The Bahá’í World : Volume 2 : 1926-1928

whether legal or equitable and whether arising out of contract or tort, shall look solely to the funds of the Trust and to the property of the Trust estate for payment or indemnity, or for the payment of any debt, damage, judgment or decree or any money that may otherwise become due or payable from the Trustees, so that neither the Trustees nor any of them, nor any of their officers or agents appointed by them hereunder, nor any beneficiary or beneficiaries herein named shall be personally liable therefor.

Section 2.Every note, bond, proposal, obligation or contract in writing or other agreement or instrument made or given under this Trust shall be explicitly executed by the National Spiritual Assembly, as Trustees by their duly authorized officers or agents.

Article IV

The Trustees, i.e., the National Spiritual Assembly, shall adopt for the conduct of the affairs entrusted to them under this Declaration of Trust, such by-laws, rules of procedure or regulations as are required to define and carry on its own administrative functions and those of the several local and other elements composing the body of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, not inconsistent with the terms of this instrument and all in accordance with the explicit instructions given us to date by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, which instructions are already known to the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada and accepted by them in the government and practice of their religious affairs.

Article V

The central office of this Trust shall be located in the City of New York, State of New York, United States of America.

Article VI

The seal of this Trust shall be circular in form, bearing the following description:

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. Declaration of Trust, 1927.

Article VII

This Declaration of Trust may be amended by majority vote of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada at any special meeting duly called for that purpose, provided that at least thirty (30) days prior to the date fixed for said meeting a copy of the proposed amendment or amendments is mailed to each member of the Assembly by the Secretary.

THE National Spiritual Assembly, in the fulfillment of its sacred duties under this Trust,shall have exclusive jurisdiction and authority over all the activities and affairs of the Bahá’í Cause throughout the United States and Canada, including paramount authority in the administration of this Trust. It shall endeavor to stimulate, unify and co-ordinate the manifold activities of the local Spiritual Assemblies (hereinafter defined) and of individual Bahá’ís in the United States and Canada and by all possible means assist them to promote the oneness of mankind. It shall be charged with the recognition of such local Assemblies, the scrutiny of local membership rolls, the calling of the Annual Meeting or special meetings and the seating of delegates to the Annual Meeting and their apportionment among the various local Bahá’í communities. It shall appoint all national Bahá’í committees and shall supervise the publication and distribution of Bahá’í literature, the reviewing of all writings pertaining to the Bahá’í Cause, the construction and administration of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár and its accessory activities, and the collection and disbursement of all funds for the carrying on of this Trust. It shall de-