The body of the Hands of the Cause, at their first conclave,
constituted a group of nine Hands to act as an executive nucleus and
"conduct and protect the affairs of the Faith from its World Centre"
and "carry on from this Centre the provisions of the World Bahá'í
Crusade". These nine Hands were designated "The Custodians of the
Bahá'í Faith" and, following legal advice, they immediately asked the
twenty-six National Spiritual Assemblies operating at that time throughout the
Bahá'í world to pass resolutions confirming their support of the Custodians,
and to send letters to the World Centre pledging their allegiance. The text of
the letters received are all published on pages 41 to 50 of "The Ministry
of the Custodians."
It was on such a strong foundation of doctrinal and legal
authority that the Hands of the Cause, and the nucleus of nine Custodians in
the Holy Land, could bring the World Crusade of the beloved Guardian to its
consummation, protect the Faith from the divisive effects of Mason Remey's
unfounded claim to the Guardianship, and call for the election of the Universal
House of Justice in 1963.
- The Universal House of Justice (From a letter dated 4 June, 1997, written on behalf
of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)
