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USBN #115 April 1938 p1
[First paragraph printed in This Decisive Hour #36]
The Seven Year Plan, with which the immediate fortunes of the American Bahá’í community are so closely interwoven, demands, at this critical stage in its development, serious and prayerful consideration of certain vital requirements, without which such a stupendous task can never be brought to a successful completion. The evolution of the Plan imposes a three- fold obligation, which all individual believers, all local Assemblies, as well as the National Assembly itself, must respectively recognize and conscientiously fulfil. Each and every believer, undaunted by the uncertainties, the perils and the financial stringency afflicting the nation, must arise and insure, to the full measure of his or her capacity, that continuous and abundant flow of funds into the national Treasury, on which the successful prosecution of the Plan must chiefly depend. Upon the local Assemblies, whose special function and high privilege is to facilitate the admission of new believers into the community, and thereby stimulate the infusion of fresh blood into its organic institutions, a duty no less binding in character devolves. To them I wish particularly to appeal, at this present hour, when the call of God is being raised throughout the length and breadth of both continents in the New World, to desist from insisting too rigidly on the minor observances and beliefs, which might prove a stumbling block in the way of any sincere applicant, whose eager desire is to enlist under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh. While conscientiously adhering to the fundamental qualifications already laid down, the members of each and every Assembly should endeavor, by their patience, their love, their tact and wisdom to nurse, subsequent to his admission, the new-comer into Bahá’í maturity, and win him over gradually to the unreserved acceptance of whatever has been ordained in the teachings. As to the National Assembly, whose inescapable responsibility is to guard the integrity, coordinate the activities, and stimulate the life, of the entire community, its chief concern at the present moment should be to anxiously deliberate on how best to enable both individual believers and local Assemblies to fulfil their respective tasks. Through their repeated appeals, through their readiness to dispel all misunderstandings and remove all obstacles, through the example of their lives, and their unrelaxing vigilance, their high sense of justice, their humility, consecration and courage, they must demonstrate to those whom they represent their capacity to play their part in the progress of the Plan in which they, no less than the rest of the community, are involved. May the all-conquering Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh be so infused into each component part of this harmoniously functioning System as to enable it to contribute its proper share to the consummation of the plan.
From the same letter, in the portion written by the Guardian through his secretary, the following excerpts are published for the information of the believers
:-
"The Temple model prepared by Mr. Earley which you had shipped to Haifa has been received in good condition, and will be placed shortly in the International Baha'i Archives on Mt. Carmel for the benefit of all the visitors."
In reply to a question concerning the authority to approve a bust of 'Abdu'I-Baha:
"He feels that for the present neither he nor the National and local Assemblies should take any action by laying down any regulation in this matter. Individuals should be left free to exercise their discretion and to act as they deem best."
"All those believers who are talented in music and desire to make some contributions along this line should be encouraged and advised to send their musical contributions to the Editorial Committee of The Bahá’i World for reproduction in that book."
"In conclusion the Guardian wishes me to express his satisfaction at the progress which the Seven Year Plan is making as a result of the cooperation, energy, selflessness and perseverance displayed by the entire body of the American believers. He is continual1y praying that their efforts for the consummation of this two-fold task may be blessed and crowned with complete success."
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