STATEMENTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.
These statements extracted from letters to individuals are not found
elsewhere in this compilation and are taken from letters written by the
Guardian's secretaries at his specific direction. The arrangement is
according to subject matter.
ALCOHOL (74)
You had asked in connection with the subject of prohibition. Of course in
every country one must take into consideration the exact conditions as to
whether by force of legislation people can be stopped from drinking, but
as a principle the Baha'i teachings are quite against drinking
intoxicating liquors and from the Baha'i point of view every thing that
helps to stop drinking is welcome.
(Extract, letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, December 30th, 1925)
EVOLUTION (75)
We cannot prove man was always man for this is a fundamental doctrine, but
it is based on the assertion that nothing can exceed its own
potentialities, that everything, a stone, a tree, an animal and a human
being existed in plan, potentially, from the very "beginning" of creation.
We don't believe man has always had the form of man, but rather that from
the outset he was going to evolve into the human form and species and not
be a haphazard branch of the ape family.
You see our whole approach to each matter is based on the belief that God
sends us divinely inspired Educators; what they tell us is fundamentally
true, what science tells us today is true; tomorrow may be entirely
changed to better explain a new set of facts.
When 'Abdu'l-Baha says man breaks the laws of nature, He means we shape
nature to meet our own needs, as no animal does. Animals adapt themselves
to better fit in with and benefit from their environment. But men both
surmount and change environment. Likewise when He says nature is devoid of
memory He means memory as we have it, not the strange memory of inherited
habits which animals so strikingly possess.
These various statements must be taken in conjunction with all the Baha'i
teachings; we cannot get a correct picture by concentrating on just one
phrase.
(Extract, letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, June 7th, 1946
"HERALD OF THE SOUTH"--(76)
Persevere 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.
(Extract, undated letter by Shoghi Effendi)
"HERALD OF THE SOUTH"--(77)
Effective teaching medium. ...Regarding the "Herald of the South"
magazine, Shoghi Effendi very much appreciates the fact that in spite of
the many difficulties that your Assembly had to overcome this review is
being regularly published, and that its standard is gradually improving.
He would call upon all the English-speaking friends to contribute, as
often as they can, such articles for publication in that magazine as would
serve to make it a more direct and effective teaching medium for the
spread of the Cause throughout Australia and New-Zealand. He is advising
the American N. S. A. to specially ask the cooperation of the American
believers for that purpose, and hopes that the response they will make to
this call will be such as to further encourage you in your splendid
efforts for the publication of this national organ of the Faith....
(Extract, ibid., pp. 12, 13, dated April 15th, 1936)
"HERALD OF THE SOUTH"--(78)
Difficulties. ...The Guardian, while fully aware of the difficulties, both
financial and otherwise which your N. S. A.(9) is facing in connection
with the publication of the "Herald of the South", feels nevertheless the
urge to advise you to continue with this magazine and not to feel in the
least discouraged if your efforts for meeting the expenses incurred for
its printing and circulation, and for raising its literary standard, do
not bring the expected results. He very deeply values the self-sacrificing
and sustained efforts exerted by your Assembly in this connection. May
Baha'u'llah richly reward you for all your meritorious endeavours....
(Extract, ibid., p. 16, dated September 23rd, 1936)
"HERALD OF THE SOUTH"--(79)
Psychic practices.
...In connection with the article published in the October number of the
"Herald of the South" entitled "Above the Mists"; the Guardian wishes the
believers to disregard such subjects as psychic practices and phenomena,
for these besides not being authenticated by the Writings of the Founders
of the Faith, pertain mostly to the domain of conjectures. The magazines
of the "Herald of the South" should be devoted to the study and
presentation of those subjects that reflect the spirit of the Teachings,
and which as such are worthy of consideration by the believers. As the
national organ of the Australian and New-Zealand friends its main function
is to assist in disseminating the knowledge of the Cause, and thus develop
into an effective teaching medium. This is the goal which the editors
should have constantly in mind, and which they should endeavour to attain
through the best possible means they can devise at present....
(Extract, ibid., pp. 25, 26, dated March 30th, 1938)
PHILOSOPHERS (80)
We must not take many of 'Abdu'l-Baha's statements as dogmatic finalities,
for there are other points which when added to them round out the picture.
For instance, when He calls Aristotle and Plato Philosophers of the East,
He is obviously placing them in that category because He believes they
belong more correctly to Eastern culture than to Central European and the
New World cultures of the West. When He calls the philosophers of the West
materialistic this does not for a moment mean He includes all Western
philosophers for, as you truly point out, many of them have been very
spiritual in their concepts....
Historians cannot be sure Socrates did not visit the Holy Land. But
believing as we do that 'Abdu'l-Baha had an intuitive knowledge quite
different from our own, we accept His authority on this matter....
The Guardian hopes this will better enable you to understand our wonderful
Faith--for a living religion it is, and not merely a philosophy!
(Extract, letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, June 7th, 1946)
SCOUTING (81)
As to the Scout movement, they afford a great disciplinary lesson to the
young boys and girls provided they are not prepared directly for the army.
In some towns here we have in some of the schools Scout troops who are
also students of the Colleges and it has proved to be a great educational
scheme for helping the development of the children but they are never
taught to carry arms or even the use of firearms. And furthermore they are
often taught the evils of war rather than encourage them to become in
future active soldiers with imperialistic designs. This of course is my
own personal view.
(Extract, letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, December 30th, 1925)
SOUL, MIND AND SPIRIT (82)
When studying at present, in English, the available Baha'i writings on the
subject of body, soul and spirit, one is handicapped by a certain lack of
clarity because not all were translated by the same person, and also there
are, as you know, still many Baha'i writings untranslated. But there is no
doubt that spirit and soul seem to have been interchanged in meaning
sometimes; soul and mind have, likewise, been interchanged in meaning, no
doubt due to difficulties arising from different translations. What the
Baha'is do believe though is that we have three aspects of our humanness,
so to speak, a body, a mind and an immortal identity--soul or spirit. We
believe the mind forms a link between the soul and the body, and the two
interact on each other.
(Extract, letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, June 7th, 1946)
APPENDIX: NOTES
Note 1. (Letter No. 1)
Margaret Stevenson, the first New Zealand Baha'i was born on November
30th, 1865. Her first intimation of the Baha'i Faith was through reading
"The Christian Commonwealth" and she admitted later that "she did not
think any more about it". She received this journal from her sister who
was in London studying music and had heard 'Abdu'l-Baha address the
congregation of St. John's, Westminster at the invitation of Canon
Wilberforce. She was so impressed that when another discourse given by
'Abdu'l-Baha at City Temple, London was printed in "The Christian
Commonwealth" dated March 27th, 1911, she sent a copy of the journal to
Margaret in New Zealand. In 1912, Miss Dorothea Spinney arrived in
Auckland from London and stayed with Margaret at her home, "Clunie", 3,
Cowie Street, Parnell where she talked about the Baha'i Cause and her own
meeting with 'Abdu'l-Baha. To quote Margaret's own words: "As a child, I
used to wish I had lived when Christ was on earth. As Miss Spinney spoke,
I remembered my childhood wish, and the thought came to me that I too
might have denied Him as so many others had done. It was this secret
thought that made me seriously think of what I heard from Miss Spinney,
and through God's grace and mercy I was enabled to grasp and believe in
Baha'u'llah and His Message".(10) Margaret spoke to others of her belief
and obtained literature from America, becoming a subscriber to "Star of
the West". Eventually a study group was formed in Auckland and for ten
years, Margaret's home was a venue for these classes. It was here that the
first Baha'i Feast in New Zealand took place in January, 1923.
In 1925, Margaret was one of a small group who journeyed from New Zealand
to the Holy Land on pilgrimage, and after an inspiring nineteen days in
Haifa, travelled on to England where she met with the English Baha'i
community. The pilgrims arrived back in Auckland in December, 1925,
bringing with them some dust from the Tomb of Baha'u'llah which was placed
in New Zealand soil at the Stevenson's home in a ceremony held on February
14th, 1926.
In such a geographically remote country, the early New Zealand believers
had scant knowledge of Baha'i administration and erroneously called
themselves an Assembly as early as 1924. This was corrected with the
receipt of a booklet on the subject and the first properly constituted
Baha'i Assembly in New Zealand was formed on April 21st, 1926, with
Margaret Stevenson as its Secretary. A steadfast worker, Margaret was a
member of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand which was elected in 1934, and served the Baha'i
Cause with faithfulness and efficiency until her passing to the Abha
Kingdom on February 11th, 1941.
Note 2. (Letter No. 1)
Born in London in 1855, Hyde Dunn was engaged in business in Britain and
continental Europe before emigrating to the United States. In 1905, whilst
at a tinsmith's shop in Seattle, he observed the shopkeeper in excited
conversation with a man who had just returned from the Prison of Akka and
the presence of 'Abdu'l-Baha; he overheard the quotation "Let not a man
glory in this, that he loves his country, but let him glory in this, that
he loves his kind". Hyde Dunn later recalled that "The words reached me
with dynamic force, its truth and power crystallised in my heart--a new
consciousness awakened... That one glorious utterance magnetised my whole
being, appealed as a new note, sent forth from God to His wandering
creatures--a Message from the Supreme to the sons of men".(11) Recognising
the Truth, Hyde Dunn interrupted the conversation, and accepted
immediately the Revelation of Baha'u'llah. The year was 1905.
In 1912, he was present at a meeting with 'Abdu'l-Baha in San Francisco
and declared it was the Master's "penetrating glance, his life giving
words, he felt gave him the power that enabled him later to become the
spiritual conqueror of a continent". Accompanied by his English born wife,
Clara, he answered the call of the "Tablets of the Divine Plan" and on
April 18th, 1920 reached Australia whence they travelled to New Zealand in
1922-3, not knowing there was already a believer there (Margaret
Stevenson). With their arrival in Auckland, the Cause grew in that country
and when Hyde Dunn left to return to Australia, Clara remained for a time
to organise a study group in New Zealand.
Known affectionately among Baha'is as "Mother" and "Father" Dunn, they
carried the Message of Baha'u'llah from New South Wales to Victoria, South
Australia, Tasmania, across the desert to Perth and to tropical Queensland
and became the spiritual parents of Australia. After "Mother" Dunn
returned from a lone pilgrimage to the Holy Land, "Father" was elected a
member of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand in 1934. After his passing on February 17th,
1941, "Mother" Dunn's dedication to the Baha'i Faith continued unabated
and in 1952 she was elevated to the station of Hand of the Cause of God by
Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith: "Father" Dunn was
subsequently elevated to the same station posthumously.
Despite her advanced years, "Mother" Dunn returned to New Zealand in 1957
as representative of the Guardian at the formation of the first National
Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand. In March, 1958, at the
request of the Guardian, she placed plaster from the Castle of Mah-Ku in
the foundations of the Australasian Baha'i House of Worship in Sydney
during the Australian Inter-Continental Conference. Until her passing to
the Abha Kingdom in 1960 at the age of 91 years, "Mother" Dunn retained
her memory of many Baha'i prayers and was reciting these at the time of
her death.
Note 3. (Letter No. 2)
The Blundell family: Mrs Sarah Blundell was born at Burwell,
Cambridgeshire, England in 1850, a year sacred in Baha'i history as that
of the Bab's martyrdom, and was destined to become one of the pioneers of
the Baha'i Cause in New Zealand. She received her early religious training
from her "Non-Conformist" father, a man whose strong convictions led him
to withdraw his seven year old daughter from religious instruction classes
at her boarding school. The feeling of isolation which followed caused her
to think for herself and she had the rare distinction of being one of the
first women to enter the Cambridge University Examinations in an age
prejudiced against the education of women.
In 1886, with her husband and seven children, she arrived in New Zealand
where she endured hardship and difficulties in a strange country. She
persisted in her unfettered search for truth and rejected several dogmas
until, with an open mind and a prepared heart, she read in "The Christian
Commonwealth" of 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to London in 1911 and sent overseas
for additional literature. When Mr and Mrs Dunn arrived in Auckland in
1922-3, Mrs Blundell invited them to her home, "Lymbury", Ridings Road,
Remuera to meet a group of twenty people whom she thought might be
interested. This was the first Baha'i meeting held in New Zealand and
shortly afterwards Mrs Blundell accepted the Baha'i Faith.
On hearing from Martha Root that Shoghi Effendi and the Ladies of the
Household were eager to welcome the New Zealand friends, Sarah Blundell
arranged to make the journey to the Holy Land in 1925 visit the Holy
Family, and the Shrines of the Bab, Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha, and to
meet in person many other Baha'is--this was "a crowning gift to one whose
spiritual path had been travelled alone."(12) She returned to New Zealand
after first going home to England to see her relatives and, at the
Guardian's suggestion, make personal contact with the English Baha'i
community. She continued to work unsparingly in New Zealand to serve the
Cause of Baha'u'llah until her passing at the age of eighty-four years on
December 20th, 1934.
One of her daughters, Ethel Blundell who accepted the Baha'i Faith in
1925, was a delegate to the first Baha'i Convention and was elected as a
member of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand in May, 1934.
Mrs Blundell's son, Hugh, was also destined to serve the Baha'i Cause.
Although not at that time a Baha'i, Hugh accompanied his mother and sister
on their pilgrimage to Haifa in 1925 and accepted the Faith the following
year. A tireless worker for the Cause, he was New Zealand's first
Auxiliary Board Member and passed to the Abha Kingdom on October 16th,
1976 in his ninety-second year.
Note 4. (Letter No. 2)
Effie Baker became disenchanted with the Church and, having an open and
enquiring attitude, was one of a committee formed in Melbourne responsible
for arranging speakers to address the "New Thought" organisation. This led
her to attend a public meeting at which Hyde Dunn spoke on the Baha'i
Faith and, recognising the truth of the Message, Effie Baker accepted the
Faith the same evening and so became the first woman believer in
Australia. She accompanied Martha Root on the latter's lecture tour of New
Zealand and, learning of the New Zealand Baha'is projected journey to the
Holy Land in 1925, Effie sold her home and joined the pilgrims.
After the bounty of visiting the Shrines and meeting with the Guardian and
the Greatest Holy Leaf, Effie acceded to Shoghi Effendi's request and
accompanied the New Zealand friends to London so as to contact the British
Baha'i community. She planned to return to Australia and assist the Dunns,
and had accepted an invitation from the Ladies of the Holy Family to stop
over in Haifa on her homeward journey, but on arriving there in June, she
found Shoghi Effendi was away from the Holy Land and so decided to wait
until he returned. Her offer to serve was accepted and she remained at the
World Centre of the Baha'i Faith in Israel for the next eleven years where
she assumed the duties of hostess, welcoming the friends to the Pilgrim
House, using her artistry and talent to photograph events in Haifa for the
Guardian. In 1930, when the need arose to secure photographs of places in
Persia associated with the early history of the Baha'i Faith, Effie
undertook arduous journeys by road through Syria and Iraq, undeterred by
danger from hostile bandits. This intrepid worker now embarked on an
exacting and fruitful period of direct service to the Guardian, often
using cars supplied by the Persian believers, at times travelling on
horseback, mule or donkey to all but a few sites where it was too
dangerous for a westerner to venture. The unique photographic record she
obtained was immortalised by being selected by the Guardian for inclusion
in Nabil's "The Dawnbreakers".
In 1936, Effie returned to her homeland, Australia, where she looked after
the National Archives over a long period. Her last years were spent in a
small flat in the Haziratu'l-Quds in Sydney at the invitation of the
National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand who had been
requested by the Guardian to take care of her until her passing on January
2nd, 1968.
Note 5. (Letter No. 15)
Mrs Amy Dewing and her son Bertram were among New Zealand's earliest
Baha'is; Mrs Dewing came from an orthodox Church of England background and
viewed with disapproval her son's questioning attitude which led him to
describe himself as a Rationalist. They heard of and accepted the Truth of
the Baha'i Cause after meeting with "Mother" and "Father" Dunn in
Devonport, Auckland and, in 1926, both of them served as members of the
first Local Spiritual Assembly in Auckland. Amy Dewing, as one of a small
and persevering group of New Zealand believers, was active in spreading
the Message as was her son through whose efforts a Baha'i magazine was
published in Australia and New Zealand to promote the teachings. Prior to
her passing in 1957, Amy Dewing witnessed the emergence of the New Zealand
community as an independent entity.
Having travelled extensively overseas, Bertram Dewing eventually settled
in Auckland. A tireless worker for the Faith, he was a member of the first
Local Spiritual Assembly in Devonport in 1951 and in 1958 was elected to
the second National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand. He
pioneered to Hokianga in the same year and a decade later assisted in
spreading the Faith to New Plymouth where he worked for the Cause with
unabated zeal until he passed to the Abha Kingdom in 1972 at the age of
seventy.
Note 6. (Letter No. 16)
Dr Habib, whose older brother attained martyrdom, was born in 1888 at
Kerman_sh_ah, Persia and was given the name Mu'ayyad (meaning 'confirmed')
by 'Abdu'l-Baha. At the age of twenty-one, when en route to Beirut to
begin his medical studies at the American University, he spent a month in
the Holy Land with 'Abdu'l-Baha who took a personal interest in his
progress. Thereafter he returned each summer to serve the Cause, extending
hospitality to visitors and pilgrims, recording daily events, acquiring
spiritual knowledge from outstanding Baha'i scholars and being entrusted
with the receipt and dispatch of Tablets. Referring to Habib's student
days, 'Abdu'l-Baha extolled the young man's influence, detachment and
sanctity, saying "the fragrance of Beirut" perfumed His nostrils.
After graduating from the University of Beirut in 1914, Dr Habib operated
a dispensary at Abu-Sinan, a Druse village northeast of Akka where the
Master had temporarily settled the Baha'is: this period of close contact
with the Holy Family and daily lessons from 'Abdu'l-Baha he was later to
describe as the "most precious segment of his life". In a Tablet to Dr
Habib's father, 'Abdu'l-Baha described this dedicated young Baha'i as "A
lamp enkindled with the love of God".
In 1915, responding to the Master's specific instructions, Dr Habib
returned to his birthplace to practice his profession and teach the Faith
to which he was so deeply devoted, and was for forty years a member of the
Local Spiritual Assembly of Kerman_sh_ah, also serving for a period on the
National Spiritual Assembly. His published works include two volumes of
reminiscences based on the principles of the Covenant and the history of
the Cause, whilst his much loved poem entitled "Hold Thou my Hand, O
'Abdu'l-Baha" is widely sung at gatherings of the Baha'is in Iran. Dr
Habib Mu'ayyad passed to the Abha Kingdom on October 29th, 1971.
Note 7. (Letter No. 16)
The Moslem calendar dates from Muhammad's emigration or Hijrah from Mecca
to Medina in 622 A.D. The Moslem year begins with the month of Muharram of
which the first ten days are observed by _Sh_i'ah Moslems as part of their
mourning period for the Imams. The tenth day is called A_sh_ura and
commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn, the grand-son of Muhammad, who was
cut down by thirty-three strokes of swords and lances and decapitated: his
clothes were torn from him and his naked body trampled by horses hooves.
Note 8. (Letter No. 23)
Mrs Emily Axford was born in Huddersfield, England on October 19th, 1870
and was an infant teacher before her marriage. In 1907, the family
emigrated to New Zealand where her husband practiced medicine in Te Aroha
until his passing in 1912, after which Mrs Axford moved to Auckland so as
to educate her three children. Having rejected conventional Christianity,
she was attracted by the New England Transcendental Movement until she
became aware of the Baha'i Faith through her friendship with Sarah
Blundell and was enrolled as a member in 1923. Three years later, Mrs
Axford was elected Chairman of the first Local Spiritual Assembly in
Auckland and for many years conducted classes in public speaking to help
the friends overcome their shyness and reticence so that they might teach
the Faith effectively. Emily was one of three New Zealand delegates who
attended the National Convention held in Sydney during 1934 and the
following year was elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand. She continued to work staunchly for
the Faith, being appointed in 1946 to the Regional Teaching Committee
responsible for formulating teaching plans throughout New Zealand. The
following year, she assumed the delicate task of conducting negotiations
with the immigration authorities so that Baha'is from Persia might be
permitted to enter New Zealand as University students, and was actively
engaged in this work up to the time of her passing on December 26th, 1949.
Note 9. (Letter No. 33)
Born in 1900, Miss Kitty Carpenter became a Baha'i in 1936 since when many
members of the Carpenter-Hancock family of which she is a member have
followed her and joined the Faith. An adventurous and enquiring soul, she
undertook her first pilgrimage to Haifa in 1938, arriving there shortly
after the marriage of Shoghi Effendi and, after living for two years in
Australia, she returned to New Zealand where she embarked on a life of
service to the Cause. Towards the end of the Second World War, she
willingly made available her premises (a counter lunch-shop) in Anzac
Avenue as a venue for the Auckland Baha'i community and, in the 1950's,
responded to the call by travel teaching in Mangakino and Whangarei. She
served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand
during 1958 and, two years later, moved from Christchurch to Hamilton to
aid in establishing an assembly there. 1964 saw her travel teaching in
Invercargill and the following year she was appointed to the National
Teaching Committee. Responding to the need for the believers to establish
another assembly, Kitty finally made her home in Tauranga where she is an
active and much loved exponent of the Cause.
Note 10. (Letter No. 37)
This refers to a book on Islam written by Bertram Dewing which was never
published.
Individual Addressees
Letters addressed to individuals by letter number. Only letters presented
in their entirety are indicated.
1. Margaret Stevenson
2. Sarah Blundell
3. Margaret Stevenson
4. Bertram Dewing
5. Margaret Stevenson
6. Margaret Stevenson
7. Bertram Dewing
8. Margaret Stevenson
9. Sarah Blundell
10. Sarah Blundell
11. Margaret Stevenson
12. Evelyn Watkin
13. Bertram Dewing
14. Sarah Blundell
15. Amy Dewing
16. Amy Dewing
17. Evelyn Watkin
18. Margaret Stevenson
19. ...(13)
20. Bertram Dewing
21. Amy Dewing
22. Amy Dewing
23. Emily Axford
24. Eleanor Leighton
25. Bertram Dewing
26. Ethel Blundell
27. Amy Dewing
28. Ethel Blundell
29. Emily Axford
30. Emily Axford
31. Emily Axford
32. Emily Axford
33. Kitty Carpenter
34. Emily Axford
35. Emily Axford
36. Emily Axford
37. Bertram Dewing
38. Kitty Carpenter
39. Bertram Dewing
40. Kitty Carpenter
41. Kitty Carpenter
Institution Addressees
Letters addressed to institutions by letter number
42. E. Axford, Auckland Baha'i Group
43. E. Axford, Chairman, Auckland Spiritual Assembly
44. M. Stevenson, Secretary, Auckland Spiritual Assembly
45. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
46. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
47. H. M. Brooks, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand
48. H. M. Brooks, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand
49. H. M. Brooks, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand
50. H. M. Brooks, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand
51. Auckland Spiritual Assembly
52. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
53. Auckland Spiritual Assembly
54. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
55. D. Dive, Secretary, Auckland Spiritual Assembly
56. Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Auckland, New Zealand
57. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
58. E. B. Dewing, Secretary, Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Auckland, New Zealand
59. M. G. Bolton, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand
60. J. Heggie, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand
61. J. Heggie, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand
62. J. Heggie, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of
Australia and New Zealand
63. Secretary, Regional Teaching Committee for New Zealand
64. The Guardian's message to the first Baha'i Convention in New Zealand,
sent to Mrs Clara Dunn; she was asked to read it on behalf of the Guardian
at the Convention and then give it to the New Zealand National Spiritual
Assembly
65. Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand
66. Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand
67. N. P. L. Walker, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is
of Australia
68. Secretary, Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the City of Auckland
69. National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand
FOOTNOTES
1 Rev. Oscar Blundell
2 Miss Palter was the fiancee of Bertram Dewing. The name is possibly
misspelled, and may be "Miss Patton". (Department of the
Secretariat, Universal House of Justice. August 16th, 1979)
3 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
4 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
5 Dick Alexander was the fiance of Miss Vera Dewing. (Department of
the Secretariat, Universal House of Justice. August 16th, 1979)
6 Fred Schopflocher was appointed Hand of the Cause of God in Canada
on February 29th, 1952.
7 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
8 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
9 The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New
Zealand
10 "The Baha'i World, Vol. IX, 1940-1944", pp. 600-602. Baha'i
Publishing Committee, Wilmette, Illinois, 1945
11 "The Baha'i World, Vol. IX, 1940-1944", pp. 593-596. Baha'i
Publishing Committee, Wilmette, Illinois, 1945
12 "The Baha'i World, Vol. VI, 1934-1936", pp. 496-498. Baha'i
Publishing Committee, New York, 1937
13 Unable to identify. Department of the Secretariat, Universal House
of Justice, August, 1979