Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand Part 8

LETTER OF NOVEMBER 4TH, 1940

November 4th, 1940

Dear Miss Brooks,

Your communications dated April 22nd and August 23rd written on behalf of the N.S.A. of Australia and New-Zealand with the enclosed reports have all been safely received, and their contents noted with feelings of deepest satisfaction and grat.i.tude by our beloved Guardian.

Also he has received the copy of the Mittagong Star, the reproduction of registration certificate, the three snaps and the three photographs which you had mailed under separate cover, for all of which he wishes you to heartily thank the N.S.A. on his behalf.

He wishes you, in particular, to convey his warmest greetings and congratulations to the members of the newly-elected N.S.A., whose names he has been very pleased to note, and to a.s.sure them of his prayers for their guidance and confirmation in the discharge of their heavy and sacred duties and responsibilites throughout this year. Despite the sorrow and distress created by the war, and the heavy sacrifices it is increasingly imposing upon the community of the faithful throughout Australia and New-Zealand, he confidently hopes that your a.s.sembly, with the help and support of all the believers in that land, will continue prosecuting, with the same devoted zeal, resourcefulness and determination as before, its twofold task of extending the scope of the teaching work, and of further consolidating the foundations of the Administration. The unity and efficiency with which it has been functioning in the past year, as attested by the rich record of its accomplishments, indeed augur well for the future of its activities, and it is the Guardian's fervent hope that, notwithstanding the delay and dislocation which the prosecution of the war has inevitably occasioned, it will continue to advance and prosper, and receive unforseen opportunities of spreading and of strengthening the foundations of the Cause throughout that far-off Continent.

In this time of world calamity his thoughts and prayers are often with our dearly-beloved friends in Australia and New Zealand, and he is ardently supplicating Baha'u'llah, on their behalf, that He may bestow upon them such measure of His guidance, protection and strength as would enable them to courageously and successfully meet the tests and trials of the days ahead.

a.s.suring you, in closing, of his special prayers on your own behalf, and reciprocating your greetings,

Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear co-worker:

The report of your activities and of those of your fellow-workers, undertaken at such a time, and despite such difficulties and with such a courage, devotion, determination, thoroughness and fidelity, deserves indeed the highest praise and const.i.tutes a powerful evidence of the unconquerable Spirit and the ever-extending range, and the ever-deepening influence of the Cause of Baha'u'llah. Your work is surely blessed by Him, and your fellow-labourers in distant lands derive great encouragement and inspiration from the incessant and remarkable efforts you are so devotedly exerting. Persevere and rest a.s.sured that I will, with increasing fervour, pray on your behalf at the Holy Shrines,

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi.

LETTER OF JANUARY 3RD, 1941

January 3rd, 1941

Dear Miss Brooks,

At the Guardian's direction I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of December 17th just arrived, together with the copy of the resolutions pa.s.sed by the N.S.A. of Australia and New-Zealand in its August meeting, as well as the copy of the statement on the "Baha'i Att.i.tude to War" recently issued by your a.s.sembly. He found that statement most satisfactory both in its form and in its clear and comprehensive presentation of the underlying principles governing the collective att.i.tude of the believers in this vital issue of the hour.

The friends should indeed make a careful study of this statement, so as to be able to intelligently and correctly answer any questions put to them either by the authorities or individual inquirers.

The Guardian has been particularly pleased to note that the response of the Prime Minister, and of the premier of Victoria and other ministers to whom you had submitted a copy of the above statement has been so cordial, and he feels relieved to know that through this action of your a.s.sembly any doubts or misapprehensions regading the att.i.tude of the Baha'is to war have been dispelled, and that the authorities feel, as a result, much more favourable towards the Cause, now that they know for themselves that it is entirely non-political in character and that it enjoins absolute loyalty and obedience to the Government.

This opportunity your a.s.sembly has had of establishing direct contact with the authorities is indeed a step of vital significance to the Cause in Australia and New-Zealand, and is bound to pave the way for its ultimate recognition as an independent religious Faith, ent.i.tled to the same rights and privileges which other religious bodies and inst.i.tutions enjoy in that land.

The Guardian wishes me in closing to express his deepfelt appreciation of your teaching services in Melbourne and Hobart, in which cities you seem to have accomplished such splendid work, both in introducing the Cause to the general public and by a.s.sisting the friends in better conducting their teaching and administrative activities.

May the Beloved ever bless and guide your efforts, and may He also strengthen and confirm your fellow-members in the N.S.A. in the discharge of their arduous duties and responsibilities. To you and to them all he sends his warmest greetings,

Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear co-workers:

The manner and spirit in which the dearly-beloved friends in Australia and New Zealand are discharging their multifarious and sacred responsibilities, in these days of strife and peril, augur well for the future of their mission in that far-off continent. The sound lines along which the administration of the Faith is evolving, the courage and fidelity with which they defend the integrity and a.s.sert the claims, and proclaim the verities of their beloved Cause are evidences of their onward march and the potentialities with which they are endowed. I rejoice and am thankful. I will continue to pray and seek for them still greater blessings.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi.

LETTER OF APRIL 19TH, 1941

Haifa, April 19th, 1941

Dear Baha'i friends:

Shoghi Effendi has instructed me to answer your letter of March 16th, 1941.

He was very pleased to learn that Mother Dunn has accepted in such a n.o.ble and exemplary Baha'i spirit the loss of dear Father Dunn, and that the friends of Sydney are preparing a full description of his death and the funeral. The Guardian would like very much to receive all such histories and reports for the next Vol. of "Baha'i World". He would also like you to send him three good photographs of Father Dunn and some of his grave and tombstone-whenever the latter are available.

The truly remarkable services of Hyde Dunn will never be forgotten. They have added a golden page to the history of the Formative Period of our Faith. The whole-hearted response to 'Abdu'l-Baha's call, raised more than twenty years ago, which he and Mother Dunn made; their quiet and una.s.suming sacrifices for the Cause; the wisdom and permanence with which he laid the foundations of the work in Australia and New-Zealand; and the faithful love with which both of these n.o.ble souls tended the growing inst.i.tutions of the Faith-all const.i.tute a landmark in the victorious progress of the Faith. He is indeed the spiritual conqueror of that continent!

The Guardian was very impressed by your a.s.sembly's recent statement published in the January issue of "Baha'i Quarterly". So much so that he felt impelled to have the American N.S.A. publish it in "Baha'i News" and also have it read at the annual Convention. He feels that in excellent form you have presented the very essence of the Baha'i att.i.tude on these matters. This has further strengthened his conviction that the Baha'is of Australia and New-Zealand display a remarkable soundness in their views on all matters concerning the Faith, a characteristic which greatly pleases him.

Concerning your question whether a Baha'i Burial Service can be conducted for non-Baha'is if requested by them: if non-Baha'is desire that the believers should conduct such a service there is no objection at all.

The contemplated teaching trip of Miss Brooks, Mrs Hawthorne and Mrs Moffit to Queensland, meets with the Guardian's whole-hearted approval. He will pray in the Holy Shrines that its outcome will be richly blessed and fruitful.

He was very sorry to learn that Miss Stevenson has pa.s.sed on. He will pray for her joy and advancement in the Worlds beyond. She had the great honour and blessing of being the first New-Zealand believer and her reward must be great.

With the a.s.surance of Shoghi Effendi's most loving prayers for you all and with Baha'i greetings,

Yours in His Service, R. Rabbani.

P.S. He wishes me also to thank you for the Naw-Ruz and Ridvan greetings from all the dear friends in Australia and New Zealand.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers: