... I do not feel it to be in keeping with the spirit of the
Cause to impose any limitation upon the freedom of the believers to choose
those of any race, nationality or temperament who best combine the essential qualifications
for membership of administrative institutions. They should disregard
personalities and concentrate their attention on the qualities and requirements
of office, without prejudice, passion or partiality. The Assembly should be
representative of the choicest and most varied and capable elements in every
Bahá'í community ...
- Shoghi
Effendi (In the handwriting of Shoghi
Effendi, appended to a letter dated 11 August 1933 written on his behalf to an
individual believer, published in 'Bahá'í Institutions'; The Compilation of
Compilation, Vol. III, Sanctity and Nature of Baha’i Elections)
