The passing, at this juncture, of one [Sutherland Maxwell]
who, through a long career of distinguished service to the Cause of
Bahá’u’lláh, not only since the birth of this community but in more recent
years in the heart and centre of the Bahá’í world, has left an indelible mark
on the annals of the Faith, has evoked not only the deepest sorrow but the
utmost regret at a time when this community is beginning to reap at long last
the first fruits of its stewardship to the Cause of God, and the whole Bahá’í
world is on the eve of celebrating one of its greatest Jubilees. By reason of
his own saintly life, his self-effacement, gentleness, loving kindness and
nobility of soul; by virtue of his remarkable endowments which he so devotedly
consecrated to both the embellishment of the slopes of God’s holy mountain and the
creation of a befitting design for the second most holy Bahá’í Edifice
embosomed in its very heart…
- Shoghi Effendi (Post script to a letter dated 8
June 1952 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Canadian National
Spiritual; ‘Messages to Canada’)
