The historic work initiated, at the price of so much sacrifice, in more
than one hundred territories of the globe, must not only be jealously
safeguarded, but continually expanded, and wisely consolidated. A
determined effort must be made to insure, as speedily as possible, the
resettlement of the territories which Baha'i pioneers have been forced to
abandon, and the opening of the three virgin islands situated in the North
Sea and in the Indian Ocean, as well as the six Republics of the Soviet
Union and the five territories included within the Soviet Orbit.
Particular attention should be paid to the all-important task of
broadening and consolidating the foundations of the newly emerged national
and regional spiritual assemblies, as an essential preliminary to the
formation of additional ones designed to buttress the fabric of a steadily
expanding Administrative Order. Simultaneous with the acceleration in the
process of individual conversion, the equally pressing need of
safeguarding local spiritual assemblies from dissolution and of increasing
rapidly their number, must continually be borne in mind, as the most
effectual means for the strengthening of the structural basis of the
Administrative Order of the Faith. Complementing this laudable task,
strenuous efforts must be exerted for the purpose of multiplying the
existing groups and isolated centers in all the continents of the globe,
insuring thereby the early attainment of the goal of five thousand Baha'i
centers in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The three remaining
Haziratu'l-Quds, the last two national endowments, the one remaining
Temple site, must, despite the present obstacles and the complications
that have arisen, be speedily acquired, whilst the unexpected setback in
the purchase of the Temple site in Frankfurt must be overcome. The
important two-fold task of translating and of publishing Baha'i
literature, constituting so vital an aspect of the Plan, must be
diligently pursued and rapidly completed. The construction of the Home for
the Aged--an institution designed to inaugurate the Dependencies of the
Mother Temple of the West--must without further delay be commenced. The
process of incorporating firmly grounded local as well as newly formed
national and regional spiritual assemblies must be given an unprecedented
impetus in every continent of the globe. The no less essential obligation
to establish the remaining Baha'i Publishing Trusts must likewise be
discharged. Strenuous efforts must be exerted to vindicate the independent
character of the Baha'i Faith through obtaining recognition by civil
authorities, in as many countries, states and localities as possible, of
both the Baha'i Marriage Certificate and the Baha'i Holy Days. Nor should
any effort be spared, however severe the challenge, to insure the
acquisition and preservation for posterity of the few remaining historic
sites in the Cradle of the Faith, and particularly those associated with
the incarceration and execution of its Herald in A_dh_irbayjan. The
equally meritorious project of transferring the remains of the Father of
Baha'u'llah, of the mother and of the cousin of the Bab to the Baha'i
burial ground in the vicinity of the Most Great House, must receive the
continued and prayerful attention of those on whom this sacred
responsibility primarily devolves. In particular a determined effort must
be made, now that no less than nine of the fifteen republics constituting
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are included within the pale of
the Faith, and especially by those Baha'i communities situated on the
periphery of this vast territory, to establish a nucleus, however small,
in each of the six remaining republics, all of which are now confined to
the European continent, as well as in each of the two islands and of the
three satellites included within the Soviet Orbit, thereby decisively
contributing to the consummation of one of the most challenging objectives
of this world-embracing Crusade.
Supplementing these manifold and pressing duties, which the audacious
prosecutors of this vast Crusade are now, with such modest resources, and
despite the smallness of their numbers, so nobly discharging, over so
large a portion of the globe, and at so turbulent a stage in the affairs
of mankind, is the no less vital obligation to insure through a still more
spectacular demonstration of world-wide Baha'i solidarity and
self-sacrifice, the means whereby the three monumental Edifices, each
designed to serve as a house for the indwelling Spirit of God and a
tabernacle for the glorification of His appointed Messenger in this day,
may, without any interruption, be raised and dedicated, in the European,
the African and Australian continents, and contribute their share to the
world-wide celebrations of the Centenary towards which every Baha'i heart
is eagerly straining.
Great are the strides that have already been made, and phenomenal the
success achieved, by the prosecutors of a thrice blessed Crusade--a Crusade
so closely associated with the epoch-making Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha's
Divine Plan, utilizing as its agencies the laboriously erected
institutions of an efficiently functioning, divinely-appointed
Administrative Order, and linking, as it forges ahead, two historic
centenaries commemorating the Birth and the Declaration of the Mission of
the Founder of our Faith. The tasks that still remain to be accomplished,
however, are truly formidable. Above all, the homefront, that must serve
as a base, and act as a reservoir for the supply of a steady flow of
pioneers and resources for the multiple organized operations of a
continually expanding Crusade, and which, alas, in several countries,
distinguished by an outstanding record of service to the Faith of
Baha'u'llah has been progressively declining, must, at whatever cost, and
within as short a time as possible, be revitalized, extended and
consolidated. More than ever its manpower must rapidly increase, the
administrative machinery it utilizes, and on which it relies, for the
effectual discharge of its Mission, must be assiduously perfected, and,
most important of all, its spiritual driving force must be constantly
reinforced through a firmer grasp by the individuals, ultimately
responsible for its progress, of the distinguishing verities and
fundamental purposes of their Faith, through a fuller dedication to its
glorious Mission, and through a closer communion with its animating
Spirit.