To continue to be a member of the church places a Baha'i in an insincere position-for we believe the Christ has come again, in Baha'u'llah, and that all His promises have been gloriously fulfilled. No church would tolerate one of its members believing such a thing, for the church is still blindly waiting the second coming. Therefore it is obvious why the Baha'is must leave the church, they are not leaving Christ, but rather rallying to His support in the new day of His coming.

Also, he feels your a.s.sembly should obey and work with the National a.s.sembly in the greatest love and harmony. The past must be forgotten, and all the believers concentrate, unitedly on the spread of the Faith and strengthening its administration.

He will pray for you all, and for the success of your work. With Baha'i love

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty, Whose Faith you are serving with zeal, constancy and devotion, bless you and your dear collaborators, remove all obstacles from your path, and enable you to win great and memorable victories for His Faith and its inst.i.tutions,

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 22 OCTOBER 1949

22 October 1949

It is the privilege of youth not to commit the same mistakes all over again of the older generations, and he hopes the German youth will rise above personalities, adhere to the principles of the Cause and its administration, be examples of firmness in the Covenant, and thus carry the Faith forward in Germany on a higher plane of development.

LETTER OF 30 OCTOBER 1949(35)

30 October 1949

As the Guardian already wrote the N.G.R., he feels that most of the trouble which recently arose in the German community was due to the fact that the believers everywhere did not seem to know how to function administratively-almost everything they did was irregular and this caused added confusion, more wounded feelings, and confused the entire situation.

He trusts that by now the whole situation has been straightened out and that the N.G.R. and the a.s.semblies will work strongly and unitedly for the fulfilment of their Plan.

He was very glad that dear doctor Grossmann could attend the Brussels Conference. All the believers there were so happy to have a German brother with them! Also, he has received reports of the excellent teaching work on the Covenant that your dear husband is doing. This is very important, especially at this time when Ahmad Sohrab is trying to again become active in Germany.

The German friends must learn to put the teachings above personalities and stop taking sides. This is a sign of immaturity and this old and beloved community cannot afford to linger in childhood, but must become a strong adult community of united, alert and active believers....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-worker:

I am deeply grateful to you for your constant and splendid services to our beloved Faith. These services and achievements will, no doubt, attract the blessings of Baha'u'llah. Rest a.s.sured that the Beloved is well pleased with your accomplishments, and will increasingly bless your high endeavours. May every obstacle be removed from your path and the dearest wish of your heart fulfilled.

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 12 NOVEMBER (1949?)(36)

12 November (1949?)

The Guardian is in receipt of your letter of October 26th, and feels very much pleased at the news of the completion of the German translation of "The Seven Valleys". He wishes me to congratulate you most heartily for this great service you have been able to render the Cause, and which no doubt will serve to enrich the record of the manifold contributions you have, during the last few years, so brilliantly made towards the spread of the Faith throughout Germany. He is praying to Baha'u'llah that He may continue to guide and inspire you, and a.s.sist you in accomplishing still more outstanding works for the Cause in your country.

Regarding the publication of the ma.n.u.script, he sees no objection that it should be undertaken by a non-Baha'i publisher, inasmuch as it will then have a greater appeal to the general public. But, of course, in this as well as in all other local matters of this kind you should first seek the approval of the N.S.A. As to the expenses of printing the work, they should be preferably furnished by the national fund.

The Guardian is also very much pleased to learn of the new publications which the N.S.A. is planning to issue very soon. The printing of the lectures delivered at the last Esslingen Summer School in a book form is, no doubt, highly useful. It is hoped that the funds required in this connection, as well as for other important publications, will be generously contributed by both the individual believers, and the local groups and a.s.semblies.

With reference to the publication of the "Kitab-i-iqan" into Esperanto, the Guardian also hopes that some action will be taken in this matter by the N.S.A. But obviously the printing of this, and other non-German works, should be subordinated to the publication of Baha'i literature in German....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-worker:

I am so eager to learn that your health is fully restored, for I believe your services are a most valuable a.s.set to the Faith you serve in these troublous days. I welcome your efficient and unrelaxing cooperation, in spite of the obstacles which face you, in so many fields of Baha'i activity. I am confident that as a result of your strenuous endeavours the administrative inst.i.tutions in your land will be further consolidated and extended and the cause of teaching receive an added impetus.

Your true brother, Shoghi

LETTER OF 18 DECEMBER 1949

18 December 1949

Baha'i Youth Committee of Germany and Austria

Dear Baha'i Friends:

Your letter of November 12 has been received by our Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer it on his behalf.

He will certainly pray for the success of your very important branch of the Baha'i work in Germany and Austria.

We, as students of religion and history, cannot but expect that when G.o.d's Greatest Revelation, (up until this time,) reaches the world, it will cause terrific repercussions in the lives of men. This is what we are witnessing all about us today, and although we, and others, suffer from the state of society, we cannot but derive inspiration from the fact that this very chaos is a testimony to the strength and potency of the Divine Remedy brought by Baha'u'llah....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty Whose Cause you are serving in such a vital sphere of Baha'i activity, guide, bless and sustain you, remove the formidable obstacles that stand in your path, and enable you to win great and memorable victories for its inst.i.tutions,

Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi