With regard to your
question as to the advisability of disclosing to an individual believer the
contents of the N.S.A.’s correspondence. The Guardian thinks that although this
cannot be considered as constituting an obligation which a believer can impose
upon the national body, yet, it would seem highly advisable that the N.S.A.
should give a sympathetic consideration to any such request made to it by a
believer. This, he feels, would avoid giving the impression that the assembly
is working in an atmosphere of complete secrecy, and that it is motivated by
dictatorial motives. The final decision in such matters; however, is entirely
left to the discretion of the N.S.A. The basic principle that should always be
remembered is that the N.S.A. cannot be required to reveal to any outsider all
the details concerning its work. It may choose to do so if it wishes, but
nobody has the right to enforce upon it any such action: This is, of course the
purely legal side of the question. But a purely legalistic attitude in matters
affecting the Cause, particularly now that the Faith is still in a state of
infancy, is not only inadequate but fraught with unforeseen dangers and
difficulties. The individuals and assemblies must learn to cooperate and to
cooperate intelligently, if they desire to adequately discharge their duties
and obligations towards the Faith. And no such cooperation is possible without
mutual confidence and trust.
- Shoghi Effendi (From
a message dated 19 June, 1935, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘Messages
to Australia and New Zealand’)
