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20 January 1926
Bahá'ís of New Zealand. Stevenson, 3 Cowie Road, Parnell, Auckland.
LOVING APPRECIATION
4 March 1926 [Margaret Stevenson]
Dear Bahá'í Sister,
Your letter to Shoghi Effendi and the enclosed one to Ruhi with the postal order for £10 have been received and read with keen interest and pleasure.
We are all very happy to know that you have had such a pleasant journey back home and that you had the opportunity of delivering the message on so many occasions. We hope and pray that the seed you have sown has fallen on fertile soil and that in time it will grow and bear abundant fruit.
We hope that now through your sustained zeal and effort new life will be infused into your small Bahá'í group, and that it will in the near future grow sufficiently in number to enable you to form an Assembly the first to be established in that land. We shall all pray at the Holy Threshold for your guidance and the success of your work.
The Greatest Holy Leaf and the Holy Mother remember you well, and they and the other members of the family send their loving greetings to you.
You will be interested to know that the new pilgrim house is being completed, and it will be all ready in a month's time for the new pilgrims that will come.
We still have our dear sister Effie Baker with us, and we all love her so, she is so sweet and helpful.
We have just now two American lady friends with us, Auntie Victoria Bedekian18 and Mrs R. Kehler19 - very fine Bahá'ís they are and we are expecting some more soon.
I always remember the happy day I spent with you and Effie in London and shall look forward to the pleasure of meeting you again some day - perhaps here in Haifa or in New Zealand, who knows?
I am back at home now for the present, and am trying to help Shoghi Effendi a little in his enormous task.
He is keeping in good health I am glad to say in spite of his many activities and heavy and manifold responsibilities.
To you he sends his brotherly love and the assurance of his prayers for your welfare and happiness.
With all good wishes and loving greetings,
Your sister in His service, Ruh-Anguiz Rabbani
My dear and precious Bahá'í sister,
I cannot but add a few words personally expressing my deep appreciation of your persistent self-sacrificing services to the Cause. I have donated your gift towards the Fund for the Western Pilgrim House and I wish to assure you that when I visit the Holy Shrines I tenderly supplicate for you Divine Guidance and strength in your labours for our beloved Cause.
Your true brother, Shoghi
31 March 1926 [Auckland Assembly]
Dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated Feb. 18th 1926. He well appreciates the whole-hearted contributions the friends, the world over, have made to safeguard the neighbourhood of the Shrines. We all hope that this spirit of quick response and action will permeate all the different activities of the Cause.
Shoghi Effendi as well as the other members of the family send you, & through you, the Australian and New Zealand friends their best love & greetings. They all await the good news of the progress of the movement in Australasia.
With loving greetings I remain, yours very sincerely, Ruhi Afnan
My dear fellow-worker,
I fully appreciate the self-sacrificing efforts of the New Zealand Bahá'ís & am glad to inform them that the surroundings of the Shrines on Mt Carmel are secure. May the Beloved reward them a hundred fold! Convey my love & gratitude to them all.
Your true brother, Shoghi
3 April 1926 [Sarah Blundell]
Dear Spiritual Sister:-
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated Jan. 24, 1926.
He hopes that after this long vacation you have had you are ready to begin again spreading the Cause in New Zealand with even greater energy than before. The people there seem to be broad in their outlook, receptive to any idea which helps the human faculty from decreasing its burden.
Shoghi Effendi was most chagrined to hear of the sudden death of your son20 and wishes me to extend to you his deepest love and sympathy.
There is no special news here except that we have removed to the new pilgrim house. Miss Baker is well and very busy entertaining the friends and arranging the new home.
Shoghi Effendi as well as the other members of the family are well and send you their love and greetings. They earnestly pray for your success and hope to hear, before long, the news of your many victories in the field of service to the Cause.
Please convey my loving greetings to your son and daughter.
Yours most sincerely, Ruhi Afnan
My dear fellow-worker:
I wish to express in person my deep sympathy in the heavy loss you have sustained. May the Beloved Comforter strengthen you and sustain you in your bereavement. The memory of your visit to the Holy Land is still fresh and vivid in my mind and I pray and supplicate at the Holy Shrines that your labours in the Cause may yield an abundant harvest. Your sympathising brother, Shoghi
14 May 1926 [Auckland Assembly]
My dear Bahá'í sister,
I thank you on behalf of Shoghi Effendi for your letter of Mar. 8th and for the second copy of the draft that you had sent enclosed.
He has already received and cashed the first draft and has sent you the receipt for it.
He appreciates very much indeed the help of the New Zealand friends and I am sure they would all be very glad to know that the surroundings of the Holy Shrines on Mt. Carmel have already been safeguarded. This is such a relief to Shoghi Effendi & all the friends who feared lest the approaches should fall into the hands of speculators and interested men.
With heartfelt greetings to the friends in New Zealand, I am, yours ever in His service,
Soheil Afnan
Dear fellow-worker:
I wish to reassure you in person of my continued prayers for you as well as for those friends who in the distant city of Auckland are labouring for the advancement of the Cause in New Zealand. Please convey to them my brotherly greetings & very best wishes. I can never forget them & they are ever near to me.
Your true brother, Shoghi
12 August 1926
My very dear Mrs Blundell:
Shoghi Effendi has been in receipt of your interesting letter dated June 7, l926. It is a great pity that your health has more or less handicapped you in your service to the Cause. We, however, hope that this weakness will soon vanish and your health and strength be fully restored.
The case of the teacher who has been in Palestine is one really to be lamented. All such persons instead of procuring their information from the very source, when they are so near to it, they go to the Missionaries who are undoubtedly biased. They are immediately told that the Cause is nothing more than a sect of Islam; a movement that may do immense good to the Muhammadan world, but far from ranking with Christianity or satisfying its need. Then they refer this ignorant and innocent person to books such as Brown's. It is their fault for having gone to the wrong source for proper information, but once they have gone it is not their mistake to have them mislead. We have heard of many such instances and there is absolutely no remedy except to leave them until they find the truth for themselves. We can only pray for their guidance.
Shoghi Effendi always prays for you as well as the other Auckland friends, so that through your combined efforts the Cause may prosper there, and obtain a strong position in the life of the people. I am not the least familiar with the social conditions there, but I am sure there is a ready field for active service.
Yours in His Name, Ruhi Afnan
My dear fellow-worker:
I rejoice to learn that your dear sons are realizing gradually the significance of this unique and mighty Cause, and my constant and fervent prayer is that you may witness erelong the fruition of their slow yet sure spiritual evolution. Persevere in your labours for I entertain and cherish the brightest hopes for the future awakening of promising New Zealand. I shall ever remember the memorable visit of the first New Zealand believers to the Holy Land. Please assure them of my undying affection.
Your true brother, Shoghi
12 August 1926 [Margaret Stevenson]
My dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated June 7, l926. It was most interesting to go over your circular letter and read the many points of interest. I was especially struck by the literature you have sent to Lord and Lady Allenby. If they have at all seen them I am sure they were much impressed, for they knew the Master so well. They were surely very astonished to see a group of Bahá'ís formed in such a distant land.
I am very ashamed of myself not to have yet answered your letter of some months ago. It was mainly because Shoghi Effendi wrote you and acknowledged the receipt of your contribution for the pilgrim house that I have been so neglectful. I took Miss Baker's advice on the matter and together, we went down-town and bought a set of straw chairs. We thought that would be most appreciated by the friends while sitting in the veranda of the new Pilgrim House.
I remember a prayer, which you wrote, has been asked by a certain friend to be read daily. I believe sometimes the friends through their zeal & ardour do things that are not asked in the Cause. We have only one prayer that we have to say daily. No one in the world has the power, given to him by Bahá'u'lláh, to add another to that daily prayer. If we should admit this the life of the friends will soon be spent in mere prayer, which is not the aim of the Cause. The healing prayer and such ones are only for occasional use. When the need for them arises.
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to extend to you his hearty greetings & assure you of his prayers.
Yours in His Name, Ruhi Afnan
My dear fellow-worker:
Your letters are always a source of inspiring joy & stimulating encouragement to me. You are destined to achieve great things for our beloved Cause & my constant prayer is that your vision may be clear, your purpose unshaken, your zeal undiminished, your hopes undimmed. Let not obstacles & disappointments, which are inevitable, dishearten you & whenever you are faced with trials recall our Beloved's innumerable sufferings. You certainly occupy a warm & abiding place in my heart.
Your true brother Shoghi
25 August l926 [Evelyn Watkin]21
Dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated June 14th 1926, & also thank, through you, the Auckland friends for their kind contribution.
He wishes me to assure you & them of his earnest prayers. He hopes that through your constant endeavour the Cause will progress rapidly in that city & make the spirit of the movement permeate throughout the land. Though your number is still comparatively small yet through divine guidance and the Master's ever-wakeful spirit you will soon add many to your group & make of it a power for goodness which will attract all attention.
With best wishes and kindest greetings I remain, Yours ever sincerely, Ruhi Afnan
My dear fellow-worker:
I am touched by this expression of the loyalty & devotion of the Auckland Bahá'ís whose welfare, & spiritual advancement are the object of my earnest & constant prayer. I shall devote it to further the interests of the Cause in ways that are dearest & nearest to my heart. I shall supplicate the Almighty that strength & wisdom may be given you to face & overcome the obstacles & trials that you will inevitably encounter in future. The end is glorious if we only persevere.
Your true brother, Shoghi
25 August 1926 [Maysie Almond]22
Dear Bahá'í friend,
Your letter dated July 1st and the enclosed circular letter have been duly received, and Shoghi Effendi who has read them with keen satisfaction and pleasure has charged me to convey to you his Bahá'í love and greetings with the assurance of his prayers for your welfare and success.
He is indeed very pleased to know of the harmony and love that prevails in your group and he feels certain that your efforts shall be crowned with success for you have first sought and succeeded in putting into practice the noble ideals that you proclaim, and are living the true Bahá'í life.
We hope and pray that this first circular letter will mark the beginning of a long series of the written records of the great work that shall be achieved in that land; and be sure dear sister that we shall always look forward with keen pleasure to the receipt of your own letters as well as the circular ones.
Shoghi Effendi, the Greatest Holy Leaf and the other members of the family join me in loving greetings to your dear self, your husband, and all the other friends in Adelaide.
With best wishes, Yours very sincerely, Ruh-AngĻiz.
My Dear fellow-worker:
I wish you to know that you are always most welcome to write me whatever your heart prompts you to express & you must be assured that I will continue to follow the progress of the activities of the Adelaide friends with deep & brotherly interest. Their circular letter is admirable in substance & in form & I trust that it will grow in size & influence & diffuse the Bahá'í Spirit from those distant regions of the earth. Assuring you of my continued prayers for you all.
I am your true brother, Shoghi
18 September 1926 [Bertram Dewing]
Dear Spiritual brother,
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated July 18, 1926. He was very glad to learn of the encouraging prospects you have for your "Herald of the South". He hopes that it will daily progress and add to its importance in drawing the attention of the people there. A good periodical fully representative of the spirit and teachings of the Cause is the greatest help the Movement can have in establishing itself in a country. So though difficulties may be faced at the outset we should bear them patiently & await that the future should give us our reward.
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to extend to you his loving greetings & assure you as well as your mother & Mr. Brewer23 of his constant prayers. He hopes that through your combined efforts the Herald of the South will soon realize its aim and purpose.
Yours in His Service, Ruhi Afnan.
My dear & precious co-worker:
Your welcome letter has cheered my heart & I look forward with confidence & joy to the harvest which you are destined to reap in the not distant future. I shall be so pleased & grateful if you would send me regularly a copy of your Bahá'í periodical which I trust & pray will grow from strength to strength and contribute its destined share to the progress and consolidation of the Cause of God & be assured of my prayers for your happiness, welfare & spiritual advancement
Your true brother, Shoghi
23 October 1926 [Sarah Blundell]
Dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated ll-9-26. He was most gratified to learn that the Cause is becoming more and more known and appreciated by the peoples in New Zealand. This is as important as the actual increase of the number of the friends, for it means that the principles are gradually permeating the thoughts of the people and making them more ready and receptive to the full identification of their beliefs with the precepts of the Cause.
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to assure you of his prayers for you as well as for the other friends in New Zealand. He hopes that they will increase both in number as well as in spiritual understanding and insight. The reports that we occasionally receive from there are most encouraging and hopeful. It seems that the people there due to their breadth of mind and lack of traditional drawbacks show better prospects than many other places.
With deepest loving greetings,
Yours in His Name, Ruhi Afnan
My dear co-worker:
Your letter rejoiced my heart. I request you to persevere and renew your splendid efforts for the consolidation of the work already achieved. I have great hopes in the 'Herald of the South' and trust that the Editor will be guided and strengthened in his noble undertaking. I shall be obliged if you send me copies of any newspapers that may publish anything on the Cause as I am preparing a collection of them in the Holy Land. Please assure the friends in New Zealand of my continued prayers at the Holy Shrines for the success of their pioneer work.
Your true brother, Shoghi
3 November 1926 [Amy Dewing]
Dear Mrs. Dewing:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated September 13th 1926. He was most grateful to read the nice & encouraging news it contained. He hopes that the "Herald of the South" will daily increase in importance & now that it is coming out in printed form, obtain a great number of readers. You should try from the very start to maintain a high standard for its articles. They should be broad in view, clear in style, and scholarly in their development of the different subjects. In short the public should be taught to consider it as a paper fully worthwhile to read and meditate upon. Shoghi Effendi will remember in his prayers all those who are working in this noble field of service.
Shoghi Effendi desires that you should extend his loving greetings to all the friends in Auckland. He hopes that through their endeavours & the Master's invisible guiding hand they will succeed to raise the standard of the Cause in that land to such heights that it will arouse the interest of all the seeking souls & in due time win their support.
The members of the Master's family are well & send you their loving greetings.
Yours in His Service, Ruhi Afnan
My dear co-worker:
I shall pray with all my heart for the steady development and the growing influence of "The Herald of the South". May its voice grow in strength and power, and may its pages increasingly reflect the dynamic spirit of the Faith, & mirror forth the ever-expanding activities of the friends in Australasia, as well as in distant lands. Persevere in your efforts, let not obstacles damp your goal & determination & rest assured that the Power of God which is reinforcing your efforts will in the end triumph & enable you to fulfil your cherished desire. Shoghi
12 November 1926 [Clara Dunn]
Dear Mrs Dunn,
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated September 24, 1926. He wishes me also to assure you of his prayers. The work you & Mr. Dunn have been & are doing for the Cause in those regions are appreciated & commented upon not only by Shoghi Effendi but also by the other friends. The fruits of your work are too glorious and abundant to escape the notice of the Bahá'í world. Miss Baker who is staying with us obtains every now and then the good news of the progress of the Cause in Australia & New Zealand & shares them with us. We all, therefore, look eagerly to your letters as well as to the other letters that come from those regions, as a source of hopeful signs of the progress of the Cause.
Shoghi Effendi & the other members of the family are well & send you their loving greetings. They wish also to be remembered to Mr. Dunn whose services are considered as a real asset to the Cause and most deeply appreciated.
Yours in His Service, Ruhi Afnan
My dearly-beloved co-worker,
Your letter after such a long silence was a joy, a refreshing encouragement to me. Your beautiful shining example, your restless tireless selfless efforts, the splendid activities your spiritual children are engaged in throughout Australasia are an inspiration to me in my arduous labours. Continually & fervently I shall pray for you & for dear Mr. Dunn that you may be kept happy & safe under His Protection, that your magnificent career of exemplary Service may extend in scope, deepen in influence & achieve your heart's desire.
Your true & grateful brother, Shoghi
30 November 1926 [Mary Juleff, Perth]24
Dear Mrs. Juleff,
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated November 2, 1926. He was most thankful & gratified for the encouraging news about the progress of the Cause there. As it is a new country the people are more receptive to new & broad ideas. The Cause could spread with very great rapidity if properly expounded & its tenets fully represented. Shoghi Effendi prays for your success & hopes that new avenues of work will daily open up before you & give you the chance of serving the promulgation of the divine teachings.
Shoghi Effendi and the other members of the family are well & send you & the other friends there, their loving greetings. The news that we obtain from the different parts of the world are most encouraging & show clearly how living & active is the spirit of the movement.
May I thank you for mentioning me in Shoghi Effendi's letter. I happen to be a brother rather than a sister.
Yours in His Service, Ruhi Afnan
My dear co-worker:
I always eagerly await the news of the progress of the Cause in Australia particularly from the newly-opened centres. You must ever realize that Australia will in time grow to become one of the most important centres in the Bahá'í world for it is rich with many & varied possibilities both material & spiritual. Do not for a moment relax in your efforts, remember the sufferings our Beloved endured, take heart & forge ahead with renewed power & faith.
Your true brother, Shoghi
11 January l927
Dear Bahá'í Sister, Mrs Dewing
Our beloved Guardian has asked me to write to you for him. He is very pleased with your letter of Dec. 8th, which reached him in Jan l0th and he is very glad to hear of your activities in New Zealand. He will pray earnestly that your sincere efforts to make Baha'u'llah's Revelation widely known will bring forth much fruit and have a great result. In the newer countries minds are more open, & the people more ready and willing to receive this great message.
With regard to the Queen of Rumania's 3 articles, he will see that you receive them correctly. He considers the last one in which she acknowledges Muhammad as a true Prophet of God to have great importance for the East, especially in Persia. This evening, personally, have had a most interesting conversation with Dr. Habíb of Kermánsháh, who is now on a visit to Shoghi Effendi with his wife and little girl. He was telling us of the Moslims of Persia - & how during two periods of the year especially, the fanatical mullahs preach against the Bahá'ís from their pulpits - saying to the ignorant "no matter what evil things you have done during your life, or what sins you have committed, if you kill a Baha'i who is an enemy of Islam, or even if you take his property or severely injure him all your own sins will be wiped out and forgiven for the sake of this good deed of destroying such an enemy of the Faith!!" In this way they incite the people to deeds of violence and persecution. He said that the Bahá'í teachings are spreading rapidly amongst the more educated classes, but it is difficult to teach the very poor and ignorant fanatical people. Thus when they do become Believers they are very strong and faithful.
The two periods of particular danger for the Bahá'ís in Persia, are the fast month - & the period of Moharram, which lasts for 8 weeks.
Shoghi Effendi is very interested to hear of the engagement of your son to a Bahá'í young lady - and he prays that in future they may do a great work for the "Cause". He hopes so much that you will recover your full health and strength, and he will pray especially for that. It is good to know that Esperanto is increasingly studied in New Zealand.
He will certainly pray for Miss Palter & your mother as you ask him to do - and also for your dear son and your two daughters. Please accept all best wishes from myself and believe me,
Yours in His Service, Ethel J Rosenberg
My dear and able co-worker:
I have read the issues of the "Herald" with deep joy and thankfulness. I will continue to pray at the Holy Shrines that the invincible power of Bahá'u'lláh may add to your present opportunities, extend the sphere of the Journal, and enable you, individually and collectively, to mirror forth the beauty and the power of this Divine Revelation.
Your true brother, Shoghi
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