Dear Bahá'í Friends:
The beloved Guardian has been greatly pleased with the achievements of the friends throughout the world during the first year of the Ten-Year Crusade. Victories were won in all parts of the world, and on many fronts. The Faith was established in 101 countries of the world, bringing the light of guidance to 229 countries and islands.
We now enter the second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade.
The Guardian's message to the Convention has outlined the goals to be achieved during this second phase.
One of the important items was the purchase of &Haziratu'l-Quds for future National Spiritual Assemblies. The Guardian feels that immediate steps should be taken to fulfil a part of this project. In all, there are 49 Haziratu'l-Quds to be purchased--4 already are owned. He feels that during the second year of the Crusade, 17 additional &Haziratu'l-Quds should be purchased. These should not be elaborate structures, but modest houses, which can serve at the present time, as local Haziratu'l-Quds, but which will be converted into National Haziratu'l-Quds as soon as the National Assemblies are formed.
The Guardian feels that steps should be taken immediately to purchase the Haziratu'l-Quds in Vienna. A fund should be started so that the friends may contribute to this important project when they wish.
The Guardian has been informed that a small property has been procured in Vienna, to serve as a Headquarters. He is anxious to know if this property has been purchased, or is being rented. If it has been purchased, and is an independent property, it of course can serve temporarily as a Hazira for the local Assembly, and then later be made the National Hazira. If, on the other hand, the building is being rented, and it is satisfactory, efforts should be made to purchase it. If it cannot be purchased, then some other small property should be bought. The Guardian wishes it clearly understood that a Hazira must be a piece of land owned by the Bahá'ís, and not a rented piece of property.
The Guardian will appreciate advice from you as quickly as possible of the steps being taken to fulfill this important task of the second phase of the Ten-Year Plan. He feels this property should be purchased during the current year.... P.S.--The Guardian requests that you inform all the friends that their most important duty at the present time is the fulfillment of the tasks of the Ten-Year Crusade. This calls for the sacrifice of local activities in order that the national and international development of the Faith may go forward uninterruptedly. No local institutions should be started. The National Assembly should see that money is not spent on local centers at this time, and the friends should be encouraged to concentrate on the national and international activities of the Faith.