new centers in Persia, the conversion of groups in Bahrein,
the Hijaz and Af_gh_anistan into assemblies, the formation of
administrative nuclei in the Arabian territories of Yemen, Oman, Hasa and
Kuweit; the formation of thirty-one groups and seven assemblies in
Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania; the multiplication of centers in the
provinces of 'Iraq, including the district of Shattu'l-Arab; the
incorporation of the Canadian National Assembly; doubling the number of
assemblies and raising to one hundred the centers in the Dominion of
Canada; the constitution of nuclei in Newfoundland and Greenland and the
participation of Eskimos and Red Indians in the local institutions of the
Administrative Order.

Plans and specifications have been prepared, and preliminary measures
taken, to place contracts for the arcade of the Bab's Sepulcher. Historic
International Baha'i Congresses held in South and Central America and an
inter-European Teaching Conference projected for Geneva paving the way for
future World Baha'i Congress. Recognition extended to the Faith by United
Nations as international non-governmental body, enabling appointment of
accredited representatives to United Nations conferences, is heralding
world recognition for a universal proclamation of the Faith of
Baha'u'llah.

[April 16, 1948]

BRILLIANT ACHIEVEMENTS
[SECOND MESSAGE TO 1948 CONVENTION]

Joyfully acclaim brilliant achievements transcending fondest hopes and
setting the seal of complete victory on the stupendous labors undertaken
by American Baha'i Community in the second year of the Second Seven Year
Plan. The constitution of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, the
heroic feat of raising to almost two hundred the number of spiritual
assemblies in the North American continent, the marvelous expansion of the
daughter communities in Latin America, the successful conclusion of the
preliminary phase of the interior ornamentation of the
Ma_sh_riqu'l-A_dh_kar, and the crowning exploit of the formation of no
less than seven assemblies in the newly opened transcontinental field,
endow with everlasting fame the second epoch of the Formative Age,
immeasurably enrich the annals of the opening decade of the second Baha'i
century, and constitute a landmark in the unfoldment of the second stage
of the execution of 'Abdu'l-Baha's Plan.

The primacy of the American Baha'i Community is reasserted, fully
vindicated and completely safeguarded. Recen