infant community which has, despite its
limited resources and isolated situation, demonstrated its capacity to
establish on a sound basis the primary institutions of its Faith, to
safeguard its unity and promote its vital interests. That it may forge
ahead and overcome every obstacle in its path and fulfil its high destiny
is my fondest hope and constant prayer.

Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi.

LETTER OF MAY 13TH, 1945

Haifa, May 13th, 1945.

Dear Baha'i Sister:

The beloved Guardian has instructed me to answer your letters dated April
12th, 13th (two) and 14th, and to acknowledge receipt of the enclosures
forwarded with them.

Regarding the matter of Mrs. ... and the inharmony that seems to exist
among certain of the friends in ...: when Baha'is permit the dark forces
of the world to enter into their own relationships within the Faith they
gravely jeopardise its progress; it is the paramount duty of the
believers, the local assemblies, and particularly the N.S.A. to foster
harmony, understanding and love amongst the friends. All should be ready
and willing to set aside every personal sense of grievance--justified or
unjustified--for the good of the Cause, because the people will never
embrace it until they see in its community life mirrored what is so
conspicuously lacking in the world: love and unity.

The Baha'is are fully entitled to address criticisms to their assemblies;
they can freely air their views about policies or individual members of
elected bodies to the assembly, local or national, but then they must
whole-heartedly accept the advice or decision of the assembly, according
to the principles already laid down for such matters in Baha'i
administration.

Shoghi Effendi has repeatedly stated, to believers in every part of the
world, that the individual Baha'is are entirely free to write to him on
any matter they please; naturally he is equally free to answer in any
manner he pleases. At the present time, when the institutions of the Cause
are just beginning to function, he considers it essential to keep up this
large correspondence, much as it adds to his many other burdens. It is
sometimes the case that the very first intimation he receives of some
important step influencing the interests of the Faith, one way or another,
comes from an individual's letter instead of from an assembly; it would
naturally be preferable for the information to come from an administrative
body, but w