and he hopes that events in the future will be more favourable to carrying
it out than they are at present. He often thinks of and prays for the
English friends during these days of ordeal they are again passing through
and he feels confident Baha'u'llah will strengthen their work and bless
their efforts for this Holy Cause....
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
The Six Year Plan which the national elected representatives of the
English believers have spontaneously launched is a further evidence of
their unquenchable faith and noble and unyielding determination to
prosecute energetically the teaching work in the British Isles and to
exploit to the full the notable advantages derived from the successful
celebrations of the Baha'i Centenary in London. Attention should be
focussed in the course of the opening year of the second Baha'i Century on
the needs and requirements of this Plan. The multiplication of Baha'i
centres and the dissemination of Baha'i literature should be regarded as
the chief objectives of the prosecutors of the Plan. Every sacrifice
should be made, every effort should be exerted and every avenue should be
explored to ensure the success of the Plan. The English believers stand
identified with this Plan. The immediate destinies of the entire community
depend upon it. I will pray for its success, will watch its progress and
pledge every assistance within my power for its promotion. May the Beloved
bless all those who have embarked upon it and crown their enterprise with
brilliant and total victory.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 14 August 1944
14 August 1944
ANXIOUS SAFETY LONDON BELIEVERS KINDLY CABLE.
SHOGHI RABBANI
Letter of 5 January 1945
5 January 1945
APPRECIATE VERBATIM REPORTS ADDRESSES DELIVERED OPENING CENTENARY
EXHIBITION AND PUBLIC MEETING DENISON HOUSE.
SHOGHI RABBANI
Letter of 27 January 1945
27 January 1945
KINDLY CABLE ADDRESS TUDOR-POLE MAIL THREE COPIES EVERY PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN
CENTENARY.
SHOGHI RABBANI
Letter of 27 March 1945
27 March 1945
Dear Baha'i Sister,
Your letters, written on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly, and
dated Aug. 2nd, 21st and 31st (airgraph) and Oct. 9th, Nov. 16th
(airgraph) and Nov. 23rd (duplicate copy also received), Dec. 19th
(duplicate copy also received) all of 1944, and Jan. 25th 1945 (duplicate
copy also received) have arrived safely with any enclosures they
contained, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer them.
He fully realises the many handicaps the English Baha'is are labouring
under, and appreciates all the more deeply their perseverance and devotion
shown in such activities as the National Centenary in London and local
exhibitions and meetings held elsewhere, as well as the successful Summer
School, the various printing undertakings and the renewed efforts to
establish new centres and strengthen older ones. In this connection he
would like you to please convey to Miss Young(36) and all other pioneers
the expression of his loving appreciation of this historic service they
have arisen to render the Faith in England.
The tasks facing the believers everywhere are great, for they see only too
clearly that the only permanent remedy for the many afflictions the world
is suffering from, is a change of heart and a new pattern of not only
thought but personal conduct. The impetus that has been given by the
Manifestation of God for this Age is the sole one that can regenerate
humanity, and as we Baha'is are the only ones yet aware of this new force
in the world, our obligation towards our fellow men is tremendous and
inescapable! Therefore he hopes that many more of the friends there will
arise to do pioneering work and help achieve the important goals set by
the Six Year Plan. When once a few bold, self-sacrificing individuals have
arisen to serve, their example will no doubt encourage other timid
would-be pioneers to follow in their footsteps. The history of our Faith
is full of records of the remarkable things achieved by really very
simple, insignificant individuals, who became veritable beacons and towers
of strength through having placed their trust in God, having arisen to
proclaim His Message. The stamina and fortitude shown by the people at
large during all these hard and bitter years of war should surely find a
nobler example in the deeds of the Baha'is who are connected with the
Divine Source! He urges your Assembly to do all in its power, through
financial and moral assistance, to get more pioneers into the field.
Mr. Hofman has just written him about his meeting with the Paris
believers, and he feels that as most of the friends there are elderly
people and have suffered many privations, the British N.S.A. should keep
in close touch with them and help and inspire them all it can....
Also concerning your question about the prayers and changing the pronouns:
This cannot be done, even in the long Obligatory Prayer or the healing
prayers. Either we must ignore this mere detail or say a prayer that
applies to our sex or number....
You may be sure that you, and your fellow members of the N.S.A., are very
often in his thoughts and prayers. He deeply appreciates your steadfast
and persevering labours and hopes that the believers of England will arise
to fulfil their high duties and discharge the debts they owe their
countrymen through the privilege of being the followers of Baha'u'llah in
these dark yet historic days....
P.S. The following is a copy of the cable the Guardian sent you in answer
to your request for his advice as to the Six Year Plan the British
believers resolved to undertake:
"WELCOME SPONTANEOUS DECISION. ADVISE FORMATION NINETEEN BAHA'I SPIRITUAL
ASSEMBLIES SPREAD OVER ENGLAND WALES SCOTLAND NORTHERN IRELAND AND EIRE.
PRAYING SIGNAL VICTORY."
He will, you may be sure, do everything in his power to assist the friends
to achieve this objective.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
The Six Year Plan which the English believers have conceived and are now
energetically prosecuting constitutes a landmark in the history of the
Faith in the British Isles. It is the first collective enterprise
undertaken by them for the spread of the Faith and the consolidation of
its divinely appointed institutions. The national elected representatives
of the Baha'i community in those islands must watch carefully every phase
in its development, provide whatever is required for its systematic and
steady extension, encourage the believers to disperse, to settle, to
persevere, and to appeal more directly and effectively to the masses who
are waiting for this Divine Message, and on whose ultimate response the
triumph of the Cause of Baha'u'llah must depend. Obstacles, however
formidable, should be surmounted. Setbacks, however discouraging at first,
must not, under any circumstances, cause them to deviate from the path
they are so devotedly and determinedly pursuing. That glorious success may
eventually crown their concerted and historic endeavours is my fervent and
constant prayer at the Holy Shrines. May the Beloved aid them to achieve
their noble end.
Shoghi
Letter of 11 April 1945
11 April 1945
BAHA'I PERSIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY EXPELLED ... FAMILY OWING REPUDIATION
VITAL PROVISIONS MASTER'S WILL AND LONG-STANDING DISOBEDIENCE. POSITION
ANY MEMBER THIS FAMILY IN LONDON SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY ASCERTAINED BY YOUR
ASSEMBLY. CABLE RESULTS. UTMOST FIRMNESS VIGILANCE REQUIRED OTHERWISE
CONTACT BREAKERS COVENANT WILL ENDANGER FAITH.
SHOGHI RABBANI
Letter of 25 April 1945
25 April 1945
APPRECIATE CABLE RECEIVED FROM.... FEEL HOWEVER OWING DEFECTION HIS ENTIRE
FAMILY NECESSITY FORMAL ASSURANCE BEFORE YOUR ASSEMBLY HIS DETERMINATION
CEASE COMMUNICATION WITH HIS FAMILY AWAITING ASSEMBLY'S REPLY.
SHOGHI RABBANI
Letter of 1 May 1945
1 May 1945
LOVING APPRECIATION CONVENTION MESSAGE. ENGLISH BELIEVERS LOVINGLY
REMEMBERED SHRINES FERVENTLY SUPPLICATING SUCCESS SIX YEAR PLAN URGE
REDOUBLED EFFORTS CABLING FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS MY CONTRIBUTION PLAN.
SHOGHI RABBANI
Letter of 3 May 1945
3 May 1945
ASSURE ... APPRECIATE RESPONSE. CONCERNING MEDIUM DO NOT ADVISE ACCEPTANCE
MEMBERSHIP.
SHOGHI RABBANI
Letter of 9 May 1945
9 May 1945(37)
FOLLOWERS BAHA'U'LLAH THROUGHOUT FIVE CONTINENTS UNANIMOUSLY REJOICE
PARTIAL EMERGENCE WAR TORN HUMANITY FROM TITANIC UPHEAVAL UNERRINGLY
PREDICTED SEVENTY YEARS AGO BY PEN AUTHOR THEIR FAITH. CESSATION
HOSTILITIES EUROPEAN CONTINENT SIGNALISES CLOSING YET ANOTHER CHAPTER
TRAGIC TALE FIERY TRIALS PROVIDENTIALLY DECREED BY INSCRUTABLE WISDOM
DESIGNED ULTIMATELY WELD MUTUALLY ANTAGONISTIC ELEMENTS HUMAN SOCIETY INTO
SINGLE ORGANICALLY UNITED UNSHATTERABLE WORLD COMMONWEALTH. GRATEFULLY
ACCLAIM SIGNAL EVIDENCE INTERPOSITION DIVINE PROVIDENCE WHICH DURING SUCH
PERILOUS YEARS ENABLED WORLD CENTRE FAITH ESCAPE WHAT POSTERITY WILL
RECOGNISE AS ONE OF GRAVEST DANGERS EVER CONFRONTED NERVE CENTRE ITS
INSTITUTIONS. PROFOUNDLY AWARE BOUNTIFUL GRACE VOUCHSAFED BY SAME
PROVIDENCE ENSURING UNLIKE PREVIOUS WORLD CONFLICT UNINTERRUPTED
INTERCOURSE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL CENTRE AND VAST MAJORITY COMMUNITIES
FUNCTIONING WITHIN ORBIT FAR FLUNG FAITH. IMMEASURABLY THANKFUL MIRACULOUS
PRESERVATION INDIAN PERSIAN EGYPTIAN BRITISH IRAQI COMMUNITIES LONG
THREATENED DIRE PERILS OWING PROXIMITY THEATRE MILITARY OPERATIONS. DEEPLY
CONSCIOUS PROGRESS ACHIEVED DESPITE SIX TEMPESTUOUS YEARS IN BOTH EASTERN
WESTERN HEMISPHERES THROUGH COLLECTIVE ENTERPRISES LAUNCHED BY THESE
COMMUNITIES OUTSHINES SUM TOTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS SINCE INCEPTION FORMATIVE
AGE FAITH. SEVEN YEAR PLAN INAUGURATED BY AMERICAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY UNDER
LOWERING CLOUDS APPROACHING CONFLICT VICTORIOUSLY COMPLETED EXTERIOR
ORNAMENTATION MOTHER TEMPLE WEST ESTABLISHED STRUCTURAL BASIS FAITH EVERY
STATE PROVINCE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT AND HOISTED ITS BANNER EVERY
REPUBLIC LATIN AMERICA. INDIAN BELIEVERS SIX YEAR PLAN LAUNCHED EVE
HOSTILITIES MORE THAN QUADRUPLED CENTRES FUNCTIONING WITHIN PALE
ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER. EDIFICES CONSECRATED ADMINISTRATIVE AFFAIRS EVER
ADVANCING CAUSE INVOLVING EXPENDITURE OVER HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
ERECTED PURCHASED OR COMPLETED CAPITAL CITIES INDIA 'IRAQ EGYPT AS WELL AS
SYDNEY AUSTRALIA. ACQUISITION NUMEROUS PROPERTIES BAHA'U'LLAH'S NATIVE
LAND MT. CARMEL AND JORDAN VALLEY AS WELL AS PURCHASE SEVERAL IMPORTANT
HISTORIC SITES ASSOCIATED LIVES BOTH HERALD AUTHOR FAITH SWELLED
UNPRECEDENTED DEGREE BAHA'I ENDOWMENTS. PRELIMINARY STEPS COMPLETION BAB'S
SEPULCHRE AND ESTABLISHMENT WORLD ADMINISTRATIVE CENTRE THROUGH REMOVAL
REMAINS BROTHER MOTHER 'ABDU'L-BAHA UNDERTAKEN. TERMINATION FIRST CENTURY
BAHA'I ERA SYNCHRONISING CLIMAX RAGING STORM PUBLICLY BEFITTINGLY
CELEBRATED DESPITE MULTIPLICATION RESTRICTIONS. ABOVE ALL UNITY INTEGRITY
INCORRUPTIBLE WORLD COMMUNITY CONSISTENTLY SAFEGUARDED IN FACE INSIDIOUS
OPPOSITION AVOWED ENEMIES WITHOUT AND COVENANT BREAKERS WITHIN. SUCH
SPLENDID VICTORIES OVER SO VAST FIELD AMIDST SUCH TRIBULATIONS DURING SO
PROLONGED ORDEAL AUGUR WELL COLOSSAL TASK DESTINED BE ACCOMPLISHED COURSE
PEACEFUL YEARS AHEAD BY BUILDERS EMBRYONIC WORLD ORDER BAHA'U'LLAH AMIDST
WRECKAGE DISTRACTED DISRUPTED DISILLUSIONED SOCIETY.
SHOGHI
Letter of 10 May 1945
10 May 1945
Dear Baha'i Sister,
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to forward you the enclosed copy of
his message(38) to the Baha'is of East and West on the happy occasion of
the termination of the European war.
He would appreciate your sharing it not only with all the British friends
but with the Paris believers too.
Please inform him of the safe receipt of this message as soon as it
reaches you.
We all send you our loving greetings and are greatly relieved to know your
lives will now assume a more normal course after all these years of
suffering....
Letter of 9 August 1945
9 August 1945
Dear Baha'i Sister,
Your letters dated March 8th and 12th, April 17th, May 10th and 18th and
July 8th and June 9th have been received, as well as the various
enclosures you mention in them, and the photographs, sent under the
separate cover. The beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer them on
his behalf.
He was very pleased to hear you are now in touch with the French believers
and able to help them morally, and also with some physical assistance too!
It is only right that England, the first country whose Baha'i community is
in a position to reach out a helping hand to its sister communities in
Europe, should do so, and should have this privilege and honour.
He realises the many difficulties that stand in the way of the British
Baha'is in regard to fulfilling the important Six Year Teaching Plan they
have undertaken. But he hopes that now the European war is over, and
conditions are returning to a more normal way of life, that the friends,
conscious of their very great spiritual responsibility, will arise and, in
spite of everything, accomplish the work they have chosen for themselves
and which is of such great spiritual importance to their countrymen.
The more we study the present condition of the world, the more deeply we
become convinced that there just cannot be any way out of its problems
except the way of God, as given by Him, through Baha'u'llah. The early
Persian Baha'is gave their lives for the Cause; the Western believers have
been spared this necessity, but their comfort, to some extent, they must
sacrifice if they are going to discharge their moral obligation to
tortured humanity, and bring to it the message of the Father. Once the
friends start out to win the goals set in their Plan, they will find the
Divine confirmation sustaining them and hastening its consummation. This
is what happened in the American Seven Year Plan and the Indian Six Year
Plan, and the same spiritual assistance will certainly be vouchsafed the
English believers, once they arise with faith and confidence, to do their
work.
In regard to the question you raise in your letter of June 9th about the
"Paris Talks", the Guardian does not advise your putting the suggested
footnote, as we cannot be absolutely sure, unless we see the Persian text,
that what you propose is really what the Master means. The present
translation cannot be considered accurate in all its details, obviously,
and as at the moment the Persian text is not available, he suggests you
either put no footnote at all, or one stating that the meaning is obscure
and future re-translation will clear up such passages.
You may be sure that his ardent prayers will be offered on behalf of all
the British Baha'is, that Baha'u'llah may aid them to fulfil His work and
may open the doors of servitude and guide them on their way. He will also
pray for you and your fellow N.S.A. members, for your strength, protection
and guidance in fulfilling your many important tasks.
P.S. Regarding Mr. ... financial affairs; there is naturally no objection
to his receiving his own money, but he should have no communication with
his family, and should arrange for your N.S.A. to receive his money and
deliver it to him. The Guardian is very pleased that he has taken the
right, courageous, Baha'i course of action in his life, and will certainly
pray for his happiness and protection.
There is no ambiguity about the Master's attitude towards psychic forces;
He very strongly warned the believers against using them.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
I grieve to learn of the slow progress of the Six Year Plan which the
English believers have so nobly conceived, and which, I pray and hope,
will be triumphantly consummated. The Plan constitutes a direct and grave
challenge to the English Baha'i community in its entirety. It should be
regarded as the greatest collective enterprise ever launched by the
followers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in the British Isles. It is thus far
one of the most significant undertakings embarked upon by the members of
Baha'i National Assemblies during the opening years of the second Baha'i
century. To it, as already observed, the immediate destinies of the
community of the English believers are linked, and on it must depend the
future orientation and evolution of the institutions which the members of
that community are labouring to erect for the diffusion of the principles
and the establishment of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in their country. It
must not, it cannot, fail. The attention of the entire body of the
believers must be continually focussed upon it. No sacrifice can be deemed
too great for its successful prosecution. All must arise harmoniously,
co-operate and lend their share of assistance. May the spirit of
Baha'u'llah enable them to achieve signal success.
Shoghi
Letter of 18 December 1945
18 December 1945
Dear Baha'i Sister,
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to acknowledge the receipt of your
two letters dated Aug. 11th and Nov. 9th and to answer them on his behalf.
Their enclosures were also received....
He was very pleased to hear that you have had eight new Baha'is since
Convention and hopes that this is only a foretaste of the conversion of
souls in far greater numbers in the years lying ahead of us.
The Six Year Plan is of the utmost importance, and he urges your Assembly
to continually keep reminding the friends of the necessity for sustaining
their efforts through arising personally to serve and through giving
generously that others may serve in their place.
In this connection he hopes you will use the services of Marion Holley,
now Mrs. David Hofman, to the full. She is a gifted speaker and writer,
and has had invaluable experience in America as a member of the National
Teaching Committee, during the Seven Year Plan. Both she and Mr. Hofman
are wholly dedicated to the service of the Cause, and eager to do all in
their power to help accomplish the goals of your Six Year Plan.
He was happy to hear that the Summer School was held successfully. Now
that the war is over, and conditions gradually returning to normal, he
hopes that the British believers will exert their utmost in serving the
Cause and spreading its message. Although from time to time they will
receive the help of outside Baha'is, the major responsibility is theirs,
and the lion's share of the work will naturally fall to them as both their
privilege and their duty.
He assures you one and all that his ardent prayers sustain you in your
labours for the Faith and he feels sure that with sufficient effort on the
part of all, and the Power of God which inevitably sustains
self-sacrificing service in His Path, the goals can be gloriously
achieved....
P.S. He was delighted to hear of the welfare of the German believers.
Reports of a similar nature had already reached him, but no figures had
been given.
[From the Guardian:]
Dearly beloved co-workers,
I am anxiously waiting for the news of the progress of the Six Year Plan,
upon which the future orientation of the collective activities of the
English believers depends, and with which the immediate destinies of their
Faith are interwoven. No sacrifice is too great to ensure its success. The
utmost effort, vigilance, perseverance and self-sacrifice are required to
carry it to a successful conclusion. If the friends, individually and
collectively, play their part and exert their utmost, the abundant
blessings of Baha'u'llah will be fully vouchsafed, and the strength of the
Plan will mark a glorious chapter in the history of the Faith. I appeal to
the entire community to dedicate itself to this sacred and urgent task,
the greatest collective enterprise ever undertaken by the followers of
Baha'u'llah in the British Isles.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 21 February 1946
21 February 1946
ASSEMBLY SHOULD EXPLAIN TO ... OWING HIS BROTHER'S SECESSION FAITH
ADHERENCE ISLAM PARTICIPATION POLITICS AND ASSOCIATION WITH HIS OTHER
BROTHERS AND MOTHER WHO HAVE FLAGRANTLY DISOBEYED MASTER'S WILL
COMMUNICATION WITH HIM AND THEM FORBIDDEN. ASSEMBLY SHOULD EXERCISE UTMOST
VIGILANCE THIS VITAL MATTER OTHERWISE AS MASTER REPEATEDLY WARNED
CONTAMINATING INFLUENCE WILL SPREAD AND IMPERIL STRUCTURE FAITH. CABLE HIS
RESPONSE SHOW UTMOST FIRMNESS.
SHOGHI
Letter of 5 March 1946
5 March 1946
OVERJOYED RECENT DECISIONS TEACHING CONFERENCE ARDENTLY PRAYING SPEEDY
REALISATION CHERISHED HOPES URGE SUPREME UNITED CONTINUOUS EFFORT CABLING
ONE THOUSAND POUNDS FURTHERANCE NOBLE AIMS SIX YEAR PLAN DEEPEST LOVE.
SHOGHI
Letter of 12 March 1946
12 March 1946
INFORM ... APPRECIATE HIS ASSURANCE PRAYING STEADFASTNESS BLESSINGS.
SHOGHI
Letter of 22 March 1946
22 March 1946
Dear Baha'i Sister,
Your letters dated Sep. 6th and Nov. 6th 1945 and Jan. 2nd, Feb. 8th and
19th 1946, have been received together with their enclosures, and the
beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.
He has been delighted to see, through your letter and reports sent by
other Baha'is, that the Teaching Conference in Manchester was such a
success, and he feels this marks a turning point in your Six Year Plan.
Now that goal towns have been chosen, the friends must concentrate all
their forces and resources on establishing Assemblies in them as soon as
possible. He feels sure that once the signs of success become evident all
the believers, tired and depressed after so many years of war and
privation, will become vitalised with optimism and enthusiasm and drive
forward unitedly towards the complete victory of their plans.
He was delighted to hear that Miss Townshend and Mr. Lee have arisen as
pioneers, and he wishes you to please assure them of his special prayers
for the success of their devoted labours.
He was also very happy to hear you have found a place to hold your Summer
School; this is such an important Baha'i activity that even if the
expenses are such as to necessitate its being subsidised by the National
Fund it does not matter.
He advises you to send half of the Russian books in your possession to the
Baha'i Bureau in Geneva. Mrs. Lynch can distribute them from there, as
required, to other centres.
He feels it would be an excellent means of serving the Cause and enhancing
the prestige of the British Baha'is if you can send a delegate to the
Spiritual World Congress to be held in Brussels.
We are sending ... the Haifa News Letter direct from here; thank you for
sending his address. The Guardian suggests if you have not already done
so, that you send the address of the Dutch Baha'i to Mrs. Lynch, so that
travelling believers can be put in touch with him.
He is eagerly awaiting more good news of the progress of your Six Year
Plan, and assures you all that he will ardently pray for its speedy and
complete success in the Holy Shrines.
Your Assembly's labours are very deeply appreciated....
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,