Dear Bahá'í Sister:
Your loving letter of March 28th was duly received, carrying with it the strong spirit which animates the friends in Germany.
The answers to the questions which you raised in your letter are as follows:
The Guardian advises that he will leave to your discretion, just how the $1,000 which is available in America is to be used, in connection with the Endowment. In other words, you may purchase another piece of land for the $1,000; may apply it to repair of existing holdings, other than the Hazira, such as the House in Esslingen--or put it in the Temple Fund.
1. The goals of the Ten Year Crusade include the purchase of an endowment for Germany. By referring to page 72 of the British Statistical Book, issued at the beginning of the Ten Year Crusade, you will note, that Germany is listed as requiring an endowment. I think the Assembly should correspond with the American National Spiritual Assembly, so that the One Thousand Dollars which Mrs. Collins has made available may be sent to you.
2. The beloved Guardian advises that he has ... on his list of those who wish to make the pilgrimage. As soon as it is possible for them to come, he will inform them. You might explain to these dear friends that there are a great many Persian Bahá'ís who wish to make the pilgrimage; and the Guardian feels he must invite them on the basis of the date of their application. In other words, those who asked for permission first would be the first to be invited to make the pilgrimage.
3. I did not present to the Guardian the question of new Bahá'ís in Greece being allowed to remain in their church after they become Bahá'ís, because I knew there was no such situation existing. The Guardian does not wish to be asked to make rulings on situations which might develop. He has already enunciated very clearly the principle that when people become Bahá'ís, they should, if not immediately, then within a short time, leave the church. If there is any exception to be made to these rules, it would be on specific instances, and on specific application of a national assembly.
When the pioneers in Greece have any individuals ready to become Bahá'ís, and then if the church question is a deterring factor, perhaps at that time your Assembly will wish to take the matter up with the Guardian. I am sure he would not want to issue a ruling on a possible future case.
If this handling is not satisfactory to your Assembly, and you wish me to present the matter to the Guardian, in that event let me know and I will do so.
4. I hope some arrangement is worked out to handle the publication of Russian literature. It will be of advantage at this time for local teaching and therefore what can--should certainly be prepared. I did inform Mrs. Sommerau that I would see that her pamphlet was financed, and I have had some correspondence with her and Marion Little concerning the matter. As developments occur, I will be glad to let you know....
The Guardian sends his loving Greetings to the members of the N.S.A.