Chapter 6

Would to God that Baha'i warriors, six score and ten, the number required to fill the gaps in the still unconquered territories of the globe, will promptly arise and enroll themselves to achieve the goals ere the conclusion of the opening year of the decade-long, greatest collective enterprise since the memorable episodes associated with the Dawn-Breakers of the Heroic Age.

Planning to inscribe, in chronological order, the names of the spiritual conquerors on an illuminated Roll of Honor, to be deposited at the entrance door of the inner Sanctuary of the Tomb of Baha'u'llah, as a permanent memorial of the contribution by the champions of His Faith at the victorious conclusion of the opening campaign of the Global Crusade which is destined to attain consummation at the Most Great Jubilee commemorating the Centenary of the Declaration of His Mission. Anticipate making periodic announcements of the names of the valiant knights upon their arrival at their posts to discharge their historic missions.

Share message National Assemblies of the Baha'i World.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, May 28, 1953]

SEALING THE TRIUMPHANT FESTIVITIES OF HOLY YEAR

Transmit to the National Assemblies of the Baha'i world the joyous news that the placing of gilded tiles over the entire surface of the dome of the Bab's Sepulcher has been terminated. The last stones of the crown surrounding the base of the dome have been laid, marking the conclusion of the stonework of the superstructure of the holy edifice. The shuttering of the interior of the dome has been removed. Frames of the lancet windows of the drum have been installed. The placing of the frames of the octagon windows and the plastering of the interior of the dome are approaching completion. Electric cables designed for the illumination of the majestic structure have been placed in position. Anticipate the early removal of the scaffolding prior to the placing of the eighteen stained glass lancet windows.

Feel assured consummation of the sixty year old enterprise will synchronize with the holding of the forthcoming New Delhi Intercontinental Teaching Conference, sealing the triumphant world-wide festivities of the Holy Year commemorating the centenary of the birth of the Mission of Baha'u'llah.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, August 19, 1953]

ROLL OF HONOR

Transmit the following joyful tidings National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i world. World spiritual crusade, mightiest agency yet conceived for the systematic execution of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Divine Plan, has been befittingly ushered in through successive, magnificent victories won by Baha'u'llah's crusaders in virgin territories in every continent of the globe.

The four months which have elapsed since its glorious inauguration amidst the climax of the Centenary of the inception of His Mission, have been immortalized by the opening of no less than twenty-eight territories and islands, nine in Europe, eight in America, six in Africa, five in Asia, constituting a dispersal unprecedented in its rapidity and scope during eleven decades of Baha'i history.

The number of pioneers who responded to the call for settlement of open and unopened territories on the planet passed the three hundred mark: over a hundred and fifty from America, over fifty from Europe, over forty from Africa, over forty from Asia. The number of prospective pioneers to virgin areas is over forty. All Western Hemisphere and African areas allocated to the United States National Assembly, as well as all European areas allocated to the various National Assemblies, have been assigned.

The Roll of Honor designed to perpetuate the memory of the exploits of the spiritual conquerors is already inscribed with the names of the following pioneers, together with their respective territories, amounting to almost a fourth of the number required for the attainment of the paramount objective of the opening phase of the ten year plan. Sohail Samandari, Italian Somaliland; Mary and Rex Collison, Dunduzu Chisizwa, Ruanda-Urundi; 'Izzatu'llah Zahrai, Southern Rhodesia; Ghulamal Kurlawala, Daman; Gail and Jameson Bond, Franklin; Roshan Aftabi, Feroza Yaganagi, Goa; Rose Perkal, Jack Huffman, Kodiak Island; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Crane, Key West; Saeed Nahvi, Shyan Behrarilal, Pondicherry; Udainarayan Singh, Sikkim; Fred Schechter, French Somaliland; Virginia Orbison, Balearic Islands; Mr. and Mrs. Amin Banani, Greece; Abbas Vakil, Cyprus; Gertrude Eisenberg, Canary Islands; Dick Stanton, Keewatin; Mr. and Mrs. Jenabe Caldwell, Aleutian Islands; Edythe MacArthur, Queen Charlotte Islands; Hushmand Manuchihri, Liechtenstein; Eskil Ljungberg, Faroe Islands; Mildred Clark and Loyce Lawrence, Lofoten Islands; Salisa Kirmani, Shirin Nurani, Karikal; Zia'u'llah Asgarzadeh, Evelyn Baxter, Channel Islands; Kay Weston, Magdalen Islands; Julius Edwards, Northern Territories Protectorate; Doris Richardson, Grand Manan Island; Charles Dunning, Orkney Islands; Nellie French, Monaco.

Countries in which Baha'is reside now aggregate over one hundred fifty. Over seventy have been added in the course of the nine years separating the first and second Jubilees.

The festivities of the Holy Year, so splendidly inaugurated, attaining the high water mark on the occasion of the Ninetieth Anniversary of the declaration of the Mission of the Founder of the Faith, are approaching their end. Appeal entire body of His followers to exert a concerted, superhuman effort to celebrate, through acceleration of their dispersal, the conclusion of the world-wide rejoicings, and pay worthy tribute to His memory, through as close an approach to the two hundred mark as possible of the total number of sovereign States, Dependencies, and Islands comprised within the orbit of His irresistibly expanding Faith, achieving thereby a feat paralleling, in the eyes of posterity, the triumphant completion of the superstructure of the Sepulcher of its Co-Founder at the Baha'i World Center in the Holy Land.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, September 20, 1953]

TWENTY-ONE VIRGIN AREAS

Announce to National Assemblies of the Baha'i world that the three week interval since the close of the Holy Year witnessed planting the banner of God's triumphant Cause in no less than twenty-one virgin areas of the globe, raising the total number of territories opened to the Faith to two hundred, representing well nigh a sixty per cent increase in the course of a little over half a year in the number of sovereign States and Dependencies included within its pale during the one hundred and nine years of its existence.

The seventy-two virgin areas, brought within the orbit of the swiftly expanding Baha'i administrative order since the launching of the World Crusade, include twenty-one in the Americas, nineteen in Africa, nineteen in Europe and thirteen in Asia.

The following pioneers have been inscribed on the Roll of Honor since the last announcement: Gerald, Gail and Leeanna Curwin, Bahamas; Enoch Olinga, British Cameroons; Malcolm King, British Guiana; Peggy and George True, Canaries; Shirley Warde, British Honduras; Irving Geary, Cape Breton Island; Zunilda Palacios, Chiloee Island; Edith Danielson, Cook Islands; Himatlal Bhatt, Diu Island; Elinor and Robert Wolff, Dutch Guiana; Eberhard Friedland, French Guiana; Labib Esphahani, French West Africa; Adela and Salvador Tormo, Juan Fernandez Island; Gladys and Benjamin Weeden, Leeward Islands; Frances Heller, Macao; Lionel Peraji, Mahe; Ola Pawlowska, Miquelon and St. Pierre Islands; Elsie Austin, Nosrat Shayesteh, Abbas Muhammad-'Ali Jalali Rowhani, Ardekani Hasanzadeh Rafii, Morocco, International Zone; Bertha Dobbins, New Hebrides; Opal and Leland Jensen, Reunion Island; Marie Ciocca, Sardinia; Abbas Kamil, Seychelles Islands; Emma Rice and Mr. and Mrs. Bagley, Sicily; Greta Lamprill and Glad Parke, Society Islands; Mr. and Mrs. McKay, Mr. and Mrs. Fleming and Miss Jenssen, Spanish Morocco; Muhammad Mostafa, Spanish Sahara; Lillian Middlemast and Esther M. Evans, Windward Islands.

As few as two territories of Europe, six in the Americas, fourteen in Africa and twenty-two in Asia still remain unopened, excluding the Republics and satellites of the Soviet Union. May the opening year of the decade-long spiritual Crusade be victoriously concluded and befittingly celebrated in the course of the festivities of next Ridvan through the establishment of the nucleus of the Faith in each of the remaining forty-four territories, insuring thereby the virtual attainment of the foremost objective of the initial stage of the Ten Year Plan.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, November 11, 1953]

FAST-DWINDLING BAND OF COVENANT-BREAKERS

Following the successive blows which fell with dramatic swiftness two years ago upon the ring-leaders of the fast dwindling band of old Covenant-breakers at the World Center of the Faith, God's avenging hand struck down in the last two months, Avarih, Fareed and Falah, within the cradle of the Faith, North America and Turkey, who demonstrated varying degrees, in the course of over thirty years, of faithlessness to 'Abdu'l-Baha.

The first of the above named will be condemned by posterity as being the most shameless, vicious, relentless apostate in the annals of the Faith, who, through ceaseless vitriolic attacks in recorded voluminous writings and close alliance with its traditional enemies, assiduously schemed to blacken its name and subvert the foundations of its institutions.

The second, history will recognize as one of the most perfidious among the kinsmen of the interpreters of the Center of the Covenant, who, driven by ungovernable cupidity, committed acts causing agonies of grief and distress to the beloved Master and culminating in open association with breakers of Baha'u'llah's Covenant in the Holy Land.

The third will be chiefly remembered by the pride, obstinacy and insatiable ambition impelling him to violate the spiritual and administrative precepts of the Faith.

All three, however blinded by perversity, could not have failed to perceive, as their infamous careers approached their end, the futility of their opposition and measure their own loss by the degree of progress and consolidation of the triumphant administrative order so magnificently celebrated in the course of the festivities of the recently concluded Holy Year.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, December 16, 1953]

WORLD CRUSADE FORGES AHEAD

Inform National Assemblies East and West that the Baha'i World Crusade, matchless in its vastness, unsurpassed in its potentialities in the spiritual annals of mankind, announced on the eve of the Holy Year and formally launched during the climax of the festivities commemorating the centenary of the birth of the Mission of the Founder of the Faith, is forging ahead and gathering momentum in both its territorial and institutional aspects in every continent of the globe and the chief islands of the Pacific, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean and North Seas.

The number of sovereign States and dependencies within the orbit of a divinely propelled Order now totals two hundred five. No less than seventy-seven territories have been won over by the Knights of Baha'u'llah during a little over half a year, representing two thirds of the total number of virgin areas exclusive of Soviet-controlled Republics and satellites which must needs be opened in the course of the whole decade. Every single territory, whether island or situated on a continent, with the exception of the above-mentioned Republics and satellites has been definitely assigned.

Out of a total of eleven, eight Funds have been inaugurated in the course of the same year, aggregating approximately two hundred thousand dollars designed to pave the way for the acquisition of sites for the future Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars on Carmel and in Canada, Panama, Italy, Sweden, 'Iraq, Australia and India.

The hour is propitious for all National Assemblies, particularly the United States, the British and the Egyptian, to participate befittingly in the opening of the three remaining Funds ere the first year of the Ten Year Plan draws to a close, insuring thereby the early purchase of sites for the future Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars in Cairo, Kampala and Johannesburg. Contributing three thousand pounds as my initial donation to this three-fold, meritorious purpose.

Preliminary measures have been adopted by the German National Spiritual Assembly and projects have been initiated in Tihran calculated to hasten the construction of the third and fourth Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars of the Baha'i world in the heart of the European and Asiatic continents.

Appeal to individual believers to reinforce to whatever extent possible the contributions of the Baha'i national bodies called upon at this hour to unitedly lend an impetus to the unfoldment of the opening phase of the Ten Year Plan whose consummation will, God willing, insure the triumphant conclusion of the initial epoch in the evolution of the grand Design conceived by the Center of the Covenant for the systematic propagation of His Father's Faith. Advise forward all contributions, whether individual or collective, to the Egyptian, British or United States National Assemblies which are primarily invested with responsibility for the eventual erection of the Baha'i Houses of Worship in the north, the heart, and the south of the African continent.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, December 7, 1953]

HAND OF CAUSE APPOINTMENT

Inform National Assemblies elevation of Jalal _Kh_azeh to rank of Hand of Cause.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, December 7, 1953]

APPEAL FOR PIONEER SETTLEMENT

The nine months which have elapsed since the launching of the spiritual world-encompassing Crusade have witnessed the entry of the Knights of Baha'u'llah in well-nigh four score and ten territories throughout the planet, representing virtually three-fourths of the total number of areas, exclusive of the Soviet zone of influence, destined to be opened in the course of the entire decade and swelling the roll of sovereign States and Dependencies enlisted under the banner of His Faith to two hundred and thirteen.

All independent States and Principalities on the European continent, excluding Soviet Republics and satellites, have been opened.

All territories in North, Central and South America, excluding Labrador, have been opened.

All territories on the Asiatic continent outside of the Russian orbit have been opened, except Tibet and Bhutan.

All islands in the Mediterranean, all islands in the North Sea have been opened, except Spitzbergen.

All African sovereign States, Colonies, Protectorates and Trust territories, with the exception of Togolands, Spanish Guinea, Bechuanaland, Swaziland, Gambia and the French Cameroons, have been opened.

All islands in the South and North Atlantic, except St. Helena, St. Thomas, Anticosti, and the Falklands, have been opened.

All Indian Ocean islands with the exception of Socotra, the Cocos, Comoro, Mentawei, Nicobar, Chagos Archipelago and Kuria-Muria have been opened.

All islands in the North and South Pacific, exclusive of Soviet-controlled territories, have been opened except Galapagos, Gilbert and Ellice, Admiralty, Loyalty, Marshall, Mariana, Brunei and Portuguese Timor.

The Concourse on high hails with delight the phenomenal rapidity of the victories of Baha'i pioneering in the virgin areas of the globe.

Encouraged to address an urgent plea to all National Assemblies concerned, as well as to each and every prospective pioneer assigned to the aforementioned territories, to expedite by every means at their disposal their arrival at their respective posts ere the expiry of the swiftly-passing three-month period separating them from the conclusion of the opening year of this auspiciously-unfolding decade.

Appeal furthermore to the entire body of participants in the Crusade to put forth all strength to secure entry of additional volunteers into these same territories multiplying thereby chances of their inclusion within the pale of the Faith ere the celebration of the fast-approaching Ridvan.

Supplicating with redoubled ardor a further measure of Baha'u'llah's sustaining grace, surpassing the conspicuous blessings already vouchsafed to His wholly-dedicated, widely-scattered, forward-marching warriors since the launching of the Ten Year Plan.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, February 8, 1954]

HAND OF CAUSE APPOINTMENT

Announce to all National Assemblies elevation of Paul Haney to rank of Hand of the Cause.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, March 19, 1954]

ROLL OF HONOR--ADDITIONAL INSCRIPTIONS

On occasion Naw-Ruz, marking opening the second decade of the second Baha'i century, inform National Assemblies of the Baha'i world that the following pioneers scattered over twenty-one virgin areas have been inscribed on the Roll of Honor since the fourth periodic announcement. Otillie Rhein, Mauritius; Olga Mills, Malta; Peter Lugayula, Ashanti Protectorate; Virginia Breaks, Caroline Islands; Dr. Fozdar, Andaman Islands; Elly Becking, Dutch New Guinea; Andrew and Nina Matthisen, Bahamas; Carl and Loretta Scherer, Macao; Gulnar Aftabi, Bahiyyih Rowhani, Kaykhosrow Dahmobadi, Diu Island; Jean and Tove Deleuran, Charles Ioas, Balearic Islands; Adib Bagdadi, Hussayn Halabi, Hadhramaut; Kenneth and Roberta Christian, Eyneddin and Tahereh Alai, Joan Powis, Southern Rhodesia; Hormoz Zendeh, Morocco International Zone; Howard and Joanne Menking, Cape Verde Islands; Elizabeth Bevan, Rhodes; Matthew Bullock, Dutch West Indies; Lillian Wyss, Samoa; Dulcie Dive, Cook Islands; Stanley Bolton, Jr., Tonga Islands; Gretta Jankko, Marquesas Islands; Jean Sevin, Tuamotu Archipelago; Alvin and Gertrude Blum, Solomon Islands; Bernard Guhrke, Kodiak Island; John Leonard, Falkland Islands; Munir Vakil, Kuria-Muria Islands; John and Audrey Robarts, Bechuanaland; Charles Dayton and wife, David Schreiber, Leeward Islands; Faiborz Roozebehyan, Gambia; Rahmat and Iran Muhajer, Mentawei Islands; Gertrud Ankersmit, Frisian Islands; Shamsi Navidi, Monaco; Roy and Elena Fernie, Gilbert and Ellice Islands; Qudratullah Rowhani, Khodarahm Mojgani, Mahe.

Ninety-one virgin areas have been opened to the Faith since the launching of the Crusade. Total number of territories within its pale now raised to two hundred nineteen. Remaining unopened territories, excluding Soviet Republics and satellites, twenty-five.

Appeal to prospective pioneers whilst the opening year of the Ten Year Crusade is speeding to its close, to expedite entry into unopened areas contributing thereby to the enhancement of the celebrations of the coming Ridvan rendered memorable by the swift, magnificent victories achieved in the pioneering field, unsurpassed in the course of the eleven decades of Baha'i history.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, March 21, 1954]

INSTITUTION OF HANDS OF THE CAUSE

To all the Hands of the Cause and all National Assemblies of the Baha'i World:

Hail emergence of the unfoldment in the opening years of the second epoch of the formative age of the Baha'i Dispensation of the august Institution foreshadowed by the Founder of the Faith and formally established in the Testament of the Center of His Covenant, closely associated in provisions of the same Will with Institution of the Guardianship, destined to assume in the fullness of time, under the aegis of the Guardian, the dual sacred responsibility for protection and propagation of the Cause of Baha'u'llah.

Desire to pay warm tribute to the services rendered severally and collectively by appointed hands at the World Center of the Faith and in territories beyond its confines.

Greatly value their support in the erection of the Bab's Sepulcher on Mt. Carmel; in reinforcing ties with the newly emerged State of Israel; in the extension of the International Endowments in the Holy Land; in the initiation of the preliminary measures for the establishment of the Baha'i World Administrative Center, as well as in their participation in four successive intercontinental Teaching Conferences; in their extensive travels in African territories, in North, Central and South America, in the European, Asiatic and Australian Continents.

This newly constituted body, embarked on its mission with such auspicious circumstances, is now entering the second phase of its evolution signalized by forging of ties with the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Baha'i world for the purpose of lending them assistance in attaining the objectives of the Ten Year Plan.

The hour is ripe for the fifteen Hands residing outside the Holy Land to proceed during Ridvan with the appointment, in each continent separately, from among the resident Baha'is of that Continent, of Auxiliary Boards, whose members, acting as deputies, assistants and advisers of the Hands, must increasingly lend their assistance for the promotion of the interests of the Ten Year Crusade.

Advise the Hands of the Asiatic, American and European Continents to convene in Tihran, Wilmette and Frankfurt respectively for the purposes of consultation and nomination.

The Hands of the Cause of the African and Australian Continents must exercise their functions in Kampala and Sydney respectively.

The Auxiliary Boards of the American, European and African Continents must consist of nine members each, of the Asiatic and Australian continents of seven and two respectively.

The allocation of areas in each continent to the members of the Auxiliary Boards, as well as subsidiary matters regarding the development of the activities of the newly appointed bodies, and the manner of collaboration with the National Spiritual Assemblies in their respective Continents, is left to the discretion of the Hands.

All Boards must report and be responsible to the Hands charged with their appointment.

The Hands of each Continent in their turn must keep in close touch with, and report the result of the nominations and progress of the activities of the Boards to the National Assemblies in their respective continents, as well as to the four Hands residing in the Holy Land destined to act as liaison between themselves and the Guardian of the Faith.

Urge the initiation of five Continental Baha'i Funds which, as they develop, will increasingly facilitate the discharge of the functions assigned to the Boards.

Transmitting five thousand pounds as my initial contribution to be equally divided among the five Continents.

Appeal to the twelve National Assemblies and individuals to insure a steady augmentation of these Funds through annual assignment in National Budgets and by individual contributions.

Advise transmit contributions to Varqa, Holley, Giachery, Banani and Dunn acting as Trustees of the Asiatic, American, European, African and Australian Funds respectively.

Fervently supplicating at the Holy Threshold for an unprecedented measure of blessings on this vital and indispensable organ of the embryonic and steadily unfolding Baha'i Administrative Order, presaging the emergence of the World Order of Baha'u'llah which must pave the way for the establishment of the World Civilization destined to attain maturity in the course of successive Dispensations in the Five Thousand Century Baha'i Cycle.

Airmail copies to all Hands and National Assemblies.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, April 6, 1954]

A DIVINELY-GUIDED FAITH