Previous Section Table of Contents
Next Section
7 January 1935 [Auckland Assembly]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
The Guardian has duly received your beautiful message of the 2nd of December, and he wishes me to thank you for it, as well as for the enclosed copy of the Auckland Assembly's circular letter which he has delivered to the Spiritual Assembly of Haifa for their perusal.
He also wishes me to ask you to kindly inform Miss Blundell of the receipt of the twenty-five copies of the Maori pamphlet which she had lately mailed to him. These, together with those she had sent previously, have all been placed in his own library, & a few copies have also been placed in the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahji for the information of the general public.
In closing, the Guardian wishes me to renew to you the expressions of his abiding and genuine appreciation of your labours for the Cause in Auckland, & particularly in connection with your duties as secretary of the Local Assembly. He is praying from the very depth of his heart for your progress & success in this important field of Bahá'í service.
With heartiest greetings to you & all the friends,
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani
Dearly beloved co-workers:
I wish to assure you of my deepfelt appreciation of your constant & manifold services to the Faith, & particularly of the share you have had in consolidating its administrative institutions in both Australia & New Zealand, whether local or national. My prayers will continue to be offered from the bottom of my heart for your dear co-workers. Persevere & never feel disheartened.
Your true brother, Shoghi
16 January 1935 [National Assembly]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
Your welcome letter of the 13th of December, together with the accompanying message of December 11th addressed to the Guardian by "The General Purposes and Business Committee" of the N.S.A. have all been duly received and deeply appreciated by him.
He has also received and read with great care and interest the enclosed copy of the minutes of the above-mentioned committee, and was pleased to realize that, despite the various impediments standing in the way of your Assembly, that body is functioning smoothly and with one accord. He hopes that the various steps taken by your Committee in connection with the publication of the "Herald of the South" will all materialize and meet with success.
May I also in closing express the Guardian's appreciation of your efforts in connection with the management and direction of this monthly review, and also with regard to your activities in the field of teaching.
With his loving greetings to you and to your co-workers in the "Herald of the South" Committee, and with the assurance of his prayers for you all.
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.
Dear and valued co-workers:
The repeated evidences of the strenuous efforts exerted by the believers in Australia and New Zealand for the spread of the Cause and the rise and consolidation of its institutions have brought me intense joy and excited my deepest admiration. I urge them to persevere, to remain united, not to relax in their determination, and to strive with all their might to extend the scope of their meritorious activities. I will continue to pray for them from the bottom of my heart.
Your true brother, Shoghi.
29 January 1935
The Secretary, N.S.A. of the Bahá'ís of Australia and New Zealand.
Dear Bahá'í Friend,
At the direction of the Guardian I am enclosing the translation of a report he has recently received from Persia, and addressed to the Persian N.S.A. by a believer from Kerman.
The Guardian feels your N.S.A. will be interested to read this report as it throws much light on the conditions under which the Faith is now passing in Persia.
With his best wishes & greetings,
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani
5 February 1935
Dear Miss Blundell,
The Guardian has just received your kind message of the second of January last, and wishes me to thank you for it.
It comforted him greatly to learn that, despite the severe loss which you have sustained through the passing away of your mother, you are still engaged as actively as before in the work which you have set your heart to accomplish for the Cause in Auckland. The agonies of her earthly separation from you, difficult though they may be to bear, will assuredly be transmuted through the blessings of Bahá'u'lláh into a peaceful and abiding joy. In serving a Cause for which your mother sacrificed so much you will no doubt come to find the very purpose of your life, & the true secret of happiness in this, as well as in the next world.
The Guardian is fervently praying for you and for your brother, that you both may be strengthened and guided in your services to the Cause, and in this way continue and enrich still further the noble heritage which your mother has left for the Faith in New Zealand.
With loving Bahá'í greetings to you & to all the friends in Auckland,
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani
Dear co-worker:
I wish to assure you in person of my heartfelt sympathy in the loss you have sustained, & of my loving and ardent prayers for the departed soul. The work with which her name will for ever be associated will confer upon her imperishable glory, & her example will serve to stimulate the rising generation to follow in her footsteps, & carry on the work she has so nobly initiated. Your true brother, Shoghi
24 April 1935 [National Assembly]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
The Guardian has read with great care and interest your letter of the 24th of March last, and has noted with deep satisfaction the steady progress which your N.S.A. is making since its formation last year. He is particularly pleased and encouraged to realise how wisely and effectively your Assembly is adjusting itself to the general conditions and specific requirements of the Cause in Australia and New Zealand, to such an extent that obstacles which a year ago seemed to be insurmountable have now, through the sustained and earnest efforts of the friends, been partially if not completely removed. Your Assembly has, indeed, truly vindicated its ability and power to function as a well-organized and united body, and this in the face of manifold difficulties which the all-conquering spirit of the Faith could alone overcome. Nothing short of this Divine spirit, as expressed through the self-sacrificing and confident labours of the Australian and New Zealand friends, could have so effectively subdued those forces which every now and then threatened to undermine the foundations of your Assembly, and thus overthrow the entire system of the Administration in your land.
Now that the N.S.A. has successfully emerged out of these difficulties and trials, the Guardian has every reason to believe that the progress thus far achieved will continue undiminished and undeterred by any obstacle, however formidable it may seem to appear.
In his moments of meditation and prayer at the Holy Shrines he will specially supplicate for the guidance and assistance of the N.S.A. and will supplicate Bahá'u'lláh to inspire its members in all their deliberations.
With his warmest and most loving appreciation and greetings to them and to all the friends in Adelaide.
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani
Dear and valued co-worker:
I fully approve of the decisions arrived at by your Assembly regarding the various issues referred to in your letter, and feel gratified to learn of the zeal, the constancy, the loyalty and the determination with which the national representatives of the believers in Australia and New Zealand are prosecuting the noble work entrusted to them by the Almighty. I would urge you to take the necessary steps for the incorporation of your National Assembly as soon as you adopt your Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, and I pray that the almighty hand of Bahá'u'lláh may guide and sustain you in your high and historic endeavours.
Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi.
29 May 1935 [Clara Dunn]
Dear Bahá'í Friend,
The Guardian is profoundly grieved to learn from your letter of the 19th of April last, that Mr. Dunn has had a stroke, & that as a result he is confined to bed & is unable to attend to his work for the Cause. It is very kind, indeed, of Mr. and Mrs. Bolton to have offered themselves for nursing & treating him, and it is hoped that through their kind assistance & care, as well as through the bounty and favours of Bahá'u'lláh, our beloved patient will gradually improve in health, & will be able to resume his activities for the Faith in a not too distant future.
In his prayers & meditations at the Holy Shrines he will specially remember him, & will pray for his complete recovery.
As to yourself, Shoghi Effendi sees no objection if, for the present, you offer your resignation from the Local Assembly in order to have more time to take care of father Dunn. He wishes you, however, to first try to serve in both capacities. In case you find yourself unable to do so, you can be certain that your action is quite justified, & hence meets with the Guardian's approval.
Assuring you again of his supplications for your protection & guidance, and with his cordial greetings to father Dunn & your dear self, as well as to all the friends in your centre,
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani
Dear and prized co-workers:
I am truly distressed to learn of the illness of so precious, so dearly-beloved a worker, so magnificent a pioneer in the field of Bahá'í service. I hasten to assure you of my prayers at the Holy Shrines for the recovery, the welfare, the success & happiness of one who may be truly said to have set an unsurpassed example to the generations that will be called upon to serve the Cause of God throughout the whole world. My gratefulness to you knows no bounds & my affection for you is beyond description. The concourse on high are truly proud of your record your eminent and unforgettable accomplishments. Shoghi
30 May 1935 [Silver Jackman]_
Dear Bahá'í Friend,
The Guardian has directed me to thank you for your letter of the 30th of April last which he has just received & deeply appreciated reading.
He has also received the sum of twenty pounds stirling which the friends in Australia and New Zealand have generously contributed to the Cause, and wishes you to convey to them all the expression of his most sincere & loving appreciation of the spirit that has led them to make this donation. He hopes & prays that the Almighty may abundantly reward them for the self-sacrifices they have borne in this connection.
With regard to the "Herald of the South" magazine. Shoghi Effendi is very much pleased to witness how its standard is improving, & how effectively it is being used by the friends in their teaching work. What he would advise the editors is to make an effort to make this review as interesting & as stimulating to the non-Bahá'í public as possible. To this end, he suggests that more emphasis be laid on the number & quality of articles, & that the latter be written not only on specific Bahá'í subjects, but should cover a wide range of material whether, social, religious or humanitarian. The science section is, no doubt, very important & has a special appeal to the young & the new-comers. The Esperanto section is also highly useful, and adds a good deal to the international character of the review.
In closing Shoghi Effendi wishes me to express once more his appreciation of your services to the Cause, whether in the local or the national field of Bahá'í activity, and to also assure you of his prayers for the success & continued expansion of your labours for the spread & establishment of the Faith in your country.
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.
Dear co-worker:
I am deeply touched by these evidences of the devotion, the incessant activities, & the undeviating loyalty of the believers in Australia and New Zealand. Through their high endeavours they have laid the foundations of the Administrative Order of their Faith in that far-off continent. They are loyally & devotedly labouring to rear on this basis the institutions of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh. May He increasingly sustain, guide & bless their meritorious & historic activities. Shoghi
19 June 1935 [National Assembly]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
The Guardian has received your letter dated May 8th, and has carefully read and considered its contents. He wishes me to thank you for it, and specially to convey to you, as well as to the other members of your N.S.A., his hearty congratulations over the success that has attended your national elections this year. He hopes and prays that as years go by your Assembly will increasingly grow in unity and strength, and will demonstrate its capacity to cope with the manifold problems and difficulties with which it will be inevitably confronted as it forges ahead in its slow though steady progress towards the firmer establishment of Bahá'u'lláh's World Order throughout Australia and New Zealand.
With regard to your question as to the advisability of disclosing to an individual believer the contents of the N.S.A.'s correspondence. The Guardian thinks that although this cannot be considered as constituting an obligation which a believer can impose upon the national body, yet, it would seem highly advisable that the N.S.A. should give a sympathetic consideration to any such request made to it by a believer. This, he feels, would avoid giving the impression that the Assembly is working in an atmosphere of complete secrecy, and that it is motivated by dictatorial motives. The final decision in such matters, however, is entirely left to the discretion of the N.S.A. The basic principle that should always be remembered is that the N.S.A. cannot be required to reveal to any outsider all the details concerning its work. It may choose to do so if it wishes, but nobody has the right to enforce upon it any such action: This is, of course the purely legal side of the question. But a purely legalistic attitude in matters affecting the Cause, particularly now that the Faith is still in a state of infancy, is not only inadequate but fraught with unforeseen dangers and difficulties. The individuals and Assemblies must learn to cooperate and to cooperate intelligently, if they desire to adequately discharge their duties and obligations towards the Faith. And no such cooperation is possible without mutual confidence and trust.
With loving greetings from the Guardian to you and to the members of the N.S.A. and with the assurance of his prayers on behalf of you all,
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.
Dear and valued co-worker:
I cannot refrain from expressing in person my deep sense of gratitude and indebtedness to the beloved co-workers in that land for their splendid achievements in both the teaching and administrative spheres of Bahá'í activity. I feel truly proud of your accomplishments. I will continue to supplicate for every one of you the Beloved's imperishable blessings.
Rest assured and persevere. Shoghi
26 Sept 1935 [National Assembly]
Beloved Bahá'í co-worker,
On Behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th of July last, with the enclosed copy of the minutes of the N.S.A. of the Bahá'ís of Australia and New Zealand. I wish, in particular, to express his gratification at the news of the success of the last meeting of your N.S.A. held in Sydney. It gives him, indeed, much pleasure and encouragement to realize that your Assembly meetings are conducted with such a good deal of order and efficiency, and above all, in such a perfect spirit of unity and fellowship - the few other obstacles and difficulties left, he feels confident, will in due time disappear. The foundation has been now firmly laid down, and the work is bound to develop and expand. The friends should, therefore, be confident, and should exert their utmost that the institutions they have so painstakingly and laboriously established should flourish and yield their fruit.
In connection with the N.S.A.'s decision regarding the appointment of Mrs. Axford and Mr. Inman to keep records of Australian and New Zealand activities for the "Bahá'í World"; the Guardian wishes you to assure your fellow-members in the Assembly that he fully endorses their choice. He also wishes you to impress the newly-appointed correspondents with the vital importance of their task, and to urge them to acquit themselves of it with thoroughness, efficiency and vigour.
Regarding dear Mr. Hyde Dunn's health; Shoghi Effendi is grieved beyond words to learn that he is growing so weak physically. Will you kindly assure him, as well as Mrs. Dunn, of his supplications for the amelioration of his health and for the complete restoration of his forces.
In closing will you also convey his love and greetings to the members of the N.S.A. and assure them once more of his continued prayers for their welfare, protection and guidance.
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.
Dear and valued co-worker:
The detailed report of the activities of the National Assembly - the furthermost pillar of the Universal House of Justice which the high endeavours of the believers in Australia and New Zealand have reared - has filled my heart and soul with immense joy and gratitude. The Beloved is surely watching over and continually blessing your splendid accomplishments, the plans you have conceived, the methods you have devised, the efforts you are exerting, the services which you have rendered. I will continue to pray for the consolidation and uninterrupted expansion of your laudable activities in the service of so glorious and mighty a Cause. Never relax nor despair. The tender plant which your hands have raised and nurtured shall grow and will ultimately gather beneath its shadow the whole of that far-off and promising continent. Persevere and be happy, Shoghi.
1 October 1935
Mrs Mariette Bolton, Somerset House, 9 Martin Place, Sydney. N.S.W. Australia.
Beloved Bahá'í Sister,
Shoghi Effendi has just received your welcome letter of the 22nd of August with enclosures, and has read them all with deepest interest. He is so pleased to hear from you after such a long time, and to learn that you and family are keeping well and are earnestly engaged in spreading the Message in Australia. He wishes you complete and continued success in your efforts in this connection, and also in your material conditions which, he hopes, will daily improve, and will thus give you a still wider opportunity to work for the Cause in Sydney.
Regarding our distinguished pioneer friend Mr. Dunn; the Guardian feels greatly worried about his health. Many of the Sydney friends have already written that his general condition is causing great anxiety, and that every effort is being done to help him regain his forces. It is hoped therefore, that with the generous assistance of the believers, and also through the unfailing help of Bahá'u'lláh, our dear friend will soon improve in health, and will be able to resume his important activities on behalf of the Cause.
In closing will you kindly assure him, and also dear Mrs. Dunn, of Shoghi Effendi's best wishes, and of his prayers on behalf of them both. May the Almighty protect and guide them, and prolong their career of service in the Faith.
May I also assure you of the Guardian's supplications for your husband, children and your dear self, Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani.
Dear Co-workers:
I will pray that your most cherished desire for the advancement and glory of our Faith may be fully and speedily realized. I am deeply touched by the sentiments your letter conveyed, and I am truly appreciative of the kindness and assistance you have extended to our distinguished and dearly beloved co-workers, Mr. and Mrs. Dunn. The work they have achieved is a source of inspiration to me, and I will continue to pray for them from the depths of my heart.
Your true brother, Shoghi.
14 November 1935
Dear Miss Blundell,
The Guardian has asked me to convey to you his best thanks for your letter of the 9th of October & specially for the enclosed sketch of your mother's life which you have been requested by him to write for publication in the next issue of the "Bahá'í World". The account of your dear mother's career of service is very comprehensively and beautifully written, indeed, & will, he feels certain, deeply touch every reader of the Biennial. The New Zealand & Australian friends will particularly appreciate this touching account of the life of one of their earliest, most devoted & active pioneer co-workers, & will assuredly draw from it continued inspiration & vigour.
Thanking you again for your painstaking efforts for the preparation of this article, & with the renewed assurance of the Guardian's continued supplications at the Holy Shrines for you & for all the Auckland believers,
Yours in His Service, H. Rabbani
Dear & valued co-worker:
I have received the splendid photograph you have sent me, & I wish to assure you that I will myself place it in the manuscript of the Bahá'í World which I expect to receive from the States this winter. Her pioneer services are imperishable. The spirit she so powerfully displayed, the work she performed, the example she has set & the high standing she achieved future generations will long remember & extol. Rest assured & persevere along the path she has so nobly trodden. Shoghi
Previous Section Table of Contents
Next Section
|
|
