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Citadel of Faith
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Pages 85-87
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AN HOUR LADEN WITH FATE
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The hour is critical, laden with fate. Responsibilities numerous and
varied, as well as urgent and sacred, are crowding, in quick succession,
upon a community youthful and valorous in spirit, rich in experience,
triumphant in the past, sensible of its future obligations, keenly aware
of the sublimity of its world mission, inflexibly resolved to follow with
unfaltering steps the road of its destiny. The world situation is perilous
and gloomy. Rumblings from far and near bode evil for the immediate
fortunes of a sadly distracted society. The Second Seven Year Plan is
now approaching its conclusion. The Centenary of the Martyrdom of
the Báb with all its poignant memories is upon us. We are entering a
period crowded with the centenaries of the direst calamities--massacres,
sieges, captivities, spoliations and tortures involving thousands
of heroes--men, women and children--the world's greatest Faith has
ever experienced. Another centenary commemorating an event as tragic
and infinitely more glorious is fast approaching. Time is short.
Opportunities, though multiplying with every passing hour, will not recur,
some for another century, others never again. However severe the
challenge, however multiple the tasks, however short the time, however
somber the world outlook, however limited the material resources of a
hard-pressed adolescent community, the untapped sources of celestial
strength from which it can draw are measureless, in their potencies, and
will unhesitatingly pour forth their energizing influences if the necessary
daily effort be made and the required sacrifices be willingly
accepted.
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Nor should it be forgotten that in the hour of adversity and in the
very midst of confusion, peril and uncertainty, some of the most superb
exploits, noising abroad the fame of this community have been
achieved. The construction of the superstructure of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár
during one of the severest depressions experienced by the
people of the United States in this century; the inauguration of the first
Seven Year Plan on the eve of and during the anxious years preceding
the second world conflagration; its vigorous prosecution during its
darkest days and its triumph before its conclusion; the launching of the
European campaign on the morrow of the most devastating conflict that
rocked the continent of Europe to its foundation--these stand out as
shining evidences of the unfailing protection, guidance and sustaining
power vouchsafed its members, so readily and so abundantly, in the
hour of their greatest need and danger.
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To consolidate the victories won, and reinforce the foundations of
the unnumbered institutions so diligently established, in the North
American continent; to rear the twin pillars of the Universal House of
Justice in Latin America, with their concomitant administrative agencies
functioning in no less than twenty republics of Central and South
America; to maintain in their present strength the strongholds of the
Faith in the ten goal countries of Europe; to complete the interior
ornamentation of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkár of the West, and its
Mother Temple, in preparation of its Jubilee; to assist in the erection of
the superstructure of a still holier edifice, envisaged by its Founder and
established by the Center of His Covenant on God's holy mountain, at
the very heart and center of our beloved Faith, would indeed constitute,
by virtue of their scope, origin and character, embracing three
continents and including within their range the World Center of the
Faith itself, a worthy, befitting five-fold offering placed on the altar of
the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, on the occasion of the Centenary of the birth
of His Mission by a community which, more than any sister community,
in East or West, has contributed, since the inception of the
Formative Age of His Faith to the enlargement of its limits, the rise and
establishment of its Administrative Order and the spread of its fame,
glory and power.
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That this community may, in the course of these three coming
years, discharge its five-fold task--now assuming, through the stress of
circumstances, still vaster proportions, and investing itself with still
greater blessedness and merit, than originally envisaged--with a spirit
outshining any hitherto shown in the course of its half-century stewardship
to the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, is my most fervent wish and the object
of my special and ardent prayers at this time when my heart and mind
are fixed upon the sufferings and passion of the Báb on the occasion of
the Centenary of His Martyrdom.
[July 5, 1950]
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