Ministry of the Custodians

Ruhiyyih Khanum, telephoned me on the evening of November 4th, of the great calamity which had stricken the Bahá'í world, in the passing of our dearly beloved Guardian, in London, during the early morning hours of November 4th.

During our conversation it was decided I would remain in Haifa and take all precautions to protect the Holy Places, the Guardian's apartment, where all his records were kept, and the Faith from attack by the enemies of the Faith here.

The following actions were taken:

1. The Guardian's apartment and office had been locked, so no one could enter it during his absence. We assured ourselves that it was carefully locked, and barriers were placed in front of the door so no one could enter. We then locked and put iron bars across the door to the entrance of the living quarters. These iron bars were padlocked. All the keys to the apartment were then sealed in an envelope, which envelope was signed by Sylvia Ioas Jessie Revell, Ethel Revell and Leroy Ioas and placed in the safe of my office, in such a way that if the envelope was tampered with in any way, it would be seen immediately.

We then arranged for the Guardian's trusted servant to sleep outside the doors of the apartment and office; likewise another trusted servant to sleep at the foot of the steps, so no one could gain access to the area.

During the daytime, we maintained extra Bahá'ís in the building, so no access could be gained.

2. The Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh was guarded night and day, and one of the Bahá'ís slept in the Shrine each night.

3. The same action was taken with regard to the Shrine of the Bab.

4. The same action was taken with regard to the Mansion at Bahji.

The sealing of the Guardian's apartment and office was done in the presence of the four members of the International Council here, who have signed this document, in attestation thereof.

The envelope in which the keys to the apartment were sealed, is attached.

Leroy C. Ioas

[Signed as follows]
Leroy Ioas
Sylvia Ioas
Ethel Revell
Jessie Revell

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HANDS IN THE HOLY LAND
OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Haifa, Israel
November 15, 1957

Allah-u-Abha!

Ruhiyyih Khanum, Mr. Remey, Mrs. Collins, Dr. Giachery, and Mr. Ioas, arrived from Lydda airport about 10:50 a.m. November 15th, from the funeral of the dearly beloved Guardian.

The five Hands of the Cause, named above, then secured the sealed envelope with the keys to the Guardian's apartment, opened it, and proceeded to enter the apartment, at 11:10 a.m.

We immediately proceeded to the safe where sacred documents were preserved, and the logical place where the Will of the beloved Guardian would be kept.

The safe was sealed with tape, which was signed by all Hands and then countersigned, and then sealed with sealing wax, on the upper and lower doors of the safe. This was completed at 11:15 a.m.

The keys of the safe were then placed in an envelope which was sealed with sealing wax, and signed by the Hands. This was done immediately, and delivered to the Guardian's Assistant Secretary, Mr. Leroy Ioas, Hand of the Faith, who placed it in the safe in his office.

As an additional measure of precaution, the drawers of the desk of the Guardian were sealed, and the seals countersigned. This was concluded at 12:07 p.m.

The five Hands of the Faith who were present at all times sign this document in attestation thereto.

[Signed as follows]

Ruhiyyih Mason Remey Amelia E. Collins

Ugo Giachery Leroy C. Ioas

PRESS RELEASE IN THE JERUSALEM POST "BAHA'I 'HANDS' MEET FOR OBSEQUIES"

Haifa, Monday
November 18, 1957

A memorial ceremony for His Eminence Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, World Head of the Bahá'í Faith, who died in London on November 4, was

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held this afternoon at the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, world centre of the Bahá'í Faith, north of Acre. The ceremony was held at 2 p.m. corresponding to the exact hour of the interment of the Guardian of the Faith in London. Memorial services are being hold by national and local Bahá'í assemblies in all parts of the world today.

Twenty-six of the 27 'Hands' of the Bahá'í Faith throughout the world arrived yesterday to take part in the service.

The "Hands of the Cause", as the elders of the Faith are called, have come from five continents. They include one who knew Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith; an 88-year-old woman from Australia, who had to travel with her nurse; the only Negro "Hand", who comes from the Cameroons in Africa; and others from Britain, the Americas, Japan, Indonesia, Australia, Iran, Germany, Italy, Uganda, Rhodesia and the Union of South Africa.

Messages of condolence continue to arrive at the International Bahá'í Council from all parts of the world, from government heads, educators and people from all walks of life.

HANDS IN THE HOLY LAND
OFFICIAL STATEMENT

Haifa, Israel
November 19, 1957

Allah-u-Abha!

This morning immediately after 9:00 a.m. we, the five Hands of the Cause assigned to service at the World Centre of the Faith, Ruhiyyih Khanum, Mason Remey, Amelia E. Collins, Ugo Giachery, and Leroy Ioas as well as Hands of the Cause Hasan Balyuzi, a member of the Afnan family, Mr. Horace Holley, representing the believers of the Western Hemisphere, Musa Banani; representing the believers of the African continent, and Dr. 'Ali-Muhammad Varqa Trustee of the beloved Guardian, representing also the Asian continent, (totaling to, ' the number of Baha) have met, in order to open the Guardian's safe and desk [and] search for a Will and Testament if one was executed by Shoghi Effendi.

They found that the seals placed on the safe by the five Hands in the Holy Land were intact and untouched; and similarly the seals containing the keys to the safe were intact and untouched and similarly that the sealed desk was intact.

The undersigned nine Hands of the Cause, appointed by the first

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Guardian, Shoghi Effendi each in the presence of the others, do hereby individually and collectively certify to the following:

That the safe and desk have been opened and searched and the non existence of a Will and Testament executed by Shoghi Effendi was definitely established.

[Signed as follows]

Ruhiyyih Mason Remey Amelia E. Collins

Ugo Giachery Leroy C. Ioas Hasan M. Balyuzi

Horace Holley M.B. [Musa Banani] Dr. A. Vargha

UNANIMOUS PROCLAMATION OF THE 27 HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahji, 'Akka, Israel
November 25, 1957

We the undersigned:

Ruhiyyih Rabbani
Charles Mason Remey (who is President of the International Bahá'í Council)
Amelia E. Collins (who is Vice President of the International Bahá'í Council)
Leroy C. Ioas (who is Secretary General of the International Bahá'í Council)
Dr. Ugo Giachery, (who is member-at-large of the International Bahá'í Council and Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Switzerland)
Hasan M. Balyuzi (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles)
Shoaullah Ala'i (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran)
Ali Akbar Furutan (who is Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran)
Zikrullah Khadem (who is Treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran)
Dr. Ali Mohammad Varqa (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Iran)
Tarazu'llah Samandari (who is a resident of Shiraz, Iran)
Djalal Khazeh (who is a resident of Teheran, Iran)

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John Ferraby (who is Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles
Paul E. Haney (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States)
Horace Holley (who is Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States)
Abul Qasim F. Teherani
Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Germany and Austria)
Dr. Hermann Grossmann (who is a resident of Neckargemind, Germany)
Musa Banani (who is a resident of Kampala, Uganda)
William Sears (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South and West Africa)
John Robarts, (who is Recording Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South and West Africa)
Enoch Olinga, (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of North West Africa)
Agnes Alexander (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of North East Asia)
H. Collis Featherstone (who is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia)
Clara Dunn (who is a resident of Sydney, Australia)
Dr. Rahmatu'llah Mohajer (who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of South-East Asia)

in our capacity as Hands of the Cause of God duly nominated and appointed by the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, assembled this 25th of November, 1957 at the Bahá'í World Centre and constituting the supreme body of the Bahá'í World Community

DO HEREBY UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVE AND PROCLAIM AS FOLLOWS:

WHEREAS THE Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, passed away in London (England) on the 4th of November, 1957, without having appointed his successor;

AND WHEREAS it is now fallen upon us as Chief Stewards of the Bahá'í World Faith to preserve the unity, the security and the development of the Bahá'í World Community and all its institutions;

AND WHEREAS in accordance with the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá) "the Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the Guardian of the Cause of God";

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We nominate and appoint from our own number to act on our behalf as the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith

Ruhiyyih Rabbani
Charles Mason Remey
Amelia E. Collins
Leroy C. Ioas
Hasan Balyuzi
'Ali-Akbar Furutan
Jalal Khazeh
Paul E. Haney
Adelbert Muhlschlegel

to exercise-subject to such directions and decisions as may be given from time to time by us as the Chief Stewards of the Bahá'í World Faith-all such functions, rights and powers in succession to the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, as are necessary to serve the interests of the Bahá'í World Faith, and this until such time as the Universal House of Justice, upon being duly established and elected in conformity with the Sacred Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, may otherwise determine.

[Signed as follows]

Ruhiyyih Rabbani	Zikrullah Khadem	M.B. Musa Banani
Charles Mason Remey	Ali Mohammad Varqa	William Sears
Amelia E. Collins	T. Samandari	John Robarts
Leroy C. Ioas	Djalal Khazeh	Enoch Olinga
Ugo Giachery	John Ferraby	Agnes B. Alexander
Hasan M. Balyuzi	Paul E. Haney	H. Collis Featherstone
Shoaullah Alai	Horace Holley	Clara Dunn
Ali Akbar Furutan	Abul Qasim F. Teherani	Dr. R. Mohajer
Hermann Grossmann	Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel

AFFIDAVIT

Wilmette, Illinois
United States of America,
November 30, 1957

The undersigned, Corinne True, being one of the twenty-seven Hands of the Cause of God, duly nominated and appointed by the Guardian of

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the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, having been prevented by the state of my health, to attend personally the meeting of the Hands of the Cause of God held in the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahji in 'Akka, on the twenty-fifth of November, 1957, declare to be in full agreement with the above resolution, and I am joining my signature thereto.

[Signed as follows]
Corinne True

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 30th; day of November, 1957.

[Signed as follows]
Sophie Loeding
Notary Public

My commission expires September 27, 1959

UNANIMOUS CERTIFICATION

Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahji 'Akka, Israel
November 25, 1957

We, the undersigned Hands of the Cause of God, assembled at the Bahá'í World Centre, certify that by unanimous action we have constituted a body of nine Hands to serve the interests of the Bahá'í World Faith at its World Centre in order to carry on from this Centre the provisions of the World Bahá'í Crusade and to discharge there our responsibility of protecting and propagating the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh.

We further certify that the body consists of the following persons:

Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum Charles Mason Remey

Amelia E. Collins Leroy Ioas

Hasan Balyuzi 'Ali-Akbar Furutan

Jalal Khazeh Paul E. Haney

Adelbert Muhlschlegel ¹

We further certify that by unanimous action we have appointed Ugo

1 As it proved inexpedient for Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel to serve as a Hand of the Cause in Israel, Abu'l-Qasim Faizi, was chosen in his place.

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Giachery, as alternate member authorized to fill any temporary vacancy that might arise from time to time. [Signed as follows]

Ruhiyyih Agnes B. Alexander

Mason Remey Zikrullah Khadem

Leroy C. Ioas Hermann Grossmann

Sh. Alai John Ferraby

A. Q. Faizi R. Mohajer

Jalal Khazeh A. Vargha

Paul E. Haney A. Furutan

Horace Holley William Sears

John Robarts Enoch Olinga

Hasan M. Balyuzi Adelbert Muhlschlegel

T. Samandari M.B. [Musa Banani]

Ugo Giachery H. Collis Featherstone

Clara Dunn Amelia E. Collins

[Corinne True by affidavit]

RESOLUTION OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD
PASSED AT THEIR MEETING AT THE BAHA'I WORLD CENTRE

Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahji, 'Akka, Israel
November 25,1957

The following principles shall apply to the relations between the Hands of the Cause of God and the nine Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith and to the activities of the said Custodians:

1. The Hands of the Cause shall have their meetings at least once a year, and the time and place of their meetings shall be determined by the Custodians, who shall be responsible for convocation of such meetings.
2. The Hands of the Cause shall have the full authority to introduce such changes in the composition of the Custodians, to substitute Custodians by others from their own number, to resolve upon such alterations in functions, rights and powers of the Custodians and to give such directions to the Custodians as the Hands of the Cause in their free discretion may decide.
3. The quorum of the meetings of the Hands of the Cause shall be a simple majority of their number, and any resolution adopted by majority of the Hands attending such meetings shall be deemed to have been validly passed by the Hands of the Cause.

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4. The quorum of the meetings of the Custodians shall be five, and any decision adopted by the majority of the Custodians attending such meetings shall be deemed to have been validly passed by the Custodians.
5. Dr. Ugo Giachery, is appointed as alternate Custodian authorized to fill any temporary vacancy that may arise in the body of the Custodians.
6. In the event of any vacancy occurring in the composition of the Custodians, the remaining Custodians shall have the duty and the power to fill the vacancy temporarily up to the next meeting of the Hands of the Cause by appointing one of the Hands of the Cause to act as a Custodian.
7. The Custodians, in addition to their other functions, shall administer all the properties, assets and accounts belonging to the World Bahá'í Community (other than those belonging to various National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies or Bahá'í local bodies) and shall be entitled to appoint two or more of their midst to operate the bank accounts, to receive and withdraw moneys, to represent the Custodians in any dealings and transactions generally or for any specific purpose and to execute and sign any documents in connection therewith.
8. In all their dealings with the Israel Government and any local authorities in Israel the Custodians shall act through the Bahá'í International Council, who shall act in accordance with the instructions of the Custodians.
9. The Custodians shall be deemed to succeed the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, in Palestine or Israel Branches of National Spiritual Assemblies of various countries, which are registered in Israel, and the Custodians may nominate one or more persons to act on their behalf in any such Israel Branches.

Completed, sealed and signed on this 25th day of November, 1957.

[Signed as follows]

Ruhiyyih Rabbani Agnes B. Alexander

Mason Remey Zikrullah Khadem

Amelia E. Collins Abul Qasim F. Teherani

Leroy C. Ioas Djalal Khazeh

Ugo Giachery Hermann Grossmann

Hasan M. Balyuzi Enoch Olinga

Horace Holley Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel

M.B. Musa Banani John Robarts

Ali Akbar Furutan Clara Dunn

Shoaullah Alai H. Collis Featherstone

Ali Mohammad Varqa Paul Haney

Dr. R. Mohajer William Sears

John Ferraby Tarazu'llah Samandari

[Corinne True by affidavit] inadvertently unsigned]

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RESOLUTION OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahji, 'Akka, Israel
November 25, 1957

We the undersigned Hands of the Cause hereby record the following action taken in unanimous agreement:

1. That the body of nine Hands of the Cause already constituted shall exercise these functions, namely, to correspond with the National Spiritual Assemblies on matters related to the prosecution of the Guardian's Ten Year Plan; to assist the National Assemblies in the solution of administrative problems by citing passages in Bahá'í literature which clarify the nature of these problems; to act for the protection of the Faith whenever its teachings or institutions or properties are assailed by enemies from within the Bahá'í Community or outside its ranks;
2. That the Council shall represent the Faith in all matters related to the Israeli Government and its courts;
3. The nine Hands to reinforce the membership of the International Bahá'í Council through the addition of the five Hands among the nine Hands not already members of the Council;
4. That the entire body of the Hands of the Cause, meeting annually or whenever convened by the nine Hands, shall determine when and how the International Bahá'í Council shall pass through the successive stages outlined by Shoghi Effendi culminating in the election of the Universal House of Justice;
5. That the nine Hands serving at the Bahá'í World Centre shall maintain correspondence with the Hands stationed in the several continents on all matters related to their work of propagating the Faith and defending it from attack, coordinating and encouraging their efforts;
6. That the authority to expel violators from the Faith shall be vested in the body of nine Hands, acting on reports and recommendations submitted by Hands from their respective continents.
7. The Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land may, if necessary, call upon any of the Hands to fill a vacancy temporarily.

[Signed as follows]

Ruhiyyih Rabbani Zikrullah Khadem

Mason Remey A. Q. Faizi

Amelia E. Collins Ugo Giachery

Leroy C. Ioas Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel

Hasan M. Balyuzi Djalal Khazeh

Horace Holley Hermann Grossmann

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M.B. [Musa Banani] John Robarts

A. Furutan Enoch Olinga

Dr. R. Mohajer Ali Mohammad Varqa

Sh. Alai H. Collis Featherstone

John Ferraby William Sears

T. Samandari Paul Haney

Agnes B. Alexander Clara Dunn

[Corinne True by affidavit]

PROCLAMATION

FIRST CONCLAVE
THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE
NOVEMBER 18 - NOVEMBER 25,1957

To the Bahá'ís of East and West
Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahji, 'Akka, Israel
November 25,1957

Beloved Friends:

Nine days had not yet elapsed after the interment of the sacred remains of our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi in London, when the Hands of the Cause, to the number of twenty-six, assembled at the World Centre of the Faith, in our capacity as "Chief Stewards of the embryonic World Commonwealth of Bahá'u'lláh", to consult together on the most tragic situation facing the Bahá'ís since the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and to take all necessary and appropriate measures to safeguard the highest interests of our Faith.

On November 18th the Hands conducted a Memorial Meeting at Bahji, in the Haram-i-Aqdas surrounding the most sacred Shrine in the Bahá'í world, afterward entering the Holy Tomb itself and prostrating ourselves in utter humility at the Sacred Threshold.

On the following morning, November 19th, nine Hands of the Cause, selected from the Holy Land, and the several continents of East and West, with (Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, broke the seals placed upon the beloved Guardian's safe and desk and made careful examination of their precious contents. These same Hands, rejoining the other Hands assembled in the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh at Bahji, certified that Shoghi Effendi had left no Will and Testament. It was likewise certified that the beloved Guardian had left no heir. The Aghsan (branches) one and all are either dead or have been declared violators of the Covenant by the Guardian

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for their faithlessness to the Master's Will and Testament and their hostility to him named first Guardian in that sacred document.

The first effect of the realization that no successor to Shoghi Effendi could have been appointed by him was to plunge the Hands of the Cause into the very abyss of despair. What must happen to the world community of his devoted followers if the Leader, the Inspirer, the Planner of all Bahá'í activities in all countries and islands of the seas could no longer fulfil his unique mission?

From this dark abyss, however, contemplation of the Guardian's own life of complete sacrifice and his peerless services gradually redeemed our anguished hearts. Shoghi Effendi himself, we knew, would have been the first to remind the Hands, and the widespread body of the believers, that the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh has quickened those powers and resources of faith within mankind which will achieve the unity of the peoples and the triumph of His World Order. In this new light of understanding the company of the Hands could perceive with heightened gratitude the existence of those innumerable blessings which Shoghi Effendi had created and left as his true legacy to all Bahá'ís.

Has not the World Centre, with its sacred Shrines and institutions, been firmly established? Has not the Message been established in 254 countries and dependencies? Have not the National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies, forerunners of the Universal House of Justice, been implanted in twenty-six great areas of all continents? Has not the Guardian left us not only his incomparable translations for English-reading Bahá'ís of the Bahá'í Sacred Literature but also his own master works of interpretation which disclose to us the unshatterable edifice of an evolving Bahá'í Order and world community? Has not the Guardian, building upon the enduring foundation of the Master's Tablets of the Divine Plan, created the World Crusade to guide our work until 1963?

Has not the Guardian, moreover, in his mysterious insight into the present and future needs of the Bahá'í community, called into being the International Bahá'í Council and the company of twenty-seven Hands with their Auxiliary Boards, whom, in his final communication to the Bahá'ís he designated "Chief Stewards of the embryonic World Commonwealth of Bahá'u'lláh"?

Such reflections cannot but, in such a world-shattering experience as all Bahá'ís have this month endured, reveal to us how strongly Shoghi Effendi has laid the foundations of the World Order of Bahá'u'lláh through the appointment of Hands of the Cause and likewise the appointment of the International Bahá'í Council, the institution destined to evolve into the Universal House of Justice.

In our capacity of Chief Stewards of the embryonic World Commonwealth

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of Bahá'u'lláh, we Hands of the Cause have constituted a body of nine Hands to serve at the Bahá'í World Centre. This body of nine Hands will energetically deal with the protection of the Faith whenever attacks, whether from within or outside the Bahá'í community, are reported by Hands from their areas or by National or Regional Assemblies or whether they arise within the Holy Land. Correspondence will likewise be maintained with the Hands of the Cause working in the several continents. This same body will correspond with National Assemblies on matters connected with the prosecution of the objectives of the Ton Year Plan. On matters involving administrative questions this same body will assist National Assemblies by citing those passages of the Bahá'í Sacred Literature which direct the Assemblies to a sound solution.

As to the International Bahá'í Council, appointed by the Guardian and heralded in his communications to the Bahá'í world, that body will in the course of time finally fulfil its purpose through the formation of the Universal House of Justice, that Supreme Body upon which infallibility, as the Master's Testament assures us, is divinely conferred: "The source of all good and freed from all error." The main work of the Council has been to act as the Guardian's representative in matters involving the Israeli Government and its courts of law.

Beloved friends! Is not the most precious legacy bequeathed to us all by Shoghi Effendi the privilege of constancy in the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh and devotion in teaching His Message? This is the heartfelt plea we direct to every Bahá'í; The hour has come, as it came with the passing of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, when true Bahá'ís will be distinguished by their firmness in the Covenant and their spiritual radiance while pressing forward the mighty work committed to every area of the world community-to every individual Bahá'í For now our implacable opponents may, and probably will, unleash attacks, assuming in their ignorance that the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh is weakened and defenseless. By consecration of spirit we are armed against all manner of assault and we hold the weapon of Faith with which the triumph of the Guardian's aims and purposes is assured.

The Hands of the Cause, determined to carry out every aspect of the Guardian's expressed wishes and hopes, call upon the National Assemblies to proceed with the holding of the Intercontinental Conferences which Shoghi Effendi has planned for 1958, and make each of them a great rallying-point of determination to achieve the tasks of the next phase of the World Crusade. We are, moreover, to keep ever before us the other tasks fixed in the Ten Year Plan as objectives to be won by 1963.

Meanwhile the entire body of the Hands, assembled by the nine Hands of the World Centre, will decide when and how the International Bahá'í

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Council is to evolve through the successive stages outlined by the Guardian, culminating in the call to election of the Universal House of Justice by the membership of all National Spiritual Assemblies.

When that divinely ordained Body comes into existence, all the conditions of the Faith can be examined anew and the measures necessary for its future operation determined in consultation with the Hands of the Cause.

"O God, my God! Shield Thy trusted servants from the evils of self and passion, protect them with the watchful eye of Thy loving-kindness from all rancour, hate and envy, shelter them in the impregnable stronghold of Thy care and, safe from the darts of doubtfulness, make them the manifestations of Thy glorious Signs, illumine their faces with the effulgent rays shed from the Dayspring of Thy Divine Unity, gladden their hearts with the verses revealed from Thy Holy Kingdom, strengthen their loins by Thine all-swaying power that cometh from Thy Realm of Glory. Thou art the All-Bountiful, the Protector, the Almighty, the Gracious."

"0 ye that stand fast in the Covenant! When the hour cometh that this wronged and broken winged bird will have taken its flight unto the Celestial Concourse, when it will have hastened to the Realm of the Unseen and its mortal frame will have been either lost or hidden neath the dust, it is incumbent upon the Afnan, that are steadfast in the Covenant of God, and have branched from the Tree of Holiness; the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God (the glory of the Lord rest upon them), and all the friends and loved ones, one and all to bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul and in one accord, to diffuse the sweet savours of God, to teach His Cause and to promote His Faith. It behoveth them not to rest for a moment, neither to seek repose. They must disperse themselves in every land, pass by every clime and travel throughout all regions. Bestirred, without rest and steadfast to the end they must raise in every land the triumphal cry '0 Thou the Glory of Glories!' (Ya Baha'u'l-Abha), must achieve renown in the world wherever they go, must burn brightly even as a candle in every meeting and must kindle the flame of Divine love in every assembly; that the light of truth may rise resplendent in the midmost heart of the world, that throughout the East and throughout the West a vast concourse may gather under the shadow of the Word of God, that the sweet savours of holiness may be diffused, that faces may shine radiantly, hearts be filled with the Divine spirit and souls be made heavenly.

"In these days, the most important of all things is the guidance of the nations and peoples of the world. Teaching the Cause is of utmost importance for it is the head corner-stone of the foundation itself. This wronged servant has spent his days and nights in promoting the Cause and urging the peoples to service. He rested not a moment, till the fame of the Cause

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of God was noised abroad in the world and the celestial strains from the Abha Kingdom roused the East and the West. The beloved of God must also follow the same example. This is the secret of faithfulness, this is the requirement of servitude to the Threshold of Bahá!"

Devotedly, in service to the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh,

[Signed as follows]

Ruhiyyih Rabbani Dr. R. Mohajer

Mason Remey Dr. A. Vargha

Amelia E. Collins John Ferraby

Leroy C. Ioas Hermann Grossmann

Hasan M. Balyuzi Zikrullah Khadem

T. Samandari Agnes B. Alexander

M.B. [Musa Banani] Jalal Khazeh

Adelbert Muhlschlegel A. Q. Faizi

John Robarts Sh. Alai

Horace Holley H. Collis Featherstone

Enoch Olinga Clara Dunn

William Sears Ugo Giachery

A. Furutan Paul Haney

[Corinne True by affidavit]

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE WORLD CENTRE OF THE BAHA'I FAITH

November 1957

The Hands of the Bahá'í Faith, an institution established by Bahá'u'lláh, its Founder, and designated as its Chief Stewards, who number twenty-seven and represent the five continents of the globe, after a meeting at the World Centre of the Faith, announce that they have elected nine of their members to conduct and protect the affairs of the Faith from its World Centre.

This body of nine will maintain the Bahá'í Shrines and Holy Places in 'Akka, and Haifa, which His Eminence, the late Shoghi Rabbani, World Head of the Faith, had made into beauty spots of the Mediterranean area, and continue their expansion. They will coordinate all the activities of Bahá'í Communities in over two hundred and fifty countries and islands of the world, and will carry forward all the plans outlined by him for its expansion and development, including the holding of the five Intercontinental Conferences which he scheduled for 1958 in Kampala, Uganda; Sydney, Australia; Chicago, United States; Frankfurt, Germany; and Djakarta, Indonesia.

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They will also see that the two Bahá'í Houses of Worship in Africa and Australia, work on which was begun under the direction of the late Head of the Faith, are completed; and that the third one, contemplated for Europe, is built. It will be their responsibility to see that the National and Regional Bahá'í Assemblies, which under his ministry grew in number from two to twenty-six, and which at the present time represent more than 4,500 Bahá'í Centres, are steadily increased.

The names of the body of nine elected to fulfil these responsibilities from the World Centre are as follows: Ruhiyyih Rabbani, Charles Mason Remey, Amelia Collins, Leroy Ioas Hasan Balyuzi, 'Ali-Akbar Furutan; Jalal Khazeh Paul Haney and Adelbert Muhlschlegel.

To All National Spiritual Assemblies
December 2,1957

Dear Bahá'í Friends:

We send to your Assembly our most cordial greetings in this first letter to you from the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land, and assure you of our determination to exert every effort for the protection of the Cause of God and the propagation of the Faith according to the beloved Guardian's Ten Year Plan.

The purpose of our letter is to enlist your aid to facilitate the legal recognition of this body. We enclose a photostat of a legal document signed by the 26 Hands of the Cause present at the Conference in the Mansion of Bahji setting this body up to act on behalf of the Hands generally, under the legal title "The Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith".

Our lawyer advises us that we should also obtain from each National Assembly a letter recognizing us as the supreme body in the Cause, and this letter should include the following sentence: "We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause." We therefore ask you please to arrange by whatever means is most suited to the conditions of working of your Assembly for a resolution to this effect to be passed without delay, and incorporated in a letter to be sent immediately to the Holy Land under the Assembly's seal, signed by its Chairman and Secretary, or in their absence, by officers authorized to act for them. The many legal negotiations we have to conduct concerning properties at the World Centre and elsewhere make speed in sending this letter of recognition vitally important, and we are confident that all National Assemblies will cooperate by seeing that the action is taken at once.

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The names of the nine Hands residing in the Holy Land are on the photostat enclosed; they have been empowered to call upon any of the other Hands to serve temporarily as a substitute for one who is unable to serve in the Holy Land for the time being. Please keep the photostat in a safe place, but we ask you not to display it or give it general currency, since circulating this in addition to the Proclamation of the Hands might cause confusion.

We send your Assembly and Community every good wish for success in all you do to further the Cause of God.

With Bahá'í love,

[Signed as follows]

Ruhiyyih	A. Furutan	Leroy C. Ioas
Amelia E. Collins	Jalal Khazeh	John Ferraby
Mason Remey	Adelbert Muhlschlegel	Ugo Giachery

P.S. All correspondence should be addressed from now on to "The Bahá'í Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land, P. 0. Box 155, Haifa, Israel." Cable address HANDSFAITH HAIFA.

UNANIMOUS PLEDGE OF LOYALTY

FROM 26 NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES OF THE BAHA'I WORLD TO THE HANDS AND CUSTODIANS

[Excerpts from letters]

ALASKA

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska is in full accord with the following statement issued by the 26 Hands . . "to exercise-subject to such directions and decisions as may be given from time to time by us as the Chief Stewards of the Bahá'í World Faith-all such functions, rights and powers in succession to the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, as are necessary to serve the interests of the Bahá'í World Faith, and this until such time as the Universal House of Justice, upon being duly established and elected in conformity with the Sacred Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, may otherwise determine."

We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

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ARABIAN PENINSULA

We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA, CHILE, PARAGUAY AND URUGUAY

In our capacity of National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, we pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of THE CUSTODIANS OF THE BAHÁ'Í WORLD FAITH, elected by the Hands of the Cause.

AUSTRALIA

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Australia ratifies the action taken by the twenty-six Hands of the Cause in their deliberations at the meeting held at the Mansion of Bahá'u'lláh, Bahji 'Akka, on 25th November 1957, in electing nine members from their own body to act as Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith. Furthermore, we pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

BENELUX COUNTRIES

As a result of our consultation, we wish to assure you of our unanimous and complete loyalty and of our entire recognition of your Bahá'í Institution as the supreme Body in the Cause.... we pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the Body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

With our prayers and all our complete devotion for the accomplishment of your sacred task, we assure you, once again, of our deepest thankfulness and full attachment to your supreme Body of the Cause, necessary to serve the interests of the Bahá'í World Faith.

BRAZIL, PERU, COLOMBIA, ECUADOR AND VENEZUELA

We, the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela have carefully read the photostatic copy of the legal document signed by the 26 Hands of the Cause present at the Conference in the Mansion of Bahji setting up the following named Hands of the Cause: Ruhiyyih Rabbani, Charles Mason Remey, Amelia E. Collins, Leroy C. Ioas Hasan Balyuzi, 'Ali-Akbar Furutan; Jalal Khazeh Paul E. Haney and Adelbert Muhlschlegel, as the body to act on behalf of the Hands generally, under the legal title "The Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith".

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We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

BRITISH ISLES

We, the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the British Isles, in session on this day of November 30th; 1957, having heard the Proclamation, dated November 25th 1957, by the Hands of the Cause of God at their meeting at Bahji in the World Centre of the Faith, hereby declare our grateful acceptance of this Proclamation and pledge our loyalty and allegiance to all of its provisions.

CANADA

We, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

Be assured of our devotion and dedication to these Chief Stewards of the Bahá'í World Faith.

CENTRAL AMERICA, MEXICO AND PANAMA

We remit the following resolution "The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Central America, Mexico and Panama in its fourth meeting held in the City of Panama, Republic of Panama on 25, 26, 27 and 28 of December 1957, in representation of the Bahá'ís of Central America, Mexico and Panama pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith, elected by the Hands of the Cause."

CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA

It was unanimously resolved in our meeting that we pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause. Furthermore, we take the greatest pleasure in recognizing you as constituting the supreme body in the Cause which will exercise all the functions, rights and powers in succession to the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, as are necessary to serve the interests of the Bahá'í World Faith.

GERMANY AND AUSTRIA

The National Spiritual Assembly as trustee of the Bahá'ís of Germany and Austria recognizes the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith nominated in the document of appointment made out at Bahji

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Acre/Israel dated 25 November 1957 as the Supreme Body in conformity with the Bahá'í administration.
The National Assembly officially declares: "We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the Body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause," to exercise subject to such directions and decisions as may be given from time to time by the Hands of the Cause, the Chief Stewards of the Bahá'í World Faith--all such functions, rights and powers in succession to the Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, as are necessary to serve the interests of the Bahá'í World Faith ...

GREATER ANTILLES

In our recent meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Greater Antilles, just concluded, the following action was taken:

"MOTION NO. 85:

"THAT, WHEREAS, We, the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the Greater Antilles now in session at Ciudad Trujillo in the Dominican Republic, have learned, with joy, that as a result of the Conference held at the Mansion of Bahji by twenty-six (26) members of the Hands, the setting up of a body to be known as 'The Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith' was made,

"BE IT RESOLVED that we pledge our full support, faith, and allegiance to the body of The Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause; and
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution, signed by the Chairman and Secretary of this Assembly, be sent to them."

IBERIAN PENINSULA

BE IT KNOWN BY ALL MEN PRESENT
That the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the Iberian Peninsula does hereby approve and endorse the election by the Hands of the Cause of nine of their members to constitute the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith, and that

We recognize this body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith to be the supreme body in the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, and that

We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

INDIA AND BURMA

RESOLUTION: The Proclamation issued by the Hands of the Cause of God after ascension to Abha Kingdom of our beloved Guardian was prayerfully studied and it was unanimously decided to approve of the

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action taken by the Hands of the Cause of God in electing nine persons from amongst themselves to act as Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith and we pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the said Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause. We further unanimously resolve to assure the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith of our unreserved obedience and loyal allegiance to all their wishes and directions that they may send us from time to time in the performance of their sacred duties.

IRAN

We have great pleasure in informing you that the Proclamation by the Hands of the Cause to the Bahá'ís of East and West, dated 25th November, 1957, issued in the Mansion of Bahji 'Akka, has been passed on to all the Spiritual Assemblies, Bahá'í groups and isolated centres in Iran.

On reading this Proclamation, all the members of the Bahá'í community of Iran recalled at once, in the spirit of absolute faith and solidarity, which characterizes the community trained and guided by the beloved Guardian for such a long time, that Shoghi Effendi has in his Message of October, 1957 entrusted the Hands of the Bahá'í Cause with the all-important duty of protecting and propagating the Cause and of guarding the Bahá'í communities throughout the world.

The Guardian has called the Hands of the Cause in his Message the Chief Stewards of Bahá'u'lláh's Embryonic World Commonwealth.

Those revered souls who, in accordance with the Proclamation of the Hands of the Cause, have been appointed by the latter as the Bahá'í Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land assuming this important duty, will doubtlessly be able under the divine protection and with their wise actions, to safeguard this original unity and solidarity of the Bahá'í community and to take all necessary measures for the development of the Cause in all its various stages and to carry out the work of the Beloved Guardian at all times in accordance with the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

We ... do hereby announce on behalf of this Assembly and of all members of the Bahá'í community in Iran and its institutions, the recognition by us of the Nine Hands of the Cause elected by all Hands of the Cause as "The Bahá'í Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land", and wish to express our unconditional loyalty to that Supreme Body.

We feel sure that with the trust we have in you we shall be able under your guidance and supervision to fulfil our duties and obligation to the Holy Cause of Bahá'u'lláh.

We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith, elected by the Hands of the

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Cause and we also hereby undertake to submit to and obey the decisions which the Hands of the Cause will adopt in future for the progress of the Cause.

'IRAQ

We, the elected National Representatives of the Bahá'ís of 'Iraq and the adjacent Countries of Syria, Lebanon and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Territories of Hadhramaut and the Seychelles Islands included in our area of jurisdiction; members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of 'Iraq do hereby unanimously declare that, following the Ascension of our beloved Guardian, His Eminence the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, we recognize you, since you have been elected by the entire members of the Hands of the Cause of God, the Divinely-ordained Institution, whose members were chosen and appointed by the beloved Guardian, His Eminence, the late Shoghi Effendi Rabbani and referred to them in his letters as "The Chief Stewards of the World Faith of Bahá'u'lláh" recognize you as the Most Supreme Body in the Bahá'í World Faith. We, also, pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to you.

With heartfelt gratitude, loyalty and love.

ITALY AND SWITZERLAND

We, as members of the Italo-Swiss National Spiritual Assembly, 46 pledge our full support, faith and allegiance" to the body of Nine Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land, appointed by the entire body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í Faith, to act as Executor of all Bahá'í affairs in the Holy Land and abroad.

NEW ZEALAND

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of New Zealand sends you its love and reaffirms its loyalty and devotion to the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh.

The following resolution was unanimously passed at a meeting on Sunday, December 29th, 1957:

"We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause."

NORTH EAST AFRICA

We have great pleasure in informing you that the Proclamation by the Hands of the Cause to the Bahá'ís of East and West, dated 25th November 1957 issued in the Mansion of Bahji has been passed on to

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all the Spiritual Assemblies, Bahá'í groups and isolated centres in North East Africa.
On reading this Proclamation all the members of the Bahá'í community of North East Africa recalled at once, in the spirit of absolute faith and solidarity, which characterizes the community trained and guided by the beloved Guardian for such a long time, that Shoghi Effendi has in his Message of October 1957, entrusted the Bahá'í Cause Hands with the all-important duty of protecting and propagating the Cause and of guarding the Bahá'í communities throughout the world.

The Guardian has called the Hands of the Cause in his Message the Chief Stewards of Bahá'u'lláh's embryonic World Commonwealth.

Those revered souls who, in accordance with the Proclamation of the Hands of the Cause, have been appointed by the latter as the Bahá'í Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land assuming this important duty, will doubtlessly be able, under the Divine Protection and with their wise actions, to safeguard this original unity and solidarity of the Bahá'í community and to take the necessary measures for the development of the Cause in all its various stages and to carry out the work of the beloved Guardian at all times in accordance with the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

We, the undersigned, Chairman and Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of North East Africa, do hereby announce on behalf of this Assembly of all members of the Bahá'í community in North East Africa and its institutions, the recognition by us of the nine Hands of the Cause elected by all Hands of the Cause as "The Bahá'í Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land", and wish to express our unconditional loyalty to that Supreme Body.

We feel sure that with the trust we have in you we shall be able under your guidance and supervision to fulfil our duties and obligations to the Holy Cause of Bahá'u'lláh.

We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith, elected by the Hands of the Cause and we also hereby undertake to submit to and obey the decisions which the Hands of the Cause will adopt in future for the progress of the Cause.

NORTH EAST ASIA

Beloved Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith,
We, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of North East Asia, representing the Bahá'ís of this part of the world embracing Japan, Korea, Formosa, Macau and Hong Kong, at an official meeting held on 8 December 1957 adopted the following resolution:

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"Whereas by action of the Bahá'í Hands of the Cause as stated in a letter dated 2 December 1957, a body of nine Hands was elected and now designated by the title 'Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith' as the supreme body of the Faith.

"We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause."

NORTH WEST AFRICA

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Northwest Africa, representing the Bahá'ís residing in twenty-five territories, included along the North and the West Coasts of the African continent, hereby declare our recognition of the nine Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land as the supreme body in the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh existing after the ascension of the late Shoghi Effendi-the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Cause.

We, further, pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to this body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

This document is issued upon unanimous resolution of the National Spiritual Assembly.

PAKISTAN

We, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Pakistan, elected representatives of the Bahá'í community of Pakistan, at this extraordinary meeting held at Bahá'í National Headquarters (Pakistan) Karachi, on 16th December 1957, do hereby unanimously resolve that we pledge our full support and allegiance to and faith in the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

SCANDINAVIA AND FINLAND

Having received the photostat of the legal document signed by the 26 Hands we have circulated the text to the members of our National Assembly and asked to have from each member a signed pledge of support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians.

Deeply grateful for the action taken by the Hands of the Cause of God and in full recognition of the Divine Inspiration behind the decision the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Scandinavia and Finland pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause.

Respectfully returning to you the hopes and good wishes for the task of protecting and furthering the Faith.

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SOUTH AND WEST AFRICA

This Assembly recognizes you as the supreme body in the Cause and has unanimously passed the following resolution:
"We pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause."

You, who have been elevated to be Hands of the Cause by our beloved Shoghi Effendi and are carrying out his wishes, and are fulfilling the requirements of our dearly loved Master's Will, are our solace and our inspiration. We pray constantly for your well-being and guidance, and offer our grateful and inadequate thanks to Bahá'u'lláh for having created your station.

SOUTH-EAST ASIA

WE DO HEREBY pledge our full support, faith and allegiance to the said body, namely, the nine Hands of the Cause, residing in the Holy Land, as the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by all the Hands of the Cause.

UNITED STATES

In our capacity of duly elected members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States, conscious of and obedient to the principles and institutions of the Bahá'í Administrative Order ordained by Bahá'u'lláh, elaborated by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and developed and guided by the late Guardian, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, we certify to the following resolutions unanimously adopted and recorded in the minutes of our meeting held at the National Bahá'í Headquarters, Wilmette, Illinois, on January 3-4-5, 1958:

WHEREAS the late Guardian, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, appointed Hands of the Cause, in accordance with the provisions of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, to the number of twenty-seven; and

WHEREAS Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, late Guardian, designated these twenty-seven Hands of the Cause "Chief Stewards of the embryonic World Commonwealth of Bahá'u'lláh and

WHEREAS the Guardian nominated no personal successor as second Guardian of the Faith to hold this office after his own death; therefore be it

RESOLVED: that the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States fully recognizes and affirms the authority of the twenty-seven Chief Stewards to elect nine of their own number to serve at the Bahá'í World Centre, Israel, as the supreme international body of the Bahá'í community and carry out the plans made for the future activities of the Faith by said Shoghi Effendi Rabbani, late Guardian, as Custodians of the Bahá'í Shrines and Holy Places, co-ordinators

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of the work of the various National Assemblies, and protectors of the security of the Faith; and further be it
RESOLVED: that the Custodians have been and are duly empowered to exercise such functions, rights and powers in succession to the late Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith as are necessary to serve the interests of the Bahá'í World Faith, and continue to do so until such time as the Universal House of Justice, upon being duly established and elected in conformity with the Sacred Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, may otherwise determine; and further be it

RESOLVED: that this National Spiritual Assembly pledges its full support, faith and allegiance to the body of the Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith elected by the Hands of the Cause as the supreme international body of the Bahá'í Community; and further be it

RESOLVED: that any two officers of this Assembly are authorized to execute these resolutions on behalf of the Assembly and transmit them to the nine Custodians of the Bahá'í World Faith.

BAHA'I WILMETTE¹
DECEMBER 5,1957

PLEASE ANNOUNCE HANDS FIVE CONTINENTS ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES HEARTWARMING NEWS CONSUMMATION VICTORY ANNOUNCED GUARDIAN'S MESSAGE SEPTEMBER 5th BY TRANSFER TITLE DEEDS ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN HARAM-I-AQDAS [PRECINCTS OF THE TOMB OF BAHA'U'LLAH] TO NAME ISRAEL BRANCH UNITED STATES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THUS COMPLETING PURIFICATION AREA SURROUNDING MOST HOLY SPOT BAHA'I WORLD.

[CABLE]

HANDS HOLY LAND

BAHA'I WILMETTE
DECEMBER 11, 1957

CRITICAL JUNCTURE DEEP MOURNING SUPREME CHALLENGE HANDS HOLY LAND CALL UPON FELLOW BELIEVERS PARTICULARLY HANDS NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES ALL CONTINENTS EXERT UTMOST EFFORT ENSURE SUCCESS FIVE INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCES ANNOUNCED BELOVED GUARDIAN'S LAST MOMENTOUS MESSAGE BAHA'I WORLD. CONFERENCES PROVIDE UNEXAMPLED

1 "BAHA'I WILMETTE" was the cable address for the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, which was the distribution point for world-wide dissemination of communications from the World Centre.

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OPPORTUNITY DEMONSTRATE MYSTERIOUS DIVINE FORCES ANIMATING DEARLY LOVED FAITH VITALITY INSTITUTIONS EMBRYONIC WORLD ORDER NOURISHED LIFEBLOOD BELOVED GUARDIAN DETERMINATION BAHA'I COMMUNITY DIFFUSE UNINTERRUPTEDLY FRAGRANCE BAHA'U'LLAH'S MIGHTY REVELATION TO FEAR-LADEN HUMANITY DEPRIVED POWER RECOGNIZE DIVINE LIGHT UNAIDED. URGE GREATEST ATTENDANCE BELIEVERS POSSIBLE THESE HISTORIC GATHERINGS DESIGNED GENERATE UPSURGE ENTHUSIASM CONSECRATION UNPRECEDENTED ANNALS FAITH USHER IN FOURTH PHASE CRUSADE DESTINED WITNESS VICTORIES AT WHICH FUTURE GENERATIONS BAHAIS WILL MARVEL CULMINATING WORLD TRIUMPH FAITH CENTENARY DECLARATION BLESSED BEAUTY. SHARE MESSAGE ALL HANDS NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES.

[CABLE]

HANDSFAITH

To All National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies
December 22, 1957

Dear Bahá'í Friends:

Amatu'l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum, has prepared an account of the passing of our beloved Guardian, which is to be published by the British Bahá'í Publishing Trust under the title The Passing of Shoghi Effendi You will be hearing from them shortly what the price of the pamphlet will be. We feel sure the members of your community will greatly welcome this account and you will no doubt want to place a bulk order for copies. Please send this as soon as possible to the Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 32 Deansgate, Manchester 4.

With Bahá'í love,

HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND

BAHA'I WILMETTE
DECEMBER 25,1957

REJOICE INFORM BELIEVERS COVENANT BREAKERS' HOUSE Bahji, COMPLETELY EFFACED FULFILLING LONG CHERISHED DESIRE BELOVED GUARDIAN WHO PLANNED PERSONALLY SUPERVISE THIS LAST PURIFICATION HARAM-I-AQDAS STOP SHARE MESSAGE ALL HANDS NATIONAL BODIES ...

[CABLE]

HANDSFAITH

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Ministry of the Custodians: An Account of the Stewardship of the Hands of the Cause 1957-1963

by / on behalf of Universal House of Justice and Ruhiyyih (Mary Maxwell) Khanum

Chapter 1

Ministry of the Custodians:
An Account of the Stewardship of the Hands of the Cause 1957-1963