To all the Hands of the Cause and all National Assemblies of the Baha'i
World:
Hail emergence of the unfoldment in the opening years of the second epoch
of the formative age of the Baha'i Dispensation of the august Institution
foreshadowed by the Founder of the Faith and formally established in the
Testament of the Center of His Covenant, closely associated in provisions
of the same Will with Institution of the Guardianship, destined to assume
in the fullness of time, under the aegis of the Guardian, the dual sacred
responsibility for protection and propagation of the Cause of Baha'u'llah.
Desire to pay warm tribute to the services rendered severally and
collectively by appointed hands at the World Center of the Faith and in
territories beyond its confines.
Greatly value their support in the erection of the Bab's Sepulcher on Mt.
Carmel; in reinforcing ties with the newly emerged State of Israel; in the
extension of the International Endowments in the Holy Land; in the
initiation of the preliminary measures for the establishment of the Baha'i
World Administrative Center, as well as in their participation in four
successive intercontinental Teaching Conferences; in their extensive
travels in African territories, in North, Central and South America, in
the European, Asiatic and Australian Continents.
This newly constituted body, embarked on its mission with such auspicious
circumstances, is now entering the second phase of its evolution
signalized by forging of ties with the National Spiritual Assemblies of
the Baha'i world for the purpose of lending them assistance in attaining
the objectives of the Ten Year Plan.
The hour is ripe for the fifteen Hands residing outside the Holy Land to
proceed during Ridvan with the appointment, in each continent separately,
from among the resident Baha'is of that Continent, of Auxiliary Boards,
whose members, acting as deputies, assistants and advisers of the Hands,
must increasingly lend their assistance for the promotion of the interests
of the Ten Year Crusade.
Advise the Hands of the Asiatic, American and European Continents to
convene in Tihran, Wilmette and Frankfurt respectively for the purposes of
consultation and nomination.
The Hands of the Cause of the African and Australian Continents must
exercise their functions in Kampala and Sydney respectively.
The Auxiliary Boards of the American, European and African Continents must
consist of nine members each, of the Asiatic and Australian continents of
seven and two respectively.
The allocation of areas in each continent to the members of the Auxiliary
Boards, as well as subsidiary matters regarding the development of the
activities of the newly appointed bodies, and the manner of collaboration
with the National Spiritual Assemblies in their respective Continents, is
left to the discretion of the Hands.
All Boards must report and be responsible to the Hands charged with their
appointment.
The Hands of each Continent in their turn must keep in close touch with,
and report the result of the nominations and progress of the activities of
the Boards to the National Assemblies in their respective continents, as
well as to the four Hands residing in the Holy Land destined to act as
liaison between themselves and the Guardian of the Faith.
Urge the initiation of five Continental Baha'i Funds which, as they
develop, will increasingly facilitate the discharge of the functions
assigned to the Boards.
Transmitting five thousand pounds as my initial contribution to be equally
divided among the five Continents.
Appeal to the twelve National Assemblies and individuals to insure a
steady augmentation of these Funds through annual assignment in National
Budgets and by individual contributions.
Advise transmit contributions to Varqa, Holley, Giachery, Banani and Dunn
acting as Trustees of the Asiatic, American, European, African and
Australian Funds respectively.
Fervently supplicating at the Holy Threshold for an unprecedented measure
of blessings on this vital and indispensable organ of the embryonic and
steadily unfolding Baha'i Administrative Order, presaging the emergence of
the World Order of Baha'u'llah which must pave the way for the
establishment of the World Civilization destined to attain maturity in the
course of successive Dispensations in the Five Thousand Century Baha'i
Cycle.
Airmail copies to all Hands and National Assemblies.
--Shoghi
[Cablegram, April 6, 1954]