Arohanui: Letters from Shoghi Effendi to New Zealand | Page 7

January 24, 1926.
He hopes that after this long vacation you have had you are ready to
begin spreading the Cause in New Zealand with even greater energy
than before. The people there seem to be broad in their outlook,
receptive to any idea which helps the human family from decreasing its
burden.

Shoghi Effendi was most chagrined to hear of the sudden death of your
son(1) and wishes me to extend to you his deepest love and sympathy.
There is no special news here except that we have removed to the new
pilgrim house. Miss Baker is well and very busy entertaining the
friends and arranging the new home.
Shoghi Effendi as well as the other members of the family are well and
send you their love and greetings. They earnestly pray for your success
and hope to hear, before long, the news of your many victories in the
field of services to the Cause.
Please convey my loving greetings to your son and daughter.
Yours most sincerely, Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
My dear fellow-worker:
I wish to express in person my deep sympathy in the heavy loss you
have sustained. May the Beloved Comforter strengthen you and sustain
you in your bereavement. The memory of your visit to the Holy Land is
still fresh and vivid in my mind and I pray and supplicate at the holy
Shrines that your labours in the Cause may yield an abundant harvest.
Your sympathising brother, Shoghi


PART II LETTERS TO INDIVIDUALS,
APRIL 21ST, 1926--APRIL 21ST, 1934.
The first combined National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of
Australia and New Zealand was formed in 1934.

(10) August 12th, 1926
My very dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi has been in receipt of your interesting letter dated June
7, 1926. It is a great pity that your health has more or less handicapped
you in your service to the Cause. We, however, hope that this weakness
will soon vanish and your health and strength be fully restored.
The case of the teacher who has been in Palestine is one really to be
lamented. All such persons instead of procuring their information from
the very source, when they are so near to it, they go to the Missionaries
who are undoubtedly biased. They are immediately told that the Cause
is nothing more than a sect of Islam; a Movement that may do immense
good to the Muhammadan world, but far from ranking with Christianity
or satisfying its needs. Then they refer this ignorant and innocent
person to books such as Brown's. It is their fault for having gone to the
wrong source for proper information, but once they have gone it is not
their mistake to have been misled. We have heard of many such
instances and there is absolutely no remedy except to leave them until
they find the truth for themselves. We can only pray for their guidance.
Shoghi Effendi always prays for you as well as the other Auckland
friends, so that through your combined efforts the Cause may prosper
there, and obtain a strong position in the life of the people. I am not the
least familiar with the social conditions there, but I am sure there is a
ready field for active service.
Yours in His Name, Ruhi Afnan
[From the Guardian:]
My dear fellow-worker:
I rejoice to learn that your dear sons are realizing gradually the
significance of this unique and mighty Cause, and my constant and
fervent prayer is that you may witness erelong the fruition of their slow

yet sure spiritual evolution. Persevere in your labours for I entertain
and cherish the brightest hopes for the future awakening of promising
New-Zealand. I shall ever remember the memorable visit of the first
New-Zealand believers to the Holy Land. Please assure them of my
undying affection.
Your true brother, Shoghi

(11) August 12th, 1926
My dear Spiritual Sister:
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
dated June 7, 1926. It was most interesting to go over your circular
letter and read the many points of interest. I was especially struck by
the literature you have sent to Lord and Lady Allenby. If they have at
all seen them I am sure they were much impressed, for they knew the
Master so well. They were surely very astonished to see a group of
Bahá'ís formed in such a distant land.
I am very ashamed of myself not to have yet answered your letter of
some months ago. It was mainly because Shoghi Effendi wrote you and
acknowledged the receipt of your contribution for the pilgrim house
that I have been so neglectful. I took Miss Baker's advice on the matter
and together we went down-town and bought a set of straw chairs. We
thought that