es of the Holy Land, "the Heart of the world and the
Qiblih of all nations," the erection of the first base stones of the
ornamental crown of the Dome of the Bab's Sepulcher which had commenced
with Naw-Ruz of the Holy Year, was followed successively by the laying,
during the Ridvan period, of the first of the twelve thousand gilded tiles
destined to cover the two-hundred and fifty square meter area of the Dome
and the placing of the stone lantern which marked the consummation of the
three quarters of a million dollar enterprise, and coincided with the
closing period of the Year associated with the hundredth anniversary of
the birth of the Mission of Baha'u'llah. The site for the first
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar of the Holy Land has been selected--an area of
approximately twenty thousand square meters--situated at the head of the
Mountain of God, in close proximity to the Spot hallowed by the footsteps
of Baha'u'llah, near the time-honored Cave of Elijah, and associated with
the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, the Charter of the World Spiritual
and Administrative Centers of the Faith on that mountain. Funds totaling
one hundred thousand dollars have, moreover, been contributed by one of
the Hands of the Cause, residing in the Holy Land, and negotiations have
been initiated with the Israeli authorities for the purpose of effecting
the immediate purchase of the selected site. Measures have been undertaken
and Baha'i Continental Funds inaugurated in anticipation of the
forthcoming appointment by the fifteen Hands residing outside the Holy
Land of five Auxiliary Boards, one in each of the continents of the globe,
the members of which will act as deputies of the Hands in their respective
continents, and will aid and advise them in the effective prosecution of
the Ten-Year Plan, and will assist them, at a later period, in the
discharge of their dual and sacred task of safeguarding the Faith and of
promoting its teaching activities. The international Baha'i endowments,
situated in the heart of Mt. Carmel, and in the plain of Akka, already
extending over an area of over three hundred and fifty thousand square
meters, have been enlarged through the acquisition of properties
overlooking the Resting Places of the Most Exalted Leaf and of the Purest
Branch, which, when added to the plots situated on the ridge of Mt.
Carmel, on its western extremity and in the close neighborhood of the
Shrine built within its heart--for the acquisition