at binds these communities to
the International House of Justice, the supreme administrative body in the
Dispensation of Baha'u'llah."

137: N.S.A. INVOLVEMENT (APPEALS PROHIBITED)

"Anything whatsoever affecting the interests of the Cause and in which the
National Assembly as a body is involved should, if regarded as
unsatisfactory by Local Assemblies and individual believers, be
immediately referred to the National Assembly itself. Neither the general
body of the believers, nor any Local Assembly, nor even the delegates to
the annual Convention, should be regarded as having any authority to
entertain appeals against the decision of the National Assembly. Should
the matter be referred to the Guardian it will be his duty to consider it
with the utmost care and to decide whether the issues involved justify him
to consider it in person, or to leave it entirely to the discretion of the
National Assembly.

"This administrative principle which the Guardian is now restating and
emphasizing is so clear, so comprehensive and simple that no
misunderstanding as to its application, he feels, can possibly arise.
There are no exceptions whatever to this rule, and the Guardian would
deprecate any attempt to elaborate or dwell any further upon this
fundamental and clearly enunciated principle."

138: N.S.A.'S JURISDICTION OVER COMMITTEES (AUTHORITY OF)

"The N.S.A.'s final jurisdiction over both the National Teaching Committee
and the Regional Teaching Committees is certainly indisputable, and is of
the same nature and character as the authority to which it is entitled
over all other national committees."

139: NEW ASSEMBLIES (FORMATION OF)

"Regarding the formation of Local Assemblies, the Guardian does not advise
any departure from the principle that every civil community should have
its own independent Assembly."

140: NEW ASSEMBLIES (RESIDENCE QUALIFICATIONS)

"In connection with the formation of new Assemblies and the maintenance of
their Assembly status, the Guardian wishes to reaffirm the general
principle that only those who reside within the city limits of any given
locality have the right to either vote or be elected as member of the
Assembly, even though this may involve frequent dissolution of the
Assembly owing to insufficient number of members. It will, on the other
hand, serve as a stimulus to those outside these limits to establish a
group and eventually an Assembly of