You must likewise bear in mind that you are now a wholly
independent National Body, and must consider the administration of the affairs
of the Faith within your jurisdiction as your separate problem. There is no
more need for you to follow every single rule laid down by the American
National Spiritual Assembly, than there is for the British or the Australian
and New Zealand National Spiritual Assemblies to do this. Uniformity in
fundamentals is essential, but not in every detail. On the contrary, diversity,
the solving of the local situation in the right way, is important.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a
letter dated 4 November 1948 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the NSA of
Canada; ‘Messages to Canada’)
