o arise
and lend support to the erection of these twin mighty institutions of the
embryonic World Order of Baha'u'llah at the World Center of the Faith and
within the cradle of His Revelation.

Share twin glad tidings with all National Assemblies.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, March 20, 1955]

ACHIEVEMENTS OF SECOND YEAR OF TEN YEAR PLAN

On the occasion of the triumphant conclusion of the second year of the Ten
Year Plan, marking the termination of the first half of the second phase
of a decade-long Baha'i World Spiritual Crusade, I invite the delegates
assembled at the twelve Annual Conventions, convened simultaneously
throughout the Baha'i world during the Ridvan Festival, to survey with me
the multiple evidences of the progressive unfoldment of the incalculable
potentialities with which this world-enveloping, steadily consolidating
enterprise has been endowed by the Author of the Tablets of the Divine
Plan at the very hour of its inception.

In every continent of the globe, throughout the widely scattered islands
of the Mediterranean and the North Sea, of the Atlantic, the Pacific and
Indian Oceans, this mighty Plan, devised for the systematic execution of
the Design conceived by the Center of Baha'u'llah's Covenant for the
propagation of His Father's Faith, is forging ahead, gaining momentum with
every passing day, tearing down barriers in all climes and amidst divers
peoples and races, widening irresistibly the scope of its beneficent
operations, and revealing ever more compelling signs of its inherent
strength as it marches towards the spiritual conquest of the entire
planet.

TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX TERRITORIES NOW OPENED TO THE FAITH

The number of the virgin territories of the globe opened to the Faith has,
since the inauguration, and in direct consequence of the vigorous
prosecution, of this stupendous undertaking, been raised to one hundred
and eight, swelling the number of the sovereign states and chief
dependencies included within the pale of the Faith of Baha'u'llah to two
hundred and thirty-six, above two hundred of which have been enlisted
under His banner since the ascension of the Center of His Covenant.

All the territories within the confines of the American, the European, the
Asiatic and the African continents, assigned to ten Baha'i National
Assemblies, have, with the exception of Soviet-controlled territories,
been opened. Of the seventy-two islands allocated to eleven Baha'i