As regards your question concerning the Nineteen Day Feasts: this is really a matter of secondary importance, and should be decided by the assembly; meetings which have been publicly advertised for a certain date cannot, obviously, be cancelled. As to non-Bahá’ís attending: this should be all means be avoided, but if non-believers come to a Nineteen Day Feast they should not be put out, as this might hurt their feelings.

The beloved Guardian has instructed me to write you concerning an action recently taken by your National Assembly, as published in your January-February Bahá’í News, that non-Bahá’ís may attend Nineteen Day Feasts if “the earnestness of their interest in the Faith” is vouched for by a declared believer.

The Guardian wishes me to direct your attention to the fact that none of the institutions of the Faith nor its cardinal principles may be changed under any circumstances.

The Nineteen Day Feast is an institution of the Cause, first established by the Báb, later confirmed by Bahá’u’lláh, and now made a prominent part of the administrative order of the Faith. These Nineteen Day Feasts are for the Bahá’ís, and the Bahá’ís exclusively, and no variation from this principle is permitted.

Thus the Guardian feels you should rescind the action taken by your Assembly in opening the Feasts to “near Bahá’ís”, as it is not consistent with the spirit of the administrative order for non-Bahá’ís or near Bahá’ís to attend the Nineteen Day Feasts, particularly the administrative portion of the Feast.

The Guardian realizes the spirit which animated you in making the suggested proposal, in order that the teaching work might go forward more aggressively; but he feels in the long run it would be detrimental to the Faith, and therefore should be rescinded as above.

The principle universally applicable is that non-Bahá’ís are not invited to the Nineteen Day Feast. If in Persia it has happened that non-Bahá’ís are present at a Nineteen Day Feast this is an exception and not a rule.

It is well understood in Persia that if a non-Bahá’í should inadvertently attend a Nineteen Day Feast he would be treated courteously. However, it is equally important for the friends to understand that they should refrain from inviting non-Bahá’ís to these special gatherings, ordained by Bahá’u’lláh not only for spiritual refreshments and unity, but also for consultation between the Spiritual Assembly and the body of the believers on the domestic affairs of the community.

In reply to your memorandum of 16 November 1975 requesting elucidation of a statement from the Guardian later published on page 367 of Volume IV of “Amr va Khalq”, … later instructions of the beloved Guardian clearly forbid attendance at the Nineteen Day Feast by those deprived of their voting rights and the quotation published in “Amr va Khalq” should therefore be replaced by another statement by the Guardian.

The main thing to remember is that a group is not an administrative institution within the Bahá’í Administrative Order; it is, however, an embryo of a Local Spiritual Assembly and while remaining under the direct authority of the National Spiritual Assembly should obviously be encouraged to prepare itself for the time when it will establish that divine institution. There is no objection whatever to its electing officers such as secretary, chairman and treasurer, holding Nineteen Day Feasts and observances of the Holy Days, undertaking teaching and extension work, so long as it is always understood that the direct authority is the National Spiritual Assembly and not the group itself.

It can be explained, in a friendly manner, that the Nineteen Day Feast is an entirely private religious and domestic occasion for the Bahá’í community when its internal affairs are discussed and its members meet for personal fellowship and worship. No great secret should be made of it for there is certainly nothing secret about the Feast but it is organized for Bahá’ís only.

Regarding the Nineteen Day Feast, the principle universally applicable is that non-Bahá’ís are not invited to attend, and if you are asked about this you can explain that the nature of the Feast is essentially domestic and administrative. During the period of consultation the Bahá’ís should be able to enjoy perfect freedom to express their views on the work of the Cause, unembarrassed by the feeling that all they are saying is being heard by someone who has not accepted Bahá’u’lláh and who might therefore gain a very distorted picture of the Faith. It would also be very embarrassing for any sensitive non-Bahá’í to find himself plunged into the midst of a discussion of the detailed affairs of a Bahá’í community of which he is not a part. A non-Bahá’í who asks to be invited to a Feast will usually understand if this matter is explained to him.

The following guidance on this subject was sent to a believer on 24 March 1970 by the House of Justice:

No doubt you are familiar with this instruction. Likewise, occasionally if the Feast is held in the home of the family where the spouse is not a Bahá’í, it would be discourteous not to allow the non-Bahá’í member of the family to attend at least the social and spiritual parts of the Feast.

… if a non-Bahá’í does appear at a Nineteen Day Feast he should be made to feel welcome, but a Bahá’í should certainly not invite a non-Bahá’í to attend.

From all of the foregoing it can be seen that, basically, the resolution of this difficulty is a matter of loving education.