Citadel Of Faith Part 5

Hope is welling up in my anxious, overburdened heart that the North American Baha'i Community may yet emerge triumphant over the prevailing crisis, demonstrate its capacity to preserve its hard-won prizes and redeem its pledges through a further display of its qualities of unconquerable faith, unbreakable solidarity, dauntless valor and heroic self-sacrifice, and vindicate its right to primacy in the world community of the followers of Baha'u'llah. High water mark is still unattained notwithstanding the mounting tide of enthusiastic response displayed by an aroused community. Dangerous pa.s.sage now forded in this eleventh-hour campaign. I am fervently praying that further intensification of effort, sustained, coordinated, consecrated and unanimously exerted, will sweep its members on crest of the wave to total victory. I feel a.s.sured that c.u.mulative efforts of partic.i.p.ants in emergency campaign launched by entire community will increasingly attract the promised inflowing grace of the holy Author of its destinies, will demonstrate afresh its worthiness of the paternal care of its divine Founder, will win added commendation from its sister communities of the Eastern Hemisphere, deepen the admiration and inspire the emulation of its daughter communities in Latin America and the European continent, and strengthen the attachment and reinforce the brotherly affection of its Guardian.

[February 13, 1948]

EMERGENCY TEACHING CAMPAIGN

Greatly encouraged by the splendid progress of the tremendous drive initiated in response to my appeal. The zero hour is inexorably approaching. Nineteen additional settlers can and must be provided.

Praying with increasing fervor for total success, complete victory.

[April 6, 1948]

MARVELOUS ACCELERATION [FIRST MESSAGE TO 1948 CONVENTION]

I am moved to share with a.s.sembled delegates of the fortieth American Baha'i Convention the following facts and figures testifying to the present status of the World Faith of Baha'u'llah and disclosing the marvelous acceleration in the double process of the extension of its range and the consolidation of the inst.i.tutions of its Administrative Order in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres in the course of the first four years of the second Baha'i century.

The number of countries opened to the Faith total ninety-one. Baha'i literature is translated and printed in fifty-one languages.

Representatives of thirty-one races are enrolled in the Baha'i World Community. Eighty-eight a.s.semblies, national and local, are incorporated.

The number of localities where Baha'is have established residence has been raised to over thirty in Australasia, to over forty in Germany and Austria, over sixty in the Dominion of Canada, over eighty in the Indian subcontinent and Burma, over one hundred in Latin America, over seven hundred in Persia and to over twelve hundred in the United States of America.

The value of international Baha'i endowments in the Holy Land and the Jordan Valley is estimated at over six hundred thousand pounds. National Baha'i endowments on the North American continent are valued at over two million dollars. The area of land dedicated to the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar in Persia is approximately four million square meters. The value of the national Haziratu'l-Quds in the capitals of India and Persia respectively is six hundred thousand rupees and fifty thousand pounds. The area of land dedicated to the first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar in South America is ninety thousand square meters. The number of pieces of Baha'i literature sold and distributed in the course of one year in North America is over eighty thousand pieces. The record of the number of visitors to the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar in America in one year is over seventeen thousand and the total number of visitors since its erection is over one quarter of a million. The number of states in the American Union formally recognizing Baha'i marriage certificates is now eight. The number of national a.s.semblies functioning in the Baha'i world is raised to nine through the formation of the first Canadian National a.s.sembly, to be shortly reinforced through the const.i.tution of two additional a.s.semblies in South and Central America and the West Indies.

The second seven-year, the six-year, the four and one-half year, the six-year, the three-year, the five-year and forty-five month plans respectively launched by the American, British, Indian, Australasian, Iraqi, Canadian, and Persian National Spiritual a.s.semblies, some culminating at the first Centennial of the birth of Baha'u'llah's mission, others the Hundredth Anniversary of the Bab's Martyrdom, are aiming at the establishment of three national a.s.semblies in Canada and Latin America, the completion of the interior ornamentation of the Mother Temple of the West, the formation of spiritual a.s.semblies in ten sovereign states of the European continent, the const.i.tution of nineteen a.s.semblies in the British Isles, doubling the number of a.s.semblies in India, Pakistan and Burma, the reconst.i.tution of the dissolved a.s.semblies and the establishment of ninety-five new centers in Persia, the conversion of groups in Bahrein, the ?ijaz and Af_gh_anistan into a.s.semblies, the formation of administrative nuclei in the Arabian territories of Yemen, Oman, Hasa and Kuweit; the formation of thirty-one groups and seven a.s.semblies in Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania; the multiplication of centers in the provinces of 'Iraq, including the district of Shattu'l-Arab; the incorporation of the Canadian National a.s.sembly; doubling the number of a.s.semblies and raising to one hundred the centers in the Dominion of Canada; the const.i.tution of nuclei in Newfoundland and Greenland and the partic.i.p.ation of Eskimos and Red Indians in the local inst.i.tutions of the Administrative Order.

Plans and specifications have been prepared, and preliminary measures taken, to place contracts for the arcade of the Bab's Sepulcher. Historic International Baha'i Congresses held in South and Central America and an inter-European Teaching Conference projected for Geneva paving the way for future World Baha'i Congress. Recognition extended to the Faith by United Nations as international non-governmental body, enabling appointment of accredited representatives to United Nations conferences, is heralding world recognition for a universal proclamation of the Faith of Baha'u'llah.

[April 16, 1948]

BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS [SECOND MESSAGE TO 1948 CONVENTION]

Joyfully acclaim brilliant achievements transcending fondest hopes and setting the seal of complete victory on the stupendous labors undertaken by American Baha'i Community in the second year of the Second Seven Year Plan. The const.i.tution of the National Spiritual a.s.sembly of Canada, the heroic feat of raising to almost two hundred the number of spiritual a.s.semblies in the North American continent, the marvelous expansion of the daughter communities in Latin America, the successful conclusion of the preliminary phase of the interior ornamentation of the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar, and the crowning exploit of the formation of no less than seven a.s.semblies in the newly opened transcontinental field, endow with everlasting fame the second epoch of the Formative Age, immeasurably enrich the annals of the opening decade of the second Baha'i century, and const.i.tute a landmark in the unfoldment of the second stage of the execution of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Plan.

The primacy of the American Baha'i Community is rea.s.serted, fully vindicated and completely safeguarded. Recent successive victories proclaim the undiminished strength and exemplary valor of the rank and file of the community whether administrators, teachers or pioneers in three continents regarded as the latest links in the chain of uninterrupted achievements performed by its members in the council, and teaching field for over a quarter of a century. I recall on this joyous occasion with pride, emotion, thankfulness, the resplendent record of stewards.h.i.+p of this dearly loved, richly endowed, unflinchingly resolute community, whose administrators have a.s.sumed the preponderating share in perfecting the machinery of the Administrative Order, whose elected representatives have raised the edifice and completed the exterior ornamentation of the Mother Temple of the West, whose trail-blazers opened an overwhelming majority of the ninety-one countries now included within the pale of the Faith, whose pioneers established flouris.h.i.+ng communities in twenty republics of Latin America, whose benefactors extended in ample measure a.s.sistance in various ways to their sorely pressed brethren in distant fields, whose members scattered themselves to thirteen hundred centers in every state of the American Union, every province of the Dominion of Canada, whose firmest champion succeeded in winning royalty's allegiance to the Message of Baha'u'llah, whose heroes and martyrs laid down their lives in its service in fields as remote as Honolulu, Buenos Aires, Sidney, I?fahan, whose vanguard pushed its outposts to the antipodes on the farthest verge of the South American continent, to the vicinity of the Arctic Circle, to the northern, southern, and western fringes of the European continent, whose amba.s.sadors are now convening, on the soil of one of the newly won territories, its historic first conference designed to consolidate the newly won prizes, whose spokesmen are securing recognition of the inst.i.tutions of Baha'u'llah's rising World Order in the United Nations.

Appeal to members of the community so privileged, so loved, so valorous, endowed with such potentialities to unitedly press forward however afflictive the trials their countrymen may yet experience, however grievous the tribulations the land of their heart's desire may yet suffer, however oppressive an anxiety the temporary severance of external communications with the World Center of their Faith may engender, however onerous the tasks still to be accomplished, until every single obligation under the present Plan is honorably fulfilled, enabling them to launch in its appointed time the third crusade destined to bring glorious consummation to the first epoch in the evolution of their divinely appointed world mission, fulfill the prophecy uttered by Daniel over twenty centuries ago, contribute the major share of the world triumph of the Faith of Baha'u'llah envisaged by the Center of His Covenant, and hasten the opening of the Golden Age of the Baha'i Dispensation.

[April 26, 1948]

SUPPORT THE NATIONAL FUND

Temple drawings received. Approve design. Urge that you proceed without delay to place Temple contracts.

I appeal to entire body of believers to arise and generously support the National Fund in hour of greatest need to insure uninterrupted progress in the ornamentation of the House of Wors.h.i.+p which, as foretold by 'Abdu'l-Baha, is already conferring such benefits upon the community.

[May 4, 1948]

TEMPLE INTERIOR ORNAMENTATION AND ARCADE OF THE BaB'S SEPULCHER

Delighted at contract for ornamentation, projected reception (i.e., for UN delegates in Geneva), appointment of new committees for consolidation of teaching work and n.o.ble determination to pursue unremittingly your G.o.d-given task.

Announce to the friends that signature on contracts for arcade of the Bab's Sepulcher is synchronizing with first contract for interior ornamentation of the Mother Temple of the West.

[May 14, 1948]

MY APPEAL TO THIS G.o.d-CHOSEN COMMUNITY

The response of the American Baha'i Community to the urgent call to arise and remedy a critical situation has been such as to excite my highest admiration and exceed the hopes of all those who had waited with anxious hearts for this dangerous corner to be turned at such an important stage in the prosecution of the Second Seven Year Plan.

The rapidity with which the challenge has been met, the strenuous efforts which have been systematically exerted, the zeal and devotion which have been so abundantly demonstrated, the resolution and self-sacrifice which have been so strikingly displayed by the members of a community, burdened with such mighty responsibilities and intent on maintaining its lead among its sister communities in East and West, confer great l.u.s.ter on this latest episode in the history of the prosecution of the Divine Plan. I am moved to offer its high-minded and valiant members my heartfelt congratulations on so conspicuous a victory, and on the preservation of an unblemished record of achievements in the service of the Faith of Baha'u'llah.

The formation of the Canadian National a.s.sembly, the conclusion of the preliminary steps for the completion of the interior ornamentation of the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar, the rapid multiplication and consolidation of the inst.i.tutions of the Faith throughout Latin America, the steady expansion of the activities aiming at the proclamation of the Faith to the ma.s.ses, the recognition secured, on behalf of the national inst.i.tutions of a world community, from the United Nations Organization, above all the phenomenal success achieved through the const.i.tution of no less than eight spiritual a.s.semblies in seven of the goal countries selected as targets for the transatlantic operation of the Plan, now crowned by the holding of the first teaching conference on the continent of Europe-all these have served to immortalize the second year of the Second Seven Year Plan and round out the mighty feat accomplished throughout the states and provinces of the North American continent-the base from which the operation of a divinely impelled and constantly expanding Plan are being conducted.

Emboldened by the enduring and momentous successes won, on so many fronts, in such distant fields, among such a diversity of peoples, and in the face of such formidable obstacles, by a community now launched, in both hemispheres, on its world-encircling mission, I direct my appeal to the entire members.h.i.+p of this G.o.d-chosen community, to its a.s.sociates and daughter communities in the Dominion of Canada, in Central and South America, and in the continent of Europe, to proclaim, in the course of this current year, to their sister communities in East and West and by deeds no less resplendent than those of the past, their inflexible resolve to prosecute unremittingly the Plan entrusted to their care, and emblazon on their s.h.i.+elds the emblems of new victories in its service.

The placing, with care and prompt.i.tude, of the successive contracts, designed to ensure the uninterrupted progress of the interior ornamentation of the Temple, at a time when the international situation is fraught with so many complications and perils; the acceleration of the twofold process designed to preserve the status of the present a.s.semblies throughout the states of the Union and multiply their number; the constant broadening of the bases on which the projected Latin American national a.s.semblies are to be securely founded; the steady expansion of the work initiated to give wider publicity to the Faith in the North American continent and in circles a.s.sociated with the United Nations; and, last but not least, the const.i.tution of firmly established a.s.semblies in each of the remaining goal countries in Europe and the simultaneous initiation, in the countries already provided with such a.s.semblies, of measures aiming at the formation of several nuclei calculated to reinforce the structural basis of an infant Administrative Order-these stand out as the primary and inescapable duties which the members of your a.s.sembly-the mainspring of the mult.i.tudinous activities carried on in your homeland, in the Latin American field, and on the European front-must in this third year of the Second Seven Year Plan, befittingly discharge.

That the launching of one of these fundamental activities to be conducted by your a.s.sembly during the present year-the commencement of the interior ornamentation of the Mother Temple of the West-should have so closely synchronized with the placing of the first two contracts for the completion of the Sepulcher of the Bab, as contemplated by 'Abdu'l-Baha, is indeed a phenomenon of singular significance. This conjunction of two events of historic importance, linking, in a peculiar degree, the most sacred House of Wors.h.i.+p in the American continent with the most hallowed Shrine on the slopes of Mount Carmel, brings vividly to mind the no less remarkable coincidence marking the simultaneous holding, on a Naw-Ruz Day, of the first convention of the American Baha'i Community and the entombment by the Center of Baha'u'llah's Covenant of the remains of the Bab in the newly constructed vault of His Shrine.(1) The simultaneous arrival of those remains in the fortress city of Akka and of the first pilgrims from the continent of America;(2) the subsequent a.s.sociation of the founder of the American Baha'i Community with 'Abdu'l-Baha in the laying of the cornerstone of the Bab's Mausoleum on Mount Carmel; the holding of the Centenary of His Declaration beneath the dome of the recently constructed Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar at Wilmette, on which solemn occasion His blessed portrait was unveiled, on western soil, to the eyes of His followers; and the unique distinction now conferred on a member(3) of the North American Baha'i Community of designing the dome, envisaged by 'Abdu'l-Baha, as the final and essential embellishment of the Bab's Sepulcher-all these have served to a.s.sociate the Herald of our Faith and His resting-place with the fortunes of a community which has so n.o.bly responded to His summons addressed to the "peoples of the West" in His Qayyumu'l-Asma.

"This Sublime Shrine has remained unbuilt ...," 'Abdu'l-Baha, looking at the Shrine from the steps of His House on an August day in 1915, remarked to some of His companions, at a time when the Bab's remains had already been placed by Him in the vault of one of the six chambers He had already constructed for that purpose. "G.o.d willing, it will be accomplished. We have carried its construction to this stage."