1926

1926

— 25 —

March 27, 1926

[To N.R. Vakíl] [pg 24]

My Dear Bahá’í Brother,

Your letters dated November 27th, December 11th, 18th and 24th 1925, and January 5th and February 28th to the dear Guardian was all received and read by him with the greatest interest.

It is always a source of immeasurable joy and encouragement to our dear Guardian to learn of your increasing activities in serving our dear Cause and also of the growing measure of success which you are meeting with in all your endeavours. The unity of the friends in India and Burma, the spread of the Cause in that vast country and specially among the real natives, intelligent connections with the universities and schools and the direction of the thoughts of the students to a proper understanding of the Cause and its great mission on earth, will not only be a real accomplishment on the part of our dear fellow workers, but will reeve to a very large extent our dear Guardian of the stupendous task that he shoulders, and will give him the deepest joy and confidence. We earnestly trust that through the help of our dear Master from on high all your efforts will be crowned with[pg 25] success. Shoghi Effendi is always interested to hear from you on the work in India and to help you in every possible way.

You are, I am sure, in touch with Mr. Horace Holley in America and you would be interested to know that they are publishing soon a Bahá’í “Year Book” which will be of widespread interest not only to the Bahá’ís but also to many interested men and women in our dear Cause.

Mrs. Stannard is very successful in her work in Geneva and she has already started a fine centre there. She is able to make many connections with influential men and learned people and this is in itself a great work.

Assuring you always of our Guardian’s deep interest in your work and of his prayers for your success.

My dear and valuable fellow worker:

I am very pleased and gratified to learn of your persistent efforts in advancing and consolidating the Cause. The establishment of a central office in Delhi is a great step forward and I await very eagerly the first issue of the publication of the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma.

The Burmese friends are very satisfied and pleased with the consideration shown and the activity displayed by your Assembly and my prayer is that the relations of the National Body with the Local Assemblies will grow firmer everyday. I will specially remember the friends who’ are promoting the Cause among the Qadiyani community whenever I visit the Shrines. I wish them the fullest success.

Your true brother,
Shoghi

— 26 —

April 15, 1926

To The Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly Of Daidanaw-Kalazoo.

Dear Spiritual Brothers,

Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated March 29th15. He appreciates very much the kind offer you have made towards the securing of the lands around the Shrine, specially as it entailed a larger amount of sacrifice. He hopes that the spirit which the friends have shown in this field will manifest itself again in the other services they render.

Shoghi Effendi wishes me to assure you of his prayers and[pg 26] expresses his hope to see the small groups in India and Burma develop into important centres radiating their activities to all the country around and becoming the leaven of goodness in that extensive land.

My dearly beloved fellow workers:

I am deeply touched by this further evidence of your unsparing devotion and self sacrificing efforts for the protection and promotion of the interests of the Cause. The welfare, success and happiness of my unforgettable friends in Kunjangoon are the objects of my prayer at the Holy Shrines. They are close to my heart and I entertain the fondest hopes for their future expansion and service to the Cause. With great affection and loving sympathy.

Your true brother,
Shoghi

— 27 —

May 17, 1926

My Dear Bahá’í Brother,

I write to thank you in behalf of Shoghi Effendi for your much appreciated letters of March 26th, and May 6th…

Shoghi Effendi trusts that your elections are over and that they were conducted in the proper manner. He earnestly hopes that the new National Spiritual Assembly will be able to accelerate the progress of the Cause in India and Burma and will bring in the dawning of a new day for the Bahá’í Movement in India. Both Shoghi Effendi and the friends have had to satisfy their eagerness with insufficient progress in the past, and although there are many difficulties to meet and overcome and in spite of the fact that no one is more alive to them than Shoghi Effendi himself, we hope and pray that the future may have great accomplishments in store for us.

My dear fellow-worker:

Though immersed in a multitude of activities and extremely overburdened with anxieties and cares, I still find the time to remember you in my prayers and supplicate for you Divine Guidance and strength.

Persevere in your labours and rest assured that I will continue to pray for you from the bottom of my heart.

Shoghi

— 28 —

July 10, 1926

My dear Mr. Vakíl:[pg 27]

Shoghi Effendi received your letter dated June 11th and was very glad to see the result of the election of the National Spiritual Assembly.

He sincerely hopes that this year will witness a great change and progress for the Cause in India. As the friends are sincere in their love and devotion, the members of the Assembly strong in their faith and unfailing in their services, there is full assurance of an ultimate victory and final settlement of the existing difficulties. Shoghi Effendi has great hopes in you personally and trusts in your wise judgement, watchful attentiveness and absolute assurance in the Cause you serve.

He wants me to assure you of his prayers.

He also hopes that the friends in India will do their very best to bring together the Hindus and Muḥammadans. In such cases the friends can show their goodwill, devotion to humanity, and disinterestedness in the material result obtained. He will pray that Mr. Hishmatu’llah and Prof. Pritam Singh will be guided in this undertaking and ably represent the spirit of the Cause as well as its teachings. Being competent themselves and having the necessary divine blessing and guidance it is sure that they will achieve much.

Maybe this will be a good chance for attracting the attention of some of the prominent leaders to the reality of the Cause.

My dear fellow worker:

I have written in person to the Bombay Assembly and urged them most emphatically to support morally and financially the National Assembly and the National Fund. Please assure Mr. Hishmatu’llah. We have to repeat and repeat over and over gain until the truth, the necessity and the urgency of our Beloved’s instructions sink in the hearts and minds of the believers. I am sure you will continue to remind the friends of their primary obligations. Assuring you again of my prayers for your success in your high endeavours.

I am your true and sincere brother,
Shoghi

— 29 —

July 16, 1926

Mr. and Mrs. Pritam Singh College of Commerce, Cawnpore.[pg 28]

My Dear Mr. and Mrs. Pritam Singh,

This is to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated June 24th to Shoghi Effendi. He was very glad to see your news about the progress of the Cause in India. He hopes that the hopes the Master had for that vast country will soon be realized and give you and the other friends in India the satisfaction of having accomplished it… He specially wants me to ask you both to concentrate your energy and spare time in serving the Cause and spreading the message…

The primary duty of Bahá’ís like you, who have the firm belief and faith combined with education and intellectual training is to see that the Cause is properly presented to the outside world and that it is daily gaining allegiance from that class of people who are in every respect the choicest in that land.

Shoghi Effendi wishes me to assure you of his prayers and he hopes that your heart’s desire in seeing the Cause prosper will soon be realized.

My dear and precious fellow workers:

I was delighted with your letter. Your earnest, patient and devoted efforts are deeply appreciated by me and. I have the greatest hopes in your future contributions to the progress and triumph of this beloved Cause. I will ever remember you in my prayers and will not fail to supplicate for you from the bottom of my heart the Almighty’s imperishable blessings.

Your true and affectionate brother,
Shoghi

— 30 —

September 7, 1926

Dear Mr. Vakíl,

‘Abdu’l-Bahá used often to say that the difference between a prophet and an ordinary person is that the latter looks only to the present. He does not try to imagine the future victories and thereby forget the present trivial obstructions. The prophet, however, having[pg 29] a deep insight in the future condition of things, sees his ultimate victory and does not get disheartened even though he sees a wholesale massacre of his followers.

As Bahá’ís we should follow the prophet’s method. We know that the Cause will ultimately conquer and its ranks be fully united.

We know that the Master’s promises will ultimately be realized, therefore why be discouraged by trivial oppositions we see on our way. We should rather add to our zeal and persist in our prayers and endeavours… It always takes time for a people to change from one administration to another. Up to the present they have been accustomed to think of the Local Assemblies as next only to the Centre of the Cause, and it will take some time and training before they can admit another superior…

Shoghi Effendi is appreciative of all the odds the National Assembly in India is putting up with, and prays for their success and guidance. He wishes me specially to extend his greetings to you and assure you of his prayers.

My dearest brother:

I have cabled to Bombay and will soon confirm it by letter. I have urged them to support consistently and whole-heartedly the very essential and vital institutions of the National Fund and the National Assembly.

It must be made clear to them all that continued support to these twin institutions is the corner stone of all future achievements, the mainspring from which all future blessings will flow. Persevere in your heroic effort and remember that the end is glorious and bright.

Shoghi

— 31 —

September 12, 1926

[TO N.R. VAKÍL]

Dear Spiritual Brother,

Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of both of your letters dated August 6th17. He was most grieved to learn of the great sorrow that has befallen Mrs. Vakíl and yourself. A child is undoubtedly the most precious material object a person can possess, and to see it pass away is an irreparable loss to be deeply lamented. We should, however, remember the promises we are given of the[pg 30] world to come, and picturing to ourselves the greater spiritual development — the departed ones obtain, comfort ourselves and patiently await our reunion there. Shoghi Effendi wishes me to express to both Mrs. Vakíl and yourself, his heartfelt condolences and assure you of the share he bears of this sad loss.

Shoghi Effendi was rather comforted to hear of the favourable approach the Bombay friends have made. He hopes that this will be the first step towards a complete mutual understanding and a sincere and permanent assistance to the National Body in the many phases of its activities. The “Kaukab,” he believes, is of great importance and will gradually show its far-reaching influence in promoting the Cause in India. He wishes you to continue it, even though for the present, it has to be greatly subsidized.

My dear brother and co-worker:

I greatly appreciate the evidences of both your moral and material assistance in promoting the interests of our beloved Cause. I share with you the severe loss which you have sustained and my heart goes out to you in brotherly sympathy, trusting that the Divine Consoler will by His unfailing bounties relieve your sorrowful hearts and grant you both in the world to come the joy of eternal reunion with your dear and departed child.

Your sympathizing brother,
Shoghi

— 32 —

October 28, 1926

The Honourable Members of The National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma.

Dear Friends,

I take pleasure in thanking you on behalf of our dear Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, for your letter of September 11th, through your esteemed president Mr. N.R. Vakíl.

As it announced the election of a new body to take up the responsible but lofty work of supervising and guiding the promulgation of the Bahá’í Cause throughout India and Burma, Shoghi Effendi wishes me to take this opportunity and assure each and every member of that distinguished body not only of his heartfelt congratulations and prayers, but also of the high hopes that he cherishes for[pg 31] you all. It is from you and through you that he expects to see emanating that glorious Spirit for which our departed Master gave his entire life; and with your earnest endeavours, your consummate wisdom and your unflinching faith he awaits to see you lead the humble workers of that great country to an ultimate victory.

May I also take this opportunity and express the great desire of Shoghi Effendi that the National Assembly should try to be in close communication with him. To him it is a joy beyond words to try to do all in his power to help you in the noble work you have undertaken.

My dearly beloved friends:

Now that the National Spiritual Assembly has been properly constituted and its officers duly appointed, it is incumbent upon each and all to introduce and promote such measures as will consolidate the work that you have so well begun. The institution of the National Fund, a “Bahá’í Bulletin” similar to the “News Letter” issued by the American National Spiritual Assembly, a rigorous and well conceived campaign of Teaching, a continuous and purposeful endeavour to coordinate the activities of the Local Assemblies and groups throughout India and Burma and the sending of detailed and frequent reports to the Holy Land are among the most primary and urgent requirements of the new day that has dawned upon India. I eagerly await your reports and assure you of my continued prayers for the success of your arduous labours.

Shoghi

— 33 —

NOVEMBER 16, 1926

EFFECTIVE CONTINUANCE OF “KAUKAB” ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. SENDING NINETEEN POUNDS AS MY HUMBLE   CONTRIBUTION URGE FRIENDS.

SHOGHI

— 34 —

November 16, 1926

Dear Mr. Vakíl,

Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letters dated September 10th, October 1st and 18th 1926…[pg 32]

In a letter which I have lately written to Siyyid Jenabe ‘Alí on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, I intimated his desire that a special committee of the National Spiritual Assembly should be created to undertake the management of everything pertaining to the “Kaukab.” Furthermore, if a certain sum is offered to the National Fund with the expressed desire that it should be spent for the “Kaukab,” i.e., if the offer is labelled, then the National Spiritual Assembly should take into consideration the wish of the giver and spend it only for that purpose. Though the friends are advised to give unlabelled contributions, they cannot in any way be prevented from using their choice in the way it should be spent.

Though the Local Assemblies should give the National Spiritual Assembly all the moral and financial support the latter needs, it is the duty of the National Spiritual Assembly to inspire the necessary confidence in keeping the management of its work as efficiently as possible.

In a cable recently sent to the National Spiritual Assembly, Shoghi Effendi recommended the publication of the “Kaukab.” He desires this paper to play an important role in drawing the attention of the more thoughtful and seeking people to the potency of this Divine Cause. I herein enclose a cheque for £19 which Shoghi Effendi desires to be spent for this all important organ of the Cause in India.

Shoghi Effendi as well as the other members of the family are well and send you and the members of your family their loving greetings.

My dearest co-worker.

I am enclosing a general message, clearly worded, emphatically expressed, and vitally important in all its bearings, conveyed through Mírzá Maḥmúd to the National Assembly for the information of all Bahá’ís in India and Burma. I am sure you will promptly and effectively take all necessary measures for its dissemination throughout India and Burma. The “Kaukab” must, at all costs, be continued, and I feel that its two editors, our Qadiyani friends are the most suitable to form a committee which will conduct its affairs under the direct supervision of the National Assembly. Whatever is contributed to the National Assembly for a specific purpose should be expended for that purpose only, but I would encourage the friends to send unlabelled contributions in[pg 33] order not to tie the hands of the National Assembly although I do not in the least require them to do so. I will pray for your success from all my heart.

Shoghi

— 35 —

December 21, 1926

Dear Mr. Vakíl,

Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letters dated November 26th and December 9th,

It is most gratifying to him to hear that the difficulties that darkened the horizon of the Cause in India have vanished and the National as well as Local Assemblies are united to further the interests of the Cause. He hopes that “Kaukab” will become a Bahá’í organ administered even better than before.

Shoghi Effendi hopes that Áqá Mírzá Munír will cause another stir in India and draw many individuals into a full understanding of the Movement. His zeal as well as knowledge of the Cause stand to his credit and are sure to win him success wherever he goes. Please convey to him Shoghi Effendi’s loving greetings and assure him of his prayers.

Shoghi Effendi wishes also to be remembered to Mrs. Vakíl whom he will remember in his prayers.

My dear co-worker:

I hope to hear soon of the re-establishment and circulation of the “Kaukab.” The matter of the publication of a “Bahá’í News Letter” issued by the National Assembly is also of utmost importance. May the support to the National Fund be such as to render it a truly worthy and representative Bahá’í periodical. Persevere in your splendid efforts and do not lose heart for I will continue to pray for you from the depth of my heart.

Your true brother,
Shoghi