sublimity of the Baha'i Teachings, and
for the condemnation, in the eyes of those who are in authority, of one
who has so basely dared to assail, not only the tenets, but the holy
person of the recognized Founder of an established and world-wide Faith.

Your true brother,
SHOGHI.

Haifa, Palestine; October 17, 1927.

Letter of October 18, 1927.

To the Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the
United States and Canada.

Dearly-beloved co-workers:

I have already expressed indirectly my views with regard to various
secondary issues raised in your latest communications to me dated May 23,
June 10, 21, July 11, 14, 15 and 25, August 7 and September 28; and I wish
in this letter to deal more particularly with such matters of primary
importance as affect the conduct and the growth of Baha'i administration.
The perusal of these communications replete with the news of steadily
multiplying activities and newly conceived plans, all of which I as
heretofore appreciate and welcome, has made me feel however that the time
seems now opportune to utter a word of caution and warning to those who
with unceasing zest labor to give befitting embodiment to those latent
energies released by the Message of Baha'u'llah.

Concentration of Resources

Much as I rejoice in witnessing the abundant signs of unfaltering energy
that characterize in various fields and distant lands the mission of the
valiant warriors of the Cause, I cannot help observing that, driven by
their impetuous eagerness to establish the undisputed reign of Baha'u'llah
on this earth, they may by an undue multiplication of their activities,
and the consequent dissipation of their forces, defeat the very purpose
which animates them in the pursuit of their glorious task. Particularly do
I feel that this necessity for a careful estimation of the present
resources at our disposal and of cautious restraint in handling them
applies in a peculiar manner to the swiftly expanding activities of the
American believers, whose mission increasingly appears to be to give the
lead and set the example to their brethren across the seas in laying a
secure foundation for the permanent institutions of the Baha'i Faith. That
I feel is chiefly the reason why such stress has been laid in the past
upon the necessity for consultation on the part of individual believers
with their elected national representatives in the matter of initiating
plans of action