Bahá’í News/Issue 180/Text
| ←Previous | Bahá’í News Issue 180 |
Next→ |
 Proofread onceReturn to PDF view
|
| BAHÁ’Í |  |
NEWS |
| No. 180 | FEBRUARY, 1946 | YEAR 102 | BAHA’I ERA |
“For My Beauty’s Sake”[edit]
O Thou who hast surrendered thy will to God! By self–surrender and perpetual union with God is meant that men should merge their will wholly in the Will of God, and regard their desires as utter nothingness beside His Purpose. Whatsoever the Creator commandeth His creatures to observe, the same must they diligently, and with the utmost joy and eagerness, arise and fulfil. They should in no wise allow their fancy to obscure their judgment, neither should they regard their own imaginings as the voice of the Eternal. In the Prayer of Fasting We have revealed: “Should Thy Will decree that out of Thy mouth these words proceed and be addressed unto them, ‘Observe, for My Beauty’s sake, the fast, O people, and set no limit to its duration,’ I swear by the majesty of Thy glory, that every one of them Will faithfully observe it, will abstain from whatsoever will violate Thy law, and will continue to do so until they yield up their souls unto Thee.” In this consisteth the complete surrender of one’s will to the Will of God.
Meditate on this, that thou mayest drink in the waters of everlasting life which flow through the words of the Lord of all mankind, and mayest testify that the one true God hath ever been immeasurably exalted above His creatures. He, verily, is the Incomparable, the Ever–Abiding, the Omniscient, the All–Wise.
Bahá’í World Faith, p. 134.
The nineteen–day fast is a duty to be observed by all. All should abstain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset. This fast is conducive to the spiritual development of the individual. The Greatest Name should be read every day.
For this physical fasting is a symbol of the spiritual fasting, that is abstaining from all carnal desires, becoming characterized with the attributes of the spiritual ones, attracted to the heavenly fragrances and enkindled with the fire of the love of God.
Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, I, pp 57, 40.
Messages from the Guardian[edit]
The Work of Rehabilitation
Dearly-beloved co-workers:
The reports recently received from various sources, regarding the sad conditions prevailing among the members of the sorely–stricken, long–suffering Bahá’í communities in Germany and Burma, are of such a distressing nature as to merit the energetic, the immediate, and collective intervention of their fellow–workers in lands which have providentially been spared the horrors of invasion and all the evils and miseries attendant upon it. Upon the American Bahá’í community, in particular, which throughout this prolonged and bloody conflict, has of all its sister communities in East and West, enjoyed the greatest immunity and been privileged not only to maintain and preserve its institutions, but to prosecute so successfully a Plan of such magnitude and significance, a special responsibility now rests—a responsibility which, despite its manifold and pressing duties in the Western Hemisphere, it can neither afford to neglect or ignore.
Particularly in the heart of the European continent, where the present turmoil, suffering and destitution are mysteriously paying the way for the revival of a Faith which the Beloved Himself has unequivocally prophesied, where a once flourishing community is struggling to fulfil the high hopes entertained for it by Him, and where the prosecutors of the Divine Plan, are to lend their direct and systematic assistance when launching the second stage of their world-mission, must the American believers contribute the major share in the work of rehabilitation which the followers of Bahá’u’lláh must arise to perform.
Through the extension of whatever financial assistance is feasible, through the provision and distribution of adequate literature, through the initiation of any measures, official or otherwise, which they can undertake for the protection, reinstatement and revival of a greatly–tested, highly promising and much loved community, the American believers have the golden opportunity of adding a fresh chapter to the brilliant record of their past international services to the Cause of God.
Nor should the urgency of the task
in far–away Burma, where a flourishing
community had furnished so
shining an example of Bahá’í fellowship
and solidarity, be underestimated.
The spirit which its remnant
has displayed after so many
years of persecution, dispersion and
danger, merits the widest measure
of encouragement and support, both
moral and financial. Pressed as the
American Bahá’í community must
be by the twofold obligation of
proclaiming the verities of their Faith
to the American public and of
consolidating the vast enterprises
initiated throughout Latin America,
the stalwart and privileged followers
of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in North
America cannot allow so great an
opportunity to advance the vital
international interests of His Cause to[Page 2]
slip from their grasp. I feel confident
that in the discharge of this additional
task they will exhibit those
same traits that have distinguished
their stewardship for so many years
to so glorious a Cause.
Haifa, Palestine, December 21, 1945
The following two paragraphs in the same letter of December 21, 1945, were written by the Guardian through his secretary:
In view of all the German and Austrian Bahá’ís have passed through, and the naturally disorganized state of their affairs, after so long a period of separation and suffering, he feels that your Assembly should by all means do all in its power to help them and protect them. If you feel that the suggestion of Mr. Eichanauer is feasible, he advises you to carry it out. Although he has stated that the Bahá’í mission in Central and South America must be completed before the American believers can start teaching campaigns in other countries, this does not mean that those friends whom duty or business takes abroad are not to serve the Cause all they possibly can. Likewise, it does not mean that help should not be given to Bahá’í brothers and sisters in desperate need—such as is the case at present in Burma, the Philippines, Austria and Germany.
In view of the terrible conditions prevailing in Europe today, and the tremendous suffering which the German and Austrian Bahá’ís have passed through, both spiritually and physically, the Guardian wishes you to please make every effort to send, during the rest of this Bahá’í year and the coming one, the contribution of the American and Canadian Bahá’ís to the International Fund, to these believers, for their relief and succor. He urges your Assembly to also make every effort to supply them with Bahá’í books in German, either published in the United States or Switzerland—whichever is most speedy, economical and practical.
The German Bahá’í Community
The German Bahá’í community, dearly beloved, highly honored by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and destined to play an outstanding role in the spiritual revival of an oppressed continent, has abundantly demonstrated in the course of ten years of severest tribulations, dire peril and complete suppression, the high character of its indomitable faith. I appeal to the entire community of the greatly blessed, highly privileged American believers, to arise unitedly and contribute generously through dispatch of funds and literature designed to alleviate the distress and rehabilitate the institutions with which the future prosecutors of the second stage of the Divine Plan must be closely associated.
Cablegram received December 31, 1945
Emogene Hoagg
Deeply grieve passing of the exemplary pioneer of the Faith, Emogene Hoagg. Her long record of national and international services is unforgettable, her reward in the Abhá Kingdom assured and abundant.
Cablegram received December 31, 1945
National Spiritual Assembly[edit]
The Task of Relief
Beloved Friends:
The Guardian calls the American Bahá’í community with the mighty task of contributing to the relief of the suffering Bahá’ís in war–stricken lands, and to the rehabilitation of the Bahá’í administrative order wherever it has been temporarily destroyed. This call has come to us in his letter dated December 21, 1945, and the portion written in Shoghi Effendi’s own hand is shared with the friends in this issue of Bahá’í News.
While the National Spiritual Assembly will not be in session until February 15, individual members are assembling the necessary information on which a concerted, nationwide effort can be strongly based. Pending announcement of plans and methods commensurate with the needs of the believers in Burma, the Philippines, Austria and Germany (the places specifically named in the body of that letter), the friends are naturally free to continue with the work of relief some of our communities have already undertaken on receipt of appeals from the Philippines and Germany.
A contribution of $500 has been cabled to the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma for the stricken Bahá’ís of Burma, and a special donation of $1,500 has been rushed to the National Fund by a devoted individual believer for this work of international relief. The Guardian himself has diverted to this purpose the contribution which is made regularly to the International Fund in his care.
The spirit of Bahá’u’lláh is a world spirit, His truth a world truth, and the power of His Faith is a world power. Therefore, though we carry weighty tasks in both North and South America, He will assist us to achieve our full share of this new
|
Bahá’í News is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada as the official news-letter 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 initialed 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 my great factor in promoting understanding, providing information on Bahá’í activity, both local and foreign, in stimulating interest, in combating evil 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; news items 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, Eleanor S. Hutchens, Mabel H. Paine. Address: Bahá’í News Committee, c/o Miss Garreta Busey, 503 West Elm Street, Urbana, Illinois. |
responsibility in Europe and the East. May our first great enterprise as Bahá’í world citizens penetrate the citadels of infamy and desolation, and rescue the oppressed ones in the Name of Bahá’u’lláh!
Use of Corporate Seal[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly has approved the recommendation made by the Legal Committee concerning the use of the seal by incorporating local Assemblies: that if they wish to do so, it is entirely proper for an Assembly to affix its seal on its letters of credential. The National Assembly it will hereafter use its seal on credentials issued to Bahá’ís proceeding to foreign countries.
Review of Magazine Articles[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly has recorded the view that magazine articles about the Cause, written by individual believers as their personal understanding of the teachings, need not be officially reviewed, but all statements about the Faith which are officially sponsored by a Bahá’í body are to be reviewed and approved before publication. Individual authors may submit manuscripts to the Public Relations Committee for an advisory opinion if they wish.
The Bahá’í World, Vol. IX[edit]
A Correction
It has been pointed out that in the “In Memoriam” section, the photograph used with the article about the late Miss Alma Knobloch is not of Miss Knobloch herself but of her sister, the late Mrs. Pauline Hannen.
Committees, Assemblies and individual believers who send in photographs for use either in The Bahá’í World or in Bahá’í News are requested to write the title and date of the picture on the back, since many illustrations pass through several hands before they are published, and unlabeled photographs make errors possible.
Glossary[edit]
Extensive research and editorial work is being done by Mírzá ‘Alí–Kulí Khán in compiling a glossary of Bahá’í terms. The index Committee is rendering valuable assistance in recording the terms which should be included in a complete Bahá’í
Gathering at the Thornton Chase Memorial, Los Angeles, September 30, 1945.
glossary. The Guardian’s advice and
direction have been requested, so that
the work in its final form will conform
to his wishes.
In Memoriam[edit]
Death proferreth 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. Gladys Kowal, Fort Wayne. Mrs. Lena Showalter, Springfield,
- Illinois.
Mrs. Margaret Pierce, Racine. Mr. William Atwater, Miama. Mr. Ignaz Wetzel, Whitefish Bay,
- Wisconsin.
Mrs. Emma Kohn, Milwaukee. Mr. William Gauthier, Monroe,
- Washington.
Removal From Membership[edit]
The friends are informed that Mr. Baer Salov of Montclair, N. J. has been taken from the Bahá’í membership list on receipt of his written statement that he agrees with the attitude of the New History Society in its rejection of the Bahá’í Order established under the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Public Teaching Bulletins[edit]
Nos. 8 and 9 of this bulletin, entitled “A World Faith,” have been mailed out by the National Contacts Committee to its special list of names. Copies are available for local assemblies and individual believers at the rate of 50 for 50 cents or 100 for $1.00. Send order to the National Office with remittance payable to the National Bahá’í Fund.
Enrollments[edit]
- Reported by Local Assemblies
- Albuquerque, one.
- Fort Wayne, two.
- Boston, one.
- Arlington, two.
- Augusta, one.
- New York, two.
- Chicago, one.
- Indianapolis, one.
- Salt Lake City, one.
- Baltimore, one youth.
- Independence, one.
- Reported by Regional Teaching Committees
Eleven adult believers were enrolled during December, 1945, in the areas outside the jurisdiction of local Spiritual Assemblies.
Directory[edit]
The following additions and changes are reported:
Local Assemblies
Portland, Oregon—New secretary: Mrs.
- Rachel Porter, 5544 N. Delaware Ave.,
- Portland 11.
Committee Appointments
Two committees appointed in Panama, one for editing the Spanish bulletin, the other as Panama branch of the publishing work in Spanish, have been combined, with the following membership:
- Mr. Alfred Osborne, Chairman
- Mrs. Cora Oliver, Secretary, Box 1296,
- Ancon, C. Z.
- Miss Julie Regal
- Mr. Clair Hamilton
- Mrs. Nora Hamilton
- Dr. Edelberto Torres
Regional Teaching Committee for Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky—Mrs. Helen Patterson, 2725 Station Street, Indianapolis 1, has been appointed Secretary. Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Ulrich have moved from the region. Mr. and Mrs. Winnie Foster have been added to the committee.
Gifts from Abroad[edit]
The Treasurer has received donations from Rose and Sulman Dloomy of Baghdád, and from the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand, which are much appreciated.
National Committees[edit]
Public Meetings
Atlanta
The public meeting held in Atlanta was a great success. The following report comes to us from Mrs. David Ruhe, chairman of the Atlanta Committee for Public Meetings:
“Atlanta held its Public Meeting of the National Campaign on Sunday, January 13, in Morehouse Chapel of Morehouse College. Music provided by the Spelman-Morehouse Choir opened the program in a beautiful and inspiring way. The speaker was Mrs. Dorothy Baker, who gave a most illuminating talk on the subject “Religion Returns.” John Inglis of Birmingham, Alabama, served as chairman of the meeting. There were 210 people present; 40 signed cards saying that they would like to make a further study of the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. The auditorium was attractive with graceful palms as background on the stage and a stunning floral arrangement in the foreground. The splendid book display sent by the National Public Meetings Committee stood to the left of the platform, and was closely examined by most of those present. A lively question-and-answer period followed the lecture. Many remained to meet Mrs. Baker and ask further questions.
“On the following night, Monday, January 14, there was a dinner at 6 p.m. in honor of Mrs. Baker in the Civic Room of the Ansley Hotel. The public meeting in the same room at 8 p.m. was opened with two piano selections by Chopin brilliantly played by Atlanta’s leading young pianist, Mr. Billy Schatten. Dorothy Baker spoke before 75 people on the subject, “World Order is the Goal.” The interest shown was very sincere, and many remained until 10:30 p.m. to ask questions. We feel sure that study classes will result from both these meetings.
“In addition to our two public meetings, the regional committee held an inter-regional conference, which was a wonderful success and a great inspiration to all who attended. There were visiting Bahá’ís present from Birmingham, Ala.; Jackson, Miss.; Memphis, Tenn.; Nashville, Tenn.; Knoxville, Tenn.; Greensboro, N.C.; Greenville, S.C.; Augusta, Ga.; and Miami, Fla. An inter–racial dinner at the YMCA on Saturday night, January 12, was the opening event of the two-day conference. The subject of the evening’s program was “Strengthening the Administrative Order.” The participants were Miss Sue Langford, Mr. John Inglis, Mrs. Kate Whitmore, and Mrs. David Ruhe. Mrs. Terah Smith acted as chairman. On Sunday morning the subject was. “Ways and Means of Reaching the Masses.” with Mr. Robert Durr, Mr. John Inglis, and Mrs. Ruth Meurer as participants. Mrs. Ruhe served as chairman. The talks and discussion that followed were informative and inspirational. Mrs. Dorothy Baker was our consultant and throughout the two days gave us many helpful thoughts.
“Although it is too early to measure results, we can say with certainty that the events of the three days were a high spot to all the Bahá’ís and renewed our determination to give out courageously the Message of Truth for our day. The Public Meetings attracted many new souls. We feel deeply grateful for all the wonderful aid and assistance given us by the National Public Meetings Committee. The publicity provided by Mr. Henning was outstanding. It is our hope that every city and town in America will find it possible to hold such a meeting soon. The work involved is tremendous, but the fruits are in direct proportion to the effort put forth.”
Public Relations[edit]
The Public Relations Committee will from time to time inform the friends of those current magazines, books and newspapers which contain Bahá’í illustrations or articles on the Cause. The Committee thanks each of the believers who has so kindly brought these references to our attention. The intention is not to duplicate the function of the Bahá’í News Service in listing news and publicity emanating from believers, but to record news about the Cause produced by non–believers.
The front cover of Wilmette Life for September 6, 1945 reproduced an aerial photo of the House of Worship and the harbor, with a caption
Display of Temple Model and Bahá’í Literature.
including this reference: “The world–famed Bahá’í Temple is seen at the extreme right.”
In Locomotive Engineer for June, 1945, we find a quotation by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá set in a box for special emphasis.
The army paper, Stars and Stripes, August 11, 1945, Southern Germany Edition, carry an aerial view of the House of Worship.
The book entitled “An American Dilemma” refers to the racial unity principle of the Faith on page 871, vol. 2.
The pamphlet entitled “This Is Your America” issued by the CIO Political Action Committee makes a brief reference to the word “Bahá’í.”
A reference to the Báb and to the book by Comte de Gobineau appears in the essay by Matthew Arnold entitled “A Persian Passion Play,” included in Essays in Criticism, First Series, Macmillan Co., 1930.
The magazine, Canadian Geographical Journal, March, 1944, contains an article on “Symbolism and the Humanities” by Sylvia King, with three Temple views, one full page.
The June, 1945, issue of Flying mentions Point Oboe, the code name assigned to the Bahá’í Temple. “Navigational fixes are given from that landmark” in flights from Glenview to carriers in Lake Michigan.
The Pure Oil News of February, 1945, featured the Temple in a three page illustrated article.
A member of the Board of Missions and Church Extension of the Methodist Church is writing a book on different religions which contains a clear and sympathetic article on the Bahá’í Faith.
An article by Virginia Pearson entitled “Those Worlds Beyond the Sun” appeared in Mind Digest for November, 1945. The author relates a subjective experience in which she states that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá appeared to her in vision many years ago.
In Saturday Night, the weekly magazine of Canada, an excellent article about the Cause was published December 8, 1945, using the Toronto Public Meeting as its connection with current news events.
The rotogravure section of the Chicago Sunday Tribune of January 6, 1946, contains a very attractive view of the Temple taken by a staff photographer.
One of the most helpful newspaper references which has ever appeared in this country was the full page, colored photo of the Temple as illumined during the Centenary celebration, with an extensive article, published in the Chicago Sunday Tribune of June 17, 1945. The editor kindly lent us the color photos for reproduction, and copies will be announced for teaching use in the next issue of Bahá’í News.
- PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Bahá’ís of Baghdád and representatives of other centers in ‘Iráq celebrating the Centennial Commemoration of the Declaration of the Báb.
North American Teaching[edit]
We are happy to report that several Assemblies have been preserved through the settlement of believers who have already given valiant assistance in other cities during the Seven–Year Plan. Mrs. Beulah Proctor, one of the early pioneers in Halifax, has offered to move to Moncton, as Mrs. Annie Romer has been unable to become established there, although she plans to give them teaching assistance from time to time; Mrs. Edward Belcher of Binghamton, N. Y., a former pioneer in Sioux Falls, S. D. and Syracuse, N.Y., has moved to Boise, Idaho. Other Assemblies that have been reinforced are Salt Lake City, Utah, where Mr. and Mrs. William Sears of New York are now located — Mrs. Sears was a former pioneer in Salt Lake City; and Little Rock, Ark., where Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Blum will reside temporarily, for six months or a year. Mrs. Blum, nee Gertrude Gewertz, was a former pioneer in Birmingham, Ala., and more recently in Greenville, S.C. The Augusta, Ga., LSA reports that through the enrollment of Mrs. Lulu Strickland and the transfer of Mrs. Lillian P. Golden from North Augusta, S.C., its status as an Assembly is no longer threatened. The settlement of several other pioneers is being delayed, owing to difficulty in securing housing accommodations. The dislocation of the war years has forced many to make changes in residence and there are still many cities where the organized communities are in precarious condition; so we must continue our urgent plea for more volunteer settlers.
Particularly do we appeal to the returned service men who, in seeking to re-establish themselves, might consider going to a city where their presence would aid immeasurably in strengthening and consolidating these newly established units of the Faith.
Teaching help has been made
available to many of the small Assemblies
through visits from teachers
able to spend weekends or longer
on circuits. During the Thanksgiving
holidays, Dr. Edris Rice–Wray spent
six days in Oklahoma City, Okla. The
visit coincided with the death by
accident of Charles Ittner, and the
Assembly reports: “Probably the
best opportunity we have ever had
here to present the Bahá’í Teachings
to a sizeable group was at the
funeral services conducted for Mr.
Ittner. Many expressed their feelings
with words of praise for the beautiful
services. . . . Our only public
meeting was held at the Biltmore
hotel. About 35 people attended,
announcements having been sent to
about 500. Dr. Rice–Wray gave a
splendid talk and we are hopeful
that we can interest several new
people to attend a class.” Several
firesides were also arranged as well
as a meeting of the Student Union[Page 6]
of the University of Oklahoma at
Norman, Okla., where there was a
request for books for the University
Library following the meeting.
In Boise, Idaho, a series of lectures was given by Mrs. Marguerite Reimer Sears from December 13th to 18th, with “excellent publicity and a 10–minute radio interview . . . besides breakfast, lunch, and dinner scheduled with interested students. . . . Everyone seemed to cooperate to make everything a success,” Mrs. Sears writes. “The total non-Bahá’í attendance at the meetings was twenty, six of whom heard of the Faith for the first time.”
Other Assemblies received teaching assistance during January from the following teachers: Mr. Allen McDaniel visited Greenville, S.C.; Mrs. Harry Ford visited Wilmington, Del.; William DeForge visited Scranton, Pa.; and Mrs. Amelia Collins visited Worcester, Mass. From Halifax, N.S., Mrs. Annie Romer reports “two broadcasts, one on ‘Bahá’í Ideals in Education’ and the other ‘Peace on Earth; Good Will to Men’ . . . Then we had three meetings on ‘Peace’ which we climaxed with an International Peace Party. . . . 24 non-Bahá’ís, French, English, Russians, West Indians, Canadians, Americans, and Chinese, present. We had films . . . on the Arts of Russia, one on Nova Scotia, and one on India.” Memphis and Nashville, Tenn., were visited by Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Blum, on their recent trip West, as well as St. Louis, Mo.
Regional Teaching Committee reports indicate that contacts are being made in new areas, new groups are springing up and several groups are ready for Assembly status this April. The RTC for Alaska reports a ten-day teaching trip made by Mrs. Verne Stout to Fairbanks, where two fireside meetings were arranged, and many contacts were made. The Ind., Ohio and Ky. RTC reports that “Miss Clara Edge was asked to go into the Media County, for a week’s teaching program, and her work was very successful.” It is reported that Oak Park, Ill., and Santa Barbara, Calif. has sufficient members through transfer, to secure Assembly status this April, and Calif., Nev. and Ariz. RTC reports that work is going forward in Huntington Park, California, and that San Mateo is working hard to achieve Assembly status.
As part at the National Campaign, the New England RTC arranged a Teaching Conference in Boston and 19 Bahá’í communities were represented. The Conference was followed by a public meeting with Mr. Ralph Bates of Springfield, Mass. as speaker. The RTC for Md., Va. and West Va. also planned a Regional Conference in Washington to follow up the efforts of the National Campaign there, with Dr. Edris Rice-Wray as guest speaker. Two public meetings were held, one a panel discussion on Race Unity at which Dr. Rice-Wray spoke with two non-Bahá’í speakers. Both were very well attended.
“Not until, however, . . . the prizes won through the operation of the Seven-Year Plan are adequately safeguarded and the basis of the newly established Administrative Order sufficiently consolidated . . . can the ambassadors of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh . . . be called upon to undertake . . . collective responsibility for the diffusion of His Message, and for the erection of the fabric of His Administrative Order, amidst the sorrow-stricken, war-lacerated, sorely bewildered nations and peoples of the European continent.”
- Shoghi Effendi
Publishing Announcements[edit]
The Publishing Committee announces a special price on orders for Volumes V and VI of The Bahá’í World—both copies will be sold for $4.50, a discount of $1.00 from the combined list price of the two books. This offer holds only when both volumes are ordered together.
Bahá’í cards: a series of ten postcard size cards, each carrying a different passage from the Teachings, has been produced by the Public Relations Committee to enable individual believers to spread the message. The cards can be mailed with a 1c stamp as postcards, used as enclosures with letters, or handed out at meetings. Sold only in lots of 100 sets, or 1000 cards, at $3.10.
Archives Secretary[edit]
Material for the National Bahá’í Archives should be addressed to the Secretary of the Archives Committee. Mrs. Gertrude Struven, 714 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Ill.
Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Letters of the Guardian, and sacred relics should be sent by registered mail with return receipt.
Louhelen Bahá’í School[edit]
Here is an advance notice of dates for the five sessions at Louhelen Summer School in 1946:
- Workshop Courses — June 29-July
- 10 (inclusive)
- Junior Youth Session — June 13-19
- (inclusive)
Mid-summer Session — July 22-28.
- (inclusive)
- Laboratory Session — July 31-
- August 11 (inclusive)
- Senior Youth Session—August 14-25
- (Inclusive)
Details will come later, but both youth and adults are assured new and exciting experiences for the coming summer. Both adult sessions are now 12 days in length, the Laboratory Session has been scheduled for August, and the General Session has been replaced by the Workshop Courses, which are scheduled to open this season June 29. A 10-day course is planned for the senior youth with two extra days allotted for a Youth Conference.
This opportunity for organized study, together with the intimate fellowship of many Bahá’ís from many sections of the country is of special value to isolated believers and members of small groups. There is no better way for a Bahá’í to enjoy his vacation.
If you have not already done so, why not appoint a Summer School Committee in your local community to encourage attendance at all of our summer schools? Such a committee, which would include the Youth, could arrange displays and publicity bulletins, help arrange “share – the – ride” transportation, help in developing funds for financial assistance to the Youth, etc. Such a committee, publicizing all three schools with special emphasis on its own area, could assist greatly in the very important educational program of our Bahá’í Summer Schools.
If you want to make reservation early or want information on rates for board and room, write to the Louhelen Bahá’í School, Davison, Michigan.
- LOUHELEN SCHOOL COMMITTEE
“Bahá’í News”[edit]
With this issue we are inaugurating a section of devotional material which may be used by the friends for meditation throughout the month, if they so desire. It should serve to remind us of the spiritual implications of the fast.
Library
Professional Librarians
The National Library Committee would appreciate it if the professional librarians in the Faith would contact our committee giving their names and addresses for our files. Such a listing would give us the opportunity of wider consultation on various library problems which arise requiring careful consideration and professional advice and counsel.
Local Communities[edit]
Additional Annual Local Reports
BURLINGAME, California, reports that a Temple display in a downtown window brought many inquiries. The community held a series on Tuesday night study classes and conducted eleven public meetings with an average attendance of twenty-five. Each week two children’s classes were conducted. The younger children, ages 6 to 10, studied the outline of creation and the Bahá’í Child’s A B C while the older group, ages 13 to 18, studied the Chosen Highway and the Dawn Breakers.
The community worked with the San Mateo group hoping to assist it to attain assembly status. Both Burlingame and San Mateo newspapers carried advertising for the public meetings and for the radio series over station KYA.
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, was successful in contacting other organizations. When Matthew Bulloch spoke, the Urban League sent notices to its 300 members, and the World Affairs Council sent notices to its 150 members. Through the International Institute, Bahá’ís took part in a pageant on the oneness of religion, gaining mention of the Faith and a reading from the words of Bahá’u’lláh before an audience of 400. Two Bahá’í meetings were announced at the meetings of the Fellowship of Reconciliation. A Bahá’í speaker addressed the Young Quakers and the people of Knightsville Congregational church. In addition, books were placed in the John Hay Library.
Listing for the Faith have been obtained in the telephone directory, the City directory, the Traveller’s Aid, the City Information Center, The Washington Street USO, and the Church Hospitality Center.
Two intensive teaching campaigns were conducted in Providence. Reginald King spent ten days in May, 1944, giving eight talks, while Gertrude Gewertz spent two weeks in August, giving four talks, discussing the Faith at three teas, and doing individual contact work.
Weekly fireside meetings were held at 92 University Avenue.
Correction
From ANCHORAGE, Alaska, comes a letter reporting a correction in an item appearing in Bahá’í News. Janet Whitenack Stout writes, “It seems to me personally that the November, 1945 issue of Bahá’í News was unusually helpful because of material contained in the Guardian’s letters to believers, and because of sections on consultation, study aids, etc. However, my husband and I would like to point out an error on page 13, where you refer to our marriage. This is under the Anchorage, Alaska, report. My husband’s name is Mr. Verne Stout, not Green!”
Other Local News
When the city was almost paralyzed by strikes, the FLINT, Michigan, Bahá’ís sent the pamphlets, “Industrial Justice” to sixty local clubs and organizations. The community had inquiries for literature as a result of a newspaper advertisement beginning. “Have you investigated the Bahá’í World Faith?”
The willingness of a spiritual assembly to assist members with their personal problems was shown by the action of the NEW YORK CITY Bahá’í Assembly when one of the members of the community was faced with eviction from property condemned for a new housing project. Judging the problem to be one of humanity and not of politics, the assembly sent a letter to the President of the City Council stating. “While we are in full agreement with the plan to provide for more adequate housing facilities for the residents of Manhattan, we cannot subscribe to the procedure of evicting the unfortunate tenants in midwinter, on a month’s notice. The Authority claims that postponing eviction beyond January 15, 1946, ‘would cause undue hardship not only on the Authority but upon the public as well’ . . . Would it not be better to suffer any amount of administrative inconvenience rather than force hundreds of poor people, many having babies or aged and infirm, out of their homes this unseasonable time when rooms and apartments are so very scarce? Many of the tenants affected are colored people who have long been underprivileged. Must this added indignity be heaped upon them? . . .
“ ‘It is our hope that you will do whatever lies within your power to prevent distress among these tenants who face eviction.’ ”
The deputy Commissioner of Internal Revenue has informed the New York assembly that the Bahá’í Fund is exempt from Federal income tax and that contributions to the Fund are deductible by donors in arriving at their taxable net income.
News from Other Lands[edit]
Norway
In a letter to a friend, Mrs. Aagot Krantz-Ramsli, one of the two Bahá’ís in Norway, writes of the bombing and burning of the town (Kristiansund), in which she lives. Her house alone was mercifully spared. She was busy ministering to the shelterless people.
She has translated many pages from the “Gleanings” and “Hidden Words” and sends some in letters to friends. One friend to whom she sent some of these extracts wrote, “During the time of afflictions, when I thought I could not bear living another day, your letters with enclosed quotations seemed the voice of the Lord. . . . I gave all my troubles into the hands of the Beloved of all the worlds and left them there for a solution, and in most miraculous ways they were solved.”
Germany
John Eichenauer wrote from Stuttgart in December, 1945, “Now that the German Bahá’ís can correspond with one another, regardless of the zone in which they live, plans are being made to re-establish the National Spiritual Assembly. Several pamphlets have been published and a radio program has been submitted to ‘Radio Stuttgart.’
Public Meetings; Youth Activities: “Public meetings in the Wurttemberg area were inaugurated on the first of December by an address, ‘And the Light came out of the Darkness’ by Dr. Keller–Jüger of the Stuttgart Assembly, to over 200 people in the Leherbildungsanstalt in Esslingen. Youth activities are blossoming in several cities.”
How to send relief to German Bahá’ís: “The needs of the German Bahá’í community are for food to get through the winter. Potatoes are filling, but every day they get monotonous, and I don’t know how long they will last. Any one who wishes may send food packages to me for the friends. Sugar, coffee, tea, raisins, nuts, preserved meats, soup mixes, candy, vitamins and mineral tablets and any other concentrated foods you can spare will do wonders here. Cigarettes and tobacco can be included. Few smoke; they usually use cigarettes to get their homes repaired, have wood delivered or to barter for food. Old clothes would, no doubt, come in very handy.”
“Yours truly expects to be here until next April or May. Address John C. Eichenauer, ASN 39857799, Tec 4, Det E–1 1st Mil Govt Bn (Sep) APO 758, c/o Postmaster NYNY.”
“Most of the Bahá’ís in the American zone live in Stuttgart (60) and Esslingen (30); there are about 20 in the Heidelberg-Neckargemünd area and another 20 in the Frankfurt area. Anything intended for the Stuttgart and Esslingen Bahá’ís could be sent to me, and for those farther north, send to Sergeant Bruce Davison, AFN Frankfurt APO 757, c/o Postmaster, NY, NY.”
“Bruce also expects to be here another six months.”
“Please don’t postpone anything you wish to do for these faithful servants of Bahá’u’lláh.”
Lidia Zamenhof[edit]
News reaching us from two separate and reliable sources seems to confirm the sad truth that Lidia Zamenhof died in Poland in August, 1944. More details will appear next month.
‘Iráq[edit]
The Centenary celebrations were held in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds at Baghdád. On the front walls of the guesthouse confronting visitors and callers were the twelve basic Bahá’í principles written on large sheets of white linen in very large characters. Inside walls were decorated with the choicest of Persian rugs. The celebration of the 100th anniversary
Mme. Draga Ilic with Martha Root in Belgrad, Jegoslavia.
of the Declaration of the Báb on
May 22 was for Bahá’ís only and
included readings from the Qur’án,
the Old and New Testaments and
Nabil’s account of the Declaration
of the Báb. A selection from the
Qayyúmu’l-Asmá,’ which the Báb revealed
on that sacred night 100 years
before, was read at the exact hour
of His Declaration.
After this program delegates and other Bahá’ís were guests of a banquet provided through the generosity of Shoghi Effendi. Representatives from 15 Bahá’í centers in Iráq were present.
Meetings on May 23, 24, 25 and 27 were attended by both Bahá’ís and invited guests. Among them were people of rank, state officials, business men, journalists and men of letters, about 44 in number. Subjects of some of the addresses were: “The Birth of a New World Order,” “The Future Life of Mankind.” “The Bahá’í Faith Establishes the Oneness of Mankind.” “The Way to Peace.” “New Spiritual Resurrection” and “Divine Remedy for Ills of Mankind.”
As at all the Centenary celebrations, congratulatory telegrams were sent to the Guardian and to all the National Bahá’í Assemblies of the world as well as to neighboring local assemblies. The beautiful replies received were a source of great joy and happiness to the friends and strengthened the ties of love and hands of unity.
Brief Notes[edit]
Mme. E. Schmitt, 40 Rue Mon Desert, Nancy, France, is a Bahá’í, and an ardent Esperantist. She would like to hear from the Bahá’ís.
Mme. Draga Ilic, a devoted and able worker for the Cause in Belgrade, Jugoslavia, died July 23, 1942, after a painful illness. War conditions such as insufficient food and poor nursing contributed to her illness and death.
Johanne Sorenson, a Bahá’í in Denmark, married during the war and is now Johanne Hoeg. She has made some translations of Bahá’í books into Danish. Her address is: Johanne Hoeg, Jerslev, Jylland, Denmark.
Mrs. Palmgren and Miss Zetterlund are Bahá’ís in Sweden. Mrs. Palmgren has done some translating of Bahá’í writings.
TABLE OF CONTENTS[edit]
| Page Col. | |||
| “For My Beauty’s Sake”—Words of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá | 1 | 1 |
Messages from the Guardian
| The Work of Rehabilitation | 1 | 1 | |
| German Bahá’í Community | 2 | 2 | |
| Emogene Hoagg | 2 | 2 |
National Spiritual Assembly
| The Task of Relief | 2 | 1 | |
| Use of Corporate Seal | 3 | 1 | |
| Review of Magazine Articles | 3 | 1 | |
| The Bahá’í World, Vol. IX | 3 | 1 | |
| Glossary | 3 | 1 | |
| In Memoriam | 3 | 2 | |
| Removal from Membership | 3 | 2 | |
| Public Teaching Bulletins | 3 | 2 | |
| Enrollments | 3 | 3 | |
| Directory | 3 | 3 | |
| Gifts from Abroad | 4 | 2 | |
| Gifts from Abroad | 4 | 2 |
National Committees
| Public Meetings—Atlanta | 4 | 1 | |
| Public Relations | 4 | 3 | |
| North American Teaching | 5 | 2 | |
| Publishing Announcements | 6 | 2 | |
| Archives Secretary | 6 | 2 | |
| Louhelen Bahá’í School | 6 | 3 | |
| “Bahá’í News” | 6 | 3 | |
| Library | 7 | 1 |
Local Communities
| Additional Annual Reports | 7 | 1 | |
| Correction | 7 | 2 | |
| Other Local News | 7 | 2 |
News from Other Lands
| Norway | 7 | 2 | |
| Germany | 7 | 3 | |
| Lidia Zamenhof | 8 | 1 | |
| ‘Iráq | 8 | 1 | |
| Brief Notes | 3 | 2 |
Photographs
| Gathering at Thornton Chase Memorial | 3 | ||
| Display of Temple Model and Bahá’í Literature | 4 | ||
| Centennial Celebration in ‘Iráq | 5 | ||
| Mme Draga Ilic with Martha Root | 8 |
