meritorious assistance you extend to our dearly beloved and distinguished
brother and co-worker, Valíyu’lláh Varqá, and enable you to extend
continually the range of your splendid accomplishments in the service of
our glorious Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
FACSIMILE OF A LETTER FOUND ON PAGE 118
[facsimile of a letter found on page 118]
LETTER OF 13 JANUARY 1956
13 January 1956
To the Bahá’í Youth who were present at the Titisee Winter School.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The beloved Guardian was happy to receive your note of greeting from the
School, dated December 26th.
He urges each one of you to exert your utmost effort in the teaching
field, and do all in your power to establish many new Centers throughout
Germany.
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your constant endeavours, remove all obstacles from
your path, and enable you to extend continually the scope of your valued
activities,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 26 MARCH 1956(45)
26 March 1956
Many of the problems which you see facing the German Community are akin to
other Bahá’í Communities. There is a desperate need for deepening the
Bahá’ís themselves in their own faith. They do not study the Teachings
enough. They do not therefore either act as whole-heartedly as Bahá’ís as
they should, or derive the spiritual strength from the Faith which
studying, praying and meditating brings.
The answer of course to many of these problems is that we need more
Bahá’ís to share in the work, more money to finance traveling teachers,
more understanding between the youth and older people, and a wiser
distribution of the work of the Faith amongst those able to carry it on,
whether young or old.
As regards the question you have asked about your own obligations, he
feels you should not resign from the National Assembly, as your presence
on that Body is of great help in the work. On the other hand, he approves
of your requesting that they do not give you so much work as a member of
the National Assembly, and as a member of national committees, thus
freeing you more for the teaching work as a “Hand”, and also enabling you
to take better care of your health, which is a precious asset to the
Faith.
LETTER OF 3 MAY 1956(46)
3 May 1956
He is glad to see that the work is progressing well in Innsbruck; and
feels sure that, with your enthusiasm and that of the other dear friends,
it will not be long before a flourishing Bahá’í Community exists there....
As you no doubt know, he has not been satisfied with the Temple drawings
received from Germany, and is now in touch with the National Assembly
regarding possible modifications of some recently sent him.
He considers that the prestige of our beloved Faith is directly involved
with this building; and that what may to an architect, fond of an advanced
style, seem appropriate, would not be sufficiently dignified to represent
our Faith as the first Temple on the European continent. The problem will
no doubt soon be solved. It merely requires patience and more effort.
LETTER OF 26 AUGUST 1956(47)
26 August 1956
He is well satisfied and pleased with the progress of the work there. It
shows a healthy condition, and that you are being aided by Bahá’u’lláh in
your efforts to establish the Cause in that new area.
He values very deeply your pioneering services, through which you are
carrying on a long history in your family of single-hearted devotion to
the Faith. It is indeed good that your dear brother Dr. Grossmann can give
you such invaluable teaching assistance.
The Guardian hopes those who are now interested in and drawn toward the
Cause will earnestly study the Teachings until they feel impelled to join
the ranks of the Bahá’ís. He also hopes that others may soon follow their
example, so that within a short time a Spiritual Assembly may be
established in Westerland-Sylt.
His prayers will constantly surround you as you lovingly labour for the
attainment of this important goal....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty, whose Cause you have served, and are serving, so
devotedly, so determinedly and courageously, reward you a thousandfold for
your historic services and enable you to win still greater victories in
the days to come,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 16 SEPTEMBER 1956(48)
16 September 1956
He is very sorry to hear you may have to leave Graz, where you are laying
a good foundation for the work; even though our dear Bahá’í sister, Mrs.
Johnson Norvell is there now, which the Guardian was happy to hear.
If it is not possible for you to remain in Graz, you should try to follow
your plan of working in Vienna, and going down to help Mrs. Norvell on
week-ends.
The Guardian feels you should inquire whether the German National
Spiritual Assembly cannot help you to remain in Graz, as he considers this
city of great importance....
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my loving and fervent prayers for the success of your
historic services, and of my admiration for the spirit that animates you
in the promotion of our beloved Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 28 SEPTEMBER 1956(49)
28 September 1956
He was sorry indeed to hear of the conditions there, and will ardently
pray for the greater dedication of the members of the German Community, so
that they may realize the pressing needs of the Faith, and arise
determinedly to meet them.
He assures you he deeply appreciates your constant services, and the
devoted labours of your dear and honoured brother.
LETTER OF 15 NOVEMBER 1956(50)
15 November 1956
As regards the translation of the Íqán, as this is a very important and
fundamental book, the Guardian hopes that it will be published as soon as
possible.
The basis of your translation should be his English translation of it and
not the Persian original. He feels that you should adhere as closely as
possible to the English text without making your translation so literal as
to be un-German and unidiomatic, and therefore not very readable to
German-speaking people.
As regards Dr. Schück’s book, which the Guardian is very pleased to hear
he has written, as we need always more literature to attract new people to
the Faith through different approaches: Any Bahá’í book presenting the
Faith should be reviewed by a competent body. This only means that they
should ascertain whether there is any misrepresentation of the Teachings
in it. Sometimes the friends think they have to go into literary reviews
and interfere with the author’s style etc., which of course is wholly
unnecessary. It should therefore not take long for your National Body or
the Italo-Swiss National Assembly to pass upon the book.
LETTER OF 17 NOVEMBER 1956
17 November 1956
The Bahá’í Group of Salzburg
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter of November 12th has been received by the beloved Guardian,
and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He deeply appreciates the sentiments you expressed and also the loving
labours you are performing in the teaching field in Salzburg.
He was happy to note that your letter had seven signatures, and hopes that
by Ridván you will be able to form an Assembly there, which will be a
great step forward in the progress of the Faith in Austria.
You may be sure he will pray for you all at the holy Shrines....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your high endeavours, guide every step you take,
and fulfil every desire you cherish, for the promotion and consolidation
of His glorious Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 30 NOVEMBER 1956(51)
30 November 1956
He appreciates very deeply the sentiments you expressed to him on the
occasion of the thirty-fifth anniversary of his Guardianship. The love of
the friends and the services they render the Faith have in a great part
sustained him in his arduous and exhausting work; and he feels that the
Hands of the Cause will be called upon ever-increasingly to display a
loyalty and devotion which will stimulate the rank and file of the friends
to arise and fulfil their tasks, in spite of every obstacle....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved reward you a thousandfold for your outstanding and
unforgettable services, during so many years, to our beloved Faith, fulfil
every desire you cherish, and bless every effort you exert, in the days to
come, for the spread and consolidation of His glorious Faith, and enable
you to enrich the distinguished record of your highly meritorious
accomplishments,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 6 DECEMBER 1956(52)
6 December 1956
He very deeply appreciates the loving sentiments you expressed to him on
the occasion of the thirty-fifth anniversary of his Guardianship. The
devotion of the Bahá’ís, and the fidelity they have shown to the Master’s
wishes, and the love they have showered upon him, have enabled the
Guardian to carry out the work he has accomplished.
He hopes that the older German Bahá’ís like yourself will do all you can
to deepen the younger generation in the verities of the Faith, and create
in them the same flame of devotion which has animated you all over so long
a period....
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my deep and abiding appreciation of the sentiments you
have expressed, as well as of your highly meritorious services to the
Cause of God—services which have greatly sustained and encouraged me
amidst my strenuous labours in His service,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 6 DECEMBER 1956(53)
6 December 1956
He deeply appreciates the loving sentiments you expressed to him on the
occasion of the thirty-fifth anniversary of his Guardianship. The devotion
the friends have shown to the Cause of God and the love they have showered
upon him have enabled him to carry on his heavy burdens.
He hopes that your persistent and devoted labours there will soon bear the
reward of a Spiritual Assembly, and assures you that his prayers are
offered for your success.
LETTER OF 15 DECEMBER 1956
15 December 1956
He also hopes that you will persuade this friend to withdraw from the
church if he has not already done so. The line of demarcation must be more
and more distinct at this critical point in the fortunes of humanity, and
the Bahá’ís must courageously stand forth, upholding the laws of
Bahá’u’lláh and supporting the Administrative Order openly.
LETTER OF 2 FEBRUARY 1957
2 February 1957
The Bahá’í Group of Salzburg
He is happy, to hear that the Bahá’í friends from Budapest are safely
installed in the United States, and that they are going to make an effort
to settle in a way that will serve the work on the Home Front.
It was too bad that you lost some of the members of your much-prized
Community there, just when you are trying to build up a Spiritual
Assembly, but the Guardian hopes you will soon replace them with new
believers recruited from the local population, in other words, permanent
ones!
He attaches great importance to the creation of an Assembly in Salzburg
and will pray that you may be successful in the teaching work there....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless, abundantly and continually, your high endeavours,
guide every step you take, and enable you to lay a firm foundation for our
beloved Faith in that city,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 17 MARCH 1957(54)
17 March 1957
He fully appreciates that you are not strong enough to act as National
Secretary and at the same time fulfil your functions as a member of the
Auxiliary Board, and he therefore approves of your asking the National
Assembly, if you are reelected on it this year, to not make you the
Secretary. He does not think however that you should resign from the
National Assembly if you are elected to it.
LETTER OF 25 MARCH 1957(55)
25 March 1957
Regarding the matters raised in your letter, as he wrote you before, he
does not feel in this stage in the development of the Faith and the
Institution of the Hands, that the Hands should request to not be elected
on National Bodies, or resign from them. However, there is no reason why
they cannot ask their fellow-members, if they are elected, to leave them
free of the heavier administrative offices, so that they can do more in
their function as Hands. There is no reason why there should not be a
frank discussion of these problems before the National Assembly itself
votes for its Officers.
The National Assembly is not obliged to follow the wish of the Hands.(56)
It is also not the Body empowered to tell the Hands what to do; they can
make suggestions to them.
As regards your highly meritorious desire to pioneer behind the Iron
Curtain, he does not feel that this would be advisable or in the best
interests of the Faith. You should continue your work where you are in
Germany, and do all you can, as a Hand and as a member of the National
Body, to see that some pioneers undertake this important service.
LETTER OF 28 MARCH 1957
28 March 1957
As regards the question you have asked: The Bahá’í marriage should take
place the same day.
It is not necessary that this should be an occasion for a feast or
publicity, although that would of course be good if it could be combined
with obedience to the Laws. The most important thing is that they should
have the Bahá’í ceremony, which, as you know, is extremely simple, on the
same day as the other ceremony.
LETTER OF 28 APRIL 1957
28 April 1957
The passing of dear George Townshend has been a real loss to the work in
Europe—but what Europe has lost Asia in the Pacific has gained!
LETTER OF 14 MAY 1957(57)
14 May 1957
He would certainly not advise you to move outside of Germany, in view of
the tremendous needs in that country. However, he approves, if you find it
financially possible, of your moving to Dortmund where as you say there
are no Bahá’ís, and which is one of Germany’s major cities. This would
indeed be rendering the Faith a valuable service at this time in setting
an example to others. Either Dortmund or Berlin would be highly
acceptable, whichever would be easiest for you.
LETTER OF 28 MAY 1957
28 May 1957
To the Youth who were present in Aachen on May 19, 1957.
He was very happy to see that so many of the Bahá’í Youth had gathered
together to study the Teachings, and hopes such meetings will be held
often throughout Germany.
The believers, especially the young ones, should always remember that the
first thing the non-Bahá’ís are going to notice in us is our character;
therefore, the highest standard of moral conduct and courtesy should be
shown forth by the youth, in order to attract the hearts of other people,
and, through arousing their admiration, create in them a desire to know
more about our beloved Faith, and eventually to arise to serve it.
He will pray for you all, that you may be successful in your labours, to
give the Glad Tidings of Bahá’u’lláh to the young people....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your efforts, guide and sustain you, and aid you to
win great victories in the service of His Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 31 MAY 1957
31 May 1957
To the Bahá’ís of Salzburg
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter of May 16th was received, and the beloved Guardian wishes to
assure you of how happy he is over the formation of the Salzburg Assembly,
and to see that you not only have nine Bahá’ís but ten Bahá’ís!
He hopes that during the coming months, you will each attract many new
souls, enlarge your Community and confirm especially Austrians who will
remain there, and free the pioneers for further services in new fields.
You may be sure he will remember you in the holy Shrines....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your valued endeavours, guide and sustain you in
your historic services to His Faith, and enable you to promote its vital
interests,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 4 JUNE 1957
4 June 1957
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Graz.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The beloved Guardian received your letter of May 31, and he is very happy
to have this opportunity of congratulating your Spiritual Assembly upon
its formation.
He was also delighted to hear there are so many Bahá’ís in Graz. Perhaps
you can spare a pioneer, if you find your Assembly will be assured next
April, to one of the weaker places in Austria, and thus help build up yet
another administrative centre.
You may be sure he will pray for you all, and he urges you to labor
together in the greatest love and unity for the promotion of the Faith....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved guide your steps, remove all obstacles from your path,
bless every effort you exert, and fulfil every desire you cherish, for the
promotion of His Faith, and the consolidation of the newly established
Assembly,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 4 JUNE 1957(58)
4 June 1957
He greatly appreciates the services you have been able to render the Faith
in Austria, and feels that you have every reason to be satisfied, now that
you see that a Spiritual Assembly was established in Graz. The fact that
the friends there did not cable him makes no difference at all. Not all of
the new Assemblies cable.
You will be able, he hopes, on your return to Germany, to assist in the
formation of a new Spiritual Assembly there, through taking up your
residence where there is a Group. In this way you will be strengthening
the Home Front, which is also a very important phase of our Bahá’í
activities. If you must go back to Stuttgart, he hopes you can still live
in its neighbourhood and be instrumental in forming another Assembly,
rather than to be just one more Bahá’í in an already crowded Community. As
you perhaps already know, he has urged the large communities to send out
pioneers. Indeed, if only fifteen Bahá’ís remained in each city, willing
to serve, it would be quite sufficient to maintain the Spiritual Assembly.
The sooner the rest would arise to pioneer, the better it would be for
them and for the Faith.
LETTER OF 22 JULY 1957
22 July 1957
He was indeed happy to hear that the teaching work in Frankfurt is going
forward so rapidly, and that such fine people are becoming deeply
interested. He hopes, through these meetings, many new souls will become
Bahá’ís, who will be active supporters of the Faith there.
LETTER OF 7 AUGUST 1957
7 August 1957
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Graz
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The beloved Guardian has received your letter of July 3rd with its
enclosure, and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He was very sorry to hear of the death of Mehrangiz Mashoodi. Her devotion
to the Faith will no doubt be rewarded in the Abhá Kingdom.
He appreciates your sending him the fine newspaper article about her.
Please assure her mother of his prayers for her and her daughter’s soul.
He hopes other Persian Bahá’í Youth will follow her noble example.
The Guardian has wanted for some time to see a Spiritual Assembly
established in Graz, and therefore he was made very happy this year over
its formation....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your meritorious efforts, guide every step you take,
and fulfil every desire you cherish, for the spread and consolidation of
His glorious Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 24 OCTOBER 1957(59)
24 October 1957
Your efforts to promote peace and love among the friends are indeed deeply
appreciated by him.
The National Spiritual Assembly must protect the Faith, but must always be
fair. Because a person is accused does not necessarily prove that he or
she is guilty; and the administrative bodies cannot be too careful in such
matters.
The Guardian hopes ... will obey the National Spiritual Assembly, and that
ways will be found for him to serve the Cause, as his devotion to it is
sincere, and the deep desire of his heart is to labour for the Cause....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your incessant and highly meritorious labours,
guide and sustain you in your manifold activities, and enable you to
enrich the record of your unforgettable achievements,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
FOOTNOTES
1 to Professor Auguste Forel
2 letter written in German language
3 in Karlsruhe
4 to the Bahá’ís of Esslingen
5 to Mrs. Marta Brauns-Forel
6 to Mrs. Diestelhorst
7 The Bahá’ís of Geislingen and Gôppingen
8 to the Bahá’ís of Gôppingen
9 to the Bahá’ís of Gôppingen
10 to Mrs. Diestelhorst
11 to the Bahá’ís of Esslingen
12 to the Bahá’ís of Esslingen
13 to Mrs. Walcker, Rostock
14 to the Bahá’ís of Esslingen
15 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
16 letter written in German language
17 to Mrs. Anna Grossmann
18 addressed to Dr. Hermann Grossmann, family and Bahá’í friends
19 addressed to Miss Edith Horn, Dr. Hermann Grossmann, Mr. Bruce
Davison
20 to Dr. Hermann Grossmann
21 to Miss Elsa Grossmann
22 to Mrs. Anna Grossmann
23 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
24 to Mrs. Anna Grossmann
25 in Frankfurt
26 in Wärnemunde
27 in Esslingen
28 to Mrs. Anna Grossmann
29 to Mr. and Mrs. Lorey
30 to Miss Elsa Grossmann
31 to Dr. Karl Schück
32 to Dr. Hermann Grossmann
33 to Mrs. Anna Grossmann
34 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
35 to Mrs Anna Grossmann
36 to Dr. Hermann Grossmann
37 to Miss Elsa Grossmann
38 to Mr Paul Gollmer
39 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
40 to Miss Edith Horn
41 to Dr. Hermann Grossmann
42 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
43 to Dr. Hermann Grossmann
44 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
45 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
46 to Mrs Johanna von Werthern
47 to Miss Elsa Maria Grossmann
48 to Mr. Robert Schultheiss
49 to Miss Elsa Maria Grossmann
50 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
51 to Dr. Hermann Grossmann
52 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
53 to Miss Elsa M. Grossmann
54 to Mrs. Anna Grossmann
55 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
56 the Hands, however, can make suggestions to the N.S.A.
57 to Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel
58 to Mr L. Robert Schultheiss
59 to Dr. Hermann Grossmann