the friends have been pitilessly denied the civic rights and privileges
extended to every citizen of the land. They have been refused the use of
the public bath, and been denied access to such shops as provide the
necessities of life. They have been declared deprived of the benefit and
protection of the law, and all association and dealing with them denounced
as a direct violation of the precepts and principles of Islam. It has even
been authoritatively stated that the decencies of public interment have
been refused to their dead, and that in a particular case every effort to
induce the Moslem undertaker to provide the wood for the construction of
the coffin failed to secure the official support of the authorities
concerned. Every appeal made by these harassed Baha'is on behalf of their
brethren, whether living or dead, has been met with cold indifference,
with vague promises, and not infrequently with severe rebuke and
undeserved chastisement.

The tale of such outrageous conduct, such widespread suffering and loss,
if properly expressed and broadcast, cannot fail in the end to arouse the
conscience of civilised mankind, and thereby secure the much-needed relief
for a long-suffering people. I would, therefore, renew my plea, and
request you most earnestly to redouble your efforts in the wide field of
publicity, to devise every possible means that will alleviate the fears
and sorrows of the silent sufferers in that distracted country.

Surely these vile wrong-doers cannot long remain unpunished for their
ferocious atrocities, and the day may not be far distant when we shall
witness, as we have observed elsewhere, the promised signs of Divine
Retribution avenging the blood of the slaughtered servants of Baha'u'llah.

Your true brother,
Shoghi

Letter of 20 May 1926

20 May 1926

My dear Mr. Simpson,

I thank you on behalf of Shoghi Effendi for your letter of May 8th.

He was very glad indeed to learn the names of the newly elected London
Spiritual Assembly and he wishes them success from the bottom of his
heart. He earnestly trusts that throughout the coming year they will
succeed to give a fresh impetus to the progress of the Cause in England
and will not be satisfied with only mediocre efforts and endeavours.

With regard to the election of the Assemblies and your desire to have
substitutes in order to ensure a steady and easy-to-obtain quorum for
business, Shoghi Effendi would not like to give you a