Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand Part 17

To Summer School care Baha'i a.s.sembly Postbox 1906 Auckland.

(70) January 22nd, 1949

a.s.sURE ATTENDANTS HEARTFELT LOVING PRAYERS SUCCESS SESSION REALIZATION DEAREST HOPES DEEPEST APPRECIATION. SHOGHI RABBANI To Auckland a.s.sembly Box 1906 Auckland.

(71) December 29th, 1949

GRIEVED Pa.s.sING PRECIOUS PIONEER PROMOTER FAITH MRS AXFORD PRAYING FERVENTLY SHRINES PROGRESS SOUL ABHa KINGDOM HER SERVICES UNFORGETTABLE.

SHOGHI To Summer School Care Auckland a.s.sembly Box 1906 Auckland.

(72) December 29th, 1949

a.s.sURE ATTENDANTS SUPPLICATING RICHEST BLESSINGS DELIBERATIONS SCHOOL.

SHOGHI To New Zealand School Care NatBaha'i Sydney.

(73) December 30th, 1953

LOVING APPRECIATION a.s.sURANCE FERVENT PRAYERS. SHOGHI

PART VI STATEMENTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS.

These statements extracted from letters to individuals are not found elsewhere in this compilation and are taken from letters written by the Guardian's secretaries at his specific direction. The arrangement is according to subject matter.

ALCOHOL (74)

You had asked in connection with the subject of prohibition. Of course in every country one must take into consideration the exact conditions as to whether by force of legislation people can be stopped from drinking, but as a principle the Baha'i teachings are quite against drinking intoxicating liquors and from the Baha'i point of view every thing that helps to stop drinking is welcome.

(Extract, letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, December 30th, 1925)

EVOLUTION (75)

We cannot prove man was always man for this is a fundamental doctrine, but it is based on the a.s.sertion that nothing can exceed its own potentialities, that everything, a stone, a tree, an animal and a human being existed in plan, potentially, from the very "beginning" of creation.

We don't believe man has always had the form of man, but rather that from the outset he was going to evolve into the human form and species and not be a haphazard branch of the ape family.

You see our whole approach to each matter is based on the belief that G.o.d sends us divinely inspired Educators; what they tell us is fundamentally true, what science tells us today is true; tomorrow may be entirely changed to better explain a new set of facts.

When 'Abdu'l-Baha says man breaks the laws of nature, He means we shape nature to meet our own needs, as no animal does. Animals adapt themselves to better fit in with and benefit from their environment. But men both surmount and change environment. Likewise when He says nature is devoid of memory He means memory as we have it, not the strange memory of inherited habits which animals so strikingly possess.

These various statements must be taken in conjunction with all the Baha'i teachings; we cannot get a correct picture by concentrating on just one phrase.

(Extract, letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, June 7th, 1946

"HERALD OF THE SOUTH"--(76)

Persevere I shall pray from all my heart for the steady development and the growing influence of the "Herald of the South". May its voice grow in strength and power, and may its pages increasingly reflect the dynamic spirit of the Faith and mirror forth the ever-expanding activities of the friends in Australasia as well as in distant lands. Persevere in your efforts, let not obstacles damp your zeal and determination and rest a.s.sured that the Power of G.o.d which is reinforcing your efforts will in the end triumph and enable you to fulfil your cherished desire.

(Extract, undated letter by Shoghi Effendi)

"HERALD OF THE SOUTH"--(77)

Effective teaching medium. ...Regarding the "Herald of the South"

magazine, Shoghi Effendi very much appreciates the fact that in spite of the many difficulties that your a.s.sembly had to overcome this review is being regularly published, and that its standard is gradually improving.

He would call upon all the English-speaking friends to contribute, as often as they can, such articles for publication in that magazine as would serve to make it a more direct and effective teaching medium for the spread of the Cause throughout Australia and New-Zealand. He is advising the American N. S. A. to specially ask the cooperation of the American believers for that purpose, and hopes that the response they will make to this call will be such as to further encourage you in your splendid efforts for the publication of this national organ of the Faith....

(Extract, ibid., pp. 12, 13, dated April 15th, 1936)

"HERALD OF THE SOUTH"--(78)