Letter of 21 February 1934

Letter of 21 February 193421 February 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel:At the instructions of the Guardian I am writing these few lines, requesting you to contribute an article in German for publication in the forthcoming issue of the “Bahá’í World”.In view of the fact that the Biennial is an international Bahá’í organ, Shoghi Effendi feels that it would be appropriate and in full consonance with its nature and purpose to further widen its scope by publishing in it, from time to time, articles in various important languages which are of sufficient use among the friends. This would greatly enhance the nature and render effective the circulation of the “Bahá’í World” by enabling non-English speaking believers to better acquaint themselves with some of its major contents.Two articles in French have already been contributed to this end. One of them is from the pen of a newly-converted and capable believer from Paris, a Princess, and the other is from a certain professor connected with the Sofia University. Though not officially recognized as a Bahá’í, yet he is very sympathetic to the Cause.The Guardian hopes, therefore, that you will be kind enough to respond to his request. He feels certain that our German believers will greatly appreciate your contribution, and will be glad to witness that one of their members is taking such an active part in representing them in the preparation of this international Bahá’í record. You need not write too detailed an article, and you can choose any subject you wish, provided it agrees on every point with the spirit as well as with the form of the Teachings of the Faith....P.S. The Guardian can wait till the end of April for your article. Will you please send it directly to his address and not to America?Letter of 8 May 19348 May 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel:I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter dated Apr. 29th, as well as for the enclosed article and poems in German from your pen which you have kindly contributed to the “Bahá’í World”. He is planning to have them published in the forthcoming issue of the Biennial. The German believers will, it is hoped, greatly enjoy reading them, and will be certainly encouraged to contribute more frequently in the future towards the publication of so important and so significant a record.With the renewed assurance of the Guardian’s good wishes and of his supplications for the expansion of your Bahá’í activities...[From the Guardian:]With the assurance of my deepfelt appreciation of your prompt response, and of my continued prayers for your welfare and success,your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 30 July 193430 July 1934Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your letter of June 19th written on your behalf by Miss Köstlin has been received, and its contents as well as the accompanying documents and notes have been carefully read by the Guardian. He wishes me to thank you for them all, and to convey to you his deepfelt appreciation of your painstaking labours for the consolidation of the administration in your community. It gives him real pleasure to learn of the spirit with which you are toiling for the attainment of this supreme objective, and he is fervently praying for your guidance and assistance that you may speedily and effectively attain the goal of your heart’s desire.In view of the fact that there are no competent and fully reliable persons here to undertake for him any translations from German, the Guardian would prefer that henceforth you should send him a translation of the minutes of your meetings into English, so that he may be in a position to read them without any difficulty. He fully realizes the difficulties which such a rendering would entail, and for this he wishes to assure you of his abiding appreciation and of his deepfelt gratitude.In closing may I also express his hope for the success of your next summer school. From various communications and reports recently received from the friends, he gathers that a large number of believers both from Germany and abroad are planning to attend the summer classes. May such a gathering prove to be the right medium for bringing the German believers closer than ever, and for fostering among them the spirit of initiative, of service and of selfless and wholehearted cooperation in the path of service to the Faith....[From the Guardian:]Dear and precious co-workers:The message you have sent me is indeed most welcome. It has filled my heart with joy and thanksgiving. I am continually urging the friends and pilgrims to visit the German Bahá’í centres and particularly the Esslingen Summer School, as I attach the greatest importance to this vital national institution. I will continue to pray for your success from the depths of my heart.Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 8 September 1934 (Summer School)8 September 1934 (Summer School)Dear Friends and co-workers,On behalf of the Guardian I wish to thank you for your deeply-appreciated message of August 11th which conveyed the gratifying news of the successful conclusion of the meetings and classes held at the annual Bahá’í summer school at Esslingen. He was deeply impressed by the large number of the believers who have attended these gatherings, and particularly by the fact that they were representative of so many different communities both in Germany and abroad. It is his deeply-cherished and long-wished hope that these annual meetings will in the next few years develop into an important center for the teaching and training of Bahá’í teachers, and that through them the knowledge of the Cause will gain an increasing ground throughout Germany and in the neighbouring countries and regions. He would urge each and every one of you to make an effort to attend as regularly and as whole-heartedly as you can the future classes and meetings at Esslingen, and to advise your friends to do the same, so that through the collective and continued labours of you all these annual gatherings may develop both in their scope and in their influence.The Guardian is ardently supplicating on behalf of you all, and is praying that Bahá’u’lláh may continue to bless, enrich and widen the scope of your labours for the promotion and consolidation of the Faith in your respective communities. With his warmest greetings to you all...[From the Guardian:]Dearly-beloved co-workers:Your message, which I regard as a compelling evidence of the regenerative power and irresistible march of the Cause of God has brought immense joy to my heart. The convocation of such a representative gathering at such a historic spot, and on the morrow of the unprecedented trials which, through the mysterious dispensations of Providence have so severely afflicted the German believers, is indeed a historic event that every well-wisher of the Cause should heartily and joyously welcome. A splendid beginning has been made. I pray that as a result of the unshakable faith and the persistent endeavours of the German believers this institution may grow in effectiveness and scope and lend a mighty impetus to the spread of the Cause in your promising country.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 25 September 193425 September 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,I am directed by the Guardian to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated August 29th, and to express his appreciation of your highly-valued efforts for the translation of the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” into German. He hopes that copies of this precious tablet will soon be made available to all the friends, and that through its study their knowledge of the Teachings will be deepened, and their zeal for their spread stimulated and sustained.The term “afnán” means literally small branch, and refers to the relatives of the Báb, both men and women. As the Báb’s only son died while in infancy, the former had no direct descendants. The “afnán” are, therefore, all indirectly related to the Báb.As to “aghsán”, it also means branch. But it is a bigger branch than “afnán”. It refers to Bahá’u’lláh’s descendants.The “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” is, as you know, Bahá’u’lláh’s “Book of Covenant”. It is entirely written in His own handwriting. And in the light of the objections raised by some of the believers concerning the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, it is highly significant to note that this Book of Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh bears neither signature, nor seal, nor any date. It was shown to the believers, and was read in their presence nine days after Bahá’u’lláh’s ascension. The manuscript was in the possession of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá all through His ministry, and after His passing it was found enclosed in His own will. These two precious documents, namely the book of Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have both been carefully preserved and are now in the possession of the Guardian....[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-worker:I greatly value these fresh evidences of your continued, your intelligent and most helpful labours for a better understanding and a wider diffusion of the essentials and fundamentals of our beloved Faith.You are indeed a pillar of the Administrative Order, which, despite the storms and tests of recent years, is rearing its head in the heart of your beloved and promising country. Persevere, be happy and confident. I will continue to pray for you from the depths of my heart.Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 3 November 19343 November 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has received and deeply appreciated your message dated October 8th, and he has directed me to thank you for it.He is, indeed, gratified to learn of your projected visit to the Holy Land, and wishes me to hasten in extending to Mrs. Mühlschlegel and yourself a most hearty welcome.It is his sincere and much-cherished hope that this pilgrimage will, in addition to its manifold spiritual blessings, give you a full opportunity to discuss with him in detail about the conditions of the Cause in Germany, and particularly as to the ways and means whereby the friends can best extend and consolidate the foundations of the Administration throughout that country. You will be welcome anytime in February or March—which time seems to be the best for visiting Palestine.With the renewed assurance of Shoghi Effendi’s best wishes and of his prayers on your behalf, and with his hearty greetings to you and family,...[From the Guardian:]With the renewed assurance of my love, my admiration and prayers for you and extending to you both a warm welcome,Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 5 November 19345 November 1934Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your message of October 20th addressed to the Guardian is just at hand. He has read it with deep interest, and was profoundly touched by the expressions of love and devotion which it contained. He wishes me to thank you for it, and to reciprocate, fully and to each and every one of you, the warm greetings and good wishes which you have been moved to extend to him on the occasion to the celebration of the birthday of the Báb.He wishes me also to take this opportunity for conveying to you all his deepfelt appreciation of your labours for the study and the spread of the Cause in Esslingen. He hopes and prays that your community may, in the years to come, play an increasingly vital rôle in promoting the Message throughout Germany, and particularly in strengthening the foundations of the Administration in that land. Your centre is one of the oldest and best we have in Germany, and has tremendous possibilities. You should, therefore, feel confident and to strenuously toil, so that your community may develop both in number, in strength and in influence.With the renewed assurance of the Guardian’s best wishes and of his supplications on behalf of you all,...[From the Guardian:]Dearly-beloved co-workers:I am deeply grateful to you for the many and repeated evidences of your splendid devotion and firm determination to serve the best interests of our glorious Faith. The work in which you are engaged is dear and near to my heart. My prayers are always with you. Persevere in your labours and never feel discouraged, however great the obstacles that may stand in your way. The Beloved is surely watching over you. Be happy and confident.Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 10 January 193510 January 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has received your letter of the first instant and he wishes me to thank you for it.In regard to your visit to the Holy Shrines, he is sorry indeed that your coming has been delayed but hopes nevertheless that it will materialize very soon, and that the obstacles standing at present in your way will be completely removed, enabling you thereby to carry out your plan in its entirety. He is fervently praying for your assistance and success in this connection.With reference to the decision passed by your N.S.A. to publish in booklet form certain of the important writings revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and the Master, Shoghi Effendi wishes you to express to the National Assembly his full approval of their plan. He feels, indeed, that the time has come for the German believers to acquire a thorough knowledge as well as a full understanding of such important Tablets as Bahá’u’lláh’s “Book of Covenant” and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament, both of which constitute the very bedrock upon which the entire administrative system of the Faith has been raised and established. As to the “Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh” it also constitutes an invaluable supplement to these afore-mentioned Tablets. In connection with the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd”, the Guardian thinks it preferable that it should be published in a separate booklet, and that the “Tablet of the Branch” and the “Lawḥ-i-Aqdas”, both of which have been rather poorly translated from the original, should not be included in it.As to the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the N.S.A., he wishes to re-emphasize the importance of your Assembly’s adhering to the exact wording of the text of the constitution adopted by the American N.S.A. which, as he has repeatedly stated, constitutes a model for all national Bahá’í constitutions. Anything not specifically mentioned in this national charter is left to the full discretion of every N.S.A. inasmuch as it constitutes a matter of secondary importance. In fundamentals, however, strict conformity should be maintained throughout the Bahá’í world, and to this category belong all the principles, laws and regulations set down in the text of the national constitution. As an example of the loyalty with which the friends are following this principle the Guardian is enclosing a copy of the national constitution of the Bahá’ís of India and Burma which, with the exception of the Article VIII which is now being amended, conforms in every detail to the text of the constitution of the American N.S.A.With his loving greetings to you and all the friends,...[From the Guardian:]With the renewed assurance of my loving prayers for you and of my deepfelt appreciation of your magnificent labours in the Divine vineyard.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 4 February 19354 February 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has duly received your letter of the 29th of January last, and has carefully noted the points which you had raised in connection with certain Bahá’í administrative regulations and principles governing the election of local and national assemblies.First, he wishes me to express the hope that your next National Assembly meeting may be fully guided in its deliberations on the various issues confronting it at present, and also to assure you, as well as your co-workers in that body, of his prayers for the success of your efforts in this connection.Now, as regards the number of delegates at the annual convention of the German friends, the Guardian fully approves of the practice which your N.S.A. has thus far adopted and enforced, namely to have 19 delegates instead of 95. This, of course, is the only solution possible for the present, in view of the limited number of the declared believers in Germany.As to the practice of nomination in Bahá’í elections, this the Guardian firmly believes to be in fundamental disaccord with the spirit which should animate and direct all elections held by the Bahá’ís, be they of a local or national character and importance. It is, indeed, the absence of such a practice that constitutes the distinguishing feature and the marked superiority of the Bahá’í electoral methods over those commonly associated with political parties and factions. The practice of nomination being thus contrary to the spirit of Bahá’í Administration should be totally discarded by all the friends. For otherwise the freedom of the Bahá’í elector in choosing the members of any Bahá’í assembly will be seriously endangered, leaving the way open for the domination of personalities. Not only that; but the mere act of nomination—leads eventually to the formation of parties—a thing which is totally alien to the spirit of the Cause.In addition to these serious dangers, the practice of nomination has the great disadvantage of killing in the believer the spirit of initiative, and of self-development. Bahá’í electoral procedures and methods have, indeed, for one of their essential purposes the development in every believer of the spirit of responsibility. By emphasizing the necessity of maintaining his fully freedom in the elections, they make it incumbent upon him to become an active and well-informed member of the Bahá’í community in which he lives. To be able to make a wise choice at the election time, it is necessary for him to be in close and continued contact with all local activities, be they teaching, administrative or otherwise, and to fully and whole-heartedly participate in the affairs of the local as well as national committees and assemblies in his country. It is only in this way that a believer can develop a true social consciousness and acquire a true sense of responsibility in matters affecting the interests of the Cause. Bahá’í community life thus makes it a duty for every loyal and faithful believer to become an intelligent, well-informed and responsible elector, and also gives him the opportunity of raising himself to such a station. And since the practice of nomination hinders the development of such qualities in the believer, and in addition leads to corruption and partisanship, it has to be entirely discarded in all Bahá’í elections.In connection with this, the Guardian wishes to draw your Assembly’s attention to the necessity of adopting the system of plurality voting rather than that of absolute majority voting. For the latter, by making the repetition of elections a necessity, causes, though indirectly, much pressure to bear upon the person of the elector. The Bahá’í elector, as already emphasized, should be given full freedom in his choice. Anything, therefore, which can in the least interfere with such a freedom should be considered as disastrous and hence should be completely wiped out. In all elections, it is always difficult, that more than a few individuals of high position should obtain a majority of the votes of the electorate. Most of those elected have a plurality of votes. To enforce the principle of majority voting, therefore, it requires that the election be repeated again and again and until all the members to be elected have obtained more than half of the votes cast—a thing which becomes the more difficult when it is a matter of electing an assembly of nine persons. So, repetition in elections becomes inevitable. And such a repetition is in itself a restriction imposed upon the freedom of the electorate. The only course, therefore, is for every elector to write down the name of nine who he thinks are most worthy. These nine who obtain the highest number of votes, irrespective of the majority of the votes cast, will constitute the members of the Assembly.As to your last question whether the individual voter can conscientiously vote for himself. The Guardian believes that not only the Bahá’í voter has the right, but is under the moral obligation to do so, in case he finds himself worthy and capable of assuming the responsibilities and duties imposed upon the members of every duly elected Bahá’í assembly. It is for every believer to carefully weigh his own merits and powers, and after a thorough examination of his self decide whether he is fit for such a position or not. There is nothing more harmful to the individual—and also to society than false humility which is hypocritical, and hence unworthy of a true Bahá’í. The true believer is one who is conscious of his strength as well as of his weakness, and who, fully availing himself of the manifold opportunities and blessings which God gives him, strives to overcome his defects and weaknesses and this by means of a scrupulous adherence to all the laws and commandments revealed by God through His Manifestation.With the Guardian’s greetings and best wishes to you and all the friends,...[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty protect, bless and sustain you in the historic services you are rendering His Faith, and graciously assist you to lay a firm and unassailable foundation for the future progress and extension of the newly-born institutions of our glorious Faith in your land.ShoghiLetter of 5 March 19355 March 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has received and carefully considered your letter of the 24th of February last, and wishes me to thank you for it.With reference to your questions concerning the “Kitáb-i-Aqdas”, he does not think that it would be advisable to circulate at present, whether among the friends or in the outside public, any of the existing translations of this book, in view of the fact that all these versions, both English and Russian, are not authoritative and hence may misrepresent altogether the Teachings.He would, however, suggest that your N.S.A. should appoint a Committee for the purpose of undertaking the translation of the “Aqdas” into German. This is of course a peculiarly difficult task, as some of the members of such a committee should have sufficient knowledge of the Arabic language, and in addition should be well versed in the history and teachings of Islám.The Guardian hopes, nevertheless, that with your knowledge of Arabic and German you may be able to do something truly worthwhile and substantial in this connection. Your translation, of course, will not be considered as final. But for the present it would be of a great assistance to the friends in Germany who, as you rightly suggest, have a great desire to get acquainted with the laws and precepts of the Cause as recorded in the “Aqdas”.When completed, this translation should not, the Guardian feels, be printed entirely and circulated among the believers. But only extracts of it should, with the approval of your N.S.A., be brought to the attention of the friends until such time as the publication of the whole book would be deemed advisable....[From the Guardian:]May our beloved and vigilant Master even keep you under His wings, and inspire you to promote far and wide and in a most effective manner the manifold interests of His Faith and its ever-developing institutions.Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 7 May 19357 May 1935Dear Bahá’í co-workers,The Guardian has just received your warm and encouraging message of the 28th of April last, and has been deeply moved by the kind greetings and good wishes you have extended to him on the occasion of the holding of your thirteenth annual Bahá’í Convention in Stuttgart. He wishes me to reciprocate the sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and to assure each and all of you of his abiding appreciation and gratitude for the remarkable unity, efficiency and zeal with which you are fostering and safeguarding the manifold and vital interests of our beloved Faith throughout Germany and Austria. He feels confident that your mighty and sustained exertions will, even as a magnet, draw upon you the blessings and guidance of the Almighty, and thus pave the way for the wider penetration and firmer establishment of the Cause in your country.The Guardian has been greatly impressed by the unusually wide attendance at this year’s national Convention. His hope is that this active and close collaboration among the believers in Germany and Austria will continue to manifest itself in all your local as well as national Bahá’í activities throughout the coming year. He is entreating Bahá’u’lláh, that His confirmations may keep, strengthen and inspire you in the fulfilment of your most urgent and sacred mission.With the renewed expression of his heartfelt appreciations and thanks, and with his cordial and most loving greetings to you all...[From the Guardian:]Dearest co-workers:Your impressive and most welcome message has revealed afresh the potency of the irresistible power of our Faith as manifested in the renewed activities, the solidarity, the consciousness and determination of the assembled representatives of the German believers. This year’s convention marks a turning point in the history of the Cause in your land. It eloquently testifies to the tenacity of your faith, to your grasp of its distinguishing features and essential principles, to your firm resolve to lay an unassailable basis for the rising institutions, to your capacity to weather the fiercest storms and overcome the most formidable obstacles, to your worthiness to rank as the standard-bearers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in the continent of Europe. May signal victories crown your high endeavours.ShoghiLetter of 5 July 19355 July 1935Beloved Bahá’í Brother,On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your welcome letter of the fourteenth of June last, written in the name of the Archives-Committee of the German N.S.A., and to convey to you and to them his loving appreciation and thanks. He trusts that his gift, offered to your National Archives through the kind care of Miss Edith Horn, will serve to remind the German believers of the importance and sacred character of that institution, and to encourage them to help in contributing their full share towards its further development and expansion. The institution of the National Bahá’í Archives which all the National Assemblies have already established is, indeed, highly-important, the significance of which will be increasingly realized as years go by. It is now that so many precious sacred relics are still in the possession of individual believers, that steps must be taken in order to insure their safe preservation in the National Archives. The friends must be encouraged to cooperate with their N.S.A. for the attainment of this objective.In closing may I assure you again of Shoghi Effendi’s best wishes and prayers for you and family, and to express hope that your long-cherished desire to visit the Holy Land may be realized in the near future.With his cordial greetings...[From the Guardian:]Dear and prized co-worker:I cannot refrain from adding a few words in person and assure you afresh of my deepfelt love, appreciation and gratitude for the energy, the ability and loyalty with which you are promoting the vital interests of the Faith. My prayers for you and your dear and valued collaborators will be continually offered to the throne of Bahá’u’lláh.Your true and grateful brother.ShoghiLetter of 10 August 193510 August 1935Beloved Bahá’í Friends,On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your beautiful message dated July 8th, and to convey to you his loving thanks and appreciation for the kind sentiments which you have been moved to express to him on the eve of the anniversary of the Báb’s martyrdom.He is, indeed, very much pleased, and feels greatly encouraged, to learn of the beautiful meeting you have organized in order to commemorate this most sad and yet unique event in the history of the Cause, and sincerely trusts that the recollection of these early days of the heroic age of the Faith will have served to fill with fresh enthusiasm and renewed vigour your souls, and that as a result you all now feel the urge to play a more active part in establishing the Cause in Austria.The Guardian has been also gratified at the news of the marriage of our dear and devoted co-worker Mr. Franz Pollinger to Miss Anny Mödlogl. He wishes them both a most happy and successful union and is praying to Bahá’u’lláh that He may continue showering upon them His favours and blessings, and thus render their lives successful and of benefit to His Cause.With cordial greetings from the Guardian and with his best wishes and prayers for you all,...[From the Guardian:]Dearly-beloved co-workers:Your message filled my heart with joy and has powerfully reminded me of the firmness of your faith, the extent of your devotion, and the degree of your self-sacrifice and endeavours for the promotion of the Cause of God. I urge you to maintain the closest contact with the believers in Germany and particularly with the National Assembly, to study and digest the chapters of Nabíl’s narrative as they appear in “The Sun of Truth” that you may obtain a fuller grasp of the purpose, the influence and the moving episodes of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 12 October 193512 October 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter dated September 7th, and to express his regret for the delay caused in answering it.With regard to the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he wishes me to inform you that he fully approves of your suggestion that these two Tablets be printed in one single booklet.Also regarding the advisability of printing extracts from the Master’s Will, he fully recommends that your Assembly should follow the method adopted by the American Bahá’ís in this matter, provided of course it is financially feasible. The American text of the Will contains, indeed, all the fundamental points that every newcomer who wishes to join the Movement should know regarding the basis, and various vital implications of Bahá’í Administration. The extracts contained in that text are thus what is vitally required of a believer desiring to become a voting member.Concerning the new German edition of “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era” which the N.S.A. is planning to publish very soon; Shoghi Effendi trusts that this work will be completed in the near future. He would be pleased, indeed, to receive any suggestion which the German Publishing Committee may wish to offer with the view of modifying and improving certain passages of the present text, and will inform you whether the modifications suggested are advisable, and hence whether they should be inserted in the new volume or not.With his cordial greetings and best wishes to you and to all the friends in Stuttgart, specially to your dear family...[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-worker:I wish to reaffirm my deepfelt appreciation to the manner and spirit in which you strive to promote, consolidate and defend the interests of our invincible Faith. Future generations will no doubt extol your services in this formative period of our Cause. Persevere and rest assured that my fervent prayers will continue to be offered on your behalf. Gratefully and affectionately.ShoghiLetter of 22 October 193522 October 1935Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your message of the first of this month has been received by our beloved Guardian, and its perusal has brought much joy and satisfaction to his heart. He feels, indeed, profoundly touched by the kind sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and wishes me to reciprocate your greetings and good wishes, and in particular to assure you of his abiding gratitude for the ceaseless endeavours you are all exerting for the wider spread and firmer establishment of the Cause in your centre. He cherishes the brightest hopes for the future of the Faith in Esslingen which, he trusts, will as a result of your sustained and collective efforts, and through the continued guidance and assistance of the German N.S.A., develop into one of the most active and flourishing Bahá’í communities not only in Germany but throughout Europe. It has already acquired great fame and importance as an international meeting centre for all the believers throughout that continent, and specially in connection with the annual Summer School of the German friends which has been invariably held there.The Guardian is fervently praying that this progress, which has been so characteristic of the development of your community during the last few years, will continue increasing, and will thus fully repay your labours for the establishment and wider penetration of the Faith throughout Germany.With his cordial greetings to you all,...[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-workers:I value the sentiments you have expressed in your most welcome message, and I am deeply touched by its contents. I wish to assure you in person of my loving and continued prayers for you, that you may grow in understanding, spirituality and influence, and play a worthy part in the expansion of the Faith and the consolidation of its institutions.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 12 November 193512 November 1935Dear Dr. Grossmann,The Guardian is in receipt of your letter of October 26th, and feels very much pleased of the news of the completion of the German translation of “The Seven Valleys”. He wishes me to congratulate you most heartily for this great service you have been able to render the Cause, and which no doubt will serve to enrich the record of the manifold contributions you have, during the last few years, so brilliantly made towards the spread of the Faith throughout Germany. He is praying to Bahá’u’lláh that He may continue to guide and inspire you, and assist you in accomplishing still more outstanding works for the Cause in your country.Regarding the publication of the manuscript, he sees no objection that it should be undertaken by a non-Bahá’í publisher, inasmuch as it will then have a greater appeal to the general public. But, of course, in this as well as in all other local matters of this kind you should seek the approval of the N.S.A. As to the expenses of printing the work, they should be preferably furnished by the national fund.The Guardian is also very much pleased to learn of the new publications which the N.S.A. is planning to issue very soon. The printing of the lectures delivered at the last Esslingen Summer School in a book form is, no doubt, highly useful. It is hoped that the funds required in this connection, as well as for other important publications, will be generously contributed by both the individual believers, and the local groups and assemblies.With reference to the publication of the “Kitáb-i-Íqán” into Esperanto, the Guardian also hopes that some action will be taken in this matter by the N.S.A. But obviously the printing of this, and other non-German works, should be subordinated to the publication of Bahá’í literature in German....[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-worker:I am so eager to learn that your health is fully restored, for I believe your services are a most valuable asset to the Faith you serve in these troublous days. I welcome your efficient and unrelaxing cooperation, in spite of the obstacles which face you, in so many fields of Bahá’í activity. I am confident that as a result of your strenuous endeavours the administrative institutions in your land will be further consolidated and extended and the cause of teaching receive an added impetus.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 5 April 19365 April 1936Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your most welcome message of the first Naw-Rúz has just arrived and its perusal has brought indescribable joy to our Guardian’s heart. He is so thankful and happy that the friends in Vienna are working so unitedly and with such fervour, and he hopes that as a result the Cause will steadily develop, and your centre will become one of the leading Bahá’í communities in the West.The most vital matter on which the Guardian wishes you to fully concentrate is that of consolidating the foundations of the Administration. Not until your group learns to work efficiently through obedience to the local assembly and under its guidance can there be any hope for future expansion. The friends must all realize the necessity of internal discipline and order which only a properly elected and efficiently functioning body such as the local assembly can effectively maintain. Obedience to the decisions of the local assembly should be unqualified and whole-hearted, as by this means alone can the community work as a united body and achieve something constructive and enduring.The Guardian feels also the necessity of urging you to keep always in touch with the friends in Germany. The center in Vienna, though outside the political boundaries of Germany, forms nevertheless an integral part of the German-speaking Bahá’í community. It is therefore of a vital importance that the ties of fellowship and cooperation between you and the German believers be increasingly strengthened and consolidated so that through your united endeavours the Cause in Germany and Austria may rapidly spread and be established on firm foundations....[From the Guardian:]Dearly beloved friends:I am deeply grateful to you for your constant services, your unswerving loyalty, your firm determination and exemplary devotion to our beloved Cause. Unity and cooperation are absolutely essential and vital at the present stage of your development. Persevere and rest assured I will continue to pray for you all from the depths of my heart.Affectionately,Shoghi

Letter of 21 February 193421 February 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel:At the instructions of the Guardian I am writing these few lines, requesting you to contribute an article in German for publication in the forthcoming issue of the “Bahá’í World”.In view of the fact that the Biennial is an international Bahá’í organ, Shoghi Effendi feels that it would be appropriate and in full consonance with its nature and purpose to further widen its scope by publishing in it, from time to time, articles in various important languages which are of sufficient use among the friends. This would greatly enhance the nature and render effective the circulation of the “Bahá’í World” by enabling non-English speaking believers to better acquaint themselves with some of its major contents.Two articles in French have already been contributed to this end. One of them is from the pen of a newly-converted and capable believer from Paris, a Princess, and the other is from a certain professor connected with the Sofia University. Though not officially recognized as a Bahá’í, yet he is very sympathetic to the Cause.The Guardian hopes, therefore, that you will be kind enough to respond to his request. He feels certain that our German believers will greatly appreciate your contribution, and will be glad to witness that one of their members is taking such an active part in representing them in the preparation of this international Bahá’í record. You need not write too detailed an article, and you can choose any subject you wish, provided it agrees on every point with the spirit as well as with the form of the Teachings of the Faith....P.S. The Guardian can wait till the end of April for your article. Will you please send it directly to his address and not to America?Letter of 8 May 19348 May 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel:I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter dated Apr. 29th, as well as for the enclosed article and poems in German from your pen which you have kindly contributed to the “Bahá’í World”. He is planning to have them published in the forthcoming issue of the Biennial. The German believers will, it is hoped, greatly enjoy reading them, and will be certainly encouraged to contribute more frequently in the future towards the publication of so important and so significant a record.With the renewed assurance of the Guardian’s good wishes and of his supplications for the expansion of your Bahá’í activities...[From the Guardian:]With the assurance of my deepfelt appreciation of your prompt response, and of my continued prayers for your welfare and success,your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 30 July 193430 July 1934Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your letter of June 19th written on your behalf by Miss Köstlin has been received, and its contents as well as the accompanying documents and notes have been carefully read by the Guardian. He wishes me to thank you for them all, and to convey to you his deepfelt appreciation of your painstaking labours for the consolidation of the administration in your community. It gives him real pleasure to learn of the spirit with which you are toiling for the attainment of this supreme objective, and he is fervently praying for your guidance and assistance that you may speedily and effectively attain the goal of your heart’s desire.In view of the fact that there are no competent and fully reliable persons here to undertake for him any translations from German, the Guardian would prefer that henceforth you should send him a translation of the minutes of your meetings into English, so that he may be in a position to read them without any difficulty. He fully realizes the difficulties which such a rendering would entail, and for this he wishes to assure you of his abiding appreciation and of his deepfelt gratitude.In closing may I also express his hope for the success of your next summer school. From various communications and reports recently received from the friends, he gathers that a large number of believers both from Germany and abroad are planning to attend the summer classes. May such a gathering prove to be the right medium for bringing the German believers closer than ever, and for fostering among them the spirit of initiative, of service and of selfless and wholehearted cooperation in the path of service to the Faith....[From the Guardian:]Dear and precious co-workers:The message you have sent me is indeed most welcome. It has filled my heart with joy and thanksgiving. I am continually urging the friends and pilgrims to visit the German Bahá’í centres and particularly the Esslingen Summer School, as I attach the greatest importance to this vital national institution. I will continue to pray for your success from the depths of my heart.Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 8 September 1934 (Summer School)8 September 1934 (Summer School)Dear Friends and co-workers,On behalf of the Guardian I wish to thank you for your deeply-appreciated message of August 11th which conveyed the gratifying news of the successful conclusion of the meetings and classes held at the annual Bahá’í summer school at Esslingen. He was deeply impressed by the large number of the believers who have attended these gatherings, and particularly by the fact that they were representative of so many different communities both in Germany and abroad. It is his deeply-cherished and long-wished hope that these annual meetings will in the next few years develop into an important center for the teaching and training of Bahá’í teachers, and that through them the knowledge of the Cause will gain an increasing ground throughout Germany and in the neighbouring countries and regions. He would urge each and every one of you to make an effort to attend as regularly and as whole-heartedly as you can the future classes and meetings at Esslingen, and to advise your friends to do the same, so that through the collective and continued labours of you all these annual gatherings may develop both in their scope and in their influence.The Guardian is ardently supplicating on behalf of you all, and is praying that Bahá’u’lláh may continue to bless, enrich and widen the scope of your labours for the promotion and consolidation of the Faith in your respective communities. With his warmest greetings to you all...[From the Guardian:]Dearly-beloved co-workers:Your message, which I regard as a compelling evidence of the regenerative power and irresistible march of the Cause of God has brought immense joy to my heart. The convocation of such a representative gathering at such a historic spot, and on the morrow of the unprecedented trials which, through the mysterious dispensations of Providence have so severely afflicted the German believers, is indeed a historic event that every well-wisher of the Cause should heartily and joyously welcome. A splendid beginning has been made. I pray that as a result of the unshakable faith and the persistent endeavours of the German believers this institution may grow in effectiveness and scope and lend a mighty impetus to the spread of the Cause in your promising country.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 25 September 193425 September 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,I am directed by the Guardian to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated August 29th, and to express his appreciation of your highly-valued efforts for the translation of the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” into German. He hopes that copies of this precious tablet will soon be made available to all the friends, and that through its study their knowledge of the Teachings will be deepened, and their zeal for their spread stimulated and sustained.The term “afnán” means literally small branch, and refers to the relatives of the Báb, both men and women. As the Báb’s only son died while in infancy, the former had no direct descendants. The “afnán” are, therefore, all indirectly related to the Báb.As to “aghsán”, it also means branch. But it is a bigger branch than “afnán”. It refers to Bahá’u’lláh’s descendants.The “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” is, as you know, Bahá’u’lláh’s “Book of Covenant”. It is entirely written in His own handwriting. And in the light of the objections raised by some of the believers concerning the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, it is highly significant to note that this Book of Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh bears neither signature, nor seal, nor any date. It was shown to the believers, and was read in their presence nine days after Bahá’u’lláh’s ascension. The manuscript was in the possession of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá all through His ministry, and after His passing it was found enclosed in His own will. These two precious documents, namely the book of Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have both been carefully preserved and are now in the possession of the Guardian....[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-worker:I greatly value these fresh evidences of your continued, your intelligent and most helpful labours for a better understanding and a wider diffusion of the essentials and fundamentals of our beloved Faith.You are indeed a pillar of the Administrative Order, which, despite the storms and tests of recent years, is rearing its head in the heart of your beloved and promising country. Persevere, be happy and confident. I will continue to pray for you from the depths of my heart.Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 3 November 19343 November 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has received and deeply appreciated your message dated October 8th, and he has directed me to thank you for it.He is, indeed, gratified to learn of your projected visit to the Holy Land, and wishes me to hasten in extending to Mrs. Mühlschlegel and yourself a most hearty welcome.It is his sincere and much-cherished hope that this pilgrimage will, in addition to its manifold spiritual blessings, give you a full opportunity to discuss with him in detail about the conditions of the Cause in Germany, and particularly as to the ways and means whereby the friends can best extend and consolidate the foundations of the Administration throughout that country. You will be welcome anytime in February or March—which time seems to be the best for visiting Palestine.With the renewed assurance of Shoghi Effendi’s best wishes and of his prayers on your behalf, and with his hearty greetings to you and family,...[From the Guardian:]With the renewed assurance of my love, my admiration and prayers for you and extending to you both a warm welcome,Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 5 November 19345 November 1934Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your message of October 20th addressed to the Guardian is just at hand. He has read it with deep interest, and was profoundly touched by the expressions of love and devotion which it contained. He wishes me to thank you for it, and to reciprocate, fully and to each and every one of you, the warm greetings and good wishes which you have been moved to extend to him on the occasion to the celebration of the birthday of the Báb.He wishes me also to take this opportunity for conveying to you all his deepfelt appreciation of your labours for the study and the spread of the Cause in Esslingen. He hopes and prays that your community may, in the years to come, play an increasingly vital rôle in promoting the Message throughout Germany, and particularly in strengthening the foundations of the Administration in that land. Your centre is one of the oldest and best we have in Germany, and has tremendous possibilities. You should, therefore, feel confident and to strenuously toil, so that your community may develop both in number, in strength and in influence.With the renewed assurance of the Guardian’s best wishes and of his supplications on behalf of you all,...[From the Guardian:]Dearly-beloved co-workers:I am deeply grateful to you for the many and repeated evidences of your splendid devotion and firm determination to serve the best interests of our glorious Faith. The work in which you are engaged is dear and near to my heart. My prayers are always with you. Persevere in your labours and never feel discouraged, however great the obstacles that may stand in your way. The Beloved is surely watching over you. Be happy and confident.Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 10 January 193510 January 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has received your letter of the first instant and he wishes me to thank you for it.In regard to your visit to the Holy Shrines, he is sorry indeed that your coming has been delayed but hopes nevertheless that it will materialize very soon, and that the obstacles standing at present in your way will be completely removed, enabling you thereby to carry out your plan in its entirety. He is fervently praying for your assistance and success in this connection.With reference to the decision passed by your N.S.A. to publish in booklet form certain of the important writings revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and the Master, Shoghi Effendi wishes you to express to the National Assembly his full approval of their plan. He feels, indeed, that the time has come for the German believers to acquire a thorough knowledge as well as a full understanding of such important Tablets as Bahá’u’lláh’s “Book of Covenant” and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament, both of which constitute the very bedrock upon which the entire administrative system of the Faith has been raised and established. As to the “Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh” it also constitutes an invaluable supplement to these afore-mentioned Tablets. In connection with the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd”, the Guardian thinks it preferable that it should be published in a separate booklet, and that the “Tablet of the Branch” and the “Lawḥ-i-Aqdas”, both of which have been rather poorly translated from the original, should not be included in it.As to the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the N.S.A., he wishes to re-emphasize the importance of your Assembly’s adhering to the exact wording of the text of the constitution adopted by the American N.S.A. which, as he has repeatedly stated, constitutes a model for all national Bahá’í constitutions. Anything not specifically mentioned in this national charter is left to the full discretion of every N.S.A. inasmuch as it constitutes a matter of secondary importance. In fundamentals, however, strict conformity should be maintained throughout the Bahá’í world, and to this category belong all the principles, laws and regulations set down in the text of the national constitution. As an example of the loyalty with which the friends are following this principle the Guardian is enclosing a copy of the national constitution of the Bahá’ís of India and Burma which, with the exception of the Article VIII which is now being amended, conforms in every detail to the text of the constitution of the American N.S.A.With his loving greetings to you and all the friends,...[From the Guardian:]With the renewed assurance of my loving prayers for you and of my deepfelt appreciation of your magnificent labours in the Divine vineyard.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 4 February 19354 February 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has duly received your letter of the 29th of January last, and has carefully noted the points which you had raised in connection with certain Bahá’í administrative regulations and principles governing the election of local and national assemblies.First, he wishes me to express the hope that your next National Assembly meeting may be fully guided in its deliberations on the various issues confronting it at present, and also to assure you, as well as your co-workers in that body, of his prayers for the success of your efforts in this connection.Now, as regards the number of delegates at the annual convention of the German friends, the Guardian fully approves of the practice which your N.S.A. has thus far adopted and enforced, namely to have 19 delegates instead of 95. This, of course, is the only solution possible for the present, in view of the limited number of the declared believers in Germany.As to the practice of nomination in Bahá’í elections, this the Guardian firmly believes to be in fundamental disaccord with the spirit which should animate and direct all elections held by the Bahá’ís, be they of a local or national character and importance. It is, indeed, the absence of such a practice that constitutes the distinguishing feature and the marked superiority of the Bahá’í electoral methods over those commonly associated with political parties and factions. The practice of nomination being thus contrary to the spirit of Bahá’í Administration should be totally discarded by all the friends. For otherwise the freedom of the Bahá’í elector in choosing the members of any Bahá’í assembly will be seriously endangered, leaving the way open for the domination of personalities. Not only that; but the mere act of nomination—leads eventually to the formation of parties—a thing which is totally alien to the spirit of the Cause.In addition to these serious dangers, the practice of nomination has the great disadvantage of killing in the believer the spirit of initiative, and of self-development. Bahá’í electoral procedures and methods have, indeed, for one of their essential purposes the development in every believer of the spirit of responsibility. By emphasizing the necessity of maintaining his fully freedom in the elections, they make it incumbent upon him to become an active and well-informed member of the Bahá’í community in which he lives. To be able to make a wise choice at the election time, it is necessary for him to be in close and continued contact with all local activities, be they teaching, administrative or otherwise, and to fully and whole-heartedly participate in the affairs of the local as well as national committees and assemblies in his country. It is only in this way that a believer can develop a true social consciousness and acquire a true sense of responsibility in matters affecting the interests of the Cause. Bahá’í community life thus makes it a duty for every loyal and faithful believer to become an intelligent, well-informed and responsible elector, and also gives him the opportunity of raising himself to such a station. And since the practice of nomination hinders the development of such qualities in the believer, and in addition leads to corruption and partisanship, it has to be entirely discarded in all Bahá’í elections.In connection with this, the Guardian wishes to draw your Assembly’s attention to the necessity of adopting the system of plurality voting rather than that of absolute majority voting. For the latter, by making the repetition of elections a necessity, causes, though indirectly, much pressure to bear upon the person of the elector. The Bahá’í elector, as already emphasized, should be given full freedom in his choice. Anything, therefore, which can in the least interfere with such a freedom should be considered as disastrous and hence should be completely wiped out. In all elections, it is always difficult, that more than a few individuals of high position should obtain a majority of the votes of the electorate. Most of those elected have a plurality of votes. To enforce the principle of majority voting, therefore, it requires that the election be repeated again and again and until all the members to be elected have obtained more than half of the votes cast—a thing which becomes the more difficult when it is a matter of electing an assembly of nine persons. So, repetition in elections becomes inevitable. And such a repetition is in itself a restriction imposed upon the freedom of the electorate. The only course, therefore, is for every elector to write down the name of nine who he thinks are most worthy. These nine who obtain the highest number of votes, irrespective of the majority of the votes cast, will constitute the members of the Assembly.As to your last question whether the individual voter can conscientiously vote for himself. The Guardian believes that not only the Bahá’í voter has the right, but is under the moral obligation to do so, in case he finds himself worthy and capable of assuming the responsibilities and duties imposed upon the members of every duly elected Bahá’í assembly. It is for every believer to carefully weigh his own merits and powers, and after a thorough examination of his self decide whether he is fit for such a position or not. There is nothing more harmful to the individual—and also to society than false humility which is hypocritical, and hence unworthy of a true Bahá’í. The true believer is one who is conscious of his strength as well as of his weakness, and who, fully availing himself of the manifold opportunities and blessings which God gives him, strives to overcome his defects and weaknesses and this by means of a scrupulous adherence to all the laws and commandments revealed by God through His Manifestation.With the Guardian’s greetings and best wishes to you and all the friends,...[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty protect, bless and sustain you in the historic services you are rendering His Faith, and graciously assist you to lay a firm and unassailable foundation for the future progress and extension of the newly-born institutions of our glorious Faith in your land.ShoghiLetter of 5 March 19355 March 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has received and carefully considered your letter of the 24th of February last, and wishes me to thank you for it.With reference to your questions concerning the “Kitáb-i-Aqdas”, he does not think that it would be advisable to circulate at present, whether among the friends or in the outside public, any of the existing translations of this book, in view of the fact that all these versions, both English and Russian, are not authoritative and hence may misrepresent altogether the Teachings.He would, however, suggest that your N.S.A. should appoint a Committee for the purpose of undertaking the translation of the “Aqdas” into German. This is of course a peculiarly difficult task, as some of the members of such a committee should have sufficient knowledge of the Arabic language, and in addition should be well versed in the history and teachings of Islám.The Guardian hopes, nevertheless, that with your knowledge of Arabic and German you may be able to do something truly worthwhile and substantial in this connection. Your translation, of course, will not be considered as final. But for the present it would be of a great assistance to the friends in Germany who, as you rightly suggest, have a great desire to get acquainted with the laws and precepts of the Cause as recorded in the “Aqdas”.When completed, this translation should not, the Guardian feels, be printed entirely and circulated among the believers. But only extracts of it should, with the approval of your N.S.A., be brought to the attention of the friends until such time as the publication of the whole book would be deemed advisable....[From the Guardian:]May our beloved and vigilant Master even keep you under His wings, and inspire you to promote far and wide and in a most effective manner the manifold interests of His Faith and its ever-developing institutions.Your true and grateful brother,ShoghiLetter of 7 May 19357 May 1935Dear Bahá’í co-workers,The Guardian has just received your warm and encouraging message of the 28th of April last, and has been deeply moved by the kind greetings and good wishes you have extended to him on the occasion of the holding of your thirteenth annual Bahá’í Convention in Stuttgart. He wishes me to reciprocate the sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and to assure each and all of you of his abiding appreciation and gratitude for the remarkable unity, efficiency and zeal with which you are fostering and safeguarding the manifold and vital interests of our beloved Faith throughout Germany and Austria. He feels confident that your mighty and sustained exertions will, even as a magnet, draw upon you the blessings and guidance of the Almighty, and thus pave the way for the wider penetration and firmer establishment of the Cause in your country.The Guardian has been greatly impressed by the unusually wide attendance at this year’s national Convention. His hope is that this active and close collaboration among the believers in Germany and Austria will continue to manifest itself in all your local as well as national Bahá’í activities throughout the coming year. He is entreating Bahá’u’lláh, that His confirmations may keep, strengthen and inspire you in the fulfilment of your most urgent and sacred mission.With the renewed expression of his heartfelt appreciations and thanks, and with his cordial and most loving greetings to you all...[From the Guardian:]Dearest co-workers:Your impressive and most welcome message has revealed afresh the potency of the irresistible power of our Faith as manifested in the renewed activities, the solidarity, the consciousness and determination of the assembled representatives of the German believers. This year’s convention marks a turning point in the history of the Cause in your land. It eloquently testifies to the tenacity of your faith, to your grasp of its distinguishing features and essential principles, to your firm resolve to lay an unassailable basis for the rising institutions, to your capacity to weather the fiercest storms and overcome the most formidable obstacles, to your worthiness to rank as the standard-bearers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in the continent of Europe. May signal victories crown your high endeavours.ShoghiLetter of 5 July 19355 July 1935Beloved Bahá’í Brother,On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your welcome letter of the fourteenth of June last, written in the name of the Archives-Committee of the German N.S.A., and to convey to you and to them his loving appreciation and thanks. He trusts that his gift, offered to your National Archives through the kind care of Miss Edith Horn, will serve to remind the German believers of the importance and sacred character of that institution, and to encourage them to help in contributing their full share towards its further development and expansion. The institution of the National Bahá’í Archives which all the National Assemblies have already established is, indeed, highly-important, the significance of which will be increasingly realized as years go by. It is now that so many precious sacred relics are still in the possession of individual believers, that steps must be taken in order to insure their safe preservation in the National Archives. The friends must be encouraged to cooperate with their N.S.A. for the attainment of this objective.In closing may I assure you again of Shoghi Effendi’s best wishes and prayers for you and family, and to express hope that your long-cherished desire to visit the Holy Land may be realized in the near future.With his cordial greetings...[From the Guardian:]Dear and prized co-worker:I cannot refrain from adding a few words in person and assure you afresh of my deepfelt love, appreciation and gratitude for the energy, the ability and loyalty with which you are promoting the vital interests of the Faith. My prayers for you and your dear and valued collaborators will be continually offered to the throne of Bahá’u’lláh.Your true and grateful brother.ShoghiLetter of 10 August 193510 August 1935Beloved Bahá’í Friends,On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your beautiful message dated July 8th, and to convey to you his loving thanks and appreciation for the kind sentiments which you have been moved to express to him on the eve of the anniversary of the Báb’s martyrdom.He is, indeed, very much pleased, and feels greatly encouraged, to learn of the beautiful meeting you have organized in order to commemorate this most sad and yet unique event in the history of the Cause, and sincerely trusts that the recollection of these early days of the heroic age of the Faith will have served to fill with fresh enthusiasm and renewed vigour your souls, and that as a result you all now feel the urge to play a more active part in establishing the Cause in Austria.The Guardian has been also gratified at the news of the marriage of our dear and devoted co-worker Mr. Franz Pollinger to Miss Anny Mödlogl. He wishes them both a most happy and successful union and is praying to Bahá’u’lláh that He may continue showering upon them His favours and blessings, and thus render their lives successful and of benefit to His Cause.With cordial greetings from the Guardian and with his best wishes and prayers for you all,...[From the Guardian:]Dearly-beloved co-workers:Your message filled my heart with joy and has powerfully reminded me of the firmness of your faith, the extent of your devotion, and the degree of your self-sacrifice and endeavours for the promotion of the Cause of God. I urge you to maintain the closest contact with the believers in Germany and particularly with the National Assembly, to study and digest the chapters of Nabíl’s narrative as they appear in “The Sun of Truth” that you may obtain a fuller grasp of the purpose, the influence and the moving episodes of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 12 October 193512 October 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter dated September 7th, and to express his regret for the delay caused in answering it.With regard to the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he wishes me to inform you that he fully approves of your suggestion that these two Tablets be printed in one single booklet.Also regarding the advisability of printing extracts from the Master’s Will, he fully recommends that your Assembly should follow the method adopted by the American Bahá’ís in this matter, provided of course it is financially feasible. The American text of the Will contains, indeed, all the fundamental points that every newcomer who wishes to join the Movement should know regarding the basis, and various vital implications of Bahá’í Administration. The extracts contained in that text are thus what is vitally required of a believer desiring to become a voting member.Concerning the new German edition of “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era” which the N.S.A. is planning to publish very soon; Shoghi Effendi trusts that this work will be completed in the near future. He would be pleased, indeed, to receive any suggestion which the German Publishing Committee may wish to offer with the view of modifying and improving certain passages of the present text, and will inform you whether the modifications suggested are advisable, and hence whether they should be inserted in the new volume or not.With his cordial greetings and best wishes to you and to all the friends in Stuttgart, specially to your dear family...[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-worker:I wish to reaffirm my deepfelt appreciation to the manner and spirit in which you strive to promote, consolidate and defend the interests of our invincible Faith. Future generations will no doubt extol your services in this formative period of our Cause. Persevere and rest assured that my fervent prayers will continue to be offered on your behalf. Gratefully and affectionately.ShoghiLetter of 22 October 193522 October 1935Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your message of the first of this month has been received by our beloved Guardian, and its perusal has brought much joy and satisfaction to his heart. He feels, indeed, profoundly touched by the kind sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and wishes me to reciprocate your greetings and good wishes, and in particular to assure you of his abiding gratitude for the ceaseless endeavours you are all exerting for the wider spread and firmer establishment of the Cause in your centre. He cherishes the brightest hopes for the future of the Faith in Esslingen which, he trusts, will as a result of your sustained and collective efforts, and through the continued guidance and assistance of the German N.S.A., develop into one of the most active and flourishing Bahá’í communities not only in Germany but throughout Europe. It has already acquired great fame and importance as an international meeting centre for all the believers throughout that continent, and specially in connection with the annual Summer School of the German friends which has been invariably held there.The Guardian is fervently praying that this progress, which has been so characteristic of the development of your community during the last few years, will continue increasing, and will thus fully repay your labours for the establishment and wider penetration of the Faith throughout Germany.With his cordial greetings to you all,...[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-workers:I value the sentiments you have expressed in your most welcome message, and I am deeply touched by its contents. I wish to assure you in person of my loving and continued prayers for you, that you may grow in understanding, spirituality and influence, and play a worthy part in the expansion of the Faith and the consolidation of its institutions.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 12 November 193512 November 1935Dear Dr. Grossmann,The Guardian is in receipt of your letter of October 26th, and feels very much pleased of the news of the completion of the German translation of “The Seven Valleys”. He wishes me to congratulate you most heartily for this great service you have been able to render the Cause, and which no doubt will serve to enrich the record of the manifold contributions you have, during the last few years, so brilliantly made towards the spread of the Faith throughout Germany. He is praying to Bahá’u’lláh that He may continue to guide and inspire you, and assist you in accomplishing still more outstanding works for the Cause in your country.Regarding the publication of the manuscript, he sees no objection that it should be undertaken by a non-Bahá’í publisher, inasmuch as it will then have a greater appeal to the general public. But, of course, in this as well as in all other local matters of this kind you should seek the approval of the N.S.A. As to the expenses of printing the work, they should be preferably furnished by the national fund.The Guardian is also very much pleased to learn of the new publications which the N.S.A. is planning to issue very soon. The printing of the lectures delivered at the last Esslingen Summer School in a book form is, no doubt, highly useful. It is hoped that the funds required in this connection, as well as for other important publications, will be generously contributed by both the individual believers, and the local groups and assemblies.With reference to the publication of the “Kitáb-i-Íqán” into Esperanto, the Guardian also hopes that some action will be taken in this matter by the N.S.A. But obviously the printing of this, and other non-German works, should be subordinated to the publication of Bahá’í literature in German....[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-worker:I am so eager to learn that your health is fully restored, for I believe your services are a most valuable asset to the Faith you serve in these troublous days. I welcome your efficient and unrelaxing cooperation, in spite of the obstacles which face you, in so many fields of Bahá’í activity. I am confident that as a result of your strenuous endeavours the administrative institutions in your land will be further consolidated and extended and the cause of teaching receive an added impetus.Your true brother,ShoghiLetter of 5 April 19365 April 1936Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your most welcome message of the first Naw-Rúz has just arrived and its perusal has brought indescribable joy to our Guardian’s heart. He is so thankful and happy that the friends in Vienna are working so unitedly and with such fervour, and he hopes that as a result the Cause will steadily develop, and your centre will become one of the leading Bahá’í communities in the West.The most vital matter on which the Guardian wishes you to fully concentrate is that of consolidating the foundations of the Administration. Not until your group learns to work efficiently through obedience to the local assembly and under its guidance can there be any hope for future expansion. The friends must all realize the necessity of internal discipline and order which only a properly elected and efficiently functioning body such as the local assembly can effectively maintain. Obedience to the decisions of the local assembly should be unqualified and whole-hearted, as by this means alone can the community work as a united body and achieve something constructive and enduring.The Guardian feels also the necessity of urging you to keep always in touch with the friends in Germany. The center in Vienna, though outside the political boundaries of Germany, forms nevertheless an integral part of the German-speaking Bahá’í community. It is therefore of a vital importance that the ties of fellowship and cooperation between you and the German believers be increasingly strengthened and consolidated so that through your united endeavours the Cause in Germany and Austria may rapidly spread and be established on firm foundations....[From the Guardian:]Dearly beloved friends:I am deeply grateful to you for your constant services, your unswerving loyalty, your firm determination and exemplary devotion to our beloved Cause. Unity and cooperation are absolutely essential and vital at the present stage of your development. Persevere and rest assured I will continue to pray for you all from the depths of my heart.Affectionately,Shoghi

Letter of 21 February 193421 February 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel:At the instructions of the Guardian I am writing these few lines, requesting you to contribute an article in German for publication in the forthcoming issue of the “Bahá’í World”.In view of the fact that the Biennial is an international Bahá’í organ, Shoghi Effendi feels that it would be appropriate and in full consonance with its nature and purpose to further widen its scope by publishing in it, from time to time, articles in various important languages which are of sufficient use among the friends. This would greatly enhance the nature and render effective the circulation of the “Bahá’í World” by enabling non-English speaking believers to better acquaint themselves with some of its major contents.Two articles in French have already been contributed to this end. One of them is from the pen of a newly-converted and capable believer from Paris, a Princess, and the other is from a certain professor connected with the Sofia University. Though not officially recognized as a Bahá’í, yet he is very sympathetic to the Cause.The Guardian hopes, therefore, that you will be kind enough to respond to his request. He feels certain that our German believers will greatly appreciate your contribution, and will be glad to witness that one of their members is taking such an active part in representing them in the preparation of this international Bahá’í record. You need not write too detailed an article, and you can choose any subject you wish, provided it agrees on every point with the spirit as well as with the form of the Teachings of the Faith....P.S. The Guardian can wait till the end of April for your article. Will you please send it directly to his address and not to America?

21 February 1934

Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel:

At the instructions of the Guardian I am writing these few lines, requesting you to contribute an article in German for publication in the forthcoming issue of the “Bahá’í World”.

In view of the fact that the Biennial is an international Bahá’í organ, Shoghi Effendi feels that it would be appropriate and in full consonance with its nature and purpose to further widen its scope by publishing in it, from time to time, articles in various important languages which are of sufficient use among the friends. This would greatly enhance the nature and render effective the circulation of the “Bahá’í World” by enabling non-English speaking believers to better acquaint themselves with some of its major contents.

Two articles in French have already been contributed to this end. One of them is from the pen of a newly-converted and capable believer from Paris, a Princess, and the other is from a certain professor connected with the Sofia University. Though not officially recognized as a Bahá’í, yet he is very sympathetic to the Cause.

The Guardian hopes, therefore, that you will be kind enough to respond to his request. He feels certain that our German believers will greatly appreciate your contribution, and will be glad to witness that one of their members is taking such an active part in representing them in the preparation of this international Bahá’í record. You need not write too detailed an article, and you can choose any subject you wish, provided it agrees on every point with the spirit as well as with the form of the Teachings of the Faith....

P.S. The Guardian can wait till the end of April for your article. Will you please send it directly to his address and not to America?

Letter of 8 May 19348 May 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel:I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter dated Apr. 29th, as well as for the enclosed article and poems in German from your pen which you have kindly contributed to the “Bahá’í World”. He is planning to have them published in the forthcoming issue of the Biennial. The German believers will, it is hoped, greatly enjoy reading them, and will be certainly encouraged to contribute more frequently in the future towards the publication of so important and so significant a record.With the renewed assurance of the Guardian’s good wishes and of his supplications for the expansion of your Bahá’í activities...[From the Guardian:]With the assurance of my deepfelt appreciation of your prompt response, and of my continued prayers for your welfare and success,your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

8 May 1934

Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel:

I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter dated Apr. 29th, as well as for the enclosed article and poems in German from your pen which you have kindly contributed to the “Bahá’í World”. He is planning to have them published in the forthcoming issue of the Biennial. The German believers will, it is hoped, greatly enjoy reading them, and will be certainly encouraged to contribute more frequently in the future towards the publication of so important and so significant a record.

With the renewed assurance of the Guardian’s good wishes and of his supplications for the expansion of your Bahá’í activities...

[From the Guardian:]

With the assurance of my deepfelt appreciation of your prompt response, and of my continued prayers for your welfare and success,

your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

Letter of 30 July 193430 July 1934Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your letter of June 19th written on your behalf by Miss Köstlin has been received, and its contents as well as the accompanying documents and notes have been carefully read by the Guardian. He wishes me to thank you for them all, and to convey to you his deepfelt appreciation of your painstaking labours for the consolidation of the administration in your community. It gives him real pleasure to learn of the spirit with which you are toiling for the attainment of this supreme objective, and he is fervently praying for your guidance and assistance that you may speedily and effectively attain the goal of your heart’s desire.In view of the fact that there are no competent and fully reliable persons here to undertake for him any translations from German, the Guardian would prefer that henceforth you should send him a translation of the minutes of your meetings into English, so that he may be in a position to read them without any difficulty. He fully realizes the difficulties which such a rendering would entail, and for this he wishes to assure you of his abiding appreciation and of his deepfelt gratitude.In closing may I also express his hope for the success of your next summer school. From various communications and reports recently received from the friends, he gathers that a large number of believers both from Germany and abroad are planning to attend the summer classes. May such a gathering prove to be the right medium for bringing the German believers closer than ever, and for fostering among them the spirit of initiative, of service and of selfless and wholehearted cooperation in the path of service to the Faith....[From the Guardian:]Dear and precious co-workers:The message you have sent me is indeed most welcome. It has filled my heart with joy and thanksgiving. I am continually urging the friends and pilgrims to visit the German Bahá’í centres and particularly the Esslingen Summer School, as I attach the greatest importance to this vital national institution. I will continue to pray for your success from the depths of my heart.Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

30 July 1934

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

Your letter of June 19th written on your behalf by Miss Köstlin has been received, and its contents as well as the accompanying documents and notes have been carefully read by the Guardian. He wishes me to thank you for them all, and to convey to you his deepfelt appreciation of your painstaking labours for the consolidation of the administration in your community. It gives him real pleasure to learn of the spirit with which you are toiling for the attainment of this supreme objective, and he is fervently praying for your guidance and assistance that you may speedily and effectively attain the goal of your heart’s desire.

In view of the fact that there are no competent and fully reliable persons here to undertake for him any translations from German, the Guardian would prefer that henceforth you should send him a translation of the minutes of your meetings into English, so that he may be in a position to read them without any difficulty. He fully realizes the difficulties which such a rendering would entail, and for this he wishes to assure you of his abiding appreciation and of his deepfelt gratitude.

In closing may I also express his hope for the success of your next summer school. From various communications and reports recently received from the friends, he gathers that a large number of believers both from Germany and abroad are planning to attend the summer classes. May such a gathering prove to be the right medium for bringing the German believers closer than ever, and for fostering among them the spirit of initiative, of service and of selfless and wholehearted cooperation in the path of service to the Faith....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and precious co-workers:

The message you have sent me is indeed most welcome. It has filled my heart with joy and thanksgiving. I am continually urging the friends and pilgrims to visit the German Bahá’í centres and particularly the Esslingen Summer School, as I attach the greatest importance to this vital national institution. I will continue to pray for your success from the depths of my heart.

Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

Letter of 8 September 1934 (Summer School)8 September 1934 (Summer School)Dear Friends and co-workers,On behalf of the Guardian I wish to thank you for your deeply-appreciated message of August 11th which conveyed the gratifying news of the successful conclusion of the meetings and classes held at the annual Bahá’í summer school at Esslingen. He was deeply impressed by the large number of the believers who have attended these gatherings, and particularly by the fact that they were representative of so many different communities both in Germany and abroad. It is his deeply-cherished and long-wished hope that these annual meetings will in the next few years develop into an important center for the teaching and training of Bahá’í teachers, and that through them the knowledge of the Cause will gain an increasing ground throughout Germany and in the neighbouring countries and regions. He would urge each and every one of you to make an effort to attend as regularly and as whole-heartedly as you can the future classes and meetings at Esslingen, and to advise your friends to do the same, so that through the collective and continued labours of you all these annual gatherings may develop both in their scope and in their influence.The Guardian is ardently supplicating on behalf of you all, and is praying that Bahá’u’lláh may continue to bless, enrich and widen the scope of your labours for the promotion and consolidation of the Faith in your respective communities. With his warmest greetings to you all...[From the Guardian:]Dearly-beloved co-workers:Your message, which I regard as a compelling evidence of the regenerative power and irresistible march of the Cause of God has brought immense joy to my heart. The convocation of such a representative gathering at such a historic spot, and on the morrow of the unprecedented trials which, through the mysterious dispensations of Providence have so severely afflicted the German believers, is indeed a historic event that every well-wisher of the Cause should heartily and joyously welcome. A splendid beginning has been made. I pray that as a result of the unshakable faith and the persistent endeavours of the German believers this institution may grow in effectiveness and scope and lend a mighty impetus to the spread of the Cause in your promising country.Your true brother,Shoghi

8 September 1934 (Summer School)

Dear Friends and co-workers,

On behalf of the Guardian I wish to thank you for your deeply-appreciated message of August 11th which conveyed the gratifying news of the successful conclusion of the meetings and classes held at the annual Bahá’í summer school at Esslingen. He was deeply impressed by the large number of the believers who have attended these gatherings, and particularly by the fact that they were representative of so many different communities both in Germany and abroad. It is his deeply-cherished and long-wished hope that these annual meetings will in the next few years develop into an important center for the teaching and training of Bahá’í teachers, and that through them the knowledge of the Cause will gain an increasing ground throughout Germany and in the neighbouring countries and regions. He would urge each and every one of you to make an effort to attend as regularly and as whole-heartedly as you can the future classes and meetings at Esslingen, and to advise your friends to do the same, so that through the collective and continued labours of you all these annual gatherings may develop both in their scope and in their influence.

The Guardian is ardently supplicating on behalf of you all, and is praying that Bahá’u’lláh may continue to bless, enrich and widen the scope of your labours for the promotion and consolidation of the Faith in your respective communities. With his warmest greetings to you all...

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly-beloved co-workers:

Your message, which I regard as a compelling evidence of the regenerative power and irresistible march of the Cause of God has brought immense joy to my heart. The convocation of such a representative gathering at such a historic spot, and on the morrow of the unprecedented trials which, through the mysterious dispensations of Providence have so severely afflicted the German believers, is indeed a historic event that every well-wisher of the Cause should heartily and joyously welcome. A splendid beginning has been made. I pray that as a result of the unshakable faith and the persistent endeavours of the German believers this institution may grow in effectiveness and scope and lend a mighty impetus to the spread of the Cause in your promising country.

Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 25 September 193425 September 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,I am directed by the Guardian to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated August 29th, and to express his appreciation of your highly-valued efforts for the translation of the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” into German. He hopes that copies of this precious tablet will soon be made available to all the friends, and that through its study their knowledge of the Teachings will be deepened, and their zeal for their spread stimulated and sustained.The term “afnán” means literally small branch, and refers to the relatives of the Báb, both men and women. As the Báb’s only son died while in infancy, the former had no direct descendants. The “afnán” are, therefore, all indirectly related to the Báb.As to “aghsán”, it also means branch. But it is a bigger branch than “afnán”. It refers to Bahá’u’lláh’s descendants.The “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” is, as you know, Bahá’u’lláh’s “Book of Covenant”. It is entirely written in His own handwriting. And in the light of the objections raised by some of the believers concerning the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, it is highly significant to note that this Book of Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh bears neither signature, nor seal, nor any date. It was shown to the believers, and was read in their presence nine days after Bahá’u’lláh’s ascension. The manuscript was in the possession of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá all through His ministry, and after His passing it was found enclosed in His own will. These two precious documents, namely the book of Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have both been carefully preserved and are now in the possession of the Guardian....[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-worker:I greatly value these fresh evidences of your continued, your intelligent and most helpful labours for a better understanding and a wider diffusion of the essentials and fundamentals of our beloved Faith.You are indeed a pillar of the Administrative Order, which, despite the storms and tests of recent years, is rearing its head in the heart of your beloved and promising country. Persevere, be happy and confident. I will continue to pray for you from the depths of my heart.Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

25 September 1934

Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,

I am directed by the Guardian to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated August 29th, and to express his appreciation of your highly-valued efforts for the translation of the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” into German. He hopes that copies of this precious tablet will soon be made available to all the friends, and that through its study their knowledge of the Teachings will be deepened, and their zeal for their spread stimulated and sustained.

The term “afnán” means literally small branch, and refers to the relatives of the Báb, both men and women. As the Báb’s only son died while in infancy, the former had no direct descendants. The “afnán” are, therefore, all indirectly related to the Báb.

As to “aghsán”, it also means branch. But it is a bigger branch than “afnán”. It refers to Bahá’u’lláh’s descendants.

The “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” is, as you know, Bahá’u’lláh’s “Book of Covenant”. It is entirely written in His own handwriting. And in the light of the objections raised by some of the believers concerning the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, it is highly significant to note that this Book of Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh bears neither signature, nor seal, nor any date. It was shown to the believers, and was read in their presence nine days after Bahá’u’lláh’s ascension. The manuscript was in the possession of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá all through His ministry, and after His passing it was found enclosed in His own will. These two precious documents, namely the book of Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have both been carefully preserved and are now in the possession of the Guardian....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-worker:

I greatly value these fresh evidences of your continued, your intelligent and most helpful labours for a better understanding and a wider diffusion of the essentials and fundamentals of our beloved Faith.

You are indeed a pillar of the Administrative Order, which, despite the storms and tests of recent years, is rearing its head in the heart of your beloved and promising country. Persevere, be happy and confident. I will continue to pray for you from the depths of my heart.

Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

Letter of 3 November 19343 November 1934Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has received and deeply appreciated your message dated October 8th, and he has directed me to thank you for it.He is, indeed, gratified to learn of your projected visit to the Holy Land, and wishes me to hasten in extending to Mrs. Mühlschlegel and yourself a most hearty welcome.It is his sincere and much-cherished hope that this pilgrimage will, in addition to its manifold spiritual blessings, give you a full opportunity to discuss with him in detail about the conditions of the Cause in Germany, and particularly as to the ways and means whereby the friends can best extend and consolidate the foundations of the Administration throughout that country. You will be welcome anytime in February or March—which time seems to be the best for visiting Palestine.With the renewed assurance of Shoghi Effendi’s best wishes and of his prayers on your behalf, and with his hearty greetings to you and family,...[From the Guardian:]With the renewed assurance of my love, my admiration and prayers for you and extending to you both a warm welcome,Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

3 November 1934

Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,

The Guardian has received and deeply appreciated your message dated October 8th, and he has directed me to thank you for it.

He is, indeed, gratified to learn of your projected visit to the Holy Land, and wishes me to hasten in extending to Mrs. Mühlschlegel and yourself a most hearty welcome.

It is his sincere and much-cherished hope that this pilgrimage will, in addition to its manifold spiritual blessings, give you a full opportunity to discuss with him in detail about the conditions of the Cause in Germany, and particularly as to the ways and means whereby the friends can best extend and consolidate the foundations of the Administration throughout that country. You will be welcome anytime in February or March—which time seems to be the best for visiting Palestine.

With the renewed assurance of Shoghi Effendi’s best wishes and of his prayers on your behalf, and with his hearty greetings to you and family,...

[From the Guardian:]

With the renewed assurance of my love, my admiration and prayers for you and extending to you both a warm welcome,

Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

Letter of 5 November 19345 November 1934Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your message of October 20th addressed to the Guardian is just at hand. He has read it with deep interest, and was profoundly touched by the expressions of love and devotion which it contained. He wishes me to thank you for it, and to reciprocate, fully and to each and every one of you, the warm greetings and good wishes which you have been moved to extend to him on the occasion to the celebration of the birthday of the Báb.He wishes me also to take this opportunity for conveying to you all his deepfelt appreciation of your labours for the study and the spread of the Cause in Esslingen. He hopes and prays that your community may, in the years to come, play an increasingly vital rôle in promoting the Message throughout Germany, and particularly in strengthening the foundations of the Administration in that land. Your centre is one of the oldest and best we have in Germany, and has tremendous possibilities. You should, therefore, feel confident and to strenuously toil, so that your community may develop both in number, in strength and in influence.With the renewed assurance of the Guardian’s best wishes and of his supplications on behalf of you all,...[From the Guardian:]Dearly-beloved co-workers:I am deeply grateful to you for the many and repeated evidences of your splendid devotion and firm determination to serve the best interests of our glorious Faith. The work in which you are engaged is dear and near to my heart. My prayers are always with you. Persevere in your labours and never feel discouraged, however great the obstacles that may stand in your way. The Beloved is surely watching over you. Be happy and confident.Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

5 November 1934

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

Your message of October 20th addressed to the Guardian is just at hand. He has read it with deep interest, and was profoundly touched by the expressions of love and devotion which it contained. He wishes me to thank you for it, and to reciprocate, fully and to each and every one of you, the warm greetings and good wishes which you have been moved to extend to him on the occasion to the celebration of the birthday of the Báb.

He wishes me also to take this opportunity for conveying to you all his deepfelt appreciation of your labours for the study and the spread of the Cause in Esslingen. He hopes and prays that your community may, in the years to come, play an increasingly vital rôle in promoting the Message throughout Germany, and particularly in strengthening the foundations of the Administration in that land. Your centre is one of the oldest and best we have in Germany, and has tremendous possibilities. You should, therefore, feel confident and to strenuously toil, so that your community may develop both in number, in strength and in influence.

With the renewed assurance of the Guardian’s best wishes and of his supplications on behalf of you all,...

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly-beloved co-workers:

I am deeply grateful to you for the many and repeated evidences of your splendid devotion and firm determination to serve the best interests of our glorious Faith. The work in which you are engaged is dear and near to my heart. My prayers are always with you. Persevere in your labours and never feel discouraged, however great the obstacles that may stand in your way. The Beloved is surely watching over you. Be happy and confident.

Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

Letter of 10 January 193510 January 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has received your letter of the first instant and he wishes me to thank you for it.In regard to your visit to the Holy Shrines, he is sorry indeed that your coming has been delayed but hopes nevertheless that it will materialize very soon, and that the obstacles standing at present in your way will be completely removed, enabling you thereby to carry out your plan in its entirety. He is fervently praying for your assistance and success in this connection.With reference to the decision passed by your N.S.A. to publish in booklet form certain of the important writings revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and the Master, Shoghi Effendi wishes you to express to the National Assembly his full approval of their plan. He feels, indeed, that the time has come for the German believers to acquire a thorough knowledge as well as a full understanding of such important Tablets as Bahá’u’lláh’s “Book of Covenant” and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament, both of which constitute the very bedrock upon which the entire administrative system of the Faith has been raised and established. As to the “Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh” it also constitutes an invaluable supplement to these afore-mentioned Tablets. In connection with the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd”, the Guardian thinks it preferable that it should be published in a separate booklet, and that the “Tablet of the Branch” and the “Lawḥ-i-Aqdas”, both of which have been rather poorly translated from the original, should not be included in it.As to the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the N.S.A., he wishes to re-emphasize the importance of your Assembly’s adhering to the exact wording of the text of the constitution adopted by the American N.S.A. which, as he has repeatedly stated, constitutes a model for all national Bahá’í constitutions. Anything not specifically mentioned in this national charter is left to the full discretion of every N.S.A. inasmuch as it constitutes a matter of secondary importance. In fundamentals, however, strict conformity should be maintained throughout the Bahá’í world, and to this category belong all the principles, laws and regulations set down in the text of the national constitution. As an example of the loyalty with which the friends are following this principle the Guardian is enclosing a copy of the national constitution of the Bahá’ís of India and Burma which, with the exception of the Article VIII which is now being amended, conforms in every detail to the text of the constitution of the American N.S.A.With his loving greetings to you and all the friends,...[From the Guardian:]With the renewed assurance of my loving prayers for you and of my deepfelt appreciation of your magnificent labours in the Divine vineyard.Your true brother,Shoghi

10 January 1935

Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,

The Guardian has received your letter of the first instant and he wishes me to thank you for it.

In regard to your visit to the Holy Shrines, he is sorry indeed that your coming has been delayed but hopes nevertheless that it will materialize very soon, and that the obstacles standing at present in your way will be completely removed, enabling you thereby to carry out your plan in its entirety. He is fervently praying for your assistance and success in this connection.

With reference to the decision passed by your N.S.A. to publish in booklet form certain of the important writings revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and the Master, Shoghi Effendi wishes you to express to the National Assembly his full approval of their plan. He feels, indeed, that the time has come for the German believers to acquire a thorough knowledge as well as a full understanding of such important Tablets as Bahá’u’lláh’s “Book of Covenant” and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament, both of which constitute the very bedrock upon which the entire administrative system of the Faith has been raised and established. As to the “Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh” it also constitutes an invaluable supplement to these afore-mentioned Tablets. In connection with the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd”, the Guardian thinks it preferable that it should be published in a separate booklet, and that the “Tablet of the Branch” and the “Lawḥ-i-Aqdas”, both of which have been rather poorly translated from the original, should not be included in it.

As to the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws of the N.S.A., he wishes to re-emphasize the importance of your Assembly’s adhering to the exact wording of the text of the constitution adopted by the American N.S.A. which, as he has repeatedly stated, constitutes a model for all national Bahá’í constitutions. Anything not specifically mentioned in this national charter is left to the full discretion of every N.S.A. inasmuch as it constitutes a matter of secondary importance. In fundamentals, however, strict conformity should be maintained throughout the Bahá’í world, and to this category belong all the principles, laws and regulations set down in the text of the national constitution. As an example of the loyalty with which the friends are following this principle the Guardian is enclosing a copy of the national constitution of the Bahá’ís of India and Burma which, with the exception of the Article VIII which is now being amended, conforms in every detail to the text of the constitution of the American N.S.A.

With his loving greetings to you and all the friends,...

[From the Guardian:]

With the renewed assurance of my loving prayers for you and of my deepfelt appreciation of your magnificent labours in the Divine vineyard.

Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 4 February 19354 February 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has duly received your letter of the 29th of January last, and has carefully noted the points which you had raised in connection with certain Bahá’í administrative regulations and principles governing the election of local and national assemblies.First, he wishes me to express the hope that your next National Assembly meeting may be fully guided in its deliberations on the various issues confronting it at present, and also to assure you, as well as your co-workers in that body, of his prayers for the success of your efforts in this connection.Now, as regards the number of delegates at the annual convention of the German friends, the Guardian fully approves of the practice which your N.S.A. has thus far adopted and enforced, namely to have 19 delegates instead of 95. This, of course, is the only solution possible for the present, in view of the limited number of the declared believers in Germany.As to the practice of nomination in Bahá’í elections, this the Guardian firmly believes to be in fundamental disaccord with the spirit which should animate and direct all elections held by the Bahá’ís, be they of a local or national character and importance. It is, indeed, the absence of such a practice that constitutes the distinguishing feature and the marked superiority of the Bahá’í electoral methods over those commonly associated with political parties and factions. The practice of nomination being thus contrary to the spirit of Bahá’í Administration should be totally discarded by all the friends. For otherwise the freedom of the Bahá’í elector in choosing the members of any Bahá’í assembly will be seriously endangered, leaving the way open for the domination of personalities. Not only that; but the mere act of nomination—leads eventually to the formation of parties—a thing which is totally alien to the spirit of the Cause.In addition to these serious dangers, the practice of nomination has the great disadvantage of killing in the believer the spirit of initiative, and of self-development. Bahá’í electoral procedures and methods have, indeed, for one of their essential purposes the development in every believer of the spirit of responsibility. By emphasizing the necessity of maintaining his fully freedom in the elections, they make it incumbent upon him to become an active and well-informed member of the Bahá’í community in which he lives. To be able to make a wise choice at the election time, it is necessary for him to be in close and continued contact with all local activities, be they teaching, administrative or otherwise, and to fully and whole-heartedly participate in the affairs of the local as well as national committees and assemblies in his country. It is only in this way that a believer can develop a true social consciousness and acquire a true sense of responsibility in matters affecting the interests of the Cause. Bahá’í community life thus makes it a duty for every loyal and faithful believer to become an intelligent, well-informed and responsible elector, and also gives him the opportunity of raising himself to such a station. And since the practice of nomination hinders the development of such qualities in the believer, and in addition leads to corruption and partisanship, it has to be entirely discarded in all Bahá’í elections.In connection with this, the Guardian wishes to draw your Assembly’s attention to the necessity of adopting the system of plurality voting rather than that of absolute majority voting. For the latter, by making the repetition of elections a necessity, causes, though indirectly, much pressure to bear upon the person of the elector. The Bahá’í elector, as already emphasized, should be given full freedom in his choice. Anything, therefore, which can in the least interfere with such a freedom should be considered as disastrous and hence should be completely wiped out. In all elections, it is always difficult, that more than a few individuals of high position should obtain a majority of the votes of the electorate. Most of those elected have a plurality of votes. To enforce the principle of majority voting, therefore, it requires that the election be repeated again and again and until all the members to be elected have obtained more than half of the votes cast—a thing which becomes the more difficult when it is a matter of electing an assembly of nine persons. So, repetition in elections becomes inevitable. And such a repetition is in itself a restriction imposed upon the freedom of the electorate. The only course, therefore, is for every elector to write down the name of nine who he thinks are most worthy. These nine who obtain the highest number of votes, irrespective of the majority of the votes cast, will constitute the members of the Assembly.As to your last question whether the individual voter can conscientiously vote for himself. The Guardian believes that not only the Bahá’í voter has the right, but is under the moral obligation to do so, in case he finds himself worthy and capable of assuming the responsibilities and duties imposed upon the members of every duly elected Bahá’í assembly. It is for every believer to carefully weigh his own merits and powers, and after a thorough examination of his self decide whether he is fit for such a position or not. There is nothing more harmful to the individual—and also to society than false humility which is hypocritical, and hence unworthy of a true Bahá’í. The true believer is one who is conscious of his strength as well as of his weakness, and who, fully availing himself of the manifold opportunities and blessings which God gives him, strives to overcome his defects and weaknesses and this by means of a scrupulous adherence to all the laws and commandments revealed by God through His Manifestation.With the Guardian’s greetings and best wishes to you and all the friends,...[From the Guardian:]May the Almighty protect, bless and sustain you in the historic services you are rendering His Faith, and graciously assist you to lay a firm and unassailable foundation for the future progress and extension of the newly-born institutions of our glorious Faith in your land.Shoghi

4 February 1935

Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,

The Guardian has duly received your letter of the 29th of January last, and has carefully noted the points which you had raised in connection with certain Bahá’í administrative regulations and principles governing the election of local and national assemblies.

First, he wishes me to express the hope that your next National Assembly meeting may be fully guided in its deliberations on the various issues confronting it at present, and also to assure you, as well as your co-workers in that body, of his prayers for the success of your efforts in this connection.

Now, as regards the number of delegates at the annual convention of the German friends, the Guardian fully approves of the practice which your N.S.A. has thus far adopted and enforced, namely to have 19 delegates instead of 95. This, of course, is the only solution possible for the present, in view of the limited number of the declared believers in Germany.

As to the practice of nomination in Bahá’í elections, this the Guardian firmly believes to be in fundamental disaccord with the spirit which should animate and direct all elections held by the Bahá’ís, be they of a local or national character and importance. It is, indeed, the absence of such a practice that constitutes the distinguishing feature and the marked superiority of the Bahá’í electoral methods over those commonly associated with political parties and factions. The practice of nomination being thus contrary to the spirit of Bahá’í Administration should be totally discarded by all the friends. For otherwise the freedom of the Bahá’í elector in choosing the members of any Bahá’í assembly will be seriously endangered, leaving the way open for the domination of personalities. Not only that; but the mere act of nomination—leads eventually to the formation of parties—a thing which is totally alien to the spirit of the Cause.

In addition to these serious dangers, the practice of nomination has the great disadvantage of killing in the believer the spirit of initiative, and of self-development. Bahá’í electoral procedures and methods have, indeed, for one of their essential purposes the development in every believer of the spirit of responsibility. By emphasizing the necessity of maintaining his fully freedom in the elections, they make it incumbent upon him to become an active and well-informed member of the Bahá’í community in which he lives. To be able to make a wise choice at the election time, it is necessary for him to be in close and continued contact with all local activities, be they teaching, administrative or otherwise, and to fully and whole-heartedly participate in the affairs of the local as well as national committees and assemblies in his country. It is only in this way that a believer can develop a true social consciousness and acquire a true sense of responsibility in matters affecting the interests of the Cause. Bahá’í community life thus makes it a duty for every loyal and faithful believer to become an intelligent, well-informed and responsible elector, and also gives him the opportunity of raising himself to such a station. And since the practice of nomination hinders the development of such qualities in the believer, and in addition leads to corruption and partisanship, it has to be entirely discarded in all Bahá’í elections.

In connection with this, the Guardian wishes to draw your Assembly’s attention to the necessity of adopting the system of plurality voting rather than that of absolute majority voting. For the latter, by making the repetition of elections a necessity, causes, though indirectly, much pressure to bear upon the person of the elector. The Bahá’í elector, as already emphasized, should be given full freedom in his choice. Anything, therefore, which can in the least interfere with such a freedom should be considered as disastrous and hence should be completely wiped out. In all elections, it is always difficult, that more than a few individuals of high position should obtain a majority of the votes of the electorate. Most of those elected have a plurality of votes. To enforce the principle of majority voting, therefore, it requires that the election be repeated again and again and until all the members to be elected have obtained more than half of the votes cast—a thing which becomes the more difficult when it is a matter of electing an assembly of nine persons. So, repetition in elections becomes inevitable. And such a repetition is in itself a restriction imposed upon the freedom of the electorate. The only course, therefore, is for every elector to write down the name of nine who he thinks are most worthy. These nine who obtain the highest number of votes, irrespective of the majority of the votes cast, will constitute the members of the Assembly.

As to your last question whether the individual voter can conscientiously vote for himself. The Guardian believes that not only the Bahá’í voter has the right, but is under the moral obligation to do so, in case he finds himself worthy and capable of assuming the responsibilities and duties imposed upon the members of every duly elected Bahá’í assembly. It is for every believer to carefully weigh his own merits and powers, and after a thorough examination of his self decide whether he is fit for such a position or not. There is nothing more harmful to the individual—and also to society than false humility which is hypocritical, and hence unworthy of a true Bahá’í. The true believer is one who is conscious of his strength as well as of his weakness, and who, fully availing himself of the manifold opportunities and blessings which God gives him, strives to overcome his defects and weaknesses and this by means of a scrupulous adherence to all the laws and commandments revealed by God through His Manifestation.

With the Guardian’s greetings and best wishes to you and all the friends,...

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty protect, bless and sustain you in the historic services you are rendering His Faith, and graciously assist you to lay a firm and unassailable foundation for the future progress and extension of the newly-born institutions of our glorious Faith in your land.

Shoghi

Letter of 5 March 19355 March 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,The Guardian has received and carefully considered your letter of the 24th of February last, and wishes me to thank you for it.With reference to your questions concerning the “Kitáb-i-Aqdas”, he does not think that it would be advisable to circulate at present, whether among the friends or in the outside public, any of the existing translations of this book, in view of the fact that all these versions, both English and Russian, are not authoritative and hence may misrepresent altogether the Teachings.He would, however, suggest that your N.S.A. should appoint a Committee for the purpose of undertaking the translation of the “Aqdas” into German. This is of course a peculiarly difficult task, as some of the members of such a committee should have sufficient knowledge of the Arabic language, and in addition should be well versed in the history and teachings of Islám.The Guardian hopes, nevertheless, that with your knowledge of Arabic and German you may be able to do something truly worthwhile and substantial in this connection. Your translation, of course, will not be considered as final. But for the present it would be of a great assistance to the friends in Germany who, as you rightly suggest, have a great desire to get acquainted with the laws and precepts of the Cause as recorded in the “Aqdas”.When completed, this translation should not, the Guardian feels, be printed entirely and circulated among the believers. But only extracts of it should, with the approval of your N.S.A., be brought to the attention of the friends until such time as the publication of the whole book would be deemed advisable....[From the Guardian:]May our beloved and vigilant Master even keep you under His wings, and inspire you to promote far and wide and in a most effective manner the manifold interests of His Faith and its ever-developing institutions.Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

5 March 1935

Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,

The Guardian has received and carefully considered your letter of the 24th of February last, and wishes me to thank you for it.

With reference to your questions concerning the “Kitáb-i-Aqdas”, he does not think that it would be advisable to circulate at present, whether among the friends or in the outside public, any of the existing translations of this book, in view of the fact that all these versions, both English and Russian, are not authoritative and hence may misrepresent altogether the Teachings.

He would, however, suggest that your N.S.A. should appoint a Committee for the purpose of undertaking the translation of the “Aqdas” into German. This is of course a peculiarly difficult task, as some of the members of such a committee should have sufficient knowledge of the Arabic language, and in addition should be well versed in the history and teachings of Islám.

The Guardian hopes, nevertheless, that with your knowledge of Arabic and German you may be able to do something truly worthwhile and substantial in this connection. Your translation, of course, will not be considered as final. But for the present it would be of a great assistance to the friends in Germany who, as you rightly suggest, have a great desire to get acquainted with the laws and precepts of the Cause as recorded in the “Aqdas”.

When completed, this translation should not, the Guardian feels, be printed entirely and circulated among the believers. But only extracts of it should, with the approval of your N.S.A., be brought to the attention of the friends until such time as the publication of the whole book would be deemed advisable....

[From the Guardian:]

May our beloved and vigilant Master even keep you under His wings, and inspire you to promote far and wide and in a most effective manner the manifold interests of His Faith and its ever-developing institutions.

Your true and grateful brother,Shoghi

Letter of 7 May 19357 May 1935Dear Bahá’í co-workers,The Guardian has just received your warm and encouraging message of the 28th of April last, and has been deeply moved by the kind greetings and good wishes you have extended to him on the occasion of the holding of your thirteenth annual Bahá’í Convention in Stuttgart. He wishes me to reciprocate the sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and to assure each and all of you of his abiding appreciation and gratitude for the remarkable unity, efficiency and zeal with which you are fostering and safeguarding the manifold and vital interests of our beloved Faith throughout Germany and Austria. He feels confident that your mighty and sustained exertions will, even as a magnet, draw upon you the blessings and guidance of the Almighty, and thus pave the way for the wider penetration and firmer establishment of the Cause in your country.The Guardian has been greatly impressed by the unusually wide attendance at this year’s national Convention. His hope is that this active and close collaboration among the believers in Germany and Austria will continue to manifest itself in all your local as well as national Bahá’í activities throughout the coming year. He is entreating Bahá’u’lláh, that His confirmations may keep, strengthen and inspire you in the fulfilment of your most urgent and sacred mission.With the renewed expression of his heartfelt appreciations and thanks, and with his cordial and most loving greetings to you all...[From the Guardian:]Dearest co-workers:Your impressive and most welcome message has revealed afresh the potency of the irresistible power of our Faith as manifested in the renewed activities, the solidarity, the consciousness and determination of the assembled representatives of the German believers. This year’s convention marks a turning point in the history of the Cause in your land. It eloquently testifies to the tenacity of your faith, to your grasp of its distinguishing features and essential principles, to your firm resolve to lay an unassailable basis for the rising institutions, to your capacity to weather the fiercest storms and overcome the most formidable obstacles, to your worthiness to rank as the standard-bearers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in the continent of Europe. May signal victories crown your high endeavours.Shoghi

7 May 1935

Dear Bahá’í co-workers,

The Guardian has just received your warm and encouraging message of the 28th of April last, and has been deeply moved by the kind greetings and good wishes you have extended to him on the occasion of the holding of your thirteenth annual Bahá’í Convention in Stuttgart. He wishes me to reciprocate the sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and to assure each and all of you of his abiding appreciation and gratitude for the remarkable unity, efficiency and zeal with which you are fostering and safeguarding the manifold and vital interests of our beloved Faith throughout Germany and Austria. He feels confident that your mighty and sustained exertions will, even as a magnet, draw upon you the blessings and guidance of the Almighty, and thus pave the way for the wider penetration and firmer establishment of the Cause in your country.

The Guardian has been greatly impressed by the unusually wide attendance at this year’s national Convention. His hope is that this active and close collaboration among the believers in Germany and Austria will continue to manifest itself in all your local as well as national Bahá’í activities throughout the coming year. He is entreating Bahá’u’lláh, that His confirmations may keep, strengthen and inspire you in the fulfilment of your most urgent and sacred mission.

With the renewed expression of his heartfelt appreciations and thanks, and with his cordial and most loving greetings to you all...

[From the Guardian:]

Dearest co-workers:

Your impressive and most welcome message has revealed afresh the potency of the irresistible power of our Faith as manifested in the renewed activities, the solidarity, the consciousness and determination of the assembled representatives of the German believers. This year’s convention marks a turning point in the history of the Cause in your land. It eloquently testifies to the tenacity of your faith, to your grasp of its distinguishing features and essential principles, to your firm resolve to lay an unassailable basis for the rising institutions, to your capacity to weather the fiercest storms and overcome the most formidable obstacles, to your worthiness to rank as the standard-bearers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in the continent of Europe. May signal victories crown your high endeavours.

Shoghi

Letter of 5 July 19355 July 1935Beloved Bahá’í Brother,On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your welcome letter of the fourteenth of June last, written in the name of the Archives-Committee of the German N.S.A., and to convey to you and to them his loving appreciation and thanks. He trusts that his gift, offered to your National Archives through the kind care of Miss Edith Horn, will serve to remind the German believers of the importance and sacred character of that institution, and to encourage them to help in contributing their full share towards its further development and expansion. The institution of the National Bahá’í Archives which all the National Assemblies have already established is, indeed, highly-important, the significance of which will be increasingly realized as years go by. It is now that so many precious sacred relics are still in the possession of individual believers, that steps must be taken in order to insure their safe preservation in the National Archives. The friends must be encouraged to cooperate with their N.S.A. for the attainment of this objective.In closing may I assure you again of Shoghi Effendi’s best wishes and prayers for you and family, and to express hope that your long-cherished desire to visit the Holy Land may be realized in the near future.With his cordial greetings...[From the Guardian:]Dear and prized co-worker:I cannot refrain from adding a few words in person and assure you afresh of my deepfelt love, appreciation and gratitude for the energy, the ability and loyalty with which you are promoting the vital interests of the Faith. My prayers for you and your dear and valued collaborators will be continually offered to the throne of Bahá’u’lláh.Your true and grateful brother.Shoghi

5 July 1935

Beloved Bahá’í Brother,

On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your welcome letter of the fourteenth of June last, written in the name of the Archives-Committee of the German N.S.A., and to convey to you and to them his loving appreciation and thanks. He trusts that his gift, offered to your National Archives through the kind care of Miss Edith Horn, will serve to remind the German believers of the importance and sacred character of that institution, and to encourage them to help in contributing their full share towards its further development and expansion. The institution of the National Bahá’í Archives which all the National Assemblies have already established is, indeed, highly-important, the significance of which will be increasingly realized as years go by. It is now that so many precious sacred relics are still in the possession of individual believers, that steps must be taken in order to insure their safe preservation in the National Archives. The friends must be encouraged to cooperate with their N.S.A. for the attainment of this objective.

In closing may I assure you again of Shoghi Effendi’s best wishes and prayers for you and family, and to express hope that your long-cherished desire to visit the Holy Land may be realized in the near future.

With his cordial greetings...

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and prized co-worker:

I cannot refrain from adding a few words in person and assure you afresh of my deepfelt love, appreciation and gratitude for the energy, the ability and loyalty with which you are promoting the vital interests of the Faith. My prayers for you and your dear and valued collaborators will be continually offered to the throne of Bahá’u’lláh.

Your true and grateful brother.Shoghi

Letter of 10 August 193510 August 1935Beloved Bahá’í Friends,On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your beautiful message dated July 8th, and to convey to you his loving thanks and appreciation for the kind sentiments which you have been moved to express to him on the eve of the anniversary of the Báb’s martyrdom.He is, indeed, very much pleased, and feels greatly encouraged, to learn of the beautiful meeting you have organized in order to commemorate this most sad and yet unique event in the history of the Cause, and sincerely trusts that the recollection of these early days of the heroic age of the Faith will have served to fill with fresh enthusiasm and renewed vigour your souls, and that as a result you all now feel the urge to play a more active part in establishing the Cause in Austria.The Guardian has been also gratified at the news of the marriage of our dear and devoted co-worker Mr. Franz Pollinger to Miss Anny Mödlogl. He wishes them both a most happy and successful union and is praying to Bahá’u’lláh that He may continue showering upon them His favours and blessings, and thus render their lives successful and of benefit to His Cause.With cordial greetings from the Guardian and with his best wishes and prayers for you all,...[From the Guardian:]Dearly-beloved co-workers:Your message filled my heart with joy and has powerfully reminded me of the firmness of your faith, the extent of your devotion, and the degree of your self-sacrifice and endeavours for the promotion of the Cause of God. I urge you to maintain the closest contact with the believers in Germany and particularly with the National Assembly, to study and digest the chapters of Nabíl’s narrative as they appear in “The Sun of Truth” that you may obtain a fuller grasp of the purpose, the influence and the moving episodes of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.Your true brother,Shoghi

10 August 1935

Beloved Bahá’í Friends,

On behalf of the Guardian I wish to acknowledge the receipt of your beautiful message dated July 8th, and to convey to you his loving thanks and appreciation for the kind sentiments which you have been moved to express to him on the eve of the anniversary of the Báb’s martyrdom.

He is, indeed, very much pleased, and feels greatly encouraged, to learn of the beautiful meeting you have organized in order to commemorate this most sad and yet unique event in the history of the Cause, and sincerely trusts that the recollection of these early days of the heroic age of the Faith will have served to fill with fresh enthusiasm and renewed vigour your souls, and that as a result you all now feel the urge to play a more active part in establishing the Cause in Austria.

The Guardian has been also gratified at the news of the marriage of our dear and devoted co-worker Mr. Franz Pollinger to Miss Anny Mödlogl. He wishes them both a most happy and successful union and is praying to Bahá’u’lláh that He may continue showering upon them His favours and blessings, and thus render their lives successful and of benefit to His Cause.

With cordial greetings from the Guardian and with his best wishes and prayers for you all,...

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly-beloved co-workers:

Your message filled my heart with joy and has powerfully reminded me of the firmness of your faith, the extent of your devotion, and the degree of your self-sacrifice and endeavours for the promotion of the Cause of God. I urge you to maintain the closest contact with the believers in Germany and particularly with the National Assembly, to study and digest the chapters of Nabíl’s narrative as they appear in “The Sun of Truth” that you may obtain a fuller grasp of the purpose, the influence and the moving episodes of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 12 October 193512 October 1935Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter dated September 7th, and to express his regret for the delay caused in answering it.With regard to the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he wishes me to inform you that he fully approves of your suggestion that these two Tablets be printed in one single booklet.Also regarding the advisability of printing extracts from the Master’s Will, he fully recommends that your Assembly should follow the method adopted by the American Bahá’ís in this matter, provided of course it is financially feasible. The American text of the Will contains, indeed, all the fundamental points that every newcomer who wishes to join the Movement should know regarding the basis, and various vital implications of Bahá’í Administration. The extracts contained in that text are thus what is vitally required of a believer desiring to become a voting member.Concerning the new German edition of “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era” which the N.S.A. is planning to publish very soon; Shoghi Effendi trusts that this work will be completed in the near future. He would be pleased, indeed, to receive any suggestion which the German Publishing Committee may wish to offer with the view of modifying and improving certain passages of the present text, and will inform you whether the modifications suggested are advisable, and hence whether they should be inserted in the new volume or not.With his cordial greetings and best wishes to you and to all the friends in Stuttgart, specially to your dear family...[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-worker:I wish to reaffirm my deepfelt appreciation to the manner and spirit in which you strive to promote, consolidate and defend the interests of our invincible Faith. Future generations will no doubt extol your services in this formative period of our Cause. Persevere and rest assured that my fervent prayers will continue to be offered on your behalf. Gratefully and affectionately.Shoghi

12 October 1935

Dear Dr. Mühlschlegel,

I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter dated September 7th, and to express his regret for the delay caused in answering it.

With regard to the “Kitáb-i-‘Ahd” and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, he wishes me to inform you that he fully approves of your suggestion that these two Tablets be printed in one single booklet.

Also regarding the advisability of printing extracts from the Master’s Will, he fully recommends that your Assembly should follow the method adopted by the American Bahá’ís in this matter, provided of course it is financially feasible. The American text of the Will contains, indeed, all the fundamental points that every newcomer who wishes to join the Movement should know regarding the basis, and various vital implications of Bahá’í Administration. The extracts contained in that text are thus what is vitally required of a believer desiring to become a voting member.

Concerning the new German edition of “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era” which the N.S.A. is planning to publish very soon; Shoghi Effendi trusts that this work will be completed in the near future. He would be pleased, indeed, to receive any suggestion which the German Publishing Committee may wish to offer with the view of modifying and improving certain passages of the present text, and will inform you whether the modifications suggested are advisable, and hence whether they should be inserted in the new volume or not.

With his cordial greetings and best wishes to you and to all the friends in Stuttgart, specially to your dear family...

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-worker:

I wish to reaffirm my deepfelt appreciation to the manner and spirit in which you strive to promote, consolidate and defend the interests of our invincible Faith. Future generations will no doubt extol your services in this formative period of our Cause. Persevere and rest assured that my fervent prayers will continue to be offered on your behalf. Gratefully and affectionately.

Shoghi

Letter of 22 October 193522 October 1935Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your message of the first of this month has been received by our beloved Guardian, and its perusal has brought much joy and satisfaction to his heart. He feels, indeed, profoundly touched by the kind sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and wishes me to reciprocate your greetings and good wishes, and in particular to assure you of his abiding gratitude for the ceaseless endeavours you are all exerting for the wider spread and firmer establishment of the Cause in your centre. He cherishes the brightest hopes for the future of the Faith in Esslingen which, he trusts, will as a result of your sustained and collective efforts, and through the continued guidance and assistance of the German N.S.A., develop into one of the most active and flourishing Bahá’í communities not only in Germany but throughout Europe. It has already acquired great fame and importance as an international meeting centre for all the believers throughout that continent, and specially in connection with the annual Summer School of the German friends which has been invariably held there.The Guardian is fervently praying that this progress, which has been so characteristic of the development of your community during the last few years, will continue increasing, and will thus fully repay your labours for the establishment and wider penetration of the Faith throughout Germany.With his cordial greetings to you all,...[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-workers:I value the sentiments you have expressed in your most welcome message, and I am deeply touched by its contents. I wish to assure you in person of my loving and continued prayers for you, that you may grow in understanding, spirituality and influence, and play a worthy part in the expansion of the Faith and the consolidation of its institutions.Your true brother,Shoghi

22 October 1935

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

Your message of the first of this month has been received by our beloved Guardian, and its perusal has brought much joy and satisfaction to his heart. He feels, indeed, profoundly touched by the kind sentiments you have been moved to express to him, and wishes me to reciprocate your greetings and good wishes, and in particular to assure you of his abiding gratitude for the ceaseless endeavours you are all exerting for the wider spread and firmer establishment of the Cause in your centre. He cherishes the brightest hopes for the future of the Faith in Esslingen which, he trusts, will as a result of your sustained and collective efforts, and through the continued guidance and assistance of the German N.S.A., develop into one of the most active and flourishing Bahá’í communities not only in Germany but throughout Europe. It has already acquired great fame and importance as an international meeting centre for all the believers throughout that continent, and specially in connection with the annual Summer School of the German friends which has been invariably held there.

The Guardian is fervently praying that this progress, which has been so characteristic of the development of your community during the last few years, will continue increasing, and will thus fully repay your labours for the establishment and wider penetration of the Faith throughout Germany.

With his cordial greetings to you all,...

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers:

I value the sentiments you have expressed in your most welcome message, and I am deeply touched by its contents. I wish to assure you in person of my loving and continued prayers for you, that you may grow in understanding, spirituality and influence, and play a worthy part in the expansion of the Faith and the consolidation of its institutions.

Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 12 November 193512 November 1935Dear Dr. Grossmann,The Guardian is in receipt of your letter of October 26th, and feels very much pleased of the news of the completion of the German translation of “The Seven Valleys”. He wishes me to congratulate you most heartily for this great service you have been able to render the Cause, and which no doubt will serve to enrich the record of the manifold contributions you have, during the last few years, so brilliantly made towards the spread of the Faith throughout Germany. He is praying to Bahá’u’lláh that He may continue to guide and inspire you, and assist you in accomplishing still more outstanding works for the Cause in your country.Regarding the publication of the manuscript, he sees no objection that it should be undertaken by a non-Bahá’í publisher, inasmuch as it will then have a greater appeal to the general public. But, of course, in this as well as in all other local matters of this kind you should seek the approval of the N.S.A. As to the expenses of printing the work, they should be preferably furnished by the national fund.The Guardian is also very much pleased to learn of the new publications which the N.S.A. is planning to issue very soon. The printing of the lectures delivered at the last Esslingen Summer School in a book form is, no doubt, highly useful. It is hoped that the funds required in this connection, as well as for other important publications, will be generously contributed by both the individual believers, and the local groups and assemblies.With reference to the publication of the “Kitáb-i-Íqán” into Esperanto, the Guardian also hopes that some action will be taken in this matter by the N.S.A. But obviously the printing of this, and other non-German works, should be subordinated to the publication of Bahá’í literature in German....[From the Guardian:]Dear and valued co-worker:I am so eager to learn that your health is fully restored, for I believe your services are a most valuable asset to the Faith you serve in these troublous days. I welcome your efficient and unrelaxing cooperation, in spite of the obstacles which face you, in so many fields of Bahá’í activity. I am confident that as a result of your strenuous endeavours the administrative institutions in your land will be further consolidated and extended and the cause of teaching receive an added impetus.Your true brother,Shoghi

12 November 1935

Dear Dr. Grossmann,

The Guardian is in receipt of your letter of October 26th, and feels very much pleased of the news of the completion of the German translation of “The Seven Valleys”. He wishes me to congratulate you most heartily for this great service you have been able to render the Cause, and which no doubt will serve to enrich the record of the manifold contributions you have, during the last few years, so brilliantly made towards the spread of the Faith throughout Germany. He is praying to Bahá’u’lláh that He may continue to guide and inspire you, and assist you in accomplishing still more outstanding works for the Cause in your country.

Regarding the publication of the manuscript, he sees no objection that it should be undertaken by a non-Bahá’í publisher, inasmuch as it will then have a greater appeal to the general public. But, of course, in this as well as in all other local matters of this kind you should seek the approval of the N.S.A. As to the expenses of printing the work, they should be preferably furnished by the national fund.

The Guardian is also very much pleased to learn of the new publications which the N.S.A. is planning to issue very soon. The printing of the lectures delivered at the last Esslingen Summer School in a book form is, no doubt, highly useful. It is hoped that the funds required in this connection, as well as for other important publications, will be generously contributed by both the individual believers, and the local groups and assemblies.

With reference to the publication of the “Kitáb-i-Íqán” into Esperanto, the Guardian also hopes that some action will be taken in this matter by the N.S.A. But obviously the printing of this, and other non-German works, should be subordinated to the publication of Bahá’í literature in German....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-worker:

I am so eager to learn that your health is fully restored, for I believe your services are a most valuable asset to the Faith you serve in these troublous days. I welcome your efficient and unrelaxing cooperation, in spite of the obstacles which face you, in so many fields of Bahá’í activity. I am confident that as a result of your strenuous endeavours the administrative institutions in your land will be further consolidated and extended and the cause of teaching receive an added impetus.

Your true brother,Shoghi

Letter of 5 April 19365 April 1936Dear Bahá’í Friends,Your most welcome message of the first Naw-Rúz has just arrived and its perusal has brought indescribable joy to our Guardian’s heart. He is so thankful and happy that the friends in Vienna are working so unitedly and with such fervour, and he hopes that as a result the Cause will steadily develop, and your centre will become one of the leading Bahá’í communities in the West.The most vital matter on which the Guardian wishes you to fully concentrate is that of consolidating the foundations of the Administration. Not until your group learns to work efficiently through obedience to the local assembly and under its guidance can there be any hope for future expansion. The friends must all realize the necessity of internal discipline and order which only a properly elected and efficiently functioning body such as the local assembly can effectively maintain. Obedience to the decisions of the local assembly should be unqualified and whole-hearted, as by this means alone can the community work as a united body and achieve something constructive and enduring.The Guardian feels also the necessity of urging you to keep always in touch with the friends in Germany. The center in Vienna, though outside the political boundaries of Germany, forms nevertheless an integral part of the German-speaking Bahá’í community. It is therefore of a vital importance that the ties of fellowship and cooperation between you and the German believers be increasingly strengthened and consolidated so that through your united endeavours the Cause in Germany and Austria may rapidly spread and be established on firm foundations....[From the Guardian:]Dearly beloved friends:I am deeply grateful to you for your constant services, your unswerving loyalty, your firm determination and exemplary devotion to our beloved Cause. Unity and cooperation are absolutely essential and vital at the present stage of your development. Persevere and rest assured I will continue to pray for you all from the depths of my heart.Affectionately,Shoghi

5 April 1936

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

Your most welcome message of the first Naw-Rúz has just arrived and its perusal has brought indescribable joy to our Guardian’s heart. He is so thankful and happy that the friends in Vienna are working so unitedly and with such fervour, and he hopes that as a result the Cause will steadily develop, and your centre will become one of the leading Bahá’í communities in the West.

The most vital matter on which the Guardian wishes you to fully concentrate is that of consolidating the foundations of the Administration. Not until your group learns to work efficiently through obedience to the local assembly and under its guidance can there be any hope for future expansion. The friends must all realize the necessity of internal discipline and order which only a properly elected and efficiently functioning body such as the local assembly can effectively maintain. Obedience to the decisions of the local assembly should be unqualified and whole-hearted, as by this means alone can the community work as a united body and achieve something constructive and enduring.

The Guardian feels also the necessity of urging you to keep always in touch with the friends in Germany. The center in Vienna, though outside the political boundaries of Germany, forms nevertheless an integral part of the German-speaking Bahá’í community. It is therefore of a vital importance that the ties of fellowship and cooperation between you and the German believers be increasingly strengthened and consolidated so that through your united endeavours the Cause in Germany and Austria may rapidly spread and be established on firm foundations....

[From the Guardian:]

Dearly beloved friends:

I am deeply grateful to you for your constant services, your unswerving loyalty, your firm determination and exemplary devotion to our beloved Cause. Unity and cooperation are absolutely essential and vital at the present stage of your development. Persevere and rest assured I will continue to pray for you all from the depths of my heart.

Affectionately,Shoghi

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