On occasion of the sixty-first Anniversary of the Ascension of
Baha'u'llah, on the morrow of the opening, initial phase of the momentous
World Crusade, call upon His followers in all continents to allow no
slackening, nay, to insure acceleration of the marvelous momentum
generated by the historic celebrations climaxing the festivities of Holy
Year. The dispersal, immediate, determined, sustained and universal,
throughout the unopened territories of the planet, is the paramount issue
challenging the spirit and resources of the privileged prosecutors of the
Ten-Year Plan in the course of the current year.
All National Assemblies are urged to give it priority assignments in their
national budgets. The chief executors of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Plan, by virtue of
the primacy conferred in His Tablets, are accorded the prerogative to
stimulate the vital process of the dispersal through the dispatch, in
addition to their allotted tasks, of pioneers to the virgin territories
allocated to their sister communities East and West.
Once again I appeal to members of all communities to arise and enlist, ere
the present opportunity is irretrievably lost, in the army of
Baha'u'llah's crusaders. The hour is ripe to disencumber themselves of
worldly vanities, to mount the steed of steadfastness, unfurl the banner
of renunciation, don the armor of utter consecration to God's Cause, gird
themselves with the girdle of a chaste and holy life, unsheathe the sword
of Baha'u'llah's utterance, buckle on the shield of His love, carry as
sole provision implicit trust in His promise, flee their homelands, and
scatter far and wide to capture the unsurrendered territories of the
entire planet.
Would to God that Baha'i warriors, six score and ten, the number required
to fill the gaps in the still unconquered territories of the globe, will
promptly arise and enroll themselves to achieve the goals ere the
conclusion of the opening year of the decade-long, greatest collective
enterprise since the memorable episodes associated with the Dawn-Breakers
of the Heroic Age.
Planning to inscribe, in chronological order, the names of the spiritual
conquerors on an illuminated Roll of Honor, to be deposited at the
entrance door of the inner Sanctuary of the Tomb of Baha'u'llah, as a
permanent memorial of the contribution by the champions of His Faith at
the victorious conclusion of the opening campaign of the Global Crusade
which is destined to attain consummation at the Most Great Jubilee
commemorating the Centenary of the Declaration of His Mission. Anticipate
making periodic announcements of the names of the valiant knights upon
their arrival at their posts to discharge their historic missions.
Share message National Assemblies of the Baha'i World.
--Shoghi
[Cablegram, May 28, 1953]