Messages to Canada | Page 8

donation for an enterprise so dear to
all our hearts--and one which is fulfilling one of the Master's cherished
plans.
There are so many obstacles to be overcome and so much red tape to be
waded through, but he feels no time must be lost, and has just had the
contract signed in Italy for the stone work for the octagon. God has
opened all doors so far--he feels sure He will continue to do so.
With warmest loving greetings to you. RÚHÍYYIH.
May the Almighty bless you and your dear and devoted co-workers,
whose labours I deeply appreciate, whose contributions I greatly value,
and whose spirit I truly admire. I will supplicate ardently on your
behalf, that the Beloved may reward you abundantly, and enable you to
win great and memorable victories in His service.
Your true brother, SHOGHI.

Letter of March 1, 1951
Haifa, Israel, March 1, 1951.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Canada.
Your letters ... with enclosures, have been received; and our beloved
Guardian has instructed me to answer you on his behalf...
Although he is finding it so difficult to keep up with his
correspondence, owing to the increase of work here at the International
Centre, he follows with interest the progress being made by the
believers in Canada; and is delighted to see how your Assembly is
growing in maturity and capacity to handle the problems which
invariably arise in connection with administering the affairs of the Faith
in such a vast area as the Dominion of Canada.
He was very happy to know that the work in connection with the
Indians and the Eskimos is receiving special attention; and he would
like your Assembly to please express to Miss Nan Brandle(11) his deep
appreciation of the unique service she is rendering the Cause, and of the
exemplary spirit which is animating her. He hopes other believers will
follow in her footsteps, and arise to do work in this very important field
of Bahá'í activity.
He was also pleased to see that your Assembly had increased the
annual budget, as this expresses the determination of the Canadian
believers to expand their activities and carry on their work on a larger
scale than ever before.
CONTACT WITH ARCTIC ESKIMOS
He was also very pleased to see that Mr. Bond(12) had gone north and
had been able to contact the Arctic Eskimos. He hopes that the way will
open for this devoted believer to establish a more permanent contact in
that area in some field of government work.

He considers the policy of your Assembly of helping delegates from
distant points to attend the Convention, an excellent one, as the
attendance of these delegates enables them to carry back a very real
awareness of the work in hand and the needs of the hour, to their local
communities.
STIRRING EXAMPLE OF BRITISH PIONEERS
The Guardian feels that, although the Canadian Bahá'ís are making
excellent progress in consolidating their National Assembly and its
subsidiary committees, in holding Conferences and Summer Schools,
in sending forth travelling teachers, and in contacting the important
minority groups, the Eskimos and Indians, that they are not making
sufficient progress in the all-important field of pioneer activity. If they
are to succeed in accomplishing their plan, a far greater number of
Canadian Bahá'ís will have to arise and go into the pioneer field. He
feels sure that they can do this, as they have already had the stirring
example of how much was done in the British Isles by a community of
about their size. In comparing the problem which faced the British
Bahá'ís under their Six Year Plan, and that which faces the Canadian
Bahá'ís under their Five Year Plan, the friends should bear in mind that
they were spared the severest ordeals of the war, the extreme
restrictions and rationing which the British believers had to put up with.
If the British Bahá'ís, with all their handicaps and suffering real
physical and nervous exhaustion from the long war years, could
accomplish so much, then surely the Canadian Bahá'ís, who were
spared these conditions, are in a much better state to carry on and
prosecute their tasks. What was done at the very breaking point in
England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales could be done--must be done--by
the Canadian believers, with much less effort. Although sacrifice is
required, he feels sure that the friends are ready and willing to make the
necessary sacrifice, and arise to insure that the very first Plan, the very
first organized work undertaken by them as an independent National
Bahá'í Community, will be carried forward and victory insured by the
appointed time.
He assures all the members of your Assembly, and through you, the

community that you serve and represent, that your work is very dear to
his heart,