Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand Part 16

I am instructed by our beloved Guardian to write you on his behalf and a.s.sure you he was most happy to receive your letter dated May 4.

He rejoices with the New Zealand Baha'is in the formation of their historic National a.s.sembly. They are now firmly launched on the course of their own destiny, and undoubtedly the Faith will go forward very much faster. They have an advantage not shared by many of their fellow National a.s.semblies, of exclusively administering the affairs of the Faith in a small area, which means that they can function much more efficiently. When one remembers the many years that the New Zealand and Australian believers toiled to carry on the work in those two countries, with the sea in between, and inadequate funds to provide transportation, which necessitated so much of the National a.s.sembly's work being carried on by correspondence, one can appreciate the advantages you now enjoy.

The formation of a new National Body in any case is an organic thing, and a new and lively flow of life will go out into all the members of the Community from this a.s.sembly.

As regards the question you asked him about the site for the Temple, this need not be a large piece of land at this time--three or four acres would be sufficient for the site if you find suitable land is expensive. If the worst comes to the worst, when the time comes to build the Temple, the site can be changed. In Uganda some years ago, they purchased a Temple site, and later, a large piece of land for their endowment. With the Guardian's permission, they exchanged the two as the Endowment's position was better for the Temple. So you see, it need not be too rigid. The point is to get a Temple site as soon as possible. He feels it should be in the outskirts of Auckland, within easy motoring distance, so that the friends can attend services there. Naturally the closer to the city, the better.

As you formulate your plans and carry them out for the work entrusted to you during the next six years, he wishes you to particularly bear in mind the need of teaching the Maoris. These original discoverers of New Zealand are of a very fine race, and they are a people long admired for their n.o.ble qualities; and special effort should be made, not only to contact the Maoris in the cities and draw them into the Faith, but to go to their towns and live amongst them and establish a.s.semblies in which at least the majority of the believers will be Maoris, if not all. This would be indeed a worthy achievement.

The beloved Guardian a.s.sures you all of his prayers for the success of the historic work you are now undertaking, and he feels sure you will achieve your goals.

With warmest Baha'i greetings, Ruhiyyih

[From the Guardian:]

_Dear and valued co-workers:_

_The emergence of the New Zealand National Spiritual a.s.sembly, as a result of the convocation of the first Baha'i historic Convention held in that far-away and promising Dominion, will be hailed by posterity as an event of the greatest significance, marking the erection of another pillar designed to support, in the South Pacific area, the future Universal House of Justice. My heart overflows with happiness and is filled with grat.i.tude as I contemplate the splendid progress achieved, in recent years, in that far-off island, and note the loyalty and devotion with which the members of this valiant community, now standing on the threshold of unprecedented achievements, have discharged their manifold and sacred responsibilities._

_The six brief years that now lie ahead must witness a swift expansion in the scope of Baha'i activities throughout the length and breadth of that Dominion, as well as a steady consolidation of the foundations of the inst.i.tutions that have been so painstakingly laid. The Six-Year Plan upon which the New Zealand believers have now so auspiciously embarked must be diligently prosecuted and brought to a triumphant conclusion. All must partic.i.p.ate, whether young or old, veterans as well as newly enrolled believers, all must contribute their share to the ultimate success of this mighty collective enterprise, however limited their means, however modest their abilities, however restricted the range of their previous experiences._

_The increase in the number of the avowed adherents of the Faith; the multiplication of isolated centres, groups, and local a.s.semblies; the incorporation of the newly formed National Spiritual a.s.sembly as well as all firmly grounded local a.s.semblies; the recognition of the Baha'i marriage certificate by the civil authorities, and of the Baha'i Holy Days by the Superintendent of schools in that island; the rapid conversion of the Maoris and their close a.s.sociation with the white believers in the administration of the affairs of the community; the consolidation of the work energetically initiated in the South Island; the selection and purchase of the site for the Mother Temple of New Zealand--these stand out as the foremost objectives of the Plan now demanding of its high minded determined prosecutors, the utmost consecration, unrelaxing vigilance and the n.o.blest self-sacrifice._

_The tasks, challenging the spirit and resources of this community, whose numerical strength is as yet so limited, whose material resources are so circ.u.mscribed, whose past experiences have, in many respects, been confined to a narrow range, are truly formidable. The alloted time, during which so stupendous an undertaking is to be consummated, is short. The obstacles confronting its members are varied and manifold. Yet the sustaining grace promised to all those who will arise, with single-mindedness, courage, dedication and high resolve to aid in the attainment of these n.o.ble objectives, is of such potency that no earthly power can resist the ultimate fulfilment of so glorious a task, or even delay its eventual fruition._

_I appeal most earnestly to all those who, in both the teaching and administrative fields, are committed to carry out so magnificent an enterprise, as well as to those who, in an unofficial capacity, are called upon to further, by every means in their power, the interests of this epoch-making Plan, to dedicate themselves, at this hour to the arduous, yet infinitely precious task they have shouldered, and to devote, in the days and years that lie ahead, every ounce of their energy to the systematic prosecution of a Plan, on which the immediate destinies of the entire New Zealand Baha'i community directly depend; and which can alone provide the stepping-stone to the still more brilliant achievements destined to enn.o.ble the annals of the Faith in that remote island of the globe._

_Shoghi_

(67) July 19th, 1957

Secretary, National Spiritual a.s.sembly of the Baha'is of Australia.

Dear Baha'i Brother:

...As regards the "Herald of the South" magazine, in view of the important work lying ahead of your a.s.sembly, and the fact that this magazine is a drain on the limited resources of the Community, he thinks it would be quite all right to suspend publication until a future date when the financial situation permits such expenditures to be made with relative ease. He leaves, however, the final decision to your a.s.sembly.

The Committee responsible for the publication of this magazine has certainly laboured valiantly throughout the years, and the publication will be missed by its readers. However, it is some years since the American Baha'i Magazine was abandoned for similar reasons, and the Guardian feels that you can do so in Australia, and the funds be used to better advantage, at this time. However, now that you have found a printer in Sydney and appointed a new committee, he thinks you should continue it and give the new Plan a try....

The successful culmination of the long standing partnership of the Australian and New Zealand believers thru the emergence of the New Zealand N. S. A. is a source of great satisfaction to the Guardian, and no doubt to all the members of both communities. He feels sure this will mark a turning point in the work in the Antipodes and the neighbouring islands and give a new lease of life to the teaching work throughout that area.

Both your a.s.sembly and that of New Zealand have now emerged into your permanent form as pillars of the future International House of Justice.

The bones of the skeleton of the World Order are growing strong, but only the teaching work can clothe them with flesh....

[From the Guardian:]

_Dear and valued co-workers:_

_...Particularly commendable, and indeed exemplary, has been the share of the Australian believers in enabling the New-Zealand Baha'i Community to make such rapid strides, in recent years, strides that have prepared it for the a.s.sumption of its sacred and vital function as an independent community, and which culminated in the formation of a body qualified to take its place, and a.s.sume the weighty responsibilities inc.u.mbent on it, as a distinct and separate member of the world-wide family of Baha'i national and regional Spiritual a.s.semblies...._

(Extract, ibid., pp. 135, 137, 138)

(68) August 30th, 1957

Secretary, Spiritual a.s.sembly of the Baha'is of the City of Auckland.

Dear Baha'i Friends:

This is just a brief note, on behalf of the beloved Guardian, to acknowledge your letter of July 5th (8th Rahmat, 114) and tell you he appreciates your action in sending the cable to iran, and a.s.sure you of his loving prayers for the rapid progress of the Faith in Auckland.

With warm Baha'i greetings, R. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

_May the Almighty sustain you in your constant and meritorious endeavours, guide every step you take, and bless every effort you exert, for the promotion of the interests of His Faith,_

_Your true brother, _ _ Shoghi_

(69) September 9th, 1957

National Spiritual a.s.sembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand.

Dear Baha'i Friends:

The Beloved Guardian is very anxious to secure information as to the native tribes which have been contacted by any of the Believers in your area; and of course if there are any Believers from these Tribes, that would be even more interesting.

Can you prepare a list showing the number of Tribes that have been contacted, and of these Tribes, the number who have become Believers. This would be very interesting information.

Can you secure it at an early date and send it on to the Beloved Guardian.

With loving Baha'i Greetings, I am Faithfully yours, Leroy Ioas

PART V TELEGRAMS TO NEW ZEALAND.