Bahá’í News/Issue 142/Text
| ←Previous | Bahá’í News Issue 142 |
Next→ |
 Proofread onceReturn to PDF view
|
| No. 142 | YEAR 97, BAHÁ’Í ERA | March, 1941 |
“I SHARE YOUR SORROW IN THE LOSS . . . OF BELOVED FATHER DUNN”[edit]
I share (your) sorrow (in the) loss, (and) participate (in your) rejoicings (for the) triumph, (of) beloved Father Dunn. (The) magnificent career (of this) veteran warrior (of the) Faith (of) Bahá’u’lláh reflects (the) purest luster (of the) world historic mission conferred (upon) American community by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. To (the) three heroines whose dust reposes (in the) heart (of) Iran, (in the) Pacific Islands and southern extremity (of the) American continent, a fourth witness in far-off Australasia (is) now added, attesting (the) first vital sparks (of) far-flung spiritual dominion American believers (have been) commissioned (to) establish. (I am) moved (to) congratulate them (for the) resplendent successes (of the) Plan destined (to) encircle (the) entire globe. Advise hold National Memorial Gathering (in) Mashiriqu’l Adhkár befitting (the) rank (of) Australia’s spiritual conqueror.
- SHOGHI RABBANI.
Cablegram received February 21, 1941.
LETTER FROM THE GUARDIAN[edit]
Excerpts from Letter Written to the National Spiritual Assembly Through His Secretary
The copy of the Convention photograph, as well as copies of the photograph showing the Temple reflected in the water which he had specially requested you to mail to him have also safely arrived. The Convention photograph he has already placed in Bahá’u’lláh's Mansion in Bahji. And as to the Temple photographs, they are being distributed to various Bahá’í centers and individuals.
The Guardian warmly welcomes the step the N.S.A. has taken with the view of transferring the headquarters of the national Treasurer and of the Publishing Committee to Wilmette—which action he thinks will effectively help in further unifying, coordinating and consolidating the activities of the N.S.A. This is the type of action which he contemplated when making the statement mentioned in his letter of July 4, 1939. As the Cause steadily expands throughout America the need for a center in which most, if not all, of the national activities of the Faith would be visibly concentrated becomes apparent, not only because this would mean greater efficiency and coordination in the activities of the N.S.A., but also in view of the added prestige which the Cause would acquire through the establishment of such a center. Whenever feasible the Guardian would recommend that more national committees should transfer their offices in the vicinity of the Haziratu’l-Quds, which constitutes the nucleus around which the entire administrative machinery of the Cause will have eventually to be set up and function. Such development does not entail the slightest departure from the principles of Bahá’í Administration nor should it imply further centralization, and is only a step forward in the evolution of the national administrative center of the Faith in America.
With reference to the suggestion made in your letter of July 13th that group status should be defined as beginning with five believers in the same city, or town; the Guardian considers this regulation inadvisable and unnecessary. Next to an isolated believer any number of confirmed Bahá’ís less than nine persons should be considered as automatically constituting a Bahá’í group. No regulation, however, need be introduced regarding this matter. In this connection he wishes me to reaffirm his previous vital instruction that extreme care should at all times be taken by your Assembly not to introduce into the Cause any additional rules and regulations, even in the form of suggestions, that would tend to make the Bahá’í administrative order a highly complex and codified system. Only when absolutely required, and with the Guardian’s previous approval, should any new regulations be laid down.
The Guardian does not think it would
be necessary to obtain his approval before
granting recognition to the newly-established
Assembly in Buenos Aires, or to
any group in Central and South America
[Page 2]
that seeks to organize a local Assembly.
For the present it devolves upon the
American N.S.A. to initiate, guide, encourage
and nurture all Bahá’í groups and
Assemblies established in these territories.
This is a vital part and an admittedly
arduous task of the teaching campaign,
which the N.S.A. has undertaken and is
now so relentlessly pursuing in Central
and South America. However, temporary
such a jurisdiction on the part of the
N.S.A. may be, it should nevertheless be
exercised with the utmost care, tact and
vigilance.
The Guardian wishes me also to express his gratification at the action taken by the Temple Trustees for the purchase of fill for the Temple grounds. He is delighted to know that this has contributed to increase the value of the land of the Haziratu’l-Quds.
In closing, he wishes me to stress again the urgency and all-importance of the teaching campaign in Central and South America which, he is most happy and encouraged to note, is proceeding with full vigor. The self-sacrifice, resourcefulness, and pioneering spirit displayed by so many Bahá’í teachers, coupled with the guidance and continued encouragement given them by your Assembly, he confidently hopes, will insure the successful prosecution of this campaign of unprecedented magnitude in the history of our beloved Cause.
Haifa, Palestine.
December 3, 1940.
“VOW THEMSELVES TO INCOMPARABLY SUBLIME TASK”[edit]
Beloved friends:
The Guardian’s cabled message of October 29, 1940, is a call for positive action from the very depths of our hearts. “I beg them to close their ranks jointly, severally and vow themselves to the incomparably sublime task whose operation must hasten the ascendancy of the beloved Cause and the spiritual redemption of a reconstructed mankind.”
Such a call impels us to pray and reflect as individual believers. It likewise impels us to enter every meeting of Bahá’í consultation and devotion with chastened spirit. Through the years the American friends have penetrated deeper and deeper into the mystery of oneness. We have tried to unify on the basis of agreement with a number of liberal principles. We have attempted to unify on the basis of outer conformity with an administrative order. We have had mystical experiences of unity, and agreement on the articles of a world Faith. But now a truer unity is required, such as arises from the penetration of one Spirit through all the bodies, when minds and hearts are no longer assertions of independence but servants of one higher Will.
The Guardian’s call is both the reiteration of assurance such as the Master expressed and a warning that events and circumstances are at hand when our community will be subjected to a severe test. What favored children the American believers have been, protected from persecution. And physical ordeal such as kindled the flame of sacrifice in Eastern lands! Soon, perhaps, the period of childhood will end and the eternal foe of Revelation, the ecclesiasticism which denies the Manifestation from age to age, will find ways of challenging our beliefs, our institutions and our social order.
We have but to turn back to the Guardian’s letter of June 15, 1935 (reprinted in Messages from the Guardian) to realize that such a challenge is predestined and indeed necessary for the greater growth of the Faith in this stage of development. Straws that show the blowing of the wind are the article by William M. Miller in The Moslem World, reprinted in pamphlet form and also reprinted in a magazine promoting inter-church unity, and the significant fact that in Iran it appears from the press the government has taken over the educational and missionary establishments maintained by a Christian sect, thus bringing their influence to an end. The Repercussions of this event will no doubt be felt more and more in America in the form of increased attacks on the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
Moreover, the climactic character of civil events approaches culmination, augmenting confusion and violence during the interval before world order can be created. Thus the small community of believers, like a boat in a great sea, may be tossed about on the angry waves, calling for the utmost loyalty of the crew to the Captain’s commands.
Whatever realm we survey, the call to unity is of the utmost importance to one and all the friends. At every turn in the road, the Guardian gives us the true counsel and the supreme opportunity to grow in capacity to serve. May we now, “jointly and severally,” realize what it means to vow ourselves to the “sublime task.”
- NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY.
THE DOOR OF CIVILIZATION[edit]
For many months, the National Assembly has been endeavoring to encourage and train the local Assemblies by brief statements in Bahá’í News.
This month, let us consider the institution of the local Assembly as a door through which the true civilization, gift of the Spirit, is to enter the world of humanity and displace those limited and competitive societies of the past that now come to their end of unbridled authority and unmoral power.
“The importance, nay the absolute necessity of these local Assemblies is manifest when we realize that in the days to come they will evolve into the local House of Justice, and at present provide the firm foundation on which the structure of the Master’s Will is to be reared in the future.” (Bahá’í Administration, page 32)
“In order to avoid division and disruption, that the Cause may not fall a prey to conflicting interpretations, and lose thereby its purity and pristine vigor, that its affairs may be conducted with efficiency and promptness, it is necessary that every one should conscientiously take an active part in the election of these Assemblies, abide by their decision, enforce their decree, and cooperate with them wholeheartedly in their task of stimulating the growth of the Movement throughout all regions. The members of these Assemblies, on their part, must disregard utterly their own likes and dislikes, their personal interests and inclinations, and concentrate their minds upon those measures that will conduce to the welfare and happiness of the Bahá’í Community and promote the common weal.” (Bahá’í Administration, page 36)
“With these Assemblies, local as well as national, harmoniously, vigorously, and efficiently functioning throughout the Bahá’í world, the only means for the establishment of the Supreme House of Justice will have been secured.” (same page)
And finally, these words, written November 14, 1923 (page 45): “Let us pray to God that in these days of world encircling gloom, when the dark forces or nature, of hate, rebellion, anarchy and reaction are threatening the very stability of human society, when the most precious fruits of civilization are undergoing severe and unparalleled tests, we may all realize, more profoundly than ever, that though but a mere handful amidst the seething masses of the world, we are all in this day the chosen instruments of God’s grace, that our mission is most urgent and vital to the fate of humanity, and, fortified by these sentiments, arise to achieve God’s holy purpose for mankind.”
The very sublimity of the mission carries
with it a grave responsibility. The
administrative order is the instrument for
[Page 3]
the transmission of a Divine will to mankind.
The Bahá’í community is the arena
in which we demonstrate our faith. Thus,
all that concern the local Assembly is of
great importance. It must have a wisdom
commensurate with its power. As it contributes
to unity, the Assembly helps
release the forces of the Kingdom, but if
it prevents unity, then it resists those
illimitable powers.
Let us realize that the quality of our spiritual lives is determined locally. It is in our own community that we meet the vital issues of truth and error, justice and injustice, love and prejudice. The occasions may appear small and insignificant, but they nevertheless contain every test by which God tries and disciplines His servants. Could we behold with a spiritual eye, we would recognize how and why the Master, on one occasion, could warn a group of believers that their continued disunity would lead to the ruin of the city. Similarly, where reverence, knowledge, humility and sacrifice exist, blessings will descend beyond human capacity to create. While gloom encircles humanity, can we not reflect more and more or His glory of the Light?
- NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY.
INTER-AMERICA NEWS[edit]
Costa Rica
Glorious news has come from Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Woolson in Costa Rica. “We are very happy with the progress of the work here and overjoyed to have ten Bahá’ís. They are all great souls. The Message has been given in five of the seven Provinces of Costa Rica and everybody seems to be waiting to hear of the Glorious Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. There is so much to be done that it makes one wish she were an infinite number of persons and that there were no such thing as time and space.” The whole Bahá’í Community rejoices with our Pioneers in Costa Rica and will add their prayers for their continued growth.
Nicaragua
Mr. Mathew Kaszab writes of a successful lecture given at the Masonic Temple at which there were thirty-one persons present. He is hoping to have Mrs. Stewart assist him in the near future as he is assured by friends in Nicaragua that a much larger crowd can be gathered for a meeting at the International Club. He reports several people reading the Bahá’í books and a few definitely interested.
Ecuador
We learn from Mr. John Stearns that the Cause is slowly, but surely progressing and ever greater opportunities for presenting the Teachings are being made. He encloses a registration card for Sr. Les Gonzales, one of the four young men with whom he is sharing a house.
Havana, Cuba
Word has been received from Mrs. Hoagg that Miss Josephine Kruka arrived in Havana about the middle of December to assist her with the work of spreading the Cause.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Miss Leonora Holsapple writes that she has taken an apartment with Miss Jeanne Bolles to have a convenient place to hold meetings. The first was held on the Bab’s birthday. The meetings are small, but representative of several nationalities and the people seem very open minded and sympathetic to the Cause. They promise to develop into a regular study group. Miss Holsapple speaks of the great pleasure derived from the visits of several visiting Bahá’í teachers, Mrs. Barton, Miss Cheney and Mr. Sprague.
Argentina
Word of the most encouraging sort has come from Mr. Sprague in Buenos Aires. He reports that his classes are assuming tremendous proportions and that the quality of their belief is very wonderful. In addition to the classes already held several times a week in his apartment, a Youth Group has started which meets twice a week. The Youth Group is led by Mr. Carlos Foos.
A Temple model has been shipped to Buenos Aires to aid in the teaching.
Miss Elizabeth Cheney on her way to Paraguay, writes of her stay in Buenos Aires: “Mr. Sprague had scheduled her to speak of Divine Unity and to my amazement about sixty people came piling in until every foot of space on chairs or cushions on the floor, seemed to be completely occupied.” From the Buenos Aires Friends she secured introductions to important persons in Paraguay which may prove of great value in her work there.
Philip Sprague sends the enrollment card of Mrs. Gladys Sharpe from Buenos Aires and states that there are several others who are uniting with the Community at once. He also asks for a mat of the Temple as now completed and sends copies of an illustrated paper from Buenos Aires, which contains a lovely article in Spanish with the photograph of the Center of the Covenant and a large picture of the Temple under construction. Also, there is a photograph reproduction of the group meeting in his apartment, a large group only half of which is shown in the picture. He further states that all but one of the radio talks have been translated and that in about a week they will be having two half-hour periods a week for their programs for one month. This is glorious news!
Venezuela
With regret the Inter-America Committee reports the return to Canada of two valued pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Emeric Sala.
Santiago, Chile
Mrs. Marcia Steward Atwater reports very satisfactory developments in Santiago. She has taken a house for three months and has started weekly meetings. At the first, nine guests were expected. Mrs. Atwater is learning Spanish rapidly as the resident Bahá’í, Senora Espinoza, does not speak English. Senora Espinoza has been cooperating in every way. Mrs. Atwater has made many important contacts and reports that excellent publicity has been promised. She has found the Chileans very gracious and kind.
Panama
Mrs. Oliver again writes from Panama
asking for more Bahá’ís in that territory.
“with all or us working the doors will
[Page 4]
surely open for some to come to Panama.
More and more men are needed. Another
Civil Service examination will be given
soon, for men only. Panama offers an opportunity
for employment, learning Spanish and
travel to other Latin American
countries . . . an excellent training
ground. We hope that this month will
bring the good news that others are on
their way. 1941 brings a challenge to us
all.” She reports that the relationships
with the University are most satisfying
and that they are able to hold open Feasts
there. Mrs. Oliver is to spend her vacation
in Costa Rica, visiting our Pioneers
in that country.
Bolivia
We have received very good news from Mrs. Adler in Bolivia. She reports: “The people who know about the Cause are represented thus: An American woman, social leader—people in the diplomatic service, individuals in Bolivia on mining projects—the man and his associates who have done the welfare work of bringing 10,000 refugees into the Bolivia—Manager of the American Cable Co., an Englishman. The people in whose Pension I am living, the man is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Bolivian army, his wife, who is French, besides several others to whom I have spoken briefly, but who have pamphlets, and two young Bolivian men, about thirty in all.
“Almost everything at the dinner table here is discussed from the Bahá’í angle. They have all had the Cause presented to them in detail, and it is practically a Study Group.
“The city is beautiful, adobe walls throughout, against which brightly garbed Indians lean, so still they remain when squatting or leaning; they are almost as decorative as a mass of flowers. They are to be seen in every section of the city. The better class of them are strong and straight and proud in their bearing. Among themselves, their spirit is not crushed: how to reach them! I ache to be able to speak Spanish. I am afraid I shall miss much because I do not. I am trying, but it is difficult. Please encourage the study of Spanish among the Bahá’ís.”
The Inter-America Committee wishes other applications for consideration, but such as know the languages and can promise to remain in a post for one year or longer (preferably permanently), will be given preference.
Inter-America Addresses
Mrs. Eleanor Smith Adler, Pension Cuellar, 899, 6 de Agosta, La Paz, Bolivia.
Mrs. Marcia Steward Atwater, 2759 Calle Carmen Silva, Los Leones, Santiago, Chile.
Sr. Felix Fopp, Apt. 32, Escalera 5, Pasoje Rubio, Guatemala City, Guatemala.
Mrs. H. Emugene Hoagg, Calle C, No. 307, Cor. 15, Vedado, Havana, Cuba.
Fireside Study Meeting Conducted by Philip Sprague at Buenos Aires—A Notable Contribution to the Inter-America Work.
AN ATTACK UPON THE CAUSE[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to share with the friends its correspondence in connection with the book entitled “The Red Network, A Who’s Who and Hand Book of Radicalism for Patriots,” by Elizabeth Dilling.
1. Letter written December 28, 1935.
Mrs. Albert W. Dilling,
53 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois.
Dear Mrs. Dilling:
The members of the National Spiritual Assembly have noted with surprise your reference to the Bahá’í Faith on page 128 of your book entitled “The Red Network, A Who’s Who and Hand Book of Radicalism for Patriots.”
Your description of the world religion founded by Bahá’u’lláh is one that cannot be recognized by any person at all acquainted with the teachings and spirit of this faith.
No official Bahá’í body, nor any recognized believer, has ever taken part in conferences of the War Resisters International. Furthermore, the quotation from The World Tomorrow, July, 1933 issue, referring to the imprisonment of Bahá’ís in Turkey was inaccurate and incomplete in that the editors were unaware of the fact that the Turkish government after full investigation, dismissed the charges and freed the prisoners. As it happens, the National Spiritual Assembly sent representatives to call on the Turkish Ambassador at Washington in connection with this episode, and the records at the Embassy will fully bear out the facts I bring to your attention.
In conclusion, I would like to state that the Bahá’í Faith is the only revealed religion which specifically charges its members with obedience to government as a spiritual and not merely a civil duty and obligation. This principle, together with the other principles which have been upheld by American Bahá’ís for more than forty years, make it perfectly clear to any unbiased person that your statement about the Bahá’í Cause is a complete deviation from the truth.
We bring these facts to your attention on the assumption that you intend your book to be sufficiently accurate to command the respect of intelligent and sincere persons.
2. Letter to Department of Justice written December 28, 1935.
Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
Gentlemen:
We respectfully request you to place on file the enclosed copy of letter we have sent to Mrs. Albert W. Dilling, author of the book entitled “The Red Network, A Who’s Who and Hand Book of Radicalism for Patriots.”
The National Spiritual Assembly is ready at all times to supply the Federal Government with any information concerning the Bahá’í Faith that may be desired.
3. Letter written December 13, 1940.
Mrs. Albert W. Dilling,
53 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois.
Dear Mrs. Dilling:
Our attention has been called to the fact that editions of your book entitled “The Red Network” issued since 1935 contain the same erroneous references to the Bahá’í Faith which we corrected in the letter written you on December 28, 1935.
We still assume that you intend your book to be a statement of facts and not a compilation of unfounded rumors or suspicions, and this being the case we are glad to offer to provide you with authentic statements about the aims and purposes of the Bahá’í Faith, which prove to any unbiased person that this Faith could not possibly be listed among the Communistic and radical movements your book is intended to expose.
We are also very glad to extend you an invitation to visit our national office recently established at the above address (i.e., 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette), where all our records are available.
For your information I would like to state that a copy of the letter we wrote you on December 28, 1935, was sent to the Department of Justice in Washington on the same date.
4. No reply has been received, up to February 27, 1941, to either of the two communications sent to the author of the book, which therefore makes it clear that accurate information and truth are not part of the author’s intention in its publication.
5. The friends will find a reference to Bahá’ís of Turkey in the Guardian’s letter of February 12, 1929, in “Bahá’í Administration.” In Bahá’í News of April, 1933, page 4, there is a cablegram from the Guardian stating that the friends in Istanbul had been acquitted, but 53 believers were still imprisoned in Adana. In the following month’s issue reference is made to a later cable from the Guardian reporting the friends in Adana had been released.
- NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY.
Bahá’ís and Friend at Panama, December, 1940. The American Believers Are: Mrs. Cora Oliver, Mrs. Louise Caswell, Mrs. Eleanor Adler and Mrs. Marcia Atwater.
TEACHING PROJECT IN SOUTHWESTERN STATES[edit]
Not many months ago Shoghi Effendi vividly described the spirit which he hoped would motivate our American community in 1940. “The American believers,” he wrote, “standing on the threshold of the fourth year of the Seven Year Plan, pursue their God-given task with a radiance that no earthly gloom can dim, and will continue to shoulder its ever-growing duties and responsibilities with a vigor and loyalty that no earthly power can either sap or diminish.”
Surely the teaching efforts just concluded in the Southwest, by the joint labors of Beatrice Irwin and the Bahá’ís of Albuquerque, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Phoenix, and Glendale, in the period from October 12 to December 4, are a surpassing witness to the vitality which animates our Faith in these critical days.
The campaign was carefully prepared in each city, with the cooperation of various National Committees, to obtain wide publicity and personal contacts, and to consolidate with adequate literature and plans for follow-up study. Among the materials provided were Temple model, slides for Temple lectures, traveling library for display. Diversified free literature, radio transcriptions, radio talk, mats and publicity on the Temple, photographs and publicity of the speaker, and books for library placements and sale. Especially useful as gifts in contact work were World Order Magazine and Miss Irwin’s own pamphlet, “Heralds of Peace.” A tangible measure of results is preserved in generous columns of publicity accorded in every city, often accompanied by headlines and photographs.
It is not as easy to measure the human results; we are assured only that countless new persons, significant in their various communities, were reached in the preliminary arrangements for lectures and exhibits, and that hundreds heard news of our Faith in a presentation which linked it dynamically with the unfolding destiny of our embattled world. “It was one of the most interesting assembly periods we have had in a long time,” the principal at Sumner High School in Kansas City wrote. “. . . The importance of the message of the Great Teacher . . . made a lasting impression on our boys and girls . . .” And from the president of St. Phillip’s Junior College in San Antonio came these words: “You have turned our hearts and minds to that ideal which transcends the many forces which are at work among men. . . . May the light which you have brought us be our guide until we shall have reached the mountain top of a new day. . . .”
The following are highlights of the campaign in each city.
Albuquerque: The Temple model was exhibited in the central window of the Albuquerque Gas and Electric Company, “attractively arranged with palms and a book display,” in “the most prominent spot in the city.” The exhibit was regularly announced on the radio, together with the public meetings, and “gained a great deal of comment.” There were three lectures at the Hilton Hotel on successive nights, which attracted about a hundred inquirers. Many outstanding people met Miss Irwin through interviews, luncheons, and dinners. These included an Indian leader and his wife, “one-time Pueblo spokesman for New Mexico in government affairs;” a distinguished ethnologist who plans to include a section on the Bahá’í Faith in his forthcoming cultural world history; the state leader of the Townsend society; a women’s editor; a Rabbi, “one of the most stimulating encounters of the week”; two professors; and several others. “This we definitely know,” the Assembly secretary wrote, "personal contacts were successful and Miss Irwin in her intelligence and spirituality and breadth, lent prestige to the Cause in this city.”
Kansas City: The Faith was directly
presented in three public lectures at Journal
Centre and the Municipal Auditorium,
which drew about 120 inquirers. The finest
opportunities, however, were in lectures
for the Kansas City Advertising
Club (approximately seventy), Sumner
[Page 6]
High School (1,000 colored students),
the Presidents and Past Presidents of
women’s clubs (about eighty-five
women), a men’s fraternity, and the
Theosophists. “In every instance Miss
Irwin gave the Bahá’í Cause first mention;
she was received more favorably.”
Her talk of the Advertising Club received
almost a column in the Ad Club
News, including announcements of all Bahá’í
lectures, and in the next issue Miss
Irwin’s photograph and talk were featured
on the cover. This publication
reaches several hundred readers. Bahá’ís
from Topeka and Independence also met
Miss Irwin. In summary the Local Assembly
wrote: “This has been a very satisfactory
campaign. . . . There were many
new faces and entire new groups which
we were unable to contact. . . . We feel
that she has given prestige to our Assembly
and to the Cause.”
Oklahoma City: “This city is vigorous-minded, and to a considerable extent open-minded,” Miss Irwin remarked, and in her week there she was able to reach many diverse sections of the community. Her engagements included 600 students of Oklahoma City University (Methodist), 300 students of Douglass High School (colored), Inman-Page School (about 35 faculty and students), University Women’s Forum of seventy members, the Pen-Women’s Club, Hadassah Society of Jewish women, and department heads and patrons of Harbor Longmire Furniture Co. At all of these meetings the Faith was outlined, and at some of them, as with the University Women, “she presented it with such power and dignity that there can be no doubt of the deep impression it left. . .” There were also two public meetings at the YWCA and Hotel Biltmore, attracting about 120 strangers. The Temple model was displayed at the John A. Brown Co., a leading department store, which “distributed about seventy-five of the Temple pamphlets, enclosing one with every new book sold while the model was on display”; and for more than a week at Harbor Longmire, “in a very attractive setting just inside the main entrance. . . .” The Assembly secretary concluded that “much good has been accomplished in publicizing the Faith in this city. The Temple model attracted a great deal of attention and comment, and Miss Irwin’s presentation gave dignity to our Cause. Quite a number of contacts have expressed interest to study further. . . .”
San Antonio: The campaign here was a fine opportunity for publicity which our Bahá’í Group had been unable to obtain previously. Chief features were five hundred personal invitations, a wealth of publicity in three daily papers, eight large posters displayed in leading hotels and centers, a fifteen-minute talk over KTSA, and a large poster with “a beautiful 20x30 picture of the Temple, which stood in the Auditorium lobby for many days.” The Temple model was displayed at Joske’s leading department store of Texas, “in a niche window all to itself with fine gold background . . .” and Miss Irwin had two interviews with the store manager. Mrs. Frankland’s adventure in obtaining this beautiful location is a tale in itself! Two public meetings were scheduled at the Municipal Auditorium, with book displays. There were also lectures for the International section of the Women’s Club, the International Institute of the YWCA, and St. Phillip’s Junior College (colored), as well as several informal meetings in Bahá’í homes. As Mrs. Frankland wrote, “All of this . . . is bound to bring results. . . .”
Phoenix and Glendale: Three public meetings were held in Phoenix, attracting about 150 persons, at the YWCA, Adams Hotel, and Westward Ho Hotel, the last named “a very fine gathering . . . and a real gift for the Cause in Phoenix.” There was also a public meeting for about forty at Veteran’s Hall, Glendale. Broadcasts were arranged on stations KTAR and KPHO. The Temple model was displayed for a few days at the Phoenix Floral and Seed Co., and later at Dorris-Heyman, leading furniture store, “in a 20-foot window with draped background.” The Brackett-Darrow Book Shop arranged “a fine book display.” Miss Irwin also addressed about 500 students of Phoenix Junior College, “a high-spot of the stay . . .” Many personal interviews were held with public citizens, including the Episcopalian Dean, a Rabbi, the manager of Town Hall, the Dean of Phoenix Junior College, and others. “As a result of Miss Irwin’s campaign, a Monday evening study class is operating for seekers.”
One of the most interesting aspects of this campaign was Miss Irwin’s report of “finding the public, on the whole, extremely responsive. . . .” She continued, “The work was always a source of joy and refreshment, and education in methods of more penetrating contact with a bewildered world, that has no other solution than this for its increasing problems.”
Certainly this is the knowledge which will spur us on in the months to come. The labors and real sacrifices required for teaching are great; in every city of this campaign the way was prepared by many believers, nameless in our report, without whose devotion no success could have been won. Yet all who participated share in the rewards, and their example quickens us all to nobler effort.
“The Founders of their Faith survey from the Kingdom on high the range of their achievements, acclaim their progress, and are ever ready to speed their eventual triumph.”—Shoghi Effendi.
- NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE
Bahá’í Exhibit Conducted by Winnetka Assembly in Winnetka Community House
During Annual Community Week, 1940.
PROGRESS IN TEACHING[edit]
The following items have been gleaned
from reports and correspondence representing
Regional Teaching Committees,
Assemblies and individual teachers who
have been active in the field. Taken together,
they reveal a widespread, intensive
teaching effort embracing all of
North America, a general advance made
possible by the action of the entire American
Bahá’í Community including
[Page 7]
National Committees, local Assemblies and
teachers both resident and traveling.
Eastern Canada
The regional activities for fall and winter were planned at a general conference held at Montreal on October 13, 14 and 15 in three sessions, one for the committee and two open to all the friends. The report from Moncton mentioned particularly the class of fourteen children conducted by Mrs. King and Mrs. Geary. From a Sunday School class taught by Mrs. King, five women enrolled in a Bahá’í class and of these two were later confirmed. In Halifax, Mrs. Proctor has maintained open house for the drafted men and taught by her spirit of hospitality as well as by discussion of the message. Miss Winifred Harvey, pioneer teacher in Ottawa, told of her work in gathering a nucleus of interested friends. Mrs. Schopflocher spoke on the problem of public teaching under present world conditions.
Reports on Mrs. Beulah Proctor’s activities in Halifax and on Mrs. Doris McKay’s visit to Moncton give further interesting details.
Mrs. Proctor made excellent contacts at the Exhibition and gave out more than three hundred pamphlets. One young East Indian accepted the Faith. Her work brings her in touch with men called upon for heroic service in time of war. She has explained the Faith to many of these, given them literature, selected prayers for them and conveyed the meaning of the Greatest Name. (Some have returned after service at the front, where the Faith was a living reality in their hearts.) In order to continue this pioneer service, Mrs. Proctor has conducted a rooming house and held a position in a department store. “Every moment in this house has been most valuable to the Cause.”
In Moncton, Mrs. McKay conducted a study class in Administration, with demonstrations of group consultation in action. Some weeks there were three or four evenings a week, during which Mrs. McKay took up other phases of the teachings. Including fireside meetings, children’s classes, public meetings and the study classes, an average of ten meetings a week was held for six weeks. On one occasion a group of the Moncton friends drove to Halifax and joined with Mrs. Proctor in two meetings. They found a number of attracted friends and consider that her activity has been true pioneering for the Cause.
The Moncton friends now feel that when they again have nine resident believers, the basis for a permanent Bahá’í community has been laid.
New England
Previous reports have described some
Bahá’ís and Friends at Montevideo, January, 1941. The American Believers Are: Mrs. Mary Barton, Miss Elizabeth Cheney and Wilfrid Barton.
of the activities conducted by the Regional Committee in Vermont. During November Mrs. Bowman arranged a display of Bahá’í books in a window of the Kellogg Free Library, with an enlarged photograph of the Temple and posters with texts explaining the Cause, effective publicity for Burlington. In the same city a public meeting was held at the Van Ness Hotel on November 6. An unusual experience was a forum at a fraternity house of the University of Vermont where Mrs. Bowman answered questions for two hours. Several of the students are now studying the teachings, one of them having been a pupil of Kenneth Christian a few years ago. Organizations contacted include the Cleefer Club. There is one resident believer in the city, Mrs. Elizabeth Van Patten. Other cities visited by Mrs. Bowman in the state were St. Albans, Vergennes, Middlebury, Brandon, Pittsford and Rutland. A symposium on World Citizenship was held by Mrs. Bowman and Mrs. Florence Morton in Montpelier and Rutland, where books were placed in the library. Fireside meetings and many personal contacts are reported by Mrs. Bowman during the rest of November in Portsmouth and Ashuelot, N. H., Eliot, Maine, and Springfield and Three Rivers, Mass. The world Citizenship symposium was also given at Hotel Bridgeway, Springfield.
Other cities where the two believers gave the symposium in December were Boston and Worcester Mrs. Bowman’s talk on The Destiny of America aroused great interest at meetings in Three Rivers, Mass., and Providence, R. I. Talks on the Faith were made at Providence by Dr. Elizabeth Kidder and Mr. Harlan Ober, as well as at Marblehead, Mass.
New England youth held a Teaching Clinic at Hotel Garde, New Haven, December 8, with an attendance of 39. The program included discussion of subjects on inspirational teaching, chairmanship, model round table, questions and answers, race unity, visual education, contacts and administration. Youth dealing with these subjects were Anne MacNally, Betty Murray, Ellen Curram, Joel Marangella, Dorothy Champ, Norman Smith, Frances Bacon, Ben Kaufman, Jeanne Steed, Jack Steed. Mrs. Bowman also took part.
During the first half of January, 1941, the Regional Committee mentions a meeting with Mrs. Bowman and Mr. Duncan MacAlear speaking at Providence, a talk to the Rotary Club of Brandon, Vt., by Mrs. Bowman, a week’s visit in Rutland with the pioneer teacher, Miss N. Grace Bissell, and a talk for the League of Women Voters in Portsmouth.
Upper New York
Reviewing the many activities reported from this area, we begin with the picnic at the Morrisville community grounds held in May for believers of Central New York. After planning for an attendance of forty, eighty-five friends came, representing Geneva, Syracuse, Canandaigua, Auburn, Little Falls, Binghamton, Earlville, Morrisville, Buffalo, Richfield Springs, New York City and Newark. Four members of the faculty of Syracuse University attended, bringing a student who is from India. Mr. Kenneth Christian writes that eleven racial and national groups were embraced in the gathering. Under the general theme of The Bahá’í Looks at the World Today, informal talks were made by Mrs. Mary Collison, Mr. Joseph Noyes, Mrs. Helen Inderleid, Miss Ida Noyes, Dr. Albert D. Heist and Mrs. Roberta Christian. An illustration of this gathering appears in the current issue of Bahá’í News.
Since the present Regional Committee was appointed, news and plan of the area have been made available to the communities, groups and isolated friends throughout the region by means of a Bulletin for Region of Upper New York, and the following items are taken from this bulletin.
The second inter-community picnic was held Sunday, August 4, at East Mexico Point on Lake Ontario, with about sixty believers and friends present. Mr. Ned Blackmer presided, Mrs. Inderleid discussed The Spiritual Meaning of the Cause, as outlined on page 61 of The Advent of Divine Justice, Miss Ida Noyes spoke on Balance, and questions and answers followed.
The Hamburg, New York group
greatly enjoyed public meetings addressed
by Mrs. Robert Wilkin of Niagara Falls
and Mrs. Doris McKay, attended by about
twenty inquirers. Mrs. Edith McLaren of
Hamburg hopes to have one speaker a
month and a weekly adults’ and children’s
study groups hereafter. At Lima
a meeting has been held in the Tollis
home with friends from Rochester, with
Mrs. McKay as speaker. From Little
[Page 8]
Falls, where Mr. and Mrs. Ford conducted
such an interesting public forum last
winter comes the report that informal
social gatherings each Sunday evening
during the summer kept the interested
friends together. Dr. Townshend’s The
Heart of the Gospel was read aloud from
week to week. In Schenectady Miss Ella
Quant has given out Braille literature
for the blind, called on minority groups,
addressed a meeting in a Negro church,
whose minister suggested that a class be
formed to study the Bahá’í teachings,
and Miss Quant has kept in touch with
this congregation. The weekly meetings
in Syracuse have been well attended.
Among the visiting speakers have been:
Mrs. Harry Ford, Miss Elizabeth Brooks,
Miss Ida Noyes and Mr. Kenneth Christian.
Mr. and Mrs. L. W. Eggleston traveled through New York state recently and visited a number of groups, including Batavia, Geneva, Morrisville, Binghamton and Buffalo.
Forty-five believers from upper New York met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Bevan early in November, representing Albany, Saratoga Springs, Balston Spa, Schenectady, Little Falls, Morrisville, Syracuse, Geneva, Waterloo, Linwood, Rochester, Buffalo, Jamestown, Binghamton, and conducted a program containing ten subjects, followed by an informal symposium. This conference led to two plans: the placing of books in public libraries throughout the region; and the establishment of regular teaching circuits. Places from Geneva west are to be under the direction of Mrs. Mehdi Firoozi; places from Elmira and Syracuse east to be handled by Mr. Kenneth Christian. The first speaker arranged for the Eastern New York circuit was Dr. Glenn A. Shook, whose meetings will be reported later.
Mr. Allen B. McDaniel presented an illustrated lecture on the Temple in Syracuse on November 8 which the Regional Committee reports were very impressive to the audience. Dr. Piper of Syracuse University reviewed The Dawn-Breakers at the first meeting conducted by Mrs. Inderleid as a class to study that work.
West Virginia
Before the Regional Committee could organize after changes in its membership, the three resident Bahá’ís in West Virginia, Mr. Harold Hunt in Huntington, and Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert Dahl in Charleston, took advantage of opportunities and have been able to report much constructive activity.
Mr. Hunt arranged a Bahá’í Children’s Party in honor of Mrs. Dorothy Baker at Huntington on October 27, and an interested group of adults also heard Mrs. Baker at Frederick Hotel the same day. The Herald-Advertiser of Huntington carried an illustrated notice of Mrs. Baker’s visit in its edition of October 20. Though her time in both Huntington and Charleston was brief, Mrs. Baker had the opportunity to carry the local contacts a step forward and to bring enthusiasm to the resident workers. The West Side Women’s Club of Charleston has listed three Bahá’í speakers for the current season: Stanwood Cobb, Hilbert Dahl, and Allen B. McDaniel. The Daily Mail and the Gazette, in issues dated November 3 and 9, featured the talk on “America’s Destiny in Leadership of the World” by Mr. Cobb, who also addressed the children’s class conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Dahl. With Dr. and Mrs. Lehner of West Virginia State College, the three believers drove to Huntington to meet with Harold Hunt and his group.
The Temple model was displayed at the Postal Telegraph office in Parkersburg, and this enabled Mrs. Dahl to answer many questions about the Faith from the District Superintendent.
During the fall semester, Hilbert Dahl conducted talks and discussions an alternate Sundays at the West Virginia State College, the result of tactful contact with faculty members for a year and a half. This meeting is by invitation of the college Religious Activities Committee. Mr. Dahl hopes that the result is to make an opening for traveling teachers to give the message more and more openly.
The Huntington Advertiser on November 9 carried an excellent notice of the talk by Stanwood Cobb at Hotel Frederick.
South Atlantic States
Mrs. Dorothy Baker’s circuit through the south Atlantic states through November included nine different cities. In addition to the reports concerning Huntington and Charleston, West Virginia, given above, we have the following interesting notations.
In Louisville, Kentucky, Mrs. Baker spoke at a public meeting on her way south and again on returning north, which resulted in more intensive study on the part of six or eight attracted friends.
In Nashville there were two public meetings open to both races, two talks at Tennessee State College, one at Fiske University and two fireside group meetings.
In Knoxville, the Assembly arranged a public dinner meeting for Mrs. Baker and a few personal contacts for intensifying interest.
At Memphis Mrs. Baker gave two talks at the Henderson Business School and held one meeting for the colored friends. In addition, two hotel meetings, two fireside groups, two youth meetings and participation in a panel discussion at the YWCA were carried out.
In a brief visit to Hot Springs, Mrs. Baker spoke at a public meeting and carried out a number of contacts, besides assisting three advanced students of the Cause to organize their study for admission into the Bahá’í community. At Greenwood she addressed a colored High School, a fireside group and a public meeting, and noted an unusual response from Jewish people who attended.
At Tuskegee, the famous Negro University, Mrs. Baker found an eager response from faculty leaders, but had to decline an invitation to address the student body because of previous engagements in Atlanta.
News of other regional areas will be digested for the next issue.
WORLD NEWS[edit]
2. Iráq
(Continued)
e. Contribution to the Spiritual Assembly
- of Damascus, for the purchase of
- a plot for their Haziratu’l-Quds.
f. The publishing of the quarterly
- “Bahá’í News Letter.”
g. And last, but not least, vigilance over
- the integrity of the body of the believers,
- and safeguarding the interests
- of the Cause.
Among the expressed wishes of the Guardian, conveyed by the visitors to Haifa, was that the friends should assist the believers of Damascus in purchasing a plot of land for the building of their Haziratu’l-Quds, which, as the Guardian had pointed out, was very significant. Accordingly, a sum of about £140 was immediately raised by the believers in Baghdad, for this blessed purpose.
A further sum of £26 was recently transmitted to the N.S.A. as advance subscription, in the Arabic translation of Nabil’s Narrative, which is still under print in Cairo. We hope this important publication will soon be available.
The Fifth Annual Bahá’í Youth Symposium was held in the Haziratu’l-Quds of Baghdad on the 25th of February, 1940. A group of young believers and a number of their non-Bahá’í friends attended, and some photos of the Bahá’í youths were taken. The programme of the meeting was as follows:
1. A Word of Welcome . . . . . . . . . .
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jamil I. Bagdadi
2. Opening Prayer (Tablet) . . . . . . .
- . . . . . . . . . . . .Abdu’r-Razzaq Abbas
3. Summary of Bahá’í History and
- Principles . . . . . . . . . . . .Kamil Abbas
4. Unity in Diversity (by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá)
- . . . . . . . . . . . .Jamil I. Bagdadi
5. A Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh . . . . . . .
- . . . . . . . . . . . .Abdu’r-Razzaq Abbas
6. The World Needs the Bahá’í Faith
- . . . . . . . . . . . .Ni’mat Saboor
7. Effect of Superstitions and Ignorance
- on Religion . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- . . . . . . . . . . . .Ahmad Najmu’d-Din
8. Closing prayer (Tablet) . . . . . . .
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ibrahim Shmi'
It is generally felt that the Symposium was fairly successful, and a few non-Bahá’í youths have shown keen interest in the Teachings. They are now studying the Cause.
3. India and Burma
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India and Burma has published the proceedings of its Twelfth Annual Convention in pamphlet form containing English and Iranian translations of the text. A few excerpts follow:
The convention was held at Poona and as regards attendance it was probably the most remarkable in recent years. Believers from such far-off places as Karachi had come in numbers to attend it.
The election of the National Spiritual Assembly was held on the afternoon of the 28th April. Messrs. Khosrow Ardshir Izadyar, Habibullah Manji and Shah Bahram Mobedzadih were selected as tellers. As the name of each delegate was called out he or she placed his or her ballot in the box; the ballots of the absent delegates received by post were thrown in the box by the National Secretary. The results which were as follows were declared at 6 p.m. the same day:
Mr. N. R. Vakil | 12 |
Mrs. Shirin K. Fozdar | 10 |
Mr. Isfandiar K. B. Bakhtiari | 14 |
Prof. Pritam Singh | 12 |
Mr. Mehfuzul Haq Ilmi | 10 |
Dr. S. Hishmat Ali | 8 |
Mr. S. H. Kereshi | 7 |
Mr. Habibullab M. Manji | 5 |
Abbas Ali Butt | 14 |
The 9th Day of Ridvan, the 29th of
April was a gala day for all who had
gathered there. The believers of Poona
had prepared a feast unprecedented both
in its sumptuousness and spirituality. It
was a sight that is hardly met with in
these days in the world. The Bahá’ís had
gathered together and were partaking
from one table. They were drawn from
different communities. There were Hindus,
there were Muslims, and there were
Parsees all mingled together as members
of one great family.
PUBLICITY.—In compliance with the resolution passed last year 19 copies of
Spiritual Assembly of Madison, Wisconsin, Newly Established April 21, 1940.
the World Order Magazine have been regularly supplied to the Universities of India and Burma. In addition to these 19 copies 3 copies of the magazine have been contributed by the Bombay Youth Group and Service Committee and supplied on their behalf to a college and to two institutes of learning, 3 copies were subscribed by the Poona Spiritual Assembly and supplied to three colleges of their town; one copy was supplied on behalf of Mr. J. M. Rustom to a leading library in Nagpur. We altogether subscribed for 49 copies last year and have sent remittance for 50 copies this year. Out of the 50 copies of Bahá’í World Vol. VII presented to the N.S.A. by Mr. Siegfried Schopflocher about 25 were presented free to the libraries and colleges of India, Burma and Ceylon; others were presented to the leading citizens who are sympathetic towards the Holy Faith. The gift has been very much appreciated by all to whom it has been made and we hope that this splendid publication will prepare many souls to search for more knowledge about the Divine Faith.
Some of the friends wrote articles and published them through the press. Mr. H. M. Manji’s two articles in Hindi appeared in the Satyug with a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Bombay and Karachi local Spiritual Assemblies made frequent use of the local press to publish notices of functions followed by a brief description of the function and the Divine Teachings. Through Karachi local Spiritual Assembly Sadhu Viswani’s papers published beautiful “In Memorium” articles for our dear sister Miss Martha L. Root.
TEACHING.—Owing to abnormal conditions having broken out much All-India work could not be done this year. Mrs. Shirin Fozdar, toured the Punjab and delivered lectures in Lahore, Amritsar, Ferozepore Jammu, Rawalpindi and Ludhiana. Prof. Pritam Singh made similar lecturing trips to Ferozepore, Jammu, Amritsar and Multan.
Local Spiritual Assemblies, however had been more active. Bombay, Karachi, Delhi and Calcutta all did their best to teach the Faith in their respective jurisdictions.
An appeal was issued in die beginning of the year concerning the Six-Year Plan of Teaching and most of the friends responded most generously. Some promised to go and settle in places where the Divine Faith has not yet penetrated. Others gave liberal donations in money and literature. Owing to the disturbed conditions during the year, however, nothing tangible could be done.
Mr. M. H. Ilmi visited Kadwai near
Bombay where many old believers lived.
Many of them possess tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
They had been dormant for
all these years. Mr. Ilmi roused them to
action. This incited fanaticism among
the Moslems of the place and the usual
persecutions began. They started a hue
and cry against the believers which terminated
in their social boycott, which
frightened a number of the believers to
[Page 10]
go back to the Moslem community; but
a greater number of them are firm. It is
hoped that this eruption of popular
fanaticism will soon die down and the
friends of the place will form themselves
into a local Assembly.
BAHÁ’Í YOUTH.—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 1940-41 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.
4. Australia and New Zealand
These items appear in the Bahá’í Quarterly published by the N.S.A. of Australia and New Zealand:
Only one meeting of the N.S.A. was possible during the past Bahá’í year. This took place in Sydney, 9th and 10th December, 1939, and was attended by the Australian members only, Mrs. Jackman, Miss Brooks and Mr. Brown of Adelaide, Mrs. Routh, Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Bolton of Sydney. At this meeting, after careful deliberation, the National Book Depot was voted as impracticable, but it was decided to assist the Spiritual Assemblies of Adelaide, Sydney and Auckland, by advancing them each a stock of books for which they need to pay the N.S.A. only as their sales enable them to do so. The N.S.A. hopes that from this small beginning these Spiritual Assemblies will gradually be able to enlarge their stocks until each has its own depot. Arrangements are being made to give these Assemblies further assistance, orders for books having been sent to both England and America for that purpose.
Letters expressing gratitude for parcels of books given to them by the N.S.A. have been received from the Melbourne, Perth and Hobart groups.
A fire proof safe has been purchased in which all historical and important documents will be placed for safety during these calamitous times.
The “Herald of the South” committee continues its praiseworthy efforts to make the magazine a useful and popular teaching medium, and has been greatly encouraged by the many expressions of appreciation from subscribers that have been received. The committee appeals to all believers to subscribe and to do their utmost to increase the circulation of this publication. The Auckland Spiritual Assembly has set a fine example by sending 12 subscriptions from the Spiritual Assembly itself, this quite apart from individual subscriptions from the Auckland friends. From Hobart there are three times as many subscriptions are believers.
Owing to the unsettled times the National Teaching Committee has been only partially successful in carrying out its plans. Visits to Melbourne have been made by Mr. Brown, Mrs. Axford and Miss Brooks and valuable teaching work done there. The Teaching Committee is particularly grateful to the Melbourne Secretary, Mrs. Eleanor Wheeler, who has been indefatigable in her efforts to arrange meetings for the Bahá’í teachers to give talks and lectures in Melbourne. The enrollment of Mr. W. Cover in Melbourne has been the cause of great rejoicing to the National Teaching Committee. The committee hopes to widen its sphere of activity during the present year.
The N.S.A. has been in consultation by correspondence throughout the year and has functioned vigorously and efficiently. All the Assemblies have contributed freely and spontaneously to the National Fund. Reports from the various Spiritual Assemblies and groups have been carefully studied and a vigilant eye has been kept on the manner of the growth of the Cause. By means of the newsletter, “Bahá’í Quarterly” the N.S.A. continues to keep the believers informed of the affairs of the Cause.
Mr. S. Schopflocher’s gift of thirty-five volumes of the “Bahá’í World” Vol. VII was tremendously appreciated by the N.S.A. and the best possible use made of the books. Our love and gratitude to “Freddie.”
Adelaide: The advertised monthly public lectures by Mrs. Dobbins and Miss Brooks continue to attract large audiences. The third year of the Bahá’í Youth Group has been marked by an extension of activities and considerably increased attendance at the Meetings. Esperanto classes are held regularly.
Sydney: Father and Mother Dunn hold a regular Saturday night Fireside Group, and their home has an open door for visitors who wish to discuss the Bahá’í Teachings. The advertised public talks given every first Sunday in the month have found excellent response, and as a result, inquirers have attended the Monday night study class and other meetings. Six new members were enrolled during the year.
Auckland: Thirty-one Public Libraries in New Zealand were circularized with a view to supplying them with Bahá’í literature. The “Herald of the South” is sent to all the University College libraries and the “World Order” magazine to the Auckland Municipal Library. Seventy-two copies of a special leaflet for newspapers prepared by the N.S.A. of U.S.A. and Canada have been distributed to Newspaper Offices with a request that they be filed for reference.
Hobart, Tasmania: We are slowly acquiring books and other literature which we trust will be the nucleus of an adequate library in the future. Feasts and anniversaries are observed by this small group and weekly meetings are held for devotion and study. Four talks are being prepared to be given at intervals of two weeks to the selected people to whom written invitations will be sent.
FUNCTIONS OF TEMPLE DURING CONSTRUCTION PERIOD[edit]
The Bahá’í House of Worship has been endowed with a glorious spiritual mission in the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. The friends are well aware of the words of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on this subject, as well as of the Guardian on many occasions. In order to clarify the views as to what functions the Temple is to discharge during the present construction period, the National Spiritual Assembly has had the matter studied by a special committee, and now shares with the friends the following explanation.
The House of Worship is to serve the two great ends of worship and of teaching. The Temple Program Committee, in addition to the present Sunday afternoon public meeting, the purpose of which is teaching rather than worship, has been authorized to inaugurate a meeting of worship and devotion for the friends, and also to resume the holding of the Bahá’í Anniversary meetings for the nearby communities, groups and isolated friends, The Anniversaries, however, are to be held in accordance with the Bahá’í calendar, not only as to date but also as to the hour when this has been specified by the Guardian. In case this provision makes it impossible to hold any one Anniversary in the Temple, it should be arranged locally by each Assembly. The use of the Temple for individual worship is also emphasized. At such times an the building is open, believers are urged to enter it for individual prayer and meditation.
As for the purpose of teaching, the House of Worship exercises a widespread influence through the services of the guides, and guiding is to be continued. In addition, the building can be used for classes for guides and for continuance of the present children’s class until the nearby Assemblies can each maintain its own local children’s class.
The Temple can also be used for meetings
of those Committees now closely
[Page 11]
identified with the House of Worship:
Temple Program Committee, Temple
Guides Committee, and Archives and History
Committee.
Relevant to this general subject is the use of the Temple by groups of believers who come from a distance. The National Assembly feels that such groups can be given the use of the kitchen, but that there should be no picnicking on the grounds.
Finally, the matter of storage of Bahá’í material in the basement has been considered, and the feeling of the Assembly is that Archives material, and some publishing stock, can be at least temporarily held in the foundation structure pending final arrangements.
The Temple Program Committee has jurisdiction over all meetings in the House of Worship, except the Archives Committee meetings or the committee meetings and study classes of the Temple Guides, while the Temple Maintenance Committee is in charge of the Physical equipment.
PUBLISHING ANNOUNCEMENTS[edit]
Revised Catalog
The Publishing Committee has issued a new catalog, corrected to January, 1941, and Assemblies are requested to notify the Committee how many copies they with for local use.
Bahá’í Prayers
The newest publication is a new prayer book, containing a selection of prayers revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá translated by Shoghi Effendi. 72 pages. Paper cover, $0.35. Bound in leather, $0.75.
World Order Magazine
Bound volumes of Vol. VI, from April, 1940 to March, l94l, can now be provided. The cost of the volume is $2.50. When the believer provides his own copies of the twelve monthly issues, the binding cost is $1.10. In the latter case, write to the Publishing Committee for instructions where to ship the twelve issues.
Appreciations of the Bahá’í Faith
The series of remarkable statements made about the Cause by prominent persons in many countries, which have been a feature in successive volumes of The Bahá’í World, have been reprinted in pamphlet form at the Guardian’s suggestion. This pamphlet will be widely used for publicity and special teaching purposes. The cost per copy is $0.15, but it can only be sold in lots of ten. For ten copies, $1.50.
Publishing Office
The work of the Publishing Committee is conducted in the supplementary administrative building at 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, and the Western Division is discontinued as of March 1. Correspondence with Mrs. Emma F. Smith in connection with the settlement of outstanding accounts of the Western Division should be addressed to her at 1495 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco.
THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD[edit]
Volume IX—1940-1942
The editorial committee of The Bahá’í World Vol. IX, with the permission of the National spiritual Assembly, is appealing to all pioneers who have served the Cause in foreign countries to send at once to the chairman of the committee a personal photograph to be accompanied with a list of dates and countries in which each has served. A small photograph, if clear, is sufficient, but we prefer a photograph of the individual and not one in a group.
The object in soliciting these is to preserve the records for future historical use, but in this issue of The Bahá’í World space will not permit the publishing of the valuable historical accounts which should never-the-less be prepared and placed in the archives. A very interesting section of this volume will be devoted to pioneer service in South and Central America and the Islands as well. It is hoped that the friends will respond immediately to this urgent call.
- NELLIE S. FRENCH, Chairman
- 786 Chester Ave., San Marino, Calif.
OUR BAHÁ’Í SCHOOLS[edit]
As the winter adventures in teaching drawing to a close we might ask ourselves, “What is the greatest adventure of the summer?” No answer could be more fitting than that, summer schools are again offering the greatest of all opportunities for deepening our knowledge, improving our techniques, and drinking in the refreshing atmosphere of Bahá’í association.
In The Advent Of Divine Justice, the Guardian, speaking of each American believer, says: “If he attends his summer school—and every one without exception, is urged to take advantage of attending it—let him consider such an occasion as a welcome and precious opportunity so to enrich, through lectures, study, and discussion, his knowledge of the fundamentals of his Faith as to be able to transmit with greater confidence and effectiveness, the Message that has been entrusted to his care.”
Plans are already under way for the summer sessions of our four schools. An insert will be placed in the April Bahá’í News, giving the programs in full; and it is felt that by this means the friends will not only have a complete schedule for their own reference, but every Bahá’í may literally become a publicity committee for non-members.
The Green Acre School this year plans to feature the study of Spanish in every way possible. A recent letter from Shoghi Effendi to one of the schools, states: “. . . the study of Spanish, the Guardian feels, should henceforth become a regular feature of all existing Summer Schools and
Reference and Lending Library, an Institution
of Louhelen Bahá’í School.
provide all prospective pioneers with . . . training in Spanish history and customs . . .” A request has come from the Green Acre Committee for any Contribution that the friends can make, such as, a linguaphone, Spanish victrola lessons, and instruction books. Last year a Spanish table added greatly to dining room pleasure, and this year the committee hopes that through the generosity of those interested, even more participation will be stimulated. Information regarding cost and type of needed equipment may be had by writing to the secretary of the Green Acre Committee, Miss Marjorie Wheeler, 84 Pleasant St., Worcester, Mass.
The Louhelen School has continued to hold out a warm welcome through the winter months in the form of a cozy library where approximately 1,800 books are kept. These books carry a wide range of material on religion, philosophy, psychology, sociology, philology, the useful arts, science, literature, history, and fiction. The public librarian in charge of cataloguing for Detroit and vicinity maintains that this library has by far the finest class of books in the area. Bahá’í books are, of course, the major attraction. There is never a time when Bahá’í books are not in circulation, and far oftener they are loaned to non-Bahá’ís. Mr. Howard Scahill, a real friend of the Cause, has given his services in building up the library, cataloguing the books by the Dewey-Decimal system, and attracting the people of the vicinity to its hospitable shelter.
An average of 25 or 30 books circulates constantly to the public in the winter months, and considerably more in the summer, and this does not include study within the walls. The library is equipped to insure and carefully preserve all literary relics as well as up-to-date hooks. Old letters of an interesting nature, or copies of such letters, out of print volumes, pamphlets, calendars, outlines, and other papers, would be received with gratitude by the Louhelen Committee. Every book is given a presentation plate bearing the name of the donor. Volumes autographed by Bahá’í authors are particularly valued gifts. Subjects are carefully indexed under such headings as Temple teaching, pioneer developments, pilgrimages, pictures, maps, records of Bahá’í teachers, the Holy Land, and of course special subjects for study. All reference work in connection with school courses is made quickly accessible. A unique feature of the library is its attraction to local children, who seem to spring up from everywhere. Plans for a Saturday group are under consideration.
BAHÁ’Í CALENDAR[edit]
Nineteen Day Feasts: Loftiness, March 2; Splendor, March 21; Glory, April 9; Beauty, April 28.
Period of the Fast: Nineteen days beginning March 2.
Feast of Naw-Ruz: March 21.
Meetings of the National Spiritual Assembly: March 21, 22, 23 at Wilmette; April 22, 23, at Wilmette.
Annual election of local Spiritual Assemblies: April 21.
Annual Convention: April 24, 25, 26, 27.
YOUTH MEETING IN NEWARK[edit]
A Teaching Clinic for Bahá’í youth was held at the Hotel Douglas in Newark, N. J., on October 27, 1940. Arranged and sponsored by the communities of Newark and East Orange, an audience from New York, New Rochelle, Binghamton, Philadelphia, Washington, Florida, Ohio, and many parts of New Jersey attended. The entire teaching field from the Bahá’í viewpoint was covered in an ambitious program which won an enthusiastic reception. The interesting experiment of following the example of a radio program in respect to continuity proved extremely successful. Music, meditation, announcements, and questions were provided through the mediums of a loud speaker and a microphone in an adjoining control room. The results were highly gratifying; many departed, determined to repeat the Clinic in their own communities and already plans are being made for another in February in West Englewood.
About 60 believers attended this conference. The program as issued included interesting subjects assigned to Benjamin Kaufman, Gertrude Gewertz, Jack Steed, Shirley Quigley, June Wright, Betty Muray, Ellen Sims, Norman Smith and Mae Dyer. Curtis Kelsey conducted a “model round table.”
ENROLLMENTS AND TRANSFERS[edit]
Cleveland, four. Vancouver, three and one youth. Chicago, three and two youth. New York, three. Lima, one. Boston, three. San Francisco, one. Oakland, one. Peoria, one. Baltimore, one. Jamestown, one. Wilmette, one. Flint, one youth. Milwaukee, One. Pittsburgh, one. Montreal, one.
IN MEMORIAM[edit]
Grant, O my Lord, that they who have ascended unto Thee may repair unto Him Who is the most exalted Companion, and abide beneath the shadow of the Tabernacle of Thy majesty and the Sanctuary of Thy glory.—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH.
- Mrs. Annie Bartholomew, Wilmette.
- Mrs. S. Shuey, Oakland.
- Mr. Rowland Howard, Santa Monica.
- Mrs. Katie A. Ellinger Nye, Topeka.
- Mrs. Irma Johnson, Montclair.
- Mr. Peter Eckert, Milwaukee.
- Mrs. Ella Beemer, Kenosha.
- Mrs. Ella Bennett, Wauwatosa.
BAHÁ’Í DIRECTORY[edit]
Assemblies
Beverly Hills, Calif., Mrs. Edward L. Bode, Secretary, P. O. Box 794.
West Haven, Conn., Douglas P. Hillhouse, Secretary, 462 First Avenue.
Seattle, Wash., Miss Zara Phanco, Corresponding Secretary, P. O. Box 228.
Knoxville, Tenn., Mrs. Lessie McMichael, Secretary, 711½ So. Gay Street.
Cabin John, Md., Mrs. Carol R. Wood, Acting Secretary, R. F. D. 3.
Salt Lake City, Utah; Assembly dissolved for lack of necessary number of believers within the city limits.
