The
Guardian
17 December 1931
Dear Mrs. Dewing:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated Dec.
2nd 1931. He is very sorry that you cannot on your way to New Zealand, break
your journey & come over for a short visit to Haifa. But these are such
difficult days that we should not be astonished & discouraged if our plans fail.
He hopes however that on your way you will meet the friends, especially those in
Port Said, for we have no centers in
Malta & Colombo.
He was also very sorry to hear that Bertram has to give up his studies &
return home. Shoghi Effendi hopes that this period he spent in America would be
itself an education that would help him in his work in serving the Cause. His
activities with the young people there should have made him very experienced &
have deepened his understanding of the Faith.
I believe Mrs. Dunn is planning to come this spring for a visit to Haifa.
Perhaps you will meet her before she starts. Shoghi Effendi is eagerly waiting
to see this noble soul who introduced the Cause into Australia & has been so
self-sacrificing in her services.
Shoghi Effendi hopes that on returning home you will start again to serve the
Cause & attract new souls. The world is in great distress & its only salvation
is in the spirit & teachings of the Blessed Beauty. Let us not, we who are the
trustees of that divine message, fail in accomplishing our task & fulfilling our
purpose.
Assuring you of Shoghi Effendi's best wishes I remain,
Yours ever sincerely, Ruhi Afnan
Dear and valued co-worker:
I am wiring the friends in Port-Said to meet you on your arrival & I very
much regret your inability to come to Haifa & visit the Holy Shrines. I will
continue to pray for you, for your son-in-law, & for your dear and promising
son, for whose future work in the Cause I cherish the brightest hopes. I will
also remember in my prayers the friends in far-away Australia & New Zealand &
will supplicate for them all the Master's richest blessings and unfailing
guidance. Shoghi
Page Top
5 June 1953
The Guardian feels that the following areas are not difficult to settle, and
he thinks you should arrange for their settlement at once; and he will
appreciate cable advice of each settlement as they take place.
|
Channel Islands |
Malta |
|
Hebrides Islands |
Cyprus |
|
Shetland Islands |
|
July 1953
CRUSADE PROJECTS TO BE UNDERTAKEN
The privileged prosecutors of so revolutionizing, so gigantic, so sacred and
beneficent a campaign, are, on the morrow of its launching, and, at such a
crucial hour in the destinies of the European continent, summoned to undertake:
First, the formation, under the aegis of the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá'ís of the United States, of one national spiritual assembly in each
one of the Scandinavian and Benelux countries, and those of the Iberian
Peninsula, and one in Finland, as well as the establishment, in collaboration
with the Paris Spiritual Assembly, of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahá'ís of France; the establishment, under the aegis of the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Germany and Austria, of the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Austria; and the establishment, under the aegis of
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, and in
association with the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Italy and
Switzerland, of independent National Spiritual Assemblies in Italy and
Switzerland.
Second, the construction of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of
Europe in the city of Frankfurt, the heart of Germany, which occupies such a
central position in the continent of Europe.
Third, the purchase of land
for the future construction of two Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs, one in the north in the
city of Stockholm, and one in the south in the city of Rome, the seat and
stronghold of the most powerful church in Christendom.
Fourth, the
opening of the following thirty virgin territories and islands: Albania, Crete,
Estonia, Finno-Karelia, Frisian Islands, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia,
Rumania, White Russia, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahá'ís of Germany and Austria; Channel Islands, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Hebrides
Islands, Malta, Orkney Islands,
Shetland Islands, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of
the British Isles; Andorra, Azores, Balearic Islands, Lofoten Islands,
Spitzbergen, Ukraine, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís
of the United States of America; Liechtenstein, Monaco, Rhodes, San Marino,
Sardinia, Sicily, assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of
Italy and Switzerland.
Fifth, the translation and publication of Bahá'í
literature in the following ten languages to be undertaken by the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States of America, through its
European Teaching Committee: Basque, Estonian, Flemish, Lapp, Maltese,
Piedmontese, Romani, Romansch, Yiddish, Ziryen.
Sixth, the consolidation of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Holland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, allocated to
the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States of America;
of Austria, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Russian S.F.S.,
Yugoslavia, allocated to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of
Germany and Austria; of Eire, allocated to the National Spiritual Assembly of
the Bahá'ís of the British Isles; of Iceland, allocated to the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada; and of Corsica, allocated to the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Italy and Switzerland.
Seventh, the incorporation of the thirteen above-mentioned national
spiritual assemblies.
Eighth, the establishment by these same national
spiritual assemblies of national Bahá'í endowments.
Ninth, the
establishment of a national Hazíratu'l-Quds in the capital city of each of the
countries where national spiritual assemblies are to be established, as well as
one in London and one in Paris.
Tenth, the formation of a national
Bahá'í Publishing Trust in Frankfurt, Germany.
Eleventh, the formation
of Israel branches of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá'ís of the
British Isles and of Germany and Austria, authorized to hold, on behalf of their
parent institutions, property dedicated to the holy shrines at the World Center
of the Faith in the state of Israel.
Twelfth, the conversion to the
Faith of representatives of the Basque and Gypsy races.
Thirteenth, the
appointment, during Ridván 1954, by the Hands of the Cause in Europe, of an
Auxiliary Board of nine members who will, in conjunction with the four national
spiritual assemblies participating in the European campaign, assist, through
periodic and systematic visits to Bahá'í centers, in the efficient and prompt
execution of the plans formulated for the prosecution of the teaching campaign
in the European continent.
A continent, occupying such a central and strategic position on the entire
planet; so rich and eventful in its history, so diversified in its culture; from
whose soil sprang both the Hellenic and Roman civilizations; the mainspring of a
civilization to some of whose features Bahá'u'lláh Himself paid tribute; on
whose southern shores Christendom first established its home; along whose
eastern marches the mighty forces of the Cross and the Crescent so frequently
clashed; on whose southwestern extremity a fast evolving Islámic culture yielded
its fairest fruit; in whose heart the light of the Reformation shone so
brightly, shedding its rays as far as the outlying regions of the globe; the
wellspring of American culture; whose northern and western fringes were first
warmed and illuminated, less than a century ago, by the dawning light of the
Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh; in whose heart a community, so rich in promise, was
subsequently established; whose soil was later sanctified by the twice-repeated
visit of the appointed Center of His Covenant; which witnessed, in consequence
of the rise and establishment of the Administrative Order of His Faith, the
erection of two of the foremost pillars of the future Universal House of
Justice; which, in recent years, sustained the dynamic impact of a series of
national plans preparatory to the launching of a World Spiritual Crusade-- such
a continent has at last at this critical hour--this great turning-point in its
fortunes--entered upon what may well be regarded as the opening phase of a great
spiritual revival that bids fair to eclipse any period in its spiritual history.
May the elected representatives of the national Bahá'í communities
entrusted with the conduct of this momentous undertaking launched on the soil of
this continent, aided by the Hands of the Cause and their Auxiliary Board,
reinforced by the local communities, the groups and isolated believers sharing
in this massive and collective enterprise, and supported by the subsidiary
agencies to be appointed for its efficient prosecution, be graciously assisted
by the Lord of Hosts to contribute, in the years immediately ahead, through
their concerted efforts and collective achievements, in both the teaching and
administrative spheres of Bahá'í activity, to the success of this glorious
Crusade, and lend a tremendous impetus to the conversion, the reconciliation and
the ultimate unification of the divers and conflicting peoples, races and
classes dwelling within the borders of a travailing, a sorely agitated, and
spiritually famished continent.
May all the privileged participators,
enlisting under the banner of Bahá'u'lláh for the promotion of so preeminent and
meritorious a Cause, be they from the Eastern or Western Hemisphere, of either
sex, white or colored, young or old, neophyte or veteran, whether serving in
their capacity as expounders of the teachings, or administrators, of His Faith,
as settlers or itinerant teachers, distinguish themselves by such deeds of
heroism as will rival, nay outshine, the feats accomplished nineteen hundred
years ago, by that little band of God-intoxicated disciples who, fearlessly
preaching the Gospel of a newly arisen Messiah, contributed so decisively to the
illumination, the regeneration and the advancement of the entire European
continent.
Page Top
July 1953
Magnificent Response by Communities of East and West
Happy to convey to assembled friends at epoch-making conference the news of
the magnificent response by Bahá'í communities in the East and in the West,
during the course of the less than three-month interval separating the second
and third Intercontinental Conferences of this Holy Year, to the call to arise
and befittingly inaugurate the opening phase of the World Crusade. The number of
the pioneers, whether white or colored, young or old, on all continents who
volunteered for service in both virgin and open territories is past the two
hundred mark, including three offers for the leper colonies. Ruanda-Urundi,
Samoan Islands, Daman, Southern Rhodesia, Goa, Kodiak Island and Italian
Somaliland are already opened.
The settlement of French Equatorial Africa, Solomon Islands, Queen Charlotte
Islands, South West Africa, Cape Verde Islands, Togoland, Mauritius, Reunion
Island, St. Helena Island, St. Thomas Island, Channel Islands, Aleutian Islands,
Azores, Key West, Cook Islands, Monaco, Balearic Islands,
Malta, Cyprus, Hebrides Islands,
Northern Territories Protectorate, Seychelles, Andorra, Canary Islands and
French Somaliland is virtually assured. The northern outposts of the Faith in
the Western Hemisphere have been pushed as far as Arctic Bay, Franklin,
seventy-three degrees north latitude, and in Europe as far as the Lofoten
Islands. A pioneer is en route to Fezzan, Libya, chosen scene of `Abdu'l-Bahá's
banishment by `Abdu'l-Hamid.
All the areas within the Western Hemisphere allocated to the United States
National Assembly are assigned. A third of the membership of that same Assembly
is joining the ranks of the pioneers. The remaining sister national assemblies
are now vying in a spiritual race to complete assignments in their respective
continents. Funds are inaugurated and sites are being investigated for the
purchase of land for the Mashriqu'l-Adhkars of Rome, Panama City and Toronto and
for a national Haziratu'l-Quds in London. I appeal to the attendants at this
conference, in thanksgiving for the manifold blessings abundantly showered upon
Bahá'u'lláh's crusaders, to immortalize their proceedings through the
inauguration of funds for the purchase of sites for Temples in that northern
city, the scene of the present conference, and in Frankfurt in the heart of the
European continent. I am contributing two thousand pounds for the furtherance of
these meritorious enterprises.
I urge, moreover, that the participants, in view of the disproportionately
small number of pioneers destined for virgin territories in relation to the
total of volunteers, swell the roll of honor through enlisting promptly under
the unfurled banner of the advancing hosts of Bahá'u'lláh. No worthier
contribution can be offered on the altar of Bahá'í sacrifice, no greater honor
won during the course of the Holy Year now swiftly drawing to its close.
7 October 1953
Triple Announcement on Conclusion of Holy Year
On the occasion of the conclusion of the Holy Year I am overjoyed to share
the following triple announcement with the attendants at the fourth and final
Intercontinental Teaching Conference, marking the termination of festivities
associated with the centenary of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh's Prophetic Mission.
The five-year-old, three-quarter million dollar enterprise, constituting the
final stage in the initial epoch of the evolutionary process initiated over
sixty years ago by the Founder of the Faith, in the heart of the Mountain of
God, is consummated. The finishing touches of the installation of stained glass
windows in the drum and octagon, the removal of scaffolding from the exterior
and interior of the edifice, the interior calcimining of the dome, drum and
octagon, tuck-pointing, cleaning and floodlighting the entire structure have
been completed, synchronizing with the closing weeks of the glorious,
twelve-month annals of the Holy Faith.
A steadily swelling throng of visitors from far and near, on many days
exceeding a thousand, is flocking to the gates leading to the Inner Sanctuary of
this majestic mausoleum; paying homage to the Queen of Carmel enthroned on God's
Mountain, crowned in glowing gold, robed in shimmering white, girdled in emerald
green, enchanting every eye from air, sea, plain and hill.
I am moved to request the attendants at the Conference to hold a befitting
memorial gathering to pay tribute to the Hand of the Cause, Sutherland Maxwell,
immortal architect of the arcade and superstructure of the Shrine. I feel,
moreover, acknowledgement should be made at the same gathering to the unflagging
labors and vigilance of the Hand of the Cause, Ugo Giachery, in negotiating
contracts, inspecting and dispatching all materials required for the
construction of the edifice, as well as of the assiduous, constant care of the
Hand of the Cause, Leroy Ioas, in supervising the construction of both drum and
dome. To two doors of the Shrine recently named after the first two
aforementioned Hands, the octagon door, now added, will henceforth be associated
with the third Hand who contributed to the raising of this stately, sacred
structure.
The second announcement is that the world-wide process of the settlement of
virgin areas of the globe has been accelerated by the arrival of the following
pioneers at their respective posts: Cora Oliver, British Honduras; Carole and
Dwight Allen, Greece; Mr. and Mrs. Xavier Rodrigues, Portuguese Guinea; Brigitte
Hasselblatt, Shetlands; Elizabeth Hopper, Ada Schott, Sara Kenny and Mrs.
Duffield, Madeira; H. J. Snider, Key West; Hugh McKinley and mother, Cyprus; Max
Kenyerezi, French Equatorial Africa; Elsa Grossmann, Frisian Islands; Helen
Robinson, Baranof; Mr. and Mrs. Ted Anderson, Yukon; Tabendeh Payman, San
Marino; Una Townshend,
Malta; Rolf Haug, Crete,
swelling the Roll of Honor, raising the number of territories within the pale of
the Faith to one hundred sixty-five. Two additional pioneers are proceeding to
leper colonies in Puerto Rico and French Guiana. Two valiant pioneers from India
and America are preparing entry into Tibet. Two more members of the United
States National Assembly have volunteered to pioneer, raising the number to
five. United States pioneers are departing to twenty-four virgin territories ere
the conclusion of the Holy Year. The Feast of Names was celebrated last August
by two stalwart crusaders at the weather station at Buchanan Bay on desolate
Ellesmere Island, latitude seventy-nine, less than seven hundred miles from the
North Pole. The irresistibly unfolding Crusade has been sanctified by the death
of heroic, eighty-eight year old Ella Bailey, elevating her to the rank of the
martyrs of the Faith, shedding further luster on the American Bahá'í Community
and consecrating the soil of the fast-awakening African continent.
The third announcement is that preliminary steps have been taken, aiming at
the acquisition of an extensive area at the head of the holy mountain, scene of
the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, preparatory to the purchase of the site
for the future Mother Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the Holy Land, made
possible by the munificent hundred thousand dollar donation of the Hand of the
Cause, Amelia Collins, signalizing the opening of the second stage in the
unfoldment of the mighty process set in motion by the Author of the Faith.
A TRIPLE RESPONSIBILITY
This triple bounty vouchsafed the Community of the Most Great Name,
scattered over the face of the planet, calls for tremendous, immediate,
concerted exertion by the assembled believers in order adequately to
discharge this triple responsibility. First, redoubled consecration to the
pioneering task, particularly in the Pacific area emphasized in the Tablets
of the Divine Plan, raising thereby, ere adjournment of the Conference, the
number of territories opened to the Faith or assigned pioneers for immediate
settlement to above two hundred. Second, the demonstration of increasing
self-sacrifice through the inauguration of Funds for the purchase of land
for future Temples on the Asiatic continent and in the Antipodes, in Baghdád,
New Delhi and Sydney. I am contributing three thousand pounds for the
furtherance of these meritorious enterprises. Third, earnest consultation by
representatives of the Persian and Iráqí National Assemblies, directly
concerned with the holy task, with the assembled Hands of the Cause on ways
and means to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure purchase of the holy
places, particularly the site of the Síyáh-Chál, the cradle of the
Revelation to the Author of the Faith, as well as the identification and
transfer to Bahá'í cemeteries of the bodies of the relatives of the Báb and
Bahá'u'lláh, constituting vital objectives of the Ten-Year Plan.
I am ardently hoping, fervently supplicating that this epochal Conference,
setting the seal on the celebration of the second Bahá'í Jubilee, may
contribute in an unprecedented degree through the character of its
deliberations, the solidity of its achievements, the scope of its
accomplishments, to the ultimate attainment of the shining goals of the
World Crusade, destined to culminate in the not far distant Most Great
Jubilee associated with the hundredth anniversary of the assumption by
Bahá'u'lláh of His prophetic office.
Page Top
7 October 1953
ASSURE UNA LOVING PRAYERS. (Una Townshend, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh to Malta.)
SHOGHI
Cablegram, March 21, 1954
Roll of Honor--Additional Inscriptions
On occasion Naw-Rúz, marking opening the second decade of the second Bahá'í
century, inform National Assemblies of the Bahá'í world that the following
pioneers scattered over twenty-one virgin areas have been inscribed on the Roll
of Honor since the fourth periodic announcement. Otillie Rhein, Mauritius; Olga
Mills, Malta; Peter Lugayula,
Ashanti Protectorate; Virginia Breaks, Caroline Islands; Dr. Fozdar, Andaman
Islands; Elly Becking, Dutch New Guinea; Andrew and Nina Matthisen, Bahamas;
Carl and Loretta Scherer, Macao; Gulnar Aftabi, Bahiyyih Rowhani, Kaykhosrow
Dahmobadi, Diu Island; Jean and Tove Deleuran, Charles Ioas, Balearic Islands;
Adib Bagdadi, Hussayn Halabi, Hadhramaut; Kenneth and Roberta Christian,
Eyneddin and Tahereh Alai, Joan Powis, Southern Rhodesia; Hormoz Zendeh, Morocco
International Zone; Howard and Joanne Menking, Cape Verde Islands; Elizabeth
Bevan, Rhodes; Matthew Bullock, Dutch West Indies; Lillian Wyss, Samoa; Dulcie
Dive, Cook Islands; Stanley Bolton, Jr., Tonga Islands; Gretta Jankko, Marquesas
Islands; Jean Sevin, Tuamotu Archipelago; Alvin and Gertrude Blum, Solomon
Islands; Bernard Guhrke, Kodiak Island; John Leonard, Falkland Islands; Munir
Vakil, Kuria-Muria Islands; John and Audrey Robarts, Bechuanaland; Charles
Dayton and wife, David Schreiber, Leeward Islands; Faiborz Roozebehyan, Gambia;
Rahmat and Iran Muhajer, Mentawei Islands; Gertrud Ankersmit, Frisian Islands;
Shamsi Navidi, Monaco; Roy and Elena Fernie, Gilbert and Ellice Islands;
Qudratullah Rowhani, Khodarahm Mojgani, Mahe.
Ninety-one virgin areas have been opened to the Faith since the launching of
the Crusade. Total number of territories within its pale now raised to two
hundred nineteen. Remaining unopened territories, excluding Soviet Republics and
satellites, twenty-five.
Appeal to prospective pioneers whilst the opening year of the Ten Year
Crusade is speeding to its close, to expedite entry into unopened areas
contributing thereby to the enhancement of the celebrations of the coming Ridván
rendered memorable by the swift, magnificent victories achieved in the
pioneering field, unsurpassed in the course of the eleven decades of Bahá'í
history.
24 March 1954
ADVISE SEND PIONEERS PROMPTLY BRITISH TOGOLAND FRENCH TOGOLAND FRENCH
CAMEROONS. ORME SQUARE TOO EXPENSIVE. ADVISE TOWNSHENDS ABANDON PLAN
MALTA. EXPENDITURE HUNDRED POUNDS
SOMALILAND INADVISABLE. PURCHASE SITE INSIDE KAMPALA OR WITHIN THREE MILES.
SHOGHI
24 April 1954
The beloved Guardian has directed me to write you concerning the Island of
Malta. He attaches great
importance to this Island, and wishes your Assembly to see that the teaching
work there progresses as rapidly and efficiently as possible.
At the present time, it has again become virgin, according to our records. Do
you know if Una Townshend intend to return? If not, your Assembly should
undertake to fill the post just as quickly as possible, with someone else.
As you have become aware through the Guardian's Convention Message, he is very
happy with the result of the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade. He is hoping
that the second year will witness even more glorious victories, and this time on
the home front, as well as in foreign fields.
He would appreciate a report of the plans for
Malta, as soon as possible. In
order to save him work, it is suggested it be sent to me. (Mr. L. Ioas)
The Guardian sends you his loving greetings. ...
6 May 1954
Dear Bahá'í Brother:
Your loving letter of April 30th has just come to hand, calling attention to the
fact that Olga Mills, one of the pioneers in
Malta, is serving there very
actively. The beloved Guardian had been informed by someone that she had left.
However, the intent of the letter of April 24th still remains-- that no pioneer
should leave their goal unless for very urgent reasons. In the case of
Malta, this is a country which
can only be settled by English Bahá'ís, and therefore the Guardian feels it of
great importance that any pioneer who goes there should remain. It is hoped that
it may be possible for Una Townshend to return in due course, to carry on her
work there.
The Guardian asks that you convey to Olga Mills his loving appreciation of her
devoted services, and assure her of his prayers in her behalf.
If Una Townshend finds it impossible to return to
Malta, then the Guardian hopes
you can send some other pioneer to that important post....
5 August 1955
He hopes that Mr. John Mitchell's condition has improved. He was very sorry
indeed to hear that he had been forced to leave
Malta. Please assure him of the
Guardian's loving and fervent prayers on his behalf.
