In these days when the forces of inharmony and disunity are rampant throughout the world, the Baha’is must cling to their Faith and to each other, and, in spite of every difficulty and suffering, protect the unity of the Cause. Often the first efforts at getting the administration of the Faith to mark harmoniously, are painful because the individual must learn to subject his will to the whole—but these are all minor details, and the friends must all concentrate on constructive work for the Cause.
Of course no one is debarred from becoming a Baha’i; rich or poor, learned or ignorant, all have a sacred and equal right to accept the Supreme Manifestation for this age.
The question of residence and taking part in administrative affairs hangs together: wherever a Baha’i has his legal residence, he belongs to the community that is established in that same civil area as his residence, and he cannot vote or be elected to any Baha’i body outside of that area except, of course, National Assembly and Committees. This, of course, does not prevent his teaching in nearby towns or anywhere else. But he cannot live in one city and be a voting Baha’i in another.
May 7, 1941
Letter of April 7, 1952
He urges you to redouble your efforts during the coming year, to teach the youth this great Message of Baha’u’llah. It is indeed the one hope for the spiritual and material security of the world; and although the response may be slow at first, through your perseverance and devotion, you will gradually succeed in attracting a very large group to the Cause of Baha’u’llah.
April 7, 1952