nt your
Assembly to issue statements of a binding nature unless absolutely
necessary.... It is only those who have been spiritually ex-communicated
by the Guardian with whom the believers are forbidden to associate, and
not a person who is being punished by being deprived of his voting rights.
As contributions to Baha'i funds are used to support the administration of
the Faith, they should not be accepted from those who are deprived of
their voting rights; but such believers, should not be prevented from
being buried in a Baha'i Cemetery or receiving charity--which we even give
to non-Baha'is--if in dire need.

Added Responsibility

As the N.S.A. of Persia is, it would seem, unable to send pioneers to
Bahrayn or Afghanistan, he fully approves of your Assembly doing so, if
some of the dear Indian believers are willing to assume this added
responsibility and perform this valuable service, highly meritorious in
the sight of God.

The recent news conveyed to him by you of the achievement of the immediate
goals that lay before the Indian and Burmese Baha'is, pleased him greatly.
He feels that the Community of believers there, as they see their own Plan
developing and their own labours bearing fruit, their fame spreading
amongst their sister-communities and their star rising in the heaven of
the Baha'i world, are now acquiring a new zest for teaching, and are ever
more ready to sacrifice themselves in order to win complete victory for
their Plan! This pleases him greatly and encourages him to believe the
future of the dear Indian and Burmese believers is very bright.

He was also delighted and relieved to hear that unity was achieved at
Convention amongst the friends, and that all of them have resolved to put
away childish differences, unworthy of them as servants and custodians of
our glorious Faith in that great country, and unitedly strive for the good
of the Cause and the successful completion of their sacred tasks.

He wishes once more to impress upon your Assembly the great importance of
immediately finding and purchasing, and moving into, a befitting Hazira in
Delhi. This will bring upon the entire community great confirmations.

Threshold of a New Epoch

[From the Guardian:]

The perusal of your Annual Report and the messages conveyed by the elected
representatives of the Indian and Burmese Baha'i communities, assembled at
Convention, have served to deepen my sense of admiration for the work
c