Messages to America Part 14

As a new phase in the painful evolution of a sorely-tried and wayward humanity opens, a new challenge summons the prosecutors of a Divine Plan to gird up their loins, muster their resources, and prepare themselves for the launching of the second stage of an enterprise which, as it reveals its full potentialities, must stretch to embrace the five continents of the globe. World turmoil, grave dangers, severe restrictions, the lethargy of the public engrossed in its war problems, have failed to dampen the zeal, or to undermine the resolve, or to interfere with the successful discharge of the duty a.s.sumed by those who have so determinedly embarked on the opening stage of their world encircling, divinely appointed mission. With the return to more normal conditions, with the improvement of the means of travel and communication, with the lifting of the deadening weight of fear and care and the growing receptivity of the ma.s.ses schooled in adversity and groping for the means of ultimate salvation, opportunities without number and unprecedented in their significance, present themselves to those whose privilege and obligation it is to pave the way for the launching of the succeeding stage of their historic and ever unfolding task.

Not until, however, normal conditions are fully restored and the world situation is stabilized, and, above all, the prizes won through the operation of the Seven Year Plan are adequately safeguarded and the basis of the newly established Administrative Order sufficiently consolidated throughout the Western Hemisphere, can the amba.s.sadors of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, carrying aloft the banner of His Name in the American continent, be called upon to undertake unitedly and systematically, collective responsibility for the diffusion of His Message, and for the erection of the fabric of His Administrative Order, amidst the sorrow-stricken, war-lacerated, sorely bewildered nations and peoples of the European continent.

The sooner the home tasks are fully discharged and newly fledged a.s.semblies in Central and South America enabled to function adequately and vigorously, the sooner will the stalwart members of the American Baha'i community, who, during so brief a period, and despite the prevailing darkness, achieved such wonders throughout the Americas, extend the healing influence of their Faith, on a scale as yet unprecedented, to the waiting ma.s.ses of that agitated continent.

As already observed, an intensification of effort is imperatively required aiming at a bolder proclamation of the verities of a G.o.d-given Faith, at a systematic and continent-wide dissemination of its authentic literature, at a closer contact with the ma.s.ses as well as the leaders of public thought, at a further consolidation and multiplication of the administrative centers scattered throughout the new world, and const.i.tuting the nuclei of its future World Order, and, above all, at a more convincing revelation of Baha'i love, unity, solidarity and self-sacrifice, which alone can hasten the consummation of the preliminary undertakings required to terminate the period of transition intervening between the first and second stages of the greatest crusade ever launched in the history of the Faith of Baha'u'llah.

Time is pressing, the work that still remains to be accomplished in the new world is vast and urgent, the need of the suffering ma.s.ses the world over, and particularly in Europe, is pitiable, the sustaining grace destined to be vouchsafed from on high to those who will arise to achieve that task and fulfill this need is boundless and a.s.sured. Its potency has been already fully experienced, and abundantly demonstrated in the years that have witnessed the most prodigious efforts exerted by the American believers. A still more powerful display of its miraculous force can be confidently antic.i.p.ated, if those who have felt its impact in the past arise to carry out, in the years that lie immediately ahead, the sublime and twofold task of the redemption of mankind and the establishment of the world sovereignty of Baha'u'llah.

Cablegram August 10, 1945

HEARTS UPLIFTED IN THANKSGIVING

Our hearts are uplifted in thanksgiving for complete cessation of the prolonged, unprecedented world conflict. I hail the prospects of the removal of the restrictions enabling American Baha'i Community to expedite the preliminary measures required to launch the second stage of the Divine Plan. I appeal focus attention upon the requirements of the all-important Latin American work. The adequate fulfillment of this vital task preludes the a.s.sumption of collective responsibility by triumphant community of the spiritual enlightenment and ultimate redemption of sorely-tried, war-ravaged European continent, destined to be a.s.sociated with exploits which must immortalize the second stage of the World Mission entrusted by 'Abdu'l-Baha to the apostles of His Father's Faith in the western world.

The opportunities of the present hour are infinitely precious, the time is pressing, the call of the distressed, groping peoples of Europe pitiful, insistent. The work still to be accomplished to consummate the mighty enterprise undertaken in Latin America is considerable. The Almighty's sustaining grace is a.s.sured, unfailing. I am praying from the depths of a joyful, thankful heart for the outpouring of blessings no less remarkable than the divine bounties vouchsafed unto the valiant prosecutors of the Plan in the course of the opening phase of their World Mission.

Cablegram August 20, 1945

THE WORK OF REHABILITATION

The reports recently received from various sources, regarding the sad conditions prevailing among the members of the sorely-stricken, long-suffering Baha'i communities in Germany and Burma, are of such a distressing nature as to merit the energetic, the immediate, and collective intervention of their fellow-workers in lands which have providentially been spared the horrors of invasion and all the evils and miseries attendant upon it. Upon the American Baha'i community, in particular, which throughout this prolonged and b.l.o.o.d.y conflict, has of all its sister communities in East and West, enjoyed the greatest immunity and been privileged not only to maintain and preserve its inst.i.tutions, but to prosecute so successfully a Plan of such magnitude and significance, a special responsibility now rests-a responsibility which, despite its manifold and pressing duties in the Western Hemisphere, it can neither afford to neglect nor ignore.

Particularly in the heart of the European continent, where the present turmoil, suffering and dest.i.tution are mysteriously paving the way for the revival of a Faith which the Beloved Himself has unequivocally prophesied, where a once flouris.h.i.+ng community is struggling to fulfil the high hopes entertained for it by Him, and where the prosecutors of the Divine Plan, are to lend their direct and systematic a.s.sistance when launching the second stage of their world mission, must the American believers contribute the major share in the work of rehabilitation which the followers of Baha'u'llah must arise to perform.

Through the extension of whatever financial a.s.sistance is feasible, through the provision and distribution of adequate literature, through the initiation of any measures, official or otherwise, which they can undertake for the protection, reinstatement and revival of a greatly-tested, highly promising and much loved community, the American believers have the golden opportunity of adding a fresh chapter to the brilliant record of their past international services to the Cause of G.o.d.

Nor should the urgency of the task in far-away Burma, where a flouris.h.i.+ng community had furnished so s.h.i.+ning an example of Baha'i fellows.h.i.+p and solidarity, be underestimated. The spirit which its remnant has displayed after so many years of persecution, dispersion and danger, merits the widest measure of encouragement and support, both moral and financial.

Pressed as the American Baha'i community must be by the twofold obligation of proclaiming the verities of their Faith to the American public and of consolidating the vast enterprises initiated throughout Latin America, the stalwart and privileged followers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in North America cannot allow so great an opportunity to advance the vital international interests of His Cause to slip from their grasp. I feel confident that in the discharge of this additional task they will exhibit those same traits that have distinguished their stewards.h.i.+p for so many years to so glorious a Cause.

December 21, 1945

THE GERMAN BAHa'i COMMUNITY

The German Baha'i community, dearly beloved, highly honored by 'Abdu'l-Baha, and destined to play an outstanding role in the spiritual revival of an oppressed continent, has abundantly demonstrated in the course of ten years of severest tribulations, dire peril and complete suppression, the high character of its indomitable faith. I appeal to the entire community of the greatly blessed, highly privileged American believers, to arise unitedly and contribute generously through dispatch of funds and literature designed to alleviate the distress and rehabilitate the inst.i.tutions with which the future prosecutors of the second stage of the Divine Plan must be closely a.s.sociated.

Cablegram December 31, 1945

EXEMPLARY PIONEER

Deeply grieve pa.s.sing of exemplary pioneer of the Faith, Emogene Hoagg.

Her long record of national and international services is unforgettable, her reward in the Abha Kingdom a.s.sured and abundant.

Cablegram December 31, 1945

LYDIA ZAMENHOF

Heartily approve nationwide observance for dauntless Lydia Zamenhof. Her notable services, tenacity, modesty, unwavering devotion fully merit high tribute by American believers. Do not advise, however, that you designate her a martyr.

Cablegram January 28, 1946

HISTORIC DECISIONS

Overjoyed, profoundly thankful for munificent donation made by American Baha'i community for international relief. Urge establishment of communication with German believers and careful consultation with their representatives to collaborate in publication and expansion of much needed German Baha'i literature. Delighted at news of consolidation of activities in Central America, the progress of the Public Campaigns and development of youth activities. Advise address special immediate appeal to American believers to insure large, representative attendance at approaching Convention owing to momentous, historic decisions to be disclosed to a.s.sembled representatives of ever-victorious, increasingly blessed, spiritually maturing American Baha'i community.

Cablegram February 25, 1946

MOMENTOUS RESPONSIBILITIES

The a.s.sistance extended by the American Baha'i Community to the long-suffering German believers is a further evidence of their readiness, so abundantly demonstrated in the past, to champion the interests, and to rehabilitate the inst.i.tutions of their sister communities throughout the Baha'i world. This support, so generously extended, so consistently and faithfully offered by the rank and file of the American believers, and particularly by their elected National representatives, is but a subsidiary aspect of the tremendous undertakings which, in both the North and South American continents, the standard bearers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah have initiated and developed, for the promotion of its interests, during the concluding decades of the first Baha'i century.

The twofold task which they have so n.o.bly undertaken-the proclamation of the Faith in the North American continent and the consolidation of its nascent inst.i.tutions in Latin America-must, whatever plan is devised in the coming years for the furtherance of their world-wide mission-be relentlessly prosecuted. That further responsibilities, of a momentous character, will have to be superimposed on the stalwart prosecutors of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Divine Plan, as they gird up their loins to carry a stage further their historic labors in obedience to His wishes, no one can for a moment doubt. As the field of their activities, ranging over entire continents, grows in scope and in importance, the aims and purposes a.s.sociated with the first stage of their glorious mission must, in no wise, be either neglected or forgotten. The steady multiplication of groups and of Spiritual a.s.semblies throughout the States of the great American Republic, the continual broadcasting of the Divine Message to the leaders of public opinion and the ma.s.ses, as well as the establishment of the newly fledged local a.s.semblies throughout Latin America on an una.s.sailable basis, and the dissemination of Baha'i literature among its people, demand whatever the nature of the supplementary responsibilities that will have to be a.s.sumed in the years to come, the closest attention on the part of the entire body of the American believers, and must continue to be regarded as the fundamental issues facing their national representatives. The exploits immortalizing the first stage of the Divine Plan, however glorious their record, have yet to yield their n.o.blest fruits. Efforts unremitting, systematic, and continent-wide in their scope, can alone garner a harvest worthy of the high confidence placed in them by 'Abdu'l-Baha. May they prove themselves increasingly worthy of so high a privilege, so glorious a task.

March 25, 1946