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The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís
of the United States and Canada
General Office: Evergreen Cabin, West Englewood, New Jersey
“O My beloved friends! You are the bearers of the name of God in this Day. You have been chosen as the repositories of His mystery. It behoves each one of you to manifest the attributes of God, and to exemplify by your deeds and words the signs of His righteousness, His power and glory. The very members of your body must bear witness to the loftiness of your purpose, the integrity of your life, the reality of your faith, and the exalted character of your devotion. . . . Beseech the Lord your God to grant that no earthly entanglements, no worldly affections, no ephemeral pursuits, may tarnish the purity or embitter the sweetness of that grace which flows through you. I am preparing you for the advent of a mighty Day. Exert your utmost endeavour that, in the world to come, I, who am now instructing you, may, before the mercy-seat of God, rejoice in your deeds and glory in your achievements.”—The Báb’s parting words to Letters of the Living. (The Dawn-Breakers, page 92-94.)
A LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY[edit]
The Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, through the Spiritual Assemblies.
Beloved friends:
The National Assembly elected by the recent Convention has sought, by consultation and by prayer, those sources of Guidance which alone can make its services to Shoghi Effendi and to the believers truly effective at this crucial time.
This coming Bahá’í year, for every American believer, will he one of profound significance. Little by little we will be able to understand the Providential forces which inspired the Guardian to give us his translation, and his discerning editorship, of Nabil’s Narrative, and immediately after its publication to issue to us the communication dated March 21, 1932, recently sent to all American Bahá’ís under the title of “The Golden Age of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh,” in which we are addressed as “Fellow-defenders” of the Faith.
“In the blood of the unnumbered martyrs of Persia.” Shoghi Effendi writes in that communication, “lay the seed of the Divinely-appointed Administration which, though transplanted from its native soil, is now budding out, under your loving care, into a new order, destined to overshadow all mankind. For great as have been the attainments and unforgettable the services of the pioneers of the heroic age of the Cause in Persia, the contribution which their spiritual descendents, the American believers, the champion builders of the organic structure of the Cause, are now making towards the fulfilment of the Plan which must usher in the golden age of the Cause is no less meritorious in this strenuous period of its history.”
When read at the Convention, these words evoked in every delegate and believer present a deeper understanding of the vital importance of the Plan of Unified Action, adopted in order to complete the external decoration of the Temple. Since, as our Guardian has affirmed, the completion of the Temple is the condition laid down by Divine Wisdom for the “golden age” of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, nothing must prevent us from making collectively, the contribution of $150,000 needed for the first unit of external decoration by June, 1933.
It was in the form of a united, heart-felt pledge that the Convention responded by sending Shoghi Effendi this message: “Profoundly impressed America’s Divine destiny. Conscious our incapacity for heroic task, will unitedly press forward under Guardian’s invincible leadership in fulfilment Plan ushering in golden age of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.”
“Would to God,” Shoghi Effendi writes in concluding his message of March 21, “that by the end of the spring of the year 1933 the multitudes who, from the remote corners of the globe, will throng the grounds of the Great Fair to be held in the neighborhood of that hallowed shrine may, as a result of your sustained spirit of self-sacrifice, be privileged to gaze on the arrayed splendour of its dome—a dome that shall stand as a flaming beacon and a symbol of hope amidst the gloom of a despairing world.”
It is the essence of faith to recognize that with a call from on high there comes, simultaneously, the kindling flame which, entering the hearts of the believers, inspires the superhuman power to give the call effect. That call from on high has reached the hearts of American Bahá’ís—may we be among the faithful who, by self-sacrifice, can contribute to the full success of the Temple Plan!
Sacrifice and Concentration of Effort
The first endeavor of the National Assembly has been to find ways and means by which the combined efforts of the believers, fed from the “hidden springs of celestial strength,” can move forward steadily toward the mighty goal.
Not only sacrifice, but concentration of effort, is needed throughout the coming year in greater measure than ever before. The Assembly urges each American believer, anxious to respond to the Guardian’s plea, to acquaint himself with the details of the Plan and associate himself whole-heartedly with its progressive unfoldment.
In order to bend every energy of the Cause in America to the one supreme task, the National Assembly takes this first opportunity to explain its general aims and methods.
Bahá’í News
The monthly and also special numbers
[Page 2]
of Bahá’í News recently published
have made a great advance in
the direction of Shoghi Effendi’s expressed
hope that this publication shall
one day become the foremost Bahá’í
newspaper in the world.
Not merely for economy but also in order that under the special conditions facing us at this time Bahá’í News may do its part in maintaining continuous and immediate communication between the National Assembly and all the believers called upon to support the Plan of Unified Action, it has been decided to reduce its size to four pages and have it edited and published from the National Office. During this period of sacrifice and concentration, Bahá’í News is to be conducted as the National Assembly’s bulletin, or monthly letter, to the friends. We hope that the result of success in completing the Plan will be, in the near future, to provide far larger facilities for the extension both of Bahá’í News and The Bahá’í Magazine than either publication has been granted so far.
Monthly Reports
The National Assembly requests each Local Spiritual Assembly to make a monthly report of its activities in the various fields of Bahá’í effort: Teaching, Inter-Racial Amity, National Fund, etc. These reports will have a twofold value—first, in permitting each Local Assembly to grow in responsibility and administrative capacity by more careful study of its affairs and more efficient planning of all local activities; and second, by enabling the National Assembly to become better acquainted with the progress of the Cause in America as a whole. These reports may deal frankly with problems and difficulties as well as with constructive service and accomplishment. In our Cause, many obstacles vanish when sincerely and humbly faced.
Assemblies in the Pacific States are instructed to send their monthly reports to Mr. Leroy Ioas, 640 46th Avenue, San Francisco; Assemblies in the Central States should send them to Mr. Carl Scheffler, 1821 Lincoln Street, Evanston, Illinois; and Assemblies in the Eastern States to Mr. Siegfried Schopflocher, 1102 University Street, Montreal, Quebec. Through these channels the reports will be transmitted to the National Assembly.
Monthly reports are also requested from each Committee of the National Assembly. These are to be sent to the Secretary, Evergreen Cabin, West Englewood, New Jersey. To meet the new conditions of the world, and effect every possible economy of effort and money, National Committees are urged to plan their work so as to build Bahá’í activity upon the substantial foundation ol the Local Assemblies. The National Assembly, and its Committees, will seek to avoid unnecessary and complicated arrangements not part of the permanent administrative body of the Cause. To assist in releasing the tremendous spiritual forces latent in all local Bahá’í communities, is and must be our highest aim. As the Guardian pointed out many years ago, authority is vested in the National Assembly, power in the Local Assembly. Obviously, such institutions as our three Bahá’í Summer Schools do not fall within the range of this general principle.
Since the new plan for Bahá’í News will not permit the National Assembly to publish all news of interest and importance, Local Assemblies are urged to issue Inter-Assembly letters conveying details of the activities and services of a local character rendered by members of their communities.
The Supreme Objective
To finish the Temple dome before the opening of the Chicago Exposition, contributions to the National Fund will be required in the amount of $150,000, plus the annual budget, approximately $25,300 for activities administered by the National Assembly, approximately $10,000 for Temple operation administered by the Temple Trustees, and approximately $2,500 for Green Acre operation administered by the Green Acre Trustees, a total of $187,300.
We need not be dismayed by this seemingly impossible sum.
The item of $150,000 for Temple construction has been analyzed as follows:
Cost of molds ................... $30,000
Decoration of the nine ribs ..... 72,000 Decoration of the nine dome
- sections ....................... 48,000
- Total ......................... $150,000
Under this analysis the cost of each of the ribs is $8,000. Each dome section consists of three strips, cast and applied separately, making twenty-seven units of external decoration, the cost of each being one-twenty-seventh of $48,000, or $1,777.77 -/7.
Thus, as soon as the molds are prepared, which requires $30,000, the actual external decoration can proceed at the rate of less than $1,800 per unit until the nine sections are cast and applied, after which the nine ribs will be made at the cost of $8,000 each.
$10,000 has already been made available toward the cost of the molds. (Note. All the molds made for this first Temple in the West can be used for other similar Bahá’í Houses of Worship in the future.)
Assuming 1,800 contributing believers, it follows that donations averaging only $1.00 each (over and above the current yearly budget) will produce one of the twenty-seven strips. By considering the matter in this light, the Temple construction resolves itself into the wholly spiritual problem of maintaining unswerving, conscious and loving devotion among all the believers for the supreme objective established by the Guardian for this present Bahá’í year.
“Spiritual Descendents of the Persian Martyrs”
In terming the American believers the “spiritual descendants” of those whose complete sacrifice of self revealed the power of the Cause of God in the land of its birth, the Guardian has described the greatness and also the true character of our task. We, too, must sacrifice self in the path. In the ordering of our daily lives so that every penny of surplus funds may be transmuted by consecration to Bahá’í use; in the rending of those veils of personality which separate the workers in each local community and prevent the outpouring of the Light of Truth and the Fire of Love; in raising our hearts to the plane of prayer and our minds to the degree of meditation; in constant, unremitting study of the creative Word; in the faithful performance of every Bahá’í duty assigned us by our co-workers and enthusiastic association with our fellow-believers at Nineteen-Day Feasts, Anniversaries and other meetings—thus, and thus alone may we arise to the heights of the privilege foreseen for us collectively by Shoghi Effendi, the inspired Mouthpiece on earth of the celestial powers.
This communication is long and detailed. The members of the National Assembly can only ask for your loving consideration of the needs of this tremendous hour which have made full explanation imperative.
- Faithfully your co-workers,
- The National Spiritual Assembly,
“Fear not the threats of the wicked.
neither be dismayed by the clamour of
the ungodly. Each one of you has his
appointed hour, and when that time is
come, neither the assaults of your
[Page 3]
enemy nor the endeavours of your
friends will be able either to retard
or advance that hour. If the powers
of the earth league themselves against
you, they will be powerless, ere that
hour strikes, to lessen by one jot or
tittle the span of your life.”—Quddús
to his companions. (The Dawn-Breakers,
page 392.)
BAHA’I SUMMER SCHOOLS[edit]
“Shoghi Effendi feels that the real purpose of these Summer Schools is to deepen the knowledge of the friends. Lectures are very essential for they give a wonderful picture of the subject matter. But it is not sufficient to have a picture; the friends should deepen their knowledge and this can be achieved if, together with the lectures, there are study classes and seminar work carried on by the same lecturer. The world is undoubtedly facing a great crisis and the social, economic and political conditions are becoming daily more complex. Should the friends desire to take the lead in informing the world, they should start by educating themselves and understand what the troubles and problems really are which baffle the minds of men. It is in these Summer Schools that this training should be provided for the friends.” (Shoghi Effendi, through his secretary, to Mr. John Bosch.)
1. Green Acre
Green Acre will be open from July first until after Labor Day. The efficient and devoted services of Mrs. Flora Valentine have been secured again this year.
Room and board at the Inn and adjacent Cottages may be obtained at prices ranging from $15 to $23 per week for single room with board, and from $15 to $20 per week for double room and board. By the middle of July the Tea House will be opened and tea and light refreshments served a la carte. Rooms at the Inn and cottages can only be obtained at the rate which includes the price of meals. Guests taking rooms at Fellowship House may board at the Inn for $12 per week, or $1.85 per day, Sundays $2.00.
Inquiries concerning rooms at Fellowship House, including lodging in the dormitory, and concerning camp sites and facilities for a community kitchen, should be directed to Miss Agnes O’Neill, Vice-Chairman, Green Acre Properties Committee, Eliot, Maine.
Green Acre imposes no distinction of race, class or creed.
Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Shook announce that their home will be open to several girls at $7 per week; or $1 per day per person, for room and board. Inquiries should be addressed to Mrs. Glenn Shook, Norton, Mass., to June 20, and after that date, Eliot, Maine.
The Bahá’í Summer School to be conducted at Green Acre by the Faculty appointed by the National Assembly (Dr. Glenn Shook, Chairman, Dr. Genevieve Coy, Mrs. May Maxwell, Mr. Louis Gregory, and Mrs. Mary Coristine, Vice-Chairman) will include the following interesting courses—a detailed announcement will be made next month:—
- 1. Early History of the Bahá’í
- Cause in Persia (From The
- Dawn-Breakers).
- 2. The New World Order: The
- Economic Question; Human
- Relations.
- 3. The New World Order: Universal
- Peace; Education for Peace.
- 4. The New World Order: Abolition
- of Racial Prejudice;
- Progress Toward Reconciliation;
- Organizations Promoting
- Better Racial Relationships;
- Artistic Achievements of the
- Colored Race.
- 5. Bahá’í Economics.
- 6. Foundations of Religious Belief:
- The Nature of the Divine
- Manifestation; Soul, Mind and
- Spirit.
- 7. Foundations of Religious Belief:
- The Evolution of the Spirit
- Through the Kingdoms; Immortality.
- 8. Psychological Principles for the
- Control of Personality: The
- Remaking of the Personality.
- 9. Teaching the Bahá’í Cause:
- Equipment of the Teacher;
- Varying Methods of Approach
- to People of Different Backgrounds.
Special Conferences: On Experiences in Teaching the Cause; On Esperanto Around the World; On the World We Want to Live In.
Of special interest to Esperantists, and to Bahá’ís wishing to study Esperanto, is the announcement that one of the cottages adjacent to the Inn has been placed at the disposal of Esperanto Informo, 50 Congress Street, Boston, Mass. This Esperanto organization will conduct the cottage as an “Esperanto-Domo” during the Green Acre season. Only Esperanto will be spoken within the Domo, and an hourly lesson in Esperanto will be given free each day. On March 14, 1932, Shoghi Effendi, through his secretary, wrote the following letter to Mr. Winthrop Lee, one of the officers of Esperanto Informo: “The Bahá’ís have always considered with deep interest and esteem the wonderful work the Esperantists are achieving in putting into practise one of the foremost principles of their Faith. Many of their numbers have been encouraged to study that language and participate in promoting its many interests. They would therefore be very willing to cooperate with you in matters that are of mutual interest. . . . May God hasten the day when your hopes as well as ours will be realized.”
2. Geyserville, California
(Preliminary Announcement)
The sixth annual season of the Bahá’í Summer School at Geyserville, California, will open with the Unity Feast at noon on Sunday, July 3, 1932, and continue for two weeks to July 16th, inclusive. The school dates have been set earlier this year so as not to conflict with the meetings planned by the friends in Southern California for the Olympic Games which start the end of July.
The program and study courses of the school this year will center around “The Goal of a New World Order.”
The daily program, therefore, will consist of two lectures followed by seminars each morning, study and round-table discussions on certain afternoons and public meetings on various evenings. There will also be a prepared course of instruction and recreation for the children under the supervision of a special committee.
The friends are requested to bring any Bahá’í and secular literature that bears on the New World Order and Bahá’í Administration.
The program is being prepared and will be issued in the near future.
On Sunday, July 10th, an informal teaching conference will be held, under the direction of the National Teaching Committee, to review the latest teaching work; inter-Assembly cooperation and new methods of approach.
The housing and eating arrangements will be the same as last year. Excellent camping locations are available.
It is very important for the friends and students who plan to attend the Summer School to notify Mrs. John D. Bosch, Geyserville, just as soon as possible of their time of arrival and length of stay.
3. Louhelen Ranch, Davison, Mich.
The Committee appointed by the National Assembly consists of Mr. L. W. Eggleston, Mrs. Dorothy Baker and Mrs. Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick. From this Committee the following announcement has been received:—
The Summer School will hold its second session at Louhelen Ranch, Davison, Michigan, July 30 to August 8.
Those attending the session last summer were enthusiastic over it. The confirmations of the Spirit were present in that harmony prevailed, the Glad Tidings were spread, souls were confirmed. In regard to it Ruhi Afnan wrote:
“To achieve success in such manner the first year is surely beyond what we could expect. Shoghi Effendi hopes that the friends will make the necessary preparation to do even more next season. Such gatherings will give chance to friends from different localities to come together and exchange views on the different problems of the Cause and also attract new souls to the spirit and teachings of the Faith. Not only will their knowledge of the writings deepen but also the unity of the Cause will be strengthened and the work of teaching be enhanced. It is surely a wonderful service Mr. and Mrs. Eggleston have rendered to the Cause. It is only God that can recompense them for it.
“Shoghi Effendi was very glad to hear that so many souls were confirmed there. As we see the suffering around us, caused by the prevailing financial crisis, we should redouble our efforts in bringing the message of comfort and peace to those desperate souls, and add to our labors, that the golden age promised by Bahá’u’lláh may dawn sooner.”
In Shoghi Effendi’s own hand are added these words:
“The account regarding your Bahá’í summer school is most encouraging and augurs well for the future. I wish you to persevere in your efforts and extend its scope and influence. I will especially pray for the success of your devoted and continued efforts.”
(Signed) Your true brother, Shoghi.
Striving to meet these desires and suggestions of our Guardian, plans are being made for intensive study of the writings, including Nabil’s Narrative, daily periods for a deeper understanding of prayer and meditation, periods of consultation on problems of teaching, amity work, inter-Assembly activities, special study and consultation periods for youth, a class in public speaking if desired, a series of public talks on The New Day. Part of the afternoons will be free for rest, recreation and friendship. Campfires in the evening invite friendly exchange of experiences and informal talks.
Among the special teachers and guides we confidently expect Mrs. Gift, Miss Easterbrook, Mr. Vail, and hope that Mrs. Greenleaf and Mr. Ober will be present. But all attending are cooperators, contributors to the spirit of unity and consultation.
The youth are already becoming enthusiastic over the possibilities of Louhelen Ranch and there bids fair to be a good sized group. The Ranch is a fine place too for children and plans are being made to have a play director as last year.
The life is that of one big family, outdoors as much as possible. According to weather and inclination, one can swim, ride horseback, hike, stroll or lounge during the leisure time.
Every effort is made to keep the expense as low as possible, From $9 to $12 covers room and two meals for nine days. Dinners may be obtained at Davison, nearby. There are accommodations for some in the farm house, where are also the living and dining rooms, and many small lodging compartments in Pullman Lodge and other buildings. There are one or two dormitories for men and boys.
Louhelen Ranch is situated on Route 15, three miles south of Davison. It is nine or ten miles southeast of Flint. Persons arriving by train will be met at Flint if notification is given in advance. Communications should be addressed to Mrs. L. W. Eggleston, 201 East Kirby Street, Detroit, Michigan and requests for reservations should be made as early as possible.
Louhelen Ranch offers a real opportunity for growth in spiritual friendship and heart unity among the believers of the Central States. May we all unite to “extend its scope and influence.”
“The palatial residence I have built with the sole intention that it should be eventually demolished in the path of the Cause, and the stately furnishings with which I have adorned it have been purchased in the hope that one day I shall be able to sacrifice them for the sake of my Beloved. Then will friend and foe alike realise that he who owned this house was endowed with so great and priceless a heritage that an earthly mansion, however sumptuously adorned and magnificently equipped, had no worth in his eyes; that it had sunk, in his estimation, to the state of a heap of bones to which only the dogs of the earth could feel attracted. Would that such compelling evidence of the spirit of renunciation were able to open the eyes of this perverse people, and to stir in them the desire to follow in the steps of him who showed that spirit.”—Vahíd to his wife. (The Dawn-Breakers, page 473-474.)
THE DAWN-BREAKERS[edit]
Believers who read this issue ,of BAHÁ’Í NEWS are urged to pay most careful attention to the several excerpts chosen from “The Dawn-Breakers,” the Guardian’s translation of the early history of the Bahá’í Faith. In Local Communities where a beginning has been made on the study of this miraculous book, the friends are stirred by the profound realization that in this work they have received a source of new and precious spiritual inspiration.
Once more we quote the cablegram sent by Shoghi Effendi to the National Assembly on November 2, 1931: “Urge all English speaking believers concentrate (on) study (of) Nabil’s Immortal Narrative as essential preliminary to renewed intensive Teaching campaign necessitated by completion (of) Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. Strongly feel widespread use of its varied, rich and authentic material constitutes most effective weapon to meet challenge of a critical hour.”
The first of the numbered, special edition of 150 volumes containing the Guardian’s autograph has been sent to Shoghi Effendi inscribed with the love of the American Bahá’ís. The Publishing Committee, through Mrs. Marion Little, Secretary, has received a cablegram from Shoghi Effendi expressing his gratitude and high appreciation of the excellence of the printing.
A sample copy has been sent by the Publishing Committee to each Assembly Librarian, that the friends may inspect the book and come to realize its vital importance. Local Assemblies may obtain copies on consignment, and have full right to allow members of their communities to purchase the book by instalment payments, payable to the local Librarian. The standard edition sells for $7.50; the autograph edition for $35.00.
On account of the high cost of this work, and the importance of meeting the cost without calling upon the National Assembly for an appropriation, the Publishing Committee does not allow Librarians the usual discount in remitting for this book.
