more than fifty years ago, at the time of the inception of His Father's
Faith in the West, Who tenderly and vigilantly nursed it and guided its
footsteps in the early years of its infancy, Who twice conferred upon it
the inestimable blessings of personal contact with its members, Who
sustained, from His station on high, its development in the course of no
less than two decades, within the framework of a rising Administrative
Order, Who enabled it to expand and consolidate itself within its island
home, Who launched it, subsequently, on its mission overseas, will, if its
members prove themselves worthy of His trust, continue to shower His
manifold blessings upon them, at this hour of their greatest need, and
will enable them to traverse, speedily and successfully, the second and
momentous stage in the progressive unfoldment of that same Mission.
That they may, guided and assisted by the vigilance, the wisdom and
devotion of their elected national representatives, forge ahead with
undiminished vigour, with exemplary fidelity, and with inflexible
determination, along the path of their high destiny, overcome every
obstacle that stands in their way, achieve signal success in the course of
the opening phase of this world-girdling Crusade, and crown eventually
their Ten Year Plan with a victory unexampled in the annals of the Faith
in the British Isles, is my cherished hope for them and my fervent and
constant prayer.
Shoghi
Letter of 28 June 1953
28 June 1953
ADVISE PROMPT MEASURES OUTRIGHT PURCHASE HAZIRA LONDON CONTRIBUTING TWO
THOUSAND POUNDS ENCOURAGING NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES.
SHOGHI
Letter of 30 June 1953
30 June 1953
GUARDIAN URGES PROMPT HANDLING VOLUNTEERS KAMPALA NAIROBI DAR-ES-SALAAM
FOR IMMEDIATE SETTLEMENT....
IOAS
Letter of 9 July 1953
9 July 1953(72)
ADVISE FREEHOLD PURCHASE. SHOGHI
Letter of 18 July 1953
18 July 1953(73)
IF LESS EXPENSIVE NOT AVAILABLE APPROVE. SHOGHI
Letter of 21 July 1953
21 July 1953
To the Hands of the Cause, the members of the National Spiritual
Assemblies, the pioneers, the resident believers and visitors attending
the European Intercontinental Teaching Conference in Stockholm, Sweden
(July 21/26, 1953). Well-beloved Friends,
With a glad and grateful heart I welcome the convocation, in the capital
city of Sweden, of the third of a series of Intercontinental Teaching
Conferences associated with the world-wide festivities commemorating the
Centenary of the Mission of Baha'u'llah and destined to exert a profound
and lasting influence on the immediate fortunes of His Faith in all
continents of the globe.
I look back with feelings of wonder, thankfulness and joy upon the chain
of memorable circumstances which, a little over a century ago, accompanied
the introduction of the Faith into, and marked the inception of its
nascent institutions within a continent which, in the course of the last
two thousand years, has exercised on the destiny of the human race a
pervasive influence unequalled by that of any other continent of the
globe.
I feel impelled on this historic occasion, when the members of the
American, the British, the German and the newly formed Italo-Swiss
National Spiritual Assemblies, as well as representatives of the Baha'is
of the United Kingdom, of Eire, of Germany, of Austria, of the
Scandinavian and Benelux countries, of the Iberian Peninsula, of Italy, of
Switzerland, of France and of Finland are assembled, to pay a warm tribute
to the valiant labours of the early British and French Baha'i pioneers,
who at the very dawn of the Faith in Europe, strove with such diligence,
consecration and resolution to fan into flame that holy Fire which the
hand of the appointed Centre of Baha'u'llah's Covenant had kindled in the
north-west extremity of that continent on the morrow of His Father's
ascension. I recall the slow eastward spread of that infant Light which
led to the gradual emergence of the German and Austrian Baha'i
communities, during the darkest period of 'Abdu'l-Baha's incarceration in
the prison-fortress of Akka. I am reminded of His subsequent epoch-making
visit, soon after His providential release from His forty-year confinement
in the Most Great Prison, to these newly-fledged struggling communities,
of His patient seed-sowing destined to yield at a later age its first
fruits, and constituting a landmark of the utmost significance in the rise
and establishment of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in that continent.
I, moreover, call to mind, on this occasion, the successive episodes
which, on the morrow of 'Abdu'l-Baha's ascension, in the course of the
initial Epoch of the Formative Age of the Baha'i Dispensation, signalised
the emergence of those administrative institutions, both local and
national, which proclaimed the germination of those potent seeds which had
lain dormant for more than a decade in these newly-opened European
territories, and which culminated in the construction of the framework of
the Administrative Order of the Faith of Baha'u'llah and the erection of
the first two pillars destined to sustain in that continent the weight of
the final unit of that Order.
Nor can I fail to acclaim, as a further milestone in the irresistible
evolution of that Faith, the launching, following the creation of the
administrative agencies designed to provide the effectual instruments for
its propagation, of the Six Year Plan of the British Baha'i community
followed successively by the European Teaching Campaign, inaugurated in
accordance with the provisions of the second Seven Year Plan of the
American Baha'i community, the Five Year Plan conceived by the German and
Austrian Baha'i communities and the Two Year Plan later initiated by the
British Baha'i community--Plans which, within less than a decade, succeeded
in laying the structural basis of the Administrative Order of the Faith in
Wales, in Scotland, in Northern Ireland and in Eire, in multiplying and
consolidating Baha'i institutions throughout the British Isles, in
broadening and strengthening the foundations of that same Order in Germany
and Austria, in erecting the National Administrative Headquarters of the
Faith in the city of Frankfurt, in establishing Spiritual Assemblies in
the capital cities of no less than ten sovereign states in Europe, in
reinforcing the administrative foundations of that Faith in those
territories, in providing the means for the convocation of four European,
and a series of regional, Teaching Conferences, and above all, in the
convocation of the historic Convention in Florence, culminating in the
emergence of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Italy and
Switzerland, the third in a series of institutions destined to play their
part in the eventual establishment of the Supreme Legislative Body of the
Administrative Order of the Faith of Baha'u'llah.
The hour is now ripe for these communities, whether new or old, local or
national, already functioning on the northern, the western and the
southern fringes of that continent, as well as those situated in its very
heart, to initiate befittingly and prosecute energetically the European
Campaign of a global Crusade which will not only contribute, to an
unprecedented degree, to the broadening and the consolidation of the
foundations of the Faith of Baha'u'llah on the continent of Europe, but
will also diffuse its light over the neighbouring islands, and will, God
willing, carry its radiance to the eastern territories of that continent,
and beyond them as far as the heart of Asia.
The privileged prosecutors of so revolutionising, so gigantic, so sacred
and beneficent a campaign are, on the morrow of its launching, and at such
a crucial hour in the destinies of the European continent, summoned to
undertake: First, the formation, under the aegis of the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, of one National Spiritual
Assembly in each of the Scandinavian and Benelux countries, and those of
the Iberian Peninsula, and one in Finland, as well as the establishment,
in collaboration with the Paris Spiritual Assembly, of the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of France, the establishment under the
aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany and
Austria, of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Austria, and
the establishment, under the aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly of
the Baha'is of the United States, and in association with the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Italy and Switzerland, of independent
National Spiritual Assemblies in Italy and Switzerland. Second, the
construction of the first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar of Europe in the city of
Frankfurt, the heart of Germany, which occupies such a central position in
the continent of Europe. Third, the purchase of land for the future
construction of two Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars, one in the north in the city
of Stockholm, and one in the south in the city of Rome, the seat and
stronghold of the most powerful Church in Christendom. Fourth, the opening
of the following thirty virgin territories and islands: Albania, Crete,
Estonia, Finno-Karelia, Frisian Islands, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania,
Moldavia, Rumania, White Russia, assigned to the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Baha'is of Germany and Austria; Channel Islands, Cyprus,
Faroe Islands, Hebrides Islands, Malta, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands,
assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the British
Isles; Andorra, Azores, Balearic Islands, Lofoten Islands, Spitzbergen,
Ukraine, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the
United States of America; Liechtenstein, Monaco, Rhodes, San Marino,
Sardinia, Sicily, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Baha'is of Italy and Switzerland. Fifth, the translation and publication
of Baha'i literature in the following ten languages to be undertaken by
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States of
America, through its European Teaching Committee: Basque, Estonian,
Flemish, Lapp, Maltese, Piedmontese, Romani, Romansch, Yiddish, Ziryen.
Sixth, the consolidation of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Holland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, allocated
to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States of
America; of Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Russian
S.F.S., Yugoslavia, allocated to the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Baha'is of Germany and Austria; of Eire, allocated to the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the British Isles; of Iceland,
allocated to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada; and
of Corsica, allocated to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Italy and Switzerland. Seventh, the incorporation of the thirteen
above-mentioned National Spiritual Assemblies. Eighth, the establishment
by these same National Spiritual Assemblies of national Baha'i endowments.
Ninth, the establishment of a national Haziratu'l-Quds in the capital city
of each of the countries where the National Spiritual Assemblies are to be
established, as well as one in London and one in Paris. Tenth, the
formation of a National Baha'i Publishing Trust in Frankfurt, Germany.
Eleventh, the formation of Israel Branches of the National Spiritual
Assemblies of the Baha'is of the British Isles and of Germany and Austria,
authorised to hold, on behalf of their parent institutions, property
dedicated to the Holy Shrines at the World Centre of the Faith in the
State of Israel. Twelfth, the conversion to the Faith of representatives
of the Basque and Gypsy races. Thirteenth, the appointment during Ridvan
1954, by the Hands of the Cause in Europe, of an auxiliary board of nine
members who will, in conjunction with the four National Spiritual
Assemblies participating in the European campaign, assist, through
periodic and systematic visits to Baha'i centres, in the efficient and
prompt execution of the Plans formulated for the prosecution of the
teaching campaign in the European continent.
A continent occupying such a central and strategic position on the entire
planet; so rich and eventful in its history; so diversified in its
culture; from whose soil sprang both the Hellenic and Roman civilisations;
the mainspring of a civilisation to some of whose features Baha'u'llah
Himself paid tribute; on whose southern shores Christendom first
established its home; along whose eastern marches the mighty forces of the
Cross and the Crescent so frequently clashed; on whose south-western
extremity a fast evolving Islamic culture yielded its fairest fruit; in
whose heart the light of the Reformation shone so brightly, shedding its
rays as far as the outlying regions of the globe; the well-spring of
American culture; whose northern and western fringes were first warmed and
illuminated, less than a century ago, by the dawning light of the
Revelation of Baha'u'llah; in whose heart a community, so rich in promise,
was subsequently established; whose soil was later sanctified by the
twice-repeated visit of the appointed Centre of His Covenant; which
witnessed, in consequence of the rise and establishment of the
Administrative Order of His Faith, the erection of two of the foremost
pillars of the future Universal House of Justice; which, in recent years,
sustained the dynamic impact of a series of national Plans preparatory to
the launching of a world spiritual crusade--such a continent has at last at
this critical hour, this great turning-point in its fortunes, entered upon
what may well be regarded as the opening phase of a great spiritual
revival that bids fair to eclipse any period in its spiritual history.
May the elected representatives of the National Baha'i communities
entrusted with the conduct of this momentous undertaking launched on the
soil of this continent, aided by the Hands of the Cause and their
auxiliary boards, reinforced by the local communities, the groups and
isolated believers sharing in this massive and collective enterprise, and
supported by the subsidiary agencies to be appointed for its efficient
prosecution, be graciously assisted by the Lord of Hosts to contribute, in
the years immediately ahead, through their concerted efforts and
collective achievements, in both the teaching and administrative spheres
of Baha'i activity, to the success of this glorious Crusade, and lend a
tremendous impetus to the conversion, the reconciliation and the ultimate
unification of the divers and conflicting peoples, races and classes
dwelling within the borders of a travailing, a sorely-agitated and
spiritually-famished continent.
May all the privileged participators, enlisting under the banner of
Baha'u'llah for the promotion of so pre-eminent and meritorious a Cause,
be they from the Eastern or Western hemisphere, of either sex, white or
coloured, young or old, neophyte or veteran, whether serving in their
capacity as expounders of the teachings, or administrators, of His Faith,
as settlers or itinerant teachers, distinguish themselves by such deeds of
heroism as will rival, nay outshine, the feats accomplished nineteen
hundred years ago by that little band of God-intoxicated disciples who,
fearlessly preaching the Gospel of a newly-arisen Messiah, contributed so
decisively to the illumination, the regeneration and the advancement of
the entire European continent.
Shoghi
Letter of 22 July 1953
22 July 1953
ADVISE FERRABYS REMAIN ENGLAND MORE MERITORIOUS.
SHOGHI
Letter of 23 July 1953
23 July 1953
APPROVE SUBSTITUTION LINGALA LUBA MBUNDO TONGA FOR BUA WONGO LUIMBI SENA
RESPECTIVELY.
SHOGHI
Letter of 23 August 1953
23 August 1953
ASSURE VAKIL PRAYERS APPRECIATION. (Knight of Baha'u'llah to Cyprus.)
SHOGHI
Letter of 30 August 1953
30 August 1953
Dear Baha'i Brother,
Your letter of 5th August has been received by the beloved Guardian, and
he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
The contributions made by the British Baha'i community to the Shrine of
the Bab Fund and to the Baha'i International Fund are greatly appreciated.
Receipts are enclosed herewith.(74)
The beloved Guardian deeply values the unique and outstanding services of
the Baha'is of the British Isles. Through their devotion and sacrifice,
they are setting an example for posterity.
He wishes me to assure you that he prays fervently for the spiritual
confirmation of all of the friends of the British Isles; for their
material and spiritual welfare, and that every obstacle may be removed
from their paths of service, particularly during the Global Crusade.
The Shrine of the Bab is rapidly nearing completion. Its beauty and
splendour are difficult to portray. Certainly the Guardian very aptly
described the octagon, the drum and the dome as the triple crowns on the
Shrine of the Bab. Now that the glory and splendour of the golden dome is
revealed by the removal of all of the scaffolding, it is truly a golden
crown for the Shrine, and each time one looks at it, one becomes more and
more impressed that it is a symbol of the manner in which the Baha'is of
the world, led by the beloved Guardian, are crowning the Baha'i activities
of the past one hundred years by spreading the knowledge of the Glory of
the Lord throughout the world.
The Guardian sends his loving greetings to you all....
Letter of 31 August 1953
31 August 1953
APPROVE RETAIN YAZDIS BENNETT GUNG. FIVE THOUSAND WORD PAMPHLET ADVISABLE
INFORM AMERICA.
SHOGHI
Letter of 31 August 1953
31 August 1953
ASSURE LJUNGBERG DEEPEST APPRECIATION PRAYERS. (Knight of Baha'u'llah to
Faroe Islands.)
SHOGHI
Letter of 6 September 1953
6 September 1953
ASSURE AS_GH_ARZADIH LOVING APPRECIATION FERVENT PRAYERS. (Knight of
Baha'u'llah to Channel Islands.)
SHOGHI
Letter of 8 September 1953
8 September 1953
ASSURE BAXTER LOVING APPRECIATION. (Knight of Baha'u'llah to Channel
Islands.)
SHOGHI
Letter of 11 September 1953
11 September 1953
ASSURE DUNNING DEEPEST LOVING APPRECIATION. (Knight of Baha'u'llah to
Orkney Islands.)
SHOGHI
Letter of 22 September 1953
22 September 1953
ASSURE HASSELBLATT DEEPEST LOVING APPRECIATION. (Knight of Baha'u'llah to
Shetland Islands.)
SHOGHI
Letter of 4 October 1953
4 October 1953
ADVISE TAKE NO RISK OWING POSSIBILITY HIGHER OUTLAY. URGE SEARCH OTHER
PLACES AS NEAR AS POSSIBLE.(75) APPROVE HAINSWORTH SIX MONTHS LEAVE.
SHOGHI
Letter of 7 October 1953
7 October 1953
ASSURE UNA LOVING PRAYERS. (Una Townshend, Knight of Baha'u'llah to
Malta.)
SHOGHI
Letter of 10th October 1953
10th October 1953 ASSURE CRANEY LOVING APPRECIATION. (Knight of
Baha'u'llah to Hebrides.)
SHOGHI
Letter of 10 October 1953
10 October 1953
ADVISE ASSIST EGYPT BY PIONEER BRITISH SOMALILAND.
SHOGHI
Letter of 16 October 1953
16 October 1953
APPROVE _SH_OMAIS DEPARTURE ETHIOPIA.
SHOGHI
Letter of 16 October 1953
16 October 1953
ASSURE BATTAH LOVING APPRECIATION.
SHOGHI
Letter of 9 November 1953
9 November 1953
Dear Baha'i Friends:
In your recent News Letter the beloved Guardian noted some quotations from
the pilgrims notes of ..., and he wishes me to tell you that he feels it
is wiser, in such official organs as our News Letters, not to publish such
notes as, unfortunately, they often contain errors. He has recently had
occasion to call the American N.S.A.'s attention to this too....
His loving thoughts and prayers are often with you all.
Letter of 21 November 1953
21 November 1953
APPROVE SUBSTITUTION LANGUAGES REFERRED LETTER DATED NOVEMBER THIRTEEN
SENDING SECOND PIONEER HAS NO GREATER PRIORITY. REGRET OWING INCREASING
EXPENSES UNABLE EXTEND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE EXERCISE STRICT ECONOMY.
SHOGHI
Letter of 29 November 1953
29 November 1953
DISAPPROVE CIRCULATION STATEMENT MARRIAGE OWING GENERAL PRINCIPLE ALREADY
ESTABLISHED.
SHOGHI
Letter of 12 January 1954
12 January 1954
TRANSMITTING FIVE HUNDRED NATIONAL FUND SENT THROUGH LANGDON-DAVIES RUG
FROM BAHA'U'LLAH'S SHRINE AND PHOTOS FOR NATIONAL HAZIRA LOVE.
SHOGHI
Letter of 12 January 1954 (Teaching Conference)
12 January 1954 (Teaching Conference)
DEEPLY APPRECIATE NOBLE SENTIMENTS DEDICATION ATTENDANTS CONFERENCE.
ARDENTLY SUPPLICATING FULFILMENT HOPES ACHIEVEMENT UNPRECEDENTED
VICTORIES. DEEPEST LOVE.
SHOGHI
Letter of 9 March 1954
9 March 1954
CABLE NAMES LANGUAGES ALREADY TRANSLATED UNDER TEN YEAR PLAN SPECIFY ALSO
WHICH LANGUAGES PROCESS TRANSLATION.
SHOGHI
Letter of 24 March 1954
24 March 1954
ADVISE SEND PIONEERS PROMPTLY BRITISH TOGOLAND FRENCH TOGOLAND FRENCH
CAMEROONS. ORME SQUARE TOO EXPENSIVE. ADVISE TOWNSHENDS ABANDON PLAN
MALTA. EXPENDITURE HUNDRED POUNDS SOMALILAND INADVISABLE. PURCHASE SITE
INSIDE KAMPALA OR WITHIN THREE MILES.
SHOGHI
Letter of 7 April 1954
7 April 1954
FOLLOW LAWYER'S ADVICE REGARDING TEMPLE LAND OUTSIDE KAMPALA.
SHOGHI
Letter of 13 April 1954
13 April 1954
ASSURE PRAYERS BLACKBURN NOTTINGHAM.
SHOGHI
Letter of 17 April 1954
17 April 1954(76)
Dear Baha'i Brother:
At the instruction of our beloved Guardian, I am forwarding you herewith
his Convention Message.
He wishes you to have it read aloud to the assembled delegates, and then
published and circulated among the believers....
Letter of 20 April 1954
20 April 1954(77)
HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS GREAT VICTORY.
SHOGHI
Letter of 21 April 1954
21 April 1954(78)
Dear Baha'i Friends:
I am forwarding you herewith a copy of the Guardian's Convention Message
which was mailed you a short time ago. As there is a pilgrim leaving, he
is taking the precaution of having this mailed in Europe.
I hope it reaches you in time for the Convention....
Letter of 24 April 1954
24 April 1954
Dear Baha'i Friends:
The beloved Guardian has directed me to write you concerning the Island of
Malta. He attaches great importance to this Island, and wishes your
Assembly to see that the teaching work there progresses as rapidly and
efficiently as possible.
At the present time, it has again become virgin, according to our records.
Do you know if Miss Townshend intends to return? If not, your Assembly
should undertake to fill the post just as quickly as possible, with
someone else.
As you have become aware through the Guardian's Convention Message, he is
very happy with the result of the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade. He
is hoping that the second year will witness even more glorious victories,
and this time on the home front, as well as in foreign fields.
He would appreciate a report of the plans for Malta, as soon as possible.
In order to save him work, it is suggested it be sent to me. (Mr. L. Ioas)
The Guardian sends you his loving greetings....
Letter of 25 April 1954 (Convention)
25 April 1954 (Convention)
ASSURE ASSEMBLED DELEGATES ARDENT PRAYERS ABUNDANT BLESSINGS DELIBERATIONS
PROUD RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS BRITISH BAHA'I COMMUNITY CHERISH GREAT HOPES
FUTURE HISTORIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS DEEPEST LOVE.
SHOGHI
Letter of 29 April 1954
29 April 1954
WELCOME PLEDGE DELEGATES PRAYING SUCCESS ATTAINMENT GOALS.
SHOGHI
Letter of 3 May 1954
3 May 1954
European and Asian Committee
Dear Baha'i Friends:
Your letter of the 9th of Nur, 110, was received by the beloved Guardian.
As he has been tremendously busy during this Holy Year--and indeed his work
is increasing all the time--and there was nothing urgent that required an
immediate reply--he has delayed in answering you until he had more time.
He hopes that your committee will be able to gradually assist in the work
allotted to the British National Spiritual Assembly during the Plan.
The most important thing of course is to get the believers out into wholly
virgin areas, and keep them there. So far, England has done nobly, and he
is proud of their efforts.