To the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful
throughout America, Great Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Japan
and Australasia.
Fellow-workers in the Vineyard of God!
Over a year has elapsed since that calamitous Hour, when the
glorious Person of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was veiled from mortal eyes and His Spirit
ascended to the Kingdom of Glory; and I feel that the time is now ripe to take
those fresh and momentous decisions which will enable us to fulfill, speedily
and faithfully, the last wishes of our departed Master.
The year has been to the outside world a year of fear and
suffering, of disillusion and turmoil. To us, however, the bereaved followers
of a gracious and loving Master, it has been, despite the passing cares which
His sudden departure must necessarily entail, a period of hope, of wholesome
activity, marked throughout with a spirit of undiminished confidence in His
power and of fidelity to His Cause.
From the East and from the West, from the North and from the
South, the unnumbered servants of Bahá’u’lláh, disdainful of the evil
machinations of the enemies of His Cause, the breakers of His behests, have
rallied to His Standard, and risen with one accord to carry on the great Work
He has entrusted to their charge. All-hail to that undying spirit of fidelity
which burns and shall burn unceasingly, in the breasts of His loved ones! Great
shall be their reward, and blissful the hour, when after a toilsome life of
service, they are gathered to the glory of Bahá, and partake in their Beloved’s
Presence, of the joy of eternal Reunion.
But great achievements still await us in this world, and we
feel confident that, by His grace and never-failing guidance, we shall now and ever
prove ourselves worthy to fulfill His great Purpose for mankind. And who can
fail to realize the sore need of bleeding humanity, in its present state of
uncertainty and peril, for the regenerating Spirit of God, manifested this Day
so powerfully in this Divine Dispensation? Four years of unprecedented warfare
and world cataclysms, followed by another four years of bitter disappointment
and suffering, have stirred deeply the conscience of mankind, and opened the
eyes of an unbelieving world to the Power of the Spirit that alone can cure its
sicknesses, heal its wounds, and establish the long-promised reign of
undisturbed prosperity and peace.
Now surely, if ever, is the time for us, the chosen ones of
Bahá’u’lláh and the bearers of His Message to the world, to endeavor by day and
by night, to deepen, first and foremost, the Spirit of His Cause in our own
individual lives, and then labor, and labor incessantly to exemplify in all our
dealings with our fellow-men that noble Spirit of which His beloved Son
‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been all the days of His life a true and unique exponent. The
sayings of our beloved Master have been noised abroad, His name has filled all
regions, and the eyes of mankind are now turned expectant towards His disciples
who bear His name and profess His teachings. Shall we not by our daily life
vindicate the high claims of His teachings, and prove by our services the
influence of His undying Spirit? This surely is our highest privilege, and our
most sacred duty.
Let us, with a pure heart, with humility and earnestness,
turn afresh to His counsels and exhortations, and seek from that Source of
Celestial Potency all the guidance, the spirit, the power which we shall need
for the fulfillment of our mission in this life.
Behold, the station to which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is now calling His
loved ones from the Realm of Glory:—
“It behooveth the loved ones of God to be enamored of one
another and to sacrifice themselves for their fellow-workers in the Cause. They
should yearn towards one another even as the sore athirst yearneth for the
Water of Life, and the lover burneth to meet his heart’s desire.”
Such is the sublime, the glorious position He wishes us, and
all the peoples and kindreds on earth, to attain in this world; how much more
to achieve unity and common understanding among ourselves, and then arise to
herald with one voice the coming of the Kingdom and the salvation of mankind.
With unity of purpose firmly established in our minds, with
every trace of personal animosity banished from our hearts, and with the spirit
of whole-hearted and sustained fellowship kindled in our souls, can we hope to
deliver effectively the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, and execute faithfully the
various provisions of our Beloved’s Will and Testament.
Steadfast in our faith, firm in our union, abounding in our
hope, fervent in our spirit, and selfless in our labors, let us arise and with
prayerful hearts make another and supreme effort to fulfill these last words of
our Beloved, His most cherished desire:
“O ye that stand fast in the Covenant! When the hour cometh
that this wronged and broken winged bird will have taken its flight unto the
Celestial Concourse, when it will have hastened to the Realm of the Unseen, and
its mortal frame will have either been lost or hidden neath the dust, it is
incumbent upon the Afnán that are steadfast in the Covenant of God and have
branched from the Tree of Holiness, the Hands of the Cause of God (the glory of
the Lord rest upon them), and all the friends and loved ones, one and all, to
bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul and in one accord to diffuse
the sweet savors of God, to teach His Cause and to promote His Faith. It
behooveth them not to rest for a moment, neither to seek repose. They must disperse
themselves in every land, pass by every clime, and travel throughout all
regions. Bestirred, without rest, and steadfast to the end, they must raise in
every land the triumphal cry of Yá-Bahá’u’l-Abhá, must achieve renown in the
world wherever they go, must burn brightly even as a candle in every meeting,
and must kindle the flame of Divine Love in every assembly; that the Light of
Truth may rise resplendent in the midmost heart of the world, that throughout
the East and throughout the West a vast concourse may gather under the shadow
of the Word of God, that the sweet savors of Holiness may be diffused, that
faces may shine radiantly, hearts be filled with the Divine Spirit and souls be
made heavenly. In these days the most important of all things is the guidance
of the nations and the peoples of the world. Teaching the Cause is of utmost
importance, for it is the head corner-stone of the foundation itself. This
wronged servant has spent his days and nights in promoting the Cause, and
urging the peoples to service. He rested not a moment, till the fame of the
Cause of God was noised abroad in the world, and the Celestial Strains from the
Abhá Kingdom roused the East and the West. The beloved of God must also follow
the same example. This is the secret of faithfulness, this is the requirement
of servitude to the Threshold of Bahá.”
We need but glance at the Words of Bahá’u’lláh and the
Epistles of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to realize the great privilege of teaching the Cause,
its vital necessity, its supreme urgency, and its wide-reaching effects. These
are the very words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:—
“In these days, the Holy Ones of the Realm of Glory,
dwelling in the all-highest Paradise, yearn to return unto this world, and be
of some service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and prove their servitude to the
Threshold of Abhá beauty.”
What a wondrous vision these words unfold to our eyes! How
great our privilege to labor in this Day in the Divine Vineyard! Is it not
incumbent upon us to arise and teach His Cause with such an ardor which no
worldly adversity can quell, nor any measure of success can satiate?
And, now that this all-important Work may suffer no neglect,
but rather function vigorously and continuously in every part of the Bahá’í
world; that the unity of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh may remain secure and
inviolate, it is of the utmost importance that in accordance with the explicit
text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book, in every locality, be it city or
hamlet, where the number of adult (21 years and above) declared believers
exceeds nine, a local “Spiritual Assembly” be forthwith established. To it all
local matters pertaining to the Cause must be directly and immediately referred
for full consultation and decision. The importance, nay the absolute necessity
of these local Assemblies is manifest when we realize that in the days to come they
will evolve into the local Houses of Justice, and at present provide the firm
foundation on which the structure of the Master’s Will is to be reared in
future.
The matter of Teaching, its direction, its ways and means,
its extension, its consolidation, essential as they are to the interests of the
Cause, constitute by no means the only issue which should receive the full
attention of these Assemblies. A careful study of Bahá’u’lláh’s and
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets will reveal that other duties, no less vital to the
interests of the Cause, devolve upon the elected representatives of the friends
in every locality.
It is incumbent upon them to be vigilant and cautious,
discreet and watchful, and protect at all times the Temple of the Cause from
the dart of the mischief-maker and the onslaught of the enemy.
They must endeavor to promote amity and concord amongst the
friends, efface every lingering trace of distrust, coolness and estrangement
from every heart, and secure in its stead an active and whole-hearted
cooperation for the service of the Cause.
They must do their utmost to extend at all times the helping
hand to the poor, the sick, the disabled, the orphan, the widow, irrespective
of color, caste and creed.
They must promote by every means in their power the material
as well as the spiritual enlightenment of youth, the means for the education of
children, institute, whenever possible, Bahá’í educational institutions,
organize and supervise their work and provide the best means for their progress
and development.
They must make an effort to maintain official, regular, and
frequent correspondence with the various Bahá’í centers throughout the world,
report to them their activities, and share the glad-tidings they receive with
all their fellow-workers in the Cause.
They must encourage and stimulate by every means at their
command, through subscription, reports and articles, the development of the
various Bahá’í magazines, such as the “Star of the West” and the “Magazine of
the Children of the Kingdom” in the United States of America, the “Bahá’í News”
of India, the “Sun of the East” (Khurshid-i Khavar) in Turkestan, the “Star of
the East” in Japan, the “Sun of Truth” in Germany.
They must undertake the arrangement of the regular meetings
of the friends, the feasts and the anniversaries, as well as the special
gatherings designed to serve and promote the social, intellectual and spiritual
interests of their fellow-men.
They must supervise in these days when the Cause is still in
its infancy all Bahá’í publications and translations, and provide in general
for a dignified and accurate presentation of all Bahá’í literature and its
distribution to the general public.
These rank among the most outstanding obligations of the
members of every Spiritual Assembly. In whatsoever locality the Cause has
sufficiently expanded, and in order to insure efficiency and avoid confusion,
each of these manifold functions will have to be referred to a special
Committee, responsible to that Assembly, elected by it from among the friends
in that locality, and upon whose work the Assembly will have to exercise
constant and general supervision.
These local Spiritual Assemblies will have to be elected
directly by the friends, and every declared believer of 21 years and above, far
from standing aloof and assuming an indifferent or independent attitude, should
regard it his sacred duty to take part conscientiously and diligently, in the
election, the consolidation and the efficient working of his own local
Assembly.
Regarding the establishment of “National Assemblies,” it is
of vital importance that in every country, where the conditions are favorable
and the number of the friends has grown and reached a considerable size, such
as America, Great Britain and Germany, that a “National Spiritual Assembly” be
immediately established, representative of the friends throughout that country.
Its immediate purpose is to stimulate, unify and coordinate
by frequent personal consultations, the manifold activities of the friends as
well as the local Assemblies; and by keeping in close and constant touch with
the Holy Land, initiate measures, and direct in general the affairs of the
Cause in that country.
It serves also another purpose, no less essential than the
first, as in the course of time it shall evolve into the National House of
Justice (referred to in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will as the “secondary House of
Justice”), which according to the explicit text of the Testament will have, in
conjunction with the other National Assemblies throughout the Bahá’í world, to
elect directly the members of the International House of Justice, that Supreme
Council that will guide, organize and unify the affairs of the Movement
throughout the world.
It is expressly recorded in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Writings that
these National Assemblies must be indirectly elected by the friends; that is,
the friends in every country must elect a certain number of delegates, who in
their turn will elect from among all the friends in that country the members of
the National Spiritual Assembly. In such countries, therefore, as America,
Great Britain and Germany, a fixed number of secondary electors must first be
decided upon (95 for America, including the Pacific Islands; 95 for Germany;
and 19 for Great Britain). The friends then in every locality where the number
of adult declared believers exceeds nine must directly elect its quota of secondary
electors assigned to it in direct proportion to its numerical strength. These
secondary electors will then, either through correspondence, or preferably by
gathering together, and first deliberating upon the affairs of the Cause
throughout their country (as the delegates to the Convention), elect from among
all the friends in that country nine who will be the members of the National
Spiritual Assembly.
This National Spiritual Assembly, which, pending the
establishment of the Universal House of Justice, will have to be re-elected
once a year, obviously assumes grave responsibilities, for it has to exercise
full authority over all the local Assemblies in its province, and will have to
direct the activities of the friends, guard vigilantly the Cause of God, and
control and supervise the affairs of the Movement in general.
Vital issues, affecting the interests of the Cause in that
country such as the matter of translation and publication, the
Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the Teaching Work, and other similar matters that stand
distinct from strictly local affairs, must be under the full jurisdiction of
the National Assembly.
It will have to refer each of these questions, even as the
local Assemblies, to a special Committee, to be elected by the members of the National
Spiritual Assembly, from among all the friends in that country, which will bear
to it the same relation as the local committees bear to their respective local
Assemblies.
With it, too, rests the decision whether a certain point at
issue is strictly local in its nature, and should be reserved for the
consideration and decision of the local Assembly, or whether it should fall
under its own province and be regarded as a matter which ought to receive its
special attention. The National Spiritual Assembly will also decide upon such
matters which in its opinion should be referred to the Holy Land for
consultation and decision.
With these Assemblies, local as well as national,
harmoniously, vigorously, and efficiently functioning throughout the Bahá’í
world, the only means for the establishment of the Supreme House of Justice
will have been secured. And when this Supreme Body will have been properly
established, it will have to consider afresh the whole situation, and lay down
the principle which shall direct, so long as it deems advisable, the affairs of
the Cause.
Pending its establishment, and to insure uniformity
throughout the East and throughout the West, all local Assemblies will have to
be re-elected once a year, during the first day of Ridván, and the result of
polling, if possible, be declared on that day.
In order to avoid division and disruption, that the Cause
may not fall a prey to conflicting interpretations, and lose thereby its purity
and pristine vigor, that its affairs may be conducted with efficiency and
promptness, it is necessary that every one should conscientiously take an
active part in the election of these Assemblies, abide by their decisions,
enforce their decree, and cooperate with them wholeheartedly in their task of
stimulating the growth of the Movement throughout all regions. The members of
these Assemblies, on their part, must disregard utterly their own likes and
dislikes, their personal interests and inclinations, and concentrate their
minds upon those measures that will conduce to the welfare and happiness of the
Bahá’í Community and promote the common weal.
And as the progress and execution of spiritual activities is
dependent and conditioned upon material means, it is of absolute necessity that
immediately after the establishment of local as well as national Spiritual
Assemblies, a Bahá’í Fund be established, to be placed under the exclusive
control of the Spiritual Assembly. All donations and contributions should be
offered to the Treasurer of the Assembly, for the express purpose of promoting
the interests of the Cause, throughout that locality or country. It is the
sacred obligation of every conscientious and faithful servant of Bahá’u’lláh
who desires to see His Cause advance, to contribute freely and generously for
the increase of that Fund. The members of the Spiritual Assembly will at their
own discretion expend it to promote the Teaching Campaign, to help the needy,
to establish educational Bahá’í institutions, to extend in every way possible
their sphere of service. I cherish the hope that all the friends, realizing the
necessity of this measure, will bestir themselves and contribute, however
modestly at first, towards the speedy establishment and the increase of that
Fund.
The need for the centralization of authority in the National
Spiritual Assembly, and the concentration of power in the various local
Assemblies, is made manifest when we reflect that the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh is
still in its age of tender growth and in a stage of transition; when we
remember that the full implications and the exact significance of the Master’s
world-wide instructions, as laid down in His Will, are as yet not fully
grasped, and the whole Movement has not sufficiently crystallized in the eyes
of the world.
It is our primary task to keep the most vigilant eye on the
manner and character of its growth, to combat effectively the forces of
separation and of sectarian tendencies, lest the Spirit of the Cause be
obscured, its unity be threatened, its Teachings suffer corruption; lest
extreme orthodoxy on one hand, and irresponsible freedom on the other, cause it
to deviate from that Straight Path which alone can lead it to success.
But let us be on our guard—so the Master continually reminds
us from His Station on high—lest too much concern in that which is secondary in
importance, and too long a preoccupation with the details of our affairs and
activities, make us neglectful of the most essential, the most urgent of all
our obligations, namely, to bury our cares and teach the Cause, delivering far
and wide this Message of Salvation to a sorely-stricken world.
To His valiant combatants on earth, who at times may feel
disheartened, our ever-victorious Commander, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, gives us the
following assurance:
“O ye servants of the Sacred Threshold! The triumphant Hosts
of the Celestial Concourse, arrayed and marshalled in the Realms above, stand
ready and expectant to assist and assure victory to that valiant horseman who
with confidence spurs on his charger into the arena of service. Well is it with
that fearless warrior, who armed with the power of true Knowledge, hastens unto
the field, disperses the armies of ignorance, and scatters the hosts of error,
who holds aloft the Standard of Divine Guidance, and sounds the Clarion of
Victory. By the righteousness of the Lord! He hath achieved a glorious triumph
and obtained the true victory....”
With such inspiring words as these, are we to remain any
longer unmoved and inactive? His trumpet-call resounds on every side, and
summons us to service; are we to tarry and hesitate? His voice is calling aloud
from every land; let us march on, unfettered and unafraid, and fulfill our
glorious Destiny.
SHOGHI
Haifa, Palestine,
March 12, 1923.
('Baha’i Administration')
