Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand Part 15

Prayers translated by other people may be used and memorized by the friends; they need not be confined to his translations.

He considers that the N.S.A. has every right to examine the ballots if there is some doubt as to the election having been properly conducted. By "preservation" of the ballots is meant that they are preserved in the National files.

A Convention delegate should certainly be given an opportunity to report to the community his or her experiences at Convention and impressions.

As to the whole matter of the incorporation of a.s.semblies: he cannot go into the details of such things, as this is the work of the N.S.A. What he wants is that the spiritual a.s.semblies in New Zealand and Australia should be legally empowered to hold property in their own names; how this can be done, the best way of doing it, are matters for your a.s.sembly and its legal advisers to decide.

He feels very strongly that the main thing for your a.s.sembly and all the believers of both Australia and New Zealand to concentrate on are teaching plans. The United States, India, Persia and England are all embarked on ambitious and bold teaching campaigns, and it is a great pity that Australasia, where the Cause is now firmly established and boasts an active National a.s.sembly, should not have a definite plan, with fixed goals, of its own.

When the believers are embarked on a definite teaching schedule there will be less time for them to constantly occupy themselves with purely secondary administrative points of procedure. Teaching is their need, and the solution to any problems they may feel they have.

He was delighted over the report of the work in Brisbane; this is a step in the right direction, and should be followed through vigorously. Please convey to those who have devotedly served there and brought this group into being his warm thanks and his admiration for their services.

You may be sure he deeply values the loyal and persevering efforts of your a.s.sembly to promote the Faith in all its aspects in Australia and New Zealand. His loving prayers are offered on your behalf and for the success of your labours.

With Baha'i greetings, R. Rabbani.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers:

I wish to appeal, through you, to the members of the entire community in both Australia and New Zealand, to arise, in these opening years of the Second Baha'i century, and lend, through their concerted, their sustained, and determined efforts, an unprecedented impetus to the growth of the Faith, the multiplication of its administrative centers, and the consolidation of its nascent inst.i.tutions. The initiation of a Plan, carefully devised, universally supported, and designed to promote effectively the vital interests of the Faith, and attain a definite objective within a specified number of years, would seem, at the present hour, highly desirable and opportune, and will, as a magnet, attract, to an unprecedented degree, the blessings of Baha'u'llah on the members of both communities, both individually and collectively.

Now that the structural basis of the Baha'i Administrative Order has been firmly and definitely laid in those far-away lands, and the National Headquarters of that Order established, a systematic effort must be exerted to widen the basis of that Order, by multiplying the Administrative inst.i.tutions and forming the necessary nucleii, which, as they develop and are consolidated, will have to be utilized as the divinely ordained and most effectual instruments for the proclamation of the Faith to the ma.s.ses.

I fully realize how small are your numbers, how circ.u.mscribed are your means, how vast the distances that separate the centres already established. But I firmly believe that the initiation of a Plan to remedy the very deficiencies from which the infant Administrative Order is now suffering, and a firm resolve to carry out its provisions, as well as a sustained effort to make the necessary sacrifices for its consummation, will set in motion forces of such magnitude, and draw upon both communities blessings of such potency, as shall excite the wonder of the believers themselves, and cause their Faith to enter an era of unprecedented expansion and marvellous and fruitful development.

The concluding years of the first Baha'i century have witnessed a notable progress in the development and consolidation of both communities. The first decade of the succeeding century must synchronize with a no less remarkable extension of that essential administrative foundation on which the future inst.i.tutions of a flourishing Faith must repose, and on which its destinies and security must ultimately depend.

May the Spirit of Baha'u'llah guide, sustain and inspire you in the discharge of the n.o.ble and formidable tasks which will face you in the years to come.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi.

LETTER OF APRIL 7TH, 1947

Haifa, April 7th, 1947.

Dear Baha'i Sister:

Our beloved Guardian has instructed me to write and ask you to please forward to him copies of the letters of acknowledgement written by the Bishops who received copies of "G.o.d Pa.s.ses By".

He read in the British News Letter that such letters had been received by your a.s.sembly, and he feels that such material should always be forwarded (in copy) to Haifa, as it is of more than mere local importance.

He hopes the N.S.A. is progressing with its teaching plans, and a.s.sures you all of his loving prayers.

With Baha'i greetings, R. Rabbani.

LETTER OF JULY 22ND, 1947

Haifa, July 22nd, 1947.

Dear Baha'i Brother:

The letters from the N.S.A. (some written by the former Secretary) dated Sep. 2nd, 1946, Feb. 10th, March 9th, April 27th (two of this date), June 13th and July 10th have been received, as well as their enclosures, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.

He is very anxious that your a.s.sembly should devote its energies and resources to prosecuting the teaching work and stimulating and encouraging the believers to devote their thoughts and time to it. This is really the solution to all the small problems and differences of opinion that arise in Australia. It is the sacred duty of the believers to teach, and one of the reasons for so painstakingly building up a.s.semblies is for them to promulgate the Cause of G.o.d, and not to lose their time in discussing details, settling disputes which should not have arisen between Baha'is, and generally losing themselves in personalities.

He urges your a.s.sembly to try and create as many local a.s.semblies as possible; large suburbs, if outside the city limits and possessing their own administration should-if 9 Baha'is reside in them, form separate a.s.semblies. This may at first seem to weaken the larger communities; but it will also challenge all concerned to renew their labours to expand the local communities and increase their numbers.

Enclosed is a letter to Mr. Featherstone in connection with his letter sent to the Guardian by your a.s.sembly.

Regarding Mr. ...'s appeal: the Guardian feels the best course of action in this matter is to ask both of the believers concerned to forgive and forget the entire matter.

He does not want the friends to form the habit of taking up a kind of Baha'i litigation against each other. Their duties to humanity are too sacred and urgent in these days, when the Cause is struggling to spread and a.s.sert its independence, for them to spend their precious time, and his precious time, in this way. Ask them, therefore, to unite, forget the past, and serve as never before.

His loving prayers are offered for you and the other members of the a.s.sembly, for your guidance and success.

With warm greetings, R. Rabbani.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers:

The Plan, on which the National elected representatives of the Baha'i communities of Australia and New Zealand have spontaneously embarked marks a turning-point, of great spiritual significance, in the evolution of the Faith in those far-off lands, and is an evidence of the truly remarkable spirit that animates them as well as the communities they represent. I welcome this mighty step they have taken with joy, pride and grat.i.tude, and have hastened to transmit to them my contribution as a token of my keen appreciation of their high endeavours, of my confidence in their ability, and of my admiration for their zeal and n.o.ble determination in the service of the Faith. The attention of the members of both communities must henceforth be focused on the Plan, its progress, its requirements, its significance and immediate objectives. All must partic.i.p.ate without exception without reserve, without delay. The Administrative Order which they have laboured to establish must henceforth, through its organs and agencies be utilized for the promotion of this vital purpose, this supreme end. For no other purpose was it created. That it may serve this end, that the Plan may speedily develop and yield its destined fruit and demonstrate through its consummation the worthiness, the capacity and high-mindedness of the organized body of the followers of Baha'u'llah in those distant lands are the objects of my fervent and constant prayers at the Holy Shrines.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi.

LETTER OF MAY 11TH, 1948

The National Spiritual a.s.sembly of the Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand,

Mr. James Heggie, sec.