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| Bahá’í News | October 1977 | Bahá’í Year 134 |
Some Early Pilgrims
| Grieved passing Dorothy Senne first African woman believer South Africa. Kindly extend our warmest sympathy her family friends. Praying Holy Shrines progress her soul Abhá Kingdom.
Universal House of Justice, June 1977
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| Contents |
Some early pilgrims |
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An excerpt from the book, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Vol. II | 2 |
Around the World |
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News from Bahá’í communities in every corner of the globe | 8 |
Cover
More than a hundred years ago Bahá’u’lláh, a Prisoner and an Exile seemingly without power or influence on earth, boldly declared that He was the One sent by God to unite the warring peoples of the world. The potency of His message and the degree of faith required by those who accept it are the pivotal elements of an excerpt in this issue from the new book, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume II, by Adib Taherzadeh.
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Change of address should be reported directly to Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, U.S.A. Please attach mailing label. Subscription rates: one year, U.S. $8; two years, U.S. $15. Second class postage paid at Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright ©1977. National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
Bahá’í News is published monthly 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. Manuscripts submitted should be typewritten and double spaced throughout; any footnotes should appear at the end. The contributor should keep a carbon copy. Send materials to: Bahá’í News Editorial Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, U.S.A.
Some Early Pilgrims[edit]
The following is an excerpt which deals with the important subject of acquiring faith in God from The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh, Volume II, by Adib Taherzadeh, to be published in November by George Ronald, London. Mr. Taherzadeh’s book covers the period of Bahá’u’lláh’s stay in Adrianople, 1863-1868.
In the Tablet of Sayyáh Bahá’u’lláh unveils the glory of His Station, states that He is the Ancient Beauty through Whose command the whole of creation has come into being, and affirms that mankind turns to Him in adoration and clings to the Hem of His bounty even though it is unable to recognize Him in His wondrous Revelation.
He alludes to the followers of the Bayán who have denied and repudiated His Cause, refers to them as the people of sedition and the company of Satan, and reminds them that for many years He had associated with them, but had hidden His glory from their eyes so that none might recognize Him; but they had risen up against Him in great enmity.
It was then that He unveiled the beauty of His Countenance and shed the radiance of His Face upon all creation.
He declares that the days of tests have come, and that the balance has been established, a balance through which the deeds of all men will be weighed with justice. He proclaims to the peoples of the world that if they wish to hear the voice of God they should hearken to His wondrous melodies, and if they desire to behold the Face of God then they should gaze into His beauteous Countenance.
He warns them, however, that they shall not be able to do this unless they cleanse their hearts of all idle fancy and detach
| ‘Perhaps it may be said that there are few, if any, among Bahá’u’lláh’s exhortations which have been stressed so much as detachment from this world and from every selfish desire.’ |
themselves from this world and all that is therein.
It is in this Tablet that Bahá’u’lláh, by allusion, foretells His exile to the city of ‘Akká, designating it as the “vale of Nabíl.” He describes in allegorical terms His arrival in that city in these words:
Upon our arrival, We were welcomed with banners of light, whereupon the Voice of the Spirit cried out saying: ‘Soon will all that dwell on earth be enlisted under these banners.’
There are passages in this Tablet which throw light on the severity of the tests which the believer encounters when he treads the path of faith. Alluding to the people of the Bayán, Bahá’u’lláh refers to some who were among the most holy of men, who worshipped God with great devotion, who were considered the most devout, who were endowed with the keenest insight; yet when the breezes of His Revelation were wafted over them, they were found to be shut out as by a veil from Him. This notwithstanding the fact that He associated with them for so long and manifested His glory to their eyes.
He attributes the reason for this failure to pride and attachment to self and ego. He grieves that their acts of devotion and service had become the cause of pride and had deprived them of God’s bounty.
The subject of detachment occurs in numerous Tablets. Perhaps it may be said that there are few, if any, among Bahá’u’lláh’s exhortations which have been stressed so much as detachment from this world and from every selfish desire. We have already referred to this important theme in previous chapters.
The perusal of the Tablet of Sayyáh makes it absolutely clear that Bahá’u’lláh’s companions, because of their closeness to Him, could not remain faithful to the Cause of God unless they were able to cast out entirely the evil of self. Any trace of self-glorification, however insignificant, was fatal to them, and in His holy presence nothing but utter self-effacement could survive.
There were many among His disciples who were enabled to subdue their egos. By their words and deeds they demonstrated their utter nothingness when they came face to face with their Lord. These became the spiritual giants of this Dispensation, and through their faith they shed an imperishable lustre upon the Cause of God. It is concerning such men, during the days of Baghdád, that Nabíl writes:
Many a night, no less than ten persons subsisted on no more than a pennyworth of dates. No one knew to whom actually belonged the shoes, the cloaks, or the robes that were to be found in their houses. Whoever went to the bazaar could claim that the shoes upon his feet were his own, and each one who entered the presence of Bahá’u’lláh could affirm that the cloak and robe he then wore belonged to him. Their own names they had forgotten, their hearts were emptied of aught else except adoration for their Beloved ... O, for the joy of those days, and the gladness and wonder of those hours!
That a few souls have been able to achieve such distinction, to soar into the realms of detachment, and to humble themselves before their Lord, augurs well for the human race which, in the fullness of time, is destined to follow in their footsteps.
Today, the followers of Bahá’u’lláh cannot attain His presence in this life, and therefore the tests which were particularly associated with His Person do not seem to affect them. But the requirements of faith and the path to Bahá’u’lláh remain unchanged.
It is necessary for the believer today, as in the days of Bahá’u’lláh, to detach himself from all earthly things and to banish from his soul traces of passion and desire, of ego and self-glorification, in order that he may truly appreciate the awe-inspiring station of Bahá’u’lláh and become a worthy servant of His Cause. If he fails to do this, although he may not be faced with the same perils that surrounded Bahá’u’lláh’s companions, he is bound to feel a measure of doubt in his innermost heart concerning the Faith and may experience great conflicts in his mind. Although intellectually he may accept Bahá’u’lláh as a Manifestation of God and may be well versed in His Writings, he will not be able to have that absolute certitude which endows a human being with divine attributes and confers upon him perpetual contentment, serenity and happiness.
The acquiring of true faith is man’s greatest accomplishment. Faith endows a human being with powers that no earthly agency can equal. By the power of their faith, the believers have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles and won memorable victories for the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. In order to have faith, a man must banish from his heart every trace of vain imagination and idle fancy. Let us examine the road to the achievement of this exalted goal and explore the many pitfalls and obstacles which confront the soul in its quest.
There are two focal points of enormous power within a human being. One is the brain, the centre of intellect and thinking and the storehouse of his knowledge and learning. Through the agency of this faculty man can manifest the unique powers of the rational soul which distinguish him from the animal. The intellect is the greatest gift of God to man. But since man has free will, he may be led by his intellect either to faith and belief in God, or else to disbelief.
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The other focal point is the heart which is the centre of warmth and love. The heart of man falls in love with the world and its own self. But it is also the habitation wherein God’s attributes are revealed. Bahá’u’lláh states:
O Son of Being!
Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent ...
It is within the heart of man that the spark of faith appears. But this can only happen when the heart becomes freed from attachment to the things of the world. Bahá’u’lláh declares in The Hidden Words:
O Son of Dust!
All that is in heaven and earth I have ordained for thee, except the human heart, which I have made the habitation of My beauty and glory; yet thou didst give My home and dwelling to another than Me; and whenever the manifestation of My holiness sought His own abode, a stranger found He there, and, homeless, hastened unto the sanctuary of the Beloved. Notwithstanding I have concealed thy secret and desired not thy shame.
God has created man in such wise that the two focal points in his being, namely the mind and the heart, should complement each other. The mind without the heart illumined by faith does not acquire the capacity to investigate, or the language to understand, the truth of the Cause of God. Similar to the eye when deprived of light, it is unable to explore the world of the spirit.
Instead, it develops its powers in the field of materialism and naturally rejects the concept of God and religion. Thus it becomes the most effective barrier to the individual’s acquisition of faith. In such circumstances the heart becomes filled with love of the world and its own self, for it is a characteristic of the heart to love. If it is not allowed to love God, it will love itself and its worldly possessions. And this is one significance of the “stranger” that Bahá’u’lláh refers to in The Hidden Words:
O My Friend in word!
Ponder awhile. Hast thou ever heard that friend and foe should abide
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in one heart? Cast out then the stranger, that the Friend may enter His home.
To acquire faith, a man must cast out the “stranger” from his heart. To the extent that he succeeds in doing this, he will acquire faith. Once the spark of faith is ignited within the heart it must be allowed to grow steadily into a flame, otherwise it could die because of attachment to this world.
For instance, when an individual reaches a point where he recognizes Bahá’u’lláh as a Manifestation of God, his heart becomes the recipient of the light of God’s Faith for this day. If the believer immerses himself from the start in the ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, reads His writings daily, not merely to add to his own knowledge but to receive the food of the spirit, seek the companionship of the righteous, and arise to serve Him with sincerity and detachment, then he may steadily grow in faith and become a radiant and enthusiastic soul. He may obtain a deeper understanding of the writings and reach a point where both his mind and his heart work together in harmony.
Such a believer will eventually find no conflict between the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and his own thinking. He will discover many a wisdom hidden in the utterances of Bahá’u’lláh and will recognize the limitations and shortcomings of his own finite mind.
But if a believer, after having recognized Bahá’u’lláh, fails to follow this path, he may soon find himself in conflict with many aspects of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. His intellect may not be able to understand the wisdom behind many of His Teachings, he may indeed reject some of His precepts and eventually lose faith altogether. Some people struggle for years to overcome this problem, for they long to be confirmed in their faith. Often such an individual may be helped to acquire a true understanding of the Faith by those who truly believe in Bahá’u’lláh and are detached from this world.
But if everything else fails, the only remedy for the individual who still has a glimmer of faith in his heart, but who has doubts about the Cause, is to admit that he may be wrong in his assessment of the
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teachings of the Faith, to affirm that Bahá’u’lláh’s knowledge is of God, and to surrender his feelings and thoughts completely to Him. Once he submits himself in this way and perseveres in doing so with sincerity and truthfulness, the channels of the grace of God open, and his heart becomes the recipient of the light of true knowledge. He will discover, some time in his life, either by intuition or through prayer and meditation, the answer to all his problems and objections. Every trace of conflict will disappear from his mind. He will readily understand the reasons behind those very teachings which previously baffled his intellect, and will find many mysteries enshrined in the utterances of Bahá’u’lláh, mysteries of which he was completely unaware in earlier days.
The following words of Bahá’u’lláh in The Hidden Words demonstrate that not until man submits himself to God can he attain to the knowledge of His Revelation:
O Son of the Dust!
Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My beauty; stop thine ears, that thou mayest hearken unto the sweet melody of My voice; empty thyself of all learning, that thou mayest partake of My knowledge; and sanctify thyself from riches, that thou mayest obtain a lasting share from the ocean of My eternal wealth. Blind thine eyes, that is, to all save My beauty; stop thine ears to all save My word; empty thyself of all learning save the knowledge of Me; that with a clear vision, a pure heart and an attentive ear thou mayest enter the court of My holiness.
The following story in the life of Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl, the outstanding scholar of the Cause and its famous apologist, is one which demonstrates that reading the Word of God with the eye of intellect can lead a man astray. He himself has recounted the story that soon after he came in contact with the believers, they gave him the Kitáb-i-Íqán to read. He read it with an air of intellectual superiority and was not impressed by it. He even commented that if the Kitáb-i-Íqán was a proof of Bahá’u’lláh’s claims, he himself could certainly write a better book.
At that time he was the head of a
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theological college in Ṭihrán. The following day a prominent woman arrived at the college and approached some students asking them to write an important letter for her (few women in Persia were taught to read or write in those days). The students referred her to Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl saying that he was an outstanding writer, a master of eloquence and a man unsurpassed in the art of composition. Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl took up his pen to write, but found himself unable to compose the first sentence. He tried very hard but was unsuccessful. For several minutes he scribbled in the corner of the page, and even drew lines on his own fingernail, until the woman realized that the learned scribe was unable to write. Losing her patience, she arose to go and mockingly said to Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl, “If you have forgotten how to write a simple letter why don’t you say so instead of keeping me here while you scrawl?”
Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl says that he was overcome with feelings of shame as a result of the incident, and then suddenly he remembered his own comments the night before about his being able to write a better book than the Kitáb-i-Íqán. He had a pure heart and knew that this incident was nothing but a clear answer to his arrogant attitude toward that holy Book.
However, it took Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl several years to be convinced of the truth of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. He reached a stage where he accepted the Faith intellectually, but for years his heart was not convinced. The only thing which caused him to recognize the truth of the Cause of God after having struggled for so long was to submit himself and surrender his intellectual gifts to God.
One evening he went into his chamber, and prayed with yearning as tears flowed from his eyes, beseeching God to open the channels of his heart. At the hour of dawn he suddenly found himself possessed of such faith that he felt he could lay down his life in the path of Bahá’u’lláh. The same person who once said he could write a better book than the Kitáb-i-Íqán read that book many times with the eye of faith and found it to be an ocean of knowledge, limitless in scope. Every time he read it he found new pearls of wisdom within it and discovered new mysteries which he had not come across before.
Faith comes to man through submission to God. The surrendering of the self with all its accomplishments renders the soul free of attachment to this mortal world. It drives the “stranger” away from the heart and enables him to receive the “Friend” within its sanctuary. Bahá’u’lláh states:
O Son of Man!
Humble thyself before Me, that I may graciously visit thee ...
In another passage He reveals:
O Son of Man!
If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee.
Around the World[edit]
Venezuela
Fifth All-Guajira Conference held at Los Mochos, Zulia[edit]
The fifth All-Guajira Conference was held July 16-17 at Los Mochos in the state of Zulia, Venezuela.
Bahá’ís from surrounding communities in the Guajira, from cities all over Venezuela, and from neighboring Colombia gathered for deepening, fellowship, and preparation for a teaching campaign that began immediately after the conference.
Topics discussed included goals of the Five Year Plan, the functions of Local Spiritual Assemblies, the Fund, and the need for a spiritual foundation in teaching the Faith.
All talks were translated into Spanish and Guajira.
On Saturday evening, the friends enjoyed Guajira music and dancing arranged for by the Spiritual Assembly of Los Mochos.
Near the close of the conference, a talk was given on the establishment of new Local Assemblies in the Guajira region. Afterward, teaching teams were formed with many conference participants volunteering to help.
The following day, Monday, the teams set out to various parts of Zulia to begin a six-week teaching effort.
Bahá’ís came from various parts of the country to help. Some dedicated two weeks of their vacation to assist with the teaching work, form Assemblies, and win other goals of the Five Year Plan.
At the end of the six-week period, 16 Local Assemblies had been formed, and six or seven more Bahá’í Groups were close to Assembly status.
Botswana
Tlokweng believers building Bahá’í center[edit]
In Tlokweng, Botswana, the believers have begun to build a local Bahá’í Center, literally with their own hands.
They decided that one way to save money would be to make their own mud bricks, in the manner that is traditional to the region. The believers of Tlokweng say this type of brick is strong and lasts for many years.
In a week’s time, a thousand bricks had been made, enough to begin construction of the local Bahá’í Center.
One woman, who could not help make the bricks because of her job obligations, hired a worker to take her place.
One elderly woman arrived at the work site every day promptly at 9 a.m. Those who did not know how to make the bricks received instruction from her. She was a great inspiration because of her tireless effort for the establishment of the new Bahá’í Center.
Bahá’í Centers are in the process of being built in many localities in Botswana.
Irán
Counsellor’s visit spurs teaching effort[edit]
The recent visit to Irán of Continental Counsellor Aziz Yazdi of the International Teaching Center has created a wave of teaching activities.
Mr. Yazdi’s consultative sessions with Iranian youth and with various teaching and pioneering committees have caused the youth to send 10 Bahá’í teachers to Sri Lanka and numerous other teachers throughout Irán. A teacher training class also was formed, and was attended by 60 believers.
Hawaii
The governor of Hawaii, George R. Ariyoshi, signs a document proclaiming Sunday, September 18, World Peace Day. Looking on are Tracy Hamilton (left), chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands, and Lani Tamanha (right), who recently returned from pioneering in the Philippines and now resides in Honolulu, Hawaii. Twenty-eight Local Spiritual Assemblies in Hawaii participated in the observance of World Peace Day, using the theme “World Peace Begins With You.”
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The Philippines
Large teaching team helps bring victories[edit]
A team of 55 Bahá’ís taught the Faith for 20 days this summer in the Philippines. They opened nine provinces, assisted with the formation of 25 Local Spiritual Assemblies, and helped bring in 1,000 new believers.
The teaching team works with new believers until a Local Assembly is formed in the community, then moves on. A team of two deepened Bahá’ís remains with the new Assembly to work with the new believers and deepen them.
Members of the teaching team are from several areas of the world, including Alaska, Australia, Malaysia, and the continental United States.
On behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Philippines, Walter Maddela presents Bahá’í literature to Dionisio Sarandi, the governor of Quirino, Philippines. Witnessing the presentation, which took place on August 29, is the Provincial Board of Quirino. To the governor’s left is another member of the Bahá’í community.
Paraguay
Pioneers describe lifestyle, rewards of service abroad[edit]
Jim and Jeannine Sacco, pioneers to Paraguay, recently wrote to the International Goals Committee in the United States. They described the lifestyle in Paraguay, and the reward of pioneering there:
“Living in Paraguay today is like living in the semi-rural United States about a generation ago. Life moves along slowly and naturally, especially outside the capital city of Asunción.
“Ask a Paraguayan to describe his small-town life and he’s likely to say ‘tranquillo’— a very apt description.
“Cars are still so few that drivers of horse-drawn taxis can and do make a living.
“Fruit and meat are plentiful and sweet. More than likely your house will have at least one type of fruit tree. We have papaya, peach, lemon, and orange trees growing in the backyard.
“The people are very friendly and greet foreigners with graciousness and interest. Although most Paraguayans are of Roman Catholic background and conservative in their beliefs, many do not practice their religion and are open to the Faith.
“The children are wonderfully receptive and love to hear about the Faith. Weekly children’s classes are a delight to teach. Sixty-five children and parents attended our first teaching event, an outdoor showing of the Green Light Expedition.
“Paraguay includes immigrants from Japan, Korea, Ukraine, The Netherlands, Germany, and other places; all seem to get along quite nicely together.
“Encarnación is a small town about five hours from Posadas, Argentina. Here we have spent the last five months amidst natural beauty and sometimes trying primitiveness. Despite the unpolluted environment, work is scarce and daily life rugged for the average North American: unpaved roads, outdoor plumbing, no central heating (it can get cold!), and a sense of isolation from the hustle and bustle of the city make life a challenge.
“Small-scale businessmen, mechanics, and agricultural specialists can make a better go of it than English teachers, the job we tried.
“Still, the rewards of living in the small Bahá’í Center built and furnished so lovingly by a pioneer, and the privilege of serving in a land with an incredible Bahá’í history of sacrifice and service, is in itself of inestimable value.
“We cannot help but feel that Paraguay is on the verge of something very exciting in Bahá’í terms. Happy the pioneer, or better yet, the pioneer family, who has the bounty to serve in this precious post.”
Norway
Bahá’ís have audience with Norwegian king[edit]
King Olav of Norway was visited by Bahá’ís for the first time in nine years on January 13.
Odd Van Krogh, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Gerd Strand, Auxiliary Board member, had a private audience with the king and presented him with volumes XIV and XV of The Bahá’í World. The King’s name and title are inscribed in gold on the cover of each book.
The Bahá’ís had received a cable from the Universal House of Justice that said, “Assure loving prayers Shrines success audience.” This cable was carried with them into the meeting.
The king was interested in the reaction of Queen Victoria to the Message of Bahá’u’lláh: “If this be of God, it will prevail.” He said, “It has prevailed, has it not?”
He also read the letter from Kurt Waldheim, Secretary General of the United Nations, to the Bahá’í International Teaching Conference in Paris, and was told that the Bahá’í International Community is a Non-Governmental Organization at the UN.
At the close of the audience, the Prayer for All Mankind was read. The 73-year-old monarch said, “Those are beautiful words.”
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Zaire
Staff members sought by 200-bed hospital[edit]
Bahá’ís are sought to staff a 200-bed hospital in Zaire. Positions are open in every field necessary for hospital operation, from administrative or medical staff to maintenance.
Elementary school teachers are needed in Chile at a school whose administrative head is a Bahá’í.
Contact your National Spiritual Assembly if you are qualified for either of these opportunities.
Pioneers lead active life in Lubumbashi[edit]
John and Bahin Newport are pioneers in Lubumbashi, a city of 200,000 people in the Shaba region of Zaire.
John, originally from the United States, arrived in Zaire in 1970. He married his Persian wife, Bahin, in 1972, taking her from her pioneering post in Tanzania to join him in Zaire.
At that time, there were only five or six Bahá’ís in the entire region. A year later, there were 25 Local Spiritual Assemblies. As of July, there were 32 Local Assemblies.
John said, “We are constantly helping to form Assemblies. The number of Assemblies formed is directly related to the amount of time one has available to teach.”
When going to a village that has not previously been visited, the Newports speak with the Chief first. If he is receptive, he will send a messenger to call the people together, or will call them together himself. The villagers usually are fascinated to see Bahin teaching, since it is traditionally a male role.
Continental Counsellors Isobel Sabri (far right, second row) and Oloro Epyeru (left end of front row, next to woman and child) met with the friends in Lubumbashi, Zaire, in January. The photograph was taken in front of the hotel where the Guardian stayed on a visit in the 1940s.
The teachings of the Faith that are most appealing to the villagers at first are the oneness of mankind and progressive revelation.
“When we mention the idea of equal education for everyone,” said Bahin, “it does not touch the villagers; they cannot feel what equality of education means. But when we talk about the unity of mankind, and say, ‘Here is a Persian working with an American working with a Zairian,’ they understand.”
The new believers are encouraged to build a local Bahá’í Center as soon as possible. They are encouraged to learn how to do things for themselves.
Such self-reliance is important, as John explained: “The most difficult part of pioneering here is deepening the new Local Spiritual Assemblies, because travel is so difficult in Zaire. The roads are bad, and are often impassable in the rainy season, which lasts for six months. Gasoline
Children meet for Bahá’í classes in the home of John and Bahin Newport in Lubumbashi, Zaire. Here the children share food from one pot.
Bahá’ís from Lubumbashi, Zaire, meet at the home of pioneers John and Bahin Newport to celebrate Riḍván.
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Some of the Bahá’ís of the villages of Tebulo and Kayeye, Zaire, meet at the Bahá’í Center in Tebulo. Bahin Newport, pioneer to Zaire, is in the front row on the right.
is rationed. I am able to buy it by the barrel, but many people have much difficulty in getting gasoline.
“We are the only Bahá’ís in the region who have a car, and there are no buses from city to city. You may ride in the back of a truck with goats and chickens and sacks of flour if you wish, however.”
The Bahá’ís are kept in contact through a regional newsletter, printed in Swahili. International events reported in Bahá’í News are shared.
“The friends are very excited when they see themselves in Bahá’í News,” said Bahin. “They are excited that it goes all over the world, and that Bahá’ís in the rest of the world are interested in reading about what they are doing. It makes them feel like a part of an international family.”
When the Newports visit the villages, John teaches adult classes and Bahin teaches children’s classes.
The children learn songs about the Faith, play games and memorize prayers. Bahin said, “After we leave, the children go throughout the village singing the songs they have learned, and explain the meaning of the words. This is a good proclamation for the Faith.”
In two villages, the children have built their own Bahá’í Centers.
At the National University of Zaire, where John teaches English, there is a Bahá’í campus club. Approximately 14 students there are Bahá’ís, and they teach among the other students.
The Newports said more pioneers and itinerant teachers are needed to deepen the new believers in Zaire.
Luxembourg
Hand of Cause sparks new teaching campaign[edit]
A new teaching project, “Vers la Victoire” (Toward Victory), resulted from a recent meeting of the Hand of the Cause Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir with the National Spiritual Assembly of Luxembourg.
The campaign, to last through the months of August and September, called for teaching in seven goal towns.
Three believers offered to serve fulltime on the project while many others offered part-time service.
While in Luxembourg Dr. Muhájir also attended the summer school, where 140 of the friends were gathered.
Switzerland
Participants at the Swiss Bahá’í Summer School in Aregno/Ticino from August 13-21 included longtime pioneer Doris Lohse, fifth from left in the front row.
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French Antilles
National Assembly plans major teaching project[edit]
The newly-formed National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the French Antilles is planning a major teaching project for the remainder of the Five Year Plan.
The project calls for a minimum of four full-time teachers. At present, one person has volunteered to spend at least one year teaching.
The National Assembly is in dire need of French-speaking teachers who can spend one month or more.
Anyone able to assist with the project should contact his own National Spiritual Assembly.
South West Africa
First South African woman Bahá’í dies[edit]
Dorothy Senne, the first African woman Bahá’í in South Africa, passed away in June.
She was buried at GaRankuwa on June 18 at a funeral attended by several dignitaries, including the Bophuthatswana minister of education and the mayor of GaRankuwa. More than 1,000 people paid their last respects.
The Universal House of Justice has asked that her biography and photograph be published in a future edition of The Bahá’í World.
United Kingdom
Proclamation a success in Orkney Islands[edit]
The Local Spiritual Assembly of the Orkney Islands, a part of the United Kingdom that lies north of Scotland, launched a proclamation project in September 1974 to bring the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to every resident of the 15 islands.
The project was completed in July of this year during the summer school held in Kirkwall when 2,000 pieces of literature and invitations to a Bahá’í meeting were mailed to residents of Kirkwall and St. Ola.
During the course of the project, a total of 8,000 pamphlets and invitations were distributed.
“In this manner,” reported the Orkney Spiritual Assembly, “we proclaimed the Faith in 15 islands, 14 districts, and two towns in Orkney.”
Nine persons responded to the invitations on each of the small islands of Wyre and Egilsay.
Also, the first of four goal islands was opened to the Faith in Orkney. In August, Margaret Rendall, a resident of Papa Westray, declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh after 20 years of sustained visits by the friends. She is the first Orcadian believer from one of the smaller islands, although there have been other Orcadian believers on the mainland of Orkney.
At the beginning of the Five Year Plan, the Local Assembly of Orkney was asked by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United Kingdom to adopt four goal islands. It chose Papa Westray (population 110), Eday (population 170), Wyre (population 33), and Egilsay (population 34).
Bahá’í children follow the Master’s footsteps[edit]
On May 29, the anniversary of the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, a Bahá’í children’s class from Cambridge, England, toured the places in London visited by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Australia
Three members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia met with 10 Auxiliary Board members in Australia during the summer. The three Counsellors are Howard Harwood, standing at extreme right; Thelma Perks, standing in front of Mr. Harwood; and Peter Khan, standing on the left in the dark suit.
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First stop for the busload of 53 children and adults was the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds where they saw the chair in which the Master sat during a visit to a local church in 1911.
The second stop was the home of Lady Blomfield where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed for a total of 69 days during two visits.
Ethel Rosenberg, the first woman in England to embrace the Faith, met with the group at 10 Cheniston Gardens. The building, formerly the Higher Thought Center, was visited twice by the Master.
After a picnic lunch at Hyde Park, the Bahá’ís walked to Serpentine Bridge where the Master also had walked.
They then visited St. John Smith Square Hall, which was known as St. John the Divine Church at the time of the Master’s visit there.
The guide at the church told stories of the Master, and took the group to the Deanery where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had dined with His host, Archdeacon Wilberforce.
Three more places were visited: the Mansion House, where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was received by the Lord Mayor; City Temple, the church where the Master gave His first talk in the western world; and the Mary Ward Center, formerly Passmore Edward’s Settlement Center, where He gave two talks.
The group ended its tour at Northern Cemetery, where the Guardian is buried. There they commemorated the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh with readings and prayers.
Malawi
The Hand of the Cause of God H. Collis Featherstone (left) visited several communities in Malawi in the autumn of 1976. Standing with him is Green Misokwe, Secretary of the National Teaching Committee of Malawi.
Shown here are some of the 36 students who attended a six-day Bahá’í school in Malawi. Seven Local Spiritual Assemblies cooperated to host the school, the first one ever planned by Local Assemblies in Malawi.
Spain
Proclamations lead to five declarations[edit]
Proclamations held during the first National Teaching Conference in Madrid, Spain, attracted 500 inquirers, five of whom declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.
The conference was attended by 150 believers and was covered by the press.
Counsellor Hooper Dunbar of the International Teaching Center was present at the conference.
Top UNESCO official receives Bahá’í book[edit]
The Secretary-General of UNESCO, Dr. Amadou Mahtar M’Bow, from Senegal, was presented with a book about the Faith on August 16 in Malaga, Spain.
Dr. M’Bow was visiting Malaga for the purpose of being presented with an honorary membership in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in San Telmo.
The Local Spiritual Assembly of Malaga obtained special and cordial permission from the president of the Royal Academy to present Dr. M’Bow with This Earth One Country, by John Huddleston.
The presentation was made by three Bahá’ís—Ignacio Blanco del Piñal, Juan Leyva Palma, and Virginia Orbison—in the presence of President don Baltasar Peña Hinajosa, the Bishop of Malaga, the civil and military governors of the province, and others.
Dr. M’Bow showed obvious delight upon receiving the book from the Bahá’ís.
The Bahá’ís were the only persons present not directly connected with the presentation of Dr. M’Bow’s honorary membership in the Royal Academy.
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Italy
12 declarations highlight annual summer school[edit]
A dozen declarations were reported at the Italian Bahá’í Summer School held September 3-11 at Giulianova.
Speakers included two members of the Continental Board of Counsellors: Aziz Yazdi of the International Teaching Center, and Adib Taherzadeh.
Announced at the school was the upcoming International Year of the Child (1979).
The children sang the theme song for Universal Children’s Day 1977 for the entire school. The song, “Flowers of the Garden,” was written by a Bahá’í, Jerald Day, and has been released by UNICEF to many organizations around the world.
The Italian Bahá’í Summer School was held September 3-11 in Giulianova, on the Adriatic Sea, across the Italian peninsula from Rome.
Canada
Thank you note reaps publicity dividends[edit]
A recent experience with a major Ontario newspaper brought startling confirmation to the Bahá’ís, who wrote a letter to their National Spiritual Assembly, an extract of which follows:
“As you may know, the (newspaper) has never put in any articles about Bahá’í although they always promise to. However, when World Religion Day was celebrated ... we did submit a very good article (which they didn’t print), but under the Church Briefs they did mention in about a dozen words that the celebration was taking place but did not mention the time or place.
“Our group decided to send them a thank you note for mentioning it. The results were great. The morning after the receipt of our note, I received a phone call from the assistant religion editor telling me that he had never received a thank you note from anyone, and he apologized for not printing the entire article. He told me that there were to be changes made in his department and that if the Bahá’ís had any articles to submit that they were to see him personally and he would see that the articles would get in.”
This story was a prelude to a piece of publicity for the Faith featuring a Bahá’í talk and including a prominent photograph of the speaker.
And as if that were not enough, the Bahá’ís have also been offered the free use of the newspaper’s new auditorium for future meetings.
Upper Volta
Teachers help prepare for national election[edit]
Preparations for the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Upper Volta at Riḍván 1977 were carried out with the help of a traveling team that visited five of the nine Local Spiritual Assemblies in the country.
The five Assemblies visited are in small villages and are composed of newly-enrolled believers who cannot read or write.
To assist these villages in playing their part in the Administrative Order, the team held meetings on the purpose of Bahá’í administration and related topics, all planned by the National Teaching Committee.
After a series of meetings, the same themes were developed and expanded at a weekend institute attended by Bahá’ís selected by their Local Assemblies.
At a workshop following the election, a mock National Convention was held. The friends were divided into groups, each representing a Bahá’í locality, and each “locality” elected two “delegates” to be sent to the simulated National Convention.
“The experience was rewarding,” the team reported, “as the first National Convention of Upper Volta began and ended in an atmosphere of brotherhood and spirituality, and was conducted in an orderly fashion. Five of the villagers who had attended the workshop were elected to the National Assembly.”
The knowledge gained from the meetings also proved helpful in the election of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Lai.
When coordinators who were to assist with the election were detained at another village, the Bahá’ís of Lai decided to proceed with the election on their own.
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When the coordinators arrived, they were delighted to find that the Assembly already had been formed, and that two women had been elected to serve on it.
Children receptive to Bahá’í classes[edit]
Mr. and Mrs. Mohsen Enayat, Bahá’ís from Canada who visited Upper Volta for five months recently, observed a great receptivity among children to Bahá’í classes.
They said, “Weekly classes for children are held in Nimbdi, a village near Ouagadougou, and other villages welcome classes whenever a Bahá’í visitor comes to meet with the community.”
Village children know a few prayers from memory, many Bahá’í songs, stories of the history of the Faith and some of the Bahá’í teachings.
The Enayats said many villagers “value the Bahá’í classes where their children are taught the knowledge of God and respect for the authority of parents, and where they are exhorted to uphold unity and cooperation, and are stimulated to take pride in their work.
“After classes, among themselves, the children repeat their lessons and help each other to understand.
“In Nab-Rabogo, while waiting for some friends to gather for the election of the Local Spiritual Assembly, the children offered to entertain those present. They recited prayers, told stories about the history of the Faith, then played instruments and sang songs with Bahá’í themes and danced for the adults. It was not long before the adults were fully involved in the program.
“It is impressive to see the absence of age barriers between children and adults in these villages. What is given to children finds its way to adults and is passed on to them in a more suitable and acceptable form than a visitor could devise. Many adults love to join in the children’s classes and meet the challenge of memorizing prayers or discovering the significance of the history of the Faith.
“Teaching children in the villages of Upper Volta could be the key to entry by troops there,” concluded the Enayats.
United States
‘Victory Sessions’ launch push toward winning Plan goals[edit]
Imbued with a new sense of purpose and inspired by the call to arms sounded by the National Spiritual Assembly, the “radiant spiritual Army” of Bahá’u’lláh in the United States gathered its far-flung legions the weekend of September 10-11 to launch a mighty push toward victory in the final months of the Five Year Plan.
The Victory Sessions of intensive study that weekend, proposed by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, endorsed by the National Spiritual Assembly, supported by the Continental Board of Counsellors and its Auxiliary Boards, and hosted by every Local Assembly in the U.S. were the prelude to a month-long series of firesides throughout the country from September 20-October 20 and a period of deepening and consolidation of victories that is to continue to November 12, the anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh.
The three-phase program marks the beginning of a Victory Campaign that is to last until Riḍván 1979 when the Five Year Plan reaches its conclusion. The objective of the campaign is no less than the attainment of every single goal outlined in the Plan.
Mr. Sears, who suggested the Victory Campaign in a letter last May to the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S., was himself an active participant in each of the Victory Sessions through a four-part cassette tape recording prepared especially for use at the historic gatherings.
These gatherings marked the first time such taped study classes ever were held simultaneously nationwide.
The Bahá’í National Center kept its switchboard open all weekend to receive reports of victories and pledges of service from Spiritual Assemblies, Groups and individuals throughout the country.
As of September 26, believers had pledged 20,642 firesides. A total of 5,239 postcards has been received with names of seekers and others for whom prayers were requested at the holiest House of Worship. One hundred-six believers volunteered to fill pioneering posts, and 121 of the friends volunteered to pioneer on the homefront.
The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, in Chicago for a ‘Victory Weekend’ session September 10, examines a box of 18 red roses he was to deliver to the friends in San Francisco on behalf of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Chicago.
Courage averts tragedy in Bosch school kidnap[edit]
The courage and composure displayed by 63 of the friends who were held captive by an armed man the evening of August 17 at the Bosch Bahá’í School in Northern California averted a potential tragedy while attracting favorable publicity to the Faith in news media throughout the country.
The gunman, 26-year-old Thomas B. Wilson, commandeered a city bus in nearby Santa Cruz and forced the driver to take him to the Bosch School where he ordered the friends to remain with him in a barricaded dining room.
More than five hours later, the ordeal ended when the last of the hostages—the gunman had by that time released all but five men—talked him into laying down his gun and surrendering to police.
While the man’s motive in holding the Bahá’ís hostage was not clear, it was learned that he had been a member of the Faith for about a year in 1973 before his membership was rescinded.
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The incident was front-page news in many papers and was mentioned on network radio and television with many of the articles and newscasts commenting on the quiet courage shown by the Bahá’ís under extreme duress.
Panama
Public speaking course helpful to 26 Bahá’ís[edit]
Twenty-six Bahá’ís enrolled in a recent Bahá’í public speaking and human relations course that was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Panama City, Panama, and held at the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. Nine communities were represented.
The 10 students who graduated from the 14-week course gave talks at its completion, telling what they had gained by taking it.
One student credited the course for a promotion he received at work. Others said they had learned to make friends more readily. Some said they were able to stop worrying as much and enjoy life more. For several students, the ability to remember names, addresses and telephone numbers vastly improved with the course.
Textbooks on public speaking and human relations were used in the course, and extensive references were made to the Writings.
Students gave two short talks at each meeting. The topics were selected from a list of 42 Bahá’í themes. This encouraged the students to learn to speak about the Faith.
Many spoke about the importance of teaching the Faith and will possibly repeat the talks in their home communities and in goal areas.
The students were trained to chair meetings and to use a microphone. They are prepared to read at the devotional services at the House of Worship in Panama and to read for radio programs. All are determined to use their new abilities to teach the Faith and give public talks.
Hemispheric radio-TV conference in December[edit]
A Hemispheric Radio and Television Conference will be sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Republic of Panama on December 22-27.
This conference is for Bahá’ís throughout the Western hemisphere who are working with radio and television projects.
Demonstration sessions and workshops will be held on the development of the use of mass communication, production, scripts, techniques, music, the development of television programs, programs for indigenous peoples, and more.
Speakers will include Raúl Pavón, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in South America.
Portugal
‘Victory Plan 134’ off to flying start[edit]
Since the launching of “Victory Plan 134 B.E.” in Portugal, six of 11 goal towns have seen the formation of Local Spiritual Assemblies, and 150 people have entered the Faith.
The objective of the plan is to win the Five Year Plan goals by Riḍván 1978.
To make this possible, three full-time teaching teams have been traveling throughout Portugal since July.
Their main concentration has been in the 11 goal towns destined to have Local Spiritual Assemblies by the end of the Five Year Plan. Special attention is given to consolidating new believers — consolidation going hand-in-hand with teaching.
One of the six goal towns where a new Assembly has been formed is Santarêm. Twenty residents there have become Bahá’ís. They have held their first Nineteen Day Feast, and attend regular deepening classes.
In coming months, the National Teaching Committee will hold deepening institutes for those who have been traveling in Portugal to teach the Faith. The teachers will exchange deepening and teaching ideas, and will be prepared to hold local institutes in the goal towns.
The first Nineteen Day Feast to be held in Santarêm, Portugal, was that of Asmá’ B.E. 134. Some of the friends who were present are shown here.
Mauritius
National Assembly member notes progress[edit]
Roddy Lutchmaya, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Mauritius, visited the Most Holy House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, on September 20.
He was in the United States from August 30 until the end of September to tour its prison system, of interest to him in his capacity as commissioner of the prison system in Mauritius.
While in Wilmette, he shared information about the progress of the Faith in his home community.
He said the friends in Mauritius are in the process of building two Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, one in the northern half of the island and one in the southern half. The two Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds will serve as regional centers for the Faith. Thirteen local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds are also to be built before the end of the Five Year Plan.
Mr. Lutchmaya said, “Ten to 15 localities remain to be opened; it won’t be difficult to accomplish that goal.” Once these localities are opened, every locality in Mauritius will have at least one believer.
The Mauritian believers are accomplishing their teaching goals through firesides and weekend teaching trips to unopened areas.
Mauritius has 58 Local Spiritual Assemblies, with 37 remaining to be formed by the end of the Five Year Plan.
A plan for the consolidation of newly-formed Local Assemblies is being made
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jointly by the National Spiritual Assembly and Continental Board of Counsellors.
The National Assembly has appointed a National Children’s Committee, a National Women’s Committee, and a National Youth Committee, so that special attention can be paid to the needs of these friends.
Bahá’í women’s clubs have been established in Mauritius. The women meet to study the Writings and pray, as well as to cook and sew.
The Faith was established in Mauritius in 1953, the Centenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s banishment from Persia to Baghdád, Iraq. The country was opened by an American Bahá’í pioneer named Ottilie Rhein.
When the National Assembly of the Indian Ocean, which included Mauritius, was formed in 1967, Roddy Lutchmaya was elected to serve.
He served on that National Assembly until 1972, when the National Assembly of Mauritius was formed. He has served on the newer National Assembly since its inception.
Mauritius was the site of the first of eight Oceanic and Continental Conferences called for by the Universal House of Justice at Riḍván 1969.
More than 1,000 friends gathered in Rose Hill, Mauritius, August 14-17, 1970, for that conference. The Hands of the Cause Jalál Kházeh, Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir, and William Sears attended as well.
During the conference, the Faith received wide media coverage, on a scale it has not received since in Mauritius.
Mr. Lutchmaya said that should any Bahá’í wish to pioneer to Mauritius, it would probably be necessary to invest in a business even to be permitted entry by the government.
South Africa
85 believers present at National Convention[edit]
The National Convention of the Bahá’ís of South and West Africa was held at Umgababa on the Natal south coast.
Among the 85 believers present were four Auxiliary Board members and members of the National Spiritual Assembly.
The Continental Board of Counsellors was represented by Mrs. Michael Sears, a recently-appointed Auxiliary Board member.
Mrs. Sears read the message to the Convention from the Counsellors in four languages: Afrikaans, Tswana, Xhosa, and English. The friends showed their approval with prolonged applause.
Eighty-three of the 95 delegates cast votes for the National Spiritual Assembly. Those elected are Rose Gates, Lowell Johnson, Cornelius Khunou, Stanlake Kukama, Elise Liknaitzky, Robert Mazibuko, Michael Sears, Max Seepe, and Michael Walker.
The annual report showed that seven communities had doubled their Fund contributions over the previous year.
United Nations
‘Year of Child’ offers teaching opportunities[edit]
Bahá’ís can welcome the broad, universal outlook that UNICEF is giving to the International Year of the Child (1979), the Bahá’í International Community reports in its August newsletter.
Johan Grun, director of the International Year of the Child Secretariat, says this is the year that “we can all open our hearts and minds to the child to develop his full potential.”
The newsletter continues, “While Bahá’ís can support wholeheartedly the emphasis being laid during the year on the physical, emotional, and mental needs of all children, the distinct contribution to be made by Bahá’í communities during the International Year of the Child will be in the area of moral and spiritual education, based on the Teachings of God’s new Manifestation, Bahá’u’lláh, and centered on the principle of the oneness of mankind.”
UNICEF calendar now available[edit]
The Bahá’í International Community, which has been affiliated with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) since March 1976, announces that the 1978 UNICEF wall calendar, which features drawings done by children around the world, is available.
As in past years, several Bahá’í Holy Days are listed. This year, for the first time, the Birthday of the Báb is featured in the supplementary section, “Holidays of Special Interest.”
Check with your National Spiritual Assembly for information on how to order the calendar.
Cameroon Republic
Mobile van helps educate villages[edit]
A van equipped with a library, audiovisual materials, and community deepening materials has proved to be an effective way of educating new Bahá’ís in the villages of Cameroon.
The Mobile Institute, as it is called (see Bahá’í News, December 1976), aims “primarily to encourage the friends to properly re-elect their Local Spiritual Assemblies on April 21; in addition, the Five Year Plan goals of early morning prayers, children’s classes, building Bahá’í Centers, and starting Bahá’í-owned farms are stressed,” reports the National Spiritual Assembly.
During a three-month period in the spring of 1977, the Mobile Institute visited 37 localities in the Manyu Division of Cameroon and helped to form eight Local Spiritual Assemblies. On return visits, officers of the Assemblies were elected.
Teachers with the Mobile Institute hold firesides, show filmstrips, and, in some communities, present gifts of Bahá’í books.
Eighteen Bahá’ís traveled with the Institute, some for as long as four weeks. At one time, believers from some new localities accompanied the Institute to other areas.
“This seems to be an effective method of deepening Bahá’ís in nearby communities and encouraging the new believers to start their own teaching projects,” the National Assembly affirms.
Sweden
200 friends attend annual summer school[edit]
The Scandinavian Bahá’í Summer School, which was held in July in Stockholm, Sweden, was attended by 200 friends from seven countries. Speakers included the Hands of the Cause Ugo Giachery and Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir, and Continental Counsellor Betty Reed.
