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| No. 475 | BAHA’I YEAR 127 | OCTOBER, 1970 |
Seven National Assemblies To Be Formed Next Riḍván[edit]
The following message was cabled by The Universal House of Justice to Hands of the Cause of God Rúḥíyyih Khánum and William Sears, who represented that supreme Institution at the Conferences in Bolivia and Mauritius during August:
PLEASE ANNOUNCE TO PARTICIPANTS CONFERENCE JOYOUS NEWS DECISION CALL THREE ADDITIONAL NATIONAL CONVENTIONS NEXT RIḌVÁN NAMELY SUDAN CHAD AND CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE GABON BRINGING TO SEVEN NEW NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES BEING FORMED AT CLOSE OF SEVENTH YEAR NINE YEAR PLAN STOP FERVENTLY PRAYING HOLY SHRINES BEHALF NATIONAL COMMUNITIES BAHÁ'Í WORLD REACHING ONE HUNDRED ONE BY NEXT RIḌVÁN SUPPLICATING REINFORCEMENT TIES UNITING THEM GREATER CONSECRATION CHALLENGING TASKS STILL AHEAD WIDER PARTICIPATION ALL RANKS FAITHFUL STOP COMMUNICATING TEXT CABLE ALL NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES.
This thrilling announcement is another in a rising
number of evidences of the accelerated pace at
which the Bahá’í world community is developing.
In its message to the National Conventions last Riḍván,
The Universal House of Justice called for the formation
of four National Spiritual Assemblies at Riḍván 1971:
Lesotho; Ivory Coast, Mali, and Upper Volta; Trinidad
and Tobago; and Solomon Islands. Now this message
announces three more: Sudan; Chad; Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon.
Note that Chad will have its own Assembly. In the original outline of the Nine Year Plan, Chad and Central African Republic were to have shared one Assembly; but we find that Central African Republic has already established a National Assembly and that Chad will have one representing it alone. This is an obvious sign that these two countries have grown beyond our expectations and are being rewarded with the divine confirmation that comes to an area when a National Spiritual Assembly is formed in it.
In announcing the goals of the Nine Year Plan at Riḍván 1964, The Universal House of Justice called for “The raising of the number of National Spiritual Assemblies, the pillars sustaining The Universal House of Justice, to one hundred and eight, nine times the number which embarked on the first historic World Crusade in 1953.” At present there are ninety-four National Spiritual Assemblies. And, if we continue to grow at the present rate, there is every reason to hope that the goal of one hundred and eight will be surpassed by Riḍván 1973.
Continental and Oceanic Conferences[edit]
At Riḍván 1969, The Universal House of Justice announced to the Bahá’í world the holding of a series of eight Oceanic and Continental Conferences between August 1970 and September 1971. The purpose of these Conferences would be to stimulate and aid the proclamation of the Faith as well as the promotion of all the goals of the Nine Year Plan. The first two of these Conferences were held in August: at Rose Hill, Mauritius, from the 14th to the 17th; and at La Paz, Bolivia, from the 13th to the 16th. Full reports of these historic events have not yet been completed for publication. However, The Universal House of Justice received, during the course of the Conferences, cabled information about their progress. By courtesy of the Bahá’í International News Service operating at the World Center, Bahá’í News quotes this information as a preliminary report:
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Hand of the Cause of God Rúḥíyyih Khánum visits with the Bahá’í Community in Lima, and friends, en route to Continental Conference in La Paz, Bolivia. August 6, 1970.
"SIX HUNDRED FIFTY BAHÁ'ÍS GATHERED PRESENCE BELOVED REPRESENTATIVE AMATU'L-BAHÁ RÚḤÍYYIH KHÁNUM SIX COUNSELLORS TWELVE BOARD MEMBERS THIRTY-NINE MEMBERS NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES FIFTEEN TRIBES RACES NINETEEN COUNTRIES CELEBRATING INCESSANT VICTORIES MASS TEACHING WITH INCREASE OVER THIRTY THOUSAND BELIEVERS SINCE LAST AUGUST INCLUDING TWENTY-FOUR THOUSAND SINCE LAST RIḌVÁN. CONFERENCE PLEDGED RECONSECRATE EFFORTS WIN ALL REMAINING GOALS PLAN. FURTHER DETERMINED WIN UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE EXPANSION CONSOLIDATION WAITING MASSES SOUTH AMERICA. CONFERENCE HONORED VISIT MINISTER EDUCATION ..."—Cable from Continental Conference in Bolivia, August 15, 1970.
"FURTHER ANNOUNCE CALL AMATU’L-BAHÁ ANSWERED BY THIRTY-ONE PIONEER AND HUNDRED THIRTEEN TRAVELLING TEACHER OFFERS ..." — Cable from Continental Conference in Bolivia, August 16, 1970.
"UNIQUE CONFERENCE RECALLING LONDON CONGRESS (WAS) CROWNED (BY) OVER 200 ATTENDANTS ALL BACKGROUNDS RECEIVED PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (BY) PRESIDENT BOLIVIA. YOUR BOOK OFFICIALLY PRESENTED GRACIOUSLY RECEIVED SPEECH APPRECIATION FAITH PRINCIPLES TELEVISED ..." Cable from Hand of the Cause Amatu'l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, August 17, 1970.
"OVER 800 FRIENDS ASSEMBLED CONFERENCE EXPRESS LOVING GRATITUDE PRESENCE HANDS CAUSE SEARS KHÁZEH MUHÁJIR UPLIFTING HEARTS SURPASS GOALS NINE YEAR PLAN ..." — Cable from Indian Ocean Conference, August 15, 1970.
"CONFERENCE SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED OVER 800 ATTENDING 32 COUNTRIES THREE HANDS NINE COUNSELLORS TEN BOARD MEMBERS 22 NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY REPRESENTATIVES 17 ASSEMBLIES. OUTSTANDING PRESS TELEVISION ALSO CONTACT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS PRIME MINISTER GOVERNOR-GENERAL UNITED NATIONS PEACE CORPS MINISTERS MAYORS INDUSTRY. HUGE AUDIENCE PUBLIC MEETING. FINAL DAY 212 PIONEERS VOLUNTEERED THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND RUPEES FOUR JEEPS CONTRIBUTED PLEDGED. ALL ATTENDANTS CONSECRATED SELVES SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION ALL GOALS PLAN." — Cable from Hand of the Cause William Sears, August 18, 1970.
Bolivia[edit]
A devoted pioneer, Mrs. Ellen Sims, writes:
“Today I read a teaching report of two volunteer Indian teachers (who walk for thirteen hours to bring their reports and enrollment cards to the Regional Teaching Committee) which reflects so poignantly the spirit of all these dear friends who arise to teach the Faith voluntarily in Bolivia and in all mass conversion countries that I thought it might warrant inclusion in Bahá’í News in condensed form. (These are two brothers, believers only for several months, who never attended Bahá’í courses of study, but were taught by that devoted soul in Bolivia, Meleton Gallardo.)
“ ‘Very dear brothers in the Bahá’í Faith: Through this report we are letting all our Bahá’í brothers and sisters know that we have made teaching trips in our campo to the Chayante Province of the Department of Potosí; we, the traveling teachers of our beloved Bahá’í Faith, Ancelmo and Valenti Heredia Puma, with all our hearts have visited the following places.... In all these places many children of God have entered the Faith and are happy asking us for more visits ... they have
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manifested to us that we are known by all, saying that
they do not think we would be visiting them with lies
and deceits, as they have now heard about the good
Manifestations of God, with divine words in favor of the
indigenous people of the campo, of how we can all live
with God and His Blessings.... It is very difficult and
sacrificial, day and night, explaining without tranquil
rest, at times we do not eat, and at times we do not
sleep, walking in the high mountains, across the rivers
and plains, very difficult passages through the campo.
We greet you very affectionately.... 110 new Bahá’ís
enrolled in the Faith during this teaching trip.’ ”
In Memoriam[edit]
DEEPLY GRIEVED PASSING KNIGHT BAHÁ'U'LLÁH BELOVED MARY COLLISON. HER LONG BRILLIANT RECORD DEDICATED SELFLESS SERVICES UNITED STATES AFRICA IN COLLABORATION DEAR HUSBAND IMPERISHABLE. PRAYING FERVENTLY HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HER RADIANT SOUL.
August 13, 1970
Mrs. Mary Gale Collison was born in Canada in 1892. She moved to the United States at the age of nine years. In 1920 she married Reginald C. Collison. Both became Bahá’ís in 1924 in Geneva, New York. Mrs. Collison was a member of the Study Outline Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly and of the National Teaching Committee for some years.
After moving to Geyserville, California, in 1945 Mrs. Collison made a number of teaching trips for the Faith in the West and Northwest, and she also served as a member of the Geyserville Bahá’í School Program Committee, as well as a member of the Geyserville Spiritual Assembly, for several years.
In February 1952 Mr. and Mrs. Collison pioneered in Uganda, and the following year proceeded to Rwanda-Burundi in response to the Guardian’s call for pioneers for that country under the Ten Year Crusade. Forced by the Belgian government to leave Rwanda-Burundi in 1955, the Collisons left behind a nucleus of twenty or more believers who carried the Faith throughout that country and the Eastern Congo until today, when there are thousands of Bahá’ís and two National Spiritual Assemblies in that area.
Mr. and Mrs. Collison were among the very first American pioneers under the Ten Year Crusade and, together with Mr. Dunduzu Chisiza of Uganda, who accompanied them to Rwanda-Burundi, were named by the beloved Guardian as Knights of Bahá’u’lláh.
After returning to Uganda, the Collisons again became custodians of the Bahá’í Center in Kampala, and later of the Bahá’í House of Worship. There they grew all the plants and trees and laid out the Temple landscaping, and Mary arranged the Temple programs. They returned to Geyserville in 1966, for health reasons, but continued active service to the Faith. Mrs. Collison was a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Sonoma County, California, until her passing on August 11, 1970, following a lingering illness.
The Bahá’ís of Burundi-Rwanda, on hearing of Mrs. Collison’s death, cabled:
PLEASE CONVEY REX COLLISON OUR DEEPEST GRIEF, SYMPHATHY LOSS DEAR MARY VALIANT KNIGHT BAHÁ'U'LLÁH BURUNDI-RWANDA. FRIENDS THIS REGION WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER COLLISONS' SERVICES PROMOTION FAITH.
New believers in Tablogan, The Philippines.
The Philippines[edit]
Teaching the Faith in the tribal areas of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, an island in the Philippines, has so greatly inspired Firooze Tolouie, our student pioneer from Írán, that he promised to be back there during his school holidays.
Firooze went to Mindoro on June 6 and stayed until June 11. During these five days he visited the Bahá’ís of two localities and opened a new area where new believers enrolled. Together with two other traveling teachers, one of whom is a member of the Mangyan tribe, he assisted the friends in understanding more about the Bahá’í principles and administration. They also taught some Bahá’í songs.
Firooz came back to Manila with a radiant spirit, and brought the names of the thirty-eight new believers in the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh to the National Spiritual Assembly.
The Bahá’ís of Tablogan, The Philippines.
The Panama House of Worship[edit]
All structural concrete work to balcony level was to be completed by August 15 on the rapidly growing Panama House of Worship. An August 4 report indicated that one-third of the balcony floor, inner and outer balustrades, had been poured, and that the final section of this part of the project should be completed by the end of September. As indicated in the photograph, some of the dome ribs have been poured, and reports say that all of them will probably be done by the end of October.
Quality control and plan schedules are frequently discussed with the contractor and engineers. The National Spiritual Assembly reports that they anticipate completion of guniting the dome for the Temple during the next dry season (December 21 through April 21). They state: “There are many difficult operations ahead. The contractor is fully aware of this and is working carefully and conscientiously to carry out every detail.”
Photos (left to right) one through five are aerial views of the
Temple. Six, seven, and eight depict various stages of pouring
concrete on the balcony slab. Eleven — a crane hoisting one of
the dome ribs from its form.
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The National Spiritual Assembly for El Salvador. Left to right: (front row) Gail Woolson; Jaleh Torres; Elsa Garcia; Jeanne Farrand, secretary; (back row) Marvin Dreyer, treasurer; Manuel Flores, vice-chairman: Tim Farrand, chairman; Rafael Martinez; Rafael Garcia, recording secretary.
El Salvador’s National Bahá’í Convention, April 24-26, photographed in front of their Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.
El Salvador[edit]
Six representatives of the refugee community, La Sirama, walked eight miles at two o’clock in the morning to get a train to come from the furthest point in the country so they could attend an exciting, inspiring Convention. There were delegates from all parts of the country.
Auxiliary Board member Edith McLaren opened the Convention by relating her experiences with mass conversion among the Indians of South America. She helped to spark the enthusiasm here to follow in their footsteps. There were many recommendations to the new National Spiritual Assembly relating to mass conversion, and the Convention adopted a recommendation to triple the goals assigned by the Universal House of Justice for the Nine Year Plan.
We had the great bounty of viewing the film of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the United States in 1912. It was truly one of the highlights of the Convention.
Finland[edit]
The Summer School in Salo, Finland, July
4-7. Hands of the Cause of God Ugo
Giachery and ‘Alí Akbar Furútan attended the School. Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Modesta Hvide from Norway and
Mrs. Angeline Giachery were also present.
One declaration was made in the School.
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The first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Upper West Africa at Riḍván 127. Left to right: (seated) Ali Behjat; Mrs. Nosrat Rouhani, treasurer; Bye N’jie Lowe; Aliew Badara N’jie; (standing) Kanniyah K. Adaikkalam, secretary; Mas’sud Yazdani; Moḥammed Ali Djaladi; Dr. Aminullah Bakshandegi, chairman; Jamshid Fanaiyyan, vice-chairman.
First National Convention Upper West Africa[edit]
Bathurst, The Gambia, was the site for the Bahá’í Convention on May 2-3 for the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of Upper West Africa. Thirteen of the nineteen delegates from Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania were present, with all nineteen delegates participating in the election of the new Assembly.
The meetings were graced by Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga, representing the Universal House of Justice, and honored by the presence of Board of Counsellors member Ḥusayn Ardikání. The Convention was opened by Mrs. Wesson, the representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of West Africa. Moḥammed ‘Alí Djalali and Jamshid Fanaiyyan were chairman and secretary, respectively, of the Convention.
Radio Broadcast Surprises Thousands[edit]
On Friday evening, May 1, the people of The Gambia and surrounding countries were listening to the news from Radio Gambia when they suddenly heard that the next day there would be a Bahá’í Convention in Bathurst for the purpose of electing the National Spiritual Assembly. Many were hearing the word “Bahá’í” for the first time, and they heard the announcer add, “The Bahá’ís believe in the oneness of God, the oneness of Prophets, and the oneness of mankind. Bahá’ís are the promoters of peace, love, and unity among nations.” The fact that there are now ninety-four National Spiritual Assemblies was also given and the broadcast was repeated in two more local languages.
For a week additional broadcasts were made under the title of “Gambians embrace new Faith,” and one announcer added, “A spokesman said on Saturday that there is much promise in the future of the Bahá’í Faith in Africa.” By this time the people were more acquainted with the word “Bahá’í,” so group by group in the streets and houses, in the towns and villages, they gathered around the radio and listened to news about the Faith. Even the local newspaper, The Bulletin, began to carry the story.
Mr. Fanaiyyan was invited by the Information Office to participate in a thirty-minute radio interview where representatives of the radio, the Information Office, and the press asked questions about the Faith.
On May 15, the call, “The Bahá’ís believe that Bahá’u’lláh is the Messenger of God for today ... the appearance of Bahá’u’lláh fulfilled the prophecies of all the heavenly scriptures ... the ultimate purpose of the Bahá’í Faith is to bring into unity all nations, races, tribes, and religions,” was echoed far and wide in West
The Bahá’í Convention for Upper West Africa, May 2-3. Photo shows some of the delegates and observers with Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga (holding the Greatest Name) and Board of Counsellors member Ḥusayn Ardíkáni (first row, seated, extreme right).
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Africa. It was heard by thousands, and it became the
topic of many conversations. Many began to say,
“Bahá’í Faith is a true religion,” or “Bahá’í Faith is
the best religion,” or “I am interested in the Bahá’í
Faith.”
Convention Activities[edit]
In the meantime, the Convention delegates had heard the annual reports on activities in The Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania, had their photographs taken, and sang Bahá’í songs, and prayed. They were happy to hear Mr. Olinga’s comments on the formation of the new Assembly and his talk in the hall of the British Council. They became more excited when they saw the film, “And His Name Shall Be One.” On Sunday evening there was a banquet at a local hotel with dignitaries present, including the Registrar General, the Head of the Information Office, the Deputy of the Land Officer, and others. It was a gathering of the black, yellow, and white races from the continents of Asia, Africa, and America.
The delegates and friends returned home, inspired by an exciting Convention, anxious to tell the friends what they had seen and felt, and to work for the complete fulfillment of their Nine Year Plan goals this year.
North West Africa[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
North West Africa. Left to right: (seated) Hossein
Vossough, treasurer; M’barek Ait H’mitti, vice-chairman; Fouad Ahmadpour, chairman; Omar Uariachi;
(standing) Shoghi-Riaz Rouhani, secretary; Bouabid
Ahmed Gharbi; Laroussi Ayachi; Houari Ismail;
Mohamed Maanan.
Due to the situation in Morocco, the Annual Convention did not take place this year. The elections
were accomplished through mail correspondence.
Guatemala Conference[edit]
An interview between the Minister of Education in Guatemala
and the three members of the Continental Board of Counsellors: Mrs. Carmen de Burafato, Artemus Lamb, and Alfred
Osborne, with one of the Guatemala youth who helped to arrange the interview.
“How to Reach the Youth”[edit]
This Conference, held July 18 and 19 in Guatemala City, was planned and carried out by the Continental Board of Counsellors in Central America, with the aid of the National Spiritual Assembly of Guatemala, for the purpose of exploring ways and means of attracting the youth to the Faith and then training them to be full-fledged and active Bahá’ís. Each country of the area was asked to send at least one National Assembly representative, or other adult, interested in the youth, plus all the youth possible.
The Conference was successful far beyond our fondest hopes. More than one hundred attended, and more than seventy of them were from outside of Guatemala. They came from all the countries in our area except two, plus the United States and Puerto Rico. A total spirit of love, unity, understanding, and service reigned throughout the Conference. The official representative of the United States was Anthony Lee. Many other youth from the United States, who are traveling and pioneering in this area, also attended and added greatly to the success of the Conference.
The agenda included key talks, followed by free discussion, on: “Successful methods used in the different countries to attract youth to the Faith”; “How to train the youth in the various aspects of Bahá’í life without losing them”; and “The education of the adult Bahá’ís to understand and appreciate the youth and their problems”; plus music and singing, and a public meeting on the general theme of “Pattern for a Future Society,” handled by three young speakers from different countries and a youth for chairman. Another activity was a television program in which the moderator asked the three Counsellors and six youth questions about the Conference and the Faith, with a large group of youth in the background.
Pre-conference activities included an interview between the three Counsellors and the Minister of Education, and a public expression of the Faith by the Counsellors in the lecture room of the “Literary Cafe”
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to a group of some thirty people, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í.
These two events were arranged by the youth of Guatemala, as was most of the extensive publicity on the
Conference.
As a result of the Conference, the National Spiritual Assembly of each country will be asked to name a National Youth Committee which, in addition to promoting youth activities locally, will be urged to maintain contact with the other Youth Committees of the area and the United States, and to promote exchanges of youth between the various countries.
It appears evident that all who attended went away with a new feeling of solidarity and unity, plus the conviction that the young people are ready to accept the Faith and serve it; and that they are bringing a tremendous, new spiritual energy and vitality to the Faith which is already causing great victories, and which must be increasingly fostered and utilized. A most interesting note is that since the Conference was first thought of in early February there has been a very mysterious and sudden wave of youth enrollments and activities in many countries of the area.
7th Annual Convention
South West Pacific Ocean[edit]
Twelve of the nineteen delegates were present for this Convention, and over one hundred and fifty Bahá’ís attended during the two days. The Convention was held in the village of Hau Hui, which is in the south of the island of Malaita in the Solomon Islands. Some of the believers traveled on chartered vessels, others by canoe, while others walked many miles to be present.
There was a wonderful feeling of unity, with this being particularly manifested during the leisure moments, with spontaneous dancing and singing by all.
The highlight of the Convention was the marvelous way in which all the delegates spoke on the various problems, all taking a very great interest, realizing the urgency of the teaching work and active participation of all so that the goals would be accomplished.
Eleven of the twelve delegates present at the Seventh Annual
Convention of the South West Pacific Ocean. The lass in the
middle, Miss Wild, is the recently arrived pioneer from
Canada. She has been out full-time teaching in the pagan areas
of North Malaita.
Chiefs from the pagan areas where the pioneer, Miss Wild,
has been teaching. Most of these chiefs have been very active
teachers, too, telling of the Faith amongst their friends, preparing new areas for Miss Wild to visit. In the month of June
over one hundred new Bahá’ís enrolled from their area.
Mr. Laing, ringing the session bell for
the last time. He had been chairman of
the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Southwest Pacific Ocean since its formation in 1964. He is returning to New Zealand.
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Bahá’í Community of Azi, Cameroon Republic, celebrating the Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Purest Branch, June 23, 1970.
Cameroon Republic[edit]
An 8-day Bahá’í school, Tombel, Cameroon Republic, March
1970. The teachers were: Mrs. Zora Banks, American pioneer,
fourth from left in back row; Thomas Rowan, American
pioneer, not shown; Miss Vajiheh Iqani and Miss Shahin
Pezeshqzad, Persian pioneers, at the left and right, respectively,
in back of the friend holding the Greatest Name.
Second 8-day extension course held in Nkongsamba, East
Cameroon (French-speaking), May 26-June 3. Second from
right, standing, is the teacher, Pierre Ebene.
An 8-day Bahá’í school held at Takwai, Cameroon Republic, June 15-22, 1970.
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Whitney M. Young, Jr., executive director of the National Urban League, chats with
Mrs. Natalie DiBuono of the National Bahá’í Public Information Office at the Bahá’í
exhibit during the League’s Conference in New York. Mr. Young will be the guest
speaker at the International Education Year Awards luncheon in New York City, October 17.
Second Bahá’í Exhibit — National Urban League Conference[edit]
“Bahá’í Faith — Alternative to Chaos,” was the bold and direct proclamation theme chosen for the second Bahá’í exhibit at this year’s National Urban League Conference, July 19-23, at the Hilton Hotel in New York City. Approximately four thousand representatives of government agencies, businesses, social agencies, and local Urban League officials were present. Most of these people visited the exhibit at least once, and the exhibit was open to the public as well.
Response to the booth was excellent. There were continuous slides, and a tape of music featuring mostly Bahá’í songs was played throughout. Bahá’í “Mankind Is One” badges were given out, and these were very popular, bringing many to the booth just to get a button.
Two new items were produced for this special exhibit: a booklet giving the analogy of Bahá’u’lláh as the spiritual sun for today; and a plastic record which combines music and narrative to reiterate the theme, “Bahá’í Faith — Alternative to Chaos.” A total of 11,648 items were distributed during the Conference. Nearly two hundred signed a guest book, requesting additional information.
New York area Bahá’ís gave generously of their time and energies to help make the display a complete triumph. A conversation area at one end of the booth was nearly always occupied by visitors who wanted to discuss the Faith in more detail. Quite a number of youth from the Harlem Youth Federation visited and took extra literature for their friends.
A Bahá’í Urban Leaguer from California reported that the exhibit was the talk of most groups at the Conference, and was thrilled at the many new teaching opportunities it opened up for her.
Bahá’ís attending an 8-day course at the Teaching Institute in Tinto, Cameroon Republic, June 1970. Back row: Martin Ayuk Eyong, Aaron Orok, Alexander Agbor, Tabot Ndip, James Bakia, Atem Agbor. Front row: Isaac Tabe, teacher; Zacheus Antem; Clara Enow; Peter Arrey, teacher; Peter O. Bisong; Moses Arrey; Francis Eyond. Standing by sign: Moses Akombi, member of the National Spiritual Assembly.
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Race Unity Day observance in North Carolina, U.S.A.
A Report
National Bahá’í Indian Conference Chinle, Arizona[edit]
The feeling of the Chinle Conference, held June 12-14, was one of thanksgiving that we had been blessed to come together and reaffirm our faith in Bahá’u’lláh. Called by the Bahá’í Indian Council, and executed with the assistance of the friends at Chinle, the Arizona State Goals Committee, the local Spiritual Assembly of Gallup, and resident pioneers, the three-day camp-out included a public meeting, deepening sessions, and seminars by members of the Council. Other participants were Auxiliary Board member Chester Kahn, National Spiritual Assembly member Franklin Kahn, and the new Auxiliary Board member Margaret Gallagher. A total of thirty tribes were represented from an area extending from South Carolina to Washington state.
A prayer session was held at Canyon de Chelly, a holy place on the Navajo Reservation, which aided the all-Indian sessions and accomplished the purpose of getting participation from all present.
The public meeting found a large number of seekers present, some staying at the camp grounds for all of the Conference.
The most rewarding part of the gathering was the spirit that prevailed during the sessions, and afterward. The spirit of love was enriched by the understanding of the believers as to their teaching obligations. By the time the Conference got into full swing, we knew we were all moving forward together to teach the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
There were four declarations, and news of two more as the believers returned to their homes. The friends left feeling they had truly been enriched and realizing the truth of the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “Should these Indians be educated and properly guided, there can be no doubt that through the Divine Teachings they will become so enlightened that the whole earth will be illumined.”
Eighth Annual Makah Council Fire[edit]
The spirit of Bahá’u’lláh was truly evident at the Eighth Annual Makah Council Fire at Neah Bay, Washington, on August 8 and 9. This beautiful wooded shore of the Pacific Ocean, as always, was a perfect site for the believers and friends to unite in their awareness of Bahá’u’lláh.
Well over a thousand people attended the two days of activities. Areas as far distant as Maine, Vermont, Florida, Michigan, Utah, and the Provinces of Saskatchewan, Ontario, and British Columbia were among the many represented. The Council Fire was dedicated to the late Modelle Mudd, one of the originators of the Council Fire.
William Tyler of the local Spiritual Assembly of Neah Bay was the master of ceremonies. Special guest speakers included National Spiritual Assembly member Firuz Kazemzadeh and Vinson Brown, Gary Hillaire, and Auxiliary Board member Chester Kahn. Recently appointed Auxiliary Board member Opal Conner also spoke. When the platform was turned over to the friends at the close of the Council Fire on Sunday, several people used the opportunity to express their feelings and impressions of the event.
Lighter entertainment was provided by Indian tribes performing different tribal and family dances. This is a colorful pageant that expresses so meaningfully the true spirit of the Council Fire. Music was provided by the Jin-ai Singers from Seattle.
The Indian salmon bake was attended by over seven hundred people on Saturday evening ... another highlight of the meetings.
Part of the crowd at the Eighth Annual Makah Council Fire,
Neah Bay, Washington, August 8-9, listening to the Jin-ai
Singers from the Seattle area.
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The Seventh Annual Southern California Bahá’í Summer School was again held at Camp Osceola in the San Bernardino Mountains during the week of June 27-July 4. There was an average attendance of 130 students, with another 70 people visiting the School over the weekends.
INCORPORATION[edit]
The local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Jurupa J.D.,
California, was incorporated in July 1970. Left to right: (front
row) Frances Dunlap, Catherine Price, Grace Sevier, Maxine
Castellion; (back row) William Dunlap, chairman; Nora Newman, secretary; Willa Newman; Irene Graham, vice-chairman;
Howard Graham, treasurer.
MICHIGAN[edit]
The first local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Beloit,
Michigan. Left to right: (standing) Harold Thomas; LaVern
Fisher, chairman; Margaret Clayton, secretary; Wilene Fisher;
Virginia Thomas, recording secretary; Edward Clayton; (kneeling) Geoffrey Marks; John Decker, treasurer; Gary Brenz,
vice-chairman.
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.
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