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| No. 415 | BAHA’I YEAR 122 | OCTOBER, 1965 |
October 20
God is My witness, O people! I am come to you with a Revelation from the
Lord, your God, the Lord of your fathers of old. Look not, O people, at the things
ye possess. Look rather at the things God hath sent down unto you. This, surely,
will be better for you than the whole of creation, could ye but perceive it. Repeat
the gaze, O people, and consider the testimony of God and His proof which are in
your possession, and compare them unto the Revelation sent down unto you in
this Day, that the truth, the infallible truth, may be indubitably manifested unto
you. Follow not, O people, the steps of the Evil One; follow ye the Faith of the
All-Merciful, and be ye of them that truly believe. What would it profit man, if he
were to fail to recognize the Revelation of God? Nothing whatever. To this Mine
own Self, the Omnipotent, the Omniscient, the All-Wise, will testify.”
Gleanings
I am the Mystic Fane, which the Hand of Omnipotence hath reared. I am the
Lamp which the Finger of God hath lit within its niche and caused to shine with
deathless splendor. I am the Flame of that supernal Light that glowed upon Sinai
in the gladsome Spot, and lay concealed in the midst of the Burning Bush....
With each and every Prophet, Whom We have sent down in the past, We have
established a separate Covenant concerning the “Remembrance of God” and His
Day. Manifest in the realm of glory and through the power of truth, are the
“Remembrance of God” and His Day before the eyes of the angels that circle His
mercy-seat.... Should it be Our wish, it is in Our power to compel, through
the agency of but one letter of Our Revelation, the world and all that is therein to
recognize, in less than the twinkling of an eye, the truth of Our Cause.”
The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh
Cables from Haifa Mark Passing of Mariam Haney[edit]
“Grieved announce passing Mariam Haney devoted servant Bahá’u’lláh mother beloved Hand Cause Paul Haney. Her total dedication Faith spanning period more than sixty-five years staunch upholder covenant earliest days testing tireless activities circulating tablets Master services national and international level whole hearted loyalty steadfastness assure loving welcome ‘Abhá kingdom. Share message immediately Washington Assembly.”
| Haifa, Israel | —UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE |
| September 2, 1965 |
“Grieved passing Mariam Haney one few remaining
vanguard early American believers. Consistent steadfast unremitting services over half century ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
Shoghi Effendi unswerving loyalty Center Covenant
defense institutions Faith throughout every stage evolution Bahá’í Community West unforgettable. Ardently
hope Washington and other communities will profit example this heroic maidservant Bahá’u’lláh now ascended
receive well earned reward presence her beloved Master. Kindly share message Washington Assembly immediately.
| Haifa, Israel | — HANDSFAITH |
| September 3, 1965 |
Twelve newly enrolled Bahá’ís of Tristan Suarez, a small village in Argentina near Buenos Aires, who declared themselves after an intensive three month teaching program sponsored by the National Teaching Committee.
Attendants at the Regional Teaching Congress of Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru held at Lima, Peru July 16-19, 1965, the
first of a series of four regional congresses to be held in South America. Hand of the Cause, Mr. Jalál Kházeh, is
standing at the left. Auxiliary Board members Mrs. Gayle Woolson of Ecuador, Miss Mercedes Sanchez of Peru,
and Mr. Athnos Costas of Bolivia as well as representatives of the national spiritual assemblies of Bolivia, Ecuador
and Peru were present with friends from several cities of Peru. The conference was held to discuss methods and
means for teaching the eight million indigenous peoples residing in these three countries, which contain nine tenths
of South America’s total Indian population.
Two Hands of Cause Teach at Finnish School[edit]
The fourth annual Finnish Bahá’í summer school was held in Mukkula Tourist Center, Lahti, July 2-7, 1965. The school was especially blessed for its entire duration by the presence of two Hands of the Cause, Mr. A. Q. Faizi and Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel. Mr. Edvard Olsson of Sweden, an older Bahá’í who had been taught the Faith in America during the 1920’s by Fazel Mazandarani and Abu’l-Faḍl, bestowed a significant spiritual contribution to the entire school.
In his opening remarks on the evening of the first day, Dr. Mühlschlegel stated that it was indeed an historical occasion, since it was the first Bahá’í summer school to be held on the European Continent in 1965. For the following four and one-half days, the friends from Finland were given the rare opportunity of being taught for the most part by the two Hands of the Cause about such diverse and interesting subjects as, “Bahá’í Education,” “Aspects of Spirit,” “Bahá’í Administration,” “Bahá’í Holy Places,” and “The Guardianship.”
On Sunday, July 4, the entire morning program was presented by Finnish friends, among whom were Greta Jankko, who spoke on “The Guardian,” Aili Honkanen on “The Renewal of Religion,” and Auxiliary Board Member Osmo Paivinen on “Comparative Religion.”
Although relatively few non-Bahá’ís attended the summer school sessions, the Faith received good free publicity. Bahá’í book displays with smaller posters advertising the summer school were arranged in two bookshops in Lahti. One of these had three pages of the Ebony article on the Bahá’í Faith as a background. A large poster with some Bahá’í principles and summer school information was displayed in a third bookshop. Interviews with Mr. Faizi were printed in three newspapers, two of which are in Helsinki and have the largest circulation in Finland. The most thorough item was printed in Lahden Kunnallislehti, a small, weekly newspaper distributed freely to all homes in the city of Lahti. Lastly, many people of Europe and America visited the Mukkula Tourist Center, a relatively new but popular summer lodge. Almost everyone there at the time of the Bahá’í summer school saw advertising posters which were strategically placed in the area. Contact was made this summer with Finns, Swedes, Germans, Austrians, Americans, and citizens of the Soviet Union.
A public meeting featuring as speakers Mr. Faizi and Fred Perry, an American pioneer speaking the Finnish language, was held the evening of July 6. Many interested people were present for the first time at a Bahá’í event, and one of them has already seriously begun studying the Faith. It was the most successful public meeting held in Lahti for quite some time.
In spite of cold, rainy weather, all friends present at Mukkula agreed that it had been a very spiritually productive Bahá’í school. All resolved to pray and work harder to achieve all the goals of the Nine Year Plan, using the spiritual and educational experiences received at the summer school as a springboard to ever-increasing activity.
Bahá’ís and friends attending the 1965 Finnish summer school. Hands of the cause Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel, Mr. A. W. Faizí with Mr. Edvard Olsson are in the center of the first row. Auxiliary Board member Osmo Päivinen is standing in the back row on the right.
[Page 4]
Delegates from Mali, Gambia, Ivory Coast and Liberia
at convention held in Monrovia, Liberia elected the
National Spiritual Assembly of West Africa shown
above: first row, left to right: William Enoanyi, rec.
sec.; William Foster, v. chm.; James Wesson, Edward
Johnson, Joseph Strong; back row: Vivian Wesson,
chm.; Vera Edwards (Auxiliary Bd. mbr.) Zara Dunne,
corres. sec.; Laura Hill, treas.; Tamar Fakhry.
Eight members of the first Local Assembly of Nimba,
Liberia are shown above, first row, left to right: George
Sumo, v. chm.; Charles Russell, rec. sec.; Ciapha
Kollie, chm.; James Wesson, corres. sec.; back row:
William Foster, treas.; Ruth Foster, Mr. Daniels, Mr.
Kobi.
North East Africa Receives Visit from Hand; Attains a Goal[edit]
Mr. Tarazullah Samandari, Hand of the Cause, now ninety-two years of age, has visited a number of African countries this summer, including Libya, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. The Bahá’í News Bulletin of North East Africa writes of his visit: “He is really a treasure who still stores brilliant memories of his experience in the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi. He grows young and energetic when he recites the Words of Bahá’u’lláh and narrates his experience with Him.”
This same bulletin also announces the appointment of two new auxiliary board members: Aziz Yazdi of Nairobi, Kenya, and Dr. Mehdi Samandari of Mogadiscio, Somalia.
With the re-opening of Chad, another goal of the Nine Year Plan has been accomplished. This was one of the inter-assembly collaboration projects with the National Assembly of Uganda and Central Africa responsible, assisted by the National Assembly of North East Africa. Two young men from Khartoum, Sudan, have filled this goal, having been inspired to do so at the national convention held in Asmara, Ethiopia.
Group of Bahá’í youth who have recently accepted the
Faith in Ujjain area of India. These youth come from
Arya Samaj background and were taught, in childhood,
to hate other religions.
A Teacher Training Class held in District Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Sholapur, India, sponsored by the Area Teaching
Committee.
African School - Symbol of Baha’i Unity[edit]
The growth of the Faith in many areas of the world is immeasurably aided by schools and institutes where the friends can gather for study and fellowship and where the Bahá’í principle of serving humanity can be demonstrated. Pictured above is a group at such an institution, the School at Nginamadolo, Swaziland (South Africa). This School has been built and maintained by the loving contributions of the American friends and pioneers and stands as a symbol, in a country where education is still at a premium, of Bahá’u’lláh’s command that the children of the world must be educated.
The School has been built by united effort. As it is in such a remote, mountainous area it was most difficult to supply the materials, but eventually this has been completed and it is a true community center in a region overflowing with children. Mr. and Mrs. William Wilks (pioneers in South Africa) have assisted in many ways in the establishment and operation of the school by supplying materials and with the curriculum used by the teachers during the “scripture hour.”
The people are very proud of their new school, the former one having been in a one room building made of poles and mud. When school is not in session it becomes a center for Bahá’í meetings, conferences and institutes. It is the hope of the Bahá’ís that it will increasingly become a center for the diffusion of knowledge and good-will.
The picture below shows a fireside meeting in Basotuland (South Africa). The occasion was the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lisota, of Redding, California who were visiting South Africa after their pilgrimage to the World Center. They are shown with the group at the School in Swaziland and their visit to Africa included stops also in Southern Rhodesia and Uganda.
Baha’i International Community Pays Tribute to Delegations of the United Nations on Twentieth Anniversary[edit]
To mark the Twentieth Anniversary of the United Nations, a special series of commemorative meetings was held at the end of June in San Francisco where the Charter was originally signed in 1945. Each of the member nations sent a delegation and many outstanding addresses were delivered.
It is of interest to Bahá’ís to note that it was in California that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said in 1912, “May the first flag of international peace be upraised in this state.” In commenting on the United Nations the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi wrote in The Challenging Requirements of the Present Hour: “Indeed if we would read aright the signs of the times, and appraise correctly the significance of contemporaneous events that are impelling forward both the American Bahá’í community and the nation of which it forms a part on the road leading them to their ultimate destiny, we cannot fail to perceive the workings of two simultaneous processes, generated as far back as the concluding years of the Heroic Age of our Faith, each clearly defined, each distinctly separate, yet closely related and destined to culminate, in the fullness of time, in a single glorious consummation. One of these processes is associated with the mission of the American Bahá’í community, the other with the destiny of the American nation. The one serves directly the interest of the Administrative Order of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, the other promotes indirectly the institutions that are to be associated with the establishment of His World Order. The first process dates back to the revelation of those stupendous Tablets constituting the Charter of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan.... The other process dates back to the outbreak of the first World War that threw the Great Republic of the West into the vortex of the first stage of a world upheaval. It received its initial impetus through the formulation of President Wilson’s Fourteen Points, closely associating for the first time that Republic with the fortunes of the Old World. It suffered its first setback through the dissociation of that Republic from the newly-born League of Nations which that President had labored to create. It acquired added momentum through the outbreak of the second World War, inflicting unprecedented suffering on that Republic, and involving it still further in the affairs of all the continents of the globe. It was further reinforced through the declaration embodied in the Atlantic Charter, as voiced by one of its chief progenitors, Franklin D. Roosevelt. It assumed a definite outline through the birth of the United Nations at San Francisco Conference. It acquired added significance through the choice of the City of Covenant itself as the seat of the newly-born organization, through the declaration recently made by the American President related to his country’s commitments in Greece and Turkey, as well as through the submission to the General Assembly of the United Nations of the thorny and challenging problem of the Holy Land, the spiritual as well as the administrative center of the World Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. It must, however long and tortuous the way, lead, through a series of victories and reverses, to the political unification of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, to the emergence of a world government and the establishment of the Lesser Peace, as foretold by Bahá’u’lláh and foreshadowed by the Prophet Isaiah. It must, in the end, culminate in the unfurling of the banner of the Most Great Peace, in the Golden Age of the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh.”
The implications of the above passage as well as the clear picture it presents of the role of the United Nations in the development of Bahá’u’lláh’s World Order has a significance for Bahá’ís that will become increasingly apparent in coming years. We are deeply grateful to the United Nations for the role it played in establishing Israel and maintaining comparative peace in that country so that our World Center can function and fulfill its purpose. We are also grateful to the United Nations for the part it played in resolving both the Persian and Moroccan crises when the believers in those countries were sorely persecuted.
As a token of our appreciation and support of the United Nations the Bahá’í International Community decided to present a small gift to each of the delegations of the member nations and to some of the officials of the United Nations, including U Thant, the Secretary General. A beautifully finished box, bearing on its cover the celestial and terrestrial globes of the world, was prepared in Italy. On the inside cover the following message was attached:
“Presented in appreciation by the Bahá’í International Community on the occasion of the Twentieth Anniversary Commemorative Meetings of the United Nations, San Francisco, June 1965. ‘The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.’ Bahá’u’lláh.”
Numerous letters of thanks were received from the various delegations and we quote from a few.
New Zealand Mission to the United Nations: “I deeply appreciate the gesture of the Bahá’í International Community in presenting me with a memento of the Twentieth Anniversary of the United Nations. Not merely am I delighted by the beauty of the box but even more by its appropriateness. The profound saying ‘The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens’ will remain constantly in my mind as this box with its two globes faces me on my desk.” F. H. Corner, Permanent Representative.
Delegacion de Chile ante las Nacionas Unidas: “I had great pleasure in receiving the beautiful box which you so kindly sent me on the occasion of the Twentieth Anniversary Commemorative Meetings of the United Nations Charter. Thank you very much for this lovely present which I will treasure as a testimony of Bahá’í support of the United Nations cause.” Javier Illanes, Charge d’Affaires.
Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations: “I wish to thank you very sincerely for presenting to me on behalf of the Bahá’í International Community,
[Page 7]
on the occasion of the Twentieth Anniversary Commemorative Meetings of the United Nations in San
Francisco, such a very pretty gift with such an appropriate inscription. I much appreciate the kindness of
the Community.” C. C. Cremin, Permanent Representative.
In addition to the letters we also received many telephone calls to express appreciation and thanks and some of the callers asked for Bahá’í literature.
During the commemorative meetings in San Francisco a Festival of Faiths was held at Cow Palace. The Bahá’í World Faith representative, Mr. Arthur L. Dahl, was seated on the platform with representatives of various religious groups.
On United Nations Day and Human Rights Day, two of the public events scheduled for Bahá’í communities this year, we will have a further opportunity to express our support of the United Nations and our belief in the evolution of world government. Let us hope that every Bahá’í community throughout the world will do its part by arranging programs of interest to the general public. In our public support of this young organization we can begin to see the meeting of the “twofold process” of which Shoghi Effendi spoke so eloquently.
INTERNATIONAL NGO REPRESENTATIVE
IN THE UNITED NATIONS
Esperanto Congress Provides Bahá’í Teaching Opportunity[edit]
The Portland, Oregon, Bahá’í community recently had an unusual teaching opportunity when the National Congress of the Esperanto League for America met in that city. Among out of town Bahá’ís attending the Congress was Mrs. Roan Orloff Stone, of Gallup, New Mexico. A Bahá’í public meeting was arranged for her, to which the Esperantists were invited.
To an audience of about forty-five people, about half of whom were not Bahá’ís, Mrs. Stone told how Esperanto has helped the Bahá’í Faith and how the Faith has helped the Esperanto movement.
One of the guests at the meeting, Mrs. Gigi Harabagiu, a Roumanian now living in California, spoke briefly, in Esperanto, telling of her meeting, years ago, with Martha Root. Mrs. Helen Reed Bishop also spoke movingly about Lydia Zamenhof, daughter of the inventor of Esperanto and a Bahá’í, telling of her visit to Haifa and her death in a concentration camp during World War II.
As a result of this meeting, several Esperantists voiced an intention to investigate the Faith, and a local Esperantist invited a Bahá’í to speak to her group, the Unitarian Fellowship.
Left: Public meeting held in Mantua, Italy during a teaching conference in July. A week later the first Italian believer to enroll in Mantua made his declaration. Right: Sig. Aldo Neva (holding Greatest Name) the first Italian believer to make his declaration to the local assembly of Mantua, Italy. Sig. Neva learned about the Faith during hospitalization when he read all the available Bahá’í books and met several Bahá’ís.
Eighth annual Alaska Bahá’í Summer School held at Juneau, Alaska July 10-14, 1965.
The Day of the Covenant[edit]
This day, November 26, is one of the Bahá’í Holy Days and is dedicated to the commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His station.
In the early days of the Cause the believers used to observe May 23 as the birthday of the Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. When letters were sent to Him telling of the happiness at these celebrations He revealed a Tablet in which He said, in part:
Although their (the believers’) intention is no other than good, their aim be to promote the Word of God and to commemorate the True One among the people in this manner, yet, according to the text of the Religion of God and the irrefutable command, May 23 is the day of the Declaration of His Highness the Supreme (the Báb) ... Consequently they must celebrate and adorn that Blessed Day in the name of the Declaration of that Orb of regions; make rejoicing and happiness, and impart the glad-tidings of heavenly beatitude to each other ... No one must mention that day, May 23, except as the Day of the Declaration of His Highness, the Báb.
The Bahá’ís then asked the Master if they could have a day to celebrate the Covenant, and after may supplications to Him, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá appointed November 26 as the Fete Day of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. It was referred to thus, or as “The Feast of the Appointment of the Center of the Covenant.”
Many years later, in enumerating the Bahá’í Feast Days and Holy Days our beloved Guardian gave instructions that November 26 should be observed as the Day of the Covenant by the believers throughout the world, and should be referred to by that name.
This day is not, however, one of the Bahá’í Holy Days on which work should be suspended. An explanation of this is given in Bahá’í World, vol. XII, p. 552 as follows:
‘Abdu’l-Bahá in one of His Tablets addressed to a believer of Nayríz, Persia, has written the following: “Nine days in the year have been appointed on which work is forbidden. Some of these days have been specifically mentioned in the Book. The rest follows as corollaries to the Text; work on the Day of the Covenant, however, is not prohibited. Celebration of that day is left to the discretion of the friends. Its observation is not obligatory. The days pertaining to the Abhá Beauty (Bahá’u’lláh) and the Primal Point (the Báb), that is to say these nine days are the only ones on which work connected with trade, commerce, industry and agriculture is not allowed. In like manner, work connected with any form of employment whether governmental or otherwise, should be suspended.”
As a corollary of this Tablet it follows that the anniversaries of the birth and ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are not to be regarded as days on which work is prohibited. The celebration of these two days, however, is obligatory.
Especially recommended for reading and study on this Holy Day is the pamphlet by Juliet Thompson, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—the Center of the Covenant. This pamphlet of 28 pages gives a warm and revealing word picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by a gifted believer of the early days who spent many hours in His presence and to whom He wrote many Tablets.
A Herald of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant[edit]
In these days of new, successive victories in the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, it is fitting to recall with thankfulness the services of devoted Bahá’ís who helped lay the groundwork for the present rapidly-growing structure. One of these was Roy Wilhelm, whose “saintliness,” in the words of the Guardian, “indomitable faith, outstanding services, local, national, international, exemplary devotion, qualify him (to) join ranks (of) Hands (of the) Cause, insure him everlasting reward (in) Abhá Kingdom.”
In this tribute at the time of Roy Wilhelm’s passing, Shoghi Effendi also refers to him as “greatly prized, much loved, highly admired herald (of) Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant,” whose “distinguished career enriched annals (of) concluding years (of) Heroic and opening years (of) Formative Age of Faith. Sterling qualities endeared him (to) his beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.”
Roy Wilhelm’s home was in West Englewood, New Jersey. It was on this property that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá held His historic Unity Feast in 1912, whose anniversary is celebrated every year. Of this home ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote Roy Wilhelm: “Your house is My house; there is no difference whatsoever between yours and Mine.”
From 1909, when Roy Wilhelm was first elected to the national body formed to represent the North American Bahá’ís in planning and constructing the House of Worship in Wilmette, he was elected annually to the Bahá’í Temple Unity Board and to the succeeding National Spiritual Assembly, for over thirty years, except for one year on account of illness. For many years he was its Treasurer. It was in his care, to his office at 104 Wall Street, New York City, that cablegrams and Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were sent for many years, to be forwarded by him to their destinations.
Several years before he died, Roy Wilhelm had retired from many activities and lived in a home he had built, surrounded by pine woods, in the State of Maine. Even in this isolated spot people came from all over to see him and were told of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.
Home of Roy Wilhelm in West Englewood, New Jersey.
Baha’i Youth Institute Held in Mobile, Alabama[edit]
The weekend of July 23-25 in Mobile, Alabama marked an historic milestone for the Bahá’í Faith. One of the oldest cities in the country and a southern stronghold, Mobile witnessed another step toward the goal of the new World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
There have never been over three or four Bahá’ís in Mobile at any one time and during a period of years, there was only one — Mrs. Virginia Gans, a lone pioneer. In recent years, another embraced the Faith, Mrs. Alberta Williford, so then there were two! They formed a group and thereby doubled the power of the Faith in that locality. Their efforts for proclaiming and teaching were intensified, and itinerant teachers for the Faith became more and more aware of the warmth and devotion of these two staunch believers. It was they who conceived the Mobile Youth Institute Weekend.
Early in the spring, they began plans for holding this meeting in Mobile. Receiving permission from the National Teaching Committee and obtaining the Jackson, Miss. assembly as sponsor, they carried forward their plans. Letters were written all over the country to obtain speakers. Jackson provided a representative from their assembly, Mrs. Virginia Johnson, who gave unstintingly of herself and her talents, and furnished free literature and visual displays.
The Institute was held in the Juliette Derricotte YWCA Branch, a former Baptist Church. Meetings were held in what once had been the rectory. Children were cared for in an air-conditioned nursery. Delicious meals were prepared and served in the kitchen and dining areas by Mr. Henry Gans, with the assistance of two guest students from the school where Alberta Williford teaches.
On Friday afternoon, the first day of the Institute, Bahá’ís and their contacts began arriving. Arrangements had been made with non- Bahá’í friends for hospitality to those who required it. By Saturday, a total of forty (youths and adults) and fifteen children had arrived. They had come from six states, representing thirteen Bahá’í communities and groups consisting of Urbana, Ill.; Nashville, Tenn.; Odessa, Fla.; Jackson, Gulfport and Handsboro, Miss.; New Orleans, Gretna and Fort Polk, Louisiana; Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile, Alabama.
Mrs. Erma Hayden, of Nashville, Tenn., was in charge of the first session after the Friday evening meal. This was an inspirational session of devotions and singing Bahá’í songs.
The Saturday morning session was conducted by Mrs. Virginia Johnson, who spoke on the lives, examples and teaching methods of the early believers in Bahá’u’lláh in the Western world. This session was closed with a tape sent by the Nashville Bahá’ís which included ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s voice chanting a prayer at the very end. The afternoon session consisted of a panel of youth using as its theme, “Spiritual Prerequisites for Teaching the Faith.” Panel members were: Michael Reimer, Sudie Johnson, Sara Ray, Zoro Banks and Jean Nicholson. That evening there was a public meeting at which Jack McCants, a board member spoke, with Orville Minney, of Huntsville, Ala., acting as chairman. Ten non-Bahá’ís attended in addition to the Bahá’ís.
Two radio stations gave free spot announcements on Friday and Saturday about the Saturday evening public meeting, and paid advertisements were placed in the local newspapers.
The Sunday morning session was conducted by Jack McCants. He devoted the entire morning to the work of the Universal House of Justice, the Hands of the Cause and their Auxiliary Board members and a discussion about the Nine Year Plan.
Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike attending this Institute expressed themselves about the spirit which radiated from it. All were eager to return home and intensify their efforts in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
It was reported that the Institute generated a great deal of interest on the part of people who lived near the YWCA and from the people who worked there, who had occasion to observe.
Already plans have begun to germinate for a possible fall institute as a followup, and it is the hope and prayer that much progress will have been made in the interval between.
Some of those who attended the Youth Institute held at Mobile, Alabama, July 23-25, 1965.
[edit]
A unique fireside was held on the Navajo Indian reservation over the weekend of July 10 and 11.
The fireside was initiated by the Navajo Bahá’í youth at Klagetoh Trading Post, Ganado, Arizona, and was held at the home of the Goldtooth family.
Approximately fifty people attended, including twelve members of the Youth Project West who had recently completed their training period at Geyserville. Many new Navajo seekers attended the meeting and listened to inspiring talks by Auxiliary Board members Beth McKenty and Chester Kahn.
The fireside was later divided into five study groups with a discussion leader and translator for each group. In the evening color slides were shown by one of the Gallup friends. The reverence and response of the Navajo people was perhaps the most distinctive quality at the meeting. This reverence and the enthusiasm of the youth combined to make this one of the warmest Bahá’í gatherings yet held on the Navajo reservation.
[Page 10]
Bahá’í youth at Green Acre, August, 1965.
Enthusiasm of Youth Sparks Activities at Green Acre[edit]
The fire of the love of the Cause of God has stirred the youth at Green Acre this summer to dedicated and sustained activity. Two youth weeks, a program of proclamation, including a rally and follow up in a nearby town, nine declaration among their own numbers as well as the daily tasks of painting, repairing, carpentering, helping with children have all been undertaken gladly and in the true Bahá’í spirit of service.
The rally and proclamation program took place in South Berwick, Maine. For several weeks before the meeting they publicized the event with posters, write-ups in local papers and personal calls. The meeting, held in a “resort chalet” voluntarily donated for the purpose by the owner, attracted an audience of 150, many of whom have shown serious interest in learning more and in attending Green Acre.
These results have come from the willing cooperation of many youth, working together in the Bahá’í way. Under the loving guidance of Brad Lucas of Ipswich, the following are some of the many young people who helped make the undertakings a success: May Khadem, Sharon Davis, Grant Rhode, Steve Waite, Eric Byrd, Gloria and Danny Reimer and Claudia Waite. Surely the many services so lovingly performed by these young people will leave lasting results both at Green Acre property and in the hearts of the many people they taught.
Auxiliary Board members Curtis Kelsey, second from right and Jack McCants, third from left with some of the newly enrolled youth at Green Acre. They are, left to right: John Raynor, Margaret Paterson, Sue McVicker, Greg Garfield, Steve White, Steve Wyatt.
Second Summer School Held at Big Bear Lake, California[edit]
The second annual Bahá’í Summer School for Southern California was held this year at Big Bear Lake, in the San Bernardino Mountains, some 7,000 feet above sea level. The classes were held in a picturesque mountain lodge which, with its surrounding dormitories, was nestled among stately pines.
Each day began with devotions followed by morning classes for children, youth and adults all conducted by a staff of well-experienced teachers headed by Auxiliary Board member, Mrs. Florence Mayberry.
The afternoons were left free for Bahá’ís and their non-Bahá’í friends and relatives to enjoy swimming, hiking, horseback riding and other types of recreation, but special elective seminars of poetry, fireside teaching, pioneering and choral singing were well attended. The solitary scheduled afternoon class was one conducted by Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Beth McKenty.
The evening programs included an eloquent talk by Auxiliary Board member Mr. Chester Kahn who spoke about teaching the American Indian; slides of the World Center were shown by Mr. and Mrs. James Nelson; there was a stirring presentation of activities of the Southern California youth, and a “talent night” provided a most enjoyable mid-week diversion.
The program for the observance of the anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Báb included stories by Hand of the Cause, Dr. Ugo Giachery about the life of the Báb and a pictorial pilgrimage of the Shrine of the Báb by means of seldom seen slides and charts.
The Thursday and Friday evening sessions were open to the public. The former was devoted to a talk on the activities and goals of the United Nations, and the latter included a very enlightening talk on the Faith by Mrs. Mayberry.
The Friday evening session was followed by folk dancing of old and new types and then a song fest around a great camp fire.
On the last day there were reports by the Summer School Staff, including the announcement that nearly $1,700.00 had been sent to the National Bahá’í Fund as a direct result of the talk by Hand of the Cause William B. Sears on the bounties of participating in the Cause of God. His was the final and most stirring of all the talks. In it he described the California Victory Plan which will involve every Bahá’í in California in an intensive teaching program from September first to Riḍván, designed to spread the Faith from the desert of the east to the ocean of the west of the state and from the mountains of the north to the border of Mexico on the south. In closing he called upon every believer in Bahá’u’lláh to arise and assist in this great plan for the victory of the Faith of God.
Flagstaff LSA Sponsors Summer School[edit]
Sixty-five persons including twenty-five youth attended a four day summer school sponsored by the local Spiritual Assembly of Flagstaff, Arizona from June 28 to July 1. Immediately preceding the summer school there was a three day teaching institute, and following it was the annual Flagstaff Indian Pow-Wow.
All sessions of both the Institute and Summer School were held at the Bahá’í property at Bellemont, several miles west of Flagstaff. The property, about five acres, is located in the famous pines of northern Arizona. A single building served the needs of the
Southern California Bahá’í Summer School held at Bear Lake July 4 to 10, 1965.
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school’s first session; participants camped in tents and
cooking was done on a large outdoor stove during the
four days of the school.
The Teaching Institute drew about forty believers from Arizona and other western states, and culminated in a public talk by Francis Johnson of Scottsdale on Sunday night, June 27. The three days of discussion on teaching the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh were led by Mr. Johnson, his wife Loraine, and by Doug Calley of Sedona.
About ten guests, youth and adults, attended the summer school and participated in discussion groups introducing them to the Faith.
The general theme of the school was “The Bahá’í Way of Life.” Discussion the first day centered on “The Bahá’í Within the Family,” under the leadership of Col. C. Bradley Cleveland, of Phoenix.
On the second day Julie and Eliot Sater expanded the discussion to “The Bahá’í Within the Community.” Then James Wonders of Nevada led the discussion on “The Bahá’í Within the Nation.”
For the final day of the school, Gordon Laite, from Gallup, New Mexico, conducted discussion sessions on “The Bahá’í Within the Nation,” and “The Nine Year Plan.”
A New Teaching Approach[edit]
An audio-visual Bahá’í Information Center was used by the Bahá’ís of the Monterey Peninsula during the month of June to bring the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh to the attention of Seaside, California, the peninsula area with the largest Negro population. Two of the friends, Robert Kammer, of the Carmel group, and Dawn Edwards Polprasid, of Carmel J.D. community were asked by Benjamin Browne, one of the two Seaside believers, to assist with teaching. The local assembly of Monterey offered administrative sponsorship.
An empty store was found in a newly constructed building, located at the main intersection of Seaside where through traffic passed. Posters, radio and newspapers were used to announce the opening.
The Ebony magazine article was featured on the window, a large sign that could be seen by traffic converging at the intersection was prepared to attract attention to “Bahá’í.” The friends from the different communities shared materials and labor, even the nine pointed star, made by Ed Miller, was brought from as far as Santa Cruz, and an added touch was the sketch by Kahlil Gibran of the Master, lent to the Center by Inez Greeven, one of the two Carmel believers who knew ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In short, the Seaside Project became a center of loving unity, a real joy and beautiful setting for Bahá’í information.
The Center was divided into two areas: the front section, visible from the street through a large plate glass window, was filled with maps, charts and photographs. One wall of this section was devoted to a book display and free literature. A hospitality table with refreshments was included in this section. The rear section of the center was set up as a theater for showing slide programs about the history of the Faith, the World Congress in London and the World Center in Haifa.
During June from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily an average of ten inquirers came each day. At the end of the month
Book display at the Bahá’í Information Center maintained in Seaside, California during the month of June, 1965.
five carloads of friends and seekers went from Seaside to the July 4 Unity Feast at Geyserville. Three declarations have already been received from people who visited this center. There has been an active program of follow up to include those who showed interest in learning more about the Faith.
From inception to completion there were so many confirmations that the friends who took part in this project knew, with thrilling humility that indeed God assists all those who arise to serve Him. No doubt the future will reap the reward of harvesting seeds sown in such loving spirit at this Seaside Center.
April Edwards reads a Bahá’í book to visitors at the Seaside, California Bahá’í Information Center.
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Local Spiritual Assembly of Alameda, California,
formed at Riḍván, 1965. Bottom row, left to right:
Catherine Rafaat, Verna Rowley, Pearl Newcomer,
sec.; Margaret Cavanaugh. Top row: Hugh Rowley,
John Newcomer, Robert Heidrick, Leonard Kress, Atollah Rafaat, chm.
Bahá’í Holy Days Recognized[edit]
The Local Spiritual Assembly of Snohomish County District #1, Marysville, Washington and the Marysville Bahá’í Group together have obtained recognition of Bahá’í Holy Days in the Marysville School District. Bahá’í children will be excused from their classes on those days on receipt of a note from their parents. In granting this permission, the Marysville Superintendent of Schools wished the believers well in their endeavors.
Picnic, July 25, 1965 at the Carney farm near Clarkesville, Tennessee. Fifty Bahá’ís and visitors gathered to
greet Jenabe Caldwell and his family, to hear of their
experiences in pioneering in the Aleutian Islands, and
to enjoy the spirit of Bahá’í love and fellowship.
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Correction
On page 18 of the July 1965 issue of BAHÁ’Í NEWS the pictures of the local spiritual assemblies of Antelope Judicial District, California and of Alameda, California were exchanged. A picture of the Alameda local assembly appears in this issue. |
Local Spiritual Assembly of Washington County, Oregon formed at Riḍván, 1965. Left to right, seated: Esther Helmick, Mabel Young, Betty Dempster, chm.; Linda Brown, sec. Standing: Harry Earle, Phyllis Murphy, Fred Young, treas.; Marguerite Earle, rec. sec.; Don Murphy, v. chm.
Members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís
of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the occasion of the
incorporation of the Assembly May 20, 1965.
Bahá’í Delegates Active at Congress of World Federalists[edit]
During the week of June 20-June 27 the United World Federalists and the World Congress of World Federalists met at the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco. Bahá’í delegates to the Congress were: Dr. Dwight Allen of Stanford University, Mrs. Adrienne Reeves of San Jose and Mrs. Dorothy Wolfrom of Palo Alto, California. Planned to precede the United Nations twentieth anniversary meeting in San Francisco, this Congress dwelt upon the need to strengthen the U.N. through charter revision, provision for a peace-keeping body,
[Page 14]
strengthening of the Universal Court of Justice, and
disarmament.
Topics discussed at the session included: “Freedom from War”; Freedom that Want”; Freedom for Diversity”; and “Peace on Earth?” Distinguished participants included: Carlos Romula, the Hon. Jerry Voohis, Steve Allen and Norman Cousins as well as many others from many countries.
Throughout the Congress, at discussion meetings, social gatherings and committee reports the Bahá’í delegates had ample opportunity to communicate the Bahá’í views on subjects under discussion and to give information about the Faith to those interested. One member of the Congress, in answering a question from a Federalist about the Bahá’í Faith stated that the Bahá’ís had the concept of world peace through world law long before the Federalists. Another Federalist delegate from England, lingered after the Congress to accept hospitality from one of the Bahá’ís and to discuss the Faith at length.
News Briefs[edit]
Again this year a member of the Bahá’í community of Albuquerque, New Mexico was invited to speak to Dr. Archie Bahm’s class in Philosophy of Religion at the University of New Mexico. A Bahá’í speaker has been included each semester that the class has been given since 1949. This year Mrs. Mary Lou Ewing, member of the local assembly of Albuquerque, addressed the class on May 20, 1965.
The Bahá’í Activities Club this Fall begins its ninth uninterrupted year on the campus of the University of New Mexico, in Albuquerque. Declarations have occurred every year and of these six are now pioneering, while two are members of the Indian Service Committee. Prominent displays have been exhibited in the Student Union Building over the past five years and members of the student group have held membership in the inter-religious council for the past six years. The tribute below was given to the Bahá’í Club by the Chairman of the Program Directorate for 1965-66:
“Officers and Members Bahá’í Activities Center, University of New Mexico—On behalf of the Art and Exhibit Committee of the Union Program Directorate, I would like to congratulate your group for having the best showcase display during the 1964-65 school year. The name of the Bahá’í Student Association will be engraved on a plaque and will be hung in the Program Directorate’s permanent showcase in the Activities Center, courtesy of the Art and Exhibit Committee.”
In July 1965 Dr. Allen Ward, head of the speech department in Lane College in Tennessee, gave a series of four lectures on the Bahá’í Faith in the Student Union Building at the University of New Mexico. The attendance was greater at each successive meeting. There was good publicity.
An animated discussion period followed a public talk on the subject “World Peace and Security—a Dream or a Reality” by Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone at the Parnell Library in Auckland, New Zealand last June. The meeting which was chaired by a member of the United Nations Association of Auckland, attracted over eighty people.
Nine foot illumination of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Prayer for the
Western States. This was prepared by Norman Guarke
of San Bernardino for the California Victory meetings.
California Victory Campaign Announced[edit]
An unprecedented state-wide “Victory Campaign” has been launched by a California Victory Committee appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly. The Committee with Hand of the Cause, William Sears and Auxiliary Board members Florence Mayberry and Anthony Lease has held special meetings attended by members of local assemblies of California. Seventy percent of all assembly members in the State have attended “victory briefings” in Glendale, San Bernardino, Manhattan Beach, San Diego, Sacramento and San Jose. The goals of the special eight month victory campaign were outlined to each Assembly in a rarified atmosphere of dedication and resolve.
Each Assembly was given an extension teaching goal of a group to be raised to assembly status by Riḍván. This would double the number of assemblies in California, raising the number from eighty-five to one hundred seventy. Each isolated believer is to strive for group status, and every assembly and group is to open at least one new center for the Faith in the next eight months.
October is the launching date for special weekend meetings and proclamation, beginning in Los Angeles, with succeeding weekend meetings in San Diego and San Francisco.
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Bahá’ís and friends at picnic July 25, 1965, sponsored
by Bahá’ís of Culver City J.D. and Inglewood, California. David Bond addressed the group on “The Divine
Art of Living.”
BAHA'I IN THE NEWS[edit]
The City of Man, by W. Warren Wagar, Professor of History at Wellesley College, published by Houghton Mifflin, deals with the hopes and possibilities of a world culture. After a brilliant introduction, Prof. Wagar analyzes the full range of recent prophetic thought on the crucial theme — World Civilization, from Toynbee, Huxley Teilhard de Chardin and Jaspers in Europe to Hocking, Northrop, Sorokin and Mumford in America as well as many others. He quotes verbatim from The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh by Shoghi Effendi, about three pages being devoted to the Bahá’í Faith. Here are a few excerpts:
But of all the positive religions on the contemporary scene claiming divine authority, the only one unambiguously and almost single-mindedly consecrated to the job of unifying mankind is the Bahá’í Faith. Its origins are recent, its believers few, its ambitions breathtaking.
In the new world civilization, the Bahá’í Faith will become the soul of humanity. It is the one true world religion, says Shoghi Effendi, which fulfills all the others and is “destined to attain, in the fullness of time, the status of a world embracing commonwealth.”
The Bahá’í Faith is one of the noblest in history.
The local telephone directory for 1965-1966 for Wilmette and Kenilworth, Illinois, published by the North Shore Directory Company and distributed to every home and business in Wilmette and Kenilworth carries on its cover a large picture in color of the Bahá’í House of Worship from the Linden Avenue — Sheridan Road approach. The map included in the classified section also clearly indicates the location of the Temple.
The Source, by James A. Michener, published in 1965 by Random House, refers in the opening paragraphs to “the golden dome of the Bahá’í temple” on Mount Carmel. As published in Readers Digest Condensed Books, summer 1965, a small color drawing of the Shrine of the Báb is included on the opening page.
The Power of Faith, by Woodi Ishmael, published by Pocket Books, 1965 has an article on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, including a full page picture of Him, in the section called “Prophets of Faith.” This section covers also the Old and New Testament prophets, Joseph Smith and John Wesley. The article on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá quotes from Bahá’u’lláh, speaks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a central figure in His Father’s Faith Who carried the movement to Europe and America in 1911 and 1912, dedicating the cornerstone of the Bahá’í Temple in Wilmette. Reference is made to the Bahá’í Faith as growing, with three million adherents in the world today and 310 spiritual assemblies in the United States.
Two excellent articles on the Bahá’í Faith and the Davison School appeared in the newspaper, The Davison Index during August, 1965. Pictures taken at the school were included with these unsolicited and very accurate articles which totalled over forty column inches of publicity for the Faith.
The North Shore Guardian, published weekly in Waukegan, Illinois gave generous space in its August 21 issue to the story of the Bahá’í Woodlawn Summer Project in Chicago. A picture of the children on the first day of the Woodlawn day camp heads the article, titled “A Love Story” which describes the project, recounts the joyous Bahá’í meetings held at Woodlawn and invites all to a special “Gateway” meeting at the Temple.
On March 6, 1965 The Spartanburg Journal, Spartanburg, South Carolina, carried an almost full length two-column article on the Bahá’í Faith under a picture of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. It was written by the church news editor who used material furnished by the State Service Representative and referred to a number of the localities in South Carolina where there are Bahá’ís. The title of the article was: “World’s Newest Religion has Greenville Unit.”
When Hand of the Cause Mr. A. Q. Faizi was in Finland recently at the Bahá’í summer school in Lahti, his visit was written up in three Finnish newspapers. Accounts in each of the two largest papers in Finland referred to his background, his travels for the Faith and reference to the most important Bahá’í principles. In a small weekly paper, distributed freely in Lahti a longer article was printed telling of his visit and quoting him at some length. This article quotes Mr. Faizi thus:
“This is the day promised by all the Prophets of the past. Each man is called upon to help in the establishment of God’s Kingdom on Earth.... I have found the (Finnish) people very kind, of excellent manners, upright, truthful, and above all, very brave. I hope and pray that they will channel all these excellent qualities to help in the establishment of peace, security and divine brotherhood on this planet before wars change men into brutal beasts.”
Baha’i Publishing Trust[edit]
A New Way of Life (What it Means to be a Bahá’í Youth). This is a completely revised edition of the 1960 youth compilation, with all selections taken from the Central Figures of the Faith. (There are also some letters from Rúḥíyyih Khánum youth in an appendix.) Some of the major topics are: Standards for a New Race; Education for the New Day; Teaching the Cause of God; Building a New World. It emphasizes the special role of youth and opportunities for service that exist in this day. The Prayer for Youth and a selection from the poem “World Anthem” by Florence Mayberry are included. In a handy, pocket size (4½ x 7½), the photographic cover has illustrations of youth from many lands.
Per copy | $.30 |
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The Child’s Way
A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS Published bi-monthly by The Child’s Way Editorial Committee
For information, subscriptions write to:
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National Bahá’í Addresses
Please Address Mail Correctly! National Bahá’í Administrative Headquarters: National Treasurer: Make Checks Payable to: National Bahá’í Fund Bahá’í Publishing and Service Department: Make Checks Payable to: Bahá’í Publishing Trust Bahá’í News: |
Baha’i House of Worship[edit]
- Weekdays
- 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
- Sundays and Holidays
- 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Entire Building)
- Sundays
- 3:30 to 4:10 p.m.
- Sunday, October 17
- 4:15 p.m.
Bahá’í Distribution and Service Department[edit]
The Embrace of the Baha’i[edit]
A limited number of reprints of the four page article which appeared in the October 1964 issue of The Kiwanis Magazine, The “Embrace of the Bahá’í,” by Joel Lieber, are still available. This article has aroused considerable interest among Kiwanians and has led to numerous requests for Bahá’í speakers. It is a reasonably accurate account which can be used as an introduction to the Faith with business men’s organizations and others. Reprints may be purchased at a price of 10 for $1.00 postpaid.
Calendar of Events[edit]
- FEASTS
- October 16 — ‘Ilm (Knowledge)
- November 4 — Qudrat (Power)
- HOLY DAY
- October 20 — Birth of the Báb
- PROCLAMATION EVENT
- October 24 — United Nations Day
- U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS
- October 15, 16, 17
BAHÁ’Í NEWS is published for circulation among Bahá’ís only by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, as a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í world community.
BAHÁ’Í NEWS is edited by an annually appointed Editorial Committee: Mrs. Sylvia Parmelee, Managing Editor; Mrs. Eunice Braun, International Editor; Miss Charlotte Linfoot, National Spiritual Assembly Representative.
Material must be received by the twentieth of the second month preceding date of issue. Address: Bahá’í News Editorial Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A. 60091.
Change of address should be reported directly to National Bahá’í Office. 112 Linden Avenue. Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.
