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Letter of 10 November 1955
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Dear Bahá'í Friend:
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The beloved Guardian has reviewed very carefully your
recent letter dealing with the designs for the Temple to be
built in Germany. He wishes the following explanations to
be made to you, and I am therefore enumerating them, so
that there may be no misunderstanding.
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1. The Guardian has not definitely chosen the Temple
design "Azamat" as the one for the Temple in Germany. Of
the submissions which have been made up to this time, he
feels this is the one that is best susceptible of development
for the final design of the Temple. He wishes it clear
however that up to the present he has not definitely accepted
this design.
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2. The Guardian does not wish to interfere unduly with
the national tastes nor the actions of the National Assembly;
but he attaches the utmost importance to the Temple in
Eschborn, as this is the first Temple in Europe, and the only
one to be constructed in Europe during the Ten Year
Crusade. Therefore he feels that this House of Worship
must represent throughout Europe the dignity and spirit of
the Faith.
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3. The Guardian therefore feels that we should not accept
an ultra-modern building, which represents more or less the
current spirit of the time, rather than the delicate
architectural beauty which the spirit of the Faith should
engender.
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4. The Guardian would be happy if your Assembly could
produce a design of a building, graceful in outline, with a
dome. If they can do this he will be very pleased. The main
thing for the architect to consider is the mass of the
building, the outline of the building and its architectural
beauty. Most of the sacred buildings, including the Temple
at Wilmette, include elements of the previous schools of
architecture in an ensemble that seems to present something
new. He thinks the architects should study the graceful mass
of the Wilmette Temple, of the design of Mr. Remey for the
Temple on Mt. Carmel, and the Shrine of the Báb, as well as
the outline of the domes of important buildings, particularly
the dome of St. Peters in Rome. In this way they will get an
idea of proportions which they feel are suitable. The details
and the style is somewhat secondary and is left to the
architect's taste.
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5. The ten year period of the Crusade is running along
very rapidly; and the Guardian therefore hopes that your
Assembly will present him with your final views in
connection with the Temple design at a very early date;
otherwise he is fearful this most important project will not
be consummated within the Ten Year period.
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The beloved Guardian was very sorry to learn of the
illness of Dr. Mühlschlegel. He wishes to assure you and
likewise to assure Dr. Mühlschlegel of his loving prayers for
Dr. Mühlschlegel's complete recovery. He values Dr.
Mühlschlegel's services very highly, and he hopes he will
soon be able to again become most active in the Bahá'í
work....
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The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf.
He sends each his loving Greetings.
November 1955
[Letter without date, was received 23rd November 1955.]
Dear Bahá'í Friends:
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The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you in
connection with your recent letter to him concerning the
Temple to be built in Germany.
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The beloved Master has not given very many details
concerning the House of Worship. He has written in tablets,
however, that the building must be round, and be 9-sided.
The Guardian feels that at this time all Bahá'í temples
should have a dome. In other words, the instructions of the
Master to have a round, 9-sided building must be very
carefully carried out; but in addition the Guardian feels the
Temples built now should likewise have a dome.
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The Guardian sees no objections to asking other
architects to collaborate with the architect of the design
"Azamat". However it should be understood that the
Guardian does not wish this collaboration or adaptation to
result in the ultra-modern type of building which is the
motif of the submissions which have been made, and which
he has rejected.
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The Guardian advises that the 2 designs which are
favored by your Assembly and the architects of Germany
are not acceptable; and therefore correspondence with
regard to these designs is no longer necessary.
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Time moves on, and the Guardian therefore hopes that
the result of the collaboration and adaptation of the Azamat
design will be presented to him in the near future.
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The Guardian has no objections of course to new designs
being presented; but they must carry with them the dignified
spirit of the Faith, and must be in keeping with the
distinction and honor which comes to the temples now
being built being the first in their respective continents.
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My letter of November 10th outlines in a little more
detail what the Guardian has in mind for Bahá'í temples;
and he hopes that something suitable may soon be found for
a temple in Germany.
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The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf,
and sends you his loving greetings....
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