Feel moved to appeal to gallant, great-hearted American Baha'i Community
to arise on the eve of launching the far-reaching, historic campaign by
sister Community of the British Isles to lend valued assistance to the
meritorious enterprise undertaken primarily for the illumination of the
tribes of East and West Africa, envisaged in the Tablets of the Center of
the Covenant revealed in the darkest hour of His ministry.
I appeal particularly to its dearly beloved members belonging to the Negro
race to participate in the contemplated project marking a significant
milestone in the world-unfoldment of the Faith, supplementing the work
initiated fifty years ago on the North American continent, forging fresh
links binding the American, British and Egyptian Communities and providing
the prelude to the full-scale operations destined to be launched at a
later period of the unfoldment of the Divine Plan aiming at the conversion
of the backward, oppressed masses of the swiftly awakening continent.
Though such participation is outside the scope of the Second Seven Year
Plan, I feel strongly that the assumption of this added responsibility for
this distant vital field at this crucial challenging hour, when world
events are moving steadily towards a climax and the Centenary of the birth
of Baha'u'llah's Mission is fast approaching, will further ennoble the
record of the world-embracing tasks valiantly undertaken by the American
Baha'i Community and constitute a worthy response to 'Abdu'l-Baha's
insistent call raised on behalf of the race He repeatedly blessed and
loved so dearly and for whose illumination He ardently prayed and for
whose future He cherished the brightest hopes.
[August 5, 1950]