LETTER OF 7 JANUARY 1938

7 January 1938

Our welcome guest Th. Emeric Salas has duly presented to our beloved Guardian your letter of December 19th which you had written him on behalf of the Vienna Baha'i a.s.sembly. He has read it, together with the accompanying letter addressed to your a.s.sembly by Dr. Ziemand, with the utmost care and deepest appreciation, and wishes you to a.s.sure your fellow-members of his grat.i.tude for the efforts they are so devotedly exerting for the further promotion of the Faith throughout Austria.

He welcomes indeed Dr. Ziemand's offer to undertake some Baha'i translations into German, specially as the German believers are no longer able to arrange for the translation and publication of any Baha'i book. He also hopes that this will serve as a means for deepening Dr. Ziemand's interest in the Teachings, and to inspire him to eventually join actively the Cause.

He would recommend the "Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah" as the most important work to be translated into German at present.

As regards the hundred dollars which have been anonymously donated to your a.s.sembly for the publication fund; the Guardian would advise, that part of this sum be expended on the printing of the pamphlet on "World Religion", and that written by Dr. Esslemont "What is the Baha'i Movement?", and the rest put aside for use in the future.

With the renewed expression of his abiding appreciation of your services, and with loving greetings to all the friends in Vienna...

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-worker:

I wish to a.s.sure you and your dearly-beloved co-workers in Vienna of my constant prayers for your success in the magnificent efforts you are all exerting for the spread and protection of this sacred and precious Cause.

You are often in my thoughts and I will continue to supplicate ardently and affectionately on your behalf. Rest a.s.sured and persevere.

Shoghi

LETTER OF 18 JANUARY 1938

18 January 1938

To the Friends in Esslingen. Beloved co-workers,

Shoghi Effendi has been deeply touched by your very cordial message of the 31st December, and is moved to write to you again and to a.s.sure you of his best wishes, and of his continued prayers for your protection and guidance in those hard and trying times.

His thoughts often turn to you and to our well-beloved German brethren in dear remembrance and loving appreciation of your services to the Cause. He is daily supplicating the Beloved to cheer and comfort your hearts, strengthen and guide your steps, and keep you ever steadfast and loyal in His path.

On the occasion of this New Year which we have just entered he further wishes me to convey to you his warmest greetings, and to reciprocate heartily the good wishes you have so kindly expressed...

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless and protect you, guide you in your devoted and continued endeavours and fulfil your highest hopes and dearest wishes,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 1 FEBRUARY 1938

1 February 1938

The Guardian was pleased to receive your letter of the 22nd January which you had written him on behalf of the Vienna a.s.sembly regarding the method of Baha'i elections.

He wishes you to kindly inform your fellow-members that this question of Baha'i electoral procedure has been explained and elucidated by him in one of his communications to the American N.S.A. which you will find reproduced in the book "Baha'i Administration", a copy of which is being mailed to you for presentation to your a.s.sembly.

As you will notice from that letter the method of a.s.sembly elections is exceedingly simple, and the Guardian wishes the friends to desist from adding any more regulations to those few ones which he has felt it his duty to lay down for the conduct of the believers.

In closing kindly convey to the friends in Vienna, and in particular to your fellow-workers in the a.s.sembly, the a.s.surances of his prayers for the success of their elections, and for the promotion and guidance of their community...

[From the Guardian:]

May the all-conquering, all-embracing Spirit of Baha'u'llah overshadow you and your dearly-loved co-workers at all times and under all circ.u.mstances, and enable you to raise the Call of G.o.d throughout the length and breadth of your country, and establish firmly the basis of the administrative order of the Faith.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 20 MARCH 1938(17)

20 March 1938

...it made Shoghi Effendi truly happy to know that our dear friend Mrs.

... will be soon coming to Haifa. Much as he regrets that her stay will be of such an exceptionally short duration he hopes nevertheless that through contact with these Holy Spots she will be so refreshed and strengthened spiritually as to be able to impart fresh hope and vigour to the hearts of the friends when she returns home.

Needless to tell you what a great pleasure it is for the Guardian to meet again this year, and so unexpectedly, one of our German friends, as his heart is longing to hear of your news, and to share the experiences you have been pa.s.sing through during all these months.

LETTER OF 29 MARCH 1938

29 March 1938

Shoghi Effendi has just received your very kind message of the 20th ins.

conveying to him your greetings and good wishes on the occasion of the feast of Naw-Ruz. He values beyond words your sentiments, and wishes me to a.s.sure you of his prayers at the Shrines on your behalf, that this New Year we have just entered may bring to you and your fellow-brethren throughout Germany every blessing, and happiness, and the highest success in both your spiritual and material pursuits.