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Messages to the Bahá'í World: 1950-1957
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Pages 58-60
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Institution of Hands of the Cause
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1 |
To all the Hands of the Cause and all National Assemblies of
the Bahá'í World:
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Hail emergence of the unfoldment in the opening years of the
second epoch of the formative age of the Bahá'í Dispensation of the
august Institution foreshadowed by the Founder of the Faith and
formally established in the Testament of the Center of His Covenant,
closely associated in provisions of the same Will with Institution
of the Guardianship, destined to assume in the fullness of
time, under the aegis of the Guardian, the dual sacred responsibility
for protection and propagation of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh.
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3 |
Desire to pay warm tribute to the services rendered severally
and collectively by appointed hands at the World Center of the
Faith and in territories beyond its confines.
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4 |
Greatly value their support in the erection of the Báb's Sepulcher
on Mt. Carmel; in reinforcing ties with the newly emerged State
of Israel; in the extension of the International Endowments in
the Holy Land; in the initiation of the preliminary measures for
the establishment of the Bahá'í World Administrative Center, as
well as in their participation in four successive intercontinental
Teaching Conferences; in their extensive travels in African territories,
in North, Central and South America, in the European,
Asiatic and Australian Continents.
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5 |
This newly constituted body, embarked on its mission with such
auspicious circumstances, is now entering the second phase of its
evolution signalized by forging of ties with the National Spiritual
Assemblies of the Bahá'í world for the purpose of lending them
assistance in attaining the objectives of the Ten Year Plan.
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6 |
The hour is ripe for the fifteen Hands residing outside the
Holy Land to proceed during Ridván with the appointment, in each
continent separately, from among the resident Bahá'ís of that
Continent, of Auxiliary Boards, whose members, acting as deputies,
assistants and advisers of the Hands, must increasingly lend their
assistance for the promotion of the interests of the Ten Year
Crusade.
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7 |
Advise the Hands of the Asiatic, American and European Continents
to convene in Tihrán, Wilmette and Frankfurt respectively
for the purposes of consultation and nomination.
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8 |
The Hands of the Cause of the African and Australian Continents
must exercise their functions in Kampala and Sydney respectively.
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9 |
The Auxiliary Boards of the American, European and
African Continents must consist of nine members each, of the
Asiatic and Australian continents of seven and two respectively.
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10 |
The allocation of areas in each continent to the members of the
Auxiliary Boards, as well as subsidiary matters regarding the development
of the activities of the newly appointed bodies, and the
manner of collaboration with the National Spiritual Assemblies in
their respective Continents, is left to the discretion of the Hands.
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11 |
All Boards must report and be responsible to the Hands charged
with their appointment.
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The Hands of each Continent in their turn must keep in close
touch with, and report the result of the nominations and progress
of the activities of the Boards to the National Assemblies in their
respective continents, as well as to the four Hands residing in the
Holy Land destined to act as liaison between themselves and the
Guardian of the Faith.
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13 |
Urge the initiation of five Continental Bahá'í Funds which, as
they develop, will increasingly facilitate the discharge of the functions
assigned to the Boards.
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14 |
Transmitting five thousand pounds as my initial contribution
to be equally divided among the five Continents.
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Appeal to the twelve National Assemblies and individuals to insure
a steady augmentation of these Funds through annual assignment
in National Budgets and by individual contributions.
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Advise transmit contributions to Varqá, Holley, Giachery, Banání
and Dunn acting as Trustees of the Asiatic, American, European,
African and Australian Funds respectively.
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Fervently supplicating at the Holy Threshold for an unprecedented
measure of blessings on this vital and indispensable organ
of the embryonic and steadily unfolding Bahá'í Administrative
Order, presaging the emergence of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh
which must pave the way for the establishment of the World Civilization
destined to attain maturity in the course of successive Dispensations
in the Five Thousand Century Bahá'í Cycle.
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Airmail copies to all Hands and National Assemblies.
--Shoghi [Cablegram, April 6, 1954]
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