e resumption of work on an
Edifice, the glories of which she has, from the lips of 'Abdu'l-Baha,
Himself, learned to admire. I cannot surely overrate at the present
juncture in the progress of our task the challenging character of these
remaining months of the year as a swiftly passing opportunity which it is
in our power to seize and utilize, ere it is too late, for the edification
of our expectant brethren throughout the East, for the vindication in the
eyes of the world at large of the realities of our Faith, and last but not
least for the realization of what is the Greatest Holy Leaf's fondest
desire.

As I have already intimated in the course of my conversations with
visiting pilgrims, so vast and significant an enterprise as the
construction of the first Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar of the West should be
supported, not by the munificence of a few but by the joint contributions
of the entire mass of the convinced followers of the Faith. It cannot be
denied that the emanations of spiritual power and inspiration destined to
radiate from the central Edifice of the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar will to a
very large extent depend upon the range and variety of the contributing
believers, as well as upon the nature and degree of self-abnegation which
their unsolicited offerings will entail. Moreover, we should, I feel,
regard it as an axiom and guiding principle of Baha'i administration that
in the conduct of every specific Baha'i activity, as different from
undertakings of a humanitarian, philanthropic or charitable character,
which may in future be conducted under Baha'i auspices, only those who
have already identified themselves with the Faith and are regarded as its
avowed and unreserved supporters should be invited to join and
collaborate. For apart from the consideration of embarrassing
complications which the association of non-believers in the financing of
institutions of a strictly Baha'i character may conceivably engender in
the administration of the Baha'i community of the future, it should be
remembered that these specific Baha'i institutions, which should be viewed
in the light of Baha'u'llah's gifts bestowed upon the world, can best
function and most powerfully exert their influence in the world only if
reared and maintained solely by the support of those who are fully
conscious of, and are unreservedly submissive to, the claims inherent in
the Revelation of Baha'u'llah. In cases, however, when a friend or
sympathizer of t