10 NOVEMBER 1955

10 November 1955

Dear Baha'i Friend:

The beloved Guardian has reviewed very carefully your recent letter
dealing with the designs for the Temple to be built in Germany. He wishes
the following explanations to be made to you, and I am therefore
enumerating them, so that there may be no misunderstanding.

1. The Guardian has not definitely chosen the Temple design "Azamat" as
the one for the Temple in Germany. Of the submissions which have been made
up to this time, he feels this is the one that is best susceptible of
development for the final design of the Temple. He wishes it clear however
that up to the present he has not definitely accepted this design.

2. The Guardian does not wish to interfere unduly with the national tastes
nor the actions of the National Assembly; but he attaches the utmost
importance to the Temple in Eschborn, as this is the first Temple in
Europe, and the only one to be constructed in Europe during the Ten Year
Crusade. Therefore he feels that this House of Worship must represent
throughout Europe the dignity and spirit of the Faith.

3. The Guardian therefore feels that we should not accept an ultra-modern
building, which represents more or less the current spirit of the time,
rather than the delicate architectural beauty which the spirit of the
Faith should engender.

4. The Guardian would be happy if your Assembly could produce a design of
a building, graceful in outline, with a dome. If they can do this he will
be very pleased. The main thing for the architect to consider is the mass
of the building, the outline of the building and its architectural beauty.
Most of the sacred buildings, including the Temple at Wilmette, include
elements of the previous schools of architecture in an ensemble that seems
to present something new. He thinks the architects should study the
graceful mass of the Wilmette Temple, of the design of Mr. Remey for the
Temple on Mt. Carmel, and the Shrine of the Bab, as well as the outline of
the domes of important buildings, particularly the dome of St. Peters in
Rome. In this way they will get an idea of proportions which they feel are
suitable. The details and the style is somewhat secondary and is left to
the architect's taste.

5. The ten year period of the Crusade is running along very rapidly; and
the Guardian therefore hopes that your Assembly will present him with your
final views in connection with the Temple design at a very ear