Letter of 9 November 1956

Shoghi 9 November 1956 Dear &Baha'i Friends:

The Beloved Guardian has directed me to respond to your recent letter to him, with regard to the Temple design, etc.

The Guardian likes the adjustments Mr. Rocholl has made in his design, and now approves of the drawings you +P279 have sent him. Therefore you should now proceed, within the following limitations.

No changes should be made further in the design. If it is necessary to reduce the size in order to keep within the limit of financial resources, that is permissible, but no change in the size or proportions should be made.

As previously advised, the Guardian feels this Temple must be constructed at a cost of not to exceed $300,000. He is willing to consider raising this limit by $20,000, to cover furnishings, etc. or at the very outside $30,000.

Now it is necessary for your Assembly to study the matter, and decide how to proceed to construct the Temple within this money limit. The Temple must be financed by the &Baha'is of the world, and with the heavy expenditures everywhere, economy must be exercised in all our undertakings, and limits of budgets set.

The important thing now is to build a House of Worship, which will bring untold spiritual blessings, wide publicity, and let us hope, a rapid increase in the number of &Baha'is and Centers.

As I have indicated, if it is necessary to decrease the size of the structure, that is satisfactory, but no change in design or proportions should be made to the main structure of the building.

This $320,000 figure, refers to the completed Temple, including fittings and equipment.

Of course, the Temple cannot be built until the land has been secured. He requests and urges that your Assembly expedite this important matter in every way possible. He is fearful, if work on the Temple is not started at an early date, it may be impossible to build the Temple in Germany during the Ten Year Crusade. +P280

He assures you of his prayers in your behalf. He sends his loving Greetings.... P.S. The questions of materials to be used, he leaves to your Assembly. You should endeavor to use such materials as are not too expensive, and yet satisfactory for the Temple. 15 November 1956 Dearly Beloved Sister:

The Beloved Guardian has directed me to write you concerning the purchase of the Endowment for Austria. He hopes very much it will be possible for you to purchase this Endowment before &Ridvan 1957.

He asks that you write me, giving the status of this matter, and when you feel the purchase can be consummated.... 30 November 1956 Dear &Baha'i Sister:

Your loving letters of November 19th and 22nd were duly received by the Beloved Guardian, and he has directed me to acknowledge them on his behalf.

He greatly appreciates, and was deeply touched, by your kind sentiments on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of his appointment as Guardian. The spirit of devotion and consecration of the German Believers, and its National Assembly, augurs well for the future of the Faith in your country. He is sure the Master will both guide and confirm +P281 you in your work, as you carry forth the mandates of His Convenant, and the Teaching Tablets.

With regard to the Temple Land--The Guardian feels this must be purchased in Frankfurt, or its environs. He does not approve of buying in Offenbach. Thus he feels you can secure the land anywhere in Frankfurt or its environs, where it seems best suitable for our purposes.

The new location near Eschborn would seem satisfactory, but you must be sure there will be no trouble with permits to build.

He feels you should again review the entire matter most carefully, and he hopes you will soon find the location which will be the site of the House of Worship in Germany.

With regard to the funds--he feels it is best that you allow them to remain in the Bank as at present.

The Guardian sends you his loving greetings.

He is praying for you, and for the success of your work in the Faith.... 30 November 1956 Dear &Baha'i Sister:

Your loving letter of October 17th was duly received, and its contents presented to the Beloved Guardian. He has directed me to reply as follows:

He feels it is more advisable for ... to remain in Budapest, where the Faith needs every help it can get, rather than go to either Austria or Germany.

Of course, the terrible events in Hungary may have changed the whole aspect of this important matter, and the question not now be in need of an answer. The Guardian +P282 hopes that ... has not suffered nor met with misfortune in that unhappy city.

At the same time, the Faith is needed more than ever, and it may be the depressing conditions existing, may make it possible for more teaching work to be done.... 5 December 1956 Dear &Baha'i Sister:

The Beloved Guardian has directed me to write you concerning some copies of the prints which Mr. Rocholl has made of the Temple Design for Frankfurt.

He would like to secure 15 copies of the photo sent by Mr. Rocholl, which shows the Temple in White lines, and the background black.

The Temple itself, should be no larger than the Shrine in the Colored pictures of the Shrine of the &Bab. Thus the measurement of the pictures to be sent are 21 cm by 13 cm. There need be little space below or over the Temple, but let the black run out to the edges, on both sides.

Do I make clear what the Guardian wants? If you will show Mr. Rocholl a picture of the Shrine of the &Bab colored, as printed in America for sale, and which appears in the frontispiece of Vol. 9 of the &Baha'i World, he can have the pictures made accordingly.

The pictures should be black and white, glossy, and on as light paper as possible. By light I mean, in weight.

Please cable me on receipt if this is clear, and if Mr. Rocholl can provide the 15 copies at an early date.... +P283 1 January 1957 Mrs. Anna Grossmann:

Your loving letter of December 16th was duly received, and its contents presented to the Beloved Guardian.

Needless to say, he is very disturbed with the recent developments with regard to the Temple land and building. This matter has gone along for a long period of time, and he feels it is now reaching the point where it reflects on the Faith. He feels very definitely that if there should be a failure in connection with the Temple to be built in Frankfurt, it would be a great set back to the Faith, not only in Germany, but in all Europe.

The Guardian suggests your Assembly read carefully, the many statements and letters to the American National Assembly, as to the importance of the Temple, and its construction. He even says it will be the most important teacher of the Faith, and with its completion, a new spiritual movement will take place in America. Whatever the Master has said with regard to the Temple in America, applies with equal force to Germany. Surely we cannot allow the negative influences at work in Frankfurt and Germany, in connection with our Temple project, to stop our forward progress.

The Guardian would like your Assembly to consider the project of the Temple land, and the construction of the building, as its most important task, and give it precedence over all other problems.

So far as the question of Environs of Frankfurt is concerned, he will allow you to determine what constitutes the Environs of Frankfurt. If you feel Offenbach, which is a separate city, is the environs of Frankfurt, he will approve +P284 the construction there. If the hills of Taunus constitute the environs, he will approve that location.

If the objection of the city of Frankfurt to the Temple model, is due to its size, why not reduce the size. The important thing now is not the size of the building, but the fact of the building.

Therefore the Guardian will approve reduction in the size, so as to permit construction now, and in Frankfurt, or its environs.

The Guardian will pray for the guidance of your Assembly in working out this important project; that it may be settled promptly, and that soon we may rejoice, with the work of the Temple proceeding.... 10 January 1957 GUARDIAN APPROVES PURCHASE LAND POLISCHER BERG WITH ASSURANCE NO COMPLICATIONS ERECTION TEMPLE. 11 January 1957 MR SABET CHARGED BY GUARDIAN MEET WITH YOUR NSA IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS PLEASE CABLE DATE PLACE NEXT MEETING. 11 January 1957 IS KRIFTEL REFERRED YOURS FIRST SAME AS POLISCHER BERG REFERRED MY CABLE EIGHTH. +P285 13 January 1957 GUARDIAN URGES IMMEDIATE PURCHASE TEMPLE LAND. TRANSLATION INTO UNOPENED TERRITORY LANGUAGE ALSO HAVE PIONEERS READY TO MOVE FIRST OPPORTUNITY. 19 January 1957 WHAT IS STATUS TEMPLE LAND POLISCHER BERG PLEASE CABLE. 19 January 1957 Dear &Baha'i Sister:

I cabled you today, as follows:

"What is status purchase Temple Land Polischer Berg. Please cable."

I cabled you on January 8th that the Guardian approved purchase of the land of Polischer Berg, with the assurance that there would be no complications in connection with the erection of the Temple.

Your letter later spoke of the Temple Land near Kriftel, and I cabled to ascertain if this is the same land as referred to at Polischer Berg. I take it, it is.

The Guardian now hopes all matters are clarified, and that your Assembly is in a position to purchase this land, and thus start the construction of the Temple. Your early advice and confirmation will be appreciated by him.... +P286 19 January 1957 Dear &Baha'i Sister:

Miss Bertha Matthiessen, one of the dear &Baha'is of Southern California, who has spent some time in Germany, and is no doubt, well known to you; is returning to Germany from the United States in March 1957.

She has written the Guardian that after a rest at Bad Nauheim, she will get in touch with your Assembly, or the Teaching Committee, to assist in the teaching work. The Guardian has written her, expressing his appreciation of this offer on her part to assist in the important work in Germany and Austria, and suggested that if she could settle in one of the goal cities in Austria, after consultation with your Assembly or Teaching Committee, it would be highly meritorious.

This note is sent to you, so you may understand, when she gets in touch with you this spring.... 24 Janaury 1957 (Winter School) Dear &Baha'i Friends:

Your message dated January 5th has reached the beloved Guardian, and he was very happy to see that the friends had been able to meet and deepen their understanding of the Faith.

He hopes that the German &Baha'is, especially the Youth, will do all they can to consolidate the foundations of the work already so painstakingly laid in Germany during a period of almost half a century; and that each &Baha'i will consider it his privilege and duty to support the teaching work, either through pioneering to new Centers, or +P287 strengthening weak Assemblies, or assisting the Groups to become Assemblies.

He assures you all of his loving prayers for your success....

[From the Guardian:]

May the Almighty bless your efforts, guide and sustain you, and enable you to extend the scope of your valued activities, acquire a fuller understanding of the distinguishing features of His Faith, and lend an impetus to the progress and consolidation of its divinely appointed institutions,

Your true brother,