Overjoyed, grateful, proud of notable expansion of manifold activities in
three continents. Vital significance of preeminent objective in European
continent cannot be overemphasized. Intense, sustained, self-sacrificing
efforts aimed at rapid consolidation of American Community's recently
initiated fate-laden transatlantic enterprise are urgent, imperative,
highly meritorious. Praying for such demonstration of heroism as will
outshine exploits illuminating pages of American Baha'i history in
continents of Western Hemisphere.
[March 24, 1947]
PARTICIPATION IN SECOND SEVEN YEAR PLAN
[MESSAGE TO 1947 CONVENTION]
My heart is filled with delight, wonder, pride and gratitude in
contemplation of the peace-time exploits, in both hemispheres, of the
world community of the followers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, triumphantly
emerging from the crucible of global war and moving irresistibly into the
second epoch of the Formative Age of the Baha'i Dispensation.
The opening years of the second century of the Baha'i Era, synchronizing
with concluding stage of the memorable quarter-century elapsed since the
termination of the Heroic Age of the Faith, have been distinguished by a
compelling demonstration by the entire body of believers, headed by the
valorous American Baha'i Community, of solidarity, resolve and
self-sacrifice as well as by a magnificent record of systematic,
world-wide achievements.
The three years since the celebration of the Centenary have been
characterized by a simultaneous process of internal consolidation and
steady enlargement of the orbit of a fast-evolving Administrative Order.
These years witnessed, first, the astounding resurgence of a
war-devastated Baha'i community of Central Europe, the rehabilitation of
the communities in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Far East;
second, the inauguration of a new Seven Year Plan by the American Baha'i
Community destined to culminate with the Centenary of the Birth of
Baha'u'llah's Prophetic Mission, aiming at the formation of three national
assemblies in Latin America and the Dominion of Canada, at completion of
the holiest House of Worship in the Baha'i world, and at the erection of
the structure of the Administrative Order in ten sovereign states of the
European continent; and third, the formulation by the British, the Indian
and the Persian National Assemblies of Six Year, Four and One-Half Year,
and Forty-Five Month Plans respectively, culminating with the Centenary of
the Bab's Martyrdom and pledged to establish nineteen spiritual assemblies
in the British Isles, double the number of assemblies in the Indian
subcontinent, establish ninety-five new centers of the Faith in Persia,
convert the groups in Bahrein, Mecca and Kabul into assemblies and plant
the banner of the Faith in the Arabian territories of Yemen, Oman, Ahsa
and Kuweit.
Moreover, the number of countries opened to the onsweeping Faith, and the
number of languages in which its literature has been translated and
printed, is now raised to eighty-three and forty-seven, respectively. Four
additional countries are in process of enrollment. Translations into
fifteen other languages are being undertaken. No less than seventeen
thousand pounds have accumulated for the international relief of
war-afflicted Baha'i communities of East and West. The Baha'i endowments
on the North American continent have now passed the two million dollar
mark. The value of the endowments recently acquired at the World Center of
the Faith, dedicated to the Shrines, are estimated at thirty-five thousand
pounds. Baha'i literature has been disseminated as far north as Upernavik,
Greenland, above the Arctic Circle. The Baha'i message has been broadcast
by radio as far south as Magallanes. The area of land dedicated to the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar of Persia has increased by almost a quarter-million
square meters. The number of localities in the Antipodes where Baha'is
reside has been raised to thirty-five, spread over Australia, New Zealand
and Tasmania. Twenty-seven assemblies are functioning in Latin America. In
over a hundred localities Baha'is are resident in Central and South
America, almost double the localities at opening of the first Seven Year
Plan. Historic Latin American conferences have been held in Buenos Aires
and Panama. Summer schools are established in Argentina and Chile. Land
has been offered in Chile for site of the first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar of
Latin America. Additional assemblies have been incorporated in Paraguay
and Colombia. Seven others are in process of incorporation. A notable
impetus has been lent this world-redeeming Message through the concerted
measures devised by the American National Assembly designed to proclaim
the Faith to the masses through public conferences, press and radio.
Such remarkable multiplication of dynamic institutions, such thrilling
deployment of world-regenerating forces, North, South, East and West,
endow the preeminent goal of the Second Seven Year Plan in Europe with
extraordinary urgency and peculiar significance. I am impelled to appeal
to all American believers possessing independent means to arise and
supplement the course of the second year of the Second Seven Year Plan
through personal participation or appointment of deputies, the superb
exertions of the heroic vanguard of the hosts destined, through successive
decades, to achieve the spiritual conquest of the continent unconquered by
Islam, rightly regarded as the mother of Christendom, the fountainhead of
American culture, the mainspring of western civilization, and the
recipient of the unique honor of two successive visits to its shores by
the Center of Baha'u'llah's Covenant.
[April 28, 1947]