Recent developments in the Holy Land have led various organizations
in the Jewish world to contemplate seriously the early
possibility of transferring to Palestine’s sacred soil the mortal remains
of certain prominent founders and leaders of Jewish thought,
and Mount Carmel, which next to ‘Akká’s Most Holy Shrine is the
most cherished object of Bahá’í veneration, has been cited on various
occasions as a permanent and most befitting burial ground for their
illustrious dead. Surely the Bahá’ís of the world, ever on the alert
and with an eye to the future, will, no matter how pressed by financial
obligations, arise while there is yet time to contribute each his
share in securing for posterity such land as lies in close proximity
to the Holy Shrine—an area the acquisition of which in time will
prove indispensable if the sublime vision of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is to be
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realized. I appeal to you, and through you to every earnest and
conscientious believer, to safeguard in particular the land extending
southward from these Shrines which now, alas! is gravely exposed
to the assaults of covetous and speculating interests. I am loth to
press further claims on friends who have displayed so magnificent a
spirit of self-sacrifice on several occasions in the past, but I feel the
urge of a sacred and impelling responsibility to call your attention
to what I conceive to be one of the worldwide issues of the greatest
moment requiring a prompt, generous and collective response. I
may add that whatever land is purchased will be registered in the
name of the contributor, and I would therefore request every contributing
believer to forward together with his donation such power
of attorney as will legally empower me to transact in his name and
on his behalf the purchase of the plot he desires to acquire. It would
be desirable to forward small contributions to the National Spiritual
Assembly, who will then decide upon the manner in which the
transaction should be conducted.