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Bahá’í News

February 1978

Bahá’í Year 134

Hemispheric Bahá’í Radio-Television Conference

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REJOICE ANNOUNCE INITIATION FULL TIME BROADCASTING FIRST RADIO STATION BAHÁ’Í WORLD DECEMBER 12 IN OTAVALO, ECUADOR. HAIL VISION LABORS ASSEMBLY COMMUNITY ECUADOR IN ACHIEVING THIS MILESTONE BAHÁ’Í PROCLAMATION TEACHING DEEPENING. OFFERING PRAYERS SACRED THRESHOLD BAHÁ’Í RADIO ECUADOR WILL FULFILL ITS PROMISE AS LANDMARK CAUSE AND SERVICE PROGRESS PEOPLES LATIN AMERICA. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE December 15, 1977 EXTEND WARM GREETINGS ATTENDANTS HEMISPHERIC RADIO TELEVISION CONFERENCE. GREAT OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED THOSE BAHÁ’ÍS TRAINED USE POWERS RADIO TELEVISION REACH HEARTS, MINDS NUMBERLESS PERSONS AWAITING COMING KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH. MAY VOICE CAUSE BE RAISED BEFORE MILLIONS PROCLAIMING MESSAGE BAHÁ’U’LLÁH THROUGHOUT HEMISPHERE. SHARING OF TALENTS, RESOURCES, ZEAL WILL ASSUREDLY BRING GREAT CONFIRMATIONS. ASSURE LOVING PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES SUCCESS YOUR IMPORTANT DELIBERATIONS. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE December 15, 1977 JOYOUSLY ANNOUNCE 125 PARTICIPANTS 24 NSA’S 6 INDIGENOUS TRIBES REPRESENTED. COUNSELLORS PAVÓN AND OSBORNE 5 AUXILIARY BOARD MEMBERS SPIRIT FELLOWSHIP, LOVE. TWENTY-TWO PEOPLE OFFER HELP BAHÁ’Í RADIO ECUADOR. $626.04 DONATED SUPPORT CIRBAL. MASS TEACHING MANY NEW BAHÁ’ÍS. RECEIVED WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY. CONFERENCE INSPIRED INDIGENOUS PROGRAMS DEVELOPMENT MUSIC USE OF TV. SUPPLICATE FERVENT PRAYERS HOLY PLACES SUCCESS RADIO TV PLANS. BAHÁ’Í HEMISPHERIC RADIO-TV CONFERENCE December 26, 1977

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Contents

Bahá’í Radio-TV Conference in Panama
Delegates from 24 countries discuss Bahá’í media use	2
Asian Women’s Conference in New Delhi, India
Blessed by presence of Hand of the Cause Rúḥíyyih Khánum	6
A teaching trip to Mornington Island
Aborigines are set afire by the Message of Bahá’u’lláh	10
Around the world
News from Bahá’í communities in every corner of the globe	14

Cover

The last few years have witnessed a remarkable expansion of the Faith throughout Latin America, and one of the principal reasons for this is the widespread and effective use of radio and television as teaching and proclamation vehicles. The sharing of new ideas in media usage and the coordination of future efforts were the principal topics of an historic Western Hemispheric Bahá’í Radio and Television Conference near Panama City, Panama, in December. The conference followed closely the announcement that the first Bahá’í-owned and operated radio station in the world, Bahá’í Radio in Otavalo, Ecuador, had begun regular broadcasting.

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 ©1978, 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.

[Page 2] The House of Worship is visible from the Lions Club camp at Las Cumbres, Panama, where in December delegates from 24 National Spiritual Assemblies attended the second Western Hemispheric Bahá’í Media Conference ever held.

Hemispheric Bahá’í Radio-TV Conference

Delegates from 24 countries assemble in Panama to discuss new techniques for using media to spread Bahá’í Message

One hundred twenty-five delegates representing 24 National Spiritual Assemblies met in Panama City, Panama, December 22-27 for a Hemispheric Bahá’í Radio and Television Conference, only the second of its kind ever held.

The delegates, who ranged in professional experience from self-taught to a former U.S. network news producer, exchanged ideas about program design, production techniques, scriptwriting, the use of music in broadcasting, and other aspects of radio and television usage.

A highlight of the conference was a documentary film about the first Bahá’í radio station in the world, Bahá’í Radio in Otavalo, Ecuador.

The use of mass media by Bahá’ís, growing rapidly throughout Latin America, bears out the statement made by Nathan Rutstein, an Auxiliary Board member attending the conference from the U.S., that “The use of media in Latin America is so active and so widespread that it will set the pace for the rest of the Bahá’í world.”

The “pace” referred to was exemplified by reports at the conference that:

• A television station in Peru broadcast The Green Light Expedition, complete with promotions, in a prime time slot on a Sunday.
• Costa Rican Bahá’ís own a studio where weekly Bahá’í programs are produced.
• Bolivians consider their 15-minute daily radio broadcast a necessary adjunct to itinerant teaching. In fact, traveling teachers recently met a man who was ready to become a Bahá’í, having been taught the Faith via radio. Bolivians have a 240-hour backlog of programs.
• The Bahá’ís of Paraguay estimate that less than one per cent of the population knew about the Faith prior to radio programs that are now broadcast in six cities.
• In Colombia, pioneer Anne Miller coached indigenous believers to announce radio spots in their own languages.
• Colombia, Jamaica and Peru have regular Bahá’í radio programs.

[Page 3] Robert Porter, American pioneer to Guatemala, professionally a music arranger and choral director, gives the participants at the media conference tips on the use of music in programming.

Delegates from 24 countries at the Hemispheric Bahá’í Radio and Television Conference gather for a group photo in front of the Panama House of Worship.

Continental Counsellor Raúl Pavón, from Ecuador, talks about delivering the Bahá’í Message via radio.

Spanish-speaking believers attend a scriptwriting workshop. Two indigenous believers from the San Blas Islands are seated on the left, facing the camera.

During consultation it was learned that while Latin Americans feel free to broadcast that Bahá’u’lláh is the Manifestation of God for this Day, Canadians have found that the indirect approach works best in their country.

In five cities, including Toronto, the Canadians broadcast Bahá’í world and national news for 10 minutes five nights a week. Another five minutes each night is spent telling viewers how to produce their own programs.

With a wide base of activity to work from, the delegates were able to formulate new media plans.

Perhaps the most far-reaching involves CIRBAL (Center for Bahá’í Radio Interchange of Latin America), a media collection center for the Americas in El Salvador. CIRBAL was created nearly three years ago at a Bahá’í Caribbean area media conference in Puerto Rico. It is a unit of the audio-visual department at the World Center.

CIRBAL collects mostly Spanish-language radio and television programs — but also some in French and English — as they are produced by individual National Spiritual Assemblies and makes them available to other countries.

The delegates at the conference felt the time has come for three-year-old CIRBAL to take on the production of programs as well. They plan to ask the Universal House of Justice to consider expanding the support and staff of CIRBAL. The delegates themselves contributed $600 toward its continued operation.

CIRBAL also is involved in a second media plan that sprang from the conference. Barbara Joyce, a pioneer to St. Martin in the Leeward Islands, volunteered to make a series of Spanish-language television programs, the topics and coordination of which will be handled by CIRBAL.

The delegates decided to send to CIRBAL information about television production in their home countries.

The Hemispheric Bahá’í Radio and Television Conference committee presented a gift to each delegation. Here, the delegates from Trinidad receive a photograph of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Panama from conference committee member Carrietta Kelly as conference committee members Shirin Boroumand and Barbara Wisman look on.

[Page 4] One of the highlights of the Hemispheric Conference was a discussion of Bahá’í Radio in Ecuador by (left to right) Anne Miller, a pioneer from the U.S. who now lives in Colombia; Raúl Pavón, Continental Counsellor from Ecuador; Alfonso Tolcanazo, who announces programs in the Quechua language on Bahá’í Radio, and Rodrigo Quintero, another of Bahá’í Radio’s announcers.

Hemispheric Conference participants Iraj Pakravan, pioneer to Paraguay, and Shareh Boroumand, pioneer to Panama, attended devotions with the other delegates at the House of Worship on Sunday morning.

A Bahá’í who has access to a studio pledged to produce television programs in Venezuela.

A system will be devised to allow media professionals and educators to assist Bahá’í Radio in Ecuador to develop its listening center-tutorial school programming.

The Continental Board of Counsellors is to arrange a series of regional conferences, to be held during the coming year, on the use of music in the media.

The delegates, meanwhile, plan to produce and share with one another pre-packaged opening and closing themes and other musical elements of programs. They plan to produce more music about the Faith.

The conference that gave birth to these plans was itself planned and hosted by the National Spiritual Assembly of Panama through its Hemispheric Bahá’í Radio and Television Conference Committee.

The guest of honor at the conference was Continental Counsellor Raúl Pavón from Ecuador, who has labored valiantly to make Bahá’í Radio a reality.

Continental Counsellor Alfred Osborne of Panama and five Auxiliary Board members also were present.

Conference sessions were held at a camp operated by the Lions Club at Las Cumbres, about a mile from the Bahá’í House of Worship.

Following a unity feast Thursday and dawn prayers at the House of Worship on Friday, Mr. Pavón opened the conference by discussing the relationship of the media to teaching the masses. He reminded the audience of the Master’s statement that all forces are created for the diffusion of the Covenant.

Michael Stokes, a representative from the U.S., talked about setting objectives for programming based on desired results.

Fernando Schianterelli, an Auxiliary Board member and producer with the government radio and television services in Peru, discussed production techniques and how to direct programs.

Stan Phillips, representative from Canada, emphasized the necessity of working with the institutions of the Faith to ascertain that materials are properly reviewed and edited.

Mr. Rutstein’s topic was “Sensitivity in Mass Communication.”

A local Bahá’í youth is greeted by Continental Counsellor Alfred Osborne from Panama at a unity feast for the media conference participants and the Panamanian friends.

[Page 5] Fernando Schianterelli, a producer with the Peruvian radio and television services, reviews the elements of directing a program.

Auxiliary Board member Nathan Rutstein, from the U.S., discusses radio and television programming with a Venezuelan participant at the Hemispheric Conference.

Alfonso Tulcanazo, an Otavaleño Indian, accepts on behalf of the Ecuadorian delegation the conference committee’s gift of a photograph of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Panama.

He said television exaggerates the character and emotions of its subjects, and can be a powerful medium for a sincere Bahá’í teacher.

Mr. Rutstein cautioned against “dragging the attitude of the old world order into our Bahá’í programs. The dignity of the Faith must be upheld, and love and unity communicated.”

Other speakers at the conference included Robert Porter (Guatemala), Lillian Fraser (Trinidad), Susan Leich (El Salvador), Marvin Dreyer (El Salvador), Alex Frame (Canada), Fred Berest (Panama), James Theroux (U.S.), Kamram Mansuri (Ecuador), Dean Stephens (Puerto Rico), and Nahmy Zohoori (Jamaica).

Two awards were presented on Sunday evening. The John Stearns Award, named for a pioneer who broadcast Bahá’í programs in the 1940’s on Radio Via in Ecuador, was given to the Bahá’ís of Ecuador for establishing Bahá’í Radio. The award was fashioned from a piece of the aluminum antenna from the new station in Otavalo, with “John Stearns Award” inscribed on it. The other half of the aluminum piece is in the international archives in Haifa.

Barbara Joyce received the second award for developing 15-minute Bahá’í television shows that are seen from St. Martin to Samoa.

The days immediately preceding and following the conference were devoted to teaching in Panama City. Eighteen believers taught the Faith in a new housing project. Others taught in a barrio where a dozen people accepted the Faith.

Articles about the conference were carried in two daily and one weekly newspaper, and were broadcast on two radio stations and one television station. Eight stations carried spots and news flashes about the conference for nearly two weeks before it began.

One person declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh at a public meeting held on the final evening of the conference.

It was announced that the next Hemispheric Bahá’í Radio and Television Conference would be longer to devote more time to television production, but not less to radio programs. The time and place of the conference will be announced later.

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Historic Gathering at New Delhi

More than 1,000 Bahá’í women from all over Asia, with observers and speakers from Europe and America, gathered at Vigyan Bhavan Auditorium in New Delhi, India, October 13-16 for the Asian Bahá’í Women’s Conference.

The presence of the Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum as the most distinguished guest and principal speaker for the event was a source of great joy and happiness for the believers. Rúḥíyyih Khánum shared with the gathering a cablegram, sent in December 1930 by Shoghi Effendi to the first Asian Women’s Conference:

“Convey to Indian Asian Women’s Conference behalf Greatest Holy Leaf and myself expression our genuine profound interest in their deliberations. May Almighty guide bless their high endeavour.”

The significance of the 1977 conference was expressed in a message sent by the Universal House of Justice:

“With utmost joy hail Bahá’í Women’s Conference graced presence Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum as another major step in Asia leading to full recognition noble station fulfilment their great potentialities their significant role promotion Cause immense responsibilities they are called upon to discharge in cooperation with their brethren in building new civilization sheltering all mankind. Ardently praying Sacred Threshold this gathering may become landmark progress Faith Asia strengthen wing humanity so tenderly encouraged Blessed Beauty enable communities soar heights glorious victories.”

The conference was inaugurated in a brief address by D. R. Kohli,

[Page 7] Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, assisted by architect Faríburz Ṣahbá, lays the cornerstone of the Mother Temple of the Indian subcontinent. The ceremony on October 17 took place immediately following the close of the Asian Bahá’í Women’s Conference. Inauguration of construction of the House of Worship is one of the goals of the Five Year Plan in India.

the lieutenant governor of Delhi, who pointed out that the gathering had “added prestige” to the city.

Then the principal non-Bahá’í guest speaker, Shanti Bhushan, India’s minister of Law, Justice, and Company Affairs, addressed the gathering. He spoke of his great happiness in appearing at “probably the first women’s conference of its kind taking place in India.” He recalled a visit he made to the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, in 1972:

“I can still vividly recall the overpowering feeling of peace and equanimity which overwhelmed me in the sublime precincts of the Temple. For a moment, I felt that all the problems and worries of the day-to-day material world which descend upon man had suddenly dissolved. It was a deeply moving experience. This unique and unforgettable experience has left a niche in my heart for the Bahá’í Faith, and that is why I welcome this opportunity to reassociate myself with this movement.”

Television, radio, and the press covered the inauguration of the conference, and generated such widespread publicity that inquiries were received from many quarters, including prominent women of India and writers.

Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, in her first appearance before the gathering, set the stage for the entire conference: “The purpose of this conference is to release an impetus throughout Asia amongst Bahá’í women.... The human race is composed of two component parts, but they are exactly the same. There are different characteristics and functions, but men and women are the same.”

She then pointed out that the Bahá’ís should realize that the

[Page 8] the world is in “a state of emergency.” There is a great crisis in human history, she explained, and a special reaction is necessary on the part of the Bahá’ís. As much as it is necessary to understand the Teachings better, to understand and take part in the Administration of the Faith, it is even more important for the Bahá’ís to arise and distinguish themselves in teaching. And for this, men should assist their women. If they do not, it is going to be doubly difficult for women — particularly in India, where harmony within the home is a great, sacred, and precious tradition.

Men should actively encourage and assist their women to arise and serve the Faith, Rúḥíyyih Khánum pointed out. “One of the failings of men in Asia and Africa is that they do not teach the Faith to their wives, mothers, and sisters,” she said.

Then, in further sessions of the conference, Rúḥíyyih Khánum and the other speakers further developed the same theme. Some of the points she made included:

• The primary purpose of education is to draw the soul of man nearer to his Creator. Obviously the world needs doctors, engineers, farmers, etc. But if education is going to take one away from service to mankind and to Bahá’u’lláh, it is not what Bahá’u’lláh meant by education. These values are directly related to women, who are the first educators of mankind.

• From the beginning, children are able to receive impressions, and the younger the child, the more impressionable. Therefore, children must be taught and lovingly encouraged to pray. They need discipline, as well. Parents must avoid building into the child weaknesses that will become weaknesses when they are adults. Bahá’í parents should pay more attention to the precious trusts given them by God; there is no reason why any child should not grow up to be a good Bahá’í.

• Deepening is a simple process; it takes place all the time. One way to deepen is to teach, and that is why Bahá’u’lláh admonishes us to teach His Faith. “If you want to deepen yourself, teach. You will be astonished at the knowledge and understanding you receive. Go out and teach—and you will learn.”

The other speakers at the conference, all of whom addressed themselves to the role of women in every aspect of Bahá’í life, included Mrs. Shirin Boman and Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, both members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for South Central Asia; Dr. Edrice Rice-Wray of Mexico; Dr. Rezwan Mohregi and Dr. Mehri Afnan of Irán; Dr. Tahira Vajdi of India; Dr. Penny Walker of Nepal; Mrs. Meherangiz Munsiff of the United Kingdom; and Mrs. Shirin Fozdar of Singapore. A well-attended public meeting during the conference was addressed by Miss Jyoti Munsiff of the United Kingdom.

The closing session of the conference was a question-and-answer session by Rúḥíyyih Khánum, followed by a slide presentation by Faríburz Ṣahbá, the architect for the Mother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent, the cornerstone of which was laid following the conference.

Representatives from various countries share the platform with Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum during the Asian Bahá’í Women’s Conference at New Delhi, India. Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, a Continental Counsellor for South Central Asia, is at the right.

[Page 9] Before the conference opened, and while it was in progress, Rúḥíyyih Khánum met with five ministers of the government of India. “All meetings were most effective in strengthening cordial and personal relationships with these high dignitaries,” the National Assembly reported. Each was presented a copy of The Bahá’í World and All Things Made New. The ministers were Dr. P.C. Chunder, minister of education; Jagjivan Ram, minister of defense; Madhu Dandawate, minister of railways; Charan Singh, minister of home affairs; and H.M. Patel, minister of finance.

The conference received wide coverage in the news media in India. Interviews appeared in many publications, and press clippings received at the National Center came from as far away as Gauhati (Assam) and Kerala, where at least 12 newspapers carried accounts. All-India Radio of Delhi broadcast the news in Malayalam, the language of Kerala, on October 16. A leading daily newspaper carried an account of Mr. Bhushan’s speech on the front page.

The inauguration also was covered by United Press International for foreign distribution, and All-India Radio covered both the opening and conclusion of the conference in both domestic and foreign broadcasts.

Before the conference opened, teams of Bahá’í women spent two weeks calling on prominent women of Delhi, informing them of the mission of the Faith and of the purpose of the conference. Many were invited to attend some of the sessions, and several responded to the invitations.

Many of the participants at the conference traveled to other parts of the country in a post-conference teaching plan, which included a teaching conference at Gwalior and proclamation events in Lucknow and Chandigarh.

In Lucknow, particularly, there was an intense interest on the part of local civic bodies in the women’s delegation that traveled there, and a heavy schedule of speeches and receptions took place, most of them reported over the Lucknow station of All-India Radio.

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Burma also benefitted from the teaching visits of persons who had attended the conference.

Among the guests at the inauguration of the Asian Bahá’í Women’s Conference was Shanti Bhushan, Indian minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs.

Top photo: A banner announces to one and all the opening of the Asian Bahá’í Women’s Conference. Above: Delegates and others at the conference mingle in front of India’s national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds at New Delhi. Below: Colorful costumes were very much a part of the scene at the Asian Bahá’í Women’s Conference.

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Mornington Island

An exciting first-person narrative of a memorable teaching trip among the Australian Aborigines

Reported by Mrs. Mahvash Master

Tuesday, August 23, 1977

Echo Hotel Charlie — that was the name of our small Cessna airplane. Despite many problems, we were finally airborne and on our way to Mornington Island.

Four years had passed since I first met Larry and Fanny Lanley and their children at a supermarket in Melbourne. I couldn’t keep my eyes off this beautiful full-blooded Aboriginal family.

Straightaway I had approached them, told them I was a Bahá’í and invited them to a social gathering we were having that night. I hadn’t told them much because I had wanted them to see for themselves what Bahá’í is all about when they met the other friends.

It took them only one day and they all declared. While they were in Melbourne they were looked after quite well and felt the love of the Bahá’ís very much.

After one year, the Lanley family left Melbourne for Mornington Island, which is about 3,000 miles from Melbourne, right at the top of Australia in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Since then I had been invited several times to go and meet the people on that island. The first year that I wanted to go, I had an auto accident and was hospitalized. The second year my son broke his hand, and the third year I had no money. The fourth year Francis (Fanny) and Larry, along with 90 other Aborigines, were taken to Frazer Island to make some films.

The only time I could go to Mornington, therefore, was during the school holidays. For two weeks it seemed that again I wasn’t going to make it.

I could not understand the wisdom behind the unsuccessful attempts to go to Mornington Island, but now I can see clearly that the wisdom was that recently Larry had become the Chairman and Counselor of the island, and it is now easy to acquire permission to visit this Reserve. As you know, some areas of Australia are Aboriginal Reserves, which means that outsiders must ask permission from the Chairman before entering.

The other wisdom I see is that people respect their Chairman very much, and of course, his being a Bahá’í will help us to teach.

Originally, Sue Hiscock and I were planning to take a commercial flight to Mornington Island, but with the help of Aaron and Noela Blomely we chartered a small aircraft.

As usual, we faced a lot of problems and tests. First, we hadn’t enough people who wanted to come with us; later, we had too many.

And speaking of tests and difficulties, I was terribly frightened of the little plane. I remembered that my husband had asked me some time ago whether I would fly in a small plane with him to look at some agricultural fields, and my answer was: “In no way will you get me, even for five minutes, in a small plane!”

Now I was embarking on a 36-hour journey in one. I asked Bahá’u’lláh to give me some courage, and as He promises that when we teach we get courage, I felt the fear leave me. And then I thought even if something did happen, what better thing to be doing than the most meritorious of all deeds, teaching the Faith.

Ted Von Nida, our pilot, who is not a Bahá’í, suggested that we go to Sydney to meet with a Bahá’í teaching group that previously had gone to Mornington Island so as to get some advice and ideas from them. We are the third group that has traveled to the island this year. The first group was the Blomely family, the second the group of Eric Kingston, John Dunn and Allan Waters.

[Page 11] We met with members of the second group, and they told us that the people on the island are very spiritual; many had asked as the group was leaving the island if they could join the Faith. They were told to consider themselves Bahá’ís until the next group came.

Allan was most impressed by the Lanleys’ 7-year-old daughter, Rubina. Speaking of Rubina, I remember that when the Lanleys were in Melbourne we would pick them up every Sunday for the children’s classes. One day as I arrived, Rubina ran into my arms, calling out, “Auntie Mahvash, the Presbyterian minister is here, and wants to take us to the Christian Sunday classes. I told him I was a Bahá’í and that I don’t want to go!”

I calmed her down and explained that there was no harm in going to the Christian children’s classes, but promised her that from the next Sunday onward I would be picking her up much earlier than the minister so that he wouldn’t be hurt when he came to pick them up. I was pleased to hear from Allan that Rubina had been teaching the children on Mornington Island Bahá’í songs even though she hadn’t seen us for four years.

I recalled another incident involving the Lanleys’ eldest son, Philip, while he was in Melbourne.

Philip was away from his family and wasn’t happy where he was living. After consultation, I found a job for him and took him to Port Melbourne to stay with the Robinson family, Bahá’ís who were living there.

To my surprise, that very day Ken Robinson phoned and told me that three people, Philip’s previous landlady, his boss, and the minister of the Presbyterian church had gone to the Robinsons’ house and taken Philip back to his former home. They said he was a Presbyterian and should not stay in a Bahá’í home.

The next day I went to the landlady and asked her to ask Philip to tell them what he was. With great courage, Philip told them he no longer was a Presbyterian, he was a Bahá’í, and this helped him to get out of his old environment.

At the moment there are three Bahá’ís on Mornington Island, Mr. and Mrs. Lanley and Anna Chong, whose husband is of Christian background.

Wednesday, August 24.

An all-day flight to Mornington Island.

Thursday, August 25.

Today at about 5 p.m. we arrived at Mornington, one day later than anticipated. I had wanted to send a cable saying we would be late, but the pilot said the people on Mornington Island are used to delays.

Fanny and Larry heard the plane coming, but were apprehensive as to whether we would be on it or not. You should have seen their faces, how happy they became as they recognized us.

Fanny told me that an hour before she had sent a cable to Melbourne saying, “What happened to you?” She said that as they had been expecting us on Wednesday, they had all had nice clothes on and bunches of flowers waiting for us. It really broke my heart that I hadn’t cabled as I had wanted to.

Nevertheless, she and the others were very pleased to see us. Fanny said that we must all hold hands and walk through the town together so that people would see us. Fanny was introducing me as the friend she had been receiving letters from and had been talking to them about. Here I realized how important it is to write letters to the islanders even if we can’t get there, as this is a good way of deepening believers. In each letter, I had written a quotation from the Writings so they would not forget the Faith.

Friday, August 26.

The first step we took today — of course, after prayers — was to meet with the Manager of the island, a white man named Roger Pettit. He is sent to the island by the government, but is nominated by the Presbyterian Church. After talking with him for half an hour we felt that he became interested, and he asked for books.

Later, Fanny took us to different tents to meet her friends. Speaking of tents, I should mention that since last year, and the very heavy cyclone they had on Mornington Island in which most of the people lost their homes and nearly everything else they owned, the people have been living in tents furnished by the government. The government has promised to build them new homes soon.

It was quite exciting to see what a great teacher Fanny is, as she told her people about the Faith. We would first start with some prayers, and we could feel that they enjoyed them very much. Then we would tell them that we did not bring any material possessions for them, we had instead brought them the happy news that Bahá’u’lláh is the Return of Christ and it is only through His Teachings that world unity can be achieved.

In the afternoon we met with the minister. He asked us who the Bahá’ís on the island were. He is from New Guinea, and although he himself is dark, he is not communicating much with the Aborigines but is always with the white people. He told us he had been angry when learning the other Bahá’í groups had been on the island during his absence. I remembered how Allan Waters had told us he was asked to conduct the service for National Aborigines Day, as the Aboriginal minister was away.

The minister said to us, “You Bahá’ís should have asked me before coming to the island because you are bringing a (religious) message.”

I told him I had promised not to build another church on the island with a Bahá’í priest in it to compete with him, as we do not have any missionaries. He said that in meeting with the elders of the town he felt they were very unhappy that Bahá’ís are on that island. We read a prayer to him and gave him a book (All Things Made New).

Allan Waters (right), whose team of three Bahá’í teachers made an earlier trip to Mornington Island, strolls with members of the Lanley family.

[Page 12] John Dunn with some of the lovely Aboriginal children of Mornington Island. John, Allan Waters, and Eric Kingston made up the second group of Bahá’í teachers to visit the island last summer.

Members of the Bahá’í teaching team that visited Mornington Island in August are shown with some of the first of those on the island to accept Bahá’u’lláh. In the back row are team members Mahvash Master (fourth from left) and Sue Hiscock (sixth from left). Standing between them is Mrs. Fanny Lanley who accepted the Faith with her husband four years ago in Melbourne. Team member Faruk Sasegar is kneeling in front.

Not long afterward we went to see some friends of Fanny’s. The whole lot of them accepted Bahá’u’lláh, most of them being youth between 18 and 25 years old. We asked them to take us to the elders to find out how much they knew about the Faith and whether they were concerned about our being on the island. The first elder, named Prince, was a nice and friendly man who had met with the previous group. When I asked him to read a Bahá’í prayer, he happily accepted. I chanted a prayer in Persian, and Sam, a member of our group who is Tongan, said a prayer in Tongan. Incidentally, the other members of the group were Sue Hiscock, from New Zealand, and Faruk Sasegar, from Persia.

We asked Prince whether they had discussed, at their last meeting, any unhappiness with the Bahá’ís. We said we did not wish to cause any trouble. He said he could not remember such a discussion.

We gave him a prayer book. He was quite pleased and asked for more literature. Then we went to see the next elder, named Margaret. She was pleased to see all the young people walking with us. She said, “It is wonderful to see all you young people taking up a religion.”

Margaret also did not remember any discussion of unhappy feelings toward us at the meetings. We told her that our purpose is to promote unity amongst the people on the island, and in no way would we like to be the cause of disunity.

There are six elders on the island who meet once a week with the minister of the Church to organize religious meetings. Another elder, Mr. Chong, had been in Melbourne four years ago and remembered having had dinner with us. After some discussion, he expressed his wish to become a Bahá’í, but Fanny said no, he should think about it first. We left it at that.

That evening a film of Aboriginal dances was shown by the Mornington Islanders. To our surprise, there were only around 80 people in the audience.

As I was watching the film, suddenly someone grabbed me from behind and held me very tight. Turning around, I could scarcely believe my eyes. It was Anna Chong.

I told her I was sure she had forgotten us. She replied, “Darling, I have not forgotten the Faith or anyone else — the reason I did not answer your letters is because I teach seven hours a day and have seven children. I just did not have the time!”

I was so pleasantly surprised to see how faithful these beautiful Aboriginal people are.

Saturday, August 27

We started the day with prayers. Speaking of prayers, I must mention that we said 500 Remover of Difficulties in the plane for success in teaching, and the pilot had asked us to say some additional prayers for a safe takeoff from Mount Isa, as we were 400 pounds overweight because of the books, films, and food we had on board.

Each morning we write out our plans and act accordingly. Today we divided ourselves into two groups. One group went to carry on the teaching work, the other went to deepen the new believers.

We heard that Larry had closed the island’s canteen. He told us he wished that the people would not drink alcohol while his friends were there. Alcohol is a big problem on the island; many of the people are alcoholics and need medical attention badly. To my knowledge, the only people on the island who do not drink are Fanny and Larry, and that is one reason the other people are very impressed by their actions.

Today was a good day to teach because everyone was sober and knew what he was doing. We went back to the Manager, Roger, and spoke with him. I asked how we could show our Bahá’í films to the people.

[Page 13] To get permission we had to contact several people, and confirm with the minister whether he had any program planned for that Sunday night before the place could be made available to us. When we arrived at the minister’s home we found he was not there. In front of the house, talking with Roger, was a counselor. He declared his faith in Bahá’u’lláh.

Later, we found an elderly man who told us he was the father of a young man who had died some weeks ago from heart disease, and that the previous Bahá’í group had said some prayers at his funeral. After we explained to him what the Faith was about and read some prayers, he accepted Bahá’u’lláh as the Return of Christ. As we were leaving, the man’s wife and seven of their children, six of whom are over 15, arrived. He asked us to tell them about the Faith, then asked if they would like to declare, and they all did. Not far from there his daughter-in-law approached us, and she also declared.

Later we met some young people, called them together and asked if they would like to hear about Bahá’u’lláh. In a short time, they all wanted to declare, and we ran out of cards. An elderly man who was standing nearby had a sad expression. I asked what was wrong, and one of the youth said the man also wished to join, but there were no cards left. So as not to break his heart, we took a blank card, wrote the necessary information on it, and gave it to the man to sign. His face became so happy and relieved.

In a nearby shop was a white girl who was surprised to hear the claim of Bahá’u’lláh. “What about the false prophets Christ speaks about?” she asked us.

We told her that Christ says many false prophets shall come in His name; this means they will still carry the name of Christianity, but He said He would come with a new name in the Glory of God, and Bahá’u’lláh means “Glory of God.” Christ also said that by their fruits, we would know them. She asked us to send her a book.

It was wonderful that we had 100 per cent unity in our group. We bought lots of fruit drinks and biscuits for the next day, as we had decided to hold a small deepening conference for the youth. In the afternoon we showed some slides. As we had not invited anyone, around 40 children came without invitation, including the children of the minister, and we taught them Bahá’í songs.

Sunday, August 27

After prayers, Sue wrote out the plan, and we decided to go to the church service so our friends would realize we are not anti-Christian.

Margaret, the elder we had met, conducted some of the readings and hymns at the service. Interestingly, only four full-blooded Aborigines attended.

The minister said, “There are some wolves in this town, at this very moment, in this very place, in sheep skins and with sweet voices stealing our sheep.” We knew he meant us. We were praying he would see and hear the good things that were happening in the church. I knew that the minister was only trying his best to protect the people, as he did not understand what the Faith is about.

During the announcements, the minister mentioned that the group from the mainland that was supposed to perform some activities Sunday night would, owing to unforeseen circumstances, be unable to come. So we knew it would be all right for us to show our films, and that it was God’s will and the power of prayer that had caused this.

When we came out of the church, we were very happy. We shook hands with the minister and thanked him for the sermon. He was most surprised by our reaction.

Our aim in the town had been to make everyone aware of the name of Bahá’u’lláh. All the children already had learned His Name. After the church service, we found out that everyone leaves the town on Sundays. They go hunting or fishing with their families.

Nine of the youth remained in town to attend our deepening conference. It was an exciting day. In almost no time one of the youth, Jonathan, learned to play Bahá’í songs on his guitar. Everyone learned about Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and the Universal House of Justice.

We went with them through the pamphlet, “God’s New Age.” We gave the youth Bahá’í rings, and asked them to teach the Faith and not deprive any soul of hearing about Bahá’u’lláh. We also explained to them the problems alcohol creates. It was really a wonderful conference.

Toward evening, we got a car from Roger. We rode through the town, stopping at every house or tent, and Faruk would run out and announce to everyone that two Bahá’í films would be shown that night, and that everyone was welcome.

It was surprising to see that the young Bahá’ís were not shy around us. We sat on the steps together singing Bahá’í songs before we showed the films. More than 200 people gathered together, just like a drive-in movie. The films “It’s Just the Beginning” and “That New Time Religion” were shown, and everyone was excited about them.

Monday, August 28

Anyone we met we asked how they liked the films, and everyone said they loved them. One of the youth had brought his sister, and she also wanted to join. A woman librarian declared, then a sergeant, a shop assistant and quite a few others, but we ran out of cards again and couldn’t accept any more.

That very day we received a cable from Peter Hiscock asking for permission to come to Mornington Island the following week, and the permission was granted straightaway. On the way home we met with the Birchalls in Cairns and delivered all the cards to the Regional Goals Committee secretary.

We also had the pleasure of meeting the Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone, his wife, daughter and son-in-law in Rockhampton.

Dear reader, when you have finished reading this report, please kindly say a prayer especially for Mornington Island and our dear Aboriginal friends.

The more we love each other, the closer we will feel to God.

(Postscript: Two weeks later another Bahá’í group visited Mornington Island, and another 28 souls accepted Bahá’u’lláh, bringing the number of Bahá’ís on the island to 65.)

Allan Waters with Larry and Francis Lanley’s seven-year-old daughter, Rubina.

[Page 14]

Around the World

Sikkim

Teaching conference held

For the first time in the history of the Faith in Sikkim, a teaching conference for the Himalayan kingdoms was called by the Universal House of Justice and held May 8-10 in Gangtok.

Through the three-day consultation, talks and offers, a new spirit of ‎dedicaton dedication‎ was infused in the community of the Greatest Name in Sikkim. A greater sense of belonging was developed in individual believers.

The Unity Feast that preceded the conference on May 7 was held at the Defence Auditorium. The governor was the guest of honor, and many non-Bahá’í army and civil service personnel attended with their spouses.

The governor praised the services of the Bahá’ís, especially of pioneer Coomie Tavadia.

Counsellor Shirin Boman’s talk on the Faith was followed by entertainment by the children at the local Bahá’í Primary School.

The 150 people at the teaching conference represented the Bahá’í communities of Bhutan, India, and Sikkim.

After talks by Continental Counsellors Dipchand Khianra and Burháni’d-Dín Afshín, each goal of the Five Year Plan for Sikkim was discussed.

Seventeen Sikkimese friends pledged to open a total of 101 localities and to help establish 50 Local Spiritual Assemblies by October 1977.

Seven Sikkimese offered plots of land in their respective villages for local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, and funds to build five Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds were collected.

More than 30 Bahá’ís volunteered to spend between five and 15 days after the conference teaching outside their home communities.

A touching and inspirational offer came from a young girl, Renuka Vishwakarma, from the village of Saramsa. She announced that she was ready to pioneer to Bhutan alone, or with another Bahá’í, to fulfill that goal of the Five Year Plan. Immediately, Dhambar Singh, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, said he too would pioneer to Bhutan.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Sikkim, encouraged by the response of the friends to the invitation to help win the Five Year Plan goals, announced a Six-Month Teaching Plan during the last session of the conference.

The Sikkim Herald, the official publication of the Information Service of the Sikkim government, devoted nearly half of its front page to the governor’s inauguration of the Himalayan Bahá’í Conference.

The article stated in part: “Well patronized by both members and nonmembers of the Faith, the meetings were based on stimulating and informal discussions of the Bahá’í Faith and the role of the Faith towards uplifting moral values in the lives of men, with a special emphasis on youth. The forum included delegates from Bahá’í Centers as far away as Ireland, Irán, Belgium, Bhutan, and followers from States all over India.

“To trace its historical evolution, the Bahá’í Faith originated in what is now modern Irán. A unique feature of the Faith is its administrative machinery which Dr. Norolla, a bearded medico from Bombay, describes as the ‘nucleus and pattern for a future world commonwealth.’ An avowedly non-political organization, Bahá’ísm, true to its modern conceptions, has accentuated a socio-economic program which, among other things, seeks to secure equal rights for men and women, and raise the educational standards in the country....”

Taiwan

Children take spotlight

These six Bahá’í children make up a chorus that entertained those who attended a special Music Festival organized by the Bahá’ís of Taiwan. It took place in October in the city of Tainan.

Auxiliary Board member Roxanne Terrel uses home-made papier maché hand puppets — of several different races — as “teachers” during children’s classes at the annual Bahá’í Summer School in Taiwan. The puppets “spoke” in English and Chinese, sang songs, and added a merry and lively note to the Summer School.

[Page 15] Nigeria

More than 240 Bahá’ís from 17 African countries attended this International Bahá’í Conference in Enugu, Nigeria, August 12-14. Present at the gathering were three members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Western Africa: Friday Ekpe, Mrs. Thelma Khelghati, and Dr. Mihdí Samandarí.

Alaska

Teaching surge under way

Those present at the National Teaching Conference of the Bahá’ís of Alaska in Anchorage held September 10-11 bore in mind the thought that they are “approaching the single most important effort undertaken in the country.”

The quotation is from a recent letter from the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears to the Bahá’ís of North America, sent to them as they inaugurated an extensive teaching effort as part of the Five Year Plan.

A special guest at the teaching conference was the Hand of the Cause ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan. He spoke about the spiritual education of children. The examples of love and unity set by parents, he said, are most helpful to a child’s growth. He considers it essential that love for Bahá’u’lláh be encouraged in our children.

In a second address, Mr. Furútan said all religions were meant to be universal. The shortcomings of the followers of each Messenger of God caused each religion not to be universal during its time.

Mr. Furútan said we should never think we are doing enough for the Faith. If so, we will be held responsible before God for what otherwise could have been prevented in terms of man’s waywardness, human suffering and woes.

Addressing the youth, Mr. Furútan advised them to study the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the stories about the Faith, so they would find a new pearl of knowledge to assist themselves each day.

Mr. Furútan met with the children on Sunday and asked them to sing a song or say a prayer or verse they had memorized from the Writings. The children were delighted to be with him and to share what they had learned.

Other talks and discussions at the conference centered around teaching and the immediate challenge in spreading the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

Two hundred seventy-six Bahá’ís were present during the conference: 179 adults, 36 youth and 61 children.

Bahá’í booth at State Fair

For the 30th year, the Bahá’ís had a booth at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. This year’s Fair attracted an estimated 131,000 people.

One of those who visited the booth, David Hanawalt of Chugiak, later declared his faith in Bahá’u’lláh. When Mr. Hanawalt found the booth, he told its attendant, Gleo Huyck, “That’s why I came to the Fair!”

Mr. Hanawalt said he had heard of the Faith but everyone he had asked about it, including clergymen, knew nothing about it but warned him to stay away from it. This, he said, only made him more curious. After many questions, he attended a fireside in Chugiak with Gleo and Pam Huyck, then declared his belief.

The booth this year was simple and homelike, exemplifying the openness of the Faith.

Mauritius

The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (seated in center), was the recent recipient of the latest volume of The Bahá’í World, presented by (left to right) Continental Counsellors Shidin Fathé-Aazam, S. Appa and Bahiyyih Winckler, and to the left of the Prime Minister, National Spiritual Assembly member S. Mooten, traveling teacher Sh. Ghadimi, National Spiritual Assembly member P. Fabien and traveling teacher Mrs. Ghadimi.

[Page 16] The simplicity of the rugs, drapes and booth arrangement paralleled the feeling of warmth and hospitality felt in Bahá’í homes. This, combined with the continuous videotape of the Hawaiian Bahá’í television series with the Hand of the Cause William Sears, attracted many people and questions.

The rotating pamphlet and brochure rack was in keeping with the style of the booth — with no pressure or feeling that “you have to take one to be polite.” Seekers quietly selected their own, and 367 pieces of literature were taken from the rack.

United States

Los Angeles Bahá’í Week

Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles, California, was guest of honor at a dinner-dance at the Biltmore Bowl that opened the observance of Bahá’í Week in that city November 13-20.

Performing after the dinner were entertainers Seals and Crofts, Walter Heath and Danny Deardorff. Alex Rocco and Mrs. Gloria Ferguson read selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

The week was ended with a public meeting and panel discussion at the Aquarius Theater. Panelists were Dr. Daniel C. Jordan, chairman of the U.S. National ‎Spritual Spiritual‎ Assembly; National Assembly member Dr. Dorothy Nelson; singers England Dan and John Ford Coley, and comedian Stu Gilliam.

This group of materials, including posters, programs, bumper stickers, cards, balloons, and brochures, was designed by the Bahá’ís of Los Angeles, California, for a Bahá’í Week proclamation in November. A dinner and reception inaugurated the campaign, at which Mayor Tom Bradley of Los Angeles read a proclamation designating November 13-20 Bahá’í Week in the city. Los Angeles, with 2.8 million residents, is the third largest city in the U.S.

Israel

This photograph, taken on November 12, 1977, shows the ground-floor level of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice. The light-colored square near the center of the picture is the form into which concrete will be poured for the main ceremonial floor of the building, directly under the dome. In the foreground, forms have been erected in readiness for pouring the ground-floor walls.

New Hebrides

Hand of Cause visits

The Hand of the Cause of God H. Collis Featherstone was among several Bahá’ís who visited the New Hebrides, islands in the southwest Pacific that are under joint British and French administration, during the last two weeks in November.

Arriving in the seaport city of Vila on November 18, Mr. Featherstone called on the British Resident Commissioner, J. Champion, and gave him an information folder developed by the National Spiritual Assembly of the New Hebrides for presentation to prominent citizens.

Mr. Featherstone spent time with the National Spiritual Assembly, Auxiliary Board members and their assistants, and Bahá’ís on the islands of Efate, Santo and Tanna, reminding the friends to refrain from participation in politics, and speaking about developments at the World Center and the worldwide growth of the Faith.

It was also arranged for him to meet with the British District Agent on the island of Santo and with both the British and French agents on Tanna.

Other visitors to the New Hebrides in November included Meherangiz Munsiff and Gol Aidun, Bahá’ís from the United Kingdom and Canada, respectively.

Mrs. Munsiff spoke at firesides at Fila Island, Port Vila and Santo. There was one declaration at each of the firesides, with two of the new believers being Fijians of Hindu background.

Mrs. Munsiff also spoke to Girl Guides in Vila and Santo, to a women’s club in Mele Matt, and gave Bahá’í proclamation folders to the British and assistant French District Agents in Santo.

Two interviews with Mrs. Munsiff, one

These Bahá’í women are attending an outdoor workshop session that was part of the activities at a National Women’s Conference held in October at Port Vila, New Hebrides.

[Page 17] in French and one in English, were broadcast November 23 and 24 on Radio Vila.

Mrs. Aidun, who accompanied Mrs. Munsiff, held a deepening class for Bahá’í women on Fila Island, and, accompanied by Bahá’ís from Lenakel and Whitesands, was able to speak to the entire village of Sulphur Bay, on Tanna.

Dr. William Maxwell, a pioneer from the U.S. who as head of the Department of Education at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji was the guest speaker November 23 at Malapoa College in Vila, had an opportunity during his speech to some 600 persons to mention both Bahá’u’lláh and the Bahá’í Faith.

Three Bahá’í youth from New Zealand also arrived in November for two and one-half months of teaching. They held deepenings at Erakur and on Fila Island, and helped repair the Vila Bahá’í Center.

Portugal

Assembly to form in Faro

The Bahá’í community of Faro, in southern Portugal, will form its first Local Spiritual Assembly at Riḍván, winning another goal of the Five Year Plan in Portugal.

There were only five believers in Faro until October, when the Regional Teaching Committee of the Algarve (southern Portugal) worked with the Bahá’ís of Faro to arrange for the visit of two traveling teachers, Shamsi Navidi from England and Leon Caraco.

As a result of public meetings at the city hall and at the Hotel Globo four people in attendance declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh. The community thus has the necessary nine adults for Assembly formation.

This team of Bahá’í teachers, shown here in Covilha, has worked with two other traveling teaching teams since July 1977, the beginning of the Victory Plan in Portugal, to open goal towns to the Faith and establish Local Spiritual Assemblies in that country. The objective of the Victory Plan is to win Portugal’s Five Year Plan goals by Riḍván 1978.

Seven people became Bahá’ís at a public meeting given by traveling teachers and the friends in Rio de Mouro, Portugal. The declarations will enable the community to form a Local Spiritual Assembly.

Bangladesh

Most of the 150 participants at this Summer School, organized by the National Bahá’í Youth Committee of Bangladesh, offered time for traveling teaching at the end of the session. In fact, three groups left directly from the school for various districts in the country. Burháni’d-Dín Afshín, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for South Central Asia, is shown in the center of the photo. He, three Auxiliary Board members, and a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Bangladesh spoke on a variety of Bahá’í subjects during the school, which attracted students from all parts of the country.