| ←Previous | Bahá’í News Issue 82 |
Next→ |
 Proofread onceReturn to PDF view
|
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís
of the United States and Canada
General Office: Evergreen Cabin, West Englewood, New Jersey
A SPIRITUAL ACHIEVEMENT[edit]
In future years, when the blessed institution of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is completed, with its accessory buildings and gardens, the believers will look back upon this time with far greater appreciation than we can now feel. For we are in the period of stress and sacrificial effort when the moment’s passing problem tends to blind us to the permanent significance of the mighty task.
But the Guardian stands above our limitations, and in his messages we can win through to a profounder vision of the reality surrounding our changing hopes and despairs.
Thus, on March 7, when Shoghi Effendi was informed that the ornamentation of the dome unit was completed, he sent this cablegram: “Overjoyed epochmaking achievement. Intense gratitude. Ardently supplicating still mightier evidences American believers’ exemplary stewardship Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.”
The final and complete figures are still to be reported, for certain items of equipment already paid for will be used in future work and hence are to be charged only partly as cost under the dome contract.
It is clear from these figures, however, that the original estimate is practically $2,000 more than the actual cost. Quoting from current report of Research Service: “This achievement is all the more noteworthy when it is understood that the original estimate did not include the furring system and underestimated the cost of placing the sections on the dome. This cost, including cost of derrick at $3,500, was $21,791.62. While this cost seems excessively high, it is largely for labor which involves very high rates in the Chicago district, and a large item for workmen’s compensation and liability insurance.”
In order to make the payments due in March, the National Spiritual Assembly borrowed the sum of $10,000 from the Northern Trust Company, Chicago, which amount must be repaid at the rate of $2,500 every three months.
With the Guardian’s expressed approval, received in the form of the following cablegram: “Heartily welcome proposal. Additional sacrifices entailed clerestory ornamentation will add further laurels to crown already won (by) American believers and hasten fulfilment long cherished expectations,”—the National Spiritual Assembly pledged sufficient funds to the Temple Trustees to enter into a new contract with Mr. Earley and with Research Service for the external ornamentation of the clerestory section.
This new contract is based upon a total estimated cost for work and supervision of $36,400. It is confidently expected that the clerestory section will be completed by early autumn of 1935, while the Century of Progress Exposition is still open.
According to the special terms of this new contract, the Temple Trustees may make payment in equal monthly instalments beginning April, 1934.
Viewing the Temple financial program as a whole, the National Spiritual Assembly would make it clear that in addition to the funds needed for current activities other than the Temple construction, the following monthly budget must be met for the year beginning April, 1934:—
For repayment of bank loan, $833.33. For instalment on clerestory contract, $3,033.33. Total monthly Temple construction budget, $3,866.66.
It is evident that this arrangement calls for steady, unyielding devotion as represented by regular contributions to the National Fund, but involves no such emergency sacrifice as has been incurred during the dome contract, when payments as high as $18,000 a month were required.
COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS[edit]
1. Publicity Committee[edit]
Although our most direct functioning is through your local publicity committees, who in at least fifty percent of the centers are reporting gratifying progress, we would like to discuss with you publicity as a Community activity. Our national releases are only a small part of the news. The rest is to be found in your Community and Assembly Life. We are convinced that with your help we shall be able to create and utilize news that will link us more immediately with the reading public.
Our work is educational and the newspapers are comparable in purpose to our public lectures. We may well borrow a page from the successful publicity of our national club organizations and see the value of creating publicity through planned events. With this thought in mind we have submitted to your Local Spiritual Assembly a list of possible projects which have proved successful in the past.
It is a principle of Bahá’í Administration that our best results come to us through the unity of mutual functioning. Local committees such as teaching, feast and welfare may be called into action to assist in putting across publicity in co-operation with the local publicity chairman.
One Community reports an increase of twenty-five in their attendance due to placing advance publicity for a visiting speaker. We cannot urge you too strongly to make every effort to endeavor to create openings for news.
- DORIS MCKAY, Secretary.
2. Publishing Committee[edit]
The Publishing Committee is now able to supply the following:
Bahá’í Lesson Outlines for Children, prepared by the Committee on the Training and Teaching of Chil-
[Page 2]
These outlines consist of four
sections containing lessons 1 to 36 and
a great many copies have already been
supplied to the Local Assemblies by
the secretary, Miss Charlotte Linfoot.
Those Assemblies who have been using these Outlines for help in bringing up the next generation of true believers have reported enthusiastically on their value. We wish all Assemblies who have not ordered them, would send for at least one copy to investigate for themselves the great need for this work. Mimeographed. Price for Outlines complete: Net, .75c.
Twenty Lessons in the Bahá’í Revelation, a more thorough study of practically the same subjects covered by the Bahá’í Study Course of 36 lessons and is particularly valuable as a supplement to it and for the individual research of advanced Bahá’í students. Originally issued as a Correspondence Course at a much higher price. Mimeographed: Net, .50c.
Material and Divine Civilization, Outlines compiled by the Outline Bureau of the National Teaching Committee in 1930. Mimeographed. Reduced price: Net, .10c.
Bahá’í Teachings Concerning Christ: Outlines compiled by the Outline Bureau of the National Teaching Committee in 1928-9. Mimeographed. Net: .10c.
Of special importance and interest to all believers is the following announcement:
The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh, by Shoghi Effendi. This new and most helpful statement on the fundamental truths of the Bahá’í Revelation is being distributed by the National Spiritual Assembly, one copy each, to all recognized believers free of charge, but the Publishing Committee, recognizing the need for a permanent supply, has published extra copies of the paper covered edition to sell at 25c per copy.
Cloth Edition. The same work, bound in blue cloth to match the binding of “Bahá’í Administration,” per copy, 75c.
3. Green Acre Summer School[edit]
July and August, 1934
The morning courses of the Green Acre Summer School will be in session five days a week, from Monday through Friday, from 10:45 to 12:30 each day. Courses will be conducted as round-table discussions, which the teacher in charge of the course may introduce by a short lecture. Previous experience has shown that members of the classes usually gain help and inspiration from each course in proportion as they take an active part in the work of the class. The one exception to be noted to the conference method is that of the four lectures on July 23 to 26.
Reference readings on each course and problems for discussion will be provided students by the teacher in charge of each class. Students who come to Green Acre are urged to bring with them their own Bahá’í books for use in each course. It is hoped that it will be possible to provide a quiet room for use as a library and study hall, where the equipment and atmosphere will be such as to encourage serious study.
The program of courses is as follows:—
July 9-13. The Iqan of Bahá’u’lláh.
- Study of the first half of the book. Leader: Mrs. Elizabeth Greenleaf.
July 16-20. The Iqan of Bahá’u’lláh.
- Study of the second half of the book. Leader: Mrs. Bahiyyeh Lindstrom.
July 23-26. Four lectures on Nabil’s Narrative: The Dawn-Breakers.
- The purpose of these lectures is to convey the spirit of the Bab and His followers, rather than to provide a detailed study of the book. Leader: Miss Mary Maxwell.
July 27, 28, 29. Bahá’í Youth Conference.
July 30-August 3. The Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, including the Tablet of the Holy Mariner, the Tablet of the
Virgin, the Most Great Infallibility,
and selections from the Tablets to the Kings.
- Leader: Dr. Ali Kuli Khan.
August 4, 5. Amity Conference. (Program to be published later.)
August 6-10. How Can the Individual meet the Spiritual Conflicts of the Modern World?
- Leader: Dr. Genevieve L. Coy.
August 13-17. Proposed Solutions of
the Economic Problem compared
with the Bahá’í Economic Program.
- Leader: Bishop Brown.
August 20-24. The World Order of
Bahá’u’lláh,—including a discussion
of Shoghi Effendi’s six general
letters.
- Leader: Horace Holley.
August 26, 27, 28. Teaching Conference. (Program to be published
later.)
In addition to the morning courses,
one evening course is scheduled during the week of July 30-August 3. Mr.
Saffa Kinney will give four lectures on
the topic, “Bahá’í Teachings Concerning the Evolution of the Soul.”
An afternoon class for study of the Dawn-Breakers will be held on two afternoons a week, during all of July and August. The decision as to which afternoon shall be designated for this course will be made during the first week in July, and an attempt will be made to suit the time to the convenience of as many people as possible.
A sub-committee on Plays and Pageantry has been appointed for work at Green Acre. This committee plans to enlist the help of all those who are interested in dramatics, in the production of a play, a pageant or tableaus, centering around parts of the Dawn-Breakers. It is hoped that the final performance of this dramatic episode may be presented during the Teaching Conference at the end of August.
The foregoing program will be supplemented by a variety of activities, such as afternoon teas, informal evening conferences, meetings for meditation, sunset meetings on Mt. Salvat, etc.
Last year Green Acre entered a new era. As the summer progressed a new spirit of coöperation developed—a spirit which gave life to all the activities of the Summer School. It is our sincere hope that the same demonstration of Bahá’í solidarity will continue this year. Miss Helen Campbell, with the help of a trained dietitian, will have charge of the Inn and Cottages. Rates will be a little higher than last year: $10 and $12 for Bahá’ís and slightly higher rates for non-Bahá’ís. There will be opportunity for those who wish to earn their expenses to work a part of each day. Those who anticipate such work should correspond with Miss Campbell, 204 West 55th Street, New York City, as early as possible, as demands for these openings are already coming in.
With excellent food which the slightly higher rates permit, with the unusually interesting and varied program scheduled, and with the same spirit of coöperation which we had last year, Green Acre Summer School should have a season of unprecedented success.
4. Central States Summer School[edit]
The fourth session of the Central States Summer School will be held at Louhelen Ranch, Davison, Michigan, June 30 to July 8 inclusive. The first meeting will be held Saturday evening, June 30, and the last, Sunday evening, July 8.
Among the teachers and lecturers will be Allen B. McDaniel, Mrs. Mary Hanford Ford, Mrs. Shahnaz Waite, Miss Gretchen Westervelt, Mrs. Dorothy Baker, and Philip Sprague. The
[Page 3]
regular daily courses planned are: Bahá’í Administration, The Dawn-Breakers, The Bible Illumined by Bahá’í Teachings, and one to be announced.
Following the general session there will be a special session for young people, July 10 to 13 inclusive, designed for both Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís. This will be under the direction of Mrs. Dorothy Baker assisted by Philip Sprague and others from among the teachers in the general session. This is a new venture in service for young people and needs the cooperation of the various communities in spreading the news among young people and in assisting them to come. The young people are urged to come to the general session, too, and this will give them a full two weeks at the Ranch.
The rates are as follows:
General Session (note that this is for nine days)
Dormitory | $12.50 |
Double room | $16.50 |
Single room | $18.50 |
Dormitory | $5.00 |
Double room | $7.00 |
Single room | $8.00 |
Louhelen Ranch is situated on
Route M15 about nine miles from
Flint and about fifty from Detroit.
Trains or bus will be met at Flint if
notice is given in advance.
Reservations should be made as early as possible with Mrs. L. W. Eggleston, 201 E. Kirby Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.
CONVENTION COMMITTEES[edit]
Hospitality Committee: Mrs. May Scheffler, Chairman, 1821 Lincoln Street, Evanston, Ill., Miss Edna True, Mrs. Zeenat Bagdadi.
All those desiring assistance of the Hospitality Committee in securing rooms during the Convention will please address Mrs. May Scheffler at the above address, stating what type of accommodation they prefer, how much they are prepared to pay for it, the time of their arrival and how long they plan to remain. This includes hotel reservations or rooms in private homes.
Feast Committee: Albert Windust, Miss Sophie Loeding, Carl Scheffler, Mrs. May Scheffler, Mrs. Corinne True, Mrs. Anne Bartholomew.
Committee on Music and Devotional Services: Mrs. Corinne True, Chairman, Mrs. Sara Walrath, Secretary, Mrs. Mabel Paine, Andrew Nelson, Mrs. Nina Matthisen.
Participating Communities | |
| Community | Number of Delegates |
Phoenix, Arizona | 2 |
Berkeley, California | 1 |
Geyserville, California | 1 |
Glendale, California | 1 |
Long Beach, California | 1 |
Los Angeles, California | 5 |
Oakland, California | 1 |
Pasadena, California | 1 |
San Francisco, California | 3 |
Santa Barbara, California | 1 |
Montreal, P. Q., Canada | 2 |
Vancouver, B. C., Canada | 1 |
Colorado Springs, Colo | 1 |
Denver, Colorado | 1 |
New Haven, Connecticut | 1 |
Washington, D. C. | 4 |
Miami, Florida | 1 |
St. Augustine, Florida | 1 |
Honolulu, T. H. | 1 |
Chicago, Illinois | 10 |
Evanston, Illinois | 1 |
Peoria, Illinois | 2 |
Springfield, Illinois | 1 |
Urbana, Illinois | 1 |
Vilmette, Illinois | 1 |
Indianapolis, Indiana | 1 |
Eliot, Maine | 1 |
Baltimore, Maryland | 1 |
Cabin John, Maryland | 1 |
Boston, Massachusetts | 2 |
Worcester, Massachusetts | 1 |
Detroit, Michigan | 1 |
Fruitport-Grand Haven, Michigan | 1 |
Lansing Michigan | 1 |
Muskegon, Michigan | 1 |
Minneapolis, Minnesota | 1 |
St. Paul, Minnesota | 1 |
Montclair, New Jersey | 1 |
Newark, New Jersey | 1 |
Teaneck, New Jersey | 2 |
Binghamton, New York | 1 |
Buffalo, New York | 1 |
New York City, New York | 9 |
Yonkers, New York | 1 |
Akron, Ohio | 1 |
Cincinnati, Ohio | 1 |
Cleveland, Ohio | 2 |
Columbus, Ohio | 1 |
Toledo, Ohio | 1 |
Portland, Oregon | 2 |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1 |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 1 |
Monroe, Washington | 1 |
Seattle, Washington | 1 |
Spokane, Washington | 1 |
Kenosha, Wisconsin | 1 |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 3 |
Racine, Wisconsin | 2 |
| ____ | |
| 95 |
In this communication Shoghi Effendi explains the fundamental truths of the Bahá’í Faith. His words constitute a new and precious source of inspiration as well as accurate knowledge. The friends possessing copies of Bahá’í Scriptures are requested to make in them an important correction which the Guardian has noted in this letter: Page 255, numbered paragraph 527, strike out the asterisk (*) after the word “He” in the fifth line, and also strike out the footnote at the bottom of this page. Corresponding corrections required in Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, by Esslemont, will be reported later. |
|
[Page 4]
secretary, on the subject of association with a Persian youth now traveling in the United States and Canada.
“I am directed by Shoghi Effendi to inform you that Mr. Yadullah Mobasser, to whom you have referred in your note dated Jan. 9th, came last February to Haifa and met the Guardian, and shortly after left for Europe. Having no recommendation whatever from any Assembly in Persia, Shoghi Effendi insisted that he should obtain a recommendation if he wished to meet and associate with the friends. He apparently failed to follow the Guardian’s instructions on this point, and had the Paris Assembly or Madame Dreyfus-Barney been informed of that, they would have certainly refused to give him any letter of introduction.
“The Guardian, wishing, therefore, to stress the necessity for every Bahá’í to abide by this important principle of the Administration, requests you to inform the friends not to associate with him in case he comes to the States, unless and until he can produce a recommendation from the Spiritual Assembly of the locality in which he lives.
- “Yours in His Service,”
- (signed) H. RABBANI.
- “Yours in His Service,”
- Haifa, Palestine,
- January 29, 1934.
IN MEMORIAM[edit]
The friends are requested to remember in prayer these departed believers:
- Mrs. Lily Wiggins, Phoenix.
- Frederick Diehl, Pasadena.
- Mrs. Pauline Ayres, Trenton, N. J.
- Mrs. George Busey, Urbana.
- Mrs. Angela Lynch, San Francisco.
- J. T. Reddin, Marstock, N. S.
- Mrs. W. H. Repogle, Bakersfield, Calif.
REPORT OF THE POONA BAHA’I SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY[edit]
(Concluded)
- 13 copies of the Hidden Words (New London Edition)
- 14 copies of The Dawn-Breakers.
We have contributed the cost of 22 copies of The Bahá’í World, Volume 4, and 3 copies of the projected publication by the Paris Assembly of a History of the Báb, which we intend presenting to various libraries, when received.
|
We have mailed 50 copies of The Goal of a New World Order to the Editors of the fifty leading Journals and Magazines of India, Burma and Ceylon, and 263 copies to as many from among the middle class citizens of Poona.
Literature in pamphlet form, both in English and Urdu, has been supplied to very many inquirers, both in this Station and others throughout India.
A poster our Assembly designed for display in those libraries where we had placed a copy of The Dawn-Breakers has been graciously remarked upon by the Beloved of our hearts. And the National Assembly of America has deigned to ask for more copies thereof so that, in the words of its esteemed Treasurer, “every one of our Assemblies and groups, about 80, should have before them this example of loving devotion and practical efficiency.” Such kindness is indeed, gratifying, the more so since it is unmerited.
Our thanks are due to Mr. Amirul Islam of Chittagong and Mr. Muhammad Arastoo of Rouza for their contributions of Rs. 15/- and Rs. 5/- respectively for the Temple; Mr. Amirul Islam of Chittagong and Mr. Abdul Aziz of Hyderabad, Dn., for contributing Rs. 10/- and Rs. 4/- respectively to our Assembly fund; Mr. Merwan Khosrove of Bombay for the gift of two Dawn-Breakers; and the very many Assemblies and friends who responded so generously to our appeal for subscribing to the Bahá’í Magazine.
We are deeply grateful to those Assemblies, far and near, who have written to us. We seldom have the joy of meeting friends from other countries; the letters we receive afford us some solace instead. May we humbly request that these loving messages be extended to us during the new year likewise? We must make special mention of the embellished missives of Victoria Khánum which have rebounded to us from the four corners of the globe, of the much-prized communications of the American N. S. A. and the Haifa Assembly. On our part, we have corresponded with many centres and individuals in India and abroad.
In conclusion, dear friends, may we entreat you to pray for us that Bahá’u’lláh may vouchsafe us His blessings so that purged of self and passion we may arise this new year to do our share in carrying this Message of Salvation and of Hope to a despairing world.
The Poona Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly,
- RUSTOM KHOSROVE,
- Secretary.
- RUSTOM KHOSROVE,
- Post Box No. 8.
MRS. PARSON’S CAREER OF SERVICE[edit]
Your cablegram announcing the sad news of the sudden passing of Mrs. Parsons into the Kingdom has much grieved the Guardian, and has brought added weight to the burden of sorrow which, only a few months ago, Mrs. Keith Ransom-Kehler’s tragic and unexpected death had placed upon his heart. He greatly deplores this loss which the American believers have once more sustained. But he feels confident that such losses will in the long run deepen in them the spirit of determination to serve the Cause.
Mrs. Parson’s long and varied career of service, particularly in the teaching field, the inestimable gifts of her heart, her devotion, her sincerity, her unshakable faith and her implicit obedience to the counsels and injunctions of the Master greatly endeared her to all the believers, and particularly to ‘Abdu’l’Bahá who placed in her such firm confidence....
May Bahá’u’lláh abundantly reward her in the next world, and may He fully sanctify and bless her departed soul and enable it to reach a still higher state of true blessedness and perfection.
- Yours in His Service,
- H. RABBANI.
- Yours in His Service,
- Haifa, Palestine,
- January 28, 1934.
