Messages to America Part 12

INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

Baha'is have established residence in seventy-eight countries, fifty-six of which are sovereign states. Baha'i literature has been translated and published in forty-one languages. Translations have been undertaken in twelve additional languages. Thirty-one races are represented in the Baha'i world community. Five National a.s.semblies and sixty-one local a.s.semblies belonging to ten countries are incorporated and legally empowered to hold property. The Baha'i international endowments held in the Holy Land are estimated at a half million pounds sterling. National Baha'i endowments in the United States are estimated at one million, seven hundred thousand dollars.

The area of land in the Jordan Valley dedicated to the Baha'i Shrines is over five hundred acres. The site purchased for future Baha'i Temple of Persia comprises three and a half million square meters. The cost of the structure of the first Baha'i Temple in the West has been one million, three hundred thousand dollars.

In every state and province of North America Baha'i a.s.semblies are functioning. In thirteen hundred localities of the United States and Canada Baha'is reside. Baha'i Centers have been established in every republic of Latin America, fifteen of which possess Spiritual a.s.semblies.

The Faith in the Western Hemisphere now stretches from Anchorage, Alaska, to Magallanes, the world's southernmost city. Sixty-two Centers have been established in India, twenty-seven with Spiritual a.s.semblies.

Among the historic sites purchased in Persia are the ?ihran home of Baha'u'llah, the Bab's shop in Bushire, the burial place of Quddus, part of the village _Ch_ihriq, three gardens in Badasht, and the place where Tahirih was confined.

Baha'i administrative headquarters have been founded in ?ihran, Delhi, Cairo, Ba_gh_dad, Wilmette and Sydney. Baha'i endowments in the Holy Land and the United States have been exempted from taxes by the civil authorities. Civil recognition has been extended to Baha'i a.s.semblies in five states of the United States to solemnize Baha'i marriages.

May 9, 1944

MESSAGE TO CENTENARY CONVENTION

Hail with glad, grateful heart the historic a.s.sembly of the elected representatives of the followers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah throughout the Western Hemisphere partic.i.p.ating in the first All-America Convention gathered in the vicinity of the first Baha'i Center of the Western World beneath the dome of the first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar of the West to commemorate alike the Anniversary of the founding of the Faith of Baha'u'llah and the Birth of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the Anniversary of its establishment in the Occident and to celebrate the completion of the exterior ornamentation of the most hallowed House of Worship in the entire Baha'i world. I recall with profound emotion on this solemn, auspicious occasion the milestones in the progress of the community whose rise const.i.tutes one of the n.o.blest episodes in the history of the First Baha'i Century. Called into being through the operation of the will of the Center of Baha'u'llah's Covenant, energized at the hour of its birth by dynamic spirit communicated to it by the band of first returning pilgrims, purged in its infancy by fiery tests involving the defection of its acknowledged founder, nursed through the dispatch of unnumbered Tablets by the vigilant Master, as well as by the successive messengers designed to support its infant strength, launched upon its rapid career through series of inst.i.tutional acts and missionary journeys signalizing the first stirrings of its community life, infinitely enriched by priceless benefits conferred upon its members in the course of 'Abdu'l-Baha's sojourn in their midst, invested with a unique mission through the revelation of the Tablets of the Divine Plan, firmly knit through processes proclaiming the emergence of the Divinely appointed Administrative Order, immortalized through the signal acts of its ill.u.s.trious member who succeeded in winning the allegiance of royalty to its cause, consummating its record of achievements through total victory of the Seven Year Plan thereby sealing the triumph of the first stage in the Mission bestowed by 'Abdu'l-Baha, this repeatedly blessed, much envied community deserves to be acclaimed the Torchbearer of the civilization, the foundations of which the Faith of Baha'u'llah is destined una.s.sailably to establish in the course of the Second Baha'i Century. I am moved to pay a well deserved tribute at this great turning point in the career of so privileged a community to the gallant band of its apostolic founders whose deeds heralded the dawn of the Day of the Covenant in the West, to its intrepid pioneers who labored to enlarge the bounds of the Faith in the five continents, to its indefatigable administrators whose hands reared the fabric of the Administrative Order, to its heroic martyrs who followed in the footsteps of the Dawn-Breakers of the heroic age, to its itinerant teachers who with written and spoken word pleaded its cause and repulsed the attacks of its adversaries, to its munificent supporters whose liberality accelerated the expansion of its manifold activities, and last but not least to the ma.s.s of its stout-hearted, self-denying members whose strenuous, ceaseless, concerted efforts so decisively contributed to the consolidation and broadening of its foundations. I desire to direct a particular appeal to the Latin American representatives partic.i.p.ating in the Centennial Convention to deliberate on measures to reinforce the ties binding them to their Sister Community, unitedly devise means for the inauguration of teaching campaigns in their respective Republics, the dissemination of Baha'i literature, the multiplication of Baha'i administrative centers as preliminary steps in the formation of Baha'i National a.s.semblies, and lend impetus to the prosecution of any enterprise launched to carry still further the Plan conceived by 'Abdu'l-Baha for the American Baha'i Community.

May 15, 1944

CONSOLIDATION OF n.o.bLY-WON VICTORIES

The magnificent victories achieved in the teaching field and the sphere of administrative activity by the American Baha'i community crowned with glory the historic services rendered by the followers of Baha'u'llah throughout the West during the last fifty years of the first Baha'i Century. I rejoice in the brilliant celebrations befittingly consummating the record of splendid achievements. Immediate attention should be focused in the course of the opening year of the Second Century on consolidation of the n.o.bly-won victories through reinforcement of newly formed a.s.semblies, multiplication of groups and increase in number of a.s.semblies as well as corresponding effort through Latin America. Praying for continuous flow of Divine outpourings.

Cablegram May 27, 1944

A SPIRITUAL a.s.sEMBLY IN EVERY REMAINING REPUBLIC

I rejoice in the success of the vitally needed, timely conference with Latin American representatives; greatly welcome the decisions reached and the plans formulated. The first year of the second Baha'i century should witness the establishment of a Spiritual a.s.sembly in every remaining Republic and be signalized by a steady increase in the number of pioneers for both Latin and North America; by a further multiplication of groups, a wider dissemination of Baha'i literature in both Spanish and Portuguese, closer relationships consolidating the communities and more effective contact by these communities with the ma.s.ses of the population and all races and cla.s.ses. I am ardently praying for mighty victories in every field as essential preliminary to the emergence of independent National Spiritual a.s.semblies and as indispensable prelude to launching in other continents, soon after the termination of the world conflict, the second stage of the momentous World Plan so intimately a.s.sociated by 'Abdu'l-Baha with the future destinies of the ill.u.s.trious American Baha'i Community.

July 17, 1944

THE SEAL OF SPIRITUAL TRIUMPH

The splendid and unique success that has attended the Centenary celebrations so admirably conducted by the American Baha'i community, has befittingly crowned not only the fifty year record of services rendered by its valiant members, but the labors a.s.sociated with the entire body of their fellow-workers in East and West in the course of an entire century.

The consummation of the Seven Year Plan, immortalizing the fame of this richly blessed community, set the seal of complete spiritual triumph on these historic celebrations. A memorable chapter in the history of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in the West has been closed. A new chapter is now opening, a chapter which, ere its termination, must eclipse the most shining victories won so heroically by those who have so fearlessly launched the first stage of the Great Plan conceived by 'Abdu'l-Baha for the American believers. The prizes won so painstakingly in both the North and South American continents must be preserved at all costs. A mighty impetus should, at however great a sacrifice, be lent to the multiplication of Baha'i centers in Latin America, to the expansion of Baha'i literature, to the translation of the Baha'i sacred writings, to the proclamation of the verities of the Faith to the ma.s.ses, to the strengthening of the bonds binding the newly-fledged communities to each other, and to the deepening of the spiritual life of their members.

The task so marvelously initiated in the Latin Republics must be further consolidated ere the prosecutors of the World Plan bequeathed by 'Abdu'l-Baha can embark on further stages, of still greater significance, in their world teaching mission. The cessation of hostilities will open before them fields of service of tremendous fertility and undreamed-of magnitude. The advantages and opportunities these fields will offer them cannot be exploited unless and until the work to which they have already set their hand in the Western Hemisphere is sufficiently advanced and consolidated. Time is pressing. The new tasks are already beginning to loom on the horizon. The work that still remains to be accomplished ere the next stage is ushered in is still considerable and exacting. I feel confident that the American Baha'i community will, as it has in the past, rise to the occasion and discharge its high duties as befits the unique position it occupies.

August 18, 1944

FAITHFUL PIONEER

Share grief at pa.s.sing of devoted, faithful pioneer (John Stearns). His services have been unforgettable and highly meritorious. Advise the construction of a memorial. a.s.sure friends in Lima (Peru) my deepest, loving sympathy.

Cablegram November 19, 1944

Pa.s.sAGES IN "G.o.d Pa.s.sES BY"

Comforted, strengthened by a.s.surance of sympathy and loyalty of American believers in the deplorable, delicate situation created by dishonorable alliances made by members of my family, first with Covenant-breakers and now with external enemies of the Faith.

The marvelous, rapid, sound evolution of the inst.i.tutions of the Faith in five continents, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, const.i.tutes best monition, most effective counteraction to the detrimental influence of those whose acts proclaim their severance from the Holy Tree and their forfeiture of their sacred birthright.

The occasion demands that you direct special attention to pa.s.sages in "G.o.d Pa.s.ses By" indicating the gravity of the past crises precipitated since the inception of the Faith by kinsmen both of the Manifestation and the Center of His Covenant, demonstrating the pitiful futility of their nefarious activities and the sad fate overtaking defectors and betrayers.

The present hour calls for unrelaxing vigilance, continued heroism, redoubled efforts, renewed dedication by rank and file of the community enjoying preponderating share alike in the erection, the defense, and the consolidation of the worldwide Administrative Order of the Faith of Baha'u'llah since the pa.s.sing of the Center of His Covenant.

I urge the entire Baha'i community of the Western Hemisphere to focus its attention during the remaining months of the opening year of the second century on the formation of local a.s.semblies in the remaining Republics of Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela, Bolivia and San Domingo, guard against dissolution of a.s.semblies already painstakingly established throughout the Americas, exert effort on further multiplication of groups, wider dissemination of literature, greater use of radio, closer contact with ma.s.ses, more audacious proclamation of the Faith, more effective coordination of local and national activities aiming at fuller demonstration of the rights and claims of the Faith to be regarded as sole refuge of humanity in its hour of bitterest agony.

The American believers' meritorious activities, individual, local, interstate, intercontinental, will be the object of my special prayers during the approaching Anniversary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Ascension.

Cablegram November 21, 1944