Bahá’í News/Issue 206/Text
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| BAHÁ’Í |  |
NEWS |
| No. 206 | APRIL, 1948 | YEAR 105 | BAHA’I ERA |
| EUROPE’S NAW RUZ GREETINGS LUXEMBOURG NAW-RUZ GIFT NEWLY DECLARED BELIEVER JULIE ROEDER, PIONEER NAW-RUZ GLAD TIDINGS FOUR DECLARED BELIEVERS
FRITZI SHAVER, PIONEER BERN, SWITZERLAND |
Beloved friends:
When this issue of Bahá’í News is mailed to the believers the Convention will be near at hand, marking the end of another Bahá’í year and the beginning of another administrative year for the American Bahá’ís.
The Convention for the first time will be made up only of Bahá’ís of the United States. The Convention of the Bahá’ís of Canada, composed of nineteen delegates assigned to the various Provinces, is to be held April 24 and 25 at the Maxwell home in Montreal. At that time a National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada will be established, forming one more pillar to support the future House of Justice. The National Spiritual Assemblies at present existing represent the believers of Persia, Iraq, Egypt and the Sudan, India, Pakistan and Burma, Australia and New Zealand, the British Isles, Germany and Austria, and the United States and Canada. Canada will have the ninth National Bahá’í community.
The establishment of this new community marks one definite achievement of the second Seven Year Plan. Before 1953 National bodies are to exist in South America and in Central America. As soon as possible thereafter there will be a National Assembly of Western Europe; and eventually each independent nation of South and Central America and also of Europe will form its own administrative structure.
This development constitutes the fruit of all Bahá’í activity, for the enlargement of the area brought within the world order of Bahá’u’lláh marks the spiritual conquest of the chaos in which mankind has plunged. Not by spiritualized personalities alone, but by faithful Bahá’ís united in the administrative order over which the Guardian and the House of Justice are to preside, the essential purpose of the Faith is fulfilled. The termination of anarchy and rebellion, the use of force and violence for partisan ends — all the causes of human suffering and social disturbance — calls for the operation in human life of those unique functions vested in the House of Justice. Through no other agency can the revealed teachings and principles be transmuted into the law and order on which humanity depends. Here we Bahá’ís stand.
Turn now to our tremendous project, completion of the Temple interior. This year marked the beginning of actual construction work, as last year marked the setting up of a construction fund exceeding $100,000. By now it should be $200,000, but the funds have not been made available.
The inspiration and guidance of all administrative work is given us through our worship of the One True God. Until the Temple interior is completed we will not have unitedly developed the facilities for public worship in the Name of Bahá’u’lláh. Therefore this task is a sacred opportunity the fulfilment of which nothing can be permitted to delay. The call of the Kingdom will resound throughout all the Americas with extraordinary power when not only Bahá’ís but the general public gather for worship in the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. There at last will the Oneness of God be demonstrated, when the Words of all the Prophets are read
European Conference Will Constitute a Landmark[edit]
The European Teaching Committee is happy to share with the friends the news of its forthcoming conference in Geneva with the pioneers and new believers of the ten goal countries. This conference is to open on May 22 and that evening the congregated friends will celebrate together the Declaration of the Báb. The period of the Conference is May 22-26 and in addition to consultation sessions the program will include Public Meetings in both Geneva and Bern. In a letter to the Committee dated Jan. 27, the Guardian wrote:
“The greatest care and the utmost effort must be exercised and exerted to ensure the success of the forthcoming Conference which will constitute a landmark in the history of this newly-launched and historic campaign in Europe. I will pray from the depths of my heart for its success and for the realization of every hope cherished by those who organize it as well as those who direct the activities and coordinate the efforts of all those who participate in the execution of this vital aspect of the second seven year Plan.”
The Conference is dedicated to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Author of the Divine Plan and the Architect of the Administrative Order. Marion Jack of whom the Guardian speaks in a recent cable as “an heroic soul worthy to be regarded as a glorious example to every pioneer in America and Europe” has been invited to be the special honored guest at this occasion. Cordial invitations to attend have also been extended by the N.S.A., through the National Assemblies of the British Isles, Germany and Austria, and through the Spiritual Assembly of Paris, to the members of their communities.
Glowing reports have continued to flow in from Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Portugal as our latest itinerant teacher, Dorothy Baker, has pursued her way through the European Teaching goal countries. The repercussions of her heartening visits to our pioneers will continue long after her departure from the Continent and her contribution to the teaching project, as a whole, is genuinely and deeply appreciated.
Last, but certainly not least, is our news of seven newly declared believers, bringing the total in the goal countries to 50.
Around The Bahá’í World[edit]
BRITISH ISLES: Working under great difficulties the English believers are making great Bahá’í history. Recent reports show that “... 12½ percent of the British community has arisen to pioneer in this Initial Phase of our Six Year Plan! That is one in every eight of the believers you meet in these Islands is one of those devoted souls who have ‘taken up their beds and walked’ .... At the end of the Plan, an inactive believer, already a contradiction in terms, will be as extinct as the dodo.”
IRAN: The house of the Imám-Jum’ih in Isfahan is now Bahá’í property. This is the house where the Báb stayed for 40 days during His sojourn in Isfahan. (See Dawn-Breakers, pp. 199-201). The house is recognized as one of the finest in all Persia as to construction, interior decoration and ornamentation. .... The National Assembly has organized a Four-Year Plan for the progress of Bahá’í women in that country. Objectives: (1) To organize study classes in 22 centers for the training of Bahá’í women teachers who will be “well acquainted with the history of the Faith, its teachings and its administration.” (2) To aid in the elimination of illiteracy. (3) To provide lectures and conferences on health and hygiene. (4) To give special attention to the education of Bahá’í girls.... The Persian believers are in the midst of a 45-Month Plan started in November 1946. In several areas local goals have been completely accomplished. .... Some idea of the work of the Faith can be gained by a few statistics regarding Bahá’í Committees in Tihran: A year ago, the Tihran Assembly needed 24 committees to take care of the social, economic and religious problems of the community.
New Slidefilm Released[edit]
The Visual Education Committee announces the release, for sale and distribution, of the new slidefilm “THE GOAL IS WORLD ORDER.” This provides a 30 minute program, presenting 65 pictures, in black and white, with accompanying narration.
This visual teaching aid has been produced in two forms, and orders will be filled by the Bahá’í Sales Committee, 4639 Beacon Street, Chicago, 40, Illinois. The prices are as follows:
- Slide set—(2x2 slides)—$4.00 per set, including narration
- Filmstrip—(Single frame)—$3.00—including narration
THE GOAL IS WORLD ORDER was designed to bring to the Bahá’í teaching support the visual evidence of the world-wide scope of the Faith, and highlights of its expansion during the first twenty-five years of the Guardianship of Shoghi Effendi.
Trial runs of this slidefilm have shown its effective use for large meetings, as well as for the home meetings and discussion groups for which it was primarily planned.
Included with the narration are some “projection hints,” for helping to put on a smooth-running performance, and also some suggestions and pamphlet material for the preparation of the Chairman’s introduction, and the discussion following the showing of the film.
With the cooperation of the Los Angeles Bahá’í Assembly, the Visual Education Committee gave a short training course, at the Los Angeles Bahá’í Center, for the development of “projection teams.” These teams include one person who operates the projector; and another who carries out the functions of Chairman, and Narrator. Through this brief training course new talents were discovered, and new teaching resources were made available.
The Visual Education Committee will welcome suggestions or questions about the use of THE GOAL IS WORLD ORDER.
Its Teaching Committee (which had 10 sub-committees for different parts of the city) organized between 75 and 85 weekly meetings, used 65 teachers, had audiences of as many as 300 seekers. The Youth Committee held 168 meetings during the year.
EGYPT: The believers here are struggling to gain certain legal rights as Bahá’ís. Plans are being made to protect the property of the Hazíratu’l-Quds.
| Volunteers Wanted
The Study Aids Committee needs the help of at least 20 Bahá’ís for looking up Bahá’í references for use in connection with the preparation of new study outlines and courses. Here is a wonderful opportunity for service for isolated Bahá’ís or others whose circumstances do not permit them to take an active part in teaching. If interested write to: Charlotte M. Linfoot, 156 Nova Drive, Piedmont 10, California. |
ETHIOPIA: The war scattered the small community in Addis Ababa. Pioneer Sabri Effendi Elias has reported enrollment of new believers. A Bahá’í booklet has been printed there in an edition of 1,000 copies.
INDIA, PAKISTAN, and BURMA: Disturbances in this troubled country have forced the dissolution of three assemblies. Looting mobs in Delhi stuck down an aged believer. The NSA is moving to rehabilitate the homeless.
AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND: The believers in this vast area “down under” also have a teaching Plan to end in 1953. Their goal is 31 groups and 7 additional spiritual assemblies. Fewness of numbers and vast distances make this a challenging goal. The Guardian cabled in response to their stated goal: “Overjoyed glorious news ... Deepest admiration exemplary spirit ...” Settlers have already started to move.
Here We Stand[edit]
with equal reverence and devotion. Here we Bahá’ís stand.
Nearest and most immediate in our hearts is the challenge to form 175 local Spiritual Assemblies in North America this April 21. Day by day and hour by hour for weeks the letters, telegrams and telephone calls weaving the swift threads of this strong social fabric have sped out and in, as the National Teaching Committee, the Regional Teaching Committees, the volunteer teachers, the pioneers, the groups of the goal cities and the National Spiritual Assembly, all responding to the Guardian’s summons, join their forces to attain the goal. In sending out the election forms for reporting their action on April 21, the National Assembly has furnished detailed information and has directed that each election be reported immediately to the National Office by telegram. Only by this immediate message can the full count of Assemblies be reported to the Guardian by cablegram before the Convention opens, as the written reports not only announce the election but list the Assembly officers elected for the coming year, and sometimes a month or six weeks elapses before all the reports are received.
Bitter persecution and martyrdom from enemies of the Faith, or the havoc and desolation of war, oppress our Bahá’í comrades of other lands. Here our only oppressor is ourself — our heart that does not turn directly enough to the Glory of God, our mind that invents reasons for doing the wrong thing or failing to do the right. The goal of our effort here in North America on April 21 is 175 Assemblies. A last-minute sacrifice or heroism might still snatch success from the jaws of failure... Here we Bahá’ís stand.
What Is Teaching?[edit]
“We have a two-fold obligation to study: to become a better Bahá’í; to become an instrument for the spread of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.” (N.S.A., Insert, Bahá’í News, January 1948.)
These two obligations are interdependent. A well-informed Bahá’í is an active Bahá’í, and an active Bahá’í constantly strives to deepen his knowledge in order to increase his capacity for service.
Before becoming a Bahá’í one is required to possess certain fundamental knowledge of the history, principles and teachings of the Faith, but if his study ceases at that time his growth as a Bahá’í never really begins. Enrollment in the Bahá’í Faith may be likened to graduation from a school of medicine. The act of receiving the degrees does not make the individual a successful physician. It only signifies that he has acquired the necessary background of knowledge which he must now begin to expand through further study and practice. So also a Bahá’í becomes an effective instrument for teaching and service only after he has made his knowledge of the teachings completely his own through study, practice and sharing.
| Bahá’í Addresses
National Office:
Treasurer’s Office:
Bahá’í Publishing Committee:
Bahá’í News Editorial Office:
|
In the preceding articles in this series the Study Aids Committee has suggested materials and methods for the study of the teachings. We now offer a few suggestions for using and sharing the knowledge that has been acquired.
The statement by the N.S.A. referred to above, includes this sentence: “Continuous discussion of the teachings can make every believer an effective teacher for one kind of work or another.” It is admittedly much easier to discuss the Faith with another Bahá’í than with a non-Bahá’í—and this should be done whenever possible, in conversation, through correspondence, in study classes and at summer schools, for the exchange of viewpoints and explanations helps to clarify the understanding. But if the discussion of the teachings is limited to Bahá’ís only, the Faith will not spread. Never to mention the glorious Message of Bahá’u’lláh outside the Bahá’í family is like hoarding precious jewels and denying all others the joy of beholding their beauty.
Therefore, the first step in sharing and thereby deepening one’s knowledge of the Faith, is to talk about it on every possible occasion. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to tell someone about a new book you have read, or about a new recipe, a poem or a great heroic figure you have discovered? It is just as easy to speak of the Bahá’í teachings and books, and when you do, your listeners will respond to your personal enthusiasm and sincerity. See how many ways you can find to introduce the subject you have been studying into your conversations, directly or indirectly. Do not anticipate objections, arguments or difficult questions for they may not come up at all. It may do, you will be surprised to find how easily you can answer them. If you cannot give the answers at the moment, do not let one failure in this respect defeat you. Make those questions a challenge for further study. Another opportunity will present itself for you to try again. Above all, remember the glorious promises of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that Divine assistance will be showered upon anyone who makes the effort to promote the Faith.
Make a practice of collecting non-Bahá’í articles and news items with some bearing on Bahá’í subjects that interest you and look up the Bahá’í references, interpretations and viewpoints concerning them. Share and discuss these non-Bahá’í articles with other people and give them your Bahá’í viewpoint.
Take advantage of every opportunity to refer to the Bahá’í Faith in letters to friends and acquaintances. Use short Bahá’í quotations; give the Bahá’í viewpoint concerning subjects of mutual interest, and whenever possible enclose a pamphlet with marked passages, or send a World Order Magazine to stimulate reading of Bahá’í materials.
After a few attempts along these lines, you will find that you have developed a surprising amount of self-confidence and ability to present your Bahá’í knowledge with ease. And thus your teaching service has begun,—as simply as that! For what is teaching but imparting knowledge? The most that any Bahá’í can hope to do is to share the results of his own efforts with others and to lead them to the point where they will of their own volition begin their own “independent investigation of the truth.”
[Page 4]
Mrs. Ruth Moffett, Bahá’ís and friends at Louisville, Ky., during the “Seminar” Mrs. Moffett conducted there.
Bahá’í Seminar Bears Rich Fruitage[edit]
Our beloved Guardian in his heart-stirring appeals is calling us all to “forge ahead with equal zeal, with unrelaxing vigilance, with indomitable courage, with tireless energy until the present stage of our mission is triumphantly concluded.” The National Teaching Committee, to fulfill the Guardian’s instructions, sent Mrs. Ruth Moffett on one of the most difficult assignments, to Louisville, Kentucky. There were few active local Bahá’ís, and few people even interested. The three pioneers and the non-residents had struggled loyally amid disheartening conditions. Perhaps the recent progress in Louisville may be of encouragement to many others.
Suggested Daily Readings for May
“Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My Words.” —Bahá’u’lláh
The Heart Belongs to God
The Soul of Man
The Promised day. The Báb.
| |
| Key: | Gl.—Gleanings |
| P.H.W.—Persian Hidden Words | |
| Iq.—Iqan | |
| D.-B.—Dawn-Breakers | |
| P. and M.—Prayers and Meditations | |
Remembering ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s instructions to “Lay your plans with spiritual strategy,” Mrs. Moffett and the friends began the work with fervent prayer and laying the necessary plans for the Educational Seminar at the Brown Hotel. A brief summary shows that Mrs. Moffett gave 63 lectures, 54 classes, 36 interviews and conferences, 18 luncheons and teas, and 13 book reviews. She reviewed such books as “Human Destiny” by Le Comte du Nouy, “The Prophet,” by Kahlil Gibran for whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sat for a portrait, and others that tie into our Teachings. She gave lectures to nine non-Bahá’í organizations including the University of Louisville, and several Kiwanis Club dinners.
She also spoke in the Negro WMCA to a group of Negro educators and students. Mr. Jackson, editor of The Defender, presided. Fifteen from the class at the Brown Hotel attended and all were served tea at little tables together, the first experience of the kind for most of those present, and Mr. Jackson said, “Mrs. Moffett, you will never know what you have done not only for Louisville tonight, but for the entire State of Kentucky. You demonstrate these noble Teachings.” A radio broadcast was also given over WGRC, on the Distinguished Guest Hour, and she spoke in several Womans Clubs and the Unity Center.
An unusual Art Exhibit was held for four days during the Seminar, exhibiting excellent paintings by some of the artists who attended the lectures. Mrs. Moffett spoke on the “Fundamentals of Art” and “Art and the New Age” with words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which attracted some of the artists to begin studying our Faith. An attractive Bahá’í Book Display on World Order was arranged at the entrance of the Public Library for 10 days.
The amazing results in Louisville as the fruitage of the six weeks Seminar of daily, prayerful, consecutive, intensive work, is that seven people became confirmed and registered Bahá’ís. One Bahá’í from the suburbs took her residence in the city. These in addition to the 3 stalwart pioneers gives Louisville a LSA plus a few over for a community. This included 17-year-old Joseph Vital, the only Bahá’í youth in the State of Kentucky. Mrs. Moffett then arranged a Study Course Program for each Wednesday evening until July 1, with a different leader for each lesson—24 in all, and each one is eager to make his lesson the very best. All realize that these remarkable results in only six weeks from Jan. 9 to Feb 18, are due to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the ardent prayers, the vast ocean of love and energy poured into the Seminar.
Local Assemblies Contributing to Fund in February, 1948[edit]
Alabama—Birmingham; Alaska—Anchorage; Arizona—Phoenix; Arkansas—Little Rock; California—Alhambra, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Burlingame, Carmel, Glendale, Inglewood, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monrovia, Oakland, Pasadena, Sacramento (Jan.) San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Mateo; Canada—Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Hamilton, Toronto, Regina, Scarboro, Vernon; Colorado—Colorado Springs, Denver; Connecticut—New Haven; Delaware—Wilmington; Dist. of Columbia—Washington; Florida—Jacksonville, Miami; Hawaii—Honolulu, Maui; Georgia—Atlanta (Jan. & Feb.), Augusta. Idaho—Boise; Illinois—Chicago, Danville, Elmhurst, Evanston, Maywood, Oak Park, Peoria, Springfield, Urbana, Wilmette, Champaign, Limestone Twp.; Indiana—Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, South Bend; Iowa—Cedar Rapids; Kansas—Topeka; Kentucky—Louisville; Louisiana—New Orleans; Maine—Eliot; Maryland—Baltimore;
| 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.
Bahá’í News is edited for the National Spiritual Assembly by its Bahá’í News Editorial Committee: Mrs. Roberta Christian, chairman, Mr. William Kenneth Christian, Mr. Gordon A. Fraser. Editorial office: Mrs. Roberta Christian, 1001 West Genesee St., Lansing, Mich. 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. |
Massachusetts—Beverly, Boston, Springfield, Worcester; Michigan—Ann Arbor, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Muskegon; 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, East Orange, Red Bank, Teaneck; New Mexico—Albuquerque, North Albuquerque; New York—Binghamton, Buffalo, Jamestown, New York, Yonkers; North Carolina—Greensboro; North Dakota—Fargo; Ohio—Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Lima; Oklahoma—Oklahoma City; Oregon—Portland; Pennsylvania—Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, West Chester; Puerto Rico—San Juan; Rhode Island—Providence; South Dakota—Sioux Falls; Tennessee—Memphis, Nashville; Texas—Houston; Utah—Salt Lake City; Vermont—Brattleboro; Virginia—Alexandria, Arlington; Washington—Richmond Highlands, Monroe, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma; West Virginia—Charleston; Wisconsin—Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Wauwatosa. Wyoming—Laramie.
FINANCIAL BUDGET 1947-1948
In Memoriam[edit]
- Mr. Christy Petersen—Inglewood, Calif. 1-8-48.
- Mr. William T. Bowers—West Chester, Pa. 2-4-48.
- Mr. Adolph Bosse—Arden, Den. 2-13-48.
- Mrs. Fannie Lesch—Chicago, Ill. 2-25-48.
- Mrs. Barbara Fitting—Chicago, Ill., 2-25-48.
- Mr. Fred Wendler—Chicago, Ill. 2-11-48.
- Mrs. Eusebia Dorrida—Baltimore 7, Md. 2-26-48.
- Mrs. Mary Poulsen—Sacramento, Calif. 2-22-48.
- Miss Eudora Ida Gardiner—Kansas City, Mo. 2-8-48.
- Miss Kaukab MacCutcheon—Minneapolis, Minn. 2-48.
- Mrs. Florence Okell—Burbank, Calif. 2-2-48.
- Mrs. Jessie Goodfellow—West Englewood, N. J. 3-2-48.
- Mr. Floyd Schaub—Fruitport, Mich. 3-17-47.
- Miss Emily Fay Rowe—Toronto, Ont., Can. 2-26-48.
- Mr. Patrick Quinlan—Brooklyn, New York. 2-25-48.
More Abundant Contributions[edit]
“I cannot, however, overlook, much as I sympathize with them in their financial tribulations and anxieties, the mysterious power that resides in the united will and concerted action of all the members of that self-sacrificing community — a community which, since the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, has put an impetus to the advancement of the Cause out of all proportion to its numerical strength, its youthfulness, and experience of the powers latent in this sacred Faith.... Still more abundant flow (of) resources (to the) National Fund, involving still nobler self-sacrifice, (is) demanded.... (The) world crisis (is) ... challenging (the) torchbearers (of) Bahá’í civilization ... (to) pour forth more abundantly (their) resources in support (of the) fund created for its furtherance....”
Public Relations In Action
Bahá’í advertising has two primary objectives: to inform the people about the Faith and to influence them favorably through an understanding of its principles. Basically designed to obtain long-run results rather than immediate effects, the advertising is used to gradually build up an interest in the Bahá’í Faith. The momentum of such a program cannot be turned off and on at will. Each month, therefore, in an unbroken continuity the Bahá’í message reaches the public through three national circulation magazines — Newsweek, U. S. News-World Report and United Nations World—to a combined readership of more than 4,000,000 persons. What national Bahá’í advertising does is to bring the Faith to people in your town whom you could not reach through any local channels. Therefore, Public Relations is already doing part of your local teaching work. To make these people interested enough to attend your meetings, plan your local campaigns along constructive publicity lines. Much of the success of any local campaign depends on how the Assembly takes advantage of Public Relations and other national programs and materials. The Bahá’í Public Relations committee wants to help you carry on your local campaign. For this purpose, PR Bulletin No. 4 is specially prepared to help you with plans, aids and suggestions. If your Assembly or group does not have a copy, write to Public Relations. Trade Paper Schedule[edit]Each month we talk to the editor, the columnist, the feature writer, the radio commentator and others interested in the newspaper and radio fields—men who are in an influencial position to mold public opinion. During the past year a series of twelve ads were written specially for readers of these various magazines—Editor & Publisher, Broadcasting, Canadian Weekly Editor, and Publishers’ Auxiliary. Reprints of these ads in booklet form are available. Be sure your local newspaper editor and radio station program manager has a copy. For a supply, write Public Relations. In the Bahá’í teachings last month the Brattleboro (Vt.) Reformer saw great possibilities. Responsible for the paper’s editorial: a publicity release based on the NSA statement on human rights to the United Nations. Proclaimed the Reformer about the Bahá’í World Faith: “The fact that groups in all nations are working toward a common spiritual and social platform to break down the barriers of nationality, race and religion is good news, even if it is not conducive to flashy headlines.” A United Press staff correspondent prepared a feature about the Bahá’í new year which was released over the nationwide press facilities of the UP. We Bahá’ís cannot expect any non-Bahá’í to attain the accuracy about the Faith which we strive for in our own presentations. However, when non-Bahá’í agencies, press or radio, go out of their way to feature the Cause, we should appreciate the value of their good will and not try to press the editor to change some minor point if the spirit of the story is favorable. Any really serious misstatements, however, should be reported to Public Relations. A full-page picture of the Temple served as the February cover for the American Concrete Institute’s News Letter. Inside the magazine was an illustrated readable story about the interior designs of the Temple.... From a story in the travel magazine “Where” comes this sample paragraph: “Unforgettably beautiful by day or night, it is well worth seeing.” Bahá’í students attending American university at Beirut, Syria, were mentioned in stories appearing in widely-respected New York Times and the Readers’ Digest.... Interest which most people have in how the other half of the world lives is one on which Bahá’í publicity committees can capitalize. All the flavor and romance of travel can be woven into a story of some phase of Bahá’í teachings and life. From Anchorage, Alaska, recently came just such a clipping. A newspaper feature was built around a letter from a former resident now a Bahá’í pioneer in Denmark.... Clippings from the Temple interior release continue to cross our desk from all parts of the nation. A staff writer of the Lansing (Mich.) State Journal wrote: “Tourists threading their way along Highway 42 enroute to or from Chicago, pause in wonder at—one of the architectural landmarks of the world.” |
BAHÁ’Í
A WORLD FAITH Now at last even in the Holy Land, shrine of revealed religions which anciently stirred the hearts of men, the consuming flames of war, overleaping the enfeebled defenses of a faithless time, flaunt their banners of blasphemy and desolation. Stricken are the idols men have worshipped in rejection of Him whose law Moses witnessed, whose spirit Christ adored, whose purpose Muhammad declared: their image lies broken and their mouth is dumb. Now at last may a humanity stripped of its pride of race, of class, of nation and of creed, turn from its evil plight, seeking an end of human fury and a beginning of the love of God. The door to regeneration is a new, universal faith. Literature sent free on request
(YOUR COMMUNITY
|
| Above Bahá’í message appears this month in United Nations World and in U. S. News-World Report. Available at cost are postcard reprints, newspaper mats and display posters. Write: Bahá’í Public Relations, Miss Virginia Russell, secretary. |
Tablet to Andrew Carnegie Discovered[edit]
Last year, Isobel Locke, pioneer to Edinburgh, heard through an acquaintance that an original tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Andrew Carnegie was on exhibit in the Carnegie Museum in Dumfermline, Fife, the birthplace of the famed philanthropist.
Miss Locke went to the Museum and found that the tablet was on exhibition. It had been written by the Master to Andrew Carnegie in 1910. The British NSA made arrangements with the trustees of the Museum to obtain photostatic copies. The theme of the tablet concerns the distribution of wealth to the poor by the rich on a voluntary basis.
Teaching Campaign Nears Climax[edit]
The NTC reports a steady national response to the three historic appeals from the Guardian. In all parts of the country settlers are moving into goal towns and cities, and believers are seeking all possible opportunities to teach and confirm new souls, in a united, sacrifical effort to meet the goal of 175 assemblies by April 21.
A careful national survey on March 10 revealed the status of the national effort as follows:
- Goal for April 21 — 175 assemblies
- LSA’s in Canada — 13
- LSA’s in the U.S. — 130
- ____
- Total: 143
- Hopeful goals — 42
Among the offers for assistance in the North American teaching field is an interesting one from a European Bahá’í, Mr. Harry Anderson of Denmark. Mr. Anderson plans to come to the United States to study medicine, and he writes that he knows the need for people in certain sections and would like to help by going to a medical school in a goal area. This is really international cooperation.
Due to the immense task of fulfilling our 175 assemblies, the work in the universities has not been stressed, but a fine contact was made with Mt. Holyoke College. Mrs. Bahiyyih Randall Ford spoke to a group of 150 students on the Bahá’í World Faith. The lecture was received with enthusiasm and resulted in a one and a half hour discussion and interviews the next morning. Mrs. Ford reported that quite a number expressed a desire to know more of the Faith and probably a small study class would be formed and carried on by the RTC. The request for a Bahá’í speaker was made by a student on the campus who had heard of the Faith through Nancy Gates and Betty Rhodes in Geneva, New York.
Word comes to us from Mrs. Mary Stevison that our Indian Bahá’í community at Macy is functioning well. Mrs. Stevison visited them in February and March and attended their meetings. The Indian Bahá’ís faithfully came though the weather was very cold and the snow deep. The Guardian’s letter was read and reread and the Bahá’í prayers were also read. Each member expressed what the Bahá’í Faith and their Bahá’í meetings meant to him or her. It is wonderful to hear such words coming from our first real native North American community. “We are pleased to think that we have another messenger to come—that if we could only have another way of meeting you people. In our lives we need the help of God through His Messenger that we may get understanding. That through our lives we are sorely in need of God’s help towards us in this little assembly on this Omaha Indian reservation. This is my request to you people that we may still continue serving Him and to help others who are coming to understand.”
The Home Front[edit]
Charleston, W. V. Mrs. Margery McCormick gave Charleston nearly three weeks of inspiration and teaching help during January, in a deeply appreciated public campaign under the NTC.
Public appearances included the first meeting on Jan. 18 (subject, “The World Safe for Humanity”); two subsequent Sunday meetings, one using colored slide photos to illustrate progressive Revelation and “comparative religion” in a practical way, under the title “Palestine, the Holy Land of Many Faiths;” a five-minute impromptu speech which, following a panel discussion at a meeting of the NAACP, had an electrifying effect on the audience; a fifteen-minute talk at a luncheon meeting of the Women’s Hadassah Society (Jewish); and many small informal meetings at the Center.
Radio stations combined to furnish excellent publicity: in addition to a paid broadcast of “A New Interpretation of History,” each of five stations made elaborate announcements of Mrs. McCormick’s public talks under their Community News programs. Then as a result, one of these requested a fifteen-minute interview. Another station broadcast two seven-minute interviews with her at the instigation of the Jewish Rabbi who had spoken on the panel at the NAACP meeting.
It is earnestly hoped that the results of this campaign may come to
fruition speedily enough to achieve
the desired goal in Charleston.
(Ed. note: Charleston has five separate study
classes operating.)
| Feature Article in May World Order
An article by Stanwood Cobb, “Beauty and Art in the Bahá’í World” will be the feature article in the May issue of World Order magazine. |
Seattle, Wash. The Calendar of Public Meetings in this city carries a splendid notice of an unusual series of discussion meetings. The theme has been “Holy Books of the Bahá’í Faith.” The book under discussion for January is “Some Answered Questions” and each week the discussion is guided by a different believer. Several chapters are discussed at each meeting and the titles of the discussions are very appealing. These meetings are held on Friday evenings and are in addition to the regular public lecture meetings.
Los Angeles, Calif.: Another splendid local news letter or bulletin is “The Bahá’í Journal” published monthly by the Spiritual Assembly of this city. A recent program of public meetings includes the following titles: DIVINE REVELATION, SPRINGBOARD FOR SOCIAL ACTION; FOR WHAT ARE WE SEEKING?; ASSURANCE IN A WORLD OF TURMOIL; PRAYER IN A WORLD RELIGION; RELIGION, SPIRITUAL HIGHWAY FOR A NEW AGE; THE PENETRATON OF THE WORD OF GOD and INDIVIDUAL ASSURANCE IN A NEW WORLD. Their Reading Room is open to the public daily from 2 to 4 p.m.; they advertise an “Inquirer’s Class,” an “Esperanto Class” and a Youth Meeting weekly. Many Firesides operate and an interesting recent activity is a weekly gathering of some of the friends to read together from “The Dawn-Breakers.”
Helena and Butte, Montana: A regional teaching Conference was held on Aug. 31 last year with believers attending from the most distant parts of this tri-state region (Idaho, Montana and Utah). The thrilling results of this conference were that some weeks later, seven new believers were enrolled in the Helena community and four in Butte. The report from their regional bulletin states that the friends who had attended the conference returned home inspired as never before and the subsequent enrollments more than confirmed them all.
[Page 8]
Lima, Peru Bahá’í community is happy over recent incorporation of their assembly, but sorry to see Miss Eve Nicklin, pioneer, leave for Punta Arenas, Magallanes, Chile. She is standing second from left.
Latin America Is Helping[edit]
Latin America is helping to answer the Guardian’s call for 175 assemblies in the United States by April 21 through a 9-point program of cooperation, presented by the Inter-America Committee to the North American Teaching Committee. Some of these points include asking two Latin American teachers, Miss Flora Hottes and Hascle Cornbleth, to serve under the northern committee during the emergency, asking 12 families and individuals, who have volunteered and been accepted for Latin American pioneering, to place themselves at the service of the N.T.C. as North American pioneers for at least a year; asking the N.S.A. to recommend to the International School in Colorado Springs that the Latin American session June 18th to 28th be made an all-Americas session, where Bahá’í teachers may obtain normal school training applicable anywhere in this hemisphere, including the special Latin American techniques, and suggestions regarding how to adapt these to North American teaching; also including a voluntary $2,000 cut in the budget of the I.A.C., which the members hope to be able to increase before the end of the year, so that these savings will be available for the North American work.
Highlights of the Latin American work have just been brought to this country by Miss Janice Ewing of Oak Park, Ill., who became a Bahá’í in Santiago, Chile, and who has returned to Oak Park to prepare for her wedding to Artemus Lamb of Santiago, which will be celebrated in Oak Park May 8th. Janice gave us some clues to the miracles which enabled the Santiago Congress and Summer School to be such a huge success. She said, “Artemus did not know what could be done to take care of the delegates and visitors who were coming. He saw in the ads a large, beautiful home for rent in the best section of Santiago. It seemed impossible that such a place could be obtained for the use of a crowd of strangers, but he sat down and prayed. Then he went to see the owner and she handed him the keys at once.
“ ‘But,’ said Artemus, ‘there will be about 35 people staying there. Will that be all right?’
“ ‘Oh, yes,’ agreed the owner, ‘and in that case I’ll just leave all the furnishings and the silver and dishes, and wouldn’t you like the two servants too?’
“That is how ‘La Colonia Bahá’í’ was discovered. Then Artemus wanted a window to display information about the Faith,” Janice continued. “He walked up and down the best part of the main shopping street and he saw a beautiful window, the finest in town, right in the heart of the shopping district. He asked a friend about it. ‘Yes,’ said the man, “the owner sometimes rents the window, but never for more than three days and it is very expensive.’ So Artemus sat down and prayed and then he went to see the owner and told him about the Faith and the Congress. The owner offered him the window free of charge for a week.
“After the school sessions, when Artemus took back the keys to the beautiful house, he told the owner how he had become engaged to be married during this time,” Janice said. “We had been wondering where we could find an apartment in Santiago, for these are even scarcer than in Chicago. “Oh,’ said the owner, ‘wouldn’t you like one of my apartments for yourself and your bride? I don’t have one vacant but I’ll ask for one and have it ready at the right time. My family and I have noticed how the Bahá’ís have behaved during this month that they have used our house. We are interested and would like to study your Faith.”
Janice told the Inter-America Committee about her visit to Ezeiza Summer School in Argentina, where the new dormitory has just been completed and where 35 students gathered to study this year. She was entertained by Edris Rice-Wray’s and Margaret Swengle’s class of 45 university boys in Puerto Rico, and said that the girls are planning to have a second assembly in Rio Piedras by April 20.
Highlights have come from Estéban Canales of Santiago, chairman of the South American National Teaching Committee. His first stop was in Antofagasta, on the border of Chile en route to Bolivia, where Sra. Yvonne de Cuéllar of La Paz joined him to help with the teaching. Estéban reports that the head of radio station “El Loa”, which is heard in both Bolivia and Chile, became deeply interested and offered himself as a student and his station as a point for disseminating knowledge of the Faith.
In La Paz 80 people came to hear Estéban speak on the Faith and 40 participated in a reception for him. His itinerary includes Sucre and Cochabamba, Bolivia; Lima, Peru; Guayaquil, Quito and Ambato, Ecuador.
The thrilling news has just come that incorporation of the Faith has been granted in Lima, Peru, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where wonderful work is being done by devoted Edward and Mary Bode. Eve Nicklin,
[Page 9]
Much attention was attracted by the interesting window displays on the Main street of Santiago, Chile, during the recent second South American Bahá’í Congress held in that city. The one shown above depicts the Bahá’í world. The rays radiating from the map point to photographs of Bahá’í gatherings in most of the countries of the world.
bulwark of the Faith for eight years
in Peru, is teaching now in the most
southernly city of the world, Punta
Arenas on the furthest tip of South
America.
“I thought during these days of the Dawn Breakers, of the tumultuous eagerness, of the courage of the followers of the Báb,” wrote Marcia Steward concerning the recent Congress and International School sessions of the 12 Caribbean countries held in Mexico City. “The Congress was a success. Only one who knew the different communities and the conditions, could fully appreciate the reality of what happened. The friends had a real Latin American Congress, enthusiastic, intense, bringing the following results:
During this Congress, the delegates matured into full Bahá’ís, knowing what the Faith is, and ready and eager to serve it; the National Teaching Committee is now recognized, understood and accepted and the Regional Committees are understood in their functions; the Cause has consolidated and the basis for the National Spiritual Assembly been born.”
Ten countries were represented: Panama by Sra. Blanca de Campos; Costa Rica, Oscar Castro; Honduras, Srta. María Francisa Rivera; El Salvador, Srta. Luz Caáas; Guatemala, Joaquín Rodas; Cuba, Sra. Viva de Lismore; Haiti, Martial Coulange; Jamaica, William Mitchell; Dominican Republic, Dr. David Escalante, by special appointment, and Mexico, Carlos Vergara. Official representatives of National Committees included Mrs. Loulie Matthews of Colorado Springs, Inter-America Committee, who gave the opening address of the Congress; Marcia Steward, Sra. Natalia de Chávez, Carlos Vergara and Oscar Castro of the National Teaching Committee, who were in charge of all arrangements. Official teachers at the school included Octavio Illescas, Marzieh Gail, Natalia de Chávez, Oscar Castro, Harold B. Murrary and Sra. Mary Luz Guinchard.
A Five-Year Plan for carrying out the objectives of the Guardian’s plan was presented by the delegate from Haiti and will be shown by Mrs. Matthews at the Convention. Constructive plans were made for the multiplication of assemblies, consolidation of existing assemblies, incorporation of the Faith in each country as speedily as possible, establishment of national and local funds, (10 countries contributed toward the expenses of the Congress), establishment of Bahá’í summer schools, organization of regional and national conferences, and making a special effort to carry the Teachings to the indigenes of each country.
Calendar[edit]
FEASTS:
- June 5—Uúr—Light
- June 24—Rahmat—Mercy
N.S.A. MEETINGS
- April 28
CONVENTION
- April 29-30 May 1-2
Members of the Bahá’í community of Sao Paulo, Brazil are rejoicing over the choice of their beautiful mountain city as the site of the 3rd annual South American Congress and International Summer School, scheduled tentatively for next January. Settlers in the group are Mr. Edmund Miessler, standing center, Muriel, his wife, at right and Margot at left of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s pciture, with Bob standing second from left.
1948 Summer School Programs[edit]
International School[edit]
The International School Sessions are open to all believers for normal school training, whether the believers teach in the Americas or other countries. The courses are designed to deepen the understanding of the Faith and to perfect the teaching technic and to enable students to give Bahá’í answers to questions asked. The school will be open June 18th to 28th for a Latin-American Session, followed by a European Session from July 1st to July 10th. It is hoped that the friends will avail themselves of this opportunity and write promptly for reservations since the number is limited to twenty five for each Session. For reservations, address Miss O. B. Crum, sec., P. O. Box 1064, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Geyserville[edit]
The Geyserville Bahá’í School session will extend over six weeks again this year — June 20 to August 1. The following courses are being offered:
- BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION. This class is planned as a workshop. “The Bahá’í Community” will be its text, and its membership will be limited to Bahá’ís.
- BAHÁ’Í WAY OF LIFE. A class also For Bahá’ís only, will deal with the obligations of Bahá’í life and will study such subjects as the development of spiritual qualities, personal conduct, the individual in the Bahá’í community and the individual in the non-Bahá’í community. It is planned for lecture and directed discussion in class time with assigned research work for outside preparation.
- BAHÁ’Í HISTORY. An open discussion course with outside reading to be assigned. God Passes By will be the main text.
- RESEARCH IN THE SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS OF THE FAITH. This course, which proved so popular last year, will be re-given with some variation in material. Its special value is for those who wish to gain a deeper and more practical knowledge of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings on the spiritual life of man. For the second and third school periods an advanced course of a similar nature will be given. Students who wish to register for it must have previously taken the primary course.
- FUNDAMENTAL TEACHINGS OF THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH. A course designed for non-Bahá’ís for the purpose of assisting them to develop a clear understanding of the tenets of the Faith.
- ISLAM. A combined lecture and discussion course on the history and influence, spiritual and material, of the Muhammadan Faith.
- THE PLANNING AND DELIVERY OF BAHÁ’Í TALKS. A workshop course planned to give each student as much practice as possible in speaking before a group. Special emphasis is placed on the specific knowledge needed by Bahá’í chairmen and speakers.
- PROGRESSIVE RELIGION. A new course, planned as lecture and workshop, to study the prophetic religions, their history and basic teachings, covering the relatedness of the various systems and tracing the development of practices and doctrines of today.
- EFFECTIVE TEACHING METHODS. This workshop will consist of study, discussion and demonstration of individual and group teaching techniques as applied to class, fireside, round table and discussion groups.
Each student will be expected to enroll in at least two courses. Three will be as many as can be taken in any two-week period. General assemblies and demonstrations will be held over the week-ends for the benefit of guests and so the entire student body may profit from the work and study of all the groups.
THE CHILDREN’S PROGRAM.
Organized classes for children will
be conducted during the four weeks
from June 20 to July 18. There will
be five groupings, each with its special program, as follows:
- Junior Youth — 12 to 15 years
- High Intermediate — 10 to 12 years
- Low Intermediate — 9 to 10 years
- Primary — 6 to 8 years
- Pre-school — children under six years.
There will be no separate program for youth. Young people will choose among the courses outlined and will be included in all of the school activities.
In addition to Sunday “open house” programs and demonstrations there will be planned evening recreation, entertainment and cultural activities. The Unity Feast will be held Sunday, July 4, so friends coming for the second session, as well as those about to leave after the first session, will be able to attend.
Rates this year include room and three meals a day. Bedding and linen will be furnished tenants of Bosch Hall. The rates will be, Collins Dormitory, upstairs, adults — $10.50, under 14 — $10.25, downstairs, adults (2 to a room) — $24.50, under 14 — (1 or more on cots, with parents) $8.75, Bosch Hall, men and boys only, adults — $17.50, under 14 — $10.50. Meals for off-campus students, 3 a day, by the week, $14. Transient meals, breakfast, $.60, lunch, $.60, dinner, $1.20.
The National Assembly has authorized the Geyserville School Committee to charge a registration fee of $1 for each student over the age of three for each period of from four to fourteen days spent at the School. This fee will be used to pay for paper and mimeographing of syllabi for the use of the students and for working material for the children’s program. Any excess will be applied on administrative expense. This registration fee will be in addition to the above rates for board and room.
Make your reservations as soon as possible through Mr. Al Zahl, 826 W. Grant Place, San Mateo, California.
Louhelen[edit]
Junior Youth (June 27 to July 9 incl.)
- Stories of Bahá’í Heroes
- Your Religion and Mine
- Your Place in the World
General Session I (July 11-23 incl.)
- One Hundred Years in the New Age
- Our Religious Heritage
- Teaching Methods: New Ways for old
General Session II (July 25-30 incl.)
- Bahá’í Community Life
- The Role of Religion in World History
- Teaching at home and abroad
General Session III (August 1-14 incl.)
- Elements of Spiritual Growth
- Lessons in Human Relationship
- Psychology of Teaching
Senior Youth (Aug. 15-27 incl.)
- Personal Life and Understanding
- Comparative Religion
- How can I best serve the Faith?
Young Adults (Aug. 29-Sept. 4 incl.)
- Social Aspects of the Individual life
- Scientific Approach to Everyday Problems
- Implementing the Divine Plan
Louhelen Homecoming, Sept. 5 and 6
[Page 11]
Oscar Castro of San Jose, recently
graduated from the University of Costa
Rica, acted as secretary of the Mexico
City Congress, where delegates from 10
of the Caribbean countries gathered to
make plans for carrying out the Guardian’s pattern for Latin America. Castro is performing his first mission as a
traveling teacher by helping the Bahá’í
students in the City of Santa Ana, El
Salvador, to prepare for assembly
status. He is a member of the National
Teaching Committee and served as a
teacher at the International School sessions in Mexico City.
Green Acre[edit]
Green Acre will be open—June 27 to Sept. 11. Classes will be scheduled July 5 to Sept. 6.
LECTURE-DISCUSSION COURSES
Available Throughout Season
- July 5-10—“The Divine Art of Living”
- July 12-17—“Current Events in the Light of the Bahá’í Teachings” (Subject to change)
- July 14-24—“Hidden Words”
- July 26-31—“Iqan”
- Aug. 2-7—“Answered Questions” (Part 3.)
- Aug, 9-14—“Answered Questions” (Part 4)
- Aug. 16-21—“Changing Your Thinking”
- Aug. 23-28—“Advent of Divine Justice”
- Aug. 30-Sept. 4 “Questions and Answers”
The above courses will be available each day of the week except Sunday. The courses will be from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
WORKSHOP COURSES[edit]
The following courses will be available throughout the entire School season.
- Introduction to the Bahá’í Faith For non-Bahá’ís
- Effective Speaking
- Research
The following courses will be available on dates specified.
- PSYCHOLOGY OF TEACHING—July 12-24
- CREATIVE WRITING—July 5-17
- TRAINING TEACHERS FOR BAHÁ’Í CHILDREN’S CLASSES—August 2-14
- EFFECTIVE SPEAKING (For advanced students. Entire month of August (subject to change)
- ADMINISTRATION—July 12-24, August 16-28
- VISUAL AIDS, PUBLICITY AND AD WRITING—July 26 to August 7
- RADIO SCRIPT WRITING AND TELEVISION (Dates of course unknown definitely)
Green Acre Junior School[edit]
Six weeks—July 18 to August 28
- Nursery School—Ages 3 to 6
- Children’s Classes—Ages 6 to 11
- Junior Youth Classes—Ages 11 to 14
Classes include Religious study, arts and crafts and sports. Classes are held for three hours each morning and there is one hour and a half supervised recreation each afternoon for Children and Junior Youth.
Special Weeks[edit]
YOUTH WEEKS—(Ages 15 to 21) July 25 to August 7
YOUNG ADULT WEEK—(Ages 21 to 30) August 22 to 28
Ed. Note: A schedule of full information as to rates and reservations for all four schools will appear in the May issue.
ENROLLMENTS[edit]
| Convention Meals Service
The Food Committee for the Convention will be at the Temple to meet all the friends at noon on April 30th at which time they will be ready to offer them a service which, according to present plans, promises to be highly satisfactory. This service will provide regular lunches and dinners of many choices in cafeteria style at each mealtime at the Temple and is a necessity since there are no nearby places which can accommodate our numbers, and it is offered solely as a convenience for the friends. We have had several problems in connection with working this out but we feel confident that the caterer is planning for the best food and service obtainable at the best prices. We wish to ask the friends who are coming to the Convention to please plan to support this service since it is being arranged entirely for their convenience and should be supported. |
Enrollments reported by Local Spiritual Assemblies
Chicago, Ill., 1; Peoria, Ill. 1; New York City, 1; Portland, Ore., 2; Cleveland Ohio, 5 Dumont, N. J., 3; Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1; Lima, Ohio, 1; Danville Ill., 5: Kansas City, Mo., 2; Burlingame Calif., 1; New Orleans, La., 1; Oak Park, Ill., Albuquerque, N.M., 1; Beverly, Mass., 2; Santa Barbara, Calif., 1; Montreal, P.Q., Can., 2; Toronto Ont., Can., 1; YOUTH 4.
Enrollments reported by Regional Teaching Committees
New England 2; New York, Conn. 8 & 1 Youth; W. Pa. & Ohio 1; Ky., Ind. 1; Ill. 8; Iowa 6 & 1 Youth; Georgia, 1 Youth; Mich. 1 & 2 Youth, Wis., Minn., No. Dakota, So. Dakota 3; Okla., Ark. 2; So. Calif & Ariz. 4; No. Calif. & Nev. 3; Wyo., Colo., N.M. 2; Wash. & Ore. 3; Quebec 1; Ontario 1; Prairie 1; British Columbia 1.
The children’s Garden of Madison,
Wisconsin is a morning Sunday School
class taught by Mrs. Betty Beecher. A
continuing project for the past 15
months, it employs singing, prayers, A Bahá’í Child’s A.B.C. book, and the
reading of stories of the Prophets. A
novel idea of the teacher is individual
scrapbooks which she makes. The children color and paste in a picture illustrative of each lesson, whole text is
then printed in colors and taken home
to be memorized. Ages range from 4 to
13 and interest is keen.
The Home Front[edit]
San Francisco, Calif.: An interesting story reached us in regard to a means of approach to the Mayor of this city. Mrs. Else Waldman of New York City was visiting in San Francisco. One of her hobbies is hand-painting neckties. The manager of the hotel where she was stopping mentioned the fact that the Mayor was very interested in hand-painted neckties, and Mrs. Waldman immediately went to see him as a painter of ties. She was most graciously received, and in the course of her business with him found opportunity to tell him something of the Faith. His response was most cordial and she was able to leave with him a few pieces of literature which she “happened” to have with her!
Chicago, Ill.: The believers of this city manage to consistently maintain 10 regular weekly Firesides in addition to their regularly scheduled public meetings. They maintain a Reading Room, open to the public every day from noon to 4 p.m. except Sundays, and issue a monthly bulletin which is outstanding in its content and spirit. Their public meeting subjects for January are most interesting. The “Bahá’í Youth Program” is offering the following: THE GOAL OF THE NEW WORLD ORDER; A WORLD GOVERNOR; THE MEANING OF FREEDOM; THE ESSENCE OF FAITH and THE DIVINE ART OF LIVING. The “Bahá’í Fellowship Group” is presenting CIVILIZATION, MATERIAL and SPIRITUAL; CHANGING IDEAS; RELIGION: THE CRADLE OF CIVILIZATION; THE MEANING OF TRUE PRAYER; and BAHÁ’Í PATTERN FOR FUTURE SOCIETY.
Cleveland, Ohio: On Friday Dec. 5, 1947, the Cleveland friends presented a lecture by Mr. William Sears of Philadelphia. The lecture room was well filled and an estimated 70 people heard the talk entitled “The New World Community.” On Sunday, Jan. 4, Mrs. Ruth Moffett of Chicago spoke on “The Promised Day is Come” to an audience of about 60. Other public meetings already planned will be reported later. The Cleveland Bahá’ís, however, are gratified with the continuing success at their regular Sunday morning public meetings which they have been sponsoring for about 18 months. The response of the public has been especially satisfying because in addition to the regular paid advertisement announcing the subject each week, the quotations from the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá included have served to attract many inquirers. At least three papers always run a comment on the subject which serves to tie up the particular lecture topic with the basic teachings of the Faith.
DIRECTORY ADDITIONS & CHANGES
Local Spiritual Assembly Secretaries
NORTH ALBUQUERQUE, N. M.
- Mrs. Olive Crocker, Sec’y.
- P. O. Box 202
- Albuquerque, N.M.
BRATTLEBORO, VT.
- Mrs. Edith Newcomb, Sec’y.
- 18 Southern Ave.
HALIFAX, N. S., CAN.
- Miss Amo Chesley, Sec’y.
- C. N. Telegraphs
- 505 Barrington St.
GROUPS
New Groups
MOUNTAIN VIEW, N. M.
- Mrs. Everett Smith, Corres.
- Rt. 1, Box 876 B
- Albuquerque, N.M.
ESCONDIDO, CALIF.
- Mrs. Vera Lou Scott, Corres.
- Birch Drive, Rt. 1, Box 38
Change of correspondent or address of correspondent
FINDLAY, OHIO
- Mrs. Nellie M. Duff, Corres.
- 200 Elm St.
LOUDONVILLE, OHIO
- Mrs. Frank Warner, Corres.
- 121 S. Adams St.
CLAREMONT, CALIF.
- Mr. Wyatt Cooper, Corres.
- Webb School
BROOKLINE, MASS.
- Mrs. Harold Bowditch, Corres.
- 44 Harvard Ave.
GLENDALE TWP.
- Mrs. W. R. McIntyre, Corres.
- 3344 Montrose Ave.
- La Crescenta, Calif.
EAST PHOENIX, ARIZ.
- Miss Edith Goranson, Corres.
- c/o Engelder
- Rt. 2, Box 394
- Phoenix, Ariz.
RTC SECRETARIES
- Mrs. Robert McLaughlin
- The Stauton, 76 Maple Ave.
- Greenwich, Conn.
- Mrs. Roberta Wilson
- 1319½ Gaines St.
- Little Rock, Ark.
NATIONAL COMMITTEES
Appointments and withdrawals were reported by the N.S.A. at its Feb. meeting as follows:
TEXAS REGIONAL
- Mrs. Inez Butterfield—appointed chairman.
- Mr. Charles Woodruf—unable to serve
- Miss Anne Bullock—added.
- Mrs. Maxine Smith—added.
NATIONAL RADIO COMMITTEE
- Mail Address:
- Mrs. Kit Goldstein
- c/o Mottahedeh
- 225 5th Ave.
- New York 10, N. Y.
William Mitchell of Kingston represented Jamaica at the recent Mexico City Congress. He is chairman of the Jamaica Regional Committee and of the Kingston Assembly and has been teaching the Cause in two cities of that island.
| Page | Col. | |
Addresses | 3 | 1 |
Around the Bahá’í World | 2 | 1 |
Bahá’í Seminar, Louisville | 4 | 1 |
Calendar | 9 | 3 |
Carnegie, Andrew, Tablet | 6 | 1 |
Conventions meals | 11 | 3 |
Directory | 12 | 2 |
Enrollments | 11 | 2 |
| Europe | ||
Cables | 1 | 1 |
Conference | 1 | 1 |
| Fund | ||
Assemblies contributing | 5 | 1 |
More Abundant Contributions | 5 | 3 |
Where We Are | 5 | 2 |
Home Front | 7 | 1 |
Latin America | 8 | 1 |
Memoriam | 5 | 2 |
| National Spiritual Assembly | ||
“Here We Stand” | 1 | 2 |
| Pictures | ||
Castro, Oscar | 11 | 1 |
Lima, Peru | 8 | 1 |
Louisville, Ky. | 4 | 1 |
Madison, Wisc.  | 11 | 3 |
Mitchell, William | 12 | 3 |
Santiago, Chile | 9 | 1 |
Sao Paulo, Brazil | 9 | 3 |
Slidefilm | 2 | 1 |
| Public Relations | ||
Ad reprint | 6 | 1 |
“In Action” | 6 | 2 |
Slidefilm released | 2 | 2 |
| Study Aids | ||
Volunteers wanted | 2 | 3 |
“What is Teaching?” | 3 | 2 |
Suggested Daily Readings | 4 | 3 |
Summer Schools, programs | 10 | 1 |
Tablet to Andrew Carnegie | 6 | 1 |
Teaching Campaign | 7 | 1 |
World Order magazine | 7 | 3 |
