Local Assemblies, and the steady numerical
growth of the community--the one enduring foundation on which the security
and future prosperity of the community must ultimately rest.

IRANIAN PERSECUTIONS MUST ACT AS STIMULUS

The sudden and indeed tragic turn of events in the land of the birth of
our Faith(45) must act as an unprecedented and powerful stimulus to the
spirit which animates the members of the Canadian Baha'i Community. It
must not, indeed it cannot for a moment, dampen their ardour, deflect them
from their purpose, or weaken their resolve to accomplish the tasks
assigned to them under the Ten Year Plan.

Conscious of their inescapable, their sacred and multiple
responsibilities; spurred on by the realization of the great and varied
sacrifices being made, and the vicissitudes experienced, by the great mass
of their long-suffering brethren in Baha'u'llah's native land; mindful of
the prophecies made by the Centre of the Covenant regarding the spiritual
and material destiny of their country; following the noble and immortal
example set by the founder(46) of their community and by the two Hands of
the Cause(47) ranking among its foremost members; encouraged by their own
splendid achievements in recent years; thankful for the unrestricted
freedom enabling them to proclaim, unreservedly and far and wide, the
fundamental verities of their Faith; and fully aware of the shortness of
the time allotted to them for the performance of their arduous and mighty
task, the members of the Canadian Baha'i Community must arise, at this
very hour, and evince such a whole-hearted dedication to the mission they
have pledged themselves to carry out as to astonish the entire Baha'i
World, and bring everlasting consolation to the hearts of the persecuted
followers of the Faith in the land of its birth.

That this community may rise to this occasion, and may befittingly fulfil
this glorious mission, and enrich immeasurably the record of its splendid
and unforgettable achievements is the object of my constant prayer and the
dearest wish of my heart.

Your true brother,
SHOGHI.

Letter of January 13, 1956

Haifa, Israel,
January 13, 1956.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Canada.

The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you the following: He was
sorry to hear that the piece of plaster from the walls of the Prison of
Mah-ku had not been placed in the grave of Mr. Maxwell(48); and he would
like th