dship. The field now stretching before them
during the opening year of the second Baha'i Century is vast and highly
promising. The call is urgent, the opportunities priceless, the need of
the waiting masses desperate, the machinery for the execution of the
Divine Purpose already erected and vigorously functioning, the promise of
signal victory clear and definite. A higher degree of administrative
efficiency; a closer collaboration between the various elements
constituting the organic Baha'i Community; a greater measure of self
sacrifice; a still more intensified exertion aiming at the consolidation
and preservation of the newly constituted Assemblies and the rapid
conversion of the existing groups into full-fledged Assemblies; a
systematic, sustained and nation-wide endeavour for the purpose of
disseminating the literature of the Faith, increasing its volume and
adding to its diversity and lastly a more audacious and convincing
presentation of its tenets to the masses of the people--these constitute
the primary tasks facing now the Indian believers. That they may achieve
their high destiny is my constant hope and fervent prayer.

December 20, 1944

Re-instate Assemblies in Burma

First let me say that he was very pleased to receive your cable telling
him the Baha'is in at least a part of Burma have survived. His thoughts
and prayers have often been with them during these terrible years of war.

He wishes to urge the N.S.A. to concentrate above all on re-instating any
Spiritual Assemblies which were disbanded last Baha'i year owing to
insufficient numbers. This must always be the first consideration, so that
the hardly won prizes of these new Assemblies may not be lost. Depriving
of Voting Rights--Function of N.S.A.

Also he wishes to point out that the power to put a person outside the
Faith administratively must be solely, for the present time, in the hands
of the N.S.A. This applies only to the cases where believers are deprived
of their voting rights. Such extremely important and dramatic measures
should never be resorted to unless absolutely necessary, and should
certainly never be left in the hands of local assemblies, where personal
feelings might colour the Assembly's decision. On the other hand, the
right to enroll believers has always been given to the Local Assemblies.
But they should be strongly urged to make sure the applicant is sincere
and fully understands and accepts the fundamentals of the F