Bahá’í News/Inserts/Issue 273/World Crusade Budget/Text
WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET[edit]
Dearly beloved friends:
As we enter the initial stage of the World Spiritual Crusade, our hearts are filled with deepest gratitude for the many blessings bestowed upon us in the ecstatic and joyous days of our Jubilee. With simple humility, we express our grateful appreciation to our beloved Guardian for the unforgettable and glorious gift of the Portrait of the Blessed Beauty; for the gift of the presence in our midst of Amatu’l Bahá who enriched our spirits with her generous outpouring of love and wisdom; for the heart-warming presence of Amelia Collins; for the many spiritual bestowals of the Hands of the Cause from Persia, Africa, and the World Center, as well as from Canada and the United States; for the beautiful services of Dedication of our House of Worship; and finally, for the miraculous and joyous victory in the National Fund which made it possible for the American Bahá’í Community to attend the Jubilee celebrations with pride and a song of thanksgiving in our hearts.
In his thrilling and stirring message to the Forty-Fifth Annual Convention which was presented by Rúhíyyih Khánum, the Guardian stated that “the hour is now ripe for this greatly gifted, richly blessed Community to arise and reaffirm . . . its primacy, enhance its spiritual heritage, plumb greater depths of consecration and capture loftier heights. . . .”
Aware of the rapidly-expanding spiritual capacity of our Community, your National Spiritual Assembly has endeavored to chart a course for the first year of the Holy Crusade that will establish a firm base for the gradual successful unfoldment of our objectives.
A “WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET” has been set up, the amount of which is $525,000. This is a single budget which will support all of the activities of the American Bahá’í Community as set forth in the itemized statement that follows.
This simplified, single budget will facilitate the channels of making contributions in support of the Fund.
It calls for a mature understanding on the part of every believer of his “sacred obligation to contribute freely and generously for the increase of the Fund.”
There will be no “Resolve Plan” this year. Therefore, each believer should conscientiously relate himself to the “WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET” on an individual basis.
This Budget will, as in the past, be supported in the following manner:
- By contributions from Local Assemblies.
- By contributions from groups.
- By contributions from individual believers made directly to the National Fund in accordance with the pattern that has been established for several years past, without the use of Resolve Forms.
Thus, each of us, aware of the high honor and station that have been conferred upon the American Bahá’í Community, will, in fulfillment of our sacred obligation, joyously and generously support the following Funds:
- The World Center in Haifa, where the Guardian is rapidly expanding the highly important activities of the Faith. These contributions may be made directly to the Guardian.
- The National Bahá’í Fund which will enable us to carry out all the far-flung activities enumerated in the World Crusade Budget.
- The Local Fund which supports all local activities and helps to support the National Fund.
Isolated believers will, as in the past, make their contributions directly to the National Bahá’í Fund, in addition to their contributions to the World Center Fund.
For purposes of clarification, we point out that the first item of the Budget — “World Center Fund ...... $40,000” — is a contribution to the Guardian by the National Spiritual Assembly on behalf of the entire American Bahá’í community, and is in addition to the contributions that each individual believer is privileged to make directly to the Guardian for support of the work at the World Center.
With regard to the Loan of $100,000 incurred last year and which your National Assembly has had to extend to November 12, 1953, we point out that the unforeseen expenditures occasioned last year by additional work on the interior and exterior of the Temple, repairs to its service facilities, and the cost of the Jubilee activities as set forth in the 1953-54 Budget, amounted to nearly the full sum of the Loan, and were in addition to the Budget of $475,000. Therefore, the funds are not available to repay the Loan, and the extension was necessary.
This amount of nearly $100,000 forms part of the World Crusade Budget for 1953-1954 and has made it necessary to reduce the amounts that would otherwise have been allocated for International and National Teaching.
In order for the Loan to be repaid in November, it will be necessary for funds to flow into the National Treasurer’s office in amounts consistent with the total Budget of $525,000 at a time of year, including the summer months, when contributions are usually very much below the average on a 12-month basis.
We appeal to every believer to capture the glorious spirit of the Holy Crusade, to make generous, sustained contributions to the Funds in order that we may avoid financial crises in this important first year of the Crusade; that our Community, “the torch-bearers of a future divinely inspired world civilization,” may “arise, in the course of the momentous decade separating the Great from the Most Great Jubilee, to secure, as befits its rank, the lion’s share in the prosecution of a global crusade designed to diffuse the Light of God’s Revelation over the surface of the entire Planet.”
Faithfully yours,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
| Contributions should be sent and checks made payable to:
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First Year 1953-1954
WORLD CENTER FUND[edit]
................................................................ $ 40,000.00
This fund is of primary importance in view of the rapidly expanding activities being initiated by the Guardian at the World Center.
INTERNATIONAL TEACHING[edit]
Africa ................................................................ $30,000.00
Europe
- European Teaching Committee ...... $25,000.00
- Inter-Continental Conference in Stockholm 8,000.00
- Assistance to Italo-Swiss N.S.A. .... 8,700.00 41,700.00
Asia ................................................................ 30,000.00
Western Hemisphere
- Western Hemisphere Teaching Committee (new territories and consolidated areas outside of continental U.S.) ......... 7,500.00
- Latin-American National Assemblies ...... 12,000.00 19,500.00 121,200.00
These funds represent a minimum required during the first year in which we will initiate the Ten-Year Crusade in the various territories throughout the globe allocated to the United States Bahá’í Community.
UNITED STATES NATIONAL TEACHING[edit]
National Teaching Committee .. 25,000.00
A vigorous National Teaching Plan will be carried out in order to replenish the flow of pioneers to foreign territories, and to take full advantage of the spiritual forces released upon the dedication of the Holiest House of Worship.
American Indian Teaching Committee ............ 3,000.00 Committee for carrying Faith to Negroes .......... 2,000.00 30,000.00
NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION[edit]
................................................................ 55,000.00
This supports your National offices of Secretary and Treasury, which have had to be expanded in personnel and service facilities in keeping with the rapidly widening activities of the Faith. It pays for the printing and mailing of Bahá’í News (cost approximately $6,000); it finances the National and State Conventions, N.S.A. meetings, and covers cost of cablegrams to the Guardian and to other National Assemblies, as well as all printings and mailings from the N.S.A. to the believers.
TRUSTEESHIPS[edit]
Temple Maintenance ................................................ $35,000.00
This covers salaries of personnel, lighting, heating, and all repairs. The formal dedication of the Temple signalized a greatly expanded use of its facilities for Bahá’í and public worship as well as for guided tours.
Landscaping
- Additional work required to complete initial stage of landscaping program ....... 22,000.00
- Maintenance ................................................ 15,000.00 72,000.00
This pays salaries of supervisor and gardeners, as well as supplies and plant replacements.
BOSCH (Geyserville School) .... 1,800.00 EGGLESTON (Louhelen Summer School) ... 3,600.00 MATHEWS (Temerity Summer School) ... 1,800.00 GREEN ACRE ................................................ 7,500.00 14,700.00
This pays for repairs and maintenance of the extensive properties represented by these Trusteeships.
INTERNATIONAL — MISCELLANEOUS[edit]
Geneva Bureau ................................................ 2,500.00
- Maintained as strategic international office at request of Guardian.
Marion Jack ................................................ 1,500.00
- Assistance to one of earliest and most consecrated pioneers, in her 80’s, residing in Sofia, Bulgaria.
George Townshend ................................................ 600.00
- Assistance enabling him to carry on his highly valued services to the Guardian and to the Faith.
United Nations Committee ...... 1,000.00 Publishing of Bahá’í World, Vol. XII ........................ 5,000.00 10,600.00
NATIONAL COMMITTEES[edit]
Archives ................................................................ 25.00 Bahá’í News Service ................................................ 2,500.00
This is an extension of the splendid services performed by the Centenary News Service Committee for the Jubilee.
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| Bahá’í World Editorial, Vol. XIII | $ 250.00 | |
| Child Education | 150.00 | |
| Library | 50.00 | |
| Questionnaire | 50.00 | |
| Radio | 1,500.00 | |
| Reference Library | 100.00 | |
| Service to the Blind | 250.00 | |
| Souvenir of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá | 50.00 | |
| Summer School Program (4 Committees) | 2,500.00 | |
| Temple Worship, Music, Guiding: | ||
| Music Committee | 6,500.00 | |
| Program, Public Guiding | 3,500.00 |
Weekly worship will be conducted at a standard of excellence consistent with the magnificent service of public dedication. This will necessitate a professional music director and a trained A cappella choir which will be expanded into a Bahá’í Choir. In addition, literature will be made available to the ever-increasing crowds who will be guided through the Temple and who will attend the services or for prayer and meditation. The Temple will be open daily for that purpose.
| Visual Education | 1,000.00 | |
| Youth | 500.00 | 18,925.00 |
FINANCIAL[edit]
| Payment on Goldblatt property | 25,000.00 |
This represents first step toward erection of first dependency of Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette.
| Interest on Goldblatt Mortgage | 1,200.00 | |
| Interest Payable Northern Trust Company on bank loan of $100,000.00 which has been extended to November 12, 1953 | 2,172.00 | |
| Insurance — Trusteeships and General | 7,500.00 | 35,872.00 |
MISCELLANEOUS[edit]
| Films of Dedication services and Jubilee events | 5,000.00 | |
| Entertainment, Hospitality and Travel expense of Hands for Jubilee | 3,500.00 | |
| Inter-Continental Conferences in Stockholm and New Delhi | 4,000.00 | 12,500.00 |
| TOTAL | $410,797.00 |
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EXPENSES INCURRED DURING 1952-1953 NOT INCLUDED IN BUDGET OF $475,000.00[edit]
These expenses approximate the total amount of the bank loan of $100,000, and must therefore be included in the Budget for the year 1953-54. Consequently, it was necessary to extend the loan for an additional period of six months at which time (November 12, 1953) it must be repaid.
TEMPLE[edit]
| $ 40,000.00 |
Additional expenses relating to curtains, chairs, and capping of pylons (requested by Guardian), etc.
| Repairs to Heating equipment and other service facilities | 18,010.00 | 58,010.00 |
JUBILEE EXPENSES[edit]
| Hall Rental, Food Service, Public Address System, Programs, Flowers, etc. | 20,000.00 | |
| Centenary News Service | 5,000.00 |
This Committee was responsible for the splendid and extensive publicity given to all Jubilee events in the press, radio, news reels, etc.
| WRUL Broadcasts (26 at $75.00 each) | 1,950.00 | 26,950.00 |
These broadcasts are beamed around the world to both English and Spanish speaking audiences.
PUBLICATION OF “DAWN BREAKERS”[edit]
| 5,000.00 |
MISCELLANEOUS BUDGET INCREASES[edit]
| 9,475.00 | 14,475.00 | |
| TOTAL | $510,232.00 |
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LESS: Amount by which 1952-1953 Budget of $475,000 was over-subscribed[edit]
| 3,440.00 | ||
| $506,792.00 |
CONTINGENCY FUND[edit]
| 18,208.00 | ||
| TOTAL WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET 1953-1954 | $525,000.00 |
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