The holding of this second series of Intercontinental Conferences, marking
the halfway point of the greatest Crusade ever embarked upon for the
propagation of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in both the eastern and western
hemispheres, signalizes the opening of the fourth phase of the Ten-Year
Plan. The first phase, covering the initial twelve months of this
stupendous enterprise, will forever be associated with the carrying of the
Message of Baha'u'llah to no less than a hundred countries of the globe.
The second phase, lasting twice as long as the first, witnessed the
acquisition of a remarkably large number of national Haziratu'l-Quds, and
the establishment, in numerous countries, of Baha'i national endowments,
complementing, through the process of administrative consolidation, the
striking enlargement of the orbit of the Faith in the course of the
initial phase of the Plan. The third phase, equal in duration to the
preceding phase, has been made memorable by the striking multiplication of
Baha'i centers, and the formation of no less than sixteen Regional and
National Spiritual Assemblies.
The fourth phase, the opening of which is now approaching, must be
immortalized, on the one hand, by an unprecedented increase in the number
of avowed supporters of the Faith, in all the continents of the globe, of
every race, clime, creed and color, and from every stratum of present-day
society, coupled with a corresponding increase in the number of Baha'i
centers, and, on the other, by a swift progress in the erection of the
Mother Temples of Africa and Australia, as well as by the initiation of
the construction of the first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar of Europe.
The phase which the valiant prosecutors of a Crusade, endowed with such
tremendous potentialities, are about to enter must, as this divinely
propelled, this highly beneficent, mysteriously unfolding enterprise
hastens past its midway point, and approaches the closing stages of its
world-wide operations, witness, in both the teaching and administrative
spheres, and in consequence of the impact, which, it is ardently hoped,
the deliberations and resolutions of the attendants at these forthcoming
Conferences will have upon the immediate destinies of this Crusade, an
upsurge of enthusiasm and consecration, before which every single as well
as collective exploit, associated with any of the three previous phases,
will pale.
I call upon each and every Hand of the Cause of God, previously or now
appointed, upon the entire body of the believers participating in this
Crusade, and, in particular, upon their elected representatives, the
members of the various Regional and National Spiritual Assemblies in both
the East and the West, and, even more emphatically, upon those privileged
to convene and organize these history-making Conferences, to bestir
themselves, and, according to their rank, capacity, function and
resources, befittingly prepare themselves, during the short interval
separating them from the opening of the first of these five Conferences,
to meet the challenge, and seize the opportunities, of this auspicious
hour, and insure, through a dazzling display of the qualities which must
distinguish a worthy stewardship of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, the total
and resounding success of these Conferences, dedicated to the
glorification of His Name, and expressly convened for the purpose of
accelerating the march of the institutions of His world-redeeming Order,
and of hastening the establishment of His Kingdom in the hearts of men.
--Shoghi
[October, 1957]
MESSAGES TO THE BAHA'I WORLD
1950-1957
A Supplementary Collection