Association for Baha'i Studies : 9th Annual Conference

Hand of the Cause of God, Mr. John Robarts and Mrs. Audrey Roberts; Hand of the Cause of God, Mr. Zikru’llah Khadem and Mrs. Javidukht Khadem and Mrs. Banani, wife of the Hand of the Cause of God, Mr. Musa Banani

The following questions where posed one-by-one to each of the panelists:

Question: “What did you learn from your visit to the beloved Guardian?”

Question: “What did Shoghi Effendi say about ‘Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum?”

Hand of the Cause of God, Zikrullah Khadem, recounts many moving experiences in the presence of the Shoghi Effendi and recounts some special assignments given him by "the Beloved Shoghi Effendi". A number of Hands of the Cause are discussed on this recording and their special qualities and accomplishments. He mentions in particular the writing of Hand of the Cause of God George Townshend.

May Hofman reviews the prodigious work accomplished by the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi Rabbani. She quotes extensively from his writings and discusses his development of the gardens and buildings on the Arc; his translations of Sacred Scripture; his development of the Administrative Order; the questions he answered by Divine Infallibility; the centrality of the Principle of the Oneness of Mankind; and much more.

The Advent of Divine Justice is a book length letter written by Shoghi Effendi on December 25, 1938 to the Bahais  of the United States and Canada  describing the role of America  in establishing the Most Great Peace.  The book is about the destiny of America . Shoghi Effendi describes important role North American Bahá'ís  will play establishing the Faith around the world. He says first they must internalize three spiritual prerequisites: "moral rectitude," "absolute chastity," and "complete freedom from prejudice."

Mr. Bond relates the background of the Tablets of The Divine Plan and circumstances under which Shoghi Effendi prepared the Baha’I Community for their execution.

The Tablets of the Divine Plan served as both a mandate and master strategy for Shoghi Effendi. He describes the military terminology used by the Guardian in reference to the Tablets.

The various plans, such as the First Seven Year Plan (1937-1944) and the World Crusade (1953-1963) are reviewed in some detail in this presentation.

The talk is preceded by a two-minute recitation of a healing prayer for Hand of the Cause of God William Sears who was then recovering from an operation. Hand of the Cause Varqá cites the condition of the Bahá’í World.  He explains that Bahá’ís are still under the Divine Plan of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. He describes the period of the Hands following the passing of the Guardian. Emphasizes the importance of Bahá’í youth to the future.

Dr. Hatcher opens with a personal comment that he became a Baha’I in 1957, some months before the passing of Shoghi Effendi. Dr. Hatcher says his teacher was Winston Evans. Winston Evans so inculcated into William Hatcher his love for the Guardian that Hatcher was “totally devastated” by the passing of the Guardian. He was consoled by “The Dispensation” which Hand Khadem reported that Shoghi Effendi had said was “his will and testament”. William Hatcher reads ‘Amatu’l-Bahá’s comments about “The Dispensation”.

 - 1984 Contest Winner for Creative Writing, Bruce Filson

For the first one minute Mr. Filson speaks in French before using English, which he does for the remainder of the recording.

Mr. FIlson first quotes Baha'u'llah from the Introduction to the "Seven Valleys". He then describes the ironies and contradictions in one’s journey to God in poetic meter.

Dr. Eyford explains that the book reviews—in Shoghi Effendi’s own words—“the history of the first hundred years of its [the Baha’i Faith’s] evolution [and] resolves itself into a series of internal and external crises, of varying severity, devastating in their immediate effects, but each mysteriously releasing a corresponding measure of divine power, lending thereby a fresh impulse to its unfoldment, this further unfoldment engendering in its turn a still graver calamity, followed by a still more liberal effusion of celestial grace enabling its upholders to accelerate still further its march and win in its service still more compelling victories.”