its establishment. It will be evident, therefore, that given
favorable circumstances, under which the Baha'is of Persia and of the
adjoining countries under Soviet rule, may be enabled to elect their
national representatives, in accordance with the guiding principles laid
down in 'Abdu'l-Baha's writings, the only remaining obstacle in the way of
the definite formation of the International House of Justice will have
been removed. For upon the National Houses of Justice of the East and the
West devolves the task, in conformity with the explicit provisions of the
Will, of electing directly the members of the International House of
Justice. Not until they are themselves fully representative of the rank
and file of the believers in their respective countries, not until they
have acquired the weight and the experience that will enable them to
function vigorously in the organic life of the Cause, can they approach
their sacred task, and provide the spiritual basis for the constitution of
so august a body in the Baha'i world.

The Institution of Guardianship

It must be also clearly understood by every believer that the institution
of Guardianship does not under any circumstances abrogate, or even in the
slightest degree detract from, the powers granted to the Universal House
of Justice by Baha'u'llah in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, and repeatedly and
solemnly confirmed by 'Abdu'l-Baha in His Will. It does not constitute in
any manner a contradiction to the Will and Writings of Baha'u'llah, nor
does it nullify any of His revealed instructions. It enhances the prestige
of that exalted assembly, stabilizes its supreme position, safeguards its
unity, assures the continuity of its labors, without presuming in the
slightest to infringe upon the inviolability of its clearly-defined sphere
of jurisdiction. We stand indeed too close to so monumental a document to
claim for ourselves a complete understanding of all its implications, or
to presume to have grasped the manifold mysteries it undoubtedly contains.
Only future generations can comprehend the value and the significance
attached to this Divine Masterpiece, which the hand of the Master-builder
of the world has designed for the unification and the triumph of the
world-wide Faith of Baha'u'llah. Only those who come after us will be in a
position to realize the value of the surprisingly strong emphasis that has
been placed on the institution of the House of Justice and of the
Guardian