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Bahá'í Administration
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Pages 98-103
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Letter of January 10, 1926.
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To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of
the United States and Canada.
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Dearly-beloved fellow-workers in the Vineyard of God!
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Your letter dated Nov. 9, 1925, has been received and read with
feelings of deep satisfaction and gratitude. It is most unfortunate
that, owing to unavoidable circumstances, I have been prevented
from communicating more fully and frequently with the distinguished
representatives of those dear fellow-workers of mine, the
progress of whose accomplishments I am continually following with
the liveliest expectations, loving sympathy and cheerful hope.
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The multiplicity of vital and pressing issues, arising out of the
steady expansion of the Movement in various parts of the world;
the pain and sorrow so keenly felt at the sudden passing of distinguished
and dearly-beloved servants of the Cause; grave and unexpected
developments in the Holy Land and elsewhere--have all
in rapid succession greatly added to the already oppressive burden
of responsibility and care which it is my lot and privilege to shoulder
in the interests of the Cause. And yet in the midst of my unceasing
toil, my afflictions and perplexities, I have found fresh sustenance
and comfort in the striking manner in which the pioneers of the
Cause in that promising continent are proving themselves worthy
of the spiritual heritage bequeathed to them by their departed Master.
Refreshed and fortified by their inspiring example, I feel I can
pursue the thorny path of my arduous duties with serene confidence,
cheerful contentment and undiminished gratitude.
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I rejoice to learn of the marvelous effect which your resourcefulness,
efficiency and unrelenting efforts are producing upon your
admiring brethren of the East. I am fully alive to the eminent
share you are contributing to the emancipation of those heroic
sufferers in distracted Persia. I am deeply conscious of the part
you play in consolidating the position of the Cause in the eyes of
both the exalted and lowly, and in hastening the advent of that
promised day of universal recognition and triumph for our beloved
Cause.
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We can but dimly discern the signs of that day of priceless victory--
the day when the mission of this sublime and holy Faith will
have been unfolded in all its power and glory to the eyes of an
unbelieving world. We have only to refer to the utterances of
Bahá'u'lláh in order to realize for ourselves God's invincible power
to turn every fleeting abasement, every transient sorrow, into abiding
joy and glory. For amid the gloom of humiliation that has
now beset Bahá'u'lláh's holy habitation in Baghdád, these prophetic
words of His regarding His house shine forth resplendent in their
assurance of a future victory: "In truth, I declare, it shall be so
abased in the days to come as to cause tears to flow from every
discerning eye.... And in the fulness of time, shall the Lord by
the power of truth exalt it in the eyes of all the world, cause it to
become the mighty standard of His domination, the shrine round
which shall circle the concourse of the faithful." How startling in
His prediction, how reassuring His promise!
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The thoroughness of your methods in handling this grave and
highly delicate situation, the promptness of your response, the spirit
of unabated confidence, of unrelaxing determination and admirable
courage which you have abundantly displayed have, I am certain,
endeared you to us all, justified our hopes in you, and ennobled
the already lofty position you deservedly occupy among the staunch
supporters of God's immortal Cause. Whatever the outcome of
your memorable endeavors, the immediate consequences of your
strenuous efforts cannot but be a growing realization on the part
of those placed in authority that the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, despite
the calumny and slander showered upon it in the past, has linked
the East with the West as no other human agency can possibly
link and is capable of demonstrating the reality of that celestial
potency which no man can today safely belittle or ignore.
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Furthermore, the spontaneous and generous response of the
American believers in connection with the land situation on Mount
Carmel has, in conjunction with the donations of the friends in
other parts of the world, safeguarded such lands as lie in close
proximity to the holy Shrines. This highly meritorious effort, blest
and sanctified by the bountiful grace of Bahá'u'lláh, has in like manner
served to reveal to every discerning eye the friends' unquenchable
enthusiasm and unrivalled devotion--the dominant characteristic
of a Faith that is still in its stage of tender growth, and now
standing on the threshold of undreamt-of achievements.
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Among the disturbing factors that have intensified the difficulties
of the present situation is the extraordinary judgment recently
passed by the Supreme Religious Court of Egypt, declaring the
Bahá'ís of that land adherents of a Faith heretical in character, and
at variance with the accepted doctrines of Islám, and hence utterly
outside the sphere of its jurisdiction. What exactly the implication
of this verdict will be, the effect its practical application will
have on the relations of the Bahá'ís with the followers of the Muslim
Faith, what measure of publicity it will receive, what impression
it will create in Muslim lands and particularly in hostile Persia,
the future only can disclose. So far it has failed to perturb public
sentiment or give rise to any official or public demonstration of
a nature that would justify or necessitate any action on the part
of the American Bahá'ís, who are powerfully demonstrating today
their readiness to champion the cause of truth and justice. I will
not delay in informing you of the exact measures that I feel will
be necessary to take should the occasion arise in future. It is clear
and evident that Western influence, the loosening of the bonds of
religion, and the consequent waning vitality of the once powerful
Muhammadan stronghold of Egypt are in a great measure to account
for the indifference and apathy that now seem to characterize the
attitude of the masses towards this important and vital issue. This
decision, however locally embarrassing, in the present stage of our
development, may be regarded as an initial step taken by our very
opponents in the path of the eventual universal acceptance of the
Bahá'í Faith, as one of the independent recognized religious systems
of the world.
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In connection with the institution of the National Fund and the
budgetary system set forth in the minutes of the National Spiritual
Assembly, I feel urged to remind you of the necessity of ever bearing
in mind the cardinal principle that all contributions to the Fund
are to be purely and strictly voluntary in character. It should be
made clear and evident to every one that any form of compulsion,
however slight and indirect, strikes at the very root of the principle
underlying the formation of the Fund ever since its inception.
While appeals of a general character, carefully worded and moving
and dignified in tone are welcome under all circumstances, it should
be left entirely to the discretion of every conscientious believer
to decide upon the nature, the amount, and purpose of his or her
contribution for the propagation of the Cause.
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Regarding association with Oriental travelers and residents in
the United States and Canada, I desire to emphasize afresh the vital
necessity for the exercise in these days of the greatest vigilance
and reserve, prudence and caution, on the part of the American
believers in their dealings with them, either in an official or private
capacity, whether in business transactions or for purely religious
purposes. As the Movement grows in prestige, fame and influence,
as the ambitions, malice and ill-will of strangers and enemies correspondingly
wax greater, it becomes increasingly important for
every individual and Spiritual Assembly to be on their guard lest
they fall innocent victims of the evil designs of the malevolent, the
self-seeking and greedy.
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Touching the publication of articles and pamphlets bearing on
the controversial and political issues of the day, I desire to remind
my dearly-beloved fellow-workers that at the present stage when
the Cause is still in its infancy, any minute and detailed analysis by
the friends of subjects that are in the forefront of general discussion
would often be misconstrued in certain quarters and give rise to
suspicions and misunderstandings that would react unfavorably on
the Cause. They would tend to create a misconception of the real
object, the true mission, and the fundamental character of the Bahá'í
Faith. We should, while endeavoring to uphold loyally and expound
conscientiously our social and moral principles in all their
essence and purity, in all their bearings upon the divers phases of
human society, insure that no direct reference or particular criticism
in our exposition of the fundamentals of the Faith would tend to
antagonize any existing institution, or help to identify a purely
spiritual movement with the base clamorings and contentions of
warring sects, factions and nations. We should strive in all our
utterances to combine the discretion and noble reticence of the
wise with the frankness and passionate loyalty of the ardent advocate
of an inspiring Faith. While refusing to utter the word that
would needlessly alienate or estrange any individual, government
or people, we should fearlessly and unhesitatingly uphold and assert
in their entirety such truths the knowledge of which we believe is
vitally and urgently needed for the good and betterment of mankind.
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The copy of the minutes of the 1925 Bahá'í Convention has been
received and, despite the pressure of work, read with deep pleasure
and keen interest.
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As the administrative work of the Cause steadily expands, as
its various branches grow in importance and number, it is absolutely
necessary that we bear in mind this fundamental fact that
all these administrative activities, however harmoniously and efficiently
conducted, are but means to an end, and should be regarded
as direct instruments for the propagation of the Bahá'í Faith. Let
us take heed lest in our great concern for the perfection of the
administrative machinery of the Cause, we lose sight of the Divine
Purpose for which it has been created. Let us be on our guard lest
the growing demand for specialization in the administrative functions
of the Cause detain us from joining the ranks of those who
in the forefront of battle are gloriously engaged in summoning
the multitude to this New Day of God. This indeed should be
our primary concern; this is our sacred obligation, our vital and
urgent need. Let this cardinal principle be ever borne in mind,
for it is the mainspring of all future activities, the remover of
every embarrassing obstacle, the fulfillment of our Master's dearest
wish.
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May the year that has just dawned upon us witness in such a
glorious field many a signal victory.
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Your true brother,
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SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine,
January 10, 1926.
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