places; and
the growth of new Centers in Austria more or less as a direct outcome of
the devoted pioneer efforts of members of the German Baha'i Community.
This fulfills a long-cherished wish of his, and was a source of great
satisfaction. He hopes that the Groups in Graz, Innsbruck and Salzburg
will attain Assembly status by next Ridvan, thus giving the Austrian
Community a much firmer foundation and preparing it for the day when it
will have its independent National Assembly, a day which is not so very
far off after all, and towards which they must work constantly, with ever
increasing zeal and dedication.

He was also very happy to hear that the Vienna Community has settled down
in its Haziratu'l-Quds, its future national headquarters building; and
that this is not only a center for the Baha'is, but, what is even more
important, a center for their teaching activities on a larger and more
impressive scale in that city.

As he already informed you before, he felt that the generous contribution
of dear Mrs. Collins towards the purchase of a national endowment for
Austria should be used for that purpose only, and not diverted to anything
to do with the furnishing or embellishing of the Haziratu'l-Quds.

He hopes that the presence of a devoted American Baha'i, Mrs. Edna Johnson
Norvell in Austria will be of help to the friends. She is most eager to
serve and assist them in every way she can.

It has been recently a great pleasure for the Guardian to receive here as
his guests four of the pioneers to Athens. This contact has been most
welcome, and he feels that your Assembly can be proud of these fine young
people, who are making every effort to achieve the goals set for the
German Baha'is in Greece.

He has also had the great pleasure of receiving here the first German
Baha'i since before the war; namely, Miss Weber, one of the pioneers to
Crete.

He hopes that the German Baha'i Community will make every effort to send
forth a greater number of pioneers to the countries which have been made
their particular responsibility under the World Crusade, and also to
reinforce the work in Austria. They must never forget that one of the
first "pioneers", before the days when that term was even in use, was dear
Mr. Benke, who sacrificed his life in the service of the Faith with such
an exemplary spirit of devotion that the Guardian felt impelled to call
him the first European martyr for the Faith. This was a great distinction