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NEWS |
| No. 182 | APRIL, 1946 | YEAR 103 | BAHA’I ERA |
“Be in Perfect Unity”[edit]
You have heard the Divine call. ... You have good intentions, your purpose is the good pleasure of God, you desire to serve in the kingdom of the merciful One. Therefore arise in the utmost power. Be in perfect unity. Never become angry with one another. Let your eyes be directed toward the kingdom of truth and not toward the world of creation. Love the creatures for the sake of God and not for themselves. You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for the sake of God. Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every human being and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the people themselves. But if you look toward God you will love them and be kind to them, for the world of God is the world of perfection and complete mercy. Therefore do not look at the shortcomings of anybody; see with the sight of forgiveness. The imperfect eye beholds imperfections. The eye that covers faults looks toward the Creator of souls. He created them, trains and provides for them, endows them with capacity and life, sight and hearing; therefore they are the signs of His grandeur. You must love and be kind to everybody, care for the poor, protect the weak, heal the sick, teach and educate the ignorant. ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ
National Spiritual Assembly[edit]
Beloved Friends:
For the First time in the history of the National Spiritual Assembly, an election to fill a vacancy in its membership has been held after the Convention period. On account of Mr. Wilhelm’s inability to attend the meetings this year, with the Guardian’s approval, the delegates serving at the annual election of 1945 were called upon to vote by mail for one new member. The tellers appointed to count the ballots cast at the 1945 election served again; and their report states that Miss Elsie Austin was elected. Miss Austin will therefore, from March 16, receive the weekly reports prepared for the members of the National Assembly, and attend the one remaining meeting to be held prior to the 1946 convention.
The fifteen highest votes were: Miss Elsie Austin, 30; Miss Edna True, 12; 9 each for Mr. Paul Haney and Mrs. Marjorie McCormick; 7 each for Mr. Wm. Kenneth Christian, Mr. Rowland Estall and Mr. Clarence Niss; 6 each for Mr. Curtis Kelsey and Mr. Emeric Sala; Mr. Siegfried Schopflocher, 5; 4 each for Mr. Carl Scheffler and Mr. Albert Windust; 3 each for Mr. Mathew Bullock, Dr. Kathryn True, Mrs. Sarah S. Walrath. Seven received two votes each, and one vote was cast for each of twenty-two persons.
For the annual election of local Spiritual Assemblies on April 21, the NSA has sent out copies of the Assembly Roll used for reporting these elections. Through the National Teaching Committee, the Regional Teaching Committees are also receiving copies for use by groups prepared to form an Assembly for the first time. A brief bulletin explaining the conditions under which new Assemblies can be formed has also been distributed. Where there are exactly nine adult Bahá’ís, the Assembly is formed by joint declaration, and a different type of form is needed, copies of which may be obtained from the Regional Committee.
Unexpectedly the NSA was advised by Mr. John Eichenauer on March 19 that no more packages should be sent to him or to Mr. Davison for the relief of German Bahá’ís. Details were not given in the cabled message. No doubt the shipments
Further References on Unity: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh CXLVII, pages 316, 317 (also in Bahá’í World Faith, pages 117, 118.) Promulgation of Universal Peace, pages 201-204, section XI. Gleanings XLIII, pages 94-98; Promulgation of Universal Peace, page 150. Bahá’í World Faith pages 168, 257, 258.
were so numerous from all parts of the country that the two devoted believers could not receive any more. It is hoped that postal regulations will be changed soon to permit us to send direct parcels and letters to German Bahá’í Assemblies.
The latest available financial report is dated January 31, 1946. Total cash on hand, $27,681.35; received in January, $17,437.12; expenditures, $9,772.70; earmarked, $11,213.25; available for use, $16,468.10.
The friends, and particularly the local Assemblies, are reminded of the Guardian’s explicit instruction that all Orientals coming to America are to be received as Bahá’ís only when having credentials from the proper Bahá’í administrative body of their own country. Such credentials are to be sent to the National Assembly here, which will issue its own credentials permitting the believer to be enrolled as member of the Bahá’í community. All other cases should be reported to the National Assembly and its advice awaited before action is taken.
In Memoriam[edit]
Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed. It bestoweth joy and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift of everlasting life.—Bahá’u’lláh.
- Mrs. Frances La Roza, New Haven.
- Mrs. Anna W. Baumer, New Haven.
- Mrs. Henrietta Snead, Homewood, Alabama.
- Mrs. Maria Nickerson, Worcester.
- Mrs. Mae Taylor. Oklahoma City.
- Mrs. Noble Johnson, Birmingham.
- Mrs. Cordelia Nichols, San Antonio.
- Mrs. Julia E. Drenning, Webster, New York.
Enrollments[edit]
- Racine, one
- Atlanta, one.
- San Francisco, one youth.
- Washington, one.
- New York, one.
National Committees[edit]
Radio[edit]
The National Radio Committee is very pleased to advise the friends that it now has a wide variety of good material for broadcasting. The following are available without cost to Assemblies. Regional Committees, and isolated Bahá’ís who can secure radio time:
3 Dramatic Presentations of the Faith (for a fifteen minute broadcast). Transcription records. These have been produced by a professional radio director and each has a large cast of professional actors. The transcriptions compare favorably with the best professional programs. Many small local stations will allot time free for this type of program as it offers a quality which they are glad to get.
1 half hour Dramatic presentation of the Faith. Transcription record. Produced and written by a Bahá’í with long radio experience. A fine production showing the establishment of the Faith all over the world. Carey McWilliams, the negro author, is the principal non-Bahá’í guest on this program. Has a good cast. Suitable for all types of stations interested in educational programs.
4 scripts, fifteen minutes in length. These present the wide aspects of the Faith. They are interesting, comprehensive, and accurate.
Samples of “spot announcements.” These are useful for the friends as models from which to write their own spot announcements.
Question and Answer script. An informative script with questions about the Faith asked by the announcer and answered by a Bahá’í. A good introduction to the Faith.
Variety of short selections from the Bahá’í Writings suitable to be used with musical intervals to make up a fifteen minute program.
New transcriptions records, in addition to the ones mentioned above, are now in the process of being made. We hope to complete a series of thirteen. These will include dramatic shows, interviews, and round table discussions. We hope the friends will take advantage of this material which has taken us so many months to produce. We feel that we have taken a long step forward and we know that the friends will agree when they hear the transcriptions.
Public Relations[edit]
Bahá’í News
On April 10, 1925, the Guardian wrote: “The News Letter which you have lately initiated fulfills a very vital function.... I would urge you to enlarge its scope ... that in time it may devote a special section to every phase of your activities, administrative, devotional, humanitarian, financial, educational and otherwise. “It should become a great factor in promoting understanding, providing information on Bahá’í activity, both local and foreign, in stimulating interest, in combating evil influences, and in upholding and safeguarding the institutions of the Cause.” The contents include: material supplied by the National Spiritual Assembly, such as the Guardian’s messages, the Assembly’s letters and its general statements and reports; Committee plans which have been approved and authorized; Committee news reports of activities; annual reports from local Assemblies; news items from local Assemblies; activities in regional areas as reported by or through the National Teaching Committee; activities in Central and South America as reported by the Inter-America Committee; news from other lands gathered from the bulletins of the various National Assemblies; a record of new enrollments and transfers; a record of deaths; photographs of general Bahá’í interest. Bahá’í News is edited for the National Spiritual Assembly by its Bahá’í News Committee: Horace Holley, Garreta Busey, Eleanor S. Hutchens, Mabel H. Paine. Address: Bahá’í News Committee, c/o Miss Garreta Busey, 503 West Elm Street, Urbana, Illinois. |
The Public Relations Committee brings three new projects to your attention:
1. An Official Navy Photograph of the Temple (aerial view) has been made available to us and the committee has arranged to distribute mats to 4,000 newspapers in small towns. Extra mats have been obtained, and mats will be sent on request to local Assemblies and Regional Teaching Committees. It is hoped that many of the larger papers can be interested in using the picture through the efforts of the friends.
2. A release has been sent to papers in towns having a population of 100,000 or more, on the subject of the building up of the Bahá’í centers in Germany, Burma and the Philippines. A copy is enclosed with this letter for local assemblies and regional teaching committees. Where necessary, the release can be redated, shortened, or rewritten as a letter to the editor. The main thing is to obtain as much Bahá’í publicity as possible in these crucial days. (Please send our committee three clippings if the release is used in any form.)
3. For assisting in special contacts, a portfolio has been printed entitled — “Bahá’í — The Coming of World Religion.” An edition of three thousand copies has been produced, part of which are being sent direct to a National List, and the remainder will be sold through the Publishing Committee at 50 cents per copy. A complimentary copy is being sent your Assembly or Committee under separate cover. It is suggested that you consider how these portfolios can be used for impressing the Bahá’í teachings on leaders of your community.
The committee urges local assemblies to develop a list of the key persons and organizations of the city, and adopt some definite plan for bringing the Faith to their attention at regular intervals. It is important to the unfoldment of the Faith that in every city there be a number of interested and informed friends, persons of capacity and influence who respect the teachings and admire their aims and purposes.
The successful policy will be based on effort to share the teachings with leaders without exerting pressure to enroll them as members of the community. Depending on conditions, the question is one of wise and patient contact, either through personal acquaintance
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distribution of selected
Baháí literature, notices of public
meetings, or occasional invitations to
participate in special programs of
general appeal, such as peace, social
justice, race unity, religious unity,
etc.
This is a long-term effort, to be pursued steadily from year to year in full realization of the fact that one by one all human hopes and beliefs will fail, and ultimately the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh alone can maintain the foundation of social progress. Educators, editors, social workers, race and minority leaders, liberal clergy, artists and scientists, professional men and women, as well as civic leaders — this relatively small group can be favorably disposed to the Faith, and its natural endowment of talent and capacity is a precious asset which challenges the believers to fulfill some of the great promises which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made to the American Bahá’ís. A number of assemblies have been pursuing this policy for years, with splendid results.
Finally, we ask your cooperation in sending for our National List those local names and addresses which you regard as of first importance, so that through our own mailings we can reinforce your local work.
- PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
- HORACE HOLLEY, Chairman
- ALLEN B. MCDANIEL
- GEORGE O. LATIMER
- WILLIAM C. HENNING
- PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Publishing Announcements[edit]
The Bahá’í Temple, House of Worship of a World Faith: This 34-page illustrated pamphlet was issued in 1942, to commemorate the completion of the steps and exterior ornamentation. The cost per copy has been 10c but this is reduced to 5c per copy as long as available. Orders taken for lots of ten copies for $0.50.
Chicago Sunday Tribune: The full page color photo of Temple as floodlighted during the Centenary celebration, and excellent article, published June 17, 1945, has been reprinted as a four-page folder as a project of the Public Relations Committee. This makes a very attractive and interesting piece for general teaching use, for distributing at public meetings, for general contacts work, and especially for use by Publicity and Radio Committees in showing the influence of the Faith. Sold in lots of 20 copies for $1.00.
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Dayton, Ohio, incorporated, January 7, 1946
The Bahá’í Centenary: The book
prepared by the N. S. A. as part
of the celebration of the Centenary,
featuring the development of the
Cause in North America since 1894.
Illustrated. Per copy, $2.00.
A World Survey: Compiled by the Guardian in 1944; contains statistical material showing the distribution of the Bahá’í community throughout the world. Sold in lots of 50 for $1.50.
“World Order”[edit]
The editors are planning a four-page pictorial supplement as a regular feature of the magazine, reproducing photographs of special Bahá’í interest: convention gatherings, summer schools, large public meetings, inter-racial banquets, youth conferences, etc. Photographs suitable for use in this supplement, clearly labeled in as much detail as possible on the back, should be sent to Mrs. William Henning, 69 Abbottsford Road, Winnetka, Illinois.
The leading article in World Order for April is “The World Beyond Victory,” by William Kenneth Christian. The magazine contains also “Bahá’í Children and the Peace,” by Amy Brady Dwelly, “Successful Marriage,” by Eleanor Sweney Hutchens, an editorial by Gertrude K. Henning entitled, “This is the Day of Fulfillment,” a review of The Dawn Breakers, by Bahiyyih Randall Ford, an article, “The New Civilization,” by Beatrice Irwin, and one on Robert Turner, an early Negro Bahá’í by Louis Gregory. Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick contributes, as usual, the section, “With Our Readers.”
The magazine brings us this month a section devoted to the Word of Bahá’u’lláh. “The Day of God.”
Green Acre School, 1946[edit]
The Green Acre Bahá’í Summer School, at Eliot, Maine, will be in session from Saturday, June 29, through Monday, September 2, 1946.
A lecture-discussion course will be given each morning from 9:30 to 10:30. The topics for each week are as follows, although it is not yet certain that the courses will be given in exactly the order listed.
- July 1-6 Islamic Civilization.
- July 8-13. “The Dawn Breakers.”
- July 15-20. The Negro in American Life.
- July 22-27. Bahá’í Ethics.
- July 29-Aug. 3 Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh: Seven Valleys, Four Valleys, The Holy Mariner.
- Aug. 5-10. The Influence of Religion on Art.
- Aug. 12-17. How to Know and Use Bahá’í Literature.
- Aug. 19-24. Reaching the Public with the Bahá’í Teachings.
- Aug. 26-31. The World Economy.
A Research Seminar will be given throughout the Season, under the direction of Prof. Glenn Shook. In this
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Some of teachers at the Louhelen Mid-Winter Session, December, 1945. Left to right: Mrs. Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick, Mr. William Kenneth Christian, Mrs. Florence Reeb.
course each student works on a topic
of his own choice, and results of
the individual studies are shared with
other students on Saturday mornings.
A Workshop in Speaking and Writing meets each day (except Sundays) throughout the Season. In this course students have an opportunity really to practice speaking and writing on Bahá’í topics and related themes. A student may elect Speaking, or Writing, or may work in both. Leaders of this Workshop:—July, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh; August, Mrs. Marguerite Sears.
A Workshop in Bahá’í Administrative Procedure will be held throughout the season. This course will include practice in holding assembly meetings, committee meetings, etc. Typical community problems will be presented as subjects for practice in consultation. Leader for this Workshop for one month, — Genevieve L. Coy. (The Leader for the second month has not yet been chosen.)
A Study-class for non-Bahá’ís only will be held whenever there are non-Bahá’ís at the School who need such instruction.
Special Week-end Conferences. It is planned to hold three such conferences, with dates as follows:
- June 29-30. Securing the Peace.
- July 20-21. Race Unity Conference.
- August 24-25. Inter-America Conference.
Classes for Children will be held in the Arts and Crafts Studio each morning. These will probably be arranged in three groups, covering the age-range from three to fifteen years. All children in residence at the School are expected to attend these classes three hours each morning.
Special Classes for Youth will be held during the two weeks from July 29 to August 11. These classes are limited to young people between the ages of 15 and 25.
The Weekly Program of Evening Events will be as follows:
- Mondays — School Community Meeting of all students.
- Tuesdays — “Open House” at the cottage of Mr. and Mrs. Holley.
- Wednesdays — “Ways of Reaching the Public,” — a round-table discussion on teaching and publicity.
- Thursdays — A program in charge of Youth, with music, readings and talks.
- Fridays — Left open for special events.
- Saturdays — Current events of the week, considered in relation to Bahá’í principles and teaching.
- Sundays — Concerts, and Lectures in other art fields.
Information as to Dormitory rates, application for admission to the School, etc. will be published in later numbers of BAHÁ’Í NEWS.
Race Unity Conference at Green Acre, 1945[edit]
The Race Unity Conference at Green Acre last year, August 17-19, 1945, afforded the numerous Bahá’ís and their friends who were in attendance, the opportunity to hear the subject of Race Unity discussed by the selected speakers: Mr. Carl Krug, Mr. Raoul Zargarpur, Mr. George Brawley, Mrs. Terah Smith, Mr. Louis Gregory, Mrs. Walter H. Corestine, Dr. Glenn Shook and Dr. Alí Kuli Khan.
Mr. Krug emphasized the eternal quality of truth despite the retardation
“Bolton Place,” Bahá’í summer school, Yerrinbool, New South Wales.
of men who are slow to recognize that truth. The oneness of mankind is a real fact now even though
A group of students at the Louhelen Mid-Winter Session, December, 1945.
some men contend and argue against
this fact.
Mr. Gregory illustrated in his own inimitable literary style, and with has customary spiritual emphasis, the world’s need of a remedy for the social ills that prejudice and hatreds of all kinds give rise to. The only way to avoid the violent conflict that might result from the clash of the old with the new ideas on race is to apply the spiritual solution which the Bahá’í Message offers.
Mr. Brawley in his talk sounded a call to the Bahá’ís to meet the problems and difficulties facing the post-war world with the courageous action that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá exemplified as the pattern of behavior. Public association with and sincere love of our darker brother are means of supporting our belief in the concept of the Oneness of Mankind.
Mrs. Terah Smith explained how today a frustrated mankind asks God, “What wouldst thou have me to do?” The Bahá’ís are working constantly for the day when a functioning unity can be recognized as the only wholesome world pattern.
Mrs. Corestine stressed the need for economic security and for justice in the post-war world. The Bahá’í plan for a heavenly civilization prescribes jobs for all, and fairness as basic prerequisites for the success of educational and cultural programs calculated to bring order out of chaos.
But a consciousness of the oneness of mankind indicates an awareness of the spirit of Justice. “This Spirit of Justice sweeps over the nations with the coming of each Manifestation,” said Dr. Shook. “People are awakened from their lethargic contentedness with suffering of humanity. In the past, even philosophers were unmindful of the misery
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of the masses. Bahá’u’lláh has come
to the men of this Day to explain
that “these oppressions are preparing humanity for the advent of the
Most Great Justice.”
Bahá’u’lláh brings a message to the world which admits of no race qualifications. In the words of Dr. Khan, “The acceptance of the principle of the Oneness of Mankind is a step toward Universal Peace. Kings may express this principle through their edicts; governments through their parliaments; musicians through their instruments and poets through their writings.” The practice of brotherly love and friendliness toward all is man’s new conception of divinity. Let the Bahá’ís in their everyday activities help to lay the foundation stones of this heavenly kingdom!
The musical renditions offered by Miss Adele Keshelac, Miss Ida Noyes, Mrs. Joy Earle, Miss Lois Keller and Miss Lydia Martin contributed the harmony of atmosphere which supported beautifully the harmony of spirit so characteristic of Green Acre.
Sarah Martin Pereira, Chairman
Inter-American News[edit]
The newest pioneer, Mrs. Shirley Warde, formerly a member of the San Francisco Community, left Miami by Pan American Airways, March 5th, with her final destination Buenos Aires. En route to her post, Shirley stopped over in Ciudad Trujillo, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro, and Montevideo. In Buenos Aires, she is to assist the Publishing and Distributing Committee with their arduous and demanding tasks, and to help the Community in their teaching activities. Because of her rich experience in radio, Mrs. Warde will devote herself especially to a wider and more effective use of this medium of promoting the Faith in the various Latin American centers.
The Inter-America Committee rejoices especially over the news from Rio of the formation of a group in that city, consisting of Leonora Armstrong, Virginia Orbison, Mary and Edward Bode, Dr. Tomas Sanchez Egea, and Hans Sirach. Dr. Sanchez Egea, the Secretary of the Group, became a Bahá’í in Montevideo. Virginia Orbison and Edward Bode have been added to the Portuguese Publishing and Distributing Committee, of which Leonora Armstrong is the Chairman. Plans are being formulated
Bahá’í literature display, Washington, D. C., in connection with the Public Meeting Held December 5, 1945.
for the immediate publishing,
in Portuguese, of Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era and Dispensation.
From Chile comes the news of the certain formation of a Spiritual Assembly in Valparaiso, where a lovely Group has been developed under the joint auspices of the Santiago and Punta Arenas Assemblies. Marcia Steward has been concentrating her efforts on Valparaiso for several months, assisted by two former members of the Punta Arenas Assembly, now living in Valparaiso. This will make the third Bahá’í Community in Chile.
After attending the Panama Conference, Elisabeth Cheney proceeded to Bogota, where she will remain at least until the April election.
From the Panama Conference, Mrs. Amelia Collins travelled through Central America, stopping over in San Salvador, Guatemala City, and Mexico City, en route home. Mrs. Collins brought back a most enthusiastic and heartening account of the Panama Conference, and of the inspiration it was to all those participating in it.
Dr. Malcolm King reports from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, encouraging evidences of deep interest in the Bahá’í talks which he is giving.
Artemus Lamb is currently in the United States on business, and hopes to attend the Convention before returning to Punta Arenas.
After devoting her full efforts to assisting with the arrangements for Panama Conference, Gayle Woolson is now in San Jose, and will divide her time between Costa Rica and Panama. Evelyn Larson is remaining as pioneer in Costa Rica, and Cora Oliver is at present spending her holiday in San Jose.
Denver Public Meeting[edit]
The Public Meeting at Denver, part of the National Campaign, was held at the Shirley-Savoy Hotel on March 8th, with an audience of about 375. The A Cappella Choir of the East Denver High School opened the meeting with five selections, and Mr. Carl Scheffler spoke on the subject “The Price of World Peace Is World Religion.” Mrs. E. R. Roberts was chairman.
In preparation for this meeting the Denver Spiritual Assembly was able to get daily notices in both leading papers, the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News, in addition to paid advertising. On the radio a half hour transcription was given the Sunday before the big meeting and one of fifteen minutes on the Sunday after. This was followed up by a broadcast given by Mr. William Sears in person on March 17th. Sixteen
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spot announcements mentioned
the public meeting on KFEL and
one free announcement was given
over KVOD.
An attractively printed card invited the public to attend three follow-up meetings at the Cosmopolitan Hotel on the three evenings following the lecture of Mr. Scheffler. The subjects were “The Challenge of the Atomic Bomb,” “Unity or Disintegration,” and “Universal Peace: What Can We Do to Bring it?” Mr. Monroe Ioas was the speaker on these occasions, and the attendance was 35 at the first meeting, 40 at the second, and 30 at the last.
Through the untiring efforts of the Denver friends, that city has become aware of Bahá’u’lláh and many people have heard something of His Teachings.
Banquet in Pittsburgh at the Webster Hall Hotel, January 26th, 1946. Left to right, along the side of the table: Prof. Bishop Brown, Miss Elsie Austin (guest speaker), Mr. Walter Buchanon (chairman), Dr. Otto Zmeskal (chairman, Spiritual Assembly).
Local Communities[edit]
Several communities have reported indirect teaching through social functions this month. The Bahá’ís of TEANECK, New Jersey, have been hosts to several cultural gatherings at their Bahá’í Center, Evergreen Cabin, West Englewood. On two occasions non-Bahá’ís presented the entire program drawing their friends for the audience. One evening a former resident of Java and Bali spoke of those islands, illustrating his talk with exquisite colored pictures. Subsequently the speaker became very much interested in the Faith. Another well-publicized, well attended meeting was a program by the poet letter-carrier of West Englewood, who read his poetry to the musical accompaniment of a Bahá’í pianist, and who showed colored slides of the nearby country scenes. Many town residents made their first visit to the Bahá’í Center for this program.
When Dr. Alain Locke was scheduled as a speaker for the Rhode Island School of Design’s exhibition of Negro art, the Negro College Club and the PROVIDENCE Bahá’ís held a joint meeting for which Dr. Locke talked on “Democracy in Human Relations” and spoke of being a Bahá’í. There were twenty non-Bahá’ís present in spite of bad weather. His talk was reported and the next Sunday’s program was announced in both the Urban League Bulletin and the Providence Chronicle. As a result of this unsolicited publicity, the Sunday meeting for Mr. George Goodman, a Negro Bahá’í from HARTFORD, Connecticut, had a record attendance.
NEW YORK CITY has held a series of Latin American evenings. There was a capacity audience in the Bahá’í Center for the one held January 25th, the first to be held entirely in the Spanish language. It was advertised through the Spanish newspaper LaPressa and over the Spanish radio station, WBNX, and through invitations sent in the mail. Mr. Eduardo Ricci was chairman for the elaborate Spanish program, Dr. Ernest Chenel, professor of Romance Languages at Fordham University, spoke on “The Inca Empire,” Etta Mae Lawrence, Bahá’í pioneer to Buenos Aires, gave the Bahá’í message, and there was a technicolor sound movie, “South to the Land of the Conquistadores.” Blue Mountain and his trio furnished Latin American folk music.
A Bahá’í banquet held at PITTSBURGH’s Webster Hall Hotel on January 26th was very successful. There were sixty present, most of whom knew a little about the Faith. The atmosphere was responsive and friendly. Among the guests were twelve members of the sorority of which Elsie Austin was once grand president. The pamphlets, “The Bahá’í Peace Program,” were used as place cards and were all of them taken home to be read. The waiters asked for copies too! After the turkey dinner came the program: a welcome by the chairman of the local spiritual assembly. Mr. Otto Zmeskal; and an introduction to the Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Walter Buchanan; a few words from Tom Dunbar, recently discharged from the army; piano selections by Mrs. Harris, member of the Delta sorority; a talk about the souvenir peace pamphlet by Mr. Bishop Brown; introduction to Miss Austin by Florence Zmeskal; and an excellent and inspiring talk by Miss Elsie Austin. The Pittsburgh Courier sent a reporter and photographer.
The Bahá’ís of URBANA and CHAMPAIGN, Illinois, celebrated Naw-Rúz this year with an interracial dinner at which about 120 people heard the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, Each Bahá’í invited one or more guests but more than half of the tickets were bought by non-Bahá’ís interested in better race relations. Mr. Taylor Thomas, of the Champaign Group, was master of ceremonies. The non-Bahá’í speaker was Prof. Charles Shattuck of the University of Illinois, who made a plea for Negro students to become active in the theater of that institution. Margaret Swengel told about Bahá’í
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youth work for race unity, and Mrs.
Margery McCormick spoke on “The
World Safe for Mankind.”
The DANVILLE, Illinois, Bahá’í assembly felt that that community was drawn together in harmony and fellowship when a surprise covered-dish supper was held in honor of two Bahá’ís, Mrs. Ruth Chavis and Mrs. Marie Weaver, whose birthdays fell on the regular study class evening. The study of the Dawn-breakers was enriched by the presence of Mr. Farhang Javid, a student at the University of Illinois from Tihrán, and a fourth generation Bahá’í, who helped the class with pronunciation. Another study class is beginning in Danville using the outline prepared by Mamie Seto.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, announced the holding of their first meeting in a public auditorium on January 13th. The program built about the subject, “The Need for Universal Peace,” was composed of talks in Spanish by Mr. Marcelino Castro and Mr. Lucien McComb, Jr., of readings from the teachings in Spanish, and of music by a non-Bahá’í. The Bahá’ís were able to obtain the use of the room free of charge and have been promised the future use of it also. They feel that it is the best auditorium for their use in San Juan, housed as it is in a building entirely devoted to civic affairs and connected with the cultural society, Ateneo Puertoriqueno.
ST. LOUIS Bahá’ís are conducting a series of fellowship meetings the
Summer School of the Bahá’ís of India and Burma, held at Panchgani, October, 1945.
first Sunday of each month with community singing, recreation, and refreshments. A ten minute talk is
given on one of the following: What
It Means to Be a Bahá’í in Relation
to — Personal Character Building,
Contact with Family, Contact with
Friends, Contact with Business Associates, Contact with Denominational Churches, Contact with Other
Races, and Contact with the World
at Large.
Public meetings are held on the Bahá’í principles at the new Bahá’í Library, Musical Arts Building, 549 N. Boyle.
News from Other Lands[edit]
Moslems Look to America[edit]
A well known Egyptian daily has printed an account of Bahá’í activities in the United States with the subtitle, “Necessity of a Moslem Cultural Center in America to Inform the Americans of the True Moslem Cult.” The article, sent by airmail from the paper’s New York correspondent, remarks on the great religious freedom which exists in the United States and on the energy with which American Bahá’ís are making use of this freedom. It comments on the general meetings which Bahá’ís hold in many large cities and particularly on the widespread propaganda which Bahá’ís of San Francisco conducted at the time of the San Francisco Conference. The correspondent draws the conclusion that the Moslem world should also take advantage of the religious freedom offered by the United States by building a mosque in Washington and establishing a cultural center “to impart to Americans the truth about the Moslem cult.”
The article gives in full “The Bahá’í Peace Program, a statement published by Bahá’ís in many American papers” showing the aim of Bahá’ís to be “to transform all the nations into a spiritual unity ...” and closes with the 10 basic Bahá’í principles.
Thus through a widely circulated newspaper have the Bahá’í teachings been brought to the notice of many Moslems.
India[edit]
We learn that the Indian friends inaugurated in January a 4½ Year Teaching Plan to terminate in 1950 on the Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Báb. The goal is the establishment of at least 63 centers in British India, Burma, and the most important Indian states. All dissolved assemblies are to be reestablished and all groups turned into assemblies. They have divided India into 8 zones, naming certain towns in each where work is to be concentrated.
The Indian Bahá’í Youth Committee has been authorized by the N.S.A. to organize the Summer School and supervise the children’s character training classes. Both these activities are at Panchgani, a hill station and health resort.
Just three days before the Summer School started plague broke out at Panchgani and caused the committee the greatest anxiety “but by Divine Grace there was a lull in the epidemic for 15 days, exactly the period of the Summer School.”
Egypt[edit]
Egyptian Bahá’ís from 17 different places in Egypt gathered last summer
[Page 8]
for their first summer school
which was held at a beautiful spot
on the eastern bank of the Suez
Canal overlooking the Mediterranean.
Mecca[edit]
The Persian Bahá’ís sent by the Guardian to Mecca to establish a Bahá’í Center in this stronghold of Islam are being confirmed and blessed by Bahá’u’lláh. They have developed many friendships through trying to be of service to those with whom they are associated, have won the respect of the authorities in Mecca, and have had no opposition from any source. They have a Bahá’í library, named in honor of Mulla ’Ali Bastami, the first Bahá’í martyr in Arabia.
Marian Jack in Bulgaria[edit]
A letter from Miss Marian Jack in Sofia, Bulgaria, tells of disasters but also of hopeful signs. One Bahá’í was crushed to death when her bombed house fell on her. Almost all the Bulgarian Esslemonts were burned when this house was destroyed. At the time of her writing Miss Jack was copying by hand some translations of the Writings a Bulgarian friend had made. Some of the Sofia Bahá’ís have passed on, “one dear man was killed,” and several went away but “interest in the Cause continues in spite of our inability to organize.”
Sweden[edit]
Mr. Gustav Sundquist of Stockholm, Sweden, writes of meeting Mr. and Mrs. Mottahedeh on their recent travels. He is aflame with joy at finding the Truth after a twenty years’ search and will do everything he can to bring the knowledge of the Cause to the Swedish people, for, to quote him, “to learn of Bahá’u’lláh is the only thing which can help an unhappy world.” He is translating short extracts from the Writings to distribute, would like to print them, but finds this difficult as the war ruined his business and he has a family to support.
Norway[edit]
Miss Schubarth writes from Oslo of corresponding with some who have become interested in her translation of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. A letter from the Guardian has given her increased courage and joy in the knowledge of his prayers for her teaching and her health. She is partly incapacitated by rheumatism and is using the time to correct translations made years ago.
Presiding officers of the Centenary Convention, Persia. Left to right: Shuallah Ala’i (vice-chairman), Vali’ullah Varga (chairman) Ali Akbar Furutan (secretary).
Our readers will remember that
Mrs. Ramsli’s town of Kristiansund,
Norway, was bombed and burned.
The inhabitants are consequently
lacking in clothing and would
welcome used clothing. Address:
Mrs. Krantz-Ramsli, Kristiansund,
Norway.
British Isles[edit]
Meetings in Hyde Park: The Committee appointed for the purpose has duly commenced to hold meetings on Sunday mornings in Hyde Park. The meetings have been very successful, good crowds listening on each occasion. This is a good method of making the name and the basic teachings of the Faith known to large numbers of people, and it has resulted too in some people coming to the Centre for further information.
Pioneer Settlers at Work: Nottingham and St. Ives are the first places to have pioneer settlers at work under the Six Year Plan by which British Bahá’ís are working towards the goal of nineteen assemblies distributed among the different countries of the British Isles by 1950.
Mr. and Mrs. Mottahedeh in London: The British community had the great pleasure recently to receive a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Mottahedeh of New York, who came over here on business. They visited Bahá’í communities and friends in various parts of the country. In London Mrs. Mottahedeh spoke at two well-attended meetings, one at the Bahá’í Centre. The other meeting was held in a private cinema which was rented. The film of the American Centenary Convention meetings, lent by Mr. and Mrs. Mottahedeh, was shown, and Mrs. Mottahedeh spoke on the activities of the Faith on the American Continent.
Brief Notes[edit]
The British N.S.A. has a collection, used for exhibition, of translations in 38 different languages of Dr. Esslemont’s book.
Following the Guardian’s advice, the Australian N.S.A. has decided to conduct for the present only one summer school. This was held December 29, 1945, to January 6, 1946, at “Bolton Place,” Yerrinbool, N.S.W.
The British Bahá’í Convention will be held April 27, 28.
Australian and New Zealand Bahá’ís will hold their Convention May 11 to May 19 in Sydney. This time (during the school holidays) was chosen as being the most Convenient.
| Page | Col. | |
| “Be in Perfect Unity”—Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá | 1 | 1 |
| National Spiritual Assembly | ||
| Letter to the Believers | 1 | 1 |
| In Memoriam | 1 | 3 |
| Enrollments | 2 | 2 |
| National Committees | ||
| Radio | 2 | 1 |
| Public Relations | 2 | 2 |
| Publishing Announcements | 3 | 1 |
| “World Order” | 3 | 1 |
| Green Acre School, 1946 | 3 | 3 |
| Race Unity Conference at Green Acre, 1945 | 4 | 2 |
| Inter-America News | 5 | 1 |
| Denver Public Meeting | 5 | 3 |
| Local Communities | 6 | 1 |
| News from other Lands | ||
| Moslems Look at America | 7 | 1 |
| India | 7 | 3 |
| Egypt | 7 | 3 |
| Mecca | 8 | 1 |
| Marian Jack in Bulgaria | 8 | 1 |
| Sweden | 8 | 1 |
| Norway | 8 | 1 |
| British Isles | 8 | 2 |
| Photographs | ||
| Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Dayton, Ohio | 3 | |
| Some of the teachers at the Louhelen Midwinter Session | 4 | |
| Bolton Place, Yerrinbool, New South Wales | 4 | |
| Students, Louhelen Mid-Winter Session | 4 | |
| Bahá’í literature display for Public Meeting Washington, D. C. | 5 | |
| Banquet in Pittsburgh | 6 | |
| Summer School at Panchgani | 7 | |
| Presiding Officers Centenary Convention, Persia | 8 |
