The principle is, and it should be impressed on the minds of all pioneers, to hold their territory at any cost. Just because they have left their homes, and gone out and carried the Faith to one of these virgin areas, does not mean that the task is accomplished. On the contrary, nothing could be sadder than that these newly-won territories should be lost after a few months’ effort. He hopes that in your correspondence with the pioneers you will impress this fact upon them and make them realise that to be a “Knight of Bahá’u’lláh” is not only a very high and pleasant position, but involves a truly tremendous responsibility. To remain at one’s post, to undergo sacrifice and hardship, loneliness and, if necessary, persecution, in order to hold aloft the torch of Bahá’u’lláh, is the true function of every pioneer.
Let them remember Marion Jack, who for over twenty years, in a country the language of which she never mastered; during war and bombardment; evacuation and poverty; and at length, serious illness, stuck to her post, and has now blessed the soil of the land she had chosen to serve at such cost with her precious remains, every atom of which was dedicated to Bahá’u’lláh. Perhaps the friends are not aware that the Guardian, himself, during the war on more more than one occasion urged her to seek safety in Switzerland rather than remain behind enemy lines and be entirely cut off. Lovingly she pleaded that he would not require her to leave her post, and he acquiesced to her request. Surely the standard of Marion Jack should be borne in mind by every pioneer!
Regarding your question about including the Tablet of the Virgin in a compilation of “Bahá’í Scriptures” which you wish to publish—the old translation is very poor and has many inaccuracies. However, the Guardian has no time at all to retranslate it or correct it himself.
He leaves it to the discretion of your Assembly as to whether you wish to include it in a compilation or not.
I am returning to you the list you sent with suggested corrections in relation to the pamphlet your Assembly published last year—“The Bahá’í Faith 1844–1952, Information Statistical and Comparative”. The righthand column marked “Suggested”, he considers quite acceptable. The places where you have put question marks are correct, with very few exceptions which the Guardian has corrected, in the column marked “As Listed”, with the exception of the transliteration of the name Shu‘á’u’lláh, (Number 12) which the Guardian has corrected.
Assuring you of the Guardian’s loving prayers for the success of your devoted labours....
P.S. July 28th. Your letter of July 7th has likewise been received.
[From the Guardian:]
Dear and valued co-workers,
The achievements of the members of the tenacious, the valiant and wide-awake British Bahá’í community, within the borders of their homeland and beyond its confines, in the course of the opening year of the Bahá’í World Crusade, deserve the highest commendation and have considerably heightened its prestige and deepened my own admiration for it as well as that of its sister communities in both Hemispheres.