of the ways and means whereby its
claims can be vindicated, its defamers and detractors silenced, and its
institutions safeguarded; a more determined effort to exploit, to the
fullest extent possible, the talents and abilities of the rank and file of
the believers for the purpose of achieving these ends--these stand out as
the paramount tasks summoning to a challenge, during these years of
transition and turmoil, the entire body of the American believers. The
facilities which the radio and press furnish must be utilized to a degree
unprecedented in American Baha'i history. The combined resources of the
much-envied exemplary American Baha'i community must be harnessed for the
effectual promotion of these meritorious purposes. Blessings undreamt of
in their scope and plenteousness, are bound to be vouchsafed to those who
will, in these dark yet pregnant times, arise to further these noble ends
and to hasten through their acts the hour at which a still more momentous
stage in the evolution of a Divine and worldwide Plan can be launched.

There is no time to lose. The hour is ripe for the proclamation, without
fear, without reserve, and without hesitation, and on a scale never as yet
undertaken, of the One Message that can alone extricate humanity from the
morass into which it is steadily sinking, and from which they who claim to
be the followers of the Most Great Name can and will eventually rescue it.
The sooner they who labor for the recognition and triumph of His Faith in
the new world arise to carry out these inescapable duties, the sooner will
the hopes, the aims and objectives of 'Abdu'l-Baha as enshrined in His own
Plan, be translated from the realm of vision to the plane of actuality and
manifest the full force of the potentialities with which they have been
endued.

March 29, 1945

MY HEAVY-LADENED HEART

My heavy ladened heart, already oppressed by repeated defections of the
unworthy kindred of the beloved Master, is relieved by latest signal
evidence of the indomitable spirit of the members of divinely chosen
American Baha'i community now unfurling the banner of the Faith and
establishing the structural basis of its administrative order in the
world's southernmost city. I hail the staunchness and fidelity
distinguishing the winners of such superb victories. I acclaim them true
brothers and sisters worthy of the name 'Abdu'l-Baha. I urge the
Inter-America Committee to devote special attention and und