Bahá’í Administration
Selected Messages 1922–1932
Shoghi Effendi
© Bahá’í International Community
– 1 –
Letter of January 21st, 1922.
Dearly beloved brethren and sisters in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
At this early hour when the morning light is just breaking upon the Holy Land, whilst the gloom of the dear Master’s bereavement is still hanging thick upon the hearts, I feel as if my soul turns in yearning love and full of hope to that great company of His loved ones across the seas, who now share with us all the agonies of His separation.
It is idle for me to emphasize how much the sorrowful ladies of the Holy Household look forward to the work that lies before the friends in the American continent, who in the past have rendered so glorious a service to His Cause and will now, faithful to His special love for them, carry on their mission still more gloriously than ever before. True, the shock has been too terrible and sudden for us all to recover from in so short a time, but whenever we recall His Sayings and read His Writings, hope springs in our hearts and gives us the peace that no other material comfort can give.
How well I remember when, more than two years ago, the Beloved Master turning to a distinguished visitor of His, who was seated by Him in His garden, suddenly broke the silence and said: — “My
work
is
now
done
upon
this
plane;
it
is
time
for
me
to
pass
on
to
the
other
world.”
Did He not in more than one occasion state clearly and emphatically: — “Were
ye
to
know
what
will
come
to
pass
after
me,
surely
would
ye
pray
that
my
end
be
hastened?”
In a Tablet sent to Persia when the storm raised years ago by that Committee of Investigation was fiercely raging around Him, when the days of His incarceration were at their blackest, He reveals the following: — “Now
in
this
world
of
being,
the
Hand
of
Divine
Power
hath
firmly
laid
the
foundations
of
this
all-highest
Bounty
and
this
wondrous
Gift.
Gradually
whatsoever
is
latent
in
the
innermost
of
this
Holy
Cycle
shall
appear
and
be
made
manifest,
for
now
is
but
the
beginning
of
its
growth
and
the
dayspring
of
the
revelation
of
its
Signs.
Ere
the
close
of
this
Century
and
of
this
Age,
it
shall
be
made
clear
and
manifest
how
wondrous
was
that
Springtide
and
how
heavenly
was
that
Gift!”
With such assuring Utterances and the unmistakable evidences of His sure and clear knowledge that His end was nigh, is there any reason why the followers of His Faith, the world over, should be perturbed? Are not the prayers He revealed for us sufficient source of inspiration to every worker in His Cause? Have not His instructions paved before us the broad and straight Path of Teaching? Will not His now doubly effective power of Grace sustain us, strengthen us and confirm us in our work for Him? Ours is the duty to strive by day and night to fulfill our own obligations and then trust in His Guidance and never failing Grace. Unity amongst the friends, selflessness in our labors in His Path, detachment from all worldly things, the greatest prudence and caution in every step we take, earnest endeavor to carry out only what is His Holy Will and Pleasure, the constant awareness of His Presence and of the example of His Life, the absolute shunning of whomsoever we feel to be an enemy of the Cause … these, and foremost among them is the need for unity, appear to me as our most vital duties, should we dedicate our lives for His service. Should we in this spirit arise to serve Him, what surer and greater promise have we than the one His Glorious Father, Bahá’u’lláh, gives us in His Most Holy Book: — “Verily,
We
behold
you
from
Our
Realm
of
Effulgent
Glory,
and
shall
graciously
aid
whosoever
ariseth
for
the
triumph
of
Our
Cause
with
the
hosts
of
the
Celestial
Concourse
and
a
company
of
Our
chosen
angels.”
How dearly all the Holy Leaves cherish that memory of the departed Master, as He commented upon the fresh tidings that poured in from that continent, admiring the untiring activity of the friends, the complete subordination of their material interests to those of the Cause, the remarkable spread of the Movement in their midst and their staunch firmness in the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh. It is these encouraging reflections of the Master about His loved ones in America and the tests intellectual rather than physical which He said He would send to them to purify them and make ever brighter than before — it is these comments and promises of His that make of the Movement in that land such a potential force in the world today. The Beloved Master’s cable to the friends in that region is a clear indication of the presence of those counteracting forces that may usher in those storms of tests that the Master Himself has said will ultimately be for the good of the Cause in that land.
And finally, the ladies of the Sacred Household and we, the rest of His kindred and family, will pray at His Hallowed Shrine for every one of you and He will surely watch over and enhance in the course of time that noble part of His heritage that He has bequeathed to His friends in the Far West; friends from whom in return He expects so much and whom He has loved and still doth love so dearly.
Your sincere co-worker in His Cause,
Shoghi.
Haifa, Palestine.
January 21st, 1922.
– 2 –
Letter of March 5, 1922.
Dear fellow-workers in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh: —
It is with words of regret and disappointment that I desire to open this letter because of my inability, in view of my manifold and pressing duties, to respond individually and in writing to the many messages of love and sympathy and of hope that you have so affectionately sent me since our Beloved’s passing from this World. I am sure I am voicing the sentiments of the bereaved ladies of the Household when I say that however desirous we may be to correspond separately with every one of you, the grave responsibilities and manifold duties now devolved upon us make it regrettably impossible to express in written messages to every friend what we constantly feel in our hearts, and pray for when visiting His sacred Shrine.
At this grave and momentous period through which the Cause of God in conformity with the Divine Wisdom is passing, it is the sacred duty of every one of us to endeavor to realize the full significance of this Hour of Transition, and then to make a supreme resolve to arise steadfastly for the fulfilment of our sacred obligations.
The Mission of the Cause
Great as is the love and paternal care which our beloved Master is extending to us from on High, and unique as is the Spirit that animates today His servants in the world, yet a great deal will depend upon the character and efforts of His loved ones on whom now rests the responsibility of carrying on His work gloriously after Him. How great is the need at this moment when the promised outpourings of His grace are ready to be extended to every soul, for us all to form a broad vision of the mission of the Cause to mankind, and to do all in our power to spread it throughout the world! The eyes of the world, now that the sublime Personality of the Master has been removed from this visible plane, are turned with eager anticipation to us who are named after His name, and on whom rests primarily the responsibility to keep burning the torch that He has lit in this world. How keenly I feel at this challenging hour in the history of the Cause the need for a firm and definite determination to subordinate all our personal likings, our local interests, to the interests and requirements of the Cause of God! Now is the time to set aside, nay, to forget altogether, minor considerations regarding our internal relationships, and to present a solid united front to the world animated by no other desire but to serve and propagate His Cause.
It is my firm conviction which I now express with all sincerity and candor, that the dignity and unity of the Cause urgently demands — particularly throughout the American continent — that the friends should in their words and conduct emphasize and give absolute prominence to the constructive dynamic principles of Bahá’u’lláh, rather than attach undue importance to His negative Teachings. With hearts cleansed from the least trace of suspicion and filled with hope and faith in what the spirit of love can achieve, we must one and all endeavor at this moment to forget past impressions, and with absolute good-will and genuine cooperation unite in deepening and diffusing the spirit of love and service that the Cause has thus far so remarkably shown to the world. To this attitude of good-will, of forbearance and genuine kindness to all, must be added, however, constant but unprovocative vigilance, lest unrestricted association with the peoples of the world should enable the very few who have been definitely pronounced by the Master as injurious to the body of the Cause, to make a breach in the Movement. Not until, however, an unmistakable evidence should appear, manifestly revealing the evil motives of a certain individual or group of individuals, is it advisable to make the matter public; for an untimely declaration that shall give rise to open differences among the friends is far more detrimental than forbearing still further with those who are suspected of evil intentions. As the Master so fully and consistently did throughout His lifetime, we must all make a supreme effort to pour out a genuine spirit of kindness and hopeful love to peoples of various creeds and classes, and must abstain from all provocative language that may impede the effect of what true and continued kindness can produce.
Does not ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wish us, as He looks down upon us with loving expectation from His glorious Station, to obliterate as much as possible all traces of censure, of conflicting discussions, of cooling remarks, of petty unnecessary observations that impede the onward march of the Cause, that damp the zeal of the firm believer and detract from the sublimity of the Bahá’í Cause in the eyes of the inquirer? In order, however, to insure fair and quick and vigorous action whenever such an evil activity is revealed and has been carefully ascertained, the best and only means would appear to be, for the careful observer, once he is assured of such an evil action, and has grown hopeless of the attitude of kindness and forbearance, to report it quietly to the Spiritual Assembly representative of the friends in that locality and submit the case to their earnest and full consideration. Should the majority of the members of that Assembly be conscientiously convinced of the case — and this being a national issue affecting the body of the friends in America — it should, only through the intermediary of that Assembly, be cautiously communicated to that greater body representing all the Assemblies in America, which will in its turn obtain all the available data from the local Assembly in question, study carefully the situation and reserve for itself the ultimate decision. It may, if it decides so, refer to the Holy Land for further consideration and consultation.
Local and National Spiritual Assemblies
This clearly places heavy responsibilities on the local as well as national Assemblies, which in the course of time will evolve, with the Master’s power and guidance, into the local and national Houses of Justice. Hence the vital necessity of having a local Spiritual Assembly in every locality where the number of adult declared believers exceeds nine, and of making provision for the indirect election of a Body that shall adequately represent the interests of all the friends and Assemblies throughout the American Continent.
A perusal of some of the words of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the duties and functions of the Spiritual Assemblies in every land (later to be designated as the local Houses of Justice), emphatically reveals the sacredness of their nature, the wide scope of their activity, and the grave responsibility which rests upon them.
Addressing the members of the Spiritual Assembly in Chicago, the Master reveals the following: — “Whenever
ye
enter
the
council-chamber,
recite
this
prayer
with
a
heart
throbbing
with
the
love
of
God
and
a
tongue
purified
from
all
but
His
remembrance,
that
the
All-powerful
may
graciously
aid
you
to
achieve
supreme
victory: —
‘O
God,
my
God!
We
are
servants
of
Thine
that
have
turned
with
devotion
to
Thy
Holy
Face,
that
have
detached
ourselves
from
all
beside
Thee
in
this
glorious
Day.
We
have
gathered
in
this
spiritual
assembly,
united
in
our
views
and
thoughts,
with
our
purposes
harmonized
to
exalt
Thy
Word
amidst
mankind.
O
Lord,
our
God!
Make
us
the
signs
of
Thy
Divine
Guidance,
the
Standards
of
Thy
exalted
Faith
amongst
men,
servants
to
Thy
mighty
Covenant.
O
Thou
our
Lord
Most
High!
Manifestations
of
Thy
Divine
Unity
in
Thine
Abhá
Kingdom,
and
resplendent
stars
shining
upon
all
regions.
Lord!
Aid
us
to
become
seas
surging
with
the
billows
of
Thy
wondrous
Grace,
streams
flowing
from
Thy
all-glorious
Heights,
goodly
fruits
upon
the
Tree
of
Thy
heavenly
Cause,
trees
waving
through
the
breezes
of
Thy
Bounty
in
Thy
celestial
Vineyard.
O
God!
Make
our
souls
dependent
upon
the
Verses
of
Thy
Divine
Unity,
our
hearts
cheered
with
the
outpourings
of
Thy
Grace,
that
we
may
unite
even
as
the
waves
of
one
sea
and
become
merged
together
as
the
rays
of
Thine
Effulgent
Light;
that
our
thoughts,
our
views,
our
feelings
may
become
as
one
reality,
manifesting
the
spirit
of
union
throughout
the
world.
Thou
art
the
Gracious,
the
Bountiful,
the
Bestower,
the
Almighty,
the
Merciful,
the
Compassionate.’”
In the Most Holy Book is revealed: —
“The
Lord
hath
ordained
that
in
every
city
a
House
of
Justice
be
established
wherein
shall
gather
counsellors
to
the
number
of
Bahá,
and
should
it
exceed
this
number
it
does
not
matter.
It
behooveth
them
to
be
the
trusted
ones
of
the
Merciful
among
men
and
to
regard
themselves
as
the
guardians
appointed
of
God
for
all
that
dwell
on
earth.
It
is
incumbent
upon
them
to
take
counsel
together
and
to
have
regard
for
the
interests
of
the
servants
of
God,
for
His
sake,
even
as
they
regard
their
own
interests,
and
to
choose
that
which
is
meet
and
seemly.
Thus
hath
the
Lord
your
God
commanded
you.
Beware
lest
ye
put
away
that
which
is
clearly
revealed
in
His
Tablet.
Fear
God,
O
ye
that
perceive.”
Furthermore, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá reveals the following: — “It
is
incumbent
upon
every
one
not
to
take
any
step
without
consulting
the
Spiritual
Assembly,
and
they
must
assuredly
obey
with
heart
and
soul
its
bidding
and
be
submissive
unto
it,
that
things
may
be
properly
ordered
and
well
arranged.
Otherwise
every
person
will
act
independently
and
after
his
own
judgment,
will
follow
his
own
desire,
and
do
harm
to
the
Cause.”
“The
prime
requisites
for
them
that
take
counsel
together
are
purity
of
motive,
radiance
of
spirit,
detachment
from
all
else
save
God,
attraction
to
His
Divine
Fragrances,
humility
and
lowliness
amongst
His
loved
ones,
patience
and
long-suffering
in
difficulties
and
servitude
to
His
exalted
Threshold.
Should
they
be
graciously
aided
to
acquire
these
attributes,
victory
from
the
unseen
Kingdom
of
Bahá
shall
be
vouchsafed
to
them.
In
this
day,
assemblies
of
consultation
are
of
the
greatest
importance
and
a
vital
necessity.
Obedience
unto
them
is
essential
and
obligatory.
The
members
thereof
must
take
counsel
together
in
such
wise
that
no
occasion
for
ill-feeling
or
discord
may
arise.
This
can
be
attained
when
every
member
expresseth
with
absolute
freedom
his
own
opinion
and
setteth
forth
his
argument.
Should
any
one
oppose,
he
must
on
no
account
feel
hurt
for
not
until
matters
are
fully
discussed
can
the
right
way
be
revealed.
The
shining
spark
of
truth
cometh
forth
only
after
the
clash
of
differing
opinions.
If
after
discussion,
a
decision
be
carried
unanimously,
well
and
good;
but
if,
the
Lord
forbid,
differences
of
opinion
should
arise,
a
majority
of
voices
must
prevail.”
Enumerating the obligations incumbent upon the members of consulting councils, the Beloved reveals the following: — “The
first
condition
is
absolute
love
and
harmony
amongst
the
members
of
the
assembly.
They
must
be
wholly
free
from
estrangement
and
must
manifest
in
themselves
the
Unity
of
God,
for
they
are
the
waves
of
one
sea,
the
drops
of
one
river,
the
stars
of
one
heaven,
the
rays
of
one
sun,
the
trees
of
one
orchard,
the
flowers
of
one
garden.
Should
harmony
of
thought
and
absolute
unity
be
non-existent,
that
gathering
shall
be
dispersed
and
that
assembly
be
brought
to
naught.
The
second
condition: —
They
must
when
coming
together
turn
their
faces
to
the
Kingdom
on
High
and
ask
aid
from
the
Realm
of
Glory.
They
must
then
proceed
with
the
utmost
devotion,
courtesy,
dignity,
care
and
moderation
to
express
their
views.
They
must
in
every
matter
search
out
the
truth
and
not
insist
upon
their
own
opinion,
for
stubbornness
and
persistence
in
one’s
views
will
lead
ultimately
to
discord
and
wrangling
and
the
truth
will
remain
hidden.
The
honored
members
must
with
all
freedom
express
their
own
thoughts,
and
it
is
in
no
wise
permissible
for
one
to
belittle
the
thought
of
another,
nay,
he
must
with
moderation
set
forth
the
truth,
and
should
differences
of
opinion
arise
a
majority
of
voices
must
prevail,
and
all
must
obey
and
submit
to
the
majority.
It
is
again
not
permitted
that
any
one
of
the
honored
members
object
to
or
censure,
whether
in
or
out
of
the
meeting,
any
decision
arrived
at
previously,
though
that
decision
be
not
right,
for
such
criticism
would
prevent
any
decision
from
being
enforced.
In
short,
whatsoever
thing
is
arranged
in
harmony
and
with
love
and
purity
of
motive,
its
result
is
light,
and
should
the
least
trace
of
estrangement
prevail
the
result
shall
be
darkness
upon
darkness.…
If
this
be
so
regarded,
that
assembly
shall
be
of
God,
but
otherwise
it
shall
lead
to
coolness
and
alienation
that
proceed
from
the
Evil
One.
Discussions
must
all
be
confined
to
spiritual
matters
that
pertain
to
the
training
of
souls,
the
instruction
of
children,
the
relief
of
the
poor,
the
help
of
the
feeble
throughout
all
classes
in
the
world,
kindness
to
all
peoples,
the
diffusion
of
the
fragrances
of
God
and
the
exaltation
of
His
Holy
Word.
Should
they
endeavor
to
fulfill
these
conditions
the
Grace
of
the
Holy
Spirit
shall
be
vouchsafed
unto
them,
and
that
assembly
shall
become
the
center
of
the
Divine
blessings,
the
hosts
of
Divine
confirmation
shall
come
to
their
aid,
and
they
shall
day
by
day
receive
a
new
effusion
of
Spirit.”
So great is the importance and so supreme is the authority of these assemblies that once ‘Abdu’l-Bahá after having himself and in his own handwriting corrected the translation made into Arabic of the Ishráqát (the Effulgences) by Shaykh Faraj, a Kurdish friend from Cairo, directed him in a Tablet to submit the above-named translation to the Spiritual Assembly of Cairo, that he may seek from them before publication their approval and consent. These are His very words in that Tablet: — “His
honor,
Shaykh
Faraju’lláh,
has
here
rendered
into
Arabic
with
greatest
care
the
Ishráqát
and
yet
I
have
told
him
that
he
must
submit
his
version
to
the
Spiritual
Assembly
of
Egypt,
and
I
have
conditioned
its
publication
upon
the
approval
of
the
above-named
Assembly.
This
is
so
that
things
may
be
arranged
in
an
orderly
manner,
for
should
it
not
be
so
any
one
may
translate
a
certain
Tablet
and
print
and
circulate
it
on
his
own
account.
Even
a
non-believer
might
undertake
such
work,
and
thus
cause
confusion
and
disorder.
If
it
be
conditioned,
however,
upon
the
approval
of
the
Spiritual
Assembly,
a
translation
prepared,
printed
and
circulated
by
a
non-believer
will
have
no
recognition
whatever.”
This is indeed a clear indication of the Master’s express desire that nothing whatever should be given to the public by any individual among the friends, unless fully considered and approved by the Spiritual Assembly in his locality; and if this (as is undoubtedly the case) is a matter that pertains to the general interest of the Cause in that land, then it is incumbent upon the Spiritual Assembly to submit it to the consideration and approval of the national body representing all the various local assemblies. Not only with regard to publication, but all matters without any exception whatsoever, regarding the interests of the Cause in that locality, individually or collectively, should be referred exclusively to the Spiritual Assembly in that locality, which shall decide upon it, unless it be a matter of national interest, in which case it shall be referred to the national body. With this national body also will rest the decision whether a given question is of local or national interest. (By national affairs is not meant matters that are political in their character, for the friends of God the world over are strictly forbidden to meddle with political affairs in any way whatever, but rather things that affect the spiritual activities of the body of the friends in that land.)
Full harmony, however, as well as cooperation among the various local assemblies and the members themselves, and particularly between each assembly and the national body, is of the utmost importance, for upon it depends the unity of the Cause of God, the solidarity of the friends, the full, speedy and efficient working of the spiritual activities of His loved ones.
Committees of the National Assembly
Large issues in such spiritual activities that affect the Cause in general in that land, such as the management of the “Star of the West” and any periodical which the National Body may decide to be a Bahá’í organ, the matter of publication, or reprinting Bahá’í literature and its distribution among the various assemblies, the means whereby the teaching campaign may be stimulated and maintained, the work of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the racial question in relation to the Cause, the matter of receiving Orientals and association with them, the care and maintenance of the precious film exhibiting a phase of the Master’s sojourn in the United States of America as well as the original matrix and the records of His voice, and various other national spiritual activities, far from being under the exclusive jurisdiction of any local assembly or group of friends, must each be minutely and fully directed by a special board, elected by the National Body, constituted as a committee thereof, responsible to it and upon which the National Body shall exercise constant and general supervision.
The time is indeed ripe for the manifold activities, wherein the servants and handmaids of Bahá’u’lláh are so devoutly and earnestly engaged, to be harmonized and conducted with unity, cooperation and efficiency, that the effect of such a combined and systematized effort, through which an All-powerful Spirit is steadily pouring, may transcend every other achievement of the past, however glorious it has been, and may stand, now that, to the eyes of the outside world the glorious Person of the Master is no more, a convincing testimony of the potency of His everliving Spirit.
Your brother and co-worker in His Cause,
Shoghi.
Haifa, Palestine.
March 5, 1922.
– 3 –
Letter of Circa May, 1922 (undated).
IN THE NAME OF GOD
This servant, after that grievous event and great calamity, the ascension of His Holiness ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the Abhá Kingdom, has been so stricken with grief and pain and so entangled in the troubles (created) by the enemies of the Cause of God, that I consider that my presence here, at such a time and in such an atmosphere, is not in accordance with the fulfilment of my important and sacred duties.
For this reason, unable to do otherwise, I have left for a time the affairs of the Cause both at home and abroad, under the supervision of the Holy Family and the headship of the Greatest Holy Leaf until, by the Grace of God, having gained health, strength, self-confidence and spiritual energy, and having taken into my hands, in accordance with my aim and desire, entirely and regularly the work of service I shall attain to my utmost spiritual hope and aspiration.
The servant of His Threshold,
Shoghi.
Haifa, Palestine.
Circa May, 1922 (undated).
– 4 –
Letter of Circa May, 1922 (undated).
Our Common Servitude
May I also express my heartfelt desire that the friends of God in every land regard me in no other light but that of a true brother, united with them in our common servitude to the Master’s Sacred Threshold, and refer to me in their letters and verbal addresses always as Shoghi Effendi, for I desire to be known by no other name save the one our Beloved Master was wont to utter, a name which of all other designations is the most conducive to my spiritual growth and advancement.
Haifa, Palestine.
Circa May, 1922 (undated).
– 5 –
Letter of December 16, 1922
To the loved ones of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá throughout the continent of America.
