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| No. 359 | BAHA’I YEAR 117 | FEBRUARY, 1961 |
One Thousand Witness Laying Of Frankfurt Temple Cornerstone
The courts had rendered the final verdict. Seven years of stubborn opposition, of misunderstandings, of shortsightedness and of clouded vision were now forgotten. The building had begun.
Car upon car lined the country road Winding up the hill. November gusts could not abate the zeal and the quiet happiness in the faces of the people on top of that slope in the heart of Europe. The place was Langenhain near Frankfurt. The rise was part of the Taunus complex. The people were the people of the European Bahá’í communities and behind them all the people of good will and justice. The goal was the unification of mankind. The symbol: a temple to be dedicated to the oneness of mankind and to the Most Great Peace.
The townfolk of nearby Langenhain wondered about the happenings around them. From every part of Europe visitors had streamed through the small German village of 1500 in the direction of the temple grounds. Three buses and over one hundred ears had come and had unloaded people speaking all the European tongues. English and Persian were prominent; French and German were heard; joyful sounds of Italian mingled with the Scandinavian, and in all the bustling activity of about one thousand guests, the clouds and the cold and the mud were forgotten.
The construction site had taken shape during the past few weeks. The foundation work had begun. The earth was churned and in the midst of all this earth-work stood the contractor’s tower and beside it, a temporary canvas shelter. From this shelter came the sound of prayer, the sound of voices telling oi patience, love, endeavor; voices proclaiming the beginning of the foundation of yet another institution devoted to the oneness of mankind and to the Glory of God.
Here they tested their loyalty to government in spite of trials and opposition, and now the mayor of that German village spoke of the future. He asked us to forget the misunderstandings of the past, and he wished this world community that which he cherished for them in his heart: peaceful, never-ending progress.
The revered Hand of the Cause Amelia Collins, assisted by the other Hands of the Cause Mr. Furútan. Mr. Balyuzi, Mr. Khádem, Dr. Giachery, Dr. Mühlschlegel, and Dr. Grossmann placed the silver plate on the cornerstone, which contained sacred earth from the midmost heart of the planet in the Holy Land. World history had been made indeed. It was not the history of material battles of oppression and of fear. It was the beginning o! the rebirth of Europe in the realms of the spirit and in the realm of thought.
The churches had opposed it first, the courts had rendered verdicts; justice had finally triumphed, and reason and love prevailed. Thus the past reaching far back into the last century and into darkest Persia had yielded one more precious fruit amongst those who had been specifically addressed by the Founder of the Faith, the Christians of the West.
Truth is one; it does not know of multiplicity; therefore, on the twentieth of November 1960, the Mother Temple of Europe, the symbol of unity for this much tormented continent, was finally begun. Future generations will remember that noon hour on a wind-swept hill in the heart of Europe. Was it not Goethe who said at Valmy that history had been made’! How much more would this be true here, where the only weapons were those of the spirit and at the mind of man.
—RENÉ STEINER
Hand of Cause Amelia Collins Addresses Gathering At Temple Site
Hand of Cause Mrs. Amelia Collins, representative of
the Hands of the Holy Land, speaking to the gathering
before placing the sacred dust from the Shrine of
Bahá’u’lláh into the foundation stone of the Mother
Temple of Europe, This event was publicized in two
German newspapers, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and the Hochster Kreisblatt.
“Beloved Friends:
“We are gathered here on a singularly joyous and historic occasion — the laying of the cornerstone of the Mother Temple of Europe.
“For seven years, work on this important goal of the World Crusade has been delayed. Indeed there have been times when the outlook was so dark we wondered whether it would be possible to fulfill it Within the allotted time. Now, however, we see that the mysterious forces latent in the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh have once more been demonstrated, and yet another great victory won in His name.
“Our beloved Guardian in his infinite wisdom chose the very heart of Europe as the site for this temple. It will be the fifth Mashriqu’l-Adhkár to be erected by the Bahá’ís of the world, and from it will stream forth special grace and blessings upon this continent, the cradle of western civilization, so war-tom, so in need at this time of the spiritualizing forces latent in the teachings of the Manifestation of God for this day.
“I hope all the European friends, and particularly those in Germany who have been honored by having this first Bahá’í House of Worship erected on the soil of their native land, will support this institution through both their prayers and their contributions, that it may speedily rise, a visible embodiment of our beliefs, and shower its blessings upon all who enter its doors for worship.
“Both ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi repeatedly pointed out that these Bahá’í institutions are the great silent teachers of the Faith; they not only enhance its prestige in the eyes of the people of the world, but from them stream spiritual power and blessings upon believer and non-believer alike.
“This Mother Temple of Europe is not only unique, but is distinguished by the fact that the beloved Guardian himself specified it should receive the infinitely precious gift of some of the sacred dust from the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, In 1958, at the time of the Intercontinental Conference in Frankfurt, one of those five great Conferences called by him, and marking the mid-Way point of his great Global Crusade, I delivered this dust to the German National Assembly for safe-keeping, little dreaming it would ever be my joy and privilege to place this gift in the foundation of this glorious Temple.
“I now do so in the name of our most beloved Shoghi Effendi. May his ardent hopes be fulfilled, and this House of Worship, so dear to his heart, be speedily completed, a testimonial of the love of not only the European believers for their Guardian, but of the Bahá’ís of the entire world.”
Silverplate placed on cornerstone of Mother Temple of
Europe.
Left: Public meeting held in Frankfurt, Germany, on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the first temple in Europe. Speakers were Ruprecht Krüger of Germany, and David Hofman of England (shown speaking).
Right: Seven Hands of the Faith and members of the German National Assembly (shown on stage) meeting with the
European Bahá’ís in the Zoo-hall, Frankfurt, Nov. 20, 1960. The meeting opened with prayers in different languages, followed by the reading of the message of the Hands to the entire Bahá’í world. The Hands present at this meeting inspired all with their talks. Of great importance to the rapid progress of the erection of the temple is the building permit which was received Nov. 22, 1960, two days after this meeting.
Hands of the Cause attending the laying of the foundation stone of the Mother Temple of Europe. Left to right: Mr. Hassan Balyuzi, Mr. Furútan, Dr. Grossmann, Mr. Khádem, and Dr. Giachery, Dr. Mühlschlegel and Mrs. Collins are not in picture.
Visit of Hand of Cause H. Collis Featherstone Followed By Five Declarations[edit]
An event of momentous importance to the Bahá’ís of Honolulu was the Thanksgiving day visit of Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone and Mrs. Featherstone. Although the distinguished visitors were in Honolulu little more than twenty-four hours, Bahá’ís mere will not soon forget their visit since it accelerated the declarations of five persons who became new members of the Honolulu community within a week.
Arrival of the Featherstones brought a typical Island welcome. They were met at the airport by many of the Bahá’ís and presented with beautiful leis. Shortly after their arrival they were escorted to the grave of the late, beloved Hand of the Cause Martha Root. Later they were invited to a typical Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Albin Kubala, chairman of the Honolulu Local Assembly.
Mr. Featherstone met with Bahá’ís at Honolulu’s noted Mid-Pacific Center of the Faith that evening, and on the following evening conducted a fireside that attracted a record attendance. The Featherstones left for Australia shortly after midnight on Friday. November 27, in order to be present at the funeral of beloved Hand of the Cause in Australia, Clara Dunn.
Memorial Service Held For Hand of Cause Clara Dunn[edit]
“From time to time there flashes across the sky of our earthly lives a meteor of such blazing light that it touches the heart of all those in its rays. Such a meteor was Hand of the Cause Clara Dunn whose memory we honor tonight.” These were the opening words spoken by Mr. H. Borrah Kavelin as he shared some of the highlights of the life of Clara Dunn with the friends gathered in Foundation Hall of the Bahá’í House of Worship, Wilmette, Ill., on the evening of December 31, 1960.
The memorial service was conducted by members of the National Spiritual Assembly and was opened and closed with beautiful recorded music, prayers and readings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.
Clara Dunn was born May 12, 1869 in London, England, the sixth child of the wife of Thomas Holder, and when she was only a year old the family moved to Canada. Her early years were not happy ones, and at the age of sixteen she was married. However, at nineteen her husband was killed in an accident and Clara was left widowed with one child. She then turned to the field of nursing and came to the United States to follow her profession.
It was not until 1917 that she married John Henry Hyde Dunn. From that time forward her life took on a very different pattern and they were both enriched in close fellowship in working for the Faith.
Upon arriving in Australia as pioneers to that continent, Mr. Dunn secured a position which enabled him to travel all over the country and Mrs. Dunn accompanied him. When they arrived in a city she would set up housekeeping, entertain and teach the Faith. In this way Mr. and Mrs. Dunn, affectionately called “Father” and “Mother,” spread the Faith throughout the length and breadth of the Commonwealth.
“Father” Dunn died in 1941 at the age of eighty-seven and was posthumously elevated to the station of Hand of the Cause of God by Shoghi Effendi.
The closing years of “Mother” Dunn’s life witnessed many wonderful things: over forty-eight assemblies and groups established; the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds and a full administration well founded and functioning; numerous believers, following the footsteps of “Father and Mother,” going out to the islands as pioneers; the Faith recognized by the government as an independent religion, and finally, the crowning glory of Australia—the erection of the first Temple of the Antipodes set within those shores. There can be few pioneers in the world possessed of such a glorious record. The beloved Guardian honored “Mother” Dunn with the rank of Hand of the Cause on February 29, 1952.
At the age of ninety-one this grand woman ascended to the Abhá Kingdom to receive her blessed reward. With her husband, she had brought to the continent of Australia a flame of truth that will light the way for thousands of unborn generations. In her final resting place she lies beside her husband. Possibly nowhere else in the world do two pioneers of a continent, both having become Hands of the Cause, lie side by side as do this man and this woman who kept their tryst with God to the end, The flame from these twin torches will be an undying light in that vast country.
Hand of Cause William B. Sears Addresses large Meetings in Los Angeles[edit]
Following a visit to Alaska, Hand of the Cause wuliam B. Sears spent the second week end in December in Los Angeles, Calif., where the Bahá’í community served as host to three large meetings which he addressed. Two of the meetings were for Bahá’ís only, one on Saturday afternoon and the other on Sunday afternoon, attended by 200 and 225 believers, respectively, from Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. A public meeting on Saturday evening, attended by 450 persons, commemorated Human Rights Day. The platform on that occasion was shared by Mr. Sears with a Nigerian exchange student and the president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce. A large percentage of the audience was made up of non-Bahá’ís.
Mr. Sears also attended the Nineteen-Day Feast of the Los Angeles community and spoke to the friends about the progress and needs of the World Crusade.
Passing of American Pioneer Frances Wells[edit]
On January 1 the Hands of the Faith residing in the Holy Land cabled the National Spiritual Assembly as follows:
“Grieved news passing (of) devoted pioneer Frances Wells. Her exemplary self sacrificing services unforgettable. Praying (at) Shrines (for) progress (of) her soul.”
This message followed the news that had been cabled on December 27 by the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries that Mrs. Wells had passed away in the hospital in Esch, Alzette, Luxembourg, after a relatively short but serious illness.
Early in the Second Seven Year Plan Mrs. Wells left her home in California to pioneer in Anchorage, Alaska. In 1952 she moved farther north to pioneer in Fairbanks and three years later to open to the Faith Point Barrow, the most northerly settlement in Alaska. In the summer of 1959 she volunteered for pioneering service in Europe and in September she arrived in Luxembourg, finally settling in one of the goal cities, Differdange, where she remained until her illness necessitated hospitalization in Esch.
The courage of Frances Wells has indeed been exemplary and her self-sacrificing services to the remote Bahá’í centers in Fairbanks and Point Barrow particularly will be long remembered.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
New LSA Incorporation in Africa[edit]
The incorporation of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Victoria, British Cameroons, Africa, has recently been completed. This is the third local assembly to be incorporated in northwest Africa. The National Spiritual Assembly of Northwest Africa states: “The incorporation of this assembly is of special significance as the Guardian attached a great importance to this city. This marks one more victory in the World Crusade for a continent which has demonstrated such a wide response to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.”
Bahá’ís Use Map To Show Progress In Malaya
Top left: Malayan Summer School held in Port Dickson, Aug. 10-15, 1960. Hand of Cause Dr. Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir is seated second row, third from right.
Tap right: Map of Malaya showing the existing assemblies, groups, and isolated centers.
Lower left: Hand of Cause Dr. Muhájír, seated left, in consultation at the summer school with Mrs. Shirin Fozdar, chairman of the Regional Spiritual Assembly; Dr. Eshraghian, pioneer in Singapore, standing; and Mr. K. H. Payman, secretary of the Regional Spiritual Assembly, seated right.
Lower right: Another group of the friends attending Malayan Summer School.
Unprecedented Publicity Given By Scandinavian Press
Left: Some Bahá’ís gathered in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Copenhagen, Denmark. Right: A fireside meeting held
by the Bahá’í Youth Committee in Copenhagen.
In recent months several newspapers in Scandinavian countries have given excellent publicity to the
Bahá’í Faith. The December issue of Bahá’í News reprinted a story of the Spitzbergen pioneers published in the Harstad, Norway Tidende. Recently Finnish newspapers in Turku and Lahti have published photographs
and articles about the Faith.
The Etela Suomen Sanomat of Lahti printed a picture of the teachers for the Bahá’í Summer School and included the following excerpt: “The Summer School of the Bahá’ís of Scandinavia and Finland is taking place right now at Honkapirtti Resthome in Lahti, As well as from Finland there are guests from Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, also Germany, U.S.A. and Persia. From Persia which is the cradle of the Bahá’í World Faith, Mr. Hadi Afsahi, who visited our editorial office yesterday, has come to lecture about the need of a world religion in these days.”
The Turku Turun Sanomat published a picture of Brigitte Hasselblatt from England, Kenneth Muir and Milton Lundblade from the U.S.A., stating that they were for the present settled in Turku. In an accompanying article headed, “The Bahá’í World Faith Has Followers In 256 Countries,” were the following excerpts: “The more disturbed the world becomes, the stronger are the voices heard from different classes of people, and though their starting points are quite different, nevertheless, the goal is the same: to create a world where there will be peace and mutual understanding instead of war and strife.” Then a brief explanation of the Faith was given, followed by: “They never push their doctrine on anybody, and they feel happy if anyone of the people they meet is happy in his own religion. If this is not the case they are willing to discuss it if the person in question is truly interested.”
The Bahá’í Summer School for Scandinavia and Finland held on the shores of one of Finland’s beautiful
lakes near Lahti, July 25-27, 19604 Hand of Cause Dr.
Adelbert Mühlschlegel in center of front row. Workshop
sessions were featured on formation of local and national assemblies, fn-nctitms of a local assembly, and
delegates to a national convention.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS[edit]
The Regional Spiritual Assembly of South-East Asia has informed the Bahá’í world that the Local Spiritual Assembly of Malacca, Malaya, has been successful in acquiring a piece of land from the local government to serve as Bahá’í burial ground. They have an official letter to this effect from the Municipal Secretary of Malacca.
The first Japanese believer, Mr. Kikutaro Fukuda of Toyohashi, passed away on November 29, 1960. He first heard of the Faith in the spring of 1915, forty-five years ago, and became a believer. At that time he was an 18year old student, but he wrote several letters to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and received replies.
With the assistance of Mr. Shin Yong-ho, first Bahá’í of Pusan, Korea, a Bahá’í Club has been established at Pusan University. Two meetings were held at the university in October, at the first of which fifty were present, and at the second of which there were 120. Following this, a fireside was held for only those who were sincerely interested, with about twenty present. Besides these, many other Bahá’í activities are being carried on in this area.
With the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Africa nearing completion, the National Assembly of Central and East Africa, in courtesy to the Buganda government in whose territory the temple stands and whose generous cooperation has provided the newly constructed access road, recently invited the Buganda Council of Ministers to view the building. The Prime Minister and three of his Ministers of the Council were present on that occasion and were shown the temple and gardens by several of the National Assembly and temple committee. Refreshments were sewed in the lovely new caretaker’s cottage, and members of the Council sincerely expressed their pleasure and admiration of the House of Worship.
En route from the Holy Land in November, Hand of the Cause John Robarts visited a number of communities in North-East Africa, arriving in the Central and East African region on November 17. He has now almost completed a very successful and comprehensive tour of the mass conversion areas of Uganda and Kenya. For the Kenya portion of his tour, Mr. Robarts was joined by Dr. Muhájir, newly arrived Hand of the Cause for Africa. They were accompanied by Auxiliary Board member Ali Nakhjavani.
Many believers heard Mr. Robart’s fervent appeal to each individual to arise now to do his God-given and all important share in the teaching work of the Faith in his area. Dr. Muhájir spoke most movingly about the teaching activities in the South Pacific area where he has himself been so instrumental in the swift progress of the mass conversion campaign.
Informacion Bahá’í for May-September, published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Iberian Peninsula, reports on the second national teaching school held in Lisbon, Portugal, with the assistance of representatives from all of the Portugese communities. The school was privileged to have Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery present. Fifty-five persons attended.
Second All-Philippine Teaching Conference Stresses Workshop Sessions[edit]
The second all-Philippine Teaching conference was held in Manila November 24-27, 1960. It was decided to hold “workshop” sessions with delegates from the four local spiritual assemblies, who in turn would hold subconferences in the larger communities in the Northern mountains of Luzon.
They broke up into four groups, followed a general outline of concentrated study, and on the last day representatives of each group reviewed and shared their respective conclusions. The result was complete participation, and some of those who had never spoken before had new assurance and were ready to teach more actively.
There were several highlights during this conference. Mrs. Shirin Fozdar, chairman of the Regional Spiritual Assembly, arrived on the first day, bringing her inspiration and love. A tape-recording arrived from the United States which provided a great impetus. It contained the talks recorded at the 1960 United States National Convention by four Hands of the Cause who were present. Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander arrived on the day following the conference, so many of the friends stayed over extra time to meet with her. Also the sub-conferences brought forth several uplifting and confirming incidents. Excellent publicity has been secured in six daily papers in Manila, after a period of two and one-half years when they would not print any Bahá’í releases.
Mr. Shirin Fozdar (standing third from right) with some of the friends at the Manila Bahá’í Center during all-Philippine Teaching Conference, Nov. 24-27, 1960.
Youth Activities Show Enthusiastic Participation[edit]
From all parts of the country encouraging reports are being received about youth teaching and youth conferences sponsored by local spiritual assemblies and area teaching committees, indicating growing acceptance on the part of the adult believers of the responsibility they have been requested by the National Spiritual Assembly to assume in giving youth training, experience, and opportunity in teaching and in proclaiming the Faith to the public. Encouraging also is the number of declared Bahá’í youth who, immediately upon the attainment of voting age, inform the administrative bodies of the fact and their readiness to participate fully in all of the activities of the Faith.
The bulletins of the area teaching committees frequently report the formation and excellent performance of youth panels who are willing to travel considerable distances to give public meetings, talk at firesides, or arrange meetings aimed at attracting youth. Assemblies and groups that have not yet undertaken youth activities will find in them many ideas that can be adapted to their local situations.
Brief reference is made to the following reports to indicate the Wide range of youth teaching and service in recent months.
In Berkeley, Calif., the Local Spiritual Assembly gave to the youth and young adult members of its community the responsibility for conducting the public observance of the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh. For more than a month four of them planned, rehearsed and tape-recorded their talks for a panel presentation on “The Bahá’í Faith: Religion for Modern Man.” As their final rehearsal a week before the event, they presented their program at a smaller gathering. The public presentation was excellent and the question and answer period that followed aroused much interest.
The Las Vegas, Nev., Assembly supports two youth panels, each under the guidance of an adult moderator, and each able to travel up to 300 miles one week end a month. These youth, some of them not yet Bahá’ís, defray their own expenses. One of the two panels is already scheduled through April 1961.
The first large public meeting to be given in the newly established Bahá’í community of Issaquah, Wash., was in observance of World Peace Day, with Bahá’í youth and adult speakers presenting a fine panel discussion on “Outlook for Youth.”
A Labor Day week end youth conference in Kirkland, Wash., brought a letter of praise and commendation from the Kirkland community to each participant. The program was centered on discussion of “What It Means to be a Bahá’í Youth,” and starting with the observation that youth speakers at firesides and public meetings seem to impress and interest other youth and adults in ways in which adult speakers do not, the conference discussion explored and developed methods and means for more frequent and effective teaching of and by youth.
A three-day youth conference following Thanksgiving Day sponsored by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Fresno Judicial District, Calif., brought together forty-seven registered participants from even distant parts of the state, with approximately sixty in attendance at the public meeting in observance of “The Day of the Covenant.” There were two sessions each day—one class in the morning on “The Journey of the Soul,” taught by Mrs. Delia Brandin, and a discussion meeting in the afternoon on “Bahá’í Youth and the World Today,” led by Miss Helena Somerhalder. Rex King was the speaker at the evening sessions. The secretary of the Spiritual Assembly reported: “There was no desire on the part of any of the youth to leave the grounds during the conference; the magnet of fellowship was strong enough to hold everyone enthralled throughout the entire time.”
Some of the Bahá’ís attending the conference held on teaching in Santiago, Northern Luzon, Philippine Islands.
Left: With Virginia Breaks (back row center), pioneer to the Caroline islands based on Truk. Right: With Jack
Davis (center), pioneer to Philippine Islands.
[Page 9]
IAHA'| N EWS
She also added that the hallmark of the success of the conference was the declaration of Faith on the pan of five new youth. This community invited a youth panel from Los Angeles to present their observance of World Religion Day.
The home of Mrs. Mary Wolter near Dexter, Mich., has been the gathering place in that area for a number of years for Bahá’í youth and their friends home for the Thanksgiving Day and spring vacations. Last Thanksgiving Day week end approximately thirty youth from "colleges and high schools in New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan were present, with the discussions of the sixteen-year-olds conducted by the college youth. The program was devoted to such subjects as: “World Unity,” “Youth Problems,” and “How the Area Teaching Committee Can Help Youth.” A full program is planned with speakers for morning, afternoon and evening, with discussion and consultation following each speaker. A worship hour is planned for Sunday morning, while Saturday evening is devoted to singing, dancing. and other types of entertainment.
Augusta, Ga., was host city for another Thanksgiving Day week-end youth conference sponsored by the Area Teaching Committee for the South Atlantic States, with James E. Brown of Spartanburg, S.C., and Nancy Ford of Decatur, Ga., acting as convenors for the morning and afternoon sessions respectively. The first day was devoted to discussion on Bahá’í standards of conduct, using as reference material The Advent of Divine Justice by Shoghi Effendi, the chapter on “Love and Marriage” in Prescription for Living by Rúḥíyyih Khánum, and the compilation What It Means to be a Bahá’í Youth. Saturday morning the discussion revolved around the problems encountered by youth who accept Bahá’u’lláh’s standard of the oneness of mankind and are faced with situations growing out of the racial tensions in the south. The statement by the National Spiritual Assembly, The Most Challenging Issue, was consulted for guidance on this subject. Saturday afternoon was devoted to the subject of teaching the Faith, with Gleanings from
Twenty-four new youth contacts were guests at the
Bahá’í commemoration of Human Rights Day sponsored by the four believers of Durham, N.C., in the
home of Mrs. Ludmila Van Sombeek, Dec. 10, 1960.
Challoner Chute of Charlottesville, Va., was the speaker.
A meeting during week of Oct. 30 - Nov. 6, 1960 in Asunción, Paraguay, at which Edward Miessler, member of
the Auxiliary Board of the Hands of the Western Hemisphere, spoke on the significance of the administrative
institutions of the Faith and the importance of preparing for assembly responsibility. Among those present
were fourteen of the eighteen newly enrolled Bahá’ís.
the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh used as the reference work.
On Friday the youth were joined by a number of adult
Bahá’ís who live in the area to view color slides of the
Bahá’í World Center and the Bahá’í Temple, followed
by a social hour, and on Saturday evening interested
non-Bahá’ís were included in the fellowship activities.
Mrs. Betty Broome Thompson of Greenwood, S.C., reporter for this conference commented that both the Bahá’í and the non-Bahá’í youth were very enthusiastic about their experiences; discussions were lively and interesting, and the convenors were well prepared. Before they dispersed they prepared recommendations to the area teaching committee, not only as to subjects for future conferences but also favoring the formation and exchange of youth panels throughout the area. One subject they particularly wished to have included in future conferences is a study of the meaning and procedure of Bahá’í consultation both as an aid to improving youth conferences and to prepare them for future service on local assemblies and committees.
The National Spiritual Assembly gave special encouragement to Bahá’í youth to attend the 1960 State Conventions by sending them all the convention material, except the ballots, mailed to the adult believers. At the Northern California Convention many of the friends felt that the youth participation was the “life” of the convention. The youth met together at lunch time and, with two adults, selected one of the items on the convention agenda for discussion. They appointed a representative who reported the results of this discussion when the subject came up for consultation in the afternoon session.
Bahá’í youth and adults are reminded that the excellent compilation What It Means to be a Bahá’í Youth published by the National Bahá’í Youth Committee last spring is still available. It offers many ideas for youth firesides and discussion groups, and may be ordered at 25 cents a copy from: Mr. Larry Cooper, 121 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South
and West Africa, elected April 1960. This is the first
published photograph since the formation of this National Assembly in 1956. Front row: Andrew Mofokeng,
Mrs. Bahíyyih Ford, Mrs. Valera Allen (secretary),
Rudolfo Duna (vice-chairman). Back row: John Allen
(chairman), Max Seepé, Shidan Fat’he-Aazarrt (treasurer), William Masehla (recording secretary), Lowell
Johnson (assistant secretary).
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of North East Asia, April, 1960. Left to right: Nourredin Momtazi, Dr. I. Mizuno, Mrs. Barbara Sims (corresponding secretary), William Maxwell Jr., (chairman), Miss Agnes Alexander, M. Odani (vice-chairman), H. Takano, Dr. David M. Earl (recording secretary), Philip A. Marangella (treasurer).
It Takes More Than One Person To Confirm a Baha’i[edit]
A Bahá’í who has had wide experience in teaching both at home and abroad has set down a few valuable thoughts growing out of her own personal experiences, first as a new believer and now as a teacher. They are being shared with the friends because they point up so well, first, the importance of recognizing the fact that each and every Bahá’í has some special talent to contribute toward the confirmation of newly attracted souls and, second, how important it is to give one’s contacts and students the benefits of these various experiences.
She writes: “Without the aid of God we can do nothing, and, except in very rare instances, without the help of other Bahá’ís we cannot confirm new believers.
“When I first heard the Bahá’í Message, the teacher spoke with such simplicity and sincerity that I immediately believed her, even though I wasn’t sure what I believed. If other teachers had not come along to strengthen my belief, I would have remembered, but it would have remained an emotional experience. With knowledge came certitude, but many contributed to that knowledge. At summer schools, conferences and conventions I saw the Bahá’í Faith in action. I worked with Bahá’ís who couldn’t express in words what they felt and believed, but who practiced it every day of their lives. I also worked with those who called themselves Bahá’ís, but whose actions denied it; yet they were striving toward the same goals, and Bahá’u’lláh was using all of them!
“I first heard the word ‘Bahá’í’ more than thirty years ago. Since then many people have declared their faith after attending classes and fireside: in our home, in some of which I was the teacher but in many more where I remained silent while others shared what they understood of this great ocean of knowledge from God to which Bahá’u’lláh has given all of us access. The social affairs, the public talks, the summer schools, the informal chats with other Bahá’ís, all played important parts in the preparation of these souls for membership in the Bahá’í community, and after their declaration the education continued but always with a .view to making them independent of their former teachers so that they could become strong souls who could attract and teach others.
“I am embarrassed when I think of all the errors I made when I first began to teach, and which I occasionally make even now. The only consolation I feel for all my own mistakes is the memory of the strange and inaccurate things which I heard while investigating this Faith myself but which failed to prevent me from recognizing Bahá’u’lláh. My feeling of guilt over all these errors serves a good purpose, however, because it has made me study continually the vast range of subjects which have been treated by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi, and as the veils are removed one by one from my eyes, each book is like a new book which I have never seen before. For this reason I shall never be able to complete my studies, but will always have the joy of discovery and of searching deeper and deeper into the mines of knowledge concealed in the Sacred Writings.
“There has never been any one person whom I have[Page 11]
called my spiritual ‘mother’ or ‘father,’ but always
along the path of search I have found those who had
preceded me in experience, knowledge, and practice,
who were always ready to lend a helping hand and
who have been the source of inspiration, wisdom, and
guidance for me when the path seemed too difficult.
They have been like beacons to warn of obstacles and
deep holes along the road at night. To all these I am
eternally grateful, and in turn I try to keep my candle
lighted to aid others who are following just behind me.
And I try to remember to give them the freedom to
pass me by when they have a need to do so.”
In Eastern Congo Republic Teaching Drive Continues[edit]
The tremendous upsurge of teaching activity in the Congo during the past few months continues unabated. As these activities have been confined to the village areas on the eastern borders of the new Congo Republic near Ruanda Urundi, the new Bahá’ís and communities are not near real trouble spots in the Congo, where there is great political unrest at the present time.
Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Compton,
Calif., incorporated August 31, 1960. Front row: Mrs.
Olive Craig, Mrs. Phyllis Barrett, Mrs. Margaret Wallace, Mrs. Anna J. Edwards, Mrs. Jennilou W. Edwards.
Back row: Claude S. Miles, Ray H. Edwards, Samuel
McCallister, and Gene Craig,
Fourth Japan Summer School, held at Hotel Gamagori, Aichi-ken, Aug. 19-21, 1960. Hand of the Cause Miss Agnes
Alexander holding plaque of Greatest Name.
LOCAL ASSEMBLIES FORMED RIḌVÁN[edit]
Eight of the nine members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Salt Lake City, Utah, incorporated on April 18, 1960.
First Local Spiritual of the Bahá’ís of Perugia, Italy, formed on April 21, 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Camaguey, Cuba, formed on April 21, 1960, Front row: Armando Lastre, Lazaro Ramos, Clarence Ullrich, Francisco Garcia Rodriguez, and Oscar Rodriguez. Back row: Migdalia Diez, Gloria Ortega, Margarite Ullrich, and Viola Tuttle.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Erlangen, Germany, formed on April 21, 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Padang Pandjang, Sumatra, Indonesia, formed on April 21, 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kampong Plantar, Jeram Mengkuang, Malaya, formed on April 21, 1960. This is the first tribal local assembly in Malaya.
Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Cologne, Germany, reestablished Riḍván 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of La Ceiba, Honduras, formed on April 21, 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Cartagena, Colombia, formed on April 21, 1960. Front row: Luis Montenegro, Cilenia G. de Lloyd, Inés R. de Montenegro, and James Archibald. Back row: Jean Berest, Fred Berest, Olavo Novaes, Odell Lloyd, and Rason Dobbs.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Liege, Belgium, formed on April 21, 1960.
Two More School Systems Recognize Bahá’í Holy Days[edit]
On November 30, 1960 the superintendent of the Fort Wayne, Ind., Community Schools addressed a communication to the principals of the five schools under his jurisdiction recommending that they extend every consideration possible to the Bahá’í children who wish to remain away from school on the Bahá’í Holy Days whose dates he listed. He concluded his letter with this paragraph: “We would also hope that it would be possible to make a learning situation of these particular days. Perhaps these boys and girls, if they wish, could share these experiences with other boys and girls. Is this not a very good way to create understanding and appreciation of the religions within our society?”
The Board of Education of Des Moines, Iowa, through the Superintendent of Public Schools, has recently authorized the public schools of that city to excuse Bahá’í children from their classes on Bahá’í Holy Days. Although there are at present no Bahá’í teachers in the school system the authorization grants the same privilege to such teachers.
New Bahá’í Center of Honolulu, Hawaii, located in
Nuuanu Valley, purchased following the very profitable
sale of the former center in the heart of the business
section. The seventeen rooms in the new building provide several classrooms for the large Bahá’í children’s
school, a library, public meeting rooms and living
quarters for the host and hostess, as well as a basement apartment for the caretaker of the buildings and
Japanese garden.
Bahá’ís attending 1960 Hawaii State Convention held in Honolulu. They represent more than half of the state’s total membership.
Phoenix Bahá’ís Win Growing Recognition from City Organizations and Churches[edit]
A growing interest in the Bahá’í Faith on the part of the general public and a greater recognition of its status among churches and other organizations is indicated by the events that have taken place in and near Phoenix, Ariz., in recent months.
For the third successive year Mrs. Nancy Phillips served as an adult advisor at Anytown, Ariz., a human relations workshop for youth held for a week each August in a northern Arizona camp setting. Religion has proved to be the most popular subject for consideration by the participants and a presentation of the Bahá’í Faith with other major religions during a general assembly and a separate worship service has become an integral part of the program.
In October at the annual meeting of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, Mrs. Phillips was one of several persons to receive a certificate of recognition “for outstanding leadership in promoting the cause of good will and understanding among the people of our nation” and was cited in a statement read by the Governor of Arizona as “spiritual advisor for the Bahá’í Faith at Anytown during the years and enthusiastic champion of the welfare of Indian students.” This was the only citation to make reference to religion.
Also in October, Alton Thomas, a member of the Phoenix Local Spiritual Assembly, addressed a statewide gathering of youth of the Congregational Church on the subject of the Bahá’í Faith, and Mrs. Beatrice Bechtold, also an assembly member, spoke on the Faith to a youth group at the Methodist Church. As a result of the first meeting another request for a Bahá’í speaker was received from the Neighborhood Congregational Church.
Subsequently two local Sunday School groups requested permission to visit the children’s and youth classes sponsored by the Phoenix Assembly. One was a group of twenty-five high school youth from the Congregational Church and the other was the junior high school class from the Unitarian Church.
At the annual Arizona Youth Conference sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews on the campus of Arizona State University on November 19 Mrs. Phillips served as one of sixteen adult advisors. As part of the program the advisers formed a panel to answer questions on human relations posed by the youth delegates. The question directed to Mrs. Phillips was: “What is the Bahá’í Faith?”
Also in November a request was received from the Arizona Republic, the state’s largest newspaper, for an interview with several local Bahá’ís. Two members met with a reporter, a picture was taken of five members, and an excellent feature article, entitled “Bahá’í Rapidly Expanding,” appeared in the Saturday edition, November 26. It covered not only the general history of the founding of the Faith but also reference to the local “chapter” and its activities, the method of Bahá’í elections, the nature and purpose of the Nineteen-Day Feast and other meetings, and some of the Bahá’í teachings, particularly regarding marriage. As a result of this story a newspaper in Glendale, Ariz., has indicated to the Bahá’í group there its intention to publish a story on the Faith.
On radio station KUPD in Phoenix, Alton Thomas was interviewed on November 1 on the general subject of race relations. The conversation shifted to that of religion and Mr. Thomas was asked a number of direct questions about his faith which enabled him to give a very constructive picture of the Bahá’í teachings.
As a result of all this public interest, the Local Spiritual Assembly arranged a public meeting December 9 in the penthouse of the public library on the subject “What Is The Bahá’í Faith?” A spirited question and answer period followed, with the questions submitted in writing by members of the audience. A photograph of the-two speakers and the chairman appeared in the newspaper the following day over a caption that began “Bahá’ís like questions.” Advance publicity for this meeting included television appearances, on separate programs, of the two speakers.
Bahá’í Booth at Utah State Fair Features Electronic Display of Faith’s Principles[edit]
The annual Utah State Fair, held this year on September 16-25, included for the third time a Bahá’í booth. The project was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Salt Lake City, and the booth was manned from noon to ten pm. daily, with thirty-three different Bahá’ís from eight Utah communities assisting in attending the booth.
Decorated in pink, pale green, and black, the sixteen-foot-square booth in the Industrial Arts Building presented a charming and attractive picture. The unique attraction was an electronic relay machine designed and built by one of the Provo Bahá’ís. The machine was fronted by a black screen, on which was a series of windows which lit up one by one, showing the Divine Revelators, the date of their coming, their Book, and a statement about them taken from the writings. In the upper left corner of the screen fifteen questions most commonly asked at the Temple were listed, and the answer to each question would light up on the panel when a corresponding button was pressed by the visitors. On another wall there were three revolving poles, each with eight framed pictures of Bahá’í world landmarks and interesting facts.
Thirty-six Bahá’í books were available to browsers, and two paperback books were on sale. Approximately 1,500 copies of three different Bahá’í pamphlets were given to inquirers.
Thirty-seven names were taken of those wishing to be notified of meetings or wanting further reading material; some did not wish to leave their names, but preferred to study on their own.
The majority of visitors were Mormons; some seeking, many not. Several visitors of other Faiths expressed admiration for the teachings on display. One man stated he had learned of the Faith in Hawaii; since that time he had considered himself a Bahá’í, but did not realize there was a Bahá’í Center in Salt Lake City. Thousands of people stood silently reading the principles, which were displayed in gold letters on one of the walls. Many more thousands walked by, merely looking up at the large gold letters “Bahá’í World Faith.” Three hundred and two thousand people came to the Fair, roughly one-third of the state’s population.
Winnetka Bahá’ís Participate In City’s Open House[edit]
For a number of years the Bahá’í community of Winnetka, Ill., has participated in the city’s annual open house held on a Sunday in November, called “Winnetka On Parade.” The various community organizations arrange exhibits in the community center to acquaint the public with their activities. The Bahá’í exhibit last November consisted of a large circular panel showing the symbols of the nine extant religions with the wording in the center: “Religion Is One.” Surrounding the panel were books bearing the names of the Holy Scriptures of the nine religions with a ribbon leading from the book to the symbol of the faith. On the table below was a copy of the Bible, the Qur’án, and one volume of The Bahá’í World, together with a few Bahá’í pamphlets. Bahá’ís were on hand to greet the visitors and to answer questions.
This particular Bahá’í exhibit was first shown in the Winnetka Public Library to commemorate World Religion Day in 1960, where it attracted so much attention, particularly among the high school students who were studying comparative religion, that the exhibit was kept on display for an entire week.
Bahá’í exhibit displayed at community center, Winnetka, Ill.
Calendar of Events[edit]
FEASTS[edit]
February 7—Mulk (Dominion)
March 2—’Alá’ (Loftiness)
INTERCALARY DAYS[edit]
February 26—March 1
DAYS OF FASTING[edit]
March 2-21
U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS[edit]
February 10, 11, 12
Baha’i House of Worship[edit]
Visiting Hours[edit]
Weekdays
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
Sundays and Holidays
10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Entire building)
Service of Worship[edit]
Sundays
3:30 to 4:10 p.m.
National Bahá’í Addresses[edit]
Please Address Mail Correctly!
National Bahá’í Administrative Headquarters:[edit]
536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Ill.
National Treasurer:[edit]
112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette,. Ill.
Make Checks Payable to: National Bahá’í Fund[edit]
Bahá’í Publishing Trust:[edit]
110 Linden Avenue. Wilmette, Ill.
Make Checks Payable to: Bahá’í Publishing Trust[edit]
Bahá’í News:[edit]
Editorial Office: l10 Linden Avenue, Wilmette. Ill.
Subscription and change of address: 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.
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 or 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 1960-1961: Richard C. Thomas, Managing Editor; Mrs. Eunice Braun, International News Editor; Miss Charlotte M. Linfoot, National News Editor; Miss D. Thelma Jackson and Mrs. Harriett Wolcott, Assistant Editors.
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.
