Bahá’í World/Volume 9/Youth Activities Throughout the Bahá’í World

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[Page 511]

5.

YOUTH ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

A FLEETING moment, in this Day, excelleth centuries of a bygone age. . . .” "This is a matchless Day. Matchless must, likewise, be the tongue that celebrateth the praise of the Desire of all nations, and matchless the deed that aspireth to be acceptable in His sight.” "Great, immeasurably great is this Cause!” "An act, however infinitesimal, is, when viewed in the mirror of the knowledge of God, mightier than a mountain.” “Whoso openeth his lips in this day, and maketh mention of the name of his Lord, the hosts of Divine inspiration shall descend upon him from the heaven of my name, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” (Quotations from the utterances of Bahá’u’lláh.)

“Exert yourselves; your mission is unspeakably glorious.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá.)

With the quoting of passages such as these taken from the Sacred Utterances, the Guardian rekindled the fire of enthusiasm of the North American youth in 1939. Shoghi Effendi, at the world’s spiritual center in Haifa, Palestine, is as a light-house to the Bahá’í World Community with its many youth scattered around the globe. He quotes from the Holy Writings, adds his words of explanation, interpretation and encouragement. In him the Light is ever shining. He points the way to the triumph of the Cause of God and Bahá’u’lláh’s New World Order. To him Bahá’í youth may ever turn with assurance and confidence no matter how rough the seas upon which they are traveling.

The Guardian’s letter, The Advent of Divine Justice, written in late 1938 to the Bahá’ís in the "one chief remaining citadel,” the North American Bahá’í community, has served and continues to serve as a mighty rock of Gibraltar. Turning to it has meant new hope, new courage, new vitality. Youth, as well as adults, have felt the impact of his mighty appeal. All Bahá’í youth who have read and all in the future who may be given the opportunity of doing so could not help feeling deeply stirred by such passages as the following: “Let them regard the triumph of their Faith as their ‘supreme objective.’

“The field is indeed so immense, the period so critical, the Cause so great, the workers so few, the time so short, the privilege so priceless, that no follower of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, worthy to bear His name, can afford a moment’s hesitation.

"All must participate, however humble their origin, however limited their experience, however restricted their means, however deficient their education, however pressing their cares and preoccupations, however unfavorable the environment in which they live.”

These words, though directed specifically to the North American believers, might well have been written for Bahá’ís, including the young people, in all free countries where openly teaching Bahá’u’lláh’s Program is permitted.

In this same letter the Guardian writes to the Bahá’í Youth of America. He says, “Though lacking in experience and faced with insufficient resources, yet the adventurous spirit which they possess, and the vigor, the alertness, and optimism they have thus far so consistently shown, qualify them to play an active part in arousing the interest, and in securing the allegiance, of their fellow youth in those (Latin American) countries. No greater demonstration [Page 512] can be given to the peoples of both continents of the youthful vitality and the vibrant power animating the life, and the institutions of the nascent Faith of Bahá’u’lláh than an intelligent, persistent, and effective participation of the Bahá’í Youth, of every race, nationality, and class, in both the teaching and administrative spheres of Bahá’í activity. Through such a participation the critics and enemies of the Faith, watching with varying degrees of skepticism and resentment, the evolutionary processes of the Cause of God and its institutions, can best be convinced of the indubitable truth that such a Cause is intensely alive, is sound to its very core, and its destinies in safe keeping.”

Little wonder that such words should stir Bahá’í youth to their very souls’ depths. Little wonder that they moved young John Eichenauer to offer his services to teach to the Inter-America Committee. Little wonder if North American youth are aroused to do their utmost to bring to a successful fruition the great Seven Year Plan to teach and build the Temple in Wilmette. Little wonder if they cause American youth to desire passionately that their acts for the Faith at the end of the first Bahá’í century might be comparable to the heroic deeds of the dawn-breakers during the first seven years of this same century.

Necessarily do we speak more of America in this account than of other countries. Betty Scheffler writes, “. . . the war has had a tremendous effect on the youth activities, and the contact with groups abroad has been for the most part cut off entirely.” News from Haifa, Palestine, “tells of the compulsory disbanding of Assemblies in Europe, Palestine and Persia, thereby temporarily at least, crippling the Cause in those countries.” In May, 1941, the Guardian wrote, “ ‘. . . this world redemptive Faith, for whose precious sake the world is undergoing such agonies, finds its virgin strength assailed, and its infant institutions hemmed in, by the dark forces which a godless civilization has unloosed over the face of the planet. In the Old World, whether in Europe, Asia or Africa, it is being buffeted about, ostracized, arraigned and repressed. In certain countries its community life is being extinguished, in others a ban is severely imposed on its propagation, in still others its members are denied all intercourse with its World Center.’ ”

The annual world Bahá’í youth symposiums have been carried on as well as was possible under the circumstances. The foreign correspondent of the National Youth Committee of the North American Bahá’í youth has been responsible for informing foreign groups of the plans. The scrapbook with the 1940 symposium reports, prepared for the Guardian, showed that there were thirty-two symposiums, nine of which were in countries outside of the United States and Canada, namely in London, England; Lyon, Marseille, and Hyères, France; San Salvador, Salvador; Alexandria, Egypt; Karachi, Poona, and Bombay, India. In 1941 the symposium topic was ”Is Religion Needed as the Basis for a New World Civilization?” Wherever possible the world over Bahá’í youth united in a concerted effort. As for the 1942 symposium, it was again held in February. “A message was again sent to the youth to be signed and later these letters will be placed in a scrapbook and sent to the Guardian. . . . the groups . . . were planning a symposium on this day, and new youth groups in some of the Latin American countries joined us in this activity.”

Bahá’í Youth, International Bulletin, put out by the National Youth Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, has attempted in the last two years to become a greater source of Bahá’í youth news. Before 1940 many essay articles had appeared, which though good, were not of especial interest. In 1940 it became more of a news sheet. Many of the reported activities in the following pages have been taken from this Bulletin. In addition to news there was from 1940-1941 considerable other helpful material: editorials, book reviews, Esperanto articles, symposium and study day outlines, summer school information. The latest issue, of February, 1942, again carries articles and news which will be of interest internationally. This publication, almost completely the work of youth, promises to become an even greater medium [Page 513] for the expressions of youth around the world when once again peace is established.

In the Americas, the lands of comparative freedom, Bahá’í youth are among the most zealous pioneers—at home, in neighboring cities, and abroad. For instance, there is Gertrude Gewertz of New York City working to establish an assembly in the pioneer state of Vermont. There are the young Marangellas who have journeyed to Puerto Rico. Everywhere evidences of youth teaching are to be found.

The war has not broken the spirit of Bahá’í youth. Indeed they only see Bahá’í prophecies fulfilled. Undaunted, they obey the call to "teach.” They know they must exert themselves constructively. Too many already are doing the tearing-down. Though they are as wee drops, their efforts may grow to become as seas if they strive to pass along the Word of God. They know that not a few people alone can establish a new world. Many must know the Great Plan. Their work is to enable the few to become the many.

Nowhere in the world is there to be found such unity of purpose, such eagerness to see a program work. In no other groups are youth so motivated. As one man, they arise to usher in the New Order. Those who are truly worthy of being called “Bahá’ís” find that their greatest interest is the Bahá’í Faith. Their greatest hope is the Bahá’í Faith. Their greatest work is the Bahá’í Faith. Other youth organizations appear as dead before this dynamic, alive and divinely-guided group.

Their task is to excel in whatsoever they may be doing. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá made this clear and emphatic in a tablet to the Bahá’í students at the American University at Beirut when he said, “I hope that while you are studying in this college you may so excel all other students in the various branches of knowledge taught therein that all of them may testify that the Bahá’í students have another Power, are inspired with another effort, are imbued with a nobler ambition, are stimulated by higher motives, and make wider and deeper exertions than others.

“Let the corps of students and professors be impressed with the purity and holiness of your lives, so that they may take you as paragons of worthiness, examples of nobility of nature, observers of the moral laws, holding in subordination the lower element by the higher spirit, the conquerors of self and the masters of wholesome vital forces in all the avenues of life.

“Strive, always, to be at the head of your classes, through hard study and true merit. Be always in a prayerful state and appreciate the value of everything. Entertain high ideals and stimulate your intellectual and constructive forces.”

Admittedly such a standard is not an easy goal to attain. Bahá’í youth have far to go in attaining it. But they have the vision; they may gain the strength through prayer and meditation; a purpose motivates their actions; their lives see before them a great Plan, not futility upon futility. They are not satisfied with the status quo, and they have the courage to try to change it.

Recently a very wonderful and inspiring letter was received from Rúḥíyyih Khánum. It contained much Bahá’í news of friends in the Orient. Parts of it will be used in the forthcoming pages. A number of excerpts, which give us added courage and hope from Haifa, and which she was willing to share with Bahá’í youth, follow at this time:

"Despite the darkness of the war, casting its shadow over us all—even over all of you in America now—there is so much truly inspiring news from the Bahá’í world that it fills one with hope and gladness and gratitude. Every day it seems to me our sense of privilege and blessing in being Bahá’ís grows stronger. How confused others are! How clearly we see the panorama of God’s Plan for man laid out before us! How infinitely depressed people are becoming, not so much from the tides of battle as from the sense that all that they strove for after the last world war fell away, and proved useless to prevent a recurrence of the catastrophe. How optimistic we Bahá’ís feel as we see, one after another, the predictions of Bahá’u’lláh and the Master and the Guardian coming true, giving us a feeling we have been taken into the confidence of destiny!

"I was just reading a sentence in a letter from a Tasmanian Bahá’í to the Guardian. A most extraordinary thing she says: ‘. . . and you will rejoice to know that we are [Page 514] encountering some opposition.’ That one remark seems to breathe all the hope and optimism with which the Bahá’ís are facing the future and facing their great and sacred task of spreading the Message of Baha’u’llah amid disillusioned humanity. She thrills to the challenge. She realizes that fundamental and wonderful principle that opposition stimulates growth, and strengthens the whole body to meet life and overcome hardships. She hails resistance for what it really is—recognition of the mettle of the Faith.

"From East and West a new spirit of increased awareness of our responsibility as believers in this great world-healing Faith pours in in every communication. It seems to me it is the indication that we are beginning to grow up as Bahá’ís. We are squaring our shoulders, anxious at last to bear the full weight of our responsibility to our fellowmen. We are casting off that childish attitude we had towards the Cause, an attitude of dependence and snugness, like fledglings still safe and lazy in their warm nest, expecting always to be cuddled by the protecting mercy and blessing of God, because we had accepted Him in His Day! Now, so it seems to me, we are like knights who ride to crusade, mature, poised, our objective of sharing with a bitterly confused world the vision and the plan of the future always before us, our Grail, which leads us on.

”And now a word about Haifa. It would be hard to convey the atmosphere that surrounds the Guardian. Though keenly aware of, and interested in, the events now shaking the whole world, he remains aloof from it, calmly pursuing the course of the Cause which is a divine course and not at the mercy of the tempestuous events now tossing the human race around so mercilessly. We Bahá’ís are builders, and the blessed nature of our Faith enables us to go on building up its marvelous system even in the midst of so much destruction. Our Guardian is the one who has the plans and directs our work. And that is just what he is doing, day after day.

"Not only through his still large correspondence—in spite of the war it has scarcely decreased at all!—but also in the institutions here in Haifa which he yearly adds to, he goes on developing the Cause, the believers, and Bahá’í undertakings of every nature.

“Some Bahá’í once had a dream. I have long since forgotten who had it, and perhaps I do not remember its details correctly, but the simile is so perfectly suited to these times and the relation of the Cause to them that I would like to repeat it: The whole world seemed to be becoming engulfed in a sea of mud. It rose steadily and as it rose more and more people would slip into it as the ground was eaten away. Those who were still on dry land did everything to save those who were being drowned. Sometimes they succeeded in pulling them out; sometimes they themselves would get pulled in and drown. The situation was terrible and the Bahá’í who had the dream kept running around looking for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá everywhere. She could not find Him anywhere. At last she climbed a hill and discovered the Master there, working on some kind of machine very intently. She called Him, but He paid no attention to her at all. Finally she pulled His robe to attract His attention, and told Him that a terrible flood was engulfing the whole world and everyone was being drowned, and begged Him to come and save them. He said: ‘ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is perfecting a machine that will make the flood go down.’ I never remember it without thinking of the leadership of our Guardian. He is building up, through our efforts, the means, the only means, of saving humanity and solving its problems.

“There is a fierce gale blowing in from the sea today. As far as the eye can see are white caps and stormy waters. Rain clouds and sunshine swiftly alternate. It is not unlike these days we are living through. But inwardly I feel we Bahá’ís are closer than ever before. We may be only a little band, in relation to the teaming millions of this planet, but we are one unit. In a world divided against itself, our hearts are united by a love so pure and sincere it can find no equal. And as each day goes by we feel more keenly that those we belong to are our fellow-Bahá’ís, they are our true family, our spiritual flesh and blood. We sha’n’t fail each other! We sha’n’t fail our Guardian! This is the wonderful conviction that grows stronger in my heart all the time, as I am [Page 515] privileged to read the reports that come in from the believers far and wide.

“This letter may never reach you, but it does not matter really whether it does or not, because the spirit which binds us all together is the real thing, and I know nothing can destroy that!”

Such words written in December 1941 when the Second World War was raging with violent fury could not fail to inspire and encourage not only the youth in North America but young people and adults alike in the four corners of the world. All know, as Bahá’ís, that in this hour we dare not fail.

Hope is increased also as we find more intelligent, open-minded, and spiritually alive young people embracing the Faith in this hour of humanity’s greatest need. Once they have caught the vision, through independent investigation, and are aflame with the pregnant possibilities, they wish they might shout the Great News “from the house-tops.” David Ruhe, who has recently embraced the Faith, wrote as follows in a letter in 1941: “I’ve officially become one of the Bahá’ís, convinced that this is the belief for which all our education has been preparing us . . . for world unity and brotherhood, for an international court and a world force (police), for a common currency, a common speech of commerce and travel, a free trade, an acceptance of and amalgamation of all religions (who speak the words and forget the purpose of their great teachers), all this on the fundamentals that science without religion is materialism, and that religion without science is supernaturalism, that jointly the full power of man can find its fruition. The administrative principle of consultation is soundly democratic; independent investigation of truth recognizes the individual worth, and abolition of prejudice frees the soul in its search. Does that not sound like a summary of the needs of the times? It does to me, and hits so closely to the groove of current events that I cannot but admit the authority of the Man Who has put them into concrete words.” Bahá’í youth are working today with principles and a program, both of which they are helping to disseminate, as does this young Bahá’í, in order that at the termination of this great war, the world will be able to “win the peace.” The Bahá’í Writings assure us that if we work diligently it is not foolish optimism to feel encouraged even in these times.

The following pages attempt to survey what some of the younger Bahá’ís all over the world have felt and done during the approximate period of April 1940 to April 1942. The picture drawn can hardly be called comprehensive, for there are undoubtedly many omissions. At best it gives a very general idea of the accomplishments. No attempt has been made to remain within any particular age limit, be it 21 or 25. The younger Bahá’ís are the ones with whom we shall here be concerned. The difficulties of speaking only of those who are strictly speaking "youth” must be obvious to the reader upon consideration of the task of compiling such a section. Neither is this an attempt at pure originality. In reality, it is the work of many. News has been gleaned from Bahá’í publications. Correspondence of one kind or another has netted excellent results. The compiler owes a debt of gratitude to all who have so willingly shared in this work.

AROUND THE WORLD WITH BAHA’I YOUTH

ARGENTINA

Early in 1940 Mrs. May Sutherland Maxwell and her niece, Jeanne Bolles, of Connecticut, arrived in Argentina to visit the many individuals interested in the Bahá’í Faith. To most Bahá’ís the stirring events which followed are well known. Three days after their arrival Mrs. Maxwell was taken seriously ill and passed away within a few hours. A martyr to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, her grave is a Bahá’í shrine in Argentina. Misfortunes could, however, not thwart Jeanne in the work they had set out to do. A thrilling feature article appeared in The Standard of Sunday, September 22, 1940. From the article, beautifully illustrated, we take the liberty to quote a few passages: "This youthful disciple (Jeanne Bolles) of a Persian Faith is a serious-minded girl, wholesomely alive and [Page 516] interested in life and all that goes on around her. Born in Montreal, Miss Jeanne Bolles was educated at Dana Hall School, Wellesley, and in 1938 graduated from Sarah Lawrence College. Such is the briefly told background of this Canadian-American who has been a Bahá’í most of her life. . . . Alone in a strange land and not knowing the language, Miss Bolles nevertheless decided to carry on her aunt’s work here. . . . Miss Jeanne Bolles took pains to explain to us that the Bahá’í Cause is a civilization as well as a religion, encompassing all aspects of life in its broad, modern philosophy. . . . After this war as after the last, Miss Bolles thinks the Bahá’í Movement will have a tremendous impulse because people will seek for new inspiration and solace, a new emotional and social order, in their instinctive efforts to bring about peace and justice out of the chaos wrought by the old order.

”In concluding her story, Miss Bolles told the reporter that she is happy with the work accomplished in Argentina. ‘I feel,’ she said, ‘that I have fulfilled what my aunt had hoped to do. I leave Argentina a precious token: the remains of a martyr who, for over forty years devoted her life to this Cause and incessantly and unselfishly worked for a Faith which we believe to be that of the Future.’ ” The long article gave a concise and accurate history of the Faith. When Jeanne left Argentina on September 24 for Rio de Janeiro, she left also the first Argentine nucleus of Bahá’ís.

Jeanne Bolles reports that the first Bahá’í youth in this country is Haig Kevorkian of Buenos Aires. Haig’s family is Armenian, but had lived in Syria for many years. His father knew the Master and moved with his family to Argentina solely to save his sons from the war to come. The evening before Mrs. Maxwell passed away, young Haig, according to Jeanne Bolles, telephoned her, welcoming her to the country; Mrs. Maxwell was exceptionally enthusiastic and spoke with joy and eagerness of how much she was looking forward to having some Bahá’í classes, and contacting the group of people Mrs. Stuart had interested in the Faith. It so happens that Haig was the only contact Mrs. Maxwell had with any person who was a Bahá’í or destined to become one in Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires boasts a newly-formed youth group. After the passing away of Mrs. May Maxwell in the city and the departure of Miss Jeanne Bolles, Mr. Philip Sprague came to Buenos Aires in October of 1940. Soon he detected a great interest in the Cause among young people, and in January, 1941, the once attempted Youth Group was reformed. The Local Spiritual Assembly formed an executive body to be under its supervision. The Youth have met twice a week to study the Teachings. During the one hour classes, fifteen minutes are given to questions and discussion. Social gatherings, on Sundays and Feast days, are held at the beautiful country place of Mr. Salvador Tormo, chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly. Games are played on the large grounds, and the out-of-doors is thoroughly enjoyed.

The nine declared youth believers are in themselves quite a cosmopolitan group, being Armenian, Anglo-Argentinian, Paraguayan, and Argentinian. Most of the others who attend the classes more or less regularly are students. Marie Poghaharian, treasurer of the executive body of the Bahá’í youth, wrote, “they are all gay young people rather pleasure loving with one great quality to their advantage: their young, clean, unprejudiced minds, which when directed in the right channel can accomplish great results in the future life of the Bahá’í Cause in Argentina.”

During a short period pending the obtaining of a license, requested in an order passed by Government authorities, Bahá’í meetings were suspended, but since March 19, 1941, meetings have been permitted. The youth classes were undoubtedly resumed.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

In a letter written in April 1940 Merle Brooks, Adelaide, South Australia, said that their first meeting was an informal one held in a home early in 1937. Later meetings were held periodically in the Bahá’í Room. The following year brought greater enthusiasm, more meetings, and an increasing number of members. The young people brought the Teachings to the notice of many students [Page 517] of the University and Conservatorium of Music, some of whom attended the youth meetings. The next year the youth group met regularly in the Bahá’í Room. Each meeting brought new faces, seekers of enlightenment who had come in contact with the Teachings. After the talks and discussions, a lesson in Esperanto was given by Miss Dorothy Dugdale. In 1940 the plan was to meet regularly to study and discuss the Faith and to continue the work of spreading the Message in fields already opened and in any avenue presenting itself.

One young Bahá'í woman, Ethel Dawe, also of Adelaide, broadcasts with the National Station. In the press she was acclaimed one of their "three most popular talks broadcasters”. Her subjects have such titles as “When East Meets West in Palestine” and “Islam and Italy in North Africa”. Over the National network she has conducted discussions with women on such subjects as "Women and the New World Order.” With young people also she has had discussions. Though her talks are not directly Bahá’í talks, they undoubtedly reflect the spirit of the Faith and thereby serve to prepare the way.

From Rúḥíyyih Khánum, in a letter of December 1941, we have ample testimony of the strong faith with which the youth of this part of the world face the present crisis. She writes as follows: “A young Australian Bahá’í, now in the Army in a non—combatant capacity, recently called on Shoghi Effendi. It was little short of a revelation to hear him talk. He was like a man whose eyes are fixed on a wonderful, fertile land while he is walking through bleak mountain passes. He is thinking of and building for the future. His present occupation, all the intense tragedy he must go through and witness, are only the path which leads him to that beautiful valley he sees before him. His attitude was so one hundred per cent Bahá’í that it was inspiring to meet him. The Guardian was so pleased to see such an exemplary spirit.”

BRAZIL

In the Fall of 1940 Jeanne Bolles arrived in Rio to continue her Bahá’í teaching work. The News, the only English language daily in Brazil, gave her an excellent write-up. This young woman wished to “add to the two million now scattered from Baghdád to the western hemisphere.”

She took an apartment in Rio with Miss Leonora Holsapple, who has the wonderful record of being the first Bahá’í pioneer to take up permanent residence in South America, and they attempted to do fireside teaching. Undoubtedly Jeanne did much to arouse the interest and enthusiasm which have been shown in Brazil.

Gertrude Eisenberg, formerly of Chicago, arrived in Brazil about April, 1941, and is located in Itaipava.

COSTA RICA

Another of the Central American countries included in the travels for the Cause by John Eichenauer is Costa Rica, which already boasts its first Bahá’í Assembly. He wrote of going with others on a teaching trip.

CUBA

In Havana a class of young people between the ages of ten and seventeen are learning about the Faith along with the English language.

ECUADOR

The first Ecuadorian Bahá’í is a young and intelligent boy with an "inquiring mind.” His name is Eduardo, and we are told that his faith can be read upon his face.

The last report speaks of two young men believers who, with John Stearns, pioneer from the United States, are steadily working to spread the Faith.

ENGLAND

Even war, with its air-raids, black-outs, and evacuation, has been unable to still the courage and faith of youth in England. Indeed it is their faith in the emerging New World Order of Bahá’u’lláh which enables them to go on with strong hearts. Bahá’u’lláh has assured the world that this dark today will not be followed by dark tomorrows. The Most Great Peace lies ahead. For that peace youth today must work with undaunted spirits. And so the English youth move forward with hope, not with despair and uncertainty.

[Page 518]

Youth of Honolulu.

Dorothy Cansdale and Bertha Wilson, in writing to a pioneer in Central America, give a good inside picture. Dorothy, member of the London Community, wrote in December 1940, “We are all still alive here and well, and quite unperturbed. For us Bahá’ís to be calm and brave is nothing, we ought to be. We know that Bahá’ís all over the world are praying for us and we realize how much we are being helped by this. But the amazing thing is that everyone here is the same—in all these months of air-raids I have only seen one person who was afraid and showed it. No doubt many people are scared to death, but they control it and don’t show it and that to my mind is the greatest bravery of all, and I admire it immensely. Personally I have not felt afraid once yet, but I take no credit for that because I have nothing to be afraid of. I am sure that if God has work for me to do here I will not be killed; and if I have done all the work I am intended to do, what’s the use of staying in this world any longer anyway? As a matter of fact most people are not so much afraid of dying as of being badly maimed and that really is difficult to think about calmly, but if I can serve the Cause better blind or crippled, I know I shall get the strength to bear it. . . . All the Bahá’ís are all right—one girl had her home destroyed, but she was safe in a shelter. . . .” Dorothy reported that there was very little in the way of youth activities in London at the time of writing, because all the young people were scattered. In February of the next year she stated that their Center was not damaged, nor were the others in England, although the one in Manchester had a narrow escape. She said, "We just go on working and don’t worry about such things.”

Bertha Wilson, member of the London youth group, wrote in July 1940, "When one thinks of this miracle of communication one can’t help thinking of the Bahá’í Faith and how gradually all the barriers will recede and we shall in truth be united in every way . . . though events happen with startling rapidity everyone remains calm—and it is wonderful to have and feel [Page 519] the warmth of the Bahá’ís! . . . Our Youth Group . . . has become stronger. . . . I . . . pray for the protection of all the people of the universe whom we regard as our friends and hold dear.” Writing at a later time from Brighton, where she was attempting to keep open a shop for a Bahá’í friend who had been called, she said that she felt the scattering of the Bahá’ís over England was bound to spread the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh “come what may!” In spite of present conditions she feels confident that “one day this will be all over and we will indeed have a New World Order!”

FRANCE

Activité de la jeunesse bahá’í de France.

Période comprise depuis le début jusqu’au premier septembre 1941.

La Cause bahá’íe, introduite pour la première fois à Lyon par Mme. May Maxwell, en avril 1936, a été successivement adoptée par quelques jeunes filles et jeunes gens encore peu nombreux et disseminés, mais dont les efforts commencent à se coordonner et à s’unir.

Depuis le mois de mars 1941, Lyon possède un petit groupe de jeunesse (rapport ci-joint) créé et dirigé par Melles Alice Ancarola et Jeannette Scaglioni.

A Sedan (Ardennes) habitait une jeune convertie Melle Paulette Liart que la guerre obligea à se réfugier dans les DeuX-Sèvres, oú elle se trouve actuellement isolée de tout contact.

Du mois de juin au mois de septembre 1940, Melle L. Migette parcourut plusieurs villes et villages de France dont le résultat fut Ia création du premier petit groupe de jeunesse bahá’í dans un village, par Melles M. L. Chomette et A. Bonnet.

La graine fut semée parmi un certain nombre de jeunes gens maintenant devenus sympathisants.

Le dernier groupe constitué est celui de Marseilles, créé par Mr. Jacques Soghomonian sur l’exemple du groupe lyonnais dont ce jeune homme a fait connaissance dernièrement. Ce groupe comprend le frère Jean Soghomonian et un bahá’í de nationalité turque, Mr. Arif.

Jusqu’ici la seule correspondence de ces croyants fut échangée avec Mlle. Migette et avant la guerre avec les jeunes croyants amèricains, notamment Mr. J. Fatooh.

Le travail de demain sera de relier ces groupes nouveaux—nés entre eux et de les faire fructifier.

—L. MIGETTE.

Lucienne Migette, outstanding French Bahá’í, has covered the period from 1936 to September 1941 in the preceding report. She says therein that the Bahá’í Cause, introduced for the first time in Lyons by Mrs. May Maxwell, in April 1936, was adopted successively by several young people of both sexes who, still relatively few in number and scattered, are beginning to unite and coördinate their endeavors. Since March 1941 Lyons contains a small Bahá’í Youth Group (report follows). From June to September 1940 Miss Migette made a journey through several villages and towns in France, which resulted in the formation of the first little Bahá’í Youth Group in one of these villages. The seed was planted among a certain number of young people, who have since become sympathizers. The latest group to be formed is in Marseilles. The work of the future, she says in conclusion, will be to create more bonds among these new-born groups and to make them fruitful.

The following report by Lylett Ancarola tells of the activities of the Bahá’í Youth Group of Lyons from March 22, 1941, to September 1, 1941. Meetings were recently organized to form a youth group united fraternally in the spirit of the common love for the Bahá’í Cause. She mentions subjects used at the meetings and books and pamphlets which were lent to young people. Gradually the meetings are becoming better organized. They hope that with the help of Bahá’u’lláh the youth invited will hasten to come. Regular correspondence is to be established with all the Bahá’í youth of France, and as soon as possible, with those of other nations.

Activité du groupe de jeunesse bahá’í de Lyon.

Période du 22 mars 1941 au Ier septembre 1941.

Réunions: Les réunions de jeunesse ont été récemment établies par Melles Jeannette Scaglioni et Alice Ancarola dans le but de grouper une jeunesse fraternellement unie [Page 520] par un amour commun pour la Cause bahá’í. Elles ont lieu chaque samedi après—midi.

Jusqu’à ce jour une seule jeune fille sympathisante y a assisté, Mlle Y. Tavenas.

Monsieur Jacques Soghomonian, jeune bahá’í de Marseilles, enmené à Lyon par Mlle. Migette a fait la connaissance des jeunes bahá’ís lyonnais.

Sujets traités aux réunions: Prière—lecture et commentaires sur les Ecrits suivants:

Entretiens d‘Abdu’l-Bahá à Paris

Vers l’Apogée de la race humaine par S. Effendi

Le but d’un nouvel ordre mondial par H. Holley

Paroles cachées de Bahá’u’lláh

Prophéties de la Révélation bahá’í par L. Migette

Livres: Des livres et des brochures ont été prêtés à de jeunes sympathisants:

Prophéties

Paroles cachées

Ere nouvelle

Vers l’Apogée de la race humaine

Le but d’un nouvel ordre mondial

Correspondance: Ces réunions s’organisent peu à peu et nous espérons qu’avec l’aide de Bahá’u’lláh, la jeunesse invitée s’y pressera.

Une correspondance régulière va être établie avec tous les jeunes bahá’ís de France et dés que possible, des autres nations.

Pour le groupe de jeunesse bahá’í.

LYLETT ANCAROLA.

From a little report in Bahá’í Youth of June, 1940 we learn that Lyon was faithful to the 1940 symposium. Circumstances were such that they could not hold it in February, but on March third the meeting was held at the home of Mademoiselle Migette. Monsieur Chaumard spoke on The Spiritual Man, Monsieur Chaize on The Unity of Religion, and Madame Ancarola on The History of the Bahá’í Faith. Tea was served and pictures were taken.

Lucienne Migette has been delighted to find Esperanto in Bahá’í Youth. This gave her an opportunity to contact the Esperantists with Bahá’í material.

"A circular letter dated May 15, 1940, and sent from the Spiritual Assembly of Paris states that during 1938-1939 all the young Persian students who had been faithful friends of the meetings departed. Thus the opportunity of arranging the Annual Conference for the young Bahá’ís temporarily disappeared. Nevertheless the idea was maintained, and some special meetings were organized (in May of 1939) with the young believers from the provinces.”

French Bahá’ís, in spite of the ordeal through which their country is passing, remain firm in the faith. We have been told of the glorious spirit of one of the members, who has gone through grave difficulties. She knows “instant, exact, and complete obedience.” As long as that spirit exists, there can be no fear for the Faith.

GUATEMALA

Guatemala has felt the fire of Bahá’í youth pioneers, for John Eichenauer and Clarence Iverson visited in this country. They met with the enthusiastic Bahá’í group, which is most eager for a school for the youth.

HONDURAS

Tireless in his efforts to spread the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, John Eichenauer, youthful pioneer from the United States, is, according to recent reports, in Honduras. He visited the two mining communities of Rosario and Agua Fria, as well as other cities. He made the acquaintance of two editors of newspapers and got recognition. In La Ceiba he introduced the Message to the American Vice Consul. Bahá’í News of February, 1942 reports John as writing the following: “On receipt of the Guardian’s cable of December 13 as contained in the Bulletin of December which reached Honduras on January 1, a special meeting was called to read the cable and to pray for the success of the teaching work and the friends generally. At this meeting eleven people signed a note of greeting which I enclose herewith.”

INDIA AND BURMA

Every year the Bahá’í youth of India are becoming more active as they increasingly realize their grave responsibilities as Bahá’ís. Universities of India and Burma are being supplied with World Order magazine, nineteen copies of which were regularly given [Page 521] to them. In addition to these copies the Bombay Youth Group and Service Committee have contributed three copies of the magazine on their behalf to a college and to two institutes of learning, and the Poona Spiritual Assembly has supplied three colleges of Poona with three issues.

At the Twelfth All-India and Burma National Convention held in Poona, April 27-29, 1940, the Youth Group displayed a pageant based on the fundamental principle of Bahá’í Universal Peace (sent from America). It was greatly appreciated by all. The proceedings of this same Convention told about Bahá’í youth. The following excerpt was taken from Bahá’í News, March, 1941, where it appeared prior to this publication. “The organization started 4 years ago has now developed into a strong body and its activities have become more and more organized. The Annual Symposium was again held this year on February 25 which synchronized with the date on which the same function was held by Bahá’í Youth organizations all over the world in accordance with the programme published by the World Bahá’í Youth Committee of America.^* A plan for the year 1940-1941 has been chalked out and if the youth are assisted in carrying out this plan they will have advanced many milestones before the end of the plan is reached.”

PERSIA

In this country young believers are among the most active both in the summer school work and in the administrative field. Indeed the youth have made great progress in the last two years. In the summers of both 1940 and 1941 the youth had their summer schools, and thus this newly-born institution will stand as evidence of the enthusiasm of young people for their Faith. The youth summer schools are held in Ḥájí Abad some forty kilometers outside of Ṭihrán. The first summer was a great success, and from the report of the second we gather that it, too, must have been the source of much joy. During the time of the latter, according to Bahá’í News,

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^*Correctly speaking, it is the National Youth Committee of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada.

February, 1942, "The period of study was divided into five sessions of ten days each. The program included morning and afternoon classes. The morning classes studied regularly the History of Nabíl—‘The Dawn-Breakers,’ and ‘Some Answered Questions.’ These classes were primarily for Bahá’í students who were receiving their education in high institutions of learning and who were desirous to prepare themselves for serving the Cause in the near future. In the afternoons, the meetings were in the form of conferences conducted by Bahá’í lecturers and educators. They dealt with Bahá’í subjects in general. Not only were these conferences instructive as a medium of interchange of ideas, but they proved to be socially valuable occasions for all believers to come together as one body and foster the spirit of Bahá’í fellowship and communion among all those present. A number of discussion groups conducted by old believers were also held and were very enlightening and helpful. The recreational side of the Summer School was not neglected. Mountain climbing and other outdoor sports and games were organized and enjoyed by many. There was also a special program arranged for younger Bahá’ís between five and fifteen years of age.”

A project of outstanding worth has been in the making. A devoted Bahá’í of Ṭihrán, Mr. ‘Abdu’l Ḥusayn Zargham, has been working out a scheme for the education and up-keep of a number of Bahá’í orphans on his farm near Ṭihrán. The Youth Committee was sparing no effort in seeing that the proposition proved successful. Already a number of orphans have been collected from Ṭihrán and the provinces. The work begun gives promise of real success.

A stirring incident, evidence of true Bahá’í selflessness, created much interest among non-Bahá’ís. Bahá’í News, January, 1941, reports the following: "An alarming fire recently broke out at night in the stores of the Rice Company in Bandar Jaz, a small port on the Caspian Sea. It threatened to destroy an extensive neighboring quarter of the town. A Bahá’í youth named Áqá Muḥammad Sangi, member of the local Spiritual Assembly, who heard of the news, immediately left his bed and went [Page 522] out to fight the fire with no interest except his Bahá’í love for his fellowmen. While owners of endangered properties left their premises in the face of the inevitable peril, he simply threw himself into the flames and with heroic sacrifice and extraordinary suffering succeeded in subduing the fire and cutting it off from the rest of the town. He reached his goal but lost his life in a glorious task watched with awe and admiration by hundreds of spectators. The inhabitants of the town, deeply moved by this disinterested and heroic sacrifice, paid a pathetic homage to the departed soul and more than 400 of them followed his body to the cemetery and attended the Bahá’í interment rites, which as Muḥammadans, they had avoided so far. The admirable self-sacrifice shown with spontaneous impulse by this Bahá’í young man had its immediate recompense in the form of the interest of the spectators in Bahá’í teachings and is bound to bear in future other fruits of great importance.”

Rúḥíyyih Khánum, wife of Shoghi Effendi, has sensed from the young Bahá’ís who come to Haifa from Persia that “they are very much awake and anxious to really achieve wonders for the Cause in their country.” She feels that an active correspondence with young American Bahá’ís would be of real assistance to them. Restrictions in the East include a dearth of books and consequent hardship in keeping up to date in the field of administration.

‘IRÁQ

In ‘Iráq many of the most outstanding Bahá’ís are young men. They work on the Local and National Spiritual Assemblies.

The last volume of Bahá’í World undoubtedly was unable to report that in February of 1940 The Fifth Annual Bahá’í Youth Symposium was held at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Baghdád. Young believers with non—Bahá’í friends attended. Photographs of the Bahá’í youths were taken. Among the many fine parts of the program were two talks the titles of which appear particularly appealing: “The World Needs the Bahá’í Faith” and ”Effect of Superstitions and Ignorance on Religion.” The occasion was fairly successful, it was generally felt; and a number of the non-Bahá’ís attending are studying the Cause.

PARAGUAY

Through the efforts and wisdom of Elizabeth Cheney Paraguay now boasts a youth group. An exciting account of the first Bahá’í youth meeting has appeared in Bahá’í Youth, February, 1942. The story shows vividly that even revolution cannot stop those who thirst for the Word of God, indeed it but serves to increase the eagerness. Miss Cheney’s account is as follows: " ‘Why don’t we have a special class—just for young people?’ That was the question asked me one evening after I had been in this beautiful tropical country for only three months. It marked the beginning of the first youth group in Paraguay.

“A fear of seeming to push the people, whose entire life and background were different from my own, had always held me back up to now, but this was too open an invitation to miss. So with the help of Sta. Nadine Masloff, Sta. Noema Moringo, and Sr. A. Entwistle, we planned our opening meeting for Saturday evening, April 19, 1940.

“During the next two weeks more than a dozen young señors and señoritas became interested and promised to participate. But on the eventful day, when I rose for my usual dawn prayers, I sensed something strange in the atmosphere. People were running through the streets, a rare sight in a land where the average temperature for a great part of the year is 110° Fahrenheit. Sra. Lenour de Morinigo, who operated my pension, her daughter, and a little Indian maid, came rushing out of the house carrying large baskets. People were gathered in small groups at the doors of their houses, gazing fearfully up and down the cobbled street. Oxcart drivers were snapping their long whips over the backs of the huge native oxen, trying to urge them beyond the sleepy stroll universally adopted by these beasts under a blazing sun. Little grayish white donkeys were trotting nimbly back toward the country beneath the weight of their owners and great panniers of fruit and vegetables brought from the country long before dawn. Because of the lack of modern highways, [Page 523] oxen and donkeys are the principal means of travel into the interior of Paraguay.

“When excited voices rose a little, I could catch a word or two of the rapid Spanish. ‘Revolution, revolution,’ I heard again and again. ‘They say that General Franco comes this afternoon by plane from the Chaco, then it will break.’ A clattering of many hooves up the street, and the little groups of people vanished into their houses. A troop of cavalry clattered slowly past, many of the soldiers were just boys in their early ’teens, their young faces grim and watchful. Then came column after column of infantry in their greenish blue uniforms, well armed, watching for the sudden flare of violence which so often turns a Latin American city into an inferno for a time.

“We wondered about our youth group meeting that evening. It would not be safe for the young people to be on the street in the daytime, much less at night. There was no way of notifying anyone of postponement, for telephone service had already been shut off by the government, except for military purposes. Telegraph and local mail service were also discontinued during the emergency. We had to hope that natural good sense would prevent any of the young people from risking their lives to come.

“At six-thirty that evening, the usual time for meetings of all sorts in Paraguay, six boys and girls appeared, each bearing apologies from others, whose parents had been wise enough not to permit them to venture forth. To the accompaniment of gun fire from a distance, the first Paraguayan youth group was founded in Asuncion, the Paraguay capital.

"We studied ‘Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era’ together and the young people liked the heroic tales from the 'Dawn-Breakers,’ which, of course, had to be translated for them. Besides the ‘New Era’ there are only two other Bahá’í books which have so far been translated into good Spanish. Those are 'The Wisdom of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’ and ‘Some Answered Questions.’ Almost no one in Paraguay can speak or read English, so that the great sources of spiritual knowledge now opened to us by the Guardian’s translations into English, are mostly closed to Latin-America.

"Paraguay has suffered so terribly through wars of aggression, that the Bahá’í peace plan with its new world order was of deep interest to them. One young man asked me, ‘You mean that, when the new world order is established, then if Bolivia should attack Paraguay again and try to take away her land, it would become the duty of all the other countries in the world to rise up and put a stop to that war? I would be in favor of that.’

“The youth group members in Paraguay feel a keen interest in North American youth activities. The night before I left Paraguay they said to me in parting, ‘Please give our loving greetings to our North American brothers and sisters. Tell them how much we would like to meet them, and that we also are working to build a part of the new world order of Bahá’u’lláh.’” The group, born in the midst of revolution, grew. The young people asked for English classes. This service, proved so successful that demand came for adult classes also.

Illness took Miss Cheney from Paraguay, but the work she has accomplished for the Faith will stand as evidence of the power of Bahá’u’lláh made manifest in the spirit of His pioneers.

PUERTO RICO

In July of 1940 Mme. Katherine Disdier and Miss Ruhieh Jones, both of New York City, arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Upon their arrival a comprehensive article on the Bahá’í Faith appeared in the important newspaper, El Mundo. In 1941 they reported the following to Bahá’í Youth: "We are happy that the opportunity has been given us to become established here—each holding a position, which permits us to maintain a lovely new apartment, with a balcony and a terrace open to the great expanse of sky and overlooking house tops, tropical verdure, a mirroring lagoon, the sea beyond and mountain vistas. This is Puerto Rico’s new Bahá’í Center.

“In addition to putting Bahá’í books in the libraries, obtaining some fine publicity and visiting progressive groups, we have met many interesting and prominent people and have made a wide circle of friends; some of these have real interest in the Faith and have [Page 524] been of assistance to us in many ways; two have accepted the Cause through Katherine’s efforts; and several of our other friends seem to be favorably inclined; and when Bahá’u’lláh is ready, they will undoubtedly become identified with Bahá’í life and activity.” With the Feast of Naw-Rúz, they began having open house every week. Recently four believers from New York City have taken up residence in Puerto Rico. Two of them, Lucien McComb, Jr. and his wife, Ayned, were among the most active in the New York City Youth Group. Their help will be invaluable in fostering the spread of the Faith, especially among young people.

SALVADOR

The Bahá’í work in this small Central American country has been carried on to a very large extent by two enthusiastic and energetic young pioneers from the United States, John Eichenauer, Jr. and Clarence Iverson. Young John, who arrived in San Salvador in October, 1939, was joined some three months later by Clarence, who had long been active in youth activities in Arizona. Together they have made a most successful team, and their pioneer spirit has born much fruit.

A long and fascinating story could be written about the many contacts they have made in one way or another. John wrote, "Our contacts have been many, from poets to peasants and from government employees to school teachers. . . . Our ‘Push to go’ came from devotion to Bahá’u’lláh and the Guardian. During the day we make juices, study the Writings, write letters, make visits and an hour each morning and evening we go to commercial school. Occasionally we go to a movie or go on an excursion.”^* In contacting people they listen to the other individual, offer ideas which will not cause antagonism, and do their best to avoid an argument.

At an earlier time, as published in Bahá’í Youth, June, 1940, John had this to say: "Confirmations come in the form of actual accomplishments, in meeting influential people who give opportunities of spreading widely the Message, in newspaper publicity, in the acceptance of the Faith by some enlightened

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^*Bahá’í Youth, June 1941, p. 14.

ones. At other times confirmations come from the spiritual calm one receives after reading prayers and meditations or from the feeling that reenforces one when one tries to do the best one can. With confirmations also come tests, but without tests we would not progress nor could we appreciate confirmations, for no one knows sheer joy who has never harbored grief.”

These two young men have been spurred into unceasing activity. The power of Bahá’u’lláh has driven them forward. They were able to place copies of World Order in two main social clubs. Cypactly, one of the main literary magazines, carried a quotation from the Writings. A social-sports club was contacted, and a number of the members showed interest in the Bahá’í principles. For at least a while meetings were held each Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.

In January of 1941 Mrs. Stewart visited in Salvador. The group, which had consisted mostly of men, attracted some more women. At the last meeting before Mrs. Stewart’s departure, the group elected their own committee to carry on the teaching efforts.

John has, according to most recent reports, departed from Salvador to carry on teaching work elsewhere in Central America. Clarence is carrying on with great progress. A visit from Mrs. Caswell gave the group fresh impetus. In fact, she thought it was time they were having an Assembly. Bahá’í News, November 1941, quoted Clarence as writing the following: “They are all enthused about doing something for the progress of the work; and by having an Assembly more interest and unity would be created and they would be able to do more. There have been eleven (including two youths who have signed the registration cards) and I think that there are three or four more in the study class who want to sign the cards.”

The Sixth Annual World Bahá’í Youth Day was celebrated on February 23, 1941. They translated five of the articles written by youth on “Youth and a New World Order” appearing in World Order, February, 1941. Among those attending was the editor of El Gran Diario, who helped by putting a notice in the newspaper.

Of interest, too, are these words of John [Page 525] Eichenauer: “I keep in close touch with the pioneers in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. We all feel an indescribable spiritual unity in that we are pioneering in the Movement that will prove to be the salvation to a harassed world; and we remember Bahá’u’lláh’s words that, ‘When victory arriveth, every man shall profess himself as a believer and shall hasten to the shelter of God’s Faith.’ Hearing from the Guardian gives me fortitude to persevere and reminds me that whenever my responsibilities seem burdensome, how much more weighty must be his staggering duties.” We are not surprised when we hear that he considers the main object of his life to be teaching the Bahá’í Faith.

We all thrill to the story; of these two young men responding to the call to spread the Word of Bahá’u’lláh.

SWITZERLAND

Contrary to the situation in so many places, it is young men and not women in Switzerland who seem at present to be showing interest in the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. As yet, there is no organized youth activity here, but hope comes in that some young men are “being stirred up and may be further attracted,” according to Mrs. Anne Lynch at the Bahá’í Bureau in Geneva. Quite recently we were informed that a young man of eighteen and a brilliant student in a monastery school desires to become a Bahá’í.

UNITED STATES AND CANADA

In the United States the Bahá’í Faith has taken a strong hold on the hearts and minds of young people. The young people in the approximately fifty known groups are confident that a world order with peace and justice is already today rising from the chaos everywhere apparent, and they are eager to do their share in bringing about its realization. Betty Scheffler, in reporting about youth activities in 1942, says, “. . . for the most part the youth are very much younger than heretofore. The age of most of the youth in the groups is about thirteen to twenty now. Their activity is of a different kind from that of the Bahá’í youth of the ages of 20 to 35 a few years ago. It seems that the older Bahá’í youth are being absorbed into the Bahá’í community earlier, and the actual youth group is something quite different.” The young people who intend to become voting believers at the age of twenty-one are urged to inform their Local Spiritual Assemblies of this intention. They are thereby absorbed into the Bahá’í Community; may attend Bahá’í Feasts; may read and receive Bahá’í News; and may serve on Bahá’í committees. Indeed it is only since 1940 that Bahá’í youth between the ages of fifteen and twenty-one have received Bahá’í News. This step is truly a step forward as youth are now given the opportunity to feel more closely the heart-beat of the American Bahá’í Community. Bahá’í "youthers” here are happy to be among the busiest in an already active America. Gladly do they carry their responsibilities, be they in conferences, summer schools, “clinics,” local meetings, symposiums or various committees.

Every year the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada appoints a new National Youth Committee. The responsibilities of this group are to coordinate the youth activities under its jurisdiction, encourage the groups and individuals by helping to make plans, edit the International Bulletin, Bahá’í Youth, and sponsor and plan for the annual world Bahá’í youth symposiums. The country is divided into large regions each of which has a youth secretary, who keeps in touch with the groups and also with the National Committee arrangements. The National Committee has by this time almost made an institution of the Study Days. Briefly, this plan is one to encourage youth to study the teachings together several days each year. The National Committee furnishes outlines on the topics selected. In the winter of 1940-1941 Foundations of World Unity by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was studied. The next winter the youth took up Shoghi Effendi’s recent message, The Promised Day Is Come. The National Committee attempts to keep in touch with youth the world over by means of its international secretary, and the editor and business manager of Bahá’í Youth work together in getting it edited, published and circulated. With the new committee appointed in 1941 the publication of the Bulletin was taken [Page 526] from New York City to Wilmette, at which place the Bahá’í activities of the United States and Canada are being increasingly centered.

From summer to summer the youth look forward to attending one of the fine special youth sessions held at a Bahá’í Summer School. Such sessions are held at Green Acre in Maine, at Louhelen in Michigan and at Geyserville in California. In addition to these the International Bahá’í School in Colorado added such a session as a new feature on its 1941 program. Of interest also is the fact that at the Teaching Conference for Southern Bahá’ís held in Vogel Park, Georgia, in June of 1941 a week-end was given to a youth program, which offered ample time for Bahá’í fellowship and also sports and recreation.

A few paragraphs concerning the three well established schools will be sufficient to give the reader an idea of what he might have experienced had he attended one of them in the last year or two. The Green Acre Youth Week in 1940, according to the Annual Report of 1940-1941 of the National Spiritual Assembly “marked the highest attendance of the season, coming at the same time as the National Spiritual Assembly meeting. The subjects for consideration at the Youth sessions were ‘The Letters of the Guardian’ and ‘Administration’; the former was conducted by Mrs. Dorothy Baker and the latter was conducted more like a symposium with Horace Holley, Louis Gregory and Mason Remey, giving different aspects of the subject.” A more refreshing and stimulating atmosphere in which to discuss troubling world problems would be difficult to find. The location of the school is idyllic. Yet as Joseph Noyes says, “The most attractive feature of Green Acre—is that the Bahá’í principles are in operation there.” The young people who attended, approximately sixty in number, represented many different races, including the American Indian, as well as eleven states in the United States and the Dominion of Canada. The spirit of the week "was enthusiastic and joyful, and seemed to grow with each succeeding day.”

“For the second year at Geyserville’s fourteenth Summer School (in 1940), the Bahá’í youth sponsored a program of specialized activities. Their keynote was learning by doing. The purpose of their two-weeks’ association was, through the medium of classes, teaching projects, planned recreation, and association with the community life which so distinguishes Geyserville, to appreciate more vividly the Bahá’í ideal in its fullness, to incorporate more directly its diverse principles into their every act. They held a laboratory on the ‘Technique of Reading and Speaking’, sponsored a South American program and also a Sunday public meeting for visitors to the School (including a demonstration of creative discussion). Those who participated as students or counsellors at the youth week noted with enthusiasm the advance over last year. In maturity of understanding and achievement, in ability to sustain their efforts through two busy weeks, in group cooperation and consultation, and in unrelaxing fidelity to the standard of Bahá’í life, the youth of Geyserville excelled in 1940.”

For the past two years two youth sessions per summer have been held at Louhelen Ranch. An extremely interesting project was developed at the first session in 1940: an inter-America pageant. “Groups of young people represented different countries of the Americas, illustrating certain principles of the Bahá’í teachings which have been developed in those countries. Argentina and Chile, for example, in erecting the statue ‘The Christ of the Andes’ proclaimed the principle of international peace. In Uruguay equal rights of the sexes is emphasized. Brazil stands for the elimination of racial prejudice. In Venezuela was born Simon Bolivar, a leader in internationalism, far in advance of his time, who suffered persecution because of his far-seeing ideals. The old Inca religion of Peru and Bolivia gives us a hint of the oneness and universality of religion. Panama, where a Pan-American conference was recently held, suggests an international tribunal or world court. Mexico, in making efforts toward the solution of economic problems and universal education, was represented, while the United States in its own federal government set a model for the federation of the world. As each country was represented, an off-stage [Page 527] voice quoted from the Bahá’í Writings on each of the principles illustrated.” The student government plan, inaugurated during this session to handle the few necessary disciplinary measures, proved successful. The final evening saw ”all gathered together in a meeting devoted to reconsecration and the consideration of responsibilities.” During the second session of that year the youth were given opportunities to learn about Bahá’í fundamentals, the World Order Letters of the Guardian, fundamentals of Bahá’í ethics, the history of Islám, and elements of Spanish as well as something about Latin American culture and history. Is it any wonder that someone said, “Each year the youth are more interested in studying than in recreation?” The Louhelen Library with its 1375 volumes was a popular spot. An enthusiastic report about the second session in 1941 was written by Harlan Scheffler. A few excerpts follow: ” . . . with the informal and friendly atmosphere, which is always present at the Ranch, we made new acquaintances very quickly. . . . After a short period of relaxation, the second class of the morning began and was under the leadership of Mrs. Lotte Graeffe from Olivet, Michigan. As this was a study of South and Central America, it was of the greatest importance to all the Bahá’í youth because of the Guardian’s desire for closer relations between the Americas. Mrs. Graeffe handled the presentation of her class in a manner unlike the others. She assigned to each student a particular South or Central American country and reports were given on the most interesting references found. . . . This was the first year that the youth took an interest in forming a choir. . . .”

Much more could and perhaps should be said concerning Bahá’í youth summer schools in the United States, but the little already given will indicate their growing success to the reader.

Bahá’í youth have met frequently at conferences, which have been held in many cities throughout the country. They meet in love and eagerness, discuss problems of paramount importance to the Faith, and leave filled with new life and zeal to spread the Faith to an ever wider circle of young people. The following list, though incomplete, indicates where some of the youth have met:

1. Berkeley, California, May 19, 1940. An all-day conference—28 delegates representing San Francisco, San Mateo, San Jose, Sacramento, Oakland, and Berkeley—purpose was to arouse interest in the youth session at Geyserville and to stimulate youth activity throughout the state. Subjects considered: ”Letters of the Guardian to Bahá’í Youth,” "A Bird’s-Eye View of Bahá’í Youth of the World,” and “Bahá’í Youth at Geyserville.” Luncheon talk on “California’s Destiny,” consultation on “The Science of Teaching.”

2. Southern California, June 1 and 2, 1940. Week-end conference—five visitors from the Bay area—dinner, party, discussion, public meetings with an audience of 150 on aspects of Bahá’u’lláh’s World Order.

3. Wilmington, Delaware, July 21, 1940. Arranged by New York youth for youth from Middle Atlantic states—as well as those interested in youth work—28 representatives—purpose was to “point out the vital need for intensified work along teaching lines, and to formulate practical and concrete plans for carrying out the suggestions of those delegates present”—public meeting on “Youth in a Chaotic World.”

4. Wilmette, Illinois, October 26, 27, 1940. Annual Mid-West Bahá’í Youth Conference at the Bahá’í House of Worship, 62 registered youth—theme of the Conference was “The Civilizing Force of the Bahá’í Religion”—program included in part the following: “Our Teaching Responsibilities,” “Specific Teaching Problems,” "Bahá’í Youth and the Civil Government,” “Bahá’í Youth and the Bahá’í Law,” and “The Development of the Bahá’í World.”

5. Sacramento, California, November 17, 1940. Mid-Winter Youth Conference—twenty youth—theme of the Conference: “Youth and Teaching”—consultations—fireside meeting.

6. New York City, December 28, 29, 1940. Mid-Winter Eastern States Youth Conference—approximately 50 visitors—agenda concerned future events and not those past—much good discussion—round table at the Bahá’í Center on "Foundations of World Unity.”

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7. Coral Gables, Florida, January 25, 1941. Southern Bahá’í Youth Conference. Topic: "What Is Humanity’s Goal?”—short musical program.

8. Wilmette, Illinois, October 25, 26, 1941. Mid-West Bahá’í Youth Conference —50-75 present—subject was “Developing New Perspectives”—sub-topics were: “The Technique of Living,” "Expanding Our Viewpoints,” "The Challenge to Our Youth Groups,” "Becoming More Intelligent About Latin America,” "Latin American Background,” and ”Bahá’í Faith in Latin America.”

9. Washington, D. C., January 3, 1942. Regional Youth Organization Meeting under the auspices of Maryland-D. C.-Virginia Regional Teaching Committee—purpose was to organize and stimulate youth in the region to planned action for youth get-togethers. Topics: "Youth’s Challenge in a Chaotic World,” "Youth and Teaching Avenues,” “Developing Bahá’í Character for Teaching Success,” “Bahá’í Youth Activities Encountered in World Travels,”—election of youth organization officers—views of Summer Schools at Louhelen and Green Acre.

A kind of conference held by youth in the East has been called a “teaching clinic.” Benjamin Kaufman, young attorney recently inducted into the Army, writes as follows in reporting on this new teaching method, “It was conceived in September, 1940, at the Summer School in Green Acre where a Regional Teaching Conference was held. Among the various problems discussed was the preparation of the believer for the important task of instruction.” Mr. Horace Holley remarked that in addition to the inner conviction and faith required of the true teacher, several practical factors must be considered in order to spread the Cause of God. These were, the pressing need of every community to develop good speakers, good chairmen, experts on administration, publicity, and contact, and to adopt various media through which the public can become acquainted with the Message. The rich spiritual relationship which exists between Baha’u’llah and the individual is not harmed in this way. Indeed, it is deepened and increased, leading directly to a fuller knowledge and understanding. Benjamin and a friend, Jack Steed, soon thereafter laid plans for a ”Teaching Clinic” for Bahá’í young people. Eastern youth were contacted; there were consultations; and in October of 1940 the first Teaching Clinic took place in Newark, New Jersey. Sixty-seven individuals attended. Twenty-five persons took part in the following program: Meditation, Inspirational, the Spoken Word, the Model Round Table, Conducting the Bahá’í Gathering, Musical Interlude, Questions and Answers, Contact and Publicity, Visual Education, and Organization and Administration. "A loud speaker and microphone from a concealed source were employed in the manner of a radio program.” So successful was this occasion that clinics were held in New Haven, Connecticut in December, 1940, in West Englewood, New Jersey in February, 1941, and in October, 1941, Newark and East Orange, both in New Jersey, collaborated to present a clinic for adults and youth. Benjamin Kaufman concludes his report by saying, “It is noteworthy to observe that the Clinic is for believers only, a means of solving certain fundamental problems of teaching which often are not reached by the usual informal, verbose conference. The Clinic seeks to become scientific and efficient in character, definite and precise in its endeavor. Careful planning, frequent consultation, timing and vision are required before it can be presented with effect. The Bahá’í youth, especially, needs to develop his capacity to teach, for upon him in a few short years will fall the responsibility of guiding the Cause and protecting its institutions. Like any teacher, the Bahá’í must undergo a strenuous period of preparation for his sacred task. Besides enthusiasm and intense love of the Faith, there are other qualifications necessary to a successful spread of the Teachings. The efforts of the Clinic idea seem to bear out the contention that reasonable, scientific preparation affords a broad, firm basis for the development of those qualifications.”

The deepening devotion of the Bahá’í youth indicates that the Bahá’í Faith is more and more becoming the first interest in their lives. News from here and there of youth activities shows that the Cause runs deep in their minds and hearts. Roberta [Page 529] Kaley Christian while on a seventeen day lecture trip in Michigan gave eighteen lectures, contacting 256 people. Writing of it she says, “. . . my memories of it are a confusion of hour upon hour of concentrated effort, catching trains, talking—talking, not getting enough sleep, hours of prayer, seeing the sun rise several mornings after long nights of study in preparation, and a general sense of being outside one’s self, being used, really, as an instrument, by a Power higher, stronger, and vastly more extensive than one’s own consciousness.” Jack B. Fatuh, a Bahá’í youth at the University of California at Berkeley, is eager for Bahá’í activity, and in the youth Bulletin of June, 1941, he is quoted as writing, "Besides our group, we have worked individually to make contacts. Hishmat ‘Alá’í, now working for his doctorate in economics, has aroused interest among some fellow-students in the International House, and started a bi-weekly dinner-discussion group. Two other Bahá’í youth attended the campus Race-Relations Group and arranged for Marion Holley to speak on the Bahá’í racial outlook. (October, 1940.) This marks our first real achievement in breaking into campus recognition.” In the deep and prejudiced South, in New Orleans, young Dr. David Ruhe and his wife, Margaret, attended a recital of songs by The Austerlitz Male Chorus in a Negro church in August, 1941. They were listed as patrons on the program, and were the only white people present. At the close of the concert, the directress arose and thanked them personally for having come. This is but a small example of Bahá’í thought in action. In Morrisville, New York, the Christians, a young Bahá’í couple, teach informally by offering constant hospitality to friends and students. Several times a month students go with them to Syracuse where meetings are held. They hold informal discussions, and literature is often requested. Early in 1942 the Baltimore Bahá’í Youth began a series of informal discussions with a Bahá’í attribute as the subject of each evening. The following subjects, constituting the ideal character, were on the program: Love, Honesty, Justice, Humility, Patience, Loyalty, Understanding, Perseverance, and The Will To Do.

The aim was to learn how to apply these qualities in daily life.

Of interest also is the fact that annually during Convention time, the youth hold a Bahá’í Youth Luncheon. These are well attended, and always the source of much joyful enthusiasm and inspiration.

Unquestionably one of the most outstanding accomplishments for the Cause of God among young people in North America is the work sponsored by the Race Unity Committee, a committee appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, introducing college youth in bi-racial areas to the Bahá’í Message. The project, already under way for eighteen months, (see Bahá’í News, Feb., 1942) was initiated by adult believers. Of assistance were Louis Gregory, Mrs. Dorothy Baker, and Lothar Schurgast. By February, 1942, approximately sixteen thousand college students had heard of the Faith through this channel. Mrs. Baker was planning to “add thirty new colleges, eighteen white groups and nine Negro schools, bringing the project to a total of well over sixty colleges and thirty thousand student hearers.”

In Bahá’í Youth of February 1942 Dorothy Baker tells about this most fascinating project. Her letter, "Giving the Teachings to College Youth” follows:

Dear Bahá’í Youth:

Joyous greeting to you all. May these winter months fulfill for you the Guardian’s expressed hope: “Though immediate future be dark, critical, fraught (with) anguish, (I) feel it my bounden duty appeal this hour as never before, trustees Bahá’u’lláh’s priceless Revelation, whether teachers or administrators, individuals or assemblies, north (or) south, white (or) colored, young (or) old, refuse at all costs surrender solemn spiritual responsibilities, refrain (from) relaxing teaching efforts, determine never slacken sacred task building institutions whose progress destiny (has) indissolubly linked with fortunes most disastrous, most challenging, most pregnant period history.”

A word about the colleges has been requested. Urged on by the National Race Unity Committee and the National Spiritual Assembly, a college project was attempted, [Page 530] last fall, against the natural odds of materialism, racialism, and the war spirit of the times. Would the young people of the south welcome as grave a departure from tradition as proposed by the Bahá’í Faith? The response in every instance seemed nothing short of a clear challenge to further extension of the work. Over thirty colleges in less than a year heard the World Order call, and in every instance a return visit or another speaker was suggested. This fall the circuit included eleven white colleges, five colored, and two Indian. The theme of the lecture was, the world as a single organism, a world body, born of science, looking forward to a world brain or legislature, to be motivated at last by a universal Faith. “The Pattern for Future Society,” by Shoghi Effendi, supplied the text, supplemented by "The Image of God.” Several thousand of these pamphlets were distributed.

There were Baptist schools, Presbyterian schools, Methodist schools, and State Colleges; colored schools, white schools, Indian schools; city schools and hill schools, and one was a large and beautiful Quaker College. These schools are worlds within a world. Each college is a unit unto itself, within a larger one. Sometimes a college head fears that his young world is hopelessly sufficient unto itself; hopelessly disinterested in the world outside, and hopelessly disinterested in God.

At one college in North Carolina the president sympathetically prepared the speaker for a bleak reception. "My students,” he remarked, "all but stopped the last speaker who mentioned peace, and he a minister wearing the cloth, mind you!” Looking carefully, at a later time, through "The Pattern for Future Society,” he said, “Oh, but I understand. You Bahá’ís do not dwell on pacifism; you offer a program. Every college should hear this”. In this manner school men seem almost invariably to accept the writings of Shoghi Effendi. The talented head of the Indian Normal College at Pembroke, where no speaking appointment had previously been made, said after scanning “The Pattern,” that if necessary, classes could be disbanded to hear this subject. As a matter of fact, a tuberculosis clinic of some importance was actually postponed the following Monday because this day was the only one that could be offered. I recall the electric effect of this pamphlet upon a student at one of the small but aristocratic colleges of Kentucky. “Please let me have your talk verbatim for our school paper,” he said. Holding up the pamphlet, I asked, "Will this do?” He looked it over and nodded vigorously. “Yes,” he said, "and by the way, how does one become a member of this organization?”

Only one white man was to be found on the entire circuit who had ever heard of the Bahá’í Faith. He was a Quaker student at Guilford who had made the Faith the subject of his term theme. Taking the pamphlet of Shoghi Effendi in his hands he said, “These writings are very great. Does one leave his church to become a member?” I replied that to be truly universal, one could not permanently remain in a segment of the old religions. ”This is right,” he said wistfully. "Perhaps if I befriend this Faith now I can belong to it later.”

Most of the colleges were on the beaten track of civilization and city life. One, however, offered a real contact with the “hill” type of youth. It was a Kentucky Junior College, so far removed that I was strongly advised not to go. Detours made night driving a hazard, but at long last a village appeared out of the night. Could I go on to Pippapass, I asked? No, Pippapass was barely reachable by day; a sixteen mile mountain lay between, with almost impassable roads. In the morning a hill family rode with me to Pippapass. They had emerged from the woods to attend a funeral, they said, and from Pippapass they would have to walk seven miles on foot to their lodging, beyond the tracks of any wagon wheel. Yes, they knew about Caney College, and hoped that their children would one day be among Caney’s three hundred students. We descended the most precipitous hill that I, in my city-bred experience, had ever encountered and found in the valley a number of rustic buildings dedicated to education. Graduates of this two-year college are accepted with full credit by every university in the country. They have an International Relations Club and invited the speaker to spend the week-end there and [Page 531] hold discussions. Unfortunately this invitation could not be accepted, but the International Club made the pamphlets the subject of discussion for several meetings, and will welcome further literature. So courteous were these shy, soft-spoken people that after luncheon in the candle-lighted, rustic dining hall, one of the young men offered to ride over the mountain with me, lest I be fearful of going alone. It would be only a short stretch back on foot, he assured me! Sixteen miles of southern courtesy.

One could never tell where the interest would flare most brightly. Here an aristocratic college in the heart of the “bluegrass,” there a four-year business college of practical turn of mind, and again one of the state colleges, colored or white, would press the speaker to stay on for a day or two, or send others. Who could forget the charming president who smiled with a wry combination of mirth and pathos as we parted, saying, ”We need you Bahá’ís very much here in the south. My school board is solidly orthodox, and last year my presence in this college was severely threatened because I was baptized with the wrong kind of water!”

The race question came up occasionally but never offensively. Mention of this basis of unity was always mentioned in the lecture, but it seldom took the center of the stage in discussion. One young dean, a Negro of unusual thoughtfulness and charm, seemed doubtful of the wisdom of the uncompromising unity required in Bahá’í community life. When I assured him that Shoghi Effendi, and the Master before him, had held up that pattern as the clearest demonstration that we could lead the world to peace, he said, ”But don’t you think we might compromise a little because of the Ku Klux Klan?” One of our companions replied for me: "The speaker has said that this Faith is the Kingdom of God. If this is true, you cannot compromise it; neither can you divide it.” Picking up the thread we explained that if the Kingdom, in America, should divide around the races, then we must permit division in India concerning the “untouchable” and compromise likewise the essential unity between Arab and Jew in the Holy Land. The dean became thoughtful and then slowly he said, “This is a world Faith. This Faith is different. This Faith may be worth dying for.”

May 1942 become the greatest year for you as you uunfold a further stage in your spiritual evolution under the shadow of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.”

As in so many countries today, a great cloud hangs over the youth of the United States and Canada. In the United States the draft and the war which the country entered in December, 1941, have meant that many of the Bahá’í young men have been taken into the Army. ”. . . Their Bahá’í activity, as far as group activity is concerned, has been curtailed,” according to Betty Scheffler, secretary of the National Youth Committee for 1941-1942. Encouraging it must, however, be for these young men to know in what direction the world is going. They recognize this period as one of transition; they know the Sun is shining brilliantly behind the cloud and that before so very long that cloud will have passed away.

Hope lies in the heart of the Bahá’í youth of the United States and Canada. With that hope, they are zealously building for the peace of tomorrow. No better illustration of this than the active and eager Dawn Breakers’ Club of the Bahá’í Youthers of Lima, Ohio! Their programs, appealing in the balance they strike between play and study, indicate their readiness to study ”Some Answered Questions,” "The Dawn Breakers,” and "America’s Spritual Destiny.” One of their counsellors, Mrs. Edna Andrews, was directly responsible for a song, "Rise! Bahá’í Youth” and an excellent Bahá’í Youth play, “Qurratu’l—‘Ayn.” The participants in such youth groups will indeed be members of a new race of men, lovers of justice and world security.

URUGUAY

Wilfred Barton’s pioneer work in Montevideo is continuing with success. Wilfred, a young man from Illinois, is vitally interested in music, and he has found that his musical activities prove a fertile field for contacts. The interest of a number of influential people has opened the way for wide [Page 532] spread publicity. As a matter of fact, he finds Uruguay one of the most liberal countries in South America in its attitude toward religion. Weekly classes are held in his apartment. The work was given a fresh impetus by two visits, those of his mother and Miss Jeanne Bolles. The move taken toward legal recognition, required in this country, seemed to be meeting with success.

In a letter written in March, 1941 to the editor of Bahá’í Youth Bulletin, Wilfred said much which we find of great inspiration. A few quotations follow: “I have had some contact with young people and several of these are at present showing considerable interest in the Faith. One important contact was with the youth club (Club Juventud) of the National Anti-Alcoholic league. . . . I have tried to cooperate with them in their activities in every way possible, recognizing in this an excellent opportunity to spread through my actions the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. . . . I have been very surprised at the friendly and sympathetic treatment which has been accorded me by these Uruguayan young people. . . . Another good contact with young people has come through the Instituto Cultural Anglo-Uruguayo, a very commendable institution here in Montevideo. . . . By attending some of their social events I have met several young people of great capacity.” His letter dealt at length with inspiring thoughts which he was glad to share with the youth. Again we quote:

”. . . My coming down here to Uruguay to teach the Cause was quite as much of a surprise to me as it must have been to many others. It all came as a result of a sort of vague and careless statement which slipped inadvertently from my pen in a letter to the Guardian to the effect that I cherished the dream of one day teaching in South America. The answer to my letter was a cablegram from the Guardian in which he heartily approved my ‘early settlement’ in South America. As I was at that time, and as a matter of fact still am, possessed with a profound sense of unworthiness for so important and weighty a mission, you can imagine what a shock this cable was to me! But these feelings, strong as they were, were not, and I believe never will be strong enough to deter me from fulfilling the Guardian’s instructions or from at least trying to my utmost to satisfy the confidence and the hopes he has in me. For his desires and hopes are, of course, also the desires and hopes of Baha’u’llah. I think it is this personal, direct heart contact with the Guardian which has given me, more than any other factor, the ‘push’ to go. To fulfill or do our utmost to fulfill the hopes of the Guardian is the very least, I think, which any believer, young or old, worthy of the name ‘Bahá’í’ can do to serve Bahá’u’lláh’s Cause. This minimum of Bahá’í duty I have done and am doing, and I hope there is not one other young believer who is not doing and will not do the same. I appreciate that not every one can be a pioneer. . . . But . . . the spirit of the pioneer must be, I believe, an intrinsic part of the faith of every believer, and certainly a most important, if not the most important factor, in the advancement of the Cause at the present time. Willingness to give our all to play our part nobly and worthily in this most momentous drama of all human history; our love for each other among the believers themselves; our implicit and unhesitating obedience to the decisions and recommendations of the administrative organs of our faith; and a stainless purity in our individual lives appear to be the most important points for us to work on and bear continually in mind. They constitute both the motive power of the machinery of the Cause and the oil which insures its smooth and swift functioning. If we cooperate in the above measure, the whole thing, we can be sure, will run by itself. It is, as we know, only a matter of letting the Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh get at the world, and the only way it can be done is through the above-mentioned methods. I mention these thoughts not as one who can be said to have attained, in any adequate degree, these qualities and attributes, but as one who through experience has learned and is learning to appreciate their supreme importance.

“As has been verified over and over again, it is the living of the Bahá’í life which counts more than anything else, I believe, in our teaching work here and, of course, prayer, fervent prayers to Bahá’u’lláh to illumine and warm the heart of each individual [Page 533] whom we meet and at the same time prayers that we may be guided to attract these people by our actions in relation to them. This is obviously the way. I think it has been demonstrated time and again that the direct personal contact and the making of good friends with people is the most effective way to open their hearts to the Faith. Even in our public teaching work, talks, etc. it is the quality of the individual, his detachment, consecration and purity which sets on fire the hearts of those who hear him. It is not the words we speak, but the spirit shining through us which counts. But then, everything I have said has already been explained so much more perfectly and adequately in The Advent of Divine Justice and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s tablets of the Divine Plan (‘America’s Spiritual Mission’) that what I can do, at best, is to summarize certain thoughts already made explicit by the Guardian.”

VENEZUELA

Priscilla Elizabeth Rhoads of the New York City Bahá’í Youth Group went to this country in February 1940. She has studied Spanish diligently in the hopes of being able to teach and help spread the Cause. She has learned to love the country and hopes and plans to remain in Caracas indefinitely. She has been able to include the Bahá’í ideals in her educational work.

For a time Mr. and Mrs. Emeric Sala of Canada lent their youthful spirits to the efforts made in Venezuela. Business took Emeric back to his native land, but they hope to be able to return at a later time.

BAHÁ’Í YOUTH AND THE WAR

“A YOUNG Australian Bahá’í, now in the Army in a non-combatant capacity, recently called on Shoghi Effendi. It was little short of a revelation to hear him talk. He was like a man whose eyes are fixed on a wonderful, fertile land while he is walking through bleak mountain passes. He is thinking of and building for the future. His present occupation, all the intense tragedy he must go through and witness, are only the path which leads him to that beautiful valley he sees before him. His attitude was so one hundred per cent Bahá’í that it was inspiring to meet him. The Guardian was so pleased to see such an exemplary spirit.” So writes the Guardian’s wife in December 1941. These words seem, better than any others, to disclose how modern Bahá’í men face the present suffering resulting from the second World War.

Throughout the world Bahá’í youth are facing the horrible realities of this hour by attempting conscientiously to act in the spirit of the Teachings and at the same time to be obedient to their respective governments, a duty stressed in their Faith. Anarchy, not order and unity, would result if each individual followed the dictates of his own desires and fancies. The Bahá’í youth wants order, and he clearly comprehends that this calls for obedience. Obedience to Bahá’u’lláh! Obedience also to his government! The Bahá’í youth asks for non-combatant service, for his Faith teaches him not to kill. But if this is not granted him, he obeys his government. If he goes into the arena of battle, he goes, not with hatred in his heart—that he has never been taught—but simply because he realizes the importance of order if unity is ever to be achieved. His stand then is not the stand of the Quaker who is an out-and-out “conscientious objector.”

Since the late summer of 1939 one country after another has been drawn into the war. The United States of America was at last pulled into the struggle in December 1941. Bahá’í young people around the world are naturally influenced in one way or another. The men may or may not receive non-combatant service. Their Bahá’í activities in groups are temporarily halted. On the other hand they are thrown into contact with many new people. Edward Coyle, active in youth work, was classified for non-combatant service. He feels that his opportunities for service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh are far from ended. He can yet teach his Faith by living the Bahá’í life and spreading the Message to those who will give him an ear.

[Page 534]

Some of the Youth Present at the Annual Mid-West Bahá’í Youth Conference Held at the Bahá’í Temple, Wilmette, Ill., 1943.

The national Library Committee of the United States and Canada has taken the opportunity to present books to Service Libraries. It hoped to be able to contact many of the Forts in the year 1941-1942. Thus many men will receive the Message and gather inspiration and strength from its power.

Bahá’ís have increased in maturity since the last war in that they were better prepared this time to face the emergency. We quote the following from the Annual Report of 1940-1941 of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. “The application of the Draft Act (during peace-time) finds the Bahá’ís infinitely better prepared to assert the Bahá’í attitude than they could be the last time that American youth was drafted, in 1917. Suitable membership credentials can be issued to any individual believer, whether isolated or voting member of a local community; these credentials carry with them a definite and uniform conception of the Bahá’í attitude on participation in the draft itself. Any believer who knows what divergence of honest conviction existed among American Bahá’ís in 1917 on the question of the attitude believers should take to war duty, convictions ranging from extreme pacifism to militant patriotism, can estimate how far the community has evolved in its consciousness and understanding, as well as unity of action, during the past twenty-four years. From time to time the National Assembly has issued explanations and advice to Bahá’ís affected by the draft, the most recent being a very helpful bulletin sent out during March, 1941. There are pending one or two cases in which the Bahá’í is not yet certain that his local board will recognize that his Bahá’í membership should exempt him from combatant military duty. Since provision is made under the act for appeal from local decisions affecting the religious status of the draftee, the National Assembly will render every assistance to believers finding it necessary to appeal.

"Back of this immediate situation stands the majestic, universal nature of the Bahá’í Faith itself, its Divinely-ordained character, its spiritual, creative and unifying principle [Page 535] of human relationships which holds the balance between anti-social pacifism and narrow nationalism, the two extremes which divide and confuse the modern world. Each Bahá’í who uncompromisingly upholds the attitude of his world Faith before his draft board, fearless of public opinion, is a teacher providentially chosen to defend and expound his Faith at one of its most important bastions. Let us honor these young believers who claim non-combatant duty not from fear of physical injury, but because they would do spiritual battle in the army of the Lord of Hosts.”

The two following articles show how Bahá’í men face their boards and how they are able to teach the Cause in so doing.

A TRIBUNAL GRANTS ENGLISH BAHÁ’Í EXEMPTION FROM COMBATANT SERVICE

IN "Reports of Activities” January 1940 of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles, David Hofman gives us the following:

“Shortly after the outbreak of war, a young believer from Bradford. Philip Hainsworth, having registered in accordance with the N.S.A.’s request, was summoned to appear before a tribunal in Leeds. The following is an account of the proceedings as accurately as I remember them; it was written down shortly after leaving the Court.

"Peter Wilkinson and Mr. Hurst were there and we heard the proceedings in about a dozen cases. Hardly any of the applicants were clear or definite as to what their consciences demanded, and certainly had very little conception of their relationship to society. When Philip was called the Judge asked me to step up, and who and what I was. I said secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles. A minute or two were spent in writing it down correctly and spelling ‘Bahá’í.’ They had never heard of it.

“To me:—

‘What is Bahá’í?’

‘It’s a world religion, sir.’

‘Is it Christian?’

‘We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’

‘Then it is Christian?’

‘We believe that all the revealed religions are the Word of God.’

‘What do you think of Buddha?’

‘His Revelation is the Word of God.’

‘Confucius?’

‘A very wise man.’

‘Muḥammad?’

‘He is the Prophet of God.’

‘It’s a sort of comprehensive omnibus.’ (slightly amused but kindly)

‘No sir. An independent world religion. Its central theme is the oneness of mankind.’

‘When was it founded?’

‘The original declaration was made in 1844.’

‘Is this name Indian?’

'No sir; Persian.’

‘Is it a Persian religion?’

‘No sir, it’s a world religion for all mankind.’

‘The Founder was Persian?’

‘Yes, sir.’

”To Philip:—

‘What do you object to?’

‘I seek exemption from combatant military service, as it is inconsistent with the teaching of Bahá’u’lláh to kill my fellow men.’

‘Do you recognize any duty to the State?’

‘Yes, of course. We are commanded to obey our governments.’

'Well, this seems an opportunity of obeying by accepting military service.’

‘I’m obeying the government by registering as a conscientious objector.’

‘Supposing you were in Germany?’

‘There are Bahá’ís in Germany. They are suppressed and some of them are in the army.’

‘There you are then.’

'The Government allows me to apply for exemption.’

“To me:—

‘Have you a branch in Bradford?’

[Page 536]

‘Yes, sir.’

‘How many members?’

‘About seventeen.’

‘Your Faith recognizes civil authority?’

‘Yes.’

‘It asks you to obey the law?’

‘Yes.’

‘It does not ask you to refuse military service?’

‘It asks us to uphold certain principles . . .’

‘Naturally.’

‘One of these is to refrain from killing our fellow men by seeking exemption from combatant military service. We are ready to serve in any non-combatant capacity.’

‘Suppose exemption is refused?’

‘Then we are in the same position as anyone else.’

'Do you believe in transmigration?’

‘No sir.’

“To Philip:—

‘Are your parents of the same religion as you?’

‘Not yet.’

‘You hope they will be.’

‘Yes, they are very interested.’

‘How long have you known about this?’

‘Just over a year.’

‘What have you done about it?’

‘I investigated the teachings, declared myself a Bahá’í, and am trying to propagate the Faith. I was an absolute pacifist before.’

‘You were absolute?’ (with some astonishment)

‘Yes, I had to give up many of my ideas to conform with Bahá’í teachings.’

“The tribunal were unanimous in granting exemption from combatant service, and made the applicant liable for non-combatant service.

“The local newspapers contained various accounts, one having a large headline which read:— ‘Persian Religion Modifies Man’s Pacifism.’ ”^*

————————

^*Reprint from Bahá’í Youth, December 1940, pp. 9-10.

AN AMERICAN YOUTH FACES A DRAFT BOARD

JOEL MARANGELLA, Camp Blanding, Florida, U. S. A.

I WAS one of the fifteen million young men who streamed to the registration places on October 16, 1940, to register for the first peace-time draft that there had ever been in the United States of America. It was one of the most eventful days in the history of the United States, as it marked the beginning of the mobilization of our youth for training in the United States Army, and the first step toward, the great change that would revolutionize the lives of these young men. Although I was one among the great multitude who registered on that eventful day, I was also one among an infinitely smaller group. I was a believer in Bahá’u’lláh, a member of the New York Bahá’í Community. Because of this, I knew that later when my number would be drawn and my turn would finally appear before the local draft board that had been set up for the purpose of determining those young men who were eligible for service, I would have the opportunity of explaining what distinguished me from that great majority.

In February I received my questionnaire from my local draft board which signified that I was soon to be called for service. After filling it out, I took it to the board in person and asked the clerk for the special questionnaire provided for conscientious objectors. I was required to answer the questions on this form and return it within five days.

There were two kinds of conscientious objectors recognized and classified by the Government. The first was the kind who asked to be exempted from any service or training whatsoever under military authority. The second kind asked for training in some branch of the Army that would not require them to carry arms in the event of war. It was in the second class that we as Bahá’ís belonged. Bahá’u’lláh emphasized in His teachings the importance of being loyal and obedient to every just government and compared it to being loyal to God Himself. [Page 537] ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’, His eldest son and after His death appointed in His will as the sole interpreter of His teachings, and Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith following the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, have reaffirmed this in their interpretation of His teachings, pointing out, however, that we should always ask to serve in some non-combatant capacity.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, as well as the Local Spiritual Assembly of New York, had printed instructions informing Bahá’í youth of the general form in which their questionnaires should be answered in order that there would be uniformity in our answers; thus the draft boards throughout the nation would receive a complete and correct understanding of our aims and motives. I followed these instructions to the letter in answering my questionnaire; and when I returned it to my local draft board, I attached two pamphlets. . . . A short time afterwards I received notice to report for a physical examination at a civilian hospital.

Subsequently I received notification that I had passed my examination and was placed in Class 1-A. This meant that I was considered fit and ready for immediate induction into the army. There was, however, no word from the local board whether I had been recognized by them as a “conscientious objector” to combatant training. Therefore, I decided to write to the members and ask for a personal interview for the purpose of establishing my status. When I received a reply from them granting my request, I looked forward to the interview as a fine opportunity to further enlighten them about the principles and tenets of the Bahá’í Faith.

The night of my interview is one that I shall long remember as I was a person on that occasion filled with the mixed emotions of fear, hope and joy, fear that I might not be able to clearly elucidate for them the principles of my Faith which led me to ask for non—combatant service, hope that I might serve as an instrument of Bahá’u’lláh for the further diffusion of His teachings, and joy that such an opportunity had come to me to bring to further notice the principles and teachings which I believe will eventually prove to be the only succor for an afflicted and unregenerate humanity. I lifted my heart to Bahá’u’lláh in prayer that He might guide and aid me, and I entered the offices of the draft board. There were a number of young men present, and I soon discovered that my interview was scheduled for the last of the evening. It was not until 10:30 o’clock that I was finally summoned, and it was with some trepidation that I approached my audience with them. As the the hour was late, I reasoned that they were tired and perhaps not in a mood to be particularly patient and understanding. This idea was put from my mind when they greeted me in the most cordial manner and motioned me to a chair facing them. There were five men on the board who sat opposite me and one of them, obviously the chairman, opened the conversation by saying, “We will take up the matter of your financial status first.” Undoubtedly this was rather a general question which they asked of all those who appeared before them, but I quickly made it clear that I was solely interested in being recognized as a conscientious objector to combatant training because of my Faith. Immediately they turned to the special questionnaire that I had previously sent to them and which lay before them enclosed in a folder with the other papers. All of them scrutinized the questionnaire for a moment and then they began to ask me questions, such as, when I had first become a Bahá’í, and when my father and mother had embraced the Faith; who the Founder of it was; what the present organization was; and what the teachings were which led me to ask for non-combatant training. I told them that Baha’u’llah’s teaching was that one must be loyal, obedient and devoted to one’s Government; but since a Bahá’í believed in the spiritual oneness of mankind, that all men were the children of one Father, and devoted his energies in an effort toward bringing the rest of mankind to this realization in order that there might be universal peace, better understanding and human brotherhood, he felt it his duty to ask that he might serve in a capacity that would not require his taking up arms against his fellow-man. The opportunity came for me to tell them about [Page 538] Green Acre Summer School and also about the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. They showed such interest that my interview became thoroughly enjoyable, and the longer we talked the more confident I became that my request would be complied with. When it was brought to their attention that the Bahá’ís in England had been exempted from combatant duties, they manifested particular interest. Finally satisfied with their interrogation they asked that I step outside for a moment while they came to a decision. I then told them that I would like to ask a special favor and that was, that since I had been elected a delegate to the National Bahá’í Convention in Wilmette during the latter part of April, and since I considered it a great responsibility and duty to attend, I would appreciate my induction being postponed until after my return. I retired to an adjoining room, and after only a moment I was recalled. I found them all standing, and the Chairman addressed me with these words, "We have recognized your Bahá’í Faith, and you will receive non-combatant training. If you want to go to Wilmette for your Convention, you go right ahead; and we will induct you when you return.” At this pronouncement I was naturally inexpressibly rejoiced, and we shook hands all around. One of the members asked me to send him a post-card after my induction telling him where I had been placed and the nature of my duties, a request which I was most happy to grant. It was thus that my interview ended, and I returned home that evening a very joyous person.

I went to the National Bahá’í Convention in Wilmette during the latter part of April; and while there I was given the opportunity to tell the assembled friends and delegates of the experience which I have related. I assured them that I felt that every Bahá’í youth who was called upon to serve his country would meet with the same success that I had in presenting the Bahá’ís’ attitude and receive the same acknowledgment and consideration and be placed in some non-combatant branch of service. It was a glorious Convention and a wonderful opportunity and privilege before entering the army.

Subsequently I returned to New York City and was inducted on May 12th. A few days later I was placed in the medical corps where my work was purely of a constructive nature. Thus Baha’u’llah fulfilled His promise to guide and watch over one who tries to be faithful and obedient to His Word.

In concluding this little section we quote the following statement on BAHÁ’ÍS AND MILITARY SERVICE by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, as it clearly states the position of the Bahá’í, including the Bahá’í youth, concerning military service. This article appeared in Bahá’í News, July, 1940.

The further spread of the area of hostilities, involving now the Bahá’ís of so many countries, including Canada, makes it imperative for the believers to understand the principles which control the relation of Bahá’ís to military duty. The National Spiritual Assembly therefore summarizes the different points at issue for the information of all Bahá’ís.

1. Bahá’ís are obedient to their government. The Bahá’í teachings do not sanction any principle of pacifism under which, for the sake of individual conscience, citizens claim the right to repudiate their obligation for military service when required.

2. Bahá’ís, however, belonging as they do to a Faith whose essential purpose is to manifest the oneness of mankind and establish world order, are by their Teachings required to apply for exemption from combatant service whenever such exemption is legally provided by their government in time of war. Whenever possible the military duty of Bahá’ís is to be rendered through fields not involving the act of killing.

3. Such exemption is granted under statutes enacted in connection with the actual state of war and cannot be obtained before the state of war exists. Until there is a draft act, or the enactment of compulsory military duty, the conditions under which exemption can be officially granted do not exist.

4. In the case of the United States and Canadian governments, the National Spiritual Assembly some years ago filed a statement on the Bahá’í Teachings concerning international [Page 539] peace, to provide a basis on which formal petition might be made for exemption of Bahá’ís from combatant service in view of the nature of their Faith. Since September, 1939, local Assemblies of Canada have petitioned for exemption of Bahá’ís on the basis of that statement filed by the N. S. A. The reply made has been to the effect that Canada has not yet adopted compulsory service, hence exemption is not necessary.

5. Military service may be voluntary as well as compulsory. The principle laid down by the Guardian controlling voluntary enlistment is found in the following excerpt from his letter to the National Assembly of the British Isles as reprinted in Bahá’í News for January, 1940: “There are many other avenues through which the believers can assist in times of war by enlisting in services of a non-combatant nature—services that do not involve the direct shedding of blood—such as ambulance work, anti—air raid precaution service, office and administrative works, and it is for such types of national service that they should volunteer.

“It is immaterial whether such activities would still expose them to dangers, either at home or in the front, since their desire is not to protect their lives, but to desist from any acts of wilful murder.”

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY.

WITH OUR YOUNGEST BAHÁ’Í YOUTH: THE CHILDREN

IF A child is reared in a truly Bahá’í atmosphere, his surroundings will be filled with warmth, an inner sunshine, love, and kindness. Mrs. Anne Lynch, of Geneva, Switzerland, tells us a beautiful, heartstirring story of a visit she had with Swiss Bahá’ís. The following story appeared in the December, 1940 issue of Bahá’í Youth:

Twenty—five happy faces around a very long table in a simple dining room of a Swiss Chalet, flooded with sunshine pouring through small but many windows. Each window a picture of hilly countryside overlooking a lake. Blue sky, green hills dotted with fruit orchards and the darker green of the fir trees on the heights above seem to form one whole with the joyous atmosphere of this home, where sunshine radiates from the hearts, and where life is a joyous song of thanksgiving and praise to the Merciful Father of all.

Plates are busily filled and passed on from hand to hand, a contented "thank you Daddy, thank you Mummy,” signalling that a plate has reached its destination. When each one has his or her share, all heads incline, all hands are joined, and a grace is murmured in unison, which translated runs thus:

"Let all mankind become as brothers,

Let earth be filled with Thy peace,

Bestow upon us quietness and strength,

Help us to build the Peace of the World.”

This is the home of Mr. and Mrs. Semle, a young Bahá’í couple in North-Eastern Switzerland. Their life’s work is the bringing up of homeless children who are taken away by the community from sordid and unhealthy conditions. Mr. Semle works in a factory some distance away, and he and Mrs. Semle give their all: their material possessions and their spiritual wealth of faith, love, compassion, wisdom and self-effacement in this servitude at the Threshold of the Kingdom of God.

Children of all ages are accepted; not one has ever been refused admittance, no matter how grave the defects, how bad the reports, how seemingly hopeless the character. And a wonderful, astounding miracle is being wrought in this daily life of consecration and love: these little souls, like some wilted flowers, crooked saplings and wizened plants, which would have been ordinarily doomed to grow into so many degraded, useless or harmful members of the society, are quickly straightening, developing, and blossoming out into a truly heavenly rose garden. All work; all help each other and the family. There are no "servants,” no "maids”; all are daughters and sons. Mr. and Mrs. Semle are Father and Mother to them all.

Later on, when the little ones were put to bed, a concert was improvised in honor

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Bahá’í Children’s Class, Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

of the guest. Fresh young voices sang Swiss mountain songs and children’s hymns, accompanied by Miss Semle (age 15) at the piano. Then Master Semle (age 14) ran to fetch his violin, and presently the melody of a well-known Handel’s Cantata streamed forth from that happy group around the piano in candlelight. Mrs. Semle’s strong, clear voice dominated both piano and violin, and her happy face spoke eloquently of the love and joy she felt in her home, in her work, in her life of devoted service.

Still later, in the small sitting room upstairs, charming in its simplicity and happy atmosphere, I heard what teaching by example can mean. Hardly a day passes without some soul in distress coming from near or far to this home that radiates happiness and love far around the community. People come for advice, for help by prayer, for healing—physical and spiritual; and they are never disappointed. As we sat down to talk about this, a telephone message came through from a neighboring village—a sick man’s family was begging for a "Healing Prayer.” Frau Semle turned to me with a laugh: "Now you must excuse me! The only place where no one is permitted to interrupt me is my bed, so that is where I must go now, to pray for this sick one.” She no sooner had time to undress than another message came through: a woman in great difficulty, from which no escape seemed possible, was coming to the Semles for spiritual sustenance and aid; she was cycling right down, and would be here within fifteen minutes! Frau Semle had to dress again to receive this visitor.

When the visitor departed and I came to say good night, Frau Semle was standing by the old-fashioned tiled stove as if lost in thought. Suddenly she stretched her arms wide and said with a radiant uplifted face: "More love, more love! to give to all needy ones, all unhappy ones! Oh, I want to have more love so as to give to the whole world!” Her husband’s smile was like an outstretched hand joining her in this prayer.

A soft knock at the door: the eldest four "daughters” came in, their work finished for the day. "Good night dear Daddy! Good night dear Mother! Sleep well!”

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As I searched in vain for words to tell them what blessing is theirs the following words of Bahá’u’lláh stood clearly in my mind:

“He who educates his son, or any other children,

it is as though he hath educated one of My children?“^*

Rúḥíyyih Khánum, wife of the Guardian, has recently written about child education in the Near East. She says, “Child education is very advanced amongst the believers in the Near East. A most remarkable report of the faith of a Bahá’í child of Baghdád has recently reached the Guardian. She is only six years old, and though her uncles were Bahá’ís her parents were not. They happen to be Jews, but it seems the little girl went to a Bahá’í children’s class and became a Bahá’í. Not long ago, encouraged by circumstances, no doubt, some of the population demonstrated against the Jews. They entered the home of the parents of this little girl, armed with swords and knives, intent on injuring if not killing them. The child piped up, pointing to a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and told the intruders: ‘We are not Jews, we are Bahá’ís!’ She spoke so convincingly that they went away and left them in peace, though they broke into the neighboring Jewish home and assaulted its inhabitants. A few days later the parents prepared to go to the synagogue, whereupon the child rebuked them, saying: ‘‘Abdu’l-Bahá saved you, and now you are going to the synagogue!’ They were so deeply affected by these words that they wept, embraced the picture of the Master, and have accepted the Faith! The child is now busy converting her grandparents.

"Such a child is entirely a Bahá’í. She is only one of the many hundreds now growing up in the Cause all over the world. Such children cannot but truly become a new race of men, as they will not have to waste their time house cleaning their minds of so many obsolete and false conceptions as their elders have had to do in order to tune in fully with the truths of the new Day Bahá’u’lláh has brought.

“To see the devotion of little pilgrims to

————————

^* Tablet of Ishráqát.

their Guardian is most touching. As one little boy, aged five, said: ‘I know the Guardian, and I know his excellency Shoghi Effendi, and I know Shoghi Rabbani and I love all of them!’ Many of them, as the time for departure approached, would beg to be left behind! Their hearts belong to the Cause, and one cannot but wonder what manner of men they will grow to be.”

Bahá’í education, pure and simple, soon becomes a part of even the little child’s consciousness. He can absorb it easily, and in so doing he remains free. He knows not prejudice and hatred. An eight year old youngster wrote the following composition after only a half year’s instruction in a Bahá’í school. Quite spontaneous, it “is perhaps typical of what is taught and what is learned.”

“Bahá’u’lláh is a good man. He was good to us. We love Him. We should love all God’s men. We should be good and if we are, we will be happy and so will God. If we pray every night, God will know that we love Him. God knows everything we do and say. He knows what we think, too. We are dumb compared to God.

"If all the nations agreed, the world would be perfect, but we cannot be perfect with all these wars. Bahá’u’lláh taught us to worship God, and He taught us the Hidden Words. Bahá’u’lláh taught us many things.

"A Bahá’í has to believe in Bahá’u’lláh, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá too. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is as good as Baha’u’llah but Baha’u’llah was sent from God, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was not. But ‘Abdu’l-Bahá went on with Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings. That is why we knew about Bahá’u’lláh when He died, because ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told us. Shoghi Effendi is the living grandson of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He is the head of the Bahá’ís around the world.

“‘Abdu’l-Bahá placed the corner-stone for the Bahá’í Temple.

“Prophets know everything. They are like God in a way. They know what is in the future and what has passed. Bahá’u’lláh was one of the best Manifestations, and so was Jesus and others I cannot name.”

At the Summer School in 1941 in Ḥájí Abád in Persia a special program was arranged for Bahá’ís between five and fifteen years of age. “This included a Kindergarten [Page 542] attached to the School.” At the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois in the United States there is a Children’s Hour. “The 'Comprehensive Outline’ study course prepared by the Child Education Committee is being used, as well as a study of progressive revelation and the teachings of the major prophets, correlated with the Bahá’í Faith.” Also in the United States at the Geyserville and Green Acre Summer Schools special facilities are offered to children.

A National Child Education Committee of Bahá’ís, Mr. Harry Ford, Chairman, has prepared some excellent material to help in the edtication of children. It includes the following courses:

“CREATION. How to present the theme of divine creation to small children.

To LIVE THE LIFE. Lessons and stories, with cutouts of the Temple. Twenty-four lessons for children of six to ten.

BAHÁ’Í PRINCIPLES. Lessons and stories with pictures to color. For children of twelve to fifteen.

COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OUTLINE FOR CHILDREN. In three parts, Creation, Progressive Revelation, Bahá’í World. Twenty-five lessons. For children in intermediate and upper grades. Other courses are in the hands of the Reviewing Committee.”

BAHÁ’Í EDUCATION, A COMPILATION

Words of Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings, pp. 259-260

Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. Through a word proceeding out of the mouth of God he was called into being; by one word more he was guided to recognize the Source of his education; by yet another word his station and destiny were safeguarded. The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom. If any man were to meditate on that which the Scriptures, sent down from the heaven of God’s holy will, have revealed, he will readily recognize that their purpose is that all men shall be regarded as one soul, so that the seal bearing the words ”The Kingdom shall be God’s” may be stamped on every heart, and the light of Divine bounty, of grace, and mercy may envelop all mankind.

Epistle to The Sun of the Wolf. Bahá’u’lláh pp. 26-27

“Arts, crafts and sciences uplift the world of being, and are conducive to its exaltation. Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and not those which begin with words and end with words. Great indeed is the claim of scientists and craftsmen on the peoples of the world.

"In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and a source of glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto him. Happy the man that cleaveth unto it, and woe betide the heedless.”

Epistle to The Sun of the Wolf. Bahá’u’lláh p. 32

”In the treasuries of the knowledge of God there lieth concealed a knowledge which, when applied, will largely, though not wholly, eliminate fear. This knowledge, however, should be taught from childhood, as it will greatly aid in its elimination. Whatever decreaseth fear increaseth courage.”

Words of Paradise. Bahá’u’lláh p. 53

Schools must first train the children in the principles of Religion, so that the PROMISE and the THREAT, recorded in the Books of God, may prevent them from the things forbidden and adorn them with the mantle of the commandments: But this in such measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry.

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Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Monday, April 28th, 1913. Stuttgart, Germany.

Among these children many blessed souls will arise, if they be trained according to the Bahá’í Teachings. If a plant is carefully nurtured by a gardener, it will become good, and produce better fruit. These children must be given a good training from their earliest childhood. They must be given a systematic training which will further their development from day to day, in order that they may receive greater insight, so that their spiritual receptivity be broadened. Beginning in childhood they must receive instruction. They cannot be taught through books. Many elementary sciences must be made clear to them in the nursery; they must learn them in play, in amusement. Most ideas must be taught them through speech, not by book learning. One child must question the other concerning these things, and the other child must give the answer. In this way, they will make great progress. For example, mathematical problems must also be taught in the form of questions and answers. One of the children asks a question and the other must give the answer. Later on, the children will of their own accord speak with each other concerning these same subjects. The children who are at the head of the class must receive premiums. They must be encouraged and when any one of them shows good advancement, for the further development they must be praised and encouraged therein. Even so in Godlike affairs. Oral questions must be asked and the answers must be given orally. They must discuss with each other in this manner.

Bahá’í Scriptures. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá p.278. Verse 574

All the children must be educated so that there will not remain one single individual without an education. In cases of inability on the part of the parents through sickness, death, etc. the state must educate the child. In addition to this wide-spread education, each child must be taught a profession or trade so that each individual member of the body politic will be enabled to earn his own living and at the same time serve the community. Work done in the spirit of service is worship. From this universal system of education misunderstandings will be expelled from amongst the children of men.

The Light of the World. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá p. 19

In childhood it is easy. Whatever a child learns during childhood, it will not forget. There is a proverb in Arabic that says: "Teaching a child is like carving upon stone. It can never be erased.” A child is like a fresh branch. It is tender. In whatever way you wish you can train it. If you want to keep it straight it can be done. But when it grows up, if you want to straighten it out, it cannot be done except through fire.

Children of the Kingdom. March 1920. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

(One day ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was told of the smiling faces of the Bahá’í children in Stuttgart and how they would sit for hours in the meetings, while our American children were very restless.) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá smiled and said: “Activity is always better than rest. It is much better for the body to be active.”

Light of the World. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá pp. 19, 20

Q. Should the truths of this Cause be taught in Bahá’í schools or in all the schools?

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: "It makes no difference what school we enter or where we send our children. There are schools in Persia in which there are children from all religions. Whatever is universal is heavenly and whatever is personal is satanic. Then everything ought to be universal.”

Q. Should truth be spread verbally or by writing?

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: “Both. Real teaching is by action, action has effect. One act is better than a thousand words. What is the effect of words alone? The real thing is action. . . . Action has made man eloquent. There is no eloquent language better than action. As long as the sun is bright, is it necessary that it should say ‘I am bright?’ There is no need for that.”

Q. Should the fundamental truths of the Cause be taught to children in schools?

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: "In childhood it is easy, [Page 544] whatever a child learns during childhood, it will not forget.

"Harsh words are like unto a sword and mild speech serves as milk, from which the infants of the world arrive at knowledge and find preeminence.”

Light of the World. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 115

Fear of God prevents hidden sins. p. 115

In ”Children of the Kingdom,” page 3–

September, 1920, this story is told of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to some Chicago children. "The glorious Master told them He would like to give them heavenly food, but they were too young to understand, so he sent Fugita, His Japanese child of the Kingdom, to get a box of candy, saying, ‘This food they will understand. It will remind them of the sweetness of the love of God.’ ”

Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Monday, April 28th, 1913. Stuttgart, Germany.

Educate the children in their infancy in such a way that they may become exceedingly kind and merciful to the animals. If the animal is sick they should endeavor to cure it; if it is hungry they should feed it; if it is thirsty, they should satisfy its thirst; if it is tired it should be given rest.

Man is generally sinful and the animal is innocent; unquestionably one must be more kind and merciful to the innocent. The harmful animals, such as the bloodthirsty wolf, the poisonous snake and other injurious animals are excepted, because mercy towards these is cruelty to man and other animals.

Some Answered Questions. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 9

But education is of three kinds: material, human and spiritual. Material education is concerned with the progress and development of the body, through gaining its sustenance, its material comfort and ease. This education is common to animals and man.

Human education signifies civilization and progress: that is to say, government, administration, charitable works, trades, arts and handicrafts, sciences, great inventions and discoveries of physical laws, which are the activities essential to man as distinguished from the animal.

Divine education is that of the Kingdom of God: it consists in acquiring divine perfections, and this is true education; for in this estate man becomes the center of divine appearance, the manifestation of the words, "Let us make man in our image and after our likeness. This is the supreme goal of the world of humanity.”

Promulgation of Universal Peace. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 81, 82

It is evident that although education improves the morals of mankind, confers the advantages of civilization and elevates man from the lowest degrees to the station of sublimity, there is nevertheless a difference in the intrinsic or natal capacity of individuals. Ten children of the same school, partaking of the same food, in all respects subject to the same environment, their interests equal and in common, will evidence separate and distinct degrees of capability and advancement: some exceedingly intelligent and progressive, some of mediocre ability, others limited and incapable. One may become a learned professor while another under the same course of education proves dull and stupid. From all standpoints the opportunities have been equal but the results and the outcome vary from the highest to the lowest degree of achievement. . . . Nevertheless although capacities are not the same, every member of the human race is capable of education.

Children of the Kingdom. Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Sept., 1921.

Children are like unto tender branches, they grow just as they are educated. If they are educated in a material way they become materialists and hold firm to the world of matter; and if they are given a divine education they become divine, and obtain heavenly character from the Sun of Reality. Now God has prepared for you the means of obtaining Bahá’í education, ye should therefore be very thankful to your teachers, and strive with utmost perseverance so that every one of you may become a heavenly bounty to the world of humanity.

Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Star of the West. July, 1923. p. 116

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You must sow the seeds of peace in the plastic minds of the children. Teach them the victories of peace. Surround them with the lessons of peace. Envelop them with the atmosphere of peace, and inspire their hearts with the glorious achievements of peace. Let their food be peace, . . . their contemplation peace, their highest aspiration peace and the impelling purpose of their lives peace.

Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Vol. III, p. 578, 579

. . . Were there no educators, all souls would remain savage, and were it not for the teacher, the children would be ignorant creatures.

It is for this reason that, in this New Cycle, education and training are recorded in the Book of God as obligatory and not voluntary. That is, it is enjoined upon the father and the mother, as a duty, to strive with all effort to train the daughter and the son, to nurse them from the breast of knowledge and to rear them in the bosom of sciences and arts. Should they neglect this matter, they shall be held responsible and worthy of reproach in the presence of the stern Lord.

Talk by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to students of Beirut University. Star of the West, Vol. IX, p. 99.

The Universities and Colleges of the world must hold fast to three cardinal principles.

1. Whole-hearted service to the cause of education, the extension of the boundaries of pure science, the elimination of the causes of ignorance and social evil, a standard universal system of instruction, and the diffusion of the lights of knowledge and reality.

2. Service to the cause of the students, inspiring them with the sublimest ideals of ethical refinement, teaching them altruism, inculcating in their lives the beauty of holiness, and animating them with the excellence and perfections of the religion of God.

3. Service to the oneness of the world of humanity; so that each student may consciously realize that he is a brother to all mankind, irrespective of religion or race. The thoughts of universal peace must be instilled in the hearts of all scholars, in order that they may become the armies of peace, the real servants of the body politic, the world.

The six short articles which follow have appeared in BAHÁ’Í NEWS within the past two years. They are filled with gem-like helps and suggestions to all those in a position to rear children into the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.

Tablets and Prayers^*

The former generation of American Bahá’í parents and children received many Tablets and prayers penned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself. A few of these are given below for the Bahá’í children of this important time.

O my Lord! O my Lord!

I am a child of tender years. Nourish me from the breast of Thy mercy, train me in the bosom of Thy love, educate me in the school of Thy guidance and develop me under the shadow of Thy bounty! Deliver me from darkness, make me a brilliant light; free me from unhappiness, make me a flower of the rose-garden; suffer me to become the servant of Thy Threshold and confer upon me the disposition and nature of the righteous ones; make me a cause of bounty to the human world and crown my head with the diadem of eternal life!

Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Seer, the Hearer!

(Vol. III, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 595)

O thou darling dear!

Turn thy face toward the Supreme Kingdom and chant thou this commune:

O Thou Pure God! I am a little child; make Thou the bosom of Thy Gift a dear resting-place of comfort, and suffer me to grow and be nurtured with the honey and the milk of Thy love and train me under the breast of Thy knowledge; bestow Thou freedom while in a state of childhood and grant Thou excellence!

O Thou Incomparable One! Make me the confidant of the Kingdom of the Unseen!

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^*Bahá’í News, June, 1940, pp. 6—7.

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Bahá’í Center Dedicated by the Spiritual Assembly and Bahá’í Community of Honolulu, T. H., October 20, 1941.

Verily, Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful!

(Vol. III, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p.588)

O thou glorious Lord!

Make thou this little maid-servant a brilliant-starred daughter of the Kingdom; endear her in the Threshold of Oneness and overflow her with the cup of Thy love, in order that she may raise the cries of joy and ecstasy and mix ambergris with musk.^**

Verily, Thou art the Powerful and the Mighty, and Thou art the Wise, the Seer!

(Vol. III, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 551)

O thou plant of the Garden of the Love of God!

Thy letter was received. Its content was of utmost grace and sweetness. As thou hast turned thy face toward the Supreme Kingdom, I hope thy disposition and nature will prove agreeable and comforting to thy brother and sister.

Although thou art small, yet I hope thou wilt become great in the Kingdom. His Highness Christ sayeth: "Happy is the condition of children!” God willing, thou art one of those children.

Be obedient and kind to thy father and

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^**This metaphor means the state of prayer and communion with God.

mother, caressing brother and sister, and day by day adding to thy faith and assurance.

(Vol. III, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 551)

To the children in the Sunday School.

I am glad to see these bright, radiant children. God willing, all of them may realize the hopes and aspirations of their parents.

Praise be to God! I see before me these beautiful children of the kingdom. Their hearts are pure, their faces are shining. They shall soon become the sons and daughters of the kingdom. Thanks be to God! they are seeking to acquire virtues and will be the cause of the attainment of the excellence of humanity. This is the cause of oneness in the kingdom of God. Praise be to God! they have kind and revered teachers who train and educate them well and who long for confirmation in order that, God willing, like tender plants in the garden of God they may be refreshed by the downpour of the clouds of mercy, grow and become verdant. In the utmost perfection and delicacy may they at last bring forth fruit.

I supplicate God that these children may be reared under His protection and that they may be nourished by His favor and grace until all, like beautiful flowers in the garden

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Bahá’í Fellowship House on property of Mr. and Mrs. B. W. Schneider, Richmond Highlands, Washington, dedicated November 10, 1940.

of human hopes and aspirations, shall blossom and become redolent of fragrance.

O God! Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thy orchard, the flowers of Thy meadow, the roses of Thy garden. Let Thy rain fall upon them; let the Sun of Reality shine upon them with Thy love. Let Thy breeze refresh them in order that they may be trained, grow and develop and appear in the utmost beauty. Thou art the giver! Thou art the compassionate!

(Vol. I, Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 188-189.)

BAHÁ’Í CHILDREN AND THE CALENDAR^*

”Thank thou God that thou hast stepped into the arena of existence in such a blessed Age and hast opened ears and eyes in such a Day of Promise.”

Bahá’í Scriptures, 850.

Let us look at the Bahá’í Calendar in relation to our children. What significance does it have for them?

There are two special appeals that this calendar will make to the child if his parents will use them. One is the fact that a child likes to have names for every and anything. True the months of our current civil calendar do have names but they are not the

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^*Bahá’í News, July, 1940, pp. 8—9.

attractive and understandable names such as the Bahá’í months have. Secondly, the child delights in celebrations. Each name on the Bahá’í Calendar such as Glory, Light, and Splendor and others suggests a celebration. Take for example, the month of Raḥmat (translated Mercy, though Kindness is more within the experience of the child); this month, the child or children in a Bahá’í family could celebrate by being especially kind to his family, his friends; his pets; yes and even his garden (we remember that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá used to speak to the flowers) in so far that he will not neglect its care. Now he goes on to the month of Kalimát (words). This he will celebrate by giving especial attention to the words he uses. They will be kind, comforting and full of praise for others; and so on through the year.

Just as the child on a regular schedule, around the clock, through the day, develops into a stronger, sturdier child physically than one whose physical habits are ignored or irregular, so will the child who goes through the year month by month practicing spiritual qualities as suggested by the Bahá’í Calendar grow stronger and firmer spiritually than a child who neglects this practice. A wise parent will help his children to recognize and to follow the Bahá’í months on through the Bahá’í year.

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An additional advantage is the fact that the child will develop the habit of thinking in Bahá’í terms relative to time. There needs to exist no confusion between the Civil and the Bahá’í calendars no more than a child’s language is handicapped if he learns another language as well as his own provided of course that he is well grounded in his own language before he is taught another. Similarly, when a child is capable of grasping the idea of a month he will have no difficulty in recognizing the difference between the two calendars. It would be interesting to help him find his own birthday date on the Bahá’í Calendar or any other date that is especially interesting to him. The more he thinks in terms of the Bahá’í Calendar the more familar he will become with it.

When the child has celebrated all the Bahá’í months at the end of the year and begins all over again he will better grasp the idea of a year and its possibilities. Then as the years go by he will be prepared to think in terms of cycles and particularly spiritual cycles. Great then will be his appreciation of the fact that he is living in the Greatest Spiritual Cycle of all time.

“This is a new cycle of human power—The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers.”—

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í Scriptures, page 273.)

CHILD EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

By: Amy Brady Dwelly.

APPRECIATION^*

“O Friend! In the garden of thy heart, plant not but the rose of love and from the nightingale of desire and yearning loosen not thy hold. Treasure the companionship of the righteous and withdraw thyself from fellowship with the ungodly.” (Hidden Words.)

How, a mother-asks, can I teach my child to distinguish between desirable and undesirable companions? How can I teach him to ignore outward appearances such as color

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^*Bahá’í News, September, 1940, pp. 8, 9.

of skin, poverty, physical disabilities and to see rather only spiritual qualities among his associates? My son often finds disobedient, objectionable children very exciting and amusing. He frequently imitates them in his own behavior.

Perhaps the answer to this mother might be put into a single word—appreciation. If, for example, we want children to distinguish between good and poor music, we begin early to expose them to good music and thus lay a foundation for a true appreciation of music. Later when they hear all sorts of music, they will be able to distinguish between the good and the poor.

Coming back to our small boy, we may say that if he is going to appreciate real values in human relationships, he must be taught this appreciation early. Those who are with him while he is young, must endeavor to show forth the attributes of God. The child must be treated honestly, fairly, kindly and sympathetically. The Golden Rule must be the rule of the home in which he lives. He too must be expected to be as just in his dealings with others as they are with him. This includes his treatment of the grown-ups as well as children both older and younger than himself. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has said: "There are also sacred duties of children toward parents; these duties are written in the Book of God, as belonging to God. The children’s prosperity in this world and the Kingdom depends upon the good pleasure of parents, and without this they will be in manifest loss.” (Star of the West, Vol. IX, page 91.)

. . . One must of course protect young children against the companionships that are detrimental, but later the child will be on his own responsibility to choose from a greater variety of children. If the child has been brought up in an atmosphere of love, justice and tolerance, he will resent hatred, injustice and intolerance. A child may go through a phase in which he seems to prefer the child whose objectionable behavior is more dramatic than that of others but this admiration is only on the surface. The child who has been given an early appreciation of spiritual qualities will recognize them and look for them in his companions.

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We as adults must be ever ready to recognize the spiritual qualities we see developing in our children and appreciate them. This does not mean perpetual praise, which is of course objectionable, and may even act as a stumbling block to further spiritual development. Children naturally like to be singled out for special attention. However, it is well to teach them that real distinction lies in possessing spiritual attributes. Older children should memorize the following words given to us by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:

"I desire distinction for you. The Bahá’ís must be distinguished from others of humanity. But this distinction must not depend upon wealth—that they should be more affluent than other people. I do not desire for you financial distinction. It is not ordinary distinction I desire; not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction. For you I desire spiritual distinction; that is, you must become distinguished in morals. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. You must become distinguished for loving humanity; for unity and accord; for love and justice. In brief, you must become distinguished in all virtues of the human world; for faithfulness and sincerity; for justice and fidelity; for firmness and steadfastness; for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world; for love toward every human being; for unity and accord with all the people; for removing prejudices and promoting international peace. Finally you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and acquiring the bestowals of God. I desire this distinction among you. This must be the point of distinction for you.” (Promulgation of Universal Peace, page 185.)

UNDERSTANDING^*

O heedless ones! Think not the secrets of hearts are hidden nay, know ye of a certainty that in clear characters they are engraved and stand manifest in the holy Presence. (Hidden Words.)

When do our children begin to have “secrets of the heart” which they believe are hidden? The new born babe brings his secret with him which even his parents

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^*Bahá’í News, October, 1940, pp. 10, 11.

cannot completely fathom. They feel, in his presence, as though they were before something sacred; something mysterious; something indescribably precious, a bit of heaven perhaps. But this is not the kind of secret or secrets to which we refer. We mean, of course, conscious secrets. When does the child first hide from his parents some of his thoughts and his feelings? No one really knows. What we do know is that the type of child training that he has in the precious early years hastens or retards the desire for him to keep back his thoughts and feelings from others.

The young child is naturally frank and spontaneous. The amount of frankness and spontaneity will vary largely among individual children, but confidence and trust are characteristic of childhood. Gradually these qualities are modified; in some cases, alas, to be lost almost entirely while in other cases to become tempered with judgment.

The child who becomes secretive is usually one who has lost confidence in those about him. This may have been brought about through a number of channels. The child’s serious remarks may have been laughed at too often; he may have been ridiculed; or given a sense of insecurity or of failure or of shame. Perhaps the largest single factor in producing an undesirable form of secretiveness in children is a sense of guilt. He has done something, perhaps quite natural to childhood, yet he has been taught that the thing is bad; so when, inspired by his natural instinct, he again commits the act (it may be as harmless a thing as playing in water) he has a sense of guilt. This then becomes a secret thing which he must not reveal. It becomes hidden.

The building up in a child of a sense of guilt is poor child psychology. Bahá’í parents know that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has taught that, “Everything in existence is good and only the lack of goodness makes a thing evil. The being is created good but when the lack of good is to be seen in it, then it becomes bad. Evil is not created by God.” (Bahá’í Scriptures, par. 963.) Since evil is not created by God why should we give little children a sense of guilt or evil, especially when this does not act as a deterrent but leads only to a feeling of necessity for

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keeping secret his thoughts, words and deeds?

This does not mean, of course, that a child should be left to do whatever his fancy dictates regardless of results. It means simply that we shall emphasize right behavior. Our efforts will be to encourage such attributes as justice, kindness, obedience, love for others and many other such characteristics. Thus the child will grow up free from any devastating sense of guilt but rather he will have a sense of satisfaction when he lives up to these ideals (according to his age and understanding of these ideals) and he will have correspondingly a sense of disappointment rather then guilt if and when he fails.

Those children who already have shadowy secrets which they think they are hiding completely and which for the sake of their own spiritual development, should not be kept hidden, need to be taught that: "whatsoever ye have concealed within your hearts is to Us open and manifest as the day.” (Hidden Words.) This thought should never be used to frighten the child as has been done so often in past generations. The child needs to think of Bahá’u’lláh as one who is ever present like a kind and tender father, who gives to the child comfort and security. He should never conceive Him as a sort of Ghostly Guard spying upon the child at all times. Such were the thoughts of the small boy who after pilfering an apple, hid under the porch to eat it, where, as he said, “God can’t find me.”

Briefly then, with our young children, the matter of hiding guilty thoughts or deeds is a question of training through sympathy and understanding by the adults so as to eliminate any real or imagined necessity for such secrecy. With older children it becomes necessary to give them instructions directly from the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, thus helping them to realize the uselessness of trying to hide that which is impossible to hide from Them. Rebuild the child’s confidence and broaden his conception of goodness. Encourage him to learn by heart the following prayer and meditate thereon: “Hold Thou my right arm, O God! and dwell continually with me. Guide me to the fountain of Thy knowledge, and encircle me with Thy glory. Set Thine angels on my right hand, and open mine eyes to Thy splendor. Let mine ears harken to Thy melodious tone, and comfort me with Thy Presence. For Thou art the strength of my heart and the trust of my soul and I desire none other beside Thee.”