THIS
DECISIVE
HOUR
Messages from Shoghi Effendi
to the North American Baha5is
1932-1946

Contents
Publisher's Foreword to the New Edition	xiii
Foreword to the First Edition	xv
i    The Passing of Abu'1-Qásim Khurásání, 26 February 1932	3
Nabil's Narrative, 20 June 1932	3
Immortal Spirit, 15 July 1932	3
Evidences of Sympathy, 1 August 1932 	4
United Will, Concerted Action, 27 October 1932	4
Champion-Builders of the World Order of Baha u'llah,
16 February 1933	5
Non-Participation in Political Affairs, 16 March 1933	5
Personalities Subordinated, 11 April 1933	6
Momentous Convention/
Message to 1933 Convention, 1 June 1933	6
io    An Eminent Rank, 28 October 1933	6
ii    Hour of Victory at Hand, 17 November 1933	7
12	Potentialities of Majestic Edifice/
Message to 1934 Convention, 2 June 1934	7
The Passing of Susan Moody, 28 October 1934	8
Unprecedented Impetus/
Message to 1935 Convention, 27 April 1935	8
The Voting Right, 28 April 1935	8
Separation from Outworn Creeds, 15 June 1935	9
The National Fund, 29 July 1935	10
A New Hour Has Struck, 25 October 1935	10
This Is Truly Providential, 10 January 1936	11
CONTENTS
20	Abdu'1-Bahá's Historic Appeal/
Message to 1936 Convention, 29 April 1936	11
21	Fresh Conquests and Unprecedented Triumphs,
30 May 1936.....	 12
Intensify Teaching Work a Thousandfold, 28 July 1936	 12
Call for Rededication to Fulfillment of Divine Plan,
[circa 30 July 1936]	 13
24	Spiritual Descendants of the Dawn-Breakers,
[circa 29 October 1936]	 13
The Significance of the Undertaking, 14 November 1936	 14
A Complete Rededication, 22 March 1937	 14
Institution of Guardianship Now Further Reinforced,
28 March 1937	 15
The Passing of Dr. Zia Baghdad!, 11 April 1937..	 15.
Dual Gift/Message to 1937 Convention, 30 April 1937	 15
The Call Has Gone Forth ... The Path Is Clear, 4 June 1937	 16
Impassioned Plea, [circa 4 August 1937] 	 17
The Passing of Alfred Lunt, 16 August 1937	 17
Convention Delegates Increased, 19 November 1937	 18
All Should Arise, 25 November 1937	 18
Archbreaker of Covenant, 18 December 1937	,	 19
Certain Vital Requirements of Seven Year Plan,
30 January 1938	 19
A Year Has Almost Elapsed, 14 April 1938 	20
Draw Nigh unto Baha'u'llah/
Message to 1938 Convention, 25 April 1938	21
The Passing of Munírih Khánum, 28 April 1938	22
Progressive Unfoldment of Seven Year Plan, 3 June 1938	22
41	Marching toward Their Goal, 5 July 1938	23
42	Unbroken Solidarity,- Unquenchable Enthusiasm,
10 September 1938	24
Loyalty to World Order of Baha'u'llah, 22 September 1938	25
American Community Summoned to New Level of Heroism,
27 November 1938	25
45	Nine Holy Souls, 24 January 1939	26
CONTENTS
46	The Rarest Privilege Ever Conferred by Providence upon
the American Bahai Community, 28 January 1939	26
God's Creative Plan, 8 February [1939] 	28
Approach of Final Eruption, 22 March 1939	 30
Gratitude to Pioneers, 30 March 1939	30
My Plea, My Supreme Entreaty, 17 April 1939	30
51	Penetration of Latin America/
Message to 1939 Convention, 26 April 1939	32
Message to Thirty-First Convention, 29 April 1939	32
Twofold Obligation, 3 May 1939 	33
Inspiring, Significant Progress, 7 May 1939	33
That Priceless Heritage, 22 May 1939	33
Official Inauguration of World Mission, 26 May 1939	35
Fulfill the Requirements, 4 July 1939	36
The Most Fateful Hour, 28 July 1939	38
Imperiled Humanity, 28 August 1939	42
The Passing of Martha Root, 2 October 1939	42
Historic Act, 2 October 1939	43
Mandate Conferred by Abdu'1-Bahá, 23 October 1939	43
Blessed Remains Transferred to Mount Carmel,
5 December 1939	44
64	The Spiritual Potencies of That Consecrated Spot,
21 December 1939	 44
Interment Beloved Remains, 26 December 1939	49
The Seal of Complete Triumph, 30 December 1939	49
Dual, Vitally Urgent Obligation, 18 January 1940	51
Dare Greatly, Toil Unremittingly, 26 February 1940	 52
Beloved Handmaid, 3 March 1940	52
Their God-Given Task, 15 April 1940	 52
71	Baha u'llah's Spiritual Sovereignty/
Message to 1940 Convention, 24 April 1940	54
72	Section of Ornamentation, 27 April 1940	 55
Continuous Consecration, 15 May 1940	 55
Emergence of Spiritual World Order, 12 June 1940	 56
CONTENTS
75	Supremely Challenging Hour, 20 July 1940	 57
Bear All, Dare All, 14 October 1940	57
Chaos and Redemption, 28 October 1940	57
Translation of Epistle to the Son of the Wolf,
26 November 1940	58
Torchbearer of World Civilization, 3 December 1940	58
Veteran Warrior, 20 February 1941	60
Fifth Year of Plan/Message to 1941 Convention, 22 April 1941.... 60
The Anger of God and His Correction, 25 May 1941 	61
Fate-Laden World Ordeal, 30 June 1941	 63
Elizabeth Greenleaf, 6 August 1941 	64
Unconquerable Power, 12 August 1941	64
Completion of Ornamentation of Temple's Main Story,
25 September 1941 	68
87	The Process of Integration and Disintegration,
20 November 1941	68
The Crucible of World Conflagration, 8 December 1941	69
True Upholders of the Covenant, 6 January 1942	70
A Truly World-Embracing Crisis, 15 January 1942	70
91	Ordeal Tests Spirit, Challenges Audacity, 5 February 1942	71
92	The American Believers' Supreme, Remaining Responsibility,
12 March 1942	72
93	Impelled to Deputize Five Members/
Message to 1942 Convention, 25 April 1942	72
The Seven Year Plan, 26 May 1942	73
Imperative Need for Multiplication of Pioneers, 8 June 1942	 74
Consecrated to Teaching Tasks, 17 June 1942	75
The Passing of Abdu'l-Jalil Bey Sa'd, 25 June 1942	75
A Befitting Climax, 15 August 1942	75
Supremely Urgent Call, 21 September 1942	76

Acclaim with Grateful Heart, 25 November \§A2	77
The Immortal Lua, 21 December 1942	78
Magnificent Response to Teaching Appeal, 23 December 1942 .... 78
The Unfinished Tasks, 8 January 1943	78
CONTENTS
Completion of Temple Exterior, 13 January 1943	79
His Services Unforgettable, 17 January 1943 	80
Centenary of the Declaration of the Báb, 27 February 1943	80
Call for Immediate Increase in Pioneers, Settlers in Virgin Areas,
12 March 1943 	80
So Meritorious an Undertaking, 28 March 1943	80
All-America Centennial Convention/
Message to 1943 Convention, 14 April 1943	83
no	Eleventh Hour of Seven Year Plan, 22 April 1943	84
in	Completion and Dedication of Maxwell Memorial,
12 May 1943	84
Bahai Communities of East and West, 25 May 1943	84
The Passing of Mabel Ives, 20 June 1943 	85
The Formation of Local Spiritual Assemblies, 22 June 1943	85
Centenary Celebration, 30 June 1943	86
The Crowning Crusade, 31 July 1943	86
Preparations for the Centenary, 8 August 1943	87
The Beloved Faith Is Surging Forward, 30 September 1943....	88
A Still More Compelling Display, 16 November 1943	88
Progress of Teaching Campaign and Pioneer Activities,
11 December 1943.....	89
121	The Auspicious Year, 2 January 1944	89
122	Addition to Endowments, 13 January 1944	90
123	Participation of Latin American Believers, 27 January 1944	91
124	Befittingly Consummate the Enterprises, 31 March 1944	91
125	Turning-Point in Bahai History, 13 April 1944	91
I2c*     International Achievement, 4 May 1944 	94
127	Message to Centenary Convention, 14 May 1944	94
128	Decision to Complete the Structure of the Bab's Sepulcher/Convention Greetings 1944, 23 May 1944	96
129	Consolidation of Nobly Won Victories, 25 May 1944	96
13°    A Spiritual Assembly in Every Remaining Republic,
15 July 1944	96
Hi    The Seal of Spiritual Triumph, 18 August 1944	97
T32    Covenant-Breaking Activities, 6 November 1944	98
CONTENTS
Faithful Pioneer, 18 November 1944	98
Passages in God Passes By, 18 November 1944	98
The Succeeding Stage in the Evolution of Their World Mission,
24 December 1944	99
The Admission of Persians, 18 January 1945	101
Appeal to Preserve New Assemblies and Convert
Large Groups into Assemblies, 22 January 1945	101
Service by Youth on Committees, 26 February 1945	101
Staunch Pioneer, 27 March 1945	101
14°    The One Message That Can Extricate Humanity,
29 March 1945	 102
Faithless Brother Husayn, 15 April 1945 	103
My Heavy-Laden Heart, 19 April 1945 	 104
x43     Nationwide, Intercontinental Plans, 5 May 1945	 104
x44    A Single, Organically United World Commonwealth,
9 May 1945	105
x45	National Teaching Committee's Remarkable Exploits,
28 June 1945	106
H&    A New Phase of Human Evolution, 10 August 1945	106
x47    Hearts Uplifted in Thanksgiving, [17 August 1945]	108
148    The Work of Rehabilitation, 21 December 1945	109
x49     Exemplary Pioneer, 26 December 1945	'.	110
I5°    The German Baha'i Community, 7 January 1946	110
ISI    Lidia Zamenhof, [circa 23 January 1946]	110
x52    Historic Decisions, 24 February 1946	Ill
x53     Momentous Responsibilities, 20 March 1946	Ill
I54	Inauguration of Second Seven Year Plan/
Message to 1946 Convention, 23 April 1946	112
x55     Overwhelming Responsibility, 2 May 1946	114
*S6    Spiritual Conquest of the Old World, 5 June 1946	114
x57    Thirty New Assemblies, 12 June 1946	115
x58    A God-Given Mandate, 15 June 1946	!	115
x59	Impending Departure of Transatlantic Pioneers, 11 July 1946.... 129
The Utmost Vigor, Vigilance and Consecration, 20 July 1946 ... 130
Distinguished Servant, 27 July 1946	131
CONTENTS
This National and International Crusade, 5 October 1946 	 132
The Forces Mysteriously Released, 6 October 1946	 133
x64	Magnificent Work, 18 October 1946	 134
165	The Pivot on Which Hinges Success, 2 December 1946 	 134
Notes	 139
Glossary	 147
Bibliography	 177
Index	181

Publisher's Foreword to the New Edition
This Decisive Hour: Messages from Shoghi Effendi to the North American Bahais, 1932-1946 was originally published under the title Messages to America: Selected Letters and Cablegrams Addressed to the Bahd'is of North America, 1932-1946. This new volume includes forty-seven additional cables not found in Messages to America. Their inclusion was prompted by the efforts of an ad hoc committee appointed by the Universal House of Justice in 1973 at the Bahá'í World Center to check the texts of the cablegrams in the original edition. While completing their task, the committee found numerous additional cables sent by the Guardian to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'is of the United States and Canada during the period the compilation encompasses. Of these, the committee selected forty-seven that were felt to be suitable for inclusion, and the proposal to incorporate them into the compilation was approved by the Universal House of Justice. Each of these new cables has been given a heading similar in style and tone to the headings of other messages.
The cables and letters have been proofread against copies of original documents to ensure their accuracy. This has facilitated the correction of numerous typographical errors, misread words, lines of text inadvertently dropped, and wrong dates on cabled messages. In the process, each message has been treated as an individual item; that is, while spellings have been Americanized throughout, and revisions have been made to ensure consistency within each message, no attempt has been made to enforce stylistic consistency among messages.
All cables appear in the form and content in which they were sent and received—i.e., without the interpolations inserted in earlier versions by the Secretariat of the National Assembly or by the editors of BahaiNews. The cables are printed in small capitals, a format that is more faithful to that °f the original cable transmission. Where it would assist the reader, spar-lng punctuation has been added to the printed text of some cables, but only where it would not eliminate any inherent ambiguity.
PUBLISHER'S FOREWORD TO THE NEW EDITION
The cables have been dated according to when they were dispatched from Haifa, as shown in Shoghi Effendi's records. The different dates given in the previous edition were according to when messages were received in Wilmette.
To facilitate references to any edition of This Decisive Hour, each message is assigned a number, and the paragraphs within it are numbered. This numbering system will enable readers to find and refer to passages in any future edition of the book. A glossary has been added to supply background information, to clarify allusions and references that might otherwise be obscure, and to define specific Baha'i terms. Notes have been added to explain historical details, allusions, cross references to related messages, and references to further details found elsewhere. A bibliography offers information about, books and compilations referred to in the text and notes. Finally, an extensive index is included, the locators of which correspond to the numbering system of the text.
Foreword to the First Edition
The communications from the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith included in this book were addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly, to the Annual Conventions and to the Baha í community of North America from June 21, 1932, to December 3, 1946. All of them have been given current publication in Baha i News except the two longer messages entitled "The Spiritual Potencies of That Consecrated Spot," dated December 21, 1939, and "A God-Given Mandate" dated June 15, 1946, both of which were issued separately for the Baha'is.
In 1940 the letters and cablegrams received up to July 21 of that year were published in a temporary pamphlet entitled Messages from the Guardian. The present compilation gives a survey of American Baha'i development over a term of fourteen crucial years marked by the shift of interest from the development of the administrative order to the teaching mission conferred upon the American Baha'i community, by the rise of the first Seven Year Plan which completed the exterior ornamentation of the House of Worship, laid the basis of the new spiritual order in the unsettled States and Provinces of North America, and carried the Baha'i message to Central and South America, by the deterioration of international affairs culminating in the second World War, and by the inauguration of the second Seven Year Plan in 1946 with its four objectives as described in the Guardian's message to the Convention in that year.
Though the aim of most of these communications calls for fulfillment in action, the Guardian's messages are more than chapters in a historical record which can be closed and laid away. They will remain a source of guidance and inspiration to the members of the Faith, of training to the new believers, and a witness to the general public of the power emanating from the Faith of Baha'u'llah to create a new spiritual order on the wreckage of the past.
During this same period Shoghi Effendi, in addition to his frequent and more intimate messages to the Baha'is, wrote the more general works published under the titles of The Advent of Divine Justice, The Promised Day Is
xiv
FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION
Come, and God Passes By, besides several chapters of the work entitled The World Order of Bahaulldh. His general letters to the American Baha'is, written from the inauguration of the Guardianship in January 1922 to 1932, will be found in Bahai Administration.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA'iS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
WILMETTE, ILLINOIS JANUARY 15, 1947

Index
Note: Italic numbers denote page numbers; all other numbers refer to numbered paragraphs or notes.
A
'Abdu'1-Bahá
anniversary of visit to America of, 26.1 centenary of birth of, 125.5, 127.1 glossary entry for, 147 journey to North America of, 26.1,
94.1, 127.1, 158.4 New World among chief objectives of
ministry of, 158.4, 158.5 twenty-fifth anniversary of passing of,
165.1 Wilmette Temple consecrated by, 66.1,
108.1 See also Divine Plan Abdu'l-Jalil Bey Sa'd glossary entry for, 147 passing of, 97.1 Abu'1-Fadl
Abdu'l-Jalil Bey Sa'd and, 971 burial of, in Baha'i cemetery, 87.1,
101.1 glossary entry for, 148 Abu'1-Qásim Khurásání glossary entry for, 148 passing of, 1.1 Administrative Order
for bringing message of Baha'u'llah to
the masses, 140.2 enlarging basis of, 158.8 familiarizing new groups with, 70.3 glossary entry for, 148 National Spiritual Assemblies in,
158.10 and next phase of Divine Plan, 146.3,
158.6 as nucleus and pattern of World Order
of Baha'u'llah, 158.14 opponents of, 70.2, 85.2, 85.3 second Seven Year Plan and, 94.1
Ahmad Sohrab as enemy of, 85.4 structural basis for, laid in North
America, 125.1, 154.1 third Seven Year Plan to establish across
the globe, 154.1 in Western Hemisphere, 158.14 Ages, glossary entry for, 148—49 Ahmad-i-Ahsa'i, Shaykh glossary entry for, 149 on Year Nine, 158.18 Akká
glossary entry for, 149
tombs of mother and brother of
Abdu'1-Bahá facing, 64.3 Alaska, 45.1, 116.1, n.66 All-America Centennial Convention call for, 108.5, 109.1 Latin American delegates at, 108.5,
109.1, 123.1, 125.5, 127.1 message to, 127.1
at turning-point in Baha'i history, 125.5 American Baha'i community
and American entry into World War II,
90.1, 91.1 blessings vouchsafed to, 158.25 as champion builders of World Order
of Baha'u'llah, 6.1, 55.4, 58.4,
154.1 emergence from severest crisis since
Abdu'1-Bahás passing, 100.1 at fiftieth anniversary, 125.1, 125.2,
125.3 hour of victory at hand for, 11.1 as spiritual descendants of Dawn-Breakers, 24.1 still more compelling display required
of, 119.1 as torchbearer of World civilization,
41.1, 79.1, 127.1, 154.1
ibT
INDEX
INDEX

American Baha'i community (continued) triple call at the most fateful hour, 58.1 two categories of activities of, 55.1 twofold task of, 29.1, 30.1, 46.1, 53.1,
153.2, 165.1 unbroken solidarity and unquenchable
enthusiasm of, 42.1 unfinished tasks for, 103.1, 108.4, 140.2 united will and concerted action urged
on, 5.1 during World War II, 82.6 See also National Convention; National Fund; Seven Year Plan (first); Seven Year Plan (second); Tablets of the Divine Plan; teaching campaign Archbreaker of the Covenant (Muhammad Ali) glossary entry for, 149 opposes transfer of remains of mother
and brother, 64.4, 64.5 passing of, 35.1 Ark
and Carmel, 64.6 glossary entry for, 149-50 Asia. See Burma; India Ásíyih Khánum
Baha'u'llah on, 64.13, 64.14, 64.15,
64.16, 64.17 glossary entry for, 150 interment of, 65.1 remains transferred to Mt. Carmel,
63.1, 64.1, 64.2, 64.3, 144.1 Wilmette House of Worship associated with, 66.1 Assemblies. See Spiritual Assemblies Australia
Baha'i communities of, marveling at
American labors, 116.1 Baha'i headquarters in, 121.1, 126.1, 144.1 Authorized Interpreter of Baha'u'llah's
Teachings. See Abdu'1-Bahá Author of the Faith. See Baha'u'llah
B
Báb,the
centenary of declaration of, 106.1,
108.5, 109.1, 115.1, 127.1 decision to complete sepulcher of,
128.1, 144.1 glossary entry for, 150
historic sites purchased, 126.1 portrait of, 109.1 Qayyúmu'1-Asmá', 158.2 on Year Nine, 158.18 Bábi Dispensation centenary of, 108.5 Year Nine as terminus of, 158.18 Badíulláh
glossary entry for, 151 protesting transfer of remains of
mother and brother of Abdu'1-Bahá, 64.4 Baghdad!, Dr. Zia M. glossary entry for, 151 passing of, 28.1 Baha'i Centenary 1844-1944, The, 106.1,
n.62 Baha'i Cycle
centenary of inception of, 108.6 glossary entry for, 151 Baha'i literature
distribution center for Latin America,
158.15 for Europe, 156.1 German, 152.1, 158.13 for Latin America, 127.1, 130.1, 131.1, 135.2, 140.2, 158.8, 158.13, 158.15 in Spanish and Portuguese, 130.1,
135.2, 140.2, 158.8, 158.13, 158.15 translations of, 126.1 wider dissemination of, 98.1, 134.1, 146.5, 158.8 Baha (World, The, 1.1, 54.1, 137.1 Baha'i World Center glossary entry for, 151 World War II cutting off Baha'is from,
82.5 See also Akká Baha'i World Commonwealth glossary entry for, 151—52 World War II in creation of, 144.1 See also World Order of Baha'u'llah Baha'u'llah
on Ásíyih Khánum, 64.13, 64.14,
64.15, 64.16, 64.17 endowment for tomb of, 121.1 glossary entry for, 152 inauguration of prophetic mission of,
154.1, 158.18, 158.19, 158.20 lock of hair beneath dome of Wilmette Temple, 38.1, 109.1
on Mírzá Mihdí (Purest Branch), 64.9, 64.10, 64.11, 64.12
Tablet of Carmel, 64.6
Tihrán home purchased, 126.1
See also World Order of Baha'u'llah Bahia (Brazil), 79.2 Bahíyyih Khánum (Greatest Holy Leaf)
and American Baha'is, 5.1
glossary entry for, 152
mother and brother buried near, 63.1, 64.3, 64.6
passing of, 3.1, 4.1
and the Wilmette Temple, 104.1 Bahíyyih Khánum Fund, 44.1, 47.1, 65.1,
66.1 Belgium, n.88 Bolivia, 116.1, 134.1 Bosch, John D.
glossary entry for, 153
passing of, 161.1 Britain
Americans collaborating with publishing committee in, 156.1, 158.12
Baha'i communities marveling at American labors, 116.1 Buenos Aires (Argentina), 79.2, 158.15 Burma
American support required in, 148.4
suffering of Baha'is of, during World War II, 148.1, n.77
C
Canada
American entry into World War II and
teaching campaign in, 90.1, 92.1 enabling groups to obtain Local
Assembly status, 158.8 Manitoba, 45.1, 48.1 National Spiritual Assembly for, 154.1,
158.10 Nova Scotia, 45.1, 48.1 pioneers required for, 45.1, 46.5 Prince Edward Island, 116.1, n.66 Saskatchewan, 116.1, n.66 structural basis for Administrative
Order in every province of, 125.1 See also American Baha'i community Caribbean Cuba, 51.1
Dominica, 51.1, 57.3 Haiti, 51.1, 57.3 San Domingo, 116.1, 134.1 West Indies, 125.1 Carmel. See Mount Carmel Caucasus
persecution of Baha'is in, n.38 wartime threats in, 77.1 Centenary of the Faith
American efforts for, 119.1
facts about the Faith at time of, 126.1
preparing for, 117.1
splendid success of, 131.1
See also All-America Centennial
Convention Center of the Covenant. See Abdu'1-Bahá Central America
administrative structure emerging in,
82.6 Costa Rica, 51.1, 57.3 El Salvador, 51.1, 57.3 establishing Baha'i center in each
Republic of, 70.3, 126.1, 144.1,
n.66 first Seven Year Plan and, 46.2, 58.5 Guatemala, 51.1, 57.3 Honduras, 51.1 maintaining outposts of the Faith in,
112.1 National Spiritual Assembly for, 154.1,
158.10 Nicaragua, 51.1, 57.3, 116.1, 134.1 Panama, 51.1, 134.1 in penetration of Latin America, 51.1 pioneers in most Republics of, 58.5 settlement of remaining Republics of,
57.3 three-fold objective for, 143.1 in World Mission, 56.1 World War II affecting, 82.3 Central Figures
glossary entry for, 153
See also Abdu'1-Bahá; Báb, the;
Baha'u'llah Chicago
Dr. Zia Baghdad!, 28.1
first American Baha'i group formed in,
n.63 See also House of Worship (Wilmette) Christ, 58.4, 158.19 Christianity, 56.1, 82.4

182
i83
INDEX
INDEX

Collins, Amelia
glossary entry for, 153 locks of Baha'u'llah's hair entrusted to, 38.1 Colombia, 71.1 Costa Rica, 51.1, 57.3 Covenant
American Bahá' is as true upholders of
the, 89.1 glossary entry for, 153—54 See also Covenant-breaker Covenant-breaker
glossary entry for, 154
Moneeb Shaheed's marriage, 132.1
North American Baha'is not diverted
by, 110.1 unity and integrity for combating,
144.1 See also Archbreaker of the Covenant; Kheiralla, Ibrahim; Sohrab, Ahmad Cradle of the Faith. See Iran Cuba, 51.1 Cycle. See Baha í Cycle
glossary entry for, 154-55
D
Daniel's Prophecy
glossary entry for, 155—56 third Seven Year Plan and, 154.1, 158.21 Dawn-Breakers
American Baha'is as spiritual
descendants of, 24.1, 127.1 glossary entry for, 156 pioneers compared with, 125.4 Dawn-Breakers: Nabil s Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá H Revelation, The. See Nabil's Narrative Day of the Covenant, glossary entry for,
156 Declaration of Trust, By-Laws of a-Local
Spiritual Assem bly, 8.1 Delaware, 45.1, 48.1 Denmark, n.88 Dispensation
glossary entry for, 156 See also Bábi Dispensation Divine Lote-Tree, glossary entry for, 156
Divine Plan
American Baha'is broadcasting, 153 y call for rededication to fulfillment of
23.1 as gathering momentum, 46.5 glossary entry for, 156—57 next stage in evolution of, 140.1,
146.1, 146.2, 147.1, 158.6 significance of promulgation of, 25.1 visualizing attainment of, 47.2 See also Tablets of the Divine Plan
Dominica, 51.1, 57.3
Dunn, John Henry Hyde glossary entry for, 757 passing of, 80.1
E
Egypt
Ahdu'l-Jalil Bey Sa'd's passing, 97.1 Bahá'i administrative headquarters in,
87.1, 112.1, 121.1, 126.1, 144.1 Baha i communities of, marveling at
American labors, 116.1 Lua Getsinger's burial in, 87.1, 101.1 persecution of Baha'is in, n.38 teaching campaign affecting, 25.1 World War II as threat to Baha'i community, 91.1, 144.1 elections, Baha'i
glossary entry for, 157—58 necessity of voting, 15.1 preceding Universal House of Justice, 158.10 El Salvador, 51.1, 57.3 endowments, 121.1, 122.1, 126.1, 144.1 Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, 78.1 Epochs, glossary entry for, 158 Espinosa, Pedro, 51.1, n.31 Europe
Baha'i literature for, 156.1 Belgium, n.88
carrying message of Bahau'llah to war-torn, 146.3, 146.6, 147.1, 148.2 cessation of hostilities in, 144.1,
146.1   I Denmark, n.88 France, 158.12, 158.13 Holland, 158.13, n.88 Iberian. Peninsula, 154.1, 158.12 Italy, 154.1, 158.12, 158.13, n.88
Low Countries, 154.1, 156.1, 158.13 Luxembourg, 156.1, n.88 Norway, n.88 pioneers to, 156.1, 158.13, 159.1,
163.1, 165.1, n.86 Portugal, n.88 reinforcing outposts of the Faith in,
162.2 in second Seven Year Plan, 154.1,
156.1, 158.7, 158.11, 158.12,
160.1 Spain, n.88
Switzerland, 156.1, n.88 teaching campaign affecting, 25.1 See also Britain; Germany European Teaching Committee collaborating with British and
German Baha'is, 156.1 glossary entry for, 158 immediate requirements of, 165.1 measures employed by, 158.13
F
Farmer, Sarah
glossary entry for, 159
Tablets addressed to, 8.1, n.6 Formative Age, 85.13 France, 158.12, 158.13 Funds
glossary entry for, 159-60
See also National Fund
G
Germany
Americans collaborating with
publishing committee in, 156.1, 158.12 American support required in, 150.1,
152.1, 153.1 Baha'i literature for, 152.1, 158.13 persecution of Baha'is in Nazi, n.38 suffering of Baha'is during World War II, 148.1, n.77 Getsinger, Lua
burial of, 87.1, 101.1 glossary entry for, 160 G^Th^T^iShoghiEffendi), 134.1 Golden Age, 85.14 Greatest Holy Leaf. See Bahiyyih Khánum
Greatest Name, glossary entry for, 160 Greenleaf, Elizabeth
glossary entry for, 7619
passing of, 84.1 Guardianship
Administrative Order and, 64.6
glossary entry for, 160—61 Guatemala, 51.1, 57.3
H
Haiti, 51.1, 57.3
Hands of the Cause of God, glossary
entry for, 767 Hazíratu'1-Quds
glossary entry for, 767 in Wilmette, Illinois, 61.1, 70.3 Herald of the Faith. See Báb, the Heroic Age, Year Nine ushering in,
158.18 Hin
and Baha'u'llah's prophetic mission,
158.18 glossary entry for, 767 Hoagg, Emogene
glossary entry for, 762 passing of, 149.1 Holland, 158.13, n.88 Holy Family
glossary entry for, 762 See also particular members by name Honduras, 51.1 Hosts
glossary entry for, 762
See also Lord of Hosts
House of Worship (Wilmette)
Ahdu'1-Bahá consecrating, 66.1, 108.1 All-America Centennial Convention
at, 108.5, 125.5, 127.1 American participation in World War
II and completion of, 92.1 Bahiyyih Khánum Fund for, 44.1,
47.1, 65.1, 66.1 balancing teaching and construction
of, 46.1 cost of, 126.1 dome completed, 18.1 exterior completed, 104.1, 108.1, 108.2, 108.3, 109.1, 110.1, 116.1, 125.1, 125.5, 154.1, 158.15 and first Seven Year Plan, 94.1 First Story Construction Fund, 47.1

184
i«5
INDEX
INDEX

House of Worship (Wilmette) (continued) five steps for completion of, n.25, n.30 interior ornamentation of, 154.1, 158.9 lock of Baha'u'llah s hair beneath dome,
38.1, 109.1 Mírzá Mihdí (Purest Branch) and
Asíyih Khánum associated with,
66.1 National Baha'i Secretariat moved to,
57.1, 61.1 ornamentation of gallery section, 44.1,
47.1 ornamentation of main story complete,
86.1, 87.1, 90.1 plan to raise funds to complete first
story, 66.2, 67.1 resuming exterior ornamentation, 29.1 section of ornamentation presented to
Shoghi Effendi, 72.1, n.49 as unfinished task, 103.1 as virtually complete in 1941, 82.6,
85.2 World War II and expediting last stage
of ornamentation of, 74.1, 75.1 Husayn, Imam
the Bab's dream of, 158.19 glossary entry for, 162 Husayn Rabbání, 141.1
I Iberian Peninsula, 154.1, 158.12 India
Baha'i communities marveling at
American labors, 116.1 Local Assemblies formed in, 112.1,
121.1 national administrative headquarters
for, 112.1, 126.1, 144.1 number of Baha'i centers in 1944,
126.1 Six Year Plan, 144.1 teaching campaign affecting, 25.1 World War II as threat to Baha'i.
community, 135.1, 144.1 Inter-America Committee
admiration and gratitude for, 79.2 areas requiring attention of, 116.1 glossary entry for, 162 increasing number of believers and
establishing local head-
quarters as tasks for, 142.1, 143.1 testimonies to success of, 56.1 International Archives, glossary entry for,
162 International Baha'i Bureau
call for adjunct to, 156.1, 158.12 glossary entry for, 162-63 International Baha'i Relief Fund, 152.1,
n.79 International School
as accomplishment of first Seven Year
Plan, 158.15 establishment of, 70.3, n.48 glossary entry for, 163 Iran (Cradle of the Faith) Baha'i centers in', 121.1 Baha'i communities of, marveling at
American labors, 116.1 Baha'i schools closed in, 87.1 caution in admitting Persians to the
community, 136.1 historic sites purchased in, 126.1 persecution of Baha'is in, 77.1, n.38 pioneers from, 112.1 site for Temple purchased in, 126.1 teaching campaign affecting, 25.1 World War II as threat to Baha'i community of, 82.5, 91.1, 135.1, 144.1 Iraq
Baha'i communities of, marveling at
American labors, 116.1 Hazíratu'1-Quds in Baghdad, 87.1,
112.1, 126.1, 144.1 persecution of Baha'is in, n.38 teaching campaign affecting, 25.1 World War II as threat to Baha'i community of, 135.1, 144.1 'Ishqábád (Turkmenistan), 87.1, 108.1,
158.8, n.38 Islam, 16.1
Italy, 154.1, 158.12, 158.13, n.88 Ives, Mabel Rice-Wray glossary entry for, 163 passing of, 113.1
J
Jewry, 82.4
John the Divine, St., 158.18
Jordan Valley, 121.1, 122.1, 126.1, 144.1
K
Kaszab, Mathew
glossary entry for, 163
passing of, 105.1 Kheiralla, Ibrahim
defection of, 127.1, 158.26
glossary entry for, 163—64 King of Martyrs. See Muhammad-Hasan,
Mírzá Kítáb-i-Aqdas (Baha'u'llah)
Americans addressed by, 158.3
glossary entry for, 164
L
Latin America
accelerating teaching efforts in, 74.1,

75.1, 76.1, 78.1 at All-America Centennial Convention,
108.5, 109.1, 123.1, 125.5, 127.1 American Baha'is carrying Faith to,
79.1 American entry into World War II and
teaching campaign in, 90.1, 91.1,
92.1 an assembly for every republic in, 130.1 Baha'i literature for, 127.1, 130.1, 131.1,
135.2, 140.2, 158.8, 158.13, 158.15 consolidating pioneer work in, 81.1,
108.4, 118.1, 152.1 increasing number of assemblies in,
129.1, 158.8, 158.15 increasing number of pioneers required
for, 130.1, 145.1 Local Assemblies formed in, 95.1,
110.1, 125.1, 154.1 Mexico, 51.1
multiplying Baha'i centers in, 131.1 preserving newly established assemblies
in, 137.1 special convention of July 1944 for,
128.1, n.69 teaching campaign as yielding fruit in,
93.1 temple construction and crusade in,
47.2 See also Caribbean; Central America;
South America Lesch, Mary
glossary entry for, 164 passing of, 134.1
Lesser Peace, glossary entry for, 164
Letters of the Living, glossary entry for, 164
literature. See Baha'i literature
Local Spiritual Assemblies
criteria for forming, 114.1, 157.1 enabling groups in U.S. and Canada to
obtain status of, 158.8 in first Seven Year Plan, 36.1 increase in North and Latin America,
110.1, 158.15 maintaining recently-established, 135.2 number incorporated as of 1944, 126.1 in virgin areas of North America, 119.1
Lord of Hosts
glossary entry for, 165 See also Baha'u'llah
Low Countries, 154.1, 156.1, 158.13
Lua. See Getsinger, Lua
Lunt, Alfred E.
glossary entry for, 165 passing of, 32.1
Luxembourg, 156.1, n.88
M Magallanes (Punta Arenas) (Chile), 126.1,
142.1 Manifestation of God, glossary entry for,
165 Manitoba, 45.1, 48.1 marriages, Baha'i, 126.1, n.38 Mashriqu'1-Adhkár
established in Wilmette, 61.1, 70.3
glossary entry for, 165-66
Greatest Holy Leaf's burial place near future, 64.6
in Ishqábád, 87.1, 108.1, 158.9
See also House of Worship (Wilmette) Master
glossary entry for, 166
See also Abdu'1-Bahá Mathews, Mrs. Loulie, n.48 Maxwell, May
glossary entry for, 166
memorial dedicated, 111.1, n.65
passing of, 69.1, 70.2, 71.1 Maxwell, Sutherland, n.65 Mexico, 51.1 Middle East
American pioneers to, 87.1

186
i87
INDEX
INDEX

Middle East (continued) Syria, 87.1
. See also 'Akká; Egypt; Iran; Iraq Mihdí, Mírzá (Purest Branch)
Baháuiláh on, 64.9, 64.10, 64.11,
64.12 glossary entry for, 166 interment of, 65.1 remains of, transferred to Mt. Carmel,
63.1, 64.1, 64.2, 64.3, 144.1 Wilmette House of Worship associated with, 66.1 Moody, Susan
glossary entry for, 166 passing of, 13.1 Moses, 158.19 Most Exalted Leaf. S^Ásíyih Khánum;
Bahíyyih Khánum Most Great Festival. See Ridván Most Great Peace
American Baha is building first
tabernacle to, 154.1 glossary entry for, 167 Most Great Prison
glossary entry for, 167 See also Akká Most Holy Book. See Kltab-i-Aqdas Mother Temple of the West. See House of
Worship (Wilmette) Mount Carmel
glossary entry for, 167 land acquired on, 121.1, 144.1 Muhammad (prophet of Islam), 158.19 Muhammad Alí, Mírzá. See Archbreaker of
the Covenant Muhammad-Hasan, Mírzá (King of Martyrs) glossary entry for, 164 grandson marries Muslim, 132.1 Munírih Khánum
glossary entry for, 167 passing of, 39.1
N NabiTs Narrative (The Dawn-Breakers:
Nabil's Narrative of the Early Days of the Bahá *i Revelation) as essential adjunct of teaching
program, 2.1 study guide to, 8.1 National Baha í Secretariat, 57.1, 61.1, n.37
National Convention
delegates increased, 33.1
glossary entry for, 167
message from 1935, n.12
message from 1937, n.21
message from 1939, n.34
message to 1933, 9.1
message to 1934, 12.1
message to 1935, 14.1
message to 1936, 20.1
message to 1937, 29.1
message to 1938, 38.1
message to 1939, 52.1
message to 1940, 71.1
message to 1941, 81.1
message to 1942; 93.1
message to 1943, 109.1
message to 1944, 127.1
message to 1946, 154.1
recommendations for focus of 1940, 67.1 National Fund
importance of, 17.1
more resources required for, 99.1 National Spiritual Assemblies
for Canada, Central America, and South America, 154.1, 158.10
number of, 126.1, 158.10
San Francisco meeting of 1939, 62.1, n.42 National Teaching Committee, 46.1, 50.3,
145.1, 159.1 Nawáb. See Ásíyih Khánum Nazi Germany, persecution of Baha'is in,
n.38 Nebraska, n.66 Nevada, 45.1
New York City, n.37, n.4l, n.60 New Zealand, 116.1 Nicaragua, 51.1, 57.3, 116.1, 134.1 Nineteen Day Feast, glossary entry for, 168 Nominee of the Báb (Mírzá Yahyá),
glossary entry for, 168 North Africa, 77.1 North America
anchorage institutions established in every state and province, 51.1, 82.6, 158.15
Local Assemblies needed in virgin areas of, 119.1
new Local Assemblies in, 95.1
three-fold objective for, 143.1 See also Canada; United States
North Dakota, 116.1, n.66
Norway, n.88
Nova Scotia, 45.1, 48.1
O
outworn creeds, separation from, 16.1
P
Panama, 51.1, 134.1
Paraguay, 71.1, 116.1
patriotism, 7.1
Persia. oYHran
personality, subordination of, 8.1
Peru, 116.1
pilgrimage
glossary entry for, 168 to tombs of mother and brother of Abdu'1-Bahá, 64.8 Pillars of the Universal House of Justice. See National Spiritual Assemblies pioneers
Americans settling in Middle East, 87.1 call for immediate increase in settlers in
virgin areas, 107.1 challenges facing, 160.2 consolidating Latin American work of,
81.1 constant encouragement for, 155.1 debt of gratitude to, 125.4 efforts as befitting climax to first Baha'i
century, 98.1 establishing in each Central and South
American Republic, 70.3 for Europe, 156.1, 158.13, 159.1, 163.1,
165.1, n.86 ever-increasing number required, 143.1 five American Baha'is deputized for,
93.1 glossary entry for, 168 gratitude to, 49.1, 50.1, 164.1 imperative for multiplication of, 95.1,
96.1 increasing number of Latin American,
130.1, 145.1 magnificent response to appeal for, 102.1, 103.1
in most Central American Republics,
58.5 nine holy souls required for U.S. and
Canada, 45.1, 46.5 Persian, 112.1
progress as of December 1943, 120.1 as pushing farther the frontiers of the
Faith, 55.3 Shoghi Effendi desiring personal
contact with, 56.1 special support for, 57.3 supporting and assisting new groups
founded by, 79.2, 79.3 supremely urgent call for, 99.1 Plans
glossary entry for, 169 See also Divine Plan; Seven Year Plan (first); Seven Year Plan (second) political affairs, non-participation in, 7.1 Portugal, n.88
press, the, 135.2, 140.2, 158.13, 158.15 Prince Edward Island, 116.1, n.66 Punta Arenas (Magallanes) (Chile), 126.1,
142.1 Purest Branch. See Mihdí, Mírzá
Q
Qayyúmu'1-Asmá'
as directed to people of the West, 158.2 glossary entry for, 169
R
radio, 134.1, 135.2, 140.2, 158.13, 158.15 Ransom-Kehler, Mrs. Keith
debt of gratitude to, 70.2
glossary entry for, 169
passing of, 10.1 Regional Committees, glossary entry for,
169-70 religious conservatism, 160.2 religious fanaticism, 77.1 religious orthodoxy, 101.1 Revelation, glossary entry for, 170 Ridván, glossary entry for, 170 Root, Martha
glossary entry for, 170
in Latin America, 51.1, n.47
passing of, 60.1, 70.2
path for intercontinental crusade broken by, 71.1
189
INDEX
INDEX

S
Sádhij, 64.4
San Domingo, 116.1, 134.1 Saskatchewan, 116.1, n.66 Scandinavia, 154.1, 158.12, 158.13 Schopflocher, Siegfried (Fred)
conveying message on Local Spiritual
Assemblies, 29.1, n.22 donation for exterior ornamentation of
Wilmette Temple, n.25 glossary entry for, 170 Secondary Houses of Justice, 158.10 Seven Year Plan (first)
all should arise in participation in, 34.1 and American entry into World War II,
90.1 at beginning of fifth year, 81.1 at beginning of fourth year, 70.1, 70.3,
70.5 Central and South America in, 46.2,
58.5 as consummating first fifty years of
American Baha'i community, 124.1 and consummation of first stage of
Divine Plan, 158.6 as crowning crusade of first Baha'i
century, 116.1 the eleventh hour of, 110.1 at end of first year, 37.1 at end of second year, 51.1 as exceeding highest expectations, 82.6 expansion activities inspired by, 121.1 initial phase of teaching work concluded, 50.2, 51.1 last phase beginning, 93.1 Mírzá Mihdí (Purest Branch) and
Ásíyih Khánum associated with,
65.1 in perspective of Baha'i history, 94.1 progressive unfoldment of, 40.1 as setting seal of triumph on centenary
celebrations, 131.1 as success despite World War II, 144.1,
158.15 vigorous progress of, 47.1 vital requirements of, 36.1 world events investing with urgency,
42.1 Seven Year Plan (second)
achievements of first Seven Year Plan as
goal for, 158.16
administrative actions for expediting,
155.1 and centenary of Year Nine, 154.1,
158.18 concentrating resources on, 158 Europe in, 154.1, 156.1, 158.7, 158.11,
158.12, 160.1 forces mysteriously released by, 163.1 as God-given mandate, 158.1, 158.2 inauguration of, 154.1 initial success of, 160.3, 162.1 vigor, vigilance, and consecration required for, 160.1 Seven Year Plan (third), 154.1, 158.21 Shaheed, Moneeb, 132.1 Shoghi Effendi
glossary entry for, 171 God Passes By, 134.1 marriage of, n.20 shrines, glossary entry for, 171 Six Year Plan (India), 144.1 Síyáh-Chál (Tihrán)
Baha'u'llah's prophetic mission revealed
in, 154.1, 158.18, 158.20 glossary entry for, 171 Sohrab, Ahmad
Administrative Order attacked by, 85.4,
158.26 glossary entry for, 171 South America
administrative structure.emerging in,
82.6 Bahia, Brazil, 79.2 Bolivia, 116.1, 134.1 Buenos Aires, Argentina, 79.2, 158.15 Colombia, 71.1
establishing Baha'i centers in each Republic of, 70.3, 126.1, 144.1, n.66 first Seven Year Plan and, 46.2, 58.5 Magallanes, Chile, 126.1, 142.1 maintaining outposts of the Faith in,
112.1 National Spiritual Assembly for, 154.1,
158.10 Paraguay, 71. K 116.1 Peru, 116.1
three-fold objective for, 143.1 Venezuela, 116.1, 134.1 World War II affecting, 82.3 South Carolina, 45.1, 116.1, n.66
South Dakota, 116.1, n.66 Spain, n.88 Spiritual Assemblies
glossary entry for, 170—71
See also Local Spiritual Assemblies; National Spiritual Assemblies Stearns, John P.
glossary entry for, 172
passing of, 133.1 Study Guide to "The Dawn-Breakers,"
Nabil s Narrative of the Early Days of The Bahá / Revelation, A,%.\ Sweden, n.88 Switzerland, 156.1, n.88 Sydney (Australia), 121.1, 126.1, 144.1 Syria, 87.1
T
Tablet of Carmel
and burial of Asíyih Khánum, Bahíyyih
Khánum, and Mírzá Mihdí on Mt.
Carmel, 64.6 glossary entry for, 172 Tablets of the Divine Plan
American Assembly invested with
unique responsibilities and
privileges, 22.1 American Baha'is armed with, 58.5 as Charter of the Plan, 158.4 first Seven Year Plan and, 37.1, 82.6 glossary entry for, 172 historic appeal of, 20.1 on mission of American Baha'is, 158.17 revelation of, n.18 Sohrab and, 158.26 on traveling to promote the Divine
teachings, 158.23 teaching campaign
accelerating due to progress in Temple
construction, 45.1 and American entry into World War II,
90.1, 91.1 balancing Temple construction and,
46.1 at beginning of 1944, 121.1 gratitude expressed for exertions in,
20.1 initial phase concluded, 50.2, 51.1 intensifying after completion of
Temple, 86.1, 87.1, 96.1 intensifying a thousandfold, 22.1
in most Central and South American
Republics, 71.1 Nabil's Narrative in, 2.1 phase of concentrated, as truly
providential, 19.1 progress of, 26.1, 31.1, 120.1 systematic plan for, 21.1 in twofold task of American Baha'is,
29.1 as yielding fruit in Latin America, 93.1 Twin Founders
glossary entry for, 172 See also Báb, the; Baha'u'llah Twin Holy Shrines, glossary entry for, 172
U
United States
Alaska, 45.1, 116.1, n.66
Delaware, 45.1, 48.1
enabling groups to obtain Local Assembly status, 158.8
Nebraska, n.66
North Dakota, 116.1, n.66
pioneers required for, 45.1, 46.5
South Carolina, 45.1, 116.1, n.66
South Dakota, 116.1, n.66
Utah, 45.1, 48.1
Vermont, 45.1
West Virginia, 45.1
See also American Baha'i community Universal House of Justice
and Administrative Order, 64.6
glossary entry for, 172—73
international elections required for, 158.10 Utah, 45.1, 48.1
V
Venezuela, 116.1, 134.1
Vermont, 45.1
voting, necessity of, 15.1
w
West Englewood, New Jersey, n.37
West Indies, 125.1
West Virginia, 45.1
Will and Testament of Abdu'1-Bahá,
glossary entry for, 173 Wilmette House of Worship. See House of
Worship (Wilmette)

190
191
INDEX
world Mission
American Baha is in expansion and
consolidation of, 85.2 first Seven Year Plan and, 94.1 moving Secretariat to Wilmette and,
57.2 official inauguration of, 56.1 second stage in, 143.1 succeeding stage in evolution of, 135.1 World Order of Baha u'llafi
administrative centers constituting
nuclei of, 146.5, 158.8 Administrative Order as nucleus and
pattern of, 158.14 American Baha'is in building of, 6.1,
55.4, 58.4, 154.1 building amidst wreckage of World War
II, 144.1 glossary entry for, 173 loyalty to, 43.1
opposition to emergence of, 85.13 publicizing, 108.5 World War II and emergence of, 74.1,
75.1, 77.1, 83.1 World War II
American participation in, 90.1, 91.1,
135.1 as anger and correction of God, 82.1 Baha i centenary celebrations contrasted with, 135.1 Baha i Faith affected by, 82.5
bearing all, daring all during, 76.1 at beginning of 1944, 121.1 cessation of hostilities in Asia, 147.1 cessation of hostilities in Europe,
144.1, 146.1 in Europe, 82.2 as focusing attention on Western
Hemisphere, 70.2 and the New World, 82.3 Pearl Harbor, 88.1 religion affected by, 82.4 and World Order of Baha u'llafi, 74.1,
75.1, 77.1, 83.1
Y
Yahyá, Mírzá (Nominee of the Báb),
glossary entry for, 168 Year Nine
glossary entry for, 173 second Seven Year Plan and centenary of, 154.1, 158.18 youth
Baha'i symposiums for, 158.15 service on committees by, 138.1
Z
Zamenhof, Lidia
glossary entry for, 174
passing of, 151.1, n.78 Zoroaster, 158.19
192