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Enduring, Momentous Victory[edit]
A Message From the Guardian
Acclaim with grateful heart, on twenty-first Anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Ascension, the glorious emergence of the firmly-welded, incorruptible American Bahá’í community from severest crisis since His passing which the blindness of the breakers of Bahá’u’lláh’s a and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Covenants has, amidst His kindred, and in the City of the Covenant, recently tragically precipitated. Posterity will unhesitatingly recognize so spontaneous, shining, stirring demonstration of fidelity rendered alike to the Lord of the Covenant and to its Center as a victory more enduring, more momentous, than any triumphs, however notable, which the standard bearers of the Administrative Order, the champion builders of the Temple, the stalwart executors of the Divine Plan have achieved or may yet achieve in the closing years of the expiring First Bahá’í Century. Nursed since birth in the lap of the unfailing solicitude of the Center of the Covenant, torch-bearer of the Divine Order recognized as child of that Covenant, vanguard of that host destined to diffuse the Light of that same Covenant over the face of the entire globe, American Bahá’í community is now assuming rightful place at the forefront of the world-wide, loyal, unbreachable spiritual army of Bahá’u’lláh preparing, both in the East and West, to launch still greater campaigns, scale loftier heights, at the dawning of the Second Bahá’í Century.
November 30, 1942
This Crucial Year[edit]
Progress Report No. 4 Issued by the National Spiritual Assembly for the Period November 1-30, 1942
Last month we published the Guardian’s message of October 3, and the responses made by the friends up to the time of the meeting of the National Assembly held November 12, 13, 14 and 15 were so impressive that a message was sent to Shoghi Effendi as follows:
“Your teaching appeal, producing most widespread, fervent, sacrificial response ever made by American believers. Thoroughly convinced that spiritual condition has been created for complete eventual success of Seven Year Plan. Entire community stirred to depths, moving forward with ever-increasing impetus. Hearts filled with reverence and gratitude for your unfailing guidance. This upsurge is the testimony of America’s devotion to beloved Guardian.”
23. Forty-three Assemblies had responded, besides some groups and individuals. A total of forty-nine pioneers and settlers was listed as ready to undertake a mission, and many others were reported as volunteering for the weekend or occasional activity. This correspondence revealed extraordinary effort to contribute for deputizing in addition to regular donations to the National Fund.
On November 10 the National Teaching Committee reported data covering its immense undertakings since the Convention period. Up to October 20, twenty-two believers had been settled in unoccupied areas. From then to November 10, four additional settlers were sent out, another four were to proceed at once, making thirty pioneer settlements in all. In addition, the National Teaching Committee received twenty applications from Convention time to October 20, and twenty-nine applications from then to November 13, or a total of forty-nine applications over and above the thirty settlers sent out.
These records all combine to present a clear picture of a powerful spiritual community rapidly arousing to consciousness of its capacity when consecrated to the mighty task.
Now let us mark well the Guardian’s message of November 30, received after he had learned of this upsurge of teaching spirit-the message preceding this progress report. These words have such profound meaning that we can ponder them over and over, for they connect our collective activities of this hour with the victory over negative forces which have assailed the Cause both in America and in Haifa itself. Shoghi Effendi acclaims the response of the friends to his appeal as a victory greater than any the American believers have or will achieve in these closing years of the First Bahá’í Century. Fidelity has been rendered to Bahá’u’lláh, the Lord of the Covenant, and to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, its Center.
The privilege of association in such a triumph can only express itself in acts and deeds.
24. Mrs. Amelia E. Collins has
been completing the details in connection
with the work of constructing
the Memorial to May Maxwell
in Buenos Aires, and is devoting
herself to teaching and contacts in
that city and with other Assemblies
[Page 2]
and groups on her return. Philip
Sprague, volunteering to serve in
the Inter-America field, has also
been active in Buenos Aires, after
meeting the friends and pioneer
teachers in Panama, Quito, Lima
and Santiago. Mrs. Enos M. Barton
has proceeded to Montevideo, making
as many stops as possible en
route. Winifred Baker has obtained
passport and reservations in
Colombia.
25. A new National Committee has been appointed, the Bahá’í College Foundation, with the function of sending out teachers who can present the Message to college faculties and undergraduates, with a view to ultimately establishing organized Bahá’í facilities at colleges and universities. The greater population of teachers and students is one to which the Message must be given with all possible effort, as it is stirred to the depths and uncertain of the future.
26. The Temple construction work has proceeded rapidly in recent weeks and the Trustees have been assured that the steps will be completed by December 31. To commemorate the end of construction of the exterior ornamentation called for in the Seven Year Plan, the National Assembly will issue in December an illustrated pamphlet entitled “The Bahá’í Temple, House of Worship of a World Faith.” This presents the history of the enterprise, technical details of construction, and the significance of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. The Bahá’í News Service Committee is working on a special press campaign which will bring the finished building to the attention of technical and trade papers as well as the daily press.
27. From May 1 to October 30 the National Fund received $49,784.94. The October contributions amounted to $11,183.30. Seventy-nine Assemblies sent contributions, eighty-six groups contributed, and donations came from 104 isolated friends. October expenditures amounted to $13,753.61, including $6,761.50 for Temple construction. $1,097.01 Temple Maintenance, $1,220.00 National and Regional Teaching, $1,291.46 Inter-America teaching, $498.30 for other Committee budgets, and $1,125.38 for administration.
Concentration of Resources[edit]
In order to effect all possible economy in administrative expense, for the concentration of resources on teaching and Temple construction, the National Spiritual Assembly has voted to reduce the size of Bahá’í News for the present to four pages. The editor has been directed to go over and edit such reports as are too long to fit into the new arrangement.
The Annual Reports issued prior to the Convention are also to be cut to about half the length of the 1942 edition, which means briefer statements by the National Committees, and the digesting of Regional teaching reports by the National Teaching Committee and their presentation in its annual report.
Regional Teaching Committees are requested to restrict their bulletins to one sheet.
The Guardian’s direction that the administrative economy be exercised immediately applies to local Assemblies as well as to the National body. The NSA is taking steps to effect all possible economy and expects that each local Assembly will do the same.
The Guardian’s Request[edit]
In a letter dated November 14, 1923, (page 45, third edition of Bahá’í Administration) Shoghi Effendi gave utterance to an earnest request that all the believers offer prayer on his behalf. The exact words are reprinted here, so that the friends who wish to quote the request may follow the Guardian’s own phraseology:—
“I cherish the hope that from now on, the Beloved may bestow upon me all the strength and vigor that will enable me to pursue over a long and unbroken period of strenuous labor the supreme task of achieving, in collaboration with the friends in every land, the speedy triumph of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. This is the prayer I earnestly request all my fellow-brethren and sisters in the Faith to offer on my behalf.”
Spiritual Prerequisites[edit]
In The Advent of Divine Justice, the Guardian lays down the spiritual prerequisites of success upon which depend the outcome of all our Bahá’í activities. “This rectitude of conduct, honesty, fair-mindedness, reliability, and trustworthiness, must distinguish every phase of the life of the Bahá’í community,” he states on page 19.
Speaking of teachers in this Cause, Bahá’u’lláh revealed the following: “They whose hearts are turned towards Him Who is the Object of the adoration of the entire creation must needs, in this Day, pass beyond and be sanctified from all created things. visible and invisible. If they arise to teach My Cause, they must let the breath of Him Who is the Unconstrained stir them and must spread it abroad on the earth with high resolve, with minds that are completely detached from and independent of all things, and with souls that are sanctified from the world and its vanities.”
“Such rectitude of conduct,” the Guardian continued . . . “must constitute the brightest ornament of the life, the pursuits, the exertions, and the utterance of every Bahá’í teacher, whether laboring at home or abroad . . .”
In keeping with these truths, the National Spiritual Assembly feels that it is of paramount importance, especially in these crucial days, to keep all Bahá’í teaching activity severed from even the appearance of confusing the teacher as such with any financial interest or material gain in the teacher’s relations with those who are primarily seeking spiritual knowledge and instruction.
The practice of a trade, craft or profession is obligatory in this Revelation, and its normal exercise is part of the average life. It is not any person’s daily work which might involve the Cause in criticism, but the association of personal interest with the sacred responsibility of sharing the Message.
Inter-America News[edit]
During the past few weeks we have seen Miss Shook favorably established in Bogotá, Colombia, where already she has made a place for herself among the American and English communities and has been assured of the interest which her profession will arouse. She is now expecting Miss Winifred Baker to join her and the Committee is happy to mention the very fine qualifications which Miss Baker has to offer for pioneer service.
This brings us to the point of
emphasizing the need for a thorough
study of Spanish or Portuguese for
[Page 3]
those who may be intending to enter
this field. A letter from Philip
Sprague urges that more attention
be paid to this study. Philip by the
way, is a flaming torch, for wherever
he goes, he displays such tact
and such loving helpfulness that we
receive the most glowing reports of
his work.
Miss Virginia Orbison, who is now well settled in Santiago, Chile, is exuberant over the visit of Mrs. Collins who, she says, has deeply impressed the people and has spoken with such authority that the Administrative Order is beginning to assume the greater importance which it is destined to awaken when it is clearly understood and put into practice.
Mr. Sprague visited Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Chile at last reports, and Mrs. Collins was in Buenos Aires attending to the details of the memorial to Mrs. Maxwell. When these two pioneer teachers return they will bring to us the great wave of loving unity which is steadily growing in South America.
Regarding Central America, there are now four Spiritual Assemblies but we still have to see the organization of Guatemala and Nicaragua, both of which will receive our immediate attention since there are certainly enough students of the Faith in those countries to bring about the formation of Spiritual Assemblies this year.
Miss Gwenne Sholtis is settling in Venezuela but feels somewhat the lack of Spanish which she is now devoting much time to. We could use a pioneer in Venezuela who knows Spanish and could assist as we have at this time no registered believers there.
Miss Margaret Lentz is still urging us to send some young people who could enter the University in Trujillo and associate with the students many of whom have become interested in the teachings. Could not some young person volunteer for this lovely service?
It is becoming increasingly evident that we are to have the assistance of certain local believers in several of the Republics to pioneer either in their own countries or in others where little work has been done. If all goes well, we hope to see Mr. Barton and Sr. Tormo go together to Asunción, Paraguay, where Elizabeth Cheney has left
Temple Steps Progress Picture No. 5, November 11, 1942. All eighteen steps laid to three of the nine main story entrances. The base of pylons, and platforms at top of steps, had not been laid to this date.
such fine budding plants and so
many who are truly devoted to the
Faith, this plan however is dependent
upon many sanctions.
Mrs. Amédée Gibson of the Los Angeles Community is doing a beautiful service for the friends in Haiti. Mrs. Gibson is French and is making typed copies of various of the Writings and binding them with her own hands. These examples of her work and devotion are very gratefully received by the Committee and forwarded to the Spiritual Assembly of Port-au-Prince.
Race Unity[edit]
Reports From the Assemblies
Constructive reports on the Race Unity work are coming in from many of the Assemblies. We regret that there is not space to share all of them with you, but a few excerpts are listed below.
San Francisco — “Our most recent attempt, a Chinese evening, was the most successful in bringing out an audience. Fifty-nine invitations sent to Fellowship and Teaching Committee contacts included a notice of the Friday evening public meeting, an illustrated Temple lecture, as well as the Chinese evening on Saturday night. . .As a result, there were fifty-eight people present for the Chinese program, eighteen of them non-Bahá’ís and five children. There were five Chinese, five Negroes and one Mexican.”
Peoria — “Last night at Feast, we
had a large table of Books and
magazines on the Race situation,
and a talk given by one of our members
[Page 4]
who had just visited in Memphis
at Henderson College.”
Philadelphia — “Last year we entertained at our Center, a group of very progressive Negro college boys and girls known as the ‘West Phil. Civic Club’. We hope to meet with this group again in the near future.”
Urbana — “Our bit of race unity work lately has been a twelve-minute broadcast on the subject, “The Question of Prejudice,” a talk written by Mrs. Alta Gaines. It was so well liked by some of the Negro audience that we have had and granted five requests for copies of the talk. The Illinois Times, Danville, Ill., printed it all on the front page of the paper.”
Englewood — “We expect to have many Bahá’í evenings and days of a social nature this fall and winter for through these affairs a friendship and closeness is developed that binds the members of our community closer together.”
Phoenix — “We have read with great interest the appearance in Bahá’í News of “An Up-to-date Bibliography” and will certainly make use of this in our study of the races and hope to have some interesting reports to make to the National Committee before long.”
Milwaukee — “We are in touch with Indian, Mexican, Negro and Jewish groups and are continuing this work to the best of our ability and time, including musical and international nights.”
Arlington — “The local Negro library has gladly accepted Bahá’í books. We hope at a later date to be able to report a program of activity with this minority race.”
East Orange — “While we do not have a Race Unity Committee at the present time, we hope to be able to form one at an early date. We also expect to cooperate with the Newark, Bloomfield and Montclair Assemblies in giving a Race Unity Meeting in the very near future.”
Ann Arbor — “Carver Center, a Negro Community house which recently has been established in Ypsilanti, had a program of music and poetry yesterday, which was attended by several Ann Arbor Bahá’ís. Catherine Faily, isolated believer in Ypsilanti, was largely responsible for the program. We have contributed work, books, time and money for the development of this Negro community center in Ypsilanti, and occasionally we have had our Bahá’í Feasts at Dunbar, the Negro community center in Ann Arbor.”
Los Angeles — “In fact, the race unity question, as far as regards the colored race, as an obstacle in the Bahá’í Community work of the official committees, does not seem to exist here. There are about eighteen colored believers in the local Bahá’í Community, and almost all of them are active in serving the Faith in some manner . . . They have appeared on programs, both as chairmen and as speakers. And with credit to themselves.”
Chicago — “Our plan is to take advantage of the present-day publicity relative to international racial unity, and have made contacts for speakers such as: Mr. Bernard Ojike, Nigeria, Africa — B. A. Oxford, Eng. B. Sc. Ohio State, Ph. D. Chicago. Mr. C. Y. Hu, Soo Chung, Prov. China — B. Sc. Naking Univ., China, M. Sc. Univ. of Cal. Mr. Tson, Chinking, China — B. S. Ass. Univ., S. W. China, M. Sc. Chicago. Miss M. Garay, Chili. S. A. — B. A. Chicago, M. Soc. Sc. Chicago. These speakers have been contacted and are awaiting dates. This is our start, I hope, that with the help of our committee, to present a fine program this Year.”
Many more replies have been received, and excerpts from them will be published later.
Exhibits Committee[edit]
The Committee on Bahá’í Exhibits advises the friends that production of the Temple cutouts and displays has been delayed due to the inability of the manufacturer to obtain stock of cardboard. The display which was to have been sent to Regional and National Teaching Committees last month will be delivered later, but the date is uncertain.
Publishing Announcements[edit]
The Bahá’í Temple, House of Worship of a World Faith, illustrated pamphlet issued by the National Spiritual Assembly to mark the completion of the exterior ornamentation this winter. 32 pages and paper cover, 7½ by 10 inches. It provides information of importance to believers and is suitable for use as general teaching literature. Sold in lots of ten for $1.00.
Information About the Bahá’í House of Worship. 24 mimeographed pages, size 8½ by 11 inches. This makes generally available the information compiled by the Temple Guides Committee for its guide study classes: data and facts about the architect, architecture, grounds, history of building, materials and methods of construction, symbology of the design, principles of Bahá’í worship, etc. Most helpful for teachers and exhibitors of the Temple model. Per copy, $0.25.
New editions of Spanish leaflets: Principles de la Fe Bahá’í, per copy, $0.03; El Mashriqu’l-Adhkar, brief statement about the Temple. Per copy, $0.05.
The friends are informed that the compilation entitled Bahá’í Writings was a donation to the Cause and receipts from sales go to the Temple Fund.
Kindly send orders well in advance, to offset delays in transportation beyond our control. Address: —Bahá’í Publishing Committee, 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.
The Bahá’í World[edit]
Will all who find references to our Faith in non-Bahá’í books or magazines which are not already listed in the Bahá’í Bibliography of The Bahá’í World, volume VIII, please send such references to Mrs. Bertha H. Kirkpatrick, Olivet, Michigan. Information should include name of book, author and publisher and page on which reference occurs. Its reference is in a magazine, name of magazine, month or week and year of issue and author of article with page should be given.
In Memoriam[edit]
. . . The true believer, whose existence and life are to be regarded in the originating purpose of all creation.”
Mrs. Anna Australia Jones, West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Dorothy Graft, Philadelphia.
Bahá’í Calendar[edit]
Nineteen Day Feasts: Questions, December 12; Honor, December 31; Sovereignty, January 19; Dominion, February 7.
Meeting of National Spiritual Assembly, January 8, 9, 10, 11, 1943, at Wilmette.
