Chapter 7

As regards the German "Baha'u'llah and the New Era", it would certainly rejoice your heart to know that in a letter recently received from the American N.S.A. they have suggested to defray the cost of purchasing the types, and of arranging for its publication in Switzerland. The Guardian wrote them in reply approving of their suggestion, and urged them to take immediately the necessary steps, and also informed them of his offer to contribute thirty pounds towards the printing cost. He will send the sum directly to the N.S.A., as soon as he receives word from them that the necessary negotiations have been completed.

Regarding the confiscation of Baha'i literature and archives in Germany; the Guardian in a recent letter to Mr. Greeven advised him again to continue his negotiations with the authorities, but also stressed the absolute necessity of avoiding the exercise of too much pressure on them. The situation is exceedingly delicate, and nothing short of Divine help and guidance can indeed enable the friends to obtain even this minimum of their demands from the Government.

In closing please convey the Guardian's loving appreciation and thanks to dear Frau Vautier for the word of greetings she so kindly appended to your letter. Also kindly convey to Dr. Muehlschlegel and the friends in Stuttgart his warmest and affectionate greetings....

[From the Guardian:]

Wishing you and your dear and distinguished husband, the utmost success in your unceasing and noble endeavours for the promotion and protection of the Faith in these days of stress and trial, and assuring you of my abiding and loving gratitude.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 7 MAY 1939

7 May 1939

Beloved Friends,

Shoghi Effendi has received your welcome card dated April 20th, and immensely appreciates the message of love and greetings you have been moved to convey to him on the occasion of the Feast of Ridvan.

He too wishes me to extend to you his deep love and good wishes on this happy and blessed occasion, and to assure you, and our dear friends in Esslingen, of his prayers for your protection and guidance in these days of widespread gloom and distress, that your hearts may be strengthened and assured, and that you may emerge from your present-day tests and trials more united, and firmer than ever in your love and loyalty towards the Faith.

However gloomy the immediate future may seem to appear, the prospect which the distant future has in store for the community of German believers is of such immeasurable brightness as it cannot but afford the deepest comfort and encouragement to you in your moments of uttermost sorrow and distress.

More than ever to-day the Guardian's thoughts turn towards you, and our sore-tried brethren in your land, in admiration for the courage and fortitude you have so well displayed in the midst of your afflictive trials, and in thanksgiving to the almighty God for having sustained and blessed you so repeatedly through His unfailing grace and mighty confirmations.

May His Spirit continue to aid and guide your Community in the distressing days yet to come....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear co-workers:

It was such a joy to hear from you. You, as well as the other German believers, are often in my thoughts and prayers. I will continue to pray for the realization of your highest hopes. Do not despair, nay be assured that a glorious future awaits you all, more brilliant than any you can imagine.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 6 JUNE 1939

6 June 1939

My Dear Friend,

I am directed by Shoghi Effendi to thank you for your letter of May 19th.

Although he was very sorry to hear of the deep misunderstandings and lack of unity that still exists in ..., he is thankful to you for your writing him about it, and he knows full well that you wrote because you are animated with a deep desire to remove all ill-feelings among the friends there.

The fact is that the Guardian is very sad over the present condition and because it is almost impossible for him to intervene from such a distance and without hearing both sides, he has written over and over again asking that the friends should gather, should talk frankly and fully without ill-feeling and should solve their difficulty. This to Shoghi Effendi's deep disappointment has not been possible, Mr. Herrigel has been uncompromising and firm and the result is that the Cause in ... is at a standstill. This is why Shoghi Effendi would ask everyone and especially yourself to make every effort and help the situation....

[From the Guardian:]

My dear co-worker:

A trusted friend of ours, Dr. Yunis _Kh_an is proceeding to Germany to visit the Baha'i centres and I trust he will be enabled to promote true understanding and sustained cooperation in.... He is most trustworthy and capable. I will continue to pray for you from the depths of my heart. Rest assured and never feel disheartened.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 5 NOVEMBER 1945

5 November 1945

Dear Baha'i-Brother:

The message signed by you and other of our dear Baha'i-friends, and dated Sep. 16th, Esslingen, reached our beloved Guardian, and brought great joy to his heart. He wishes you if possible to convey the following message to those who addressed him:

Tell them that it was a source of deep comfort and gratification to him to receive a word of love and devotion from some of the German Baha'is after all these years of silence and danger. He was so happy to know they are well and have been able to meet with you and receive news of the progress of the Faith in other lands.

He hopes that now that the war is over, and the regime which banned all Baha'i activities in Germany is no more, the believers there will exert their utmost to teach this great religion of ours to their fellow-countrymen. No doubt after so many years of deep suffering and bitter disillusion there are many souls eager for the truth, and more awakened to the need of a spiritual solution for the world's problems.

Please convey his love to them all, and assure them they are, and have been, often remembered in his ardent prayers.

The Guardian was so very glad to know you had been able to meet with some of the German Baha'is. He urges you to help and inspire them all you can.

His loving prayers surround you, you may be sure...

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers:

I was thrilled by the message you have sent, and feel profoundly thankful to Baha'u'llah for having preserved you and your dear co-workers in that land, and for the spirit, which, despite the sufferings and turmoil that have afflicted your country, you so powerfully display and exemplify. I cherish great hope for the future of your work, and I pray from all my heart for the Almighty's richest blessings on your activities. Rest assure, be happy, and persevere in your historic and meritorious labours.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 30 DECEMBER 1945

30 December 1945

Beloved Baha'i Friends:

Your letter of April 4th has just been received by our beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer it at once on his behalf.

It was with feelings of great pride and deep sorrow that he read of the sufferings of the German believers for their Faith and the persecutions they underwent so heroically, and with such unflinching loyalty, for our Holy Cause.

All during these long and tragic years of war his thoughts have been with the Community of the German believers, and his prayers have constantly been offered for their protection and the lightening of their heavy burden. Other Baha'i Communities, like France and England, have also suffered, but not to the extent of the German and Burmese friends who have been in lands ravaged by war and invasion, and in the hands, at the same time, of political parties who persecuted them.

The loss of all the records of the National and Local Assemblies is indeed very great, and he hopes that your family, Dr. Muehlschlegel, Dr. Schmidt, Herr Joern, Anna Koestlin, Frau Schweizer, Frau Schwarz--, in fact, all the old believers, will try and reconstruct from memory, and write down, as much of the history of the Cause in Germany as they can remember, so that some accurate records for the future will remain. He would also like you to write a comprehensive account of what the Baha'is have endured in Germany since 1937 for the "Baha'i World", vol. X, and send it to him as soon as possible. The news of the German believers' activities has been sadly missed in the last two volumes, and he is anxious to have them take their place again as soon as possible.

He has just written to N.S.A. of America urging them to help, and do all they can to protect the German Baha'is; he has also urged them to make every effort to get German Baha'i books published, and sent to Germany as soon as possible.

You all have a tremendous task before you. He knows how great is the suffering for just ordinary German citizens at present as an aftermath of the war--but in spite of these physical hardships the German believers are called upon to establish again the institutions of their Faith, teach its life-giving message to the masses, and help their country to obtain the spiritual destiny 'Abdu'l-Baha foresaw for it. You may be sure the Guardian and the Baha'is everywhere will do all in their power to help the German believers accomplish their tasks.

Please assure all the friends--especially those who have lost dear ones in the war--of his most loving and ardent prayers on their behalf, and of his feelings of pride and gratitude for their devotion and loyalty to the Faith.

To you all he sends his loving greetings, his deep appreciation of your spirit, and the assurance of his constant prayers....

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly-beloved friends:

My heart is filled with joy, pride and gratitude as I witness, thru the receipt of your most welcome letter, the evidences of the protection of the Almighty and of the vitality of the faith of the long-suffering German believers, who have laboured so devotedly and valiantly during so long and crucial a period and who as a community have survived the greatest ordeal in the history of their Faith in that land. My prayers during these years of danger, of stress, of suspense and anxiety have ever surrounded them, and I rejoice to learn of their safety, their unity, their zeal, and their determination to arise and resume the great and historic work they are destined to carry to a triumphant conclusion in the years that lie ahead. The organization of spiritual assemblies, the reestablishment of the national assembly, the formation of national committees are the immediate objectives, and should, if possible be carried out with the utmost speed and vigour, for upon them will rest the expansion and consolidation of the activities of a sorely-tried Faith. I am appealing to various Baha'i communities in East and West to lend their assistance in whatever manner possible to the arduous task of reconstruction that now faces the German believers. I long to hear of the news of the friends in other parts of that land and will do my utmost to aid them to resume their activity and services to our beloved Faith. Please assure them all of my great love, of my profound admiration, of my bright hopes for their future, of my heartfelt gratitude for their perseverance and of my fervent prayers for their future success.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF DEC. 30TH, 1945

Dec. 30th, 1945

Dear Baha'i Friends:

It was with great joy that the beloved Guardian received your letter of Aug. 1st, and he has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.

During these long, sad, years of separation his thoughts have constantly been with the well-loved German Baha'is, and his ardent prayers have been offered in the Holy Shrines for their protection and the protection of the Faith there.

Now that the friends are once again free to profess their beliefs, hold their meetings, teach the Cause, and uphold its institutions, he hopes they will exert their utmost to reestablish, as speedily as possible, the Baha'i Communities of Germany. The Faith in that land had, before it was suppressed and banned, just began to enjoy the fruits of many long years of labour to promulgate it, and create its administrative bodies; he hopes that all the German Baha'is will unite to bring it to the former level of prosperity it enjoyed.

He wishes to assure you all, and through you, all your Baha'i brothers and sisters in Germany, that he will do all in his power to assist you in your labours, and that your fellow-Baha'is the world over will likewise aid you as much as they can.

The beloved Master cherished very bright hopes for the future of the German Baha'is. His promises and prophecies will surely be fulfilled, and the Holy Faith not only be reestablished in Germany but grow and expand as never before.

The Guardian has urged the American N.S.A. to supply the German Baha'is with literature as soon as possible; this will enable you to bring the teachings to your sore-stricken countrymen, and enlist them under the banner of Baha'u'llah.

You may be sure the Guardian's loving prayers surround you all and sustain you in your labours for the Cause....

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly-beloved Friends:

Your joint and most welcome letter brought indescribable joy to my heart. I am thrilled by this latest and indeed most significant evidence of the unfailing protection of the Almighty, and of His manifold blessings vouchsafed to His dearly-beloved and worthy servants labouring so heroically for His Faith in that land. Though I am greatly saddened by the fate that has overtaken a few of them during this prolonged ordeal they have experienced, I rejoice and am filled with gratitude, pride and happiness to realize that the Faith itself has survived this fiery test, and has demonstrated its resilience, its vitality and incorruptibility after so crucial a period of stress, of suffering and danger. The duty facing the triumphant community in your land is to reconstruct, with the utmost speed and vigour its administrative institutions, and above all, its national assembly. I will appeal to our brethren in East and West to offer every assistance in their power for the rehabilitation of a community which is destined to play, in accordance with 'Abdu'l-Baha's prophecy, so vital a role in the future orientation and expansion of the world-wide Faith of Baha'u'llah. I will do everything I possibly can to help it in its task and assist it in the achievement of its high destiny. I will pray and supplicate on its behalf the abundant blessings of the Almighty, that its influence may revive, its number increase, its activities multiply, its resource develop, and its mission be fulfilled.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 8 APRIL 1946

8 April 1946

Dear Baha'i Friends:

Your loving message, addressed to our beloved Guardian, brought him great joy, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

We all know how dark, and spiritually dead, the world is today, and how desperately it stands in need of spiritual guidance. The Baha'is alone, through the Message of Baha'u'llah, hold the key to the solution of humanity's ills, and as much of the tremendous work which lies ahead will perforce have to be undertaken by young people, he attaches great importance to the activities of Baha'i Youth everywhere.

He hopes you will all study deeply the teachings, as this alone will give you the foundation you need for your services to the Faith. You should also make every effort to distinguish your lives from those of other young people of your generation, and thus, by the display of Baha'i virtues and morals, attract the interest and esteem of others.

You may be sure that his loving prayers will be offered for your guidance and protection in the Holy Shrines....

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly-beloved friends:

I was so pleased and thankful to receive your most welcome message, and to learn of the resumption of your activities to which I attach the utmost importance. I will pray for your success from the depths of my heart, and urge you to get in touch, as soon as possible, with the Baha'i Youth in various parts of the world, and to strengthen the bonds that unite you to them, and to work in close collaboration and under the supervision of your national assembly as soon as it is elected. May the Beloved bless, sustain, and guide you at all times, and crown your activities with signal success.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 4 MAY 1946

4 May 1946

Dear Baha'i Friends:

Your letter of March 17th (the copy of which Mr. Eichenauer also forwarded) has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

He is very anxious for the young Baha'is, everywhere, to deepen their knowledge of the teachings, of Baha'i administration and laws, and to live an exemplary Baha'i life in order to prepare themselves for their work in the Cause as teachers and administrators. They are the ones who will toil in the glorious and difficult days that lie ahead, and they must now fit themselves to be worthy of their future high responsibilities and duties.

He assures you all he will pray for your services, your progress and development, in the Holy Shrines, and he cherishes great hopes for your future....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear co-workers:

My heart rejoiced and my soul was refreshed at the receipt of your most welcome message, signed by so great a number of ardent and youthful co-workers in a land so rich in promise, so blessed by our Beloved, and so severely tried by the vicissitudes of war. You are, I assure you, often in my thoughts and prayers, and I cherish the brightest hopes for your future work. You are, I feel confident, destined to achieve memorable victories, both in your native land and on the continent of Europe, and you should diligently and unitedly prepare yourselves for this glorious task. Persevere, redouble your efforts, and rest assured that the Beloved will bless and sustain you always.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 30 JULY 1946

30 July 1946

Dear Baha'i Friends:

Your letter of June 29th, with its translation, was received, and our beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.

He was so very happy to hear from your Assembly after all these years, since that important institution was disbanded, and hopes from time to time you will send him reports of your work.

As regards the question you asked him: he feels that the Baha'is in Germany should, by all means, follow the same procedure as regards withdrawing from church membership as that in America. You should point out to the believers that, by belonging to other organized religious bodies, we are not acting openly because we firmly believe Christ has come again--so how can we belong to a church which does not accept Baha'u'llah and His message as the fulfilment of Jesus' message and the reappearance of Jesus Himself?

He is very anxious that ways should be found for you to receive the money collected in Tihran and spend it on the Cause and its institutions in Germany. The eagerness of the people to hear of the Faith imposes a sacred duty on all the German Baha'is to see that they are not denied this Divine Revelation in their hour of need.

You may be sure the Guardian will do all he can to assist you, and his ardent prayers are offered on your behalf, for your assistance, your guidance, and the success of your sacred labours to give to Germany the news of this precious Faith's existence, and to administer with wisdom the affairs of the Cause there.

He urges you to hold as frequent meetings as possible, and, in cooperation with the American N.S.A. to get as much literature printed and disseminated as you can....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers:

Your letter brought great joy to my heart. I rejoice to hear of the formation of your assembly, the cornerstone of the foundation of the Faith in that land. I urge you to consult and deliberate as frequently as you can on the affairs of the Faith, devise the most effective measures for its spread, extend the range of Baha'i publications, and the friends to scatter as widely as they can in order to multiply the centres and establish new assemblies, extend any assistance you can to the friends in Vienna and take whatever steps are required to enable you to establish the centre of the Faith in Frankfurt. Your task is immense, the obstacles formidable, the need of your fellow countrymen for the healing truths of the Faith urgent and pitiful, the promised help from on high ready and assured, if you persevere in your task and arise to discharge befittingly your responsibilities. The considerable sums accumulated in Tihran will aid you to extend the scope of your activities and to consolidate your achievements. You should, though these sums have not yet reached you, embark on great projects, and devise, after careful deliberation, effective methods for the propagation of our beloved Faith. I am following the progress of your highly important activities with intense interest. You are, I assure you, often in my thoughts and prayers, and I will continue to supplicate for you the Master's richest blessings.

Rest assured, persevere, and be happy.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 31 JULY 1946

31 July 1946

Dear Baha'i-Brother:

Your letter of July 1st was received by our beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

He was delighted to hear of the Baha'i wedding which recently took place in your Community of Stuttgart Baha'is and he thanks all the dear friends who were present, whose names you forwarded to him on the list enclosed in your letter, for their greetings and their loving thought of him.

In connection with the National Administrative Center of the Faith being in Frankfurt, he wishes to point out to you the following:

This is a purely practical measure because Frankfurt a/M is so much more centrally located than Stuttgart in the south of Germany. The dear friends of Stuttgart must not for a moment feel that this detracts from the unique place their city occupies in the history of the Faith in Germany.

It is very similar to what has happened in the United States; 'Abdu'l-Baha conferred many honours on New York and called it the "City of the Covenant", but this did not prevent Chicago from being chosen as the National Administrative Headquarters owing to its central position in America.

The Stuttgart friends should do all in their power to foster the development of this Administrative Headquarters in Frankfurt, and to ensure its success, as this is what is best for the development of the Faith in Germany. But you can be sure Stuttgart holds a unique position and has received from the Master Himself unique distinction.

It is probable, but not certain, that the first Temple will also, for the same reason, be in Frankfurt. The publishing work, likewise, should be there in the future, but at present its location is for the N.S.A. to decide.

He was very pleased to hear you are requiring all Baha'is to withdraw from church membership and similar organizations; he considers your Community the mother community in spirit, and is confident it will continue to lead the way in its exemplary conduct.

You may be sure his loving prayers will be offered for the success of the teaching and administrative work of the Stuttgart believers...

P.S. In the future Stuttgart must naturally have its own administrative headquarters for that city, and he hopes you will soon have found a suitable meeting place.

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers: