Bahá’í News/Issue 223/Text
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| BAHÁ’Í |  |
NEWS |
| No. 223 | SEPTEMBER, 1949 | YEAR 106 | BAHA’I ERA |
The Second European Teaching Conference[edit]
(Reported by Garreta Busey)
The Conference at Brussels, August 5, 6, and 7, was an exhilarating experience to everyone who participated, and especially to one who had so recently come from the United States. It is hard for us to realize in America that, in the space of three years, so strong and radiant a Baháí fellowship could have grown up in that part of Europe hitherto untouched by the Faith. Only the sight of it there before my eyes could make me believe it possible.
We began to gather on Thursday afternoon at one of the dormitories of the Université Libre, a modern building, spacious and airy, in a beautiful part of the city. Honor Kempton and Marion Little had been there a fortnight before us, working with the tireless Belgian Community so that everything was perfectly prepared and all went forward, throughout the whole Conference, without a hitch. Honor welcomed us warmly, and, from the beginning, the Baháí spirit was so evident that when one of the managers of the dormitory saw the friends greeting each other in the lobby, she remarked that she liked these people, they were so happy to be together. At the end of the Conference she added that, in its harmony, its kindly spirit, and the courtesy of its members to those who served them, it was the best group that had ever met in that building, where many international gatherings are held.
There was a large convention hall at one end of the main building, and there, on Friday morning, August 5, assembled one hundred and thirty-four Bahá’ís of all ages and more than sixteen nationalities. Besides representatives from all the goal countries, there were visitors from England, France, Germany, the United States, Canada, Australia, and several of the Near Eastern countries, wearing blue and white badges prepared by the Swiss believers. It turned out, by a happy coincidence, that blue and white are the colors of the Université Libre.
The hall, which was bright with gladiolas furnished by the friends from Holland, land of flowers, was arranged with a speakers’ table on an elevated platform. Below it were tables at which those who spoke Italian, German, French, Dutch, and the Scandinavian languages were seated. English-speaking friends occupied the rows of seats beyond the tables.
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Shrine Progress
Cable from the Guardian “INFORM FRIENDS COMMENCEMENT CONSTRUCTION THREE CORNERS ARCADE SHRINE SIX GRANITE PILASTERS ALREADY ERECTED TWELVE COLUMNS WILL BE RAISED SHORTLY FORWARDING PHOTOGRAPHS PUBLICITY PURPOSES.” (signed) SHOGHI
dated Aug. 7, 1949 |
The Conference was opened by a prayer from the Tablets of the Divine Plan, read by Lea Nys, the first Belgian Bahá’í, followed by an address of welcome on the part of the Brussels Community by Robert Decocque. Edna True then spoke for the European Teaching Committee. She explained that this was in no sense a convention, nor even the fore-runner of future European Conventions, but was a gathering of the Bahá’í folk of Europe. It represented twelve Spiritual Assemblies in ten countries and more than double the number of declared believers of last year. The agenda, she said, would emphasize the Bahá’í Covenant and the need for the spiritual deepening of the believers. Up to this time, she pointed out, development has been horizontal. Now we must grow vertically, putting down roots of constancy and faith and reaching upward in aspiration and prayer. She closed with a quotation from the Guardian, which contrasted the warring nations of the world with the handful of those who are destined to heal the wounds.
One of the young Dutch believers had told me on the train of his dream, that the Guardian would be present at the Conference. And indeed, with the reading of his cable, Shoghi Effendi did really seem to be there. To have been instrumental in enabling him to write: “My hopes, fondly cherished at the inception of the transatlantic project, have been fulfilled, nay far surpassed,” was a sustaining joy to all who had had any part in the work. “The establishment of twelve assemblies,” he continued, “and the formation of twenty-two additional groups and isolated centers ere the halfway mark of the plan has been reached, constitute an outstanding exploit unparalleled since the inauguration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan, unsurpassed in vastness of range and of spiritual potency by any collective enterprise yet undertaken by the followers of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in any continent of the globe since the inception of the Formative Age of His Dispensation.”
The first day, after committees had been appointed, was devoted to the subject, “The Rebirth of the Individual”, and in the evening we went, by chartered trams, to the Palais des Beaux Arts in the center of the city, where Lucienne Migette, although she had been injured in an accident several days before, spoke to some three hundred people on the spiritual dynamic of the Bahá’í World Faith, and John Robarts told of its social teachings. The English speech was brilliantly summarized by the young chairman, Louis Henuzet of Brussels.
The three sessions on Saturday were given over to a very deep study of the Covenant, with the aid
[Page 2]
of an excellent compilation on that
subject and on the administrative
order, provided by the European
Teaching Committee. On Sunday administrative problems were presented and threshed out in discussion until four o’clock, when sightseeing buses took us for a tour of
the city, stopping at the Bahá’í Center, a charming little house, where
Jack, Eunice, and little Francie
Shurcliff, along with others of the
Brussels friends, welcomed us with
warm hospitality. The Shurcliffs live
at the Center and have, with the
help of the rest of the Community,
made it veritably the heart of Brussels.
The Conference closed with a Unity Banquet at one of the best restaurants of Brussels. The delicious dinner, the gift of Amelia Collins, hostess in absentia, was followed by speeches of greeting from the various countries represented. John Robarts, speaking from Canada, praised “the great American Community” which had done so much to help his own country and had now made such a conference possible. And Mason Remy deepened the tone of the evening by telling of his meetings with the Master. The Conference came to an end with the repetition of the “Remover of Difficulties” in nineteen different languages. The good cheer of this banquet (without the aid of wine), its genuine unity, and the affection for one another displayed by those who were there, made so great an impression on the manager of the restaurant that he indicated a desire to know more about this bond which drew us so strongly together.
No mere account of the events of the Conference can in any way adequately describe it. It was a miracle, but not a surface miracle, evident to any superficial observer, although outsiders did sense that it was remarkable. The miracle became evident only as one became increasingly aware of the quality of the European believers and the difficulties which had been overcome to bring them thus together.
The mere physical difficulties were enormous. When one realizes that travel by Europeans out of their own lands is almost prohibited by money regulations, which permit only a very small sum to be taken out of each country, it is remarkable that so many had managed
International Relief Report for Bahá’í Year 105[edit]
from International Relief Representative
| GERMANY AND AUSTRIA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Communities: | |||
| Pack- | CARE | ||
| ages* | Food | Lard | |
| Bergstrasse | 15 | — | 1 |
| Darmstadt | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Esslingen: Adults | 9+ | 1 | 2 |
| Children | 7 | ||
| Frankfurt am Main | 22 | 3 | — |
| Goeppingen | 3+ | — | 1 |
| Hamburg | 20 | 1 | — |
| Heidelberg | 18 | 2 | 1 |
| Karlsruhe | 9 | 2 | 1 |
| Leipzig (R) | 7 | — | — |
| Nuernberg | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Plochingen | 3+ | — | — |
| Schwerin (R) | 43 | 1 (S) | — |
| Stuttgart | 39 | 2 | — |
| Wiesbaden | 6 | 2 | — |
| Vienna | 3 | 2 | — |
| Groups: | |||
| Berlin | 7+ | 3 | 2 |
| Heilbronn | 5 | 1 | — |
| Pfüllingen | 4 | 2 | — |
| Rostock (R) | 8 | — | — |
| Warnemuende (R) | 5 | — | — |
| Ueberlingen | 4 | — | — |
| Murnau, Immenstadt, Muenchen, Ebingen, Kuessnach, Zwickau | 10 | 5 | — |
| Social Committee: | 30 | 4 | 1 Seeds |
| ____ | ____ | ____ | |
| 289+ | 35+ | 10+1 | |
| BRITISH ISLES (includ. Dublin) |
8 | — | — |
| FRANCE | 12 | — | — |
| FRENCH MOROCCO | 2 | — | — |
| ITALY | 3 | 2 | — |
| SOFIA, BULGARIA | 2 | 5 (S) | — |
| TOTAL reported | ____ | ____ | ____ |
| sent (European Relief) | 316+ | 42+ | 11 |
| *Chiefly clothing, some food. Plus sign indicates that many Communities and Bahá’ís in U.S. continued sending to addresses given, reporting only “packages sent ‘regularly’ ”; total is therefore higher, (S) means Steneck food parcel, as CARE does not send to Russian Zone (R). | |||
This report is by no means indicative of the true total number of packages sent by Bahá’ís in the United
States, as many Bahá’ís have sent
without obtaining addresses from
the International Relief Representative and without reporting when a
package is sent. But through cooperation with the plan of our National Spiritual Assembly, it has
been possible to guide distribution
more equitably and to places where
help is needed most.
International Relief Representative
Box 548, Evanston, Ill.
to come. Imprisoned within their own boundaries though they may be financially, the European Bahá’ís are by no means imprisoned spiritually. Their harmony was not theoretical, nor was there any labored attempt to understand each other. They did understand one another and were like compatriots of one spiritual commonwealth, thus proving the efficacy of Bahá’u’lláh’s prescription for an ailing world: one common faith.
Another external difficulty was that of language, and the interpreters were, I thought, the hardest working group there. In the pause after each paragraph of an address or each portion of the discussions, the hum of translating voices would go up all over the hall—and often the pauses were too short. The room seemed sometimes like a subdued Tower of Babel, pointed, however, towards unity, not dispersion. And understanding was, in spite of all, achieved.
Behind all these difficulties one sensed others of the past—the many problems that have been solved by the organization, the ceaseless energy, the devoted personal care of the European Teaching Committee, the loneliness of the first pioneers, the grueling work all of them have done, the ironing out of misunderstandings, the training of Bahá’ís. One felt the pioneers (supported by the National Spiritual Assembly and above all by the Guardian) as a great sustaining power in these young communities and wondered at their strength and their devotion. For the believers which they have attracted by love and trained by patience, have done in three years what it took the American believers decades to accomplish, and they, in their turn, will soon become torchbearers of the new civilization. They themselves are the great miracle performed by Bahá’u’lláh in Europe. They seem, in their intelligence, their humility, and their devotion to the Faith, specially prepared by Him as a repository for His Faith on this continent. Their generosity and their feeling of unity with us in America is shown by the fact that many communities, on the initiative of the European believers themselves, have started Temple funds to help us in our emergency. Their devotion is shown by the fact that such an Assembly as that of
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Notice to Incorporated Local Assemblies In consequence of the amendments made in the national Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, certain minor changes have been made by the National Spiritual Assembly in the standard By-Laws approved by the Guardian for all local Assemblies. These changes merely consist in removing the word “Canada” or “North America,” so that the By-Laws now relate the local Assembly to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, and no longer relate it to the former National Spiritual Assembly “of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada.” The new form of standard By-Laws is included in the new pamphlet edition of the Declaration of Trust and the National By-Laws. It is legally incumbent on all incorporated local Assemblies to act on amendments to their By-Laws which embody the changes made by the National Spiritual Assembly. These amendments should be voted after due notice has been given all members of the local Assembly by its Secretary:— Article II, amended to delete the word “and Canada.” Article IV, amended to delete the words “North America” and substitute the words “the United States.” Article X, Section 2, amended to delete the words “North America” and substitute the words “the United States.” Unincorporated Assemblies are not required to act on these amendments because they are expected to abide by the standard By-Laws as issued by the National Spiritual Assembly. (Incorporated Assemblies will take care to see that the amendments listed above are identified by the right Article No. in their own particular form of By-Laws). —NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
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Rome has offered to dispense with the budget for Assembly purposes, although, as Ugo Giachery told me, many of the believers can hardly afford the necessities of life during the present inflation in Italy. “How then,” I asked, “can they do without the budget?” “They have learned to put the Cause first,” he answered. “At every feast there is a very generous contribution.”
One longs for the time when there will be more give and take, more travelling back and forth, a freer circulation of spirit between Europe and America. We need to warm ourselves at the blaze of the newly lighted fires on this side of the Atlantic and to learn from those whom we have taught.
Bahá’í Constitution and By-Laws Amended[edit]
As result of the formation of the separate and independent National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada, it became necessary to amend the Declaration of Trust adopted by the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada in 1927, and its By-Laws as adopted then and as amended from time to time thereafter.
Had the National Bahá’í legal form been the usual type of constitution used by incorporated bodies, the amendments could have been effected by simple resolution of the National Spiritual Assembly members after due notice. Our Declaration of Trust, however, began with a Preamble which stated that the members then constituting the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of me United States and Canada adopted the Declaration of Trust on a certain date. This Preamble could neither be deleted nor amended, because its text was an historic fact.
Under legal advice, the National Spiritual Assembly adopted on July 16, 1949, a resolution to follow the 1927 Preamble, and add to the Declaration of Trust a new statement of fact, namely, that the Canadian Assembly has been formed and therefore the Declaration of Trust is now the Declaration of Trust by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States as successor body to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada. This resolution served not merely to provide for change of name of the National Spiritual Assembly—it also made it a matter of legal record that the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States represents the continuity of the former National Spiritual Assembly, and that the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada is a new body which has no legal title to Bahá’í properties or funds in the United States, and that the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States has no legal title to Bahá’í properties or funds in Canada. Thus any confusion as to the status of the various properties involved directly or indirectly—the Temple for example, in the United States, and Bahá’í School in the Province of Quebec—is effectively removed.
After adopting that resolution the National Spiritual Assembly proceeded to amend the text of the Articles of the Declaration and of its By-Laws in such manner as to omit references to Canada throughout.
The amended text of the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws has been published in pamphlet form, as announced by the Publishing Committee. The National Spiritual Assembly commends this pamphlet earnestly to the friends and to the local Assembly members in particular. It provides our legal and corporate body functioning at this stage of the evolution of the Bahá’í world community.
Please note in this issue of Bahá’í News a special notice to incorporated local Assemblies pointing out that the standard local By-Laws have also been changed.
Publishing Announcement[edit]
Declaration of Trust and By-Laws; By-Laws of a Local Assembly[edit]
New, revised edition of pamphlet containing all amendments up to July 16, 1949. This pamphlet sets forth the constitutional structure of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and of a local Assembly. Bahá’ís should inform themselves as to the basic constitutional law of the American Bahá’í community, as it defines the local Assembly, the State Convention, the National Convention and the National Spiritual Assembly.
Price per copy, postpaid, $.15.
| Score to Date — August 31, 1949 on Response to the Temple Fund | |||
| Group | Number | Estimated for 2 years | |
| $400 | 140 | ................... | $112,000.00 |
| $100 | 507 | ................... | $ 101,400.00 |
| $ 25 | 509 | ................... | $ 25,450.00 |
| *Special | 886 | ................... | $203,221.33 |
| Totals | 2042 | ................... | $442,071.33 |
| Received against above resolves | $186,863.35 | ||
| *All resolves not falling in other three categories. Many friends have asked if they could send in their next year’s resolve now. This would be very helpful.
—TREASURER
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The Bahá’í Teachings on Baptism[edit]
In answer to questions received from a number of believers, the National Spiritual Assembly wishes to publish for the information of all the friends two excerpts from the writings which establish the Bahá’í attitude on baptism and other traditional religious rites and ceremonies.
On page 327 of the Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (and page 390 of Bahá’í World Faith) the Master explains the paramount claim of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh over the obligations of church membership.
“Thou hast questioned how thou canst accept this divine Cause, for thou art a member of the church. In the day of the Manifestation of Christ, many souls became portionless and deprived because they were members of the Holy of Holies in Jerusalem. According to their membership, they became veiled from the brilliant Beauty. Therefore, turn thou thy face to the Church of God which consists in divine instructions and merciful exhortations. For what similarity is there between the church of stone and cement and the celestial Holy of Holies!
“Endeavor that thou mayest enter in this Church of God. Although thou hast given oath to attend the church, yet thy spirit is under the Covenant and Testament of the spiritual Divine church. Thou shouldst protect this. Although they consider the wine and the bread in the Church as the blood and body of Christ, yet this is but the appearance and not the reality. But the reality of Christ is the words of the Holy Spirit. If thou art able, take a portion thereof.
“The performance of baptismal celebration would cleanse the body, but the spirit hath no share; but the divine teachings and exhortations of the Beauty of Abhá will baptize the soul. This is the real baptism. I hope thou wilt receive this baptism.”
The explanation is carried forward by the Guardian on page 22 of the volume, World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
“We should also bear in mind that the distinguishing character of the Bahá’í Revelation does not solely consist in the completeness and unquestionable validity of the Dispensation which the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá have established. Its excellence lies also in the fact that those elements which in past Dispensations have, without the least authority from their founders, been a source of corruption and of incalculable harm to the Faith of God, have been strictly excluded by the clear text of Bahá’u’lláh’s writings. Those unwarranted practices, in connection with the sacrament of baptism, of communion, of confession of sins, of asceticism, of priestly domination, of elaborate ceremonials, of holy war and of polygamy, have one and all been rigidly suppressed by the pen of Bahá’u’lláh; whilst the rigidity and rigor of certain observances, such as fasting, which are necessary to the devotional life of the individual, have been considerably abated.”
It is natural for the new believer to feel that the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh should have rites and ceremonies corresponding to those of his former religion. The foregoing passages do more than state specific facts about the Baháí teachings—they inspire a deeper confirmation and enlightenment as to the unique character of the Bahá’í Dispensation. When this deeper understanding is attained, the new believer becomes firm and steadfast, an adult and responsible member of the Religion of God.
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?
What precious ornament from
Bahá’u’lláh’s Tomb did the Guardian give to the Temple? When and where was the first International Bahá’í Congress held in America? Have you ever seen a picture of the
site of the next Bahá’í Temple? (Note error: the upper Picture is the closeup.) Can you tell the remarkable story
of Henderson Business College, a
Bahá’í Enterprise? |
Visual Education Conference[edit]
On Saturday, August 20, an informal conference was held by the Visual Education Committee in the studio of Mr. C. L. Welsh at Greenwich, Conn. The committee invited the Area NTC and the near-by regional committees to send representatives who could present the teaching needs which might be met through visual aids. Believers particularly interested in photography and other technical aspects of visual aids, also were in attendance. About forty people participated in the discussion.
The Committee asked Kenneth Christian to serve as moderator. C. L. Welsh and David Ruhe spoke briefly for the committee. Emphasis was placed upon the fact that the austerity period gave excellent opportunity for research and long-range planning. Many suggestions were made to the committee, including a list of subjects which the believers present felt needed visual treatment for more effective public presentation.
1949 National Convention Recommendations[edit]
The following recommendations were made by the National Convention and are reported to the friends with the actions taken by the National Spiritual Assembly:
1. That the resume on teaching as presented by the Convention Chairman be published in Bahá’í News.
- Voted to publish the resume on teaching.
2. That the National Assembly publish
in Bahá’í News the material on workshops and Bahá’í consultation presented
by Miss Austin.
- Voted to publish this material.
3. That the following suggestions
(taken during discussion following Method 66) be submitted to the National Assembly. The suggestions were in response to the question “What is the one
best thing that can be done to improve
the State Conventions?”
- Means should be devised to increase attendance and voting.
- There should be better planning by the State Convention Committees.
- Details should be eliminated and reports condensed.
- The Regional Teaching Committees should participate in drawing up the Agenda.
- Voted to turn these recommendations over to the special National Assembly committee on state conventions.
4. That the entire report of recommendations from the second question submitted under “Discussion 66” be recommended to the National Assembly.
The delegates were asked to answer the
following question. “What is the chief
additional study material needed by the
American Bahá’ís?” The following were
recommended:
- Outlines giving more guidance in the study of other holy books, especially the Bible for new Bahá’ís, including Youth.
- Have one book of dictionary type with questions and answers to all present-day Bahá’í problems with references of full quoted answers.
- An outline correlating the Guardian’s comments in World Order letters and The Promised Day with the trends of world events.
- Motivation needed to study ample material already available.
- Bahá’í Administration in the Guardian’s words, using modern study techniques such as Ruhíyyíh Khanum’s play, discussion technique, and audio-visual material.
- A pamphlet to teach the best way to meet the everyday problems of life and tap the great power of our Faith.
- Helps for developing techniques such as this experiment as applied to use of present materials, group planning and Bahá’í Administration.
- A pamphlet on the understanding of the spiritual significance of the economic law of God.
- A compilation of correlated subjects from comparative religions.
- Better study material on Administration and procedure.
- Material that will impress on the minds of Bahá’ís the definite importance of study of the Covenant.
- Handbook on teaching technique including material.
- Glossary of Bahá’í terms and Oriental words, names and places pertaining to the Faith.
- An education in consultation, cooperation and living the life together.
- To have available teaching tools and techniques.
- Something more easily read on the history of the Faith, to better understand the allusions of the Guardian and our relation to the development of the Faith.
- To supplement the use of historical texts with visual aids, such as pictures, maps, charts, graphs, etc., to enable us to reach all age levels.
- A new translation at Súratu’l-Haykal.
- A textbook—comprehensive—somewhat similar to Esslemont — but adapted for instruction in Bahá’í Faith developing Administration—oneness. (A textbook for today).
- A general cross index of all Bahá’í material.
- Outline and references to study differences between the Caliphate, Sultanate, Imámate, Papacy and institution of the Guardianship.
- Voted to turn these suggestions over to the National Programming Committee for study and development when and if available.
The following 8 recommendations came from the Youth Workshop:
5. That the National Youth Bulletin be continued as a publication.
- The National Spiritual Assembly has already voted to continue the Youth Bulletin.
6. That the National Youth Committee
be given the privilege of soliciting the
letters to Youth through the National
Assembly from the Guardian and to reproduce for American Bahá’í Youth a
compilation of his letters of a general nature, to Youth.
- Voted to permit the National Youth committee to request, through the National Spiritual Assembly, a letter from the Guardian to the American youth.
- Voted to inform the National Youth Committee that they may publish a compilation of letters from the Guardian to various young Bahá’ís in their youth bulletin if such letters are first cleared by the National Spiritual Assembly in the method set up by the Guardian. The National Youth Committee is to make plain to the youth of America that at present, due to the Guardian’s increasing pressure of work in Haifa, it would not be wise to make this a reason for further solicitation for letters from him.
7. That the National Spiritual Assembly appoint Regional Youth Committees with personnel concentrated in one metropolitan area to facilitate consultation, plus one member from each state in the region who can be a liaison for youth activities within that state.
- Voted to consult about this with the National Youth Committee.
- Voted to defer action on this until consultation with the National Youth Committee at the next meeting.
8. That consideration be given to preparing a simple, straightforward history of the Faith which can be more easily grasped in its entirety by younger and new Bahá’ís.
- Voted to defer decision until the end of the austerity period.
9. That parents give immediate and continuous attention to the Bahá’í education of their children, since independent investigation after the youth age is reached does not automatically acquaint Youth with a knowledge of the Faith and its history.
- Voted, to point out to the believers by announcing in Bahá’í News that the Child Education Committee is publishing a mimeographed bulletin entitled “The Child’s Way” which is designed to assist parents in the education of their children in the Bahá’í Faith.
10. That local Spiritual Assemblies, appoint a Youth, wherever available, on committees of the Assembly, in order to better integrate Youth activities into the Baha’i community.
- Voted to give hearty approval to the suggestion that local assemblies appoint capable youth to various committees in the community in order to give them experience and get the youthful viewpoint.
11. That Youth be used in circuit teaching.
- Voted to express the feeling of the National Spiritual Assembly that youth are best used when given an opportunity to teach youth and that in any circuits planned for youth that this be given major emphasis. Voted to publish this recommendation with the observation that extensive circuits cannot be planned during
- the current austerity period because of lack of funds for this purpose. The National Spiritual Assembly would see great value in placing strong emphasis on local firesides for youth.
12. That Local Spiritual Assemblies check universities and colleges in their area as to major subjects in which instruction is given and furnish this information to the National Youth Committee so that they might better advise Bahá’í Youth about college attendance.
- Voted to record the feeling of the National Spiritual Assembly that if local assemblies are to carry through the requirements of teaching at the present time this would be too great an extra burden to place upon them.
The following 9 recommendations came from the Public Relations Workshop:
13. That the Public Relations Committee prepare and issue at cost a loose leaf manual on public relations as it affects the Bahá’í community.
- Voted to record that the National Spiritual Assembly recognizes the great value that such a manual would have, and regrets that funds are not available at the present time to undertake such a project.
14. That the Public Relations Committee take over the non-Bahá’í mailing list of World Order magazine and send special mailings to this group during the time the Magazine is suspended.
- Voted to approve this recommendation and turn it over to the Public Relations Committee for action.
15. That the Public Relations Committee work more closely with the Regional Teaching Committees to help make the groups more conscious of their public relations.
- Voted to record that monthly articles by the Public Relations Committee in Bahá’í News are serving this purpose.
16. That representatives of local Bahá’í communities make themselves known to local newspaper editors to maintain a friendly personal contact so that the editor will have more understanding of our publicity and public relations.
- Voted to publish this recommendation in Bahá’í News.
17. That each and every non-Bahá’í attending a Bahá’í meeting be greeted and made to feel welcome since this is the beginning of public relations.
- Voted to urge local communities to work out simple ways and means for making non-Bahá’ís welcome at meetings and also to give them simple pamphlet literature.
18. That signs be placed along Sheridan Road, next to the Bahá’í Temple, explaining that construction work is progressing on the interior.
- Action already taken to put this recommendation into effect.
19. That the Public Relations Committee make special contacts with colleges and universities where comparative religions is taught.
- Record that this action is approved.
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Temple Stamps
The Sales Committee is distributing sheets of Temple stamps, 25 stamps per sheet. These miniature stamps carry a beautiful illustration of the Temple against a blue background. They are perforated and gummed, like postage stamps, but of a larger size. The price, sent postpaid, is 10 sheets (250 stamps) for $2.00, or 50 sheets (1250 stamps) for $9.50. Single sheets cannot be supplied by mail. They can be used on postcards, letter paper, local programs and in other ways, and each stamp will carry a beautiful pictorial message of the Temple. When resold by local Assemblies, the price per sheet is 25 cents. Send orders (with check or P. O. Money Order) to H. E. Walrath, 4639 Beacon Street, Chicago 40, Illinois. |
20. That all local Assembly Secretaries pass public relations material on to the Public Relations Chairman.
- Voted to publish this suggestion in Bahá’í News.
21. That the Public Relations Committee prepare a “flow chart” for such materials as publicity releases, service to the community, bulletin and other project’s released by Public Relations.
- Voted to take no action on this recommendation at the present time.
The following are general recommendations from the Convention floor:
22. That the National Spiritual Assembly ask the Guardian for the message he sent to the Israeli Government and the reply sent to him. These to be put into a pamphlet for teaching the Jews.
- Voted to ask the Guardian if he would wish to release these two documents for publication at this time.
23. This resolution was adopted by the Convention regarding the UN Declaration of Human Rights: “The Bahá’ís of the United States, assembled in this 41st Annual Convention recognize and acclaim in the adopting by the UN of a Declaration of Human Rights, the goal of human brotherhood advocated by the Bahá’í teachings for more than 70 years.”
- Voted to publish this in Bahá’í News.
24. That the National Spiritual Assembly arrange national observance by Bahá’í communities of UN Day and Human Rights Day, with the suggestion that there be an invitation to other organizations in the city to participate with the Bahá’ís as sponsors and hosts.
- Voted to publish in Bahá’í News the suggestion that local Bahá’í communities take advantage of the opportunity offered by UN Day and Human Rights Day observances to publicize the teachings on Universal peace and Human Rights.
- Voted to request the Public Relations Committee to publish in Bahá’í News the dates of these two events together with a number of suggestions for suitable literature to tie in with these events.
25. That the National Spiritual Assembly, clarify the question of receiving donations by the children of Bahá’ís.
- Voted to refer this question to the Guardian.
26. That the “Discussion” method of consultation be given place in the Convention Agenda when deemed helpful by the National Spiritual Assembly.
- Voted to record this recommendation of the 1949 Convention for the guidance of the National Spiritual Assembly in planning future conventions.
27. The Convention voted overwhelmingly in favor of having some form of workshop method continued as part of the Convention Agenda.
- Voted to record this expressed opinion by the delegates at the 1949 Convention for the guidance of the National Assembly in planning future conventions.
28. That the National Assembly write a letter to the Local Spiritual Assemblies clarifying the matter of jurisdiction over funds which have been accumulated to establish local endowments.
- Voted to record and publish in Bahá’í News the following view of The National Spiritual Assembly on the matter of jurisdiction of local Assemblies over earmarked contributions: The National Spiritual Assembly feels that in the event that an assembly wishes to use an earmarked fund for purposes other than it is specified by the donor, the permission of the donor must be secured before any such different use is made of the original contribution, since the Guardian has given every believer the privilege of earmarking contributions for specific Bahá’í purposes. However, the National Assembly feels that in cases where a local assembly would like to divert this original intent for local endowments to the Temple Fund during the current emergency, the Assembly should call to the attention of
- the donor the following instructions of the Guardian to the New York Assembly:
“He fully realizes how important it is for New York to have a suitable meeting place, both for its large Bahá’í membership and for the public, but he feels that at the present time such a step as the purchase of suitable premises is premature.
“As you no doubt know by now, he has given the American believers a new seven year Plan which is of the utmost importance, not only to their own internal affairs as such a privileged and blessed community, but also the affairs of the believers all over the world. This new plan is going to place heavy burdens on the National Fund, and in view of this he cannot possibly approve of an assembly embarking at this time on a project such as that you have in mind. The interests of local communities must at this time be subordinated to those of the national community of believers, to whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has confided such mighty tasks...” (through his secretary, dated May 3, 1946)
29. That the statement of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá beginning “The most wonderful and thrilling motion” in the Guardian’s letter of April 11, 1949, be made a special heading for all letters that come out in the near future with regard to raising funds.
- Voted to turn this suggestion over to the special Campaign Fund Committee for possible use in any inserts or material released by that committee.
30. That the National Spiritual Assembly give special attention to setting up the Public Relations committee to prepare for the opportunities that will come when the emergency period is over and the Temple is completed.
- Voted to record that a special committee has now been appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly charged with the responsibility of formulating coordinated plans for the future wide proclamation of the Faith.
31. That the paragraph from the Guardian’s cable calling every Bahá’í “to face a testing period ...” be reproduced in Bahá’í News in the same type as the title over the March 16 cable in April Bahá’í News.
- Voted to direct the Bahá’í News Committee to feature the paragraph referred to.
32. That the National Spiritual Assembly address a letter to local Assemblies suggesting that they point out to all of their members their opportunity to share specifically in assisting in the inception of the Kingdom of God on Earth.
- Voted to turn this suggestion over to the Campaign Fund Committee asking them to prepare a suitable letter to be sent by the National Spiritual Assembly to local assemblies at a time that is appropriate within the working out of the campaign urging the local assemblies to do everything possible to stimulate participation in the special Temple Plan.
33. That the talk given by Mrs. Mamie Seto on Friday morning of the Convention be published in Bahá’í News.
- Voted to publish Mrs. Seto’s talk in Bahá’í News.
34. That the Convention send a message of loving appreciation to the Japanese Bahá’ís for their kind remembrance of us at the 41st Convention.
- This action has been taken.
German National Spiritual Assembly Elected[edit]
A recent News Letter from Germany informs us that the election of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria was held June 20, 1949.
The officers reported are:—Dr. Eugen Schmidt, Chairman, Mr. Paul Gollmer, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Ruprecht G. Kruger, Secretary, (Resedenweg 70, Karlsruhe—Rüppurr, Germany, U. S. Zone), Mr. Albrecht Nagel, Treasurer. The full membership was not listed.
Four of five Bahá’í Delegates to the United Nations International Non-Governmental Organizations Conference at Lake Success New York, Apr. 1949. From left to right, Amin Banari, Mildred Mottahedeh, Hilda Yen Male, and Matthew Bullock. (Fifth delegate, Emeric Sala.)
Meeting the Crisis[edit]
“Study The Word”[edit]
The book chosen for study during September and October is Foundations of World Unity by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This book is a selection from the public addresses of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and from some of His letters. The selections cover major themes essential to an understanding of the teachings: the purpose of the Manifestations of God; the power of unity; the necessary foundations for peace and world unity; some key principles of economics; the criterions of truth; the spiritual springtime. There are many others as well. For here we can see the Master’s teaching technique. We can see the many, simple analogies He used in illustrating great truths. (For example, near the top of page 15, note the sentence beginning, “The ocean is one body of water ... ”)
This book contains so many concentrated truths that we want to suggest a special approach to it. Read one talk a day. Read it a second time, slowly, so that you may reflect upon the ideas. During this second reading, do one or more of the following:
- Ask yourself: What questions asked by non-Bahá’ís are answered in this talk?
- What examples and analogies does the Master use? (It will be helpful if you write these down in a note book.)
- What are some key sentences which it would be helpful to underline and memorize in order to use in telling the story of the Faith to others? For example: “All created things have their degree or stage of maturity.” (p. 9) “Man is he who forgets his own interests for the sake of others.” (p. 42)
- Outline the main ideas in each selection.
This careful study will help you teach the Faith more accurately and easily. Reflection upon these talks will aid in the transformation of character, so that your daily life will improve in spiritual quality.
Marriages[edit]
Wilmington, Delaware: Miss Miriam Newman and Mr. Harvey Wiener, May 30, 1949.
[Page 8]
Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Guatemala City
Latin American News[edit]
Another plea for devoted Bahá’ís from the United States to pioneer in Latin America has been raised by our beloved Guardian in his cablegram of June 29 to the American Bahá’í Community, wherein he says: “Owing relaxation pressure occasioned by critical situation advise direct special attention invigorate activities conducted Latin America and European continent. Need for voluntary, self-supporting, wholly-dedicated pioneers calculated to supplement newly launched undertakings in both fields is still pressing acquiring greater urgency owing approaching emergence of Latin American National Assemblies.” There is urgent need that at this crucial time the number of North American pioneers in Latin America, rather than being lessened must be increased, notwithstanding the rise of new and capable teachers in these countries. Will those persons who desire to respond to the Guardian’s call, please write to the Inter-America Committee, giving pertinent details.*
Plans for teaching campaigns to be carried out in the remaining year and a half before the two new National Spiritual Assemblies are formed are taking on much more concrete shape an the Chairman of the Inter-America Committee proceeds along his route through Central and South America, holding intensive consultations with all of the Territorial Committees. Mr. Mattoon will return to Chicago late in August, after a six weeks’ strenuous trip.
|
Pioneers Needed
“Owing relaxation pressure occasioned by critical situation advise direct special Attention invigorate activities conducted Latin America ... Need for voluntary, self-supporting, wholly-dedicated pioneers calculated to supplement newly launched undertakings ... is still pressing acquiring greater urgency owing approaching emergence of Latin American National Assemblies.” —Shoghi Effendi,
June 29, 1949
Will those persons anxious to respond to this appeal of our Guardian please write to the Inter-America Committee, Miss Julie Regal, Secretary, 12124 Normal Ave., Chicago 28, Ill. |
The two Territorial Teaching Committees, one in Panama City and the other in Lima, Peru, discussed at length with Mr. Mattoon the holding of several regional conferences this year at scattered places within their areas, lasting three to four days, during which time classes for preparation of new teachers will be conducted.
Courses of instruction for teacher-training and also for teaching new believers have been prepared and are at present being revised.
At the request of the National Spiritual Assembly, a series of letters will soon be sent out by the Inter-America Committee to the believers in Latin America, through publication in their Bulletins, for the purpose of orientating them to assume the responsibility of their own National Spiritual Assemblies in April, 1951. These letters will outline the history and background of the collective efforts of North American and Latin American believers to establish the Faith in Latin America. The first one gives quotations which trace the origin of this mission back through the messages of the Guardian to the Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as specifically given in the Divine Plan, and ultimately to the words of Bahá’u’lláh. It mentions that Canada with her own National Spiritual Assembly now stands beside her sister National Spiritual Assembly of the North; that Europe has practically reached her goals; and that it is peculiarly fitting that the completion of the House of Worship in Wilmette should coincide with the raising up of the two Latin American National Spiritual Assemblies—these two new pillars of the future Universal House of Justice.
*Miss Julie Regal, Secretary, 12124 Normal Ave., Chicago 28, Ill.
Butte Bahá’ís Hold Local Summer Session[edit]
The Bahá’ís in Butte, Montana, have seen opportunity in the austerity period. To meet the challenge for greater study and “grass roots” teaching of the Faith, they held a summer session in the home of one of the believers during the week of July 17 to 24. (Although the hostess was confined to a wheel chair with a broken leg, she insisted that the session go on).
Under the theme “A School of World Religion” daily lecture-discussion classes were held. Among the subjects discussed were: “The Place of the Bahá’í Faith in the World Today,” “Essentials of a World Religion,” “Deepening the Spiritual Life,” “Education in a Changing World,” and “World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.” Special activities were arranged for the children. Evenings were devoted to art, music, the showing of slides, and talks on special subjects.
The Home Front[edit]
Urbana, Ill.
Prior to the sailing of Miss Garreta Busey, July 16 for Europe, a farewell picnic supper was held in the new temporary Bahá’í center located in her home. Miss Busey, who holds the post of professor of English in the University of Illinois, is taking advantage at a year’s leave of absence to visit Europe and attend the second European Bahá’í Conference at Brussels, following which she will visit the other goal countries. She then expects to settle in Luxembourg to assist the pioneers there. Dr. Busey’s report of the European Conference appears in this issue.
Anchorage, Alaska
Another new believer was admitted to the Anchorage community in June, Miss Agnes Parent. This was an especially significant occasion because it marked the first time an Alaskan native had become a Bahá’í in Alaska. (Melba Call, Alaskan Eskimo, became a Bahá’í in the Southwestern States some time ago.) Agnes’ home is on the Yukon and she is residing in Anchorage when not attending the Washington Women’s College of Education in Bellingham, Wash.
Glendale Twp., Cal.
To raise additional money for the Temple Fund, this community instituted a plan which they find is very successful. A series of monthly Sunday night potluck suppers are being held. Each member or family brings one item of food for the supper and then contributes what they believe would have been the additional cost if they had had supper at home. Other friends are invited who are close to the Cause, and they too, bring food but do not contribute financially. Of course, during the evening, the Bahá’í Message is given in an informal way. This plan accomplishes three things—additional money is raised, the Bahá’ís and inquirers become better acquainted, and the latter learn more of the Teachings.
San Bernardino, Cal.
This Assembly was approached recently in regard to furnishing a Bahá’í speaker for the Bloomington Music Festival. The RTC was very happy to have Mrs. Sara Kenney fill the speaking engagement. It was an opportunity to reach several hundred people and acquaint them with the name Bahá’í. This Festival in Bloomington is held every year and is composed of local musical talent as well as speakers from several churches.
Arlington, Va.
Alert individual contact work teamed with cooperative official action by a local Assembly brought fine results as the following will demonstrate. Two local Bahá’í ladies learning from the newspaper of a series of lectures on Comparative
Some of the friends attending the Butte Bahá’í Summer Session, July 17-24, the first of its kind ever held in Montana. The banner was made by the Butte friends who now offer it on a loan basis to other Bahá’í communities having need for it. Size: over 20 ft. long by 15½ inches wide, with cords running top and bottom; royal blue letters on white background, chambray material; weight approximately 3 pounds.
Religions, sponsored by the Women’s League of the Jewish Community Center, attended them. The
young Rabbi conducting the meetings stressed the importance of good
public relations between all Faiths,
and that knowledge is power and
ignorance breeds the conditions of
poverty and conflict rampant in the
world today.
After three meetings, talks were given by outside speakers on Catholic, Protestant, and Unitarian history. The Bahá’ís had the Assembly consult on the matter and offer a speaker, Philip Marangella, who was accepted and shared the platform with the Unitarian Minister. In the course of these talks, the Unitarian speaker regrettably admitted the inability of Unitarians to reach the masses, and said he had thought of using an emotional appeal to approach them. In his talk, Philip revealed he had been superintendent of a Unitarian Sunday School and twice president of their Laymen’s League so knew their viewpoint well. Then he went on to give the Bahá’í answer to this and other problems, which brought stimulating questions and gave opportunity to present literature to the more responsive people.
Palo Alto, Cal.
The Bahá’ís of Palo Alto recently sponsored a series of four semi-monthly meetings on “Comparative Religions” at the Palo Alto Community Center. Publicity led off with a letter from the Assembly to each minister in Palo Alto explaining the purpose of the series, inviting him and his congregation to attend, and asking for his comments on the project. Six Bahá’í speakers gave the talks. Graham Conroy on Hinduism, Duart Vinson Brown on Buddhism, Max Gumbo in Zoroastrianism, Dr. Gustav Lowe on Judaism, Firuz Kazemzadeh on Islám, and Dr. Mildred Nichols on Christianity and Firuz again, on the Bahá’í Faith. The chairman, Arthur L. Dahl, Jr., presided at all meetings and gave continuity by a brief statement of purpose and of the Bahá’í viewpoint. The attendance averaged over 50 for each meeting and many people attended the entire series, some expressing desire for a study class or further meetings.
Jamestown, N. Y.
This community sponsored a youth conference on July 9-10 at a
[Page 10]
Bahá’í home in Lakewood. Eleven
youths from Buffalo, Hamburg,
Jamestown, and Lakewood, ranging
in age from 8 to 17, took charge
of the observance of the Martyrdom
oi the Báb on Saturday afternoon.
Prayers, music, readings from the
Dawnbreakers, and a talk by Virginia Vullo comprised the program.
On Sunday, classes were held on
some of the heroes from the Dawnbreakers, which were very inspiring.
Summer Teaching
With the Bahá’í schools closed for this and the next summer, several communities have instituted planned periods of study locally to deepen the believers and instruct inquirers. RICHMOND HIGHLANDS, WASH. conducted a full time series of talks, Aug. 7-14, morning, afternoon, and evening, with two public lectures on Sundays. BUTTE, MONT. held lecture courses, special children’s programs, and music, art, and color slides throughout the period July 17-24. Noon lunch was brought by each student and folks went home for their evening meal. CHICAGO, ILL. decided to hold study courses on the “Will and Testament”, “Looking Ahead With the Guardian”, “Spiritual Deepening,” and “Islám,” on three days a week with only one course being in the daytime. These will run from Aug. 1 through Sept. 8. CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEW YORK scheduled a series of picnics every two weeks, starting June 26 through Sept. 25, with a Fall Workshop for two days on Sept. 10-11 in Waterloo, N.Y.
N. Y. State Regional Picnic at Onondaga County Park, July 24, 1949, sponsored by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Syracuse, N.Y.
Public Relations[edit]
In the August number of Bahá’í News, the Programming Committee announced a theme for public meetings: “What Is My Religion?”
This theme was recommended to the NSA by Bahá’í Public Relations in January, 1949, and the committee was authorized to develop publicity helps on this subject. In doing so this committee compiled references for its own use. Now that the Programming Committee has suggested the theme, Bahá’í Public Relations wishes to assist with the service it can supply.
The theme primarily has public relations value by the challenge it makes to the individual suggesting the urgency of a revaluation of his own religious convictions. The role of the Bahá’í speaker is to suggest criteria by which the non-believer
Twenty years of Bahá’í growth and development were celebrated by the Binghamton,
N.Y., community in Chenango Valley State Park Aug. 14. Eighty friends, representing sixteen communities were present. One guest, Miss Chaturi Vaswani, a student at
Syracuse University, is a resident of Bombay, India. Principal speaker was W. Kenneth Christian, who became a believer in Binghamton. Mrs. Terah Smith, Mrs.
Delphia Kent and Harlan Ober also spoke. The meeting was conducted by Chairman
Marie Christian of Binghamton. Lowell Johnson, of Syracuse, read from the “Dawn
Breakers.” Mrs. Kent, Mrs. Helen Inderlied and Mr. Grace Palmatier were original
members of the community present at the meeting.
can determine for himself how his
faith meets the severe tests imposed
by the conditions of the world today.
References: For general background of theme—the Master’s talk at Unitarian Conference, Boston, May 24, 1912, P.U.P., 138.
Opening Prayer: P & M., 94; Closing Prayer, P. & M., 14.
1. Religion must be divine in origin: Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, 4, 5 (pp. 8-9): BWF, 19-21. 254-255; Gleanings, 49-50.
2. Its aims must be universal: Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, 41; Selected Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 4, 5; Gleanings, 215-217.
3. It must have power to guide and transform character: Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20; Iqán, 118-120, 156-158; Gleanings, 206, 275-277; BFW, 116-118, 262, 323-325.
4. It must demonstrate the continuity and progressiveness of divine revelation: Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, 6, 7: Selected Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 9, 10; Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi, 2, 3, 4; BWF, 224-228.
5. It must fulfill ancient prophecy: Selected Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1, 6, 8; BWF, 10-12; Iqán, many passages; New Era, Chap. 13.
6. It must bring new teachings suitable for the age: Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40; Selected Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 11, 22, 23; Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi, 13, 17; Gleanings, 95-98, 213; BWF, 238-242 or 246-248.
7. It must reconcile science and worship: Selected Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 7, 31, 32, 33, 34; Gleanings, 164-166; 194-195, 317-318; BWF, 240, 242-244, 247, 341-343.
Publicity for a local meeting on this theme is available. Please send 10c for mimeographing and mailing cost. Address the committee at 112 Linden Ave., Wilmette, Ill.
The Law of Giving[edit]
You may be surprised to know that money and finances are connected with our spiritual growth. But in order to understand this completely, we must free our minds from our former conception of spiritual things. In the past, we associated poverty with spirituality and I don’t believe that that idea is completely disassociated from our thoughts today.
Bahá’u’lláh has come to free the world from poverty. It is as abhorrent as war or He would never destroy it. So we have to reinstate in our minds the value of material things. God does not despise material things. Because of this misconception, we have disassociated science and religion, the practical and the spiritual. He was most spiritual years ago who retired from practical affairs, in the monastery, away from activity. That is all discarded. That is a thing of the past. It was all right for that time.
Now we have said that science and religion are like the two wings of the bird, that equality of men and women are like the two wings of a bird, and so is the material and the spiritual. Bahá’u’lláh says man has two powers, and in his development he has one power which is connected with the material world and with it comes material advancement. The other power is spiritual and through its development our inner, potential nature is awakening. These powers are like two wings of a bird. Both must be developed for flight is impossible with one alone.
Our Guardian, taking up this great truth, stated that when he first became our Guardian and gave us the great reason why we must have financial assistance. It isn’t an astonishing statement when viewed in the light of our past ideas regarding religion. He says, “As the progress and extension of spiritual activities is dependent and conditioned upon material means... ” Let us stop there.
That is a tremendous statement. It is a fundamental truth regarding life. There is no separation because oneness is the order of creation. Our spirit cannot function on this plane without a material body. God tests us and reveals to us our strength and our weakness according to the way that we function with material things. It is the only way that our spiritual qualities are known. Outside of the talent of singing, I can think of no other talent that can be expressed without the medium of material things. If an artist is an artist, you will not believe him if he says, “I am an artist.” But through the medium of crayons and oils and paints, he demonstrates to you that he is an artist and you will believe him. If a man is honest, how do you know he is honest? Because he has been given a place of responsibility. He handles finances. He has control of material things.
Therefore, all things are conditioned, all spiritual things, our latent talents. The unseen is made known by the seen. And so our Guardian tells us this great truth. Therefore, our financial obligations are the most important obligations.
Yes, none of us could be present at this convention if we could not first use money to get here. It is so important. And here I will read our Guardian’s words, for they need to be studied and meditated upon so that we will actually free our minds from former conceptions.
He says this idea of the progress of spiritual activities is so dependent and conditioned upon material means that at the moment we form an Assembly, the first thing to do is to establish a local fund. He says, “Therefore, it becomes the sacred obligation of every conscientious and faithful servant of Bahá’u’lláh who desires to see His Cause advance to contribute freely and generously for the increase of that fund.”
And it goes further in its importance. He says, “The national fund in the foundation on which all other institutions must necessarily rest and be established.” Our Temple is dependent upon the institution of the National Fund if it is to be erected.
Again he goes on and he gives us the analogy of the blood to the life of man. He says the supply of funds in support of a National Treasury constitutes at the present time the lifeblood of those national institutions which we are laboring to erect.
His analogy is perfect. Can any man live who is anemic? What does pernicious anemia do to us? Death. Then our lack of a supply of funds is death to our Cause. And because of this, our Guardian in the earliest days of his position in the Cause gave us the promise that he would, busy person that he is, pray for us at the three Holy Shrines. What for? That the Bahá’ís should attend the 19-day feasts? That they should say their obligatory prayers? No — no — no. But for this all-important thing of our prosperity to the end that we would have our money to support the Cause of God.
That will, I think, help us to eliminate from our minds the glory of poverty. Friends, there is no glory in it. It is a limitation. We cannot move without financial organization. We know that only too well. We spend most of our time trying to get the means by which we are to live. Our Cause follows the same pattern.
You see, we have taken a covenant. It appears in the Will and Testament, and one of the requirements is that we must be familiar and obedient to every clause in the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. We have taken a covenant with God that we will support His religion. Let me read to you briefly where we have done this.
In the Will and Testament, page 17, it says that the greatest gift of God is the gift of teaching. It draws unto us the grace of God and is our first obligation. Of such a gift, how can we deprive ourselves?
Hear our covenant. That our lives, our goods, our comforts, our rest, we offer them all as a sacrifice for the duty and for teaching the Cause of God. So we have taken that covenant, we have agreed to support the religion of God.
If we hold back one single thing from God, we will never rise to a higher station. In 1930, our Guardian sacrificed the most beautiful possession he had. Let us remind ourselves of this. In 1929, these are the Guardian’s words: “I am sacrificing the most valuable ornament of Bahá’u’lláh’s Shrine in order to consecrate and reinforce the collective endeavors of the American believers speedily to consummate a plan for unified action.” (This was the beautiful rug which the Guardian sent to the Temple.)
There is our example. In 1946, the beginning of this 7-year Plan, our Guardian gave us a generous donation
[Page 12]
of $10,000. Again he set us the example. I have searched through his writings and I have never found a place where he has mentioned the token gift. He has always asked us to be generous. Will that harm us? No, because we are to proceed upon the promises of God, and the law of life is the law of giving. Bahá’u’lláh says He will doubly repay the generous one. Are we to take that literally? Are we to doubt the words of God, the words that are true? Will we not go forward and demonstrate that? How will we do it? By taking the first step and showing God that we believe.
I have known cases and cases, because people have told me that whenever they sacrifice lovingly, in some mysterious way, for all men arise and stand by the power of God, they have actually received double the amount that they contributed.
Yes, the very thing our Guardian tells us to do is to rely on this unfailing bounty of the source of all that is good. There is great wisdom in the fact that our Guardian took us way back a hundred years because what we do in the next two years will shed shame or glory on the noble sacrifices of all the heroes of the past, for our work crowns or shames the activities of the past. We will not fail just as American believers, we will not fail as a group on this Western continent, but we will fail as people carrying on and continuing the work of the noble heroes of the past, including the Báb.
You know the last phase of any enterprise or any endeavor is the determining phase, not the beginning. Every one of us starts fresh and strong and enthusiastic in the beginning but it is the last lap of a race that determines the winner.
We are coming now to the final work of the decoration of our Temple. We naturally get tired. But there is a saying, “A quitter never wins, and a winner never quits.” So, here we are, on the last phase, and we are apt to be tired. But with the help of God and the prayers of our Guardian, the most powerful on the planet, can we doubt that we can go forward?
In Memoriam[edit]
- Mrs. Anna Bell Fitch, Gillham, Ark. 7-21-49
- Mr. Robert Schilaty, Monroe, Wash. 6-13-49
- Miss Marie Fingerlin, Quincy, Ill. 8-6-49
- Mr. Walter Olitzki, Beverly Hills, Cal. 8-2-49
Enrollments[edit]
|
Bahá’í Addresses
National Office:
Treasurer’s Office:
Make Checks Payable to:
National Bahá’í Fund Bahá’í Publishing Committee:
Make checks for books and pamphlets payable to:
Bahá’í News Editorial Office:
|
Calif., Glendale 2; San Francisco 2; Mich., Lansing, 1
NORTHEASTERN STATES
- W. New York, 1
- New Jersey, 2
SOUTHERN STATES
- Va., W. Va., 1
WESTERN STATES
- Alaska, 2
Directory Additions and Changes[edit]
HARTFORD, CONN.
- Mrs. Patricia Rothman,
32 Russell St.
MARYSVILLE, WASH.
- Mrs. Lorrol O. Jackson
520 Columbia St.
|
Bahá’í News is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States as the official news-letter of the Bahá’í Community. Edited for the National Spiritual Assembly by Bahá’í News Editorial Committee: Mrs. Roberta Christian, chairman, Mr. Richard Nolen, Mr. Gordon A. Fraser, Editorial office: Mrs. Roberta Christian, 1001 West Genesee St., Lansing, Mich. Please report changes of address and other matters pertaining to distribution to the Bahá’í National Office, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois. |
CHILD EDUCATION
- Miss Arline Lindenstruth, Chairman
- Mrs. Margaret Gawen, Sec.,
5917 14th St., N. Arlington, Va.
WASHINGTON
- Mr. Harold Neff, Chairman
- Mrs. Helen Wilks, Sec.,
9547 12th N.W., Seattle 7, Wash.
Calendar[edit]
NSA MEETING — October 28, 29, 30
FEASTS — October 16 — ’Ilm, Knowledge
ANNIVERSARIES — October 20
- Birth of the Báb (Suspend Work)
| Guardian ... | |
Pioneers Needed | 8 |
Shrine Progress | 1 |
Addresses | 12 |
Butte Summer Session | 8 |
Calendar | 12 |
Convention Recommendations | 5 |
Directory | 12 |
Enrollments | 12 |
European Teaching Conference | 1 |
Fund, Score to Date | 4 |
German NSA | 7 |
Home Front | 9 |
International Relief | 2 |
Latin America | 8 |
“Law of Giving” | 11 |
Marriages | 7 |
Meeting the Crisis | 7 |
Memoriam | 12 |
| National Spiritual Assembly | |
Amendment of Constitution and By-Laws | 3 |
Notice to Spiritual Assemblies | 3 |
Teachings on Baptism | 4 |
| Pictures | |
Binghamton Anniversary | 10 |
Butte Summer Session | 9 |
Guatemala City | 8 |
N.Y. State Picnic | 10 |
U.N. Delegates | 7 |
Public Relations | 10 |
Publishing Announcement | 3 |
Score to Date | 4 |
Temple Stamps | 6 |
Visual Education Committee Conference | 4 |
