I feel that only such goods as are owned by believers,
whether made by Bahá'ís or non-Bahá'ís, may be sold in the interests of the
Temple or any other Bahá'í institutions, thus maintaining the general principle
that non-believers are not, whether directly or indirectly, expected to
contribute to the support of institutions that are of a strictly Bahá'í
character. As to the manner of the disposal of Bahá'í property for such
purposes, and the channel through which the sale may be effected, I feel that
no rigid rule should be imposed. Individual Bahá'ís are free to seek the help
of private individuals or of Spiritual Assemblies to act as intermediary for
such transactions. We should avoid confusion on one hand and maintain
efficiency on the other, and lay no unnecessary restrictions that would fetter
individual initiative and enterprise. - Shoghi Effendi (From a letter dated 4 January 1929 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the
United States and Canada, published in "Bahá'í News" April 1929; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i Funds and Contributions)
