The Appointments of the Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Guardians of the Baha'i Faith

 

Appointment of Charles Mason Remy as Second Guardian and the creation of the International Baha'i Council

 

“Proclaim National Assemblies of East and West weighty epoch-making decision of formation of 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…most significant milestone in evolution of Administrative Order…first embryonic International Institution, marking its development into officially recognized Baha'i court, it’s transformation into duly elected  body its efflorescence into Universal House of Justice…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…ranking second only to glorious immortal events associated with ministries of Three Central Figures of Faith in course of First Age of most glorious Dispensation of the five thousand century Baha'i cycle.”  Shoghi Effendi, January 9, 1951 [Cablegram].

 

“Spiritual and Administrative World Center

Announce to friends of East and West the following: furnishing Mazra'ih, completion of restoration of historic house of Bahá'u'lláh in Acre,[i.e. `Akká] scene of prolonged afflictions sustained by Founder of Faith, as well as supreme crisis suffered by `Abdu'l-Bahá at hands of Covenantbreakers. Greatly enhanced international endowments in Holy Land in twin cities of Acre and Haifa, now include twin Holy Shrines situated on plain of Acre and slope of Mount Carmel; twin Mansions of Bahjí and Mazra'ih, twin historic Houses inhabited by Bahá'u'lláh and `Abdu'l-Bahá; twin International Archives adjoining the Báb's Sepulcher and the resting-place of the Greatest Holy Leaf; twin Pilgrim Houses, constructed for Oriental and Occidental pilgrims; twin Gardens of Ridván and Firdaws, associated with the memory of the Author of the Bahá'í Dispensation.

Greatly welcome assistance of the newly-formed International Council, particularly its President, Mason Remey, and its Vice-President, Amelia Collins, through contact with authorities designed to spread the fame, consolidate the foundations and widen the scope of influence emanating from the twin spiritual, administrative World Centers permanently fixed in the Holy Land constituting the midmost heart of the entire planet.

--Shoghi

[Cablegram, March 2, 1951]” Shoghi Effendi.  Messages to the Baha'i World, pp. 8-9.  [In this cablegram Shoghi Effendi appoints Charles Mason Remey to succeed him as the Second Guardian.  Charles Mason Remey is named President of the International Baha'i Council which Shoghi Effendi states is to evolve into the Universal House of Justice.  In this cablegram, Shoghi Effendi lists nine sets of ‘twins’.  The only ‘twin’ which Shoghi Effendi does not overtly refer to as such are the Twin Institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice represented by Charles Mason Remey and Amelia Collins.  These Twin Institutions are the twin pillars of the Baha'i Administrative Order which is the Kingdom of God on earth.  The Guardian is the President and Head of the Universal House of Justice which is comprised of representatives of the body of believers.  Incidentally, while appointing Charles Mason Remey to succeed him as Guardian, Shoghi Effendi is also demonstrating that women are to sit on the Universal House of Justice by appointing Amelia Collins to the International Baha'i Council.  In the preface of the book Guidance for Today and Tomorrow we read the following about Shoghi Effendi's writing, "Every word of the passages contained in it is significant.  There are no loose phrases, no vague evasions of crucial issues.  The style is one which renders it possible to state basic truths in parentheses and to list in one sentence the chief events of a lifetime.  Such writing needs, and is worthy of, study, for the implications of its phrases are almost as important as the explicit statements made."]  

 

Appointment of Donald Harvey as Third Guardian

 

“I, the second Guardian of the Baha'i Faith hereby appoint Donald Harvey at my death to be my successor, the third Guardian of the Faith. 

Signed Mason Remey, May 23, 1967.

 

“P.S. May the spirit of El Abha ever protect this line of spiritual descent from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Center of the Covenant of El Abha.  C.M.R.”

 

 

Appointment of Jacques Soghomonian as Fourth Guardian

 

“By this writ in my own handwriting I, Donald Alphonse Harvey, presently residing at 5, rue Lavasier, 75008 Paris, France, and presently being the Third Guardian of the Universal Faith and Revelation of Baha’u’llah until my soul is called from this earth, do appoint and designate Mr. Jacques SOGHOMONIAN, presently residing at 27, place Sebastopol, 13004 Marseille, France, as his successor as Fourth Guardian of the Universal Faith and Revelation of Baha’u’llah.  This writ is thus being made by virtue of the Explicit Text of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’, in compliance with all prescription found in it.

Rougemont, near Montbard, Co’te d’or, in France, this day of Saturday, November 17, year 1984 AD,

 

Signed Donald A. Harvey

Third Guardian”

 

Appointment of E.S. Yazdani as Fifth Guardian

 

“To all the believers, faithful to the Will and the Covenant of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

 

On this day, February the tenth 2005, after thinking a lot for the good Cause of the Bahá’i Faith, I have taken the following decisions:

 

According to the powers, I was confirmed on as the Fourth Guardian and faithful to the Covenant of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, on account of my health problem, I had nominated Kamran Taimouri as my successor as far as the carrying on of the Guardianship was concerned.  That was done on November 25th 2003.  Today February 10th 2005, I definitely nominate Kamran Taimouri as the Hand of the Cause of God to comfort the structure of the Faith in the USA.  I do hope that Kamran Taimouri will accept my decision.  Concerning the USA, I nominate Brent Reed, Amy Krueger and Brent Mathieu as the Hands of the Cause of God.

 

Mrs. Jen Miller, [is appointed] as the coordinator for carrying on [the progress] and growth of the Faith [in the USA].

 

In faithfulness to the Covenant in its spirit and its letters, do not forget the obedience to the Covenant and the truth that goes with it.  This obedience is the main rule for all the Faithful and it will give you Baha’u’llah’s assistance. 

 

Last, but not least, with my intense prayer, here is my supreme and final willing:  I indisputably name as my successor Mr. Enayatollah Sarvestani YAZDANI [living at] 2c Hampden Road Pennant Hill, NSW, Australia.  He will be the 5th Guardian after my death.  As the number of the believers is increasing all over the world, we must set up the Guardianship Funds in accordance with the Covenant.  More information will be given in the following letters.

 

With all my affection and my prayers to all of you,

Faithfully in Al-Abha,

Sincerely yours

Signed

Jacques Soghomonian”

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