|
Abstract:
Account of the stewardship of the Hands of the Cause of God from 1957-63, from the passing of Shoghi Effendi to the election of the House, riding the waves of crisis to the moment of victory — the fulfillment of prophecy.
Notes:
Also available as an updated, corrected Microsoft Word document, prepared by Mike Thomas.
While Ruhiyyih Khanum is not listed as an official author, we have included her as author here because, in the Introduction below, she says the book is "based on the files of the Hands in the Holy Land and on my personal experience as one of the Custodians of the Bahá'í Faith for five and a half years." As well, the Ruhi Book 8 (unit 2 section 1) says of this book "she [Khanum] presents a collection of messages from the Hands of the Cause of God." |
Chapter 4+175 MINISTRY OF THE CUSTODIANS
1960 +176 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK +177 To the Hands of the Cause of God throughout the World January 8, 1960 Beloved Co-workers: Reports received from all parts of the
Bahá'í world tell of the enthusiasm of the friends over the message
sent from the recent gathering of the Hands held in Bahji The
National Assemblies, as well as many of the believers, have assured
us that this message has greatly inspired them and they have
pledged the fullest support in carrying out the detailed plans we
have made for the fulfilment of the supremely important objective
of establishing the requisite number of Local and National
Assemblies by Ridvan 1962. This response has greatly encouraged us
and we hasten to share this good news with you all.
As we all
realized in Bahji the complete unity of the Hands of the Faith at
this crucial time is essential to ensure the triumph of the Plan
of our beloved Guardian and the glorious consummation of the
establishment of the Universal House of Justice in 1963. Above all,
we must adhere strictly to the solemn agreement we made to limit
all discussions of the Guardianship to the references made in the
messages from our three Conclaves. The same of course applies with
equal force to our agreement that none of us would express any view
individually concerning the question of the eligibility of the
Hands for membership on the Universal House of Justice, but would
simply refer the friends to the Writings of the Central Figures of
the Faith, including those of the beloved Guardian.
We have
recently written a letter to all National and Regional Assemblies,
asking them to refrain from publishing or printing any new
treatises or statements relating to the Administrative Order in its
present stage and to the question of the Guardianship. There have
been one or two instances of such things being published which
might cause confusion and unnecessary discussion amongst the
friends. We therefore felt it imperative to take action before
other material of this nature appeared. The response of the
Assemblies concerned has been very cooperative when we called this
matter to their attention.
We have received word that some of the
Hands have not been sufficiently careful in strictly observing the
understandings which we reached, particularly that no comment
whatsoever would be made concerning the Guardianship or its future
except as outlined in our three messages.
We call this to your
attention because we are fearful that the least infraction of this
most important matter on the part of any Hand may lead to very
serious consequences throughout the Bahá'í world. When we visit the
sacred Shrines, we pray most ardently for each and
+178 every one of you and for the success of the great work you are carrying forward in such a sacrificial and effective manner. We
send loving Bahá'í greetings, In the service of the beloved
Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND To the Hands of the Cause of God throughout the World February 11, 1960 Dear Fellow-Hands: It was agreed at the Conclave that the Hands residing
in the Holy Land should from time to time circulate some of the
news contained in the reports and letters that flow in to the World
Centre. We enclose the first of these News Letters which we trust
you will find helpful in your teaching and other activities. We are
asking the National Assemblies to share this with the friends
through their own News Letters.
With warm Bahá'í love, In the service of the beloved
Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND To All National Spiritual Assemblies February 11, 1960 Beloved Friends: Enclosed is a communication from the World Centre, giving
some highlights on the progress of the Faith, gleaned from news
reaching Haifa from all over the Bahá'í world.
We feel that such
a News Letter from the Holy Land, which we plan to issue from time
to time, will be of interest to the friends and provide a source
of inspiration and encouragement. Please share this bulletin with
the believers in your area through your News Letter. With warm Bahá'í love, In the service of the beloved
Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND NEWS FROM THE WORLD CENTRE OF THE FAITH February 11, 1960 Dearly beloved Friends: The Hands of the Faith
in the Holy Land have received many requests
+179 for news direct from the World Centre, and it has been our hope for some time to share with the believers selections from the glad-tidings which reach us here. The two years which have elapsed
since the passing of our dearly beloved Guardian have imposed such
heavy burdens that it has been impossible hitherto for us to
undertake this informal news letter to the friends, which we hope
to be able to send out from time to time in the future. Through the
grace of Bahá'u'lláh, the day-to-day work of the World Centre has
continued very much as it did in the time of our beloved Guardian,
but of course without the divine inspiration, the wondrous wisdom
and love which it then received through the Sign of God on earth.
As the friends have no doubt noticed from the correspondence coming
from the Hands in the Holy Land, we have been blessed with the
assistance on different occasions of many of our fellow-Hands. That
is why the signatures on the letters are not the same at different
times. Some of us are occasionally absent for necessary reasons,
and then one or more of the Hands from another place has come to
our assistance and acted as a substitute. This has greatly enriched
our meetings by bringing us the viewpoints of our fellow-Hands, and
enabling them to acquire an intimate experience with the problems
facing the Bahá'í world in the course of the prosecution of the Ten
Year Crusade. In view of the vast territories of the Western
Hemisphere, and the fact that two of the Hands of the Faith of that
area have moved to the Holy Land, for service at the World Centre,
it was decided at the recent Conclave of the Hands that in addition
to William Sears, Hermann Grossmann should serve as a Hand of the
Western Hemisphere for the remainder of the Crusade. He is now in
South America, actively assisting the two South American Regional
Assemblies in the attainment of their Crusade goals. Many of the
Hands, realizing how little time is left to us to achieve the World
Crusade goals of our beloved Guardian are now engaged in extensive
travels. Ugo Giachery, is making a tour of Central America. John
Robarts, has left Africa for an extended visit to Canada to assist
the friends in attaining their home-front goals. Adelbert
Muhlschlegel, is spending some months in Scandinavia and Finland,
assisting the Regional Assembly of these countries in the
all-important work of teaching and consolidation. 'Ali-Akbar
Furutan one of the Hands serving in the Holy Land, is at present
making a lengthy visit to Iran, encouraging the believers to arise
as pioneers for centres abroad, as well as in Iran itself.
Shu'a'u'llah 'Ala'i is visiting centres in the Indian
sub-continent, the Northern Pacific
+180 region, and Japan. The other continental Hands are carrying on their activities at a heightened pace. At the present time the Hand of the Cause Tarazu'llah Samandari, is working in Haifa on the identification of the handwriting of the innumerable Tablets collected in the International Bahá'í Archives. His long association with the Faith, dating from the days of the Blessed Beauty Himself, has made him familiar to a unique degree with the penmanship of the Bab. Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and their various amanuenses, and ideally fits him for this important service. The
prominence of the edifices associated with the World Centre of the
Faith is steadily increasing in Israel, like a constellation that
mounts the heavens as the hours advance. The peace and beauty which
streams from the inner Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh and the splendour of
the Haram-i-Aqdas which surrounds it; the Shrine of the Bab. the
International Archives Building, and the extensive surrounding
gardens of both buildings, are becoming recognized more and more
as outstanding sites in this country. Indeed it can be truly said
that nothing comparable to these buildings and gardens exists
anywhere in Israel, or for that matter on the shores of the
Mediterranean Sea. Innumerable postcards, greeting cards,
photographs and books publicize the Holy Shrines and their environs
in Haifa and 'Akka, A ceaseless stream of tourists from abroad and
from different towns in Israel flows into the Shrine gardens daily;
tour buses and school buses pour hundreds of sight-seers into the
Bahá'í Holy Places; and there can be no doubt that just as the
Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in America is a great silent teacher, as the
Master said it would be, so the Shrines here have likewise become
mighty teachers of the Faith. We feel sure that in the future a
rich harvest will be reaped from the many souls who have visited
their sacred precincts. It is surprising how many of the visitors
inform the friends who show them around that they have Bahá'í
friends or relatives in other countries. Ten years ago this was a
remark rarely heard, but it is now becoming commonplace, and
testifies to the extraordinary progress the Faith has made all over
the world -- a progress directly attributable to the unremitting
labours, the determination and the self-sacrifice of our beloved
Guardian. The plans made by him are continually bearing fruit.
Since his passing, with the exception of a few remaining
territories in the Soviet zone of influence, every single virgin
country specified by him in the Ten Year Crusade has been opened
to the Faith. Paul Adams succeeded, as the friends know, in opening
Spitzbergen in 1958, and this devoted young Knight of Bahá'u'lláh,
after overcoming many difficulties, was able to return this winter
to that far northern outpost. During the last few months Jeanne
Frankel and her mother, Elizabeth Bates, were able to enter the
Cocos Islands. This goal of the Ten Year Plan had been previously
+181 opened to the Faith by Frank Wyss, Knight of Bahá'u'lláh from Australia. Unfortunately he was refused permission to remain, but Jeanne has been more fortunate, and the wonderful news has recently reached us that she now has a group of Bahá'ís in that far-off tropical island. Great indeed is the power of Bahá'u'lláh! It is
not possible to go into details of the progress being made all over
the world; however, some of the highlights are indeed thrilling.
Recently in Swaziland the Faith has been listed as a fourth
religion by the Government. Last year it was possible for Collis
Featherstone to visit, at the invitation of some of the Maori
chiefs in New Zealand, a centre of Maori culture and to present the
Faith to the leaders of the people. As all religious teaching has
been forbidden in that area because of the conflicts the different
Christian sects aroused amongst the people, this was indeed a
unique honour conferred by the Maori leaders upon a representative
of our Faith. The chiefs were deeply impressed and requested that
literature be left for their people to study. The third
all-American Indian Bahá'í Assembly was formed last April in
Bolivia, and since then many hundreds of Indians have entered the
Faith-outstanding steps toward fulfilment of one of the dearest
hopes of the beloved Guardian, who urged the friends on many
occasions to remember the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in the Divine
Plan, that if the original inhabitants of America accepted the
Faith they would become as enkindled as the original inhabitants
of Arabia who accepted the Prophet Muhammad. Among the many
outstanding advances in Africa may be cited the extraordinary
number of enrolments in Uganda and Kenya, which are now on such a
scale as to present a serious problem to the administrative bodies
responsible. There are just not enough Bahá'ís to keep up with the
work of checking the declaration cards that come in! The mass
conversion desired and foretold by the beloved Guardian is now
taking place in this area, as well as in the Malayan Archipelago
and other areas of the Pacific. It presents a great challenge and
a wonderful hope for the future. Schools run by Bahá'ís for the
Africans are perforce increasing throughout the continent as the
Faith spreads and the Bahá'í membership increases so rapidly. In
view of the urgent need for pioneers to fill the goals in Latin
America and Europe, it is encouraging to note that there is a
strong internal movement of pioneers. At least ten German Bahá'ís
have arisen and volunteered to go to the aid of their sister
communities in neighbouring countries. This is a great step
forward, as the German Bahá'í Community has had special
responsibilities and honours conferred upon it by both 'Abdu'l-Bahá
and the Guardian. In Latin America also, many pioneers are leaving
the established communities, to settle in the
+182 goal cities where Local Assemblies must be formed this coming Ridvan. Plans for the construction of the Mother Temple of Europe
in Frankfurt are at last beginning to take concrete form. The
German National Spiritual Assembly, in view of past frustrating
experiences had refused to purchase outright the Temple property
until such time as permission to build was assured from the
authorities. This now having at last been obtained, the deeds to
the property have been transferred to the name of the Assembly. The
architect's working drawings are well under way, and as soon as
weather permits, actual work on the site will be commenced. As the
friends are aware, the Mother Temple of Africa, situated in
Kampala, will be dedicated at the beginning of next summer. The
Mother Temple of Australia is advancing at a rapid pace, and
although the exterior of the building may be completed by the
coming Ridvan plans for its dedication are being made for the
following year, in other words, 1961. The funds for these two
Temples, thanks to the munificence of the beloved Guardian himself,
and the generosity of the believers, have been assured; but the
greater part of the funds needed to construct the German Temple has
still to be raised, and this presents a serious challenge to the
Bahá'ís throughout the world in completing this vital goal of the
Fourth Phase of the Crusade before 1963. The many pilgrims who
visited the Holy Land will remember how often the beloved Guardian
mentioned his heavy burdens, and that he was over-worked and
concerned over the multitudinous problems which faced him. This
work and these problems have fallen to the lot of the Hands of the
Faith, who have been obliged and privileged to assume the burden
at the World Centre. We ask the believers to remember us in their
prayers as we remember them in ours in the Holy Shrines. We realize
that only the grace of Bahá'u'lláh can assist us all-His followers
all over the world-to bring to a successful conclusion the mighty
plan of our beloved Guardian. We also realize, however, that the
grace of God must be attracted by a magnet in this world. The
magnet, we know, is purity of heart, dedication in service,
obedience to the Divine commands, and willingness to sacrifice. We
urge all of the friends, whoever they are and wherever they are
serving, whatever their station in life, their age, their education
or abilities, to remember their individual and collective
responsibility for executing the Plan of God. Let them study the
Guardian's World Crusade, and determine in what manner locally,
nationally, on the home front or in the international arena they
can most effectively assist in laying the foundation of that
supreme edifice, the Universal House of Justice. In the service of
the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND
+183 To All National Spiritual Assemblies February 21, 1960 Dear Bahá'í Friends: We would like to remind you of our request that all
National Spiritual Assemblies submit semi-annual reports to reach
the Holy Land not later than October 15 and March 15. The
information you send us each year in the March 15 report is of
great assistance in preparing our Ridvan Message to the Annual
Conventions, which summarizes the progress of the Faith throughout
the world. It is vital that these reports reach Haifa not later
than March 15. Our previous communications have outlined the
specific information to be included in these reports. This next
report should include, in addition to the number of Assemblies,
groups and isolated centres a brief summary of the status of the
settlement of the goal cities chosen to achieve the vitally
important home-front objectives in your area, as well as a list of
teaching conferences and schools held in your territory since last
Ridvan. The report should also include any particularly noteworthy
or interesting achievements during the past year, whether they
represent World Crusade victories or the achievement of
supplementary goals. With warm Bahá'í love, In the service of the
beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND RIDVAN MESSAGE 1960 To Annual Bahá'í Conventions Dearly beloved Friends: Another twelve months of important Bahá'í events have revolved upon
the mighty axis of our beloved Guardian's divinely inspired, world
encompassing Crusade. Once again, at this blessed Ridvan period,
we pause to survey the accomplishments of the past year, to
enumerate its victories and to assess the tasks that still lie
ahead ere we reach the goal of 1963 and enter upon the celebration
of the supreme Jubilee of our Faith, the hundredth anniversary of
the Declaration of Bahá'u'lláh's Mission -- a Mission which casts
its light forward over five hundred thousand years of human
destiny. We Bahá'ís may well raise our hearts in thanksgiving to
Him for the constant evidences of His unfailing grace, protection
and guidance vouchsafed to us, the small but faithful band of His
followers
+184 scattered throughout the populous and ancient centres of culture in both the East and the West, throughout the wildernesses of Africa and the New World, and the far-flung islands of the seas. In spite of the heavy blow we received so recently through earthly separation from our Guardian --a blow from which our hearts still bleed; in spite of our frailty as chosen instruments of God; in spite of the fewness of our numbers in the face of the teeming millions as yet unaware of the advent of the Promised One of all ages; in spite of the circumscribed nature of our material resources in spite of all these things we witness that this Faith of ours is receiving an uninterrupted impetus from the Will of Bahá'u'lláh and that its nascent institutions, given to us by Him, elaborated by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and erected by Shoghi Effendi are multiplying in number, growing in strength, casting down deeper roots into the life of society, increasing in prestige and demonstrating the power nascent within them which must flower eventually into a World Civilization and bring about that Golden Age which will in truth be the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth. The
process of knitting the Bahá'í world together and coordinating its
far-flung activities, which was carried on from the World Centre
of our Faith by the beloved Guardian, has steadily continued since
his passing and bears witness to the enduring foundations he laid
during the thirty-six years of unremitting toil and self-sacrifice
which characterized his ministry. The brilliance of his planning,
the far-reaching vision which inspired his decisions, the vitality
of the Administrative Order he built up during his lifetime,
continue to bear fruit. The "heart and nerve centre" of the Faith,
the hub into which the spokes of this mighty wheel of God, this New
World Order, fit has continued to function with unabated vitality,
receiving its spiritual impetus from the twin Holy Shrines in which
are laid to rest the Twin Manifestations of God for this Day, and
pouring this life-force into the world-wide Community of the
followers of the Most Great Name, in spite of having so recently
passed through one of the worst crises in one hundred and seventeen
years of Bahá'í history. The Ten Year Plan, the latest step in the
unfoldment of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Divine Plan designed to bring about
the spiritual conquest of the entire globe, has forged ahead in a
truly miraculous manner since that grievous and fateful November
day in 1957 which witnessed the removal of its guiding force, its
Commander-in-Chief, the designer of its every phase, and the one
to whom its prosecutors, whether Hands, Board members,
administrative bodies, pioneers or teachers, looked for words of
encouragement and guidance and from whom they eagerly anticipated
receiving that measure of reward or acclaim that he in his wisdom
and love might bestow upon them. Not only has the unity of the
Faith been protected, the plans of its
+185 enemies forestalled and its properties safeguarded, but the spirit of the believers has not faltered in the darkest hour of test. We may truly say that it is this great pact of faith in the hearts of the friends that has held the Cause steadily on the course chartered for it by its Guardian, and has been the magnet attracting so many new souls to the Faith during the past two years. It is this force of faith in Bahá'u'lláh and love for Him that has swept the Bahá'ís of the world forward to such astonishing victories as the establishment during this present Ridvan period of the entire number of Spiritual Assemblies specified by the beloved Guardian in the Ten Year Plan as the necessary foundation for the future independent national Bahá'í bodies of Latin America. Those responsible for this feat obeyed his behest to ". . . set their faces towards those fields that still remain unexplored and direct their steps to those goals that are as yet unattained, assured that He Who has led them to achieve such triumphs . . . will continue to assist them in enriching their spiritual birthright to a degree that no finite mind can imagine or human heart perceive." How shining are the evidences that this promised support has been vouchsafed to them by Bahá'u'lláh Himself. Last Ridvan with so many Local Assemblies still needed in Latin America, the heights still to be scaled seemed unattainable; this Ridvan the banner of conquest floats proudly from every hilltop. How greatly must Shoghi Effendi's heart rejoice! The truly extraordinary
evidences of progress throughout the entire range of Bahá'í
activity should cause us all to ponder anew the mysterious power
of this Faith, to marvel at the secret springs that so constantly
feed its needs, and to supplicate that during the coming year a
still greater measure of Bahá'u'lláh's loving protection, His
all-conquering strength, His unfailing guidance, may be vouchsafed
to us in the prosecution of the beloved Guardian's mighty Crusade.
With humble gratitude for the untiring and consecrated labours of
our fellow-believers and deep joy in their achievements, we share
with the friends the truly remarkable list of the major events and
victories of this past year. The number of territories comprising
the World Community of the Most Great Name has now risen to the
impressive total of two hundred and fifty-six, including all of the
one hundred and thirty-one original virgin goals of the World
Crusade listed by our beloved Guardian, with the exception of ten
territories within the Soviet orbit. One of the most difficult
objectives of the Ten Year Plan, Hainan Island, has recently been
opened by a stalwart Knight of Bahá'u'lláh of Chinese origin,
adding another pearl to that chain of islands girdling the Asiatic
mainland. The steady process of multiplication of localities where
Bahá'ís reside in all parts of the globe has raised the total of
these centres to over five thousand eight hundred, far exceeding
"the goal of five thousand Bahá'í
+186 centres in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres" called for by our beloved Guardian in his Ridvan Message three short years ago. More than thirteen hundred localities have been added since his passing, over six hundred of these during the past year alone. This
uninterrupted expansion, brought about by the twin processes of
dispersion and enrolment of new believers, has brought the number
of such centres in the Goal Countries of Europe to more than a
hundred and forty; in Germany and Austria, to a hundred and
forty-eight; in the British Isles to a hundred and fifty-one; in
Australasia and in the Dominion of Canada, respectively, to nearly
a hundred and sixty; in the Indian subcontinent to a hundred and
eighty; in Latin America to nearly three hundred and forty; in the
Pacific area to over five hundred; in Persia to more than one
thousand and seventy; in the African continent to eleven hundred
and forty; and in the United States of America to nearly fifteen
hundred and seventy. In the African continent and throughout the
Pacific region, areas encompassing almost half of the original one
hundred and thirty-one virgin territories to be opened during the
World Crusade, extraordinary progress continues to be made, the
rate of increase far surpassing that in any other parts of the
world and bearing conclusive witness to the spiritual vitality in
the hearts of their indigenous peoples. As evidence of this mighty
process of conversion now taking place, we may cite the fact that
over four hundred new centres have been added in Africa during the
past two years, and over two hundred in the Pacific region during
the last twelve months. In Latin America, the scene next year of
the formation of no less than twenty-one new National Spiritual
Assemblies, more than a hundred centres have been added since last
Ridvan a feat the magnitude of which cannot be sufficiently
stressed when one considers the vast territory involved and the
relatively small number of believers able to carry forward the work
of the Crusade. The number of Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout
the world, referred to by our Guardian as the "foundation of the
edifice of a rising Order", is rapidly approaching one thousand
five hundred, reflecting an increase of almost two hundred in each
of the last two Ridvan periods. Of these more than two hundred and
forty are now incorporated. Over half of the thirty-one National
and Regional Spiritual Assemblies now established have achieved the
Crusade goal of incorporation, seventeen having so far secured this
legal registration, the latest being the energetic National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Burma, which has just
received, less than a year after its own formation, official
recognition by the Government of the Union of Burma. Translations
of the continually expanding literature of the Faith have
+187 now been made in two hundred and sixty-eight different languages, representing an increase of nearly one hundred and eighty since the inception of the Crusade. Ninety-six of these are supplementary to those originally specified by our beloved Guardian in the Ten Year Plan. During the Crusade years Bahá'í literature has been translated into all of the European languages called for in the Plan; into eighty-two of the indigenous languages of Asia; sixty-five of Africa; and over twenty in the Americas. Progress in
erecting the three great Mother Temples of Africa, Australasia and
Europe is steadily continuing. Practically three years before the
end of the World Crusade the beautiful and highly suitable
Mashriqu'l-Adkhar at present reaching completion in the heart of
Africa, will be dedicated, during this coming August, at a ceremony
attended by believers from many districts and territories of what
was once known as the "dark continent" but now shines as one of the
brightest regions of the entire Bahá'í world. The Temple in Sydney,
Australia, is rising at a rapid pace, and already this great
"silent teacher" of the Antipodes is attracting wide publicity and
the attention of thousands of people who pass by it daily on an
adjacent main highway. It is anticipated that its dedication will
take place early in 1961. The plans for the European
Mashriqu'l-Adkhar, long the subject of opposition on the part of
certain church elements in Germany, are now well advanced and it
is hoped that construction can commence during the coming months
at the Temple site near Frankfurt. These historic first steps
in-the process of erecting Houses of Worship and their attendant
institutions, which play such an important part in the Bahá'í
society envisaged by Bahá'u'lláh, are being followed up and
supported through the purchase of many sites for future Temples.
During the past year, Japan, Austria, Bolivia, Guatemala and the
Dominican Republic have acquired plots of land for this purpose,
raising the number of such sites since the inauguration of the Ten
Year Plan to the truly impressive total of thirty-three. Among the
many other properties added in various parts of the world during
the past year to the already impressive list of Bahá'í holdings,
the following are of special interest because of the official
recognition which their acquisition has involved, giving increasing
emphasis to the independent character of the Faith, and adding to
its prestige: The approval, by the District Commissioner of Kenya,
of the allocation of two plots of land in village areas for Bahá'í
purposes, and the pending approval of a third plot; the
authorization, confirmed through a special decree issued by the
Ministry of Finance in Laos, for the Bahá'í Community in Vientiane
to own in its name a plot of land as an endowment; and the
recognition by Governmental authorities of Bahá'í burial grounds
as such in Abbotabad, Nawabshah and Montgomery, in Pakistan, and
in Seremban, Malaya, the
+188 three latter sites being direct allocations of Government land for the purpose of establishing separate Balid'i cemeteries. Another
evidence of the growing recognition of the independent character
of the Faith is the continued expansion in the number of
territories, states, provinces and other civic units where the
Balid'i Marriage Certificate is legally accepted. Such recognition
has now been granted in nearly forty-five different countries and
political sub-divisions, the latest additions being the provinces
of Alberta and Saskatchewan in the Dominion of Canada. The Balid'i
Holy Days are now officially recognized by school authorities in
eighty different countries, states and cities. In the United
States, including Alaska, more than ten new areas have been added
since last Ridvan. In the African continent, the onward march of
the Faith bears eloquent testimony to the spiritual receptivity of
its inhabitants, so strongly emphasized by our beloved Guardian,
and reflected, even before his passing, in the beginnings of that
mass conversion confidently predicted by him. As a result of the
intensive teaching campaigns launched by the four African Regional
Assemblies, the number of declared believers throughout this vast
continent has risen to well over fifteen thousand, seven thousand
having been added since last Ridvan. In Central and East Africa,
the number of enrolled believers has more than doubled in the short
space of a year. Over four thousand new declarations have been
recorded in Uganda alone since April 1959, nearly twelve hundred
in Kenya, and well over two hundred in Tanganyika. In the Belgian
Congo, also, the beginnings of mass conversion are becoming
evident. In the far-flung territories under the jurisdiction of the
Regional Assembly of South and West Africa, a gain of over sixty
percent has occurred during the past twelve months in the total
number of adherents of the Faith. The zeal of the now believers in
this area is well illustrated, by the recent settlement of the
Island of Sesse in Lake Victoria, an accomplishment of a nature
ever dear to Shoghi Effendi's heart. The number of Local Spiritual
Assemblies in the whole of Africa has reached a total of three
hundred and seventy-six, an increase of well over two hundred since
the passing of the beloved Guardian. Representatives of two hundred
and seventy-three different African tribes are now included in the
membership of the Balid'i Community. Noteworthy among the many new
instances of official recognition accorded the Faith during the
past year are: The establishment and registration of the first
Balid'i Publishing Trust in Africa, in Kampala, Uganda; the
inclusion of "Bahá'í' on the official census sheet as one of the
religions of Swaziland; and the registration of the Haziratu'l-Quds
of Port Victoria, Seychelles as a religious property, thereby
exempting it from all taxation.
+189 The Pacific area, exclusive of Australasia, competing with the
African continent for that "Palm of victory" so often mentioned by
the beloved Guardian himself, continues to fulfil the high
expectations held by him for the rapid advancement of the Faith
throughout its widely dispersed countries, islands and territories.
Last year the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies in this region
had reached one short of the hundred mark double the number which
existed in 1957, and a further substantial increase is anticipated
during the present Ridvan period. In the region of South-East Asia,
the number of declared believers now exceeds seven thousand five
hundred, including over forty-eight hundred in the Mentawai Islands
alone. In addition to the astounding progress being made there,
more than a thousand new believers have entered the Faith in
Indonesia during the period since Ridvan, 1959. In the ten island
groups comprising the territory of the Regional Assembly of the
South Pacific, there are now nearly sixty localities. A three-fold
increase in the number of centres in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands
has occurred in the past year, and news has recently been received
that on one of these islands, to which the first Gilbertese Bahá'í
was banished because of his association with the Faith, nearly
fifty new believers have recently been enrolled, due to his
single-handed efforts. One Haziratu'l-Quds has already been
completed in this remote outpost, and two more are under
construction. In the vast territory of the Western Hemisphere,
including within its confines the Cradle of the Administrative
Order, as well as those republics whose rulers were addressed by
Bahá'u'lláh in such insistent and weighty terms, the number of
localities to which the light of His Faith has penetrated now
totals nearly two thousand one hundred, well over three hundred of
which constitute Local Spiritual Assemblies; almost a hundred and
forty of these are now incorporated. The rapid spread of the Faith
among the Indians of South America in recent months has rivaled
the extraordinary progress made in the heart of the African
continent and the islands of the Pacific, and may well foreshadow
a parallel process of mass conversion in the New World. In Bolivia,
a seven-fold increase in the number of Indian believers has
occurred since last Ridvan bringing the total to over the one
thousand mark, drawn from almost a hundred different localities.
As many as twenty-five new all-Indian Local Spiritual Assemblies
may be formed in this country alone during the current Ridvan
period. Throughout the Americas contact has been established with
more than sixty different tribes since the inception of the
Crusade, evidence of the steady progress made in carrying the
Teachings to these indigenous peoples to whose enrolment in the
Faith both 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and our beloved Guardian attached such
great importance. Among the many instances of an ever-wider
proclamation of the Message
+190 of Bahá'u'lláh during recent months, the following may be cited as an indication of the wide geographical area now being reached, and a testimony to the increasing official and public recognition of the Faith as an independent religion: The Australia-wide press and publicity campaign recently initiated by the National Assembly of that country; the first publicity received over both radio and television in the British Isles; the broadcast of a program consisting of Bahá'í Sacred Writings over the All-India Radio from New Delhi; the presentation of the Message to the people of Japan on Radio Tokyo, and from a national television station in that country; the time accorded to a Bahá'í speaker in Switzerland over Radio Lausanne, as well as the television interview granted a travelling teacher in France, which was telecast from two principal stations in that country; the allocation of radio broadcast time to the Local Spiritual Assembly of Suva, Fiji Islands, along with other religions, including Christian, Hindu and Muslim; and the notable increase in publicity freely accorded the Faith in the United States of America, particularly in connection with such Bahá'í-sponsored events as World Religion Day, Race Amity Day, and the Bahá'í observance of United Nations Week. An enumeration of the
various teaching conferences, institutes and week-end schools held
throughout the world during the last twelve months is most
impressive, not only because of the very large number which took
place, but also because nearly every part of the world-wide Bahá'í
Community is represented. Though not necessarily complete, the
following is a representative list of these gatherings, which our
beloved Guardian considered to be a demonstration of the zeal and
earnestness of the believers in "discharging their primary
obligation to propagate their Faith": The Austrian Teaching
Conferences held during the past winter in Vienna, and in Linz, as
well as the first Austrian Youth Winter School in Krieglach; the
Benelux Teaching Conference in Brussels; the striking total of one
hundred and sixteen teaching conferences, one-day and week-end
schools held in twenty-four different cities and towns in the
British Isles; the Regional Teaching Conferences held in Germany,
in Hannover, Heilbronn, Koln, Stuttgart, Ulm, and two in Frankfurt;
the two Regional Teaching Conferences held in France, in Orleans
and Montpellier; the six Regional Teaching Conferences held in the
Iberian Peninsula; the Teaching Conference for the German-speaking
cantons of Switzerland, in Zurich, and that for French Switzerland,
in Lausanne; the Italian Teaching Conference, in Rome; the Finnish
Teaching Conference, in Helsinki; the three Teaching Conferences
of India, in New Delhi, Kanpur, and Mysore; the Teaching
Conferences of Japan, in Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki; the
Teaching Conference of East Pakistan, at Dacca, and of West
Pakistan, at Lyallpore; the forty-five teaching
+191 conferences and week-end schools held in Central and East Africa, including thirty-five in Uganda, four in Kenya, four in Tanganyika, and one in Ruanda-Urundi; the teaching conferences and teacher training schools held in Mauritius, Mozambique, both Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Swaziland, the Union of South Africa, and Zululand; the many teaching conferences in the Australian continent, including three in each of the States of Victoria, and Queensland, respectively, two each in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, and the same number in Tasmania; the teaching conferences held in all of the main centres of the North Island of New Zealand; the first All-Philippine Teaching Conference, in Manila, and the conferences held in Indonesia, Malaya, and other areas of Southeast Asia; the Teaching Conferences of the South Pacific Islands, at Tuarabu Village, in the Gilbert and Ellice group, in Apia, Western Samoa, the three conferences held in the Tongan Islands, and the Fiji Teaching Conference in Suva; the Winter Workshop held on the campus of the University of Alaska, at Fairbanks; the Winter Conference in Ketchikan, Alaska; the All-Argentine Teaching Conference, in Rosario, and similar conferences held in Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay; the National Teaching Conferences of Peru, in Lima, and of Brazil, in Niteroi; the twenty-five teaching conferences held in Canada, covering every province of the Dominion, and including thirteen in Ontario alone; the Costa Rica Teaching Conference in San Jose; the Teaching Conference of Nicaragua, held in Managua; the All-Mexico Conference, in Mexico City; the Youth Congress held in Guatemala City; the Intercommunity Teaching Conference of Panama, in La Chorrera; the Honduran Teaching Conference, held in Taulabe; the three International Schools of the Greater Antilles, one in Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic, and two in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as well as two National Teaching Conferences in the same area; and the series of nation-wide conferences, nearly sixty in number, held in the United States of America, sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly, and aimed at creating a deeper understanding of the needs of the Cause at this present stage of the World Crusade, and designed to lend a marked impetus to the teaching work, both abroad and on the home front, as well as approximately sixty additional Area Teaching Conferences held throughout the length and breadth of that country. The recapitulation of facts such as these,
concrete evidence of the astonishing forward march of this
irresistible, divinely-inspired Plan, cannot but fill our souls
with courage and determination to arise and carry out the remaining
tasks of the World Crusade with greater vigour and dedication than
ever before. The supreme importance and significance of the World
Centre of the
+192 Faith, irrevocably fixed by Bahá'u'lláh Himself in the Holy Land, and constantly stressed by the Guardian in his writings, has emerged since his passing and looms before us in its stupendous outlines, as the Most Great Jubilee approaches and the institutions of the World Centre evolve. It is incumbent upon the Bahá'ís particularly their elected National and Regional representatives, to realize that the unity of the Faith and the necessary uniform spread of its activities depend upon the proper co-ordination and protection which is given from the World Centre. National or Regional plans or interests cannot be permitted to sacrifice the overall interests of a closely-knit, smoothly functioning World Community. The eagerness of the Assemblies, and the believers they represent, each striving to attain in its own area a greater measure of development, to raise up new institutions such as Haziratu'l-Quds, Temples, schools and endowments, must be at once fostered and contained; fostered so that the Faith may arise locally in all its glory and power in different parts of the world; contained and directed so that each part whilst expanding and developing as fast as possible may not place in jeopardy the work of another area or undertake over-expansion or expenditure at the expense of another member of this single entity -a World Community. A constant consultative flow of communications must ever-increasingly, as the Crusade draws to its close, pass in and out of Haifa between the various National and Regional Assemblies and the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land upon whom has devolved the task at this critical juncture in Balid'i history of safeguarding and promoting the world interests and world-wide progress of the Cause of God. During this year of momentous
preparation for the election of no less than twenty-one new
National Spiritual Assemblies in Central America, the Antilles and
South America, a ceaseless effort must be exerted on the part of
all those responsible for the fulfilment of these supremely
important goals of the Crusade in order to ensure that the newly
elected Local Assemblies, as well as those previously elected,
remain at their present level, that they be deepened in faith and
understanding of the Administrative Order, that the Communities
they represent are increased in number and the rank and file of the
believers more deeply confirmed in the spirit of the Faith and
encouraged to serve its interests and spread its knowledge among
the peoples of their respective countries. This is going to require
arduous work on the part of those devoted and consecrated pioneers
who constitute the vanguard of Bahá'u'lláh's advancing hosts; it
is going to mean more pioneers and teachers may still be required
in this strategic field of service; it will entail on the part of
the Mother Community in North America an unabated flow of
assistance in the form of loving consultation, cooperation and
guidance, as well as a supply of
+193 material means from this more prosperous and richly blessed community to these struggling new daughter communities, rich in spirit and in promise, but often lacking in the financial resources necessary to attain their objectives and maintain their centres it is going to necessitate further outpourings of treasure from the devoted self-sacrificing followers of Bahá'u'lláh in the Cradle of the Faith who already, through the operation of the Persia-America deputization plan, have been responsible during the past eighteen months for much of the present spectacular success we now enjoy in the Latin American field; it will entail a greater measure of activity on the part of both the Board members and the elected representatives of the present four Regional National Assemblies functioning in this area. It must inevitably draw heavily upon the strength and the time-so fleeting, so short and therefore so precious-of the Hands of the Faith, both those serving at the World Centre and those allotted to the Western Hemisphere. We are confident, however, that these needs can and will be met and the glorious prize now well within our reach be seized in all its perfection and the new National Assemblies emerge next Ridvan in all their promise, prepared to assume their function as pillars of that Universal House of Justice so soon to be born. We are
evidently entering a new phase in the unfoldment of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's
Plan for the spiritual conquest of the entire planet. A movement
can be seen in different parts of the world such as has not been
witnessed since the inception of this Cause in Persia. The masses
are beginning to stir, to raise their eyes and look questioningly
upon the Message we are presenting to them; at first by hundreds,
now in some places by thousands, they are embracing this Faith,
fulfilling the prophecies of the Master and the words of the
Guardian. Although at the present time this new process is taking
place largely amongst the so-called more primitive members of human
society, introducing into the Bahá'í family of peoples much needed
qualities of both heart and mind, we have every reason to believe
it presages similar movements of mass conversion in other
territories. The impact of the passing of our beloved Guardian, the
electric shock it administered to the entire body of the believers,
the fire of sorrow and test through which they passed and from
which they are emerging stronger than ever before, cannot but
release, as has every major crisis in the past history of our
Faith, a fresh flow of those forces which mysteriously and
irresistibly lead it to new victories, widen the pale of its
influence, and swell the ranks of its followers. In view of this
conspicuous process now taking place we call upon those pioneers
and believers struggling in distant and difficult fields and
particularly those in the recently opened territories, to persevere
in their labours, to take fresh heart, to appreciate the spiritual
significance of the service they are rendering and remain
+194 steadfastly at their posts-posts so dear to our beloved Guardian and to which he attached such great importance. Though the soil of men's hearts be infertile, the spiritual climate of their thoughts inhospitable and the promised harvest seem but a distant dream, let them remember their sacred responsibility as Bahá'u'lláh's "forward-marching warriors" and steadfastly persevere in their task until they not only achieve success, but God willing, in the end bless the land they have served so faithfully by laying their bones to rest in it, as many a pioneer has done before them, and their graves become places of visitation for future generations. The
recent, little short of miraculous, achievements in Latin America
demonstrate to us what hidden springs of strength are released in
us when we obey the behests of our Guardian. They prove to us that
the promised aid of the Supreme Concourse is at hand, eager to
assist us, and that in the words of Shoghi Effendi its "invisible
battalions are mustered, rank upon rank, ready to pour forth
reinforcements from on High" and sustain even the humblest service
undertaken in the Path of God. Very little time remains to us if
we are to accomplish fully and with resounding success the tasks
allotted to us by Shoghi Effendi in the last, mighty Plan we
received from him, the final fruit of his divinely-inspired mind.
We need not, we cannot, and we will not fail him. It lies within
our power to seal with complete victory his world-encircling
Crusade. This can only be done, however, if mighty and ceaseless
efforts are made by each and every believer and more particularly
those who form a part of such richly blessed and favoured
Communities as those in the Cradle of the Faith and in the Cradle
of its Administrative Order. Aside from the task of consolidating
and maintaining the work in Latin America, prior to the election
in Ridvan 1961 of the twenty-one independent National Assemblies
to be formed there, a tremendous amount of work faces the Bahá'ís
whether they be Hands, national bodies entrusted with specific
tasks, teachers or pioneers. In Europe, where no less than eleven
National Assemblies must be formed in the spring of 1962, the
requisite number of Local Assemblies, the foundation for these new
institutions, is far from being complete. Approximately forty must
be constituted by next April. The field is difficult, the people,
sunk in materialism, often cynical and disillusioned as a result
of two world wars, are indifferent to religious truth and
preoccupied with the economic problems and social diversions of a
highly civilized continent. All these factors constitute one of the
greatest challenges of the entire Crusade. A Faith, however, for
which twenty thousand of its adherents died as martyrs, which has
planted its banner in a little over a hundred years in two hundred
and fifty-six territories of the globe, embracing every independent
nation, every dominion, mandate and trust territory and all the
major islands of the world,
+195 whose valiant pioneers and teachers are scattered like life-giving seed in every comer of the planet, has the power within it to sweep away every obstacle in its path. If the present National Assemblies focus their strength and concentrate their thoughts, resources and energies on the goals they must attain; if the individual believers consult their hearts and their consciences and arise and proceed to the battle-fronts most in need of their assistance; then the power placed by God in the Ten Year Plan, the third and final stage of the initial epoch in the evolution of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Master Plan, will, like a mighty tidal wave, sweep away every remaining obstacle and carry us to glorious victory. We must face the fact
that a still greater measure of self-sacrifice is required of us
than perhaps at any previous time in the prosecution of the World
Crusade. Two-thirds of this Crusade is already won; the opening of
the virgin territories, the translation of our literature into so
many diversified languages, the erection of continental Houses of
Worship, the multiplication of Assemblies and centres the
increasing recognition of the independent character of our Faith,
the incorporation of its administrative bodies, the formation of
new national bodies, are either accomplished facts or now lie well
within our grasp. The last third, however, still remains. The new
National Assemblies must be securely raised on their specified
foundations; the home fronts, the very bedrock of existing older
National Assemblies, which have lagged far behind the general rate
of progress achieved in other fields, must now receive the
assistance which alone can fulfil their objectives, namely, a wide
increase in settlers and an influx of new souls enlisted under the
banner of Bahá'u'lláh through a renewed and unremitting teaching
effort. And finally, the European Temple, one of the most important
goals of the Ten Year Plan, still remains to be erected. The
accomplishment of these tasks not only requires a fresh dedication
to our work on the part of every single believer, but of necessity
will demand a great outpouring of our material resources. The
strength of the Cause of God in all Dispensations, however, has
been in the rank and file of its adherents; it is the meek, the
obscure, the poor, indeed often the needy, who have arisen like
veritable spiritual giants and established its institutions, raised
its first precious edifices, carried its Message to the masses,
laid down their lives for its Teachings, and demonstrated the
regenerating spiritual power of the Word of its Manifestation. So
today, as our Guardian's Crusade approaches its end, it is to the
rank and file of the believers that we must took. From them will
come its heroes, saints and martyrs; they will be the ones to
fulfil the hopes of Shoghi Effendi to realize the promises of
'Abdu'l-Bahá, to lay the foundations of the World Order of
Bahá'u'lláh on an unshakeable foundation, to win the ultimate
victory.
+196 The beloved Guardian made quite clear the supreme role of every
single Bahá'í He said, one year after the inception of the World
Crusade, that "This challenge, so severe and insistent, and yet so
glorious, faces no doubt primarily the individual believer on whom,
in the last resort, depends the fate of the entire community. He
it is who constitutes the warp and woof on which the quality and
pattern of the whole fabric must depend. He it is who acts as one
of the countless links in the mighty chain that now girdles the
globe. He it is who serves as one of the multitude of bricks which
support the structure and ensure the stability of the
administrative edifice now being raised in every part of the world.
Without his support, at once whole-hearted, continuous and
generous, every measure adopted, and every plan formulated, by the
body which acts as the national representative of the community to
which he belongs, is foredoomed to failure. The World Centre of the
Faith itself is paralyzed if such a support on the part of the rank
and file of the community is denied it. The Author of the Divine
Plan Himself is impeded in His purpose if the proper instruments
for the execution of His design are lacking. The sustaining
strength of Bahá'u'lláh Himself, the Founder of the Faith, will be
withheld from every and each individual who fails in the long run
to arise and play his part." The Master has made clear in an
impelling and impassioned appeal, the overwhelming potency of the
forces released by Bahá'u'lláh, which activate those who respond
to His call. These words surely leave none of us any excuse for
failing in our duty to God, Bahá'u'lláh and His Cause: "The undying
Fire which the Lord of the Kingdom hath kindled in the midst of the
holy Tree is burning fiercely in the midmost heart of the world.
The conflagration it will provoke will envelop the whole earth. Its
blazing flames will illuminate its peoples and kindreds. All the
signs have been revealed; every prophetic allusion hath been
manifested. Whatever hath been enshrined in all the Scriptures of
the past hath been made evident. To doubt or hesitate is no more
possible ... Time is pressing. The Divine Charger is impatient, and
can tarry no longer. Ours is the duty to rush forward and, ere it
is too late, win the victory." HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND To the Continental Hands and All National Spiritual Assemblies APRIL 28, 1960 DEEPLY REGRET NECESSITY INFORM BAHA'I WORLD HAND CAUSE MASON REMEY NOW ASSERTING HE IS GUARDIAN FAITH STOP THIS PREPOSTEROUS CLAIM CLEARLY CONTRARY SACRED TEXTS CAN ONLY BE REGARDED AS +197 EVIDENCE CONDITION PROFOUND EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE STOP CALL UPON BELIEVERS EVERYWHERE JOIN HANDS HOLY LAND COMPLETE REPUDIATION MS MISGUIDED ACTION STOP SHARE THIS MESSAGE FRIENDS.
To the Hand of the Cause Mason Remey April 30,1960 Dear Mason: For your information we quote below the text of a cable sent
by the Hands in the Holy Land to the Continental Hands and to all
National Assemblies on April 28: Deeply regret necessity inform Bahá'í world Hand Cause Mason Remey now asserting he is Guardian Faith Stop This preposterous claim clearly contrary Sacred Texts can only be regarded as evidence condition profound emotional disturbance Stop Call upon believers everywhere join Hands Holy Land complete repudiation this misguided action Stop Share this message friends. Before their departure for Canada and the United
States, Ruhiyyih KHANUM and Mrs. Collins participated in the
decision to take this action, making it unanimous. With heartfelt
regret, Faithfully yours, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND To the National Spiritual Assembly and the Believers of France May 5,1960 Dear Friends: The Hands in the Holy Land are sending the
Hand of the Cause Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, to France, to meet with the
National Spiritual Assembly and the Bahá'ís of France, and to act
on behalf of the Hands for the protection of the Faith in the
situation created by Mr. Remey's unfounded claim. Mr. Faizi, will
act in accordance with instructions given him by the Hands in the
Holy Land. He is empowered to take whatever steps may be necessary
to carry out these instructions. In the service of the beloved
Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND
+198 To the Hands of the Cause of God and the National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the Bahá'í World May 10, 1960 Dearly beloved Friends: In order that the Bahá'í world may know the reaction of
the various National Assemblies and Conventions to Mr. Remey's
misguided action proclaiming himself to be the Guardian of the
Faith, we are sharing with you the texts of the messages already
received by the Hands in the Holy Land, reflecting widespread
repudiation of this baseless claim, and pledging loyalty to the
divinely-ordained institution of the Hands. We know the friends
will rejoice in the world-wide expressions of solidarity and
stead-fastness with which this fantastic and ill-advised claim was
met. God indeed protects His Cause! It is clear that by claiming
that he is the Guardian, Mr. Remey has abandoned his station as a
Hand of the Cause, and therefore cannot receive recognition as a
Hand until he renounces the self-conferred title of Guardian. The
Hands of the Holy Land will notify the National Assemblies if this
occurs. For the protection of our beloved Faith we call upon the
friends every-where to have no association with Mr. Remey as long
as he continues to press his false claim to the station of
Guardianship. We also request the believers to forward to the World
Centre through their National Assemblies any communications which
they may receive from Mr. Remey. Naturally we hope that the
emotional disturbance that led to Mr. Remey's regrettable action
will prove not to be permanent and that we shall soon be able to
inform the friends that he has withdrawn the claim and that
communication with him is again permitted. Meanwhile you should be
watchful, and keep us informed of any developments. Such episodes
as this can, through firmness, steadfastness and loyalty to the
Covenant, prove of great benefit to the Cause of God, and through
the consecrated efforts of the friends attract the bounties of
Bahá'u'lláh that alone can ensure its triumph. With warm Bahá'í
love, In the service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE
IN THE HOLY LAND The following are the messages already received by the Hands in the Holy Land from the various National Assemblies repudiating the Remey claim and pledging loyalty to the institution of the Hands. In many cases the news of Mr. Remey's action was received while the National Conventions were in session. +199 The separate messages received from these Conventions are also included.Alaska April 30,1960 COMPLETELY REPUDIATE RIDICULOUS CLAIM STOP PROCLAMATION RECEIVED REMEY NOT BEING CIRCULATED STOP WIRING MESSAGE ALL LOCAL ASSEMBLIES STOP ASSURING HANDSFAITH CONTINUED STEADFASTNESS ALASKAN COMMUNITY.Alaska Convention MAY 1, 1960 LOVING GREETINGS FROM 8 DELEGATES 52 ASSEMBLED GUESTS FOURTH ANNUAL ALASKA BAHA'I CONVENTION STOP CONVENTION HAPPY JOYOUS NEWS VICTORIES ACCOMPLISHMENTS PAST YEAR STOP EACH BELIEVER ENTHUSED INCREASE EFFORT DURING COMING YEAR STOP DETERMINED ACHIEVE REMAINING GOALS STOP PLEDGE PRAYERS SUPPORT INSTITUTION HANDS FAITH STOP PRAYERS FOR HEALTH EACH HAND.Arabian Peninsula MAY 4,1960 ON BEHALF EACH EVERY MEMBER OUR COMMUNITY WE AFFIRM OUR DISREGARD COMPLETE REPUDIATION MISGUIDED ACTION HAND CAUSE MASON REMEY STOP ALL FRIENDS HERE PRESENT UNEQUIVOCAL OBEDIENCE FAITHFULNESS STEADFASTNESS SACRED TEXTS REVERED CUSTODIANS RESIDING HOLY LAND.Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay April 30, 1960 EXTREMELY REGRET NEWS HAND CAUSE MASON REMEY STOP SHARING MESSAGE FRIENDS STOP ASSURING HUMBLE LOYALTYAustralia April 30,1960 NSA DEEPLY SYMPATHETIC YOUR DISTRESS REMEY STOP MEMBERS PRAY DIVINE COMPASSION MASON ASSURE DEVOTED ALLEGIANCE PRAYERS PROTECTION.Australian Convention April 30, 1960 ASSEMBLED DELEGATES FRIENDS GRIEVED MISGUIDED ACTIONS DEVOTED SERVANT MASON REMEY STOP PRAYING HIS RETURN SHELTER COVENANT STOP PLEDGE UNSWERVING ALLEGIANCE INSTITUTIONS HANDS NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES FERVENTLY PRAYING PROTECTION HANDS AND FAITH.Austria April 29, 1960 RECEIVED MESSAGE SHARE WITH FRIENDS JOIN HANDS HOLY LAND COMPLETE REPUDIATION MISGUIDED ACTION DEVOTEDLY. +200 Benelux April 29, 1960 REMEY'S PROCLAMATION ONLY REINFORCES OUR UNSWERVING LOYALTY FAITHFULNESS CONSECRATED DEVOTION CUSTODIANS FAITH HAIFA AND FIRMNESS IN COVENANT STOP UNDEVIATINGLY DETERMINED ACHIEVE GOAL UNDER DIRECTION GUIDANCE WORLD CENTRE PRAYING PROTECTION CAUSE.Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela MAY 1, 1960 REGRET INFORMATION RECEIVED IN YOUR CABLE ALL BELIEVERS ASSEMBLED CONVENTION AND NSA PLEDGE LOYALTY AND SUPPORT TO HANDS DEEPEST LOVE.British Isles MAY 8,1960 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN SESSION CONFIRMS UNRESERVEDLY EXPRESSION LOYALTY TO HANDS ALREADY SENT BY LETTER REJECTS COMPLETELY BASELESS CLAIM MASON REMEY STOP CONFIDENT LOYALTY ENTIRE BRITISH BAHA'I COMMUNITY STOP ASSEMBLY GOING TODAY BELOVED GUARDIAN'S GRAVE OFFER PRAYERS COMFORT BELOVED HANDS PROTECTION BAHA'I WORLD STOP SINCERE DEVOTION DEEPEST LOVE.Burma April 30,1960 BURMESE BAHAI'S FIRM STEADFAST LOYAL ASSURE OUR ALLEGIANCE.Canada MAY 3,1960 ASSURE HANDS HOLY LAND UNDIVIDED SUPPORT COMPLETE REPUDIATION REMEY PROCLAMATION STOP CANADIAN CONVENTION INFORMED UNANIMOUSLY VOTED SIMILAR ACTION STOP WRITING CANADIAN BELIEVERS IMMEDIATELY CONFIDENT THEIR FULL UNALTERED LOYALTY SHOGHI Effendi HANDS HAIFA.Canadian Convention MAY 3,1960 FOLLOWING READING MASON REMEY'S REGRETTABLE DOCUMENT CANADIAN NATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATES AND FRIENDS PLEDGE TO OUR BELOVED GUARDIAN SHOGHI Effendi AND HANDS OF THE CAUSE FIRM LOYALTY ABSOLUTE DEVOTION FERVENT PRAYERS PROTECTION FAITH.Central America, Mexico and Panama MAY 2,1960 RECEIVED CABLE ABOUT MASON REMEY STOP PLEDGE COMPLETE SUPPORT WORLD CENTRE.Central and East Africa MAY 5,1960 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BEHALF COMMUNITY CENTRAL EAST AFRICA +201 WHOLEHEARTEDLY REPUDIATE CLAIM REMEY ASSURE CHIEF STEWARDS LOVING LOYALTYGreater Antilles Convention MAY 1, 1960 PLEDGE COMPLETE LOYALTY FIRMNESS COVENANT TEST BRINGS GREATER CRUSADE VICTORY.India April 30, 1960 SADDENED NEWS MASON REMEYS PREPOSTEROUS CLAIM STOP BEHALF INDIAN BELIEVERS ASSURE HANDSFAITH UNFLINCHING STEADFASTNESS LOYALTY STOP CONFIDENT UNITY FAITH DESPITE SEVERE TESTS AS IN PAST STOP PRAYING ARDENTLY.Iran MAY 5,1960 YOUR MESSAGE CONCERNING MASON RECEIVED WE SUBMIT OUR UTMOST DEVOTION LOYALTY TO CAUSE WILL TESTAMENT AND BELOVED ALL HEARTS THE GUARDIAN STOP MOST GRATEFUL THAT REVERED BODY PROTECTORS FAITH CONFERRED UPON THEM CHIEF STEWARDSHIP WORLD ORDER BAHA'U'LLAH, HAVE AT ONCE ARISEN PROTECT CAUSE FROM ATTACK DISLOYAL UNFAITHFUL PERSONS STOP HEREBY DECLARE OUR SUBMISSIVENESS OBEDIENCE DECISIONS THAT REVERED BODYItalo-Swiss MAY 5,1960 ASSEMBLY REPUDIATES COMPLETELY REMEY CLAIM STOP PLEDGES UNFAILING TRUST IN CHIEF STEWARDS DEEPEST LOVE.North East Africa MAY 9,1960 REGRET DEEPLY MASON REMEYS FALSE ATTITUDE ALL BAHXIS STEADFAST AS EVER.North East Asia MAY 2,1960 THIS NSA WILL FULLY SUPPORT ANY ACTION TAKEN BY HANDSFAITH HOLY LAND IN REPUDIATING PREPOSTEROUS CLAIM MASON REMEY.Pakistan MAY 3, 1960 RECEIVED MESSAGE REGARDING HAND CAUSE REMEY STOP ASSURING STEADFASTNESS COMMUNITY COMPLETE LOYALTY SUPPORT HANDSFAITH HOLYLAND.Scandinavia and Finland April 29, 1960 SADLY ANNOUNCE REMEY PROCLAMATION CLAIMING GUARDIANSHIP RECEIVED DEFYING AUTHORITY HANDSFAITH ANNULLING PLANS FULFILMENT CRUSADE GOALS DEMANDING ALLEGIANCE HIS INFALLIBILITY STOP +202 FORWARDING PROCLAMATION STOP ASSURING CHIEF STEWARDS STEADFAST OBEDIENCE DEVOTED LOVE HEARTFELT SYMPATHY NSA REELECTED FOUR NEW ASSEMBLIES ESTABLISHED.South East Asia MAY 2,1960 BEHALF BAHA'I COMMUNITIES SOUTH EAST ASIA EXPRESS LOYALTY REVERED CUSTODIANS SUPPORT FIRM ACTION REPUDIATING REMEYS PREPOSTEROUS CLAIM.South Pacific Islands April 30, 1960 ASSURE HANDS FAITH ABIDING LOYALTY WILL TESTAMENT CHIEF STEWARDS BAHA`U'LLAH COMPLETELY REPUDIATE CLAIM GUARDIANSHIP MISGUIDED ACTION MASON REMEY PRAYING REMOVER DIFFICULTIES.South Pacific Islands Convention MAY 3, 1960 DELEGATES BELIEVERS ASSEMBLED CONVENTION ASSURE LOYALTY LOVE.United States MAY 1, 1960 NEW NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAIRMAN BORRAH KAVELIN VICECHAIRMAN DAVID RUHE SECRETARY CHARLES WOLCOTT TREASURER ARTHUR DAHL RECORDING SECRETARY EDNA TRUE ASSISTANT SECRETARY CHARLOTTE LINFOOT OTHER THREE MEMBERS FLORENCE MAYBERRY ELLSWORTH BLACKWELL AMOZ GIBSON ALL PLEDGE LOYALTY COOPERATION DEEPEST LOVE TO HANDS OF FAITH.United States Convention April 29, 1960 ASSEMBLED DELEGATES 52ND ANNUAL CONVENTION PLEDGE ANEW UNDEVIATING LOYALTY INSTITUTION OF HANDS ESPECIALLY STEWARDS LABOURING IN HOLY LAND STOP CONVENTION UNANIMOUSLY REPUDIATES REMEY PROCLAMATION JOINING PRAYERS WITH YOURS FOR DIVINE HEALING STOP DEEPEST LOVE (SIGNED) CONVENTION DELEGATES.Germany MAY 10, 1960 ASSURE COMPLETE REPUDIATION (REMEY) PROCLAMATION AND LOYALTY TO CHIEF STEWARDS HOPE GETTING FURTHER CLARIFYING NEWS FROM BODY HANDS LOVING GREETINGS AND PRAYERS PROTECTION CAUSE. To the Hands of the Cause of God May 14,1960 Dear Bahá'í Friends: Some of you already
know that most of the National Assemblies have
+203 repudiated Mason Remey's claim and cabled their loyalty to the institution of the Hands. Up to the date this letter was written, twenty-five National Assemblies had sent such messages, and we are confident five of the remaining six will be received soon. To our
surprise however the French National Assembly voted to recognize
the claim. Our first news of this was a cable from Mr.
Barafrukhteh, a member of the National Assembly, telling us that
eight of its members were recognizing Mason Remey. Confirmation
came from Mr. Navidi, Protection Board member, who was asked to go
to France to investigate and report. He cabled that the French
National Assembly was circulating the French believers to accept
the claim; and as the situation seemed to be dangerous, and as Ugo
and Hasan were not well and Adelbert was in Scandinavia, the Hands
in the Holy Land decided to send Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, to deal with
the situation on their behalf.
Some of the National Assembly
members repented their action and cabled the Hands for forgiveness,
but five remained unyieldingly obstinate in their recognition of
the claim and obstructed the actions taken by the Hands to protect
the Faith. These were led by Mr. J. Marangella, General M.
Darakhshan and Mr. B. Fillon, all of whom Faizi, felt to be
spiritually diseased and contaminating others. Steps are being
taken to find out whether the European Hands join Faizi, in
recommending their expulsion in accordance with the decision of the
first Bahji Conclave, that the Hands in the Holy Land were
responsible for denouncing Covenant-breakers upon recommendation
by
the Hands of the continent concerned. A recommendation will if
necessary be obtained later about Mr. Soghomonian and Mr. Harvey,
the other two members of the National Assembly who support the
claim.
Meanwhile the French National Assembly has been dissolved
and the five offending members declared ineligible for re-election.
The Paris Assembly, which is loyal, is acting for the time being
as the Central Assembly for France, under Faizi's guidance. Faizi,
will visit all the French communities before a new election is
held.
We believe that the prompt action of sending Faizi, to France
has prevented the infection from spreading far; cables of loyalty
have been received from all the National Assemblies of Europe
except the Iberian Peninsula, and the exception is believed to be
due to difficulties of communication as our original "cable" had
to be sent by mail. Adelbert has returned to Germany at our request
to watch the situation there because of the previous strong feeling
about the Guardianship in that country.
Episodes such as the
present tragic claim of Mason Remey serve to strengthen the Cause,
and it is gratifying that his claim has secured no
+204 greater following. Even in France, we are hoping the disturbance will prove of limited extent. This letter is sent to keep the
Continental Hands informed of the situation and to ask for their
special prayers for France. Any further action taken regarding the
three ringleaders will be communicated to you later. Meanwhile the
possibility of the infection spreading to individual believers in
other lands should be borne in mind.
We send you all our warmest
and deepest love. In the service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF
THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND To the Hands of the Cause of God and the National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the Bahá'í World May 28, 1960 Dearly beloved Friends: Two weeks ago we shared with you
messages received up to that time from twenty-four National
Spiritual Assemblies repudiating the preposterous claim of Mr.
Remey and pledging undeviating loyalty to the Institution of the
Hands of the Cause. Since then similar messages have been received
in Haifa from all of the remaining national and regional bodies
with the exception of the National Assembly of France. The full
texts of these communications are attached.
In spite of this
world-wide demonstration of solidarity and steadfastness in the
Covenant, a group of five members of the French National Assembly
accepted Mr. Remey as the Guardian of the Faith, and the National
Assembly informed the believers of France of the advent of a new
Guardian.
Acting immediately to protect the Faith, the Hands in the
Holy Land sent the Hand of the Cause Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, to France
as their representative, with specific instructions to dissolve the
National Assembly and call for a new election if the five members
persisted in their dangerous and disloyal course of action. These
misguided believers remained adamant in their views, refused to
cooperate with the Hands, resigned as members of the National
Assembly, and are now actively opposing the efforts of the Hands
to protect the Faith.
The vast majority of the French believers
have remained firm, and coinciding with the Commemoration of the
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, a new election will be held, and a
reconstituted National Assembly will come into existence. The
thirty-one national and regional bodies will then form an
impregnable and closely-knit World Community, dedicated to
+205 the fulfilment of the divinely-guided Plan of our beloved Guardian, and triumphant over-any forces seeking to disrupt its basic unity. The cables and other messages received from the various National
and Regional Assemblies, as well as numerous communications sent
to the Hands from individual believers in various parts of the
world, reflect general acceptance and understanding of the reasons
why Mr. Remey's regrettable claim, and his so-called proclamation
announcing it, are insupportable and contrary, not only to the
Sacred Texts of our Faith, but also to specific instructions and
messages of our beloved Guardian.
For the information of the
friends everywhere we bring to their attention some of the points
which refute this unfortunate and baseless claim.
(1) The quality
or station of infallibility, we are told by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, is of two
kinds, one the Most Great Infallibility, which is the one possessed
inherently by the Manifestations of God, and the other the
conferred infallibility, such as that given to the Master, to the
Guardian of the Cause of God, and to the Universal House of
Justice. In the Bahá'í Dispensation, only the authorized
interpretations of the. Holy Word by the Master and the Guardian,
and legislation by the Universal House of Justice have been given
this conferred infallibility. There is nothing in the Will and
Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, nor in the messages or instructions of
our beloved Guardian, which gives Mr. Remey any basis whatsoever
for claiming to be the infallible Guardian. Indeed no one can claim
such a station; it can only be conferred by an infallible source,
in this Dispensation in accordance with explicit, divinely-revealed
Texts.
(2) Mr. Remey makes the preposterous claim that since the
International Bahá'í Council was referred to by our beloved
Guardian as the forerunner of the supreme administrative
institution of the Universal House of Justice, his appointment or
designation by Shoghi Effendi as President of this appointed body
meant that he would: automatically become the head of the Universal
House of Justice when it is elected, and therefore is now to be
considered as the Guardian of the Faith. This ridiculous and
insupportable contention completely overlooks the fact that the
beloved Guardian created the International Council as an appointed
body, to serve for a temporary period, with functions clearly
defined by him, and that he announced it would be transformed into
a "duly elected body". Thus the membership and officers of the
elected body would be created only by election, not appointment.
There is not the slightest indication in any text or message of the
beloved Guardian that Mr. Remey's designation as President of the
appointed International Council was any more permanent than that
of any of the other appointed members or officers.
(3) Mr. Remey
himself signed the Proclamation of the Hands of the
+206 THE MINISTRY OF THE CUSTODIANS, Cause in November, 1957 which contained the definite statement that "no successor to Shoghi Effendi could have been appointed by him". This document also clearly stated that "The entire body of the Hands assembled by the nine Hands of the World Centre will decide when and how the International Bahá'í Council is to evolve through the successive stages outlined by the Guardian, culminating in the call to election of the Universal House of Justice by the membership of all National Spiritual Assemblies." This pledge is being fulfilled by the plans announced in the message of the Hands to the Bahá'í world following their last Conclave. It is clear that Mr. Remey's claim
to be the infallible Guardian must be dismissed as completely
without foundation, since there is no written authority in the
Sacred Texts to support it. We can only repeat the hope expressed
in our letter of May 10 that the profound emotional disturbance
which undoubtedly prompted his regrettable action will prove to be
temporary in character.
We are confident that the friends will now
direct all their thoughts and efforts toward the attainment of
final victory in the Holy Crusade entrusted to us by our beloved
Guardian, and be ever mindful of these words addressed to us by
'Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament:
O ye beloved of the Lord! The greatest of all things is the protection of the True Faith of God, the preservation of His Law, the safe guarding of His Cause and service unto His Word.International Bahá'í Council MAY 13,1960 At a meeting of the International Bahá'í Council held on April 27, 1960, the following Motion was passed by unanimous vote:"That the members present wish to record in these Minutes their complete and final rejection of Mr. Remey's unsupportable claim to be Guardian of the Faith, a claim which has no foundation in the +207 Iberian Peninsula MAY 16,1960Sacred Texts of our Faith, including the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the Centre of the Covenant, nor in the instructions or actions of the beloved Guardian. (The message from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Iberian Peninsula was received in garbled form but is quoted below exactly as it was received in Haifa):'Iraq MAY 21, 1960 NSA CONVENED 19TH FIRMLY REPUDIATE REMEY LATELY RECEIVED REGRETTABLE CLAIM STOP PLEDGE BEHALF BELIEVERS IRAQ AND JURISDICTION UNSHAKEABLE FAITH RENEWED UNWAVERING LOYALTY LOVE WRITING.New Zealand MAY 14, 1960 ASSEMBLY REAFFIRMS UNSWERVING ALLEGIANCE INSTITUTION HANDS STOP PRAYERS FOR SPEEDY REMOVAL ALL DIFFICULTIES.North West Africa MAY 17,1960 NSA NORTHWEST AFRICA CABLES QUOTE PLEASE ASSURE HANDS FAITH OUR REPUDIATION REMEY CLAIM OUR LOYALTY UNCONDITIONAL ATTACHMENT CHIEF STEWARDS STOP ACTION TAKEN ALL NSAS HAVE ALSO WRITTEN HANDS UNQUOTE BANANI.South and West Africa MAY 12, 1960 DEEPLY GRIEVE SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE HAND CAUSE MASON REMEY STOP JOIN HANDS HOLYLAND COMPLETE REPUDIATION CLAIM STOP ASKING PRAYERS REGION COMPLETE HEALING MENTALLY DISTRACTED SOUL.Turkey MAY 13, 1960 (Following is a translation of the message received from the National Assembly of Turkey, which was written in Persian): +208 before, unswerving servitude and attachment to God's Holy Covenant. We humbly supplicate the Divine Threshold to guide us to whatsoever is His Will and His Pleasure.To the Hands of the Cause of God June 15, 1960 Dear Bahá'í Friends: You will be pleased to hear that the
new French National Assembly has been elected and is now
functioning. It seems that only about fifteen believers throughout
the world have accepted Mason Remey's claim, of whom about ten are
in France and five in the United States. Those in the United States
have never been leading figures in the Cause there and are unlikely
to attract sympathizers.
Support on this scale will not permit even
the enemies of the Faith to say there has been a rift in the Cause,
but in view of Mason Remey's position in the Bahá'í World Community
during the lifetime of the beloved Guardian, we feel it would be
advisable to have on record written statements from all the Hands
that they reject his claim.
We will therefore appreciate it if you
will let us have such a statement for permanent record.
In the
service of the beloved Guardian,
HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY
LAND P.S. Since the above was typed we have received a visit from the head of the Bahá'í Department of the Ministry of Religions in Israel, who told us that Mason Remey had written to the President of Israel, the Minister of Religions, and the head of the Bahá'í Department announcing that Shoghi Effendi in his lifetime appointed him Guardian of the Faith. The Israel Government appears to appreciate the true situation, but this action makes it even more important to have on record your rejection of the claim. We are watching the situation closely. A letter has been sent to the
Ministry of Religions repudiating Mason Remey's claim and enclosing
copies of the cables of repudiation from all the thirty-one
National Assemblies. This will be brought to the attention of the
President.
Postscript to Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum:1
We feel
that the above action is all that is needed at present. If you have
any suggestions, please let us know. 1 This postscript also written to Mrs. Collins, Mr. Faizi, and Mr. Ioas. +209 To All National Spiritual Assemblies July 5, 1960 Beloved Friends: We have already sent you an account of the reaction of the Bahá'í
world to Mason Remey's claim. It is now clear that a mere handful
of believers supported it, but that these have been working
actively to get others to join them. It must be obvious to the
friends everywhere that acceptance of this baseless claim, and
particularly activity in support of it designed to influence
others, constitutes a betrayal of the Sacred Texts upholding the
structure of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh. This has been unanimously
attested by all the National Assemblies in their repudiation of Mr.
Remey's action.
In discharging their responsibility to safeguard
the Bahá'í Community, the Hands of the Cause at an early stage
instructed that the friends in France should refrain from
associating with the former members of the National Assembly there
who were active in their support of Mr. Remey. The Hands in the
Holy Land feel that the time has now come to extend this policy to
all individuals who openly support this false claim. The believers
everywhere should immediately cease associating, either by direct
contact or by correspondence, with anyone who supports Mason
Remey's claim to be the Guardian of the Faith, because the actions
of these misguided people, whatever their intent, can only lead to
discord and division within the Cause of God. We may indeed rejoice
that this latest attempt to create division has, like all others
before it, failed utterly to destroy the basic unity of the Faith.
The response of the friends in all parts of the world reflects how
faithfully they have heeded the injunction of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His
Will and Testament: "Guard ye the Cause of God, protect His law and
have the utmost fear of discord."
By unity such as the believers
have shown, all attempts to create division can be foiled, and the
waverers saved from becoming subject to that most terrible of all
punishments described by the Master in His Will when He wrote:
"Should any, within or without the company of the Hands of the
Cause of God disobey and seek division, the wrath of God and His
vengeance will be upon him, for he will have caused a breach in the
true Faith of God."
With warm Bahá'í love,
In the service of the
beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND
+210 To the Hands of the Cause of God throughout the World July 7, 1960 CONFIDENTIAL Beloved Co-workers: In accordance with our principles
of procedure, the Hands in the Holy Land have the duty and
responsibility of calling the Annual Meeting of the entire body of
the Hands. After consideration of all factors, we have chosen the
period October 18-27 as the dates for this year's Conclave, with
the understanding that the time will be extended if necessary.
Before this meeting we will as usual send to each Hand a tentative
or suggested agenda for consideration. It has been recommended that
this year a special effort be made by all the Continental Hands to
arrange for visits to as many Bahá'í centres as possible on their
way to or from the Conclave. We feel that such visits at this time
will have great influence in unifying the friends and deepening
them in their understanding of the Covenant. We urge each Hand to
work out as extensive an itinerary as possible.
You have been kept
informed of the main developments to date in the Remey matter
through our various communications, but we feel the time has now
come to refer to the entire body of our fellow-Hands the
information, views and recommendations received from various
individual Hands calling for further action.
As most of you
undoubtedly know, Mason has followed up his original proclamation
with other documents including one entitled "The Question of the
Guardianship", and another document which he calls his first
"Encyclical" to the Bahá'í world. In the latter document he
definitely classifies all of the Hands as violators, calls upon
the believers to abandon their activities in support of the plans
announced by the Hands for the remainder of the beloved Guardian's
Crusade, to withdraw their financial support of these activities,
and directs them to turn to him alone for guidance and
instructions. He is distributing these documents widely, and his
leading supporters are writing to the believers, urging them to
investigate the Remey claim and accept his station as the second
Guardian of the Faith. We are enclosing for your information a copy
of another communication which we have just sent to all National
Assemblies, calling upon the friends to refrain from any
association with those who support Mason's claim.
In France, the
reconstituted National Assembly has taken action depriving the five
disloyal former members of that Assembly of their voting right and
membership in the Community. We wish to report that our
representative, Mr. Faizi, recommended
+211 expulsion of the disloyal individuals in France, who in his view are suffering from a real spiritual illness. He was joined in this recommendation by Dr. Giachery, but the other two European Hands, Mr. Balyuzi and Dr. Muhlschlegel, did not concur; therefore the European Hands as a body did not recommend expulsion. The attached excerpts from communications received in Haifa will give you their views and recommendations, and those of Mr. Faizi. All of you will
recall that at our first Conclave a formal action was recorded,
giving the Hands in the Holy Land the responsibility for expelling
people from the Faith, but only on recommendation of the
Continental Hands concerned, after investigation by them. Thus in
the case of the disloyal members in France, the Hands in the Holy
Land were bound by the action of the majority of the European Hands
in not recommending expulsion at this time.
With regard to Mason
himself, since we had no instructions covering defection by one of
the Hands of the Cause, we have felt that any action in his case
beyond the steps already taken, should be by the body of the Hands
itself. In view of the increasingly insistent recommendations
received from the Hands now in the Western Hemisphere calling for
Mason's immediate expulsion, we believe this question must now be
referred to the body of the Hands for advice and decision. Attached
are copies of their views and recommendations.
To these we wish to
add our own view that Mason's claim and activities in opposition
to the decisions and Plans of our beloved Guardian, constitute a
basis for expulsion from the Faith, because they are in fact a
protest against the decision of Shoghi Effendi in not appointing
a successor to him as the Guardian of the Faith. Our Beloved did
not make such an appointment because to do so in the circumstances
with which he was faced would have been a violation of the Sacred
Texts; thus his nonappointment of a successor upheld the Text of
the written Covenant of God. This was explicitly stated in the
Proclamation issued from our first Conclave in which we said that
"no successor to Shoghi Effendi could have been appointed by him".
This Proclamation was signed by Mason, who now states in one of his
documents that he has known for the past twelve years that he was
to be the second Guardian of the Faith, and the successor to Shoghi
Effendi in that station! We believe that Mason's claim and
activities fall within the warning and injunction contained in
these words of the sacred Will and Testament of the Master: "It is
incumbent upon the members of the House of Justice, upon all the
Aghsan, the Afnan, the Hands of the Cause of God to show their
obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the Guardian of
the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him. He
+212 that opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert His Word and will become a manifestation of the Centre of Sedition. Beware, beware, lest the days after the Ascension (of Bahá'u'lláh) be repeated when the Centre of Sedition waxed haughty and rebellious and with Divine Unity for his excuse deprived himself and perturbed and poisoned others. No doubt every vain-glorious one that purposeth dissension and discord will not openly declare his evil purposes, nay rather, even as impure gold, will he seize upon divers measures and various pretexts that he may separate the gathering of the people of Baha) My object is to show that the Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the Guardian of the Cause of God, cast him out from the congregation of the people of Baha) and in no wise accept any excuse from him. How often hath grievous error been disguised in the garb of truth, that it might sow the seeds of-doubt in the hearts of men!" As you know, there are many other passages in the
Will and Testament more strongly condemning Covenant-breakers, in
which it is said they should be cut off from the Community of the
believers, shunned and avoided entirely. The questions now referred
to you, our fellow-Hands, for decision are: (1) Whether you wish
to support the recommendations for immediate expulsion of Mason and
announcement of this to the believers, or (2) Whether you wish
action on this whole question to be deferred until the Conclave in
October.
We request you to study this letter and the attached
recommendations carefully and prayerfully, and then send us your
reply immediately by cable. We send you our warmest greetings and
loving prayers. In the service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF
THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND A. Q. FaizíExcerpts from Communications Received from Various Hands Containing Comments and Recommendations on Mason Remey's Status (and that of his chief supporters). MAY 7,1960 DARAKHSHAN MARANGELLA Fillon, DANGEROUSLY SPIRITUALLY DIS EASED INFECTING OTHERS SOGHOMONIAN HARVEY GIVEN CHANCE RE PENTANCE TEN TONIGHT WILL SEND FULL REPORT EXECUTION DECISIONS +213 MAY 8,1960 FIVE NSA MEMBERS UNCHANGEABLE SAKE GOD PROTECTION CAUSE EXPEL IMMEDIATELY MARANGELLA DARAKHSHAN Fillon, STOP DO NOT BE TAKEN BY PITY STOP ANNOUNCE THEIR EXPULSION BAHA'I WORLD STOP THEIR DEVIOUS CONTAGION SPREADS IF NOT STOPPED TO OTHERS SOGHOMONIAN HARVEY ADVISE LATER.MAY 9,1960 MET COMMUNITY PARIS FIVE NEFARIOUS MEMBERS ABSENT CONTAMI-NATED ATMOSPHERE PURIFIED RESULTS EXCELLENT DETAILED REPORTS FOLLOW EXPULSION THREE IMPERATIVE BECAUSE INFECT BELIEVERS EUROPE AMERICA.MAY 10, 1960 WHY DELAY EXPULSION PLEASE EXPEL MARANGELLA DARAKHSHAN FILLON AT ONCE.Dr. Ugo Giachery MAY 10, 1960 FULLY SUPPORT FAIZIS PROPOSAL CUSTODIANS EXPEL MARANGELLA DARAKHSHAN Fillon, PREVENT SPREAD INFECTIOUS DISEASE STOP WOULD URGE YOU REQUEST MUHLSCHLEGEL NOW OSLO RETURN IMMEDIATELY GERMANY MEET NSA FORESTALL OTHER DEFECTIONS.Hasan Balyuzi MAY 12, 1960 STRONGLY DISAPPROVE BEG NO ACTION UNTIL RECEIVE MY LETTER. BALYUZI
MAY 15,1960Mason's claim is laughable, preposterous, abominable. It shows that his mind has deteriorated.... The action of those who uphold this ridiculous claim is indeed abominable. But I cannot bring myself to accept the thesis that the Hands have the authority to expel anyone for this reason. Where do the Hands obtain their authority to expel anyone from the Community? From the Will and the Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá These are the exact words of the Master, which I have read and read, and which I quote: "My object is to show that the Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon as they find anyone +214 beginning to oppose and protest against the Guardian of the Cause of God, cast him out from the congregation of the people of Baha) and in no wise accept any excuse from him. How often hath grievous error been disguised in the garb of truth, that it might sow the seeds of doubt in the hearts of men!" Perhaps I'm mistaken, but nowhere else have I found the express authority given to the Hands of the Cause to expel people for any reason other than opposition to the Guardian. The Hands can and must expel anyone who associates with Covenant-breakers, old and new. They can and must expel anyone who disregards a definite injunction of the beloved Guardian. Such acts constitute opposition to Shoghi Effendi But I'm convinced (and perfectly ready and willing at the same time to believe otherwise, if conclusive proofs are shown to me) that the Hands have no authority to expel anyone for any other reason, albeit they are exercising their indubitable right to protect the Faith. By so doing, the Hands will be setting up a new category of Covenant-breakers, for which they have no authority, as far as I can see it. Now if the majority of the Hands agree in a Conclave that they are knowingly taking upon themselves powers, not given them by the Sacred Text, because it is forced upon them through circumstances beyond their control, I will have to submit to the majority decision, although under protest, and then I shall know where I stand. But at the present time unless you convince me to the contrary, I cannot accept this thesis as resting upon the sanction of the Sacred Text.European Hands June 7, 1960 LOVING GREETINGS COMPLETION MOST SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE STOP REQUEST MR FAIZI REMAIN LONGER EUROPE STOP FULLY AGREE DEPRIVE VOTING RIGHTS RING LEADERS FRANCE ALLOWING TIME LIMIT OTHERS DEEPEST LOVE.Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel June 21, 1960 At the Brussels conference, as you have been informed, presumably, Faizi, reported the situation in France. Joel Marangella has been removed as Board member, the French National Spiritual Assembly got the suggestion from the Hands to deprive the five disloyal members of the former National Spiritual Assembly of their administrative rights, but the Hands did not recommend to the Hands in the Holy Land the expulsion of these five, at present. +215 Leroy Ioas MAY 11, 1960 GREATLY DISTRESSED FRANCE STOP OFFER FOLLOWING (1) AGREE FAIZI IMMEDIATE EXPULSION THREE URGENT NECESSARY PROTECTION FAITH FRANCE EUROPE (2) IF NOT ALREADY DONE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL MARANGELLA BOARD (3) OTHER TWO GIVEN TIME LIMIT RECANT OR EXPELLED (4) TIME LIMIT GIVEN REMEY WITHDRAW CLAIM OR EXPELLED STOP ILLOGICAL EXPEL SATELLITES AND NOT PRINCIPAL.MAY 31, 1960 MASON ISSUED FIRST SERIES ENCYCLICALS BAHA'I WORLD FURTHERANCE FALLACIOUS CLAIM BRANDING ALL HANDS COVENANT BREAKERS AND INSTRUCTING FRIENDS CEASE ASSOCIATION HANDS STOP SUGGEST (1) EXCOMMUNICATION REMEY (2) EXCOMMUNICATION THREE FRANCE RECOMMENDED BY Faizi; (3) CABLE ADVICE THESE ACTIONS ALL NATIONALS (4) ABSENCE SUCH ACTION AND ADVICE CAUSING CONFUSION.June 23, 1960 It is a sad turn of events that a man of Mr. Charles Mason Remey's stature in the Faith-with such a remarkably long period of service under the loving guidance of 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi --should now transgress the laws of the Faith-and its institutions-and even more particularly, the confidence the Centres of the Faith reposed in him-by now proclaiming himself the second Guardian of the Faith.... This ridiculous claim, of course, I reject and strongly condemn. With his continuing destructive activities I do not see how we can dismiss them-by simply asking the Friends not to associate with him. As I have cabled previously, he must be put out of the Faith entirely as a Covenant-breaker --and the same action must be taken with regard to those who uphold his blasphemous claims. The question of Covenant-breaking is not one of votes-it is a case of disobedience-and Mr. Remey and his associates have disobeyed the teachings of the Faith-have stirred up difficulties --are centres of hate of the progress of the Faith-and the sacrificial services of the Friends.... This matter should not drift as is being allowed.Asian Hands MAY 3,1960 DEEPLY REGRET MASON'S BESOTIED ATFITUDE AND ACTION AGAINST COVENANT AND REPUDIATION WILL TESTAMENT THUS DEPRIVING HIMSELF MERCY BOUNTY BLESSED BEAUTY THIS WORLD AND WORLDS TO COME. +216 William Sears (Undated -presumably written early in June) You will have received by now Mason's second letter, and the other correspondence from the United States National Spiritual Assembly. I did not send it, as I have been in Wilmette since this letter came out working closely with them as things develop. I have also been in touch with (Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, and with Leroy. I have kept Hermann informed and am awaiting his reply. It is my personal feeling now that we see the result of this act of Mason's that we should delay no longer in putting him out of the Faith if he does not repudiate. This would also be the action, I feel, which should be taken against those who support him, and who after proper warning, persist in their support. Several of them are waging campaigns with their friends to get them to support Mason. So far it is minor, scattered and sporadic; but it has a growing potential if we do not take firm action. The friends will feel there must be something more to Mason's claim unless there is some strong, firm, clear-cut reaction on the part of the Hands.... It is a growing thing. It needs action. He must either repudiate at once or be removed. There can be no more delay in this action, in my opinion. We are losing valuable ground that will be hard to reclaim.June 11, 1960 UNITED VIEW HANDSWEST UNLESS REMEY REPUDIATES IMMEDIATELY SHOULD BE EXPELLED.June 29, 1960 REMEY WRITTEN UDO SCHAEFER 10 PAGE LETTER PRAISING HIS DOCUment GUARDIANSHIP HISTORIC ORDERING HUNDRED COPIES FOR CIRCU-LATION INFECTION SPREADING ALARMINGLY HERE WITHOUT RESTRAINT MARANGELLA INFLUENCE CONSTANT CORRESPONDENCE SPREADING WIDELY INSIDIOUSLY THREE QUESTIONABLE BELIEVERS ASKED SOUVENIR MASTER IF REMEY CLAIM BASELESS WHY NO ACTION BY HANDS WAS IT FROM FEAR OR WERE THEY DISUNITED IMPERATIVE DEFINITE ACTION BE TAKEN REMEY AND ALL WHO SUPPORT HIM INDECISIVENESS HANDS WEAKENING POSITION INSTITUTIONS ENCOURAGING BOLDNESS ENEMIES URGE CABLE ALL HANDS CALLING FOR EXPULSION REMEY AND ALL WHO SUPPORT HIM SCHAEFER APPARENTLY FAITHFUL.June 30,1960 I have read Mason's 10-page letter which attacks the Hands, saying that we have agreed, but not announced it to the friends, that the Guardianship is ended and are working to make this a reality around the world. Mason says in the letter that he is sending 100 copies of Udo Schaefer's document to selected contacts. His letter is to Schaefer, +217 scolding him for abandoning his stand on the Guardianship, and supporting the Hands. This letter has been duplicated and has been sent to friends in Connecticut.... My own opinion is that there is no deep-seated problem, and that if definite action is taken on the matter so they (the believers) feel comforted by this show of strength and unity, it will abate. However, if they feel free to discuss it at Feasts, write each other about it, exchange Joel Marangella's letter (etc.) with no warning of the consequences, it can grow to proportions far out of line with its importance. In other words, it is not so important what Mason is doing now, but what we do. Hence the appeal for united action.BAHA'I WILMETTE JULY 13, 1960 GRIEVED ANNOUNCE PASSING HAIFA MUCH-LOVED DISTINGUISHED HAND CAUSE GOD HORACE HOLLEY OUTSTANDING CHAMPION FAITH SINCE DAYS +218 MASTER PRAISED BY BELOVED GUARDIAN FOR UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER STOP HIS INDEFATIGABLE SERVICES PROTECTION TEACHING ADMINISTRATIVE FIELDS CULMINATING SERVICE HOLY LAND INSPIRING EXAMPLE PRESENT FUTURE GENERATIONS BAHA'IS STOP SHARE ABOVE MESSAGE HANDS ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES STOP URGE HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERINGS TEMPLE LOCAL COMMUNITIES UNITED STATES.
To the Hands of the Cause throughout the World July 21, 1960 Dear Fellow-Hands: Enclosed is the second letter issued from
the Holy Land containing the news of the progress of the Faith
received at the World Centre since our Ridvan Message was prepared.
These letters are not being issued on a regular schedule, but are
sent out when we have sufficient interesting and stimulating news
to put together a communication which will be a source of
encouragement and inspiration to the friends. As in the case of the
first News Letter, issued earlier this year, we are asking the
National Assemblies to share this Bulletin with the believers in
their area through their own News Letters. With warm Bahá'í love,
In the service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE
HOLY LAND To All National Spiritual Assemblies July 21, 1960 Beloved Friends: Enclosed is another News Letter from the Holy
Land, giving the heartening news of the progress of the Faith which
has come to the World Centre since our Ridvan Message was prepared.
This is the second of a series of such letters which we have
informed you that we plan to issue from time to time. We hope this
letter will prove to be a source of inspiration and encouragement
to the friends. Please share this Bulletin with the believers in
your area through your News Letter. With warm Bahá'í love,
In the service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE
HOLY LAND +219 NEWS FROM THE WORLD CENTRE OF THE FAITH To All National Spiritual Assemblies July 21, 1960 Dearly beloved Friends: Since our first
News Letter of February last, our Ridvan message has brought you
news of the progress of the Faith all over the world, and now we
send you news of more recent events. At the World Centre, the flow
of visitors to the Shrines and Gardens has continued. Among those
who came were many distinguished foreign visitors, including
Ambassadors and Cabinet Ministers. The House of 'Abbud, in which
Bahá'u'lláh lived for nearly seven years during His incarceration
in 'Akka, and in which the Kitab-i-Aqdas was revealed, has been
extensively renovated and restored. The palace of Mazra'ih, where
Bahá'u'lláh lived in the period between His leaving 'Akka, and
taking up residence in Bahji has also been extensively renovated.
The pilgrim season, that began after the Conclave of the Hands in
Bahji ended with the commemoration of the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh,
during the season pilgrims from every continent passed their
allotted nine days of pilgrimage in the Holy Land. Outstanding
among the missions carried out by the Hands of the Cause in recent
months has been the visit of (Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, to
North America, where she found a wonderful spirit of determination
among the friends. In both the United States and Canada she met
with the believers at key centres and addressed many large public
meetings. Her visit brought a great deal of favourable publicity
for the Faith. She spent some time with the Indians, from whom the
Master confidently expected so much; John Robarts, also visited a
number of Indian groups in the course of his mission in Canada.
William Sears has travelled very extensively in Latin America,
including Central America, the Greater Antilles and the northern
countries of South America. The friends there are jubilant at the
victories achieved last Ridvan. Hermann Grossmann, in the course
of his tour of South America, recently visited the friends in the
disaster area of Chile. Mr. Samandari, spent some time in Turkey
on his way from the Holy Land to his post, and Dr. Muhajir, is now
visiting the countries of South East Asia. Collis Featherstone
journeyed to New Zealand, attended the Convention there, and
visited the Maoris, the indigenous people who have shown great
receptivity to the Faith. Reports from the various National
Spiritual Assemblies during the Ridvan period brought much joyful
and encouraging news. Firstly there was the achievement of all the
Local Assembly goals, and more, in Latin America. Venezuela, for
instance, formed four new Local Assemblies,
+220 three over the goal. As a result of these great victories the new National Spiritual Assemblies can be established next Ridván, based on an adequate number of Local Assemblies. In the United States forty new Assemblies were elected, more than in any year since the beginning of the Crusade. In the whole Western Hemisphere nearly eighty new Assemblies were formed, and the number of new believers during the year was almost 2,000. An interesting feature has been the continued spread of the Faith amongst Indians in various parts of the Western Hemisphere, from the Far North where the Yukon's first Indian believer has been accepted, through Mexico, which has its first Indian believer, to Bolivia, where hundreds of the Indians in the Andes have embraced the Faith. A start has been made in teaching the Carib Indians of the West Indies in Dominica. As usual, Africa has led the Bahá'í world in
growth and numbers. In the one year since Ridvan 1959 the number
of Local Assemblies in Central and East Africa has grown from 240
to 400. In number of centres the United States still leads with
1,560, but Africa with 1,140, has now moved up to second place. The
area of Central and East Africa, the scene of so many historic
events in the Faith, has recently witnessed great success in the
Eastern Belgian Congo, where hitherto little progress had been
made. The energetic teaching activity of some of the believers from
Usurnbura, in neighbouring Ruanda-Urundi, has in a few months set
on fire over 500 new believers, and thirteen new Local Assemblies
have been elected. This is one of the most spectacular teaching
developments in the history of the Faith in Africa, or indeed
anywhere, and is the first real growth in any of the
French-speaking territories in that part of Africa. To quote the
Central and East African National Spiritual Assembly: "The Faith
in this Region is like a giant river overflowing its banks,
flooding out across the countryside, carrying the Word of God
wherever the receptivity of the people takes it." The Region of
North West Africa, which at the formation of its National Assembly
in 1956 had 920 believers, now has approximately 3,000, of which
1,800 are in the British Cameroons. The number of Local Assemblies
has grown from 38 to 113. There are 18 properties owned by the
Faith in this Region, including the National Haziratu'l-Quds in
Tunis and five other Haziratu'l-Quds, the Temple land in Tunis, two
burial grounds, two endowments, and six Bahá'í centres in the
British Cameroons. Dahomey, a part of the French Union, has its
first believers. Truly Africa, the Dark Continent, is now, as
foretold by the beloved Guardian, a beacon of light in the Bahá'í
world! The third area of outstanding growth in recent years has
been South East Asia. Here there are more than eleven times as many
centres as in 1957 when the Regional Assembly was formed; there are
ten times more
+221 Local Assemblies, and the number of believers has grown from 1,500 to 7,500. In one island in Indonesia half of the population of 10,000 are Bahá'ís; there are 16 Local Assemblies and at least 10 Bahá'í schools. Among the most exciting developments in the Region has been the growth of the Faith in Java, which at the time of the beloved Guardian's passing had less than 20 believers; now there are almost 1,300, mainly young people. Java is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and offers unlimited opportunities for the expansion of the Faith. In other parts of the
world too, there has been progress, even if on a smaller scale. In
Europe, where eleven National Assemblies are scheduled to be formed
in 1962, there is still a challenging distance to be covered before
all goals are achieved, but Belgium now has the number of
Assemblies needed, Scandinavia had four new ones last Ridvan
Portugal two, and Italy four. India established 11 new Local
Assemblies, more than in any recent year. In other ways too,
progress is being made toward the achievement of Crusade goals. The
Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in the course of building near Kampala, Uganda,
is well on the way to completion. The tiling of the dome in four
shades of colour, has been finished, various fittings chosen and
ordered, and it is now hoped to dedicate it in January, 1961.
Equally good progress is being made on the Temple at Sydney,
Australia. History was made and much publicity was attracted when,
for the first time in Australia, a helicopter was used to lift into
position the fleche on the top of the dome. Newspapers all over
Australia mentioned this and three Sydney television stations
reported it in detail. It is expected that the dedication will take
place during Ridvan 1961. In Germany, where the third Temple of the
Crusade is to be built, serious obstacles have been encountered;
fortunately these now seem to be almost at an end, and there is a
good prospect that building may begin soon. As we pursue our goals
of the Ten Year Crusade, events not directly connected with these
goals also demonstrate the progress of the Cause. World Religion
Day was happily and successfully celebrated in many places, but in
Vientiane, capital of Laos, it became an outstanding event. A
distinguished gathering of about 300, including members of the
King's Council, Consular and United Nations officials, and
representatives of various sects of six religions, took part and
heard a message from H.M. the King of Laos, brought to the meeting
by H.R.H. Prince Chantharangai. As a non-governmental organization
accepted by United Nations, the Bahá'í International Community was
invited to send representatives to a Round Table Conference
organized by the World Federalists in Paris, on the subject of a
permanent force for United Nations. The Bahá'í point of view much
impressed those present.
+222 As the Faith has proved many times in its history, difficulties
ultimately bring it victory. An American pioneer in El Salvador was
ordered to leave because of false accusations made against him.
Subsequently he was cleared of all suspicion and allowed to return.
The National Spiritual Assembly of Central America then sought an
interview with high officials of the Salvador Government, which
resulted in an assurance that Bahá'ís are completely free to follow
their Faith and to teach it in that country. In the past months
there has been news of natural disasters in various parts of the
world. In March the islands of Mauritius and Madagascar were swept
by cyclones. In both places some of the friends lost their homes,
but they were undeterred, continuing to keep the Fast and to hold
their meetings, often in the open air. One community in Madagascar
held a Nineteen Day Feast during a cyclone, with only three
absentees. Earthquakes have occurred in widely separated parts of
the world, in Persia, in Morocco, and in Chile, bringing death and
destruction to many. In all these calamities we were deeply
thankful to hear from the respective National Assemblies that,
though some had their homes damaged, there had been no loss of life
amongst the Bahá'ís The Regional Spiritual Assembly has sent a
representative to the disaster area of Chile to ascertain what help
the friends there need, and the Hands at the World Centre have sent
a sum of money for their relief. The Crusade progresses on the way
to its goals but the time grows ever shorter. Bahá'u'lláh Himself
has left us in no doubt of our duty, and is specific in promises
of the divine help on which we can draw.
HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND
+223 To All National Spiritual Assemblies, C/O BAHA'I WILMETTE JULY 26, 1960 ENTIRE BODY HANDS OBEDIENT PROVISIONS WILL TESTAMENT CENTRE COVENANT COMMUNICATIONS BELOVED GUARDIAN ENJOINING THEM PROTECT HOLY CAUSE ATTACKS ENEMIES WITHIN WITHOUT ANNOUNCE BAHA'I WORLD MASON REMEY COVENANT BREAKER EXPELLED FAITH STOP ACTION FOLLOWS LONG PERIOD PATIENCE FORBEARANCE OPPORTUNITY GIVEN HIM WITHDRAW SHAMEFUL PRETENSION SACRED STATION GUARDIANSHIP CONSTITUTING HERETICAL CLAIM CONTRARY EXPLICIT PROVISIONS WILL MASTER STOP DESPITE UNIVERSAL REPUDIATION DENUNCIATION BY ALL HANDS INTERNATIONAL BAHA'I COUNCIL ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES REMEY CONTINUING AGITATE UNFOUNDED CLAIM ACTIVELY SEEKING CREATE DIVISION RANKS FAITHFUL SOW SEEDS DOUBT HEARTS BELIEVERS UNDERMINE ACTIVITIES INSTITUTION HANDS CHIEF STEWARDS DEDICATED FULFILMENT BELOVED GUARDIAN'S TEN YEAR PLAN STOP ACCORDANCE INJUNCTION WILL TESTAMENT 'Abdu'l-Bahá, CALL UPON FRIENDS EVERYWHERE SHUN REMEY AND ANYONE ASSOCIATING WITH HIM OR ACTIVELY SUPPORTING HIS CLAIMS STOP CONFIDENT COMMUNITY MOST GREAT NAME UNITED WHOLEHEARTED CONDEMNATION THIS LATEST ILL-FATED ATTEMPT DISRUPT GOD's HOLY CAUSE WILL EMERGE TRIUMPHANT STRENGTHENED GALVANIZED ISSUE FORTH WIN REMAINING GOALS GLORIOUS WORLD ENCIRCLING CRUSADE STOP CABLE MESSAGE ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES.
To All National Spiritual Assemblies, c/o BAHAI WILMETTE AUGUST 3, 1960 BELOVED GUARDIAN'S GLORIOUS EPISTLE GOD PASSES BY CLEARLY STATES HOLY CAUSE CONSTANTLY SUBJECT CRISES GIVING RISE GREATER VICTORIES STOP HISTORY DEFECTION DISTINGUISHED BELIEVERS FOLLOWING ASCENSION FORERUNNER FAITH SUPREME MANIFESTATION CENTRE COVENANT NOW REPEATED AFTER ASCENSION PRECIOUS SHOGHI Effendi THROUGH MASON REMEY'S DEFECTION HIS PREPOSTEROUS UTTERLY UNFOUNDED CLAIMS STOP PROTECTION BELIEVERS FROM ACTIVITIES MISGUIDED MISCHIEF MAKERS GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY REPENT NOW REQUIRES EXPULSION FAITH REMEY's HENCHMEN JOHN CARRE BERNARD Fillon, MONEER. DARAKHSHAN JOEL MARANGELLA JACQUES SOGHOMONIAN DONALD HARVEY JOHN BYERS IN FRANCE AND MARY WILKIN UNITED STATES STOP HENCEFORTH ANYONE ASSOCIATING THESE PEOPLE OR SUPPORTING REMEY CLAIM LIKEWISE CONSIDERED COVENANT BREAKER STOP CONFIDENT FAITHFUL DEVOTED BODY +224 BELIEVERS MINDFUL INFINITE BOUNTIES PRAISES SHOWERED BELOVED GUARDIAN WILL DEMONSTRATE THROUGH UNITED ACTION IMPREGNABLE SOLIDARITY ARISE ACHIEVE GLORIOUS GOALS GOD-INSPIRED CRUSADE STOP CABLE MESSAGE ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES.
To the Hands of the Cause of God August 9, 1960 CONFIDENTIAL Dearly beloved Fellow-Hands: We know that you are anxious to receive news
of the situation which has developed as a result of the tragic
defection of Mason Remey and his preposterous claim to be the one
chosen to fill the place of our beloved Guardian who was the
divinely appointed scion of God on earth. It seems that his
agitation, far from ceasing and far from being-as we at first hoped
and believed-the evidence of great emotional disturbance and
unbalance-is a persistent and well-thought-out campaign. Not only
does he personally continue to send out communications asserting
his claim and adding ridiculous arguments to support it, but his
attacks on the Hands and all who support them are becoming more
violent and insidious all the time, and his chief supporters in
France, Joel Marangella, Don Harvey and others, have now been
joined by Mary Magdalene Wilkin in the United States. These
henchmen are circularizing the Bahá'í world widely with violent
attacks on the Hands, their decisions and their right to carry on
the beloved Guardian's Crusade while at the same time deducing
so-called "proofs" of the authenticity of Mason's claims and
position. In view of this critical situation and the urgent need
to close this door through which spiritual pollution was pouring
unhindered into the Bahá'í world, following receipt of your replies
to our July 7th, letter we expelled both him and his supporters
from the Faith. We felt we could not take the risk of deferring
this drastic action until the time when we all meet together-even
if the date of the meeting had been advanced to early September (we
could not have gotten the Annual Meeting ready before then). We
thank you for the prompt expressions of opinion we received here
from all of you in response to our letter which enabled us to take
this action for the protection of the Faith on behalf of the entire
body of the Hands. We therefore sent the two following cables to
all National Spiritual Assemblies:
JULY 26, 1960 +225 COVENANT COMMUNICATIONS BELOVED GUARDIAN ENJOINING THEM PROTECT HOLY CAUSE ATTACKS ENEMIES WITHIN WITHOUT ANNOUNCE BAHA'I WORLD MASON REMEY COVENANT BREAKER EXPELLED FAITH STOP ACTION FOLLOWS LONG PERIOD PATIENCE FORBEARANCE OPPORTUNITY GIVEN HIM WITHDRAW SHAMEFUL PRETENSION SACRED STATION GUARDIANSHIP CONSTITUTING HERETICAL CLAIM CONTRARY EXPLICIT PROVISIONS WILL MASTER STOP DESPITE UNIVERSAL REPUDIATION DENUNCIATION BY ALL HANDS INTERNATIONAL BAHA'I COUNCIL ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES REMEY CONTINUING AGITATE UNFOUNDED CLAIM ACTIVELY SEEKING CREATE DIVISION RANKS FAITHFUL SOW SEEDS DOUBT HEARTS BELIEVERS UNDERMINE ACTIVITIES INSTITUTION HANDS CHIEF STEWARDS DEDICATED FULFILMENT BELOVED GUARDIAN'S TEN YEAR PLAN STOP ACCORDANCE INJUNCTION WILL TESTAMENT 'ABDU'L-BAHA, CALL UPON FRIENDS EVERYWHERE SHUN REMEY AND ANYONE ASSOCIATING WITH HIM OR ACTIVELY SUPPORTING HIS CLAIMS STOP CONFIDENT COMMUNITY MOST GREAT NAME UNITED WHOLEHEARTED CONDEMNATION THIS LATEST ILL-FATED ATTEMPT DISRUPT GOD'S HOLY CAUSE WILL EMERGE TRIUMPHANT STRENGTHENED GALVANIZED ISSUE FORTH WIN REMAINING GOALS GLORIOUS WORLD ENCIRCLING CRUSADE STOP CABLE MESSAGE ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES. +226 Replies expressing gratitude for and approval of this action are now beginning to come in from the National Spiritual Assemblies. Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, cut short a much-needed rest after
her exhaustive tour of the United States and Canada when we
informed her of the sudden death of our dear co-worker Horace
Holley, and flew back from Canada as soon as she could arrange her
travelling plans. Bill Sears, who had planned to visit some of the
European centres prior to our Bahji meeting, hastened his arrival
after being informed of Horace's death, and got here three days
before Ruhiyyih Khanum. Faizi, (whose return entry visa held him
up) arrived a few days later. Their report made it clear that
responsible believers were considerably puzzled and distressed by
the lack of action from the World Centre in expelling what had
obviously become a most active and threatening group of
Covenant-breakers. In addition to this, the American National
Spiritual Assembly, in whose area this poisonous material was being
most widely circulated, cabled us as follows:
JULY 18, 1960 We all
knew after the passing of our beloved Guardian false claims would
surely be made; but we never dreamed they would come from one of
ourselves, from a Hand honoured by both 'Abdu'l-Bahá and Shoghi
Effendi History has repeated itself once again, and from the text
of that glorious epistle God Passes By we are assured that any
crisis this may momentarily precipitate in Bahá'í affairs will
inevitably be succeeded by a resounding victory and a great forward
surge in the work of this holy Faith. We need not tell you how
difficult has been this whole series of events for those serving
here at the World Centre! You can well imagine. In the midst of
this crisis, with four Custodians absent --Milly Collins and Leroy
Ioas for reasons of health and Ruhiyyih Khanum, and Faizi, on
specific missions --our very dear co-worker Horace Holley, suddenly
died. As you know his heart was in a state where this could have
happened at any moment during the past years. For a few days he had
felt too weak to get
+227 up and be about, but his condition did not lead us, or his physician, to believe his death was imminent. On the evening of the 12th of July he collapsed on leaving the bathroom and died immediately. A very beautiful and moving service was held in the hall of the Master's Home; and less than twenty-four hours after his passing we laid him to rest in the Bahá'í Cemetery, right near the graves of Dr. Esslemont and the Afnan who built the 'Ishqabad Temple. We are deeply grateful to Bahá'u'lláh that we had the valued, mature and wise advice of dear Horace during the most difficult period of this whole Remey affair and that he was able, through his example and counsels, to render at the end of his life yet another great service to the Faith he had worked for so constantly, with such outstanding distinction and devotion, and for so many years --a Faith whose Guardian had heaped upon him so many honours. May God in His mercy give each one of us an end as blessed as his! All this has made us feel very keenly, and we know the same
feeling is in your hearts too, that we must draw ever closer to
each other-we who were chosen by our beloved Guardian, poor and
unworthy though we are, to carry on his work, to serve as Hands of
the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, and help crown with victory this latest
stage in the unfoldment of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Divine Plan. Our
essential unity, the love we have for Shoghi Effendi and in his
love for each other, must grow daily stronger, so that we can
fulfil our primary function of protecting and propagating the Cause
of God. We feel our forthcoming Annual Meeting will inevitably,
after this serious onslaught on the Faith and the Institution of
the Hands, be productive of great results for the forthcoming year,
and that we will be assisted to make truly inspiring plans for the
tremendous work that lies ahead of the entire Bahá'í world during
the closing years of the Crusade. We are eagerly looking forward
to your arrival here. As soon as possible we will send you the
agenda for the meeting. Now that this defection of Mason and the
handful of his supporters (about 15 people in all, some of them
wives of the chief dissidents) has been put in its proper light
before the Bahá'í world, we can go on to other matters for which
there has been no time during the past critical three months when
we were investigating the situation, studying Faizi's detailed
reports on the condition in France and answering a tremendous
amount of correspondence pouring in in connection with winning the
Crusade goals, Mason's claims, and so on. We ask you to pray for
all of us, but particularly for the health of Ugo and Bill; the
former is slowly recovering from a very grave infection contracted
during his tour of Central America, the latter has just left for
a sanatorium in Europe to care for a disturbing liver condition
seriously impairing his health. Our dear fellow-Hand Musa Banani;
has suffered a
+228 stroke and is at present in a hospital in Frankfurt receiving medical care for his paralyzed right side. We ask your ardent supplications on his behalf. Please also pray for the improvement in health of Milly, Leroy and Enoch. In the holy Shrines we always
supplicate for all of the Hands, as you know, and beseech
Bahá'u'lláh's confirmations, protection and grace. With deepest
love, In the service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE
IN THE HOLY LAND
To All National Spiritual Assemblies August 27, 1960 Dear Bahá'í Friends: For your information and for the
protection of the Cause, we wish to inform you of the recent steps
taken by the Egyptian Government against the Faith, and to indicate
what course of action should be followed by the National Assemblies
of the Bahá'í world. According to press dispatches, the Government
of the United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria) has issued a decree
which closes all Bahá'í centres forbids any Bahá'í activity in
Egypt or Syria, and gives the Government the right to confiscate
Bahá'í property. Substantial penalties (fine, imprisonment, or
both) are imposed for any disobedience of this law. We now have
confirmation of these actions and a request that all Assemblies and
individual believers refrain from any correspondence with the
friends in Egypt or Syria. It is essential that this instruction
be followed without any exceptions, in order to avoid further
restrictions on the Bahá'ís in those countries. Furthermore, no
steps should be taken by any National Assembly to protest against
or publicize the action of the Government of the United Arab
Republic. We are requesting the representatives of the Bahá'í
International Community in the United States to take the matter up
with the appropriate agencies of the United Nations, stressing the
non-political character of the Faith, and that the basic right of
freedom of religion has been violated. This is the only official
action which we feel is wise at this time, but if any inquiries are
received, the answer can be given that appropriate steps are being
taken through the United Nations. All of us can, however, pray for
the protection of the friends and the removal of these unfortunate
restrictions. With warm Bahá'í love, In the service of the beloved
Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND
+229 To the Hands of the Cause of God throughout the World August 31, 1960 Beloved Co-Workers: As you know, this year's Conclave of the
Hands is to take place during the period October 18-27. In
accordance with our usual practice we are sending to each Hand the
following suggestions for the agenda of the meeting.
AGENDA -1960
CONCLAVE
We are looking forward eagerly to welcoming you in
Haifa and to the opportunity of praying and consulting together on
the vital work which lies ahead for us all. With our warmest and
deepest love, In the service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF
THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND To the Bahá'ís throughout the East and the West September 7, 1960 Beloved Friends: They that have forsaken their country for the purpose of teaching Our Cause --these shall the Faithful Spirit strengthen through its +230 power.... Such a service is, indeed, the prince of all goodly deeds, and the ornament of every goodly act. In the past months, since the Annual Conventions were held, many
events have taken place which have caused the friends to rejoice
anew over the truly unassailable foundation upon which our glorious
Faith has been laid. The individual believers in every part of the
world have arisen with renewed consecration and redoubled zeal to
devote themselves to winning the goals of our beloved Guardian's
holy Crusade. The news of the progress being made in winning these
goals has been truly inspiring; a steady flow of pioneers from
North America and Persia is going out to support the work in those
crucial places where new National Assemblies must be formed either
next April or in Ridvan 1962. In addition to this, local pioneers
in Latin America and Europe are reinforcing the work, and through
their familiarity with the languages and customs of the people are
proving of invaluable assistance in building up new Assemblies and
strengthening existing ones. We clearly see that the words of our
beloved Guardian resound with thrilling fulfilment around the
Balid'i world: "From the record of its tumultuous history, almost
every page of which portrays a fresh crisis . . . recounts the tale
of a base betrayal ... there emerges, clear and incontrovertible,
the supreme truth that with every fresh outbreak of hostility to
the Faith, whether from within or from without, a corresponding
measure of outpouring grace, sustaining its defenders and
confounding its adversaries, has been providentially released,
communicating a fresh impulse to the onward march of the Faith .
. ." What bounties we share, what privileges we have been given,
what blessings have been showered upon us! Is it any wonder that
'Abdu'l-Bahá asked us over and over, "Do you know in what day you
are living?" Where such manifold blessings are given, an equally
deep responsibility and challenge confronts us. This is the hour
for every single believer to arise as never before and rededicate
himself to the unfinished tasks of the beloved Guardian's Ten Year
Plan, so that the rising tide of victories which made the past year
unprecedented in the Faith, may sweep us on to greater triumphs and
even more brilliant accomplishments on every front. The eyes of the
Bahá'í world are particularly directed to the goal cities of
Europe where we still have twenty-seven Local Spiritual Assemblies
to establish in nine countries. The most urgent need is for heroic
pioneers to
+231 arise, determined to overcome every obstacle that stands in their path and volunteer their services through their own National Spiritual Assembly. At the start of this great Global Crusade, the beloved Guardian said that pioneering was the single most important service in the Bahá'í world in that hour. That service remains unique and priceless. Time is getting terrifyingly short; we must
all hasten on our individual and collective paths of service in
order to win all the goals of our beloved Guardian. We ask each one
of you to reconsider how you may be of greater help, as a pioneer,
as a teacher, through greater support of the Fund, in any and every
way possible, so that these coming months may see a great upsurge
of activity and the kindling of a mighty flame of devotion which
will sweep like wildfire throughout the Bahá'í world and carry us
all to victory. At the Annual Meeting of the Hands of the Cause,
starting on October the 18th, momentous decisions will have to be
made, and exhaustive plans formulated. We ask the believers
everywhere in the world to join us on the evening of October 19th,
in saying the "Tablet of Ahmad or another prayer, supplicating that
all difficulties may be removed, all obstacles overcome, in the
vital months that lie ahead-months which must witness the election
of twenty-one new National Assemblies in the Latin American area
and the creation of twenty-seven new Local Assemblies in the goal
countries of Europe, Assemblies which are to be the foundation of
the new European National Assemblies to be elected in Ridvan 1962.
We felt that this day, October 19th, would carry a special
blessing, as it is the anniversary, according to the solar
calendar, of the birthday of the precious Bab. The Hands will,
after sunset on that day, be praying at Bahji, in the holy Shrine
of Bahá'u'lláh. Please join us then in thought, spirit and prayer.
Confident of final victory, and resolved to show forth, in the
words of the beloved Guardian, "a dazzling display of the qualities
which must distinguish a worthy stewardship of the Faith of
Bahá'u'lláh", let the friends everywhere arise with one accord, and
conclude triumphantly those tasks which the Will of the Most High
has ordained it should be their privilege to perform. In the
service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY
LAND To All National Spiritual Assemblies October 15, 1960 Dear Bahá'í Friends: In view of the proclamation issued by Mason Remey
in which he
+232 claims to be the second guardian of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, and the present circulation of what he calls encyclical letters, as well as various letters being written by his misguided supporters, the Hands of the Cause feel it imperative to place before the believers certain facts and passages from the Sacred Writings of our Faith in refutation of these spurious and highly misleading statements. Mason Remey has had the temerity to assert that the
beloved Guardian of the Cause appointed him during his own lifetime
as his successor. He builds up his claim by saying that because he
was appointed President of the first International Bahá'í Council,
he becomes automatically the President of the elected International
Bahá'í Council, and later, on its election, Chairman of the
Universal House of Justice. To quote his own argument: He who is President of the Universal House of Justice is the Guardian of the Faith for he who is the Guardian of the Faith is President of the Universal House of Justice. These two offices are one and the same. Therefore, when the beloved Guardian Shoghi Effendi appointed me President of the Bahá'í International Council, that, he explained, was the forerunner of the Universal House of Justice that was the Embrionic [sic] Universal House of Justice that would eventually develop into the Universal House of Justice. I or one of my successors in Guardianship would be President of this divinely instituted infallible body, the Universal House of Justice; therefore the Guardianship of the Bahá'í Faith and the Presidency of the Universal House of Justice are one and the same position in the Faith.This contention requires a careful study of the Words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the Will and Testament, because this sacred document sets forth the conditions requisite for Guardianship in no uncertain terms. We must never forget for a moment that it was the Master Who established the Station of the Guardianship; and in fact appointed the successor of Shoghi Effendi as between Shoghi Effendi's first born, or another branch (Ghosn). In the Will He
clearly states:
He is the expounder of the Words of God and after him will succeed the-first-born of his lineal descendants.... +233 essence of purity, must show in himself the fear of God, knowledge, wisdom and learning. Thus, should the first-born of the Guardian of the Cause of God not manifest in himself the truth of the words: "The child is the secret essence of its sire", that is, should he not inherit of the spiritual within him (the Guardian of the Cause of God) and his glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must he (the Guardian of the Cause of God), choose an other branch to succeed him. It has become clear during the past
months that lack of knowledge of the meaning of the word "branch"
as used in the Master's Will and Testament has led to great
confusion in certain quarters in the West.
The word "Ghosn" (plural
Aghsan is an Arabic word, meaning "branch". Bahá'u'lláh used this
word specifically to designate his own male descendants. It does
not apply to any other category of people. He gave the title to
'Abdu'l-Bahá of "the Most Great Branch". His second son, Muhammad
'Ali was known as "the Greater Branch"; His third son, Midhi, "the
Purest Branch", etc. The Guardian himself is designated in the
Master's Will as "the Chosen Branch". All the male relatives of the
Bab. are invariably referred to as "Afnan", which means "twigs".
These two designations are not interchangeable. Over and over in
Bahá'u'lláh's Tablets these terms Aghsan and "Afnan" are
specifically used in this sense. For instance, in the Tablet of the
Branch, the original word is "Ghosn" (i.e. branch), referring to
'Abdu'l-Bahá. The ordinary English usage of the word "branch" has
caused a great deal of confusion, whereas there is not a shadow of
ambiguity in the Persian and Arabic texts. Because of ignorance of
the Arabic and Persian languages and the use of these two terms in
our Sacred Texts, spurious arguments have been put forth by those
making the false claim that Shoghi Effendi could have appointed a
successor other than a blood descendant of Bahá'u'lláh. It should
likewise be pointed out that neither in Persian nor Arabic are
there ever any capital letters, so that it is impossible to deduce
any arguments from a capitalization or lack of capitalization in
the English texts. We direct attention to the first Proclamation
issued by all the Hands of the Bahá'í world from Bahji, November
25, 1957 (including Mason Remey). The same Hands (one of whom was Mason Remey), rejoining the other Hands assembled in the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahji +234 certified that Shoghi Effendi had left no Will and Testament. It was likewise certified that the beloved Guardian had left no heir. The Afghan (branches) one and all are either dead, or have been declared violators of the Covenant by the Guardian for their faithless ness to the Master's Will and Testament and their hostility to him named first Guardian in that sacred document. Thus it is clear that no one but a blood
descendant of Bahá'u'lláh could possibly have been appointed by
Shoghi Effendi as Guardian of the Faith. Bahá'u'lláh, in writing,
in unambiguous terms established the Master as the Centre of His
Covenant. 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His turn, in His Own handwriting created
the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi as the Centre of His Covenant
and specified the conditions of future Guardianship.
Without one
written word from the Guardian, Mason Remey claims that because he
was the President of the International Bahá'í Council, and because
this body is the embryonic international institution, it
automatically makes him the President of that future body, and
hence, Guardian of the Faith.
If the President of the International
Bahá'í Council is ipso facto the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, then
the beloved Guardian, himself, Shoghi Effendi would have had to be
the President of this first International Bahá'í Council.
If the
presidency of the first International Bahá'í Council, which was not
an elected body but appointed by Shoghi Effendi was a permanent
thing, why did the beloved Guardian himself call for an elected
International Bahá'í Council in the future as part of the evolution
of this institution and its eventual efflorescence into the
Universal House of Justice? We have not even an intimation in any
writing of Shoghi Effendi that the officers of the first appointed
International Bahá'í Council would be carried forward into the
elected International Bahá'í Council. There is nothing to indicate
anywhere in the Teachings that the officers of the elected
International Bahá'í Council would not be elected according to the
pattern of election of every other Bahá'í elected body. The manner
of the election of the Universal House of Justice has been laid
down by 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself. There is no possible reason for
concluding that Mason Remey or any other Council member would
automatically be carried forward into membership in that body. If
the presidency of either an appointed or an elected International
+235 Bahá'í Council were synonymous with the presidency of the Universal House of Justice, then it follows the beloved Guardian himself would have assumed this position. Mason Remey signed the first
communication sent out by 26 Hands of the Faith, from Bahji in
November, 1957, in which it was stated that as the beloved Guardian
had left no Will and no successor, the Hands of the Faith,
designated by Shoghi Effendi as the Chief Stewards of Bahá'u'lláh's
embryonic World Commonwealth, would carry on the work of the
Crusade until the formation of that infallible Body, the Universal
House of Justice. Although Mason Remey, himself a Hand of the
Cause, acted as one of the nine Hands in the Holy Land until the
end of October, 1959, he never intimated his claim to be the second
Guardian to any individual Hand, to the group of Hands serving at
the World Centre, or to the body of the Hands gathered in Bahji at
their Conclaves. The first intimation any of us received of this
astounding claim was when he mailed us a copy of his proclamation,
at a time when it was already in the mail to National Assemblies
and individuals. How can Mason Remey reconcile his assertion that
he was appointed by Shoghi Effendi as his successor during his
lifetime with the provisions in the Will and Testament of
'Abdu'l-Bahá that during the lifetime of the Guardian, nine of the
Hands of the Cause of God must be elected by their fellow-Hands,
and give their assent to the choice made by him of his successor?
If the Guardian appointed Mason Remey, why did he go against the
provisions of the Will in this important respect? Such an
implication is a flagrant attack on Shoghi Effendi himself. The
terrible dangers of accepting so manifestly false a claim as that
which Mason Remey has made are thus clear for all to see. In
addition to having set aside the provisions of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will
in making this claim, in addition to not having one single written
word in evidence that the beloved Guardian intended to make him his
successor, Mason Remey has written that he will appoint his own
successor to the Guardianship. Every believer, into whose mind has
crept for even a second, a shadow of doubt as regards the personal
status of Mason Remey may see for himself to what a degree he has
entirely brushed aside every single foundation laid by 'Abdu'l-Bahá
in His Will for the Guardianship. The glorious Báb forbade
association with Covenant-breakers. Bahá'u'lláh strictly forbade
association with the Covenant-breakers, and even warned the friends
against entering if possible a city where Covenant-breakers
resided,
as their poison polluted the entire area. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's teaching
with regard to shunning and having no contact whatsoever with
+236 the Covenant-breakers is contained in hundreds of Tablets. The beloved Guardian forbade all association with Covenant-breakers and warned that their poison was so deadly, that it was not permissible to have even their literature in one's possession. The Chief
Stewards of the Faith, mindful of their paramount responsibility
to protect the believers, have taken action to expel from the Faith
Mason Remey and his supporters because of their Covenant-breaking
activities, and to forbid all association with them. The beloved
Master, in His Will and Testament, issued this clear warning to all
the friends:
BAHA'I WILMETTE OCTOBER 29,1960 SHARE JOYOUS NEWS BELIEVERS OBSTACLES ATTAINMENT ONE BELOVED GUARDIAN'S MAJOR CRUSADE GOALS ERECTION MOTHER TEMPLE EUROPE NOW OVERCOME STOP EXCAVATION FOUNDATIONS ALREADY COMMENCED STOP HAND CAUSE AMELIA COLLINS REPRESENTATIVE GUARDIAN FRANKFURT CONFERENCE WILL ATTEND HISTORIC CEREMONY LAYING CORNER STONE NOVEMBER TWENTIETH AND PLACE SACRED DUST MOST HOLY SHRINE PREVIOUSLY ENTRUSTED GERMAN ASSEMBLY THIS PURPOSE STOP FOLLOWING SEVEN YEARS' DELAY ALL HEARTS UPLIFTED THANKSGIVING BAHA'U'LLAH, GREAT VICTORY STOP SHARE MESSAGE ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES.
+237 To All National Spiritual Assemblies November 4, 1960 Beloved Friends: We enclose a copy of the Message to the Bahá'ís of East
and West from the Hands of the Cause assembled for the fourth time
at Bahjí. The tasks outlined in this communication, and the
enumeration of the victories won in the beloved Guardian's World
Crusade, are of such vital significance to the believers that we
ask you to share it with them immediately through your News Letter,
or otherwise. We look forward to hearing in due course of further
great victories won for the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh through the
dedicated consecrated efforts of the Bahá'ís in every land united
in determination to overcome whatever obstacles lie between them
and the fulfilment of the Ten Year Crusade. With warm Bahá'í love,
In the service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND CONCLAVE MESSAGE 1960 From the Hands of the Cause to the Bahá'ís of East and West Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh Bahji 'Akka, Israel November 2, 1960 Dearly beloved Friends: Fully aware of the fact
that the destinies of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh for decades to come
hinge upon the actions which must be taken during the coming twelve
months, the Hands of the Cause of God, meeting in Bahji in the
precincts of the Most Holy Shrine, at their fourth Annual Gathering
held since the passing of our beloved Guardian, have considered
those measures necessary to enable us to attain the goals of this
divinely inspired, globe-encircling Crusade. After joining the
Bahá'ís of the entire world in supplication for the victory of the
Ten Year Plan, after sixteen days of profound and exhaustive
consultation, we are now in a position to share with our
fellow-believers the nature of the tasks facing us and the plans
formulated to ensure their achievement. The unprecedented global
victories which thrilled and uplifted the hearts of the believers
everywhere last Ridvan are gathering momentum as this holy Crusade
approaches its end. The world-wide Bahá'í Community,
+238 faced by yet another severe test during the past year, has risen to new heights of accomplishment. The evidences of the watchful protection of the Twin Founders of our Faith and the assistance of the Supreme Concourse, promised to all those who arise to promote it, are to be seen on every side. We now stand on the threshold of one of the most significant and critical moments in our history, fraught with golden opportunities, demanding tremendous self-sacrifice. Our beloved Guardian led us year after
year, along the most arduous paths, to victories which, to the
people of the world, must have appeared impossible of achievement.
Yet victory was ours at every step of the way. Before we muster our
strength for the tasks that lie immediately ahead, let us for a
moment contemplate what has already been accomplished by the
followers of Bahá'u'lláh since the inception of the Ten Year Plan:
The banner of the Faith has been unfurled in the astounding number
of two hundred and fifty-six countries of the globe; the Mother
Temples of both Africa and Australia are to all intents and
purposes completed; at long last the soil has been turned on the
site of the Mother Temple of the European continent and its
corner-stone will be laid this month-just three years after the
passing of our most beloved Guardian, an event which culminates
seven years of heart-breaking effort to secure a property where
permission to build could finally be obtained, and which marks
another great victory of the Cause of God over the consistent
opposition of certain ecclesiastical elements. Well nigh three
thousand pioneers have left their homes since 1953 and scattered
over the face of the planet, to the barren lands of the world, to
regions within the Arctic Circle, to distant deserts and lonely
islands, to populous cities and jungle villages. Heroes and
martyrs, individuals drawn from every stratum of society, old
people and young children, representatives of not only the Asiatic
and European civilizations, but Africans, American Indians, Pacific
Islanders and Eskimos, have swelled the ranks of pioneers, each in
his own way and in his own part of the world, contributing to this
glorious testimonial of belief in the Manifestation of God in this
day. The initial evidences of that great wave of mass conversion
which must sweep the planet have been seen through the enrolment,
since the inception of the Crusade, amongst the Africans, the
people of Indonesia, and the Indians of South America, of over
30,000 believers, almost 20,000 of whom have embraced the Faith
since the passing of the beloved of our hearts; the centres where
believers reside have been more than doubled since 1953; hundreds
of new Spiritual Assemblies have been formed; schools opened and
run by Bahá'ís have been multiplied, not only in the Pacific area
and in Africa, but more recently in India and in Latin America; the
first dependency of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in Wilmette-harbinger
of the great cultural and
+239 humanitarian centres that will cluster about Bahá'í Houses of Worship in the future-has been completed. And last but not least, the Spiritual Assemblies specified by the beloved Guardian for Latin America have been elected and upon this firm foundation can now be erected next Ridvan the twenty-one new pillars of the Universal House of Justice. All these are but a part of the tremendous victories won for the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh by His small band of devoted, heroic followers in less than eight years. The Crusade has
reached the point where the Hands of the Cause can no longer
operate on a regional basis alone, but must render their services
on a global scale. This indeed seems the next step in the
"development", as the beloved Guardian wrote, "of the Institution
of the Hands of the Cause" which he, in his great wisdom, made an
objective of the Ten Year Plan and which he elaborated upon
increasingly during the last years of his life, particularly
stressing it in his message of June 4, 1957 and in the very last
communication he sent to the Bahá'í world on the eve of his
passing. So great and so crushing are the responsibilities which
have fallen upon the Hands since his passing, so increasingly vast
the field in which they are called upon to serve, that it is no
longer possible to confine their activities to a specific region.
The answer to this problem seems to be more travelling on their
part, and the concentration of their forces on those places where
the need is greatest. The passing of our very dear co-worker Horace
Holley has left us without a ninth member of the body of Hands
serving in the Holy Land. In order to fill this vacancy,
far-reaching changes have been made in the disposition of the Hands
in such a way as to not only protect the World Centre, but also
serve the best interests of the continental work in various parts
of the globe. William Sears has been chosen to replace Horace
Holley at the World Centre; John Robarts, is returning to the
Western Hemisphere, his original home, in order to ensure that the
vital work in the Americas receives adequate support at this time.
Rahmatu'llah Muhájir is being transferred to Africa, with the
understanding he will spend some months of each year travelling and
teaching in his former area. The Auxiliary Board members, mindful
of the words of the Guardian concerning their functions as
"deputies, assistants and advisers of the Hands", and remembering
the conspicuous part they have already played in winning the
resounding victories of the Crusade, henceforth should concentrate
their forces, as we approach the pinnacle of achievement, on the
specific tasks given them, namely, teaching and protecting the
Faith. The significance and the vital importance of the proper
relationship between the Institution of the Hands, with its Boards,
and the National Spiritual Assemblies with their committees, was
set forth in most pregnant
+240 terms by Shoghi Effendi in one of his last messages: "Call upon Hands and National Assemblies, each continent separately, to establish henceforth direct contact and deliberate, whenever feasible, as frequently as possible, to exchange reports to be submitted by their respective Auxiliary Boards and national committees, to exercise unrelaxing vigilance and carry out unflinchingly their sacred, inescapable duties. The security of our precious Faith, the preservation of the spiritual health of the Bahá'í communities, the vitality of the faith of its individual members, the proper functioning of its laboriously erected institutions, the fruition of its worldwide enterprises, the fulfilment of its ultimate destiny, all are directly dependent upon the befitting discharge of the weighty responsibilities now resting upon the members of these two institutions . . ." Our strength has
always lain in obedience to the commands of the Centre of the
Covenant; if the Hands and their Boards, the National Assemblies
and their committees, each functioning in the field delineated for
it by the Guardian, will cooperate to the full extent implied in
his above words, great spiritual powers will be released and a
tremendous new impetus be given to the work of the Crusade in all
its aspects. The opportunities that call us to swift and sustained
action in the teaching field are unique, infinitely precious,
immeasurably glorious. In these fast-fleeting months which lie
ahead of us we have to match the magnitude and the challenge of our
beloved Guardian's command with an effort unequalled in Bahá'í
history, for this, the fourth and last phase of his
world-encircling Crusade, he has told us "must be immortalized ...
by an unprecedented increase in the number of avowed supporters of
the Faith in all the continents of the globe, of every race, clime,
creed and colour, and from every stratum of present-day society.
. ." The Manifestation of God Himself has said: "Teach ye the Cause
of God, O people of Bahá, for God hath prescribed unto every one
the duty of proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it as the most
meritorious of all deeds." No one can afford to ignore this
command. "Of all the gifts of God", wrote the beloved Master in His
Will and Testament, "the greatest is the gift of Teaching. It
draweth unto us the Grace of God and is our first obligation. Of
such a gift how can we deprive ourselves? Nay, our lives, our
goods, our comforts, our rest, we offer them all as a sacrifice for
the Abha Beauty and teach the Cause of God." Bahá'u'lláh
Himself indicated the path every believer must follow when He
revealed these words: "Whoso is worthy of so high a calling, let
him arise and promote it. Whoso is unable, it is his duty to
appoint him who will, in his stead, proclaim this Revelation, whose
power hath caused the foundations of the mightiest structures to
quake, every mountain to be crushed into dust, and every soul to
be dumbfounded." The urgent need of the present hour
+241 necessitates not only an immediate upsurge of individual action, but also the re-orientation of all the administrative agencies of our Faith towards the supreme obligation of spreading the Message of Bahá'u'lláh and the exertion on their part of a maximum effort in the teaching field. As the travels and movements of teachers engaged in awakening the masses increase and multiply, blessings will correspondingly flow. To this the Master Himself bore witness. Time is short and herculean the task, but the promise of the Blessed Perfection rings in our hearts and fortifies our resolve: "Whoso openeth his lips in this Day and maketh mention of the name of his Lord, the hosts of Divine inspiration shall descend upon him from the heaven of My Name, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. On him shall also descend the Concourse on High, each bearing aloft a chalice of pure light." In connection with the tremendous task of
forming twenty-one new National Spiritual Assemblies, assisting
the teaching work in those countries where many goals of the home
front still remain to be won, and furthering the process of mass
conversion so dear to the Guardian's heart, the Hands of the Faith
have planned extensive travels during the coming months in order
to aid and stimulate the world-wide activities of the Faith to the
greatest possible extent. Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih KHANUM will attend
the dedication of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar at Kampala, the Mother
Temple of Africa, in January and visit various areas in that
continent where mass conversion is taking place; she likewise plans
to be present at the dedication of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in Sydney,
the Mother Temple of the Antipodes, which will be held next
September, meeting the friends in Australia and New Zealand, as
well as certain centres in South East Asia. Amelia Collins will lay
the corner-stone of the Mother Temple of Europe, during this
present month, in Frankfurt; Tarazu'llah Samandari, will shortly
leave for a prolonged tour of Pakistan, India, Burma and Ceylon to
assist the work in those countries. Leroy Ioas, will visit centres
in Europe during the summer months. On the occasion of the
formation next Ridvan of the largest number of National Assemblies
to be elected at one time during any period of Bahá'í history,
eleven Hands of the Cause, pursuant to the policy of the beloved
Guardian, will attend the sessions of the different Conventions as
follows: Hermann Grossmann in Argentina and Chile; Rahmatu'llah
Muh6jir in Paraguay and Bolivia; Hasan Balyuzi in Peru and Ecuador;
Shu'a'u'llah 'Ala'i in Venezuela and Colombia; Ugo Giachery, in the
Dominican Republic and Haiti; Enoch Olinga, in Jamaica and Cuba;
Dhikru'llah Khadem in Panama and Costa Rica; John Robarts, in
Nicaragua and Honduras; William Sears in El Salvador and Guatemala;
Paul
+242 Haney in Mexico and also in Wilmette; 'Ali-Akbar Furutan; in Brazil and Uruguay. These Hands of the Cause, in addition to spending some
time in each of the twenty-one countries where these historic
gatherings are being held will, as the occasion permits, make a
point of visiting not only the goal countries of Europe, but also
the home fronts in Britain and Germany, the United States and
Canada, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Alaska and certain
islands of the Pacific. Enoch Olinga, will travel for four months
in the Greater Antilles and Central America. Rahmatu'llah Muhajir
will travel across Africa, and later make a prolonged tour among
the Bolivian Indians. One of the most significant events during
this coming Ridvan period will take place when the National
Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá'í world elect the International
Bahá'í Council. We shall witness for the first time in the history
of the Faith an election on a global scale, and the hearts of the
believers will echo the words of the beloved Guardian at the time
when he appointed the first International Bahá'í Council: "Hail
with thankful, joyous heart" this historic moment. This Council,
which the beloved Guardian characterized as the "most significant
milestone" in the evolution of the Administrative Order since the
Master's passing, will now undergo, in his own words, its
"transformation into a duly elected body"; it will be international
in character, and have its headquarters at the World Centre of the
Faith. In addition to those functions which were announced last
year, it will be given certain administrative duties to discharge
in facilitating the work at the World Centre in relation to
National Assemblies abroad. It would be well for the believers,
pondering at this time the importance of the step that is being
taken through this election, to bear in mind that however
significant this first universally elected body may be, it must
never be compared with that Supreme Body upon which we are promised
the Twin Manifestations of God will confer infallibility in the
discharge of those duties ordained for it in the Holy Text. In
considering the immediate needs of this Faith so infinitely dear
to all our hearts, it has become evident that from now until the
end of the Crusade in Ridvan 1963, not only a tremendous united
effort on all fronts is going to be required, but above all a great
self-sacrificing outpouring of our material substance. The cost of
erecting the Mother Temple of Europe, enshrined in the heart of
that continent which is the cradle of western civilization, has
increased, since the beloved Guardian approved its design, between
30 and 40 percent, owing to steadily rising prices in Germany.
Because of this it has become imperative, in order to prevent a
still greater increase in cost, to purchase all the raw materials
at the
+243 present time and to ensure that neither delay in commencing building operations nor any interruption in the construction of the superstructure takes place. This means that in a period of one year the funds of the Faith are being called upon to provide the major expense involved in its erection. The Hands of the Cause, mindful that Shoghi Effendi pledged a third of the estimated sum of one million dollars for the three historic Temples to be forever associated with the world-wide labours of the followers of Bahá'u'lláh during the Ten Year Plan, will provide the remainder of his pledge still to be paid for this purpose. In addition to the urgent demands being made upon the resources of the Faith in this connection, it must be borne in mind that the vanguard of valiant pioneers who in many places form the backbone of the existing Local Assemblies in Latin America and the nucleus of those which must be formed this year in eleven European countries, must at all costs be enabled to remain at their posts. To withdraw any of these forces at this time from strategic areas would be disastrous and might place in jeopardy those National Assemblies so soon to act as pillars of the Universal House of Justice. The International Bahá'í Council, fulfilling yet another stage in its evolution and efflorescence into the Universal House of Justice, must be elected and means be provided for at least a quorum of its members to function in Haifa. In addition to this, the World Centre, the heart and nerve centre of the Faith, its holy Shrines and institutions, its multiple properties and magnificent gardens must be maintained and preserved for posterity. To not present this picture of our
obligations and needs, our responsibilities and the mighty
challenge confronting us, to our fellow believers, would, we feel,
be neither fair nor realistic. However great the burden resting on
our shoulders as Chief Stewards of Bahá'u'lláh's embryonic World
Commonwealth, it does not rest on us alone; each and every believer
has his or her own responsibility towards the Cause of God, each
one of us, in differing degrees but in universal measure, is called
upon to bring a personal sacrifice to the altar of the Faith of
Bahá'u'lláh at this time. We know that it is indeed spiritually far
more important for each believer to give a token offering than for
those more blessed with material means to carry the brunt of the
burden alone. It is our ardent hope that our Bahá'í brothers and
sisters in Africa and the Pacific area, in the Andes, in the
jungles and the deserts, on the Indian reservations of North
America, in distant wastelands, and the regions of the Arctic
Circle will, as a symbol of our great brotherhood and our unity
under the banner of the Blessed Perfection, likewise contribute
regularly, if only one penny, to further the achievement of the
remaining goals of our beloved Guardian's Crusade and to enable us
to win a victory in 1963 such as has never been recorded in the
annals of any religion in the
+244 memory of man. We call upon all the friends to join in a year of austerity and self-sacrifice. The opportunity to render unique service has been offered to this generation at this time. It will never come again in this Dispensation. The final and crowning service of our Guardian's life was this Holy Crusade he left to us as a priceless legacy. To win it is our infinite privilege, our greatest blessing in this world and in the world to come. In ever
greater measure the promises of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá are
being fulfilled. The specific goals set by our Guardian are being
realized one by one with unbelievable rapidity. The assurance given
us in our teachings that every test releases forces latent with new
victories is being demonstrated before our very eyes. This
world-girdling Crusade, the essential object of which is no less
than the spiritualization of the entire planet, is now gathering
the final momentum necessary to carry it forward in one stupendous
surge to a resounding victory on all fronts. If ever a year of
glorious enterprise has faced the Community of the Most Great Name,
it is this year. We can look back in pride upon a steadily
mounting, uninterrupted tide of victories unequalled since the days
of the Heroic Age of our Faith. We can look forward with hope and
confidence to the tremendous achievements that lie ahead of us
during the coming twelve months. These recent victories, these
future achievements are the fruit of the labours of our dearly
beloved Guardian. His was the hand that sowed the seeds, and in his
name the harvest will be gathered in. Let us remember the promise
Shoghi Effendi himself gave us: "The all-conquering potency of the
grace of God, vouchsafed through the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh,
will, undoubtedly, mysteriously and surprisingly, enable whosoever
arises to champion His Cause to win complete and total victory."
In the service of the beloved Guardian,
+245 To the National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá'í World November 13,1960 Dear Co-workers: In accordance with the
decisions of the body of the Hands of the Cause of God regarding
the election of the International Bahá'í Council, we are sending
to the Secretary of each National or Regional Spiritual Assembly
nine ballot papers, one for each member. These ballot papers carry
all the necessary instructions. They should be collected by the
Secretaries of the Assemblies in envelopes that are specially
provided with the ballots. The envelopes must be sealed. Should any
one or some of the members fail to send in their votes, the
Secretary ought not to delay the dispatch of the ballots received.
These should be mailed together to the World Centre in ample time
to reach here before April 21st; 1961. The results will be
announced during the Ridvan period. With loving greetings, In the
service of the beloved Guardian, HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY
LAND BAHA'I WILMETTE NOVEMBER 21,1960 GRIEVE ANNOUNCE PASSING HAND CAUSE CLARA DUNN DISTINGUISHED MEMBER AMERICAN BAHA'I COMMUNITY WHO WITH HYDE DUNN SPIRITUAL CONQUEROR AUSTRALIA RESPONDED MASTERS APPEAL DIVINE PLAN AROSE CARRIED FAITH ANTIPODES RENDERED UNIQUE UNFORGETTABLE PIONEER SERVICE OVER FORTY YEAR PERIOD STOP ADVISE HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERING TEMPLE STOP SHARE MESSAGE HANDS NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES.
BAHA'IRAT FRANKFURT NOVEMBER 24,1960 OVERJOYED GLORIOUS VICTORY LAYING CORNERSTONE MOTHER TEMPLE EUROPE ASSURE PRAYERS SHRINES.
+246 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK
|
| METADATA | (contact us to help add metadata) |
| VIEWS | 459761 views since posted 2000-02-01; last edit 2012; previous at archive.org.../uhj_ministry_custodians; URLs changed in 2010, see archive.org.../bahai-library.org |
| OCLC | 37322775 |
| PERMISSION | © BIC, public sharing permitted. See sources 1, 2, and 3. |
| HISTORY | Scanned 1999 by Duane Troxel; Formatted 2005-02-19 by Brett Zamir; Proofread 1999-01-28 by Duane Troxel. |
|
|
|
|
Home
Chronology |
|