Bahá’í News/Issue 468/Text

←Previous

Bahá’í News Issue 468

Next→

Proofread onceReturn to PDF view

[Page 1]

---

No. 468

BAHA’I YEAR 126

MARCH, 1970

---

‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum tours Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia

Hands of the Cause ‘Amatu’l-Bahá and Enoch Olinga, with friends, attending a House of Worship service in Kampala, Uganda, December 1969.

[Page 2]

AFRICA

A village meeting in Womanyo, Machakos, Kenya. ‘Amatu’l-Bahá is seated behind the table.

On August 5, the wheels of our plane touched down at Entebbe Airport, Kampala, Uganda — at last the long-promised visit of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá to the believers of Africa was commencing. In 1961, at the time when she dedicated the Mother Temple of Africa for public worship, Rúḥíyyih Khánum promised the friends to come back and really visit them, touring as many Centers as possible. After nine years, this has now been fulfilled.

During her ten-day stay in Kampala she was able to attend a reception given in her honor and that of two visiting members of the Universal House of Justice, Hushmand Fatheázam, and my husband, ‘Alí Nakhjavání; to deliver a public lecture in the hall of the National Theater; and to be interviewed for a full half hour on Radio Uganda on the “Guest of the Week” program. Originally the introducer and the interviewer had contemplated ten to fifteen minutes devoted to the Bahá’í guest, but the discussion became so animated, and the two young men and Rúḥíyyih Khánum got so interested in the very diverse questions on the Faith, that after the half hour was over the conversation continued for some time in the studio.

Hands Unite in Prayer

Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s happiest moment came when she was able to attend a service in the Mother Temple of Africa, sitting between Hands of the Cause Músá Banání and Enoch Olinga. It is very seldom that Mr. Banání can leave his home these days, but he was able to be present at the marriage of his granddaughter Bahíyyih Nakhjavání to Paul Adams of England; and so three of the Hands could unite in prayer in the heart of the African Continent prior to the very long African safari of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum had purchased a large Land Rover — three and a half tons when loaded! — which was awaiting her arrival in Nairobi, Kenya; her plan was to reach the Bahá’ís in the villages, who so seldom have any opportunity to meet their brothers and sisters from other places, how much less other nations and continents; a Land Rover, or similar four-wheeled drive vehicle, is the only method of doing this, as it will go through sand, mud, shrubs, and treacherous wasteland — certainly not comfortably, but it will go.

The plan was to have a few days much needed rest near Mombasa, then visit the coast of Kenya and Tanzania, inland centers of Tanzania, return to Nairobi, visit some areas in Kisii, leave by air for a month to Ethiopia, and then complete the Kenya visit by a ten-day tour of Western Nyanza before proceeding to Kampala.

Although the official Bahá’í reception and public address of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá were scheduled to take place towards the end of her Kenya visit, she was nevertheless interviewed on Kenya television on August 17, 1969, on a program called “Today’s Guests,” and spoke for seven minutes. Prior to her departure for Addis Ababa, she was invited to the home of Vice-President Moi and his wife, where in a most cordial and intimate atmosphere, with tea and refreshments, the subject of the Faith and other things of a topical nature were discussed for about an hour.

Tour Covers Large Area

It is not possible to go into the details of a tour such as this when already, in a little over four months, we have visited more than sixty-three Bahá’í localities, driven five thousand miles and flown all over Ethiopia. However, many of the highlights are of interest and their recounting may help fulfill the second reason ‘Amatu’l-Bahá undertakes these arduous journeys — to stimulate others, young and old, to take heart and arise to spread the message of Bahá’u’lláh, particularly among the villagers and illiterates in different parts of the world.

From August 28 to September 2, Rúḥíyyih Khánum visited the Bahá’í communities on the coast between Mombasa and Malindi which are mainly composed of members of the famous Giriama tribe. A member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Kenya accompanied us on this trip and as far as Morogora in Tanzania.

In the village of Dera a dear Bahá’í had built a hut and offered it for the Bahá’í meetings. As all attendants were Bahá’ís, Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke on the importance

[Page 3] ‘Amatu’l-Bahá addressing a public meeting in the National Bahá’í Headquarters in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

of Bahá’í administration and regular meetings of the local assembly. This coastal region is very beautiful, with miles and miles of cocoanut palms outlined against the sky. The delicious drink and food we were served were all prepared with cocoanut juice or cocoanut meat.

In the village of Mwezangombe over sixty-five Bahá’ís and their friends, young and old, gathered to welcome their beloved guests. This meeting was held in the home of one of the devoted believers who had especially erected a pavilion of branches and leaves for this meeting and had decorated the entrance to his home with flowerbeds and arches. The Bahá’í children sang several songs, which is certainly one of the best methods of teaching.

The Anti-Witch Doctor

The following day we went to visit an old man in the village of Msabha. He is Chief Jacobi Kabwere Wonje, a famous anti-witch doctor who is licensed by the Government of Kenya to practice. (An anti-witch doctor is one who breaks the spells of the witch doctors.) This man was a pagan, and his conversion to the Bahá’í Faith has impressed non-Bahá’ís very much. Several of his middle-aged sons and some of his wives — of which he has seventy — have also accepted the Faith. When Rúḥíyyih Khánum learned that on the previous day one of his children had died, she suggested that he might prefer not to hold the meeting. This consideration obviously pleased him, but he expressed the desire to go on with the meeting and called many of his wives and children to be present.

After Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s talk, the request he made was an echo of the cry of many of the Bahá’ís in the villages. He said, “Please send us a teacher to stay with us for some time and confirm us in our understanding and in our faith, too. What is the use of someone coming once and telling us of these wonderful teachings of Bahá’í love and then leaving us to ourselves?” Rúḥíyyih Khánum promised that she would see to it that one of the famous Bahá’í teachers of Kenya should come and stay with him, as he requested, for at least two weeks.

On September 2, we left Mombasa for the coastal town of Tanga, in Tanzania, a distance of 120 miles over a frightful road. At the end of five and a half hours of driving we were absolutely exhausted. Owing to the fact that post office boxes are usually the only addresses available, and the owner of the Tanga one was away on a teaching trip, it was disappointing to spend a day and two evenings in a place where there were over seventy believers and to meet only six at the last moment!

“One God — One People”

In the afternoon of September 4, we arrived in the capital of Tanzania, the city of Dar es Salaam. The seven-day visit of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá in this city was exploited to the full and every effort was made to use her presence for the proclamation of the Faith. A public meeting was held in the beautiful new National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds; Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke to an audience of over two hundred on the subject of “One God — One People.” She said:

“As I was sitting here tonight thinking about my subject, ‘One God — One People,’ I thought of my own part of the world, because you know I am North American — half Canadian and half American, and I thought about Asia and Africa, and I thought about the great difference in the way that one would have to approach this subject in the Western Hemisphere as opposed to the Eastern Hemisphere. In sophisticated circles, in other words, in the cities of the West, nowadays, I don’t even know whether you could give a talk on the subject of God because most of the people probably wouldn’t believe that He existed. Mind you, I don’t mean the rural populations, I mean the sophisticated, the very well educated populations in the cities ...

Rúḥíyyih Khánum and a group of Masai tribeswomen, Geteri Market, Kisii, Kenya.

[Page 4] Gold Coronation medal presented to ‘Amatu’l-Bahá by His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, on the occasion of her interview with him on October 16, 1969.

“I remember an experience I had when in India in 1964.... There was an audience of perhaps twice the number of people that are here tonight, and they were drawn from the officers camp which was near the center of this town, the University professors and students, and many professional people. In other words, it was quite an elite, educated audience. After I had finished my talk, one person got up and said, ‘What do the Bahá’ís believe about the love of God?’ I had never been asked a question like this, and I thought a moment and said, ‘We believe that the love of God is the beginning and end of all things.’ As I was at the top of the room and could see the audience, when I answered this question so simply and absolutely sincerely, because that is what we believe, I saw a tremor go through the audience, and do you know what caused this? It was the intense agreement with what I had said. I thought to myself that where we would not succeed in ending in the West after perhaps a series of lectures, in the East you can begin.... My impression is that Africa shares this quality with Asia.”

In the course of this same talk Rúḥíyyih Khánum said: “The Bahá’ís do not believe in unity through uniformity. We believe in unity through diversity. If you analyze it, this is fundamentally opposed to the modern trend of thought in the world. The attitude of people is that if everybody belongs to my political persuasion whatever it may be — socialism, communism, capitalism, feudalism, dictatorship, whatever the particular national belief of a nation or people, or a block of nations or of people may be — their philosophy is that if you think as I do, you become converted to my philosophy; then we will have world peace; then we will have a better society, and so on. It is uniformity — being like me — that is the [non-Bahá’í] answer.

“We do not believe that at all. We think that the most wonderful thing in the world is that we are all different, but we combine to make a whole. What does this mean in practice? How does this work out when you start practicing this doctrine? I can take my own experience as a Bahá’í as an example, because I am more familiar with what goes on in my own life. I have traveled a great deal to visit the Bahá’ís, particularly in the rural areas all over the world, in Asia, in South and Central America, and in Africa. I find myself speaking to people who are of different racial and different religious backgrounds and many of them have been pagans. When I go to these people I do not have to say, ‘You are wrong;’ I can say, ‘You are right.’ The reason I can say it is because of this Bahá’í fundamental belief that God has given to each group of His children wonderful qualities, wonderful beliefs, wonderful contributions to give to the whole of humanity.”

One Thing ... Very Challenging

In Dar es Salaam interesting interviews which Rúḥíyyih Khánum had with various reporters were published in the national press. The National Assembly of Tanzania gave a reception in her honor in the best hotel, at which a number of Members of Parliament, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and other notables were present. In the address she made to the assembled guests at the end of this reception, she said:

“One thing that I think is very challenging and very hopeful in the Bahá’í world community is that we have succeeded in incorporating the illiterates and the literates on an equal basis ... villagers who cannot read the newspapers, who haven’t gone to school, who don’t hear the radio, who don’t know that the world we live in even exists ... you find that these people have accepted this universal teaching of Bahá’u’lláh, and you feel this intense feeling of brotherhood with them and of common purpose and understanding. It is a very, very wonderful and encouraging thing, and I think that men of thought and goodwill should know that the Bahá’í Faith is doing this in the world, because to me this is one of the most significant things that we are doing....

“In my part of the world, the intellectual person wonders, really with bafflement and with a certain amount of cynicism, how we are going to be able to bridge the gap between people living in the past — living in civilizations that are really almost Stone Age civilizations — and the Twentieth Century. What are we going to do with these people to bring them into the Twentieth Century? They have to come into it; they want to come into it.

“I am talking about people like the Vedas of Ceylon, the Senoys of Malaysia, the Australian aborigines —

Rúḥíyyih Khánum in African dress; her Land Rover, in which she is touring Africa.

[Page 5] Teaching conference held at Mogwekobi, Kissi, Kenya.

these people that are in the Stone Age. What can one do with these people? Let them die out like a race of animals? Let them cease to exist? Have they no place in the world? What are we going to do with these people to make them come into a world where they will feel they have a part? If we don’t have a love and an understanding for these people, if we don’t make them feel wanted, if we don’t make them feel that they have a gift to give to the world of humanity, then what is the use? Now I don’t say we Bahá’ís will succeed, but I do say that where we are teaching this great modern message of love and brotherhood, which we believe is from God and is divinely given to the world, we find that we can succor these people because there is no criticism of them.

“We believe that they have a contribution to make to us; we believe that they are wanted and needed in the world and not just some kind of a remnant like an animal that, out of pity, we are willing to help and willing to condescend to bring into our human world, when they are little better, so to speak, than apes. Now this difference of attitude inside this Bahá’í world community is, I think, perhaps one of the most constructive things we are doing in the whole world. And as I am on the subject, I would like to make a plea. Perhaps no one in this audience needs to hear these words, but I’ll be very surprised if all of us don’t need to hear them....

Modern Prejudice

“In our modern world ... a new prejudice is growing up, this is the prejudice of the educated against the illiterate, and it is a very cruel and brutal prejudice ... it is a criminal thing that has taken place. All of us were illiterate not very long ago.... Just because a Bolivian Indian is illiterate today doesn’t mean that I am such a miracle because I can read and write.... I think this is something that we have to make people realize when we go to people who don’t yet know how to read and write; we must make them understand that there is a difference between knowledge and learning, book learning.

“It is a wonderful thing to have learning, book learning, and to study all the things that we can study now in our school systems, but that has nothing to do with knowledge. For millions of years man has organized himself, he has had tribal life, national life, empire life if you like, without having the capacity of nearly anyone in the country to read and write. This was a very rare thing — reading and writing — special categories, special people knew how to read and write; the masses never knew how to read and write, but they ran the whole country, they carried on their affairs: commerce, art, learning, music — all of these things were given to the world, and still the masses of the people could not read or write.”

‘Amatu’l-Bahá was given a ten-minute interview on the Tanzania Government radio station. Direct questions on the teachings of the Faith were asked, and she had the opportunity of answering them fully. At a private dinner party in the home of one of the earliest pioneers, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá met with several prominent people, one of them the Chief Justice of Tanzania, another a foreign ambassador.

Man Needs Brakes

Arrangements had been made for her to address the Rotary Club at its weekly luncheon gathering. She spoke on “The Moral Failure of Present Society,” quoting Bahá’u’lláh’s soul-stirring words: “The vitality of man’s belief in God is dying out in every land.” She said, “When there is no more belief in religious values, whatever the religion may be, then you find the fiber of society disintegrating. Man, it seems to me, has to have something that he loves and something that he is afraid of, and if you do not have any love for God and any

Rúḥíyyih Khánum holding her new, little namesake, Rúḥíyyih, Malava, Kenya.

[Page 6] Meeting held at Mugunga Moguta, Kisii, Kenya.

love for the Word of God — in whatever scriptures you may have come to accept His words — then you do not have brakes; and if you have no fear of God and no fear of doing the wrong thing, and consequently tipping the scales so that the balance will be against you organically, if you like, not necessarily philosophically, then also you are in danger. And it occurs to me that one of the great, great perils of this society in which we live today is that people all over the world are ceasing to either love Him or be afraid of Him, and those two things act like great brakes on human conduct.”

She concluded her talk by these encouraging words: “In the Bahá’í teachings it says that if a man has, say, nine bad qualities and weaknesses, things we do not admire in him, but one good quality, keep quiet about the nine and mention the good. Now, if you visualize a world in which there was just even a little bit more constructive attitude toward other people and other nations, you might change a lot of the atmosphere, politically and morally and spiritually.”

As Rúḥíyyih Khánum had, during her previous visit to Tanzania, flown over to Zanzibar, she decided this time that she would fly to Mafia and see the handful of new believers on this Island. It proved an unexpectedly fruitful and happy experience for us and for the two National Assembly members who were with us (one of whom was accompanied by his wife; both, amongst the oldest pioneers in East Africa). An impromptu meeting was held in the Municipal Hall, with the kind permission of the authorities, at which over one hundred people were present, and animated discussion and questions followed Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s lecture. As the town has no electricity, the hall was lighted by a kerosene pressure lamp kindly lent for the occasion by a member of the audience.

Before departing from this small copra-growing island, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá and those ‎accompaning accompanying‎ her paid a visit to the Area Commissioner, assuring him of our appreciation of the friendly reception we had had on his island and calling to his attention the entirely nonpolitical character of the Bahá’í Faith and its cardinal principle of strict obedience to government. Such contacts are essential in these days when the times are disturbed and various movements with political overtones are viewed, quite legitimately, with suspicion.

It is not possible to give a detailed account of the Centers visited from September 14 to 28 while we traveled in the Eastern and Central part of Tanzania, but some highlights remain in my mind most vividly, such as the use Rúḥíyyih Khánum so often makes in her talks of an example on the spot:

In the village of Kingolwira, addressing a small audience, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá took the building we were gathered in, a long, tunnel-like hall with arched beams supporting the roof, as a graphic illustration of her point. She said it consisted of three parts: the walls which could be likened to humanity, the iron beams which were like different religions of the world, and the roof which was like the Bahá’í Faith, uniting and protecting all.

A Tree Revisited

At the meeting at Mwami, which was held under a very big tree, the same one where, eight years ago, Rúḥíyyih Khánum had met and addressed the Bahá’ís, some of those same believers were again present, providing a cordial atmosphere of reunion.

In the small town of Korogwe, we spent five days visiting Bahá’ís in nearby towns and in meetings held on some of the big sisal estates. On four evenings we had meetings in an African hotel in a room occupied by the member of the National Assembly who was accompanying us on this part of our Tanzanian tour. Another member of the National Assembly, a young pioneer, joined us with his wife and four small children.

As old and new Korogwe are about two miles apart and our hotel was in the new section — but the few local Bahá’ís lived in the old section — we would all huddle together (adults, children, believers; and new friends come to learn of the Faith for the first time) on the bed, table, chairs, and floor of our Bahá’í brother’s bedroom, sometimes fourteen of us in a space about three meters wide by four meters long! Animated discussion and questions would follow Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s opening remarks, in which she invariably emphasized how happy she was to be there, how much she enjoyed such informal exchanges of ideas, and that they were welcome to ask any questions they liked.

Teaching conference held at Menu Bahá’í Institute, Kenya.

[Page 7] ‘Amatu’l-Bahá and the believers and friends gathered at the site for the new Bahá’í Center of Kaptoroy, Nandi Land, Kenya.

The questions, as we have always noticed in the villages and small places, were the reflection of intelligent and questing minds, and the discussion most stimulating and interesting. The Africans were touched by the way these little Persian children would recite prayers, even the tiny girl of three saying, in her piping, mouse-size voice, a little prayer in front of almost a hundred people, half of them children, in a meeting at Mombo.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum often comments that when the pioneers will take their children with them on village teaching trips it has a profound effect, as it is a true demonstration of our sense of the oneness of humanity; people do not take their precious children among people they do not trust; also, the influence on the Bahá’í children is profound and encourages them to teach from their earliest infancy. Several young men and women embraced the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh as the result of this Korogwe visit. This is really the best way of planning the itinerary of traveling teachers, giving them time to remain in one place for several days, to teach and deepen the believers. The field is vast, the harvest waiting to be gathered so abundant, and the laborers so few! This is the true heartache when one goes out into the field of actual service.

Why We Need the Masses

Rúḥíyyih Khánum often asks the friends how we are going to build the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh with a handful of believers. It is like trying to bake a loaf of bread with a spoonful of flour and a few drops of water! She says we need masses of believers to work with, to knead into loaves, to shape into a new society.

For two nights in the beautiful town of Moshi, close to the snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro, we met with the fine local group of Bahá’ís and their friends in the Bahá’í Center; all eagerly listened to the loving and refreshing words of their beloved and precious guest.

Our last stop in Tanzania was in the charming town of Arusha, where a gathering was held in the home of a Bahá’í couple, ten miles from the city. At this meeting Rúḥíyyih Khánum told the friends they should not be discouraged by the fewness of their numbers, for in the future their descendants would be proud of the fact that their ancestors were among the first Bahá’ís of Tanzania. They were like the first drops of the rain, isolated and few in number, but soon the heavy downpour would begin which would water the hearts of great masses of people.

From October 7 to 11 ‘Amatu’l-Bahá, accompanied by two of the earliest pioneers to Africa, one of them a member of the National Assembly of Kenya, visited the Kisii District in the highlands of Kenya. At an evening meeting in the home of Bahá’ís on a tea estate at Kericho, it was so cold we huddled around a wood fire for warmth as well as light. We found the group was all new Bahá’ís, both sincere and well informed, thanks to the services of a full-time, Bahá’í teacher in their area.

In Mogwekobi Teaching Institute, over one hundred adults and children attended a meeting held to welcome Rúḥíyyih Khánum. All four of our party, which had now been joined by two other members of the Kenya National Assembly, were the guests of one of the old Bahá’ís in his home in Mosima, and daily we visited other Bahá’í communities in this area.

The Admirable Masai

The highlight of this trip was the day when, in Geteri Market, we met with several Masai Bahá’ís and their friends. These beautiful and colorful people, whom Rúḥíyyih Khánum has always admired, hold a special place in her heart; so you can imagine her joy when she was introduced to a dignified old Masai and discovered that he and another member of his tribe were on the Area Teaching Committee.

Some of the roads, after heavy showers which started regularly every afternoon, were absolutely impassable to any vehicle but a four-wheel drive. One stretch of sixteen miles of mud, Rúḥíyyih Khánum said, was the worst she had ever driven over in her entire life. Nevertheless, she insisted in keeping her appointment with the Bahá’ís, saying that they so seldom had any guests from far away and quoting the words of Bahá’u’lláh, “Say not that which thou doest not, and promise not that which thou canst not fulfill.” She had promised, and she was going; but her shoulders were sore from the driving for several days.

Arrival in Addis Ababa

On October 15, we landed in Addis Ababa airport to be met with a tremendous welcome from a large and most loving group composed of the Ethiopian Board member, National Assembly members, pioneers and friends from many places. The dream of visiting Ethiopia, cherished by both ‘Amatu’l-Bahá and me, was at last being fulfilled. Our stay of over one month was truly the climax, so far, of this long African tour. Every day was packed with activity, and great victories were

[Page 8] Bahá’í children’s choir in Kiptuiya, Nandi Land, Kenya. ‘Amatu’l-Bahá is seated at the right.

won for our beloved Faith in this ancient and historic land.

On arriving at her hotel, Rúḥíyyih Khánum was interviewed by a reporter from one of the larger journals. In the afternoon the director of one of the leading programs of the National Radio came to her sitting room and recorded her in an informal interview of questions and answers — a full half-hour of comprehensive information on the history of the Faith and its teachings. He was greatly impressed by what he heard and put the entire interview on the air, a unique occasion for the Bahá’ís in Ethiopia as it was the first time mention of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh had ever been broadcast in that country. We later learned that many of the believers in other cities had been able to hear this program. It was a source of great encouragement to the friends who are just beginning to emerge from obscurity and are, for the first time, experiencing a rapid increase in numbers in spite of the fact that Ethiopia was opened to the Faith in 1935, almost twenty years before the start of the World Crusade in 1953.

It had long been the desire of Rúḥíyyih Khánum to meet His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I. This interview had been tentatively arranged for the following morning at ten, but as it had still to be confirmed, we were not actually certain it would take place until a few minutes before we left for the office of the Emperor, in the Grand Palace.

Emperor Grants Interview

Mr. Gila Bata, a lawyer, one of the first believers of Ethiopia and a member of its National Assembly, whose duty had brought him into contact with the Emperor on more than one occasion, had made all the arrangements and was present with ‘Amatu’l-Bahá and me.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum had decided she preferred the low Ethiopian bow to the curtsy of the West; and when we were ushered into the spacious drawing room, furnished much in the tradition of a comfortable, tasteful, European parlor, which was evidently used as a more informal reception room and office than a Chamber of State, she bowed very low, and so did we. The private secretary of the Emperor, who, in addition to being an officer of the Court, holds among other things the title of Minister of the Pen, a man of fifty or so, told us to come forward and shake hands with the Emperor. I noticed that as Rúḥíyyih Khánum took his hand all she said was, “Your Majesty.” He motioned her to be seated in one of the two armchairs placed to the right of his armchair, not six feet from him, and I sat next to her. He instructed Gila Bata to sit opposite him on one of a row of chairs against the wall. This, we later learned, was quite contrary to Ethiopian custom, as the subjects do not generally sit in the presence of the Ruler. It was evidently to be a European interview.

Bahá’í children’s class Tongarini settlement, Scheme, Kenya.

[Page 9] His Imperial Majesty is such a familiar figure that he scarcely needs to be described. Short, and slight in build, he is great and commanding in presence. Although his hair and beard are now streaked with grey, his eyes are brilliant and full not only of life and a keen intelligence, but at times there is a surprising degree of warmth and kindliness that reflects the very soul of this great man.

Interview Informal

When we were seated, the Emperor said something in Amharic to his Secretary, or Chamberlain, who did all the translating and was the only other person in the room with us. Then he turned to Rúḥíyyih Khánum and said, “Proceed.” She afterwards said that this disconcerted her very much, as it sounded as if she had come with a petition of some kind. She then said that if she might express what was really in her heart, naturally and openly, she wanted to tell His Majesty how deeply she was honored and moved by being received by him, as she had so long admired him “as a King and as a man” because of the way he had conducted himself in the face of the many trials and hardships of his life, and the way he had overcome them.

Throughout the entire interview, which lasted a full half-hour, the sincerity of her feeling for this Ruler, a true depth of feeling, was very apparent. It even affected her voice at times, as if one could hear the tears in it, and this was in no way lost upon the Emperor, who, whatever he had expected, had certainly not expected this. I think it moved him, too.

Gila Bata said he had never seen the Emperor so informal, that he seemed to be enjoying the meeting with ‘Amatu’l-Bahá. Indeed, the length of time he accorded us would seem to confirm this, as his antechamber was full of people who no doubt had urgent matters for his attention.

Although the Emperor evidently understands English quite well, for the most part he addressed Rúḥíyyih Khánum in Amharic through his Secretary, who would then translate, prefixing his remarks by “His Imperial Majesty says....” Every now and then the Emperor would say something to her in English, but finding discussion on philosophical matters too complicated, would go back to Amharic. One of the first things he said was, “You have many Bahá’ís in my country?” to which Rúḥíyyih Khánum replied, “Some, Your Majesty,” and added, “under the protection of Your Majesty’s wing.”

There were certain points that she was able to bring out clearly, as the Emperor not only spoke himself, but asked her questions and listened attentively to what she said. All in all, it was quite a remarkable conversation.

She said (and no attempt is made here to give either a verbatim account or follow the sequence of these remarks) she wished him to know that, as obedience to governments was one of the cardinal teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, he would find no more loyal and obedient subjects in his Kingdom than the Bahá’ís, that they were entirely nonpolitical in their activities, indeed never interfered in political matters.

When she had mentioned these characteristics of the Bahá’ís, His Majesty stated that in his country there was complete freedom of religion, that it comprised many Muslims as well as Christians, and that even the pagan who worshipped a tree was free to do so, as he

Gift of a clay pot, with her name baked into it, being presented to Rúḥíyyih Khánum by the Bahá’í who made it — Givogi Teaching Conference, Kenya.

was worshiping the spirit of God behind that tree, so to speak. Indeed, he spoke so beautifully and so tolerantly that it was a revelation to us. He also strongly deplored the derisive spirit among religious leaders, and said that he constantly strove to promote unity and cooperation amongst them.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum was able to set forth in lucid language the concept the Bahá’ís have that religion is a natural phenomena of life in this world, always unfolding as man matures on this planet; that all Revelations are from God; that Bahá’u’lláh is the Revealer of the one for this day, and that there will always be, in the future, a further unfoldment of divine truth.

She also stressed the point that she felt we must all be on our guard against: the new prejudice of the Twentieth Century — being added to all the terrible, old prejudices of race, religion, and class — that of the educated against the illiterate.

The Exchange of Gifts

When we rose to take our leave, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá asked if she might present a gift to His Imperial Majesty, though it was only a modest token of her esteem. She then took from me the silver box she had wrapped in silk, saying this was the workmanship of her husband’s native land, Persia, and handed it to the Secretary. To our surprise, he unwrapped it and presented it to the Emperor to survey.

Arrival of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá and Violette Nakhjavání at Addis Ababa Airport, October 15, 1969.

[Page 10] ‘Amatu’l-Bahá and the friends of Addis Ababa on the occasion of the celebration of the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh. The dress she is wearing was a gift of one of the Ethiopian Bahá’ís.

We then bowed low, the Emperor again shook hands, and we backed respectfully towards the door. Just as we reached it, His Imperial Majesty said something to his Secretary, who approached Rúḥíyyih Khánum and asked her to wait a moment. As we stood, he opened a cabinet against a wall, took out a box and handed it to the Emperor, who asked Rúḥíyyih Khánum to approach. Opening the small case, he showed her the gold medal of his Coronation, saying this was a token of his esteem and not because of any intrinsic value it might have. Rúḥíyyih Khánum accepted it gracefully, thanked him, and we departed. Thus ended what must truly be considered an historic interview in every way.

On the 17th of October we motored, accompanied by a number of other cars, to Awasa in Southern Ethiopia, where the Board of Counsellors with the co-operation of the National Assembly had arranged a three-day teaching conference in Gemeto. Many hundreds of the new, local Bahá’ís, as well as a large number of the friends from Addis Ababa and Asmara, attended this conference.

On the second day of our arrival, before going to nearby Gemeto to the conference, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá paid a courtesy call on the highest government official who was present in the district, Mr. Girazmatch Kebede Woldemedhin, the Chief Secretary of the Sidamu District. When the Chief Secretary insisted that Rúḥíyyih Khánum should be escorted to the conference by the Chief of Police, as well as by the Governor of the Gemeto area, she said, with a deep sense of humility:

“One hundred years ago Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of our Faith, Who was a distinguished nobleman, was taken on foot, bareheaded and barefooted, in chains under the burning sun, from His palace in the mountains to the worst dungeon in Ṭihrán; now, for His sake and in His honor, I accept the honor you are bestowing on me.”

An Ethiopian Conference

The conference, which took place amidst a cluster of mud huts in the depths of a luxuriant growth of muck bananas, was held under an immense tent borrowed from the army. The villagers, a tall, handsome people (many of the men carrying spears which they used to defend their cattle against wild animals; many of the women clad only in aprons and cloaks of hide), listened attentively, hour after hour, to the many talks, most of which had to be translated from either English or Amharic into their own tongue.

At night, the ladies from Addis Ababa cooked a big pot of food, and we all sat about on the ground under the stars, eating with our hands in that happy and easy spirit of companionship that seems to spring up among Bahá’ís everywhere in the world. This was the first conference of its kind ever held in Ethiopia and a source of great joy to all the friends.

The last day, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá laid three foundation stones in the vicinity for three Bahá’í buildings. The National Assembly had selected a piece of land, offered by the chairman of the local Spiritual Assembly of Gemeto, to build the Banání Teaching Institute on; and two other friends had each also eagerly donated a piece of land on which, in the future, it is hoped to erect a simple Bahá’í Center and a village school.

[Page 11]

Ethiopians Display Talents

One of the highlights of this visit was an unusual and fascinating dance given by the young villagers. The Addis ‎Abada Ababa‎ friends, who have been going down on successive weekends to teach the Faith in the Gemeto area, were very surprised as none of them had ever seen it before. As usual, the villagers knew how to honor the guests who had come from so far to be with them!

Another thing that added to their experiences of this day was the singing by a group of the local children of Bahá’í songs in Persian, in English, in Amharic, and in their own language, which songs they had learned in such a short space of time. So distinct was their pronunciation that we could understand both the English and the Persian words. Truly, the Ethiopian people have a unique gift for languages.

Another scene that lingers in my memory is the old man who, with a trembling voice, addressed these words to Rúḥíyyih Khánum:

“Our hearts are so full with all the blessings that you have brought us. Last night you lightened our meetings with electrical light and showed us beautiful films; and today you have lightened our hearts and souls with the spiritual light of the love of Bahá’u’lláh.”

The celebration of the Birthday of the Báb was the happy crown of these wonderful days.

On our way back to Addis Ababa, we stopped in the village of Bulbula. Four distinguished Muslim Sheiks were present in this meeting. They were greatly touched by the spirit of the Bahá’ís and the beauty of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. In this meeting, which was held under the shade of a tree on a flat, dusty plain, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá sat on the ground with the other friends and spoke such words of wisdom as to melt the hearts of all who heard her.

Sheiks Declare Faith

The most distinguished Sheik, who was visiting this area, expressed his joy on hearing this wonderful message of God and invited the Bahá’ís to come and visit him and teach the Faith in his home. Two of the three Sheiks accepted the Faith, and several others also acknowledged their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

On our way back, we also stopped at the home of one of the Bahá’ís whose young wife had given birth to their first baby. We had prayers for the mother and the baby, and, as the parents of the baby requested a name for their baby girl, Rúḥíyyih Khánum gave the name of Bahíyyih to her. On this same route there was a small hotel where we spent a night, and where three of the staff had accepted the Faith a few days earlier. We were happy to have the chance of seeing these new believers.

On October 22, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá, Mr. and Mrs. Belete Worku, and I had the honor of being received by Princess Tenagne Worke Haile Selassie, a daughter of the Emperor and one of the best-known members of the royal family, and her daughter Princess Seble Desta. Both of these ladies are very active in women’s work in their country. For almost an hour we stayed with them, had coffee, and talked about the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, which Rúḥíyyih Khánum very eloquently clarified, explaining our belief in progressive Revelation.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum addressing the Gemeto Teaching Conference in Ethiopia.

Bahá’ís attending the Gemeto Teaching Conference in Ethiopia, October 18-20.

Bahá’ís gathered in Gemeto for the laying of the cornerstone of the new Banání Teaching Institute, October 20, 1969.

[Page 12] Rúḥíyyih Khánum lays the third cornerstone for a Bahá’í building in Gemeto, Kenya.

To Princess Tenage, a copy of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh was given, and to her daughter, a copy of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. When Rúḥíyyih Khánum mentioned the beauty and power of the prayers of Bahá’u’lláh, this young princess expressed the desire to read them. Rúḥíyyih Khánum said she would send her a copy of Prayers and Meditations of Bahá’u’lláh.

(The second part of this account of
Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s travels in Africa
will appear in the April issue.)

Hand of the Cause visits Wisconsin

The bounty of an unexpected and unofficial visit from Hand of the Cause of God Jalál Kházeh was the privilege of the Bahá’ís of Shorewood, Wisconsin, during early December 1969. Mr. Kházeh agreed to meet with other Bahá’í communities in Wisconsin, and spoke to three large gatherings in different parts of the state during his four-day visit.

With humor and firmness, he spoke on the institutions of the Faith, the significance of Feasts, the necessity for deepening, the role of the youth in building the new World Order, and the history of the Faith’s early days.

Oconomowoc

“If you are a soldier, would you like to go into battle without any arms?” he asked, meeting with the Bahá’ís of Oconomowoc. “No, first you must have arms, or you will surely be vanquished. Similarly, we are the soldiers of God. We must have knowledge, or we will be defeated when we try to teach. Bahá’ís should arm themselves with devotion and faith, steadfastness, service, and complete attraction to the Abhá kingdom. Then they will win great victories for the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.”

Milwaukee

Speaking in the Milwaukee Bahá’í Center, he recalled that it was sixteen years that evening since the beloved Guardian had conferred upon him the honor of being appointed a Hand of the Cause of God.

“In these sixteen years, it has been my privilege to travel constantly around the world, meeting the lovers of Bahá’u’lláh. In Korea, where mass conversion has begun, in India, in South America, souls are working for this Cause who have first won the love of their new companions and then have led them into this beloved Faith. Where there is love, teaching will be successful. If you do not love those whom you teach, there will be no effect.”

Madison

In Madison, in the home of Mrs. Charlotte Keefrey, fifty Bahá’ís gathered to hear Mr. Kházeh speak on the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. He recalled the years intervening between the passing of the beloved Guardian and the formation of the Universal House of Justice.

“The Hands of the Cause were named the Chief Stewards of the embryonic World Order of Bahá’u’lláh,” he declared. “They served as midwives at the birth of the divinely-ordained, long-awaited institution of the Universal House of Justice. Gladly they turned in obedience to this body, referred to so explicitly by the Center of the Covenant, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and the beloved Guardian; and everywhere that they travel in the world they call the attention of the friends to this unprecedented gift from God, which will help us retain the unity and the purity of the Faith in all time to come.”

Wherever Mr. Kházeh traveled, he spent time answering the questions of youth, attracting their interest and attention. Following his visit in Wisconsin, he spoke

[Page 13] at deepening classes in communities near the House of Worship in Wilmette. All who met him were deeply moved by his devotion to the beloved Guardian and his staunch support of the teaching plans given us by the Universal House of Justice.

El Salvador

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of El Salvador 1969-70: (Front) Delfin Tadeo Tesorero, José María Padilla (chairman), Jeanne de Farrand (secretary), Gayle Woolson, Margarita Ortiz, and Jose Antonio Mayorga; (back) Rafael García, Quentin Farrand, and Napoleon Gonzales.

Colombia

Delegates from the Motilón tribe, Department of Cesár, to the Eighth National Convention of Colombia.

Switzerland

Members of the Teaching Committee of Suisse Romande manned an art exhibit in the university town of Fribourg, Switzerland, last July, as they began a monthly teaching program there. A large oil painting entitled, “Prophetic Vision,” was featured at the exhibit (see picture). This was the first time they had been able to get an advertisement in the local paper.

Fribourg is basically a French-speaking area, with some German, and resident pioneers, with these languages, are needed there.

The Lesser Antilles

Alfred Osborne, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Central America, made an extensive teaching trip throughout many of the islands of the eastern Caribbean during November and December. His trip included Grenada, St. Martin, and St. Thomas.

“The friends ... conducted one of the largest proclamation campaigns in the history of St. Thomas by combining several speaking engagements by Mr. Osborne with two showings of the new Bahá’í film, ‘A New Wind.’ ” Another showing of the film at the Apollo Theater was given in observance of Human Rights Day. (Bahá’í News of the Lesser Antilles)

[Page 14]

Maye Seychelles

Part of the audience of over three hundred at the Victoria, Maye Seychelles Islands, Human Rights observance December 9, 1969. Speaker included: David Petrouse, student at Seychelles College, and Andre Samson, who spoke in French, whose talk was then translated into creole by Mr. B. Renaud. Films were shown; and a broadcast over Radio Seychelles was made the same evening.

New Guinea

Nine villages were represented at this November 1969 Teaching Conference in Goroka, New Guinea. Subjects presented included: The life of Bahá’u’lláh, teaching institutes, Bahá’í life, Feasts, elections, and the relevant question of “unity” between different people from different areas with different languages.

Bolivia

A teaching conference at the National Teaching Institute, Cochabamba, Bolivia, December 19-21, 1969. A member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, an Auxiliary Board member, some of the National Spiritual Assembly, pioneers, and permanent traveling teachers were present to review and implement special plans for the August 1970 Continental Conference in La Paz, Bolivia.

Bolivian National Teaching Institute, December 19-21, 1969.

[Page 15]

WORLD RELIGION DAY

Vietnam

Thousands of believers of various religions attended World Religion Day observances throughout Vietnam it was reported in one of the eleven Vietnamese daily newspapers that carried reports of the public meetings. Reports were also carried in English and government papers, as well as on radio, television and in cinemas throughout the country.

In the Saigon area 800 were present, and similar meetings were held in other major cities. The chairman of the Saigon meeting was Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr. Tran Van Liem; the speakers were: the Venerable Thich Quang Do, professor at the Van Hanh Buddhist University; the Reverend Vu Duc Kham, Director of the Social and Cultural Department of the Saigon diocese; Mr. Le Cho, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Vietnam. The report included an imposing list of representatives from the various religions, associations, and knowledgeable people.

Quotes

Venerable Thich Quang Do: “... an united and progressive world has been the dream not only of mankind today, which is suffering too much in the fire of war, but it was also the ideal taught by all the Prophets and great thinkers.... Today, with the prayers of mankind, people will return to Ceasar that which belongs to Ceasar. The truth is one, and all the religions are different ways which lead to that unique truth.

Mr. Le Cho (Bahá’í): “There can be no power which can re-establish the stability and prosperity of the world if it is not an awakening of mankind, which must turn towards the eternal truth and obey the commandments of God.” He added, “... In the greatness of this sublime enterprise, the Bahá’ís volunteer themselves to act as architects, bricklayers, and servants, each making sacrifices and striving to serve God — to serve the progress of mankind.”

Speakers for Saigon, Vietnam, World Religion Day observance, January 18.

Western Samoa Youth Conference

The First International Bahá’í Youth Conference of the South Pacific, held at Apia, Western Samoa, from December 29 to January 2, attracted youth from many parts of the South Pacific to a week of deepening, planning, fellowship, and unity that will long be remembered. There were ninety registrants from American Samoa, Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Tonga, United States, and Western Samoa, a remarkable gathering considering the great distances involved. Nearly a third of the youth of New Zealand managed to come, and many of the islanders spent a week traveling by boat each way.

Hand of the Cause ‘Abu’l-Qásim Faizí taught many wonderful classes, and Board of Counsellors member Suhayl ‘Alá’í, three Auxiliary Board members, and several members of National Assemblies were also present. Representatives from most of the countries participated in the program, sharing their knowledge, experience, and activities with the other youth. Workshops permitted everyone to join in discussions of various Bahá’í topics, to decide on individual and national goals, and to write new Bahá’í songs. There was much singing and dancing, with special performances by the different national groups. At the close of the conference, Mr. Faizí addressed a public meeting in downtown Apia to which more than 150 people came.

Those youth who were able to came early or stayed after the conference to help with the teaching work. One group spent a day in a village on the neighboring island of Savai’i, where the local chiefs honored them with a kava ceremony, food presentation, and fiafia (song and dance program).

Much of the success of the conference was due to the careful planning of the National Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Ocean, the great efforts of the Bahá’ís of Apia, and the cooperation of the friends from many countries. As the youth reluctantly parted, they took with them a better understanding of their responsibilities and opportunities as Bahá’í youth, a new awareness of the diversity and growing strength of the Faith around the South Pacific, a deeper knowledge of the history and central concepts of their Faith, specific individual goals and national teaching plans, and new bonds of love and understanding with their fellow youth. The fruits of this historic conference should be harvested for many years to come.

Part of audience at Saigon, Vietnam, World Religion Day meeting, January 18.

[Page 16]

TEXAS

Spiritual Assembly of Killeen, Texas, 1969. Standing, left to right, Velma Rogers, Dale Lesh, Miss O. T. Juenemann, and James Baumgartner. Seated: James D. Rogers, Garv Sterling, Andriana Baumgartner, and Frances Lawes. Inset: Barbara Campbell.

ITALY

Seventh Italian Summer School

The seventh Italian Summer School took place at Igea Marina, a sea resort on the Adriatic, from September 7-18, 1969. It was attended by Bahá’ís and their friends from Italy and other countries as well as by a great number of youths. Two Hands of the Cause of God, Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel and Jalál Kházeh, three members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Mrs. D. Ferraby, Mr. L. Henuzet, Dr. E. Blumenthal, and two Auxiliary Board members, Mr. M. Piarulli and Mr. J. Holmlund, brought inspiration to the school by talking to the friends and making them conscious of their duty to teach the Faith, and of the importance of fulfilling the goals on the homefront.

A professor from the University of Milan and a young assistant professor from the University of Florence, both non-Bahá’ís, also lectured. Both arrived at the conclusion that the principles of the Bahá’í Faith present the only solution to the failing institutions of the world.

A wonderful Bahá’í atmosphere pervaded throughout the school, and all the friends, whatever their country or background, had an opportunity to strengthen their ties with each other.

Another Publishing Trust

Italy has had its own Publishing Trust for about a year, fulfilling one of its goals for the Nine Year Plan. They can now place books all over their country for sale to the public. It is their hope that this will be “another step toward spreading more widely the writings of the Faith.”

Seventh Italian Summer School, Igea Marina, September 7-18, 1969.

[Page 17]

Colombia

Believers from Bogotä, Cali, Jamundi, Maizales, and Pereira at the Cali, Colombia, Summer School, October 1969.

Alaska

Kenai, Alaska, October 1969, panel on Indian Council. Left to right: Willie Willoya, Maynard Eakan, Victor McNeil, Joyce Norman, Maggie Hursey, William Coppock, Peter Singyke, Alice Kakaruk, Melba King; (foreground) Art Jess, Jr.

New York

Duchess County, New York, 1969 Fair booth.

[Page 18]

Minnesota

The Governor of Minnesota signs World Peace Day proclamation, September 12, 1969.

St. Paul Community Activities

This Community has been assisting isolated believers in Cambridge and Dalbo, with believers participating from Mille Lacs, Onamia, Anoka, Northfield, Minneapolis, and Bloomington.

On September 12, the Governor of Minnesota signed a World Peace Day proclamation, which had been sent to him. Jim Beasley, of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, spoke on September 21 over Radio WLOL from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Thirty non-Bahá’ís attended the public meeting that Sunday afternoon in the Macalester College Chapel.

Bahá’u’lláh’s Birthday was recognized by a showing of the film, “A New Wind,” with John Berry, secretary of the State Goals Committee, as follow-up speaker. This premiere was held in Coffman Memorial Union on the University of Minnesota campus, and three hundred persons attended. Excellent newspaper and radio coverage was achieved for this premiere.

Good coverage was also had for a January 24 meeting at the Y.W.C.A. Traveling teacher Mrs. Margaret Jensen of Winnetka, Illinois, was the speaker for this meeting, and for a deepening class the next morning.

Montana

Former pioneer to Alaska, Blu Mundy of Lewiston, Idaho, spent five days, January 21-25, in helping the Great Falls area believers proclaim the Faith. Two television appearances reached not only the Great Falls area, but by cable TV were carried to Havre, Helena, Lewiston, Missoula, and Kalispell. One thirty-minute program, “Contemporary Religion,” included questions from an Episcopal rector, a Methodist minister, and a clinical psychologist. A twenty-five, column-inch newspaper article supplemented these appearances.

Additional teaching efforts included: Speaking to a group of Indians and lower income people at a community center, to a woman’s club, nightly deepening classes, and a Saturday afternoon institute.

Maine

The World Religion Day program held in Fellowship House of the Green Acre Bahá’í school on January 18 featured two speakers from Massachusetts: Nicholas Janus, Ipswich research physicist and Phil Christenson of Amherst. Their talks emphasized the principles of Bahá’í education for one world and the problems and challenges faced in implementing the principles. “Even the children joined heartily in the applause.”

Six Bahá’í communities sponsored, planned, and proclaimed the meeting: Portsmouth and Exeter, New Hampshire; Eliot, Kittery, York, and Kennebunk, Maine. Persons attended the meeting from fourteen communities and five states, including Hawaii.

Correction

Page 21, November 1969 BAHÁ’Í NEWS. Please add this sentence to the West Hollywood radio program item: Other communities have occasionally contributed to the support of this program.

[Page 19]

U.S. Publishing Trust Moves to 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette

No one would recognize the old Jewel Tea store at 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette. It has been completely renovated and is now the home of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust which moved into its new, attractive quarters in late November. The design which was supervised by Bahá’í architect, George Hutchinson, incorporates partially glazed office dividers, and a gold, white and dark-stained interior decor. A great debt is owed to Paul Brown of Topeka, Kansas, who donated months of valuable contracting services, and to the properties department. Beginning January, 1970, the Trust added an audio-visual department, taking over the work of Distribution and Service in this field. An attractive, illustrated audio-visual catalog was issued in late January.

Above, left: A portion of the exterior; at right, Mrs. Evelyn Smith who supervises the order, billing, and accounts department shown at her left. [Mrs. Smith, as well as many others who are not Bahá’ís, has given many years of devoted service to the Trust.] Center, right: Office of Russell Busey, assistant manager; office of manager, Mrs. Eunice Braun; to right of manager’s office (not shown) is office of Mrs. Natalie Bowen, editorial assistant.

Below: Dennis Chai Han Kim, taking (for him) a rare break; a few of the many rows of open stock for order filling; a small section of mailroom and shipping area. Areas not shown are an art and layout room, audio-visual production office, office supply and duplicating room, and the office of Bahá’í News.

[Page 20]

Bahá’í Publishing Trust

Wellspring of Guidance; Messages of the Universal House of Justice (paper edition).

A paperbound edition of this title, recently issued in cloth, is now available. It is identical to the cloth edition except for binding, which is two-tone, yellow-gold on white, varnished for soil resistance. This work contains the major messages of the Universal House of Justice from its establishment in April 1963 through October 1968. All messages, except eight, are addressed to national spiritual assemblies, or to the Bahá’ís of the world.

Two Messages Addressed to Youth

Two messages are addressed to the Bahá’í youth in every land. Others are addressed to conferences, one to a specific national assembly, and two to an individual, the latter three having been made available for general publication by special permission of the Universal House of Justice. These messages are of the utmost importance to every Bahá’í. They enunciate the Nine Year Plan, analyze its progress, and reflect the attention that the Universal House of Justice has given to the development of the institutions of the Faith and individual believers to better equip them for the worldwide tasks of the Nine Year Plan with its many goals still to be achieved.

Per copy	$2.00
[A clothbound edition is available at	$3.75]

Bahá’í Lesson Plans — Grades 3, 4, 5, and 9.

The four final Bahá’í Lesson Plans, edited by the Advisory Committee on Education, are now available. These plans provide the teacher with a set of easily used materials, including lesson goals, references, methods, and various helpful aids and reminders. All manuals are 8½ x 11 size.

Grade 3:	Bahá’u’lláh (History); Man’s Relation to God (Teachings for the Individual); Harmony of Science and Religion (Social Teachings).
Grade 4:	‘Abdu’l-Bahá (History); The Rewards of Obedience to God (Teachings for the Individual); Principles of Consultation (Social Teachings).
Grade 5:	Shoghi Effendi (History); The Example of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Teachings for the Individual); Living in the Bahá’í Community (Social Teachings).
Grade 9:	Formative Age of the Bahá’í Faith (History); Teaching the Cause of God (Teachings for the Individual); Bahá’í Institutions (Social Teachings).

Each of the four Lesson Plans, per copy (order by grade)	$2.00

Orders should be sent through your community librarian to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.

---

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque

A Unity Festival, coordinated with the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is of particular interest to the local Spanish and Indian peoples of this area, was held on December 12 under the auspices of the Albuquerque minorities teaching committee.

Held in a Bahá’í home in Old Albuquerque, people came more than one hundred miles to attend. All of the ethnic groups of the area were represented in the group of about one hundred attendees.

The program, suitable to the occasion, consisted of a candlelight procession, prayers, and readings for the Unity of Mankind. Then an enormous potluck dinner, which was followed by the people gathering into several discussion groups. Many heard about the Bahá’í Faith for the first time and expressed warm and favorable remarks.

Alamogordo

This Bahá’í group, in cooperation with the Indian Bahá’í at the Mescalero Indian Reservation, held a successful youth conference December 28-30. The purpose: deepening and Indian teaching. Prior to the conference, some sixty Indian families were visited and given personal invitations to a “Youth for One World” party, and two officers of the tribal council were given copies of A New Light on the Spirit Path. More than one hundred Indians of all ages were present for this party and again the next evening, when slides of the Neah Bay Indian Council were shown at a fireside.

Twenty-five youth participated in the conference, and three of the four non-Bahá’ís present made their declarations. The youth presented most of the program for the conference, which was held in Richard and Pauline Hoff’s home.

---

BAHÁ’Í NEWS is published for circulation among Bahá’ís only by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, as a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í world community.

BAHÁ’Í NEWS is edited by an annually appointed Editorial Committee: Mr. Aaron Bowen, Managing Editor; Mrs. Eunice Braun, International Editor; Miss Charlotte Linfoot, National Spiritual Assembly Representative; Mr. Rexford C. Parmelee, Mrs. Sylvia 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.