Bahá’í News/Inserts/Issue 133/Shoghi Effendi contributes to Bahiyyih Khanum Fund/Text

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(Insert—BAH4'1 NEWS, February, 1940)

“WELCOME PARTICULARLY RECENT ACTION DESIGNED EXPEDITE TERMINATION (OF) DIVINELY-FOUNDED TEMPLE... ”

SHOGHI EFFENDI CONTRIBUTES TO BAHiYYfH KHANUM FUND

The Guardian of the Faith of Baha'u'llah has by his cabled and written encouragement and approval, and by his munificent donation, assured the success of the next great undertaking in the completion of the House of Worship.

“ORDAINED (TO BE THE) ARK”

As reported in BanA’i News of November, the Guardian referred significantly to the Temple construction work in his message dated October 23 :—

“Welcome particularly recent action designed expedite termination (of) Divinely-founded Temple ordained (to be the) Ark destined (to) ride triumphant (the) tidal wave (of) world-encircling calamities and offering sole refuge (to) storm-tossed sufferers of sinful, steadily sinking civilization.”

This heart-stirring message was soon followed by the cablegram received December 26, which forever associates the House of Worship with the sacred memory of the Purest Branch and the Master's Mother, and gives us one more example of the Guardian's crifice in his unique service to mankind :-—

“PLEDGE THOUSAND POUNDS”

“Christmas eve, (the) beloved remains (of) Purest Branch and Master's Mother laid in state (in) Bab’s Holy Tomb. Christmas day, entrusted (to) Carmel’s sacred soil. (The) ceremony (in) presence (of) representatives (of) Near Eastern believers profoundly moving. Impelled associate America’s momentous Seven Year enterprise (with) imperishable memory (of) these two holy souls who, next (to) Twin Founders (of) Faith and (its) Perfect Exemplar, tower, together with Greatest Holy Leaf, above (the) entire concourse (of the) faithful. Rejoice privilege (to) pledge thousand pounds my contribution (to) Bahiyyih Khanum Fund designed (for) inauguration (of) final drive (to) insure placing contract next April (for) last remaining stage (in) construction (of) Mashriqu’lAdhkar, Time (is) pressing, opportunity priceless, potent aid providentially promised unfailing.”

“THE PLAN... MEETS WITH MY UNQUALIFIED APPROVAL”

This vital matter is more fully expounded in the Guardian's letter dated December 27:

“The Plan which your Assembly has suggested to raise the sum of fifty thousand dollars by next April, which will enable you to place the necessary contracts for the final completion of the entire First Story of the Mashriqu’lAdhkar, meets with my unqualified approval. It was specially in order to initiate and encourage the progress of such a plan that I felt impelled to pledge the sum of one thousand pounds in the memory of these two glorious souls who, apart from the Founders of the Faith and its Exemplar, tower, together with the Greatest Holy Leaf, above the rank and file of the faithful.

“The interval separating us from that date is admittedly short. The explosive forces which lie dormant in the international field may, ere the expiry of these fleeting months, break out in an eruption that may prove the most fateful that mankind has experienced. It is within the power of the organized body of the American believers to further demonstrate the imperturbability of their faith, the serenity of their confidence and the unyielding tenacity of their resolve.”

“FINAL COMPLETION OF THE ENTIRE FIRST STORY”

Since the Seven Year Plan was initiated, a vast amount of work has been done on the House of Worship: the gallery section completed, the models

1. Cost of casting and application of units to first story

Cost of external stairs

Total cost ‘ 2. Deductions for items already paid :

External decoration on pylons, (lower portion)

Quartz already purchased Steel and wire already purchased

ee

Amount to be contributed in 1941

on

(OVER)

Amount of contract to be placed April 1, 1940 Less cash on hand before contract can be placed.

and molds for the first story practically completed, part of the nine first story ylons completed, and the quartz and steel needed for completing the exterior decoration of the first story purchased and paid for.

What remains to be done is the casting and application of the ornamentation to the first story, and the casting of the units which will constitute the surrounding staircase.

In the Bahiyyih Khanum Fund as of January 22, we have a balance of $14,259.99 which can be devoted to the cost of this new construction,

The Guardian has given full approval to the signing of a contract for completing the first story and the surrounding steps by April 1 provided the National Spiritual Assembly has $50,000 on hand.

Deducting the $14,259.99 from this necessary $50,000, we have the amount that must be contributed to the National Fund by April first, over and above what is required for current expenses —$35,740.01.

The work to be done under this new contract will require about two years. During that two years, beginning April 1, 1940, there must be accumulated the balance required to meet the cost, or $55,816.78.

The execution of this proposed contract means that all the exterior ornamentation of the House of Worship, and the surrounding steps, will have been completed by 1942, and this will leave two years more to take care of the metal doors and some beautifying of the grounds.

The exact figures determining the new contract are as follows :—

$ 95,000.00

30,000.00

$125,000.00 $10,104.65 5,175.00 3,903.57

$19,183.22 19,183.22

$105,816.78

50,000.00

$ 55,816.78 [Page 2]“TIME PRESSING, OPPORTUNITY PRICELESS”

The inauguration of this vitally important Temple work means that between now and April 1, 1940, the National Fund must receive donations (in addition to the amount needed for maintaining all other activities ) amounting to $35,740.01.

Tt is for each American Baha'i to realize the urgency of the Guardian’s call and determine the degree of his or her sacrifice.

It is for the newer believers, who have entered into the blessings and opportunities provided for them by the sacrifices of those who preceded them, to realize that they have a special privilege.

It is for the Spiritual Assemblies to augment and intensify the effort of the National Spiritual Assembly to impress

OUR BELOVED TEMPLE Words of Shoghi Effendi

It seems befitting, in connection with the Temple completion plan announced as an insert in this issue of Bahd’i News, to ponder again those words which the Guardian addressed to the American Baha'is on March 21, 1932, in the letter reprinted as The Golden Age of the Cause of Bahd’u'llah.

“And finally, dearly-beloved brethren, let me once more direct your attention to the pressing claims of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar, our beloved Temple. Need I remind you of the imperative necessity of carrying out to a successful conclusion, while there is yet time, the great enterprise to which, before the eyes of a watching world, we stand committed? Need I stress the great damage which further delay in the prosecution of this divinely-appointed task must, even in these critical and unforeseen circumstances, inflict upon

BAHA'I’ NEWS

the Guardian's deepest hopes upon every member of the local community.

It is for the Correspondents of groups to discuss the Plan with all other members of the group and take action.

It is for the pioneers in the field, who are so close to the realm of sacrifice where the Divine Will is all-potent, to reinforce the efforts of their fellowbelievers with daily prayer.

Finally—to provide the occasion for consultation and collective action, that the holy flame ignited in the hearts by Shoghi Effendi may enkindle the entire Baha'i community of North America—the National Spiritual Assembly requests the consultation periods of the Nineteen Day Feasts on February 7, and March 2 to be concentrated on the fulfilment of the Plan, and the nineteen day period of the fast to be devoted to supplication for the attainment of the true spirit of sacrifice for the Faith of Baha’u'llah,

the prestige of our beloved Caus am, I can assure you, acutely conscious of the stringency of the circumstances with which you are faced, the embarrassments under which you labor, the cares with which you are burdened, the pressing urgency of the demands that are being incessantly made upon your depleted resources, I am, however, still more profoundly aware of the unprecedented character of the opportunity which it is your privilege to seize and utilize. I am aware of the incalculable blessings that must await the termination of a collective enterprise which, by the range and quality of the sacrifices it entailed, deserves to be ranked among the most outstanding examples of Baha'i solidarity ever since those deeds of brilliant heroism immortalized the memory of the heroes of Nayriz, of Zanjan, and of Tabarsi. I appeal to you, therefore, friends and fellow-disciples of Baha'u'llah, for a more abundant measure of self-sacri

Local Assemblies which, in addition, feel the need for additional meetings of the friends at more. frequent intervals, can unquestionably contribute powerfully to the achievement of the mighty task.

The Guardian's most recent word of instruction and counsel is in his cablegram received January 18:

“Urge Assembly focus attention (at its) forthcoming meeting (upon the)

. vitally urgent obligation .. . intensification effort aiming realization (of) recently approved Temple Plan . .. Victories unsuspected (are) within reach (of) community. (The) sooner (they are) achieved, (the) sharper (the) contrast offered (with) distracting miseries afflicting (a) generation (which) Faith alone can (and) must eventually redeem.”

Nationar Spiritual AsseMBLY.

fice, for a higher standard of concerted effort, for a still more compelling evidence of the reality of the faith that glows within you.

“And in this fervent plea, my voice is once more reinforced by the passionate, and perhaps, the last, entreaty, of the Greatest Holy Leaf, whose spirit, now hovering on the edge of the Great Beyond, longs to carry on its flight to the Abha Kingdom, and into the presence of a Divine, an almighty Father, an assurance of the joyous consummation of an enterprise, the progress of which has so greatly brightened the closing days of her earthly life. That the American believers, those stouthearted pioneers of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, will unanimously respond, with that same spontaneous generosity, that same measure of self-sacrifice, as have characterized their response to her appeals in the past, no one who is familiar with the vitality of their faith can possibly question.”