Bahá’í News/Issue 277/Text
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| No. 277 | BAHA’I YEAR 110 | MARCH, 1954 |
THE GUARDIAN[edit]
PLEA FOR SETTLEMENT REMAINING PIONEER AREAS BEFORE END OF YEAR[edit]
“(The) nine months (which have) elapsed since (the) launching (of the) spiritual world-encompassing Crusade (have) witnessed (the) entry (of the) Knights (of) Bahá’u’lláh (in) well-nigh four score (and) ten territories throughout (the) planet, representing virtually three-fourths (of the) total number (of) areas, exclusive (of the) Soviet zone (of) influence, destined (to) be opened (in the) course (of the) entire decade (and) swelling (the) roll (of) sovereign States (and) Dependencies enlisted (under the) banner (of) His Faith (to) two hundred (and) thirteen.
“All independent States (and) Principalities (on the) European continent, excluding Soviet Republics (and) satellites, (have been) opened.
“All territories (in) North, Central (and) South America, excluding Labrador, (have been) opened.
“All territories (on the) Asiatic continent outside (of the) Russian orbit (have been) opened, except Tibet (and) Bhutan.
“All islands (in the) Mediterranean, all islands (in the) North Sea (have been) opened, except Spitzbergen.
“All African sovereign States, Colonies, Protectorates (and) Trust territories, (with the) exception (of) Togoland, Spanish Guinea, Bechuanaland, Swaziland, Gambia (and the) French Cameroons, (have been) opened.
“All islands (in the) South (and) North Atlantic, except St. Helena, St. Thomas, Anticosti, (and the) Falklands, (have been) opened.
“All Indian Ocean islands (with the) exception (of) Socotra, (the) Cocos, Comoro, Mentawei, Nicobar, Chagos (Archipelago) (and) Kuria-Muria (have been) opened.
“All islands (in the) North (and) South Pacific, exclusive (of) Soviet-controlled territories, (have been) opened except Galapagos, Gilbert (and) Ellice, Admiralty, Loyalty, Marshall, Mariana, Brunei (and) Portuguese Timor.
“(The) Concourse on high hails (with) delight (the) phenomenal rapidity (of the) victories (of) Bahá’í pioneering (in the) virgin areas (of the) globe.
“Encouraged (to) address (an) urgent plea (to) all National Assemblies concerned, as well as (to) each (and) every prospective pioneer assigned (to the) aforementioned territories, (to) expedite (by) every means (at their) disposal (their) arrival (at their) respective posts ere (the) expiry (of the) swiftly-passing three-month period separating them (from the) conclusion (of the) opening year (of the) auspiciously-unfolding decade.
Appeal furthermore (to the) entire body (of) participants (in the) Crusade (to) put forth all strength (to) secure entry (of) additional volunteers (into the) same territories multiplying thereby chances (of) their inclusion (within the) pale (of the) Faith ere (the) celebration (of the) fast-approaching Riḍván.
“Supplicating (with) redoubled ardor (a) further measure (of) Bahá’u’lláh’s sustaining grace, surpassing (the) conspicuous blessings already vouchsafed (to) His wholly-dedicated, widely-scattered, forward-marching warriors since (the) launching (of the) Ten Year Plan.”
Haifa, Israel
February 8, 1954
COMMENTARY: NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Beloved Friends:
At the three-quarter point in the first year of the Ten Year Crusade, Shoghi Effendi surveys the results, unfolds their meaning, lists the yet unsettled areas, and addresses his urgent plea to all National Assemblies concerned and to every prospective pioneer assigned to those unsettled areas, to expedite settlement before the end of the year.
The Guardian, moreover, appeals to the entire body of those participating in the Crusade to effect the entry of additional volunteers into the same territories, so that the chances that they will be brought into the pale of the Faith before Riḍván may be multiplied.
Finally, Shoghi Effendi is supplicating with redoubled ardor for a further measure of the Grace of Bahá’u’lláh even surpassing the blessings He has already bestowed upon His advancing spiritual warriors since the World Crusade was launched.
What is the sign of the grace of Bahá’u’lláh? Inwardly, strength, resolve, dedication, assurance; outwardly, participation, decision, action.
Nothing can prevent us unitedly from responding successfully to this urgent appeal!
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY[edit]
IN THE MASTER’S PRESENCE[edit]
The list of believers who were present on the Temple grounds when the Master blessed the site May 1, 1912, is increased by three: Miss Lillian Walter (Mrs. O’Keefe), Mr. Ernest Walter, and Dr. Myrta P. Sandoz.
MEMORIAL MEETING FOR DOROTHY BEECHER BAKER[edit]
On Saturday evening, February 20, about three hundred friends of Dorothy Beecher Baker gathered in Foundation Hall at the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Wilmette to pay tribute to the life and Bahá’í service of this devoted champion of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. Acting upon the instructions of the Guardian, the National Spiritual Assembly had arranged all details of the meeting. Flowers, (forsythia, white gladiolas, stock, yellow and white carnations) stood in tall arrangements on either side of the central platform and brightened the speaker’s table. The program at the right was followed:
Music stilled the murmur of the gathering and at its close Mr. Paul Haney, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, opened the memorial with words of appreciation for the life of one “so greatly gifted for service to God.” The Guardian’s cable was read:
“Hearts grieved (at) lamentable, untimely passing (of) Dorothy Baker, distinguished Hand (of the) Cause, eloquent exponent its teachings, indefatigable supporter its institutions, valiant defender its precepts. (Her) long record (of) outstanding service (has) enriched (the) annals (of the) concluding years (of the) Heroic (and the) opening epoch (of the) Formative Age (of the) Bahá’í Dispensation. Fervently praying (for the) progress (of her) soul (in the) Abhá Kingdom.
“Assure relatives profound loving sympathy. (Her) noble spirit (is) reaping bountiful reward.
“Advise hold memorial gathering (in the) Temple befitting her rank (and) imperishable services ...”
After readings from the Sacred
Writings, Mr. Haney presented some
of the messages which had been received. From all over the world, reaction to the passing of Dorothy
Baker’s beloved spirit had been
swift. Perhaps as much as anything
else, these hundreds of tributes picture the range and depth of a life
of service, dedicated to the Cause
of Bahá’u’lláh. Only part of the communications could be read. Excerpts
follow:
|
MEMORIAL PROGRAM
|
From Hands of the Cause[edit]
Mr. Leroy Ioas:
“The Holy Land was encased in gloom when word came of the sudden and unexpected death of Dorothy Baker. The beloved Guardian would not accept the thought at first, feeling there must be some mistake in the information.
“At the beginning of the great Global Crusade, it is a loss to all the Bahá’ís that one of its outstanding and most effective teachers should so suddenly and dramatically be removed from the field of active service on this plane. No doubt, the work in the Realms beyond is such that her dynamic spirit was necessary. Surely her spirit will aid and assist those of us here still struggling for the victory of the Faith over the forces of darkness.”
Dr. Hermann Grossmann:
“... I strongly felt ... a nearness in spirit, as rarely in life ... her passing came to me as a charming certainty that life has no end and that those who arise to serve will always continue serving and fill up the ranks, no matter in which world His unknowable Will wishes them to stand.”
Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel:
“... the self had been sacrificed a long time ago.”
Mr. ‘Ali-Akbar Furutan:
“... This great and wonderful soul did not hesitate a single moment to serve our beloved Cause, but had consecrated herself and all her life for this sacred end.”
Mrs. Corinne True:
“... Our Blessed Master assured us that if we work valiantly for the Cause while in the body, it is as nothing compared with the work we will do after leaving the body.”
Mr. Horace Holley:
“Dorothy Beecher Baker’s public and administrative Bahá’í activities came to fruition during the period when the forces of the American Bahá’í community were being summoned to undertake great teaching missions. She was carried to the heights of intercontinental Bahá’í achievement by the impetus of the Master’s Divine Plan released through the Guardian, and she poured forth with superb energy and brilliance her unique contribution to the Seven Year Plan and the World Crusade. Combining in rare balance
[Page 3]
the gifts of teaching and of administrative direction, Dorothy’s departure shows us all the higher standard by which we can and must
serve. Because so illumined a being
was brought down by the arrow of
death, she quickens in us a new
sense of how closely the immortal
and the mortal worlds are joined in
the state of faith.”
Messages were also received from General Shu’á’u’lláh ‘Alá’í, Mr. Musá Banání, Mrs. Clara Dunn, Mr. Dhikru’lláh Khádem, Mr. Jalál Kházeh, George Townshend, and Mr. Valíyu’lláh Varqá, Hands of the Cause.
From National Spiritual Assemblies[edit]
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada:
“... As a loving and understanding teacher she has inspired some of us to ever greater devotion to our Faith. That she was appointed to the station of a Hand of the Cause of God shows that she had won the approval of our Guardian, the most precious bounty to be won in this world.”
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Central America:
“... Terrible blow imposes obligation redouble efforts recompense loss Faith. Special devotions February nineteenth whole territory where this great soul now passed Abhá Kingdom rendered so worthy service.”
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South America:
“... Through her tireless efforts, guidance, encouragement and advice she aided the growth and development of the Faith in South America and will be forever remembered.”
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles:
“... We comfort ourselves by the thought that her services from the Abhá Kingdom will be even greater than her services on earth, and that maybe she was called there because the world of space and time was too limiting for her spirit to produce its full effect.”
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Egypt and Sudan:
“... we are happily cognizant of the fact that she has now joined the Supreme Concourse having well done her spiritual mission in this physical world.”
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India, Pakistan and Burma:
“... India ever proud her precious presence two months teaching,
‘Akká, Israel — the two windows at the top right of the prison building are those of Bahá’u’lláh’s cell.
kindling new fire majority community. Expect reap rich harvest her devoted services.”
Messages were also received from the National Spiritual Assemblies of Australia and New Zealand, Germany and Austria, ‘Irán, ‘Iráq and Italy and Switzerland, as well as from more than 75 Local Spiritual Assemblies situated in some 30 countries. Up to the evening of the memorial meeting, more than 70 individuals had written letters of sympathy and understanding to the National Assembly, letters which bore postmarks from the five continents.
Race Unity and College Teaching[edit]
The chairman then presented Miss Charlotte Linfoot, who spoke of Dorothy Baker’s services in the cause of Race Unity. As chairman of the Race Unity Committee from 1941 to 1944, when she was also a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada, Mrs. Baker not only worked on planning the campaign to intensify the Bahá’í Community’s efforts toward translating race amity into active promotion of race unity, but she also took an active part in the execution of those plans. Speaking throughout the arena of the South, she was quick to see that the group best able to induce change was the youth. She was instrumental, therefore, in establishing the College Speakers Bureau. During these four years, through this bureau’s work, she spoke to more than 60,000 students in 54 colleges and schools in 20 states. Her recognition of the need for an adequate text on the subject of race led to the preparation of Race and Man, a carefully documented study which has been widely distributed. In all of her work for race unity, Mrs. Baker exemplified the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “God does not behold the differences of hue and complexion. He looks at the hearts.”
Activities in Latin America[edit]
The chairman next introduced Mr. Edwin Mattoon, who served on the Inter-America Committee during the nine years that Dorothy Baker was a member. She often said, Mr. Mattoon recalled, “My heart is in Latin America.” Throughout Latin America, people responded, calling her, “Sumamente sympatica y muy querida: Full of grace (or understanding) and much beloved,” their way of characterizing Dorothy Beecher Baker’s love and tender concern for all. During this nine year period, 1937-1946, Mrs. Baker
[Page 4]
made six historic journeys through
Central and South America. With
Horace Holley, she assisted at the
formation of the National Spiritual
Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Central
America. In 1952, as a Hand of the
Cause, she made her last journey
to South America, both for teaching
and as a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
United States. Wherever she went,
she was almost inevitably cast in
the role of problem-solver. She not
only led people to Bahá’u’lláh, but
also helped them to meet and solve
their problems in His way.
Activities in Europe[edit]
Introducing Miss Edna True, chairman of the European Teaching Committee, who gave an evaluation of Dorothy Baker’s service in Europe, Mr. Haney observed that Dorothy Baker made her pilgrimage to Haifa before the First Intercontinental Conference in Kampala. Twice before, he pointed out, she had postponed this cherished privilege at the Guardian’s request, in order to devote the time and funds to the service of Bahá’u’lláh. Thus, early in 1948, she had again put off her pilgrimage in order to undertake a teaching mission throughout “spiritually famished” Europe.
What most characterized Dorothy Baker’s work, Miss True said, was indefatigable effort in all that she did for the Faith. Completely fearless, with a total indifference to all surrounding physical conditions, she directed her eager desire to help toward the people of Europe. Her mission took her from Norway, through Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy and Spain, to Portugal, where her daughter was serving as a pioneer. Through the comfort and reassurance she brought the pioneers in their isolated posts, through her fireside and public teaching, she gave assistance which was vital at the time and which contributed immeasurably to the growth of the Faith in Europe. In 1951 she again visited the new communities in Spain and Portugal. On her way back to the United States from Kampala, she stopped in Italy, Spain and Portugal, and on the trip which took her to the Third Intercontinental Teaching Conference in Stockholm, Sweden, her teaching efforts carried her through Norway, Sweden and Finland.
Closing her remarks, Miss True said, “How in keeping with the largeness of her spirit, her tireless, selfless devotion to the Cause, that Dorothy should have ascended to the Abhá Kingdom in the full tide of her service, still in the field of action and, as the Guardian said of another pioneer, ‘attired in full battle dress.’ ”
Intercontinental Mission[edit]
In the cable in which he first named the Hands of the Cause, the Guardian instructed them to attend the Intercontinental Conferences which, among the outstanding events of the Holy Year, were to reveal the outline and some of the worldwide implications of the Ten Year Crusade. Dorothy Baker and Horace Holley were among those who attended all four of the Intercontinental Conferences. For sixteen years Dorothy Baker had served on the National Spiritual Assembly. Mr. Holley shared those years, Mr. Haney said, in introducing him. It was fitting, therefore, that he present the closing remarks, centering around Dorothy Beecher Baker’s Intercontinental Mission.
“In 1937,” Mr. Holley said, “Shoghi Effendi put ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan into action. Ninety-three years had elapsed from the hour of the Báb’s Declaration. The foundations of nations had trembled. The very life of man was threatened by the forces of ignorance and dissension. But the Cause was strong enough to make a beginning on the spiritual charter, the Divine Plan. This paved the way for the great Spiritual Crusade on which we are now embarked.
“The Divine Plan is the embodiment of the spiritual powers Bahá’u’lláh has released for the redemption of the world. When such forces are released, little birds with little wings fly close to the ground. The great eagles soar into the upper atmosphere ... carried forward by the very strength of those forces from which others shrink.
“Dorothy Beecher Baker had the power to respond to the force of the Tablets of the Divine Plan. It was a flame that enkindled, a task which challenged her and galvanized her forces.”
Speaking of her service on the National Spiritual Assembly, Mr. Holley said that she brought a new pattern of action, a pattern which, in her, was a rare balance between that inspiration which drives the individual to heights of achievement and the deliberation which, in consultation with others on matters of general concern, is needed to coordinate individual brilliance with the common good. She was always an exponent of action. In others, she rekindled ardor for administrative service and then relinquished the task to go on to something else. She did not cling to anything which had turned to power in her grasp. She was not tempted by that glamor which seems so attractive to a different type of soul.
Dorothy Baker seemed born for just that type of dramatic event as the Intercontinental Conference: not a mere drama, but one requiring work and sacrifice. In America she was an American, and a Latin American, an Indian, a European when she was in those lands. She responded to people in terms of their experience and did not impose hers upon them. She thus taught something of the inner purpose of Shoghi Effendi, who has given us a new pattern of social achievement in these Conferences.
Dorothy Baker was chairman of the Intercontinental Committee for the Wilmette Conference. At New Delhi she served as speaker for radio and public meetings, lectured at schools and responded untiringly to the opportunities which the National Spiritual Assembly of India, Pákistán and Burma unfolded for her. At the Guardian’s bidding, she traveled through northern India and Pákistán, visiting schools and universities, extending her stay twice at his request. The last meeting, her last public talk, was in Karachi, Pákistán. It made a profound impression on all who heard it.
Mr. Holley quickly traced the last moments of Dorothy’s stay. She went to Rome, intending to continue to Paris and New York and to go from there to the Windward Islands and a pioneer post with her husband Frank Baker who, having stood behind her through the years of service, was now to share, in continuing companionship, the work for the Faith. Mr. Holley ended, saying:
“But swifter than any airplane, the hands of destiny reached out and seized her spirit and raised it to the Kingdom of eternity.
“Dorothy Baker made the world stop a moment, ponder the mystery of life and death and perhaps for the first time, hear of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. She couldn’t even die without being one of the most eloquent teachers who ever lived!”
[Page 5]
Bahá’u’lláh’s prison cell at ‘Akka.
CONVENTION NOTICE[edit]
The National Convention will be held in Temple Foundation Hall, Wilmette, on April 29-30, May 1-2, 1954.
Delegates and Bahá’í visitors are urged to make arrangements in advance for hotel or room accommodations.
Believers wishing hotel rooms are to make their own arrangements. Recommended hotels in the Temple area: Evanshire Hotel, Evanston Hotel, Georgian Hotel, and North Shore Hotel, Evanston. (see page 10 for details). All Bahá’ís welcome.
Those wishing a room in a private home are to write to Mrs. Mineola Hannen, stating clearly what type of accommodation they prefer.
RECOGNITION OF HOLY DAYS[edit]
Mrs. Janet Brunckhurst has received permission from the principal of Parsons School, Castro Valley, California to have her children excused from school attendance on the Bahá’í Holy Days. This permission followed a period of detailed questioning about the Faith.
MARRIAGE SERVICES IN FOUNDATION HALL[edit]
The National Assembly announces receipt of a letter written on behalf of the Guardian by his Secretary permitting the use of Temple Foundation Hall for Bahá’í marriage services until such time as a Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds is constructed with facilities for this and similar purposes.
Those who wish to have the use of Foundation Hall for this purpose are to write the National Assembly for further information.
CORRECTIONS IN CABLES FROM THE GUARDIAN[edit]
The cablegram sent by the Guardian on November 11, 1953, and published on page one of BAHÁ’Í NEWS for December, 1953, is to be corrected as follows:
The first sentence in paragraph two, reading, “(The) seventy virgin areas, brought within the orbit ...” etc., should read: “(The) seventy-two virgin areas. ...” etc.
The text of the cablegram received from the Guardian dated December 16, 1953, published in the January, 1954, issue of BAHÁ’Í News, is to be corrected as follows:
Par. 1, line 11, to read: “Turkey, who demonstrated (in) varying ...” Line 13, to read: “thirty years (their) faithlessness (to) ...”
Par. 2, line 6, to read: “ceaseless vitriolic attacks re-” Line 7, to read: “corded (in) voluminous writings (and) ...”
Par. 3, line 3, to read: “ous among (the) kinsmen (and the) ...”
Par. 4, line 2 to read: “membered (for his) pride, obstinacy ...”
Par. 5, line 5, to read: “futility (of their) opposition (the) ...” Line 6, to read: “measure (of their) own loss (and the) ...”
WORLD CRUSADE[edit]
FIFTH PIONEER REPORT[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States is happy to announce the arrival of the following pioneers at their posts under the World Crusade.
ARRIVALS IN VIRGIN AREAS[edit]
Mr. Matthew Bullock arrived in the Dutch West Indies November 20, 1953.
Mr. Stanley Bolton, Jr. arrived in Tonga Islands January 25, 1954.
Dr. Bernard Guhrke arrived in Kodiak Island February 1.
Mr. John Leonard arrived in the Falkland Islands February 10.
ARRIVALS IN CONSOLIDATION AREAS[edit]
Mr. Philip Marangella arrived in Japan in October, 1953.
Mrs. Barbara Sims is in Japan.
Miss Arden Thur arrived in Hong Kong in November.
Mr. Fred Schechter arrived in Ethiopia November 7.
Mr. and Mrs. E. Lowell Johnson arrived in South Africa November 27.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller with their three children arrived in South Africa December 4.
Dr. and Mrs. M. J. Anderson and children arrived in Hawaii January 14, 1954.
Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Kubala and children arrived in Hawaii January 14.
Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Berest arrived in Panama January 14.
Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Barrett arrived in Puerto Rico January 29.
INDIA, PAKISTAN AND BURMA[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India, Pakistan and Burma reports the arrival of the following pioneers at their posts:
Mrs. Gulnar Aftabi, Miss Bahiva Rowhani and Mr. Kaikhosrov Dahmoubedi arrived in Diu December 24, 1953.
Mr. A. Rahman has arrived in Chagos Archipelago.
Mr. Enayat Sohaili has settled in Limbe, Nyasaland. (consolidation)
WORLD CRUSADE REPORT[edit]
This is an effort to bring together in one report all the available information about pioneer settlement of virgin areas from the beginning of the World Crusade to February 15, 1954.
The report cannot claim to be wholly complete and accurate, since it has been compiled from material received from other National Assemblies as well as from pioneers who have gone to territories assigned to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. Nevertheless, the record is impressive news for the believers in all lands, a testimony to the energy of all Crusade Committees and abiding proof of the triumph of the pioneer spirit among the Bahá’í communities of East and West.
What cannot be included are the obstacles of many kinds which have so far made it impossible to obtain entry into a number of goal areas. There are walls to be demolished — walls of prejudice, whether religious or economic or political — before the Bahá’í assertion of the Faith of God can be fully exemplified in action.
For what has been accomplished, praise and gratitude. For what remains to be done, determination and unrelaxing effort.
| GOAL TERRITORIES | PIONEERS | DATE SETTLED |
| 1953 | ||
| Italian Somaliland | Mr. Sohail Samandari | * |
| Ruanda-Urundi | Mr. and Mrs. Rex Collison | May 1 |
| Ruanda-Urundi | Mr. Dunduzu Chisizwa | May 1 |
| Kodiak Island | Mr. Jack Huffman | June 1 |
| South Rhodesia | Mr. Izzatu’lláh Zahrai | * |
| Daman | Mr. Ghulam ‘Alí | |
| Kurlawala | June 21 | |
| Franklin | Mr. and Mrs. Jameson Bond | * |
| Goa | Miss Roshan Aftabi | July 1 |
| Goa | Mrs. Feroze Gushtasp | |
| Yaganegi | July 1 | |
| Kodiak Island | Mrs. Rose Perkal | July 8 |
| Key West | Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Crane | July 20 |
| Pondicherry | Mr. Saeed Nahvi | July 21 |
| French Somaliland | Mr. Fred Schechter | August 2 |
| Pondicherry | Mr. Shyam Bihari Lal | August 4 |
| Sikkim | Mr. UdayNarain Singh | August 4 |
| Greece | Mr. Amín Banání | August 6 |
| Greece | Mrs. Sheila Banání | |
| and child | September 25 | |
| Greece | Mr. ‘Abbás Rafsandjani | * |
| Aleutian Islands | Mr. and Mrs. Jenabe E. Caldwell and children | August 10 |
| Balearic Islands | Miss Virginia Orbison | August 11 |
| Cyprus | Mr. ‘Abbás Vakil | August 19 |
| Keewatin | Mr. Dick Stanton | * |
| Queen Charlotte | ||
| Islands | Miss Edythe MacArthur | * |
| Liechtenstein | Mr. Hushmand Manuchihri | * |
| Faroe Islands | Mr. Eskil Ljungberg | August 28 |
| Lofoten Islands | Mrs. Mildred Clark | August 28 |
| Lofoten Islands | Mrs. Loyce Lawrence | August 28 |
| Karikal | Mrs. Salisa Kirmani | August 30 |
| Karikal | Mrs. Shirin Nurani | August 30 |
| Channel Islands | Mr. Zia’u’lláh Asgarzadeh | September 1 |
| Grand Manan Island | Mrs. Doris Richardson | September 2 |
| Channel Islands | Miss Evelyn Baxter | September 5 |
| Orkney Islands | Mr. Charles Dunning | September 9 |
| Monaco | Mrs. Nellie French | September 12 |
| Greece | Mr. and Mrs. Dwight | |
| Allen and child | September 15 | |
| British Honduras | Mrs. Cora Oliver | September 16 |
| Shetland Islands | Brigitte Hasselblatt | September 17 |
| Portuguese Guinea | Mr. and Mrs. Xavier | |
| Rodrigues | September 19 | |
| Madeira | Miss Elizabeth Hopper | September 20 |
| Madeira | Mrs. Ada Schott | September 20 |
| Magdalen Islands | Miss Kay Weston | September 22 |
| Cyprus | Mr. Hugh McKinley | |
| and mother | September 22 | |
| Yukon | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Ted R. Anderson | September 23 | |
| Frisian Islands | Miss Elsa Maria Grossmann | September 24 |
| Key West | Mr. H. J. Snider | September 25 |
| Northern Territories | Mr. Julius | |
| Protectorate (Gold Coast) | Edwards | September 29 |
| Baranof Island | Mrs. Helen M. Robinson | September 29 |
| Madeira | Mrs. Ella Duffield | September 30 |
| Madeira | Mrs. Sara Kenny | September 30 |
| Morocco, | Mr. Manoutchehr | |
| International Zone | Hezari | September 30 |
| Morocco, | Mr. Hormoz | |
| International Zone | Zendeh | September 30 |
| Frisian Islands | Mrs. Ursula von | |
| Brunn and daughter | October 6 | |
| Crete | Mr. Rolf Haug | October 6 |
| International Zone | Mr. Muḥammad-‘Alí ’Jalali | October 6 |
| Malta | Miss Una Townshend | October 6 |
| French Equatorial | Mr. Max Kenyerezi | October 6 |
| Africa | ||
| Margarita Island | Miss Katherine Meyer | October 7 |
| Azores | Mr. and Mrs. Richard | |
| Nolen and family | October 8 | |
| Hebrides Islands | Geraldine Craney | October 9 |
| South Rhodesia | Miss Clare Gung | * |
| British Honduras | Mrs. Shirley Warde | * |
| South West Africa | Mr. Ted Cardell | October 11 |
| Cape Breton Island | Mr. Irving Geary | October 11 |
| Cape Breton Island | Mrs. Grace Geary | October 23 |
| Leeward Islands | Mr. Earle Render | * |
| GOAL TERRITORIES | PIONEERS | DATE SETTLED |
| 1953 | ||
| Cape Breton Island | Mr. and Mrs. Fred | |
| Allen and family | October 12 | |
| Basutoland | Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Laws | October 13 |
| Rio de Oro | Mr. Amin Batt | * |
| Andorra | Mr. William Danjon | October 13 |
| Canary Islands | Miss Gertrude Eisenberg | October 13 |
| Cook Islands | Mrs. Edith Danielson | October 14 |
| Dutch Guiana | Mr. and Mrs. Robert | |
| J. Wolff | October 14 | |
| British Cameroons | Mr. Enoch Olinga | October 15 |
| Spanish Sahara | Mr. Muḥammad Mosṭfá | October 15 |
| Spanish Morocco | Mr. and Mrs. Fawzi | |
| Zeinolabedin and family | October 15 | |
| Bahama Islands | Mr. and Mrs.Gerald | |
| Curwin and daughter | October 16 | |
| British Guiana | Mr. Malcolm King | October 16 |
| Windward Islands | Mrs. Esther M. Evans | October 16 |
| Windward Islands | Mrs. Lillian Middlemast | October 16 |
| Leeward Islands | Mr. and Mrs. Ben Weeden | October 16 |
| New Hebrides | Mrs. Bertha Dobbins | October 17 |
| Miquelon and | Mrs.Ola Pawlowska | October 17 |
| St. Pierre Islands | ||
| Canary Islands | Mr. and Mrs. George | |
| True and son | October 18 | |
| French Guiana | Mr. Eberhard Friedland | October 18 |
| Chiloé Island | Zunilda Palacios | October 18 |
| Mahé | Mr. Lionel J. Peraji | October 20 |
| Frisian Islands | Miss Gertrud Ankersmit | October 21 |
| Macao | Mrs. Frances Heller | October 21 |
| Sicily | Mrs. Emma Rice | October 22 |
| Morocco | Miss Elsie Austin | October 23 |
| International Zone | ||
| Morocco | Mr. and Mrs. Hossein | |
| International Zone | Ardekaneh and child | * |
| Morocco | Shayesteh Rafii | * |
| International Zone | Mr. ‘Alí-Akbar Rafii | * |
| Morocco | Mr. ‘Abbas Rafii | * |
| International Zone | ||
| Spanish Morocco | Mrs. Louella McKay and son | October 24 |
| Spanish Morocco | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| John A. Fleming | October 24 | |
| Spanish Morocco | Miss Alice S. Jenssen | October 24 |
| Sicily | Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Bagley | |
| and family | October 27 | |
| Sardinia | Miss Marie Ciocca | October 28 |
| Society Islands | Miss Glad Parke | October 29 |
| Society Islands | Miss Gretta Lamprill | October 29 |
| Reunion Island | Dr. Opal Jensen | November 1 |
| San Marino | Mrs. Tabandeh Payman | November 4 |
| French West Africa | Mr. Labib ‘Azíz Esphahani | November 5 |
| Diu Island | Mr. Himatlal Bhatt | * |
| Juan Fernandez | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Islands | Salvador Tormo | November 7 |
| Seychelles Islands | Mr. ‘Abbás Kamil | November 8 |
| Mauritius Island | Miss Ottilie Rhein | November 10 |
| Caroline Islands | Miss Virginia Breaks | November 16 |
| Dutch West Indies | Mr. Matthew Bullock | November 20 |
| Tuamotu Archipelago | Miss Margaret Rowling | * |
| Andaman Islands | Dr. K. M. Fozdar | November 24 |
| Macao | Mr. and Mrs. Carl Scherer | December 9 |
| Diu Island | Mrs. Gulnar Aftabi | December 24 |
| Diu Island | Miss Bahiva Rowhani | December 24 |
| Diu Island | Mr. Kaikhosrov Dahmoubedi | December 24 |
| Nicobar Islands | Mr. Minoo Fozdar | December 26 |
| Balearic Islands | Mr. and Mrs. Jean Deleuran | |
| and daughter | December 30 | |
| 1954 | ||
| South Rhodesia | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| W. Kenneth Christian | ||
| and son | January 1 | |
| Cape Verde Islands | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Howard Menking | January 4 | |
| Balearic Islands | Mr. Charles Ioas | January 7 |
| Rhodes | Miss Elizabeth Bevan | January 8 |
| Samoa Islands | Mr. Emmanuel Rock | * |
| Samoa Islands | Miss Lillian Wyss | January 14 |
| Bahama Islands | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| A. F. Matthisen and | ||
| Miss Mary Jane Matthisen | January 15 | |
| Tonga Islands | Mr. Stanley Bolton, Jr. | January 25 |
| Chagos Archipelagom | Mr. A. Rahman | * |
| Kodiak Island | Dr. Bernard Guhrke | February 1 |
| Falkland Islands | Mr. John Leonard | February 10 |
| CONSOLIDATION GOAL AREAS | ||
| 1953 | ||
| Madagascar | Mrs. Meherangiz Munsiff | * |
| Libya | Mr. Musṭafá Salem | July 16 |
| South Africa | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| William B. Sears and | ||
| Michael Sears | July 18 | |
| Costa Rica | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Frank Keith | July 19 | |
| Libya | Miss Ella M. Bailey | July 20 |
| Mr. and Mrs. | ||
| Robert L. Gulick, Jr. | ||
| and child | July 20 | |
| Mrs. Shawkat ‘Alí Faraju’lláh | July 20 | |
| Libya | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Feridon Zein and 2 children | * | |
| South Africa | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Bishop Brown | August 9 | |
| GOAL TERRITORIES | PIONEERS | DATE SETTLED |
| 1953 | ||
| South Africa | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Harry E. Ford | August 10 | |
| Costa Rica | Mrs. Valeria Nichols | * |
| Turkey | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Shawkat Kamál Atilghaner | ||
| and family | August 17 | |
| Algeria | Mr. Rooho’lláh Mavadatt | September 9 |
| Libya | Miss Rizvaniyyih Iqrari | September 10 |
| Colombia | Mr. Elton M. Smith | * |
| Mrs. Meredith W. Smith | * | |
| Puerto Rico | Miss Margot J. Miessler | September 16 |
| Puerto Rico | Miss Ruth Yancey | September 25 |
| Alaska | Mr. Elmer Guffey | September 25 |
| Libya | Mr. Mohsen Enayat | September 26 |
| Libya | Mr. and Mrs. Ne’mat | |
| ‘Abdu’l-Wahid and family | * | |
| Alaska | Mrs. Gladys Stewart | September 28 |
| Mackenzie | Mr. Noland Boss | October 7 |
| Puerto Rico | Miss Alice Hathorn | October 14 |
| Puerto Rico | Miss Christine McKay | October 14 |
| Tanganyika | Mr. Tito Wanantsusi | October 18 |
| Japan | Mr. Philip Marangella | * |
| Ethiopia | Mr. Fred Schechter | November 7 |
| Hong Kong | Miss Arden Thur | * |
| Japan | Mrs. Barbara Sims | * |
| South Africa | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| E. Lowell Johnson | November 27 | |
| Hawaii | Mrs. Nellie Mereness | December 1 |
| Venezuela | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Gordon A. Fraser | December 4 | |
| South Africa | Mr. and Mrs. Robert Miller | |
| and 3 children | December 5 | |
| Hawaii | Mrs. Lorol O. Jackson | December 11 |
| Angola | Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Hope | December 11 |
| 1954 | ||
| Hawaii | Dr. and Mrs. M. J. Anderson | |
| and children | January 14 | |
| Hawaii | Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Kubala | |
| and children | January 14 | |
| Panama | Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Berest | January 14 |
| Puerto Rico | Mr. and Mrs. | |
| Donald M. Barrett | January 29 | |
| Nyasaland | Mr. Enayat Sohaili | * |
INTERNATIONAL NEWS[edit]
BRITISH ISLES[edit]
Africa Teaching Committee[edit]
The British Africa Teaching Committee reports that a big Teaching Conference held in the Teso district, was attended by more than 150 believers. The program of the two-week-long school session consisted of stories of the early days of the Faith, dramatized lessons in administration, lessons on the Teachings, and literacy classes. An all-African committee organized the Conference which involved not only the scholastic organizing of the sessions but also feeding all who attended. Much valuable help was given by Bill and Marguerite Sears, American pioneers to Johannesburg who, visiting Uganda, did much of the Bahá’í teaching.
CENTRAL AMERICA[edit]
Special Elections[edit]
Acceptance of pioneering posts by three members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Central America made it necessary to hold a special election to fill the vacancies caused by their departures. The present National Spiritual Assembly is: Jenny Taylor (Costa Rica) chairman, Raquel Constante (Panama) vice-chairman, Esteban Canales (Costa Rica) secretary, Artemus Lamb (Costa Rica) recording secretary, James Facey (Panama) treasurer, Marcia Steward (Honduras), Amy McAllister (Panama), and Randolph Fitz-Henley (Jamaica).
National Teaching Executive Committee[edit]
A National Teaching Executive Committee with headquarters in San Jose, Costa Rica, has been entrusted with the responsibility for accelerating and augmenting teaching and consolidation work in the World Crusade efforts for fulfillment of Central American goals. All of the virgin goal areas, except the Marshall Islands, have been filled, but reserves and reenforcements are still needed. Pioneers from many lands are working for fulfillment of Central America’s share in the World Crusade and one function of this new committee will be to keep in constant touch with the pioneers and consolidators, help them in every way to get adjusted to their new environment, and encourage them in their teaching efforts.
Teaching by Correspondence[edit]
The teaching campaign conducted by correspondence from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, under the direction of Marcia Steward, Secretary of the National Teaching Committee, has aroused much interest. Based on attractive advertisements placed in leading newspapers in the capital cities of each country, responses are coordinated and systematic, individual instruction carried on by letter. The greatest initial success has taken place in Guatemala, where about 35 persons, scattered throughout the country, have responded.
ITALY AND SWITZERLAND[edit]
Teaching Activities Multiply[edit]
In addition to fireside gatherings, public meetings and personal teaching, the Faith is being presented through regular, open meetings in Basel, Bern, Geneva, Heerbrugg, St. Gallen and Zürich, in Switzerland. In addition, three new localities have been opened to the Faith: Winterthur, Balsthal and Samaden, the last city being in the Romansch-speaking section of the country.
In Italy, Naples, Milan, Genoa, Florence and Rome have had the inspiration of visits from traveling teachers. Rome, in particular, is a crossroads which has the bounty of receiving pilgrims on their way to
[Page 9]
Indian students attending the Bahá’í Cultural Institute at Chichicastenango, Guatemala, chief Indian project of the National Spiritual Assembly of Central America. A story on this project appeared in the January BAHA’I NEWS, page 5. The first Bahá’í pamphlet in the Maya-Quiche tongue, spoken by these Indians, has now been published.
and from Haifa, and pioneers on their way to posts in many lands. This fosters a sense of close relation to the World Center of the Faith which extends its influence to all communities.
Memorial for Dagmar Dole[edit]
On behalf of the Guardian, and at his bidding, Mr. Leroy Ioas, Hand of the Cause, visited Dagmar Dole’s grave at Glion, during his visit to Switzerland with Mrs. Ioas. A memorial service was held with representatives of the Italo-Swiss National Spiritual Assembly and the European Teaching Committee present.
JAPAN[edit]
New Translation of “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era”[edit]
After preparatory work which included compilation of a glossary of basic Bahá’í terms in Japanese, the Translation Committee of the Tokyo Local Spiritual Assembly has at last started the actual revision of the old edition of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. A large supply of Japanese-language “New Eras” is urgently needed for the current teaching effort. The first Japanese edition, printed in 1932, contains some errors, lacks an up-to-date treatment of the Administrative Order, and is written in a style which seems unnecessarily difficult to the present younger generation. It has been decided to produce a thorough new revision. As the work of translation revision moves forward, additional words which should be added to the glossary are also being noted at the same time so that when the “New Era” revision is completed an expanded edition of the glossary can also be published.
Japanese Pamphlet in Braille[edit]
The new Japanese-language pamphlet published last November has been transcribed in Braille and plates have been prepared, through the efforts of Mr. Torii of Kyoto, who is one of the oldest believers in Japan. A notice concerning this new publication, inserted in the Braille edition of the Osaka Mainichi (newspaper), has already brought some fifteen requests for the pamphlet from various parts of Japan.
“Three-Level” Teaching[edit]
Organized teaching work is continuing, with weekly firesides meeting in Amagasaki, Yokohama, and Tokyo. The Teaching Committee of the Tokyo LSA has been following the three-level class system of teaching for the past several months, with excellent results. Under this system, the firesides are considered as a beginning class, with informal discussion on the general basis of the “New Era.” Those who show interest and understanding are then invited to an advanced class, which features a talk given each week by a different member of the Community, following an outline prepared by the Teaching Committee. All those completing the advanced class are invited to a weekly confirmation class, which covers any questions which may be holding individuals back from declaring themselves, and insures that each person has the necessary qualifications for a believer. By holding classes on all three levels simultaneously, a steady flow of new friends are receiving Bahá’í instruction, and the Tokyo Community is slowly being strengthened.
Miss Agnes Alexander, who has given such devoted effort to Japan during the past forty years, returned once again after attending the New Delhi Conference, and is now making her home in Kyoto. The Tokyo Community has recently welcomed two new members by transfer from the United States, Mr. Philip A. Marangella and Mrs. Barbara Sims.
SOUTH AMERICA[edit]
Aid Available to Pioneers[edit]
Mrs. Fabienne Guillon, treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South America, and Mr. Charles Martines have a private school in Santiago, Chile. They have offered to take care of the children of any Bahá’ís who want to pioneer to places where it would be unsuitable or dangerous to take their children. Pioneer parents are assured that the children will receive primary and secondary education at the school, will be amply fed and well-housed in a Bahá’í atmosphere. The teachers are all English-speaking. The house, a spacious three-story building, set in gardens, with an orchard and a vegetable garden, has ample room for guests. These friends, unable to pioneer themselves, have found this way to share in the great task of opening new territories of the globe to the Faith.
Pioneers or prospective pioneers who desire further information should write to their own National Spiritual Assembly who will forward requests to South America.
BAHA'I IN THE NEWS[edit]
From Egypt has come a copy of an illustrated weekly, printed in French, entitled Images, dated September 5, 1953. An extensive feature article appears in this issue headed “Do You Know Bahá’ísm?” It summarizes the history and teachings and contains illustrations of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Cairo, an old picture of the Temple in Wilmette and the tomb erected in Cairo marking the graves of Mírzá Abu’l-Faḍl and Lua Getzinger. The article is, on the whole, positive in approach and will be helpful in spreading knowledge of the Faith among educated groups in the near East.
[Page 10]
Two American insurance firms
have used an illustration of the
House of Worship. The Saint Paul Letter, published by the Mercury Insurance Company, the St. Paul Fire
and Marine Insurance Company, and
the Saint Paul-Mercury Indemnity
Company, devotes a full page to an
illustration of the Temple and an
article “Insured For More Than
Twenty Years.” Another firm,
Moore, Case, Lyman and Hubbard,
Chicago, has published a promotional brochure featuring the Bahá’í
Temple.
The French edition of The Stars and Stripes of May 12, 1953, contains an aerial view of the House of Worship from a United Press photo.
El Al, Israel Airlines, Ltd., has released a story with photographs featuring a shipment of rose bushes for the Guardian and also for the Mayor of Haifa, presented by Lawrence Hautz. “The rose bushes will be planted in the world-famous Bahá’í gardens surrounding the now completed Bahá’í Shrine on Mount Carmel, Haifa, and in the Municipal Gardens of Haifa City,” the announcement states. This story has also been carried in several newspapers throughout the United States.
Believers noting references to the Faith in non-Bahá’í publications are requested to send these to the National Assembly.
NATIONAL NEWS[edit]
WESTERN HEMISPHERE TEACHING COMMITTEE[edit]
Consolidation Goals[edit]
The Alaskan friends have adopted a program of opening goal cities as a foundation for their future NSA. Juneau already has been opened under the Crusade. Their plans call for the settling of three of the following by this Riḍván: Ketchikan, Valdez, Seward, Nome, Kotzebue and Point Barrow (circumstances permitting). The last two are Eskimo villages above the Arctic Circle, and Point Barrow is still under some security restrictions.
The Hawaiian friends are spreading from two islands to the other major islands of their group. Pioneers to Hilo have already opened the largest island, Hawaii. Their plans call for the opening of the Kona District of Hawaii and the Island of Kauai by this Riḍván; and
Japanese, ‘Iránian and American Bahá’ís in front of the newly-dedicated Hazíratu’l-Quds of Hyogo-ken, Japan, located in Amagasaki, between Osaka and Kobe. From left to right, standing: Mr. Ata’u’lláh Moghbel, Miss Nehzat Momtazi, Mr. Michitoshi Zenimoto, Mr. ‘Abbás Katirai with son, Mrs. Ridváníyyih Katirai and Mr. Jahangir Momtazi. Seated: Mrs. Mahin Moghbel and son Zafar, Mrs. Ito Torii, Mr. Tokujiro Torii, Miss Agnes Alexander, Mr. Nouredin Momtazi, and Mrs. Behjat Momtazi. In front: ‘Abbás Momtazi and Master Kitirai.
the Islands of Molokai and Lanai by October, 1954.
The Puerto Rican friends have already settled Arecibo, which with Ponce constitute their primary goals. Their secondary goals are Aguadilla and Mayaguez.
CONVENTION ARRANGEMENTS[edit]
The Convention Arrangements Committee wishes to share the following information in order that organizational details of the Convention may be efficiently arranged and the believers derive the greatest possible benefit from this annual national event.
The believers are requested not to bring to the Convention any non-Bahá’ís, no matter how close to the Faith they may be. Non-Bahá’ís will not be admitted to the Convention sessions, so please do not put your friends to the embarrassment of being refused admittance. The Feast of Riḍván and the Public Meeting are the only occasions when non-Bahá’ís will be admitted. Your compliance with this regulation will be greatly appreciated.
For those Bahá’í friends arriving early, there will be a reception in Foundation Hall, Wednesday evening, April 28, at 8:00 P.M.
Believers are urged to act promptly on their hotel reservations, which are to be made direct. Hotels available in Evanston, Illinois, where all Bahá’ís are welcome, are as follows:
- The Evanshire Hotel, 860 Hinman Ave.
- Single $5, Double with twin beds $7.50
- The Evanston Hotel, 840 Forest Ave.
- Single $4, Double $6, Twin Beds $7
- The Georgian Hotel, 422 Davis Street
- Single $5.50 to $11, Double $9 to $11
- The North Shore Hotel, 1611 Chicago Ave.
- Single $5 and $5.50, Double $7
A deposit must accompany any hotel reservations.
Housing Committee:
- Mrs. Mineola Hannen
- 1938 Harrison Street
- Glenview, Illinois
- Phone: Glenview 4-3206
- Mrs. Edna Coleman
- 1227 Leon Place
- Evanston, Illinois
AMERICAN NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE[edit]
The American National Teaching Committee calls the attention of the entire body of American believers to the opportunities for pioneering which still exist within the United States. The following is a list of virgin goal cities, still awaiting settlement by April 20, 1954, and where assemblies must be built by April, 1963.
- CENTRAL STATES
- La Crosse, Wisconsin
- St. Cloud, Minnesota
- Iowa City, Iowa
- CENTRAL ATLANTIC STATES
- Roanoke, Virginia
- Staunton, Virginia
- Durham, North Carolina
- EAST CENTRAL STATES
- Bay City, Michigan
- Jackson, Michigan
- Canton, Ohio
- Youngstown, Ohio
- Covington, Kentucky
- GULF STATES
- Meridian, Mississippi
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Galveston, Texas
- NEW ENGLAND STATES
- Augusta, Maine
- Lewiston, Maine
- Nashua, New Hampshire
- Brockton, Mass.
- Fall River, Mass.
- Holyoke, Mass.
- Lowell, Mass.
- New Bedford, Mass.
- New Britain, Conn.
- Rutland, Vt.
- Cranston, R.I.
- Woonsocket, R.I.
- NORTH ATLANTIC STATES
- Albany, New York
- Elmira, New York
- Troy, New York
- Allentown, Pa.
- Harrisburg, Pa.
- Lancaster, Pa.
- Reading, Pa.
- Wilkesbarre, Pa.
- York, Pa.
- Bayonne, N.J.
- Clifton, N.J.
- NORTH CENTRAL STATES
- Bismarck, North Dakota
- Lincoln, Nebraska
- NORTHWESTERN STATES
- Eugene, Oregon
- Bellingham, Washington
- Olympia, Washington
- Billings, Montana
- Missoula, Montana
- ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATES
- Sheridan, Wyoming
- SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES
- Montgomery, Alabama
- SOUTH CENTRAL STATES
- Fort Smith, Arkansas
- Emporia, Kansas
- SOUTHWESTERN STATES
- Eureka, California
- Ogden, Utah
Besides the urgent needs of the virgin goals, many cities require only a few more members to reach or re-establish assembly status. The following assemblies have been reported to the American National Teaching Committee as functioning with a membership under nine. Stars indicate cities which are the only assemblies in their respective states!
- CENTRAL STATES AREA
- Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin
- Duluth, Minn.
- Elmhurst, Ill.
- Maywood, Ill.
- Waukegan, Ill.
- CENTRAL ATLANTIC STATES
- Prince George’s County, Maryland
- Charleston, West Virginia*
- Arlington, Va.
- Greensboro, North Carolina*
- EAST CENTRAL STATES
- Lansing, Michigan
- Louisville, Ky.*
- East Cleveland, Ohio
- GULF STATES
- Dallas, Texas
- New Orleans, La.*
- NEW ENGLAND STATES
- Brattleboro, Vermont*
- NORTH ATLANTIC STATES
- Jersey City, N.J.
- Englewood, N.J.
- Geneva, N.Y.
- Waterloo, N.Y.
- Yonkers, N.Y.
- NORTH CENTRAL STATES
- Fargo, N.D.*
- Omaha, Nebraska*
- NORTHWESTERN STATES
- Butte, Montana
- ROCKY MOUNTAIN STATES
- El Paso County, Colorado
- (near Colo. Springs)
- Jefferson County, Colorado
- (near Denver)
- Laramie, Wyoming*
- El Paso County, Colorado
- SOUTH ATLANTIC STATES
- North Augusta, South Carolina*
- SOUTHWESTERN STATES
- Burlingame, (North. Calif.)
- Millbrae, (North. Calif.)
- Alhambra Judicial District (South. Calif.)
- Glendale Judicial District (South. Calif.)
- South Bay Judicial District (South. Calif.)
Believers who can move to any of these assemblies to strengthen the membership, or who are able to pioneer in a virgin goal within the United States, are asked to write directly to:
- American National Teaching Committee
- Jesma Herbert, Secretary
- 725 South Alvarado Street
- Los Angeles 57, California
YOUTH SESSION AT GREEN ACRE[edit]
From August 16 to August 29, a Youth session will be held at Green Acre Bahá’í School. The age range for participants in the session is fourteen to twenty-one years of age. Devotions, work on the grounds, organized study and recreation will constitute the program. Courses planned are: “Teaching Methods and Pioneering,” “Bahá’í Community,” “Prescription for Living,” “Religion and Psychology,” and “Rebirth of Civilization.”
Youth rates are $20.00 a week. For reservations write to:
- Mrs. Irene Minutti, Manager
- Green Acre Bahá’í School
- Green Acre, Eliot, Maine
WORLD RELIGION DAY[edit]
World Religion Day, January 17, was observed widely by Bahá’ís, with public meetings. One most interesting aspect of this observance was the co-ordinated use of newspaper publicity, paid advertisements, radio announcements and talks, mailing lists of contacts and friends, posters, and public displays of Bahá’í books to inform the public. A total of 25 states have reported on publicity in over 100 newspapers and broadcasts over 25 radio stations.
Highlights include the following:
Flint, Michigan, and surrounding suburbs, was blanketed with 10 newspaper articles and 5 advertisements. 21 free announcements were given over 8 radio stations; 18 posters were placed in public buildings and store windows. The Detroit area and six suburbs also were covered, with newspaper notices of local meetings.
Salt Lake City, Utah, scheduled a Bahá’í meeting each day for a
[Page 12]
week preceding the World Religion
Day meeting.
The southern California communities got wide-spread publicity for their public meetings. Two radio stations co-operated by contributing air time. A 3-column photograph appeared in the Ventura newspaper. Farther north, Berkeley publicized speakers from Egypt and Africa for their World Religious Day meeting; Fresno and Monterey carried large advertisements.
In Manui, Territory of Hawaii, publicity and advertisements in two newspapers, a mailing to contacts and friends, and a display in a book store all announced the feature of the World Religion Day meeting, a book review of “The Spell of the Temple.”
Milwaukee, Wisconsin newspapers carried a large 3-column advertisement and articles announcing the talk. The next day a follow-up article was published. St. Louis, Missouri, arranged Bahá’í displays in the main public libraries.
The Bahá’í speaker at Springfield, Massachusetts, prefaced his talk with appearances on radio stations WMAS and WSPR on Sunday morning. In Lima, Ohio, two Bahá’ís each gave the same talk, “The Religion of World Unity” on two different radio stations. A Bahá’í in Gulfport, Miss., wrote and broadcast an original radio script. Colorado Springs broadcast tape recordings over two radio stations. In Buffalo, New York, WEBR and WGR gave the World Religion Day announcement for two days before the observance, and on Sunday afternoon WKBW broadcast a five minute talk in conjunction with World Religion Day meetings throughout the Niagara Frontier. The Niagara Falls meeting featured readings from the sacred books of 5 world religions.
Chicago and its suburbs united to publicize a World Religion Panel Discussion at the Bahá’í Temple in Wilmette. The Greater New York area publicized a Bahá’í talk on the oneness of mankind and the unity of religions at the New York Bahá’í Center.
The nation-wide observance of World Religion Day becomes clear as communities continue to report their activities.
PUBLICATIONS[edit]
Article by Dorothy Baker[edit]
Many friends have inquired about Dorothy Baker’s pamphlet, Victory of the Spirit. This pamphlet has been out of stock for some time. However, the original article was written by Mrs. Baker for the October, 1943, issue of World Order. Copies of this issue are still available.
BAHA'I WORLD, VOLUMES I AND VII REQUESTED[edit]
The Bahá’í Publishing Committee has many requests for Volumes I and VII of Bahá’í World. The supply of these volumes is exhausted. Any believers who have an extra copy of either of these volumes which they would wish to sell, please notify:
- Bahá’í Publishing Committee
- 110 Linden Avenue
- Wilmette, Illinois
CALENDAR OF EVENTS[edit]
HOLY DAYS
- March 21, Feast of Naw-Rúz, beginning the Bahá’í Year 111.
- April 21—May 2, Feast of Riḍván (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh)
- April 21, First day of Riḍván
- April 29, Ninth day of Riḍván
PERIOD OF THE FAST
- March 2-20
FEASTS
- March 2—‘Alá’, Loftiness
- March 21—Bahá, Splendor
- April 9—Jalál, Glory
- April 28—Jamál, Beauty
NATIONAL CONVENTION
- April 29-May 2
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS
- March 26, 27, 28
- April 28
MARRIAGES[edit]
“Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Verily, this Thy servant and this Thy maid-servant have gathered under the shadow of Thy mercy and they are united through Thy favor and generosity. O Lord Assist them in this Thy world and Thy Kingdom and destine for them every good through Thy bounty and grace ...”
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—Mrs. Victoria Dixon to Mr. Writt Richards, January 6, 1954.
Oak Park, Illinois—Miss Marjorie Ioas Ullrich to Mr. John Dudley Kellberg, February 26, 1954. (in Foundation Hall at the Bahá’í House of Worship, Wilmette)
Kenosha, Wisconsin — Miss Marilyn Louise Voelz to Mr. Floyd Vance Heaton, February 27, 1954.
IN MEMORIAM[edit]
“Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed. It bestoweth joy and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift of everlasting life.”
- Mrs. Anna Lou Gates
- La Grange, Georgia
- January 29, 1954
- Miss Alice M. Button
- Richmond, Indiana
- January 31, 1954
- Mrs. Mathilda Poulsen
- Racine, Wisconsin
- February 1, 1954
BAHA’I NEWS is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. Copies are sent without charge to Bahá’ís throughout the United States, and to Bahá’í administrative bodies in other lands. Its purpose is to keep members of the Faith informed of international, national and local Bahá’í developments, and serve as an organ for the distribution of messages written by the Guardian of the Faith, the international Bahá’í Council, and the general announcements prepared by the American National Spiritual Assembly.
Reports, plans, news items and photographs of general interest are requested from national committees and local assemblies of the United States as well as from National Assemblies of other lands. Material is due in Wilmette on the tenth day of the month preceding the date of issue for which it is intended.
BAHA’I NEWS is edited by an annually appointed Editorial Committee. The Committee for 1953-1954: Mrs. Eunice Braun, Managing Editor; Mr. David Ned Blackmer, Assistant Editor; Mrs. Beatrice Ashton, Miss Edna True.
Editorial Office: 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.
Change of Address should be reported directly to National Bahá’í Administrative Headquarters, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.
