Acclaim with grateful heart evidences of steadily accelerating movement of
pioneers, multiplication of conferences, consolidation of activities of
national committees, progress in preliminaries of internal ornamentation
of Temple, and formulation of teaching policy in southern states.
Overwhelmed by tributes paid my own humble efforts by stalwart company
whose championship of Faith of Baha'u'llah during last quarter century
provided greatest support and solace, enabling me to sustain the weight of
cares and responsibilities of Guardianship.
Impelled to plead afresh to ponder responsibilities incurred in
transatlantic field of service. Time is flying. First year of Second Seven
Year Plan is drawing to a close. Shadow of war's tragic aftermath is
deepening. Initial stage of colossal task undertaken in European continent
still in balance. Urge stress for entire community extreme urgency to
reinforce promptly, at whatever cost, however inadequate the instruments,
the number of volunteers, both settlers and itinerant teachers, whom
posterity will rightly recognize as vanguard of torch-bearers of
Baha'u'llah's resistless, world-redeeming order to despairing millions of
diversified races, conflicting nationalities in darkest, most severely
tested, spiritually depleted continent of globe. Prayerfully awaiting
response by all ranks of community to supreme call to fuller participation
in glorious enterprise.
[January 30, 1947]