June 27. On this date in 1937, a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi by his brother Husayn stated "Our beloved Guardian has been inexpressibly touched by your letter of April 28th, which you have so kindly addressed to him on the occasion of his marriage...this priceless honour that the Almighty has chosen to bestow upon the community of Canadian believers."

 

June 27. On this date in 1937, a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi by his brother Husayn stated "Our beloved Guardian has been inexpressibly touched by your letter of April 28th, which you have so kindly addressed to him on the occasion of his marriage...this priceless honour that the Almighty has chosen to bestow upon the community of Canadian believers."

Canada's Involvement in the First Teaching Plans 14

27 June 1937

To the Bahá'ís of Vancouver 

Dear Bahá'í Friends,

Our beloved Guardian has been inexpressibly touched by your letter of April 28th, which you have so kindly addressed to him on the occasion of his marriage,15and he wishes me to hasten to assure your community of his heartfelt appreciation of the sentiments of devoted love and loyalty you have expressed, all of which he dearly prizes indeed.

It is his fervent hope that in recognition of this priceless honour that the Almighty has chosen to bestow upon the community of Canadian believers your group will unitedly arise and will endeavour with firm determination to lend every support possible to the extension of the teaching work throughout all the provinces of Canada, so that the glorious promises given by 'Abdu'l-Bahá regarding the future of the Cause in that land may be speedily and completely realized.

The Guardian is truly delighted to know of the contribution your group has made to the teaching fund of the National Spiritual Assembly, and trusts you will continue extending every assistance you can to the nation-wide teaching efforts of the American believers. He is praying from the depth of his heart that whatever steps you may take for the furtherance of this sacred Cause may be crowned with complete success.

Again with his best and deepest thanks for your message,

Yours in the Cause,

H. Rabbani

May the Almighty fill your hearts with joy and gladness, fulfil your highest hopes, and enable you to consolidate your present-day achievements,

Your true and grateful brother,

Shoghi

14 This period covers the first (1937-44) and second (1946-53) Seven Year Plans assigned to the United States and Canada. Canada was assigned its own Five Year Plan in 1948.

15 Amatu'l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum Rabbani (Mary Maxwell) -- daughter of May and Sutherland Maxwell, became the wife of Shoghi Effendi in 1937, appointed a Hand of the Cause of God in 1952.

On April 15, 1945, Shoghi Effendi sent a cablegramannouncing "Faithless brother Husayn, after long period of dishonourable conduct, has abandoned the Master's home to consort with his sister and other Covenant-breakers." Shoghi Effendi would later chide Husayn for marrying a "lowbornChristian girl."

In March 1950, Shoghi Effendi would send a further cable: "Faithless brother Hussein, already abased through dishonorable conduct over period (of) years followed by association with Covenant-breakers (in) Holy Land and efforts (to) undermine Guardian's position, recently further demeaned himself through marriage under obscure circumstances with lowbornChristian girl (in) Europe." Shoghi Effendi would later defend the use of the term "lowborn Christian girl" as follows: "Regarding his cable concerning Hussein: he has been very surprised to note that the terms 'low-born Christiangirl ' and 'disgraceful alliance' should arouse any question; it seems to him that the friends should realize it is not befitting for the Guardian's own brother, the grandchild of the Master, an Afnán and Aghsánmentioned in the Will and Testament of the Master, and of whom so much was expected because of his relation to the family of the Prophet, to marry an unknown girl, according to goodness knows what rite, who is not a believer at all."