Chapter 22
24 October 1947
Dear Baha'i Friends:
Your letters to our beloved Guardian, dated Dec. 4th, 1946, Jan. 6th, March 19th, June 15th, Aug. 27th and Sept. 28th, 1947, have all been received, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf. He has also received a letter, on behalf of your secretary, written by Dr.
Koller-Jager, and enclosing an English translation of your minutes. This was dated March 13th.
In regard to the various matters you have raised in these letters:
He noted the report of Mrs Grossmann about her meeting with the grandchild of Subh-i-Azal. He feels that the friends should as much as possible avoid her, as it is very unlikely she has anything but prejudice against Baha'u'llah, in view of her background.
He deeply appreciated the message of love and loyalty you sent him on the occasion of the celebration of twenty-five years of Guardians.h.i.+p.
He is extremely pleased to see the way the Cause is spreading in Germany, and the steady growth in the number of the a.s.semblies there. This would be a remarkable achievement under normal circ.u.mstances, but in view of the weakened state of the health of the Baha'is and the hards.h.i.+ps they and their countrymen are undergoing, it is little short of heroic. The Baha'is everywhere are watching the labours of their German brothers and sisters with deep admiration.
Concerning your question about forming Spiritual a.s.semblies this year as soon as circ.u.mstances permit, and without waiting until April 21st, 1948: he does not think this advisable. In order to encourage the German friends, so long oppressed and prevented from serving, he made an exception last year, but this year he feels all a.s.semblies should wait until April to hold their elections. He has recently advised the European Teaching Committee to do likewise, as some of the pioneers were eager to form a.s.semblies as soon as 9 Baha'is existed in a city of one of the goal countries!
He is pleased to hear you have strengthened and a.s.sisted the Nuremberg Baha'is, and that there are now so many there. Also he is glad to hear you are protecting them and the Cause from the misrepresentations and ambitions of Mr.... Great vigilance and wisdom is required in such matters.
Regarding the publication of books for use in Germany in Switzerland: he feels that this is out of the question at present, owing to the fact that the exchange of Persian into Swiss money, (providing it could be made at all), would be prohibitively expensive. You would lose far too much this way. He, therefore, suggests that you get in touch with Mr. David Hofman of England, who is a publisher in a small way, and very anxious to be of help in printing Baha'i Literature. He is a member of the British N.S.A., and if you arrange some satisfactory way of having him print books or booklets for you, it will be easier and cheaper to transfer some of the money from?ihran, for this purpose, to England. The Guardian has already written Mr. Hofman he favours his doing this, if you and he can agree.
Unfortunately, owing to the fall in the value of the pound, the conversion of Persian money into American dollars involves considerable loss. In view of this the Guardian is going to instruct Mr. Varqa in?ihran to send to the American N.S.A. five hundred pounds for the purpose of
There is, in the special Fund held in?ihran on behalf of your a.s.sembly, about ten thousand pounds. He feels you should spend a third of this on your National Headquarters. But, as mentioned above, he advises you to try and go ahead with the preliminary arrangements through using five hundred pounds in Care packages, and thus not lose too much of this money through the poor exchange at this time.
He leaves details of this matter to the discretion of your a.s.sembly, and hopes you will keep him informed of what action you have taken, and of the progress made in obtaining the National Headquarters.
He a.s.sures you all of his admiration for your steadfast labours to protect and promote every interest of our beloved Faith in Germany, and of his loving and ardent prayers for the success of your work....
[From the Guardian:]
Dearly-beloved Friends:
The spirit which the entire body of the German believers have displayed, despite the hards.h.i.+ps and trials which they have heroically endured, and are still enduring, is a magnificent example to their fellow-workers in both the East and the West, a source of great inspiration to me, and a magnet that will powerfully attract the blessings of the Almighty. My thoughts, though I myself am immersed in an ocean of work and preoccupations, often turn in loving admiration and grat.i.tude to those who, for more than a decade, have in the face of constant peril, held fast to the Faith of G.o.d, who have survived the greatest ordeal that has ever afflicted the Faith of Baha'u'llah in the West, and who are now forging ahead, united, resolved and consecrated, in the path leading to still greater victories.
I rejoice to learn of the preliminary steps that are being taken to enable the dearly beloved and highly promising German Baha'i Community to own its first National Haziratu'l-Quds in the heart of that sorely-tried country.
The utmost effort should be exerted to complete the present negotiations, and to initiate the national activities in that centre. I will, for my part, a.s.sist in any way possible, your a.s.sembly, in the historic enterprise which it has launched, and feel confident that the Beloved will bless your efforts, fulfil your highest expectations in this vital sphere of Baha'i activity.
The dissemination of Baha'i literature, is moreover, a matter of vital importance, which must be promoted by every means at your disposal. The multiplication of Baha'i centres, the formation of new a.s.semblies, the consolidation of newly-established groups, const.i.tute, likewise, the primary objective of your a.s.sembly, demanding constant exertion, watchfulness and guidance on your part, as well as full support and still greater sacrifice by the rank and file of the believers.
The promotion of the interests of the Austrian believers, owing to their proximity to your country, their past a.s.sociation with you and their practical isolation from the Baha'i centres in East and West, should be regarded as one of your outstanding tasks, and I trust that every obstacle will be surmounted, enabling you to enrich thereby the record of your distinguished services to the Faith of Baha'u'llah.
The path you are treading is hard and stony and beset with many pitfalls.
The tasks you are called upon to discharge are varied, complex, urgent and gigantic. The resources at your disposal are meagre. The hour, however, for raising the call of Baha'u'llah is propitious. The hearts of your countrymen, prepared by bewilderment and suffering, are ready to respond to His message. You stand at the threshold of a new and glorious era in the evolution of His Faith in that land. The opportunities of the present hour are priceless and may never recur again. Time is pressing. The eyes of your fellow-workers in both Hemispheres are fixed upon you. Our beloved Master who showered, through His visit and His messages to you, so much love and encouragement and so many blessings, is watching over you from on high, ready to sustain your efforts and lead you on to victory.
That you may rise to still greater heights of heroism, that you may discharge befittingly your sacred responsibilities, that you may adorn the annals of your Faith with still greater evidences of your devotion, courage and perseverance, that you may achieve your high destiny as the torch-bearers of the light of Divine Guidance to the neighbouring countries in that continent, is the object of my fervent prayers at the holy shrines, and the dearest wish of my heart.
Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi
LETTER OF 15 NOVEMBER 1947 (TEACHING CONFERENCE)
15 November 1947 (Teaching Conference)
Dear Baha'i Friends:
Your message to our beloved Guardian reached him, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf, and to tell you of how delighted he was to learn of your Teaching Conference.
Such gatherings are a great stimulation to the work of the Cause, and inspire the believers to go out and spread the Divine Message. He hopes others will be held, as time goes by, in different parts of the Country, so that many more of the friends can attend them.
He a.s.sures you all of his loving prayers for your welfare and your Baha'i work....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved aid you to extend continually the range of your truly meritorious services, win memorable victories in the teaching field, and promote, in a most effective manner, the vital interests of the inst.i.tutions of our glorious Faith,
Your true brother, Shoghi
LETTER OF 17 JANUARY 1948
17 January 1948
INFORM GERMAN a.s.sEMBLY CUT OUT NOTE TO PRAYERS ENCLOSED IN THEIR LETTER DATED DECEMBER 19.
SHOGHI RABBANI
LETTER OF 28 FEBRUARY 1948
28 February 1948
The Baha'i Youth of Vienna
Dear Baha'i Friends:
Your communication addressed to our beloved Guardian, and dated Jan. 25th, has been received, and he has instructed me to answer you all on his behalf.