Assembly's election and confining it to the body of
delegates or of limiting the term of office: He feels that as any such
changes are of a radical nature and should therefore apply to the National
Spiritual Assemblies of other countries, they are inadvisable and
premature, both for this reason and because of their very nature.
"What is needed is to get the administration in its present form to run
more efficiently and at the same time to build up a higher sense of the
responsibility among the body of the believers. They should be encouraged
to think more, not only about the qualifications of their elected bodies,
but also about such things as you mention, the law of averages, the age
and indisposition of some of the members, etc.
"When we look back and see what the administration has accomplished in
twenty-odd years, indeed what it has done in the last seven years, we see
what strides forward have been made. Far greater tasks lie ahead, but the
Guardian does not feel that the way to meet them is to change the present
system but rather to perfect it by educating the believers and training
them, holding more conferences, publishing more news for Baha'is, getting
more people active."
65: ELECTIONS, REGARDING (IN THE UNITED STATES)
"The Guardian has written the National Assembly in detail and given them
the principle upon which he would like to see them act. He has asked them
to advise the friends accordingly and also to expound the principles so as
to apply to the local conditions in America."
"To facilitate matters and avoid misunderstandings he prefers to refer you
and the individual friends to them (The National Assembly). He is sure
that you will obtain full satisfaction by putting the question to them.
The purpose of the Guardian in this is not to avoid the issue but only to
facilitate matters and eliminate misunderstandings. In all such matters
the friends should first approach the Local, then the National Assembly
and only in case they can obtain no satisfaction should they approach the
Guardian on these matters. This way many difficulties will be avoided."
66: EMMANUEL, HIS HIGHNESS
"In connection with your question regarding the reference made by
'Abdu'l-Baha to 'His Highness Emmanuel' in Vol. III of His Tablets; this
obviously refers to the Bab, as the text shows it clearly, and is in no
way a reference to Swedenborg."
67: ESPERANTO (THE SUBJECT OF)
"Regarding the
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