September 30

To this man, [Napoleon III] the last emperor of the French, who, through foreign conquest, had striven to endear his dynasty to the people, who even cherished the ideal of making France the center of a revived Roman Empire—to such a man the Exile of Akká, already thrice banished by Sulṭán ‘Abdu’l-‘Azíz, had transmitted, from behind the walls of the barracks in which He lay imprisoned, an Epistle which bore this indubitably clear arraignment and ominous prophecy: “We testify that that which wakened thee was not their cry [Turks drowned in the Black Sea], but the promptings of thine own passions, for We tested thee, and found thee wanting.... Hadst thou been sincere in thy words, thou wouldst not have cast behind thy back the Book of God [previous Tablet], when it was sent unto thee by Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Wise. ...For what thou hast done, thy kingdom shall be thrown into confusion, and thine empire shall pass from thine hands, as a punishment for that which thou hast wrought.” 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘The Promised Day Is Come)

September 28

Of all the monarchs of the earth, at the time when Bahá’u’lláh, proclaiming His Message to them, revealed the Súriy-i-Mulúk in Adrianople, the most august and influential were the French Emperor and the Supreme Pontiff. In the political and religious spheres they respectively held the foremost rank, and the humiliation both suffered was alike immediate and complete.

Napoleon III, son of Louis Bonaparte (brother of Napoleon I), was, few historians will deny, the most outstanding monarch of his day in the West. “The Emperor,” it was said of him, “was the state.” The French capital was the most attractive capital in Europe, the French court “the most brilliant and luxurious of the XIX century.” Possessed of a fixed and indestructible ambition, he aspired to emulate the example, and finish the interrupted work, of his imperial uncle. A dreamer, a conspirator, of a shifting nature, hypocritical and reckless, he, the heir to the Napoleonic throne, taking advantage of the policy which sought to foster the reviving interest in the career of his great prototype, had sought to overthrow the monarchy. Failing in his attempt, he was deported to America, was later captured in the course of an attempted invasion of France, was condemned to perpetual captivity, and escaped to London, until, in 1848, the Revolution brought about his return, and enabled him to overthrow the constitution, after which he was proclaimed emperor. Though able to initiate far-reaching movements, he possessed neither the sagacity nor the courage required to control them. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘The Promised Day Is Come)

September 26

There is such a confusion in the world today, so much uncertainty, so much materialism, that it is very hard to hold the attention of even the more spiritually minded people. But we must persevere and do our best knowing this is our duty and that conditions will eventually change completely and follow Bahá’u’lláh’s Pattern. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 16 May, 1947, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; ‘High Endeavours: Messages to Alaska’)

September 24

In the Bayán the Báb says that every religion was meant to be universal and also deserved to become so. The only reason why they have all failed to stand up to that mark was due to the inability of the followers who where entrusted with that task. Let us endeavour lest we also fail to realize that ideal which Bahá’u’lláh has set before us. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 4 April, 1930, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; compilation: ‘The Light of Divine Guidance, vol. 1’)

September 22

The Bahá’í rosary has no significance, whatsoever, except to enable the person who is repeating something a set number of times to concentrate on the meaning of the words, and not have to count at the same time.

It does not matter in the least how the rosaries are made up, or whether one uses one or not. Some people seem to be able to concentrate, and at the same time remember the number, without any difficulty.

If you like to make rosaries and share them with your friends, that is your privilege. He certainly, however, does not see why it should in any way be a bone of contention. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 23 May 1954 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; ‘Messages to Canada’)

September 20

Consolidation is as vital a part of the teaching work as expansion. It is that aspect of teaching which assists the believers to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Teachings, and fans the flame of their devotion to Baha'u'llah and His Cause, so that they will, of their own volition, continue the process of their spiritual development, promote the teaching work, and strengthen the functioning of their administrative institutions. Proper consolidation is essential to the preservation of the spiritual health of the community, to the protection of its interests, to the upholding of its good name, and ultimately to the continuation of the work of expansion itself.

….

Consolidation activities promote the individual spiritual development of the friends, help to unite and strengthen Baha'i community life, establish new social patterns for the friends, and stimulate the teaching work. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a message dated April 17, 1981 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)

September 18

Just as human intellects have revealed the secrets of matter and have brought forth from the realm of the invisible the mysteries of nature, may minds and spirits, likewise, come into the knowledge of the verities of God, and the realities of the Kingdom be made manifest in human hearts. Then the world will be the paradise of Abha, the standard of the Most Great Peace will be borne aloft, and the oneness of the world of humanity in all its beauty, glory and significance will become apparent. 

- Abdu'l-Baha  (From a talk, ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace’)

September 16

The House of Justice feels that the task before the Bahá’ís is to prepare the ground for the transition from the present system of national sovereignty to a system of world government. This requires a number of related activities which have been indicated in the goals of previous and present Plans of the community based on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's Tablets of the Divine Plan. The activities which will indirectly prepare the world to make the final stride include the following.

The establishment as rapidly as possible of firmly grounded, efficiently functioning Local Spiritual Assemblies in every part of the world, so that seekers everywhere will have a point of reference to which they can turn for guidance and for the Teachings of the Faith. This implies a vast increase in Bahá’í membership. Although the Canadian and many other Bahá’í Communities have achieved remarkable progress, much work is required to bring the Bahá’í institutions all over the world to the degree of maturation that is needed.

A second important activity is the deepening of the believers, of all ages, in their understanding of and obedience to the Teachings of the Faith. A third is the proclamation of the Faith to all strata of society, and in particular to those in authority and to leaders of thought so that those who hold the direction of peoples in their hands will learn accurately about the nature and tenets of the Faith and will grow to respect it and implement its principles. A fourth is the promotion of Bahá’í scholarship, so that an increasing number of believers will be able to analyze the problems of mankind in every field and to show how the Teachings solve them. A fifth is the development of relations between the Bahá’í International Community and the United Nations, both directly with the highest United Nations institutions and at a grass-roots level in areas of rural development, education, etc.

September 14

We Baha’is are indeed most blessed in that we know that, however dark the days immediately ahead of the human race, the future is blessed and glorious. It is for this future that the believers must labour day and night, heedless of the state of the world and the dangers threatening. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a message dated 23 February 1942, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘Dawn of a New Day’)

September 12

The Báb said that whenever “He whom God will make manifest” appears, accept Him. He never said don’t accept Him until after the lapse of 1000 years. Also Baha’u’llah says that in the year 9 of the Babi Dispensation the time was ripe for the Revelation of “He whom God will make manifest”. As the Báb was not only a Manifestation but a Herald of this Baha’i Faith, the interval between His Revelation and that of Baha’u’llah was of shorter duration. His Dispensation in a sense will last as long as Baha’u’llah’s lasts. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a message dated 27 December 1941, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘Dawn of a New Day’)

September 10

The vastness of the field, the smallness of your numbers, the indifference of the masses, must neither discourage nor appal you. You should at all times fix your gaze on the promise of Baha’u’llah, put your whole trust in His creative Word, recall the past and manifold evidences of His all-encompassing and resistless power and arise to become worthy and exemplary recipients of His all-sustaining grace and blessings. I appeal to every… believer, however modest his position, however limited his knowledge, however restricted his means, to rise to the height of this great opportunity which if missed will not recur again. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a message dated June 29, 1941; ‘Dawn of a New Day’)

September 8

Concerning the appearance of two Davids; there is a Tablet from Abdu’l-Baha in which He says that just as there have been two Ishmaels, one the son of Abraham, and the other one of the Prophets of Israel, there have appeared two Davids, one the author of the Psalms and father of Solomon, and the other before Moses. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a message dated 14 December 1940, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘Dawn of a New Day’)

September 6

As regards the membership of the International House of Justice, Abdu’l-Baha states in a Tablet that it is confined to men, and that the wisdom of it will be revealed as manifest as the sun in the future. In any case the believers should know that, as Abdu’l-Baha Himself has explicitly stated that sexes are equal except in some cases, the exclusion of women from the International House of Justice, should not be surprising. From the fact that there is no equality of functions between the sexes one should not, however, infer that either sex is inherently superior or inferior to the other, or that they are unequal in their rights. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a message dated 14 December 1940, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘Dawn of a New Day’)

September 4

The question of the training and education of children in case one of the parents is a non-Baha’i is one which solely concerns the parents themselves, who should decide about it the way they find best and most conducive to the maintenance of the unity of their family, and to the future welfare of their children. Once the child comes of age, however, he should be given full freedom to choose his religion, irrespective of the wishes and desires of his parents. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a message dated 14 December 1940, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘Dawn of a New Day’)

September 2

…with regard to the practice of circumcision; the Teachings bear no reference to this matter, and it is therefore not enjoined upon the believers. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a message dated 14 December 1940, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; ‘Dawn of a New Day’)