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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."
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