1924
26 January 1924
The dearly-beloved ones of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá throughout Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and the adjoining islands of the Pacific.
Friends and heralds of the Kingdom of Bahá’u’lláh!
A fresh breeze, laden with the perfume of your love and devotion to our beloved Cause, was wafted again from your distant southern shores to the Holy Land, and has served to remind us one and all of that unquenchable spirit of service and self-sacrifice which the passing of our Beloved has in these days kindled in almost every corner of the world. The letters now and then received from those faithful untiring pioneers of the Cause of God Mr. and Mrs. H. Dunn, are in themselves not only a convincing testimony of the ever-advancing Faith of God, proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh, but set as well a magnificent example to those who yearn and endeavour to further His Cause and adhere faithfully to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s last instructions.
The progress of your labours, however modest and inconspicuous at first, the world and all the forces therein can never resist; and the Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh working so amazingly through every one of you the changes and chances of this distracted world can never quench. You are assuredly of those few, yet highly favoured, harbingers of the new Day of God, towards the establishment of which the world in its distress and turmoil is fastly, though unconsciously, moving on, and the full triumph of which, if it be His Will and Desire, I trust, you will all witness.
I pray that your meeting and collaboration with our beloved Martha Root, that admirable and zealous disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, will stimulate and advance your work, fortify your spirit, and reinforce your endeavours to penetrate fields, hitherto unexplored, wherein you may achieve signal victories. My ardent prayer at His sacred Shrine is that your vision of so great and precious a Cause may never grow dim, that your convictions may never falter, that you may continue, steadfast, radiant and undaunted, your task so nobly begun, and achieve in the fullness of time its destined and glorious consummation.
In this prayer join me the bereaved Ladies of the holy household whose eyes are turned tenderly and expectant towards you, seeking and finding in every one of you the alleviation of their grief at the Beloved’s sudden departure, and the hope for the triumph of a Cause for which He laboured and gave His life. That you will guard His trust and achieve His victory, we are firmly convinced, and together with this expression of our confidence and firm belief may we convey to you all a measure of our undying love and deep affection . Your devoted brother in His service, Shoghi
10 October 1924
Miss Martha Root, C/o American Consul, Sydney, Australia.
My dear Bahá’í sister, Martha,
Your interesting letter of Sept. 10th written to our dear Shoghi Effendi arrived yesterday and gladdened his dear heart. He appreciates very highly
your sacrificial efforts in spreading the divine teachings in those distant countries and prays for your success very affectionately.
Today he instructed me to write a few words and inform you of the receipt of your letter and assure you of his great love for you. As to the plan of your future journeys he wishes you to follow the dictates of your pure heart. Depend entirely on the guidance of our Beloved, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who will guide you whether to travel alone or with sister Effie Baker.7 Shoghi Effendi prays for her confirmation too.
He is very glad to hear that our brother Mr. Dewy8 is wonderfully confirmed in the realisation of his high aspirations in service to the Cause of God. He especially prays at the Holy Shrines for his success and wishes you to convey to him his affectionate Bahá’í greeting.
Shoghi Effendi also instructed me to send twenty pounds to you through our brother Roy.9 This is meant as a little contribution towards your comfort in travelling.
The G. H. Leaf and the other members of the Holy Family are sending you their tender love and assure you of their loving prayers for you too.
Your humble brother in service to our Beloved, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and our dear Guardian, ‘Azízu’lláh
26 December 1924 [Effie Baker]
My dear Bahá’í sister,
I wish to thank you for your kind letter to our dear Shoghi Effendi, and
7. Euphemia Eleanor “Effie” Baker (1880-1968) was the first Australian woman to become a Bahá’í, having met Clara and Hyde Dim in Melbourne late in 1922. She was an artist, model maker, and photographer, who having travelled Australia and New Zealand with Martha Root in 1924, decided to join the first New Zealand pilgrims to the Holy Land, and remained in Haifa as hostess at the Western Pilgrim Hostel 1925-1936. She assisted Shoghi Effendi, in addition, as photographer, and as first keeper of the International Archives. Early volumes of The Bahá’í World include numerous of her photographs of the Bahá’í monument gardens on Mt. Carmel. During 1930-31 Effie travelled through ‘Iráq to Persia, to make at Shoghi Effendi’s request a photographic record of sites and relics associated with the origins of the Bábí and Bahá’í religions. These were shortly after published with Shoghi Effendi’s translation into English of Nabíl’s Narrative. Effie returned to Goldsborough in February 1936, where she remained until moving to Sydney in 1963. She shied from publicity and from any celebration of her unique life experience and achievements. In 1981- 82 her work was included in a national exhibition, Australian Women Photographers 1890-1950. 8. Bertram Dewing. 9. Roy Wilhelm.
desire to assure you of his great pleasure to see you here in Haifa, the Holy Land not only for Jews and Christians but for Bahá’ís also.
We all hope that you will have a pleasant journey from Australia, and will soon find yourself in the warmer country of Palestine. Shoghi Effendi feels that your field of service is very wide in Australia and hopes & prays that you will succeed not only in living a true Bahá’í life but also in attracting new souls to the great message of God.
The family of the Master all join me in the utmost love to the friends there and especially to your own dear self,
Yours in His Service, Soheil.
My dear precious fellow-worker,
Just a word to assure you personally of my unceasing prayers for your welfare and the success of your glorious efforts for the spread of the Cause. Persevere in teaching, work unceasingly & the victory will be yours.
Your true brother, Shoghi
