Letter of 20 November 1934
20 November 1934
He is, indeed, happy to realize the remarkable share you are having in the promotion of the general interests of the Faith in Gôppingen. Your active participation in all Bahá’í gatherings and meetings, and the zeal and enthusiasm which you succeed in creating among the attendants are, indeed, a real source of strength to the community of the believers in your centre.
The Guardian hopes, therefore, that you will continue exercising this highly-beneficial and much-needed influence among the friends, so that by its means you may all work as unitedly and harmoniously as possible.
For what the Cause greatly needs in Germany at present is unity, both of thought and action. Not until the believers succeed in putting the Bahá’í principle of cooperation and fellowship into actual practice can they hope to vindicate the truth of the Message. Unity, therefore, is vital, and constitutes the main key to the success of your endeavours in every field of Bahá’í activity.
Letter of 7 December 1934[9]
7 December 1934
Dear Friends and co-workers:
Shoghi Effendi was deeply moved by your beautiful message dated November 27th, and he has directed me to convey to you on his behalf the expression of his loving appreciation and gratitude for the sentiments of love, devotion and loyalty which that message expressed.
He was, indeed, so pleased to learn that you had gathered at the home of our dearly-beloved sister and co-worker Miss Johanna Hirsch, and that you had heard from her the story of her pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
It is his hope that you may also one day have the privilege of undertaking a similar journey and of visiting the Holy Shrines in Akká and Haifa.
Shoghi Effendi is continually praying on behalf of each and every one of you, and is entreating Bahá’u’lláh that He may continue sending you His blessings and guidance, that as a result your efforts for the promulgation of His message may be crowned with success....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Beloved of our hearts guide and strengthen you, bless your efforts, add to your numbers, remove every obstacle from your path, and deepen your knowledge of the fundamentals of His Cause, and the distinguishing features of His glorious Revelation.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 13 December 1934[10]
13 December 1934
He has been deeply gratified and comforted, indeed, to learn that the authorities have, as a result of your efforts and of those of Mrs. Bishop, accepted to grant permission for the holding of Bahá’í meetings in Berlin. For this, the friends must feel deeply grateful to the Government and should strive, through both their words and actions, to win the full confidence of the authorities, and to demonstrate that they are law-abiding and faithful citizens.
The Guardian fervently hopes and prays that, now that the believers are permitted to hold meetings, they will take full advantage of this opportunity and will come together as frequently as possible, and will thus resume their activities which had been abated for such a long time....
Letter of 13 January 1935[11]
13 January 1935
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
The Guardian has duly received your letter of the fourth of this month, and was delighted to learn, from your detailed report of Bahá’í activities in Esslingen, of the growing spirit of devotion, of unity and of cooperation that is animating you all in your labours for the promotion and further establishment of the Cause in your centre.
He feels truly confident, indeed, that through the manifestation of this same spirit and through its fuller embodiment in all your manifold activities, whether teaching or administrative, the Faith in Esslingen will acquire increasing strength, both in number and influence, and will come to play an important and unique role in the administration of the interests of the Cause throughout Germany.
His continued advice to you all is to persevere in your work, and to toil confidently and with one accord for the speedy and complete attainment of this objective....
[From the Guardian:]
May the Almighty keep you under His shadow, bless your devoted, your valued and ceaseless efforts, guide your steps, cheer your hearts, and enable you to widen the range of your historic services.
Your true brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 15 April 1935[12]
15 April 1935
Dear Bahá’í co-workers,
Your secretary’s message of the 21st of March last addressed on your behalf to the Guardian has duly reached him, and its perusal has greatly rejoiced his heart.
He has been particularly impressed by the warm sentiments you have been moved to express to him on the occasion of the feast of Naw-Rúz, and wishes me to fully reciprocate your greetings and good wishes. He cherishes the hope that in this new Bahá’í year the friends in Esslingen will be specially assisted in spreading the Cause in their center, and in effectively helping their fellow-believers throughout Germany in their stupendous and weighty task of extending and consolidating the foundations of the Faith in that country.
He is continually praying on behalf of you all at the Holy Shrines that your labours in this connection may be blessed and enriched, and that the results achieved may be such as to stimulate you to redouble your efforts for the wider penetration of the Cause and its firmer establishment in your land.
With loving and sincere greetings to you all
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued friends:
Your message filled my heart with joy and gratitude and has served to remind me of your constancy, your devotion, and unsparing efforts for the spread of the Faith and the consolidation of its institutions. I will continue to supplicate on your behalf that the Beloved whom you serve so diligently and well may bless, sustain and guide you in your high endeavours.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi
Letter of 21 May 1935[13]
21 May 1935
The increasing evidences of the new fervour, zeal and unity with which the German friends, and particularly those living in Wärnemunde, Rostock, Schwerin and other northern German centers, are toiling for the spread of the Cause invariably serve to reinforce his faith in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s promises regarding the future of the Faith in Germany. These signs of the new revival that has set in the conditions of the Cause in your country are, indeed, remarkable and highly encouraging to the friends. You should, therefore, persevere in your efforts and not feel discouraged if you encounter some difficulties in your way. The essential thing now is perseverance, courage and faith.
The Guardian has been also much gratified to learn of the steps you have taken for the holding of a North German Bahá’í conference this year. He thinks that Berlin, due to its central situation, is a suitable place for the friends to come together. Besides, this may prove also to be a source of great encouragement to the believers in that city, and may serve to stimulate them to take a more active part in the organization of the Cause throughout Northern Germany.
Shoghi Effendi is also hopeful that the study courses which your daughter is preparing for this incoming Northern German Congress will prove to be of an immense benefit to the believers. The subject matter is, no doubt, highly important, and can be thoroughly grasped if it is clearly and adequately presented to them.
With regard to the German translation of Mrs. Bedikian’s letters. The Guardian approves of your Contact Committee’s suggestion that only extracts from these letters be translated and published. This will, of course, save much time, and will, in addition, make it easier and more interesting for the friends to get acquainted with the full contents of Mrs. Bedikian’s communications.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-worker:
Your notable share in the revival and extension of Bahá’í activity in northern Germany will be ever remembered with joy and gratitude. Your work will no doubt attract the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh, and will serve as an inspiring example to the generations that will arise to serve after you. Persevere, and never feel disheartened.
Shoghi
Letter of 17 June 1935[14]
17 June 1935
Dear Bahá’í co-workers,
Shoghi Effendi has read with much pleasure your welcome message of the 23rd of May last, and has learned with deep satisfaction of the success of the meeting you have held on the occasion of the anniversary of Báb’s Declaration. He feels, indeed, so happy to realize how unitedly and harmoniously your community is discharging its activities, and is certain that, as years go by, it will increasingly manifest a zeal and ardour that will enable it to achieve accomplishments that will not only be unique but which will have far-reaching effects upon the progress of the Cause throughout Germany.
In his moments of meditation and prayers he will specially remember you, and will ask Bahá’u’lláh to continue pouring His blessings upon you all, that your community may daily grow in strength, unity and fervour.
With loving Bahá’í greetings and sincere good wishes...
[From the Guardian:]
Dearly-beloved co-workers:
I deeply appreciate your most welcome message, and wish to assure you of my deepfelt gratitude for the constancy and zeal which characterize your labours in the Divine Vineyard. I am following the progress of your activities with the utmost interest and joy, and feel confident that the blessings of the Beloved, whom you serve with such ardour, steadfastness and loyalty will guide, enrich and reinforce your historic work for the propagation of His glorious and invincible Faith. Persevere in your high endeavours and rest confident.
Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi