Bahá’í News/Issue 285/Text
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| No. 285 | Bahá’í Year 111 | November, 1954 |
THE GUARDIAN[edit]
A SUCCESSION OF VICTORIES[edit]
The opening months of the second phase of the Ten-Year Plan have witnessed, on the American, the European, the African, the Asiatic and the Australian fronts, a succession of victories rivalling, in their variety, rapidity and significance, the prodigious efforts exerted, and the superb exploits achieved, during the first twelve months of the Global Crusade, by the mighty company of the stalwart Knights of Bahá’u’lláh in well nigh a hundred virgin territories scattered over the face of the planet.
Seven virgin territories have been opened to the Faith since the announcement on the morrow of the Riḍván Festival, raising the total number of the Sovereign States and Dependencies enlisted under the banner of the Cause of God to two hundred and thirty-five. The number of the unopened territories outside of the Soviet Orbit has now shrunk to eight, namely: Spitzbergen, Anticosti Island, St. Thomas Island, Nicobar Islands, Cocos Island, Socotra Island, Loyalty Islands, and the Chagos Archipelago. The following pioneers have been inscribed on the Roll of Honor since my last sixth periodic announcement: Elizabeth Stamp, St. Helena; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Fitzner, Portuguese Timor; Elise Schreiber, Spanish Guinea; Violet Hoehnke, Admiralty Islands; Shahpoor Rowhani and Ardeshir Faroodi, Bhutan; Mehraben Sohaili, Comoro Islands; Marcia Atwater, Marshall Islands.
The number of Bahá’í centers scattered over the continents and islands of the globe has now passed the three thousand mark. A contract has been signed for the purchase of a three-acre plot as the site of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Europe, situated on a plateau near the Taunus Hills in the vicinity of the City of Frankfurt. A thirty thousand square meter property located on the banks of the Tigris has been acquired as the site of the future Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Holy City of Baghdád. A plot lying in the outskirts of New Delhi has been secured at the price of a hundred thousand rupees as the site of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Indian sub-continent. A twelve thousand dollar plot has been bought in Johannesburg as the site of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of South Africa. A five-year Plan has been initiated in Bahá’u’lláh’s native land designed to raise twelve million tumans for the projected construction of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in the cradle of the Faith. A six thousand dollar plot has been purchased in the vicinity of the resting-place of the Greatest Holy Leaf and registered in the name of the newly established Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles. A property has been acquired opposite the Mother Temple of the West to serve as a possible site for the first Dependency of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Wilmette. A contract has been signed, pending registration of a house valued at ten thousand dollars and situated in the immediate neighborhood of the Báb’s Sepulcher, in the name of the recently established Israel Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada. Preliminary steps have been taken for the acquisition of two plots, the one situated on the ridge of Mt. Carmel, the other to the west of the Báb’s resting-place and for their subsequent registration in the name of the Israel Branches of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá’ís of Persia and of Australia and New Zealand, respectively. A national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds has been purchased in Kabul and one in Johannesburg. Arrangements will soon be completed for the purchase of a building costing over eighteen thousand dollars for a national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Tunis. Funds totalling over one hundred thousand dollars have been initiated for the purchase of similar institutions in Anchorage, Asunción, Auckland, Baḥrayn, Beirut, Bern, Bogota, Brussels, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Ciudad Trujillo, Colombo, Copenhagen, Guatemala, Havana, Helsingfors, Istanbul, Jakarta, Johannesburg, LaPaz, Lima, Lisbon, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Managua, Mexico City, Montevideo, Oslo, Panama City, Port-au-Prince, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Rome, San José, Santiago, San Salvador, Stockholm, Suva, Tegucigalpa, The Hague, Tokyo, and Vienna, as well as for the acquisition of the Garden of Riḍván in Baghdád, the transfer of the remains of the wife of the Báb in Shíráz and for the purchase of the sites associated with Bahá’u’lláh’s exile in Istanbul and in Adrianople. The initiation of these Funds has been made possible to a notable extent as a result of the successive contributions made by the Hand of the Cause, Amelia Collins, outstanding benefactress of the Faith, for the furtherance of some of the most vital objectives of the Ten-Year Plan. Negotiations are now afoot aiming at the acquisition of the fortress of Chihríq including its precincts involving the expenditure
[Page 2]
of a sum of over two hundred thousand tumans. Preliminary documents have been signed in connection with the purchase from the Development Authority of the State of
Israel of five houses, situated at the
foot of Mt. Carmel and adjoining
the last terrace of the Báb’s Shrine,
for a sum of approximately sixty
thousand dollars.
The phenomenal progress of the African Campaign, alike in the teaching and administrative spheres of Bahá’í activity, has been maintained, most conspicuously in the heart of that continent, as evidenced by the ever-swelling number of African converts, now numbering over seven hundred, three hundred and eighty of which have been added in the course of a single year. The number of Bahá’í centers now spread over the face of this continent is a hundred and ninety-five. The number of African tribes represented in the Faith in this same continent has reached eighty-five. The African languages into which Bahá’í literature has been translated now number thirty-four, whilst the number of African local spiritual assemblies has swelled to fifty.
I feel the hour is now ripe for the adoption of preliminary measures designed to pave the way for the simultaneous erection during Riḍván of 1956 of three pillars of the future Universal House of Justice in the North, the South and the very heart of this long dormant continent. The first of these pillars will be designated the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Central and East Africa; the second the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South and West Africa; and the third the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of North-West Africa. Responsibility for the convocation of the three epoch-making conventions, to be held in Kampala, Johannesburg and Tunis, preparatory to the emergence of these three central administrative institutions of the fast-evolving Administrative Order of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in the African continent will devolve upon the British, the United States and the Egyptian Spiritual Assemblies, respectively.
The jurisdiction of the first Assembly will embrace Uganda, Tanganyika, Kenya, the Belgian Congo, Ruanda-Urundi, French Equatorial Africa, Zanzibar, the Comoro Islands and the Seychelles. That of the second will extend over the Union of South Africa, South-West Africa, Northern Rhodesia, Southern Rhodesia, Mozambique, Angola, Bechuanaland, Basutoland, Swaziland, Nyasaland, Zululand, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion Island and St. Helena. That of the third will include Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco (Int. Zone), Spanish Morocco, French Morocco, Spanish Sahara, Rio de Oro, Spanish Guinea, Ashanti Protectorate, French Cameroons, British Cameroons, Northern Territories Protectorate, French Togoland, British Togoland, Gambia, Portuguese Guinea, French West Africa, the Gold Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, and St. Thomas Island.
Abyssinia, Libya, Eritrea, British, French and Italian Somaliland and Socotra Island will, as of Riḍván of that same year, fall within the administrative jurisdiction of the Egyptian National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of North-East Africa. All African territories originally allocated to the United States, the Persian, the Egyptian, the Indian, and the British National Spiritual Assemblies will continue, in the course of the Ten-Year Plan, to benefit from the advantages of sustained assistance by these Assemblies—an assistance that will enable them to assume an ever-increasing share in the steadily expanding activities of the nascent National Spiritual Assemblies.
Only local spiritual assemblies duly constituted during Riḍván 1955 will be qualified to elect delegates to these four historic conventions to be convened during the succeeding year.
I call upon the Hand of the Cause, Músá Banání, to act as my representative at each of the three Conventions destined to culminate in the emergence of these three momentous institutions. I moreover invite the Chairman of the United States, the British and the Egyptian National Spiritual Assemblies to convene the aforementioned Conventions falling within the respective jurisdiction of these Assemblies and urge as many members of the African Auxiliary Board as possible to attend the sessions, and lend their support to the deliberations, of these gatherings. I feel, moreover, moved at this juncture to stress the urgent necessity for all groups established throughout the African continent as well as in the islands situated in its neighborhood—already four score in number—to seize their present golden opportunity during the fast-fleeting months separating them from next Riḍván, and exert every effort to attain assembly status which will enable them to participate in the election of, and contribute to the broadening of the foundations of the projected National Spiritual Assemblies.
I earnestly appeal to all Bahá’í communities, and in particular to their national elected representatives in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australia to brace themselves and vie with one another in emulating the example of their African sister communities ranking among the youngest in the Bahá’í world. I entreat them, through a greater dispersal and an intensification of teaching activity, to lend an unprecedented impetus to the multiplication of local spiritual assemblies in their respective areas, accelerating thereby the dynamic process of the formation of National Spiritual Assemblies—a process destined to usher in the third and most brilliant phase, and constituting unquestionably the noblest objective, of the most stupendous crusade ever launched in the course of eleven decades of Bahá’í history.
Share this message with the Hands of the Cause and the National Spiritual Assemblies throughout the Bahá’í World.
October 1, 1954.
COMMENTARY: NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Beloved Friends:
The Guardian’s letter of October 1, 1954 is an astounding, yet to-be-expected, paean of spiritual achievement by the believers of East and West, and a plan for the formation of three new National Spiritual Assemblies in 1956 exceeding our most daring hopes.
This communication moves with a power not connected with human affairs outside the world community of Bahá’u’lláh.
A recapitulation of its definite facts and statements reveals the energetic and rapid progress within the Faith, while current happenings continue to dramatize the deadlock which hold the nations in their frantic effort to escape their destiny.
- The opening of seven more virgin
[Page 3]
territories since Riḍván.
- There are now Bahá’ís in 235 countries and territorial divisions.
- Nine more Knights of Bahá’u’lláh have been named.
- There are now more than 3000 Bahá’í centers.
- Land for the first Temple in Europe has been acquired, and lands have also been purchased at Baghdád, New Delhi and Johannesburg; the Persian Bahá’ís plan to raise within five years the funds needed to construct their Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.
- In the Holy Land, lands and properties have been or are to be acquired for registration in the name of the Israel Branches of the National Spiritual Assemblies of the British Isles, Canada, Persia, Australia and New Zealand.
- The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, through the Temple Trustees, have purchased a tract on the corner of Sheridan Road and Linden Avenue, Wilmette, facing the Temple land.
- Two national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds have been purchased—in Kabul and Johannesburg. Another is to be acquired in Tunis.
- Funds are accumulating for the purchase of similar Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in 43 cities of East and West.
- The Garden of Riḍván in Baghdád will also be purchased from these funds, the remains of the wife of the Báb in Shíráz are to be transferred and sites in Istanbul and Adrianople associated with Bahá’u’lláh’s exile secured.
- Mrs. Amelia E. Collins, Hand of the Cause, has made successive contributions to these funds.
- Other plans under way are the acquisition of the fortress of Chihríq and the purchase of five houses at the foot of Mt. Carmel in Haifa.
- “Phenomenal progress” is the Guardian’s description of the advance of the Faith in Africa. There are now over seven hundred believers with 195 Bahá’í centers, representing 85 African tribes, the literature having been translated into thirty-four languages.
- Bahá’ís throughout the world will be thrilled and grateful to learn that on the foundation now laid in Africa, the Guardian sets 1956 as the date for the formation of three regional National Spiritual Assemblies at Conventions to be convened by the National Spiritual Assemblies of the British Isles, the United States and Egypt.
- Finally, Shoghi Effendi appeals to all Bahá’í communities to “brace themselves” and “vie with one another” in emulating the “example of their African sister communities.”
There could be no more convincing
proof of the Divine Power than these
facts; and no greater inspiration
for all of us to redouble our efforts.
The Bahá’í world builds up while
the non-Bahá’í world breaks down.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY[edit]
"THE DEGREE OF IMPORTANCE"[edit]
The following excerpt has been taken from a letter written on behalf of the Guardian by the Assistant Secretary dated August 22, 1954, to Mr. Willard P. Hatch.
“We have now entered the second phase of the great Spiritual Crusade. The goal of this phase is the rapid multiplicity of the number of Bahá’ís throughout the world, in virgin areas, in consolidation areas, and on the home front.
“The Guardian has pointed out that the most important service anyone can render the Faith today is to teach the Cause of God. The degree of importance of areas of service is first, pioneering in a virgin area of the Crusade, second, pioneering in one of the consolidation areas abroad, and third, settling in one of the goal cities of the home front; and, finally, teaching with redoubled effort wherever a Bahá’í may reside.”
ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY[edit]
Mr. Lawrence Hautz retired from the National Spiritual Assembly in September in order to pioneer in the foreign field with Mrs. Hautz.
An election to fill this vacancy was called by mail. A tellers’ committee of three, appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly, has counted the ballots and reports that Mr. Ellsworth Blackwell has been elected.
149 ballots were received and one proved defective. The 148 counted votes were cast for 41 different persons, the tally varying from the highest vote, 22, down to one vote each for 21 persons.
The ten next highest votes were received by Dr. Katherine True, Mr. Wm. deForge, Mr. Curtis Kelsey, Mr. Amoz Gibson, Dr. Sarah Pereira, Mrs. Jesma Herbert, Mr. R. Y. Mottahedeh, Mr. Winston Evans, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh and Dr. David Ruhe.
YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE STATE CONVENTION[edit]
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
The annual call for the State Conventions will soon be issued to every voting believer in the United States, whether he be a member of a local community, member of a group, an isolated Bahá’í or a home front pioneer.
Of the thousands who will receive the call a certain number will be unable to attend because of illness or some other compelling reason.
These remarks are addressed not to them but to the overwhelming majority who are able to attend if they make up their minds to do so.
The State Conventions were instituted by the Guardian in 1944, in order to permit Bahá’ís outside the local communities to have the privilege of voting for the delegate or delegates assigned to their State or Electoral District, and to provide opportunity for a great deepening of the spirit of fellowship among Bahá’ís throughout the United States.
The State Convention, like the National Convention, has two functions — consultation on current Bahá’í plans, and the election. The mechanics are simple, and the State Convention call supplies to each Bahá’í all the information he needs as to where and when his State Convention is to be held, where to mail his ballot if unable to attend, and as to the Agenda and procedure.
Study and reflection on the Agenda, and on the qualifications of the delegate or delegates to be elected, should be conducted by the individual voter in advance.
The great need is to strengthen the organic processes of the American Bahá’í community and to intensify the spirit of fellowship in the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
We are passing through a crucial stage in the spiritual destiny of mankind.
[Page 4]
The Bahá’í communities
throughout the world will be subjected to unprecedented tests and
shocks. Now, while there is yet time,
we must prepare ourselves as individuals and as members of a world
community to meet these tests and
stand ready to proclaim the Message to a despairing world.
Participation in the State Convention is one of the important means at our disposition as we sincerely seek worthiness to serve the blessed Faith in its most desperate days. To mail our ballot and refrain from attendance is not enough. The State Conventions must generate new sources of power which can elevate the whole national community. The State Conventions must initiate a higher and more sacred type of association among Bahá’ís. We are the Army of the Lord of Hosts. The Commander summons us to the training field where we can learn the use of our spiritual weapons and grasp the strategy of achievement.
Beloved friends! We Bahá’ís have a sacred obligation to strengthen the organic functions of the Faith, and this means attendance at Nineteen Day Feasts, service on Assemblies when elected and on Committees when appointed, and constructive participation in the State Convention.
The Faith progresses by the interpenetration of the Holy Spirit with the minds and hearts of men. When we affirm our decision to participate, we help raise the Bahá’í community to the higher level of inspiration and understanding.
ARMY RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES[edit]
Responsibilities of Commanders[edit]
- Department of the Army
- Washington 25, D.C.
- 21 May 1954
- Army Regulations
- No. 660-20
- “......
4. Religious services.—a. General.—To insure the effectiveness of the religious services held in their command, commanders will give such services a due share of their attention.
b. Sunday.—In order that military personnel may be free to attend such services as they may desire, commanders will reduce military duty and labor on Sunday to the measure of strict necessity. So far as possible, athletic or recreational activities held on Sunday will be scheduled so as not to interfere with attendance at services of worship.
c. Weekday.—In those instances where military requirements permit, commanders are authorized to excuse from duty military personnel who are required by the tenets of their faith to observe certain customs and/or who desire to attend religious services on—
- A day other than Sunday in the case of members of denominations that observe another weekly holy day; or
- Weekdays which carry the ecclesiastical obligations of Sunday or which are recognized as having special religious importance.
d. Attendance. — Personnel desiring to attend services, either on post or in adjacent communities, may be absent for such period as will enable them to be at their places of worship as publicly announced, provided no serious interference with their military training or duty is occasioned thereby (see AR 600-115). Attendance at religious services will not be made compulsory.”
Dear Friends:
The foregoing Army Regulation has great interest for Bahá’ís in the armed forces. It not only enables them to attend Bahá’í religious services if these can be arranged, but also to celebrate Anniversaries and Holy Days.
The National Assembly hopes that the friends will take advantage of these opportunities.
CORRECTIONS IN MESSAGE FROM THE GUARDIAN[edit]
The following corrections have been called to the attention of the National Spiritual Assembly by the Guardian, in a letter sent by Jessie Revell under date of September 30, 1954.
These corrections are to be made in the text of the Guardian’s message “American Bahá’ís in the Time of World Peril”, published as an insert in the September BAHÁ’Í NEWS.
- Page 1—1st column, 12th line from the bottom. The word “national” is omitted: should read “its elected national representatives”
- Page 1—2nd column, 8th line from the top. “to the Pacific” seems to be omitted: should read “Atlantic to the Pacific seaboards” ...
- Page 1—2nd column, 5th line from the bottom. The word “is” should be “as”: should read “morality as exemplified” ...
- Page 2—1st column, 5th line from bottom. The word “and” is omitted: should be “stable and flourishing” ...
- Page 3—1st column, 1st complete paragraph, 5th line, “the” should be “this”: should read “which this nation is confronted” ...
- Page 3—1st column, 2nd paragraph, 2nd line, “of the Bahá’í Community” should be “of a community”
- Page 4—1st column, 1st full paragraph, 2nd line. The word “national” is omitted: should be “of token national endowments” ...
- Page 4—1st column, last paragraph, 4th line from the bottom. “Trustee” should be “Trustees”.
- Page 5—1st column, 3rd paragraph from the bottom, next to the last line. Quotation marks should be before “the call of—and quotation marks should be omitted before Yá-Bahá’u’l-Abhá.
- Page 5—1st column, next to the last paragraph. Quotation marks should be placed after “stream” on the 3rd line and omitted after “country” on the 4th line.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS[edit]
CANADA[edit]
New Center Established[edit]
In Vernon, British Columbia, a permanent Bahá’í center has been established. As a result, teaching activity has been accelerated.
International Picnic[edit]
Bahá’ís of Canada and the United States held a study picnic near Newfane, New York, on September 12. The sessions included consideration of the theme “Proclaiming the Faith” and discussion of the effective use of special days for attracting attention to the Bahá’í message.
Vancouver Public Meeting[edit]
In Vancouver, British Columbia, a public meeting attracted about 100 people to hear Mr. Rex King speak on the Bahá’í Faith. Mr. King, en route to Anchorage, Alaska, to pioneer also was interviewed on radio by Jack Webster, a popular radio commentator.
[Page 5]
Bahá’ís gathered outside the Hazíratu’l-Quds in Paris 11, rue de la Pompe. Dr. Ugo Giachery, Hand of the Cause, is seated second to the left of the symbol of the Greatest Name. The Paris Hazíratu’l-Quds was opened late in 1953.
GERMANY[edit]
European Conference in Frankfurt[edit]
From October 1 to 3, Bahá’ís of many countries met in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, at the invitation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and the European Hands of the Cause. This first Bahá’í European Conference to meet in Germany was called to develop plans for and coordinate action in the work of the second phase of the Ten-Year Crusade.
NATIONAL NEWS[edit]
AMERICAN INDIAN SERVICE COMMITTEE[edit]
Deeds, Not Words[edit]
Despite devoted efforts in making contacts among Indian populations and in following up every advantage, no American Indian believers have yet been enrolled since the opening of the Ten-Year Crusade. At the close of the first year of the Crusade, the Guardian, through his Assistant-Secretary, stated that “he was gratified to see the large number of tribes which had been recently contacted in connection with the teaching of the Faith. He is very anxious that these contacts be changed into converts for the Faith.” Although responsibility for undertaking this challenging task lies with the American Indian Service Committee, it extends to all believers who can, in some way, bring the message of Bahá’u’lláh to the Indian friends in a manner which will touch their hearts and turn them to His Faith.
True of all teaching, it is especially significant here that the Bahá’í walk with his new Indian friends patiently, wisely, and all the way. Some of the friends understand this, and from them we have learned a great deal. A Bahá’í whose understanding of the problem has brought tangible results writes, “The Indians are not anxious for another ‘preaching to’, at least until they have had an opportunity to test the quality of the ‘preacher’. Quiet, sincere friendliness, demonstration of faith in daily living, service and honest interest in their problems will gain a lot more than talk and arguments. Isn’t there some way you can tell the friends that if they wish to ‘talk with the Indians’ they must first ‘listen’; that if they wish to teach they must first learn? When anyone starts to lecture a red man he closes his face up like a neatly packaged box and his soul, his mind, and I even think his ears, depart to some other plane while the body goes through the polite motion of listening.” When we rely more upon deeds than words, then it is sure that the Indian will have more interest in the core of the matter, those teachings of which he has first seen a demonstration. Special committees cannot do this. Each one of us must find the way to reach the heart of an American Indian. This task does not belong to any other people or any other time.
Pioneers in the Field[edit]
Mr. Earl H. Christensen, from Wilmette, Illinois, is established at Macy, Nebraska, where he is working for the re-establishment of the Indian Assembly there, as the Guardian has desired. Some of the former believers there have been contacted but they are very elderly and ill. A fresh start must be made.
Grace Dean, formerly at the Bylas, Arizona, Day School (Apache Reservation), has joined home front pioneers Mr. and Mrs. James Stone in Gallup, New Mexico. At her new post she will teach in the elementary grades of the public schools and will also be free to teach the Faith, which was not possible while she was working for the government Indian Service.
Mrs. Catherine Arenas has arrived at Ignacio, Colorado, where she will work to teach the Faith among the Southern Ute people of that area.
Ethel Murray at Cherokee, North Carolina, has completed the translation of a compilation of Bahá’í writings into the Cherokee language. The compilation is to be published as soon as type for the Cherokee alphabet is found.
UNITED STATES AFRICA TEACHING COMMITTEE[edit]
Mr. Músá Banání, Hand of the Cause in Kampala prepares and distributes a Newsletter to all friends in Africa at frequent intervals. It is truly inspiring and we wish we could share it in toto with the friends. Since space is limited we will give some of the most important excerpts from his bulletin dated Sept. 8:
[Page 6]
New Believers: In the month of
August 39 newly declared believers
were enrolled in 15 countries of
Africa. Of these 92 per cent are Africans and 56 per cent of these come
in as the result of the work of African pioneers in six centers of West
Africa.
Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds: Sites have been purchased in Tunis and in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Bahá’í literature: Pamphlets now are published in 13 African languages into which Bahá’í literature must be translated and published in accord with World Crusade Goals, progress has been made in arranging for the translating to be done in all but 6 languages.
CORRECTION[edit]
BAHÁ’Í NEWS for September, 1954, page 11, column 1, line 2 and following, should read:
“By April 21st an Assembly was formed in Victoria, British Cameroons, and during the Riḍván period pioneers went forth from Victoria, British Cameroons to settle in the following virgin areas: British Togoland, French Togoland, French Cameroons, Ashanti Protectorate, Northern Territories Protectorate of the Gold Coast.”
BAHA'I INTER-RACIAL TEACHING COMMITTEE[edit]
In view of the statement from the National Spiritual Assembly, published on page 2 of the October BAHÁ’Í NEWS, the Inter-Racial Teaching Committee wishes to urge Local Spiritual Assemblies throughout the United States who have not already done so, to form Inter-Racial Teaching Committees to function within their communities. It is most strongly recommended that all communities organize Inter-Racial Institutes, based on study of the booklet, Faith in Action. This booklet, compiled by the Inter-Racial Teaching Committee for 1953-54 can help each believer to achieve the necessary “revolutionary change in the concept and attitude of the average white American.” Copies are available for $.60 each, 10 for $5.00 from the Bahá’í Publishing Committee.
NATIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEE[edit]
The National Bahá’í Youth Committee has adopted “World Unity Through World Faith” as its general theme for this year’s activities.
Workshop type conferences scheduled on October 23 and 24 set the key, “A Foundation is Being Laid”. These teaching conferences, held in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington and West Virginia, were organized to present the Divine Plan and the immediate needs of the World Crusade in relation to practical action each youth can take toward fulfilling his responsibilities in the Ten-Year Plan.
This conference ushers in National Bahá’í Youth week.
A second conference entitled “A Crusade is in Progress” is scheduled for February 20, 1955.
LOUHELEN WINTER SESSION[edit]
The Louhelen Bahá’í School Winter Session will begin with devotions at 9:00 A.M. Sunday, December 26, and continue through Sunday afternoon, January 2.
The theme of the Winter Session is “The World Crusade—A Deeper Understanding”. Two classes will be offered, one on “The Guardianship”, the other on “Some Answered Questions”.
The annual New Year’s Day public meeting will be held on Saturday, January 1.
We look forward to a great spiritual deepening through our consultation and association at the Winter Session. Reservations must be limited to thirty persons, so the friends are asked to plan early. Arrivals may be scheduled for any time on Saturday. For reservations and further information please write to:
- The Registrar
- Louhelen Bahá’í School
- 3208 South State Road
- Davison, Michigan
AREA CONFERENCES[edit]
Bulletins of the various Area Teaching Committees report conferences scheduled. Seen together, these conferences give a picture of Bahá’í study and association over large sections of the nation. In addition to those conferences covered in the last issue of BAHÁ’Í NEWS, the following Area Teaching Conferences were reported for the month of October.
- OREGON
- Eugene, October 3
- CALIFORNIA
- Fresno, October 3
- San Diego, October 3
- Santa Barbara, October 3
- Pasadena, October 10
- San Mateo, October 10
- UTAH
- Salt Lake City, October 10
- NEVADA
- Reno, October 2
- ARIZONA
- Tucson, October 10
- Phoenix, October 16
- MISSOURI
- Kansas City, October 17
BAHA'I ON THE AIR[edit]
In San Francisco, station KSAN-TV carried the Bahá’í message in a five-minute broadcast.
The Arlington, Virginia, Bahá’í Community presented a thirty minute program, “The Religion of Today”, over station WEAM.
WMRP, Flint, Michigan, broadcast the tape recording “The Promised One of All Religions” and closed the fifteen minute program with a recording of “From the Sweet-Scented Streams”, announcing the song as a prayer of Bahá’u’lláh.
Three minutes on “The Frank Farrell Show”, station WABC, New York, were devoted to questions and answers about the Faith.
BAHA'I SERVICE FOR THE BLIND[edit]
Literature for the Blind 1954-1955[edit]
PAMPHLETS
* Communion With God | $ .65 |
* Nine Inscriptions Booklet | .15 |
World Order Through World Faith | 1.25 |
Faith for Freedom | 1.25 |
The Bahá’í House of Worship (This Faith—This Temple. Braille Edition, April, 1952) | 1.25 |
The Open Door (1953) | 65 |
The Mission of Bahá’u’lláh (The Jubilee Pamphlet—1953) | 1.80 |
Communion With God | .75 |
Bahá’í Teachings for a World Faith | 1.25 |
BOOKS |
|
* The Reality of Man | 3.00 |
The Kitáb-i-Íqan | 6.00 |
The Renewal of Civilization (1954), by David Hofman, second edition | 5.75 |
The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh (1954), third edition, with introduction by George Townshend | 1.75 |
NEW PUBLICATION |
|
The God Who Walks with Men. By Horace Holley | 1.25 |
- * Titles prefixed by one asterisk are printed in Braille, Grade One and a Half; all other titles are in Braille, Grade Two.
The above list is complete and up-to-date, and is offered for the convenience of the believers.
To save time and expenditure, kindly send remittance with order, to:
Bahá’í Service for the Blind
616 North Oxford Ave.
Los Angeles 4, California
DEVOTIONAL PROGRAMS AT HOUSE OF WORSHIP[edit]
The Bahá’í House of Worship at Wilmette, Illinois is dedicated to the Unity of God, the Unity of His Prophets, the Unity of Mankind. In this spirit, public worship is conducted each Sunday at 3:30 P.M. in the auditorium. Readers at these devotional programs include Bahá’ís and guests. Choral selections are by the Bahá’í House of Worship A Cappella Choir.
The programs for the month of October follow.
The readings for October 3 are the same as those presented on April 18.
The readings for October 10 are the same as those presented on March 28.
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National Bahá’í Addresses
NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS
NATIONAL TREASURER:
Make checks Payable to:
National Bahá’í Fund BAHÁ’Í PUBLISHING COMMITTEE:
BAHÁ’Í NEWS:
Subscription and
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The potentialities inherent in the station of man, the full measure of his destiny on earth, the innate excellence of his reality, must all be manifested in this promised Day of God.
- CHORAL SELECTION
- Like as a Father Bendeth—Johann Sebastian Bach
- BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS
- Prayers and Meditations, CXIX, p. 202
- Gleanings, pp. 294, 296-297
- OLD TESTAMENT
- Hosea 14
- NEW TESTAMENT
- II Thessalonians 2:1-13
- CHORAL SELECTION
- O Light Divine—Alexander Archangelsky
- QUR’AN
- Sura XXXII: 15-29
- BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS
- Prayers and Meditations, pp. 329-332
- CHORAL SELECTION
- Lo, in the Time Appointed—Healey Willan
The program for October 24 is the same as that presented on May 2.
The program for October 31 is the same as that presented on June 13.
PUBLICATIONS[edit]
American Bahá’ís in the Time of World Peril, Outline. Prepared by Mrs. Beatrice Ashton. An analysis of the Guardian’s stirring message of July 28, 1954, prepared in outline form for group and individual study. A brief, concise presentation, arranged to develop the main theme of the message in relation to its component elements. 8 pages, mimeographed, 8½ x 11 inches.
Per copy | $ .20 |
6 copies | $1.00 |
From the Sweet-Scented Streams. Sheet music edition prepared for solo voice of the prayer of Bahá’u’lláh, with music by Charles Wolcott. Cover has an attractive drawing of Temple with this caption: “From the Sweet-Scented Streams is sung occasionally by the Bahá’í A Cappella choir at the Bahá’í House of Worship, pictured above, in Wilmette, Illinois.” An item that can be appropriately presented to any music lover. A nice gift item. 12 pages, 9 x 12 inches.
Per copy | $ .75 |
10 copies | $6.00 |
Tomorrow and Tomorrow, booklet. The full text of the book by Stanwood Cobb, prepared in saddle-stitched, pamphlet form. A large quantity has been printed to effect a low price in preparation for a campaign to use this booklet extensively in contact work throughout the country, 82 pages, 7 x 4½. Paper cover. Specify booklet in ordering.
Per copy | $ .25 |
20 copies | 4.50 |
Divine Art of Living, Discussion Outline. Revised edition of outline prepared by Marian Lippitt. Seven Round Table Discussions based on the well-known text, The Divine Art of Living, on problems concerning the individual and his pattern of personal living. The seven topics cover such subjects as “Better Understanding of Yourself,” “A Pattern of Life that Eliminates Frustration” and others that bring out the need for the Revelation of God for this day. Questions such as “Is it possible to be happy in these days of world unrest?”, “Must we accept all illness and suffering as punishment?”, “What should our attitude be toward someone we know is doing wrong?” are presented for discussion with references to portions of the text applying to them. Lively and interesting firesides can be planned around this discussion outline since it approaches the human heart on the level of life’s personal needs, where must human hearts must first be reached.
Per copy | $ .20 |
6 copies | $1.00 |
Kitáb-i-Íqán, Study Guide. By Horace Holley. Reprint of item that has been out of print for many years. The Introduction to this guide states, “The Kitáb-i-Íqán is the key to the study of comparative religion, in establishing the oneness of all the successive Manifestations, His re-return from age to age, the reasons for the periodic rise and fall of religions.” This study guide helps in working out a helpful method of approach by indicating the dominant themes and their text references in this book which the Guardian states is “unsurpassed among the Writings of the Author of the Bahá’í Revelation.”
Per copy | $ .20 |
6 copies | $1.00 |
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 ...”
Portland, Oregon—Mrs. Marjorie Taylor to Mr. A. T. Thompson, (date not reported)
Washington, D.C.—Miss Carolyn Prévost to Mr. Walter R. Wooten, August 7, 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.”
- Miss Emma Blackwell
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- July 27, 1954
- Mr. John David McCall
- Englewood, New Jersey
- August 24, 1954
- Prof. Glen A. Shook
- Eliot, Maine
- (no date reported)
- Mr. Arthur H. Jones
- Great Falls, Montana
- August 9, 1954
- Mrs. James F. (Roberta) Percy
- Los Angeles, California
- September 9, 1954
- Mrs. Leona C. Nein
- Dayton, Ohio
- September 3, 1954
- Mr. F. L. Loveless
- Topeka, Kansas
- September 1, 1954
- Mrs. Edith Haynes
- Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
- (date not reported)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS[edit]
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HAVE YOU MOVED RECENTLY? Perhaps these two facts go hand-in-hand. If you are a member of a community—and contemplating a change of address—be sure to notify your Local Assembly secretary immediately. If you are isolated, send this information directly to the National Bahá’í Administrative Headquarters, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Ill. Your prompt cooperation is necessary to keep the address files of the National Bahá’í Office up to date and accurate. |
- HOLY DAYS
- November 12, Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
- November 26, Day of the Covenant
- November 28, Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
- FEASTS
- November 4, Qudrat, Power
- November 23, Qawl, Speech
- December 12, Masá’íl, Questions
- December 31, Sharaf, Honor
- NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS
- November 12, 13, 14
- December 10, 11, 12
- BAHÁ’Í HOUSE OF WORSHIP
- Visiting hours
- Weekdays and Saturdays:
- 1:00 P.M.—4:00 P.M.
- (the Auditorium only will be open)
- Sundays: 10:30 A.M.—5:00 P.M.
- (the entire building will be open)
- Service of Worship: Sunday at 3:30 P.M., lasting until 4:15 (No guided tours will be conducted during the program of worship.)
- Holy Days and Anniversaries celebrated at the Bahá’í House of Worship
- Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, November 12
- Day of the Covenant, November 26
- Holy Days and Anniversaries celebrated at the Bahá’í House of Worship are open to the public. The meeting begins at 8:00 P.M. of the day preceding the Anniversary date.
| TEMPLE |
| Temple Worship |
|---|
| Mrs. Beatrice Ashton (omitted through error) |
| NATIONAL TEACHING |
| Bahá’í Inter-Racial Teaching |
| Mr. George Brawley, Chairman |
| Miss Lydia J. Martin, Corresponding Secretary, 11529 Kelton Ave., Cleveland 6, Ohio |
| SERVICE |
| Reviewing |
| Mrs. Eleanor S. Hutchens, Corresponding Secretary, 1109 No. California St., Urbana, Ill. |
| ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES |
| Alaska |
| Anchorage Recording Dist.: Mrs. Lucille M. Donnelly, Star Route Box 334, Spenard |
| Arizona |
|---|
| Yuma: Mrs. Lucy Belle Anderson, 1090 10th Ave. |
| California (North) |
| Millbrae: Mr. John Shoop, 420 Hillcrest Drive |
| California (South) |
| Beverly Hills: Mrs. Mildred Bates, P.O. Box 794 |
| Colorado |
| Denver: Mrs. Barbara Jackson, Secy., 1295 Glencoe Street, Denver 20 |
| Michigan |
| Muskegon: Mrs. Katherine Schott, P.O. Box 292 |
| Ohio |
| Cleveland: Mrs. Amanda L. Smith, 3847 E. 146th St., Z 20 |
| Wisconsin |
| Brookfield: Mrs. Stella Johnson, Route 12, Box 332, Milwaukee 10 |
BAHA’I NEWS is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States as a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í World Community.
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 1954-1955: 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 Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.
