LETTERS TO INDIVIDUALS, APRIL 21ST, 1926--APRIL 21ST, 1934.
The first combined National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia
and New Zealand was formed in 1934.
(10) August 12th, 1926
My very dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi has been in receipt of your interesting letter dated June
7, 1926. It is a great pity that your health has more or less handicapped
you in your service to the Cause. We, however, hope that this weakness
will soon vanish and your health and strength be fully restored.
The case of the teacher who has been in Palestine is one really to be
lamented. All such persons instead of procuring their information from the
very source, when they are so near to it, they go to the Missionaries who
are undoubtedly biased. They are immediately told that the Cause is
nothing more than a sect of Islam; a Movement that may do immense good to
the Muhammadan world, but far from ranking with Christianity or satisfying
its needs. Then they refer this ignorant and innocent person to books such
as Brown's. It is their fault for having gone to the wrong source for
proper information, but once they have gone it is not their mistake to
have been misled. We have heard of many such instances and there is
absolutely no remedy except to leave them until they find the truth for
themselves. We can only pray for their guidance.
Shoghi Effendi always prays for you as well as the other Auckland friends,
so that through your combined efforts the Cause may prosper there, and
obtain a strong position in the life of the people. I am not the least
familiar with the social conditions there, but I am sure there is a ready
field for active service.
Yours in His Name,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear fellow-worker:_
_I rejoice to learn that your dear sons are realizing gradually the
significance of this unique and mighty Cause, and my constant and fervent
prayer is that you may witness erelong the fruition of their slow yet sure
spiritual evolution. Persevere in your labours for I entertain and cherish
the brightest hopes for the future awakening of promising New-Zealand. I
shall ever remember the memorable visit of the first New-Zealand believers
to the Holy Land. Please assure them of my undying affection._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(11) August 12th, 1926
My dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated
June 7, 1926. It was most interesting to go over your circular letter and
read the many points of interest. I was especially struck by the
literature you have sent to Lord and Lady Allenby. If they have at all
seen them I am sure they were much impressed, for they knew the Master so
well. They were surely very astonished to see a group of Baha'is formed in
such a distant land.
I am very ashamed of myself not to have yet answered your letter of some
months ago. It was mainly because Shoghi Effendi wrote you and
acknowledged the receipt of your contribution for the pilgrim house that I
have been so neglectful. I took Miss Baker's advice on the matter and
together we went down-town and bought a set of straw chairs. We thought
that would be most appreciated by the friends while sitting in the veranda
of the new Pilgrim House.
I remember a prayer, which you wrote, has been asked by a certain friend
to be read daily. I believe sometimes the friends through their zeal and
ardour do things that are not asked in the Cause. We have only one prayer
that we have to say daily. No one in the world has the power, given to him
by Baha'u'llah to add another to that daily prayer. If we should admit
this the life of the friends will soon be spent in mere prayer, which is
not the aim of the Cause. The healing prayer and such ones are only for
occasional use when the need arises.
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to extend to you his hearty greetings and assure
you of his prayers.
Yours in His Name,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear fellow-worker:_
_Your letters are always a source of inspiring joy and stimulating
encouragement to me. You are destined to achieve great things for our
beloved Cause and my constant prayer is that your vision may be clear,
your purpose unshaken, your zeal undiminished, your hopes undimmed. Let
not obstacles and disappointments, which are inevitable, dishearten you
and whenever you are faced with trials recall our Beloved's innumerable
sufferings. You certainly occupy a warm and abiding place in my heart._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(12) August 25th, 1926
Dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated
June 14th 1926, and also thank, through you, the Auckland friends for
their kind contribution.
He wishes me to assure you and them of his earnest prayers. He hopes that
through your constant endeavours the Cause will progress rapidly in that
city and make the spirit of the movement permeate throughout the land.
Though your number is still comparatively small yet through divine
guidance and the Master's ever wakeful spirit you will soon add many to
your group and make of it a power for goodness which will attract all
attention.
With best wishes and kindest greetings I remain,
Yours ever sincerely,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear fellow-worker:_
_I am touched by this expression of the loyalty and devotion of the
Auckland Baha'is whose welfare, and spiritual advancement are the object
of my earnest and constant prayer. I shall devote it to further the
interests of the Cause in ways that are dearest and nearest to my heart. I
shall supplicate the Almighty that strength and wisdom may be given you to
face and overcome the obstacles and trials that you will inevitably
encounter in future. The end is glorious if we only persevere._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(13) September 18th, 1926
Dear Spiritual Brother:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated
July 18, 1926. He was very glad to learn of the encouraging prospects you
have for your "Herald of the South". He hopes that it will daily progress
and add to its importance in drawing the attention of the people there. A
good periodical fully representative of the spirit and teachings of the
Cause is the greatest help the Movement can have in establishing itself in
a country. So though difficulties may be found at the outset, we should
bear them patiently and await that the future should give us our reward.
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to extend to you his loving greetings and assure
you, as well as your mother and Mr Brewer, of his constant prayers. He
hopes that through your combined efforts the Herald of the South will soon
realise its aim and purpose.
Yours in His Service,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear and precious co-worker:_
_Your welcome letter has cheered my heart and I look forward with
confidence and joy to the harvest which you are destined to reap in the
not distant future. I shall be so pleased and grateful if you would send
me regularly a copy of your Baha'i periodical which I trust and pray will
grow from strength to strength and contribute its destined share to the
progress and consolidation of the Cause of God. Be assured of my prayers
for your happiness, welfare and spiritual advancement._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(14) October 23rd, 1926
Dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated
11-9-26. He was most gratified to learn that the Cause is becoming more
and more known and appreciated by the people in New Zealand. This is as
important as the actual increase of the number of the friends, for it
means that the principles are gradually permeating the thoughts of the
people and making them more ready and receptive to the full identification
of their beliefs with the precepts of the Cause.
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to assure you of his prayers for you as well as
for the other friends in New Zealand. He hopes that they will increase
both in number as well as in spiritual understanding and insight. The
reports that we occasionally receive from there are most encouraging and
hopeful. It seems that the people there due to their breadth of mind and
lack of traditional draw-backs show better prospect than many other
places.
With deepest loving greetings,
Yours in His Name,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear co-worker:_
_Your letter rejoiced my heart. I request you to persevere and renew your
splendid efforts for the consolidation of the work already achieved. I
have great hopes in the 'Herald of the South' and trust that the Editor
will be guided and strengthened in his noble undertaking. I shall be
obliged if you send me copies of any newspapers that may publish anything
on the Cause as I am preparing a collection of them in the Holy Land.
Please assure the friends in New-Zealand of my continued prayers at the
holy Shrines for the success of their pioneer work._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(15) November 3rd, 1926
Dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated
September 13th 1926. He was most gratified to read the nice and
encouraging news it contained.[+E5] He hopes that the "Herald of the
South" will daily increase in importance and now that it is coming out in
printed form, obtain a great number of readers. You should try from the
very start to maintain a high standard for its articles. They should be
broad in view, clear in style and scholarly in their development of the
different subjects. In short the 'public' should be taught to consider it
as a paper fully worthwhile to read and meditate upon. Shoghi Effendi will
remember in his prayers all those who are working in this noble field of
service.
Shoghi Effendi desires that you should extend his loving greetings to all
the friends in Auckland. He hopes that through their endeavours and the
Master's invisible guiding hand they will succeed to raise the standard of
the Cause in that land to such heights that it will arouse the interest of
all the seeking souls and in due time win their support.
The members of the Master's family are well and send you their loving
greetings.
Yours in His Service,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear co-worker:_
_I shall pray from all my heart for the steady development and the growing
influence of the "Herald of the South". May its voice grow in strength and
power, and may its pages increasingly reflect the dynamic spirit of the
Faith and mirror forth the ever-expanding activities of the friends in
Australasia as well as in distant lands. Persevere in your efforts, let
not obstacles damp your zeal and determination and rest assured that the
Power of God which is reinforcing your efforts will in the end triumph and
enable you to fulfil your cherished desire._
_Shoghi_
(16) January 11th, 1927
Dear Baha'i Sister,
Our beloved Guardian has asked me to write to you for him. He is very
pleased with your letter of Dec. 8th which reached him on Jan. 10th and he
is very glad to hear of your activities in New Zealand. He will pray
earnestly that your sincere efforts to make Baha'u'llah's Revelation
widely known will bring forth much fruit and have a great result. In the
newer countries minds are more open, and the people more ready and willing
to receive this Great Message.
With regard to the Queen of Rumania's 3 articles--he will see that you
receive them correctly. He considers the last one in which she
acknowledges Muhammad as a true Prophet of God to have great importance
for the East and especially in Persia. This evening, I personally have had
a most interesting conversation with Dr. Habib of Kermanshah[+E6] who is
now on a visit to Shoghi Effendi with his wife and little girl. He was
telling us of the continued fanaticism of the Moslems of Persia--and how
during two periods of the year especially, the fanatical Mullahs preach
against the Baha'is from their pulpits--saying to the ignorant "No matter
what evil things you have done during your life, or what sins you have
committed, if you kill a Baha'i who is an enemy of Islam, or even if you
take his property or severely injure him, all your own sins will be wiped
out and forgiven for the sake of this good deed of destroying an enemy of
the Faith!!"--in this way they incite the people to deeds of violence and
persecution. He said that the Baha'i teachings are spreading rapidly
amongst the more educated classes--but it is difficult to teach the very
poor and ignorant fanatical people--tho' when they do become Believers,
they are very strong and faithful. The 2 periods of particular danger for
the Baha'is in Persia are the fast month and the period of
Moharram[+E7]--which lasts for 8 weeks.
Shoghi Effendi is very interested to hear of the engagement of your son to
a Baha'i young lady--and he prays that in future they may do a great work
for the "Cause". He hopes so much that you will recover your full health
and strength, and he will pray especially for that. It is good to know
that Esperanto is increasingly studied in New Zealand.
He will certainly pray for Miss Palter(2) and her Mother as you ask him to
do--and also for your dear son and your two daughters. Please accept all
best wishes from myself and Believe me
Yours in His Service,
Ethel J. Rosenberg
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear and able co-worker:_
_I have read the issues of the "Herald" with deep joy and thankfulness. I
will continue to pray at the holy shrines that the invincible power of
Baha'u'llah may add to your present opportunities, extend the sphere of
the Journal, and enable you, individually and collectively, to mirror
forth the beauty and the power of this Divine Revelation._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(17) January 30th, 1927
Dear Baha'i Sister,
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to thank you for the M.O. for L1--which he has
safely received, sent for the help of the sufferers in Persia.
He is himself sending this money to the Nat. Assembly in Teheran, and has
requested them to send him the receipt for it--When he receives their
receipt he will forward it to you, and urges you to give it to the friend
who sent the money. The Persian friends will be very much pleased at
receiving this kind remembrance and help from far distant New Zealand!
With love and warm Baha'i greetings from the holy household and the
friends here, to the dear friends in Auckland.
In the Master's Service,
Sincerely Yours,
Ethel J. Rosenberg
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear co-worker:_
_I am deeply touched by this further evidence of the love and devotion of
the New-Zealand Baha'is and I will gladly forward their contribution of
our friend to the Teheran Assembly to be sent by them to the sufferers in
Jahrum. I will ardently pray for every one of you that the Beloved may
guide your steps and lead you to glorious victory. I urge you to
communicate regularly and frequently with the Baha'i newsletter editor
through Mr Horace Holley and report to him the progress of your
activities. It is so essential and valuable._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(18) May 13th, 1927
My dear Baha'i Sister,
I take pleasure in thanking you on behalf of my dear Guardian for your
letter of April 5th.
As a far away outpost of the Baha'i Faith in New Zealand, he is always
delighted to hear from Auckland and especially yourself and your promising
Assembly there. You own a warm spot in his heart and he is looking forward
to the day when through the efforts of the Auckland Assembly, centres will
be established in every town in New Zealand. A firm faith and a golden
heart is yours, there still remains to turn other hearts into gold.
Miss Butler is well and often thinks of you. Assuring you of our
Guardian's prayers and the love and best wishes of the family who always
remember you.
Ever yours in His Service,
Soheil Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear and precious co-worker:_
_You should exercise your judgement and tact in delivering the message.
You should make an effort to understand the character and mind of the
seeker before you speak to him on the Cause. I will pray that you may be
inspired and guided to follow the path of moderation and may become an
exemplary herald of His message in that far-away land._
_Your well-wisher, _
_ Shoghi_
(19) June 4th, 1929
Dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of Feb.
14th. He always feels great pleasure to obtain some news from the friends
of that distant land and he hopes and prays that through God's blessings
and your constant endeavours the Cause will develop in New Zealand and
bring into its fold many sincere and devoted souls.
The news that we daily obtain from the different parts of the world bring
in wonderful news of the progress of the Movement. The world is gradually
appreciating the significance of this Movement which has been for so long
misunderstood and denounced.
Yours ever sincerely,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear Spiritual Sister:_
_I wish to assure you in person of my prayers for you as well as the dear
and unforgettable friends in Auckland who assuredly occupy a warm and
abiding place in my heart. I eagerly await the news of the progress of
their work, and trust and pray that the Almighty may guide their steps,
and help them to surmount every obstacle._
_Shoghi_
(20) October 4th, 1930
Dear Baha'i Brother:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated
April 6th 1930 written from London. He was very happy to learn that
wherever you have been you have received wonderful reception from the
friends. Surely, it is only through such acts of hospitality that the true
spirit of the Cause is manifested.
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to assure you of his prayers and extend to you
his hope that wherever you go you will feel the divine help and guidance.
He hopes that in America you will experience the true spirit of love that
animates the friends there and that you will give them Shoghi Effendi's
greetings.
Yours ever sincerely,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear and precious co-worker:_
_I was much pleased to hear from you and to learn of your experiences. I
trust that the same welcome and loving-kindness will be extended to you by
the American friends. You are often in my thoughts, and I will continue to
pray for your spiritual as well as material welfare and advancement.
Convey, when you write to your Mother, my loving and affectionate
greetings._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(21) May 18th, 1931
My dear Baha'i Sister:
I thank you on behalf of the Guardian for your letter of April 16th.
He was very glad to know that you are now on your way to England by way of
America and he hopes that you will find the occasion and the means of
visiting the friends and making permanent connections with them. Bertram
will of course be delighted to meet you and we hope he is successful in
his work there.
I suppose you have all the London addresses as the friends there would be
delighted to meet you. Of course if you do decide to visit Haifa on your
way back, Shoghi Effendi wishes me to assure you of a most hearty welcome.
With his loving greetings to you all and to the young couple in England
and with much love from all here.
Sincerely yours,
Soheil Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_My dear co-worker:_
_I was so pleased to hear from you and of your plans. I do hope you will
be able to visit the Holy Land where you would be most welcome in
'Abdu'l-Baha's home. I will pray for the success of your efforts from the
depths of my heart when I visit the holy shrines. May the Beloved enable
you to render distinguished services to His Cause and remove every
obstacle from your path._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(22) December 17th, 1931
Dear Baha'i Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated
Dec. 2nd 1931. He is very sorry that you cannot on your way to New
Zealand, break your journey and come over for a short visit to Haifa. But
these are such difficult days that we should not be astonished and
discouraged if our plans fail. He hopes however that on your way you will
meet the friends, especially those in Port Said, for we have no centers in
Haifa and Colombo.
He was also very sorry to hear that Bertram has to give up his studies and
return home. Shoghi Effendi hopes that this period he spent in America
would be itself an education that would help him in his work in serving
the Cause. His activities with the young people there should have made him
very experienced and have deepened his understanding of the Faith.
I believe Mrs Dunn is planning to come this spring for a visit to Haifa.
Perhaps you will meet her before she starts, Shoghi Effendi is eagerly
waiting to see this noble soul who introduced the Cause into Australia and
has been so self-sacrificing in her services.
Shoghi Effendi hopes that on returning home you will start again to serve
the Cause and attract new souls. The world is in great distress and its
only salvation is in the spirit and teachings of the Blessed Beauty. Let
us not, we who are the trustees of that divine message, fail in
accomplishing our task and fulfilling our purpose.
Assuring you of Shoghi Effendi's best wishes I remain
Yours ever sincerely,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_Dear and valued co-worker:_
_I am wiring the friends in Port-Said to meet you on your arrival and I
very much regret your inability to come to Haifa and visit the holy
shrines. I will continue to pray for you, for your son-in-law and for your
dear and promising son for whose future work in the Cause I cherish the
brightest hopes. I will also remember in my prayers the friends in
far-away Australia and New Zealand and will supplicate for them all the
Master's richest blessings and unfailing guidance._
_Shoghi_
(23) April 29th, 1933
Dear Baha'i Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to thank you[+E8] for your kind letter of March
16th 1933, as well as the enclosed article which has been translated by
Mr. Paul into the Maori language.
The Guardian has already written Mr. Paul and expressed to him his deep
appreciation for the service he has rendered to the Faith, but especially
to his own people who through the means of such literature will be
acquainted with the teachings and will receive the light of guidance
brought to the world by Baha'u'llah.
I believe the Guardian has already intimated his approval of this pamphlet
and the desire that the friends in Australia publish and circulate it
among the Maoris.
As regards the passages in the sacred writings indicating the wrath of
God; Shoghi Effendi says that the Divinity has many attributes: He is
loving and merciful but also just. Just as reward and punishment,
according to Baha'u'llah, are the pillars upon which society rests, so
mercy and justice may be considered as their counterpart in the world to
come. Should we disobey God and work against His commands He will view our
acts in the light of justice and punish us for it. That punishment may not
be in the form of fire, as some believe, but in the form of spiritual
deprivation and degradation. This is why we read so often in the prayers
statements such as "God do not deal with us with justice, but rather
through thy infinite mercy." The wrath of God is in the administration of
His justice, both in this world and in the world to come. A God that is
only loving or only just is not a perfect God. The divinity has to possess
both of these aspects as every father ought to express both in his
attitude towards his children. If we ponder a while, we will see that our
welfare can be insured only when both of these divine attributes are
equally emphasised and practiced.
In closing may I express the Guardian's loving greetings and best wishes
for the progress of your work in serving the Cause.
Yours ever sincerely,
Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
_May the Almighty bless your efforts, deepen your understanding of the
essentials and distinguishing features of His Faith, guide your steps, and
aid and assist you to extend the range of your activities and services._
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_
(24) September 1st, 1933
Dear Baha'i Friend,
Shoghi Effendi has directed me to address you these few lines,
acknowledging the receipt of your welcome letter of July 20th, 33, which
he has read with deepest interest. He was gratified to learn that you have
newly embraced the Cause and that you are earnestly endeavouring to spread
it through every possible means. It is on young and active Baha'is, like
you, that the Guardian centers all his hopes for the future progress and
expansion of the Cause and it is on their shoulders that he lays all the
responsibility for the upkeep of the spirit of selfless service among
their fellow-believers. Without that spirit, no work can be successfully
achieved. With it triumph, though hardly-won, is but inevitable. You
should, therefore, try all your best to carry aflame within you the torch
of faith, for through it you will surely find guidance, strength and
eventual success.
The Guardian is fully conscious of the difficulties that impede the
progress of the Faith in your community. Chief among these, you mention
the lack of courage and of initiative on the part of the believers, and a
feeling of inferiority complex which prevents them from addressing the
public. It is precisely these weaknesses that he wishes the friends to
overcome, for these do not only paralyze their efforts but actually serve
to quench the flame of faith in their hearts. Not until all the friends
come to realize that every one of them is able, in his own measure, to
deliver the Message, can they ever hope to reach the goal that has been
set before them by a loving and wise Master. It is no use waiting for some
able and eloquent teacher to take all the responsibility for the spread of
the Cause. For such a thing is not only contrary to the spirit of the
Teachings but to the explicit text of the writings of Baha'u'llah and
'Abdu'l-Baha, both of whom place the obligation of teaching not on any
particular class, as in former ecclesiastical organizations, but on every
faithful and loyal follower of the Cause. The teaching of the Word is thus
made universal and compulsory. How long then shall we wait to carry out
this command, the full wisdom of which only future generations will be
able to appreciate? We have no special teachers in the Cause. Everyone is
a potential teacher. He has only to use what God has given him and thus
prove that he is faithful to his trust.
Visiting teachers, who are, at least in a general way, supposed to be more
competent and able than the rest, are undoubtedly of a great help. But
these can never replace the mass of individual believers and fulfil what
must be inevitably accomplished through the collective effort and wisdom
of the community at large. What visiting teachers are supposed to do is to
give the final touch to the work that has been done, to consolidate rather
than supplement individual efforts and thereby direct them in a
constructive and suitable channel. Their task is to encourage and inspire
individual believers, and to broaden and deepen their vision of the task
that is to be done. And this, not by virtue of any inherent spiritual
right, but in the spirit of simple and whole-hearted cooperation.
It is in this light that Shoghi Effendi views the whole problem of
teaching not only in New Zealand but in all the Baha'i world. He would,
therefore, encourage you to take a leading part in the carrying out of his
wishes on this point, to take yourself an active interest in teaching, not
only private but also public, and in this way stimulate the friends to
follow your example. It is then, and only then, that there can be a need
for a qualified and competent visiting teacher in order to bring to full
fruition individual teaching efforts.
Assuring you of our Guardian's fervent prayers on your behalf, so that you
may be increasingly blessed in your efforts for the spread of the Message.
Yours in His Service,
H. Rabbani
[From the Guardian:]
_May the Beloved guide your steps, cheer your heart, deepen your
understanding of the distinguishing features of His Faith and enable you
to render the sacred Threshold unique and inestimable services,_
_Your true brother, _
_ Shoghi_