THE BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Office of the Secretary
169 CHRISTOPHER STREET, NEW YORK CITYA SPECIAL PERIOD OF SUPPLICATION AND PRAYER[edit]
The time has come when all the believers are given the privilege of uniting spiritually to pray and supplicate as one heart, one mind and one soul in behalf of the beloved Guardian of the cause, in order that new and broader channels may be created through which his unique devotion to the Cause may flow outward ever stronger and more effectively through all parts of the Bahá’í world.
Therefore the members of the National Spiritual Assembly request the friends throughout the United States and Canada to set apart the period of nineteen days beginning February 19th as a time consecrated to daily supplication and prayer, individually and collectively invoking Divine guidance and favor that the hopes of the Guardian of the Cause may be fulfilled.
These hopes are that nine Bahá’í helpers may be gathered together at Haifa to assist Shoghi Effendi in the details of his work, especially the translation of the Creative Word. After the period of prayer, any believe who feels the call to this Service may lay his or her name and qualifications before Shoghi Effendi for him to consider. The friends will understand that these nine helpers are desired for specific, temporary services, and are not to be regarded in the light of those nine souls who, in the fullness of time, will be permanently associated with the Guardian of the Cause. It is suggested that the friends unite, during the nineteen days, in the use of Shoghi Effendi's favorite prayer:-
In the name of the Lord
O Lord, my God, my Haven in my Distress! My Shield and my Shelter in my woes! My Asylum and Refuge in time of need and in my loneliness my Companion! In my anguish my Solace, and in my solitude a loving Friend. The Remover of the pangs of my sorrows and the Pardoner of my sins!
Wholly to Thee do I turn, fervently imploring Thee with all my heart, my mind and my tongue, to shield me from all that runs counter to Thy Will, in this, the Cycle of Thy Divine Unity, and to cleanse me from all defilement that will hinder me from seeking, stainless and unsullied, the shade of the Tree of Thy Grace.
Have mercy, O Lord, on the feeble, make whole the sick, and quench the burning thirst.
Gladden the bosom wherein the fire of Thy love doth smolder and set it aglow with the flame of Thy Celestial Love and Spirit.
Robe the Tabernacle of Divine Unity with the venture of Holiness and set on my head the crown of Thy Favor.
Illumine my face with the radiance of the Orb of Thy Bounty, and graciously assist me in ministering at Thy Holy Threshold.
Make my heart overflow with love for Thy creatures and grant that I may become the sign of Thy Mercy, the token of Thy Grace, the promoter of Concord amongst Thy loved ones, devoted unto Thee, uttering Thy commemoration and forgetful of self but ever mindful of what is Thine.
O God! My God! Stay not from me the gentle gale of Thy Pardon and Grace, and deprive me not of the wellsprings of Thine Aid and Favor.
Neath the shade of Thy protecting Wings let me nestle, and cast upon me the glance of Thine All-Protecting Eye.
Loose my tongue to laud Thy Name amidst Thy people, that my voice may be raised in great assemblies, and from my lips may stream the flood of Thy Praise.
Thou art, in all truth, the Gracious, the Glorified. the Mighty, the Omnipotent!
- ‘Abdu’l Baha
O Thou who art alive with the remembrance of God! True life on this earth below consisteth in the remembrance of the Almighty, and in the realms above is attained only in the shelter of the All-Merciful . . . . Verily, true mention of God lies above all else in the teaching of His Cause.
- ‘Abdu’l Baha
To the Assemblies of the United States and Canada
DEAR BAHA'I FRIENDS:
We who, in however humble a capacity, consider ourselves members of the Bahá’í Movement, have voluntarily associated our lives with a power which, though invisible to eyes and imperceptible to hands, offers itself inexhaustibly to the inmost heart. Wherever this power truly penetrates, in that life there can no longer be loneliness or discouragement, aimlessness or bewilderment, suspicion or fear. With the faintest awareness that such a power exists, there is born a serene faith that what this power wills, so it shall be.
But to that power first of all we bring a human stubbornness to make it fulfill our own personal ambitions and satisfy our individual desires. It is at that point where the heart first realizes that it must serve the power to retain it, and give up ambition in order to become part of a universal accomplishment, that so many people turn from the path of religion and relapse into the routine life of the world. For us all the supreme moment has surely come to bring forth some fruit of all these years of association with the Cause in individual and also group action which wilt make the power of the Cause perceptible to the world.
To those who have begun to yield even slightly their own will to this supreme power, the vision also comes that its universal purposes have already firmly established themselves in [Page 2]a world of being separated by only the thinnest veils from this visible world of confusion and strife. But there is an orderly progress in the steps by which the power we have learned to call Baha'u'llah gradually penetrates and renews the lives of the mass of mankind. It is not those who are gifted with genius in the fields of art, science or statemanship—those whose influence is greatest upon customs and institutions—who first receive the Message of the New Day. When we long to serve the Cause with greater faculties than we possess, when we desire above all things to express the significance and the beauty of the Bahá’í Cause through the great social mediums of drama, literature and science, let us remember that such gifts are in reality second and not first in the order of the Spirit's descent. Not until the hearts of the believers are penetrated through and through with the power of Baha'u'llah in its unutterable majesty, can the influence of the arts and sciences be brought to the service of the Cause. True faith controls all the expressions of genius in this world, but does so indirectly and as the result of the sacrifice of self. There are those not in this country alone, but in all countries, who are even now ready to devote such talents to the expression of spiritual truth that their activities would, in a few short years, carry the Message to every mind and heart with irresistible force, and make the Bahá’í Cause the supreme issue in the life of mankind. The only veils that prevent humanity from witnessing the Glory are those we ourselves create by our own ignorance, heedlessness, and separation! Can we not, while there is yet time, turn our hearts with such devotion to the Creative Word that it may reflect from our lives into other souls, enkindling them with the pure, selfless flame?
To remind one another that such a power has actually come to the world—to carry out with one another the discipline of association in a Cause that includes those unsympathetic as well as sympathetic to us—to practice day by day the spiritual lessons that go to make up the new world-wide democracy—this is our blessed privilege as Bahá’ís. If we arise with a spirit of vital faith, every obstacle that seems now to confront us on every side will be speedily removed.
The many expressions of loyal confidence that have come to the National Spiritual Assembly since our last communication are evidences that a new spirit of confidence and energy is indeed arising among the friends. We hope the time will soon come when your National body, sufficiently reinforced by the moral and material adherence of every Assembly, every loyal believer will be able to restore manifold the strength now being centered by the loyalty of the friends.
Will the believers give their earnest attention to the latest report of the National treasurer, printed on page 2 of this News Letter? Feeling that Shoghi Effendi, in writing the National Spiritual Assembly, is in reality addressing all the believers, we are happy to share his recent letter included with this number of the News Letter.
Yours sincerely, in love of Abdu'l Baha.
- National Spiritual Assembly,
- By: HORACE HOLLEY
- Secretary
- By: HORACE HOLLEY
NATIONAL BAHA'I FUND[edit]
Maintained by voluntary contributions made as directed by Shoghi Effendi to the National Treasurer and expended under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly. Assemblies and individuals are requested to send regular monthly contributions to National Bahá’í Fund, in care of Mrs. Florence Morton, 5 Wheeler Avenue, Worcesser, Mass.
REPORT No. 5—FROM OCTOBER 16, 1924 TO DECEMBER 4, 1924.
Oct. 16 — Balance per Report No. 4 ..... $4,071.07 Oct. 31 — Collections, Oct. 16-31 ..... 201.25 Nov. 29 — Coltections in November ..... 763.59 Dec. 4 — Collections in December to date ..... 42.00
- $5,077.91
Oct. 16 — Fadil Fund withdrawn ..... $250.00 Oct. 16 — Cost of Mr. Remey's binding of the Hague Tablet; a reimbursement to treasurer ..... 2.50 Oct. 27 — Mr. Remey, for flowers at Imbrie funeral ..... 42.00 Oct. 27 — International Bahá’í Fund for November ..... 95.00 Oct. 27 — Mr. Gregory's expenses for November ..... 125.00 Oct. 27 — Mr. Vail's expenses for November ..... 150.00 Oct. 27 — Northern Trust Co., payment on Temple Note ..... 500.00 Oct. 27 — Northern Trust Co., interest on renewed note for 3 months ..... 51.00 Oct. 27 — Mr. Bourgeois Note payment, due Nov. 4 ..... 500.00 Oct, 27 — Mr. Bourgeois interest on renewed note for 3 months ..... 71.00 Oct. 28 — Exchange on Canadian check ..... .38 Nov. 16 — International Bahá’í Fund for December ..... 95.00 Nov. 16 — Mrs. Bartholomew, for July and August "Star of the West" ..... 558.83 Nov. 16 — Mr. Holley, secretary's expenses for October ..... 78.00 Nov. 26 — Mr. Bourgeois salary for Nov. (due Nov. 4) ..... 250.00 Dec. 1 — Mr. Vail's expenses for Dec ..... 150.00 Dec. 1 — Mr. Gregory's expenses for Dec ..... 125.00 Dec. 1 — Expenses for Temple December ..... 200.00 Dec. 2 — Mr. Lunt's expenses to N. Y., Dec. 5 ..... 37.50 Dec. 2 — Terminal Hardware (skylights for Temple) ..... 400.00
- $3,882.20
Dec. 4 — BALANCE ON HAND ..... $1,195.71
Jan. 1 — Mr. Gregory's expenses for January ..... $150.00 Jan. 1 — Mr. Vail's expenses for January ..... 125.00 Jan. 1 — Mrs. True's Temple expenses for January ..... 200.00 Jan. 1 — International Bahá’í Fund ..... 95.00 Jan. 21 — Temple Note of $4,000.00 and interest at 5% (approximate) .... 550.00 Feb. 1 — Mr. Bourgeois' Note of $3,500.00 and int. at 6 1/2% (approx.) ..... 550.00 Dec. 12 — Rooting; Asphalt Roof, of Temple .... 1,500.00 Dec. 30 — Mr. Bourgeois' salary for December ..... 250.00
- TOTAL DUE ..... $3,420.00
NATIONAL BAHA'I ASSEMBLY[edit]
MOUNTFORT MILLS, Chairman
ALFRED E. LUNT, Acting Chairman and Assistant Treasurer
HORACE HOLLEY, Secretary
FLORENCE MORTON, Treasurer
ELIZABETH GREENLEAF
MAY MAXWELL
AGNES S. PARSONS
SIEGFRIED SCHOPFLOCHER
ROY C. WILHELM
Office of the Secretary
169 CHRISTOPHER STREET
NEW YORK CITY
Office of the Treasurer
5 WHEELER AVENUE
WORCESTER, MASS.
WORK OF NATIONAL COMMITTEES[edit]
Hooper Harris, 157 West 103rd Street, New York City, has been appointed Chairman of the Teaching Committee for the North-Eastern States region, and is engaged upon plans to unite the local Assemblies of this region in a more concentrated effort to carry out the advices which Abdu'l Bahá gave these Assemblies in the Tablets of the Divine Plan. Will the Assemblies throughout the North-Eastern States enter into communication with him?
The January number of the Bahá’í Magazine will be devoted to the subject of education, and the friends are urged to place copies of this number in the hands of teachers and others particularly interested in the spiritual significance of education. In a recent letter addressed to the editors of the Bahá’í Magazine, Shoghi Effendi says: "I am quite pleased to note a decided improvement in the general aspect of the Star of the West. The liberal policy you have adopted is wise, sound and extremely helpful . . . . I wish you the highest success in your endeavors."
The December number was beautifully fully developed around the Bahá’í conception of Jesus. The contents included selections from the words of Abdu'l Bahá on "The Brilliant Star—Christ;" and "The Divine Perfections of Jesus Christ;" "Ideals and Happiness" by Orrol L. Harper; "A Convention for Amity" by Louis G. Gregory; "The Conference of Living Religions" by Nellie S. French; "The Woods of Blavincourt" A Poem by E. T. Hall, illustrated by Victoria Bedekian; "A Symphony of Life" by Albert Durrant Watson; A Poem entitled "Christmas" by Shanaz Waite, and Persian Section edited by Jinabi Fadil.
Word has been received from the Temple Committee that great progress has been made in the work of gathering together, classifying and arranging the records of the Temple Fund and contracts from the beginning of the Bahá’í Temple Unity up to date. As soon as this work is finished a detailed report will be published for the information of all the friends.
We have been informed by the Archives Committee that Tablets and other material intended for the Archives should be sent to the Custodian, Mr. Albert Windust instead of to the Secretary, Miss Buikema, as announced in News Letter No. 1.
The Library Committee urges the friends in the Assemblies, as well as those who are isolated, to make every effort to interest librarians to apply to the Library Committee for Bahá’í literature.
From a report received from the Central States Teaching Committee, Mrs. Corinne True, Mr. Carl Scheffler and Albert Vail, we quote the following: "During the summer the Central States Committee held in the Mashraqu'l Adkhar Foundation Hall, on Sunday mornings, a conference for teh training of Bahá’í teachers which proved very successful and was attended by friends from Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Chicago and other cities. One session of these teachers' conferences was held at the time of the Central States Teaching Convention in October, and we hope to hold sessions now and then during the year and encourage the Assemblies in our Central States cities to hold similar classes, especially for the young people of our Assemblies.
"Since the first of last May, Mr. Arthur S. Agnew and Mr. Albert Windust have made teaching journeys into Michigan; Mrs. Corinne True has taught in Michigan and Ohio; Mr. Albert Vail has spoken many times in cities of Wisconsin, Illinois and Ohio, with one tour into Michigan; Dr. Zia Bagdadi has given many addresses before various societies and in churches of Chicago and environs; and Mrs. Keith Ransom-Kehler has given a number of addresses in Chicago and near-by cities.
"We are making a survey of the activities of the Central States Assemblies. As soon as we have reports from all the Assemblies we will forward an account of their work to the secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly."
In order to lend further stability to the work of the National Fund, and bring it as closely as possible to the activities of all the friends in the local Assemblies, the National Spiritual Assembly has appointed a new National committee to be known as the National Finance Committee, and including one representative from each of the five regional divisions, the National Treasurer being secretary of the committee ex officio. The members appointed for this year are: Mrs. Roger Boyle, Southern States; Mrs. Spaulding, of the Chicago Assembly, for the Central States; Mrs. Elizabeth Greenleaf for Canada; Mrs. Amelia Collins for the Western States; and Miss Nellie Lloyd for the North eastern States.
The particular influence of the National Fund will respect to the progress of the Cause cannot be fully exerted until all the friends have acquainted themselves with the facts concerning its orig and various functions fully set forth in letters alraedy received from Shoghi Effendi, and also with its current obligations as included in each report of the National Treasurer. In all cases of doubt or misunderstanding that may now exist, or may arise in future, will the friends immediately turn for explanation to the member of the National Finance Committee representing their regional division. The National Spiritual Assembly can do no more than to publish complete reports at regular intervals, and present any situation of emergency that might exist. It is no part of the duties of your elected representatives to exert pressure upon any of the friends for the raising of funds. Greater by far than the most extensive financial resources is the spirit of confidence and truly voluntary cooperation which your National body desire above all to establish throughout the Cause in this land.
Bahá’í Publishing Committee Announce Change of Address
In ordering books and in all corresponence with the Bahá’í Publishing Committee, will the friends hereafter address their letters:
Bahá’í Publishing Committee
P.O. Box 348, Grand Central Station
New York City
The Publishing Committee is very glad to announce that Mrs. A. B. Romer is now in full charge of the Publishing Office, and her devoted interests in the work and through business training will enable the Committee to extend greatly the field of their service.
NEWS OF THE CAUSE[edit]
The friends will be delighted to learn of the arrival in this country of Monsieur and Madame Dreyfus-Barney from Paris, their plans including a visit of several months in California with Mrs. Dreyfus-Barney's mother. The world-wide Bahá’í experience of Mons. and Madame Dreyfus-Barney, their intimate knowledge of the history and teachings of the Cause, and their unique proficiency in the Persian language bring to the American believers a mental and spiritual reinforcement that will assist us greatly.[Page 4]
LETTER FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI[edit]
To my dear friends and fellow-workers, the members of the American National Spiritual Assembly c/o the Secretary, Mr. Horace Holley, New York City, U.S.A.
My friends and Fellow-Workers: The letters which our able and devoted friend, Mr. Horace Holley, has addressed in yuor behalf to the Greatest Holy Leaf and myself have all been received, and, together with their enclosures, read with the clostest attention. It is indeed highly gratifying to observe that notwithstanding the strain and stress of the critical period through which our beloved Cause is passing, the elected representatives of the friends in America have, with unflinching faith, undaunted courage, and conspicous ability, preserved in their task and fulfilled their arduous duties.
The splendid contribution you have made to the efforts of your fellow workers in England in connection with the Conference on the Living Religions within the British Empire, we all heartily appreciate and regard as a fresh evidence of the growing power and solidarity of the Cause of God. Both in the admirable paper which you arranged to be drafted and prepared, and in the person of your devout, trusted and talented President, who performed his duty with absolute fidelity and high distinction, you have rendered the Cause of Baha'u'llah a fresh and distinguished service. May the results achieved lend afresh impetus to the onward march of the Cause in the West.
The recent measures you have adopted in view of the necessity of promoting fuller confidence and a greater measure of understanding and cooperation between the body of the believers and the local and National Assemblies, will, I am confident, be of the greatest value, and indicate clearly that you are fully aware of the true position, the privileges and responsibilities of every Bahá’í Assembly.
We all long to hasten by wise and effective measures the completion of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, and we fervently supplicate the All-Bountiful to bless richly our Teaching work that our numbers may be reinforced in time by men who with sufficient means at their disposal may voluntarily and abundantly support this vast and noble endeavor. I trust that you will encounter no further obstacles in receiving the necessary support to meet the immediate needs of this Universal House of Worship as decided at your recent general gather in Chicago.
The Star of the West, the latest issues of which I have read with genuine satisfaction, has admittedly made a notable advance towards the ideal which the Master has set before it. Articles on broad humanitarian lines, well-conceived, adequately treated, and powerfully presented, should have their proper place in every issue together with such accounts of the history and the teachings of the Cause as will portray to the Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í alike the unique beauty as well as the compelling power of the Bahá’í spirit. Matters political and partisan in character should be carefully avoided as they would eventually lead to entanglements that would be not only futile but positively harmful. As regards the Persian Section: I feel that in view of the severe restrictions imposed on the friends in Persia its temporary suspension would be well-advised, particularly as it makes such a disproportionate demand on the meagre resources of the friends in America.
The increasing efforts displayed by my beloved brothers and sisters in America, both individually and collectively, and the action taken by you in constituting regional Teaching Committees are of vital importance to the spread of the Cause in the present stage of our work. I feel that we should all collaborate in widening its scope, intensifying its influence, assuring its continuity, and endeavoring to subordinate every other activity to this most urgent and vital task. It is our bounden duty to do all in our power to give the Cause from day to day a fuller publicity, to maintain and stimulate the interest aroused, and to concentrate at the same time our attention on a chosen few, endeavoring tactfully and persistently to make of them earnest and unreserved supporters of the Bahá’í Faith.
I am deeply conscious of the manifold and unavoidable difficulties that confront you in your labors for the administration of the affairs of the Cause. Vast distances; personal professional pre-occupations; insufficient number or capable and experienced teachers, unhampered by the necessity of earning their means of livelihood; the inadequacy of the means at your disposal, financial and otherwise; the prevailing tendencies in the general thought, sentiment, and manners of the people in whose midst you work—all these, though insuperable obstacles at present, will, if we stand steadfast and faithful, be one by one removed and pave the way for the ultimate ascendency of the Cause and the fruition and triumph of our labors.
As to the projected prayer-book, I feel the need for a specially prepared compilation of the prayers of Baha'u'llah and Abdu'l Bahá designed for the general public which would both prove of value for devotional purposes and act as a fresh incentive to eager and inquiring minds. I am enclosing copies of prayers which you may have not yet received and trust to send you more in future. I should be glad to receive any particulars you might wish me to consider in this connection.
Our untiring and devotd siste, Dr. Moody, the handmaid of the Most High, has had to her profound regret to discontinue for a time the invaluable and unique services she has been rendering to the Cause in Persia. She is proceeding to America, and will familiarize you with the deplorable state of affairs in that unhappy country. You will get first-hand information from her regarding the present condition and activities of our long-suffering friends in Persia, and she will take counsel with you as to the best way to meet the needs and serve the Cause of Education in Tihran. I hope and pray that as soon as circumstances permit, the friends in America may enable Dr. Moody to take back with her to Persia suitable, capable and ardent collaborators who will contribute their distinct share towards the uplift and the advancement of their brethren and sisters in that land.
Concerning the magazine "Reality," I feel we must make it unmistakeably plain to those in charge of it that that the Bahá’ís would gladly and gratefully respond to the invitation to cooperate with those that are responsible for it immediately they are fully satisfied that nothing is or will be published by them, whether in the magazine or elsewhere, that would, however indirectly prejudice or reflect upon their conception of the Bahá’í Movement is or stands for. Should this be refused, and unfriendly and harmful matters be published against them, the attitude of all of us should be a definite refusal to help and absolute non-interference, as well as the absence of any form of retaliation which will instead of achieving our end defeat our purpose. We should leave him in the hands of God.
[Page 5]
As to the suggestion of the Annual Convention being held next summer at Green Acre, I believe it to be both wise and helpful, and trust that it will forge another link between the Bahá’ís as a body and its founders and trustees, and will serve to draw them closer and closer to the outward form as well as to the spirit of the activities of the friends in America.
The financial help extended recently by the friends in America to their fellow-workers of the Faith in Qadiyan, Punjab, has given us all intense satisfaction and made us deeply grateful. Their contribution has immediately been forwarded to them through the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma, and will, I am certain, enhance the prestige and the influence of the Cause.
I feel that the conditions are now favorable for the circulation or the Will and Testament of Abdu'l Bahá only in manuscript form and among recognized believers in America. Every such believer should be trusted with a single copy with the express understanding that no duplicate copies or extracts of it be made or published anywhere.
The suggestion made by my dear and able friend, Mr. Horace Holley, as to the compilation of an annual "Bahá’í Year Book" is extremely valuable and timely, I am much impressed by it, and feel that an immediate start should be made. I believe it can best be now undertaken under the direction and supervision of your Assembly until the time should come for the friends in the East and particularly Persia to participate effectually in its development. I trust you will send me a copy of the skeleton of the material you propose to include, and I shall here attempt to fill up any gap and render any assistance I can to make it as comprehensive, as attractive, and as authoritative as possible.
I am sending through my dear brother, Mr. M. Mills, various relics and Tablets of our beloved Abdu'l Baha, the only and priceless treasures of the devoted gardener of Baha'u'llah's Shrine, Ustad Abu'l Qasim Khurasani, who has offered them to be preserved in his behalf in the Archives of the friends in America. I am hoping to be able to send you in future precious additions to what the Archives Committee has already colleded, and may I in this connection express to those who have conceived so admirable a plan my profound admiration and heartfelt gratitude.
I wish to assure you in conclusion of my readiness and genuine desire to help you and serve you to the utmost of my ability. I fully realize the enormous burden that weighs on your shoulders, and am constantly mindful of the distinct and eminent share you are contributing to the advancement of the Cause. I wish you from the depths of my heart entire satisfaction in your glorious work. Our beloved Master is surely watching from the Realm Beyond over His children whom He nurtured and loved so well, and will certainly guide you in every step you take, and crown your patient efforts with signal success.
- Your brother and fellow-worker.
- (signed) SHOGHT
Haifa, Palestine,
November 27, 1924
