... 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)
