He feels the future of j.a.pan is very great. The hearts and minds of the j.a.panese people are awakened; and if the teaching work is carried on very actively and audaciously, many souls will be attracted by the Divine Fragrances.
The beloved Guardian is so confident that the Faith will spread rapidly in j.a.pan, and the believers will firmly establish the inst.i.tutions of the Cause, that he has chosen to send to them for ultimate display in their National Haziratu"l-Quds in Tokyo one of the very precious relics from the Shrine of Baha"u"llah. He has entrusted with our dear brother, Hiroyasu Takano, a very precious brocade, which has rested immediately over the remains of Baha"u"llah in His glorious Shrine. It is very precious and very sacred.
The Guardian is sending this to the Spiritual a.s.sembly of Tokyo as a gift.
The friends may wish to have it carefully and beautifully framed for display in the Hazira, when it is acquired. Ultimately of course it is to be hung in the Hazira of the National a.s.sembly, when that great goal has been achieved by the j.a.panese believers.
The beloved Guardian a.s.sures each and every one of you of his prayers in your behalf.
(signed by Leroy Ioas)
(March 2, 1954)
[Letter of May 29, 1954]
The beloved Guardian was pleased to see the manner in which the a.s.sembly has undertaken its responsibility of enthusing the believers to carry on teaching work throughout j.a.pan in an aggressive manner.
The keynote of activity during the second year of the Ten-Year Crusade is the multiplication of a.s.semblies, groups and isolated centers. The Guardian feels the time is ripe for the active spread of the Faith throughout j.a.pan; and if pioneers and settlers will go to additional cities and very actively teach the Faith, they will find that the Cause will grow and develop in each of these new areas.
You should not overlook the fact that one of the goals of the Ten-Year Crusade is the establishment of a National a.s.sembly in j.a.pan. This can be brought about more quickly if the friends set aside all other considerations and actively teach the Faith.
The sacred gift which the Guardian sent to the j.a.panese Baha"is through Mr. Takano is of course for the Hazira as soon as it is procured. It is one of the very sacred relics, and the Guardian hopes it will be a source of inspiration to the friends to redouble their efforts in the teaching field.
(signed by Leroy Ioas)
(May 29, 1954)
[Letter of June 7, 1954]
The beloved Guardian sends his loving greetings to each and every one of you. He is praying for the success of your teaching work. He feels the time is ripe for a rapid expansion of the Faith in j.a.pan; and that if everyone will arise with renewed effort, they will be surprised at the spiritual victories which they will achieve.
(signed by Leroy Ioas)
(June 7, 1954)
[Letter of June 8, 1954]
Please refer to our previous correspondence with regard to the purchase of a Haziratu"l-Quds in Tokyo. The beloved Guardian feels this is a matter of great importance, and should be accomplished during the present year.
He has written to the American N.S.A. in detail concerning the matter, instructing them to proceed at once with the development of this project, so that it may be concluded during the present year, if at all possible.
The beloved Guardian is sending a contribution of 500. As you know, a Haziratu"l-Quds was given by Mr. Momtazi in Mukonoso, Hyogo-ken. The Guardian would see no objection to this Haziratu"l-Quds being sold, and the fund received thereby being used to defray the cost of the Haziratu"l-Quds in Tokyo. It is far more important that a Hazira be established in Tokyo, which is the seat of the future National a.s.sembly, than in Mukonoso, Hyogo-ken. Of course this can only be done in case Mr.
Momtazi is entirely agreeable.
(signed by Leroy Ioas)
(June 8, 1954)
[Letter of July 19, 1954]
Your loving letter ... has just come to hand, telling of the funds which you have available now, since the generous gift of Mr. N. Momtazi, for the Haziratu"l-Quds in Tokyo.
You have in mind that the Hazira need not be an elaborate place. It should be a building which you own, and which can be used now as the Haziratu"l-Quds for the Local Tokyo a.s.sembly, to be utilized later as the National Haziratu"l-Quds for the National Spiritual a.s.sembly when it is formed.
The important thing is that this piece of property should be acquired for as reasonable a price as possible.
The Guardian will await with expectation, advice from you as to the acquisition of this important piece of property(36) .
The Guardian sends each one his loving greetings.
(signed by Leroy Ioas)
(July 19, 1954)
[Letter of September 26, 1955]
Your loving letter ... has come to hand, giving the latest information concerning the International Teaching Conference which was to be held at Nikko, September 23, 24, and 25.
From the word we have received, the Conference must have been a great success with so many being present, and representing so many different countries. As I understand it, there were representatives of nine different nations.
The Guardian has attached the greatest importance to this Conference, as it is the first to be held in j.a.pan, and is therefore a great historic event. Let us hope the teaching work will develop rapidly in j.a.pan, so that there may be a large number of a.s.semblies and groups established who may take part in the election of the National a.s.sembly.
(signed by Leroy Ioas)
(September 26, 1955)
[Letter of April 24, 1956]
It was a great pleasure to have some of the friends from j.a.pan here, and particularly to get dear Fujita back again.
The Guardian is particularly happy over the news conveyed by Mr. Momtazi for the formation of seven new a.s.semblies. This is a great step forward in the progress of the work, not only in j.a.pan, but in the Pacific area; and augurs well for the formation of the Regional National a.s.sembly with j.a.pan as the hub, which is to be elected next Ridvan.