|  | Letter of 24 October 1947 | 
	| 1 | Dear Bahá'í Friends: | 
	| 2 | Your letters to our beloved Guardian, dated Dec. 4th, 
1946, Jan. 6th, March 19th, June 15th, Aug. 27th and 
 
Sept. 28th, 1947, have all been received, and he has 
instructed me to answer you on his behalf.  He has also 
received a letter, on behalf of your secretary, written by Dr. 
Köller-Jager, and enclosing an English translation of your 
minutes.  This was dated March 13th. | 
	| 3 | In regard to the various matters you have raised in these 
letters: | 
	| 4 | He noted the report of Mrs Grossmann about her meeting 
with the grandchild of Subh-i-Azal.  He feels that the friends 
should as much as possible avoid her, as it is very unlikely 
she has anything but prejudice against Bahá'u'lláh, in view 
of her background. | 
	| 5 | He deeply appreciated the message of love and loyalty 
you sent him on the occasion of the celebration of twenty-five 
years of Guardianship. | 
	| 6 | He is extremely pleased to see the way the Cause is 
spreading in Germany, and the steady growth in the number 
of the assemblies there.  This would be a remarkable 
achievement under normal circumstances, but in view of the 
weakened state of the health of the Bahá'ís and the 
hardships they and their countrymen are undergoing, it is 
little short of heroic.  The Bahá'ís everywhere are watching 
the labours of their German brothers and sisters with deep 
admiration. | 
	| 7 | Concerning your question about forming Spiritual 
Assemblies this year as soon as circumstances permit, and 
without waiting until April 21st, 1948:  he does not think 
this advisable.  In order to encourage the German friends, so 
long oppressed and prevented from serving, he made an 
exception last year, but this year he feels all assemblies 
should wait until April to hold their elections.  He has 
recently advised the European Teaching Committee to do 
likewise, as some of the pioneers were eager to form 
 
assemblies as soon as 9 Bahá'ís existed in a city of one of the 
goal countries! | 
	| 8 | He is pleased to hear you have strengthened and assisted 
the Nuremberg Bahá'ís, and that there are now so many 
there.  Also he is glad to hear you are protecting them and 
the Cause from the misrepresentations and ambitions of 
Mr. ...  Great vigilance and wisdom is required in such 
matters. | 
	| 9 | Regarding the publication of books for use in Germany in 
Switzerland:  he feels that this is out of the question at 
present, owing to the fact that the exchange of Persian into 
Swiss money, (providing it could be made at all), would be 
prohibitively expensive.  You would lose far too much this 
way.  He, therefore, suggests that you get in touch with Mr. 
David Hofman of England, who is a publisher in a small 
way, and very anxious to be of help in printing Bahá'í 
Literature.  He is a member of the British N.S.A., and if you 
arrange some satisfactory way of having him print books or 
booklets for you, it will be easier and cheaper to transfer 
some of the money from Tihrán, for this purpose, to 
England.  The Guardian has already written Mr. Hofman he 
favours his doing this, if you and he can agree. | 
	| 10 | Unfortunately, owing to the fall in the value of the 
pound, the conversion of Persian money into American 
dollars involves considerable loss.  In view of this the 
Guardian is going to instruct Mr. Varqá in Tihrán to send 
to the American N.S.A. five hundred pounds for the 
purpose of buying Care Packages, which will be sent to you 
for your use in securing the National Headquarters. | 
	| 11 | There is, in the special Fund held in Tihrán on behalf of 
your assembly, about ten thousand pounds.  He feels you 
should spend a third of this on your National Headquarters.  
But, as mentioned above, he advises you to try and go ahead 
 
with the preliminary arrangements through using five 
hundred pounds in Care packages, and thus not lose too 
much of this money through the poor exchange at this time. | 
	| 12 | He leaves details of this matter to the discretion of your 
assembly, and hopes you will keep him informed of what 
action you have taken, and of the progress made in 
obtaining the National Headquarters. | 
	| 13 | He assures you all of his admiration for your steadfast 
labours to protect and promote every interest of our beloved 
Faith in Germany, and of his loving and ardent prayers for 
the success of your work.... | 
	| 14 | [From the Guardian:] | 
	| 15 | Dearly-beloved Friends: | 
	| 16 | The spirit which the entire body of the German believers 
have displayed, despite the hardships and trials which they 
have heroically endured, and are still enduring, is a 
magnificent example to their fellow-workers in both the 
East and the West, a source of great inspiration to me, and a 
magnet that will powerfully attract the blessings of the 
Almighty.  My thoughts, though I myself am immersed in an 
ocean of work and preoccupations, often turn in loving 
admiration and gratitude to those who, for more than a 
decade, have in the face of constant peril, held fast to the 
Faith of God, who have survived the greatest ordeal that has 
ever afflicted the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh in the West, and who 
are now forging ahead, united, resolved and consecrated, in 
the path leading to still greater victories. | 
	| 17 | I rejoice to learn of the preliminary steps that are being 
taken to enable the dearly beloved and highly promising 
German Bahá'í Community to own its first National 
Hazíratu'l-Quds in the heart of that sorely-tried country.  
The utmost effort should be exerted to complete the present 
negotiations, and to initiate the national activities in that 
 
centre.  I will, for my part, assist in any way possible, your 
assembly, in the historic enterprise which it has launched, 
and feel confident that the Beloved will bless your efforts, 
fulfil your highest expectations in this vital sphere of Bahá'í 
activity. | 
	| 18 | The dissemination of Bahá'í literature, is moreover, a 
matter of vital importance, which must be promoted by 
every means at your disposal.  The multiplication of Bahá'í 
centres, the formation of new assemblies, the consolidation 
of newly-established groups, constitute, likewise, the 
primary objective of your assembly, demanding constant 
exertion, watchfulness and guidance on your part, as well as 
full support and still greater sacrifice by the rank and file of 
the believers. | 
	| 19 | The promotion of the interests of the Austrian believers, 
owing to their proximity to your country, their past 
association with you and their practical isolation from the 
Bahá'í centres in East and West, should be regarded as one 
of your outstanding tasks, and I trust that every obstacle 
will be surmounted, enabling you to enrich thereby the 
record of your distinguished services to the Faith of 
Bahá'u'lláh. | 
	| 20 | The path you are treading is hard and stony and beset 
with many pitfalls.  The tasks you are called upon to 
discharge are varied, complex, urgent and gigantic.  The 
resources at your disposal are meagre.  The hour, however, 
for raising the call of Bahá'u'lláh is propitious.  The hearts of 
your countrymen, prepared by bewilderment and suffering, 
are ready to respond to His message.  You stand at the 
threshold of a new and glorious era in the evolution of His 
Faith in that land.  The opportunities of the present hour are 
priceless and may never recur again.  Time is pressing.  The 
eyes of your fellow-workers in both Hemispheres are fixed 
 
upon you.  Our beloved Master who showered, through His 
visit and His messages to you, so much love and 
encouragement and so many blessings, is watching over you 
from on high, ready to sustain your efforts and lead you on 
to victory. | 
	| 21 | That you may rise to still greater heights of heroism, that 
you may discharge befittingly your sacred responsibilities, 
that you may adorn the annals of your Faith with still 
greater evidences of your devotion, courage and 
perseverance, that you may achieve your high destiny as the 
torch-bearers of the light of Divine Guidance to the 
neighbouring countries in that continent, is the object of my 
fervent prayers at the holy shrines, and the dearest wish of 
my heart. | 
	| 22 | Your true and grateful brother, | 
	| 23 | Shoghi |