Chapter 4
LETTER OF 28 JUNE 1926
28 June 1926
Dear Spiritual brothers and sisters:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of those few kind words of love you all signed and sent. The picture which your secretary sent under a separate cover was also received. He hopes that more of such congresses will be held in that land and the youth awakened to the duty that has been laid upon them. Unless they are aroused, unless they begin to feel their responsibility, unless they rise to active and effective service, the Cause will not really spread and quickly attain its desired aim.
The geographical position of Germany has given her a unique position in the spread of the Cause in Europe. She stands actually in the center of that continent and from it can branch out tentacles which will gradually unite the whole Europe. The signs that she can undertake such a task are clear. We see there the largest number of the European Baha'is most active and promising. The only thing is, that the more united they are, the more devoted and steadfast in their faith they become, the sooner they will attain their goal and bring their task to a successful and glorious ending.
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to a.s.sure you of his prayers. He hopes that the German friends will leave a memorable record on the annals of the Cause and fully justify the expectations the Master had in their spiritual future....
[From the Guardian:]
My dear fellow-workers:
Your most welcome letter has rejoiced my heart. Your magnificent endeavours, your tenacity of purpose, your firmness of faith, the ardour of your love and your grasp of the Divine Teachings are a.s.sets which I greatly prize and value. My hope and prayer is that Baha'u'llah may shower upon you His infinite blessings that the promise of our dear Master may erelong be fulfilled and that Germany may arise with one voice and one mind to champion the Cause of G.o.d and in the spiritual realm direct the nations of the earth to the path of true Brotherhood and Peace. Yours is a great privilege and a n.o.ble mission; may He enable you to achieve your heart's desire.
Your true brother, Shoghi
LETTER OF 8 APRIL 1927
8 April 1927
Dear Baha'i brothers and sisters,
The beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, thanks you for your good Naw-Ruz letter to him, dated 1 Baha 84.
He is very pleased that you have good hopes for the future and he will pray at the Holy Shrines for you, that you may be abundantly blessed-and that
He is very interested to hear of your plan to build a wooden house on your new piece of land, to be a home for the young and the aged-and also that is to be used as a home for poor children, to give them a change and rest during the summer. It will be a very good and excellent work to build this house-and Shoghi Effendi hopes that you will have great success with it, and that you will find it of the utmost use and benefit for those who are poor in the world's goods....
[From the Guardian:]
My dear co-workers:
Your sweet and touching message of loyalty and love has greatly cheered and encouraged me. I rejoice to learn of your steadfast love and devotion to our beloved Cause. I am greatly heartened by the thought of your constancy in service and your splendid achievements. I am deeply thankful for your aid and a.s.sistance in safeguarding and promoting the interests of the Cause. I will continue to pray for you, one and all, from the depths of my heart, that the Beloved may deepen your understanding, broaden your vision, remove obstacles from your way, and enable you to become the purest mirrors reflecting the beauty and radiance of the Divine Revelation.
Your true brother, Shoghi
LETTER OF 3 APRIL 1929
3 April 1929
Dear Baha'i brothers and sisters:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your joint letter dated March 21st 1929 in which you extend to him hearty New Year greetings. He wishes me to reciprocate those sentiments and a.s.sure you of his prayers. He hopes that through your combined efforts this coming year will bring to the Cause, especially in that country, wonderful success.
May G.o.d hear our prayers and grant us His blessings...
[From the Guardian:]
My dear co-workers:
I am deeply impressed by your message. I will a.s.suredly remember you in my prayers, that your numbers may increase, your influence extend, your understand of the Cause deepen, and your efforts be richly blessed by our beloved and departed Master. Persevere and study the Teachings. Rest a.s.sured that He will continue to reinforce your endeavours and enable you to realize your heart's desire.
Your true brother, Shoghi
LETTER OF 4 APRIL 1930
4 April 1930
Dear Mrs. Brauns:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated March 22nd 1930, as well as the enclosed note signed by a number of the friends. Shoghi Effendi hopes that the Master's spirit will a.s.sist you and guide you through these days of great tests.
There is always an important difference between friends and tested friends. No matter how precious the first type may be, the future of the Cause rests upon the latter. Up to the present the German friends were considered as loving Baha'is, from now on they can be ranked as tested ones.
In every country where such difficulties arise, they generally end with added energy and more intensive service of the Cause. Shoghi Effendi hopes that in Germany also Mrs. White's activities will only arouse the friends and make them redouble their energy. They can now see what enemies the Cause has to confront and how essential it is to strengthen its following.
In the Bayan the Bab says that every religion was meant to be universal and also deserved to become so. The only reason why they have all failed to stand up to that mark was due to the inability of the followers who where entrusted with that task. Let us endeavour lest we also fail to realize that ideal which Baha'u'llah has set before us.
Please convey to all the friends Shoghi Effendi's loving greetings and a.s.sure them that during his moments of prayer he will ask G.o.d for their guidance and help....
[From the Guardian:]
My dear and precious co-workers:
I am so pleased to have received your n.o.ble a.s.surance of faith and loyalty to the Cause. These days of storm and stress will serve to invigorate the Cause, purify and consolidate its foundations.
Persevere in your efforts, and be a.s.sured of my prayers. The Master will surely fortify, guide and bless His loyal, faithful and persevering loved ones. I trust that my last circular letter which I sent to Germany a week ago, will clarify the vision and deepen the understanding of the friends.
May Baha'u'llah's almighty arms surround you and fulfill your hearts'