ly acquit yourselves of this
high task you have undertaken to accomplish in service of His Faith.

In connection with your application for exemption from active military
service, the Guardian trusts that the authorities will give careful
consideration to this matter, and will find it possible to relieve the
Baha'i friends from the necessity of serving in the army in a combatant
capacity. Should they, however, refuse to grant such exemption, the
believers should unhesitatingly assure them of their unqualified obedience
and of their readiness to join and serve in the army in whatever manner
the government deems best.

Renewing to you and to all the friends his warmest good wishes and
greetings....

[From the Guardian:]

Dear and valued co-workers,

The various and compelling evidences of the unquenchable enthusiasm, the
unbreakable resolution and the inflexible purpose of the English
believers, in these days of stress, of turmoil and danger, have cheered my
heart and fortified me in the discharge of my arduous and multitudinous
duties and responsibilities. I feel truly proud of them all, and will,
with increasing gratitude and redoubled fervour, supplicate the Beloved
whose Cause they are so valiantly serving, to bless, sustain, guide and
protect them under all circumstances, and aid them to establish firmly the
institutions of His Faith throughout the length and breadth of their
country.

Your true and grateful brother,
Shoghi

Letter of 29 December 1939

29 December 1939

Dear Baha'i Brother,

I am instructed by our beloved Guardian to acknowledge with thanks the
receipt of your communication of the 19th December, sent through the care
of our very dear brother Dr. 'Ali, and of the twenty copies of the
newly-published prayer book, as well as the last copy of the "Baha'i
Journal" and the Christmas number of "New World Order".

He has also received and read with deep satisfaction the statement on
'Baha'is and War' recently issued by the N.S.A., together with the
teaching report prepared by your Assembly, both of which he will consider
for incorporation in the next issue of the "Baha'i World", the manuscript
of which he hopes to receive in the course of January or February next....

The Guardian welcomes the plan suggested by Mr. Townshend to republish
"The Promise of All Ages" under his own name, and trusts this will serve
to attract wider publicity to the Cause, and in particular to fully awaken
t