itings and Sayings of Baha'u'llah and the Master. But he believes that
the time is not yet ripe for such activities. First we have to study the
economic teachings in the light of modern problems more thoroughly so that
we may advocate what the Founders of the Faith say and not what we
conjecture from Their Writings. There is great difference between sounding
a great general principle and finding its application to actual prevailing
conditions. Secondly, the Cause is not financially in a position to launch
itself in such undertakings at present. Such plans need great financial
backing to be worked out in a permanent form. In time, Shoghi Effendi
hopes all these things will come to pass. For the present we have to
consolidate our basic institutions and spread the teachings and spirit of
the Faith among the public."

57: EDUCATION (ON INABILITY OF MODERN EDUCATION TO PRODUCE A MATURE MIND)

"People today indeed do tend to be very superficial in their thinking, and
it would seem as if the educational systems in use are sorely lacking in
ability to produce a mature mind in a person who has reached supposedly
adult life! All the outside influences that surround the individual seem
to have an intensely distracting effect, and it is a hard job to get the
average person to do any deep thinking or even a little meditation on the
problems facing him and the world at large.

"Over and over again Baha'u'llah cried out against the heedlessness of
humanity, and warns of the fate such an attitude must lead to. Did we not
know what God plans to, and will do, with the world in the future, we
should certainly be as hopeless as many of the best thinkers of our
generation have become."

58: ELDERS (FOUR AND TWENTY)

"Regarding the four and twenty elders: The Master, in a Tablet, stated
that they were the Bab, the eighteen Letters of the Living, and five
others who would be known in the future. So far we do not know who these
five others are."

59: ELECTION (ACCEPTANCE OF)

"Concerning the question of refusal by certain believers to accept
election to an administrative post: The Guardian strongly feels that
criticism, opposition, or confusion do not provide sufficient grounds for
either refusal or resignation. Only cases of physical or mental
incapacity, which, by their very nature, are extremely rare, constitute
valid reasons for such an act. The difficulties and tests involved in the
acceptance of Admin