Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand Part 8

Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

_Dear co-worker:_

_I wish to a.s.sure you in person of my heartfelt sympathy in the loss you have sustained, and of my loving and ardent prayers for the departed soul.

The work with which her name will for ever be a.s.sociated will confer upon her imperishable glory, and her example will serve to stimulate the rising generation to follow in her footsteps, and carry on the work she has so n.o.bly initiated._

_Your true brother, _ _ Shoghi_

(29) May 20th, 1936

Dear Baha'i Sister,

Many thanks indeed from the Guardian for your welcome message of April 17th just received. He would certainly be delighted to meet you in Haifa next year, and hopes that your visit to the Holy Shrines will give you a fresh vigour and a renewed determination to carry on your work for the Cause. He specially cherishes the hope that your trip to England will be of great benefit to you, and also to our English believers. They will be only too happy to welcome you in their midst, and will thoroughly appreciate any a.s.sistance which you may give them during your sojourn in England.

The Guardian has learned with deep gratification of the news of the teaching work carried on by the Auckland believers. He wishes you to kindly a.s.sure them all of his best wishes and fervent prayers for the success of their labours. May Baha'u'llah bless, guide and strengthen them in every step they are taking for the spread of His Faith and the consolidation of its inst.i.tutions in this far-off land.

a.s.suring you too of his special prayers on your behalf at the Holy Shrines, and with warmest greetings,

Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

_a.s.suring you of a most hearty welcome, and wis.h.i.+ng you good-health, happiness and success,_

_Your true brother, _ _ Shoghi_

(30) September 30th, 1936

Beloved Baha'i Sister,

Your welcome letter dated August 17th has been received and read with deepest appreciation by the Guardian.

May I again express his sincere hope that your long-cherished desire to visit the Holy Shrines may be fulfilled very soon, and that through this pilgrimage you may attain a renewed zeal and vigour, as well as a new vision of the task you are called upon to accomplish for the Faith in New-Zealand.

In closing let me a.s.sure you and your fellow-workers in Auckland of his profound appreciation of your determination to press forward the work in the teaching field. He is ardently praying for the guidance and success of your labours.

With warmest greetings,

Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

_May the Beloved fulfil your heart's desire, and enable you to promote effectively the sacred and manifold interests of our beloved and glorious Faith,_

_Your true and grateful brother, _ _ Shoghi_

(31) December 7th, 1936

Dear Baha'i Sister,

The Guardian is in receipt of your letter of the fifth November, and exceedingly regrets that, owing to certain family difficulties, you have found it necessary to cancel your trip to the Holy Land. He is specially grieved to learn of the many cares and sorrows with which your daughter has been so sadly afflicted of late, and wishes me to hasten to convey to you his most loving sympathy, as well as the a.s.surance of his prayers for the removal of the family troubles with which you are beset. He fervently hopes that these afflictive trials confronting you and your beloved daughter will all serve to quicken your spiritual energies, and that the outcome of it all will be to open before you new horizons of service, and fresh fields for teaching the Message. May Baha'u'llah give you patience to courageously withstand these tests, and full guidance to use them as a means to more active, concentrated and selfless service to His Cause. Do a.s.sure, therefore, your daughter not to feel disheartened, but to confidently endeavour to overcome her domestic sorrows and cares.

In closing may I express the Guardian's hope that, as soon as your family problems are solved, you may be able to undertake your long-cherished pilgrimage to the Holy Shrines. He is ardently praying for the materialization of your hopes and plans in this connection.

It is a pleasure to learn of the successful visit of Mr Schopflocher(6) to Auckland, and of the warm welcome he has been accorded by you and the friends. This is a true evidence of the strong ties of fellows.h.i.+p so closely uniting the friends throughout the world, and of the deep affection which the believers in New-Zealand cherish for their fellow-believers in every region and clime.

With renewed and warmest greetings to you and to the friends in Auckland,

Yours in the Guardian's Service, H. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

_a.s.suring you of my loving and ardent prayers for the removal of every obstacle from your path, and for the speedy realization of your dearest hopes,_

_Your true brother, _ _ Shoghi_

(32) November 8th, 1937

Dear Baha'i Sister,

Many thanks for your letter of September 16th addressed to our beloved Guardian. He is most pleased indeed to hear of Miss Holloway's interest in the Cause and appreciates keenly your efforts for bringing about her full confirmation in the Faith. He is, at your suggestion, writing her directly and giving her the addresses of some individuals and centers in South Africa. He hopes that through contact with the friends her interest in the Teachings will be considerably increased and she will be stimulated to help in spreading their knowledge throughout South Africa.

The Guardian wishes you to keep in closest touch with her through correspondence, and to send her suitable literature on the Cause, and to endeavour to make her join actively the Faith.

Again with many thanks for introducing this lady who indeed seems to be a most promising worker, and with loving greetings to all the friends in Auckland.

Yours ever in His Service, H. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

_May the Beloved bless you and aid you to surmount all obstacles that may stand in your path, and aid you to lend a fresh impetus to the work that has been so splendidly initiated._