All Bahá’ís believe that the Laws of the AQDAS are sacred and immutable and, therefore, not subject to abrogation or alteration during the entire Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh. It is clear from the words of Shoghi Effendi quoted above that the sacredness and immutability of the AQDAS equally applies to the Will and Testament of `Abdu’l-Bahá. Shoghi Effendi has further extolled this “immortal Document” as:

“His greatest legacy to posterity,” “The brightest emanation of His mind,” “The Charter of the New World Order,” “The offspring resulting from the mystic intercourse between Him Who had generated the forces of a God-given Faith and the One Who had been made its sole interpreter and was recognized as its perfect Exemplar,” “the fruit of this divine union thus becoming the “Child of the Covenant” and “Their Will.”

Since the passing of Shoghi of Effendi you have repudiated the major provisions of this “Divine Charter” bequeathed by the “Architect of the Administrative Order” in declaring the following chief Institutions of the Administrative Order null and void:

The Guardianship of the Faith, thus removing the “Center of the Cause,” “the Interpreter of the Word of God,” and the “sacred head and the distinguished member for life” of the Universal House of Justice.

The Hands of the Cause of God who can only be appointed by the Guardian.

Towards the close of his ministry Shoghi Effendi acclaimed the culmination of his labors to erect the international institutions of the Faith at its World Center with the announcement that “at long last the machinery of its highest institutions has been erected.” “These supreme organs of its unfolding Order” included the embryonic Universal House of Justice which he proclaimed on 9 January 1951 “as the greatest event shedding lustre upon the second epoch of the Formative Age of the Bahá’í Dispensation” and “the most significant milestone in the evolution of the Administrative Order.” He did not assume the Presidency of this body but retained it in an embryonic inactive state and appointed its embryonic head, Mason Remey. It was in this appointment that was to be found the key to the continuity of the Guardianship as Presidency of the Universal House of Justice and Guardianship are synonymous terms. For this reason Shoghi Effendi did not authorize the President of this embryonic institution to convene it into a functioning body during the remaining years of his ministry. To further preclude direct contact with this body he announced a “chosen liaison” between himself and this body symbolizing thereby an umbilical cord relationship with this embryonic body. This embryonic Universal House of Justice emerged into active and functioning life coincident with the passing of Shoghi Effendi, and its appointed head then became the fully functioning President of this body and none other than the second Guardian of the Faith.

The Bahá’ís universally failed to perceive that Shoghi Effendi had appointed his successor in this way primarily due to the following:

The faulty assumption that Shoghi Effendi would appoint his successor in a traditional type testamentary document, whereas close examination of the terms of `Abdu’l Bahá’s Testament clearly indicates that the Guardian must appoint his successor “in his own lifetime.”

The erroneous belief that only a son of the Guardian or a bloodline relative of Bahá’u’lláh was eligible to inherit the Guardianship based on the clause in the Will which requires the Guardian to choose “another branch” should his first-born son be found spiritually unqualified.

Re-examination of the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and Abdu’l-Bahá reveal the primary importance placed by Them on spiritual relationships; for example,Abdu’l-Bahá states:“Muhammad was the root, and Ali the branch like Moses and Joshua” (See S.A.Q.). In this Dispensation, Bahá’u’lláh is “The Ancient Root,” `Abdu’l-Bahá, “The Most Mighty Branch” — “The Primal Branch” — and the successive Guardians of the Faith the offshoots or spiritual twigs (or branches) of this Primal Branch of the Tree of the Covenant.

Not finding a successor to Shoghi Effendi according to your preconceptions you lost faith in the immutability and continued validity of every clause of `Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will and Testament and consequently failed to recognize his duly appointed successor. As a result, the Faith is now faced with the greatest violation of the Covenant in its history and the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh is threatened with destruction — “this wondrous System — the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed.”

It is my fervent hope that you will, at long last, return to the Fold of the Covenant, rally to the support of the living Guardian of the Faith and join those fellow-believers who have labored so steadfastly these many years and with such exemplary fidelity to the Covenant to preserve the Bahá’í Administrative Order which “the masterhand of its perfect Architect” has fashioned in all of its divinely conceived perfection and glory.

The Third Guardian
of the Bahá’í Faith

For further information write to:
Orthodox Bahá’ís
of India
P.O. Box 54
Vasai Road
District Thane: 401207
Maharashtra
INDIA

Second Advertisement – THE TIMES OF INDIA

NEW DELHI
FRIDAY, MARCH 7 1992

ATTENTION BAHA’IS

EXCERPTS FROM THE PROCLAMATION OF RIDVAN 1960
OF MASON REMEY, SECOND GUARDIAN OF THE BAHA’I FAITH

“BELOVED FRIENDS: Believers have questioned me as to my status as President of the Baha’i International Council, appointed by the beloved Guardian Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Baha’i Faith. I take the means of this proclamation to the coming annual national convention to tell all Baha’is exactly what my position and status is in the Faith.

“The Baha’i people the world around know that the beloved Guardian singled me, Mason Remey, out from amongst all the believers upon earth to occupy the position of President of the Baha’i International Council. This is the only position suggestive of authority that Shoghi Effendi ever bestowed upon anyone, the only special and specific appointment of authority to any man ever made by him.”

“The beloved Guardian declared the Baha’i International Council to be the forerunner of and the first step toward the establishment of The Universal House of Justice, and furthermore, that the Baha’i International Council was the embryo of the Universal House of Justice which embryo would eventually develop into the Universal House of Justice.”

“I, as President of the International Council was one of those things that every Baha’i knows but that just never happened to be talked about nor even mentioned in any of the conclaves or in the conferences of the Hands of the Faith; therefore, as this subject was never mentioned, I, having promised the Hands never to divulge any of their discussions, proceedings or decisions, am not breaking faith with them now by explaining to the believers about this subject of my Presidentship of the International Council, a subject that was never even mentioned nor brought up for discussion by the Hands of the Faith in any conference that I ever attended or know anything about.”

“The beloved Guardian gave me no authority to do anything about the Universal Council during his lifetime, for while he was living he was the Guardian of the Faith, and as infallibility then was vested in him and in him only, my position was then only that of I myself holding a potential responsibility. But with the death of Shoghi Effendi… I became the acting President of the International Council… Therefore, I am now but assuming the powers that came to me automatically upon the death of Shoghi Effendi and that have been mine exclusively of all others upon earth…”

“The beloved Guardian chose me to be the President of the Baha’i International Council that is, according to his explanation, the President of the Embryonic Universal House of Justice.”

“The line of the Guardianship of the Baha’i Faith is unbroken for I have been the Guardian of the Faith since the death of the beloved Guardian Shoghi Effendi.”

“With much love to you.

Faithfully in El Abha,

Mason R., Guardian of the Baha’i Faith”

STATEMENT BY THE THIRD GUARDIAN

The believers were never given the opportunity to read the full text of the above Proclamation as it was dispatched to the Bahá’í World through the NSA of the United States, which did not distribute it to its sister Assemblies. Had this been done, you would not have remained in ignorance of its contents to this day and would undoubtedly have recognized the validity of Mason Remey’s appointment as the second Guardian of the Faith and perceived that his accession to the Guardianship had taken effect coincident with the passing of Shoghi Effendi.

Mason Remey employed the same instrumentality as Shoghi Effendi in appointing his successor by naming me the President-to-be of the second International Bahá’í Council upon its activation. Additionally, in a hand-written letter dated 5 December 1961 he directed me “to tell the Bahá’í World” that I was appointed the third Guardian of the Faith.

As Presidency of the Universal House of Justice and Guardianship are synonymous terms, it is my fervent hope that the Indian believers will thoroughly investigate the evidence supporting the continuity of the Guardianship and in their fidelity to the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh rally to the support of the third Guardian and assist him to restore the Institutions of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh as delineated in the sacred and immortal Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Joel Bray Marangella
Third Guardian of the Faith

For the complete text of Mason Remey’s Proclamation or for further information:

E-mail : National Baha’i Council of India

P.O. Box 54
Vasai Road
District: Thane: 401207
Maharashtra
INDIA

Third Advertisement – The Times of India, dated May 16 and 17, 1992

TO BAHA’IS OF INDIA SUPPORTING THE THIRD GUARDIAN

I welcome with grateful and joyous heart the recognition and support expressed in your Naw Ruz letter.

Those who have not done so should read my appeal appearing in the Times of India of April 29, 1991 and all should restudy the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh and Master’s divinely conceived, sacred and immutable Will and Testament — a document Shoghi Effendi stated forms with the Aqdas “inseparable parts of one complete unit.”

The faithful friends are urged to summon to courage to sever themselves from the sans-Guardian organisation. Loyalty to the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh is based on one’s fidelity to the “Center of the Cause” who is none other than the living Guardian of the Faith, for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament states “All must be under his shadow and obey his command.”

The first Bahá’í group to attain Assembly status under my Guardianship will be provisionally designated The Mother Bahá’í Council of India to differentiate it from the heterodox Organisation.

Therefore it is essential that the Guardian be informed as groups develop and expand and an address (at least a central address) be provided for communication purposes

Joel Bray Marangella

Third Guardian of the Faith

For a free copy of the WILL, or additional information, write to:

Provisional National Baha’i Council of India

P.O. Box 54
Vasai Road
District: Thane: 401207
Maharashtra
INDIA

Fourth Advertisement – The Times of India, dated May 29, 1992

ATTENTION BAHA’IS

On the occasion of the commemoration of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh 100 years ago, the third Guardian of the Faith, encouraged by the response from the Indian believers, calls upon all believers to be faithful to the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh by turning to the Guardian, “The Center of the Cause,” and to sever their ties with the wrongfully constituted administrative order they now follow.

The Guardian looks forward to welcoming the friends into the true Administrative Order founded upon the sacred, immutable, and immortal provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Joel Bray Marangella

Third Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith

For information on the continuing Guardianship of the Bahá’í Faith, write:

Provisional National Baha’i Council of India

P.O. Box 54

Vasai Road
District: Thane: 401207
Maharashtra
INDIA

Fifth Advertisement – The Times of India, dated November 23, 1992

ATTENTION BAHA’IS

Shoghi Effendi wrote “The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bah´ and the Aqdas are inseparable parts of one complete unit”. Therefore, the provisions of the Master’s Will are as sacrosanct and immutable as the Aqdas and will endure to the end of the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh. Yet, upon the death of Shoghi Effendi your faith in the Covenant proved to be so weak that you erroneously concluded that God had chosen not to raise up one worthy to succeed to the guardianship of His Cause, thereby precluding Shoghi Effendi’s appointment of a successor and making null and void the most important provision of the Master’s sacred and immortal “Charter of the New World Order” of Bahá’u’lláh.

For information on the continuing Guardianship of the Bahá’í Faith, write:

Correspondence should be addressed as follows:

Provisional National Baha’i Council of India

P.O. Box 54
Vasai Road
District: Thane: 401207
Maharashtra
INDIA

Sixth Advertisement – The Times of India, dated November 24, 1992

In his 9 January 1951 PROCLAMATION (the only one he ever issued), Shoghi Effendi hailed the formation of the embryonic Universal House of Justice, the International Bahá’í Council, as “the greatest event…the second epoch of the Formative Age…unsurpassed by any enterprise since the inception of the Administrative Order.” He appointed a distinguished Bahá’í as its President. Significantly, he retained the Council in an inactive status for the remainder of his ministry. Otherwise, he would have had to preside, as its Head, as specified in the Master’s Will. Upon his death, the embryonic Head was then able to emerge as active Head of this Supreme Council, an Office which could be held only by the successor Guardian of the Faith. As the Master has said: “The embryo possess from the first all perfections…all the powers…”(B.W.F. p.313)

For information on the continuing Guardianship of the Bahá’í Faith, :

Provisional National Baha’i Council of India

Secretary Dr. A. Parikh
P.O. Box 54
Vasai Road
District: Thane: 401207
Maharashtra
INDIA

Seventh Advertisement – The Times of India, dated November 26, 1992

ATTENTION BAHA’IS

A living Guardian is essential to the Faith. Shoghi Effendi said:

“Divorced from the institution of the Guardianship the World Order of Baha’u’llah would be mutilated…”

Joel B. Marangella, the third Guardian of the Faith, encourages all who believe in Baha’u’llah’s teachings to join the Faith under the Guardian, the “Center of the Cause.”

For information on the continuing Guardianship of the Bahá’í Faith, write:

Provisional National Baha’i Council of India

P.O. Box 54
Vasai Road
District: Thane: 401207
Maharashtra
INDIA

Eighth Advertisement – The Times of India, dated March 4, 1994

U.S. ORTHODOX BAHÁ’Í SECRETARY THANKS INDIAN BELIEVERS

Franklin D. Schlatter, Secretary of the Mother Bahá’í Council of the U.S., at the close of his two week visit with the Orthodox Baha’is of India, wishes to express his deep appreciation to all who have made his visit here as a representative of the third Guardian, Joel B. Marangella, so enjoyable and so fruitful. With your commitment, the future progress of our Faith is assured.

Correspondence should be addressed as follows:

Provisional National Baha’i Council of India

Secretary Dr. A. Parikh
P.O. Box 54
Vasai Road
District: Thane: 401207
Maharashtra
INDIA

Ninth Advertisement – The Times of India
April 29,1994

ATTENTION BAHA’IS

To whom are you are going to be loyal — your headless, sans-Guardian Universal House of Justice or to ‘Abdul-Baha’s Will and Shoghi Effendi?

UHJ (6 Oct. 1963): “The Universal House of Justice finds that there is no way to appoint or to legislate to make it possible to appoint a second Guardian to succeed Shoghi Effendi.”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Will: “It is incumbent upon the guardian of the Cause of God to appoint in his own life-time him that shall become his successor… Thus should… his glorious lineage not be matched with a goodly character, then must he, (the guardian of the Cause of God) choose another branch to succeed him.” “…the guardian of the Cause of God is the sacred head and the distinguished member for life of that body.”[Universal House of Justice]

Shoghi Effendi, writting in “The Dispensation of Baha’u’llah” stated that, “divorced from the institution of the Guardianship the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh would be mutilated…”

Shoghi Effendi appointed his successor in complete accordance with the provisions of the Master’s sacred Will.

For information write:

Provisional National Baha’i Council of India

Secretary Dr. A. Parikh
P.O. Box 54
Vasai Road
District: Thane: 401207
Maharashtra
INDIA

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