them, over and over
again, at great cost to themselves, to throw themselves into the breach.
Although this is a well-known national characteristic, it provides
nevertheless a great example to their fellow-Baha'is all over the world.
The Guardian knows of no community, east or west, which so valiantly and
so consistently, one might almost say ferociously, has arisen to defend
its Home Front. He has the greatest admiration for the spirit which
animates them and for their achievements.

He was sorry to refuse the request of the National Assembly to, under
certain circumstances, permit the localities that would achieve Assembly
status by next Ridvan, to have a delegate at the National Convention. He
feels that, although this would no doubt have provided a great stimulus to
the friends, it was an unjustifiable breach of the general administrative
procedure. If there are too many exceptions, the rule has a tendency to
lose its clearly defined character, not to mention encouraging other
communities to want to be exceptions too, under various circumstances!

The Guardian hopes that during the coming year there will be more
Assemblies incorporated, as he attaches great importance to this process.

He was delighted that the Irish translation had been completed, and also
very happy to hear that the National Endowment for the British National
Spiritual Assembly had been purchased. All these signs of life and
vitality are greatly to be admired, and prove the intense virility and
youthfulness of the British Baha'i community.

He was sorry to have to disappoint Mr. ... who was so enthusiastic about
his own design for the Temple. However, there was no possible question of
accepting something as extreme as this. The Guardian feels very strongly
that, regardless of what the opinion of the latest school of architecture
may be on the subject, the styles represented at present all over the
world in architecture are not only very ugly, but completely lack the
dignity and grace which must be at least partially present in a Baha'i
House of Worship. One must always bear in mind that the vast majority of
human beings are neither very modern nor very extreme in their tastes, and
that what the advanced school may think is marvellous is often very
distasteful indeed to just plain, simple people.

The Hand of the Cause, Mr. Remey, has now completed a design for the
Kampala Temple which meets with the Guardian's approval. It will shortly
be read