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Letter of January 4th, 1924. |
“I have now to bring to your notice, though possibly you are
already aware of it, a matter which is of the first importance in the
opinion of the National Spiritual Assembly as you will see from
one of the paragraphs of the enclosed minutes of its first meeting,
which was held on October 13th. So far the programme of the
conference on the ‘Living Religions within the British Empire’ is
in a somewhat nebulous condition, but I have ascertained from Miss
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Sharples, the honorary secretary of the committee of organization,
that the conference has been approved by the authorities of the
British Empire Exhibition 1924 and will last for ten days, covering
the last week of the month of September and the first three days
of October. It is proposed that all religions taught and practiced
throughout the British Empire shall be represented at the conference,
including the Christians, Muhammadans, Buddhists, Brahma
Somaj, Theosophists and others, and that each one in turn shall
have at its disposal a day or part of a day for a meeting to expound
its principles and deal with its organization and objects.”
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In their last letter, the members of the National Spiritual Assembly
of Great Britain further informed me that the idea of the
above-mentioned conference has originated with the Theosophical
Society, but these having later dropped its management, the organization
of the conference passed into the hands of the School
of Oriental Studies and the Sociological Society. You will also
note from the enclosed copy of a letter addressed by the same Miss
Sharples to the President of the British National Spiritual Assembly
that the time offered to the Bahá’í representatives will be
very limited, and that most probably the allotted time will be just
sufficient to read their papers or deliver their address and engage
in the discussion that might arise after their formal presentation of
the Cause.
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As the British Empire Exhibition, of which this conference
forms a part, is itself a semi-official undertaking, and receives
actually the generous support and active participation of the government
authorities throughout the British Empire, I feel that the
opportunities now offered to the Bahá’í world should not be missed,
as this chance, if properly utilized, might arouse and stimulate
interest among the enlightened public.
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As so much will depend upon the nature and general presentation
of the theme, rather than upon the personality of the reader
or speaker, I feel that, first and foremost, our attention should be
concentrated on the choice and thorough preparation of the subject
matter as well as on the proper drafting and the form of the paper
itself, which might possibly have to be submitted afterwards to the
authorities of the conference.
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I feel the necessity of entrusting this highly important and delicate
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task to a special committee, to be appointed most carefully by
the National Spiritual Assembly of America, and consisting of those
who by their knowledge of the Cause, their experience in matters
of publicity, and particularly by their power of expression and
beauty of style will be qualified to produce a befitting statement on
the unique history of the Movement as well as its lofty principles.
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I am enclosing an article on the Bahá’í Movement which I trust
might serve as a basis and example of the paper in question. An
account of the most salient features of the history of the Cause,
a brief but impressive reference to its many heroes and martyrs, a
convincing and comprehensive presentation of its basic principles,
and a characteristic survey of the Master’s life, as well as a short
but graphic description of the present position and influence of the
Movement both in the East and the West, should, in my opinion,
be included and combined into one conclusive argument. Its length
should not surpass that of the enclosed article, and its general tone,
expression and language should be at once dignified, sober and
forceful.
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Mr. Simpson, the President of the British National Spiritual
Assembly, writes that Miss Grand from Canada has suggested the
names of Dr. Watson and Mr. J. O. McCarthy of Toronto to represent
the Canadian Bahá’ís. I would be pleased to receive your
views as to who should represent Canada at the Conference. India
is the only other country within the British Empire that can send a
native Bahá’í representative to the conference, and it is rather unfortunate
that the United States of America should have to be
excluded, as the speakers at the conference must necessarily be subjects
of the British Empire.
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1. | Published in “The Star of the West.” [ Back To Reference] |