Bahá’í News/Issue 178/Text
| ←Previous | Bahá’í News Issue 178 |
Next→ |
 Proofread onceReturn to PDF view
|
| BAHÁ’Í |  |
NEWS |
| No. 178 | DECEMBER, 1945 | YEAR 102 | BAHA’I ERA |
Messages from the Guardian[edit]
Suicide
Regarding the “In Memoriam” section of Bahá’í News: although suicide is so strongly condemned in the teachings, it does not mean that a person has ceased to be a Bahá’í because he killed himself; he should, therefore, be mentioned, the same as other believers, in this section. —Haifa March 29, 1945
Letters to Individuals[edit]
To John M. Clifford, October 17, 1944,
Regarding the whole question of an International language and its relation to the Faith: We, as Bahá’ís, are very anxious to see a universal auxiliary tongue adopted as soon as possible; we are not the protagonists of any one language to fill this post. If the governments of the world agree on an existing language, or a constructed, new tongue, to be used internationally, we would heartily support it because we desire to see this step in the unification of the Human race take place as soon as possible.
Esperanto has been in wide use, more so than any similar language, all over the world, and the Bahá’ís have been encouraged by both the Master and the Guardian to learn it and to translate Bahá’í literature into it. We cannot be sure it will be the chosen language of the future; but as it is the one which has spread most, both East and West, we should certainly continue to co–operate with its members learn to speak it, and translate Bahá’í literature into it.
To Mrs. Beatrice Ashton, October 17, 1944.
All over the world the Guardian is constantly encouraging and enjoining the believers to learn to function according to Bahá’í laws and principles; members of Spiritual Assemblies must learn to face their responsibilities; individuals must learn to turn to them and abide by their decisions. When we realize that all marriages, divorces, disposal of inheritance, etc., are now handled in Egypt and Persia solely through the Assemblies and that the believers abide by their decisions, we see that in Western countries the friends still have a long way to go — the sooner they start the better for themselves and for the Faith.
Correction[edit]
In a letter from the Guardian through his secretary to Mrs. Helen Robinson, published in the June, 1945, issue of Bahá’í News, two errors have been noted: the word good appeared as great, and chastity was printed charity. The whole passage should read: “The Guardian would advise you to teach the Mormons, like everyone else, the Faith, when you find them receptive. They have many good principles and their teachings regarding chastity, not drinking or smoking, etc., is quite similar to ours and should form a point of common interest.”—The Editors.
National Spiritual Assembly[edit]
To the local Spiritual Assemblies and
- Regional Teaching Committees.
Beloved Friends:
On this date, twenty–four years ago, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá completed His earthly mission and ascended to the Kingdom of Bahá’u’lláh. The era of the Guardianship and the Bahá’í order has since then established the basis of the administrative institutions in East and West, and undertaken the first steps of the Master’s Divine Plan embracing the entire earth. He without doubt watches over our progress, rejoices at every success and grieves whenever we fall short of the opportunities lying within our power.
Now is the time when each American believer can well stop and take thought of his own contribution of effort, love and resources to the Bahá’í work. We need the high and pure spirit which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá poured forth upon the friends, and the realization which those pioneer workers had that they lived their lives as in His daily presence.
Around us is a world starved for lack of spiritual nourishment. In our keeping is the storehouse of truth. By intensified individual consecration, by the unified striving, let us begin a new period of widespread public teaching. The news from the first two cities of the public campaign, Toronto and Boston, is very encouraging. It remains to perfect our coordination of all publicity and promotion resources, to produce a truly vigorous impression upon the public.
Along with this national campaign there must be ceaseless effort to maintain our own weaker communities and develop groups to Assembly status by April, 1946. A Spiritual Assembly is not a name on a list nor a point on a map. It is a spiritual organism which, when united will attract the confirmations of the Holy Spirit and charge every individual Bahá’í with power to act as an instrument for the good of the Faith.
Plans are under way to render more and more service to the younger and smaller communities, but there is much that each community can only do for itself. Your National Spiritual Assembly is turning to the Guardian with a devout cry for spiritual reinforcement in these troubled times. Every community, group assembly and committee is dependent upon the spirit for its success. May the Guardian, as he contemplates the Faith in this land, become conscious that all are united in this cry for help, so that the blessed prayers uttered at the Holy Shrines may transmute our weakness into strength.
As of October 27, the Bahá’í funds
on hand amounted to $12,489.34. Of
this sum, $8,763.27 was either earmarked[Page 2]
for special purposes or was
held in trustee accounts, leaving
$3,786.07 available for expenditure
by the National Spiritual Assembly.
From October 1 to 27 the receipts
amounted to $8,726.84, the expenditures
to $12,110.25.
The Assembly is grateful to all the many believers who conscientiously contribute at regular intervals. Their love is what sustains the activities of the National Assembly and all its committees and pioneers, in both North and South America.
“A Fuller Measure of That Love”[edit]
Since teaching is now the paramount concern of every believer and every Bahá’í institution, it will be well for the friends to ponder again some of those advices and appeals which the Guardian directed to us at such frequent intervals during the early years of his mission under the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. For those passages carry the impact of the Guardian’s first expression of his loving concern for the progress of the Faith, his universal message to the whole Bahá’í community.
“Now surely, if ever, is the time for us, the chosen ones of Bahá’u’lláh and the bearers of His Message to the world, to endeavor by day and by night, to deepen, first and foremost, the Spirit of His Cause in our own individual lives, and then labor, and labor incessantly to exemplify in all our dealings with our fellow men that noble Spirit of which His beloved Son ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been all the days of His life a true and unique exponent. The sayings of our beloved Master have been noised abroad. His name has filled all regions, and the eyes of mankind are now turned expectant towards His disciples who bear His name and profess His teachings . . .”
“Behold, the station to which ‘Abdul-Bahá is now calling His loved ones from the Realm of Glory”:—
“It behooveth the loved ones of God to be enamored of one another and to sacrifice themselves for their fellow–workers in the Cause. They should yearn towards one another even as the sore athirst yearneth
|
the Guardian Burmese Bahá’í community emerging from long, afflictive period of unprecedented tribulations — assassination, spoliation, dispersal, seizure of Archives, destruction of Haziras School. I advise the American community as token of Bahá’í solidarity to cable whatever contribution is sensible. —SHOGHI RABBANI
Received November 13, 1945 (The sum of $500 was appropriated for this purpose at the November meeting of the National Spiritual Assembly) |
for the Water of Life, and the lover burneth to meet his heart’s desire.”
“Such is the sublime, the glorious position he wishes us, and all the peoples and kindreds on earth, to attain in this world; how much more to attain unity and common understanding among ourselves, and then arise to herald with one voice the coming of the Kingdom and the salvation of mankind.”—March 12, 1923.
“Let us pray to God that these days of world–encircling gloom, when the dark forces of 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 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 of mankind.”— November 14, 1923.
State and Province Elections[edit]
Temporary election committees consisting of three persons have been appointed for each electoral district, as follows:
- Alabama: Mr. Homer Dyer, Chairman;
Mrs. John C. Inglis, Mrs. Dorothy Logelin.
- Arizona: Mr. Paul Schoeny, Chairman:
Mrs. Nancy Phillips, Mr. Karl Deppe.
- Arkansas: Mrs. Roberta Wilson, Chairman;
Mr. Verney Thompson, Mrs. Lucy Hawkins.
- California, Northern: Miss Gladyce
Linfoot, Chairman: Mr. Arthur Ioas, Dr. Mildred Nichols.
- California, Southern: Mr. Hasele
Cornbleth, Chairman; Mrs. Edna Johnson, Mr. Chas, Bishop.
- Colorado: Mr. Geo. Nathaniel Clark,
Chairman; Mrs. Edgar Meyer, Mr. Roy Taintor.
- Connecticut: Mr. Clarence Welsh,
Chairman; Mr. J. H. Steed, Sr., Mr. George Goodman.
- Delaware: Mr. John Taylor, Chairman;
Mrs. Jessie Perry, Mr. Adolphe E. Bosse.
- Florida: Mr. Chester Davison, Sr.,
Chairman; Mrs. Amy Brady Dwelly, Miss Rena Gordon.
- Georgia: Dr. David S. Ruhe, Chairman;
Mrs. Esther Seto, Mr. Roy Lindsey.
- Idaho: Miss Isabelle Silk, Chairman;
Mrs. Mildred R. Cossey, Mrs. Ethel Thompson.
- Illinois, Northern: Mr. Walter Deppe,
Chairman; Miss Ruth Westgate, Mrs. Margot Johnson.
- Illinois, Southern: Mr. Albert Green
|
Bahá’í News in published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada as the official newsletter of the Bahá’í community. The first issue appeared in December, 1924. On April 10, 1925, the Guardian wrote: “The News Letter which you have lately initiated fulfills a very vital function. . . . I would urge you to enlarge its scope . . . that in time it may devote a special section to every phase of your activities, administrative, devotional, humanitarian, financial, educational and otherwise.” “It should become a great factor in promoting understanding, providing information on Bahá’í activity, both local and foreign, in stimulating interest, in combating evil influences, and in upholding and safeguarding the institutions of the Cause.” The contents include: material supplied by the National Spiritual Assembly, such as the Guardian’s messages, the Assembly’s letters and its general statements and reports; Committee plans which have been approved and authorized; Committee news reports of activities; annual reports from local Assemblies; activities in regional areas as reported by or through the National Teaching Committee; activities in Central and South America as reported by the Inter–America Committee; news from other lands gathered from the bulletins of the various National Assemblies; a record of new enrollments and transfers; a record of deaths; photographs of general Bahá’í interest. Bahá’í News is edited for the National Spiritual Assembly by its Bahá’í News Committee: Horace Holley, Garreta Busey, Mabel H. Paine. Address: Bahá’í News Committee, c/o Miss Garreta Busey, 503 West Elm Street, Urbana, Illinois. |
Chairman; Miss June Miller, Mrs. Robert Hutchens.
- Indiana: Mr. Winnie Foster, Chairman;
Mrs. Arthur Patterson, Miss Albertina Luedke.
- Iowa: Mrs. Grace Decker, Chairman;
Mrs. Luella Balsiger, Mr. Laurence La–Rocque.
- Kansas: Mr. Paul Brown, Chairman;
Mrs. Bertha Campbell, Mrs. Cora Schulte.
- Kentucky: Mrs. Marietta Wilson,
Chairman; Mrs. Laura C. Cummings, Dr. Clell Fowler
- Louisiana: Mrs. Margaret W. Ellis,
Chairman; Mr. Walter A. Blackwell, Mrs. Philip Marangella.
- Maine: Mr. Howard Struven, Chairman;
Miss Martha Woodsum, Mrs. Emily Piersoll.
- Maryland: Mrs. Hazel Langrall, Chairman;
Mr. Roland Mann, Mr. John DeMille.
- Massachusetts: Mr. Victor Archambault,
Chairman; Mr. Joseph P. Silva, Miss Lorna Tasker.
- Michigan: Mr. Harry Whang, Chairman;
Mr. George R. True, Mrs. Harry Mills.
- Mississippi: Mrs. E. L. Bivins, Chairman;
Miss Helen Yerger, Mrs. Myrtle Barnes.
- Missouri: Mr. Lloyd Sherrill, Chairman;
Miss Nayan Hartfield, Mr. Albert Walkup.
- Montana: Mrs. Charles Bryan Chairman;
Miss Betty Mereness, Mr. Matthew Caldwell.
- Nebraska: Mrs. Doreene Holliday,
Chairman; Mr. Harold Baker, Miss Jean Hendry.
- Nevada: Miss Blossom Hay, Chairman;
Miss Helen Griffing, Mr. David Mayberry.
- New Hampshire: Mrs. Lorna Kendrick,
Chairman; Mrs. Villa Vaughn, Mrs. Edith Perkham.
- New Jersey: Mr. Stuart Sims, Chairman;
Mrs. Cora Rockwell, Mrs. Catherine Healy.
- New Mexico: Mr. Richard Walters,
Chairman; Dr. A. L. Morris, Mr. Jas, Merrifield.
- New York, Southern: Mr. Russell
Goudy, Chairman; Mrs. Rinaldo Quigley, Mrs. Patrick Quinlan
- New York, Northern: Mr. Harry Ford,
Chairman; Mrs. Harriet Pettibone, Miss Ida Noyes.
- North Carolina: Mr. Jos, J. Sawyer,
Chairman; Mrs. Eva F. McAllister, Mr. David Wark.
- North Dakota: Mr. T. O. Morrill, Chairman,
Mrs. Marguerite Bruegger, Mrs. Nora King.
- Ohio: Mr. Floyd Spahr, Chairman;
Mrs. Lynette Storm, Miss Charlotte Lindenberg.
- Oklahoma: Mrs. Alice Entzminger,
Chairman; Mr. Chasm Ittner, Mrs. H. w. Cuthbertson.
- Oregon: Mr. Levi Munson, Chairman;
Mr. John Clifford, Miss Lillie Meissner.
- Pennsylvania: Dr. Otto Zmeskal,
Chairman; Dr. Mary Coffin, Mrs. Margaret Lear.
- Rhode Island: Mrs. Ann Alienello,
Chairman; Mr. Edward Bornside, Miss Mary Bower.
- South Carolina: Miss Gertrude Gewertz,
Chairman; Mrs. George Frain, Mrs. Daisy King Moore.
Feast of Naw-Rúz, 1944, Charleston, West Virginia.
- South Dakota: Mr. Haskell Drymon,
Chairman; Miss Elsa Steinmetz, Mrs. Jeaynne Stapleton.
- Tennessee: Mrs. Clara Keller, Chairman;
Mrs. Maude Barnes, Miss Carrie M. Waters.
- Texas: Miss Charlotte Stirratt, Chairman;
Mr. J. Clark Pollard, Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey.
- Utah: Mr. Leslie Hawthorn, Chairman;
Mr. Lloyd Byars, Mrs. Florence Lilliendahl.
- Vermont: Mrs. Eleanor Stone, Chairman;
Miss Maude Mickie, Miss Neysa Bissell.
- Virginia: Mr. Raymond Rouse, Chairman;
Mrs. Saida Cowman, Mrs. Matie Kiser.
- Washington: Mr. Ray Wardall, Chairman;
Dr. Louis Speno, Mrs. Lorol Luther.
- West Virginia: Miss Adah Schott,
Chairman; Mrs. Garnett Whitefield, Mr. E. G. Lippett.
- Wisconsin: Mr. Clarence Suhm, Chairman;
Mr. Robert Lewis, Mrs. Margaret Lueberger.
- Wyoming: Mrs. Solvig Corbit, Chairman;
Mr. Jos. Homolas, Mrs. Theresa L. Olsen.
- District of Columbia: Mr. Wm. Dae
Gaboriault, Chairman; Miss Elsie Austin, Mrs. Chas. Niemann.
- Alaska: Miss Dagmar Dole, Chairman;
Miss Honor Kempton, Mrs. Frances Wells.
- Hawaii: Mr. J. B. Freitas, Chairman;
Mrs. Annie V. Crockett, Mrs. E. I Adolphson.
- Puerto Rico: Mr Lucien McComb,
Chairman; Mrs. Marie Theresa Lopez, Mr. Salvador Ramirez.
- Alberta, Canada: Mrs. E. J. Rimell,
Chairman; Miss Doris Skinner, Mrs. G. E. Winkler.
- British Columbia, Canada: Mr. Stanley Kemp,
Chairman; Mrs. Viola China, Mr. Austin Collin.
- Manitoba, Canada: Mr. Ernest Court,
Chairman; Mrs. Sigrun I. Lindal, Miss Patricia Mosher.
- New Brunswick, Canada: Mr. Hayes
King, Chairman; Miss Irmgard M. Matthews, Mrs. Leila Wells.
- Nova Scotia, Canada: Mr. Fred Wade,
Chairman; Mrs. Edward Bellefleur, Miss Patricia Patterson.
- Ontario, Canada: Mr. Victor Davis,
Chairman; Mrs. Doris Richardson, Miss Amy Putnam.
- Prince Edward Island, Canada: Mr.
Irving Geary, Chairman; Miss Christine McKay, Miss Agnes McKinnon.
- Quebec, Canada: Mr. Ernest Harrison,
Chairman; Mrs. Louise Boudler, Mr. Ernest Sala.
- Saskatchewan, Canada: Mr. Chas. Torville,
Chairman; Mrs. Dorothy Sheets, Mrs. Helen Tennian.
Directory[edit]
Assemblies
- Birmingham, Alabama—Mrs. Verna A.
Inglis, Corresponding Secretary, 1000 South 43rd Street.
- Urbana, Illinois—Mrs. Esther G. Harding,
Secretary, 1203 West Oregon Street.
- Racine, Wisconsin—Mrs. Helen Lorentzen, Secretary,
1548 Kearney Avenue.
- Albuquerque, New Mexico: Mrs. Richard
Waiters, Albuquerque Bahá’í Assembly, Box 1206.
Committees
- Green Acre School—Mr. Bishop Brown
unable to serve. New members added: Mrs. Clarence Welsh, Miss Dorothy Fisher, Miss Elizabeth Murray, Mr. Rustom Payman.
- Louhelen School—Mr. George R. True,
Mr. Aldham Robarts, Mr. Ralph Halverson, Mr. Paul Pettit.
Radio—This Committee has been reconstituted with the following membership: Mr. Russell Goudy, Chairman, Mrs. R. Y. Mottahedeh, Secretary, 225 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y., Mr. William Sears, Mr. R. Y. Mottahedeh, Mrs. Fred Morton, Mrs. William Sears, Miss Pearl Berk, Mr. Ugo Giarchery, Miss Monavar Bechtold, Mr. Rinaldo Quigley, Mrs. Rinaldo Quigley.
- Radio Script Reviewing Committee—
Mrs. Patrick Quinlan, Mrs. Shirley Warde.
- Study Aids—Miss Joan Crawford added.
- Temple Guides—Mr. Marshall Tyler
added.
- World Language—Mr. David Earl
added.
- World Order Magazine Editorial—Mr.
Wm. Kenneth Christian added.
- Regional Teaching Committees—Florida;
Mrs. Chester M. Davison, Jr., Chairman; Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa: Miss Clara Edge and Mrs. Charlotte Timm added, Mrs. Harry Mills unable to serve; New York: Mr. Robert McLaughlin, and Mrs. Dorothy Arnold Kent added. Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky: Mr. W. N. Foster and Mrs. W. N. Foster added.
Enrollments and Transfers[edit]
Reported by Local Assemblies
Lansing, three transfers.
Detroit, three transfers.
Urbana, one transfer.
Teaneck, one youth; one youth transfer.
Honolulu, one and one transfer.
Brookline, two transfers.
San Francisco, three transfers; two
- youth transfers.
Providence, one transfer.
New Haven, one transfer.
Pasadena, two transfers.
Eliot, two transfers.
Lima, one.
Miami, one.
Evanston, one.
Alhambra, one.
Omaha, two.
Memphis, two transfers.
Glendale, two and one transfer.
Chicago, two transfers.
Colorado Springs, two transfers.
Butte, one.
Boston, one.
Flint, one youth.
San Juan, one and one transfer.
Dayton, one youth.
New York, three transfers.
Washington, three transfers.
Worcester, three transfers.
Pittsburgh, one youth.
Long Beach, two transfers.
Anchorage, two transfers.
- Reported by Regional Committees
In October, seven enrollments and two youth.
In Memoriam[edit]
Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed. It bestoweth joy and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift of everlasting life.—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
Mrs. Emma Cook, Fairview, Montana.
Mr. Gerald G. McBean, Port–au–Prince, Haiti.
Mr. Lawrence Hyatt, New York.
Mrs. Gladys Kowal, Fort Wayne.
S/Sgt. John Mackett, Jr., Milwaukee.
Mr. Reinhold Peckham, Kenosha.
Mr. Thomas Heap, Portland.
Mrs. Anna Hair, Portland.
Mrs. Harriet Ray, Portland.
Mr. Charles Ittner, Oklahoma City.
Bahá’í Service Men and Women[edit]
The National Office wishes to maintain accurate and up to date records of all the believers, men and women, who return from the armed services and establish residence either in their former Bahá’í community or elsewhere in the United States and Canada. Assemblies and Regional Teaching Committees are requested to report all such names and addresses as soon as possible.
Calendar[edit]
Nineteen Day Feasts: Questions, December 12; Honor, December 31; Sovereignty, January 19, 1946.
Meetings of the National Spiritual Assembly: December 29 and 30, 1945: February 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 1946.
State and Province Elections: February 10, 1946.
National Committees[edit]
Toronto Public Meeting
The first of the series of eleven meetings to be held in key cities throughout the United States and Canada was off to a successful start with the Public Meeting in Toronto on October 29th. The believers in Toronto and vicinity did a beautiful job and made the meeting an inspiration to the cities who are also to hold public meetings. The meeting was held in the Crystal Ball Room of the Royal York Hotel and the speaker was Mr. Horace Holley, with Mr. John Robarts as chairman. A book display and free literature were included in this Public Meeting and attractive bouquets of flowers.
Owing to the fact that this was the first meeting, some of the national material was not quite ready, and without the aid of radio or sufficient publicity in the paper, the Toronto friends were handicapped. In spite of this they showed what can be done when each believer puts forth his utmost in a unified plan of action. There were over 400 people at the meeting, a direct result of personal contacting, interviewing and constant telephoning.
For the follow–up work of any meeting is most important, the Bahá’í Center was opened for meetings and consultations and Mrs. Amelia Collins offered her services to the Toronto community during the week.
We are deeply grateful to Toronto for starting this National Public Meeting Campaign off so successfully and feel that if each city will put forth as much individual and unified effort, the whole continent will become enlightened.
Teaching in North America[edit]
The new membership of the National Teaching Committee, as it surveys the field of teaching activity throughout North America, is thrilled to witness the extent to which the believers have utilized the “golden opportunities” for meetings to present the Bahá’í Peace Program. Inter-regional circuits have provided teaching help lot such meetings in Eastern and Western Canada, the Pacific Northwest, the Southwest and Southern States, while Regional projects have provided teaching help to Assemblies and groups in Ontario. New England, New York, New Jersey, Mississippi, Tennessee and California. In Pittsburgh, Denver, and Washington, D. C., the Regional Teaching Committee cooperated with the assemblies in sponsoring Regional Conferences followed by public meetings for the presentation of the Bahá’í Peace Program.
Word of the most recent Canadian
Conference held from August 19th
to 24th in Banff, Alberta, reports
that thirty–eight believers and friends
from the surrounding Provinces and
States attended the conference, at
which four persons declared their intention
to join the Faith. Mr. and
Mrs. Harlan Ober assisted in the
program and Mr. Ober continued on
a circuit which included visits to
Helena, Butte, Fargo, Sioux Falls,
and Buffalo on his return to Boston.
In each of these cities meetings were[Page 5]
arranged for Mr. Ober to speak on
the Bahá’í Peace Program.
Teaching activity has gone steadily forward. In Canada Mrs. Amelia Collins visited Regina in April, followed in May by Fred Schopflocher who visited the communities and groups of Western Canada, as well as Ontario and the Maritime Provinces. Later in May an inter–regional circuit was arranged for Reginald King which included visits to Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Vernon. Much interest was reported in each of these cities. The largest groups to hear Mr. King were the Regina and Saskatoon, Sask. Technical High Schools with 500 and 1000 in attendance where he spoke on “The Place of Youth in World Peace." Several meetings were arranged in Vancouver and the public meeting was particularly successful with an attendance of about 100 Bahá’ís and their friends. The group in West Vancouver, the RTC reports, “did a good deal of work in preparation for Mr. King’s visit and many new contacts heard something about the living Faith and wish to hear more.” Mrs. Ethel Hammond, an isolated believer, living in Victoria, arranged for Mr. King to meet a group of 30 new contacts and reports excellent response.
In Eastern Canada there is a new regional committee for the Maritime Provinces to insure the necessary assistance to those struggling little Assemblies. Moncton, New Brunswick, requires an additional settler to holds its assembly status, and Mrs. Annie Romer, who has been a pioneer settler in Halifax is transferring to Moncton to help preserve this “spiritual prize.” Mrs. Florence Cox, formerly of California, who was a pioneer in Regina, moved to Charlottetown, P.E.I. in April to further strengthen that center. In July a Regional Conference held just outside Halifax attracted the Bahá’ís from the nearby cities as well as several non-Bahá’ís who had been attending study classes. Mrs. Laura Davis of Toronto gave a course on “What it means to be a Bahá’í.” and Mr. Willard McKay spoke on Administration. The Halifax Assembly reported “A very fine spirit there and real enthusiasm.” Of their own progress Halifax reports having “as high as 40 different non-Bahá’ís at Sunday meetings. We sent a series of the Peace leaflets to a selected list of about 60 leading people whom we knew were interested in World Peace and a New World Order. Also, we have started a lending library.”
In the Southern States. Mrs. Bahiyyih Ford completed a circuit in April which started in Baltimore, where she served as moderator during two Race Unity panel discussions. Mrs. Ford also visited Washington, D. C., Waterford and Stanton, Virginia, Charleston and Huntington, West Virginia, and Birmingham, Alabama. The Southern Bahá’ís expressed deep appreciation of the help of Mrs. Ford.
A circuit was arranged which provided the teaching help of Dr. Ali Kuli Khan through four Southern States. Greenville, S. C., Assembly reports that “Dr. Khan spoke in the City Hall Council Chamber here and was a marvelous help to us.” In Birmingham Dr. Khan spoke at the chapel exercises of the Booker T. Washington Business College to 150 students and at Parker High School to 500 as well as at a public meeting in the Bahá’í Center where the audience seemed most receptive to his message. We know that Dr. Khan’s visit will be very productive, as he covered a great deal of territory and “always spoke with inspiration and authority whether it was giving the Divine Message or counseling with interested ones on World affairs, especially the peace plans now in the making. We have needed someone of his caliber and with his intense devotion and we are so grateful for his visit.”
In Texas, despite the heat, the new little Dallas group met regularly all summer, and many contacts were made by Antonio Roca during his five weeks’ visit in San Antonio and in Houston. Mrs. Kathryn Frankland has moved to Houston to further strengthen that community.
The New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania Regional Teaching Committee have provided teaching help to both Red Bank and Englewood besides arranging a circuit for Mrs. Ruth Moffett through nine New Jersey cities in the spring. A Regional Conference was held in June in conjunction with the Local Spiritual Assembly of Pittsburgh followed by a public symposium on “The Assurance of World Peace.”
Further circuits arranged for Mrs. Moffett took her to Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri, where, besides speaking publicly at Bahá’í Centers, she spoke in several colleges and gave radio broadcasts. On Mrs. Moffett’s return from San Francisco, where she attended the Peace Conference, she spoke in Reno, Nevada, Independence, Kansas City, and St. Louis, Missouri.
The RTC for Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, arranged to send teaching help to an isolated believer in Joplin, Mo., Mrs. Grace M. Bell, in June, and reports that a group of 14 attended the meetings at which Mrs. Velma Sherrill spoke on the Faith.
The Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa RTC held the last of its three yearly Regional Conferences in Detroit in April. Bahá’ís from all parts of the state attended the Conference, and the public meeting which followed.
Requests are being made by regional teaching committees and assemblies for reinforcements for the weak assemblies, and the need for volunteers for this type of teaching help is urgent. We are making an earnest plea for those devoted believers who have spent several years of sacrificial service in pioneer areas and who now find for various reasons that they must leave, but remain on at their posts to hold the assembly status until replacements arrive to release them.
Library[edit]
The Library Committee wishes to call the attention of the assemblies in the important book, The Bahá’í World, Volume 9, which should be as widely distributed as possible to our important public, college and university libraries. Our committee is presenting this book to the twenty–five most important university libraries and the Library of Parliament. Complimentary copies oi Bahá’í World, Volume 9, have been sent to the following libraries:
- 1. University of Puerto Rico.
- 2 University of Alaska.
- 3. Library of Parliament (Ottawa,
- Ontario).
- 4. University of California.
- 5. University of Southern California.
- 6. University of Wisconsin.
- 7. University of Illinois.
- 7. University of Michigan.
- 9. University of Indiana.
- 10. University of Iowa.
- 11. University of Minnesota.
- 12. New York University.
- 13. University of Pennsylvania.
- 14. University of Chicago.
- 15. Northwestern University.
- 16. Boston University.
- 17. Howard University.
- 18. Tuskegee Institute.
- 19. Columbia University.
- 20. Harvard University.
- 21. Yale University.
- 22. Vassar College.
- 23. Stanford University.
- 24. Ohio State University.
- 25. Princeton University.
The large Middle West universities have been included in this list, because, being so near to the Temple and the National Headquarters, they may be more aware of the Faith and so appreciate this volume. It is to be hoped that Bahá’ís will donate copies to other colleges and universities in order that this book may be as widely distributed as possible. We also hope that every assembly will give serious consideration to the donation of a copy to its main public library. We should like to have a record of all such presentations for our files.
We have some information on placing books in Army Hospital libraries which should assist the friends in making contacts with these librarians. Books may be secured from our committee after written permission to donate books has been given by the librarians. The Chief of Chaplains told the National Spiritual Assembly that the librarian has the personal responsibility relative to the selection of books, religious or otherwise, though the chaplains often advise with relation to religious literature but had no authority as to the inclusion or removal of any particular literature. Such authority is vested in the commanding officer of the unit concerned. The Library Committee feels that one of two steps could be taken: to contact the Commanding Officer to receive his permission to donate books, or to contact the chief librarian making very certain that the librarian is sincere in accepting the hooks and will not refuse them after further discussion with local chaplains. There have been several cases where books were rejected and returned and so tact and careful contact work is required to get our books catalogued and used.
A suggestion has come to our committee that the friends may find it possible to interest their local librarians in arranging a display on “Patterns of World Peace” or something similar and incorporating such Bahá’í books as Promulgation of Universal Peace, Foundations of World Unity, Bahá’í Peace Program, Security for a Failing World, etc.
The Library Committee would also be interested in hearing further or the progress of placing books in the “barren libraries” listed in the various regions last year. We feel that a wide distribution of our literature in public and college libraries will be the seed-bed for much future teaching work.
Contacts Committee
One of the projects of this Committee recently approved by the National Spiritual Assembly is that of maintaining contacts with service men and women in Government hospitals.
To assist us in establishing such contacts it is requested that you furnish us whatever is available of the following information:
Names and addresses of Government hospitals in your vicinity.
Names and addresses of librarians of these hospitals or of adjacent book stores.
Suggestions for securing entry into these institutions for free Bahá’í literature.
List of names of service men and women in hospitals who are contacts or potential contacts of Bahá’ís and to whom free literature may be mailed individually.
Your cooperation in this matter will assist in establishing and maintaining contact with a group to whom knowledge of our Faith may be of the utmost importance.
Louhelen Winter Session
Dates: December 26 through January 1.
Program: “Fundamental Verities”—
- Mrs. Florence Reeb.
- “Character Development”—
- Mr. William Kenneth Christian.
Rates: Dormitory, $2.50 per day; single,
- $3,00 per day.
“World Order”
The leading article for the December issue of the magazine is “A Spiritual Renaissance.” by G. A. Shook; for January, “Two Roads We Face,” by William Kenneth Christian.
Local Communities[edit]
Believers in Vaughan and Hines Hospitals
The Spiritual Assembly of Maywood, Illinois, will make contact with any Bahá’í from other communities who is hospitalized in either the Vaughan or Hines Hospitals, and in each case will report to the NSA so that the other local Assembly (or Regional Teaching Committee) may be informed.
Assemblies and friends are requested to advise the Maywood Assembly of the names, serial numbers and if possible the rank and company to which any Bahá’í patient is attached, so that the Assembly may arrange for visits and friendly help and association.
Local Teaching
One of the most successful teaching efforts made recently by a local assembly, was the series of public meetings put on by Milwaukee during the week September 30 through October 7th. Lectures were held every evening at Juneau Hall, of the Milwaukee Auditorium, which was beautifully decorated with chrysanthemums, and at the back of which there were arranged striking displays of Bahá’í activities—the Temple model; Bahá’í books; a contribution from the National Display Committee showing the overall size of the Cause; and one from the youth group showing the summer schools.
In preparation for these meetings 7,000 programs were printed and 5,000 letters were sent out, each with a program enclosed. In each program handed out in the hall was inserted a questionnaire with a request for free literature. About 100 people signed this request, thus forming the basis for a mailing List. Newspaper advertising was used freely during the weeks prior to the event.
Although the weather was very bad at the beginning of this series of meetings, yet about 350 people
Bahá’í Youth and friends at home of Stan and Florence Bagley, Flint, Michigan.
attended each lecture. The press
was represented at all meetings and
generous publicity was given.
In June the New York Community also held a big series of meetings on the Bahá’í plans for permanent peace. The first of these was on June 8th at Times Hall, with Mrs. Dorothy Baker and Mr. Horace Holley as speakers and Mr. Paul Haney of Washington as chairman. Thomas Richner, concert pianist, and Walter Olitzki of the Metropolitan Opera Association furnished the music. This was followed by three meetings at the Bahá’í Center, on June 9th, June 13th, and June 15th. There was also a reception at the Center, June 9th, featuring talks by Mr. Haney and Mrs. Baker.
In preparation for this series of meetings, programs were mailed to 1900 persons (1600 non-Bahá’ís). These programs, carried the Bahá’í principles and quotations from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on peace. Given with this booklet was a double–faced postcard making it possible for those attending to request free literature.
The total attendance during the week was 763, and, at the time the report was written, 35 specific requests for further information had been received at the Bahá’í Center.
Here is an informal play–by–play account of the creation of a Bahá’í Center. Miss Nayan Hartfield reports for St. Louis: “The Hall was engaged with other groups three nights during the second series (when Mrs. Moffett was scheduled to speak), and another room in the same building was not available, nor in any other where our colored friends would be welcome. On Thursday, May 31, a tenant vacated Room 215 in the Studio Building. Dr. Bohn and Mrs. Moffett did some fast thinking and rented the room. It was vacated Friday, June 1, and decorated Saturday, June 2. Dr. Bohn scoured the town for chairs and a Congoleum rug, finally securing 4 dozen chairs, wooden folding, and a 12 x 15 rug. John Bohn waited in the room till after 5:30 Monday for the rug and chairs finally to be delivered. Mrs. Fowler had shopped for curtains, and they were finished between six and seven that evening. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson furnished a walnut center stand and a wall tapestry; Mrs. Snyder loaned a large throw rug and brought flowers; pictures appeared on walls, and lo, by 8:00 p.m. Monday, June 4, all was in readiness and the first. Bahá’í Library in St. Louis was dedicated.
The Bahá’ís of Binghamton, New York, now have a Center in the heart of town, on the 2nd floor of the O’Neil Building on Court Street.
An informal youth gathering in Los Angeles at the home of Mrs. Platt is described in the Los Angeles bulletin by one of the guests, Dwight Barstow. “The gathering was truly one to please the heart of Bahá’u’lláh, for we found there were guests from five continents as well as the West Indies.
“The majority of us were, of course, from North America. South America had sent us Sr. Cuevas from Paraguay . . . Jamaica sent Mr. Egbert Tai. From Haiti, Raymond Mars had flown; while from Guatemala came Mr. Julio Cobar
Hushang Javid, Persian student of Chicago, teaching the Faith at youth party in Urbana.
Youth party at Urbana, November 10th.
our friend from Egypt, (Africa),
was Mr. M. A. Nafie; and Mr. Hassan
Fateh, of Persia, spoke to Asia.
Another visitor was born in Germany
and educated in England.”
“ . . . first introduced by Ruhullah Rahmani, each guest from other lands gave us a personal sketch of his own country and kindly answered our questions. Then Mrs. Charles Reed Bishop, our guest speaker, gave us an inspired message of unity.”
The Bahá’í youth of Urbana were the hosts of about fifteen young Bahá’ís from the Chicago area on November 10th and 11th. At a buffet supper and dance, at the home of one of the Urbana Bahá’ís, there were mingled Americans (white, Japanese, and Negro), Persians (Bahá’í and Moslem), Chinese, and guests from Spain and Luxembourg. On the morning of the 12th, a symposium on the subject “The Price of World Peace is World Religion” was presented at the Bahá’í Center by Miss Annamarie Mattoon, Miss Pari Zia-Walrath, and Mr. Charles Ioas, with Miss Cynthia Hastings acting as chairman.
A full day of talks and discussions on “Bahá’í Answers to World Questions” was held at the Bahá’í Center, McCully Street and Ala Wai Blvd, Honolulu, Hawaii, on August 5, 1945. Well printed programs were sent to all who might become interested, describing in detail the plans for the day and describing the purpose of the Bahá’í Faith.
Mrs. Dorothy Underwood of Danville, Illinois, reports that her whole study class of five members has become Bahá’í and subscribed 100% to the World Order magazine.
News of Other Lands[edit]
Germany
The revival of the Cause in Germany continues to be the most striking news from abroad. The New York Bahá’í News for November, 1945, contains the following item:
“Bruce Davison and Johnny Eichenauer, Bahá’í soldiers now in Germany, sent the following cablegram to the Guardian, through Robert Gulick: BAHAIS IN DARMSTADT ESSLINGEN FRANKFURT GEISLINGEN GIESSEN GOPPINGEN HEIDELBERG KARLSRUHE KREIDACH NECKARGEMUND STUTTGART AND UBERLINGER SEND LOVING GREETINGS BELOVED GUARDIAN ASSURE UNDIVIDED LOYALTY IMPLORE PRAYERS GUIDANCE. The following cablegram from Haifa, dated October 15th, was addressed to Robert Gulick to be forwarded to the Bahá’ís in Germany: ASSURE EICHENAUER DAVISON DELIGHT NEWS CONVEY FRIENDS ALL CENTERS MENTIONED HEARTFELT GRATITUDE SAFETY ARDENT PRAYERS SUCCESS LOVING REMEMBRANCE ADMIRATION CONSTANCY SHOGHI RABBANI.”
Over 250 persons attended a Bahá’í meeting in Frankfurt on October 19. Many had to be turned away. The speaker was the noted Bahá’í, Dr. Grossman.
The Philippines
Sergeant Alvin Blum has been conducting a Bahá’í study class of 40 students in a college in Manila. In April, 1945, Alvin made contact with the Bahá’ís living in Solano, New Viscaya, Philippines. We quote the following from Alvin’s letter giving an account of his visit with these Bahá’ís:
“I found the Maddelas happy and full of spirit . . . They are fine, intelligent people. However, they are poverty stricken (since the war). Mr. Maddela read about the Faith some years ago and wrote to America for books. Through his efforts over fifty people met and studied the Teachings. The war broke these meetings up, but as soon as the books arrive from the States these meetings will be resumed. Over 25 former members have been killed or have disappeared . . . Solano, formerly a thriving city of 20,000 people, is in ruins, and about 10,000 people remain. The Maddelas took refuge in a rice field, where they lived for three years. When they returned to Solano they found everything destroyed. The only thing left was a sign which read as follows ‘Bahá’í Center: Reading Room. Every one Welcome’.”
Alvin conducted a Bahá’í Meeting outside the Maddelas’ straw hut. 9 Bahá’ís and 5 non–Bahá’ís attended 11 Bahá’ís were unable to attend.
Egypt
The following account of stirring events in Egypt is quoted as given in the British Bahá’í Journal:
“The last Bahá’í Newsletter received from Haifa gives a lot of news of events in Egypt: The successful holding of the Centenary celebrations in the New Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds had an encouraging and greatly stimulating effect on the Egyptian believers, causing them to make new plans and rise to greater heights of service.” The result was the formation of three new local assemblies by April of this year, at Suez, Tanta and Suhaj, making seven in all. Egyptian Bahá’í families have also gone both to Abyssinia and to the Sudan. They have established a public Bahá’í lending library in Cairo to meet the great interest which has been shown in the Faith since the Centenary. There was, in fact, in Cairo an uninterrupted stream of callers coming to inquire about the Faith. They came every day and often every night, and represented various classes, sects and religious denominations, coming from different parts of the city. They came singly and in large groups.
“All this has, however, been achieved only under great difficulty and even persecution, a number of individual Bahá’ís, as well as Bahá’í institutions, being attacked. In Tanta, in April and May, 1944, libelous pamphlets were printed and distributed or exhibited in public places, warning the public against the believers and instigating it to violence against them. In Al-Mahalat ’ul Kubra a band of fanatics encouraged by one of their religious leaders, attacked the little group of local Bahá’ís. In Al-‘Arish the one believer was brought into court and his marriage compulsorily annulled because his wife had originally been Moslem, in spite of her statement in court that she now considered herself a Bahá’í. In Cairo, too, there was a demonstration against the Faith after the Centenary celebrations, led by irresponsible crowds and groups of students, under the influence of various religious bodies. On the night of August 31st, 1944, a great mob attacked the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, smashed the electric lights outside the building and broke the arm of the Bahá’í guardian in charge of the building. At the same time the magazine ‘Al-Nazir published a series of articles full of calumnies against the believers and the Faith. All these attacks the believers have borne with great patience and courage, not allowing anything to deflect them from their duties and activities.”
Haifa
From the Haifa Newsletter we learn of the passing of ’Ali Ashgar Qazvíni, who had for twenty–five years rendered exemplary service as caretaker of the Master’s House.
Table of Contents[edit]
Messages from the Guardian Page Col.
- Suicide ................... 1 1
- Letters to Individuals ..... 1 1
- Correction ................. 1 2
- Cable about Burma .......... 2 2
National Spiritual Assembly
- Letter—Ascension of
- ‘Abdul–Bahá ............... 1 1
- “A Fuller Measure” ......... 2 1
- State and Province Elections 2 2
- Directory .................. 3 3
- Enrollments and Transfers .. 4 1
- In Memoriam ................ 4 2
- Bahá’í Service Men and Women 4 2
- Calendar ................... 4 2
National Committees
- Toronto Public Meeting ..... 4 1
- Teaching in North America .. 4 3
- Library .................... 5 3
- Contacts ................... 6 2
- Louhelen Winter Session .... 6 3
- “World Order” .............. 6 3
Local Communities
- Believers in Vaughan and Hines
- Hospitals ................. 6 2
- Local Teaching ............. 6 2
News of Other Lands
- Germany ..................... 8 1
- The Philippines ............. 8 1
- Egypt ....................... 8 2
- Haifa ....................... 8 3
Photographs
- Feast of Naw-Rúz 1944.
- Charleston, W Va. ............ 3
- Bahá’í Youth and Friends,
- Flint, Mich .................. 7
- Two Snaps of Youth Party,
- Urbana ....................... 7
