The Unfolding Destiny of the British Bahai Community Part 42

There is no ambiguity about the Master's att.i.tude towards psychic forces; He very strongly warned the believers against using them.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers,

I grieve to learn of the slow progress of the Six Year Plan which the English believers have so n.o.bly conceived, and which, I pray and hope, will be triumphantly consummated. The Plan const.i.tutes a direct and grave challenge to the English Baha'i community in its entirety. It should be regarded as the greatest collective enterprise ever launched by the followers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in the British Isles. It is thus far one of the most significant undertakings embarked upon by the members of Baha'i National a.s.semblies during the opening years of the second Baha'i century. To it, as already observed, the immediate destinies of the community of the English believers are linked, and on it must depend the future orientation and evolution of the inst.i.tutions which the members of that community are labouring to erect for the diffusion of the principles and the establishment of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in their country. It must not, it cannot, fail. The attention of the entire body of the believers must be continually focussed upon it. No sacrifice can be deemed too great for its successful prosecution. All must arise harmoniously, co-operate and lend their share of a.s.sistance. May the spirit of Baha'u'llah enable them to achieve signal success.

Shoghi

Letter of 18 December 1945

18 December 1945

Dear Baha'i Sister,

The beloved Guardian has instructed me to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters dated Aug. 11th and Nov. 9th and to answer them on his behalf.

Their enclosures were also received....

He was very pleased to hear that you have had eight new Baha'is since Convention and hopes that this is only a foretaste of the conversion of souls in far greater numbers in the years lying ahead of us.

The Six Year Plan is of the utmost importance, and he urges your a.s.sembly to continually keep reminding the friends of the necessity for sustaining their efforts through arising personally to serve and through giving generously that others may serve in their place.

In this connection he hopes you will use the services of Marion Holley, now Mrs. David Hofman, to the full. She is a gifted speaker and writer, and has had invaluable experience in America as a member of the National Teaching Committee, during the Seven Year Plan. Both she and Mr. Hofman are wholly dedicated to the service of the Cause, and eager to do all in their power to help accomplish the goals of your Six Year Plan.

He was happy to hear that the Summer School was held successfully. Now that the war is over, and conditions gradually returning to normal, he hopes that the British believers will exert their utmost in serving the Cause and spreading its message. Although from time to time they will receive the help of outside Baha'is, the major responsibility is theirs, and the lion's share of the work will naturally fall to them as both their privilege and their duty.

He a.s.sures you one and all that his ardent prayers sustain you in your labours for the Faith and he feels sure that with sufficient effort on the part of all, and the Power of G.o.d which inevitably sustains self-sacrificing service in His Path, the goals can be gloriously achieved....

P.S. He was delighted to hear of the welfare of the German believers.

Reports of a similar nature had already reached him, but no figures had been given.

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly beloved co-workers,

I am anxiously waiting for the news of the progress of the Six Year Plan, upon which the future orientation of the collective activities of the English believers depends, and with which the immediate destinies of their Faith are interwoven. No sacrifice is too great to ensure its success. The utmost effort, vigilance, perseverance and self-sacrifice are required to carry it to a successful conclusion. If the friends, individually and collectively, play their part and exert their utmost, the abundant blessings of Baha'u'llah will be fully vouchsafed, and the strength of the Plan will mark a glorious chapter in the history of the Faith. I appeal to the entire community to dedicate itself to this sacred and urgent task, the greatest collective enterprise ever undertaken by the followers of Baha'u'llah in the British Isles.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi

Letter of 21 February 1946

21 February 1946

a.s.sEMBLY SHOULD EXPLAIN TO ... OWING HIS BROTHER'S SECESSION FAITH ADHERENCE ISLaM PARTIc.i.p.aTION POLITICS AND a.s.sOCIATION WITH HIS OTHER BROTHERS AND MOTHER WHO HAVE FLAGRANTLY DISOBEYED MASTER'S WILL COMMUNICATION WITH HIM AND THEM FORBIDDEN. a.s.sEMBLY SHOULD EXERCISE UTMOST VIGILANCE THIS VITAL MATTER OTHERWISE AS MASTER REPEATEDLY WARNED CONTAMINATING INFLUENCE WILL SPREAD AND IMPERIL STRUCTURE FAITH. CABLE HIS RESPONSE SHOW UTMOST FIRMNESS.

SHOGHI

Letter of 5 March 1946

5 March 1946

OVERJOYED RECENT DECISIONS TEACHING CONFERENCE ARDENTLY PRAYING SPEEDY REALISATION CHERISHED HOPES URGE SUPREME UNITED CONTINUOUS EFFORT CABLING ONE THOUSAND POUNDS FURTHERANCE n.o.bLE AIMS SIX YEAR PLAN DEEPEST LOVE.

SHOGHI

Letter of 12 March 1946

12 March 1946

INFORM ... APPRECIATE HIS a.s.sURANCE PRAYING STEADFASTNESS BLESSINGS.

SHOGHI

Letter of 22 March 1946

22 March 1946

Dear Baha'i Sister,

Your letters dated Sep. 6th and Nov. 6th 1945 and Jan. 2nd, Feb. 8th and 19th 1946, have been received together with their enclosures, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.

He has been delighted to see, through your letter and reports sent by other Baha'is, that the Teaching Conference in Manchester was such a success, and he feels this marks a turning point in your Six Year Plan.

Now that goal towns have been chosen, the friends must concentrate all their forces and resources on establis.h.i.+ng a.s.semblies in them as soon as possible. He feels sure that once the signs of success become evident all the believers, tired and depressed after so many years of war and privation, will become vitalised with optimism and enthusiasm and drive forward unitedly towards the complete victory of their plans.

He was delighted to hear that Miss Townshend and Mr. Lee have arisen as pioneers, and he wishes you to please a.s.sure them of his special prayers for the success of their devoted labours.

He was also very happy to hear you have found a place to hold your Summer School; this is such an important Baha'i activity that even if the expenses are such as to necessitate its being subsidised by the National Fund it does not matter.

He advises you to send half of the Russian books in your possession to the Baha'i Bureau in Geneva. Mrs. Lynch can distribute them from there, as required, to other centres.