. | . | . | . | ||||||||||||||||||||
. |
1934-05-10 to NSA various USBN #85 - July 1934 - pages 1-2 Haifa, May 10, 1934. "He also wishes me to express his approval of your suggestion that as soon as the ornamentation work of the clerestory section of the Temple is completed no new contract be signed for the next unit unless the entire sum required for the contract has already been collected. Economic conditions, both within and without the Cause, are nowadays too unstable to allow us to undertake any extensive scheme before insuring its uninterrupted and succesful prosecution. He would urge the friends, however, to continue exerting themselves in order to complete the ornamentation of the clerestory section of the Temple which they have spontaneously undertaken, towards the end of the summer, and if not, at least by the end of the year. Their resourcefulness, courage and self- sacrifice surely offer a sufficient guarantee that they will not fail in bringing their task to a happy and successful completion. "Concerning local Baha'i news letters the Guardian strongly feels that they should be primarily devoted to the spread of local news and activities, and should under no circumstances contain any statement implying criticism of or even interference with the policy of the N.S.A. They may occasionally refer to items of a national scope, but this should be done only with the view of assisting and not hindering the national body of the Cause to carry out effectively its program and decisions. There is thus a definite line of demarcation between correspondence initiated by local and National Assemblies. Local activities should always be subordinated to those of a national character and importance. This is intended not to minimize the role of the local Assembly in the administrative order, but to establish and insure a sane relationship between that body and the national organization of the Cause. "The Guardian wishes you to convey to the N.S.A., and through them to the entire body of the American believers the news of the successful negotiations initiated with the Palestine authorities concerning the exemption from taxation of the entire area surrounding and dedicated to the International Sacred Shrines of the Faith on Mt. Carmel. "After long repeated representations Shoghi Effendi has succeeded in obtaining from the Government an exemption which is tantamount to a recognition by the Palestine Administration of the sacredness of our Shrines, and of the importance and significance of the international center of our Faith. The exempted area has been purchased largely through the contributions sent for that purpose by the American believers. A section of it has already been transferred to the Palestine Branch of the American National Assembly, while a portion of the remaining part is still registered in the name of individual American believers. "This exemption granted by the Government constituted, indeed, a triumph which the friends will certainly appreciate, and a step forward towards the further establishment and consolidation of the administrative order of the Cause, in both the Holy Land and beyond its confines. The title deeds which testify to the purchase and transfer of various plots to the name of your Assembly will soon be forwarded to your address. Negotiations are still pending in connection with further purchases and transfers which the Guardian is endeavoring to effect on behalf of the Palestine Branch of the American N.S.A. "In this connection I am directed to extend to you, as well as to the general body of the American believers, Shoghi Effendi's abiding appreciation of the American Baha'is' splendid cooperation in preventing the area surrounding the Shrines from falling into the hands of non-Baha'is. Now that the town of Haifa is developing so rapidly and so many buildings are being erected along the slopes of Mt. Carmel, the friends can realize the full wisdom of their having kept such an extensive area as an open space around the Shrines. This is becoming increasingly manifest to the government officials and also to the increasing number of tourists and visitors who annually flock to the Holy Land and admire the beauty and impressions of so important a center in the Baha'i world. And the Guardian cannot, indeed, but feel deeply indebted to you and to those who have cooperated with you in taking such a vital and historic step, as a result of which the Faith has seen its prestige heightened and its interests effectively promoted and insured." (In the Guardian's hand) "The American believers have in recent years shouldered tremendous responsibilities and have acquitted themselves magnificently of their task. The erection of the superstructure of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, the completion of the ornamentation of the dome, their spontaneous decision to proceed with the decoration of the clerestory section, the purchase, the safeguarding and eventual recognition of the precincts of the Shrines on Mt. Carmel, the consolidation of the administrative machinery of the Faith in their country, the generous assistance extended by them to the needy, the harassed and suffering among their brethren in many lands and the activity they now display in the teaching field are deeds for which the entire Baha'i world may well feel grateful."
|
. | |||||||||||||||||||||
. | . | ||||||||||||||||||||||