In regard to the question you asked about the holding of the Canadian Convention in Wilmette, this would not be possible, as the National Body must hold its Convention in its own country. He suggests, however, that you make an effort to coordinate the dates in such a way that the friends can later proceed to Wilmette for the Intercontinental Teaching Conference and the dedication of the Temple. As long as it is held within the Ridvan period, the dates can be arranged any way that suits your convenience, and of course the Convention can be convened in any place in Canada your a.s.sembly decides upon, even on the American frontier at a point en route to Chicago.
The Guardian was most happy to hear of the excellent work some of the Baha"is are doing with the Eskimos and the Indians, and considers their spirit most exemplary. They are rendering a far greater service than they, themselves, are aware of, the fruits of which will be seen, not only in Canada, but because of their repercussions, in other countries where primitive populations must be taught.
He feels that the opening for a Canadian believer to visit the Governor of Greenland and his wife is extremely important.
The personality of the Baha"i who accepts this invitation should be carefully considered, because to be a guest of people in a different climate and environment, of a different nationality and speaking a different language, so far away, might be a little trying, and of course the impression that this Baha"i creates will be of infinite importance to the Faith in its future development in Greenland. Whether ... makes the sacrifice and goes, or some other individual is chosen, he urges your a.s.sembly to above all consider this matter tactfully and from the human standpoint, rather than the religious one, if one can put it that way.
LAURENTIAN BAHa"i SCHOOL
Your a.s.sembly must decide, as the Guardian already told dear Mr.
Schopflocher(23) when he was here, upon the advisability of maintaining the Laurentian School(24), in an objective spirit. The Guardian can only outline to you the principle, which is that Baha"i funds should not be invested in building up a place that has dear a.s.sociations for a number of the friends, but is not going to really serve a large group of the believers.
The Guardian"s point is that National Bodies when creating national inst.i.tutions, should use sound judgment, because of the financial investment involved. This is only reasonable.
Your a.s.sembly must therefore decide what to do about the Laurentian School, and you are free to make your own decisions.
He would be very happy to have the National a.s.sembly maintain the grave of dear Sutherland Maxwell(25). His a.s.sociation, not only with Canada and the inception of the Faith there, but with the World Centre and the Shrine of the Bab, naturally endears him to all the friends, and his grave should be a national memorial. When the time comes to erect the tombstone, the question of receiving contributions from your Body can be considered.
He feels that the Canadian Community, old in the Northern Hemisphere, but young in its independence, is showing great promise, and he is proud of it and of the spirit that animates both its National a.s.sembly and its members. He also feels confident it will distinguish itself, not only during the coming year, but during the next 10 years before our Most Great Jubilee falls due in 1963.
With warm Baha"i love, R. RABBANI.
P.S.-Regarding your question concerning St. John"s, Newfoundland, and the believers living outside the town limits: no exception to the general rule can be made in this case.
Dear and Valued Co-Workers:
The Plan, with which the immediate destinies of the valiant, newly emerged independent, highly promising Canadian Baha"i Community are linked is, as it approaches its closing stage, pa.s.sing through a very critical period in its unfoldment. Proclaiming as it does the formal a.s.sociation of the second Baha"i community to attain an independent status in the Western Hemisphere with its sister communities who, in various parts of the Baha"i World, are prosecuting specific Plans designed to foster their organic development, signalizing the alignment of this community as the sole ally of the chief Executors of "Abdu"l-Baha"s Master Plan, this collective fate-laden enterprise upon which this youthful and virile member of the World Baha"i Family has so whole-heartedly and enthusiastically launched-an enterprise on the successful consummation of which the effective initiation of its glorious mission, far beyond the borders of the Dominion of Canada, must ultimately depend-such an enterprise, however vast the field in which it operates, and no matter how circ.u.mscribed the resources of the small band of stalwart pioneers engaged in its prosecution-must, under no circ.u.mstances be allowed to register a failure.
In Newfoundland, in Greenland, among the Eskimos and Indians, through the incorporation of its National a.s.sembly, the immediate objectives have been practically attained. The attention of the entire community must, in the remaining months ahead, be focused on the dire necessity of multiplying, at whatever cost, the number of pioneers, the rapid formation of groups, and the conversion of groups into a.s.semblies, so that the complete and total success of the Plan may be a.s.sured, and a triumphant community may step forward, confident and unenc.u.mbered by any liabilities, into a vast arena of service, prosecute a still more glorious mission, and win still mightier victories.
HAZiRATU"L-QUDS TO BE ESTABLISHED
While the energy of this community is being expended on the conduct of this fateful undertaking, marking the baptism of this community, a collateral effort must, owing to unforeseen circ.u.mstances, be exerted for the establishment of an inst.i.tution which, though not an integral part of the Plan formulated for that community, is none the less regarded as indispensable owing to its emergence into an independent existence, and the necessity of its following the lead of its sister communities in East and West, which have, at various stages in their development, adopted this vital measure for the consolidation of their national inst.i.tutions and the raising of the prestige of the Faith in their respective countries. The selection of the city to serve as the seat of the national Haziratu"l-Quds in the Dominion of Canada; the purchase of either a plot to serve as a site for the construction of this Edifice, or, preferably, of a building to serve as a provisional national administrative headquarters for a rising, steadily expanding community; the a.s.sociation of all other National a.s.semblies throughout the Baha"i World in contributing towards this highly meritorious enterprise; my own a.s.sociation with the Baha"is the world over in providing for the early emergence of such a Centre towards which the manifold activities initiated throughout the length and breadth of a vast Dominion must converge, and from which the impulses generated by a rapidly evolving, divinely appointed Administrative Order must radiate-these const.i.tute the imperative needs of the present hour.
The consummation of this added undertaking, the prompt discharge of this additional responsibility will, no doubt, const.i.tute a befitting contribution by one of the youngest national communities in the Baha"i World to the world-wide celebrations that are to commemorate the centenary of the Birth of Baha"u"llah"s Mission, and which will parallel the termination of the fifty-year old enterprise of the first Ma_sh_riqu"l-A_dh_kar of the West, and its official opening for public Baha"i worship.
In conjunction with the various National Administrative Headquarters purchased or constructed, in the course of the last three decades, in five continents of the globe, and for the most part in the capital cities of several countries in the Eastern Hemisphere, this latest Edifice in the chain of Baha"i national inst.i.tutions linking five continents will, no doubt, serve to enhance the growing prestige of a world-wide Faith and consolidate the foundations of its administrative structure. From far-off Sydney, on the sh.o.r.es of the South Pacific Ocean, and successively through New Delhi in the heart of the Indian sub-continent, ?ihran, the capital of Baha"u"llah"s native land, Ba_gh_dad, the Iraqi capital enshrining His most holy House, Cairo, the Egyptian capital the admitted centre of both the Arab and Muslim worlds, the city of Frankfurt in the heart of both Germany and of the European continent, and as far as the heart of the North American continent and in the neighbourhood of the first Baha"i Centre established in the Western Hemisphere, this chain of Baha"i bastions of a world-encircling Order, must be further extended through an additional link to be forged in the northern part of the Western Hemisphere, and its subsequent prolongation into Latin America as far as the Republics of South America.
HAND OF THE CAUSE SUTHERLAND MAXWELL
One more word in conclusion. The pa.s.sing, at this juncture, of one(26) who, through a long career of distinguished service to the Cause of Baha"u"llah, not only since the birth of this community but in more recent years in the heart and centre of the Baha"i World, has left an indelible mark on the annals of the Faith, has evoked not only the deepest sorrow but the utmost regret at a time when this community is beginning to reap at long last the first fruits of its stewardship to the Cause of G.o.d, and the whole Baha"i World is on the eve of celebrating one of its greatest Jubilees. By reason of his own saintly life, his self-effacement, gentleness, loving kindness and n.o.bility of soul; by virtue of his remarkable endowments which he so devotedly consecrated to both the embellishment of the slopes of G.o.d"s holy mountain and the creation of a befitting design for the second most holy Baha"i Edifice embosomed in its very heart; and because of his kinship, on the one hand, with a wife(27) whom posterity will regard, not only as the mother of both the Canadian Baha"i Community and of the first Baha"i centre established on the European continent but also as one of the foremost pioneers and martyrs of the Faith and, on the other with a daughter(28), whose unfailing support to me as my helpmate, in the darkest days of my life, has earned her the t.i.tle already conferred on her father-Sutherland Maxwell has left a legacy, and achieved a position excelled by only a few among the supporters of the Faith of Baha"u"llah throughout the eleven decades of its existence.
Inspired by the example and the accomplishments of those of its members who have distinguished themselves in the Holy Land, on the European continent and in both the northern and southern continents of the Western Hemisphere this community must forge on, with thanksgiving and redoubled zeal, on the road leading it to a still more glorious destiny in the years immediately ahead. That it may press forward, conquer still greater heights, plumb greater depths of consecration, spread wider and wider the fame of the Cause of G.o.d is the cherished desire of my heart and the object of my constant supplication.
SHOGHI.
Letter of September 19, 1952
Haifa, Israel, September 19, 1952.
To the Baha"i"s who were gathered at the Ontario Summer School Conference.
The beloved Guardian has received your loving letter of August 9th, and has instructed me to write you on his behalf.
He was most happy to learn that it was possible for so large a number of the friends to attend, and that such a spirit of love and unity was present amongst them; also that a number of the attracted friends have been so touched by the spirit of the Conference, that they have declared their intention of enlisting their services in the Pathway of Baha"u"llah.
The Guardian was made happy also to learn that several of the believers have responded to the call for pioneers. A great bounty and a great responsibility will be given the Canadian believers within the coming few months, with the launching of the Ten Year Plan, and a firm foundation in the teaching field must be laid now, so that the friends will be fully equipped to shoulder their tasks, both at home and abroad, during the coming World Crusade.
The Guardian will pray for each one of you.
With loving Baha"i greetings, R. RABBANI.
May the Almighty guide your steps, remove all obstacles from your path, and enable you to win great and memorable victories in the service of His glorious Faith.
Your true brother, SHOGHI.
CANADA"S PART IN THE TEN YEAR WORLD SPIRITUAL CRUSADE. 195357
CANADA"S PART IN THE TEN YEAR WORLD SPIRITUAL CRUSADE. 195357
(Cablegrams) April 22, 1953
To the Sixth Canadian National Convention.
(Cablegrams) April 22, 1953.
Profoundly impressed magnificent victories. Love. SHOGHI.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF GOALS OF TEN YEAR CRUSADE
Overjoyed grateful triumphant conclusion Five Year Plan most momentous enterprise launched Canadian Baha"i history initiated morrow emergence independent existence Canadian Baha"i Community culminating centenary birth Baha"u"llah"s Mission const.i.tuting prelude mightier undertaking designed consolidate magnificent victories achieved homefront inaugurate community"s historic mission beyond confines Dominion. Ten Year Plan its valiant members now embarking upon enabling them push outposts faith northernmost territories Western Hemisphere a.s.sociating them members seven other sister communities raising aloft banner Faith Pacific Islands involves: