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No. 330

BAHA’I YEAR 115

AUGUST, 1958

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Call For United Understanding

By the Hands of the Cause Residing in the Holy Land

It has come to our attention that there is, amongst the believers, discussion regarding the Guardianship which exceeds the statement made by the united body of the Chief Stewards of the Faith, the Hands of the Cause, which they issued from Bahjí last November after nine days of deep and heart-searching consultation following hours of supplication in the Holy Tomb of Bahá’u’lláh.

We therefore, acting on behalf of the Hands of the Faith, wish once again to call the attention of all the friends to the words in that Proclamation: “It was likewise certified that the beloved Guardian had left no heir. The Aghṣán (branches) one and all are either dead or have been declared violators of the Covenant by the Guardian for their faithlessness to the Master’s Will and Testament and their hostility to him named first Guardian in that sacred document. The first effect of the realization that no successor to Shoghi Effendi could have been appointed by him was to plunge the Hands of the Cause into the very abyss of despair.”

The American Hands of the Faith have expressed this same thought very clearly in a message prepared for a series of teaching conferences held in the United States earlier this year.

“Shoghi Effendi appointed no successor in his own lifetime because he himself had no natural heir and because no member of the Holy Family qualified. The Master’s Testament is the sole authority controlling the appointment of successive Guardians. and its specific provisions were scrupulously upheld by the Guardian in his non-appointment of a second Guardian. Since a successor could only be chosen and designated by Shoghi Effendi in his own lifetime, the friends must dismiss all hopeful expection that a will appointing a second Guardian may later be found.”

We call upon all believers, for the sake of preserving the unity of our beloved Faith for which the Báb was martyred, Bahá’u’lláh and the Master imprisoned, and for which the beloved Guardian so completely sacrificed himself, to concentrate on the thoughts expressed in the Proclamation, and to desist from all further speculation on the future development of the institutions of the Faith—speculation which can only give rise to those very differences of interpretation forbidden by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and against which they repeatedly warned us.

Bahá’u’lláh has left the Divine System He conceived, the Master elaborated and the Guardian clarified. but the Divinely-guided scion of his house, Shoghi Effendi has, for reasons none of us can fathom, been lifted from the pattern. What he has left us is more than sufficient for us, the Community of the Most Great Name, to establish the first stages of that world-redeeming Order Bahá’u’lláh has given to mankind. Our sacred obligation is to fulfill our Guardian’s wishes, his plans, and his most cherished hopes, leaving the overall scheme of God to unfold as He sees fit, in His mysterious ways, in the days to come. Let us be confident that if we do our part He will never fail in His, and with this assurance go forward unitedly, courageously, and with complete consecration.

Let us also rejoice with grateful hearts over the truly remarkable measure of Divine protection vouchsafed to us since the passing of our beloved Guardian, an unfailing Sign that Shoghi Effendi’s spirit is With us, guiding and inspiring the believers everywhere, and assisting us to achieve total victory in the Holy Crusade bequeathed to us by him.

Signed: RUHÍYYIH

AMELIA COLLINS

A.Q. FAIZÍ

A. FURUTAN

PAUL HANEY

JALÁL KHÁZEH

Haifa, Israel, June 12, 1958

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Commentary on Message From Hands of Cause

Beloved Bahá’í Friends:

The communication issued by the Hands of the Faith residing in the Holy Land on June 12, 1958, is earnestly commended to the attention of every American believer.

Its real import and significance is their heartfelt appeal for unified understanding throughout the Bahá’í world community of the present status and future development of the institutions of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. we are summoned to abide by the statements contained in the Proclamation which came to us from the Holy Land soon after the passing of the Guardian, when the body of the Hands as Chief Stewards, after days of prayerful consultation, rallied the body of the believers around the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, the Master’s Testament, and the Guardian’s unique service in developing the nascent local, national, and international institutions of the New World Order.

we must discern in this communication the existence of divided opinions reported to Haifa, and the vital need of “preserving the unity of our beloved Faith . . . to concentrate upon the thoughts expressed in the Proclamation, and to desist from all further speculation on the future development of the institutions of the Faith—speculation which can only give rise to those very differences of interpretation forbidden by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and against which they repeatedly warned us.”

For the older believers the condition resembles those days of grief and speculation following the passing of the Master until the light of Divine assurance was rekindled in our hearts by Shoghi Effendi in his station and capacity of Guardian.

“Bahá’u’lláh has left the divine system He conceived, the Master elaborated, and the Guardian clarified, but the divinely-guided scion of His house, Shoghi Effendi, has, for reasons none of us can fathom, been lifted from the pattern. What he has left us is more than sufficient for us, the Community of the Most Great Name, to establish the first stages of that world-redeeming Order Bahá’u’lláh has given to mankind.

Hands of the Cause and national representatives at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Australia in Sydney for a press conference during the Intercontinental Conference. Left to right are: S. A. Suleimani (Formosa), Latu Tu’akihekolo (Tonga), M. Zenimoto (Japan), A. Sumini (Indonesia), Hands of the Cause Mrs. Clara Dunn and H. Collis Feutherxtone of Australia, and Mrs. Suleimani.

“Our sacred obligation is to fulfill our Guardian’s wishes, . . . leaving the overall scheme of God to unfold as He sees fit, in His mysterious ways, in the days to come.”

This communication, dear friends and co-workers, requires the understanding and obedient response of every member of the Bahá’í community. Without that wholehearted obedience, one’s faith would be fatally incomplete.

The western mind is prone to reject the element of mystery, and for it substitute its own rational explanation or human speculation. A primal element of revelation is that it both reveals sacred truths we can understand, and mysteries which we must accept and not attempt to penetrate. The unknowable mystery is the spiritual universe in which the revealed truths are as the glitter of stars.

—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Death of Relentless Enemy

Sohrab, relentless enemy faith after witnessing (for) third (of a) century (the) irresistible spread (of the) Holy Cause, (in) forty-five hundred centers (under) guidance beloved Guardian, died (the) first (of) Ridván, every hope frustrated, every plan extinguished, every ambition thwarted. (This) striking evidence (of) God’s avenging wrath (on the) one hand (and) on (the) other (the) unfailing protection (of the) community (and) institutions reared (by the) beloved Guardian inspires believers (to) arise (and) serve (with) renewed courage (and) dedication (to) insure (the) complete success (of the) crusade. Share message (with) Hands (and) national assemblies.

(Signed) HANDSFAITH

April 23, 1958

Beloved Friends:

This cablegram from the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land sent to all Hands and all national assemblies completes the historical records of Covenant-breaking in America after the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Of the few who rejected the Will and Testament, Ahmad Sohrab, working through the New History Society, became the outstanding, bitter, and re sourceful foe of the Guardian and the Bahá’í Administrative Order.

As the message states, his every hope was frustrated, his every plan extinguished, and his ambition thwarted. Once more the Bahais have been witness to the avenging wrath of God and His continuous protection of the Bahá’í community and its institutions.

Such an event cannot but inspire the believers in all countries to arise and insure the “complete success of the Crusade.”

—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

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Assurance of Victory

Beloved Friends:

Assurance of victory in the remaining goals of the World Crusade is established for the American Bahá’í community through the glorius achievements already won. In 1953 these achievements appeared to be remote, if not impossible. Let us summarize the record, which should be an intimate part of our Bahá’í knowledge.

Of twenty-nine virgin areas to be opened, twenty-six areas have been opened, the remaining three being inaccessible. The most recent victory has been the placing of a pioneer in Spitzbergen.

In the consolidation areas allotted to the United States, two national assemblies have been formed (Alaska and France) and eleven regional national assemblies are established.

More than twenty languages have been translated and published.

All three Temple sites (Johannesburg, Panama, Stockholm) have be acquired.

Thirty-three out of thirty—four Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds have been acquired.

All thirty-four endowments have been purchased.

Eighty-two out of the necessary 100 local assemblies in the United States have been incorporated.

One hundred ninety-seven local assemblies out of the necessary 300 in the United States have been elected.

The Temple landscaping has been completed.

The first Temple accessory, the Bahá’í Home, is nearly completed.

Ninety-four American pioneers have achieved the distillation of nomination by the Guardian as Knights of Bahá’u’lláh.

Three hundred and fourteen American pioneers were serving in foreign fields as of April 21, 1958.

Foundation ceremony at the site of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Sydney, Australia, held on March 22, 1958, during the Intercontinental Conference.

The Primal Goal

The Crusade tasks still to be achieved revolve around the all-im portant Bahá’í goal—the election of the Universal House of Justice, the Pillars of which are the various national spiritual assemblies. Thus, the existing regional assemblies are to be replaced by national assemblies in each country: Europe, l1; Western Hemisphere, 20; South Pacific, 1.

A total of thirty-two national spiritual assemblies are to be formed by the American Bahá’í community in co-operation with the regional assemblies now actively functioning.

The recent Intercontinental Conference in Chicago made appeals tor pioneers from the participating assemblies of the Western Hemisphere: Central America, the minimum need is seventeen pioneers this year; Greater Antilles, eleven pioneers; Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, forty-five pioneers; Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, a considerable number.

American Bahá’ís through their National Assembly are to make generous contributions to the cost of Temples in Frankfort and Sydney.

The specific requirements of the[Page 4] homefront, to be presented to the friends in a series of communications, are inseparably intertwined with the goals abroad, since the homefront is the source of the pioneers and the budgets needed to bring the Crusade tasks to completion.

Our Supreme Privilege

No people since the dawn of history has had the God-given privilege bestowed upon the American Bahá’ís of being the decisive factor in the formation of the Universal House of Justice. The unerring guidance assured to its members, the powers and functions assigned to this institution, the vital role it must assume in fulfilling the prophecies concerning the coming of the Kingdom on earth —all these considerations inspire the hearts with clear vision, mature capacity, and inflexible resolve.

Actually, the destiny of the human race is involved in our individual services and our community undertakings during the next few years. This is the hour when the latent heroism of the soul sustained by God will become manifest, and the idols of the vain imaginations of the worldly people will be broken forever and the power of the Manifestation of God will rule mankind.

May each and every American Bahá’í ponder the hour in which he is living, and turn with all his power to the Supreme!

For this mission the beloved Guardian labored during thirty»six years in order to prepare the community chosen and blessed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In assuring the victory of the World Crusade we demonstrate our devotion to Shoghi Effendi and our worthiness to receive the blessings he showers upon us from the realms above.

—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Reports to Hands in Holy land

The Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land request all national and regional assemblies to publish the following instructions in their Newsletters:

“The assemblies and believers are kindly requested to address all reports of the progress of the work of the Faith to the Hands in the Holy Land, as a group, and not in the names of or addresses through any one of the Hands serving here. As there are no officers or secretaries amongst us, and as we wish to serve our most beloved Guardian in complete unity, forgetful of personality but mindful only of our sacred responsibility, we request the friends from now on to address all letters sending us messages, or calling our attention to certain matters, enclosing reports or contributions, to THE HANDS OF THE FAITH, P.O. Box 155, HAIFA, ISRAEL. Any contribution should be made out to the BAHÁ’Í CUSTODIANS FUND, as it facilitates our arrangements here. Each of us will be happy always to hear from our dearly-loved friends as individuals; but matters pertaining to the Cause of God and its work which the believers desire to call to the attention of the Hands cannot be taken up officially unless addressed to us, as a body.”

—HANDS OF THE FAITH IN THE HOLY LAND

Bahá’ís attending the Intercontinental Conference in Sydney, Australia, in March 1958.

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Additional Reports of 1958 National Conventions

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of North East Asia for 1958-1959.

North East Asia

With the last and most powerful of the beloved Guardian’s messages to the Bahá’ís of North East Asia in his own handwriting set before them in photostatic copies, and with the presence of his dearly loved and revered Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander and Auxiliary Board Member William Maxwell to further guide and inspire them, the assembled delegates to the Second Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of North East Asia in Tokyo, Japan, answered the roll call on the morning of April 25, 1958.

The world-wide message of the Custodians of the Faith uplifted the Convention to fresh resolve, and all eyes turned with broadened vision from the overall objectives of the Crusade to the assigned tasks revealed by the beloved Guardian in his Six-Year subsidiary plan for their particular area.

As the record of the past year was read, his words of admonishment and encouragement look on a solemn meaning; his sacrifice and the legacy of the Guardianship had thrown our shortcomings into sharp relief.

His statement that “nothing short of complete dedication to the objectives of the Six-Year Plan you are called upon to fulfill, and of the utmost sacrifice on your part . . . can ensure the success to which I confidently look forward. . . ,” reminded us we had been given the clear requirement and secret of success. More deeply understanding that gratitude for being offered the unique opportunity to execute the Plan of God could be vindicated only by obedient fulfillment of his unerring guidance, the Convention devoted itself to the election and the deliberation on the ways and means of prosecuting its part of the Spiritual Crusade.

The Convention opened with prayers in English by the Knight of Bahá’u’lláh, Mrs. Edith Craig, in Persian by s. A. Suleimani, and in Japanese by Naomi Hashimoto. Sixteen of the nineteen delegates attended; the Convention was deprived of the presence of the delegate from Taiwan, and the two from Korea, both of who had exerted an arduous heartbreaking three-month effort to get passports and visas in vain. From every other area in North East Asia, however, except Macau and the yet-unopened territories of Hainan and Sakhalin Islands, Bahá’ís had come.

Under the chairmanship of Yadullah Rafeat, the Convention proceeded with efficiency, and at the some time in a free atmosphere of consultation. The first of the Convention was highlighted by Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander’s talk on the functions of the Custodians of the Faith. Her last words echoed the Master’s plea to spread continuously the Teachings and diffuse the “holy fragrances.”

Second Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of North East Asia in session at Tokyo, Japan, April 25-27, 1958.

Cable on Memorial Fund

In response to the cable from the Hands in Haifa, which offered yet a further privilege, that of contributing to the monument for the resting place of Shoghi Effendi in London, the Convention came to the agreement that contributions should express a single, unified spirit of all the Bahá’ís of North East Asia. The[Page 6] attendants at the Convention therefore restrained themselves and, for the most part, reserved their pledge for the combined contribution of the community.

Ridván Feast

The Bahá’ís of Tokyo and Yokohama were hosts at the Feast of Riḍván. It was a fellowship which connected hearts beyond the confines of that gathering, across the expanse of the Pacific Ocean to the brother communities in the Antipodes. It was on this occasion that Habib Sabet showed the motion pictures of the Sydney Intercontinental Conference.

Public Proclamation During Convention

The opportunity for the diffusion of the Light of the Faith was eagerly seized upon by those responsible for the Convention arrangements. There was splendid newspaper publicity in the Tokyo and national newspapers of Japan, as well as radio announcements on three consecutive days.

A public congress on the second night of the Convention featured Hiroyasu Takano and Philip Marangella, who spoke in Japanese and English, respectively. The mild but impelling manner of Mr. Takano harmonized with the dynamic and eloquent speech of Mr. Marangella for a unity of appeal that could not fail to affect every listener.

National Assembly Election

The election of the new National Spiritual Assembly marked the midpoint and spiritual climax of the Convention. The Assembly and its officers include: William Maxwell Jr., chairman; Hiroyasu Takano, vice chairman; Yadullah Rafeat, secretary; Mrs. Barbara Sims, recording secretary; Philip Marangella, treasurer; and Miss Agnes Alexander, Michitoshi Zenimoto, Nourredin Momtazi, and Dr. David Earl.

Delegates at the National Convention of the Bahá’ís of North East Africa in April 1958, reported in BAHÁ’Í NEWS for July.

Progress of Six-Year Plan

With hearts and minds correctly oriented by the impelling message from the Custodians of the Faith, the Convention proceeded to focus attention upon the record of achievement in North East Asia for the past year. The number of adherents increased by more than 30 per cent; five new local spiritual assemblies came into being; six new centers were established; incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly was practically consummated; negotiations for the incorporation of firmly-grounded local spiritual assemblies were initiated; a National Bahá’í Fund was begun and its expenditure of 1,390,600 Yen and of $8,456.00 balanced; the holding of regular firesides and of special conferences throughout the entire area indicated the teaching phase of the process of consolidation in the previously opened territories was not neglected; the number of separate translation projects in Korea was raised to eleven; the publication of a second edition of a comprehensive study plan was put to use; four translation projects were completed in Japan, bringing the total number of translations to seven; in Taiwan the booklet Bahá’í World Faith was revised and printed; summer schools in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan met with unprecedented success; a Bahá’í burial ground was acquired in Japan; the introduction of the Faith to the Japanese islands of Hokkaido, Shikoku, Naoshima, and Teshima, and the Korean island of Chaeju raised the number of islands opened to the Faith to seven, not to mention the Pescadores Islands and Okinawa Island visited by pioneer Philip Marangella; plans to acquire a site for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of this region on the lofty slopes or Mt. Fuji in Japan were almost concluded.

Delegates and visitors to the Second Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of North East Asia in Tokyo, Japan, on April 25-27, 1958.

Attainment of Remaining Goals

The Convention then turned to the challenging requirements set by the Guardian. “An effort,” he had written, “unprecedented in its scope and intensity, must be exerted to attain, speedily and completely, the specific objectives of this Plan.”

The imperative nature of those objectives had been underlined by the convention message from the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly when it expressed hope for the early completion of those goals, Determined to redeem the shortcomings of the past, the delegates deliberated on the action that must lead to the attainment of these remaining objectives Teach[Page 7] ing, literature, and the Fund were the main topics considered.

Hand of the Cause Taráẓu’lláh Samandarí (fourth from left); ‘Abdu’l-Rahim Yazdi, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa (second from left); and friends at the North East Africa National Convention.

Final Day of Convention

On the last day of the Convention Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander again spoke to the friends, this time on the epoch-making Intercontinental Conference in Sydney. She told of the potential spiritual brotherhood between Japan and Australia. It was through her inspiration that National Assembly member Michitoshi Zenimoto, a native Japanese who had been a casualty in the atomic blast of Hiroshima, was enabled to accompany her to this Conference. In a letter to Miss Alexander, Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone had pointed out this realization of the Guardian’s wish that someday the Australian and Japanese friends would invite each other to their homes had come true when Mr. Zenimoto became a guest in the homes of friends in numerous Australian communities.

The impact of the successive communications from Haifa, of the accounts of the Sydney Intercontinental Conference, of the many messages from Auxiliary Board members and believers from Japan, Korea, and America all stirred those present to reconsecrate themselves to the prosecution of their assigned role in the Spiritual crusade. All hearts were drawn together by a prayer by Band of the Cause Agnes Alexander, and the Convention closed with the inspiring words of the Guardian urging us “to arise” still resounding in our minds and hearts.

—JOHN MCHENRY

India and Burma

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India and Burma for 1958-1959 includes the following members, listed with their elected officers: G. A. Amreliwala, chairman; Dr. M. E. Lukmani, vice-chairman; Hooshmand Fatheazam, secretary; A. A. Butt, assistant secretary; R. N. Shah, treasurer; and K. J. Ḥakimian, Dr. K .K. Bhargava, S. Chatterjea, and Mrs. Shirin Boman.

Scandinavia and Finland

The Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of Scandinavia and Finland, meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, elected the following members to the National Spiritual Assembly for 1958-1959: John Nielsen, chairman; Palle Bischoff, vice-chairman; Gerd Strand, corresponding secretary; Lotus Grace Nielsen, recording and assistant secretary; Gudrun Ofstegaard, treasurer; and Modesta Hvide, Hans Odemyr, Lisbeth Andersen, and Jean Bonn.

As Finland has no member on this Regional Assembly, the National Assembly, meeting after the convention, pledged special vigilance to the needs and requirements of this country for the coming year.

Twenty-seven Bahá’ís attending this Convention went to the Temple ground for a program of prayers. On May 2 the following cablegram was sent to our friends and spiritual parents in the United States: “Purchase completed May 2, loving greetings American Bahá’ís gathered conference whose sacrifice made this possible. NSA SCANFIN.”

—GERD STRAND

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Central and East Africa for 1958-1959.

Southeast Asia

After a year of functioning under their newly-formed Regional Spiritual Assembly, the Bahá’ís of Southeast Asia met in Singapore for their Second Annual Convention, April 29 May 2.

A year of operations brought to the foreground the need for consultation on many topics. or principal concern was the matter of enlarging the Bahá’í community by increasing the number of centers and local spiritual assemblies; acquiring of Ḥaẓíratu‘l-[Page 8] Quds, endowments, burial grounds; publication of literature in the various needed languages; and the securing of recognition of Bahá’í marriage and Holy Days, as well as the incorporating of local assemblies. All of these goals are contained in the Six-Year Plan which the Bahá’ís of this region adopted. Emphasis was placed upon a need for deepening work among the many new groups and assemblies, and for understanding of the importance of maintaining a regular flow of funds.

There was earnest discussion on ways to facilitate settlement of two remaining World Crusade goals—the Cocos Islands and Nicobar Island. There is also a need to establish the Faith in British North Borneo.

A cable from the Hands of the Faith in Haifa brought joy to the friends with its acknowledgement of the victories won and the statement that these were “comparable (to) news (of) African continent.” One of the pioneers, Dr. K. M. Fozdar, who had made many of these victories possible, passed away suddenly just a few days prior to the convention, In speaking of him Mr. A. Samimi, secretary of the convention, stated that he was the first pioneer to Singapore and had taught many of the believers in Malaya and Singapore.

The newly elected Regional Spiritual Assembly for Southeast Asia consists of Chairman, Mrs. Shirin Fozdar; Vice-Chairman, Mr. K. H. Payman; Secretary, Mr. A. Samimi; Treasurer, Mr. Kishin Khemani; and Dr. R. Muhajer, Mr. Leong Tat Chee, Mr. Yankee Leong, Jamshed Fozdar, and Mr. G. Saurajen.

Summer Schools Follow Convention

The first Regional Summer School in Malaya was held on May 3-4. Classes were attended not only by Bahá’ís, but also by a number of interested guests who were invited. A Kuching Summer School was scheduled for May 10.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Italy and Switzerland for 1958-1959.

Two Auxiliary Board Members Appointed for Indonesia, S. Pacific

The Hands of the Cause for Asia have appointed Jamshed Fozdar and Kishin V. Khemani, members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South East Asia, as members of the Auxiliary Board for Indonesia and the South Pacific area.

Other members of the Auxiliary Board of the Hands of the Cause for Asia include: Mrs. Elena Fernie, Carl A. Scherer, Davood Toeg, Abbas Ally Butt, Hadi Rahmani, Dr. Manuchihr Salmanpur, Mrs. Mamie Seto, William Maxwell, Isfandiar K. B. Bakhtiari, Col. Yadullah Vahdat, and Sami Doktoroglu.

A Study and Lecture Reference

The Bahá’í principle that a universal auxiliary language would be chosen and taught in schools throughout the world has not been particularly stressed by believers in recent years, the reason no doubt being the greatly decreased interest in Esperanto. Nevertheless the teachings make it clear that this principle has a decisive influence in the establishment of a world society.

A recently published work, One Language for the World, by Mario Pei (the Devin-Adair Company, New York, 1958) offers Bahá’í students and public speakers a well integrated exposition of the need for such a language, the past attempts to solve the problem, and the nature of its future solution. This book is commended as an impartial, scholarly, yet simply written treatise admirably suited as background information for Bahá’ís.

Bahá’ís attending the Sixth Annual Convention of Italy and Switzerland in Bern on April 26-27, 1958.

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Pioneers Serve on Frisian Islands Like Lighthouses Over Stormy Sea

A typical North Sea storm on the Frisian Islands. Shoghi Effendi, in his 1954 Convention Message, referred to the Frisian Islands as “the wind-swept and inhospitable archipelagos of the North Sea.”

THE Frisian Islands, partly belonging to Holland and partly to Germany, were virgin goals assigned to the German National Spiritual Assembly and to be opened during the Ten-Year Plan.

Inspired at the Intercontinental Conference of Stockholm in July, 1953, three pioneers left before the closing of the Holy Year for those remote regions in the North Sea. Gertrui Ankersmit went to Texel; Ursula V. Brunn, with her little daughter Gisela, chose Wyk on the Isle of Föhr; and Elsa Maria Grossmann moved to Westerland on Sylt. Gertrui Ankersmit tried very hard to get settled on Texel. She made several good contacts, had firesides, but could not get a lasting job, and when finally she had fallen very ill, she was forced to leave. Ursula v. Brunn, with Gisela, remained one year and a half on the island of Föhr, where she made valuable contacts and gave the Message to many people. They were followed by Elsa Klagas, who got a satisfying job in Wyk and has, up to this date, tirelessly worked to contact people and make them acquainted with the Faith.

The writer of these lines arrived in Westerland on September 24, 1953. When she left the train—for the Isle of Sylt is connected with the European Continent by a twelve kilometres-long dam throughout the flat sea—the clock was just striking noon, exactly the time for prayer. In this very moment that little island became included in the big Bahá’í circle because Bahá’u’lláh chose to put His finger on its soil!

After one year, on the Báb’s Birthday, the first believer, a lady from Hamburg living in Westerland, adhered to the Cause. Since then we have had many firesides and several study classes, and even had many opportunity of mentioning the Faith in a greater circle of interested people. Two Hands of the Cause, Dr. Mühlschlegel and Dr. Grossmann, lent their kind assistance—the latter also to Wyk on Föhr. Their loving spirit remained with us as a lasting source of inspiration. Lately our friend Bertha Grünewald, a Bahá’í from the Continent, is planning to settle in Westerland.

Mrs. Martha Petersen of Westerland/Sylt (left), the first resident to accept the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in the Frisian Islands. Mrs. Elsa Klagas (right), Bahá’í pioneer in Wyk/Fohr, Frisian Islands.

Several times the Bahá’ís of this region have gathered on the isles of Föhr and Sylt, in order to discuss problems, which are so much the same in both places, and to double our strength and give us mutual consolation. Pioneering in these spots is hard work. Our daily experiences are mostly disappointing and again and again we have to make a new start.

As a rule the people of these islands calmly listen to the news of the Cause when they hear it, even

The oldest house on Westerland/Sylt, 330 years old, where Bahá’í pioneer Elsa Mtnia Grossmann lived for three years, and where many study classes were held.

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Miss Elsa Marie Grossman (right), first Bahá’í pioneer to Westerland/ Sylt, Frisian Islands, and Mrs. Bertha Grunewald, who settled there in 1957.

during a longer period, but you cannot in the least realize what they are thinking of in their inmost hearts. Only, in the moment they recognize its claim, they retire and withdraw. This happens to us again and again, almost with mathematical accuracy.

Yet there is quite another happening worthy of record, for it fills the heart with joy and hope. There was a fine and very cultured old lady of pure Frisian origin and belonging to one of the oldest families of this place. She, with the swiftness of lightning, grasped the truth of the Cause, its authority and weight. She loved to listen to its teachings, to inhale their loving atmosphere, and talked about them to others. When finally she fell very ill, still in her fleeing earthly days the Teachings gave her consolation and she mentioned them to the very last lapse of her life. After having passed away from this world, we feel her spirit even stronger amongst us than ever before and trust that the Beloved of our hearts may bestow upon her the full knowledge of His Glory!

The ancestors of the Frisian folks were mostly navigators, intelligent, keen, and bold, and they loved their freedom more than their own lives, as said in one of their escutcheons: “Rather dead, than slave!” But many of them also were pirates and did not care about leading astray the ships seeking refuge at their islands from storms and ternpests of the sea, and to kill the mariners, in order to rob their vessels and their loading. Of course they never did such things to any of their own people. Quite on the contrary, they unhesitatingly risked their lives, in order to save them from sea-troubles. There is another old device, mirroring forth still another side of the Frisian character, which runs: “A pure heart—a clear horizon!”

It seems to me that many of the attributes of the Frisian ancestors have nowadays been transmitted to their great-grandchildren; but in the last hundred years some of these little islands have become seaside resorts and a great love for materialism and making money as quickly as possible has brought quite a new aspect to the development of the Frisian character. Only future time will show what may come out ot it, but we know, spiritually seen, that it will depend only upon how people accept the Cause of God.

The landscape of these regions is a very beautiful one, rough in a way, but in summer very rich through its variety of colors and its ever—changing play of light, and clouds, and winds. It may happen to you that, being—perhaps in autumn —quite alone on the solitary, endless dunes and preceiving nothing but this primary landscape with its infinite sky and sea, you suddenly feel that tremendous, almost annihilating loneliness as it might have been experienced by a first man in a first creation.

The story of the opening of the Frisian Islands to the Cause of God is, as yet experienced, not a very crimson-colored one, when compared with many others from more radiant pioneer places. This was for a long time a heavy load on us here, but only the fact that our beloved Guardian was fully aware of the situation and often transmitted us his inspiration and loving comfort, lightened its weight. We think of the little white lighthouses everywhere on these islands, looking over the sea calmly and firmly, and fully indifferent to the storms and tempests around them, just showing the seeking sailor the right route. This exactly is our way: to be like lighthouses of His Cause for whomsoever seeks His Path. And this finally, if God willing, may lead to His spiritual victory.

—ELSA MARIA GROSSMANN

Bahá’ís of Daidanaw, Burma, gathered to hear A. A. Butt, member of the Auxiliary Board of the Hands of the Cause for Asia.

[Page 11]

Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas Appeals for the Homefront

One of the joyous experiences of the delegates and visitors to the U.S. Fiftieth Annual Convention was to see and hear the revered Hand of the Cause, Leroy C. Ioas, who is in the United States for several months of rest following his years of strenuous services at the World Center of the Faith, as assistant secretary to the beloved Guardian and secretary of the International Bahá’í Council.

Always intensely interested in teaching, Mr. Ioas participated briefly in the consultation on this subject at the Convention, pointing out that even during the period of the great dispersion of Bahá’ís to all parts of the world the beloved Guardian talked continually about the homefront and the need of replenishing it so that the lifeblood might continue to stream out from America to all parts of the globe.

He quoted Shoghi Effendi as saying that if the believers would do as he said, would follow his instructions and become the agency through which he could work, they would be amazed at the victories that they would win for the Faith. His special plea to the friends was that we become the reeds through which the spirit of the Guardian can function in the world and become the medium for salvation to a dying society “because that is the main task of the remaining five years of this great global Crusade.”

Official welcome to the Bahá’í Summer School at Mt. Egmont, New Zealand, given by A. G. Honnor (extreme right), mayor of the city of New Plymouth.

“Ours is the privilege,” said Mr. Ioas, “to be the handful of people who will bring to realization the dream of the prophets of old for which Daniel himself set the date of 1963. When we gather at the World Conclave in that year, let it be not a handful of Bahá’ís but an evidence of the dynamic spiritual power of those who are resurrected in the Name of the Lord, so that the glory of the Lord might cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, and the universal spirit of Bahá’u’lláh might bring salvation to the multitudes over the face of the earth.”

Hand of the Cause Dhikru’lláh Khádem, and Auxiliary Board members A. A. Butt and Isfandiar K. Bakhtiari with the Bahá’ís of Rangoon, Burma.

[Page 12]

Newly Established Local Spiritual Assemblies, Formed

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Makassar, Sulawesi, Indonesia, formed April 21, 1958.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Palermo, Sicily, formed an April 21, 1953. Burma, fanned April 21, 1958.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Bangli, Bali, Indonesia, formed April 21, 1958.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Usumbura Ruanda-Urundi, formed on April 21, 1957.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Toungoo, Burma, formed April 21, 1958.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Belize, British Honduras, Central America, formed on April 21, 1958.

[Page 13]

Ridvan 115, Represent Many Countries of the World

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kenitra, Morocco, formed on April 21, 1958.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Akashi, Japan, formed on April 21, 1958.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kanowit, Kuching, Sarawak, formed April 21, 1958.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Meknes, Morocco, formed on April 21, 1958, including a Berber couple standing at left.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Singli, Sumatra, Indonesia, formed April 21, 1958.

First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Jasin, Malaya, formed April 21, 1958.

[Page 14]

Dr. Giachery Shares Platform With Phoenix Religious Leaders

A public meeting on the theme. “The Day God Declared Himself to Man,” held in the auditorium of the Phoenix library building on May 26, was the occasion for a wider and more effective proclamation of the Faith ever possible in that city. Sponsored by the Local Bahá’í Assembly, the program featured a panel discussion shared by a rabbi of the leading Jewish congregation of Phoenix, a canon from the Episcopal Cathedral, a speaker for the Moslem Faith, and Dr. Ugo Giachery as Bahá’í representative. The date coincided as nearly as possible with the anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb and the Jewish Holy Day of Shevous.

Each participant limited his remarks to the high points of the Faith he represented. Members of the audience were invited to submit written questions, of which three were selected for discussion by all four panel members. The questions provided a unique opportunity for a convincing and clear presentation by Dr. Giachery of the conclusive answers which the Bahá’í Faith offers to the confusing religious issues of our time.

These questions were: “Do you believe the peoples of the world will ever be united racially or religiously?”; “Do you believe in life after death?” and “Do you believe the Prophet of your Faith to be divine?” All those submitting questions were invited to include their name and address so that, in the event all could not be answered at that time, reply could be sent in letter form later.

As the guests arrived in the beautiful auditorium which is a part of the growing civic center in Phoenix, they were greeted by youth of Phoenix and adjoining communities who served as ushers and hostesses.

Chairman for the program was Alton Thomas, executive director of the Phoenix Urban League and a Bahá’í. Equal consideration was given to each speaker and no Bahá’í literature was offered or displayed, Printed programs carried information regarding the identity of each of the speakers and the congregations they represented. In the case of the Bahá’ís, the phone number of the secretary of the local assembly was included.

Intense Preparations Made

Preparations for this program included newspaper coverage, advance radio and television interviews with the chairman regarding the educational quality of the program the Bahá’ís were offering to the public, posters placed in all important locations, mailing of invitations, phone calls and personal contacts, announcements in several churches, and meetings for prayers by the Bahá’ís each noon for a week preceding the occasion.

The blessings conferred upon this effort began with the arrival of Dr. and Mrs. Giachery a few hours before the program, the attendance at the meeting of a capacity audience of approximately 300 persons showing obvious interest in the subject, and the opportunity for radio and television appearances for Dr. Giachery the following day, at which time direct questions regarding the Faith cleared the way for a broader presentation of the Faith than ever before possible through this medium.

Bahá’ís Summer School of Asmara, Eritrea, held during September 1957.

First Bahá’í Funeral Service Conducted in New Zealand

The first funeral to be performed entirely by Bahá’ís was recently conducted in New Zealand, following the passing of Mrs. Helen Parkin of Whangarei on March 23, 1958.

The service was conducted by two women, and throughout the reading of the Bahá’í Writings, the large congregation listened in rapt attention. It says much for the beauty of the readings and the great impression which they made that no one thought it incongruous for a funeral service to be conducted by women. This, for such a conservative country, was a remarkable tribute both to the manner in which the proceedings were conducted and to the power of the divinely inspired words which many of those present heard for the first time.

Auxiliary Board Member Addresses Audience of 100 Negro Baptists

Dr. Sarah Pereira, member of the Auxiliary Board for the American Hands of the Cause, addressed a Negro audience of over one hundred persons on the Bahá’í Faith on May 18, 1958.

She was the principal speaker at the Twelfth Annual Women's Day Program at St. Paul’s Baptist Church in St. Albans, W. Va., and her talk stimulated an excellent response.

[Page 15]

Polynesian from Tonga Island Attends Sydney Conference

“It would be a great contribution to the world-wide character of our Faith to have people of this race active in this service and representing what their race has to give as time goes on in the joint Bahá’í national and international councils.” So wrote the Guardian concerning the Polynesian people to these pioneers on May 1, 1956.

On March 3, 1953, the Guardian’s wish was fulfilled when a Tongan believer left to attend the Sydney Intercontinental Conference. His going, like so many initial steps in the development of the Faith, was not achieved Without obstacles and difficulties.

In November 1957, after the news of the five Intercontinental Conferences was received here, during a routine report of progress to the Asis Teaching Committee, it was as if someone prompted this pioneer to write, “How I wish it might be possible for someone, perhaps Latu, to go to the Djakarta Conference.”

Early in February 1958 a letter received here from the Asia Teaching Committee stated “we would like to explore with you the thought you mentioned.” The thought was “explored” at once by the nine believers of the temporary Local Assembly here, who decided they would like to send someone to the Sydney Conference if financial help could be given, and the fairest way would be for everyone to vote for the representative. Carefully worded cables flew back and forth between here and the Asia Teaching Committee. Ballots were sent out to the believers on other islands with letters explaining the whole affair.

While waiting for the out-of-town ballots to be received, it was learned with dismay that the letters and ballots sent to two believers temporarily on an island eighty miles away were still in the post office here. No boat was going for about two weeks. It was impossible to explain what was happening by telegram; neither could the two believers vote by telegram. So the voting meeting had to be held without those two votes as booking and travel formalities would not wait.

The result of the voting was that Latu, one of the two believers eighty miles away, who knew nothing of what had transpired, was chosen. A brief telegram was sent asking his acceptance and requesting him to be vaccinated immediately, if he could go. The most important step, however. was to cable the Australian National Assembly to secure cabled landing permission from the Australian Immigration Department for Latu, without which transportation could not be purchased. The days ticked by. No reply from Australia was received concerning the permit. The only boat from Tonga enabling Latu to reach Australia in time for the Conference was to leave March 3.

On February 19 Latu managed to get passage on a schooner to bring him back here, and as he boarded the vessel, our letter telling him What it was all about, was handed to him—after two weeks’ delay!

Map of New Zealand showing Bahá’í Centers. Local spiritual assemblies and groups are identified on the index by white and gray triangles; locations of isolated believers are listed.

On his arrival here we again cabled the Australian National Assembly about the landing permit and still no reply came. We had been trying to carry out this business, as all else has been done here, in accordance with the Guardian’s advice that the work in Tonga should be carried on very discreetly. However, by February 25, with only three business days remaining before the boat left, we were desperate; so after consultation, we decided to invoke the aid of the British Consul. Accordingly an urgent cable was sent from his office. A day or so later, the cabled permission “to attend the Bahá’í International Conference” was received. All our efforts to “keep quiet” were thus blown to the winds, for there is no such thing as private communication—what the office boy knows, pretty soon everybody knows.

However, the way was cleared to purchase the transportation an almost the last day it could be bought.

[Page 16]

On February 28 in a tropical thunderstorm and torrential rain, the believers came “to bring their presents for Latu,” some of them so drenched they had to be dried off by the kitchen lire before we could have the meeting. They hadn’t quite raised the amount they had set themselves, and the cables had cost more than we anticipated. The cash gift was presented to Latu, who received it in great humility and asked the prayers of the believers during his important mission.

Then their sense of humour bubbled forth. “Well, Latu, you’ll be in Sydney during the Fast—you don’t need to eat, so that will be enough money!” Latu, who weighs about three hundred pounds, laughed with the rest, for he does keep the Fast although it will be interrupted by his travel time. He was to visit the believers in Samoa and Fiji en route and carried with him, for printing in Australia, the Tongan manuscript of the chapters from Some Answered Questions which is to be our next publication; also the letter from the Guardian which is quoted at the beginning of this story, which to Latu is more precious than words can tell, for he realizes, with great humility, that he was the one chosen to first fulfill the Guardian’s hope.

—ELSA BLAKELY

First Sahara Desert Tribesman Enrolls in Baha’i Faith

The Sahara—almost since history began the minds of men have been fascinated by this vast, trackless area of stones, sand, and sun. From the Nile valley it stretches a formidable five thousand kilometers to the salt waves oi the Atlantic, and from the shores of the Mediterranean, almost two thousand to the dusty brushland of pre-equatorial Africa—stark sterile peaks jutting three kilometers into the cloudless sky, and endless seas of drifting sand—a Death Valley the magnitude of the entire United States.

Most of the western half of this bunting wasteland has, since antiquity, been dominated by the Tuareg peoples—the proud, hostile Berber tribes known worldwide as the veiled bluemen of the Sahara. These nomadic masters of the desert have survived until today, maintaining their very distinct culture by means of a series of developments including a written form of their Temajegh language, which facilitates the most vital communication about desert and oasis conditions; sedentary slave communities in oasis and mountainous areas; a matrilineal organization which maintains a high degree of purity of race; and a ruthless plundering of all surrounding societies.

For more than a thousand years the Tuareg have each summer established a seasonal camp on the shores of the Niger River in the vicinity of what is now Timbuctoo. After the brief autumn rains they return once again to their desert retreats with their serfs and flocks, leaving behind only a slave community to coax a meager grain crop from the parched sand.

Through the centuries this seasonal camp, Timbuctoo, has grown into a permanent trading community, drawing residents successively from the Ghana, Mandingo, Arab, and Songhoi Empires, and exchanging the products which arrive by water from the south for those which arrive by caravan from the north.

Islam was introduced in the eleventh century: “western civilization,” about fifty years ago. The people, including the Arab slaves, the Gabibi, and the Tuareg slaves, the Bela, are all nominally Muslim, but the practices incorporate also beliefs in fetishes, genii, and vampires.

Third Bahá’í Summer School of Burma, held at the Rangoon Center in March 1958.

Heterogeneous peoples, concepts, and cultures have vied for centuries to dominate the scene in Timbuctoo and each has, in its turn, risen to a position of dominance only to subside again into the eternal sands—and always the noble Tuareg has hovered on the outskirts, observing,[Page 17] entering momentarily, but always disappearing again into his unchallenged domain——the searing hot sand and stones of the vast, trackless Sahara.

Area of jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of Northwest Africa, showing the location of Rabat and Timbuctoo.

Eighteen hundred kilometers to the north on Riḍván 112 Rabati, the first Local Spiritual Assembly was formed by the mutual declaration of the nine servants of Bahá’u’lláh in that city. This establishment was not unusual. An official stamp was designed and adopted, stationery printed, records made, and a photograph was dispatched to Haifa—another achievement, but just one more among many. The nascent assembly turned to its teaching tasks and within weeks two new members were enrolled.

Then a letter was received from the Holy Land. Shoghi Effendi, beloved Guardian of the Cause, expressed his sincere hope that from Rabat the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh would be “spread throughout Morocco.” The friends were greatly pleased to have so great an aspiration for their future visited upon them; but pleasure soon turned to puzzlement and then concern, for why should Rabat have been chosen for this singular honor—and how was it to be affected?

The year 112 passed, as did 113, and much of 114, The teaching activities had slowed to an occasional contact, but no serious students of the Cause. And so it was when Asadek was invited to tea, expectations were not eminent.

This young student was stopping in Morocco on his return trip from Cairo, where he had, for several years, sought the explanations to Qur’ánic prophecies. He had much in common with a local Bahá’í, S. Riaz Rouhani, who had spent his early and student years in that Egyptian city, and soon reservations were replaced by a warm friendship. Each Sura and verse that Riaz explained had the dual effect of intensifying this new friend's interest and increasing his respect for his newfound source of wisdom. He began to devour books and to feel that perhaps he was at last discovering the Truth that he had sought for so long and for which he had travelled so far from his familiar Almachra. His search became increasingly intense and was culminated three weeks before Riḍván when he, Asadek Abba, was enrolled in Rabat as the first Tuareg believer in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. His ardor, sincerity, and intelligence so impressed his fellow believers that he was chosen to serve on the Local Spiritual Assembly.

He intends to return to his tribe, Kel Antessar, to teach. It is then that the people are scattered throughout the desert and the teaching work can best be affected. He is, in the meantime, sagaciously preparing himself with a more profound grasp of his new-found Faith, and meanwhile has won the friendship of a fellow desert inhabitant, a Mauretanian.

It is known, historically, that during the seventeenth century Morocco’s influence extended to include Timbuctoo and the surrounding Sudan. Could this “Greater Morocco” be that to which our Beloved Guardian had reference in his letter to Rabat? If so, the first step toward the accomplishment of this majestic aspiration has been taken, but then, it must also include Rio de Oro, and, with this in mind, we asked Mohamed, the Mauretanian, how far was his home oasis, Agjoujatt, from Rio de Oro. He replied, “Not too far—just twelve days—by camel.”

N.W. Africa Reports Enrollments, Formation of New Assemblies

The infinite variations in the development of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in Northwest Africa are but suggested by the many facets of this gem that this month sparkles with the brilliance of the One Light, a few of which are shared herewith.

One of the oldest established communities in all of Africa, Tunis, is now, after its many years of inactivity, coming into renewed vitality. Under the guiding direction of the Regional Teaching Committee Number One (there are 10 RTC’s in Northwest Africa) the friends here have quietly been carrying out a consolidation plan for some time. Groups have been established in Kef and Sfax. In January a new believer was reported in Kef and in April Mr. Ghadimi, pioneering in that city, reported the declarations of two new believers. This brings the total to seven adults in that goal city.

In the meantime, Tunis has also seen the addition of a new face as a result of the new activity. Recently the friends, here, have in addition made several trips down the east coast to Sfax. and it is hoped that[Page 18] soon the results of this renewed spirit will appear there, too.

Algeria

Algeria is a country in which the passion of ultranationalism is currently dominating the minds of men, and in which every unfamiliar activity and word is suspected of political connotation. Under these circumstances our courageous pioneers in Algiers are carrying out a plan to consolidate the basis of the Bahá’í Faith and spread the tranquilizing influence of its Divine Message.

The goal cities, Constantine and Bone, recently were visited by Mr. Attar. He renewed old contacts and spoke with many new acquaintances about the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. After sixteen days in these cities, he returned to Algiers, leaving behind several interested persons and some Bahá’í books.

Morocco

The friends throughout Morocco contributed to a fund established to defray the expenses of African believers who otherwise might not have been able to attend the historic conference in Kampala. The contributions totaled 123,755 francs (about $300), and were forwarded by the Regional Teaching Committee here to the Central East Africa National Spiritual Assembly. A letter from the Hands of the Cause in Africa, acknowledged receipt and praised the spirit of this contribution. This, in turn, has inspired the friends to establish another fund in Morocco to assure that at least three indigenous Moroccan believers will be permitted to attend the forthcoming Frankfurt Conference.

In Ceuta, the Spanish controlled Moroccan port across the straits from Gibraltar, two new believers, Mr. and Mrs. Augusto Martin, have brought with them a revitalizing influence. Your reporter visited with these new friends in April and can testify that the new enthusiasm among the Bahá’ís in that otherwise sleepy city is indeed an unmistakable experience.

Elsewhere in Morocco, the Kenitra Local Spiritual Assembly was formed this Riḍván, and the very active friends in Meknes were successful in their aspirations only at the eleventh hour, when three contacts requested enrollment. The new Meknes Assembly in the North, and the group with our good friend and very active teacher, Mr. Djalali, in the south, in Marrakech, now pose two springboards to the ultimate goal in Morocco—the Berber heartland—the High Atlas Mountains, The friends in Morocco have built the bases for this spiritual conquest patiently and well for the past five years—surely, the ultimate victory will be theirs!

Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Waterloo, Iowa, for 1957-1958, incorporated on March 25, 1958.

Nigerian and Cameroons

The best news from Northwest Africa this month comes from our revered Hand of the Cause, Enoch Olinga, who wrote very briefly, just before Riḍván: “About another 70 have declared in Mamfe since January, making a total of about 242 new believers in six months. The following are new groups ready for local assemblies: Ossing, Takpa, Tinto, Talli, Tintombu, Boa and Etoko in the British Cameroons, and Akpabuyo in Nigeria.

“Three important chiefs: Chief Fongang, Chief Tataw, Chief James Enow, all of Mamfe, have not only accepted the Cause, but are serving it with zeal and zest.”

To this should also be added that the Regional Teaching Committee Number Ten, in addition to organizing the teaching work so well in their area, have demonstrated their vision by sending Mr. Willie Enang to pioneer in Ghana. Mr. Enang has an outstanding record of achievements in Nigeria, and has settled in Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti district of Ghana.

—ROBERT L. HAFER

Coloane Island, Colony of Macau, Opened to Bahá’í Faith

The Portuguese Colony of Macau consists of three geographical units: the two islands Taipa and Coloane, and the peninsula where the city of Macau is located. Formerly this peninsula was an island, but it has been connected with the mainland by reclaimed land, The city is one of the oldest foreign settlements on the China Coast and is situated about fifty miles south of Hong Kong. The islands of Taipa and Coloane are four and eight miles further south of Macau.

In Macau is located the historical spot where the first Peace Treaty between China and the United States was signed in 1344. The site is an old Buddhist Temple, and is marked with a plaque. The stone table where the Treaty was signed is in excellent condition.

For the Ten-Year Plan our beloved Guardian designated Macau as a virgin goal, and so the first pioneer, Mrs. Frances Heller, arrived here October 20, 1953, from the New Delhi Conference. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Scherer left their home in Wauwatosa, Wisc., on September 25 headed for Macau as their goal, arriving on December 8, 1953, In April 1954, the three pioneers visited the Island of Taipa and proclaimed the Faith there.

Although a number of Bahá’ís had already visited Coloane during previous years for business reasons—these being John Chang, Sergeant[Page 19] Julio Mata, and Harry Yim—yet the Faith had not been proclaimed, and so on June 19, 1958, Harry Yim and Carl Scherer visited Coloane and officially opened this island to the Bahá’í Faith. Mr. Yim had the unique honor and distinction of being the first Bahá’í to give the Message on this picturesque island when the story was told at the Black Sand Beach Tea House to Mrs. Wong, Po Kwong.

Coloane is a lovely spot with many Wooded hills covered with beautiful pine trees. Along the “Bund,” or esplanade, a row of ancient banyan trees enhances the charm of this Chinese village and provides shade during the hot summer months. On this island a number of wealthy Macauns have built summer homes and a number of fine bathing beaches are located, There are several other small villages besides the village of Coloane, where, in the future the words of Bi-iha’u'llz51h will be heard to arouse all mankind from its long spiritual slumber.

—CARL SCHERER

Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Greensboro, N.C., incorporated on April 2, 1958.

First Sicilian Community Contributes New Translations

Taormina. located at the south east end of Sicily, almost reached assembly status within the first year of the World Crusade. However, for material reasons, most of the members were compelled to seek positions in other parts of Italy, and all efforts were then concentrated upon Palermo, the capital city, where an American pioneer family served prior to pioneering in France.

Unlike Taormina, Palermo required four years of continuous effort before the first declarations began. After the enrollment of the first resident couple, other declarations followed successively every few months. The arrival of the first Persian pioneer family, a mother and two sons, descendants of followers of the Báb and of one of the four Hands of Bahá’u’lláh, served to accelerate the teaching effort and to attract three promising students of architecture to the Faith. Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery also helped prepare and enroll these friends. The loving, ever-prayerful encouragement of the Italo-Swiss National Assembly and the European Teaching Committee; visits from Bahá’í teachers and friends; and the immediate response to the last-minute call of the European Teaching Committee on the part of another youthful descendant of a Hand of Bahá’u’lláh brought the formation of the first Bahá’í local Spiritual Assembly in Sicily on the fifth Riḍván of the Ten-Year Plan.

At present the Community consists of eleven Bahá’ís—the Assembly of four Italians, four Persians and the American Knight of Bahá’u’lláh, plus the first Sicilian youth and the young American pioneer. Six of the youthful members attend the University of Palermo, gather weekly to plan special meetings (such as World Youth Day) for their friends in Palermo and to prepare their monthly News Letter, in hopes of stimulating greater activity in the promulgation of the Teachings among the Italo-Swiss Bahá’í youth. So far, three letters have been mailed to seventy youth centers in the two languages, Italian and English. Three of these youth have already translated, typed, and illustrated four copies of Living Today for Tomorrow’s World, placed three of the copies in serviceable plastic-paged books for immediate use in Palermo and sent the fourth copy to the European Teaching Commerce to approve and correct in order that they may have it printed and ready for use at the Frankfurt Conference for Italian speaking children. (All the Bahá’ís in Palermo hope to attend the Frankfurt Conference en masse in July.)

Frequent contributions for publishing other essential Bahá’í literature in Italian have been sent from Palermo, including a special contribution in memory of Shoghi Effendi for the publication of Christ and Bahá’u’lláh in Italian. It is interesting to report that an Italian translation was sent from Palermo of this book done by our Sicilian friend and her daughter, because they felt “the Italian people should know of this great Truth, too.” Five “Fifteen-Minute Talks." translated into Italian from the Bahá’í Writings, have been given at the Holy Day gatherings and twice-a-week Fireside and Language Class, and put on file for further use in Palermo.

Sicily indeed is greatly blessed to have for its Archives two glorious letters from the beloved Guardian to the Palermo believers. These should continue to inspire us to grasp the opportunity and privilege of arising promptly and joyously to fulfill the unfinished tasks for the establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth before it is too late.

—EMMA M. RICE

Baha’i International Community Listed in United Nations Yearbook

The believers, and particularly the various national spiritual assemblies, are informed that the Union of International Associations has published a seventh edition (1958-1959) of the Yearbook of International Organizations, which lists all the nongovernmental organizations related to United Nations.

The listing of Bahá’í International[Page 20] Community in this international reference book is a source of great prestige.

The seventh edition is published in the English language. Copies can be ordered from the Union of International Associations, Palais D’Egmont, Brussels 1, Belgium, at the price of $14.00 United States currency, Sterling Zone 78—or 580 Belgian Francs from Europe.

It is advisable that each national spiritual assembly participating in the Bahá’í International Community should order a copy of this reference book and make use of it in their public relations work.

The four Canton Huanuni believers, pioneer Indian volun teers, who completed the course in pioneer preparation in the Bahá’í Indian School at La Paz, Bolivia, with the National Indian Committee member in the center.

Grand Manan Newspaper Prints First Publicity on Faith

As a result of attending the Intercontinental Conference in Chicago, the pioneer on Grand Manan, Canadian goal, has obtained the first Bahá’í publicity in the Grand Manan newspaper. The article is an excellent one, mentioning the Conference in Chicago which Doris Richardson, the pioneer, attended, and stating the meaning of the Bahá’í Faith and purpose of the World Crusade.

Mrs. Richardson has written, “The fact that this article appeared as I gave it to the island reporter is proof of so many things. It means that now for the first time since coming to this island the Faith has been publicly announced and favorably too, for the reporter thought it was newsworthy and found it all very interesting. It also means that from now on he will accept other articles. Everyone on this island now knows that I am a Bahá’í, for the paper is read by all islanders.”

Grand Manan, an island in the Bay of Fundy off the coast of New Brunswick, is a rather isolated place, presenting many difficulties to the pioneer who longs to awaken its inhabitants to a knowledge of the new Day of God. Every goal of the World Crusade is vital and every pioneer who labors at that goal is valued by the friends in every part of the globe. Undoubtedly their prayers will lend a spiritual support that this glimmer of light may presage the dawn of victory for this pioneer and for the Cause of God.

Bahá’í community of Usumbura, Ruanda-Urundi.

Baha’i School in la Paz, Bolivia, Prepares Indians For Pioneering

A Bahá’í School for the preparation of Indian pioneers was held in La Paz, Bolivia, from March 10-April 3, 1958, as a result of the offers of several Aymara Indians to serve as pitneers in Bolivia.

The following four believers from the community of Vilacollo (Canton Huanuni) were enrolled for this purpose: Andres Jachakollo, Isidro Jachakollo, Carmelo Jachakollo, and Juan Jachakollo. Besides this group of pioneer volunteers, the enrollment was increased by the presence of two students of the Faith, Sra. Juana de Topa and her daughter Hortencia, of chola background. Through their deep interest in the Faith, their native city of Potosi, Bolivia, will be opened to the Faith.

The course given, approved by the National Spiritual Assembly, was under the direction of the National Indian Teaching Committee for Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The studies were carried through most successfully, using the method of daily reviews and ending with a final test which merited the[Page 21] award of individual diplomas for the Course.

Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin with two Bolivian cholas, students of the Faith.

At the closing exercises, the audience consisted oi Indians. cholas, North Americans, and Bolivians of Spanish background, which might be the first time such a varied gathering has mingled together in love and harmony in Bolivia.

The school was honored to have as guests the member of the Auxiliary Board of the Hands of the Cause, Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin, and the American pioneer from Cochabamba, Bolivia, Miss Rezi Sunshine.

Correction

The story of the Canton Huanuni Indian Assembly in Bolivia, Bahá’í News for February 1958, page 9, mentioned two friends of Andres Jachacollo, members of the Regional Teaching Committee, who went to talk to the entire Jachacollo settlement.

The two friends were Elton Smith and Angel Garcia. Estanislau Alvarez, whose name was given by mistake, continued the Work with the Indians after the first nine had declared themselves, visited their village, and served actively on the National Indian Committee. He helped conduct the recent Indian Pioneer School in La Paz, Bolivia.

Confirmations of Spirit Recounted By Pioneer to Buddhist Thailand

Excerpt from letter dated May 6, 1958, from Mrs. Caroline Lawrence, Bangkok, Thailand:

“ . . . I have been thoroughly exhilerated by the interest shown in the Faith by the numerous contacts here in Bangkok. Charles Duncan has many, many contacts. Many have come to him through his teaching English, but many are people he has met otherwise. There are several monks who come regularly to study the Faith. Their questions regarding the deepest essence of the spiritual beliefs is truly wonderful to hear, for they grasp the truth quickly. We have felt quite certain that there are many monks who are monks because that is the only way they could provide themselves with an education. Although they haven’t bluntly stated that they would change their religion if they had the same educational opportunities, it is vaguely hinted on many occasions. This is quite significant, and our Thai Bahá’ís understand their predicament and are immediately interested, and all want us to hurry and get enough money to open a Bahá’í school where the underprivileged people, who are truly the needy ones, can go to school and get a first hand good education.

“Prior to my coming here I had studied and read everything I could lay my hands on about the Buddhist doctrine and the way it is practiced in this area. However, I find that much of it, though interesting to know, is not known by the Buddhists themselves. The basic facts of the Buddhist Teachings are not even remotely understood by the people. They are so steeped in ‘custom’ that the reason behind these customs has ceased to exist in reality. We find it necessary to explain to them their own doctrines before they can begin to listen to the Bahá’í principles. At first it seemed this was a peculiar way of doing it. Why (I thought) must they be taught the reason for their customs, why not just teach Bahá’í Faith and show them how much the Faith could help them both personally and nationally? But it proves not nearly so simple a matter.

“For myself, I have been putting in extra hours studying everything I can find in order to give myself more spiritual insight and understanding. I have worked on various faults of my own in order to make my own life a better example for those with whom I come in contact.

Bahá’í youth present at the annual Bahá’í Summer School held in Bahia, Brazil, on February 15-19, 1958.

[Page 22]

Women of the Black Thai race, an ethnic minority in Laos, with two Bahá’í pioneers to Laos. One of these native women has enrolled in the Faith.

There is one frustrating side to this feature of loving everyone. By nature I am not very demonstrative, either vocally or physically, when I personally respect and admire someone. But here I find myself loving some of these young students with all my heart and more. The love of God seems to be flowing through me to them, for never before have I experienced such deep love for so many people. I feel as if I should like to enfold them in my arms. But that would never do—over here, that is. First there is never any public demonstration of affection by the Thais themselves, and it only embarrasses them to see or to hear expressions of love. But they can feel it, even more than I, because many have said that I remind them of their mother. This is a great compliment and I am continually giving thanks to God for allowing His love to shine forth to them, through me. It makes the everyday encounters on the street, on the bus, or at a temple so very much more interesting. People whom you never have seen before shyly come up to you and ask if they can help you, or order something at the store for you, or pay for your bus fare, and many other lovely gestures. They never did this before to me when I was here, so I fully appreciate that it is truly God’s Light teaching them, even if I don’t realize it at the time, and am not conscious of it.

“I first noticed it when I went out with Charles Duncan. He was for ever being stopped by strangers and invited to talk, or walk, or have coffee with them. I recognized then that there was something that I didn’t understand. Your heart and the others, too, would become very happy at the wonderful interest shown by all whom Charles meets regarding the Bahá’í teachings. I realize, of course, that the number of declared believers here is small, but three local assemblies in a Hinayana Buddhist country is even more than anyone could have wished for at this early stage. It would be marvelous to have more numbers in each area, and we continually pray for them,

Bahá’í Teaching Conference held in Vientiane, Laos, on February 21-23, 1958, with representatives from Vietname, Thailand, and Laos.

but nearly everyone I meet knows about the Faith in Bangkok, anyway, and all are learning more about it. There was a six-inch column in the daily papers about the formation of the first local spiritual assembly here, and this was evidently read by many people. There is a friendly editor on one of the papers who has agreed to publish other items from time to time, so we shall use this medium in the future for the good of the Faith.

“There will be a teaching conference in Bangkok on May 23-25, and we are all looking forward to it with great enthusiasm. This will be an excellent opportunity to bring many of the interested contacts to meet other Bahá’ís from this area. Jimmy Fozdar will probably be here along with many others.

“The States seem a million years away. I almost forget there is an other place which I used to call home. Here I seem to feel the nearness of Bahá’u’lláh much more so than at Winston-Salem, although I’m sure He was just as close there. Here we call on Him for much more gudiance than I ever thought was possible. At first I was somewhat disappointed that I had to be in the city of Bangkok, and not in a glorious new territory, but when I left North Carolina I left with the promise to go wherever I would be of the most help. Strange things led to my being in Bangkok, but I am learning to accept with equanimity all sorts of things as doors open or close at the Will of God. If this is where I am most useful, then so be it. Maybe its not where people are needed most, but where I can personally serve Him best.”

Ten Local Assemblies in Canada Have Been Incorporated to Date

The National Legal Committee of Canada has reported to the Canadlan National Spiritual Assembly that to date ten local spiritual assemblies have been incorporated in that country.

Canada’s goal in the Ten-Year Crusade is the incorporation of a total of fifteen local assemblies; thus two-thirds of that number has been attained in the first half of the Crusade.

Incorporated local assemblies include: Edmonton, Alta.; Hamilton, Ont.; Scarborough, Ont.; Toronto, Ont.; North York, Ont.; Vancouver, B.C.; Vernon. B.C.; and Winnipeg, Man.

Halifax and London Local Assemblies expect to be incorporated in the near future.

Suva, Fiji Islands, Assembly Registers Bahá’í Endowment

The Local Spiritual Assembly of Suva, Fiji Islands, has registered the Bahá’í’ endowment in Fiji in their name. It consists of an area of land of 1 road 12 perches (more than one-half acre), situated near the top of a hill with a magnificent view of the Suva Harbour.

Suva will be the headquarters of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific which is to be formed during Riḍván 1959.

[Page 23]

Baha’i Holy Days Recognized in Australia

The Australian Bahá’í Bulletin reports that the Commonwealth Public Service of Australia has created an Australia-wide precedent by officially granting leave on Bahá’í Holy Days to an Australian believer.

BAHA'I IN THE NEWS

An Íránian students’ association quarterly magazine entitled The Danneshjoo, in its Spring 1953 issue, carries an article entitled “Religion and State in Írán” which mentions the Bahá’í Faith as one of the possible solutions of the religious problem in Írán, other possible solutions being the reinstatement of Zoroastrianism and the adoption of christianity.

Holiday Abroad, 1958, an illustrated tourist book, lists the Bahá’í Shrines and Gardens as one of the features of Haifa, and contains a large photo of the Shrine.

The Globe and Mail, March 8, 1958, a Canadian newspaper, featured in a detailed article the future construction of a Bahá’í House of Worship in Toronto. The article presents Bahá’í teachings, and refers to the Intercontinental Conferences being held this year and to the World Conference to be held in Baghdád during 1963.

An Israeli tourist pamphlet printed in French states in its final paragraph that the Bahá’í Shrine on Mount Carmel is the inspiration for all the legends of our time or for the future.

A 1958 calendar distributed by Hardings Restaurants quotes a passage by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the power of love.

The Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, published a large feature story on the religion page March 28, which illustrated the Bahá’í House of Worship, and under the title “The Promised Day of God” described the relationship of the local spiritual assembly to the world Bahá’í community and to the teachings of the Faith. This feature was one of a series of church messages underwritten by a number of local firms.

Interio’r view of the Bahá’í Center of the Soledad Judicial District, Calif. It was erected by Robert H. King of Saugus, Calif., and will be willed to the U. S. National Spiritual Assembly upon his passing. Furnished and decorated by the Bahá’ís of the vicinity, it seats thirty persons.

Le Soir, the largest newspaper in Belgium, published a series of informational articles as preliminary to the opening of the world exposition in Brussels, April 17, 1958. On March 3, this paper ran an article entitled “Ten Years in the Promised Land” which reported developments in the Holy Land, and illustrated by a picture of the Shrine of the Báb. Alluding to the Shrine and the International Archives, the author said: “They are the mausoleum and the Temple of Justice of the Bahá’ís who practice the fourth religion recognized in Israel, and who have made of Haifa a center of radiance.”

View of the library corner in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Unalaska, Alaska, deeded to the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska in December 1957. This is one of the properties referred to in the Guardian’s 1957 Convention Message.

In Norway, the Morgenavaisen Mandag of January 20, 1958 published a long article on the Faith illustrated by a picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. No translation has been made available.

A recent issue of The American Mercury, presents an article by Hilary Grey on “The Brotherhood,” in which the Bahá’í Faith is associated with Theosophy, Rosicrucian, World Congress, etc., as organizations responsible for misleading propaganda concerning the brotherhood of man.

A minister or priest, in a letter published on October 1, 1957, by the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer wrote:” . . . all religions appear to be having a good time from the Bahá’ís in Willamette (sic) near Chicago to the Rosicrucians in Los Angeles.” The letter, however, adopts the Bahá’í position where it complains that “present-day religiosity” makes God the mere servant to the wishes of men.

From many sources the National Spiritual Assembly has received copies of Awake! for September 22, 1957, published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, which contains an article entitled “What is the Bahá’í Cause?” Accord[Page 24] ing to the magazine, 2,450,000 copies of the issue were printed.

This article begins with a reference to the Bahá’í Temple, quotes the twelve basic principles, and gives a summary of Bahá’í history. The editorial effort is apparently to present true facts but the interpretation given the facts distorts the historical and spiritual record. The National Assembly has written the magazine to correct the record and sent them a copy of Christ and Bahá’u’lláh.

Other National Spiritual Assemblies in the Western Hemisphere have noted the article, which of course has been given wide distribution.

Invited by the government of India to investigate new methods for increasing the sale of native crafts to western markets, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh, accompanied by Mr. R. Y. Mottahedeh, found opportunity to secure extensive publicity for the Faith.

Interviewed in Madras on February 21, 1958, Mrs. Mottahedeh was identified as accredited representative of the Bahá’í International Community to United Nations, and after expressing her views on the possibility of increasing export sales of Indian handcrafts outlined the principles of the Bahá’í Faith. This interview was published in The Mail and also in The Hindu, among other papers.

The Nation, Rangoon, Burma, on March 6 published an account of the meeting held by Mr. and Mrs. Mottahedeh with the Rangoon Bahá’í community. On March 7, The Burnman published an editorial devoted entirely to the nature and spread of the Bahá’í Faith based upon an interview.

The Kiwanis Magazine, April 1958, included the Bahá’í Temple in “Visitors’ Guide to Chicago” for use during the Forty-third Annual Convention of Kiwanis International to be held at Chicago June 29-July 2.

From Tangier, Morocco, has come a copy of a reference to the Faith published in Paris-Match March 15, 1958, an illustrated French magazine. This reference was made in a letter written to the editor commenting on a series of articles about the “Great Shepherds of the World” — Moses, Jesus, Buddha and Mohammad. The writer stated that he would have been very pleased if the series had also included the two Persian Prophets, the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.

The map of Chicago distributed by Standard Oil Company gas stations lists the Bahá’í House of Worship under points of interest.

The Camp Fire Girl for January 1958 published a “Capsule Calendar” of January dates which included World Religion Day.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 9. 1958, published a story about the Temple University Music Festival which stated: “A first performance by the Music Education Chorus was ‘A Bahá’í Prayer’ by Lee Tichenor of this city. Well written for voices, Tichenor’s work rises in cumulative yet restrained power.”

National Bahá’í Addresses

Please Address Mail Correcfly!

National Bahá’í Administrative Headquarters

538 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois.

National Treasurer:

112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.

Make Check: Payable to: National Bahá’í Fund

Bahá’í Publishing Trust:

no Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.

Bahá’í News:

Editorial Office: 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois

Subscription and change of adress: 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois

The New Christian Advocate, Methodist magazine, listed All Things Made New by John Ferraby in its Book Review column for July. “Students of religion will welcome this comprehensive outline of the Bahá’í Faith, with its message proclaiming the oneness of God and of religion, addressed to unbelievers and to persons already following a religion.”

A far different reception was given to George Townshend‘s Christ and Bahá’u’lláh in another Methodist magazine World Outlook. “An ex. Christian appeals to Christians to join a reformed and universalized Islám. A missionary document of the Bahá’í Faith.”

FEAST

August 20 — Asmá’ (Names)

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS

August 29-September I

Visiting Hours

Weekdays

10230 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (Entire building)

7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. (Auditorium only)

Sundays and Holidays 10:30 A.M. to 5:00 PM. (Entire building)

5:00 P.M. to 9 P.M. (Auditorium only)

Service of Worship

Sundays

3:30 P.M., lasting until 4:15.

BAHÁ’Í NEWS is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States as a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í World Community.

Reports, plans, news items, and photographs of general interest are requested from national committees and local assemblies of the United States as Well as from national assemblies of other lands. Material is due in Wilmette on the first day of the month preceding the date of issue for which it is intended.

BAHÁ’Í NEWS is edited by an annually appointed Editorial Committee. The Committee for 1958-59: Mrs. Eunice Braun, Miss Charlotte Linfoot, Richard C. Thomas.

Editorial Office: 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.

Change of address should be reported directly to National Bahá’í Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.