On morrow of sixtieth anniversary of Baha'u'llah's Ascension share double
announcement with Baha'i world through all National Assemblies: The rapid
progress of the enterprise majestically unfolding in the heart of God's
Holy Mountain, and the steady decline in the fortunes of the remnant of
old Covenant-breakers still defiantly challenging the combined strength of
the Baha'i world community.
The termination of the Octagon, setting the second crown on the Holy
Edifice, synchronizing with last Naw-Ruz Festival, was followed by the
erection and gilding of the balustrade during the course of the succeeding
Ridvan period. Preliminary investigations culminated in the erection of
the scaffolding and the commencement of the construction of the Drum at an
estimated cost of thirteen thousand pounds, constituting the third unit of
the Edifice preparatory to raising the golden Dome. Experiments, prior to
the placing of the contract for the gilded tiles for the Dome, concluded.
Confidently anticipate the completion of all preliminaries, enabling the
builders of the mighty, sacred Structure to start construction of the Dome
on the morrow of the opening of the fast approaching Holy Year, paving the
way to the fulfilment of 'Abdu'l-Baha's prophecy, uttered in the dark days
of the First World War, envisaging the glory of the resplendent Dome
greeting the devout gaze of future pilgrims drawing nigh to the shores of
the Holy Land.
Old Covenant-breakers, untaught by the lessons of the past sixty years,
the reverses suffered in connection with the restitution of keys to the
Shrine, the evacuation and restoration of the Mansion, the devastating
loss in rapid succession of outstanding leaders and spokesmen, backed by
the support of the perfidious Sohrab, engaging the services of a clever,
hostile lawyer, unitedly challenged the authority conferred by
'Abdu'l-Baha's Testament, and instituted legal proceedings against the
Guardian of the Faith, questioned his right to demolish dilapidated house
situated within the precincts and constituting an affront to the Most Holy
Shrine of the Baha'i World, were rebuffed through the intervention of the
Israel government denying the competence of the civil court to adjudicate
the matter, subsequently threatened to appeal the government decision to
the Supreme Court, provoked the authorities who, in consequence of my
representations to both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, issued authorization to demolish the ruins.
Short-sighted action prompted by blind, uncontrollable animosity, resulted
in the irretrievable curtailment of long-standing privileges extended to
the Covenant-breakers during the course of six decades on the occasion of
the celebration of the Baha'i Holy Days.
The signal success in the removal of the ruins was immediately followed by
landscaping the approaches to the Shrine, the erection of a gate and the
embellishment of the surroundings of the Tomb of Baha'u'llah, long denied
a befitting entrance through the deliberate obstruction by the enemies of
the Faith. Public access to the heart of the Qiblih of the Baha'i World is
now made possible through traversing the sacred precincts leading
successively to the Holy Court, the outer and inner sanctuaries, the
Blessed Threshold and the Holy of Holies. Recent events prelude the
acquisition and development of over thirty acres of property surrounding
Baha'u'llah's resting place and are paving the way for the erection in the
course of future decades of a befitting Mausoleum destined to enshrine the
Dust of the Founder of God's Most Holy Faith.
--Shoghi
[Cablegram, June 11, 1952]