since 19..(figures unreadable); its completion is absolutely essential. We
are builders, we have confidence in the protection of God. We cannot give
up our work just because the atom bomb has been invented! This would be
cowardly! The United Nations disposes of millions and millions of dollars
and part of its work is to educate humanity towards peace and against war.
Our completion of the Bahá’í Temple will cost 3/4 of a million; what could
this sum do in comparison to the efforts of the United Nations?
The thing the German believers must do is to deepen themselves in the
Covenants of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Mere intellectual understanding
of the teachings is not enough. Deep spirituality is essential, and the
foundation of true spirituality is steadfastness in the Covenant.
LETTER OF 11 APRIL 1949(32)
11 April 1949
He fully approves of Dr. Townshend being invited to speak in Germany, as
you propose, providing, of course, that the necessary funds for his trip
can be arranged for.
The contact with intellectuals is very important, but so far, like the
early days of Christianity, in the West, few of them have cared to
identify themselves with this young and struggling Faith of ours! Let us
hope, however, that the time is approaching when they will.
The Guardian has been considerably disturbed by the inharmony that has
arisen in Germany. He feels that what the German Bahá’ís need—and must
have—more than anything else in the world is a far deeper understanding of
the Covenants of both Bahá’u’lláh and the Master. This is the rock
foundation without which no sound super-structure can be built. Neither
the administration, nor the general teaching work of the Cause in Germany,
will progress, or be able to accomplish anything, unless the believers are
truly firm, deep, spiritually convinced Bahá’ís. An intellectual grasp of
the teachings is purely superficial; with the first real test such
believers are shaken from the bough! But once a Bahá’í has the profound
conviction of the authority from God, nested in the Prophet, passed on to
the Master, and by Him, to the Guardians, and which flows out through the
assemblies and creates order based on obedience—once a Bahá’í has this,
nothing can shake him. He, therefore, urges you, and the other members of
the N.G.R., to devote as much time as you possibly can, to educating the
believers in the Covenant.
LETTER OF 15 APRIL 1949(33)
15 April 1949
As he has cabled the N.S.A. a few days ago, he feels that the difficulties
which have arisen in Germany, and which called forth the letter you
rightly felt was likely to cause more harm than good, are mainly due to
the fact that the believers need to be deepened in their knowledge and
appreciation of the Covenants of both Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This
is the stronghold of the Faith of every Bahá’í, and that which enables him
to withstand every test and the attacks of the enemies outside the Faith,
and the far more dangerous, insidious, lukewarm people inside the Faith
who have no real attachment to the Covenant, and consequently uphold the
intellectual aspect of the teachings while at the same time undermining
the spiritual foundation upon which the whole Cause of God rests.
He feels you and your dear family should do all you can to teach the
believers the Will and Testament to strengthen their understanding of its
important provisions; for all the authority of the administrative bodies,
as well as of the Guardian himself, is mainly derived from this tremendous
document.
LETTER OF 27 MAY 1949
27 May 1949
The Guardian, in spite of the fact that there is a larger community in
Stuttgart, is very anxious to have the national affairs of the German
Bahá’í Community centered in Frankfurt, which is far more central. He
realizes at first this will present some difficulties for the friends, but
every step forward in the Cause always is attended by complications and
difficulties. The same was true in America, where for years New York was
the center of the administration for America. When the National
Headquarters were shifted to Chicago, it was at first very inconvenient,
but it now has proved much more convenient and suitable than New York ever
was.
LETTER OF 30 MAY 1949
30 May 1949
Bahá’í Community of Stuttgart
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter to our beloved Guardian, of April 20, and conveying to him
your loving Ridván greetings, was received, and he has instructed me to
answer it on his behalf.
He values very deeply your message of loyalty and devotion and your
assurance that you will uphold the administration of our beloved Faith.
The German friends must always remember that, after the long years of
suppression, and the war, when they were both cut off from the Guardian
and forbidden to hold organized meetings, it is only natural that
difficulties should sometimes arise in the course of their progress.
The main thing, however, is that all the believers should at all times
feel conscious of their deep unity and brotherhood in the Cause of God,
and that with love and understanding they should arise to overcome every
problem, knowing that the Master will help and assist them to do so.
Firmness in the Covenant is their Fortress, their greatest protection, and
new Bahá’ís should be taught this before they are admitted into the
Community. In this way they will be given the spiritual strength to
overcome the tests which are inevitable, and which strengthen the growth
of the Community and drive its roots deeper in the soil of faith.
He hopes your Bahá’í work will make great progress during this Bahá’í
year...
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers:
Your joint and most welcome message brought great joy to my heart, as I
feel greatly attached to, and greatly value the sentiments of the members
of a community which has distinguished itself by its zeal, its
accomplishments, its long record of service, and on which the Beloved has
conferred such great bounties and blessings. I cherish great hopes for its
future, and will supplicate on its behalf, that the Almighty may enable it
to render His Faith still more notable services, and contribute, in an
outstanding manner, to the onward march of the Faith and the development
of its institutions in that promising country.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 5 JUNE 1949
5 June 1949
You have asked for his advice about two matters which concern you very
deeply, and although he knows your love for this Holy Cause will assist
you in making the right decisions, he knows it will be hard for you to do
so, and therefore assures you of his loving prayers that you may take
these steps courageously, and that the way may be made easy for you.
He has heard nothing against the character of Mrs ... and does not doubt
in many ways she may be a very commendable woman. However, this does not
change the fact that in view of her inhered convictions about Bahá’u’lláh
it is best for the Bahá’ís, including yourself, not to associate with her.
That which is in the heart of those who have actively opposed the
Manifestation of God is spiritually unhealthy, and although we in our
limited human understanding cannot always see the wisdom of shunning them,
the Master has instructed us to do so, and for our good, and the good of
the Cause, we must obey this instruction.
The matter of your giving up your church membership is a conscientious
obligation. He does not force you to do so, but as you no longer believe
in all the doctrines of your former church, to continue to be a member of
it is really to put yourself in a position of one who is acting
insincerely. Should you decide to withdraw from the church as a member,
however there is no reason why you should not continue to go to church
with your husband, and to continue your friendly association with the
congregation. He will pray that your husband may be willing for you to
take this step.
LETTER OF 30 SEPTEMBER 1949(34)
30 September 1949
He fully appreciates your point about certain well-known names of Persian
and other Oriental cities being spelt according to the general usage in
German literature. However, he feels that it is necessary to follow in
full the transliteration used in God Passes By, even for the names of
famous cities, etc., which have in European languages an accepted way of
being spelt. Only by doing this can confusion be avoided in our Bahá’í
translations and uniformity be maintained.
A key to pronunciation should be printed, in order to coordinate it with
the German language, and also an explanation of the reason for this system
being used: namely that it was adopted by an international Congress as
being the most practical and universal means of spelling these oriental
names in the latin alphabet.
He hopes that the fact that two people translated different parts of this
book will not be noticeable in the style, and thus detract from its
literary value in German?
Your labours, and those of the other friends concerned in getting this
valuable history ready to be printed in German, are deeply appreciated....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved of our hearts, whose Faith you are serving with
distinction, zeal and loyalty, reward you a thousandfold for your constant
and notable services, aid you to extend continually the range of your
activities, and win still greater victories for its institutions,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 20 OCTOBER 1949
20 October 1949
National Youth Committee of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria
Dear Bahá’í Brother:
Your letter of September 3, with enclosed report of the Bahá’í Youth
Summer School, was received, and the beloved Guardian thanks you for it.
He read with interest the report of the activities of the Youth, and was
particularly pleased to see that Dr. Grossmann had given a course on the
Covenant. The Youth must ponder deeply over the significance and
implications of the Covenants of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, for these
form the hub of the Bahá’í wheel, so to speak, the point of unity and
strength for all the believers all over the world. Without these Covenants
the Divine Protection of God over this new world Faith would not exist.
Obedience to these Covenants is the stronghold of all the Bahá’ís,
everywhere.
The Youth must grasp this fundamental truth, for this will strengthen them
in their service to the Cause, as nothing else can or will.
Another thing he wants the young people to do is to set an example in
obedience to the Administration, and to rise above the tendency, alas, so
pronounced in some of the friends, to consider personalities instead of
principles. This Cause is based on spiritual laws, and we must consider
these, and obey them, and not lose time in thinking about the individual
person’s peculiarities, or opinions...
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless, sustain and guide you, to enable you, to acquire a
fuller understanding of the implications of God’s Covenant in this day,
and contribute effectively to its clarification and its comprehension by
the believers.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 22 OCTOBER 1949
22 October 1949
To the Spiritual Assembly of Bergstrasse
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter dated March 27, has been received by our beloved Guardian, as
well as the report of the activities of your Assembly, and he thanks you
for sending him this information.
He, likewise, wishes to thank Mr. Adolf Lorey for his letter to him of
July 30, enclosing a newspaper clipping concerning Sohrab.
He feels your Assembly, wisely and lovingly, must guide the friends to a
firmer grasp of both the independent nature of our glorious Faith and the
need to study and uphold its Administrative Order.
To continue to be a member of the church places a Bahá’í in an insincere
position—for we believe the Christ has come again, in Bahá’u’lláh, and
that all His promises have been gloriously fulfilled. No church would
tolerate one of its members believing such a thing, for the church is
still blindly waiting the second coming. Therefore it is obvious why the
Bahá’ís must leave the church, they are not leaving Christ, but rather
rallying to His support in the new day of His coming.
Also, he feels your Assembly should obey and work with the National
Assembly in the greatest love and harmony. The past must be forgotten, and
all the believers concentrate, unitedly on the spread of the Faith and
strengthening its administration.
He will pray for you all, and for the success of your work. With Bahá’í
love
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty, Whose Faith you are serving with zeal, constancy and
devotion, bless you and your dear collaborators, remove all obstacles from
your path, and enable you to win great and memorable victories for His
Faith and its institutions,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 22 OCTOBER 1949
22 October 1949
It is the privilege of youth not to commit the same mistakes all over
again of the older generations, and he hopes the German youth will rise
above personalities, adhere to the principles of the Cause and its
administration, be examples of firmness in the Covenant, and thus carry
the Faith forward in Germany on a higher plane of development.
LETTER OF 30 OCTOBER 1949(35)
30 October 1949
As the Guardian already wrote the N.G.R., he feels that most of the
trouble which recently arose in the German community was due to the fact
that the believers everywhere did not seem to know how to function
administratively—almost everything they did was irregular and this caused
added confusion, more wounded feelings, and confused the entire situation.
He trusts that by now the whole situation has been straightened out and
that the N.G.R. and the assemblies will work strongly and unitedly for the
fulfilment of their Plan.
He was very glad that dear doctor Grossmann could attend the Brussels
Conference. All the believers there were so happy to have a German brother
with them! Also, he has received reports of the excellent teaching work on
the Covenant that your dear husband is doing. This is very important,
especially at this time when Ahmad Sohrab is trying to again become active
in Germany.
The German friends must learn to put the teachings above personalities and
stop taking sides. This is a sign of immaturity and this old and beloved
community cannot afford to linger in childhood, but must become a strong
adult community of united, alert and active believers....
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker:
I am deeply grateful to you for your constant and splendid services to our
beloved Faith. These services and achievements will, no doubt, attract the
blessings of Bahá’u’lláh. Rest assured that the Beloved is well pleased
with your accomplishments, and will increasingly bless your high
endeavours. May every obstacle be removed from your path and the dearest
wish of your heart fulfilled.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 12 NOVEMBER (1949?)(36)
12 November (1949?)
The Guardian is in receipt of your letter of October 26th, and feels very
much pleased at the news of the completion of the German translation of
“The Seven Valleys”. He wishes me to congratulate you most heartily for
this great service you have been able to render the Cause, and which no
doubt will serve to enrich the record of the manifold contributions you
have, during the last few years, so brilliantly made towards the spread of
the Faith throughout Germany. He is praying to Bahá’u’lláh that He may
continue to guide and inspire you, and assist you in accomplishing still
more outstanding works for the Cause in your country.
Regarding the publication of the manuscript, he sees no objection that it
should be undertaken by a non-Bahá’í publisher, inasmuch as it will then
have a greater appeal to the general public. But, of course, in this as
well as in all other local matters of this kind you should first seek the
approval of the N.S.A. As to the expenses of printing the work, they
should be preferably furnished by the national fund.
The Guardian is also very much pleased to learn of the new publications
which the N.S.A. is planning to issue very soon. The printing of the
lectures delivered at the last Esslingen Summer School in a book form is,
no doubt, highly useful. It is hoped that the funds required in this
connection, as well as for other important publications, will be
generously contributed by both the individual believers, and the local
groups and assemblies.
With reference to the publication of the “Kitáb-i-Íqán” into Esperanto,
the Guardian also hopes that some action will be taken in this matter by
the N.S.A. But obviously the printing of this, and other non-German works,
should be subordinated to the publication of Bahá’í literature in
German....
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker:
I am so eager to learn that your health is fully restored, for I believe
your services are a most valuable asset to the Faith you serve in these
troublous days. I welcome your efficient and unrelaxing cooperation, in
spite of the obstacles which face you, in so many fields of Bahá’í
activity. I am confident that as a result of your strenuous endeavours the
administrative institutions in your land will be further consolidated and
extended and the cause of teaching receive an added impetus.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 18 DECEMBER 1949
18 December 1949
Bahá’í Youth Committee of Germany and Austria
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter of November 12 has been received by our Guardian, and he has
instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
He will certainly pray for the success of your very important branch of
the Bahá’í work in Germany and Austria.
We, as students of religion and history, cannot but expect that when God’s
Greatest Revelation, (up until this time,) reaches the world, it will
cause terrific repercussions in the lives of men. This is what we are
witnessing all about us today, and although we, and others, suffer from
the state of society, we cannot but derive inspiration from the fact that
this very chaos is a testimony to the strength and potency of the Divine
Remedy brought by Bahá’u’lláh....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty Whose Cause you are serving in such a vital sphere of
Bahá’í activity, guide, bless and sustain you, remove the formidable
obstacles that stand in your path, and enable you to win great and
memorable victories for its institutions,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 28 MARCH 1950
28 March 1950
He will certainly pray for dear Mrs ... and her son who so tragically took
his life.
When a child is old enough to declare his intention of being a Bahá’í he
is also old enough to leave the church. The Guardian does not see any harm
in what you did; the parents accepted that Bahá’í writings should be read
at the funeral.
Please give the Guardian’s loving greetings to all the Munich believers,
and assure them of his prayers on their behalf. Urge them to persevere in
their teaching efforts.
LETTER OF 30 SEPTEMBER 1950
30 September 1950
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Berlin
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letters of 16 July, signed by the friends, and 21 July, signed by the
secretary, and your photograph were received by our beloved Guardian, and
he was very happy to hear from you, and to learn dear Mrs. Ashton had
visited you.
He often thinks of you, and it rejoices his heart to see you are
faithfully serving the Faith, and that you have a Spiritual Assembly, in
spite of the many difficulties you have passed through in Berlin.
He assures you he will ardently pray for your welfare, protection, and the
success of your Bahá’í work.
In these days the most important thing of all is to teach the Faith to the
people, for the world’s salvation can only be found in the Plan of
Bahá’u’lláh....
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers:
I was so pleased to receive your letter, and I greatly value the
sentiments you have expressed. You are often in my thoughts and prayers,
and I will continue to supplicate the Beloved to protect and sustain you,
remove all obstacles from your path, and enable you to achieve your
heart’s desire in His service,
Your true and grateful brother
Shoghi
LETTER OF 2 OCTOBER 1950
2 October 1950
To those present at Youth Summer School, August 3, 1950, c/o National
Bahá’í Youth Committee of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The letter dated August 3, and signed by those attending the Youth
Summer-School, was received by our beloved Guardian, as well as the photo
of Burg Breuberg, and he was delighted to see so many youth had attended
from Germany and different countries.
He urges you all to concentrate on teaching the Faith to the young people,
who must be surely bewildered by the state of the present day world, and
who are so in need of guidance and supranational goal towards which they
can strive with heart and soul.
We know that only the remedy of the “Divine Physician” can solve the
problems facing humanity and we work day and night to give the message of
Bahá’u’lláh to the masses....
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers:
I was deeply touched by your welcome message, and I wish to express my
deepfelt appreciation of the sentiments you have expressed. I greatly
value your labours, and I feel confident that the Beloved, whose Cause you
serve so devotedly, will guide and sustain you in your high endeavours.
Persevere and rest assured that the work you are achieving will bear rich
fruit in the days to come.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 6 OCTOBER 1950
6 October 1950
...our beloved Guardian wishes me to assure you he will certainly pray for
your success in teaching in Magdeburg. He deeply values your devotion to
the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my loving prayers for your protection, welfare and the
success of every effort you exert for the promotion of our beloved Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 26 OCTOBER 1950
26 October 1950
He hopes the German believers, led by their N.S.A., are now united and
active, and exerting their utmost to spread the Faith and support its
institutions financially and morally.
LETTER OF 26 OCTOBER 1950
26 October 1950
Your suggestion regarding a book for the general public is a good one. The
question is not only have we Bahá’ís competent to present this subject in
a way which would catch the attention of the public, but also even if such
a book existed would it achieve its end? We have, unfortunately, not very
many capable Bahá’í writers, and the condition of confusion in the world
is such that it seems doubtful if such a work would arrest the attention
of distracted mankind.
However, we need more and better Bahá’í books, and he suggests you present
your idea to the German, British and American N.S.A.’s.
LETTER OF 10 FEBRUARY 1951(37)
10 February 1951
The Hamburg situation he trusts is now greatly improved. The believers
there must learn to function according to the Administration. When they do
this, ninety percent of their problems will be solved.
Regarding your questions concerning the Gleanings:
1st. CXL up until CXLI refers to Muḥammad-‘Alí. The following pages do
not.
2nd. The Guardian does not remember to whom Chapter CXLIII refers. He
gathered the quotations for the Gleanings from innumerable individual
tablets and writings, and did not keep a record of all of them; and has
not at present time to go back over this material and find out. He does
not consider it important to whom it refers.
3rd. On Page 312, the words “I feign would hope” are merely a very
elevated style of English for saying “I hope”. This tablet has nothing to
do with Muḥammad-‘Alí.
The Guardian asks you to please convey his love to all the members of your
dear family, as well as to dear Mrs. Benke.
He very much appreciates the translation you have made of the Gleanings,
and hopes that it will soon be in the hands of all the believers, as it is
an extremely important volume for acquiring a deeper understanding of the
Faith, and greatly enriches the literature available in the German
language.
LETTER OF 10 FEBRUARY 1951
10 February 1951