Bahá’í News/Issue 230/Text
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| BAHÁ’Í |  |
NEWS |
| No. 230 | APRIL, 1950 | YEAR 107 | BAHA’I ERA |
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Joyous Naw-Rúz Message: SHRINE PARAPET COMPLETED
(Cable from the Guardian received March 21, 1950) “Announce (to the) friends (the) completion, (on the) eve (of) Naw-Rúz, (of the) erection (of) parapet crowning (the) eastern facade (of) Holy Shrine one year after placing (the) first threshold stones upon (the) foundation (of the) arcade. (The) beauty (and) majesty (of the) finely carved panels surmounting (the) soaring arches spanning (the) rosy monolith columns, emblazoned with emerald green and scarlet mosaic symbolizing (the) Báb’s lineage and martyrdom, (is) strikingly revealed. (The) original pearl-like structure raised by (the) hands (of the) Center (of the) Covenant, enshrining (the) remains (of the) Martyr Prophet (of the) Faith, acquiring, through construction (of the) shell designed (for) its embellishment (and) preservation, additional height by one-third, additional width by one-fifth, enhancing (the) massiveness (of the) edifice embosomed (in the) Mountain of God, heralding (the) erection (of the) lofty gilded dome that will eventually shine forth in solitary splendor from its heart.” (Signed) SHOGHI
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From the Guardian[edit]
Fannie Lesch
- (Cable received April, 1948)
“Deeply sympathize loss loyal distinguished Maid-servant Bahá’u’lláh Fannie Lesch. Present with you in spirit memorial services. Praying ardently progress her soul Abhá Kingdom.”
- (This cable was received by an individual and only recently sent to the N.S.A.)
Julia Culver
- (Cable received Jan. 30, 1950)
“Grieve passing devoted pioneer (of) Faith, Julia Culver. Her exemplary spirit, unshakable loyalty, generous contributions unforgettable. Fervently praying (for) progress (of) her soul (in) Abhá Kingdom.”
Love for Bahá’u’lláh
- (Excerpt from letter from Shoghi Effendi, through his secretary, to Mrs. Beatrice Ashton, dated October 25, 1949)
“You are quite right to say that much more emphasis should be placed on the heart in America. Without the spirit of real love for Bahá’u’lláh, for His Faith and its Institutions, and the believers for each other, the Cause can never really bring in large numbers of people. For it is not preaching and rules the world wants, but love and action.
“He also feels that this period of ‘austerity’ will do no harm, and that it can and should arouse the individuals to undertake more responsibility. Too many instructions and procedures deaden the initiative of people and confuse them.”
The Apocalyptic Upheaval
- (Shoghi Effendi, through his secretary to Walter R. Wootten, November 21, 1949)
“We have no indication of exactly what nature the apocalyptic upheaval will be; it might be another war ... but as students of our Bahá’í writings it is clear that the longer the “Divine Physician” (i.e., Bahá’u’lláh) is withheld from healing the ills of the world, the more severe will be the crisis, and the more terrible the sufferings of the patient.”
So-called Pyramid Prophecies
- (Shoghi Effendi, through his secretary, to Walter R. Wooten, November 21, 1949.)
“We have nothing in our Bahá’í writings about the so-called Prophecies of the Pyramids; so he (the Guardian) does not think you need attach any importance to them.”
Maintain Momentum
- (Cable received Feb. 25, 1950)
“Delighted progress (in) Latin-American field, Temple construction (and) publicity activities. Announce arrival (of) first shipment (of) parapet panels. Anticipate early completion (of) eastern facade (of) Shrine including mosaic panels. Urge maintenance (of) momentum (in) triple field, home, inter-continental enterprises. Praying (for) bountiful blessings (from the) Almighty.”
Individuals and Committees[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to make a suggestion intended to clarify the question of the individual believer’s relation to Committees.
It happens on many occasions that believers wish to make suggestions or protests concerning the work of some committee. Usually they act through the local Assembly.
The suggestion is that if the believer has a criticism or complaint he get in direct touch with the committee concerned. Frequently this consultation will remove misunderstandings and prove that the criticism is unfounded. It can also help the committee improve its work.
The National Spiritual Assembly feels that this method will maintain courtesy to the committee, remove misunderstandings, create greater unity on policies and programs of action, and spare the local Assembly much unnecessary minor detail. The principle under which the individual can appeal to the local Assembly about any branch of the work is not weakened. It can still be invoked when direct consultation with the committee fails to satisfy the believer.
The same suggestion applies to the committee work on the national level.
Year of Dedication[edit]
Before us is a year of Past and Present in which we consecrate the Beauty of the Blessed Báb—remembering pages of our history crimson with martyrdom and poignant with scenes of sacrifice. The knowledge of His suffering and His love should bring us humbled to an inspired reverence.
How fitting was the prelude to this year ... our Fast—symbolic of the will to sacrifice and wholly yield the self to God. As we abstained from food and drink, we became deeply conscious of the things for which He forfeited His life ... the cherished hopes of men for promised peace, and unity of mankind.
He chose our hearts and asked of us surrender of the ancient hurts, the active fears and failings with which we wound each other and mar the splendid unity we seek in Faith.
Can we find strength and will to cancel out the caustic criticisms, the long embroidered slights, the outraged pride, the unexplained hostility, the bitterness of ingrown loneliness, the cruel edged perfection with which we weigh each other? These are the heavy weights which ground our spirit and our prayers.
Then, let us turn our hearts to God and pray with fervor for that sense of love to truly do Him honor, since this alone can change all things and men, because it changes us.
The NSA suggests for voluntary action by individual Bahá’ís:
- Meditation on the mystery of the Martyrdom of the Báb.
- Reflection on the basic spiritual laws and principles of the Faith.
- Love for and trust in the community of the Greatest Name—our spiritual family in all the worlds of God.
- Abandonment of prejudice and a healing of our inner wounds, that we may be sources of joy and radiance to Bahá’ís and our fellow men.
- Conscientious observance of all occasions set aside in the Bahá’í calendar for the gathering of the friends.
- Prayer for confirmation of our fullest ability to serve the Faith.
- Dedication to our task of “Telling the Story” to at least one new person each week.
- Determination to hold a fireside at least once in each Bahá’í month.
Main Temple column facings have been completed somewhat above the first gallery level and all stone work on two of the main piers facing the alcove has been set. Steel work has been erected to near the mid-point between first and second galleries. Heating work is practically complete; ventilating work is 95 per cent finished; and electrical work is 80 per cent done.
Structural Features of the Interior of the Temple[edit]
It hardly seems possible that almost thirty-eight years have passed since that memorable occasion in 1912 when our beloved ‘Abdu’l-Bahá met with the friends to dedicate the ground upon which the Temple was to be built. That meeting was held in an extraordinarily large tent — indeed a far cry from the beautiful structure now nearing completion. How many of us could then visualize the magnitude of the work ahead!
After preparation of the architectural drawings by Mr. Louis Bourgeois, and the selection of Major Burt of Holabird & Root as the supervising engineer, the first major operation was the sinking to bed rock of the nine unusually large caissons. In addition to the caisson work the primary structural features included the foundation walls, and the domelike roof over what is now called Foundation Hall. Following this came the fabrication and erection of the structural steel columns supporting the steelwork of the dome proper, and later the construction of the exterior concrete walls above grade, and balcony floors. All of this has been completely described and illustrated in previous articles in the Bahá’í News, The Bahá’í World, a number of architectural and engineering magazines, and daily newspapers.
The structural items of the interior of the Temple are of a secondary nature in comparison with those mentioned in the previous paragraph. They are, nevertheless, important. The interior tracery, as well as the plain or solid surfaces, must be precast and suspended in place by being attached to the columns, the interior balcony spandrels, and to the steel arches of the dome.
From the layman’s standpoint, the work might be compared to the old fashioned crazy quilt consisting of numerous pieces of odd shapes sewn together to form the finished design. The interior surfaces, being precast, must be of such size as can be readily handled, and, at the same
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Yard storage of small bay tracery for Temple, at Earley Studios.
time of such shape that the joints
occur only where indicated on the
architectural drawings.
A great deal of preliminary work must be done at the site before these castings can be set into place. The method of supporting the cast sections is by means of vertical and shelf angles attached to the present steel and concrete surfaces. Shelf angles are pieces of steel formed in the shape of the letter “L”, one leg of which is bolted or welded to the present structure while the outstanding leg supports the casts. To be able to attach the new steel to the existing steel it has been necessary, in many instances, to cut away the concrete fireproofing. Once the casts are set in place upon the shelf angles, each piece must be bolted to the vertical angles to prevent displacement. Since each separate casting must be accurately placed, it follows that each shelf angle must also be accurately located at the joint between the castings. To a person viewing the work of cutting the concrete and placing these pieces of steel the process may appear confusing, but each piece of steel has a definite function. Once the castings are set and bolted in place the several surrounding castings are doweled together to prevent any possible movement. At the Earley Studio, detail and full size drawings are made of the various pieces showing location of each bolt, reinforcing rods, dowels, and galvanized wire mesh.
Suspending of the dome tracery is carried out in a similar manner with each piece of tracery bolted to the dome steel. At the time of building the dome the decision had not been made as to what material would eventually be used for the facing, and, therefore no definite arrangement was made for suspending such material. Now that precast shapes have been decided upon, it means that additional ribs of circular steel must be attached to the existing dome steel and so located as to receive the bolts set in the castings.
The shape of the building, that is, nine-sided below the dome, and circular at the dome, involves rather interesting mathematical calculations as well as careful measurements in the field.
An approximate estimate of the weight of all the interior ornamentation furnished by the Early Studio amounts to 1,450,000 lbs., of which the dome tracery will weigh approximately 293,000 lbs.
One of the interesting features is the exposed spirally-shaped reinforced concrete stairway. Since the decision to have the main entrances to the Temple on the West side, it became necessary to remove the existing steel stairs from the main floor to the first balcony. The architect chose the spirally-shaped stair as being more in conformity with the interior design, not cutting off as much light as an enclosed stairway. According to budget limitations the railing will be of aluminum or stainless steel.
The new steel work required for the suspension of the interior finish is being furnished and set by the Butler Steel Foundry. The structural design has been under the supervision of Mr. Carl A. Metz of the architectural firm of Shaw, Metz & Dolio of Chicago. It is interesting to note that Mr. Metz, while at the University of Illinois, was a former pupil of Mr. Allen B. McDaniel. During the several phases of the construction of the Temple it was Mr. McDaniel who sacrificed much of his time and energy toward the execution of the original structure.
Assembly rig for checking large bay tracery models at Earley Studios.
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Convention Notices
Convention Reception
There will be an informal reception for the delegates and friends attending Convention on Wednesday evening, April 26, in Foundation Hall. Meals at Convention
The Food Committee for the 1950 Convention announces that this year’s food will again be handled by the P. C. McCullough Catering Service with the price of dinners reduced to $1.50 and luncheons at $1.25. Dessert is included in dinner price. All items will also be priced a la carte for those who wish. Breakfast will also be available because of the demand last year for this service. The Committee hopes that the friends will patronize this service generously, as the food is excellent and the prices were set especially low for us. —1950 Convention Food Comm.
Convention for Bahá’ís Only
The believers are requested not to bring to the Convention any non-Bahá’ís, no matter how close to the Faith they may be. Only delegates and recognized enrolled believers will be admitted to the Convention session. Delegates to the Annual Convention deal with issues and plans of far-reaching importance. The utmost concentration is required. This is the reason for limiting attendance at the sessions to Bahá’ís only. |
Temple Work Protected[edit]
The following excerpt from a report on the work of casting the Temple interior sections at the Earley Studio, submitted to the chairman of the Temple Construction Committee by Mr. Allen McDaniel, a member of the Temple Technical Advisory Board, will be of interest to the friends:
“... At the beginning of a week ago, Mr. Taylor and his staff members at the Earley Studio decided to employ a night watchman—a practice discontinued shortly after the end of World War II. The watchman, an elderly man, of long experience in this field, began his duties on the evening of Wednesday, February 22nd at 6 o’clock. About one hour later in making his rounds, he noticed a bright light toward the rear of the plant. In rushing out to the yard, he found a large shed and piles of old lumber in a contractor’s storage yard, adjacent to the rear crushing, storage and woodworking building of the Studio, in flames. An immediate telephone call to the Rosslyn, Virginia fire department brought prompt arrival of the apparatus which extinguished the flames as they started to consume the north wall of the Studio plant building. The Studio suffered a loss of about $2000. If the fire had not been detected promptly, the loss would have amounted to some $45,000 and resulted in a delay of at least 6 months in the work of the Temple ornamentation. Is this episode not but another evidence of the Divine Protection under which this Universal House of Worship has been erected since its inception some twenty-nine years ago?
ALLEN B. MCDANIEL”
Summon the People[edit]
“It is incumbent upon thee to summon the people, under all conditions, to whatever will cause them to show forth spiritual characteristics and goodly deeds, so that all may become aware of that which is the cause of human upliftment, and may, with the utmost endeavor, direct themselves towards the most sublime Station and the Pinnacle of Glory. The fear of God hath ever been the prime factor in the education of His creatures. Well is it with them that have attained thereunto!”
A Policy for Publicity[edit]
Publicity has become so important a function of the Faith that the National Spiritual Assembly wishes to explain some of the basic points. The following simple explanation will clarify some of the questions raised in recent correspondence.
1. Levels of operation. The purpose of publicity affects the Bahá’í community on four different levels: International, National, Local and Personal. Believers are requested to consider to which of these four levels a particular opportunity for newspaper publicity should be referred.
2. International. Facts and events come to us from three sources: the Guardian, another National Spiritual Assembly, and the Bahá’í International Community as recognized by United Nations. Such publicity as results from this material is for the National Spiritual Assembly to handle direct through its Public Relations Committee.
3. National. Activities, policies and plans adopted or sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly, and situations affecting the whole Bahá’í community in the United States, create publicity of national character. In most cases this publicity is prepared and distributed by the Public Relations Committee in releases sent directly to the press or supplied to local committees. Matters involving national Bahá’í authority and decision would be handled by the National Assembly direct.
4. Local. Most local Assemblies have committees which publicize the local programs and activities, and make use of the releases furnished by the Public Relations Committee. These releases in most cases are rewritten locally to contain local references which make them more interesting to the editor. Local committees are free to prepare publicity on any national event which can be connected with the interests of the local community.
5. Personal. Many opportunities arise for the individual believer to serve the Faith by publicizing his own Bahá’í activities or interests, apart from matters of direct interest to the local community. Some believers have written excellent letters to the press containing references to the Teachings. In this field of voluntary personal action the criterions
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Contributions from Assemblies for the Month of February, 1950
Alaska—Anchorage. Arizona—North Phoenix, Phoenix, Tucson. Arkansas— Eureka Springs, Little Rock. California—Alhambra, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Burlingame, Carmel, Escondido Twp., Fresno, Glendale, Inglewood, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Monrovia, Monrovia Twp., Oakland, Oceanside, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica. Colorado—Colorado Springs, Denver. Connecticut—Greenwich, Hartford, New Haven. Delaware—Wilmington. Dist of Columbia—Washington. Florida—Jacksonville, St. Augustine. Georgia—Atlanta, Augusta. Hawaii—Honolulu, Maui (Jan. & Feb.). Idaho—Ada County, Boise. Illinois—Batavia, Champaign, Chicago, Danville, Evanston, Maywood, Oak Park, Peoria, Springfield, Urbana, Wilmette, Winnetka. Indiana—Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, South Bend. Iowa—Cedar Rapids, Waterloo. Kansas—Topeka. Louisiana—New Orleans. Maine—Portland. Massachusetts—Beverly, Boston, Brooklyn, Springfield, Worcester. Michigan—Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Grosse Pointe Farms, Lansing, Muskegon, Roseville. Minnesota—Duluth, Minneapolis, St. Paul. Missouri—Independence, Kansas City, St. Louis. Montana—Butte, Great Falls. Nebraska—Macy, Omaha. Nevada—Reno. New Hampshire—Portsmouth. New Jersey—Bergenfield, Dumont, East Orange, Englewood, Jersey City, Montclair, Newark, Ridgewood, Teaneck. New Mexico—Albuquerque. New York—Binghamton, Buffalo, Jamestown, New York, Rochester, Waterloo, Yonkers. North Carolina—Greensboro. North Dakota—Fargo. Ohio—Cincinnati, E. Cleveland, Dayton Columbus, Lima, Mansfield. Oklahoma— Oklahoma City. Oregon—Portland. Pennsylvania—Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, West Chester. Rhode Island—Providence. South Carolina—Greenville, Columbia. South Dakota—Sioux Falls. Tennessee—Memphis, Nashville (Jan. & Feb.) Texas—Houston, San Antonio. Utah—Salt Lake City. Vermont—Brattleboro. Virginia—Alexandria, Arlington. Washington—Kirkland, Marysville, Monroe, Richmond Highlands, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma. West Virginia—Charleston. Wisconsin—Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Shorewood, Somers Twp., Wauwatosa. Wyoming—Laramie.
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are: knowledge of the Teachings and administrative order, and sound judgment in dealing with the public. As long as the individual makes it clear that his letter or press statement is written as his own responsibility and does not represent any official Bahá’í view, he does not exceed his right and duty as a Bahá’í to teach the Faith.
6. Review. Publicity material does not have to be submitted to the national Reviewing Committee. If advice is needed, it can be discussed with the local publicity committee or the national Public Relations Committee.
What the National Spiritual Assembly longs for is a growing body of trained, responsible Bahá’í publicity workers qualified to develop the resources of committee work to its highest potential.
In 1947 the NSA published a statement advising local Assemblies how to deal with the question of the long inactive believer. There has been further discussion of this subject in effort to assist local Assemblies.
Inactivity of believers, first of all, is a challenge to the local Assembly itself, to try and reactivate the believer with a vision of Bahá’í life and his or her responsibility for sacrificial service.
It is also a responsibility of the Assembly to pursue its investigation of inactive believers (after efforts to quicken their interest seem to have failed) to the point where the inactive believer himself is given full opportunity to record his own desire either to remain a member of the community or to withdraw.
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Corrections
Mr. Willard Hatch calls our attention to an error in the letter from the Guardian to him which we published on page 4 of the February issue of Bahá’í News. The phrase “revealed Word of the Tablets” should read “revealed Word or the Tablets.” In God’s Eternal Legacy, page 84, question 2 should read “... what constitutes direct violation to the Covenant since the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá?”, rather than “... what directs direct violation to the Covenant....” |
This may be accomplished by personal visits or by correspondence.
In this connection the local Spiritual Assembly is urged to make a thorough study of its own conduct of Bahá’í activities so as to make them as attractive as possible to the friends.
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?
Where is the letter from the British Government regarding the Sacred House of Bahá’u’lláh in Baghdad? See Bahá’í World
Vol. IV, p. 243 |
| Score to Date — March 15, 1950 on Response to the Temple Fund | |||
| Group | Number | Estimated for 2 years | |
| $400 | 139 | ................ | $111,200.00 |
| $100 | 530 | ................ | $ 106,000.00 |
| $ 25 | 549 | ................ | $ 27,450.00 |
| *Special | 1122 | ................ | $244,128.00 |
| Totals | 2340 | ................ | $488,778.00 |
| Received against above resolves | $328,736.24 | ||
| *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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This 1700 piece model of the Temple done by Gerrit DeYoung of Grand Rapids was a feature of the World Religion Day display of the Bahá’ís of that city
More About World Religion Day[edit]
World Religion Day found the business manager of the local Chamber of Commerce attending the ARLINGTON, VA. talk by Jeanne Chute and remarking, “Why aren’t there more people to hear this wonderful truth?” He came as an aftermath of an exchange of letters on spiritual responsibilities of mankind in local and world life, between the Chamber and the LSA, prompted by the Christmas season. In reply to the Chamber’s initial appeal to the LSA for help in formulating a program of community betterment, the principle of “work performed in the spirit of service is an act of worship”, was offered with the thought that in business and public office, adherence to this principle would eliminate the parasitic class and provide man with spiritual impetus. In BUTTE, MONT. the day was observed by a symposium composed of a Methodist lady, a Mormon Elder (young man), a young man student for the Salvation Army ministry and a Bahá’í lady, all speaking on “World Unity Through My Faith”. A Mormon listener invited Bahá’ís to her home to discuss their respective Faiths with her and two Mormon Elders, one of whom then took “The New Era” to read and one Bahá’í is reading the Book of Mormon. George Miller had sent postcards announcing the meeting to his relatives in the east, and a niece has asked for literature to distribute to her church group of young adults...BOSTON’S meeting of 100 was advertised in four newspapers and Dr. Manucher Javid’s talk met with fine response. Past six months has seen more and better publicity than ever before.... A film “One God” was used by the SPRINGFIELD, MASS community and followed by Theodore Lucas’ talk showing the progression of revelation, before an audience of 50... The panel discussion of BRATTLEBORO, VT. moderated by the president of Marlboro College, was made up of a Zoroastrian, a Christian minister, and a Bahá’í discussing the need for spiritual unity to save organized community life. The 150 people heard the talks in the Parish house of the All Soul’s Church and enjoyed as well, the 25 voice women’s choir.... ADA COUNTY, IDAHO presented a recorded half hour broadcast on Sunday morning using a script approved by the N.S.A. and adapted to a panel discussion with six Bahá’ís doing the job under professional speech and radio supervision.... NORFOLK, VA. The newly organized group here celebrated World Religion Day with music and selected readings from various religions, and the newspaper announcement of the meeting brought an interview by a reporter.
The Home Front[edit]
GALEN, MONT.
Isolation and inactivity are not necessarily companions as is shown by Mrs. Gail Avery of Galen, who holds a weekly study class with two to six attending. The friends in Butte say she seldom misses their Nineteen Day Feast, which is a sixty mile round trip for her. Thinking of this, would anyone say the weather was too disagreeable or that they were too tired to walk a few blocks to the bus line to attend their local feast?
LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK
Children’s classes held in various homes in rotation is the highly successful plan begun last fall by the Long Island RTC. In each home visited, that child is the host, and every fourth Sunday there is a field trip. There are 16 children, with Mrs. Kavelin instructing those from 4 to 8 and Mr. Thorne, those from 10 to 15. Little drawings with quotations are reproduced by photo process and given as favors. One idea is carried out in story, song, and drawing, such as creation, in simple terms. Then the children draw and act out the idea themselves.
PASADENA, CALIF.
At the State Convention, comparing Bahá’ís to leaven, Charles Wolcott said a yeast cake can make many loaves of bread when used properly, not when it sets in the icebox with the wrapper on it. Are we Bahá’ís acting as the leaven? It is time to take off our wrapper and go to work.
BRIEFS
WASHINGTON, D.C. Bernard Leach, visiting British Bahá’í, spoke on “The Meeting of the East and West in Art.” The greatest authority on pottery in the world, he is connected with the Royal Academy of Art and Pottery in England, and was here to lecture and exhibit his work at the Corcoran Galleries ..... CHARLESTON, W.V. This community felt that it noted improvement in consultation of assembly meetings by insertion of a short prayer period participated in by all, just after the routine business of minutes, correspondence, and reports ... SPOKANE, WASH. A three day tour took Rex King through SEATTLE, KIRKLAND, MONROE, to address audiences of 61, 34, 550, 33, 61, 14, and 31 and
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meet newspaper editors and
reporters. Some were direct Bahá’í
talks, others just on world horizon
principles, and simply discussion—at luncheon, banquet, high-school
assemblies .... ANCHORAGE,
ALASKA. The annual Anchorage
Fur Rendezvous falling during the
Intercalary Days gave opportunity
to Mrs. Helen Robinson as head of
the women’s club to host the group
of Eskimo dancers from King Island,
brought to entertain during the festivities. They were thrilled by all the
sights and one woman asked to
correspond with Mrs. Robinson....
HONOLULU, T. H. World Federalists and Bahá’ís met to talk on
“World Peace”, in January. In the
ensuing discussion, the Federalist
speaker said after hearing the Bahá’í
material especially Shoghi Effendi’s
letters, that the Federalist ideas
seemed to have been borrowed from
the Bahá’í Cause ... PROVIDENCE,
R.I. Through Matthew Bullock, Beth
Newport spoke at the Negro College
Club forum, Jan. 15, on “Is the
Universal Church the Answer to
Christian Unrest Today”, a happy
coincidence for World Religion Day.
Five men wanted to come to a fireside for more information ... HARTFORD, CONN. The Unitarian minister invited Mrs. Howard Drew to
teach the Bahá’í Faith to a church
and she reports students enthusiastic.
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
Taking statistics during Jr. High School chest examinations, in January, the nurse asked Robbie Robinson his religion. “Bahá’í” he said. With a puzzled look she asked again, getting the same reply. Annoyed, she said, “Young man, I am asking you what your religion is.” Politely, Robbie said, “get your pencil ready and I’ll spell it for you, I’m sorry if you’ve never heard of it.” The next boy in line, his friend, is interested in the teachings and gave Bahá’í as his religion. The third boy, Daniel Russell, registered Bahá’í youth, gave his answer and the nurse no longer hesitated.
Count Harvey, who works for the District Engineers at Ft. Richardson was approached about the Faith by a lady in the office who had seen his name in the paper, heard Bahá’í broadcasts, and read a book by the man who accompanied Louis Bourgeois to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Palestine.
Great Falls, Mont. arranged this display for World Religion Day, besides paying for a full page newspaper reprint of “The Old Churches and the New World Faith”, by Dr. George Townshend. The flags of the Nations form the leaves on the little tree.
Around the Bahá’í World[edit]
BRITISH ISLES
- (From Bahá’í Journal)
At an “eleventh hour” teaching conference recently, the British Bahá’ís received an encouraging message from the Guardian, made plans for reaching their current goals, and dedicated themselves anew to the task before them.
Mrs. Amelia Collins addressed the group, and the secretary of the National Teaching Committee presented graphically the needs of the plan by means of a six foot map of Britain, first showing how the Faith had grown in those islands, and then calling upon representatives from each goal town to describe the activities and requirements of their own group.
In order to complete the plan, 32 people were needed in eight goal towns, and 15 for weak assemblies. Seven hundred pounds was spontaneously donated at the conference to promote teaching work in the British Isles.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
- (From Bahá’í News Bulletin)
In response to a request from the New Zealand community, the Guardian suggested that the name “Hyde Dunn” be given to the first school property acquired by that community as a gift from Mr. Albert Styles. The purpose of the name “Hyde Dunn” was to “perpetuate the memory of the spiritual conqueror of Australasia.”
Progress of the Faith in Australia, according to the Bulletin, included the establishment of a spiritual assembly in every capital city of the various states in Australia, and official permission received by certain Bahá’ís not to work on Bahá’í Holy Days. National Spiritual Assembly meetings are being held in various centers in order to stimulate unity and enthusiasm in the local work.
Teaching activities were varied. Mrs. Dulcie Dive, went on an extended teaching trip in New Zealand, Mrs. Hilda Yen Male addressed an audience of 15 friends at Auckland, and Miss K. Carpenter pioneered for a while in Rockhampton.
Miss Carpenter, who obtained work sewing at the Mater Misericordia hospital, was discharged after having been overheard mentioning her religious beliefs to one of the staff. By that time, however, many people had been informed of her beliefs.
Correction[edit]
We regret an error in the listing of the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of India, Pakistan and Burma. The correct listing is:
A. Samimi, Chairman, Dr. M. E. Lukmani, Vice-Chairman, R. K. Sabit, Secretary, I. Bakhtiari, Treasurer, N. A. Khavari, A. Butt, Mrs. S. Fozdar, Prof. D. L. Khianra, K. Izzadyar.
Pioneer Teaching in South Africa[edit]
The death of Fanny Knobloch, our first pioneer for the Faith in South Africa brings us to a consideration of the achievements of this believer. Armed with a tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá she set out alone for that vast unknown Country. During her stay Martha Root spent 10 days there on her way to the East and none can estimate the blessing she left in that land. Mrs. Hanen, Fanny’s sister joined her for a time and together they established an Assembly in Pretoria, the capitol City of the Union. When Miss Crum and I entered that City 28 years later the Assembly was no more and we found only one person, a blind musician, Peter Cruse, who had been a member of the original group. We learned that Mrs. Agnes Carey, once a member of the Assembly, now lived in Durban and we took a plane to that queen City on the Indian Ocean. Our meeting with this faithful believer was an event never to be forgotten. She had not seen a Bahá’í in all these years, yet so well had she been taught, that she followed the administration, corresponded with Shoghi Effendi and was vibrant with spiritual life. It was our privilege to carry a gift back to the States for Fanny from her spiritual daughter. While in Durban we held a public Bahá’í meeting and found that our American Consul and his wife knew of the Faith and held it in profound admiration. Our finding of one real believer in South Africa reminded me of my visit in 1935 when I journeyed through the countries of South America and found just one believer, Leonore Holzapple (Armstrong) and today we read the accounts of local Assemblies, teaching committees, congresses, publishing, and itinerate believers. So it will be in South Africa, perhaps even in less time.
Arriving in Johannesburg we inserted a paragraph in the “The Star” giving the principles of the Faith and the proposed class that would follow. From this newspaper column we established two weekly classes and taught many individuals. I spoke at a women’s club of which there are many. As here all the work is done by natives for comparatively little money, women have time on their hands and they flock to meetings, to lectures and social gatherings in great numbers. Excellent and flattering notices appeared in the News which resulted in more and more invitations to speak.
When we arrived in Capetown again a tea was given that enabled me to give the Message to 65 people notable for their civic activities.
There is a similarity between the discovery of land and the search for souls to embrace the Faith. The discoverer faces the unknown, he must wrest the land from the native tribes, he must gauge the fertility of the soil, the depth of the rivers, the closeness of the animals hidden in the forest. The pioneer also enters the unknown, armed with the Word of God and instructions from our beloved Guardian. As the wild animals keep man in view, though hidden, so do the enemies of the Faith watch with hostile eyes, every step taken by the pioneer. The Bahá’í teacher is constantly asked his opinion on the problems of the country to which he comes, but no matter how evident the failures and fallacies of the body politic, he must not criticise the government, only using the mistakes as a backdrop against which to give the Bahá’í teachings. Mr. Ives speaks in Portals to Freedom, of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s method of giving the Message “as though bringing a gift to a king.”
Our Guardian by means of his inspired letters has awakened us to purposeful living. His faith in our capacities has resulted in making us believe in our own powers. Who among us has not said “I cannot do this—I could not go there, someone must, but not me” and then the Guardian has patiently explained that the destiny of the hour is ours, not something to be done in the future but NOW. Gradually he has brightened our ideals, and in every city and town believers have arisen to go into action that will eventually cover the earth. Great must be our appreciation for those who answered that first call and went forth to unknown lands.
In the Challenging Requirements of the Present Hour, Shoghi Effendi has quoted ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
“The moment this Divine Message is carried forward by the American believers ... through the continents of Europe, of Asia, of Africa, and of Australia, and as far as the Islands of the Pacific, this community will find itself securely established upon the throne of an everlasting dominion.”
Faith Presented at Seminar[edit]
“It was one of the most provocative, if not the most provocative session to date.” This is what the program chairman of the seminar on “Moral Responsibility and U.S. Power” wrote Arthur L. Dahl, Jr., of Palo Alto, California, following his presentation of the Bahá’í Faith at the January 4th meeting of the seminar.
The seminar is composed of approximately fifty leading business, religious and educational leaders in the San Francisco Bay area who have been meeting for several months under the auspices of the World Affairs Council of Northern California in San Francisco to study the extent to which the American people and their institutions are concerning themselves with the moral responsibility devolving upon our nation by reason of the position of power it occupies in the world today. Mr. Dahl was invited to become a member of this study group because of the opinions and views he had expressed concerning world problems to his business associates. Because he was known as a Bahá’í he was invited to present the position of the Bahá’ís on this subject.
A month before he is scheduled to appear, each speaker is expected to place in the hands of the seminar members some background material on his subject. Wishing to make the most of this unique opportunity, Mr. Dahl distributed copies of the portfolio, “The Coming of World Religion,” to which the program chairman also referred in her letter by saying: “Your generousity in supplying us, free of charge, with those beautiful copies of your prospectus is also deeply appreciated.”
Mr. Dahl’s address was the seventh in the seminar series, the preceding ones having been devoted to the Quaker movement, Judaism, Protestantism, etc. Dr. Ronald Bridges, head of the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, presided and following Mr. Dahl’s address remarked that it was by far the
[Page 9]
most challenging one that had been
presented thus far.
The address was very direct and forthright. Mr. Dahl spoke first of the principal aims of the Faith to bring about conditions of harmony and unity in all aspects of human relationships in the world, made the claim that the only way to world order is to be found in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, and spoke of the cyclical nature of society and the influence of the Prophets in the evolution of human society, and then gave a very brief sketch of the history of the Faith and some of the Bahá’í principles. He referred to some of the attempts being made by the Bahá’ís to accomplish the aims of the Faith, emphasizing the fact that in all their community efforts they are developing techniques and establishing models for a future world society.
A half hour is allotted for discussion following the speaker’s presentation, but so lively and so numerous were the questions directed to Mr. Dahl that by common consent the meeting continued for almost an extra half hour, with several remaining even longer to ask further questions. To provide spiritual support and to assist in answering questions, Mr. Dahl had as his guests Charlotte Linfoot and Firuz Kazemzadeh whose participation was also recognized with appreciation in the letter of thanks to Mr. Dahl.
The excellent Presentation of the Faith by Mr. Dahl, the copy of the portfolio and the summary prepared for the seminar reporter for distribution to the seminar members afterwards have all been regarded as an important contribution to the study of the group as well as an outstanding public relations achievement for the Faith in the San Francisco Bay region.
Latin-American News[edit]
With the completion of the Regional Conferences for Central America, toward the end of January, Elisabeth Cheney and Natalia Chavez returned to Panama to give full first-hand reports on these Conferences. Because of the need for pioneers now, Elisabeth has agreed to remain in Latin America as long as she is needed. This has made the Inter-America Committee very happy, as it means another experienced North-American pioneer in the field now, and throughout the time that this need exists.
Another pioneer, Larry Kramer, will be in Mexico City before April, to work with the believers there and in nearby Bahá’í communities, helping to prepare them to function properly under their own National Spiritual Assembly in 1951.
The National Spiritual Assembly has contacted a number of North-American believers, most of whom have had previous experience in the pioneering field, and asked them whether they could help to meet this urgent need in Latin-America during the next year or so. We hope that we shall be able to soon report affirmative replies from some of these believers.
The Annual (territorial) Congress for Central America will be held in San Salvador, El Salvador from April 25 through April 29. The Congress for South America will be held in Lima, Peru from May 2 through May 6. These Congresses will be of especial importance this year, as they will actually be the last of such gatherings for Latin America. Next year will witness the historic first Annual Conventions for each territory. Because of the importance of these Congresses, and the need for full consultation on the particular problems which the Latin-American National Spiritual Assemblies will face when they come into existence next year, Mrs. Dorothy Baker will represent the National Spiritual Assembly and the Inter-America Committee at both Congresses and will lead special consultation on these problems which the Latin believers will face in little more than a year.
The Inter-America Committee has been receiving very glowing reports on the fine work Bob Miessler has been doing for CEBSA (The National Teaching Committee for South America), particularly in Quito, Ecuador where he has been helping the Bahá’ís for several weeks now. His sister, Margot, is being left to “hold the fort” so to speak, in Sao Paulo, Brazil while their parents transfer residence to Buenos Aires, to lend their assistance to that community. Of course, Margot will have some assistance from Mr. and Mrs. Sylbert Holmes who have agreed to go to Sao Paulo, to take the Miessler’s place there.
We have also had a report from Dr. Alexander Reid, telling of some encouraging results in the efforts he made while travelling southward through Chile to Punta Arenas. He is now getting settled in Punta Arenas, and will be able to give valuable help to this community which is of such unusual importance because of its location at the very southern tip of Chile.
Recent reports also indicate that Mrs. Sheila Rice-Wray, who returned to the pioneering fold several months ago, has been able to considerably stimulate and assist the community of Managua, Nicaragua. Through holding exhibitions of her paintings, incidentally, Sheila has been able to meet many, many people in Managua, all of whom have thereby learned of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. Sheila will continue working in Managua indefinitely, helping to reinforce and strengthen that community.
We have had similarly encouraging reports about the work done by Louise Caswell recently in San Jose, Costa Rica. Louise has succeeded in reactivating this community to an inspiring degree and will remain in Costa Rica for another year or so, to make sure that the Faith in that country will be on a firm foundation in April of 1951.
Mrs. Cora Oliver has volunteered to devote her vacation to making a trip through the Central American area. In consultation with CEBMA (the National Teaching Committee for Central America and the Antilles) an agenda was worked out which will assist Mrs. Oliver to visit those communities which will benefit most from such a visit, and to spend more time in the communities which are in particular need of such assistance.
Thus, as this Bahá’í year draws to a close, the Inter-America Committee is very much aware of the urgent needs in Latin-America, but also is very encouraged by this picture showing how both pioneers already in the field and those who are on their way, are arising to “fill the gap” and meet these needs now, when it counts so much. We do not doubt that we can soon report that the additional pioneers who are still needed, have arisen to serve and are on their way.
“Meeting the Crisis”
“Tell the Story”[edit]
The Conduct of Workshops[edit]
The Workshop technique lends itself to any type of learning situation where the intention of the learner is to learn how to do something, rather than to merely acquire information. It implies that practice in the activity will go on in the class sessions, as well as during the study period. The following illustrate types of Workshops in which groups of Bahá’ís might engage:
- Speaking—at Firesides; at public meetings; chairmanship of a meeting; leading a discussion; individual contacts.
- Writing—articles, poems, radio scripts.
- Construction and use of visual materials—exhibits; announcements; films, etc.
- Teaching children’s classes—telling stories; teaching arts and crafts; games and sports; music, etc.
- Dramatics—pageants; one-act plays; pantomime.
- Race relations. (Include dramatization of desirable and undesirable methods of making contact with a member of another race.)
- Publicity campaigns. Actually put on a campaign for a public meeting and follow-up meetings in a near-by town.
- Bahá’í administrative procedures.
Frequency and number of classes; size of group.[edit]
At summer schools Workshops should meet five or six times a week, for at least two weeks. Where a Community organizes a Workshop for study, classes should be held at least once a week, for ten or twelve sessions. The class periods should be at least an hour and a quarter; an hour and a half is probably better. Most Workshops function best when there are between fifteen and twenty people in the group.
Essentials for the Leader of a Workshop[edit]
- Skill in chairmanship. (See section, “A Word to the Leader” in Bulletin no. 3 of the National Programming Committee.
- Must think through carefully the steps (stages) in the doing of the activity.
- Provide clear, simple reference materials which will help students in perfecting themselves in the various aspects of the activity.
- Exercise ingenuity in setting up concrete situations in which students can actually practice the various aspects of the activity.
- Build up confidence in the learners, so that participation is a happy experience.
- Help students to be objectively self-critical, and to take suggestions from the group objectively. In criticism, students should give “good” points first, followed by suggestions for improvement. The Leader should summarize each set of criticisms, stressing positive comment.
- Where possible, have a demonstration or exhibit at the end of the sessions, to show class and others what they have accomplished.
What the Leader must particularly avoid.[edit]
- Talking too much. Lecture only when the material is inaccessible, or when it is too complicated to get from references.
- Too much time on theory; too much giving of informational “background”. If the majority of the students need a great deal of “background”, they are not ready for the particular Workshop. (For example, a student who does not know correct English usage is not ready to learn to write articles or radio scripts. A Workshop in Bahá’í Administration should need to spend no more than half an hour in tracing the source of authority for the Administration.) By the second class session students should actually be practicing some aspect of the activity.
- The Leader must be objective. He must avoid any tendency to try to impress students with his own knowledge and experience, rather than to draw ideas and activity from them. (This does not often happen with Bahá’í teachers, but the Leader should watch himself for the least hint of it.)
Illustration—Main topics and activities in a Workshop in Bahá’í Administration (first half of course only).
- The Local Spiritual Assembly. Class lists the qualifications of members of an Assembly; then goes through complete procedure of electing an Assembly from among their own number—readings, balloting, counting ballots, report to the Community. Same for election of Assembly officers. (Leader should have brief references ready, for a student to read to the group, in case questions arise.) Elected Assembly discuss their duties and responsibilities.
- The class, acting as an Assembly, discuss typical problems which Assemblies often meet. The Leader has these worked out before class meets, in concrete terms. For example, (a) Mrs. Cooper, chairman of the Feast Committee, complains to Assembly that of the four other members of the committee, only one attends committee meetings and helps with the work. She wants to resign from the Committee. (b) Mrs. North who has a small business asks for a loan of $50.00 to make a purchase of goods at an advantageous price. This is the second time in a year that she has asked for a loan. Shall the Assembly loan her the money?
- Same as II, except that the specific problems are suggested by the students.
- General principles governing responsibilities of chairman and members of group, in any meeting of consultation. Draw on experiences of two preceding days for illustrations.
- Committees in a Bahá’í Community. Now decide what committees are needed; relation of committees to Assembly and Community. Class go through procedure, as an Assembly, of appointing and listing duties of two or three important committees. Appoint one committee to work on a specific problem the following day.
- The appointed committee “act out” a committee meeting. Then class discuss, pro and con, the procedure of the committee. Finally, add other ideas they might have considered. (If this discussion can be about a real activity in the School or Community it will be more useful than if about a “made-up” problem.)
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Temple at night, winter 1949-1950.
(Used by permission of the photographer, Nancy Walters, Kenilworth, Ill.)
To the Bahá’í Youth[edit]
- (A letter from Rúḥíyyih Khánum
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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 Publishing Committee
Bahá’í News Editorial Office:
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This afternoon, I was reading an article written by an army nurse, and recounting some of her impressions and experiences. She told of a soldier who had lost both eyes and both legs ... and who was thinking of how best to break the news lovingly and gently to his mother and brothers and sisters. It seemed to just strike me between the eyes for a moment and overcome me. I thought what on earth I would do and feel if I had been both blinded and lost the use of my legs, indeed, lost the legs themselves. Then a wonderful feeling came over me. I can help that man right here by the way I behave as a Bahá’í!
It was as if a great realization of our duties as believers swept into my consciousness. Everywhere we look we see suffering, a suffering so great that one cannot tolerate the thought of it mentally, one pushes it out of one’s consciousness because it is too soul-crushing. To really seriously, for even a moment, picture the feelings and condition in which millions of people find themselves, is absolutely unbearable. To think of the people who are hungry and cold; the old people who are debilitated through slow starvation and illness, with no one to help them in the daily tasks now far beyond their strength; the children ... we’d better pass over the children and not even try to think about them; the soldiers, living always in the hell of war or on leave and exposed to the terribly degenerating influence of liquor and bawdy companions, opiates to produce forgetfulness of what lies behind and what lies ahead; to think seems to risk breakdown and so we don’t think, if we can help it. What can we do for them, these nameless, endless millions and millions of fellow men?
Calendar[edit]
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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. |
Annual Convention:
- April 27, 28, 29, 30
Feasts:
- April 28—Jamál—Beauty
- May 17—‘Aẓamat—Grandeur
Anniversaries:
- April 21-May 2, Feast of Riḍván, the Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh. Observe first day at 3 P.M. on April 21. Suspend work on 1st, 9th, and 12th day.
- May 23—Birth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
- Declaration of the Báb. Observe about 2 hours after sunset on May 22. Suspend work on May 23.
- May 29—Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh. Observe at 3 a.m. Suspend work. NSA Meeting:
NSA meeting
- April 26.
ANNUAL REPORTS, 1949-1950[edit]
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States[edit]
Mrs. Dorothy Baker, Chairman, Mr. Paul E. Haney, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Horace Holley, Secretary, Mr. Philip G. Sprague, Treasurer, Mr. Leroy Ioas, Assistant Treasurer, Miss Edna M. True, Recording Secretary, Mrs. Amelia E. Collins, Miss Elsie Austin, Mr. Wm. Kenneth Christian.
The American Bahá’ís draw near the end of the fourth year of the second Seven Year Plan. This means that the worth of our collective effort is determined, not by sporadic activities, however impressive they might seem, but by its effect upon the Faith in ten countries of Western Europe; consolidation of the Faith in all countries of Central America and South America and preparation for establishment of two National Assemblies; completion of the Temple interior; development of the Bahá’í community within our own country. One goal of the Plan has been attained: the formation of a National Spiritual Assembly in Canada. Progress in the intercontinental work is reported by the committees immediately concerned. The Temple itself speaks eloquently of the great strides made by the architect and contractor this year, which is affirmed by the reports of the Treasurer and the Construction Committee acting for the Temple Trustees.
As the year began, the exigencies of Temple construction had become plain to us all. A new phase of our Bahá’í life took form in the months preceding the Convention, when the austerity foreseen and applied by Shoghi Effendi had compelled the closing of Bahá’í Schools for two years, the suspension of World Order Magazine, the interruption of national advertising, and temporary elimination of public meetings sponsored and financed by the national Assembly.
The spiritual expression of this new phase was made by the Guardian in his cablegram received March 26, 1949: “The first half of the opening Decade of the Second Bahá’í Century is terminating. The great-minded, stout-hearted, high-spirited American Bahá’í Community, laden with trophies accumulated in the course of their fifty years’ magnificent stewardship of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, is irresistibly embarking upon a two and a half year period unsurpassed in its fateful consequences by any previous stage traversed in the Community’s eventful history.
“Its members, without exception, are called upon to steel themselves without delay to face an unexpected emergency, seize a God-given opportunity, meet a supreme challenge, and show forth a tenacity of purpose, a solidarity in sacrifice, an austerity in everyday life, worthy the Martyr-Prophet of their Faith as well as their heroic spiritual forebears, the Hundredth Anniversary of whose agonizing tribulations, including captivity, sieges, betrayals spoliation and martyrdom, is being commemorated during this same period.”
“The American Bahá’í Community, exalted, singled out among sister Communities of East and West through revelation of the Tablets of the Divine Plan, is unavoidably approaching a testing period; crucial, prolonged, potent, purifying, clearly envisaged by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, different from but recalling in its severity the ordeals which afflicted the dawn-breakers in a former Age.”
That statement holds together all plans, activities, hopes and efforts during the two and a half years of the austerity period. It gives us the vision without which the great future of our community cannot be attained.
The Convention this year was for the first time realized by the National Spiritual Assembly as an occasion for considering the needs and opportunities of the future year rather than summing up the records of the past. Emphasis was laid upon the supreme challenge now facing the individual Bahá’í to live in the very spirit of the Faith and to teach by his own inner resources with little or no adventitious aid from national programs, lecturers and budgets.
The May and June issues of Bahá’í News presented the new concept to the friends: “A New Spirit of Nationwide Teaching”, “Meeting the Crisis” and “The Most Important of All Things.” Teaching and living have become one.
The Guardian’s letter of April 11, 1949 stated that the “completion of the Mother Temple of the West.... in time for the celebration of its Jubilee, is the one remaining objective that now hangs precariously in the balance.... The sacrifice demanded is such as to have no parallel whatsoever in the history of that community.” That same message likewise spoke of the completed Temple: that it will “release the full measure of the regenerative power with which it has been endowed.”
In keeping with our increase of personal responsibility, the National Spiritual Assembly this year provided for mailing of Bahá’í News directly to individual Bahá’ís, at the same time endeavoring, with the Editorial Committee, to make Bahá’í News serve not only its own special purposes but also to carry to the believers many urgent messages previously conveyed to communities and groups by letter or bulletin, as for example, the appeal “Take Your Part in State Conventions” published in January, 1950.
In the international field the salient matters are: official Bahá’í greeting has been conveyed by the National Assembly to President Weizmann of Israel, to Prime Minister Nehru of India, and to His Imperial Majesty, the Shah of Iran. Bahá’í delegates have attended United Nations Conferences in Geneva, Switzerland, in Santiago, Chile, at Lake Success, N. Y., and Lawrence, Kansas.
International in a more universal sense has been preparation of plans for the Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Báb to be observed next July, as announced in Bahá’í News for March.
The shining Symbol of the Martyr-Prophet for all the world to behold is the exquisitely beautiful design which under the Guardian’s direction has been taking form this year at the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel.
Enrollments reported from May to February by Assemblies and by Regional Committees, 339. One hundred and seventy-three Assemblies were elected on April 21, 1949, a number of which may not be reelected in 1950.
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Under legal advice, action was
taken this year to amend the Declaration of Trust by changing its
name, omitting Canada, and deleting
references to Canada in the text.
As a matter of record: Building operations on the Temple interior began July 11, 1949.
Assuming the initiative in developing plans for the era of greater public interest which will follow this austerity period, the Assembly has appointed a special committee to submit general campaign plans and recommendations; and has assigned to a number of committees a scrutiny of Bahá’í publications, to weed out what no longer serves and to recommend new additions. At the same time steps have been taken to obtain expert advice for improvement of the typographical style of books and pamphlets.
The simplified teaching plan announced this year followed consultation with members of the Area National Teaching Committees immediately after the 1949 Convention. In February 1950 the Assembly invited members of these committees to attend sessions of an Institute at the National Office providing courses and discussion on the Covenant and on the Administration expressing the aim and power of the Covenant. The Institute was adopted and its leaders appointed in order to set forth a plan of teaching enabling individuals, groups and communities to attract and prepare applicants more effectively, and to produce communities better qualified to act with unity, courage and understanding. The year witnessed a crisis in the handling of weak communities, large or small, since it is no longer possible to send settlers here and there to make up the number needed for Assembly status.
The present National Assembly feels strongly that no radical changes in national plans should be made next year. The friends need one year to grasp the new plan, which becomes more effective as the result of experience in operation and fuller understanding of its deeper implications.
Treasurer, National Spiritual Assembly[edit]
“Its members, without exception, are called upon to steel themselves without delay to face an unexpected emergency, seize a God-given opportunity, meet a supreme challenge and show forth a tenacity of purpose, a solidarity in sacrifice, an austerity in everyday life, worthy the Martyr-Prophet of their Faith, as well as their heroic spiritual forbears, the Hundredth Anniversary of whose agonizing tribulations, including captivity, sieges, betrayals, spoliation and martyrdom, is being commemorated during this same period.”
Cable March 16, 1949
The American Bahá’í Community,
responding to the stirring call of our
Beloved Guardian, has arisen with
exemplary tenacity and inspiring
austerity to achieve the goals set
by Shoghi Effendi, during this unique
period of our history.
The Guardian has held high before us, the four goals which must be gained, if we are to achieve total victory during this second seven year plan. These tasks call for the completion of the interior ornamentation of the House of Worship; the establishment of two National Spiritual Assemblies in Latin America; the expansion of our teaching work in Europe; and the consolidation and stronger proclamation of the Faith in the United States.
These mighty responsibilities require stupendous funds! Only the utmost devotion and sacrifice on the part of the friends can make them available.
Realizing how difficult the problems would be, the Guardian advised the National Assembly a little over a year ago, to curtail all other Bahá’í activities, and even abandon some temporarily (such as Summer Schools, the Bahá’í Magazine, etc.), so the work of our goal responsibilities might go forward uninterruptedly.
The budget for General Expenses for the current Bahá’í fiscal year, was cut to $150,000.00 which amount, the studies of the National Assembly indicated, was the very minimum needed to carry on our general activities, including the specific goal tasks of teaching in Europe, Latin-America, and the United States. All other committees had their budgets drastically cut; while certain committees, such as Public Relations, Programming, Service to the Blind, and Visual Education are functioning with no budget.
The Technical Board, the Architect, and the Construction Engineers have continuously studied the interior ornamentation work of the Temple, and numerous steps have been taken to bring about savings. Most notable of these is the arrangement to use Earley Stone for the interior, instead of ornamental plaster; thus giving us the same material and type of construction on the interior as on the exterior—and this at no increased cost over the original budget estimate.
The task of raising the large sums needed for the Temple work was simplified by the plan of Resolve payments, which brought the problem down to a level where each of us could see where we could fit in and take our part in this great enterprise. The response has been truly amazing. This is the last opportunity to take part in the construction of the Holiest House of Worship ever to be reared in the Bahá’í Dispensation. Thus, while there is yet time, it is hoped the name of each and every Bahá’í in the United States will be on this scroll of devoted Bahá’ís sacrificing to build the “House of the Lord.”
In order to present all the facts surrounding the Temple work, a panel of believers, including National Assembly members, visited all Assemblies, etc. to explain in detail the requirements and its urgency. Rúḥiyyih Khánum, herself, entered the campaign by contributing two stirring articles on the divine benefits of giving to the Faith. The names of our departed loved ones have also been entered in the lists, through contributions made in their names by some of the friends.
Statistics never carry the sacrifices and glorious deeds of the friends in reaching a goal. They do, however, in this instance, reveal that sacrifice has reached the realm of true spiritual devotion, and that austerity in the love of God has become the pattern of daily living of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Otherwise, the near approaches to victory we have gained could not have been won. In passing, it might be well to mention that the various
[Page 14]
financial institutions, with whom we
are doing business, all express wonder and amazement at the manner
in which the funds have been contributed to this great enterprise. Let
us all drink more deeply of the mysterious sources of our strength!
The following figures, simplified, tell the story.
At this writing our books are closed, as of January 31st, 1950; thus the figures will show the results of this year’s financial operations, from April 30, 1949, to and including January 31, 1950:
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These deficits are not bookkeeping figures, but cash, and will indicate at once that we must find ways and means to increase our contributions to the General Fund, above the Budget requirement of $12,500 per month. Unfortunately, we are falling short each month of approximately $2,500 of our budget needs, and therefore, if there is not an immediate change, our deficit will be more than $50,000.00 by the end of our Bahá’í year (April 3, 1950).
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The friends are naturally interested in complete financial figures surrounding the entire Temple Interior construction project. Therefore, the following is given, covering the financial operations from its inception, to the end of 1950; at which time, it is anticipated the work on the Interior will be completed.
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Again, attention should be called to the fact that all Resolves must be paid, and even after that is done, we require additional gifts or resolves totaling $9,560 to complete our Temple needs.
A word of explanation is desirable with regard to the two year period of Resolve payments and the period of austerity.
Our contracts for construction work are on a calendar basis, and therefore, our Resolves likewise are on a calendar basis. Thus we are in the second year of the Resolve period, and second year resolves are now payable. It will be helpful in meeting our payments if these can be paid up as quickly as possible.
So far as the austerity period is concerned, it would seem logical that it will end only when we have completely discharged our responsibilities. These responsibilities are not met while we have a deficit in the General Fund, and still have not completely paid for the Temple Interior Construction work. It should be clear, therefore, if the austerity period is to end with the close of the calendar year 1950, we will have to complete the Temple Fund requirements and pay off the General Fund deficit.
—PHILIP G. SPRAGUE, Treasurer
Trusteeships[edit]
Since the Guardian has laid special emphasis on our concentrating on the completion of the interior of the Temple, the teaching work in Europe, the teaching work in South America and the teaching work here at home, many changes have taken place in the operation of the various Trusteeships for the benefit of the National Spiritual Assembly.
Bosch Trustees Maintenance committee
Thomas Lisota, Chairman, Alfred Zahl, Secretary, Fred Babo, Mrs. Louise Bosch, L. Wyatt Cooper, Rex Collison, Anthony Seto, Harmon Jones, Ray Brackett, Richard Groger (deceased), Louis Bourget, Mrs. Edith Rowand, Miss Winifred Bennell, Thomas Yates.
During the period of austerity the Geyserville Summer School has closed for a period of two years. Several excursions to the School have been made by the Maintenance Committee for the purpose of clearing away dried weeds in order to lessen the fire hazard. Electric power has been cut off on all buildings except the Administration House, which is now rented to a local high school teacher for the sum of $45.00 per month.
Efforts are being made by the Maintenance Committee to place this whole property on a tax free basis.
For years now the Maintenance Committee in Geyserville has done outstanding work. Most of the repairs and improvements on the properties owned by the Trustees have been made completely by the Maintenance Committee and groups of the friends in that area who have volunteered their services. The Trustees are very grateful for the fine work that this Committee has done.
Eggleston Trustees Maintenance Committee
Stanley Bagley, Chairman, Mrs. Beatrice Eardley, Secretary, Edwin Eardley, Clinton Wideman, Oscar Ketels, Sr., J. Murdoch Eaton.
At Louhelen, as all the other Summer Schools, the School sessions have been shut down for a period of two years.
The Maintenance Committee has very carefully inventoried every thing on the property; mattresses, blankets have been packed away and periodic inspections have been made of the books in the Library.
A satisfactory tenant has been procured for the Eggleston house and it is now being leased at a rental of $75.00 a month. In addition to the above, the Trustees were able to rent the upper floor of the Library at a rental of $400.00 for a period of four months.
Green Acre Trustee:
Emanuel Reimer — Superintendent of Properties, Philip G. Sprague — Trustees Representative.
The Green Acre School, as you all know, has been closed, and will be closed for two years. The Superintendent of Properties voluntarily took a salary cut of about 60 per cent during this period.
Since the closing of the School, inventories have been taken of supplies, blankets, towels and all equipment. During the summer of 1949, the Lucas Cottage (known as The Studio) was rented; the Atkinson house was rented; the Thompson house was rented; and the Ole Bull cottage was rented for a period of one month. This, of course, is in addition to those other Green Acre cottages which are rented yearly to the Mottahedehs, Quigleys and Miss Wilkinson. The Green Acre houses have been offered to the believers through Bahá’í News again during the 1950 season and also have been placed in the hands of several local real estate agents.
Since the closing of the Summer School the Superintendent’s cottage
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has been completely painted on the
outside, and the Library, the Ole
Bull Cottage, has been completely
painted. Efforts are being made
through a local attorney to place
this property on a tax free basis.
No Maintenance Committee is required for this Trusteeship, because the expense and management of the property is being taken care of completely by Mr. and Mrs. Mathews. Here, as with the other Summer Schools, there has been a shut down during the austerity period.
Temple Maintenance Committee
Mr. Wm. Foster, Mr. Robert Hammond, Mr. Lawrence Hautz, Mr. Leroy Ioas, Mr. A. P. Matthisen, Mr. Lloyd Robinson, Mr. Clarence Ullrich.
During the year the Temple Maintenance Committee set up a program of help for the caretakers and kept the Temple grounds in much better shape than ever before. A new type of mower was purchased and help was solicited from among the Bahá’ís, and Saturdays and Sundays were used to cut the slopes, cut down brush and undergrowth, even on the Sanitary District of Chicago Canal banks, so that the Temple had a cared-for look.
The oil-burning equipment which has been in use for many years needed repairs, and people in that business were contacted, bids were received and specifications drawn up and this information was turned over to the N.S.A. for further action.
A physical inventory of small parts which are kept on hand for emergency repairs and general use around the Temple and its surrounding buildings is now being made so that it may be used as a perpetual inventory system.
The stand from which the projector and sound equipment is operated was partially enclosed to eliminate drafts as far as possible. It was felt the fire department would object to further enclosure.
Some other work which was started but not finished was designing but not the building of two signs requested by the NSA. The building of these is to take place in early spring.
There was the usual cleaning, grass cutting, sprinkling, sweeping. etc.
The pigeon and starling problem has had a great deal of thought given to it, and we believe that a definite long-range program will soon evolve from this.
Authorization has been given by the N.S.A. for grass seed to be planted and the grounds fertilized.
Wilhelm Trustees Maintenance Committee
Curtis Kelsey, Mrs. Amy Raubitschek, Roy C. Wilhelm, Walter Goodfellow.
During the last year the Maintenance Committee has repaired and reshingled the roof of Evergreen Cabin.
The Trustees appointed Mr. William DeForge as their agent to rent the Wilhelm house and the two apartments in the caretaker’s cottage. These two properties in question had to be changed over to tax paying projects and permission was obtained from the City Council. The Wilhelm home has been rented to a very reliable tenant for $130.00 per month and the two apartments in the caretaker’s cottage are now rented at $55.00 and $50.00 a month respectively. Negotiations with the OPA were necessary to set a fair rental for the three dwellings and permission to rent at the above figures was granted.
It was necessary, however, to paint and clean the ground floor apartment of 130 Evergreen Place to make it tenantable. The top floor of 130 Evergreen Place was rented as is, and the tenant made his own improvements.
The only expenses in connection with this property was the installation of an indoor cellar oil tank and a few minor repairs. After renting 130 Evergreen Place it was discovered that the Public Service would not install the necessary separate electric meters for each apartment unless the property was rewired (wiring throughout the building was old, inadequate and hazardous). The steam boiler at 130 Evergreen Place when originally installed was secondhand and after long years of service was beyond repair. This has been replaced at a cost of $400.
Although the repairs and improvements made have been somewhat costly, even though every effort has been made to keep them down to a minimum, it must be remembered that the property has been untenanted for many years and a minimum amount of money put into upkeep.
The rental of the Wilhelm house and the two apartments in the caretaker’s cottage will be of great assistance to the Trustees in defraying the expenses of the property. This property, of course is all tax free with the exception of the buildings which are now being rented.
Wilson Trustees
Mrs. Helen LaVey, Custodian
For many years the house in Malden, Mass., has been rented for $41.40 per month. The tenant who had occupied the property was not taking care of the house and, through the efforts of Mrs. LaVey, moved.
A satisfactory new tenant was procured, the Housing Expediter gave the Trustees permission to raise the rent to $48.40, and the interior of the house was put in order. The back hallway of the interior was repaired and painted. A new stove was installed, linoleum covering the entire kitchen floor was laid and a complete check up of the electrical system was carried out, including rewiring of the fuse box to conform to the current State requirements.
Floors, in the living and dining rooms, which had been buckling, were leveled and resurfaced; locks on all outside doors were renewed and replacement of cellar windows and broken glass in the window sashes were taken care of. Parts of the roof had to be repaired, interior rooms had to be repapered and woodwork repainted. Many of the floors had to be reshellaced. The interior of this house, which the Guardian has requested the Trustees to preserve, is now in very good condition—the exterior will have to be painted in the near future.
Your Treasurer in expressing the deep appreciation and gratitude of the Trustees to Mrs. LaVey for the outstanding work which she has done with this property, brought forth the following comment, which I am going to quote. “On page 111 of the Bahá’í Centenary 1844 to 1944, under Wilson Trust, the following closing sentence reads, quoting from the Master, ‘to take care of that house, because the light of the love of God was ignited in it’. It has given me supreme joy to carry out that care. That, indeed, is sufficient recompense to me.”
PHILIP G. SPRAGUE, Treasurer
Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Báb[edit]
This committee was first appointed to submit a recommendation on observance of this Centenary. It was then appointed the committee to carry out the plans which the National Assembly has approved, Since the plans were reported in detail in Bahá’í News for March, the purpose of the committee report has been attained.
Bahá’í News Editorial Committee[edit]
Mrs. Roberta Christian, Chairman; Mr. Gordon A. Fraser, Mr. Richard Nolen, Mrs. Doris Holley.
By the action of the N.S.A., the copy deadline was moved ahead from the 15th of each month to the 10th of each month, and a new mailing policy instituted whereby Bahá’í News is mailed directly to each believer, resulting in earlier receipt of each issue.
Annual reports of committees, conventions, and assemblies were given space in Bahá’í News, along with such features as illustrated reports on progress of the Temple interior, and of the Shrine of the Báb.
Special inserts on three different occasions covered financial resolves, a letter from the Guardian, and “Teaching Problems” by Rúḥíyyih Khánum.
The need for more pages is still a problem in editing. Lack of space prohibits the printing in each issue of much interesting material.
Bahá’í Publishing Committee[edit]
Due to the Emergency Period for two years, publishing activities have necessarily been somewhat curtailed. However, we have brought out some new publications, and are giving much thought to plans for future development of Bahá’í Literature.
World Order Magazine was suspended for the emergency period and in accordance with a suggestion from the Guardian, remittances for renewal of subscriptions were diverted to the Building Fund. In addition, amounts due for unexpired subscriptions were either refunded, transferred to Building Fund or held for resumption of publishing as authorized by the subscriber.
New Publications
Bahá’í Prayers, a new compilation selected from the Writings of the Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The chief work of selecting these prayers was done by the late Bertha Hyde Kirkpatrick. Printed on India paper and bound in blue fabrikoid.
Bahá’í World, Volume X 1944-1946, especially featuring the Bahá’í Centenary. Eight hundred pages, 197 illustrations and two colored frontispieces. Bound in red cloth.
Story Supplement for God Passes By with map of the journeys of the Founders of the Faith, 95 pages mimeographed.
The Brilliant Proof by Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl Gulpáygáni, a new edition containing all salient passages. Twelve pages mimeographed. Now out of print.
Declaration of Trust, a new revised edition containing all amendments to July 16, 1949.
A New Approach to Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, compiled by the Programming Committee, adapted for use in informal fireside meetings. Forty-six pages mimeographed.
God’s Eternal Legacy, a new compilation by Della Emery, Ralph Emery, Herbert Hern, May Lawson and Mary M. Wilkin. One hundred and eight pages mimeographed.
Bahá’í Calendar for 1950. Bahá’í Feasts and Anniversaries and civil calendar for the year.
New Publications imported from England
The Glad Tidings of Bahá’u’lláh, edited by Dr. George Townshend, published by John Murray, London, England. Copies purchased in December were soon exhausted. A new supply is now en route from England.
The Old Churches and the New World Faith, by Dr. George Townshend, an important message declaring Dr. Townshend’s relinquishment of Orders in the Protestant Episcopal Church of America into which he had been ordained in 1906 in the diocese of Utah. Twenty pages, paper binding.
The Promise of All Ages, by Dr. George Townshend, a new revised edition made in England. One hundred and seventy-two pages bound in red cloth and blue paper.
New World Order Diary 1950, bound in fabrikoid. Stock exhausted.
Prescription for Living, by Rúḥíyyih Khánum. This important book ordered from England in September 1949 and promised for prompt delivery has not arrived as we go to press. We regret so much the delay.
Reprints and re-purchases for resale. Books, Pamphlets and Outlines
- The Covenant, an outline for study
- Junior’s Book of Religion
- The Báb’s Address to the Letters of the Living
- Divine Art of Living
- Two Roads We Face
- The Spiritual Meaning of Adversity
- Bahá’í Teachings for a World Faith
- Renewal of Civilization
- Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, German
- Commentary on the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Reviewing Committee[edit]
The Reviewing Committee has received a variety of manuscripts during the past year and up to March 4, 1950, has submitted to the National Spiritual Assembly reports on two books, one condensation of a Bahá’í publication, four articles, one compilation on prophecy, and one leaflet on prayer. Another article, a poem and a study course are at present in the hands of the committee,
Archives Committee[edit]
Mrs. Gertrude Henning, Chairman, Mrs. Gertrude S. Struven, Secretary, Miss Ruth Dasher, Recording secretary, Mrs. Nelle Heath, Mr. M. D. Roach, Mrs. Corinne True, Dr. Khan Zia.
The committee has held seven well attended meetings this current year; five of them were held in the vault rooms of the Temple, where we have nearly completed an inventory of the sacred relics and keepsakes in the vaults. Lists of these articles, which have been numbered, have been placed on each of the metal containers. The most sacred relics are placed in a special case apart. This work refers only to the contents of the safes, the outer vault having a great deal yet to be inventoried. The committee sessions go on. One person has worked identifying, filing and mounting photographs. Three members have been indexing the recipients of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Tablets, Volumes 1-2-3, and noting data relative to the future publishing of other volumes.
[Page 17]
About 95 per cent of the recipients
of published Tablets are known, a
large proportion of which have no
originals. It is regrettable that so
many of the Tablets, both published
and unpublished, have either no originals or no translations.
We are indexing all Tablets which have originals, as the Guardian has stated that no Tablets will be published in forthcoming volumes for which no originals are available.
Receipts for 135 letters from the Guardian have been issued to date, Feb. 15.
European Teaching Committee[edit]
Miss Edna True, Chairman, Mrs. Julia Shows, Secretary, Mrs. Mary Sprague, Mrs. Sylvia Ioas, Mr. Leroy Ioas, Mrs. Clara Wood, Dr. Katherine True, Mrs. Nellie French.
The growth in the European teaching field during this last year has been in consolidation rather than in greater numbers and special emphasis has been placed on assisting the 12 newly fledged Spiritual Assemblies to assume and carry out their manifold and new responsibilities. These communities have been going through the difficult stage, encountered by all new Bahá’ís, of trying to put into practice, in their daily lives and relations with each other, the glorious teachings which they have accepted so completely in their hearts.
The Conference in Brussels August 5, 6 and 7 marked a very heartening and impressive development in the spiritual maturity of the new European believers. It was very noticeable to those who had attended the Conferences in both Geneva and Brussels that the native Bahá’ís were participating more in the consultations and discussions at the latter and were readily assuming the responsibilities which had fallen to them. The “Covenant” and “Administration” were again emphasized in the consultation material presented. 130 representatives from 19 different countries gathered together for three unforgettable days. The attractive and modern University of Brussels made a perfect setting for this gathering and the Europeans, especially, enjoyed the experience of living with their fellow Bahá’ís from other countries throughout the Conference period. The public meeting, held in the principal hall in Brussels, with an attendance of 450 people, was an outstanding success. The repercussions from the Conference were most heartening and a new impulse and strength were gained for the Cause in the Brussels community.
Another important occasion during the past year was the All-Swiss Conference held in the new Center in Bern, in November, 1949. Eighty representatives, from the two Swiss communities and other groups, consulted together for two days on the objectives given to the European communities by the Guardian, in his greeting to the Brussels Conference, and discussing their part in achieving these goals. Eight contacts, who had been studying the Faith, declared themselves during the Conference period and six of these all native Swiss were from Geneva.
One of the most important and at the same time most difficult phases of the European teaching work is that of translating and publishing the Bahá’í literature in the nine languages. The different Committees appointed for this purpose are laboring selflessly and devotedly in this vital task, one which has been especially stressed by the Guardian.
Extension teaching is now being developed in most of the goal countries. This was not anticipated within the framework of the second Seven Year Plan but was especially requested by the Guardian in his Brussels Conference cable message.
During this last year, the following pioneers have had to return to the United States for various personal reasons: Eunice and John Shurcliff, Rita Van Sombeek, Hazel Pennington, Anna Kunz. All of these had contributed richly and invaluably to the European teaching work and their necessary departures were a definite loss.
The following new pioneers were placed in the European field: Doris and Don Corbin, to Stockholm; George Clark, to Oslo, later to Amsterdam; Mary and Ed Bode, to Amsterdam, later to Lisbon; Arna Perron, to Switzerland. Elsa Horneman, a native Norwegian who became a Bahá’í in Peru, was sent by the Committee from Oslo to assist with the work in Madrid.
At the moment the following pioneers are serving in the 10 Goal countries:
- Norway: Elinor Gregory, Amelia Bowman
- Sweden: Doris and Donald Corbin
- Denmark: Dagmar Dole, Nancy Gates, Eleanor Hollibaugh
- Holland: Mildred and George Clark, Jetty Straub. Itinerant teacher: Garreta Busey.
- Belgium: Anita Ioas
- Luxembourg: Sally Sanor, Ned Blackmer.
- Switzerland: Fritzi Shaver, Elsa Steinmetz, Doris Lahse, Arna Perron.
- Italy: Angelina and Ugo Giachery, Marion Little
- Spain: Virginia Orbison, Elsa Horneman
- Portugal: Valeria Nichols, Louise Matthias, Charlotte Stirratt, Mary and Edward Bode.
- ETC Geneva Representative: Honor Kempton.
The number of newly declared believers, as of March 1, is 238 and the total number of Bahá’ís old and new and including the pioneers is 324 in the 10 Goal countries of Europe.
Through the magnificent and sustained efforts of the pioneers, reinforced by the valuable assistance of the newly declared believers, the foregoing results have been achieved; and behind their dedicated efforts has been the staunch backing and support of the American Bahá’í Community. All of the newly declared believers in the European field are deeply appreciative and grateful for the loving and selfless assistance which has been so abundantly given them by their American brothers and sisters.
The Bahá’í World Editorial Committee for Volume XII[edit]
Robert L. Gulick, Chairman; Virginia Breaks, Secretary; Victor Alexander, Duart Vinson Brown, Georgiana Fitz-Gerald, Mrs. Marzieh Gail, Mrs. Loyce Lawrence, Christine Lofstedt, Dr. Sarah Pereira, Robert Powers, Mrs. Myrtle Silva, Mrs. Marion Yazdi, Mr. Ali Yazdi.
During the second year of the period for Volume XII, this Committee completed and put into effect its plans for collecting material. Follow-up letters to National Spiritual Assemblies, to Committees and to individuals were written repeatedly during the year. In addition to correspondence, two appeals for contributions were printed in the Bahá’í Youth Bulletin of the United States,
[Page 18]
one was printed in the Geneva Bureau News Exchange and one final request was printed in Bahá’í News.
Due to the austerity period in the United States, the suspension of publication of Volume XI and to intensive work toward teaching goals in other countries, contributions on the whole came in slowly.
In January 1950, this Committee received instructions from the Guardian to begin shipping material not later than February 15. National Spiritual Assemblies and other contributors were promptly informed of these instructions. This resulted in a greatly increased and accelerated flow of material to the Committee.
First shipment of the manuscript for Volume XII was made on February 15 and contributions received after that date are being forwarded as quickly as possible.
In addition to collecting material the Guardian has instructed the Bahá’í World Committees to “make the believers more Bahá’í World conscious.” As one means of doing this members of the Committee prepared a set of questions with references to answers in volumes of The Bahá’í World. These have been printed monthly in a box in Bahá’í News.
Souvenir of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá[edit]
Mrs. Amy Raubitschek, Secretary, Mrs. Edith Inglis, Mrs. Harriet Kelsey, Mr. Roy C. Wilhelm, Mr. Paul Wright, Mrs. Amie Wright, Mr. Bernard Gottlieb, Miss Doris Raymond, Mr. Walter Goodfellow, Miss Ethel Revell, Mrs. Carrie Kinney.
With austerity in mind, this year’s “Souvenir” was planned accordingly. The program was printed on small-sized folders and no dessert was served—only tea and coffee, and for the children, plain and chocolate milk. Believers coming by car were asked to bring their own folding tables and chairs, to reduce number of hired ones needed.
More than 300 guests came, some arriving early in the morning to attend a conference called by the Area Teaching Committee. Picnic time was scheduled for twelve-thirty to two-thirty.
Three P.M. The Program[edit]
- Prayer and Greetings
- Chairman, Bernard Gottlieb
- Pianist, Gertrude Rennert
- Vocalist, Rhoda Marilyn Spencer
- Reading of address given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá June, 1912
- Agnes Tichenor
Theme: God’s Covenant Fulfilled[edit]
The Covenant—Will and Testament
- George Goodman
The Center of the Covenant—His Station and Personality
- Marzieh Gail
Service in the Pine Grove
- Amy Raubitschek
Though darkness was drawing the day to a close, many friends lingered, loathe to leave the grounds made sacred and blessed by the footsteps of the Beloved Master.
International Relief[edit]
During the Bahá’í Year 106 (to March 1, 1950) a total of 239 addresses has been given out for sending packages to Europe; the addresses have been given to 131 Bahá’ís or Communities. A total of 268 packages has been reported sent but this figure does not include all packages actually sent, because no report has been received on 74 addresses given out and a few packages are sent without contact being made with the International Relief Representative. There has been excellent cooperation this year with the N.S.A. plan, and this is reflected in the harmonious distribution in the Bahá’í Communities and Groups where the packages are received. It is again requested that no packages of any kind be sent to Vienna.
Details of the package-sending follow: To Germany, 248 clothing or food packages, plus 11 CARE parcels (6 food, 2 knitting wool, 3 lard) and 1 Steneck food parcel: to all 14 Bahá’í Communities, 11 Groups, and the Sozialausschuss (German relief committee) for isolated Bahá’ís, Russian Zone included; to England, 7 packages and 1 CARE food; to Italy, 3 packages and 1 CARE food; to French Morocco, 3; to Budapest, 2; to Sofia, 6 packages and 6 Steneck food parcels.
United Nations Committee[edit]
Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh, Secretary, Mrs. Hila Yen Male, Mrs. Etta Mae Mikael, Mr. Rafi Mottahedeh, Miss Isabel Silk, Mr. Amin Banani, Dr. David Ruhe, Mr. Matthew Bullock.
The U N Committee has this year participated in two Latin American conferences of Non-Governmental Organizations which were held to secure the cooperation of these organizations in the distribution of information on the U N and in laying plans to build up popular opinion for its support. Reports were received from both these conferences and the Committee was delighted with the intelligent and constructive part played by our delegates, especially since they had had no previous experience in this field.
We also took part in a U N European Regional Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, last June. The comments of our delegate were much appreciated.
We were again invited to participate in the meetings of the Kansas Non-Governmental Organization. The same delegates who so ably represented us last year continued their fine work. Here it should be said that the chairman of the Kansas conference has several times remarked on the outstanding work done by our delegates.
During the past year we have had the unique opportunity to present the story of the Bahá’í Temple and our plan of worship at the express request of one member of the U N committee concerned with the construction of a prayer room or building at the new U N headquarters. She told us that after a lengthy discussion with the architects and technical experts as to how to overcome the various religious objections each group would bring to any suggested plan, it suddenly occurred to her that the Bahá’ís were the only ones who had been able to solve the problem of bringing people of all religions together.
The committee continues to hold occasional fireside meetings in an effort to confirm some U N members. We plan to redouble our efforts on this score in the coming year.
Inter-America Committee[edit]
Mr. E. W. Mattoon, Chairman, Miss Julie Regal, Secretary, Mrs. Amelia Collins, Mrs. Dorothy Baker, Mr. Larry Kramer, Mr. Ellsworth Blackwell, Miss Elizabeth Cheney, Miss Evelyn Larson, Mrs. Loulie Mathews, Miss Gwenne Sholtis.
Bahá’í teaching activities in Latin America have undergone great changes from the period of the first Seven Year Plan to the present. Then the work was planned and directed entirely from this country, and carried on by North American pioneers. Now there are no less than ten National Committees in the two
[Page 19]
regions of Central and South America, composed primarily of Latin believers, who for the most part plan
and put into effect teaching projects, with National Spiritual Assembly approval; who translate, publish,
and distribute Bahá’í literature; who
prepare and issue study courses,—seven during the current year; who
prepare radio scripts and publicity
material; who publish Bahá’í Bulletins and distribute them to individual
believers throughout the two regions,
and who organize and are given full
responsibility for conducting an annual International Bahá’í Congress
in each of the two regions.
This year CEBSA, the National Teaching Committee for South America, conscious of the extreme need for more trained native teachers capable of deepening the Latin believers in the essential verities of the Faith, such as the Covenant, and in its history and administration, has prepared study guides and supplied instructors for each of five Regional Teaching Conferences held in Bogota, Rio, Montevideo, Valparaiso, and La Paz.
A similar project has been carried out by CEBMA, NTC for Central America, with conferences held in Havana, Mexico City, Tegucigalpa, and San José. Representatives of Bahá’í communities in from one to four countries attended each conference. A member of each NTC was sent to all conferences in his region, and North American pioneers also save valuable assistance.
While the constructive results of these regional conferences have far exceeded expectations, the picture has also been clarified with respect to weaknesses and critical needs in certain areas. Both CEBMA and CEBSA have drawn up surveys, country by country, in which they not only point out the stronger areas, but attempt to diagnose the illnesses of certain localities and recommend as remedies pioneer projects by North American teachers in a number of cases and by native teachers in others.
Severe growing pains have been evident at times as added duties have been turned over to the Latin believers through their National Committees, but the initiative and energy shown by the Latin friends, as they press on toward their first Annual Conventions in 1951 out of which will be born two National Spiritual Assemblies, are most gratifying.
The International Congresses this year will be held in Lima for South America, and in San Salvador for the Central region. The National Spiritual Assembly will be represented at both Congresses by its Chairman.
As the wonderful day of realization approaches for the erection of two new pillars of the International House of Justice, let us respond more fully and readily to the Guardian’s often repeated appeal that a re-emphasis be given to the Latin American work and that new pioneers enter this field. At the same time we will be answering the call of our fellow believers to the South, “Come over into Latin America and help us”
Programming Committee[edit]
Mr. Wm. Kenneth Christian, Chairman, Mrs. Dorothy Baker, Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Myrtle Wendler, Secretary.
Assisting Panel: Mrs. Mary Haggard, Mrs. Margery McCormick, Dr. Sarah Pereiera, Mrs. Florence Reeb, Miss Charlotte Linfoot, Mrs. Marguerite True.
The season 1949-50 was streamlined to meet the requirements of the austerity period and the committee was reduced to three members, assisted by a panel.
Following the summer studies, a program of stimulation, through Bahá’í News, was worked out, in collaboration with the four Area National Teaching Committees, who met with the National Assembly immediately after the 1949 Convention. The theme adopted for the year was Meeting the Crisis. The alternating emphases were to Study the Word, Tell the Story. From July, 1949 through April, 1950 articles were set up and published on these emphases, using as text books: Advent of Divine Justice, Foundations of World Unity, New Approach to Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era, Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh, God’s Eternal Legacy, Divine Art of Living.
Early in the fall the second syllabus of the Programming Committee was offered for publication, The New Approach to Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era. As the essential purpose of the syllabus on God Passes By had been one of deepening, the purpose of the syllabus on New Era was one of fireside attraction and teaching. This syllabus gave a few simple directives for the fireside teacher in presenting the New Era to new inquirers and include several apt stories taken from the authentic writings and attuned to the inquirer, to be used in connection with each successive chapter, as needed. It included also inserts of Bible Prophecy references, words of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi on the Christ, and a page of brief quotations entitled, What Can Prayer Do For You? Recommendations of film slides and strips were interspersed in the course, and a simple list of questions as an accompaniment to each lesson.
In addition to The New Approach to Bahá’u’lláh and The New Era, the following works were brought out and programmed: God’s Eternal Legacy, compiled by Della Emery, Ralph Emery, May Lawson, Mary Magdalene Wilkin, and Divine Art of Living, a study and discussion outline, compiled by Marian Crist Lippitt.
The Committee has distributed where requested, the radio transcription series; also a request for the series has been received from the Bahá’ís of Edinburgh, Scotland. The Committee has entered this record series in a contest conducted by The Institute for Education by Radio, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.
The motto of the Programming Committee continues to be “Help the believer help himself.”
Child Education Committee[edit]
Miss Arline Lindenstruth, Chairman, Mrs. Margaret Gawen, Secretary, Mrs. Sylvia Parmalee, Mrs. Amy Dwelly, Mrs. Kit Goldstein, Dr. Genevieve Coy, Mrs. Mickey Rafaatt, Mr. Hilary Thorne.
The meetings of the Child Education Committee have been held bi-monthly in Philadelphia and New York, with almost 100 per cent attendance.
The mailing list for our Bulletin, “The Child’s Way” is growing rapidly and being mailed all over the United States and other parts of the world, one being translated into Spanish. A Children’s Page has been added this year.
A Symposium was held in the New York center, which included a demonstration of teaching methods, rhythm band, display of materials, and discussion on “Why do we need a World Religion?”
[Page 20]
At last year’s Convention a
committee member supervised a
planned workshop for parents and all
interested in teaching children.
The committee has personally reviewed many manuscripts and outlines submitted.
We were successful in encouraging Mrs. Fitch to include an article on the Faith in her new book.
Due to financial limitations and our desire to have publications meet the highest possible standards, as well as the needs of the most people, we have not been able to recommend anything for publication. The committee is trying to give encouragement and help to teachers and parents through the Bulletin. We are making a survey of the age groups and locations throughout the country, of Bahá’í children, so that our Bulletin will meet the needs of the most of our readers, both actual and potential.
Bahá’í Youth Committee[edit]
Miss Helen Blohm, Chairman, Miss Florence Piepenburg, Secretary, Miss Jane Hassman, Mr. Lawrence Suhm, Miss Maybelle Perry, Mr. Farhang Javid, Miss Carol Holcombe, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Norcham, Miss Helen Niss, Miss Edith Segan, Miss Narrine Kluge.
The main objective of the National Bahá’í Youth Committee has been to exist as a central coordinating body through which the regional youth committees in the Northeastern, Central, Southern, and Western areas, could organize and operate. This was accomplished by furnishing these regional bodies with the necessary organizational facilities, such as mailing information of geographical areas, reports and news of regional activity published in the youth bulletin, issued monthly, and organizational directives from the committee. Each of the regionals has a chairman, secretary, youth bulletin reporter, Pen Pals representative, College Bureau representative, and Compilation Bureau representative.
The necessity of these regional committees has become even more evident, since these regionals can actually establish contact with isolated Bahá’í youth and Bahá’í youth groups throughout the nation, something which the committee during previous years had tried to do, but failed. The regionals hold conferences where groups of youth meet together either in one central area or in different areas under one agenda with these results: youth are stimulated to greater activity, teaching is accomplished, and organizational experience is obtained. Such conferences held during the year have served to compensate in a small way for the absence of summer schools. The regionals have been constantly encouraged and urged to plan conferences for the coming summer, since summer schools will not yet be open.
The central office of the committee has been in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The chairman and bulletin editor, Helen Blohm, operated in Madison, Wis., while attending the university, and the secretary, Florence Piepenburg, coordinated work in the Milwaukee office. A Youth Advisory Council was appointed by the NSA, upon whom the committee could call for consultation and information. Four adults in the Milwaukee area comprised the body and met with the committee members at several committee meetings.
National Youth Day, held in November, and World Youth Day, held in February, were celebrated by Bahá’í Youth, with the committee choosing the central theme to be followed on these days. The theme for National Youth Day was, “Youth Looks at Religion,” and the theme for World Youth Day was, “United Nations Today ... United Nations Tomorrow,” which was presented by Bahá’í Youth throughout the world.
Committees functioning under the Bahá’í Youth Committee are the College Bureau, Pen Pals Bureau, Compilation Bureau and the Youth Bulletin.
Public Relations[edit]
Horace Holley, Chairman, Richard McCurdy, Secretary, Mrs. Alice S. Cox, L. Paul Harris, William C. Henning, Mrs. Doris Holley, William R. Lacey, Mrs. Barbara McCurdy, Clarence Ullrich.
The committee has transferred its plan of action from a public advertising campaign to the improvement of its facilities for service without cost to the National Fund. It has worked on press releases, service to Assemblies and groups, reporting references to the Faith in books and magazines by non-Bahá’ís, and special projects.
Its outstanding events have been: The Guardian’s letter written to the committee on June 6, 1949, published in Bahá’í News for August; development of theme “What is my religion” for local meetings, in September issue; recommendation of World Religion Day, approved by the National Spiritual Assembly, the announcement appearing in Bahá’í News for December; preparation of World Religion Map; and development of special publicity for World Religion Day and for the Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Báb; research on sources for a representative national mailing list.
The committee appreciates the opportunity given during the present austerity period to widen its vision and perfect its techniques for the new and greater era of “proclamation” facing the believers when the Temple is open for public worship.
Questionnaires Committee[edit]
Ward M. Calhoon, Chairman, Sylvia Calhoon, Secretary, Herbert Suhm, Treasurer, Dr. Jean Bonn, Dessel Suhn, Barbara Perleberg, Ruth Schultz.
Another Year of Questionnaire activity has continued to demonstrate the popularity of this service.
Thousands of new interested souls from nearly every state of the union have chosen this means of indicating their desire to investigate the Bahá’í teachings. Each and every one of these seekers have received literature answering the questions they checked. Some of these questionnaires came through the office at Wilmette. However, the greater portion came directly to the committee address at Oconomowoc.
It has been gratifying to receive personal letters of appreciation from many of those who received answer literature. Some of these letters revealed that the answers gave them a new outlook on life. A larger percentage than usual checked the statement, that they would appreciate receiving notices of Bahá’í Public meetings. It is hoped that the assemblies, regionals, and groups receiving the returned cards, have complied with such requests and have contacted these interested inquirers.
The Questionnaires Committee wishes to take this occasion to thank those who have reported cases where the questionnaire service was instrumental in originating a seeker who became a believer.
[Page 21]
Just to refresh your memories.
The prices of questionnaire cards are
as follows:
Single cards for meetings or personal presentation; are priced at
- 75c per hundred.
Folding type for mailing
- $1.10 per hundred.
The Committee would appreciate check or money order with your request for additional cards.
Temple Program Committee[edit]
Mrs. Margarite Ullrich, Chairman, Mrs. Nina Matthisen, Secretary, Mrs. Harriet Hilpert, Mrs. Sylvia Ioas, Mr. Edwin Koyl, Mrs. Rosa Lewis, Mrs. Helen Roach, Mr. Clarence Suhm.
The duties of the Temple Program Committee might be divided into two categories—guide work and planning and publicizing of all meetings and activities at the Temple with the exception of the Convention meetings. This latter means planning Sunday afternoon public meetings, the supervision of the Children’s Hour and the preparation of the Naw-Rúz Feast.
The public meeting on Sunday afternoon starts promptly at 3:30. Through the splendid co-operation of speakers and chairmen, this promptness is maintained at all times.
Forty-two different speakers and 47 different chairmen were used at these Sunday meetings during the past year, some, of course, more than once.
Special programs were arranged for World Religion Day and in honor of Brotherhood week. The youth had charge of the program on National and International Youth days.
We have used speakers from the local areas of Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Park Ridge and Evanston; as well as out-of-town speakers from Detroit, Grosse Point and Lansing, Michigan; Batavia, Mattoon, Peoria and Urbana, Illinois; Cleveland and Lima, Ohio; Kenosha, Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Boston. Mass., Puerto Rico, and Spokane, Wash.
The lecture each Sunday is preceded by recorded music, and each lecture is followed by a showing of the Temple slides with the recorded script as the first part of the tour of the Temple.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said that the Temple would be renowned throughout the world, and so it is, because it is visited by people from all over the world, including many distinguished guests, and a surprisingly large number of young people. Did you know that since the Temple was opened to guided tours about 400,000 people have been shown through the building? Last year there were some 25,000 visitors. Over the Labor Day weekend, 1155 visitors were counted and on Sunday, October 16, 1949, there were 553 visitors. Do you see why guide work presents not only a great privilege, but also a problem to the Bahá’ís? The problem is to get sufficient guides to handle this vast throng of people. We are particularly grateful to the believers who came great distances to guide, some devoting their entire vacation period. It would have been difficult to keep the Temple open at the scheduled hours without their assistance. The privilege is the outpouring of spiritual power which enriches the soul and which is received in great abundance when giving the Message, as one does in guiding at the Temple.
Library Committee[edit]
Mrs. Ellen Sims, Chairman, Mrs. Dorothy Fisher, Mrs. Helen Lawser, Duncan McAlear.
Books were donated to 16 libraries, including 13 public libraries and 3 college and university libraries. The following public libraries accepted books: Redlands, Cal.; Biloxi, Miss.; Fishers Island, N.Y.; Marysville, Wash.; Princeton, Ind.; West Brookfield, Mass.; Inglewood, Cal.; Berkley, Mich.; Santa Rosa, Cal.; Key West, Fla.; Miami Shores, Fla.; Prescott, Ariz. and Newark, N.Y. Books were given to the following colleges and universities: Antioch College, Ohio, University of South Carolina and Montana University. Antioch College and the Newark Public Library also accepted pamphlet collections.
The Library Committee contacted all the local assemblies suggesting that a Library Display be arranged in connection with World Religion Day. From reports sent to the committee, a two week’s display was held in Urbana, Ill; a display of the sacred books of all religions was arranged in Springfield, Mass.; Monrovia, Cal. held its first display with books, pictures and free literature arranged on two tables: Newark, N.J. also had the first display of Bahá’í literature including a pamphlet collection, for two weeks.
A Bulletin giving suggestions for more effective use of public library collections is being mailed to all assemblies at this time.
We are trying to make arrangements through the United Nations Committee to place a set of Bahá’í books in the United Nations library soon. Results will be reported.
Visual Education Committee[edit]
The report from this committee has not been received as we go to press. It will be published later.
Service for the Blind[edit]
Mrs. Amédée Gibson, chairman; John F. Gibson, secretary; Mrs. Melba Call King, Mrs. Dorothy S. Mitchell, Mrs. Mabel Perry, Miss Ella Quant, Mrs. Gertrude Schurgast.
The committee is happy to report the reprinting of The Reality of Man in Braille; the binding of the hand-transcribed manuscripts on hand; the transcription in English Braille of Religious Education for a Peaceful Society, Radiant Acquiescence, The Spiritual Meaning of Adversity, Religion Returns, The Old Churches and the New World Faith, The Open Door, and in Esperanto Braille of Bahaaj Instruoj por Mondkredo. Other transcriptions are being completed.
The transcriptions of Dorothy Mitchell, appointed to the committee in October, are widely circulated among her blind contacts. Lessons in Esperanto Braille transcribing were given to a “friend,” who is doing splendid work.
As the request of the ETC representative in Europe, Paris Talks in Esperanto Braille was sent to Geneva, pamphlets in English Braille were also provided. The NSA of Germany rejoiced when a visiting friend brought them literature for the blind. Orders were filled for as far as Brazil, South Africa and Alaska.
Our “radius of contacts” has also been extended in this country not only through the work of committee members but also through the splendid cooperation and initiative of the friends. All expenses have been met by a revolving fund, kept alive by the sale of literature prepared in former years.
Area National Teaching Committees[edit]
Northeastern States
Mr. H. Borah Kavelin, Chairman, Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin, Corresponding Secretary, Mr. Rustam Payman, Mrs. Della Quinlan, Mr. Curtis Kelsey, Miss Sallie O’Neill, Mr. Ala’i Kalantar, Mrs. Margaret Ruhe.
This year’s teaching program marked a change in emphasis from the last 3 years, when our goals were basically numerical. The twofold policy adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly of “Study the Word” and “Tell the Story” is basic, but the degree of success cannot be statistically measured. Rather a picture of the Area emerges with shaded values, representing various intensities of activity, of growth and of service to the cause.
Some of the bright spots in this picture are: the surge of spirit accompanying the World Religion Day meetings, held by most of the Assemblies and many groups, one of which, that in Brattleboro, Vt., was attended by 135 non-Bahá’ís; the Bahá’í exhibits at 3 county fairs, in New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York, and 1 at the Boston Antiques Exposition; the week-end work-shops, especially valuable with the summer schools closed, held in Maine, New York and New Jersey; the summer picnic meetings for Bahá’ís and seekers, always well-attended, held throughout the Area, especially emphasized in New York; the public presentation of the Faith at the regular services of 2 Unitarian Churches, in Hartford, Conn., by George Goodman and in Portland, Maine, by the minister, the Rev. Arthur N. Moore; a few very well-attended Firesides, especially those held monthly by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. DeForge, in Tenafly, N. J., where from 52 to 89 persons, two-thirds of these seekers, have been present.
Throughout all the Regions the Teaching Committees have held meetings of consultation with the small Assembly, groups and isolated Bahá’ís. These meetings have proved most valuable in increasing the unity of the believers, as well as promoting the teaching.
Statistically, on March 1st, 4 Assemblies had fewer than 9 members, 5 had just 9, 14 had between 10 and 14, and 3 had 15. Three groups are working to achieve assembly status this April. There have been about 40 new enrollments to March 1st.
Southern State: Area, Eastern Division
Mr. John Inglis, Chairman, Mrs. Bahiyyih Ford, Secretary, Mrs. Louise Taylor, Mr. Harry Ford, Mrs. P. D. Cunningham.
The work of the year may be reported in four parts: 1. Consolidation, 2. Research on conditions, 3. Growth, 4. Plans.
Consolidation: Numerically, there has been little change; there are fifteen communities in the nine states and the District of Columbia. Seven are under fifteen in membership. Four of the states have communities so small that they may be called critical. However, they have held without importing settlers. Much time has been spent by the Area and Regional committees integrating the work in this area. There have been many meetings and many visits to individual communities. There seems to be a greater acceptance of the personal responsibility to “study-teach.”
Research: By questionnaire and visits to communities, groups and nearly all isolated believers, we have a picture of the activity and the general make-up of the Area. Part of the results of the Study indicate:
- 56% believers are active
- 51% attend most Feasts
- 34% actively teach or make contacts
- 11% hold firesides
- 69% are white
- 31% negro
- 69% women
- 31% men
The number of new Bahá’ís during the last three years averages not more than one per year per community.
Except in a couple of instances, groups are not functioning. Isolated believers find it most difficult to promote the Faith.
Growth: There have been few new enrollments. Many contacts have been made. Study classes are being held. Openings have been found in colleges, clubs, civic groups, radio.
There are forces at work in the south which are bringing about changes in attitudes. Here and there restrictions on account of color are being relaxed, not much, but even a faint light is bright in utter darkness.
Plans: Every community has been visited at least once, and most twice by members of the Area committee. The many meetings, Regional, Community and public have stirred up much ground, and seeds have been planted. The Area Committee, with the Regional, plan to keep the earth watered and cultivated. This means increasing the number of contacts, more firesides and improved teaching. There will be a general conference immediately after Convention to map out a continuance of study-teach effort. Materials for contacts and for teaching are being organized, and courses to help teachers.
Washington, D. C. is now a part of this Area. There is already evidence of mutual benefit from this arrangement. Washington through an extension teaching committee is of great value to the Area. Area speakers and teachers are, by invitation, available to the Washington community.
Southern States Area, Western Division
Mrs. Olivia Blackwell, Secretary, Mr. Edward Campbell, Mrs. Dorothy Campbell, Mrs. Mary Beal Edson, Mrs. Grace Balboaca, Mrs. Margaret Ellis, Mrs. Annie Romer.
During the past Bahá’í year, this Committee decided that in order to make a complete survey of the seven states comprising the Division, that personal visits by one or more of the Committee members be made to each LSA and RTC in the Division. This was done, and after a careful analysis of the actual need in each case, the Committee then proceeded to do whatever it could to meet those specific needs. In operating in this manner, we feel that we have not only assisted each place with its individual problems, but that in the process a warm bond of union and affection grew within this Area which in itself is a tribute to the power of the Cause.
This Division of the Southern Area consists of four RTCs and 11 LSA’s. Members of this Committee were sent as speakers to three RTC Conferences during the year. A teaching circuit was made by Mr. Philip A. Marangella at the request of this Committee, which included Jackson, Miss., New Orleans, La., Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin, Texas. Mr. Marangella’s teaching tour took three months to complete,
[Page 23]
during which time he gave 24 public
lectures, spoke at 4 firesides, and
met with small groups of Bahá’ís
and their friends at 6 gatherings
during the course of the circuit.
The RTC of Texas is very active and doing exceptionally fine teaching work through correspondence as well as through an orderly and methodical mailing out of Bahá’í pamphlets (553 pamphlets were mailed to date). The Arkansas-Oklahoma RTC is doing splendid work in contacting isolated believers in that region. Three conferences were held by this RTC during this year. This RTC has also actively assisted one of the weaker Communities in the State. The RTC of Kentucky-Tennessee had two meetings this year, and resolved to bridge the gap between the Bahá’ís of a Community and the isolated believers of the Region. They prepared Bahá’í book lists showing all books available in the Nashville Community library, and offered to lend anyone in the Region any book of his choice. The Louisiana-Mississippi RTC had two conferences during this year. A fireside meeting is being held at the home of the RTC Chairman weekly. Copies of the press release in connection with World Religion Day was sent out by this RTC to 62 newspapers in the Region, and to two radio stations.
Central States Area
Mr. Monroe Ioas, Chairman, Mrs. May Scheffer, Secretary, Mrs. Amelia Collins, Mrs. Florence Gibson, Mrs. Sarah Walrath, Mr. Clarence Suhm, Dr. Katherine True, Mr. Charles Reimer, Miss Sophie Loeding, Mrs. Arabelle Haywood.
In accordance with plans evolved during last year’s Convention which were endorsed by the National Spiritual Assembly, the Area National Teaching Committee for the Central States organized itself to promote greater participation in the teaching work by the individual Bahá’ís in their area.
The first active step in this direction was made by calling a conference with the regional teaching committees early in September. There the plans for teaching were thoroughly discussed and the regional teaching committees as a result have been following this general directive throughout this entire period. In many of our cities increased activity is noticeable. They have had a marvelous success in Highland Park, Michigan, starting off from scratch, they now have seven believers and there is a possibility that their assembly may be formed before very long. In Phoenix, Ill. sustained teaching work has resulted in an addition of four new believers this year. Similar things could be said of other communities. In these cases the believers themselves are largely responsible for the successes. Through active functioning by the believers themselves, a keener desire to cooperate with the regional teaching committees and in other ways, the plan originally presented has proven itself good. If it is continued steadfastly we feel sure that the teaching work in the entire country will be on a better basis than ever before.
On February 22nd the National Spiritual Assembly called a meeting of the Area National Teaching Committees to attend an Institute for four days. At this Institute several of the members of the National Spiritual Assembly presented teaching plans which when they have been carried through to the regional teaching committees and then in turn to the Bahá’í communities, will, we feel further greatly augment the individual believers’ capabilities as teachers of the Faith.
In conclusion, we would say that there is a general feeling among the believers that while every opportunity to speak of the Cause must be taken by every believer the whole teaching plan as organized through the teaching committees should be regarded as a long range operation, which if consistently followed up will bear fruit in deepening the understanding of the teachings in the body of the believers, encouraging them to greater activity, inspiring confidence and uniting their effort through organized work.
Western States Area
Mr. Robert Powers, Chairman; Mrs. Jesma Herbert, Secretary; Mrs. Charles Wolcott, Mrs. Charles Ellis, Sr., Mr. Winston Evans, Mrs. Gertrude Jacoby; Mrs. Robert W. Kenny, and Mr. Charles Wolcott.
Against a background of prevailing austerity, necessitated by the Temple Fund, the overall theme of the Teaching Work as given out by the National Spiritual Assembly, that of “Telling the Story” and “Studying the Word,” has been pressed continuously upon all believers through the Regional Teaching Committees. The common experience of the Regional Committees has been that while individual teaching has been greatly augmented, it has been very hard to measure results with finality. It has been difficult, also, to measure the extent to which individual believers have participated in “Studying the Word.” Many RTC’s have felt the goal was too vague to produce measurable results, and that the over-all theme should have been linked, nationally, with a definite goal of accomplishment.
The teaching program was given impetus by the representatives of the National Spiritual Assembly, sent through all regions to develop individual responsibility towards the Temple Completion, and whose available time was scheduled for firesides and public meetings, and this Area was fortunate in hearing from Mrs. Mamie Seto, Miss Charlotte Linfoot and Mrs. Margery McCormick.
Traveling teachers passing through the Area have been utilized, and Mr. Duart Vinson Brown, of Northern California, has been of assistance to four Regions. Mr. Rex King, of Washington State, is planning teaching assistance to Montana, en route east. Mr. Robert Powers of this Committee assisted in Arizona, New Mexico, and Northern California.
World Religion Day was seized upon by every Region and by practically every community as a high point of focus for their teaching activity, and from Alaska to New Mexico reports pour in which evidence the far-reaching influence this move on the part of the National Spiritual Assembly is to have.
In two regions a constructive part was played by RTC’s with the support of the ANTC in adjusting problems of racial discrimination within communities.
Fine results have been obtained by advertising followed up by correspondence or other contact; by presentation of a series of lectures on the World’s Great Religions; by participation in State Fairs and cooperation with groups with some allied aims.
Final standing of the groups and assemblies within the regions is not available this early in the Bahá’í Year, but it may yet be necessary
[Page 24]
to call for pioneer assistance for
Colorado-Wyoming, where Laramie,
Wyoming, is the only assembly in
the state; and for Montana, Southern
California, and Washington State, all
of which have assemblies nearing
the danger line. Two regions are hoping for new Assemblies.
The Committee hopes, next year will see the application of this year’s theme to more distinct goals, and that seeds planted this year will have a fuller unfoldment by April 20, and in the next Bahá’í year.
Directory Additions and Changes[edit]
Local Spiritual Assembly Secretaries:
GLENDALE, CALIF.
- Mrs. Garnette Whitefield
- 1335 S. Adams St., Z. 5
SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
- Mrs. Gladys Loudon
- 1670 4th Ave.
ELMHURST, ILL.
- Miss Phyllis M. Rachau
- 458 Fairview Ave.
GREAT FALLS, MONT.
- Mrs. Ethel McAllaster
- 1305 First Ave., So.
SHOREWOOD, WIS.
- Mrs. Beula Brown
- 3514 N. Murray Ave.
- Milwaukee 11, Wis.
MONROVIA, CALIF.
- Mrs. Harold Gates
- 144 Lincoln Rd.
TOPEKA, KANSAS
- Mrs. Edna R. King
- 1180 Buchanan St.
MANSFIELD, OHIO
- Miss Alice E. Grabler
- 244 S. Diamond St.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
- Mr. Harald Peter Bye
- 1833 New Hampshire Ave., N. W.
- Washington 9, D. C.
JERSEY CITY, N. J.
- Miss J. E. Davenport
- P. O. Box 495
- Journal Square Station
- Jersey City 6, N. J.
Regional Teaching Committees:
WESTERN PENNA.
- Mrs. Ruth Brown, Sec.
- R. D. 7
- Pittsburgh 29, Pa.
In Memoriam[edit]
- Mr. Robert Bradley, West Haven, Conn. 12-31-49
- Mrs. Mary M. Davis, Birmingham, Ala. 10-15-49
- Mr. John Beilhart, Birmingham, Ala. Approx. 1 year ago
- Mrs. Clarence H. Lunt, Wenham, Mass. 1-21-50
- Mr. John B. Freitas, Honolulu, Hawaii 1-25-50
- Miss Julia Culver, Berkeley, Calif. 1-22-50
- Mr. Edward Mecha, Milwaukee, Wis. 1-29-50
- Miss Dora Meyers, Brooklyn, N. Y. 1-16-50
- Mrs. Jessie T. Beecher, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 2-14-50
- Mrs. Adeline Duff, Muskegon, Mich. 2-50
- Mrs. Vida Kelly, Berkeley, Calif. 2-14-50
- Mrs. Clara Knox, Andover, Mass. 2-27-40
- Mr. Dimitri Marianoff, New York, N.Y. 2-20-50
- Mrs. Emma Henry, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (date unknown)
Enrollments[edit]
Enrollments reported by Local Spiritual Assemblies:
ARIZ., Tucson 2; ARK., Little Rock 1; CALIF., Alhambra 1; Burbank 3; Los Angeles 4; Oakland 2; Pasadena 2; San Bernardino 1; San Francisco 1; FLA., Miami 1; GA., Atlanta 2; Augusta 1; HAWAII, Honolulu 1; ILL., Phoenix 3; IND., Ft. Wayne 3; MASS., Boston 1; MICH., Battle Creek 2; Flint 1; Grand Rapids 1; Lansing 1; MISS., Jackson 1; MO., Kansas City 1; St. Louis 1; NEV., Reno 1; NEW YORK, New York City 2; Waterloo 1; OHIO, Cleveland 1; PA., West Chester 1; UTAH, Salt Lake City 1; WISC., Milwaukee 2; YOUTH 6.
Enrollments reported by Regional Teaching Committees:
NORTHEASTERN STATES
- E. New York 1 Youth
- W. Mass., Vt. 1
- E. Mass., R.I. 2
- E. Pa. 1
- So. N.Y., Conn. 2
- Long Island 1
- East N.Y. 1
CENTRAL STATES
- No. & So. Dakota, Minn. 1
- Ind. 1 Youth
- Ohio 4
- Mich. 1
SOUTHERN STATES
- E. Division
- No. So. Carolina 1
WESTERN STATES
- Alaska 1
- Colo., Wyo. 1
- So. Calif. 1
TOTALS:
- Adults—64
- Youth—8
| Guardian | |
Apocalyptic Upheaval | 1 |
Julia Culver | 1 |
Fannie Lesch | 1 |
Love for Bahá’u’lláh | 1 |
Maintain Momentum | 1 |
Pyramid Prophecies | 1 |
Shrine Parapet Completed | 1 |
Addresses | 11 |
| Annual Reports | |
| Area National Teaching Committees: | |
Central | 23 |
Northeastern | 22 |
Southern (Eastern Div.) | 22 |
Southern (Western Div.) | 22 |
Western | 23 |
Archives | 16 |
Bahá’í News Editorial | 16 |
Bahá’í Publishing | 16 |
Bahá’í World | 17 |
Bahá’í Youth | 20 |
Blind, Service for | 21 |
Centenary of Martyrdom of the Báb | 16 |
Child Education | 19 |
European Teaching | 17 |
Inter-America | 18 |
International Relief | 18 |
Library | 21 |
National Spiritual Assembly | 12 |
Programming | 19 |
Public Relations | 20 |
Questionnaires | 20 |
Reviewing | 16 |
Souvenir of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá | 18 |
Temple Programming | 21 |
Treasurer, N.S.A. | 13 |
| Trusteeships: | |
Bosch | [[#pg14|14]] |
Eggleston | 14 |
Green Acre | 14 |
Mathews | 15 |
Temple | 15 |
Wilhelm | 15 |
Wilson | 15 |
United Nations | 18 |
Visual Education | 21 |
Around Bahá’í World | 7 |
Calendar | 11 |
Convention Notices | 4 |
Directory | 24 |
Enrollments | 24 |
Faith Presented at Seminar | 8 |
| Fund | |
Assemblies Contributing | 5 |
Score to date | 5 |
Home Front | 7 |
Latin America | 9 |
Memoriam | 24 |
| National Spiritual Assembly | |
Inactive Believers | 5 |
Individuals and Committees | 1 |
Policy for Publicity | 4 |
Year of Dedication | 2 |
| Pictures | |
Grand Rapids, Mich. | 6 |
Great Falls, Mont. | 7 |
| Temple | |
Assembly Rig | 2 |
At Night | 11 |
Interior | 2 |
Yard Storage | 2 |
Pioneering in So. Africa | 8 |
Programming Committee | 10 |
Rúḥíyyih Khánum | 11 |
| Temple | |
Structural Features | 2 |
Work Protected | 4 |
World Religion Day, cont’d | 6 |
