Ridvan rendered memorable by the swift, magnificent victories achieved in
the pioneering field, unsurpassed in the course of the eleven decades of
Baha'i history.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, March 21, 1954]

INSTITUTION OF HANDS OF THE CAUSE

To all the Hands of the Cause and all National Assemblies of the Baha'i
World:

Hail emergence of the unfoldment in the opening years of the second epoch
of the formative age of the Baha'i Dispensation of the august Institution
foreshadowed by the Founder of the Faith and formally established in the
Testament of the Center of His Covenant, closely associated in provisions
of the same Will with Institution of the Guardianship, destined to assume
in the fullness of time, under the aegis of the Guardian, the dual sacred
responsibility for protection and propagation of the Cause of Baha'u'llah.

Desire to pay warm tribute to the services rendered severally and
collectively by appointed hands at the World Center of the Faith and in
territories beyond its confines.

Greatly value their support in the erection of the Bab's Sepulcher on Mt.
Carmel; in reinforcing ties with the newly emerged State of Israel; in the
extension of the International Endowments in the Holy Land; in the
initiation of the preliminary measures for the establishment of the Baha'i
World Administrative Center, as well as in their participation in four
successive intercontinental Teaching Conferences; in their extensive
travels in African territories, in North, Central and South America, in
the European, Asiatic and Australian Continents.

This newly constituted body, embarked on its mission with such auspicious
circumstances, is now entering the second phase of its evolution
signalized by forging of ties with the National Spiritual Assemblies of
the Baha'i world for the purpose of lending them assistance in attaining
the objectives of the Ten Year Plan.

The hour is ripe for the fifteen Hands residing outside the Holy Land to
proceed during Ridvan with the appointment, in each continent separately,
from among the resident Baha'is of that Continent, of Auxiliary Boards,
whose members, acting as deputies, assistants and advisers of the Hands,
must increasingly lend their assistance for the promotion of the interests
of the Ten Year Crusade.

Advise the Hands of the Asiatic, American and European Continents to
convene in Tihran, Wilmette and Frankfurt respectively for the purposes of
consultation and n