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| No. 351 | BAHA’I YEAR 117 | JUNE, 1960 |
Message to the Annual Baha’i Conventions From the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land[edit]
Dearly beloved Friends:
Another twelve months of important Bahá’í events have revolved upon the mighty axis of our beloved Guardian’s divinely inspired, world encompassing Crusade. Once again, at this blessed Riḍván period, we pause to survey the accomplishments of the past year, to enumerate its victories and to assess the tasks that still lie ahead ere we reach the goal of 1963 and enter upon the celebration of the supreme jubilee of our Faith, the hundreth anniversary of the Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh’s Mission—a mission which casts its light forward over five hundred thousand years of human destiny. We Bahá’ís may well raise our hearts in thanksgiving to Him for the constant evidences of His unfailing grace, protection and guidance vouchsafed to us, the small but faithful band of His followers scattered throughout the populous and ancient centers of culture in both the East and the West, throughout the wildernesses of Africa and the New World, and the far-flung islands of the seas. In spite of the heavy blow we received so recently through earthly separation from our Guardian—a blow from which our hearts still bleed; in spite of our frailty as chosen instruments of God; in spite of the fewness of our numbers in the face of the teeming millions as yet unaware of the advent of the Promised One of all ages; in spite of the circumscribed nature of our material resources—in spite of all these things we witness that this Faith of ours is receiving an uninterrupted impetus from the Will of Bahá’u’lláh and that its nascent institutions, given to us by Him, elaborated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and erected by Shoghi Effendi. are multiplying in number, growing in strength, casting down deeper roots into the life of society, increasing in prestige and demonstrating the power nascent within them which must flower eventually into a World Civilization and bring about that Golden Age which will in truth be the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth.
The process of knitting the Bahá’í world together and coordinating its far-flung activities, which was carried on from the World Center of our Faith by the beloved Guardian, has steadily continued since his passing and bears witness to the enduring foundations he laid during the thirty-six years of unremitting toil and self-sacrifice which characterized his ministry. The brilliance of his planning, the far-reaching vision which inspired his decisions, the Vitality of the Administrative Order he built up during his lifetime, continue to bear fruit. The “heart and nerve center” of the Faith, the hub into which the spokes of this mighty wheel of God, this New World Order, fit has continued to function with unabated vitality, receiving its spiritual impetus from the twin Holy Shrines in which are laid to rest the Twin Manifestations of God for this day, and pouring this lifeforce into the world-wide Community of the followers of the Most Great Name, in spite of having so recently passed through one of the worst crises in one hundred and seventeen years of Bahá’í history. The Ten-Year Plan, the latest step in the unfoldment of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan designed to bring about the spiritual conquest of the entire globe, has forged ahead in a truly miraculous manner since that grievous and fateful November day in 1957 which witnessed the removal of its guiding force, its Commander-in-Chief, the designer of its every phase, and the one to whom its prosecutors, whether Hands, Board members, administrative bodies, pioneers or teachers, looked for words of encouragement and guidance and from whom they eagerly anticipated receiving that measure of reward or acclaim that he in his wisdom and love might bestow upon them.
How Shining the Evidences![edit]
Not only has the unity of the Faith been protected,
the plans of its enemies forestalled and its properties
safeguarded, but the spirit of the believers has not faltered in the darkest hour of test. We may truly say that it is this great pact of faith in the hearts of the friends
that has held the Cause steadily on the course charted
for it by its Guardian, and has been the magnet attracting so many new souls to the Faith during the past
two years. It is this force of faith in Bahá’u’lláh and
love for Him that has swept the Bahá’ís of the world
forward to such astonishing victories as the establish[Page 2]
ment during this present Riḍván period of the entire
number of spiritual assemblies specified by the beloved
Guardian in the Ten-Year Plan as the necessary foundation for the future independent national Bahá’í bodies
of Latin America, Those responsible for this feat
obeyed his behest to “. . . set their faces towards those
fields that still remain unexplored and direct their
steps to those goals that are as yet unattained, assured that He who has led them to achieve such triumphs . . . will continue to assist them in enriching
their spiritual birthright to a degree no finite mind
can imagine or human heart perceive.” How shining
are the evidences that this promised support has been
vouchsafed to them by Bahá’u’lláh Himself. Last Riḍván with so many local assemblies still needed in Latin
America, die heights still to be scaled seemed unattainable; this Riḍván the banner of conquest floats proudly from every hilltop. How greatly must Shoghi Effendi’s
heart rejoice!
The truly extraordinary evidences of progress throughout the entire range of Bahá’í activity should cause us all to ponder anew the mysterious power of this Faith, to marvel at the secret springs that so constantly feed its needs, and to supplicate that during the coming year a still greater measure of Bahá’u’lláh’s loving protection, His all-conquering strength, His unfailing guidance, may be vouchsafed to us in the prosecution of the beloved Guardian’s mighty Crusade. With humble gratitude for the untiring and consecrated labors of our fellow-believers and deep joy in their achievements, we share with the friends the truly remarkable list of the major events and victories of this past year.
The number of territories comprising the World Community of the Most Great Name has now risen to the impressive total of two hundred and fifty-six, including all of the one hundred and thirty-one original virgin goals of the World Crusade listed by our beloved Guardian, with the exception of ten territories within the Soviet orbit‘ One of the most difficult objectives of the Ten-Year Plan, Hainan Island, has recently been opened by a stalwart Knight of Bahá’u’lláh of Chinese origin, adding another pearl to that chain of islands girdling the Asiatic mainland.
The Process of Rapid Multiplication[edit]
The steady process of multiplication of localities where Bahá’ís reside in all parts of the globe has raised the total of these centers to over five thousand eight hundred, far exceeding “the goal of five thousand Bahá’í centers in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres,” called for by our beloved Guardian in his Riḍván Message three short years ago. More than thirteen hundred localities have been added since his passing, over six hundred of these during the past year alone.
This uninterrupted expansion, brought about by the twin process of dispersion and enrollment of new believers, has brought the number of such centers in the goal countries of Europe to more than a hundred and forty; in Germany and Austria, to a hundred and forty-eight; in the British Isles to a hundred and fifty-one; in Australasia and in the Dominion of Canada, respectively, to nearly a hundred and sixty; in the Indian subcontinent to a hundred and eighty; in Latin America to nearly three hundred and forty; in the Pacific area to over five hundred; in Persia to more than one thousand and seventy; in the African continent to eleven hundred and forty; and in the United States of America to nearly fifteen hundred and severity.
In the African continent and throughout the Pacific region, areas encompassing almost half of the original one hundred and thirty-one virgin territories to be opened during the World Crusade, extraordinary progress continues to be made, the rate of increase far surpassing that in any other parts of the world and bearing conclusive witness to the spiritual vitality in the hearts of their indigenous peoples. As evidence of this mighty process of conversion now taking place, we may cite the fact that over four hundred new centers have been added in Africa during the past two years, and over two hundred in the Pacific region during the last twelve months. In Latin America, the scene next year of the formation of no less than twenty-one new National Spiritual Assemblies, more than a hundred centers have been added since last Riḍván, a feat the magnitude of which cannot be sufficiently stressed when one considers the vast territory involved and the relatively small number of believers able to carry forward the work of the Crusade.
The number of local spiritual assemblies throughout the world, referred to by our Guardian as the “foundation of the edifice of a rising Order,” is rapidly approaching one thousand five hundred, reflecting an increase of almost two hundred in each of the last two Riḍván periods. Of these more than two hundred and forty are now incorporated.
Over half of the thirty-one National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies now established have achieved the Crusade goal of incorporation, seventeen having so far secured this legal registration, the latest being the energetic National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Burma, which has just received, less than a year after its own formation, official recognition by the government of the Union of Burma.
Translations of the continually expanding literature of the Faith have now been made in two hundred and sixty-eight different languages, representing an increase of nearly one hundred and eighty since the inception of the Crusade. Ninety-six of these are supplementary to those originally specified by our beloved Guardian in the Ten-Year Plan. During the Crusade years Bahá’í literature has been translated into all of the European languages called for in the Plan; into eighty-two of the indigenous languages of Asia; sixty-five of Africa; and over twenty in the Americas.
Two Mother Temples Nearing Completion[edit]
Progress in erecting the three great Mother Temples
of Africa, Australasia and Europe is steadily continuing. Practically three years before the end of the World
Crusade the beautiful and highly suitable Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, at present reaching completion in the heart of Africa, will be dedicated, during this coming August,
at a ceremony attended by believers from many districts and territories of what was once known as the
“dark continent” but now shines as one of the brightest regions of the entire Bahá’í world. The Temple in
Sydney, Australia, is rising at a rapid pace, and already this great “silent teacher” of the Antipodes is
attracting wide publicity and the attention of thousands of people who pass by it daily on an adjacent[Page 3]
main highway. It is anticipated that its dedication will
take place early in 1961. The plans for the European
Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, long the subject of opposition on
the part of certain church elements in Germany, are
now well advanced and it is hoped that construction
can commence during the coming months at the Temple site near Frankfurt. These historic first steps in
the process of erecting Houses of Worship and their
attendant institutions, which play such an important
part in the Bahá’í society envisaged by Bahá’u’lláh,
are being followed up and supported through the purchase of many sites for future Temples‘ During the
past year, Japan, Austria, Bolivia, Guatemala and the
Dominican Republic have acquired plots of land for
this purpose, raising the number of such sites since
the inauguration of the Ten Year Plan to the truly impressive total of thirty-three.
Among the many other properties added in various parts of the world during the past year to the already impressive list of Bahá’í holdings, the following are of special interest because of the official recognition which their acquisition has involved, giving increasing emphasis to the independent character of the Faith, and adding to its prestige: the approval, by the District Commissioner of Kenya, of the allocation of two plots of land in village areas for Bahá’í purposes, and the pending approval of a third plot; the authorization, confirmed through a special decree issued by the Ministry of Finance in Laos, for the Bahá’í Community in Vientiane to own in its name a plot of land as an endowment; and the recognition by governmental authorities of Bahá’í burial grounds as such in Abbottabad, Nawabshah and Montgomery, in Pakistan, and in Seremban, Malaya, the three latter sites being direct allocations of government land for the purpose of establishing separate Bahá’í cemeteries.
Another evidence of the growing recognition of the independent character of the Faith is the continued expansion in the number of territories, states, provinces and other civic units where the Bahá’í marriage certificate is legally accepted. Such recognition has now been granted in nearly forty-five different countries and political sub-divisions, the latest additions being the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in the Dominion of Canada. The Bahá’í Holy Days are now officially recognized by school authorities in eighty different countries, states and cities. In the United States, including Alaska, more than ten new areas have been added since last Riḍván.
Widespread Enrollment of Indigenes[edit]
In the African continent, the onward march of the Faith bears eloquent testimony to the spiritual receptivity, of its inhabitants, so strongly emphasized by our beloved Guardian, and reflected, even before his passing, in the beginnings of that mass conversion confidently predicted by him. As a result of the intensive teaching campaigns launched by the four African Regional Assemblies, the number of declared believers throughout this vast continent has risen to well over fifteen thousand, seven thousand having been added since last Riḍván. In Central and East Africa, the number of enrolled believers has more than doubled in the short space of a year. Over four thousand new declarations have been recorded in Uganda alone since April 1959, nearly twelve hundred in Kenya. and well over two hundred in Tanganyika. In the Belgian Congo, also, the beginnings of mass conversion are becoming evident. In the far-flung territories under the jurisdiction of the Regional Assembly of South and West Africa, a gain of over sixty percent has occurred during the past twelve months in the total number of adherents of the Faith. The zeal of the new believers in this area is well illustrated by the recent settlement of the Island of Sesse in Lake Victoria, an accomplishment of a nature ever dear to Shoghi Effendi’s heart. The number of local spiritual assemblies in the whole of Africa has reached a total of three hundred and seventy-six, an increase of well over two hundred since the passing of the beloved Guardian. Representatives of two hundred and seventy-three different African tribes are now included in the membership of the Bahá’í Community. Noteworthy among the many new instances of official recognition accorded the Faith during the past year are: the establishment and registration of the first Bahá’í Publishing Trust in Africa, in Kampala, Uganda; the inclusion of “Bahá’í“ on the official census sheet as one of the religions of Swaziland; and the registration of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Port Victoria, Seychelles as a religious property, thereby exempting it from all taxation.
The Pacific area, exclusive of Australasia, competing with the African continent for that “palm of victory” so often mentioned by the beloved Guardian himself, continues to fulfill the high expectations held by him for the rapid advancement of the Faith throughout its widely dispersed countries, islands and territories. Last year the number of local spiritual assemblies in this region had reached one short of the hundred mark—double the number which existed in 1957, and a further substantial increase is anticipated during the present Riḍván period. In the region of South-East Asia, the number of declared believers now exceeds seven thousand five hundred, including over forty-eight hundred in the Mentawei Islands alone. In addition to the astounding progress being made there, more than a thousand new believers have entered the Faith in Indonesia during the period since Riḍván 1959. In the ten island groups comprising the territory of the Regional Assembly of the South Pacific, there are now nearly sixty localities. A three-fold increase in the number of centers in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands has occurred in the past year. and news has recently been received that on one of these islands, to which the first Gilbertese Bahá’í was banished because of his association with the Faith, nearly fifty new believers have recently been enrolled, due to his single-handed efforts. One Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds has already been completed in this remote outpost and two more are under construction.
In the vast territory of the Western Hemisphere, including within its confines the cradle of the Administrative Order, as well as those republics whose rulers
were addressed by Bahá’u’lláh in such insistent and
weighty terms, the number of localities to which the
light of His Faith has penetrated now totals nearly two
thousand one hundred, well over three hundred of which
constitute local spiritual assemblies; almost a hundred
and forty of these are now incorporated. The rapid
spread of the Faith among the Indians of South America[Page 4]
in recent months has rivalled the extraordinary progress made in the heart of the African continent and
the islands of the Pacific, and may well foreshadow a
parallel process of mass conversion in the New World.
In Bolivia, a seven-fold increase in the number of Indian believers has occurred since last Riḍván, bringing
the total to over the one thousand mark, drawn from
almost a hundred different localities. As many as
twenty-five new all-Indian local spiritual assemblies
may be formed in this country alone during the current
Riḍván’s period. Throughout the Americas contact has
been established with more than sixty different tribes
since the inception of the Crusade, evidence of the
steady progress made in carrying the Teachings to
these indigenous peoples to whose enrollment in the
Faith both ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and our beloved Guardian
attached such great importance.
Increased Propagation of Faith[edit]
Among the many instances of an ever-wider proclamation of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh during recent months, the following may be cited as an indication of the wide geographical area now being reached, and a testimony to the increasing official and public recognition of the Faith as an independent religion: the Australia-wide press and publicity campaign recently initiated by the National Assembly of that country; the first publicity received over both radio and television in the British Isles; the broadcast of a program consisting of Bahá’í Sacred Writings over the All-India Radio from New Delhi; the presentation of the Message to the people of Japan on Radio Tokyo, and from a national television station in that country; the time accorded to a Bahá’í speaker in Switzerland over Radio Lausanne, as well as the television interview granted a travelling teacher in France, which was telecast from two principal stations in that country; the allocation of radio broadcast time to the local Spiritual Assembly of Suva, Fiji Islands, along with other religions, including Christian, Hindu and Moslem; and the notable increase in publicity freely accorded the Faith in the United States of America, particularly in connection with such Bahá’í—sponsored events as World Religion Day, Race Amity Day, and the Bahá’í observance of United Nations Week.
An enumeration of the various teaching conferences, institutes and weekend schools held throughout the world during the last twelve months is most impressive, not only because of the very large number which took place, but also because nearly every part of the world-wide Bahá’í Community is represented. Though not necessarily complete, the following is a representative list of these gatherings, which our beloved Guardian considered to be a demonstration of the zeal and earnestness of the believers in “discharging their primary obligation to propagate their Faith”: the Austrian teaching conferences held during the past winter in Vienna, and in Linz, as well as the first Austrian Youth Winter School in Krieglach; the Benelux Teaching Conference in Brussels; the striking total of one hundred and sixteen teaching conferences, one-day and weekend schools held in twenty-four different cities and towns in the British Isles; the Regional Teaching Conferences held in Germany, in Hannover, Heilbronn, Koln, Stuttgart, Ulm, and two in Frankfurt; the two Regional Teaching Conferences held in France, in Orleans and Montpellier; the six Regional Teaching Conferences held in the Iberian Peninsula; the leaching Conference for the German-speaking cantons of Switzerland, in Zurich, and that for French Switzerland, in Lausanne; the Italian Teaching Conference, in Rome; the Finnish Teaching Conference, in Helsinki; the three Teaching Conferences of India, in New Delhi, Kanpur, and Mysore; the Teaching Conferences of Japan, in Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the Teaching Conference of East Pakistan, at Dacca, and of West Pakistan, at Lyallpore; the forty-five teaching conferences and weekend schools held in Central and East Africa, including thirty-five in Uganda, four in Kenya, four in Tanganyika, and one in Ruanda-Urundi; the teaching conferences and teacher training schools held in Mauritius, Mozambique, both Northern and Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Swaziland, the Union of South Africa, and Zululand; the many teaching conferences in the Australian continent, including three in each of the States of Victoria, and Queensland, respectively, two each in New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia, and the same number in Tasmania; the teaching conferences held in all of the main centers of the North Island of New Zealand; the first All-Philippine Teaching Conference, in Manila, and the conferences held in Indonesia, Malaya, and other areas of southeast Asia; the Teaching Conferences of the South Pacific Islands, at Tuarabu Village, in the Gilbert and Ellice group, in Apia, Western Samoa, the three conferences held in the Tongan Islands, and the Fiji Teaching Conference in Suva; the Winter Workshop held on the Campus of the University of Alaska, at Fairbanks; the Winter Conference in Ketchikan, Alaska; the All-Argentine Teaching Conference, in Rosario, and similar conferences held in Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay; the National Teaching Conferences of Peru, in Lima, and of Brazil, in Niteroi; the twenty-five teaching conferences held in Canada, covering every province of the Dominion, and including thirteen in Ontario alone; the Costa Rica Teaching Conference in San Jose; the Teaching Conference of Nicaragua held in Managua; the All-Mexico Conference, in Mexico City; the Youth Congress held in Guatemala City; the Intercommunity Teaching Conference of Panama, in Lachorrera; the Honduran Teaching Conference, held in Taulabé; the three International Schools of the Greater Antilles, one in Ciudad Trujillo, Dominican Republic, and two in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as well as two National Teaching Conferences in the same area; and the series of nation-wide conferences, nearly sixty in number, held in the United States of America, sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly, and aimed at creating a deeper understanding of the needs of the Cause at this present stage of the World Crusade, and designed to lend a marked impetus to the teaching work, both abroad and on the homefront, as well as approximately sixty additional area teaching conferences held throughout the length and breadth of that country.
The recapitulation of facts such as these, concrete evidence of the astonishing forward march of this irresistible, divinely-inspired Plan, cannot but fill our souls with courage and determination to arise and carry out the remaining tasks of the World Crusade with greater vigor and dedication than ever before.
The Significance of the World Center[edit]
The supreme importance and significance of the World Center of the Faith, irrevocably fixed by Bahá’u’lláh Himself in the Holy Land, and constantly stressed by the Guardian in his writings, has emerged since his passing and looms before us in its stupendous outlines, as the Most Great Jubilee approaches and the institutions of the World Center evolve. It is incumbent upon the Bahá’ís, particularly their elected national and regional representatives, to realize that the unity of the Faith and the necessary unform spread of its activities depends upon the proper coordination and protection which is given from the World Center. National or regional plans or interests cannot be permitted to sacrifice the over-all interests of a closely-knit, smoothly functioning World Community. The eagerness of the assemblies, and the believers they represent, each striving to attain in its own area a greater measure of development, to raise up new institutions such as Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Temples, schools and endowments, must be at once fostered and contained; fostered so that the Faith may arise locally in all its glory and power in different parts of the world; contained and directed so that each part whilst expanding and developing as fast as possible may not place in jeopardy the work of another area or undertake over—expansion or expenditure at the expense of another member of this single entity—a World Community. A constant consultative flow of communications must ever-increasingly, as the Crusade draws to its close, pass in and out of Haifa between the various National and Regional Assemblies and the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land, upon whom has devolved the task at this critical juncture in Bahá’í history of safeguarding and promoting the world interests and world-wide progress of the Cause of God.
Entering a New Phase[edit]
During this year of momentous preparation for the election of no less than twenty-one new National Spiritual Assemblies in Central America, the Antilles and South America, a ceaseless effort must be exerted on the part of all those responsible for the fulfillment of these supremely important goals of the Crusade in order to insure that the newly elected local assemblies, as well as those previously elected, remain at their present level, that their membership be maintained during the coming year, that they be deepened in faith and understanding of the Administrative Order, that the Communities they represent are increased in number and the rank and file of the believers more deeply confirmed in the spirit of the Faith and encouraged to serve its interests and spread its knowledge among the peoples of their respective countries. This is going to require arduous work on the part of those devoted and consecrated pioneers who constitute the vanguard of Bahá’u’lláh’s advancing hosts; it is going to mean more pioneers and teachers may still be required in this strategic field of service; it will entail on the part of the Mother Community in North America an unabated flow of assistance in the form of loving consultation, cooperation and guidance, as well as a supply of material means from this more prosperous and richly blessed community to these struggling new daughter communities, rich in spirit and in promise, but often lacking in the financial resources necessary to attain their objectives and maintain their centers: it is going to necessitate further outpourings of treasure from the devoted self-sacrificing followers of Bahá’u’lláh in the Cradle of the Faith who already through the operation of the Persia-America deputization plan have been responsible during the past eighteen months for much of the present spectacular success we now enjoy in the Latin American field; it will entail a greater measure of activity on the part of both the Board members and the elected representatives of the present four Regional National Assemblies functioning in this area. It must inevitably draw heavily upon the strength and the time—so fleeting, so short and therefore so precious—of the Hands of the Faith, both those serving at the World Center and those allotted to the Western Hemisphere. We are confident, however, that these needs can and will be met and the glorious prize now well within our reach be seized in all its perfection and the new National Assemblies emerge next Riḍván in all their promise, prepared to assume their function as pillars of that Universal House of Justice so soon to be born.
We are evidently entering a new phase in the unfoldment of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Plan for the spiritual conquest of the entire planet. A movement can be seen in different parts of the world such as has not been witnessed since the inception of this Cause in Persia. The masses are beginning to stir, to raise their eyes and look questioningly upon the Message we are presenting to them; at first by hundreds, now in some places by thousands. they are embracing this Faith, fulfilling the prophecies of the Master and the words of the Guardian. Although at the present time this new process is taking place largely amongst the so-called more primitive members of human society, introducing into the Bahá’í family of peoples much needed qualities of both heart and mind, we have every reason to believe it presages similar movements of mass conversion in other territories.
The impact of the passing of our beloved Guardian,
the electric shock it administered to the entire body
of the believers, the fire of sorrow and test through
which they passed and from which they are emerging
stronger than ever before, cannot but release, as has
every major crisis in the past history of our Faith, a
fresh flow of those forces which mysteriously and irresistibly lead it to new victories, widen the pale of its influence, and swell the ranks of its followers. In view
of this conspicuous process now taking place we call
upon those pioneers and believers struggling in distant
and difficult fields and particularly those in the recently opened territories, to persevere in their labors,
to take fresh heart, to appreciate the spiritual significance of the service they are rendering and remain
steadfastly at their posts—posts so dear to our beloved
Guardian and to which he attached such great importance. Though the soil of men’s hearts be unfertile, the
spiritual climate of their thoughts inhospitable and the
promised harvest seem but a distant dream, let them
remember their sacred responsibility as Bahá’u’lláh’s
“forward-marching warriors” and steadfastly persevere in their task until they not only achieve success,
but God willing, in the end bless the land they have[Page 6]
served so faithfully by laying their bones to rest in it,
as many a pioneer has done before them, and their
graves become places of visitation for future generations.
The recent, little short of miraculous, achievements in Latin America demonstrate to us what hidden springs of strength are released in us when we obey the behests of our Guardian. They prove to us that the promised aid of the Supreme Concourse is at hand, eager to assist us, and that in the words of Shoghi Effendi its “invisible battalions are mustered, rank upon rank, ready to pour forth reinforcements from on high” and sustain even the humblest service undertaken in the Path of God.
Very Little Time Remains[edit]
Very little time remains to us if we are to accomplish fully and with resounding success the tasks allotted to us by Shoghi Effendi in the last, mighty Plan we received from him, the final fruit, of his divinely-inspired mind. We need not, we cannot, and we will not fail him. It lies within our power to seal with complete victory his world-encircling Crusade. This can only be done, however, if mighty and ceaseless efforts are made by each and every believer and more particularly those who form a part of such richly blessed and favored Communities as those in the Cradle of the Faith and in the Cradle of its Administrative Order. Aside from the task of consolidating and maintaining the work in Latin America, prior to the election in Riḍván 1961 of the twenty-one independent National Assemblies to be formed there, a tremendous amount of work faces the Bahá’ís, whether they be Hands, National Bodies entrusted with specific tasks, teachers or pioneers. In Europe, where no less than eleven National Assemblies must be formed in the spring of 1962, the requisite number of local assemblies, the foundation for these new institutions, is far from being complete. Approximately forty must be constituted by next April. The field is difficult, the people, sunk in materialism, often cynical and disillusioned as a result of two world wars, are indifferent to religious truth and preoccupied with the economic problems and social diversions of a highly civilized continent. All these factors constitute one of the greatest challenges of the entire Crusade. A Faith, however, for which twenty thousand of its adherents died as martyrs, which has planted its banner in a little over a hundred years in two hundred and fifty-six territories of the globe, embracing every independent nation, every dominion, mandate and trust territory and all the major islands of the world, whose valiant pioneers and teachers are scattered like lifegiving seed in every corner of the planet, has the power within it to sweep away every obstacle in its path. If the present National Assemblies focus their strength and concentrate their thoughts, resources and energies on the goals they must attain; if the individual believers consult their hearts and their consciences and arise and proceed to the battle-fronts most in need of their assistance; then the power placed by God in the Ten-Year Plan, the third and final stage of the initial epoch in the evolution of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Master Plan, will, like a mighty tidal wave, sweep away every remaining obstacle and carry us to glorious victory.
We must face the fact that a still greater measure of self-sacrifice is required of us than perhaps at any previous time in the prosecution of the World Crusade. Two-thirds of this Crusade is already won; the opening of the virgin territories, the translation of our literature into so many diversified languages, the erection of continental Houses of Worship, the multiplication of assemblies and centers, the increasing recognition of the independent character of our Faith, the incorporation of its administrative bodies, the formation of new national bodies, are either accomplished facts or now lie well within our grasp. The last third, however, still remains. The new National Assemblies must he securely raised on their specified foundations; the home-fronts, the very bed-rock of existing older National Assemblies, which have lagged far behind the general rate of progress achieved in other fields, must now receive the assistance which alone can fulfill their objectives, namely a wide increase in settlers and an influx of new souls enlisted under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh through a renewed and unremitting teaching effort. And finally, the European Temple, one of the most important goals of the Ten-Year Plan, still remains to be erected. The accomplishment of these tasks not only requires a fresh dedication to our work on the part of every single believer, but of necessity will demand a great outpouring of our material resources. The strength of the Cause of God in all dispensations, however, has been in the rank and file of its adherents; it is the meek, the obscure, the poor, indeed often the needy, who have arisen like veritable spiritual giants and established its institutions, raised its first precious edifices, carried its Message to the masses, laid down their lives for its Teachings, and demonstrated the regenerating spiritual power of the Word of its Manifestation. So today, as our Guardian’s Crusade approaches its end, it is to the rank and file of the believers that we must look. From them will come its heroes, saints and martyrs; they will be the ones to fulfill the hopes of Shoghi Effendi, to realize the promises of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to lay the foundations of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh on an unshakable foundation, to win the ultimate victory.
The beloved Guardian made quite clear the supreme
role of every single Bahá’í, He said, one year after the
inception of the World Crusade, that “This challenge,
so severe and insistent, and yet so glorious, faces no
doubt primarily the individual believer on whom, in
the last resort, depends the fate of the entire community. He it is who constitutes the warp and woof on which the quality and pattern of the whole fabric must depend. He it is who acts as one of the countless links in the mighty chain that now girdles the globe. He it is
who serves as one of the multitude of bricks which support the structure and insure the stability of the administrative edifice now being raised in every part of
the world. Without his support, at once whole-hearted,
continuous and generous, every measure adopted, and
every plan formulated, by the Body which acts as the
national representative of the community to which he
belongs, is fore-doomed to failure. The World Center
of the Faith itself is paralyzed if such a support on the
part of the rank and file of the community is denied it.
The Author of the Divine Plan Himself is impeded in
His Purpose if the proper instruments for the execution of His design are lacking. The sustaining strength[Page 7]
of Bahá’u’lláh Himself, the Founder of the Faith, will
be withheld from every and each individual who fails
in the long run to arise and play his part.”
The Master has made clear in an impelling and impassioned appeal the overwhelming potency of the forces released by Bahá’u’lláh, which activate those who respond to His call. These words surely leave none of us any excuse for failing in our duty to God, Bahá’u’lláh and His Cause: “The undying Fire which the Lord of the Kingdom hath kindled in the midst of the holy Tree is burning fiercely in the midmost heart of the world. The conflagration it will provoke will envelop the whole earth. Its blazing flames will illuminate its peoples and kindreds. All the signs have been revealed; every prophetic allusion hath been manifested. Whatever hath been enshrined in all the Scriptures of the past hath been made evident. To doubt or hesitate is no more possible . . . Time is pressing. The Divine Charger is impatient, and can tarry no longer. Ours is the duty to rush forward and, ere it is too late, win the Victory.”
—Signed:
RÚḤÍYYIH
AMELIA COLLINS
HORACE HOLLEY
PAUL HANEY
JOHN FERRABY
JALÁL KHÁZEH
A. Q. FAIZI
April 1960.
All Goal Cities in Latin America Filled; Assemblies, Membership in U.S. Increases[edit]
In their Third Annual Message to the Bahá’ís of East and West on November 4, 1959, the Hands of the Cause of God stated that they had reason to believe that the Latin American countries would succeed, during Riḍván 1960, in forming those spiritual assemblies required of them by our beloved Guardian as essential for the election in Riḍván 1961 of the twenty-one national spiritual assemblies which would constitute the remaining pillars in the Western Hemisphere of the Universal House of Justice.
That their confidence was well founded was proven on receipt of the joyful news some ten days before Riḍván that all the goals in all the Latin American countries had been filled, and indeed exceeded in certain of the most difficult areas. This speedy triumph was due to the conversion of an unprecedented number of new believers, response on the part of native Baha'is to the need for settlers, the prompt settlement of the required number of American settlers. but not in the least to the indefatigible efforts of the Hands of the Faith in the Western Hemisphere, the members of their Auxiliary Boards, and the several national teaching committees. There now remains only the task of consolidation in preparation for the formation of the twenty-one independent national assemblies in Riḍván 1961.
The past year was one of unprecedented victories also in certain areas on the homefront in the United States. Through the concentration of the services of the members of the Auxiliary Boards on goal groups, and the mobilization of all of the other teaching resources, plus the placement of dedicated settlers, forty-one new and restored local spiritual assemblies were elected on April 21, thus pushing the total number of assemblies in the United States well over the 200 mark. Unfortunately, seven existing communities were unable to retain their assembly status; therefore the total number of local spiritual assemblies is 229 instead of 236. Already the national and area teaching committees and many groups with five or more members have arisen with zeal and determination to insure the total achievement of the required 300 local assemblies by Riḍván 1961.
The number of new believers enrolled during the past year, although offset by a number of withdrawals, has also been very encouraging. During the period May 1, 1959, to April 30, 1960, the number of adult believers was increased by 385. Added to this was the enrollment of 89 youth, the transfer of 59 youth to full membership status, and the reinstatement of 10 adults who had previously withdrawn, making a total enrollment for the year of 543.
Still another historic achievement was reported by the national treasurer to the delegates to the annual convention, namely, that for the first time in many years the income from contributions and special gifts exceeded the year's expenditures by approximately $12,500.00. As explained by the treasurer, this was partly due to the fact that some of the expenses in the placement of pioneers in Latin America were borne by the Joint Deputization Fund, which is made up of contributions from the American and Iranian believers.
Thus the new Bahá’í year starts off with a momentum which the National Spiritual Assembly is confident will accelerate at a rapid pace with the passing of the months, and insure resounding victory in all that still remains for the American believers to accomplish this year in Europe, Latin America, and at home.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
The newly-built Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Makasar, Celebes,
Indonesia.
Over One Thousand Attendants at U.S. Convention Inspired by Presence of ‘Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum[edit]
‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum addressing the American Bahá’ís at the National Convention in Wilmette. Seated behind her are H. Borrah Kavelin, chairman of the U.S. National Assembly, and Hands of the Cause William Sears and John Roberts.
THREE transcendent features dominated the fifty-second annual U.S. National Convention, held at
the Mother Temple of the West in Wilmette from April
28 through May 1: a sense of promise of eventual
total victory in the World Crusade, rock-steady firmness in facing the remaining tasks of that historymaking enterprise, and the tremendous bounty of the
presence of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and
three other beloved Hands of the Cause of God.
These elements were already perceptible in the atmosphere of Foundation Hall as H. Borrah Kavelin, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, and later elected convention chairman, recalled in his opening statement the grievous loss of the beloved Guardian, the compensating strength which his passing seemed to have imparted to the Bahá’í world community, and the goals reached under the dedicated leadership of the Hands.
He also gave the delegates and visitors the distressing news that Charles Mason Remey, long a Hand of the Cause in Haifa, had issued a proclamation declaring himself to be the second guardian of the Faith. This astonishing claim—unfounded and, indeed, contrary to the sacred texts—was repudiated by the Chief Stewards at the World Center and, in America, by the National Assembly, the convention, and local assemblies.
Having quickly digested this sad and startling event, the convention turned to more heartening messages, including one from revered Hand of the Cause Horace Holley in Haifa, which the delegates promptly acknowledged with a cabled expression of love and of appreciation for his unexampled past services. Other uplifting communications came from national assemblies and conventions, from the body of the Iranian believers. from local assemblies here and abroad, and later from Hands of the Cause Clara Dunn and H. Collis Featherstone in Australia.
Message From Hands in the Holy Land[edit]
The thankfully-received expressions of greeting, prayer, and good wishes provided a proper setting for the reading of the climactic message from the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land, addressed to all of the annual conventions. From this historic document—not only a thrilling summary of global activities and accomplishments. but also a penetrating analysis of changing conditions and tasks still to be carried out—a grateful Bahá’í world community can. through deep individual study, derive inspiring and indispensable guidance for complete success in the beloved Guardian’s Crusade. The convention replied by cable in a spirit of profound appreciation, love, and renewed dedication.
Net Gain of Thirty-four LSAs[edit]
The ensuing report on the teaching work in the United States revealed distinctly encouraging progress, The net gain of thirty-four local assemblies was the largest of any single Crusade year, and total enrollments were substantially higher than those reported at the previous convention. Yet these increases still left an inescapable need for twice the number of assemblies gained in the past year, in order to reach the required total of 300, and for a flood of enrollments to reinforce the valiant efforts of the newly reinvigorated homefront.
The convention had already received the joyful news that beloved Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas had arrived, and in the afternoon of that first day he and Mrs. Ioas, both members of the International Bahá’í Council, appeared before the assembled delegates and the growing number of visitors. During this first of several occasions on which he contributed his wise and precious counsel, Mr. Ioas stressed the Guardian’s clear vision of the ultimate success of the Crusade and the fact that, although Shoghi Effendi has now left us, we can today still win the victory through him.
A succession of stimulating reports and consultative periods dealing with special homefront teaching and proclamation activities completed the initial sessions. The teaching in the southern states, though apparently handicapped by the present interracial disturbances there, will inevitably result in the winning of many new believers as the oneness of mankind is unremittingly but prudently proclaimed.
The task of teaching the American Indians, at present devolving largely upon a courageous band of thirty-one pioneers, calls for many more enrollments; yet great progress has been made, as evidenced by the fact that fifty tribes have now been contacted.
The work of the Bahá’í Press Service in facilitating the proclamation of the Faith through publicity is showing ever-greater results in attracting responses from sincere souls. The Bahá’í Publishing Trust continues with distinction to discharge its function of making the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh available in print, providing a wealth of attractive literature for contacts, and helping to implement the Guardian's plea to the believers for conscientious study of the Writings. The College Bureau, on its part, offers in growing measure the special help essential to the successful introduction of the Faith in institutions of higher learning.
‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum being greated by Hands of the Cause William Sears and John Robarts at the U.S. National Convention at the Bahá’í House of Worship.
Report on General and Deputization Funds[edit]
The encouraging nature of the reports on teaching and proclamation had its parallel in the financial picture delineated by the national treasurer, Arthur L. Dahl, but here again there were both highlights and shadows. The previous year’s considerable deficit was wiped out, expenses were met, and the revolving fund, previously depleted, was restored. On the other hand, the budget was smaller, and the National Fund had the benefit of exceptionally generous special gifts. The giving to the general fund was more even through the year, but the total given was less.
The Joint Pioneer Deputization Fund was a decisive factor in the victories thus far won in Latin America; however, a share of this, the first international Bahá’í fund, will until 1963 be a continuing annual obligation of the American community over and above the regular national budget. Of the total deputization monies received in the last year, the Hands of the Faith provided about one-fourth, American believers a like amount, and the National Assembly of Írán, despite difficult financial conditions, practically one-half These and other factors indicate the pressing need for additional sacrificial giving and for more general support of the vital deputization project.
Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas greeting the delegates and visitors to the U.S. National Convention.
H. Borrah Kavelin U.S. National Assembly chairman, introduucing Habib Sabet, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Írán, at the U.S. National Convention. Seated is Arthur Dahl, treasurer of the U.S. National Assembly.
Discuss Intercontinental Teaching[edit]
Eloquent and forceful was a message from the Hands of the Cause in the Western Hemisphere, expressing gratitude for the victorious efforts throughout Latin America, which assured the establishment of the necessary national assemblies by next Riḍván, and on the homefronts of all seven of the present national assembly areas. It also appealed to the friends for further spiritual conquests through the many avenues open to them both in those regions and in Europe.
Subsequent reports threw further light on the situation in Latin America, where great consolidation tasks[Page 10]
remain and many pioneers must receive financial support so that they can teach; in Europe, where the
Crusade goal of eleven new national assemblies involves an imperative, immediate need for volunteers,
and where large sums of money are required for the
building of the German Temple; and in Africa and
Asia, where most of the assigned work, except the
ever-necessary consolidation, has been completed.
Election of New NSA[edit]
At the proper time, the convention interrupted its deliberations for the prayerful performance of its other principal function, the election of the new National Spiritual Assembly. The roster, following election of officers, stands as follows: Chairman, H. Borrah Kavelin; Vice-Chairman, David Ruhe; Secretary, Charles Wolcott; Treasurer, Arthur Dahl; Recording Secretary, Edna True; Assistant Secretary, Charlotte Linfoot; and Ellsworth Blackwell, Florence Mayberry, and Amoz Gibson. Chairman Kavelin earnestly besought the prayers of all the friends for the incoming assembly during this crucial Crusade year.
Reports on Child Ed., Youth and Special Services[edit]
As the convention reached its midpoint, the delegates and visitors heard of the ever more effective and noteworthy work in child education, gradually moving toward a universal curriculum centered on the Divine Unity; in the summer schools, increasingly dedicated to deepening the believers in their knowledge of the Faith and in practicing its principles; in the United Nations, where happy relations have resulted in the signal distinction of our being asked to be one of the cooperating organizations of the United States Committee; and in the youth activities, where growing facilities, experience, and numbers are augmenting our ability to give American youth the glorious promise of the Faith.
Later came succinct reviews of the important and fruitful labors of the various service committees in providing the special literature required for the blind, supplying materials for radio and television broadcast and for audio-visual education, sustaining the vital Temple guiding, and carrying forward the monumental library reference project.
Mrs. Florence Mayberry, Auxiliary Board member,
speaking at the pre-convention Teaching Conference
at the Bahá’í House of Worship on April 27. Seated
is Mrs. Velma Sherrill, secretary of the U.S. National
Teaching Committee.
As always, the consultative periods brought forth
many wise and inspirational phrases, among them
these: Every Bahá’í must want and strive to be a
Baha The most beautiful spot is where a believer is
serving Bahá’u’lláh. The beloved Guardian had to turn
himself over to God in order to serve Him; We all have
to do the same. The Crusade is our guidance; if we
get out of the framework we are “on our own” and
lose the guidance, The great resource of the Faith is
prayer, and the great magnet of the Faith is love.
The Negro is born knowing when a white person is
sincere. Don’t teach us (the Negroes); attract us.
Where people teach, they are happy; where they do
not, they seem to devour one another. Individually and
collectively, employ prayer, knowledge, effort, sacrifice, vision, perseverance, courage, faith, and love.
Publicity encourages teaching by individuals because
it gives them confidence. We ourselves must become
the water of life. We shall be the light in the sky,
to be seen all over the world, when we meet in Baghdád.
Arrival of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum[edit]
Long before the final reports were given, the attendance had begun to swell rapidly, eventually reaching a total of 1130 and taxing the capacity of both Foundation Hall and the corridor areas. The convention seemed to move more directly into the flow of the spirit, as though influenced by things to come, and there was a mounting excitement. By Saturday it had reached fever pitch, for on that evening ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum was to speak at the Riḍván Public Congress. It was in this atmosphere that the chairman announced, soon after noon, that she had already arrived from Canada and would briefly address the friends.
Profoundly moving and never to be forgotten was the moment When, without having lunched or rested, she made her first appearance before such an American Bahá’í gathering since the passing of the beloved Guardian. Weighted down with weariness as she greeted the friends, she must to some extent have been revived by the palpable waves of love which, emanating from every soul present, enveloped her. In gentle and touching terms she spoke of Shoghi Effendi, reminding the believers that the wonderful spiritual foundation laid by him gave us the steadfastness which has enabled us to go forward so swiftly.
The electrifying inspiration of her presence made itself felt again at the Riḍván Feast, when, addressing her words to the believers as well as to the visiting public, she dwelt upon the divine kindness of Bahá’u’lláh, the gentle radiance of the Báb, the boundless love of the Master, and the inspired drive and perfectionism of the Guardian, Little wonder that exaltation reigned as the throngs filed out of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the West into a serene night matching their mood.
A sad and contrasting note was the awareness, at
this point and throughout the convention, of the absence of deeply beloved Hand of the Cause Mrs. Co[Page 11]
rinne True, who was unable to attend. Recalling to the
believers Mrs. True’s consecration of her life to the
Temple-building project, a Hand of the Cause characterized her as one of the greatest present-day heroines
of Bahá’u’lláh.
In recompense the friends had been given the pleasure of welcoming such notable visitors as Mrs. Shirin Fozdar, chairman of the National Assembly of Southeast Asia and outstanding worker in the field of women's rights; Mrs. Madeline Lovejoy, member of the Omaha Indian tribe and of the Macy, Neb,, Bahá’í group; and Habib Sabet, member of the Persian National Assembly and devoted benefactor of the Faith.
The bounties showered upon the convention continued unabated into the final half-day session, termed by Chairman Kavelin “a morning for inspiration.” Revered Hand of the Cause John Robarts, who had already given the friends a joyful greeting on the previous day, cited the need for intensified devotion and new confirmation of our belief in the power of prayer. In support of this he gave a striking account of how Canadian believers who formerly thought themselves inadequate to teach were coming alive through prayer—particularly the daily use of the long obligatory prayer and the Tablet of Ahmad—and were having remarkable success in winning converts to the Cause.
Unexpectedly and with dramatic suddenness the convention officers ushered in beloved Hand William Sears, newly arrived from scenes of triumph in the republics to the south. He brought a message of love and gratitude from the believers there, a promise that they would consolidate their victories. and stirring stories of some of the astonishing episodes in the Latin-American campaign.
Welcomed once more to the platform was beloved Hand Leroy Ioas, to voice a plea that through practicing the Cause according to the Teachings, and not according to the standards of our materialistic civilization, we revive in the older centers of the Faith the spirit of devotion now distinguishing the newer believers in Africa and Asia.
Final Address by ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum[edit]
And, finally, blessed ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum appeared again before the friends, to address them in cogent and precious valedictory words of which only a meager paraphrase can be given here. Expressing appreciation of the work of the American believers over the last thirty to forty years, she nevertheless cautioned them that final victory in the Guardian’s Crusade depends largely upon the degree of our devotion and sacrifice. The triumph in Latin America, one of the most resounding in the history of the Faith, greatly encouraged the Chief Stewards and should, she pointed out, teach us that all other goals can be Won. The administrative institutions are a vehicle, not a fulfillment in themselves, so that administration must not be over-stressed; yet we must function better in our local assemblies. The institutions cannot in themselves teach; the individual believer, upon whom all depends, must learn both to live as a Bahá’í and to teach, in order to gain happiness and success.
We must now, she said, do in Europe what was done in Latin America, and this Will require from 200 to 250 pioneers. The widespread pioneering of the Persian friends, their contributions to the Temple, and their powerful support of the Deputization Fund are a great lesson to us and to the rest of the Bahá’í world. The Crusade and its early results revived the Guardian from the terrible sorrow of the defection of his family. There has not been a single defection since his passing, the only untoward incident being the one involving Charles Mason Remey, and this is explainable.
A mystery, however, is the fact that when we get into the work of the Faith, we so often leave behind the efficiency we exhibit in home and business. Actually we need it more in the Faith than in the rest of our lives. We must remedy this, “keep all engines working at high speed,” secure our needed seventy assemblies. and win our other goals, thus fulfilling our part of the obligations of the Crusade.
These and many more parting thoughts Rúḥíyyih Khánum left with the friends who had filled Foundation Hall to overflowing, lining the walls and sitting in great numbers on the floor, almost at her feet. Then it remained only for Hand of the Cause Robarts to say the Tablet of Ahmad and the convention was over. “This is the day of the beginning of victories,” William Sears had told the delegates. On that note the convention had opened, and in that same spirit, intensified now by fuller appreciation of the victories and sharper realization of the remaining tasks, it closed.
—P. R. AND S. B. MEINHARD
Three More U.S. Communities Report Recognition of Bahá’í Holy Days[edit]
The Board of Education in Duluth, Minn., has acknowledged the right of Bahá’í children to be excused from their classes on Bahá’í Holy Days for “religious instruction on days kept sacred by the pupil.”
The Hand of the cause for Africa, Musa Banání, held
a meeting for the Auxiliary Board members of Northeast and Central and East Africa at Nairobi from
February 26 to 28, 1960. Front row: Gilbert Robert,
Abdu’l—Rahim Yazdi, Musa Banání, and Jamshid Munajjim. Back row: Aziz Yazdi, Ali Nakhjavaní, Max
Kenyerezi, and Jalal Nakhjavani.
The Dearborn, Mich., Board of Education, on April 18, informed the US. National Spiritual Assembly that abstention from work by their teachers is a “must” on their religious holy days and not simply expected.
Not reported at the time by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Waterloo, Iowa, was a letter it received from the Superintendent of the Waterloo Public Schools dated September 16, 1958, granting permission for Bahá’í children to be excused from their classes on Bahá’í Holy Days, provided they make up the work which they will miss. The letter states that whether or not they will receive credit for this work “depends on their attitude and the seriousness with which they handle their makeup work.”
Visiting Pioneers Accelerate Teaching Activities in Eastern Nicaragua[edit]
During the month of December, the somewhat isolated Bahá’í Group of Bluefields. Nicaragua, had the bounty of visits from two dedicated pioneers—Miss Ruth Yancey of Tegucigalpa, Honduras (Dec. 23-31)
F. Pollard, the mayor’s representative on the City of
Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations, with Mrs.
Shirin Fozclar during her visit to Chicago in April 1960,
as a part of her tour sponsored by the US. State Department. In addition to her lectures at many Baha'isponsored public meetings throughout the United
States, Mrs. Fozdar appeared in many interviews on
radio, television, and motion picture newsreels, and
received excellent publicity in major cities of the
nation.
Foreign Service Officer Richard Stock, of the U.S. State Department, Mrs. Shirin Fuzdar, and Dr. Fazly Melany, chairman of the Washington, D.C., Bahá’í Assembly, upon Mrs. Fozdar’s arrival at the Washington airport on March 25, 1960.
and Donald Ross Witzel of Masaya, Nicaragua (Dec.
28-31). These were the first guests to arrive since the
resident pioneer settled in the area nearly a year
ago. The week’s accelerated activities marked the
high point of the group’s nine-month—old existence.
By far the most outstanding function enacted by Miss Yancey was during her rigorous trip to the Indian regions south of Bluefields, where she played hostess at a spiritual and social Feast held by the Bahá’ís for over sixty Rama Cay Indians on Christmas Eve. The local pastor warmly lauded the friendliness of the visiting believers, and spoke of the importance of love and association between peoples of different lands. Dolls made by members of the Bahá’í-sponsored Club Amistad Mundial of Tegucigalpa, for the Indians, were presented for distribution among the children.
The highlight of Mr. Witzel’s visit was the role he played as the principal speaker at a public meeting in the local center, addressing an audience of over forty inquirers, despite heavy rains up to the starting hour. Musical selections were offered by a visiting instrumental group from San Andres, Colombia, which added a delicate note to the whole affair. Afterwards, a dinner was served to over twenty of the closer friends, and Mr. Witzel delighted members of three races with his anecdotes.
In all, people representative of the Latin, Negro, arid Indian elements of the area participated in the weeklong campaign. Blessings from God were invoked in the Spanish, English, and Miskito languages.
“Whoso,” Bahá’u’lláh, in a memorable passage, extolling those of His loved ones who have ‘journeyed through the countries in His Name and for His praise,’ has written, “hath attained their presence will glory in their meeting, and all that dwell in every land will be illumined by their memory.”
—HOOPER DUNBAR
The Art of Listening
WHAT IS listening? Listening is undivided attention to whatever is being said.
How is it important to Bahá’ís? One of the reasons for communication break-down in assembly consultation or group discussion lies in the lack of development of the art of listening. Poor listening can lead to misunderstanding and disagreement.
There are three basic matters to consider:
(1) the importance of listening,
(2) the things which interfere with it, and
(3) the means of overcoming these obstacles.
Let us, for a moment, project ourselves into the setting of assembly consultation or group discussion. What do our writings advise us to do? Here are some of the main points:
The members thereof must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may arise. This can be attained when every member expresseth with absolute freedom his own opinion and setteth forth his argument . . . They must proceed with the utmost devotion, courtesy, dignity, care, and moderation to express their views. They must in every matter search out the truth and not insist upon their own opinion, for stubbornness and persistence in one’s views will lead ultimately to discord and wrangling, and the truth will remain hidden. The honored members must with all freedom express their own thoughts, and it is in no wise permissible for one to belittle the thoughts of another, nay, he must with moderation set forth the truth.
What part does listening play in this? Consider this little story. Four believers are engaged in a discussion of a spiritual principle. Mr. Aardvark has an important contribution to make. He starts his thought, explains it fully, and concludes. The three other members, Miss Berry, Mr. Cluck, and Mr. Dim, need to follow through the thought. But soon after Mr. Aardvark begins his thought, Miss Berry is reminded of a wonderful experience and goes off in a world of fantasy. A moment later, Mr. Cluck strongly disagrees with a Word choice and mentally withdraws to formulate a rebuttal. A little further on, Mr. Dim begins to reminisce. Aardvark reaches his conclusion, but no one has heard him through.
The four participants in the discussion are no closer to spiritual agreement after discussion than they were before. No one can agree with Aardvark because no one has heard his complete thought. Compare this episode with the standards for discussion quoted above. Was this group abiding by the spirit of our teachings?
Then the question arises: how might we improve our listening so that we are able to achieve more productive discussion? Here are some suggestions that might be of value. Since the object of spiritual discussion or consultation is to understand the views of others and then to reach agreement, we should be willing to clear our minds of our own thoughts as we listen to those of others.
Are we not often prone to seize on a choice thought of our own while someone else is speaking and wait for an opportunity to insert it? To think to oneself is to converse with oneself. It is not necessary to hold to and nurture thoughts for presentation. What would happen in discussion if we felt it our obligation to immerse ourselves in the speaker’s words, as if they were a stream of meaning flowing into our mind? Then we could respond to the complete thought, and not to just a fragment. Could we talk intelligently about Gleanings if we had read only a few pages?
Some who have experimented with this kind of discussion report that they were little by little able to find new depths in other people’s thoughts. They learned to respond much more spontaneously when the first speaker concluded. Should there be no easy opportunity to offer their idea, when it came, they would immerse themselves in the words of the next person who begins to speak, letting go of their own idea, following the flow of consultation.
This aid to Consultation, deepening, and firesides can be vital in developing trust amongst the people in the group. No longer will they have to fear the confusion of people interrupting, doubling back on the subject, or overlooking the previous contributions. An individual is seldom likely to monopolize a discussion if he is confident that he will not be interrupted.
A new kind of listening will help the discussion become a direct, creative path that everyone can follow to a meaningful conclusion. It is also an experiment in developing trust and patience, so necessary to our spiritual lives. As our beloved Guardian writes: “Let us also remember that at the very root of the Cause lies the principle of the undoubted right of the individual to self-expression, his freedom to declare his conscience and set forth his views.”
The other half of this obligation rests with the listeners.
—ALLAN WARD, CAL ROLLINS
Bahá’í Winter School and Teaching Conference held
in Mysore, India, December 25 to 31, 1959.
First Eskimo Bahá’í Represents Alaskan Natives at White House Youth Conference[edit]
Mrs. Agnes Harrison, first Eskimo Bahá’í in Alaska and a school teacher and mother of three children, was one of twenty-two Alaskans attending the Golden Anniversary White House Conference on Children and Youth in Washington, D.C., on March 27 to April 2. Her name had been referred to President Eisenhower by the Alaska State Committee on Children and Youth, and at his invitation she represented the native population of Alaska at this gathering of several thousand delegates, which included many observers from outside the United States as well.
Mrs. Harrison, who is part Eskimo, part Indian, and part French-Canadian, was born in Crooked Creek on the Kuskokwin River and has her teacher’s certificate from Teacher’s College in Bellingham, Wash. Her busy life included duties as the first US. Commissioner for one year at Bethel, Alaska, deputy tax collector, first woman secretary of the Bethel Village Council, treasurer of the Bethe] Women’s Club, 4-H Club leader, first of the Eskimo descendants to be licensing officer of the Fish and Wildlife Service, and leader of the youth programs for the Moravian and Catholic churches. She is also the Eskimo interpreter for the U.S. Courts in Fairbanks, agent for the Department of Public Welfare, and president of the Alaska Native Sisterhood.
Agnes’ Bahá’í activities include serving as secretary of the Tanana Valley Bahá’í community and teacher in the Bahá’í children’s school, which includes many non-Bahá’í children.
Two of the non-Bahá’í children made arrangements for her to stay with their grandparents and aunt who live in Washington, and these new friends arranged special firesides for her, She also spoke at two other firesides in the two days she had free following the close of the conference.
The Alaska State Legislature recognized the legality of Bahá’í marriages in Alaska in 1949, and Agnes and
The third Bahá’í School in Vietnam was opened at Nha-Be, near Saigon, on March 22, 1960, with an at tendance of su.-ty-two children, ranging in age from four to eleven years. The teachers are all Baha'is.
Four of five new declarations in Washoe County, Nevada, include a Navajo Indian couple and a Washoe Indian
couple, the result of combined teaching efforts of Reno
and Sparks communities. The wife of the Washoe Indian couple was not able to be present when picture
was taken.
Wallace Harrison were the first couple married by
Bahá’í ceremony following this recognition. Mr. Harrison is from Tennessee.
On April 4 Mrs. Harrison was invited to speak to several combined classes of children and their teachers at the Silver Spring Intermediate School in Montgomery County. She had with her a display of Eskimo artcraft, including two parkas made by hand from the skins of a number of Wild animals native to Alaska.
Among the booklets illustrating attempts to write the thirty-three dialects in Eskimo was one on the Bahá’í Faith with a cover picture of the Bahá’í Temple, which was also explained to the students. At their request she spoke a few words in four of the Eskimo languages, and told the children that natives who live only six miles apart often cannot understand each other, thus explaining the need for a universal language.
Mrs. Harrison was the only Bahá’í among the seven thousand participants and visitors at the White House Conference, but many of them heard the name of the Faith for the first time when she sought help in locating the Bahá’í Center.
Four Boise Organizations Seek Speakers To lecture on Bahá’í Subjects[edit]
The Bahá’ís of Boise, Idaho, report that they are being sought out by various organizations to provide speakers on Bahá’í subjects. Mrs. Barbara Bothwell was asked to speak on “A World Auxiliary Language” at the March 30 luncheon meeting of Every Woman’s Club. She credited the Bahá’í Faith as the source of her knowledge of the subject, and described in detail the advantages of such a medium of communication.
Bahá’ís of Minas, Uruguay, meeting with Hand of the
Cause William Sears on March 13, 1960.
On April 4 Miss Elizabeth Adelmann spoke before
forty-two members of the Odd Fellows Lodge, inaugurating their series of weekly religious meetings.
She gave an overall account of the Bahá’í Faith and its
basic tenets. Questions were not permitted in the hall,
but many were asked during the refreshment period
that followed. Miss Adelmann was also invited to
speak on the Bahá’í Faith at the First Presbyterian
Church of Boise on April 24.
Through the efforts of Mrs. Clara Webb, who has students of Boise Junior College living in her home, permission was received from the Inter-Faith Council for Kim Kimerling to speak before the college assembly on the Faith.
Louisiana Bahá’ís Receive Invitations To Proclaim Faith Before Church Groups[edit]
The Louisiana Bahá’ís report increasing opportunities to proclaim the Faith, by invitation. In February George Galinkin was invited to speak to three different groups, a Methodist Women's Circle and two Unitarian Fellowships, one in Shreveport, one in Baton Rouge, and the other in Alexandria. Out of the Baton Rouge talk came an invitation to speak to the Unitarian Fellowship in Beaumont, Texas, on March 13. More than sixty persons were present, including two Bahá’ís from Galveston and two from Maplewood, La.
Baton Rouge carries on an active fireside program, and once a month a social meeting is held for the particular purpose of attracting Negro contacts. Of five students seriously investigating, four are Negro.
[edit]
Anthony Madonia, pioneer to the Navajo Indians and member of the first local spiritual assembly on the Navajo reservation at Window Rock, Ariz., passed away suddenly on April 28, 1960. He is the first Bahá’í to be buried among the Navajos on the reservation. Burial of non-Indians on the reservation requires specific permission from the chairman of the Navajo Tribal Council. This was readily given because of the love and respect with which Tony Madonia was regarded by his many Indian friends.
African Pioneer Cited for Service to Humanity[edit]
Enoch Olinga, Hand of the Cause in Africa, has sent to BAHÁ’Í NEWS a copy of a certificate of decoration awarded by the Republic of Liberia to Julius A. G. Edwards, pioneer to Liberia from Jamaica. The certificate carries the signature of William Tubman, president of the Republic of Liberia, and appoints Mr. Edwards Knight Official of the Liberian Humane Order of African Redemption. Enoch Olinga states that he had met the president while in Liberia and that he had been favorably impressed by the teachings of the Faith received through this pioneer.
Baha’i Publishing Trust[edit]
“Bahá’í: World Faith for Modern Man”[edit]
by Arthur Dahl
Here is a logical presentation of the Faith, comprehensive in scope but brief enough to be absorbed in a single sitting. It is based on the concept of progressive revelation and includes a brief history of the Faith to date. It emphasizes the spiritual principles, giving some indication of the profundity of the teachings in this area. An outline of the world order of Bahá’u’lláh and of the administrative order is included,
A display constructed by the Broward County Bahá’í
community in Pompano Beach, Fla., and exhibited in
the Ft. Lauderdale public library for two weeks, and
in the Hollywood public library. This display measures
12 by 10 feet, is cut and carved out of plywood, and
can be packed and reassembled for use in other
locations.
The world Peace Day poster, for use in proclaiming the Bahá’í Faith on this new special event approved by the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly for September 18. The
poster is printed on heavy velour paper in
two colors, size 14 by 20 inches. It is available from the Bahá’í Press Service, 434
Thomas Avenue, Rochester 17, N.Y., at 50
cents each, five for $2.00, sent third class
mail. Orders received after September 5 are
not returnable for refund because of late
arrival.
and there is an extensive bibliography with instructions for securing books and for contacting the Bahá’í
College Bureau. The latter is important as this material is to be used extensively by the Bureau in their
college teaching work. It is excellent to use whenever a
lucid, comprehensive exposition of the Faith is needed.
This is the second in a series of prestige, “slimline” brochures, being a companion piece to the new edition of The Faith of Bahá’u’lláh: A World Religion, and The Bahá’í Peace Program that follows, The cover background color is deep turquoise, the size is 3½x8½, convenient for mailing in No. 7 or 8 government envelopes.
10 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.00
50 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4.50
“The Bahá’í Peace Program” in New Design[edit]
This is the third in the new series of prestige literature appearing in the “slim-line” format for easy mailing or carrying in pocket or purse. The contents have been updated statistically and the cover design is most appealing in black and white on deep blue-green background.
The text consists of pertinent selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi on “The Federation of Mankind,” “The Guiding Frinciples of World Order,” and “The Renewal of Faith,” each section preceded by an introductory passage. Your community will be proud to present this to United Nations groups, World Federalists or anyone interested in peace and world unity.
10 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.00
50 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4.50
(This price is a 50% reduction over previous edition)
Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 110 Linden Ave., Wilmette, Ill.
Calendar of Events[edit]
FEASTS[edit]
June 5—Núr (Light)
June 24—Rahmat (Mercy)
HOLY DAY[edit]
July 9—Martyrdom of the Báb
U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS[edit]
June 17, 18, 19
Baha’i House of Worship[edit]
Visiting Hours[edit]
Weekdays
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm. (Entire building)
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
Sundays and Holidays
10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Entire building)
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
Service of Worship[edit]
Sundays
3:30 to 4:10 p.m.
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 1959-60; International News Editor, Mrs. Eunice Braun; National News Editor, Miss Charlotte M. Linfoot; Managing Editor; 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.
