Bahá’í News/Inserts/Issue 170/Historic Thirty-Sixth Convention/Text

The Historic Thirty-Sixth Convention

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THE HISTORIC THIRTY-SIXTH CONVENTION

The thirty-sixth Annual Convention, covering the week of May 19 to 25, 1944, was indeed unique in both the number and greatness of the significances of the Faith included within its span. All Bahá’í Conventions have inestimable value. They provide ways and means for wide consultation and more closely relate to each other the various activities and institutions of the Cause. They engage eager interest with news of progress. They pool spiritual values and increase harmony. They enable friends scattered over wide areas to know each other. They concentrate minds, hearts, means and labors over ever widening fields of service marked out by the Guardian. They delight the eye, brighten the mind and gladden the heart by the inspiring beauty of the Temple of God and the shining forth of the reality of great souls. They inculcate veneration for the Light and guidance of God as appearing in His Greatest Manifestation, Bahá’u’lláh, Who brings to earth the Kingdom of God. They are definite periods in the evolution of the Faith and furnish the most attractive means of teaching.

But this Convention synchronized with the Centenary anniversary of the Faith and the Declaration of that wondrous Being, the Glorious Báb, and First Point of Revelation in the Day of God. With the solemn memorial to His Highness, most impressively observed; with the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Mystery of God, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and its joyous festival; with the dedication of the Temple, the beautiful structure which symbolizes the Body of the Manifestation, and also the half century celebration of the appearance and establishment of the Faith on American soil.

It would have been amazing indeed had so potent a call not have brought wonderful results. No less than one-third of all the registered Bahá’ís in the United States, its outlying possessions and Canada, came. Of one hundred and seventy-one chosen delegates but twelve were absent.

These were augmented by honorary delegates chosen by twenty-one South and Central American countries, thirteen of whom overcame unusual obstacles to come. The area of the earth, officially or unofficially represented, included the five continents. The vastness that is China, the great expanse of the British Empire, Persia, birthplace of the Faith, the Holy Land, world center of the Faith, Egypt, the Land of Mystery, Alaska, the Land of the Midnight Sun, the Land of the Rising Sun - through a Nipponese youth, probably American born - Iráq, Australia, the Western Hemisphere, are suggestive of the power of Divine Love to link races and nations together.

It would have been difficult to imagine how such moving and powerful events and their fitting celebration could have been condensed in so brief a period of time. But such is the record now passed into history and reverberating through the coming ages as marking the advancement of a time.

The friends upon arrival found the spirit of welcome in the very atmosphere. Trains were met. Bulletins of information were distributed, wholesome advice was given for the Bahá’ís so to conduct themselves as to be a means of attraction to strangers, especially those who had opened their homes for entertainment. The respect which people in near-by cities have for the Bahá’ís is a pleasing sign of attraction and growth. Nothing appeared to be unthought of among the local members of the Centenary Committee in their arduous and devoted efforts to make everyone comfortable and happy.

The Convention opened with readings and prayers, an inspiring feature of the sessions throughout. One prayer service was conducted by children.

George O. Latimer, as Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, voiced genial and loving welcome and felicitations upon the triumph of the Seven Year Plan. He reviewed the successive steps, praising the foundation laid by the Master's Charter of the Divine Plan and the wonderful initiative and guidance of the Guardian.

Edna M. True, Chairman of the Centenary Committee, announced the general program and expressed the conviction, to which eager hearts responded, "We are the most fortunate people in the world!" She also told of the Bahá’í Centenary Registration Book. This was a very large, artistically designed and beautiful volume, specially prepared for this occasion and a gift from Charles Mason Remey, one of the apostles of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Over sixteen hundred friends registered during the week.

"By the righteousness of Mine own Self! Great, immeasurably great is this Cause! Mighty, inconceivably mighty is this Day! Blessed indeed is the man that hath forsaken all things and fastened his eyes upon Him whose Face hath shed illumination upon all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth." (Gleanings P. 245.)

After roll call, the temporary officers of the Convention, George O. Latimer, Chairman, and Horace Holley, Secretary, were made permanent.

Messages from Haifa

The following Convention messages from the Guardian were read, with printed copies circulated among the delegates and friends: "I advise you to share the following facts with the believers at Convention celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

"Bahá’ís have established residence in seventy-eight countries. fifty-six of which are sovereign states. Bahá’í literature has been translated and published in forty-one languages. Translations have been undertaken in twelve additional languages. Thirty-one races are represented in the Bahá’í world community. Five National Assemblies belonging to ten countries are incorporated and legally empowered to hold property. The Bahá’í international endowments held in the Holy Land are estimated