Bahá’í News/Issue 159/Text
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January, 1943
Bahá’í Era
| BAHÁ'Í |  |
NEWS |
This Crucial Year[edit]
Progress Report No. 5 Issued by the National Spiritual Assembly for the Period December 1-31, 1942
28. This number of Bahá’í News presents a photograph of a completed side of the House of Worship. At the date of this writing, there remains but a week before the exterior ornamentation of the Temple is finished and all the hoists, scaffolding and other operating material, including the shed, and also the débris, are cleared away.
We stand at a great, a long-awaited, an inspiring hour in the history of the American Bahá’í community. Though the interior is still to be designed before the sacred edifice can be employed for its entire spiritual purpose, and that consummation lies in the Second Bahá’í Century, nevertheless we have collectively fulfilled the sacred trust given us by the blessed Master Himself, defined clearly for us by the Guardian in the Seven Year Plan.
What the power of unity and devotion can accomplish has been demonstrated, first to ourselves, and then to the world. “Whosoever arises for the service of this building,” was the Master’s assurance to the few hundred Bahá’ís of North America some thirty-five years ago, “shall be assisted with a great power from His Supreme Kingdom and upon him spiritual and heavenly blessings shall descend . . .” And again: “The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is the most important matter and the greatest divine institute.” The building of this House of Worship for Bahá’u’lláh united the believers, concentrated their efforts, led them through the early stages of the administrative order, and welded them into a great body imbued with organic qualities of a Bahá’í community.
At present, the House of Worship is significant for its contribution to the teaching work. In the teaching phase of the Plan we have a mighty task which, for this era of the Cause, corresponds to the vital importance of the Temple in previous years. In establishing Bahá’í communities in the unsettled areas of North America, and a nucleus in the remaining countries of Central and South America, we will be required, and enabled, to manifest new and higher spiritual virtues and powers. Faith does not await the development of capacity before it begins its work, for nothing develops in inaction. Faith is assurance that the capacity will be given if we sincerely and whole-heartedly plunge into the work. As the Master declared: “It is known and clear that today the unseen divine assistance encompasseth those who deliver the Message. And if the work of delivering the Message be neglected, the assistance shall be entirely cut off, for it is impossible that the friends of God could receive assistance unless they be engaged in delivering the Message.”
We may understand the Guardian’s message of November 30 as signalizing the birth of the era dedicated wholly to teaching effort. The results are assured, but we must raise the new spiritual edifice stone by stone, and press the work without interruption, so that the spiritual task may not stand uncompleted when the First Century ends.
29. In the Inter-America field, there are two important new pioneer projects under way. Winnifred Baker, of Lima, Ohio, started forth on Saturday, December 26, as another pioneer for Colombia, where she will be associated with Ruth Shook in carrying on the teaching. Jean Silver, after a change of plan became necessary, has applied for passport to settle in Rosario, the second largest city of Argentine. The hope is that she may be able to begin her journey to this post early in January.
30. Recent teaching projects initiated in North America through the National Teaching Committee include: Mrs. Margaret Ellis, Jackson, Miss., three months; Mrs. Ruth Cornell, Hot Springs, Ark., for two months; Mrs. Marguerite Bruegger, Fargo, N. D., for two months; Virginia Camelon, West Virginia, two months; Mrs. Florence Holsinger, Omaha, Neb., one month. Other projects not previously reported include: Mrs. Marcia Atwater, Edmonton, Alberta, seven weeks; Sylvia King, Regina, Sask., three months; Harlan Ober, meetings in Prince Edward Island; Dorothy Champ, settlement in Wilmington, Del.; Mrs. Ruth Moffett, Wilmington, Del., one month, Greensboro, N. C., and Augusta, Ga., one month; Mrs. Clair Gillespie, settlement in Laramie, Wyoming; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Walters, settlement in Albuquerque, N. M.
31. Mrs. Dorothy Baker has recently visited a large number of colleges in the Southwest, in continuance of the special race unity project initiated last year. Details will be published when the final report is received. Louis G. Gregory has been teaching in a number of Southern colleges in November and December, and a more detailed report of this work will also be made available.
32. The Library and Sales Committee is rendering an important service by concentrating the distribution of Bahá’í material, not handled by the Publishing Committee, in one central agency. This Committee fills cash orders received, and has no budget for placing any free material. At present, through the Chairman, Harry E. Walrath, the Committee can fill orders for Bahá’í ringstones, photographs of the Master and of the Temple, Temple slides for illustrated lectures, and the new Temple display announced in this issue of Bahá’í News.
33. From May 1 to November 30,
1942, the National Fund received
$61,149.29. The November contributions
equalled $11,364.35. Seventy-four
Assemblies sent contributions,
eighty-five groups donated, and 113
isolated believers made donations.
November expenditures amounted to
[Page 2]
$17,263.99, of which $9,982.99 went to
Temple construction, $760.16 to Temple
maintenance. $1,350.63 to Green
Acre maintenance, $1,278.00 to National
Teaching, $1,100.00 to Regional
Teaching, $1,191.00 to Inter-America
Teaching, and $1,051.71 for
administration. The completion of
Temple construction will bring to an
end the incurrence of further construction
costs, but monthly payments
must be made beginning January
in the amount of $3,000.00 per
month for six months in order to
pay Temple obligations already incurred.
The steps contract has exceeded
the contractor’s estimate by
about $20,000.00, and it is this
unanticipated excess which we must
refund in 1943.
Preferred Mileage for Local Chairmen and Secretaries[edit]
The Office of Price Administration, Washington, D. C., has just written its final decision in the matter of the application made by the National Spiritual Assembly for extra gasoline rationing for Chairmen and Secretaries of local Assemblies, and for all members of the Regional Teaching Committees. As stated in its letter cited below, the government bureau considers that the local officers qualify, but not the Regional Committee members.
The letter, dated December 21, 1942, and addressed to Mr. A. B. McDaniel, states:—
“Upon a review of the facts presented by representatives of the Bahá’í Faith, we conclude that the chairmen and secretaries of the Local Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá’ís may be eligible for preferred mileage under the provisions of Section 7706 (k), Mileage Rationing: Gasoline Regulations (Ration Order No. 5C), to meet the religious needs of the localities they regularly serve. These officers conduct the religious meetings of the community, or congregation, perform funeral services, are authorized in three states to performs the marriage service, and in general perform religious services similar to those rendered by ministers of other religious sects or churches.
“Members of Regional Committees, however, are ineligible under the Preferred Mileage Section of the Gasoline Regulations since these officers serve isolated individuals or unorganized groups who are members of the Faith and clearly are not regularly sewing a congregation as required under Section 7706 (k).”
Convention Notice[edit]
During December, each local Assembly received a form entitled “Application for Participation in Annual Bahá’í Convention of 1943”. This is to be filled out and returned to the National Office by February 1. Assemblies are requested not to overlook this customary procedure, as otherwise the Convention call would be delayed.
Action on the Pioneer Front[edit]
Beloved Friends:
The summons of the Guardian to “swift action, boldly conceived, unanimously supported, systematically conducted,” has called from the American believers an instant, far-reaching response. Our Bahá’í Community is at last on the march. Now in the last months our energies are being coordinated, and the goals of the Seven Year Plan have become, at this late date, our single objective.
Action on the pioneer front is the core of our great endeavor. Without pioneers, those “celestial warriors” of whom the Master spoke, no victories in the virgin States and Provinces can be conclusively won. What, then, are the prospects of pioneers and settlers, among all who have heard the Guardian’s call?
Let us bear in mind that the virgin field, as distinct from disbanded Assemblies, required eighty-one settlers. Now, since receipt of Shoghi Effendi’s cablegram about November 1st, the following actions can be reported:
| Settlers already established | 8 | ||
| Settlers now planning to go | 12 | ||
| Settlers transferring residence | |||
| a short distance to aid the Plan | 13 | ||
| Total | 33 |
Of these 33 settlers, only 21 will be
established in virgin States and
Provinces. The remaining 12 will assist
disbanded Assemblies. Thus we
are still 60 settlers short of achieving
our paramount goal!
On the other hand, the Teaching Committee is in correspondence with some 50 additional believers who have answered the Guardian’s summons, and many will surely be added to the pioneer rolls. Besides all these, the Regional Committees will receive the names of 28 volunteers for traveling and circuit teaching.
What has been accomplished in the past six weeks bids fair to eclipse our efforts of the preceding six months. Between Convention and November 1st the American Community sent out 24 pioneers and setters, 23 of whom were established in virgin territories and 1 in a disbanded Assembly. Throughout that same period, approximately 15 teachers were actively engaged in public campaigns and follow-up study classes in areas of the Seven Year Plan. Already we can confidently report that Local Assemblies will be organized in Iowa, North Carolina, Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, and New Hampshire; and there seems reasonable assurance of success in seven other virgin States.
Thus, the “crucial year” has awakened our collective strength as never before. We have carried our Faith into action at numerous strategic points. The way is clear to final victory. But we dare not falter nor relax. Success must be added to success, the obstacles which are “hourly increasing” must be firmly and fully met, the “stupendous exertions required” must be freely and passionately expended. In this way and in this way alone, can we “Seal (the) triumph (of the) greatest collective enterprise launched during fifty years (of) American Bahá’í history.”
Beloved friends, the call is for pioneers! The time is critical, imperatively short! The “Guardian’s Summons to Teaching” has not yet received our complete reply. Let us hear from you in the next few days or weeks, that your name, too, may be written on the glorious pioneer role.
A New Kind of Settlement[edit]
Elsewhere in this issue the Teaching
Committee has reported thirteen
settlers who are answering the
Guardian’s summons to teaching by
moving short distances, establishing
residence within the limits of one or
[Page 3]
another of the cities which represent
the goals of the Seven Year Plan.
The cities receiving such assistance
are Boise, Idaho; Reno, Nevada;
Colorado Springs, Colorado;
Burbank, Huntington Park, and
Alhambra, California.
Here we have a kind of settlement which is of immense value to our teaching goals, yet which is possible for many believers who cannot hope to move a long distance. These settlers did not have to give up their positions and responsibilities. What they did was to move their homes from some area of no direct significance, to a nearby point located within the pattern of the Seven Year Plan.
Throughout the United States and Canada there must be dozens of believers who have in their grasp a similar opportunity. The needs and the times are calling these friends to a decision. The very circumstances of the War are urging upon them a speedy action, as the difficulties of housing and transportation daily close in upon them. And how great is their responsibility to act, when viewed in relation to the selfless sacrifices of those who are uprooting all the conditions of their lives, to move to some distant pioneer front.
It may be that these very believers, who hold in their hands such a precious opportunity to advance the Plan, are holding as well the key to victory or loss for the American Community. We do not have the resources to waste. And the time for action in every phase of the Plan is now. In the words of Shoghi Effendi. “Speed must be your motto.”
It is our heartfelt hope that all of the friends will give this matter their most urgent attention, by studying again the cities listed in “The Guardian’s Summons to Teaching.” Then, if it lies within your power, we urge that you decide to move, and move at once, to one of the cities of a virgin State or disbanded Assembly.
Inter-America News[edit]
Costa Rica
Costa Rica maintains the lead in Press work for we have recently received from Mrs. Gayle Woolson an article from “Repertorio Americano” entitled “El Templo de la Luz
THE BAHÁ’Í HOUSE OF WORSHIP[edit]
View of completed side, taken December 19, 1942
y Profecia” which appeared in October’s issue, and another article “La Luz del Oriente” with a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—from “El Libano” of San José. These articles are written in Spanish and are evidence of the excellent work which Mrs. Woolson is doing. She is surely to be congratulated. Honduras too is full of life and Sr. Viana has established beside a class in Esperanto, a class for young people which he writes us is flourishing. We have been informed of seven new registrations in Tegucigalpa during the last few weeks.
Ecuador
We point to Quito with a glow of pride. John Stearns, who is a member of the Quito Symphony Orchestra, is now sponsoring a Radio program under the auspices of his Kandy Kitchen. His programs present lovely classical music and, besides, readings from the Teachings! These broadcasts come over short wave (32.05 meters, 9355 kc.) Monday evenings at 8:00 pm. Eastern Standard Time. We are assured that they can be picked up all over South America and occasionally Spain, and that we might be able to receive them here. If anyone gets them, we would appreciate hearing from them. L. Gonzales, the first Bahá’í of Ecuador, is the speaker on this program.
Dominican Republic
Miss Lentz writes that she is just about to celebrate her third anniversary as a resident of Trujillo. She has worked very hard and very steadily and recently has been rewarded by the acceptance of a distinguished young man. She is still expecting some believer, a youth, to go there and assist her with the young university students who are coming to her reunions.
Colombia
Miss Ruth Shook has taken an
apartment in Bogotá and is furnishing
it so that she may have a place
[Page 4]
where she can carry on her Bahá’í
activities. Mrs. Barton had also just
visited her and reports that Miss
Shook has made ever so many
friends and is very much beloved.
Venezuela
Miss Sholtis has sent in her first registration card of a beautiful young actress who, she says, is radiant. Miss Sholtis’ health has been restored and she is energetically working.
In recounting the work of the various Republics the friends will miss a statement about Paraguay. This country and one or two other spots are our gravest concern. Something must be done to continue the work which Elizabeth Cheney has so splendidly established there in Asumción and this is a call for pioneers. May Bahá’u’lláh send us someone for Paraguay and for Nicaragua and Guatemala, and Guayaquil, Ecuador. There are positions in Panama, there is an opening in Guayaquil, and then think of San Domingo! Shall we not gladden and surprise the Guardian?
Temple Display, Temple Slides, Temple Photograph[edit]
The fragile and expensive Temple model has been replaced by the Exhibits Committee, which has prepared a reproduction of a painting of the Temple on linen, measuring 30 by 30 inches, mounted like a wall map with wood on top and bottom, ready to hang on any flat surface. The face of the picture has been given a special cellulose finish for extra protection. This Temple display, which rolls up when transported, will be exceedingly useful to local Assemblies as well as individual believers. It can be obtained for $5.00 from the Temple Library and Sales Committee, H. E. Walrath, Chairman, 4639 Beacon Street, Chicago, Ill.
The two sets of Temple slides recently announced will be ready during January, and all orders on hand will be fined during the month. There are 36 black and white slides, measuring 2 by 2 inches, and ten color slides of the same size. The cost for both sets, postpaid, is $4.25, and orders are to be sent to the Temple Library and Sales Committee as above. All the material needed to prepare a lecture to accompany the slides can be obtained in the new study course entitled “Information About the Bahá’í House of Worship.” sold by the Publishing Committee at 25c per copy.
A photograph showing the completed House of Worship, measuring 7½ by 9½ inches, can also be obtained from Mr. H. E. Walrath at 40c each, postpaid. This picture is suitable for framing, or can be used in making a halftone plate for publicity, for illustrating local programs, announcements, etc.
Temple Guiding[edit]
Despite restriction on transportation, the Bahá’í House of Worship continues to be a magnet that attracts thousands of visitors annually. The total number of visitors for the first ten months of 1942 was 11,852. A decrease of only 2,416 over the same period of 1941. This difference would be greatly reduced had we not discontinued guiding this year about September 15, four weeks earlier than in former years, due to the exceptional coldness of the weather.
From January through June this Year there has been an increase in the number of visitors each month over like months of 1941, the decrease setting in since June. Visitors have come this year from all the States, as well as from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Alaska, six provinces of Canada; Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Colombia, Bulgaria, Germany, England, Turkey, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, Korea and China.
The Guides Committee again appeals to communities in the Temple area to cooperate in supplying guides or guide material, and potential guides are again urged to attend the Temple class for guides which meets in the Temple every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. The Teacher is Mr. Edwin Mattoon. Lesson sheets will be furnished upon request.
Each year, nearly 17,000 people have come to the Temple from all parts of the United States and the world. It is encumbent upon all Bahá’ís, who are not actually engaged in teaching work that keeps them away, to participate and do their share in this important phase of Bahá’í teaching. Nor is it merely an obligation. It is a privilege all should share.
Enrollments and Transfers[edit]
Enrollment of new believers reported:—
Los Angeles, one. Glendale, two. Helena, one. Ann Arbor, one. Flint, five. New York, eight and one youth. Detroit, three. Montreal, one. Washington, one. Chicago, four and one youth. Nashville, one. Berkeley, one. Shorewood, one. Oakland, two. New Orleans, one. Evanston, two. Peoria, one. Houston, two. Geneva, one.
Transfers:— San Francisco, three. Los Angeles, seven. Milwaukee, two. Evanston, two. Newark, two. New York, two. Beverly Hills, one. Springfield, Ill., two. Montreal, one. Jersey City, one. New Haven, two. Binghamton, one. Jacksonville, one. New York, two.
In October, enrollment cards were received from thirty-seven adults and five youths in the regional areas. In November, twenty-three adults and one youth enrolled.
In Memoriam[edit]
. . . The true believer, whose existence and life are to be regarded as the originating purpose of all creation.”
Mr. Oscar M. Clark, Clearlake Highlands,
California.
Mrs. Alice Alexander, Upton, Massachusetts.
Mrs. Ides Johnson, Maniposa, California.
Mrs. Ida Finch, Seattle, Washington.
Mrs. Irena Stevens, Topeka.
Mr. Albert Engelder, Cleveland.
Mrs. Blanche A. Ledyard, Los Angeles.
Bahá’í Calendar[edit]
Nineteen Day Feasts: Sovereignty, January 19; Dominion, February 7; Loftiness, March 2.
Period of the Fast: Nineteen days beginning March 2.
Meetings of National Spiritual Assembly: January 8, 9, 10, 11; March 5, 6, 7, 8. At Wilmette.
