Chapter 3

Announce friends East and West, through National Assemblies, following nominations raising the number of the present Hands of the Cause of God to nineteen. Dominion Canada and United States, Fred Schopflocher and Corinne True, respectively. Cradle of Faith, _Dh_ikru'llah _Kh_adem, _Sh_u'a'u'llah 'Ala'i. Germany, Africa, Australia, Adelbert Muehlschlegel, Musa Banani, Clara Dunn, respectively. Members august body invested in conformity with 'Abdu'l-Baha's Testament, twofold sacred function, the propagation and preservation of the unity of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, and destined to assume individually in the course of time the direction of institutions paralleling those revolving around the Universal House of Justice, the supreme legislative body of the Baha'i world, are now recruited from all five continents of the globe and representative of the three principal world religions of mankind. Recently urged newly-appointed Hand of Canada, on occasion of his pilgrimage to Holy Land, to undertake preliminary measures, in conjunction with Canadian National Assembly for the establishment of national Haziratu'l-Quds similar to those already founded in Teheran, Wilmette, Ba_gh_dad, Sydney, Frankfurt, Cairo and New Delhi. Identical instructions were given appointed Hand of Africa in course of his just concluded pilgrimage, for the acquisition of property in Kampala to serve as local Haziratu'l-Quds to synchronize with formation of first Assembly in heart of Africa, to be regarded as nucleus of national administrative headquarters of Faith destined to arise on morrow of formation of National Spiritual Assembly of Central and Eastern Territories of African continent.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, February 29, 1952]

TRIPLE ANNOUNCEMENT

Occasion approaching celebration ninth Naw-Ruz second Baha'i century, desire share following triple announcement Baha'i world through National Assemblies East and West. First: Safe arrival in Holy Land in the course of the last six months successive consignments of stones for the remaining facades of the Octagon and Pinnacles, eighteen window frames belonging to the Drum, one hundred tons of cement, thirty-five tons of timber, fifteen tons of steel, eight wrought iron balustrades, stones for the lower section of the Drum as well as the completion of construction of the Octagon and the erection of fifteen feet Pinnacles constituting, with the ornamental balustrades, the central adornment of the Holy Edifice. The leaded glass required for twenty-four windows of the Octagon and eighteen lancet windows of the Drum, ordered. Investigations initiated for the fabrication of gilded tiles, the final material necessary for the construction of the Sepulcher.

Recall with feelings of humble thankfulness and intense joy the series of historic landmarks in the progress of the sacred enterprise, associated, first, with the formal entombment, Naw-Ruz 1909, sixty lunar years after the Bab's martyrdom, of His dust in the vault of the Shrine; second, the laying, forty years later, Naw-Ruz 1949, of the first threshold stones of the Arcade of the Sepulcher; third, the completion, two years later, Naw-Ruz 1951, of the excavation for eight piers, designed to support the Dome, followed by the placing, a year later, on the eve of Naw-Ruz 1952, of the second crown of the same Edifice. The way is now prepared for the erection of the Drum, including eighteen windows symbolizing the eighteen Letters of the Living, the appointed transmitters of the dawning Light of the Author of the Babi Dispensation, as well as the rearing of the golden Dome, constituting the third and final unit of the triple crown destined to irradiate its splendor in the heart of God's Holy Mountain. Moved to pay warm, loving tribute to the Shrine's immortal architect and Hand of the Cause, Sutherland Maxwell, and the services of Ugo Giachery, UNO Representative of the International Baha'i Community, recently elevated to the rank of Hand of the Cause, and newly-appointed member of the International Baha'i Council, who is ably discharging manifold responsibilities connected with the mighty undertaking.

Second announcement: The enlargement of the International Baha'i Council. Present membership now comprises: Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih, chosen liaison between me and the Council. Hands of the Cause, Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Ugo Giachery, Leroy Ioas, President, Vice-President, member at large, Secretary-General, respectively. Jessie Revell, Ethel Revell, Lotfullah Hakim, Treasurer, Western and Eastern assistant Secretaries.

Third announcement: Following upon the missions entrusted to the Hands of the Cause in connection with the establishment of Haziratu'l-Quds in the Dominion of Canada and Central Africa, have instructed Ugo Giachery to take in conjunction with the European Teaching Committee, immediate steps, after the conclusion of his pilgrimage, aiming at the formation, ere the termination of the American Community's second Seven Year Plan, of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Italy and Switzerland. Advise United States National Assembly arrange, through European Teaching Committee, the election on the occasion of Naw-Ruz 1953 of nineteen delegates by all local Assemblies already established in both countries. Urge convocation Ridvan same year, in the city of Florence, on the occasion of the festivities of the Baha'i Holy Year of the first Convention for the express purpose of electing through the delegates the projected National Assembly. Appeal to the American Baha'i community, particularly the Baha'is residing in Italy and Switzerland, to exert their utmost to insure in the course of the coming year the multiplication of Spiritual Assemblies in both countries, thereby broadening the basis of the projected pillar of the future Universal House of Justice. Advise European Teaching Committee, upon consummation of the glorious enterprise to issue formal invitation to their spiritual offspring, the newly-emerged National Assembly, to participate, together with its sister National Assemblies of the United States, the British Isles, and Germany, in the Intercontinental Conference in August of the same year in the capital city of Sweden. Anticipate entrusting to the youngest among the twelve National Assemblies of the Baha'i World a specific plan enabling it, in conjunction with its sister National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i World, to promote in the course of the ten years separating the second from the Most Great Jubilee the Global Crusade designed to hoist the standard of Baha'u'llah in the remaining states, dependencies and islands of the whole planet. Invite the attendants to the third Baha'i Intercontinental Conference to befittingly commemorate the undreamt-of climax of the brilliant victories won in the course of the second Seven Year Plan, eclipsing the feats accomplished in the Latin American field in the course of the first Seven Year Plan and presaging the tremendous triumph to be won in the course of the third Seven Year Plan in the African, Asiatic and Australian continents.

With throbbing heart call to mind the solemn affirmations and glowing promises recorded in the Tablets of the Divine Plan envisioning the evidences of the everlasting dominion destined to signalize the inauguration, and accompany the triumphal progress, of the mission of the vanguard of Baha'u'llah's crusaders and champion builders of His world order in the European, Asiatic, African and Australian continents and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. Advise European Teaching Committee to cable the text of the third announcement to the Assemblies of the capital cities of Italy and Switzerland and urge on my behalf the participation of the Swiss believers in the first teaching conference in Rome on the eve of Naw-Ruz this year for consultation with their Italian collaborators on the prosecution of the soul-uplifting fateful undertaking in the heart and south of the European continent.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, March 8, 1952]

THE HISTORIC PROCESS

Announce to National Assemblies of East and West joyful news of final implementation of agreement with Israel authorities involving acquisition, against payment of hundred eighteen thousand dollars, of eighteen plots, approximately six acres, in precincts of Bab's Sepulcher.

The historic process of establishment of international Baha'i endowments on Mount Carmel, inevitably held in abeyance for fifty years after the inception of the Faith, initiated on the morrow of Baha'u'llah's Ascension, through the purchase, in the course of 'Abdu'l-Baha's ministry, of a limited number of plots in the immediate surroundings of the newly erected Tomb in the heart of the Mountain of God, and greatly accelerated through the purchase of extensive properties following the Master's passing, necessitated by the unprecedented influx of immigrants to the Holy Land, is now further reinforced, raising the total area owned on the slopes of the Holy Mountain to almost fifty acres.

Desire to acknowledge the indefatigable efforts exerted by the first western Baha'i pilgrim since opening of the door of pilgrimage, Lawrence Hautz, in hastening the successful termination of the protracted negotiations with the civil authorities of the Holy Land.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, April 3, 1952]

GOD'S AVENGING WRATH

Inform National Assemblies that God's avenging wrath having afflicted in rapid succession during recent years two sons, brother and sister-in-law of Archbreaker of Baha'u'llah's Covenant, has now struck down second son of Siyyid 'Ali, Nayer Afnan, pivot of machinations, connecting link between old and new Covenant-breakers. Time alone will reveal extent of havoc wreaked by this virus of violation injected, fostered over two decades in 'Abdu'l-Baha's family. History will brand him one whose grandmother, wife of Baha'u'llah, joined breakers of His Covenant on morrow of His passing, whose parents lent her undivided support, whose father openly accused 'Abdu'l-Baha as one deserving capital punishment, who broke his promise to the Bab's wife to escort her to Holy Land, precipitating thereby her death, who was repeatedly denounced by Center of the Covenant as His chief enemy, whose eldest brother through deliberate misrepresentation of facts inflicted humiliation upon defenders of the House of Baha'u'llah in Ba_gh_dad, whose sister-in-law is championing the cause of declared enemies of Faith, whose brothers supported him attributing to 'Abdu'l-Baha responsibility for fatal disease which afflicted their mother, who himself in retaliation first succeeded in winning over through marriage my eldest sister, subsequently paved way for marriage of his brothers to two other grandchildren of the Master, who was planning a fourth marriage between his daughter and grandson of 'Abdu'l-Baha, thereby involving in shameful marriages three branches of His family, who over twenty years schemed to undermine the position of the Center of Faith through association with representatives of traditional enemies of Faith in Persia, Muslim Arab communities, notables and civil authorities in Holy Land, who lately was scheduled to appear as star witness on behalf of daughter of Badi'u'llah in recent lawsuit challenging the authority conferred upon Guardian of Faith in 'Abdu'l-Baha's Testament.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, April 5, 1952]

IRRESISTIBLE MARCH OF THE FAITH

Soul stirred, heart uplifted by recollection of events signalizing the twelve month period preceding the fateful year destined to witness the consummation of series of plans formulated by Baha'i National Assemblies of five continents, as well as the inauguration of the second, glorious Jubilee of the Baha'i Dispensation. The irresistible march of the Faith marked simultaneously by the steady consolidation of its administrative institutions and the rapid enlargement of its limits. No less than eighteen countries have been enrolled, raising the total number within its orbit to one hundred twenty-four. Languages in which Baha'i literature is printed or is being translated are now ninety, including twelve African languages. The vast process of the rise and establishment of the World Center of the Faith has been accelerated. Contingents of Hands of the Cause have been successively appointed in every continent of the globe, five of whom are shouldering responsibilities in the Holy Land. The International Baha'i Council has been enlarged and officers designated.

An interview was accorded by, and literature presented to the Israel Prime Minister in the course of his American visit by representatives of the American National Assembly. Eighteen plots, a twenty-two thousand square meter area, have been added to the International Baha'i endowments on the slopes of Carmel. Government survey concluded paving the way for the acquisition of over one hundred forty thousand square meters of property in the precincts of the Most Holy Tomb at Bahji. The design for the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar on Carmel, conceived by the President of the International Baha'i Council, completed. Privileges, exemption already accorded Baha'i Holy Places in Israel by Ministry of Finance extended to 'Abdu'l-Baha's Home, Eastern and Western Pilgrim Houses. Pilgrimages to World Center of the Faith resumed following decade of external hostilities and internal disturbances agitating the Holy Land. Eight piers, designed to support the thousand ton superstructure of the Bab's Sepulcher constructed. Successive contracts, totalling approximately forty-seven thousand dollars, for the construction of the structural work and the erection of the Octagon signed, culminating in the completion of the first unit of the superstructure, and the raising of eight pinnacles, constituting the second crown of the Holy Edifice. Preparations to build the Drum, the foundation unit of the golden Dome of the Sepulcher, commenced.

Twin pillars of the future House of Justice erected in Central and South America, additional pillar projected for Europe uniting the heart and south of the continent.

Preliminary measures initiated for the convocation of four intercontinental conferences in the African, American, European and Asiatic continents, involving the participation of twelve National Spiritual Assemblies, designed alike to befittingly celebrate the Centenary of the Year Nine and to launch ten year crusade destined to culminate in the Most Great Jubilee.

Two year plan of the Baha'i community of the British Isles formally launched on the African continent through the dispatch of pioneers to the virgin territories of Tanganyika, Uganda, and the Gold Coast, has been reinforced by the assignment of Liberia to the American, Somaliland, Nyasaland and North Rhodesia to the Persian, Zanzibar and Madagascar to the Indian, and Libya and Algeria to the Egyptian, National Assemblies, raising the number of States and Dependencies already soon to be opened to the Faith to twenty-five.

First fruits garnered comprise purchase of seventeen thousand dollar Haziratu'l-Quds in Kampala, settlement of Persian, American, British, Egyptian and Portuguese pioneers in Liberia, North Rhodesia, Angola, Libya, Spanish Morocco and Mozambique, inauguration of teaching classes, public meetings and firesides, enrollment of several native Africans belonging to the Teso, Yao, Buganda and Mutoco tribes, and the formation of Spiritual Assemblies in Kampala and Dar-es-Salaam.

European Teaching campaign, exceeding fondest hopes, stimulated successively by convocation of the fourth European Teaching Conference in Scheveningen, representative of twenty-one countries, the first Iberian Conference in Madrid, the third Swiss Conference in Bern, the first Italian Conference in Rome, the first Benelux Conference in Brussels and the establishment of headquarters in Amsterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg-Ville, Bern and Lisbon.

The process of consolidation of the Faith stimulated by the recognition of Baha'i Holy Days by the Superintendent of Public Schools in Kenosha, Superintendent School in Milwaukee, and Rhode Island State Department of Civil Service, and of the Baha'i marriage certificate by civil authorities of Indianapolis; by the authorization by Adjutant General of Baha'i identification for believers serving in U.S. Armed Forces.

Baha'i administrative centers steadily multiplying in Hijaz, Yemen, Bahrayn, Ahsa, Koweit, Qatar, Dubai, Masqat, Aden, heralding convocation of historic Baha'i Convention in the Arabian Peninsula, destined to culminate in the erection of a pillar of the Universal House of Justice in the midmost heart of the Islamic world.

The nineteen month plan, formulated by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Indian subcontinent and Burma, aiming among other things at the introduction and consolidation of the Faith in the capital cities of Nepal, Siam, Indo-China, Malaya, Indonesia and Sarawak.

Ties binding International Baha'i Community to United Nations reinforced by official participation of Baha'i delegates in regional Non-Governmental Conferences in Istanbul, Managua, Den Passar, Paris and Lawrence, Kansas. Historic site of House occupied by Baha'u'llah in Istanbul has been partly purchased, and investigations conducted for the acquisition of similar sites associated with the exile of the Founder of the Faith in Adrianople.

Northern outposts of the Faith reinforced by the settlement of pioneers in Edgedes Minde, Greenland, and in Yellowknife, Canadian North Western Territories.

Last but not least, the internal ornamentation of the Mother Temple of the West has been terminated, and design adopted, funds allocated by the Temple Trustees for the landscaping of its immediate surroundings, constituting the final step for its approaching Jubilee. Appeal American Baha'i community standing on threshold of concluding year of second Seven Year Plan, traversing the last stage of the austerity period, confronted by the approaching centenary of the darkest, bloodiest episode in Baha'i history, associated with the nation-wide holocaust of Tahirih's martyrdom, and with Baha'u'llah's imprisonment in the Siyah-_Ch_al in Tihran, to arise and scale still loftier heights of self-sacrifice and efface the deficit in the National Fund. Address in particular fervent plea to brace itself to play a preponderating role in the impending world crusade, which a world community, utilizing the agencies of a divinely-appointed world administrative order, is preparing to launch, amidst the deepening shadows of a world crisis for the execution of 'Abdu'l-Baha's world-encircling plan and the subsequent unfoldment of a world civilization, and the ultimate attainment of the supreme objective, the illumination and redemption of a whole world.

Advise share message National Assemblies East and West.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, April 23, 1952]

RAPID PROGRESS OF A WORLD CENTER--DECLINE IN FORTUNES OF COVENANT-BREAKERS

On morrow of sixtieth anniversary of Baha'u'llah's Ascension share double announcement with Baha'i world through all National Assemblies: The rapid progress of the enterprise majestically unfolding in the heart of God's Holy Mountain, and the steady decline in the fortunes of the remnant of old Covenant-breakers still defiantly challenging the combined strength of the Baha'i world community.

The termination of the Octagon, setting the second crown on the Holy Edifice, synchronizing with last Naw-Ruz Festival, was followed by the erection and gilding of the balustrade during the course of the succeeding Ridvan period. Preliminary investigations culminated in the erection of the scaffolding and the commencement of the construction of the Drum at an estimated cost of thirteen thousand pounds, constituting the third unit of the Edifice preparatory to raising the golden Dome. Experiments, prior to the placing of the contract for the gilded tiles for the Dome, concluded. Confidently anticipate the completion of all preliminaries, enabling the builders of the mighty, sacred Structure to start construction of the Dome on the morrow of the opening of the fast approaching Holy Year, paving the way to the fulfilment of 'Abdu'l-Baha's prophecy, uttered in the dark days of the First World War, envisaging the glory of the resplendent Dome greeting the devout gaze of future pilgrims drawing nigh to the shores of the Holy Land.

Old Covenant-breakers, untaught by the lessons of the past sixty years, the reverses suffered in connection with the restitution of keys to the Shrine, the evacuation and restoration of the Mansion, the devastating loss in rapid succession of outstanding leaders and spokesmen, backed by the support of the perfidious Sohrab, engaging the services of a clever, hostile lawyer, unitedly challenged the authority conferred by 'Abdu'l-Baha's Testament, and instituted legal proceedings against the Guardian of the Faith, questioned his right to demolish dilapidated house situated within the precincts and constituting an affront to the Most Holy Shrine of the Baha'i World, were rebuffed through the intervention of the Israel government denying the competence of the civil court to adjudicate the matter, subsequently threatened to appeal the government decision to the Supreme Court, provoked the authorities who, in consequence of my representations to both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, issued authorization to demolish the ruins.

Short-sighted action prompted by blind, uncontrollable animosity, resulted in the irretrievable curtailment of long-standing privileges extended to the Covenant-breakers during the course of six decades on the occasion of the celebration of the Baha'i Holy Days.

The signal success in the removal of the ruins was immediately followed by landscaping the approaches to the Shrine, the erection of a gate and the embellishment of the surroundings of the Tomb of Baha'u'llah, long denied a befitting entrance through the deliberate obstruction by the enemies of the Faith. Public access to the heart of the Qiblih of the Baha'i World is now made possible through traversing the sacred precincts leading successively to the Holy Court, the outer and inner sanctuaries, the Blessed Threshold and the Holy of Holies. Recent events prelude the acquisition and development of over thirty acres of property surrounding Baha'u'llah's resting place and are paving the way for the erection in the course of future decades of a befitting Mausoleum destined to enshrine the Dust of the Founder of God's Most Holy Faith.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, June 11, 1952]

THE SUMMONS OF THE LORD OF HOSTS

The steady expansion of the activities conducted so devotedly and so efficiently, during the last twelve months, by the members of the valiant and exemplary American Baha'i Community, under the aegis of their elected national representatives, is such as to evoke feelings of deep and sincere admiration in my heart, and will serve to heighten the esteem in which they are held by their brethren in every continent of the globe.