[Letter of October 22, 1925]
To Mr. Susumu Aibara
My dear brother in G.o.d!
Your welcome letter has rejoiced my heart. I am sending you some Baha"i literature which I trust will guide and a.s.sist you in your work. I shall be delighted to hear from you directly and regularly and please rest a.s.sured of my deep interest in your work and of my fervent prayers for the success of your labours.
Your brother and well-wisher, Shoghi
(October 22, 1925)
[Letter of January 12, 1930]
To the Baha"is of Tokyo
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge receipt of your joint letter enclosed in Miss Alexander"s note. Shoghi Effendi hopes that through the combined efforts of the Baha"is of Tokyo, the Cause will establish a strong center in that city and then begin and radiate its spiritual light to neighboring localities. Now that Miss Root is with you, you should endeavor to awaken new competent souls and then when she is gone strive to ground them firmly in the teachings.
(signed by Ruhi Afnan)
(January 12, 1930)
[Letter of December 24, 1930]
(in the Guardian"s handwriting)
a.s.suring you of my fervent prayers for you all at the Shrine of Baha"u"llah.
Your true brother, Shoghi
To Miss Agnes Alexander, Miss Martha Root, Mrs. Antoinette Naganuma, Miss Elizabeth Dawe
He (the Guardian) was very happy to hear of your very nice and interesting gathering when Miss Martha Root was there. He sincerely hopes that her short stay will bear wonderful fruits and be the cause of guidance to many souls. Such persons who travel from one country to another, meeting the friends and exchanging thoughts with them, achieve a great part in strengthening the link between the new friends in different parts of the world. They give a new spirit and impart courage and perseverance to those who feel disappointed and overwhelmed by the greatness of the task laid before them.
(signed by Ruhi Afnan)
(December 24, 1930)
[Letter of March 5, 1931]
To Mr. Tokujiro Torii
I am directed by Shoghi Effendi to write and express his great pleasure over the receipt of your kind and happy letter of January 2.
He was very happy to hear from you, to learn that you are well and increasingly enthusiastic about the Baha"i Faith. He prays from the bottom of his heart that the Almighty may help and strengthen you to render valuable services to the Cause of Baha"u"llah and also to a.s.sist the cause of the blind which is in itself a great Baha"i service.
He deeply regrets that you are handicapped by your early loss of eyesight, but a spiritual light illuminates and guides you and through it, he hopes you will become a channel to His Grace.
It is unfortunate that despite the eager and persistent endeavors of our devoted sister Miss Agnes Alexander, no permanent and thriving centre has yet been established in j.a.pan. But he trusts that soon a special endeavor will be made to establish an active group who will be able to translate the Writings of Baha"u"llah and make them known to the people of j.a.pan.
With the a.s.surance of Shoghi Effendi"s affection and prayers for you, also to Miss Alexander, and of his hope that you will someday come to Haifa.
(signed by Soheil Afnan)
(in the Guardian"s handwriting)
With the a.s.surance of my fervent prayers at the Shrine of Baha"u"llah for your happiness, your success and spiritual advancement.
Your true brother, Shoghi
(March 5, 1931)
[Letter of June 20, 1931]
Our Guardian has been overjoyed to hear of your gathering at the library of Dr. Masujima and to receive your very kind messages written on that occasion.
Both the Master and Shoghi Effendi have always cherished great hopes for the Baha"i Faith in j.a.pan. They have felt that only through the broad spiritual outlook which the Faith provides can the j.a.panese people introduce true spiritual enlightenment in their fast developing civilization. Hence Shoghi Effendi"s great pleasure to hear from you and learn of your increasing interest in and enthusiasm for the Cause.
(signed by Soheil Afnan)
(June 20, 1931)
[Letter of January 9, 1932]
Dear and valued co-workers:
Your message has imparted an indefinable joy to my heart and cheered me in my arduous task. Persevere in your efforts for the spread of our beloved Faith, and rest a.s.sured that my prayers will continue to be offered in your behalf. I cherish the brightest hopes for the extension of your deeply valued activities and will supplicate the Almighty to bless and sustain your high endeavors.
Your true brother, Shoghi
(January 9, 1932)