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19 March 1925
To the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, North Adelaide, Auckland and Hobart. Care of the dearly beloved servants of God, Mr. and Mrs. H. Dunn, Melbourne, Australia.
My dearly beloved brothers and sisters in `Abdu'l-Bahá!
The fragrant messages of love, of loyalty and hope that have reached me from that most promising land have filled my heart with gladness and have greatly encouraged me in my work. All praise to that magnificent spirit of fidelity and devotion which your indefatigable spiritual parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Dunn have displayed for the propagation and the consolidation of the Bahá'í Faith in those remote corners of the earth! Their memorable services are graven upon my heart and stand as a remarkable testimony of the undiminished potency of the creative power of Bahá'u'lláh. The marvellous accounts that have reached us of the progress of this mighty Cause in Australia and New Zealand have stirred deeply the hearts of the resident friends in the Holy Land and have been broadcasted throughout the East, so that the harassed and long-suffering friends in Persia may be relieved and comforted by the story of such wondrous triumphs in that far-away continent.
Surely the hidden hand of God is directing you, His Spirit is inspiring you and the power of His Word reinforcing every effort you make for the advancement of His Cause. We all feel that the promised glories of this Divine Dispensation will ere long unfold in that remote corner of the globe and reflect its radiance on the surrounding regions and fill the friends the world over with renewed enthusiasm and hope.
I hope and pray that the members of the newly established Local Spiritual Assemblies, whenever formed in any given locality, will initiate, each group within its own province, a well-conceived campaign of Teaching, and will do its utmost to protect the interests and extend the sphere of the Cause. Should circumstances be favourable and the friends after consultation find it feasible and practicable, I would advise you to undertake in the days of Ridván (April 21-May 2) the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand. I am enclosing a copy of my general letter to the West which will assist you in the conduct of the affairs of the Local and National Assemblies. What is however of paramount importance in these days is the advancement, by every means at our disposal, of the work of teaching that we may be able to add to our number such souls as would give their unreserved allegiance to the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh and consecrate their lives to His service.
The first party of Bahá'í pilgrims from Australia and New Zealand have safely arrived and we pray that they will return to their respective fields of labour with fresh enthusiasm and renewed vigour, determined to do their utmost for the spread and ultimate triumph of our beloved Cause.
I assure you of my love, my keen interest in your work, my steadfast prayers for your welfare and success,
Your true brother, Shoghi
9 April 1925
Alláh-u-Abhá!
Mr & Mrs Hyde Dunn
"Belmont", Clarendon St., East Melbourne, Australia.
Dear Bahá'í Brother & Sister,
Shoghi Effendi has asked me to reply to your letters of 19th and 29th Jan., and I also owe you a letter on my own account, and it is with great pleasure that I take my pen in hand to write to you.
We had a delightful visit, lasting three weeks, from the three Blundells,10 Margaret Stevenson and Effie Baker, whom the Holy Family and the friends here came to love very much. They are very sincere and selfless souls. We hope you have many more such in the various groups you have founded. Few things have contributed more to Shoghi Effendi's happiness during the last year or two than the progress of the Cause in Australasia, thanks to your tireless and selfless efforts. We all hope that what has been accomplished up till now may be but a foretaste of much greater progress in the future when those you have been training & teaching become themselves active workers.
Martha Root is still here and will remain a few days longer. She is working hard at the study of Esperanto in order to equip herself still better for her teaching and travelling work. When she leaves here she will go to Egypt for about a fortnight, then on to Europe where Geneva will probably be her headquarters for 3 or 4 months. Then she expects to go to England and other parts of Europe. I wish we had many such workers as she.
We were delighted to hear about the success of your work in Adelaide and the founding of the Assemblies there - especially that your business manager and his wife and children have become so deeply interested.11
Shoghi Effendi has already replied to your questions about a National Spiritual Assembly for Australasia in his general letter to the believers there.
We hope that it will soon be possible to start Assemblies in Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane, and other centres.
By the way, if you ever visit Ararat, Victoria, be sure to call on Mrs. Edward Gray, High St. She was my Sunday School teacher when I was a youngster and we have always kept up friendly relations, which were renewed when I spent a year in Ararat as Med. Supt. of the hospital there. At that time I was not a Bahá'í, but Mrs Gray has since read my book on the Cause and is considerably interested. I am sure she would be delighted to meet you. Her husband is a commercial traveller and she has three grown-up children.
We hope and pray that the way may be opened up for you to visit Brisbane this year, and to revisit all the centres where you have already sown the seed, in order to water the seedlings that have taken root and to sow fresh good seed in the prepared ground.
We hope and pray too that the Australasian pilgrims who have just been here may return from the Holy Shrines and from their travels with a fresh baptism of the Spirit and with hearts aflame with the love of God, ready to continue their work for the Cause with greater enthusiasm, wisdom and power.
Shoghi Effendi entirely approves of your suggestion regarding "An International Song of Love" and hopes you will be confirmed in having it perfected and set to suitable music. There is one phrase in the suggested text that I think had better be altered or omitted viz: "not by force - happiness and force are impossible". It is true of course that when love reigns in all hearts violence becomes unnecessary, but the sentence as it stands does not appear to me to be well-worded. Both happiness and force are not only possible but existent, and have co-existed in the world since the dawn of history, and the Bahá'í teachings admit that in past ages and even at the present time Love and Justice have had to make use of force - Christ drove the money changers from the Temple with a scourge. Both Moses and Muhammad resorted to military measures and various forms of punishment and Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá both teach that under certain circumstances the use of force in the interests of justice is not only permissible but incumbent - in order to prevent unjust aggression.
With this slight exception the words you have chosen seem to me admirable.
I am afraid I did not acknowledge the receipt of your last letter enclosing money-order for the last lot of books you ordered from me, but I got it all right about a month ago. Since then I have had about 3 weeks in bed owing to an attack of pleurisy, from which I am now convalescing. I was in hospital most of the time the New Zealand and Australian friends were here and so did not see as much of them as I should have liked.
Mount Carmel is looking its best now, adorned with the Spring foliage and flowers. The gardens at the Shrines of the Báb and the Beloved Master are very beautiful. Shoghi Effendi has taken a great personal interest in the laying out and planting of these gardens which are said to be the most beautiful in Palestine.
We all hope that some time Mrs Dunn & you may be able to make a pilgrimage to Haifa and I hope that sometime our Beloved Guardian may be able to visit the Bahá'í Centres in Australasia. I should love to revisit Australia myself and meet the friends there. God willing, that too may come to pass sometime. Shoghi Effendi has most kindly invited me to make this my headquarters for the next few months. I may go to Europe for about 3 months in Summer, to escape the hot season here, but shall probably return here for next winter to continue my Persian studies, translation work and giving Shoghi Effendi some help in his correspondence.
With warmest love and heart-felt prayers for God's richest blessings on your life and work, in which Shoghi Effendi and all the Holy Family, Martha Root and all the friends here join,
Your brother in the Master's service J.E. Esslemont.
My most precious, my dearly-beloved friends!
It is always an indescribable joy to receive your letters & learn of the marvellous progress of your work, your cherished names are graven in letters of gold upon my heart & the memory of your unremitting and selfless labours is an inspiration to me in the discharge of my manifold & arduous duties. Your exemplary devotion, your unrivalled services are being abundantly rewarded by `Abdu'l-Bahá & He who loves you & guides you will surely bless you even more richly than before. We have witnessed with profound admiration and the deepest emotion the remarkable results of your self-sacrificing labours and have been refreshed & encouraged by meeting the first fruits of your splendid efforts - the beloved pilgrims from Australia & New Zealand. We have all remembered you in our prayers & we trust their return will add a fresh impetus to the memorable work you are doing in those remote corners of the globe. I assure you of my profound affection, my ardent prayers for you both & my heartfelt gratitude & appreciation, Shoghi
19 April 1925
Major Norman Macleod, Army Headquarters, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, Australia.12
Dear Bahá'í Brother,
Shoghi Effendi was very pleased to receive your letter of 11th March and to hear that you had become a Bahá'í through the instrumentality of Martha Root. Martha Root has just been here and stayed fully a month in Haifa. She has now gone forth again fired with fresh enthusiasm to resume her splendid work for the Cause. She is now in Cairo, but on 1st May will leave for Europe. After consultation with Shoghi Effendi, her provisional plan is to spend the next year or two in Europe, where teachers such as she are greatly needed. She will probably spend 3 or 4 months in Geneva and then to on to England, then to other European countries, including Russia, if circumstances permit.
With regard to your question about the "White Australia" policy, it is clear that this policy of rigid exclusion of coloured Asiatic races from Australia finds no justification in the Bahá'í Teachings.
Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá taught in the clearest possible way the necessity of getting rid of all racial and national prejudices and of equal justice for men of all races and colours. That a white race should forcibly annex a country previously inhabited exclusively by coloured people and then proceed to forbid the admission of coloured people to that country - especially a country so large as Australia, many parts of which are obviously better suited for coloured races than for white people - is clearly unjust.
At the same time there is undoubtedly truth in the contention that if, in a country where a reasonably high standard of living, of culture, etc., has been attained, people accustomed to a lower standard of life and culture are freely admitted, and allowed unrestricted rights of commercial and industrial competition, the standard of living and culture in that country is bound to suffer.
Even if we got rid of racial and colour prejudice, this economic and cultured problem would remain. The Bahá'í method of solving the problem is to educate both the white and coloured races in the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. The white races must cease to regard themselves as "superior" and as having, by virtue of that innate superiority a right to exploit, take unfair advantage of and even to exterminate coloured races, on the principle of the "survival of the fittest". They must cease to regard the colour of a man's skin as a legitimate index of his "superiority" or "inferiority" and must recognise that a good coloured man (of whom there are many) is better than a bad white man (of whom there are also many). They must adopt a policy of even-handed justice for white and coloured people and recognise that coloured and white people have equally the right to live and to have access to suitable land on which to live. If there are certain parts of the world which by reason of climate are more suited to coloured people than to white, then coloured people ought to have preference in rights of access to such land, if white people have preferential rights in cooler regions, more suited to their health and well-being.
The "backward" races must be educated and their standard of living and culture be raised as much as possible, their latent talents being developed to the fullest possible extent. If this is done their objectionable characteristics will disappear.
The so-called "advanced" races however, are by no means free from objectionable characteristics, such as commercial greed, love of domination, materialistic conceptions, want of spirituality. By true education and true religion these also must be got rid of.
When both the "backward" and the "advanced" races become educated in this way, then such questions as the admission of coloured races to Australian territories will no longer be settled by certain people who have seized such territory dictating to the rest of the world who shall be allowed admission to it, but by an impartial international tribunal in which all sections of the human race shall be fairly represented and which will consider the pressure of population in various regions, the suitability of various regions for the habitation of different peoples, etc., and decide what is best in the interests of humanity as a whole.
For the satisfactory solution of any one such question we need the progressive application of all the Bahá'í principles. For instance in this case it is clear that racial and national prejudices must be abolished, that universal education is necessary, that a universal league of nations must have an authority superseding that of any one nation, that impartial arbitration must be substituted for domination by powers which are backed by strong armies and navies, that an international language is needed to promote international understanding, that materialism and selfish greed must be replaced by true religion and mutual love, and so on.
The ideals of the Oneness of God, the oneness of religion and the oneness of humanity must be instilled into the minds of the children throughout the world, and when a generation grows up thoroughly imbued with these great ideals, the solution of the economic and political problems that now cause so much misery, strife and even blood-shed in the world will become easy.
Meantime in political and economic matters, compromise is necessary but we must use our influence to see that the compromise is ever being modified and advanced in the direction of justice for all - not in the direction of the exclusive advantage of one section of the world's population over others.
We are delighted to hear of the growth of the Bahá'í Group in Melbourne. In the growth of the Bahá'í movement, it seems to me, lies the hope of the world for the solution of all the problems that now vex and trouble it. It is very encouraging to note not only the steady increase in the number and size of our Bahá'í groups, but the steady trend of public opinion throughout the world towards acceptance of the great fundamental principles laid down sixty years ago by Bahá'u'lláh. There are backward eddies in the current, of course, and this "White Australia" policy seems to me to be one of them, but on the whole the progress of Bahá'í principles seems to me to be amazing during the last half-century and this to me is one of the clearest proofs of the true prophethood of Bahá'u'lláh.
From your name I presume that either you or your parents hail from the same side of the Tweed as myself. My native town is Aberdeen. The name of Norman MacLeod was a highly honoured one in Scotland in my childhood's days and is still. Are you a near relative of the great Presbyterian Divine we used to hear so much about?
Shoghi Effendi is looking forward to meeting Rev. D. Millar of Melbourne. We had a delightful visit from Effie Baker of Melbourne and four New Zealand friends. They spent about 3 weeks here and then went on to England.
Shoghi Effendi and the friends here join in warmest regards and best wishes to yourself and all the friends in Melbourne especially to Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, who are doing such fine work for the advancement of the Cause.
Your brother in the Master's service, J.E. Esslemont.
8 May 1925 [Sarah Blundell]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
Shoghi Effendi was very pleased to receive this morning your letter of 28th April, but we were very sorry to hear you have been ill and hope your health will soon be completely restored. it was nice that you saw Shoghi's sister and Soheil's brother in London.
I forget whether I gave you the address of Mr and Mrs King, c/o Messrs Hayman and King, 202 Old Christchurch Rd. Bournemouth. They are very kind-hearted Bahá'ís and will be delighted to see any of you if you call. Both of them work in the business and you are most likely to see them if you call there. They live above the shop.
I gave you Sister Challis's13 address at West Moors (Ferndown Lodge). You can get there by 'bus from Bournemouth Sq. or Lansdowne, which will drop you right at Sister Challis's door (She keeps a nursing home) or you can go by train from West Bournemouth to West Moors station which is within 5 minutes' walk of Ferndown Lodge. I hope you will be able to see her.
As I write, the Greatest Holy Leaf is on a visit to the Shrine of the Master. It is over a year, I think, since she has been able to visit the Shrine and until now she has not seen the new Gardens, in the laying out of which Shoghi Effendi has taken such a deep interest. The Gardens are looking lovely now and it is easy to imagine how delighted she will be. One day during the feast of Ridván she and the Holy Mother were able to visit Bahjí and the Garden of Ridván.
I have quite recovered from my pleurisy now and am steadily regaining my strength.
Shoghi Effendi is still tired. I hope he will soon be able to take a rest.
All the friends here join in loving greetings and best wishes to yourself, your son and daughter, Miss Stevenson and Effie Baker. With warmest greetings.
Your brother in the service of the Beloved, J.E. Esslemont
My dear precious sister in `Abdu'l-Bahá:
I was so glad to hear from you directly and learn of your improved health and meeting with the English Bahá'ís. I need not assure you of my ardent prayers for your happiness, good health and continued success in the service of the Cause. I hope and pray you will be enabled by the guiding spirit of the Master not only to stimulate the interest of your friends and relations in this Cause but to make of some of them earnest and whole-hearted believers and supporters of the Faith. Shoghi
9 May 1925 [Margaret Stevenson]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
The Greatest Holy Leaf and Shoghi Effendi have asked me to answer on their behalf your kind letters of Apr. 2nd from Port Said and April 14th from London.
We were sorry to hear that Mrs Blundell got a chill on the steamer and was laid up for a few days after her arrival in London. We hope that by this time she is all right again. We had a note from her from Bournemouth.
You will be glad to hear that the Greatest Holy Leaf and the Holy Mother were able to motor to Bahjí and Ridván one day during the Feast of Ridván, and that yesterday the Greatest Holy Leaf motored to the Shrine of `Abdu'l-Bahá and saw the new Gardens in which Shoghi Effendi has been taking so much interest.
Yesterday a Dutchman arrived here from Port Said, the first Dutch Bahá'í, so far as we know. He has been a sincere and earnest truth-seeker for years. About 9 months ago he left his home at the Hague and walked on foot through Belgium, France and Italy. Then he felt some inward urge to go to Egypt, and travelled thither by a Dutch Cargo Steamer. When the steamer arrived at Port Said Mahmood Effendi, one of the Port Said Bahá'ís came on board and was introduced to Mesdag (the Dutchman). They struck up a friendship at once and after 2 days Mesdag went to live in Mahmood's house. There he met Martha Root, Mr Schopflocher14 and various other Bahá'ís, read my book and became thoroughly interested and seems now already a firm believer. He has already, since his arrival yesterday morning, translated our 8-page folder into Dutch and we hope he will be able to do much to make the Cause known in Holland and win adherents there.
I have quite recovered from my pleurisy now and am feeling almost as vigorous as before the attack. `Azizu'lláh Bahádur is now in Stuttgart. There is as yet no improvement in his hand, but he is having skilled treatment now and we hope it will be successful. He seems to be having a very happy time with the German friends.
Shoghi Effendi is much in need of rest, but fairly well. He and all the members of the Holy Family join in loving greetings and heartfelt prayers for your welfare. We hope you will have a fine time in England and return to New Zealand refreshed and reinvigorated physically and spiritually to take up your work for the Kingdom there with new enthusiasm and devotion. We pray that you may always be guided and strengthened by the Divine Confirmations.
With love also to Effie Baker and all the other friends,
Your brother in the service of the Beloved, J.E. Esslemont.
My precious Bahá'í sister:-
I wish to assure you personally of my appreciation of your devotion to the Cause, and your earnest efforts to promote it as well as my fervent prayers for your spiritual advancement, success and happiness. I will always remember you most tenderly in my hours of visit at the three Holy Shrines and beseech for you and the New Zealand friends the blessings of our loving and almighty Master,
Your true brother, Shoghi
21 May 1925
Mr Bertram Dewing, 5, Aldred Road, Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand.
Alláh-u-Abhá!
Dear Bahá'í Brother,
Shoghi Effendi has asked me to reply to your kind letter of 11th April. He is delighted to hear that you propose starting a Bahá'í Magazine for Australia and New Zealand and suggests as a suitable title "The Herald of the South". Every 19 days a letter will be sent from Haifa to Mr. and Mrs. Hyde Dunn giving the news of the Cause. Owing to the restricted facilities for multiplying copies which are at present available here, I fear it will not be possible to send another copy to you, but doubtless you can arrange with Mr. and Mrs. Hyde Dunn to have their copy passed on to you for the magazine. We are glad to hear that notwithstanding the absence of the Blundells and Margaret Stevenson the friends in New Zealand are remaining united and active. We hope that when the pilgrims return the faith and enthusiasm of the believers will be greatly deepened and strengthened and that many new believers may be attracted. I had a long letter from Effie Baker yesterday. She is very devoted and whole-hearted and will be a valuable worker for the Cause, I think, and a great help to Father and Mother Dunn. When she wrote, Margaret Stevenson had gone to Scotland and Mrs. and Miss Blundell were in Bournemouth. Effie Baker hopes to make a return visit to Haifa on her way back to Australia.
Shoghi Effendi assures you of his prayers on behalf of your mother, yourself and all the Australasian friends and his hopes that the proposed magazine may greatly help the spread of the Glad Tidings in Australia and New Zealand.
With warmest greetings and best wishes,
Yours sincerely in the Master's service, J.E.Esslemont
My dear fellow-worker,
Your charming letter truly gladdened my heart. I will follow the development of your magazine with keen interest and assure you of my desire to help and promote its interests to the fullest possible extent. I am enclosing two photographs of the Shrine and gardens recently laid out in the close neighbourhood of the Shrines of the Báb and `Abdu'l-Bahá. I assure you of my love, appreciation and fervent prayers, Shoghi
28 May 1925 [Margaret Stevenson]
Alláh-u-Abhá!
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
Shoghi Effendi asks me to thank you on his behalf for your letter of 14th May. He received the letter of Mrs Amy Thornton15 all right. I remember answering it for him some weeks ago, so you can set your mind at rest on that score.
The recovery of your Bahá'í ring and stones was very remarkable. It reminds me of a somewhat similar occurrence in Bournemouth. One of our Bahá'í friends had her Bahá'í ring stolen, and nothing was heard or seen of it for some months. Mr King, another of our group, has an antique shop in Bournemouth and one day his partner (a non-Bahá'í) bought a ring from a man who said it was his wife's, but as they had become very badly off she wanted to sell it. When Mr King saw the ring he recognised it as a Bahá'í ring and knowing that this friend had lost her ring, he sent it to me. It turned out to be her ring and she was delighted to recover it. The curious thing is that out of dozens of jewellers and antique shops in Bournemouth to which the ring might have been taken for sale, it should be taken to the one where there was a Bahá'í who recognised it.
I hope that before you leave Scotland you may be able to go to Aberdeen and see my home people. They would be delighted to see you. My father's address is Fairford, Cults, (about 3 miles from Aberdeen, by car or train). He is 86 years of age and rather frail. My sister looks after him. My two married brothers are Peter Esslemont, 21, Louisville Avenue and W.D.E., 12 Wellbrae Terr. Mannofield. Both of their houses are near the Mannofield Car Line.
We were very glad to hear of your meetings with the friends of London and West Moors.
Many thanks for your letter to myself and the excellent snapshots enclosed. I am glad you have fallen in love with Sister Challis and hope you will see her again before you leave. I had a delightful letter yesterday from Miss Kilford of West Moors, whom I regard as a Bahá'í grand-daughter, as she was brought into the Cause by Sister Challis who calls me her Bahá'í father!
We hope Shoghi Effendi will get away soon for a much needed rest. The Greatest Holy Leaf was rather seriously ill all last week, but is a good deal better again, although very feeble and frail.
I have been advised by the Drs to leave Haifa for the summer months, as my breathing has lately been troublesome and they think the moist heat during the summer here would be bad for me. On the same day on which this decision was arrived at, I received a cordial invitation to go to a place in the Black Forest for my summer vacation. The Drs considered this place would be ideal for me and that the sooner I got away the better, so I leave in 3 days time. My address will be c/o Frau Victoria von Sigsfeld, HŮsli Finsterlingen, bei St Blaisien, Baden, Germany. I hope to return to Haifa in the latter part of Sept. to resume my work here.
Shoghi Effendi, the members of the Holy Household and the friends here join in loving greetings and best wishes,
Your brother in the service of the Beloved, J.E. Esslemont
Mrs Schopflocher16 arrived here last night after a very successful tour in Russia, Persia and Iraq.
My dear co-worker:
I was very glad indeed to learn about your experiences and visit to the friends and your firm determination to labour unceasingly in the Divine Vineyard. I will continue to pray for you that all your relatives and friends may recognise and be illumined with the resplendent light of this Divine Revelation. Never get disheartened and trust me ever, Your affectionate grateful and true brother in the service of the Cause, Shoghi
15 June 1925 [Clara and Hyde Dunn]
My very dear Bahá'í friends,
I thank you very much indeed for your most affectionate letter of May 10th to our dear Guardian, Shoghi Effendi. He appreciates your loving sentiments immensely and feels certain that your deep-seated and almost passionate faith and enthusiasm will leave an everlasting influence upon the spiritual reawakening of Australia.
Already the fruit of your works in the person of our beloved and devoted sister whom we were so glad to welcome in Haifa, speak eloquently of the diligent and heroic pioneer work in that vast continent, yet we await expectantly the day when Australia & New Zealand through your selfless endeavours will establish itself as another Bahá'í stronghold and will raise with hands more puissant the glorious torch that first shed light from the little towns of a helpless Persia.
Shoghi Effendi thanks you and the friends in Australasia for the respective contributions which have been sent for the famine-stricken friends in Persia. Though small these contributions make still firmer the belief that the spirit our beloved Master infused into the world is working in every heart and is bringing about that unity, that international brotherhood, which was the aspiration of His soul.
In assuring you again of our Guardian's deep love & prayers and of his whole-hearted admiration & appreciation of the glorious work you have already done and are still doing in Australia, may I also extend to you the love & heartfelt greetings of every member of the family.
Our Guardian has decided to take a rest for a short time, and although he finds it hard to leave a work wherein his heart lies, physical fatigue necessitates a rest.
With all good wishes, Yours ever in his service, Soheil
My most precious unforgettable fellow-workers:
The sweet savours of your most welcome letter refresh my soul & ease the burden that weighs often heavily upon me. You are always close to my heart, ever the object of my prayers & my constant companions in spirit. I am delighted to learn of your intention to form next year a Bahá'í Convention & the first National Spiritual Assembly of Australasia. Accept my best wishes & the assurance of my continued & ardent prayers & of my keen desire to help & serve you in any way I can. Your services, your indefatigable efforts & exemplary achievements are graven upon my heart, Shoghi
3 November 1925 [Hyde Dunn]
BAGDAD COURT OF APPEAL DECIDED AGAINST US REGARDING OWNERSHIP BAHAULLAHS HOUSE URGE EVERY ASSEMBLY IN AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND COMMUNICATE BY CABLE AND LETTER WITH IRAQ HIGH COMMISSIONER ENTREATING ACTION TO ENFORCE JUSTICE REGARDING HOUSES - SHOGHI
5 December 1925 [Bertram Dewing]
My dear friend and fellow-worker,
I have just heard the welcome news of the publication of the first issue of the Bahá'í Journal, recently established by the friends of Australia and New Zealand. I rejoice in this new and notable Bahá'í enterprise, particularly as it is undertaken by my dearly-beloved and self-sacrificing brothers and sisters in a land which holds so great a promise for the future.
I have followed the progress of the activities of the Bahá'ís of Australia and New Zealand with keen interest and ever-increasing confidence, and with a deep sense of pride and gratitude. I most heartily welcome this newly-added link in the chain of the many services, so lovingly and spontaneously rendered by the pioneers of the Cause in these lands. I assure you of my steadfast prayers for the speedy expansion and consolidation of this youngest of all Bahá'í Magazines, and of my earnest endeavour to enable it attain a high standard worthy of the bearer of such a noble message.
It should be the object and purpose of its author and publisher to open its pages to the consideration and review of matters that are strictly Bahá'í in character as well as to the treatment of topics of a humanitarian, ethical and religious nature; that its readers, while witnessing to the liberal and broad-minded attitude of the Bahá'í Cause, may receive from it their full share of inspiration which only a clear and direct statement of the Divine Message can impart.
Go forth, on thy noble errand, O thou "Herald of the South". Join thy voice, however feeble, to those of thy sister-journals who, in various parts of the world, are raising with one accord the call of this new Day of God. Persevere in thy labours, endeavour to reach every circle and every home, that the light thou bearest, may, in the fullness of time illuminate with its healing rays the uttermost corners of that distant and troubled continent.
Your well-wisher, Shoghi.
15 December 1925 [Clara and Hyde Dunn]
My dear Bahá'í brother,
Our Guardian has been very pleased to receive your letter of Nov. 14th and to read the copy of your splendid letter of appeal to the British High Commissioner in 'Iráq. We trust that justice will at last win out and the houses that are so sacred and dear to every Bahá'í will be restored to its Bahá'í caretakers.
Shoghi Effendi was very sad to know that your dear wife had been unwell due to heart attacks. He prays from all his heart that our gracious Master may bless her with full health and may restore her to active service in the glorious field she has chosen. The Cause in Australia is yet sorely in need of its selfless pioneer workers Father and Mother Dunn. It is their devotion and love that has so soon affected all & every one who has come in touch with them, and it is the Spirit of the Almighty that through them has shown earnest and zealous seekers the path of guidance and of righteous life. Their names will be engraved in the heart of all those who now & in the years to come will choose to follow the standard of Bahá'u'lláh and to fight through the might of His heavenly teachings the sore afflictions of mankind.
Miss Effie Baker is in good health and still with us. The family are all well and send you, your family & dear friends their heartfelt love & greetings. I am sure the friends have been much grieved in the sudden loss of our dear brother Dr. Esslemont. And yet he is now at the feet of his Beloved with no pain & with no sorrow.
With best wishes, Yours in His service, Soheil
My dear self-sacrificing brother:
Your past & present endeavours are indelibly engraved upon my heart. I rejoice to learn of the expansion & consolidation of your pioneer services to the Cause, I assure you of my continued prayers for your happiness, good health & success. I am sending you various enclosures which I trust will aid you & assist you in your work,
Your true brother, Shoghi
I wish to assure you in person of my fervent prayers for the recovery of dear Mother Dunn to whom I am eternally grateful and whom I love so dearly.
30 December 1925 [Amy Dewing]17
My dear Bahá'í sister, Mrs. Dewing,
I am so sorry to have had to delay my answer to your welcome letter of Sept. 3rd for such a very long time. In fact it was not that I delayed but was unable as I received your letter only a short while ago. All during the summer that I was away from Haifa privileged to be with Shoghi Effendi while he was taking a rest, the mail was sent over to us except your letter which through inadvertence was kept until my return. It is for having not yet written since my return last October that I must beg your kind forgiveness.
I am so sorry that the answer to your mail did not reach you as I knew Shoghi Effendi did answer.
You had asked in connection with the subject of prohibition. Of course in every country one must take into consideration the exact conditions as to whether by force of legislation people can be stopped from drinking, but as a principle the Bahá'í Teachings are quite against drinking, intoxicating liquors and from the Bahá'í point of view every thing that helps to stop drinking is welcomed.
As to the Scout movement, they afford a great disciplinary lesson to the young boys and girls provided they are not prepared directly for the army. In some towns here we have in some of the schools Scout troops who are also students of the colleges and it was proved to be a great educational scheme for helping the development of the children but they are never taught to carry arms or even the use of firearms. And furthermore they are often taught the evils of war rather than encourage them to become in future active soldiers with imperialistic designs. This of course is my own personal view. I am so glad to know that your children are taking a more active interest in the Cause and Shoghi Effendi trusts that they will in future be able to render great services to our dear Cause.
The copies of the Herald of the South which you sent me I was glad to look over & Shoghi Effendi has been glad to see them. He wrote a letter for it sometime ago & I believe you have received it by now.
The family join me in loving greetings to yourself & dear children for the New Year.
Yours in His service, Soheil
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