Chapter 8

There can be no doubt that the opposition of the churches to the erection of the Bahá’í Temple is a marked step forward in the progress of the Faith in Germany. He hopes, however, that the situation will never reach a point where the National Spiritual Assembly has to go to the Federal Constitutional Court or to UNO. This would be unwise and doubtful as to results. We are not yet ready for the publicity such a case would bring us—not to mention the increase in opposition it would lead to, and which would inevitably affect our work in the more backward countries where pioneers are so devotedly labouring to establish the Faith.

He is praying that a solution will be forthcoming in the near future and all complications avoided.

The German Bahá’ís must be very careful not to be involved in any way if this Temple issue gets into the hands of politicians. Nothing could be more dangerous for us!

He deeply appreciates the constant and devoted services you are rendering the Cause of God, in which you are so whole-heartedly supported by your dear family.

He sends you all his loving greetings, and prays for your health and the success of your labours to promote and to protect the Faith....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty, Whose Cause you have served so long, and are still serving with such devotion, distinction and courage, bless continually your high endeavours, guide and sustain you in your deeply appreciated labours, and enable you to enrich the record of your fine and unforgettable accomplishments.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 4 OCTOBER 1954

4 October 1954

Bahá’í Youth Summer School, Überlingen/Bodensee.

The beloved Guardian has received your note of August 28th, signed by all those present at the Summer School.

He is happy to know that you have had such a happy and profitable time together; and he hopes that now you will promise yourselves to spend these days of your youth in the accomplishment of the goals set by the Guardian for your various countries for this particular period of the great World Crusade....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless, guide and sustain you, and enable you to promote the vital interests of His Faith,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 12 DECEMBER 1954

12 December 1954

The Bahá’ís of Vienna.

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

Your letter of November 26th was received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

He is very happy to see the spirit of love and unity animating you, because without this, no work can go forward in the Cause of God. Personal differences of opinion, of character etc. must melt away in the love of the friends for Bahá’u’lláh, and their desire to serve His Cause.

He hopes that in the near future the Vienna Community will have its Hazíratu’l-Quds, to which he attaches the greatest importance, as it will be the visible sign of the firm foundation on which that Community stands.

He will pray for you all, and for the rapid spread of the Faith through your efforts....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless your meritorious efforts, reward you abundantly for your valued and constant services, and enable you to achieve great and memorable victories in the days to come,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 30 SEPTEMBER 1955(44)

30 September 1955

He assures you he very deeply appreciates the loving attention and care you have been giving to Valíyu’lláh Varqá and his family.

This precious Hand of the Cause of God was always an honoured and favored servant of the Faith during the days of the Master, and very close to His heart; and has always been a completely trusted and truly dedicated helper of the Guardian, who loves him very deeply.

To know of his present condition does grieve the heart, and distresses and saddens the Guardian greatly. He feels confident, though, that this distinguished soul, who is so dear to the hearts in so many lands, in being where he is, is now surrounded with infinite love and tenderness; and for this he is most grateful....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty richly reward you for the deeply appreciated and highly meritorious assistance you extend to our dearly beloved and distinguished brother and co-worker, Valíyu’lláh Varqá, and enable you to extend continually the range of your splendid accomplishments in the service of our glorious Faith,

Your true brother, Shoghi

FACSIMILE OF A LETTER FOUND ON PAGE 118

[facsimile of a letter found on page 118]

LETTER OF 13 JANUARY 1956

13 January 1956

To the Bahá’í Youth who were present at the Titisee Winter School.

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The beloved Guardian was happy to receive your note of greeting from the School, dated December 26th.

He urges each one of you to exert your utmost effort in the teaching field, and do all in your power to establish many new Centers throughout Germany.

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless your constant endeavours, remove all obstacles from your path, and enable you to extend continually the scope of your valued activities,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 26 MARCH 1956(45)

26 March 1956

Many of the problems which you see facing the German Community are akin to other Bahá’í Communities. There is a desperate need for deepening the Bahá’ís themselves in their own faith. They do not study the Teachings enough. They do not therefore either act as whole-heartedly as Bahá’ís as they should, or derive the spiritual strength from the Faith which studying, praying and meditating brings.

The answer of course to many of these problems is that we need more Bahá’ís to share in the work, more money to finance traveling teachers, more understanding between the youth and older people, and a wiser distribution of the work of the Faith amongst those able to carry it on, whether young or old.

As regards the question you have asked about your own obligations, he feels you should not resign from the National Assembly, as your presence on that Body is of great help in the work. On the other hand, he approves of your requesting that they do not give you so much work as a member of the National Assembly, and as a member of national committees, thus freeing you more for the teaching work as a “Hand”, and also enabling you to take better care of your health, which is a precious asset to the Faith.

LETTER OF 3 MAY 1956(46)

3 May 1956

He is glad to see that the work is progressing well in Innsbruck; and feels sure that, with your enthusiasm and that of the other dear friends, it will not be long before a flourishing Bahá’í Community exists there....

As you no doubt know, he has not been satisfied with the Temple drawings received from Germany, and is now in touch with the National Assembly regarding possible modifications of some recently sent him.

He considers that the prestige of our beloved Faith is directly involved with this building; and that what may to an architect, fond of an advanced style, seem appropriate, would not be sufficiently dignified to represent our Faith as the first Temple on the European continent. The problem will no doubt soon be solved. It merely requires patience and more effort.

LETTER OF 26 AUGUST 1956(47)

26 August 1956

He is well satisfied and pleased with the progress of the work there. It shows a healthy condition, and that you are being aided by Bahá’u’lláh in your efforts to establish the Cause in that new area.

He values very deeply your pioneering services, through which you are carrying on a long history in your family of single-hearted devotion to the Faith. It is indeed good that your dear brother Dr. Grossmann can give you such invaluable teaching assistance.

The Guardian hopes those who are now interested in and drawn toward the Cause will earnestly study the Teachings until they feel impelled to join the ranks of the Bahá’ís. He also hopes that others may soon follow their example, so that within a short time a Spiritual Assembly may be established in Westerland-Sylt.

His prayers will constantly surround you as you lovingly labour for the attainment of this important goal....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty, whose Cause you have served, and are serving, so devotedly, so determinedly and courageously, reward you a thousandfold for your historic services and enable you to win still greater victories in the days to come,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 16 SEPTEMBER 1956(48)

16 September 1956

He is very sorry to hear you may have to leave Graz, where you are laying a good foundation for the work; even though our dear Bahá’í sister, Mrs. Johnson Norvell is there now, which the Guardian was happy to hear.

If it is not possible for you to remain in Graz, you should try to follow your plan of working in Vienna, and going down to help Mrs. Norvell on week-ends.

The Guardian feels you should inquire whether the German National Spiritual Assembly cannot help you to remain in Graz, as he considers this city of great importance....

[From the Guardian:]

Assuring you of my loving and fervent prayers for the success of your historic services, and of my admiration for the spirit that animates you in the promotion of our beloved Faith,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 28 SEPTEMBER 1956(49)

28 September 1956

He was sorry indeed to hear of the conditions there, and will ardently pray for the greater dedication of the members of the German Community, so that they may realize the pressing needs of the Faith, and arise determinedly to meet them.

He assures you he deeply appreciates your constant services, and the devoted labours of your dear and honoured brother.

LETTER OF 15 NOVEMBER 1956(50)

15 November 1956

As regards the translation of the Íqán, as this is a very important and fundamental book, the Guardian hopes that it will be published as soon as possible.

The basis of your translation should be his English translation of it and not the Persian original. He feels that you should adhere as closely as possible to the English text without making your translation so literal as to be un-German and unidiomatic, and therefore not very readable to German-speaking people.

As regards Dr. Schück’s book, which the Guardian is very pleased to hear he has written, as we need always more literature to attract new people to the Faith through different approaches: Any Bahá’í book presenting the Faith should be reviewed by a competent body. This only means that they should ascertain whether there is any misrepresentation of the Teachings in it. Sometimes the friends think they have to go into literary reviews and interfere with the author’s style etc., which of course is wholly unnecessary. It should therefore not take long for your National Body or the Italo-Swiss National Assembly to pass upon the book.

LETTER OF 17 NOVEMBER 1956

17 November 1956

The Bahá’í Group of Salzburg

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

Your letter of November 12th has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

He deeply appreciates the sentiments you expressed and also the loving labours you are performing in the teaching field in Salzburg.

He was happy to note that your letter had seven signatures, and hopes that by Ridván you will be able to form an Assembly there, which will be a great step forward in the progress of the Faith in Austria.

You may be sure he will pray for you all at the holy Shrines....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless your high endeavours, guide every step you take, and fulfil every desire you cherish, for the promotion and consolidation of His glorious Faith,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 30 NOVEMBER 1956(51)

30 November 1956

He appreciates very deeply the sentiments you expressed to him on the occasion of the thirty-fifth anniversary of his Guardianship. The love of the friends and the services they render the Faith have in a great part sustained him in his arduous and exhausting work; and he feels that the Hands of the Cause will be called upon ever-increasingly to display a loyalty and devotion which will stimulate the rank and file of the friends to arise and fulfil their tasks, in spite of every obstacle....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Beloved reward you a thousandfold for your outstanding and unforgettable services, during so many years, to our beloved Faith, fulfil every desire you cherish, and bless every effort you exert, in the days to come, for the spread and consolidation of His glorious Faith, and enable you to enrich the distinguished record of your highly meritorious accomplishments,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 6 DECEMBER 1956(52)

6 December 1956

He very deeply appreciates the loving sentiments you expressed to him on the occasion of the thirty-fifth anniversary of his Guardianship. The devotion of the Bahá’ís, and the fidelity they have shown to the Master’s wishes, and the love they have showered upon him, have enabled the Guardian to carry out the work he has accomplished.

He hopes that the older German Bahá’ís like yourself will do all you can to deepen the younger generation in the verities of the Faith, and create in them the same flame of devotion which has animated you all over so long a period....

[From the Guardian:]

Assuring you of my deep and abiding appreciation of the sentiments you have expressed, as well as of your highly meritorious services to the Cause of God—services which have greatly sustained and encouraged me amidst my strenuous labours in His service,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 6 DECEMBER 1956(53)

6 December 1956

He deeply appreciates the loving sentiments you expressed to him on the occasion of the thirty-fifth anniversary of his Guardianship. The devotion the friends have shown to the Cause of God and the love they have showered upon him have enabled him to carry on his heavy burdens.

He hopes that your persistent and devoted labours there will soon bear the reward of a Spiritual Assembly, and assures you that his prayers are offered for your success.

LETTER OF 15 DECEMBER 1956

15 December 1956

He also hopes that you will persuade this friend to withdraw from the church if he has not already done so. The line of demarcation must be more and more distinct at this critical point in the fortunes of humanity, and the Bahá’ís must courageously stand forth, upholding the laws of Bahá’u’lláh and supporting the Administrative Order openly.

LETTER OF 2 FEBRUARY 1957

2 February 1957

The Bahá’í Group of Salzburg

He is happy, to hear that the Bahá’í friends from Budapest are safely installed in the United States, and that they are going to make an effort to settle in a way that will serve the work on the Home Front.

It was too bad that you lost some of the members of your much-prized Community there, just when you are trying to build up a Spiritual Assembly, but the Guardian hopes you will soon replace them with new believers recruited from the local population, in other words, permanent ones!

He attaches great importance to the creation of an Assembly in Salzburg and will pray that you may be successful in the teaching work there....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless, abundantly and continually, your high endeavours, guide every step you take, and enable you to lay a firm foundation for our beloved Faith in that city,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 17 MARCH 1957(54)

17 March 1957

He fully appreciates that you are not strong enough to act as National Secretary and at the same time fulfil your functions as a member of the Auxiliary Board, and he therefore approves of your asking the National Assembly, if you are reelected on it this year, to not make you the Secretary. He does not think however that you should resign from the National Assembly if you are elected to it.

LETTER OF 25 MARCH 1957(55)

25 March 1957

Regarding the matters raised in your letter, as he wrote you before, he does not feel in this stage in the development of the Faith and the Institution of the Hands, that the Hands should request to not be elected on National Bodies, or resign from them. However, there is no reason why they cannot ask their fellow-members, if they are elected, to leave them free of the heavier administrative offices, so that they can do more in their function as Hands. There is no reason why there should not be a frank discussion of these problems before the National Assembly itself votes for its Officers.

The National Assembly is not obliged to follow the wish of the Hands.(56) It is also not the Body empowered to tell the Hands what to do; they can make suggestions to them.

As regards your highly meritorious desire to pioneer behind the Iron Curtain, he does not feel that this would be advisable or in the best interests of the Faith. You should continue your work where you are in Germany, and do all you can, as a Hand and as a member of the National Body, to see that some pioneers undertake this important service.

LETTER OF 28 MARCH 1957

28 March 1957

As regards the question you have asked: The Bahá’í marriage should take place the same day.

It is not necessary that this should be an occasion for a feast or publicity, although that would of course be good if it could be combined with obedience to the Laws. The most important thing is that they should have the Bahá’í ceremony, which, as you know, is extremely simple, on the same day as the other ceremony.

LETTER OF 28 APRIL 1957

28 April 1957

The passing of dear George Townshend has been a real loss to the work in Europe—but what Europe has lost Asia in the Pacific has gained!

LETTER OF 14 MAY 1957(57)

14 May 1957

He would certainly not advise you to move outside of Germany, in view of the tremendous needs in that country. However, he approves, if you find it financially possible, of your moving to Dortmund where as you say there are no Bahá’ís, and which is one of Germany’s major cities. This would indeed be rendering the Faith a valuable service at this time in setting an example to others. Either Dortmund or Berlin would be highly acceptable, whichever would be easiest for you.

LETTER OF 28 MAY 1957

28 May 1957

To the Youth who were present in Aachen on May 19, 1957.

He was very happy to see that so many of the Bahá’í Youth had gathered together to study the Teachings, and hopes such meetings will be held often throughout Germany.

The believers, especially the young ones, should always remember that the first thing the non-Bahá’ís are going to notice in us is our character; therefore, the highest standard of moral conduct and courtesy should be shown forth by the youth, in order to attract the hearts of other people, and, through arousing their admiration, create in them a desire to know more about our beloved Faith, and eventually to arise to serve it.

He will pray for you all, that you may be successful in your labours, to give the Glad Tidings of Bahá’u’lláh to the young people....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless your efforts, guide and sustain you, and aid you to win great victories in the service of His Faith,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 31 MAY 1957

31 May 1957

To the Bahá’ís of Salzburg

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

Your letter of May 16th was received, and the beloved Guardian wishes to assure you of how happy he is over the formation of the Salzburg Assembly, and to see that you not only have nine Bahá’ís but ten Bahá’ís!

He hopes that during the coming months, you will each attract many new souls, enlarge your Community and confirm especially Austrians who will remain there, and free the pioneers for further services in new fields.

You may be sure he will remember you in the holy Shrines....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless your valued endeavours, guide and sustain you in your historic services to His Faith, and enable you to promote its vital interests,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 4 JUNE 1957

4 June 1957

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Graz.

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The beloved Guardian received your letter of May 31, and he is very happy to have this opportunity of congratulating your Spiritual Assembly upon its formation.

He was also delighted to hear there are so many Bahá’ís in Graz. Perhaps you can spare a pioneer, if you find your Assembly will be assured next April, to one of the weaker places in Austria, and thus help build up yet another administrative centre.

You may be sure he will pray for you all, and he urges you to labor together in the greatest love and unity for the promotion of the Faith....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Beloved guide your steps, remove all obstacles from your path, bless every effort you exert, and fulfil every desire you cherish, for the promotion of His Faith, and the consolidation of the newly established Assembly,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 4 JUNE 1957(58)

4 June 1957

He greatly appreciates the services you have been able to render the Faith in Austria, and feels that you have every reason to be satisfied, now that you see that a Spiritual Assembly was established in Graz. The fact that the friends there did not cable him makes no difference at all. Not all of the new Assemblies cable.

You will be able, he hopes, on your return to Germany, to assist in the formation of a new Spiritual Assembly there, through taking up your residence where there is a Group. In this way you will be strengthening the Home Front, which is also a very important phase of our Bahá’í activities. If you must go back to Stuttgart, he hopes you can still live in its neighbourhood and be instrumental in forming another Assembly, rather than to be just one more Bahá’í in an already crowded Community. As you perhaps already know, he has urged the large communities to send out pioneers. Indeed, if only fifteen Bahá’ís remained in each city, willing to serve, it would be quite sufficient to maintain the Spiritual Assembly. The sooner the rest would arise to pioneer, the better it would be for them and for the Faith.

LETTER OF 22 JULY 1957

22 July 1957

He was indeed happy to hear that the teaching work in Frankfurt is going forward so rapidly, and that such fine people are becoming deeply interested. He hopes, through these meetings, many new souls will become Bahá’ís, who will be active supporters of the Faith there.

LETTER OF 7 AUGUST 1957

7 August 1957

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Graz

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The beloved Guardian has received your letter of July 3rd with its enclosure, and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

He was very sorry to hear of the death of Mehrangiz Mashoodi. Her devotion to the Faith will no doubt be rewarded in the Abhá Kingdom.

He appreciates your sending him the fine newspaper article about her.

Please assure her mother of his prayers for her and her daughter’s soul. He hopes other Persian Bahá’í Youth will follow her noble example.

The Guardian has wanted for some time to see a Spiritual Assembly established in Graz, and therefore he was made very happy this year over its formation....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Beloved bless your meritorious efforts, guide every step you take, and fulfil every desire you cherish, for the spread and consolidation of His glorious Faith.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 24 OCTOBER 1957(59)

24 October 1957

Your efforts to promote peace and love among the friends are indeed deeply appreciated by him.

The National Spiritual Assembly must protect the Faith, but must always be fair. Because a person is accused does not necessarily prove that he or she is guilty; and the administrative bodies cannot be too careful in such matters.

The Guardian hopes ... will obey the National Spiritual Assembly, and that ways will be found for him to serve the Cause, as his devotion to it is sincere, and the deep desire of his heart is to labour for the Cause....

[From the Guardian:]