Hail, with feelings of humble thankfulness and unbounded joy, opening of
the Holy Year commemorating the centenary of the rise of the Orb of
Baha'u'llah's most sublime Revelation marking the consummation of the six
thousand year cycle ushered in by Adam, glorified by all past prophets and
sealed with the blood of the Author of the Babi Dispensation. Evoke on
this auspicious occasion the glorious memory and acclaim the immortal
exploits of the Dawn-Breakers of the Apostolic Age of the Baha'i
Dispensation in the cradle of the Faith and the mighty feats of the
champion builders of its rising World Order in the Western Hemisphere as
well as the multitude of valorous achievements of the past and present
generations of their brethren in the European, Asiatic, African and
Australian continents, whose combined accomplishments during the one
hundred and nine years of its existence contributed to the survival of
God's struggling Faith, the reinforcement of its infant strength, the
safeguarding of the unity of its supporters, the preservation of the
integrity of its teachings, the enrichment of the lives of its followers,
the rise of the institutions of its administrative order, the fashioning
of the agencies for the systematic diffusion of its light and the
broadening and the consolidation of its foundations. Moved to express the
confident hope as the centenary celebrations now commencing, attain their
climax during the approaching Ridvan period, that the plans formulated by
the valiant members of the World Baha'i Community in the five continents,
may each and all, through their victorious consummation, add distinct
fresh luster to the world-wide festivities constituting the collective
tribute paid by the followers of the Most Great Name to the memory of the
august Founder of their Faith in honor of the centenary of the birth of
His Mission and the eternal glory of His embryonic, majestically unfolding
World Order.
Feel hour propitious to proclaim to the entire Baha'i world the projected
launching on the occasion of the convocation of the approaching
Intercontinental Conferences on the four continents of the globe the
fate-laden, soul-stirring, decade-long, world-embracing Spiritual Crusade
involving the simultaneous initiation of twelve national Ten Year Plans
and the concerted participation of all National Spiritual Assemblies of
the Baha'i world aiming at the immediate extension of Baha'u'llah's
spiritual dominion as well as the eventual establishment of the structure
of His administrative order in all remaining Sovereign States, Principal
Dependencies comprising Principalities, Sultanates, Emirates, Shaykhdoms,
Protectorates, Trust Territories, and Crown Colonies scattered over the
surface of the entire planet. The entire body of the avowed supporters of
Baha'u'llah's all-conquering Faith are now summoned to achieve in a single
decade feats eclipsing in totality the achievements which in the course of
the eleven preceding decades illuminated the annals of Baha'i pioneering.
The four-fold objectives of the forthcoming Crusade, marking the third and
last phase of the initial epoch of the evolution of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Divine
Plan are destined to culminate in the world-wide festivities commemorating
the fast-approaching Most Great Jubilee. First, development of the
institutions at the World Center of the Faith in the Holy Land. Second,
consolidation, through carefully devised measures on the home front of the
twelve territories destined to serve as administrative bases for the
operations of the twelve National Plans. Third, consolidation of all
territories already opened to the Faith. Fourth, the opening of the
remaining chief virgin territories on the planet through specific
allotments to each National Assembly functioning in the Baha'i world.
The projected historic, spiritual venture, at once arduous, audacious,
challenging, unprecedented in scope and character in the entire field of
Baha'i history, soon to be set in motion, involves:
Adoption of preliminary measures to the construction of Baha'u'llah's
Sepulcher in the Holy Land.
Doubling the number of countries within the pale of the Faith through
planting its banner in the remaining Sovereign States of the planet as
well as the remaining virgin Territories mentioned in 'Abdu'l-Baha's
Tablets of the Divine Plan, involving the opening of forty-one countries
on the Asiatic, thirty-three on the African, thirty on the European,
twenty-seven on the American continents. Over twofold increase in the
number of languages into which Baha'i literature is translated, printed or
in process of translation--forty in Asia, thirty-one in Africa, ten each in
Europe and America, to be allocated to the American, British, Indian and
Australian Baha'i communities, including for the most part those into
which Gospels have been already translated. Doubling the number of
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars, through the initiation of the construction of one
on the Asiatic and the other on the European continent. The acquisition of
the site of the future Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar on Mount Carmel. The purchase
of the land for eleven future Temples, three on the American, three on the
African, two on the Asiatic, two on the European, one on the Australian
continents. The erection of the first dependency of the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar in Wilmette. The development of the functions of the
institution of the Hands of the Cause. The establishment of a Baha'i Court
in the Holy Land, preliminary to the emergence of the Universal House of
Justice.
Codification of the laws and ordinances of the Kitab-i-Aqdas, Mother Book
of the Baha'i Revelation. Establishment of six national Baha'i Courts in
the chief cities of the Islamic East--Tihran, Cairo, Ba_gh_dad, New Delhi,
Karachi, Kabul. Extension of international Baha'i endowments in the Holy
Land, on the plain of Akka and the slopes of Mount Carmel. Construction of
international Baha'i Archives in the neighborhood of the Bab's Sepulcher.
Construction of a tomb for the wife of the Bab in _Sh_iraz. Identification
of the resting places of the father of Baha'u'llah and the mother and
cousin of the Bab for reburial in the Baha'i cemetery in the vicinity of
the Most Great House. Acquisition of the Garden of Ridvan in Ba_gh_dad,
site of the Siyah-_Ch_al in Tihran, site of the martyrdom of the Bab in
Tabriz, and of His incarceration in _Ch_ihriq.
More than quadruple the number of National Spiritual Assemblies--twenty-one
on the American, thirteen on the European, ten on the Asiatic, three on
the African and one on the Australian continents. Multiply seven-fold
national Haziratu'l-Quds, their establishment in the capital cities of the
chief Sovereign States and chief cities of the principal Dependencies of
the planet--twenty-one in America, fifteen in Europe, nine in Asia, three
in Africa, one in New Zealand. Framing national Baha'i constitutions, and
establishment of national Baha'i endowments in same capitals and cities of
same States and Dependencies.
More than quintuple the number of incorporated National
Assemblies--twenty-one in America, thirteen in Europe, twelve in Asia,
three in Africa, one in Australasia. The establishment of six national
Baha'i Publishing Trusts--two in America, two in Asia, one in Africa, one
in Europe.
The participation of the women of Persia in the membership of national and
local Assemblies. Establishment of seven Israel branches of National
Spiritual Assemblies--two from Europe, two from Asia, one each from
America, Africa and Australia. The establishment of a national Baha'i
printing press in Tihran.
Reinforcement of the ties binding the Baha'i World Community to the United
Nations. Inclusion, circumstances permitting, of eleven Republics
comprised within Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and two European
Soviet-controlled States within the orbit of the Administrative Order of
the Faith. Convocation of a World Baha'i Congress in the vicinity of the
Garden of Ridvan, Ba_gh_dad, third holiest city of Baha'i world, on the
occasion of the world-wide celebrations of the Most Great Jubilee,
commemorating the Centenary of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah to the Throne
of His Sovereignty.
Current Baha'i history must henceforth, as second decade of second Baha'i
century opens, move rapidly and majestically as it has never moved before
since the inception of the Faith over a century ago. Earthly symbols of
Baha'u'llah's unearthly Sovereignty must needs, ere the decade separating
the two memorable Jubilees draws to a close, be raised as far north as
Franklin beyond the Arctic Circle and as far south as the Falkland
Islands, marking the southern extremity of the western hemisphere, amidst
the remote, lonely, inhospitable islands of the archipelagos of the South
Pacific, the Indian and Atlantic oceans, the mountain fastnesses of Tibet,
the jungles of Africa, the deserts of Arabia, the steppes of Russia, the
Indian Reservations of North America, the wastelands of Siberia and
Mongolia, amongst the Eskimos of Greenland and Alaska, the Negroes of
Africa, Buddhist strongholds in the heart of Asia, amongst Lapps of
Finland, the Polynesians of the South Sea Islands, Negritos of the
archipelagos of the South Pacific Ocean.
The broad outlines of the world-encircling plan were divinely revealed.
Its course was charted by 'Abdu'l-Baha's infallible Pen. Its shining goals
have been set. The requisite administrative machinery has been created.
Signal has been given by the Author of the Plan, its Supreme Commander.
The Lord of Hosts, the King of Kings has pledged unfailing aid to every
crusader battling for His Cause. Invisible battalions are mustered, rank
upon rank, ready to pour forth reinforcements from on high. Baha'u'llah's
army of light is standing on the threshold of the Holy Year. Let them, as
they enter it, vow with one voice, one heart, one soul, never to turn back
in the entire course of the fateful decade ahead until each and every one
will have contributed his share in laying on a world-wide scale an
unassailable administrative foundation for Baha'u'llah's Christ-promised
Kingdom on earth, swelling thereby the chorus of universal jubilation
wherein earth and heaven will join as prophesied by Daniel, echoed by
'Abdu'l-Baha: "on that day will the faithful rejoice with exceeding
gladness."
Call upon fifteen Hands from five continents, by virtue of their supreme
function as chosen instruments for the propagation of the Faith, to
inaugurate historic mission through the appointment, during Ridvan 1954,
of four auxiliary boards one each continent, of nine members each, who
will, as their adjuncts, or deputies, and working in conjunction with the
various National Assemblies functioning on each continent, assist, through
periodic systematic visits to Baha'i centers, in the efficient, prompt
execution of the twelve projected National Plans. Moreover request
communities observing Baha'i Holy Days, solar calendar, celebrate with
befitting solemnity the approaching anniversary of Baha'u'llah's Birthday,
falling in the middle of the two month period during which, a hundred
years ago, the Author of the Faith received the first intimation of His
glorious Mission.
Advise American Baha'i community commemorate occasion by special gathering
in the Temple in Wilmette and urge attendance of as many believers as
possible and invite Hands of the Cause in United States and Canada to
participate as my representatives.
--Shoghi
[Cablegram, October 8, 1952]