[Handwritten note on IBC stationery:]
from the desk of Wind Jensen, Liaison Officer
Dec. 11th, 1992
Dear Friends,
I thought I should share with you the evidence of an obvious mistake on the part of the illegitimate "UHJ" of the Covenant-breakers, which they turn to as their infallible source of Divine Guidance. In its publication, Wellspring of Divine Guidance on page 82, this False body conveys that the Hands had the right to
1
"confirm" the Guardians choice of his successor. Websters New Universal Unabridged gives this definition: 3. to sanction; to ratify; as, to confirm an agreement, promise, covenant, or title. The Senate confirms or rejects the appointments brought before it by the President of the United States.
They also state that in 1957 the entire body of the Hands made their ruling ("announced") that the Guardian had appointed no successor. I have enclosed a published statement of Shoghi Effendi, from Baha'i News, Feb. 1955 #288, to the effect that the Hands do not have the right to rule upon the Guardian's choice but only to acknowledge it.
love, in el Abha
Wind
__________________________________
BAHA'I NEWS
Published by the National Spiritual Assembly
of the Baha'is of the United States
No. 288 Baha'i Year 111 February, 1955
THE GUARDIAN
Passage on Will and Testament
"The statement in the Will of 'Abdu'l-Baha* does not imply that the Hands of the Cause of God have been given the authority to overrule the Guardian. 'Abdu'l-Baha could not have provided for a conflict of authority in the Faith. This is obvious, in view of His own words, which you will find on page 13 [p. 11 of 1944 U.S. edition] of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha. 'The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the guardian of the Cause of God. It is incumbent upon . . . the Hands of the Cause of God to show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him. He that opposeth him hath opposed the True One.' etc."
*The passage in the Master's Will which provides for the successor to the Guardian, in which reference is made to the Hands of the Cause.
____________________
Wellspring of Guidance
Messages from the Universal House of Justice
[underlining by Wind]
p. 82
Thus, as the Hands of the Cause stated in 1957, it is clear there was no one he could have appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Will. To have made an appointment outside the clear and specific provisions of the Master's Will and Testament would obviously have been an impossible and unthinkable course of action for the Guardian, the divinely appointed upholder and defender of the Covenant. Moreover, that same Will had provided a clear means for the confirmation of the Guardian's appointment of his successor, as you are aware. The nine Hands to be elected by the body of the Hands were to give their assent by secret ballot to the Guardian's choice. In 1957 the entire body of the Hands, after fully investigating the matter, announced that Shoghi Effendi had appointed no successor and left no will. This is documented and established.
The fact that Shoghi Effendi did not leave a will cannot be adduced as evidence of his failure to obey Baha'u'llah--rather should we acknowledge that in his very silence there is a wisdom and a sign of his infallible guidance. We should ponder deeply the writings that we have, and seek to understand the multitudinous significances that they contain. Do not forget that Shoghi Effendi said two things were necessary for a growing understanding of the World Order of Baha'u'llah: the passage of time and the guidance of the Universal House of Justice.
THE INFALLIBILITY OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF
JUSTICE WITHIN ITS ORDAINED SPHERE
The infallibility of the Universal House of Justice, operating within its ordained sphere, has not been made dependent upon the presence in its membership of the Guardian of the Cause. Although in the realm of interpretation the Guardian's pronouncements are always binding, in the
p. 83
area of the Guardian's participation in legislation it is always the decision of the House itself which must prevail. This is supported by the words of the Guardian: "The interpretation of the Guardian: "The interpretation of the Guardian, functioning within his own sphere, is as authoritative and binding as the enactments of the International House of Justice, whose exclusive right and prerogative is to pronounce upon and deliver the final judgement on such laws and ordinances as Baha'u'llah has not expressly revealed. Neither can, nor will ever, infringe upon the sacred and prescribed domain of the other. Neither will seek to curtail the specific and undoubted authority with which both have been divinely invested.
Source: Dave Cornell