The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, faithful to the Covenant and to the second Guardian of the Faith (The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France elected for year 117 of the Bahá’í Era), will terminate its activity on this Ridván 118. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, whose community cannot elect the successor National Spiritual Assembly for year 118, in accordance with Bahá’í Administration, will therefore cease to exist until there are sufficient Local Spiritual Assemblies in France to elect another NSA at some time in the future, this with the approval of the living Guardian, (Mason Remey or his designated successor, in accordance with the Will of the Master ‘Abdu’l-Bahá).

Prior to the National Spiritual Assembly of France bringing to a close it’s activities, it is deemed fit and proper, to advise the world in general, and the Bahá’í world in particular, that contrary to what is believed by many of the Bahá’ís in France and throughout the world, this NSA has never, for a moment, ceased to exercise its functions during the year 117 of the Bahá’í Era, and affirms and states that nothing, nor any person, with the exception of the Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, can dissolve a National Spiritual Assembly under whatsoever circumstances that may be. This present summary, which has been sent out to the Bahá’í world and approved in its entirety by the second Guardian of the Faith, Mason Remey, is an authentic document putting an end to all the insidious and false rumours which have circulated throughout the Bahá’í world concerning this duly-elected and legally established National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, which, in its defence and for the benefit of posterity, provides herewith a history of the violation of the Faith in France in the year 117 of the Bahá’ í Era.

To facilitate and not prolong reading of the text, the following abbreviations are employed:

NSABF: National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France;

NSA: National Spiritual Assembly;

LSA: Local Spiritual Assembly.

I. — CONVENTION OR ANNUAL CONGRESS OF RIDVÁN 117 AND ITS PREPARATIONS. (Ridván: Period of the Bahá’í Calendar from April 21 until May 2).

1. The official request, submitted on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, (year 116 of the Bahá’í, era) to the local Spiritual Assemblies of France, (there existed in France at that time seven LSA’S).to elect their delegates for the National Convention, in accordance with its statutes and in conformity with the Bahá’í Administrative Order, was as follows:

   Chateauroux: two delegates;

   Lyon: two delegates;

   Marseilles: two delegates;

   Montpellier: two delegates;

   Nice: four delegates;

   Orléans: two delegates;

   Paris: five delegates.

2. Call to order of the LSA’s regarding their elections for year 117 during Ridván, April 21, 1960 (13 Glory 117).

3. The date of the Convention or annual Congress was fixed by the NSABF for April 23, and 24 1960 (15 and 16 Glory 117 BE)

4. The delegates elected for the Convention or annual Congress were as follows:

   Chateauroux: Mrs Elisabeth McHenry and Mr. Lucien Jouardon;

   Lyon: Mr. Diarins Chaize and Mr. Jacques Soghomonian;

   Marseilles: Mrs Suzanne Soghomonian and Mr. Jean Soghomonian;

   Montpellier: Mrs Tirandaz and Mr. Sabet;

   Nice: Mesdames Andrée Gaertner, Sara Kenny, Suzanne Bouster; and Mr. A.M. Barafroukhteh;

   Orléans: Mrs Ayned McComb and Mr. Joel B. Marangella;

   Paris: Messrs Bernard Fillon, Donald Harvey, Fritz Kestler, George Colombo Pirally and Alain Tamenne.

5. The third annual Congress or Convention, April 23 and 24, 1960 (15 and 16 Glory 117 BE) was held in the Hazíratu’l-Quds of Paris, 11 Rue de la Pompe, 16th Arrondissement.

    

The Convention was opened in the presence of seventeen delegates and of a very great number of Bahá’ís from France and neighbouring communities.

A reading was made of the message from the Hands of the Faith that they had sent for this occasion; a telegram was dispatched to them, on behalf of the Convention, expressing the joy and the thankfulness of the French Bahá’í Community at this Ridván.

The election of members of the NSABF for year 117 took place on April 23, 1960 at 4 p.m., with seventeen delegates present and the other Bahá’í friends attending this Convention. There were eighteen votes, including one by correspondence, the nineteenth delegate arriving Sunday morning and thus unable to vote.

The members elected to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France were: Mesdames Sara Kenny and Henriette Samimy; Messrs A. M. Barafroukhteh, Monir Derakhchan, Bernard Fillon, Donald Harvey, Joel B. Marangella, Jacques Soghomonian and Alain Tamenne.

At of the end of the session during which these elections had taken place, the three elected members (Joel B. Marangella, Bernard Fillon and Donald Harvey) having received the greatest number of votes, drew lots to see who would convene the first meeting. It was Mr. Marangella. He convened a meeting immediately, to elect the officers of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France from the elected members who were all present.

The following officers were elected:

The Convention finished on April 24, 1960 in the evening and had been characterised by enthusiasm and harmony.

Placing in good order the Secretariat of the Hazíratu’ l-Quds.

The Secretary prepared a stencil copy to advise the Hands of the Faith and the National Spiritual Assemblies world-wide of the names and addresses of the President and Secretary of the new National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France for year 117 of the Bahá’í Era (the duplicated letters were never copied, the former events not having left time necessary for this purpose).

III. — RECEIPT OF THE PROCLAMATION OF THE SECOND GUARDIAN, MASON REMEY.

The Proclamation was received on Tuesday April 26, 1960 at 4 p.m., by the Secretary, the Vice-president, Mr. Tamenne being present.

The Secretary (Mr. Bernard Fillon) immediately telephoned the President (Mr. Joel B. Marangella) in Orléans to advise him of the Proclamation of the Second Guardian, Mason Remey. A decision was made to bring this Proclamation to Orléans immediately (a distance of some 120 kms) in the company of Mr. Tamenne.

The Secretary telephoned Brussels, to ask Mrs Lea Nys, Secretary of the regional Assembly of the Benelux countries, whether they had received the Proclamation. Mrs Nys answered in the negative and asked to be kept current with the events, if possible. At the end of the afternoon, Messrs Tamenne and Fillon left for Orléans, bringing the Proclamation to the President of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France.

After prayers, and in the presence of Mrs Marangella, the President read the Proclamation aloud. After this, the three officers of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France decided to convene a special meeting of the NSABF for the weekend of April 30 - May 1, 1960 (3 & 4 Beauty 117 BE, l0th & 11th days of Ridván).

It was decided to translate the Proclamation, written in English, into French for the benefit of the members of the NSABF and to deliver it to the Treasurer, Mr. Donald Harvey, who was resident in the Hazíratu’l-Quds, to help with the translation.

During this same evening, research was made of the messages of the Guardian Shoghi Effendi, concerning the formation of the International Bahá’í Council and of the appointment of its members of which Mason Remey was its President, as well as certain extracts from the Will and Testament of the Master ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. It was then decided to translate the essential passages of the message of Shoghi Effendi dated: January 9, 1951 (10 Honour 107, BE) for the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France. (Nine copies were made of these extracts, for the meeting of the NSABF.)

Finally, it was decided among the three members, in order to avoid a possible subterfuge in the NSABF that the remaining members of the NSA not be informed of the Proclamation and of its contents, either by letter or in the notice of convocation of this special meeting, to avoid and prevent any premature discussion prior to the NSABF meeting in consultation.

Messrs Fillon and Tamenne returned in the night of Tuesday April 26, 1960 to Paris. As agreed, the Secretary delivered, on the same night, the Proclamation in English to the Treasurer.

IV. — WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 TO SATURDAY APRIL 30, 1960 (19 Glory 117, 1st, 2 & 3 Beauty 117, BE; 7th to the 10th day of Ridván).

The Proclamation was translated by Messrs Tamenne and Harvey, as well as the message of Shoghi Effendi concerning the International Bahá’í Council and the appointment of its members. Nine copies were made.

The Secretary officially convened all the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, for the special meeting to be held on April 30 and May 1, 1960.

Two telegrams were received from Haifa:

1. A letter of thanks with reference to the Convention.

2. A letter of repudiation of the second Guardian of the Faith, Mason Remey on behalf of Hands of the Faith in Haifa.

This second telegram was immediately delivered to the President (the President, the Vice-president, the Secretary and the Treasurer thus had knowledge of this telegram a few days after the reception of the Proclamation of the second Guardian).

Before the special meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer organized the agenda. (Although these four officers had already recognized the second Guardian of the Faith, Mason Remey, they wanted, under no circumstances, to influence, the five other members, so that their study and research could be made in a strictly personal and independent way, apart from any influence, what so ever, even from the telegram of repudiation of the Hands.)

The agenda read as follows:

1. Prayers;

2. Presentation of the Proclamation of Mason Remey and the message of Shoghi Effendi without commentary to the members.

3. After a break in the session (approximately two hours), each of the nine members, [were given the opportunity] separately and in isolation, to make use of a provisional period of research.

4. After the resumption of the session, a period of consultation and then a vote if a motion of recognition of the second Guardian were to be presented.

5. The reading of the telegram from the Hands of the Faith in Haifa (no copy of this was made) of the repudiation by them, after which, in accordance with Bahá’í administrative practice, a reconsideration of the motion, if required, of the recognition (of the Proclamation) in the form of an accepted motion.

6. The following items of the agenda of this meeting would be prepared then by the same NSABF.

V. — SPECIAL MEETING OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF FRANCE, SATURDAY APRIL 30, 1960 (3 Beauty 117, BE) AT 2 p.m.

All members were present: Mesdames Sara Kenny and Henriette Samimy; Messrs A. M. Barafroukhteh, Monir Derakhchan, Bernard Fillon, Donald Harvey, Joel B. Marangella, Jacques Soghomonian and Alain Tamenne.

The agenda was followed up until the consultation; at which time, the nine members agreed not to take any further action or make any decisions until the next morning so that each member could more deeply reflect upon and meditate, during the night, upon the Sacred Texts. Each member was then reminded to continue their study and research independently, without influencing each other.

Sunday, May 1. The meeting resumed on the following morning with a period of consultation.

Mr. Barafroukhth then announced that he had telephoned the Hands in Haifa. This was met with a high degree of astonishment (Mr. Barafroukteh made the decision to telephone Haifa on his own behalf, i.e., without consulting, informing or obtaining authorisation to do this from the NSABF)

A motion was then made (put) for the recognition of the second Guardian. At which time, Mr. Barafroukhteh threatened to leave the meeting if the motion was voted upon. The President, advised him to await the results of the vote and that if this result did not enable him to continue serving with the National Spiritual Assembly, he could then be exempted. He, however, made his point by withdrawing before the vote. His words were: "...Well, I’m leaving if it’s going to be like this."

The remaining members of the National Spiritual Assembly, being in the majority, were not prevented from continuing the meeting, in accordance with administrative procedures (minimum: five members).

After this incident and the after a recitation of prayers, the motion to accept the second Guardian, Mason Remey, was voted by secret ballot. It was accepted unanimously by the eight members present.

After the vote, the telegram of repudiation on behalf of Hands in Haifa was read aloud. The President asked then if this fact caused a reconsideration by the members of the National Spiritual Assembly. No motion of reconsideration was made.

At no time before, during or until the definite result of the final vote were any messages received from any Hand of the Cause apart from those Hands of the Cause in Haifa who had sent the telegram of repudiation, or from any of the other National Spiritual Assemblies world-wide. This fact demonstrates and proves that the National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of France worked without interference ( influence or prejudice, etc...) and not on the behalf or behest of any one.

A motion was carried to distribute the Proclamation to the Bahá’í Community of France. On the other hand, a motion proposing the distribution of the telegram of the Hands did not carry.

Resumption of the meeting on Sunday afternoon May 1, 1960. Eight members were present, Mr. Barafroukhteh continuing to absent himself.

Consultation regarding the communications to be made to the Bahá’í Community of France.

The following decisions were taken and moved in the form of an accepted motion.

1. To distribute to the Bahá’í Community of France, the Proclamation of the second Guardian, the extracts of the message of Shoghi Effendi of 9 January 1951, which referred to the International Bahá’í Council, the extracts of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as well as a letter on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France recommending that each one consider and study this subject in a personal and independent way by considering and studying the Will of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh, by Shoghi Effendi, and that each one remain in direct contact with the NSABF. (see Annex 1 )

2. To inform the Local Spiritual Assemblies of France of the acceptance of the second Guardian by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France. (see Annex 2 )

(The correspondence was prepared and posted during the night of the 1st and the morning of May 2, 1960. This special delivery mail was sent by registered letter to each member, individually, of the Bahá’í Community of France.

The motion was carried, and a telegram was sent to the second Guardian to advise him of the recognition, by the National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of France. A second telegram was also posted to him to seek advice as to how to proceed with the projected meeting later in the year of the Hands of the Faith and members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Europe scheduled for May (meeting to take place in the Hazíratu’l-Quds in Paris). Obviously, the Hands of the Faith in Haifa were not as yet advised of the decision taken by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, who, having just recognized (accepted) the second Guardian, were not obligated to account for their activity other than to the Guardian.

During the course of this session held during the afternoon of May 1, Mr. Navidi telephoned again, asking for the President. The Secretary answered the telephone and was asked whether it was true that eight members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of France had recognized the Guardian (from where emanated this information?) The Secretary answered that regrettably he could / would not answer him. (membership on the auxiliary board did not allow him any right of interference in the work of National Spiritual Assemblies)

To understand the nature of the events which took place from May 7th, 14:00 hours, until the morning of May 8th one must be aware of the campaign of influence and the part undertaken by certain individuals during the period from the 2nd to the 7th of May and carried out by elements from within the Bahá’í Community of France as well as from outside and whose principal instigator was Mr. Barafroukhteh, a member of the NSA of France. Indeed, as every Bahá’í understands that no action may emanate from, or be undertaken on behalf of, or without the consent of their respective NSA, who itself is answerable to no one other than to the Guardian and to the Universal House of Justice (which is) inseparable from the living Guardian [as its head] once established. (Neither Shoghi Effendi, nor Mason Remey have given directives or a date with respect to its establishment [as an active body]). No one member of an NSA has the authority or is empowered to act on an individual basis or outside the NSA on his own behalf, and consequently, as such, cannot take action alone. However, Mr. Barafroukhteh infringed upon – by his transgression, in a manner which is contrary to the [the principles of the] Bahá’í Administrative Order – a decision taken by the NSA of which he is a member. According to the NSA’s understanding prior to its acceptance of the second Guardian and without the fore-knowledge of a living Guardian, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France had entered into communication with the Hands in Haifa, putting questions and correspondence in an official capacity. Naturally, this procedure was followed up until the time of the recognition of the second Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith, Mason Remey. This acknowledgment then enabled us to grasp and understand that between the time of the death of the Guardian Shoghi Effendi and the receipt of the Proclamation of Mason Remey, the authority assumed by the Hands had been unfounded as well as any of the activities undertaken by the National Spiritual Assemblies at the request of these Hands. Moreover, doesn’t the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá enjoin (and this had been forgotten) the Hands of the Cause and the National Spiritual Assemblies to show their loyalty only to the Guardian and not to one another?]

The Secretary has noted, by the number of visits that he has received, that, in general, the friends are inclined to seek each others opinion, rather than to search in a personal and independent way, the features of the Proclamation of the second Guardian. Generally speaking, their questions are of the nature:

"What have the Hands done?

"What has Rúhíyyih Khánum done?

"What have the other NSA’s done?

It is obvious, that the paramount principle of independent investigation and personal research appears to have been overlooked and forgotten.

Mr. Alain Tamenne, Vice-president of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, who had for a considerable period of time prior to and specifically during the preparations for the Convention up until this date (May 2-7) spent his time expediting the administrative affairs of the NSA, and continued his visits with the Secretary, but expressed his reservations concerning the actions, thus far, taken by the NSABF. On Wednesday, May 4, unable to reconcile the fact that the NSABF had not sent the telegram of repudiation sent by the Hands of the Cause in Haifa to the Bahá’í Community of France, Mr. Tamenne asked the Secretary how the telegram could be approved for distribution to the Bahá’í community of France. The Secretary reminded him that any three members of a National Spiritual Assembly can request the convening of a meeting. This request was made by telephone to the President. The President, Mr. Tamenne and the Secretary, then convened a special meeting with the following put as a motion: "To forward to the Bahá’í Community of France the text of the telegram of repudiation [of Mason Remey by the Hands]." For technical reasons, the meeting was held by telephone and reported (minuted) by the Secretary. Only Mr. Barafroukhteh refused to vote, answering: "Do what you want." The motion was accepted (carried) by the majority of the eight remaining members. A copy of the telegram [from the Hands in Haifa] was then sent to the members of the Bahá’í Community of France, accompanied by a letter of the NSABF indicating the receipt, in chronological order, of the Proclamation of the second Guardian Mason Remey, and the telegram of repudiation by the Hands of the Cause in Haifa. (see Annex 3 )

During this period of time, Mr. Navidi (member of the auxiliary Board of the Hands for the protection of the Faith in Europe, and resident in Monte Carlo, a Bahá’í community under the jurisdiction of the Italo-Swiss Regional Assembly), dispatched, from Monaco, to the Bahá’í community of France, the text of this telegram, at his own behest, accompanied by his own commentary. (see Annex 4 )

On Wednesday the 4th, in the evening, a telegram was received from Mrs Sara Kenny, from Nice (other members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France had also received it). stating that she was withdrawing her vote recognizing the second Guardian (she informed the President of it by telephone at the same time [explaining that she was under more pressure than she could bear from the other believers there]. On Thursday, the 5th of May, Mr. Tamenne told the Secretary that he was convinced that the acceptance and recognition (of Mason Remey) by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France was false. During the same evening, Mrs Kenny telephoned the Secretary, and later the Treasurer. By the tone of her conversation, it was obvious that external influences had destroyed any confidence that she had found on her own. At midnight, Mr. Tamenne came to see the Treasurer, Mr. Donald Harvey, who was alone, being the only permanent resident in Hazíratu’l-Quds and tried to convince him of the error of his acceptance of the second Guardian.

During this period the telegram announcing the visit of Mr. ‘Abu’ l-Qasin Faizi was received from the Hands of the Faith in Haifa. The President was informed by this by telephone and with his agreement, the Secretary convened a special meeting for Saturday, May 7, 1960 at 2 p.m. At almost the same time, each member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France received a telegram from Mr. Barafroukhteh, who, on his own orders and at his own behest, decided to convene this same meeting of the NSA (to receive Mr. Faizi). (Only, the Secretary, as an intermediary, the President or the Vice-president or in the absence of the latter, a minimum of any three members of a National Spiritual Assembly can convene a meeting, according to statutes of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, (Article 5): No one person has that right. This same clause also appears in Article 5 of the statutes of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States; which Shoghi Effendi had indicated was to be adopted, world-wide, as the model for all National Spiritual Assemblies).

During this same period, the President received two letters, one from Mrs Samimy, the other from Mr. Tamenne, containing the same declaration as that of Mrs Kenny (by telegram) : i.e., each one withdrawing their vote of recognition of the second Guardian.

Following these withdrawals of votes of recognition and due to the intrigues of Mr. Barafroukhteh, it was obvious that the Bahá’í Administration in general and the statutes of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, in particular, had been violated. Consequently, before receiving Mr. Faizi, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France had to resolve these internal problems and to put its affairs in good order. The President, Secretary and the Treasurer included, in the agenda for this meeting, a session to deal with these problems, and this, prior to receiving Mr. Faizi after which the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France would receive him in a formal session.

It would have been during this meeting, which would precede the session in which Mr. Faizi would be received, that those members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France who had repudiated (some even publicly) their [previous] vote of recognition of the second Guardian (by secret and internal vote taken in the meeting of the NSA) could have legally presented a motion for reconsideration of the original motion of acceptance [of Mason Remey as the Guardian]. Under no circumstances, had these members the right to repudiate their vote outside of a legally constituted meeting of the NSA not to mention [doing so] by public affirmation. In addition, it would be impossible to foresee if, in addition to the three members, [who had changed their mind] other members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France would change their opinion. It was thus of primary importance that this meeting take place so that the NSA of France knew if its original decision to accept and recognize the second Guardian was still valid before receiving Mr. Faizi – this in addition to the yet-to-be resolved problems mentioned above.

There was also the matter to consider, following the glaring violation and the underhanded and insidious work against an inviolable decision (taken by the National Assembly Spiritual of Bahá’ís of France, a decision which had not undergone any modification as yet), by Mr. Barafroukhteh, his possible expulsion as a member of the NSA. Were this expulsion to be in effect, Mr. Barafroukhteh could not, of course, have attended the meeting of Mr. Faizi by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France.

Saturday morning, May 7, 1960, the Secretary received a visit from Mr. Navidi who also tried to convince him that his position of recognition of the second Guardian was false.

There was also a problem which could not be resolved. The National Spiritual Assembly had no way to contact Mr. Faizi to inform him officially and legally of the hour that he would be received by the NSA. The events of Saturday afternoon confirmed yet again that the Bahá’í Administration had been completely violated by several members of the NSA of France. In effect these same members, acting on their own, contacted Mr. Faizi informing him that he would be received by the NSA. Certainly, the NSA had already decided to convene a session to receive Mr. Faizi.

At approximately 14:00 hours, Mr. Faizi, accompanied by Mr. Navidi, and a few members of the National Spiritual Assembly, arrived at the Hazíratu’ l-Quds. At that time there were eight members present from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, as well as Messrs Faizi and Navidi.

The President, Mr. Marangella, arrived at 2 p.m. precisely. He advised Mr. Faizi that the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France was intending to convene prior to receiving him to organize and attend to certain matters. Mr. Faizi took no notice of this and showed him a letter of introduction. (see Annex 5 ) The President said to him that, all in all, he was in no doubt as to the nature of his mission on the part of the Hands of the Cause in Haifa, but the NSA of France would only recognize the authority of the living Guardian and of the future Universal House of Justice (inseparable from the living Guardian to be established at a time chosen by the present Guardian or one of his legally appointed successors, in conformity with the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá) however, the NSA of France was to meet in a formal session prior to receiving him. In effect, Mr. Marangella was exercising his prerogative in his capacity as President of the NSA of France to officially convene the NSA prior to recognising Mr. Faizi.

Mr. Faizi was refusing to allow the NSA of France to convene by insisting that the Assembly was to convene on its own and place itself at his disposal. This impasse lasted for some period of time, – a period in which Mr. Faizi refused to allow the NSA to convene of its own accord – therefore faced with the impossibility of obtaining this courtesy from Mr. Faizi, the President concluded by stating: "We will receive you out of any normal and legal session of the NSA of France, that is to say, simply as a group of individual Bahá’ís".

After a prayer was read, Mr. Barafroukhteh, encouraged by Mr. Tamenne, made a disingenuous remark directed towards Mr. Marangella and Mr. Fillon, whereby he accused them of conferring together in isolation to discuss the illegality of having agreed to hold this meeting which was outside any normal session of the NSABF, and thus invalid. This remark resulted in Mr. Tamenne placing himself in a chair and sitting between Messrs Marangella and Fillon, who had been seated together.

(This description of the atmosphere at the beginning of this meeting, though negative and superfluous, will show the total absence of the spiritual life which characterised it, absolutely out of order, irregular and illegal under Bahá’í administrative procedure. The account of this meeting will therefore use only the names of the members of the NSABF, without their administrative functions in their capacity as officers of the NSABF, since it was outside any legally constituted meeting).

When everyone was finally seated, and after the recitation of the prayer mentioned above, before Mr. Faizi spoke (took the floor), Mr. Monir Derakhchan asked him two questions:

1. By what right had Mr. Navidi posted a copy of the telegram (the telegram sent to the Bahá’í Community of France as indicated above) with an additional letter attached in which he personally attacked the NSA?

   He made no reply.

2. Were the nine Hands of Haifa elected or appointed during the first conclave of the Hands?

   Mr. Faizi answered him: "They were appointed."

Mr. Faizi, in turn, put his questions to the members of the NSABF, asking them why the Hands had not received their report of the Convention of year 117. Mr. Fillon answered him, although he was not under any obligation to do so, since the meeting was not a legally constituted session and moreover, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France had already recognized and accepted the second Guardian (see Chapter II of this report).

Mr. Faizi asked then who were the members who had accepted Mason Remey as the second Guardian. There was, at this, a protest made by a number of members of the Assembly on this inquisitorial question, a question which disputed a strictly personal and confidential act made in confidence within the National Spiritual Assembly. Finally, in the face of so obvious and flagrant a violation, Messrs Joel B. Marangella, Monir Derakhchan, Jacques Soghomonian, Donald Harvey and Bernard Fillon raised their hands simultaneously. Mr. Faizi then declared that he was dissolving the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France. Words fail to describe the action taken by Mr. Faizi. By what right is the NSA dissolved? Where can one find this authority to do this in the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’ l-Bahá?

At this, Mr. Faizi declared that it was all that he needed to know and prepared to leave the meeting. But, at the insistence of one of those present who asked for assistance and clarification, he sat down again.

Mr. Faizi had brought certain texts with him to the meeting to justify the authority with which the Hands in Haifa had assumed and taken, by providing the word "chief-stewards" and presenting it thus as the authority given them by the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi. Then, in the same breath, he declared that there would be no more Guardians, that the Guardianship of the Faith had ended and that besides, to prove this, the Hands in Haifa "held all the essential Tablets", while those who had accepted the second Guardian, Mason Remey, "were simply referring to an article in the magazine: Bahá’í News of the United States." Indeed, Mr. Marangella had exhibited the issues of "Bahá’í News" of 1951 and 1952, in which the messages of Shoghi Effendi, relating to the creation of the International Bahá’í Council proclaimed it as " the greatest event shedding lustre upon the second epoch of the Formative Age of the Bahá’í Dispensation, potentially unsurpassed by any enterprise undertaken since inception of the Administration Order of the Faith . . . ranking second only to glorious immortal events, associated the Ministries of the Three Central Figures of the Faith [Báb, Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá]." (extract from cabled Proclamation of Shoghi Effendi of January 9, 1951, appearing on page 1 of the February 1951 issue of the Bahá’í News of the United States), and appointed it’s members and Mason Remey, as the President of "this precursor and embryonic body of the Universal House of Justice" (see messages of Shoghi Effendi of 9 January, 1951 and of 2 March, 1951 ).

On this subject, Mr. Marangella asked then how many members make up the International Bahá’í Council?

"Fourteen!", Mr. Faizi answered. Then, Mr. Marangella replied that the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, had named only nine of them. (the answer provided by Mr. Faizi was correct from the point of view of the Hands, since they had added, on their own, an additional five to the four Hands already appointed by Shoghi Effendi, something that they had never announced).

Mr. Marangella also referred to the evolution of the International Bahá’í Council into its second stage as the Bahá’í Court–the "essential prelude to the institution of the Universal House of Justice" (according to the message of Shoghi Effendi: Bahá’í News of the U.S.A., Issue of May 1951), which the Hands had stated would be established during the current Bahá’í year. (It was obvious that if this were to be done, it would result in their dismissal of Mason Remey, [appointed by Shoghi Effendi] as the President of the International Bahá’í Council). He asked whether the formation of the Bahá’í Court was going to be carried out. Mr. Faizi answered in the negative. This astonished everyone, as it was contradictory to the statements by the Hands in their message of November 4, 1959, in which they had announced that ["every effort will be made to establish a Bahá’í Court in the Holy Land prior to the date set for this election" (of the IBC)] when all "nine members" of their International Bahá’í Council would be elected.[by postal ballot "during Ridván 1961"].

Mr. Faizi also produced a document written in Persian, referring to the well-known argument used in the past by the violators against the Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and described in great detail, by the Master Himself, in connection with the violation of His Will: "Whoso layeth claim to a Revelation direct from God ere the expiration of a full thousand years . . ." (see the last page: "Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh"). Mr. Faizi then [incredulously, senselessly and inapplicably] stated that this referred to the Guardianship, thus perverting the Words of Bahá’u’lláh.

Mr. Faizi then produced another document, signed by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France at the time of its formation in 1958, in which it declared its loyalty to the Hands of the Faith (this same document was signed by all the National Spiritual Assemblies of the world after the death of Shoghi Effendi). Mr. Faizi claimed that the NSA of France was thus linked to the Hands. In truth, the NSA of France had signed this document at the insistence of the Hands of the Cause in Haifa during that period following the death of Shoghi Effendi, when a certain confusion prevailed. Mr. Marangella then remarked that this signature, simply put, did not therefore remove the Guardianship nor did it prevent the recognition and acceptance of Mason Remey as the second Guardian by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France. While on the subject, it is fitting and proper to remember that one must be faithful to the Hands of the Cause, with respect to their functions and responsibilities, under the command of a living Guardian, as they are enjoined to do in the Will and Testament of the Master ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In addition, the statutes of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France were lodged after signing the incriminating document (the letter linking the NSA’s to the Hands) with its statutes modelled on those of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States of America and approved by Shoghi Effendi as the recommended model for all National Spiritual Assemblies world-wide, taking into account the laws of the various countries, and recognized, as the highest authority, (in final case) only the Guardian and the Universal House of Justice (Universal House of Justice inseparable from the living Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith). Mr. Donald Harvey pointed out, in this regard, that he was in agreement to obey the Hands and the Guardian with which Mr. Faizi answered him: "Impossible! It is one or the other." It was obvious, by this answer, that in spite of the Will and Testament of the Master ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, by now, several Hands were refusing to obey the Guardian.

The discussions continued along these lines for a considerable period of time. Suffice it to say, no need to repeat the description already made.

While the discussions became increasingly disorganized, the President tried for the last time to officially and legally convene the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, but, alas, could not get the cooperation from those [members] who had repudiated their recognition of the second Guardian.

A short time later, the five remaining members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France, Messrs Monir Derakhchan, Bernard Fillon (Secretary), Donald Harvey (Treasurer), Joel B. Marangella (President), and Jacques Soghomonian, met in formal session. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France recognized, at that point, that the violation was so intense that there could not be the slightest possibility of functioning in a spiritually Bahá’í manner, in the near future. They concluded, as a necessity, to let a certain period of time pass so that everybody could calm down with a status quo seemingly the best solution, for the moment. They deliberated on how to maintain the status quo and moved, by an agreed motion, the following decisions:

-The five members faithful to the living Guardian, Messrs Monir Derakhchan, Bernard Fillon (Secretary), Donald Harvey (Treasurer), Joel B. Marangella (President), and Jacques Soghomonian, would submit their resignations to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France.

NOTE: The resignations were deposited in the mailbox of the Secretary which remained in the Secretariat in good order and obviously no person could open it, this being the prerogative of the Secretary.

The resignation of members of any National Spiritual Assembly, however, can only be accepted, at the very least, by a majority vote of its members. Consequently, as each of the five majority members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France deposited their resignation in the mailbox of the Secretary, the status quo was automatically obtained and would remain in effect, at the very least, until the five members who make up the majority of the National Assembly Spiritual of Bahá’ís of France would legally re-convene. During this meeting, the NSABF had not taken action on these resignations. (a meeting may be convened by the President or any three members of a National Spiritual Assembly. Moreover, if a meeting were to be convened by three members, or even four, and there were not a total of five members in attendance, the meeting could not take place due to the lack of a quorum, in accordance with Bahá’í administrative procedure and in accordance with the statutes of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France). No means or pretext exists whereby a dissolution of the NSABF is currently allowed or envisaged according to its statutes and only this Assembly can amend its own statutes.

- A general and complete reposition [would be made] of the Secretariat and Hazíratu’l-Quds.

- The permanent resident of the Hazíratu’l-Quds (Mr. Donald Harvey, Treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly), who had been the official permanent resident since September 1953 would immediately depart. (see Annex 6 )

Mr. Faizi, assisted by those members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France who had repudiated the second Guardian, and certain other members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Paris, convened a general meeting of the Bahá’í community of Paris and the surrounding districts for Sunday evening, May 8 (12 Beauty 117 BE). The office of the Secretary was entered (in violation of procedure) and its contents seized. Indeed, Mr. Faizi displayed to the friends who had gathered there, the letters of resignation of the five majority members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France to prove that the aforementioned NSABF was dissolved, a groundless and inadmissible statement insofar as he had, by subversion, decreed this himself.

The following events took place from this point on, under the direction of Mr. Faizi.

1. The posting of a letter by Mr. Faizi to the Bahá’í Community of France announcing the dissolution of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France as well as measures, already taken or yet to be taken, against those members who had recognized Mason Remey as the second Guardian.(see Annex 7 )

2. The additional posting of the copy of a letter of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States of America, addressed to all the National Spiritual Assemblies world-wide, advising them of their repudiation of Mason Remey as the second Guardian (see Annex 8 ), as well as a message from the Hands of the Cause in Haifa, by way of the NSA of the U.S.A., with respect to the expulsion of various people from the Faith. (see Annex 9 )

3. To those Bahá’ís who had accepted the second Guardian, Mason Remey (apart from those of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France) the dispatch of telegrams or letters intended to terrify.(see Annex 10 )

4. The imposition of a systematic anti-Guardianship campaign throughout the entire Bahá’í community of France in the form of letters, telephone calls, personal visits or visits to various communities, groups and assemblies (with the assistance, not only of the Bahá’ís of France, but also by foreigners to this Bahá’í community).

5. The publication and distribution of "Bahá’í Journal" (which had been the name of the publication of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of France), the first issues of which attacked primarily the Guardian, Mason Remey, and those Bahá’ís who supported the living Guardian, while at the same time endorsing Mr. Faizi’s campaign of persuasion.

6. The Local Spiritual Assembly of Paris received inopportunely from Haifa the title of "Mother-Assembly of France."

7. The Local Spiritual Assembly of Paris organized elections for a new National Spiritual Assembly. These elections took place by correspondence and the votes were counted by them on May 31, 1960 (15 Grandeur 117, BE), in the presence of Messrs ‘Abu’l-Qasim Faizi and Adlebert Muhlschlegel (this last, a Hand of the Cause in Germany), in the Hazíratu’ l-Quds, Paris.

NOTE:

The report and letters of Bernard Fillon, Secretary of the NSA of France have been translated from the French by Joel Jani Marangella.

In reviewing the above, it was considered desirable in a few instances to add a few words and phrases. These have been enclosed in brackets and in one instance, it was impossible to resist inserting three uncomplimentary words pertaining to an incredulous statement made by former Hand of the Cause, Faizi, during his meeting with the NSA of France in his nefarious attempt to justify the end of the Guardianship, as it was so inane as to defy belief. As pointed out by Bernard, the same insidious and demonstrably false argument had been used by the violators of the Covenant against ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His Ministry.