world Spiritual and Administrative Center, contrast with,
and are outweighed by, the surging spirit, the startling expansion, the
sweeping conquests, the superb consolidation of the swiftly-accumulating
resources of the one remaining community singled out for the proclamation
of the Administrative Order throughout the length and breadth of the
Western Hemisphere. I appeal to the New World champions of the New World
Order of Baha'u'llah to stand fast at this tragic hour in the fortunes of
mankind and the challenging state of the evolution of the Faith. I beg
them to close their ranks jointly, severally and vow themselves to
incomparably sublime task whose operation must hasten the ascendancy of
the beloved Cause and the spiritual redemption of a reconstructed mankind.

Cablegram October 29, 1940

TORCHBEARER OF WORLD CIVILIZATION

My heart is thrilled with delight as I witness, in so many fields, and in
such distant outposts, and despite such formidable difficulties,
restrictions, obstacles and dangers, so many evidences of the solidarity,
the valor, and the achievements of the American Baha'i community. As the
end of the First Century of the Baha'i Era approaches, as the shadows
descending upon and enveloping mankind steadily and remorselessly deepen,
this community, which can almost be regarded as the solitary champion of
the Faith in the Western World, is increasingly evincing and demonstrating
its capacity, its worth, and ability as the torchbearer of the New, the
World Civilization which is destined to supplant in the fulness of time
the present one. And more particularly in the virgin and far-flung
territories of Latin America, it has in recent months, abundantly given
visible evidence of its merits and competence to shoulder the immense
responsibilities which the carrying of the sacred Fire to all the
Republics of the Western Hemisphere must necessarily entail.

Through these initial steps, which, in pursuance of the Plan conceived by
'Abdu'l-Baha, this community has taken, through the settlement in each of
these sovereign states of the New World of American Baha'i pioneers,
through the formation of Baha'i groups and the establishment of two
Assemblies in Buenos Aires and Bahia, the American National Assembly, as
well as its Inter-America Committee, and all subsidiary agencies, no less
than the individual members of the North American Baha'i community who
have sacrificed and are still sacrificing so m