Baha'i Administration / **Guardian Shoghi Effendi** # **The Paramount Issue** ##### Published in *Baha'i News*, No. 268 (June 1953), p. 8, and *Messages to the Baha'i World: 1950–1957*, pp. 48–49. #### **Shoghi Effendi** ###### Cablegram, May 28, 1953 [↓ PDF](https://leland-jensen-info.netlify.app/1953-05-28-shoghi-effendi-paramount-issue.pdf) *** **The Paramount Issue** On occasion of the sixty-first Anniversary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, on the morrow of the opening, initial phase of the momentous World Crusade, call upon His followers in all continents to allow no slackening, nay, to insure acceleration of the marvelous momentum generated by the historic celebrations climaxing 49 the festivities of Holy Year. The dispersal, immediate, determined, sustained and universal, throughout the unopened territories of the planet, is the paramount issue challenging the spirit and resources of the privileged prosecutors of the Ten-Year Plan in the course of the current year.\[1] All National Assemblies are urged to give it priority assignments in their national budgets. The chief executors of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Plan, by virtue of the primacy conferred in His Tablets, are accorded the prerogative to stimulate the vital process of the dispersal through the dispatch, in addition to their allotted tasks, of pioneers to the virgin territories allocated to their sister communities East and West. Once again I appeal to members of all communities to arise and enlist, ere the present opportunity is irretrievably lost, in the army of Bahá’u’lláh’s crusaders. The hour is ripe to disencumber themselves of worldly vanities, to mount the steed of steadfastness, unfurl the banner of renunciation, don the armor of utter consecration to God’s Cause, gird themselves with the girdle of a chaste and holy life, unsheathe the sword of Bahá’u’lláh’s utterance, buckle on the shield of His love, carry as sole provision implicit trust in His promise, flee their homelands, and scatter far and wide to capture the unsurrendered territories of the entire planet. Would to God that Bahá’í warriors, six score and ten, the number required to fill the gaps in the still unconquered territories of the globe, will promptly arise and enroll themselves to achieve the goals ere the conclusion of the opening year of the decade-long, greatest collective enterprise since the memorable episodes associated with the Dawn-Breakers of the Heroic Age. Planning to inscribe, in chronological order, the names of the spiritual conquerors on an illuminated Roll of Honor, to be deposited at the entrance door of the inner Sanctuary of the Tomb of Bahá’u’lláh, as a permanent memorial of the contribution by the champions of His Faith at the victorious conclusion of the opening campaign of the Global Crusade which is destined to attain consummation at the Most Great Jubilee commemorating the Centenary of the Declaration of His Mission. Anticipate making periodic announcements of the names of the valiant knights upon their arrival at their posts to discharge their historic missions. Share message National Assemblies of the Bahá’í World. **Shoghi** ‎ *** **Endnotes** **1**. \[Editor's notes: The call for pioneers as a part of the World Crusade (the Ten Year Plan) to areas where the Faith had not spread had also been discussed at the Intercontinental Conference that year (same issue of *Baha'i News*, see page 4) as well as a cablegram sent by Shoghi Effendi on May 13, 1953, two weeks prior: >Strongly urge intending pioneers scatter as widely as possible, settle even territories, islands not specifically assigned United States. Prompt opening virgin territories highly meritorious, extremely urgent, vital prerequisite insure triumphant conclusion opening phase Global Crusade prerogative chief executors ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Plan. May enrolled pioneers arise (and) confirm primacy American Bahá’í community playing preponderating role (in) initial stage (of) spiritual conquest (of) unopened territories (and) islands (of the) planet. > >(*Baha'i News*, No. 268 (June 1953), p. 2.)] *** **Source:** Shoghi Effendi, *Bahá'í Administration*, 1968, 63–65. **Note:** This excerpt is frequently cited in the writings of Dr. Leland Jensen and is provided here as supplementary reference material for researchers, teachers, and students. This limited reproduction is presented for educational and scholarly purposes under fair use (17 U.S.C. § 107). *** **Archive Classification** - **Collection:** Baha'i Administration → Shoghi Effendi **Reference Information** - **Permanent Link:** https://leland-jensen.info/shoghi-effendi/1953-05-28-paramount-issue/ - **Download PDF:** [1953-05-28-shoghi-effendi-paramount-issue.pdf](https://leland-jensen-info.netlify.app/1953-05-28-shoghi-effendi-paramount-issue.pdf) - **Archive Home:** https://leland-jensen.info - **Last Updated:** 16 May 2026 - **Revision Notes:** Download and Document Details added. **Note:** This excerpt from a published work is provided for educational and reference purposes and is not part of the archive's collection. *** **See Also** - [[1960-02 Baha'i News, Joplin|Knights of Baha'u'llah, Drs. Opal and Leland Jensen Elected to Joplin LSA]] — April 21, 1959, Baha'i News (February 1960) - [[Roll of Honor - Baha'i World 20|Roll of Honor]] — *The Baha'i World*, vol. 20 (1986–1992) - [[Two Knights - Baha'i World 13|Two Knights]] — *The Baha'i World*, vol. 13 (1954–1963) - [[1959-04 Baha'i News, Mauritius|Pioneering on Mauritius Island]] — December, 1955, *Baha'i News* (April 1959) - [[1955-11 Baha'i News, Election|Reunion Island First Spiritual Assembly]] — April 21, 1955, *Baha'i News* (November 1955) - [[1955-09 Baha'i News, Naw-Ruz|Reunion Island Celebrates Naw-Ruz]] — March 1955, *Baha'i News* (September 1955) - [[1953-11-11 Roll of Honor|Shoghi Adds Opal and Leland Jensen to the Roll of Honor]] — Cablegram, November 11, 1953 *** [Site Guide](site%20guide.md)  |   [Sitemap](Clickable%20Sitemap.md)  |   [Downloads](downloads.md)  |  [Contact Us](contact%20us.md) **Dr. Leland Jensen**: Teachings and Commentaries Archive © 2026 Baha'i Council of Dane County, all rights reserved.  [Copyright & Usage Policy](copyright.md) ***