BAHA'I ADMINISTRATION
     (U.S., 1974 edition)
     FILENAME:  BA.FN
     FILEDATE:  08-06-94


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                               PART ONE

          Excerpts from the Will and Testament of &Abdu'l-Baha

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                         &BAHA'I ADMINISTRATION

          Excerpts from the Will and Testament of &Abdu'l-Baha

     All-praise to Him Who, by the Shield of His Covenant, hath
guarded the Temple of His Cause from the darts of doubtfulness,
Who by the Hosts of His Testament hath preserved the Sanctuary
of His Most Beneficent Law and protected His Straight and Luminous
Path, staying thereby the onslaught of the company of
Covenant-breakers, that have threatened to subvert His Divine Edifice;
Who hath watched over His Mighty Stronghold and All-glorious
Faith, through the aid of men whom the slander of the
slanderer affects not, whom no earthly calling, glory and power
can turn aside from the Covenant of God and His Testament, established
firmly by His clear and manifest words, writ and revealed
by His All-glorious Pen and recorded in the Preserved Tablet.
     Salutation and praise, blessing and glory rest upon that primal
branch of the Divine and Sacred Lote-Tree, grown out, blest, tender,
verdant and flourishing from the Twin Holy Trees; the most wondrous,
unique and priceless pearl that doth gleam from out the twin
surging seas; upon the offshoots of the Tree of Holiness, the twigs
of the Celestial Tree, they that in the Day of the Great Dividing have
stood fast and firm in the Covenant; upon the Hands (pillars) of
the Cause of God that have diffused widely the Divine Fragrances,
declared His Proofs, proclaimed His Faith, published abroad His
Law, detached themselves from all things but Him, stood for righteousness
in this world, and kindled the Fire of the Love of God in
the very hearts and souls of His servants; upon them that have
believed, rested assured, stood steadfast in His Covenant and followed
the Light that after my passing shineth from the Dayspring
of Divine Guidance--for behold! he is the blest and sacred bough
that hath branched out from the Twin Holy Trees.  Well is it with
him that seeketh the shelter of his shade that shadoweth all mankind.

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     O ye beloved of the Lord!  The greatest of all things is the
protection of the True Faith of God, the preservation of His Law,
the safeguarding of His Cause and service unto His Word.  Ten
thousand souls have shed streams of their sacred blood in this path,
their precious lives they offered in sacrifice unto Him, hastened
wrapt in holy ecstasy unto the glorious field of martyrdom, upraised
the Standard of God's Faith and writ with their life-blood upon
the Tablet of the world the verses of His Divine Unity.  The sacred
breast of His Holiness, the Exalted One, (may my life be a sacrifice
unto Him) was made a target to many a dart of woe, and in
&Mazandaran, the Blessed feet of the &Abha Beauty (may my life be
offered up for His loved ones) were so grievously scourged as to
bleed and be sore wounded.  His neck also was put into captive
chains and His feet made fast in the stocks.  In every hour, for a
period of fifty years, a new trial and calamity befell Him and fresh
afflictions and cares beset Him.  One of them:  after having suffered
intense vicissitudes, He was made homeless and a wanderer and
fell a victim to still new vexations and troubles.  In &Iraq, the Day-Star
of the world was so exposed to the wiles of the people of malice
as to be eclipsed in splendor.  Later on He was sent an exile to
the Great City (Constantinople) and thence to the Land of Mystery
(Adrianople), whence, grievously wronged, He was eventually
transferred to the Most Great Prison (&Akka).  He Whom the world
hath wronged (may my life be offered for His loved ones) was
four times banished from city to city, till at last condemned to
perpetual confinement, He was incarcerated in this Prison, the prison
of highway robbers, of brigands and of manslayers.  All this is
but one of the trials that have afflicted the Blessed Beauty, the rest
being even as grievous as this.

     According to the direct and sacred command of God we are
forbidden to utter slander, are commanded to show forth peace
and amity, are exhorted to rectitude of conduct, straightforwardness
and harmony with all the kindreds and peoples of the world.  We
must obey and be the well-wishers of the governments of the land,
regard disloyalty unto a just king as disloyalty to God Himself and
wishing evil to the government a transgression of the Cause of
God.

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     O God, my God!  Thou seest this wronged servant of Thine,
held fast in the talons of ferocious lions, of ravening wolves, of
bloodthirsty beasts.  Graciously assist me, through my love for
Thee, that I may drink deep of the chalice that brimmeth over with
faithfulness to Thee and is filled with Thy bountiful Grace; so that,
fallen upon the dust, I may sink prostrate and senseless whilst my
vesture is dyed crimson with my blood.  This is my wish, my heart's
desire, my hope, my pride, my glory.  Grant, O Lord my God, and
my Refuge, that in my last hour, my end, may even as musk shed
its fragrance of glory!  Is there a bounty greater than this?  Nay,
by Thy Glory!  I call Thee to witness that no day passeth but that
I quaff my fill from this cup, so grievous are the misdeeds wrought
by them that have broken the Covenant, kindled discord, showed
their malice, stirred sedition in the land and dishonored Thee amidst
Thy servants.  Lord!  Shield Thou from these Covenant-breakers
the mighty Stronghold of Thy Faith and protect Thy secret Sanctuary
from the onslaught of the ungodly.  Thou art in truth the
Mighty, the Powerful, the Gracious, the Strong.

     O God, my God!  Shield Thy trusted servants from the evils of
self and passion, protect them with the watchful eye of Thy loving
kindness from all rancour, hate and envy, shelter them in the impregnable
stronghold of Thy Cause and, safe from the darts of
doubtfulness, make them the manifestations of Thy glorious Signs,
illumine their faces with the effulgent rays shed from the Dayspring
of Thy Divine Unity, gladden their hearts with the verses revealed
from Thy Holy Kingdom, strengthen their loins by Thy all-swaying
power that cometh from Thy Realm of Glory.  Thou art the All-bountiful,
the Protector, the Almighty, the Gracious!
     O ye that stand fast in the Covenant!  When the hour cometh
that this wronged and broken winged bird will have taken its flight
unto the celestial concourse, when it will have hastened to the
Realm of the Unseen and its mortal frame will have been either
lost or hidden neath the dust, it is incumbent upon the &Afnan, that
are steadfast in the Covenant of God, and have branched from the
Tree of Holiness; the Hands, (pillars) of the Cause of God, (the
glory of the Lord rest upon them), and all the friends and loved
ones, one and all to bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul

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and in one accord, to diffuse the sweet savors of God, to teach
His Cause and to promote His Faith.  It behooveth them not to rest
for a moment, neither to seek repose.  They must disperse themselves
in every land, pass by every clime and travel throughout all
regions.  Bestirred, without rest and steadfast to the end they must
raise in every land the triumphal cry "O Thou the Glory of Glories!"
(&Ya-Baha'u'l-Abha), must achieve renown in the world wherever
they go, must burn brightly even as a candle in every meeting and
must kindle the flame of Divine love in every assembly; that the
light of truth may rise resplendent in the midmost heart of the world,
that throughout the East and throughout the West a vast concourse
may gather under the shadow of the Word of God, that the sweet
savors of holiness may be diffused, that faces may shine radiantly,
hearts be filled with the Divine spirit and souls be made heavenly.
     In these days, the most important of all things is the guidance
of the nations and peoples of the world.  Teaching the Cause is of
utmost importance for it is the head corner-stone of the foundation
itself.  This wronged servant has spent his days and night in promoting
the Cause and urging the peoples to service.  He rested not
a moment, till the fame of the Cause of God was noised abroad in
the world and the celestial strains from the &Abha Kingdom roused
the East and the West.  The beloved of God must also follow the
same example.  This is the secret of faithfulness, this is the requirement
of servitude to the Threshold of &Baha!
     The disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all earthly things,
forsook all their cares and belongings, purged themselves of self
and passion and with absolute detachment scattered far and wide
and engaged in calling the peoples of the world to the Divine Guidance,
till at last they made the world another world, illumined the
surface of the earth and even to their last hour proved self-sacrificing
in the pathway of that Beloved One of God.  Finally in various
lands they suffered glorious martyrdom.  Let them that are men
of action follow in their footsteps!
     O my loving friends!  After the passing away of this wronged
one, it is incumbent upon the &Aghsan (Branches), the &Afnan
(Twigs) of the Sacred Lote-Tree, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause
of God and the loved ones of the &Abha Beauty to turn unto Shoghi
Effendi--the youthful branch branched from the two hallowed and

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sacred Lote-Trees and the fruit grown from the union of the two
offshoots of the Tree of Holiness,--as he is the sign of God, the
chosen branch, the guardian of the Cause of God, he unto whom
all the &Aghsan, the &Afnan, the Hands of the Cause of God and His
loved ones must turn.  He is the expounder of the words of God
and after him will succeed the first-born of his lineal descendants.
     The sacred and youthful branch, the guardian of the Cause of
God, as well as the Universal House of Justice, to be universally
elected and established, are both under the care and protection of
the &Abha Beauty, under the shelter and unerring guidance of His
Holiness, the Exalted One (may my life be offered up for them
both).  Whatsoever they decide is of God.  Whoso obeyeth him
not, neither obeyeth them, hath not obeyed God; whoso rebelleth
against him and against them hath rebelled against God; whoso
opposeth him hath opposed God; whoso contendeth with them hath
contended with God; whoso disputeth with him hath disputed with
God; whoso denieth him hath denied God; whoso disbelieveth in
him hath disbelieved in God; whoso deviateth, separateth himself
and turneth aside from him hath in truth deviated, separated himself
and turned aside from God.  May the wrath, the fierce indignation,
the vengeance of God rest upon him!  The mighty stronghold shall
remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the
guardian of the Cause of God.  It is incumbent upon the members
of the House of Justice, upon all the &Aghsan, the &Afnan, the Hands
of the Cause of God to show their obedience, submissiveness and
subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God, to turn unto
him and be lowly before him.  He that opposeth him hath opposed
the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert
His word and will become a manifestation of the Center of Sedition.
Beware, beware, lest the days after the ascension (of &Baha'u'llah)
be repeated when the Center of Sedition waxed haughty and rebellious
and with Divine Unity for his excuse deprived himself and
perturbed and poisoned others.  No doubt every vainglorious one
that purposeth dissension and discord will not openly declare his
evil purposes, nay rather, even as impure gold, would he seize
upon divers measures and various pretexts that he may separate the
gathering of the people of &Baha.  My object is to show that the

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Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon
as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the
guardian of the Cause of God cast him out from the congregation
of the people of &Baha and in no wise accept any excuse from him.
How often hath grievous error been disguised in the garb of truth,
that it might sow the seeds of doubt in the hearts of men!
     O ye beloved of the Lord!  It is incumbent upon the guardian
of the Cause of God to appoint in his own life-time him that shall
become his successor, that differences may not arise after his passing.
He that is appointed must manifest in himself detachment from
all worldly things, must be the essence of purity, must show in
himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning.  Thus,
should the first-born of the guardian of the Cause of God not
manifest in himself the truth of the words:--"The child is the
secret essence of its sire," that is, should he not inherit of the
spiritual within him (the guardian of the Cause of God) and his
glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must
he (the guardian of the Cause of God), choose another branch to
succeed him.
     The Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own
number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important
services in the work of the guardian of the Cause of God.
The election of these nine must be carried either unanimously or
by majority from the company of the Hands of the Cause of God
and these, whether unanimously or by a majority vote, must give
their assent to the choice of the one whom the guardian of the Cause
of God hath chosen as his successor.  This assent must be given in
such wise as the assenting and dissenting voices may not be distinguished.
(secret ballot)
     O friends!  The Hands of the Cause of God must be nominated
and appointed by the guardian of the Cause of God.  All must be
under his shadow and obey his command.  Should any, within or
without the company of the Hands of the Cause of God disobey
and seek division, the wrath of God and His vengeance will be upon
him, for he will have caused a breach in the true Faith of God.
     The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse
the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning,
to improve the character of all men and to be, at all times and

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under all conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things.
They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their manners,
their deeds and their words.
     This body of the Hands of the Cause of God is under the direction
of the guardian of the Cause of God.  He must continually
urge them to strive and endeavor to the utmost of their ability
to diffuse the sweet savors of God, and to guide all the peoples
of the world, for it is the light of Divine Guidance that causeth all
the universe to be illumined.  To disregard, though it be for a
moment, this absolute command which is binding upon everyone, is
in no wise permitted, that the existent world may become even as
the &Abha Paradise, that the surface of the earth may become
heavenly, that contention and conflict amidst peoples, kindreds, nations
and governments may disappear, that all the dwellers on
earth may become one people and one race, that the world may
become even as one home.  Should differences arise they shall be
amicably and conclusively settled by the Supreme Tribunal, that
shall include members from all the governments and peoples of the
world.
     O ye beloved of the Lord!  In this sacred Dispensation, conflict
and contention are in no wise permitted.  Every aggressor deprives
himself of God's grace.  It is incumbent upon everyone to show
the utmost love, rectitude of conduct, straightforwardness and sincere
kindliness unto all the peoples and kindreds of the world, be
they friends or strangers.  So intense must be the spirit of love
and loving-kindness, that the stranger may find himself a friend, the
enemy a true brother, no difference whatsoever existing between
them.  For universality is of God and all limitations earthly.  Thus
man must strive that his reality may manifest virtues and perfections,
the light whereof may shine upon everyone.  The light of the
sun shineth upon all the world and the merciful showers of Divine
Providence fall upon all peoples.  The vivifying breeze reviveth
every living creature and all beings endued with life obtain their
share and portion at His heavenly board.  In like manner, the affections
and loving-kindness of the servants of the One True God must
be bountifully and universally extended to all mankind.  Regarding
this, restrictions and limitations are in no wise permitted.
     Wherefore, O my loving friends!  Consort with all the peoples,

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kindreds and religions of the world with the utmost truthfulness,
uprightness, faithfulness, kindliness, good-will and friendliness;
that all the world of being may be filled with the holy ecstasy of
the grace of &Baha, that ignorance, enmity, hate and rancor may
vanish from the world and the darkness of estrangement amidst
the peoples and kindreds of the world may give way to the Light
of Unity.  Should other peoples and nations be unfaithful to you
show your fidelity unto them, should they be unjust toward you
show justice towards them, should they keep aloof from you attract
them to yourself, should they show their enmity be friendly towards
them, should they poison your lives sweeten their souls, should they
inflict a wound upon you be a salve to their sores.  Such are the
attributes of the sincere!  Such are the attributes of the truthful.
     And now, concerning the House of Justice which God hath
ordained as the source of all good and freed from all error, it must
be elected by universal suffrage, that is, by the believers.  Its members
must be manifestations of the fear of God and daysprings of
knowledge and understanding, must be steadfast in God's faith and
the well-wishers of all mankind.  By this House is meant the Universal
House of Justice, that is, in all countries, a secondary House
of Justice must be instituted, and these secondary Houses of Justice
must elect the members of the Universal one.  Unto this body all
things must be referred.  It enacteth all ordinances and regulations
that are not to be found in the explicit Holy Text.  By this body
all the difficult problems are to be resolved and the guardian of the
Cause of God is its sacred head and the distinguished member for
life of that body.  Should he not attend in person its deliberations,
he must appoint one to represent him.  Should any of the members
commit a sin, injurious to the common weal, the guardian of the
Cause of God hath at his own discretion the right to expel him,
whereupon the people must elect another one in his stead.

     O ye beloved of the Lord!  It is incumbent upon you to be submissive
to all monarchs that are just and show your fidelity to every
righteous king.  Serve ye the sovereigns of the world with utmost
truthfulness and loyalty.  Show obedience unto them and be their
well-wishers.  Without their leave and permission do not meddle

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with political affairs, for disloyalty to the just sovereign is disloyalty
to God himself.
     This is my counsel and the commandment of God unto you.
Well is it with them that act accordingly.

     By the Ancient Beauty!  This wronged one hath in no wise
borne nor doth he bear a grudge against any one; towards none
doth he entertain any ill-feeling and uttereth no word save for the
good of the world.  My supreme obligation, however, of necessity,
prompteth me to guard and preserve the Cause of God.  Thus, with
the greatest regret, I counsel you saying:--"Guard ye the Cause
of God, protect His law and have the utmost fear of discord.  This
is the foundation of the belief of the people of &Baha (may my
life be offered up for them).  "His Holiness, the Exalted One,
(the &Bab) is the Manifestation of the Unity and Oneness of God
and the Forerunner of the Ancient Beauty.  His Holiness the
&Abha Beauty, (may my life be a sacrifice for His steadfast friends)
is the Supreme Manifestation of God and the Dayspring of His
Most Divine Essence.  All others are servants unto Him and do
His bidding."  Unto the Most Holy Book every one must turn and
all that is not expressly recorded therein must be referred to the
Universal House of Justice.  That which this body, whether unanimously
or by a majority doth carry, that is verily the Truth and
the Purpose of God himself.  Whoso doth deviate therefrom is
verily of them that love discord, hath shown forth malice and
turned away from the Lord of the Covenant.  By this House is
meant that Universal House of Justice which is to be elected from
all countries, that is, from those parts in the East and West where
the loved ones are to be found, after the manner of the customary
elections in Western countries such as those of England.

     O ye beloved of the Lord!  Strive with all your heart to shield
the Cause of God from the onslaught of the insincere, for souls
such as these cause the straight to become crooked and all benevolent
efforts to produce contrary results.
     O God, my God!  I call Thee, Thy Prophets and Thy Messengers,
Thy Saints and Thy Holy Ones, to witness that I have declared
conclusively Thy Proofs unto Thy loved ones and set forth

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clearly all things unto them, that they may watch over Thy Faith,
guard Thy Straight Path and protect Thy Resplendent Law.  Thou
art, verily, the All-knowing, the All-wise!

     Whosoever and whatsoever meeting becometh a hindrance to
the diffusion of the Light of Faith, let the loved ones give them
counsel and say:  "Of all the gifts of God the greatest is the gift
of Teaching.  It draweth unto us the Grace of God and is our first
obligation.  Of such a gift how can we deprive ourselves?  Nay,
our lives, our goods, our comforts, our rest, we offer them all as
a sacrifice for the &Abha Beauty and teach the Cause of God."
Caution and prudence, however, must be observed even as recorded
in the Book.  The veil must in no wise be suddenly rent asunder.
The Glory of Glories rest upon you.
     O ye the faithful loved ones of &Abdu'l-Baha!  It is incumbent
upon you to take the greatest care of Shoghi Effendi, the twig that
hath branched from the fruit given forth by the two hallowed
and Divine Lote-Trees, that no dust of despondency and sorrow
may stain his radiant nature, that day by day he may wax greater
in happiness, in joy and spirituality, and may grow to become even
as a fruitful tree.
     For he is, after &Abdu'l-Baha, the guardian of the Cause of
God, the &Afnan, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause and the beloved
of the Lord must obey him and turn unto him.  He that obeyeth him
not, hath not obeyed God; he that turneth away from him, hath
turned away from God and he that denieth him, hath denied the
True One.  Beware lest anyone falsely interpret these words, and
like unto them that have broken the Covenant after the Day of
Ascension (of &Baha'u'llah) advance a pretext, raise the standard
of revolt, wax stubborn and open wide the door of false interpretation.
To none is given the right to put forth his own opinion or
express his particular convictions.  All must seek guidance and turn
unto the Center of the Cause and the House of Justice.  And he
that turneth unto whatsoever else is indeed in grievous error.
     The Glory of Glories rest upon you!

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                                   PART TWO

                          Letters from Shoghi Effendi
                         Guardian of the &Baha'i Cause
                        January 21, 1922-July 17, 1932

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                          LETTERS FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI

                         Guardian of the &Baha'i Cause

Dearly beloved brethren and sisters in &Abdu'l-Baha:
     At this early hour when the morning light is just breaking upon
the Holy Land, whilst the gloom of the dear Master's bereavement
is still hanging thick upon the hearts, I feel as if my soul turns in
yearning love and full of hope to that great company of His loved
ones across the seas, who now share with us all the agonies of His
separation.
     It is idle for me to emphasize how much the sorrowful ladies
of the Holy Household look forward to the work that lies before
the friends in the American continent, who in the past have rendered
so glorious a service to His Cause and will now, faithful to His
special love for them, carry on their mission still more gloriously
than ever before.  True, the shock has been too terrible and sudden
for us all to recover from in so short a time, but whenever we recall
His Sayings and read His Writings, hope springs in our hearts
and gives us the peace that no other material comfort can give.
     How well I remember when, more than two years ago, the
Beloved Master turning to a distinguished visitor of His, who was
seated by Him in His garden, suddenly broke the silence and said:--
"My work is now done upon this plane; it is time for me to pass on
to the other world."  Did He not in more than one occasion state
clearly and emphatically:--"Were ye to know what will come to
pass after me, surely would ye pray that my end be hastened?"
In a Tablet sent to Persia when the storm raised years ago by that
Committee of Investigation was fiercely raging around Him, when
the days of His incarceration were at their blackest, He reveals the
following:--"Now in this world of being, the Hand of Divine
Power hath firmly laid the foundations of this all-highest Bounty
and this wondrous Gift.  Gradually whatsoever is latent in the innermost
of this Holy Cycle shall appear and be made manifest, for now

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is but the beginning of its growth and the dayspring of the revelation
of its Signs.  Ere the close of this Century and of this Age, it
shall be made clear and manifest how wondrous was that Springtide
and how heavenly was that Gift!"
     With such assuring Utterances and the unmistakable evidences
of His sure and clear knowledge that His end was nigh, is there
any reason why the followers of His Faith, the world over, should
be perturbed?  Are not the prayers He revealed for us sufficient
source of inspiration to every worker in His Cause?  Have not His
instructions paved before us the broad and straight Path of Teaching?
Will not His now doubly effective power of Grace sustain
us, strengthen us and confirm us in our work for Him?  Ours is
the duty to strive by day and night to fulfill our own obligations
and then trust in His Guidance and never failing Grace.  Unity
amongst the friends, selflessness in our labors in His Path, detachment
from all worldly things, the greatest prudence and caution in
every step we take, earnest endeavor to carry out only what is His
Holy Will and Pleasure, the constant awareness of His Presence and
of the example of His Life, the absolute shunning of whomsoever
we feel to be an enemy of the Cause ... these, and foremost among
them is the need for unity, appear to me as our most vital duties,
should we dedicate our lives for His service.  Should we in this
spirit arise to serve Him, what surer and greater promise have we
than the one His Glorious Father, &Baha'u'llah, gives us in His Most
Holy Book:--"Verily, We behold you from Our Realm of Effulgent
Glory, and shall graciously aid whosoever ariseth for the triumph
of Our Cause with the hosts of the Celestial Concourse and a company
of Our chosen angels."
     How dearly all the Holy Leaves+F1 cherish that memory of the
departed Master, as He commented upon the fresh tidings that
poured in from that continent, admiring the untiring activity of
the friends, the complete subordination of their material interests
to those of the Cause, the remarkable spread of the Movement
in their midst and their staunch firmness in the Covenant of &Baha'u'llah.
It is these encouraging reflections of the Master about His
loved ones in America and the tests intellectual rather than physical
which He said He would send to them to purify them and make ever

+F1 Descendants (feminine) of &Baha'u'llah.

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brighter than before--it is these comments and promises of His that
make of the Movement in that land such a potential force in the
world today.  The Beloved Master's cable to the friends in that
region is a clear indication of the presence of those counteracting
forces that may usher in those storms of tests that the Master Himself
has said will ultimately be for the good of the Cause in that
land.
     And finally, the ladies of the Sacred Household and we, the rest
of His kindred and family, will pray at His Hallowed Shrine for
every one of you and He will surely watch over and enhance in the
course of time that noble part of His heritage that He has bequeathed
to His friends in the Far West; friends from whom in return He
expects so much and whom He has loved and still doth love so dearly.
                Your sincere co-worker in His Cause,
                                                     SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine.
January 21st, 1922.


Dear fellow-workers in the Cause of &Baha'u'llah:--
     It is with words of regret and disappointment that I desire to
open this letter because of my inability, in view of my manifold
and pressing duties, to respond individually and in writing to the
many messages of love and sympathy and of hope that you have
so affectionately sent me since our Beloved's passing from this
World.  I am sure I am voicing the sentiments of the bereaved
ladies of the Household when I say that however desirous we may
be to correspond separately with every one of you, the grave responsibilities
and manifold duties now devolved upon us make it
regrettably impossible to express in written messages to every friend
what we constantly feel in our hearts, and pray for when visiting
His sacred Shrine.
     At this grave and momentous period through which the Cause
of God in conformity with the Divine Wisdom is passing, it is the
sacred duty of every one of us to endeavor to realize the full significance
of this Hour of Transition, and then to make a supreme resolve
to arise steadfastly for the fulfilment of our sacred obligations.

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               The Mission of the Cause

     Great as is the love and paternal care which our beloved Master
is extending to us from on High, and unique as is the Spirit that
animates today His servants in the world, yet a great deal will depend
upon the character and efforts of His loved ones on whom now
rests the responsibility of carrying on His work gloriously after
Him.  How great is the need at this moment when the promised
outpourings of His grace are ready to be extended to every soul,
for us all to form a broad vision of the mission of the Cause to
mankind, and to do all in our power to spread it throughout the
world!  The eyes of the world, now that the sublime Personality
of the Master has been removed from this visible plane,
are turned with eager anticipation to us who are named after
His name, and on whom rests primarily the responsibility to keep
burning the torch that He has lit in this world.  How keenly I
feel at this challenging hour in the history of the Cause the need
for a firm and definite determination to subordinate all our personal
likings, our local interests, to the interests and requirements
of the Cause of God!  Now is the time to set aside, nay, to forget
altogether, minor considerations regarding our internal relationships,
and to present a solid united front to the world animated
by no other desire but to serve and propagate His Cause.
     It is my firm conviction which I now express with all sincerity
and candor, that the dignity and unity of the Cause urgently demands--
particularly throughout the American continent--that the
friends should in their words and conduct emphasize and give absolute
prominence to the constructive dynamic principles of &Baha'u'llah,
rather than attach undue importance to His negative Teachings.
With hearts cleansed from the least trace of suspicion and filled
with hope and faith in what the spirit of love can achieve, we must
one and all endeavor at this moment to forget past impressions, and
with absolute good-will and genuine cooperation unite in deepening
and diffusing the spirit of love and service that the Cause has thus
far so remarkably shown to the world.  To this attitude of good-will,
of forbearance and genuine kindness to all, must be added,
however, constant but unprovocative vigilance, lest unrestricted association
with the peoples of the world should enable the very few

+P19
who have been definitely pronounced by the Master as injurious to
the body of the Cause, to make a breach in the Movement.  Not
until, however, an unmistakable evidence should appear, manifestly
revealing the evil motives of a certain individual or group
of individuals, is it advisable to make the matter public; for an
untimely declaration that shall give rise to open differences among
the friends is far more detrimental than forbearing still further
with those who are suspected of evil intentions.  As the Master
so fully and consistently did throughout His lifetime, we must
all make a supreme effort to pour out a genuine spirit of kindness
and hopeful love to peoples of various creeds and classes, and must
abstain from all provocative language that may impede the effect
of what true and continued kindness can produce.
     Does not &Abdu'l-Baha wish us, as He looks down upon us with
loving expectation from His glorious Station, to obliterate as much
as possible all traces of censure, of conflicting discussions, of cooling
remarks, of petty unnecessary observations that impede the onward
march of the Cause, that damp the zeal of the firm believer and
detract from the sublimity of the &Baha'i Cause in the eyes of the
inquirer?  In order, however, to insure fair and quick and vigorous
action whenever such an evil activity is revealed and has been carefully
ascertained, the best and only means would appear to be, for
the careful observer, once he is assured of such an evil action, and
has grown hopeless of the attitude of kindness and forbearance, to
report it quietly to the Spiritual Assembly representative of the
friends in that locality and submit the case to their earnest and full
consideration.  Should the majority of the members of that Assembly
be conscientiously convinced of the case--and this being a
national issue affecting the body of the friends in America--it
should, only through the intermediary of that Assembly, be cautiously
communicated to that greater body representing all the Assemblies
in America, which will in its turn obtain all the available
data from the local Assembly in question, study carefully the situation
and reserve for itself the ultimate decision.  It may, if it
decides so, refer to the Holy Land for further consideration and
consultation.

+P20
               Local and National Spiritual Assemblies

     This clearly places heavy responsibilities on the local as well as
national Assemblies, which in the course of time will evolve, with
the Master's power and guidance, into the local and national Houses
of Justice.  Hence the vital necessity of having a local Spiritual
Assembly in every locality where the number of adult declared
believers exceeds nine, and of making provision for the indirect election
of a Body that shall adequately represent the interests of all
the friends and Assemblies throughout the American Continent.
     A perusal of some of the words of &Baha'u'llah and &Abdu'l-Baha
on the duties and functions of the Spiritual Assemblies in every land
(later to be designated as the local Houses of Justice), emphatically
reveals the sacredness of their nature, the wide scope of their activity,
and the grave responsibility which rests upon them.
     Addressing the members of the Spiritual Assembly in Chicago,
the Master reveals the following:--"Whenever ye enter the council-chamber,
recite this prayer with a heart throbbing with the love of
God and a tongue purified from all but His remembrance, that the
All-powerful may graciously aid you to achieve supreme victory:--
`O God, my God!  We are servants of Thine that have turned with
devotion to Thy Holy Face, that have detached ourselves from all
beside Thee in this glorious Day.  We have gathered in this spiritual
assembly, united in our views and thoughts, with our purposes harmonized
to exalt Thy Word amidst mankind.  O Lord, our God!
Make us the signs of Thy Divine Guidance, the Standards of Thy
exalted Faith amongst men, servants to Thy mighty Covenant.  O
Thou our Lord Most High!  Manifestations of Thy Divine Unity
in Thine &Abha Kingdom, and resplendent stars shining upon all
regions.  Lord!  Aid us to become seas surging with the billows of
Thy wondrous Grace, streams flowing from Thy all-glorious
Heights, goodly fruits upon the Tree of Thy heavenly Cause, trees
waving through the breezes of Thy Bounty in Thy celestial Vineyard.
O God!  Make our souls dependent upon the Verses of Thy
Divine Unity, our hearts cheered with the outpourings of Thy
Grace, that we may unite even as the waves of one sea and become
merged together as the rays of Thine Effulgent Light; that our
thoughts, our views, our feelings may become as one reality, manifesting

+P21
the spirit of union throughout the world.  Thou art the
Gracious, the Bountiful, the Bestower, the Almighty, the Merciful,
the Compassionate.'"
     In the Most Holy Book is revealed:--"The Lord hath ordained
that in every city a House of Justice be established wherein shall
gather counsellors to the number of &Baha, and should it exceed this
number it does not matter.  It behooveth them to be the trusted
ones of the Merciful among men and to regard themselves as the
guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth.  It is incumbent
upon them to take counsel together and to have regard for
the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they
regard their own interests, and to choose that which is meet and
seemly.  Thus hath the Lord your God commanded you.  Beware
lest ye put away that which is clearly revealed in His Tablet.  Fear
God, O ye that perceive."
     Furthermore, &Abdu'l-Baha reveals the following:--"It is incumbent
upon every one not to take any step without consulting the
Spiritual Assembly, and they must assuredly obey with heart and
soul its bidding and be submissive unto it, that things may be properly
ordered and well arranged.  Otherwise every person will act independently
and after his own judgment, will follow his own desire,
and do harm to the Cause."
     "The prime requisites for them that take counsel together are
purity of motive, radiance of spirit, detachment from all else save
God, attraction to His Divine Fragrances, humility and lowliness
amongst His loved ones, patience and long-suffering in difficulties
and servitude to His exalted Threshold.  Should they be graciously
aided to acquire these attributes, victory from the unseen Kingdom
of &Baha shall be vouchsafed to them.  In this day, assemblies of
consultation are of the greatest importance and a vital necessity.
Obedience unto them is essential and obligatory.  The members
thereof must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for
ill-feeling or discord may arise.  This can be attained when every
member expresseth with absolute freedom his own opinion and
setteth forth his argument.  Should any one oppose, he must on no
account feel hurt for not until matters are fully discussed can the
right way be revealed.  The shining spark of truth cometh forth
only after the clash of differing opinions.  If after discussion, a

+P22
decision be carried unanimously, well and good; but if, the Lord
forbid, differences of opinion should arise, a majority of voices must
prevail."
     Enumerating the obligations incumbent upon the members of
consulting councils, the Beloved reveals the following:--"The first
condition is absolute love and harmony amongst the members of
the assembly.  They must be wholly free from estrangement and
must manifest in themselves the Unity of God, for they are the
waves of one sea, the drops of one river, the stars of one heaven,
the rays of one sun, the trees of one orchard, the flowers of one garden.
Should harmony of thought and absolute unity be non-existent,
that gathering shall be dispersed and that assembly be brought to
naught.  The second condition:--They must when coming together
turn their faces to the Kingdom on High and ask aid from the
Realm of Glory.  They must then proceed with the utmost devotion,
courtesy, dignity, care and moderation to express their views.  They
must in every matter search out the truth and not insist upon their
own opinion, for stubbornness and persistence in one's views will
lead ultimately to discord and wrangling and the truth will remain
hidden.  The honored members must with all freedom express their
own thoughts, and it is in no wise permissible for one to belittle
the thought of another, nay, he must with moderation set forth the
truth, and should differences of opinion arise a majority of voices
must prevail, and all must obey and submit to the majority.  It is
again not permitted that any one of the honored members object to
or censure, whether in or out of the meeting, any decision arrived at
previously, though that decision be not right, for such criticism
would prevent any decision from being enforced.  In short, whatsoever
thing is arranged in harmony and with love and purity of
motive, its result is light, and should the least trace of estrangement
prevail the result shall be darkness upon darkness....  If this be
so regarded, that assembly shall be of God, but otherwise it shall lead
to coolness and alienation that proceed from the Evil One.  Discussions
must all be confined to spiritual matters that pertain to the
training of souls, the instruction of children, the relief of the poor,
the help of the feeble throughout all classes in the world, kindness
to all peoples, the diffusion of the fragrances of God and the exaltation
of His Holy Word.  Should they endeavor to fulfill these conditions

+P23
the Grace of the Holy Spirit shall be vouchsafed unto them,
and that assembly shall become the center of the Divine blessings,
the hosts of Divine confirmation shall come to their aid, and they
shall day by day receive a new effusion of Spirit."
     So great is the importance and so supreme is the authority of
these assemblies that once &Abdu'l-Baha after having himself and
in his own handwriting corrected the translation made into Arabic
of the &Ishraqat (the Effulgences) by Sheikh Faraj, a Kurdish friend
from Cairo, directed him in a Tablet to submit the above-named
translation to the Spiritual Assembly of Cairo, that he may seek
from them before publication their approval and consent.  These
are His very words in that Tablet:--"His honor, Sheikh Faraju'llah,
has here rendered into Arabic with greatest care the &Ishraqat
and yet I have told him that he must submit his version to the
Spiritual Assembly of Egypt, and I have conditioned its publication
upon the approval of the above-named Assembly.  This is so that
things may be arranged in an orderly manner, for should it not be so
any one may translate a certain Tablet and print and circulate it on
his own account.  Even a non-believer might undertake such work,
and thus cause confusion and disorder.  If it be conditioned, however,
upon the approval of the Spiritual Assembly, a translation
prepared, printed and circulated by a non-believer will have no recognition
whatever."
     This is indeed a clear indication of the Master's express desire
that nothing whatever should be given to the public by any individual
among the friends, unless fully considered and approved by the
Spiritual Assembly in his locality; and if this (as is undoubtedly
the case) is a matter that pertains to the general interest of the
Cause in that land, then it is incumbent upon the Spiritual Assembly
to submit it to the consideration and approval of the national body
representing all the various local assemblies.  Not only with regard
to publication, but all matters without any exception whatsoever,
regarding the interests of the Cause in that locality, individually or
collectively, should be referred exclusively to the Spiritual Assembly
in that locality, which shall decide upon it, unless it be a matter of
national interest, in which case it shall be referred to the national
body.  With this national body also will rest the decision whether
a given question is of local or national interest.  (By national affairs

+P24
is not meant matters that are political in their character, for the
friends of God the world over are strictly forbidden to meddle
with political affairs in any way whatever, but rather things
that affect the spiritual activities of the body of the friends in that
land.)
     Full harmony, however, as well as cooperation among the various
local assemblies and the members themselves, and particularly
between each assembly and the national body, is of the utmost importance,
for upon it depends the unity of the Cause of God, the
solidarity of the friends, the full, speedy and efficient working of
the spiritual activities of His loved ones.


               Committees of the National Assembly

     Large issues in such spiritual activities that affect the Cause in
general in that land, such as the management of the "Star of the
West" and any periodical which the National Body may decide to
be a &Baha'i organ, the matter of publication, or reprinting &Baha'i
literature and its distribution among the various assemblies, the
means whereby the teaching campaign may be stimulated and maintained,
the work of the &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, the racial question in
relation to the Cause, the matter of receiving Orientals and association
with them, the care and maintenance of the precious film exhibiting
a phase of the Master's sojourn in the United States of
America as well as the original matrix and the records of His voice,
and various other national spiritual activities, far from being under
the exclusive jurisdiction of any local assembly or group of friends,
must each be minutely and fully directed by a special board, elected
by the National Body, constituted as a committee thereof, responsible
to it and upon which the National Body shall exercise constant and
general supervision.
     The time is indeed ripe for the manifold activities, wherein the
servants and handmaids of &Baha'u'llah are so devoutly and earnestly
engaged, to be harmonized and conducted with unity, cooperation
and efficiency, that the effect of such a combined and systematized
effort, through which an All-powerful Spirit is steadily pouring,
may transcend every other achievement of the past, however glorious
it has been, and may stand, now that, to the eyes of the outside

+P25
world the glorious Person of the Master is no more, a convincing
testimony of the potency of His everliving Spirit.
               Your brother and co-worker in His Cause,
                                                       SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine.
March 5, 1922.


                         IN THE NAME OF GOD

     This servant, after that grievous event and great calamity, the
ascension of His Holiness &Abdu'l-Baha to the &Abha Kingdom, has
been so stricken with grief and pain and so entangled in the troubles
(created) by the enemies of the Cause of God, that I consider that
my presence here, at such a time and in such an atmosphere, is not
in accordance with the fulfilment of my important and sacred duties.
     For this reason, unable to do otherwise, I have left for a time
the affairs of the Cause both at home and abroad, under the supervision
of the Holy Family and the headship of the Greatest Holy
Leaf+F1 until, by the Grace of God, having gained health, strength,
self-confidence and spiritual energy, and having taken into my
hands, in accordance with my aim and desire, entirely and regularly
the work of service I shall attain to my utmost spiritual hope and
aspiration.
                    The servant of His Threshold,
                                                        SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine.
Circa May, 1922 (undated).


               Our Common Servitude

     May I also express my heartfelt desire that the friends of God
in every land regard me in no other light but that of a true brother,
united with them in our common servitude to the Master's Sacred
Threshold, and refer to me in their letters and verbal addresses
always as Shoghi Effendi, for I desire to be known by no other
name save the one our Beloved Master was wont to utter, a name
which of all other designations is the most conducive to my spiritual
growth and advancement.
Haifa, Palestine.
Circa May, 1922 (undated).


+F1 &Bahiyyih, sister of &Abdu'l-Baha.

+P26
To the loved ones of &Abdu'l-Baha throughout the continent of
     America.

Dear fellow-workers in the Holy Vineyard of &Baha!
     Now that my long hours of rest and meditation are happily at
an end, I turn my face with renewed hope and vigor to that vast
continent the soil of which is pregnant with those seeds that our
beloved Master has so tenderly and so profusely scattered in the
past.  Prolonged though this period has been, yet I have strongly
felt ever since the New Day has dawned upon me that such a needed
retirement, despite the temporary dislocations it might entail, would
far outweigh in its results any immediate service I could have
humbly tendered at the Threshold of &Baha'u'llah.
     I am now confident that the energies of my beloved brethren
and sisters across the seas, far from being damped by my sudden
disappearance from the field of service, will henceforth be fully
maintained, nay redoubled in their intensity, that we may all together
carry triumphantly to the uttermost corners of the world the
glorious Standard of &Baha.
     Bereft of all news whatsoever during my hours of restful seclusion,
I now feel the more the thrill of the various tidings, few but
indeed promising, that have been awaiting my return to the Holy
Land.  The work of the noble Edifice that the mighty hands of the
All-wise Master has reared in this world can suffer no delay, nor
can its foundations be made to totter, whatever the apparent obstacles
its enemies in their impotent wrath and despair may throw
in its way.  We need not wait too long, for already from various
quarters there comes the news that the awful promises of &Abdu'l-Baha
regarding the Covenant-breakers have been strikingly fulfilled!
     But it behooves us not to dwell for a moment on these doomed
and darkened efforts, for the shining light of the Master's unfailing
guidance is beckoning us to more constructive service, to nobler and
worthier achievements.
     We have, not a long time ago, with tearful eyes commemorated
the world over the passing hour of our beloved Master.  Would to
God it has marked in our lives, which we all have consecrated to

+P27
His service, a fresh, solemn and unswerving resolution of devotion
and fidelity to His Cause
                      Your brother and co-worker,
                                                         SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
December 16, 1922.


To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly, the elected
     representatives of all believers throughout the continent of
     America.

Esteemed co-workers in the Vineyard of God:
     To have been unable, owing to unforeseen and unavoidable
circumstances, to correspond with you ever since you entered upon
your manifold and arduous duties is to me a cause of deep regret
and sad surprise!  I am however assured and sustained by the
conviction, never dimmed in my mind, that whatsoever comes to
pass in the Cause of God, however disquieting in its immediate
effects, is fraught with infinite Wisdom and tends ultimately to
promote its interests in the world.  Indeed, our experiences of the
distant past, as well as of recent events, are too numerous and
varied to permit of any misgiving or doubt as to the truth of this
basic principle--a principle which throughout the vicissitudes of
our sacred mission in this world we must never disregard or forget.
     I cannot refrain from expressing in this, my first letter to you
my deep gratitude and great pleasure in learning how promptly,
thoroughly and admirably you have conducted the affairs of the
Cause in that land.  Of the sincerity of your efforts, of the determination
with which you have faced your delicate and difficult
task, I have never doubted for a moment, as I knew too well of the
ardent spirit of service and fellowship which the sudden passing of
our Beloved had infused in all his followers everywhere.  But
great was my surprise to know how the ever-present Hand of the
Master has removed so speedily all the difficulties in our way and
how the light of His Divine Guidance caused the darkness of
doubts, of fears and mistrust to vanish.
     The efficient manner in which you have carried out my humble
suggestions has been a source of great encouragement to me and
has revived confidence in my heart.  I have read and re-read the

+P28
reports of your activities, have studied minutely all the steps you
have taken to consolidate the foundations of the Movement in
America, and have learned with a keen sense of satisfaction the
plans you contemplate for the further rise and spread of the Cause
in your great country.  I very highly approve of the arrangements
you have made for centralizing the work in your hands and of
distributing it to the various committees, who each in its own
sphere, have so efficiently and thoroughly undertaken the management
of their own affairs.
     What has given me still greater pleasure is to learn that the
members of this Central Body which has assumed so grave a responsibility
and is facing such delicate and difficult tasks, command
individually and collectively not only the sympathy of their spiritual
brethren and sisters but who also can confidently rely on their active
and whole-hearted support in the campaign of service to the Cause
of &Baha'u'llah.  It is indeed as it should be, for if genuine and
sustained cooperation and mutual confidence cease to exist between
individual friends and their local and national assemblies, the all-beneficent
work of the Cause must cease and nothing else can
enable it to function harmoniously and effectively in future.
     True, the Cause as every other movement has its own obstacles,
complications and unforeseen difficulties, but unlike any other human
organization it inspires a spirit of Faith and Devotion which
can never fail to induce us to make sincere and renewed efforts to
face these difficulties and smooth any differences that may and must
arise.
     I look forward with fervent hope to hear of these renewed
efforts on your part and of the strong determination which you
will never suffer to slacken, to maintain at any cost the unity, the
effectiveness and the dignity of the Cause.
     May I through you express my heartfelt gratitude to the members
of the &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar Building Committee, Mr. Alfred E.
Lunt, Mrs. Corinne True, Dr. Zia Bagdadi, Mr. Charles Mason
Remey, Mr. Louis Bourgeois, Mr. Leo Perron for their incessant
labors in speeding the work of this noble Edifice which when
raised and completed will prove to be the most powerful factor in
the promulgation of the Cause in America.

+P29
     Will you also extend to the members of the Publishing and
Reviewing Committees, Mr. William H. Randall, Mr. Mountfort
Mills, Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, Mr. Albert R. Vail, Miss Edna True,
Mrs. Marjory Morten and Mr. Alfred E. Lunt, my high appreciation
for the very efficient management of their departments and
their devotion to a work which if consistently maintained cannot
fail to impress and attract a vast number of the enlightened public.
Regarding the Star of the West, I wish to congratulate in particular
the members of the Publishing Committee on the quality of their
work.  I have perused with particular interest the last numbers of
the Magazine and am glad to note an encouraging improvement in
its management, its style, its general presentation and the nature
and number of its articles.
     To the members of the Teaching Committee, Mr. William
Randall, Mrs. Agnes S. Parsons, Mr. Albert Vail, Mr. Louis G.
Gregory and Mrs. Mariam Haney I offer my very best wishes and
assure them of my constant prayers on their behalf, that their
services to such a vital department in the affairs of the Cause, so
primary and immediate in its importance, may be crowned with
brilliant success.
     For the members of the Children's Educational Work Committee,
Mrs. Grace Ober, Mrs. Louise Boyle, Mrs. Victoria
Bedikian, Mrs. Hebe Struven, Mrs. Grace Foster, Mr. Stanwood
Cobb and Mr. Allen McDaniel, I supplicate Divine Assistance,
that He may graciously aid them in a work which was so near
and dear to the Master's heart and enable them to assist in the rise
of future devoted and efficient servants to the Cause of God.
     On behalf of all the members of these Committees, I shall pray
at the Three Hallowed Shrines, that they may become purified
channels of His Grace and instruments of His Divine Plan for this
world.  For my part, I shall not fail to offer my humble share of
help and assistance to every one of them in their respective work
and would welcome from each a special report on their present
activities and of their plans for the future.
     Awaiting from you all the joyous news of the deepening as
well as the spreading of the Cause for which our beloved Master
has given His time, His life, His all, and remembering your labors

+P30
of love and service every time I lay my head upon the Sacred
Thresholds,
                 I am, as ever, your brother in His Service,
                                                         SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
December 23rd, 1922.

     P.S.  I would be pleased and gratified if you could inform all
the various local spiritual assemblies of my wish and desire to receive
as soon as possible from every local assembly a detailed and
official report on their spiritual activities, the character and organization
of their respective assemblies, accounts of their public
and private gatherings, of the actual position of the Cause in their
province, and of their plans and arrangements for the future.  Pray
convey to all of them my best wishes and the assurance of my
hearty assistance in their noble work of service to mankind.
                                                         SHOGHI.


To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Beloved co-workers in the Cause of God!
     In the midst of your unceasing labors for the progress of the
Movement in that country, I am sure you would welcome every now
and then such news as shall breathe a fresh spirit into your activities
and stimulate you to further effort for the promotion of His
Cause.
     Only the other day, in the course of my study of various &Baha'i
documents, I came, as if by mere chance, across a very important
message from our beloved &Abdu'l-Baha, bearing no date, and revealing
no sign as to exactly where, how and to whom it was given,
written in the Master's own handwriting upon a leaflet that seemed
ordinary and ill-preserved in appearance but which on close study
proved of the profoundest interest to all believers in the East as
well as in the West.  As to the authenticity of these remarkable
words, so clearly and forcibly written, there is no doubt whatsoever,
and the measure of assurance it shall inspire in the loved ones of Persia
and the spirit of hopeful encouragement it shall breathe in the
friends of the West, have urged me to communicate it to you, that

+P31
subject to your consideration and consent, it may be published+F1
amongst the friends and redouble their confidence in the very
remarkable share the West is destined to contribute to the immediate
spread of the Movement throughout the world.
     Recently, I have rendered it myself into English and enclosed
is a copy of the full translation.


               Star of the West

     May I also mention in passing the fact that since my return
to the Holy Land I have directed and emphatically urged in my
letters, the friends in Persia, Turkestan, Caucasus, Great Britain,
India, Egypt and Syria to subscribe, through their respective Assemblies,
to the Star of the West, report regularly to that paper and
through their Assemblies the news of their activity and contribute
every now and then carefully written articles approved and sanctioned
by the same Assemblies.
     I trust that this measure will react favorably on the Star of the
West and will serve to stimulate the members of the Publishing
Committee to further activity in their sphere of service to the
Cause.
     Awaiting eagerly your letters and wishing you the fullest success
in your very arduous duties,
                                    I am your devoted brother,
                                                              SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
January 12, 1923.


The beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout
     the United States and Canada.

Beloved brothers and sisters in &Abdu'l-Baha:
     Our dear friend, &Jinab-i-Fadil-i-Mazindarani, accompanied by
his family, has gladly and gratefully responded to the kind invitation
of the American friends to visit them once more and extend his
helping hand to the many friends who are so faithfully laboring
throughout that continent for the Cause of &Baha'u'llah.

+F1 Published in the booklet "Prayer of &Baha'u'llah:  Prayers and Tablets of
+F1 &Abdu'l-Baha."

+P32
     Deeply appreciative of the sentiments of warm and abiding
affection which his co-workers of that land have abundantly shown
him in the past, fired with the zeal of service which the passing of
our Beloved has kindled in every heart and hopeful of the immediate
future of the Cause in those regions, he is proceeding to America
with the sole purpose of promoting far and wide and with greater
efficiency and vigor the all-important work of teaching.
     As to the extent of his sojourn, the details of his travel, his
plan for visiting the various spiritual centers and all other matters
related to his visit, I have left them all to his own discretion, that
he may, after consultation with the various Spiritual Assemblies,
do as he deems best and most serviceable to the interests of the
Cause in that land.
     That all the friends may realize more fully the urgent and
supreme necessity of teaching the Cause in these days; that they
may arise to inaugurate a more strenuous, systematized and extensive
campaign of service--these are the high aims he has set before
himself and which he intends, with the unfailing help and wholehearted
support of every believer in America, to achieve in the
immediate future.
     May his second visit to your shores mark, in its character and
results, a new and memorable era in the history of the Cause in that
great country!
                                    Your brother and co-worker,

SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine.
January 16, 1923.


To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Dear friends:
     It is a great pleasure for me to share with you the translation+F1
of some of the prayers and Tablets of our beloved Master, the reading
of which I trust will inspire you and strengthen you in your
work of service to His Cause.
     I trust that in the course of time I will be enabled to send you

+F1 These translations, with others received later, were published as a
+F1 pamphlet by the N.S.A.

+P33
regularly correct and reliable translations of the various prayers
and Tablets of &Baha'u'llah, and &Abdu'l-Baha, which will unfold
to your eyes a new vision of His Glorious Mission on earth and
give you an insight into the character and meanings of His Divine
Teachings.
     I shall await very eagerly any suggestions you would like to
give me on this point and on all other matters that pertain to the
interests of the Cause in America, and I assure you again of my
readiness and wish to be of help and service to those faithful and
devoted servants of &Baha'u'llah in that land.
                                    Your brother and co-worker,
                                                              SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
January 17th, 1923.


To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Dearest friends:
     I have just completed the translation of a number of selections+F1
from the Master's soul-stirring Words to His loved ones in Persia,
revealed some twenty-five years ago, and during the darkest days
of His incarceration in the prison city of &Akka.
     You will realize, as you read them, the unshakable confidence
of &Abdu'l-Baha in the inevitable growth of the Cause, even in the
most perilous days of His life.  Their perusal will enable you all to
grasp more fully the significance of this Movement and its dynamic
power, the urgent need for sustained unity and harmony amongst
the friends, and the glory of the station that awaits in the world
to come every faithful servant of &Baha'u'llah.
     May they contribute their share to the unfolding of the Spirit
of the Cause in that land, and may they infuse in all the friends
that ardent spirit of service and fellowship that will enable them
to fulfill their glorious destiny in this world!
                                    Your brother and co-worker,
                                                               SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
February 13, 1923.

+F1 Published in the booklet "Prayer of &Baha'u'llah:  Prayers and Tablets of
+F1 &Abdu'l-Baha."

+P34
To the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful
     throughout America, Great Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland,
     Italy, Japan and Australasia.

Fellow-workers in the Vineyard of God!
     Over a year has elapsed since that calamitous Hour, when the
glorious Person of &Abdu'l-Baha was veiled from mortal eyes and
His Spirit ascended to the Kingdom of Glory; and I feel that the
time is now ripe to take those fresh and momentous decisions which
will enable us to fulfill, speedily and faithfully, the last wishes of our
departed Master.
     The year has been to the outside world a year of fear and suffering,
of disillusion and turmoil.  To us, however, the bereaved
followers of a gracious and loving Master, it has been, despite the
passing cares which His sudden departure must necessarily entail,
a period of hope, of wholesome activity, marked throughout with
a spirit of undiminished confidence in His power and of fidelity to
His Cause.
     From the East and from the West, from the North and from
the South, the unnumbered servants of &Baha'u'llah, disdainful of
the evil machinations of the enemies of His Cause, the breakers of
His behests, have rallied to His Standard, and risen with one accord
to carry on the great Work He has entrusted to their charge.  All-hail
to that undying spirit of fidelity which burns and shall burn
unceasingly, in the breasts of His loved ones!  Great shall be their
reward, and blissful the hour, when after a toilsome life of service,
they are gathered to the glory of &Baha, and partake in their Beloved's
Presence, of the joy of eternal Reunion.


               Condition of the World

     But great achievements still await us in this world, and we feel
confident that, by His grace and never-failing guidance, we shall
now and ever prove ourselves worthy to fulfill His great Purpose
for mankind.  And who can fail to realize the sore need of bleeding
humanity, in its present state of uncertainty and peril, for the regenerating
Spirit of God, manifested this Day so powerfully in
this Divine Dispensation?  Four years of unprecedented warfare
and world cataclysms, followed by another four years of bitter

+P35
disappointment and suffering, have stirred deeply the conscience
of mankind, and opened the eyes of an unbelieving world to the
Power of the Spirit that alone can cure its sicknesses, heal its
wounds, and establish the long-promised reign of undisturbed prosperity
and peace.


               Responsibility of &Baha'is

     Now surely, if ever, is the time for us, the chosen ones of
&Baha'u'llah and the bearers of His Message to the world, to endeavor
by day and by night, to deepen, first and foremost, the Spirit
of His Cause in our own individual lives, and then labor, and
labor incessantly to exemplify in all our dealings with our fellow-men
that noble Spirit of which His beloved Son &Abdu'l-Baha has
been all the days of His life a true and unique exponent.  The
sayings of our beloved Master have been noised abroad, His name
has filled all regions, and the eyes of mankind are now turned expectant
towards His disciples who bear His name and profess His
teachings.  Shall we not by our daily life vindicate the high claims
of His teachings, and prove by our services the influence of His
undying Spirit?  This surely is our highest privilege, and our most
sacred duty.
     Let us, with a pure heart, with humility and earnestness, turn
afresh to His counsels and exhortations, and seek from that Source
of Celestial Potency all the guidance, the spirit, the power which
we shall need for the fulfillment of our mission in this life.
     Behold, the station to which &Abdu'l-Baha is now calling His
loved ones from the Realm of Glory:--
     "It behooveth the loved ones of God to be enamored of one
another and to sacrifice themselves for their fellow-workers in the
Cause.  They should yearn towards one another even as the sore
athirst yearneth for the Water of Life, and the lover burneth to
meet his heart's desire."
     Such is the sublime, the glorious position He wishes us, and
all the peoples and kindreds on earth, to attain in this world; how
much more to achieve unity and common understanding among
ourselves, and then arise to herald with one voice the coming of the
Kingdom and the salvation of mankind.
     With unity of purpose firmly established in our minds, with

+P36
every trace of personal animosity banished from our hearts, and
with the spirit of whole-hearted and sustained fellowship kindled
in our souls, can we hope to deliver effectively the Message of
&Baha'u'llah, and execute faithfully the various provisions of our
Beloved's Will and Testament.
     Steadfast in our faith, firm in our union, abounding in our hope,
fervent in our spirit, and selfless in our labors, let us arise and with
prayerful hearts make another and supreme effort to fulfill these
last words of our Beloved, His most cherished desire:
     "O ye that stand fast in the Covenant!  When the hour cometh
that this wronged and broken winged bird will have taken its flight
unto the Celestial Concourse, when it will have hastened to the
Realm of the Unseen, and its mortal frame will have either been
lost or hidden neath the dust, it is incumbent upon the &Afnan that
are steadfast in the Covenant of God and have branched from the
Tree of Holiness, the Hands of the Cause of God (the glory of
the Lord rest upon them), and all the friends and loved ones, one
and all, to bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul and in
one accord to diffuse the sweet savors of God, to teach His Cause
and to promote His Faith.  It behooveth them not to rest for a
moment, neither to seek repose.  They must disperse themselves in
every land, pass by every clime, and travel throughout all regions.
Bestirred, without rest, and steadfast to the end, they must raise in
every land the triumphal cry of &Ya-Baha'u'l-Abha, must achieve
renown in the world wherever they go, must burn brightly even as
a candle in every meeting, and must kindle the flame of Divine Love
in every assembly; that the Light of Truth may rise resplendent
in the midmost heart of the world, that throughout the East and
throughout the West a vast concourse may gather under the shadow
of the Word of God, that the sweet savors of Holiness may be
diffused, that faces may shine radiantly, hearts be filled with the
Divine Spirit and souls be made heavenly.  In these days the most
important of all things is the guidance of the nations and the peoples
of the world.  Teaching the Cause is of utmost importance, for it
is the head corner-stone of the foundation itself.  This wronged
servant has spent his days and nights in promoting the Cause, and
urging the peoples to service.  He rested not a moment, till the fame
of the Cause of God was noised abroad in the world, and the Celestial

+P37
Strains from the &Abha Kingdom roused the East and the West.
The beloved of God must also follow the same example.  This is the
secret of faithfulness, this is the requirement of servitude to the
Threshold of &Baha."
     We need but glance at the Words of &Baha'u'llah and the Epistles
of &Abdu'l-Baha to realize the great privilege of teaching the Cause,
its vital necessity, its supreme urgency, and its wide-reaching effects.
These are the very words of &Abdu'l-Baha:--
     "In these days, the Holy Ones of the Realm of Glory, dwelling
in the all-highest Paradise, yearn to return unto this world, and be
of some service to the Cause of &Baha'u'llah and prove their servitude
to the Threshold of &Abha beauty."
     What a wondrous vision these words unfold to our eyes!  How
great our privilege to labor in this Day in the Divine Vineyard!
Is it not incumbent upon us to arise and teach His Cause with such
an ardor which no worldly adversity can quell, nor any measure of
success can satiate?


               Election of Local Assemblies

     And, now that this all-important Work may suffer no neglect,
but rather function vigorously and continuously in every part of
the &Baha'i world; that the unity of the Cause of &Baha'u'llah may
remain secure and inviolate, it is of the utmost importance that in
accordance with the explicit text of the &Kitab-i-Aqdas, the Most
Holy Book, in every locality, be it city or hamlet, where the number
of adult (21 years and above) declared believers exceeds nine, a
local "Spiritual Assembly" be forthwith established.  To it all local
matters pertaining to the Cause must be directly and immediately
referred for full consultation and decision.  The importance, nay
the absolute necessity of these local Assemblies is manifest when
we realize that in the days to come they will evolve into the local
Houses of Justice, and at present provide the firm foundation on
which the structure of the Master's Will is to be reared in future.


               Duties of Spiritual Assemblies

     The matter of Teaching, its direction, its ways and means, its
extension, its consolidation, essential as they are to the interests of
the Cause, constitute by no means the only issue which should

+P38
receive the full attention of these Assemblies.  A careful study of
&Baha'u'llah's and &Abdu'l-Baha's Tablets will reveal that other duties,
no less vital to the interests of the Cause, devolve upon the elected
representatives of the friends in every locality.
     It is incumbent upon them to be vigilant and cautious, discreet
and watchful, and protect at all times the Temple of the Cause from
the dart of the mischief-maker and the onslaught of the enemy.
     They must endeavor to promote amity and concord amongst the
friends, efface every lingering trace of distrust, coolness and
estrangement from every heart, and secure in its stead an active
and whole-hearted cooperation for the service of the Cause.
     They must do their utmost to extend at all times the helping
hand to the poor, the sick, the disabled, the orphan, the widow,
irrespective of color, caste and creed.
     They must promote by every means in their power the material
as well as the spiritual enlightenment of youth, the means for the
education of children, institute, whenever possible, &Baha'i educational
institutions, organize and supervise their work and provide
the best means for their progress and development.
     They must make an effort to maintain official, regular, and frequent
correspondence with the various &Baha'i centers throughout
the world, report to them their activities, and share the glad-tidings
they receive with all their fellow-workers in the Cause.
     They must encourage and stimulate by every means at their
command, through subscription, reports and articles, the development
of the various &Baha'i magazines, such as the "Star of the
West" and the "Magazine of the Children of the Kingdom" in the
United States of America, the "&Baha'i News" of India, the "Sun
of the East" (Khurshid-i Khavar) in Turkestan, the "Star of the
East" in Japan, the "Sun of Truth" in Germany.
     They must undertake the arrangement of the regular meetings
of the friends, the feasts and the anniversaries, as well as the special
gatherings designed to serve and promote the social, intellectual and
spiritual interests of their fellow-men.
     They must supervise in these days when the Cause is still in its
infancy all &Baha'i publications and translations, and provide in general
for a dignified and accurate presentation of all &Baha'i literature
and its distribution to the general public.

+P39
     These rank among the most outstanding obligations of the
members of every Spiritual Assembly.  In whatsoever locality the
Cause has sufficiently expanded, and in order to insure efficiency
and avoid confusion, each of these manifold functions will have
to be referred to a special Committee, responsible to that Assembly,
elected by it from among the friends in that locality, and upon whose
work the Assembly will have to exercise constant and general
supervision.
     These local Spiritual Assemblies will have to be elected directly
by the friends, and every declared believer of 21 years and above,
far from standing aloof and assuming an indifferent or independent
attitude, should regard it his sacred duty to take part conscientiously
and diligently, in the election, the consolidation and the efficient
working of his own local Assembly.


               National Assemblies

     Regarding the establishment of "National Assemblies," it is of
vital importance that in every country, where the conditions are
favorable and the number of the friends has grown and reached a
considerable size, such as America, Great Britain and Germany,
that a "National Spiritual Assembly" be immediately established,
representative of the friends throughout that country.
     Its immediate purpose is to stimulate, unify and coordinate by
frequent personal consultations, the manifold activities of the friends
as well as the local Assemblies; and by keeping in close and constant
touch with the Holy Land, initiate measures, and direct in general
the affairs of the Cause in that country.
     It serves also another purpose, no less essential than the first,
as in the course of time it shall evolve into the National House of
Justice (referred to in &Abdu'l-Baha's Will as the "secondary House
of Justice"), which according to the explicit text of the Testament
will have, in conjunction with the other National Assemblies
throughout the &Baha'i world, to elect directly the members of the
International House of Justice, that Supreme Council that will
guide, organize and unify the affairs of the Movement throughout
the world.
     It is expressly recorded in &Abdu'l-Baha's Writings that these
National Assemblies must be indirectly elected by the friends; that

+P40
is, the friends in every country must elect a certain number of
delegates, who in their turn will elect from among all the friends
in that country the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.
In such countries, therefore, as America, Great Britain and Germany,
a fixed number of secondary electors must first be decided
upon (95 for America, including the Pacific Islands; 95 for Germany;
and 19 for Great Britain).  The friends then in every
locality where the number of adult declared believers exceeds nine
must directly elect its quota of secondary electors assigned to it in
direct proportion to its numerical strength.  These secondary electors
will then, either through correspondence, or preferably by
gathering together, and first deliberating upon the affairs of the
Cause throughout their country (as the delegates to the Convention),
elect from among all the friends in that country nine who will
be the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.
     This National Spiritual Assembly, which, pending the establishment
of the Universal House of Justice, will have to be re-elected
once a year, obviously assumes grave responsibilities, for it has to
exercise full authority over all the local Assemblies in its province,
and will have to direct the activities of the friends, guard vigilantly
the Cause of God, and control and supervise the affairs of the
Movement in general.
     Vital issues, affecting the interests of the Cause in that country
such as the matter of translation and publication, the &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar,
the Teaching Work, and other similar matters that stand
distinct from strictly local affairs, must be under the full jurisdiction
of the National Assembly.
     It will have to refer each of these questions, even as the local
Assemblies, to a special Committee, to be elected by the members
of the National Spiritual Assembly, from among all the friends in
that country, which will bear to it the same relation as the local
committees bear to their respective local Assemblies.
     With it, too, rests the decision whether a certain point at issue
is strictly local in its nature, and should be reserved for the consideration
and decision of the local Assembly, or whether it should
fall under its own province and be regarded as a matter which
ought to receive its special attention.  The National Spiritual
Assembly will also decide upon such matters which in its opinion

+P41
should be referred to the Holy Land for consultation and decision.
     With these Assemblies, local as well as national, harmoniously,
vigorously, and efficiently functioning throughout the &Baha'i world,
the only means for the establishment of the Supreme House of
Justice will have been secured.  And when this Supreme Body will
have been properly established, it will have to consider afresh the
whole situation, and lay down the principle which shall direct, so
long as it deems advisable, the affairs of the Cause.


               Annual Election of Assemblies

     Pending its establishment, and to insure uniformity throughout
the East and throughout the West, all local Assemblies will have to
be re-elected once a year, during the first day of &Ridvan, and the
result of polling, if possible, be declared on that day.
     In order to avoid division and disruption, that the Cause may
not fall a prey to conflicting interpretations, and lose thereby its
purity and pristine vigor, that its affairs may be conducted with
efficiency and promptness, it is necessary that every one should
conscientiously take an active part in the election of these Assemblies,
abide by their decisions, enforce their decree, and cooperate
with them wholeheartedly in their task of stimulating the growth of
the Movement throughout all regions.  The members of these
Assemblies, on their part, must disregard utterly their own likes and
dislikes, their personal interests and inclinations, and concentrate
their minds upon those measures that will conduce to the welfare
and happiness of the &Baha'i Community and promote the common
weal.


               The &Baha'i Fund

     And as the progress and execution of spiritual activities is
dependent and conditioned upon material means, it is of absolute
necessity that immediately after the establishment of local as well
as national Spiritual Assemblies, a &Baha'i Fund be established, to
be placed under the exclusive control of the Spiritual Assembly.
All donations and contributions should be offered to the Treasurer
of the Assembly, for the express purpose of promoting the interests
of the Cause, throughout that locality or country.  It is the sacred

+P42
obligation of every conscientious and faithful servant of &Baha'u'llah
who desires to see His Cause advance, to contribute freely and
generously for the increase of that Fund.  The members of the
Spiritual Assembly will at their own discretion expend it to promote
the Teaching Campaign, to help the needy, to establish educational
&Baha'i institutions, to extend in every way possible their sphere of
service.  I cherish the hope that all the friends, realizing the necessity
of this measure, will bestir themselves and contribute, however
modestly at first, towards the speedy establishment and the increase
of that Fund.
     The need for the centralization of authority in the National
Spiritual Assembly, and the concentration of power in the various
local Assemblies, is made manifest when we reflect that the Cause
of &Baha'u'llah is still in its age of tender growth and in a stage of
transition; when we remember that the full implications and the
exact significance of the Master's world-wide instructions, as laid
down in His Will, are as yet not fully grasped, and the whole Movement
has not sufficiently crystallized in the eyes of the world.
     It is our primary task to keep the most vigilant eye on the
manner and character of its growth, to combat effectively the forces
of separation and of sectarian tendencies, lest the Spirit of the
Cause be obscured, its unity be threatened, its Teachings suffer
corruption; lest extreme orthodoxy on one hand, and irresponsible
freedom on the other, cause it to deviate from that Straight Path
which alone can lead it to success.


               The Most Essential Obligation

     But let us be on our guard--so the Master continually reminds
us from His Station on high--lest too much concern in that which
is secondary in importance, and too long a preoccupation with the
details of our affairs and activities, make us neglectful of the most
essential, the most urgent of all our obligations, namely, to bury
our cares and teach the Cause, delivering far and wide this Message
of Salvation to a sorely-stricken world.
     To His valiant combatants on earth, who at times may feel
disheartened, our ever-victorious Commander, &Abdu'l-Baha, gives
us the following assurance:
     "O ye servants of the Sacred Threshold!  The triumphant Hosts

+P43
of the Celestial Concourse, arrayed and marshalled in the Realms
above, stand ready and expectant to assist and assure victory to
that valiant horseman who with confidence spurs on his charger into
the arena of service.  Well is it with that fearless warrior, who
armed with the power of true Knowledge, hastens unto the field,
disperses the armies of ignorance, and scatters the hosts of error,
who holds aloft the Standard of Divine Guidance, and sounds the
Clarion of Victory.  By the righteousness of the Lord!  He hath
achieved a glorious triumph and obtained the true victory...."
     With such inspiring words as these, are we to remain any longer
unmoved and inactive?  His trumpet-call resounds on every side,
and summons us to service; are we to tarry and hesitate?  His voice
is calling aloud from every land; let us march on, unfettered and
unafraid, and fulfill our glorious Destiny.
                                                         SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
March 12, 1923.


               Transliteration of &Baha'i Terms

     P.S.  On another page+F1 is given the list of the best known and
most current &Baha'i terms, and other Oriental names and expressions,
all properly and accurately transliterated, the faithful spelling
of which by all the Western friends will avoid confusion in future,
and insure in this matter a uniformity which is greatly needed at
present in all &Baha'i literature.  The full code will be duly communicated
to the various National Assemblies, and the transliteration
of the Oriental terms mentioned in the English letters sent out
by the Haifa Spiritual Assembly will provide a correct and reliable
supplement to the above-mentioned list.  I feel confident that all the
friends will from now on follow this system and adhere scrupulously
and at all times to this code in all their writings.



To the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful, the
     accredited delegates to the Annual Convention of America,
     Chicago, Illinois.

Dearly beloved brothers and sisters in &Abdu'l-Baha:
     On this auspicious occasion, when the elected representatives of
the &Baha'i Community throughout the continent of America, gathered

+F1 The complete list of terms is to be found in &Baha'i World, volume VII.

+P44
for the first time within the Foundation Hall of the stately
edifice of the &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, are assembled to take counsel together
regarding those vital issues that confront the Cause of
&Baha'u'llah in that land, may I, as one of your humble fellow-workers
in the field of service, offer you from the very depths of
my heart my brotherly love and sincere greetings, and assure you
of my fervent prayers for the success of your deliberations and
the attainments of your hearts' desire.
     You stand at this challenging hour in the history of the Cause
at the threshold of a new era; the functions you are called upon
to discharge are fraught with immense possibilities; the responsibilities
you shoulder are grave and momentous; and the eyes of
many peoples are turned, at this hour, towards you, expectant to
behold the dawning of a Day that shall witness the fulfilment of
His divine Promise.
     Forgetful of the past and its vicissitudes, conscious of the need
for renewed and combined effort, freed from all earthly limitations
and motives, with every lingering trace of ill-feeling forever banished
from our hearts, freshly united and determined, let us join
in deep and silent communion with the ever-watchful Spirit of our
beloved &Abdu'l-Baha, and with humility and earnestness supplicate
for the guidance that will enable us to fulfil the task which is now
committed to our charge.  May this year's Convention, by the range
of its activities, by the character of its proceedings, by its faithful
adherence to the divine Instructions of our loving Master, and
above all by its radiant spirit of enthusiasm and true fellowship,
prove itself one of the greatest landmarks in the history of the
Cause in America.
     May the all-pervading Spirit of &Baha'u'llah so permeate the
souls of its members as to cause it to mirror forth the glories and
the splendors of the Celestial Concourse.
                                    Your devoted brother,
                                                         SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine.
April 8, 1923.

+P45
To the members of the American National Spiritual Assembly.

Dearest friends:
     I have lately received your long-awaited reports on the present
situation of the Movement in that land, and have read them all,
together with their enclosures, with the utmost care and deepest
interest.
     I am much impressed and feel deeply gratified to learn of your
devoted and unremitting labors, individually and collectively in the
field of service to the Cause; of your constant vigilance and watchful
care in upholding its fundamental principles and guarding its essential
interests; of the efficiency, faithfulness and vigor with which
you are conducting the administration of its affairs throughout that
land.
     Many and grave may be the obstacles, whether from within or
from without, which we shall have to encounter in the days to
come, but we feel sure that if we but maintain consistently before
our eyes a broad and noble vision of its significance and vital necessity
in these days, and above all of its universality and all-conquering
power, we shall be enabled to surmount them, one and all, and by
the Power of Faith, carry the Ark of the Covenant to its Haven of
Safety and Triumph.
     It is, I firmly believe, of the utmost urgent importance that,
with unity of purpose and action firmly established in our midst, and
with every trace of the animosity and mistrust of the past banished
from our hearts, we should form one united front and combat,
wisely and tactfully, every force that might darken the spirit of the
Movement, cause division in its ranks, and narrow it by dogmatic
and sectarian belief.


               National Spiritual Assemblies

     It is primarily upon the elected members of the National Spiritual
Assemblies throughout the &Baha'i world that this highly important
duty devolves, as in their hands the direction and management of all
spiritual &Baha'i activities have been placed and centralized, and as
they constitute in the eyes of the people of their country the supreme
body in that land that officially represents, promotes and safeguards
the various interests of the Cause, it is my fervent prayer and my

+P46
most cherished desire, that the unfailing guidance of &Baha'u'llah
and the blessings of our beloved Master will enable them to set a
high and true example to all other &Baha'i institutions and local
Assemblies, and will show them what absolute harmony, mature
deliberation and whole-hearted cooperation can achieve.
     Should such a representative and responsible body fail to realize
this fundamental requisite for all successful achievement, the whole
structure is sure to crumble, and the Great Plan of the Future, as
unfolded by the Master's Will and Testament, will be rudely disturbed
and grievously delayed.
     Regarding the management of the Star of the West, as I have
already intimated, this &Baha'i organ as well as other similar publications,
far from being regarded as the special organ of a certain
group or particular locality, should fall under the exclusive control
of the National Spiritual Assembly, which, aided by a special committee,
shall minutely guide and judiciously scrutinize all the information
it gives, the character of the articles and translations it
publishes, and the tone and language it assumes in all its issues....


               Reports of Activities

     I shall always await from the members of the National Spiritual
Assembly, collective, official and comprehensive reports on their
manifold activities, sent to me at frequent intervals, and bearing
upon the inner and outward currents of the Movement, the relations
of Assemblies to one another, and the general standing and the
various aspects of the progress of the Cause throughout the land.
I would welcome more specific reports sent to me by the various
committees of the National Spiritual Assembly, enclosed in the
National Assembly's letter, and approved by all its members.


               &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar

     I have read with keen interest all the enclosures regarding the
&Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, have shared the up-to-date news they contained
with the friends throughout the East, and note with particular
pleasure the completion of the Basement Section, with its spacious
Foundation Hall ready for the holding of meetings and the gatherings
of friends.  Though the prospect of the immediate resumption

+P47
of building activity does not seem bright at present, yet I hope
and pray that these difficulties will soon disappear, and the work of
this unique Edifice, stimulated and advanced in time by the zeal
and self-sacrifice of the friends the world over, will soon attain its
glorious consummation.  I beg to enclose my humble contribution
of 19 pounds, as my share of the numerous donations that have
reached the Temple Treasury in the past year.
     Pray convey to the members of the &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar Committee
the highest sense of my appreciation for their devoted and
strenuous labors, and my constant prayers for the success of the
task which they have set themselves to accomplish.
     With regard to the situation in Persia, and the condition of the
friends in that land, I have requested the &Tihran Spiritual Assembly
to send me immediately an authoritative and full report of the exact
situation, whereupon I shall duly inform you of the exact steps to
be taken to insure the well-being and safety of the tried believers
in Persia....
     The holding of State Congresses, Amity Conventions, and other
universal associations of the friends in America, will naturally fall
within the province of the National Spiritual Assembly, which will
direct and supervise the work of them all by the aid of special committees,
each constituted for a specific purpose.  The matter of
receiving Orientals is left entirely in the hands of the National
Spiritual Assembly, whose special committee for this purpose will
have to investigate all the questions arising in this connection in
future.  Please convey to the members of the newly constituted
Library Committee my deep appreciation of their labors in this
important field of service, and assure them of my prayers for their
success.
     Touching the point raised in the Secretary's letter regarding
the nature and scope of the Universal Court of Arbitration, this and
other similar matters will have to be explained and elucidated by
the Universal House of Justice, to which, according to the Master's
explicit instructions, all important and fundamental questions must
be referred.  At present the exact implication and full significance
of the provisions of the Master's Will are as yet imperfectly understood,
and time will serve to reveal the wisdom and the far-reaching
effects of His words.

+P48
     I am enclosing on a separate sheet the full authoritative code,
widely adopted by contemporary Orientalists throughout the world,
which will serve as a basis for the transliteration of &Baha'i terms
and Oriental names.+F1
     Remembering you all in my hours of visit and prayer at the
Three Holy Shrines, and wishing you success from all my heart,
                                    I am your brother and fellow-worker,
                                                                SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine.
April 9th, 1923.


To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Beloved fellow-workers in the Cause:
     I am not sure whether I have sent you before a copy of this
glorious Tablet revealed by &Baha'u'llah for His beloved &Abdu'l-Baha,
written in His own blessed handwriting, and which we found
among his papers and documents soon after the Master's Ascension.
It reveals in terms of touching tenderness the unique station of
&Abdu'l-Baha, and constitutes an unchallengeable evidence of His
supreme authority.
     I am also enclosing my rendering of various passages of the
&Kitab-i-Aqdas+F2 which you may feel at liberty to circulate amongst
the friends.
     Wishing you all success in your work,
                                    I am your devoted brother,
                                                              SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
April 27th, 1923.


To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

My friends and fellow-workers in the Cause of God!
     Your most welcome message, imparting the glad news of a
successful Convention, has rejoiced my heart and fortified my hope

+F1 See previous footnote on transliterations.
+F2 Published in "The Star of the West" during the year 1923.

+P49
in this year of active service, that has just unfolded itself before
you.
     I am certain that, as the newly elected representatives of the
&Baha'i Community throughout America, you are, one and all, well
aware of your mighty responsibilities, and fully realize the tremendous
need for a full understanding amongst the friends, and their
active and sustained cooperation in spreading far and wide the
Cause of &Baha'u'llah throughout that vast continent.
     I fervently hope that in collaboration with our wise, able and
devoted brother, &Jinab-i-Fadil, you will inaugurate a brilliant and
vigorous campaign of Teaching, that shall by its very splendor
banish the darkness of differences and contention that so impede
the majestic and onward march of the Cause in every land.

               Central Fund

     That you may reinforce this Teaching Campaign--so vitally
needed in these days--and conduct, properly and efficiently, the rest
of your manifold activities, spiritual as well as humanitarian, it is
urgently necessary to establish that Central Fund, which if generously
supported and upheld by individual friends and local Assemblies,
will soon enable you to execute your plans with promptness
and vigor.
     It is my earnest prayer, in the day-time and in the night season,
that the ever-guiding Hand of our loved and departed Master may
graciously aid you to surmount every obstacle, and will lead, through
you,--His chosen ones in that land,--the Ark of His Cause, to its
promised haven of glory and triumph.
     With heartfelt congratulations and best wishes,
                                    I am your brother and fellow-worker,
                                                                 SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine.
May 6th, 1923.

     P.S.  I enclose a copy of my translation+F1 of &Baha'u'llah's Words
of Wisdom, which you will feel at liberty to circulate amongst the
friends.

+F1 Published in the &Baha'i Magazine, Star of the West.

+P50
To the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful
     throughout America, care of the members of the American
     National Spiritual Assembly.

Fellow-laborers in the Divine Vineyard:
     Upon my return, after a forced and prolonged absence, to the
Holy Land, it is my first and most ardent wish to renew and
strengthen those ties of brotherly love and fellowship that bind our
hearts together in our common servitude to His sacred Threshold.
     The two years that have elapsed since the passing of our beloved
Master have been for the Cause, as well as for mankind, years of
deep anxiety and pain.  The momentous changes that are taking
place in the history of both have proved so swift and far-reaching
as to arouse in certain hearts a strange misgiving as to their stability
and future.
     On one hand the remarkable revelations of the Beloved's Will
and Testament, so amazing in all its aspects, so emphatic in its
injunctions, have challenged and perplexed the keenest minds, whilst
the ever-increasing confusion of the world, threatened as never
before with disruptive forces, fierce rivalries, fresh commotions and
grave disorder, has well-nigh overwhelmed the heart and damped
the zeal of even the most enthusiastic believer in the destiny of
mankind.
     And yet, how often we seem to forget the clear and repeated
warnings of our beloved Master, who, in particular during the concluding
years of His mission on earth, laid stress on the "severe
mental tests" that would inevitably sweep over His loved ones of
the West--tests that would purge, purify and prepare them for their
noble mission in life.


               The Cause of Human Suffering

     And as to the world's evil plight, we need but recall the writings
and sayings of &Baha'u'llah, who, more than fifty years ago, declared
in terms prophetic the prime cause of the ills and sufferings of
mankind, and set forth their true and divine remedy.  "Should the
Lamp of Religion be hidden," He declares, "Chaos and confusion
will ensue."  How admirably fitting and applicable are these words
to the present state of mankind!

+P51
     Ours is then the duty and privilege to labor, by day and by
night, amidst the storm and stress of these troublous days, that we
may quicken the zeal of our fellow-men, rekindle their hopes, stimulate
their interest, open their eyes to the true Faith of God and enlist
their active support in the carrying out of our common task for the
peace and regeneration of the world.
     Let us take heart and be thankful to our beloved &Abdu'l-Baha,
as we remember His manifold blessings and unfailing care and protection,
ever since the hour of His departure from our midst.  The
flames of sedition, so maliciously kindled in the past by those who
have dared to flout His will, are gone out for ever, and the fondest
hopes of these evil plotters are now abandoned, doomed never to
revive.  He has indeed redeemed His promise!
     It seemed not a long time ago that their agitation, so violently
renewed immediately after the passing of our Beloved, would for a
time confuse the Divine Message of &Baha'u'llah, obscure His Covenant,
retard the progress of His Cause, and shatter its unity; and
yet how well we see them all today, not through our efforts, but
by their own folly, and above all, by the intervention of the
hidden hand of God, reduced to the vilest and most humiliating
position.
     And now, with the Cause purified and inwardly victorious, its
principles vindicated, its enemies silenced and sunk in unspeakable
misery, may we not, henceforth, direct all our efforts to collective
action and constructive achievement, and, in utter disregard of the
flickerings of their fast-fading light, arise to carry out those urgent
measures that will secure the outward and complete triumph of the
Cause.
     I, for my part, as I look back to the unfortunate circumstances
of ill-health and physical exhaustion that have attended the opening
years of my career of service to the Cause, feel hardly gratified, and
would be truly despondent but for the sustaining memory and
inspiring example of the diligent and ceaseless efforts which my
fellow-workers the world over have displayed during these two
trying years in the service of the Cause.
     I cherish the hope that, from now on, the Beloved may bestow
upon me all the strength and vigor that will enable me to pursue over
a long and unbroken period of strenuous labor the supreme task of

+P52
achieving, in collaboration with the friends in every land, the speedy
triumph of the Cause of &Baha'u'llah.  This is the prayer I earnestly
request all my fellow-brethren and sisters in the Faith to offer on
my behalf.
     Let us pray to God that in these days of world-encircling gloom,
when the dark forces of nature, of hate, rebellion, anarchy and
reaction are threatening the very stability of human society, when
the most precious fruits of civilization are undergoing severe and
unparalleled tests, we may all realize, more profoundly than ever,
that though but a mere handful amidst the seething masses of the
world, we are in this day the chosen instruments of God's grace, that
our mission is most urgent and vital to the fate of humanity, and,
fortified by these sentiments, arise to achieve God's holy purpose
for mankind.
                                    Your brother in His Service,
                                                            SHOGHI.

Haifa, Palestine.
November 14, 1923.


To the members of the American National Spiritual Assembly.

Friends and fellow-workers in the Vineyard of God!
     After a long and unbroken silence, it gives me the greatest joy
to be enabled to correspond again with my dearly-beloved co-workers
of the National Spiritual Assembly.
     Your three letters, dated June 8th, July 10th and October 12th,
have been safely received, and to each I have given my earnest and
fullest attention.  Their perusal which reflects only a certain amount
of your activities together with the study of the enclosed communications
and circulars and of the detailed and admirable report of the
proceedings of the Annual Convention have all served to heighten
my admiration for the thoroughness, the ability, and the devotion
with which you are conducting the affairs of the Cause of God in
that land.
     How often I have wished and yearned to be nearer to the field
of your activities and thus be able to keep in a more constant and
closer touch with every detail of the manifold and all-important
services you render.  I cherish the hope that erelong the facilities
in the means of communication and transport will serve to draw

+P53
us still nearer to one another, and fulfill, though partially, this
long-desired wish.


               The Annual Convention

     I have been made happy and grateful to learn from your first
letter that "throughout the sessions (of the last Convention) the
atmosphere was one of great detachment and spirituality combined
with practical vision and purpose."  I am deeply convinced that if
the Annual Convention of the friends in America, as well as the
National Spiritual Assembly, desire to become potent instruments
for the speedy realization of the Beloved's fondest hopes for the
future of that country, they should endeavor, first and foremost, to
exemplify, in an increasing degree, to all &Baha'is and to the world
at large the high ideals of fellowship and service which &Baha'u'llah
and the beloved Master repeatedly set before them.  They can claim
the admiration, the support and eventually the allegiance of their
fellow-countrymen only by their strict regard for the dignity, the
welfare, and the unity of the Cause of God, by their zeal, their
disinterestedness, and constancy in the service of mankind, and by
demonstrating, through their words and deeds, the need and practicability
of the lofty principles which the Movement has proclaimed
to the world.
     The efforts you have displayed, and the considerable success
you have achieved in consolidating the forces of the Movement in
the United States and Canada have been a source of inspiration to
every one of us, and, I am certain, will spur the friends throughout
the East to combined and sympathetic activity for the promotion of
the Cause.
     My fervent prayer at the three Holy Shrines is that the bountiful
Lord may bless His American friends who constitute the vanguard
of His host in the Western world, and prosper them in their
material affairs and pursuits, that the Cause which stands today in
sore need of material help and assistance may advance, rapidly and
unhindered, towards the fulfillment of its destiny.


               The &Baha'i Fund

     With regard to the &Baha'i Fund, recently established amongst
the friends, I trust that the matter now stands clear to every one

+P54
throughout the country.  As I have previously intimated, although
individual friends and local Assemblies are absolutely free to specify
the object and purpose of their donations to the National Spiritual
Assembly, yet, in my opinion, I regard it of the utmost vital importance
that individuals, as well as local Assemblies, throughout
the land should, in view of the paramount importance of National
Teaching and as an evidence of their absolute confidence in their
national representatives, endeavor, however small at first, to contribute
freely towards the upkeep and the increase of the National
&Baha'i Fund, so that the members of the National Assembly may
at their full discretion expend it for whatever they deem urgent
and necessary.


               The &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar

     Concerning the &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, I shall always recall with
pride and gratitude the self-sacrifice of the American friends and,
in particular the devoted services of our dear &Baha'i sister, Mrs.
True, and our beloved brethren, Dr. Bagdadi, Mr. Remey and
Mr. Bourgeois, whose persistent efforts and devoted services are in
the eyes of all friends highly praiseworthy.  I would feel indeed
disheartened were the friends to think for a moment, that its work
should fall into abeyance, nay, rather they should do all in their
power (and I trust their fellow-brethren and sisters throughout the
East may share in their stupendous efforts) to provide for the
steady and uninterrupted progress of the work, until the day may
come when this sublime Edifice, raised in its majestic splendor in
the very heart of the continent, may be yet another evidence of the
triumph and vitality of the Cause.
     Your reference to the friends in Akron, Ohio, and their harmonious
participation in the proceedings of the Convention have
rejoiced my heart, for it has removed another obstacle in the way of
the rapid and vigorous development of the Cause in those regions.
     The beneficent services and unremitting labors of that selfless
and able teacher of the Cause of God, &Jinab-i-Fadil-i-Mazandarani,
the details of whose travels and activities I have followed with deep
interest, have been to me a constant source of hope and real encouragement,
and my hope is that the seeds he has so wisely sown
may with your support yield in the not distant future an abundant
harvest.

+P55
               Green Acre

     I was delighted to hear of the progressive activities of that
dearly-beloved spot, Green Acre, upon which the Master has bestowed
His tender care and loving-kindness, and of which we are
all hopeful that it may become, while the work of the &Mashriqu'l-Adhkar
is in progress, the focal center of the devotional, humanitarian,
social and spiritual activities of the Cause.  The sacrifice
of the time, energy and money made by our dearly beloved friends,
Mr. and Mrs. Randall, Mr. and Mrs. Schopflocher, and those who
have helped them in their task, I shall never forget, and will fervently
pray on their behalf that our Beloved may fulfill their heart's
desire.  I feel that no interference with its present organization
should be attempted, as it enjoys in its present condition unique
opportunities for the diffusion of the &Baha'i spirit and the promotion
of the Word of God.
     I am glad to report that the situation of the houses in &Baghdad
is free from immediate danger, though the issue has not yet been
definitely determined.  I wish in this respect to express my high
admiration and deep gratitude for the promptness, caution, and care
with which you, and particularly Mrs. Parsons and Mr. Mills, have
approached and handled this delicate question.  I shall inform you
of any future developments in this matter.
     With regard to the Star of the West, I have been impressed by
the beauty and force of the various articles contributed to the Journal
by Mr. Horace Holley and Mr. Stanwood Cobb, and would indeed
welcome with genuine satisfaction an even more active participation
on their part in the editorial section of the &Baha'i Magazine.
     I have addressed a few days ago a cable to the secretary of the
National Spiritual Assembly, requesting the friends to exercise
restraint and caution in the use and distribution of the record of
the Master's voice.  In my view, it should be used only on special
occasions and be listened to with the utmost reverence.  The dignity
of the Cause, I am sure, would suffer from too wide and indiscriminate
use of one of the most precious relics of our departed
Master.
     Regarding the short film of the Master, for which, as well as
for the record of His voice, I am deeply indebted to the selfless

+P56
efforts and services of my dear brother, Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, it
would be undoubtedly better to combine it with other films representing
various scenes in the history of the Cause, taken in countries
visited by the &Bab and &Baha'u'llah and &Abdu'l-Baha.  As this would
take considerable time and preparation and would entail much expense
I wonder whether it would be an expense and burden to you
to forward only to the Holy Land one copy of the actual film, as
it would impart untold happiness and consolation to the bereaved
ladies of the Holy Household.
     I am gratified to peruse the able and masterly work of my dear
fellow-worker, Mr. Horace Holley, a work+F1 which I have no doubt
will by virtue of its subject matter, its comprehensiveness and
uniqueness arouse widespread and genuine interest in the Movement.
I am looking forward eagerly to similar productions by the pen of
such able and gifted servants of &Baha'u'llah.
     I am enclosing for all the friends recent translations of those
highly significant utterances of &Baha'u'llah, revealed some fifty years
ago, and pregnant with His divine wisdom.  His ringing call to
humanity in its hour of peril sounds prophetic in these days of
utter gloom.
     I am forwarding also a copy of the transliterated Oriental terms
with few corrections of minor type errors.  I am confident that the
friends will not feel their energy and patience taxed by a scrupulous
adherence to what is an authoritative and universal, though arbitrary
code for the spelling of Oriental terms.


               Committees of the National Assembly

     The diligent efforts exerted by the various committees of the
National Spiritual Assembly, those for National Teaching, for the
&Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, the Star of the West, the National Library, for
the reviewing and publication of &Baha'i literature, for education, for
the National Archives and the Race Amity Conventions, have
cheered and heartened me in the discharge of my manifold duties,
and constitute in themselves a convincing evidence and inspiring
example to the &Baha'i world of the efficient spiritual administration
of the affairs of the &Baha'i world.
     As to the spiritual activities of the "Children of the Kingdom"

+F1 &Baha'i Scriptures, New York, 1923; replaced by &Baha'i World Faith, 1943.


+P57
in America, my hope and prayer is that they may grow to become
efficient servants of the Cause of &Baha'u'llah.  Their devotion and
self-sacrifice, their readiness to help the cause of the &Baha'i Temple,
their activity in connection with the &Baha'i Magazine are all unmistakable
signs of the glorious future of the Cause in that land.  May
the care and loving-kindness of the Heavenly Father guide them,
protect them and aid them in their future mission in life.
     The Greatest Holy Leaf, the Holy Mother, and the other ladies
of the Holy Household wish to join me, one and all, in expressing
to every one of you their deep thankfulness and their highest appreciation
for the efficient and admirable manner with which you
are coordinating the dynamic forces of the Cause, and conducting
its affairs throughout America.
     The sum of 100 English pounds which you have offered to the
Cause through me, I must acknowledge with deep appreciation and
gratitude, and wish to inform you that a part of it has been directly
expended for the furthering of the interests of the Cause throughout
the world, and the rest for the embellishment of the Well-Beloved's
Shrine on Mount Carmel.
     With deep gratitude, and hoping to hear from you, singly and
collectively, I am your true brother,
                                                            SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine.
November 26, 1923.


To the members of the American National Spiritual Assembly.

My dearest friends:
     On November 28th I received the following communication
from the President of the National Spiritual Assembly of Great
Britain:
     "I have now to bring to your notice, though possibly you are
already aware of it, a matter which is of the first importance in the
opinion of the National Spiritual Assembly as you will see from
one of the paragraphs of the enclosed minutes of its first meeting,
which was held on October 13th.  So far the programme of the
conference on the `Living Religions within the British Empire' is
in a somewhat nebulous condition, but I have ascertained from Miss

+P58
Sharples, the honorary secretary of the committee of organization,
that the conference has been approved by the authorities of the
British Empire Exhibition 1924 and will last for ten days, covering
the last week of the month of September and the first three days
of October.  It is proposed that all religions taught and practiced
throughout the British Empire shall be represented at the conference,
including the Christians, Muhammadans, Buddhists, Brahma
Somaj, Theosophists and others, and that each one in turn shall
have at its disposal a day or part of a day for a meeting to expound
its principles and deal with its organization and objects."
     In their last letter, the members of the National Spiritual Assembly
of Great Britain further informed me that the idea of the
above-mentioned conference has originated with the Theosophical
Society, but these having later dropped its management, the organization
of the conference passed into the hands of the School
of Oriental Studies and the Sociological Society.  You will also
note from the enclosed copy of a letter addressed by the same Miss
Sharples to the President of the British National Spiritual Assembly
that the time offered to the &Baha'i representatives will be
very limited, and that most probably the allotted time will be just
sufficient to read their papers or deliver their address and engage
in the discussion that might arise after their formal presentation of
the Cause.
     As the British Empire Exhibition, of which this conference
forms a part, is itself a semi-official undertaking, and receives
actually the generous support and active participation of the government
authorities throughout the British Empire, I feel that the
opportunities now offered to the &Baha'i world should not be missed,
as this chance, if properly utilized, might arouse and stimulate
interest among the enlightened public.
     As so much will depend upon the nature and general presentation
of the theme, rather than upon the personality of the reader
or speaker, I feel that, first and foremost, our attention should be
concentrated on the choice and thorough preparation of the subject
matter as well as on the proper drafting and the form of the paper
itself, which might possibly have to be submitted afterwards to the
authorities of the conference.
     I feel the necessity of entrusting this highly important and delicate

+P59
task to a special committee, to be appointed most carefully by
the National Spiritual Assembly of America, and consisting of those
who by their knowledge of the Cause, their experience in matters
of publicity, and particularly by their power of expression and
beauty of style will be qualified to produce a befitting statement on
the unique history of the Movement as well as its lofty principles.
     I am enclosing an article on the &Baha'i Movement which I trust
might serve as a basis and example of the paper in question.  An
account of the most salient features of the history of the Cause,
a brief but impressive reference to its many heroes and martyrs, a
convincing and comprehensive presentation of its basic principles,
and a characteristic survey of the Master's life, as well as a short
but graphic description of the present position and influence of the
Movement both in the East and the West, should, in my opinion,
be included and combined into one conclusive argument.  Its length
should not surpass that of the enclosed article, and its general tone,
expression and language should be at once dignified, sober and
forceful.
     The greatest care and caution must be exercised in choosing
those who can best provide and fulfill the above mentioned requisites
and conditions.
     I shall be most pleased to offer my views and suggestions once
the paper has assumed its final shape, and wish you to obtain the
assistance and advice of those whom you think able to judge
amongst the friends in England and elsewhere.
     Mr. Simpson, the President of the British National Spiritual
Assembly, writes that Miss Grand from Canada has suggested the
names of Dr. Watson and Mr. J. O. McCarthy of Toronto to represent
the Canadian &Baha'is.  I would be pleased to receive your
views as to who should represent Canada at the Conference.  India
is the only other country within the British Empire that can send a
native &Baha'i representative to the conference, and it is rather unfortunate
that the United States of America should have to be
excluded, as the speakers at the conference must necessarily be subjects
of the British Empire.
     I am enclosing recent translations+F1 of the prophetic and most
remarkable words of &Baha'u'llah and &Abdu'l-Baha which I trust

+F1 Published in "The Star of the West."

+P60
you will all find of great value and interest in the great work you
are doing for the Cause.
     May this great project yield an abundant harvest for the Cause,
and your efforts be richly blessed by the guiding Spirit of &Abdu'l-Baha.
                                    Your fellow-worker,
                                                          SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
January 4th, 1924.


To the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful
     throughout America.

My dear fellow-workers:
     I gather from various sources that the Cause of &Baha'u'llah, in
the course of its sure yet toilsome march towards the salvation of
the world, has encountered of late further obstacles, which in the
eyes of some appear to retard its progress and hinder its growth.
I have learned with feelings of sadness and surprise that some vague
sense of apprehension, a strange misconception of its immediate
purpose and methods, is slowly gaining ground, steadily affecting
its wholesome growth and vigorous development throughout the
continent.
     Though such signs should appear from time to time, and however
unrepresentative they be of the vast and growing mass of its convinced
and zealous supporters, the world over, what, I wonder, could
have caused this uneasiness of mind?  Are such misgivings possible,
though on the part of but a few, in the face of the remarkable
manifestations of so remarkable a movement?  To what extent do
they form a part of those mental tests and trials destined at various
times by the Almighty to stir and reinvigorate the body of His
Cause, and how far are they traceable to our imperfect state of
understanding, to our weaknesses and failings?


               Divine Destiny and Human Frailty

     That the Cause of God should, in the days to come, witness many
a challenging hour and pass through critical stages in preparation
for the glories of its promised ascendancy in the new world has
been, time and again, undeniably affirmed by our departed Master,

+P61
and is abundantly proved to us all by its heroic past and turbulent
history.  And yet, if it is the lot of the chosen ones of God, the
people of &Baha, to face adversity and suffer tribulation before
achieving ultimate victory, are we to believe that whatever befalls us
is divinely ordained, and in no wise the result of our faint-heartedness
and negligence?
     Surely now, if ever, is the time to turn our eyes inwardly, to
bestir ourselves, to invoke the Most Great Name, and standing together,
summon to our aid and support all the faith, the strength,
and the courage that we shall need to meet our pressing obligations
and discharge our trust.


               The Plight of Mankind

     The plight of mankind, the condition and circumstances under
which we live and labor are truly disheartening, and the darkness of
prejudice and ill-will enough to chill the stoutest heart.  Disillusion
and dismay are invading the hearts of peoples and nations, and the
hope and vision of a united and regenerated humanity is growing
dimmer and dimmer every day.  Time-honored institutions, cherished
ideals, and sacred traditions are suffering in these days of
bewildering change, from the effects of the gravest onslaught, and
the precious fruit of centuries of patient and earnest labor is faced
with peril.  Passions, supposed to have been curbed and subdued, are
now burning fiercer than ever before, and the voice of peace and
good-will seems drowned amid unceasing convulsions and turmoil.
What, let us ask ourselves, should be our attitude as we stand under
the all-seeing eye of our vigilant Master, gazing at a sad spectacle
so utterly remote from the spirit which He breathed into the world?
Are we to follow in the wake of the wayward and the despairing?
Are we to allow our vision of so unique, so enduring, so precious
a Cause to be clouded by the stain and dust of worldly happenings,
which, no matter how glittering and far-reaching in their immediate
effects, are but the fleeting shadows of an imperfect world?  Are
we to be carried away by the flood of hollow and conflicting ideas,
or are we to stand, unsubdued and unblemished, upon the everlasting
rock of God's Divine Instructions?  Shall we not equip ourselves
with a clear and full understanding of their purpose and implications
for the age we live in, and with an unconquerable resolve arise to

+P62
utilize them, intelligently and with scrupulous fidelity, for the enlightenment

and the promotion of the good of all mankind?
     Huma