of British subjects going out to territories that are under the
jurisdiction of other National Bodies, but difficult to get into, he feels
that they should be referred to the committees concerned, or the National
Spiritual Assemblies concerned, because of the importance of achieving all
the goals of the Plan, regardless of which Assembly has certain goals
under its immediate jurisdiction.
He assures you he will pray for the success of your devoted labours, in
the Holy Shrine.
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your meritorious activities, guide and sustain you
always, and enable you to lend a great impetus to the splendid work now
being accomplished in Europe and in Asia.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 6 May 1954
6 May 1954
Dear Baha'i Brother:
Your loving letter of April 30th has just come to hand, calling attention
to the fact that Olga Mills, one of the pioneers in Malta, is serving
there very actively. The beloved Guardian had been informed by someone
that she had left.
However, the intent of the letter of April 24th still remains--that no
pioneer should leave their goal unless for very urgent reasons. In the
case of Malta, this is a country which can only be settled by English
Baha'is, and therefore the Guardian feels it of great importance that any
pioneer who goes there should remain. It is hoped that it may be possible
for Una Townshend to return in due course, to carry on her work there.
The Guardian asks that you convey to Olga Mills his loving appreciation of
her devoted services, and assure her of his prayers in her behalf.
If Una Townshend finds it impossible to return to Malta, then the Guardian
hopes you can send some other pioneer to that important post....
Letter of 16 May 1954
16 May 1954
I am enclosing, at the instruction of our beloved Guardian, the original
title-deed of one-quarter of an acre of land recently purchased near the
resting-place of the Greatest Holy Leaf on Mount Carmel; and registered in
the name of the Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Baha'is of the British Isles.
The cost of this property was six thousand dollars.
He feels sure that the British Baha'is will rejoice to know that they now
have a part of the International Baha'i Endowments in the name of their
own special Israel Branch....
Letter of 4 June 1954
4 June 1954
British Africa Committee
Dear Baha'i Sister:
The various letters of your committee dated June 8 and 25, July 6, August
13, September 23, October 8, November 25 and December 31, 1953, and
January 27 (3), March 6 and 30 and April 20, 1954, with their enclosures,
have been received by the beloved Guardian and he has instructed me to
answer you on his behalf. As he has been in constant cable communication
with you during the past year, I will not go into many of the matters
which have already been attended to.
Of all the places in the world where the Baha'i Faith exists and is
spreading, the Guardian is definitely most pleased with Africa, and most
proud of Uganda. He feels that the spirit shown by white and negro
pioneers alike in that continent, presents a challenge to the Baha'is
everywhere in the world, and that old and staid communities may well learn
from, and emulate the example of, the believers of Africa, many of them
scarcely a year old in the Cause of God!
He feels that your committee and the British N.S.A. have every reason to
be proud of the work you have accomplished, and grateful for the blessings
you have received from on High.
It has particularly rejoiced his heart to see the way almost every goal
was attained at the last minute, before the end of the first year of the
Ten Year Crusade, many of these goals through the immediate whole-hearted
response of some of these new African Baha'is, themselves the spiritual
children of other African Baha'is--young in the Faith, but old in their
understanding of it.
The main task, now that the back of the pioneer settlement work has been
broken, so to speak, is the consolidation of these territories and the
maintaining of the pioneers at their posts. He is constantly urging all
National Assemblies to impress upon those who have gone forth to settle
virgin territories, the importance of staying there, and of only
abandoning their posts if they are forced to do so by the Government in
question, and not for some other reason. The friends have had such
difficulty in gaining access to some of these countries,--visas, housing,
expenses have all been such a problem--that once they get there, they
should really move heaven and earth to remain.
He is very happy that two of the Temple sites on the African continent
have been purchased, and feels that this will release a tremendous
spiritual impetus. He hopes that the Egyptian Baha'is will soon decide on
a site, and that will complete the chain for the time being.
Concerning the various questions you have raised regarding literature and
translations, he thinks that it is perhaps better to have a proper
introductory pamphlet on the Faith translated into ... and not give any
wide publicity for the time being, than to spend money translating a
lopsided presentation of the Teachings. However, he believes that, with
sufficient effort and good judgment, a pamphlet could be gotten out that
would neither stress too strongly the racial teachings, nor minimise them
too much, and could discreetly be used for teaching purposes in...
He has spoken very strongly to some of the pilgrims here about the
teaching work in that country, and impressed upon them that the whole
object of the pioneers in going forth to Africa, is to teach the coloured
people, and not the white people. This does not mean that they must refuse
to teach the white people, which would be a foolish attitude. It does,
however, mean that they should constantly bear in mind that it is to the
native African that they are now carrying the Message of Baha'u'llah, in
his own country, and not to people from abroad who have migrated there
permanently or temporarily and are a minority, and many of them, judging
by their acts, a very unsavoury minority.
He hopes that every effort will be made to get out a pamphlet in each of
the languages chosen, or those that you have substituted for a chosen
language. He fully realises that, in many cases, the people who speak the
language are illiterate, and, strictly speaking, do not require a printed
pamphlet in their own tongue. He considers however the psychological
values of having something translated into their own language, the
compliment implicit in it, so to speak, of great importance, sufficient to
offset the time, effort and expense involved.
He would like your committee to convey to all the pioneers, most
particularly the negro ones, the expression of his deep admiration of the
wonderful spirit that animates them, his feeling of affection for them,
and the assurance of his ardent prayers for their success.
Africa is truly awakening and finding herself, and she undoubtedly has a
great message to give, and a great contribution to make to the advancement
of world civilisation. To the degree to which her peoples accept
Baha'u'llah, will they be blessed, strengthened and protected.
He hopes that, whilst concentrating on the consolidation of the work under
your jurisdiction, you will give every assistance within your power to the
other National Assemblies who have difficult places to settle. The
Portuguese and Spanish territories seem to be the hardest of all to gain
access to. Any help your committee can give along this line would
certainly be rendering a great service to the Cause.
He deeply appreciates the work you have done, and your committee
achievements, during the past year, and assures each and all of you of his
loving prayers on your behalf....
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my loving and constant prayers for the success of the
efforts you are so devotedly exerting for the promotion of our beloved
Faith and its institutions,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 6 June 1954
6 June 1954
Dear Baha'i Friends:
The beloved Guardian has been greatly pleased with the reports he has
received of the progress of the teaching work in Oxford. He feels the
friends in that city have undertaken their responsibility diligently and
successfully.
It is his feeling that the Faith should be firmly established in
Cambridge, which is also one of the great centres of learning in the
British Isles. He understands that Cambridge is a goal city of the
Crusade, and he feels that the time has now arrived for the opening of
that city and the expansion of the teaching work there.
He would appreciate a report from you as to the progress of the Faith in
that important city. This report should be addressed to me, and I will
inform him of its contents....
Letter of 11 June 1954
11 June 1954
Dear Baha'i Friends:
The beloved Guardian has directed me to write you in connection with the
purchase of the Haziratu'l-Quds for the city of London. The Guardian is
very hopeful that your Assembly will be able to complete this important
matter in the near future.
In connection with the purchase of Haziratu'l-Quds, under the Ten Year
Crusade there are a total of 49 to be procured. 4 of them were procured
during the first year of the Crusade.
At the Guardian's direction, I have written the National Assemblies
involved, calling for the purchase of 17 Haziratu'l-Quds of the 45, during
this year. One of these 17 Haziratu'l-Quds is the one in London.
The Guardian attaches the greatest importance to the fulfilment of this
aspect of the Ten Year Crusade; and sincerely hopes your Assembly will
concentrate on the purchase of the Haziratu'l-Quds for London, so that it
may be consummated as soon as possible....
Letter of 17 June 1954
17 June 1954
Dear Baha'i Brother,
Your Assembly's letters dated June 10 (2), 17, 22 and 26, July 3, 7, 8, 9
(2), 16 and 24, August 17, 19 (2) and 24, September 17, 21, 24 and 25,
October 1, 8, 12, 22 and 28, November 13 (4) and 18 (2), December 10 (2),
12 and 23, 1953, and January 7, 20 (2), 21 and 22, February 17 (3), 19
(3), 21, 23 (2) and 25, March 1, 23, 24 and 25 (3), April 13 and 28, May
12, 21 and 25, June 1 (4) and 15, 1954, with enclosures, have been
received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you
on his behalf.
He regrets very much the long delays in answering the National Spiritual
Assemblies, but is finding it increasingly difficult to keep abreast of
his work. He feels sometimes that he will soon be forced to give up
correspondence with individuals, although he is reluctant to do so,
because so many of the new believers brought in during the present
teaching activities in Africa and other far goals are writing to him.
However, he has attended to a great many of your questions by cable, and
the visits of a number of English pilgrims have enabled him to send you
messages and to keep the British community in contact with the work in the
Holy Land.
He greatly appreciated the desire of John and Dorothy Ferraby to go out as
pioneers, but considered that it would weaken the work of the National
Assembly altogether too much. Important as the pioneer field is, if all
the most able workers go out, the campaigns carried on from different
national bases will become absolutely unwieldy for lack of adequate able
management.
The expression of condolences which your Assembly conveyed to him at the
time of the passing of Fred Schopflocher and Dorothy Baker, two dear and
trusted Hands of the Cause who could ill be spared from their work at this
time, touched him very much. Others must now arise, and through their
services seek to fill the gaps which such valuable workers have left in
the vanguard of the Baha'i host.
He would like you to express to the British pioneers on the home front,
whose names you forwarded to him, his sincere thanks. Their arising to
protect the goals which have been won by other pioneers at a cost of such
sacrifice and effort was noble and highly meritorious.
Speaking of pioneers, he was very pleased to hear recently that Mrs.
_Sh_omais Afnan had succeeded in gaining entry into Ethiopia. Her
perseverance in the face of a great deal of opposition is certainly
exemplary.
As he already cabled you, he did not approve of the statements you had
prepared for circulation amongst the Assemblies regarding Baha'i marriage.
Some of the remarks were incorrect in the first place, and in the second
place he is strongly against Statements! He wishes the friends to keep as
elastic as possible in administering the affairs of the Faith, while at
the same time adhering to fundamentals. He knows that at times this
inconveniences the National Bodies and makes their work more detailed, but
believes it to be the lesser, so to speak, of two evils.
He was very sorry to learn that dear Mr. Townshend's health is in such a
precarious state, and necessitated the return of his daughter from Malta.
His devotion is so single-hearted and touching, and his determination to
carry on at all costs is exemplary, and should inspire the young people to
follow in his footsteps.
When compiling the list of African languages into which the Baha'i Message
should be translated, the Guardian realised that certain changes would
probably be necessary--naturally the fewer the better. In this connection,
if you feel it advisable and not otherwise, he would like you to convey to
Dr. Berry, of the African Department of the School of Oriental and African
studies, his personal thanks for the valuable advice he has given your
Assembly, and his friendly co-operation. You might also, at your
discretion, extend his thanks to any other members of the Staff who have
assisted you.
He is very pleased that the Temple land has been bought in Kampala. Mr.
and Mrs. Elston are visiting here at the present time; and he has told
them he feels that at present the Temple land should merely be held in
trust, and all meetings continue in the Haziratu'l-Quds building. Should
this eventually prove too small, enlarging one of the rooms to accommodate
more of the people at the meetings might be considered as a possibility;
but any work carried out must be of a very economical nature, and he does
not think it is pressing at present, anyway.
I need not tell you that the work in Africa, and more particularly in
Uganda, is very dear to his heart. The progress made there during the last
year has borne him up and encouraged him greatly when he was often weighed
down with work. He feels that this country and its peoples, in the very
heart of Africa, are a most precious trust. Their receptivity to the
Teachings, their great desire to serve their new Faith, the number of them
who have arisen to go out as pioneers, mark them as a people apart in the
Baha'i world, at least for the time being. May many others in neighbouring
countries prove as worthy, and follow their example.
In dealing with people who are still backward in relation to our civilised
standards, and in many cases guided by a tribal system which has strong
orders of its own, he feels that you should be both tactful and
forbearing. There is no specific minimum age mentioned in the Baha'i
teachings at which girls may marry. In the future, this and other
questions unspecified will be dealt with by the International House of
Justice. In the meantime, we must not be too strict in enforcing our
opinions on peoples still living in primitive social orders.
The difficulty of getting a Baha'i into ... has now been temporarily
solved. The Guardian does not see why Baha'is should have to state to any
Government that the reason for their visit to a country is for the
purposes of teaching the Baha'i Faith. Most of the time, though not
perhaps invariably, this is calculated to arouse suspicion and opposition.
One has to deal with cases as they arise. A blanket rule could never apply
over so wide a field as that in which Baha'i pioneers are working.
Although the children of Baha'i parents are considered to be Baha'is,
there is no objection at the present time, for purposes of keeping a
correct census, and also ascertaining whether the young people are,
sincerely, believers, and willing to do their share in service to the
Faith, to asking them to make a declaration of their intention at the age
of fifteen or so. Originally, the Guardian understands, this was adopted
in America to enable young Baha'i men to make certain arrangements in
connection with their application for non-combatant status upon their
attaining the age of military service. There is really nothing about it in
the Teachings or in the Administration. Your Assembly is free to do as it
pleases in this matter.
Regarding the publication of a pamphlet on the Baha'i Teachings on
Monarchy, funds and circumstances permitting, the Guardian sees no
objection to this whatsoever. It might appeal to a certain type of British
mind very much, though he fears there are other minds to which it may not
appeal! However, considering Baha'u'llah has taught these things, there is
no reason why we should not share them with those interested in the
subject.
He is very sorry that it has not been possible to purchase the National
Haziratu'l-Quds yet. In spite of the fact that he attaches great
importance to this, he does not think that the cost should become
exorbitant merely in order to accomplish a goal before a certain date. The
Baha'is, not only in England, but all over the world, have embarked upon a
Plan which will involve over a period of years a very heavy expenditure.
Undoubtedly they will have to help each other; but they will scarcely have
the financial strength to help each other to the tune of extremely
expensive buildings, Temple sites, etc., in different parts of the world.
He has given instructions to Canada, Germany, Rome, etc., to cut down on
the proposals they made to him, because the price of these things in
different parts of the world, when added up, would be well beyond the
means of the Faith to meet at present. He feels sure that, however painful
and toilsome the process may be, you will eventually find a suitable spot
in London, and one that your Assembly, with the help of the British
believers and other possible contributions from outside as well, can
afford.
The remarkable achievements in the pioneer field, a field in which your
own Assembly has been far from backward, are a source of great
encouragement to all the believers as well as to him. The addition of one
hundred countries during one year is certainly history-making.
Now that the back of the foreign pioneering work has been broken, so to
speak, a greater measure of attention must be paid to the home fronts. The
consolidation work, though far less spectacular, constitutes a very
weighty task, and will require a constant measure of sacrificial effort if
the goals are to be fulfilled. He thinks that during the coming year
greater attention should be paid to the home front, while at the same time
maintaining the pioneer posts at their present standard, at least.
The principle is, and it should be impressed on the minds of all pioneers,
to hold their territory at any cost. Just because they have left their
homes, and gone out and carried the Faith to one of these virgin areas,
does not mean that the task is accomplished. On the contrary, nothing
could be sadder than that these newly-won territories should be lost after
a few months' effort. He hopes that in your correspondence with the
pioneers you will impress this fact upon them and make them realise that
to be a "Knight of Baha'u'llah" is not only a very high and pleasant
position, but involves a truly tremendous responsibility. To remain at
one's post, to undergo sacrifice and hardship, loneliness and, if
necessary, persecution, in order to hold aloft the torch of Baha'u'llah,
is the true function of every pioneer.
Let them remember Marion Jack, who for over twenty years, in a country the
language of which she never mastered; during war and bombardment;
evacuation and poverty; and at length, serious illness, stuck to her post,
and has now blessed the soil of the land she had chosen to serve at such
cost with her precious remains, every atom of which was dedicated to
Baha'u'llah. Perhaps the friends are not aware that the Guardian, himself,
during the war on more more than one occasion urged her to seek safety in
Switzerland rather than remain behind enemy lines and be entirely cut off.
Lovingly she pleaded that he would not require her to leave her post, and
he acquiesced to her request. Surely the standard of Marion Jack should be
borne in mind by every pioneer!
Regarding your question about including the Tablet of the Virgin in a
compilation of "Baha'i Scriptures" which you wish to publish--the old
translation is very poor and has many inaccuracies. However, the Guardian
has no time at all to retranslate it or correct it himself.
He leaves it to the discretion of your Assembly as to whether you wish to
include it in a compilation or not.
I am returning to you the list you sent with suggested corrections in
relation to the pamphlet your Assembly published last year--"The Baha'i
Faith 1844-1952, Information Statistical and Comparative". The righthand
column marked "Suggested", he considers quite acceptable. The places where
you have put question marks are correct, with very few exceptions which
the Guardian has corrected, in the column marked "As Listed", with the
exception of the transliteration of the name _Sh_u'a'u'llah, (Number 12)
which the Guardian has corrected.
Assuring you of the Guardian's loving prayers for the success of your
devoted labours....
P.S. July 28th. Your letter of July 7th has likewise been received.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
The achievements of the members of the tenacious, the valiant and
wide-awake British Baha'i community, within the borders of their homeland
and beyond its confines, in the course of the opening year of the Baha'i
World Crusade, deserve the highest commendation and have considerably
heightened its prestige and deepened my own admiration for it as well as
that of its sister communities in both Hemispheres.
Called into being through the dispensations of a watchful Providence, in
the middle of the memorable decade that witnessed the introduction of the
Faith of Baha'u'llah into the Western world; sharing with its sister
community across the Channel the distinction of being the first to be
quickened by the life-giving influences generated by the newly-established
Covenant of Baha'u'llah in the Holy Land; the recipient of untold
blessings showered upon it by the Centre of the Covenant in the days of
its infancy; singled out among the newly-fledged communities in both
Europe and the North American Continent through the twice repeated visits
of 'Abdu'l-Baha to the shores of its homeland; fully equipped with the
agencies of a divinely conceived Administrative Order, patiently and
laboriously erected by its stalwart members in the years immediately
following the setting of the Orb of that same Covenant; enriched by the
experience derived from the successful prosecution of two successive
nationwide Plans formulated by its national elected representatives, this
community finds itself, on the morrow of the termination of the opening
year of the afore-mentioned Crusade, simultaneously firmly rooted within
the soil of its homeland and vigorously branching out on the first stage
of its mission in foreign fields, and exhibiting, both at home and abroad,
evidences of a development that bids fair to eclipse any of its collective
achievements in the past five decades since its inception.
In both the teaching and administrative spheres of its ever-expanding,
swiftly unfolding activities, whether in the heart and capital city of the
Empire to which it belongs, or in the chief cities recently opened by its
pioneering members in the territories comprising its island home, or in
the diversified and far-flung dependencies of the British Crown in the
African Continent, this virile, forward marching, securely established
community has amply demonstrated its capacity to be regarded as one of the
chief strongholds of a divinely conceived Faith and one of the principal
bastions sustaining the fabric of Baha'u'llah's world-encompassing Order.