1930
1930
— 66 —
January 6, 1930
My Dear Mr. Vakíl,[pg 59]
I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter of December 14th with enclosures.
He was very sorry to learn of the illness of Siyyid Jenab ‘Alí and since the receipt of your letter he has been extremely grieved to learn of his passing. His sudden departure throws a shadow of gloom upon all of us here and in India and while Burma loses a distinguished and truly earnest Bahá’í leader, it must be specially unfortunate to you that just at a time when you were considering and preparing the ground for Government Recognition and a temporary consideration of Bahá’í laws, you were deprived of his valued cooperation. The Cause in India is as yet in such a tender age that we can ill afford the loss of those few that keep the torch aflame.
The Guardian was much touched by your anxiety over the health of the family and also by your generous contribution. Everybody is happy and well and while Shoghi Effendi himself was kept in bed for about a month, he is quite recovered now and actively at work.
Please find enclosed receipt for your contribution.
With Shoghi Effendi’s affectionate regards to you and your dear ones and with loving greetings from the family.[pg 60]
My dear co-worker:
The news of the passing of our dear and able friend and collaborator Siyyid Jenab ‘Alí has bright profound sorrow to our hearts. He leaves a great gap behind him. I hope that the friends far from feeling disheartened and discouraged at such a great loss will arise and redouble their efforts in order to compensate for the loss which they have sustained, Kindly assure his relatives of my deep grief and my prayers for his departed soul.
Your affectionate brother,
Shoghi
— 67 —
March 1, 1930
My Dear Mr. Badri,
I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter of February 19th with enclosures.
He was very glad to know of the work you had done and he appreciates your suggestions with regard to a permanent secretariat.
Of course these are matters that should be mainly decided by the National Spiritual Assembly itself.
He was much grieved to know of the passing of your father in S̱híráz some months ago and he wishes me to convey to you the expression of his deep felt sympathy. It would naturally be unfortunate if upon your graduation you were to leave India and the work there, but he understands perfectly how necessary and urgent your return to S̱híráz might be.
Miss Root is at present in Ṭihrán and she does not know just how long she will stay, but surely before leaving for India she would inform you of her plans in time.
It is such a pity that Mr. Vakíl is unwell. He is a man we cannot spare just as the passing of Siyyid Jenab ‘Alí leaves a serious gap in Burma.
The Guardian is well and he wishes me to assure you of his affection and prayers.[pg 61]
My dear co-worker:
Miss Root will soon be with you, and I trust her visit may lend afresh impetus to your work of consolidation and spread of the Cause. I will continue to pray for your efforts and activities from the depths of my heart. Be not disheartened. Persevere in your labours, and rest assured that the Beloved will richly reward those who stand firm in the Faith, and those who persevere in their endeavours.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
— 68 —
March 21, 1930
My Dear Mr. Vakíl,
I am directed by the Guardian to thank you for your letter of February 22nd with an article by Prof. Pritam Singh enclosed. He was very sorry indeed to learn that you had been unwell and he sincerely trusts that by now you have fully recovered and are again actively engaged in your highly valuable work.
Prof. Pritam Singh’s article is being sent forthwith to the editorial committee in America where all the material is collected…
With the assurance of Shoghi Effendi’s affection and prayers.
My dear and precious co-worker:
Your previous letter of January 4 has also reached me. I grieve to hear of your illness. I urge you to take the greatest care of yourself as the Cause can not spare such a devoted, energetic and enlightened worker as yourself I will pray for your recovery from the depths of my heart. Miss Root will soon be with you. I urge you to do all you can to make her visit fruitful and profitable. She is a great soul. I pray that she may lend a fresh and much needed impetus to the devoted labours of the friends in India. May the Beloved guide you, bless you, cheer you, and sustain you in your great yet difficult task.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
— 69 —
March 29, 1930
My dear Siyyid Muṣṭafá,[pg 64]
I am directed by the Guardian to express his grateful appreciation for your letter of March 1st with the volume containing copies of the tablets revealed to friends in Burma by the Master and Bahá’u’lláh.
In accomplishing this task you have rendered a most valued and permanent service to the Cause in Burma and posterity will owe you a debt of gratitude very hard to repay.
Furthermore this compilation shall be of indispensable value and use to the Guardian and to all international bodies that may meet in Haifa whether in the distant or near future. You are quite aware, of course, with the fashion in which both Bahá’u’lláh and the Master gave some of their most important teachings as part of their tablets addressed to far away friends. Hence the necessity of such compilations throughout the world.
Please convey to the Mandalay Spiritual Assembly under whose supervision and with whose assistance the work was undertaken, the expression of Shoghi Effendi’s gratitude. Also to its Secretary Miss Hla Hla who had countersigned the compilation. With the assurance of Shoghi Effendi’s affection and prayers for you all.
My dear and precious co-worker.
Your noble, continued and devoted endeavours are engraved upon my heart. I deeply appreciate this latest evidence of your painstaking endeavours. I will continue to pray for you and your dear spiritual children in Burma from the depths of my heart. You certainly occupy a warm and abiding place in my heart. May the Beloved grant you health and strength to consummate your historic labors for His Cause.
Your affectionate brother,
Shoghi
— 70 —
April 26, 1930
My Dear Mr. Vakíl,
Shoghi Effendi was so glad to receive your letter of April 18th and to learn of your improved health and that you had gone to[pg 64] Mt. Abu for a vacation. You should take good care of yourself for the work that awaits you.
Miss Root has been delayed by the enthusiastic reception she has received in Persia, and she is now planning to visit southern and eastern Persia where she has not yet been. We hope her visit to India will prove of some value in attracting the attention of the intelligent classes among the non-Bahá’ís, but perhaps the political agitation will entirely defeat that purpose at the present time.
We have just celebrated Riḍván and Shoghi Effendi sends you his warmest greetings.
With the assurance of my continued prayers for your good health, happiness and success.
Your affectionate brother,
Shoghi
— 71 —
May 6, 1930
My dear Siyyid Muṣṭafá,
I am directed by Shoghi Effendi to acknowledge receipt of the pamphlet and reports which you were so kind as to send him.
He also wishes me to take this opportunity and assure you how much he appreciates and with what deep feelings of pleasure and gratitude he has always viewed your earnest and sustained endeavours for the progress of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh in Burma.
It has often happened in the history of the Cause that those who were once among the leaders and in the forefront of Bahá’í activity grew in their old age lukewarm and inactive not to say sceptical. It is rare to find people like yourself to keep a course steady with single-minded devotion and carry into your old age the faith and enthusiasm of youth tempered to be sure by the experience of years. Your presence in Burma has always been an asset to the Faith and the Guardian sincerely trusts and prays that with youthful optimism and open-mindedness you will inspire your fellow-workers with the glory of your task so that after yourself you will leave a good work conscientiously and well done.
With the assurance of his affectionate regards.[pg 64]
— 72 —
May 7, 1930
My dear Siyyid Muṣṭafá,
I had the pleasure of writing you a letter last night and I am now directed again by the Guardian to thank you for your letter of April 14th with the comprehensive report of the Bahá’í census which you were so good as to send him.
He appreciates this work immensely and it will be a very valuable data for any consideration of the Cause in Burma. He hopes to make good use of it. Regarding the most generous wish of your dear wife and yours to leave some property after yourselves for the progress of the Faith and in the name of the Guardian, I will say nothing as I am sure he will wish to append a few words himself. But I am sure he wants me to express his grateful appreciation of the spirit that animates your offer.
The life of both of you has been rich in service rendered to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh and what a happy blessing that even after you, you may leave your little share for the progress of the Faith.
With the assurance of his affection and prayers for your wife and yourself.
— 73 —
My dear and precious co-worker:
I deeply appreciate your noble sentiments, your self-sacrificing efforts, your pioneer services and your glorious steadfastness in the path. I wish to congratulate you on your union with the handmaid of God, Halimeh, who I trust will in close collaboration with you render inestimable services to the Faith. The packages you sent me have all arrived, and will be preserved in your name in the archives of the Holy Land. As to your desire to offer your property to the Cause and to transfer it to my name as a trust, I deeply appreciate your generous offer, but wish you and your dear wife to benefit from its rent so long as you are living and to transfer it in later years; I will supplicate for both of you from the depths of my heart at His Holy Shrine.
Rest assured.
Shoghi
— 74 —
July 4, 1930
Dear Mr. Vakíl,[pg 65]
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated June 14th
He was very glad to hear of the activities of Miss Martha Root in India and hopes that they will all bear some wonderful fruits for the progress of the Cause in India. It is sure that with the existence of the present political unrest in that country few are ready to pay any attention to religious matters, but among the very intelligent people there are undoubtedly people whose vision extends further than the present difficulties and desire a spiritual rebirth for that much divided and troubled nation. To these the Bahá’í teachings should undoubtedly present a much desired reform movement. Anyhow, Shoghi Effendi hopes that with the help of Miss Root you have been able to approach such eminent persons and have sown in their hearts the seed of faith.
In closing may I assure you of Shoghi Effendi’s prayers and loving greetings, and please extend the same to the members of your family.
With the assurance of my continued prayers for the success of your persevering efforts and unsparing endeavors for the spread of our beloved Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
— 75 —
September 19, 1930
Dear Mr. Vakíl,
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated August 8th 1930 as well as the enclosed balance sheet of the National Spiritual Assembly.
Concerning the trip of Miss Martha Root, we have already heard about her activities from many sources. Shoghi Effendi sincerely hopes that the National Assembly will undertake such measures as would keep up the work and produce some tangible result from her visit. It is very important to follow up the work that she started, and keep in touch with the people she has been able to interest.[pg 66]
In closing, may I assure you of Shoghi Effendi’s prayers and extend his greetings to you and the members of your family.
With the assurance of my deep appreciation of your many and highly successful endeavours in connexion with the visit of miss Root and of my fervent and loving prayers for your own happiness and spiritual advancement.
Your true brother;
Shoghi
— 76 —
September 20, 1930
[To Siyyid Muṣṭafá Rumi]
Dear Bahá’í Brother,
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated July 21st,15. He is always appreciative of the services you render to the Cause in bringing in new souls and safeguarding its interests. From all his heart he will pray for your success and implore for you Divine guidance and help.
He sincerely hopes that through the constant efforts of you as well as of the other friends great successes will be achieved. India and Burma, lands of many languages and religions, where religious and racial prejudice are at their worst-are in great need for the unifying word of God. They need the pervading spirit of Bahá’u’lláh to be introduced into their millions of homes and bring them peace as well as social and spiritual upliftment.
This tremendous task is entrusted to the few Bahá’ís that are resident in that land. May they unitedly rise for the fulfilment of their sacred duty and thereby gain Divine favour.
In closing, may I assure you of Shoghi Effendi’s loving greeting and ask you to express the same to all the friends…
— 77 —
September 20, 1930
Alias Pali Ama-Nia Niyasing c/o Siyyid Muṣṭafá [Burma]
Dear Bahá’í Sister,
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your very kind letter dated July 27th17. He hopes that, in fulfilment of[pg 67] your highest aspirations, you will become an active servant of the Cause and bring in turn many souls into an acceptance of the teachings.
Teaching the principles of the Movement is considered this day the most meritorious of acts for it helps to drive away the irreligion that at present pervades society and endangers its very life and existence.
Shoghi Effendi will surely remember you in his prayers and ask for you divine guidance and help.
With the assurance of my loving prayers for your happiness, your success, and spiritual advancement.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
— 78 —
November 10, 1930
Dear Mr. Pritam Singh,
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated October 8th
Concerning Bahá’í representation at the All Asian Women’s Conference; this is undoubtedly a most commendable thing to do, specially as the Cause has so much concerning the position of women in society. Shoghi Effendi hopes that the National Assembly will do its best to win the admiration of all the assembled delegates for the teachings of the Cause along that line. We should always take such opportunities that present themselves. Maybe we would succeed to render some service to society and alleviate its ills.
Assuring you of Shoghi Effendi’s best wishes and loving greetings.
With the assurance of my deepest appreciation of your continued and much valued endeavours, and of my fervent prayers for your success and spiritual advancement.
Your true brother,
Shoghi