Messages to America Part 7

BAHa'U'LLaH'S SPIRITUAL SOVEREIGNTY

Message to 1940 Convention

Overjoyed, elated that dynamic energy, invincible valor of American believers impelled them far outstrip the goal fixed for third year of Seven Year Plan. Temple ornamentation has been uninterruptedly pursued.

The theatre of operation of the teaching campaign is already embracing entire Central America and every South American Republic excepting Paraguay and Colombia. Number of countries within the orbit of the Faith is now exceeding sixty. Intercontinental crusade, through path broken by Martha Root and seal set by May Maxwell's death yielding destined fruit.

Galvanized, permanently safeguarded. Together with Keith they forged through sacrifice a triple cord indissolubly knitting the community of North American believers to cradle of Faith in every continent of Old World and Latin America. Unperturbed by gathering gloom of tottering civilization without, contemptuous of the a.s.sault of the perfidious enemies within, the executors of 'Abdu'l-Baha's mandate must and will strain every nerve in the course of the ensuing year to multiply the number of enrolled pioneers to consolidate work achieved in newly opened North American States and Provinces, to insure prompt settlement of remaining Republics, to prosecute unremittingly ornamentation of last unit of Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar, to expedite formation in isolated centers of nuclei capable of the establishment of local a.s.semblies. Urgently plead, fervently pray that all ranks of the valiant forerunners of Baha'u'llah's Commonwealth may, ere expiry of allotted term, bring fruition of mission to insure ascendancy of Baha'u'llah's spiritual sovereignty over entire Western Hemisphere.

Cablegram April 25, 1940

SECTION OF ORNAMENTATION

Section of Temple ornamentation has been placed in the precincts of the Bab's Shrine. Magnificent reminder of American believers' stupendous efforts.

Cablegram April 27, 1940.

CONTINUOUS CONSECRATION

To these words, written on my behalf, and in answer to your particular questions relating to the administrative issues that confront you in these days, I wish to add my own tribute to the magnificent manner in which you face the problems, both spiritual and administrative, which the expansion of the Faith is continually raising, and to the way in which you resolve them, explain their nature, and derive fresh strength from your experience of any one of them. The text of the annual reports demonstrates this fact and establishes for all time the high standard according to which the administrative machinery of the Faith is functioning, developing and consolidating itself under your able and energetic direction. As the administrative processes expand, as their operation steadily improves, as their necessity is more fully and strikingly demonstrated, and their beneficent influence correspondingly grows more apparent and evident, so will the blessings, the strength and guidance bestowed by Him Who animates and directs these processes be more abundantly vouchsafed to those who have been called upon to utilize them, in this age, for the execution of G.o.d's Purpose and for the ultimate redemption of a sore-stricken travailing humanity. Many will be the setbacks, the shocks and the disturbances, which the commotions of a convulsive age must produce; yet no force, however violent and world-wide in its range and catastrophic in its immediate consequences, can either halt these processes or deflect their appointed course. How great, then, the privilege, and how staggering the responsibility, of those who are destined to guard over them and to bring them eventually to full fruition. Nothing short of utter, of continuous consecration to His Will and Purpose can enable them to fulfil their high destiny.

May 15, 1940

EMERGENCE OF SPIRITUAL WORLD ORDER

The stupendous struggle now convulsing the major part of the European continent is progressively revealing the ominous features, and increasingly a.s.suming the proportions, of the t.i.tanic upheaval foreshadowed seventy years ago by the prophetic Pen of Baha'u'llah. The disruptive forces a.s.sociated with humanity's world-shaking ordeal are closely interrelated with the constructive potentialities inherent in the American believers' Divinely-ordained Plan. Both are directly hastening the emergence of the spiritual World Order stirring in the womb of a travailing age. I entreat the American Baha'i Community, whatever the immediate or distant repercussions of the present turmoil on their own continent, however violent its impact upon the World Center of their Faith, to pledge themselves anew, before the Throne of Baha'u'llah, to discharge, with unswerving aim, unfailing courage, invincible vigor, exemplary fidelity and ever-deepening consecration, the dual responsibility solemnly undertaken under the Seven Year Plan. I implore them to accelerate their efforts, increase their vigilance, deepen their unity, multiply their heroic feats, maintain their distant outposts in the teaching field of Latin America and expedite the termination of the last stage in the ornamentation of the Temple. I am praying continually with redoubled fervor.

Cablegram June 13, 1940

SUPREMELY CHALLENGING HOUR

The long-predicted world-encircling conflagration, essential pre-requisite to world unification, is inexorably moving to its appointed climax. Its fires, first lit in the Far East, subsequently ravaging Europe and enveloping Africa, now threaten devastation both in Near East and Far West, respectively enshrining the World Center and the chief remaining Citadel of the Faith of Baha'u'llah. The Divinely-appointed Plan must and will likewise pursue undeflected its predestined course. Time is pressing.

The settlement of the two remaining Latin Republics, the sounder consolidation through formation of firmly-knit groups in newly-opened territories, the provision of adequate means for the ornamentation of last six faces of first story of Temple, stand out as vital requirements of approaching supremely challenging hour. My eyes and heart are anxiously, longingly turned to the New World to witness the evidences of a new, still more heroic phase of enterprise confidently entrusted to vigilant care of the American believers by the ever-watchful, powerfully-sustaining Master.

I refuse to believe that a community so richly endowed, so greatly envied, so repeatedly honored, will suffer the slightest relaxation of its resolution to jeopardize the spiritual prizes painstakingly and deservedly won throughout the States and Provinces of the Republics of the Western Hemisphere.

Cablegram July 21, 1940

CHAOS AND REDEMPTION

Present world chaos, exhibiting the impetuosity, follies, rebelliousness characteristic of humanity's adolescent stage of development, and harbinger of the long-promised Golden Age of the maturity of the human race, is relentlessly spreading and distressingly intensified. The alternating victories and reverses, heralding parallel transition of proscribed Cause of Baha'u'llah struggling towards emanc.i.p.ation, world recognition and spiritual universal dominion, are simultaneously multiplying. The recrudescence of the chronic persecution afflicting the cradle of the Faith, the grave danger threatening the appropriated Temple and disbanded centers in Turkistan and Caucasus, the repressive measures successively choking the life and paralyzing the action of both the long-standing and the newly-fledged communities of Central, Western and South-Eastern Europe, the intermittent outbursts of religious fanaticism directed against the North African a.s.semblies, and the aggravation of the situation at the world Spiritual and Administrative Center, contrast with, and are outweighed by, the surging spirit, the startling expansion, the sweeping conquests, the superb consolidation of the swiftly-acc.u.mulating resources of the one remaining community singled out for the proclamation of the Administrative Order throughout the length and breadth of the Western Hemisphere. I appeal to the New World champions of the New World Order of Baha'u'llah to stand fast at this tragic hour in the fortunes of mankind and the challenging state of the evolution of the Faith. I beg them to close their ranks jointly, severally and vow themselves to incomparably sublime task whose operation must hasten the ascendancy of the beloved Cause and the spiritual redemption of a reconstructed mankind.

Cablegram October 29, 1940

TORCHBEARER OF WORLD CIVILIZATION

My heart is thrilled with delight as I witness, in so many fields, and in such distant outposts, and despite such formidable difficulties, restrictions, obstacles and dangers, so many evidences of the solidarity, the valor, and the achievements of the American Baha'i community. As the end of the First Century of the Baha'i Era approaches, as the shadows descending upon and enveloping mankind steadily and remorselessly deepen, this community, which can almost be regarded as the solitary champion of the Faith in the Western World, is increasingly evincing and demonstrating its capacity, its worth, and ability as the torchbearer of the New, the World Civilization which is destined to supplant in the fulness of time the present one. And more particularly in the virgin and far-flung territories of Latin America, it has in recent months, abundantly given visible evidence of its merits and competence to shoulder the immense responsibilities which the carrying of the sacred Fire to all the Republics of the Western Hemisphere must necessarily entail.

Through these initial steps, which, in pursuance of the Plan conceived by 'Abdu'l-Baha, this community has taken, through the settlement in each of these sovereign states of the New World of American Baha'i pioneers, through the formation of Baha'i groups and the establishment of two a.s.semblies in Buenos Aires and Bahia, the American National a.s.sembly, as well as its Inter-America Committee, and all subsidiary agencies, no less than the individual members of the North American Baha'i community who have sacrificed and are still sacrificing so much in their support of this Divine and momentous Plan, have earned the unqualified admiration and the undying grat.i.tude of sister a.s.semblies and fellow-workers throughout the Baha'i World.

Their work, however, is only beginning. The dispatch of pioneers, the provision of adequate means for their support, their settlement and initiation of Baha'i activities in these far-off lands, however strenuous and meritorious, are insufficient if the Plan is to evolve harmoniously and yield promptly its destined fruit. The extension by the Parent a.s.sembly-the immediate source from which this vast system with all its ramifications is now proceeding-of the necessary support, guidance, recognition and material a.s.sistance to enable these newly-fledged groups and a.s.semblies to function in strict accordance with both the spiritual and administrative principles of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, would seem as essential and urgent as the preliminary task already achieved. To nurse these tender plants of the Vineyard of G.o.d, to foster their growth, to direct their development, to accord them the necessary recognition, to help resolve their problems, to familiarize them with gentleness, patience and fidelity with the processes of the Administrative Order and thus enable them to a.s.sume independently the conduct of future local and national Baha'i activities, would bring the plan to swift and full fruition and would add fresh laurels to the crown of immortal glory already won by a community that holds in these days of dark and dire calamities, valiantly and almost alone, the Fort of the Faith of Baha'u'llah. Fortified by these reflections, let them gird up their loins for still mightier exertions and more brilliant victories.

December 3, 1940

THIS VETERAN WARRIOR

I share your sorrow in the loss, and partic.i.p.ate in your rejoicings for the triumph of beloved Father Dunn. The magnificent career of this veteran warrior of the Faith of Baha'u'llah reflects the purest l.u.s.ter of the world historic mission conferred upon American community by 'Abdu'l-Baha.

To the three heroines whose dust reposes in the heart of Persia, in the Pacific Islands and southern extremity of the American continent, a fourth witness in far-off Australasia is now added, attesting the first vital sparks of far-flung spiritual dominion American believers have been commissioned to establish. I am moved to congratulate them for the resplendent successes of the Plan destined to encircle the entire globe.

Advise hold National Memorial Gathering in Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar befitting the rank of Australia's spiritual conqueror.

Cablegram February 21, 1941(3)