Chapter 5

He wishes me also to take this opportunity for conveying to you all his deepfelt appreciation of your labours for the study and the spread of the Cause in Esslingen. He hopes and prays that your community may, in the years to come, play an increasingly vital role in promoting the Message throughout Germany, and particularly in strengthening the foundations of the Administration in that land. Your centre is one of the oldest and best we have in Germany, and has tremendous possibilities. You should, therefore, feel confident and to strenuously toil, so that your community may develop both in number, in strength and in influence.

With the renewed assurance of the Guardian's best wishes and of his supplications on behalf of you all,...

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly-beloved co-workers:

I am deeply grateful to you for the many and repeated evidences of your splendid devotion and firm determination to serve the best interests of our glorious Faith. The work in which you are engaged is dear and near to my heart. My prayers are always with you. Persevere in your labours and never feel discouraged, however great the obstacles that may stand in your way. The Beloved is surely watching over you. Be happy and confident.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 10 JANUARY 1935

10 January 1935

Dear Dr. Muehlschlegel,

The Guardian has received your letter of the first instant and he wishes me to thank you for it.

In regard to your visit to the Holy Shrines, he is sorry indeed that your coming has been delayed but hopes nevertheless that it will materialize very soon, and that the obstacles standing at present in your way will be completely removed, enabling you thereby to carry out your plan in its entirety. He is fervently praying for your assistance and success in this connection.

With reference to the decision passed by your N.S.A. to publish in booklet form certain of the important writings revealed by Baha'u'llah and the Master, Shoghi Effendi wishes you to express to the National Assembly his full approval of their plan. He feels, indeed, that the time has come for the German believers to acquire a thorough knowledge as well as a full understanding of such important Tablets as Baha'u'llah's "Book of Covenant" and 'Abdu'l-Baha's Will and Testament, both of which constitute the very bedrock upon which the entire administrative system of the Faith has been raised and established. As to the "Dispensation of Baha'u'llah" it also constitutes an invaluable supplement to these afore-mentioned Tablets. In connection with the "Kitab-i-'Ahd", the Guardian thinks it preferable that it should be published in a separate booklet, and that the "Tablet of the Branch" and the "Lawh-i-Aqdas", both of which have been rather poorly translated from the original, should not be included in it.

As to the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the N.S.A., he wishes to re-emphasize the importance of your Assembly's adhering to the exact wording of the text of the constitution adopted by the American N.S.A. which, as he has repeatedly stated, constitutes a model for all national Baha'i constitutions. Anything not specifically mentioned in this national charter is left to the full discretion of every N.S.A. inasmuch as it constitutes a matter of secondary importance. In fundamentals, however, strict conformity should be maintained throughout the Baha'i world, and to this category belong all the principles, laws and regulations set down in the text of the national constitution. As an example of the loyalty with which the friends are following this principle the Guardian is enclosing a copy of the national constitution of the Baha'is of India and Burma which, with the exception of the Article VIII which is now being amended, conforms in every detail to the text of the constitution of the American N.S.A.

With his loving greetings to you and all the friends,...

[From the Guardian:]

With the renewed assurance of my loving prayers for you and of my deepfelt appreciation of your magnificent labours in the Divine vineyard.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 4 FEBRUARY 1935

4 February 1935

Dear Dr. Muehlschlegel,

The Guardian has duly received your letter of the 29th of January last, and has carefully noted the points which you had raised in connection with certain Baha'i administrative regulations and principles governing the election of local and national assemblies.

First, he wishes me to express the hope that your next National Assembly meeting may be fully guided in its deliberations on the various issues confronting it at present, and also to assure you, as well as your co-workers in that body, of his prayers for the success of your efforts in this connection.

Now, as regards the number of delegates at the annual convention of the German friends, the Guardian fully approves of the practice which your N.S.A. has thus far adopted and enforced, namely to have 19 delegates instead of 95. This, of course, is the only solution possible for the present, in view of the limited number of the declared believers in Germany.

As to the practice of nomination in Baha'i elections, this the Guardian firmly believes to be in fundamental disaccord with the spirit which should animate and direct all elections held by the Baha'is, be they of a local or national character and importance. It is, indeed, the absence of such a practice that constitutes the distinguishing feature and the marked superiority of the Baha'i electoral methods over those commonly associated with political parties and factions. The practice of nomination being thus contrary to the spirit of Baha'i Administration should be totally discarded by all the friends. For otherwise the freedom of the Baha'i elector in choosing the members of any Baha'i assembly will be seriously endangered, leaving the way open for the domination of personalities. Not only that; but the mere act of nomination--leads eventually to the formation of parties--a thing which is totally alien to the spirit of the Cause.

In addition to these serious dangers, the practice of nomination has the great disadvantage of killing in the believer the spirit of initiative, and of self-development. Baha'i electoral procedures and methods have, indeed, for one of their essential purposes the development in every believer of the spirit of responsibility. By emphasizing the necessity of maintaining his fully freedom in the elections, they make it incumbent upon him to become an active and well-informed member of the Baha'i community in which he lives. To be able to make a wise choice at the election time, it is necessary for him to be in close and continued contact with all local activities, be they teaching, administrative or otherwise, and to fully and whole-heartedly participate in the affairs of the local as well as national committees and assemblies in his country. It is only in this way that a believer can develop a true social consciousness and acquire a true sense of responsibility in matters affecting the interests of the Cause. Baha'i community life thus makes it a duty for every loyal and faithful believer to become an intelligent, well-informed and responsible elector, and also gives him the opportunity of raising himself to such a station. And since the practice of nomination hinders the development of such qualities in the believer, and in addition leads to corruption and partisanship, it has to be entirely discarded in all Baha'i elections.

In connection with this, the Guardian wishes to draw your Assembly's attention to the necessity of adopting the system of plurality voting rather than that of absolute majority voting. For the latter, by making the repetition of elections a necessity, causes, though indirectly, much pressure to bear upon the person of the elector. The Baha'i elector, as already emphasized, should be given full freedom in his choice. Anything, therefore, which can in the least interfere with such a freedom should be considered as disastrous and hence should be completely wiped out. In all elections, it is always difficult, that more than a few individuals of high position should obtain a majority of the votes of the electorate. Most of those elected have a plurality of votes. To enforce the principle of majority voting, therefore, it requires that the election be repeated again and again and until all the members to be elected have obtained more than half of the votes cast--a thing which becomes the more difficult when it is a matter of electing an assembly of nine persons. So, repetition in elections becomes inevitable. And such a repetition is in itself a restriction imposed upon the freedom of the electorate. The only course, therefore, is for every elector to write down the name of nine who he thinks are most worthy. These nine who obtain the highest number of votes, irrespective of the majority of the votes cast, will constitute the members of the Assembly.

As to your last question whether the individual voter can conscientiously vote for himself. The Guardian believes that not only the Baha'i voter has the right, but is under the moral obligation to do so, in case he finds himself worthy and capable of assuming the responsibilities and duties imposed upon the members of every duly elected Baha'i assembly. It is for every believer to carefully weigh his own merits and powers, and after a thorough examination of his self decide whether he is fit for such a position or not. There is nothing more harmful to the individual--and also to society than false humility which is hypocritical, and hence unworthy of a true Baha'i. The true believer is one who is conscious of his strength as well as of his weakness, and who, fully availing himself of the manifold opportunities and blessings which God gives him, strives to overcome his defects and weaknesses and this by means of a scrupulous adherence to all the laws and commandments revealed by God through His Manifestation.

With the Guardian's greetings and best wishes to you and all the friends,...

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty protect, bless and sustain you in the historic services you are rendering His Faith, and graciously assist you to lay a firm and unassailable foundation for the future progress and extension of the newly-born institutions of our glorious Faith in your land.

Shoghi

LETTER OF 5 MARCH 1935

5 March 1935

Dear Dr. Muehlschlegel,

The Guardian has received and carefully considered your letter of the 24th of February last, and wishes me to thank you for it.

With reference to your questions concerning the "Kitab-i-Aqdas", he does not think that it would be advisable to circulate at present, whether among the friends or in the outside public, any of the existing translations of this book, in view of the fact that all these versions, both English and Russian, are not authoritative and hence may misrepresent altogether the Teachings.

He would, however, suggest that your N.S.A. should appoint a Committee for the purpose of undertaking the translation of the "Aqdas" into German. This is of course a peculiarly difficult task, as some of the members of such a committee should have sufficient knowledge of the Arabic language, and in addition should be well versed in the history and teachings of Islam.

The Guardian hopes, nevertheless, that with your knowledge of Arabic and German you may be able to do something truly worthwhile and substantial in this connection. Your translation, of course, will not be considered as final. But for the present it would be of a great assistance to the friends in Germany who, as you rightly suggest, have a great desire to get acquainted with the laws and precepts of the Cause as recorded in the "Aqdas".

When completed, this translation should not, the Guardian feels, be printed entirely and circulated among the believers. But only extracts of it should, with the approval of your N.S.A., be brought to the attention of the friends until such time as the publication of the whole book would be deemed advisable....

[From the Guardian:]

May our beloved and vigilant Master even keep you under His wings, and inspire you to promote far and wide and in a most effective manner the manifold interests of His Faith and its ever-developing institutions.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 7 MAY 1935

7 May 1935

Dear Baha'i co-workers,

The Guardian has just received your warm and encouraging message of the 28th of April last, and has been deeply moved by the kind greetings and good wishes you have extended to him on the occasion of the holding of your thirteenth annual Baha'i Convention in Stuttgart. He wishes me to reciprocate the sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and to assure each and all of you of his abiding appreciation and gratitude for the remarkable unity, efficiency and zeal with which you are fostering and safeguarding the manifold and vital interests of our beloved Faith throughout Germany and Austria. He feels confident that your mighty and sustained exertions will, even as a magnet, draw upon you the blessings and guidance of the Almighty, and thus pave the way for the wider penetration and firmer establishment of the Cause in your country.

The Guardian has been greatly impressed by the unusually wide attendance at this year's national Convention. His hope is that this active and close collaboration among the believers in Germany and Austria will continue to manifest itself in all your local as well as national Baha'i activities throughout the coming year. He is entreating Baha'u'llah, that His confirmations may keep, strengthen and inspire you in the fulfilment of your most urgent and sacred mission.

With the renewed expression of his heartfelt appreciations and thanks, and with his cordial and most loving greetings to you all...

[From the Guardian:]

Dearest co-workers:

Your impressive and most welcome message has revealed afresh the potency of the irresistible power of our Faith as manifested in the renewed activities, the solidarity, the consciousness and determination of the assembled representatives of the German believers. This year's convention marks a turning point in the history of the Cause in your land. It eloquently testifies to the tenacity of your faith, to your grasp of its distinguishing features and essential principles, to your firm resolve to lay an unassailable basis for the rising institutions, to your capacity to weather the fiercest storms and overcome the most formidable obstacles, to your worthiness to rank as the standard-bearers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in the continent of Europe. May signal victories crown your high endeavours.

Shoghi

LETTER OF 5 JULY 1935

5 July 1935

Beloved Baha'i Brother,

On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your welcome letter of the fourteenth of June last, written in the name of the Archives-Committee of the German N.S.A., and to convey to you and to them his loving appreciation and thanks. He trusts that his gift, offered to your National Archives through the kind care of Miss Edith Horn, will serve to remind the German believers of the importance and sacred character of that institution, and to encourage them to help in contributing their full share towards its further development and expansion. The institution of the National Baha'i Archives which all the National Assemblies have already established is, indeed, highly-important, the significance of which will be increasingly realized as years go by. It is now that so many precious sacred relics are still in the possession of individual believers, that steps must be taken in order to insure their safe preservation in the National Archives. The friends must be encouraged to cooperate with their N.S.A. for the attainment of this objective.

In closing may I assure you again of Shoghi Effendi's best wishes and prayers for you and family, and to express hope that your long-cherished desire to visit the Holy Land may be realized in the near future.

With his cordial greetings...

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and prized co-worker:

I cannot refrain from adding a few words in person and assure you afresh of my deepfelt love, appreciation and gratitude for the energy, the ability and loyalty with which you are promoting the vital interests of the Faith. My prayers for you and your dear and valued collaborators will be continually offered to the throne of Baha'u'llah.

Your true and grateful brother. Shoghi

LETTER OF 10 AUGUST 1935

10 August 1935

Beloved Baha'i Friends,

On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your beautiful message dated July 8th, and to convey to you his loving thanks and appreciation for the kind sentiments which you have been moved to express to him on the eve of the anniversary of the Bab's martyrdom.

He is, indeed, very much pleased, and feels greatly encouraged, to learn of the beautiful meeting you have organized in order to commemorate this most sad and yet unique event in the history of the Cause, and sincerely trusts that the recollection of these early days of the heroic age of the Faith will have served to fill with fresh enthusiasm and renewed vigour your souls, and that as a result you all now feel the urge to play a more active part in establishing the Cause in Austria.

The Guardian has been also gratified at the news of the marriage of our dear and devoted co-worker Mr. Franz Pollinger to Miss Anny Moedlogl. He wishes them both a most happy and successful union and is praying to Baha'u'llah that He may continue showering upon them His favours and blessings, and thus render their lives successful and of benefit to His Cause.

With cordial greetings from the Guardian and with his best wishes and prayers for you all,...

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly-beloved co-workers:

Your message filled my heart with joy and has powerfully reminded me of the firmness of your faith, the extent of your devotion, and the degree of your self-sacrifice and endeavours for the promotion of the Cause of God. I urge you to maintain the closest contact with the believers in Germany and particularly with the National Assembly, to study and digest the chapters of Nabil's narrative as they appear in "The Sun of Truth" that you may obtain a fuller grasp of the purpose, the influence and the moving episodes of the Faith of Baha'u'llah.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 12 OCTOBER 1935

12 October 1935

Dear Dr. Muehlschlegel,

I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter dated September 7th, and to express his regret for the delay caused in answering it.

With regard to the "Kitab-i-'Ahd" and the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha, he wishes me to inform you that he fully approves of your suggestion that these two Tablets be printed in one single booklet.

Also regarding the advisability of printing extracts from the Master's Will, he fully recommends that your Assembly should follow the method adopted by the American Baha'is in this matter, provided of course it is financially feasible. The American text of the Will contains, indeed, all the fundamental points that every newcomer who wishes to join the Movement should know regarding the basis, and various vital implications of Baha'i Administration. The extracts contained in that text are thus what is vitally required of a believer desiring to become a voting member.

Concerning the new German edition of "Baha'u'llah and the New Era" which the N.S.A. is planning to publish very soon; Shoghi Effendi trusts that this work will be completed in the near future. He would be pleased, indeed, to receive any suggestion which the German Publishing Committee may wish to offer with the view of modifying and improving certain passages of the present text, and will inform you whether the modifications suggested are advisable, and hence whether they should be inserted in the new volume or not.

With his cordial greetings and best wishes to you and to all the friends in Stuttgart, specially to your dear family...

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-worker:

I wish to reaffirm my deepfelt appreciation to the manner and spirit in which you strive to promote, consolidate and defend the interests of our invincible Faith. Future generations will no doubt extol your services in this formative period of our Cause. Persevere and rest assured that my fervent prayers will continue to be offered on your behalf. Gratefully and affectionately.

Shoghi

LETTER OF 22 OCTOBER 1935

22 October 1935

Dear Baha'i Friends,

Your message of the first of this month has been received by our beloved Guardian, and its perusal has brought much joy and satisfaction to his heart. He feels, indeed, profoundly touched by the kind sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and wishes me to reciprocate your greetings and good wishes, and in particular to assure you of his abiding gratitude for the ceaseless endeavours you are all exerting for the wider spread and firmer establishment of the Cause in your centre. He cherishes the brightest hopes for the future of the Faith in Esslingen which, he trusts, will as a result of your sustained and collective efforts, and through the continued guidance and assistance of the German N.S.A., develop into one of the most active and flourishing Baha'i communities not only in Germany but throughout Europe. It has already acquired great fame and importance as an international meeting centre for all the believers throughout that continent, and specially in connection with the annual Summer School of the German friends which has been invariably held there.

The Guardian is fervently praying that this progress, which has been so characteristic of the development of your community during the last few years, will continue increasing, and will thus fully repay your labours for the establishment and wider penetration of the Faith throughout Germany.

With his cordial greetings to you all,...

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers:

I value the sentiments you have expressed in your most welcome message, and I am deeply touched by its contents. I wish to assure you in person of my loving and continued prayers for you, that you may grow in understanding, spirituality and influence, and play a worthy part in the expansion of the Faith and the consolidation of its institutions.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 12 NOVEMBER 1935

12 November 1935

Dear Dr. Grossmann,

The Guardian is in receipt of your letter of October 26th, and feels very much pleased of the news of the completion of the German translation of "The Seven Valleys". He wishes me to congratulate you most heartily for this great service you have been able to render the Cause, and which no doubt will serve to enrich the record of the manifold contributions you have, during the last few years, so brilliantly made towards the spread of the Faith throughout Germany. He is praying to Baha'u'llah that He may continue to guide and inspire you, and assist you in accomplishing still more outstanding works for the Cause in your country.

Regarding the publication of the manuscript, he sees no objection that it should be undertaken by a non-Baha'i publisher, inasmuch as it will then have a greater appeal to the general public. But, of course, in this as well as in all other local matters of this kind you should seek the approval of the N.S.A. As to the expenses of printing the work, they should be preferably furnished by the national fund.

The Guardian is also very much pleased to learn of the new publications which the N.S.A. is planning to issue very soon. The printing of the lectures delivered at the last Esslingen Summer School in a book form is, no doubt, highly useful. It is hoped that the funds required in this connection, as well as for other important publications, will be generously contributed by both the individual believers, and the local groups and assemblies.