Haifa, Aug. 8th, 1945.
Dear Baha'i Sister:
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer your letters dated June
12th, 15th and 25th, and to acknowledge receipt of the numerous enclosures
you forwarded with them.
As he has already expressed to you in his recent messages he greatly
regretted the tone of certain recent communications from the N.S.A.
He cannot too strongly point out to you all that any condition of
inharmony places in jeopardy the wonderful achievements recently made in
the spread and consolidation of the Cause in Australia and New Zealand.
The beloved Master pointed out over and over again that unity and love
among the friends promotes harmony and the rapid spread of the Faith, and
that when these are sacrificed and disputes, anger and violent criticism
take their place, the Cause cannot move forward.
The N.S.A.s the world over, owing to the spiritual immaturity of the
believers, must at the present time exert the greatest patience in dealing
with the friends; otherwise, as seems to be rapidly becoming the case in
Australia, the friends will take sides, bitterness will increase and what
started out as a small thing, (however unjustified and regrettable a
departure from the Baha'i spirit) will become a menace to the progress of
the Faith and definitely retard its progress.
He feels that Mrs. ... and Miss ... , both of whom love their religion and
are devoted to its promotion, should be called upon to forget and forgive
the past, and concentrate on serving the Faith. These are the ways in
which the Baha'is can demonstrate true spiritual nobility and detachment.
In such delicate and complicated cases, the N.S.A. should appeal to the
believers to put the interests of the Cause first, regardless of any
personal sacrifice of feelings this may require.
He assures you he will pray ardently for the speedy and satisfactory
solution of this entire matter.
With warm Baha'i greetings,
R. Rabbani.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers:
It is my fervent hope and prayer that the members of the Baha'i
communities of Australia and New Zealand, will, now that the machinery of
the Administrative Order of their Faith has been erected, redouble their
efforts to proclaim, with one voice and in a most effective manner, those
vital and healing principles for which the great mass of their war-weary
and much tested countrymen are hungering. This supreme issue must have
precedence over all other considerations, must be given immediate and
anxious attention, must be faced courageously and continually, and be
regarded by individual believers as well as their elected representatives
as the supreme objective of the manifold administrative institutions they
have reared and are still labouring to establish. Complete harmony, mutual
understanding, unity of purpose, coordination of efforts, prayerful
consideration of, and mature deliberation on, all the aspects and
requirements of this great and sacred objective can alone ensure its
triumphant consummation during these years of stress and peril through
which mankind is passing. May the national elected representatives of both
communities set a superb example to their fellow-workers throughout that
far-off continent, and enable them to win memorable victories in the
service of their glorious Faith and its God-given institutions.
Your true brother,
Shoghi.