Citadel of Faith
Copyright © 1965 by the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Bahá'ís of the United States
All Rights Reserved
Sixth printing 1999

ISBN 0-87743-011-X (cloth)
ISBN 0-87743-145-0 (paper)


PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA



Preface
      The communications of Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, addressed by him directly to the Bahá'ís of North America between 1932 and 1946 were published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States in 1947 under the title "Messages to America, 1932-1946."
      This compilation covered a period during which the structure of the Administrative Order of Bahá'u'lláh was firmly established under the infallible guidance of the Guardian, and the foundations laid for the preponderating role which the American Bahá'í Community was destined to assume in the intercontinental and global teaching plans launched by Shoghi Effendi in 1946 and 1953.
      In the period from 1950 to 1957 the beloved Guardian addressed a series of majestic messages to the entire Bahá'í world, delineating the unprecedented Ten Year World Crusade and reporting the stirring victories achieved in pursuance of its objectives. The response evoked by these communications in the hearts of the believers everywhere brought about an unprecedented expansion of the Faith, culminating in the world-wide celebrations of the Most Great Jubilee in 1963, the fulfillment of the prophetic pronouncements relating to that date, and made possible the establishment of the Universal House of Justice, that supreme and infallible body which now guides the destinies of the world-wide Bahá'í community. The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States published these messages in 1958 in a volume entitled "Messages to the Bahá'í World, 1950-1957."
      In the decade from 1947 to 1957 Shoghi Effendi, in a separate series of messages, repeatedly addressed the American Bahá'ís, describing in challenging terms their world mission, reminding them of their spiritual primacy as the trustees and executors of the Divine Plan of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, and reinforcing that primacy with the mysterious power of accomplishment inherent in his words of encouragement and exhortation.
      At this time, when the American Bahá'í Community faces an ever-increasing measure of responsibility as it moves forward to attain the goals of the Nine Year Plan, it is particularly befitting that these communications


from the Guardian of the Faith be collected and made available in a single source. The present volume includes all of those messages addressed by Shoghi Effendi directly and exclusively to the Bahá'ís of the United States in the critical and historic years of the last decade of his ministry, a period when the flow of his guidance and inspiration reached its zenith.
      It is certain that a careful study of these communications will impart to the reader a profound understanding of the unique character of the mission conferred upon the American Bahá'í Community, not only in foreign fields but on its own home front, and will reveal to the individual members of that favored community a new vision of the nature of that spiritual primacy which is their birthright.
PAUL HANEY

Bahá'í World Center
Haifa, Israel
September 1965



"the stalwart occupants of the citadel of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh have with extraordinary steadfastness, enviable fidelity and magnificent courage, not only shielded the interests, preserved the integrity and demonstrated the worthiness of the Cause they have embraced, but have sallied forth, with dynamic and irrepressible energy, to implant its banner and establish its outposts in countries and continents far beyond the original scene of their operations." –SHOGHI EFFENDI


'Abdul-Bahá quotations from, 10, 12, 16, 27-31, 37, 53, 113, 121 relation to believers; help petitioned, 63, 157, 158 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Divine Tablets or Plan 'Abdu'l-Bahá's longing to pioneer, 29, 132 American Bahá'í Community exalted, 66 Canadians called to support, 11, 12 described, 6, 7, 123, 124 Europe mentioned, 20 executed in second epoch of Formative Age, 6 executors of Plan challenged, 30, 31 first epoch of Plan, 67, 68 fourfold objective, 7 launched in first epoch of Formative Age, 5 Northeastern States, U.S. and Canada addressed, 27, 28 'Abdu'l-Hamíd, 54, 72 Administrative Headquarters acquired in two years, over 30, 145 See also Convention Messages and Hazíratu'l-Quds Administrative Order consummation promised, 6 "embryonic" World Order of Bahá'u'lláh, 140 erection of basic institutions, 145 fast evolving, 2 incorporation of assemblies, 9–See also Local and National Spiritual Assemblies primary stages, 5 structure in Europe, 3 Africa American assistance, 87-90 first pioneer; more needed, 99 NSA to be established and incorporated, 108 Temple land in South Africa to be purchased, 118 Temple to be built in heart of continent, 138 virgin territories to be opened, 107 See also Convention Messages 'Akká, Qiblih of Bahá'í World, 96 Alaska development urged, 9, 10 NSA to be established, 108 See also Convention Messages American Bahá'í Community achievements, tasks and goals, 41-43, 48, 49, 51-55, 83-87, 151-153, 156, 157 "Army of Light," 120 assigned "lion's share," due to ite "primacy," 151 bond with Guardian strengthened, 88, 89 "Challenging Requirements," 4-37 described, 49, 51-55, 123, 124, 143-146 destiny, 32, 33 divine embryonic Order to affect American nation, 38 duties of Second Seven Year Plan enlarged, 103, 104 exalted by 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 66 freedom, take advantage of, 40, 41, 140, 141 greatest exploits urged, 58 Guardian, praying for, 55, 73, 78, 143, 150 history reviewed, 33-36 home front situation deplored, 142 instructed specifically, 31 Írán, American duties during persecution, r33-r38, 140-142 loyalty after family defections, 88, 89 mission, 32, 33 opportunity, challenge, responsibility, 91-93, 132, 140-142, 157, 158 "outpouring of grace," 56 plea tor steadfast service, 105 praised and encouraged, 43, 44, 46, 48, 49, 51-55, 73-78, 83-87, 111, 112, 121-124, 142-146, 149-153 primacy, 49, 104, 122, 127-130, 151 rededication requested, 83, 150 represented at International Conferences, 157 sacrifices required, 120, 121 services recognized, 43, 44 sixty years' service reviewed, 110-113 spiritual descendants of dawn-breakers, 109 teaching in Africa, 87, 88 Ten-Year Crusade tasks, 113-112 tested, to be, 66, 67 tribulations of, 58-60 warnings to, 45, 127, 128 See also Convention Messages, Funds, Temples American nation 'Abdu'l-Bahá's predictions, 37 American Bahá'í Community and nation, two processes, 31-34 corruption, 123-127 crisis, passing through, 124 evils, 149, 153, 154 evolution, process of, 32, 33 Temple built during depression, 86 World Crusade must affect, 114 Auxiliary Boards, American, 146 Báb, the Centenary of martyrdom; eulogy; history, 66, 80-83 remains form physical center, 95, 96 Báb, Shrine of the Americans' responsibilities, 84-86 arcade, 51, 58, 64, 67, 74, 78 dome, 44, 53, 80 history reviewed, 53 plans for, 44, 48 plea for funds, 91-93 progress, parallel to Temple's, 53 progress reported, 78-80 See also Convention Messages Bábís' sacrifices in first century; parallel sacrifices now, 66 Bahá'í Faith or World Community achievements, history, 56-58 dual processes accelerated, 71-73 progress during second epoch foretold, 6, 7 progress since Báb's time reviewed, 4, 5 recognition may come from persecution in Irán, 141 Bahá'ís Americans warned against national evils, 149 individual believers, 130-132, 148-150, 155, 157 military duty, relation to, 90 Bahá'u'lláh centenary of first intimation of Mission, 71, 106 centennial of first imprisonment, 99 Inaugurator of five thousand century cycle, 80 Bahá'u'lláh quoted addressed minister of the shah, 139 addressed rulers of America, 18, 19 awakening to His Mission, 101 contribution of the West, 30 persecution of Faith, 139 plea to respond to Revelation, 30 teachers, 120 Believers–See Bahá'ís Bible Prophecies–See Prophecies fulfilled Canada NSA formed, 51 preparation tor NSA, 10-12 See also Convention Messages Central America–See Latin America Consolidation during Ten-Year Crusade, 107–See also Deepening in Faith Convention Messages 1947, 2-4 1948, 46-50 1949, 71-73 1953–World Crusade tasks, 106-109 For other Convention Messages see Messages to the Bahá'í World Covenant-breakers Badí'u'lláh, 79, 89 Hussein, 78, 79 Muhammad-'Alí, 79 Musa, 89 Ruha, 87 Ruhi and his mother, 87 Shoa, 89 Credentials of believers, 4 Daniel, 50, 105 See also Prophecies fulfilled Deepening in Faith, 14–See also Consolidation Dependency of Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, 108 Elsenhower (President) re: massacre in Persia, 133, 136 Endowments national; over $20,000 in two years, 145 national, to be established during Crusade, 108 new endowments–See Convention Messages Europe achievements reported, 71, 72 budget reduction not permitted, 65 consolidation, 2, 73 countries (10) to be opened, 22-26 crusade launched, 20, 21 importance of crusade, 24-26 mission to be "rounded off," 97, 98 needs and objectives, 1 objectives achieved, 102 pioneers, 1, 4, 25, 26, 41, 78 work there urged, 60, 61 See also Pioneers and Temple Evils–See American nation Funds Administrative Headquarters, over $100,000, 145 African Temple, for, 138 austerity program (two years), 83-85 budget for 1949-1950, 63-65 curtailment of activities, 65 European and Australian Temples, for, 156 Hazíras, intensify efforts to purchase, 142 International Center, for, 106 material resources required, 154, 155 national deficit shows failure, 97 national endowments, over $20,000, 145 non-Bahá'í gifts for charity only, 87 plea at state conventions for National Fund, 99 plea to complete Temple, 50, 67-71 plea to complete Shrine, 91-97 "Save-the-Persecuted Fund," 137, 138 Wilmette property, other needs greater, 80 World Order Magazine budget to Temple Fund, 65, 66 See also Temple Greatest Name, not for tombstones, 132 Hands of Cause, fruitful efforts, 146 Hazíratu'l-Quds–See Administrative Headquarters for establishment of new–See Convention Messages History reviewed at Centenary of Báb's Martyrdom, 80-83 at Centenary of Bahá'u'lláh's imprisonment, 99, 100 early history shows obstacles can be overcome, 149 persecution of Bahá'ís in past, 133, 134 See also Convention Messages Home Front deficiencies warned against, 153, 154, 157 devitalization deplored, 147 needs enumerated, 147, 148 See also Bahá'ís (individual believers) Hujjat, 66, 100 Incorporation of Assemblies–See Convention Messages and Local Spiritual Assemblies Indian teaching initial contacts to be developed, 16, 17 specified in Ten-Year Crusade, 109 See also Convention Messages Intercontinental Conferences announced, 156, 157 International Bahá'í Council formed, 90 work praised, described, 146, 147 See also Convention Messages International Center or Community– See World Center loas, Leroy, 55 Írán, persecutions in–See American Bahá'í Community and Persecution Jamál Páshá, 54, 72 Kitáb-i-Aqdas to be codified in Formative Age, 6 Latin America achievements, 71, 72 activities, invigorate, 15, 73 Administration to be developed, 14, 15 Bahá'ís addressed, 19 Bahá'u'lláh, rulers of republics addressed by, 18, 19 budget reduction not permitted, 65 consolidation urged, 17, 60, 61 duties enlarged, 60, 61 Indian teaching, 16, 17 mission to be "rounded off," 97 needs enumerated, 76 NSA's to be established, 14, 107 objectives achieved, 102 Panama to be developed, 17 praise for intensified activity, 89 proclamation urged, 15, 16 progress, 13 See also Convention Messages League of Nations, impetus to U.S. evolution, 32 Lesser Peace, 6, 33 Local Spiritual Assemblies incorporation of 100 in U.S., 108 incorporation of other, 108 not broken for pioneering, 122 number formed–See Convention Messages number in U.S. to be 300, 108 number must increase, not decline, 75 number to be quadrupled during Crusade, 108 one in every state and province of Americas, 7, 8 See also Convention Messages Localities where Bahá'ís reside–See Convention Messages Mashriqu'l-Adhkár, first dependency of American, 108 See also Temples Mass conversion, entry "by troops," 117 Maxwell, William Sutherland, 55 Mullá Husayn, 66, 100 National Spiritual Assemblies Africa, all to work in opening, 90 aided during Ten-Year Crusade, 107 established and incorporated in Ten-Year Crusade, 107, 108 Europe: headquarters and nuclei for ten, 24, 25 Latin America and Canada, 2, 3 See also Convention Messages Panama Republic 'Abdu'l-Bahá, named importance of, 17 development, 17–See also Convention Messages land for Temple, 108, 122 Persecution in Irán American aid praised, 144 attacks on Bahá'ís and properties, 135, 136 counter measures described, 136 crisis, 134, 135 emancipation may follow, 141 God's power seen in events, 140 massacre of Bahá'ís: President Eisenhower appealed to, 133 publicizes Faith, 139, 140 Pioneers Africa, first to; more asked, 99 deputies requested, 4 Europe, for, 1, 4, 26, 27, 38, 78 most meritorious objective, 118 "new blood" reanimates Bahá'í Community, 117 "Scroll of Honor," 119 teaching–See "Challenging Requirements" unprecedented increase in, 150 World Crusade, called for in, 109, 110 See also Convention Messages and names of continents Progress reports first three years after Centenary (1944), 2, 3 See also Convention Messages Prophecies fulfilled Daniel, year "1335" identified, 32 "third woe" (ninth year) and year "after Hin," 101 Publishing Trust, 109 See also Convention Messages Quddús, 66 Ransom-Kehler, Keith, 38 Root, Martha, 13 Roosevelt, President, 33 Second Seven Year Plan achievements, 2-4, 46-48 assemblies, safeguarded and increased, 44, 45 first year–fuller participation needed, 1 fourfold objectives, 8-26 "last irretrievable chance" for victory, 99-105 objectives almost reached, 102, 103 progress, 55, 67, 68, 71-73 tasks, additional for Americans, 97 tasks, prosecution of, 42, 43, 56, 97, 98 See also Convention Messages South America–See Latin America Summer schools curtail or suspend, 65 "may be reopened," 90 new, during Ten-Year Crusade, 109 Táhirih, 100 Teaching 'Abdu'l-Bahá's instructions, 27-30 Atrica being opened; Americans help, 87, 88 emergency program urged, 46 Europe, 20-22, 25, 26 expansion praised, 38, 71-73 intensification urged, 7, 8 Latin America, 15-18 plans of various NSA's, 2, 3 requirements, world-wide, 77 specific goals, 8, 9 See also Convention Messages Temple, African land to be purchased in South Africa, 118 to be built in heart of continent, 138 Temple, American 'Abdu'l-Bahá's words describing effect, 69 completion, 8, 69, 98 contributions praised, 1 landscaping, 89, 98, 108 ornamentation, 50, 64, 65 progress, 55, 60, 73, 78, 79 visitors, 1947-48, 17,000, 47–See also Convention Messages World Order Magazine budget to Temple Fund, 65, 66 Temple, Australian, allotment of funds for, 156 Temple, European, allotment of funds for, 156 Temples, other four sites to be purchased, 108 Panama site purchased, 122 See also Convention Messages Temple sites acquired–See Convention Messages Territories opened–See Convention Messages to be opened in Ten-Year Crusade, 107 Time periods Ages, Bahá'í Apostolic and Heroic or Primitive Age (1844-1921), 4, 5 Formative (second) or Iron Age, 5 –See also Epochs, below Golden, consummating this Dispensation, 6 Centuries of Bahá'í Era second: opening years, achievements, 2 Dispensations: Bahá'u'lláh's and later ones, 5 Epochs first two epochs of Formative Age, 5, 6 first of Formative Age ends as second century begins, 4 first of World Order evolution to end in "1335," 32 second of Formative Age, 2 Translation of Writings–See Convention Messages United Nations extended recognition to Faith, 48 gave United States outline for evolution, 32, 33 relations with–See Convention Messages Universal House of Justice election in Formative Age, 6 heralded, 85 institution and auxiliary agencies, 95 Vahíd, 66, 100 Wilson, President, 32, 36 World Center developments (physical), 94 developments and service, 146, 147 endowments–See Convention Messages Mt. Carmel property transferred to NSA of America, Palestine branch, 44 spiritual significance of, 95-97 Universal House of Justice hearlded, 85 upbuilding achieved by sacrificial gifts, 93 See also 'Akká World conditions convulsions more violent, 58 deepening crisis, dark outlook, 56, 58 dying world order, 61, 62 worsening international situation, 68 See also American nation World Crusade achievements to July 1956, 145, 146 fourth phase: what it "must witness," 155, 156 most essential objectives attained, deficiencies threaten, 153 preview, 104, 105 requirements to maintain American primacy, 127-130 responsibilities for 1957-58, 150 specific goals stressed, 142 tasks of, 107-109, 113-122 World Order announced by the Báb, 81 birth will signalize coming of Lesser Peace, 58 first epoch to end in "1335," 32 prelude to birth: conditions described, 39 World Order Magazine, 65, 66, 90