mail from Germany!—and he was rejoiced to see you are all so devoted and
active in the service of our precious Faith.
He hopes the Frankfurt Bahá’ís, now that they have a Spiritual Assembly
and are free to conduct their affairs publicly, will succeed in teaching
many new souls this life-giving message.
The need in Europe to hear of the Cause is more desperate than ever
before, and the responsibility of the German friends very great, being as
they are the largest Bahá’í Community in Europe.
You may be sure he will pray for your labours to promote the Cause, in the
Holy Shrines, and he assures you that you and your work are very dear to
him...
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker:
My heart was filled with joy, pride and gratitude when I perused your most
welcome message, as I regard it as a remarkable evidence of the unfailing
providence and power of Bahá’u’lláh, who has watched over you, preserved
and sustained you, and has now enabled you to resume your historic work
for His Cause. You have often been in my thoughts and prayers and I
rejoice that your city is to become the administrative centre of our
beloved Faith and the national focus of its spiritual and humanitarian
activities. Persevere in your great task and rest assured and be happy.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 3 JULY 1946
3 July 1946
I need not try and convey to you in words how the Guardian has deplored,
and suffered over, all the tragic happenings of the last few years! He was
particularly sorry to hear such a dear Bahá’í as Paul Köhler, of Dresden,
had died, as well as his wife and children. We can only be grateful that
so many of the German friends have survived such terrible years!
He is very anxious to have the German Bahá’ís resume their activities on a
larger scale than ever before—particularly as they are now free for the
first time in so many years. He fully realizes how great your problems
are, and that you are still suffering from many shortages and
restrictions; but knowing you all—and what our beloved Master foresaw your
future would be—the Guardian is confident the Faith will spread as never
before in Germany, and that the believers of that country will aid in
establishing the institutions of Bahá’u’lláh all over Europe.
LETTER OF 11 JULY 1946
11 July 1946
The Bahá’í Community, Esslingen
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter dated May 23rd has reached our beloved Guardian, and he has
instructed me to answer you on his behalf, and to thank you for the loving
greetings you sent him.
He hopes that now the believers in Germany are at last free to work for
the Cause they will strive together—as the Master desired—as one soul in
many bodies and show forth such an example of love and unity within the
Bahá’í Community that the hearts of the people will be attracted to them.
The world is longing for example more than for anything else, for on all
sides we hear good advice but see no sincerity and no practicing of what
people are preaching!
He assures you all his loving prayers are offered on your behalf and for
the success of your Bahá’í work...
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers:
I was so pleased to hear from you and to receive such expressions of
devotion and determination in the service of our beloved Faith. Your
centre is near and dear to my heart, and you are, I assure you, often in
my thoughts. I will pray for your success, for the extension of your
activities, and the speedy realization of the hopes you cherish for the
advancement of our glorious Faith,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 12 JULY 1946(18)
12 July 1946
Dear Bahá’í Brother and Bahá’í Friends:
The Post Card you sent our beloved Guardian on June 3rd reached him, and
he was very happy to receive news from you direct and from your dear
family and all the Bahá’í friends who were gathered together with you on
that day in Neckärgemund.
He hopes you (Dr. Grossmann) received the long letter he forwarded to you
(in answer to yours) through Mr. Holley?
The news of the devotion, enthusiasm, and renewed activity of the dear
German Bahá’ís is a source of joy to him, and he hopes that the N.S.A. is
able to meet often and conduct the affairs of the Faith in that country,
where for so long it was banned and persecuted.
You may be sure his loving prayers are often offered on your behalf, for
the success of your labours to promote the Faith, and for your protection
and welfare...
P.S. The Guardian is very anxious to receive reports of the work of the
N.S.A. He considers it advisable that during the course of this year any
groups which attain nine members should be allowed to form an Assembly at
once without waiting until April 21st. in order to encourage the friends
after so many years of suppression and suffering.
[From the Guardian:]
May the Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh sustain, guide and bless you in your truly
exemplary and meritorious services, aid you to overcome all obstacles in
your path, to extend the range of your activities, to proclaim the truths
of this glorious Faith to the suffering masses, and to multiply and
consolidate its God-given institutions,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 25 JULY 1946(19)
25 July 1946
He was delighted at the good news you conveyed to him; for some time now
he has been anxiously awaiting news of the activities of the N.S.A.—if it
is feasible, please send him reports of that body.
He feels that, in view of all the German believers have passed through,
their long period of persecution and suppression, that it is all right
during this year to permit the formation of local assemblies, as soon as 9
or more believers are available, in order to encourage the friends and
stimulate their work in the teaching field.
LETTER OF 29 JULY 1946
29 July 1946
He feels that the subject of the Bahá’í work in Esperanto in Germany is a
matter for you to take up with the National Spiritual Assembly; we Bahá’ís
do not claim Esperanto will be the auxiliary language of the future—but,
as we firmly believe in the necessity of an auxiliary language we are glad
to support this work by publishing books in Esperanto and encouraging the
Bahá’ís to learn it, if they wish to. Cooperation with this society is an
excellent means of spreading the Cause, as Martha Root demonstrated in her
travels. However, all details in this matter must be decided by the N.S.A.
You can contact Bahá’í Esperantists in England and the U.S.A. through
their respective N.S.As.
LETTER OF 30 JULY 1946(20)
30 July 1946
He was so very happy to hear the wonderful news you conveyed of the
receptivity you find among the German people, and especially the youth, to
the Teachings.
He considers the work of the Cause in Germany of primary importance; the
German believers not only have the fertile field of their own people’s
minds to cultivate, but must, eventually, do a large part of the teaching
work to be carried out in the future in Central and Eastern Europe. So he
is very anxious to have your affairs running on a smooth administrative
basis, and to also have you receive the necessary literature or means of
printing it.
He was also delighted to hear the Sun of Truth is again being printed, and
that you have been able, in spite of so many handicaps, to distribute
thousands of pamphlets and hold so many important public meetings.
Now is certainly the time to carry on the work on an ever-increasing
scale; the hearts have suffered much, and the minds are grasping for a
solution to the terrible problems facing them. The Cause can surely, in
this golden hour of opportunity, make greater headway than ever before in
its history in Europe, and you may be sure he will do all in his power to
assist you in your labours.
He assures you his loving and ardent prayers will be offered on your
behalf and for the success of the work you and the other friends are
carrying on at present...
P.S. The Guardian was very pleased to hear that the former adherents of
Ruth White and Mr. Herrigel’s ideas have expressed the desire to be
enrolled in the Faith, and to work according to the administrative Order.
He recommends that the National Assembly, by all means, accept them, and
assist them to fully grasp the fundamentals of the Will and Testament.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker,
I am so glad and grateful to learn of the progress of your activities and
of the success attending your efforts in the service of our beloved Faith.
I feel confident that you will, in the days to come, add fresh laurels to
the crown you have already won in the service of our beloved Faith.
Persevere, and rest assured that I will continue to pray for you from the
depths of my heart.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 29 DECEMBER 1946
29 December 1946
The sufferings which the German Bahá’ís have passed through have grieved
his heart very much—but he is very proud of their loyal and devoted
spirit, and the way their faith in Bahá’u’lláh has come out of the fire of
these war years pure and unstained and stronger than ever! They have a
great future, promised them by the beloved Master...
As you may perhaps have heard, our Guardian does not like to give pictures
of himself to the believers—he prefers that they should keep in their
homes photographs of the Master Who is our inspiration and Exemplar.
He hopes very much that you will be able to teach other young Germans the
Cause there. The youth in particular need desperately to be given the
Message, for it is their lives that have suffered the greatest ruin
through this cruel war. Teaching them should be your first duty...
LETTER OF 18 JANUARY 1947(21)
18 January 1947
Your welcome letters ... were received, together with the poems you
enclosed in them...
He wishes me to assure you he will include some of the poems in the next
volume of “Bahá’í World”; it is, unfortunately, too late to get them into
the latest number which is now being printed in America.
It seems now absolutely certain that our dear Bahá’í sister, Lydia
Zamenhof, lost her life in a gas-chamber during the war! It is a great
loss, as she could have rendered the Faith many services in Europe in
these past-war days! But her services to the Cause and her memory are
imperishable!
He would be very pleased to receive an article from you about her for the
next volume of Bahá’í World, but not for the “In Memoriam” section. Also
he regrets he will not be able to publish in the Bahá’í World the In
Memoriam article you sent about your dear parents. Only those people who
have died in the period covered by each volume receive mention in that
volume, and the next one will be for 1946–48!...
P.S. He is very happy to hear dear Mr. Zabih is meeting the friends there;
you may be sure he will pray that the way may open for him to help you all
in Germany at the present time and serve the Faith in England later on.
The Guardian assures you he is delighted to hear of the translations you
have already made and are at present engaged upon; the German literature
of the Faith is of the utmost importance, both because of the great future
the Cause has there, and the fact that so many other Europeans read
German. He hopes “Gleanings” and the “Dispensation” can soon be printed.
These matters you should refer to your Nat. Spiritual Assembly.
[From the Guardian:]
My dear and valued co-worker:
I am so glad and grateful to learn of the activity and perseverance of the
dear German believers, and of your own valued and constant services to our
beloved Faith. You are, I assure you, often in my thoughts and prayers,
and I prize the spirit that animates you in His service. I cherish the
brightest hopes for the future of your historic work for the promotion of
the Faith, and wish you to persevere and rest assured that the Beloved
will continue to guide and sustain you, and will reward you abundantly for
your high endeavours.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 9 FEBRUARY 1947(22)
9 February 1947
He realizes that every effort the friends make in Germany these days is
made in the face of great obstacles and at the cost of real sacrifice. But
they must ever keep their goals in sight, and persevere for the sake of
the Cause and for the sake of their fellow-countrymen who now, in their
greatest hour of need, have the right to hear of Bahá’u’lláh Who alone can
save the world and lead it to peace and happiness.
He will certainly pray that all obstacles may be soon overcome, and the
printing work go ahead. He also hopes, and will pray, that the N.S.A. will
make every effort to arrange its affairs so as to meet in Frankfurt. These
things cannot be done over night, he fully realizes, but the believers
must strive to accomplish them constantly.
The services which you and your dear family are so constantly rendering
the Faith are very, very deeply appreciated by him. Be happy that God has
enabled you to do so much for His Faith!
His loving prayers are with you all...
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my abiding gratitude for your constant and splendid
services to our beloved Faith, and of my ardent prayers for your welfare
and the realization of every hope you cherish for the advancement and
consolidation of its new-born institutions,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 18 FEBRUARY 1947
18 February 1947
The Bahá’í Community of Plochingen.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter dated Nov. 15th, 1946, written by your secretary, Mrs. Vio
Henseler, was received by our beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me
to answer it on his behalf.
He was very happy to see that so many of you are now active in the Holy
Faith in Plochingen and holding your Feasts and meetings regularly in such
a spirit of dedication and Bahá’í love. This love and unity among the
friends cannot but attract the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh upon your work for
His Cause.
Now is the time to teach the hungry, war-disillusioned people of Germany
the Message of God for this day. He urges you to redouble your efforts to
attract and confirm new souls, and to teach them not only the spiritual
aspects of the Faith but its World Order as well—for this Divine solution
to the ills of mankind is what the people need to hear of.
He remembers the visit of Mrs. Henseler and Mrs. Victoria B. von Sigsfeld
to Haifa, and is happy to hear both have been ceaselessly active in the
Cause, the one until her death and the other up until the present day! To
serve is indeed a blessed privilege!
You may be sure his loving prayers will be offered for you all and for the
success of the work there...
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide your steps in the path of
service, and aid you to promote, effectively and at all times, the best
interests of His Faith and its institutions,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 18 FEBRUARY 1947
18 February 1947
To the Bahá’ís of Rostock, Wärnemunde and Schwerin.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter, dated Rostock Sept. 22nd and Schwerin Sept. 28th, 1946, was
received, and it brought great joy to our Guardian’s heart to see the
names of so many of the dear friends who are now united and actively
serving the Faith in far northern towns! He has instructed me to answer
you on his behalf.
Now that it is once more possible for you all to meet, he urges you to do
so often, and to exert your utmost in spreading the Message of Bahá’u’lláh
to those who are seeking the Truth—and there are many of them these days!
Likewise, he hopes you will be able to soon have three flourishing
Spiritual Assemblies in those towns.
He will pray that this may speedily come about; he will also pray for you
all, for your protection and success in all you do for the beloved
Faith...
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide you in your devoted labours, aid
you to increase your numbers, multiply your institutions, consolidate your
accomplishments, and fulfil every desire you cherish for the promotion of
His Faith,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 18 FEBRUARY 1947
18 February 1947
Regarding the time to hold the 19 Day Feasts: any time most convenient for
all the believers is permissible, as long as it is between sunset and
sunset of the calendar day on which the feast falls, as our Bahá’í days
begin and end at sunset. The feasts are really for the believers only, but
if a non-Bahá’í happens to come, we should not ask him to leave and hurt
the person’s feelings.
LETTER OF 22 FEBRUARY 1947
22 February 1947
The Bahá’ís of Plochingen
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your loving greeting sent to our beloved Guardian on Nov. 11th, 1946,
reached him, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He was very happy to see the names of so many friends gathered in
Plochingen, and feels sure that your efforts to spread the Message of
Bahá’u’lláh there are meeting with success. Now is the time to teach and
to lead the hungry souls of mankind to the heavenly banquet of this Mighty
Revelation.
He assures you one and all of his most loving prayers for the success of
your services to the Faith...
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide your steps, remove all obstacles
from your path, and enable you to promote, effectively and at all times,
the vital interests of His Faith and its institutions,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 30 MARCH 1947
30 March 1947
Bahá’í Gemeinde Plochingen—Gôppingen
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your joint letter to our beloved Guardian, dated Jan. 19th, and announcing
the formation of your joint Assembly, reached him, and he has instructed
me to answer you on his behalf and congratulate you on this great step
forward you have taken.
He hopes that in the near future your numbers will grow sufficiently to
enable you to form two separate Spiritual Assemblies, and he assures you
all that he will pray in the Holy Shrines that this objective may speedily
be achieved.
Your services, in these days of toil and trouble for your native land, are
of the utmost importance and upon them depends the future course of events
in its spiritual unfoldment...
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved of our hearts bless, guide and sustain you in your devoted
endeavours and continued services to His Cause, aid you to extend the
range of your activities, and enable you to win mighty victories for His
Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi March 1947
Bahá’u’lláh has given His wonderful teachings and His New World Order to
all men; it is up to each individual to accept this Divine Message and
promote its healing laws and principles for himself. No one can decide for
you what you must do. Your own heart must tell you that your place is
serving this struggling new Faith in the days when it is still, for the
most part, unrecognized by the masses. In the future, when it has won more
adherents, and its true stature becomes obvious to all, it will not
require the courage to sponsor it which it does today!
We must always remember that the administrative Order is a means to an
end, an instrument to co-ordinate and unify the efforts of the Bahá’ís. It
is still imperfectly understood by them, but very great progress has been
made already. Now, through this administration, it is becoming possible to
at last bring the knowledge of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings to the masses, and
this is a field you could render great services in. Your fire, your love
for your fellow men, are qualities much needed in our work, and Shoghi
Effendi hopes you will feel the urge to plunge yourself into the service
of this glorious Cause.
In Germany there is such a demand for the teachings that the German
Bahá’ís, exhausted from the war and hampered by restrictions on travel,
etc., find it almost impossible to meet the call on their teaching
abilities. They are a very devoted, well organized Community, but could
surely use all the extra help they can get. If you could see your way
clear to go to Germany and aid them in the teaching work, it would be
rendering that suffering land a great spiritual service.
LETTER OF 1 APRIL 1947
1 April 1947
The Germans, and the German Bahá’ís, have suffered terribly during these
long years of war and suppression of all freedom and spiritual life; now,
it seems, from reports reaching him, there is a revival of the spirit, and
the people are longing for a plan, a way out of this moral chaos and
darkness, a belief to hold to. This is therefore the time for the Bahá’ís
to teach the Cause as never before, especially to the young people, and
spread the glad tidings that a solution to the world’s problems exists!
The German National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís is now doing all it
can to get more Bahá’í books printed; it also has many new and important
translations of our books already made, and we hope very soon these will
be printed and distributed.
I am enclosing a little booklet which will give you an idea of how great
the progress and spread of the Cause has been, and daily it is growing all
over the world.
Shoghi Effendi hopes some-day, when Palestine is calmer, that you will be
able to visit here.
LETTER OF 4 APRIL 1947
4 April 1947
He fully realizes the great handicaps you are all labouring under, and
admires the wonderful spirit of devotion to the Cause of God which keeps
you going. You must never feel discouraged, but persevere in your labours,
knowing Bahá’u’lláh will bless them.
Regarding the question you asked about the advisability of Dr.
Mühlschlegel moving to Frankfurt: he has no objection to this, but feels
it is a matter for the National Spiritual Assembly to decide upon.
LETTER OF 4 APRIL 1947
4 April 1947
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Stuttgart.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The letter you wrote our beloved Guardian, dated Jan. 11th, 1947, was
received, as well as the report you enclosed of the meetings held in
Stuttgart, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He was very pleased to see that there are now as many as 95 believers
there, and he hopes this number will steadily and rapidly increase. All
the Bahá’ís, new and old alike, should devote themselves as much as
possible to teaching the Faith; they should also realize that the
atmosphere of true love and unity which they manifest within the Bahá’í
Community will directly affect the public, and be the greatest magnet for
attracting people to the Faith and confirming them.
In considering purchasing the Schwarz home as a future headquarters for
the Stuttgart Bahá’ís, (a plan which he fully approves of) he urges you
to, at the same time, bear in mind the responsibility of all the
Bahá’ís—in Stuttgart and elsewhere—towards the purchase and maintenance of
a National Headquarters; this is of the utmost importance, and when such a
headquarters is established it will greatly stimulate the work all over
Germany, Stuttgart included. It takes precedence over local Community
activities.
He assures you all, and all the Stuttgart believers, of his most loving
prayers for the advancement of your Bahá’í labours...
P.S. He was delighted to see you are doing teaching work in neighbouring
towns; this is a very important service to the Cause.
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your meritorious efforts, guide and sustain you in
your activities, aid you to extend the range of your deeply appreciated
services, and enable you to proclaim the verities of His Faith, and help
in the consolidation of its nascent and God-given institutions,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 12 APRIL 1947
12 April 1947
The Bahá’ís of Esslingen
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your loving Naw-Rúz greeting was received, and our beloved Guardian has
instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
He assures you all he will pray in the Holy Shrines for you, for the
growth of your Community and the success of your services to our glorious
Faith. You are all dear to him!
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless, guide and sustain you at all times, enable you to
extend the scope of your activities, and win great and memorable victories
for the institutions of our beloved Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 3 MAY 1947(23)
3 May 1947
Your letters to our beloved Guardian, dated Feb. 7th and 11th, as well as
the manuscript of “Hidden Words” have been received, and he has instructed
me to answer them on his behalf.
He is very happy to have this opportunity of communicating with you
personally, and assuring you of how much he appreciates your devoted
services in the path of our glorious Faith.