Citadel Of Faith Part 20

The fourth phase of the Ten-Year Plan, which the prosecutors of a world-encompa.s.sing Crusade are about to enter, must witness on the one hand, on every home front, and particularly within the confines of the American homeland, this same spiritual reinvigoration, administrative expansion, and material replenishment, const.i.tuting the triple facets of a task which can brook no further delay, and, on the other, an acceleration, particularly in connection with the construction of the Mother Temples of Australia and Germany (the needs of the Mother Temple of Africa having, to all intents and purposes, been met) in the contributions to be made, by individual believers as well as national spiritual a.s.semblies, to ensure the uninterrupted progress and the early completion of these mighty and historic enterprises.

As the members of the valiant American Baha'i Community have, in the s.p.a.ce of more than four years, blazed the trail, and vindicated their primacy, through the share they have had in opening the chief remaining virgin territories of the globe, in contributing to the furtherance of the interests of the inst.i.tutions of the Faith at its World Center, and in hastening the acquisition of national Haziratu'l-Quds, the establishment of Baha'i national endowments, and the purchase of sites for future Baha'i Temples, so must they, if they be intent on safeguarding that primacy, and on preserving, intact and untarnished, the n.o.ble example they have already set the Baha'i world, maintain their enviable position, as the vanguard of the army of Baha'u'llah's crusaders, in rescuing, while there is yet time, their home front from the precarious position in which it now finds itself, and in displaying for the purpose of ensuring the erection of the Mother Temples of three continents-tasks which tower far above any of the national enterprises. .h.i.therto undertaken-be they Haziratu'l-Quds, endowments or Temple sites-that selfsame generosity and self-abnegation which have distinguished their stewards.h.i.+p to the Cause of Baha'u'llah in the past.

The year, the opening of which will mark the midway point of this World Spiritual Crusade, must be distinguished from all previous years, by the special allotment of a substantial sum from the national budget that will adequately meet the urgent needs of these Houses of Wors.h.i.+p, and particularly those that are to be erected in the European and Australian continents.

A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY, A GLORIOUS CHALLENGE

The forthcoming convocation of no less than five intercontinental conferences, marking the pa.s.sing of half of the time allotted for the prosecution of a World Crusade, and to be held, in five continents of the globe, for the purpose of paying homage to the Author of the Baha'i Revelation for His protection, guidance and blessings, of focusing attention on the achievements of the immediate past and the pressing requirements of the immediate future, will, it is my ardent hope and prayer, provide a fresh stimulus for the adequate discharge of these two afore-mentioned responsibilities, which const.i.tute the distinguis.h.i.+ng features of the fourth phase of a rapidly unfolding Plan.

At four of these five conferences, in the proceedings of which four, the members of the American Baha'i Community-the princ.i.p.al executors of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Divine Plan and the keepers and defenders of the stronghold of the Baha'i Administrative Order-will partic.i.p.ate, through their official representatives, the voice of the champion-builders of Baha'u'llah's embryonic World Order, who can well claim to have had a decisive share in the great strides made by this Crusade, should be raised in a spirit and manner that will galvanize these conferences into action, and produce such results as will reverberate round the world.

A golden opportunity, a glorious challenge, an inescapable duty, a staggering responsibility, confront them, at this fresh turning point in the fortunes of a Crusade, for which they have so unremittingly labored, whose Cause they have so notably advanced, in the further unfoldment of which they must continue to play a leading part, and in whose closing stages, they will, I feel confident, rise to heights never before attained in the course of six decades of American Baha'i history.

Once again-and this time more fervently than ever before-I direct my plea to every single member of this strenuously laboring, clear-visioned, stout-hearted, spiritually endowed community, every man and woman, on whose individual efforts, resolution, self-sacrifice and perseverance the immediate destinies of the Faith of G.o.d, now traversing so crucial a stage in its rise and establishment, primarily depends, not to allow, through apathy, timidity or complacency, this one remaining opportunity to be irretrievably lost. I would rather entreat each and every one of them to immortalize this approaching, fateful hour in the evolution of a World Spiritual Crusade, by a fresh consecration to their G.o.d-given mission, coupled with an instantaneous plan of action, at once so dynamic and decisive, as to wipe out, on the one hand, with one stroke, the deficiencies which have, to no small extent, bogged down the operations of the Crusade on the home front, and tremendously accelerate, on the other, the progress of the triple task, launched, in three continents, and const.i.tuting one of its preeminent objectives.

HIS WATCHFUL POWER AND UNFAILING GRACE

May He, Who through the irresistible operation of the will of His almighty Father, called this community into being, nursed it in its infancy through the inestimable benefits conferred by a divinely appointed Covenant, infused through His personal contact with its members, and the proclamation of His Own Station, a new spirit into their souls; conferred, subsequently, through the revelation of His Tablets, the spiritual primacy designed to enable them to a.s.sume a preponderating role in the propagation of His Father's Faith; graciously aided them, following His ascension, to inaugurate their G.o.d-given mission by fixing the pattern, creating the inst.i.tutions, and vindicating the purpose, of a divinely appointed Administrative Order and by launching subsequently the preliminary undertakings in their homeland, as well as in all the republics of Latin America, in antic.i.p.ation of the formal inauguration of a systematic World Crusade for the furtherance of His Father's Cause; and more recently a.s.sisted them to embark, in concert with their brethren in other continents of the globe, upon the first stage of their world-encompa.s.sing mission, and to win a series of victories unprecedented in the annals of the Faith in their homeland-may He, through His watchful care and unfailing grace, continue to sustain them, individually and collectively, in the course of the remaining stages of the Plan, and enable them to bring to a triumphant termination the initial epoch in the unfoldment of the Divine Plan which He has primarily entrusted to them and on the successful prosecution of which their entire spiritual destiny must depend.

[September 21, 1957]

IN MEMORIAM

Frank Ashton

Praying for progress of his soul in the Kingdom. His services meritorious.

[March 1956]

Ella Bailey

Grieve at pa.s.sing of valiant exemplary pioneer. Reward in Kingdom bountiful.

[August 30, 1953]

Dorothy Baker

Hearts grieved at lamentable, untimely pa.s.sing of Dorothy Baker, distinguished Hand of the Cause, eloquent exponent of its teachings, indefatigable supporter of its inst.i.tutions, valiant defender of its precepts. Her long record of outstanding service has enriched the annals of the concluding years of the Heroic and the opening epoch of the Formative Age of the Baha'i Dispensation. Fervently praying for the progress of her soul in the Abha Kingdom.

a.s.sure relatives of profound loving sympathy. Her n.o.ble spirit is reaping bountiful reward.

Advise hold memorial gathering in the Temple befitting her rank and imperishable services...

[January 13, 1954]

Mary Barton

Grieved by pa.s.sing of your dear mother. Her services highly meritorious.

a.s.sure you of fervent prayers for progress of her soul in the Kingdom.

[January 26, 1957]

Victoria Bedikian

Praying for progress of the soul of indefatigable and wholly consecrated promoter of the Faith. Her services are unforgettable....

[July 1955]

Ella Cooper

Deeply grieved at sudden pa.s.sing of herald of the Covenant, Ella Cooper, dearly loved handmaid of 'Abdu'l-Baha, greatly trusted by Him. Her devoted services during concluding years of Heroic Age and also Formative Age of Faith unforgettable. a.s.sure relatives, friends, deepest sympathy for loss.