12: Letters and Cables to Administrative Inst.i.tutions
[Letter of April 1957]
To the First National Convention of the Baha"is of North East Asia-1957
To the Delegates and Visitors a.s.sembled at the Convention of the Baha"is of North-East Asia.
With feelings of exultation, joy, and pride I hail the convocation of this history-making Convention of the Baha"is of North-East Asia, paving the way for the emergence of a Regional Spiritual a.s.sembly with an area of jurisdiction embracing j.a.pan, Korea, Formosa, Macao, Hong Kong, Hainan Island and Sakhalin Island.
This auspicious event, which posterity will regard as the culmination of a process initiated, half a century ago, in the capital city of j.a.pan, under the watchful care and through the direct inspiration of the Centre of the Covenant of Baha"u"llah, marks the opening of the second chapter in the history of the evolution of His Faith in the North Pacific area. Such a consummation cannot fail to lend a tremendous impetus to its onward march in the entire Pacific Ocean, a march which will now, no doubt, be greatly accelerated by the simultaneous emergence of the Regional Spiritual a.s.sembly of the Baha"is of South-East Asia and of the National Spiritual a.s.sembly of the Baha"is of New Zealand.
I particularly welcome the establishment of this highly important inst.i.tution in the capital city of j.a.pan, as it affords a splendid opportunity for the diffusion of the Lights of the Faith, and the erection of the structure of its Administrative Order, among a people representing the overwhelming majority of the yellow race, living in the islands of the Pacific Ocean, and in a country regarded as one of the strongholds of the Buddhist Faith.
I feel a warm tribute should be paid, on this historic occasion, to the members of the American Baha"i Community, as well as to their elected national representatives, who have, for so long and so devotedly, promoted the interests of the Faith in that country, and, in recent years in its neighbouring islands.
I call upon the Regional Spiritual a.s.sembly now being formed to signalize its birth through the initiation of a subsidiary Six-Year Plan, designed to swell the number of the adherents of the Faith throughout the area of its jurisdiction; to multiply the groups, the isolated centers and the local spiritual a.s.semblies; to incorporate all firmly grounded local spiritual a.s.semblies; to obtain recognition from the civil authorities for the Baha"i Marriage Certificate, as well as the Baha"i Holy Days; to inaugurate a national Baha"i Fund; to consolidate the work initiated in the newly opened territories; to lend an impetus to the translation, the publication, and dissemination of Baha"i Literature in divers languages; to establish Summer Schools, and Baha"i burial grounds; to propagate the Faith throughout the smaller islands of j.a.pan; and to acquire a plot to serve as the site of the first Ma_sh_riqu"l-A_dh_kar of North-East Asia.
May the blessings of Baha"u"llah be showered, in an ever-increasing measure, on those newly emerged Communities now holding aloft, so steadfastly and so valiantly, the banner of His Faith, and may the outcome of their collective efforts illuminate its annals, and contribute to a notable degree to the consolidation of the inst.i.tutions of the Baha"i embryonic World Order now being erected throughout the length and breadth of so vast, so turbulent, and yet so promising, an area of the globe.
Shoghi
(April 1957)
[Photograph with the following caption:]
The first National Spiritual a.s.sembly of the Baha"is of North East Asia elected in 1957. Sitting: Mr. Noureddin Momtazi, Miss Agnes Alexander, Mrs. Barbara Sims, Mr. Hiroyasu Takano. Standing: Mr. Ataullah Moghbel, Mr. Michitoshi Zenimoto, Mr. Philip Marangella, Mr. Yadollah Rafaat, and Mr. William Maxwell.
[Cable of April 29, 1957]
Shoghi Effendi"s cable to the first Convention of North East Asia:
Deeply appreciate message welcome dedication delegates tasks ahead fervently supplicating richest blessings. Deepest love,
Shoghi
(April 29, 1957)
TO NATIONAL SPIRITUAL a.s.sEMBLIES
To the National Spiritual a.s.sembly of North East Asia-1957
[Cable dated May 2, 1957]
The Guardian"s first cable to the new National Spiritual a.s.sembly: Fervently supplicating befitting discharge sacred manifold responsibilities. Deepest love,
Shoghi
(cable dated May 2, 1957)
[Letter of May 20, 1957]
Our beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you on his behalf and inform you that the Hand of the Cause Mr. Varqa, will shortly be forwarding to your a.s.sembly the equivalent of five hundred English Pounds, as the Guardian"s contribution to your newly established National Fund.
He hopes that, in the formulation of your plans, particular attention will be given to the all-important teaching work, the foundation of all the activities of the Faith and the most urgent task facing the friends in this critical period the world is pa.s.sing through.
You may be sure he will pray for your success. (signed by R. Rabbani)
(May 20, 1957)
[Letter of July 15, 1957]
He (the Guardian) has read with much interest the reports of the Convention recently held in Tokyo.
The formation of this new Regional a.s.sembly, whose area of operation is so vast and situated in such an important part of the globe, has been a source of great joy to the Guardian. He was also very happy to see that your a.s.sembly has represented on it members of the three great races of mankind, a living demonstration of the fundamental teaching of our Holy Faith, and one which cannot but attract the interest of the public. The fact that so many believers attended the first historic convention, from practically all the territories your a.s.sembly represents, was also most encouraging, and augurs well for your future work.
The work, so faithfully carried on, by both the American and Persian pioneers, has borne its first fruit. The long and loyal service of dear Agnes Alexander, who so faithfully carried out the beloved Master"s wishes and served the spiritual interests of j.a.pan for decades, has been richly crowned. Even the death of the devoted pioneer, Mr. Anthony Seto, has added a blessing to the work in that region, for he served in spite of failing health and remained at his post to be laid at rest in a distant land, his very dust testifying to the greatness of the love and the nature of the ideals Baha"u"llah inspires in His servants(31) .
It has been a great source of joy to the Guardian to see the marked increase of native Baha"is throughout that area, particularly in j.a.pan, Korea and Formosa. However devoted the pioneers may be to these distant countries of their adoption, their relation to them cannot but be a transient one, especially in view of the disturbed state of the world and gloomy clouds that hang over its political horizons. They may suddenly be forced to go home; therefore, the native Baha"is, in particular, must seize this opportunity and arise too, themselves, in their own countries, pioneer to new cities and towns, new islands and as yet unopened territories, so that they may, with the help of their Baha"i brethren from overseas, lay a firm and enduring foundation, and commence the great task of building up the Administrative Order, which is itself the foundation of the future World Order.
Special attention must be given during this crucial year to consolidating the precious goals already won, to creating new Spiritual a.s.semblies, to increasing the groups and the isolated centers.
Your a.s.sembly must be very careful not to overload the Baha"is with rules and regulations, circulars and directions. The purpose of the administration at this time is to blow on the fire newly kindled in the hearts of these people who have accepted the Faith, to create in them the desire and capacity to teach, to facilitate the pioneer and teaching work, and help deepen the knowledge and understanding of the friends. The beloved Guardian issues this word of warning, as long experience has shown that it is a tendency on the part of all N.S.A.s to over-administer. In their enthusiasm they forget that they only have a handful of inexperienced souls to guide, and attempt to deal with their work as if they had a large population to regulate! This then stifles the spirit of the friends and the teaching work suffers.