Haifa, Israel,
June 3, 1952
Miss Grette S. Lamprill, Secretary,
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand.
Dear Baha'i Sister:
The beloved Guardian has received your letters of December 20 and 21,
1951, February 12 and 26, March 11 and May 2, 1952, with enclosures, and
has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
As regards various matters raised in your letters, Mr. ... is now in
Khartoum, Sudan at the following address: Mr. ..., Khartoum. The reason
the Guardian knows this is that he has received a contribution from him
for the Shrine, which he has asked the Bank to trace back to the sender,
so that he can return it to him.
The Guardian suggests that you contact Mr. ..., and press him to discharge
his debt to the believer in Fiji whom he has so grievously wronged,
pointing out to him that surely, if he expects any forgiveness from God,
the first pre-requisite is to conduct himself honestly.
The Guardian was very happy to hear that as a result of Mrs. Bolton's trip
to New Caledonia, there is now a believer in that far-off island. He was
also very happy to hear of the close contact you maintain with the friends
in Suva, and considers that this is extremely important, as of course at
the New Delhi Conference, plans will have to be made for the unfoldment of
the Faith throughout all the Pacific Islands, and the more strong centers
we have to begin with, the better.
As regards World Religion Day, the Guardian does not attach any importance
to what date the meeting is held on. World Religion Day has nothing to do
with our Faith as such, but is merely a useful means of getting the public
together and bringing the Cause to them.
He sees no reason why Mother Dunn should not have a companion in the
Hazira, and hopes that she will settle down there comfortably and happily.
The sympathy you have expressed on the occasion of the passing of dear Mr.
Maxwell was much appreciated by the Guardian. Although Mr. Maxwell is
naturally missed very much here, the services God in His bounty enabled
him to accomplish for the Faith preclude any feelings of sadness, when we
think of the blessings showered upon him.
He urges your Assembly to constantly stimulate the believers to achieve
their goals. It would be a great pity if, after the success of their First
Plan, their Second historic Plan did not likewise culminate in victory,
more particularly in view of the fact that the New Delhi Conference will
involve the formation of work to be undertaken by eight National Bodies
during a ten year period.
Consequently all Assemblies, not only yours, but all National Assemblies
all over the world, should, so to speak, clear the decks for action, and
wind up their present business, so that they will be free to carry out the
much more important work that lies ahead of them.
The Guardian feels sure that the Australian and New Zealand Baha'is can
make and will make sufficient effort to consummate their Plan with
success. He is certainly sustaining them with his ardent prayers.
He assures you all that your labours are most deeply appreciated.
With warm Baha'i love,
R. Rabbani.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers:
Though extremely preoccupied, during recent months, with the constantly
expanding activities and manifold problems arising at the World Centre of
the Faith, necessitating, to my extreme regret, a considerable delay in
acknowledging your assembly's communications, I have been watching, with
close interest and ever deepening admiration, the progressive unfoldment
of the task which the community of the believers in Australia, New Zealand
and Tasmania are so valiantly shouldering. I have noted, with particular
gratification, the simultaneous advance made in the extension of the
teaching activities of the steadfast and self-sacrificing members of this
forward-looking highly promising community, as well as in the
consolidation of the institutions which they are laboriously establishing
throughout that far-away continent and its neighbouring islands. I rejoice
at the remarkable vitality, courage and determination which they are
increasingly demonstrating in enlarging the limits of the Faith and in
implanting its banner beyond the confines of that continent, over and
above the task assigned to them in accordance with the provisions of their
Plan, and in territories where they are destined to exert a notable
influence through their collective efforts and achievements in the years
immediately ahead.
As the Plan, to which they stand committed, enters upon the last stage in
its unfoldment the members of this community, however remarkable their
accomplishments have been in the past, must steel themselves and through a
supreme effort, endeavour to rise to still greater heights of dedication,
display in the pioneering field a still more compelling degree of
consecration, evince a still nobler spirit of self-abnegation, and a
greater awareness of the gravity of the issues at stake and of the
inestimable value of the prizes within their reach. That they may be
qualified to undertake a still greater mission, assume weightier
responsibilities and embark upon mightier enterprises, the adequate
discharge of their present duties and the fulfilment of their sacred
obligations is no doubt essential.
The multiplication and consolidaion of the administrative institutions of
the Faith of Baha'u'llah throughout Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania,
as its followers in those regions, must undoubtedly be well aware,
constitutes the primary foundation for, and the necessary prelude to, the
firm establishment of the institutions of His Administrative Order, beyond
the confines and in the neighbourhood of these territories, and amidst the
highly diversified tribes and races inhabiting the numerous and widely
scattered islands and archipelagos of the South Pacific Ocean.
The approaching Holy Year, a period of such unique significance in the
history of the Faith; the prospect of the active participation of some of
the elected representatives and members of the community holding aloft the
torch of the Faith in the Antipodes; in one of the most important
Conferences to be held during that year; their formal association with no
less than seven other National Spiritual Assemblies in the prosecution of
the colossal tasks that are to be initiated in South East Asia, in the
course of the coming decade; the manifold blessings which must assuredly
flow from the assumption of such a sacred function and in the course of
the development of so gigantic, so challenging and so meritorious an
undertaking, can surely not fail to galvanize the privileged members of
this community, constituting a vital outpost of the Faith, and occupying
such a spiritually strategic position in the world crusade soon to be
launched by itself and its sister communities in both the East and the
West, into action, at once so swift and decisive, as to add fresh lustre
to the annals of the Faith.
This community, now standing on the threshold of an era of unprecedented
expansion, and gazing towards the glorious future that awaits it, must
seize the priceless opportunities which these fast-fleeting months offer
it, and must not allow for a moment its vision to be dimmed, its
resolution to flag, its attention to be distracted or its faith in its
ultimate destiny to waver.
With a heart full of hope, and with an affection and fervour which every
forward step in the progress of its strenous labours serves to intensify,
I will supplicate at the threshold of the Shrine of Baha'u'llah to enable
His stalward followers championing His Cause in those far-away lands to
achieve a resounding success in the task they have pledged themselves to
fulfil.
Your true brother,
Shoghi.