Bahá’í World/Volume 8/British Isles Annual Report 1938-1939
ANNUAL REPORT—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE BRITISH ISLES—1938-1939
THE annual Convention last year marked a new departure in the work of the Bahá’í community of the British Isles. It was recommended at that time that we should function as a teaching organism for the ensuing year with the objective of establishing new Spiritual Assemblies. This suggestion was communicated to the Guardian who replied by cable: “Delighted urge incoming National Assembly perseverance subordinate all activities teaching objective.”
Thus, our course for the year was outlined at its very beginning.
At its first meeting the National Spiritual Assembly considered this matter and pledged itself to carry out the Guardian’s wish, determining that all activities should be considered in the light of teaching. Bradford and Torquay were selected as the two most promising places for the establishment of new Assemblies. The believers in those centres were consulted and plans of campaign mapped out. We are happy to report that owing to the persistent efforts of the resident believers, to the work of visiting teachers, to the sacrifices of all who have contributed to the Fund, and to the unfailing assistance of the Holy Spirit, Spiritual Assemblies were elected in both places on April 21st. Both communities are represented by delegates at this Convention. We take this opportunity of conveying, through them, our welcome and sincere congratulations.
The experience gained through teaching in these two cities has been, and will be, invaluable. Each place presented a different problem. One is in the industrial north, the other in the residential south; climatic, occupational, and temperamental differences are clearly marked. And yet, such is the all embracing power of Bahá’u’lláh, both communities have grown and become self governing units in the national community, and therefore in the Bahá’í world. Some measure of this success must be attributed to the fact that in each case the ground was surveyed before the final plan was made. We record this procedure for future guidance.
As a reinforcement to the teaching campaign
the N. S. A. welcomed the suggestion
of a regular publication, which should be
made attractive to the public and serve as
a means of interesting people in the Faith.
New World Order was launched as a
monthly magazine and has received
favourable comment from the Guardian; it has
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been welcomed by
Bahá’ís in other countries. The
English believers have supported
it fairly well and its circulation is
steadily increasing, but a large expansion
is required to make it self-supporting. It
maintains a high standard and is capable
of becoming a very powerful teaching
medium.
The N. S. A. which went out of office at Rizwan, 1938, that is at the last Convention, had established three annual rallying points for the believers throughout the country. They were Convention, Summer School, and mid-winter Teaching Conference. Convention had already provided the soil for the new teaching campaign, and it was decided to make the other two occasions of especial service.
Summer School
Summer School was a notable success, both from the point of view of attendance and of the standard of the lectures and discussions. This was its third year and the attendance was about ninety, nearly three times as many as the first year.
The great value of this institution lies in its unifying atmosphere and in the fact that it provides the only Bahá’í community life at present obtainable in England. Local Bahá’í communities have a community life, it is true, but at Summer School, everyone lives, works and plays together; Summer School gives physical shape to the Bahá’í community.
In addition to the morning lectures excellent talks were given in the evening by Miss Ninette de Valois on The Ballet, by Captain Basil Hall on Peace Duties of the Navy and by Captain St. Barbe Baker on The Soul of Africa.
Plans for this year are complete and have been published. A much larger place has been taken and the N. S. A. has guaranteed an attendance of fifty during the bank holiday week-end.
Teaching Conference
This was a true Bahá’í occasion, marked by earnest discussion, unity of purpose, and true happiness. As a conclusion to the Feast of Sharaf (Honour) the twenty-first birthday of Hosein Mukhless was celebrated, when he declared himself a Bahá’í. At the same time the friends heard of the birth of a son to Mrs. Weeks. Believers from Bradford, London, Manchester and Torquay were present, and one isolated believer, Mrs. Cooper of Blackburn.
The Conference made the following suggestions to the National Spiritual Assembly.
1. “That the N. S. A. should communicate more frequently with the local Assemblies, in the form of a more personal letter than the Journal.” This was agreed to and the chairman of the N. S. A., Miss Challis, undertook to write to each community in the intervals of issues of the Journal. Her letters have been greatly welcomed by the friends.
2. “That the Administration should be clarified in the Journal, especially with regard to the relationship of local Spiritual Assemblies to the N. S. A. A copy of Bahá’í procedure should be sent to all Assemblies and Groups.” Both these suggestions were accepted and acted upon.
3. “That a five year plan should be adopted, with the aim of having at least one believer in every county of England by Rizwan 1944.” This suggestion was held over for discussion by the Convention.
Our function as a teaching organism has been further marked by the appearance of a pioneer spirit. A Bahá’í family, Mr. and Mrs. Lee with their two children, have moved from Manchester to Brighton. They advised the N. S. A. of their willingness to go to some other district, and moved to Brighton at the N. S. A.’s recommendation. Mr. Lee is making efforts to establish himself in business there, and hopes to be the means of promoting the Faith. The N. S. A. has extended practical help and is confident that Bahá’u’lláh will bless this family and fulfil its hopes.
Incorporation
Parallel with the teaching campaign has
been a persistent effort to achieve legal
status and recognition of the Faith. The
Guardian has continually urged the
prosecution of this task, both by
letter and cable.
We were fortunate in securing the services
of a lawyer who is particularly interested in
this type of work, and who has shown a
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sympathetic understanding
of the position of the Faith. We wish
to record our gratitude to the thorough
work and interest of Mr. Drury, of the
law firm of J. Hampson Fogg.
Our first attempt was a direct application to the Board of Trade for incorporation by Royal Charter. The attempt failed, but produced good results. The secretary was, interviewed by officers of the Board and was able to remove many false impressions about the Faith, and a complete and authentic statement of its aims, history, and teachings, now rests in the Board’s files. The chief reason for the failure of this attempt was the smallness of our number and the absence of any substantial increase during the past few years. Here is a challenge to every believer.
Upon receipt of the Board’s refusal, Mr. Drury immediately advised us to incorporate as an unlimited company. The work of drawing up the articles and memorandum of association was begun at once and we are able to report that the document is now here, complete. It will have to be checked for technical corrections and can then be signed and presented to the Court.
The effect of this document will be to give the National Spiritual Assembly legal personality and rights. It may enter contracts, receive bequests, hold property under certain restrictions, and exercise all the rights and privileges accorded by law. In addition its constitution has been defined exactly according to Bahá’í Administration; the principles governing its operation according to the explicit commands of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have been written into the memorandum; and its powers in relation to local Spiritual Assemblies and to the Faith in the British Isles have been defined. The method of Bahá’í elections has been preserved and provision made for the annual Convention. The enterprise is non-profit making and has no share capital. Liability is accepted by the individual members of the N. S. A. in equal proportions, and provision has been made for the transferring of this liability when new members are elected.
This is undoubtedly one of the most important steps in the history of the Faith in the British Isles, and in spite of the primary disappointment, will, we know, delight the heart of our beloved Guardian, whose continual encouragement has lightened the task.
The Bahá’í Publishing Trust
The Publishing Trust is now established as the chief subsidiary of the N. S. A. and its right hand in teaching. It was started with the sum of £234 Os. 8d. specially contributed for that purpose, and in addition has taken possession of all books and literature previously held by the N. S. A. It acts as distributor for all Bahá’í literature, and publishes whatever the N. S. A. requires. The chief publications this year have been a revised edition of Dr. Esslemont’s pamphlet Bahá’u’lláh and His Message and a brief life of Bahá’u’lláh by H. M. Balyuzi. Both these publications have been purchased abroad and have made a good impression. In addition a small calendar, showing the Bahá’í Feasts and Anniversaries has been printed.
A new prayer book will shortly be available. The manuscript is now with the Guardian. It is hoped to be able to sell it at a shilling. A new book by Mr. Townshend will soon be out, called at present, The Heart of the Gospel. It is a startling exposition of the Bible in the light of the Kitáb-i-Íqán, and is of vital importance not only to Bahá’ís but to the whole of Christendom.
We hope to publish soon Lady Blomfield’s book, excerpts of which the friends have been privileged to hear on one or two occasions. It is a compilation from Lady Blomfield’s own notes, given to her by the Greatest Holy Leaf and other ladies of the Holy Family, referring to the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, and the Master. Shoghi Effendi has approved it.
A sister volume to Mr. Balyuzi’s life of Bahá’u’lláh is expected very soon; a life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. And after that a life of the Báb.
During the ensuing year the literature of the Faith should be considerably enriched.
Publicity
The International Esperanto Congress took place in London during the summer, and a Bahá’í session was held on August 1st. A number of the visitors were entertained at the London Centre and many individual contacts were made.
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Attempts were made
to arrange publicity
in the form of a stand, an exhibition, or
simply of literature, at the Glasgow
Exhibition, but were unsuccessful.
An exhibition was held at Notting Hill Gate, London, in connection with the new magazine. It was kept open for a month, and although the cost was fairly high it was undoubtedly a wise and fruitful expenditure. The premises were made available through the generosity of Miss Nockold. The window was made very attractive and a large number of people came in to enquire. Many took literature, some came to the Centre, some attended fireside meetings. The properties used in this exhibition are still available and the N. S. A. recommends this form of publicity.
Archives
The National Archives have been properly organised, with each object tabulated and described. The Archives have been moved to a place outside London for safety in case of air raids.
A robe worn by the Blessed Beauty, several original Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and various other objects of historical importance have been preserved.
The American N. S. A. has kindly agreed to retain in its archives original Tablets which were sent there by English believers, until such time as it seems advisable to have them sent over here.
The N. S. A. once again stresses the importance of entrusting articles of value to it, for proper preservation. Directly the N. S. A. is incorporated it can make legal claim to the Archives and thus ensure them for posterity. Not only original Tablets, but all articles associated with the Founders of the Faith, or with its early history, should be preserved.
Finance
At the beginning of the year the N. S. A. made a budget of estimated expenditure and published it in the Journal, with an appeal to the friends to supply the required amount. This amount was not subscribed, but fortunately expenses were kept well within the amount budgeted. Early in the year a donation of £500 was received and put to capital fund. It has been necessary to draw on this fund for publicity expenses. During the year the National Fund has received from subscriptions £114, 19s. 0d. which is £63 6s. 5d. less than the amount received last year. Last year the Publishing Trust made special demands, but the Teaching campaign requires an even greater effort, and if it is to continue there must be a larger income.
National Service
Increasing tension in world affairs made it necessary for the N. S. A. to define the attitude of Bahá’ís to the various military measures being undertaken by the country. The Guardian’s instruction was obtained and published in Bahá’í Journal. It was to the effect that while we should do everything to obtain exemption from active combatant service, we should volunteer for all services of a humanitarian nature, such as Red Cross, A. R. P., stretcher-bearing, etc. Within the last three days Conscription has been introduced by the Government, and it is recommended that the incoming N. S. A. should consider the position of Bahá’í Youth in relation to this.
Two of the original believers in this country have departed to the realms of their beloved Master during the year. Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper and Mrs. Scaramucci. May they continue to serve Him in their new life.
A word should now be said about the internal relationships of the community, as reflected in the activities already described. There has undoubtedly been a continuance of that sense of unity to the awakening of which we have called attention in previous years. The Nineteen Day Feasts have become more significant, and there is, especially among the youth, a growing sense of the significance of the Cause in the world today. The actual work of the administration still falls too heavily on a few people, although here the N. S. A. must express its thanks to those members of the London Youth Group who have helped in typing, addressing and mailing.
An examination of the reports of local
Spiritual Assemblies indicates that there is
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very often a lack of support
for measures initiated by them. Some of this
is due to the fact that a few of these measures have
not impressed the believers as either important
or useful to the Faith, and a few have
not been understood. We feel that there is
room for development in the relationship
between the community and its Spiritual
Assembly. The community is too often inclined
to carry over into the Bahá’í world the
traditions and sanctions of its previous
background. On the other hand the Spiritual
Assembly has the duty of educating, encouraging
and explaining, in all matters relating
to Bahá’í procedure. It should initiate new
plans, and make departures from accepted
methods within the framework of the
Administration, but these plans should be fully
explained to the community in order to
enlist its full support. The Nineteen Day
Feast is the proper occasion for this. The
community is called to exert every effort to
assist the Spiritual Assembly in its work, by
frank discussion of difficulties, by
endeavouring to understand the mysterious processes
by which a Bahá’í community functions,
and by a willingness to adopt the new kind
of life which the Spiritual Assemblies
attempt to foster.
The obligation, in the end, rests with each individual. To the extent to which each one penetrates the mystery of the Faith, understands its place in the history of our time, becomes impelled by love of Bahá’u’lláh to greater and greater devotion in its service, to this extent shall we become significant and be able to affect the destiny of our country and of all mankind. Prayer and meditation, study of the Writings, constant association with all the activities of the Faith, are the food and drink for every soul who would become an active member of this teaching organism.
Our record for the year, and our outlook for the future are summarised in these words of the Guardian:
“A splendid beginning has been made. A firm foundation has been established. Perseverance is now required to bring these devoted, painstaking and concerted efforts to full and speedy fruition. The path you are treading is beset with formidable obstacles, but the invincible power of the Faith will, if you remain faithful and steadfast, enable you to surmount them. My prayers will continue to be offered on your behalf. May Bahá’u’lláh fulfill every hope you cherish in the service of this Faith. Your true and grateful brother, Shoghi.”
Faithfully,
In His Service,
{{right|DAVID HOFMAN, Secretary.
