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Messages to Canada

  • Author:

  • Shoghi Effendi

  • Source:
  • Bahá’í Canada Publications
  • Pages:
  • 276
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Pages 188-189

Letter of 28 December 1953

28 December 1953

To Rosemary Sala1

Dear Bahá’í Sister:
Your letter of December 10th has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He was very happy to learn that you and your dear husband are planning to go to the Comoro Islands. This is a very difficult goal area, to which he attaches the greatest importance.
The Guardian feels you should be very, very wise and discreet in teaching the Faith in that virgin area; otherwise, you may find you have been asked to leave the country, after having, with such difficulty, succeeded in getting into it....
The best thing would be to make friends, and, through your liberality and tolerance of their point of view, ... win over the hearts of the people, and then gradually, when you find those who have faith and are receptive, to teach them quietly in your home.
You should not give any publicity to your work at all. You should keep in touch with the Guardian, and also with the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India, Pakistan and Burma.
Your services are very, very deeply appreciated; and the Guardian is very happy indeed that the Canadian National Assembly has had a part through its members in carrying out the work of the great Crusade.

He will pray for your success in your historic venture.

With warm Bahá’í love,

R. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless, guide and sustain you, and enable you to promote, at all times, the vital interests of His Faith,

Your true brother,

Shoghi
1.Emeric and Rosemary Sala—members of the National Spiritual Assembly 1948–53. During the first and second Seven Year Plans, they pioneered to Venezuela (1940–41) and travelled throughout Latin America. In 1953 they pioneered to South Africa, and returned to Canada in 1968. In 1971 they pioneered to Mexico, where Rosemary died in 1980. Emeric passed away in 1990. See The Bahá’í World Vol. XVIII, 713–715, and Vol. XX, In Memoriam.  [ Back To Reference]