|  | Letter of 10 November 1955 | 
	| 1 | Dear Bahá'í Friend: | 
	| 2 | The beloved Guardian has reviewed very carefully your 
recent letter dealing with the designs for the Temple to be 
built in Germany.  He wishes the following explanations to 
be made to you, and I am therefore enumerating them, so 
that there may be no misunderstanding. | 
	| 3 | 1.  The Guardian has not definitely chosen the Temple 
design "Azamat" as the one for the Temple in Germany.  Of 
the submissions which have been made up to this time, he 
feels this is the one that is best susceptible of development 
for the final design of the Temple.  He wishes it clear 
however that up to the present he has not definitely accepted 
this design. | 
	| 4 | 2.  The Guardian does not wish to interfere unduly with 
the national tastes nor the actions of the National Assembly; 
but he attaches the utmost importance to the Temple in 
Eschborn, as this is the first Temple in Europe, and the only 
one to be constructed in Europe during the Ten Year 
Crusade.  Therefore he feels that this House of Worship 
must represent throughout Europe the dignity and spirit of 
the Faith. | 
	| 5 | 3.  The Guardian therefore feels that we should not accept 
an ultra-modern building, which represents more or less the 
current spirit of the time, rather than the delicate 
 
architectural beauty which the spirit of the Faith should 
engender. | 
	| 6 | 4.  The Guardian would be happy if your Assembly could 
produce a design of a building, graceful in outline, with a 
dome.  If they can do this he will be very pleased.  The main 
thing for the architect to consider is the mass of the 
building, the outline of the building and its architectural 
beauty.  Most of the sacred buildings, including the Temple 
at Wilmette, include elements of the previous schools of 
architecture in an ensemble that seems to present something 
new.  He thinks the architects should study the graceful mass 
of the Wilmette Temple, of the design of Mr. Remey for the 
Temple on Mt. Carmel, and the Shrine of the Báb, as well as 
the outline of the domes of important buildings, particularly 
the dome of St. Peters in Rome.  In this way they will get an 
idea of proportions which they feel are suitable.  The details 
and the style is somewhat secondary and is left to the 
architect's taste. | 
	| 7 | 5.  The ten year period of the Crusade is running along 
very rapidly; and the Guardian therefore hopes that your 
Assembly will present him with your final views in 
connection with the Temple design at a very early date; 
otherwise he is fearful this most important project will not 
be consummated within the Ten Year period. | 
	| 8 | The beloved Guardian was very sorry to learn of the 
illness of Dr. Mühlschlegel.  He wishes to assure you and 
likewise to assure Dr. Mühlschlegel of his loving prayers for 
Dr. Mühlschlegel's complete recovery.  He values Dr. 
Mühlschlegel's services very highly, and he hopes he will 
soon be able to again become most active in the Bahá'í 
work.... | 
	| 9 | The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf.  
He sends each his loving Greetings.  
 
November 1955
[Letter without date, was received 23rd November 1955.]
 
 
Dear Bahá'í Friends: | 
	| 10 | The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you in 
connection with your recent letter to him concerning the 
Temple to be built in Germany. | 
	| 11 | The beloved Master has not given very many details 
concerning the House of Worship.  He has written in tablets, 
however, that the building must be round, and be 9-sided.  
The Guardian feels that at this time all Bahá'í temples 
should have a dome.  In other words, the instructions of the 
Master to have a round, 9-sided building must be very 
carefully carried out; but in addition the Guardian feels the 
Temples built now should likewise have a dome. | 
	| 12 | The Guardian sees no objections to asking other 
architects to collaborate with the architect of the design 
"Azamat".  However it should be understood that the 
Guardian does not wish this collaboration or adaptation to 
result in the ultra-modern type of building which is the 
motif of the submissions which have been made, and which 
he has rejected. | 
	| 13 | The Guardian advises that the 2 designs which are 
favored by your Assembly and the architects of Germany 
are not acceptable; and therefore correspondence with 
regard to these designs is no longer necessary. | 
	| 14 | Time moves on, and the Guardian therefore hopes that 
the result of the collaboration and adaptation of the Azamat 
design will be presented to him in the near future. | 
	| 15 | The Guardian has no objections of course to new designs 
being presented; but they must carry with them the dignified 
spirit of the Faith, and must be in keeping with the 
 
 
distinction and honor which comes to the temples now 
being built being the first in their respective continents. | 
	| 16 | My letter of November 10th outlines in a little more 
detail what the Guardian has in mind for Bahá'í temples; 
and he hopes that something suitable may soon be found for 
a temple in Germany. | 
	| 17 | The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf, 
and sends you his loving greetings.... |