nters, of groups and of local Assemblies in order to hasten the
emergence of no less than forty-eight National Spiritual Assemblies in
both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres; the prompt conclusion of
negotiations for the purchase of sites for future Baha'i Temples in the
American, the European, the Asiatic and the African continents; the
initiation of Funds for the establishment of National Haziratu'l-Quds in
the capital cities of the Sovereign States and in the chief cities of the
Dependencies specifically mentioned in the Plan; the speedy fulfillment of
the task undertaken for the translation and publication of Baha'i
literature in the languages allocated under that same Plan, to various
National Spiritual Assemblies; the continued acquisition of Baha'i Holy
Places in Baha'u'llah's native land; the adoption of preparatory measures
for the construction of the Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars of Tihran and of
Frankfurt; the establishment of the first Dependency of the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar in Wilmette; the inauguration of National Baha'i
endowments designed to pave the way for the formation of National
Spiritual Assemblies; the lending of a fresh impetus to the incorporation
of local Spiritual Assemblies; the establishment of Baha'i Publishing
Trusts--these stand out as the essential objectives of the phase now
unfolding before the eyes of the Baha'i communities in the five continents
of the globe.

I direct my fervent plea to all the delegates assembled at the twelve
annual Baha'i Conventions to ponder these objectives in their hearts, to
dedicate themselves anew to the tasks now challenging the spirit and
combined resources of the entire body of the followers of the Faith, to
rouse all the communities they represent to assume a worthy share in the
common and gigantic effort that must needs be exerted for the attainment
of the aforementioned goals, ensuring thereby the uninterrupted progress
and the ultimate consummation of the noblest collective enterprise
undertaken by the followers of the Most Great Name for the propagation and
the establishment of His Faith over the entire face of the planet.

--Shoghi

[April, 1954]

GLAD TIDINGS

On the morrow of the close of the Ridvan period share with National
Assemblies of the Baha'i world additional glad tidings supplementing the
message addressed a fortnight ago to delegates to national Conventions
East and West.

Six acre and five acre plots have been purchased in