Letters from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand

The Guardian has instructed me to acknowledge your letter dated June 27th and also two previous ones from the former secretary of the N.S.A. dated Feb. 6th and Aug. 27th, and to answer them on his behalf.

He deeply appreciates all the work done by dear Miss Brooks in the past as Secretary of the National Assembly, and hopes that now that she is relieved of this arduous post she will devote much of her time to teaching and writing for the Faith.

The sacrifice you and your husband are making by moving to Sydney in order to attend to the work of the N.S.A. is truly 51 praiseworthy, and he hopes the way will open for you to do so at an early date.

In connection with the incorporation of the N.S.A.: the Guardian feels that whatever form the incorporation takes the name and seal of the Nat. assembly must not be changed in any way, i.e. the title “National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Australia and New Zealand” should be preserved.

The various enclosures you forwarded in your letter were all received safely by him.

He hopes that now that the National Headquarters has been established and you are going to take up residence there as Secretary—thus giving a new permanence and prestige to the functions of the N.S.A.—the work of the Faith will go ahead by leaps and bounds. The many groups now functioning should be aided and strengthened with a view to forming new Spiritual Assemblies as soon as possible, and the Cause should be given publicity as much as possible, through the Press, Radio and public meetings.

You may be sure his most loving prayers will be offered for the success of your labours as N.S.A. secretary, and for your health and guidance. Also for the confirmation of your dear husband in the Faith.

The work accomplished by the Australian and New Zealand believers in recent years, in both the teaching and administrative spheres of Bahá’í activity, culminating in the splendid celebrations at the newly established national headquarters in the capital city of the Australian Commonwealth, is highly praiseworthy and augurs well for the future. The opening years of the new century must witness a stupendous effort on the part of the newly established community in the teaching field—an effort at once nation-wide, systematic, strenuous and persistent. The multiplication of Bahá’í centres in towns and villages, a greater measure of publicity, a higher degree of unity and consecration to the Faith, a fuller measure of self-sacrifice should distinguish the labours of the members of this community. I will pray from the depths of my heart for the removal of every obstacle from 52 your path and the speedy realization of every hope you cherish for the promotion of His Faith and the consolidation of its institutions.