Bahá’í News/Inserts/Issue 253/National Teaching—Prelude to Jubilee/Text
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Insert March, 1952, Bahd’s News
National Teaching — Prelude to Jubilee
“‘The sixteen months that still lie ahead constitute in view of the tasks that still remain to be achieved, and the sacrifices still to be made, a period at once critical and challenging.”
“The Most Important of All Things”
In His last Will and Testament, the Master declared: “The most important of all things is the guidance of the nations and peoples of the world. Teaching the Cause is of utmost importance for it is the head corner-stone of the foundation itself.’”” Now the American Baha’is are called upon to redeem their devotion to the Center of the Covenant by heeding this spiritual admonition.
We are aware of the appeal that Baha’u’ll4h revealed for the rulers of America. We know how clearly ‘Abdu’lBaha affirmed the spiritual destiny of the American people. We know, too, how repeatedly the Guardian has emphasized the spiritual capacity of this people. Now, as followers of Baha’u’llah, we face the time to respond.
Each American Baha’i has a personal spiritual stake in the series of stirring messages that have recently come from the Guardian of our Faith. The projected celebrations of the Jubilee Year are just ahead. The four intercontinental teaching conferences are an application of the Divine Plan given to the American Baha’is, to all the remaining areas of the world. Now the spiritual capacity of the American believers must be tapped and utilized to meet the great tasks ahead.
At our very door — this day, this hour —lies the first task.
“To a Successful Conclusion”
On November 23 last, the Guardian wrote to us: ‘‘Other tasks, no less vital, still remain to be carried, in the course of a fast shrinking period, to a successful conclusion . . . The responsibilities solemnly undertaken to consolidate and multiply the administrative institutions throughout all the States of the Union — a task that has of late been allowed to fall into abeyance, and has been eclipsed by the spectacular success attending the shining exploits of the American Baha’i Community in foreign fields — must be speedily and seriously reconsidered for upon the constant broadening and the steady reinforcement of this internal administrative structure, which provides the essential base for future operations in all the continents of the globe, must depend the vigor, the rapidity and the soundness of the future crusades which must needs be launched in the service, and for the glory of the Faith of Baha’u’llah.. .”
In the same letter through his secretary the Guardian commented again: ‘“‘The Assembly Roll Call in the
— SHOGHI Errenpr, November 23, 1951.
United States is falling and the believers can and must, if they would live up to both their heritage and their past achievements, do something about it.’’
These statements have weighed heavily upon the hearts of the members of the National Assembly, and they have spent many hours in earnest and prayerful consultation.
Proposals Approved by the Guardian
Prolonged consultation brought forth the following plan which was airmailed to the Guardian for his comment and approval.
1. The appointment of an American National Teaching Committee to organize and carry forward a national teaching effort in the United States.
2. This committee to have as its executive arms the Area Teaching Committees as now constituted.
3. The National Teaching Committee to retain the planning functions of the existing National Projects Committee, and assume as its major responsibility the direction of the teaching effort as a whole in consultation with the Area Teaching Committees, which will report directly to it.
4. The Area Teaching Committees to remain in direct control of the Regional Teaching Committees, and carry on all contact and correspondence in the field as under the present arrangement.
5. Such national proclamation committees as Radio, Public Relations, Visual Education and others, while not directly connected, to have as their first function the servicing of the major aims and goals of the American National Teaching Committee appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly.
On February 9 the National Assembly received the following cablegram from the Guardian: ‘“‘Approve teaching plan outlined (in) letter (of) January 28.”
Action
With this approval received from the Guardian, the
National Assembly consulted at length at the meeting of
February 22-24. The Assembly felt that the most vital
step that could be taken would be to appoint an American National Teaching Committee at once. This committee will begin immediate study of the National teaching picture and prepare a plan of teaching action to be
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presented to and discussed by the delegates at Convention.
To study the situation and prepare a teaching action plan for the Convention, the National Assembly appointed the following American National Teaching Committee: —
Mr. John Allen, convenor Mrs. Valeria Allen
Miss Virginia Breaks Mr. Robert L. Gulick
Miss Charlotte Linfoot Mrs. Mamie L. Seto Mrs. Charles Wolcott
Until the incoming National Spiritual Assembly sets the new teaching plan into action after the Convention, the present national, area and regional committees continue to function in accordance with the work assigned in
their appointment. There is, however, a new sense of urgency to which all the believers, as well as the Assem blies, groups and committees must respond during the «
coming weeks.
What the National Assembly wishes to accomplish by this announcement is to quicken the entire Baha’i community of the United States for a tremendous outburst of spiritual fervor, consecrated resolve, and well conducted teaching work following this year’s Convention.
The time is short, but by summoning our latent forces we American Baha’is can begin now the sacred task of strengthening our administrative structure for sustaining the Guardian’s intercontinental plans to be inaugurated in the Holy Year, 1953.
—NATIONAL SprrItuAL ASSEMBLY �
