, sustained and nation-wide endeavour for the purpose of
disseminating the literature of the Faith, increasing its volume and
adding to its diversity and lastly a more audacious and convincing
presentation of its tenets to the masses of the people--these constitute
the primary tasks facing now the Indian believers. That they may achieve
their high destiny is my constant hope and fervent prayer.