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Messages to Canada

  • Author:

  • Shoghi Effendi

  • Source:
  • Bahá’í Canada Publications
  • Pages:
  • 276
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Pages 230-231

Letter of 10 November 1955

10 November 1955

To the New Territories Committee

Dear Bahá’í Sister:
Your loving letter of October 19th came duly to hand, and its contents were presented to the beloved Guardian. The Guardian has instructed me to give you the following answers to the questions which you raised:
1. Special situations exist in Alaska, in consideration of which the Guardian permitted individuals living in military establishments situated close to cities with Bahá’ís to be included in the area of the Assembly of that city.
He feels the same situation does not exist in the Yukon, and therefore does not approve of this principle for the Yukon Territory. He feels that the Bahá’ís must be resident in any city in order to be members of that Assembly.
2. The Guardian instructs that in Samoa all of the Holy Days should be celebrated in accordance with the Solar calendar, in accordance with the practice of the Western Bahá’ís. The Guardian of course has in mind that the Bahá’ís in the East follow the Lunar calendar, for certain of the Holy Days. He has in mind especially the instructions in the Aqdas with regard to the Twin Festivals. However as the Faith develops around the world there are many problems involved in the observance of certain of the Holy Days, particularly the Twin Festivals according to the Lunar Calendar.
In the future, no doubt all of the Holy Days will follow the Solar calendar, and provisions be made as to how the Twin Festivals will be celebrated universally.
As indicated above, there are many problems involved in the application of the statements concerning the Twin Festivals, which will have to be worked out by the House of Justice.
Thus for the present, in all of the western world, and in all of the virgin areas as they become settled, even if by pioneers from the East and the West, the Solar or Western calendar should be observed.
The Guardian sends you and the members of your distinguished committee his loving greetings.

Faithfully yours,

Leroy Ioas