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NEWS |
| No. 197 | JULY, 1947 | YEAR 104 | BAHA’I ERA |
| The Challenging Requirements of the Present Hour
A Letter from the Guardian Under date of June 5, 1947, the Guardian has addressed a communication of vital import to the Bahá’í’s of North and South America, and to the American Bahá’í’s serving the Faith in Europe. It has been printed as a 36-page booklet, and a copy mailed direct to all the individual believers. Last year the new Seven Year Plan was inaugurated and given force by Shoghi Effendi’s letter “A God-Given Mandate.” Now the actual working out of the Plan in relation to the four major objectives is illumined for us by this latest creative expression of the Guardian’s vision. To the individual Bahá’í it brings the bounty of new courage and understanding; to the Committee it supplies directives; to the community and group it offers a blessed occasion for the rededication to the work of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. |
Our second pioneer to Spain, Mr. Eduardo Gonzales, flew from New York to Madrid, June 12, 1947.
Excerpts from the Guardian’s Letter[edit]
The Bahá’í World Commonwealth[edit]
“During this Formative Age of the Faith, and in the course of present and succeeding epochs, the last and crowning stage in the erection of the framework of the Administrative Order of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh—the election of the Universal House of Justice—will have been completed, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Mother-Book of His Revelation, will have been codified and its laws promulgated, the Lesser Peace will have been established, the unity of mankind will have been achieved and its maturity attained, the Plan conceived by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá will have been executed, the emancipation of the Faith from the fetters of religious orthodoxy will have been effected, and its independent religious status will have been universally recognized, whilst in the course of the Golden Age, destined to consummate the Dispensation itself, the Banner of the Most Great Peace, promised by its Author, will have been unfurled, the World Bahá’í Commonwealth will have emerged in the plentitude of its power and splendor, and the birth and efflorescence of a world civilization, the child of that Peace, will have conferred its inestimable blessings upon all mankind.”
A Rededication to the Tasks[edit]
“The fourfold objective, which the prosecutors of the Plan, in the present early stage of its development, are now pursuing, and which is designed to stimulate the dual process initiated during the opening phase of the Formative Age of the Faith, must be strenuously and unfalteringly pursued. The second year of the Seven Year Plan must witness, on all fronts, on the part of young and old alike, rich and poor, colored and white, neophyte and veteran, a rededication to the tasks undertaken and an intensification of effort for their furtherance wholly unparalleled in the annals of American Bahá’í history. In every state of the United States, in every province of the Dominion of Canada, in every republic of Central and South America, in each of the ten selected sovereign states of the European continent, the ever-swelling legions of Bahá’u’lláh’s steadily advancing army, obeying the Mandate of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, launched on the second stage of their world-wide crusade, deriving fresh courage from the exploits that have
European Teaching[edit]
The latest pioneer to depart for the European field of teaching is Eduardo Gonzales (see picture), a member of the Guayaquil, Ecuador, Bahá’í Community, who left by Pan-American Airplane from New York on June 10, to assist Virginia Orbison in Spain. Mildred H. Clark from the Denver Community, sails on June 27 direct to Oslo to serve as pioneer in Norway. Because of visa difficulties, Anna Kunz was delayed in her sailing on June 10, but will leave for her post in Switzerland as soon as transportation has been secured for her.
The E.T.C. has been heartened and rejoiced by a windfall of itinerant teachers. Immediately after the Convention, Mildred Mottahedeh flew to Europe for an extended business trip and has included in her itinerary visits to at least six of our goal countries. Several reports have already been received from the pioneers about the assistance she has
[Page 2]
given them. Mason Remey left by
plane on May 29 to visit the pioneers
in every one of our ten countries and
enthusiastic accounts have already
arrived about his stay in Norway
and Sweden. Eva Mae Barrow from
Cleveland, sailed on June 10 to spend
her Summer holiday working with
the pioneers in Berne, Luxembourg
and Brussels. The Bishop Browns
who are to be in Sweden on official
business, will assist the pioneers in
Stockholm and Copenhagen. On June
18, Marion Little (see picture) from
the New Orleans Community, sailed
on the S.S. America, to spend from
six months to a year in Europe,
making substantial visits to all of
the Centers in the European field.
In spite of the difficult shipping conditions, reservations have been made for the remaining seven which the Committee hopes to have in the field to meet the Guardian’s desire for thirty-five pioneer teachers in Europe by October 1.
European Relief[edit]
In the May issue of the News, it was stated that 200 CARE packages had been sent to Europe. Word comes from the European Relief Committee of the New York Community that since December of last year, 680 such packages have been sent, of which 610 went to Germany. Many more communities and individuals throughout the country have sent packages of both clothing and food and we now know that the receipt of these gifts has greatly bolstered the morale of the friends in other lands.
Bahá’í Receives National Recognition[edit]
One of our Bahá’ís received a signal honor this spring, mention of which is made in columnist John Temple Graves department of The Birmingham Post (Alabama), which follows in its entirety.
“Robert Durr, editor of the Birmingham Weekly Review (for Negroes), will receive from President Truman in Washington this week the Wendell L. Willkie Honorary Mention Award for Negro Journalism. This is an honor indeed, and all of us who know and like Editor Durr must be happy not only that he has won it but in terms that give him the good will of both races at home. That is a test of successful Negro journalism in the Deep South.” Dated February 24, 1947.
distinguished the opening phase of the present stage of their enterprise, must strain every nerve to scale loftier heights of heroism, and deploy, over a wider range, their divinely sustained forces, as their present Plan unfolds and moves towards a climax.”
The Community Must Arise[edit]
“Invested, among its sister communities in East and West, with the primacy conferred upon it by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan; armed with the mandatory provisions of His momentous Tablets; equipped with the agencies of a quarter century old Administrative Order, whose fabric it has reared and consolidated; encouraged by the marvelous success achieved by its daughter communities throughout the Americas, a success which has sealed the triumph of the first stage of that Plan; launched on a campaign of vaster dimensions, of superior merit, of weightier potentialities, than any it has hitherto initiated, a campaign destined to multiply its spiritual progeny in distant lands and amidst divers races, the community of the Most Great Name in the North American continent must arise, as it has never before in its history, and demonstrate anew its capacity to perform such deeds as are worthy of its high calling. Its members, the executors of ‘Abdul-Bahá’s Plan, the champion-builders of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic Order, the torchbearers of a world-girdling civilization, must, in the years immediately ahead, bestir themselves, and, as bidden by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘increase’ their exertions ‘a thousand-fold’, lay bare further vistas in the ‘range’ of their ‘future achievements’ and of their ‘unspeakably glorious’ mission, and hasten the day when, as prophesied by Him, their community will ‘find itself securely established upon the throne of an everlasting dominion’, when ‘the whole earth’ will be stirred and shaken by the results of its ‘achievements’ and ‘resound with the praises of its majesty and greatness’, when America will ‘evolve into a center from which waves of spiritual power will emanate, and the throne of the Kingdom of God will, in the plenitude of its majesty and glory be firmly established.”
That Great Republic, Undivided and Undefeatable[edit]
“Many and divers are the setbacks and reverses which this nation, extolled so highly by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and occupying at present so unique a position among its fellow nations, must, alas, suffer. The road leading to its destiny is long, thorny and tortuous. The impact of various forces upon the structure and polity of that nation will be tremendous. Tribulations, on a scale unprecedented in its history, and calculated to purge its institutions, to purify the hearts of its people, to fuse its constituent elements, and to weld into one entity with its sister nations in both hemispheres, are inevitable.
Dinner in honor of Mrs. Marion M. Little (extreme right) in New Orleans, prior to her departure, June 18th, for Europe as an itinerant teacher.
[Page 3]
“In one of the most remarkable Tablets revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
passages of which have already been quoted on previous occasions, written
in the evening of His life, soon after the termination of the first world war,
He anticipates, in succinct and ominous sentences, the successive ebullitions which must afflict humanity, and whose full force the American nation
must, if her destiny is to be accomplished, inevitably experience. ‘The ills
from which the world now suffers,’ He wrote, ‘will multiply; the gloom
which envelops it will deepen. The Balkans will remain discontented. Its
restlessness will increase. The vanquished powers will continue to agitate.
They will resort to every measure that may rekindle the flame of war.
Movements, newly-born and world-wide in their range, will exert their
utmost effort for the advancement of their designs. The Movement of the
Left will acquire great importance. Its influence will spread.’
“The agitation in the Balkan Peninsula; the feverish activity in which Germany and Italy played a disastrous role, culminating in the outbreak of the second world war; the rise of the Fascist and Nazi movements, which spread their ramifications to distant parts of the globe; the spread of communism, which as a result of the victory of Soviet Russia in that same war, has been greatly accelerated—all these happenings, some unequivocally, others in veiled language, have been forecast in this Tablet, the full force of whose implications are as yet undisclosed, and which, we may well anticipate, the American nation, as yet insufficiently schooled by adversity, must sooner or later experience.
“Whatever the Hand of a beneficent and inscrutable Destiny has reserved for this youthful, this virile, this idealistic, this spiritually blessed and enviable nation, however severe the storms which may buffet it in the days to come in either hemisphere, however sweeping the changes which the impact of cataclysmic forces from without, and the stirrings of a Divine embryonic Order from within, will effect in its structure and life, we may, confident in the words uttered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, feel assured that that great Republic—the shell that enshrines so precious a member of the world community of followers of His Father—will continue to evolve, undivided and undefeatable, until the sum total of its contribution to the birth, the rise and the fruition of that world civilization, the child of the Most Great Peace and hall-mark of the Golden Age of the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh will have been made, and its last task discharged.”
Latin American Administration Develops[edit]
Latin American Bahá’ís are moving definitely toward the goal of two National Assemblies by 1953. Central America and South America have now each its own National Teaching Committee and each country in these areas has its own Regional Teaching Committee located in a single city. For the first time the Latin friends will be directing things for themselves with only one North American pioneer on each National Teaching Committee, serving as its secretary and, in most cases, none at all of the North Americans on the regional committees. Pioneers, both North American and Latin American, are voluntarily giving up the authority and special prerogatives which they have had in the past in order that Latin American administration may take hold of these matters and develop to the point where it can continue uninterruptedly when the National Spiritual Assemblies are elected. It is a transition year of great importance in the accomplishment of the Guardian’s objectives.
Central America[edit]
Marcia Steward is serving as secretary of the Central American Teaching Committee with headquarters at San José, Costa Rica. This committee is planning a Spanish news bulletin for Central America, Mexico and the islands. This will contain news, suggestions for teaching and a special article on some phase of the Teachings written by one of the better known Bahá’ís of the area. St. Guillermo Arias has been appointed secretary of the new bulletin committee in San Jose.
The Central America Teaching
Committee plans to use the new correspondence teaching plan tried out
successfully in Costa Rica last year
wherever there are believers able to
write good letters in answer to questions about the Faith. Difficult questions will be referred to the National
Teaching Committee at San José.
(For details of this correspondence plan see Bahá’í News for May, 1947, page 2.)
South America[edit]
Artemus Lamb has recently been to Chicago to consult with the Inter-America Committee about the plans of the South American Teaching Committee. These plans include an experiment in a city where a strong local assembly is already established. This assembly would put on a week’s series of public meetings presented by the Latin friends themselves and coordinated with radio and press publicity and visual displays such as posters, pictures of the Temple and displays of Bahá’í books in store windows. Prior to opening the series of meetings the chosen community will have intensive study of how to carry through adequate classes for those who become interested during the public meetings. The purpose of the experiment is to show the assemblies that they are capable of carrying on public teaching with a proper follow-through resulting in community activity and the addition of new members.
The South American Spanish bulletin plans to carry an article about the Teachings to stimulate knowledge and activity as well as news.
A Week of “Teacher Training”[edit]
The National Teaching Committee felt that the inspiring spirit of the convention was carried over into the Teacher Training Techniques Course held under their direction in Chicago from May 5th through May 9th. Forty-seven Regional Teaching Committee members, representing twenty-five states remained over for these classes. The sessions were also open to any Bahá’í interested in unique teaching technics and attendance at each session averaged approximately forty-seven.
The various sessions were conducted by teachers qualified in their particular field. The first session was devoted to the study of the “God-Given Mandate” by Mrs. Florence Reeb. Mrs. Reeb has been teaching this course for the past year and emphasized the need for careful analytical study and discussion of the Mandate in every community.
Mr. Leroy Ioas presented the very important subject of Fireside Teaching. Mr. Ioas pointed out that the fundamental point around which the success of this next year is going to revolve is going to be the Fireside meeting. He emphasized the
National Spiritual Assembly[edit]
A Teaching Year[edit]
Beloved friends:
This is a teaching year. The American Bahá’ís, confronting the second year of the new Seven Year Plan, are called upon to teach through all our institutions, in all our communities, and by all our believers. Of first importance is the generation of the spirit of progress and achievement, a determination seizing upon us all, like one light igniting many candles. Next came plans and programs, to unify and coordinate the common effort. Finally we must apply rigorous tests of actual accomplishment to measure from time to time the product of our effort.
To assist the general effort, the National Spiritual Assembly has adopted certain policies and outlined certain tasks.
1. In a letter to every believer in June, the NSA requested each Bahá’í to accept the Master’s challenge to confirm one soul each year, and resolve to bring in at least one new Bahá’í before April 21, 1948. “It is known and clear,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote many years ago, “that today the unseen divine assistance encompasseth those who deliver the Message. And if the work of delivering the Message be neglected, the assistance shall be entirely cut off ... If every one of the friends were to establish relations of friendship and right dealings with one of the negligents souls, associate and live with him with perfect kindness, and meanwhile through good conduct and moral behavior lead him to divine instruction, to heavenly advice and teachings, he would gradually arouse that negligent person and would change his ignorance into knowledge ... If by this method every one of the friends of God were to try to lead one soul to the right path, the number of believers would be doubled every year.”
The mightly assurance revealed by Bahá’u’lláh: “Whosoever quickeneth one soul in this Cause is like unto one quickening all the servants and the Lord shall bring him forth in the day of resurrection into the Ridván of oneness, adorned with the Mantle of Himself, the protector, the mighty, the generous!”
2. The smaller and less experienced Assemblies have been informed that the National Teaching Committee has been authorized to assist them in their teaching work, and to provide them with all possible assistance this year.
3. The larger Assemblies have received a letter urging them to accept the challenge of this teaching year by developing one group to Assembly status before April 21, 1948. Likewise the Assemblies and groups have been informed of the teaching call directed to individual Bahá’í’s, and each Assembly and group has been urged to dedicate its collective effort to the great mission of attracting, teaching and confirming individuals, so that its number of members can be doubled.
4. The Guardian last year cabled that the National Teaching Committee was to establish new Assemblies to the number needed to produce a total of one hundred seventy-five local Spiritual Assemblies by April 21, 1948. This is a tremendous task and one requiring effort all along the line. In support of this task the National Assembly is holding special conferences with many Committees and coordinating as much as possible their services for the development of full capacity in areas where the greatest number of potential Assemblies are located. The policy adopted has been recorded as follows—“that in the consolidation of the Bahá’í community throughout the United States this year, coordinated campaigns will be conducted, combining public meetings, circuits, fireside meetings, publicity, radio broadcasts and other teaching aids.”
5. A national Teaching Theme will soon be announced which can be developed through a series of four public meetings by National Committees and local Assemblies.
The Guardian’s inspiring letter of June 5, announced in a special statement, focuses our attention upon the work to be done: “Ours ... the task to cast our eyes upon, and bend our energies to meet, the challenging requirements of the present hour. Labors, of an urgent and sacred character, claim insistently our undivided attention during the opening years of this new epoch which we have entered. The second Seven Year Plan ... is now entering its second year, and must, as it operates in three continents, be productive of results outshining any as yet achieved since the Divine Plan itself was set in motion during the concluding years of the first Bahá’í century.”
Schedule of NSA Meetings[edit]
The current schedule of meetings has been revised by addition of an extra day to the June meeting. The August meeting dates are to be from 9:00 a.m., August 2 to noon of Tuesday, August 5.
Organization Meeting of Local Assembly[edit]
Difficulties have arisen in a number of Assemblies this year concerning the proper application of Article VII of the By-Laws of a local Spiritual Assembly. “... The officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the entire membership of the Assembly taken by secret ballot.”
The problem is whether an election of officers can be held if one or more members of the newly elected Assembly are absent from the city, ill or otherwise unavailable in person.
The interpretation given this By-Law by the National Spiritual Assembly is that it requires opportunity to be given to all nine members to vote, and any absent member can vote by mail or telegram. Such a ballot makes the member constructively present at the organization meeting.
Were the provision to be taken literally as meaning that all nine members must be personally present before the Assembly can organize, it would open up the possibility of a delay of weeks or even months under certain circumstances before the Assembly could start its work. It would even enable one member to prevent the Assembly from being organized merely by staying away from the meeting. Balancing the rights of the individual member with the power and responsibility of the institution, the NSA declares that the member must be notified and given due right to vote for the officers, but that the Assembly must after this opportunity has been given proceed with the discharge of its duties. An absent member who does not vote after having the opportunity to do so may not invalidate the election by the others. His reason for not voting should be explained after he returns.
Our Measure of Speed[edit]
| .. The Key That Unlocketh the Hearts ..
Say: This is the Day when every ear must needs be attentive to His voice. Hearken ye to the call of this wronged One, and magnify ye the name of the one true God, and adorn yourselves with the ornament of His remembrance, and illumine your hearts with the light of His love. This is the key that unlocketh the hearts of men, the burnish that shall cleanse the souls of all beings. He that is careless of what hath poured out from the finger of the Will of God liveth in manifest error. Amity and rectitude of conduct, rather than dissension and mischief, are the marks of true faith. Proclaim unto men what He, Who speaketh the truth and is the Bearer of the Trust of God, hath bidden thee observe. My glory be with thee, O thou that callest upon My name, whose eyes are directed towards My court, and whose tongue uttereth the praise of thy Lord, the Beneficent. |
Dear Bahá’í friends:
Your Treasurer has been trying to bring to your attention each month the status of the Bahá’í Fund and the problems with which we are faced in our effort to support the four objectives of the Second Seven Year Plan.
In a letter dated May 9th from Haifa and signed by our Guardian in which he emphasized the need for speed in carrying out the initial steps required before work on the Temple can be begun, he made a very significant statement and one which I think we all should ponder with great seriousness. He said “as all kinds of unforeseen complications may arise before the interior is completed, the sooner the first contracts are placed and work actually started, the better.” Those of us who were associated with the Faith during the first Seven Year Plan realize that had it not been for the frequent admonitions of the Guardian from time to time we would never have been able to have completed the exterior of the Temple before the Centenary.
A word of warning comes to us at this time which carries with it the significance of the times which are ahead.
Receipts during the month of May amounted to $16,898.98. Our Budget calls for $25,000 per month, which means that we fell short in our contribution by $8,101.02.
As was brought out at the Convention much of the monies which are in the Bahá’í Fund at this time are earmarked and can be used only for specific purposes. In spite of the contributions given at the Convention which amounted to over $5,000.00 we are still using earmarked funds to the extent of $3,854.98, as of the report to the N.S.A. of week ending June 6, 1947.
The time is not far off when the Temple construction will actually begin. Funds must be put aside each month out of the general contributions to take care of the interior decoration, the European work, the National Teaching Committee work and the Inter-America work, which are still going forward. Pioneers have to be supported, their checks have to go out regularly.
Your Treasurer would like to emphasize again that the speed with which the Second Seven Year Plan goes forward is measured by our ability to support financially the four objectives.
| New Assemblies
As of April 21, 1947, the following new local Spiritual Assemblies have been established:—
|
The National Assembly informs
the believers that the Guardian has
expelled from the Bahá’í community Dr. Abdullah Baher of New
York with his mother Touty Baher
who has recently left New York after
a stay during which time she did
not present credentials nor affiliate
with the local community. The Guardian’s cable stated that they had
“flagrantly disobeyed instructions.”
In that same message the Guardian advised the NSA:—“Owing arrival of disloyal so-called Bahá’ís your Assembly’s control of credentials should be strictly exercised, otherwise corruptive influences will spread and injure the magnificent services being achieved by the American Bahá’í community.”
Quetta, India—View of the Hazirat’ul-Quds with dual language inscription over door.
“Teacher Training”[edit]
informal character of the Fireside—“You are creating a Bahá’í hospitality to glorify the presentation of the Cause.”
The second day a practical workshop was held on Regional Teaching Committee problems—this was conducted by Dr. Katherine True, a member of the National Teaching Committee. In the afternoon Mr. Carl Scheffler presented a discussion on the “Preparation for Teaching.” He pointed out that the force of attraction is the keynote of all Bahá’í Teaching Psychology. “To attract is the key to the technique of teaching.”
Other sessions included a Panel Discussion on the approach to individuals of various backgrounds—the Christian, the Jew, Youth, the Scientist, and nationality groups. Mr. Larry Kramer participating as a Youth pointed out how skeptical modern youth is regarding Religion and therefore our approach to most young people is from the standpoint of the logic of our great principles. Helpful suggestions were offered by every member of this Panel. Dr. Edris Rice-Wray that afternoon presented a session on “Spiritual Maturity” which is an essential state for every Bahá’í to attain.
One entire day was devoted to National Committees that they might present especially to the Regional Teaching Committee members the resources and services they offer teaching activities—for many times due to lack of understanding full advantage is not taken of other National Committee services, such as Public Relations, Questionnaire and Visual Education, Bahá’í Literature, Youth and Children’s Committees.
Mr. Albert Windust closed this new innovation in Teacher Training Techniques by presenting an inspiring session on “The Covenant of God.” Mr. Windust stated, “We must be prepared to defend this Divine Tree of Life, the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. We must carry the Sword of the Spirit.”
Every person participating in this week of practical teaching techniques testified to the success of such a method for Teacher Training and it is hoped such a session may be repeated next year.
Letters from the Guardian[edit]
To Individuals[edit]
The following excerpts from letters written by the Guardian to individual believers are published with the Guardian’s consent.
Use of Alláh-u-Abhá[edit]
The use of “Alláh-u-Abhá” in the East is, generally speaking, confined to a greeting. It is not said at the end of prayers and the Guardian feels that the less it is used freely in public by the Bahá’ís in the West (before strangers) the better, as it gives a very peculiar impression of us, and makes us seem like some strange Oriental sect.
Obligatory Prayers[edit]
As obligatory prayers require either genuflection or ablution and orienting toward Bahji, they cannot truly be said by one person for a group of people without it being in effect a form of congregational prayer, so he thinks it better to avoid it.
Peace Predictions[edit]
It is far too early to make any predictions about peace of any sort, judging by the ebullitions of the world’s affairs these days! ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in His Tablets, connects the prophecy of Daniel (1957) with the proclamation and spread of the Cause. Other references regarding this date must be considered as hearsay.”—To Robert L. Gulick, July 3, 1946.
Future Guardians[edit]
“Future Guardians ... cannot ‘abrogate’ the interpretations of former Guardians, as this would imply not only lack of guidance but mistakes in making them; however, they can elaborate and elucidate former interpretations, and can certainly abrogate some former ruling laid down as a temporary necessity by a former Guardian.”—To Emeric Sala, February 19, 1947.
To the National Spiritual Assembly[edit]
Assistance to Philippine Bahá’ís[edit]
He is not in favor, as he already wrote you, of sending the Philippine friends any other assistance than food parcels and some Bahá’í literature, and he does not want money forwarded to them, as the American believers have already a very heavy program to carry out, in connection with their present Seven Year Plan, and can not afford to dissipate their resources.—Shoghi Effendi, through his Secretary, May 9, 1947.
Warning About Orientals[edit]
As to your question as to what races should be regarded as coming under the heading of “Orientals” in connection with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s warnings: there is no doubt He was primarily thinking of the Near Eastern races of Islamic extraction, who have every reason to look upon the Faith either with contempt as a mere heresy within, or sect of Islám, or with hatred as a potential threat to the supremacy of their religion. Likewise, it is these Near Eastern races, particularly the Persian, who have been most persistently exposed to the propaganda and bad example of the Covenant-breakers, old and new, and from whose ranks these very Covenant-breakers have sprung. These circumstances, combined with the fact that, like his Prophetic Forebears, Bahá’u’lláh appeared amongst the people most in need of enlightenment—and hence at their lowest ebb morally—are the reasons for not only ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s and his own (i.e., the Guardian’s) repeated warnings concerning Orientals, but also for the conduct, so often demonstrated, unfortunately, by these same Orientals, and which amply justifies our attitude of great precaution and wariness concerning receiving them in
Anchorage, Alaska[edit]
The Public Meetings on Wednesday evening at the Anchorage Hotel were as follows for the month of May:
- May 7—Vern Huffman reviewed “This Earth, One Country” by Emeric Sala.
- May 14—Capt. S. A. Pelle—“The Need for the Bahá’í Faith”.
- May 21—Betty Becker—“The Anniversary of the Báb”.
- May 28—Capt. S. A. Pelle—“Science and Religion”.
The Declaration of the Báb was observed on May 22nd after sunset at Frances Wells’ apartment with recordings of the Centenary program. The Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh was observed at 3:00 on May 29th by six Anchorage Bahá’ís.
It is gratifying to report that three new Bahá’ís registered during May: (1) Capt. Salvatore A. Pelle on May 12th, shortly before giving his first public talk on the Bahá’í Faith (Capt. Pelle’s home is just outside the city limits of Anchorage so technically
[Page 7]
our midst and believing their declarations to be sincere. Shoghi Effendi
also feels that the Moslems of India
should likewise be included in this
category, owing to their respective
religious and racial background.
If any credentials your Assembly receives, issued by other National Assemblies, are ambiguous in tone, you should write the body in question and request them to clarify the matter, and be more specific in the future. At present the Guardian does not want to introduce any set international form of credentials.—Shoghi Effendi, through His Secretary, May 9, 1947.
Note: The National Spiritual Assembly is issuing to local Assemblies, and to National Committees and Regional Teaching Committees, a bulletin on the reception of Orientals. The principle to be understood by all the friends is that every Oriental must have credentials before his Bahá’í status can be recognized; and that credentials of believers from other countries are to be transmitted to the NSA. When accepted, new credentials are issued to those believers by the NSA, for their use while in America.
Bahá’í Association with United Nations[edit]
He feels the friends should bear in mind that the primary reason that he is encouraging Bahá’í association with the United Nations is to give the Cause due publicity as an agency working for and firmly believing in the unification of the human family and permanent peace, and not because he believes that we are at present in a position to shape or influence directly the course of human affairs! Also, he feels this association will afford the believers an opportunity of contacting prominent and progressive-minded people from different countries and calling the Faith and its principles to their attention. We should associate ourselves in every way with all movements of UN which are in accordance with our principles and objectives; but we should not seek to take the initiative or ... focus a glare of publicity and public attention on a very wide scale, upon ourselves which might prove very detrimental to our own interests. He considered, for instance, the “Bahá’í Declaration of Human Obligations and Rights” appropriate and believes this type of action to be wise and suitable.—Shoghi Effendi, through his Secretary, May 9, 1947.
Note: Bahá’í association with United Nations is maintained by the National Spiritual Assembly through an appointed special committee.
The Importance of Direct Bahá’í Activity[edit]
He cannot urge upon you all sufficiently, and through you the American believers, the importance of Bahá’ís realizing that direct, concentrated and efficiently carried out Bahá’í work is not only their supreme duty but the best way they can serve the interests of humanity and hasten the day when at least the Lesser Peace will become a reality. We must always bear in mind that Bahá’u’lláh’s Order is the sovereign remedy, and all other measures, inaugurated by the United Nations or various governments, are in the nature of palliatives, however sound and progressive they may be. We must concentrate on perfecting our characters as individual Bahá’ís and on maturing our still embryonic, and as yet imperfectly understood World Order; on spreading the Message, according to the provisions of the Divine Plan; and on building a tightly-knit, world-wide Bahá’í community. We are relatively few in numbers, and have such a precious, unique and responsible task to carry out we must concentrate our full forces upon it. — Shoghi Effendi, through his Secretary, May 9, 1947.
Begin Temple Work this Year[edit]
The way the European teaching work is forging ahead and the number of pioneers being sent (and already settled abroad) greatly encourages him. It now remains for your Assembly to forge ahead with equal speed in carrying out the initial steps required before work on the Temple in situ can be begun. As all kinds of unforeseen complications may arise before the interior is completed, the sooner the first contracts are placed and work actually started, the better. As you know, he is very anxious to have work actually begun on the site this year, and he urges you to press the matter as much as possible.—Shoghi Effendi, through his Secretary, May 9, 1947.
Two Sisters Pioneer[edit]
The departure of two pioneers served as occasion for good Bahá’í publicity in Peoria, Ill., papers and on the radio.
Miss Elinor Gregory, recently of San Diego, sailed in April for Scandinavia. She is a Bahá’í pioneer to Oslo, Norway. About two months before this, her sister, Mrs. Lorraine Wright, arrived in Japan where she will pioneer. Since Japan is not in the Seven Year Plan, Mrs. Wright is not an “official” pioneer, but went to join her husband. Both sisters received the Bahá’í teachings in Peoria, and both have been active in teaching the Faith.
A good story headed “Bahá’í Pioneer Goes to Japan” was in Peoria papers and the same day Mrs. Wright was interviewed on the radio.
| he is listed as an isolated believer);
(2) Mrs. Betty Jeanne Courtney, May 22nd, just before the observance of the Declaration of the Báb; and (3) Mrs. Patricia Marsh, on May 29th as the sun was setting on the Inlet on the eve of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh. Capt. Pelle and Mrs. Courtney, the two newest Bahá’ís, welcomed Mrs. Marsh by handing her white and red roses, signifying purity and courage. This is the second time it has been demonstrated in Anchorage that when a member of the community leaves to go pioneering, her leaving seems to be a signal for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit, resulting in the maturing of new seeds of Faith. Honor Kempton left in October, and three new believers were registered in November and one more in December. Dagmar Dole left in March, and three more new believers registered in May! The weekly radio programs, newspaper advertising, Firesides and study class continued all month. |
Even greater publicity came with Miss Gregory’s departure, for she too came to Peoria, her old home, before leaving for Norway. Peoria papers carried several stories concerning a Bahá’í Community party held in her honor. Station WMMJ broadcast on its “Personality Parade” the story of Elinor’s teaching mission through the question and answer method with a wind-up by Elinor giving a splendid survey of the Faith. Our correspondent says: “Bahá’í hearts in Peoria go with these sisters around the globe. It is as if part of our community had expanded to reach Japan and Norway.”
Canada Prepares the Way[edit]
The main work of the past year has been the planning and carrying out of teaching circuits. Willard McKay visited sixteen Bahá’í Communities, and spoke to more than thirty audiences ranging from small groups to more than one hundred people. Mr. McKay did wonderful work in meeting with the Bahá’ís themselves, encouraging them, and stimulating them through stressing the great need for pioneers.
John A. Robarts made two trips to the Eastern Coast, speaking to Halifax, Moncton and Charlottetown on the first visit and to Moncton and Charlottetown on the second. Emeric Sala made a Western tour, addressing large audiences in Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria, with an aggregate audience of more than 1000 people attending 21 meetings.
Others who have done Inter-regional work are: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bishop of Pasadena, Cal. who visited Vernon, Victoria and Vancouver, B.C.; Rowland Estall to Victoria and Vancouver; Doris Richardson, who attended the Maritime Summer School as visiting teacher; Harlan Ober and Elizabeth Ober who held meetings in the various Maritime communities; Audrey Robarts who visited Winnipeg, and assisted in contact work for the Public Meeting there; Duncan McAlear who spoke in the Maritime cities; Dorothy Baker, who gave several days to Charlottetown, speaking in Moncton en route; Harry Ford, of Little Falls, N. Y. who addressed audiences in Hamilton and Toronto last November, and again, with Bahíyyih Ford, attending a Regional Conference in Montreal; Mrs. Robert Lee Moffett of Chicago, who has just given an Educational Seminar in Moncton, with meetings in Montreal and Toronto; Laura R. Davis who spoke in the Bahá’í Centre of Montreal.
Four bulletins have been mailed to our entire Canadian membership, telling of our plans and achievements, and urging all Canadian Bahá’ís to greater efforts in all teaching fields.
The first Nationally owned Summer School is a gift from Quebec Bahá’ís, and is situated at Beaulac, Quebec, a beautiful spot in the Laurentian Mountains, fifty miles north of Montreal.
Summer Schools held during the past year have been under the direction of the Regional Teaching Committees, and are reported under their headings.
The Maritimes Regional Committee is assisting the three Eastern Assemblies. Regional work, as such, is not yet developed. Each of these Assemblies has an ambitious extension project. Halifax is working in Dartmouth; Moncton has undertaken the opening up of Saint John; and Charlottetown is working toward an Assembly in Vernon, P.E.I. The Summer School was held at Keppock Beach, P.E.I. with visitors from each of the three Maritime Provinces. Doris Richardson of Toronto was the visiting teacher.
Radio has been used in Charlottetown, Moncton and Halifax. Firesides are flourishing, children’s classes in Moncton are well attended. New members have been enrolled but are in Assembly areas. An interesting Bulletin has been published by this committee.
Quebec Regional Teaching Committee. Here too the work has largely been in giving assistance to Assemblies within the Region. Regular meetings have been held, and two very fine conferences have been held. A successful dinner was arranged at the Montreal Centre when the Bahá’ís were hosts to many interested friends. Four bulletins have been issued giving news of activities and plans to all within the region. Assistance was given for the public meeting in Montreal. The committee is also working in conjunction with the Montreal Assembly in an extension project of great importance, that of opening up the city of Quebec to the Faith. This is both important and difficult as Quebec lies in the heart of French Catholic Canada.
Ontario Regional Teaching Committee has met regularly, and has sponsored a number of projects. Ottawa, the capital of Canada, was visited monthly for public meetings, and a Fireside maintained by the Ottawa friends. In Forest Hill Village a Discussion Group and Fireside have been conducted. In Brampton Sunday Evening Firesides have been held regularly. Scarboro has been very active, holding a large Fireside every Saturday evening, a study class every Monday evening.
“A Bahá’í Child’s A B C” interests Michael and Sally, children of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Reed, Toronto, Canada.
Feasts have been held in the community and used as a means of attraction to those interested in the
Faith. A Regional member, F. St. G.
Spendlove, has held a class in
advanced teaching at the Toronto
Centre every Tuesday evening, and
many from Toronto and vicinity have
attended. The radio project, a series
of 26 broadcasts over station CHUM
each Sunday morning, was initiated
by the Toronto L.S.A. and was assisted, both financially and by members taking part in the program, by
Hamilton L.S.A. and the Regional
Teaching Committee. Two Teaching
Conferences were held at the Toronto
centre under regional arrangement,
and the Guardian’s “Mandate” was
carefully studied, as well as consultation taking place on teaching
and pioneering. Other methods such
as pamphlet distribution and fireside
work were discussed at length. Two
teaching bulletins have been issued.
An International Picnic was held at
Queenston Heights Park, Niagara,
where some of our American friends
met with many Canadians. The sixth
Summer School was held at Rice
Lake with Mrs. Marzieh Gail, and
Mrs. Harriet Pettibone as Teachers,
Emeric and Rosemary Sala, and
Robert Gulick taking a number of
valuable sessions. Ottawa meetings
have been addressed by F. St. G.
Spendlove, Doris Richardson, Craig
Weaver, John Robarts, Laura Davis,
all of Toronto, and by Albert Rakovsky of Montreal. Many Toronto
speakers have taken meetings in
Hamilton during the year.
[Page 9]
Prairies Regional Teaching Committee has been very active spreading the Faith to other cities. Ross
Woodman has spoken in Lethbridge
and Edmonton, Marion Metcalfe,
went as a pioneer to Calgary for
four months; Doris Skinner visited
Lethbridge, and Rowland Estall has
spoken in many of the prairie cities.
Again this year the Annual Banff
Summer School was held with thirty-two guests from nine states and provinces. Dr. Edris Rice-Wray was
guest teacher and her course was
“The Bahá’í Faith in Action.”
Through Mr. Abas of St. Paul, Minn.,
contact was again made with the
Mohammedan community of Edmonton, which is so friendly that they
have offered us the use of their
Mosque if it would serve our purpose.
Extension work has been active in
Calgary where four new Bahá’ís
were enrolled at one time, one of
whom is our first Canadian Indian.
This region has sent one of its capable workers, Miss Gwen Clarke of
Edmonton, to pioneer in Moncton.
British Columbia Regional Teaching Committee says that the “God-Given Mandate” has spurred them all to fresh endeavor. A Conference was called for the study of this manuscript. Teaching work is being done in Vernon, West Vancouver, Victoria, North Vancouver, and New Westminster. Mrs. Blanche Liddell of Vancouver has visited Vernon. During Willard McKay’s visit to Vernon that community gave a luncheon for twenty of the town’s leading citizens, at which the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh was presented to them. A Teacher’s Training Course was undertaken to assist all potential teachers and speakers in the region. Great stimulus has been given by visits from Emeric Sala of Montreal, Rowland Estall of Winnipeg, Willard McKay of Charlottetown, P.E.I.; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bishop of California. Mrs. Beulah Proctor, who so lovingly offered her services to pioneer any place that she might be needed, has settled in Victoria, and we look forward to the early formation of an Assembly there.
Winnipeg had an audience of more than four hundred when Dr. Edris Rice-Wray and Emeric Sala presented the Faith to them. Each spoke over the radio in interviews; forty-two spot announcements caught the attention of the city. A luncheon conference was held for representative people. Edris spoke to college students at the University, and Emeric addressed the Spanish-American Club, while each held a number of smaller gatherings. Many new contacts were made, and the speakers gave themselves unstintingly.
Toronto held a Public Meeting with Willard McKay of Charlottetown, P.E.I. as guest speaker. More than one hundred persons gathered in the Masonic Temple to hear this address which was preceded by music. Twenty-five asked further information.
Montreal’s Public Meeting was addressed by Horace Holley. The community had worked with great enthusiasm to make this meeting a means of placing the Bahá’í Faith more forcefully before the people of Greater Montreal and St. Lambert. The success of their efforts was proven by an audience of more than 200 in extreme winter weather.
Thus, the work in Canada is going forward with enthusiasm. Through prayer and increased effort we prepare the way for the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly in 1948.
Conduct of Bahá’í Marriage Service in the Hazíratu’l-Quds[edit]
The National Assembly has decided that Bahá’í marriage ceremonies are not to be conducted in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, for the simple reason that the performance of a legal Bahá’í marriage is a function of the incorporated local Assembly and therefore should be conducted under the direct auspices of the local Assembly. The facilities of the National Office, moreover, are required for national Bahá’í matters.
| Anniversary of The Martyrdom of The Báb
July 9 (at about noon) |
Believers not resident in a city having a local Assembly qualified to conduct a legal marriage service may apply to any local Assembly which has been authorized to conduct the service by the civil authorities.
News from Many Lands[edit]
India and Burma: A cablegram from Shoghi Effendi to the NSA of India and Burma urged united action in taking immediate steps for the purchase of a building in Delhi for a national Hazíratu’l-Quds. Shoghi Effendi sent 1000 pounds as his contribution for “this vital urgent need of the Faith in this present hour.” The Guardian says that the hour has struck when the Indian and Burmese community must take a great stride forward.
Bahá’ís in disturbed areas have not been harmed. We quote from the India and Burma News Bulletin:
“During the recent riot, life and property of all were in danger but it is a miracle that we all were saved through a mutual understanding of our street community; otherwise we all would have met with the same fate as our other fellow citizens.”
Írán: This 45 month (October, 1946-July, 1950) plan calls for 62 reestablished spiritual assemblies and 95 new centers in different parts of Persia. The plan also includes definite aims in Arabia, Afghanistan, India, Iraq and Beluchistan. Not less than 45 families will leave Tihrán to help establish new centers.
Italy, Florence: Teresina Gasperi Campagni has written to Mrs. Bolles that she was in touch through correspondence with Mr. Giachery and Mr. Marangella, both of whom are now in Italy. She also expressed deep gratitude for the many packages she had received from Bahá’ís in America and other countries and wished this gratitude to be expressed in the Bahá’í News, although she has written to each one.
Bulgaria, Sofia: Miss Marion Jack writes, “Work for the Cause goes on quietly, but surely; the only possible way under present circumstances. ... All our printed Bulgarian matter was destroyed when one of our best and dearest Bahá’ís was crushed beneath her home. It is not possible to replace those precious Esslemonts just now, but here’s hoping! I have made it my business to make little compilations in note and copy books in English and French and as it is a joy to make these copies I can easily afford to let them linger among those who express interest in the Cause. ... One dear dame comes once a week to read God Passes By or Gleanings, both of which she thoroughly enjoys.”
Germany: Word comes that “due to the wonderful help of our beloved friends in Persia and the United States we all are getting better again. ... We even begin to increase a little
[Page 10]
in weight.... We are all conscious
that the strength ... means for us a
high responsibility to dedicate this
strength wholly to our work in His
Holy Vineyard.” Translation of books
and pamphlets into German is going
on. The Guardian urges especially
the translation of God Passes By and
this is being done.
The number of declared Bahá’ís has greatly increased in Germany during the past year. When the Faith was officially re-established in May, 1946, there were four local spiritual assemblies in Germany. A year later the number of assemblies has increased to 11, including the Local Spiritual Assembly of Vienna. In March the Youth Committee published the first issue of the Bahá’í Jugendbrief (Bahá’í Youth Letter). There are now eight Bahá’í Youth groups which meet often at regional meetings.
Wanted — Temple Guides[edit]
This year the National Spiritual Assembly has combined three committees into one—the Temple Program, Temple Guides and Temple Teaching—to be known as the TEMPLE TEACHING COMMITTEE.
This is a call to Bahá’ís far and near to help in the Guide work, as guide, host or hostess. Increasingly we all realize that the Temple Guide work is our outstanding way of reaching people from all parts of the world. Thus, it becomes the glorious task of the Temple guides to take the casually interested visitors and curiosity seekers and ignite in their hearts the fire of search during their tour of the Temple.
This year we have the added feature of the new temple slides, to aid us in our work and make it more exciting. This does not mean that less guides will be needed on the days the film-strip is used—on the contrary more will be needed, for the personal contact is very important and must be maintained.
Our Beloved Guardian is calling for a total of 175 Assemblies by election time of 1948. Those who take part in the guide work at the Temple are doing their part in that sacred mission.
May we suggest that you immediately drop a card to the chairman of the Guide department of this committee, Mrs. Harriet Hilpert, 924 Judson Ave., Evanston, Illinois—and reserve your day or hours of guiding.
Among 11 new Latin American Assemblies, this one in Sucre, Bolivia was aided in forming, through the combined efforts of Mrs. Gwenne Sholtis, center, rear; Col. Arturo and Yvonne de Cuellár of La Paz, and Miss Flora Hottes. Sucre, a university city, has sent, Bahá’ís to half a dozen Bolivian towns, while retaining in its community 12 adults and 2 declared youth.
A Letter from Shanghai, China[edit]
Dear Friends:
I have felt for a long time I should take a few minutes and write you regarding our group here in Shanghai—always the Bahá’í News carries news items about other communities and we would like our friends all over the world to know about us too.
Up until the arrival, a few months ago, of three boys in the Chinese Air Force who just returned from the States and who became Bahá’ís while training in Denver, we were unable to make much progress due to the lack of any Chinese in our group. Now, however, with the enthusiastic help of these boys, we are beginning to make some headway. On May 23rd we had a very nice evening; true, with only one guest, but he since has spread the word among some of his friends and despite the many present day handicaps in money-mad, disunited Shanghai, we are more encouraged now than at any time since the war and we are looking forward with great hope and plans for the future.
Much credit for the progress of the Faith in China must go to Mrs. Gates of Denver who herself is planning to come here in December. Through her untiring efforts and devotion to the Cause, these boys have returned here fired with the kind of enthusiasm it takes to be successful.
At the present time there are eight of us, Mr. Ouskouli, Mr. and Mrs. S. Suleimani, Mr. Touty (Iranians), Lt. Jimmy Chow, Lt. Wang Lee, Capt. Chu and myself. We hope soon it will be more.
We are now receiving the Bahá’í News quite regularly and appreciate it very much.
- Sincerely yours,
- BERNICE WOOD
- United Nations Relief and
- Rehabilitation Administration
- Embankment Building
- Shanghai, China
National Appointment Tendered to Boston Bahá’í[edit]
Mr. Matthew W. Bullock, who has been Chairman of the Massachusetts Parole Board, has recently been elected to the National Probation Association Board in recognition of his services and capacity. Mr. Bullock is a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Boston.
[Page 11]
Sunshine teaching — The Regional Teaching Committee of Southern California and Arizona illustrates a newly stressed technique for summertime teaching, through picnics and outdoor gatherings at various points in the region. This is at the home of Mrs. K. W. Steinhauser, Escondido, California. The group is about equally composed of Bahá’ís and interested friends.
Sunshine Teaching[edit]
Once again nature is providing a perfect setting for presenting the Message of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. Vacation time — summer — rather than being a time to let down and relax in our teaching efforts, is the ideal time to tell our friends about the Faith. People want to get away from the routine, the usual, the grind of work and home. Everyone longs to get out into the sunshine and open air. Inviting our friends to a planned picnic, garden party, weiner roast or dawn worship out of doors is a natural thing to do. Having a few of the beautiful passages from the Teachings read and giving a short, simple and sincere talk about the Faith is an easy way to teach. “Sunshine Teaching,” then, becomes a summertime name for “Fireside Teaching,” and activities of this nature have already begun:
In the Southern California and Arizona Region, a new impetus has been given to the teaching work through picnic gatherings promoted in various points in the area, and scaled to strengthen and encourage the local believers, and to interest their friends in the Teachings, while establishing ties of fellowship and friendship. So far, two have been held in Oceanside; one in Escondido (see picture); one in Southgate. Dates are arranged for San Diego and for Rainbow Valley. Those held so far have been attended by approximately forty. The general pattern of these meetings has been: Bahá’í prayers, luncheon (with all guests bringing their own, coffee or other drink provided by the hosts), a short talk by a Bahá’í on some phase of the Teachings, and than general informal discussion among the group. Even the friends of the participating Bahá’ís have clamored for further meetings, and have offered the hospitality of their grounds. Bahá’ís and friends together vote for the location of the forthcoming meetings.
The Miami, Florida, community held a garden party during the Feast of Ridvan. It was a lovely sunshiny afternoon and there were about forty-five present, including Bahá’ís, youth, children and non-Bahá’í guests. The Bahá’ís from Ft. Lauderdale were also present. One of the youth opened the meeting with a prayer, then a short explanation of the Riḍván Feast was given, especially emphasizing the Holy Days. A youth next read an account of the Riḍván from “The Chosen Highway” and another read “The Seven Candles of Unity.” Games and a supper concluded the celebration.
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.
- Mr. Harry Grafmiller, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, May 14, 1947
- Mr. Hans P. Hansen, Racine, Wisconsin, May 7, 1947
- Dr. Charles S. Frink, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 18, 1947
- Mr. W. E. Lund, Shorewood, Wisconsin.
- Mrs. Cecilia W. Glenn, Columbia, S. C. March 24, 1947 (erroneously listed in May as Mrs. Weston)
- Mr. Bob Roberts, Seattle, Washington, June 1, 1947
- Mr. W. H. Easton, Los Angeles, California, June 4, 1947.
Ruth Bryan Owen Speaks for Bahá’ís[edit]
The New York Bahá’ís have been taking advantage of the proximity of the United Nations by securing speakers from that organization to speak on a Bahá’í platform along the principles of the Bahá’í Faith. At the same time, the chairman gives a brief presentation of the Faith. The meetings have been very successful and, it is felt, of great value in acquainting the public with the striking parallels between our Faith and the highest political organization for world government.
On April 9th, Mr. Gerald L. Carnes, Liaison Officer between the Department of Public Information of the U.N. and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) spoke at the Bahá’í Center on the educational aims of UNESCO. There was a brief discussion period following his talk. Approximately 150 people attended.
On May 8th was held the third and last in a series of public meetings to be given at the Henry Hudson Hotel. The speaker was Mrs. Ruth Bryan Owen, author, lecturer, former Minister to Denmark, and daughter of the late William Jennings Bryan. Her topic was “The Force of Public Opinion” and her eloquence stimulated the audience to frequent spontaneous applause. The attendance was estimated at 450.
On May 25th, Mr. Raoul Aglion, author, lecturer, and now Official Adviser to the Secretary General of the U.N. spoke on “Ethical Principles of the United Nations.” About 125 people attended.
Contents of July World Order[edit]
G. A. Shook
A World Educator
Louise A. Groger
Abdu’l-Bahá in Budapest
Rustem Vambery
A New Race of Men, Editorial
Gertrude K. Henning
Táhirih
Beatrice Ashton
The Song of Táhirih, Poem
Nancy Douglas Bowditch
The Advent of Divine Justice
Book Review
Charlotte M. Linfoot
The Mature Man
Bahá’í Words for Meditation
With Our Readers
Groups of Five or More[edit]
27 Groups Having a Membership of Six
West Haven, Conn. 6*; Dover, N.H. 6; Portland, Me. 6; Knoxville, Tenn. 9*; San Antonio, Texas, 6; Pork Ridge, Ill. 6*; Winnetka, Ill. 6*; Kirkland, Wn. 6; Whitefish Bay, Wis. 6*; Syracuse, N. Y. 8*; Seneca Tsp., N. Y. 8; Little Falls, N. Y. 6; Penn Yan, N. Y. 7; Green Bay, Wis. 6; Shorewood, Wis. 8*; Somers Twp., Wis. 6; Monrovia Twp., Calif. 6; Southgate, Calif. 6; Englewood, N. J. 7*; Jersey City, N. J. 6; Newark, N.J. 6*; Toledo, O. 12*; Dearborn Twp., Mich. 6; Glenfield, N. D. 7; El Monte Twp., Calif. 7; Arcadia, Calif. 7; Pasadena Twp., Calif. 6.
| National Assembly Meetings
August 2, 3 and 4 (at Green Acre) August 29, 30, September 1. |
18 Groups with a Membership of Five:
Greenwich, Conn.; Kalamazoo, Mich.; Davison Twp., Mich.; Glendale Twp., Ariz.; Bremerton, Wn.; Victor, N. Y.; Waterloo, N. Y.; Glenview, Ill.; Markham, Ill.; Phoenix, Ill.; Columbia, S. C.; No. Augusta, S.C.*; Pinecastle, Fla.; No. Miami, Fla.; Big Bear Lake, Calif.; San Marino, Calif.
* Disbanded Assemblies.
Publishing Announcements[edit]
| Bahá’í Addresses
National Office:
Treasurer’s Office:
Bahá’í Publishing Committee:
|
The Bahá’í World, Volumes I to IX (with the exception of Volume VII, of which stock is exhausted) are available, and should be included in every Bahá’í library. The historical value of these books is immeasurable. Beginning with Volume I, April 1925-1926, they bring to the reader the early history of the Faith, plans for the building of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, and progress through the years; the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá‘ in 1921; and continuing on biannually to the present volume IX, give a continuous account of Bahá’í activities and development.
Volume X, now in process of making, will contain graphic accounts of the Bahá’í Centennial in the United States and Canada and in other parts of the world.
The supply of these volumes is limited, and as noted before, stock of Volume VII is exhausted, so we urge the friends to acquire them while they are obtainable.
| Volume I | $ .75 | Volume VI | $2.50 |
| Volume II | 1.50 | Volume VII | 3.00 |
| Volume III | 2.50 | Volume VIII | 5.00 |
| Volume IV | 2.50 | Volume IX | 10.00 |
110 Linden Avenue,
Wilmette, Illinois
Enrollments by Assemblies[edit]
| Bahá’í News is published by the
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada as the official news-letter of the Bahá’í community. The first issue appeared in December, 1924. 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.” Bahá’í News is edited for the National Spiritual Assembly by its Bahá’í News Editorial Committee: Roberta Christian, Chairman, Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick, Gordon Fraser. Editorial office: Mrs. Roberta K. Christian, 1001 West Genesee St. Lansing, Mich. Please report changes of address to which Bahá’í News is to be sent and other matters pertaining to its distribution to the Bahá’í National Office, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois. |
Scranton 1, Providence 1, Los Angeles 2, Chicago 2, 1 youth, Milwaukee 3, 2 youth, Jamestown 1, 1 youth, Omaha 1, Boise 1, Seattle 2.
Gifts of Equipment[edit]
The National Assembly has received a projector from Mr. Clarence Niss for use in connection with audio-visual or visual presentations in Temple Foundation Hall. Mr. Niss has also equipped the National Office with valuable equipment for maintaining its lists on address stencils and for addressing envelopes.
Another donation of equipment made to the National Assembly is the Wire Recorder which Mr. John Allen brought to the Convention.
Radio Script Writing[edit]
At Green Acre
Burt Lowell Johnson, instructor in Radio Script Writing at Syracuse University will teach a course in this subject at Green Acre during Workshop Session, July 7 through August 16. This is an opportunity to learn how to do this vital work from an expert, and the friends are urged to take advantage of it.
Braille Around the World[edit]
News comes from our “Bahá’í Service for the Blind” that the pioneers to New Zealand and to China have taken Bahá’í literature in Braille with them. This means that, counting the United States, thirteen countries now have our Braille publications.
| Page | Col. | |
Addresses | 12 | 3 |
Anchorage, Alaska | 6 | 2-3 |
Anniversary of The Báb’s Martyrdom | 9 | 3 |
Braille Around the World | 12 | 3 |
Calendar | 4 | 3 |
Canada Prepares the Way | 8 | 1-3 |
Enrollments | 12 | 1 |
Equipment Given | 12 | 2 |
European Relief | 2 | 1 |
European Teaching | 1 | 3 |
Groups of Five or More | 12 | 1 |
| Guardian, The | ||
The “The Challenging Requirements” | 1 | 1-2 |
Expulsion of Two Bahá’ís | 5 | 3 |
Letters to Individuals | 6 | 2 |
Letters to NSA | 7 | 2 |
In Memoriam | 11 | 2 |
“Key That Unlocketh the Hearts” | 5 | 2-3 |
Latin America | 3 | 1-2 |
| National Recognition | ||
Bullock, Mathew | 10 | 3 |
Durr, Robert | 2 | 1 |
| National Spiritual Assembly | ||
Marriages | 9 | 3 |
New Assemblies | 5 | 2 |
Schedule of Meetings | 4 | 3 |
“Teaching Year” (Letter) | 4 | 1-2 |
Treasurer’s Statement | 5 | 1 |
News From Many Lands | 9 | 1-2 |
Organization Meetings of LSA’s | 4 | 3 |
Owen, Ruth Bryan | 11 | 3 |
| Pictures | ||
Canadian Children | 8 | 3 |
Itinerant Teacher—Marion Little | 2 | 2-3 |
Pioneer—Eduardo Gonzales | 1 | 3 |
Quetta, India, Haziratu’l-Quds | 5 | 2-3 |
Sucre, Bolivia Assembly | 10 | 2-3 |
“Sunshine Teaching” | 11 | 1-2 |
Publishing Announcements | 12 | 1 |
Radio Script Writing | 12 | 2 |
Sisters Pioneer | 7 | 3 |
Shanghai — Letter | 10 | 2 |
Sunshine Teaching | 11 | 1-2 |
Teacher Training | 3 | 3 |
Temple Guides Wanted | 10 | 1 |
World Order Magazine—July Contents | 11 | 3 |
