roughout five tumultuous years, been providentially
spared to hold aloft its banner, to preserve its integrity, to maintain
the continuity of its institutions, to enrich its annals, to consolidate
its structure, to further disseminate its literature and to befittingly
celebrate its Centenary. Preponderant indeed has been the share of that
privileged community, which has been invested by the Pen of the Center of
the Covenant with a world-wide mission, in the prosecution of a task
which, ever since the onset of this world upheaval and despite its
mounting horrors, the builders of the Administrative Order of the Faith of
Baha'u'llah have so unflaggingly pursued. Neither the participation of the
Great Republic of the West in this fierce contest, nor the sorrows,
burdens and restrictions which such direct association with the agonies of
a travailing age has entailed, have thus far been capable of dimming the
splendor of the exploits that have immortalized the record of the services
of this community since the ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha. Indeed, coincident
with the period of America's direct participation in this world struggle
and in direct proportion to the turmoil and the tribulations which such a
participation has engendered, the members of this community have evinced a
heroism and proved themselves capable of a concerted effort that have
eclipsed the notable achievements that have heralded the establishment of
the Administrative Order of the Faith as well as the first stage in the
development of the Seven Year Plan.

What the year 1945, on whose threshhold we now stand, has in store for the
members of this determined, this valiant, this watchful, this exemplary
community only the future can reveal. That the trials and afflictions
suffered by their country and its people must wax as this world upheaval
moves towards a climax no one can any longer doubt. The challenge that
will face this stalwart community will no doubt be severe. To allow the
prizes so nobly won, over so vast a field, at so great a cost, at so
critical an hour, to fall into jeopardy would be unworthy of a career so
auspiciously initiated, so completely dedicated to the Cause of God, so
rich in promise and so brilliant in almost every phase of its evolution.
Every local Assembly, the ordained pivot of a divinely-ordained System,
which has been established in the States and Provinces of the North
American continent, as well as in the Republics of Latin America