Haifa, Israel,
June 13th, 1956.
Mr. James Heggie, Secretary,
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand.
Dear Baha'i Brother:
Your letters of November 17, and December 12 and 31, 1955, and January 6,
February 22, April 24, and May 27, (two), with enclosures have been
received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you
on his behalf.
He was happy to receive the pamphlets which you have had translated and
forwarded to him, and which is certainly a welcome addition to the
teaching work in the Pacific area.
He was also pleased to see that you have found a friendly architect, who
will cooperate in submitting plans for the future Temple in Sydney. He is
eagerly looking forward to receiving them. Since writing this, they have
been received. He was also glad to hear that another site had been
procured.
Repercussions of the Chicago Temple are felt everywhere, and the same is
becoming increasingly true of the Shrine. One single edifice, raised to
the glory of Baha'u'llah, shines like a beacon and attracts the hearts of
the people; no doubt many seeds are sown just through the act of people
visiting these edifices--seeds which in the future will germinate. It is
because of this that he is very eager to have the Australian one commenced
as soon as circumstances permit.
As regards the question the Auckland Assembly has asked about vivisection,
there is nothing on this subject in the Baha'i teachings. At a future date
such matters will no doubt be taken up by the International House of
Justice.
He is very anxious to have as many local assemblies incorporated as
possible; and was hence very pleased to hear that your Assembly is
energetically prosecuting this part of the Ten Year Plan in both Australia
and New Zealand.
The visits of the Australian friends to different centers in Australia and
New Zealand, as well as Mr. Featherstone's trip to some of the Pacific
Islands, have been much appreciated, and he feels sure that marked results
will be forthcoming. Although you who labour in that distant continent may
often feel that your work is progressing but slowly, the Guardian, from
the prospective that he has here at the World Center, is well pleased with
the perseverance, the devotion and the achievements of the Australian and
New Zealand friends; and he is proud of their spirit, and feels sure that
they will accomplish their goals.
He was very happy to hear that Mr. Marques has obtained permission to
remain in Timor. His background makes him a very important pioneer for
that area; and he is happy that your Assembly was able to make it possible
for him to remain.
The matter of the areas under the jurisdiction of a local Spiritual
Assembly is one which the National Assembly must study, and apply the
principles laid down by the Guardian; namely, that within a municipal
area, where the people resident in the area pay taxes and vote, the
Assembly can be elected, and holds jurisdiction. Anyone living outside of
that area is not a member of that Community, and cannot enjoy the
administrative privileges of that Community. Although this will affect
your Assembly roll, it will place the work of the Faith on a much sounder
basis, and increase the number of Centers where Baha'is reside throughout
Australia, which is an important phase of the work in any case. It will
challenge the friends to work harder to create new Assemblies and make up
for those dissolved; and he feels sure that in the near future the Baha'is
will be very proud of the results they have achieved through this change.
He is delighted to hear that the New Zealand friends are so eagerly
carrying on their work in preparation for their National Assembly next
year. Their coming of age, so to speak, will be a source of pride to all
their fellow National Assemblies, and they will form a welcome addition to
the pillars which must ultimately sustain the International House of
Justice.
Regarding the question of capital punishment, provision is made for it in
the Aqdas, but this is not the time to go into details. When the Aqdas is
promulgated and the House of Justice comes into being will be the time to
go into these matters in greater detail. For the present they should be
given no publicity.
Assuring you all of his loving prayers for the success of the work you are
doing.
With warmest greetings,
R. Rabbani.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers:
My heart overflows with gratitude, and my admiration is heightened, as I
contemplate the range and quality of the achievements of the devoted and
valiant adherents of the Faith in the Antipodes, who have in recent years
so greatly embellished the record of their services and contributed so
remarkably to the progress of the institutions of a divinely appointed
Administrative order in that far-away continent.
The entire Baha'i world beholds with pride and admiration the great
victories won by the Australian and New-Zealand communities, both in their
homelands and in so many islands of the Pacific Ocean, and shares my
confidence that their historic accomplishments, particularly since the
inception of the Ten-Year Plan, are but a prelude to still nobler exploits
and still mightier victories.
Their exemplary loyalty to the Faith they have so eagerly embraced, their
keen enthusiasm, their persistent endeavours, their willingness to
sacrifice, their inflexible resolve to surmount every obstacle, their
unity and solidarity, their optimism and courage, are assets which I
greatly value, and for which I cannot but feel deeply grateful.
Much indeed has been achieved by these stalwart defenders and promoters of
the Faith of Baha'u'llah! To an extent which they themselves cannot
estimate their individual and collective achievements, in both the
teaching and administrative spheres of Baha'i activity, have compensated
for the enforced inactivity and the disabilities suffered by their sorely
tried brethren in Persia. The first and second phases of the Ten-Year Plan
owe, to a very notable degree, their success to the impetus which the
splendid initiative and remarkable resourcefulness displayed by the
members of these communities has lent to the onward march of the Faith in
that continent. In more than one way these communities, through their
consecrated efforts and the tangible results they have achieved, have set
an inspiring example to their sister communities in both the East and the
West. The Author of the Divine Plan, Himself, who during the closing years
of His ministry, witnessed the awakening of that vast continent, rejoices
over and applauds the rapidity with which the light of His Father's Faith
has spread over and enveloped that continent and its neighbouring islands.
Much, however still remains to be achieved before the laurels of total and
complete victory are claimed.
The precarious situation in some of the newly opened territories allotted
to your assembly must be given first consideration and should be speedily
remedied. Any, and every nucleus formed in those islands must be
vigilantly safeguarded, and, if possible, constantly enlarged and
consolidated.
Special attention, during the opening year of the third phase of the Plan,
must be prayerfully accorded to the extension and consolidation of the
homefront, with particular emphasis on the rapid increase in the number of
the adherents of the Faith, and the multiplication of isolated centres,
groups and assemblies. The process of incorporation, so long held in
abeyance, must be accelerated by every means possible.
A supreme effort must be made, in the course of the current year, in
conjunction with the Indian National Spiritual Assembly, to bring to an
early and successful conclusion the translation of Baha'i literature into
the languages listed in the Plan, thereby assuring the attainment of one
of its vital objectives.
Particular attention should be devoted to the urgent needs of the New
Zealand Baha'i community, through the formulation of a plan which will
enable it to swell the number of its administrative institutions,
enlarging and reinforcing thereby the foundations on which its forthcoming
National Assembly must ultimately rest.
The goals which both communities are called upon, at this crucial hour in
the evolution of the Plan, to achieve have been clearly defined and
repeatedly emphasized. The task, however, is vast and arduous. The effort
that must needs be exerted by the rank and file of the believers is
immense. The challenge that must needs be met is severe. The promise of
eventual victory, if the army of Baha'u'llah's Crusaders persevere in
their mission, is clear and unmistakeable.
The need of the present hour, as these communities enter upon the third,
and, what promises to be, the most brilliant phase of a World Spiritual
Crusade, is a still greater consecration to the Cause of Baha'u'llah in
all its aspects, and a renewed dedication in all the divers fields of
Baha'i activity.
That the members of the Australian and New Zealand communities will
unanimously rise to the present occasion, that they will not allow any
consideration whatever to deflect them from their high purpose in the days
to come, that they will expend every ounce of energy for the attainment of
these shining goals, is the deepest longing of my heart and the object of
my ardent prayers.
Shoghi.