Hands of the Bahá'í Faith

Bahá'í s knew

In November 1957 when Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the  Bahá'í  Faith passed to the Abha kingdom all the Bahá'ís of the World knew that he did not have a child and that he did not have any faithful family members or blood relatives of Baha’u’llah around. At that time every body knew that he was over 61 years old.  At least the former Hands of the Cause were aware of these obvious facts.

In 1957 Bahá'ís knew that according to the Will and Testament of  Abdu’l Baha Shoghi Effendi had the obligation “to appoint in his own life-time him that shall become his successor.” Shoghi Effendi first knew this was his responsibility, 36 years previously when the sacred Will and Testament was read for the first time.  At least the former Hands of the Cause should have known this.

At the time of his passing all Bahá'ís knew that the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith, Shoghi Effendi, during and until the end of his  36-year ministry, had always made it quite clear that the line of Guardians would continue to the end of the Bahá'í  Dispensation and had made many references in his writings to future Guardians.  At least the former Hands of the Cause should not have overlooked this.

Bahá'ís knew that during Abdu’l Baha’s ministry some local Houses of Justice in their embryonic form, i.e. Local Spiritual Assemblies, were established and during Shoghi Effendi’s ministry embryonic National Houses of Justice (i.e. NSAs) came into existence and all these National and Local Spiritual Assemblies, although unable to perform all the duties and responsibilities that will be exercised by future Houses of Justice, were still actively functioning bodies.    Then, on 9 January 1951, the first Guardian issued the only proclamation in his lifetime in which he established the embryonic Universal House of Justice and subsequently appointed Charles Mason Remey as the President of this International Bahá'í Council, but the Bahá'ís may not know that this body had been necessarily retained in an inactive status during the remaining years of Shoghi Effendi's ministry because its head was the next Guardian and not the first Guardian himself.

The International Bahá'í Council, the embryonic Universal House of  Justice, was the highest Organ of the Bahá'í  Administrative Order, after the first Guardian, whose establishment had been announced by Shoghi- Effendi, as follows:

"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 Bahá'í 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 Bahá'í Cycle”

Also he stated: “…weighty epoch-making decision of formation of first International  Bahá'í  Council, forerunner of supreme administrative institution”

“Fulfillment of prophecies uttered by Founder of Faith and Center of  His Covenant”

“…historic decision marking most significant milestone in evolution  of Administrative Order of the Faith of Baha'u'llah in course of last thirty years.”

The first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith was appointed by Abdu’l Baha and during his Ministry remained as the first Guardian.

“It was also during practically the babyhood of *our first Guardian* that the Master revealed that highly significant Tablet about a child having been born who would do great things in the future”        (Ruhiyyih Khanum, Twenty-Five Years of the Guardianship, p. 4)

And when he passed to Abha Kingdom In 1957 his body was laid to rest as the first Guardian of the Bahá'í Faith

“The flowers were removed from the casket, revealing an engraved tablet on which was written:

Shoghi Effendi Rabbani

*First Guardian of the Bahá'í  Faith*

March 3rd, 1896-November 4th, 1957”              (Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 22)

At that time the question was: Who is the second Guardian?  Not, had the first Guardian appointed his successor? Because faithful believers never entertained any doubt or question that Shoghi Effendi would fail to faithfully fulfill his most important obligation, under the terms of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha.  But obviously one person was determined to adopt and nourish this inappropriate question and project a negative conclusion, and hatched a plot to draw the attention of the Bahá'ís  away from the proper recognition of the International Bahá'í  Council and attract their attention instead to the Hands of the Cause, so Ruhiyyih Khanum sent the following cablegrams:

“…URGE BELIEVERS REMAIN STEADFAST  *CLING INSTITUTION HANDS LOVINGLY* REARED RECENTLY REINFORCED EMPHASIZED BY BELOVED GUARDIAN…”

            (Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 11)

“…FUNERAL OUR BELOVED GUARDIAN SATURDAY LONDON HANDS ASSEMBLY BOARD MEMBERS INVITED ATTEND ANY PRESS RELEASE SHOULD STATE MEETING *HANDS SHORTLY HAIFA WILL MAKE ARRANGEMENT TO BAHAI WORLD REGARDING FUTURE PLANS* STOP URGE HOLD MEMORIAL MEETINGS SATURDAY.”             (Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Passing of Shoghi Effendi, p. 13)

(In the Ministry of the Custodians, instead of “ARRANGEMENT” is written “ANNOUNCEMENT”)

Nosrat

THE ARCH COVENANT BREAKER

                                                                                        Ruhiyyih Rabbani

                                                                  APPOINTED HAND OF CAUSE BY FIRST GUARDIAN

                                                                       DECLARED “THE ARCH COVENANT BREAKER”
                                                                 by the SECOND GUARDIAN CHARLES MASON REMEY

Question:
Who shouted at the Hands, scolding them, shaking her finger at them, hammering the table with clenched fist and threatened to commit suicide or abandon the Baha’i Administration, in case if the Second Guardian is appointed?

Answer:
She was nobody else than Ruhiyyih Rabbani programmed by Persian Hands to abandon the Guardianship. While the other Hands were to revolt at her behavior, the Persian Hands kept their heads down and said “Bally Bally” Yes.Yes.

“When Ruhiyyih Rabbani made her statement at Kampala International Conference about abandoning the Guardianship, the Persian Hands criticized her and felt this statement to have been a most untimely declaration upon her part.

Says Mason Remey:

"These are the Custodian (Persian Hands) who are so trusted by Baha’i world, playing a double game as it were to deceive the Baha’is.”

“I am much concerned about the future of Ruhiyyih Khanum’s career as a Baha’i because I know that this Cause of God is going to live and to prosper and since this is to be true there must needs be the continuation of the Guardianship. In other words, the Cause is, I believe, destined to be continued and this will mean that sooner or later, Ruhiyyih Khanum, like all the rest of the believers will come under his command and this will be a supreme test for her especially should the second Guardian of the Baha’i Faith have a wife to take the position of the First Lady of the Faith!”

“Ruhiyyih Khanum and the Persian Hands are of the fixed intention that the Guardianship is Bada or was definitely ended for this Dispensation of one thousand years with the death of Shoghi Effendi. Of course, they do not say this openly to the world, nevertheless this conviction constantly shows itself in things they say and advocate and things they do. Leroy Loas seems to feel at times that the Guardianship should not thus be scrapped, but he stands firmly for the 1963 program. Milly Collins and Paul Haney seem to be bewildered upon this point - they feel that it will come out somehow by the Grace of God, but which way and how they have no idea.”

“Yesterday morning there was such a scene that Leroy was so upset that he refused to be at the prayer meeting that afternoon at the Shrine. Ruhiyyih Khanum, who was so near to Shoghi Effendi for so many years of their married life, takes command of all matters dictating to the others, assuming that she knows exactly what the Guardian would have done under circumstances such as these that confront us; therefore, she in no uncertain terms lays down the law to us shaking her finger at us and often shouting at us giving emphasis to what she is saying by hammering the table before her with clenched fist (as yet she has not come to the point of shaking her fist at any of us). Leroy rebels at this - the Persians all take it. 1 don’t get what Paul Haney thinks - I laugh up my sleeve, at the same time fearful of what may happen to Ruhiyyih Khanum should a second Guardian appear upon this scene?”

“Ruhiyyih Khanum frequently threatens to commit suicide if she can’t have her way. I am afraid she may do so sometime in one of her tantrums but Milly (Collins) says there is no danger of her killing herself - that this is but a tantrum -but from my one experience in my own life such tantrums can end in dire tragedy. Leroy thinks that Ruhiyyih may snap and have to be put in an asylum. I feel that it is more likely that this condition may send him and not Ruhiyyih Khanum to the asylum. The Hands of the Faith should not expect harmony in the Baha’i World at large until they-the twenty-seven of us - are at harmony between ourselves.”

..."The Persian Baha’is do not want a Guardian to continue to rule the Faith. Neither does Ruhiyyih Khanum want the Guardianship to continue, for she would not like at all for herself to be second to another Guardian of the Faith, particularly if he should have a wife which if he had, his wife would be the First Lady of the Baha’i Faith Administration with Ruhiyyih Khanum then as the Dowager Lady of the Faith."

"One cannot help but feel such problems as these would be a most powerful incentive in Ruhiyyih Khanum’s life to weigh against her wanting any continuance of the Guardianship for now she is the ruling power in the Cause. She dictates practically everything. She has no intention of allowing the Guardianship to be continued and to suit her own wishes, she insists that there shall never be another Guardian and as she stated to me in a meeting of the Custodians: “Then after her no one would ever live in the Guardian’s house in Haifa.”

"Ruhiyyih Khanum at all times and upon all matters dictates to us (the Custodian Hands) as if she were still the link or channel for contact between the Guardian and us, the Hands, actually shaking her finger at us and occasionally striking with hand at the table before her. Occasionally Leroy Laos flies off the handle and there is a great flare up but then this quiets down and in the end she dominates the situation despite the fact that she is but one Hand of the several Custodian Hands. In other words, Ruhiyyih Khanum has assumed the direction of things and in a very scolding and an out-of-patience tone of voice that in itself is an indication that things are not the way they should be within her own psychology."

"All (this) resolves itself down to the fact that the Cause needs the institution of the Guardianship to carry it on and will suffer and go to pieces unless we have a Guardian and end this confused state of leadership that Ruhiyyih Khanum and the Persian Hands have thrust us into and so far have dominated the Hands with."

"During the discussion someone suggested that possibly Hermann thought that the Universal House of Justice might re-establish the Guardianship. Whereupon Ruhiyyih Khanum said that she was unalterably opposed to our having another Guardian and that if there were ever one appointed, that she would abandon Haifa and the Baha’i Administration and take herself somewhere up in the wilds of Tibet, there to hide herself from all Baha’is!"

"While for some time it has been quite clear that such was Ruhiyyih Khanum’s attitude toward the Guardianship, this which said to us today tells us in plain language, not to be misunderstood exactly how she feels - in other words, she does not want the continuation of the Guardianship and threatens to walk out upon the Guardianship if it ever be established! In reality, Ruhiyyih Khanum is the dictator of the Custodian Hands in the Holy Land. In one of her addresses before the Kampala Conferences, now over a year ago, she announced that the Guardianship was definitely closed and ended. In a subsequent meeting of the Custodians here, she made the definite statement that after her present tenure of the Guardian’s house (at 7 Persian Street, Haifa) that no one would ever be in residence there (after her present tenure of those premises)."

"When faced by someone who quoted her Kampala statement (here some weeks ago) she said that she had spoken in Kampala at (the Intercontinental Conference) without thinking and had she thought over the matter, she would not have made such an announcement. The Custodians felt this statement to have been a most untimely declaration upon her part. Thus are these Custodian Hands, who are so trusted by the Baha’i world, playing a double game, as it were, to deceive the Baha’is..."

Dear Baha’i friend, These are some excerpts from the diary of beloved Charles Mason Remey the second Guardian of the Baha’i Faith. If you want to know more about what happened after the death of the beloved Guardian Shoghi Effendi and how Ruhiyyih Rabbani was made to fall in the conspiracy hatched by Persian Hands of Cause, please read the

                                                     Diary of Mason Remy & Unanswered letters Of the Third Guardian

                                                                                      To Ruhiyyih Rabbani.

Once the truth is clear please do not hesitate to identify yourself with the Orthodox Baha’i Faith and come under the Guidance of beloved third Guardian Joel B. Marangella whose efforts have brought the True Faith of Baha’u’llah to different parts of the world.

                                                                           LOCAL BAHA'I COUNCIL
                                                       THE ORTHODOX BAHA'IS
                                                                     CHENNAI INDIA

The Heterodox Bahá'í 'paper guardian'

"Without showing any slight disrespect towards the priceless writings of the first of our Guardians which Orthodox Baha'is all cherish, we must also recognize that those manuscripts, books and letters, although vital nutritive ingredients for the "...two fundamental organs delineated in the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha'", which "organs" the first of our Guardians discusses in his "spiritual testament", The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah, those writings of Shoghi Effendi are not those "organs" themselves of which he speaks when he says that "...relationships..." "...connect.." "...each of them to the Author of the Faith and the Center of His Covenant..." The "organs" of which the first Guardian speaks are not paper manuscripts, but rather the functioning "twin pillars" of the Administrative Order of the Baha'i Faith, namely the "Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice". (see pages 4 and 5 of the Administrative Order of The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah) The Living Guardian of the Baha'i Has such a 'relationship' which 'connects' him "...to the Author of the Faith and the Center of His Covenant..." The Heterodox Baha'i organization's 'paper guardian' does not have the 'relationship' concerning which the first of our Guardians writes in The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah.

The first Guardian continues:

"It should be stated, at the very outset, in clear and unambiguous language, that these twin institutions of the Administrative Order of Bahá'u'lláh should be regarded as divine in origin, essential in their functions and complementary in their aim and purpose. Their common, their fundamental object is to insure the continuity of that divinely-appointed authority which flows from the Source of our Faith, to safeguard the unity of its followers and to maintain the integrity and flexibility of its teachings. Acting in conjunction with each other these two inseparable institutions administer its affairs, cöordinate its activities, promote its interests, execute its laws and defend its subsidiary institutions. Severally, each operates within a clearly defined sphere of jurisdiction; each is equipped with its own attendant institutions--instruments designed for the effective discharge of its particular responsibilities and duties. Each exercises, within the limitations imposed upon it, its powers, its authority, its rights and prerogatives. These are neither contradictory, nor detract in the slightest degree from the position which each of these institutions occupies. Far from being incompatible or mutually destructive, they supplement each other's authority and functions, and are permanently and fundamentally united in their aims." "...essential in their functions..."

The Heterodox 'paper guardian' is not an "organ" having "functions"

"...complementary in their aim and purpose..." The Heterodox 'paper guardian' is not conscious of "aim"  or "purpose"

"Their common, their fundamental object is to...maintain the integrity and flexibility of its teachings." The Heterodox organization's 'paper guardian', the writings of the first Guardian on paper manuscripts, is not adequate to provide instruction for the multitudes of changing exigencies of the Baha'i Earthwide brotherhood and the rest of mankind for the remainder of the 1000 years of this Holy Dispensation.

"Acting in conjunction with each other..." The Heterodox 'paper guardian' does not 'act'

"...administer its affairs..." The Heterodox Baha'i 'paper guardian' does not "administer"

"...cöordinate its activities..." The Heterodox 'paper guardian' does not "coordinate" anything.

"...promote its interests..." The Heterodox 'paper guardian' does not "promote" anything.

"...execute its laws..." The Heterodox 'paper guardian' does not "execute" anything.

"...defend its subsidiary institutions..." The Heterodox 'paper guardian' does not "defend" anything.

"...Severally, each operates within a clearly defined sphere of jurisdiction..." The Heterodox 'paper guardian' does not "operate" anywhere.

"... each is equipped with its own attendant institutions..." The Heterodox 'paper guardian' has no "attendant institutions"

"...instruments designed for the effective discharge of its particular responsibilities and duties." The Heterodox 'paper guardian' possesses no sense of "responsibilities and duties", and does not "discharge" anything.

"Each exercises, within the limitations imposed upon it, its powers, its authority, its rights and prerogatives." The Heterodox Baha'i 'paper guardian' does not 'exercise' anything.

"These are neither contradictory, nor detract in the slightest degree from the position which each of these institutions occupies." Where do the Baha'i Writings define the writings of the first Guardian as an 'institution'?

"...are permanently and fundamentally united in their aims." The first of our Guardians certainly had an 'aim' when he wrote his writings, namely to advance the establishment of the Administration of the New World Order, the Kingdom of God on Earth in exact obedience to the Instructions of the Holy Master, which Instructions are recorded in His sacred and immutable Will and Testament, which the first Guardian identified in writing as the "Charter of the New World Order" and as the "Child of the Covenant" However, his writings alone, the Heterodox 'paper guardian' are not conscious of the first Guardian's "aim" so that those writings might conscientiously carry forward that "aim".

The Baha'i Holy Covenant provides for a living Guardian to carry forward that "aim", and that provision is delineated in the "Child of the Covenant, the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha'.

The living Guardian's website:--
http://www.Bahai-Guardian.com

HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

I-   Appointed by Bahá'u'lláh

II-- Appointed by `Abdu'l-Bahá

III--Appointed posthumously by First Guardian Shoghi Effendi

IV-First contingent, appointed 24 December 1951 by Shoghi Effendi

V-Second contingent, appointed 29 February 1952 by Shoghi Effendi

VI-Appointed by Shoghi Effendi [year of appointment]

VII-Last contingent, appointed 2 October 1957 by Shoghi Effendi

VIII-The Second Guardian Mr. Charles Mason Remy declares 26 Hands of                        Cause as Covenant Breakers

IX- Appointed by The Third Guardian Joel Marangella [year of appointment]

HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

The Hands of the Cause of God are a select group of Bahá'ís, appointed by the living Guardian of the Bahai Faith whose main function is to propagate and protect the Bahá'í Faith on the International Level.

According to The Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, they are to be nominated and appointed by the Guardian of the Cause of God and are to be under his direction and obey his command.(pp. 12,13)

There were fifty Hands of the Cause in all, four named by Bahá'u'lláh, four by `Abdu'l-Bahá and forty-two by Shoghi Effendi (including ten posthumously). Twenty-seven Hands were alive when Shoghi Effendi died in 1957. 26 out of these 27 Hands were declared Covenant Breaker by Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy. At present there are 7 Hands of Cause of God appointed by The Third Guardian Joel B. Marangella.

I. Appointed by Baha'u'llah

Hají Mullá `Alí-Akbar (1842-1910), known as Hají Ákhúnd
Hájí Mírzá Muhammad-Taqí (d.1917), known as Ibn-i-Abhar
Mírzá Muhammad-Hasan (1848-1919), known as Adíb
Mírzá `Ali-Muhammad (d.1928), known as Ibn-i-Asdaq

II.      Appointed by `Abdu'l-Bahá

Aqa Muhammad-i-Qa'ini (1829-1892), known as Nabíl-i-Akbar
Mirza 'Alí-Muhammad Varqá (d. 1896), the father of Rúhu'lláh
Mulla Sadiq-i-Muqaddas, entitled Ismu'llahu'l-Asdaq
Shaykh Muhammad-Riday-i-Yazdi

III.     Appointed posthumously by First Guardian Shoghi Effendi

John Ebenezer Esslemont (1874-1925)
Hájí Amín (1817-1928)
Keith Ramsom-Kehler (1876-1933)
Martha Root (1872-1939)
Hyde Dunn (1855-1941)
Siyyid Mustafá Rúmí (d. 1942)
Abdu'l-Jalil Bey Sa'd (d. 1942)
Muhammed Taqiy-i-Isfahani (d. 1946)
Roy C. Wilhelm (1875-1951)
Louis George Gregory (1874-1951)

IV. First contingent, appointed 24 December 1951 by Shoghi Effendi

Dorothy Beecher Baker (1898-1954)
Amelia Engelder Collins (1873-1962)  (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
`Alí-Akbar Furútan (1905-2003) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
Ugo Giachery (1896-1989) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
Hermann Grossmann (1899-1968) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy) Horace Hotchkiss Holley (1887-1960) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy) Leroy C. Ioas (1896-1965) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
William Sutherland Maxwell (1874-1952) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy) Taráz'u'lláh Samandarí (1874-1968) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
Valíyu'lláh Varqá (1884-1955)
George Townshend (1876-1957)
Charles Mason Remey (1874-1974) (The Second Guardian of the Bahai Faith)

V-      Second contingent, appointed 29 February 1952 by Shoghi    Effendi

Siegfried Schopflocher (1877-1953)
Shu'á'u'lláh `Alá'í (1889-1984) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
Músá Banání (1886-1971) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
Clara Dunn (1869-1960) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
Dhikru'lláh Khádim (1904-1986) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remey)
Adelbert Mühlschlegel (1897-1980) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy) Corinne Knight True (1861-1961) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)

VI-    Appointed by Shoghi Effendi [year of appointment]

Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum (1910-2000) ( Declared ARCH COVENANT BREAKER by Second Guardian)
Jalál Kháḍih (1897-1990) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
Paul Edmond Haney (1909-1982) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
`Alí-Muhammad Varqá (b.1912) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
Agnes Baldwin Alexander (1875-1971) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)

VII-   Last contingent, appointed 2 October 1957 by Shoghi Effendi
Hasan Muvaqqar Balyúzí (1908-1980) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy) Abu'l-Qásim Faizi (1906-1980) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
John Graham Ferraby (1914-1973) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy) Harold Collis Featherstone (1913-1990) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy) Rahmatu'lláh Muhájir (1923-1979) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy) Enoch Olinga (1926-1979) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
John Aldham Robarts (1901-1991) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)
William Sears (1911-1992) (Excommunicated by the Second Guardian Charles Mason Remy)

VIII-The Second Guardian Mr. Charles Mason Remy declares 26 Hands of the Cause as Covenant Breakers

Thus, the Hands of the Cause in 1960 were not in a position to overrule the appointment by Shoghi Effendi of Mason Remey as his successor. Their responsibility was to place themselves under the direction of the second Guardian and to recognize that they "must be under his shadow and obey his command." They were called upon by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament to recognize that "Should any, within or without the company of the Hands of the Cause of God disobey and seek division, the wrath of God and His vengeance will be upon him, for he will have caused a breach in the true Faith of God."

Between 1925 and 1952, Shoghi Effendi appointed several Hands to work with him. By the time of his death, there were thirty-two Hands of the Cause of God appointed to safeguard the Faith and send messages to the Bahai world. When Shoghi Effendi died in 1957, there were 27 Hands of Cause .The Hands of the Cause of God took Shoghi Effendi's role.

But it isn't, primarily because those individuals who were designated as Hands of the Faith by Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian, performed a role within the Cause which, clearly, was not theirs to assume. That is, in 1957 the Hands of the Cause arrogated to themselves the powers of a collective Guardianship, taking on all the responsibilities of the Guardian of the Faith, and there is nowhere in the writings a provision for such a takeover of the Faith by the Hands of the Cause.

'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will establishes the duties of the Hands. The Master wrote: "The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning, to improve the character of all men and to be, at all times and under all conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things. They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their manners, their deeds and their words."

The Hands do not even operate on their own. "This body of the Hands of the Cause of God is under the direction of the guardian of the Cause of God. He must continually urge them to strive and endeavor to the utmost of their ability to diffuse the sweet savors of God, and to guide all the peoples of the world..."

The Hands are enjoined by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to "be ever watchful and so soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the guardian of the Cause of God [to] cast him out from the congregation of the people of Baha and in no wise accept any excuse from him." They are not, though, instructed to cast out believers who, for whatever reason they may have, oppose and protest against the Hands of the Faith. (Yet that is exactly what happened in 1960.)

'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will also made the following a requirement for the Hands:

"The Hands of the Cause of God must elect from their own number nine persons that shall at all times be occupied in the important services in the work of the guardian of the Cause of God. The election of these nine must be carried either unanimously or by majority from the company of the Hands of the Cause of God and these, whether unanimously or by a majority vote, must give their assent to the choice of the one whom the guardian of the Cause of God hath chosen as his successor. This assent must be given in such wise as the assenting and dissenting voices may not be distinguished (i.e., secret ballot)."

As everyone should know by now, the assent of the nine Hands does not mean that the Hands can overrule the Guardian in his choice of his successor. Shoghi Effendi made that very clear in his statement printed in the "Baha'i News" of February 1955, page 1. The first Guardian wrote: "The statement in the Will of 'Abdu'l-Bahá does not imply that the Hands of the Cause of God have been given the authority to overrule the Guardian. 'Abdu'l-Bahá could not have provided for a conflict of authority in the Faith."

Thus, the Hands of the Cause in 1960 were not in a position to overrule the appointment by Shoghi Effendi of Mason Remey as his successor. Their responsibility was to place themselves under the direction of the second Guardian and to recognize that they "must be under his shadow and obey his command." They were called upon by 'Abdu'l-Bahá in His Will and Testament to recognize that "Should any, within or without the company of the Hands of the Cause of God disobey and seek division, the wrath of God and His vengeance will be upon him, for he will have caused a breach in the true Faith of God."

In light of the preceding statement, then, if believers perceive that there is a breach in the Faith today, they have but to realize that 'Abdu'l-Bahá had indicated how that schism could occur! They must recognize that one or more members of the body of Hands could well be responsible for schism, rather than to suggest the only other alternative available: that the second Guardian of the Faith was the cause. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Will identifies the Guardian of the Faith as the security for the Faith’s unity. "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 members of the House of Justice, upon all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God to show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God." The Master's Will states: "He that opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert His word and will become a manifestation of the Center of Sedition."

'Abdul-Baha's Will cautions all believers to be aware of the manner in which the Covenant is violated. He states in his Will  that "The greatest of all things is the protection of the True Faith of God, the preservation of His Laws, the safeguarding of His Cause and service unto His Word." At the close of His Will the believers are instructed by 'Abdu'l-Bahá to recognize when anyone should "advance a pretext" for violating the Covenant. Thus, all of us are responsible for recognizing when even the Hands of the Cause of God might go astray. We should realize, then, just what the implications are when the Master's Will says: "All must seek guidance and turn unto the Center of the Cause and the House of Justice."

The Hands of the Cause are not the Center of the Cause; nor are they the House of Justice. Quite simply, their primary function is to "diffuse the Divine Fragrances

IX- Appointed by The Third Guardian Joel Marangella [year of appointment]

Mr. Frank Schlatter (1997)
Mrs. Marilyn Meyer (2004)
Madeline Beyers (posthumous) (2005)
Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand (2006)
Ross Campbell (2006)
Jeffrey Goldberg  (2006)
David Maxwell (2006)
Y.H. Taylor (2006)

Compiled by Y.H. Taylor for the site HANDS OF BAHAI FAITH, September 2007

THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

 INTRODUCTION

     The institution of the Hands of the Cause of God within the Orthodox Bahá’í Faith had its beginnings in the nineteenth century during the ministry of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Faith. Included in the basic functions ascribed to the four Hands of the Cause, whom Bahá’u’lláh named to assist Him in His endeavors, were the diffusion of the divine fragrances of His Teachings and the protection of His Cause.  These four devoted individuals were charged with helping others to learn about the principles and laws of the Faith and to encourage the believers to put into practice that which Bahá’u’lláh espoused for the betterment of the world. They performed their services under His direction and guidance.

     These same Hands served ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’u’lláh’s chosen successor, during His ministry.  About them, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said: “The Hands of the Cause are such blessed souls that the evidences of their sanctity and spirituality will be felt in the hearts of people.  Their influence must be such that the souls may be carried away by their goodly character, their pure motives, their justice and fairness, that individuals may be enamoured of their praiseworthy character and their virtuous attributes, and that people may turn their faces toward them for their qualities and resplendent signs. ‘Hand of the Cause’ is not a title which can be given to anybody.  Neither is it a position to be handed down to whomsoever may desire it.”       (Má’idiy-I-Ásmání, vol. 2, p. 13)    

     Although during His ministry ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ identified four individuals posthumously as Hands of the Cause, He actually did not appoint any living individuals to serve as Hands.  His Will and Testament, however, provided for his successors, the Guardians of the Cause, to have Hands to assist them in their endeavors.  He wrote:

“The Hands of the Cause of God must be nominated and appointed by the guardian of the Cause of God.  All must be under his shadow and obey his command.”  

     He subsequently lined out the functions of the Hands:

“The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning, to improve learning, to improve the character of all men and to be, at all times and under all conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things.  They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their manners, their deeds and their words.”

     And He also wrote:

     “…the Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the guardian of the Cause of God [they are to] cast him out from the
congregation of the people of Bahá and in no wise accept any excuse from him.”

     ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made it essential that the Hands themselves were to be under the shadow of the Guardian of the Faith and were to abide by his directions.  Failure on their part to do so would reap grave consequences:

     “Should any, within or without the company of the Hands of the Cause of God disobey and seek division,the wrath of God and His vengeance will be upon him, for he will have caused a breach in the true Faithof God.”

     "'Abdu’l-Bahá’ clearly established the Guardian of the Faith as the sine qua non for the Hands, saying: “This body of the Hands of the Cause of God is under the direction of the guardian of the Cause of God. He must continually urge them to strive and endeavor to the utmost of their ability to diffuse the sweet savors of God, and to guide all the peoples of the world, for it is the light of Divine Guidance that causeth all the universe to be illumined.”    

     When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá died in 1921, the affairs of the Faith came under the direction and guidance of Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Cause.  During the early years of his ministry, Shoghi Effendi posthumously identified Hands of the Cause.  It wasn’t until 1951 that he named living individuals as Hands, beginning with a contingent of 12, whom he nominated in a cablegram of December 24, 1951.  His later appointments through October, 1957, raised the number of living Hands to “thrice nine the total number of the Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Commonwealth, who have been invested by the unerring Pen of the Center of His Covenant with the dual function of guarding over the security, and of insuring the propagation, of His Father’s Faith.”  

     It is the Orthodox Bahá'í position that following the death of Shoghi Effendi in November of 1957, twenty-six of the twenty-seven Hands of the Cause shamefully failed to live up to the high standards of fidelity to the Covenant and loyalty to the Guardian implied by the name "Hands of the Cause of God."  They usurped the leadership of the Faith and, for all practical purposes, ignored an institution established by Shoghi Effendi called the International Bahá’í Council, which he had characterized as the embryonic Universal House of Justice, the head of which—according to the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá –must be the Guardian of the Cause.  If the Hands had turned to that body, they would have found themselves serving under the direction of the second Guardian of the Cause, for that embryonic body had a head, its President, Charles Mason Remey, who was one of the foremost Hands of the Cause.  What ensued, instead, was the beginning of what Mason Remey called the Great Violation of the Faith, the turning away from the institution of the Guardianship, not only by the Hands of the Cause but by the vast majority of Bahá’ís around the world who followed them.

     In late 1959, Mason Remey separated himself from the erring Hands’ organization. Then, following his proclamation to the Bahá’í World in April of 1960, he set up the administration for the Bahá’ís under the Hereditary Guardianship.  Within that administration the second Guardian oversaw the establishment of National Spiritual Assemblies in several countries, and then, in 1964, he formed the second International Bahá’í Council, naming Joel B. Marangella as its head.   

     During Mason Remey’s ministry, though, he did not designate  any individuals as Hands of the Cause.

     For his part, as the third Guardian of the Cause, Joel B. Marangella has named one individual posthumously as a Hand (Madeline Byers) and has identified seven other living believers as Hands.  The current Hands of the Cause are  Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand (the third Guardian’s chosen successor), Franklin Schlatter, Marilyn Meyer, Ross Campbell, Y.H. Taylor, David Maxwell, and Jeffrey Goldberg.  In compliance with the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, they serve the Guardian and are enjoined to teach and protect the Cause.

     This website has been established to provide the Hands of the Cause with an outlet for some of their writings and to provide information regarding their activities on behalf of the Guardian and for the Orthodox Bahá’í Faith.

--F.D.S.