1925
1925
— 14 —
February 7, 1925
To my honoured friends, the editors and publishers of “The Dawn.” [pg 14]
Loyal and steadfast workers in the Cause of God!
I have read the recent issues of “The Dawn” which you have been so kind as to send me with feelings of heart-felt admiration and gratitude.
This valuable organ of the Bahá’í community in Burma has displayed magnificent efforts in the past, has earned the satisfaction and esteem of its readers, and is, steadily and determinedly, exerting itself to establish its claim of providing for a long standing need and fulfilling a vital function.
Burma, that beloved and picturesque country, standing sentinel on the eastern confines of the Bahá’í world, with its vast number of modest yet ardent followers of the Faith, should pursue diligently its work of extending further and further into the very heart of the Far East the sphere of its healing mission in life.
While maintaining the closest and most cordial cooperation with the body of the friends in India, as a sign of the growing solidarity of the Cause of God, it should concentrate its energies on the consolidation of its work in her own particular field. It is the privilege of[pg 15] the Burmese friends to readjust and stimulate their own activities, lay down their own programme for an intensive and systematic campaign of Teaching, and, with an unshakable resolve, arise to carry it to a successful conclusion.
May your cherished and promising Journal eloquently recount the tale of your deeds; acquaint your fellow labourers in distant fields with your hopes, your plans, and your achievements; reflect the spirit of your selfless endeavours, and stand as witness of the growing vitality of the noble work you are destined to achieve.
May He, Who loves you and watches over you, guide your steps, cheer your hearts, reinforce your efforts, and richly reward you for your loyalty, your perseverance and courage. I assure you of my affectionate — sentiments, my deep appreciation, and my prayers for you all.
Your brother and fellow worker,
Shoghi Haifa, Palestine
— 15 —
March 5, 1925
[To N.R. Vakíl]
My Dear Bahá’í Brother,
Your letter of February 20th addressed to our dear Guardian was very gladly received and he was very much pleased to note the measures you have taken to bring a better understanding between the friends in India and Burma. He was specially interested and pleased in the invitation accorded to you by the Arya Samaj. Nothing, I dare say, can be more encouraging and gladsome to Shoghi Effendi than the news of the activities of the friends in such a vast and promising field as India in the past few years the harvest of the friends’ endeavours was not as rich and abundant as we all would wish and undoubtedly the political throes through which India has been passing and the general unrest which such conditions have brought about, account to a large measure for this comparative unfruitfulness in the self-sacrificing efforts of the Indian Bahá’í. Yet nothing must damp our zeal and we cannot for a moment doubt the remarkable change that the Master said would take place in that country.
We have been all very much interested in the first hand information which Mrs. Stannard has given us and we lament the formidable difficulties and obstacles with which the Bahá’ís must cope in their[pg 16] effort to imbue the individual with a new spirit and to bring new measures of reform in the social order. We shall, however, pray for you all and eagerly await every good news you have to share with us. Assuring you all as always of our Guardian’s affection and prayers for each and every one of you.
My precious fellow worker:
I always eagerly await detailed and frequent reports from the National Assembly and desire strongly its members to meet as often as possible and actively, efficiently, and constantly direct, coordinate and reinforce the activities of the individuals and local Assemblies throughout India and Burma. I thirst for more specific information and urge its secretary to ensure that every communication from the Holy Land or from any other Bahá’í centre is promptly and widely distributed.
I assure you of my loving prayers,
Shoghi
— 16 —
April 1, 1925
[TO N.R. VAKÍL]
My Dear Bahá’í Brother,
Your letter dated March 13th to the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, was very gladly received and he read it with much interest.
A few weeks ago Shoghi Effendi wrote a long letter to the friends in India and Burma, and as I did not know that you wanted the letter to be sent to you in person, it was sent according to usage and custom to the secretary Dr. Kaushal Kishore. I clearly wrote him, however, in a letter which I sent him, that copies of Shoghi Effendi’s letter should be sent to all friends in India and Burma and thus make the friends know and understand just how our Guardian wishes them to feel towards each other and what should be their basis of cooperation.
I hope he will not fail in sending out copies of that letter.
We were sorry to know of the state of tension that exists between India and Burma. Let us hope that Shoghi Effendi’s letter will draw both parties nearer together and so ease up the matter. It is very sad to see sections of such a continent, though closely connected together, unable to work in harmony. Let us pray and also try our best that all petty misunderstandings should be forgotten and that the[pg 17] work should start on a new basis firmer than before. In reply to your question as to the suspension of the publication of the “Bahá’í News,” Shoghi Effendi puts it all for you to decide and the National Assembly should see which is better and at the same time more practicable.
My able and loyal co-worker:
I do hope and pray that the Indians and the Burmese friends will once the new National Spiritual Assembly is re-elected support their representatives and wholeheartedly unite in promoting the work of the Cause. An earnest, capable, energetic, loyal and experienced soul must discharge the responsible and arduous duties of a National Secretary. So much depends upon him. You will have my fullest and unqualified support in impressing upon the friends the supreme necessity of establishing forthwith and maintaining to the best of their ability the institution of the National Fund.
I will pray for you all and assure you personally of my great affection,
Shoghi
— 17 —
May 12, 1925
[To N.R. Vakíl]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
Shoghi Effendi has asked me to thank you for your kind letter of 2nd April and to assure you that he is deeply appreciative of the sincerity and devotion of Mr. Hashmat’ullah and the value of his services to our Beloved Cause.
By now the election of the new National Spiritual Assembly and of its office-bearers will probably be completed. The office of Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly is most important and the smooth and efficient working of the Bahá’í organization in India and Burma will depend to a large extent on him. Shoghi Effendi hopes that the new Secretary of the National Assembly will send him as soon as possible a full list of the members and office-bearers of the Assembly with his own postal address. He would like him also, as soon as possible, to procure from each of the Local Assemblies in India and Burma a full list of the members and office bearers of the Loci Spiritual Assembly with the address of the secretary, and to[pg 18] transmit a copy of that list to Shoghi Effendi. This is to be done every year immediately after the election of the National Spiritual Assembly.
Further it is desirable that each Local Assembly should have a register of the names and addresses of all declared Bahá’ís in their district and should be careful to keep the register up to date, promptly noting any changes in the address or number of the believers. It is also desirable that the National Secretary should have a list of all believers in India and Burma who are living in districts where there is no Local Spiritual Assembly, with full postal address in each case, so that these believers may be kept in touch with the body of believers by letters, literature etc. and travelling Bahá’ís visiting these districts may be put in touch with the believers there. Shoghi Effendi would like to have a copy of this list also.
The National Secretary should keep in as close touch as possible with the Local Spiritual Assemblies, and should urge the secretaries of these Local Assemblies to furnish regular reports of the progress of the Movement in their respective localities, and should, by means of circular letters etc. keep these Local Assemblies and isolated believers informed of all matters of importance affecting the Cause, remind them of the importance of contributing as regularly and generously as possible to the National Fund, and so on.
It is obvious that to carry out these manifold duties efficiently, thoroughly and tactfully is no easy task and Shoghi Effendi greatly hopes that some one may be found who will be able to devote the necessary ability, time and energy to carry them out satisfactorily.
A “Bahá’í Yearbook” is now in course of preparation and Shoghi Effendi wishes to include in this “Yearbook” a complete list of the Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world, with the address of the secretary in each case, also a complete list of those localities where there are resident Bahá’ís but where no Local Spiritual Assembly exists. It will probably be impracticable to include the addresses of all isolated believers, but these should be known to the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly in each country, so that they may be available on application to him.
Will you kindly communicate the contents of this letter to the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly and ask him to write to Shoghi Effendi as soon as possible.
Shoghi Effendi sends loving greetings to all the members of the National Spiritual Assembly and assures them of his heartfelt prayers[pg 19] that they may be guided and strengthened by the confirmations of the Spirit in the arduous and responsible duties to which they have been called.
With kindest regards and best wishes…
It will interest you to know that the Bahá’ís of Egypt have just elected their first National Spiritual Assembly.
My dearly-beloved brother in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
Your past and present efforts are indeed worthy of the deepest admiration and the highest praise. Concentrate as much as you can at present on the consolidation of the foundations of the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma. This is the first and most essential step to further expansion in any direction. The institution of the National Fund is of vital importance and should be greatly stressed and emphasized in every circular or communication addressed to the friends.
I will continue to pray for you from all my heart and assure you of my support and brotherly love,
Shoghi
— 18 —
October 29, 1925
Zaituneh Ma Gyi, Mandalay, Burma
Alláh’u’Abhá
Dear Bahá’í Sister,
Your loving letter of 9th April brought joy to the heart of our Beloved Guardian. He was away in Europe for about four months and only returned to Haifa two weeks ago and that is the reason why the answer to your letter has been so long delayed. He assures you of his heartfelt prayers on behalf of your self, your husband Ma Shaffi, your two sons, Manng Ba Kin and Manng Ba Tin, with their families, your three daughters Miss Ma Ma, Miss Hla Hla, B. A., and Miss Mya Mya, your sister Ma Hline and brother Manng Ba, and all the dear friends of Mandalay and Burma. He rejoices to hear of the good progress which the Cause of God is making in that country and is profoundly grateful for the spirit of love and devotion that animates the friends there.[pg 20] Shoghi Effendi is in excellent health after his visit to Europe. The Greatest Holy Leaf is also well.
Our dear Guardian, the Greatest Holy Leaf, The Holy Mother and the other friends here join in prayers and good wishes that you may be confirmed and strengthened in the service of the Beloved and may be the means of widely diffusing the divine fragrances, and scattering the seeds of divine truth in the fertile soil of the hearts.
My dear spiritual sister:
I wish to assure you personally of my fervent and continued prayers for yourself your beloved family and the dear unforgettable brothers and sisters in Burma. May our Beloved guide you, inspire and strengthen you and lead you to glorious victory.
Your true brother and well-wisher,
Shoghi
— 19 —
October 29, 1925
To the maid servant of God Halimeh (Pali-Ama-Ma-Myaing) c/o S. M. Roumie, Bahá’í Assembly, 621-Gordon 83rd St., Mandalay
Dear Bahá’í Sister,
Shoghi Effendi was much touched by the receipt of your kind letter of 7th October…
Our beloved Guardian returned only a fortnight ago in excellent health after a visit to Europe, which lasted about four months. He is busy from early until late with the many duties that press upon him and the problems that demand his attention. The Blessed Cause is growing and spreading in nearly all parts of the world. That is a matter for great rejoicing, but Shoghi Effendi regrets that owing to this very growth it has become impossible for him to reply to the letters of individual believers, as he should like to do. He feels that questions affecting whole groups of believers, the Spiritual Assemblies, specially the National Spiritual Assemblies, and matters of general importance for the whole Bahá’í world, have the first claim upon his time and attention.
He assures you, however, of his earnest and heartfelt prayers on your behalf and hopes that rich blessings may attend you and that you may ever be guided, strengthened and supported by the divine confirmations.
— 20 —
OCTOBER 31, 1925
LOVING APPRECIATION. MAY INDIAN BURMESE NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES FULFIL OUR HIGHEST EXPECTATIONS. [pg 21]
SHOGHI
— 21 —
NOVEMBER 2, 1925
IRÁQ’S COURT OF APPEAL UNEXPECTEDLY GAVE DECISION AGAINST US CONCERNING BAGHDAD HOUSE. SITUATION VERY GRAVE. REQUEST NATIONAL AND EVERY LOCAL ASSEMBLY INDIA BURMA COMMUNICATE BY CABLE AND LETTER WITH ‘IRÁQ HIGH COMMISSIONER AND KING OF ‘IRÁQ DECLARING IN FIRM CONSIDERATE LANGUAGE THEIR STRONG ATTACHMENT TO BAHÁ’U’LLÁH’S SACRED HOUSE AND THEIR EARNEST APPEAL FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THEIR SPIRITUAL CLAIMS TO ITS POSSESSION.
SHOGHI
— 22 —
November 18, 1925
To The Honoured Members of The National Spiritual Assembly of India And Burma.
Dear Bahá’í Brothers,
Your letter of the 6th instant written to our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, has arrived and rejoiced his dear heart with the good news it contains.
Yesterday he ordered me to write a few words and acknowledge the receipt of your letter, conveying to you his love and greeting. He was much pleased to see that you have followed his telegraphic instructions concerning the Bag̱hdád House promptly.
From other centres also telegraphic communications have been sent to both the High Commissioner and to His Majesty King Faisal We are hoping for a desirable result. Up to this time no definite information has reached us. We shall keep you informed as soon as we receive any.
Our beloved Guardian is in excellent health and so the Holy Family and all the friends here are happy and well too…
My dear friends:[pg 22]
The prompt and effective measures you have taken are worthy of the highest praise. I will inform you if further action is deemed necessary. I hope and pray your devoted efforts will yield abundant fruit in the near future.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
— 23 —
NOVEMBER 24, 1925
ESSLEMONT UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY. CABLE CONDOLENCES FAMILY THROUGH SIMPSON. ADVISE BELIEVERS DEDICATE SPECIAL DAY FOR PRAYER AND REMEMBRANCE.
SHOGHI
— 24 —
November 24, 1925
[TO N.R. VAKÍL]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
Our dear Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, has received your letter of October 27th which has rejoiced his dear heart with its contents relative to the mindfulness of the dear friends in India towards the welfare of the Cause of God in that country…
Shoghi Effendi prays for all of you and hopes that through your practical devotion, you will all attract divine assistance more and more, day by day, and so this corning year the Cause of God will make unprecedented progress in that country. He sends you and all the members of the National Spiritual Assembly his affectionate greeting and expects your good news regularly.
My dear fellow worker:
I pray that your newly constituted National Spiritual Assembly may grow from strength to strength, may coordinate and consolidate the ever expanding activities of the friends in India and Burma and inaugurate afresh campaign of teaching that will redound to the glory and power of the Most Great Name. May the projected Congress at Cawnpore attract[pg 23] widespread interest and stimulate the work undertaken by the friends in that promising country. I assure you of my best wishes for your success.
Your true brother and fellow worker,
Shoghi