Letter of 17 August 1953

Letter of 17 August 195317 August 1953Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you on his behalf concerning a gift which has been made by one of the very dear believers in Persia, Mr. ... for the international activities of the Faith.The Guardian has decided that at present he feels the best use for half of this fund is to ask Mr. ... to give it to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria, to be used for the building of the Temple in Frankfurt. He has written Mr. ... to this effect; therefore in due course you should receive 50000 tumans, or its equivalent in German marks.When this gift is received from this devoted believer, the beloved Guardian would like you to write an appropriate letter of appreciation for the very generous gift; sending the letter of appreciation to the Guardian, so that he can see that it reaches Mr. ... safely.The beloved Guardian sends his loving greetings to each and every one of you....Letter of 12 September 1953 (Youth Summer Session)12 September 1953 (Youth Summer Session)Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has received the letter which you have sent him, and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.Now that the World Crusade has been launched, and is very actively operating, as you have no doubt been informed by those believers who were privileged to attend the third Intercontinental Teaching Conference recently held in Stockholm, the Guardian is confident that you are fully conscious of the tremendous responsibilities placed on the shoulders of the German and Austrian Communities during the opening phase of this Ten-Year Crusade; and that you are, one and all, arising to fulfill those tasks in a befitting manner.He will pray for you....[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty bless, guide and sustain you in your devoted endeavours, and enable you to win great victories in the service of His Faith,Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 26 September 1953 (Summer School)26 September 1953 (Summer School)Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has received the loving letter you sent him, which was signed by all those who attended the Summer School this year; and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.He was very happy to learn of the inspiration and the spiritual impulse given to that gathering by those revered Hands of the Cause of God from different countries who were there on that occasion.Now that you are all familiar with the goals the Guardian has set before the believers in the German and Austrian Communities, and particularly those requiring consideration first, he is confident that you will arise with one accord to accomplish these tasks in a befitting manner.His loving prayers will surround you, as you proceed with your historic labours....P.S.—The Guardian appreciates the copy of the Program and the publicity which you enclosed.[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty sustain and guide you in your highly valued activities, enable you to extend the range of your services, and win great and memorable victories in the days to come,Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 15 October 195315 October 1953Dear Bahá’í Friends:It is impossible for me to convey to you the great happiness of the Guardian over the results achieved since the auspicious opening of the Ten-Year Crusade.The Guardian’s final cable to the Conference in New Delhi shared with the friends the information that fifty of the virgin areas have been settled as of October 14th, and fifty-four more have been assigned to pioneers.The Guardian is urging every National Spiritual Assembly to get out its pledged pioneers to the still unsettled virgin areas as fast as possible.I attach hereto copy of a letter which has been sent to all pioneers, asking for their complete names, and if possible a permanent address. Will you please arrange for this information to be sent to me as additional pioneers go into the field? What the Guardian wants is the complete name of each pioneer with accurate spelling.The Guardian sends you all his loving greetings, and assures you of his prayers for the success of your arduous labours....Letter of 26 November 195326 November 1953Dear Bahá’í Friend:Your loving letter of November 9th reached me on my return from a short visit in Switzerland and France.I did have the pleasure of meeting the Lehnes in Zurich, and was more than delighted to have this contact with two of the sincere and self-sacrificing German Bahá’ís, who are now winning so many victories for the Faith.I spoke to our beloved Guardian with regard to the Frisian Islands. He said that regardless of the fact that a number of the islands are Dutch and others German, that the administrative work in all the Frisian Islands should be under the German N.S.A., as assigned in the outline of the Ten-Year Crusade. The Guardian stated that he had likewise informed the American N.S.A. to this effect.The beloved Guardian is very happy over the reports that are being received of the progress of the Ten-Year Crusade. All but one of the countries, outside of the iron curtain, have now been settled or assigned to pioneers. The total number of areas which have been settled under the Ten-Year Crusade, during this period of a little over 6 months since its launching, now totals 71. It is surely remarkable, and one of the great victories of the Faith.The Guardian sends his loving greetings to you. He prays for your guidance and confirmation....Letter of 14 February 195414 February 1954Dear Bahá’í Brother:Your comprehensive letter of February 5th, replacing your letter of February 3rd; also your letter of February 7th, dealing with the question of site for the Bahá’í Temple in Frankfurt, has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has asked me to acknowledge them on his behalf.The Guardian was very much impressed with the clear and concise outline of the investigations which you have made, giving him the best possible opportunity to understand the situation fully.The beloved Guardian feels that site “C”, Steinbacher-Hohe, appears to be the most suitable for the Bahá’í Temple and future developments. He feels therefore that your Assembly should immediately arrange for the prompt purchase of some of the land.While it would be desirable of course to buy an extensive piece of property, the finances of the German National Assembly, and the financial obligations all over the Bahá’í world, make it impossible to buy a large piece at this time; and therefore he feels you should purchase approximately 10,000 square meters, which it is his understanding would cost approximately $10,000. Should there be available more than the $8,000. in the bank to your Assembly, the Guardian would see no serious objection to purchasing a little additional land, so that the entire expense would not be over $12,000.It is noted in your communication you state you have $8,000. in the bank in Zurich; but that pledges made at Stockholm bring the total amount up to about $12,000. At the Guardian’s direction, I am endeavoring to correlate all contributions and funds, so we may know the total amount available.In order to help clarify this matter, will you please send me a statement of the funds which are available in Zurich, and in Germany, if any, giving a list of the contributions which have been received. If there have been a number of small contributions, the Guardian does not require that information, but simply information as to how much money was contributed at Stockholm, for instance, how much has been received from large donors, how much from the friends in Germany itself, etc.At the same time, I am writing out to other areas, to see if any money is being held for the account of your Assembly for the purchase of land, in any other areas.The important thing now is to procure the land. The Guardian states it is not necessary for you to refer back to him any specific details regarding the land; inasmuch as it has now been decided to purchase land in Steinbacher-Hohe. He leaves it to your Assembly to pick out the best piece of land in the area for the Temple itself. Later on, when financial conditions in Germany, and in the Faith generally, are better, consideration can be given to additional land for Temple accessories, etc.The Guardian states it is satisfactory to secure designs etc. from architects, both Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í, from Germany and also from other countries. In other words, you are free to handle this matter actively, submitting designs to the Guardian as they are received by you. The Guardian of course wishes the Bahá’í architects to have an opportunity to submit their views concerning this sacred edifice.In connection with your question of how you should proceed, if it is suitable to ask for designs by architects outside of Germany; this of course is left for you to handle in your own way. Of course it is suitable for you to correspond with the Spiritual Assemblies in the countries involved, asking them to be of assistance in this important matter.The Guardian is very hopeful that you may be able to conclude the purchase of the land, by the middle of April. It will be a great victory for the Faith, if it can be accomplished within the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade.The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf, that every obstacle may be removed from your path, and your actions be both guided and confirmed....P.S. In your letter of February 3rd; the maps attached; and your letter of February 7th, you refer to Steinbacher Hohe as No. C. while in your letter of February 5th, you refer to it as No. B. So that all documents may have the same reference, I have changed your letter of February 5th, to show Steinbacher Hohe, as No. C.; and Forsthausstrasse as No. B.Letter of 3 April 19543 April 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian is very anxious to have full information concerning the pioneers in the virgin areas of the Ten-Year Crusade. In order to complete the records which I have been compiling for him, can you give me the following information:Frisian Islands: Please let me have the address of Miss Gertrude Ankersmidt, in the Frisian Isles....Letter of 17 April 195417 April 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:At the instruction of our beloved Guardian, I am forwarding you herewith his Convention Message. He wishes you to have it read aloud to the assembled delegates, and then published and circulated among the believers....Letter of 21 April 195421 April 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:I am forwarding you herewith a copy of the Guardian’s Convention Message which was mailed you a short time ago. As there is a pilgrim leaving, he is taking the precaution of having this mailed in Europe.I hope it reaches you in time for the Convention....Letter of 30 April 195430 April 1954INFORM GERMAN ASSEMBLY 11400 SQUARE METERS SUFFICIENT TEMPLE SITE.SHOGHILetter of 2 May 19542 May 1954WELCOME REDEDICATION DELEGATES URGE INTENSIFICATION EFFORTS ATTAINMENT GOALS LOVING REMEMBRANCES SHRINES.SHOGHILetter of 28 May 195428 May 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you concerning an action recently taken by your National Assembly, as published in your January-February Bahá’í News, that non-Bahá’ís may attend 19-Day Feasts if “the earnestness of their interest in the Faith” is vouched for by a declared believer.The Guardian wishes me to direct your attention to the fact that none of the institutions of the Faith nor its cardinal principles may be changed under any circumstances.The 19-Day Feast is an institution of the Cause, first established by the Báb, later confirmed by Bahá’u’lláh, and now made a prominent part of the administrative order of the Faith. These 19-Day Feasts are for the Bahá’ís, and the Bahá’ís exclusively, and no variation from this principle is permitted.Thus the Guardian feels you should rescind the action taken by your Assembly in opening the Feasts to “near Bahá’ís”, as it is not consistent with the spirit of the administrative order for non-Bahá’ís or near Bahá’ís to attend the 19-Day Feasts, particularly the administrative portion of the Feast.The Guardian realizes the spirit which animated you in making the suggested proposal, in order that the teaching work might go forward more aggressively; but he feels in the long run it would be detrimental to the Faith, and therefore should be rescinded as indicated above.The Guardian sends you his loving greetings....Letter of 8 June 19548 June 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has been greatly pleased with the achievements of the friends throughout the world during the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade. Victories were won in all parts of the world, and on many fronts. The Faith was established in 101 countries of the world, bringing the light of guidance to 229 countries and islands.We now enter the second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade.The Guardian’s message to the Convention has outlined the goals to be achieved during this second phase.One of the important items was the purchase of Hazíratu’l-Quds for future National Spiritual Assemblies. The Guardian feels that immediate steps should be taken to fulfil a part of this project. In all, there are 49 Hazíratu’l-Quds to be purchased—4 already are owned. He feels that during the second year of the Crusade, 17 additional Hazíratu’l-Quds should be purchased. These should not be elaborate structures, but modest houses, which can serve at the present time, as local Hazíratu’l-Quds, but which will be converted into National Hazíratu’l-Quds as soon as the National Assemblies are formed.The Guardian feels that steps should be taken immediately to purchase the Hazíratu’l-Quds in Vienna. A fund should be started so that the friends may contribute to this important project when they wish.The Guardian has been informed that a small property has been procured in Vienna, to serve as a Headquarters. He is anxious to know if this property has been purchased, or is being rented. If it has been purchased, and is an independent property, it of course can serve temporarily as a Hazírá for the local Assembly, and then later be made the National Hazírá. If, on the other hand, the building is being rented, and it is satisfactory, efforts should be made to purchase it. If it cannot be purchased, then some other small property should be bought. The Guardian wishes it clearly understood that a Hazírá must be a piece of land owned by the Bahá’ís, and not a rented piece of property.The Guardian will appreciate advice from you as quickly as possible of the steps being taken to fulfill this important task of the second phase of the Ten-Year Plan. He feels this property should be purchased during the current year....P.S.—The Guardian requests that you inform all the friends that their most important duty at the present time is the fulfillment of the tasks of the Ten-Year Crusade. This calls for the sacrifice of local activities in order that the national and international development of the Faith may go forward uninterruptedly. No local institutions should be started. The National Assembly should see that money is not spent on local centers at this time, and the friends should be encouraged to concentrate on the national and international activities of the Faith.Letter of 25 June 195425 June 1954Dear Bahá’í Sister:The letters of your Assembly dated June 18, August 11, September 2 (4), 13, October 14, November 9 and 24, 1953, and January 16 (2), February 3, 5 (2), 7, 11, March 7, April 19, May 12 and June 19, 1954, with their enclosures, as well as the material forwarded under separate cover, have all been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.He is sorry that pressure of work prevented him from writing more frequently to the National Spiritual Assemblies, including your own. Indeed, he is beginning to wonder how much longer he can go on attending to the multiplying affairs of the Cause of today, and keeping up correspondence as well.He is very pleased to see that the work in Germany is really going forward at a visibly more rapid rate. The German friends, one of the oldest Communities in Europe, so devoted and loyal, and who have suffered so much during two wars, are beginning at last to see the institutions of their Faith emerging in their native land in a more concrete form than the realm of hope and dreams.The national Hazíratu’l-Quds, which was purchased so shortly after the end of the last world conflagration, has now been followed by the plan for the first Bahá’í Temple on European soil, a truly noble and inspiring undertaking.In this connection he wishes to say that he is very sorry he could not agree to the proposals you sent him so far. As your Assembly is aware, the Bahá’ís all over the world are building up national institutions and purchasing, in various areas, Temple sites, etc. It is only natural that each Assembly should feel justified in making an initial suitable investment for its Temple site or its national Hazíratu’l-Quds. However, the Guardian, to whom all the news comes from all over the world, is forced to face the fact that if your Assembly, the Canadian Assembly, the British Community, the Italian-Swiss Assembly etc. etc. each pays as heavy sums for its Bahá’í Temple site or national headquarters as they propose to in these reports, which they send him, the Bahá’í world would never be able to get out of debt. Desirable as each place is, when considered from a local standpoint, it becomes on an international scale, a program that is financially impossible. That is why he urged your Assembly to drastically curtail the area and the price. He has done the same thing in many other parts of the world. He hopes that you will shortly be able to purchase the land required.There now remains the important consideration of a design for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. It does not matter whether it is executed by a Bahá’í or a non-Bahá’í architect, but the essential thing is that it must be beautiful and dignified. There must be none of this hideous, exaggerated, bizarre style, which one sees in many modern buildings. It is not befitting for our House of Worship. He thinks that you should impress this on any architects wishing to submit drawings. The essentials of the design, as stipulated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are that the building should be nine-sided, and circular in shape. Aside from this, the architect is not restricted in any way in choosing his style of design.Whenever you have a sufficient collection of drawings, he would be pleased to receive them, and give you his advice.A very large building at this time is not necessary, as the expense would overtax our resources too heavily; and the Persian Bahá’ís, who are so much more numerous, will have to, during the coming nine years, build a much larger and more pretentious structure in Ṭihrán, and consequently a more expensive one.Regarding the matter of ...: individual Bahá’ís are always encouraged to travel and teach, and no doubt he has been of much assistance in Germany. The Guardian, however, feels your Assembly was quite right in considering that your limited financial resources should be spent supporting pioneers, rather than a travelling teacher in Germany.The eagerness of the friends to serve, often carries them away, and they forget that a sound sense of business management is also much needed, if we are to harbour our resources and accomplish all our goals.He was delighted to see that so many of the Bahá’ís from Germany were present at the Stockholm Conference, and that they were able to meet with their colleagues from Austria. He hopes that your teaching work in Austria will make marked progress during the present year. The Cause there has been too long neglected, and undoubtedly there is a very fertile field, waiting only to be cultivated, in order to yield a rich harvest.It has indeed been a great blessing to the German Community to receive the visits of so many Hands of the Cause of God from abroad during the past year.He hopes that the auxiliary Board for Europe recently established, will be of great help in the work to be carried out by the administrative bodies throughout Europe.The most important thing is to keep the pioneer territories which have been settled open. There must be no lapse. The friends must be urged to remain at their posts at all costs. They must remember the glorious example of Marion Jack, who recently passed away in Bulgaria, after almost 30 years of devoting her life to teaching the Faith in that country of her choice. As many of you who knew her personally will recall, her health was very bad, as far back as 1935, when she attended the Esslingen Summer School. It certainly never improved. She was bombed, evacuated, she slept in some drafty, cold room in a school in the country, was often, we have reason to believe, almost hungry, and insufficiently clad after the war, due to difficulties in getting money through to her in an Soviet-dominated territory. She never mastered the language, and was without friends of her own country; and yet, she persevered, and, in spite of even the Guardian’s pleas that she leave the country during the worst years of the war, remained at her post, and won for herself imperishable fame, her resting-place becoming a shrine in Bulgaria, which the people of that country will increasingly honour and cherish.It is to this glorious soul that the present generation of pioneers must look for inspiration and example.He is very happy that the German Bahá’ís have been able to settle in Crete and the Frisian Islands, a great step forward, when one realizes how much their activities have been circumscribed, during the past thirty years, by circumstances over which they had no control.He thanks you for sending him ten copies of each of your new publications, and would like you to continue doing so, as any new literature comes out.So far he has not received any copies of “God Passes By” in German, but is hoping to do so.He appreciates very much the sentiments you expressed to him in connection with the loss of our dear Hands of the Cause, Mr. Schopflocher and Mrs. Baker. The friends everywhere must try and make up for the work these devoted and consecrated souls would have done, had they not passed to the Abhá Kingdom. In this way they can best express their admiration and gratitude.He is very happy to see that your National Convention has been so successful, and that the influence of the future Temple is already being felt, and attracting the hearts of the believers, including many previously inactive. It shows what these Bahá’í institutions are going to do as they develop.You may be sure that he remembers all the members of your Assembly in his loving prayers in the holy Shrines, and supplicates that the German and Austrian Bahá’í Communities may exceed all their past records of achievement during this present Bahá’í year....[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-workers:The achievements of the German and Austrian Bahá’í communities, since the launching of the Ten-Year Global Crusade, embarked upon by the followers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, mark a notable advancement in the progress and consolidation of the Faith in the heart of the European continent. The weighty and historic task so valiantly shouldered by both of these communities has been splendidly initiated, and must, as the Plan unfolds, be prosecuted with increasing vigilance, unswerving resolve, whole-hearted consecration, complete unity, and exemplary steadfastness.The greatest, most pressing and sacred enterprise, challenging the spirit and resources of all the members of both of these communities—the purchase of the land, for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Europe and the prompt initiation of measures for its construction—demands, during this present phase of the Crusade, the utmost concentration of effort, and the most sublime sacrifice on the part of the German and Austrian believers—an effort and sacrifice in which their brethren, in both the East, and the West, will gladly participate, as a token of their appreciation of the historic significance of this mighty institution destined to be firmly established and radiate its beneficent influence in the very heart of that continent.The purchase of the site must be expedited, the selection of a befitting design for so glorious an edifice must be made with as little delay as possible, and the preliminary steps for the excavation of the foundations must be undertaken with care, promptitude and determination.The rise of this symbol and harbinger of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, as yet in the embryonic stage of its development, amidst the confusion, the anxieties, the rivalries and the recurrent crises that mark the decline of a moribund civilization, will, no doubt, lend a tremendous impetus to the onward march of the Faith in all the continents of the Globe, and will, more than any other single act, direct the attention of the spiritually impoverished, the economically afflicted, the socially disturbed, and the morally disoriented masses of a sorely tried continent to its nascent institutions.Parallel with these measures, destined to contribute so effectively to the rise and establishment of the Administrative Order of the Faith in both Germany and Austria, a systematic effort must be exerted by the national elected representatives of the Bahá’í communities in these two countries to multiply, as speedily as possible, the assemblies, groups and isolated centres, through a wider dispersal on the part of the believers, and the launching of an intensive campaign of teaching designed to increase, swiftly and steadily the number of the active supporters of the Faith.The pioneers who have so valiantly settled in the virgin areas assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria, must, however great the sacrifice, safeguard the prizes so laboriously won, and strive, by every means in their power, to consolidate, through extensive teaching work, their splendid and unforgettable achievements.While this double process of multiplication of Bahá’í centres, and development of the newly opened areas, is being assiduously carried out, a no less notable progress must be made in the consolidation of these two communities, through the initiation of local incorporations which will pave the way for the establishment of local Bahá’í endowments, and will serve to reinforce the foundations of all local Bahá’í communities.The establishment of a national Hazíratu’l-Quds in the capital city of Austria, as well as of national endowments in that country—measures that will herald the formation of an independent National Spiritual Assembly, and the erection of yet another pillar of the Universal House of Justice, in the heart of the European continent—should be regarded as the paramount objectives of this second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade which we are now entering.No less vital and urgent is the task of establishing, in the course of this second stage in the unfoldment of this world spiritual Crusade, of a Bahá’í Publishing Trust, similar, in its essentials, to the one already functioning in the British Isles, and of lending a fresh impetus to the translation, the publication and dissemination of Bahá’í literature in the German language—a task which will greatly accelerate the all-important teaching work, and enhance the prestige of the Faith, and promote the vital interests of its institutions.The Community of the German and Austrian believers, the recipient of such signal honours from the Center of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant in the past; born and nurtured in its infancy under His fostering care in the course of the concluding decades of the Apostolic Age of the Faith; eminently successful in laying the foundations of its Administrative Order in the years immediately following His Ascension; emerging, purified and strengthened, from the fire of a severe and prolonged ordeal after the conclusion of the second world war; demonstrating its capacity and resilience through the initiation and prosecution of a carefully designed Plan, despite the exhaustion of a terrible and harrowing conflict that endangered its life and shook it to its foundations,—such a community has now risen to assume its rightful place in the world-encompassing Crusade launched by the followers of Bahá’u’lláh; has splendidly initiated its Ten-Year Plan through the inauguration of its glorious Mission in foreign fields, and is now forging ahead, with magnificent courage, resolution, thoroughness, and fidelity, in its endeavour to win fresh laurels in the course of this second and newly opened stage in the unfoldment of the Plan to which it stands committed.May the vision of its members remain undimmed, their resolution never flag, their steps never falter. May they, as the years go by, demonstrate afresh the solidity of their faith, the nobility of their motives, the sublimity of their devotion, the tenacity of their resolution, in the service of a Faith they have served so devotedly in the past and which they will, undoubtedly, promote with unabated zeal, in the future,Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 28 June 195428 June 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:Your loving letter of June 9th has come to hand, telling of the activities of the friends in connection with the development of the teaching work in Germany and Austria, as well as in the pioneering fields.So far as the questions you ask are concerned, the following will answer question Number 1, as this is a matter which the Guardian has elucidated.The direction of the pioneers is entirely in the hands of the National Assemblies under whom they are serving. The Guardian simply enunciates the principle, and then it is up to the National Assemblies to apply that principle. The principle is that pioneers entering the pioneer field should realize that they are going there to represent the Cause, in fact, to be the Cause.Their minds and their hearts should be centered in their new tasks and in their new environment. They should not be thinking of when they can return home, or when they can go somewhere else. Only when the Faith is firmly established should they give any thought to moving, and then, only in consultation with the National Assembly.So far as pioneers taking a holiday is concerned, that is entirely in the hands of the National Assembly. You can appreciate that all of this depends upon location, and to a certain extent, funds. If a person feels they need a little change for a week or two, that of course is something which should be handled in each case.The Guardian does not wish to make any hard and fast rules on any of these matters.I will write you again in response to the other questions when the Guardian has given his advice....Letter of 23 July 195423 July 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:Will you please refer to your letter of June 9th and my acknowledgment of June 28th, in which you raise certain questions. The beloved Guardian has directed me to give you the answers as follows:Number 2: He feels your plan of giving individuals, who became Bahá’ís in France, but who have not yet given up their church affiliation, one year in which to do so, is satisfactory.Number 3: Up to the age of 15 years, children are under the direction of their parents. At the age of 15, they may declare their Faith as a conviction, and be registered as Bahá’í youth, whether the parents are Bahá’ís or not. Children under the age of 15, of Bahá’í parents, who wish to attend meetings and associate with the friends as Bahá’ís may do so. If non-Bahá’í parents permit a child of less than 15 to attend Bahá’í meetings, and in fact, to be a Bahá’í, this is likewise permissible.Number 4: The beloved Guardian instructs that whenever an Assembly loses some members between the Ridván periods, bringing the membership to less than 9, the Assembly reverts immediately to Group status. However, when they get a sufficient number of new members to reach 9, then they immediately become an Assembly again.The beloved Guardian greatly values your devoted services to the Faith, and the manner in which you are undertaking the heavy responsibilities of propagating the Faith, as well as consolidating its institutions.He assures you of his prayers in your behalf, and sends you his loving greetings....Letter of 27 September 1954 (Summer School)27 September 1954 (Summer School)Dear Bahá’í Friends:The note of loving greeting, which was signed by all those present at the Summer School, has been received by the beloved Guardian, and this is just a brief note of acknowledgment on his behalf.He was very happy to see that it was possible for so many of the friends to be present, and that you had the bounty of having the favored Hand of the Cause, Dr. Mühlschlegel, with you. He feels sure such a gathering must have released new strength and zeal; and that each one will now determine to double or even treble his past efforts during the second year of this historic Ten-Year Crusade.He sends you all his loving greetings....[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty bless your efforts, aid you to promote, at all times, the vital interests of His Faith, and contribute continually to the multiplication and consolidation of its nascent and divinely appointed institutions,Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 18 November 195418 November 1954Dear Bahá’í Sister:This will acknowledge receipt of your kind letter of November 9th, advising that you have received the gift of Three Thousand Dollars, which the beloved Guardian has sent for your Temple fund.I will inform the Guardian of your deep appreciation of his gift.So far as the establishment of the Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria is concerned, there is nothing for you to do in connection therewith at this time. This matter will be handled here in the Holy Land. When it is consummated, it may be necessary and advisable for your National Assembly to pass certain resolutions in connection with it, but I will inform you about this in due course.At the moment it does not seem propitious for the establishment of further Israel Branches at this time; and the Guardian has therefore instructed that this matter be delayed a little longer. You may be sure however it will be taken care of in due course.With loving greetings to you and all the members of the National Assembly....Letter of 12 December 195412 December 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:Your letter of November 26th was received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.He is very happy to see the spirit of love and unity animating you, because without this no work can go forward in the Cause of God. Personal differences of opinion, of character etc. must melt away in the love of the friends for Bahá’u’lláh, and their desire to serve His Cause.He hopes that in the near future the Vienna Community will have its Hazíratu’l-Quds, to which he attaches the greatest importance, as it will be the visible sign of the firm foundation on which that Community stands.He will pray for you all, and for the rapid spread of the Faith through your efforts....[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty bless your meritorious efforts, reward you abundantly for your valued and constant services, and enable you to achieve great and memorable victories in the days to come,Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 17 August 195317 August 1953Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you on his behalf concerning a gift which has been made by one of the very dear believers in Persia, Mr. ... for the international activities of the Faith.The Guardian has decided that at present he feels the best use for half of this fund is to ask Mr. ... to give it to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria, to be used for the building of the Temple in Frankfurt. He has written Mr. ... to this effect; therefore in due course you should receive 50000 tumans, or its equivalent in German marks.When this gift is received from this devoted believer, the beloved Guardian would like you to write an appropriate letter of appreciation for the very generous gift; sending the letter of appreciation to the Guardian, so that he can see that it reaches Mr. ... safely.The beloved Guardian sends his loving greetings to each and every one of you....Letter of 12 September 1953 (Youth Summer Session)12 September 1953 (Youth Summer Session)Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has received the letter which you have sent him, and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.Now that the World Crusade has been launched, and is very actively operating, as you have no doubt been informed by those believers who were privileged to attend the third Intercontinental Teaching Conference recently held in Stockholm, the Guardian is confident that you are fully conscious of the tremendous responsibilities placed on the shoulders of the German and Austrian Communities during the opening phase of this Ten-Year Crusade; and that you are, one and all, arising to fulfill those tasks in a befitting manner.He will pray for you....[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty bless, guide and sustain you in your devoted endeavours, and enable you to win great victories in the service of His Faith,Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 26 September 1953 (Summer School)26 September 1953 (Summer School)Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has received the loving letter you sent him, which was signed by all those who attended the Summer School this year; and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.He was very happy to learn of the inspiration and the spiritual impulse given to that gathering by those revered Hands of the Cause of God from different countries who were there on that occasion.Now that you are all familiar with the goals the Guardian has set before the believers in the German and Austrian Communities, and particularly those requiring consideration first, he is confident that you will arise with one accord to accomplish these tasks in a befitting manner.His loving prayers will surround you, as you proceed with your historic labours....P.S.—The Guardian appreciates the copy of the Program and the publicity which you enclosed.[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty sustain and guide you in your highly valued activities, enable you to extend the range of your services, and win great and memorable victories in the days to come,Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 15 October 195315 October 1953Dear Bahá’í Friends:It is impossible for me to convey to you the great happiness of the Guardian over the results achieved since the auspicious opening of the Ten-Year Crusade.The Guardian’s final cable to the Conference in New Delhi shared with the friends the information that fifty of the virgin areas have been settled as of October 14th, and fifty-four more have been assigned to pioneers.The Guardian is urging every National Spiritual Assembly to get out its pledged pioneers to the still unsettled virgin areas as fast as possible.I attach hereto copy of a letter which has been sent to all pioneers, asking for their complete names, and if possible a permanent address. Will you please arrange for this information to be sent to me as additional pioneers go into the field? What the Guardian wants is the complete name of each pioneer with accurate spelling.The Guardian sends you all his loving greetings, and assures you of his prayers for the success of your arduous labours....Letter of 26 November 195326 November 1953Dear Bahá’í Friend:Your loving letter of November 9th reached me on my return from a short visit in Switzerland and France.I did have the pleasure of meeting the Lehnes in Zurich, and was more than delighted to have this contact with two of the sincere and self-sacrificing German Bahá’ís, who are now winning so many victories for the Faith.I spoke to our beloved Guardian with regard to the Frisian Islands. He said that regardless of the fact that a number of the islands are Dutch and others German, that the administrative work in all the Frisian Islands should be under the German N.S.A., as assigned in the outline of the Ten-Year Crusade. The Guardian stated that he had likewise informed the American N.S.A. to this effect.The beloved Guardian is very happy over the reports that are being received of the progress of the Ten-Year Crusade. All but one of the countries, outside of the iron curtain, have now been settled or assigned to pioneers. The total number of areas which have been settled under the Ten-Year Crusade, during this period of a little over 6 months since its launching, now totals 71. It is surely remarkable, and one of the great victories of the Faith.The Guardian sends his loving greetings to you. He prays for your guidance and confirmation....Letter of 14 February 195414 February 1954Dear Bahá’í Brother:Your comprehensive letter of February 5th, replacing your letter of February 3rd; also your letter of February 7th, dealing with the question of site for the Bahá’í Temple in Frankfurt, has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has asked me to acknowledge them on his behalf.The Guardian was very much impressed with the clear and concise outline of the investigations which you have made, giving him the best possible opportunity to understand the situation fully.The beloved Guardian feels that site “C”, Steinbacher-Hohe, appears to be the most suitable for the Bahá’í Temple and future developments. He feels therefore that your Assembly should immediately arrange for the prompt purchase of some of the land.While it would be desirable of course to buy an extensive piece of property, the finances of the German National Assembly, and the financial obligations all over the Bahá’í world, make it impossible to buy a large piece at this time; and therefore he feels you should purchase approximately 10,000 square meters, which it is his understanding would cost approximately $10,000. Should there be available more than the $8,000. in the bank to your Assembly, the Guardian would see no serious objection to purchasing a little additional land, so that the entire expense would not be over $12,000.It is noted in your communication you state you have $8,000. in the bank in Zurich; but that pledges made at Stockholm bring the total amount up to about $12,000. At the Guardian’s direction, I am endeavoring to correlate all contributions and funds, so we may know the total amount available.In order to help clarify this matter, will you please send me a statement of the funds which are available in Zurich, and in Germany, if any, giving a list of the contributions which have been received. If there have been a number of small contributions, the Guardian does not require that information, but simply information as to how much money was contributed at Stockholm, for instance, how much has been received from large donors, how much from the friends in Germany itself, etc.At the same time, I am writing out to other areas, to see if any money is being held for the account of your Assembly for the purchase of land, in any other areas.The important thing now is to procure the land. The Guardian states it is not necessary for you to refer back to him any specific details regarding the land; inasmuch as it has now been decided to purchase land in Steinbacher-Hohe. He leaves it to your Assembly to pick out the best piece of land in the area for the Temple itself. Later on, when financial conditions in Germany, and in the Faith generally, are better, consideration can be given to additional land for Temple accessories, etc.The Guardian states it is satisfactory to secure designs etc. from architects, both Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í, from Germany and also from other countries. In other words, you are free to handle this matter actively, submitting designs to the Guardian as they are received by you. The Guardian of course wishes the Bahá’í architects to have an opportunity to submit their views concerning this sacred edifice.In connection with your question of how you should proceed, if it is suitable to ask for designs by architects outside of Germany; this of course is left for you to handle in your own way. Of course it is suitable for you to correspond with the Spiritual Assemblies in the countries involved, asking them to be of assistance in this important matter.The Guardian is very hopeful that you may be able to conclude the purchase of the land, by the middle of April. It will be a great victory for the Faith, if it can be accomplished within the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade.The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf, that every obstacle may be removed from your path, and your actions be both guided and confirmed....P.S. In your letter of February 3rd; the maps attached; and your letter of February 7th, you refer to Steinbacher Hohe as No. C. while in your letter of February 5th, you refer to it as No. B. So that all documents may have the same reference, I have changed your letter of February 5th, to show Steinbacher Hohe, as No. C.; and Forsthausstrasse as No. B.Letter of 3 April 19543 April 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian is very anxious to have full information concerning the pioneers in the virgin areas of the Ten-Year Crusade. In order to complete the records which I have been compiling for him, can you give me the following information:Frisian Islands: Please let me have the address of Miss Gertrude Ankersmidt, in the Frisian Isles....Letter of 17 April 195417 April 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:At the instruction of our beloved Guardian, I am forwarding you herewith his Convention Message. He wishes you to have it read aloud to the assembled delegates, and then published and circulated among the believers....Letter of 21 April 195421 April 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:I am forwarding you herewith a copy of the Guardian’s Convention Message which was mailed you a short time ago. As there is a pilgrim leaving, he is taking the precaution of having this mailed in Europe.I hope it reaches you in time for the Convention....Letter of 30 April 195430 April 1954INFORM GERMAN ASSEMBLY 11400 SQUARE METERS SUFFICIENT TEMPLE SITE.SHOGHILetter of 2 May 19542 May 1954WELCOME REDEDICATION DELEGATES URGE INTENSIFICATION EFFORTS ATTAINMENT GOALS LOVING REMEMBRANCES SHRINES.SHOGHILetter of 28 May 195428 May 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you concerning an action recently taken by your National Assembly, as published in your January-February Bahá’í News, that non-Bahá’ís may attend 19-Day Feasts if “the earnestness of their interest in the Faith” is vouched for by a declared believer.The Guardian wishes me to direct your attention to the fact that none of the institutions of the Faith nor its cardinal principles may be changed under any circumstances.The 19-Day Feast is an institution of the Cause, first established by the Báb, later confirmed by Bahá’u’lláh, and now made a prominent part of the administrative order of the Faith. These 19-Day Feasts are for the Bahá’ís, and the Bahá’ís exclusively, and no variation from this principle is permitted.Thus the Guardian feels you should rescind the action taken by your Assembly in opening the Feasts to “near Bahá’ís”, as it is not consistent with the spirit of the administrative order for non-Bahá’ís or near Bahá’ís to attend the 19-Day Feasts, particularly the administrative portion of the Feast.The Guardian realizes the spirit which animated you in making the suggested proposal, in order that the teaching work might go forward more aggressively; but he feels in the long run it would be detrimental to the Faith, and therefore should be rescinded as indicated above.The Guardian sends you his loving greetings....Letter of 8 June 19548 June 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has been greatly pleased with the achievements of the friends throughout the world during the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade. Victories were won in all parts of the world, and on many fronts. The Faith was established in 101 countries of the world, bringing the light of guidance to 229 countries and islands.We now enter the second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade.The Guardian’s message to the Convention has outlined the goals to be achieved during this second phase.One of the important items was the purchase of Hazíratu’l-Quds for future National Spiritual Assemblies. The Guardian feels that immediate steps should be taken to fulfil a part of this project. In all, there are 49 Hazíratu’l-Quds to be purchased—4 already are owned. He feels that during the second year of the Crusade, 17 additional Hazíratu’l-Quds should be purchased. These should not be elaborate structures, but modest houses, which can serve at the present time, as local Hazíratu’l-Quds, but which will be converted into National Hazíratu’l-Quds as soon as the National Assemblies are formed.The Guardian feels that steps should be taken immediately to purchase the Hazíratu’l-Quds in Vienna. A fund should be started so that the friends may contribute to this important project when they wish.The Guardian has been informed that a small property has been procured in Vienna, to serve as a Headquarters. He is anxious to know if this property has been purchased, or is being rented. If it has been purchased, and is an independent property, it of course can serve temporarily as a Hazírá for the local Assembly, and then later be made the National Hazírá. If, on the other hand, the building is being rented, and it is satisfactory, efforts should be made to purchase it. If it cannot be purchased, then some other small property should be bought. The Guardian wishes it clearly understood that a Hazírá must be a piece of land owned by the Bahá’ís, and not a rented piece of property.The Guardian will appreciate advice from you as quickly as possible of the steps being taken to fulfill this important task of the second phase of the Ten-Year Plan. He feels this property should be purchased during the current year....P.S.—The Guardian requests that you inform all the friends that their most important duty at the present time is the fulfillment of the tasks of the Ten-Year Crusade. This calls for the sacrifice of local activities in order that the national and international development of the Faith may go forward uninterruptedly. No local institutions should be started. The National Assembly should see that money is not spent on local centers at this time, and the friends should be encouraged to concentrate on the national and international activities of the Faith.Letter of 25 June 195425 June 1954Dear Bahá’í Sister:The letters of your Assembly dated June 18, August 11, September 2 (4), 13, October 14, November 9 and 24, 1953, and January 16 (2), February 3, 5 (2), 7, 11, March 7, April 19, May 12 and June 19, 1954, with their enclosures, as well as the material forwarded under separate cover, have all been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.He is sorry that pressure of work prevented him from writing more frequently to the National Spiritual Assemblies, including your own. Indeed, he is beginning to wonder how much longer he can go on attending to the multiplying affairs of the Cause of today, and keeping up correspondence as well.He is very pleased to see that the work in Germany is really going forward at a visibly more rapid rate. The German friends, one of the oldest Communities in Europe, so devoted and loyal, and who have suffered so much during two wars, are beginning at last to see the institutions of their Faith emerging in their native land in a more concrete form than the realm of hope and dreams.The national Hazíratu’l-Quds, which was purchased so shortly after the end of the last world conflagration, has now been followed by the plan for the first Bahá’í Temple on European soil, a truly noble and inspiring undertaking.In this connection he wishes to say that he is very sorry he could not agree to the proposals you sent him so far. As your Assembly is aware, the Bahá’ís all over the world are building up national institutions and purchasing, in various areas, Temple sites, etc. It is only natural that each Assembly should feel justified in making an initial suitable investment for its Temple site or its national Hazíratu’l-Quds. However, the Guardian, to whom all the news comes from all over the world, is forced to face the fact that if your Assembly, the Canadian Assembly, the British Community, the Italian-Swiss Assembly etc. etc. each pays as heavy sums for its Bahá’í Temple site or national headquarters as they propose to in these reports, which they send him, the Bahá’í world would never be able to get out of debt. Desirable as each place is, when considered from a local standpoint, it becomes on an international scale, a program that is financially impossible. That is why he urged your Assembly to drastically curtail the area and the price. He has done the same thing in many other parts of the world. He hopes that you will shortly be able to purchase the land required.There now remains the important consideration of a design for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. It does not matter whether it is executed by a Bahá’í or a non-Bahá’í architect, but the essential thing is that it must be beautiful and dignified. There must be none of this hideous, exaggerated, bizarre style, which one sees in many modern buildings. It is not befitting for our House of Worship. He thinks that you should impress this on any architects wishing to submit drawings. The essentials of the design, as stipulated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are that the building should be nine-sided, and circular in shape. Aside from this, the architect is not restricted in any way in choosing his style of design.Whenever you have a sufficient collection of drawings, he would be pleased to receive them, and give you his advice.A very large building at this time is not necessary, as the expense would overtax our resources too heavily; and the Persian Bahá’ís, who are so much more numerous, will have to, during the coming nine years, build a much larger and more pretentious structure in Ṭihrán, and consequently a more expensive one.Regarding the matter of ...: individual Bahá’ís are always encouraged to travel and teach, and no doubt he has been of much assistance in Germany. The Guardian, however, feels your Assembly was quite right in considering that your limited financial resources should be spent supporting pioneers, rather than a travelling teacher in Germany.The eagerness of the friends to serve, often carries them away, and they forget that a sound sense of business management is also much needed, if we are to harbour our resources and accomplish all our goals.He was delighted to see that so many of the Bahá’ís from Germany were present at the Stockholm Conference, and that they were able to meet with their colleagues from Austria. He hopes that your teaching work in Austria will make marked progress during the present year. The Cause there has been too long neglected, and undoubtedly there is a very fertile field, waiting only to be cultivated, in order to yield a rich harvest.It has indeed been a great blessing to the German Community to receive the visits of so many Hands of the Cause of God from abroad during the past year.He hopes that the auxiliary Board for Europe recently established, will be of great help in the work to be carried out by the administrative bodies throughout Europe.The most important thing is to keep the pioneer territories which have been settled open. There must be no lapse. The friends must be urged to remain at their posts at all costs. They must remember the glorious example of Marion Jack, who recently passed away in Bulgaria, after almost 30 years of devoting her life to teaching the Faith in that country of her choice. As many of you who knew her personally will recall, her health was very bad, as far back as 1935, when she attended the Esslingen Summer School. It certainly never improved. She was bombed, evacuated, she slept in some drafty, cold room in a school in the country, was often, we have reason to believe, almost hungry, and insufficiently clad after the war, due to difficulties in getting money through to her in an Soviet-dominated territory. She never mastered the language, and was without friends of her own country; and yet, she persevered, and, in spite of even the Guardian’s pleas that she leave the country during the worst years of the war, remained at her post, and won for herself imperishable fame, her resting-place becoming a shrine in Bulgaria, which the people of that country will increasingly honour and cherish.It is to this glorious soul that the present generation of pioneers must look for inspiration and example.He is very happy that the German Bahá’ís have been able to settle in Crete and the Frisian Islands, a great step forward, when one realizes how much their activities have been circumscribed, during the past thirty years, by circumstances over which they had no control.He thanks you for sending him ten copies of each of your new publications, and would like you to continue doing so, as any new literature comes out.So far he has not received any copies of “God Passes By” in German, but is hoping to do so.He appreciates very much the sentiments you expressed to him in connection with the loss of our dear Hands of the Cause, Mr. Schopflocher and Mrs. Baker. The friends everywhere must try and make up for the work these devoted and consecrated souls would have done, had they not passed to the Abhá Kingdom. In this way they can best express their admiration and gratitude.He is very happy to see that your National Convention has been so successful, and that the influence of the future Temple is already being felt, and attracting the hearts of the believers, including many previously inactive. It shows what these Bahá’í institutions are going to do as they develop.You may be sure that he remembers all the members of your Assembly in his loving prayers in the holy Shrines, and supplicates that the German and Austrian Bahá’í Communities may exceed all their past records of achievement during this present Bahá’í year....[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-workers:The achievements of the German and Austrian Bahá’í communities, since the launching of the Ten-Year Global Crusade, embarked upon by the followers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, mark a notable advancement in the progress and consolidation of the Faith in the heart of the European continent. The weighty and historic task so valiantly shouldered by both of these communities has been splendidly initiated, and must, as the Plan unfolds, be prosecuted with increasing vigilance, unswerving resolve, whole-hearted consecration, complete unity, and exemplary steadfastness.The greatest, most pressing and sacred enterprise, challenging the spirit and resources of all the members of both of these communities—the purchase of the land, for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Europe and the prompt initiation of measures for its construction—demands, during this present phase of the Crusade, the utmost concentration of effort, and the most sublime sacrifice on the part of the German and Austrian believers—an effort and sacrifice in which their brethren, in both the East, and the West, will gladly participate, as a token of their appreciation of the historic significance of this mighty institution destined to be firmly established and radiate its beneficent influence in the very heart of that continent.The purchase of the site must be expedited, the selection of a befitting design for so glorious an edifice must be made with as little delay as possible, and the preliminary steps for the excavation of the foundations must be undertaken with care, promptitude and determination.The rise of this symbol and harbinger of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, as yet in the embryonic stage of its development, amidst the confusion, the anxieties, the rivalries and the recurrent crises that mark the decline of a moribund civilization, will, no doubt, lend a tremendous impetus to the onward march of the Faith in all the continents of the Globe, and will, more than any other single act, direct the attention of the spiritually impoverished, the economically afflicted, the socially disturbed, and the morally disoriented masses of a sorely tried continent to its nascent institutions.Parallel with these measures, destined to contribute so effectively to the rise and establishment of the Administrative Order of the Faith in both Germany and Austria, a systematic effort must be exerted by the national elected representatives of the Bahá’í communities in these two countries to multiply, as speedily as possible, the assemblies, groups and isolated centres, through a wider dispersal on the part of the believers, and the launching of an intensive campaign of teaching designed to increase, swiftly and steadily the number of the active supporters of the Faith.The pioneers who have so valiantly settled in the virgin areas assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria, must, however great the sacrifice, safeguard the prizes so laboriously won, and strive, by every means in their power, to consolidate, through extensive teaching work, their splendid and unforgettable achievements.While this double process of multiplication of Bahá’í centres, and development of the newly opened areas, is being assiduously carried out, a no less notable progress must be made in the consolidation of these two communities, through the initiation of local incorporations which will pave the way for the establishment of local Bahá’í endowments, and will serve to reinforce the foundations of all local Bahá’í communities.The establishment of a national Hazíratu’l-Quds in the capital city of Austria, as well as of national endowments in that country—measures that will herald the formation of an independent National Spiritual Assembly, and the erection of yet another pillar of the Universal House of Justice, in the heart of the European continent—should be regarded as the paramount objectives of this second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade which we are now entering.No less vital and urgent is the task of establishing, in the course of this second stage in the unfoldment of this world spiritual Crusade, of a Bahá’í Publishing Trust, similar, in its essentials, to the one already functioning in the British Isles, and of lending a fresh impetus to the translation, the publication and dissemination of Bahá’í literature in the German language—a task which will greatly accelerate the all-important teaching work, and enhance the prestige of the Faith, and promote the vital interests of its institutions.The Community of the German and Austrian believers, the recipient of such signal honours from the Center of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant in the past; born and nurtured in its infancy under His fostering care in the course of the concluding decades of the Apostolic Age of the Faith; eminently successful in laying the foundations of its Administrative Order in the years immediately following His Ascension; emerging, purified and strengthened, from the fire of a severe and prolonged ordeal after the conclusion of the second world war; demonstrating its capacity and resilience through the initiation and prosecution of a carefully designed Plan, despite the exhaustion of a terrible and harrowing conflict that endangered its life and shook it to its foundations,—such a community has now risen to assume its rightful place in the world-encompassing Crusade launched by the followers of Bahá’u’lláh; has splendidly initiated its Ten-Year Plan through the inauguration of its glorious Mission in foreign fields, and is now forging ahead, with magnificent courage, resolution, thoroughness, and fidelity, in its endeavour to win fresh laurels in the course of this second and newly opened stage in the unfoldment of the Plan to which it stands committed.May the vision of its members remain undimmed, their resolution never flag, their steps never falter. May they, as the years go by, demonstrate afresh the solidity of their faith, the nobility of their motives, the sublimity of their devotion, the tenacity of their resolution, in the service of a Faith they have served so devotedly in the past and which they will, undoubtedly, promote with unabated zeal, in the future,Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 28 June 195428 June 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:Your loving letter of June 9th has come to hand, telling of the activities of the friends in connection with the development of the teaching work in Germany and Austria, as well as in the pioneering fields.So far as the questions you ask are concerned, the following will answer question Number 1, as this is a matter which the Guardian has elucidated.The direction of the pioneers is entirely in the hands of the National Assemblies under whom they are serving. The Guardian simply enunciates the principle, and then it is up to the National Assemblies to apply that principle. The principle is that pioneers entering the pioneer field should realize that they are going there to represent the Cause, in fact, to be the Cause.Their minds and their hearts should be centered in their new tasks and in their new environment. They should not be thinking of when they can return home, or when they can go somewhere else. Only when the Faith is firmly established should they give any thought to moving, and then, only in consultation with the National Assembly.So far as pioneers taking a holiday is concerned, that is entirely in the hands of the National Assembly. You can appreciate that all of this depends upon location, and to a certain extent, funds. If a person feels they need a little change for a week or two, that of course is something which should be handled in each case.The Guardian does not wish to make any hard and fast rules on any of these matters.I will write you again in response to the other questions when the Guardian has given his advice....Letter of 23 July 195423 July 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:Will you please refer to your letter of June 9th and my acknowledgment of June 28th, in which you raise certain questions. The beloved Guardian has directed me to give you the answers as follows:Number 2: He feels your plan of giving individuals, who became Bahá’ís in France, but who have not yet given up their church affiliation, one year in which to do so, is satisfactory.Number 3: Up to the age of 15 years, children are under the direction of their parents. At the age of 15, they may declare their Faith as a conviction, and be registered as Bahá’í youth, whether the parents are Bahá’ís or not. Children under the age of 15, of Bahá’í parents, who wish to attend meetings and associate with the friends as Bahá’ís may do so. If non-Bahá’í parents permit a child of less than 15 to attend Bahá’í meetings, and in fact, to be a Bahá’í, this is likewise permissible.Number 4: The beloved Guardian instructs that whenever an Assembly loses some members between the Ridván periods, bringing the membership to less than 9, the Assembly reverts immediately to Group status. However, when they get a sufficient number of new members to reach 9, then they immediately become an Assembly again.The beloved Guardian greatly values your devoted services to the Faith, and the manner in which you are undertaking the heavy responsibilities of propagating the Faith, as well as consolidating its institutions.He assures you of his prayers in your behalf, and sends you his loving greetings....Letter of 27 September 1954 (Summer School)27 September 1954 (Summer School)Dear Bahá’í Friends:The note of loving greeting, which was signed by all those present at the Summer School, has been received by the beloved Guardian, and this is just a brief note of acknowledgment on his behalf.He was very happy to see that it was possible for so many of the friends to be present, and that you had the bounty of having the favored Hand of the Cause, Dr. Mühlschlegel, with you. He feels sure such a gathering must have released new strength and zeal; and that each one will now determine to double or even treble his past efforts during the second year of this historic Ten-Year Crusade.He sends you all his loving greetings....[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty bless your efforts, aid you to promote, at all times, the vital interests of His Faith, and contribute continually to the multiplication and consolidation of its nascent and divinely appointed institutions,Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 18 November 195418 November 1954Dear Bahá’í Sister:This will acknowledge receipt of your kind letter of November 9th, advising that you have received the gift of Three Thousand Dollars, which the beloved Guardian has sent for your Temple fund.I will inform the Guardian of your deep appreciation of his gift.So far as the establishment of the Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria is concerned, there is nothing for you to do in connection therewith at this time. This matter will be handled here in the Holy Land. When it is consummated, it may be necessary and advisable for your National Assembly to pass certain resolutions in connection with it, but I will inform you about this in due course.At the moment it does not seem propitious for the establishment of further Israel Branches at this time; and the Guardian has therefore instructed that this matter be delayed a little longer. You may be sure however it will be taken care of in due course.With loving greetings to you and all the members of the National Assembly....Letter of 12 December 195412 December 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:Your letter of November 26th was received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.He is very happy to see the spirit of love and unity animating you, because without this no work can go forward in the Cause of God. Personal differences of opinion, of character etc. must melt away in the love of the friends for Bahá’u’lláh, and their desire to serve His Cause.He hopes that in the near future the Vienna Community will have its Hazíratu’l-Quds, to which he attaches the greatest importance, as it will be the visible sign of the firm foundation on which that Community stands.He will pray for you all, and for the rapid spread of the Faith through your efforts....[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty bless your meritorious efforts, reward you abundantly for your valued and constant services, and enable you to achieve great and memorable victories in the days to come,Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 17 August 195317 August 1953Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you on his behalf concerning a gift which has been made by one of the very dear believers in Persia, Mr. ... for the international activities of the Faith.The Guardian has decided that at present he feels the best use for half of this fund is to ask Mr. ... to give it to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria, to be used for the building of the Temple in Frankfurt. He has written Mr. ... to this effect; therefore in due course you should receive 50000 tumans, or its equivalent in German marks.When this gift is received from this devoted believer, the beloved Guardian would like you to write an appropriate letter of appreciation for the very generous gift; sending the letter of appreciation to the Guardian, so that he can see that it reaches Mr. ... safely.The beloved Guardian sends his loving greetings to each and every one of you....

17 August 1953

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you on his behalf concerning a gift which has been made by one of the very dear believers in Persia, Mr. ... for the international activities of the Faith.

The Guardian has decided that at present he feels the best use for half of this fund is to ask Mr. ... to give it to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria, to be used for the building of the Temple in Frankfurt. He has written Mr. ... to this effect; therefore in due course you should receive 50000 tumans, or its equivalent in German marks.

When this gift is received from this devoted believer, the beloved Guardian would like you to write an appropriate letter of appreciation for the very generous gift; sending the letter of appreciation to the Guardian, so that he can see that it reaches Mr. ... safely.

The beloved Guardian sends his loving greetings to each and every one of you....

Letter of 12 September 1953 (Youth Summer Session)12 September 1953 (Youth Summer Session)Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has received the letter which you have sent him, and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.Now that the World Crusade has been launched, and is very actively operating, as you have no doubt been informed by those believers who were privileged to attend the third Intercontinental Teaching Conference recently held in Stockholm, the Guardian is confident that you are fully conscious of the tremendous responsibilities placed on the shoulders of the German and Austrian Communities during the opening phase of this Ten-Year Crusade; and that you are, one and all, arising to fulfill those tasks in a befitting manner.He will pray for you....[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty bless, guide and sustain you in your devoted endeavours, and enable you to win great victories in the service of His Faith,Your true brother,Shoghi

12 September 1953 (Youth Summer Session)

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The beloved Guardian has received the letter which you have sent him, and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

Now that the World Crusade has been launched, and is very actively operating, as you have no doubt been informed by those believers who were privileged to attend the third Intercontinental Teaching Conference recently held in Stockholm, the Guardian is confident that you are fully conscious of the tremendous responsibilities placed on the shoulders of the German and Austrian Communities during the opening phase of this Ten-Year Crusade; and that you are, one and all, arising to fulfill those tasks in a befitting manner.

He will pray for you....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless, guide and sustain you in your devoted endeavours, and enable you to win great victories in the service of His Faith,

Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 26 September 1953 (Summer School)26 September 1953 (Summer School)Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has received the loving letter you sent him, which was signed by all those who attended the Summer School this year; and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.He was very happy to learn of the inspiration and the spiritual impulse given to that gathering by those revered Hands of the Cause of God from different countries who were there on that occasion.Now that you are all familiar with the goals the Guardian has set before the believers in the German and Austrian Communities, and particularly those requiring consideration first, he is confident that you will arise with one accord to accomplish these tasks in a befitting manner.His loving prayers will surround you, as you proceed with your historic labours....P.S.—The Guardian appreciates the copy of the Program and the publicity which you enclosed.[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty sustain and guide you in your highly valued activities, enable you to extend the range of your services, and win great and memorable victories in the days to come,Your true brother,Shoghi

26 September 1953 (Summer School)

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The beloved Guardian has received the loving letter you sent him, which was signed by all those who attended the Summer School this year; and has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

He was very happy to learn of the inspiration and the spiritual impulse given to that gathering by those revered Hands of the Cause of God from different countries who were there on that occasion.

Now that you are all familiar with the goals the Guardian has set before the believers in the German and Austrian Communities, and particularly those requiring consideration first, he is confident that you will arise with one accord to accomplish these tasks in a befitting manner.

His loving prayers will surround you, as you proceed with your historic labours....

P.S.—The Guardian appreciates the copy of the Program and the publicity which you enclosed.

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty sustain and guide you in your highly valued activities, enable you to extend the range of your services, and win great and memorable victories in the days to come,

Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 15 October 195315 October 1953Dear Bahá’í Friends:It is impossible for me to convey to you the great happiness of the Guardian over the results achieved since the auspicious opening of the Ten-Year Crusade.The Guardian’s final cable to the Conference in New Delhi shared with the friends the information that fifty of the virgin areas have been settled as of October 14th, and fifty-four more have been assigned to pioneers.The Guardian is urging every National Spiritual Assembly to get out its pledged pioneers to the still unsettled virgin areas as fast as possible.I attach hereto copy of a letter which has been sent to all pioneers, asking for their complete names, and if possible a permanent address. Will you please arrange for this information to be sent to me as additional pioneers go into the field? What the Guardian wants is the complete name of each pioneer with accurate spelling.The Guardian sends you all his loving greetings, and assures you of his prayers for the success of your arduous labours....

15 October 1953

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

It is impossible for me to convey to you the great happiness of the Guardian over the results achieved since the auspicious opening of the Ten-Year Crusade.

The Guardian’s final cable to the Conference in New Delhi shared with the friends the information that fifty of the virgin areas have been settled as of October 14th, and fifty-four more have been assigned to pioneers.

The Guardian is urging every National Spiritual Assembly to get out its pledged pioneers to the still unsettled virgin areas as fast as possible.

I attach hereto copy of a letter which has been sent to all pioneers, asking for their complete names, and if possible a permanent address. Will you please arrange for this information to be sent to me as additional pioneers go into the field? What the Guardian wants is the complete name of each pioneer with accurate spelling.

The Guardian sends you all his loving greetings, and assures you of his prayers for the success of your arduous labours....

Letter of 26 November 195326 November 1953Dear Bahá’í Friend:Your loving letter of November 9th reached me on my return from a short visit in Switzerland and France.I did have the pleasure of meeting the Lehnes in Zurich, and was more than delighted to have this contact with two of the sincere and self-sacrificing German Bahá’ís, who are now winning so many victories for the Faith.I spoke to our beloved Guardian with regard to the Frisian Islands. He said that regardless of the fact that a number of the islands are Dutch and others German, that the administrative work in all the Frisian Islands should be under the German N.S.A., as assigned in the outline of the Ten-Year Crusade. The Guardian stated that he had likewise informed the American N.S.A. to this effect.The beloved Guardian is very happy over the reports that are being received of the progress of the Ten-Year Crusade. All but one of the countries, outside of the iron curtain, have now been settled or assigned to pioneers. The total number of areas which have been settled under the Ten-Year Crusade, during this period of a little over 6 months since its launching, now totals 71. It is surely remarkable, and one of the great victories of the Faith.The Guardian sends his loving greetings to you. He prays for your guidance and confirmation....

26 November 1953

Dear Bahá’í Friend:

Your loving letter of November 9th reached me on my return from a short visit in Switzerland and France.

I did have the pleasure of meeting the Lehnes in Zurich, and was more than delighted to have this contact with two of the sincere and self-sacrificing German Bahá’ís, who are now winning so many victories for the Faith.

I spoke to our beloved Guardian with regard to the Frisian Islands. He said that regardless of the fact that a number of the islands are Dutch and others German, that the administrative work in all the Frisian Islands should be under the German N.S.A., as assigned in the outline of the Ten-Year Crusade. The Guardian stated that he had likewise informed the American N.S.A. to this effect.

The beloved Guardian is very happy over the reports that are being received of the progress of the Ten-Year Crusade. All but one of the countries, outside of the iron curtain, have now been settled or assigned to pioneers. The total number of areas which have been settled under the Ten-Year Crusade, during this period of a little over 6 months since its launching, now totals 71. It is surely remarkable, and one of the great victories of the Faith.

The Guardian sends his loving greetings to you. He prays for your guidance and confirmation....

Letter of 14 February 195414 February 1954Dear Bahá’í Brother:Your comprehensive letter of February 5th, replacing your letter of February 3rd; also your letter of February 7th, dealing with the question of site for the Bahá’í Temple in Frankfurt, has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has asked me to acknowledge them on his behalf.The Guardian was very much impressed with the clear and concise outline of the investigations which you have made, giving him the best possible opportunity to understand the situation fully.The beloved Guardian feels that site “C”, Steinbacher-Hohe, appears to be the most suitable for the Bahá’í Temple and future developments. He feels therefore that your Assembly should immediately arrange for the prompt purchase of some of the land.While it would be desirable of course to buy an extensive piece of property, the finances of the German National Assembly, and the financial obligations all over the Bahá’í world, make it impossible to buy a large piece at this time; and therefore he feels you should purchase approximately 10,000 square meters, which it is his understanding would cost approximately $10,000. Should there be available more than the $8,000. in the bank to your Assembly, the Guardian would see no serious objection to purchasing a little additional land, so that the entire expense would not be over $12,000.It is noted in your communication you state you have $8,000. in the bank in Zurich; but that pledges made at Stockholm bring the total amount up to about $12,000. At the Guardian’s direction, I am endeavoring to correlate all contributions and funds, so we may know the total amount available.In order to help clarify this matter, will you please send me a statement of the funds which are available in Zurich, and in Germany, if any, giving a list of the contributions which have been received. If there have been a number of small contributions, the Guardian does not require that information, but simply information as to how much money was contributed at Stockholm, for instance, how much has been received from large donors, how much from the friends in Germany itself, etc.At the same time, I am writing out to other areas, to see if any money is being held for the account of your Assembly for the purchase of land, in any other areas.The important thing now is to procure the land. The Guardian states it is not necessary for you to refer back to him any specific details regarding the land; inasmuch as it has now been decided to purchase land in Steinbacher-Hohe. He leaves it to your Assembly to pick out the best piece of land in the area for the Temple itself. Later on, when financial conditions in Germany, and in the Faith generally, are better, consideration can be given to additional land for Temple accessories, etc.The Guardian states it is satisfactory to secure designs etc. from architects, both Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í, from Germany and also from other countries. In other words, you are free to handle this matter actively, submitting designs to the Guardian as they are received by you. The Guardian of course wishes the Bahá’í architects to have an opportunity to submit their views concerning this sacred edifice.In connection with your question of how you should proceed, if it is suitable to ask for designs by architects outside of Germany; this of course is left for you to handle in your own way. Of course it is suitable for you to correspond with the Spiritual Assemblies in the countries involved, asking them to be of assistance in this important matter.The Guardian is very hopeful that you may be able to conclude the purchase of the land, by the middle of April. It will be a great victory for the Faith, if it can be accomplished within the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade.The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf, that every obstacle may be removed from your path, and your actions be both guided and confirmed....P.S. In your letter of February 3rd; the maps attached; and your letter of February 7th, you refer to Steinbacher Hohe as No. C. while in your letter of February 5th, you refer to it as No. B. So that all documents may have the same reference, I have changed your letter of February 5th, to show Steinbacher Hohe, as No. C.; and Forsthausstrasse as No. B.

14 February 1954

Dear Bahá’í Brother:

Your comprehensive letter of February 5th, replacing your letter of February 3rd; also your letter of February 7th, dealing with the question of site for the Bahá’í Temple in Frankfurt, has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has asked me to acknowledge them on his behalf.

The Guardian was very much impressed with the clear and concise outline of the investigations which you have made, giving him the best possible opportunity to understand the situation fully.

The beloved Guardian feels that site “C”, Steinbacher-Hohe, appears to be the most suitable for the Bahá’í Temple and future developments. He feels therefore that your Assembly should immediately arrange for the prompt purchase of some of the land.

While it would be desirable of course to buy an extensive piece of property, the finances of the German National Assembly, and the financial obligations all over the Bahá’í world, make it impossible to buy a large piece at this time; and therefore he feels you should purchase approximately 10,000 square meters, which it is his understanding would cost approximately $10,000. Should there be available more than the $8,000. in the bank to your Assembly, the Guardian would see no serious objection to purchasing a little additional land, so that the entire expense would not be over $12,000.

It is noted in your communication you state you have $8,000. in the bank in Zurich; but that pledges made at Stockholm bring the total amount up to about $12,000. At the Guardian’s direction, I am endeavoring to correlate all contributions and funds, so we may know the total amount available.

In order to help clarify this matter, will you please send me a statement of the funds which are available in Zurich, and in Germany, if any, giving a list of the contributions which have been received. If there have been a number of small contributions, the Guardian does not require that information, but simply information as to how much money was contributed at Stockholm, for instance, how much has been received from large donors, how much from the friends in Germany itself, etc.

At the same time, I am writing out to other areas, to see if any money is being held for the account of your Assembly for the purchase of land, in any other areas.

The important thing now is to procure the land. The Guardian states it is not necessary for you to refer back to him any specific details regarding the land; inasmuch as it has now been decided to purchase land in Steinbacher-Hohe. He leaves it to your Assembly to pick out the best piece of land in the area for the Temple itself. Later on, when financial conditions in Germany, and in the Faith generally, are better, consideration can be given to additional land for Temple accessories, etc.

The Guardian states it is satisfactory to secure designs etc. from architects, both Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í, from Germany and also from other countries. In other words, you are free to handle this matter actively, submitting designs to the Guardian as they are received by you. The Guardian of course wishes the Bahá’í architects to have an opportunity to submit their views concerning this sacred edifice.

In connection with your question of how you should proceed, if it is suitable to ask for designs by architects outside of Germany; this of course is left for you to handle in your own way. Of course it is suitable for you to correspond with the Spiritual Assemblies in the countries involved, asking them to be of assistance in this important matter.

The Guardian is very hopeful that you may be able to conclude the purchase of the land, by the middle of April. It will be a great victory for the Faith, if it can be accomplished within the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade.

The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf, that every obstacle may be removed from your path, and your actions be both guided and confirmed....

P.S. In your letter of February 3rd; the maps attached; and your letter of February 7th, you refer to Steinbacher Hohe as No. C. while in your letter of February 5th, you refer to it as No. B. So that all documents may have the same reference, I have changed your letter of February 5th, to show Steinbacher Hohe, as No. C.; and Forsthausstrasse as No. B.

Letter of 3 April 19543 April 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian is very anxious to have full information concerning the pioneers in the virgin areas of the Ten-Year Crusade. In order to complete the records which I have been compiling for him, can you give me the following information:Frisian Islands: Please let me have the address of Miss Gertrude Ankersmidt, in the Frisian Isles....

3 April 1954

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The beloved Guardian is very anxious to have full information concerning the pioneers in the virgin areas of the Ten-Year Crusade. In order to complete the records which I have been compiling for him, can you give me the following information:

Frisian Islands: Please let me have the address of Miss Gertrude Ankersmidt, in the Frisian Isles....

Letter of 17 April 195417 April 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:At the instruction of our beloved Guardian, I am forwarding you herewith his Convention Message. He wishes you to have it read aloud to the assembled delegates, and then published and circulated among the believers....

17 April 1954

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

At the instruction of our beloved Guardian, I am forwarding you herewith his Convention Message. He wishes you to have it read aloud to the assembled delegates, and then published and circulated among the believers....

Letter of 21 April 195421 April 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:I am forwarding you herewith a copy of the Guardian’s Convention Message which was mailed you a short time ago. As there is a pilgrim leaving, he is taking the precaution of having this mailed in Europe.I hope it reaches you in time for the Convention....

21 April 1954

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

I am forwarding you herewith a copy of the Guardian’s Convention Message which was mailed you a short time ago. As there is a pilgrim leaving, he is taking the precaution of having this mailed in Europe.

I hope it reaches you in time for the Convention....

Letter of 30 April 195430 April 1954INFORM GERMAN ASSEMBLY 11400 SQUARE METERS SUFFICIENT TEMPLE SITE.SHOGHI

30 April 1954

INFORM GERMAN ASSEMBLY 11400 SQUARE METERS SUFFICIENT TEMPLE SITE.

SHOGHI

Letter of 2 May 19542 May 1954WELCOME REDEDICATION DELEGATES URGE INTENSIFICATION EFFORTS ATTAINMENT GOALS LOVING REMEMBRANCES SHRINES.SHOGHI

2 May 1954

WELCOME REDEDICATION DELEGATES URGE INTENSIFICATION EFFORTS ATTAINMENT GOALS LOVING REMEMBRANCES SHRINES.

SHOGHI

Letter of 28 May 195428 May 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you concerning an action recently taken by your National Assembly, as published in your January-February Bahá’í News, that non-Bahá’ís may attend 19-Day Feasts if “the earnestness of their interest in the Faith” is vouched for by a declared believer.The Guardian wishes me to direct your attention to the fact that none of the institutions of the Faith nor its cardinal principles may be changed under any circumstances.The 19-Day Feast is an institution of the Cause, first established by the Báb, later confirmed by Bahá’u’lláh, and now made a prominent part of the administrative order of the Faith. These 19-Day Feasts are for the Bahá’ís, and the Bahá’ís exclusively, and no variation from this principle is permitted.Thus the Guardian feels you should rescind the action taken by your Assembly in opening the Feasts to “near Bahá’ís”, as it is not consistent with the spirit of the administrative order for non-Bahá’ís or near Bahá’ís to attend the 19-Day Feasts, particularly the administrative portion of the Feast.The Guardian realizes the spirit which animated you in making the suggested proposal, in order that the teaching work might go forward more aggressively; but he feels in the long run it would be detrimental to the Faith, and therefore should be rescinded as indicated above.The Guardian sends you his loving greetings....

28 May 1954

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you concerning an action recently taken by your National Assembly, as published in your January-February Bahá’í News, that non-Bahá’ís may attend 19-Day Feasts if “the earnestness of their interest in the Faith” is vouched for by a declared believer.

The Guardian wishes me to direct your attention to the fact that none of the institutions of the Faith nor its cardinal principles may be changed under any circumstances.

The 19-Day Feast is an institution of the Cause, first established by the Báb, later confirmed by Bahá’u’lláh, and now made a prominent part of the administrative order of the Faith. These 19-Day Feasts are for the Bahá’ís, and the Bahá’ís exclusively, and no variation from this principle is permitted.

Thus the Guardian feels you should rescind the action taken by your Assembly in opening the Feasts to “near Bahá’ís”, as it is not consistent with the spirit of the administrative order for non-Bahá’ís or near Bahá’ís to attend the 19-Day Feasts, particularly the administrative portion of the Feast.

The Guardian realizes the spirit which animated you in making the suggested proposal, in order that the teaching work might go forward more aggressively; but he feels in the long run it would be detrimental to the Faith, and therefore should be rescinded as indicated above.

The Guardian sends you his loving greetings....

Letter of 8 June 19548 June 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:The beloved Guardian has been greatly pleased with the achievements of the friends throughout the world during the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade. Victories were won in all parts of the world, and on many fronts. The Faith was established in 101 countries of the world, bringing the light of guidance to 229 countries and islands.We now enter the second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade.The Guardian’s message to the Convention has outlined the goals to be achieved during this second phase.One of the important items was the purchase of Hazíratu’l-Quds for future National Spiritual Assemblies. The Guardian feels that immediate steps should be taken to fulfil a part of this project. In all, there are 49 Hazíratu’l-Quds to be purchased—4 already are owned. He feels that during the second year of the Crusade, 17 additional Hazíratu’l-Quds should be purchased. These should not be elaborate structures, but modest houses, which can serve at the present time, as local Hazíratu’l-Quds, but which will be converted into National Hazíratu’l-Quds as soon as the National Assemblies are formed.The Guardian feels that steps should be taken immediately to purchase the Hazíratu’l-Quds in Vienna. A fund should be started so that the friends may contribute to this important project when they wish.The Guardian has been informed that a small property has been procured in Vienna, to serve as a Headquarters. He is anxious to know if this property has been purchased, or is being rented. If it has been purchased, and is an independent property, it of course can serve temporarily as a Hazírá for the local Assembly, and then later be made the National Hazírá. If, on the other hand, the building is being rented, and it is satisfactory, efforts should be made to purchase it. If it cannot be purchased, then some other small property should be bought. The Guardian wishes it clearly understood that a Hazírá must be a piece of land owned by the Bahá’ís, and not a rented piece of property.The Guardian will appreciate advice from you as quickly as possible of the steps being taken to fulfill this important task of the second phase of the Ten-Year Plan. He feels this property should be purchased during the current year....P.S.—The Guardian requests that you inform all the friends that their most important duty at the present time is the fulfillment of the tasks of the Ten-Year Crusade. This calls for the sacrifice of local activities in order that the national and international development of the Faith may go forward uninterruptedly. No local institutions should be started. The National Assembly should see that money is not spent on local centers at this time, and the friends should be encouraged to concentrate on the national and international activities of the Faith.

8 June 1954

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The beloved Guardian has been greatly pleased with the achievements of the friends throughout the world during the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade. Victories were won in all parts of the world, and on many fronts. The Faith was established in 101 countries of the world, bringing the light of guidance to 229 countries and islands.

We now enter the second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade.

The Guardian’s message to the Convention has outlined the goals to be achieved during this second phase.

One of the important items was the purchase of Hazíratu’l-Quds for future National Spiritual Assemblies. The Guardian feels that immediate steps should be taken to fulfil a part of this project. In all, there are 49 Hazíratu’l-Quds to be purchased—4 already are owned. He feels that during the second year of the Crusade, 17 additional Hazíratu’l-Quds should be purchased. These should not be elaborate structures, but modest houses, which can serve at the present time, as local Hazíratu’l-Quds, but which will be converted into National Hazíratu’l-Quds as soon as the National Assemblies are formed.

The Guardian feels that steps should be taken immediately to purchase the Hazíratu’l-Quds in Vienna. A fund should be started so that the friends may contribute to this important project when they wish.

The Guardian has been informed that a small property has been procured in Vienna, to serve as a Headquarters. He is anxious to know if this property has been purchased, or is being rented. If it has been purchased, and is an independent property, it of course can serve temporarily as a Hazírá for the local Assembly, and then later be made the National Hazírá. If, on the other hand, the building is being rented, and it is satisfactory, efforts should be made to purchase it. If it cannot be purchased, then some other small property should be bought. The Guardian wishes it clearly understood that a Hazírá must be a piece of land owned by the Bahá’ís, and not a rented piece of property.

The Guardian will appreciate advice from you as quickly as possible of the steps being taken to fulfill this important task of the second phase of the Ten-Year Plan. He feels this property should be purchased during the current year....

P.S.—The Guardian requests that you inform all the friends that their most important duty at the present time is the fulfillment of the tasks of the Ten-Year Crusade. This calls for the sacrifice of local activities in order that the national and international development of the Faith may go forward uninterruptedly. No local institutions should be started. The National Assembly should see that money is not spent on local centers at this time, and the friends should be encouraged to concentrate on the national and international activities of the Faith.

Letter of 25 June 195425 June 1954Dear Bahá’í Sister:The letters of your Assembly dated June 18, August 11, September 2 (4), 13, October 14, November 9 and 24, 1953, and January 16 (2), February 3, 5 (2), 7, 11, March 7, April 19, May 12 and June 19, 1954, with their enclosures, as well as the material forwarded under separate cover, have all been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.He is sorry that pressure of work prevented him from writing more frequently to the National Spiritual Assemblies, including your own. Indeed, he is beginning to wonder how much longer he can go on attending to the multiplying affairs of the Cause of today, and keeping up correspondence as well.He is very pleased to see that the work in Germany is really going forward at a visibly more rapid rate. The German friends, one of the oldest Communities in Europe, so devoted and loyal, and who have suffered so much during two wars, are beginning at last to see the institutions of their Faith emerging in their native land in a more concrete form than the realm of hope and dreams.The national Hazíratu’l-Quds, which was purchased so shortly after the end of the last world conflagration, has now been followed by the plan for the first Bahá’í Temple on European soil, a truly noble and inspiring undertaking.In this connection he wishes to say that he is very sorry he could not agree to the proposals you sent him so far. As your Assembly is aware, the Bahá’ís all over the world are building up national institutions and purchasing, in various areas, Temple sites, etc. It is only natural that each Assembly should feel justified in making an initial suitable investment for its Temple site or its national Hazíratu’l-Quds. However, the Guardian, to whom all the news comes from all over the world, is forced to face the fact that if your Assembly, the Canadian Assembly, the British Community, the Italian-Swiss Assembly etc. etc. each pays as heavy sums for its Bahá’í Temple site or national headquarters as they propose to in these reports, which they send him, the Bahá’í world would never be able to get out of debt. Desirable as each place is, when considered from a local standpoint, it becomes on an international scale, a program that is financially impossible. That is why he urged your Assembly to drastically curtail the area and the price. He has done the same thing in many other parts of the world. He hopes that you will shortly be able to purchase the land required.There now remains the important consideration of a design for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. It does not matter whether it is executed by a Bahá’í or a non-Bahá’í architect, but the essential thing is that it must be beautiful and dignified. There must be none of this hideous, exaggerated, bizarre style, which one sees in many modern buildings. It is not befitting for our House of Worship. He thinks that you should impress this on any architects wishing to submit drawings. The essentials of the design, as stipulated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are that the building should be nine-sided, and circular in shape. Aside from this, the architect is not restricted in any way in choosing his style of design.Whenever you have a sufficient collection of drawings, he would be pleased to receive them, and give you his advice.A very large building at this time is not necessary, as the expense would overtax our resources too heavily; and the Persian Bahá’ís, who are so much more numerous, will have to, during the coming nine years, build a much larger and more pretentious structure in Ṭihrán, and consequently a more expensive one.Regarding the matter of ...: individual Bahá’ís are always encouraged to travel and teach, and no doubt he has been of much assistance in Germany. The Guardian, however, feels your Assembly was quite right in considering that your limited financial resources should be spent supporting pioneers, rather than a travelling teacher in Germany.The eagerness of the friends to serve, often carries them away, and they forget that a sound sense of business management is also much needed, if we are to harbour our resources and accomplish all our goals.He was delighted to see that so many of the Bahá’ís from Germany were present at the Stockholm Conference, and that they were able to meet with their colleagues from Austria. He hopes that your teaching work in Austria will make marked progress during the present year. The Cause there has been too long neglected, and undoubtedly there is a very fertile field, waiting only to be cultivated, in order to yield a rich harvest.It has indeed been a great blessing to the German Community to receive the visits of so many Hands of the Cause of God from abroad during the past year.He hopes that the auxiliary Board for Europe recently established, will be of great help in the work to be carried out by the administrative bodies throughout Europe.The most important thing is to keep the pioneer territories which have been settled open. There must be no lapse. The friends must be urged to remain at their posts at all costs. They must remember the glorious example of Marion Jack, who recently passed away in Bulgaria, after almost 30 years of devoting her life to teaching the Faith in that country of her choice. As many of you who knew her personally will recall, her health was very bad, as far back as 1935, when she attended the Esslingen Summer School. It certainly never improved. She was bombed, evacuated, she slept in some drafty, cold room in a school in the country, was often, we have reason to believe, almost hungry, and insufficiently clad after the war, due to difficulties in getting money through to her in an Soviet-dominated territory. She never mastered the language, and was without friends of her own country; and yet, she persevered, and, in spite of even the Guardian’s pleas that she leave the country during the worst years of the war, remained at her post, and won for herself imperishable fame, her resting-place becoming a shrine in Bulgaria, which the people of that country will increasingly honour and cherish.It is to this glorious soul that the present generation of pioneers must look for inspiration and example.He is very happy that the German Bahá’ís have been able to settle in Crete and the Frisian Islands, a great step forward, when one realizes how much their activities have been circumscribed, during the past thirty years, by circumstances over which they had no control.He thanks you for sending him ten copies of each of your new publications, and would like you to continue doing so, as any new literature comes out.So far he has not received any copies of “God Passes By” in German, but is hoping to do so.He appreciates very much the sentiments you expressed to him in connection with the loss of our dear Hands of the Cause, Mr. Schopflocher and Mrs. Baker. The friends everywhere must try and make up for the work these devoted and consecrated souls would have done, had they not passed to the Abhá Kingdom. In this way they can best express their admiration and gratitude.He is very happy to see that your National Convention has been so successful, and that the influence of the future Temple is already being felt, and attracting the hearts of the believers, including many previously inactive. It shows what these Bahá’í institutions are going to do as they develop.You may be sure that he remembers all the members of your Assembly in his loving prayers in the holy Shrines, and supplicates that the German and Austrian Bahá’í Communities may exceed all their past records of achievement during this present Bahá’í year....[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-workers:The achievements of the German and Austrian Bahá’í communities, since the launching of the Ten-Year Global Crusade, embarked upon by the followers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, mark a notable advancement in the progress and consolidation of the Faith in the heart of the European continent. The weighty and historic task so valiantly shouldered by both of these communities has been splendidly initiated, and must, as the Plan unfolds, be prosecuted with increasing vigilance, unswerving resolve, whole-hearted consecration, complete unity, and exemplary steadfastness.The greatest, most pressing and sacred enterprise, challenging the spirit and resources of all the members of both of these communities—the purchase of the land, for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Europe and the prompt initiation of measures for its construction—demands, during this present phase of the Crusade, the utmost concentration of effort, and the most sublime sacrifice on the part of the German and Austrian believers—an effort and sacrifice in which their brethren, in both the East, and the West, will gladly participate, as a token of their appreciation of the historic significance of this mighty institution destined to be firmly established and radiate its beneficent influence in the very heart of that continent.The purchase of the site must be expedited, the selection of a befitting design for so glorious an edifice must be made with as little delay as possible, and the preliminary steps for the excavation of the foundations must be undertaken with care, promptitude and determination.The rise of this symbol and harbinger of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, as yet in the embryonic stage of its development, amidst the confusion, the anxieties, the rivalries and the recurrent crises that mark the decline of a moribund civilization, will, no doubt, lend a tremendous impetus to the onward march of the Faith in all the continents of the Globe, and will, more than any other single act, direct the attention of the spiritually impoverished, the economically afflicted, the socially disturbed, and the morally disoriented masses of a sorely tried continent to its nascent institutions.Parallel with these measures, destined to contribute so effectively to the rise and establishment of the Administrative Order of the Faith in both Germany and Austria, a systematic effort must be exerted by the national elected representatives of the Bahá’í communities in these two countries to multiply, as speedily as possible, the assemblies, groups and isolated centres, through a wider dispersal on the part of the believers, and the launching of an intensive campaign of teaching designed to increase, swiftly and steadily the number of the active supporters of the Faith.The pioneers who have so valiantly settled in the virgin areas assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria, must, however great the sacrifice, safeguard the prizes so laboriously won, and strive, by every means in their power, to consolidate, through extensive teaching work, their splendid and unforgettable achievements.While this double process of multiplication of Bahá’í centres, and development of the newly opened areas, is being assiduously carried out, a no less notable progress must be made in the consolidation of these two communities, through the initiation of local incorporations which will pave the way for the establishment of local Bahá’í endowments, and will serve to reinforce the foundations of all local Bahá’í communities.The establishment of a national Hazíratu’l-Quds in the capital city of Austria, as well as of national endowments in that country—measures that will herald the formation of an independent National Spiritual Assembly, and the erection of yet another pillar of the Universal House of Justice, in the heart of the European continent—should be regarded as the paramount objectives of this second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade which we are now entering.No less vital and urgent is the task of establishing, in the course of this second stage in the unfoldment of this world spiritual Crusade, of a Bahá’í Publishing Trust, similar, in its essentials, to the one already functioning in the British Isles, and of lending a fresh impetus to the translation, the publication and dissemination of Bahá’í literature in the German language—a task which will greatly accelerate the all-important teaching work, and enhance the prestige of the Faith, and promote the vital interests of its institutions.The Community of the German and Austrian believers, the recipient of such signal honours from the Center of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant in the past; born and nurtured in its infancy under His fostering care in the course of the concluding decades of the Apostolic Age of the Faith; eminently successful in laying the foundations of its Administrative Order in the years immediately following His Ascension; emerging, purified and strengthened, from the fire of a severe and prolonged ordeal after the conclusion of the second world war; demonstrating its capacity and resilience through the initiation and prosecution of a carefully designed Plan, despite the exhaustion of a terrible and harrowing conflict that endangered its life and shook it to its foundations,—such a community has now risen to assume its rightful place in the world-encompassing Crusade launched by the followers of Bahá’u’lláh; has splendidly initiated its Ten-Year Plan through the inauguration of its glorious Mission in foreign fields, and is now forging ahead, with magnificent courage, resolution, thoroughness, and fidelity, in its endeavour to win fresh laurels in the course of this second and newly opened stage in the unfoldment of the Plan to which it stands committed.May the vision of its members remain undimmed, their resolution never flag, their steps never falter. May they, as the years go by, demonstrate afresh the solidity of their faith, the nobility of their motives, the sublimity of their devotion, the tenacity of their resolution, in the service of a Faith they have served so devotedly in the past and which they will, undoubtedly, promote with unabated zeal, in the future,Your true brother,Shoghi

25 June 1954

Dear Bahá’í Sister:

The letters of your Assembly dated June 18, August 11, September 2 (4), 13, October 14, November 9 and 24, 1953, and January 16 (2), February 3, 5 (2), 7, 11, March 7, April 19, May 12 and June 19, 1954, with their enclosures, as well as the material forwarded under separate cover, have all been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.

He is sorry that pressure of work prevented him from writing more frequently to the National Spiritual Assemblies, including your own. Indeed, he is beginning to wonder how much longer he can go on attending to the multiplying affairs of the Cause of today, and keeping up correspondence as well.

He is very pleased to see that the work in Germany is really going forward at a visibly more rapid rate. The German friends, one of the oldest Communities in Europe, so devoted and loyal, and who have suffered so much during two wars, are beginning at last to see the institutions of their Faith emerging in their native land in a more concrete form than the realm of hope and dreams.

The national Hazíratu’l-Quds, which was purchased so shortly after the end of the last world conflagration, has now been followed by the plan for the first Bahá’í Temple on European soil, a truly noble and inspiring undertaking.

In this connection he wishes to say that he is very sorry he could not agree to the proposals you sent him so far. As your Assembly is aware, the Bahá’ís all over the world are building up national institutions and purchasing, in various areas, Temple sites, etc. It is only natural that each Assembly should feel justified in making an initial suitable investment for its Temple site or its national Hazíratu’l-Quds. However, the Guardian, to whom all the news comes from all over the world, is forced to face the fact that if your Assembly, the Canadian Assembly, the British Community, the Italian-Swiss Assembly etc. etc. each pays as heavy sums for its Bahá’í Temple site or national headquarters as they propose to in these reports, which they send him, the Bahá’í world would never be able to get out of debt. Desirable as each place is, when considered from a local standpoint, it becomes on an international scale, a program that is financially impossible. That is why he urged your Assembly to drastically curtail the area and the price. He has done the same thing in many other parts of the world. He hopes that you will shortly be able to purchase the land required.

There now remains the important consideration of a design for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. It does not matter whether it is executed by a Bahá’í or a non-Bahá’í architect, but the essential thing is that it must be beautiful and dignified. There must be none of this hideous, exaggerated, bizarre style, which one sees in many modern buildings. It is not befitting for our House of Worship. He thinks that you should impress this on any architects wishing to submit drawings. The essentials of the design, as stipulated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are that the building should be nine-sided, and circular in shape. Aside from this, the architect is not restricted in any way in choosing his style of design.

Whenever you have a sufficient collection of drawings, he would be pleased to receive them, and give you his advice.

A very large building at this time is not necessary, as the expense would overtax our resources too heavily; and the Persian Bahá’ís, who are so much more numerous, will have to, during the coming nine years, build a much larger and more pretentious structure in Ṭihrán, and consequently a more expensive one.

Regarding the matter of ...: individual Bahá’ís are always encouraged to travel and teach, and no doubt he has been of much assistance in Germany. The Guardian, however, feels your Assembly was quite right in considering that your limited financial resources should be spent supporting pioneers, rather than a travelling teacher in Germany.

The eagerness of the friends to serve, often carries them away, and they forget that a sound sense of business management is also much needed, if we are to harbour our resources and accomplish all our goals.

He was delighted to see that so many of the Bahá’ís from Germany were present at the Stockholm Conference, and that they were able to meet with their colleagues from Austria. He hopes that your teaching work in Austria will make marked progress during the present year. The Cause there has been too long neglected, and undoubtedly there is a very fertile field, waiting only to be cultivated, in order to yield a rich harvest.

It has indeed been a great blessing to the German Community to receive the visits of so many Hands of the Cause of God from abroad during the past year.

He hopes that the auxiliary Board for Europe recently established, will be of great help in the work to be carried out by the administrative bodies throughout Europe.

The most important thing is to keep the pioneer territories which have been settled open. There must be no lapse. The friends must be urged to remain at their posts at all costs. They must remember the glorious example of Marion Jack, who recently passed away in Bulgaria, after almost 30 years of devoting her life to teaching the Faith in that country of her choice. As many of you who knew her personally will recall, her health was very bad, as far back as 1935, when she attended the Esslingen Summer School. It certainly never improved. She was bombed, evacuated, she slept in some drafty, cold room in a school in the country, was often, we have reason to believe, almost hungry, and insufficiently clad after the war, due to difficulties in getting money through to her in an Soviet-dominated territory. She never mastered the language, and was without friends of her own country; and yet, she persevered, and, in spite of even the Guardian’s pleas that she leave the country during the worst years of the war, remained at her post, and won for herself imperishable fame, her resting-place becoming a shrine in Bulgaria, which the people of that country will increasingly honour and cherish.

It is to this glorious soul that the present generation of pioneers must look for inspiration and example.

He is very happy that the German Bahá’ís have been able to settle in Crete and the Frisian Islands, a great step forward, when one realizes how much their activities have been circumscribed, during the past thirty years, by circumstances over which they had no control.

He thanks you for sending him ten copies of each of your new publications, and would like you to continue doing so, as any new literature comes out.

So far he has not received any copies of “God Passes By” in German, but is hoping to do so.

He appreciates very much the sentiments you expressed to him in connection with the loss of our dear Hands of the Cause, Mr. Schopflocher and Mrs. Baker. The friends everywhere must try and make up for the work these devoted and consecrated souls would have done, had they not passed to the Abhá Kingdom. In this way they can best express their admiration and gratitude.

He is very happy to see that your National Convention has been so successful, and that the influence of the future Temple is already being felt, and attracting the hearts of the believers, including many previously inactive. It shows what these Bahá’í institutions are going to do as they develop.

You may be sure that he remembers all the members of your Assembly in his loving prayers in the holy Shrines, and supplicates that the German and Austrian Bahá’í Communities may exceed all their past records of achievement during this present Bahá’í year....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers:

The achievements of the German and Austrian Bahá’í communities, since the launching of the Ten-Year Global Crusade, embarked upon by the followers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, mark a notable advancement in the progress and consolidation of the Faith in the heart of the European continent. The weighty and historic task so valiantly shouldered by both of these communities has been splendidly initiated, and must, as the Plan unfolds, be prosecuted with increasing vigilance, unswerving resolve, whole-hearted consecration, complete unity, and exemplary steadfastness.

The greatest, most pressing and sacred enterprise, challenging the spirit and resources of all the members of both of these communities—the purchase of the land, for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Europe and the prompt initiation of measures for its construction—demands, during this present phase of the Crusade, the utmost concentration of effort, and the most sublime sacrifice on the part of the German and Austrian believers—an effort and sacrifice in which their brethren, in both the East, and the West, will gladly participate, as a token of their appreciation of the historic significance of this mighty institution destined to be firmly established and radiate its beneficent influence in the very heart of that continent.

The purchase of the site must be expedited, the selection of a befitting design for so glorious an edifice must be made with as little delay as possible, and the preliminary steps for the excavation of the foundations must be undertaken with care, promptitude and determination.

The rise of this symbol and harbinger of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, as yet in the embryonic stage of its development, amidst the confusion, the anxieties, the rivalries and the recurrent crises that mark the decline of a moribund civilization, will, no doubt, lend a tremendous impetus to the onward march of the Faith in all the continents of the Globe, and will, more than any other single act, direct the attention of the spiritually impoverished, the economically afflicted, the socially disturbed, and the morally disoriented masses of a sorely tried continent to its nascent institutions.

Parallel with these measures, destined to contribute so effectively to the rise and establishment of the Administrative Order of the Faith in both Germany and Austria, a systematic effort must be exerted by the national elected representatives of the Bahá’í communities in these two countries to multiply, as speedily as possible, the assemblies, groups and isolated centres, through a wider dispersal on the part of the believers, and the launching of an intensive campaign of teaching designed to increase, swiftly and steadily the number of the active supporters of the Faith.

The pioneers who have so valiantly settled in the virgin areas assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria, must, however great the sacrifice, safeguard the prizes so laboriously won, and strive, by every means in their power, to consolidate, through extensive teaching work, their splendid and unforgettable achievements.

While this double process of multiplication of Bahá’í centres, and development of the newly opened areas, is being assiduously carried out, a no less notable progress must be made in the consolidation of these two communities, through the initiation of local incorporations which will pave the way for the establishment of local Bahá’í endowments, and will serve to reinforce the foundations of all local Bahá’í communities.

The establishment of a national Hazíratu’l-Quds in the capital city of Austria, as well as of national endowments in that country—measures that will herald the formation of an independent National Spiritual Assembly, and the erection of yet another pillar of the Universal House of Justice, in the heart of the European continent—should be regarded as the paramount objectives of this second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade which we are now entering.

No less vital and urgent is the task of establishing, in the course of this second stage in the unfoldment of this world spiritual Crusade, of a Bahá’í Publishing Trust, similar, in its essentials, to the one already functioning in the British Isles, and of lending a fresh impetus to the translation, the publication and dissemination of Bahá’í literature in the German language—a task which will greatly accelerate the all-important teaching work, and enhance the prestige of the Faith, and promote the vital interests of its institutions.

The Community of the German and Austrian believers, the recipient of such signal honours from the Center of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant in the past; born and nurtured in its infancy under His fostering care in the course of the concluding decades of the Apostolic Age of the Faith; eminently successful in laying the foundations of its Administrative Order in the years immediately following His Ascension; emerging, purified and strengthened, from the fire of a severe and prolonged ordeal after the conclusion of the second world war; demonstrating its capacity and resilience through the initiation and prosecution of a carefully designed Plan, despite the exhaustion of a terrible and harrowing conflict that endangered its life and shook it to its foundations,—such a community has now risen to assume its rightful place in the world-encompassing Crusade launched by the followers of Bahá’u’lláh; has splendidly initiated its Ten-Year Plan through the inauguration of its glorious Mission in foreign fields, and is now forging ahead, with magnificent courage, resolution, thoroughness, and fidelity, in its endeavour to win fresh laurels in the course of this second and newly opened stage in the unfoldment of the Plan to which it stands committed.

May the vision of its members remain undimmed, their resolution never flag, their steps never falter. May they, as the years go by, demonstrate afresh the solidity of their faith, the nobility of their motives, the sublimity of their devotion, the tenacity of their resolution, in the service of a Faith they have served so devotedly in the past and which they will, undoubtedly, promote with unabated zeal, in the future,

Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 28 June 195428 June 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:Your loving letter of June 9th has come to hand, telling of the activities of the friends in connection with the development of the teaching work in Germany and Austria, as well as in the pioneering fields.So far as the questions you ask are concerned, the following will answer question Number 1, as this is a matter which the Guardian has elucidated.The direction of the pioneers is entirely in the hands of the National Assemblies under whom they are serving. The Guardian simply enunciates the principle, and then it is up to the National Assemblies to apply that principle. The principle is that pioneers entering the pioneer field should realize that they are going there to represent the Cause, in fact, to be the Cause.Their minds and their hearts should be centered in their new tasks and in their new environment. They should not be thinking of when they can return home, or when they can go somewhere else. Only when the Faith is firmly established should they give any thought to moving, and then, only in consultation with the National Assembly.So far as pioneers taking a holiday is concerned, that is entirely in the hands of the National Assembly. You can appreciate that all of this depends upon location, and to a certain extent, funds. If a person feels they need a little change for a week or two, that of course is something which should be handled in each case.The Guardian does not wish to make any hard and fast rules on any of these matters.I will write you again in response to the other questions when the Guardian has given his advice....

28 June 1954

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

Your loving letter of June 9th has come to hand, telling of the activities of the friends in connection with the development of the teaching work in Germany and Austria, as well as in the pioneering fields.

So far as the questions you ask are concerned, the following will answer question Number 1, as this is a matter which the Guardian has elucidated.

The direction of the pioneers is entirely in the hands of the National Assemblies under whom they are serving. The Guardian simply enunciates the principle, and then it is up to the National Assemblies to apply that principle. The principle is that pioneers entering the pioneer field should realize that they are going there to represent the Cause, in fact, to be the Cause.

Their minds and their hearts should be centered in their new tasks and in their new environment. They should not be thinking of when they can return home, or when they can go somewhere else. Only when the Faith is firmly established should they give any thought to moving, and then, only in consultation with the National Assembly.

So far as pioneers taking a holiday is concerned, that is entirely in the hands of the National Assembly. You can appreciate that all of this depends upon location, and to a certain extent, funds. If a person feels they need a little change for a week or two, that of course is something which should be handled in each case.

The Guardian does not wish to make any hard and fast rules on any of these matters.

I will write you again in response to the other questions when the Guardian has given his advice....

Letter of 23 July 195423 July 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:Will you please refer to your letter of June 9th and my acknowledgment of June 28th, in which you raise certain questions. The beloved Guardian has directed me to give you the answers as follows:Number 2: He feels your plan of giving individuals, who became Bahá’ís in France, but who have not yet given up their church affiliation, one year in which to do so, is satisfactory.Number 3: Up to the age of 15 years, children are under the direction of their parents. At the age of 15, they may declare their Faith as a conviction, and be registered as Bahá’í youth, whether the parents are Bahá’ís or not. Children under the age of 15, of Bahá’í parents, who wish to attend meetings and associate with the friends as Bahá’ís may do so. If non-Bahá’í parents permit a child of less than 15 to attend Bahá’í meetings, and in fact, to be a Bahá’í, this is likewise permissible.Number 4: The beloved Guardian instructs that whenever an Assembly loses some members between the Ridván periods, bringing the membership to less than 9, the Assembly reverts immediately to Group status. However, when they get a sufficient number of new members to reach 9, then they immediately become an Assembly again.The beloved Guardian greatly values your devoted services to the Faith, and the manner in which you are undertaking the heavy responsibilities of propagating the Faith, as well as consolidating its institutions.He assures you of his prayers in your behalf, and sends you his loving greetings....

23 July 1954

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

Will you please refer to your letter of June 9th and my acknowledgment of June 28th, in which you raise certain questions. The beloved Guardian has directed me to give you the answers as follows:

Number 2: He feels your plan of giving individuals, who became Bahá’ís in France, but who have not yet given up their church affiliation, one year in which to do so, is satisfactory.

Number 3: Up to the age of 15 years, children are under the direction of their parents. At the age of 15, they may declare their Faith as a conviction, and be registered as Bahá’í youth, whether the parents are Bahá’ís or not. Children under the age of 15, of Bahá’í parents, who wish to attend meetings and associate with the friends as Bahá’ís may do so. If non-Bahá’í parents permit a child of less than 15 to attend Bahá’í meetings, and in fact, to be a Bahá’í, this is likewise permissible.

Number 4: The beloved Guardian instructs that whenever an Assembly loses some members between the Ridván periods, bringing the membership to less than 9, the Assembly reverts immediately to Group status. However, when they get a sufficient number of new members to reach 9, then they immediately become an Assembly again.

The beloved Guardian greatly values your devoted services to the Faith, and the manner in which you are undertaking the heavy responsibilities of propagating the Faith, as well as consolidating its institutions.

He assures you of his prayers in your behalf, and sends you his loving greetings....

Letter of 27 September 1954 (Summer School)27 September 1954 (Summer School)Dear Bahá’í Friends:The note of loving greeting, which was signed by all those present at the Summer School, has been received by the beloved Guardian, and this is just a brief note of acknowledgment on his behalf.He was very happy to see that it was possible for so many of the friends to be present, and that you had the bounty of having the favored Hand of the Cause, Dr. Mühlschlegel, with you. He feels sure such a gathering must have released new strength and zeal; and that each one will now determine to double or even treble his past efforts during the second year of this historic Ten-Year Crusade.He sends you all his loving greetings....[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty bless your efforts, aid you to promote, at all times, the vital interests of His Faith, and contribute continually to the multiplication and consolidation of its nascent and divinely appointed institutions,Your true brother,Shoghi

27 September 1954 (Summer School)

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

The note of loving greeting, which was signed by all those present at the Summer School, has been received by the beloved Guardian, and this is just a brief note of acknowledgment on his behalf.

He was very happy to see that it was possible for so many of the friends to be present, and that you had the bounty of having the favored Hand of the Cause, Dr. Mühlschlegel, with you. He feels sure such a gathering must have released new strength and zeal; and that each one will now determine to double or even treble his past efforts during the second year of this historic Ten-Year Crusade.

He sends you all his loving greetings....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless your efforts, aid you to promote, at all times, the vital interests of His Faith, and contribute continually to the multiplication and consolidation of its nascent and divinely appointed institutions,

Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 18 November 195418 November 1954Dear Bahá’í Sister:This will acknowledge receipt of your kind letter of November 9th, advising that you have received the gift of Three Thousand Dollars, which the beloved Guardian has sent for your Temple fund.I will inform the Guardian of your deep appreciation of his gift.So far as the establishment of the Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria is concerned, there is nothing for you to do in connection therewith at this time. This matter will be handled here in the Holy Land. When it is consummated, it may be necessary and advisable for your National Assembly to pass certain resolutions in connection with it, but I will inform you about this in due course.At the moment it does not seem propitious for the establishment of further Israel Branches at this time; and the Guardian has therefore instructed that this matter be delayed a little longer. You may be sure however it will be taken care of in due course.With loving greetings to you and all the members of the National Assembly....

18 November 1954

Dear Bahá’í Sister:

This will acknowledge receipt of your kind letter of November 9th, advising that you have received the gift of Three Thousand Dollars, which the beloved Guardian has sent for your Temple fund.

I will inform the Guardian of your deep appreciation of his gift.

So far as the establishment of the Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria is concerned, there is nothing for you to do in connection therewith at this time. This matter will be handled here in the Holy Land. When it is consummated, it may be necessary and advisable for your National Assembly to pass certain resolutions in connection with it, but I will inform you about this in due course.

At the moment it does not seem propitious for the establishment of further Israel Branches at this time; and the Guardian has therefore instructed that this matter be delayed a little longer. You may be sure however it will be taken care of in due course.

With loving greetings to you and all the members of the National Assembly....

Letter of 12 December 195412 December 1954Dear Bahá’í Friends:Your letter of November 26th was received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.He is very happy to see the spirit of love and unity animating you, because without this no work can go forward in the Cause of God. Personal differences of opinion, of character etc. must melt away in the love of the friends for Bahá’u’lláh, and their desire to serve His Cause.He hopes that in the near future the Vienna Community will have its Hazíratu’l-Quds, to which he attaches the greatest importance, as it will be the visible sign of the firm foundation on which that Community stands.He will pray for you all, and for the rapid spread of the Faith through your efforts....[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty bless your meritorious efforts, reward you abundantly for your valued and constant services, and enable you to achieve great and memorable victories in the days to come,Your true brother,Shoghi

12 December 1954

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

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

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

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

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

[From the Guardian:]

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

Your true brother,Shoghi

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