n 1963, the Hands of the Cause directed the affairs of the
Faith in their capacity as Chief Stewards of Baha'u'llah's embryonic World
Commonwealth (see note 67). In November 1964, the Universal House of
Justice determined that it could not legislate to make it possible to
appoint Hands of the Cause. Instead, by a decision of the House of Justice
in 1968, the functions of the Hands of the Cause in relation to protecting
and propagating the Faith were extended into the future by the creation of
the Continental Boards of Counsellors, and in 1973 through the
establishment of the International Teaching Centre, which has its seat in
the Holy Land.

The Universal House of Justice appoints the Counsellor members of the
International Teaching Centre and the Continental Counsellors. Members of
Auxiliary Boards are appointed by the Continental Counsellors. All these
individuals fall within the definition of the "learned" given by Shoghi
Effendi in the statement quoted above.

184. refer ye whatsoever ye understand not in the Book to Him Who hath
branched from this mighty Stock #174

Baha'u'llah invests 'Abdu'l-Baha with the right of interpreting His holy
Writ (see also note 145).

185. the School of Transcendent Oneness #175

In this verse and the ones which immediately follow it, Baha'u'llah
confronts one of the reasons some of the Babis rejected His claim to be
the Promised One of the Bayan. Their rejection was based on a Tablet
addressed by the Bab to "Him Who will be made manifest" on the reverse
side of which the Bab had written: "May the glances of Him Whom God shall
make manifest illumine this letter at the primary school." This Tablet is
published in Selections from the Writings of the Bab.

These Babis maintained that, since Baha'u'llah was two years older than
the Bab, it was not possible for Him to receive this Tablet "at the
primary school".

Baha'u'llah here explains that the reference is to events transpiring in
the spiritual worlds beyond this plane of existence.

186. We accepted the verses of God ... which He presented unto Us #175

In His Tablet addressed to "Him Who will be made manifest", the Bab
characterizes the Bayan as an offering from Him to Baha'u'llah. See
Selections from the Writings of the Bab.

187. O people of the Bayan! #176

Reference to the followers of the Bab.

188. the letters B and E were joined and knit together #177

Shoghi Effendi, in l