In these days when the forces of inharmony and disunity are rampant throughout the world, the Baha'is must cling to their Faith and to each other, and, in spite of every difficulty and suffering, protect the unity of the Cause. Often the first efforts at getting the administration of the Faith to mark harmoniously, are painful because the individual must learn to subject his will to the whole--but these are all minor details, and the friends must all concentrate on constructive work for the Cause.
Of course no one is debarred from becoming a Baha'i; rich or poor, learned or ignorant, all have a sacred and equal right to accept the Supreme Manifestation for this age.
The question of residence and taking part in administrative affairs hangs together: wherever a Baha'i has his legal residence, he belongs to the community that is established in that same civil area as his residence, and he cannot vote or be elected to any Baha'i body outside of that area except, of course, National Assembly and Committees. This, of course, does not prevent his teaching in nearby towns or anywhere else. But he cannot live in one city and be a voting Baha'i in another.
May 7, 1941