I feel moved, on this auspicious occasion, to pay a warm tribute to the
elected representatives, as well as the members, of the British, the
Persian, the American, the Egyptian and the Indian Baha'i Communities
which have participated, in pursuance of their respective plans, in the
opening stage of a colossal teaching campaign, constituting a vital phase
of the impending decade-long World Crusade, and aiming at the spiritual
conquest of the entire African continent. I desire in particular to
express to all those gathered at this conference my feelings of abiding
appreciation of the magnificent role played and of the remarkable prizes
won, by the small band of Persian, British and American pioneers, in the
course of the initial stage of this divinely propelled and mysteriously
unfolding collective enterprise, which has overshadowed both the Latin
American and European teaching campaigns launched in recent years, which
is destined to exert an incalculable influence on the fortunes of the
Faith throughout the world, and which may well have far-reaching
repercussions among the two chief races dwelling in the North American
continent.