He was particularly pleased to see that members of your
Assembly have been out travelling and contacting the friends in an effort to
deepen their understanding of the workings of the administration and also their
knowledge of the Faith in general. He feels that particularly at present in
Latin America this intimate, loving and friendly approach will do more to
further the work than anything else. Indeed, he would go so far as to advise
your Assembly to avoid deluging the friends with circulars and unnecessary
bulletins. You must always bear in mind the genuine difference between the
peoples of the south and the peoples of the north; to use the same techniques
as those adopted in the United States would be disastrous because the mentality
and background of life are quite different. Much as the friends need
administration, it must be brought to them in a palatable form, otherwise they
will not be able to assimilate it and instead of consolidating the work you
will find some of the believers become estranged from it.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated
30 June 1952 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual
Assembly of Central America; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Teaching
Among Aboriginal and Indigenous People)
