| ←Previous | Bahá’í News Issue 461 |
Next→ |
 Proofread onceReturn to PDF view
|
| No. 461 | BAHA’I YEAR 126 | AUGUST, 1969 |
Bahá’í House of Worship near Sydney, Australia
CORNER STONE LAID FOR ḤAẒÍRATU’L-QUDS — ETHIOPIA/SOMALIA[edit]
Prayer by Continental Board of Counsellors
member Mr. Aziz Yazdi, after setting the
cornerstone of the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds
of Ethiopia and Somalia during the Convention of the Bahá’ís of North East Africa
held last April.
Continental Board of Counsellors member
Aziz Yazdi breaking the ground for the
setting of cornerstone for the National
Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Ethiopia and Somalia.
ETHIOPIAN BAHÁ’ÍS HOLD ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS[edit]
Group photograph in Gemetto, Ethiopia,
after assembly election. Standing, fourth
and sixth from right, are Mr. and Mrs.
Jarrah from Tripoli. Seated, at extreme left,
is Jamshid Abdul-Nabil from Addis Ababa,
and third from left is Salah Jarrah, a pioneer
in Djibouti.
Group photograph after assembly election,
Bulbula, Ethiopia. Among them are Mr. and
Mrs. Jarrah, Jamshid Abdul-Nabil, and
Salah Jarrah.
Intercontinental Travels Of The Hands Of The Cause Of God[edit]
PLANS are being formulated for the Hands of the Cause of God whose health permits them to undertake visits to various lands. Following is a brief outline of some of the more recent travels of the Hands of the Cause.
Hand of the Cause Zikru’lláh Khádem visited Persia and had fruitful consultations with the Continental Board of Counsellors and the National Spiritual Assembly of Persia. From there he visited neighboring countries accompanied by one of the Counsellors. Later he participated in the National Convention of Panama, and traveled to Haiti.
Hand of the Cause Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel traveled and taught in Iceland, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands. After participating in the Austrian Convention, he attended the Austrian Summer School May 23-27. The month of June was spent in Iceland assisting the teaching work in that crucial goal island.
Returning from his highly successful teaching journeys in India, Hand of the Cause Mr. Enoch Olinga represented the Universal House of Justice at the first National Convention of Burundi and Rwanda.
Hand of the Cause William Sears brought his eloquence and unique spirit to the Continental Board of Counsellors’ deepening conferences in Los Angeles and Vancouver and to the National Convention of the United States.
For Hand of the Cause John Robarts, the winter-spring program of the Continental Board of Counsellors’ deepening conferences throughout the United States and Canada was a major responsibility and opportunity. At Montreal, Oshawa, and Saskatoon in Canada, at Atlanta, Philadelphia, and St. Louis in the United States, Mr. Robarts contributed crucially to the success of the deepening programs.
Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone’s travel trip to the first National Convention of Papua and New Guinea, where he represented the Universal House of Justice, began with a stop at Yerrinbool Summer School where he participated in the first Youth Conference of Australia.
Hand of the Cause Dr. Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir traveled in India during the first week of April, and in Burma on April 6 and 7 where he consulted with the National Spiritual Assembly. He then traveled to Laos, Malaysia, and to Indonesia, where he spent nine days visiting the friends. From there he traveled to the Philippine Islands to participate in the National Convention, after which he met with Mr. Featherstone in New Guinea and visited some of the newly developed Bahá’í centers. His next trip will be to Mexico, with visits enroute planned for New Britain, the Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, and the Society Islands.
Hand of the Cause Abu’l-Qásim Faizí has now completed his lengthy journey to the Far East and has been in Ṭihrán. From the Philippine Islands at the end of his trip, he doubled back to Singapore, then on to New Delhi at the end of January; in India he taught at Panchgani and Poona, from whence he flew to Ṭihrán. He has been a source of inspiration to the Persian youth who are engaged in intensive activity. He anticipates an early return to the Holy Land.
The Passing of Forsyth Ward[edit]
GRIEVED ANNOUNCE SUDDEN PASSING NAIRNE FORSYTH WARD DEVOTED BELIEVER WHO WHILE ENROUTE PIONEER POST AFRICA DURING CRUSADE RESPONDED REQUEST HANDS CAUSE REMAIN BAHJI AS CUSTODIAN SACRED SHRINE BLESSED BEAUTY SERVING WITH WIFE JANET IN THAT EXALTED POST UNTIL HIS PASSING. HIS DEVOTED SERVICES AMERICAN HOMEFRONT SINCE EARLY TWENTIES LONG REMEMBERED. VIEW HIS INTIMATE ASSOCIATION GEYSERVILLE ADVISE HOLD BEFITTING MEMORIAL SERVICE DURING SUMMER SCHOOL SESSIONS THERE. PRAYING SHRINES PROGRESS HIS SOUL ABHA KINGDOM
In addition to the above cablegram sent on June 9,
the Universal House of Justice wrote to the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States:
“... Mr. Ward fell and passed away in the gardens at Bahjí early on the morning of June 8. The funeral services were held in Haifa on June 9 and Mr. Ward was laid to rest in the Bahá’í cemetery at the foot of Mt. Carmel.
“Mr. and Mrs. Ward had planned to leave the Holy Land early next month and were arranging their affairs at the time of his passing.”
TEN NATIONAL CONVENTIONS DISCUSS[edit]
NORTH EAST AFRICA
National Convention of the Bahá’ís of North East Africa, 1969.
Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of North East
Africa 1969-1970. Rear, left to right: Iraj Yegane; Dr. Leo
Niederreiter, chairman; Asfaw Tessema, secretary; Gila Bahta;
Rabbi Teclemariam. Front: Amanuel Mekonnen; Dr. Heshmat
Farhoumand, treasurer; Mrs. Ursula Samandari; Mehtzun
Tedla.
NORTH EAST ASIA
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of North East Asia,
elected Riḍván 1969. Left to right, front: Atuallah Moghbel,
treasurer; Mrs. Barbara Sims, corresponding secretary; Dr.
Ikuo Mizuko; Philip Marangella, vice-chairman. Rear: Masazo
Odani; Eugene Schreiber, recording secretary; Dr. Toshio
Suzuki; Abbas Katirai, chairman; and Hiroshi Yamazaki.
Thirteenth Annual Convention of Bahá’ís of North East Asia, April 1969. Counsellor Board member Mr. Momtazi is sitting in
the middle, with Auxiliary Board members Kazutomo Umegae, left, and Hideya Suzuki, right.
NINE YEAR PLAN GOALS[edit]
GILBERT and ELLICE ISLANDS
Convention delegates and friends, Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.
ALASKA
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Alaska for
1969-70. Left to right, front: Robin Fowler, Mrs. Georgia
Haisler, recording secretary; Mrs. Janet Smith, secretary;
Robert E. (Pat) Moul, chairman; rear: Ben Guhrke, Blaine
Reed, Arthur Jess, Jr., Donald A. Anderson treasurer; John
Kolstoe, vice chairman.
Native believers who attended the thirteenth annual Bahá’í Convention of Alaska, April 26-27, 1969. Auxiliary Board members Howard Brown and Ted Anderson are at left and right ends of second row. Also included are Melba and Eugene King, visitors from Seattle, Washington.
[Page 6]
THAILAND
Left: Delegates attending the recent National Convention in Thailand. Right: The newly elected National Spiritual Assembly of Thailand. Left to right, front: Mrs. Dhanya Apijatbutr, secretary; Miss Carmen Rabena; Mrs. Shirin Fozdar, chairman; Miss Lampoon Buasak. Rear: Chalad Bromavongsanon; Sawang Thongsoot; Natarajah Yogachandra, treasurer; Wichai Strikhem; Prasasana Buahaothong.
BOLIVIA
Newly elected National Spiritual Assembly of Bolivia. Left to
right, front: Dr. E. Ouladi; Migues Diez, chairman; Manucher
Shoai. Rear: Isidro Jachakollo; Sabino Ortega; Carmelo Jachakollo; Angelica Costas, secretary; Andres Jachakollo; Ehsanollah Rezvani, chairman.
Delegates attending the National Bahá’í Convention of Bolivia, Riḍván 1969, held in Cochabamba at the National Bahá’í Institute.
[Page 7]
SWAZILAND, LESOTHO AND MOZAMBIQUE
The third national Convention was held in Swaziland April 25-27, at the new University-College of Luyengo, the Agricultural Branch of the University of Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland. It was extremely well attended by delegates and friends from all three countries and there were never less than 100 people during the Saturday and Sunday program. The Convention was singularly blessed by a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Africa, Mr. Shidán Fatḥ-i-A’ẓam, who was in no small way responsible for the fire and enthusiasm which slowly developed through the course of the convention.
During the reading of the message from the Universal House of Justice (in English, Zulu, and Sesotho) and the discussion of it afterwards, the urgent need to win and consolidate the goals of the Nine Year Plan as rapidly as possible was expressed. Mozambique has obtained three out of the necessary ten local assemblies to complete its goals; Lesotho had gained ten (possibly eleven) of its necessary fifteen; and Swaziland had achieved fourteen of its goal of fifty. The Convention learned that 2.7 acres of land had been acquired and paid for in Swaziland with strong hopes for a teacher-training institute to be erected there so that teachers could be trained before Riḍván next year. It would also provide an ideal location for the next convention. All of this depends upon getting a few problems sorted out so that the construction can go ahead. Money has also been pledged for the same buildings in Lesotho.
National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland, Lesotho, and Mozambique, 1969-1970. Left to right, front: Rudolfo Duna, Angelica Duna, Bothata Pokane, Arthur Maqutu. Rear: Christopher
Kuhlase, John Allen, Valera Allen, Charles Ducker, Philip
Harvey.
MALAYSIA AND BRUNEI
Brief accounts of these Conventions are given on page 10 of this issue of BAHÁ’Í NEWS.
PARAGUAY
See page 16 this issue BAHÁ’Í NEWS “Paraguay Cites Goals Achieved” for account of Convention and election of National Spiritual Assembly 1969-1970.
National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Swaziland, Lesotho, and Mozambique, 1969.
Five English Goal Towns Respond To Proclamation[edit]
Special Bahá’í Weeks were held in the goal towns of Bath, Bedford, Ipswich, Poole, and Stafford in the British Isles. Although the Mayor of Bath was unable to attend the reception, he agreed to accept a book and arranged for the Bahá’ís to meet him. The highlight of the week was the appearance on television of the secretary of the Bath Bahá’í Group, in the program “Points West.” The results from this are still coming in with inquiries from places throughout the south and southwest, and interest was shown by people helping to produce the program and even by cameramen. This wonderful publicity helped in no small measure to insure success, and all meetings in Bath were well attended. Some Welsh youth entertained with Bahá’í songs and were well received by everyone. Public meetings, fireside meetings, slide shows, coffee evenings — all these took place in Bath as in all the goal towns.
The Week in Bedford was launched by the Mayor, who attended the reception and presentation and gave a good account of the Faith in his address. The local Member of Parliament sent a letter of good wishes and told of his visits to the Temple at Wilmette and the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel, and of his knowledge of the good work being done by Bahá’ís. Attendance at all meetings was good, with many guests at each meeting. A constant stream of people viewed the two window displays, some venturing inside to inquire further.
In Ipswich the Bahá’í Week was launched by a reception and presentation to the Mayor, with forty-two people present, including a team of television cameramen. An excellent photograph of the event appeared in the local press. Among the results of this proclamation were the following: The heads of most of the departments concerned in running the town learned about the Faith; leaders of various clubs and societies received invitations to the receptions; the press reception led to a good feature article; pamphlets were given education officers concerned in booking for the civic college; a request came to supply a speaker at the Y.M.C.A.
The Mayor of Poole was unable to attend the reception and presentation there but agreed to accept the book All Things Made New and invited the Bahá’ís to meet him later. A week later the Bahá’ís were invited by the local United Nations Association Youth Group to send a speaker.
In Stafford the Bahá’ís got off to a wonderful start with a reception and presentation of the book All Things Made New to the Mayor by Hand of the Cause Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel, with Board of Counsellors member Mrs. Dorothy Ferraby and Auxiliary Board members Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Gregory also present. The Mayor and Mayoress, who was presented with flowers, were obviously very happy. The Mayor, who had studied about the Faith prior to the occasion, gave the Bahá’ís a good account and said that the sooner humanity realized that they were one big family, the better things would be. Meetings throughout the week were well attended, and non-Bahá’ís usually outnumbered
Hand of the Cause Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel presents the Mayor of Stafford with a copy of the book All Things Made New.
the Bahá’ís. With the meetings, publicity, and
shop window displays, it is no exaggeration to say that
hardly a soul missed hearing the word “Bahá’í” in this
town. It was the talking-point and will be for some time
to come.
A great deal of the success of the proclamation in the five towns is attributed to the cooperation and support of the Bahá’ís from other communities who gave of their time to help to teach and to answer questions by the many inquirers.
University Students In British Isles Widely Proclaim Faith[edit]
In Southampton a Bahá’í has been asked to organize a series of talks on comparative religion, including a talk on the Bahá’í Faith. Up to 100 students attend these lectures, which are all given by Bahá’ís. In Durham University the last of a series of lectures on “Science and Belief in the Seventies” was on the Bahá’í Faith. Despite the fact that previous lecturers were authors, professors, etc., the organizers wrote to say that the Bahá’í talk was by far the best. Another college meeting has been arranged arising from this lecture. In Edinburgh the three members of the University group have proved a regiment in their proclaiming of the Faith to the students. Thousands of duplicated and printed leaflets have been handed out and so much interest was aroused that the Christian Union, in the midst of a major mission, had to issue a four-page leaflet about the claims of Bahá’u’lláh. It was itself an excellent proclamation of the Faith with only a few errors, and it clearly showed the relevance of the “appealing teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.” Bahá’í meetings since then have been busy. In Sheffield the University paper has printed an excellent article on the Faith and a crowded room of students attended a talk on Bahá’í organized by the Christian societies. The Bahá’ís of Leeds and Dublin have both recently formed teaching groups in these Universities.
[Page 9]
Participants at the International Bahá’í Youth Conference April 3-6, 1969, in Madrid.
Madrid Site of First European Youth Conference[edit]
An international conference was held in Madrid April 3-6, organized by the National Youth Committee of Spain. Over thirty enthusiastic young Bahá’ís attended, representing Austria, England, France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland. Written reports on activities were received from Denmark, Finland, and the Netherlands.
It was the first time such an activity was held among national youth committees in Europe. Auxiliary Board member Charles M. Ioas, chairman for the conference, commented: “It was a thrill to see young minds working in such a selfless way.”
Every day was full of constructive consultation. The mornings were given to reading of reports from representatives of various countries and discussion. A need was expressed for more coordination of exchange students, with lists of universities and goal cities in each country available to youth in Europe and possibly the United States and Írán who are planning to study abroad.
The general desire was to hold conferences annually in the future; as well as an international youth summer school. The highlight of the final day was a picnic lunch at the Temple site near El Escorial.
International News Briefs[edit]
The first Bahá’í marriage between a Honduran (Carmen Alba Luz P. Moncada) and a Persian (Parviz Rohani), both Bahá’ís, took place in May in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The wedding was attended by many guests who expressed interest in the Faith. The couple plan to live in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, where they will continue their pioneering efforts.
International News Briefs (con.)[edit]
The bulletin of the Italian Esperanto Federation tells of discussions held between the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Italy and the Esperantists which led to a plan of mutual cooperation including: attending each other’s meetings, exchanging information and planning joint conferences.
British Isles[edit]
Seven Bahá’ís from Birmingham, London, Manchester, and Salisbury were among several hundred guests who attended a reception at Lancaster House, St. James, London, on December 18, for those who had served on national or local Human Rights Year committees, to have the honor of meeting H.R.H. Prince Philip, the Royal Patron of the Human Rights Year in the United Kingdom, as well as to greet one another and exchange experiences of Human Rights activities. All were agreed that although Human Rights Year itself had come to an end, it was by no means the end of the task of working to establish throughout the world the recognition of human rights. At the close of Human Rights Year the National Assembly sent to all the national newspapers a letter setting out clearly the Bahá’í attitude and principles in relation to human obligations and rights, and local assemblies were encouraged to send similar letters to their local newspapers.
Finland[edit]
Eino Kyliainen, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Finland, represented the Bahá’í Faith in a discussion program at the Christian-Social Work Center in Lahti arranged for four different religions—Christianity, Buddhism, Islám and Bahá’í. In addition to the brief presentations by the speakers, there was audience participation from the forty people of diverse backgrounds who attended the event.
[Page 10]
Basutos, Swazis, and Shirongas attended the National Convention in their native costumes.
In Swaziland[edit]
International News Briefs (con.)[edit]
Eastern and Southern Arabia[edit]
Acquisition of a Temple site in the Arabian Peninsula, a Nine Year Plan goal, has been achieved.
Malaysia[edit]
The Convention was very lively and a teaching program formulated by the National Spiritual Assembly in consultation with Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Muhájir was discussed and unanimously approved, and friends pledged to aid its execution. Twelve delegates offered their services for homefront as well as foreign countries. Sixteen thousand Malayian dollars was pledged for the Temple site scheduled to be purchased within three months.
The South and West Pacific[edit]
Various islands of the South and West Pacific Bahá’í community have received visits from traveling teachers in recent months. Edgar Olson, Knight of Bahá’u’lláh to Guam, possession of the United States, visited various islands in the Solomons, New Hebrides and Caledonia in the ship Dawn-Breaker II, accompanied by Johnson Oli Sukulu, Alek Sualo, and Kalman Kiri (National Assembly member). They talked to many interested people and met with chiefs of two villages. Another fruitful visit to the New Hebrides was made by Mr. Fassy accompanied by Alek Sualo, with several people expressing a desire to embrace the Faith. Lambi Bay, Guadalcanal, has also been opened to the Faith, an area reached by canoe and on foot.
Brunei[edit]
Friends who attended the National Convention of Brunei were delighted by the presence of Mrs. Grete Fozdar, Auxiliary Board member from Kuching, and visiting friends from Sarawak and Malaysia. The outstanding event of the convention was the finding of two local speakers, two Ibans, who gave very moving talks in their language.
A suitable site has been located in Benutan Ulu Tutong for a teaching institute, a Nine Year Plan goal.
A Tiger Hunt Becomes A Fireside[edit]
“Man is like the different colors of the soil, some are black, some brown, some yellow, some red, some white. From each kind of soil springs different plants with different fruits, but all are part of one world, one earth.”
This is how Paraguay’s first indigenous believer, Mr. Rosendo Segundo, is teaching the Faith. He lives in eastern Paraguay, 400 miles, two days traveling distance, from Mariscal Estigarribia. One month ago he left home to hunt tigers, and by what seemed a pure accident the pioneers there were guided to him. Now the Alexanders and Mr. Rosendo Segundo are making many teaching trips, in between his tiger hunts, to all neighboring Indian groups with hopes of establishing new assemblies.
BOOK REVIEW[edit]
1968 edition, 198 pages, index
Review by Garreta Busey
This is one of the most precious books in our Bahá’í
library. The first letters of Shoghi Effendi to the American believers, appearing now with a fuller index and
several important messages from later letters appended, Bahá’í Administration is no mere outline of administrative procedure. It is a storehouse of spiritual nourishment for individuals and assemblies alike. In the
first twenty-five pages alone we find such subjects as
these: the Guardian’s warm love for the Bahá’ís, his
reassurance in time of trial, the paramount necessity of
unity and selflessness among the friends, the value of
tests, how to deal with an evil action, what a spiritual
assembly is, the law of consultation, his own grief at
the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and his desire to be
regarded by the Bahá’ís as their “true brother” and
addressed only as Shoghi Effendi.
The letters begin January 21, 1921, not quite two months after the passing of the Master had inflicted so severe a blow on the believers as to leave them stunned and confused. Shoghi Effendi, a young man of twenty-four, recovering from the shock, not only of his personal grief, but also of the terrible responsibility thrust upon him by the Master’s Will, turned to the believers with words of comfort, reassurance and hope. His first sentence established that warm personal relationship which made him indeed the “true brother” of all the Bahá’ís in the world:
“At this early hour when the morning light is just breaking upon the Holy Land, whilst the gloom of the dear Master’s bereavement is still hanging thick upon the hearts, I feel as if my soul turns in yearning love and full of hope to that great company of His loved ones across the seas, who now share with us all the agonies of His separation.”
The tasks which faced the young Guardian at that time were indeed overwhelming. The local assemblies were loosely organized bodies unlearned in the art of consultation as we know it today. There were no national assemblies, though in North America there was a body known as the Bahá’í Temple Unity. The believers, aflame with the love of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, were filled with intense devotion but ignorant of many aspects of the Cause. They were the raw material for a new world order about which they knew very little. And so, immediately, in his second letter, dated March 5, 1922, Shoghi Effendi began teaching the friends step by step, not only how to build their assemblies, local and national, but, no less important, how to imbue those institutions with spiritual power by their own individual development.
For the Administrative Order is the channel for that new influx of the Spirit which is to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Pouring into it through its divinely appointed receptors under the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh — first ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, then Shoghi Effendi, and now the Universal House of Justice — that Spirit flows down to us through its institutions, and we in turn pour back into them the spiritual vitality which alone can build the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh. And so, in these letters of the Guardian, we find again and again, such passages as these:
“Unity amongst the friends, selflessness in our labors in His Path, detachment from all worldly things, the greatest prudence and caution in every step we take, earnest endeavor to carry out only what is His Holy Will and Pleasure, the constant awareness of His Presence and of the example of His Life, the absolute shunning of whomsoever we feel to be an enemy of the Cause, ... these, and foremost among them is the need for unity, appear to me as our most vital duties should we dedicate our lives for His service.”
“High aims and pure motives, however laudable in themselves, will surely not suffice if unsupported by measures that are practicable and methods that are sound. Wealth of sentiment, abundance of goodwill and effort, will prove of little avail if we should fail to exercise discrimination and restraint and neglect to direct their flow along the most profitable channels. The unfettered freedom of the individual should be tempered with mutual consultation and sacrifice, and the spirit of initiative and enterprise should be reinforced by a deeper realization of the supreme necessity for concerted action and a fuller devotion to the common weal.”
“... all these administrative activities, however harmoniously and efficiently conducted, are but means to an end, and should be regarded as direct instruments for the propagation of the Bahá’í Faith. Let us take heed lest in our great concern for the perfection of the administrative machinery of the Cause, we lose sight of the Divine Purpose for which it has been created.”
[Page 12]
We can glean such passages for deepening our individual and collective lives much more easily now that
we have a fuller index for the book, but if we read
Bahá’í Administration straight through, we have a
continuing experience: that of growing along with the
North American Community as it matures. We see the
establishment one by one of such institutions as the
National Spiritual Assembly, the national convention as
we know it today, the Bahá’í news letter (BAHÁ’Í NEWS)
the national archives, publishing committee, the fund,
and others which we now take for granted. With this
historical perspective, we realize the power of that
divine impetus which, guided unerringly by Shoghi
Effendi, has enabled the Faith to develop so rapidly in
these forty-eight years. As we watch, page by page, the
education of an immature Community by a divinely
guided teacher, not only does the infallible wisdom of
the Guardian fill us with awe, but a growing sense of
his close relationship with all the believers fills us with
love. He shares with us his sorrows and his joys. The
letters begin with the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and end
with that of the Greatest Holy Leaf, sister of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. They tell of his great grief at the news of the
persecution of the friends in Persia and his joy at the
declaration of Queen Marie of Roumania. He asks us to
pray for him and, in the midnight hours he prays for us
at the Shrine of the Master. Who can fail to be deeply
moved by this letter written in December of 1928?
“In the mid-watches of the night, commemorating the passing of Him Who with His own hands laid the head-cornerstone of His Father’s House of Worship in that land, seated within the hallowed precincts of His shrine, and keeping vigil in the company of His closest companions, I have more than once in the midst of my devotions prayerfully remembered those chosen ones of God on whose shoulders has fallen so weighty a responsibility, whose destiny is to bring to full fruition so excellent a heritage. I have recalled on that peaceful and moonlit night, with much emotion and gratitude, the inestimable bounties He lavished while on earth upon you. I have revived in my memory the glowing promises that His unfailing guidance and gracious assistance would continue from His station on high to be showered upon you. I have pictured in my mind that beauteous vision of a Cause unfolded in all its glory which in His immortal writings He has revealed unto you. And with my head upon His threshold, I have prayed and prayed again that we may all prove ourselves worthy disciples of so gracious a Master, that we may, when called unto Him, transmit, undiminished and unimpaired, our share of the immeasurably precious heritage bequeathed by Him to us all.”
Assemblies Incorporated[edit]
Members of the local Spiritual Assembly of Northern Sonoma
County Judicial District, California, which made application
for incorporation. The Articles of Incorporation were signed
May 1, 1969. Left to right, front: Johanna Vanonni, Dorothy
Todd, Mary Collison, Barbara Brown; rear: Waldo T. Boyd,
Ernest King, Vincent Brown, Marcus Luff, Rex Collison.
Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Culver Judicial
District, California, incorporated in the Bahá’í year 126. Left
to right, front: Harold Dean James, Erma Reitan, Sara Williams, Dorothy Day; rear: Alice Ransom, Sherrill Kimbrough,
Ted Kimbrough, Marjorie Brown, Darsilie Barnes. Holding the
Greatest Name are the two original member of the community.
Members of the local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Fresno Judicial District, California, which initiated incorporation proceedings. The final seal was obtained April 28, 1969.
Left picture: Edgar R. Jones; Center: left to right rear:
Al Ayala, Philip Haggard, vice chairman; Ed Kahl; front: Mrs.
Joan Varellas, John Cripe, secretary; Mrs. Helen F. Newton,
chairman; Mrs. Gertrude Griesner, treasurer; Right picture:
Mrs. Karla Gubalke.
In Memory of a Hand of the Cause[edit]
President Richardson of Montclair State College, New Jersey,
receives Bahá’í books from Bruce Jones of the New Jersey
State Goals Committee as Miss Jane Caulfield of the Montclair
Assembly looks on. The books, inscribed by the National
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, were
presented in memory of Hand of the Cause Mrs. Dorothy
Beecher Baker on the fiftieth anniversary of her graduation
from Montclair State College (then Montclair Normal School).
She was president of her class and editor of the yearbook.
Mr. Jones gave an appropriate tribute to Dorothy Baker on
the same occasion when over 250 college alumni held a luncheon honoring the class of 1919.
Presentation to a Governor[edit]
Governor Winthrop Rockefeller of Arkansas receives The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh from Albert Porter, Bahá’í of Little Rock, Arkansas. Other members of the Bahá’í Community shown are, from left: H. W. Holmes, Dr. Allan Ward, Elizabeth Rodriquez, Orville Teske.
Bahá’í in the News[edit]
In the book, The Near East 10,000 Years of History by Isaac Asimov published by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston 1968, the author on page 252 makes reference to the Báb and to Bahá’u’lláh and the history of the Faith.
The first issue of a new national magazine titled, Living Health carries on the inside back page a photo of the House of Worship with the words on one side: Going to Chicago? Be sure to visit the beautiful, unique Bahá’í House of Worship, Linden Ave. at Sheridan Rd., Wilmette, Ill. ...
Purpose, the periodical of the Principia College Alumni Association in the Spring 1969 issue includes A Self-Study Course in the Principal Living Religions, prepared by George A. Chandler, Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Philosophy, Principia College, Elsah, Illinois. The course titled: “Religions of the World” has a section on the Bahá’í Faith, which is listed as Assignment VII. The text on the Faith includes three full pages of copy and a full page photograph of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. The article tells where to obtain more information on the Bahá’í Faith by writing to the National Bahá’í Center in Wilmette. The article, which the author submitted for review prior to publication, contains factual information on the Faith, on the teachings, administration, calendar, places of worship, pioneering, becoming a Bahá’í and publications. Speaking of the spread of the Faith the author writes, “... it is apparent from the remarkable growth of this movement that ... the Bahá’í Faith is a missionary religion. Individual Bahá’ís accept responsibility for propagating their faith by holding informal discussions with small groups in homes, and public meetings are sponsored by local administrative bodies. Volunteer teachers, called pioneers, leave their own communities to take up residence in some area, at home or abroad where Bahá’í is not yet well known.”
La Pensée Bahá’íe is a quarterly magazine published in the French language under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland. It contains articles and photos of interest to Bahá’ís and to their interested friends, and is attractively prepared. Bahá’ís may subscribe to this for themselves or as gifts for interested friends. The subscription price of $1.50 (four issues) should be sent by international money order direct to La Pensée Bahá’íe, Chapelle 8, 2034 Peseux, Switzerland.
Even publications that are classed as house organs are carrying information on the Bahá’í Faith. In the April 21, 1969 issue of The Honeywell World, published for employees of Honeywell around the world, on page 4 there is a two column story on Nuri Sabet, a Bahá’í and industrial engineer from Newhouse, Scotland. The article tells of Sabet’s deep interest in the Bahá’í Faith and has a one paragraph quote by him explaining progressive revelation.
Empire, The Magazine of Central New York, a newspaper magazine published by the Syracuse Herald American in its April 20, 1969 issue has a feature story entitled, “A Modern Indian Chief,” which is the story of Shenandoah, Chief of the Iroquois Nation. The article features many photos including one of the Chief receiving the book, The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, from Miss Lauretta Haynes and Duane D. Dumbleton.
NEW LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES REFLECT WORLD WIDE GROWTH[edit]
Kitty, East Coast, Demerara, Guyana, South America.
Quebec, Canada. Quebec City is the cradle of the Canadian nation and the erection of a spiritual assembly there has been a
long and ardently sought goal. Left to right, front: Gloria
Wenk, secetary; John Morland; William Hatcher, treasurer;
Judith Hatcher, chairman. Rear: Michel Larin, vice-chairman;
Robert Kingdon, Louise Després, Frederick Ward, Daphne
Beattie.
Bloomington, Minnesota. Left to right, rear: Robert Martinson,
chairman; Jeffrey Wartchow, vice chairman; Lewis Hilliard,
Stuart Markham, Fred Badiyan; front: Jean Hilliard, Catherine Hanson, secretary; Diane Wartchow, treasurer; Florence
Martinson.
Gondar, Ethiopia. Front, left to right: Mesfin Feleke, treasurer;
Gidey Gebrehiwet; Hailesellasie Inquesellasie. Standing: Mrs.
Yehdega Gebremariam; Miss Mariye Demisie; Ali Husien;
Alemayehu Teclehaimanot, secretary; Mohamed Effendi, chairman; Mesfin Tsige, vice-chairman.
Orlando, Florida. Left to right, front: Mrs. Clairnel Anderson,
Mrs. Mineola B. Hannen, Mrs. Patricia Campbell, Mrs. Elizabeth
Wigfall; rear: Dr. Mahmoud Rabbani, Mrs. Eshraghieh Rabbani, Mrs. Barbara H. Griffin, Mrs. Genevieve Suganuma, Carl A. Hannen.
[Page 15]
Newly formed local Spiritual Assembly of Koloa, Kauai,
Hawaii. Left to right: front, Cora Gaines, Margaret Stackhouse,
Therese Tyrna, Lynn Haun; rear: Steven Gaines, Patrick Parks,
John Stackhouse, Drake Wells, William Budd.
Cupertino-Sunnydale Judicial District, California. Left to right,
front: Mrs. Patricia Schram, Mrs. Lucilla Yavrom, Mrs. Margaret Shoop, Mrs. Lynne DeVictoria; rear: Manouchehr Yavrom,
Mrs. Judith Benson, Ronald Benson, Raymond B. Shoop, John
H. DeVictoria, Jr.
Right: Prescott, Arizona. Left to right, front: Mary Ellen Zamzow, recording secretary; Louise Perone, Marilyn Heaton,
corres. secretary; Beverly McMillin; rear: Ardith Lambert,
Joseph Lambert, chairman; Donald McMillin, treasurer; Floyd
Heaton, vice chairman; Aaron Chischiligi.
Las Cruces, New Mexico. Left to right, rear: William Owens,
James Wood, Jr., Thomas Carsey, Frank Evans; front: Pat
Prejean, Vicki Hu, Carol Wood, Lucy Evans, Nancy Owens.
White Plains, New York. Left to right, standing: Barbara Le
Beau, Robert Arrington, Claire Seque, Mark Sadan, Susan
Leich, Zoya Khalili; seated: Monsour Khalili, Else Norden,
Joseph Mydell.
Race Unity Day is Observed in the Seychelles with Noteworthy Success[edit]
A public conference marked Race Unity Day, June 15 at the Ta Chun public hall in Victoria Mahe, Seychelles Islands. It was attended by some 300 people, representing different classes of society and religious convictions, the largest audience a purely Bahá’í function has ever attracted in the Seychelles.
There was wide publicity on radio and in the press, 500 leaflets being distributed in advance as well as notices carried in all the local papers. A large cloth banner with the words “Welcome to Bahá’í World Race Unity Day” was displayed outside the Conference hall on the day of the meeting.
W. Andre, chairman and other believers: Harry Mussard, Willis Prosper, B. Renaud and Joseph Ragoo presented the teachings of the Faith on race unity. Slides of the World Congress and of the Holy Places in Haifa and ’Akká were shown and 300 leaflets “Appel Mondial Bahá’í”, recently received from Mauritius, were given to members of the audience. The Conference was widely reported both on the Seychelles radio and in the press.
On the same night there was a radio broadcast on “Man One Family.” Two young believers, Mr. Renaud and Miss Fauzia Rahman, narrated this creole broadcast.
As a result of this very successful meeting the Faith has become the main topic in the islands.
Board Member Appointed in Australasia[edit]
The Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia has announced the appointment of Mrs. Gertrude Blum of Honiara, Solomon Islands, to the Auxiliary Board. In announcing the appointment Suhayl A. ’Alá’í, secretary, spoke of the pleasure in appointing her and wrote, “The devoted efforts of Mrs. Blum over many years in both the administrative and teaching fields is well known, and we feel sure that her appointment to the Auxiliary Board will lend yet greater impetus to the teaching work and the attainment of the goals of the Nine Year Plan in Australasia.”
Paraguay Cites Goals Achieved[edit]
The annual Convention of Paraguay closed on an optimistic note for the coming year based upon achievements of the last year. In 1968 there were two local spiritual assemblies; the total this Riḍván was eight; the total needed by 1973 is nine. The goal for number of localities is accomplished. Bahá’í holy days are nationally recognized. Bahá’í youth activities have commenced with great enthusiasm and the traveling teacher program has greatly accelerated. The national Bahá’í community increased its numbers by thirty percent and for the first time the tribes of the Chulupi and Lengua Indians are represented in the Faith.
The new National Spiritual Assembly was elected as follows: Angelica de Dolden, chairman; Cyrus Toutounchi, vice-chairman; Gilbert Grasselly, corresponding secretary; Janet Alexander, recording secretary; Cyrus Toutounchi, treasurer; Victor Alexander, Ana de Alvarez, Madcelino Ibarra, Josephine Johansen and Rosa de Laterz.
A portion of the Bahá’í display at the ten-day Royal Easter Show in Sydney, Australia, 1969, held annually and attracting well over a million people each year.
Mayor of Kampala Speaks at First Bahá’í Exhibit[edit]
The first public Bahá’í exhibit of Kampala, Uganda, was held in the Green Room of the National Theater during the week of February 24 through March 2, 1969, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Invitations to the opening were mailed to 400 residents of Kampala, and approximately 150 attended. The Honorable A. G. Mehta, Mayor of Kampala, spoke on the importance of the unity of mankind preceding the showing of the film, “And His Name Shall Be One.” Guests were then shown an extensive exhibit prepared by the local Bahá’ís under the direction of Mrs. Patrick Robarts.
The exhibit consisted of books, charts, artifacts, photographs, movies, slides, and recordings. The wealth of the word of God revealed by Bahá’u’lláh was displayed in tablets, books, and excerpts, and in original documents presented in the form of tablets written by the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The abundance of literature on the Faith was demonstrated by a vast array of books and pamphlets currently available. Bahá’í history was illustrated in a chart depicting the important events from the birth of Bahá’u’lláh to the founding of the Universal House of Justice, plus displays of The Dawn-Breakers in three languages and many volumes of The Bahá’í World. The arts were shown in oil paintings, photographs, silverwork, and handwoven carpets and the diversity of nationalities and religious backgrounds was illustrated with photographs and slides taken during conventions, Temple dedications, and intercontinental conferences.
Interest shown by the public was gratifying, as was the cooperation of local Bahá’ís in planning, preparing, and manning the exhibit which was a success artistically, in attendance, and in local press coverage.
Slide and movie presentations were regularly shown at well-publicized times. Visitors came steadily in small groups throughout the day and were predominantly young adult Africans. The second largest group to show interest in the exhibit were Asians. Attendance was estimated at 75-100 persons a day, who showed genuine rather than casual interest.
Mayor of Kampala, the Honorable A. G. Mehta, viewing exhibit.
Mayor of Kampala delivering a speech on the occasion of the Bahá’í exhibit.
First Bahá’í public exhibit ever held in Uganda, February 24 through March 2, 1969.
Another part of the Kampala exhibit.
PIONEERS IN WEST CENTRAL AFRICA[edit]
AFRICAN INSTITUTES MEET READY RESPONSE
in Ghana[edit]
Pioneers to West Central Africa: left to right, front: Helen
Reech, Togo; Jean Swinney, Nigeria; Mrs. Stephanie Troxel,
Nigeria; rear: Duane Troxel, Nigeria; Patrick Beer, Ghana;
Dr. William Maxwell, member Board of Counsellors, Nigeria;
Sam Lynch, Ghana.
Bahá’ís of Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana (Ghana’s fastest growing
community) with Board of Counsellors member William Maxwell, second row, third from left.
Teaching institute held in south Ghana in Accra, the capital
city, located on the seacoast. Another institute was held in
Channyile in northern Ghana, the hot grasslands where the
simple pastoral farmers eagerly embraced the spirit of the
Faith. Both institutes were held at the close of last year.
Below, left: Dr. Maxwell, shown with a Bahá’í chief of Ghana,
spoke on the development of the Faith through a series of
crises and alternate victories, using God Passes By to illustrate this evolution. He also highlighted an exhilarating session of collective consultation on written questions. For the northern conference, pioneers and African Bahá’ís rented a bus and traveled through the villages gathering up Bahá’ís.
African Institute Smiles
in Dahomey[edit]
Below, left: Teaching institute held in Dahomey, which also
included delegates from Togo and Niger. A focal point was the
preparation of a book of teaching aids composed of photos,
pictures of Bahá’í holy places and edifices, and pictorial analogies to explain the teachings. These were presented by Sam
Lynch, American pioneer in Ghana. When the session concluded each one had his own pictorial teaching aid. Herman
Kudolo of Togo, Madame Francois Pierre Charles of Dahomey,
Madame Djoneidi of Niger and Hodonou Frederic presented
other aspects of this lively, enjoyable program.
Zululand Conference Pays Tribute to Pioneers[edit]
A two-day conference was held in Zululand in February at Lamboti with an attendance of seventy-five. Dr. Alice Kidder and her sister, Dr. Elizabeth Ober, who after fifteen years of service in South Africa are returning to the United States as pioneers to the South, were honored at the teaching conference at Gabalatsani (Pretoria District). The first speaker, Petro Kelly, spoke about pioneering in South Africa: “Pioneering is the sacred duty of every Bahá’í ... it doesn’t have to be to another country. There are dark patches all over that do not have the Light of Bahá’u’lláh. We must thank people like Dr. Kidder and Dr. Ober who come to places like Africa to tell the people of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, but now it is up to us to carry that Message all over.” Zululand has thirteen declarations and is also putting forward plans for an institute.
Other South and West Africa Achievements[edit]
Cape Town forged ahead the past year and gained twelve declarations in new areas in three weeks. Valiant Bahá’ís forsook their personal time weekends and holidays, did not go to the old beaten tracks where Bahá’u’lláh’s word had fallen on barren ground, but struck out afresh in new areas, calling at one new village after another.
Bahá’ís of Mafeking on the Northern Cape have been erecting fencing around the Lekoko property. This property was the generous gift some time ago of Chief Lekoko and Mafeking. The communities in the area have been working hard to fence the land in so that they can put up buildings for Bahá’í activities. They are also bringing in new believers.
International News Briefs[edit]
Gilbert And Ellice Islands[edit]
Tarawa Bahá’ís and visiting Convention delegates attended a public meeting on the islet of Betio, the principal port of the Colony on Saturday, May 3. The meeting was held inside the spacious and beautifully constructed maneaba. As there was to be a meeting of the Tarawa Association on the same evening, a considerable non-Bahá’í audience with representatives from many villages of the atoll had already gathered there by the time the Bahá’í talk began. Of a total audience of about 120 persons, more than half were visitors who came to hear Howard Harwood, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia, give an inspiring talk.
San Andrés And Providencia Islands, Colombia[edit]
When the Nine Year Plan was launched, San Andrés and Providencia Islands were both virgin territories to be opened to the Faith. In 1965 a pioneer settled there briefly and enrolled three believers. During the first half of 1966 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hornby volunteered to visit those islands for a period of three months as
[Page 20]
traveling teachers just prior to leaving for their pilgrimage in the Holy Land. A number of believers were
enrolled during their brief visit there. In October 1966
they returned as pioneers to those Islands, where they
remained for approximately two years when Mr. Hornby’s appointment to the Auxiliary Board made it necessary for them to resettle in Ecuador. When they left the
Islands, over 100 believers had been enrolled in San
Andrés and more than 60 believers in Providencia. To
date, pioneer replacements have not been located to
continue the consolidation and teaching work there. At
Riḍván this year Mrs. Hornby traveled from Ecuador
to assist with the election of the local Spiritual Assembly in San Andrés.
Bahá’í Publishing Trust[edit]
Dawn Song (Choral Music). Selected by the Bahá’í Committee on Music. This artistically designed book contains twenty-five selections for one-, two-, three-, and four-part singing, mostly of a serious nature and all of them suitable for use at public meetings, firesides, conferences, and summer schools. Each section is preceded by suggestions for singing and accompaniment. Two-color cover art and illustrations by Joan Ucello have a unique spiritual quality. Bahá’ís will also wish to give gifts of this book to their music-loving friends, for most of the songs are suitable for singing by any group. 8½ x 11, 80 pp.
Per copy | $2.00 |
On Becoming a Bahá’í (Basic Responsibilities and Privileges of Bahá’í Membership). Prepared by the
National Spiritual Assembly. An outline of basic facts
of Bahá’í belief and practice, organized to answer four
basic questions: (1) What is a Bahá’í? (2) What basic
facts should a Bahá’í know about the foundation of the
Faith? (3) What are the privileges and obligations of a
Bahá’í? (4) What are some important Bahá’í ordinances? Includes a suggested reading list. Assemblies, state goals committees, and summer schools
will find this booklet invaluable in orienting believers
into full participation in Bahá’í institutions and in living
a Bahá’í life. 5½ x 8½, 24 pp., two-color paper cover.
10 copies | $2.50 |
25 copies | $5.00 |
Your Role in the Nine Year Plan — The Spirit of Universal Participation. Compiled by D. Thelma Jackson for the National Spiritual Assembly. A selection of
quotations from the writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the
Guardian, and the Universal House of Justice, depicting the development of God’s Plan for Humanity from
the beginning of the Adamic Cycle to the election of the
first Universal House of Justice in 1963. The Nine Year
International Teaching Plan, launched in 1964 by the
Universal House of Justice, is the first Plan in the
“tremendously long” tenth part of the “majestic process” to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth.
Discusses the major goals achieved in the first and
second Seven Year Plans and the Ten Year World
Crusade; gives a brief summary of the Nine Year Plan
and where the Bahá’ís stand in the achievement of the
goals at its midpoint. Helpful to all believers and
generally for orientation classes. 5½ x8½, 24 pp., self-cover.
10 copies | $2.50 |
New Indian Teaching Booklet[edit]
Bahá’í Teachings — Light for all Regions. By Peter Simple, an Athabascan Indian from Fort Yukon, Alaska, and John Kolstoe. Cover illustration and drawings by Franklin Kahn, Navajo Indian from Arizona; also photos of several other Indian tribes. This booklet, originally prepared under the auspices of the National Assembly of Alaska, contains ten chapters covering the Bahá’í teachings in respect to God and Man, Worship, the Laws, Bahá’í Life, Indian Prophecies, and other teachings. 4⅛ x 7¼, 24 pp.
10 copies | $2.00 |
50 copies | $7.50 |
New Edition of Covenant and Administration[edit]
This compilation of excerpts for use in conference institutes and for individual study has been reprinted with an addendum to include excerpts from the writings of Shoghi Effendi and announcements by the Hands of the Cause on the evolution of the institutions of the Faith to the establishment of the first Universal House of Justice.
Per copy | $1.00 |
Orders for above titles should be sent to Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091. Individuals should order through their local librarians.
Herald of the South, Australian Bahá’í Magazine[edit]
This international magazine is published quarterly: June, Sept., Dec., and March. Its purpose is to spread abroad and into our own secular society the unique beauty and compelling power of the Bahá’í spirit, with articles on a wide variety of themes such as scientific, social, economic, humanitarian, Bahá’í history, teachings and literature, poetry, and current activities in the Bahá’í world. Its growing attractiveness as a teaching medium in the English speaking world is therefore evident. Articles from the friends in various lands are welcome.
New subscription rates are:
- Single Surface rate: U.S. $2.50
- Single Airmail rate: U.S. $4.00
Ten or more subscriptions: deduct 10% (surface rate)
One hundred or more subs: deduct 20% (surface rate)
Send subscriptions and articles to: Subscription Accounts Dept., National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Australia, Inc., Lot 9 Gough Street, EMU PLAINS, N.S.W. 2750, Australia.
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; Mr. Rexford C. Parmelee.
Material must be received by the twenty-fifth of the second month preceding date of issue. Address; Bahá’í News Editorial Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091, U.S.A.
Change of address should be reported directly to National Bahá’í Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A. 60091.
