With regard to your question as to the advisability of disclosing
to an individual believer the contents of the National Spiritual Assembly'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 National Spiritual Assembly 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 National Spiritual Assembly. The basic principle that should
always be remembered is that the National Spiritual Assembly 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 co-operate and to co-operate intelligently, if they desire to adequately
discharge their duties and obligations towards the Faith. And no such
co-operation is possible without mutual confidence and trust.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter
dated 19 June 1935 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National
Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand, published in "Letters
from the Guardian to Australia and New Zealand, 1923-1957"; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, National Spiritual Assembly)
