7 May 1923: To the Baha’is in New South Wales, New Zealand and Victoria

The beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful in New South Wales, New Zealand and Victoria. Care of Mr and Mrs. Hyde Dunn, Victoria.

Dearly beloved brethren and sisters in the Love of God!

The two letters which I have recently received from our active and devoted brother, Mr Hyde Dunn, dated April 1st and 5th, have given me the greatest pleasure, as they indicated the growth of a deepfelt interest in the Movement, throughout those outlying regions of the earth.

How great is your privilege to labour in this Day in the Divine Vineyard! How sweet and encouraging the thought that the seeds you now scatter will soon germinate and yield an abundant harvest! It is my prayer and hope that your energy may never slacken, your faith and courage never fade, that you may advance, steadily and peacefully, and attain your heart’s desire.

It is of the utmost importance that those friends whose souls have been illumined by the Light of this Divine Revelation, should if possible scatter over that vast continent, establish themselves in various localities, and from there as their permanent headquarters, travel in the vicinity and endeavour to win to this Cause the most able, the most enlightened of all men

I shall be most happy to learn of the address of these various permanent residences, that I may immediately communicate with them all, and do all that I can to consolidate their respective centres, and promote the work of Teaching. I would welcome also the permanent postal and telegraphic address of Mr. and Mrs. Hyde Dunn, which will enable me to keep in constant touch with the progress of the Work in that part of the world.

20 April 1923: To the Baha'is of Canada

The beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout the Dominion of Canada, c/o the secretary of the Montreal Spiritual Assembly

My dearly beloved friends!

I was deeply interested and immensely grateful to read the newly received messages and letters from that distant land, all testifying to the growth of a new spirit of enthusiasm and fellowship recently kindled in the hearts of those few, yet earnest, workers for the Cause of Baha’u’llah. The report sent to me recently by the Secretary of the Montreal Spiritual Assembly, as well as the letters which our beloved spiritual sister, Mrs. Scbopflocherber, has received from America, all gave me the assurance that a new era of spiritual activity is dawning upon the people of that land. May the repeated promises of 'Abdu'l-Baha regarding the ultimate religious revival of that spiritually conservative country, and the universal and whole-hearted response of its people to the Call of Ya'-Baha’u’l-Abha' be speedily fulfilled.

It behoves us, now that the signs of that glorious and promised Day are fast appearing, to arise, with utter selflessness, unity and determination, to promote and consolidate the Work which He has Himself established in the heart of that vast Dominion, and prove ourselves, by our wisdom, moderation, and constancy, worthy of the many bestowals He has showered upon us in the past. If we but follow in His Way, regard at all times the dignity of the Cause, guard sedulously its unity and vital principles, and exercise the utmost endeavour to keep its Spirit pure, effective, and unobscured, then, and only then, can we hope to achieve the immediate spread and triumph of the Cause.

Our beloved Baha’i sister, Mrs. May Maxwell, the pioneer of the Cause in Cause in Canada, will soon be with us in the Holy Land, and I trust that after her visit to the Three Holy Shrines, she may be enabled to return, invigorated and refreshed, ready to continue, in collaboration with you all, the mission which the Master has destined her to fulfill in this world. May l assure you again of my constant prayers for your success, and of my desire to bear from you all, individually and collectively, regarding the progress of your labours, and the plans you contemplate for the further advancement of the Movement in those regions.

l am your brother and co-worker,

Shoghi

Haifa, Palestine

April 20, 1923

(‘Messages to Canada’)