In many different conversations with us, Shoghi Effendi
made it clear that the Baha’i Organization is not political and bears no
resemblance to a political system.
It is a Divine Organization, the Institute of God for the
establishment of His Kingdom upon earth. Shoghi Effendi said that this
Institute is perfect, although its functioning and operation is necessarily
imperfect in our present state of development and understanding, but as the
Baha’is become matured and perfected, it will be found to be the most perfect
Institute the world has ever known.
He said that in all elections, whether of local Spiritual
Assembly, of delegates to the convention or in electing the National Assembly,
the believers must be entirely free from personality, basing their choice on
the spiritual qualifications of those whom they elect according to the explicit
instructions of 'Abdu’l-Baha. They must have no prejudices, no preconceived
ideas, they must not discuss these matters previous to election with anyone nor
even breathe the name of a single person in connection with the possibility of
their election; thus they will purify the Cause of every trace of human
politics.
Shoghi Effendi said that during the Convention previous to
the election of the National Spiritual Assembly the delegates could all come
together and consult as to the National requirements of the Cause of God. At
such consultation, he said, every delegate should be present and entering into
a spiritual attitude without mentioning a single name, they should look deeply
into the body of the Cause and its requirements, taking into account the
geographic problems, considering those souls possessing spiritual, luminous and
distinctive qualities necessary for such function and responsibility,
eliminating every personal or financial consideration. He said that it was
unthinkable that any one should be elected for this important service because
they were in a financial position to attend the National Assembly meetings, as
the most humble and simple soul in the Cause might be endowed with gifts and
graces for this particular work. Shoghi Effendi suggested that if necessary a
sum might be appropriated from the National Fund for the traveling expenses of
anyone elected who might not possess sufficient means to travel.
When the delegates are gathered in convention at the time
of election they must turn their faces to the Holy Land supplicating for divine
guidance. Then He added, “Do the believers in America realize that the friends
of God are the only people on earth to whom He has promised to guide their
deliberations and confirm their decisions?”
- May Maxwell (Words of Shoghi Effendi, recorded
by May Maxwell during her pilgrimage in 1924, quoted by the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States and Canada in their message
included in Baha’i News, no. 5, May-June, 1925) (See the entire message)
