se undertaken at the
World Center of the Faith will be consummated ere the conclusion of the
festivities of the Holy Year.

International endowments surrounding the tomb of the Prophet-Herald of the
Faith on the bosom of God's Holy Mountain are considerably extended
through the acquisition, after thirty years' effort, of a wooded area of
over twenty-three thousand square meters, including a building overlooking
the sacred spot, made possible through the estate bequeathed to the Faith
by the herald of Baha'u'llah's Covenant, Roy Wilhelm, raising the total
area within the precincts permanently dedicated to the Bab's Sepulcher to
almost a quarter million square meters.

Heart filled with humble gratitude at the double victory of the Faith,
adding great joyousness to the Baha'i New Year's Day, presaging still
greater triumphs as the Baha'i World approaches the high water mark of the
world-wide celebrations of the memorable year commemorating the hundredth
anniversary of the birth of the Mission of Baha'u'llah.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, March 21, 1953]

TREACHEROUS RUHI AFNAN

Treacherous Ruhi Afnan, not content with previous disobedience,
correspondence with Ahmad Sohrab, contact with old Covenant-breakers,
sale, in conjunction with other members of family, of sacred property
purchased by Founder of Faith, and allowing his sister to marry son of
'Abdu'l-Baha's enemy, is now openly lecturing on Baha'i movement, claiming
to be its exponent and is misrepresenting the teachings and deliberately
causing confusion in minds of authorities and the local population. Inform
National Assemblies.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, May 17, 1953]

THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE

On occasion of the sixty-first Anniversary of the Ascension of
Baha'u'llah, on the morrow of the opening, initial phase of the momentous
World Crusade, call upon His followers in all continents to allow no
slackening, nay, to insure acceleration of the marvelous momentum
generated by the historic celebrations climaxing the festivities of Holy
Year. The dispersal, immediate, determined, sustained and universal,
throughout the unopened territories of the planet, is the paramount issue
challenging the spirit and resources of the privileged prosecutors of the
Ten-Year Plan in the course of the current year.

All National Assemblies are urged to give it priority assignments in their
national budgets. The chief executors of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Plan, by virtue of
th