Bahá’í News/Issue 194/Text
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| BAHÁ’Í |  |
NEWS |
| No. 194 | APRIL, 1947 | YEAR 104 | BAHA’I ERA |
“The Handwriting Is On the Wall”[edit]
That the Seven-Year Plan is seriously imperiled is to be seen in the following letter from the National Treasurer:
Dear Bahá’í friends:
I want to draw your attention to several matters which are of vital importance to every believer and which cannot go by unnoticed if we are to continue at our present pace in the development of the Second Seven Year Plan.
During the special effort which the friends made from November 28th to January 6th, commemorating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Guardianship, contributions were received amounting to $65,000.00. This represented $40,000.00 from the general body of the believers and a special contribution of one friend in the amount of $25,000.
This brought the Special earmarked Temple Trustees Account up to $103,000.00 on January 6th.
I should like to draw your attention to the fact that this Special Temple Trustees Account is a frozen account, which is earmarked especially for the interior decoration of the Temple and that current bills may not be paid out of this account, other than those associated with the architectural work.
A superb effort was made by the friends during this period from November 28th to January 6th. In a cable received by the National Spiritual Assembly from the Guardian he said “he was deeply touched and thrilled by the generous response of the believers to the Temple Fund.”
The alarming thing is that in the Weekly Report received by the National Spiritual Assembly from the Treasurer February 22nd, contributions for the month of February to that date totaled only $9,029.46. This included nearly $1,000.00 which we received from Persia and ‘Iráq for relief, and also a special contribution of $1,000.00 received from one believer. Disbursements up to the 22nd of February were $27,032.48. In other words, expenditures have been over
Ten More Pioneers for Europe[edit]
| “Praying for ... Heroism”
SHOGHI
Cablegram received March 24, 1947. |
On March 12, five pioneers sailed from New York on the steamer “Veendam” for Holland. John Carré from the Los Angeles community, will reinforce the pioneers in Holland. Anita Ioas and Sally Sanor of the San Francisco community, will go to Luxembourg, to work with Honor Kempton who is already established there. John and Eunice Shurcliff, with their small daughter Frances, eight months old, recently of the Tacoma community, will take up residence in Brussels, Belgium, to work with Madeline Humbert, who is already in Brussels. The Committee is indeed proud of these young pioneers who are starting out with such devotion to dedicate themselves to this new and most difficult enterprise, that of establishing the Faith in Europe.
On March 14, Mrs. Jennie Anderson, recently of the St. Louis community, sailed on the “Gripsholm” to reinforce Alice Dudley in the pioneer work in Sweden.
On the night of March 11, the New York Bahá’í community, gave a reception for all of these departing pioneers and all of the reports of this party indicate that there was a wonderful spirit there which expressed the warmest kind of bon voyage.
On March 26, Miss Elsa Steinmetz and her sister, Mrs. Fritzi Shaver, of the Sioux Falls community, and Miss Charlotte Stirratt, of the Houston community, will sail on the SS “Westerdam” for Europe. Miss Steinmetz and Mrs. Shaver will go to Berne, Switzerland, to begin the pioneer work where they will later be joined by Mrs. Anna Kunz of Urbana, Illinois. Miss Stirratt will go to Holland. With the three native Dutch Bahá’ís, reinforced by John Carré and Charlotte Stirratt,
United Nations Acknowledges Bahá’í Declaration of Human Obligations and Rights[edit]
Under date of March 20, 1947, the United Nations has written the National Spiritual Assembly as follows:—
“I am directed to acknowledge your letter of February 28th, addressed to the Secretary-General.
“A copy of ‘A Bahá’í Declaration of Human Obligations and Rights’ has been passed to the Division of
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Human Rights in the Secretariat.
- “Sincerely yours,
“CHIEF, SECTION FOR NON-
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS”
In this connection it is of interest
to note the solidarity of the Bahá’í
world community as expressed in
acknowledgements sent by the National Spiritual Assemblies of Egypt
and Iraq after receiving a copy of
the same Declaration:—
From Egypt—“Certainly the statement is approved and its contents are wholly appreciated. We hold ourselves honoured in giving our opinion of a step which we hold in great esteem, and hope that by the Grace of the Almighty you will achieve such great heights of activity.” (March 11, 1947).
| Bahá’í Addresses
Treasurer’s Office:
Bahá’í Publishing Committee:
|
From Iraq—“Approve and endorse Bahá’í Declaration of Human Obligations and Rights submitted by your NSA to United Nations Human Rights Commission. May Bahá’u’lláh inspire and guide the Commission to fulfill its sacred task towards the welfare of humanity.” (March 21, 1947).
The text of the Declaration will be published in World Order Magazine, April issue, and the Public Relations Committee has been authorized to publish reprints for special contacts.
Publishing Announcements[edit]
Calendar—a card measuring 6½ by 11 inches, with full width illustration of Temple and civil calendar for 1947 marked in color to show Bahá’í Anniversaries and Feasts. The reverse side of card has the calendar of the Nineteen Day Feast, with month names in Arabic and English; list of Anniversaries and Holy Days, and the Guardian’s letter of November 27, 1938 on the subject of the Bahá’í day and the hours when Anniversaries are to be observed. Per copy, $0.10.
| Notice to Convention Delegates
|
Information for Temple Guides—compiled by Temple Guides Committee, revised (1947) edition. The purpose of this compilation is to prepare believers to deal accurately with the many and varied questions asked by Temple visitors. Its sections include: History of the Cause, The Temple, Essential Teachings, Guiding Technique, Additional References for Deepening in the Faith, with questions often asked Guides and their answers. Mimeographed, 8½ by 10¾ inches. 37 pages and cover. Per copy, $0.75.
Bahá’í Principles—a Course for the child of intermediate age, approved by Child Education Committee. It contains: suggestion for teachers, and class discussion material on each of twelve principles. A special feature is set of twelve full page, loose leaf illustrations of the principles, suitable for coloring. Mimeographed, 8½ by 11 inches. 19 pages with cover, plus twelve pictures. Per copy, $0.40.
Order from Bahá’í Publishing Committee, 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.
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
- Mr. Eugene H. Hamilton, Chicago, Ill., March 4, 1947.
- Miss Louise Mayer, Chicago, Illinois.
Advertising Campaign Brings Inquiries from Other Lands[edit]
The Public Relations Committee reports that requests for literature are beginning to come from readers of American magazines who reside in other countries.
South America, England, Holland and Turkey are so far represented in the list of countries where individuals have noted the offer of Bahá’í literature.
Handwriting on the Wall[edit]
$27,000.00 and we have received in contributions only about $8,000.00. You might ask, where has all this money gone? Well, here is part of the detail:
European Teaching Committee | $8,000.00 |
Public Meetings ...over | 2,000.00 |
Radio Committee | 1,000.00 |
Paper for Germany ...over | 1,600.00 |
Bahá’í News
Please report changes of address to which Bahá’í News is to be sent and other matters pertaining to its distribution to the Bahá’í National Office, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois. |
The Inter-America Committee had an unusually heavy withdrawal during February, and there were a number of additional expenses for new committees recently formed.
The National Spiritual Assembly will be meeting March 14, 15, 16 and 17. At this meeting many plans for the months ahead will be drawn up. If the funds continue to come in at the rate that we received them during February, the “handwriting is on the wall”—no more pioneers to Europe, no more public meetings, no more radio transcriptions and broadcasts.
In other words, the program built up by the Guardian during this current year will be brought to a standstill, and the foundation of a permanent peaceful world imperilled.
- Faithfully
- PHILIP G. SPRAGUE, Treasurer
Traveling Teachers in North America[edit]
During the past few months fine reports have reached the National Teaching Committee of the work that is being done by groups in an effort to build up the local membership to nine. The Regional Committees are bending every effort to assist, and many Extension Teaching Committees are also lending their aid. Inter-regional circuits have provided teaching help from outside the region and various National Committees have likewise provided assistance in these teaching activities.
The New England Regional Committee reports one of its most successful meetings this year was planned and executed by the Greenwich, Conn., group. The meeting was held at the local YMCA early in December with Mr. Borah Kavelin and Mrs. Harry Ford the speakers on the subject “World Unity Through a Common Faith.” Fine newspaper publicity, three free spot announcements besides three paid spot announcements and a 15-minute broadcast using record No. 3 of the Bahá’í World Faith series, announcements mailed to a list of 500 persons, 40 posters and 5 newspaper advertisements marked the preparation for the meeting.
Mrs. Clarence Welch, the group correspondent, writes that “a minister of Greenwich, a very independent, fine man and greatly respected, offered to help us let the people know about the meeting. He had met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a boy in Tiberias, loves Him, and has great respect for the Bahá’ís. The meeting was a great success we felt. There were fifty-five people there, forty non-Bahá’ís,—more than we had ever hoped for.”
Late in January the group arranged a second meeting at which Mr. Emeric Sala of Montreal spoke on “Economic Security Through a World Faith,” which was equally well attended. To follow up on the interest that has been aroused the group is having regular Friday meetings in a smaller room of the YMCA. In this activity the group has also had the help of New York and New Jersey believers with an anonymous contribution of $200 toward the expenses.
The Buffalo, N.Y. group has had the reinforcement of Miss Margaret Mills of Waterloo, N.Y., and Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Wooster of Jamestown, N.Y. The RTC held a Fellowship Supper in Buffalo on January 25th, and forty-two attended. In Albany, N.Y. a similar supper was planned and twenty-eight attended with the result that a study class was formed.
In New Jersey-Delaware & Eastern Penna. RTC has provided teaching help to a circuit during the past three months covering: Dumont, Englewood, Montclair, East Orange and Newark, New Jersey. To strengthen the Scranton Assembly a conference was planned to include a public meeting, at which an audience of forty-two is reported, and
Mrs. Alice Dudley, pioneer to Sweden, sailing from New York, February 19th.
regular Sunday afternoon meetings
are being held.
A Seminar was given by Mrs. Ruth Moffett in Toledo, O. from Jan 26th to February 6th to assist the efforts of the group. Mrs. Hazel McCurdy of Lima, O., is following up this effort by going up for meetings every other week, and Mrs. Lynette Storm will also have meetings in her home. The Lima community supported the work in Findlay, and Mrs. Moffett reports that four inquirers are ready to declare themselves.
Mrs. Moffett is now in Columbia, S.C., endeavoring to get a nucleus of interested people organized to study the teachings; and in San Antonio, Texas, the RTC reports that Lt. Anselm Schurgast and Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Bishop have assisted with the meetings of this active group. A new enrolment is reported in the Dallas, Texas, group following the visit of Mrs. Loulie Mathews and Miss Ophelia Crum. The group at St. Joseph, Mo. has had the help of Mrs. Anna W. Howard of Independence, Mo. and Mrs. Olivia Kelsey of Kansas City in an effort to get a study class organized.
Following a circuit through the Southern States in January, Mr. Philip Marangella spent a few days in Knoxville, Tenn., where a meeting was arranged at a local hotel, and the following day Mr. Marangella addressed several hundred students at Knoxville College. In San Mateo, Calif. the group conducts a weekly study class and has elected officers and appointed committees to serve until the Spiritual Assembly is formed on April 21st, and the RTC reports that teaching activities are also going forward in the Fresno and Carmel groups.
The Logan, Utah group has had most unusual success with its public meetings this year. During a recent visit by Mrs. Mary Collison of Geyserville, Calif. in February Mr. Leslie Hawthorn, the group correspondent, reports, she spoke before forty students of the political economy class at the Utah State Agricultural College on the “Bahá’í Peace Plan,” and at the LDS Institute students studying Mormon doctrines listened attentively to the Bahá’í idea of immortality, salvation, God, and the nature and progress of the soul. The public meeting was announced in the local “News Round Up” and the transcription “A New Interpretation of History” was broadcast. An audience of twenty-eight persons heard Mrs. Collison speak on “The Challenge of this New Age,” and many intimate fireside meetings were also formed, one of which was a supper for seven Persian students—all Moslems.
Mrs. Collison’s circuit also included visits to Reno, Nevada; Boise, Idaho; and Salt Lake City, Utah and a fireside meeting was also arranged in Ogden, Utah. In writing of her trip Mrs. Collison commented that during her stay in Logan she spoke to 141 persons, and that “one couple drove 65 miles to the meetings which they had seen advertised in the newspaper.”
Mr. William Lacey of Madison, Wis., covered a circuit visiting
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Duluth, St. Paul, and Minneapolis, Minn., Fargo, N.D. and Sioux Falls, S.D., the latter he reports had the
largest meeting, with forty in attendance, despite the fact that two
members of the community, Miss
Elsa Steinmetz and Mrs. Fritzi
Shaver, were making preparations
to leave for Europe shortly. Efforts
are now being made to replace these
pioneers so that Sioux Falls need not
revert to group status on April 21st.
Mrs. Nellie Fenton, formerly of
Mansfield, O., plans to move to
Sioux Falls and it is hoped that
other settlers will be available.
Mr. Philip Marangella of McLean, Virginia, made a circuit in January through the Southern States covering Greensboro, N.C., Greenville, S. C., Augusta, Ga., Birmingham, Ala., New Orleans, La., and Knoxville, Tenn., and in cooperation with the Public Meetings Committee arrangements were made to have Mr. Ober make stop-overs in the goal cities of the South enroute to Miami, Birmingham and Nashville where meetings were scheduled.
Many stop-overs have been made by Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Bishop of Pasadena, Calif., on their way to the Southeastern states where they plan to settle in a city favorable to the needs of the new Plan. Reports of well attended meetings have been received from Phoenix, Arizona, San Antonio, and Houston, Texas.
Mr. Charles Mason Remey of Washington, D.C., on his way home from Central America visited New Orleans, La., Jackson, Miss., Birmingham, Ala., Memphis, Tenn., and Louisville, Ky., early in March and Mrs. Loulie Mathews and Miss Ophelia Crum enroute to New York from New Orleans plan to stop over in Birmingham, Atlanta, Greenville, and other points along their route.
Reports from Regional Committees in the South indicate that visiting Bahá’ís have provided fine teaching help in the various centers during the winter months. The National Teaching Committee is now endeavoring to arrange for stop-overs with teachers who are planning to attend the Convention.
New Assemblies and Groups in Latin America[edit]
Activity is mounting to a crescendo on the part of the pioneers, the native Latin American teachers, and the believers in general in the sixteen goal cities of the Central and South American areas, as all unite to bring to consummation as many as possible of the new spiritual Assemblies planned for this year, in order to help broaden the basis of representation for the two National Assemblies to be elected as a part of the Guardian’s second seven-year plan. There is high activity also among the twenty new groups that have come into being this year, some of which hope to attain Assembly status within the next twelve months. A total of forty-three new Bahá’ís has been reported in Latin America this month.
The native Assemblies are taking an important part in this work. For instance, the Assembly of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, has just given an intensive teaching course to their recording secretary, Sr. Hipolito Laboriel, and supplied him with literature, and he is spending his vacation teaching in Trujillo, Honduras. Sra. Natalia Chavez, corresponding secretary of the same Assembly, will continue this work for an additional month upon her return from Panama. The Assembly of Valparaiso, Chile, sent Srta. Rosy Vodanovic to Viña del Mar to present radio programs and teach in that city, where a group is now forming. San Salvador has been doing extension teaching in Santa Ana.
The Assembly of Guayaquil, Ecuador, as well as the local believers, have been of great assistance to Hascle Cornbleth in Quito, where a group of eleven registered believers expect to elect their Assembly April 20th. Col. Arturo and Sra. Yvonne Cúellar of La Paz have been combining with Gwenne Sholtis and Flora Hottes, the latter now visiting in Bolivia, to bring to completion the Assembly of Sucre, their goal city, and work has also been begun in Cochabamba. Mr. and Mrs. Antronik Kevorkian of the Buenos Aires Assembly are the nucleus about which the new community in La Plata, Argentina, is forming. Two new believers are reported there this month. The Assembly of Lima, Peru, is collaborating with Eve Nicklin in the teaching in Callao, where a group of five is trying to grow to Assembly status. The Assembly of Panama City is assisting Mrs. Louise Caswell and James Facey in Colón, where a group of six and a number of others studying are reported.
Miss Louise Baker of Lima, Ohio, who has been pioneering in Mexico, has sent in six memberships for Puebla and six for Coatepec. These goal cities are trying for Assembly status this year. Mrs. Dorothy Baker has just returned from Mexico, where she visited the new communities in these two cities and also the one in Mexico City, her stay coinciding with that of Charles Mason Remey in the capital. Mexico City has also sent in six new memberships, making a total increase for Mexico of eighteen memberships this month.
Gayle Woolson has been visiting in Caracas and Maracay, Venezuela. Maracay has been opened as the goal city of that country and a group of 15 is studying there, one of them being the master of the Masons. Yolanda de Stronach, former chairman of the Assembly in Caracas, who is teaching at a school in nearby Turmero, will visit the group once a week and assist them. Mrs. Sheila Rice-Wray, who left February 25th to pioneer in Latin America, has been working with Miss Jean Silver in Cienfuegos, Cuba’s goal city. She is now leaving for brief visits in Ciudad Trujillo and San Juan, will visit Caracas for a few days, and will then settle in Maracay for two months to help in teaching the student group there.
Columbia has reported two new communities ready to elect their Assemblies: Cali and Medellin, with memberships of nineteen and nine respectively, while Contratación with seven is hoping to make the required nine also. There are three smaller groups as well as the two established Assemblies. Miss Elena Marsella of Ciudad Trujillo is en route to Santiago, Dominican Republic, to follow up the many contacts which she and Dr. Malcolm King made in that city during a recent regional trip. She will help later in Sánchez, which has a small group of four. Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Miessler are working hard in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to bring their group of six to Assembly status. They report that 52 persons have attended their classes.
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Artemus Lamb and his sister, Mrs.
Valeria Nichols, are traveling
through Chile, where ten new groups
have sprung up this year. Shirley
Warde, in collaboration with the
Buenos Aires Assembly, has been
instrumental in promoting the big
Buenos Aires conference, in opening
the summer school sessions at
Azeiza and teaching there in January, and in helping at La Plata. She
has also performed yeoman service
in the publishing field. Flora Hottes
left Montevideo in February and has
been visiting Buenos Aires; Asunción, Paraguay; and La Paz and
Sucre, Bolivia. She will do travel
teaching up the west coast and
through Central America and
Mexico en route homeward for a
needed vacation after five years of
Latin American service. She hopes
to return permanently to Uruguay
after spending a year at home.
Dr. Vera Graham of California expects to arrive in Rio de Janeiro April 20th, where she will be a valuable addition to the thriving community in that city. Dr. Werner Hasenberg, noted physicist and former student of Einstein, is the newest member in Rio. Mrs. Leonora Armstrong, original pioneer to Brazil, has just completed revising the translation of “Some Answered Questions” in Portuguese and this is going to press in the new publishing center in Rio. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bode are more than busy in the teaching and publishing fields and are begging for new pioneers to join them in Rio. They report work very plentiful for good English stenographers.
Geyserville Bahá’í School 1947[edit]
Dates: June 22 to July 20, inclusive. Owing to the limited facilities it is necessary this year to confine the attendance during the first two weeks (June 22-July 5) to adults and youth members during which time there will be no provision for children’s classes. The program for the second two weeks, however (July 7-20) will include all those classes and other activities for children which are now one of the distinctive features of the Geyserville Bahá’í School.
Opening Day: June 22. The program as planned for this year makes it necessary to devote the opening day largely to registration, committee meetings, and campus organization.
| Convention Attendance Limited to Bahá’ís
The Public Bahá’í Congress to be held Sunday evening, May 4, welcomes attendance by all, This is our means of contact with non-Bahá is. |
Unity Feast: July 6. In order to enable the largest possible number of the Bahá’ís to participate in this joyful event, the Unity Feast will be held on the middle Sunday of the school session, July 6th. All who are interested in seeing the school and the Bahá’ís in action are cordially invited to attend.
Program: In accordance with the Guardian’s message to the Geyserville school last year, a large part of the program will be devoted to the needs and activities of the Seven Year Plan. The workshop method which proved so successful during the third week last year will be employed throughout the entire 1947 session. There will be provision also for lectures, round table discussions, public meetings, study classes and various other activities, all of which will be announced in detail at an early date. Further announcements will also include information about the children’s program.
Reservations: Because of the limited housing facilities, reservations will be accepted on the first come first served basis, and no accommodations can be assured if made later than June 10. Reservations which will include meals served on the campus should be made through Mr. Alfred Zahl, Secretary of the Maintenance Committee, 826 W. Grant Place, San Mateo, California. The rates will be announced at an early date.
Important: Please give wide circulation to the above announcements. The necessity for early reservations should be stressed so that the Maintenance Committee will be able to provide the best possible accommodations and make adequate plans for meals.
Temerity Ranch[edit]
The first summer school session for the Central American area is planned for the last week in November in Vera Cruz, Mexico. Temerity Ranch at Colorado Springs will be operated for the first time this year directly by the National Spiritual Assembly as a school to prepare pioneers for Latin America and Europe. The Latin American session is planned for the last week in June and will cover techniques in presenting the Cause to the masses, Latin American cultures and psychologies, experiences in the fields of radio, publicity, conferences, study groups and administrative problems. Applications to attend should be sent to the Inter-America Committee, Miss Elisabeth H. Cheney, secretary; 4500 Magnolia Ave., Chicago 40, Ill. The number of students that can be accommodated is limited, so that applications should be sent as early as possible, in order to avoid possible disappointment.
Study Aids[edit]
Response to the Study Aid on the Administrative Order has been good, and the Committee has requested Assembly secretaries to let us know the extent to which this study has been undertaken in the various communities, so that a complete report may be made at the Convention. Have you started a study class in your community? This is one very good way to help the Guardian in the wider sharing of the responsibilities which he has now placed on our shoulders.
Box 302, Winnetka, Illinois
Enrollments by Assemblies[edit]
St. Louis 1, New York 2 and 1 youth, Tacoma 2, Charleston 1 youth, Chicago 2, Berkeley 1, Wauwatosa 1, St. Paul 1, Evanston 1, Hamilton 1.
February — Enrollments in regional areas, 12.
Words of the Guardian[edit]
“The Secret of Right Living”[edit]
Each and every believer, undaunted by the uncertainties, the perils and the financial stringency afflicting the nation, must arise and insure, to the full measure of his or her capacity, that continuous and abundant flow of funds into the national Treasury, on which the successful prosecution of the Plan must chiefly depend....
He wishes you particularly to impress the believers with the necessity of maintaining the flow of their contributions to the Temple, and also to stress the importance of the institution of the National Bahá’í Fund which, in these early days of the administrative development of the Faith, is the indispensable medium for the growth and expansion of the Movement. Contributions to this fund constitute, in addition, a practical and effective way whereby every believer can test the measure and character of his faith, and to prove in deeds the intensity of his devotion and attachment to the Cause....
We must be like the fountain or spring that is continually emptying itself of all that it has and is continually being refilled from an invisible source. To be continually giving out for the good of our fellows undeterred by the fear of poverty and reliant on the unfailing bounty of the Source of all wealth and all good—this is the secret of right living.
From Bahá’í Administration.
National Spiritual Assembly[edit]
Beloved friends:
The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is the spiritual world of light, of truth, of justice and of love. Therein exists no shadow of doubt, no ambiguity, no furtive gloom beneath which superstition can flourish and scatter its evil seeds to the wind. Therein exists no love which is not just, and no justice which is not loving. Man’s assurance, his security and his life and welfare stand upon the foundation laid in that heavenly world.
In these days of strife and confusion, the loyalty of every Bahá’í is directed to the realities found in the Revelation. The virtue of tolerance is not for believers a license to mingle error with truth, but the confidence that the erring soul can eventually abandon whatever is not confirmed by the Manifestation of God. Affection which makes no distinction in a person’s service or disservice to the Faith is something other than true love. It contains the alloy of fear or self-pity which can destroy love if not remedied.
The world at the time of the renewal of religion is full of pseudo-mystical and pseudo-scientific practices. These are not merely fallacious and impotent to do good—they are harmful in that they foster the taste for adulteration and substitute, and introduce into the Bahá’í community elements making for disunity since they enter not by Revelation but by human insistence.
Consider such practices as spiritism, palm-reading, numerology, dietary fadism, astrology and the substitution of “direct guidance” for the collective consciousness of an authoritative Bahá’í institution and for the authenticity of the Bahá’í teachings. We must be clear about these matters. Nothing which cannot be authenticated in the teachings should be incorporated as Bahá’í teaching in public, fireside or other presentations of the Faith. They have no claim to philosophy or science of social value unless they are confirmed in the Sacred Writings. Community consultation will enable us to discriminate and protect the precincts of truth from sacrilege.
The local Assembly is responsible for upholding the Bahá’í standard in matters of teaching and practice claiming to represent the Faith.
Membership in Other Religious Organizations[edit]
The decisive words of the Guardian on this subject are reprinted for the information of the newer believers:—
“Concerning membership in non-Bahá’í religious organizations, the Guardian wishes to reemphasize the general principle already laid down in his communications to your Assembly and also to the individual believers that no Bahá’í who wishes to be a whole-hearted and sincere upholder of the distinguishing principles of the Cause can accept full membership in any non-Bahá’í ecclesiastical organization ... For it is only too obvious that in most of its fundamental assumptions the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh is completely at variance with outworn creeds, ceremonies and institutions ... There should be no confusion between the terms affiliation and association. While affiliation with ecclesiastical organizations is not permissible, association with them should not only be tolerated but even encouraged. There is no better way to demonstrate the universality of the Cause than this. Bahá’u’lláh, indeed, urges his followers to consort with all religions and nations with utmost friendliness and love. This constitutes the very spirit of His message to mankind.”
European Survey[edit]
Because of the difficulty of getting exact and definite information about believers and Bahá’í literature in the different countries included in the European teaching project, the European Teaching Committee felt that a personal survey would be of great benefit to them in the launching of this campaign. It was therefore decided that Mrs. Etty Graeffe, who had been placed in charge of the European Teaching Committee office in Geneva, and the Committee Chairman, Miss Edna M. True, should visit as many of the goal countries as possible on their way to Geneva, Switzerland.
Mrs. Graeffe arrived in Norway with the pioneer to that country, Mrs. Solveig Corbit, on September 17. She joined Miss True in Holland on October 8.
The following report is their survey. Because of its historical import, the National Spiritual Assembly wishes to share it with the friends through publication in Bahá’í News.
Norway[edit]
A. Pioneer: Mrs. Solveig Corbit.
B. Bahá’ís: 1. Miss Johanna Schubarth, who has carried on her selfless service to the Cause through all the war years, devoting most of her time and often her very limited funds to translations and publications.
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2. Mrs. Aagot Ramsli, living in Kristi-an-sund, cultured, especially capable of teaching.
C. Literature: 1. Published and already on hand: New Era, World Religion pamphlet, Faith for Freedom, Special European Teaching Pamphlet. 2. Translated and ready for publication: Gleanings (translated by Mrs. Ramsli), Iqán (translated by Miss Schubarth). 3. Translations contemplated: Hidden Words (to be translated by Mrs. Ramsli), Promised Day Is Come to be translated by Miss Schubarth). 4. Bahá’í books in libraries: In the University Library—Bahá’í World, Vols. II., III, IV, V; New Era (Norwegian); New Era (English); Some Answered Questions (English), Goal of a New World Order; Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh; Bahá’í Peace Program; Garden of the Heart; Íqán; Bahá’u’lláh und Seine Mission (German); Hidden Words (Esperanto); La Vizito en la Karcero, by Eckstein (Esperanto); History of the Bahá’í Movement, by Sydney Sprague, 1907 (Esperanto); Die Bahá’í Bewegung (German pamphlet).
D. Contacts: Many excellent non-Bahá’í contacts were made and developed by Mrs. Graeffe and are now being followed by Mrs. Corbit and Miss Schubarth. These contacts were made through a public meeting before the Esperantists and in a fireside
“Live So As to Enrich the World”[edit]
The cornerstone of the religion of God is the acquisition of the Divine perfections and the sharing in his manifold bestowals. The essential purpose of Faith and belief is to ennoble the inner being of man with the outpourings of grace from on high. If this be not attained, it is indeed deprivation itself. It is the torment of infernal fire.
Wherefore it is incumbent upon all Bahá’ís to ponder this very delicate and vital matter in their hearts, that, unlike other religions, they may not content themselves with the noise, the clamor, the hollowness of religious doctrine. Nay, rather, they should exemplify in every aspect of their lives those attributes and virtues that are born of God and should arise to distinguish themselves by their goodly behavior. They should justify their claim to be Bahá’ís by deeds and not by name. He is a true Bahá’í who strives by day and by night to progress and advance along the path of human endeavor, whose most cherished desire is so to live and act as to enrich and illuminate the world, whose source of inspiration is the essence of Divine virtue, whose aim in life is so to conduct himself as to be the cause of infinite progress. Only when he attains unto such perfect gifts can it be said of him that he is a true Bahá’í—‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ
gathering at Miss Schubarth’s.
Sweden[edit]
Mrs. Graeffe visited Stockholm from September 24 to October 2.
A. Pioneer: Post not yet filled.
B. Bahá’ís: The only Bahá’í Mrs. Graeffe found in Stockholm was Mr. Gustav Sundquist. He is a devoted, faithful soul who is greatly in need of assistance in promoting the Faith in Sweden.
C. Literature: 1. Published: New Era, Íqán. What is the Bahá’í Movement?, Special European Teaching pamphlet. 2. Translated but not published:
Headquarters of European Teaching Committee and Bahá’í International Bureau. The window at the extreme right is that of the International Bureau. The next two are of the salon, and the fourth window, that before which two figures are standing, is that of the E.T.C. office. One of the bedroom windows is obscured by the tree.
Bahá’u’lláh and His Message,
by Esslemont; Hidden Words (Miss
Sundquist reported that this was being translated by Mr. Per Hallsten
in Seattle, Washington). 3. Bahá’í books in libraries: In the Statsbiblioteket—New Era (English), New
Era (Swedish), Íqán (Swedish),
Bahá’u’lláh and His Message (Esperanto) 1926, two copies of the special European Teaching Pamphlet.
(This library will gladly accept English Bahá’í Books.) In the Kungl.
Biblioteket—New Era (Swedish),
Íqán (Swedish), two copies of the
European Teaching Pamphlet.
D. Contacts: Mrs. Graeffe spoke to about thirty people at the Esperanto Club and was interviewed publicly at an Esperanto rally where there were about seventy people present. She also submitted material for write-ups in three of the Swedish papers.
Denmark[edit]
Mrs. Graeffe spent October 3 in Copenhagen and October 5 and 6 with Johanna Hoeg in Jerslev.
A. Pioneers: Mr. and Mrs. Anders Nielsen arrived in Copenhagen October 16.
B. Bahá’ís: Mrs. Johanna Sorensen Hoeg, a well grounded, intelligent Bahá’í who has served the Cause in Denmark faithfully through the war years.
C. Literature: 1. Published: New Era, What Is the Bahá’í Movement?, Bahá’u’lláh and His Message, Special European Teaching Pamphlet. 2. Translated but not ready for publication: Íqán (in process of being translated directly from the Persian by a
[Page 8]
professor of Persian at the University of Copenhagen), Hidden Words
(translated from the Arabic by the
above-mentioned professor), Three
Obligatory Prayers (translated from
the English also by Prof. Magister
Kaj Barr). 3. Bahá’í books libraries: In det Kongelige Bibliotek,
Copenhagen—New Era (English);
New Era (Danish); Promulgation of
Universal Peace; Divine Art of Living; Íqán, Divine Philosophy; Bahá’í
Year Book (1925-26); Bahá’í World,
Vols II, III. IV, V; Wisdom of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá; Three Tablets of
Bahá’u’lláh; Bahá’u’lláh and His
Message; God and His Manifestations; Some Answered Questions;
Mysterious Forces of Civilization;
Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh: Hidden
Words (Russian); Pamphlets (The
Bahá’í Movement, and Dawn of a
New Day); Íqán (Persian); four Orientalske Boeger. In Kobenhavns
Kommunebiblioteket (St. Nikolai
Plads)—New Era (English), New
Era (Danish).
D. Contacts: Mrs. Graeffe made contacts with some Esperantists in Copenhagen. She particularly mentioned Miss Maghrete Noll, a prominent elderly Theosophist devoted to Martha Root. Miss Noll and a picture of the Temple and one of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in her room.
Holland[edit]
Miss True arrived in Holland on October 4 and was joined by Mrs. Graeffe in Rotterdam on October 8.
A. Pioneers: The two pioneers, Rita Van Sombeek and Jetty Straub, arrived with the European Teaching Committee Chairman on October 4.
B. Bahá’ís: Arnold van Ogtrop, resident of Bussum, was the only Bahá’í we could find in Holland. He is a young, deeply devoted believer, who had recently returned from the summer school in England, where he had enjoyed an inspiring course on Administration under Marion Hoffman. Mrs. Graeffe and Miss True consulted with the two pioneers and Mr. van Ogtrop during the afternoon and evening of October 8 on general conditions in Holland and on the plans for promoting the teaching work.
C. Literature: The two pioneers and Mr. van Ogtrop have a variety of English Bahá’í books. The two pioneers are devoting ten to twelve hours a day to a new translation of the New Era. They are using their supply of special European Teaching Pamphlets for free distribution.
Belgium[edit]
Mrs. Graeffe and Miss True were in Brussels from October 9 to midnight of October 11. There are no Bahá’ís in Brussels. All of their time was spent on non-Bahá’í contacts: Mrs. Graeffe, with members of her family, and Miss True with fellow-passengers on her steamer from the United States to Holland. As result of these visits there seem to be at least five ready for the pioneer to Belgium to begin her teaching work.
Switzerland[edit]
Mrs. Graeffe and Miss True arrived in Geneva on October 12. Their first objective was to find a new location for the International Bureau and to set up as an adjunct to this, the European office of the European Teaching Committee.
A. Geneva: After an intensive survey during October 14, 15, 16, which brought them into consultation with the best sources of information, it was decided unanimously by Mrs. Lynch, Mrs. Graeffe and Miss True, to take a furnished apartment at 6 Cours des Bastions. This apartment is in one of the most desirable sections of Geneva. It has six rooms which will be used as follows: an office for the International Bureau; an office for the European Teaching Committee; a work room containing the mimeograph machine for both offices, a bedroom each for Mrs. Lynch and Mrs. Graeffe and a very attractive salon large enough for gatherings of from fifty to sixty people. The apartment is on the first floor and attractive metal name plates have been placed at the street entrance and above the bell of the entrance door to the apartment. Arrangements were made for the telegraphic code name of “Bahá’í” to be used by both offices.
During the survey for proper location Mrs. Graeffe and Miss True contacted the following key people:
Mr. Guillaume Fatio, called the “first citizen of Geneva,” the one who is responsible for the first League of Nations being set up in Geneva, and considered the most important person in international affairs there.
Mr. H. Blanc, secretary of the Geneva University.
Mr. Laszlo Hamori, head of the Quaker Bureau and Secretary General of the Federation des Organization Internationales.
Mr. Brasier, publisher of a paper devoted to “Peace,” who apparently knows everyone in Geneva and will be of great assistance in future publicity and contacts.
Bahá’ís in Geneva: Besides Mrs. Graeffe and Mrs. Lynch, the Bahá’ís in Geneva consist of Miss Alice Semle, daughter of Herr Semle, Chairman of the Swiss group in Zurich. Two Persian students in the University recently arrived from Persia.
B. Zurich: Mrs. Graeffe and Miss True spent the week-end of November 2 in Zurich, celebrating the Feast of Power with the friends there.
Bahá’ís: Mme. Vautier, a cultured elderly English woman, widow of a native Swiss, very understanding and sympathetic and largely responsible for having held this group together during the war.
Mr. Leo Bernhard, faithful, devoted believer eighty years old, printer by trade, takes care of publicity, active and courageous.
Mr. Leuthold, old school gentleman, very poor, engraver, who became a Bahá’í through Mr. Bernhard. He is acting secretary of this group. (The above three are the only ones who live in Zurich)
Mr. Semle, Mrs. Semle, his wife, a former Christian Scientist, and definitely the most active and capable of the friends of this group. Mr. Semle is of German extraction.
Fritz Semle, twenty-one year old son of Herr Semle, a very awakened, radiant young man. Would be excellent for starting Youth work.
Alice Semle, now studying in Geneva, the daughter of Herr Semle, very loyal and courageous, well aware of her lack of knowledge of the Faith.
Herr Spiess, an upright, deeply devoted Bahá’í, about forty years old, who works for Mr. Semle.
Mr. and Mrs. Frischmann, Hungarian refugees. Mrs. Frischmann’s sister, Frau Lappinger, was the principal Bahá’í in Vienna.
The four Semles and Mr. Spiess all live at Walfhalden, two and a half hours distance from Zurich by auto.
In addition to the above Mrs. Ragnar Mattson of Montreal, Canada, is spending the winter in Zurich, and has graciously offered her services to the European Teaching
[Page 9]
Committee. As she is fluent in
German and is an exceptionally well
informed Bahá’í, she will undoubtedly be of great assistance to the European Teaching work and will be
able to carry on there until the pioneer for Switzerland, Mrs. Anna
Kunz, arrives. Mrs. Mattson and
Mme. Vautier have already started
weekly fireside groups in Zurich.
When special speakers can be furnished public meetings will be arranged with proper publicity.
Non-Bahá’í contacts: Mrs. Graeffe, Mrs. Mattson and Miss True had dinner and spent the evening of November 3 with Dr. Karl Wilczynski, a prominent journalist in Zurich, and his nephew, Sammy Schmitt, a deeply and sincerely spiritual soul, a young man in his twenties, who has recently published an outstanding book on his war experiences. Dr. Wilczynski seemed very attracted to the Faith and will undoubtedly be very cooperative in regard to any publicity the Zurich friends may need.
Sammy Schmitt is the better prospect for becoming a Bahá’í and would be a tremendous asset in Bahá’í Youth work, should he embrace the Cause.
Princess Wittelsbach of Bavaria, a charming, intellectually minded lady of about forty, and her cousin, Countess Reglevich of Austria, a younger woman, broad minded, but very sceptical, joined the group Sunday evening.
Dr. Wilczynski and his nephew were contacted at the express request of Mr. Alexander of Paris. The two ladies were friends of Dr. Wilczynski.
Literature Published: New Era (German), Dispensation (German), Guardian’s letters up to 1936 (one), Set of bound copies of “Sonne der Wahrheit,” Small supply of pamphlet “Dem Neuen Zeitalter Entgegen,” Pamphlet “Die Neue Weltordnung.”
Italy[edit]
From Zurich Miss True proceeded to Italy, visiting Milan and Florence, November 4 through 8. In Milan, the only Bahá’í at present is Hodara Hayim, a Turk who was brought into the Faith in Sofia by Marion Jack. He is a devoted, well grounded believer, but unable to spread the Faith because of being an alien refugee and still under constant observation.
There are no Bahá’ís at present in Florence. Generale Piola Casselli and his daughter Mary, whom Mrs. French has been attracting to the Bahá’í Faith through correspondence, live at Serravalle about 150 kilometers from Florence. Miss True visited this family and found them reading the Italian Esslemont and eager to know more about the Faith. The General is, she feels, a Bahá’í in his heart, and his daughter is deeply attracted. They are excellent prospects and will be great assets should they become believers.
There are two others who have heard of the Cause—Mr. and Mrs. Giorgio Abetti, living at Arcetri, near Florence. Their son is at present attending the University of Chicago.
France[edit]
Miss True was in Paris from November 11 to November 16. As France is not one of the countries under the European Teaching Committee, only her consultation in regard to publications was reported.
The French New Era has been revised and corrected according to the last edition brought out in the United States and is now ready for final review by experts before being published.
In the Paris community there are two journalists and publishers—M. Pierre Marie and M. Albrecht Alexander. Both men are being asked to do the investigating in regard to the printing, etc. and seem especially fitted to review the quality of any translation, assist with publishing and to write certain types of articles such as those on the New World Order.
“Dispensation,” “Gleanings” and “Portals to Freedom” have been translated and are ready to publish.
The San Francisco Peace Program has been translated and recently published, and is a very attractive and effective piece of literature. A supply of these is to be sent to the European Teaching Committee Geneva office to be mailed out to a carefully compiled list of key people in the international field there.
The friends in Paris showed great interest in the European Teaching work and offered their full assistance and cooperation. They hope that the European Teaching Committee traveling teachers and pioneers will plan to visit them whenever possible and they will appreciate our letting them know of any such visitors in order that they can utilize these contacts to the fullest in their own teaching efforts and publicity.
England[edit]
Miss True spent the period from November 16 to 22 in England and was accorded every courtesy by the British National Spiritual Assembly. Sunday morning, November 17, was devoted to consultation with eight members of the National Spiritual Assembly regarding ways and means of fullest possible coordination and cooperation between the British teaching effort and the European Teaching Committee projects. The British National Spiritual Assembly hopes that the European Teaching Committee will utilize its summer school as a possible international congress to which some of the pioneers and residents of the different countries could come, participating in the program and exchanging experiences and teaching methods. The British National Spiritual Assembly would like to have from our National Spiritual Assembly a copy of Ruhiyyih Khanum’s tribute to the Guardianship. They also hope that our itinerant teachers and pioneers will visit England en route to European posts. The afternoon of November 17 was devoted to consultation with the British Publishing Trust. Again all possible help and cooperation were offered to the European Teaching Committee and the possibility of our publications in all languages being handled by them was thoroughly discussed. The British Publishing Trust is to submit estimates on the printing of the French New Era to be compared to those secured by the Paris friends.
A set of recent publications brought out by the British Publishing Trust was presented to the European Teaching Committee. Among the publications contemplated are the Iqán, the section from “Some Answered Questions” entitled “Some Christian Subjects,” “Procedure” and “Divine Wisdom.”
Dr. Townshend’s Work[edit]
The 1946 Convention wished the National Assembly to invite Dr. George Townshend, the internationally known Bahá’í author, to visit America and carry out a special teaching program for us.
[Page 10]
The matter was referred to the
Guardian, as an international Bahá’í
action, and the Assembly has been
informed that Dr. Townshend is
much needed where he is in order
to carry on his own work.
Ten More Pioneers[edit]
we will immediately have a nucleus of five Bahá’ís toward the first Spiritual Assembly in Holland. Several other pioneers are in the process of procuring their passports and transportation and the Committee hopes to get them into their respective fields in the very near future.
This report demonstrates the wonderful response on the part of the believers to the urgent call of the Guardian and the Committee asks the Bahá’ís to join them in their prayers for the success and the protection of these courageous and self-sacrificing souls.
American Bahá’í Goes to Haifa[edit]
At the express invitation of Ruhíyyíh Khanúm, Miss Gladys Anderson, who has been a pioneer in the Brattleboro community, has gone to Haifa to spend some time in the Guardian’s household. After years of separation from the Shrines, the Bahá’í World Center and the Guardian, this invitation links us once again with the object of Bahá’í devotion and pilgrimage.
Two Successful Meetings in New York City[edit]
The Pan-America Committee of New York City gave another in a series of evenings devoted to bringing the Message to the Spanish-speaking people of New York on January 10. The guest entertainer at this meeting held at the Center was Miss Margarita Madrigal, author, lecturer and guitarist. This was a return engagement by popular request, as Miss Madrigal presented a very successful program nearly three years ago. A capacity audience filled the Center owing to advertisements in the Spanish press and invitations broadcast over two local Spanish-speaking radio stations.
On February 6 the New York City Bahá’í Community held the second in a series of three public meetings at the Henry Hudson Hotel. The Bahá’í communities of Metropolitan New York combined their efforts to stimulate attendance. Miss Hilda Yen of the United Nations Secretariat gave a most excellent talk on the timely subject of the present United Nations as compared to the Bahá’í Peace Plan. The piano selections rendered by Mr. Bruce Wendell, concert pianist, were thoroughly appreciated by the music lovers in the audience. Mr. Robert W. McLaughlin, Jr., proved an efficient chairman. Over 300 persons attended and 40 cards requesting information regarding future meetings were returned to the ushers.
Dumont Bahá’ís Hold Brotherhood Meeting[edit]
The Bahá’ís of Dumont, New Jersey held a “Brotherhood Meeting” in keeping with the spirit of Brotherhood Week on February 26 at the Masonic Hall in the heart of Dumont. The speakers were Rabbi Nathan H. Wadler, Spiritual Leader, Bergenfield-Dumont Jewish Community Center; Rev. B. DeFrees Brien, Vicar, St. Luke’s Episcopal Chapel; and Rustam Payman, Secretary, New York Bahá’í Assembly. William DeForge of Teaneck was the chairman. Music was provided by the “Dumont Mothersingers,” a group of about sixteen ladies, who heard the Message for almost the first time. Present were 30 Bahá’ís and 28 non-Bahá’ís, the largest number yet at a meeting for the public in Dumont. Good publicity was obtained both before and after the meeting in two papers. (The “Times-Review” of February 20 carried the picture of the New Jersey delegates—three columns wide.)
Books for Green Acre[edit]
The buildings of Green Acre have been made more practical, comfortable, and attractive by the many, always appreciated, gifts of the friends. Now the Program Committee wishes to make known that the Library is greatly in need of books. Recent books on world problems, philosophy and psychology. Modern books on economics. Books dealing with problems of social welfare, science and writing. Books of standard fiction and stories, history and children’s books.
If you can supply any, the Committee will gladly pay the postage. They should be sent to Mr. Emanuel Reimer, c/o The Green Acre Bahá’í School, Eliot, Maine.
Youth Day Programs[edit]
Reports have been received of two International Bahá’í Youth Day programs held on February 23, one in Philadelphia and one in San Francisco. In the former city the local Bahá’í Youth Committee sponsored a symposium on the subject of “Education for a World Commonwealth.” The topics and speakers were as follows: 1. “A School in Switzerland”—Jules Rind (non-Bahá’í), News Commentator of WPEN. 2. “Youth Looks Ahead”—William Sears, Jr., President of the 6th Grade Class, Bala School. 3. “Universal Aspect”–Haroun Shamai, President of Middle East Club of International House. 4. “Education, the Bahá’í Viewpoint”—Edith Segen, chairman of the Philadelphia Bahá’í Youth Committee. Henry Tellerman, youthful member of the Local Spiritual Assembly, served as chairman. Many non-Bahá’í friends from the International House and the radio station attended this successful meeting.
In San Francisco the Youth Group presented a fine program to an interracial and international audience. Four nationalities, five races and a number of religious backgrounds, among them Mohammedan and Zoroastrian, were represented. The music, contralto solos by Mrs. Earleta Jordan, a Bahá’í youth from Portland, Oregon, accompanied at the piano by Miss Marilyn Zahl of San Mateo, was excellent. The talks, one given by a youth of sixteen, one by a Bahá’í of just three months standing and a third by a young woman who was to leave in February for her pioneer post in Luxembourg were well presented and well received. The audience of 61 people included 16 non-Bahá’ís, several of whom have indicated a real desire to investigate the Faith more deeply.
German Bahá’í Youth[edit]
A highly successful youth conference was held Feb. 1 in Stuttgart with 200 in attendance.
Ilsarose Heyd is one of three young Bahá’ís in Hamburg. She writes charmingly, in English, of their weekly Bahá’í meetings held with the older Bahá’ís, of reading and talking with her father, chairman of the Hamburg Bahá’í Assembly and of how eager the three girls were to attend the German Bahá’í Youth Conference held at Heidelberg during the Christmas holidays. Only one
[Page 11]
of them could go, as suitable clothes
for three were lacking. The lot fell
on Helga, and Ilsarose and Renate
“waited feverishly at home” for
news from Heidelberg. Later Ilsarose wrote of meeting with Helga
one evening to hear about the conference and their “dear young
friends ... Though we had no light
except a dim candle” and had to
keep warm with tea they stayed until eleven. “We read in ‘The Hidden
Words’ again and again and exchanged our thoughts about these
wonderful Words ... Oh, we’ve
had a feeling of deep, deep thankfulness, knowing Bahá’u’lláh’s Rule.”
Ilsarose and Renate would like to correspond with some young American Bahá’ís. Their address is, Ilsarose and Renate Heyd, Hamburg 39, Glindweg 24, Germany, British Zone.
The three young Hamburg Bahá’ís walked to the Summer School in Esslingen. It took them four weeks.
New Developments in Packages for Europe[edit]
C.A.R.E. advertises a new, improved food package containing 21 pounds (40,963 calories). One who has sent many packages to Europe writes that this is the best package she can find in any agency. C.A.R.E. also advertises a blanket package. Address: C.A.R.E., 50 Broad Street, New York. N. Y.
Non-commercial printed matter may now be sent German civilians as gift. Label it “Gift Package.” 4 pounds, 6 ounces allowed in one package.
Local Items[edit]
In February Charleston inaugurated a series of four meetings dedicated purely to those interested in investigating The Bahá’í World Faith. The following phases were to be investigated on successive dates: “Its Identity with and Distinction from Other Religions;” “Its History and Aims;” “Its Proofs of Authority;” and “Its Individual Offering to You.”
In Augusta permission was obtained to place literature in the Union Station Depot and in the Greyhound Bus Station.
A branch of the Vancouver Public Library recently accepted Bahá’í books and gave permission to the Bahá’ís to put copies of “World Order” magazine in the magazine tray.
Montreal National Public Meeting[edit]
The Montreal Public Meeting was held on February 5th, in the Church of the Messiah. “Standing in the pulpit of the beautiful church that was designed by Sutherland Maxwell and where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke on September 1, 1912, Horace Holley gave a lecture that was filled with power and dignity. The chairman, Rosemary Sala, created an atmosphere of quiet charm. The ushers
Speakers at the Philadelphia Youth Symposium, Feb. 23rd. Standing, left to right: Haroun Shamai, Jules Rind, Harry Tellerman. Seated: William Sears, Jr., and Edith Segen.
were four young women wearing
their Easter European native dress.
Prelude organ music of meditative
selections was provided by the well
known church organist, Phillips Motley. The audience, although small in
comparison to those reported in other
centers, numbered about 150 and
was representative of many nationalities, and could be called a fine
cross section of this cosmopolitan
city.”
In addition to the publicity obtained through the mailing of 5,000 programs, the masses were further reached, before and after the meeting, through newspaper publicity as a result of the press luncheon conference and a subsequent personal interview by press reporters with Mr. Holley. Montreal feels that the services of a paid newspaper man did much in assisting them with the press and radio.
Managers of the radio station frankly stated, in refusing the Bahá’ís time on the air, that they could not afford to antagonize the Catholic church of Quebec. The only radio publicity the friends were able to obtain, was a series of 15 spot announcements over CKVL, a new station. However, the regular 11 p.m. news report of Montreal’s two major radio stations broadcast a story that was phoned to them the night before the lecture, by their paid newspaper man. This news item was picked up by Reuters, which requested that they be supplied with additional material for broadcasting for England.
Space will not permit us to enumerate the varied activities of the friends who worked so efficiently in putting on Montreal’s Public Meeting and its subsequent follow-up work, but we believe it can be said, in the few words of their speaker, Mr. Holley, that “they have a very capable group of workers.”
The month of March has been heavily scheduled with Public Meetings—Miami on the 7th, Birmingham the 16th, Nashville the 23rd, Cleveland the 27th, Pittsburgh and San Francisco on the 29th.
The reports of last year Key Cities, who have held like meetings this year, are not all in. A request for these reports has gone forth and these meetings will be reported in their entirety in our annual report. They are listed as follows:
Meetings already held were in Washington, D.C., Boston, New York City, New Orleans, Toronto, Atlanta, Portland and Chicago. Meetings yet to be held are Los Angeles, March 21st and Detroit on the 27th.
The Bahá’ís of Kenosha, Wisconsin, though not included in the panel of Key City meetings, are joining in this effort to present the Cause to the masses by sponsoring a like meeting at the Elks Club House on March 25th, using the Key City theme, “World Order Through World Faith,” with Dr. Edris Rice-Wray as speaker and follow-up teacher.
The Vancouver Bahá’ís have started a special collection to send at least one parcel through C.A.R.E each month to believers in Germany and Austria.
The Atlanta Community greatly enjoyed the visit of Miss Elsie Austin, who had been invited to be the principal speaker at the Phyllis Wheatley Y.W.C.A. Annual dinner,
[Page 12]
which was attended by over 500
persons. Miss Austin gave a very
uplifting and inspiring talk on the
subject “One World Under God” to
a mixed audience.
Sustaining the Seven Year Plan[edit]
The following are the Assemblies which contributed to the National Fund during January and February:
Arizona—E. Phoenix Rural. Arkansas—Little Rock. California— Alhambra, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Burlingame, Cloverdale Twp., Glendale, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pasadena, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara. Canada—Vancouver, Winnipeg, Regina. Colorado—Colorado Springs, Denver. Connecticut—Hamden, New Haven. Delaware—Wilmington. Florida —Jacksonville, Miami. Hawaii—Honolulu, Maui. Georgia—Atlanta, Augusta. Idaho—Boise. Illinois—Chicago, Danville, Elmhurst, Evanston, Maywood, Oak Park, Peoria, Springfield, Urbana, Waukegan, Wilmette. Indiana—Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, South Bend. Iowa—Cedar Rapids. Kansas—Topeka. Kentucky—Louisville. Louisiana—New Orleans. Maine—Eliot. Maryland—Baltimore. Massachusetts—Beverly, Boston, Brookline, Springfield. Michigan—Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon, Roseville. Minnesota—Duluth, Minneapolis, St. Paul. Mississippi—Jackson. Missouri—Independence, Kansas City, St. Louis. Montana—Butte, Helena. Nebraska—Omaha. Nevada—Reno. New Hampshire—Portsmouth. New Jersey—Dumont, Teaneck, Newark. New Mexico—Albuquerque. New York—Binghamton, Jamestown, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers. North Carolina—Greensboro. North Dakota—Fargo. Ohio—Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lima. Oklahoma—Oklahoma City. Oregon—Portland. Pennsylvania—Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, West Chester. Rhode Island—Providence. South Carolina— Greenville. South Dakota—Sioux Falls. Tennessee—Memphis. Texas—Houston. Utah—Salt Lake City. Vermont–Brattleboro. Virginia—Arlington. Washington—Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma. West Virginia—Charleston. Wisconsin—Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Wauwatosa, White Fish Bay. Wyoming—Laramie.
- 114 Assemblies contributed.
- 24 Assemblies did not contribute.
- 71 Groups contributed.
- 107 Individuals contributed.
This list does not include contributions reaching the Treasurer’s Office after January 31st. Contributions are credited to the month in which received.
Alabama—Birmingham. Alaska—Anchorage. Arizona—E. Phoenix Rural; Phoenix. Arkansas—Little Rock. California—Alhambra, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Burlingame, Cloverdale Twp., Glendale, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Barbara. Canada—Vancouver, Winnipeg, Halifax, Hamilton, Toronto, Charlottetown. Colorado—Colorado Springs, Denver. Connecticut—Hamden, New Haven. Delaware—Wilmington. District of Columbia—Washington. Florida—Jacksonville, Miami. Hawaii—Honolulu. Georgia—Atlanta, Augusta. Idaho—Boise. Illinois—Chicago, Danville, Elmhurst, Evanston, Maywood, Oak Park, Peoria, Springfield, Urbana, Waukegan, Wilmette. Indiana—Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, South Bend. Iowa—Cedar Rapids. Maryland—Baltimore. Massachusetts—Beverly, Boston, Brookline, Springfield. Michigan—Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon, Roseville. Minnesota—Duluth, Minneapolis, St. Paul. Mississippi—Jackson. Missouri—Kansas City, St. Louis. Montana—Butte. Nevada—Reno. New Hampshire—Portsmouth. New Jersey—Dumont, East Orange, Teaneck, Newark. New Mexico—Albuquerque. New York—Binghamton, Jamestown, New York, Yonkers. North Carolina—Greensboro. Ohio—Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lima. Oklahoma—Oklahoma City. Oregon—Portland. Pennsylvania—Philadelphia, Scranton, West Chester. South Carolina—Greenville. South Dakota—Sioux Falls. Tennessee—Memphis, Nashville. Utah—Salt Lake City. Vermont—Brattleboro. Virginia—Alexandria, Arlington. Washington—Richmond Highlands, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma. West Virginia—Charleston. Wisconsin—Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Wauwatosa.
Directory[edit]
Assemblies
- Reno, Nevada
- Mr. Richard Guy Walton, Secretary, P.O. Box 2547
- Lansing, Michigan
- Mrs. Kenneth Christian, Secretary, 1001 West Genessee Street
- Newark, New Jersey
- Miss Marianne Relyea, Secretary, 964 Broad Street
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Mrs. Edith Doull, Secretary, 545 Potters Avenue
- Houston, 8, Texas
- Miss Dorothea Sligh, Secretary, 438 West 21st Street
National Committees
- National Teaching Committee
- Mrs. Monroe Ioas resigned.
Regional Teaching Committee for Brazil
- Mrs. Edward Bode, Rio de Janiero, appointed.
- Mrs. Hilda Roche Santos, Rio de Janiero, appointed.
Portuguese Bulletin Committee
- Dr. Orlando Freitas, Secretary, R. Voluntarios de Patria No. 83, Case 4, Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
- Sr. Frithiof Will, Rio de Janiero, appointed.
Calendar[edit]
Nineteen Day Feast
- April 9
- April 28
- May 17
Feast of Ridván (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh)
- April 21—May 2, 1863.
- Bahá’í Holy Days on which work should be suspended
- First Day of Ridván, April 21 (celebrated about 3 P.M. if feasible)
- Ninth day of Ridván, April 29
- Twelfth day of Ridván, May 2
National Spiritual Assembly Meeting
- April 30
- May 5th and following days (not decided)
Convention
- May 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Bahá’í Congress (Public meeting)
- Sunday evening, May 4th.
| Page | Col. | |
| Words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá | ||
“Live So As to Enrich the World” | 7 | 2 |
| Words of the Guardian | ||
“Praying for ... Heroism” | 1 | 3 |
“The Secret of Right Living” | 6 | 1 |
Membership in Other Religious Organizations | 6 | 3 |
| National Spiritual Assembly | ||
Letter to the Believers | 6 | 1 |
“The Handwriting is on the Wall” | 1 | 1 |
Sustaining the Seven Year Plan | 12 | 1 |
Notice to Convention Delegates | 2 | 1 |
Convention Attendance Limited to Bahá’ís | 5 | 2 |
| Progress of the Seven Year Plan | ||
Ten More Pioneers for Europe | 1 | 1 |
European Survey | 6 | 2 |
United Nations Acknowledges Bahá’í Declaration of Human Obligations and Rights | 1 | 2 |
Advertising Brings Inquiries from other Lands | 2 | 3 |
Traveling Teachers in North
America | 3 | 1 |
New Assemblies and Groups in Latin America | 4 | 7 |
Montreal National Public Meeting | 11 | 2 |
Publishing Announcements | 2 | 1 |
Geyserville Bahá’í School | 5 | 1 |
Books for Green Acre | 10 | 2 |
Temerity Ranch | 5 | 3 |
Study Aids | 5 | 3 |
| Local Groups and Communities | ||
Two Successful Meetings in New York City | 10 | 1 |
Dumont Bahá’ís Hold Brotherhood Meeting | 10 | 2 |
Local Items | 11 | 1 |
German Bahá’í Youth | 10 | 3 |
New Developments in Packages for Europe | 11 | 1 |
American Bahá’í Goes to Haifa | 10 | 1 |
Bahá’í Addresses | 2 | 1 |
In Memoriam | 2 | 2 |
Calendar | 12 | 2 |
Directory | 12 | 2 |
| Photographs | ||
Mrs. Alice Dudley, pioneer to Sweden | 3 | |
Headquarters of European Teaching Committee and International Bureau | 7 | |
Speakers at Philadelphia Youth Symposium | 11 |
