Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand Part 9

The community of the Most Great Name in these far-off islands have lost a great leader, a stalwart upholder of the new World Order of Baha'u'llah.

The influence he has exercised will however continue to live, and the example he has set will inspire the rising generation to perform deeds as great and brilliant as those which will ever remain a.s.sociated with his name. Our dear friend, Mr. Hyde Dunn, will, from his exalted station intercede on your behalf, and you should, on your part strive to emulate one whom Baha'i historians will recognise and acclaim as Australia's spiritual conqueror. I will pray for his dear spiritual children from the depths of my heart.

Your true brother, Shoghi.

The pa.s.sing of yet another staunch and indefatigible worker, Miss Stevenson, const.i.tutes yet another loss to the believers in that continent. The work which that exemplary pioneer has achieved however is imperishable. Kindly a.s.sure her relatives of my deepfelt sympathy.

Sh.

LETTER OF JULY 30TH, 1941

July 30th, 1941

Dear Baha'i Sister:

The Guardian has instructed me to answer your welcome letter to him of June 20th, with all its good news.

The response your teaching work met with in Brisbane is truly most encouraging and shows a remarkable receptivity on the part of the people of Australia to the Divine Message. Shoghi Effendi hopes that you will be able to undertake many such trips in furtherance of the teaching work and that an increasing number of the friends will do likewise.

Indeed all the news that comes from the Baha'is of Australia and New Zealand bears witness to the soundness of their understanding of the teachings, their loyalty and devotion to the Cause and its laws, and the excellence of their faith itself.

The Guardian has recently written a long general letter to the Baha'is of the West. Owing to its length and the difficulty of sending a large number of ma.n.u.scripts abroad at such a time, he has requested the N.S.A. of America to forward it to the other National Spiritual a.s.semblies. He trusts it will soon reach you.

The news received of the Winter session of the Yerrinbool school was very encouraging. Shoghi Effendi hopes that many of these points of community contact, such as school sessions, teaching conferences-whatever form of activity is most feasible-will be increasingly inaugurated, as they are of vital importance in fostering the work of the Cause.

He most deeply appreciates your own untiring services in promotion of the Faith in all its branches. You may rest a.s.sured that he will often pray for you, and he will also pray for the confirmation of those souls whom you and Mrs. Hawthorne attracted during your recent trip.

With Baha'i love,

Yours in His service, R. Rabbani.

P.S. The Guardian has not yet received the record of Martha's voice nor photographs of Father Dunn. Will you kindly send one copy of each to him as soon as convenient.

R. R.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers:

It is indeed thrilling to note the rapidity and soundness with which the flouris.h.i.+ng Baha'i community in that far-off land is establis.h.i.+ng the Faith of Baha'u'llah, is fearlessly proclaiming its truths, upholding its verities and standards, multiplying its inst.i.tutions, defending its interests, disseminating its literature, and exemplifying its invincible power and spirit. I rejoice, feel proud, and am eternally grateful. I cannot but pray, with redoubled fervour, to Him Who so manifestly guides and sustains you, to increase your numbers, to remove every barrier that obstructs your path, to safeguard your unity, to bless your undertakings and to enable you to demonstrate, afresh and with still greater force, the reality of the faith that animates you in the discharge of your sacred duties. Be a.s.sured and persevere.

Shoghi.

LETTER OF DECEMBER 26TH, 1941

Haifa, December 26th, 1941.

Dear Baha'i Sister:

The Guardian has instructed me to answer your letters dated Sep. 23rd. and Oct. 1st, and to acknowledge the receipt of the ma.n.u.script you sent for "Baha'i World" vol. IX, also the photographs of Father Dunn's home and his own picture.

Regarding the questions you asked in your letter:

No. 1. Confucius was not a Prophet. It is quite correct to say he is the founder of a moral system and a great reformer.

No. 2. The Buddha was a Manifestation of G.o.d, like Christ, but his followers do not possess his authentic writings.

No. 3. Zoroaster was not Abraham; the Muslims, some of them, contend that they were the same, but we believe they were two distinct Prophets. There is a misunderstanding in the reference in "Baha'i Proofs" to this matter.

No. 4. There are no Prophets, so far, in the same category as Baha'u'llah, as He culminates a great cycle begun with Adam.

No. 5. The Greatest Name is the Name of Baha'u'llah. "Ya Baha'u'l-Abha" is an invocation meaning: "O Thou Glory of Glories"! "Allah-u-Abha" is a greeting which means: "G.o.d the All-Glorious". Both refer to Baha'u'llah.

By Greatest Name is meant that Baha'u'llah has appeared in G.o.d's Greatest Name, in other words, that He is the Supreme Manifestation of G.o.d.

No. 6. Revelations 3.12, refers to the Revelation of Baha'u'llah.

No. 7. References in the Bible to "Mt. Paran" and "Paraclete" refer to Muhammad's Revelation. Deuteronomy 33.2; Genesis 21.21.; Numbers 12.16; Numbers 13.3.; Genesis 17.20 refers to the twelve Imams and in the Revelation of St. John, Chap. 11.; where it mentions two witnesses, it refers to Muhammad and 'Ali.

No. 8. The statement in the "Gleanings", p. 6465, "who out of utter nothingness.." etc., should be taken in a symbolic and not literal sense.

It is only to demonstrate the power and greatness of G.o.d.

No. 9. The Guardian considers that the gist of what Mrs. Hanford Ford reported can be considered quite correct.

No. 10. The figures 1290 date from the declaration of Muhammad, ten years before His flight to Medina.

No. 11. The intercalary days are specially set aside for hospitality, the giving of gifts, etc. Baha'u'llah Himself specified that they be used this way, but gave no explanation for it.

No. 12. The Baha'i Summer-Schools were originated in America to meet the requirements of the friends. They have been adopted by other Baha'i communities the world-over, but there is no reason why they should be called "Summer Schools". There is nothing rigid about the term, it is purely descriptive. The Guardian feels that although you can have the immediate affairs of your Summer-Schools managed by a convenient local a.s.sembly, they should remain under the direct supervision of the National Spiritual a.s.sembly as they are national in character and not purely local.

A few days ago Mr. Jim Heggie came to see the Guardian. He was able to visit all the shrines and archives as well. Shoghi Effendi was delighted with him, he found him devoted, full of faith and zeal, and very well read in the teachings. He feels that if this is a sample of the Baha'i youth of Australia, there is, indeed, a wonderful future ahead of that country!

He will be very pleased to receive the picture of Father Dunn's grave as soon as it is available.

The Guardian a.s.sures you and the members of the National Spiritual a.s.sembly that his prayers are constantly being offered on your behalf. He is so very pleased with the good news he receives of your activities and the spread of the Cause in those distant lands.

Only yesterday he was reading a most heartening and enthusiastic report of the work in Tasmania, which greatly cheered him.

Dark as these days are he feels confident that the Australian and New-Zealand Baha'is will continue with unabated devotion to carry on their excellent and exemplary services to the Faith.

His prayers are with them all, and his loving grat.i.tude goes out to you who lead and co-ordinate their activities.