May 1. On this date in 1936, Shoghi Effendi addressed a cablegram to the Bahá'í Annual Convention of the United States and Canada, appealing to the assembled guests to begin the systematic implementation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's vision expressed in the Tablets of the Divine Plan.

May 1. On this date in 1936, Shoghi Effendi addressed a cablegram to the Bahá'í Annual Convention of the United States and Canada, appealing to the assembled guests to begin the systematic implementation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's vision expressed in the Tablets of the Divine Plan.

The Tablets of the Divine Plan collectively refers to 14 letters (tablets) written between March 1916 and March 1917 by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to Bahá'ís in the United States and Canada.

On December 23, 1918, 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent his secretary Ahmad Sohrab to the United States to personally deliver the Tablets of the Divine Plan. These collective letters, along with Bahá’u’lláh’s Tablet of Carmel and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's Will and Testament were described by Shoghi Effendi as "three of the Charters" of the Bahá’í Faith, which along with the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (which Shoghi Effendi described as "the basic laws and ordinances on which the fabric of His future World Order must rest") set the foundation of the Administrative Order. Ahmad Sohrab would later be declared a Covenant-breaker by Shoghi Effendi.

These collective letters, along with Bahá'u'lláh’s Tablet of Carmel and 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament were described by Shoghi Effendi as three of the "Charters" of the Bahá'í Faith.

‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ’S HISTORIC APPEAL Message to 1936 Convention Convey to American believers abiding gratitude efforts unitedly exerted in teaching field. Inaugurated campaigns should be vigorously pursued, systematically extended. Appeal to assembled delegates ponder historic appeal voiced by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Tablets of the Divine Plan. Urge earnest deliberation with incoming National Assembly to insure its complete fulfilment. First Century of Bahá’í era drawing to a close. Humanity entering outer fringes most perilous stage its existence. Opportunities of present hour unimaginably precious. Would to God every State within American Republic and every Republic in American continent might ere termination of this glorious century embrace the light of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh and establish structural basis of His World Order. Cablegram May 1, 1936