rus, Hebrides Islands, Northern Territories
Protectorate, Seychelles, Andorra, Canary Islands and French Somaliland is
virtually assured. The northern outposts of the Faith in the Western
Hemisphere have been pushed as far as Arctic Bay, Franklin, seventy-three
degrees north latitude, and in Europe as far as the Lofoten Islands. A
pioneer is en route to Fezzan, Libya, chosen scene of 'Abdu'l-Baha's
banishment by 'Abdu'l-Hamid.

All the areas within the Western Hemisphere allocated to the United States
National Assembly are assigned. A third of the membership of that same
Assembly is joining the ranks of the pioneers. The remaining sister
national assemblies are now vying in a spiritual race to complete
assignments in their respective continents. Funds are inaugurated and
sites are being investigated for the purchase of land for the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kars of Rome, Panama City and Toronto and for a national
Haziratu'l-Quds in London. I appeal to the attendants at this conference,
in thanksgiving for the manifold blessings abundantly showered upon
Baha'u'llah's crusaders, to immortalize their proceedings through the
inauguration of funds for the purchase of sites for Temples in that
northern city, the scene of the present conference, and in Frankfurt in
the heart of the European continent. I am contributing two thousand pounds
for the furtherance of these meritorious enterprises.

I urge, moreover, that the participants, in view of the disproportionately
small number of pioneers destined for virgin territories in relation to
the total of volunteers, swell the roll of honor through enlisting
promptly under the unfurled banner of the advancing hosts of Baha'u'llah.
No worthier contribution can be offered on the altar of Baha'i sacrifice,
no greater honor won during the course of the Holy Year now swiftly
drawing to its close.

[July 1953]

Asian Intercontinental Conference

[NEW DELHI, INDIA, OCTOBER 7-15, 1953]

With high hopes and a joyful heart I acclaim the convocation, in the
leading city of the Indian subcontinent, of the fourth and last of the
Intercontinental Teaching Conferences of a memorable Holy Year
commemorating the centenary of the birth of the prophetic Mission of
Baha'u'llah.

On this historic occasion, when the members of the National Spiritual
Assemblies of the Baha'is of the United States of America, of the Dominion
of Canada, of Central and South America, of Persia, of the Indian
subcontin