A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.

The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »

Messages to Canada

  • Author:

  • Shoghi Effendi

  • Source:
  • Bahá’í Canada Publications
  • Pages:
  • 276
Go to printed page GO
Pages 198-199

Letter of 14 May 1954

14 May 1954

To Mr. and Mrs. Rowland Estall1

Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Your letter of March 17th has been received by the beloved Guardian, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
He deeply appreciates your desire to pioneer, and your unrestricted offer to do whatever you can in whatever field he advises.
He will be very happy to see you in the pioneer field. However, he considers that at the present time the national work in Canada has been weakened through Freddie’s2 death, Rosemary and Emeric Sala’s3 departure and that of John Robarts4 and his family.
In view of this, he advises you to continue living where you are and helping with the national work, which, if weakened to too great an extent through the departure of all the most active members of the National Assembly, will suffer spiritually, and even endanger, he fears, the success of their part of the Ten Year Plan. Perhaps, at a later date, when the national work is in a stronger position, it will be possible for you to enter the pioneering field.
As to your investments, he does not feel this is a subject on which he is qualified to give you advice. You should consult financial experts there, and act wisely.

James and Melba Loft, Tyendinaga Reserve, Ontario, 1960

Allan Raynor, c.1954

First incorporated Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of North York, Ontario, 1956

Seated: Emily Roberts, Doreen Willis, Gisele Muhlschlegel Liedtke, Evelyn Raynor, Margaret Roberts

Standing: Klaus (Harry) Liedtke, George Spendlove, Allan Raynor, Charles Roberts, Jr.

Western Canada Conference, Banff, Alberta, 1954

Bahá’ís of Forest, Ontario on the occasion of the visit of Hand of the Cause Zikrullah Khadem (seated, centre), 1957 (Charles Willey, Photographer)

First incorporated Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Vernon, British Columbia, 1957

Seated: Alice Mann, Knute Westman, Elizabeth Varley, Helen Worth

Standing: Atha MacLean, William MacLean, Catherine Saunders, Austin Collin, Edna Montfort

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada, 1957

Seated: Rowland Estall, Hartwell Bowsfield, Lloyd Gardner, Allan Raynor

Standing: Harold Moscrop, Audrey Westheuser, Peggy Ross, Winnifred Harvey, Fred Graham

Bruce Matthew in his pioneer post, Labrador City, during the Ten Year Crusade

Clifford and Catherine Huxtable, Saltspring Island, British Columbia, 1967

Joan and Ted Anderson with sons Chris and Mark, Whitehorse, Yukon, 1958

188 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, first for national Hazíratu’l-Quds, 1952

274 Huron Street. Toronto, Ontario second property used as national Hazíratu’l-Quds, 1956

15 Lola Road, Toronto, Ontario, third national Hazíratu’l-Quds, acquired September 1957

First land acquired for the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, Cummer Ave. at Bayview Ave., Toronto, Ontario, 1958

Act of Parliament incorporating the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada, 1949
Your tireless and devoted services to our beloved Faith are very deeply appreciated, and he will remember you and your family in his prayers in the Holy Shrines.

With warm Bahá’í love,

R. Rabbani

[From the Guardian:]

Assuring you of my loving prayers for your success and for the realization of every hope you cherish for the promotion of our beloved Faith,

Your true brother,

Shoghi
1.Rowland Estall—a founding member of the Montreal youth group, homefront pioneer to Vancouver and Winnipeg, served on the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada (1948–1972), the Auxiliary Board (1954–63), and as a Counsellor for the Americas for several years in the Caribbean beginning 1973, passed away in 1993.  [ Back To Reference]
2.Siegfried Schopflocher—known as the “Temple Builder” because of his great contributions to the completion of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the West, appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1952, died in Montreal in 1953. For a review of his “numerous, magnificent services” see The Bahá’í World Vol. XII,664–666, In Memoriam.  [ Back To Reference]
3.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]
4.John and Audrey Robarts—John was a member of the National Spiritual Assembly from 1948–53. In 1953 they became Knights of Bahá’u’lláh when they pioneered to Bechuanaland. In 1957 John Robarts was appointed a Hand of the Cause of God. He passed away in Rawdon, Quebec in 1991. See The Bahá’í World Vol. XX, In Memoriam.  [ Back To Reference]