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Messages to the Bahá'í World: 1950-1957
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Pages 140-141
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Fivefold Historic Celebration in America
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1 |
On the occasion of the fivefold historic celebration--the dedication
for public worship of the holiest Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the
Bahá'í world; the convocation of the Second Intercontinental Teaching
Conference of the Holy Year; the anniversary of the Declaration
of Bahá'u'lláh in the Garden of Ridván; the holding of the Forty-Fifth
American Bahá'í Convention, and the launching of the epochal,
global, spiritual Crusade, marking the climax of the festivities associated
with the Centenary of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh's Mission--
announce to His followers of East and West that the final phase of
the construction of the Báb's Sepulcher has been ushered in through
the erection of scaffolding for the completion of the shuttering of
the dome.
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2 |
Forty-four gilded tiles out of a total of twelve thousand, designed
to cover two hundred fifty square meter surface of the dome, were
placed in permanent position on the eve of the ninth day of the ninetieth
anniversary of the Ridván Festival. On the afternoon of the
same day, during the course of a moving ceremony in the presence
of pilgrims and resident believers of Akká and Haifa, I have placed
reverently a fragment of the plaster ceiling of the Báb's prison cell
in the castle of Máh-Kú beneath the gilded tiles of the crowning
unit of the majestic edifice, circumambulated the base of the dome,
paid homage to His memory, recalled His afflictive imprisonment
and offered prayers on behalf of the friends of East and West on a
subsequent visit to the interior of His Shrine.
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3 |
Preparatory steps are now being taken for the pouring of concrete
for the construction of the ribs of the dome, as well as for the
placing of ornamental stones surrounding its base.
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4 |
My hopes are heightened that the termination of the five-year-long,
three-quarter million dollar enterprise, undertaken in the heart
of Carmel, will coincide with the termination of the world-wide
celebrations commemorating the Centenary of the inception of
Bahá'u'lláh's ministry.
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5 |
Also announce the formation of no less than sixteen new spiritual
assemblies in the African continent:--Monrovia, Benghazi,
Nairobi, Jinja, Akarukei, Tilling, Mbale, Atoot, Kococwa, Acissa,
Opot, Fassy, Ocaka, Osopotoil, Kadoki, Kabuku.
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6 |
In Uganda alone the number of believers is over two hundred
ninety, residing in twenty-five localities, representative of twenty
tribes.
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7 |
Finally share the heart-warming news of the impending establishment
of the long-overdue Hazíratu'l-Quds in the French capital
through the conclusion of an agreement to purchase a nine
thousand pound property situated in the best residential quarter of
the city.
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8 |
Kiyani's spontaneous, generous contribution is solely responsible
for the achievement of the great victory of the establishment of the
institution designed to serve as the administrative headquarters of
both the present Paris Assembly and the projected French National
Spiritual Assembly.
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9 |
Advise the American National Assembly to share this message
with its sister assemblies throughout the Bahá'í world.
[April 30, 1953]
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