ences of exalted spirit of
Baha'i stewardship animating American Baha'i Community, as attested by the
alacrity of its national representatives in executing the first Temple
contract, their promptitude in extending effective assistance to their
Persian brethren, their vigilance in safeguarding integrity of the Faith
in the City of the Covenant and their vigor in prosecuting the national
campaign of publicity.

In recognition of preeminent services continually enriching the record of
achievements associated with preeminent community of the Baha'i world, I
am arranging transfer of extensive, valuable property acquired in
precincts of Shrines on Mount Carmel to name of Palestine Branch of
American Assembly.

Happy to announce completion of plans and specifications for erection of
arcade surrounding the Bab's Sepulcher, constituting the first step in the
process destined to culminate in construction of the dome anticipated by
'Abdu'l-Baha and marking consummation of enterprise initiated by Him fifty
years ago according to instructions given Him by Baha'u'llah.

[December 15, 1947]

CRITICAL STAGE OF TASK ON HOME FRONT

I am deeply concerned at critical stage of task confronting North American
Teaching Committee, constituting at this juncture the paramount objective
of present Plan. Owing to urgent, overriding importance of Committee's
responsibility and to swiftly approaching time limit fixed for attainment
of the goal of one hundred seventy-five assemblies, emergency measures
carefully, promptly devised by national representatives of the community
and wholeheartedly supported by entire mass of the believers of the North
American continent, designed to safeguard the existing assemblies and
rapidly multiply their number, are imperative. The placing of further
contract for Temple, the reinforcement of basis of forthcoming Canadian
National Spiritual Assembly, the additional consolidation of the
institutions of the Faith in Latin America, the wider proclamation of its
message to the masses, even the multiplication of pioneers in the European
field, should be unhesitatingly subordinated to demands of the one
disconcerting aspect of an otherwise successfully conducted Plan. I
address this last-minute appeal to every single member of the community,
the champion warriors in the army of Baha'u'llah, which since launching
the Plan formulated by the Center of His Covenant never succumbed to
defeat nor was thwarted in it