German friends, and particularly those living in Wärnemunde, Rostock,
Schwerin and other northern German centers, are toiling for the spread of
the Cause invariably serve to reinforce his faith in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s
promises regarding the future of the Faith in Germany. These signs of the
new revival that has set in the conditions of the Cause in your country
are, indeed, remarkable and highly encouraging to the friends. You should,
therefore, persevere in your efforts and not feel discouraged if you
encounter some difficulties in your way. The essential thing now is
perseverance, courage and faith.
The Guardian has been also much gratified to learn of the steps you have
taken for the holding of a North German Bahá’í conference this year. He
thinks that Berlin, due to its central situation, is a suitable place for
the friends to come together. Besides, this may prove also to be a source
of great encouragement to the believers in that city, and may serve to
stimulate them to take a more active part in the organization of the Cause
throughout Northern Germany.
Shoghi Effendi is also hopeful that the study courses which your daughter
is preparing for this incoming Northern German Congress will prove to be
of an immense benefit to the believers. The subject matter is, no doubt,
highly important, and can be thoroughly grasped if it is clearly and
adequately presented to them.
With regard to the German translation of Mrs. Bedikian’s letters. The
Guardian approves of your Contact Committee’s suggestion that only
extracts from these letters be translated and published. This will, of
course, save much time, and will, in addition, make it easier and more
interesting for the friends to get acquainted with the full contents of
Mrs. Bedikian’s communications.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker:
Your notable share in the revival and extension of Bahá’í activity in
northern Germany will be ever remembered with joy and gratitude. Your work
will no doubt attract the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh, and will serve as an
inspiring example to the generations that will arise to serve after you.
Persevere, and never feel disheartened.
Shoghi
LETTER OF 17 JUNE 1935(14)
17 June 1935
Dear Bahá’í co-workers,
Shoghi Effendi has read with much pleasure your welcome message of the
23rd of May last, and has learned with deep satisfaction of the success of
the meeting you have held on the occasion of the anniversary of Báb’s
Declaration. He feels, indeed, so happy to realize how unitedly and
harmoniously your community is discharging its activities, and is certain
that, as years go by, it will increasingly manifest a zeal and ardour that
will enable it to achieve accomplishments that will not only be unique but
which will have far-reaching effects upon the progress of the Cause
throughout Germany.
In his moments of meditation and prayers he will specially remember you,
and will ask Bahá’u’lláh to continue pouring His blessings upon you all,
that your community may daily grow in strength, unity and fervour.
With loving Bahá’í greetings and sincere good wishes...
[From the Guardian:]
Dearly-beloved co-workers:
I deeply appreciate your most welcome message, and wish to assure you of
my deepfelt gratitude for the constancy and zeal which characterize your
labours in the Divine Vineyard. I am following the progress of your
activities with the utmost interest and joy, and feel confident that the
blessings of the Beloved, whom you serve with such ardour, steadfastness
and loyalty will guide, enrich and reinforce your historic work for the
propagation of His glorious and invincible Faith. Persevere in your high
endeavours and rest confident.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 5 JULY 1935
5 July 1935
He is very happy to learn of the beautiful meeting you have had in the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Lehne, and of the visit paid to the friends in Berlin
by some of the believers from various parts of Northern Germany. He trusts
that these warm and frequent contacts between these Northern Bahá’í
centers will be maintained and that as a result greater cooperation will
prevail among them. He is praying from the very depth of his heart on
behalf of you all, that your efforts for the promulgation of the Message
may be continually enriched, guided and blessed through Divine
confirmations.
In closing please convey the Guardian’s loving greetings to all the
believers in Berlin, and particularly to dear Mr. and Mrs. Lehne who are
contributing such a conspicuous share to the advancement of the Faith in
their centre.
LETTER OF 3 AUGUST 1935
3 August 1935
He wishes me particularly to convey to you his most genuine appreciation
of your services in connection with the publication of “La Nova Tago”
which he hopes will, through your efforts and those of the
Esperanto-speaking Bahá’ís both in Germany and abroad, develop gradually
into a leading Esperanto review, and thus become an effective medium for
the spread of Teachings in Esperantist circles throughout the world. It is
in view of the far-reaching possibilities which this publication can have
as a teaching organ, that he has urged the German N.S.A. to resume its
publication when, a few months ago, they had almost decided to discontinue
printing it.
With regard to your request for a special article from the Guardian which
you wish to have published in the forthcoming issue of your magazine. He
would suggest that you should translate his general letter addressed to
the friends a few years ago, entitled “The Goal of a New World Order”, as
this, he feels, is a very suitable material for publication in that
review, and is by far better than anything he can write at present.
As to your suggestion regarding a more widespread use of the Esperanto
among the Bahá’ís as a medium of correspondence. Shoghi Effendi, as you
know, has been invariably encouraging the believers, both in the East and
in the West, to make an intensive study of that language, and to consider
it as an important medium for the spread of the Cause in international
circles. He has been specially urging the friends to have the Cause well
represented in all Esperanto Congresses and associations, and by this
means cultivate greater friendship and cooperation between them and the
Esperantists.
But in this connection, he feels, he must make it clear that although the
Cause views with much sympathy and appreciation the activities which the
Esperantists are increasingly initiating for the spread of their language,
yet it considers that the adoption of the Esperanto by the entire world is
by no means an inevitable fact. Neither Bahá’u’lláh, nor even
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ever stated that Esperanto will be the international
auxiliary language. The Master simply expressed the hope that it may,
provided certain conditions were fulfilled, develop into such a medium.
LETTER OF 24 DECEMBER 1935
24 December 1935
...Bahá’í Summer School at Esslingen. He is rejoiced to learn of the
unprecedented success that has attended this meeting, and hopes that the
next few years will witness still greater progress in that direction. The
enthusiasm and devotion of the attendants constitute, undoubtedly, a most
remarkable asset which will ensure the steady development of the school
into one of the leading Bahá’í educational institutions throughout the
world.
LETTER OF 25 JANUARY 1936(15)
25 January 1936
Shoghi Effendi ... is very pleased that you have at last found the
opportunity of visiting the Holy Shrines. He wishes me therefore to extend
to you, and also to Mrs. Mühlschlegel, a most cordial welcome, and to
express the hope that through this visit you will receive a fresh and
added stimulus and a wider vision in your labours for the Cause in
Germany....
It is hoped that more friends will be encouraged to undertake a similar
journey to the Holy Land in the near future....
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you both of a hearty welcome, and wishing you always success in
the service of our beloved Faith,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 26 JANUARY 1936
26 January 1936
The Esslingen Bahá’í Assembly
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge with deepest thanks and
appreciation the receipt of your welcome message of the 18th instant.
He is, indeed, very happy to learn of the news of the progress of the
Cause in Esslingen, and of the recent accomplishments of your Assembly in
that center. The improvements that you have made in the Bahá’í Home will,
undoubtedly, rejoice all the friends in Germany and will greatly encourage
them to attend the next Summer School. He hopes that the believers outside
Germany will also be attracted to your centre, and will thus contribute to
the further growth and consolidation of your community.
The Guardian is continually supplicating on your behalf at the Holy
Shrines, that Divine confirmations may strengthen and guide your Assembly
in the discharge of its heavy duties and responsibilities.
He will also remember all the other friends in Esslingen, and will ask the
Almighty to bless and inspire them all in the service of His Cause.
With most loving greetings and best wishes for a happy and prosperous
season...
[From the Guardian:]
Dearly-beloved friends:
Your message brought joy and imparted strength and hope to my heart. I
deeply value your constancy, your devotion, your unremitting labours, your
notable services to our beloved Faith. I will continue to pray that your
numbers may increase, your influence may deepen, and your hopes may be
fuller and speedily realized. Persevere and never lose heart,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 31 MARCH 1936
31 March 1936
Der Geistige Rat der Bahá’í in Esslingen
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Heartiest thanks from the Guardian for your very kind message dated March
21st. He feels so deeply touched by your kind words, and is specially
moved at the Naw-Rúz greetings which you have conveyed to him so
beautifully, and all of which he fully reciprocates. He sincerely hopes
that this New Bahá’í Year we have just entered will bring upon the entire
Esslingen community untold blessings, and that through them you will all
be filled with a renewed determination to carry on your labours for the
spread of the Cause.
The Guardian feels also very thankful and happy to learn that three new
believers have recently joined your group. He is praying fervently to
Bahá’u’lláh that these new members may increasingly gain in spiritual
power and insight, and thus become valuable helpers to your assembly.
With his renewed greetings and best wishes...
[From the Guardian:]
Dearly-beloved friends:
Your New-Year greetings rejoiced my heart and filled it with loving
gratitude. I prize the assurance you give me, and feel deeply thankful for
it. I will, from the depths of my heart, pray for you that the Almighty
may rain His blessings upon you, may fulfil your highest hopes, and assist
you to advance the best interests of His glorious and sacred Faith,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 19 OCTOBER 1936
19 October 1936
The Guardian has received the letter you had written him on behalf of the
Esslingen Assembly and dated September 27th, and wishes you to convey to
your fellow-members in that body his thanks and appreciation, and his
gratitude for the sentiments they had expressed to him through you. He
very deeply values the assurances of love, loyalty and devotion you have
given him, and is ardently praying that Bahá’u’lláh may abundantly reward
you for all these evidences of your undying attachment to His Cause.
The Guardian wishes me also to extend his grateful thanks and his hearty
congratulations to your Assembly and to the community of believers in
Esslingen for the unprecedented success that has crowned your efforts in
connection with the organization of this year’s session of the German
Bahá’í Summer School. He is praying from the bottom of his heart for your
continued guidance throughout the succeeding years...
[From the Guardian:]
Dear co-workers:
I am deeply moved by the remarkable evidences of zeal and of activity
manifested by the believers of Esslingen. My heart is filled with
unspeakable gratitude. Persevere in your efforts and rest assured.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 25 OCTOBER 1936
25 October 1936
Your kind letter of the fifth instant enclosing photostatic reproductions
of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets revealed to you and to your dear mother have all
duly reached our beloved Guardian and have been read with profoundest
interest and appreciation by him.
He wishes me to thank you for so kindly sending him copies of these
Tablets of the Master which he will keep as a gift from you in the
International Bahá’í Archives on Mt. Carmel. Needless to say how deeply he
appreciates this gift, and how much he considers it of value to this first
Archives of the Cause in the Holy Land.
In closing may I express his admiration and gratitude for the services you
are so devotedly rendering our beloved Cause in Esslingen. The Esslingen
community owes you indeed a great debt, and can never be too grateful for
the manifold accomplishments you have, steadily and splendidly,
contributed towards its development, ever since the early days of the
Cause in Germany.
The Guardian wishes you also to convey his thanks and appreciation to dear
Mrs. Schweizer. He is grieved to learn of her indisposition, but hopes and
fervently prays that by the time this letter reaches you she will have
been completely cured and restored to full health.
With renewed greetings to you both, and also to the community of believers
in Esslingen,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and prized co-worker:
I am deeply touched by your splendid and highly valued gift. I will
continue to pray for your good-health, your happiness and the
uninterrupted extension of your historic activities and achievements.
Please assure dear Mrs. Schweizer of my special and fervent prayers for
her speedy recovery. Her health is so precious to us all.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 3 MARCH 1937
3 March 1937
I am instructed by our beloved Guardian to inform you of the receipt of
your letter of February 21st written on behalf of the Bahá’í Assembly of
Rostock, and to ask you to convey to them, and also to our dear friend Mr.
Lorenzen, his grateful thanks for the enlarged copy of the photograph of
the North German Bahá’í Congress which they have been so kind in sending
him. It is indeed a most beautiful and impressive picture, and will be
placed very soon in the Mansion of Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí, where it will be
seen by both the Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í visitors. Please, thank very warmly
your fellow-members in the Rostock Assembly for this gift, and express to
them the Guardian’s hope that, through them, as well as through the united
and combined efforts of all North German Bahá’í centers, this year’s
conference will be even more successful than the one held last summer, and
that the outcome of it will be to open new fields of teaching for the
Cause in Northern Germany.
LETTER OF 23 JUNE 1937
23 June 1937
The Guardian has been most deeply touched by your message of the third
inst., and wishes me to assure you both of his profound appreciation of
the sentiments you have expressed to him on the occasion of his marriage.
It was most kind and thoughtful of you to have written him in such moving
terms, and to have given him such firm assurances of your undying loyalty
and devotion to the Cause. He is ardently praying on your behalf that the
spirit which is animating you may ever grow deeper, and may translate
itself into sustained and whole-hearted service to the Faith in the
beloved land of Germany. He is specially entreating the Beloved that the
difficulties which you and your beloved co-workers in that land are so
unexpectedly encountering may be gradually removed, and that you may be
again set free to assist in spreading the Teachings among your
fellow-countrymen.
LETTER OF 20 OCTOBER 1937(16)
20 October 1937
Ihre andere Frage, Feuerbestattung: Bahá’u’lláh hat in Seinem Gesetz-Buch,
dem “Aqdas”, bestimmte Gesetze fúr Begrabung geoffenbart. Und ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
sagte, dass der menschliche Körper langsam durch einen Prozess
zusammengestellt worden ist. So auch sollte er durch Natur auseinander
gehen.
Wegen Ihrer Frage um die Esperanto-Zeitschrift in Holland, der Hüter
glaubt, dass jetzt ist keine Zeit, um etwas in dieser Beziehung
anzufangen. FRúher hat sie unbedingt viel fúr die Verbreitung der Sache
getan, aber jetzt ist es unmöglich und auch nicht beratbar (advisable).
Wie Sie vielleicht schon wissen, Lydia arbeitet in Amerika jetzt.
LETTER OF 7 JANUARY 1938
7 January 1938
Our welcome guest Th. Emeric Salas has duly presented to our beloved
Guardian your letter of December 19th which you had written him on behalf
of the Vienna Bahá’í Assembly. He has read it, together with the
accompanying letter addressed to your Assembly by Dr. Ziemand, with the
utmost care and deepest appreciation, and wishes you to assure your
fellow-members of his gratitude for the efforts they are so devotedly
exerting for the further promotion of the Faith throughout Austria.
He welcomes indeed Dr. Ziemand’s offer to undertake some Bahá’í
translations into German, specially as the German believers are no longer
able to arrange for the translation and publication of any Bahá’í book. He
also hopes that this will serve as a means for deepening Dr. Ziemand’s
interest in the Teachings, and to inspire him to eventually join actively
the Cause.
He would recommend the “Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh” as the
most important work to be translated into German at present.
As regards the hundred dollars which have been anonymously donated to your
Assembly for the publication fund; the Guardian would advise, that part of
this sum be expended on the printing of the pamphlet on “World Religion”,
and that written by Dr. Esslemont “What is the Bahá’í Movement?”, and the
rest put aside for use in the future.
With the renewed expression of his abiding appreciation of your services,
and with loving greetings to all the friends in Vienna...
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker:
I wish to assure you and your dearly-beloved co-workers in Vienna of my
constant prayers for your success in the magnificent efforts you are all
exerting for the spread and protection of this sacred and precious Cause.
You are often in my thoughts and I will continue to supplicate ardently
and affectionately on your behalf. Rest assured and persevere.
Shoghi
LETTER OF 18 JANUARY 1938
18 January 1938
To the Friends in Esslingen. Beloved co-workers,
Shoghi Effendi has been deeply touched by your very cordial message of the
31st December, and is moved to write to you again and to assure you of his
best wishes, and of his continued prayers for your protection and guidance
in those hard and trying times.
His thoughts often turn to you and to our well-beloved German brethren in
dear remembrance and loving appreciation of your services to the Cause. He
is daily supplicating the Beloved to cheer and comfort your hearts,
strengthen and guide your steps, and keep you ever steadfast and loyal in
His path.
On the occasion of this New Year which we have just entered he further
wishes me to convey to you his warmest greetings, and to reciprocate
heartily the good wishes you have so kindly expressed...
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless and protect you, guide you in your devoted and
continued endeavours and fulfil your highest hopes and dearest wishes,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 1 FEBRUARY 1938
1 February 1938
The Guardian was pleased to receive your letter of the 22nd January which
you had written him on behalf of the Vienna Assembly regarding the method
of Bahá’í elections.
He wishes you to kindly inform your fellow-members that this question of
Bahá’í electoral procedure has been explained and elucidated by him in one
of his communications to the American N.S.A. which you will find
reproduced in the book “Bahá’í Administration”, a copy of which is being
mailed to you for presentation to your Assembly.
As you will notice from that letter the method of assembly elections is
exceedingly simple, and the Guardian wishes the friends to desist from
adding any more regulations to those few ones which he has felt it his
duty to lay down for the conduct of the believers.
In closing kindly convey to the friends in Vienna, and in particular to
your fellow-workers in the Assembly, the assurances of his prayers for the
success of their elections, and for the promotion and guidance of their
community...
[From the Guardian:]
May the all-conquering, all-embracing Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh overshadow you
and your dearly-loved co-workers at all times and under all circumstances,
and enable you to raise the Call of God throughout the length and breadth
of your country, and establish firmly the basis of the administrative
order of the Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 20 MARCH 1938(17)
20 March 1938
...it made Shoghi Effendi truly happy to know that our dear friend Mrs.
... will be soon coming to Haifa. Much as he regrets that her stay will be
of such an exceptionally short duration he hopes nevertheless that through
contact with these Holy Spots she will be so refreshed and strengthened
spiritually as to be able to impart fresh hope and vigour to the hearts of
the friends when she returns home.
Needless to tell you what a great pleasure it is for the Guardian to meet
again this year, and so unexpectedly, one of our German friends, as his
heart is longing to hear of your news, and to share the experiences you
have been passing through during all these months.
LETTER OF 29 MARCH 1938
29 March 1938
Shoghi Effendi has just received your very kind message of the 20th ins.
conveying to him your greetings and good wishes on the occasion of the
feast of Naw-Rúz. He values beyond words your sentiments, and wishes me to
assure you of his prayers at the Shrines on your behalf, that this New
Year we have just entered may bring to you and your fellow-brethren
throughout Germany every blessing, and happiness, and the highest success
in both your spiritual and material pursuits.
It was a matter of profound grief to Shoghi Effendi to hear of the sad
news of the passing away of our friend Mr. Emil Lips. Kindly convey to the
bereaved members of his family his heartfelt condolences, and the
expression of his profound and deepfelt sympathy in this grievous loss
they have sustained.
LETTER OF 7 MAY 1939
7 May 1939
He too wishes me to extend to you his deep love and good wishes on this
happy and blessed occasion, and to assure you, and our dear friends in
Esslingen, of his prayers for your protection and guidance in these days
of widespread gloom and distress, that your hearts may be strengthened and
assured, and that you may emerge from your present-day tests and trials
more united, and firmer than ever in your love and loyalty towards the
Faith.
However gloomy the immediate future may seem to appear, the prospect which
the distant future has in store for the community of German believers is
of such immeasurable brightness as it cannot but afford the deepest
comfort and encouragement to you in your moments of uttermost sorrow and
distress.
More than ever to-day the Guardian’s thoughts turn towards you, and our
sore-tried brethren in your land, in admiration for the courage and
fortitude you have so well displayed in the midst of your afflictive
trials, and in thanksgiving to the almighty God for having sustained and
blessed you so repeatedly through His unfailing grace and mighty
confirmations.
May His spirit continue to aid and guide your Community in the distressing
days yet to come...
[From the Guardian:]
Dear co-workers:
It was such a joy to hear from you. You, as well as the other German
believers, are often in my thoughts and prayers. I will continue to pray
for the realization of your highest hopes. Be not despaired, nay be
assured that a glorious future awaits you all, more brilliant than any you
can imagine.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 26 MAY 1946
26 May 1946
Miss Edith Horn and the dear Bahá’ís of Frankfurt
Dear Bahá’í Friends: