rmel,
within whose walls the first Centenary of the birth of His ministry has
been celebrated, whose interior ornamentation has coincided with the
construction of the arcade of His Sepulcher, should be vouchsafed the
honor of having the Jubilee of its inception coincide with, and celebrated
on the occasion of, the Centenary of the birth of Baha'u'llah's prophetic
Mission in the Siyah-_Ch_al of Tihran.

[April 11, 1949]

PROCESS OF EXPANSION ACCELERATES
[MESSAGE TO 1949 CONVENTION]

Desire to share with attendants at Forty-first American Baha'i Convention
feelings of joyous gratitude evoked by the steady acceleration of the dual
process of expansion and consolidation of the Baha'i World Community as
well as the perspicuous evidences of divine protection vouchsafed the
World Center of the Faith during the course of the third year of the
Second Seven Year Plan. The number of countries included within the pale
of the Faith is ninety-four. Languages into which Baha'i literature is
translated, and assemblies, local and national, incorporated, now total
fifty-six and one hundred five, respectively. Baha'i literature now being
translated into fourteen additional languages. The number of centers in
Latin America is one hundred and nine. The fourth objective of the present
Plan has been achieved four years ahead of schedule through the formation
of a spiritual assembly in each of the ten goal countries on the European
continent. Centers established in these countries total thirty-one, newly
enrolled native believers, one hundred fifty-four. Nearly a million dollar
drive to complete the Mother Temple of the West has been auspiciously
launched and construction of interior sections of the ornamentation
initiated. Number of settlements in Greenland provided with Baha'i
scriptures raised to forty-eight, including Thule beyond the Arctic Circle
and Etah near eightieth latitude. Number of American states, territories
and federal districts recognizing Baha'i marriage raised to eighteen.
Restoration of the newly acquired German national Haziratu'l-Quds at
Frankfurt has been commenced. Formulation of five year plans for German
and Egyptian National Assemblies, culminating at the Centenary of the
Birth of Baha'u'llah's prophetic Mission, completes the number of national
assemblies pledged to achieve within appointed time specified goals in
five continents. The European Teaching Conference convened at Geneva
inaugurating series