loyalty, your firm determination and exemplary devotion to our beloved
Cause. Unity and cooperation are absolutely essential and vital at the
present stage of your development. Persevere and rest assured I will
continue to pray for you all from the depths of my heart.
Affectionately,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 10 MAY 1936
10 May 1936
Dear Dr. Muehlschlegel,
Your letter dated May 1st with the enclosed message from the Annual
Convention of the German friends have all duly arrived and been read with
deepest interest and satisfaction by our beloved Guardian.
He is indeed pleased to learn of the results of your national elections,
and wishes me to ask you to kindly convey to the members of the new N.S.A.
his hearty congratulations, as well as the assurance of his fervent
supplications on their behalf at the Holy Shrines.
The Guardian very much regrets, however, that the Convention has not been
quite representative of the centers in Germany, and particularly deplores
the fact that the Vienna community has been unable to send any delegate to
the meeting. He feels the necessity of urging you to bring this matter
before the N.S.A. at its next session, in order that they may strongly
recommend all the local communities having an assembly to send every year
at least one representative to the Convention. The Convention meeting is
indeed a very important gathering, and the friends should be strongly
impressed with its importance and significance. With some effort and
sacrifice it is always possible for the delegates to be present at the
Convention-sessions....
[From the Guardian:]
My very dear co-worker:
I am so glad to receive such a splendid message from the Convention. To
you, no doubt, must, in a very great measure, be attributed the success
that has been achieved. The days of your pilgrimage will long be
remembered, and I trust and pray that both you and your dear wife will as
a result be assisted to lend a fresh impetus to the onward march of the
Cause in Germany. Upon you rests a high responsibility, and I am sure you
will rise to the height of the occasion.
Affectionately,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 10 MAY 1936 (CONVENTION)
10 May 1936 (Convention)
Dear Friends and co-workers,
Dr. Muehlschlegel has kindly transmitted to the Guardian your very warm
message, and he has read it with greatest pleasure and satisfaction, and
felt deeply touched at the assurances of devotion and loyalty which you
have been moved in conveying to him. He highly appreciates the sentiments
you have expressed, and fully reciprocates your greetings and good wishes.
He has been very much impressed indeed at the large number of the
attendants of this year's Convention, and hopes that in the years to come
that number will continue increasing.
The Annual Convention is indeed a very important gathering at which both
delegates and visitors should try their very best to be present. It is a
splendid and unique opportunity for the believers to come together and
deliberate on the vital and pressing issues facing the Cause. It is for
this reason, and also because the Convention is the sole body entrusted
with the election of the N.S.A., that the friends, and particularly the
delegates, should make every effort to take part in the deliberations and
discussions of that annual gathering.
With most loving greetings, and sincere good wishes from the Guardian to
you all....
[From the Guardian:]
Dearly beloved friends:
The Convention of the German believers marks another milestone in the
notable progress achieved in recent years by the German Baha'i Community.
My heart is filled with gratitude for the manifold evidences of the
tenacity of faith, the collective efforts, the consolidated unity, the
administrative accomplishments and the spiritual fervour so strikingly
displayed by its members. 'Abdu'l-Baha, whose special care, love and
solicitude for the followers of Baha'u'llah in that promising country,
most of you have recognized and no doubt still remember, is truly proud of
your accomplishments and is well-pleased with the spirit that so
powerfully animates you in His service. His spirit will continue to
overshadow you in your labours and to sustain and guide you in your
exertions. Persevere and be confident.
Affectionately
Shoghi
LETTER OF 10 SEPTEMBER 1936 (SUMMER SCHOOL)
10 September 1936 (Summer School)
Beloved Baha'i Friends,
Our dear friend Miss Koestlin has kindly transmitted to the Guardian the
beautiful message which you have addressed to him on the occasion of the
holding of the fifth German Baha'i Summer School at Esslingen, and I wish
to hasten in thanking you on his behalf for the expressions of loving
devotion and the assurances of loyalty which you have been moved in
conveying to him. He profoundly values the warm sentiments you have
expressed, and fully reciprocates your greetings and good wishes.
What has particularly rejoiced and cheered his heart is the realisation
that the Esslingen Summer School is steadily developing and is speedily
attaining the character of an international meeting place for all Baha'i
residents as well as travellers throughout Europe. The success that has
attended your school this year, as evidenced by both the wide range and
number of the attendants, is truly encouraging and augurs well for the
future of that institution which, we have every reason to hope, is
destined to develop into a leading Baha'i University throughout the West.
The Guardian's hope is that the German N.S.A. will, as in the last few
years, continue extending to that school the moral as well as the
financial assistance which it needs for its further expansion, and for a
still wider and more effective penetration of its influence in every
Baha'i center throughout Europe.
He also hopes, and indeed would urge each and every one of the believers
in Germany to extend full and continued support to the N.S.A. in its
highly-meritorious efforts for the extension and development of the Summer
School at Esslingen. He is confident that through such a close and
whole-hearted collaboration between the individual believers and the
N.S.A. that school will succeed in gradually fulfilling its unique and
truly noble mission, both with regard to Germany and to Europe as a whole.
With the loving greetings and best wishes of the Guardian to you all,...
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued friends:
I am thrilled by the tone and character of the joint message you sent me.
The splendid achievements that have signalized the proceedings of this
year's summer school are a source of abiding inspiration to me in my work,
and will as a powerful magnet attract future blessings upon the great and
noble work which its organizers are labouring to promote. I will continue
to pray for you and for your work in such a promising field and for so
meritorious a purpose.
Gratefully and affectionately,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 9 DECEMBER 1936
9 December 1936
Beloved Baha'i Brothers and Sisters,
Shoghi Effendi is just in receipt of the message you have written him
through ... dated November 28th. How kind of you to address to him such
touching and assuring words on the occasion of the anniversary of the
passing of our beloved Master 'Abdu'l-Baha. Your words have sunk deeply
into his heart, and have imparted to it fresh encouragement and deep
comfort. What a greater satisfaction is there for him indeed than to see
the friends, and particularly his well-beloved co-workers in Germany,
unitedly and harmoniously striving to spread the glad-tidings of this New
Day of God? It is his most fervent hope and the object of his continued
supplications at the threshold of Baha'u'llah that your community which is
already functioning with such a remarkable vigour, unity and efficiency
may rapidly gain in numbers and in strength, and become a beacon of light,
the radiance of which shall gradually penetrate and envelop all the
neighbouring centers and regions.
Esslingen is not only one of the oldest centers of the Cause in Germany,
but it is actually one of its most active, prosperous and promising
communities. Your center has indeed a glorious tradition behind it, and it
is high time that you all, whether young or old, rich or poor, and no
matter how limited your resources and numbers, should unitedly endeavour
to extend and further consolidate the basis of your teaching as well as
administrative activities.
The Guardian wishes you, in particular, to make a supreme effort to widen
the scope of your teaching work, but would urge you to proceed in this, as
well as in all other fields of Baha'i service, with the utmost caution and
wisdom, so that you may not run the danger of antagonizing or even
displeasing the authorities. With this important consideration in mind,
exert all your efforts and all your resources for promoting this sacred
Cause of teaching in Esslingen and in the surrounding communities.
With warmest greetings and hearty good wishes from the Guardian,...
[From the Guardian:]
Dearly-loved friends:
I am profoundly touched by your message. I thank you from the depths of my
heart. I feel proud of you, of your perseverance, your devotion and your
loyalty. Persevere and rest assured. The Beloved is watching over you and
will continue to bless your meritorious endeavours.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 17 MARCH 1937
17 March 1937
Dear Baha'i Friends:
Your message of the seventh of March is just at hand, and I wish to hasten
to thank you for it on behalf of our beloved Guardian, and to renew his
gratitude and appreciation for the assurances of devoted love and loyalty
which you had been moved to convey to him. He very deeply values your
sentiments, indeed, and greatly admires the spirit of sacrifice and of
whole-hearted consecration with which you are labouring for the promotion
of the Faith. The success of your efforts will assuredly depend upon the
measure of unity within your group, and upon your firm resolve to uphold,
in words as well as in deeds, those basic verities which the Teachings
inculcate.
The Guardian's message to you is that you should constantly strive to
mirror forth in your private lives, and also in your social relationships,
the beauty, purity and regenerative power of the Message of Baha'u'llah.
The Baha'i youth of today should be an example to the youth of the world,
and should therefore live up to the highest standards of conduct. Nothing
short of such a close, united and concrete adherence to the ideals and
teachings of the Faith by every young Baha'i man and woman can impress and
attract to it the serious attention and consideration of the world
outside.
It is Shoghi Effendi's hope therefore that your youth group will make a
renewed and determined effort this year to put into daily practice the
principles and teachings of the Cause, and thus demonstrate to the
non-Baha'i youth of your country the tremendous power which the Baha'i
Teachings have to shape, mould and reconstruct the lives of men.
He is praying to Baha'u'llah to bless and guide your endeavours to that
end....
[From the Guardian:]
May the almighty power of Baha'u'llah bless you and keep you, shower his
bestowals upon you, deepen your understanding of the fundamental verities
and requirements of His Faith, and enable you to extend the range and
reinforce the basis of your activities and achievements.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 10 DECEMBER 1937
10 December 1937
Dear Frau Muehlschlegel,
The Guardian was deeply rejoiced to receive your very cordial message of
the first ins., and is indeed happy to know that during the next few
months you will be travelling regularly to Zuerich, and that you intend in
this way to communicate to him any news regarding the situation of the
Cause in Germany. He truly welcomes your offer, and feels that it is a
most urgent and valuable service you can render the Faith.
Mr. Greeven, as you may know, is in close touch with the authorities in
Berlin, and has so far succeeded in inducing the government to give more
sympathetic consideration to our case. The secretary of the Minister for
Church affairs has promised him that the funds, books and archives will be
returned, but that there can be no hope of having the government rescind
the rulings entirely. The negotiations, as you see, have not been quite in
vain. The friends should not feel unnecessarily agitated, but should have
full confidence in the future which, we firmly believe, is gloriously
bright. As in the past, the German Baha'i Community will eventually
overcome and crush such forces of opposition, and will arise, out of the
storm and stress of its present-day afflictions, stronger and purer and
more determined to accomplish its allotted task in the establishment of
the New World Order. Assure the believers that they have no reason
whatsoever to feel distressed. The Cause is God's and is therefore in safe
hands.
Regarding the German translation of the "Dispensation of Baha'u'llah"; a
copy of the German text of that pamphlet prepared by Miss Grossmann was
forwarded to Haifa about two months ago through the care of Frau Brauns.
The Guardian wrote her in answer, that he would keep the manuscript until
such time when the time and means for its publication would be found.
Now he wishes to know whether the translation mentioned in your letter is
the same as the one sent by Frau Brauns, or is a new rendering made by Dr.
Muehlschlegel.
To you, to him, as well as to all your children he sends his loving
thoughts and greetings....
P.S. At the Guardian's instruction I am mailing to your address a copy of
the "Baha'i World" vol. III, as to is not certain whether you or any of
the German friends has seen this latest issue of the Year book....
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker:
I wish to assure you and through you our dearly beloved German friends
that the trials to which they are subjected are but a prelude to an age of
unprecedented glory and activity in the service of the Cause of God. These
clouds will dissipate and the splendour of the Faith will be shed with
increasing radiance. Let the Cause grow silently and acquire greater
depths in the hearts of the tested believers in that land, and the day
will surely come when its potentialities will be manifested in a manner
that would cause every beholder to marvel.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 2 FEBRUARY 1938
2 February 1938
Dear Frau Muehlschlegel,
The Guardian was pleased to receive your letter of the 26th January last,
and to hear again from you about the conditions of the Cause in Germany.
He feels exceedingly sorry that the authorities have not so far lived up
to their promise of returning the books, funds and archives that were
confiscated, but still hopes that through the vigilant care, and the
sustained and wise efforts of Mr. Greeven some definite results will be
eventually obtained. The friends need not lose courage, but have full
confidence in the future which, we are all certain, is immeasurably
bright.
Now regarding the manuscript of the German "Baha'u'llah and the New Era";
the Guardian has learned with satisfaction that the printing of the text
has been completed, and he feels that in view of the present restrictions
in Germany it would not be advisable to proceed with the binding there. He
would advise that the unbound copies be sent over, through the safest
means possible, to the Spiritual Assembly of Vienna that they may complete
the binding of as many copies as they can arrange for the distribution of
the book.
Not only it would be too risky, and even dangerous, to publish anything at
present in Germany, but it would constitute an act of disloyalty to the
government on the part of the German believers, as you no doubt well know
that in such purely administrative matters the friends are under the
strict obligation of obeying the authorities.
As regards the manuscript of the "Dispensation of Baha'u'llah", the
Guardian is sending you under separate cover the copy which was presented
to him sometime ago by Frau Martha Brauns, with the hope that the friends
may be able to arrange for its publication outside Germany.
In closing kindly convey his loving thanks to dear Frau Vautier and to Mr.
Leo Bernhard for the kind words they have appended to your letter. He will
remember you all in his prayers at the Holy Shrines, that you may be ever
assisted and guided in your efforts for the service of Baha'u'llah....
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker:
The services you are rendering in these days of stress and turmoil are
highly appreciated and deserve the highest praise. Kindly assure again the
dear German believers of my constant prayers for them. The critical stage
through which the Faith is passing in their beloved land is but one stage
in its evolution, a step that will carry them farther on the glorious path
they have chosen to tread. Perseverance is the virtue they mostly need at
present. An All-mighty Providence is watching over them. Never must they
feel disheartened. I am deeply grateful and feel truly proud of the spirit
they manifest.
Shoghi
LETTER OF 31 MARCH 1938
31 March 1938
Dear Dr. Muehlschlegel,
Your letter of the 20th ins. sent from Zuerich has duly reached our beloved
Guardian, and he was indeed pleased to hear from you, and was deeply
touched by the messages which you and Mrs. Muehlschlegel, Mrs. Vautier and
Mr. Gollmer have so kindly sent him on the occasion of your visit to
Zuerich. Please assure them of his keenest appreciation of the sentiments
they have expressed, and of his prayers for their protection and guidance
in these difficult and indeed distressing times.
The Guardian is thankful for the report which you and Mr. Gollmer have
given him regarding the situation of the Cause in Germany. He truly
deplores the existing state of affairs, but still hopes that conditions
may improve sooner or later. With the annexation of Austria, however,
there is little chance of the authorities rescinding their rulings at
present regarding the prohibition of the Cause, but there is every reason
to believe that the assembly in Vienna will too be dissolved in the next
few months.
Now regarding the publication of the German edition of the Esslemont book;
now that the new regime in Austria makes it quite impossible for the
friends there to complete the printing of the book and arrange for its
sale, the Guardian suggests that the best course to take would be for you
to approach the American N.S.A. and to ask them to purchase the whole
order. Owing to the expansion of the teaching work in South America,
where, as you know, there are many large German communities, particularly
in Argentina, there would be a great demand for this book, and the
Publishing Committee of the N.S.A. might arrange to sell many copies
there, and distribute some, for sale, among various other Baha'i centers
in Europe and in the East.
The Guardian would further advise that you also approach the British
N.S.A. who may find it possible to assist you in this matter....
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker:
I am so pleased to learn that despite the anxieties and obstacles that
confront and afflict the dearly-loved German believers, their devotion,
loyalty, confidence and perseverance remain untarnished and unshaken. I
shall be glad to contribute the sum of thirty pounds as soon as I hear
that arrangements have been made for the publication of Esslemont's book,
and trust and pray that ways and means will be found to bring to a
successful conclusion this all-important undertaking.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 25 APRIL 1938
25 April 1938
Dear Friends,
The postcard message which you had sent the Guardian on the occasion of
Dr. Muehlschlegel's visit to Vienna, has just been received, and it made
him immensely happy to realize that the friends in Germany and Austria
have been again drawn together, and are closer than ever in the past. He
hopes that the removal of the barriers which have hitherto so sadly
separated the German and Austrian communities will mark the beginning of a
new era of unprecedented growth and expansion in your affairs. He is
certain that you are fully alive to the far-reaching possibilities which
the present hour offers, and wishes you therefore to be happy and
thankful, and confident in the blessings which the future has in store for
you, and your dear co-workers in that land.
I take this opportunity of assuring you once more of his prayers for your
welfare, protection and continued guidance, and reciprocating your very
kind greetings,...
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you in person of my incessant prayers for your protection,
guidance and happiness,
your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
LETTER OF 21 MAY 1938
21 May 1938
Dear Frau Muehlschlegel,
Many thanks from the Guardian for your very kind letter of the 11th ins.
just received, and also for the revised manuscript of the German
translation of the "Dispensation of Baha'u'llah" you have sent under
separate cover. He indeed appreciates Dr. Muehlschlegel's painstaking
efforts in revising the text, and wishes you to assure him that he will
pray that a way may be soon opened for its publication.
As regards the German "Baha'u'llah and the New Era", it would certainly
rejoice your heart to know that in a letter recently received from the
American N.S.A. they have suggested to defray the cost of purchasing the
types, and of arranging for its publication in Switzerland. The Guardian
wrote them in reply approving of their suggestion, and urged them to take
immediately the necessary steps, and also informed them of his offer to
contribute thirty pounds towards the printing cost. He will send the sum
directly to the N.S.A., as soon as he receives word from them that the
necessary negotiations have been completed.
Regarding the confiscation of Baha'i literature and archives in Germany;
the Guardian in a recent letter to Mr. Greeven advised him again to
continue his negotiations with the authorities, but also stressed the
absolute necessity of avoiding the exercise of too much pressure on them.
The situation is exceedingly delicate, and nothing short of Divine help
and guidance can indeed enable the friends to obtain even this minimum of
their demands from the Government.
In closing please convey the Guardian's loving appreciation and thanks to
dear Frau Vautier for the word of greetings she so kindly appended to your
letter. Also kindly convey to Dr. Muehlschlegel and the friends in
Stuttgart his warmest and affectionate greetings....
[From the Guardian:]
Wishing you and your dear and distinguished husband, the utmost success in
your unceasing and noble endeavours for the promotion and protection of
the Faith in these days of stress and trial, and assuring you of my
abiding and loving gratitude.
Your true brother, Shoghi
LETTER OF 7 MAY 1939
7 May 1939
Beloved Friends,
Shoghi Effendi has received your welcome card dated April 20th, and
immensely appreciates the message of love and greetings you have been
moved to convey to him on the occasion of the Feast of Ridvan.
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: