And as the progress and execution of spiritual activities is
dependent and conditioned upon material means, it is of absolute necessity that
immediately after the establishment of local as well as national Spiritual
Assemblies, a Bahá’í Fund be established, to be placed under the exclusive
control of the Spiritual Assembly. All donations and contributions should be
offered to the Treasurer of the Assembly, for the express purpose of promoting
the interests of the Cause, throughout that locality or country. It is the
sacred obligation of every conscientious and faithful servant of Bahá’u’lláh who
desires to see His Cause advance, to contribute freely and generously for the
increase of that Fund. The members of the Spiritual Assembly will at their own
discretion expend it to promote the Teaching Campaign, to help the needy, to
establish educational Bahá’í institutions, to extend in every way possible
their sphere of service. I cherish the hope that all the friends, realizing the
necessity of this measure, will bestir themselves and contribute, however
modestly at first, towards the speedy establishment and the increase of that
Fund.
- Shoghi Effendi (Excerpt from a letter dated
March 12, 1923, to the Baha’is throughout America, Great Britain, Germany,
France, Switzerland, Italy, Japan and Australasia; ‘Baha’i Administration’)