The Lord hath ordained that in every city a House of Justice
be established wherein shall gather counsellors to the number of Baha, and
should it exceed this number it does not matter. It behoveth them to be the
trusted ones of the Merciful among men and to regard themselves as the
guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth.... - Bahá'u'lláh (Cited
in a letter dated 5 March 1922 written by Shoghi Effendi to the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada, published in
‘Bahá'í Administration: Selected Messages 1922-1932’; The Compilation of
Compilations, Vol. II, The Local Spiritual Assembly)
