Dearly loved friends,
With joyous hearts we hail the convocation of this first of
the twin Latin American Conferences closing the series of eight International
Bahá'í Conferences held during the midway period of the Five Year Plan.
The ringing call of Bahá'u'lláh in His Most Holy Book to the
Rulers of America and the Presidents of the Republics therein was followed
after an interval of more than four decades by the revelation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's
Tablets of the Divine Plan in which the beloved Master stressed the importance
of the Republics of the South American Continent.
The first believer to respond to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's divine call
was that star-servant of the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, valiant, indomitable Martha
Root, who in 1919 visited many important cities in South America. Two years
later Leonora Holsapple Armstrong, mother of the Bahá'ís of Brazil, settled in
Bahia. The teaching work in the continent progressed steadily to the
point where, in 1937, the beloved Guardian launched his first Seven Year Plan
paving the way for the raising in subsequent Plans of the institution of
Bahá'u'lláh Administrative Order in every one of its republics and in its
islands. It was in the course of that first Seven Year Plan that 'Abdu'l-Bahá's
beloved handmaid, May Maxwell, in 1940 won a martyr's crown when she laid down
her life in Argentina, thereby adding further lustre to the spiritual history
of South America.
How truly fitting, then, that this auspicious Conference have its venue in the city of Bahia, singled out for special mention by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His Tablets of the Divine Plan. And how timely it is at this crucial point in the Five Year Plan that the friends gathered in Bahia from many lands prayerfully consider, and arise to prosecute expeditiously all measures aimed at achieving glorious victory in all goals of the Plan.
Noteworthy progress has been achieved in many fields of
service throughout the South American Bahá'í community, particularly in
attracting to the Cause large numbers of its indigenous peoples. But myriads of
pure-hearted souls have not yet heard the clarion call of Bahá'u'lláh and
hungrily await the spiritual nourishment that only His followers can give them.
Steps must be taken to attract members of every stratum of
society to the divine circle of the Faith through effective proclamation and
teaching. Greater utilization of radio broadcasts is necessary, not only to
reach all levels of society but also to deepen the believers themselves. The
valuable and dynamic services of Bahá'í youth must be multiplied in the fields
of pioneering and travel teaching. A far wider dissemination of Bahá'í
literature must be accompanied by a continuous programme of translation of the
Sacred Text into the major indigenous languages of the continent.
The continental goals for South America of 8,670 centres and
2,293 Local Spiritual Assemblies must be won, and may even be surpassed, for
every country must achieve the goals assigned to it. This calls for the
dedicated effort of every National Spiritual Assembly, every Local Spiritual
Assembly and indeed every believer. All the divinely ordained instruments of
the Administrative Order of Bahá'u'lláh must now unite in executing a symphony
of victory in all the unfinished goals of the Five Year Plan, winning thereby
the good pleasure of the Blessed Beauty.
Beloved friends, go forward with complete assurance that a
continent so rich in spiritual promise, so diverse in its peoples and races, so
fertile for the planting of the seeds of Bahá'u'lláh's Faith will yield a
brilliant harvest for all who labour in that Divine Vineyard.
It is our fervent loving prayer at the Sacred Threshold that
Bahá'u'lláh's bountiful confirmations and richest blessings may be showered
upon you.
The Universal House of Justice
(‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)
