At long last, it had now become evident, that the Master’s portentous and highly revealing prophecy to Mason Remey concerning his future role contained in a Tablet addressed to him as long ago as 1915 had been fulfilled:
"Verily I beseech God to make thee confirmed under all circumstances. Do not become despondent, neither be thou sad. ERE LONG, THY LORD SHALL MAKE THEE A SIGN OF GUIDANCE AMONG MANKIND." (Star of the West - Vol.V, No. 19, March 2, 1915).
Let us now consider the latter part of the passage quoted from your book on the first page of this letter. You have said that you were only able to survive the Guardian’s death "because I could not abandon him and his precious work . . ." This sentiment is certainly understandable in view of your great love for him and appreciation, more than any of us, due to your closeness to him, of his devoted, untiring, and magnificent labors during his 36 year ministry for the triumph of the Faith and the erection of the Institutions of the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh, as delineated in the Will and Testament of `Abdu’l-Bahá. I find a great paradox in your statement, for, notwithstanding this sentiment, you have acquiesced in, if not presided over, the dismantlement of the very international institutions of the Faith whose final establishment during the concluding years of his ministry represented the crowning achievement of Shoghi Effendi’s long, arduous, and dedicated labors to erect the administrative machinery of the Faith. Were not these achievements hailed by him in a veritable deluge of momentous and historic cablegrams to the Bahá’í world (as found in the book: MESSAGES TO THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD, 1950-1957) extolling the fact that these international institutions had finally been established? For example, in his message of 30 June 1952 (some 5 months before our pilgrimage) he stated:
"At the World Center of the Faith, where, at long last the machinery of its highest institutions has been erected, and around whose most holy shrines the supreme organs of its unfolding Order, are, in their embryonic form, unfolding . . ."
Were not these "highest
institutions" and "supreme organs" that had at long last been
erected in their embryonic form none other than the Universal House of Justice (i.e. the International
Bahá’í Council) and the institution of the Hands of the Cause? Small wonder, then,
that Shoghi Effendi could joyfully announce to the Bahá’í world that the
"embryonic World Commonwealth of Bahá’u’lláh" had been
established in all of its perfection and glory and he could as his ministry drew to its conclusion
derive the greatest satisfaction and joy in the knowledge that he had faithfully discharged, with the
erection of these institutions, and in the planning and inauguration of the Ten Year Global Crusade,
every mandate bequeathed to us by the Master.
By Joel B. Marangella
READ ENTIRE ARTICLE:
Second Unanswered Letter to Rúhíyyih Khánum
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