e
New Era in the few remaining languages selected for that purpose. The
dissemination of Baha'i literature should, likewise, be simultaneously
carried out with increasing vigour. Whatever measures are required to
ensure a more systematic and extensive propagation of the teaching of the
Faith among the masses must be promptly and unhesitatingly adopted.

The hour is indeed propitious. The ordeals and tribulations which the
hungry, the dispossessed, the sick, as well as the disillusioned and
restless multitudes, are now experiencing, offer the bearers of the
Message of the Most Great Name, an opportunity which may never again
recur. There is no time to lose. Every warrior in the ever-advancing army
of Baha'u'llah must arise and participate in this holy crusade. The
rewards and prizes to be won are inestimable. However circumscribed its
resources, however small its numbers, however formidable the obstacles
with which it is confronted, the entire community of the believers in
India, Burma and Pakistan, must arise as one man, and, pledging anew its
fidelity to its Faith prove itself fully worthy of the Cause it has
espoused and the high mission it has undertaken.

October 24, 1947

Excommunication is a Spiritual Matter

Excommunication is a spiritual thing and up until now the Guardian has
always been the one who exerted this power, and he feels for the present
he must continue to be. Only actual enemies of the Cause are
ex-communicated. On the other hand, those who conspicuously disgrace the
Faith or refuse to abide by its laws can be deprived, as a punishment, of
their voting rights; this in itself is a severe action, and he therefore
always urges all National Assemblies (who can take such action) to first
warn and repeatedly warn the evil-doer before taking the step of depriving
him of his voting rights. He feels your Assembly must act with the
greatest wisdom in such matters, and only impose this sanction if a
believer is seriously injuring the Faith in the eyes of the public through
his conduct or flagrantly breaching the laws of God. If such a sanction
were lightly used the friends would come to attach no importance to it, or
to feel the N.S.A. used it every time they got angry with some
individual's disobedience to them. We must always remember that, sad and
often childish, as it seems, some of those who make the worst nuisances of
themselves to their National Bodies are often very loyal believers, who
thi