Convey to believers the joyful news of the safe delivery on Mt. Carmel of
a consignment of thirty-two granite monolith columns, part of the initial
shipment of material ordered for construction of the arcade of the Bab's
Sepulcher, designed to envelop and preserve the sacred previous structure
reared by 'Abdu'l-Baha. Building operations are soon starting
notwithstanding the difficulties of the present situation. I am
supplicating the Almighty's guidance and sustaining grace for successive
stages of an enterprise envisaged sixty years ago by Baha'u'llah,
initiated by the Center of His Covenant, designed to culminate as
contemplated by Him in erection of a superstructure to be crowned by a
golden dome marking the consummation at the heart of the Mountain of God
of the momentous undertaking born through the generating influence of the
Will of the Founder of our beloved Faith, so dear to the heart of His
blessed Son, and dedicated to the memory of the Martyr-Prophet, the
immortal Herald of the Baha'i Dispensation.
[December 13, 1948]