Chapter 1

Chapter 13,599 wordsPublic domain

Messages to Canada

by Shoghi Effendi

Edition 1, (September 2006)

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CONTENTS

Baha'i Terms of Use THE GUARDIAN'S FIRST LETTER TO CANADA. 1923 THE GUARDIAN'S FIRST LETTER TO CANADA. 1923 THE BIRTH OF THE INDEPENDENT CANADIAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY AND THE FIVE YEAR PLAN. 1948-53 THE BIRTH OF THE INDEPENDENT CANADIAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY AND THE FIVE YEAR PLAN. 1948-53 Letter of April 14, 1948 ELECTION OF FIRST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF FIVE YEAR PLAN Letter of November 4, 1948 AVOID BLANKET RULINGS IMPLICATIONS OF PLAN TREMENDOUSLY VAST EXECUTION OF THE PLAN (Cablegram) May 1949 INCORPORATION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BY PARLIAMENT ACCLAIMED Letter of June 19, 1949 FIRST GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE OFFICIAL STATUS OPERATION OF THE PLAN GATHERS MOMENTUM Letter of June 23, 1950 SETTLEMENT OF PIONEERS IN NEWFOUNDLAND TEACHING THE CANADIAN INDIANS A GREATER UNANIMITY IN SACRIFICE REQUIRED Letter of January, 1951 SHRINE OF THE BAB Letter of March 1, 1951 CONTACT WITH ARCTIC ESKIMOS STIRRING EXAMPLE OF BRITISH PIONEERS FUTURE OF CANADA VERY GREAT IMPERISHABLE RECORD OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICE CO-HEIR OF THE TABLETS OF THE DIVINE PLAN Letter of October 30, 1951 PIONEER TO GREENLAND CRITICAL FINAL PHASE OF FIVE YEAR PLAN UNUTTERABLY PRECIOUS OPPORTUNITY Letter of June 8, 1952 CHARLOTTETOWN MUST BE MAINTAINED LAURENTIAN BAHA'I SCHOOL HAZIRATU'L-QUDS TO BE ESTABLISHED HAND OF THE CAUSE SUTHERLAND MAXWELL Letter of September 19, 1952 CANADA'S PART IN THE TEN YEAR WORLD SPIRITUAL CRUSADE. 1953-57 CANADA'S PART IN THE TEN YEAR WORLD SPIRITUAL CRUSADE. 1953-57 (Cablegrams) April 22, 1953 ANNOUNCEMENT OF GOALS OF TEN YEAR CRUSADE Letter of May 1, 1953 Letter of June 20, 1953 ACQUISITION OF NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS AND SHRINE INITIAL STAGE OF GLORIOUS MISSION TWO PARAMOUNT OBJECTIVES FUTURE ROLE CONTINGENT ON ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS PLAN Letter of May 6, 1954 NO PIONEER SHOULD LEAVE HIS POST CENTRE ATTENTION ON OBLIGATIONS OF CRUSADE Letter of June 15, 1954 HAND OF THE CAUSE SIEGFRIED SCHOPFLOCHER JURISDICTION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CRITERIA FOR TEMPLE SITE CONSOLIDATION OF THE HOMEFRONT THE TEN YEAR CRUSADE: RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT NEWLY-ESTABLISHED ISRAEL BRANCH OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Letter of September 5, 1954 VIRGIN TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATIVELY SEPARATE Letter of December 4, 1954 LAND TITLE TRANSFERRED TO ISRAEL BRANCH Letter of March 3, 1955 DEPRIVATION OF VOTING RIGHTS Letter of July 16, 1955 DIFFICULTIES IN PURCHASE OF TEMPLE SITE TASKS STILL UNACCOMPLISHED IRANIAN PERSECUTIONS MUST ACT AS STIMULUS Letter of January 13, 1956 Letter of March 10, 1956 Letter of June 26, 1956 PIONEER REACHES ANTICOSTI GRAVE OF MARION JACK BAHA'I MARRIAGE LAW VASTNESS OF NEW FIELD PRESENTS CONTRAST WITH PAST DEEPENING OF NEWLY-ENROLLED BELIEVERS Letter of December 14, 1956 TEACHING FRENCH CANADIAN CATHOLICS Letter of December 22, 1956 DEAL WITH EACH CASE INDIVIDUALLY TEACHING MINORITIES Letter of March 30, 1957 DEFINITION OF COVENANT-BREAKING Letter of October 19, 1957 IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING THE INDIANS Letter of July 18, 1957 MOST URGENT TASKS DEADLY INFLUENCE OF MATERIALISTIC CIVILIZATION INFERTILE FIELDS EQUALLY VITAL VINDICATE INDEPENDENT CHARACTER OF THE FAITH THIS COMMUNITY MUST FORGE AHEAD

THE GUARDIAN'S FIRST LETTER TO CANADA. 1923

The beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout Canada.

Care of the members of the Spiritual Assembly in Montreal

Dear Friends,

It is a great pleasure and privilege to me to enter into direct, and I trust, permanent correspondence with those faithful friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha, who though few in number and scattered over that vast and flourishing country, will I trust act as a powerful leaven to the mass of that spiritually-minded people.

Though its people be firmly entrenched in their religious sectarianism and strongly attached to their religious doctrines and traditions, yet who can doubt that with courage and persistence, kindliness and wisdom, the all-conquering words of Baha'u'llah can fail to break down all these barriers of prejudice and religious exclusiveness and conquer this longstanding stronghold of sectarian belief!

Surely the efficacy of the universal Teachings of Baha'u'llah as applied to the cherished and time-honoured religious traditions of the East, has been sufficiently demonstrated to justify at present our confident hopes for the future and speedy re-awakening of that land.

May the small company of the steadfast followers of 'Abdu'l-Baha in Canada be filled with the outpourings of the Divine Grace that are being showered so mightily in these days upon the friends of God the world over, and may they arise with undiminished fervour to carry out to their fullest measure the last wishes and instructions of our departed Master for that great and flourishing Dominion!

With all good wishes,

Your brother and co-worker, SHOGHI.

Haifa, Palestine. January 2, 1923.

THE BIRTH OF THE INDEPENDENT CANADIAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY AND THE FIVE YEAR PLAN. 1948-53

Letter of April 14, 1948

April 14, 1948.

ELECTION OF FIRST NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF FIVE YEAR PLAN

To the First Canadian National Convention.

Hearts uplifted in thanksgiving to Baha'u'llah for the epoch-making event of the coming of age of the dearly beloved Canadian Baha'i Community, the formation of the first National Convention in the City of Montreal and the forthcoming election of Canada's National Assembly constituting the ninth pillar of the institution of the Universal House of Justice. I acknowledge with reverent gratitude and deepest joy the marvellous influence of the operation of the initial stage in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Divine Plan enabling the northernmost community of the followers of the Faith on the American continent to pass the stage of infancy and attain the status, and to assume the functions of, an independent existence within the World Baha'i Community. I recall on this auspicious occasion with profound emotion the heroic services to the mother community of May Maxwell(1) whose life and death forged unbreakable links binding the body of the Canadian believers to the sister communities of the United States and Latin America. I am moved to appeal to assembled delegates to arise in conjunction with the first Canadian National Assembly, as a token of gratitude for the manifold blessings of Divine Providence, to initiate in the hour of the birth of their national activities a Five Year Plan designed to associate them, formally and systematically and independently, with their sister community of the United States, in the common task of the prosecution of their world-encompassing mission. The fulfillment of this collective task confronting the rapidly maturing community necessitates the incorporation of the Canadian National Assembly, the establishment of National Baha'i Endowments, doubling the number of Local Assemblies throughout the Dominion and raising to one hundred the total number of localities where Baha'is reside throughout the Provinces, the constitution of a group in Newfoundland and the formation of a nucleus of the Faith in the Territory of Greenland, singled out for special mention by the Author of the Divine Plan, and the participation of Eskimos and Red Indians in membership to share administrative privileges in local institutions of the Faith in Canada. I fondly hope and ardently pray that the celebration of the first centenary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah's prophetic mission will witness the triumphant consummation of the first historic Plan launched by the Canadian Baha'i Community in a land whose future greatness and glory, both materially and spiritually, the Centre of Baha'u'llah's Covenant twice emphatically proclaimed in His immortal Tablets.(2)

SHOGHI.

Letter of November 4, 1948

November 4, 1948.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada.

Your letter to our beloved Guardian, dated October 6th, has been received, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

AVOID BLANKET RULINGS

Our teachings, as outlined in the Advent of Divine Justice, on the subject of living a chaste life, should be emphasized, but certainly no ruling what-so-ever should be laid down in this matter. The Baha'is have certainly not yet reached that stage of moral perfection where they are in a position to too harshly scrutinize the private lives of other souls, and each individual should be accepted on the basis of his faith, and sincere willingness to try to live up to the Divine Standards; further than this we cannot go at present.

Now that your Assembly is formed, and is embarking on its independent existence as a National Body, he wishes to emphasize a point which he is constantly stressing to other National Bodies: you must avoid issuing rules and regulations. The fundamentals laid down in the Baha'i Administration must, of course, be adhered to, but there is a tendency for Assemblies to constantly issue detailed procedures and rules to the friends, and he considers this hampers the work of the Cause, and is entirely premature. As far as is possible cases which come up should be dealt with and settled as they arise, and not a blanket ruling be laid down to cover all possible similar cases. This preserves the elasticity of the Administrative Order and prevents red tape from developing and hampering the work of the Cause. You must likewise bear in mind that you are now a wholly independent National Body, and must consider the administration of the affairs of the Faith within your jurisdiction as your separate problem. There is no more need for you to follow every single rule laid down by the American N.S.A., than there is for the British or the Australian and New Zealand N.S.A.s to do this. Uniformity in fundamentals is essential, but not in every detail. On the contrary, diversity, the solving of the local situation in the right way, is important.

He will be very happy to receive reports of the measures you are taking to carry out your important Five Year Plan. You have the unique distinction of being the first National Body, yet formed, to be born with a Plan in its mouth! and you may be sure your fellow Baha'is, East and West, are watching your progress with keen interest, not unmixed with curiosity, to see how well you fare in your historic work and your newly created independence.

The Guardian has high hopes for the achievements of the Canadian Baha'is. Their national character, which so fortuitously combines the progressiveness and initiative of the Americans, and the stability and tenacity of the British, fits them to make great contributions to the progress of the Faith, both in Canada and throughout the world.

He urges you to keep in close touch with him, and assures you that you, and your labours, are very dear to his heart, and he is ardently praying for your success in every field of your manifold activities.

With warm Baha'i love, R. RABBANI.

Dear and Valued Co-workers:

I hail with a joyous heart and confident spirit the truly compelling and almost simultaneous evidences of the creative, the irresistible power of the Faith of Baha'u'llah as witnessed by the formation of the first Canadian National Baha'i Assembly and the inauguration of the Five Year Plan, designed to orient its members toward and canalize the energies of the entire Canadian Baha'i Community in support of the immediate tasks lying before them. So auspicious a beginning, in the life of a community attaining adulthood under the influence of the processes set in motion as the result of the progressive unfoldment of the Divine Plan, in a territory of such vast dimensions, blessed through both the mighty utterances, and the personal visit of the One Who fostered it from the hour of its birth, and Whose Plan enabled it to reach maturity, may well be regarded as one of the most momentous happenings immortalizing the opening years of the second Baha'i century.

IMPLICATIONS OF PLAN TREMENDOUSLY VAST

The responsibility shouldered by an institution ranking as one of the sustaining pillars of the future Universal House of Justice is indeed staggering. The Plan entrusted to its infant hands is, in both its magnitude and implications tremendously vast. The anxieties, the strenuous exertions attendant upon the proper guidance, the effectual development and the sound consolidation of a community emerging into independent national existence, are inevitably trying. The numerical strength of that community, the immensity of the area serving as the field for the operation of its Plan, the meagerness of the resources now at its disposal, the relative inexperience of its newly-recruited members, the perils overhanging the territory in which they reside in the event of a future global conflict, the intensity of opposition which the unfoldment of its mission may provoke in the strongholds of religious orthodoxy inimical to the liberalizing influences of the Faith it represents--all these offer a challenge at once severe, inescapable and soul uplifting.

The eyes of its twin-sister community in the North American continent, which assisted it in achieving its independence, are fixed upon it, eager to behold, and ready to aid it in its march to glory. Its sister communities in Latin America, whose coming of age is as yet unattained, watch with mingled curiosity and envy, its first strides along the steep path which they themselves are soon to tread. Other sister communities in the European, African, Asiatic and Australian continents, some of venerable age, others rich in experience, and resources, still others tried and tested, by the fires of persecution, observe with keen anticipation in their hearts and benediction on their lips, the manner in which this youngest recruit to their ranks will launch upon its career, the resolution with which it will face its problems, the spirit which will animate it in its battles and the stupendousness of the efforts required to win its victories. Above and beyond them the Spirit of a Master Who nursed it in its infancy and to Whose Plan it now has consecrated its mature energies, overshadows it with that self-same solicitude that called it into existence, that stimulated His tender care in its infancy, that inspired His written promises, that prompted His lavish praise, that impelled Him to cast the radiance of His person, in the evening of His life, on its mother city(3), and induced Him, ere His passing, to bequeath to it so rich a legacy in what may be regarded as one of the mightiest repositories of His last wishes. No one, of the galaxy of immortal heroes, now gathered to the glory of Baha'u'llah, can contemplate with greater delight the advances, which this community has made, or intercede with greater efficacy on its behalf, than she(4) who has won the peerless title of the Mother of that community, the initial phase of whose career was signalized by the founding of the mother community in the European continent, and the conclusion of which was crowned by a death cementing the spiritual bonds now indissolubly uniting the North and South American continents.

EXECUTION OF THE PLAN

The Five Year Plan, now set in motion, must under no circumstances be allowed to lag behind its schedule. A befitting start should be made in the execution of the Plan in all its aspects. The initial steps should be relentlessly followed by additional measures designed to hasten the incorporation of your Assembly, to accelerate the multiplication of Local Assemblies, groups and isolated centres, throughout the Provinces of the Dominion, to insure the stability of the outpost of the Faith which must be established in Newfoundland, and to incorporate a steadily growing element, representative of both the Indian and Eskimo races, into the life of the community.

Obstacles, however formidable, will have to be determinedly surmounted. Any reverses that sooner or later may be suffered should be met with stoic fortitude, and speedily offset by victories in other fields. The glorious vision now unveiled to your eyes must never be dimmed. The illuminating promises enshrined in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Tablets should not be forgotten for a moment. The quality of the success already achieved by so small a number, over so extensive a field, in so brief a period, at so precarious an hour in the destinies of mankind, should spur on the elected representatives of this now fully-fledged community to achieve in as short a period, over still more extensive an area, and despite a severer crisis than any as yet encountered, victories more abiding in their merit and more conspicuous in their brilliance than any as yet won in the service and for the glory of the Faith of Baha'u'llah.

Your true brother, SHOGHI.

(Cablegram) May 1949

(Cablegram) May 1949.

INCORPORATION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BY PARLIAMENT ACCLAIMED

Acclaim magnificent victory(5) unique (in the) annals (of) East (and) West. Glorious events foreshadowed by 'Abdu'l-Baha Tablets (of) Divine Plan (at) long last unfolding. National elected representatives newly fledged highly promising richly blessed community deserve heartiest congratulations. Appeal its members arise token gratitude outpouring divine grace bestowed initial stage its independent development vigorously prosecute plan attain all objectives set imperishable example sister communities Baha'i world. Ardently praying still greater victories.

SHOGHI.

Letter of June 19, 1949

June 19, 1949.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada

Your letters to our beloved Guardian ... have been received, with their enclosures, as well as the material you sent under separate cover.

FIRST GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE OFFICIAL STATUS

Your Assembly has much to be congratulated upon for your victories during the past Baha'i Year have been memorable. The passing, in both Houses, of the Bill(6) relating to the official status of your Assembly was a cause for great rejoicing, as this is the first time in Baha'i history that any government has taken such action in relation to our Faith's status. He would like, if possible, to receive duplicates of the official Gazette and all publicity given this matter, as the copies you sent were placed in the Mansion at Bahji, but he wishes to have these documents at hand in his personal files as well.

The increase in membership in the Canadian Baha'i Community this past year was also most encouraging. It shows that there is, primarily, unity among the believers, for where this fundamental quality is lacking in a Baha'i community any real growth is impossible. That is why the beloved Master so constantly admonished the friends to be as one soul in different bodies, for this love and unity constitutes their spiritual health and gives them the strength to overcome all obstacles in their path.

He fully realizes how great are the tasks facing your Assembly, but feels confident that the Canadian Baha'is will be able to accomplish them and will, indeed, set an example to their sister communities in different parts of the world. The people of that country, the national character, are such as to hold high promise for the future of the Cause there, and the great range covered by your Plan is stimulating in the extreme. To be the Trustees of such a Faith, in such a place, at such a time is a marvellous privilege, and he is looking forward to your next achievements with confidence and keen interest.

You may be sure his loving prayers are with you in all you do for the beloved Faith.

With warmest greetings, R. RABBANI.

Dear and Valued Co-workers:

The progress achieved in the course of the opening year of the Five Year Plan, to which the newly emerged independent Canadian Baha'i Community is solemnly committed, is such as to excite the admiration, and merit the gratitude, of the entire Baha'i World. A community, so small in numbers, so restricted in resources, labouring over so extensive a field, shouldering such weighty responsibilities, has passed through the initial stage of its task and discharged its duties with such distinction as to be worthy of the glowing promises and weighty utterances recorded in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Tablets regarding the material as well as the spiritual potentialities with which that great and promising Dominion has been endowed.

OPERATION OF THE PLAN GATHERS MOMENTUM

Through the swift and marvellous increase in its membership, through its faithful and uncompromising adherence to both the spiritual and administrative principles of the Faith it so nobly serves; through the multiplication of its administrative centres from the Atlantic to the Pacific sea-board; through the steady consolidation of its local and national Funds, designed to sustain its ever-unfolding activities, through the spirit consistently manifested by the small yet eager and valiant band of its pioneers and administrators, and more recently through the official recognition providentially accorded the body of its national elected representatives by both chambers of the Legislature in that Dominion--an act wholly unprecedented in the annals of the Faith in any country, in either East or West--this vigorous, divinely sustained, resistlessly advancing community, has not only fulfilled the expectations and hopes that greeted its birth, but set a brilliant example to its sister communities in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.