imagine

I have a few questions about the following letter from the Guardian dated January 9. 1951. If anyone is not familiar with this I have been reproduced down below, the relevant selections are in bold

Proclaim National Assemblies of East and West weighty epoch-making decision of formation of first International Baha'i Council, forerunner of supreme administrative institution destined to emerge in fullness of time within precincts beneath shadow of World Spiritual Center of Faith already established in twin cities of Akka and Haifa. Fulfillment of prophecies uttered by Founder of Faith and Center of His Covenant culminating in establishment of Jewish State, signalizing birth after lapse of two thousand years of an independent nation in the Holy Land, the swift unfoldment of historic undertaking associated with construction of superstructure of the Bab's Sepulcher on Mount Carmel, the present adequate maturity of nine vigorously functioning national administrative institutions throughout Baha'i World, combine to induce me to arrive at this historic decision marking most significant milestone in evolution of Administrative Order of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in course of last thirty years. Nascent Institution now created is invested with threefold function: first, to forge link with authorities of newly emerged State; second, to assist me to discharge responsibilities involved in erection of mighty superstructure of the Bab's Holy Shrine; third, to conduct negotiations related to matters of personal status with civil authorities. To these will be added further functions in course of evolution of this first embryonic International Institution, marking its development into officially recognized Baha'i Court, its transformation into duly elected body, its efflorescence into Universal House of Justice, and its final fruition through erection of manifold auxiliary institutions constituting the World Administrative Center destined to arise and function and remain permanently established in close neighborhood of Twin Holy Shrines. Hail with thankful, joyous heart at long last the constitution of International Council which history will acclaim as the greatest event shedding luster upon second epoch of Formative Age of Baha'i Dispensation potentially unsurpassed by any enterprise undertaken since inception of Administrative Order of Faith on morrow of Abdu'l-Baha's Ascension, ranking second only to glorious immortal events associated with Ministries of the Three Central Figures of Faith in course of First Age of most glorious Dispensation of the five thousand century Baha'i Cycle. Advise publicize announcement through Public Relations Committee.

1. I have rarely heard about the first IBC in any Baha'i community I've been in. If this was such a monumental feat of the blessed Guardian why is it not spoken of more often?

2. According to Baha'i sources (google is your friend here) the first IBC was initially appointed by the Blessed Guardian in 1951, then in 1961 the council became an elected body, which in turn became the Universal House of Justice in 1963. Why was the direction of Shoghi Effendi not abided by? This "epoch-making decision" was to unfold as such in 4 steps:
International Baha'i Council ---> development into officially recognized Baha'i Court--->transformation into duly elected body-->efflorescence into Universal House of Justice. What happened to the second step?
In a letter written by the beloved Hands:
RIDVAN MESSAGE 1963 TO ANNUAL BAHA'I CONVENTIONS BAHA'I WILMETTE MAY 19,1963 HANDS CAUSE WISH EXPRESS LOVING APPRECIATION HEROIC DEDICATED EFFORTS FRIENDS EVERYWHERE ASSURING TRIUMPHANT CONCLUSION BE-LOVED GUARDIAN'S MIGHTY CRUSADE

Something is amise here, the hands did not follow the Guardians instructions concerning his January 9, 1951 letter, so how can the Crusade be a "triumphant conclusion".

Thanks,
Imagine

LordOfGoblins

1.Spoken of 'more often'?
what exactly do you expect to see? A day apointed in the year commemorating it? I guess cos things move on. It all becomes a part of the process of building the new world that leads to the most great peace... But I am not sure your question has a solid answer as I am not really familar with Bahai administration dates. I am sure there are many events though that can be considered important in the spiritual history of the Bahai faith like Abdul'Bahas date of laying the stone of the mother temple of the west for example. Shoghi Effendi was emphasising the importance also to encourage the Bahais as well, (not to diminish the actual importance) and must therefore of a necessity be exited and energized about the process of victories whether minor or magor - I would imagine.
Just my opinion.

2. I am not sure..

arthra

Well I've heard about the First International Baha'i Council as a sort of nascent seed of the Universal House of Justice elected in 1963... The first IBC was limited in it's perview and responsibilities..and was appointed by the Guardian:

As to the International Bahá'í Council, appointed by the Guardian and heralded in his communications to the Bahá'í world, that body will in the course of time finally fulfil its purpose through the formation of the Universal House of Justice, that Supreme Body upon which infallibility, as the Master's Testament assures us, is divinely conferred: "The source of all good and freed from all error." The main work of the Council has been to act as the Guardian's representative in matters involving the Israeli Government and its courts of law.

(Custodians, Ministry of the Custodians, p. 37)

Regarding Baha'i Courts the following might be of interest:

The recognition of our Laws of Personal Status must naturally precede formation of Bahá'í courts; as long as your translation is correct his approval is not needed.

(Shoghi Effendi, Dawn of a New Day, p. 157)

Notice the reference to Baha'i Courts in the following:

The gradual erection of the various dependencies of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkar of the West, and the intricate issues involving the establishment and the extension of the structural basis of Bahá'í community life; the codification and promulgation of the ordinances of the Most Holy Book, necessitating the formation, in certain countries of the East, of properly constituted and officially recognized courts of Bahá'í law; the building of the third Mashriqu'l-Adhkar of the Bahá'í world in the outskirts of the city of Tihran, to be followed by the rise of a similar House of Worship in the Holy Land itself; the deliverance of Bahá'í communities

(Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 14)

First a proper codification and promulgation of the ordinances of the Most Holy Book...necessitating the formation, in certain countries..of properly constituted and officially recognized courts of Baha'i law. Has this occurred yet?.. I haven't heard that it has but it is part of a flow chart apparently envisioned by the Guardian... Baha'i Courts could be in a future time in some countries after the foundations for it have been laid..not likely before.

As the Center of the Faith is the House of Justice the time to implement a Baha'i Court in my view would be dependent on the conditions and preparations accepted by the House..

kavaliro

I've read what you Quoted several times, and I'm just got getting out of it what you did. I don't see 4 independent steps; I see milestones, some of which might easily occur simultaneously. You said "Steps" implying that there was a specific sequence of events, such as when you climb steps, how one comes before the next. Milestones are different. They are merely markers which indicate progress on a journey. In an organizational context, there is not necessarily a definite order to achieving milestones. Often they happen simultaneously, or so close together that it might as well be simultaneous. I believe that your interpretation of the list as "steps" is causing confusion and not allowing you to understand the letter.

Sen McGlinn

"officially recognized Baha'i Court" is one of the "further functions" envisioned for the IBC, but it depended on one or more governments giving the recognition. It's an external matter not under our control. Shoghi Effendi envisioned it, but it didn't happen. He was not prescient (could not "see the future" in a literal way). What is actually happening in those countries that have separate religious courts for each religious community, is that the population and government systems are gradually moving to secular government.

"Transformation into duly elected body" is something that was done in 1961, when the IBC was elected by members of the National Assemblies, but by postal ballot, not in an international convention. Hands of the Cause were not eligible.

"Efflorescence into Universal House of Justice" happened in 1963, when it was elected at an international convention of members of the NSAs. The UHJ is essentially the same body as the elected IBC before it, but considerably different to the appointed first BIC, in which five of the members were Hands of the Cause.