Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand | Page 6

Herald of the South".
My dear friend and fellow-worker:

I have just heard the welcome news of the publication of the first issue
of the Bahá'í Journal, recently established by the friends of Australia
and New Zealand. I rejoice in this new and notable Bahá'í enterprise,
particularly as it is undertaken by my dearly-beloved and
self-sacrificing brothers and sisters in a land which holds so great a
promise for the future.
I have followed the progress of the activities of the Bahá'ís of Australia
and New Zealand with keen interest and ever-increasing confidence,
and with a deep sense of pride and gratitude. I most heartily welcome
this newly-added link in the chain of the many services, so lovingly and
spontaneously rendered by the pioneers of the Cause in these lands. I
assure you of my steadfast prayers for the speedy expansion and
consolidation of this youngest of all Bahá'í Magazines, and of my
earnest endeavours to enable it attain a standard worthy of the bearer
of such a noble Message.
It should be the object and purpose of its author and publisher to open
its pages to the consideration and review of matters that are strictly
Bahá'í in character, as well as to the treatment of topics of a
humanitarian, ethical and religious nature; that its readers, while
witnessing to the liberal and broad-minded attitude of the Bahá'í Cause,
may receive from it their full share of inspiration which only a clear
and direct statement of the Divine Message can impart.
Go forth, on thy noble errand, O thou Herald of the South! Join thy
voice, however feeble, to those of thy sister-journals who, in various
parts of the world, are raising with one accord the call of this new Day
of God. Persevere in thy labours, endeavour to reach every circle and
every home, that the light thou bearest may in the fulness of time
illuminate with its healing rays the uttermost corners of that distant
and troubled continent.
Your well-wisher, Shoghi

(8) March 4th, 1926

Dear Bahá'í Sister,
Your letter to Shoghi Effendi and the enclosed one to Ruhi with the
postal order for £10 have been received and read with keen interest and
pleasure.
We are all very happy to know that you have had such a pleasant
journey back home and that you had the opportunity of delivering the
message on so many occasions. We hope and pray that the seed you
have sown has fallen on fertile soil and that in time it will grow and
bear abundant fruit.
We hope that now through your sustained zeal and effort new life will
be infused into your small Bahá'í group, and that it will in the near
future grow sufficiently in number to enable you to form an assembly
the first to be established in that land. We shall pray at the Holy
Threshold for your guidance and the success of your work.
The Greatest Holy Leaf and the Holy Mother remember you well, and
they and the other members of the family send their loving greetings to
you.
You will be interested to know that the new pilgrim house is being
completed, and it will be all ready in a month time for the new pilgrims
that will come.
We still have our dear sister Effie Baker with us, and we all love her so;
she is so sweet and helpful.
We have just now two American lady friends with us, Auntie Victoria
Bedekian and Mrs R. Kehler--very fine Bahá'ís they are and we are
expecting some more soon.
I always remember the happy day I spent with you and Effy in London
and shall look forward to the pleasure of meeting you again some
day--perhaps here in Haifa or in New Zealand, who knows?
I am back at home now for the present, and I am trying to help Shoghi

Effendi a little in his enormous task.
He is keeping in good health I am glad to say in spite of his many
activities and heavy and manifold responsibilities.
To you he sends his brotherly love and the assurance of his prayers for
your welfare and happiness.
With all good wishes and loving greetings,
Your sister in His Service, Ruh-Anguiz Rabbani
[From the Guardian:]
My dear and precious Bahá'í sister:
I cannot but add a few words personally expressing my deep
appreciation of your persistent, self-sacrificing services to the Cause. I
have devoted your gift towards the Fund for the Western Pilgrim House
and I wish to assure you that when I visit the Holy Shrines I tenderly
supplicate for you Divine Guidance and strength in your labours for
our beloved Cause.
Your true Brother, Shoghi

(9) April 3rd, 1926
Dear Spiritual Sister:--
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
dated