Previous Section Table of Contents
Next Section
9 January 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
Hilda Brooks, 17 Gurney Road, Dulwich, Adelaide.
HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS CABLE PURCHASE PRICE LOVE
22 January 1944
Mrs. Mariette Bolton, Somerset House, 9 Martin Place, Sydney. N.S.W. Australia.
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
Your letters dated Oct. 25 and Dec. 4th, as well as the reports you forwarded, have been received, and the Guardian has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He was truly delighted to see the way the Cause is spreading, and he is deeply appreciative of the tireless endeavours of Mr. Bolton and yourself in serving our beloved Faith.
The people of Australia hold great promise of becoming attracted in large numbers to the Cause, and the Guardian hopes that the establishment in Sydney of the Nat. Bahá'í Headquarters and the Summer School at Yerrinbool and other activities on a national scale will be the means of bringing the Faith to the attention of the public in a big way during the remaining months of this closing year of our first Century.
So much lies ahead in the second Century! The Bahá'ís have every reason to feel courageous, proud and enthusiastic, however, as they face the future. If so much has been accomplished by so few in the midst of such a war, what can not be done under more favourable circumstances?
Assuring you of his loving prayers for the success of your manifold teaching activities and for the members of your dear family.
Yours, with Bahá'í love, R. Rabbani
Dear and valued co-worker:
I was delighted to receive your letter and reports, and I am deeply grateful to you for your exemplary efforts and achievements. I will pray from the depths of my heart for your success, your spiritual advancement, and the fulfilment of every hope you cherish for the progress of our beloved Faith. May the Beloved bless continually your noble exertions, and reward you for your splendid accomplishments,
Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi
22 January 1944 [Lily Jean Hutchinson-Smith]
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
Your letter, dated Oct. 26th, has been received together with the snapshots you forwarded, and the Guardian has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
He deeply regrets the intense suffering you must be passing through due to the uncertainty surrounding your son's condition. He will certainly pray ardently for his protection, and that this period of trial may be safely passed and leave him spiritually more mature and ready for our beloved Faith to sink into his heart. He will also pray for you and your dear daughter, that Bahá'u'lláh may graciously aid you to solve your problems and improve the state of affairs in her family.
He hopes that by the time this reaches you the National Bahá'í Headquarters will have been established in Sydney.
This is an institution of great importance - the fore-runner of many future Bahá'í institutions in that vast continent.
With loving Bahá'í greetings, R. Rabbani
May the Beloved bless your devoted efforts, guide every step you take in His service, remove all obstacles from your path, & fulfil every desire you cherish for the furtherance of the interests of His Faith.
Your true brother, Shoghi
23 January 1944 [Silver Jackman]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
Your letters dated Nov 18th and Oct. 2nd and Dec. 29th have been received, and the Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.
He very deeply appreciates all the trouble you personally have gone to in order to find a suitable building for the National Bahá'í Headquarters and the efforts of other devoted friends.
The most important thing of all has been successfully accomplished: you have succeeded in purchasing, within city limits, a suitable building and well in time for it to be furnished and in use before the centenary celebrations next May.
In regard to the question you raise about a secretary: this is, of course, a matter to be decided by the N.S.A. but in most countries where the work of the N.S.A. has become sufficiently involved to necessitate it, the secretary of the N.S.A. has assistant secretaries. If Miss Brooks is unable, for family reasons, to take up her residence in Sydney, an assistant secretary could do so. Of course the actual secretary of the N.S.A. must be a member of it; the assistant need not be.
It is a source of great happiness to the Guardian that now all the countries possessing an N.S.A. have also a Nat. Ad. Headquarters of their own, and will be able to meet the requirements of the new century ahead of us better equipped to handle the ever increasing work of the Faith.
He assures you and all the other dear friends who cooperated in finding a headquarters of his loving appreciation and his prayers for the progress of your manifold activities in our beloved Cause.
With warm Bahá'í love, R. Rabbani
P.S. The Guardian wishes to stress the necessity of referring henceforth in all Bahá'í publications to the National Bahá'í Headquarters as the "Hazíratu'l-Quds". It should be known by this designation.
Dear and valued co-worker:
I wish to assure you in person of my deep appreciation of your strenuous & devoted efforts in the service of the Faith, and I rejoice to learn of the progress the Faith is making & of the spirit that animates its upholders in that distant continent. I will pray for them from the depths of my heart, & I feel sure that the Beloved will crown with signal success their high endeavours.
Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi
7 February 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
URGE HOLD CONVENTION IN MAY DURING WEEK IN WHICH CENTENARY CELEBRATED ALL BAHAI CONVENTIONS WILL BE HELD THIS YEAR IN MAY SHOGHI RABBANI
14 March 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
Your letters dated June 8th, Sept 12th, Nov 12th, Jan 10th and 17th, 1944, together with their enclosures have all been received, and the Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf. He has also received the envelope of photographs you sent of N.S.A. members, Father Dunn's grave and other pictures of Bahá'í friends, for which he thanks you. He also wishes to thank you for your manuscript for the Bahá'í World which was also received safely.
In regard to the recently purchased National Headquarters in Sydney: He was delighted that you were able to take possession of a house suitable to the present requirements of the Faith, and he trusts that by the time this reaches you all the legal steps will have been completed and the building registered in the name of the National Spiritual Assembly. It should be called by its proper title of "Hazíratu'l-Quds".
The ideal to be followed, of course, is for the secretariat, the office of the treasurer, etc., to be in the National Headquarters. However, this can be brought about gradually, and he leaves decisions in this matter to the N.S.A.
He trusts that the combined Centenary Celebrations and annual convention will not only draw a large group of believers to Sydney to meet in their new Hazíratu'l-Quds, but will also be a means of attracting the attention of the public to the Faith on a wider scale than ever before. The Australian and New Zealand friends are standing not only on the threshold of the second Bahá'í century but also on the threshold of a new phase of the Cause in that part of the world. Their responsibilities are therefore greatly increased, and he believes they will meet them unitedly, with clear vision, and their characteristic devotion to our beloved Faith.
He assures you and the other members of the N.S.A. of his loving prayers for the success of your labours and the fulfilment of your dearest hopes,
with Bahá'í love, R. Rabbani
P.S. He found the newspaper clippings you forwarded of great interest, and is pleased to see that the press is being so friendly and helpful. He has already through a cable stated that the convention should be held in conjunction with the Centenary Celebrations which embrace the 23rd of May. The Commemoration gathering should be held on the 22nd of May exactly at two hours and eleven minutes after sunset, which is the time at which the Báb declared His mission.
Dear and valued co-workers,
The activities of the beloved friends in Australia and New Zealand during recent months have been truly remarkable. Now that the Hazíratu'l-Quds is to be established in Sydney I trust and pray that this central administrative headquarters in the oldest and leading Bahá'í centre in that far-off continent will act as a powerful magnet and attract the manifold blessings of the Almighty and lend a tremendous impetus to the organised activities of the believers in Australia and New Zealand. I will continue to pray for them from the depths of my heart.
Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi
21 March 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
DELIGHTED NEWS LOVING REMEMBRANCE HISTORIC NAWRUZ STOP CABLING THREE HUNDRED POUNDS MY CONTRIBUTION CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS AND BANQUET MY BEHALF FOR DELEGATES FRIENDS GATHERED COMMEMORATE HISTORIC OCCASION MAY 23RD DEEPEST LOVE SHOGHI RABBANI
12 April 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
Hilda Brooks, 17 Gurney Road, Dulwich, Adelaide.
WILL CABLE MESSAGE CELEBRATIONS PRAYING SUCCESS LOVE
12 May 1944 [Auckland Assembly]
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
Your letters dated March 1st, 25th and March 21st - Bahá'í Naw-RÏz greeting - have been received, and the Guardian has instructed me to answer them on his behalf.
He was very pleased indeed to hear that the Cause in New Zealand is not only steadily progressing but that it is winning such good friends as Rev. Chandler. Also the preparations you are making for the Centenary should serve to not only publicise the Faith but bring the believers closer to liberal-minded fellow-citizens.
He himself is at present frightfully busy with local preparations for the Centenary and with cables and correspondence - but he wishes you all to know that his thoughts will be with you on this glorious day of the 100th anniversary of the Báb's declaration, and he will pray for all the New Zealand Bahá'ís in the Holy Shrine.
With most loving greetings and best wishes from the Guardian for the success of all your plans.
Yours, with Bahá'í love, R. Rabbani
May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide your steps, sustain you in your devoted endeavours, & enable you to promote effectively the best interests of His Faith,
Your true & grateful brother, Shoghi
21 May 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
ASSURE FRIENDS DELEGATES GATHERED CONVENTION CELEBRATE GLORIOUS CENTENARY FOUNDING BELOVED FAITH LOVING REMEMBRANCE HOLY SHRINES REJOICE GRATEFUL CEASELESS MAGNIFICENT SERVICES RENDERED BY VALIANT FAITHFUL COMMUNITY AUSTRALIAN NEW ZEALAND BELIEVERS FERVENTLY PRAYING BRILLIANT VICTORIES OPENING YEARS SECOND BAHAI CENTURY TEACHING FIELD AND FURTHER EXTENSION CONSOLIDATION BAHAI ADMINISTRATIVE INSTITUTIONS SHOGHI RABBANI
22 May 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
DEEPLY APPRECIATE GREETINGS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND DELEGATES HEARTS UNITED GLORIOUS OCCASION PRAYING UNPRECEDENTED BLESSING HIGH MINDED STOUT HEARTED DEARLY BELOVED AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND BELIEVERS SHOGHI RABBANI
23 May 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
ANNOUNCE FRIENDS JOYFUL TIDINGS HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY DECLARATION MISSION MARTYRED HERALD FAITH SIGNALISED BY HISTORIC DECISION COMPLETE HIS SEPULCHRE ERECTED BY ABDULBAHA ON SITE CHOSEN BY BAHAULLAH RECENTLY DESIGNED MODEL DOME UNVEILED PRESENCE ASSEMBLED BELIEVERS PRAYING EARLY REMOVAL OBSTACLES CONSUMMATION STUPENDOUS PLAN CONCEIVED BY FOUNDER FAITH AND HOPES CHERISHED BY CENTRE HIS COVENANT SHOGHI RABBANI
15 June 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
Hilda Brooks, 17 Gurney Road, Dulwich, Adelaide.
MAIL ME IMMEDIATELY THREE PHOTOGRAPHS NATIONAL BAHAI HEADQUARTERS FOR BAHAI WORLD
23 June 1944 [Silver Jackman]
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
I am instructed by the beloved Guardian to answer your letter of April 20th, and to forward to you the receipt for the loving contribution you enclosed on behalf of the New Zealand and Australian Bahá'ís.
He is very eager to receive the reports of the Convention and Centenary celebrations held in Sydney. The friends are rapidly expanding their activities and institutions in those distant lands, and he feels sure that a very bright future indeed is opening before them during these first decades of our second Bahá'í century which lies before us.
Please convey to all the members of the N.S.A. the assurance of his loving prayers on their behalf and for the success of the work they are undertaking in these challenging days the world is passing through at present.
He will remember you in the Shrines and pray for the success of your services.
With warm Bahá'í greetings, R. Rabbani
May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide your steps & fulfil your dearest wish in the service of our beloved Faith.
Your true & grateful brother, Shoghi
30 June 1944
Mrs. Mariette Bolton, "Bolton Place", Yerrinbool, N.S.W. Australia.
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
Your letter dated April 18th has been received, with reports and clipping you enclosed, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
Although, as you know, he is very pressed for time and over-worked, yet he is always glad to get news of the progress of the Faith, as this is his source of joy and comfort during a period of many anxieties and heavy burdens to bear. He has such bright hopes for the spread of the Cause in Australia and New Zealand, and is very grateful to you for the unsparing manner in which you give your time and energy to the work there.
Regarding your question of "Basic English's" usefulness as an international language. He is not very familiar with it, as he is too preoccupied with the tremendous amount of work he has to do here. But what little he has read about it makes him doubt whether it would ever be adequate to meet the requirements of an auxiliary tongue.
He will pray for the guidance and protection of your dear family and for yourself, as well as for the rapid advancement of the groups you are teaching and which you mention in your reports. He will also remember Mrs. Thomson in his prayers and supplicate for her happiness in the world beyond, where she has gone to meet her reward.
With warm Bahá'í love, R. Rabbani
May the Beloved, whose Cause you are diligently serving, reward you a thousandfold for your invaluable services, guide every step you take, fulfil every desire you cherish, and remove every obstacle from your path.
Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi
8 July 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
Hilda Brooks, 17 Gurney Road, Dulwich, Adelaide.
PREPARE CONDENSED REPORT NOT EXCEEDING THIRTY PAGES REGARDING ACTIVITIES ACHIEVEMENTS BAHAI FAITH DURING PAST FOUR YEARS STOP MAIL ONE COPY AMERICA ANOTHER HAIFA PROMPT ACTION NECESSARY
17 October 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
The Guardian has instructed me to acknowledge your letter dated June 27th and also two previous ones from the former Secretary of the N.S.A. dated Feb 6th and Aug 27th, and to answer them on his behalf.
He deeply appreciates all the work done by dear Miss Brooks in the past as Secretary of the National Assembly, and hopes that now that she is relieved of this arduous post she will devote much of her time to teaching and writing for the Faith.
The sacrifice you and your husband are making by moving to Sydney in order to attend to the work of the N.S.A. is truly praiseworthy, and he hopes the way will open up for you to do so at an early date.
In connection with the incorporation of the N.S.A. the Guardian feels that whatever form the incorporation takes the name and seal of the National Assembly must not be changed in any way, i.e. the title "National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia and New Zealand" must be preserved.
The various enclosures you forwarded in your letter were all received safely by him.
He hopes that now that the National Headquarters has been established and you are going to take up residence there as Secretary - thus giving a new permanence and prestige to the functions of the N.S.A. - - the work of the Faith will go ahead by leaps and bounds. The many groups now functioning should be aided and strengthened with a view to forming new Spiritual Assemblies as soon as possible, and the Cause should be given publicity as much as possible through the Press, Radio, and public meetings.
You may be sure his most loving prayers will be offered for the success of your labours as N.S.A. secretary, and for your health and guidance. Also for the confirmation of your husband in the Faith.
With Bahá'í love, R. Rabbani
Dear and valued co-workers:
The work accomplished by the Australian and New Zealand believers in recent years, in both the teaching and administrative spheres of Bahá'í activity, culminating in the splendid celebrations at the newly established national headquarters in the capital city of the Australian Commonwealth, is highly praiseworthy and augurs well for the future. The opening years of the new century must witness a stupendous effort on the part of the newly established community in the teaching field - an effort at once nation-wide, systematic, strenuous and persistent. The multiplication of Bahá'í centres in towns and villages, a greater measure of publicity, a higher degree of unity and consecration to the Faith, a fuller measure of self-sacrifice should distinguish the labours of the members of this community. I will pray from the depths of my heart for the removal of every obstacle from your path and the speedy realization of every hope you cherish for the promotion of His Faith and the consolidation of its institutions.
Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi
17 October 1944
Bertha Dobbins
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
Your letter of Aug. 20th has been received, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
First let me assure you he is very happy to hear the Port Adelaide work is progressing, and he hopes you will be able, with the help of other dear friends, to establish an Assembly there soon.
The Guardian feels that there seems to be some lack of clarity on the matter of his receiving and answering letters from individual believers. Any Bahá'í is free to write their Guardian. He almost invariably encourages the friends in their work for the Cause. But sometimes the impression has arisen (many times in the U.S.A. and other countries) that an instruction to teach or serve in some way, which an individual receives from him, places him beyond the jurisdiction of the Assembly; this, of course, is not so as he could never encourage the friends to break regulations he has himself for years been at great pains to see maintained for the good of the Cause.
So many misunderstandings arise from the passionate attachment of the friends to the Faith and also their immaturity. We must therefore be very patient and loving with each other and try to establish unity in the Bahá'í family. The differences - very unfortunate - which you describe in your letter he feels are caused by the above and not by enmity to the Faith or insincerity.
He urges you to do your utmost to create a greater love and harmony in the community, and to persevere in teaching the Holy Faith. He will pray for you, your dear husband and the Appletons to whom he sends loving greetings.
Yours ever, R. Rabbani
May the Beloved of our hearts bless, richly & continually, your work, resolve your problems, guide every step you take in the path of service, & enable you to proclaim far and wide the truths underlying His glorious Revelation,
Your true brother, Shoghi
8 November 1944
Dulcie Dive, 2 Lang Road, Centennial Park.
ASSURE YOU LOVING PRAYERS
26 November 1944
Mrs E. McMiles, 444 Port Hacking Rd., Caringbah, N.S.W. Aust.
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
Your letter of Aug. 22nd has been received and the Guardian has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
He is very happy to have this opportunity of welcoming you into the World-wide Community of Bahá'u'lláh's followers. The privilege of serving these days is very great, and the need of humanity to hear that the Divine Remedy has been provided for its ills, desperate indeed.
He will pray for the progress and development of the group there, and that you may be enabled to pass on to many others the light you have yourself received.
With warm Bahá'í greetings, R. Rabbani
May the Almighty guide every step you take in the path of service & fulfil every hope you cherish for the promotion of His Cause,
Your true brother, Shoghi
26 November 1944 [Olga Peak]
Dear Baha'i Sister:
The Guardian has received your loving message of greeting, expressing your devotion to the Cause and your desire to serve it, and he wishes to himself welcome you into its fold.
There is no service more meritorious in these dark days the world is passing through than to spread the teachings of Baha'u'llah, for they provide the sovereign remedy for the ills of mankind.
He assures you of his loving prayers for your labours in the Faith and for the success of the work being carried out in Caringbah. With warm greetings, Yours in His Service, R. Rabbani
May the Beloved of our hearts bless, guide and sustain you always, and enable you to promote, effectively and at all times, the vital interests of His Faith.
Your true brother, Shoghi
26 November 1944
Mrs K.A.G. Muller, 349 Willarong Rd., Caringbah. N.S.W. Aust.
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
The Guardian has received your letter of July 25th and instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
He is very pleased to have this opportunity of welcoming you into the World-wide Community of Bahá'u'lláh's followers. The privilege of serving these days is very great, and the need of humanity to hear that the Divine Remedy has been provided for its ills, desperate indeed.
He will pray for the progress and development of the group there, and that you may be enabled to pass on to many others the light you have yourself received.
With warm Bahá'í greetings, R. Rabbani
May the Almighty guide every step you take in the path of service & fulfil every hope you cherish for the promotion of His Cause,
Your true brother, Shoghi
10 December 1944
Mrs M.G. Bolton, "Bolton Place", Yerrinbool. N.S.W. Australia.
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer your letters dated June 8th, 21st. and Aug4th., and to thank you for the reports of your work enclosed.
He recently received very warm letters from the members of the Caringbah group, and he was very happy to see that a new Assembly is well on the way to being formed and that you have so actively aided in the teaching work there. He hopes that the other centers where you have been teaching will also soon rise to Assembly status and thus enrich the number of administrative units in that vast country.
He was also very pleased to see that the sessions of the Yerrinbool School had been so successful and that two such enlightened youth as Lilian and Frank Wyss had expressed their intention of joining the Faith. Please extend to these two young people a hearty welcome into the Cause on behalf of Shoghi Effendi.
He was likewise very glad to see that Effie Baker was able to be present and mingle with the friends.
During your trip to the United States he would suggest you get in touch with the Nat. Teaching Com. (Mr. Leroy Ioas of San Francisco is Chairman) and offer to do any lecturing or teaching which could fit in with both your plans and theirs. It always stimulates the work to have a believer from a distant land visit the friends and give them news.
The Guardian does not feel that two Summer Schools in such close proximity are advisable. In fact he considers Yerrinbool sufficient for the present needs of the Cause in Australia.
You may be sure he will pray for you and your dear children and husband and for the success of all your Bahá'í services. With warm greetings, R. Rabbani
Dear and valued co-worker:
I wish to assure you in person of my keen and abiding appreciation of your manifold services to our beloved Faith, and of the spirit that animates you in your high endeavours for its promotion. Persevere in your labours, and be assured that my prayers will continue to be offered on your behalf,
Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi
12 December 1944 [National Spiritual Assembly]
Dear Bahá'í Sister:
The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write your National Spiritual Assembly and inform you of his views and wishes in connection with the Summer School in Australia:
He does not consider it either wise or necessary at the present time to have more than one Bahá'í Summer School in Australia, and as Yerrinbool is equipped to accommodate the friends on Bahá'í property, so to speak, he would suggest that Yerrinbool continue to be used as the Australian Bahá'í Summer School.
He pointed out this same principle of not multiplying the number of Summer Schools some time ago in connection with the Adelaide Assembly's purchase of a building and property.
He has also done the same thing in America-limited the number of Summer Schools-as the friends in their enthusiasm to inaugurate new institutions wanted to have very many Summer Schools which would have not only weakened, instead of strengthening, the older schools, but also would have dissipated the energy of the friends.
Assuring you and all the members of your Assembly of his loving prayers on your behalf and for the success of your work,
Yours in His Service, R. Rabbani.
Previous Section Table of Contents
Next Section
|
|
