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| No. 494 | BAHA’I YEAR 129 | MAY, 1972 |
The Bahá’í World Community Poised for Overwhelming Victory
Riḍván Message from The Universal House of Justice[edit]
To the Bahá’ís of the World
Dearly-loved Friends,
The opening of the final year of the Nine Year Plan sees the Bahá’í world community poised for overwhelming victory. With grateful hearts we acknowledge the continuing confirmations which have attended its efforts and the Divine bounties which have never ceased to rain down upon this blessed, this ever-developing embryonic world order.
The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Panama, the Mother Temple of Latin America, will be dedicated this Riḍván. Three beloved Hands of the Cause, Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum representing The Universal House of Justice, Ugo Giachery and Zikru’lláh Khádem will attend this historic ceremony. The imaginative and inspiring concept of the architect, Peter Tillotson, has been wonderfully realized and we extend to the National Spiritual Assembly of Panama on behalf of the entire Bahá’í world, loving congratulations on their achievement.
Although the dissolution of the National Spiritual Assembly of ‘Iráq has, unhappily, resulted from the persecution of the Faith in that land, the thirteen new National Spiritual Assemblies which will come into being this Riḍván will bring the total number of these pillars of The Universal House of Justice to 113.
The goals requiring acquisition of properties and establishment of Teaching Institutes are well in hand and, in those countries where legal circumstances permit, incorporation of Assemblies and recognition of Bahá’í marriage and Holy Days are making good progress.
It is the teaching goals which must engage our attention and effort. Although more than 260 territories have achieved their assigned goals of localities where Bahá’ís reside, and in some cases have exceeded them, enabling the Bahá’í world community to rejoice in having outstripped on a world scale the total number of localities envisaged in the Plan, there are still some 60 territories where this goal is yet to be won and where its attainment must be given absolute priority between now and Riḍván 1973. It is expected that a large number of new Local Spiritual Assemblies will be established at Riḍván and immediately the position of this goal is ascertained a detailed listing of all territories throughout the world which have not yet won their goals for localities and Local Spiritual Assemblies will be sent to every National Spiritual Assembly for urgent release to the friends.
It is hoped that during this last year of the Plan
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the principle of collaboration between National Spiritual Assemblies will be extended far beyond the
special tasks set in the Nine Year Plan. Those communities which have already attained their goals or
are in clear sight of them should consider the world
picture as disclosed by the listing mentioned above
and do everything they can, without jeopardizing
their own success, to assist their fellow communities
with pioneers and travelling teachers, or in any
other way possible. Such a process will greatly consolidate the unity and brotherhood of the Bahá’í
world community.
In the meantime we call on all believers everywhere to prayerfully consider their personal circumstances, and to arise while there is yet time, to fill the international pioneer goals of the Plan. There are 267 pioneer needs still to be answered—75 in Africa, 57 in the Americas, 40 in Asia, 30 in Australasia and 65 in Europe.
The extraordinary advances made since that Riḍván of 1964 when the Nine Year Plan was begun, continuing the organized and purposeful process of teaching on a world scale instituted by our beloved Guardian when he launched the Ten Year Crusade, force upon our attention new requirements of this ever-growing world order both for its own organic life and in relation to the disintegrating world society in which it is set. The divergence between the ways of the world and of the Cause of God becomes ever wider. And yet the two must come together. The Bahá’í community must demonstrate in ever-increasing measure its ability to redeem the disorderliness, the lack of cohesion, the permissiveness, the godlessness of modern society; the laws, the religious obligations, the observances of Bahá’í life, Bahá’í moral principles and standards of dignity, decency, and reverence, must become deeply implanted in Bahá’í consciousness and increasingly inform and characterize this community. Such a process will require a great development in the maturity and effectiveness of Local Spiritual Assemblies. The purposes and standards of the Cause must be more and more understood and courageously upheld. The influence of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and the work of their Auxiliary Boards must develop and spread through the entire fabric of the Bahá’í community. A vast systematic program for the production of Bahá’í literature must be promoted.
Our immediate and inescapable task, however, is to ensure that every attainable goal of the Nine Year Plan is achieved. This must be done at all costs. No sacrifice, no deferment of cherished plans must be refused in order to discharge this “most important” of the many “important” duties facing us. Who can doubt that one last supreme effort will be crowned with success? Even now the national community to bear the laurels of first achieving every task assigned to it, Fiji, leads the procession of rejoicing and victorious communities within the Army of Light. We may well emulate Bahá’í youth whose recent surge forward into the van of proclamation and teaching is one of the most encouraging and significant trends in the Faith, and who storm the gates of heaven for support in their enterprises by long-sustained, precedent and continuing prayer. We are all able to call upon Bahá’u’lláh for His Divine, all-powerful aid, and He will surely help us. For He is the Hearer of prayers, the Answerer.
Bahá’í World Center
Haifa, Israel
Riḍván, 1972
At the dedication of the site of the Mother Temple of
the West, May 1, 1972, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá waits for a shovel
to dig the hole to place the foundation stone.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the dedication of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár Grounds in America[edit]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived in Chicago on the evening of Tuesday, April 30, 1912 and on the same evening addressed a public meeting, which was the concluding event of the annual Temple Unity Convention. This was held in the Drill Hall of the Masonic Temple in Chicago and heard by several hundred persons. He spoke, in part, as follows:
“The real temple is the very Word of God; for to it all humanity must turn and it is the center of unity for all mankind ... Temples are the symbols of the divine uniting force, so that when the people gather there ... they may recall the fact that the law has been revealed for them and that the law is to unite them ... That is why His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh has commanded that a place of worship be built ... that all religions, races and sects may come together within the universal shelter ... It is the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár (the Dawning-Point of the remembrance of God) ... For thousands of years the human race has been at war. It is enough ... For thousands of years the nations have denied each other, considering each other as infidel and inferior. It is sufficient ...”
He closed with a prayer for the American nation: “O thou kind Lord! ... Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world ...”
Then the next day, on the windy shores of the Lake, at Wilmette, they had pitched a tent, large enough for five hundred persons, and had made a special entry way to the grounds for the carriage of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; but He entered on foot, walking briskly, a long line of Bahá’ís following Him. Within the tent, seats had been placed in three circles, with a broad space at the center, reached by nine aisles. At high noon, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá advanced to the inner circle and spoke.
At the dedication of the Temple site in Wilmette,
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, after having dug the first shovel full of
earth, watches while others take their turn.
Address of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the Dedication,
Chicago, May 1, 1912[edit]
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Today you have endured considerable difficulty in coming out, withstanding the cold and wind; but the Power which has gathered you here is truly a colossal Power. It is the extraordinary Power. It is a Divine Power which gathers you hither. It is the Divine Favor of Bahá’u’lláh which gathered you together. Therefore we praise God that this Power does assemble people in this fashion. Thousands of Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, which means the Dawning-Points of Praise for all religionists, will be built in the world. In the Orient and in the Occident of the world will they be built. But this being the first one in the Occident, has great importance. In after years there will be many Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs and even in this city of Chicago there shall be numerous ones established. In Asia there shall be many. In Europe there shall be many. Even in Africa there will be many. Even in Australia and New Zealand; but this is of great importance. In ‘Ishqábád, Caucasus, Russia, the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár has the same great importance, being the first one built there. In Persia there are many. Some have been houses which have been rented for that purpose. Others have given their homes entirely for that purpose, and in some places temporary and small places have been built therefor. In all the cities of Persia there are Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs; but the great Mashriqu’l-Adhkár was founded in ‘Ishqábád. Because it is the first, hence it possesses the superlative degree of importance. All the friends of ‘Ishqábád, agreed and put forward the greatest effort. His holiness the Afnán devoted all his wealth to it. Everything he had he gave for it. Hence such a tremendous edifice was built. A colossal effort was put forward. Notwithstanding their contributions to that, they have, as you know, contributed to that Mashriqu’l-Adhkár here in this city. Now that one is almost complete, that is to say, with all its gardens. That Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is centrally located. It has nine avenues, nine gardens, nine fountains, so it is nine on nine, all nines. It is like a beautiful bouquet. Just imagine an edifice of that beauty in the center, very lofty, surrounded centrally by gardens, variegated flowers, with nine avenues interlacing nine gardens, nine ponds and nine fountains, and see how delightful is must be! That is the way it should be. It is matchless, most beautiful! Such is the design. And now they are at work building a Hospital and a School for Orphans and a Home for Cripples and a large Dispensary and a Hospice. They are now planning, thinking of these things. When that, God willing, shall be completed, it will be a Paradise! There will be no greater geometry than this, and I hope that in Chicago it shall be like this. It will be even so. Therefore endeavor to have the gound circular in shape. If possible even exchange certain parts in order to have a circular piece; not to have a triangle. The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár could not be triangular in shape. It must be circular. |
Outside the tent, in the woods and fields along the Lake Shore, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá prepared for the breaking of the Temple ground; using first a golden trowel presented by Irene C. Holmes of New York, He then slipped this back into its leather case, and called for other implements; an ax was brought, then a shovel; with these, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and members of every race and nationality present, excavated a place to hold the dedication stone. As each man or woman came forward, his race or nationality was announced: Persia, Syria, Egypt, India, Japan, South Africa, England, France, Germany, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Jews of the world, and the North American Indians, were of those represented; at the end ‘Abdu’l-Bahá set the stone in its place, on behalf of all the peoples of the world. And He said, “The Temple is already built.”
Editor’s Notes: The description of the dedication of the House of Worship is from The Bahá’í Centenary page 87. The complete text of the talk of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the occasion of the dedication is given in Star of the West, Volume 4, No. 3. It is also included in Promulgation of Universal Peace.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá with the foundation stone at His feet.
Eyewitness Impression of the Dedication[edit]
On May 1, 1912, an important date in American Bahá’í
history, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá laid the foundation stone of the
building in which we are today gathered.* I remember
it well. One of the Chicago friends had provided a
beautiful golden trowel for preparing the place in which
the stone was to be imbedded. The trowel was ceremoniously given to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and He tried to break
the ground with it; however, the lovely but frail instrument proved wholly inadequate to make more than the
merest dent in the hard-packed earth, and the Master
very practically called for a spade. It had never occurred
to anyone to give such a work-a-day thing as a spade
to the Center of the Covenant! Heaven forbid! So no
spade was at hand. The trowel was useless—and the
Master wanted a spade! There were no houses anywhere
near where one could be borrowed. What to do?
Then young Herbert Anderson remembered that workmen had brought the Elevated tracks as far as Isabella Street, and he started running across the prairie to get
‘Abdu’l-Bahá places a hand-full of dirt from the foundation site of the first House of Worship of the West in the hands of a friend.
a spade from the men working there. Successful in his
mission, he ran back with the spade and then the
Master set to, like a veteran laborer, dug the spade into
the ground with a hefty push from His foot and turned
over several spadesful. Charlie Greenleaf, a young lad
about 17, received two handfuls of this earth turned by
the Master, and later shared it with a few friends, of
whom I was fortunate enough to be one. This is now
in the Archives. The friends then, one by one, turned
some of the earth in the name of some country not
represented. That privilege was mine too. The stone was
buried. It now rests, as many of you know, anchored in
the concrete floor of a small room just outside this hall.
Until May 5, when ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left Chicago, His engagements, private and public, were as numerous as elsewhere. Any other man would have broken under the strain, but He was always eager to carry on and proclaim the Faith brought by His Father.
On September 11 He again arrived in Chicago and the same round of meetings and public addresses continued.
His visits to Chicago remain for me a kaleidoscope of meetings and talks in auditoriums and homes, halls and churches, of which I attended a great many. What specifically the Master said on these occasions I do not recall. It was more than half a century ago. However, it is all recorded in the Star of the West. I do remember very vividly how He always made his listeners welcome before anything else. And if the meeting was not very large, in a home perhaps, He would ask “Are you happy? Are you happy? I want you to be happy.”
I also remember so well, the warmth that emanated from Him, His kindness; His great dignity and the majesty of His bearing. He was not a large man. He was delicately formed; His hands and feet were small and fine boned; His hair, where it peeped out from under His white fez and turban was very fine and a truly silvery white. His face was slender; His nose slightly aquiline and delicate. Having once seen His face, it is never forgotten. One night at a very large meeting in the Drill Hall of the old Masonic Temple in Chicago at the corner of Randolph and State Streets I noticed one of my English professors in the audience. Going out he was quite close to me and I heard him say: “He has a head like a dynamo.” Dr. Lewis, a non-Bahá’í, had felt that dynamic something that emanated from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The Master’s voice was resonant and clearly audible and He never stood still when on a platform, but strode really strode purposefully, up and down, spoke vigorously and gesticulated with His hands. He occasionally would interrupt His interpreter to drive home a point in such a way as to make His meaning unmistakably clear. When He spoke in private homes He often sat. I suppose there was never any room to do much moving about. Tired He might be and no doubt He often was, but there was never the least evidence of weakness.
Often people say “How wonderful that you know ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!” Of course I didn’t know ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. How could I know Him? I saw Him; I listened to Him; but always with awe and the definite realization that there was a line between Him and me that I could never cross, even though I touched Him, which I did more than once.
The relationship between the Center of the Covenant and one’s self cannot be described. It can only be felt, and it is a very awesome feeling.
*Editor’s note: The above impressions by Miss Loeding were extracted from a talk given by her in Foundation Hall of the House of Worship, Wilmette, in November 1971, in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. In reply to a question about the location of the golden trowel, she said that it was in the possession of the Holmes family (non-Bahá’í).
The Mother Temple of Latin America[edit]
The Mother Temple of Latin America, located seven miles north of the center of Panama City, Panama, is to be dedicated April 29, 1972. The original site of 25,804 square meters (6.37 acres) was purchased by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Republic of Panama in 1954. An additional 92,160 square meters (22.36 acres) was acquired in 1967, making a total area of 117,964 square meters or 28.73 acres.
In 1965 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Republic of Panama, at the request of The Universal House of Justice, solicited architects from all over the world to submit their designs for the Temple. Fifty-four architects responded. After careful deliberation, the design of a young British architect, Peter Tillotson, was selected and a contractual agreement was executed. At the architect’s recommendation the firm of Flint & Neill, London, was engaged to do the structural engineering work. The specifications were completed in August 1969. Five of the outstanding contractors in Panama were asked to submit bids for the construction of the Temple. On October 20, 1969, before T.V. cameras, a contract was signed by Diaz y Guardia, S.A. Construction began on December 1, 1969, with a completion date of December 1971.
- Temple Statistics
- Normal seating capacity—550 people
- Diameter at base—61 meters (200 feet)
- Overall height—28 meters (92 feet)
- Diameter of Auditorium—26 meters (85 feet)
- Diameter of Dome Base—28 meters (92 feet)
- Height of Dome—20 meters (65 feet)
- Height of Balcony—5 meters (16 feet)
- Opening each (9) entrances—Height 4.8 meters (15 feet)
- Width 5 meters (16 feet)
The building is composed of two distinct units. One
is the base which is an elongated nine-pointed star in
the center of which is located the auditorium area.
Connecting the nine-pointed star at its inner diameter
are nine ornamental iron gates which provide nine
entrances to the Temple auditorium. A balcony covers
the nine-pointed star and also connects the areas in-between so that visitors can on the one side, look down
on the auditorium and on the other side, enjoy the
panoramic view of the surrounding area for considerable distances in every direction.
The second unit is the parabolic dome which begins at the balcony level and covers both the auditorium and balcony areas.
The whole Temple, except for the decorations, is constructed of reinforced concrete. The concrete for the dome was applied by the gunite process; that is, where dry sand and cement are forced through a rubber hose to the nozzle where just enough water is added to get a barely moist concrete mixture. This is the first time that this method has been used in Panama. The advantages over normal concrete casting are that there is no shrinkage, it is extremely strong and compact and minimizes the danger of cracks and leaks.
The beauty of the Temple is achieved by two methods—one, through the use of geometric patterns in the design and second, by the application of fabricated materials.
The geometric beauty and harmony is achieved through the curves of the perimeter arches, the curves of the outer balcony ballustrades, the angles of the starpoints, inner balcony ballustrade, entrance stairs and gates, and outer boundaries of the auditorium. The geometric harmony is again used in the eighteen interconnecting ribs which rise from the balcony level to a
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nine-pointed star suspended from the interior dome
apex.
The use of a harmonious decorative motive is used in the outer facing of the star points by using exposed Verona Red marble chips to create a relief pattern based on pre-Columbian design. The nine gates again are unique in that a three-dimensional geometric design is used. The underside of the dome will be covered with acoustical plaster while the surface of the outer dome will be covered with mosaic tile. The floor area, both auditorium and balcony, will use a unique cast in-place terrazo design except for the seating area where terrazo tiles will be used. There will be no windows as all open areas will remain without restrictions of any kind, thereby making the indoor and outdoor one unified complex.
Because of the extreme uniqueness and complicated geometric pattern of the structure, construction was very difficult and it taxed the engineering and construction capacity of the contractor to the utmost. However, they have constructed a building of the highest quality. Mr. Flint of the London engineering firm, after a recent visit, had this to say: “... the contractors have produced work of high quality by any standard.”
Hands of the Cause of God Rúḥíyyih Khánum and Dr. Ugo Giachery will represent The Universal House of Justice at the formal dedication of the newest Bahá’í House of Worship on April 29, 1972.
PANAMA CITY INTERCOMMUNITY CONFERENCE[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of Panama and the National Teaching Committee, the generals of the orientation plan for the Temple Dedication and Conference, met with their staff and aids at the Chamber of Commerce Hall, Panama City, all day Sunday, February 20, 1972.
Hand of the Cause Dr. Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir had flown in the evening before to stimulate action and widen horizons. He opened his address by referring to the greatness of a Bahá’í Temple:
“I cannot tell you how important the Temple is! ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Himself, said that even He could not explain how important is the Temple. Therefore, I cannot explain it, except to say that the Temple is the most great foundation of the Faith.”
“The Temple is like a tent,” he went on, “a tent of unity. Many races, and colors and generations will meet beneath the dome of this House of Worship of Latin America. It will do great things for the Faith all over the world. It will teach the people of South Africa, Iceland and New Zealand as well as those of Latin America.”
Dr. Muhájir spoke of the swiftness of our times, and of how many great changes have come within a single life span. For instance, Hand of the Cause Mr. Samandarí in his life time saw Bahá’u’lláh, then ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, then Shoghi Effendi, also The Universal House of Justice—so rapid has been the progress of the Faith in our country that one man has been privileged to witness such tremendous expansion.
“Now, a new major change has come to the Faith: the entering of the masses in troops. Many of the dark-skin races are already entering in troops; soon, will the Latins and the white race join them.
“What will happen then?” he asked. “According to the prophecy of Shoghi Effendi, then, the older religions will arise against the Bahá’ís. There will be persecution; and this will publicize the Faith far better than the Bahá’ís can do it.”
“The Orientation Plan and Committees for Temple Dedication and Conference” was passed out to the Bahá’ís present. There are committees for: audio-visual materials such as banners for busses and airport, posters and decorations for the halls; the banquet for local dignitaries; bus transportation; children and baby-sitters; devotions; entertainment at the gym; flowers; physical arrangements at the gym; hospitality at airport; infirmary: a nurse and doctor will be on call at all times; Lions Club arrangements; literature; photography; program; publicity; public meeting; reservations & registrations; taping of programs; temple coordinating of seating, parking, ushers, etc.; translators; Unity Feast; ushers; visas; writers, reporting the Conference.
Interior view of the Panama House of Worship.
The National Assembly Secretary called for manpower and dedication to accomplish all the work to be
done before the Conference and during the nine days
of its duration.
“Let us do it,” she challenged the friends, “for Bahá’u’lláh! For the Universal House of Justice! For Panama! For ourselves!”
The Chairman of the National Teaching Committee gave a detailed resume of the goals for all the Provinces; and of the needs of each location in preparation for the 1972 elections of Local Assemblies.
The goal for Panama is 81 Assemblies by Riḍván.
Much stimulation and teaching is needed in all areas. Manpower is the greatest essential. Visitors in teams must go to the rural areas to aid the pioneers, many of whom do not have cars. Especially will this help be necessary on election day and evening, April 20-21, for distances are so great that in some cases the friends cannot come together in one place to vote. Cars and volunteers will be imperative.
The National Treasurer presented a graphic chart of financial needs. He called for sacrifice in giving to the Conference Fund. The Budget has not been made final, but it will be largely based on the number of visitors
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and delegates expected to be present, housed and entertained in Panama City. More than $1,000 was donated
the day of the Conference!
In the afternoon session, Dr. Muhájir spoke on methods of teaching and proclamation, as witnessed in other parts of the world. He displayed a number of attractive color pamphlets published in Hong Kong, Korea and Japan for Expo ’70. These had brought many responses. He called them “boomerang pamphlets” because they returned to the sender, asking for more information. This was due to the detachable postcard on each pamphlet.
Follow-up mailing was a small booklet with another card attached or which was printed: 1. I have read this book. 2. I want more information. 3. I want to be a Bahá’í.
These cards were returned by the thousands. Dr. Muhájir urged that Panama print such a pamphlet of the Temple and mail out as many as possible. The goal is 5,000 new believers by Riḍván.
“Plant one seed,” Dr. Muhájir said, “and leave the increase to God!”
“In the presence of God is a mirror,” he said, “one drop of water on the mirror shows up as an ocean.” In India, he reminded us, at first there were only 200 believers. Then, in one year, there were 8,000.
“Everyone in Panama is curious about the Temple. Only Bahá’ís can answer their questions,” said Dr. Muhájir.
The friends were called upon to redouble their commitment of time to be given to teaching the Faith during these next months. “With LOVE and UNITY all the goals can be won!”
Design of the folder for materials which will be given to visitors to the Panama Temple dedication.
Counsellor Alfred Osborne assured the Conference
that his schedule will allow his participation in all the
teaching work up until the Dedication. He offered to
speak at the first meeting in Panama City.
A Day of Prayer was called for to bring to our aid Divine Assistance. A cable was to be sent immediately to Haifa requesting this bounty on the first day of the Fast.
The stupendous efforts that must be exerted during the two months before the Dedication ceremonies by Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, the Inter-Continental Conference, and the National Convention, is calling out all the latent strength and faith of every Bahá’í upon whose work success depends.
Indiana Holds Intercalary Days Party[edit]
From all over Indiana, Bahá’ís gathered at 1:00 p.m. Saturday February 26 at Butler University, Indianapolis for an event to continue until Sunday at 3 p.m. Auxiliary Board member for the area, Miss D. Thelma Jackson, and Mrs. Ruth Hampson, Administrator for the Regional office for the twelve central states, were both present, contributing stimulating talks.
A hit with the children and the young-in-heart alike was a professional clown show “Lolly-Pop”, performed by Mrs. Judy Bryan, Bahá’í from Fort Wayne, bringing out many Bahá’í principles. Assemblies and groups presented skits, both humorous and instructive.
The second day was more serious in tone. Discussions centered on teaching in the state and general discussions about the Faith.
The Ayyám-i-Há state-wide party was such a success that the opinion was expressed that such gatherings should be planned again.
Miss Lolly-Pop and friend at the Intercalary Day party.
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A Prisoner for His Faith Gains Freedom
In honor of this happy event, on January 30, 1972, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of North-West Africa held a luncheon attended by about sixty Bahá’ís and friends from all the Local Assemblies in the area. The Universal House of Justice was represented by Mr. Salim Nounou from France. |
South America Holds Conference for Counsellors and Board Members[edit]
First row seated, from left to right: Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Katherine Meyer, Chile; Counsellor Donald
Witzel, Venezuela; Counsellor Mas’ud Khamsi, Peru; Counsellor Hooper Dunbar, Argentina; Counsellor Athos Costas, Argentina; Eve Nicklin “Mother of Peru” now residing in Paraguay. Second row:
Habib Rezvani, Colombia; Jamshid Arjomandi, Surinam; Touba Maani, Brazil; Andres Jachakollo,
Bolivia; Mercedes Sanchez, Peru; Natalia Caballero, Paraguay; Carlos Martinez, Chile. Last row:
Peter McLaren, Venezuela; Manucher Shoai, Bolivia; Ramon Moreira, Uruguay; Charles Hornby,
Ecuador; Edmund Miessler, Brazil; Maralyn Dunbar, Argentina.
Counsellors Sponsor Two Deepening Conferences[edit]
The Continental Board of Counsellors for the North American Continent sponsored two Deepening Conferences held simultaneously from March 31 to April 2, 1972. Believers in the West gathered at Reno, Nevada, while in for the midwest and central states, they gathered at Fort Wayne, Indiana, meeting on the campus of the Indiana Institute of Technology.
In charge of the Nevada session was Counsellor Mrs. Florence Mayberry, ably assisted by Auxiliary Board members Mrs. Margaret Gallagher, Mrs. Velma Sherrill, Anthony Lease and Paul Pettit. Miss Charlotte Linfoot represented the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States.
At Fort Wayne, Indiana the session was in charge of Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khádem and Counsellor Miss Edna True, with Auxiliary Board members Dr. Peter Khan, Mrs. Javidukht Khádem, and Miss D. Thelma Jackson assisting, and Mr. Glenford Mitchell representing the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. Believers from eleven states attended the Reno Conference, while fifteen states were represented at Fort Wayne, from as far away as Texas, Kansas and Pennsylvania.
At Reno, Nevada[edit]
The Governor of Nevada, Mike O’Callaghan sent a letter of greeting. Saturday morning the Mayor of Reno presented a key to the city to Mrs. Mayberry who in turn presented him with a copy of The Promised Day is Come.
Reno news photographer poses a news photo for the Reno
papers. The Key to the City, a gift from the Mayor of
Reno, is held by Miss Charlotte Linfoot and Anthony
Lease (standing) and Mrs. Florence Mayberry (seated).
The engraved silver key was presented to Counsellor Mayberry by Mayor Chism on Saturday morning.
Bahá’ís and their guests browse through the extensive display of books during fellowship hour. The display was set up by the Chico J.D. Bahá’í library.
Meetings were held at the Pioneer Theatre in downtown Reno. An oil painting of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá provided
inspiration, and was enhanced by flowers and a large
streamer proclaiming “Bahá’u’lláh Architect of the New
World Order.”
Mrs. Gallagher spoke on “The Covenant”. Mr. Lease spoke on “Guidance by the Guardian”. “What are Bahá’u’lláh’s Institutions?” was the topic chosen by Mrs. Sherrill. Paul Pettit developed the theme “Teach Ye the Cause of God”. Miss Linfoot reviewed “Divine Laws and Standards to Live By” and also gave a special
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presentation on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly on Sunday morning.
After each session there was a question and answer period. Miss Linfoot was available to answer questions related to the National Spiritual Assembly and these sessions were presided over by Mrs. Mayberry. Sunday evening Mrs. Mayberry was the featured speaker for a public program sponsored by the intercommunities of Northern Nevada.
During the sessions there was music by The New Dawn Chorus Group, also the New World String Quartette led by Jody Graham and Pianist Marilyn Raubitschek.
At Fort Wayne, Indiana[edit]
The Conference began with music by the Central States Singers, a group of young people from St. Louis. Dr. Khan, Chairman of the opening session, commented on the meeting being held in a chapel where over the many years many people had prayed “Thy Kingdom Come.” When introducing the speaker, Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Khádem, he stated that the Bahá’ís had exceeded the accomplishments of the Apostles of Christ in that Day.
Counsellor Miss Edna True spoke on the Covenant, pointing out that the line of authority from Bahá’u’lláh through ‘Abdu’l-Bahá then Shoghi Effendi and lastly The Universal House of Justice is unique in religious history.
On Saturday morning Mr. Khádem spoke on the Twin Manifestations, the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. Later Mrs. Khádem spoke on the Mystery of God, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and some of His accomplishments.
Discussions on the Formative Age of the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh were conducted by Dr. Khan. Mr. Mitchell discussed The Universal House of Justice and the infallible guidance it provides for accomplishing the purposes of Bahá’u’lláh. Miss Jackson told of the establishment of the Continental Boards of Counsellors in 1968 to assure the continuity of the Institution of the Hands into the future.
Mrs. Khádem told of the achievements of the Guardian while Mr. Khádem spoke movingly of his memories of Shoghi Effendi and reminded the friends that the Central Figures of the Faith are not separated from us. At one point Mr. Khádem sang a number of songs in Persian.
When the friends gathered in the Student Union Building a number of students began asking about the kind of gathering which could bring together such a diverse group of people in such joy and harmony. A reporter for the school newspaper wanted to write an article about the Faith. A number of Bahá’ís with the Central State Singers visited a coffeehouse in town and attracted people there.
A separate children’s conference was held in the Student Union building. At one point they came to the Deepening Conference and sang songs they had learned.
Each session had a question and answer period, always an important part of the meeting which gave an opportunity for the believers to learn the application of Bahá’í laws and Teachings to their daily lives.
Mr. Khádem closed the Conference by chanting a passage of praise written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá about Shoghi Effendi. The friends felt the very presence of the Central Figures of the Faith as they joined hands to sing “Alláh-u-Abhá” and departed.
We may be sure the Cause is strengthened and the believers who attended gained in deepening so they could radiate the glow of love to others who could not be present.
Group photograph of those attending the Conference at Fort Wayne, Indiana.
THE GREAT SAFARI[edit]
of Hand of the Cause Rúḥíyyih Khánum[edit]
Part eight
On the 14th of October we left Mamfe and proceeded
Southward spending two days in the Tinto Tale district,
where the largest number of Bahá’ís in Cameroon reside. The National Teaching Committee had arranged
meetings for Amatu’l-Bahá in several villages to which
Bahá’ís from as many nearby villages as possible were
invited. In the village of Bachuo Akagbe over forty
Bahá’ís came from four different villages. We visited
with the friends for over an hour. As in all these meetings the officers of the different Local Assemblies were
introduced, prayers said, songs sung and then Amatu’l-Bahá spoke to them showering the friends with her
loving words of encouragement and wisdom.
From there we motored on to the village of Nbinjong, where friends from three other communities had come to receive their beloved guest.
Joyous Welcome at Bakebe[edit]
By the time we ended that meeting and went on to the third meeting in the village of Bakebe, it was quite late in the afternoon. We found over a hundred Bahá’ís from five different local communities waiting to welcome Amatu’l-Bahá. The Bahá’ís of Bakebe are known for their beautiful singing and have a very wonderful choir with powerful voices who sing many beautiful songs they have written and composed on the different aspects of the Faith. The afternoon was rainy and the roads terribly muddy, yet from the home of one of the distinguished Bahá’ís to the Community Hall, where the meeting was held—a distance of about a half-mile—the sides of the road were decorated with newly cut palm branches stuck in the ground and the Bahá’ís who had come to attend the meeting walked this distance through the village rejoicing and singing at the top of their lungs. The Fon of Bakebe, whom we had already met in the Rest House at Mamfe, an old distinguished gentleman dressed in his best ceremonial robe, attended this meeting and in a talk of welcome encouraged the Bahá’ís to remain firm in their belief. He said he was an old man and had no intention of changing his religion, but now that they had changed theirs and accepted this one, to stand fast in it and live up to its wonderful teachings. By the time this meeting was over, and a delicious meal had been served us in the home of the Bahá’ís, it was almost dark and we reached our fourth and last meeting of the day in the village of Tinto quite late.
The meeting was held in the “New Era Teaching Institute” where a large crowd of Bahá’ís from many different villages had been patiently waiting to receive their guest since the early hours of the afternoon. The torrential rain did not help matters as the noise of it on the corrugated iron roof drowned out any other sound. Beautiful palm branches were made into arches at the entrance to the Institute. Messages of welcome were read, prayers said and Rúḥíyyih Khánum in a short talk thanked the friends for their loving welcome. As it was too late to hold a long meeting it was decided the next evening to meet again at an earlier hour. We spent two nights in this Institute and as we carry all our own camping equipment were very comfortable.
The next day they had arranged a very long program.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum with her little namesake.
[Page 13]
The Land Rover crosses into Upper Banyang under palm arches erected by the Bahá’ís.
Four or five miles from Tinto a Bahá’í was waiting on the road and motioned us to stop. Although no
meeting was scheduled in this village the friends were
gathered and requested Amatu’l-Bahá’s presence to
bless their home and their community. This was a newly
created village called Etokombatop. All the inhabitants
had been brought over from another area, where the
community had been overcrowded. The chief of the
village was also a Bahá’í.
In the whole of this part of the Cameroon a great number of the Bahá’ís are women and very active in the local Bahá’í work. Indeed, there were five women on this Local Spiritual Assembly. This surely indicated the potentialities of these women in Cameroon and their capacity to shoulder the responsibilities and work of the Faith. In this village Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke on the importance of regular classes for the Bahá’í children and daily prayers and devotional periods in every home.
On our way to the next meeting we were once again stopped on the road by two of the Bahá’ís who said the Headmaster of the Beagwa Government Primary School was expecting Amatu’l-Bahá in his school. There were over 200 students between the age of six and fourteen and several teachers who listened with deep interest to Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s words of wisdom on the responsibility and importance of each individual in society.
This whole area is divided into two sections, Upper Banyang and Lower Banyang, separated by a bridge. In Upper Banyang twenty-one Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed last Riḍván. As we left the bridge and passed the boundary to Upper Banyang there was a beautiful and impressive arch of palm leaves and along the road covering the whole distance of nearly one and half miles from the bridge to the village of Ebeagwa, where our meeting was held, both sides of the road were decorated with palm branches. The friends were waiting on the road and with shouts of “Alláh-u-Abhá” greeted their guest and took her into their meeting where over eighty Bahá’ís from several villages had gathered.
Ebeagwa, Almost All Bahá’í[edit]
This village is one of the outstanding Bahá’í communities of Cameroon. We were told that daily, every morning, a number of the believers gather and have a devotional period before starting their daily duties. On Sundays they have regular Bahá’í children’s classes and the clear evidence of this was the many prayers recited from memory by many of the children in this meeting. Several of the women from this area have attended Bahá’í training courses in different parts of the country and are among the active teachers. An item on their program was the introduction of traveling teachers who had been trained at the Teaching Institute and at the end of their course were given a written certificate. Each one spoke of how he had accepted the Faith and what his method was of teaching it. We were told that this village is almost wholly Bahá’í. Amatu’l-Bahá in her speech encouraged the friends to teach and to live according to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, as living the life is the greatest means of attracting not only the blessings of Bahá’u’lláh, but also the attention of people around us. Each Local Assembly had brought some food and we all shared it together. It was a very wonderful meeting and one could feel the strength and depth of conviction of the believers.
The next meeting was in the village of Akatati where a good number of Bahá’ís from different villages had gathered to meet and welcome their guest. The last meeting that day was in the evening, again in the Teaching Institute in Tinto. Over fifty Bahá’ís and some non-Bahá’ís eagerly listened to Rúḥíyyih Khánum talk over two hours on the different aspects of the Faith and answer numerous questions, not for a moment showing any sign of fatigue or exhaustion, even though this was at the end of a very tiring day and the fourth meeting within a period of about ten hours.
Kumba, a Teaching Conference and a Wedding[edit]
The following day, on our way to Kumba to attend the Teaching Conference called for by the Continental Board of Counsellors, we stopped at the village of Eyang where a large number of Bahá’ís were waiting
[Page 14]
for their guest. A large sign at the side of the road
proclaimed their welcome to Amatu’l-Bahá as well as
many freshly cut palm branches which decorated the
path leading to a good sized and very nice looking
building in the center of the village. When Rúḥíyyih Khánum asked what this nice looking building was
where we had been allowed to hold our meeting the
friends informed her it was their own center which they
had built, one of the nicest and the largest we had seen,
though they are a relatively new Bahá’í community.
A young man, the chairman of their new Local Spiritual Assembly, in his introduction of Amatu’l-Bahá said: “This lady is the wife of our beloved Guardian. Do you know what is the meaning and the function of a guardian? When a father dies he appoints a guardian to take care of his children and so before ‘Abdu’l-Bahá passed away he appointed Shoghi Effendi as our Guardian so that when our father ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left us, Shoghi Effendi became the Guardian and the protector of the orphaned children of the Faith”. The directness and clarity of many of the explanations given by the African Bahá’ís are so beautiful and to the point that one is always thrilled by them. Amatu’l-Bahá spoke on the various teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, especially on the subject of life after death. This subject always is of great interest to the friends as it touches some of the deepest aspects of their traditional beliefs, all too often bound up with superstitions and fear.
One of the friends who was a professional cook provided a delicious lunch for us, after which ladies with a traditional dance bade farewell to their distinguished guest. The roads in West Cameroon have to be seen to be believed. The fact that it was the rainy season contributed to their condition.
We reached the city of Kumba in the late afternoon and went directly to the City Hall where the Teaching Conference had already started that morning. Two of the Counsellors were present, Mrs. Isobel Sabri and Dr. Mehdi Samandarí, as well as over 120 Bahá’ís, mostly active teachers from all over Cameroon. Two devoted young pioneers, Thomas Rowan and Shahin Pezeshkzad were planning to marry and wanted it to take place during this Conference. As the next day was Sunday the government registrar required to legalize the marriage would not be available. So the immediate question was would Rúḥíyyih Khánum agree to have the marriage that evening and would she perform it? In other words would she be the one to see that they repeated the simple verses of Bahá’u’lláh which alone, in the presence of two witnesses, constitute the Bahá’í marriage ceremony? She gladly accepted and amid considerable rush and excitement, first the civil and then the Bahá’í marriage took place. Rúḥíyyih Khánum hastily picked the few flowers the hotel gardens afforded and made a beautiful flower arrangement for the bride’s hair. This is typical of Amatu’l-Bahá, whatever she does it is with a touch of perfection and deep love. As the Cameroon marriage form required the signatures of a sponsor for the groom and a sponsor for the bride, Rúḥíyyih Khánum volunteered to take on Tom, as she said he deserved to have an American stand up for him; and I undertook to represent the bride’s family, which was, after all, equally appropriate! Later the Bahá’í marriage ceremony at the Conference was a great joy and source of interest to all who attended. The simplicity and spirituality of this union of an Eastern and Western believer affected all of us deeply.
The following day Amatu’l-Bahá spoke to the friends on one of the most fundamental aspects of the Bahá’í Faith—obedience to the Laws of Bahá’u’lláh. She said that the laws are like the bones of the body of the Faith of God. She spoke at length and with great force on the evils resulting from breaking these laws about drinking, polygamy, and the need for strict obedience to the government of the country we live in, and so on. For more than an hour the friends asked questions, particularly
The bride and groom in the center front row at the Victory Conference, in Kumba.
[Page 15]
on the subject of marriage and monogamy. This is one
of the major problems in the traditional society of
Africa where polygamy is still an important aspect of
the economy of the entire tribe and nation. However,
Rúḥíyyih Khánum pointed out that a new way of life
based on a different economy is changing the old customs. The Bahá’ís find themselves caught between their
old customs, especially in the village way of life, and
the law of God for this day which all must obey. To
openly discuss these matters in such conferences as
this one; to draw strength from such discussions and
consultations, and above all for the believers to help
each other to cling firmly to the Laws and Ordinances
of God for this day is the logical way to overcome our
difficulties and problems during period of transition.
Amatu’l-Bahá was able to meet during that week-end with the Counsellors and Board members as well as a short meeting with the National Spiritual Assembly to work out the full program of her visit to the rest of Cameroon. The five days stay in Kumba was extremely fruitful.
At Schools and Colleges[edit]
Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke to a select group of teachers attending an advance course at the Community Development College. Her audience was greatly impressed and the Principal of the College requested further lectures on the Bahá’í Faith to be given in his College. In the Government Teachers’ Training College she spoke to more than 150 students on “The Spiritual Destiny of Africa”; this thought-provoking subject always stirs up her audience, particularly the young people. We were told that last year ten of the final year students had accepted the Faith and now are scattered to all the different parts of the country as school teachers as well as able Bahá’í teachers.
Amatu’l-Bahá’s last lecture in Kumba was at the Cameroon Commercial College, where one of the Bahá’ís teaches and had arranged this meeting. Over 500 students attended this lecture, asked many questions and requested further study of the Faith. The Principal of this College was a very fine young man who shyly informed us that he had never heard of the Bahá’í Faith, that this was his first post since he left the University and today the first day he had come to his school. What a blessing for him to start his career in life as the host of Amatu’l-Bahá in his college; if he only knew that the first day of his first job in life began with the name of Bahá’u’lláh, the Blessed Beauty, the hope and desire of mankind!
In Kombani, a neighboring township seven miles from Kumba, Amatu’l-Bahá spoke to a small number of believers and their friends. As this meeting was held in a classroom of the local Primary School Rúḥíyyih Khánum used the blackboard to explain with a chart the relationship of God to Man through His Manifestations and the development of the soul of man after death. She told us many of the early Western believers used this and her mother told her this chart was drawn by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá for Lua Getsinger during one of her visits to Him in the Holy Land.
A Little Namesake[edit]
On our way to Victoria, the capital of what was once British Cameroon, where the Faith was first established by Enoch Olinga, we stopped at the town of Muyuka where the believers from three different communities had gathered to meet Amatu’l-Bahá. This was a very joyous occasion for among those who had come were some of the oldest Bahá’ís of Cameroon. The Chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly, a distinguished Bahá’í, proudly introduced his very active wife, who regularly goes on teaching tours accompanied by the young Persian girl who is a pioneer in that neighborhood. They
Rúḥíyyih Khánum at her meeting with Bahá’ís gathered in Ebeagwa village, West Cameroon.
Bahá’í friends with Rúḥíyyih Khánum in Ebeagwa village, West Cameroon.
With Bahá’ís of Kombani Town and some of the pioneers to Cameroon.
[Page 16]
Welcome sign for Amatu’l-Bahá in the village of Eyand, West Cameroon.
had two beautiful children, Qudus and Vaḥíd.
Another young man, devoted and very active, brought his adorable doll-like little girl to greet Rúḥíyyih Khánum introducing the child as “Rúḥíyyih Khánum” after whom she was named! When I asked him what were the names of his other children he proudly said: “The eldest is ‘Táhirih’, the second is ‘Sitareh’ and the third is ‘Rúḥíyyih Khánum’; our little boy ‘Hussein’ passed away last year. You see the names used in this country are all Biblical names. I have finished with the Bible, now I have moved a step forward and I want my children to be blessed and inspired by the names of our great heroes and heroines in the Bahá’í Faith.”
The Danger of Imitating[edit]
While waiting for the Bahá’ís to gather, Rúḥíyyih Khánum addressed the students of the Fess Technical College on the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and the purpose of the Bahá’í Faith. In her talk to the Bahá’ís later on she mentioned a very important point which is all too often overlooked. She warned the Bahá’ís against the danger of imitating in their meetings the customs and ways of other religious groups and thus giving the impression that what went on in the Bahá’í meeting was almost the same thing as what went on in the church next door, with only an apparent difference in name, but the same kind of singing and praying! She said we are inviting the people of the world to come and enter the new room Bahá’u’lláh has built for us; supposing a Muslim looks into this room and sees us using the same pattern of worship and meeting the Christians have in their churches, he will immediately say this is not new, it is a Christian sect. They say they are Bahá’ís but there is no difference for they are doing all the things the Christians do! This will naturally prejudice the Muslim and he will turn away from the Faith. Exactly the same thing is true for the Christian. If he sees us Bahá’ís worshiping in the same form as the Muslims do in the Mosque, he too will turn aside and not enter the Faith. The Hindu, the Buddhist, the
Amatu’l-Bahá and Bahá’ís of Victoria, the first place the Faith was established in Cameroon in 1953.
Jew, all people of other religions, will turn away from
this room Bahá’u’lláh has built for all mankind to worship in if they see us practicing in it the old forms of
worship, such as all standing up to pray or kneeling
down, or all singing a kind of Bahá’í hymn together,
or performing some other form of worship associated
with the forms of worship of other religions because
these forms have not been given by Bahá’u’lláh and do
not exist in the Bahá’í Faith.
Four Regional Youth Conferences in the United States[edit]
The Regional Bahá’í Youth Conferences, sponsored by the National Teaching Committee, which took place on four consecutive weekends in February in the Central, Western, Northeastern, and Southern regions, respectively, were most successful,
The focus of each conference was upon improving the quality of Bahá’í life and directing the youth toward a method of study which would help them to deepen in their knowledge and understanding of the significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s stupendous Revelation.
The Conference in Beloit, Wisconsin, attended by 360 youth, was blessed by the presence of Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khádem who spoke on the role of Bahá’í youth, and who challenged the youth to perform great deeds of service for the Faith; Auxiliary Board member Peter Khan spoke eloquently on the Covenant, the quality of Bahá’í life, and the three fields of service open to Bahá’í youth; and about 600 people attended the public proclamation on Saturday night and heard the “Children of Time” and the “Northern Stars” road shows give exciting and entertaining performances.
Beautiful, balmy weather greeted over 250 believers in Hayward, California, where Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Margaret Gallagher lovingly, but firmly explained to the youth how firmness in the Covenant should be reflected not only in their loyalty to the Institutions, but also in their personal conduct, manners, and dress. Saturday evening’s performance by Bob Gundry and Steve King of “Wednesday’s Children” was enthusiastically received by the audience, and the spirit intensified after a number of declarations.
In spite of the worst snow storm of the year, some 400 youth attended the conference in Storrs, Connecticut. The session on the Covenant by Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Adrienne Reeves lasted for an hour-and-a-half and would have continued, so eager were the youth to learn what “firmness in the Covenant” really means! At the public meeting Saturday night, the “Dawn-breakers II” road show joined forces with a group from Amherst for an exciting evening of entertainment.
The presence of black, Mexican, Indian and white believers, with a nice sprinkling of Persian, set a harmonious tone throughout the Arlington, Texas, conference, a tone which was accentuated by the talks of Auxiliary Board member Paul Petit. Two unexpected highlights were, 1) a beautiful song by a young Mescalero Indian believer who had written it himself; and 2) a spontaneous and humorous group presentation by the Persian believers.
The spirit of the conferences can be summed up by the words of a campus newspaper reporter in Beloit who had been observing the Bahá’ís: “... the most extraordinary thing is that they came ... to study, to deepen, to learn about the Laws of Bahá’u’lláh, and they all had a remarkably good time doing it!”
ENSENADA, MEXICO — EXTENSION TEACHING[edit]
Ensenada, Mexico — a charming, romantic town of 115,000 people nestled as its name “cove” implies, at the base of foothills along the beautiful Pacific Ocean — lies 80 miles south of California. Lying sleepily for decades this coastal seaport has long been a fishing village and vacation resort. Gradually awakening as a major tourist attraction, Ensenada has become a center of interest for people from all over the world. Although its nearest neighboring cities of Rosarito, Tijuana and Tecate, Mexico near the border of the United States have been opened to the Faith and Local Spiritual Assemblies formed in the latter two in 1967 and 1968, respectively, Ensenada has lain dormant.
On the last day of October, 1971 members Esperanza Herrera of Tijuana, Mexico and Kay Patton of El Cajon, California of the small team which had previously worked together with Julia Bulling of San Diego to establish the Bahá’í Faith in Tijuana and Tecate, went to Ensenada in an attempt to open it also. Without any entré or place to commence, the pioneers went to Parque Revolucion and sat near the shade of a magnificent old tree on two of the many benches. The park was filled with local citizens out to enjoy the refreshing afternoon air, and warm sunshine streamed down upon bright and relaxed faces of men, women and children. A large bandstand in the center of the park reflected its lively colors of blue, white, yellow and green tiles which decorated the sides of a musicians’ platform and formed a support for the stalls of food vendors beneath. As various townspeople came to sit on the benches and later exchanged places for others to rest awhile, the team conversed with many and made friends rapidly. The spirituality and receptivity of the people of Ensenada soon became evident and in three hours, still seated on the same two benches, seven men and women declared their desire to become followers of Bahá’u’lláh. Succeeding visits to Ensenada every several weeks on Sunday afternoons brought more believers and by early March the seventeenth person had declared.
The new believers are like lights to the city of Ensenada spreading the Teachings themselves from the very beginning. Reading the literature brought by the team and deepening in the Writings of the Faith, the new Bahá’ís are radiant and excited, greeting each other like true brothers and sisters whenever they are together. Their first Feast, the Feast of Masá’il, was held in mid-December. Gathered in the sunny atmosphere of the park prayers and selections from the Hidden Words were read, then refreshments served using as a table the cart of one of the believers who is a fruit vendor in the park. It is this beautiful soul who helps spread the word of the next meetings while another acts as group correspondent. Three homes have been opened for Bahá’í gatherings and a Naw-Rúz celebration is planned to which the Bahá’ís of Rosarito are invited. Now that there are homes in which to assemble, meetings among themselves will be encouraged and study classes arranged with the assistance of the pioneers. The team is currently holding weekly deepening classes in Rosarito which the group attends to strengthen themselves and their teaching effort.
It is hoped that both Ensenada and Rosarito will be able to reach Assembly status by Riḍván of this year. The pioneering effort is planned to continue until the areas are stabilized and self-sufficient, bringing about a spiritual awakening to an entire city of beautiful waiting souls.
Other such localities can be awakened by the efforts of just a few believers if they are willing to leave their homes for the purpose of teaching the Faith. Such opportunities are among the most precious experiences any Bahá’í can have and the source of enduring, cherished memories in the service of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
Study and deepening class at Rosarito, Mexico, which
meets weekly. The charts in Spanish, made by Kay Patton (leaning over a chart), were useful as visual aids.
A group was formed in 1967 and since then there have
been thirteen declarations. This picture was made on
March 3, 1972.
First teaching trip to Ensenada, Mexico by team on
October 31, 1971. Esperanza Herrera on bench, second
from left; Kay Patton standing, third from left. The
third member of the team was a Mexican youth who took the picture.
Commemoration of the Anniversary of Faith in Australia[edit]
To mark the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Bahá’í Faith in Australia, members of Sutherland Bahá’í Community, on 28th August 1971, met at the beautiful E. G. Waterhouse National Camellia Garden, overlooking picturesque Yowie Bay, for a tree planting.
The President of the Camellia Research Society, Mr. Harris, welcomed the Bahá’í friends warmly and said he hoped their gesture would stimulate other groups to honor such occasions with tree planting.
Counsellor Mrs. Jean Manuel, Deputy President of the Sutherland Shire, who performed the tree planting ceremony, has a very good, close association with the Sutherland Bahá’í Community. From the book, Divine Art of Living given to her previously, she said she had noticed how often flowers were mentioned as well as happiness, which seemed to typify Bahá’ís. She observed how much the Faith had progressed in the past fifty years and was positive of even greater progress in the next fifty. Her remarks about the friends’ involvement in local community work were most appreciative.
The Curator, Mr. Utick, had chosen an American variety of camellia and said he felt this was quite significant when he learned later that the two pioneers responsible for bringing the Faith to Australia were Americans. As he had formerly worked on the construction of the Australian House of Worship he was especially interested.
Mrs. Manuel was presented with a bouquet featuring a camellia, by Mrs. E. Biles, and a copy of To Follow a Dreamtime which was published by the Australian National Assembly to mark the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Bahá’í Faith in Australia, giving an account of the early history, before and during the formative years with Mr. and Mrs. Hyde-Dunn, the spiritual conquerors of a nation.
A number of the friends later went to the Hyde-Dunn Memorial at the Woronora Cemetery where prayers were read by all. Present was a member of the original Local Spiritual Assembly of Sutherland, Mrs. Gertrude Muller, now their oldest believer, over ninety, who has continued to play an active role in the affairs of the community.
At the Hyde-Dunn Memorial, Woronora Cemetery in Sutherland, New South Wales, Australia, following the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Bahá’í Faith in
Australia. Mr. and Mrs. Hyde-Dunn, fondly called “Father” and “Mother” were the original pioneers
in Australia, and from the United States followed the summons of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to leave their homes
to establish the Faith.
Left to right are: Miss M. Lomé, Mrs. N. Rose, Mr. T. Curwen, Mrs. Muller, Jr., Mrs. A. Curwen, Mrs. G. Muller, Sr., and Mrs. E. Biles.
Activities of Hand of Cause Robarts and Teaching Team of Sydney[edit]
At 5 a.m. on the 12th of January 1972 Minoo received a telephone call that the teaching team “was here!” This was the beginning of a whirlwind of activities which lasted eighteen hours a day for more than a week.
The teaching team from Sydney, which consisted of Paul, Beverly and Scott Stafford, Munira, Samira and Farah (only six years old) Sohaili, and Munira Yaganegi, had arrived. The Perth believers were caught by surprise but hurriedly arranged accommodation in the homes of Marcia and Hugh Walker and Minoo and Marjorie Fozdar. We thought that after a strenuous drive from Sydney the teaching team would want to rest for a day or so but after a couple of hours they were insisting that the teaching work begin. Together with a few local Bahá’ís they set out for Victoria Park and began mass teaching along the streets. The local believers who were with the Teaching Team were at first diffident but soon got over their shyness as they saw the veterans in action. Each day from then on the teaching team was out on the streets, in shopping centers, in parks, at the University and along the beaches, spreading the message of Bahá’u’lláh. A public talk was arranged for Hand of the Cause Mr. John Robarts on the 19th of January and this talk was greatly publicized by the teaching team. Posters were made and put out in numerous shops and thousands of handbills were distributed.
On January 15 the younger members of the teaching team attended a youth fireside held at the home of Barbara and Charlie Pierce.
As it was emphasized that the fruits gained by mass teaching had to be consolidated and the new believers deepened it was decided to hold a teaching and deepening institute in the home of Minoo and Marjorie Fozdar on January 16. About thirty believers attended this institute. The session on deepening was conducted by Mrs. Beverly Stafford and the one on teaching, by Mrs. Munira Sohaili. In order not to waste any time, it was decided to listen to Mr. William Sears’ tape “Wake Up, America” during the lunch hour. After the Institute some believers went mass teaching to King’s Park while others stayed back and said the Remover of Difficulties 500 times.
Beloved Hand of the Cause, Mr. John Robarts arrived on Monday January 17 and though he was tired and unwell he agreed to address a fireside at the home of Delphine and Sohail Tahiri. Though there were some non-Bahá’ís in the gathering Mr. Robarts’ address was mainly for the Bahá’ís. He stressed the need for Bahá’ís to say prayers and particularly emphasized the efficacy of saying the Remover of Difficulties. He told us a number of stories of how success in teaching had taken place after the believers had said the Remover of Difficulties 500 times (as mentioned on page 119 in God Passes By). On the 18th, at noon, Hand of the Cause Mr. John Robarts, Paul and Beverly Stafford and Miss Ottilie Strempel, paid a courtesy call on the Lord Mayor of Perth, Sir Thomas Wardle. They were well received and Sir Thomas remembered that he had previously been presented with the book, The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh.
On Tuesday evening a Unity Feast was held at the home of Marcia and Hugh Walker. Mr. Robarts again stressed the importance of prayer and advised the Bahá’ís to try to say the Long Obligatory Prayer.
The climax of the activities for the week took place on Wednesday when a public talk was given by Mr. Robarts at the Builders Exchange Hall. Minoo Fozdar chaired the meeting. The Hall was packed to capacity with almost eighty people present, the majority of whom were non-Bahá’ís. Mr. Robarts gave an inspiring talk on the Faith and questions were asked after the talk. An hour and a half after the meeting, enquirers were still discussing the Faith with Bahá’ís and there were three declarations at the meeting from two adults and one youth. On Thursday the 20th Mr. Robarts left for Melbourne and the teaching team proceeded to the goal towns of Pinjarra, Collie and Bunbury from where they will go back home to Sydney. Perth will never be the same again after their visit! During the short time over 4500 leaflets and reply-paid cards were distributed. One Bahá’í from Mauritius and one from Canada who had not previously contacted the Bahá’ís in Perth were found and invited to participate in the activities here. Four adults and one youth accepted the Faith and a great number of friendships were made. The Bahá’ís of Western Australia have every intention of keeping up the pace set by the visitors. Deepening evenings have been arranged for the new believers.
When the teaching team was in the heart of the City a TV team took pictures and interviewed the Bahá’ís. The telecast on the Faith was presented in a dignified manner during the news on Wednesday the 19th. A small item about Mr. Robarts’ visit and about the teaching team also appeared in the newspapers, The Western Australian and The Independent.
FOOTBALL TEAM PROCLAIMS FAITH[edit]
A Bahá’í football team of Yasothon, Thailand is a winner. This team played against Yasothon Police, Bangkok Bank (Yasothon branch) and Thai Farmers Bank of Yasothon, defeated all three and won three cups. The Deputy Governor of Yasothon is shown in the photo, standing fourth from the left, in white. The success of this team created unusual interest in the Faith and was the means of many people asking for literature.
IN PERU[edit]
Bolivian pioneers who attended the Peru International
Summer School held in January 1972 with Continental
Counsellor Sr. Athos Costas, standing at right. Next to
him is Auxiliary Board member Manucher Shoai and
standing, second at left, Bolivian Board member Andres
Jachakollo.
A social gathering of Bahá’ís of Lima, Peru, with some
pioneers from neighboring countries and participants of
the All Counsellors—Auxiliary Board Members Conference. Dr. Carlos Martinez, Board member from Chile,
(with white hair in center back) is talking to the youth.
Peruvian Summer School[edit]
Peruvian Bahá’í Summer School held near Lima took on international flavor with classes given by
Counsellors of South America and Auxiliary Board members.
From America to Malaysia With Love[edit]
Charming, gracious and radiant Florence Mayberry, Continental Counsellor from the United States won the hearts of the Bahá’ís of Singapore and Malaysia when she visited us in September 1971. Fresh from the heights of Sapporo, her spirit and enthusiasm was felt by all the friends at the meeting arranged for her throughout the country....
Florence shared with friends the highlights of her teaching experiences in many countries and left them with simple analogies and beautiful stories which they can continue to use themselves when giving the Message to others.
To quote one which she had used in Sapporo:
“It’s like breathing in and breathing out.... If a person were to inhale and then hold his breath and not ever breathe out, (if such a state is possible) he would first turn blue then fall into a coma, and eventually die. When we receive the message and accept Bahá’u’lláh, it’s like breathing in; when we teach and give to others, it’s like breathing out. The one has to follow the other or we remain in a coma, of no use to ourselves or anyone else. Then eventually we die a spiritual death.... All the deepening that Bahá’ís receive at conferences and meetings and through the Holy Writings, all this corresponds to long deep breaths of pure air that refresh and gladden our spirits—but beware lest we don’t follow through with a pouring out to others....”
The Kedah Peak Experiment
(Malaysia)[edit]
It was Counsellor Florence Mayberry who introduced the germ of a new idea in deepening. A group of Bahá’ís from Kedah were among the over a hundred friends who had gathered in Butterworth to listen to her talk. Mrs. Mayberry described a new kind of institute being held in Canada and Alaska, ... wherein a limited number of Bahá’ís gathered together for intensive deepening, using the Holy Writings exclusively, and involving a hundred percent participation.
The Kedah friends had been toying with the idea of a spiritual “retreat” up Kedah Peak. Now they knew what shape it would take. On the evening of October 14th, 1971 three cars packed with twenty-one friends went up the hill. Included in this group was National Teaching Committee member Seelan on an official visit from Kuala Lumpur. Seelan was quite unprepared for the heights he was to climb in the company of this group of Northern Bahá’ís!
The long and narrow road wound its way for six steep miles up to a solitary bungalow (The Kedah Sultan’s winter palace) on the top of the hill at a height of 3,200 ft. above sea-level. It was winter up there! The dew was falling like rain and the atmosphere created an ideal mood for prayer. The group felt quite out of this world.
After dinner, the friends were briefed on their unique program. A forty-hour non-stop prayer vigil was launched for the success of Malaysia’s Nine Year Plan and Kedah’s Qwal Plan.* Six groups of four persons recited prayers in one hour shifts around a real fire, and this went on throughout the night.
Early in the morning the deepening class began on the Hidden Words. Everyone read the same paragraph, then expressed his understanding of the verse and also stated his personal reaction to it. The convenor did not explain or comment. After each round, everybody there had acquired a much wider understanding of every line, through the thoughts of the other friends. This session went on for four hours in two groups with a lunch break in between. The vastness of the hidden treasure that they discovered in the Hidden Words, amazed everyone of the participants.
The next session was on the Gleanings. As they had already warmed up to the readings, the Gleanings proved even more exciting and inspiring. The study class only broke up for dinner and then the friends celebrated the Nineteen Day Feast of Knowledge.
After the Feast, they attempted to enter the first valley in the series of seven — but though their spirits were willing, most of the friends were too exhausted to go beyond the second valley, and they dropped off to sleep one by one! The prayer circle of course continued throughout the night.
The next morning’s program was more informal with tape-recordings by Hands of the Cause William Sears and Rúḥíyyih Khánum. At about noon, the friends gathered round for the final prayers of the forty-hour vigil which had been a source of unexpected inspiration to all the participants.
The whole experiment turned out to be even more successful than they had hoped. Having floated for almost two days on cloud nine, the general opinion was that everyone felt 3,200 feet closer to God!
During the fortnight following this prayer vigil about one hundred and fifty declarations were received in Kedah, and the friends were amazed at the spirit released in the area. The Qwal Plan goals were fulfilled a hundred percent.
*Under the Qwal Plan, the current National Teaching Committee teaching program for Malaya, Kedah State had fulfilled all its goals except one—the required increase in believers.
New Center in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island[edit]
New Center in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island. Henry
Wigfall, pioneer, is assisted by Mr. Thompson to erect
a sign.
Deepening Conference in the Philippines[edit]
Bahá’ís from Mindanao who attended the December 1971 Deepening Conference for the Bahá’ís of the Philippines at the National Headquarters in Manila. Counsellor for Northeast Asia Vic Samaniego is in the front row, center. In the center row, left to right are Auxiliary Board members Miss Toni Mantel, Mr. Anunsacion and Mr. Fred Ramirez.
The Deepening Conference held in Manila, Dec. 23-30,
1971, was planned and prepared by the National Spiritual Assembly and the National Teaching Committee
of the Bahá’ís of the Philippines. The theme of the
Conference was “A New Way of Life—the Role of a
Bahá’í Teacher.” The keynote of the Conference was
discipline. It is encouraging to note that this Conference
was attended daily by sixty Bahá’í representatives from
various Islands of the Philippines, perhaps indicating
the growing need of the Bahá’ís themselves to become
deepened in the teachings of our beloved Faith.
Continental Counsellor Mr. Vic Samaniego, who recently returned from Japan and Taiwan honored the Bahá’ís with his presence. He spoke at various times during the week-long Conference advising and encouraging the friends. The three Auxiliary Board members of the Philippines were also present: Miss Toni Mantel, Mr. Dominador Anunsacion, and Mr. Fred Ramirez.
During this Conference, lectures and discussions were held every morning. Topics concerned: History of the Bahá’í Faith, the Meaning of Bahá’í Faith, The Covenant, What is Expected of a Bahá’í Teacher, Developing a Functioning Bahá’í Community, Foundation of a New World Order, Bahá’í Faith in Relation to Present Day Conditions in the Country, Universal Participation, and the Bahá’í Code of Conduct.
The first few afternoons were planned group teaching trips to parks, local and international airports, train stations—places where we could have actual teaching experiences. This proved to be very successful. Hundreds of people were given a friendly introduction to the Bahá’í Faith and several enrolled under the banner of the Blessed Beauty! While these teaching efforts gave so many people the opportunity to hear about Bahá’u’lláh, at the same time it gave the Bahá’ís who taught, in groups of three to five, more confidence in their own teaching ability.
The last half of the conference, the afternoons were given to group consultation, evaluation of the Conference, and teaching plans for various areas of the Philippines. At the beginning of this Conference it was mentioned that during these few days together we would be learning from each other—that we are all teachers and at the same time we are all students. This was very noticeable during this special week as the Bahá’í friends freely participated in consultation, discussion, and teaching plans and activities.
Beginning the morning of December 25, prayers were continually offered at the Bahá’í National Headquarters during a twenty-four-hour period involving the help of Bahá’u’lláh for unity of the Bahá’ís and for teaching progress in the Philippines.
The highlight of the Conference was a brief and fast-moving skit written and directed by Mrs. Orpha Daugherty. Everyone readily agreed that this type of learning is most enjoyable and memorable! Mrs. Daugherty said the idea for this skit was taken from the teaching of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and shows the need for individual independent investigation. The Bahá’í actors for this skit came on stage holding cardboard shapes resembling houses. The windows of each house were a different color from the windows of the neighboring houses. The ‘owners’ of each house insisted the color of the sun was the same as the color of their windows, until one owner decided to go outside his home and then discovered for himself the true color of the sun! With quite a bit of overacting on the part of the actors, the center rang with laughter—and a new lesson in consolidation was learned!
The main concern at this time was how to consolidate the newly enrolled Bahá’ís, especially in the schools in their areas. Following the guidance of a letter from The Universal House of Justice dated Nov. 10, 1971, the National Teaching Committee met with individual groups of Bahá’ís who were representatives of their area and suggested that Regional Student Affairs Coordinating Councils be established as well as local Coordinating Councils for a particular locality, and in turn Coordinating Councils in each school where there are Bahá’ís. Unity groups consisting of five Bahá’ís would
[Page 23]
be formed in each school for the purpose of deepening
and teaching. Also it was suggested that the Regional
or Local Council prepare mimeographed deepening
material for individual students and Bahá’í books be
placed in the school libraries. This plan for consolidation had recently been put into motion in the Bikol
area of Luzon and the Bahá’ís in that area felt that with
continued attention, this is a very workable plan. The
Bahá’ís attending this Conference were anxious to return to their post and put this plan into action.
Meeting for seven consecutive days for a deepening Conference, one couldn’t help but learn a great deal. The friends were encouraged by the chairman of the ‘steering committee’, Mrs. Fe Samaniego, to take notes at every session so that we could better remember our newly acquired knowledge and after the Conference, share it with our friends who were unable to attend. The speakers, who were asked by National Teaching Committee to speak on the chosen topics frequently quoted from the Writings and gave the name of the book and page number, making it easier for those who wanted to do further research on that particular subject. At the end of the Conference notes of the topics given, including sources of the material used, were mimeographed and distributed to the Bahá’ís.
Concerning the first part of the theme of this Conference, “A New Way of Life,” Counsellor Samaniego said, “The Bahá’í Faith can produce special people.” He went on to say, “In the Bahá’í Faith personality does not count—if it does, the more the Bahá’í Faith is diminished. One requirement of the Faith is to be humble.” He said, “We should develop within ourselves the qualities of a Bahá’í. ‘Beware lest ye give good counsel, but forget to follow it yourself.’ ” Counsellor Samaniego suggested that we should think of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Exemplar of our Faith, and try to think what He would do in a particular situation in which we may find ourselves.
The last part of the theme of the Conference, “The Role of a Bahá’í Teacher”, Auxiliary Board member Miss Toni Mantel asked the Bahá’ís what they thought was expected of a Bahá’í teacher. Their responses included such qualities as kindness, love, thoughtfulness, humility, honesty, devotion, wisdom, courage, resourcefullness—only to mention a few, but their answers indicated a keen understanding.
This Conference was planned as a week of intensive learning; but since we are able to absorb only so much at a time, all the Bahá’ís enjoyed frequent singing sessions, Bahá’í slides and tapes, periods of free time—and always an abundance of loving fellowship and happiness!
It is my impression that the Bahá’ís left this Conference for their respective posts with a much deeper and undoubtedly a more thoughtful outlook concerning their individual Bahá’í responsibilities.
In Liberia Holy Days Are Recognized[edit]
The Education Ministry in the Republic of Liberia has officially recognized the observance of Bahá’í Holy Days. The Minister of Education has instructed the Supervisors and Principals of schools to give leave to Bahá’í students if they request it. A list of the nine Holy Days was attached to the instructions sent out by the Education Department. It will be necessary for each parent to send in a letter, explaining that they are Bahá’ís and want their children to celebrate a Bahá’í Holy Day.
Prayer Power[edit]
The efficacy of the Remover of Difficulties said 500 times, and also of the Long Obligatory Prayer have been frequently pointed out to Bahá’ís by Hand of the Cause John Robarts. Many persons especially in Canada and Australia, have written to him, telling him of their individual experiences with these particular prayers. In the March 1972 AUSTRALIAN BAHÁ’Í BULLETIN a believer wrote: “I’m happier and more able to talk about the beloved Faith than I was before” and was thankful that after using these prayers had received the blessing of being able to sleep without the usual sleeping pills.
Another wrote of using the Remover of Difficulties, commenting: “It has been, without doubt, the most significant thing in my whole life, one verse, revolutionizing my whole life!”
Another suggests a way to keep count for 500 times: “The simplest means we have used is to sit with a book on one’s lap and turn the pages until one reaches page 500, saying the prayer twice for every time one turns the page. The obvious book to use is The Dawnbreakers—it is ideal and on page 503 is a picture of the Báb’s prayer beads, His signet ring and His Qur’án.”
Volunteer Bolivian Indian teachers from the Department of Cochabamba who attended an intensive three-day deepening study course, February 29 through March 2, 1972, held at the National Bahá’í Institute.
Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Muhájir with the Bolivian
friends on March 5, 1972 in front of the National Bahá’í
Institute in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Dr. Muhájir is seated
in front with a child in his arms.
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Thousands Visit Liberian Bahá’í Exhibit[edit]
At the national celebration on January 7, 1972, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first pioneers who came to Liberia on Providence Island, the Bahá’ís of Monrovia decided to take advantage of the opportunity to have a Bahá’í exhibit on the Island. The Bahá’ís were the only religious groups represented.
Thousands of people from all over the world and from all strata of society came to the booth and received information about the Faith. Several hundred pamphlets were distributed. Non-Liberians promised they would try to find Bahá’ís when they returned home.
The design of the booth was approved by the Secretary of Information and Cultural Affairs. The designer was not a Bahá’í, but young and old worked side by side until late at night to complete the exhibit in two days.
The booth brought favorable comment from the radio and was a project which brought enthusiasm to the believers.
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