The Indian believers, in spite of the troubled condition of their country, its vastness, and the relative fewness of their numbers, are really demonstrating a remarkable tenacity of purpose in carrying out their pioneer teaching plan and in organizing and supporting their Baha'i activities. He is therefore very pleased with them, and wishes the young people to take part more and more in the work of the Cause in India.
May 2, 1947
Letter of May 8, 1942
There is no refuge in the world today except the Cause of Baha'u'llah. The believers must rest assured that, having the Faith, they have everything.
They must place their lives in the Hand of God, and, confident of His mercy and protection, go on teaching the Cause and serving it, no matter what happens.
May 8, 1942
Letter of February 2, 1957
He considers that the most important thing, as he has often pointed out to the friends, is to maintain the Spiritual Assemblies already in existence throughout India, to create Spiritual Assemblies out of Groups, and to establish new Centres. He therefore does not feel that, if the Cause is precarious in Surat and this goal of the Assembly has not been successfully achieved, the Baha'is who are working there should leave and go elsewhere.
The principle he has laid down has invariably been that the friends must establish a Spiritual Assembly on a firm and enduring basis with a nucleus of about fifteen Baha'is in the Community, so that the Assembly would be maintained, and then the other believers are free above the number fifteen to disperse and teach elsewhere; in fact they should consider it their duty to do so. This instruction of our beloved Guardian applies to Surat as well as to other Centres.
February 2, 1957
Letter of September 19, 1929
Your frank expression of the situation in India and your energetic desire to see things moving after years of practical stagnation, is gladly welcomed by the Guardian, and he is refreshed to see a feeling of dissatisfaction with present conditions and a desire for fresh endeavours along enlightened lines, evident among a good many of our friends in India and Burma.
It is especially gratifying to see you realize the fact that when the world has developed and been enlightened enough through the unseen powers of the Almighty, to be led to the teachings and spirit of the Cause, it will be our shameful task to go round proclaiming such principles as we were taught so many years before and none of which we had lived up to.
Concerning Huquq, the Guardian wishes me to inform you that at present it is not obligatory for the friends to pay, but that they should be urged to contribute to the local and national funds.
September 19, 1929
Letter of December 1, 1944
Concerning the Esslemont book in languages read by Hindus: The text of the book can in no way be changed, but two things can be done to make it more suitable for teaching Hindus: a footnote can be added informing the reader that the book was written by a Scotsman who was anxious to present to the Christians the Baha'i Faith in relation to their own religion, and hence he used many Biblical quotations with Baha'i interpretations given; secondly an appendix may be added which will include quotations from the Baha'i writings suitable to the Hindu mind and interests.
Regarding Baha'i women using facial make-up: individuals are entirely free to do as they please in such purely personal matters. As Baha'is are enjoined to use moderation in all things, and to seek the Golden mean, the N.S.A. can, if it deems it necessary or advisable, counsel the believers to use moderation in this respect also.
Concerning your question as to whether a person may sign a registration card and then request his declaration to not be made public: all such administrative details must be referred to the N.S.A. for decision and their instructions followed.
The Guardian counsels you to refrain by all means from criticizing and attacking the National Assembly and its members or any local assemblies.
The good that you think can be done by such criticism is far out-weighed by the harm it does. The new assemblies and believers will cease to have confidence in the administration, cease to love and respect their representatives and the pioneer work you have done will suffer in general.
December 1, 1944
Letter of July 29, 1942
The Guardian has been very pleased to note the progress the Bombay friends have been making in their various activities. He would, however, urge the Bombay Assembly and community to redouble their efforts in the field of teaching; to send forth new souls into the pioneer field; and to devote as much time as possible to fostering the spread of the Cause in nearby centres.
He hopes that the contemplated celebration of the anniversary of the Birthday of Baha'u'llah will prove to be a great success, and he sees no objection to the friends helping nearby centres to hold a similar public meeting to attract new souls and teach the Faith.
In all matters of national importance, or which in any way transcend the purely local jurisdiction of the assembly, the Guardian would urge your Assembly to consult with, and seek the advice of, the N.S.A., as only in this way can administrative authority be upheld, and the work of the Cause progress swiftly and smoothly just as the individual believers are bound to support and sustain their local assembly, for the preservation of the unity of the Faith and the strengthening of its as yet embryonic World Order, so must the local assemblies obey and sustain their national representatives. The closer the cooperation between local and national assemblies, the greater will be the power and radiance which can and must stream forth from these institutions to the suffering ranks of humanity.
[From the Guardian:]
The activities of the Indian believers in the teaching field, in these days of uncertainty and peril, deserve the highest praise. I will specially pray at the holy Shrines for the expansion of these activities to which I attach the utmost importance in these concluding years of the First Baha'i Century. What the Bombay believers have accomplished in this respect is noteworthy, and I trust and pray that the Beloved may aid, sustain and guide them to achieve great victories in the pioneer field in the days to come.
July 29, 1942
Letter of March 28, 1945
Regarding your question concerning Baha'is printing and circulating matter on the Faith: Whether the person writes it openly, as a Baha'i, or gives the impression he is not a Baha'i, (in order to make his statements seem those of a dispassionate observer and thus carry more weight with some minds), if he is a voting member of our Faith he should submit the material to the N.S.A., or its appointed Committee, to be passed upon as to its accuracy and acceptability. Naturally non-Baha'i material the individual is free to do as he likes about. The National Assembly should deal efficiently with such matters and thus encourage the friends to follow the correct procedure. The whole object in Baha'i administration is not only to manage the affairs of the Cause, but to stimulate the believers to work for it and to teach it to the masses. When the N.S.A.
provides competent and quick service, in its own work and that of its Committees, it will see a far greater manifestation of enthusiasm and enterprise on the part of the believers.
[From the Guardian:]
The steady extension of the activities of the Indian Baha'i Community, in accordance with the fundamental administrative principles of the Faith, constitutes a landmark in the early history of the Formative Age of the Baha'i Dispensation, and augurs well for the ultimate triumph and official recognition of the Cause of Baha'u'llah in the course of the second Baha'i Century. The concerted endeavours of the Indian believers during the closing years of the first century have been crowned with signal success.
A solid foundation has been laid. The machinery for the systematic and efficient development of the institutions of the Faith in the capital and in the provinces is now functioning. Its literature is being widely disseminated. Its pioneers are labouring in distant fields. What is now required is an intensification of effort to establish direct contact with the masses, proclaim audaciously the verities of the Faith, to consolidate the work already achieved and to lend further impetus to the settlement of pioneers in areas where the light of the Faith has not as yet penetrated.
A greater measure of self-sacrifice, closer cooperation, and a higher degree of consecration to the task facing them are required of the believers of India in the course of the second year of the second Baha'i Century. May the Beloved sustain, aid and bless their concerted and meritorious endeavours.
March 28, 1945
Letter of December 19, 1949