Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand Part 3

LETTER OF APRIL 26TH, 1936

April 26th, 1936

Beloved Baha'i Sister,

I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter of the 30th March informing him of the date of Miss Kitty Carpenter's arrival in Port-Said. You can be sure that the friends will be most delighted to meet her, and to render her journey to Haifa as safe and comfortable as possible.

The Guardian himself is eagerly looking forward to the pleasure of meeting her, and cherishes the hope that through this pilgrimage she may receive a renewed stimulus to better work for the promotion of the Faith upon her return home.

The Guardian has also noted with deep satisfaction the preparations made by your N.S.A. for this year's meeting in Melbourne. He is praying that in spite of the difficulties you have encountered in carrying out your plans this important gathering of the Australian and New-Zealand believers may prove another landmark in the history of the Cause throughout that Continent.

With loving greetings to you and your dear fellow-members,

Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.

[Appended by the Guardian]

May the Almighty bless you and your dearly-loved co-workers and fellow-members, and enable you all to proclaim far and wide the essential truths of this glorious Revelation and to lay una.s.sailable foundations for its inst.i.tutions.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi.

LETTER OF JUNE 10TH, 1936

June 10th, 1936

Dear Miss Brooks,

I am instructed by our beloved Guardian to acknowledge with deepest thanks the receipt of your letter of March 30th written on behalf of the N.S.A.

of Australia and New-Zealand.

He is rejoiced to learn of the projected formation of a Spiritual a.s.sembly in Perth, and hopes that by the time this letter reaches you the a.s.sembly will have been duly const.i.tuted and will be functioning with the utmost unity, efficiency and vigour.

In this connection he wishes me to bring to your a.s.sembly's attention the necessity of their taking the necessary steps for the incorporation of the N.S.A.. This step, he feels, is of a vital importance to the further development of your a.s.sembly, and will no doubt give it more stability and an added influence, specially in the eyes of the general public.

The Guardian would also advise that the local a.s.semblies take a similar step, and obtain official recognition from the authorities. In case the Auckland a.s.sembly has been registered in the government, will you be so kind as to send him photostatic reproductions of any registration papers or doc.u.ments that the Auckland friends may have obtained from the authorities, as he wishes to have them published in the next "Baha'i World".

As regards the photograph of your N.S.A; the Guardian wishes me to inform you that in going over the ma.n.u.script of the "Baha'i World", which was sent to him from the States, he found your a.s.sembly's picture already incorporated in it. The ma.n.u.script has now been sent back to America and is awaiting publication.

With loving Baha'i greetings, Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-worker:

The incessant efforts so devotedly exerted by the members of your distinguished a.s.sembly are a.s.sets that I greatly value and of which I am truly proud. I will fervently pray for the extension of your activities and the fulfilment of your dearest hopes. Rest a.s.sured and persevere.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi.

LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 23RD, 1936

September 23rd, 1936

Dear Miss Brooks,

Your detailed communication of July 14th written on behalf of the N.S.A.

of Australia and New-Zealand, together with its enclosures have all duly arrived, and their contents read with deepest interest and appreciation by our beloved Guardian. Also the photographs and blocks have duly reached him, as well as the local a.s.sembly reports sent under separate cover.

Please accept his most sincere and grateful thanks for them all.

Regarding the proposed News Letter to be issued every three months by your N.S.A; this, the Guardian feels, is a splendid idea and can render a unique and much-needed help to your a.s.sembly in its efforts for the establishment of the Administration, and the more effective functioning of its inst.i.tutions throughout Australia and New-Zealand. Not only it has the great advantage of keeping the friends well-informed about the events and developments in the Cause, but in addition can help in consolidating the organic unity of the believers by bringing them within the full orbit of the N.S.A.'s jurisdiction. It is hoped that this body will do its utmost to maintain the publication of this bulletin, and will make full use of this splendid medium for the further widening and consolidation of the foundations of the local as well as national a.s.semblies.

As regards Mrs. ...'s request that you a.s.sist her in her project of uniting the believers through correspondence; this is of course a task which is quite secondary compared to the duties and responsibilities you are called upon to discharge as secretary of the N.S.A. Your secretarial work in that body imposes upon you a paramount obligation which no other service can equal in importance. All your other Baha'i activities should be subordinated to your work in the N.S.A. which is, undoubtedly, the most vital and urgent among them all.

Concerning the Greatest Name; this term refers both to "Allah-u-Abha" and to "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha". The first is a form of Baha'i greeting and should be used, while the other is an invocation, meaning "O Thou Glory of Glories!" These two words are both referred to as the Greatest Name.

The Guardian, while fully aware of the difficulties, both financial and otherwise which your N.S.A. is facing in connection with the publication of the "Herald of the South", feels nevertheless the urge to advise you to continue with this magazine and not to feel in the least discouraged if your efforts for meeting the expenses incurred for its printing and circulation, and for raising its literary standard, do not bring the expected results. He very deeply values the self-sacrificing and sustained efforts exerted by your a.s.sembly in this connection. May Baha'u'llah richly reward you for all your meritorious endeavours.

With warmest Baha'i Greetings,

Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-worker:

The work in which your National a.s.sembly is engaged, and which it is prosecuting with such fidelity, diligence and perseverance is near and dear to my heart. You are laying an una.s.sailable foundation for the erection of mighty Baha'i inst.i.tutions which future generations are destined to extend and perfect. Your pioneer work is arduous and highly meritorious. I feel proud of your achievements, realizing as I do the circ.u.mstances in which you labour. 'Abdu'l-Baha is watching over you and is well-pleased with your services. Persevere and rest a.s.sured.

Affectionately, Shoghi.

LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 25TH, 1936

September 25th, 1936

Dear Miss Brooks,