Messages to Canada

  • Author:

  • Shoghi Effendi

  • Source:
  • Bahá’í Canada Publications
  • Pages:
  • 276
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Pages 61-63

Letter of 28 April 1939

28 April 1939

To an individual believer

Dear Bahá’í Sister,
Your welcome letter of the 17th March addressed to our beloved Guardian has been duly received, and it pleased him very deeply indeed to know of your appointment as chairman of the Temple Guide Committee, in which capacity, he hopes and will fervently pray, you will be able to render outstanding services to the Faith.
The work which the Bahá’í guides at the Temple are called upon to undertake is truly difficult and delicate, and requires such combination of qualities as sound knowledge of the Teachings, ability, tact and wisdom for their adequate and effective presentation as few believers can claim to possess. Only those who are considered well equipped, both intellectually and spiritually, should be selected for this type of work, and it is the duty of the Temple Guide Committee to exercise the utmost care in making such selection.
Those serving as Temple guides should, in all their contacts with the visitors, maintain the full dignity of the Cause, and provide the inquirers with accurate information regarding the Faith, and stress the universal aspects of the Teachings such as world unity, and its various implications. Political questions and all controversial subjects touching current political affairs should be strictly avoided. The conflicting political systems and philosophies of the day should neither be praised, nor censured, but the fact should be stressed that whatever the political regime under which it is enforced no purely national programme can be considered as adequate and self-sufficient. It is on the higher plane of international co-operation that the problems and difficulties now facing the world should be discussed and solved, and nothing short of the fire of a universal ordeal can succeed in infusing the right spirit in the hearts of the masses and leaders alike.
The station of Bahá’u’lláh, and the significance of the age in which He has appeared, together with the supreme and infallible remedy which His Teachings offer to ailing humanity should be equally stressed, in a clear and unequivocal language.
Those inquirers who are found to be receptive should be given more detailed information, and presented, on demand, with comprehensive and authoritative literature on the Faith.
With regard to your activities in connection with the training and education of Bahá’í children: needless to tell you what a vital importance the Guardian attaches to such activities, on which so much of the strength, welfare and growth of the Community must necessarily depend. What a more sacred privilege, and also what a weightier responsibility than the task of rearing up the new generation of believers, and of inculcating into their youthful and receptive minds the principles and teachings of the Cause, and of thus preparing them to fully assume, and properly discharge the weighty responsibilities and obligations of their future life in the Bahá’í Community.
The Guardian wishes you and your dear co-workers in this field continued success in your highly-meritorious services, and will specially pray for the guidance and confirmation of your efforts. He further wishes me to assure you of his prayers for the realization of your hope of visiting the Holy Shrines, together with your dear husband.

With his cordial greetings to you both,

Yours in His Service,

H. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh guide and sustain you in your activities, cheer your heart, illumine your path and fulfil the dearest wish of your heart in His service,

Your true brother,

Shoghi