Your letter to our beloved Guardian, dated Dec. 11th, 1947, has been received, and he has instructed me to answer you on his behalf.
The devotion and perseverance of the believers in seeking to meet the requirements of their Plan pleases and touches him immensely, and although he fully realizes that the fewness of their numbers and the great distances involved in such a vast country as Australia, form serious handicaps in the progress of their teaching work, he, nevertheless, feels confidant that they can achieve their goals in time, and raise their heads proudly in the galaxy of their fellow-pioneers the world over.
We can truly say that this Cause is a cause that enables people to achieve the impossible! For the Bahá’ís, everywhere, for the most part, are people with no great distinguishments of either wealth or fame, and yet once they make the effort and go forth in the name of Bahá’u’lláh to spread His Faith, they become, each one, as efficacious as a host! Witness what Mustafa Raumie accomplished in Burma, and a handful of pioneers achieved, in a decade, in Latin America! It is the quality of devotion and self-sacrifice that brings rewards in the service of this Faith rather than means, ability or financial backing.
This has again, during the last few years, been demonstrated even more remarkably by the British Bahá’ís, who have not only had to contend with very limited means and a small community to draw from, but have also had infinite restrictions and privations to put up with—and, in spite of this, they are steadily gaining on the requirements of the Plan they have set for themselves, and, indeed, are startling and inspiring their fellow-Bahá’ís everywhere by their spirit and achievements!
He hopes that now, from “down under”, news will begin to flow out to the Bahá’í World of the remarkable accomplishments of the Australians and New Zealanders!
Regarding the question you asked him about the Bahá’í sacred writings: these should be regarded as the writings of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and only these should be read during the purely devotional part of the Feast.
He wishes to assure you, and all the other members of the N.S.A., of his most loving and ardent prayers for the success of your various undertakings and above all, for the success of your teaching Plan.
With warmest greetings,
R. Rabbani.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers: