Letter of 10 November 1955

Shoghi 10 November 1955 Dear &Baha'i Friend:

The beloved Guardian has reviewed very carefully your recent letter dealing with the designs for the Temple to be built in Germany. He wishes the following explanations to be made to you, and I am therefore enumerating them, so that there may be no misunderstanding.

1. The Guardian has not definitely chosen the Temple design "Azamat" as the one for the Temple in Germany. Of the submissions which have been made up to this time, he feels this is the one that is best susceptible of development for the final design of the Temple. He wishes it clear however that up to the present he has not definitely accepted this design.

2. The Guardian does not wish to interfere unduly with the national tastes nor the actions of the National Assembly; but he attaches the utmost importance to the Temple in Eschborn, as this is the first Temple in Europe, and the only one to be constructed in Europe during the Ten Year Crusade. Therefore he feels that this House of Worship must represent throughout Europe the dignity and spirit of the Faith.

3. The Guardian therefore feels that we should not accept an ultra-modern building, which represents more or less the current spirit of the time, rather than the delicate +P246 architectural beauty which the spirit of the Faith should engender.

4. The Guardian would be happy if your Assembly could produce a design of a building, graceful in outline, with a dome. If they can do this he will be very pleased. The main thing for the architect to consider is the mass of the building, the outline of the building and its architectural beauty. Most of the sacred buildings, including the Temple at Wilmette, include elements of the previous schools of architecture in an ensemble that seems to present something new. He thinks the architects should study the graceful mass of the Wilmette Temple, of the design of Mr. Remey for the Temple on Mt. Carmel, and the Shrine of the &Bab, as well as the outline of the domes of important buildings, particularly the dome of St. Peters in Rome. In this way they will get an idea of proportions which they feel are suitable. The details and the style is somewhat secondary and is left to the architect's taste.

5. The ten year period of the Crusade is running along very rapidly; and the Guardian therefore hopes that your Assembly will present him with your final views in connection with the Temple design at a very early date; otherwise he is fearful this most important project will not be consummated within the Ten Year period.

The beloved Guardian was very sorry to learn of the illness of Dr. &Muhlschlegel. He wishes to assure you and likewise to assure Dr. &Muhlschlegel of his loving prayers for Dr. &Muhlschlegel's complete recovery. He values Dr. &Muhlschlegel's services very highly, and he hopes he will soon be able to again become most active in the &Baha'i work....

The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf. He sends each his loving Greetings. +P247 November 1955+F1 Dear &Baha'i Friends:

The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you in connection with your recent letter to him concerning the Temple to be built in Germany.

The beloved Master has not given very many details concerning the House of Worship. He has written in tablets, however, that the building must be round, and be 9-sided. The Guardian feels that at this time all &Baha'i temples should have a dome. In other words, the instructions of the Master to have a round, 9-sided building must be very carefully carried out; but in addition the Guardian feels the Temples built now should likewise have a dome.

The Guardian sees no objections to asking other architects to collaborate with the architect of the design "Azamat". However it should be understood that the Guardian does not wish this collaboration or adaptation to result in the ultra-modern type of building which is the motif of the submissions which have been made, and which he has rejected.

The Guardian advises that the 2 designs which are favored by your Assembly and the architects of Germany are not acceptable; and therefore correspondence with regard to these designs is no longer necessary.

Time moves on, and the Guardian therefore hopes that the result of the collaboration and adaptation of the Azamat design will be presented to him in the near future.

The Guardian has no objections of course to new designs being presented; but they must carry with them the dignified spirit of the Faith, and must be in keeping with the +F1 Letter without date, was received 23rd November 1955. +P248 distinction and honor which comes to the temples now being built being the first in their respective continents.

My letter of November 10th outlines in a little more detail what the Guardian has in mind for &Baha'i temples; and he hopes that something suitable may soon be found for a temple in Germany.

The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf, and sends you his loving greetings.... 23 November 1955 Dear &Baha'i Friends:

The beloved Guardian has received your letter of November 8th, reviewing further the question of the &Baha'i Temple in Germany.

Your letter crossed my communication to you of last week. The Guardian has asked me to write you further, making the following points:

1. He does not approve of either design No. 11335 or Cupola.

2. As I have written you previously, he feels that the only submission which has come to him which lends itself to adjustment for the Temple in Germany is the design "Azamat".

3. As outlined in my letter of last week, the Guardian does not object to your arranging for another architect to collaborate with Mr. Hopfner. However in this collaboration, the general design of the Temple "Azamat" should be continued; and under no circumstances should it be changed to resemble the ultra modern architectural type of building which was the motif of the other submissions. +P249

4. As the Guardian has indicated, previously, this building need have seating capacity of only 500 or 600 people.

5. It should be a more modest structure, as has been outlined in previous correspondence. The Guardian feels the height should be not over 30 meters, and the other proportions of the building should be cut down accordingly.

6. The Guardian feels the cost should run about $300,000 or a little more; certainly on the outside not more than $400,000.

Therefore in revising the plan, it should be simplified in such a way as to bring the cost down,--to a figure near $300,000.

It is noted in the details of the "Azamat" there are a number of things still included, which certainly could be gotten along without, for the time being.

With the elimination of the Assembly Hall in the basement, the elimination of the tea kitchen and dining room, as well as conference rooms, library, archives and the other rooms contemplated, this should make a rather material reduction in expense. Likewise the caretaker's quarters should be eliminated, as the caretaker could probably live in the basement for the time being. Elevators need not be considered.

The basement floor of the Temple in Chicago is cement; and it would seem if cement is suitable for that Temple, it would be satisfactory for the Temple in Germany.

Three years of the Crusade are practically over. The Guardian hopes therefore that he will receive at an early date the revision which is proposed of the "Azamat" design, which should not be materially changed, but may be simplified so that work may proceed at an early date on the construction. The Guardian is fearful if this matter +P250 continues to drag, the Temple may not be completed during the period of the Ten Year Crusade.

The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf, and sends you his loving greetings.... 15 December 1955 Dear &Baha'i Friends:

The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you in connection with the purchase of two endowments for the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria.

As you know, the Hand of the Cause, Mrs. Amelia E. Collins, has contributed one thousand dollars for the purchase of each of these endowments.

The Guardian feels that 2 small pieces of land costing about one thousand American Dollars each is sufficient to accomplish these two goals of the Ten Year Crusade. He hopes therefore your Assembly will proceed at once to purchase a small piece of land in Germany and also one in Austria.

Will you please let me know in due course what your Assembly will do to accomplish this most important task?... 15 December 1955 Dear &Baha'i Friends: ...The Guardian is quite anxious that the question of the Temple land and the Temple design be concluded at a very early date, as time is passing very rapidly. He has asked me to meet with your Assembly, if the Assembly does meet +P251 during my visit in Europe, or can meet. I could arrange to be in Germany early in January.... 20 December 1955 Dear &Baha'i Friends:

Your loving letter of December 8th was received and immediately presented to our Beloved Guardian:

He directed me to cable you yesterday, which I did, as follows:

"Guardian approves your asking other National

Assemblies write Court. Suggests you write them direct giving full particulars. Does not feel exhibit appropriate until final Temple design approved. Writing."

The Guardian fully approved of your asking the various National Assemblies to write the Court, with regard to the World Importance of the Temple. He felt you should write them direct, giving them full particulars as to what you wish in the letters, to whom to be addressed, and any other pertinent data required. He hopes this will be helpful in working out this important matter.

The Guardian felt it would be inadvisable to have an exhibit of proposals for the Temple, until such time as the final plan is approved. Thus you should hold the exhibit in abeyance until later. I am having sent you by separate mail, the designs, photographs, etc. which you sent to the Guardian.

The Guardian assures you of his prayers in your behalf, and sends you his loving Greetings.... +P252 3 February 1956 Dear &Baha'i Sister:

The Beloved Guardian has directed me to write to your Assembly explaining his view that now that the National &Hazira has been established and is well able to take care of the national office of the National Assembly; that the office of the Secretary of the National Assembly should be established there as soon as convenient.

From the &Hazira, all the national administrative activities should emanate, and this cannot be done unless the National Secretary's office is established there. He requests your Assembly study the matter and see if it cannot soon work out some plan whereby the National Secretary's office can permanently be established in Frankfurt in the National &Hazira.

The Guardian assures the members of the Assembly of his prayers in their behalf. He sends you his loving Greetings.... 20 March 1956 Dear &Baha'i Sister:

Thank you for your loving letter of March 10th, with regard to the translations into Russian.

I hope the pamphlet which Mrs. Sommerau has prepared will soon be published, so that there will be literature available for this teaching work.

The Guardian is extremely anxious of course for proper contacts to be made with the believers behind the Iron Curtain. However the utmost circumspection must be used; and certainly no one must enter into correspondence with +P253 them. I think you should inform ... that the Guardian is anxious for the closest contacts to be opened and maintained, but not through correspondence. Likewise when any &Baha'i goes behind the Iron Curtain and contacts the believers, it must be done very quietly and carefully.

Do I understand from the letter that ... is intending to enter behind the Iron Curtain to visit the believers? This would be commendable if it can be done.... 23 March 1956 Dear &Baha'i Friends:

The beloved Guardian was happy to receive your message of greeting dated February 19th, signed by all those present, and to see that it was possible for such a large number of the friends to attend this gathering.

He hopes that this year, Number 113, the Year of &Abha of the sixth &Vahid in the &Baha'i calendar, will prove to be a truly "Most Luminous" one; and that, in spite of the ever-present difficulties which must constantly be met and surmounted, your National Assembly, reinforced in all its efforts by the entire body of the believers, may cause the Faith to forge ahead in those regions with yet greater momentum and power.

He will remember you all in his loving prayers....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless your efforts, guide every step you take, remove all obstacles from your path, and aid you to win great victories in the service of His glorious Faith,

Your true brother,