THE BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE BAHA’IS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Office of the Secretary
48 WEST 10th STREET, NEW YORK CITYSPECIAL NUMBER OF NEWS LETTER WITH ANNUAL REPORTS
This issue of the News Letter inaugurates what may well become an annual practice: the publication of committee reports in advance of the Convention, so that delegates and friends may possess knowledge of current problem and activities before the sessions begin, and thus be able to devote their valuable time to constructive deliberation.
The plan of issuing the reports at this time was conceived too late to enable all committees to prepare them by the date set, a circumstance which can be prevented next year.
We hope that all delegates will find it possible to study the reports carefully and conscientiously, and bring or send to the Convention such useful comments or suggestions as occur to each delegate personally or are advanced by his fellow-workers. A Convention composed of well-informed delegates can accomplish infinitely more than one most of whose time must be devoted to the absorbing of the very facts required for material efficiency or an atmosphere favorable to collective wisdom and insight.
Much of the detail which hitherto has taken up the first two days of each Convention can now be accomplished through the advance publication of committee reports and other necessary data, with the result that the forthcoming annual meeting should be able to establish a new standard of spiritual accomplishment.
The present News Letter is notable, above all, in that it contains two letters from Shoghi Effendi which illumine many fundamental issues anxiously pondered by the believers, and reveal significant influences at work to hasten the fulfilment of the divine Assurance.
INFORMATION FOR. DELEGATES AND GUESTS[edit]
All Convention sessions will be held at Hotel Windsor. Montreal. the hotel at which the Master stayed during His visit to Montreal in 1912.
The Convention will be opened at 9 A. M. Friday, April 29. and continue through Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. If so voted by the delegates. the Convention can remain active one or more additional days.
The Ridvan Feast will be held Thursday evening, April 28. The cost is $2.50 per person.
It is hoped that at least fifty reservations will be made for rooms at the Windsor, in order to secure the use of the Convention hall without charge. Single rooms from $3.00. Double rooms from $5.00. Less expensive rooms can be obtained at the Corona Hotel. Single rooms from $2.00. Double rooms from $4.00.
The Spiritual Assembly of Montreal will joyously extend all possible hospitality to delegates and visiting Baha’is who would prefer to remain during the Convention as guests in the homes of local believers.
We understand that the Montreal Assembly is planning to issue a general letter early in April with all the details of the Convention arrangements. All inquiries should be sent to Montreal Baha’i Assembly, Room 25. 747 St. Catherine Street West, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Registration of Delegates forms. and first ballot of absent delegates, may be sent to Baha’i Convention at the above address, or to Baha'i Convention, Hotel Windsor, up to the opening of the Convention on April 29.
LETTERS FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI[edit]
To the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful throughout the West. Dearly-beloved brothers and sisters in 'Abdu'l-Bahá:
The trend of various events, affecting directly and indirectly the interests of the Bahá’i Cause. have of late served to mg into further prominence the character as well as the significance of a Faith destined to regenerate the world.
Of all the diverse issues which today are gradually tending to consolidate and extend the bounds of Revelation of Bahá’u’llah, the decision of Egypt’s religious Tribunal regarding the Bahá’is under its jurisdiction appears at the present moment to be the most powerful in its challenge, the most startling in its character, and the most perplexing in the consequences it may entail. I have already alluded in my letter of January 10. 1926, addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada. to a particular feature of this momentous verdict. which after mature deliberation has obtained the sanction of Egypt’s highest ecclesiastical Authorities. has been communicated and printed, and is regarded as final and binding. I have stressed in my last reference to this far-reaching pronouncement the negative aspect of this document which condemns in most unequivocal and emphatic language the followers of Baha’u’llah as the believers in heresy, offensive and injurious to Islam, and wholly incompatible with the accepted doctrines and practise of its orthodox adherents.
A closer study of the text of the decision will, however, reveal the fact that coupled with this strong denunciation is the positive assertion of a truth which the recognized opponents of the Faith in other Muhammedan countries have up to the present time either sedulously ignored or maliciously endeavored to disprove. Not content with this harsh and unjustifiable repudiation of the so-called menacing and heretical doctrines of the adherents of
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of the Baha’is of the United States and Canada
48 West 10th Street, New York City Office of the Treasurer 1821 Lincoln Street Evanston, Ill. |
the Bahá’i Faith, they proceed in a formal manner to declare in the text of that very decision their belief, that the Bahá’i Faith is a "new religion,” "entirely independent" and, by reason of the magnitude of its claim and the character of its "laws, principles and beliefs," worthy to be reckoned as one of the established religious systems of the world. Quoting various passages judiciously gleaned from a number of Bahá’i sacred Books as an evidence to their splendid testimony, they proceed in a notable statement to deduce the fact that henceforth it shall be regarded as impossible for the followers of such a Faith to be designated as Muslim, just as it would be incorrect and erroneous to call a Muhammedan either Christian or Jew.
It cannot be denied that in the course of the inevitable developments of this present situation the resident Bahá’is of Egypt, originally belonging to the Muslim Faith, will be placed in a most humiliating and embarrassing position. They, however. cannot but rejoice in the knowledge that whereas in various Muhammedan countries and particularly in Persia the overwhelming majority of the leaders of Islam are utterly opposed to any form of declaration that would facilitate the universal recognition of the Cause. the authorized heads of their co-religionists in one of the most advanced communities in the Muhammedan world have, of their own initiative. published to the world a document that may justly be termed as the first charter of liberty emancipating the Bahá'i Faith from the fetters of orthodox Islam. And in order to ensure the complete rupture of Bahá'i official relations with Muslim Courts they lay down in unmistakable terms the condition that under no circumstances can the marriage of those Bahá'is who have been required to divorce their Muslim wives be renewed by the Muslim Court unless and until the husbands formally recant their faith by solemnly declaring that the Qur’an is the “last" Book of God revealed to man, that no law can abrogate the Prophet's Law. no faith can succeed His Faith, no revelation can claim to fulfill His Revelation.
While unwavering in their belief in the Divine station of the Author of the Qur'an and profoundly convinced of the necessity and world-wide influence of His Divine mission, Bahá’is in every land stand undeterred and unabashed in the face of the strong condemnation pronounced against their brethren in Egypt. Indeed, they together with their fellow-workers in all Muslim countries welcome with gladness and pride every opportunity for further emancipation that they may set forth in a truer light the sublime mission of Baha’u’llah.
In the face of such an outspoken and challenging declaration, the Bahá’is of the West cannot but feel the deepest sympathy with their Egyptian brethren who. for the sake of our beloved Cause and its deliverance, have to face all the embarrassments and vexations which the severance of old-established ties must necessarily entail. They will, however, most certainly expect every staunch and loyal believer in the Faith who resides in that land to refrain in view of the grave warning uttered expressly by our opponents. from any practice that would in any manner constitute in the eyes of a critical and vigilant enemy a repudiation of the fundamental beliefs of the people of Bahá. They will most assuredly, whenever the moment is opportune. step forth with eager hearts to offer every support in their power to their fellow-workers who. with stout hearts and irreproachable loyalty, will continue to hold aloft the standard of God's struggling Faith. They will not fail to come to the rescue of those who with joyous confidence will endure to the very end such vicissitudes as this New Day of God, now in its birth-throes. must needs suffer and surmount.
We cannot believe that as the Movement grows in strength. in authority and in influence. the perplexities and the sufferings it has had to contend with in the past will correspondingly decrease and vanish. Nay, as it grows from strength to strength, the fanatical defendants of the strongholds of orthodoxy. whatever be their denomination. realizing the penetrating influence of this growing Faith, will arise and strain every nerve to extinguish its light and discredit its name. For has not our beloved 'Abdu'l-Bahá sent forth His glowing prophecy from behind the prison walls of the citadel of Akka——words so significant in their forecast of the coming world turmoil, yet so rich in their promise of eventual victory:——
“How great, how very great is the Cause; how very fierce the onslaught of all the peoples and kindreds of the earth! Erelong shall the clamour of the multitude throughout Africa, throughout America, the cry of the European and of the Turk, the groaning of India and China be heard from far and near. One and all they shall arise with all their power to resist His Cause. Then shall the Knights of the Lord, assisted by grace from on high, strengthened by faith, aided by the power of understanding and reinforced by the legions of the Covenant, arise and make manifest the truth of the verse: ‘Behold the confusion that hath befallen the tribes of the defeated.!"
Dearly-beloved friends, upon us devolves the supreme obligation to stand by His side, to fight His battles and to win His victory. May we prove ourselves worthy of this trust.
- Your true brother,
- SHOGHI.
Haifa. Palestine. February 12, 1927.
To the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'is of the United States and Canada. Dear and precious fellow-workers in the Vineyard of God:——
The communications addressed to me by your indefatigable and distinguished secretary, dated October 28, November 8, 11, 18. December 4, 16 and January 27th, have been received. and together with their enclosures read and carefully noted. I cannot but admire the spirit of unrelaxing resolve and harmonious cooperation with which you are conducting the ever-expanding activities of the Cause in a land upon which our Beloved has lavished His richest blessings, and for the spiritual potentialities of which He cherished the brightest hopes. The vigorous efforts you are exerting to consolidate the forces which the Almighty has placed in your hands; the resourcefulness you display by the measures you have initiated for the furtherance of the Cause: the magnificent response with which you have met the piteous call of your suffering brethren of the East——all proclaim your worthiness of the unexampled efforts which, in your country more than in any other land. ’Abdu’l-Baha has exerted for the spread of the Revelation of Baha’u-’llah.
In connection with the World Unity Conferences, which you have organized, I desire to assure you of my heartfelt appreciation of such a splendid conception. I am profoundly impressed by the generous assistance spontaneously offered by those who, faithful to their other obligations, have risen to ensure the financial success of such a noble Plan. I am grateful to those Local Assemblies and individuals who have given it their whole-hearted support in their respective fields.
As to the policy that should be adopted with regard to these Conferences and other Bahá’i activities in general. it appears increasingly evident that as the Movement grows in strength and power the National Spiritual Assemblies should be encouraged, if circumstances permit and the means at their disposal justify, to resort to the twofold method of directly and indirectly winning the enlightened public to the unqualified acceptance of the Bahá’i Faith. The one method would assume an open, decisive and challenging tone. The other, without implying in any manner the slightest departure from strict loyalty to the Cause of God, would be progressive and cautious. Experience will reveal the fact that each of the methods in its own special way might suit a particular temperament and class of people, and that each in the present state of a constantly fluctuating society. should be judiciously attempted and utilized.
It is. I feel, for the National representatives of the believers in every land to utilize and combine both methods, the outspoken as well as the gradual, in such a manner as to secure the greatest benefits and the fullest advantage for this steadily-growing Cause. Every staunch and high-minded believer is thoroughly convinced of the unfailing efficacy of every humanitarian undertaking which boldly and unreservedly proclaims the source of its motive power to be the consciousness of the Revelation of Baha'u’llah. Yet. if we but call to mind the practice generally adapted by ’Abdu’l-Bahá, we cannot fail to perceive the wisdom. nay the necessity, of gradually and cautiously disclosing to the eyes of an unbelieving world the implications of a Truth which, by its own challenging nature. it is so difficult for it to comprehend and embrace.
It was He, our beloved 'Abdu’l-Bahá. our true and shining Exemplar, who with infinite tact and patience, whether in His public utterances or in private converse. adapted the presentation of the fundamentals of the Cause to the varying capacities and the BAHA’I NEWS LETTER spiritual receptivities of His hearers. He never hesitated, however, to tear the veil asunder and reveal to the spiritually ripened those challenging verities that set forth in its true light the relationship of this Supreme Revelation with the Dispensations oi the Past Unashamed and unafraid when challenged to assert in its entirety the stupendous claim of Baha'u‘1lah, Bahá’is, whether laboring as individuals or functioning as an organized community, feel certain that in the face of the apathy, the gross materialism, and the superficiality of society today, a progressive disclosure of the magnitude of the claim of Baha’u’llah would constitute the most effective means for the attainment of the end so greatly desired by even the staunchest and most zealous advocate of the Faith.
Fully aware of the repeated statements of 'Abdu’l-Bahá that universality is of God, Bahá’is in every land are ready, nay anxious. to associate themselves by word and deed with any association of men which, after careful scrutiny, they feel satisfied is free from every tinge of partisanship and politics and is wholly devoted to the interests of all mankind. In their collaboration with such associations they would extend any moral and material assistance they can afford. after having fulfilled their share of support to those institutions that affect directly the interests of the Cause. They should always bear in mind, however, the dominating purpose of such a collaboration which is to secure in time the recognition by those with whom they are associated of the paramount necessity and the true significance oi the Bahá’i Revelation in this day.
As the Movement extends the bounds of its influence and its opportunities for fuller recognition multiply, the twofold character of the obligations imposed on its National elected representatives should, I feel, be increasingly emphasized. Whilst chiefly engaged in the pursuit of their major task, consisting chiefly in the formation and the consolidation of Bahá'i administrative institutions, they should endeavor to participate. within recognized limits. in the work of institutions which though unaware of the claim of the Bahá’i Cause are prompted by a sincere desire to promote the spirit that animates the Faith. In the pursuit of their major task their function is to preserve the identity of the Cause and the purity of the mission of Baha’u’1lah. In their minor undertaking their purpose should be to imbue with the spirit of power and strength such movements as in their restricted scope are endeavoring to achieve what is near and dear to the heart of every true Bahá’i. It would even appear at times to be advisable and helpful as a supplement to their work for the Bahá’is to initiate any undertaking, not specifically designated as Bahá’i, provided they have ascertained that such an undertaking would constitute the best way of approach to those whose minds and hearts are as yet unprepared for a full acceptance of the claim of Baha’u’llah. These twofold obligations devolving upon organized Bahá’i communities, far from neutralizing the effects of one another or of appearing antagonistic in their aims, should be regarded as complementary and fulfilling, each in its way, a vital and necessary function.
It is for the National representatives of the Bahá’i Cause to observe the conditions under which they labor. to estimate the forces that are at work in their own surroundings, to weigh carefully and prayerfully the merits of either procedure, and to form a correct judgment as to the degree of emphasis that should be placed upon these twofold methods. Then and only then will they be enabled to protect and stimulate on one hand the independent growth of the Bahá’i Faith, and on the other vindicate the claim of its universal principles to the doubtful and unbelieving.
I have already considered these delicate and complex issues with the Bahá’i representatives whom I have requested to gather in the Holy Land in the hope of arriving at the best possible solution of the pressing and intricate problems that confront the development of the Bahá’i Cause. I have asked our dearly-beloved brother, Mr. Mountfort Mills, whose services to the Cause only future generations can estimate, to acquaint you with these and other considerations. the delicacy and scope of which only a verbal explanation can adequately reveal. He will fully and authoritatively inform you regarding the policy that should govern the conduct of the Star of the West. the character and the range of the Bahá'i Bibliography to be inserted in the next edition of the Bahá'i Year Book. the present position of Baha’u’llah’s House in Bagdad. the hopes and desires I cherish for the successful conclusion of the Plan of Unified Action. and the consequences and possibilities involved in the decision of Egypt's religious Tribunal regarding the Muslim Bahá’is in that land.
The splendid record of the action taken by the National and Local representatives of the Bahá'i of the United States and Canada. embodied in the compilation of newspaper cuttings [Page 4]
which you have recently sent me, will be forwarded to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’is of Persia. I will request them to pass it on from hand to hand, that the rank and file of the sufferers in that distracted country may obtain strength and solace which the perusal of such a noble record of service is bound to produce.
Regarding the Publicity Campaign, recently launched, with your consent and under your general supervision, by a group of devoted friends, I desire to express my earnest hope that it may be richly blessed by our Beloved and yield abundant fruit. I am gratified to learn that those who have conceived such a comprehensive plan and have generously supported it by every means in their power have refrained from any action that would involve the imposing of a fresh burden upon those who have incurred the financial obligations connected with the Budget Plan. I earnestly hope that those who have undertaken to finance this project with such spontaneous generosity have already fulfilled their sacred obligations in connection with the Plan, and will not allow any pledges they have made for Publicity to interfere with their regular contributions to the National Fund. the paramount importance of which has already been emphasized.
It is the duty and privilege of the National and Local Assemblies if they find that the pressing requirements of their local and national budgets have been adequately met, to encourage individuals and groups to initiate and conduct, with their knowledge and consent. any undertaking that would serve to enhance the work which they have set themselves to achieve. Not content with appeals addressed to each and every believer to offer any constructive suggestions or plan that would remedy an existing grievance, they should, by every means in their power, stimulate the spirit of enterprise among the believers in order to further the Teaching as well as the administrative work of the Cause. They should endeavor by personal contact and written appeals to imbue the body of the faithful with a deep sense of personal responsibility, and urge every believer. whether high or low, poor or wealthy. to conceive, formulate, and execute such measures and projects as would redound, in the eyes of their representatives. to the power and the fair name of this sacred Cause.
In my hours of prayer at the holy Shrines, I will supplicate that the light of Divine Guidance may illumine your path. and enable you to utilize in the most effective manner that spirit of individual enterprise which, once kindled in the breasts of each and every believer and directed by the discipline of the majestic Law of Baha’u’llah, imposed upon us. will carry our beloved Cause forward to achieve its glorious destiny.
- Your true brother,
- SHOGHI
Haifa. Palestine. February 20, 1927.
ANNUAL THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY 1926-1927[edit]
The completion of a Baha’i cycle of nineteen years is marked by this year's Convention at Montreal. The present Convention has the added significance that it is the first national meeting of the American believers to be held in Canada.
Could we but see these years of effort and unfoldment in proper perspective. it would undoubtedly be possible for us to recognize the gradual growth of a Baha’i body or form corresponding to the new spirit of this age. Each year has brought its own contribution to the process, and we are at present witnesses to many signs which indicate that this national body of service is becoming more and more capable of collective inspiration and unified effort. The Guardian of the Cause has given us the key note of the present phase of Baha'i development in that significant phrase “a wise handling of the forces released by Baha’u’lláh's arm." By these words we are led to perceive more clearly and feel more deeply the fact that there has been a turning point in our collective consciousness from an almost exclusive consideration of the internal affairs of the Cause to the first attempts to solve the supreme problem of making suitable and effective contacts with the surrounding public. Just as the growing youth leaves behind the stage of self-consciousness and awkwardness and at a certain time enters upon the stage of maturity, so the Cause in America with the completion of this nineteen year cycle can be said to have traversed the trials of immaturity and to have entered at last the age of maturity and power.
The delegates present at San Francisco last year will recall how much anxious consideration was given to the terrible conditions confronted by the believers in many parts of Persia. A few days after the Convention a cablegram arrived from Shoghi Effendi stating that twelve Baha’is had been martyred in the town of Jahrum and about twenty houses pillaged, and requesting us to appeal to the Shah. A cablegram was sent in the name of National Assembly to the Shah of Persia from San Francisco early in May and the news of these atrocities and our action was sent out by the Associated Press in Los Angeles a few days afterward. To continue this important subject further. The National Assembly on July 12, 1926, wrote the Shah of Persia a detailed appeal and reprints of this were during the next few months placed in the Hands of believers throughout the United States and Canada, all foreign Assemblies. the newspapers. members of the Persian Cabinet, the American State Department, the President, his cabinet officers, all members of the Senate and the House. the British Foreign Office the League of Nations, and an extensive list of influential religious and other organizations. Through whole-hearted cooperation of American Assemblies and groups, a statement of the events in Persia was published in many newspapers and a file of these clippings sent to the Guardian in January, 1927.
None of the friends will ever forget the beautiful hospitality extended to the delegates by the San Francisco Assembly last year, nor the extensive preparations made by all the Western Assemblies in providing opportunities for public addresses by all the teachers who found it possible to visit the Assemblies along the Pacific Coast before or after the Convention.
Another international matter taken up by the Convention in 1926 was the seizure of the House of Baha’u’llah in Bagdad. We have since been informed by the Guardian that steps have been taken by the authorities which will eventually restore this sacred property to the Cause. Mr. Mountfort Mills rendered notable services in connection with this grave problem and we may expect from him a detailed statement of all the circumstances surrounding the Baha’i Shrine.
It is our privilege now to review the communications received from the Guardian this year. Shoghi Effendi’s cablegram of May 6 on the subject of the martyrdoms in Persia has already been mentioned. On September 10. through Bahiyyih Khanum, the Guardian cabled in reply to a message sent by a committee of the annual meeting of the Green Acre Fellowship informing him that the Fellowship had confirmed its vote of the previous year to place Green Acre under the super vision of the National Assembly. In this cablegram the Guardian expressed the hope that this newly confirmed union would achieve its purpose by increasingly demonstrating the universality
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of the Baha’i Cause. A few weeks later, also through Bahiyyih Khanum, Shoghi Effendi cabled an acknowledgment of our appeal to the Shah and informed us that the criminals were still unpunished and the officials indifferent. On September 25 we received a cablegram referring to the visit of Queen Marie of Roumania in which the Guardian asked that the friends refrain from communicating with her unless the National Assembly sanctioned it. On October 16 the Guardian cabled that the case of the House in Bagdad was progressing most favorably. On October 25 Shoghi Effendi cabled to ask for one hundred copies of the Baha'i Year Book, and on the following day informed us that Mirza Maqami and Mirza Benan. distinguished Persian believers, were on their way to the United States. On October 28 the Guardian requested the National Assembly to extend to Queen Marie a cordial expression of Baha'i appreciation and gratitude for her remarkable services to the Cause. On December 13 the Guardian cabled to urge the hastening of the incorporation of the Baha’i body in the U. S. and Canada. This subject will be referred to later on in the present report. A second message referring to the subject of incorporation was received on December 15. The Guardian sent a cabled expression of his grief at the passing of Mr. and Mrs. Macnutt on December 29, 1926. On February 24, 1927, the Guardian informed us that Mountfort Mills after rendering most valuable services in London and the Holy Land was preceding temporarily to the U. S. to deliberate with the National Assembly on issues affecting the international status of the Cause. adding that his statements were fully authorized. On February 26 we received the sad news that Afnan Mirza Mohsen, the Beloved’s son-in-law and distinguished servant of the Cause had ascended to the Abha Kingdom. All the fore-going cablegrams which referred to subjects of general interest have been given to the friends in the pages of the NEWS LETTER.
The letters received from the Guardian this year have deepened our insight and enlarged our understanding of those problems arising inevitably at a time when the Cause is undergoing a transition from internal to external problems, a time coinciding, as we all full appreciate. with a series of new and unprecedented conditions affecting humanity in all parts of the world.
The first letter received from Shoghi Effendi after the 1926 Convention was one addressed to the believers throughout the West and dated April 22, 1926. In this letter we were given the heart-rending details of the occurances in Persia. The next communication was addressed to the members of the National Assembly and dated May 11. In this letter the Guardian made the significant statement that the day may not be far distant when we shall witness, as we have observed elsewhere, the promised signs of Divine Retribution avenging the blood of the slaughtered servants of Baha’u’llah. A forceful reminder of the Plan of Unified Action was also made in this communication, the Guardian writing to the effect that the friends must be constantly reminded of the vital necessity for a continuous and whole-hearted support of the scheme. the success or failure of which will, to a marked extent. affect the course of the progress of the Cause not only in North America but throughout the Baha'i world. "Let the friends recall. and ever bear in mind. the repeated exhortations and glowing promises of our beloved Master with reference to the Mashriqu’l—Adhkar, the crowning institution in every Baha'i community." Another passage we should bear in mind in that letter is as follows: “The administrative machinery of the Cause having now sufficiently evolved, its aim and object fairly well grasped and understood. and its method and working made more familiar to every believer. I feel the time is ripe when it should be fully and consciously utilized to further the purposes for which it has been created. It should, I strongly feel. be made to serve a two-fold purpose. On one hand it should aim at a steady and gradual expansion of the Movement along lines that are at once broad. sound and universal; and on the other it should insure the internal consolidation of the work already achieved. It should both provide the impulse whereby the dynamic forces latent in the Faith can unfold. crystalize and shape the lives and conduct of men. and serve as a medium for the interchange of thought and the coordination of activities among the divers elements that constitute the Baha'i community."
The next letter was written on October 7 and addressed to the believers throughout the West on the subject of the remarkable spiritual victory represented by the interest of Queen Marie in the Cause. In this letter the Guardian referred to the realization of the regenerating power, the supreme necessity. the unfailing efficacy of the Message.
Another letter addressed to the Western believers was written on October 29 and gave us the news of the satisfactory progress of the negotiations carried on in connection with the sacred habitation of Baha’u’llah at Bagdad.
The communication addressed to the National Assembly on October 31 brought us the first intimation that the Guardian has turned his attention to the problem of international Baha’i administration. We may all take pride in the fact that a representative of this country, Mr. Mountfort Mills, was one of the three believers invited by Shoghi Effendi to visit the Holy Land last fall in order that the Guardian might lay down the foundation of some sort of an international Baha’i secretariat at Haifa and also take counsel upon the measures required to provide for the preliminary steps that will eventually lead to the proper establishment of the first international House of Justice. In this letter the Guardian stated that the progress of the contributions of the American believers for the support of the Unified Plan of Action, up to June 30, 1926. had considerably fallen below what he confidently expected it to achieve.
The need of workers for the Tarbiat School in Teheran was brought to the attention of all The believers in a letter written by Shoghi Effendi on November 14.
In the Guardian's letter addressed to the believers throughout the West and dated February 12, 1927, we were informed about the highly important action taken by the Muhammedan Religious Tribunal of Egypt in handing down the written decision that the Court declared that the Baha’i Cause must be considered as a separate and independent religion. and not as a movement derived from and contained within the limits of the Faith of Islam. The Guardian's references to this decision make it clear that the event is to be regarded as a definite milestone in the development of the Baha’i Faith toward universal public recognition. The full implications of the decision can be understood by reference to the reports brought to the American believers by Mountfort Mills. an outline of which the in-coming National Assembly will no doubt publish in some suitable manner.
At the date the present report was prepared. the last letter received from the Guardian this year was the communication dated February 20. 1927, and addressed to the members of the National Assembly. Although published in the NEWS LETTER of April, it is well at this time to recapitulate some of the subjects the Guardian brought up in this communication. His reference to the 'World Unity Con
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ferences has made it clear that both the direct and indirect teaching methods are endorsed, a fact which compels us all to feel greater responsibility in estimating which teaching method is better calculated to produce the desired results for the Cause under any given condition. The need for increased individual initiative was stressed by the Guardian in the same letter. His desire that we endeavor to found Baha'i institutions was also expressed. The need of spiritual contact with other movements, but only after careful study of their purposes and methods, was likewise brought to our attention. In this as in so many other recent letters from Shoghi Effendi, we were again reminded of the paramount importance of the Unified Plan.
During the course of the year the Cause in America has lost a number of well-known and important souls. Among those whose passing we have lamented are: Dr. Albert Durant Watson of Toronto; Mrs. Olof Pary of New York Mills, Minnesota; Mother Pomeroy of Montreal; Mrs. Nels Peterson of Fruitport, Michigan: Mrs. Erica Mary Tennis of Denver. Colorado; Miss Elizabeth Stewart of Philadelphia; Mrs. Charlotte Rosenhouer of Lakeland, Florida; Howard and Mary MacNutt of Miami, Florida. and Green Acre, Maine.
In order to keep before the believers the memory of the love and achievements of those who have entered into the Abha Kingdom, the National Assembly has planned the publication of a Baha’i Necrology, annually, or perhaps once every several years. This publication might well include a form of Baha’i service suitable for reading at funerals. We have been informed by the Guardian through one of his secretaries, that the custom of holding a memorial service forty days after the date of death, is founded upon a Muhammedan tradition and is an institution we are not to retain in the Baha’i world. Special circumstances, as we are informed, made it desirable to observe this Muhammedan custom after the ascension of the Master. but we are requested not to consider this as a precedent for the Cause. On the other hand. the Guardian has made it clear that whenever possible, the Baha’i friends or relatives should conduct a Baha’i funeral service for the departed and not to feel satisfied with a non-Baha’i form of burial service unless circumstances make this imperative.
The friends may rejoice at the fact that four new local Spiritual Assemblies have been elected this year: in Vancouver. B. C.; St. Augustine. Florida: Ithaca. New York. and Wilmette, Illinois. We understand that the Baha’is of Evanston, Illinois, are planning to elect their own local Spiritual Assembly on April 21st.
In the appointment of National Committees for the current year, the members of the National Assembly endeavored to give due regard to the fact that a smaller number of committees all functioning with the utmost vigor and efficiency, represents a far more healthy condition and is productive of better results than a larger number of committees some of which find it difficult to meet frequently enough to evolve a plan or develop the spirit of action. The number of National Baha’i Committees has consequently been smaller this year than previously. That much constructive action has been achieved. however, was revealed by the series of reports published in the special number of the NEWS LETTER dated April. 1927, and by those reports which could not be prepared soon enough for publication and are therefore to be presented to the delegates at this Convention. It seems clear that national committees fall into two classes: one, representing committees whose service coincides with such permanent Baha’i institutions as the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar, teaching, publishing, and the Baha’i Magazine, Star of the West; the other class consisting of committees appointed for a specific purpose and whose continuing existence would serve no object after its purpose is achieved. Recalling the Guardian's expressed desire that the establishment of Baha’i institutions is one of the larger responsibilities of Baha'i administration. we would express the hope that the incoming National Assembly may find it possible to make a careful survey of all existing Baha'i activities and find ways and means of securing some thorough knowledge of the capacities of believers in all parts of the country, so that in the appointment of future national committees the principle of cumulative efficiency may be borne in mind. No other standard than that of true capacity and initiative need of course be observed in the appointment of committees. and in the case of those concerned with the permanent activities every effort should be made to draw out into expression every latent qualification and capacity in the Cause.
The work of the National Assembly this year has for the most part centered around three special problems. The first of these in point of time consisted in the effort to find the most suitable legal form for the incorporation of the administrative work of the Cause in this country. The special difficulties encountered in this search have been clearly set forth in the report of the Legal Committee. A great debt of gratitude is due the members of this committee and especially to Alfred E. Lunt, for the really tremendous volume of research carried on during the year and for the quality of the final result. The completion of this legal step has removed a heavy burden of responsibility from the National Assembly, the future members of which will undoubtedly find the material side of their work clarified to a considerable degree. As explained in the report of the Legal Committee. the material assets of the Cause in the U. S. and Canada are now held by a body of three Trustees to be known as Trustees of the National Spiritual Assembly. Those appointed to this body at the meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly held in March, 1927. were Roy C. Wilhelm, Allen B. McDaniel and Carl Scheffler. Their office is to hold title to all the Baha'i property in America. including the land purchased for the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in Wilmette, the properties given to the Cause by the Green Acre Fellowship, the assets of the Publishing Committee and of the Baha’i Magazine. Star of the West, and also such funds as are held for the purpose of constructing the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar and any additional funds or property bequeathed or otherwise given to the Cause. The current assets of the various divisions of the National Fund will continue to be administered by the Treasurer of the National Assembly. The existence of this body of Trustees now makes it possible for believers desiring to leave bequests to include a codicil in their wilds which will be acceptable to their executors. The working of this new legal form has not yet developed to the point where a detailed summary can be published for the information of the believers, but the constitution and by-laws adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly and the indenture of trust controlling the function of the three Trustees will soon be published and distributed in pamphlet form. This document will have the further advantage of clarifying the entire working of the system of Baha'i administration, including the relation of the local Assemblies to the National Assembly, the function of delegates, etc. The of this important step should be to increase our collective efficiency and. at the same time. free our thoughts for the spiritual phases of Baha’i service.
The second problem deserving special mention here has been the effective administration of the affairs of Green
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Acre. There is no doubt but what the believers generally have been inclined to take the activities of Green Acre for granted, and we have all given too little thought either to the financial or spiritual responsibilities involved in this consecrated community founded by Miss Sarah J. Farmer in 1894 in the full consciousness of the New Day. It has been no light task to attain either an understanding of what Green Acre required in order to vitalize its work and make it begin to yield fruit in Baha’i influence or to assume responsibility for the maintenance and improvement of its many-sided material affairs. A separate report has been placed before the friends by the Green Acre Executive Committee, but for the purposes of record it should be repeated here that the members of the Green Acre Fellowship at their annual meeting held August 10, 1925, unanimously adopted a resolution effect of which was to bring their work under the supervision, control and responsible direction of the National Spiritual Assembly, by making any changes in the by-laws or charter of the Fellowship necessary to consummate this policy, including any necessary transfers of title or other interests whether of real or personal estate, that may be lawfully made. This resolution was confirmed at the annual meeting of the Green Acre Fellowship held on August 9, 1926, and at this meeting the members of the Fellowship thoroughly understood that as soon as the National Baha’i incorporation had been effected the actual transfer of title to Green Acre would be made. To all intents and purposes therefore. the valuable land and buildings of Green Acre, and above all its unique tradition of spiritual service, are, at the present time, as much a part of the Baha’i body as the Temple land at Wilmette or the books published by the Publishing Committee. Shoghi Effendi, in fact, has expressed to the American believers his hope that Green Acre would be the focal center of the humanitarian, devotional and other activities of the Cause in this country pending the completion of the Mashrik'l-Adhkar. The development of Green Acre both spiritually and materially will for some years to come represent one of the most important responsibilities and also privileges of the American believers.
The third major problem confronted by the National Assembly this year consisted in the development of methods and policies capable of conveying the spirit and teachings of the Cause to the surrounding public. The result of our experience this year, and also the expressed conviction of the Guardian, has been to indicate the need of applying our teaching resources along two methods. One method has taken form and substance in the activity of the World Unity Conferences, the other method was expressed in the recent appointment of a new national teaching committee authorized to report recommendations for the establishing of a public Baha’i platform. with the cooperation of the local Assemblies, in the various cities of the U. S. and Canada. The number of powerful and impressive public Baha'i meetings held in America is still all too few. As the work of this committee develops and gathers momentum, the result should be a constant and uninterrupted series of meetings making use of all well-qualified teachers under more favorable conditions than hitherto. The cooperation of the national and local Baha’i bodies, when concentrated upon this teaching field, should and in fact must eventuate in public expressions of the Baha'i Faith so forceful and so convincing as to capture the hearts and minds of that large portion of the general public at present not at all satisfied with their inherited religion or their personal inner lives. The World Unity Conferences have become a well established activity capable of accomplishing great results in their field. Eventually, of course, all teaching efforts will be merged into one universal Baha'i service.
The importance of the special funds known as the Lillian Kappes Memorial and the Fund of the Tarbiaat School has been appreciated to a far larger degree than has been the case for many years. It should be a matter of regret to us all that through unavoidable circumstances the American friends have allowed this noble cooperation with the Baha'is of Persia to suffer neglect. We trust that both funds can receive sufficient support in future to enable the friends in Persia to maintain the full number of American scholarships and also to construct the larger school building they so much require. The friends will be interested to know that some months ago the Baha’i School in Hamadan wrote stating that they would like an American believer to go as principal and to teach English. This request has been brought to the attention of some of the American friends particularly well-qualified and also interested in Persia, and at the present time recommendation is in the hands of Shoghi Effendi. We hope that it will be possible to send a principal during the next few months.
The services so actively carried on during the last few years by Mrs. Victoria Bedikian under the name of the World Fellowship have this year, by instruction from Shoghi Effendi, been related to the national and local Assemblies. Mrs. Bedikian at present is concentrating her extensive international correspondence upon the subject of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar and has recently published two bulletins devoted to the Temple. The Guardian has made it clear that the Gardens established by Mrs. Bedikian for children should always be administered by believers and all branches of the work established by the World Fellowship should be properly correlated, through committees, to our Baha’i administration. Several Gardens have reported concerning their activities to the National Assémbly and it is hoped that this helpful and admirable conception may develop into a series of children’s groups wherein the Baha’i ideals of education and spirituality may be applied to the coming generation.
Some of the friends may have noticed a recent newspaper report stating the last session of Congress in Washington seemed unwilling to devote the income of the indemnity fund paid to this country by the Persian Government following the murder of Vice-Consul Major Imbrie in Teheran. to the purposes of educating Persian students in this country as planned and pledged by Mr. Hughes, former Secretary of State. The National Assembly carefully considered this situation and during March wrote a letter to Senator Borah, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, urging that Mr. Hughes’ original plan be carried out for the sake of its beneficial effects upon the relations of East and West. We also expressed our hope that America could carry out this humanitarian intention in order to establish a new spirit of justice and fellowship between the U. S. and Persia, and we informed him of the close spiritual relations between the Baha’is of this country and Persia. It is probable that nothing can be done by the Senate or Congress until next autumn or winter. but meanwhile, the Baha’is of the U. S. and Canada have gone officially on record in behalf of the Hughes’ Plan.
Among the instances of individual initiative shown by American believers this year several interesting examples should be cited: a member of the Geneva, New York, Assembly took advantage of the opportunity offered by an article in the Atlantic Monthly Magazine claiming that the age of prophets had passed, to write a letter to the editor stating that three Beings
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of the prophetic character and influence had appeared in this age. As the result of numerous inquiries asking who these three prophets were, the author, Mrs. Doris McKay, at the editor's request, wrote a second letter in which the Baha’i Revelation was explained and this letter has been published in the April number of the Atlantic Monthly. There is no need here of making special references to the unique services rendered by Miss Martha Root in carrying the Message to Queen Marie of Roumania. the Guardian having expressed his great gratification at this service in several letters published during the year. The friends should be happy and proud at knowing that Miss Juliet Thompson has recently painted a portrait of Mrs. Coolidge and gave Mrs. Coolidge information about the Cause. We understand that Shoghi Effendi has informed all the Eastern believers of this auspicious event. While these examples by no means exhaust the achievements rendered by individual believers this year, they may be taken as indications of how individual initiative, when allied with understanding of and loyalty to the Cause, is confirmed, and such instances should inspire us all to nobler intention and more ardent effort.
One of the recently appointed national committees is engaged in work of such fundamental importance that its plans should be mentioned some what in detail. We refer to the committee on inter-racial amity which is endeavoring to carry out that program of spiritual reconciliation which 'Abdu'l-Baha' so emphatically declared to be essential to the well-being. perhaps even to the safety of the American people. In requesting Mr. Louis Gregory to serve as executive secretary of this committee. the National Assembly considered that this true servant of Baha'u’llah would surely find in this field a task worthy of his ideals and attainments. The friends are requested to give particular attention to the plans of the committee on inter-racial amity, in order that as soon as possible racial amity meetings may be held in cities throughout the country.
During December a number of believers voluntarily offered to meet the expenses of a Publicity Bureau in order that the activities of the Cause might be more extensively and officially made known to the general public. The Bureau has been functioning for a period of three months. during which time they have received clippings of their publicity to the extent of about newspaper columns. The subjects presented so far have been the Year Book. the World Unity Conferences and the Green Acre Institute of World Unity, in addition to which special articles have been prepared and issued by the Bureau. It would be well for the Assemblies to give this subject very careful attention in order that we may all learn how to cooperate with these new facilities for publicity. Meanwhile, we should feel distinct gratitude to those whose generosity has made this important service possible.
The Plan of Unified Action, representing as it does the only possible solution of the problem of maintaining the material affairs of the Cause upon the simplest, most direct and efficient basis, falls particularly within the province of the National Treasurer, whose report will inform the friends concerning the operation of the Plan in detail. The Plan of Unified Action, however, is by no means exclusively financial in character. because its success depends upon factors of understanding, loyalty and se1f-sacrifice. in the spiritual realm. The period of one and a half years during which the budget of the National Fund has been on trial has resulted in producing a flow of income adequate to meet the current expenses of Baha'i administration, but insufficient to yield an overflow for the permanent Temple Fund. Perhaps the present Convention can accomplish nothing more important than the careful reconsideration of this Plan. with all its implications as pointed out by the Guardian of the Cause. and its revitalizing by a profounder spirit of consecrated effort to be carried to all the Assemblies and groups by the delegates and friends gathered in Montreal.
Two distinguished Persian believers. Mirza Maqami and Mirza Benan, came to the United States this year in connection with personal business affairs but with the intention of visiting local Assemblies as far west as California. Their arrival was preceded by the cablegram from Shoghi Effendi mentioned above. This intention unfortunately could not be carried out and our fellow-believers were compelled to depart without having made the Baha’i contacts they had anticipated and even without having found it possible to meet with the members of the National Assembly. Those who had the privilege of making their acquaintance realize what a loss it has meant to the believers generally not to receive these notable guests in the local meetings. Their long experience in the Cause. their radiant spirit of Baha’i love, and their ardent. heroic zeal for service, were qualities capable of inspiring new life in the hearts of the friends. It is with the greatest joy that we announce to this Convention the gift of Persian objects valued at approximately ten thousand dollars. donated by our devoted. brother Mirza. Maqami to the Temple Fund. What an example of that unity in 'Abdu'l-Baha' raised far above limitations of race, nationality or religion! How gloriously shines this act of generous sacrifice against the darkness which has descended elsewhere between Orient and Occident! How future generations of Baha’is will acclaim this service to the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkar of the West! What effort we ourselves should make, to add more and more to that sacred Fund!
The following communications have been sent by the National Assembly this year to local Assemblies and groups; on July 28 a letter was issued to all local Spiritual Assemblies expressing the need of a closer bond of understanding and cooperation between the local and national bodies; on July 31 a letter was sent to Assemblies and groups enclosing a copy of the publicity prepared on the subject of Persian martyrdoms; on .September 15 a letter was issued to all the delegates of the 1926 Convention enclosing a proxy for the annual meeting of the Baha’i Temple Unity; in October a revised directory of Baha’i secretaries in the United States and Canada was issued to all Assembly addresses on our records; on October 21 a letter was written on the subject of the visit of Queen Marie of Roumania suggesting that in cities visited by her the believers show their appreciation of her services to the Cause by making her a gift of flowers; on November 10 a special letter was written to a number of well-known teachers pointing out the need of an increased effort by those in a position to travel from Assembly to Assembly; in November also a printed list of Oriental terms showing the Baha’i accents drawn up by Shoghi Effendi was published and issued to Assembly list; on December 22 the National Treasurer sent a general letter to all delegates of the 1926 Convention and also to all local secretaries and treasurers on the Subject of the National Fund; on January 4th we sent to all Assemblies and groups a blank form to be filled out with the number of local believers in each community in order that the Convention Roll might be accurately drawn up; on January 11 the National Assembly wrote a special letter to a number of individual believers asking their cooperation in working for the success. of the Plan of
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Unified Action; on February 1 we sent out copies of publicity on the subject of the Year Book, asking local Assemblies and groups to see that this was printed in their local papers; on February 18 the 1927 Convention Call was sent to all Assemblies entitled to delegates; on March 28 we wrote all Assemblies and groups regarding the local elections to be held on April 21st; this year, enclosing a blank form to be filled out with the names of the members of the Spiritual Assembly elected at that time. In this letter we also requested the incoming local secretaries to send the names and addresses of all believers in each community by June first so that the Baha’i Directory for 1927 can be issued earlier than was done last year.
Other communications have been published in the pages of the NEWS LETTER. increased in size and improved in appearance during the year. Our hope is that in time the NEWS LETTER may assume more of the character and importance of a true Baha'i newspaper, until it can be issued at frequent intervals and convey to the believers not merely a digest of events taking place within the Cause, but also interpretations of important world events in the light of the Revelation of Baha'u’llah. Surely from the Cause itself should be produced the first truly constructive and humanitarian newspaper of the world, sensitively reflecting all phases of the universal struggle for truth and boldly defending each and every expression of the Holy Spirit in the life of mankind.
Today we are privileged to nurture the tiny seed——tomorrow, we can trust, capable souls will arise whose efforts will show forth the fruits of a mighty tree!
The meetings of the National Spiritual Assembly since the last election have been as follows: the first meeting was held in San Francisco on May 3. 1926; the second meeting at Worcester. Mass.. on June 12; the third meeting at West Englewood, New Jersey, on June 26; the fourth meeting at Green Acre. Maine, on August 7; the fifth meeting in New York City on September 18; the sixth meeting at Buffalo. New York, on October 23; the seventh meeting at Boston. Mass., December 11: the eighth meeting at Washington, D. C., on January 9, 1927: the ninth meeting at Chicago, Illinois. January 22; the tenth meeting in New York. February 26. The eleventh meeting has been called for New York on April 2.
The present report has been prepared only up to March 30. 1927. in order to go out with the other reports in the April NEWS LETTER. A supplementary report dealing with the activities of the month of April will be prepared before the delegates meet.
To conclude: while it is essential that we all become thoroughly informed about the facts, events and conditions making up the current record of our collective service, and more and more capable of handling details and solving problems, the overwhelming circumstance in the life of the Cause today is the condition of the world. Gigantic antagonisms and distracting fears are being released from within the whole area of humanity. The environment in which the believers will soon find themselves makes supreme demands upon inward qualities of heroic courage, direct spiritual vision, immoveable faith. May the delegates and friends hold just balance between the material and spiritual phases of the Cause at this Convention! NAT’L SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY.
- ALLEN MCDANIEL. Chairman.
- HORACE HOLLEY, Secretary,
- CARL SCHEFFLER, Treasurer.
- ROY C. WILHELM
- FLORENCE MORTON
- AMELIA COLLINS
- ALI-KULI KHAN
- MOUNTFORT MILLS
- SIEGFRIED SCHOPFLOCHER
REPORT OF NATIONAL PUBLIC TEACHING PROGRAM COMMITTEE[edit]
At a regular meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly, held in New York City on Feb. 27, 1927, a committee consisting of Mrs. May Maxwell. Mrs. Elizabeth Greenleaf and Mr. Allen McDaniel was appointed to prepare a program for a National Bahai Public Teaching activity. This committee respectfully submits the following preliminary report:
The purpose of this activity is to establish a National Bahai Public Teaching platform. The activity should consist of public meetings and follow-up work to be conducted by the National Teaching Committee in cooperation with local spiritual assemblies and groups. These meetings shall be held approximately once a month in different Bahai centers.
It is suggested that each local spiritual assembly or group appoint a special committee to cooperate with the National Teaching Committee in the preparation and conduct of this national teaching program.
The National traveling teachers and local teachers shall be utilized as far as practicable in the giving of addresses at the meetings and in the follow-up work which should include public meetings, group meetings and personal conferences.
The public meetings may he held in public halls, churches, the auditorium of educational and other institutions, and similar available places. Every effort will be made to make these meetings as attractive as possible from the physical point of view, and with addresses from the Bahai teachers and outside speakers who are interested in and favorable to the Cause with a view to making each meeting a clear and forceful presentation of the message of Baha’u’llah.
It is suggested that simple leaflets, presenting the teachings and message of the Cause, be distributed at each public meeting together with notices calling attention to the follow-up meetings. The group meetings can well be arranged for by special invitation. Every effort should be made to have this follow-up work of a recurrent nature so that interest may be sustained after the initial public meetings.
Arrangements shall be made to coordinate these national Bahai public meetings with the World Unity Conferences. It is possible that this may be best done by having the Bahai meetings follow the World Unity Conferences at a period of from two weeks to a month. The national Bahai public meetings should also be coordinated with the meetings for racial amity. It is suggested that this can be taken care of by having one of the Bahai public meetings given over to the subject of racial amity in certain centers.
The Bahai magazine should contain regular reports of these national Bahai public meetings.
Your committee believes that the establishment and vigorous prosecution of these national Bahai public meetings will develop into one of the major activities of the Cause and will gradually result in carrying out the wishes of our Guardian in the bringing of the message into the hearts and lives of the people of this country and Canada.
- ALLEN MCDANIEL
- ELIZABETH GREENLEAF
- MAY MAXWELL
PUBLISHING COMMITTEE REPORT[edit]
The detail work of the Bahá’i Publishing Committee has been carried out during the past year by Mrs. Marie Moore and her daughter, Miss Emilie Moore. The members of the Committee have served in an advisory capacity to consult on matters of general policy.
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A few weeks previous to the last Convention, the Publishing Committee, in cooperation with Brentano's, published “The Divine Art of Living", compilation long popular among the friends, but only accessible in back volumes of the Star of the West. The Committee is now taking up with Brentano's the possibility of bringing out a special edition of this book bound in paper covers and salable at lower cost.
During the spring of 1926 also. the National Assembly distributed among all the believers of the United States and Canada copies of a compilation entitled “The Spiritual Opportunity of the Bahá’is of the U. S. and Canada". This pamphlet reprinted the four Tablets addressed to all the American believers in the series of Tablets known as “The Divine Plan". All the copies left over after this distribution have recently been turned over to the Publishing Committee to be sold with the other literature.
The new books and pamphlets and reprints of former books and pamphlets brought out during the current year are as follows:
The unique series of No. 9 Compilations. already issued in many languages, has been extended this year to include an edition in Esperanto. Two hundred of these were donated to the annual Congress of the Esperanto Association of North America held in Philadelphia during July of 1926. An edition of No. 9 Compilation in the Russian language has been in the hands of capable translators for some time. It is likely that this edition will be available during the spring of 1927. A Spanish edition of the No. 9 Compilation was issued in September 1926.
The small prayer book containing translations by Shoghi Effendi has been reprinted.
The latest edition of Hidden Words has also been reprinted in an edition of 5,000 copies at a cost enabling the Committee to reduce the price both on the paper and leather editions.
In October the Committee brought out a new compilation entitled “The Spirit of World Unity”.
The reprints of the letter written by the National Spiritual Assembly to the Shah of Persia have been turned over to the Publishing Committee and added to the list of available literature.
Early in the year, the Committee received from Shoghi Effendi the revised text of the pamphlet by Dr. Esslemont entitled "What is the Bahá’i Movement?" and at the Guardian’s request this has been brought out both in English and Hebrew.
The pamphlet by Dr. Esslemont entitled “Bahá’u’llah and His Message” has been reprinted in a large enough edition to enable the Committee to reduce the price from fifteen to five cents.
The larger work of Dr. Esslemont entitled “Baha’u’llah and the New Era” has continued to be one of the Bah’i works most in demand. The Committee has brought out an edition of 500 copies bound in paper, all of which were sold within a few months. The Committee is now arranging for another edition of 500 copies.
A plate of the Greatest Name was presented to the Committee this year by Mr. Charles Mason Remey, and an edition of the Greatest Name printed on heavy card board was published during the fall.
Another gift to the Committee consisted of the stencils of the compilation on Education received from Mrs. Grace Ober. The Committee found it possible to mimeograph a small edition of this important compilation. It is not likely that the stencils can be used again, but it is hoped that the Committee later on can reprint this compilation in booklet form.
The Committee calls the attention of friends to the fact that copies of the Bahá’i Year Book, Volume One. published by the Year Book Committee. are now handled by the Publishing Committee with the other literature. It has been found necessary to raise the price of this work from one dollar to one twenty-five, but this increased price does not affect copies sold before the issuance of the revised catalog in April 1927.
During the course of the year. the National Assembly received from the Guardian a statement which can properly be referred to in this report. Shoghi Effendi has made it clear that all diaries and records of visits to Haifa during the lifetime of the Master, if consisting of quotations taken down by the pilgrim and not corrected and approved by ’Abdu’l-Bahá are to be edited in such a way as to make it clear that these words of ’Abdu’l-Bahá are not direct quotations but rather the understanding of the editor himself what the Master said. This removes all such works from the list of what we might call the authoritative utterances. This instruction is to be applied to all such works brought out in future. and ways and means must be found sooner or later to carry this out also in the case of works printed an previous years.
About five years ago the Publishing Committee distributed throughout all the established Assemblies on consignment a large amount of books and pamphlets. believing that this material would be more useful in the various Assembly libraries than in the ware house in Chicago. A great deal of these books and pamphlets have been sold and paid for since that time. Realizing, however, that many of the pamphlets and booklets were titles which the great majority of the friends already owned, the Committee some months ago decided to reduce the cost of alt the pamphlets originally published many years ago and at present not in perfect condition. This decision will enable the local Assemblies to liquidate all long outstanding accounts, the result of which would be to enable the Committee to undertake the necessary financing of several much needed works.
There are certain books out of print which should be restored to circulation at the earliest possible moment. Among these are: Volume One and Volume Three of the Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha. and Bahá'i Proofs by Abul Fazl.
The Committee again calls to the attention of the friends the fact that a fourth volume of Tablets, containing those important Tablets written by the Master to Assemblies and individuals after the year 1915, is of supreme importance and it is hoped that some way can be found to edit the text and add this precious volume to the literature of the Cause.
Other new works which the Committee plans to undertake in the near future is a second series of extracts from the letters of the Guardian. and a revised book of Bahá’i Prayers.
At the time this report is being prepared. the Committee is at work upon a revised catalog of all the literature in print at the present time. and this is expected before the 1927 Convention.
- ROY C. WILHELM
- ALBERT WINDUST
- SIEGFRIED SCHOPFLOCHER
- HORACE HOLLEY
STAR OF THE WEST Editors’ Report[edit]
Complying with the request oi the National Spiritual Assembly for a report from the Star of the West Committee. we are submitting herewith. for advance publication in THE NEWS LETTER. a very brief summary of a report to be presented in full at the Annual Bahá'i Convention to be held this year in Montreal.
From all the instructions we have received from our Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, and which we have tried sincerely and conscientiously to follow as a basis for action. the friends will understand that those who serve on the STAR do not control its policy. but that we have been striving to edit the
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magazine according to the explicit instructions received, and under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly. We have from time to time sought our Guardian's advice, and than keeping his instructions ever before our sight, we have endeavored to make the STAR conform thereto. One of the points brought out, for instance, was this: that while the Bahá'i Magazine is to be so edited as to have a universal appeal, yet the essential teachings of the Cause are to be fearlessly proclaimed.
Thus we have tried to make the magazine broad and universal in scope somewhat of a “travelling teacher", suitable for non Bahá'is as well as interesting to the Bahá'is.
The plan to have the editorials deal with current events, was changed after a few months, and the editorial pages have been devoted to the exposition. in some form, of the history and teachings of the Cause, always proclaimed in such a way as to appeal to those interested or becoming attracted to the Cause.
The Compilations from the Holy Utterances have appeared from time to time in conformity with our instructions.
It is not an easy matter to always secure the type of material which is required, for instance historical accounts which must be “fresh and authentic”, but we are expecting material soon from Persia and elsewhere which will bear the mark of authenticity.
Innumerable articles come to us from time to time which are for the most part well written. readable and interesting——for the Bahá’is——but too intimate in scope to fulfill the requirements of a universal Bahá’í Magazine.
One of the functions of an Editorial Committee is to search out and bring to the magazine new contributors who have a message of value. This endeavor we have constantly made, and we have been thus able to add some new writers to the list of regular contributors, all of whom enrich the content material of the STAR bringing new viewpoints, new visions of life. of human experience, and of the Cause. to our readers. One such person who had never contributed before has written a really brilliant article which will appear in a near number of the STAR.
We therefore earnestly request that all who feel that they have something to say, should make an endeavor to express themselves in literary form and submit it to the Star of the West.
Cover Design: It has been considered desirable to make a change in the cover design of the Star. Several designs have been submitted. none of which have been chosen. The latest idea presented, that of having the design of the Mashriqu'l-Audhkar over which the title shall be printed, has seemed the most acceptable, and we are waiting the completion of that design for our consideration.
The question also arose of further changing the title, and after being deeply and prayerfully considered, it was decided to continue with the same title as now.
We are deeply grateful to all the friends for the assistance and encouragement which they have given us from time to time. We hope they realize how vital a part they have contributed, for without their noteworthy services, the Star of the West could not have developed, even in some small degree, toward the ideal it is eventually to attain.
- STANWOOD. COBB
- MARIAM HANEY
REPORT OF LEGAL COMMITTEE[edit]
The work of the Legal Committee during the past year has been largely directed to the problem of incorporation of the national work. This problem, however, owing to the unique requirements of the Baha’i administration idea has proved to be one of the most difficult legal questions thus far encountered by your Committee and we think also by the National Spiritual Assembly. The large spiritual and administrative prerogatives assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly in each country in the teachings of the Bahá’i founders, as outlined in detail by Shoghi Effendi. the Guardian of the Cause. together with the necessity of reconciling this essential requirement with the limitations imposed by law in the different states in which Bahá’i property is now held or may be held. has required a most intensive study of each one of several possible methods oi procedure.
At the time of the last report of your Committee to the San Francisco Convention practically this same question was still undecided and your Committee were waiting for legal opinions from Illinois and other States in which Bahá’i property interests were paramount. which would clearly indicate the probable attitude the Courts of these several States might take in view of certain contingencies.
As you know, the original plan was to obtain a congressional statute giving special authority with respect to incorporation but for practical as well as ideal reasons this proved to be an unwise plan to press at this time. It became necessary, therefore, to study with more care the existing possibilities of incorporation contained in the statutes of the several States and in the precedents already established by other religious bodies organized on a national scale.
Practically the entire time since the last report has been taken up with these analyses, as well as conferences and consultations with the National Spiritual Assembly, and by the necessary legal research and comparisons which had to be made between the different methods of procedure. We believe that certainty rather than haste is desirable in handling so important an issue as the first incorporation of the Bahá’i activities in the western world. It has been found that no one method is free from more or less serious objection in putting into effect the desired and essential standards of the work in a corporate sense. The statutes provided by nearly every State. including the District of Columbia. each contain express limitations upon any religious body incorporated thereunder, in respect to the amount of land which can be held that body or the amount of invested property or funds which can be held under gift or devise or from other sources. These limitations of property holdings have grown out of an old English statute known as the Mortmain Act which was aimed at the Church through fear at that time that the Church might become the dominant property holder in the community. The reasons for this fear have in modern times largely vanished but the statutes remain. The result is that no one of these religious statutes can be said to afford a safe channel for incorporation of our work.
For example, the best statute of this character, we think. is to be found in the District of Columbia, but owing to the fact that most of the Bahá’i property is and for some time will continue to be in Illinois. it is certain that the Illinois Courts would apply the limitation of their own statute to any corporation formed in an outside state (as, for instance, in the District of Columbia) coming to Illinois for the administration of Illinois property.
For similar reasons, your Committee have felt that the suggested possibility of incorporating under some one of the so-called Non-profit Incorporation statutes, either of Illinois, New York or any other available state, could not be recommended for the reason that various court decisions appear to hold that incorporation under a non-profit statute of a religious work of the kind contemplated by us, would be interpreted by the courts as
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BAHA'I NEWS LETTER
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bringing us under the limitations of the religious statutes previously referred to. It has, for instance, been held by the courts of several jurisdictions that a religious body exercising spiritual and ecclesiastical control largely through a central body or group (such as the National Spiritual Assembly) could not be said to enjoy all the privileges in respect to its property holdings ordinarily conferred by the Non-profit Corporation statutes but would rather be subject to the limitations set forth in the purely religions statutes of the particular state where its property was situated.
The religious statute of Illinois limits the property holdings to 20 acres, and for certain purposes to 10 acres. which area would not permit the full construction of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar with all its accessory buildings as contemplated in the Baha’i plan. The Non-profit Corporation statute has been held to apply. without these limitations. to bodies such as missionary societies. the Y. M. C. A. and other groups which do not inherently exercise ecclesiastical control over their membership. But these bodies stand in a different position in this respect than does the Baha’i Movement.
Other possibilities, such as the extension of the name and authority of the present Illinois corporation, BAHAI TEMPLE UNITY. to the national work, have been considered.
The only other form of incorporation or association available which your Committee has been able to discover as possessing favorable elements is the so-called Voluntary or Common Law Trust procedure.
Under this. the National Spiritual Assembly would organize as a Common Law Trust for the Bahá'is of the United States and Canada. and through this central form of association would carry on all the internal and spiritual affairs entrusted to it under the Bahá'i plan, with suitable by-laws and working rules of procedure which would include and establish the relationship of each local assembly to it. the rights of local spiritual assemblies and the general Bahá'i groups electing them, with the procedure of election of delegates. the carrying on of the Annual Convention or Meeting of the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada through such delegates. and the election of the National Spiritual Assembly, all as provided in the genesis of Bahá'i administration. Associated with this procedure. the title to all property, whether in the form of real estate or as the principal of invested funds belonging to the Cause. would be held by individual trustees who under their deed of trust would expressly hold for the benefit of the National Spiritual Assembly and be bound by the fundamental requirements and conditions of the spiritual standards of the Movement in all respects. Their successors would be named or at least approved by the National Spiritual Assembly from time to time.
It is felt that this form of procedure would relieve the National Spiritual Assembly of some of the purely material and practical duties which have up to this date consumed so much of its time, and at the same time would provide an essentially unified administration of both the internal and external phases of the work. Whether or not this turns out to be true. the future will. of course. determine. Your Committee in recommending this form of procedure for the national work was in no wise influenced by the possible effect of this plan upon the National Spiritual Assembly in respect to separating the internal and external phases of the work. but by the strictly legal considerations which appear to govern the situation, and the greater attractiveness of the Voluntary Trust plan when compared with available methods of incorporation.
This form of incorporation or association has now been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly. having been duly recommended by the Legal Committee, and the necessary documents and papers are in process preparation for final action and recording. Furthermore. this method of procedure has been agreed to as practicable and as legally acceptable in the several States where Bahá'i property is or may be held. by our attorneys. acting directly or associated with the Legal Committee. all of whom have careful consideration to this phase of the problem.
- Respectfully submitted.
- For the Legal Committee
- ALFRED E. LUNT
- For the Legal Committee
Ali-Kuli Khan Louis Gregory Alfred E. Lunt
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL INTER-RACIAL AMITY COMMITTEE[edit]
In conformity with the request for a report of the activities of the National Committee on Inter-racial Amity, this brief survey of the work of a newly organized activity is presented with regrets for the limitations of the past and hopes for the future.
Your committee is organized and at work. In view of the complexity and difficulty of the race problem in America and what its effects may be upon this Nation and all other parts of the world, we appreciate the gravity of the task assigned us and the constant need of Divine Assistance to bring our feeble efforts to victory.
The first work of this committee was to compose and address a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly and to all the Spiritual Assemblies of the United States and Canada. stressing the want of inter-racial amity, the need of holding amity conventions wherever practical and other ways as conceived by this committee of how the racial difficulties might be met and overcome with the Holy Utterances and Revealed Words as a light and guide. Up to the time of this report a few of the centers have made reply, all of which have indicated approval of the plans and hearty concurrence as far as possible. The assemblies thus reporting are Philadelphia. Toronto. Yonkers. Geneva. Urbana and Boston. The last named reports plans under way for an Amity Convention this spring and seeks advice and assistance, which are being given.
A majority of the members of the National Inter-racial Amity Committee are now in Washington and are working in connection with the local Spiritual Assembly. Plans are now well under way for an inter-racial amity convention to be held here on April 8, 9 and 10. Notable speakers from the Bahá'i world and outside have accepted invitations. a Congregational Church and the Play-House have been engaged for the three sessions and as the time draws high the outlook is most propitious through Divine Favor.
The committee also considers its responsibility for an amity convention at Green Acre in July.
- LOUIS G. GREGORY
- Executive Secretary
Mrs. A. S. Parsons. Chairman Mrs. Louise D. Boyle Mrs. Coralie F. Cook Mrs. Mariam Haney Dr. Alain Locke Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi Louis G. Gregory
LIBRARY COMMITTEE REPORT[edit]
The National Baha'i Library Committee reports the welfare of their work and the increasing number of requests received from librarians of Public Libraries throughout this country as well as some foreign countries for books upon the Baha'i Religion to be placed in their Libraries.
At the present time we have 887 Public Libraries upon our mailing list. Each of these libraries have at least several of our books and some have as
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BAHAII NEWS LETTER I
many as twelve and more, some even twenty volumes——sent to them by us during the present and past years of our work——these requests for books are constantly being received. But these requests for books follow and are dependent upon the work of the friends in interesting librarians in our literature.
Since the inauguration of this library work, the committee has carried on a sustained effort to interest librarians through a series of letters and circulars sent out at intervals. One aspect of this work was the circularization of each of the 7,500 public libraries of the English speaking world (of the United States and Canada. Great Britain and her colonies including the Commonwealths of Australia and New Zealand). A copy of “The Universal Consciousness of the Baha'i Movement" (bound in stiff paper backs) with two catalogue cards for the same and a circular letter was sent to each of the librarians of the above mentioned 7,500 libraries and the result was most encouraging. The means for this particular circularization were provided for outside of the regular appropriation made for the Committee’s annual expenses by the National Spiritual Assembly, and in order to minimize the expenditure of postage and printing, one of the members of this Committee who was at that time traveling in Europe, carried on this work from Italy, on account of the depreciated value of the currency, it was accomplished at a much lower cost than could have been possible in this country.
This Committee wishes to make acknowledgment of 250 copies of the Baha'i Year Book given by the National Spiritual Assembly, which will soon be placed in Public Libraries. and for the help of many members of the Washington Assembly who have labored untiringly in sending out the thousands of books and circulars in connection with this work done in Washington, as well as to mention the name of Mrs. H. Emogen Hoagg of Florence, who helped in many ways with their work done two years ago in Italy.
The Baha'is in all parts are asked to interest the librarians of their local Public Libraries in having our books on their shelves——asking librarians to apply to the Library Committee for books. Books are sent only to those Libraries from which comes a request for the same. These are sent gratis. ELIZABETH G. HOPPER. Secretary. CHARLES Mason REMEY, Chairman. Address P. O. Box 1319,
- Washington, D. C.
ARCHIVES COMMITTEE REPORT[edit]
The National Baha'i Archives Committee reports that the friends of the Cause at home and in many foreign lands are cooperating with them in their work, sending from time to time valuable records which are being arranged and preserved with care for future generations.
The present printed literature of The Holy Cause has only been made possible through the care and service of the many friends who have treasured tablets and teachings in manuscript form——which manuscripts were the foundation for later books and pamphlets.
Today all are busy with the present work of the Cause but we are also thinking of those who are to come after us. for the only way that we can pass on and transmit to them that which we are receiving is through the spirit and the letter of present work and service. To perpetuate the letter of this work and service the care and preservation of documents in manuscript form is the foundation upon which rests all the printed history of the Cause.
The National Baha'i Archives Committee requests that all original Tablets and other original Baha'i documents for preservation be sent to the Custodian of the Archives, Albert R. Windust. 600 West Van Buren Street. Chicago, Illinois.
It is requested that twelve copies of all printed or duplicated Baha'i announcements. programmes of meetings, pamphlets, leaflets, booklets, articles, circular letters. et cetera. be sent to Charles Mason Remey, P. O. Box 1319, Washington, D. C., to be placed in a series of files of Baha'i records. one of which flies is deposited with the National Baha'i Archives deposited in Chicago, the others eventually to go to certain of the larger assemblies in the United States and Canada, thus preserving for posterity the present development of the history of the Cause.
Please pass this word along to the friends in other places at home and abroad. Material from all countries and in all languages is solicited. GERTRUDE BUIKEMA, Secretary, ALBERT R. WINDUST, Custodian. CHARLES MASON REMEY, Chairman.
REPORT OF REVIEWING COMMITTEE[edit]
Only two manuscripts have been submitted for review this year:—— “Lessons on Moral Conduct." translated from the Persian by Miss Marzieh Khan. "Religions. Present, Past and Future," by "A Methodist Layman."
Both manuscripts were approved by the committee.
- CAROLINE NELSON,
- LOUISE WRIGHT,
- BISHOP BROWN.
- LOUISE WRIGHT,
- CAROLINE NELSON,
YEAR BOOK COMMITTE REPORT[edit]
Bahá'i Year Book, Volume 1, was edited and published by a committee appointed during the year 1925-1926. The printed work, now in the hands of the friends, requires no comment or explanation on the part of the committee. When, however, Shoghi Effendi requested the American National Spiritual Assembly to undertake this work. he gave the believers of the U. S. and Canada the privilege and responsibility of undertaking one of the first international Bahá’i activities and we should all appreciate this fact. At present no other medium exists capable of reflecting the purpose and progress of the Cause from year to year in all lands.
We believe that it would be of interest to state briefly how Volume One was distributed.
One hundred copies were sent to the Guardian at his request. Two hundred fifty copies were donated to the Library Committee and by them sent to public libraries throughout the country. Seventy-five copies were sent to the literary editors of leading papers.
Sixty-six copies were sent to a carefully selected list of executive secretaries and other officials in Government Departments, national religious organizations, and various other organizations and movements which in the opinion of the Committee should have this book on hand for reference in their offices or libraries.
Copies were also sent to every Assembly and group in the U. S. and Canada and to all foreign National Assemblies.
Having completed this plan of placing copies of the book in the hands of believers throughout the world and also bringing it to the attention of important individuals and organizations, the Year Bok Committee completed its service and was discharged.
Realizing that interesting photographs add greatly to the significance and value of an annual work of this character. we believe it desirable to request other national committees as well as Assemblies and groups not to overlook the importance of securing photographs of a local or general Bahá’i character and sending copies of them to the Year Book Committee.
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In conclusion, we would like to emphasize the fact that the entire manuscript was sent to Shoghi Effendi for his approval before publication and we were privileged to receive from the Guardian the new translations which appear in Volume One as well as the section containing references to the Cause in current literature.
- ALBERT WINDUST
- CHARLES MASON REMEY
- NELLIE S. FRENCH
- MARIAM HANEY
- HORACE HOLLEY
REPORT OF GREEN ACRE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE[edit]
This committee was appointed by the National Assembly to plan and carry out a program of Green Acre activities for the current year, including suggestions for the physical facilities and equipment of Green Acre. as well as classes and meetings.
In submitting this report the Committee desires to point out the need of a comprehensive statement covering history and development of Green Acre since its establishment by Sarah J. Farmer in 1894. We feel very strongly that the complete assimilation of the spiritual and material ideals of Green Acre into the Baha'i Cause cannot become complete until the friends generally are thoroughly acquainted with the principal facts in the development of Green Acre, especially the direct relation between Green Acre and Abdu’l-Baha as expressed in His Tablets to Miss Farmer. His Tablets and statements to friends of Green Acre. and His utterances while visiting Green Acre in 1912. The National Assembly has already requested some of the friends identified with the development of Green Acre to prepare such a report and we hope that circumstances will permit in the near future the publication and distribution of a pamphlet devoted to Green Acre resembling the remarkable report on the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar prepared by the Temple Committee two years ago. The believers are also aware of Shoghi Effendi's several significant references to Green Acre. the most recent of which was a cablegram replying to a cabled message sent him by a committee of the Annual Meeting of the Green Acre Fellowship held in August, 1926. In this cablegram he expressed the hope that Green Acre would emphasize the universality of the Cause.
In this report we shall confine ourselves to a brief summary of what has been planned and carried out since the last Convention in regard to the various aspects of the Green Acre work. In passing we would merely mention the fact that the Green Acre Fellowship at its annual meeting in August, 1925, unanimously voted to place Green Acre under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly, an action which was confirmed by vote of the annual meeting of the Fellowship in 1926. In accepting this action the National Spiritual Assembly assumed responsibility for all obligations of Green Acre in addition to formally approving this remarkably significant contribution to the general resources of the Baha'i Faith in North America.
Reference to the budget of the National Fund printed in the plan of Unified Action shows that no provision was made to meet either the outstanding obligations or the current expenses of Green Acre from the National Fund, the National Assembly at the time the budget was drawn up having no financial statement making it possible to estimate how much Green Acre would require. The needs of Green Acre have consequently been met by special donations most generously made by a number of friends. The income of Green Acre has also been derived from dues of Fellowship members and more especially from profits of Green Acre Inn conducted with such efficiency and under conditions of very great sacrifice by Mrs. Emma C. Bliss. The National Assembly felt justified in assuming the obligations of Green Acre by reason of the fact that one of the believers made a special pledge of $2.500 annually, for three years.
We wish that there were opportunity in this report to point out what a remarkable opportunity Green Acre represents to the American believers in maintaining a community reflecting the Baha’i principles and teachings in all their applications to the spiritual and material problems of human life. Green Acre must in time become the first concrete evidence to the general public that the Baha’i Teachings make possible a new and higher degree of civilization. Green Acre itself already offers facilities for the organization of many Baha'i institutions——a school for training Baha'i teachers: schools for the inculcation of the various general arts and sciences in the light of the Baha'i Revelation; schools for training in the useful arts and crafts; public congresses and special meetings on important subjects reflecting the Baha’i principles; the hospitality of influential men and women already imbued with some aspect of the New Day; the gradual organization of housing and living facilities capable of giving Green Acre visitors the benefits of all the economies resulting from conscious loyalty to the principles of human solidarity; the establishment of facilities for the instruction of youth in the principles of spiritual ethics and ideals; the suitable and effective interrelation of helpful recreation with the mental and spiritual development of individuals and groups——in brief the development of a well established community possessing all the necessary means and methods of drawing forth the precious qualities of enthusiasm and exalted purpose and receiving in turn the results of true loyalty from those appreciating what such a community means in this troubled and changing age.
The season of 1926 was to a large extent experimental both in method and purpose. During those months. however, the National Assembly was enabled to pay the outstanding indebtedness of Green Acre with the exception of the amount represented by the bonds issued some years ago. The season of 1926 also brought to all Green Acre workers a clearer vision of the problems and opportunities involved. The Baha'i classes conducted by Mr. MacNutt Mr. Vail and Mr. Gregory aroused the keenest interest and were deserving of the highest praise. Only those who came to Green Acre during the season of 1926 can appreciate the contributions made to Green Acre by Mrs. Schopflocher, who donated the beautiful Arts and Crafts Studio and the new stone wall, by Mrs. Elizabeth Greenleaf and Mr. George Spendlove at the Gift Shop. Mrs. Bliss and Mrs. Hartford at the Inn. Mrs. Powell and Miss Hendry at Fellowship House. the Spiritual Assembly of Eliot. Mrs. Louise Boyle. Mr. Stanwood Cobb and Miss Agness O’Neill on the Program Committee. and Prof. Shook who carried on the Little Theatre.
Turning now to program and plans for the coming season, the printed program issued by the Committee in April will acquaint all the believers and friends of Green Acre with the varied activities prepared for their enjoyment this year. We are particularly pleased with the fact that the Esperanto Association of North America will hold its annual Congress at Green Acre Inn during July. We hope that as time goes on Green Acre will similarly offer its unusual hospitality to other organizations and movements of a humanitarian and constructive nature. The physical improvements intended to accommodate a larger number of guests and make possible a more economical scale of living were mentioned in the NEWS LETTER of March, 1927.
In conclusion, we express the conviction that the notable gift to Green
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Acre represented by the Institute of World Unity can well signalize the beginning of that era when Green Acre shall be publicly recognized as "a focal center of humanitarian and devotional activity." We feel certain that all the Baha’i Assemblies will take every possible step toward cooperating in the success Of this Baha'i community. Similar centers will no doubt in time be established in other parts of the country under Baha’i auspices. No one can now foresee how much such communities might mean to the believers individually and collectively during the period of transition and reconstruction which humanity is destined to pass through.
- ALI-KULI KHAN,
- FLORENCE MORTON.
- HORACE HOLLEY.
REPORT OF TEMPLE COMMITTEE[edit]
In as much as the purpose of the Plan of Unified Action is to gather the funds necessary to erect the first story of the Mashriq’ul-Adhkar. the Temple Committee feel that the national treasurer's report is a better indication of the status of this project than any statement that could be made by this committee.
We would call attention to the fact that thus far the response to the call of this plan has been only sufficient to maintain the necessary activities of the National Spiritual Assembly, so that practically nothing has been placed in the building fund. The conditions Of the foundation structure and grounds remain as they were a year ago, except that the completion of the caretaker's house and the removal of several unsightly shacks have very decidedly helped the general appearance of the site.
Mr. Edward Struven has taken the position of caretaker for the grounds and foundation structure, and at present is engaged in grading and planting trees and shrubs which carry out the scheme designed by Mr. Hilbert Dahl. This will be a further great improvement in the appearance of the Temple grounds.
The committee have thus far found no way to carry out the project of filling the areas around the foundation structure. It has been thought necessary to require the removal of the very valuable black top soil, and also to make a survey of the plot to ascertain the area and depth of this fill. requirements which have prevented us from finding a contractor willing to dump. as we had expected a year ago. The committee recommends that we pay the cost of the survey and also the cost of the removal of the top soil, and that the Temple committee appointed next year constructed to find an excavator who will fill in the grounds.
- FLORENCE MORTON
- SIEGFRIED SCHOPFLOCHER
- ALFRED E. LUNT
- AMELIA COLLINS
- EL FLEDA SPAULDING
- ALBERT WINDUST
- MONROE IOAS
- A.J. MATTHIESON
- CARL SCHEFFLER,
- Secretary
WORDS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI ON THE SUBJECT OF NATIONAL BAHA’I CONVENTIONS[edit]
"Hitherto the National Convention has been primarily called together for the consideration of the various circumstances attending the election of the National Spiritual Assembly. I feel, however, that in view of the expansion and the growing importance of the administrative sphere of the Cause. the general sentiments and tendencies prevailing among the friends. and the signs of increasing inter-dependence among the National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the world, the assembled accredited representatives of the American believers should exercise not only the vital and responsible right of electing the National Spiritual Assembly, but should also fulfil the functions of an enlightened, consultative and cooperative body that will enrich the experience, enhance the prestige, support the authority, and assist the deliberations of the National Spiritual Assembly."
"If we but turn our gaze to the high qualifications of the members of Baha'i Assemblies. as enumerated in ‘Abdul-Baha's Tablets, we are filled with feelings of unworthiness and dismay, and would feel truly disheartened but for the comforting thought that if we rise to play nobly our part every deficiency in our lives will be more than compensated by the all-conquering spirit of His grace and power. Hence it is incumbent upon the chosen delegates to consider without the least trace of passion and prejudice. and irrespective of any material consideration, the names of only those who can best combine the necessary qualities of unquestioned loyalty, of selfless devotion. of a well-trained mind. of recognized ability and mature experience"
"It is my firm conviction that it is the bounden duty in the interest of the Cause we all love and serve. of the members of the incoming N. S. A. once elected by the delegates at the Convention time, to seek and have the utmost regard, individually and collectively, for the advice, the considered opinion and the true sentiment of the assembled delegates."
ASSEMBLY LETTERS[edit]
Grateful acknowledgement is made for circular letters received from the following Assemblies: Recht, Persia, (in Esperanto}; Hamadan, Persia; Portland, Oregon; Kenosha, Wisconsin; Constantinople, Turkey; Paris, France; San Francisco, California; Manchester, England.
Special mention is made of the admirable printed NEWS LETTER of the German National Spiritual Assembly at No. 3 Alexanderstrasse, Stuttgart.12 issues of this publication have far been issued. Each number contains a carefully selected resume of current Baha'i news gathered from many countries, German Baha’i news printed in English and a letter signed by Alice Schwarz, Frau Schwarz recently delivered the first public lecture on the Cause in Munich, which produced profound interest and brought her a cordial invitation to speak at a large congress to be held during the summer of 1927.
At present Mr. and Mrs. Harry Romer are residents in Berlin, which Mr. Romer’s professional duties have called him after several months of most pleasant association with the believers of London, England. Mr. and Mrs. Romer report that Miss Root's: recent visit to Berlin was attended with the great number of public meetings which invariably attend the usual gratifying results for the Cause.
A telegram from Vancouver brings the good news that Mr. Schopflocher will arrive in Montreal on Saturday, April 2, after a trip of six months which has carried him around the‘ world. Letters from Assemblies and individual believers in various countries, including Australia. have mean while furnished glowing reports of services this member of the National Assembly has accomplished for the Cause on land and sea. Not the least of his effective deeds has been to secure orders for large numbers of Baha’i books and pamphlets from book stores in foreign countries. Mr Schopflocher’s story of this remarkable journey promises to be one of these features at the Convention.
