January 2. On this date in 1923, 35 days after 'Abdu’l-Bahá's death, Shoghi Effendi wrote his first letter to Canadian Bahá'ís.

January 2. On this date in 1923, 35 days after 'Abdu’l-Bahá's death, Shoghi Effendi wrote his first letter to Canadian Bahá'ís.

THE GUARDIAN'S FIRST LETTER TO CANADA. 1923
The beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout Canada.
Care of the members of the Spiritual Assembly in Montreal
Dear Friends,
It is a great pleasure and privilege to me to enter into direct, and I trust, permanent correspondence with those faithful friends of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, who though few in number and scattered over that vast and flourishing country, will I trust act as a powerful leaven to the mass of that spiritually-minded people.
Though its people be firmly entrenched in their religious sectarianism and strongly attached to their religious doctrines and traditions, yet who can doubt that with courage and persistence, kindliness and wisdom, the all-conquering words of Bahá'u'lláh can fail to break down all these barriers of prejudice and religious exclusiveness and conquer this longstanding stronghold of sectarian belief!
Surely the efficacy of the universal Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh as applied to the cherished and time-honoured religious traditions of the East, has been sufficiently demonstrated to justify at present our confident hopes for the future and speedy re-awakening of that land.
May the small company of the steadfast followers of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in Canada be filled with the outpourings of the Divine Grace that are being showered so mightily in these days upon the friends of God the world over, and may they arise with undiminished fervour to carry out to their fullest measure the last wishes and instructions of our departed Master for that great and flourishing Dominion!
With all good wishes,
Your brother and co-worker,
SHOGHI.
Haifa, Palestine.
January 2, 1923.