THE BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE BAHA’IS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Office of the Secretary
129 EAST 10th STREET, NEW YORK CITY
“O people of Bahá! The faculty of
reflection is the depository of crafts,
arts and sciences. Exert yourselves,
so that the gems of knowledge and
wisdom may proceed from this ideal
mine, and conduce to the tranquillity
and the union of the different nations of
the world.”—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH.
Latest Words of The Guardian About the Plan of Unified Action[edit]
The privilege of all sincere believers is to enter ever more closely into the thought of the Guardian. The following letter received recently by Mr. Scheffler, Treasurer of the National Assembly, contains a message for us all.
“My dear Bahá’i brother:—I am instructed by our beloved Guardian to thank you for your welcome letter of December 18th with enclosures, all of which he was very glad to receive.”
He has always thought it’s a great pity and one that should certainly be remedied, that the friends should cease or refuse to support the Plan of Unified Action on such ill-founded and illegitimate excuse as the extravagance of the members, especially when they have all the figures they want given them. He does hope that it really is not an indirect expression of their lack of confidence in their duly elected National Assembly or their unwillingness to cooperate. At any rate, one thing should be made clear, that when it has the full and wholehearted support of our Guardian, it simply means that they must contribute to it if they really have the interest of the Cause at heart. It is to be lamented if the best interests of the Cause are made to suffer only due to lack of cooperation and perhaps personal sentiment.
However, our Guardian thinks that it is very urgently and necessary that the National Assembly make a special effort to explain and remove all difficulties and encourage all the various Assemblies to save the Plan even at the eleventh hour, especially as our Guardian has such high hopes in that.
- With all Bahá’i hopes and greetings,
- Sincerely in His service,
My dear and valued co-worker:— I grieve to learn of the inadequate response on the part of the friends to the National Fund. I have talked the matter over with Mr. Schopflocher and urged him to transmit my earnest plea to all the believers to make a supreme and self-sacrificing effort to raise the necessary sum before the end of this year, as otherwise the prestige of the Cause will be gravely affected. Not only those who have ample means at their disposal should display a greater effort, but those who are of humbler position must also make a self-sacrificing effort, that the Temple may become the embodiment of the self-sacrifice of all the believers.
- Praying for your success,
Haifa, Palestine,
- January 15th, 1928.
Announcement of the Twentieth Annual Convention of American Bahá’is[edit]
To the Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada.
Dear friends in ’Abdu’l-Bahá:
Through the radiant and the consecrated person of our Guardian, the Master has given a great blessing to the believers throughout America.
Communicated to us all through recently returned pilgrims, the earnest desire of Shoghi Effendi is that the interior of the Foundation Hall be made suitable for regular gatherings of the believers and worthy to hold those exquisite tokens of ’Abdu’lBahá— three rugs which for some years have been laid in the Holy Tomb on Mount Carmel.
Just as the spirit of faithfulness flowed through the Master during His period of service to the world as the Center of the Covenant, so now the spirit of action and achievement emanates from Shoghi Effendi as Guardian of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. As we respond to this desire, the power of effective service will be increased in us, one and all; and active service to the Cause is the supreme privilege longed for in these days by every devoted believer.
This matter was the central subject discussed by the friends who gathered for the meeting of consultation held in Chicago recently by the National Assembly and delegates of the 1927 Annual Convention. None who was present at that meeting can ever forget the wave of enthusiasm and resolute decision which engulfed the hearts as the Guardian’s vision of the first step in the completion of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár penetrated the body of the Cause in America.
The contributions already made to the National Fund assure the completion of many, if not all, of the improvements required to transform the Foundation Hall into the first Bahá’i Shrine of the Western World. The intention of the National Assembly is to hasten the work so that the Foundation Hall may be ready to receive the delegates and friends who assemble for the Convention this year.
The Twentieth Annual Convention of the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada will be held in Chicago (in the Foundation Hall at Wilmette if possible) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 27, 28 and 29, 1928, preceded by the celebration of the
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of the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada
129 East 10th Street, New York City Office of the Treasurer 1821 Lincoln Street Evanston, Ill.
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Feast of Ridván, Thursday evening,
April 26. These days fall within the
Festival of twelve days commemorating
the Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh,
during which Shoghi Effendi has instructed
that all Bahá’i elections are to
be held.
In accordance with Article VIII of the By–Laws adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly and approved by the Guardian, will each local Spiritual Assembly named on the list of Participating Bahá’i Communities enclosed herewith, proceed forthwith to call a special meeting for the election of a local delegate or delegates, that the Convention may be composed of ninety-five delegates representing the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada Under the plan of administration given us by Shoghi Effendi.
The details of this plan have now been made accessible to every believer through the Guardian’s letters which the National Assembly has been published in the NEWS LETTER. His instructions have also been scrupulously followed in the Declaration of Trust and By–Laws adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly in its endeavor to establish the legal body which the Guardian informed us should be created. By the provisions of this instrument the formal steps, and also, we sincerely hope, the essential purpose and inner spirit which should guide and inspire the believers in the discharge of their collective Bahá’i duties, are made clear beyond the possibility of the least hesitation, confusion or doubt. It is the privilege of each local Spiritual Assembly to take steps to make certain that all believers are fully informed.
While active participation in all the processes of Bahá’i administration is clearly a duty incumbent on every declared believer faithful to the Will and Testament of ’Abdu’l-Bahá, the experience of cooperating with others under this Divine Plan of Justice is at the same time a unique privilege to be appreciated and cherished from the depths of our hearts.
Yours sincerely, in service to Shoghi
- Effendi,
National Spiritual Assembly
- of the Bahá’is of the
- United States and Canada.
- By: HORACE HOLLEY, Secretary.
New York.
February 15, 1928.
Ruhi Afnán’s American Visit[edit]
Since October last, Ruhi Afnán has been engaged without interruption in most effective services to the Cause in North America, journeying from New York to the cities of the Pacific Coast in a teaching trip which recalls the mighty work accomplished by the beloved Jinab-i Fadil. A little time will be required in order to gather together the details and present a complete record of Ruhi Afnán’s public addresses and innumerable meetings with groups of friends. Local secretaries and others in touch with his program are cordially urged to send detailed accounts to the Teaching Committee of the National Assembly, through Mrs. Maxwell, so that this important event may be shared with Bahá’i communities throughout the world.
Meanwhile, letters from Berkeley and Visalia, Calif., convey the spirit of enthusiastic appreciation and gratitude, and indicate accurately, if briefly, the results secured through this generous and self-sacrificing cooperation given the American friends by a member of the Master’s family.
Among the audiences addressed by Ruhi Afnán in Berkeley and vicinity were: the student body of the College of the Pacific, Stockton; Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley; Brotherhood of Races, Y.M.C.A., Berkeley; Students’ Lyceum and Berkeley Civic Unit; Epworth League; Colored M. E. Church; Y. W. C. A., San Francisco; High School, Visalia; Taylor Memorial Church; Hillel Foundation; Y.M.C.A.–Y.W.C.A. Fellowship; Pacific Unitarian School; Mills College, Oakland; Montezuma School, Los Gatos; Unitarian Church, Palo Alto; First Congregational Church, Berkeley; Theosophical Society, San Francisco; Faculty Club, Berkeley; in addition to many meetings with the Bahá’i communities of Oakland. Berkeley and San Francisco. This extensive program was carried out between November 11 and December 13.
An interesting program forwarded from Chicago announces a Bahá’i Public Conference at New Masonic Temple on Friday, February 13: Mr. Carl Scheffler, chairman: Invocation by Mr. Albert R, Vail; Address “Binding Power of Truth” by Dr. Fred Merrifield of University of Chicago; and Address on “Unity of Mankind—The Social Idea of Religion” by Ruhi Afnán.
In Memoriam[edit]
Mrs. Charlotte Morton, member of the Kenosha Bahá’i community, October 23, 1927. Mrs. House, member of the Ithaca Bahá’i community, November 4, 1927. Both these believers were old and much beloved workers in the Cause.
PARTICIPATING BAHA’I COMMUNITIES[edit]
Twentieth Annual Convention
| City | Number of Delegates | ||
| Berkeley, Calif. | 1 | ||
| Geyserville, Calif. | 2 | ||
| Glendale, Calif. | 2 | ||
| Los Angeles, Calif. | 5 | ||
| Oakland, Calif. | 2 | ||
| Pasadena, Calif. | 1 | ||
| San Francisco, Calif. | 4 | ||
| Visalia, Calif. | 1 | ||
| Montreal, Quebec | 3 | ||
| Vancouver, B. C. | 1 | ||
| Denver, Colo. | 1 | ||
| New Haven, Conn. | 1 | ||
| Washington, D. C. | 5 | ||
| St. Augustine, Fla. | 3 | ||
| Honolulu, T. H. | 1 | ||
| Chicago, Ill. | 10 | ||
| Urbana, Ill. | 2 | ||
| Wilmette, Ill. | 1 | ||
| Eliot, Maine | 2 | ||
| Baltimore, Md. | 1 | ||
| Boston, Mass. | 3 | ||
| Worcester, Mass. | 1 | ||
| Springfield, Mass. | 1 | ||
| Detroit, Mich. | 2 | ||
| Fruitport, Mich. | 1 | ||
| Lansing, Mich. | 1 | ||
| Muskegon, Mich. | 1 | ||
| Minneapolis, Minn. | 1 | ||
| Newark, N. J. | 2 | ||
| West Englewood, N. J. | 1 | ||
| Buffalo, N. Y. | 1 | ||
| Geneva, N. Y. | 1 | ||
| Ithaca, N. Y. | 1 | ||
| New York, N. Y. | 10 | ||
| Yonkers, N. Y. | 1 | ||
| Akron, O. | 2 | ||
| Cincinnati, O. | 1 | ||
| Cleveland, O. | 3 | ||
| Portland, Ore. | 3 | ||
| Philadelphia, Pa. | 3 | ||
| Seattle, Wash. | 2 | ||
| Spokane, Wash. | 1 | ||
| Kenosha, Wisc. | 1 | ||
| Milwaukee, Wisc. | 1 | ||
| Racine, Wisc. | 1 | ||
| Total | 95 |
By–Laws Adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly in Conformity With the Guardian’s Instructions Concerning the Holding of Annual Conventions[edit]
ARTICLE VIII. The Annual Meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly at which its members shall be elected shall be known as the National Convention of the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada, and shall be held at a time and place to be fixed by the National Assembly, which shall give sixty days’ notice of the meeting to each local Bahá’i community through its Spiritual Assembly. The National Assembly shall at the same time inform each Spiritual Assembly of the number of delegates to the Convention it has assigned to the local Bahá’i community in accordance with the principle of proportionate representation in such manner that the entire number of delegates composing the National Convention shall be ninety-five. Upon receipt of this notice each local Spiritual Assembly shall, within a convenient period and after giving due and sufficient notice thereof, call a meeting of the voting members on its rolls for the purpose of electing their delegate or delegates to the National Convention; and, not later than thirty days before the date of the Convention, the Secretary of each local Spiritual Assembly shall certify to the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly the names and addresses of the delegates so elected.
- Section 1. All delegates to the Convention
shall be elected by plurality vote of those present at their election.
- Section 2. All delegates to be seated
at the Convention must be enrolled as voting members of the Bahá’i community represented by them.
- Section 3. The rights and privileges
of a delegate may not be assigned nor may they be exercised by proxy.
- Section 4. The recognition and
seating of delegates to the National Convention shall be vested in the National Spiritual Assembly.
- Section 5. Delegates unable to be
present in person at the Convention shall have the right to vote for members of the National Spiritual Assembly by mail or telegram under such conditions as may be indicated by the National Assembly.
- Section 7. The presiding officer of
the National Spiritual Assembly present at the National Convention shall call to order the delegates, who shall then proceed to the permanent organization of the meeting, electing a presiding officer, a Secretary and such other officers as are necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the Convention.
- Section 8. The principal business
of the National Convention shall be the election of the nine members of the incoming National Spiritual Assembly, the consideration of the reports of the financial and other activities of the outgoing National Assembly and its various committees, and deliberation upon the affairs of the Bahá’i Cause in general, it being understood, however, in accordance with the principles of Bahá’i administration defined by the Guardian that all deliberation and action of the delegates at the National Convention, other than the election of the members of the incoming National Spiritual Assembly, shall constitute merely advice and recommendation for consideration by the said Assembly, final decision on all matters concerning the affairs of the Bahá’i Cause in the United States and Canada being vested solely in that body.
- Section 9. The general order of
business to be taken up at the National Convention shall be prepared by the National Spiritual Assembly, but any and all matters pertaining to the Cause introduced by any of the delegates may upon motion and vote be taken up as part of the deliberations of the Convention.
- Section 10. The election of the
members of the National Spiritual Assembly shall be by plurality vote of the delegates recognized by the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly, i. e., the members elected shall be the nine persons receiving the greatest number of votes on the first ballot cast by delegates present at the Convention and delegates whose ballot has been transmitted to the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly by mail or telegram. In case, by reason of a tie vote or votes, the full membership is not determined on the first ballot, then one or more additional ballots shall be taken until all members are elected.
ARTICLE XI. In order to preserve the spiritual character and purpose of Bahá’i elections, the practice of nominations or any other electoral method detrimental to a silent and prayerful election shall not prevail, so that each elector may vote for none but those whom prayer and reflection have inspired him to uphold.
Members of National Assembly Meet With Delegates of 1927 Convention[edit]
On Saturday evening, January 21, the National Spiritual Assembly met in a joint session of consultation with delegates of the last Convention and Chicago believers. About 95 believers were present, and the following Bahá’i communities were represented: Los Angeles, Boston, Montreal, Eliot, Chicago, Wilmette, Muskegon, West Englewood, Urbana, Cleveland, Racine, Kenosha, Minneapolis and New York. In the absence of Mr. Allen McDaniel, who was called to Europe earlier in the month on business and is taking the opportunity to go to Haifa with Mrs. McDaniel before returning early in March, Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm presided.
The meeting opened with the chanting of prayer. The chairman read a letter of loving greeting from Mr. and Mrs. McDaniel. The secretary reported on action taken by the National Assembly in connection with all matters voted or recommended by the delegates during the sessions of the Nineteenth Annual Convention in Montreal.
By request, Mrs. Corinne True presented the details of the pilgrimage made to Haifa recently by Dr. and Mrs. Slater, Mrs. Robert Moffett and herself.
Mr. Albert Windust, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago and a member of the Archives Committee, read the letter written him by the Guardian on October 22, 1927, concerning the rug sent to the Foundation Hall by Shoghi Effendi through Dr. and Mrs. Slater. He also informed the meeting that the two rugs which the Guardian sent last spring through Mrs. Schopflocher were in his possession and would be placed in the Foundation Hall with the rug brought by Dr. and Mrs. Slater, when the interior is made ready.
Mrs. Moffett presented greetings to the Chicago believers from the friends in Haifa, Cairo, Port Said, Geneva, Switzerland, Paris, London and New York.
Mrs. Nourse reported on her work in Geneva, Switzerland, as press representative for the Bahá’is at the meetings of the League of Nations, stating that the attention and interest of international statesmen is being turned more and more toward the need of a spiritual foundation for world peace.
Mr. Bourgeois then exhibited a series of impressively beautiful designs he has created for the interior of the Foundation Hall, in order to transform this large area into a meeting place, a place of worship and devotion, worthy of the purpose and significance of a Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. Mr. Bourgeois’ designs produced joyous enthusiasm, as the friends beheld, in visible form and creative symbolism, a Bahá’i meeting place which, when completed, will surpass all others in beauty as in universality. The matter of completing the interior before the Convention opens is now being studied by the Temple Committee for the National Assembly, and definite plans will be announced at an early date.
The relation of the Plan of Unified Action to this and other activities of the Cause was explained by the Treasurer, Mr. Carl Scheffler, who gave the substance of what the Guardian has written him in this connection during the past year. The Treasurer also announced the receipt of a donation of three thousand dollars by one of the friends present at the meeting. Approximately three hundred dollars were given him for the National Fund by other delegates and believers at the end of the meeting.
Remarks were offered by Mr. W. H. Randall, Mr. Alfred E. Lunt, Mr. Arthur Agnew, Mr. Holley, Mr. Andrew J. Nelson and Mr. Ernest Harrison. Mr. Willard Hatch spoke about his plans for collecting and editing the letters on Bahá’i subjects written by Mr. Thornton Chase, and asked that copies (or preferably, the originals) of all such letters in the possession of believers be placed at his disposal, in order that a permanent memorial may be prepared in honor of Mr. Chase.
A number of delegates unable to attend the meeting in person wrote letters of appreciation and suggestion, and these are receiving careful consideration by the National Assembly. All in all, this session of informal consultation proved most successful in attaining its spiritual and material intentions.
Recent Issues of the Bahá’i Magazine[edit]
The believers have surely noted with deep interest the series of chapters now appearing in the Star of the West of a book by Miss Florence E. Pinchon, a believer of England, entitled “The Coming of the Glory.” Shoghi Effendi has written to the editors the following appreciation of Miss Pinchon’s work: “The book is correct in its presentation of the essentials of the Faith, eminently readable, exquisitely arranged, and has a distinctive charm unsurpassed by any book of its kind, whether written by Eastern or Western believers. I heartily recommend it to every earnest and devout teacher of the Cause.” On reading these gracious and significant words, one is irresistibly reminded of that passage in the Book of Assurance wherein Bahá’u’lláh says: “It (i. e., the seeking soul) will detect the hidden knowledges from the forms of the leaves of the Tree of that City. . . .”
Contents of November, 1927, issue: Editorial, by Stanwood Cobb; The Candle, a Poem, by Dorothy Aoki; The Coming of the Glory—I. The Argument, by Florence E. Pinchon; Reflections of a Bahá’i Traveler, by Siegfried Schopflocher; The Master Builder, by Mary G. Collison: Crime Control, by Rosa V. Winterburn; Bahá’u’lláh, a Poem, by Shahnaz Waite; The Danish Folk High Schools, by Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick; On Earth as It is in Heaven, by Keith Ransom-Kehler; World Thought and Progress—excerpts from current magazines and the daily press.
Contents of December, 1927, issue: Editorial, by Stanwood Cobb; The Corning of the Glory—2. Night, by Florence E. Pinchon; Airmindedness, by Dale S. Cole; Reflections of a Bahá’i Traveler, by Siegfried Schopflocher; A Modern Pilgrimage to Bahá’i Shrines, by Gertrude Richardson Brigham, Ph.D.; ’Abdu’l-Bahá’s Table, by Shahnaz Waite; Fleshly Veils, by Dr. Walter B. Guy.
Contents of January, 1928, issue: Editorial, by Stanwood Cobb; War is Death—Peace is Life, excerpts from Addresses of ’Abdu’l-Bahá; The Coming of the Glory—3. The Morning Star, by Florence E. Pinchon; Reflections of a Bahá’i Traveler, by Siegfried Schopflocher; A Bahá’i Inter-racial Conference, by Alain Locke, Ph.D.; The Cultural Principles of the Bahá’i Movement, by Dr. Ernst Kliemke.
Publishing Committee Announces New Literature[edit]
The Publishing Committee had hoped to be able to offer the new compilation “The Oneness of Mankind” at less than the price of twenty-five cents a copy when quantities of ten or more were ordered by believers to give away. In view of the need to build up a reserve fund, however, which the Guardian has recently advised through Mr. Schopflocher, this book must continue to sell at the above price, with the exception of the usual discount given Assembly Librarians when ordering books to the value of $10 or more.
The new work “Bahá’i Administration,” containing excerpts from the Will and Testament of ’Abdu’l-Bahá and the complete text of the Guardian’s letters to the American believers and N.S.A., will be ready by March 10 at the latest. At this writing, final page proofs have been corrected and returned to the printer. The price is $1.50 per copy.
During March also, the Publishing
Committee will have the great privilege
of issuing the translation into
English of the “Epistle to the Son of
the Wolf,” revealed by Bahá’u’lláh
during His last years on earth. This
translation has been made by Mrs.
Julie Chanler, of New York City, who[Page 5]
desires the book to be a donation, material
as well as spiritual, to the progress
of the Cause. This Tablet has
hitherto been available to Westerners
only in the French translation made
by M. Hippolyte Dreyfu-Barney. It
is interesting to record that Shoghi
Effendi presented to Mrs. Chanler the
copy of this Tablet hand illumined, in
the original Persian, by his father,
Mirza Hadi Shirazi, for her use in
preparing the translation. The forthcoming
edition will be an unusually
beautiful book, bound in blue cloth and
white parchment with frontispiece reproducing
the first page of the Persian
text illumined by Mirza Hadi.
The price is $2.50.
Fourteen years ago Miss Elizabeth Bowen, of Riverton, N. J., began to issue little slips and cards on which were printed a sentence or two from the Bahá’i writings. Many of the believers have found them most convenient and helpful for distribution in their correspondence, and great numbers have been sold for this purpose. The Publishing Committee has now arranged to take orders for these cards, which sell for fifty cents a hundred, assorted.
Inter-Racial Amity Conferences[edit]
The “golden gate” of teaching has been opened this year in many cities for the blessed message of inter-racial amity, promoting, in the face of age-old prejudice, the new principle of the oneness of mankind. For the services of the National Committee which has assumed the details of this work, in cooperation with local Spiritual Assemblies, the believers have reason to be exceedingly grateful. What these noble efforts may mean, when viewed in right perspective later on, only the Guardian can now understand. Wherever a local Spiritual Assembly has held an Inter-racial Amity Conference, the spirit of the Cause has blazed forth with renewed power.
The following programs have been carried out during the past few months:—
At Washington, D. C., on Thursday, November 10 and Friday, November 11, public meetings with these speakers: Chairman, Mrs. Coralie Cook, addresses by Mr. Albert R. Vail and Dr. Mordecai W. Johnson of Howard University; chairman, Mr. Albert R. Vail, addresses by Prof. Leslie Pinckney Hill of Cheyney Institute, Cheyney, Pa., and Mr. Siegfried Schopflocher. The meeting on Thursday was opened with an invocation by Rabbi W. F. Rosenblum of Eighth Street, Temple; on Friday by Dr. Moses R. Lovell, of Mt. Pleasant Congregational Church.
At Boston, Mass., on Sunday, November 27. Chairman, Mr. W. H. Randall, Speakers: Dr. John Herman Randall and Mr. William Stanley Braithwaite. The Boston friends, indeed, are holding monthly meetings of the same character, and they report overflow meetings with the deepest interest and attention on the part of all present.
In Chicago, Sunday, January 22. Chairman, Mr. Albert R. Vail; Invocation offered by Rev. Harold Kingsley of Liberty Congregational Church; Speakers, Prof. Eustace Haydon of University of Chicago; Mr. Louis G. Gregory and Rabbi Louis Mann.
In Montreal, Quebec, on Saturday, February 11, and Sunday, February 12. The speakers were Miss Agnes McPhail, M. P., Mr. Louis G. Gregory, Dr. E. M. Best of McGill University, Mrs. May Maxwell and Mr. George Spendlove. Two sessions were held on February 12. The three chairmen were Mrs. May Maxwell, Rev. Lawrence Clare, M. A., and Rev. Ohas. Este.
At Philadelphia, on Tuesday, February 14, the Bahá’is held an Amity Night meeting as guests of the Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street, during its Friendship Week. Mrs. Coralie Cook of Washington, D. C., addressed this meeting.
The Spiritual Assembly of New York has recently appointed an Inter-racial Amity Committee, the first service of which will be a public meeting on February 23 consisting of an illustrated lecture on Africa by Mr. Henry B. Duncan of Liberia.
On December 12 the National Inter-racial Amity Committee, consisting of Mrs. A. S. Parsons, chairman; Mr. Louis G. Gregory, executive secretary; Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, Dr. Alain L. Locke, Mrs. Pauline Hannen, issued a circular letter the importance of which deserves widespread distribution throughout the Bahá’i world. This letter, addressed to the National and Local Spiritual Assemblies of the United States and Canada, read, in part, as follows:
“ABHA Greetings and Love to each and all.”
“The workers in the field of inter-racial amity have been fired with new zeal by the stirring letters of Shoghi Effendi and the news of his deep and abiding interest in this work. We are happy to report inquiries, many responses and increasing signs of activity in reply to our previous letter. It is far from our purpose to convey to anyone’s feelings of coercion or constraint. But it is our earnest wish to see realized the aim of the Master, ’Abdu’l-Bahá, for the gradual spread of the spirit of amity and accord throughout America. The convention for amity has been found to be a specific remedy for many present ills, an objective for heavenly bounties and a magnet for attracting souls to the Beauty of Abhá.
“During the past summer Green Acre held its conferences for amity followed by a series of meetings with a view to informing amity workers. Chicago friends have organized an active committee and meetings are held and plans laid for an early convention. There is intense and sustained activity on the part of the little assembly of Wilmette, which like Chicago periodically issues a bulletin on the subject. A recent circular reports cooperation on the part of these two assemblies and the fine support given the amity work by Ruhi Effendi during his brief visit. Verbal reports from one of the members from Portland, Oregon, convey a colorful picture of the harmonious blending of various races and nationalities. Some centers seek further advice as to methods. Others feel that they can safely stand upon the universal principle of human oneness so long recognized in the Cause. Still others report preparations for coming events.”
“We submit, in the spirit of service, a few suggestions: Cities where world-unity conferences have been held will often be found fertile fields for amity workers. The services of distinguished public men can often be enlisted in this work. It has been found entirely feasible to hold amity conferences under Bahá’i auspices, thereby giving them a unique distinction among similar efforts by other groups. The ultimate aim of all conferences conducted by Bahá’is is the attraction of souls to the brilliant Light of Abhá. This aim should be kept constantly in view and wisely approached.”
“In all the world the shadows
deepen due to the Armageddon which
has come but not yet gone. Happy
are those who strive to compose differences
and who seek refuge in God!
It may also be said that in all the
world the Light brightens. This is
well illustrated by race relations activities
both within and without the
Cause.” We quote with pleasure from
the literature of the inter-racial committee
of Youngstown, Ohio, but two
of the thirty members of which, as far[Page 6]
as our knowledge goes, are informed
of the Bahá’i Cause:
“ ‘We are a group of white and colored people working together for the economic, civic, cultural and moral betterment of both races, looking toward the elimination of all racial prejudices and misunderstandings. We feel that these racial groups will grow to respect and understand each other not by patronizing but by honest mutual endeavor to accomplish worthy ends. These ends consist:
“ ‘First, in an endeavor to obtain absolute justice upon the basis of merit. Whenever or wherever any man or woman is not given absolute fair play because of his or her color, this situation is ours to remedy. We may differ as to methods of attacking each problem, but as to our responsibility to attack it there can be no doubt.
“ ‘Secondly, in helping to ameliorate unwholesome surroundings of both white and colored people, which develop in our modern city life, by means of legal aid, better housing facilities, wholesome recreation.
“ ‘Thirdly, in the promotion of opportunities for employment and cultural growth, which we hope to extend through the drama, music, the lecture platform and the business world.’
“The above committee have started a literary contest among school children and offer them substantial prizes for the best essays on the improvement of race relations. To know what others are doing in this field should have a stimulating effect upon all our Bahá’i work since our vision is of the Infinite and our trust is in His Highness, Bahá’u’llah. He motivates the actions of His servants and bestows success.”
“May we further suggest that amity workers renew the spirit of amity in our own hearts without which all efforts are futile? Speakers in such conferences should be asked, as far as possible, to limit the negative side of things and to dwell upon the happy, healing and constructive side of life, suggesting a remedy for existing ills, rejoicing souls with the good news and fulfilling the desire of the Master to ‘affiliate the hearts.’”
Miss Martha Root in Roumania and Bulgaria[edit]
The believers will rejoice in the following modest, and all-too-brief report, which Miss Root has sent to some of her American friends. It is dated Plovdiv, Bulgaria, November 24, 1927.
“In Geneva, Switzerland, when I wrote you last, I was the guest of dear Julia Culver. There I had the joy of meeting some of you blessed friends from home, and Mrs. Stannard, Lady Blomfield, and Emogene Hoagg from Italy. I left Geneva, September 19, stopped two days in Trieste, and two days in Belgrade, where I did a little Bahá’i work, enroute to Bucharest, Rumania. In Bucharest, the greatest privilege was mine to visit Her Majesty Queen Marie in her summer Palace Pelesh in Sinaia. You will later read about this audience with the Queen in the Star of the West.” It was all so beautiful! The Queen is so charming, so bright, so intuitive and with such a comprehensive grasp of these Teachings! She is a confirmed Bahá’i and she studies the Teachings. She is deeply interested in all the books. Her Royal Highness Princess Ileana is also a lovely and an enthusiastic Bahá’i. She too studies the books earnestly. I think before Christmas there will appear the tiny blue booklet and the booklet ‘What is the Bahá’i Movement?’ In Roumanian language. The booklets will be exactly like ours in size and color. I would never wish it published, but Princess Ileana herself made the translations for these booklets. She wrote me, ‘I loved doing it.’ I know how happy you will be to hear how deeply they love the Bahá’i Cause and you can vision what it will mean to Roumania, to the Balkans and to all the world. Her Majesty the Queen so loved the flowers sent by the Bahá’is in America, in each city she visited. She gave me a message about these dear gifts which I am to publish in the Star of the West (I have not yet finished the article for the Star.)
“Then I came to Bulgaria, October 17, stopped in Rousse (sometimes spelled Roustchuck) the fourth largest city in Bulgaria, and on the Danube River.” (It is the frontier city just across from Rumania.) I had stopped there three hours two years ago. This time the Esperantists arranged a lecture in the theatre and five hundred people came. I visited three of the largest educational institutions and talked with the Directors. One fine young Esperantist who works in a bank in Rousse said: ‘I am interested in the Bahá’i Cause, have been interested for two years; I want always to work for it, and please keep me in touch with any news about it.’ I try as much as possible to link the youth of the country with those of another—my visit to a country I hope, is only the beginning of spiritual events, the youth themselves are the ones who will carry it far, far!
“I arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria, October 19, and found that the National Convention of Women’s Clubs was beginning a three day Congress the next day. Went at once to them, arranged and spoke in Esperanto with an interpreter, more than four hundred women were present from different parts of the country, women deeply interested in peace. I gave out a printed sheet in French ‘What Is The Bahá’i Movement?’ (I could not afford the booklets so I had printed four thousand in Bucharest, just on single sheets without the addresses. Then I had printed 8,500 sheets in Bulgarian language of ‘What Is the Bahá’i Movement?’ and put three addresses on it (where people could write for information.) The Tolstoi Journal sent out 3,500 as a supplement and sent out 1,300 to other people. (Later I found out that this paper and La Libero Esperanto Journal which for one year was published in Sophia, have been the means of spreading our Cause in many cities and towns in Bulgaria. The Tolstoi Journal will have a special number on the Bahá’i Movement in December.) The editor of one of the best Bulgarian daily papers, Mir, said he would study the Teachings and use something about them in his paper. He did use one article immediately. He was twice the Minister of Education of all Bulgaria. Also, I had talks with editors of four other papers in Sophia. I am sure some of these editors will use some articles from time to time.
“Two talks were given in the Red
Cross Training School for Nurses,
sixty present each time. (At all these
following lectures I gave out the
sheets in Bulgarian language.) One
talk was given to the American School
in Samokov, I was the guest of the
President’s wife and 15 teachers came
to dinner that evening before the lecture.
Three hundred and sixty came
to the lecture. (Samokov is a three
hour automobile ride from Sophia.)
One short talk was given at the Sophia
Y.M.C.A. about 200 present; one
talk in Free University, 400 present;
one talk before Prof. Katzaroff’s students
in the Sophia University, about
120 present. (These are the only
two universities in Bulgaria.) Prof.
K. came twice to see me and invited
some friends to meet me at his home,
at a tea, where we talked about the
Cause. Two Bahá’i lectures were
given in the Vegetarian Restaurant.
I have hoped they might follow it with[Page 7]
a regular study class. One talk was
given in the Tourist Club, about 200
came. One lecture was given in
Vratza, a city four hours distant
by train. The talk was in the theatre
and 500 people came. It was the first
time a public lecture had ever been
given in that city by an American (or
English) individual, and the first public
Esperanto lecture ever given there
by an Esperantist from another country.
The Mayor and six officials
came. The subject was ‘The Bahá’i
Movement.’ One of the city officials
searched the encyclopedias to find out
what this Movement is. He couldn’t
find it, but still he sent word to come!
They were most cordial. The Esperantists
arranged the whole affair. Some
Esperantists from neighboring villages
walked 25 miles to hear this talk and
then walked home, and it was a heavy
pouring rain the whole day and night!
“Mrs. Louise Gregory did splendid work in Sophia last winter. I saw its beautiful fruits, and I am so hoping she can come again this winter. I wish I had time to write you what a pivotal country Bulgaria is, in the peace of the Balkans and of Europe. The Bulgarian people are openminded and the Bahá’i Cause could sweep Bulgaria if a few confirmed teachers could come and stay.”
News Letter of Persian National Assembly[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of Persia has taken the important step of arranging to receive regular reports from its provincial centers, from which excerpts will be made in a monthly newsletter distributed to the friends in other lands.
From recent issues of this bulletin, signed on behalf of the Publishing Committee of the Persian National Assembly by Mirza Ahmad Khan Yazdani, we quote the following items.
“Visitors from the Holy Land tell us that Miss Martha Root, after finishing her teaching plans in Europe, will come to Persia with the permission of the beloved Guardian.
“It is with great sorrow that we have to announce the sudden death of Mirza Mahmood Zarghandi. . . . His death, as all realize, is a great loss to the Cause and has deeply grieved the hearts of all the friends. The following telegram was received by the beloved Guardian: ‘Deeply mourn passing (of) Zarghani. His outstanding services will shine evermore. Urge friends hold befitting memorials.’ ” (Note.—Mirza Mahmood was the Master’s secretary during His visit in America, and transcribed in Persian the complete text of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s public addresses and many of His words to individuals and groups. A manuscript exists, written by Mirza Mahmood, which gives in daily detail the events of that marvelous journey. It is ardently to be hoped that means will be found to publish this volume.)
An event of far-reaching importance to the Bahá’i world was the Convention arranged recently by the Persian National Assembly, which called for delegates from the various provinces. Just as the early Christians created the unity which inherited the administrative power of the fallen Roman Empire, so the spirit and wisdom of the Persian believers is establishing a new body for the civilization of Persia when the present medieval condition passes away. The report of the proceedings reveals how powerfully our Persian brothers concentrated upon constructive measures capable of serving the entire country, and not merely the believers themselves.
“The following was stated to the Convention concerning the ‘Darsse–Akhlagh classes (Abhá Gardens) founded fourteen years ago by some pure souls, especially the late Miss Lillian Kappes and our ardent and devoted Bahá’i sister Dr. Susan I. Moody. The classes improved steadily and now six hundred Bahá’i boys and girls in Tihran attend them. In the course of these fourteen years, the Gardens have been teaching the children selected moral texts from the Holy Books. Afterwards new classes were prepared, which provided a means for teaching non-Bahá’is. Lately through the help of learned believers, a vast program for the development of these Gardens throughout the entire country was submitted to the National Assembly, duly sanctioned, and will shortly come into operation. Through the execution of this program the Bahá’i children will secure the best moral education and become proficient Bahá’i teachers. The delegates appreciated the results of the Gardens in Tihran and decided to establish similar classes in the provinces after the Convention.
“The question of the protection of the friends in times of disturbance was discussed. Formerly, the communications from the National Spiritual Assembly in Tihran with the government were transmitted through the good offices of certain public men, but lately the Spiritual Assembly has been officially recognized by the authorities. When the occasion demands, representatives of the Spiritual Assembly are officially sent to them for settlement of the matter.”
The following resolutions were passed by the Convention: “That the Spiritual Assemblies should try to create heartfelt love and harmony among the friends of various religions and nationalities and endeavor to abolish different names such as Zoroastrian, Jew, Christian or Muhammadan, and only use the inclusive term ‘Bahá’i,’ so that all the friends may enter under the Tent of the Divine Oneness.
“That the National Assembly should arrange to call Bahá’i teachers from other countries to come to Persia and teach the Persian notables and prominent people, and to try and send Persian Bahá’i teachers to the other lands.”
Los Angeles Bahá’i Community Has New Meeting Place[edit]
The month of January witnessed a splendid development of the activities of the friends in Los Angeles. They now hold meetings in the Beaux Arts Building, Beacon and 8th Streets, where they enjoy larger and more beautiful quarters. From many sources we learn that this indication of progress has deepened the ardor of the Los Angeles Bahá’i community.
Corrections[edit]
A recent issue of the News Letter stated that the cost of publishing the new edition of the Hymn Book by Mrs. Shahnaz Waite had been contributed by Mrs. Hills Cole, whereas it should have read Mrs. Addie L. Cole.
We are also informed that the radio address announced as having been made by Mrs. French was cancelled by the station director at the last moment. The consideration of the friends is requested in order to correct these unintentional errors.
Teaching Committee to Cooperate With American Bahá’is Abroad[edit]
The National Assembly has requested the Teaching Committee, through Mrs. May Maxwell, secretary, to give special attention to the possibilities of effective cooperation with the American believers rendering services to the Cause in other lands. Among these workers are: Miss Martha Root, Mrs. Imogene Hoagg, Miss Leonore Holzapple, Miss Agnes Alexander, Mrs. Grace Krug, Mrs. Florence Schopflocher, and Miss Margaret Cooley.
Guardian’s View of the Matter of Teachers’ Expenses[edit]
Certain sincere believers, for the sake of what they have felt to be a distinctive and fundamental principle of the Cause, have consistently held the opinion that living and traveling expenses of Bahá’i teachers should not be defrayed from the Bahá’i Fund. The well known passage in the Tablets of ’Abdu’l-Bahá granting permission to individuals to make it possible for others to serve as teachers does not, it was felt, apply to Local or National Spiritual Assemblies administering a Bahá’i Fund. The National Assembly recently referred to the Guardian the question whether, in one particular instance brought to its attention for consultation, the donations made by a believer should be transmitted through the National Fund or to the teacher directly. The following reply, which we understand represents the Guardian’s views, was received through his secretary “He would personally much prefer, if any of the friends think of helping . . . to do so not personally, but through either the Local or National Assembly.” This statement makes it clear that a Spiritual Assembly is perfectly justified in voting an appropriation of this character during the present transitional era of the Cause.
Character of Meetings to Be Held in a Bahá’i Meeting Place[edit]
The question has frequently been raised on the part of local Assemblies as to what kind of non-Bahá’i meetings, or of meetings held by Bahá’is but not for teaching, devotion or other spiritual purposes, should be permitted in meeting places administered under Bahá’i auspices and identified with the name of the Cause. This question, in the form, usually received by the National Assembly, refers to the advisability of conducting bazaars and similar activities of a commercial character in their local headquarters.
It was recorded in the minutes of the National Assembly held in Chicago during January that it was the sense of that body that a hall or meeting place controlled by believers should be regarded, as to its function, in the light of a Mashriqu’l-Adhkar. This general statement contains a principle which may be found helpful by local Assemblies. A review of the Master’s explanation of the activities and services to be rendered by the accessory buildings of a Mashriqu’l-Adhkar should of course be made when this principle is applied to any given case.
The National Assembly feels also that believers should hesitate before identifying the name of the Cause with certain commercial undertakings carried on by the churches. The same results can be attained by the believers collectively without employing the name “Bahá’i.” It is felt that this view corresponds to the Guardian’s desire to associate the Cause with a purely spiritual movement at this time. We are all aware that economic principles are part of the teaching, and knowledge of these teachings enables us to understand that many prevailing distinctions between “religious” and “secular” activities are false; but the fact remains that the public is not so informed and we are responsible for the quality of the activity we allow to become associated with the Bahá’i Faith.
Bahá’i Publicity in Scotland[edit]
Northern Scotland, a region perhaps never before reached by the Bahá’i Message, received during October last a splendid announcement in its widely read newspaper “John O’Groat’s Journal” written by Mr. E. T. Hall, member of the Spiritual Assembly of Manchester, England. This announcement, which Mr. Hall contributed in the form of an extended letter published in full, was reinforced by an appreciative editorial.
The devoted activity of Mr. Hall is further attested by a booklet written by him and published by the Manchester Spiritual Assembly entitled “The Universal Religion—Its Principles and Purpose.” The loving spirit and wise presentation of the principles and Message found in this booklet will make it exceedingly valuable as an introductory outline of the Cause.
Mirza Ali-Kuli Khan, N. D. Lectures in Portland, Oregon[edit]
The Portland Assembly has recently had the significant privilege of a visit from the Doctor and Madam Ali-Kuli Khan. For three weeks they remained in Portland, spreading the glad-tidings of the Abhá Message in that rare manner that only the union of the East and the West combined can give. The intimate association with the Master was made manifest in the method of their presentation of the Cause.
Dr. Khan’s singleness and sincerity, his dynamic personality, his spiritual capacity and his matchless logic held the public audiences that came out to hear the well-planned course of lectures which outlined the greatest need in the world today, the creation of the various kingdoms, man’s relationship to them, his relationship to God, culminating in the appearance, purpose, and penetration of the Manifestation today.
Madam Khan through her personal charm and fascinating presentation of the Message in its Persian atmosphere and artistic setting captivated a number of group meetings and some of the portals of our most cultured homes were eagerly opened to honor her and many new seeds of Truth were sown.
The splendid results achieved by them in giving the Message to large audiences and group gatherings, that hitherto no Bahá’i may had penetrated, their utter selflessness and devotion to the Cause, plus their rare capacity all testify to their great ability as Bahá’i teachers and earned the unending gratitude and longing for their return.
World Unity Conferences Obtain Legal Charter[edit]
The action of the National Assembly in voting not to regard the World Unity Conferences as the work of a committee appointed by it and under its supervision, was explained in the News Letter of November, 1927. For the information of those interested in the Conferences as a public influence capable of focussing attention upon the universal principles of unity, it should be stated that in January, 1928, a charter was given by the State of New York to World Unity Foundation, a body of trustees administering the Conferences, the Institute of World Unity, and also assisting in the promotion of World Unity Magazine.
The purpose of the Foundation, as set forth in the Charter, is “to maintain facilities for promoting those ethical, humanitarian and spiritual ideals and principles which create harmony and understanding among religions, races, nations and classes; and for co-operating with established educational, scientific and religious bodies working for these ends.” The Charter was granted to the following as trustees: John Herman Randall, Mary Rumsey Movius, Melbert B. Cary, Florence Reed Morton, Alfred W. Martin, Horace Holley and Mountfort Mills.
An Honorary Committee consisting of the following men has endorsed the aims of the Foundation: S. Parkes Cadman, Rudolph I. Coffee, John Dewey, Harry Emerson Fosdick, Herbert Adams Gibbons, Mordecai W. Johnson, James Weldon Johnson, Rufus M. Jones, David Starr Jordan, Harry Levi, Louis L. Mann, Pierrepont B. Noyes, Harry Allen Overstreet, William R. Shepherd, Augustus O. Thomas.
