The Guardian’s Messages To Local Spiritual Assemblies
The Guardian’s Messages
To Local Spiritual Assemblies
The Assemblies are listed in alphabetical order but their letters are chronologically arranged.
Belfast
Bristol
Cardiff
Dublin
Eccles
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Leeds
Liverpool
London
Manchester
Northampton
Norwich
Nottingham
Oxford
Portsmouth
Reading
Letter of 23 April 1950
To the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Belfast
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your letter of April 12th, conveying such heartening news, was received by our beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He feels your Assembly, a hard-won prize, and occupying an important position as representative of the Faith in Northern Ireland, is one of the key assemblies in the British Isles, and he is immensely proud of your achievement in at last forming it.
You may be sure he will pray for your protection and success in the Holy Shrines, and that your numbers may increase in Belfast and your ship weather every storm triumphantly!
With loving greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless sustain and guide you in your meritorious activities, remove every obstacle from your path and enable you to win still greater victories in the service of His glorious Faith.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 14 November 1947
The Bahá’ís of Bristol, England
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your message of Oct. 21st reached our beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
Now that you are six there (judging by your signatures), a mere three is required to enable you to reach your Goal and have your Assembly next April.
You may be sure that he will supplicate in the Holy Shrines that these three may be speedily found and the Assembly safely established in accordance with the present Plan.
He assures you that your devotion and services are very deeply appreciated.
With loving greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your high endeavours, reward you abundantly for your historic accomplishments, guide your steps, and aid you to extend continually the range of your highly valued activities.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 22 September 1948
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Bristol
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your letter of April 21st reached our beloved Guardian after a long delay, and he has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
The formation of your Assembly, in the face of so many difficulties, was indeed a noble achievement, and serves to prove that our struggles as individuals, often handicapped by the sense of our own inadequacy, are reinforced by the grace of Bahá’u’lláh, Who enables us to achieve the seemingly impossible!
He urges you all to persevere in maintaining your Assembly, which forms one of the vital links in the Bahá’í chain, which will soon gird the British Isles, never to lose heart, and to redouble your teaching labours so as to ensure a broader foundation next year for your Assembly’s election and thus guarantee its permanency.
His prayers will be offered for you, one and all, for your success and guidance.
With Bahá’í Love,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
I was so pleased and grateful to receive your message, and I wish to assure you all of my loving and fervent prayers for the progress of your historic work, the extension of your activities and the realisation of every hope you cherish for the promotion of our beloved Faith. May the Almighty watch over you, sustain you in your valued endeavours, and aid you to render memorable services to His Faith and its institutions.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 1 November 1947
The Bahá’ís of Cardiff
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your welcome letter to our beloved Guardian dated Oct. 16th, has been received, and he has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
He is well aware of the very real sacrifices you have made, and are making to establish the Cause in Wales, and he wants you to know he admires your courage and determination, and most deeply values the dedicated spirit which animates you.
The news of your first public meeting was good news indeed, and he feels sure your perseverance and the strong backing which you are receiving from the N.S.A. and the Teaching Committee, will crown your efforts with the success you so richly deserve.
His loving prayers will be offered for the speedy realisation of your hopes, and he urges you to persevere, conscious of the historical importance of what you are doing, and of how important your work is to the progress of the Plan in the British Isles.
With warmest greetings to you all,
Yours in His service,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
I wish to add a few words in person and assure every one of you of my deep admiration of the spirit you manifest, the services you render, and the determination with which you are initiating the great historic teaching enterprise in Wales.
You are, I assure you, often in my thoughts and prayers, and I will supplicate the Beloved to bless continually your high and meritorious endeavours.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 17 October 1948
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Cardiff, Wales
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your letter to our beloved Guardian of April 21st was received, after a long delay, and he was most happy to hear of the formation of your Assembly.
With an Assembly in Cardiff, in Edinburgh, and Dublin, the representative character of the Faith in the British Isles is fully established and the National body greatly re-inforced.
He fully realises the difficulties which have attended your work there, and which makes your victory all the more praiseworthy and precious. He urges you to now courageously persevere in your work and ensure that Cardiff has, by next April, a stable membership from which to call on for the Spiritual Assembly’s maintenance.
You may be sure that he will assist you with his prayers, and pray that each and every one of you may be protected and assisted in your devoted services to the Faith.
With warm greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
The formation of the first Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly in Wales is an event of great historical significance. I congratulate you on this splendid achievement which, I trust, will be a prelude to still greater victories in the service of our glorious Faith. I will supplicate on your behalf, the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh, that your work may prosper, your plans bear abundant fruit, and your hopes realised for the propagation of the Faith and the establishment of its nascent institutions.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 15 February 1950
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Cardiff
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your letter of January 20th has been received, and our beloved Guardian was simply delighted to get the Welsh pamphlet, he wants twenty-five copies of it sent to him for distribution amongst various Bahá’í libraries here, and for our surplus stock. This booklet in their own language will do much to convince sincere Welsh truth-seekers of the respect and consideration with which we Bahá’ís approach all minorities, also of our devout desire to share with such a talented race the glory of Bahá’u’lláh’s message.
He hopes there will be many new Welsh believers in the coming years, and he assures you all of his loving prayers for the success of your devoted efforts.
With Bahá’í love,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
I was so pleased and grateful to receive your welcome letter, and the first fruit of your services and high endeavours for the promotion of our beloved Faith.
I feel proud of the spirit that animates you, and will supplicate the Beloved to bless, and sustain and guide you, and enable you to extend continually the range of your achievements. Persevere, and rest assured.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 16 September 1955
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Cardiff
Dear Bahá’í Sister:
Your letter of July 18th with enclosure has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He is delighted with the way the work is progressing in Cardiff, and that there are now nine believers living there.
He particularly values the instant decision made during the Convention, and consequent action taken, by Dr. Miller1 in leaving an excellent medical practice in Liverpool, to settle in Cardiff, with all it entailed of sacrifice in being separated from his wife, and in being obliged to accept a junior post in a hospital at Cardiff. It is qualities such as these, which the pioneer carries to his new post, which attract a reinforcing power from on High, and enable him to create in the hearts of those who meet him a longing to have what he possesses, and ignite in these new hearts the flame of the love of Bahá’u’lláh.
The Guardian feels sure his non-Bahá’í wife will likewise receive a blessing for her part in this sacrifice, which helped to make this move possible.
He is deeply appreciative of the Welsh translation; and is confident it will prove to be of great assistance in the promotion of the Teachings in Wales.
With warm Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh guide you and your fellow-members, and enable you, in the days to come, to reinforce the foundation that has been laid, and to extend the range of your highly meritorious exertions and accomplishments,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 30 January 1957
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Cardiff
Dear Bahá’í Brother:
Your letter of December 29th was received, and the beloved Guardian was very happy indeed to hear that the week-end school had been a success.
He is delighted to see that the Faith is progressing in Wales, and he feels sure that the Welsh people will not only respond to the Message if given opportunity, but contribute to the Faith a distinctive share of their own, when they arise in its service.
He hopes that there will indeed be Welsh Summer Schools in the future.
Assuring you of his loving prayers,
With warmest greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless, guide, and sustain you and your dear co-workers in your constant and highly meritorious activities, remove every obstacle from your path, and enable you to enrich the record of your deeply appreciated services to His Faith and its institutions.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 27 August 1947
To the believers who were present in Dublin at the 19 Day Feast of Kamál
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Our beloved Guardian was very happy to receive your message and to see that the Cause is now gaining a firm footing in Eire.
He is particularly happy to welcome Mrs. Coleman into the Faith as the first new Bahá’í in Dublin, and he hopes that ere long you will be able to establish the first historic spiritual Assembly in that city.
The Irish are tenacious in their religious beliefs, and once convinced of the truth and significance of our glorious Faith should make ardent and devoted Bahá’ís.
He assures you all of his loving prayers for the success of your devoted labours.
With warmest greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
Your joint message rejoiced my heart. I cherish great hopes for the future of the work so splendidly initiated in that historic island. I will pray from the depths of my heart for the extension and consolidation of your meritorious activities to which I attach the utmost importance. Persevere in your glorious task, and rest assured that the Beloved, Who is watching over you, will bless your high endeavours and fulfil your dearest hopes.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 16 October 1948
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Dublin, Eire
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Our beloved Guardian was very delighted to receive your communication of April 21st, written to him from your newly elected body.
He was particularly pleased to read the signatures of three members of the Townshend family, as Mr. Townshend and his wife have truly sacrificed in order to stand forward as declared and active Bahá’ís and assist in the formation of this historic Assembly.
The task facing you is great, but very exhilarating. Eire lies before you, your territory, of which you are the Mother Assembly, and however difficult your conquest may be, it is a challenging and wonderful service you are called upon to render.
The Irish people, with their deep religious instinct, although they may be at first difficult to convert, once convinced of the truth, will make staunch believers and will, he hopes, convey this Faith, with all its promise and healing power, to other countries in the course of time.
He assures you his prayers are with you, for your progress and your success in every field of Bahá’í service.
With loving greetings,
P.S. The delay in answering your letter was due to the long time it took to reach Haifa.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
The work achieved in Dublin during the last few months, culminating in the formation of the first Spiritual Assembly in Ireland, is indeed highly praiseworthy. Such a consummation is an event that will adorn the annals of the Faith, and is in itself a prelude to still greater victories in the days to come. I truly feel proud of the British and Irish believers who have collaborated so devotedly and strenuously, and won so conspicuous a victory. I will fervently supplicate on their behalf, and will await eagerly the news of the progress of their historic achievements.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 27 January 1957
The Bahá’í Group, Eccles
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter of January 2nd was received, through the kindness of Mr. Gregory, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He will certainly pray in the Holy Shrines that you may succeed in attaining your objective; but, even should you fail to establish a spiritual assembly by April, you must not feel discouraged, because it is much more important to have a solid foundation in the beginning than to meet a date line — welcome as the assembly would be!
He admires very much the spirit animating you, and hopes that a flourishing community will develop there.
With warm Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your efforts, guide your steps, aid you to extend the scope of your activities, and win great victories in the service of His glorious Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 22 September 1948
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Edinburgh
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Our beloved Guardian was very happy indeed to receive your letter to him dated April 21st — which has taken a long time to reach him, as you can see — and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
The formation of the first Assembly of the Faith in Scotland is a great and promising achievement. He has a profound admiration for the characteristics of the Scots; their deep religious feelings, their frank, open and friendly nature, their tenacity and abilities will enable them to greatly enrich the Faith in the British Isles, and, he hopes, later in the pioneer fields abroad.
He trusts that your Assembly, and especially those members of it who are natives of Scotland, will soon succeed in attracting many more serious minded truth-seekers to the Faith there. Now Edinburgh has become the mother Assembly of Scotland, and must, by its example, set the pace, and assist in the development of all future Scottish Bahá’í Assemblies.
He assures you all he will pray for your success, for your unity, and that Bahá’u’lláh may guide you all in administering the affairs of His Cause in that city.
He was particularly interested to hear that one of the new believers had met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on His visit to Edinburgh many years ago.
With loving greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
Your welcome message brought deep joy to my heart and filled me with gratitude for this latest evidence of the all-conquering power of Bahá’u’lláh, as well as for the magnificent efforts exerted by British believers in that historic and ancient city. I will, I assure you, pray from the depths of my heart for your success, the increase of your numbers, the multiplication of your activities, and the consolidation of your achievements. Persevere in your meritorious endeavours, and rest assured that the Beloved will watch over you and crown your high endeavours with signal success.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 9 April 1949
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Edinburgh
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
As our beloved Guardian is at present very pressed for time in connection with the tremendous amount of work the building of the Shrine entails at this juncture, I am answering your loving Naw-Rúz Message very briefly on his behalf.
You may be sure the work in Edinburgh is very dear to his heart and he will continue to pray for its advancement, and for each and every one of you, in the Holy Shrines.
With warmest greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless, continually and abundantly, your high endeavours, aid you to add to your numbers, deepen your understanding of the essentials of His Faith, extend the range of your activities, consolidate your achievements, and win great and memorable victories for its institutions,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 9 September 1950
To the Glasgow Bahá’ís
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter dated4. 7.50 has been received, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
The progress being made in spreading the Faith in Scotland pleases him immensely, and he feels the Cause will find many exemplary and wonderful servants among the Scotch people. They may be slow to be convinced, but once they embrace a thing they do so with full conviction and great determination to serve their belief.
He will pray that your assembly may confirm many new souls, and thus gradually free the devoted pioneers, who went there to teach, for services in new and maybe distant fields.
You may be sure he deeply appreciates all you have done. With loving greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear co-workers,
I was so pleased and grateful to receive your most welcome message, and I profoundly appreciate the noble sentiments you have expressed. I wish to assure you that I will pray for your success from the depths of my heart, that the Beloved may guide your steps, bless your high endeavours, and enable you to lend a tremendous impetus to the spread of the Faith in Scotland.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 14 March 1954
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Leeds
Dear Bahá’í Brother:
Your letter of February 20th has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
The Guardian was very happy to learn of your coming County Teaching Conference. He has been very happy over the large number of pioneers who have arisen in the British Isles and have gone to new territories, both in the British Isles and in foreign lands, and he considers this a fine record.
He hopes your deliberations will produce a still greater effort on the part of all the friends to implant more deeply and scatter more widely the seeds of the Faith, which are so greatly needed everywhere.
The Guardian assures you of his loving prayers for the abundant success of your endeavours.
With warm Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless, guide and sustain you, and enable you to promote the vital interests of His Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 5 September 1950
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Liverpool
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your letter dated May 7 was received, and our beloved Guardian rejoiced over the news of the formation of your Assembly. He would have answered you sooner had he not been so overpowered with not only the work connected with the arcade of the Shrine’s completion, but also anxiety caused by the long and serious illness of Mr. Maxwell, its architect.
He trusts your Assembly will enlarge its community during this year, and thus strengthen its foundations and ensure its future activities.
The victory won in the British Isles filled his heart with pride, and encourages him to believe a brilliant future lies ahead of the community there.
With warmest greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear co-workers:
Your most welcome message cheered my heart, and I wish to assure you in person of my sincere and profound admiration for the spirit that animates you in your activities, as well as of my ardent prayers for you, that the Beloved may guide and sustain you always, and enable you to win great and memorable victories for His Faith and its infant institutions.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 24 January 1952
To the believers who were present at the Feast of Sulṭán in London Centre, January 1952
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The beloved Guardian was very happy to see that so many of you had gathered together and united in sending your love to him, with the first believer to come from England since the door of pilgrimage has been open.
He will remember you all in his loving prayers in the Shrines, and urges you to devote as much of your time individually as possible to the promotion of the goals of your present Plan.
With warmest Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty guide and sustain you in your high endeavours, bless and protect you always, aid you to extend the range of your valued activities, and win memorable victories in the service of His glorious Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 25 January 1929
Manchester Spiritual Assembly
My Dear Friend,
I am directed by our Guardian to thank you for your welcome letter of January 11th.
He has been very pleased to learn of the more rapid progress of the Cause in Manchester and of a greater measure of unity among the friends. He is glad that Mr. Hall is taking this initiative and he sincerely trusts that you will all persevere in your endeavours, will keep dear the necessity for harmony and unity and thus make your group a progressive, enthusiastic and worthy Bahá’í centre in England. He appreciated your efforts and that of all friends in Manchester. He wishes you please to convey to them an expression of his heartfelt love and good wishes.
With best regards, Sincerely in His Service,
[From the Guardian:]
My Dear co-worker,
I am delighted with the news you give me. The friends in Manchester occupy a warm and abiding place in my heart. The fragrant memory of my visit to them is still fresh and vivid in my mind. I will continue to supplicate at the Beloved’s Shrine for each one of them the Almighty’s richest blessings, that they may be guided and strengthened to render in the days to come inestimable services to the sacred Threshold.
With my best wishes to your dear relatives,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 20 July 1932
Manchester Spiritual Assembly
Dear Bahá’í Sister,
Shoghi Effendi was greatly pleased to receive your kind letter of June 24th, 1932, and he has requested me to address you these few lines expressing his heartfelt appreciation of the precious and most valuable steps taken by our Manchester friends towards a greater extension and consolidation of the Cause.
The Guardian was specially glad to hear that you have established a new Bahá’í Centre and he fervently hopes that as a result of this new move the interests of the Faith will be promoted and its teachings will succeed in confirming some new souls.
The precious efforts so continuously exerted by our Manchester Bahá’ís and particularly by our beloved Mr. Hall and Mr. Sugar will undoubtedly yield their fruits in a not very distant future. But the friends should persevere in their task and not let any obstacle, however great, hinder their onward march. In these days of sufferings and hardships, patience and hope are indispensable for the success of any idea or plan.
In closing may I assure you of our Guardian’s best wishes and ask you to extend to all our Manchester Bahá’ís the expression of his heartfelt thanks and appreciation.
Yours in His Service,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your high and unsparing efforts, enable you to extend the scope of your activities, and consolidate the foundations of the Faith in that great city.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 28 July 1950
The Manchester Spiritual Assembly
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your letter has been received, dated June 6th, and our beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He feels that the questions of … could be answered by a better understanding of the teachings — however, for the sake of his sincere services to the Faith, he will answer them here:
(1) Christ received the kiss of Judas, in fact He said one of His disciples would betray Him. It is not a question of these Holy Souls seeing the future, but of what, in Their wisdom, They deem it necessary to accept in the Path of sacrifice. If we are going to question the wisdom of the Prophets we can question God’s Wisdom too, and the advisability of the whole system we live in.
(2) Nabil’s suicide was not insanity but love. He loved Bahá’u’lláh too much to go on in a world that no longer held Him.
(3) The “sacrifice” of goats has nothing to do with the Faith. Bahá’u’lláh was surrounded by Muslim admirers and friends, and they merely followed the custom of their people on such an occasion, when many hundreds gathered to console His bereaved family.
(4) We cannot, not knowing the factors Bahá’u’lláh weighed in His own mind, judge of the wisdom of His withdrawal to Kurdistan. But, studying His life and teachings, we should see in it an act of wisdom, and not superficially measure Him by our standards.
(5) Love is certainly the attribute we associate par excellence with our Maker. But has He no justice and does not justice fall on the back of the evil doer as a scourge?
(6) This question seems to imply a lack of understanding of love. There is very little Divine love in the world to-day, but a great deal of intellectual reasoning, which is an entirely different thing, and springs from the mind and not the heart. The Martyrs — most of them died because of their love for the Báb, for Bahá’u’lláh, and through Them for God. The veil between the inner and outer world was very thin, and to tear it, and be free to be near the Beloved, was very sweet. But it takes love, not reason to understand these things. We must also remember the Martyrs were called upon to deny their faith or die, as men of principle they preferred to die.
(7) Bahá’u’lláh’s claims are much greater because humanity is more mature and can afford to hear them. But He draws on the same Source that was accessible to all the Prophets, it is we who can now receive more.
(8) The Guardian feels … should study more deeply the teachings, and meditate on what he studies. We liken God to the Sun, which gives us all our life. So the Spirit of God reaches us through the Souls of the Manifestations. We must learn to commune with Their Souls, and this is what the Martyrs seemed to have done, and what brought them such ecstacy of joy that life became nothing. This is the true mysticism, and the secret, inner meaning of life which humanity has at present, drifted so far from.
The Guardian will pray that this dear friend may deepen his understanding and arise and become a wonderful teacher of the Faith.
He will also pray for the progress of the work in Manchester and the success of your devoted labours.
With Bahá’í love,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your efforts, guide and sustain you in your activities, and enable you to promote effectively the best interests of His Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 19 January 1950
Northampton Bahá’í Community
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Our beloved Guardian thanks you not only for the good news you conveyed to him in your letter of January 6th, but for the spirit which prompted you to share it with him.
He admires greatly the services of your community and the unity amongst you, which no doubt is largely responsible for your success.
He will join his prayers to yours for the success of the labours of your two latest pioneering members.
With Bahá’í love,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear co-workers,
I feel truly proud of your notable services, and I wish to assure you of my profound appreciation of your labours, of my loving prayers for the progress of your meritorious activities, and the realisation of every hope you cherish in the service of our beloved Faith and of its nascent institutions.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 30 September 1949
The Bahá’ís of Norwich
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
Your letter of August 2nd has been received and our beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He was very pleased to see that you are girding up your loins to do your utmost for the Plan in the critical months that lie ahead.
Nothing will further your ends more quickly than the greatest love, unity and co-operation amongst yourselves. These are the very soul of the order Bahá’u’lláh has come to establish in the world and when the people see these qualities and characteristics actively demonstrated in our midst, those who are receptive will hasten to join our ranks. Likewise when they see the lack of these virtues they will hesitate to embrace the Faith however much they may admire its teachings.
He will certainly pray that your Assembly may be maintained, your numbers increase, and your devotion be rewarded.
With Bahá’í love,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear co-workers,
I was pleased to hear from you and receive the assurance of your love, your devotion to the interests of our beloved Faith and your determination to serve its best interests.
I will pray from the depths of my heart on your behalf, that the Almighty may bless and sustain you and enable you to win memorable victories for His Faith.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 16 September 1956
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Norwich
Dear Bahá’í Brother:
Your letter of July 29th with enclosures has been received, and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He was most happy to receive the July Jarrold Magazine and to see the article on the Faith; and also to learn from the copy of your News Letter of the activities of the believers in that locality.
The Guardian greatly appreciates the spirit animating the friends there in the service of the Cause. He sends you all his loving greetings, and assures you of his prayers for the success of your devoted labours.
With warm Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my abiding admiration of your devoted and constant endeavours for the promotion of our beloved Faith, and of my fervent prayers for the realisation of every hope you cherish for its promotion,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 8 April 1947
The Bahá’ís of Nottingham
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter, dated February 16th, was received and read by our beloved Guardian with great joy, and he has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.
The news of your group having reached Assembly status was a source of deep satisfaction to him, and demonstrates what the friends can do, once they put their shoulder to the wheel!
You have every reason to feel proud of your achievement, and he hopes you will, through your correspondence and contacts with your fellow believers, encourage them to follow your example and forge ahead, in spite of every obstacle, with determination, confident that once we do our part, God is never failing in His.
He hopes your numbers will steadily increase and that many young people will be attracted to the Faith, as the part they have to play is very great and, also, their need of the Faith very great.
You may be sure his loving prayers will be offered for you, and for the success of your labours, in the Holy Shrines.
With Bahá’í love,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved bless your efforts in the service of our beloved Faith, and you to deepen your knowledge of the essentials of His World Order, to increase your numbers, to extend the scope of your activities, and to fulfil every desire you cherish for its promotion and consolidation.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 30 May 1949
The Bahá’ís of Nottingham
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter to our beloved Guardian, dated May 4, has been received, and he deeply appreciates your message of devotion and affection.
His burden is indeed a heavy one, and after so many years of continuous responsibility he often feels very tired. But when he sees the loyalty of the friends and their steadfast perseverance in their tasks his heart is lightened and he feels greatly encouraged.
It is much easier to work when you see results being obtained under your very eyes, and, although in many ways his service to the Faith has been lonelier and more complicated than that of the beloved Master, yet he has had the great blessing of seeing the Cause spread out all over the world and greatly expand in many countries — such as England, India, the United State, etc. — as it never did in the days of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who worked so unremittingly towards this end, and Who planted what we now reap.
He feels the British believers can and will — indeed must — succeed in their Plan, and his thoughts and prayers are with them very often.
With Bahá’í love,
[From the Guardian:]
Dear co-workers:
Your message cheered my heart, and I wish to assure you that I greatly value your noble sentiments, and will supplicate the Beloved to bless your efforts, guide every step you take in the path of service, enable you to extend continually the range of your activities, and consolidate the work you have so splendidly inaugurated, and are so devotedly prosecuting in the service of this glorious Faith,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 27 October 1950
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Oxford
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter of September 14 with enclosure was received, and the beloved Guardian thanks you for it.
He was pleased to see the enterprising spirit shown by Mr. Semple,2 and hopes his classes will produce many new contacts.
The progress made in Oxford is heartening, and he trusts still greater progress lies ahead.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty abundantly reward you for your patient and splendid labours, sustain and guide you at all times and under all circumstances, enable you to extend the range of your meritorious activities, and aid you to consolidate your notable and indeed historic achievements,
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 25 December 1951
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Oxford
Dear Friends:
Your letter of December 14th has been received; and the beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He was very pleased to hear of the progress being made; and that it has been possible to give the Message to some of the “undergrads”. It is most important that the Faith should be conveyed with a sense of dignity at so important a university as Oxford; and better that the work should go forward slowly than that any mistakes should be made.
He assures you all that he deeply appreciates your devoted labours; and he hopes that you will fulfill your objective of increasing the number of believers there.
With warm Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved, whose Cause you are serving with such fidelity, ability and devotion, reward you abundantly for your meritorious labours, guide every step you take, and enable you to lay a firm and unassailable foundation for the future institutions of His Faith in that historic and promising City.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 25 December 1952
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Oxford
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter of December 10th has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He was very happy to see that you have held another meeting in Manchester College, and hopes that the attracted ones who attended may become real students of the Faith, and eventually join its ranks.
The poem by Miss Masefield was much appreciated by the Guardian. Please assure Miss Masefield that he liked it very much, and will consider using it for a future volume of “Bahá’í World”. The only thing that he saw that seemed to need correction was that the word “Abhá”, was spelled “Abba” instead of “Abhá”.
He hopes that Miss Masefield, through the friendship and wise association of the members of your Group with her, will feel moved to declare herself an active member of the Faith. He will pray that this may come about.
The Guardian will also pray for the success of the devoted labours of the believers in Oxford.
With warm Bahá’í love,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty guide and sustain you always, remove all obstacles from your path, and enable you to win great and memorable victories in the service of His Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 1 February 1954
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Oxford
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter of January 16th with enclosure has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He thanks you very much for the expression of your sympathy, and for the newspaper clipping you enclosed.
It has indeed been a great loss to the work of the Faith, to lose such a valiant, constant and distinguished Hand as dear Dorothy Baker. It will leave a gap in the pioneer field, as well. No doubt her noble spirit will be able to assist and inspire from on high, and this must be the consolation of all her friends and admirers.
He trusts the work in Oxford is progressing steadily; and he assures you all of his loving prayers in your behalf.
With warmest Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your meritorious efforts, guide and sustain you in your activities, and enable you to win great victories in the service of His Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 23 April 1954
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Oxford
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter of April 9th has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
Mrs. Winsten invited the Guardian if possible to view in person her portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Needless to say, he thanked her for her kind invitation, but informed her this would be quite out of the question.
He is very pleased to hear that she has consented to forwarding a photograph through acquaintances of hers, and he will be very interested to see it. He will let you know if he considers the likeness sufficiently good to warrant any of the Bahá’ís purchasing it. It is a pity to own portraits of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which do not in any way resemble Him.
Some time ago you asked him to send you a copy of the description which Miss Campbell3 brought to Haifa of how the artist made this drawing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Unfortunately this has been mislaid, and it is not possible for the Guardian to send you a copy. However, the original you may be sure is safe in his papers.
He is very happy to hear of the progress of the Cause in Oxford, such a very important centre from every standpoint. He assures you all of his loving prayers for the progress of your activities, and for each and all of you.
With warmest Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my loving prayers for you all, and for the success of your efforts for the promotion of our beloved Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 7 December 1954
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Oxford
Dear Bahá’í Sister:
Your letter of November 30th with enclosure has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
The news of the opening of the Oxford Bahá’ís’ first Centre rejoiced his heart. He was particularly happy to know that this project was consummated and the Centre furnished and made ready for use almost entirely through the united efforts and devotion of the believers themselves.
As you know, the Guardian attaches great importance to Oxford. Now that the friends have a Centre, which in itself will be a means of attracting seeking souls to them to learn of the Faith; and also the Bahá’ís have made for themselves a teaching plan, he feels confident that the work will go forward there with great strides, and that your community will grow in numbers and in strength.
He will remember you all in his loving prayers in the Holy Shrines.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless continually your highly meritorious efforts, and enable you to win great and memorable victories in the service of His Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 28 February 1955
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Oxford
Dear Bahá’í Sister:
Your letter of February 13th with enclosures has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He is hoping that the fact that the believers now have their own Centre in Oxford will greatly stimulate the work there, and cause the more rapid expansion of the Faith in this difficult town.
The work done among the University students should be steadily pursued. Perhaps before long some among their number may determine to accept the Faith and arise whole-heartedly to serve it.
The Guardian assures you all of his loving prayers, and sends his greetings.
With warm Bahá’í love,
P.S. It is not necessary to send a detailed account of the funeral of Mrs. Langdon-Davies. A short biographical account of her life should be sent by the N.S.A. for “Bahá’í World”.
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless, guide and sustain you, and enable you to achieve memorable victories in the service of our beloved Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 21 March 1955
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Oxford
Dear Bahá’í Sister:
Your letter of February 27th with enclosure has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He appreciates your thoughtfulness in sending to him the photostatic copy of Canon Cheyne’s letter to John Craven,4 in which he declared himself a Bahá’í, and is happy to have it.
He wishes you all a very happy New Year, and great success in your teaching activities during the coming year.
With warm Bahá’í greetings,
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my loving, my continued and fervent prayers for your success in the service of our beloved Faith and of its nascent institutions,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Footnotes
- For some years prior to his death in October 1976, he lived partly in Liverpool and partly in Anglesey, North Wales. The Universal House of Justice cabled: “Grieved loss devoted believer Ernest Miller who rendered distinguished services British home front endeared himself fellow believers. Extend sympathy friends assure ardent Prayers sacred threshold progress his soul Abhá Kingdom.”
- In 1956 he pioneered to Edinburgh for two and a half years, and was appointed to the Auxiliary Board for the Propagation of the Faith in November 1957. He was elected to the International Bahá’í Council at Riḍván 1961, and to the Universal House of Justice in 1963.
Miss Jean M. Campbell
Jean Campbell accepted the Faith in Oxford in 1949 in time to be on the first Spiritual Assembly there. She served as the Assembly secretary for some years, pioneered to Aberdeen in 1959 and then to Malta in February 1964 where she is still at her pioneer post (1979). ↩- “Uncle John” kept up a wide correspondence with many of the early believers, and it was in a letter to him that Dr. T. K. Cheyne D.D. made his “Declaration” of belief in Bahá’u’lláh. He received three Tablets from the Master and was on the National Assembly for six of the first eight years. His teaching of the Faith was mostly in the Altrincham area and among his workmates.