Divinely appointed Institution of the Hands of the Cause, invested by
virtue of the authority conferred by the Testament of the Center of the
Covenant with the twin functions of protecting and propagating the Faith
of Baha'u'llah, now entering new phase in the process of the unfoldment of
its sacred mission. To its newly assured responsibility to assist National
Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i world in the specific purpose of
effectively prosecuting the World Spiritual Crusade, the primary
obligation to watch over and insure protection to the Baha'i world
community, in close collaboration with these same National Assemblies, is
now added.
Recent events, the triumphant consummation of a series of historic
enterprises, such as the construction of the superstructure of the Bab's
Sepulcher, the dedication of the Mother Temple of the West, the world-wide
celebrations of the Holy Year, the convocation of four Intercontinental
Teaching Conferences launching the Ten Year Crusade, the unprecedented
dispersal of its valiant prosecutors over the face of the globe, the
extraordinary progress of the African and Pacific campaigns, the rise of
the administrative order in the Arabian Peninsula in the heart of the
Islamic world, the discomfiture of the powerful antagonists in the Cradle
of the Faith, the erection of the International Archives, heralding the
establishment of the seat of the World Administrative Order in the Holy
Land, served to inflame the unquenchable animosity of its Muslim opponents
and raised up a new set of adversaries in the Christian fold and roused
internal enemies, old and new Covenant-breakers, to fresh attempts to
arrest the march of the Cause of God, misrepresent its purpose, disrupt
its administrative institutions, dampen the zeal and sap the loyalty of
its supporters.
Evidences of increasing hostility without, persistent machinations within,
foreshadowing dire contests destined to range the Army of Light against
the forces of darkness, both secular and religious, predicted in
unequivocal language by 'Abdu'l-Baha, necessitate in this crucial hour
closer association of the Hands of the five continents and the bodies of
the elected representatives of the national Baha'i communities the world
over for joint investigation of the nefarious activities of internal
enemies and the adoption of wise, effective measures to counteract their
treacherous schemes, protect the mass of the believers, and arrest the
spread of their evil influence.
Call upon Hands and National Assemblies, each continent separately, to
establish henceforth direct contact and deliberate, whenever feasible, as
frequently as possible, to exchange reports to be submitted by their
respective Auxiliary Boards and national committees, to exercise
unrelaxing vigilance and carry out unflinchingly their sacred, inescapable
duties. The security of our precious Faith, the preservation of the
spiritual health of the Baha'i communities, the vitality of the faith of
its individual members, the proper functioning of its laboriously erected
institutions, the fruition of its worldwide enterprises, the fulfilment of
its ultimate destiny, all are directly dependent upon the befitting
discharge of the weighty responsibilities now resting upon the members of
these two institutions, occupying, with the Universal House of Justice,
next to the Institution of the Guardianship, foremost rank in the divinely
ordained administrative hierarchy of the World Order of Baha'u'llah.
--Shoghi
[Cablegram, June 4, 1957]