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| Bahá’í News | October 1987 | Bahá’í Year 144 |
The Arc on Mount Carmel
Cover photo: A model of the Arc on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. The buildings to be erected on the Arc on the slope of Mount Carmel center on the gardens in which stand the Monuments on the resting places of the Greatest Holy Leaf, Navváb, the Purest Branch, and Munírih Khánum. The buildings, from left to right, are the International Bahá’í Library, the International Teaching Centre, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Centre for the Study of the Sacred Texts, and the International Bahá’í Archives. A message from the Universal House of Justice concerning the completion of the Arc begins on page 1.
Bahá’í News[edit]
The House of Justice affirms plans to complete Arc on Mount Carmel | 1 |
Bahá’ís in French Canada meet to discuss their role in Six Year Plan | 3 |
The passing in 1912 of Thornton Chase, “the first Bahá’í in America” | 4 |
A tribute to Thornton Chase’s “exceptionally high spiritual station” | 9 |
More than 500 children attend “Stepping Stones to Peace” conference | 10 |
A report on recent teaching efforts in the Chaco region of Bolivia | 12 |
Around the world: News from Bahá’í communities all over the globe | 14 |
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 the Periodicals Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, U.S.A. Changes of address should be reported to the Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center. Please attach mailing label. Subscription rates within the U.S.: one year, $12; two years, $20. Outside the U.S.: one year, $14; two years, 24$. Foreign air mail: one year, $20; two years, $40. Payment must accompany the order and must be in U.S. dollars. Second class postage paid at Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright © 1987, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
World Centre[edit]
Arc on Mount Carmel to be completed[edit]
To the Followers of Bahá’u’lláh throughout the world
Beloved Friends,
Nigh on one hundred years ago, Bahá’u’lláh walked on God’s Holy Mountain and revealed the Tablet of Carmel, the Charter of the World Centre of His Faith, calling into being the metropolis of the Kingdom of God on earth.
Through decades of oppression and expansion, persecution and emancipation, His followers have successfully labored to carry His message to the remotest regions of the earth, to erect the structure of His Administrative Order, and to proclaim to mankind the divinely-prescribed cure for all its ills. In the past eight years the agonies suffered by His lovers in Iran have awakened the interest of a slumbering world and have brought His Faith to the center of human attention.
On this same Mount Carmel ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, with infinite pains, raised the Mausoleum of the Báb on the spot chosen by His Father, and laid to rest within its heart the sacred remains of the Prophet Herald of the Faith, establishing a Spiritual Centre of immeasurable significance.
In accordance with the same divine command, Shoghi Effendi embellished the Shrine with an exquisite shell and then, under its protecting wing, began the construction of the Administrative Centre of the Faith, to comprise five buildings in a harmonious style of architecture, standing on a far-flung Arc centering on the Monuments of the Greatest Holy Leaf, her Mother and Brother.
The first of these five buildings, the International Archives, was completed in the beloved Guardian’s lifetime. The second, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, now stands at the apex of the Arc. Plans for the remaining three were prepared in fulfillment of a goal of the Seven Year Plan, and are now being detailed.
As indicated in our letter of April 30, 1987, the way is now open for the Bahá’í world to erect the remaining buildings of its Administrative Centre, and we must without delay stride forward resolutely on this path.
Five closely related projects demand our attention: the erection of the three remaining buildings on the Arc and, added now to these, the construction of the terraces of the Shrine of the Báb and the extension of the International Archives Building. A brief description of each of these will convey an impression of their significance for the Faith.
- The Terraces of the Shrine of the Báb. In His plans for the development of Mount Carmel, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá envisaged 19 monumental terraces from the foot of the mountain to its crest, nine leading to the terrace on which the Shrine of the Báb itself stands, and nine above it. These plans were often referred to by Shoghi Effendi, and he completed in preliminary form the nine terraces constituting the approach to the Shrine from the central avenue of the former German Templar Colony.
- The International Teaching Centre will be the seat of that institution which is specifically invested with the twin functions of the protection and propagation of the Cause of God. The institution itself, referred to by the beloved Guardian in his writings, was established in June 1973, bringing to fruition the work of the Hands of the Cause of God residing in the Holy Land and providing for the extension into the future of functions with which that body had been endowed.
- The Centre for the Study of the Texts. This building will be the seat of an institution of Bahá’í scholars, the efflorescence of the present Research Department of the World Centre, which will assist the Universal House of Justice in consulting the Sacred Writings, and will prepare translations of and commentaries on the authoritative texts of the Faith.
- The International Archives Building. We have decided to construct, westward, an extension to the basement of the present Archives Building to provide accommodation for the central office of the ever-growing Archives at the World Centre. This institution is charged with responsibility for the preservation of the Sacred Texts and Relics and the historic documents of the Cause of God.
- The International Bahá’í Library. This Library is the central depository of all literature published on the Faith, and is an essential source of information for the institutions of the World Centre on all subjects relating to the Cause of God and the conditions of mankind. In future decades its functions must grow, it will serve as an active center for knowledge in all fields, and it will become the kernel of great institutions of scientific investigation and discovery.
It is impossible at this stage to give an accurate estimate of the cost of these projects. All that we can now say is that in the immediate future two objectives have to be met: to accumulate rapidly a reserve of $50 million on which plans for the construction can realistically begin to be implemented, and to provide an income of between $20 million and $25 million for the Bahá’í International Fund for each of the next 10 years. As the work proceeds, contracts are signed and costs can be accurately determined, further information will be announced.
The great work of constructing the terraces, landscaping their surroundings, and erecting the remaining buildings of the Arc will bring into being a vastly augmented World Cen-
[Page 2]
A model of the Arc on Mount Carmel. A partial view showing the International Bahá’í Library (left) and the International Teaching Centre. Also to be constructed is the Centre for the Study of the Texts while the International Archives is to be extended westward to provide accommodation for the central office of the Archives.
tre structure which will be capable of meeting the challenges of coming centuries and of the tremendous growth of the Bahá’í community which the beloved Guardian has told us to expect.
Already we see the effect of the spiritual energies which the completion of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice has released, and the new impulse this has given to the advancement of the Faith. Who can gauge what transformations will be effected as a result of the completion of each successive stage of this great enterprise? The Faith advances, not at a uniform rate of growth, but in vast surges, precipitated by the alternation of crisis and victory.
In a passage written on July 18, 1953, in the early months of the Ten Year Crusade, Shoghi Effendi, referring to the vital need to ensure through the teaching work a “steady flow” of “fresh recruits to the slowly yet steadily advancing army of the Lord of Hosts,” stated that this flow would “presage and hasten the advent of the day which, as prophesied by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, will witness the entry by troops of peoples of divers nations and races into the Bahá’í world.”
This day the Bahá’í world has already seen in Africa, the Pacific, in Asia and in Latin America, and this process of entry by troops must, in the present plan, be augmented and spread to other countries for, as the Guardian stated in this same letter, it “will be the prelude to that long-awaited hour when a mass conversion on the part of these same nations and races, and as a direct result of a chain of events, momentous and possibly catastrophic in nature, and which cannot as yet be even dimly visualized, will suddenly revolutionize the fortunes of the Faith, derange the equilibrium of the world, and reinforce a thousandfold the numerical strength as well as the material power and the spiritual authority of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.” This is the time for which we must now prepare ourselves; this is the hour whose coming it is our task to hasten.
At this climacteric of human history, we are called upon to rise up in sacrificial endeavor, our eyes on the awe-inspiring responsibilities which such developments will place upon Bahá’í institutions and individual believers in every land, and our hearts filled with unshakeable confidence in the guiding Hand of the Founder of our Faith. That our Beloved Lord will arouse His followers in every land to a mighty united effort is our ardent prayer at the Sacred Threshold.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
August 31, 1987
Canada[edit]
French-Canadians meet to discuss Plan[edit]
Responding to the call of their national institution, about 60 Bahá’ís from all parts of French Canada came together June 12-14 in Montreal to explore in depth the two themes put forth by the National Spiritual Assembly: “The Experience of Being a Bahá’í in Quebec: A Bahá’í Perspective” and “The Challenge of Teaching the Faith and Building a Bahá’í Community in Quebec.”
The gathering was blessed by the presence of two of the Hands of the Cause of God, John Robarts and Dr. ‘Alí Muhammad Varqá, who spoke with the friends assembled at the Bahá’í Shrine during the two evenings of the conference.
Dr. Varqá explained that it had been possible to achieve the goals of the Ten Year Crusade after the death of the Guardian, when the destiny of the Faith rested on the shoulders of the 27 Hands of the Cause, who were not infallible, because they had committed themselves to the infallible Plan of Shoghi Effendi. He encouraged the friends to study the Tablets of the Divine Plan, written by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá after His visit to Canada in 1912, and in particular the eighth Tablet which sets out the conditions Canadian Bahá’ís must fulfill in order to be established on the Throne of Glory.
Mr. Robarts spent some precious moments recalling happy memories of 1948 when he was elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada whose meetings were held from time to time in the Maxwell home (now the Bahá’í Shrine), and were always followed by a Sunday evening fireside in the very room in which the conference was being held. As Dr. Varqá did, he reminded the friends of their priceless bounty in having this blessed place, the only authentic shrine in North America hallowed by the presence and prayers of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Present in spirit at the gathering was the first Bahá’í child of Montreal, Mary Maxwell (the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum) who, in a cable, appealed to the believers in Quebec to arise and vindicate the unique position of the first place in which the Faith was established in Canada, in 1902. She recalled the great love that her mother, May Maxwell, had for the French-speaking people and her wish to see the French-Canadians embrace and serve the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. She mentioned the rapid expansion of this process over the past 30 years which witnessed the remarkable services performed by French-Canadians all over the world, as well as the large amount of teaching activity that has resulted in increased numbers of Bahá’ís in Quebec.
The National Spiritual Assembly was represented by its chairman, Dr. William Hatcher; its secretary, Dr. Hossain Danesh; and Ann Wilson.
Bringing with him the loving greetings of the Bahá’ís in the Bahamas, whom he had just visited, Counsellor David Smith enhanced the spirit of the conference by speaking to everyone in a language that was simple, direct and permeated by a deep love for the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. Speaking of integration, Dr. Smith said that what we have to talk about now is unity in diversity, and that if we live a Bahá’í life and work to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves, we will become “integrated.” He added that this process of integration is not necessarily pleasant or comfortable, but that we must learn to detach ourselves from the things of this world and to become more attached to the things that are of God. This, he said, is the example of the martyrs, and each of us is a potential martyr, called upon to detach himself from his personal opinions and be willing to give his life for his fellow-believers. We must pray, he said, to become “agents of unity.”
Auxiliary Board member Elizabeth Wright spoke about the need to make a connection between integration and teaching, and that integration is only a process, with unity the magnet that attracts the hearts. She explained that the Bahá’í administration is the means chosen by Bahá’u’lláh to enable each individual to take the development of the Faith into his own hands.
Dr. A.M. Ghadirian said that the 20 years he had spent in Quebec had made him a French-Canadian in heart and spirit, and that he was with us in our sorrow and our joy. According to him, this conference was the answer to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s prayers during His visit to Quebec in 1912. Dr. Ghadirian said it takes courage to say the things that are on our minds, and maturity to listen to them.
To stimulate consultation, the National Assembly had invited some French-speaking Bahá’ís to take part in panels and talk about the themes mentioned earlier. They all carried out their tasks to the best of their ability, some spontaneously, others offering the fruits of mature reflection. After one of these presentations, Mrs. Robarts said to one of the participants how much she and her family had prayed for this moment to arrive.
Another highlight of the conference was a presentation by André Bergeron on three Bahá’ís who walked on Quebec soil: Louis Bourgeois, architect of the House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois; and the Hands of the Cause of God William Sutherland Maxwell and Siegfried Schopflocher, who are buried side by side in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America[edit]
Passing of ‘the first American Bahá’í’[edit]
The passing of Thornton Chase, the first American Bahá’í, took place on September 30, 1912. It was totally unexpected. Mr. Chase, age 65, had had a few health problems previously, but they were not severe. He was a large man—six feet two inches tall and weighing more than 260 pounds—and his weight had sapped some of his energy. He also had persistent bowel difficulties for 20 years, which necessitated an operation during the summer of 1911. By mid-1912 Mr. Chase was again working full-time, and was active in giving Bahá’í talks whenever he could and tending his home in Los Angeles.
In early September 1912 he fell ill while traveling for his company, presumably from a bout of his bowel troubles. Two brief hospitalizations were necessary.1 After he returned to Los Angeles, his condition suddenly worsened. On September 26 he was rushed to Angelus Hospital and immediately scheduled for surgery. Mr. Chase hurriedly wrote to John Bosch, one of his closest Bahá’í friends:
“They have just brought me to the hospital and are going to operate on me for obstruction of the bowels in about an hour. It is a very serious operation and will tie me up here for two weeks or more. Please let Abdul Baha know.”2
The obstruction, probably a cancer, was not treated successfully; as a result, Thornton suffered five days of great
| “The Passing of Thornton Chase” and the article that follows, “An Appreciation of Thornton Chase,” were written by Robert H. Stockman of Somerville, Massachusetts. The selections are taken from a biography of Mr. Chase to be released in 1988 and are used here by permission of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. Copyright © 1987 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. |
THORNTON CHASE
pain. But even then he was always thinking of others; he had his secretary send to John Bosch a check for $50 to repay a debt he owed him.
Informing ‘Abdu’l-Bahá of Thornton’s condition proved difficult because He was on a train, traveling across Colorado and Utah en route to California. Finally, on September 28, probably in Salt Lake City, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was contacted. He cabled to Mr. Chase that He was coming west and that “if it were God’s will,” He would see him soon.3
On Sunday, September 29, the Bahá’ís in Los Angeles sent telegrams to Bahá’ís all over the West Coast asking for prayers for Mr. Chase’s recovery. On Monday morning he was “very low,” but rallied later that day. In the evening, many of the Bahá’ís from greater Los Angeles gathered at Thornton’s house to pray for him:
“The sun had set when a little group of earnest souls, twenty in all, from various parts of Los Angeles, from Pasadena, Tropico and Glendale, assembled in silence on a street corner amid the bustle and din of the metropolis, to pray for the restoration of their brother to physical health and strength.
“About seven o’clock we reached the home and had hardly entered before the telephone rang and we were informed that Mr. Chase had just passed away. Every head was bowed as Mr. Rice-Wray hung up the receiver and said ‘Friends, he has gone.’ Miss Wise arose and read the prayer for the departed, from the little prayer book, and Mr. Rice-Wray read two or three selections from Hidden Words, also another of which Mr. Chase was fond and which he had asked his wife to repeat to him often during his illness:
“ ‘With patience, then, the course of duty run.
“ ‘God never does, nor suffers to be done
“ ‘But that which you would do, if you could see
“ ‘The end of all events as well as He.’
“Mrs. Rice-Wray went to the piano and the friends sang ‘Nearer, My God, to Thee.’ Mr. Hall recited a beautiful poem, ‘He is not dead; he is just away,’ and the friends departed, a great sadness upon each soul. We felt, indeed, that we had been in the presence of the Most High and had accompanied our brother as far as we could.”4
The American Bahá’í community was grief-stricken by Thornton Chase’s passing. Memorial gatherings were held in many places, and were annually repeated for many years after his death. Star of the West, the American Bahá’í community’s monthly magazine at that time, contains more descriptions of Thornton Chase’s life and death, and of memorial services in his
[Page 5]
Thornton Chase (seated second from left) in an early photograph with Bahá’ís in the Chicago area.
honor, than it does for any other American Bahá’í.
In a sense, the American Bahá’ís’ first tribute to Thornton Chase came before he died, at the annual convention of Bahai Temple Unity on Sunday, April 28, 1912. The convention resolved to send a greeting “to Mr. Thornton Chase, now in Los Angeles, but whose spirit is manifest by the effect of his early teaching and devotion, all present rising in recognition.”5 In this way, the American Bahá’í community acknowledged his services to it while he was still alive.
After Mr. Chase’s death, several tributes were published. The Rev. Dr. David Buchanan, who became a Bahá’í as a result of Thornton’s teaching efforts, wrote:
“Thornton Chase was a noble-minded and large-hearted man. He understood the spiritual meaning of the Bahá’í life and had attained a height in his own experience reached by few ... Every one loved him because he was a supremely lovable man. He knew Abdul-Baha as but few knew him, and to have passed away on the eve of the arrival of the one he loved so much is one of the mysteries we can never solve. Thornton Chase had a mind deeply spiritual as well as philosophical and had a profound grasp of the Bahai movement.”6
One of Mr. Chase’s closest friends, Arthur Agnew, offered a particularly moving eulogy:
“He was a man of great loving character, with a heart that drew to him warm friends and a love which seemed to reach out, surround and envelop you.
“Oh friend! when we consider thy loving heart, we do not feel that thou art separated from us. It seems that we should more naturally write to thee than of thee. Continue thou thine efforts for the good of the souls of men an hundredfold now that thou art free in the realms of might and power. Be nearer to the hearts of those in trouble and distress and cease not from thy labors until all the souls of men have come into Peace and Love, and mayest thou always be in the fullness of happiness and joy in nearness to thy Lord and in His good will and pleasure.”7
Yet the greatest tribute of all was paid to Thornton Chase by the One whom he loved so much, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. On September 30, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was on a train to San Francisco; presumably, He learned of Thornton’s death the next morning, after His arrival. In His first public appearance, on October 4—apparently He was exhausted from His long trip and rested in seclusion for several days—He reflected on the considerable difficulties Mr. Chase had experienced during the last few years of his life, and the meaning of his sudden and seemingly premature death:
“This revered personage was the first Bahai in America. He served the Cause faithfully and his services will ever be remembered throughout future ages and cycles. He has written many books in this Cause and they will be studied carefully by the coming genera-
[Page 6]
tions. He traveled once to Acca and
there we associated with each other for
several days. Indeed he became free
from the troubles of this world. No
matter how long he might have remained here, he would have met
nothing else but trouble. The purpose
of life is to get certain results; that is,
the life of man must bring forth certain
fruitage. It does not depend upon the
length of the life. As soon as the life is
crowned with fruition then it is completed, although that person may have
a short life....Praise be to God! the
tree of Mr. Chase’s life brought forth
fruit. It gave complete fruit, therefore
he is free. He attained eternal rest. He
is now in the presence of BAHA’-O’LLAH.”
Apparently, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá also told the Bahá’ís in San Francisco that Thornton Chase’s grave should be visited annually.8
‘Abdu’l-Bahá had not intended, when He planned His trip to the West Coast, to visit any places outside the San Francisco Bay area, because He was greatly tired from His demanding schedule of appearances and talks. But Thornton’s death changed His plans. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had already missed the funeral, a lovely service held on October 4 and followed by burial in Inglewood Cemetery. Nevertheless, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá decided to pay His respects to the first American Bahá’í. As He later explained to the Bahá’ís in Oakland, “I would not have gone to Los Angeles had it not been to visit the tomb of Mr. Thornton Chase.”9 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá left San Francisco for Los Angeles on Friday, October 18, visited Thornton’s grave the following day, then took a train back to San Francisco on Monday, October 21.
A Bahá’í places a wreath on the resting place of Thornton Chase during the annual memorial service for Mr. Chase in Inglewood, California.
Thornton Chase at work in his study.
Twenty-five Bahá’ís accompanied
‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Thornton Chase’s
grave. According to His secretary,
Mahmúd-i-Zarqání, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
walked straight to the site without asking its whereabouts. He praised the
beauty and verdure of the cemetery,
then adorned the grave with flowers
“with a love and affection which
struck the bystanders with astonishment.”10 After chanting a tablet of
visitation, He revealed a prayer about
Mr. Chase:
“O my God! O my God! Verily, this is a servant of Thine, who did believe on Thee and in Thy signs; verily he hearkened to Thy summons, turned to Thy Kingdom, humbled himself at Thy holy threshold, was possessed of a contrite heart, arose to serve Thy Cause, to spread Thy fragrances, to promote Thy word, and to expound Thy wisdom.
“Verily he guided the people to Thine ancient pathway, and led them to Thy way of rectitude. Verily he held the chalice of guidance in his right hand and gave unto those athirst to drink of the cup of Thy favor. He presented himself at Thy lofty threshold, where he laid his brow on the fragrant soil of Thy garden and circumambulated Thy all-glorious and sublime abode, the traces of which are widespread and the fragrances of whose loyalty are sensed everywhere. Later he returned to these vast and extensive countries and proclaimed Thy name amongst the people, until his respira-
[Page 7]
Pictured are some of the more than 350 Bahá’ís and their guests who attended the annual Thornton Chase memorial service held Sunday, October 3, 1965, in California’s Inglewood Park Cemetery.
tion ceased and his outward sensation
was suspended, returning to Thee with
a heart throbbing with Thy love and
with an eye opened in Thy direction.
“O Lord! O Lord! Submerge him in the ocean of Thy glory. O Lord! O Lord! Usher him into Thy delectable garden. O Lord! O Lord! Usher him into Thy lofty paradise and cause him to be present in Thy meeting of transfiguration. O Lord! Submerge him in the ocean of Thy lights.
“Verily, Thou art the Clement! Verily, Thou art the Merciful, the Precious, the Omnipotent!”11
‘Abdu’l-Bahá then offered a eulogy in which He praised Thornton Chase as patient and long-suffering. He said Mr. Chase had an “illuminated” heart and that he had “witnessed the lights of the Kingdom of ABHA, and he was guided by the lights of Guidance.” He reiterated the importance of visiting Thornton’s grave and urged the friends to bring flowers there “on my behalf.” He stressed that “the traces of this personage will ever shine,” and that people “will honor this grave.” He even added that the Bahá’ís must have the “utmost consideration for the members of his (Thornton’s) family.”12 Finally, He kissed the gravestone.”13
‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave two talks in Los Angeles in which Thornton Chase’s passing was mentioned. At the second, He urged the Bahá’ís to commemorate Mr. Chase’s death each year not only by visiting his grave but by spreading “a feast for the poor and giv(ing) charity to those deprived.”14 He also met privately with Mr. Chase’s widow, Eleanor. He repeated to her many of His previous statements about Thornton—for example, He again said that Thornton’s “value is not known, but will be in the future”—and He sought to comfort her:
“I was exceedingly sad and heartbroken when I heard of the departure of Mr. Chase, for I loved him very much....Be not sad or grieved. Do not sorrow, for no man in this world is permanent. As there was a day for him to come, there is a day for him to leave....Mr. Chase was heavenly. Mr. Chase was spiritual. Mr. Chase was radiant. You have not lost him. At most, there is now a temporary separation between you. In the Kingdom there will be a meeting. It is precisely like taking a journey. You will meet him. Do not sorrow....Certain souls come and believe, and leave behind them an eternal light or radiance, which is the equivalent to a candle that never goes out....You should be
[Page 8]
Flowers adorn the resting place of Thornton Chase following one of the annual services in his memory.
comforted. Thus may the spirit of Mr.
Chase be pleased with your patience
and forbearance. If you were sad, he
would be sad, and you would not want
to make him sad, too.”15
Thornton Chase’s value can best be understood when one considers the importance of the qualities he exemplified. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had named him thábit, or “steadfast,” because of the great depth of his faith and devotion to Bahá’u’lláh. A statement by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s sister, Bahíyyih Khánum, offers an insight into the importance of this title:
“Steadfastness is a treasure that makes a man so rich as to have no need of the world or any person or any thing that is therein. Constancy is a special joy, that leads us mortals on to lofty heights, great progress, and the winning of the perfections of Heaven. All praise be to the Beloved’s holy court, for granting this most wondrous grace to His faithful people, and to His favored ones, this best of gifts.”16
Bahá’u’lláh, too, offers a glimpse into the nature of Thornton’s spiritual achievement, and the ecstasy that it brought to him, when He describes God’s call to the attracted souls and its transforming power:
“Give ear unto that which the Spirit imparteth unto thee in the days of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, that His Call may attract thee to the Summit of transcendent glory and draw thee nigh unto the Station where thou shalt behold thine entire being set ablaze with the fire of the love of God in such wise that neither the ascendancy of the rulers nor the whisperings of their vassals can quench it, and thou wilt arise amidst the peoples of the world to celebrate the praise of thy Lord, the Possessor of Names. This is that which well beseemeth thee in this Day.”17
In this passage Bahá’u’lláh might just as easily be describing Thornton Chase, whose being was indeed “set ablaze with the fire of the love of God,” and who did indeed “arise ... to celebrate the praise” of his Lord. It is in this spiritual sense that Thornton Chase was indeed the Occident’s first Bahá’í, and a beacon guiding future generations in their own odysseys to learn the mysteries of the love of God.
- Los Angeles Bahai Assembly, “Tribute from Los Angeles, California,” in Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 12 (October 16, 1912), p. 5.
- Thornton Chase to John Bosch, September 26, 1912.
- Los Angeles Bahai Assembly, “Tribute from Los Angeles,” p. 5.
- Ibid.
- Joseph H. Hannen, “The Public Meetings of the Fourth Annual Convention of Bahai Temple Unity,” in Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 4 (May 17, 1912), p. 32.
- The Rev. David Buchanan, “A Tribute from Portland, Oregon,” in Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 12 (October 16, 1912), p. 6.
- Arthur S. Agnew, “A Tribute from Chicago,” in Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 12 (October 16, 1912), p. 7.
- Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, “Abdul-Baha at the Grave of Thornton Chase,” in Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 13 (November 4, 1912), p. 14.
- Mahmúd-i-Zarqání, Mahmud’s Diary, TS, 387, Green Acre Bahá’í School Library, Eliot, Maine.
- Mahmud’s Diary, p. 392.
- Ibid., p. 15.
- Ibid., p. 15.
- Ibid., p. 392.
- H.C.W. (Harriet M. Wise?), “First Anniversary of the Passing of Thornton Chase: Los Angeles Bahais hold services in their Assembly Hall and at his grave,” in Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 13 (November 4, 1913), p. 225.
- “Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Mrs. Thornton Chase, at Hotel Lankershim, Los Angeles, California, October 19, 1912,” TS, copy in author’s personal papers.
- Bahíyyih Khánum, in Bahíyyih Khánum, the Greatest Holy Leaf: A compilation from Bahá’í sacred texts and writings of the Guardian of the Faith and Bahíyyih Khánum’s own letters, comp. Research Department of the Bahá’í World Centre (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1982), p. 148.
- Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, comp. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice and trans. Habib Taherzadeh (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1978), p. 265.
A tribute to Thornton Chase by Robert H. Stockman follows ————>
Tribute to Thornton Chase[edit]
His services ‘will ever be remembered’[edit]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s praise of Thornton Chase (1847-1912) makes it clear that he is one of the most significant figures in American Bahá’í history. In addition to giving him the title thábit (“steadfast”)—one of the most significant spiritual titles to which a Bahá’í can attain—‘Abdu’l-Bahá designated Mr. Chase’s grave a place of pilgrimage, revealed a Tablet of visitation for him, and commanded that his passing be commemorated annually. Few, if any, Bahá’ís in the world, aside from the Central Figures themselves, have received all three of these honors.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said Mr. Chase’s “worth” at present “is not known,” but “will be inestimably clear” in the future. He added that Mr. Chase’s services “will ever be remembered,” that his books “will be studied carefully by the coming generations,” and that Thornton Chase’s station in the future “will be known.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá apparently did not designate Thornton Chase a Hand of the Cause of God, but His other statements make it clear that Mr. Chase attained to an exceptionally high spiritual station.
One is at a loss to think of another American Bahá’í of Thornton Chase’s generation who possessed his capacities. He was, first of all, an exceptionally even-tempered and mild-mannered man. He scrupulously avoided arguing with others, and always sought to make love, tolerance, kindness and mutual respect the dominant mood in any meeting of Bahá’ís. His capacity to love anyone, especially those who disagreed with him, is repeatedly demonstrated in his words and actions.
No one compares with him in the development of American Bahá’í administration from 1900-1912. He is perhaps the only person before 1912 who had a thorough understanding of the Bahá’í concept of consultation. His service as chairman of the Chicago House of Spirituality, the Bahá’í governing council for that city, probably accounts in part for the great success of that institution, the only well-functioning Bahá’í consultative body in the western world during Mr. Chase’s lifetime.
Records make it clear that Mr. Chase was the prime mover behind many of the House’s activities. He suggested most of the activities that it initiated and then wrote the letters to others or did the negotiating necessary for them to be carried through to a conclusion. All of this suggests that Mr. Chase deserves the title of “premier American Bahá’í administrator of the Heroic Age.”
Mr. Chase’s essays and letters, which he meticulously preserved and, in some cases, annotated and edited for future generations, also demonstrate his great capacity. At a time when Bahá’í literature was scarce, Mr. Chase probably had a more complete understanding of the Bahá’í teachings than any other Westerner. He had read—indeed, he edited for publication—most of the works that were available in English at the time. His book, The Bahai Revelation, was the only substantial work on the Faith written by an American before 1912.
Mr. Chase’s job necessitated a three- or four-month trip each year across much of the United States. He spent nearly every evening on those trips speaking at Bahá’í meetings. As such, he was probably the most traveled American Bahá’í—only Isabella Brittingham can compare. In a day before the American Bahá’ís had a national administration and therefore a sense of belonging to a national community, Mr. Chase’s traveling made him by far the most widely known American Bahá’í on the continent.
Most remarkable of all was Mr. Chase’s profound grasp of the spiritual essence of the Faith, which, like that of all religions, lies in the individual’s efforts to worship God and the struggle to know himself. Mr. Chase understood that the core of the Bahá’í Faith, as Shoghi Effendi has noted, is mystical. The Bahai Revelation is the only significant contribution to mystical literature penned by an American Bahá’í to date. Perhaps Mr. Chase deserves the title “premier American Bahá’í mystic” as well.
Thornton Chase underwent 47 years of preparation before accepting Bahá’u’lláh. This part of his life has never been known in more detail than a few paragraphs. But by remarkable fortune, quite a large quantity of documents in non-Bahá’í archives describes those years. As a result, a nearly complete spiritual portrait of the man can be reconstructed for most of his life. Significant events of his spiritual life include: a vision that he had in 1873 or 1874; religious poetry written while he was living in Colorado during 1876-88; four years of membership in the Swedenborgian church, a Christian group that seeks a spiritual and symbolic understanding of the Bible; and 20 years of reading books on all the religions of the world, during which time he came to believe that God was preparing him for some great work.
Central to Mr. Chase’s spiritual development was his fascination with the concept of love, one which dominated his poetry, essays, books and letters, and ultimately served as the integrative principle in his understanding of the nature of one’s relationship to God and the world. Thornton Chase’s life contained fierce tests and great spiritual victories. It reveals him as a shining example to future generations of how to live, to love, and to worship one’s Creator.
United States[edit]
Pasadena hosts Children’s Conference[edit]
“Stepping Stones to Peace” was the theme of the first annual Children’s Conference held April 18 at the Bahá’í Center in Pasadena, California. The event was sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Pasadena at the request of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.
The idea for the conference sprang from a desire to invite Mr. Sears to visit the William Sears Bahá’í School in Pasadena, which was named in his honor 15 years ago. Mr. Sears said he would love to visit the school if a children’s conference could be held.
The seed having been planted, the Sears Bahá’í School Council formed a planning committee to begin preparing such an event.
With the San Francisco peace conference still fresh in everyone’s mind, the theme of “peace” evolved. The phrase “Stepping Stones to Peace” came from the peace booklet published by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of Canada.
The main goal of the conference was to help children understand their role in achieving and maintaining world peace by giving them practical tools and ideas to develop in their day-to-day lives.
Every effort was made to involve the children at the Sears School in preparing for the conference. They participated by designing the conference logo, coloring and making more than 1,000 buttons, assembling 800 workbooks to be used by attendees, creating drawings about peace, preparing speeches, and giving dance and musical presentations.
Among the children featured in the program were Vince Fazzi, who wrote and recited a “Poem to Peace,” and Laleh Shahriaree, who gave a speech entitled “Feelings on Music” and performed two classical selections on the piano.
The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and his wife, Marguerite (center of photo), are right where they want to be: in the midst of smiling children during the first annual ‘Stepping Stones to Peace’ Conference held April 18 at the Bahá’í Center in Pasadena, California.
Prayers for peace were recited in six languages: Spanish by Zaynab Cortez; Fijian (Mary Moody); Persian (Samah Sohrabi); Dutch (Leili Farhangi); English (Michael Perkins); and Arabic (Sanah Sohrabi).
Samira Anayati presented a speech on peace, the Los Angeles Bahá’í Youth Workshop performed several dance selections, and the keynote speaker, 10-year-old Nima Masroori, delivered the same memorable speech he had recited at the International Peace Conference in San Francisco last August.
The program, hosted by Leisa Sinclair, also included performances by “Eyes” (Jamie Heath and Tony Sinclair), and Leslie & Kelly who were joined in their finale by Sabrina Brittan, Brienna Cramer, Brandon Moore, Deanna and Ramona Morgan, Aziza Primous, Michelle Ruiz, Nazanin Safaie, Justin White and many enthusiastic children from the audience.
Of the 998 persons who registered for the conference, 509 were children ages 15 and under.
Among the workshops was “Spiritual Parenting” hosted by Sherry Masroori, Lisa Janti and Jim and Lee Haslip for children ages 0-3 years.
A special area coordinated by Taya Brittain was prepared so that parents could take part in the adult class while keeping their “little ones” entertained (a very successful concept).
Children ages four to 15 years took part in workshops that helped them to “Define Peace” and to discuss “Barriers to Peace,” “What People You Know Say About Peace,” and “Step-
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Above: ‘How do you do that?’ Trumpeter John (Dizzy) Gillespie never fails
to capture the interest of children by
demonstrating his rather unique embouchure, as he does here for youngsters at the first ‘Stepping Stones to
Peace’ conference in Pasadena, California. Seated next to Mr. Gillespie is Judge Dorothy W. Nelson, treasurer of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly.
Right: Turnabout is fair play. One of
the more than 500 children at the conference does an impromptu impression
of Mr. Gillespie.
ping Stones to Peace.”
As part of their classroom activities, children signed “peace scrolls” that were presented to representatives of the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly, the Spiritual Assembly of Pasadena, the mayor of Pasadena, President Reagan, Gov. George Deukmejian of California, the Pasadena chapter of UNICEF, the children of the Williams Sears School, and, of course, the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears and his wife, Marguerite.
The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears speaks to his ‘grandchildren’ during the first ‘Stepping Stones to Peace’ Conference at the Pasadena, California, Bahá’í Center.
The youngsters also signed “peace messages” that were attached to more than 500 balloons and released in the afternoon from the courtyard of the Pasadena Bahá’í Center. Several responses have been received and forwarded to the children who sent them.
As a result of requests from many of the children at the conference, a Speech Club and Friendship Club have been formed. (For information, write to P.O. Box 844, Sierra Madre, CA 91204.)
Mr. Sears addressed the conference several times during the day and visited the children’s classrooms, becoming better acquainted and creating a special, personal bond with his “grandchildren.”
A surprise guest was renowned jazz trumpeter John (Dizzy) Gillespie who captivated the children while sharing his love and his optimism for peace and unity.
To add to these already exciting events, local television stations KCBS, KTLA and KNBC sent news reporters to cover the conference. KCBS and KTLA broadcast parts of their interviews on the evening news, specifically mentioning the Faith and its efforts to educate children toward peace.
The excitement didn’t end with the conference. As a follow-up to the daylong program, a public meeting was hosted that evening by Mr. and Mrs. Sears.
Musical entertainment for that program was provided by John Barnes, Marva King, Jerry and Tony Sinclair, Michelle Dickey, and the Bahá’í Youth Workshop.
As Mr. Sears said, “It was a two-day conference in one day.”
Plans for the second annual Children’s Conference, to be held in the spring of 1988, are under way. It promises to be even bigger than the first.
Musicians, artists, children wishing to perform, present speeches, etc., may send tapes and other materials for consideration to “Stepping Stones to Peace,” P.O. Box 844, Sierra Madre, CA 91204.
Bolivia[edit]
Teaching accelerates in Chaco area[edit]
The dispersed and unorganized ranching communities of the largely inhospitable Bolivian panhandle have long been a stronghold for the century-old Franciscan missions, established in the forefront of colonization efforts that combined Indian wars and extermination campaigns against the indigenous Guarani population. Following the dreadful Chaco War of the ’30s between Bolivia and Paraguay, the region left a seared memory in the consciousness of Bolivians as a desolate, hellish place.
Our recent efforts to reopen to the Cause of God the Bolivian Chaco, a vast, savannah-like region bordering on northwestern Argentina and Paraguay, more than 15 years after Counsellor Hooper Dunbar’s seminal teaching efforts, are beginning to offer hints of promise to the pioneers here after two years of patience and determination.
The pioneering approach in the area was established by Alonzo and Cindy Roat Wind when they were contracted during the first half of 1985 by an international health and development agency to coordinate a primary health care project. The search for effective local counterpart agencies free from governmental intervention led to the exchange of a letter of intent of inter-institutional cooperation between the mainstream agency and two Bahá’í-initiated organizations, Nur University of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and the Foundation for the Integral Development of Bolivia (FUNDESIB), founded by Counsellor Eloy Anello and former Counsellor Athos Costas.
During the first year and a half the Winds taught indirectly and by exam-
Government officials have easily accepted the introduction of Bahá’í beliefs into events such as the inauguration of a health resource training center, where a number of attendees asked for Bahá’í prayers instead of the traditional Catholic invocation.
ple, taking care not to mix the professional requirements of the mainstream agency with Bahá’í teaching, and so perhaps confuse the two in people’s minds. Here and there people were found who had first heard the Faith mentioned by American pioneer Rizi Sunshine some 20 years ago in Tarija. These people remained devoted to her memory and were receptive to the Cause even though they had heard nothing from the Bahá’ís for a generation or more.
By early 1987 important project funding was found for FUNDESIB’s active participation in the Chaco Dvelopment Project, and a more assertive effort was begun to promote Bahá’í values and principles through project activities. More Bahá’ís have begun to visit and stay in the zone in recent months, so that presently, out of a combined project staff of 25, seven are Bahá’ís.
A goal was set to promote an ongoing cross-border exchange with Bahá’í communities of the Argentine northwest. As a result, interesting developments have taken place. Last November, when the Pope led a day of prayers for peace to honor the 750th anniversary of the birth of St. Francis of Assisi, seemingly drawing counsel from the peace message of the Universal House of Justice, the parish priest of Villa Montes, a young Franciscan from Italy, invited the Winds to take part with representatives of other non-Catholic religious groups in a similar unity mass for world peace, seating the Bahá’ís in a place of honor on the podium just behind the altar. When other evangelical sects proved unwilling to participate, the priest gave the lectern to Alonzo who greeted the overflow audience with a proclamation of the Bahá’í Faith and excerpts from the peace statement. Many local officials have since been given printed copies of the statement.
Meetings have been held at the Winds’ home, with the result that a number of youth and young adults have become interested in the Faith including several reporters and technicians from the local television station. Special attention has been given to two groups: (1) non-Bahá’í project employees, so that they too could serve as examples in the region; and (2) local clergy, who have been the particular interest of Alonzo.
| This article about teaching in the Chaco area of Bolivia was written by Alonzo Wind, an Auxiliary Board member from Santa Cruz. |
Within the first group, two young professionals have professed their faith in Bahá’u’lláh, with one agronomist prepared to declare his faith openly, mostly as a result of loving attention from Alex Blake, an American who is in Bolivia on a youth year of service. The nuns and priests have shown sincerity and openness to the principles of the Faith, and one priest, at the Feast of the Virgin del Carmen, dedicated his sermon to the importance of humanity reaffirming the Covenant of Mount Carmel with God, highlighting the importance this has had for all the religions.
Meanwhile, Bahá’í videos are getting air time on local television including locally-produced proclamation materials, while literature is being widely distributed. Government officials have easily accepted the introduction of Ba-
[Page 13]
há’í beliefs into events such as the inauguration of a health resource training center, where a number of attendees asked for Bahá’í prayers instead
of the traditional Catholic invocation.
While not as dramatic in comparison with areas where mass teaching is taking place, an important opportunity has been created through the opening of a wedge in the traditionally resistant eastern lowlands of Bolivia, a strategically important area for the Cause of God in a country where 95 per cent of the Bahá’ís live in the densely populated highland plateaus and valleys. In addition, valuable experience is being gained by Bahá’í development agencies in collaboration with a mainstream ecumenical international health agency which has become even more flexible after its directors learned that the noted development theorist, Dr. Farzam Arbáb, was a Bahá’í.
The combined project remains quite interested in attracting mature Bahá’í youth with practical skills and abilities and a degree of proficiency in Spanish for a year of socio-economic development and teaching service in the region. More information about the Bolivia Chaco Project can be obtained by writing to Alonzo Wind, Casilla 4577, Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
Above: Bolivians give their undivided attention as a Bahá’í teacher outlines some of the precepts of the Faith. Below: In rural Bolivia, simple dwellings are the rule. Here, a young woman, in open sandals, cape and traditional hat, poses in front of her thatch-roofed home.
The world[edit]
Bahá’í publishers at Geneva Book Fair[edit]
Bahá’ís took part May 13-17 in the first Geneva International Fair for Books and the Press held at the Palexpo, next to the Geneva airport in Switzerland.
Twelve Bahá’í publishers from four continents were represented at a Bahá’í booth: the Bahá’í Publishing Trusts of Argentina, Belgium, India, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and United States, as well as George Ronald from the U.K., Horizonte Verlag from Austria/Germany, Kalimát Press from the U.S., and Oneworld Press from Cyprus.
Total attendance was 83,000, at least 40,000 of whom visited the Bahá’í display. More than 3,500 pamphlets were given to visitors along with 400 copies of the peace statement by the Universal House of Justice; 500 copies of a special issue of the Swiss Bahá’í publication, Pensee Bahá’í, which deals with the International Year of Peace; and 400 copies of another issue of Pensee Bahá’í which was devoted to the famed Swiss scientist and Bahá’í, Dr. Auguste Forel.
More than 200 titles in eight languages and copies of the peace statement in 30 languages were displayed at the booth, which was decorated with flowers and included a large photograph of the House of Worship in India; 160 books were sold and orders were taken for even more.
During the opening ceremony, the official procession stopped at the Bahá’í stand while the president of the Fair introduced the Faith to the guests of honor and other dignitaries.
Several people expressed spontaneously their appreciation for the Bahá’í contributions toward world peace.
Zaire[edit]
Counsellor Wingi Mabuku (right), who represented the Universal House of Justice at the election last April of the National Spiritual Assembly of Zaire, is shown with Counsellor Hushang Ahdieh, who also attended the National Convention of Zaire on the auspicious occasion of the re-establishment of that country’s National Assembly.
Leeward Islands[edit]
The Bahá’í community of St. Eustatius in the Leeward Islands is engaged in creative radio programming and carries out an active children’s program.
Monday through Friday, Bahá’í radio programs are broadcast in St. Eustatius for 15 minutes starting at 7:30 a.m. Tapes of the U.S. Bahá’í Publishing Trust’s “Light of Bahá’u’lláh” are used as a series, with new beginnings and endings adapting them to St. Eustatius listeners. The “World Peace Song” from the “Loving Hands” tape is used as the theme song for the programs.
Local people have told the Bahá’ís that listening to the daily program really improves the quality of their day.
Meanwhile, the Bahá’í children’s class has begun a series of “Community Appreciation” projects to honor various civic workers, helping the children to become more aware of the work of each and the kinds of jobs the children themselves might consider as they are growing up.
The first project honored the staff at a community hospital. The children made get-well cards for patients, using the healing prayer, “O God, refresh and gladden my spirit ...”
The children had a nurse describe her job and those of other hospital personnel, from cooks to ambulance drivers.
As a surprise, the children presented a poster they had made for the doctors and nurses which read, “Thank you for being here.”
Alaska[edit]
The Honor Kempton Award, presented annually by the Bahá’í community of Alaska to an Alaskan distinguished for service to humanity, was given this year to Norman Nault, director of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.
All nine members of the National Spiritual Assembly joined 116 other guests at the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage to honor the recipient at a luncheon during which Tod Jones, chairman of the National Assembly, presented the award.
In opening the program, Mr. Nault asked a member of his native community to say the Lord’s Prayer in the Dena’ina language, known only to a few native speakers.
Entertainment included the Bahá’í musical group “Wildflower,” dancers from the East Indian community, and instrumental music.
A citation from the Alaska legislature honored Mr. Nault on his receiving the Honor Kempton Award, saying, “Norman Nault is an example that all Alaskans can learn from; a man who personifies the best in our people.”
Other groups represented at the luncheon included the Human Rights Commission, the Cook Inlet Native Association, and the Native Community.
Finland[edit]
A committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of Finland developed a study course for the religious education of Bahá’í children that has been approved for use in the public schools of Finland wherever three or more Bahá’í children are enrolled and where the course is requested by their parents.
Teachers of the course are appointed by the Bahá’í community and paid by the Central Board of Schools.
The Bahá’í community is profiting from a comprehensive law which came into force on August 1, 1985, allowing religious teaching to students who belong to other than those recognized religions taught heretofore.
At present, the Bahá’í course is being taught in three schools in Finland.
Sierra Leone[edit]
Local Bahá’ís in Yikandor, in the Pujehun District of Sierra Leone, work together to make mud bricks for their new Bahá’í primary school. Money for the project was contributed by Bahá’ís including the school children. The friends also supplied wood, stones, bricks and sand to help construct the building. Supplementary support was provided by the National Spiritual Assembly.
The Regional Bahá’í Center in Pujehun, Sierra Leone, which was dedicated last January. Present at the ceremony were the Paramount Chief of the area, a member of Parliament, the inspector of schools, and members of the Auxiliary Board.
The Netherlands[edit]
On June 26, the Dutch Bahá’í community officially opened the doors of “De Poort,” the conference building for the Bahá’í community of the Netherlands.
Among those present at the dedication ceremony were prominent local persons, members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, and members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Netherlands and neighboring countries.
The expressed hope of the National Assembly is that the conference center may develop into a center of Bahá’í scholarship and a beacon for seekers, not only for the area in which it is built but for the entire country and indeed the greater part of northwestern Europe.
Guatemala[edit]
Mrs. Raquel de Crezo (center), the First Lady of the Republic of Guatemala, receives a copy of the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement from Bahá’ís Parisa Nabila and Robert Porter, representing the National Spiritual Assembly of Guatemala.
Hawaii[edit]
One hundred-thirty people including 85 non-Bahá’ís attended a conference on “The Role of Women in Peace” held last November 9 in South Kohala, Hawaii. The conference was sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of Hawaii’s International Year of Peace Committee.
Gladys Brandt, head regent of the University of Hawaii and a well-known Hawaiian personality, presented the keynote address, highlighting Bahá’í themes, before an attentive and appreciative audience.
Counsellor Gayle Morrison said the conference was a major breakthrough in efforts to involve the Bahá’í community of Hawaii with the non-Bahá’í public, especially the native Hawaiian people.
On the same day, the local Spiritual Assembly of Honolulu achieved another breakthrough as “The Promise of World Peace” was printed in the Sunday edition of the Advertiser Star Bulletin, which has a circulation of about 300,000.
New Zealand[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand has established a Whare Wananga (School of Learning) for Maori Bahá’ís for the comprehensive study of the teachings and history of the Faith, and for the study of Maori culture and its relationship to the Bahá’í teachings.
The Whare Wananga, which started in June, is an intensive course of study held on a marae (a kind of retreat) at least twice a year in various parts of the country. Fifteen students are to make up each group, with specially invited tutors including some non-Bahá’ís.
Although the Whare Wananga is initially for the Maori believers, it will eventually be expanded to include others.
The National Assembly is considering the establishment of a similar forum of learning for Pacific Island Bahá’ís living in New Zealand.
Dominica[edit]
Mary Eugenia Charles, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica, receives a copy of the Universal House of Justice’s peace statement, ‘The Promise of World Peace.’
Australia[edit]
“Transitions ’87” was the theme of the fifth annual Family Farm Weekend sponsored last February 7-8 by the Kentish Bahá’í community of Tasmania.
The annual two-day event is directed toward helping rural families, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í, make the transition from city to country lifestyles.
The focus this year was on “establishing a community,” with a day-long series of workshops followed the next day by a Children’s Farm Fun Day.
Attendance, which in past years has numbered more than 1,000, was down this year to 350. This was attributed in part to the absence of large outdoor displays and demonstrations which have been very popular in years past.
Workshop topics included “Conflict Resolution,” “The Spiritual Basis of the Community,” “The Legal and Economic Structure,” and “A Violence-Free Society: A Gift to Our Children.” A multi-cultural evening of entertainment and recreation completed the day.
Prayers for unity and a special program of readings from the Sacred Scriptures of many religions began Sunday’s Children’s Farm Fun Day. The devotional opened with a prayer for mankind and closed with the singing of “Blessed Is the Spot” by 50 people of all ages and many nationalities.
The secretary of the “Transitions” committee noted that while attendance this year was the lowest ever, the intensity of the teaching was the best ever with many long conversations about the Faith: “We were there to teach the Faith,” she said, “and many people went away with food for thought and books in hand.”
Since a Personal Teaching Campaign was launched throughout Australia last March, 1,243 firesides have been held and 30 new enrollments are reported.
Three Bahá’í communities in Queensland, Australia, celebrated the anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb in May by giving an international dinner party for 150 people.
Bahá’í professional entertainers George and Louetta Karko performed, a talk was given, and various national dances helped create a cultural atmosphere that caused guests to say they’d never before experienced such a wonderful spirit.
One woman was inspired to become a Bahá’í.
The first large Bahá’í-sponsored event ever held in the Burdekin region of Queensland, Australia, a fundraiser for a bicentennial hall for the town, was attended by about 600 people, among whom were a member of Parliament and other prominent persons. The Bahá’ís were praised for the spirit of unity generated by the event.
Spain[edit]
These Romani (Gypsy) Bahá’ís of Torrevieja, Spain, are pictured during their Naw-Rúz celebration last March.
Malagasy Republic[edit]
Intensive teaching was carried out last March in four areas of the Malagasy Republic. In each sector, meetings were sought with the highest public officials and, when obtained, the courtesy visits provided an occasion for the presentation of the peace statement.
Proclamation events included public lectures, exhibits, and library displays. Visitors to the exhibits numbered in the thousands, and several people were moved to embrace the Faith after visiting the exhibits or hearing public talks. In Miarinarivo, where 100 people heard a Bahá’í talk at a school, 20 youth were enrolled.
A deepening and consolidation program was launched March 23 by the National Spiritual Assembly with a call for volunteers to visit the new believers in each locality.
Visits to local authorities and prominent people, with weekend exhibits at three key places—the Regional University Center, the Alliance Francaise, and the Town Hall—were the key ingredients in a campaign held last January in Toliara and Fianarantsoa. Firesides, a talk for 150 college students, and informal meetings were also held.
There were six declarations during the first two weeks of the campaign.
New translation[edit]
The first translation of the prayer by the Báb, the Remover of Difficulties, into one of the languages of the Torres Strait Islands was made April 9.
The language is Kala Lagaw Ya, used on one of the western islands; the translator is Ephraim Bani, a Torres Strait Islander by birth, well-educated with degrees in linguistics and anthropology and a recognized authority and translator of that language.
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| Introduce a Child to the Sacred Text 27 memory verses from the writings More than three dozen drawings—half in color—illustrate the quotations and sensitively depict the diversity of the world’s peoples and cultures Compiled by Leslie Lundberg Hardcover $995 |
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