|
<<previous |
next>> |
|
|
Citadel of Faith
|
Pages 22-24
|
|
EVOLVING STRONGHOLDS IN TEN INITIAL COUNTRIES
| |
1 |
The ten countries, constituting the initial field wherein the prowess
of these crusaders must, in the years immediately ahead, be exhibited,
and in whose capitals the foundations of the embryonic Order of the
Faith of Bahá'u'lláh must preferably be unassailably laid, must each
evolve into strongholds from which the dynamic energies of that Faith
can be diffused to neighboring territories in the course of the unfoldment
of the Plan. The nuclei that are now being formed, and the
groups that are beginning to emerge, must be speedily and systematically
reinforced, not only through the dispatch and settlement of
pioneers and the visits paid them by itinerant teachers, but also through
the progressive development of the teaching work which the pioneers
themselves must initiate and foster among the native population in
those countries. Any artificially created assembly, consisting of settlers
from abroad, can at best be considered as temporary and insecure, and
should, if the second stage of the European enterprise is to be commenced
without undue delay in the future, be supplanted by broad-based,
securely grounded, efficiently functioning assemblies, composed
primarily of the people of the countries themselves, who are firm
in faith, unimpeachable in their loyalty and whole-hearted in their
support of the Administrative Order of the Faith. The twenty-five
pioneers that have already proceeded to Scandinavia and the Low
Countries, to the Iberian Peninsula, to Switzerland and Italy, should, in
the course of this current year, and while the process of teaching the
native population is being inaugurated, be reinforced by as many
additional pioneers as possible, and particularly by those who, possessed
of independent means, can, either themselves or through their appointed
deputies, swell the number of the valiant workers already
laboring with such devotion in those fields.
| |
2 |
The translation, the publication and dissemination of Bahá'í literature,
whether in the form of leaflets, pamphlets or books, in the nine
selected languages, should, as the work progresses and the demand is
correspondingly increased, be strenuously carried out, as a preliminary
to its free distribution among the public on certain occasions, and its
presentation to both the leaders of public thought and the numerous
and famous libraries established in those countries. No time should be
lost in establishing, on however small a scale, initial contact with the
press and other agencies designed to invite greater attention on the part
of the masses to the historic work now being initiated in their respective
countries.
| |
3 |
No opportunity, in view of the necessity of insuring the harmonious
development of the Faith, should be ignored, which its potential
enemies, whether ecclesiastical or otherwise, may offer, to set forth, in a
restrained and unprovocative language, its aims and tenets, to defend
its interests, to proclaim its universality, to assert the supernatural, the
supra-national and non-political character of its institutions, and its
acceptance of the divine origin of the Faiths which have preceded it.
Nor should any chance be missed of associating the Faith, as distinct
from affiliating it, with all progressive, non-political, non-ecclesiastical
institutions, whether social, educational, or charitable, whose objectives
harmonize with some of its tenets, and amongst whose members and
supporters individuals may be found who will eventually embrace its
truth. Particular attention should, moreover, be paid to attendance at
congresses and conferences, and to any contacts that can be made with
colleges and universities which offer a fertile field for the scattering of
the seeds of the Faith, and afford opportunities for broadcasting its
message, and for winning fresh recruits to its strength.
| |
4 |
Nor should any occasion be neglected by the pioneers of attending,
if their personal circumstances permit, either the British or German
Bahá'í summer schools, and of forging such links with these institutions
as will not only assist them in the discharge of their duties, but enable
them to initiate, when the time is ripe, an institution of a similar
character, under the auspices of the European Teaching Committee
--an institution which will be the forerunner of the summer schools
that will have to be founded separately by the future assemblies
in their respective countries. Above all, any assistance which the two
national spiritual assemblies, already established on that continent, and
their auxiliary committees, and particularly their publishing agencies,
can extend should be gratefully welcomed and utilized to the full, until
such time as the institutions destined to evolve in these countries can
assume independently the conduct of their own affairs.
| |
5 |
A constant interchange of news between the centers, through the
medium of the Geneva Bulletin, whose scope must be steadily enlarged,
and close contact with each other through the European office
of the European Teaching Committee, functioning as an adjunct to the
International Bahá'í Bureau, should, furthermore, be maintained and
reinforced, whenever circumstances are favorable, by the convening of
conferences, which will bring together as many pioneers laboring in
these ten countries, and newly converted believers, as possible, enabling
them to jointly consider their plans, problems and activities,
concert measures for the progress of the Faith in that continent, and
pave the way for the future formation of regional national spiritual
assemblies, which must precede the constitution of separate independent
national institutions in each of these countries. Such summer
schools and conferences, initiated and conducted by one of the most
important agencies of the highest administrative institution in the
North American Bahá'í Community, gathering together as they will
Bahá'í representatives of various races and nations on the continent of
Europe, will, by reason of their unprecedented character in the evolution
of the Faith, since its inception, constitute a historic landmark in
the development of the organic world-wide Bahá'í community, and
will be the harbinger of those epoch-making world conferences, at
which the representatives of the nations and races within the Bahá'í
fold will convene for the strengthening of the spiritual and administrative
bonds that unite its members.
| |
|
|
|