Letter of 13 January 1956
13 January 1956
To the Bahá’í Youth who were present at the Titisee Winter School.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The beloved Guardian was happy to receive your note of greeting from the School, dated December 26th.
He urges each one of you to exert your utmost effort in the teaching field, and do all in your power to establish many new Centers throughout Germany.
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty bless your constant endeavours, remove all obstacles from your path, and enable you to extend continually the scope of your valued activities,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 26 March 1956[45]
26 March 1956
Many of the problems which you see facing the German Community are akin to other Bahá’í Communities. There is a desperate need for deepening the Bahá’ís themselves in their own faith. They do not study the Teachings enough. They do not therefore either act as whole-heartedly as Bahá’ís as they should, or derive the spiritual strength from the Faith which studying, praying and meditating brings.
The answer of course to many of these problems is that we need more Bahá’ís to share in the work, more money to finance traveling teachers, more understanding between the youth and older people, and a wiser distribution of the work of the Faith amongst those able to carry it on, whether young or old.
As regards the question you have asked about your own obligations, he feels you should not resign from the National Assembly, as your presence on that Body is of great help in the work. On the other hand, he approves of your requesting that they do not give you so much work as a member of the National Assembly, and as a member of national committees, thus freeing you more for the teaching work as a “Hand”, and also enabling you to take better care of your health, which is a precious asset to the Faith.
Letter of 3 May 1956[46]
3 May 1956
He is glad to see that the work is progressing well in Innsbruck; and feels sure that, with your enthusiasm and that of the other dear friends, it will not be long before a flourishing Bahá’í Community exists there....
As you no doubt know, he has not been satisfied with the Temple drawings received from Germany, and is now in touch with the National Assembly regarding possible modifications of some recently sent him.
He considers that the prestige of our beloved Faith is directly involved with this building; and that what may to an architect, fond of an advanced style, seem appropriate, would not be sufficiently dignified to represent our Faith as the first Temple on the European continent. The problem will no doubt soon be solved. It merely requires patience and more effort.
Letter of 26 August 1956[47]
26 August 1956
He is well satisfied and pleased with the progress of the work there. It shows a healthy condition, and that you are being aided by Bahá’u’lláh in your efforts to establish the Cause in that new area.
He values very deeply your pioneering services, through which you are carrying on a long history in your family of single-hearted devotion to the Faith. It is indeed good that your dear brother Dr. Grossmann can give you such invaluable teaching assistance.
The Guardian hopes those who are now interested in and drawn toward the Cause will earnestly study the Teachings until they feel impelled to join the ranks of the Bahá’ís. He also hopes that others may soon follow their example, so that within a short time a Spiritual Assembly may be established in Westerland-Sylt.
His prayers will constantly surround you as you lovingly labour for the attainment of this important goal....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty, whose Cause you have served, and are serving, so devotedly, so determinedly and courageously, reward you a thousandfold for your historic services and enable you to win still greater victories in the days to come,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 16 September 1956[48]
16 September 1956
He is very sorry to hear you may have to leave Graz, where you are laying a good foundation for the work; even though our dear Bahá’í sister, Mrs. Johnson Norvell is there now, which the Guardian was happy to hear.
If it is not possible for you to remain in Graz, you should try to follow your plan of working in Vienna, and going down to help Mrs. Norvell on week-ends.
The Guardian feels you should inquire whether the German National Spiritual Assembly cannot help you to remain in Graz, as he considers this city of great importance....
[From the Guardian:]
Assuring you of my loving and fervent prayers for the success of your historic services, and of my admiration for the spirit that animates you in the promotion of our beloved Faith,
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 28 September 1956[49]
28 September 1956
He was sorry indeed to hear of the conditions there, and will ardently pray for the greater dedication of the members of the German Community, so that they may realize the pressing needs of the Faith, and arise determinedly to meet them.
He assures you he deeply appreciates your constant services, and the devoted labours of your dear and honoured brother.
Letter of 15 November 1956[50]
15 November 1956
As regards the translation of the Íqán, as this is a very important and fundamental book, the Guardian hopes that it will be published as soon as possible.
The basis of your translation should be his English translation of it and not the Persian original. He feels that you should adhere as closely as possible to the English text without making your translation so literal as to be un-German and unidiomatic, and therefore not very readable to German-speaking people.
As regards Dr. Schück’s book, which the Guardian is very pleased to hear he has written, as we need always more literature to attract new people to the Faith through different approaches: Any Bahá’í book presenting the Faith should be reviewed by a competent body. This only means that they should ascertain whether there is any misrepresentation of the Teachings in it. Sometimes the friends think they have to go into literary reviews and interfere with the author’s style etc., which of course is wholly unnecessary. It should therefore not take long for your National Body or the Italo-Swiss National Assembly to pass upon the book.