Bahá’í News/Issue 145/Text

From Bahaiworks

[Page 1]

No. 145 YEAR 98, BAHÁ’Í ERA July, 1941

“I Urgently, Insistently Plead”[edit]

(The) fate-laden world ordeal (is) moving in steady, pre-ordained crescendo. (The) blaze (of a) seemingly uncontrollable fire (is) leaping, ravaging last remaining great Power (on) European continent. Shadows (of) God’s retributive act (are) fast gathering. As (the) arena (of) world convulsing contest broadens as wounds, it inflicts deepens; as the issues it raises aggravate (and) multiply, so will (the) operation (of the) spiritual forces, destined (to) cast (the) burden (of a) travailing age, be accelerated. As (the) old world sinks beneath (the) weight (of a) crumbling old order, so must new world exponents (of) Bahá’u’lláh’s nascent, integrating World Order climb loftier summits (of) their sublime calling. (I) urgently, insistently plead (that) all American believers, particularly (the) National Teaching (and) Inter-America Committees, above all (the) National elected representatives, arm their souls, labor more resolutely, cooperate more closely, scatter more widely, sacrifice more abundantly, (to) insure, during remaining years (of) Seven Year Plan, (the) brilliant discharge (of the) one remaining obligation (of) their dual task, whose consummation must signalize (the) termination (and) seal (the) triumph (of) First Bahá’í Century.

SHOGHI RABBANI

Cablegram received July 4, 1941.

“Intensify Our Resolution”[edit]

Letter from Shoghi Effendi

Dear and Valued Co-Workers:

The internecine struggle, now engulfing the generality of mankind, is increasingly assuming, in its range and ferocity, the proportions of the titanic upheaval foreshadowed as far back as seventy years ago by Bahá’u’lláh. It can be viewed in no other light except as a direct interposition by Him Who is the Ordainer of the Universe, the Judge of all men and the Deliverer of the nations. It is the rod of both the anger of God and of His correction. The fierceness of its devastating power chastens the children of men for their refusal to acclaim the century-old Message of their promised, their Heaven-sent Redeemer. The fury of its flames, on the other hand, purges away the dross, and welds the limbs of humanity into one single organism, indivisible, purified, God-conscious and divinely directed.

Its immediate cause can be traced to the forces engendered by the last war of which it may be truly regarded as the direct continuation. Its first sparks were kindled on the eastern shores of the Asiatic continent, enveloping two sister races of the world in a conflagration which no force seems able to either quench or circumscribe. This cataclysmic process was accelerated by the outbreak of a fierce conflict in the heart of Europe, fanning into flame age-long animosities and unchaining a series of calamities as swift as they were appalling. As the turmoil gathered momentum it swept remorselessly into its vortex the most powerful nations of the European continent—the chief protagonists of that highly-vaunted yet lamentably defective civilization. The mounting tide of its havoc and devastation soon overspread the northernmost regions of that afflicted continent, subsequently ravaged the shores of the Mediterranean, and invaded the African continent as far as Ethiopia and the surrounding territories. The Balkan countries, as predicted by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, were soon to sustain the impact of this tragic ordeal, communicating in their turn the commotions to which they had been subjected to both the Near and Middle East, wherein are enshrined the heart of the Faith itself, its Cradle, its chief center of Pilgrimage, and its most sacred and historic sites.

Its menace is overleaping the limits of the Old World and is plunging into consternation the [Page 2] Great Republic of the West, as well as the peoples of Central and South America. The New World as well as the Old is experiencing the terrific impact of this disruptive force. Even the peoples of the Antipodes are trembling before the approaching tempest that threatens to burst on their heads.

The races of the world, Nordic, Slavonic, Mongolian, Arab and African, are alike subjected to its consuming violence. The world’s religious systems are no less affected by the universal paralysis which is creeping over the minds and souls of men. The persecution of world Jewry, the rapid deterioration of Christian institutions, the intestine division and disorders of Islám, are but manifestations of the fear and trembling that has seized humanity in its hour of unprecedented turmoil and peril. On the high seas, in the air, on land, in the forefront of battle, in the palaces of kings and the cottages of peasants, in the most hallowed sanctuaries, whether secular or religious, the evidences of God’s retributive act and mysterious discipline are manifest. Its heavy toll is steadily mounting—a holocaust is sparing neither prince nor peasant, neither man nor woman, neither young nor old.

The Faith of Bahá’u’lláh — that priceless gem of Divine Revelation enshrining the Spirit of God and incarnating His Purpose for mankind in this age — can neither aspire nor expect to escape unhurt amid the hurricane of human disasters that blows around it. By most men unnoticed, scorned and ridiculed by some, feared and challenged by others, 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. Dangers, grave and unsuspected, confront its cradle and surround its very heart.

Not so, however, with the countries of the Western Hemisphere. The call of Bahá’u’lláh summons, at this challenging hour, the peoples of the New World, and its leaders to redress the balance of the old. “O Rulers of America,” He thus addresses the Chief Magistrates of that continent, “and the Presidents of the Republic therein. . . . . Adorn the temple of your dominion with the ornament of Justice and of the fear of God, and its head with the crown of the remembrance of your Lord, the Maker of the heavens.” The Great Republic of the West, an object of special solicitude throughout the ministry of the Center of the Covenant, whose soil has been hallowed by His footsteps, and the foundation of whose edifice — the Mother Temple of the West — has been consecrated by His hand, has been singled out through the operation of His Will, and been invested by His Pen with a unique, an inescapable, a weighty and most sacred responsibility. The Mission entrusted to the community of the North American believers in the darkest days of the last war, is, after a period of incubation of well nigh twenty years, and through the instrumentality of the administrative agencies erected after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s passing, efflorescing under our very eyes. Already, since the inception of the Seven Year Plan, this community can well claim to have attained, through its deeds, a stature that dwarfs its sister communities, and can glory in a parentage that embraces every Republic of Latin America. The first Mashriqu’l-Adhkar of the West, its beauteous and noble handiwork, is virtually completed. A nucleus for a future flourishing local community is already formed in every state and province in North America. The administrative structure, following the pattern of its prototype in the U.S.A. is, through the agency of that same Plan, raising its triumphant head in the Central and South American Republics. The Plan itself, propelled by the agencies released by those immortal Tablets which constitute its charter, bids fair, in the fifth year of its operation, to exceed the highest expectations of those who have so courageously launched it. Its consummation, coinciding with the termination of the first century of the Bahá’í Era, will mark the opening of yet another phase in a series of crusades which must carry, in the course of the succeeding century, the privileged recipients of those epoch-making Tablets beyond the Western Hemisphere to the uttermost ends of the earth, to implant the banner, and lay an unassailable basis for the administrative structure of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

The quality and magnitude of the work already achieved by these stalwart champions of God’s New World Order are inexpressibly exhilarating and infinitely meritorious. The immensity of the task still to be performed staggers our fancy and inflames our imagination. The potentialities with which these tasks are endowed elude our shrewdest calculations. The promise they enshrine is too dazzling to contemplate. What else can we do but bow our heads in thanksgiving and reverence, steel our hearts in preparation for the strenuous days ahead, and intensify a hundredfold our resolution to carry on the task to which our hands are set at present?

SHOGI

Haifa, Palestine, May 25, 1941

Excerpts From Letter From the Guardian[edit]

It is in view of this constant expansion and increasing complexity of the inter-continental activities of the Faith, for which your Assembly has assumed a primary responsibility, that the Guardian has lately re-emphasized the necessity of avoiding over-centralization in the conduct of the affairs of the Cause, thereby relieving your Assembly of an unmanageable amount of detail and routine work, which would interfere with its clear and paramount duty of maintaining a thorough and vigilant supervision over the work of the Cause as a whole. Excessive decentralization, on the other hand, would tend to nullify the principle which places ultimate authority and responsibility in the hands of the National Spiritual Assembly. His recent instruction regarding the relationship of the Regional Teaching Committees to the National Teaching Committee safeguards this principle which lies at the very basis of the Administrative Order. The Regional Committees, although appointed by the N.S.A. should, unlike all other committees, be viewed as special adjuncts created specifically for the purpose of [Page 3] helping directly the National Teaching Committee in its all-important task of stimulating the teaching activities of the Faith in North America. In a sense they are subcommittees of the National Teaching Committee, to whom their reports and all details of the national teaching activity should be constantly and directly referred.

At the present time, in view of the emphasis placed by the Guardian on the teaching phase of the Seven Year Plan, the National Teaching and Inter-America committees acquire great importance and assume added responsibility, and should be supported and encouraged by both the N.S.A. as well as the rank and file of the believers. The resources of the entire community and of the National Fund should be consecrated to this supreme and sacred purpose. The importance acquired by these two committees, however, does not make of them independent bodies, or give them the right to disregard the advice and the general directions of the N.S.A. Otherwise a conflict of authority would ensue within the administration, introducing an evil as pernicious as the tendency to over-centralize the affairs of the Cause in the hands of an over-burdened N.S.A., depriving it thereby of the vision and the necessary leisure required to ponder the policies, the problems and enterprises which the growth of the Administrative Order engenders.

The Guardian is very pleased to learn of the success that has attended the sessions at Atlanta and the removal of the disagreement within the community of that city and the work achieved by the regional conference and the public meeting open to both races. A special effort, he feels, should now be made to lay a foundation of unity between the white and colored Bahá’ís and weld the groups into communities capable of forming Assemblies representative of both races.

The action taken by your Assembly in connection with rural areas, such as township and county, as different from towns and cities, meets with his approval. He hopes that a special effort will be made to increase the number of Assemblies in these rural areas. This, he believes, is one of the major functions and duties of the National Teaching Committee this year.


Baha’i Exhibit Canadian National Exposition, Toronto, 1940

The fifty photographs showing the recent progress in Temple construction have been safely received and he has already distributed them among the many pilgrims that came this year from Persia, ‘Iráq, Syria and Egypt. He would appreciate another fifty copies of the Temple photograph as soon as sufficient faces are completed to represent a finished and unobstructed view of the entire edifice.

The material sent to him regarding the legal action taken against the New History Society, as well as copies of their monthly publication, have been received and the Guardian feels that Ahmad Sohrab is increasingly revealing his latent opposition to the spirit as well as the letter of the Master’s Will and Testament. His references to excommunication flatly contradict the Master’s own actions and attitude, of which he is personally fully aware, and are irreconcilable with some of the most emphatic and unmistakable injunctions of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament. His increasingly bold criticisms of the [Page 4] action taken by the Guardian amounts to a repudiation of the authority of the Guardianship, and is thus an open and flagrant violation of the Will establishing that authority. In fact the more he writes and the more he gives vent to his true feelings, and discloses his real attitude to what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has regarded as absolutely essential to the unity, the integrity and protection of the Faith, the more will he clearly demonstrate his disloyalty to the Master whom he professes to uphold and defend. He is no doubt the most subtle, resourceful and indefatigable enemy the Faith has had in America, and the retribution he will in the end suffer will be correspondingly grievous and devastating. Every effort should be made by your Assembly to protect the new believers from the poison which he is trying to instill into their minds and souls, and to reinforce their confidence in his ultimate downfall and complete obliteration.

Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Peoria, Incorporated April 8, 1940

Regarding the Master’s public talks, copies of which you have sent under separate cover, the Guardian approves of their being made available to the friends as excerpts in “World Order” magazine.

Will you kindly assure Miss Kruka that the Guardian has received a few copies of the Finnish version of “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era,” and wishes her to arrange to have more sent to him for distribution. He would appreciate it if Mrs. Lynch could arrange to send through you a few copies of the Polish version recently published, that the Guardian may place them in the various libraries he has established in the Holy Land.

Regarding the design for the door of the Temple, the Guardian approves your decision not to proceed with any plan for these doors before the exterior ornamentation is completed. Nor should the question of metal grilles for some of the windows be considered at present. Care should be exercised lest the Trustees be led to enter into any new subsidiary contracts in the course of this year, as this would entail a diminution of the funds that should now be devoted to the vital teaching work to be carried out throughout the Americas.

Every endeavor should be made in the course of the year by the National Assembly, the National Teaching and Inter-America committees, as well as the pioneers in various fields, and indeed by each and every individual believer, to extend the scope and consolidate the basis of the teaching campaigns initiated throughout the Western Hemisphere. Any progress achieved in this most vital field at so critical a stage in the secular affairs of the American nations, will vitally affect the spiritual destinies of these republics, though the inter-action of the forces at work in both fields, spiritual and temporal, may not be apparent at the present time. Bahá’u’lláh, the Guardian firmly believes, is releasing through this inter-continental campaign, at a time when decisions vital to the interests of the Western Hemisphere are being taken, forces which, as they reveal their potentialities, will increasingly assist in shaping that World Order which the American people of the New World are being called upon to proclaim and establish.

With the assurance of the Guardian’s continued prayers for the success of your historic services.

Yours in His Service,
H. RABBANI

Haifa, Palestine, May 25, 1941

The Work to Be Done[edit]

To the Spiritual Assemblies, Communities and Groups of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada.

Beloved Friends:

The American Bahá’ís have left behind the era of vague aspiration and entered that of definite accomplishment. The Guardian has given us an exact measure of our collective teaching responsibility during these three remaining years of the Seven Year Plan. This measure is: the establishment of a Spiritual Assembly in each unoccupied State and Province of North America, the reinstatement of every local Assembly dissolved for lack of numbers, and the formation of an active Bahá’í nucleus in each country of Central and South America.

This task involves a large part of the entire world,—the whole of that area not yet submerged by war.

Consideration of the teaching work to be done in Central and South America will be given in the next issue of Bahá’í News. Let us concentrate now on the task in North America.


Unoccupied States and Provinces

As of July 1, 1941, there are twenty States of the United States and nine Provinces of Canada lacking [Page 5] a Spiritual Assembly. These are: New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nevada. To these States should be added the three territories of Alaska, Porto Rico and the Canal Zone.

The nine Canadian Provinces to be enlisted for Bahá’u’lláh are: Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon.


Assemblies to Be Reinstated

From April 21, 1940 to July 1, 1941, fifteen Assemblies were dissolved for lack of numbers. The resulting Groups represent the most favorable point of attack for a vigorous teaching campaign, but the reinstatement of all fifteen former Assemblies will not of itself settle all the unoccupied States and Provinces. It is a second teaching problem to be undertaken simultaneously with the settlement of those areas listed above.

The fifteen former Assemblies (to which should be added the Assembly of Moncton, N.B., dissolved prior to 1940) are: Glendale, Ariz., St. Lambert, Quebec, Canada, Alhambra, Burbank, Huntington Park, and Santa Rosa, Calif., Colorado Springs and Denver, Colo., Augusta, Ga., Topeka, Kans., Lansing, Mich., Knoxville, Tenn., Salt Lake City, Utah, Monroe, Wash., and Eagle River, Wis. (Two Assemblies have not yet reported.)

The National Spiritual Assembly emphasizes the fact that there are only three years left in which to complete this vast teaching program in North America. Each year must witness a definite measure of accomplishment, which means that each month, each week and every single day offers its responsibility to us all.

Concentration of effort by each participating Committee, Assembly or Group is the key note of success in such a vast program. Let us remember that every Bahá’í is a teacher and therefore no Group or Assembly can merely sit passively while awaiting help from outside. Teaching projects are of vital importance, but they are not a substitute for the continuous activity of every consecrated Bahá’í.


Exhibit of Temple Model, Little Rock, Ark., February, 1941

Besides concentration upon specific tasks until each is accomplished, there is great need for coordination of all available Committee resources, and to this end the National Assembly is in communication with the Publicity, Radio, Library and Race Unity Committees in order that each Committee can contribute its material or advice in connection with the teaching activities conducted by the National Teaching Committee, the Regional Teaching Committees, local Assemblies and Groups for the settlement of Assemblies in the unoccupied areas and the reinstatement of the dissolved Assemblies. The purpose is to bring about a constantly developing technic of teaching work, with the use by the field teacher of all possible Bahá’í resources.

These days are the great days in the history of mankind. They are days of prayer and consecration, days of unified action, days for achieving the superhuman aims of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. Therefore let us devote time at each successive Nineteen Day Feast to intensive discussion on ways and means to share in the teaching work.

Faithfully yours,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY


Proceedings of the 1941 Annual Convention[edit]

To the Convention delegates, to the Assemblies and to the individual believers, the National Spiritual Assembly reports those Proceedings of the Convention, which represented recommendations or suggestions to the National Assembly, together with the action taken on them by the Assembly at its meeting held May 30, 31, June 1 and 2, 1941.

1. Voted that the speech of Mr. John J. Earley be edited by him for publication. Action. Voted to send Mr. Earley a transcript of Miss Loeding’s notes on his address and ask him if he will put them in shape for a brief article in the World Order Magazine at as early a date as possible.

2. Voted, a recommendation to the incoming National Spiritual Assembly to consider the feasibility of appointing regional sub-committees to the Inter-America Committee. Action. Voted to report that this recommendation has been considered but it is not yet feasible.

3. Voted to recommend the publication of Mrs. Mamie Seto’s compilation on contributing to the Bahá’í Fund. Action. Voted to take [Page 6] no action on this recommendation because this subject has been covered by instructions from the Guardian which are available in printed form.

4. Voted to recommend a letter of appreciation to the Wilmette Chamber of Commerce for their cooperation and welcome extended to the Bahá’í delegates. Action. An appropriate letter has been sent.

5. Voted that it is the sense of this Convention that we urge the Temple Trustees to complete the contract for the nine faces and enter into a new contract to simultaneously do the work for the completion of the steps. Action. The necessary contracts have been executed and the work is actively under way.

6. Voted to recommend that foreign language literature be provided for the large number of refugees now coming to this country, especially in Jewish and German, the suggested works to translate being ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s address to the Jews, and His talk in the synagogue in San Francisco. Action. Voted that until the Bahá’í literature in Spanish is complete no new language be undertaken.

7. Voted to recommend that the National Assembly considers the feasibility of spreading the work of the National Committees, adding additional members, making the personnel of such Committees as representative as possible of the diverse minority groups or elements in the Cause. Action. Voted to report that for two years the Assembly has been applied as much as possible the principle that no believer should serve on more than one National Committee, and that racial elements are used as much as possible.

8. Voted to approve draft of cablegram to be sent to the Spiritual Assembly of Mexico City. Action. A loving greeting was sent the Assembly by letter after the Convention.

9. Voted to recommend to the Teaching Committee that in future there be some kind of a written agreement between the pioneers and the National Spiritual Assembly. Action. The Assembly has plans in preparation relating to the purpose of this resolution.

10. Voted that the National Assembly establish a meeting for prayer and meditation to bring about peace, making it one of the essential activities of every Spiritual Assembly, community and group throughout the land. Action. Voted to report the view that the members of the National Assembly, with the body of Bahá’ís, should concentrate on the Most Great Peace and work diligently toward that end.

11. Voted to recommend that as many members of National Committees be appointed from within the Temple area as possible. Action. Voted to report that the Assembly is fully aware of the Guardian’s instruction that Committee headquarters be established around the Hazíratu’l-Quds as a nucleus and has been carrying out this principle as rapidly as possible. Since the National Office moved in 1939, the Treasurer’s Office, the Publishing Office and the work of the magazine have been successively transferred, and this has necessitated the construction of an accessory Administrative Building. The Bahá’í News Service, in its membership, has been in the area for some years. What the Guardian established is a trend, and the working out of the trend to its ultimate fulfilment may well involve a considerable period of time. As the way opens for further consolidation of the national administrative work in the Temple area, the Assembly will act promptly. It is pointed out, meanwhile, that National Committees are dependent on capacity, and capacity is to be used wherever it is found, a limitation which makes it impossible to transfer Committees to any one point until the requisite capacity and experience are available.

12. Voted to recommend that as the problems have grown with the increase of the teaching work, the National Assembly meets at least once a month. Action. Voted to explain that the members of the National Assembly themselves realize the demands this Office makes upon them. The present average schedule of meetings calls for about seventy-five days a year on the part of the individual members spent in travel and in the successive three and four day meetings. The believers will appreciate what this amount of time means to members who have their own personal responsibilities to make a living.

13. Voted to recommend that if Committees do not function, the Assembly should not retain them but appoint new ones. Action. The Assembly explains that in recent years, Committees have been reporting their work at regular intervals, and the responsibility involved in supervising the Committees is realized.

14. Voted to recommend that publicity material be supplied to isolated believers and groups. Action. The Bahá’í News Service has suitable material on hand, and will be requested to make it available.

15. Voted to recommend that the Assembly look to the Guardian for guidance in the preparation of the Convention agenda. Action. Voted to point out that the Guardian’s instructions underlie all plans of the National Spiritual Assembly and their essence is always reflected in the Convention agenda.

Teachings on the Covenant[edit]

(Concluded)

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself passed on in 1921, He in turn left a Will and Testament, which named the person of an Interpreter and Guardian to guide and unify the Bahá’í community after Him, and direct within that community the development of the organic institutions created by Bahá’u’lláh.

Concerning this Will, we have the following significant words of comment by Shoghi Effendi in The Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh:—

“‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who incarnates an institution for which we can find no parallel in any of the world’s recognized religious systems, may be said to have closed the Age to which He Himself belonged and opened the one in which we are now laboring. His Will and Testament should thus be regarded as the perpetual, the indissoluble link which the mind of Him Who is the Mystery of God has conceived in order to insure the continuity of the three ages that constitute the component parts of the Bahá’í Dispensation . . . Being the Child of the Covenant— the Heir of both the Originator and the Interpreter of the Law of God— the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá can no more be divorced from Him Who supplied the original and motivating impulse than from the One Who ultimately conceived it.[Page 7] Bahá’u’lláh’s inscrutable purpose, we must ever bear in mind, has been so thoroughly infused into the conduct of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and their motives have been so closely wedded together, that the mere attempt to dissociate the teachings of the former from any system which the ideal Exemplar of those same teachings has established would amount to a repudiation of one of the most sacred and basic truths of the Faith.”

From the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá we quote:—

“O ye beloved of the Lord! The greatest of all things is the protection of the True Faith of God, the preservation of His Law, the safeguarding of His Cause and service unto His Word. Ten thousand souls have shed streams of their sacred blood in this path, their precious lives they offered in sacrifice unto Him, hastened wrapt in holy ecstasy unto the glorious field of martyrdom, upraised the Standard of God’s Faith and writ with their life-blood upon the Tablet of the world the verses of His Divine Unity . . .

“O my loving friends! After the passing away of this wronged one, it is incumbent upon the Aghsán (Branches), the Afnán (Twigs) of the Sacred Lote-Tree, the Hands (pillars) of the Cause of God and the loved ones of the Abhá Beauty to turn unto Shoghi Effendi . . . as he is the sign of God, the chosen branch, the guardian of the Cause of God, he unto whom all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God and His loved ones must turn. He is the expounder of the words of God and after him will succeed the first-born of his lineal descendants . . . The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the guardian of the Cause of God . . . He that opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert His word and will become a manifestation of the Center of Sedition . . .

“And now, one of the greatest and most fundamental principles of the Cause of God is to shun and avoid entirely the Covenant-breakers, for they will utterly destroy the Cause of God, exterminate His Law and render of no account all efforts exerted in the past . . .

“O ye beloved of the Lord! Strive with all your heart to shield the


Youth Week Picnic, Green Acre, 1940

Cause of God from the onslaught of the insincere, for souls such as these cause the straight to become crooked and all benevolent efforts to produce contrary results.”

As to the nature and validity of the elected Assemblies which represent the local and national Bahá’í communities throughout the world, these are described in the following passages taken from Bahá’í Administration, by Shoghi Effendi. The administrative bodies here mentioned, however, had existed in rudimentary form during the lifetime of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and were nurtured, fostered, encouraged and confirmed by Him. There never has been the slightest justification for any person in America to conceive of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh as an unguarded treasure to be seized and exploited for the ends of personal ambition.

“A perusal of some of the words of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the duties and functions of the Spiritual Assemblies in every land (later to be designated as the local Houses of Justice), emphatically reveals the sacredness of their nature, the wide scope of their activity, and the grave responsibility which rests upon them.

“In the Most Holy Book (i. e., the Kitáb-i-Aqdas) is revealed:—‘The Lord hath ordained that in every city a House of Justice be established wherein shall gather counselors to the number of Bahá (i.e., nine), and should it exceed this number it does not matter. It behooveth them to be the trusted ones of the Merciful amongst men and to regard themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth. It is incumbent upon them to take counsel together and to have regard for the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard their own interests, and to choose that which is meet and seemly . . .’

“Furthermore, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá reveals the following:—‘It is incumbent upon every one not to take any step without consulting the Spiritual Assembly, and they must assuredly obey with heart and soul, its bidding and be submissive unto it, that things may be properly ordered and well arranged. Otherwise every person will act independently and after his own judgment, will follow his own desire, and do harm to the Cause.’

“In this day, assemblies of consultation are of the greatest importance and a vital necessity. Obedience unto them is essential and obligatory . . .

“Regarding the establishment of ‘National Assemblies,’ it is of vital importance that in every country, where the conditions are favorable and the number of friends has grown and reached a considerable size . . . that a ‘National Spiritual Assembly’ be immediately established, representative of the friends throughout that country.

“Its immediate purpose is to stimulate, unify and coordinate by frequent personal consultations, the [Page 8] manifold activities of the friends as well as the local Assemblies, and by keeping in close and constant touch with the Holy Land, initiate measures, and direct in general the affairs of the Cause in that country.

“This National Spiritual Assembly, which . . . will have to be re-elected once a year, obviously assumes grave responsibilities, for it has to exercise full authority over all the local Assemblies in its province, and will have to direct the activities of the friends, guard vigilantly the Cause of God, and control and supervise the affairs of the Movement in general.

“Vital issues, affecting the interests of the Cause in that country such as the matter of translation and publication, the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár (i. e., the Bahá’í House of Worship), the Teaching Work, and other similar matters that stand distinct from strictly local affairs, must be under the full jurisdiction of the National Assembly.”

Revision of By-Laws[edit]

Notice is hereby given to all incorporated local Spiritual Assemblies that revision has been made by the National Spiritual Assembly in the standard form of By-Laws in order to conform to recent general instructions from the Guardian.

Art. III. After the sentence reading, “It shall have full and complete custody of the headquarters or meeting place of the Bahá’í community,” the following new text is inserted: “It shall have exclusive authority to conduct Bahá’í marriage ceremonies and issue Bahá’í marriage certificates within the area of its jurisdiction.”

Art. IX. Amended to read as follows: “The sphere of jurisdiction of the Spiritual Assembly, with respect to the residential qualification of membership, and voting rights of a believer in the Bahá’í community, shall be the locality included within the civil limits of the municipality, township or county.” Delete the portion which begins: “but Bahá’ís who reside . . .,” etc.

The latter amendment was necessarily made in a form to meet the three different types of civil area in which a Spiritual Assembly can now exist: a municipality (incorporated village, town or city), a township, or a county. The township area is available when there are nine or more Bahá’ís resident in the same township, but all residents outside of the incorporated villages, towns or cities in that township. In the same way, the county area is available when there are no civil township areas in the State but the counties are small enough to enable an Assembly to meet conveniently. In revising the By-Laws, each local Assembly must use the proper wording to fit its own case, defining its area accurately in terms of the civil unit selected. For example: . . . the locality included within the civil limits of the municipality of Chicago (New York, or whatever city or town, it may be); or this other wording: . . . the locality included within the civil limits of the township of Cloverdale (or whatever name the township may have). No set of local By-Laws should refer to the three alternatives of a municipality, township or county, but only to the one actually employed.

Unincorporated Assemblies are equally responsible for following the standard By-Laws of a local Spiritual Assembly, and such Assemblies should also note the revisions published above.

Similarly, the By-Laws of the National Spiritual Assembly have also been revised, to preserve uniformity with the definition of functions and areas given in the local By-Laws. The friends are advised that at the meeting held March 21, 22 and 23, 1941, the National Spiritual Assembly revised its By-Laws as follows:—

Art. VII. This has read: “Whenever in any locality in the United States and Canada, be it city, town or village, the number of Bahá’ís residents therein recognized by the National Spiritual Assembly exceeds nine . . .,” etc. Amended to read: “Whenever in any locality in the United States and Canada, be it municipality, township or county, the number of Bahá’ís residents therein recognized . . .,” etc.

Art. VII. Second paragraph amended to read: “When, however, the number of Bahá’ís in any authorized civil area is exactly nine, these may on April 21st of any year . . ..,” etc.

Art. VII. Section 12. Amended to read: “The sphere of jurisdiction of a Local Spiritual Assembly, with respect to residential qualification of membership, and voting rights of a believer in any Bahá’í community, shall be the locality included within the civil limits of the municipality, township or county.” Delete the part of this section which read: “but Bahá’ís who reside in adjacent, outlying or suburban districts . . .,” etc. The second paragraph, beginning: “All differences of opinion concerning the sphere of jurisdiction . . .,” etc., remains unchanged.

Bahá’í Calendar[edit]

Nineteen Day Feasts: Words, July 13; Perfection, August 1; Names, August 20.

Anniversary: Martyrdom of the Báb, July 9.

Summer School sessions: Green Acre, successive weekly courses, June 30 to August 30. Race Unity Conference, August 9, 10. Geyserville, program maintained daily, July 6 to 26. Louhelen Ranch, Laboratory session, July 8 to 17, General session, August 10 to 17. Second Youth session, August 20 to 26. Vacation session, July 19 to August 8.

Meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly: at Green Acre, August 15, 16, 17.

Latin-American Assemblies[edit]

Three local Spiritual Assemblies now exist in Central and South America—at Mexico City, San José, Costa Rica, and Buenos Aires.

The addresses for correspondence are: Sr. Antonia Gonzales Mora, Secretary, Bucareli 65, Bajos 2, Mexico, D.F.; Sr. Salvador Tormo, Chairman, Sarando 140, 7th Piso, Buenos Aires, Argentine; Sr. Guido Contreras, Secretary, Box 99, San José, Costa Rica.

The Latin-Americans Among Us[edit]

Whereas the friends who are interested in setting out as pioneers in Latin-American countries address themselves to the Inter-America Committee, those who are interested in working with Latin-American minorities in this country are requested to communicate with the International School Committee.

We anticipate that Latin-American conferences may be launched in various localities under the auspices of the Local Spiritual Assembly,[Page 9] but we shall be pleased to provide data on Latin-American affairs for the use of such conferences.

Besides, those who are studying Spanish and are hopeful of being able to attend the Pine Valley School next year are invited to make themselves known so that we can coordinate the efforts of all the friends working for Latin-American activities within the orbit of the Cause in this country.

The brief reference to a book about Ecuador entitled “The Donkey Inside,” appearing in the June issue of Bahá’í News, was condensed to save space and the full statement is now given:

Another example, is the book by Ludwig Bemelmans.

The Donkey Inside, which was very widely read and considered to give a picture of the life and customs of the people in Ecuador, and which we think a most charming, original and interesting account of travel impressions of some of the South American West Coast countries . . . On the other hand the Ecuadorian has found it a most incorrect account of the country and is highly displeased by the American press comments referring to our neighbors’ countries as “comic opera republics.”

“It would be a good policy as well as good tact to take account in our printed utterance about our neighbors in the South.”—(Pan-American Forum)

It should also be a warning to Bahá’í pioneers not to accept too readily impressions of tourists which are not always accurate from the point of view of the native of the country.

International Bahá’í School
Committee
Loulie A. Mathews, Chairman

A Call for Original Tablets[edit]

There are numerous translations of the Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the National Bahá’í Archives which are not accompanied by the original Persian Tablets.

The Guardian has indicated that in the future no Tablets will be published of which the authenticated original is lacking. Thus, many glorious texts may be sacrificed unless the holders of the original Tablets take steps to assure their preservation in the official Archives.


Wanted: Back Numbers of Bahá’í News

Any believer, or Assembly, able to supply back numbers of Bahá’í News No. 10, or No. 14, is requested to communicate with the National Bahá’í Office, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois.


The National Spiritual Assembly has authorized the Archives and History Committee to explain this important matter to the friends, with a plea that Tablets be turned over to the Committee. It is hoped that each Assembly will take the question up for discussion at a Nineteen-Day Feast.

The Guardian has said that the work of collecting and publishing the Tablets is one of the most important tasks of this generation. The hope is that most of the originals still being held privately can be received during the next few months. The Committee will make available the list of Tablets needed on request.

Send original Tablets by registered mail to Mrs. May T. Scheffler, Secretary, 1821 Lincoln Street, Evanston, Ill.

ARCHIVES AND HISTORY COMMITTEE

The Bahá’í World[edit]

The Bahá’í World Committee for Vol. IX is earnestly soliciting brief accounts of the work of pioneers in foreign fields with the dates and names of countries and a photograph to accompany each. The value of these records cannot be over-estimated and those who have been privileged to serve in any such capacity will contribute to the happiness of the Guardian and render to the Cause a most valuable service by complying with this request at once.

The Committee is resorting to this means of reaching all pioneers of both past and present as a personal letter entails much extra labor and in many cases the addresses are not known.

NELLIE S. FRENCH, Chairman

Library Committee[edit]

The Library Committee has a number of encouraging things to report since compiling the Annual Report. The number of requests for books have been vastly increased and books have been presented to libraries which will reach many people, as State Libraries, State Library Commissions and Traveling Libraries. We hope to receive more requests for these types of libraries which supply books over large regions.

Also, we are happy to report that books were donated to the Service Libraries in the Seventh Corps Area through the efforts of Mrs. Alice Dudley: Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Francis E. Warren, Wyoming; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; Fort Crook, Nebraska and Fort Omaha, Nebraska. Mrs. Dudley received a letter from the Headquarters, which stated: “The commanding general directs me to extend his appreciation of this generous contribution to the camp libraries. Following is a list of the posts and camps to which you might direct these books. All correspondence addressed to the commanding officer will reach the proper person.” A tactful approach is necessary in contacting these libraries, as, in most cases, the books must be approved by the Army Chaplains who are in charge of the libraries. The Library Committee hopes to contact many of the Forts during the coming year and present books to these important libraries.

Duncan McAlear, a member of this committee, has been given the opportunity of speaking at a luncheon of librarians from Southern Massachusetts on the “World Order of Bahá’u’lláh” during April. He is planning to present a number of copies of “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era” at that time and will doubtless make many valuable contacts.

Miss Virgie Vail has presented over a hundred copies of “The Glorious Kingdom of the Father Foretold” to lead college, university and divinity school libraries. She has also offered copies for distribution to libraries through the Regional Teaching Committees. Miss Vail also plans to present this book to Navy and Army Libraries and to the Inter-America Committee for distribution to libraries in South America.

Books were presented to eighty libraries since March 16th. These included ten theological school libraries and the Departments of Religion of ten colleges and universities. [Page 10] In several cases, the heads of these departments stated that they would use the volumes in their Comparative Religion Courses. The Helena Assembly did outstanding work in contacting the School of Religion at Montana University. Rev. Baty, the head of this Department, not only accepted a complete set of books, but also asked for pamphlets to distribute to his students. In his letter, he stated: “I teach a new course “Modern Religious Movements” in which some time can be spent on an analysis of the Bahá’í Faith . . . The last three weeks of the course will be spent in building an adequate religion for to-day. It is my expectation that all the world’s religions will have something to contribute to such a faith.”

A printed slip with tributes to the Faith is now being posted on the flyleaf of each book presented to libraries. It is hoped that this slip will attract the attention of library patrons and inspire them to read our books.

The Library Committee is also planning to send copies of the pamphlet “Appreciations of the Bahá’í Faith” to the leading libraries throughout the country.

MRS. STUART SIMS, Chairman

Study of Islám[edit]

The Study Outline Committee is at present preparing a study course on Islám, its history and its teachings, for the use of Bahá’ís. It is the hope of the committee members, in view of the fact that as long as two years ago the Guardian urged the American believers to study Islám, that the course may be completed by the end of this committee year, June or July, and ready for the believers by fall.

The Committee finds it needs the cooperation of fellow-believers in the gathering of material for the course:

1) If there are Bahá’ís who received Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, or have received letters from the Guardian on any phase of Islám will they share these with the rest of us by placing copies in the hands of the Study Outline Committee? If these have been published, perhaps the receivers can send us notations concerning book and page.

There was such a letter sent to Miss Rosenberg which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá refers to elsewhere. Does anyone know where a copy of this letter can be secured?

2) If there are believers who, in a position to be acquainted with Islám, wish to make any suggestions whatsoever to the Committee, these suggestions will be most gratefully received. They may be concerning bibliography, personal experiences in traveling or in teaching, or results of personal and class study.

3) In preparation of the new course it has been found wise to include in each lesson references to non-Bahá’í sources; that is, to books by historians and Orientalists. As some of the most interesting and valuable books would be unavailable to most Bahá’í communities it is necessary, therefore, to quote occasionally from these books. Space limited to prevent any very voluminous quoting, however. Therefore, the Committee suggests that Bahá’í communities begin to build up their own libraries of Islámic literature.

4) The Study Outline Committee itself is eager to build up a central collection of Islámic materials to which Bahá’ís throughout America could refer, and which right at the present would furnish a basis for preparation of the new course. Believers who find books that they are willing to pass on, please then notify the Committee concerning price and place where they may be obtained.

The entire course will be based on Bahá’í literature references, of which there are many. For this use community will need at least one copy of Mysterious Forces of Civilization, The Dawn-Breakers, Some Answered Questions, and A Traveler’s Narrative; but of The Iqán, Bahá’u’lláh’s Book of Certitude, there should be one copy for each student.

A few non-Bahá’í books useful in the course will be: Edward Gibbon, Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; H. G. Wells, Outline of History; Ameer Ali, Spirit of Islám (this is very hard to get: published in England); Dwight W. Donaldson, The Shi’ite Religion (out of print); George Sale, The Koran (with “Preliminary Discourse” if possible. This is a large volume); Alfred Guillaume, The Traditions of Islám; Dr. Sprenger, Life of Mohammad (from original sources); Simon Ockley, History of the Saracens (from original sources); Sir John Chardin, Voyages, ii.(quite Persian); Sir Percy Sykes, Persia, and A History of Persia, also The Glory of the Shi’ah World;. Stanley Lane-Poole, The Moors in Spain; Sir Thomas Arnold, The Caliphate, and The Preaching of Islám; Hyat-ul-Kuloob, trans. by the Rev. James Merrick (Book of Shi’ih tradition).

Note: Consult public libraries, especially

for biographies of Muhammad.

STUDY OUTLINE COMMITTEE
By: Alice S. Cox, Chairman
1109 West Gift Avenue
Peoria, Ill.

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.

Mr. Henry R. Hagemann, Miami

Beach, Florida.

Mr. John W. Shirk, Denver.
Miss Gertrude Elizabeth Parvene

Bohanan, Kenosha.

Mrs. Bertha West, Clearlake

Highlands, California.

Miss Selma Paulson, Chicago.
Dr. John F. King, Chicago.
Mr. Howard Colby Ives, Little

Rock.

Mrs. Sylvia Bishop, San Francisco.

Enrollments and Transfers[edit]

San Francisco, four. Waukegan, one. Geneva, one. Kansas City, one. Buffalo, two. Madison, one. Flint, one youth. Washington, one. Columbus, one and one youth. Wauwatosa, one. Chicago, three. Los Angeles four. Miami, one. Philadelphia, one youth. Cincinnati, one.

Twenty-three enrollments of isolated believers were reported in May, and twenty-two in June.

News of East and West[edit]

Through the courtesy of the Los Angeles Assembly we are able to share a most interesting account of teaching work by Sydney Sprague, who wants the friends to know what a demonstration of the power of prayer was disclosed in the recent enrollment of six believers by his local Assembly.

“Last December I was reading a copy of Bahá’í News which told of the passing of May Maxwell in South America. She was my spiritual [Page 11] mother and brought me into the Faith forty years ago in Paris. I thought back of the time when I taught and lectured in France, England and Germany, in India and Burma, and I wished in my heart that I might teach and lecture in the Argentine where she passed away. But since my stroke I could scarcely phrase an intelligible sentence.”

A cablegram was sent to the Guardian asking him to pray that Mr. and Mrs. Sprague be strengthened to serve the Cause, to which he replied: “Assure prayer’s success Cause.”

Unexpectedly Mr. Sprague then heard from a friend whom he had not seen for a number of years, and this friend invited him to pay a visit to his ranch, where Mr. Sprague’s health greatly improved. During that visit he taught and confirmed his friend and five others. Moreover, this new believer, Mr. Shafer, has been planning to open a school for boys at Buenos Aires. He and his four boys are studying Spanish in order to prepare themselves to carry out this intention.

In January and February, the San Francisco Assembly presented a series of “Educational Evenings” at 560 Sutter Street. The program lists nine topics of extreme interest which are reprinted here as suggestions for other Assemblies.

Effect of Superstition in Religion; The Significance of the Last Century. The World Needs the Bahá’í Faith. Developing Qualities for the New Civilization. Principles of World Order. The Mission of the Americas. This Transitional Period. World Brotherhood. What Value Has Prayer and Fasting?

A territory of deep public interest is covered by this succession of subjects, which are so well suited to attract people of capacity to the Faith.

The Teaneck Assembly has inserted two pages on the Bahá’í Faith in a pamphlet issued by the local Board of Commerce under the title of “Facts About the Township of Teaneck,” in the nature of a handbook about the community. The Assembly feels that the cost of this insertion is well justified as a teaching expense, since a copy of the pamphlet is given to every property owner in the town.

The two pages were made up with a photograph of the Temple, a brief description of it, the nine texts of Bahá’u’lláh which will appear over the Temple doors, some quotations from the literature, and announcement of local meetings.

A reprint of a letter written by Mr. Ouskouli of Shanghai to the editor of North-China Daily News and published in its issue of March 9, 1941 under the title “World Crisis: Religion Is the Remedy,” has been received. Mr. Ouskouli quotes from the different Holy Books and lists five points taken from the precepts of Bahá’u’lláh which should be adopted by responsible statesmen.

Two recent issues of The Rangoon Times have contained extensive Bahá’í articles. On March 7 this influential journal published one and a half columns on the Bahá’í world order. On April 3 it reprinted the Guardian’s well known passage on the pattern of the future society.

From London has come the November number of the bulletin issued by the N.S.A. under the title “The New World Order.” It is listed as Vol II, No. VIII, which indicates that the bulletin has been published regularly despite the difficult conditions. This number contains excerpts from words of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the Guardian, an editorial on “The Definite Goal,” and basic principles of the Faith.

The Bahá’í Magazine: Herald of the South, the organ of the N.S.A. of Australia and New Zealand, also comes regularly every quarter, the most recent copy being dated January, 1941. The contents include: Editorial, by D. M. Dugdale, Esperanto text, “La Maturigo de la Homaro,” Answered Questions, Christianity and the New World Order, Bahá’í Prayers, A Brief Statement of the Bahá’í Attitude to War, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words on Meditation.

The following material comes to us through the News Letter of the Haifa Assembly:

“It gives us great pleasure to report to you the translation of the gist of a letter addressed to the Guardian recently by Mr. David S. Toeg, a member of the Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly of Baghdad. The letter contains news of unusual interest for the friends throughout the world. It describes in detail a most remarkable and successful journey undertaken by Mr. Toeg from Baghdad to the Sar-Galu mountain for the purpose of locating the historical grotto in which Bahá’u’lláh lived in retirement between 1854 and 1856 upon His leaving Baghdad for Sulayméniyah. The latter is a mountainous region about 170 miles northeast of Baghdad, inhabited mostly by Kurds.

“Mr. Toeg went from Baghdad to Kirkuk by rail, traveling all night, then from Kirkuk by car to the town of Sulaymániyah in the province which bears that name, a trip which took two and a half hours; thence to a small village called Shadalah, another two and a half hours’ drive in an automobile. From here, two hours’ ride on horseback through mountainous country took the author to Sar-Galu.

“At Sulaymániyah, the help of a faithful guide was obtained through the kindness of one of the notables of the town, a personal friend of Mr. Toeg, who had learned with great interest of die purpose of his visit.

“In Shadalah, the author was very well received by the Sheikh of the village to whom he explained the aim of his visit and conveyed Bahá’u’lláh’s Message. The Sheikh was extremely kind and helpful.

“Leaving Shadalah on horseback, Mr. Toeg and his guide reached the village of Sar-Galu, in the very heart of the Sar-Galu mountain. Here they were very kindly received in the home of the village chieftain and for six hours talked with the oldest inhabitants of the village, who had gathered there for the occasion, trying to learn if they had any knowledge of the location of Bahá’u’lláh’s grotto. Among those present there was a man reputed to be 110 years old. Unfortunately, he was not very clear in his thinking, at that age; but he said that he did remember having seen a venerable old man in one of the four caves in that mountain—and he named the cave. ‘I cannot recall now the name of that venerable personage,’ he added; ‘but I do remember that one day I heard people saying that a holy man had come to that cave. So I went with the crowd to have a look at him.’ At the end of the meeting, a large party set out with Mr. Toeg, including the Sheikh or Chieftain, and proceeded to the caves. Of the four caves in that mountain, one looked to have been man-made, but the other three are works of nature.

“As no reliable information could be obtained concerning the identity of Bahá’u’lláh’s cave, Mr. Toeg photographed all the tour caves.[Page 12] These photographs properly marked and labeled are now in the possession of the Guardian.

“The inhabitants of the Sar-Galu region are of Kurdish descent. Mr. Toeg writes very highly of them. He found them very hospitable, warmhearted and sincere. They greatly rejoiced when told that they were living on a holy mountain, since Bahá’u’lláh Himself had selected it for His residence for two years.

“Thanks to the Kurdish translation of ‘Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era,’ the Bahá’í Faith is already known in the Sulaymániyah region. Mr. Toeg hopes that ways and means may soon be found to bring the light of Bahá’u’lláh’s Message into the hearts of those strong and sturdy people of that holy mountain.”

From the Bahá’í Quarterly of the N. S. A. of Australia and New Zealand we select this interesting report:

“Following the success of the Preliminary Summer School held in June, 1940, and previously reported, the First Bahá’í Summer School was held in Easter week at Mr. and Miss Blundell’s summer cottage, Denewood, and the adjoining cottage at Browns Bay.

“The school was formally opened on Thursday evening by Miss Blundell, in the absence of the Chairman, Mrs. Axford, through illness. Miss Blundell extended a warm welcome to the seven members present. The convener of the Summer School Committee, Miss Burns, read an article on “Spiritual Illumination.” After the reading she expressed the special pleasure it was to have two isolated believers with them for the period of the School session—Mrs. Lane of Weymouth and Mrs. Parkin of Whangarei, 150 miles distant. Although the numbers were small, Miss Burns said, this must not be compared with the immeasurable value the school offered for study and fellowship with each other, especially those prevented by distance from close association with the community. Owing to Mrs. Axford’s inability to fulfill her allotted part the program was rearranged, provision being made for a fresh chairman at each session, thus enhancing the interest and giving opportunity for what was to some initial experience in chairmanship.

“Thursday evening passages from the Teachings were read. Mr. H. K. Blundell was the chairman of Friday evening’s session. The speaker, Mr. J. H. Bennett, reads his most interesting and carefully compiled essay on the lives of five of the outstanding heroes in “The Dawn Breakers,” Nabil’s Narrative.”

“Saturday: Mrs. Lane presided at the morning session and four consecutive articles entitled “The Future Religion” by Howard Hurlbut were read by four of the students. These articles explaining many Bible prophecies in the light of the Teachings proved an enlightening contribution. Two more visitors arrived during the day and in the evening J. M. Barrie’s one-act plays, “The Twelve Pound Look” and “The Will” were read.

“Sunday: Mrs. Parkin opened the session with prayer and reading. Miss Blundell spoke on the subject of “Prayer and Meditation” in her customary beautiful and practically helpful manner. Two other members arrived for the afternoon meeting which was addressed by Mr. Garth Ballantyne. Mr. Ballantyne has been doing social work amongst boys for a number of years and was in residence at his summer cottage next door to Denewood with 20 boys. His account of his work, the methods employed and the results achieved proved intensely interesting. His voluntary service for the adolescent youth of his district is worthy of the highest praise. God will assuredly continue to bless it.

“The evening session was opened with prayer and appropriate readings. Mrs. I. Robertson, who was unable to attend the school kindly prepared a fascinating lecture on ‘National Music’ illustrated by gramophone records. Mr. and Mrs. B. Collins conducted this session.

“Monday: Six friends from Auckland arrived during the morning, but had to return before the evening session. Mrs. Parkin, as chairman, welcomed the visitors and read a letter from Miss Leighton, another absentee. Prayers and reading precedes the speaker, Miss Blundell, whose subject was ‘The Dawnbreakers.’

“The afternoon session was conducted by Miss Burns, the subject being Bahá’í Administration. The Institutions of the New World Order, the basis of their structure, unity and consultation, were ably dealt with. Miss M. Borrows was chairman at the evening session, which was opened by the reading of the Lord’s Prayer of the Moslem and a Healing Prayer by Bahá’u’lláh. Miss F. deLisle was the speaker and her subject ‘The History of Islám’ was a fascinating miniature of this vast subject.

“The Committee owes a deep debt of gratitude to all who contributed to make the school the success it undoubtedly was—to Mrs. Dewing for selecting the prayers, to Mr. Blundell for meeting the bus and conveying the friends of the school in his car; to those who prepared the cottages for occupation and those who undertook house duties and cooking, and to Mr. and Miss Blundell for the free use of their cottage. The opportunity the school afforded for fellowship and spiritual refreshment was inestimable, the spiritual confirmations immeasurably great.”


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