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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
The generations that have gone before you—whither are they fled? And those round whom in life circled the fairest and the loveliest of the land, where now are they? Profit by their example, O people, and be not of them that are gone astray.
Others ere long will lay hands on what ye possess, and enter into your habitations. Incline your ears to My words, and be not numbered among the foolish.
For every one of you his paramount duty is to choose for himself that on which no other may infringe and none usurp from him. Such a thing—and to this the Almighty is My witness—is the love of God, could ye but perceive it.
Build ye for yourselves such houses as the rain and floods can never destroy, which shall protect you from the changes and chances of this life. This is the instruction of Him Whom the world hath wronged and forsaken.—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH.
“THE LIFE-BLOOD OF THESE NASCENT INSTITUTIONS”[edit]
The Guardian of the Faith, in a recent letter to the National Spiritual Assembly, sets forth the fundamental importance of the National Bahá’í Fund in words which will be deeply impressed upon the hearts of the friends.
“As the activities of the American Bahá’í community expand ... the institution of the National Fund, the bedrock on which all other institutions must necessarily rest ... constitutes, at the present time, the life-blood of these nascent institutions which you are laboring to erect.”
| Dear and valued co-workers:
As the activities of the American Bahá’í community expand, and its worldwide prestige correspondingly increases, the institution of the National Fund, the bedrock on which all other institutions must necessarily rest and be established, acquires added importance, and should be increasingly supported by the entire body of the believers, both in their individual capacities, and through their collective efforts, whether organized as groups or as local Assemblies. The supply of funds, in support of the National Treasury, constitutes, at the present time, the life-blood of these nascent institutions which you are laboring to erect. Its importance cannot, surely, be overestimated. Untold blessings shall no doubt crown every effort directed to that end. I am eagerly and prayerfully awaiting the news of an unprecedented expansion in so vital an organ of the administrative Order of the Faith.
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As a necessary consequence, Shoghi Effendi points out, it “should be increasingly supported by the entire body of the believers, both in their individual capacities, and through their collective efforts, whether organized as groups or as local Assemblies.” “The Guardian would advise your Assembly to continue impressing upon the believers the necessity of their contributing regularly to the National Fund, irrespective of whether there is an emergency to be met or not. Nothing short of a continuous flow of contributions to that Fund can, indeed, insure the financial stability upon which so much of the progress of the institutions of the Faith must now inevitably depend.” (July 29, 1935.)
This message is conveyed to the American Bahá’í community in order that the believers, one and all, may realize their full measure of responsibility as promoters of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
May we ever bear in mind the essential fact that the main purpose of this Revelation is to establish definite institutions, rooted in the conscious faith of the believers, which are to be the channels through which the Divine blessings flow to mankind. As these institutions—centered about the International, National and local Houses of Justice—develop their respective functions, the fulfilment of spiritual love in terms of true education, true social justice and true peace will characterize this sacred Day of God. “That Divine Civilization, the establishment of which is the primary mission of the Bahá’í Faith.” (The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, pages 3 and 4.)
It is by their institutions that communities of human beings are transformed from a mere rabble to an ordered society wherein the highest qualities of soul, mind and spirit are cherished and protected, but the existing institutions based upon strife must be replaced by those based upon the conception of the oneness of mankind.
In this vast process of world transformation, as the Guardian now emphasizes, the Bahá’í Fund stands as the bedrock upon which progress depends. The National Spiritual Assembly expresses the heart-felt hope that the local Assemblies, the groups and also the believers individually, will make a great effort to so order their affairs and strengthen their determination that the National Fund can henceforth fulfil its special function and, like the “life-blood” in any healthy organism, convey power to every organ and limb of the Bahá’í body.
THE AQDAS[edit]
In correction of the statement published by the National Spiritual As-
[Page 2]
sembly in BAHÁ’Í NEWS for July,
1935, the following statement from the
Guardian is now brought to the attention of the American friends:
“In view of the importance of such a statement he feels it his duty to explain that the Laws revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in the Aqdas are, whenever practicable and not in direct conflict with the Civil Laws of the land, absolutely binding on every believer or Bahá’í institution whether in the East or in the West. Certain laws, such as fasting, obligatory prayers, the consent of the parents before marriage, avoidance of alcoholic drinks, monogamy, should be regarded by all believers as universally and vitally applicable at the present time. Others have been formulated in anticipation of a state of society destined to emerge from the chaotic conditions that prevail today. When the Aqdas is published this matter will be further explained and elucidated. What has not been formulated in the Aqdas, in addition to matters of detail and of secondary importance arising out of the application of the laws already formulaed by Bahá’u’lláh, will have to be enacted by the Universal House of Justice. This body can supplement but never invalidate or modify in the least degree what has already been formulated by Bahá’u’lláh. Nor has the Guardian any right whatsoever to lessen the binding effect much less to abrogate the provisions of so fundamental and sacred a Book.
“Already in Egypt, Persia, India and Iráq, Assemblies, both local and national, are availing themselves of the opportunity which the autonomy granted to Eastern religious communities in matters of personal status has offered them, to press for the recognition by the civil authorities of such Laws of the Aqdas which they conscientiously feel they must uphold and enforce. They have even, under certain circumstances, preferred to suspend their activities and dissolve their institutions rather than follow the dictates of those officials who have tried to induce them to violate what has been expressly ordained by the Author of their Faith.
“The Guardian will, when the Aqdas is published, elaborate this fundamental principle of our Faith. This brief reference, he feels, is adequate for any reference you wish to make regarding this matter in the News Letter.”
- August 11, 1935.
LETTERS FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI[edit]
“Dear and valued co-workers:
“The separation that has set in between the institutions of the Bahá’í Faith and the Islamic ecclesiastical organizations that oppose it—a movement that has originated in Egypt and is now spreading steadily throughout the middle East and will in time communicate its influence to the West—imposes upon every loyal upholder of the Cause the obligation of refraining from any word or action that might prejudice the position which our enemies have in recent years and of their own accord, proclaimed and established. This historic development, the beginnings of which could neither be recognized nor even anticipated in the years immediately preceding ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, may be said to have signalized the Formative Period of our Faith and to have paved the way for the consolidation of its administrative order. As this movement gains momentum, as it receives added impetus from the attitude and future action of the civil authorities in Persia, it will inevitably manifest its repercussions in the West and will rouse the leaders of the Church and finally the civil authorities to challenge the claims and eventually to recognize the independent status of the Religion of Bahá’u’lláh. Nothing whatever in the meantime should be said or done by any of us, whether in the political field or in our relations with ecclesiastical organizations, that would tend to confuse the issues with which our struggling Cause will sooner or later be confronted. We should accept no position, should avoid any affiliations or commitments that could in any way harm our future position or provide our potential enemies with weapons with which they can resist that complete emancipation of our Cause or retard its ultimate recognition and victory. Though our Cause unreservedly recognizes the Divine origin of all the religions that preceded it and upholds the spiritual truths which lie at their very core and are common to them all, its institutions, whether administrative, religious or humanitarian, must if their distinctive character is to be maintained and recognized, be increasingly divorced from the outworn creeds, the meaningless ceremonials and manmade institutions with which these religions are at present identified. Our adversaries in the East have initiated the struggle. Our future opponents in the West will, in their turn, arise and carry it a stage further. Ours is the duty, in anticipation of this inevitable contest, to uphold unequivocally and with undivided loyalty the integrity of our Faith and demonstrate the distinguishing features of its divinely appointed institutions.”
- (signed) SHOGHI.
- June 15, 1935.
“Regarding the statement made by the Guardian in his letter to Mr. Willard Hatch concerning the fact that believers can serve both as teachers and administrators. Shoghi Effendi would approve your Assembly making this fact known to all the friends. For although it is essential for the believers to maintain always a clear distinction between teaching and administrative duties and functions, yet they should be careful not to be led to think that these two types of Bahá’í activity are mutually exclusive in their nature, and as such cannot be exercised by one and the same person. As a matter of fact, the friends should be encouraged to serve in both the teaching and the administrative fields of Bahá’í service. But as there are always some who are more specially gifted along one of these two lines of activity it would seem more desirable that they should concentrate their efforts in acquiring the full training for that type of work for which they are best suited by nature. Such a specialization has the advantage of saving time, and of leading to greater efficiency, particularly at this early stage of our development. The great danger, however, lies in that by so doing the friends may tend to develop a sort of class consciousness which is fundamentally contrary to both the spirit and actual teachings of the Faith. It is precisely in order to overcome such a danger that the Guardian thinks it advisable that the friends should be encouraged to serve from time to time in both the teaching and the administrative spheres of Bahá’í work, but only whenever they feel fit to do so.”—July 29, 1935.
“Concerning the nature of the Nineteen Day Feast. In the Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh clearly revealed the spiritual and social character of this institution. Its administrative significance, however, has been stressed by the Guardian in direct response to the growing needs of the Bahá’í community in this formative period of the Bahá’í era for better training in the principles and practice of Bahá’í administration.”—July 29, 1935.
IN MEMORIAM[edit]
The friends are requested to remember with prayer these believers who have entered the Kingdom.
- Miss Rhoda Nichols, Troy, N. Y.
- Mr. Leslie Calhoun, Racine, Wisc.
- Dr. Clement Woolson, St. Paul, Minn.
NATIONAL MEETING AT BAHA’I HOUSE OF WORSHIP[edit]
OCTOBER 26 and 27[edit]
The meeting at the House of Worship, Wilmette, in which representatives of all local Assemblies are invited to participate, will be conducted in accordance with the following agenda.
October 26, 9.30 A. M. Meeting of thanksgiving and devotion in the Auditorium, readings to be prepared by the Temple Program Committee.
10.00 A. M. Meeting of general consultation in Foundation Hall. Opening remarks by Mountfort Mills, Chairman. Remarks by Ruhi Effendi Afnán. The following topics will be presented in a ten-minute talk by representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly, followed by fifty minutes of general discussion, throughout the morning and afternoon sessions.
National Bahá’í Fund. Leader of discussion, Carl Scheffler.
Bahá’í Teaching: The Necessary Spiritual Attitude. Leader of Discussion, Alfred E. Lunt.
Bahá’í Teaching: Plans and Policies, Leader of Discussion, Leroy C. Ioas.
The Institution of the Nineteen Day Feast. Leader of Discussion, Allen B. McDaniel.
Publicity. Leader of discussion, Nellie S. French.
Race Amity. Leader of Discussion, Horace Holley.
Administrative Problems: Membership in non-Bahá’í religious organizations, residential qualification of a voting believer, the spiritual character of Bahá’í elections. Leader of discussion, George O. Latimer.
8.00 P. M. Bahá’í readings, followed by a feast, under the direction of the Temple Program Committee. Continuance of general discussion on the subject of teaching.
October 27, 9.30 A. M. to 12.30 P. M. General discussion on the subject of the Bahá’í Faith in relation to the future developments of society and the events that are destined to take place before 1963. Leaders of discussion, Mountfort Mills and Ruhi Effendi Afnán.
Ruhi Effendi Afnán will be the speaker at the Sunday afternoon public meeting in Foundation Hall on October 27.
RUHI EFFENDI AFNAN MAKES SECOND VISIT TO AMERICA[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly is privileged to announce that Ruhi Effendi Afnán, great-grandson of Bahá’u’lláh,
BAHA’I HOUSE OF WORSHIP
“A dome that shall stand as a flaming beacon and a symbol of hope amidst the gloom of a despairing world.”—Shoghi Effendi.
has come to America and
with the Guardian’s approval can remain until November in order to take
part in the National Meeting at the
Temple on October 26 and 27, and
visit local Bahá’í communities to assist
in teaching on his way to and from
Chicago.
The following itinerary has been arranged:
- September 8 to 22. Upper New York State.
- September 25 to October 4. New England.
- October 6 to 13. New York City Metropolitan area.
- October 14 to 20. Washington, D. C., area.
- October 21 to November 6. From Washington to Chicago, stopping at Pittsburg en route.
- November 7 until his departure from America. From Chicago to New York, stopping at Detroit and Cleveland.
Due to important work which requires his presence at Haifa in November, Ruhi Effendi Afnán regrets his inability to extend his visit to include a journey to Assemblies in the West.
From reports already received, the friends are making every effort to take advantage of this unique opportunity to have the Message presented publicly by so distinguished a believer, and the centers already visited are enthusiastic and grateful for the results achieved.
REPORT OF TEMPLE VISITORS[edit]
The House of Worship has become a spiritual magnet attracting people from all parts of the country. From figures presented by the Temple Program Committee it appears that during the four months period, April to July, 1935, the Temple Guides registered visits from 816 groups and a total of 4,087 individuals. Some 35,650 visitors are reported for the past 30 months.
NATIONAL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS[edit]
The list of Committees of the N. S. A. published in August BAHÁ’Í NEWS, is to be extended and revised as follows:
Regional Teaching Representatives. Mrs. Louise Caswell has been appointed for the area of Oregon and Washington. Dr. E. Leonore Morris and Dale S. Cole have each been assigned the area assigned to the other in the August list of appointments. Dr. Morris, therefore, now has the area of Michigan and Indiana, and Dale S. Cole the area of Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.
Publicity Committee. Mrs. Nina Matthisen has been appointed in place of A. F. Matthisen as member of this committee.
Annual Souvenir of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, (1936). William de Forge, Chairman, Curtis Kelsey, Dr. Wilbur, Miss O. B. Crum, Mrs. Grace Krug, Mrs. Carrie Kinney, Miss Bertha Herklotz.
PUBLISHING ANNOUNCEMENTS[edit]
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, translated by Shoghi Effendi. This work, consisting of selections from Tablets which the Guardian wishes the believers to study and ponder, will be ready for distribution on October 8. The volume is available in two bindings: in cloth, at $1.80; and in Fabrikoid, at $2.25.
The Coming of the Glory, by Florence E. Pinchon. A new supply of this book has just been received from England, and copies can be obtained at $0.50 each. The former price was $1.00.
Do’a: The Call to Prayer, by Ruth Ellis Moffett. This is the correct title of the work listed with an incorrect title in the recently issued Catalog. Will the friends kindly correct their own Catalog in accordance with this notice.
The following pamphlets are available for use in teaching activities.
The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh, by Shoghi Effendi. Paper covers, $0.25.
Outline and Summary of the Aims, Purposes, History, Teachings and Administrative Order of the Faith, prepared with special reference to publicity use. 4-page folder, letterhead size. $3.00 per 100. Net.
The World Religion, by Shoghi Effendi. $1.00 per 100. Net.
The Goal of a New World Order, by Shoghi Effendi. 10 copies for $0.50. Net.
Homoculture, by Stanwood Cobb. $1.50 per 100. Net.
The Most Great Peace, by Marion Holley. $1.50 per 100. Net.
Principles of the Bahá’í Faith (small blue compilation). $3.00 per 100.
The Oneness of Mankind. Compilation on Race Amity. $0.15.
The Bahá’í Movement. Outline of aims and purpose, statement on Bahá’í administration, and compilation, reprinted from The Bahá’í World. $1.00 for 10 copies.
The Bahá’í Faith, by Horace Holley. $1.00 for 25 copies. Net.
DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY[edit]
All local groups are requested to elect a Correspondent once a year, and preferably on April 21. The function of the Correspondent is to receive BAHÁ’Í NEWS and other general communications intended for all members of the group, and also to serve as link between the group and the Teaching Committee, Publishing Committee, etc.
It has been voted to record the attitude of the N. S. A. that local Assemblies would not be justified in sanctioning annual memorial meetings to commemorate individual believers.
It has been voted to call attention once more to the fact that local Assemblies and individual believers should be careful in dealing with persons who claim to be Bahá’ís but have no proper credentials. This applies particularly to persons who come from other cities.
STATEMENT BY ARCHIVES COMMITTEE[edit]
The real Bahá’í Archives of the future will consist primarily of the interpretation of the Word of Bahá’u’lláh contained in the Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the believers of the United States and Canada, and of the applications of this Word to the developing World Order as explained in the letters of Shoghi Effendi and of subsequent Guardians of the Cause.
Our Guardian has made it a special duty of this generation to collect and preserve in the Archives the Tablets of the Master. Therefore, the National Archives Committee invites and earnestly requests the cooperation of all Local Spiritual Assemblies in the fulfillment of this duty, as far as possible, during the remainder of the current Bahá’í year.
The following suggestions are offered for consultation and action, if possible, by each Assembly: First, that the significance of the Bahá’í Archives, the importance of preserving ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets while they are still available, and the future location of the Archives in the Foundation Structure of the Temple, be explained and emphasized at the next two Nineteen-Day Feasts. Second, that the following questions or their substance be asked of the friends who attend these Feasts, and that, if a general monthly letter is mailed to the members of the community, these questions be included with the request that those unable to attend Feasts mail their answers to the corresponding secretary. The questions suggested are these:
- Have any of the friends present ever received Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá?
- Of these, who have forwarded their Tablets to the National Archives?
- What friends still have Tablets in their possession?
- Do any have in their keeping Tablets which were addressed to relatives or other believers?
- Do those friends still in the possession of Tablets plan to place them in the Archives in the near future?
A third suggestion is that a date or
dates be set and announced when the
members of the community who have
Tablets, letters from the Guardian or
sacred relics which they wish to present to the Archives may bring these
to the Feast, where they may be taken
charge of by the Local Spiritual Assembly and forwarded by registered
mail to the Secretary of the Archives
Committee.
This committee would appreciate having a report from each community by the close of December, if possible, indicating the number of affirmative responses to each of the above questions.
It is most natural that the friends should hesitate and postpone parting with their most precious possessions. Please remind them, however, that the Archives Committee will gladly supply them with exact photostatic copies of their Tablets.
- NATIONAL ARCHIVES COMMITTEE
- By: Mrs. Carl Scheffler, Secretary,
- 1821 Lincoln Street, Evanston. Ill.
