t of the Administrative Order of the Faith of
Baha'u'llah had directed them to erect--His disciples, in both the East and
the West, unhesitatingly embarked on the next and more difficult stage, of
their high enterprise. In countries where the local Baha'i communities had
sufficiently advanced in number and in influence measures were taken for
the initiation of National Assemblies, the pivots round which all national
undertakings must revolve. Designated by 'Abdu'l-Baha in His Will as the
"Secondary Houses of Justice," they constitute the electoral bodies in the
formation of the International House of Justice, and are empowered to
direct, unify, coordinate and stimulate the activities of individuals as
well as local Assemblies within their jurisdiction. Resting on the broad
base of organized local communities, themselves pillars sustaining the
institution which must be regarded as the apex of the Baha'i
Administrative Order, these Assemblies are elected, according to the
principle of proportional representation, by delegates representative of
Baha'i local communities assembled at Convention during the period of the
Ridvan Festival; are possessed of the necessary authority to enable them
to insure the harmonious and efficient development of Baha'i activity
within their respective spheres; are freed from all direct responsibility
for their policies and decisions to their electorates; are charged with
the sacred duty of consulting the views, of inviting the recommendations
and of securing the confidence and cooperation of the delegates and of
acquainting them with their plans, problems and actions; and are supported
by the resources of national funds to which all ranks of the faithful are
urged to contribute. Instituted in the United States of America (1925)
(the National Assembly superseding in that country the institution of
Baha'i Temple Unity formed during 'Abdu'l-Baha's ministry), in the British
Isles (1923), in Germany (1923), in Egypt (1924), in 'Iraq (1931), in
India (1923), in Persia (1934) and in Australia (1934); their election
renewed annually by delegates whose number has been fixed, according to
national requirements, at 9, 19, 95, or 171 (9 times 19), these national
bodies have through their emergence signalized the birth of a new epoch in
the Formative Age of the Faith, and marked a further stage in the
evolution, the unification and consolidation of a continually expanding
community. Aided by national committe