Abstract:
Account of the stewardship of the Hands of the Cause of God from 1957-63, from the passing of Shoghi Effendi to the election of the House, riding the waves of crisis to the moment of victory — the fulfillment of prophecy.
Notes:
Also available as an updated, corrected Microsoft Word document, prepared by Mike Thomas.
While Ruhiyyih Khanum is not listed as an official author, we have included her as author here because, in the Introduction below, she says the book is "based on the files of the Hands in the Holy Land and on my personal experience as one of the Custodians of the Bahá'í Faith for five and a half years." As well, the Ruhi Book 8 (unit 2 section 1) says of this book "she [Khanum] presents a collection of messages from the Hands of the Cause of God." |
Chapter 1+23 THE MINISTRY OF THE CUSTODIANS
1957 +24 THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK +25 ALLÁH-U-ABHÁ Haifa, Israel November 6, 1957 Ruhiyyih Khanum, telephoned me on
the evening of November 4th, of the great calamity which had
stricken the Bahá'í world, in the passing of our dearly beloved
Guardian, in London, during the early morning hours of November
4th.
During our conversation it was decided I would remain in Haifa and
take all precautions to protect the Holy Places, the Guardian's
apartment, where all his records were kept, and the Faith from
attack by the enemies of the Faith here.
The following actions were
taken:
1. The Guardian's apartment and office had been locked, so
no one could enter it during his absence. We assured ourselves that
it was carefully locked, and barriers were placed in front of the
door so no one could enter. We then locked and put iron bars across
the door to the entrance of the living quarters. These iron bars
were padlocked. All the keys to the apartment were then sealed in
an envelope, which envelope was signed by Sylvia Ioas Jessie
Revell, Ethel Revell and Leroy Ioas and placed in the safe of my
office, in such a way that if the envelope was tampered with in any
way, it would be seen immediately.
We then arranged for the
Guardian's trusted servant to sleep outside the doors of the
apartment and office; likewise another trusted servant to sleep at
the foot of the steps, so no one could gain access to the area.
During the daytime, we maintained extra Bahá'ís in the building,
so no access could be gained.
2. The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh was
guarded night and day, and one of the Bahá'ís slept in the Shrine
each night.
3. The same action was taken with regard to the
Shrine of the Bab.
4. The same action was taken with regard to the
Mansion at Bahji.
The sealing of the Guardian's apartment and office
was done in the presence of the four members of the International
Council here, who have signed this document, in attestation
thereof.
The envelope in which the keys to the apartment were
sealed, is attached.
Leroy C. Ioas
[Signed as follows]Leroy Ioas Sylvia Ioas Ethel Revell Jessie Revell +26 HANDS IN THE HOLY LAND
Haifa, IsraelOFFICIAL STATEMENT November 15, 1957 Allah-u-Abha! Ruhiyyih Khanum, Mr. Remey, Mrs. Collins, Dr.
Giachery, and Mr. Ioas, arrived from Lydda airport about 10:50 a.m.
November 15th, from the funeral of the dearly beloved Guardian.
The
five Hands of the Cause, named above, then secured the sealed
envelope with the keys to the Guardian's apartment, opened it, and
proceeded to enter the apartment, at 11:10 a.m.
We immediately
proceeded to the safe where sacred documents were preserved, and
the logical place where the Will of the beloved Guardian would be
kept.
The safe was sealed with tape, which was signed by all Hands
and then countersigned, and then sealed with sealing wax, on the
upper and lower doors of the safe. This was completed at 11:15
a.m.
The keys of the safe were then placed in an envelope which was
sealed with sealing wax, and signed by the Hands. This was done
immediately, and delivered to the Guardian's Assistant Secretary,
Mr. Leroy Ioas, Hand of the Faith, who placed it in the safe in his
office.
As an additional measure of precaution, the drawers of the
desk of the Guardian were sealed, and the seals countersigned. This
was concluded at 12:07 p.m.
The five Hands of the Faith who were
present at all times sign this document in attestation thereto.
[Signed as follows] PRESS RELEASE IN THE JERUSALEM POST
"BAHA'I 'HANDS' MEET FOR OBSEQUIES" Haifa, Monday November 18, 1957 A memorial ceremony for His Eminence Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, World
Head of the Bahá'í Faith, who died in London on November 4, was
+27 held this afternoon at the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, world centre of the Bahá'í Faith, north of Acre. The ceremony was held at 2 p.m. corresponding to the exact hour of the interment of the Guardian of the Faith in London. Memorial services are being hold by national and local Bahá'í assemblies in all parts of the world today. Twenty-six of the 27 'Hands' of the Bahá'í Faith throughout
the world arrived yesterday to take part in the service.
The "Hands
of the Cause", as the elders of the Faith are called, have come
from five continents. They include one who knew Bahá'u'lláh, the
founder of the Bahá'í Faith; an 88-year-old woman from Australia,
who had to travel with her nurse; the only Negro "Hand", who comes
from the Cameroons in Africa; and others from Britain, the
Americas, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Iran, Germany, Italy,
Uganda, Rhodesia and the Union of South Africa.
Messages of
condolence continue to arrive at the International Bahá'í Council
from all parts of the world, from government heads, educators and
people from all walks of life. HANDS IN THE HOLY LAND
Haifa, IsraelOFFICIAL STATEMENT November 19, 1957 Allah-u-Abha! This
morning immediately after 9:00 a.m. we, the five Hands of the Cause
assigned to service at the World Centre of the Faith, Ruhiyyih
Khanum, Mason Remey, Amelia E. Collins, Ugo Giachery, and Leroy
Ioas as well as Hands of the Cause Hasan Balyuzi, a member of the
Afnan family, Mr. Horace Holley, representing the believers of the
Western Hemisphere, Musa Banani; representing the believers of the
African continent, and Dr. 'Ali-Muhammad Varqa Trustee of the
beloved Guardian, representing also the Asian continent, (totaling
to, ' the number of Baha) have met, in order to open the Guardian's
safe and desk [and] search for a Will and Testament if one was
executed by Shoghi Effendi.
They found that the seals placed on the
safe by the five Hands in the Holy Land were intact and untouched;
and similarly the seals containing the keys to the safe were intact
and untouched and similarly that the sealed desk was intact.
The
undersigned nine Hands of the Cause, appointed by the first
+28 Guardian, Shoghi Effendi each in the presence of the others, do hereby individually and collectively certify to the following: That
the safe and desk have been opened and searched and the non
existence of a Will and Testament executed by Shoghi Effendi was
definitely established.
[Signed as follows] UNANIMOUS PROCLAMATION OF
THE 27 HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh Bahji, 'Akka, Israel November 25, 1957 We the undersigned: Ruhiyyih Rabbani Charles Mason Remey (who is President of the International Bahá'í Council) Amelia E. Collins (who is Vice President of the International Bahá'í Council) Leroy C. Ioas (who is Secretary General of the International Bahá'í Council) Dr. Ugo Giachery, (who is member-at-large of the International Bahá'í Council and Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Switzerland) Hasan M. Balyuzi (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles) Shoaullah Ala'i (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran) Ali Akbar Furutan (who is Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran) Zikrullah Khadem (who is Treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran) Dr. Ali Mohammad Varqa (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran) Tarazu'llah Samandari (who is a resident of Shiraz, Iran) Djalal Khazeh (who is a resident of Teheran, Iran) +29 John Ferraby (who is Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles Paul E. Haney (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States) Horace Holley (who is Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States) Abul Qasim F. Teherani Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Germany and Austria) Dr. Hermann Grossmann (who is a resident of Neckargemind, Germany) Musa Banani (who is a resident of Kampala, Uganda) William Sears (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South and West Africa) John Robarts, (who is Recording Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South and West Africa) Enoch Olinga, (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of North West Africa) Agnes Alexander (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of North East Asia) H. Collis Featherstone (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia) Clara Dunn (who is a resident of Sydney, Australia) Dr. Rahmatu'llah Mohajer (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South-East Asia) in our capacity as Hands of the Cause of God duly nominated and appointed by the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, assembled this 25th of November, 1957 at the Bahá'í World Centre and constituting the supreme body of the Bahá'í World Community DO HEREBY UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVE AND PROCLAIM AS FOLLOWS: WHEREAS THE Guardian of the Bahá'í
Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, passed away
in London (England) on the 4th of November, 1957, without having
appointed his successor;
AND WHEREAS it is now fallen upon us as
Chief Stewards of the Bahá'í World Faith to preserve the unity, the
security and the development of the Bahá'í World Community and all
its institutions;
AND WHEREAS in accordance with the Will and
Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá) "the Hands of the Cause of God must
elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times
be occupied in the important services in the work of the Guardian
of the Cause of God";
+30 We nominate and appoint from our own number to act on our behalf
as the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith
Ruhiyyih Rabbanito exercise-subject to such directions and decisions as may be given from time to time by us as the Chief Stewards of the Bahá'í World Faith-all such functions, rights and powers in succession to the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, as are necessary to serve the interests of the Bahá'í World Faith, and this until such time as the Universal House of Justice, upon being duly established and elected in conformity with the Sacred Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, may otherwise determine. [Signed as follows]
AFFIDAVIT Wilmette, Illinois United States of America, November 30, 1957 The undersigned, Corinne True, being one of the twenty-seven
Hands of the Cause of God, duly nominated and appointed by the
Guardian of
+31 the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, having been prevented by the state of my health, to attend personally the meeting of the Hands of the Cause of God held in the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahji in 'Akka, on the twenty-fifth of November, 1957, declare to be in full agreement with the above resolution, and I am joining my signature thereto. [Signed as follows]
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30th;
day of November, 1957.
Corinne True [Signed as follows] Sophie Loeding Notary Public My commission expires September 27, 1959 UNANIMOUS
CERTIFICATION
Mansion of Bahá'u'lláhBahji 'Akka, Israel November 25, 1957 We, the undersigned Hands of the Cause of God, assembled
at the Bahá'í World Centre, certify that by unanimous action we
have constituted a body of nine Hands to serve the interests of the
Bahá'í World Faith at its World Centre in order to carry on from
this Centre the provisions of the World Bahá'í Crusade and to
discharge there our responsibility of protecting and propagating
the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh.
We further certify that the body consists
of the following persons:
We further certify that by unanimous action we have appointed Ugo 1 As it proved inexpedient for Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel to serve as a Hand of the Cause in Israel, Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, was chosen in his place. +32 Giachery, as alternate member authorized to fill any temporary vacancy that might arise from time to time. [Signed as follows]
RESOLUTION OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD PASSED AT THEIR MEETING AT THE BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh Bahji, 'Akka, Israel November 25,1957 The following principles shall
apply to the relations between the Hands of the Cause of God and
the nine Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith and to the activities
of the said Custodians:
1. The Hands of the Cause shall have their
meetings at least once a year, and the time and place of their
meetings shall be determined by the Custodians, who shall be
responsible for convocation of such meetings.2. The Hands of the Cause shall have the full authority to introduce such changes in the composition of the Custodians, to substitute Custodians by others from their own number, to resolve upon such alterations in functions, rights and powers of the Custodians and to give such directions to the Custodians as the Hands of the Cause in their free discretion may decide. 3. The quorum of the meetings of the Hands of the Cause shall be a simple majority of their number, and any resolution adopted by majority of the Hands attending such meetings shall be deemed to have been validly passed by the Hands of the Cause. +33 4. The quorum of the meetings of the Custodians shall be five, and any decision adopted by the majority of the Custodians attending such meetings shall be deemed to have been validly passed by the Custodians. 5. Dr. Ugo Giachery, is appointed as alternate Custodian authorized to fill any temporary vacancy that may arise in the body of the Custodians. 6. In the event of any vacancy occurring in the composition of the Custodians, the remaining Custodians shall have the duty and the power to fill the vacancy temporarily up to the next meeting of the Hands of the Cause by appointing one of the Hands of the Cause to act as a Custodian. 7. The Custodians, in addition to their other functions, shall administer all the properties, assets and accounts belonging to the World Bahá'í Community (other than those belonging to various National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies or Bahá'í local bodies) and shall be entitled to appoint two or more of their midst to operate the bank accounts, to receive and withdraw moneys, to represent the Custodians in any dealings and transactions generally or for any specific purpose and to execute and sign any documents in connection therewith. 8. In all their dealings with the Israel Government and any local authorities in Israel the Custodians shall act through the Bahá'í International Council, who shall act in accordance with the instructions of the Custodians. 9. The Custodians shall be deemed to succeed the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, in Palestine or Israel Branches of National Spiritual Assemblies of various countries, which are registered in Israel, and the Custodians may nominate one or more persons to act on their behalf in any such Israel Branches. Completed, sealed and signed on this 25th day of
November, 1957.
[Signed as follows] +34 RESOLUTION OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh Bahji, 'Akka, Israel November 25, 1957 We the undersigned Hands of
the Cause hereby record the following action taken in unanimous
agreement:
1. That the body of nine Hands of the Cause already
constituted shall exercise these functions, namely, to correspond
with the National Spiritual Assemblies on matters related to the
prosecution of the Guardian's Ten Year Plan; to assist the National
Assemblies in the solution of administrative problems by citing
passages in Bahá'í literature which clarify the nature of these
problems; to act for the protection of the Faith whenever its
teachings or institutions or properties are assailed by enemies
from within the Bahá'í Community or outside its ranks; 2. That the Council shall represent the Faith in all matters related to the Israeli Government and its courts; 3. The nine Hands to reinforce the membership of the International Bahá'í Council through the addition of the five Hands among the nine Hands not already members of the Council; 4. That the entire body of the Hands of the Cause, meeting annually or whenever convened by the nine Hands, shall determine when and how the International Bahá'í Council shall pass through the successive stages outlined by Shoghi Effendi culminating in the election of the Universal House of Justice; 5. That the nine Hands serving at the Bahá'í World Centre shall maintain correspondence with the Hands stationed in the several continents on all matters related to their work of propagating the Faith and defending it from attack, coordinating and encouraging their efforts; 6. That the authority to expel violators from the Faith shall be vested in the body of nine Hands, acting on reports and recommendations submitted by Hands from their respective continents. 7. The Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land may, if necessary, call upon any of the Hands to fill a vacancy temporarily. [Signed as follows] +35
PROCLAMATION FIRST CONCLAVE THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE NOVEMBER 18 - NOVEMBER 25,1957 To the Bahá'ís of East and West Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh Bahji, 'Akka, Israel November 25,1957 Beloved Friends: Nine days had not yet elapsed
after the interment of the sacred remains of our beloved Guardian,
Shoghi Effendi in London, when the Hands of the Cause, to the
number of twenty-six, assembled at the World Centre of the Faith,
in our capacity as "Chief Stewards of the embryonic World
Commonwealth of Bahá'u'lláh", to consult together on the most
tragic situation facing the Bahá'ís since the Ascension of
'Abdu'l-Bahá, and to take all necessary and appropriate measures
to safeguard the highest interests of our Faith.
On November 18th
the Hands conducted a Memorial Meeting at Bahji, in the
Haram-i-Aqdas surrounding the most sacred Shrine in the Bahá'í
world, afterward entering the Holy Tomb itself and prostrating
ourselves in utter humility at the Sacred Threshold.
On the
following morning, November 19th, nine Hands of the Cause, selected
from the Holy Land, and the several continents of East and West,
with (Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, broke the seals placed upon the
beloved Guardian's safe and desk and made careful examination of
their precious contents. These same Hands, rejoining the other
Hands assembled in the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahji, certified
that Shoghi Effendi had left no Will and Testament. It was likewise
certified that the beloved Guardian had left no heir. The Aghsan
(branches) one and all are either dead or have been declared
violators of the Covenant by the Guardian
+36 for their faithlessness to the Master's Will and Testament and their hostility to him named first Guardian in that sacred document. The first effect of the realization that no successor to
Shoghi Effendi could have been appointed by him was to plunge the
Hands of the Cause into the very abyss of despair. What must happen
to the world community of his devoted followers if the Leader, the
Inspirer, the Planner of all Bahá'í activities in all countries and
islands of the seas could no longer fulfil his unique mission?
From
this dark abyss, however, contemplation of the Guardian's own life
of complete sacrifice and his peerless services gradually redeemed
our anguished hearts. Shoghi Effendi himself, we knew, would have
been the first to remind the Hands, and the widespread body of the
believers, that the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh has quickened those
powers and resources of faith within mankind which will achieve the
unity of the peoples and the triumph of His World Order. In this
new light of understanding the company of the Hands could perceive
with heightened gratitude the existence of those innumerable
blessings which Shoghi Effendi had created and left as his true
legacy to all Bahá'ís.
Has not the World Centre, with its sacred
Shrines and institutions, been firmly established? Has not the
Message been established in 254 countries and dependencies? Have
not the National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies, forerunners of
the Universal House of Justice, been implanted in twenty-six great
areas of all continents? Has not the Guardian left us not only his
incomparable translations for English-reading Bahá'ís of the Bahá'í
Sacred Literature but also his own master works of interpretation
which disclose to us the unshatterable edifice of an evolving
Bahá'í Order and world community? Has not the Guardian, building
upon the enduring foundation of the Master's Tablets of the Divine
Plan, created the World Crusade to guide our work until 1963?
Has
not the Guardian, moreover, in his mysterious insight into the
present and future needs of the Bahá'í community, called into being
the International Bahá'í Council and the company of twenty-seven
Hands with their Auxiliary Boards, whom, in his final communication
to the Bahá'ís he designated "Chief Stewards of the embryonic World
Commonwealth of Bahá'u'lláh"?
Such reflections cannot but, in such
a world-shattering experience as all Bahá'ís have this month
endured, reveal to us how strongly Shoghi Effendi has laid the
foundations of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh through the
appointment of Hands of the Cause and likewise the appointment of
the International Bahá'í Council, the institution destined to
evolve into the Universal House of Justice.
In our capacity of
Chief Stewards of the embryonic World Commonwealth
+37 of Bahá'u'lláh, we Hands of the Cause have constituted a body of nine Hands to serve at the Bahá'í World Centre. This body of nine Hands will energetically deal with the protection of the Faith whenever attacks, whether from within or outside the Bahá'í community, are reported by Hands from their areas or by National or Regional Assemblies or whether they arise within the Holy Land. Correspondence will likewise be maintained with the Hands of the Cause working in the several continents. This same body will correspond with National Assemblies on matters connected with the prosecution of the objectives of the Ton Year Plan. On matters involving administrative questions this same body will assist National Assemblies by citing those passages of the Bahá'í Sacred Literature which direct the Assemblies to a sound solution. As to
the International Bahá'í Council, appointed by the Guardian and
heralded in his communications to the Bahá'í world, that body will
in the course of time finally fulfil its purpose through the
formation of the Universal House of Justice, that Supreme Body upon
which infallibility, as the Master's Testament assures us, is
divinely conferred: "The source of all good and freed from all
error." The main work of the Council has been to act as the
Guardian's representative in matters involving the Israeli
Government and its courts of law.
Beloved friends! Is not the most
precious legacy bequeathed to us all by Shoghi Effendi the
privilege of constancy in the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh and devotion in
teaching His Message? This is the heartfelt plea we direct to every
Bahá'í; The hour has come, as it came with the passing of
'Abdu'l-Bahá, when true Bahá'ís will be distinguished by their
firmness in the Covenant and their spiritual radiance while
pressing forward the mighty work committed to every area of the
world community-to every individual Bahá'í For now our implacable
opponents may, and probably will, unleash attacks, assuming in
their ignorance that the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh is weakened and
defenseless. By consecration of spirit we are armed against all
manner of assault and we hold the weapon of Faith with which the
triumph of the Guardian's aims and purposes is assured.
The Hands
of the Cause, determined to carry out every aspect of the
Guardian's expressed wishes and hopes, call upon the National
Assemblies to proceed with the holding of the Intercontinental
Conferences which Shoghi Effendi has planned for 1958, and make
each of them a great rallying-point of determination to achieve the
tasks of the next phase of the World Crusade. We are, moreover, to
keep ever before us the other tasks fixed in the Ten Year Plan as
objectives to be won by 1963.
Meanwhile the entire body of the
Hands, assembled by the nine Hands of the World Centre, will decide
when and how the International Bahá'í
+38 Council is to evolve through the successive stages outlined by the Guardian, culminating in the call to election of the Universal House of Justice by the membership of all National Spiritual Assemblies. When that divinely ordained Body comes into existence,
all the conditions of the Faith can be examined anew and the
measures necessary for its future operation determined in
consultation with the Hands of the Cause.
"O God, my God! Shield
Thy trusted servants from the evils of self and passion, protect
them with the watchful eye of Thy loving-kindness from all rancour,
hate and envy, shelter them in the impregnable stronghold of Thy
care and, safe from the darts of doubtfulness, make them the
manifestations of Thy glorious Signs, illumine their faces with the
effulgent rays shed from the Dayspring of Thy Divine Unity, gladden
their hearts with the verses revealed from Thy Holy Kingdom,
strengthen their loins by Thine all-swaying power that cometh from
Thy Realm of Glory. Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Protector, the
Almighty, the Gracious."
"0 ye that stand fast in the Covenant!
When the hour cometh that this wronged and broken winged bird will
have taken its flight unto the Celestial Concourse, when it will
have hastened to the Realm of the Unseen and its mortal frame will
have been either lost or hidden neath the dust, it is incumbent
upon the Afnan, that are steadfast in the Covenant of God, and have
branched from the Tree of Holiness; the Hands (pillars) of the
Cause of God (the glory of the Lord rest upon them), and all the
friends and loved ones, one and all to bestir themselves and arise
with heart and soul and in one accord, to diffuse the sweet savours
of God, to teach His Cause and to promote His Faith. It behoveth
them not to rest for a moment, neither to seek repose. They must
disperse themselves in every land, pass by every clime and travel
throughout all regions. Bestirred, without rest and steadfast to
the end they must raise in every land the triumphal cry '0 Thou the
Glory of Glories!' (Ya Baha'u'l-Abha), must achieve renown in the
world wherever they go, must burn brightly even as a candle in
every meeting and must kindle the flame of Divine love in every
assembly; that the light of truth may rise resplendent in the
midmost heart of the world, that throughout the East and throughout
the West a vast concourse may gather under the shadow of the Word
of God, that the sweet savours of holiness may be diffused, that
faces may shine radiantly, hearts be filled with the Divine spirit
and souls be made heavenly.
"In these days, the most important of
all things is the guidance of the nations and peoples of the world.
Teaching the Cause is of utmost importance for it is the head
corner-stone of the foundation itself. This wronged servant has
spent his days and nights in promoting the Cause and urging the
peoples to service. He rested not a moment, till the fame of the
Cause
+39 of God was noised abroad in the world and the celestial strains from the Abha Kingdom roused the East and the West. The beloved of God must also follow the same example. This is the secret of faithfulness, this is the requirement of servitude to the Threshold of Bahá!" Devotedly, in service to the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh,
[Signed as follows] PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE WORLD CENTRE OF THE BAHA'I FAITH
November 1957The Hands of the Bahá'í Faith, an institution established by Bahá'u'lláh, its Founder, and designated as its Chief Stewards, who number twenty-seven and represent the five continents of the globe, after a meeting at the World Centre of the Faith, announce that they have elected nine of their members to conduct and protect the affairs of the Faith from its World Centre. This body of nine will maintain
the Bahá'í Shrines and Holy Places in 'Akka, and Haifa, which His
Eminence, the late Shoghi Rabbani, World Head of the Faith, had
made into beauty spots of the Mediterranean area, and continue
their expansion. They will coordinate all the activities of Bahá'í
Communities in over two hundred and fifty countries and islands of
the world, and will carry forward all the plans outlined by him for
its expansion and development, including the holding of the five
Intercontinental Conferences which he scheduled for 1958 in
Kampala, Uganda; Sydney, Australia; Chicago, United States;
Frankfurt, Germany; and Djakarta, Indonesia.
+40 They will also see that the two Bahá'í Houses of Worship in Africa
and Australia, work on which was begun under the direction of the
late Head of the Faith, are completed; and that the third one,
contemplated for Europe, is built. It will be their responsibility
to see that the National and Regional Bahá'í Assemblies, which
under his ministry grew in number from two to twenty-six, and which
at the present time represent more than 4,500 Bahá'í Centres, are
steadily increased.
The names of the body of nine elected to fulfil
these responsibilities from the World Centre are as follows:
Ruhiyyih Rabbani, Charles Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Leroy Ioas
Hasan Balyuzi, 'Ali-Akbar Furutan; Jalal Khazeh Paul Haney and
Adelbert Muhlschlegel. To All National Spiritual Assemblies December 2,1957 Dear Bahá'í Friends: We send to your Assembly our
most cordial greetings in this first letter to you from the Hands
of the Cause in the Holy Land, and assure you of our determination
to exert every effort for the protection of the Cause of God and
the propagation of the Faith according to the beloved Guardian's
Ten Year Plan.
The purpose of our letter is to enlist your aid to
facilitate the legal recognition of this body. We enclose a
photostat of a legal document signed by the 26 Hands of the Cause
present at the Conference in the Mansion of Bahji setting this body
up to act on behalf of the Hands generally, under the legal title
"The Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith".
Our lawyer advises us
that we should also obtain from each National Assembly a letter
recognizing us as the supreme body in the Cause, and this letter
should include the following sentence: "We pledge our full support,
faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í
World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause." We therefore ask
you please to arrange by whatever means is most suited to the
conditions of working of your Assembly for a resolution to this
effect to be passed without delay, and incorporated in a letter to
be sent immediately to the Holy Land under the Assembly's seal,
signed by its Chairman and Secretary, or in their absence, by
officers authorized to act for them. The many legal negotiations
we have to conduct concerning properties at the World Centre and
elsewhere make speed in sending this letter of recognition vitally
important, and we are confident that all National Assemblies will
cooperate by seeing that the action is taken at once.
+41 The names of the nine Hands residing in the Holy Land are on the
photostat enclosed; they have been empowered to call upon any of
the other Hands to serve temporarily as a substitute for one who
is unable to serve in the Holy Land for the time being. Please keep
the photostat in a safe place, but we ask you not to display it or
give it general currency, since circulating this in addition to the
Proclamation of the Hands might cause confusion.
We send your
Assembly and Community every good wish for success in all you do
to further the Cause of God.
With Bahá'í love, [Signed as follows]
UNANIMOUS PLEDGE OF LOYALTY FROM 26 NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES OF THE BAHA'I WORLD TO THE HANDS AND CUSTODIANS [Excerpts from letters] ALASKA
+42 ARABIAN PENINSULA ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA, CHILE, PARAGUAY AND URUGUAY AUSTRALIA BENELUX COUNTRIES BRAZIL, PERU, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR AND VENEZUELA
+43 BRITISH ISLES CANADA CENTRAL AMERICA, MEXICO AND PANAMA CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA GERMANY AND AUSTRIA
+44 Acre/Israel dated 25 November 1957 as the Supreme Body in conformity with the Bahá'í administration.GREATER ANTILLES IBERIAN PENINSULA BE IT KNOWN BY ALL MEN PRESENTINDIA AND BURMA RESOLUTION: The Proclamation issued by the Hands of the Cause of God after ascension to Abha Kingdom of our beloved Guardian was prayerfully studied and it was unanimously decided to approve of the +45 action taken by the Hands of the Cause of God in electing nine persons from amongst themselves to act as Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith and we pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the said Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause. We further unanimously resolve to assure the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith of our unreserved obedience and loyal allegiance to all their wishes and directions that they may send us from time to time in the performance of their sacred duties.IRAN
+46 Cause and we also hereby undertake to submit to and obey the decisions which the Hands of the Cause will adopt in future for the progress of the Cause.'IRAQ ITALY AND SWITZERLAND NEW ZEALAND NORTH EAST AFRICA
+47 all the Spiritual Assemblies, Bahá'í groups and isolated centres in North East Africa.NORTH EAST ASIA Beloved Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith, +48 NORTH WEST AFRICA PAKISTAN SCANDINAVIA AND FINLAND
+49 SOUTH AND WEST AFRICA SOUTH-EAST ASIA WE DO HEREBY pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the said body, namely, the nine Hands of the Cause, residing in the Holy Land, as the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by all the Hands of the Cause.UNITED STATES
+50 of the work of the various National Assemblies, and protectors of the security of the Faith; and further be itBAHA'I WILMETTE1 DECEMBER 5,1957 PLEASE ANNOUNCE HANDS FIVE CONTINENTS ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES HEARTWARMING NEWS CONSUMMATION VICTORY ANNOUNCED GUARDIAN'S MESSAGE SEPTEMBER 5th BY TRANSFER TITLE DEEDS ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN HARAM-I-AQDAS [PRECINCTS OF THE TOMB OF BAHA'U'LLAH] TO NAME ISRAEL BRANCH UNITED STATES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THUS COMPLETING PURIFICATION AREA SURROUNDING MOST HOLY SPOT BAHA'I WORLD.
BAHA'I WILMETTE DECEMBER 11, 1957 CRITICAL JUNCTURE DEEP MOURNING SUPREME CHALLENGE HANDS HOLY LAND CALL UPON FELLOW BELIEVERS PARTICULARLY HANDS NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES ALL CONTINENTS EXERT UTMOST EFFORT ENSURE SUCCESS FIVE INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCES ANNOUNCED BELOVED GUARDIAN'S LAST MOMENTOUS MESSAGE BAHA'I WORLD. CONFERENCES PROVIDE UNEXAMPLED 1 "BAHA'I WILMETTE" was the cable address for the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, which was the distribution point for world-wide dissemination of communications from the World Centre. +51 OPPORTUNITY DEMONSTRATE MYSTERIOUS DIVINE FORCES ANIMATING DEARLY LOVED FAITH VITALITY INSTITUTIONS EMBRYONIC WORLD ORDER NOURISHED LIFEBLOOD BELOVED GUARDIAN DETERMINATION BAHA'I COMMUNITY DIFFUSE UNINTERRUPTEDLY FRAGRANCE BAHA'U'LLAH'S MIGHTY REVELATION TO FEAR-LADEN HUMANITY DEPRIVED POWER RECOGNIZE DIVINE LIGHT UNAIDED. URGE GREATEST ATTENDANCE BELIEVERS POSSIBLE THESE HISTORIC GATHERINGS DESIGNED GENERATE UPSURGE ENTHUSIASM CONSECRATION UNPRECEDENTED ANNALS FAITH USHER IN FOURTH PHASE CRUSADE DESTINED WITNESS VICTORIES AT WHICH FUTURE GENERATIONS BAHAIS WILL MARVEL CULMINATING WORLD TRIUMPH FAITH CENTENARY DECLARATION BLESSED BEAUTY. SHARE MESSAGE ALL HANDS NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES.
To All National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies December 22, 1957 Dear Bahá'í Friends: Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih
Khanum, has prepared an account of the passing of our beloved
Guardian, which is to be published by the British Bahá'í Publishing
Trust under the title The Passing of Shoghi Effendi You will be
hearing from them shortly what the price of the pamphlet will be.
We feel sure the members of your community will greatly welcome
this account and you will no doubt want to place a bulk order for
copies. Please send this as soon as possible to the Bahá'í
Publishing Trust, 32 Deansgate, Manchester 4.
With Bahá'í love,
HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND BAHA'I WILMETTE DECEMBER 25,1957 REJOICE INFORM BELIEVERS COVENANT BREAKERS' HOUSE Bahji, COMPLETELY EFFACED FULFILLING LONG CHERISHED DESIRE BELOVED GUARDIAN WHO PLANNED PERSONALLY SUPERVISE THIS LAST PURIFICATION HARAM-I-AQDAS STOP SHARE MESSAGE ALL HANDS NATIONAL BODIES ...
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OCLC | 37322775 |
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