One of the fundamentals involved in our Administrative
Order, which we must remember will become the pattern for our World Order, is
that even if an Assembly makes an ill-advised decision it must be upheld in
order to preserve the unity of the Community. Appeal can be made from the Local
Assembly's decision to the National Assembly... But the principle of authority
invested in our elected bodies must be upheld. This is not something which can
be learned without trial and test....
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 30 June 1949 written
on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and
Austria; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, The Local Spiritual
Assembly)
