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| Bahá’í News | January 1981 | Bahá’í Year 137 |
The Hand of the Cause of God Abu’l-Qásim Faizí
HEARTS FILLED WITH SORROW PASSING INDEFATIGABLE SELF-SACRIFICING DEARLY LOVED HAND CAUSE GOD ABU’L QÁSIM FAIZÍ. ENTIRE BAHÁ’Í WORLD MOURNS HIS LOSS. HIS EARLY OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN CRADLE FAITH THROUGH EDUCATION CHILDREN YOUTH STIMULATION FRIENDS PROMOTION TEACHING WORK PROMPTED BELOVED GUARDIAN DESCRIBE HIM AS LUMINOUS DISTINGUISHED ACTIVE YOUTH. HIS SUBSEQUENT PIONEERING WORK IN LANDS BORDERING ÍRÁN WON HIM APPELLATION SPIRITUAL CONQUEROR THOSE LANDS. FOLLOWING HIS APPOINTMENT HAND CAUSE HE PLAYED INVALUABLE PART WORK HANDS HOLY LAND TRAVELLED WIDELY PENNED HIS LITERARY WORKS CONTINUED HIS EXTENSIVE INSPIRING CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIGH AND LOW YOUNG AND OLD UNTIL AFTER LONG ILLNESS HIS SOUL WAS RELEASED AND WINGED ITS FLIGHT ABHÁ KINGDOM. CALL ON FRIENDS EVERYWHERE HOLD BEFITTING MEMORIAL GATHERINGS HIS HONOUR, INCLUDING SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE MEETINGS HIS NAME IN HOUSES WORSHIP ALL CONTINENTS. MAY HIS SHINING EXAMPLE CONSECRATION CONTINUE INSPIRE HIS ADMIRERS EVERY LAND. PRAYING HOLY SHRINES HIS NOBLE RADIANT SOUL MAY BE IMMERSED IN OCEAN DIVINE MERCY CONTINUE ITS UNINTERRUPTED PROGRESS IN INFINITE WORLDS BEYOND.
Contents[edit]
Messages |
|
Universal House of Justice on Írán, land acquisitions in Israel | 2 |
Festival in Ecuador |
|
4,000 attend Radio Bahá’ís third annual festival of folk music | 4 |
Youth Conference |
|
Young Bahá’ís from 40 countries gather in Fiesch, Switzerland | 7 |
North India |
|
In Punjab, four Bahá’ís spearhead a successful teaching project | 8 |
Around the world |
|
News from Bahá’í communities in every corner of the globe | 10 |
Cover
In November, the beloved Hand of the Cause of God Abu’l-Qásim Faizí became the fifth member of that august and venerated body of believers in little more than a year to leave this mortal plane and wing his flight to the Abhá Kingdom. Mr. Faizí, who had been in ill health for some time, was described by the Universal House of Justice as “indefatigable, self-sacrificing,” and “dearly loved.” The Supreme Body expressed the hope that his “shining example (of) consecration” may “continue (to) inspire his admirers (in) every land.” The complete text of the cable from the Universal House of Justice is on the inside front cover opposite this page.
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 © 1981, 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 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.
MESSAGES[edit]
from the Universal House of Justice[edit]
MEMBERS VENERABLE COMMUNITY BAHÁ’U’LLÁH’S FOLLOWERS HIS NATIVE LAND ARE FACING WITH UTMOST NOBILITY HEROISM AND IN TRADITION THEIR ILLUSTRIOUS FOREBEARS ORDEALS SEVERITY OF WHICH IS REMINISCENT OF FEROCITY PERSECUTIONS HEROIC AGE OUR FAITH. INNOCENT BLOOD THEY ARE SHEDDING ALTAR SACRIFICE, INTENSE SUFFERINGS THEY ARE SERENELY BEARING IN LOVE HIS PATH ARE RELEASING SPIRITUAL ENERGIES WHICH ARE ACCELERATING MOMENTUM PROGRESS FAITH OPENING UP NEW HORIZONS AS IT IRRESISTIBLY FORGES AHEAD TOWARDS ITS ULTIMATE DESTINY.
UNITED NATIONS SUBCOMMISSION ON PREVENTION DISCRIMINATION PROTECTION MINORITIES MEETING IN GENEVA FOLLOWING PRESENTATION MADE BY REPRESENTATIVE BAHÁ’Í INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DISCUSSED APPROVED ON 10 SEPTEMBER RESOLUTION EXPRESSING PROFOUND CONCERN OVER SAFETY BAHÁ’ÍS IRAN AND REQUESTING UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL CONVEY THIS CONCERN TO AUTHORITIES ÍRÁN AND CALL ON THEM PROTECT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY.
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEETING. IN STRASBOURG AND COMPRISING OVER 400 MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 19 HISTORIC RESOLUTION WHICH DENOUNCES SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN PERSECUTION ÍRÁNIAN BAHÁ’ÍS AND VIOLATION THEIR ELEMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS, CALLS UPON GOVERNMENT ÍRÁN GRANT BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY LEGAL RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION, AND UPON FOREIGN MINISTERS EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES MAKE URGENT REPRESENTATIONS TO IRANIAN AUTHORITIES CEASE PERSECUTION BAHÁ’ÍS ALLOWING THEM PRACTISE THEIR RELIGION FREELY AND ENJOY FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS, AND REQUESTS MEMBER STATES IMPOSE EMBARGO ON ALL SALES OF SUBSIDIZED SURPLUS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO ÍRÁN UNTIL FULL HUMAN RIGHTS ARE RESTORED TO IRANIAN CITIZENS. THIS REMARKABLE DOCUMENT ENDS WITH STATEMENT THAT EVIDENCE SUGGESTS ARRESTS EXECUTIONS OF BAHÁ’ÍS ARE CONTINUING AND INCREASING ACCORDING TO PREARRANGED PLAN AND ONLY SPEEDY RESPONSE BY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CAN STOP THESE DEVELOPMENTS.
REPORTS RECEIVED FROM ALL CONTINENTS ELOQUENTLY BEAR TESTIMONY TO SENSE OF UNITY FELT BY FRIENDS EVERYWHERE IN FACE DEPRIVATIONS THEIR PERSIAN BRETHREN. GENEROUS OFFERINGS OF TIME, EFFORT, AND RESOURCES IN MEMORY MARTYRS AND ON BEHALF OF IMPRISONED FRIENDS, AMONG WHOM ARE A COUNSELLOR, AUXILIARY BOARD MEMBERS, ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS MEMBERS SEVERAL LOCAL ASSEMBLIES. THESE AFFLICTIONS HAVE ENABLED FRIENDS IN MOST COUNTRIES WORLD OVER PROCLAIM FAITH TO HIGHEST
[Page 3]
OFFICIALS THEIR COUNTRY AND NOISE
ABROAD ITS TEACHINGS THROUGH MASS
MEDIA. COUNTLESS PLEDGES OF LOYALTY
AND OF RENEWED DEDICATION HAVE BEEN
MADE TO SHOW IN THE DAYS AHEAD GREATER
SOLIDARITY AUDACITY ACHIEVE MORE STIRRING VICTORIES FOR GOD’S HOLY FAITH. ALREADY DURING PAST SEVERAL WEEKS IN ONE COUNTRY LATIN AMERICA NUMBER BELIEVERS
HAS MORE THAN DOUBLED RESULT EFFORTS
INSPIRED BLOOD INNOCENT MARTYRS. LET
MEN OF VALOUR IN OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.
CALL ON FRIENDS EVERYWHERE JOIN US IN PRAYERS THANKSGIVING FOR THESE VICTORIES WORTHY RESPONSES OF BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY TO BITTER PERSECUTIONS BEING METED OUT ITS FOLLOWERS IN NATIVE LAND BAHÁ’U’LLÁH. URGE ALL FRIENDS CONTINUE THEIR SUPPLICATIONS TO HIM THAT UNYIELDING INTRANSIGENT ATTITUDE OF IRANIAN AUTHORITIES TOWARDS BAHÁ’ÍS MAY BE TRANSMUTED INTO CONFIDENCE IN AND GOODWILL TOWARDS PEACE-LOVING LAW-ABIDING MEMBERS PRESENTLY PROSCRIBED COMMUNITY.
WITH HEARTS BRIMMING WITH GRATITUDE
FOR BOUNTIFUL CONFIRMATIONS BLESSED
BEAUTY ANNOUNCE FOLLOWING RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS HOLY LAND:
IN BAHJÍ JUST ACQUIRED STRIP OF LAND 13,150 SQUARE METRES IN AREA BORDERING DRIVEWAY FROM WESTERN GATE BAHÁ’Í PROPERTY. AREA ACQUIRED ADJACENT TO AND SOUTH OF PRESENT BOUNDARY OLIVE GROVE ENABLES SOUTHWEST QUADRANT GARDENS SURROUNDING MOST HOLY SHRINE BE COMPLETED. THIS ACQUISITION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY EXCHANGE AGAINST PROPERTY ON MAIN ROAD TO NAZARETH DONATED WORLD CENTRE BY DESCENDANTS LATE HUSAYN BAQIR KASHANI.
ALSO PURCHASED NEARLY 50,000 SQUARE METRES AGRICULTURAL LAND ADJACENT TO AND NORTH OF MAZRA‘IH PROPERTY AS PROTECTION TO MANSION IN RAPIDLY DEVELOPING AREA.
SHIPMENT OVER 1,000 PIECES COMPRISING 120 CUBIC METRES KATRINA CEDAR WOOD FROM TURKEY JUST CLEARED FROM HAIFA PORT FOR USE RESTORATION HOUSE ABDU’LLÁH PASHA IN ‘AKKÁ.
A FESTIVAL IN ECUADOR[edit]
Radio Bahá’í presents its 3rd festival of folk music
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Promoting the culture of our ancestors, Radio Bahá’í presents, live from Otavalo, its third annual festival of folkloric music, ‘Ñukanchic Tono!’ ”
With those words, Radio Bahá’í announcer Marcelo Quinteros introduced to the people of the Otavalo area what has become a much-anticipated annual event each August in northern Ecuador—the festival of folk music sponsored by Radio Bahá’í under
[Page 5]
the direction of the National
Spiritual Assembly of Ecuador.
Ñukanchic Tono means “our music” in the Quechua language that is widely spoken in the Otavalo area, and is a fitting title for the festival that represents Radio Bahá’í’s effort to contribute to the preservation of the indigenous culture of Ecuador and to encourage its artistic expression.
This year, for the first time, people were able to enjoy the event via radio thanks to a new studio-transmitter link that allows live broadcasts from Otavalo.
Knowledgeable judges[edit]
The festival itself drew an audience of some 4,000 people who gathered at a sports arena near the offices of Radio Bahá’í, filling it to capacity and beyond. They came from many outlying villages around Otavalo and from the city itself—a delightful mixture of ages and races, all eager to see a festival featuring the enchanting native music of the Andes.
‘Los Imbayas’ compete with a song of their own creation that was especially well received.
A part of the estimated 4,000 persons who attended Radio Bahá’í’s third annual festival of folk music.
The musical group ‘Los Andes’ performs with the Radio Bahá’í technical crew in the foreground.
Miss María Perugachi, an indigenous believer, and Jaime Ruano, both members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Ecuador, and another indigenous believer, Auxiliary Board member Vicenta Anrango, served as masters of ceremonies, welcoming the many friends of Radio Bahá’í who had come to support the festival.
Each musical group performing at the festival was required to present at least one traditional song and another of its own creation. Judges considered the lyrics and music, the artistry of the presentation, and the appearance and enthusiasm of the group.
Judges were area residents with knowledge of the indigenous music and culture. They included a professor of the Quechua language, the director of a local music group, the owner of a music store in Otavalo, and the director of the executive committee of “Yamor,” Otavalo’s annual cultural festival.
Amateur and professional groups performed, with music ranging from the lively sounds of last year’s festival winner, “Los Andes,” to a poignant and poetic folk song by the amateur group, “Jatarishun Runacuna,” rhythmic offerings from the other amateur groups, “Los Cayapas,” “Los
[Page 6]
Top: The group ‘Ñukanchik Ñan’ onstage during the festival competition. Middle: The panel of judges (left to right) Ann Miller (a pioneer from the U.S.), Mercedes Quimbo, Prof. Remigio Cáceres, Galo Maigua, and Prof. Juan Flores Ruales, observes the competition carefully. Bottom: The group ‘Las Runas’ received the first place award in the professional category.
Tupari,” “Los Atahualpa,” “Los Romanticos,” and “Los Imbaya,” and polished performances by the professional groups, “Ñukanchik Ñan,” from nearby San Juan, and “Los Runas,” from Otavalo.
“Los Romanticos,” an all-black group from the Chota Valley, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Otavalo, was especially well-received, and presented an encore while the judges tallied their scores, as did “Los Andes” which introduced its guest vocalist, seven-year-old Amado Maigua.
Winners announced[edit]
Before the prizes were awarded, Auxiliary Board member Rufino Gualavisi spoke briefly about the Faith. His remarks were met with warm and appreciative applause.
Then it was Professor Remigio Cáceres who came to the stage, carrying with him the decision of the judges. After praising Radio Bahá’í for its work in supporting the values of the indigenous culture, Professor Caceres announced the names of the winners: amateurs, “Jatarishun Runacuna”; professionals, “Los Runas.”
The winning groups received a handsome trophy and the opportunity to be presented on national television.
Plans for next year’s festival include its presentation in a more spacious and adequate facility; the inclusion of a wider variety of musical groups from other regions of the country, as well as from other countries such as Bolivia and Peru; presentation of elimination rounds in the weeks before the festival in towns and villages throughout Radio Bahá’í’s area of influence, rather than only in Otavalo; and expanded coverage, at least of highlights of the festival, by communications media of national importance.
YOUTH CONFERENCE[edit]
Bahá’ís from 40 countries, five continents ‘turn to Bahá’u’lláh’ in Fiesch, Switzerland[edit]
About 1,000 Bahá’ís from more than 40 countries and five continents were present last September 6-10 at Fiesch, Switzerland, in the canton of Valais for a European Bahá’í Youth Conference.
Among the participants were Continental Counsellors for Europe Eric Blumenthal, Betty Reed and Adib Taherzadeh.
The youth came from all parts of Europe—from Hammerfest in Norway to Austria, Cyprus, Greece and Ireland; some had traveled for days by bicycle, train, motorcycle, auto, bus or airplane. Other young people came from places as far away as New Zealand, Peru, Greenland, Japan, the United States and islands in the Pacific.
The Counsellors and others gave inspiring talks centered around the conference theme, “Turning to Bahá’u’lláh.”
At the Counsellors’ request, more than 100 of the youth arose to pledge participation in various teaching projects in Europe.
Another moving moment came when nearly 500 of the friends promised to serve the Faith in some immediate way, whether through teaching and deepening projects or other activities.
Special prayers were said during the conference as some of the friends taught in three cities in Valais, with evening meetings planned in each of them.
The German and French sections of the Swiss Television Network interviewed some of the friends and showed the conference in session, while coverage of the conference also was noted in several newspapers and on radio.
Contributions of more than $2,000 were made to the Funds and were distributed among representatives of each National Spiritual Assembly at the conference.
Above: A musical group from Great Britain performs during the European Youth Conference at Fiesch, Switzerland. Below: Some of the nearly 1,000 Bahá’ís from 40 countries who attended the five-day conference.
NORTH INDIA PROJECT[edit]
In the Punjab, a team of four Bahá’ís spreads Faith with joy and dedication
(The following account of a teaching project in the northern India area of Punjab was written by team member Marzia Rowhani and first appeared in Bahá’í News India.)
It seemed rather unlikely to the four of us, setting out from Bombay, that we could achieve much in the Punjab area.
The goal was the formation of Local Spiritual Assemblies in the north. An appeal was made for helpers, and we four had volunteered our services.
Besides myself, there were Mohan Lalwani, Mrs. Shirin Ashtari, and Miss Samina Dawood. Mr. Lalwani is employed in a firm, Mrs. Ashtari is a housewife, Miss Dawood is a secretary, and I am a student.
Though none of us was an experienced traveling teacher, nor had any of us been to the north for Bahá’í teaching, our offer to go was accepted with thanks, and on October 28 (1979) a noisy crowd of relatives and friends bade us goodbye.
This was the very first teaching trip for Samina and Shirin. Although we weren’t aware of it then, it would be the kind of experience one treasures and tells one’s grandchildren about.
On arriving at the New Delhi train station we were greeted by R.N. Shah, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of India, who escorted us to the Bahá’í Center. Such VIP treatment made us realize that the project we were to undertake was no ordinary one, that great things were expected of us, and the knowledge made us feel all the more nervous.
North India Project team members included (left to right) Marzia Rowhani, Mohan Lalwani, Samima Dawood. The fourth member was Mrs. Shirin Ashtari.
[Page 9]
We were consoled, however, when we learned we
would be accompanied to Chandigarh by Mrs. Kolly
Baram, an Auxiliary Board member, and by the secretary of the National Teaching Committee, Dr. Vasudevan.
Arriving at Chandigarh, we found it worthy of its praise, being neatly divided into sectors with wide, clean roads, well-behaved traffic, modern homes and lovely, flourishing gardens. A gracious city filled with gracious people.
Simple objectives[edit]
The Bahá’í families of Chandigarh were also the epitome of courtesy, uncomplainingly keeping us in their homes until the Bahá’í Center could be cleaned and prepared for our use.
Once we were settled came the important meeting—with the State Teaching Committee of Pujab to decide our plans and teaching arrangements. The objectives were simple: new districts had to be opened to the Faith and Local Assemblies formed there. Also, a Local Assembly that had recently been formed in Mandi needed a visit and some help to begin its Bahá’í activities. Mohan, Samina and I volunteered for that project and soon left for Mandi, a beautiful hill station close to Simla.
The first Bahá’ís we met there were Vishwanath Sharma, a lawyer, and his wife. The Spiritual Assembly of Mandi includes one woman—dear Mrs. Sharma—two contractors, four lawyers, a school principal, and the Raja of Mandi!
Though they all hold high social positions and are undoubtedly very busy, each has found time for teaching. It indicates that they have accepted the Faith not only in their hearts, but have made it a part of their daily lives.
Encouraged by their numerous contacts with the people of Mandi, we held several informal discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and slide shows. The people of Mandi are highly educated—the literacy rate could be close to 100 per cent—and they investigate the Faith quite thoroughly. So when they accept it, it is with genuine conviction. It is a tribute to the Bahá’ís of Mandi that so much interest in the Faith has been generated there.
One young man we spoke to at the college canteen wanted to know who had accepted the Faith in Mandi. When we named a few of them he was silent for a few moments, then said, “Yes, I know them. If they are Bahá’ís, it must be a good thing.”
The first meeting of the Spiritual Assembly of Mandi was a memorable one. They have initiated their Bahá’í Fund, started a Bahá’í library, will begin observing the Nineteen Day Feasts and holding weekly dawn prayers, and will try to obtain a Bahá’í Center. More important, they have drawn up plans to form nine more Local Assemblies in areas surrounding Mandi by the end of the initial two-year phase of the Seven Year Plan. And all of this from an Assembly that was barely one month old!
Back in Chandigarh, Shirin and Mrs. Baram, with the help of the other Bahá’ís there, were making fresh conquests. They opened the areas of Morinda and Ropar to the Faith, finding many new friends and inquirers.
Three African students, who had become Bahá’ís a year ago (during a National Youth Committee campaign in Chandigarh) arranged a get-together lunch that was attended by 11 of their African friends. The afternoon was spent watching Bahá’í slides, talking, answering questions, and making new friends. Before it was over the Africans invited the Bahá’ís to return, this time for dinner, which they themselves offered to cook. The invitation was happily accepted.
On arriving for the dinner, the Bahá’ís found an added surprise—three Thai monks studying at the university had heard about the Faith and wanted to know more about it. So they too were invited.
The memory of that evening will be with us for a long, long time. The little room held Africans, Iranians, Indians and Thais—representing the Christian, Muslim, Zoroastrian, Hindu and Bahá’í Faiths—eating together, talking, joking, complimenting the cooks, and just getting to know one another. Later, the light-hearted atmosphere gave way to a warmer, quieter mood when we spoke about the soul of man, religion, and the Bahá’í Faith. Late into the night we talked, before the wonderful meeting ended with the soft sounds of spirituals and hymns.
Winter school[edit]
Keeping pace with the teaching activities were follow-up programs for seekers. The Chandigarh Bahá’í community does an efficient job with regular firesides, deepenings and youth gatherings for inquirers and newly-enrolled Bahá’ís. Also, its local Youth Committee—vibrant and enthusiastic—arranged a winter school in Chandigarh last January. Other youth activities during our visit included regular trips to Punjab University where there are several Bahá’ís including Dr. R. Sharma, head of the Biophysics Department at the Post Graduate Institute.
The goal set by the Universal House of Justice is 300 Local Spiritual Assemblies in northern India by Riḍván 1981. The way things are moving the goal probably will be accomplished long before then.
If you’d like to see the spirit of the Faith in action, simply book a ticket to Chandigarh, pack your bags, and go! You have nothing to lose—except perhaps your heart to that lovely place known as North India.
Around the world[edit]
Mauritius[edit]
Continental Counsellor S. Appa addresses the 100 believers who gathered last September 14 for a unity feast that was held at the Temple site in Mauritius. Excerpts from letters and messages from the Universal House of Justice about the present world condition, opposition to the Faith and the privilege and sacred duty of promoting the Cause were read. Counsellor Appa spoke about the Hands of the Cause of God who have recently passed away. Participants then shared a picnic lunch at the Temple site.
Colombia[edit]
More than 100 residents of various villages along the Amazon River declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh as a result of a traveling teaching trip last February by a group of indigenous believers.
The teaching trip followed an international conference February 2-3 in Leticia, Colombia, that was attended by nearly 40 believers from Brazil, Colombia and Perú, including four Auxiliary Board members.
Auxiliary Board members Touba Maani and Sergio Couto of Brazil were present along with Auxiliary Board members Doris de Sanchés of Colombia and Marco Nuñez of Perú. William Rodriguez of Leticia, Colombia, attended the conference as the representative of the Continental Board of Counsellors for South America.
“Never before have so many Bahá’í teachers of different nationalities united in the Amazon triangle,” Mr. Rodriguez said in describing the international conference.
A highlight of the conference was the dedication of the Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum International Institute of the Amazon Region in Leticia. Continental Counsellor Raúl Pavón had secured the land for the institute and guided construction of the wooden building that served as the conference site.
Public meetings held during the conference resulted in declarations by people including figures of authority and teachers.
The region’s only radio station broadcast interviews with believers and carried the message of the Faith to all the border communities around the conference site.
A small boat donated to the believers of the area will be prepared for traveling teaching trips similar to the first such trip into the Amazon region in 1975. That excursion, known as “The Green Light Expedition,” was led by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum.
Zaire[edit]
Three Spiritual Assemblies in Zaire have begun operating tutorial schools in their local communities. Construction of six more Bahá’í schools is under way, and the government plans to build 22 more such schools to be operated by Bahá’ís.
The schools, known as Bahá’í Education Centres, are open to everyone in the villages. Basic primary education and training in simple trades and local crafts is offered along with spiritual education based on the Bahá’í Writings.
Qualified believers in local communities are enlisted as teachers. The communities raise crops to support these teachers.
The government finds the project appealing because little or no outside support is needed for the new schools after they have been built.
French Guiana[edit]
A group of four Bahá’ís in French Guiana, having read about the recent martyrdom of Bahá’ís in Tabriz, Írán, decided to pay tribute to their memory by opening a new locality to the Faith in French Guiana.
Their efforts resulted in declarations from 22 residents of the town of St. Laurant.
Hawaii[edit]
A new, national teaching campaign called “Join the People” was launched June 28 in Hawaii with a program that included Continental Counsellor Elena Marsella.
The three-pronged campaign that calls for massive media proclamation, intensive teaching efforts among those responding, and organized consolidation, was kicked off with a telephone conference call linking simultaneous meetings on various islands in the Hawaiian chain.
Media proclamation events began June 30 with radio programs on five stations. One direct result was the enrollment of a resident of Hawaiian-Portuguese ancestry.
Auxiliary Board member Helani Alma Hamilton (left) receives a signed proclamation declaring September 21, 1980, World Peace Day in Hawaii from Governor George R. Ariyoshi (seated). Other Bahá’ís present at the ceremony were (left to right) Thongkom Ckokbengboun, Mounty Vichidvongsa, Paulette Segawa, Stan Ritchie and Bounsouane Kingrasaphone.
Bahá’ís from all parts of the Hawaiian Islands helped construct this float that received the first place, non-commercial division award in the 1980 Aloha Week Parade last September 20 in Honolulu. This year’s Bahá’í float, made with 35,000 real flowers, carried the theme ‘World in Harmony’ that was displayed on both sides of the float with ‘Bahá’í Faith’ in large letters at the front and rear of the float. Animated four-foot-high puppets representing various races and ethnic groups of the world moved to the rhythm of music, this year’s over-all parade theme. The Bahá’í float was seen by 100,000 people lining the parade route as well as by television viewers in other parts of the Hawaiian Islands and in Japan. Highlights of the parade were shown over U.S. network television on Thanksgiving Day.
Guyana[edit]
Responding to an invitation from the Continental Board of Counsellors, Shanaz Furudi, a believer from India, visited several Bahá’í localities in Guyana last July and August that had not been visited for some time.
The six-week teaching trip took Miss Furudi to the capital city of Georgetown and to surrounding communities in Guyana as well as to villages in the Essequibo and Berbice regions of the country.
She helped organize children’s classes and train Assemblies. Dozens of enrollments resulted from a proclamation meeting she participated in that was held in a cane field. The traveling teacher was interviewed by local radio stations and newspapers, and spoke at a public meeting during a summer school in Anna Regina, Guyana.
Guyanese residents of Indian descent were thrilled to meet someone from “Mother India,” she said, and to hear about the number of Bahá’ís in India.
A woman from Georgetown who is a member of the Arecuna Tribe has declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh. Her enrollment represents a welcome addition to the Amerindian tribes represented in the Guyanese Bahá’í community and will hopefully lead to the enrollment of other members of her tribe who live in the country’s interior.
Papua New Guinea[edit]
The Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone visited several Bahá’í communities in Papua New Guinea during a five-week trip that began last August 20.
While in Port Moresby, the nation’s capital, Mr. Featherstone, accompanied by his wife, Madge, presented a Bahá’í proclamation booklet to Sir Tore Lokoloko, the governor general, who expressed a warm regard for the Faith and its presence in his country.
Mr. Featherstone addressed a youth conference in Port Moresby and met with local officials and the friends in several villages in the vicinity of Mount Hagen. Mr. and Mrs. Featherstone made a seven-hour canoe trip to visit believers in the remote Manus Islands.
The Hand of the Cause spoke at firesides in Rabaul and Kimbe, New Guinea, and met with local dignitaries. He also attended an institute in Goroka that was organized by the Continental Board of Counsellors and the National Spiritual Assembly of Papua New Guinea.
In Lae, Mr. Featherstone spoke at a proclamation luncheon that was attended by 60 people including local dignitaries.
The Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone (back row center) is shown here with a group of believers from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, whom he visited during a five-week trip to various Bahá’í communities in that country that began last August 20. Among this group of believers are Auxiliary Board members Elti Kunak (third from left), Roslyn Bale (holding baby) and Lundeng Capenias (far right). Mrs. Featherstone is to her husband’s left in the back row.
Six hundred youth have been
enrolled in correspondence
courses that are among Papua
New Guinea’s most successful
teaching methods.
The courses are offered free of charge to non-Bahá’ís. Those interested are enrolled in the courses and asked by the National Spiritual Assembly if they would like to be visited by a Bahá’í.
When students have completed the course they are asked if they wish to declare their belief in the new Manifestation of God.
More than 100 Bahá’ís are also taking the general course. When they have finished it they are invited to take another course on family life.
A third course on Bahá’í history is being prepared.
Haiti[edit]
Some of the participants in the Bahá’í Winter School held March 21-23 in La Fond, Haiti, gather under one of the two Mango trees used as the Winter School site.
Haiti’s first Bahá’í Winter School in recent years was held last March 21-23 in La Fond, a small village in southern Haiti.
Pierre Andre, representing the National Spiritual Assembly, and Auxiliary Board members Albert Cassion and Joe Coblentz were the principal speakers.
The Feast of Naw-Rúz and the following Winter School sessions were held under two Mango trees.
Separate classes were conducted for the children.
Classes were presented on the early history of the Faith, universal participation, and the institution of the Fund. The children presented a short dramatic skit illustrating a Bahá’í principle.
Firesides held during the Winter School resulted in declarations by seven participants.
Greenland[edit]
Nine Bahá’ís participated last July 20-27 in Greenland’s first Teaching and Deepening Institute held at Qaqortoq.
The institute was arranged by the Spiritual Assembly of Nuuk, which was assisted by Erik Nielsen, a pioneer to Qaqortoq who was the only believer in that community of 3,500 on the south-western coast of Greenland. Mornings were divided into two sessions—deepening and teaching. Afternoons were free for prayers, group meetings, fellowship, shopping for food, individual teaching, visiting with local residents, etc.
Three evening public meetings were held during the week and attracted a total of 12 seekers.
One of those who attended the institute, Michael Kavanagh, decided afterward to return to Qaqortoq as a Bahá’í pioneer.
New Hebrides[edit]
Participants in the Regional Bahá’í Children’s Conference held June 4 in Vila, New Hebrides, assembled for this group photograph.
Dominican Republic[edit]
Members of the regional teaching committees in the Dominican Republic met August 16-17 with members of the National Teaching Committee, an Auxiliary Board member, and a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly. The meeting at the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Santo Domingo focused on remaining goals of the first two-year phase of the Seven Year Plan.
Togo[edit]
One hundred people, including the entire village of Otoha, Togo, declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh during an 11-day teaching campaign in April.
The campaign, based at the Regional Bahá’í Center in Amlame, Togo, included a display of Bahá’í books that was visited by 150 residents. An institute was held at the Center during the teaching campaign.
Malaysia[edit]
Six hundred believers including Yan Kee Leong, a Continental Counsellor for South East Asia, attended a Bahá’í summer school in Malaysia at which participants contributed $4,000 toward the construction of the House of Worship in India.
Following the summer school, Counsellor Leong visited several Bahá’í localities in northern Malaysia, including Taiping where funds for a local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds and the acquisition of a cemetery were adopted as community goals.
In Kuantan, another town visited by the Counsellor, the friends had begun a continuous nine-day fireside.
Counsellor Leong’s recent travels included visits to Hong Kong, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand as well as Malaysia, the six national Bahá’í communities involved in the Southeast Asia Chinese Teaching Campaign.
Swaziland[edit]
HEARTS GRIEVED PASSING KNIGHT BAHÁ’U’LLÁH DISTINGUISHED PIONEER PROMOTER FAITH JOHN ALLEN. HIS RADIANT PERSEVERANCE AUDACITY IN DEVOTED SERVICES FAITH IN NORTH AMERICA AND PARTICULARLY SOUTHERN AFRICA OVER SEVERAL DECADES SET SHINING EXAMPLE SERVANTS CAUSE GOD. ADVISE HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERINGS THROUGHOUT SWAZILAND BEFITTING HIS STATION PRAYING SHRINES PROGRESS HIS NOBLE SOUL ABHÁ KINGDOM.
John W. Allen, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh who left California in 1954 to pioneer to Swaziland and spent the next 26 years spreading the Cause of God in Africa, died August 31 at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California.
Mr. Allen and his wife, Valera, had returned to the U.S. to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary August 9 with members of the Allen family.
The Allens have three sons: Dwight W. Allen, a member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly; J. Kenton Allen, a member of the U.S. National Teaching Committee, and Dale Allen, a pioneer to Swaziland.
Shortly after the funeral services for Mr. Allen, Mrs. Allen returned to their pioneering post in Swaziland.
Mr. Allen served for several years as an Auxiliary Board member for protection in Southern Africa. He was among the first such group appointed during the Guardian’s lifetime.
In 1956 he was elected to the first Regional Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa that had jurisdiction over 15 countries.
In 1967 Mr. Allen began serving on the National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique, which in 1978 became the National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland. He was a member of that National Assembly until the time of his passing.
Among Mr. Allen’s more memorable accomplishments in the field of pioneering in Swaziland was his assistance in the purchase of land for Temple sites and Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.
In Swaziland three Teacher Training Institutes were built, one a National Center that includes a beautifully developed site for a future Bahá’í House of Worship in that country.
Knight of Bahá’u’lláh John Allen with his wife, Valera, in a photo taken about two years ago.
Argentina[edit]
Believers attending the dedication of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Saenz Peña, Argentina, are shown near the well behind the building that was dedicated July 13. Athos Costas, a Continental Counsellor for South America (near center of back row), was present for the occasion, along with Ṭahírih Vojdani, who represented the National Spiritual Assembly of Argentina.
Central African Republic[edit]
Five members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Central African Republic presented Bahá’í books last May to the United Nations Development Program resident representative in Bangui, Central African Republic.
The UN representative consulted for 45 minutes with the Bahá’í delegation on how Bahá’ís can collaborate with the programs of the UN organization.
A “United Nations of religion” is how the UN representative described the Faith. In his 20 years in Africa, he observed, no matter where he has been stationed the Bahá’ís have always been among the first to visit and welcome him.
The Faith was featured in a full-page article in the May 1980 premier issue of “Yaka,” a magazine
of cultural and economic news
published in the Central African
Republic.
The article, accompanied by photographs of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Shrine of the Báb and the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Bangui, Central African Republic, includes an accurate description of the history, principles and administration of the Faith.
Norway[edit]
A musical composition entitled “Hagen” (The Garden) by Lasse Thoresen, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Norway, was chosen by the Norwegian Broadcasting Company as Norway’s contribution to the annual International Rostrum of Composers, a forum for the exchange of contemporary music that is sponsored by the International Music Council.
In May 1979, representatives of radio broadcasting organizations from 36 countries met at UNESCO House in Paris to listen to 73 musical works.
Mr. Thoresen’s work was chosen by the tribunal as one of the “recommended works” of the 1979 selection. Each national group commits itself to broadcast a minimum of six of the works during the current season.
“Hagen” ranked ninth in frequency of performance among all 73 works broadcast during the year.
A recent report shows that it has been performed in 22 countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America. In the United States the 175 member stations of the National Public Radio system have each broadcast the work.
A 28-minute work in four movements, the imaginative and highly original composition is based on a text familiar to all Bahá’ís. It is a passage attributed to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá by Florence Esty in her 1930 book, The Garden of the Heart.
Originally composed by commission from the Norwegian Composer’s Union for the opening of the chamber music hall in Oslo’s new Concert House in 1977, the work has recently been recorded on the Phillips label as a part of a series documenting Norwegian contemporary music.
Finland[edit]
Shown here are some of the approximately 180 participants at the Finnish Bahá’í Summer School that was held in July in Naantali, Finland. ‘The Formative Age of the Faith: Preparation for the Future’ was this year’s summer school theme.
Honduras[edit]
In an effort to reach all levels of society as called for in the Seven Year Plan, 400 government officials, intellectuals and business leaders were invited to a proclamation meeting June 7 in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras.
The hotel conference room was filled to capacity to hear speakers including Continental Counsellor Artemus Lamb and Daniel Wegener, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Honduras. The meeting’s over-all theme was “The Spiritual Foundations of Social Peace.”
Following the meeting six people declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh. Several participants took pamphlets and purchased Bahá’í books.
The meeting was the first large proclamation effort in Tegucigalpa since a visit 15 years ago by the Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery.
Zimbabwe[edit]
More than 200 people including 50 youth embraced the Faith and nine new Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed during a 10-day teaching campaign that began May 24 in Que Que, Zimbabwe.
The campaign was dedicated to the memory of the Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir.
Eight communities in the Salisbury area sent 30 believers to assist in the teaching effort.
Portugal[edit]
One hundred seventy-five people attended a Bahá’í proclamation program last June 20 at the University of Lisbon, Portugal, that was part of a nationwide effort to reach all strata of Portuguese society.
The university proclamation program included a talk by a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Portugal, a performance by two Bahá’í musicians, a panel discussion, and a presentation of the film of the Panama Temple dedication along with a chance for people to talk informally with the believers.
The National Spiritual Assembly plans to continue using the university for future proclamation efforts.
Auxiliary Board members Ana Costa (third from left in back row) and Fedross Imani (seventh from left in back row) gathered for this photograph with 11 of their 15 assistants who attended a meeting last April 10-11 at the Bahá’í National Center in Lisbon, Portugal. Consultation focused on ways to serve the Portuguese Assemblies and Groups and help win new victories in the teaching and consolidation work in Portugal.
The approximately 100 participants at the Portuguese Bahá’í summer school held last August 21-30 in Landeira gathered for this group photograph. The week-long school featured study classes on The Advent of Divine Justice, classes on the Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, and classes on the theme ‘unity and spirituality.’ Two hundred residents of Landeira attended a public meeting that was organized by the National Teaching Committee and held during the same week. Two non-Bahá’í youth at the summer school declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.
Canada[edit]
“Science and the Bahá’í Faith,” an article by a Canadian believer who is a professor of mathematics, has been published in “Zygon, A Journal of Religion and Science,” a periodical that can be found in many university libraries.
The article, by Dr. William S. Hatcher, professor of mathematics at the Université Laval, City University of Québec, Canada, first appeared in 1977 in “Bahá’í Studies 2,” published by the Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá’í Faith.
Dr. Hatcher’s 24-page essay appears in “Zygon” following an introductory editorial that says the essay illustrates that Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá “were aware of and responded to the scientific view of the world and to the modern scientific way of knowing as they understood it.”
The editorial adds that Dr. Hatcher shows “how the theories and methods of science may be incorporated rationally into the views of a particular community on faith.”
Dr. Hatcher’s essay includes a number of quotations from the Bahá’í Writings.
“Zygon” is published by the University of Chicago Press for the Meadville-Lombard Theological School.
French Antilles[edit]
Ginette Montabord, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the French Antilles, was interviewed for 50 minutes last August on a radio station in Guadeloupe, French Antilles.
The interview covered many aspects of the Faith and was interspersed with songs about the Faith.
Two other believers were recently interviewed on radio about the persecution of believers in Iran.
Bahá’ís on Martinique have obtained free air time on a radio station there. Reports about United Nations Day and the recent deaths of Hands of the Cause of God have been broadcast along with short biographies of their Bahá’í work and requests that the news be relayed to local Bahá’í communities.
Malawi[edit]
The first Bahá’í summer school in Malawi was announced nationwide with newspaper publicity and by nine radio announcements in Chicewa, the country’s principal language.
Announcements about the five-day school at the Amalika Bahá’í Institute included invitations for the public to call a phone number for more information about the Faith. Several callers were sent introductory literature.
Reporting on the summer school activities the Times Reporter of Blantyre, Malawi, wrote on August 19, “The main features of a Bahá’í Summer School are devotion, study, and fellowship. One of the most enjoyable experiences was to share in all the chores of the school, where young and old, black and white, worked in a spirit of unity and cooperation....”
Chile[edit]
One hundred-ninety believers including Continental Counsellors Athos Costas, Mas’ud Khamsí and Donald Witzel attending a teaching conference August 18 in Valparaiso, Chile.
Participants who had come from every part of the country contributed $20,000 for the construction of two more rural schools in the Cautin area along with $3,000 toward the establishment of a Bahá’í radio station in Chile.
A number of believers at the conference expressed their intention to become homefront pioneers. Twenty-four people recently became Bahá’ís in the Las Condes district of Santiago, the nation’s capital. The Faith has recently been growing in other Chilean cities and in the rural Indian regions of the country.
Bahamas[edit]
A delegation of three Bahá’ís representing the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahamas presents four Bahá’í books to the Right Honorable Lynden Oscar Pindling, prime minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (right), during a courtesy call July 31. The Bahá’ís are (left to right) Shamsi Sedaghat, a member of the Bahá’í Public Relations Committee; Michael Horton, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly; and Brian Smith, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahamas. This first visit of the National Assembly to the prime minister lasted 45 minutes during which time the believers answered a number of questions posed by Mr. Pindling.
Fiji Islands[edit]
Approximately 90 people attended a National Teaching Conference held last August 15-27 at Suva in the Fiji Islands.
Using the theme “The Spiritual Enrichment of Fiji,” the conference agenda included presentations on the Covenant, teaching, and the Fund. The 20 children present participated in a mini-conference conducted by two pioneers from the U.S. and Malaysia.
National Treasurer John Handley presented believers with the challenge of achieving financial self-sufficiency by August 1981.
Two people who attended a public meeting declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.
almost the entire period of the Guardianship. They are an invaluable historical chronicle of the development of the Faith during the early years of the Formative Age—a must for teachers, administrators, historians, new and deepened Bahá’ís, anyone interested in the growth and spread of the Bahá’í Faith.
For a limited time, through midnight January 31, 1981, you can purchase Volumes 1 through 12 of The Bahá’í World at the special prepublication price of $150 NET.
You can also reserve individual volumes of The Bahá’í World in a special prepublication offer, through midnight January 31, 1981. After February 1, 1981, individual volumes will not be available.
Volumes will be printed and shipped three at a time:
- Vols. 1, 2, 3 available February 1, 1981
- Vols. 4, 5, 6 available May 1, 1981
- Vols. 7, 8, 9 available August 1, 1981
- Vols. 10, 11, 12 available November 1, 1981
Prices, catalog numbers, and ordering instructions are as follows:
| Vol. No. | Catalog No. | Price |
| Set Vols. 1-12 | 7-33-00 | $150.00 NET |
| Vol. 1 | 7-33-01 | 8.00 NET |
| Vol. 2 | 7-33-02 | 10.00 |
| Vol. 3 | 7-33-03 | 10.00 |
| Vol. 4 | 7-33-04 | 13.50 |
| Vol. 5 | 7-33-05 | 17.00 |
| Vol. 6 | 7-33-06 | 18.50 |
| Vol. 7 | 7-33-07 | 16.00 |
| Vol. 8 | 7-33-08 | 24.00 |
| Vol. 9 | 7-33-09 | 24.00 |
| Vol. 10 | 7-33-10 | 23.00 |
| Vol. 11 | 7-33-11 | 17.50 |
| Vol. 12 | 7-33-12 | 21.50 |
Send check or money order (including 10% for postage and handling on orders under $100, minimum $1.00; OR including 10% discount on non-NET items over $100) to:
Bahá’í Publishing Trust
523 Green Bay Road/Wilmette, IL 60091
Prepublication offer for
- individual volumes
- sets of Bahá’í World
ends January 31, 1980
