Bahá’í World/Volume 13/Five Intercontinental Conferences

From Bahaiworks

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FTVEINTERCONTTNENTAL CONFERENCES 1958

Kampala, Uganda Sydney, Australia

January March

September

May July

Wilmette, U.S.A. Frankfurt, Germany

Djakarta, Indonesia

and Singapore, Malaya

By MARION HOFMAN

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE GUARDIAN OF CONVOCATION OF FIVE INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCES

ON the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the opening of the memorable Holy Year associated with the Centenary celebrations of the birth of the Mission of Bahá’u’lláh in the Siyéh-Qél of Tihra’tn—an anniversary falling only a few months before the decadelong global Spiritual Crusade, on which the entire company of His followers have embarked, will have reached its midway pointI feel moved to announce the convocation of a series of Intercontinental Conferences, five in number, to be held successively in Kampala, Uganda, in the heart of the African continent; in the city of Sydney. the oldest Bahá’í centre established in the Antipodes; in Chicago, where the name of Bahá’u’lláh was publicly mentioned for the first time in the western world; in the city of Frankfurt, in the heart of the European continent; and in Djakarta, the capital city of the Republic of Indonesia.

These historic gatherings, which will recall in some of their aspects the four epoch-making Conferences which commemorated the hundredth anniversary of the inception of the Bahá’í Revelation. are to be held respectively in the months of January, March. M2y,.luly, and September, under the auspices of the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Central and East Africa, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Australia, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States of America, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria. and the Regional

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South East Asia.

They are to be convened by the chairmen of the aforementioned Regional and National Spiritual Assemblies for the fivefold purpose of offering humble thanksgiving to the Divine Author of our Faith, Who has graciously enabled His followers, during a period of deepening anxiety and amidst the confusion and uncertainties of a critical phase in the fortunes of mankind. to prosecute uninterruptedly the Ten Year Plan formulated for the execution of the Grand Design conceived by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; of reviewing and celebrating the series of signal victories won so rapidly in the course of each of the campaigns of this world-encircling Crusade; of deliberating on ways and means that will insure its triumphant consummation; and of lending simultaneously a powerful impetus the world over, to the vital process of individual conversion—the pre—eminent purpose underlying the Plan in all its ramificationsand to the construction and completion of the three Mother Temples to be built in the European, the African, and Australian continents. . . .

At these five Intercontinental Conferences the Hands of the Cause, whether previously or recently appointed. particularly those associated with the Conference being held in the continent they represent, as well as members of their Auxiliary Boards, and representatives Of the Regional and National Spiritual Assemblies primarily concerned with the

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Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum opens'the African Intercontinental Conference.

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W“? ’9: * Hand of the Cause William Sears greeting delegates at the beginning of the African Intercontinental Conference.

Bahá’í pioneers in Africa who were present at the Intercontinental Conference.



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Hands and Board Members during the Intercontinental Conference in Kampala.

opening of the virgin territories included in the continent to which they belong and of the islands situated in the neighborhood of that continent, as well as all believers, wherever their residence may be, are invited to be present.

To the Kampala Conference a representative of each of the United States, the British, the Persian, the North East African, the Indian and the ‘Iráqi National Spiritual Assemblies; to the Chicago Conference a representative of each of the United States, the Canadian, and Latin American National Spiritual Assemblies; to the Frankfurt Conference a

representative of each of the British, the German, the Italo-Swiss and the United States National Spiritual Assemblies; and to the Djakarta Conference a representative of each of the United States, the Canadian, the Persian, the Indian, the Australian and the ‘Iraqi National Spiritual Assemblies, should be sent in the capacity of an official participant.

Any other members of these Assemblies. as well as any of the members of the newly established National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies, are welcome to be present at these five successive Conferences.

THE GUARDIAN’S REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CONFERENCES

The following five Hands, who, in their capacity as members of the International Bahá’í Council, are closely associated with the rise and development of the institutions of the Faith at its World Centre, have been chosen to act as my special representatives at

this second series of Intercontinental Conferences: Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih, accompanied by Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím, member of the International Council, at the Kampala Conference; Mason Remey, at the Sydney Conference; Ugo Giachery, at the Chicago

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The gift of the Guardian to the Kampala Temple.

Conference; Amelia Collins, at the Frankfurt C onference; and Leroy Ioas, at the Djakarta Conference.

To three of them, attending the Kampala, the Sydney and the Frankfurt Conferences, 1 shall entrust a portion of the blessed earth from the inmost Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, a lock of His precious Hair, and a reproduction of His Portrait, to be exhibited by them to the assembled friends at these Conferences. Two of these representatives will be instructed to deposit, on my behalf, the blessed earth in the foundations of the two Temples to be erected in the African and Australian con tinents, while the other sacred gifts will be delivered for safe-keeping by these representatives t0 the Central and East African Regional Assembly and the Australian and German National Spiritual Assemblies. A fourth portrait of Bahá’u’lláh will be entrusted to my representative, Leroy Ioas, to be exhibited at the Djakarta Conference, and returned for safe-keeping to the Holy Land, while to Ugo Giachery, representing me at the Chicago Conference, will be assigned the duty of exhibiting the portraits of Bahá’u’lláh and of the Báb, already entrusted to the United States National Spiritual Assembly.

FOURTH PHASE OF TEN YEAR PLAN

The holding of this second series of Intercontinental Conferences, marking the halfway point of the greatest Crusade ever embarked upon for the propagation of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in both the eastern and western

hemispheres, signalizes the opening of the fourth phase of the Ten Year Plan. . . . (From the October, 1957, letter of Shog/zi Effendi.)

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Bahá’ís gathered at Temple site.


Temple Foundation Ceremony.

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THE INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCE IN KAMPALA, UGANDA JANUARY 23—28, 1958

It was to Kampala that the beloved Guardian sent Amatu’l-Bahá Rt'lhi’yyih K_hé.num, accompanied by Dr. Luṭfu’lláh Ḥakím, member of the International Council. Poignant indeed was her presence—“the heart, the light, the life” of all the sessions. “A magnet to the sorrowing Bahá’í world,” the Conference attracted believers from the remotest points, from _ as far as the Caroline and Lofoten Islands. There were five Hands of the Cause in addition to the Guardian’s representative—Tarazu’llah Samandari, Ml’isa Banani, Enoch Olinga, John Robarts and William Sears. There were sixteen Auxiliary Board Members and representatives of the eleven National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies of Central and East Africa, South and West Africa, North West Africa, North East Africa, Britain, the United States,lran, India, ‘Iráq, Arabia, and Japan. A total of nine hundred and fifty believers from thirtyeight countries were in attendance; four hundred and fifty were African Bahá’ís, and over three hundred were Persian.

Meeting in Kampala’s newest cinema, the Conference was greeted by Mr. Banani, Africa’s precious Hand, and convened by Mr. ‘Ali Nafljavam’. Through every session ran the remembrance of the Guardian. “Who can doubt that Shoghi Effendi will be viewed by posterity as the true conqueror of Africa '2” asked ‘the Hands in the Holy Land in their Conference message. “I hope that each one of you will go back from this Conference,” said Rt’ihlyyih I_(_hénum, “just like a blazing fire . . . and create a worthy memorial to our beloved Guardian.”

The afternoon of the first day was devoted, after the reading of prayers, to the silent and solemn viewing, for almost four hours, of the precious gifts sent by the Guardian, above all the Portrait of Bahá’u’lláh. Each believer, as he passed, was anointed with attar of rose

by Rúḥíyyih Khánum.

Next day the Crusade map prepared by the Guardian was shown and explained to the friends, and the message sent by the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land was read. Both were presented by Rúḥíyyih Khánum. Spontaneously the believers, particularly those of iran, responded with the pouring out of contributions and pledges totalling one hundred thousand pounds sterling, for the furtherance of all aspects of Bahá’í work in Africa.

The fourth day, Sunday, January 26, was devoted to the Mother Temple of Africa, to an account of its origin, design, and construction plans, and to the laying of the foundation stone in the afternoon. It was the Guardian’s wish that this ceremony should coincide with the Intercontinental Conference, and he hallowed this historic Mashriqu’l-Adhkár by sending for preservation in its foundations the sacred earth from the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and a fragment of plaster from the room of the Báb at Mah-Kfi, which were reverently placed by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and ML’lsa Banani.

On this day, too, Rúḥíyyih Khánum gave her memorable tribute to the life and achievements of Shoghi Effendi. It evoked from the African Bahá’ís the expression of their deepest feelings. “Africans,” said one, “have now determined to do everything, and will leave nothing until everything be brought to completion.” This was the message they sent to the revered Hands in Haifa.

As though to crown the love and devotion of the African friends, a twenty—four hour visit to Teso was made by Rt’lhlyyih Khánum after the close of the Conference. Here, two hundred miles from Kampala, at the heart of the Faith in Uganda, she shared the traditional life of Africa and brought infinite joy to African hearts.

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Amatu’l-Bahá has lunch with the Bahá’ís at Mengo Social Centre, Kampala.

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Bahá’ís from Formosa, Tonga Islands, Japan and Indonesia who attended the Australian Intercontinental Conference. Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone second from the right.

THE INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCE IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA MARCH 21—24, 1958

The unfoldment of the Faith in Australasia, from the establishment of the first community in Sydneyt to the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand, coincided with the period of the Guardian’s ministry and evoked from him the convening of an Intercontinental Conference in this part of the world. Less than five months after his passing nearly three hundred Bahá’í’s from nineteen countries gathered for this great occasion. Among them were native believers from Tonga and the Solomon Islands, representatives of seven other Pacific goals, a Japanese Bahá’í and pioneers from Korea and Formosa to remind the Conference of that “mighty spiritual axis running through the Pacific region” (Message of the Hands),

and believers from Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia, Pékistén, Persia, and the United States.

The Guardian had sent as his representative Mr. Charles Mason Remey, Chairman of the International Bahá’í Council and architect of the Mother Temple of Australasia; four other revered Hands were also present—Mrs. Clara Dunn, Miss Agnes Alexander, Mr. Collis Featherstone, and Mr. Mikru’lláh flédem. In addition, there were five members of the Auxiliary Boards.

Following the opening of the Conference by Mr. Featherstone, as Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand, the message from the Hands in the Holy Land was presented by Mr. Remey.

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Hands of the Cause and other friends attending the Australian Intercontinental Conference.

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Foundation Ceremony at site of the Australian Bahá’í Temple.

That night, in a “profoundly moving” ceremony at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, the believers were privileged to view the precious gifts sent by Shoghi Effendi and were anointed with attar of rose by his representative.

On the second afternoon the Conference travelled to Mona Vale to see the work in progress on the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, and to take part, with members of the public, in the Foundation Ceremony. Here Mr. Remey and Mrs. Dunn placed the sacred earth from the Most Holy Shrine and the plaster from the Báb’s cell at Méh-Kfi at the centre of the floor where they were sealed in as a poignant link with the Twin Founders of the Faith and its Guardian.

Among the achievements of the Conference were the donation of over thirty thousand

pounds to the Temple Fund, gifts for NL’1r School in the New Hebrides and for other Pacific islands, and the arising of three pioneers for the unoccupied Pacific goals. Consultation between representatives of the National and Regional Assemblies of Australia, New Zealand, North East and South East Asia laid the foundation for future development of this “vast and promising” region.

“These were the outward and visible results, but the unseen effects were perhaps the more important,” the Chairman remarked in closing. In the words of one report, “the spiritual atmosphere of that Conference was charged with such love and devotion that it was an unforgettable experience.”

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Hand of the Cause Clara Dunn placing a silver casket with the plaster from the prison room occupied by the Báb in Méh-Kfi in the foundations of the Mother Temple of the Pacific.

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Bahá’ís enter the Conference.

THE INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCE IN WILMETTE, ILLINOIS MAY 2—4, 1958

Bahá’ís of the Western Hemisphere, from Alaska to Chile, gathered to the number of one thousand six hundred and sixty in the Eighth Street Theater, Chicago, for the third in this series of Intercontinental Conferences. The consciousness of Shoghi Effendi‘s summons to the West, at the inception of the Global Crusade, motivated all their sessions. “ These Communities are now called upon,” he had written, “. .. to play a preponderating role in the systematic propagation of the Faith, in the course of the coming decade, which will, God willing, culminate in the spiritual conquest of the entire planet.” “There can be no escape from duty for any believer, least of all an American believer,” the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land reminded them.

Under the “inspired leadership” of the Guardian’s representative, Dr. Ugo Giachery, “whose intimate loving service” at the Conference touched “all hearts”, and guided and invigorated by the wise counsel of other revered Hands—Mr. Horace Holley, Mr. Leroy Ioas, Mr. John Robarts, and Mr. Charles Mason Remey—the Conference reviewed the achievements and remaining needs of the World Crusade in every field of American responsibility.

On the first day the Conference was linked with the beloved Guardian through the laying of a wreath on his grave in London by the revered Hand, Mr. William Sears. The Conference was dedicated to Shoghi Effendi in an address by Mr. Holley, and the message of the Hands in Haifa was read by the

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Shoghi Effendi’s map at the midway point of the Crusade, explained by Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery.


Bahá’ís who offered to pioneer.

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Guardian’s representative. That afternoon a Thanksgiving Service in the Temple in Wilmette was followed by the viewing of the Portraits of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, shown by Dr. Giachery, who anointed the friends as they passed by. The cherished Hand of the Cause, Mrs. Corinne True, associated with America’s Mother Temple since the earliest days, was present during this program.

The second day witnessed the presentation of the Guardian’s Crusade map by Dr. Giachery, far-ranging reports of Crusade activity, and the dramatic assembling on the platform of over one hundred and fifty pioneers of the Crusade. Next morning

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nearly one hundred more pioneers arose to reinforce Crusade goals. Other highlights of this third day were talks on the World Centre and on the construction of Bahá’í Houses of Worship in the Crusade. As Chairman of the United States National Spiritual Assembly, Mr. H. Borrah Kavelin convened and conducted the Conference sessions.

The delegates to this great gathering came from thirty-one countries of the world, and included two members of the International Council—Mrs. Sylvia Ioas and Miss Jessie Revell, thirteen Auxiliary Board Members, and members of some eleven National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies.


Hands of the Cause who attended the European Bahá’í Intercontinental Conference.

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Bahá’ís attending the European Intercontinental Conference.

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Messe-Kongresshalle, Frankfurt a/M.

THE INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCE IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY JULY 25—29, 1958

Bahá’ís of East and West assembled at the Congress Hall, in Messegelande, Frankfurt, in mighty witness to the power of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant to bring on a world scale the enduring unity of all races and nations. It was the largest of the five Intercontinental Conferences, with nearly twenty-three hundred believers from fifty-seven countries, over half of them from Írán. By the time of its meeting the Cause of God had come through the “ordeal by fire” created by the death of its loved Guardian. In the words of the Hands in the Holy Land: “We thank Him (Bahá’u’lláh) now not only . . . for the bounties bestowed during the first five years of this World Crusade, but for the measure of sure protection . . . poured upon us since the beloved Guardian’s passing What the Guardian built endures and will endure, a living organism, throughout the stages in the evolution of our Faith which lie ahead.”

The Conference was blessed by the presence of the Guardian’s representative, Mrs. Amelia

Collins, who crowned a lifetime of service in the example and inspiration she brought to all the sessions. Ten other Hands of the Cause bountifully enriched the ConferenceHasan Balyuzi, Musa Banani, John Ferraby, Dr. Ugo Giachery, Dr. Hermann Grossmann, Jalalfiazeh from the World Centre, D_hikru‘llah Khádem, Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel, Enoch Olinga, and John Robarts. From four continents came nineteen Auxiliary Board Members, while sixteen National and Regional Assemblies were represented. The Conference was convened by Dr. Mühlschlegel, Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany and Austria.

The first day opened with a stirring tribute to Shoghi Effendi by Mrs. Collins, followed by her reading of the message to the Conference from the Hands in the Holy Land, which was translated into German and Persian by Dr. Grossmann and Mr. Kházeh. Greetings from all the Hands heightened the believers‘ emotion of love for the Guardian and desire

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Bahá’ís who offered to pioneer during the European Intercontinental Conference.

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to fulfill his every wish. On the second day Mr. Ferraby presented the Guardian’s map of the World Crusade, and a review of victories received embodiment in the presentation to the Conference of Board Members, National Assembly representatives, and fortyeight Knights of Bahá’u’lláh. That night the Mother Temple of Europe was the theme of a session addressed by the architect, Mr. Teuto Rocholl, and spokesmen for the German National Assembly.

The third day, mid-point of the Conference, brought sacred hours of re-dedication as for more than fdur hours the believers viewed the Portraits of Bahá’u’lláh and the other precious gifts sent by the Guardian, and were anointed by his personal representative. The experience was consummated that night in a Unity Feast and a devotional program of thanksgiving.

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Two great tasks challenged the Conferencethe provision of funds to enable the early commencement of the European Temple, and the arising of pioneers to reinforce Crusade goals and win the many Local Assemblies required in Europe. Both tasks were gloriously shouldered by the Conference, during the remaining two days. A million Deutsche marks were poured out and pledged for the Temple Building Fund, and, in dramatic sessions,a total of one hundred and thirty-three pioneers volunteered. The Conference had truly redeemed its pledge to “prove our love and devotion” to Shoghi Effendi “by accomplishing all remaining goals . . .” “To win one smile from the Guardian is enough to take you through a whole year of pioneering,” said Mrs. Collins in closing this historic meeting, “and I am sure you won the first smile today!”


Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore; Malaya where the fifth Conference of the midway point of the Ten Year Crusade was held.

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Hands of the Cause and other friends attending the Asian Intercontinental Bahá’í Conference.

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THE INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCE IN DJAKARTA AND SINGAPORE SEPT. 21—29, 1958

The last of the Intercontinental Conferences was destined, in an unexpected way, to have enormous impact on the future of the Faith in Indonesia. Called by the Guardian in Djakarta, it began with a crisis which, within a single week, lifted the Cause out of obscurity, and made every echelon of government aware of its being. It was withdrawal of the permit to hold the Conference, just a week before its convening, which had this result; but even more importantfor the Bahá’ís themselves was the fact that, by moving the Conference to Singapore, the native believers in both Indonesia and Malaya were enabled to meet the Guardian’s representative—the revered Hand and Secretary of the International Bahá’í Council, Mr. Leroy loas—and other

Hands of the Cause, view the wondrous portrait of Bahá’u’lláh, and experience the spirit of this unique gathering. As Mr. Ioas said: “This Conference is so important it had to be held in two cities,” and he also pointed out that more races and religions were represented than in any of the previous conferences.

From the moment of his arrival on September 21, Mr. Ioas was plunged into negotiations. Nevertheless, he found two days to meet the three hundred Indonesian friends, who were pouring in from all corners of the island Republic, and who received their great disappointment as a sacrifice they could make for the progress of the Faith. Mr. Ioas spoke to them in the Bahá’í Hall and anointed


Some of those who responded to the call of Shoghi Effendi for pioneers.

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them with attar of rose as each of these souls, so precious to God, passed into the flowerdecked room where the sacred Portrait reposed.

On September 23, chartered planes carried the delegates to Singapore, earliest among them Mrs. Fozdar and her sons, on whom had fallen the making of new arrangements. On the evening of September 26, the Feast of Mashíyyat was celebrated by the one hundred and eighty delegates in the beautiful home of Mrs. George Lee.

The three-day Conference, September 2729, was held in the Victoria Memorial Town Hall of Singapore. Present were the Guardian’s representative; eight other Hands of the Cause—Mr. Samandari, Miss Alexander, Mr. ‘Ala’i, Mr. Faizi, Dr. Varqa, Mr. Olinga, Mr. Featherstone, and Dr. Muhájir (Mr. Khádem had been in Djakarta, but was called back to Haifa); Mrs. Ioas, member of the International Bahá’í Council; representatives of thirteen National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies—India, Trim, ‘Iráq, Australia, United States, Canada, North East Asia, South East Asia, Arabia, Central America, South and West Africa, North West Africa, and New Zealand; twelve members of Auxiliary Boards; nine Knights of Bahá’u’lláh; and believers from thirty—five countries and dependencies. Chairman of the Conference was Mrs. Shirin Fozdar, who was Chairman of the South East Asia Regional Spiritual Assembly.

Reminding the friends at the opening session that “our host at this great gathering is Shoghi Effendi himself”, Mr. Ioas read the soul-stirring message to the Conference from the Hands in the Holy Land. How joyfully the native believers heard reference to the destiny of the brown and black races, turning in spiritual camaraderie to Mr. Olinga, the revered Hand who symbolized for them their brothers in Africa!

The afternoon session was memorable for an account of the beloved Guardian given by Mr. Ioas. “So moving was his talk . . . that every eye in the audience was in tears.” Later that day Mr. Olinga spoke briefly of the

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five-fold aims of the Conference, as outlined by the Guardian, and the World Crusade Map was then presented by Mr. Ioas and explained by Mr. Faizi.

That evening the friends shared in the unforgettable and solemn ceremony of viewing the sacred Portrait of Bahá’u’lláh. After being anointed with attar of rose by the Guardian’s representative, they passed for two hours before His holy Face.

Next day there were reports from all areas on progress toward their Crusade goals, with special attention given to the Six Year Plan in South East Asia. A call for financial support for the far-reaching goals of this region, such as the purchase of six Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in the principal countries and the establishment of nine additional Bahá’í schools, resulted in contributions and pledges to the required total of one hundred and four thousand dollars. Nine pioneers arose in service to the Crusade. The day’s sessions were closed by a tribute to the late Dr. K. M. Fozdar.

On the final day the Conference was thrilled to hear from some of the believers who embodied the victories of the CrusadeChinese Bahá’ís from Sarawak and Brunei, Filipinos, Japanese, Laotian and Cambodian friends—members of the brown and yellow races who were now awakening to the dawn of this New Day. The revered Hands also spoke a few final words to the Conference, and the delegates were silent while, in London, a wreath was laid on their behalf on the beloved Guardian’s grave. The moment had come for farewell.

“The spirit of Shoghi Effendi must go with us from this Conference,” the Hands in Haifa had told them, “not only with the attendants gathered here but with the believers all over the world, who surely, inwardly if not outwardly, have participated in these five majestic, stirring, creative, commemorative Conferences . . . Shoghi Effendi’s love is burning in our hearts, his appeals are still fresh in our ears. The vision he gave us of our present task is clear and perfect; let us keep it forever before our eyes.”