Tuesday, January 30--that
is, four months ago--when the disaffected gathered together at the Mansion
of Bahji, invited in some of the rabble of Akka, and after joint
consultation, determined to go to the Holy Tomb, forcibly wrest its key
from the caretakers, and hand it over to the arch Covenant-breaker, pivot
of the violation. Such was the plan, the disgraceful action, devised by
the prime mover of mischief and his lieutenant.

They then committed the brazen act. From the caretaker of the Holy Tomb,
Aqa Siyyid Abu'l-Qasim, they took away the key by force, and he, unable to
withstand their attack, at once dispatched his assistant, Aqa _Kh_alil, to
Haifa, to report to Shoghi Effendi what had taken place. The news reached
Haifa about two hours after sunset, and the matter was instantly referred
to the Governor. On his stringent orders, the key was surrendered that
very night and placed in Government custody until the matter could be
fully investigated to determine the question of rightful ownership.

Now, after the passage of four months, the Government has rendered its
verdict, to the effect that the question should be put to the Baha'i
community, and that whatever decision the Baha'is arrive at will be
conclusive. If the Baha'i community considers Mirza Muhammad-'Ali to be
excommunicated, then he has no rights whatever to the takeover. Therefore,
wherever Baha'is reside, they must, through the given city's Spiritual
Assembly, and bearing the signature of named individuals who are members
of the elected body, inform the British authorities in Jerusalem, either
by cable or letter sent through His Majesty's ambassadors or consuls, that
the Baha'i community, in conformity with the explicit writings and the
Will and Testament of His Eminence 'Abdu'l-Baha, Sir Abbas Effendi, texts
well known and available in His own hand--recognize His Eminence Shoghi
Effendi as the one to whom all Baha'is must turn, and as the Guardian of
the Cause of God, and that they have no connection whatever, either
material or spiritual, with Mirza Muhammad-Ali, whom they consider to be
excommunicated from the Baha'i Faith, according to the explicit writings
of 'Abdu'l-Baha.

It should be the request, therefore, of Baha'is of all countries, both men
and women, in every important centre, wherever they may reside throughout
the world, that the officials of His Britannic Majesty's Government in
Palestine, its Headquarters being Jerusalem, issue a categ