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No. 420

BAHA’I YEAR 122

MARCH, 1966

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Monument of the Greatest Holy Leaf

This Memorial was placed on Mt. Carmel by Shoghi Effendi in honor of Bahíyyih Khánum, sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and daughter of Bahá’u’lláh, elevated by Him to “a station such as none other woman hath surpassed.” (see Bahá’í World vol. V pp. 169-188)

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THE INSTITUTION OF THE HANDS OF THE CAUSE OF GOD

By Garreta Busey

Our understanding of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh is at best very imperfect. Only gradually do we begin to realize that it is an entirely new creation, based on a knowledge, infinitely beyond our comprehension, of man, his needs, and his destiny. We come to it stained with the prejudices of the various cultures in which we have been reared and can but dimly perceive its principles and its implications. Thus, in the formative age of this new Dispensation, blinded by the old and, too immature to understand the new, we have the double task of clearing our hearts of all love and hate engendered by former cultures and deepening our knowledge of a System hitherto unknown in human experience.

Established by Bahá’u’lláh

The Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God is one of the elements of the World Order which we are familiar with and profit by but do not fully comprehend. Unprecedented in human history, it was one of the first of the institutions of the Faith to be actually established, when Bahá’u’lláh Himself appointed the first Hands of His Cause. Of these He wrote:

“May My praise, salutations, and greetings rest upon the stars of the heaven of Thy knowledge — the Hands of Thy Cause — they who circled round Thy Will, spoke not save after Thy leave, and clung not save unto Thy hem. They are servants whose mention and praise are recorded in the Holy Writ, Thy Books and Tablets, wherein are extolled their services, victories, and high resolve. Through them the standards of Thy oneness were raised in Thy cities and realms, and the banners of Thy sanctity were uplifted in Thy Kingdom. They utter not a word on any subject ere Thou hast spoken, for their ears are attuned to hear Thy Command, and their eyes are expectant to witness the effulgence of Thy Countenance. They are servants who have been well-favored, have attained Thy good-pleasure, and have arisen in Thy Cause. The people of the world, the denizens of the Kingdom, and the dwellers of Paradise and the Realm on High, and beyond them, the Tongue of Grandeur send salutation upon them. Praise be to Thee, O my God, that Thou hast aided me to make mention of them and to praise them and their stations in Thy Cause and in Thy days.

“No God is there save Thee, the Reckoner, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” (Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh, translated in the Holy Land.)

Explained by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in His Will and Testament, which was regarded by Shoghi Effendi as a supplement to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, provided for the appointment, by the Guardian, of the Hands of the Cause of God and specified as their functions the protection and the promulgation of the Faith. “... My object is to show that the Hands of the Cause of God must be ever watchful and so soon as they find anyone beginning to oppose and protest against the Guardian of the Cause of God cast him out from the congregation of the people of Bahá and in no wise accept any excuse from him.” (p. 12)

“The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to diffuse the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, and to be, at all times and under all conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things. They must manifest the fear of God by their conduct, their manners, their deeds and their words.” (p. 13)

In this document, the Hands of the Cause of God are referred to as “pillars” and are mentioned immediately after the Guardian and those of the “offshoots of the tree of Holiness” who have stood firm in the Covenant. In the second paragraph ‘Abdu’l-Bahá praises them as those who have “declared His Proofs, proclaimed His Faith, published abroad His Law, detached themselves from all things but Him, stood for righteousness in this world, and kindled the Fire of the Love of God in the very hearts and souls of His servants.”

Appointed by the Guardian

In conformity with the Will and Testament of the Master, on December 24, 1951, the Guardian announced the appointment of the first twelve Hands of the Cause of God. Two months later, when he brought the number up to nineteen, he further clarified their station:

“Members august body, invested in conformity with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Testament, twofold sacred function, the propagation and preservation of the unity of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, and destined to assume individually in the course of time the direction of institutions paralleling those revolving around the Universal House of Justice, the supreme legislative body of the Bahá’í world, are recruited from all five continents of the globe and representative of the three principal world religions of mankind.” (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Bahá’í World, p. 21)

Chief Stewards

When in October, 1957, in his last message to the Bahá’í world, Shoghi Effendi augmented the number of Hands to twenty-seven, he referred to them as the “Chief Stewards of Bahá’u’lláh’s embryonic World Commonwealth.” His unerring foresight, his divinely inspired infallibility, is well illustrated by this title. A steward is one who takes charge of the running of a household or an estate. Less than a month after this message was written, when the believers had not yet recovered from the shock of the loss of their beloved Guardian, the Hands of the Cause of God were called upon to take authoritative charge of the affairs of the Bahá’í world. In the interim between the passing of the Guardian and the election of the Universal House of Justice, they protected the Faith by such actions as the ‎explulsion expulsion‎ of Covenant-breakers and the dissolution of the defecting National Spiritual Assembly of France, which they re-established by calling a new election. At

[Page 3] the same time, they reassured the believers, stimulated them to unremitting activity in fulfilling the goals of the Guardian’s Ten Year Crusade, arranged for a glorious celebration of the Centenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s Declaration of His Mission, and conducted, according to strictest Bahá’í principles, the election of the Universal House of Justice.

In spite of their high station and the authority which, as Chief Stewards of the Faith, they have been called upon to exercise, the Hands of the Cause of God, like all the institutions of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, submit to certain limitations. Although they function under the Guardianship, they have no right to interpret the sacred Writings. Indeed, all such interpretation came to an end with the passing of Shoghi Effendi. They devote themselves to the protection and propagation of the Faith, and now, since the election of the Universal House of Justice, they are released from all administrative activity.

Relation to Universal House of Justice

The relation which exists between the two international institutions of the Bahá’í Faith is one of the strongest proofs of the power of the Covenant. It was briefly defined by Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas at the Conference of the Hands of the Western Hemisphere and their Auxiliary Board members in January, 1964, when he said that the Institution of the Hands is the Remnant of the Guardian with the responsibility of protecting and promulgating the Faith and preserving its unity; it supports the pillar of the Universal House of Justice.

Discord between the Hands of the Cause and the Universal House of Justice is inconceivable. The appreciation of the supreme authoritative body of the Bahá’í Administration for its supporting pillar, the Hands of the Cause, is beautifully expressed in the letter of the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Netherlands, March 9, 1965. Among other things, it points out the undeviating adherence of the Hands to the instructions of Shoghi Effendi during their custodianship and says: “The entire history of religion shows no comparable record of such strict self-discipline, such absolute loyalty and such complete self-abnegation by the leaders of a religion finding themselves suddenly deprived of their divinely inspired guide. The debt of gratitude which mankind for generations, nay, ages to come, owes to this handful of grief-stricken, steadfast, heroic souls is beyond estimation.”

The Hands on their part have again and again in their correspondence with each other and with the believers expressed their great joy that God has at last sailed His Ark on His Holy Mountain, as Bahá’u’lláh prophesied in the Tablet of Carmel. They take great pains to educate the friends to appreciate the majesty of its station by referring to it in their letters as “that Supreme, Infallible Body,” “the source of all good and freed from all error.” They show it the utmost respect. Any matter, for instance, which an individual Hand feels should be brought before it is respectfully submitted through their elected body residing in the Holy Land.

A moving account of their first meeting with the newly elected Universal House of Justice was described by Hand of the Cause Jalál Kházeh on a visit to the United States last year. When a spokesman for the House, in announcing a decision, began to cite passages from the Writings on which it was based, one of the Hands expressed the thought that the acts of that Supreme Body are divinely inspired and need no justification. Then one of the members of the Universal House of Justice, asking permission to speak for the whole, replied that this is indeed true. When the House acts as a body, its decisions are infallible and not to be questioned. And yet, he pointed out, the station of its individual members is lower than that of the Hands, each one of whom had been appointed by the beloved Guardian.

The Aristocratic Principle

Thus the Hands of the Cause of God are the most august individuals in the Bahá’í Community. They represent the aristocratic principle of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, mentioned by the Guardian in The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh (p. 60). Each was selected by the Sign of God on earth for the character and capacities which he possessed, and each should be treated with great respect and reverence.

This we forget in America, because it is our national habit to show respect to no one. Reared in a democratic society, which from its beginning has looked askance at the claims of an hereditary aristocracy, and increasingly informal in our way of life, we are inclined to neglect the courtesy due to these great souls, especially when, in their humility, they fail to demand it. That very humility is an evidence of their high station. It was one of the qualities of Bahá’u’lláh Himself, Who said: “I would love to lay My face upon every single spot of Thine earth, that perchance it might be honored by touching a spot ennobled by the footsteps of Thy loved ones!” (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 44.)

For one who is not a member of the Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God but who has had the great privilege of working with it, the opportunity to see how the divine virtues are exemplified in the way it functions has been an illuminating experience. Although the Hands were given the duty by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá of casting out from the congregation of the people of Bahá those who oppose the Covenant, they do not go about this in a summary or dictatorial fashion. On the contrary, with the necessary firmness they combine the utmost patience, making every effort to touch the heart of a defecting believer and to warn him of the gravity of his act before recommending to the World Center his expulsion from the Faith.

Demonstrate Love

The well-spring of all religion is love, and this the Hands pour forth upon the believers in great abundance. It is an education in the Bahá’í way of life to see how they follow the example of the Master and the beloved Guardian in their generous praise of the friends for their accomplishments, how wisely they ignore those errors and short-comings which time and the grace of Bahá’u’lláh will correct.

The promulgation of the Faith includes not only giving the Message to the world (and this the Hands and their deputies, the members of the Auxiliary Boards, do in public talks and firesides) but also deepening

[Page 4] the believers and, what is more difficult, arousing them to an awareness of their part of the Covenant, specified in the Master’s Testament, the obligation of “one and all to bestir themselves and arise with heart and soul and in one accord, to diffuse the sweet savors of God, to teach His Cause and promote His Faith.” (p. 10)

We little realize the sacrifices the Hands of the Cause are continually making for us. The burdens under which they labor are heavy and unremitting. Their correspondence with the World Center, with the members of their Auxiliary Boards, and with individual believers is enormous. They travel widely and as inexpensively as possible, spending themselves in an exhausting effort to arouse us from our apathy. If only we could realize that by a more active response we could keep a little longer this precious heritage from our beloved Shoghi Effendi! In spite of the illness of many of them, they are in ceaseless activity, justifying the wisdom of the Guardian, who appointed them knowing that they could be trusted to fulfil the obligation laid on them by the Master to “strive and endeavor to the utmost of their ability to diffuse the sweet savors of God, and to guide all the peoples of the world,” and on all of us as well “not to rest for a moment, neither to seek repose.”

The Auxiliary Boards

Less than a year after the appointment of the first Hands of the Cause in our time, Shoghi Effendi called upon them to establish Auxiliary Boards, who were to act as their “adjuncts or deputies” in the promulgation of the Faith. Again, in October, 1957, he announced “a further expansion of the august institution of the Hands of the Cause, in view of the recent assumption by them of their sacred responsibility as protectors of the Faith,” by the addition of Auxiliary Boards specifically appointed for protection (although any of these “deputies, advisors, assistants” to the Hands may be called upon to perform either of the two functions of that institution). Now, with the growth of the Faith and the demands of the Nine Year Plan, the number of Auxiliary Board members has been doubled.

These devoted servants work closely with the Hands of the Cause of God and get their authority from them. They do not act without their permission. They are their messengers, shuttling back and forth to weave, through travel and correspondence, the web of loving unity which binds together the Bahá’ís of the world and to extend it to all mankind. They too, by virtue of their appointment, through the Hands, partake of the aristocracy of the institution they serve.

The ceaseless activity of the Hands and their Auxiliary Board members is made possible by the five Continental Funds, instituted for this purpose by the Guardian. These funds pay the necessary expenses of travel and correspondence of the institution. They do not provide the living expenses of the Hands nor do they supply the means of livelihood of the members of the Auxiliary Boards except temporarily when it is necessary for the fulfilment of their duties.

The Auxiliary Boards too have their limitations. They take no part in the administrative activities of the local and national Spiritual Assemblies, which alone have authority over the teaching of the Cause in their areas. They assist in this work only by invitation. Their primary functions are to aid the Hands in the protection of the Faith, to deepen the believers, and to stimulate each individual to teach.

The Bounties of This Decade

Each period in the history of the Faith has its special bounties, which we tend to take for granted. Ours, in this historic decade, are very great. We have seen the Ark of God launched upon Mt. Carmel and are secure in its infallible guidance. We live in the time of the Hands of the Cause of God, the remnants of the beloved Guardian, appointed individually by him. We can meet them personally and inhale the “divine Fragrances” which they diffuse. We know the wholesome, the healing power which comes down to us from the unity of these two great institutions of the Faith. The love, the mutual respect, the close cooperation, without a trace of envy or contention for power, demonstrated by the highest bodies in the Bahá’í World Order, is unique in the annals of the world and is an example to Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike.

As we purify ourselves from the misconceptions of the past, as we read and reread the divine Writings, we become more deeply aware of the age in which we live and of Bahá’u’lláh’s gifts to us at this particular time. Then we realize that these blessings are bestowed on us for one purpose only: that we may act — here and now. Only by action can we make them fully ours.

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Many of those who attended the Pioneer Training Institute at Davison, Michigan, reported in February BAHÁ’Í NEWS.

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COLOMBIA—VENEZUELA JOIN FORCES IN INDIAN TEACHING

Colombia and Venezuela have a unique opportunity for cooperation in mass teaching. There are thousands of the same race of Indians, the Guajiros, who have the same customs and language and apparent spiritual susceptibility, on both sides of their common border. There are many Bahá’ís among both these Colombian and Venezuelan Guajiros, about 1,000 on the Colombian side and 1,500 on the Venezuelan side. A request came from the Universal House of Justice that the newly developing Indian Institute of Riohacha, Colombia be shared with Venezuela at almost the same time that the first Guajiro Teacher Training Institute was being held at Riohacha, in which five Venezuelan Guajiro Bahá’ís and Peter McLaren, the pioneer teacher of these people, participated. This was December 18-19, 1965.

For the sake of history it may be of interest to record the names of the Indian participants: Rosalba Pimienta, Tiana Arpushana, Tomás Pimienta, Juan Artiz Pimienta, Martha Duarte Arpushana, Maria Teresa Duarte Arpushana, Carmen Pimienta Arpushana, and Martha Epiaya all of Colombia and Rogelio Hernández, José Martín Semprón, Cecilia del Carmen Iguaran, and Maria Cecilia González all of Venezuela.

Guajiro Indian Women are strong, intelligent and self-reliant and are becoming leaders in Bahá’í teaching.

The Guajiros are a semi-nomadic people who have resisted the temptations of the nearby highly materialistic civilization. And since they have maintained relative purity of heart, their acceptance of Bahá’u’lláh comes easily. The big job is getting enough teachers into the field to give them the Message, accept their declarations of faith in Bahá’u’lláh and His principles and then to follow up with deepening. They are dispersed over a broad expanse of the Guajira Peninsula, a semi-arid sandy expanse with vegetation varying from cactus and scrub growth to good-sized trees. The Guajiros often change their location, with seasons and whims, complicating the consolidation process.

Colombia was host at the first Indian Institute, but Venezuela provided the maturity and spirit, since these Guajiros have had more experience with Bahá’í Institute living and learning. Their memorized prayers and

Guajiro Indians with pioneer teachers of four nationalities at First Indian Institute in locality of Riohacha, Colombia.

humble reverence reflected their love of Bahá’u’lláh. Their contagious enthusiasm and wise consultation in both the Guajiro and Spanish languages helped to make the event a delightfully happy and cooperative experience. Teaching methods were demonstrated which relied heavily on visual aids, prayers and various songs which teach aspects of the Faith. The city Bahá’ís of Riohacha cooked and served meals with a spirit of service and love that the Indians do not usually receive from the so-called civilized peoples.

A charming contribution to the teaching was made by Munirih McLaren, age three and a half, who travels with her father throughout the Indian area, sleeping in a hammock at night and withstanding the heat and other hardships by day. Her presence teaches. The Indian friends are always delighted with her “Tagwárda Bahá’í” [Bahá’í brother!] salutation and her songs in their language.

Indian Women Are Natural Leaders

The predominance of women will be noted in the list of Institute participants. This may well portend the important role they are to play in the teaching of the Cause of God among the Guajiro people. The women of the Guajira are strong, intelligent, self-reliant, responsible for their children, and chaste. Their ethical rules of conduct and morals are very strict. Their established customs have not placed them in an inferior position in relation to the male. They are respected and trusted. Girl babies are not scorned — in fact they are to be desired since a healthy, beautiful daughter commands a good price in goats and sheep on the marriage market, a custom that is in the process of change for Guajiro Bahá’ís. As would be expected, the women here lead in Bahá’í teaching and two thirds of the first

[Page 6] Munirih McLaren, daughter of pioneer Peter McLaren, with Clenticia Sencial Epieyu, delegate to last year’s convention in Venezuela. Munirih is winning many friends among the Indians as she accompanies her father on teaching trips.

binational institute participants were ladies dressed in their many-colored full-length “mantas.”

Second Institute Planned

A second such institute was immediately planned for the middle of January and it was carried off with equal success and the participation of fourteen Colombian and five Venezuelan Guajiros.

A month after the first Institute, the Colombian National Spiritual Assembly made history by convening its January meeting at the seat of the Indian service and teaching, Riohacha. Auxiliary Board member, Donald Witzel and the nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly spent one night in the field at the ranchería of Tomás Pimienta, one of the first Guajiro Bahá’ís. Prayers for teaching success were recited together under a beautiful full moon at night and again as the sun lighted the horizon at dawn. Along with the traveling teachers of the area, representatives of the Guajiros and Bahá’ís of Riohacha, they participated in a delightful and happy program dedicating the ground of the new building for the Riohacha Indian Institute, Villa Rahmat. Prayers were read in Guajiro and Spanish, including the Tablet of Visitation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Mr. Witzel, representing the Hands of the Cause, talked about the great importance placed upon the teaching of the Indians by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi and read quotations of the beloved Guardian. Luis Montenegro, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, expressed the satisfaction of the Assembly for the important step being taken for the confirmation of the Bahá’ís of the area, especially the Indians, and for the consolidation of groups and assemblies through the help of newly trained teachers selected from the ranks of the Indian believers themselves. He exhorted the Riohacha Bahá’ís to be exemplary in their service and love to their Guajiro brothers and sisters.

Believer Brings Dedication Stone

As an unpremediated symbol of the spirit called for by Mr. Montenegro, at exactly the propitious moment of the program, a Riohacha believer, Ruben Quintero, arrived on foot, carrying in his arms a heavy erosion-polished river stone which was accepted with unanimous enthusiasm and placed in the readied concrete bed as the “first stone” of Villa Rahmat, the Indian Institute of Riohacha. For the North American Bahá’ís, the occasion was poignantly reminiscent of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s laying the cornerstone for the Wilmette Temple and the arrival of the humble woman with her contribution of the rejected builder’s stone. It was a kind of promise that all will go well with Villa Rahmat in spite of what seem like unsurmountable financial obstacles at the present time and that the teaching effort will flourish in Colombia, supported by people with this kind of selfless spirit. “Make a beginning,” the Master said about the Temple. The National Spiritual Assembly of Colombia has made a beginning with only a small part of the planned building which will in the future be able to house fifty student teachers at one time.

Interview With Governor

During this dedication weekend, the National Spiritual Assembly of Colombia accomplished an interesting step in its public relations with the officially Catholic Colombian government. An interview was arranged with the governor of the new department of the Guajira, Dr. Tovar Daza. A commission of five members met with him for nearly an hour. His direct and penetrating questions as to the origin and teachings of the Faith and the motives of the National Assembly in the Guajira were given straightforward answers. They presented him with a copy of Renewal of Civilization in Spanish. The reaction of Governor Tovar Daza was friendly, positive and appreciative. The National Spiritual Assembly of Colombia was very pleased to be able to convey news of this notable occasion and the hope for good results thereof to the Universal House of Justice, along with news of the collaboration of the Venezuela Bahá’ís in the first two Riohacha Institutes and the breaking of ground for Villa Rahmat, which it is hoped will be a “center of mercy” for the Guajira area.

Bahá’ís of New Ireland Give Talks at Summer School

Newly enrolled Bahá’ís gave many of the talks at the recent summer school sessions held at New Ireland, Territory of Papua and New Guinea. They were of a very high standard, and given without any notes according to Mrs. M. Bluett, pioneer to that area.

A highlight was an impromptu speech given by a woman who said that before she became a Bahá’í she was in prison spiritually, a worthless thing, and now she and the men of the village were equal. In her own way, she demonstrated the social principle of equality of men and women and the power of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh to make it a reality. The average attendance at classes was eighty.

Mrs. Bluett says, “Running the school is not so complicated as a European one, because the people are happy with simple food and are used to sleeping on bare boards.”

The landscape of New Ireland is tropical, very picturesque with volcanoes in the distance, and the village Bahá’ís are hospitable and cooperative.

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How to Make Bahá’í News the “Foremost Bahá’í Journal of the World”

In 1925, in the early years of the Guardianship, Shoghi Effendi turned his attention to BAHÁ’Í NEWS, founded just a few months previously. He wrote to the National Spiritual Assembly that it “should be made as representative as possible, ... replete with news, up-to-date in its information, and should arouse interest among believers ... in every corner of the globe.” His hope was that it would “become the foremost Bahá’í journal of the world.” To fulfill Shoghi Effendi’s request requires the earnest cooperation of all local assemblies, summer schools and other national committees who sponsor or initiate programs of more than local interest.

Reporter Needed From Each Assembly

At Shoghi Effendi’s request, each national assembly was asked to appoint a BAHÁ’Í NEWS correspondent to be responsible for directly reporting events of its area. In this same respect, the National Spiritual Assembly urges each local assembly to appoint someone to act as the news reporter from each community. All items published must come from the official sources only, channeled through the LSA’s news correspondent or from a national committee. The assembly should announce this to the entire community to avoid the confusion of having individuals send in their personal reports.

Articles Should Be Brief, Accurate, Prompt

As the Faith expands around the globe, now embracing sixty-nine national communities with more soon to be formed, it is obvious that the character of the news must change, especially in respect to subject matter and length. Articles should be of interest to Bahá’í communities all over the world. They should be as concise as possible, eliminating nonessential details, with focus on events of more than local interest. Successful teaching programs, public proclamations, unusual publicity for the Faith, outstanding college activity and noteworthy educational and social programs within the Bahá’í community itself — all of these and many more can be worthy of mention, especially when accompanied by good action photos. The goals of the Nine Year Plan should be kept in mind along with any achievements within the community that help to attain them. Effort should be exerted to make known the methods and talents that have led up to a successful program, rather than only the topic and name of the speaker. Often the “behind-the-scenes” activity may be the most meaningful, making the story less stereotyped and with less repeating of the same names over and over again. It is impossible, of course, to mention the names of all persons involved in any project, but an attempt should be made to reveal the exceptional effort and the extraordinary endeavor that is responsible for any outstanding event.

It is important to remember that BAHÁ’Í NEWS exists primarily to record the growth and progress of the Faith and its institutions. Within this framework, those who generate these noteworthy events are a part of the historic process. However, personalities, as such, are not the focal point of interest for articles nor is personal achievement for its own sake, in endeavors that have no connection with the Faith. First person stories are not desirable.

There should be no long quotations from letters, talks or (in accordance with a directive from Shoghi Effendi) no long quotations from the Writings.

Dates and places of events should be fully stated, particularly when several events are treated in one article. Since BAHÁ’Í NEWS serves as an historical documentary, these facts are highly essential. It is best to remember the old reporting guide, who, what, when, where, and why.

Material Should Be Submitted Promptly

BAHÁ’Í NEWS goes to press thirty days ahead of publication date. Material to be published must be in the hands of the editors on the 20th of the month before it goes to press. For example for publication in the June issue of BAHÁ’Í NEWS, an article must be received by the editors no later than April 20, which allows only ten days for all editorial and copy preparation of materials. News received after this time, while worthy enough in itself, may be crowded out by later events.

Photo Guide

When possible include photographs of the event reported, having them as clear and representative as possible. Photos should be black and white prints on glossy paper, sharp, clear and in focus. They should be no smaller than 2¼ by 2¼ inches, the desired size being 5 by 7 or 8 by 10 inches.

Subjects: Newly established local spiritual assemblies, newly incorporated local assemblies, new Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Bahá’í school activities, teaching conferences, public teaching events of an unusually successful nature, events connected with celebration of each of the special Bahá’í Days such as United Nations Day, World Religion Day, etc.

Standards: All nine members of the assembly must be present when the photo is taken. Do not insert or paste in pictures of absent members. No additional person should appear on the official assembly photo, only the nine members. It is not necessary to include the Greatest Name in the group photo. If it is used it must be done with great dignity. If held, it must be approximately chest high and held very straight. A better way is to stand it upright on a table. If framed, the glass should be removed, to prevent the reflection from the glass producing a white blur.

Arrangements: Try to arrange an interesting pose when photographing assemblies or small groups. They can be grouped at a table, signing a document (if appropriate) or examining a book rather than sitting in rows. The ideal is not to be too stiff or formal, but dignity of dress and posture is also of great importance.

[Page 8] These pictures become a record for all time, and appear before the entire Bahá’í world.

Examples: Some good examples of Bahá’í photos that show animation as well as dignity are listed from recent issues of BAHÁ’Í NEWS:

1. Jan. 1965, p. 10: Bakersfield, California: Bahá’ís with mayor signing UN Proclamation.
2. Dec. 1964, p. 8: German Book display at Frankfurt International Book Fair.
3. Aug. 1965, p. 14: Local Spiritual Assembly of Waukesha, incorporated.
4. Sept. 1965, p. 14: Beverly Hills, tree presentation.
5. July 1965, p. 16: Bahá’í College clubs of Western Reserve and of Houston.
6. March 1965, p. 13: the Khádems at Frogmore campus.
7. March 1965, p. 14: Human Rights Day in Washington, D.C.

Include complete data: Complete descriptive information on the subject matter of photos must accompany them, but should not be typed on the back or in any way mar the print. Please be careful to have information clearly printed and correctly spelled.

Photos used in BAHÁ’Í NEWS become the property of BAHÁ’Í NEWS and cannot be returned.

Dignity and Wisdom

In addition to the “qualities of accuracy, reliability, thoroughness,” Shoghi Effendi also stated that the NEWSNews should have “dignity and wisdom.” While to a certain extent dignity can be said to be relative to time and place and certain indigenous conditions, Bahá’ís should strive earnestly for dignity and modesty. “... there exists a sign in the being of man which guards and protects him from that which is unworthy and unbecoming. That sign is called modesty.” (Words of Paradise, BWF, p. 180)

Again, we need to remember that BAHÁ’Í NEWS documents historical events for ages to come; and that it reaches people of all backgrounds, many of whom have just awakened to the light of the Faith, are striving to educate themselves toward a nobler life and need the best examples that can possibly be offered to them, especially from those who have every opportunity to present such an example. It is understandable that many indigenous people coming into the Faith must wear the only attire which they have at this time. Nevertheless, readers of BAHÁ’Í NEWS will observe the dignity often exhibited in many photos received from parts of the world where people lack much of the material substance of the West. Shoghi Effendi calls for “modesty, purity ... the exercise of moderation in language ... and all artistic and literary avocations.” Certainly this must apply to BAHÁ’Í NEWS, in the careful choice of material and its presentation, especially in regard to photographs.

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Michigan State Service Representative Gives Party for Isolated Bahá’ís

Approximately forty isolated Bahá’ís and members of small Bahá’í groups in Michigan were the guests of the State Service Representative, Mrs. Helen Eggleston, in her home in Davison, Michigan on December 5. The purpose of the party was to give these friends opportunity to become acquainted in an informal manner. There was no agenda, and no special program, but the gathering was blessed with the presence of Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Zikru’lláh Khádem and Auxiliary Board members Mrs. Beth McKenty and Mr. William Maxwell.

As the friends arrived they were served coffee and visited together until about 11:30 a.m. when all participated in a prayer session. Following a buffet luncheon Mr. Khádem talked about the Bahá’í Faith in general, emphasizing the necessity for each Bahá’í realizing that every single teaching of Bahá’u’lláh is defensible by reason and understanding. Many questions were asked, and answered by him. Mrs. McKenty and Mr. Maxwell spoke on their personal experiences and observations about how the Bahá’í Faith changes the character of individuals and even of groups and villages.

The discussion of the Nine Year Plan was necessarily brief but it brought forth evidence of an apparent desire on the part of all present to do some service for the Faith, including cooperation in opening new centers and in extension teaching in a nearby town.

The loving attitude and radiant warmth of Mr. Khádem and the Auxiliary Board members, the gracious hospitality of Mrs. Eggleston, the informal nature of the gathering—all combined to create a spirit of relaxation and happy, Bahá’í family fellowship which many had not experienced for a long time, if ever before, because of their isolation from groups of Bahá’ís.

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Spiritual Assembly of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida formed at Riḍván 1965. Left to right standing: Walter Felder, George Frye, Capt. Charles Gillman, Fred Webb. Seated: Kay Harris, Mrs. Mabel Jay, Mrs. Hedwig Felder, Mrs. Dorothy Frye, Mrs. Joanne Gillman. The community has grown from nine members last April to fifteen adults and one youth all of whom participate actively.

[Page 9]

Bahá’ís in Thirty-Two States and Panama Honor Human Rights Day

As of late January Human Rights Day reports have been received from only thirty-two states, the District of Columbia and Panama. Few activities for this day were reported from the southern states, but it is hoped that more was done than reported and that the list of participating cities at the end of this report may be incomplete. However, the great diversity in ways the friends marked this very important Day should give ideas for another year.

Probably the largest event commemorating Human Rights Day was at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette and was reported in BAHÁ’Í NEWS for February. Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois, unable to attend the memorable event in person sent a telegram which said: “I am glad to know that Dr. Bickham’s friends and admirers are paying tribute to him, and I want to pay my respects to him now.”

Those who attended the theatre performance of The Eleanor Roosevelt Story as part of the Human Rights Day observance in New York City.

In New York City the Bahá’ís celebrated with a double feature program. Preceding the formal meeting at the Henry Hudson Hotel, some sixty Bahá’ís with friends and their guest speaker from the United Nations attended a matinee theatre party of “The Eleanor Roosevelt Story” a film which portrays the life of the famous woman who so dynamically led the cause of

Mayor Richard C. Lee of New Haven, Connecticut hands Human Rights Day Proclamation he has just signed to Oscar Stone (center) Bahá’í of New Haven as John Daniels, Deputy Director of New Haven’s Equal Opportunities Commission looks on.

human rights. After refreshments and fellowship at the Hotel, over 125 people heard Mr. Rupert John, Information Officer in the Human Rights Division at the United Nations. He was impressed by the Bahá’ís and described them as being “the most responsive group I have ever addressed.”

Oscar Stone, in New Haven, Connecticut, contacted John Daniels, Deputy Director of New Haven’s Equal Opportunities Commission and arranged with Mayor Richard C. Lee to again sign a proclamation to encourage the people of New Haven to observe December 10 as United Nations Human Rights Day. The New Haven Bahá’ís mailed copies of this proclamation to schools, libraries, churches and human rights organizations in the area, including a presentation at a meeting of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith and use of the text of the proclamation in the large advertisement of the meeting for Human Rights held by the Bahá’ís.

A Human Rights Day essay contest sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Gallup, New Mexico resulted in the two winners reading their essays at the Bahá’í public meeting and going to Santa Fe a few days later to meet the Governor.

Governor Campbell of New Mexico with Ida Di Giacomo and Reuban Ghahate, winners of the Human Rights Day essay contest sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Gallup, New Mexico.

[Page 10] In Fargo, North Dakota, a unique program called for audience participation of an unusual sort. At a public meeting a youth gave the background of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The thirty articles therein were printed separately on cards, which were drawn by members of the audience of thirty people. Each person then came forward, read his article and commented briefly on it. Since the group was international, including university students from India, Formosa, Japan, Nigeria and the United States, a very interesting program resulted and all the articles in this very important document were clearly brought to the attention of all. Later the group enjoyed an international smorgasbord and recorded music from various nations.

Other unusual ways of marking the day include: Use of participants from other than U.S. backgrounds, as in San ‎Fransisco Francisco‎, California; Inviting a guest speaker who told of women who have worked for human rights and showed pictures of them, as in Hartford, Connecticut; Distribution of copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to all students and teachers at the local high school, as was done in Ipswich, Massachusetts; Book review of newly-released books on the subject, as was done in Butte, Montana with a review of: The United Nations: Twenty Years; Having foreign language literature available for guests from other countries, as in Cleveland, Ohio; And the use of films as well as appropriate music, well performed. These last were used in a number of places including Detroit, Michigan, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Human Rights Day Observances in 1965

STATE	CITIES
Alabama	Huntsville, Birmingham
Arizona	Scottsdale, N. Maricopa County, Verde Valley
California	Bakersfield, Berkeley, Eureka, Fresno, Inglewood, Los Angeles, Pomona, San Diego, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Paula, Shell Beach, Temple City
Colorado	Aurora
Connecticut	Hartford, New Haven
District of Columbia	Washington
Florida	North Dade County, Key West
Georgia	Atlanta
Illinois	Batavia, Chicago, Oak Park, Peoria, Peoria Heights, Springfield, Wilmette
Iowa	Waterloo
Kansas	Topeka, Wichita
Louisiana	New Orleans
Massachusetts	Beverly, Ipswich
Maryland	Montgomery County & Takoma Park, Prince Georges County
Michigan	Clinton Township, Detroit
Minnesota	Duluth, St. Paul
Montana	Butte, Great Falls
Nevada	Sparks
New Hampshire	Nashua, Peterborough
New Jersey	East Orange, Teaneck & Dumont
New Mexico	Albuquerque, Gallup
New York	Dutchess County, Hamburg, Huntington Township, Babylon Township, New York, Yonkers
North Dakota	Fargo
Ohio	Cleveland
Oregon	Eugene & Lane County, Portland
Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, Swarthmore
Texas	Houston
Virginia	Fairfax County
Washington	Spokane, Pasco, Kirkland, Tacoma, Yakima
West Virginia	Charleston
Wisconsin	Brookfield, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Waukesha
Wyoming	Laramie
Panama	Canal Zone, Southern District

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Illuminated Bahá’í Temple Display at Moore, Oklahoma for Proclamation Program held December 10-12.

Proclamation in Moore, Oklahoma

A proclamation program pioneered by the Bahá’í Group of Moore, Oklahoma awakened a sleeping community to the announcement that “The Promise of All Ages — Bahá’u’lláh” had come.

Mr. Eugene King, Chairman of the local Spiritual Assembly of Seattle, Washington, was guest speaker during the December 10-12 weekend. The program consisted of a Youth Rally and the public proclamation meeting on the eleventh.

Nine radio and TV stations accepted announcements, two Norman, two Oklahoma City and one Moore newspaper ran feature articles of the meeting with Mr. King, who is an Alaskan-born Tlingit Indian. Door-to-door personal invitations with appropriate Bahá’í literature were distributed to courteous and curious Moore residents by youth teams as part of their participation.

The youth rally attracted eighteen youth, including three Creek-Seminole Indian guests, one of whom made his declaration. The public meeting enlisted the attendance of over forty with nine inquirers.

Moore, a group of six adults and four youth, with the assistance of nearby Norman and Oklahoma City pooled their resources and talent to carry out this mass proclamation.

[Page 11]

World Religion Day Widely Proclaimed In Seventeenth Observance

Beginning with the inauguration of World Religion Day by the Bahá’ís of the United States in 1950, the Bahá’í Community of Maywood, Illinois, has steadily worked toward making this event a city-wide observance. This year these efforts won wide support and publicity from all segments of the community.

Although the Ministerial Association of Maywood as a body rejected, by a vote of six to five, official participation, several of the ministers proffered their wholehearted support and cooperated in the planning for a public meeting to be held in the council chamber of the village hall. The observance was announced in an open letter signed by religious and civic leaders, widely circulated even in the neighboring Chicago metropolitan area where it received excellent newspaper coverage, especially in the religious section of the Chicago Daily News.

Mayor Edgar Elbert issued a proclamation that in recognition of this day “established by the Bahá’ís” and “as a symbol of our love of God” “we light our homes inside and out between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m.” He also urged that all the citizens of Maywood participate “by worshipping and praying that all prejudice whether it be racial, political, national or religious be abolished from the minds and hearts of all men and peace on earth be established.”

The Chamber of Commerce called upon all business organizations to cooperate by keeping their stores and offices lighted, and one of the leading banks urged its clients to light their homes as suggested by Mayor Elbert.

The theme for the non-sectarian public meeting was: “A Community’s Prayer for Peace.” Representatives of the Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish faiths were the speakers. Mrs. Bette Smith, Bahá’í and member of the local planning committee, acted as chairman.

Nearly two hundred persons were present, at least three fourths of them non-Bahá’ís. There was no discussion of creeds or doctrines but only of the Divine Creator and man’s relation to Him. According to a follow-up article in the local press, Reverend Robert Vornholt, pastor of the First Congregational Church, struck the keynote in his challenge to the audience to decide whether or not they believed there is a God in the universe and if they do, to demonstrate their belief in Him and in prayer as a means of communication with Him. This same article reported that eighty per cent of the homes and fifty per cent of the business establishments were brightly lighted during the hours of the public meeting. Recommendations have been received by the planning committee on which the Bahá’ís are strongly represented to have an even bigger observance next year.

Mayors’ Proclamations

In addition to the Village of Maywood, the mayors of a number of other cities having Bahá’í communities gave their support to World Religion Day by issuing similar proclamations. Among them was Chicago’s Mayor Richard J. Daley. A record crowd was drawn to the public meeting in the Chicago Bahá’í Center to hear Auxiliary Board member William Maxwell. There were forty-five spot announcements on local radio stations and excellent notices in five of Chicago’s large newspapers, two of which carried Mayor Daley’s proclamation, reproduced on this page. The article in the

[Page 12] Chicago Defender, America’s largest Negro newspaper, stated the purpose of World Religion Day as announced by the National Spiritual Assembly and the claim of the Bahá’ís that the blueprint for universal peace is contained in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

Mayor Herschel Lashkowitz of Fargo, North Dakota, after stating the purpose of World Religion Day and the aims of the Bahá’í Faith in the abolition of any and all forms of prejudice, called upon all citizens “whatever their faith or personal conscience, to participate in such observance, each in his own individual manner, to the end that mankind makes progress toward the goals of world peace ... good will and brotherhood.” His proclamation was read at the public meeting which included prayers read or chanted by members of Hindu, Muslim, Christian and the Bahá’í Faiths. A panel of three youth and moderator discussed the subject: “Religion Comes of Age.”

In Gallup, New Mexico, the mayor’s proclamation also urged all citizens to participate in the observance of World Religion Day, and in Sparks, Nevada, the Bahá’ís enclosed their mayor’s proclamation in an invitation to the ministers of the local churches to devote some portion of their sermons on World Religion Day to prayer for the abolition of prejudice and the establishment of peace on earth.

George W. Raven, Township Supervisor of Islip Township, Long Island, New York, whose proclamation was signed also by the four township councilmen, designated the day as one of “special observance by all faiths in commemoration of World Religion Day.” Good radio and coverage in newspapers that circulate widely in Nassau and Suffolk Counties also drew much attention to the event.

Mayor Edgar M. Elbert of Maywood, Illinois, signs annual World Religion Day proclamation. With him is George W. Amerson, secretary of the Maywood Assembly.

Members of the Spiritual Assembly of Beverly Hills, California, look on as Mayor Frank Clapp (center) displays his proclamation for World Religion Day. Left to right: Rob Sennett, vice-chairman; Mrs. Lisa Janti; Robert Quigley, chairman.

The mayors of Beverly Hills and of Fresno, California, and of Great Falls, Montana, and possibly many others not yet reported also responded to the requests of the local Bahá’ís to make World Religion Day a community-wide observance.

Public Meetings Well Attended

In Cleveland, Ohio, World Religion Day was observed by a public fireside in a Bahá’í home. A beautiful poster-type invitation was displayed outside the home the day prior to the meeting. Attractive hand-written invitations were sent to a special list of thirty persons. Twenty-five attended, sixteen of them non-Bahá’ís. The speaker was Mr. Howard Tangier, Bahá’í from Berea, Ohio, and violin music was contributed by a contact. Unsolicited publicity appeared on the day of the meeting in the Sunday edition of Cleveland’s largest newspaper.

The meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where one-third of the audience were non-Bahá’ís, was opened with the reading of the prayer for the removal of difficulties in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian. Mr. Jack McCants, Auxiliary Board member was the speaker.

Mr. Jerry Meckleson of Yakima, Washington, recently from Petersburg, Alaska, was the speaker at the Spokane, Washington meeting on “Criterions of Divine Truth.” The event received excellent newspaper, radio and television coverage. The latter was furnished unexpectedly and without prior arrangement by the station’s reporter-photographer who came to the meeting

[Page 13] to interview Meckleson and film the beginning of the program.

The Bahá’ís of Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and North Maricopa County supported a public meeting arranged in Mesa, Arizona, by isolated believer, Mr. David Hildebrand. Approximately thirty-five persons attended, at least nine of whom were not Bahá’ís. Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Velma Sherrill was the speaker. North Maricopa County also had its own meeting at Cave, at which Gordon Laite was the speaker. This meeting was preceded by an interesting exhibit of arts and crafts arranged by the Bahá’ís.

In Brattleboro, Vermont, the speaker was Mrs. Marzieh Gail of Keene, New Hampshire whose subject was “Why Not a World Religion?” The Bahá’ís of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, and of Greenfield and Montague, Massachusetts supported the effort.

Mr. Zahrl Schoeny of Evanston, Illinois, speaker at the meeting in Batavia, Illinois, expressed such enthusiasm and sincerity that inquirers were stimulated to ask many penetrating questions about the Faith which Mr. Schoeny handled with great satisfaction. In reporting the meeting, the local Spiritual Assembly wrote that as a result of the interest shown by these people it has a new eagerness “to go on from here.”

The Bahá’í Group at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, sponsored an interfaith panel on the topic “Religion Speaks to the Planet.” Almost fifty persons attended. Much literature was taken and several students expressed interest in learning more about the Bahá’í Faith.

The Topeka, Kansas, Bahá’í Community arranged their meeting for late afternoon to be followed by a buffet supper. Hand-written invitations were sent to a prestige list of Topekans, including the state governor, the mayor, and the president of Washburn University. Response was requested only from those planning to attend, but Governor Avery sent a note expressing his regret that a previous commitment prevented his attendance. Several leading citizens came, including the mayor. Mr. Donald Newby was the speaker. A good supply of pamphlets was nearly exhausted. Several persons indicated a desire to attend firesides. The Topeka Assembly feels that the evening was both a teaching and social success.

Mr. and Mrs. L. Paul Harris of Mattoon, Illinois, presented a program on “Religion Comes of Age” at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. Following a brief introduction to the aims and purposes of the Bahá’í Faith, a series of excellent color slides was shown depicting the basic spiritual and social teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and others from the World Congress in London to illustrate how these teachings are unifying persons of all religious, racial, political and cultural backgrounds.

The Bahá’ís in the Greater Seattle area, Washington collaborated in holding a large, well-advertised public meeting in Seattle with Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Florence V. Mayberry as speaker on “The Bahá’í Story.”

“The Role of Religion in Today’s World” was the subject of a well-advertised panel discussion sponsored by the local Spiritual Assembly of DeKalb County in Decatur, Georgia. The panel members were Dr. Jay

Participants on a World Religion Day program held January 16 under sponsorship of the Bahá’ís of Durham, North Carolina. From left in the front row: Dr. Adolph Furth, Rabbi M. Berger, and George Goodman, three of the speakers; Mrs. Ludmila Van Sombeek, and the Rev. Henry G. Elkins, the fourth speaker.

Cohen, research microbiologist with the United States Public Health Service; Father Calhoun of the Roman Catholic faith; Mr. LaMar Howard, a juvenile court supervisor from Fulton County, and Mr. Winston Evans, Bahá’í. Questions from both the audience and panel members following presentation of the basic precepts of the religious faith of the speakers pointed up the world consciousness of the Bahá’í ideals and principles.

Richard M. Witter, associate director of alumni affairs at Howard University, recently returned from the World Center of the Bahá’í Faith, was the speaker for the Washington, D.C., community. His subject was: “How Can One God Have So Many Religions?”

The observance of the Bahá’ís of Sarasota and Manatee County, Florida, took the form of an integrated tea for twenty-six believers and twenty-three non-Bahá’ís. Mrs. Jane McCants spoke on the subject: “A Common Faith — the Basis for World Peace.” Mrs. Harriet Kelsey played a number of piano solos. Several of those attending the meeting reported that they had been reading the Bahá’í advertisements in the local papers for some time.

In Greensboro, North Carolina, the meeting took the form of a panel discussion by local Bahá’ís; in Hartford, Connecticut the speaker was Mrs. Jessyca Russell Gaver of New York whose subject was: “The Bahá’í Faith: Dawn of a New Day:” in Tucson, Arizona Phil Lucas, Bahá’í folksinger, artist and radio personality, was the main speaker. Miss Olive Alexander, the speaker in Miami, Florida, discussed “God, Man, and Religion.” Dennis Smith, Bahá’í student and lecturer at the University of New Mexico, was the speaker in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Brief reports have come from many other communities, including the goal city of Eureka, California, where the event was a two-day proclamation program. Space compels limitation of the reports to only these few which indicate, not only the wide variety in the program for World Religion Day, but also the increasing attention that this special Bahá’í event is receiving from persons of prominence and influence across the nation.

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[Page 14] A few of the faces reflecting happiness at the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh celebration, November 12, 1965, held at Muntinlupa Prison in the Philippines. Over 400 attended the all-day meeting, and the authorities exempted Bahá’í prisoners from work and granted the use of the social hall.

Gleaned from International Bulletins

The Bahá’ís of Malaysia are justifiably proud and happy over the acquisition of their new Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, an achievement of the Nine Year Plan. It is situated in a thickly populated and easily accessible area of the busy metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. After its purchase, a committee of a few of the Kuala Lumpur Bahá’ís took charge of various alterations and did an excellent job. The youth helped to clean and tidy the premises. The national administrative headquarters is now installed there and it also serves in many other ways. Surrounding communities use it for joint programs and also arrange meetings for visiting Bahá’ís from abroad. The youth of Kuala Lumpur use it for their activities. Deepening classes, firesides and prayer sessions are frequently held.

* * *

The National Bahá’í Youth Committee of Malaysia has requested youth groups to elect state representatives to consolidate activities within the state and also furnish regular reports from their districts. The Committee has set very high standards for the representatives, expecting them to read and study selected books, to memorize a number of prayers, and to be prepared to travel in their state to arrange activities.

* * *

From the South and West Africa Bahá’í News Letter comes news of a seventy-acre site near Johannesburg, the purchase of which has been approved by the Universal House of Justice. The Continental Goals Committee reports that a pioneer from Jamaica has been found for Basutoland.

* * *

The Auckland, New Zealand, branch of the United Nations Association graciously gave full support to two meetings sponsored by the Bahá’ís for Human Rights Day. The National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand is planning a four-day pre-convention study session in April, 1966.

* * *

The number of new believers in India is now almost 190,000. This is an increase of almost 40,000 since last May. There are now 9,000 centers in India while new Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds have recently been erected by the believers in four villages.

* * *

In the Philippines 500 Bahá’ís have enrolled this year, nine new tribes now being represented in the Faith. Two hundred and twelve new localities have been established this year.

Correction

A letter of January 17, 1966 from Korea expresses regret in omitting mention of the National Spiritual Assembly of North East Asia as a principal sponsor of the purchase of their new Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, reported on page 11 of the December, 1965, BAHÁ’Í NEWS. They state that, as the parent National Assembly to the NSA of Korea, North East Asia was also the chief advisor in the selection of this building.

BAHA'I IN THE NEWS

The Collier County News for November 30 published an article, including photograph, about Mrs. Billie Smith, a Bahá’í and leader in civic affairs whose name will appear in Who’s Who of American Women. A paragraph in the article is devoted to mention of the Bahá’í Faith and of her affiliation with it.

* * *

The current edition of Who’s Who of American Women lists Mrs. Lois K. Nochman who is a Bahá’í and member of the community of Highland Park, Michigan. A writeup of this listing was carried in a local newspaper, the Highland Parker, mention of her Bahá’í membership and activities being included. Mrs. Nochman is an instructor in English at Highland Park Community College.

〇

A four column account, including picture of the family of Dr. and Mrs. Irvin M. Lourie, Bahá’ís of Bethesda, Maryland appeared in the December 30 edition of the local newspaper, the Sentinel, of Montgomery County. The account, based on an interview with the family, gives a full and quite accurate story of the Faith, including its tenets and administrative structure. The excellent picture of the Lourie family in their home includes with special mention, the photograph of the Wilmette House of Worship which hangs on a wall of the Lourie home.

〇

A nineteen inch story of the Bahá’í Faith appearing in the Baltimore Sun of January 9 and entitled: “Bahá’í Faith: Quiet Growth — 77 Baltimoreans Adhere to Young Religion” grew out of the attendance at the Baltimore Human Rights Day meeting of a reporter for the Baltimore Sun. The newspaper, in extending its coverage of the “little known and publicized Faiths in the city,” gave the account of the Bahá’í Faith in comprehensive and quite objective manner.

〇

The first article in the Chicago Tribune Magazine for January 16 with the title “Three Billion Faithful” refers to World Religion Day as being sponsored by the “Bahá’ísts, to demonstrate the universal oneness of all revealed religion.” Although the article does not refer further to teachings of the Faith or to any specific Bahá’í meeting it brings to the attention of many the name and the basic truth which the Faith proclaims.

[Page 15]

Michigan Legislature Pays Tribute to the Bahá’í Faith

When Powell Lindsay, a Bahá’í and Legislative Assistant in the Legislative Service Bureau of the Michigan State Legislature, learned that the 1965 Bahá’í State Convention was to be held in Lansing, Michigan, he thought that this would be an appropriate time to bring to the attention of the 148-member Michigan Legislature the objectives of the Bahá’í Faith. He discussed the idea with Senator Basil Brown, his personal friend, who is the Majority Floor Leader of the Senate. Senator Brown instructed Mr. Lindsay to draft a resolution which he would consider presenting before the Senate.

Probably because he has been an active supporter of human rights legislation for ten years, Senator Brown was highly impressed to learn that the Bahá’ís believe strongly in a unified world society, and therefore, when the resolution was read on the floor of the Senate, he spoke eloquently in support of the Bahá’í concepts.

The resolution (Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 129) was adopted by the Senate on October 14, 1965, and by the House of Representatives on December 9, 1965. It reads as follows:

“Whereas, The Bahá’ís of the state of Michigan, will hold their State Convention on November 7, 1965, in Lansing, Michigan; and

“Whereas, The Bahá’í Faith is a new, independent universal religion, whose goal is to revitalize mankind spiritually; to break down the barriers between peoples and lay the foundation for a unified world society based upon principles of justice and love, and teaches that the fundamental purpose of religion is to promote concord and harmony, and states that religion must go hand-in-hand with science, and that it constitutes the sole and ultimate basis of a peaceful and ordered society; and

“Whereas, The Bahá’í World Faith recognizes that the major problem of our age is the resolution of a series of deeply ingrained conflicts which are interrelated and penetrate various levels of society; conflicts between ideologies, nations, religions, races and classes. Such conflicts, when combined with the weapons of annihilation our age has produced, threaten the future of civilization; and

“Whereas, Members of the Bahá’í World Faith have by their daily activity spread love and unity among people in 270 countries, islands and dependencies throughout the world and in their concept of the principle of the Oneness of Mankind recognize what is needed is a new spiritual approach which will reconcile the basic contradictions in major religious beliefs, and be consistent with modern scientific and rational principles, and offer to all peoples a set of values and a meaning to life that they can accept and apply to our age; now therefore be it

“RESOLVED BY THE SENATE (the House of Representatives concurring), That the members of the Michigan Legislature, for themselves and for the people of the state of Michigan, extend their highest tribute to the members of the Bahá’í World Faith in their efforts to promote THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH; and be it further

“RESOLVED, That copies of this tribute be presented to the National Spiritual Assembly, the National Teaching Committee and the Local Spiritual Assembly of Lansing as a testimony of the high esteem and admiration the Michigan Legislature and the people of Michigan for whom it speaks have for the Bahá’í World Faith.”

Appreciation to Senator Brown

In appreciation of the act of Senator Brown, the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Highland Park, Michigan, presented him with a handsome formal certificate of appreciation which reads as follows:

Let it be Known that:
Senator Basil W. Brown

Having performed an act so praiseworthy and meritorious by introducing and bringing to the attention of the legislative body of

the state of Michigan
the precepts of the
Bahá’í World Faith

in his dedication to the Oneness of Mankind through a peaceful and divinely ordained society founded on justice and liberty for all wherein the individual’s dignity and human rights are preserved is commended

We, the Highland Park Bahá’í Community in grateful acknowledgment extend our warmest and greatest appreciation to Senator Brown.

The certificate was signed by Mr. Marvin Hughes, chairman of the Highland Park Bahá’í Assembly.

George W. Amerson, Bahá’í, Receives Award of Merit

While in New York City in 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke one day to the Bahá’ís on the subject of “Distinction.” “I desire distinction for you,” He said, and then described the qualities by which “the Bahá’ís must be distinguished from others of humanity.”

As one illustration of how persistent efforts in teaching and practising the basic principles of the Bahá’í Faith will sooner or later attract attention from “others of humanity” it gives the Editors of BAHÁ’Í NEWS pleasure to quote the following “Citation and Award of Merit” presented on January 14, 1966 by Mayor Edgar Elbert of Maywood, Illinois, to Mr. George W. Amerson, member of the Maywood Bahá’í Community and currently its secretary:

“The Village of Maywood in recognition of the service given this community presents this award of merit to George W. Amerson as a symbol of our esteem and appreciation for his untiring efforts and cooperation to make this village a better place to live in and his outstanding achievements and success in the promotion of peace and unity among all peoples regardless of race, color, political or religious background.

“For over thirty years he has been a member of the Bahá’í Faith and active in abolishing all prejudice in this village.”

[Page 16]

Baha’i Publishing Trust

Messages to Canada. By Shoghi Effendi. Introduction by John Robarts. This volume published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada includes the first letter from Shoghi Effendi ever written to Canada — a letter to the Montreal Spiritual Assembly, on January 2, 1923; other messages to the Canadian National Assembly since its formation in April, 1948; and various letters transmitted through the Guardian’s secretary and those written by Leroy Ioas, late Hand of the Cause, at Shoghi Effendi’s direction. Canada’s part in the Ten Year Crusade, from 1953 to 1957, form a special section of the book, some forty messages in all. 78 pages, bound in red cloth.

Per copy	$3.00 NET

[Order through your local library service]

Available from:	Bahá’í Publishing Trust
	110 Linden Ave.
	Wilmette, Illinois 60091

The Child’s Way A GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS Published bi-monthly by The Child’s Way Editorial Committee RATES: U.S.  $2.00 per year Foreign $2.50 per year Back issues, set of six $1.00 For information, subscriptions write to: The Child’s Way Box 245 Wilmette, Illinois 60091

Publication of WORLD ORDER to be Resumed

After a seventeen year hiatus the Bahá’í magazine, WORLD ORDER, will soon resume publication, revitalized and expanded. In order to provide another essential channel for widespread promulgation of the Bahá’í Cause, WORLD ORDER will publish features of broad intellectual, theological, cultural and human interest. The intense social conscience of the Bahá’í principles will permeate its editorial policy. Its articles will be written by men and women of stature, able to provoke thought in those areas of particular concern to Bahá’ís. Authors will be both Bahá’ís and authorities invited to contribute because of their distinctions in selected spheres. In short, the journal will be of interest to all persons of broad literary tastes and will not be confined to Bahá’í concerns.

An Editorial Board has been named: Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, Dr. Howard Garey, Mr. Monroe Michels, Mrs. Muriel Michels. Contributing editors and special editors will shortly be appointed. Preparatory work on the first year’s articles is far advanced, and a Table of Contents for the opening issue is soon to be announced.

The journal will be published four times each year, with the first quarterly issue to appear in October 1966 or January 1967. Individual subscriptions are $3.50 per year; special rates for multiple subscriptions and for multiple years will be announced.

Since WORLD ORDER must support itself primarily through the subscriptions of the Bahá’í friends, and later of those who find its pages rewarding, it is imperative that pre-publication subscriptions flood into the Editorial Board, as an expression of Bahá’í enthusiasm felt for this vital teaching venture begun again. All correspondence concerning the magazine, subscriptions, and checks made payable to WORLD ORDER, should be mailed to Mrs. Muriel Michels, 1 Cove Ridge Lane, Old Greenwich, Connecticut 06870.

Calendar of Events

FEASTS

March 21 — Bahá (Splendor)

April 9 — Jalál (Glory)

DAYS OF FASTING

March 2 to 21

HOLY DAY

March 21 — Naw-Rúz (Bahá’í New Year)

U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS

March 25-27

April 27; May 1-3

NATIONAL BAHA’I CONVENTION

April 28-May 1

Baha’i House of Worship

Visiting Hours

Weekdays

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)

Sundays and Holidays

10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Entire Building)

Service of Worship

Sundays

3:30 to 4:10 p.m.

Public Meeting

Sunday, March 20

4:15 p.m.

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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.