official opening of the Two Year Plan, of pioneers to the chosen
Territories of the African Continent; to ensure that its three sister
National Assemblies will steadily reinforce its work through financial
assistance as well as through the increase in the number of pioneers; to
expedite the translation, publication and dissemination of Baha'i
literature in the three selected languages throughout these Territories;
to enlarge the scope of the contacts established with representatives of
the African peoples and with institutions designed to foster their
interests; to cultivate cordial relations with, and secure the goodwill
and support of, the civil authorities in the goal countries where the
pioneers will reside; to maintain steady correspondence with, fan the
zeal, seek the counsel and secure the assistance of the budding and
scattered communities in the North, the South and the Heart of that vast,
that promising and slowly awakening continent; to prepare for the eventual
convocation, under its own auspices and following the example set, and the
procedure adopted, by its sister American Assembly on the European
Continent, of the First African Teaching Conference, representative of
both the white and black races, constituting an epoch-making landmark in
the evolution of the Faith among the African races and possibly
synchronising with the centenary celebrations of the birth of
Baha'u'llah's Mission, and adding another victor's crown to the laurels
already won by the British followers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in their
own homeland--these stand out as the paramount and inescapable duties
confronting the British National Spiritual Assembly as it stands on the
threshold of a new and glorious epoch in British Baha'i history.
Though the prospect of this new venture is indeed enthralling, though it
demands careful planning, the allocation of substantial sums for its
prosecution, and the exertion of strenuous efforts for its systematic
development, the prizes so laboriously won at home must under no
circumstances be jeopardised. The twofold obligation of preserving the
status of the newly-fledged Assemblies in England, Wales, Scotland and
Ireland and of propagating the Faith among the people dwelling in the
British Isles through active teaching and the wide circulation of Baha'i
literature must be faithfully discharged. The necessary foundation for the
proclamation of the Faith, at a later stage in the development of the
British Baha'i community, amidst the British people and in the very heart
of the British Empire must be carefully laid. Whatever measures will
facilitate the future recognition of the Faith by the civil authorities in
the localities where its followers reside, and eventually by the central
government in Westminster, must, within the means at their disposal, and
however tentatively, be adopted.
Then and only then will this community, carrying out faithfully the
twofold duty incumbent upon it, both at home and abroad, be vouchsafed by
Baha'u'llah the full measure of His grace which will enable it to
traverse, speedily and successfully, the present stage in its evolution,
and acquire still greater potentialities for the revelation of a still
brighter aspect of its mission designed to illuminate with the light of
Divine Guidance and in the course of the Formative and Golden Ages of the
Faith all the Dependencies of the British Crown, and erect the
administrative structure within these Territories, of an Order,
incomparably mightier and more enduring than any which that Crown has ever
established.
Shoghi
Letter of 23 April 1951
23 April 1951
DEEPEST APPRECIATION GREETINGS LOVING REMEMBRANCE SHRINES DELIGHTED
SUCCESS.
SHOGHI
Letter of 25 April 1951 (Convention)
25 April 1951 (Convention)
REJOICE THANKFUL PROUD STERLING QUALITIES FIDELITY TENACITY INTREPIDITY
BRITISH FOLLOWERS FAITH BAHA'U'LLAH CONSPICUOUSLY DEMONSTRATED COURSE
INTERVAL SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION SIX YEAR FORMAL INAUGURATION TWO YEAR PLAN.
HEARTILY CONGRATULATE DELEGATES ASSEMBLED OCCASION HISTORIC NUMERICALLY
ENLARGED EPOCH MAKING CONVENTION. ONE YEAR RESPITE REGARDED BREATHING
SPELL DESIGNED ENABLE TOILING TRIUMPHANT VALOROUS HIGH MINDED COMMUNITY
RECRUIT FORCES WITNESSED UNEXPECTED DISPLAY VIGOROUS ACTIVITY RESULTING
FIRST VICTORIES AFRICAN FIELD PRESERVATION LABORIOUSLY ESTABLISHED
ASSEMBLIES LENGTH BREADTH BRITISH ISLES. TWO YEAR PLAN NOW OFFICIALLY
LAUNCHED DEMANDS CONTINUOUS UNSTINTED SYSTEMATIC SUPPORT NATIONAL ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES ALL LOCAL ASSEMBLIES RANK FILE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
AUSPICIOUS RAYS GOD'S DAWNING REVELATION WHICH FIRST STRUCK CORNER VAST
DARK SPIRITUALLY DECADENT CONTINENT COURSE BAHA'U'LLAH'S MINISTRY WHICH
WARMED ILLUMINATED ITS NORTHERN SOUTHERN FRINGES CONCLUDING YEARS HEROIC
AGE FAITH MUST NOW PENETRATE ITS HEART BRIGHTEN ITS JUNGLE FASTNESSES
ENVELOP IT WITH SPLENDOUR THEIR RADIANCE COURSE PRESENT SUCCEEDING EPOCHS
FORMATIVE AGE BAHA'I DISPENSATION. CONFIDENT BRITISH BAHA'I COMMUNITY WILL
ARISE BEFITTINGLY MEET CHALLENGE NOW CONFRONTING IT ACHIEVE THREEFOLD
PURPOSE PLAN. PRAYING ENERGETIC COLLABORATION PROSECUTORS 'ABDU'L-BAHA'S
DIVINE PLAN WITH COMMUNITY BELIEVERS BELONGING NATION WHOSE DESTINY BEEN
LINKED FORTUNES WORLD'S BACKWARD RACES REINFORCED ASSISTANCE SISTER
COMMUNITY CRADLE FAITH NATIONAL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES LEADING COMMUNITY
AFRICAN CONTINENT MAY ENSURE SUCCESS CRUSADE CONSTITUTING SPIRITUAL
LANDMARK PROCESS AWAKENING AFRICAN PEOPLES MARKING OPENING GLORIOUS
CHAPTER EVOLUTION WORLD FAITH BAHA'U'LLAH SIGNALISING INITIAL PHASE
UNFOLDMENT MISSION COMMUNITY HIS FOLLOWERS BRITISH ISLES MIDST DOMINIONS
COLONIES PROTECTORATES BRITISH CROWN. MAY PROJECTED CENTENARY BIRTH
PROPHETIC MISSION BAHA'U'LLAH BEFITTINGLY CELEBRATED CONVOCATION FIRST ALL
AFRICAN TEACHING CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVE BLACK WHITE RACES EMBRACING
SEVENTEEN AFRICAN TERRITORIES NOW INCLUDED PALE FAITH. ARRANGING
TRANSMISSION ONE THOUSAND POUNDS CONTRIBUTION FURTHERANCE GLORIOUS
OBJECTIVE.
SHOGHI
Letter of 2 May 1951
2 May 1951
DEEPLY APPRECIATE GREETINGS HIGH RESOLVE ATTENDANTS CONVENTION DELIGHTED
SUCCESS SESSIONS PRAYING SIGNAL VICTORIES.
SHOGHI
Letter of 4 May 1951
4 May 1951
OWING RECENT INSTRUCTIONS PERSIAN EGYPTIAN ASSEMBLIES TO DESPATCH PIONEERS
FIVE ADDITIONAL AFRICAN TERRITORIES ADVISE UNDERTAKE TRANSLATION SMALL
PAMPHLETS INTO ACOLI ADANWE EWE FANTA MENDE YORUBA.
SHOGHI
Letter of 5 May 1951
5 May 1951
ADD SOMALI TO LANGUAGES ALREADY CABLED.
SHOGHI
Letter of 22 June 1951
22 June 1951
NEWLY LAUNCHED HIGHLY MOMENTOUS AFRICAN CAMPAIGN CHIEF AUXILIARY MANIFOLD
AGENCIES OPERATING FURTHERANCE 'ABDU'L-BAHA'S PLAN AMERICAN EUROPEAN
CONTINENTS IRRESISTIBLY UNFOLDING GATHERING MOMENTUM THROUGH ADDED
PARTICIPATION INDIAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY ASSIGNMENT SPECIFIC SUPPLEMENTARY
FUNCTIONS PERSIAN EGYPTIAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES CONTEMPLATED TRANSLATION
BAHA'I LITERATURE ADDITIONAL AFRICAN LANGUAGES MULTIPLICATION TERRITORIES
NORTHERN EASTERN WESTERN FRINGES VAST AWAKENING CONTINENT. BRIEF SPAN TWO
YEARS DESTINED WITNESS FIRST FRUITS HISTORIC CONTINENT-WIDE CRUSADE WILL
ERELONG TERMINATE. VALOROUS BRITISH BAHA'I COMMUNITY CENTRAL PIVOT
MACHINERY NOW SET MOTION CHIEF AGENCY PROSECUTION MIGHTY DIVINELY
PROPELLED ENTERPRISE MUST AWARE URGENCY TASK ACT SPEEDILY RESOLUTELY
DESPATCH WITHOUT DELAY VOLUNTEERS, SETTLE PIONEERS DISSEMINATE LITERATURE
INITIATE TEACHING ACTIVITIES ESTABLISH FRUITFUL CONTACTS ENSURE STEADY
ENROLMENT FRESH RECRUITS AMONGST TRIBES RACES FARFLUNG VIRGIN TERRITORIES.
TRANSMITTING ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTION THOUSAND POUNDS ENSURE VIGOROUS
PROSECUTION COLOSSAL SACRED TASK ENABLING WELL TRIED FOLLOWERS FAITH
BAHA'U'LLAH BRITISH ISLES WRITE WORTHILY FIRST PAGE HISTORY MEMORABLE
UNDERTAKING CONSTITUTING OPENING PHASE THEIR GLORIOUS SPIRITUAL MISSION
OVERSEAS.
SHOGHI
Letter of 22 June 1951
22 June 1951(55)
ASSURE DEPARTED PIONEERS FERVENT LOVING PRAYERS SURROUNDING THEM.
SHOGHI
Letter of 4 July 1951
4 July 1951
WORK NEWLY ASSIGNED EGYPT INDIA PERSIA SUPPLEMENTARY ANY ASSISTANCE
EXTENDED THEM YOUR ASSEMBLY DEEPLY APPRECIATED. TWO FUNDS ESTABLISHED
WORLD CENTRE SETTLEMENT BANANI NA_KH_JAVANI LEFT DISCRETION YOUR ASSEMBLY.
SHOGHI
Letter of 15 July 1951
15 July 1951
APPROVE IBO OR DAGBANE INSTEAD OF FANTA.
SHOGHI
Letter of 20 July 1951
20 July 1951
ASSURE SABRIS LOVING FERVENT PRAYERS ACCOMPANYING THEM. GRIEVE PASSING
PRESTON ASSURE WIFE LOVING PRAYERS APPROVE REINFORCE KENYA.
SHOGHI
Letter of 21 August 1951
21 August 1951(56)
OVERJOYED INITIAL VICTORY LOVE.
SHOGHI
Letter of 26 August 1951
26 August 1951
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS RIDVAN. TEACHING CONFERENCE MAY BE HELD ANY TIME
BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH 1953 SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER LANGUAGE FOR SOMALI.
SHOGHI
Letter of 2 September 1951
2 September 1951
ASSURE ATTENDANTS SCHOOL ABIDING APPRECIATION NOBLE RESOLVE FERVENT
PRAYERS.
SHOGHI
Letter of 19 September 1951
19 September 1951(57)
Dear Baha'i Brother,
Your letter of August 27th has been received, and the beloved Guardian is
sending you herein his receipt for the contribution of the British Baha'is
to the Shrine. He noted with interest and appreciation that the Bank
raised no objections to the transfer of this sum for such a purpose, and
feels this indicates the slowly growing recognition of the Faith's nature
and importance. Your own ever devoted services to the Cause are greatly
appreciated by him, you may be sure....
[From the Guardian:]
I gratefully acknowledge the receipt of the sum of three hundred pounds
from the Baha'is of the British Isles, to be expended for the construction
of the Shrine of the Bab on Mt. Carmel.
Shoghi
Letter of 16 October 1951
16 October 1951
Dear Baha'i Brother,
Your letters dated March 26th (two); April 4th (three), 11th, 17th, 8th,
7th and 24th; May 1st, 4th, 12th and 24th; June 1st, 4th, 19th (two),
12th, 23rd and 27th; July 4th, 6th, 21st (two), 25th and 31st; August 8th,
9th and 15th; September 15th, 18th and 19th; have all been received, as
well as their enclosures, and the photographs sent and material under
separate cover, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer you
on his behalf.
It will no doubt make you happy to hear that the Guardian has really had a
little rest this summer, much needed after the tremendous strain of last
year's worries and burdens. He can now turn to his important N.S.A.
letters somewhat refreshed.
To take up certain matters raised in your letters:
There are two Funds, that of the Shrine of the Bab and the International
Fund; but at present it is more important for the friends to concentrate
on completing the work in progress on the Shrine, which, thanks to the
response of the believers from all over the world, is going forward
uninterruptedly, in spite of the very difficult situation in the Holy Land
which makes all kinds of building work frightfully complicated.
The Guardian would very much like to receive five copies of every
publication brought out in England for the Baha'i libraries in Haifa and
at Bahji and in Acre. He thanks you for the diaries you sent....
For your information the Guardian does not want any believers to migrate
at present to this country. It will not meet with his approval under any
circumstances. The local problems, with a small group of Covenant-Breakers
more or less active in stirring up trouble; the efforts, at present
successful, which he is making to establish the most cordial relations
with the Government; the upbuilding of the international institutions of
the Faith; the consolidation of the International Baha'i Council--all
require that no complications arise and no further strain be added to the
burden of work at the World Centre of the Faith.
Now we come to the part of your activities nearest to his heart at
present--Africa Campaign. By all means any translation at present into
Somali should be given up, as the advice of experts prove it both
unnecessary and very expensive.
The Guardian feels that, in view of the fact that funds for sending out
pioneers are limited, and that a good number of pioneers are available, it
is better to choose those most qualified and not, for the time being at
least, accept every offer, however devoted the spirit behind it.
He fully appreciates the fact that Somaliland is going to be somewhat
difficult. In view of its peculiar status your Assembly should bear in
mind the possibility of sending there a British subject, if this should
prove feasible, and pending a time when the Persians can go there and make
arrangements for someone to represent them.
The Guardian considers that your Assembly is the consultative body for all
African territories, and that the other National Assemblies should keep in
close touch with you. This does not mean, however, that the initiative for
the places allotted to them by the Guardian does not lie in their own
hands. Likewise, the planning of the African Conference should be handled
by you, in close co-operation with the other N.S.A.s. He does not feel it
is feasible for the other N.S.A.s to pool their finances for the African
work and put it in your Fund.
The unfortunate crisis in Persia may hold up, for a time, their services
in Africa, and he hopes you will do all you can to offset this most
unfortunate setback to their work. The Persian believers, have, for over a
hundred years, borne the brunt of persecution and are still doing so,
being the unhappy victims of their country and their race. They merit the
ardent sympathy of their fellow Baha'is the world over.
The Guardian is very anxious to know how the work is going in the British
Isles: he feels that the Africa Campaign has been launched in a way far
exceeding his hopes, is being visibly blessed from on high, and, with the
same amount of perseverance shown so far, is assured of great and speedy
victories. But the goals, so hard won and at such cost of sacrifice at
home, must not be lost. He urges all the friends to not allow the dazzling
prospect overseas to take their attention away from the steady work of
consolidation still required at home! The work abroad rests on the
foundation laid so well and so painfully at home; if one suffers, so will
the other.
The British Baha'is have distinguished themselves in recent years to a
degree which has given them great prominence in the entire Baha'i World
and inspired others to follow their example. They cannot and must not lose
this hard-won prominence, but, on the contrary, must demonstrate that it
was not a spurt of speed but the evidence of deep and hardy roots bearing
their first fruits, after years of quiet growth.
He remembers all the members of your Assembly in his prayers, and prays
that the community of believers you serve so devotedly may go on rising to
ever greater heights and shoulder all their tasks with increasing vigour,
faith and devotion....
P.S. Regarding the forthcoming Centenary celebrations: the Guardian feels
both national and local celebrations should be held very much as were
those of the 1944 Centenary, but on a larger scale, with more publicity,
if possible.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
The auspicious launching of the first teaching Crusade undertaken by the
British Baha'i community beyond the borders of its homeland, marks yet
another stage in the evolution of the Baha'i Administrative Order in the
British Isles, and signalises the opening of an epoch of the utmost
significance in the Formative Age of the Baha'i Dispensation. Though the
operation of the Plan is of short duration, yet it constitutes a prelude
to a series of successive campaigns which a firmly knit, vigorously
functioning, clear visioned, intensely alive national community is
destined to initiate, direct and control from its newly consolidated
administrative headquarters in the heart of the British Isles, not only
throughout the Dependencies of the British Crown within the African
Continent, but eventually in the widely scattered Territories of an Empire
whose ramifications extend into every continent of the globe.
A little over half-a-century ago, this community, now invested with a
mandate of the utmost significance both at home and overseas, was called
into being in the course of the opening years of the third and last epoch
of the Heroic Age of the Faith. A decade later, the Appointed Centre of a
Covenant, through the creative and potent energies of which so important a
member of a steadily rising world community was conceived and nurtured,
chose to infuse into that infant community through the impact of His
personality in the course of a twice repeated visit to the heart and
centre of that Empire, a measure of His own mysterious power, which, as He
Himself prophesied, was destined to unfold its potentialities in the
course of a later age. On the morrow of His passing, the earliest
evidences of the unfailing promise He had made revealed themselves through
the first stirrings of an Administrative Order--the Child of the Covenant,
the Shield of that community and the divinely appointed Agency for the
execution of the mandate with which that community was to be invested in
the second epoch of the Formative Age of the Baha'i Dispensation. A little
over two decades later, that community, armed and equipped with the
mighty, divinely conceived agencies of a laboriously erected, unassailably
established Administrative Order, embarked upon a six-year enterprise that
culminated in the erection of the institutions of that Order in the very
heart and capital cities of its island home--the essential prerequisite for
the inauguration of yet another stage in its unfoldment. On the morrow of
the triumphant termination of the first collective enterprise launched by
that community in British Baha'i history, its jubilant members braced
themselves, during a one-year interval, for the initial onslaught, which
they were preparing to launch, unitedly and determinedly, far beyond the
shores of their homeland amid alien, widely diversified, politically
restless, economically backward, spiritually famished tribes and peoples,
and in the course of one of the most critical periods in human history. On
the morrow of the centenary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Herald of its
Faith, this same community had already formulated its plans, initiated its
programme of publications in various African languages, despatched its
first pioneer to the heart of that continent, forged the necessary links
with its allied sister communities participating in various enterprises in
that same continent, and established its first essential contact with
divers government agencies capable of giving their advice and assistance
in the prosecution of its historic and arduous task.
This community, so young in experience, so richly endowed by the love and
care of a departed all-powerful Master, so firmly entrenched in the
stronghold of its Administrative Order, already so rich in prizes won in
the course of the first collective enterprise undertaken in its history,
so promising in the vigour, the zeal and devotion which it is now
displaying, is faced, at the present hour, with a grave, a sacred and
inescapable responsibility--a responsibility that will increase as the
brief eighteen-month interval separating it from the termination of its
Two Year Plan speeds to a close.
Upon the discharge of this weighty responsibility now resting upon it must
depend the inauguration of yet another Plan, of longer duration, of
greater scope, of a still more challenging character, and of greater
consequence in the effect it must have on that community's destiny.
Time is running short. The present hour in the fortunes of mankind is
critical. The centenary of the birth of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah is
fast approaching. The British Baha'i community must gird up its loins,
redouble its exertions, undertake further sacrifices, demonstrate greater
solidarity and rise to still greater heights of consecrated devotion.
The flow of pioneers to the African Continent must be noticeably
accelerated. The provision of Baha'i literature in all the selected
African languages must be speeded up. The ties binding the community with
its cooperating sister communities must be steadily reinforced. The prizes
already garnered as a result of the operation of the Six-Year Plan in
England, Wales, Scotland, Eire and Northern Ireland, must, at all costs,
be safeguarded. The preparations for the forthcoming first African
Teaching Conference must be carefully planned and meticulously carried
out. Above all, the zeal kindled in the breasts of administrators,
pioneers, teachers and supporters, jointly contributing to the success of
this meritorious enterprise, must burn ever more brightly and be reflected
in still more remarkable exploits.
Then, and only then, will this community be enabled to contribute its
share of tribute to the memory of the Founder of its Faith, on the
occasion of the centenary of the birth of His Prophetic Mission, in as
befitting a manner as the share it already contributed, through the
consummation of its first historic Plan, to the world-wide celebrations
which commemorated the hundredth anniversary of the founding of its Faith.
Then, and only then, will it be qualified to embark upon yet another
Crusade, whose scope will transcend the limits of the vast African
Continent, and the culmination of which might well coincide with the Most
Great Jubilee that will commemorate the centenary of the formal assumption
by Baha'u'llah of His prophetic office, a jubilee envisaged by
'Abdu'l-Baha in His Tablets, and prophesied more than two thousand years
ago, by Daniel in His Book.
So glorious a vision, now unfolded before the eyes of the British
followers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, cannot but galvanise them into
action, at once swift, resolute and unrelaxing, and fire their souls with
a spirit so consuming as to melt every obstacle that may intervene between
them and the achievement of their present goal.
May they, one and all, prove themselves, in the crucial months immediately
ahead, worthy of the blessings vouchsafed to them in the past, and of the
high destiny which it lies in their power to achieve in the future.
Shoghi
Letter of 28 October 1951
28 October 1951(58)
ASSURE STEPHENS LOVING FERVENT PRAYERS ACCOMPANYING HER.
SHOGHI
Letter of 11 November 1951
11 November 1951
Dear Baha'i Brother,
As I just recently sent you a long letter on behalf of the beloved
Guardian to which he appended at some length, he wishes you to consider
this reply to your letters of October 17th (three in number) as a
postscript to the other.
As regards the questions you raised:
The ideal thing would be to have at least one Baha'i from every territory
in Africa attend the African Conference. This is the goal to be worked
for, and attained if possible, as it will greatly stimulate the work and
especially the inexperienced and isolated believers.
The solar calendar should, by all means, be adhered to in Africa.
He feels that your Assembly is responsible for the time being for the work
in territories not under the charge of other N.S.A.s (Tunis, Sudan and
Ethiopia are under Egyptian care).
You are not directly responsible for any work done in territories which
have been allotted to other N.S.A.s. But you should correspond with them,
and give them any help and advice you can, both the N.S.A.s and their
African Committees. In the case of Eric Manton, though he will be under
Persia's jurisdiction you can keep him informed of your work, so as to
cheer him up.
Only the five participating National Assemblies are responsible directly
for financing the African work. No invitations should be extended to other
bodies or individuals to contribute. Naturally if any one wants to, they
no doubt will, but it would be, he feels, very inappropriate to broadcast
any appeal. The Africa work is not an international undertaking but an
interassembly one, confined to five national Bodies.