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No. 291

BAHA’I YEAR 112

MAY, 1955

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THE GUARDIAN’S MESSAGE TO THE ANNUAL BAHA'I CONVENTION

On the occasion of the triumphant conclusion of the second year of the Ten Year Plan, marking the termination of the first half of the second phase of a decade-long Bahá’í World Spiritual Crusade, I invite the delegates assembled at the twelve Annual Conventions, convened simultaneously throughout the Bahá’í world during the Riḍván Festival, to survey with me the multiple evidences of the progressive unfoldment of the incalculable potentialities with which this World—enveloping, steadily consolidating enterprise has been endowed by the Author of the Tablets of the Divine Plan at the very hour of its inception.

In every continent of the globe, throughout the widely scattered islands of the Mediterranean and the North Sea, of the Atlantic, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, this mighty Plan, devised for the systematic execution of the Design conceived by the Center of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant for the propagation of His Father’s Faith, is forging ahead, gaining momentum with every passing day, tearing down barriers in all climes and amidst divers peoples and races, widening irresistibly the scope of its beneficent operations, and revealing ever more compelling signs of its inherent strength as it marches towards the spiritual conquest of the entire planet.

Two Hundred Thirty-six Territories Now Opened to the Faith

The number of the virgin territories of the globe opened to the Faith has, since the inauguration, and in direct consequence of the vigorous prosecution, of this stupendous undertaking, been raised to one hundred and eight, swelling the number of the sovereign states and chief dependencies included within the pale of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh to two hundred and thirty-six, above two hundred of which have been enlisted under His banner since the ascension of the Center of His Covenant.

All the territories within the confines of the American, the European, the Asiatic and the African continents, assigned to ten Bahá’í National Assemblies, have, with the exception of Soviet-controlled territories, been opened. Of the seventy-two islands allocated to eleven Bahá’í National Assemblies no less than sixty-four have opened their doors to the vanguard of Bahá’í Crusaders, leaving Spitzbergen and Anticosti Island, situated respectively in the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, Nicobar Islands, Cocos Island and Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, and Loyalty Islands, Sakhalin Island and Hainan Island in the Pacific 0cean—one of which is a native reserve, two lot which are within the Soviet orbit. are either privately owned or controlled by private unopened by the heroic band battling for the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

The northern limits of the Faith in Europe have been pushed beyond the Arctic Circle as far as 70 degrees latitude, through the settlement of a Bahá’í pioneer in Reels Kolen Batsfjord, Finnrnark, only three degrees below Arctic Bay, Franklin, the northernmost Bahá’í Center established, in the course of the Opening Year of the Ten-Year Plan, in the North American Continent Valiant pioneers have, moreover, volunteered and are busily engaged in devising plans, or have actually embarked on the necessary preparations, to cross the mountain frontiers of Tibet, to enter the Ukraine, beyond the Iron Curtain, to gain admission to the few remaining, hitherto inaccessible islands of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and to penetrate deep into the Arctic Ocean as far as the icebound island of Spitzbergen.

Number of Races, Languages, Incorporated Assemblies Augmented

No less than forty races are now represented in the world-wide Bahá’í Community, which has been recently enriched through the enrollment of representatives of the Greek, the Berber, the Pigmy, the Somali and Guanche races. The number of localities where Bahá’ís now reside is well over thirty-two hundred, of which fourteen hundred are located in the Great Republic of the West, over six hundred in the Cradle of the Faith, more than three hundred in the African Continent, and over one hundred each in the Dominion of Canada, in Australasia. Latin America and in the Indian Sub—Continent. In the African Continent alone the number of members of the Negro race has, within the space of four years, increased to over thirteen hundred; the number of territories opened to the Faith has reached fifty—eight, the number of local Spiritual Assemblies already established and functioning is now fifty, the number of tribes represented within the swiftly expanding Bahá’í Community is now over ninety, whilst the number of African languages into which Bahá’í literature has been and is being translated exceeds fifty.

The total number of the European, the African, the Asiatic and American-Indian languages into which

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Bahá’í literature has been and is being translated is one hundred and sixty-seven, of which fifty-five are among those included in the provisions of the Ten-Year Plan, and twenty-four are supplementary languages into which the translation of Bahá’í literature has been spontaneously undertaken by the indefatigable band of pioneers and new converts in Africa, in South East Asia, in the South Pacific Islands and in the Antipodes.

The number of incorporated Bahá’í national and local Spiritual Assemblies has now reached one hundred and forty, seventy-five of which are located in the United States of America, the latest additions to this steadily mounting list in other continents being the Assemblies of London and Manchester in the British Isles; of Ciudad Trujillo in the Dominican Republic; of Kuching in Sarawak; of Jakarta in Indonesia; of Helsinki in Finland and of San Juan in Puerto Rico.

Activities at the World Center

In the Holy Land, the Center and Pivot around which the institutions of a world-encompassing Administrative Order revolve, steps have been taken for the preparation of a Synopsis, and for the Codification of the Laws, of the Most Holy Book, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Mother-Book of the Bahá’í Revelation, as an essential prelude to the eventual translation and publication of its entire text.

A Fund has been inaugurated in anticipation of the adoption of preliminary measures for the ultimate construction of Bahá’u’lláh's Sepulcher in the heart of the Ḥaram-i-Aqdas recently established in the plain of ‘Akká.

The international Bahá’í endowments on Mt. Carmel have been greatly enhanced by the signature of a contract with the Israeli Authorities for the acquisition of an area of thirty-six thousand square meters, situated on the promontory of Mt. Carmel, overlooking the Cave of Elijah, as well as the spot sanctified by the footsteps of Bahá’u’lláh and associated with the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel, for the price of one hundred and eight thousand dollars, to serve as the site for the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Holy Land, the entire sum having been donated by Amelia Collins, Hand of the Cause and outstanding benefactress of the Faith.

The vast area surrounding the Báb's Sepulcher has been enlarged through the purchase from the Development Authority of the State of Israel, of five houses, adjoining the last terrace of His Shrine for a sum of approximately sixty thousand dollars, as well as through the acquisition of a six thousand dollar plot that has been registered in the name of the Israeli Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles; of a house, valued at ten thousand dollars, that has been registered in the name of the Israeli Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada; of a twenty-eight thousand dollar plot, to be registered in the name of the Israeli Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Persia; and of a five thousand dollar plot to be registered in the name of the Israeli Branch of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Australia and New Zealand. Moreover, steps are now being taken for the purchase of several properties, valued at approximately one hundred and forty thousand dollars, the acquisition of which is essential for the safeguarding of the area in the close vicinity of the Báb's Sepulcher, as well as for the future extension of the arc around which the edifices, destined to serve as the seat of the future Bahá’í World Commonwealth, are to be erected.

Following the expropriation by the Israeli Finance Minister, on the recommendation of the Mayor of the City of Haifa, of the plot adjoining the site of the future International Bahá’í Archives on Mt. Carmel, the fixing of the position of the farflung arc, around which the edifices constituting the Seat of the World Bahá’í Administrative Order are to be built, the location of the site of the building and the preparations for the excavation of its foundations, an hundred and twelve thousand dollar contract has been signed in Rome for the quarrying, the dressing and carving of the stones and the fiftytwo columns of the bilding which will amount in weight to over nine hundred tons and are to be shipped within less than two years to the Holy Land.

The landscaping of the extensive area stretching between the Báb’s Sepulcher and the resting-places of the Greatest Holy Leaf, the Purest Branch and their mother, and destined to encircle this Edifice, has been undertaken, adding greatly to the beauty of the surroundings of these consecrated Spots in the heart of God’s holy Mountain.

Achievements in tile Cradle of the Faith

In the Cradle of the Faith, the site of the Síyáh-Chál, the scene of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh’s Mission and the second holiest spot in His native land, purchased in the course of the first year of the Ten-Year Plan, has been transferred by the donor of this holy and historic place, Habíb Sábet, to the name of one of the Hands of the Cause acting as my official representative in that country.

A five-year Plan has been inaugurated for the purpose of raising twelve million tumans for the construction of the first Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in that land. The design of this historic Edifice has been finally selected from among a number of designs submitted by Bahá’í Architects in both the East and the West, the choice falling upon the plan conceived by the Hand of the Cause and President of the International Bahá’í Council, Mason Remey—a design which incorporates a dome reminiscent of that of the Báb’s Holy Sepulcher.

A contract has moreover been signed as a preliminary step for the eventual purchase of the Fortress of Chiríq and its surroundings, for a sum of over two hundred thousand túmáns.

Goals Attained in the United States of America

In the United States of America a plot has been acquired in the precincts of the Mother Temple of the West to serve as the site for the construction of a Home for the Aged, and which will constitute the first of the Dependencies to be erected around that holiest Bahá’í House of Worship. Measures have been adopted, and the design authorized, for the completion of the landscaping of the area surrounding that same building. The National Bahá’í Publishing Committee has been con-

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Site purchased for future Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, New Delhi, India.(See Bahá’í News, January, 1955, page 2.) The land, near the village of Kalkaji, is atop one of the highest point in the area and overlooks the city and its suburbs in almost every direction. It is about four miles the National Hazírátu’l-Quds in New Delhi. The lot cornprices 73 bighas or 24 acres, 2100 square yards.

vetted into a Bahá’í Publishing Trust, functioning under the jurisdiction of the American National Spiritual Assembly. The total number of American Indian tribes with which contact has been established has now reached twenty-two, whilst members of the Apache, the Cherokee, the Omaha, the Oneida, and the Sioux tribes have been enrolled in the American Bahá’í Community. The number of territories, federal districts and states of the United States of America where official authorization for the conduct of Bahá’í marriages has been granted is now twenty-one, whilst the number of localities in that same country where the Bahá’í Holy Days are officially recognized is over twenty-five.

Properties Acquired Around the World

Land for no less than eight of eleven Temple sites to be acquired according to the provisions of the Ten—Year Plan, and involving an expenditure of eighty thousand dollars has been purchased in the following places: in the holy city of Baghdád, on the banks bf the Tigris, blessed by the footsteps of Bahá’u’lláh, of an area of thirty thousand square meters; on the banks of the Nile in Cairo, the center of both the Arab and Islamic worlds, of an area of seventeen thousand square meters; in Frankfurt, the heart of the European continent, of an area of seventeen thousand square meters; in New Delhi, the capital of India, of an area of sixty-six thousand square meters; in Sydney, the oldest Bahá’í center in the Australian continent, of an area of eleven thousand square meters; in Kampala, in the heart of the African continent, of an area of twenty-four thousand square meters; in Johannesburg, the second largest city in the African continent, of an area of six thousand square meters; and in Panama City, the importance of which has been underlined by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Tablets of the Divine Plan, of an area of twenty thousand square meters.

No less than fourteen national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, out of the forty-nine listed in the provisions of the Ten-Year Plan and which are to serve as seats of future Bahá’í National Spiritual Assemblies, have already been purchased, largely through the liberal contributions of the Hand of the Cause, Amelia Collins. These buildings, involving the expenditure of over two hundred thousand dollars, are situated in five continents of the globe; in London, Bern and Vienna in the European continent; in Anchorage, Lima and Panama City in the American continent; in Tokyo, Istanbul, Kabúl, Baḥrayn and Suva in the Asiatic continent; in Johannesburg and Tunis in the African continent; and in Auckland in the Antipodes. Negotiations for the purchase of three additional Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, in the cities of Rome, Jakarta and Colombo are moreover under way, while funds, totalling one hundred and thirty thousand dollars have been pledged for the purchase, in the immediate future, of twenty-seven other Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Latin America and the European continent.

Furthermore, the sum of fifty thousand dollars has been contributed by the Hand of the Cause. Arnelia Collins, as yet another evidence of her munificence, for the purpose of establishing Bahá’í national endowments in no less than fifty countries, situated in all five continents of the globe. A plot has, moreover, been purchased in South Africa, a property offered in the Aleutian Islands and a fund initiated for the same purpose in Alaska and Finland.

Sixteen New National Assemblies by Ridvan, 1957

Such marvelous progress, involving such diversified activities, extending over so immense a field, within such a brief space of time, and notwithstanding the smallness of the numbers of the participants in this Global Crusade, the meagerness of their resources and the restrictions imposed upon them by those who are either unsympathetic to their Cause, or alarmed by their rising influence, or envious of the pervasive power of the Faith they champion, immpels me to announce, in anticipation of the opening of the third phase of the Ten-Year Plan, the formation, during Riḍván, 1957, in addition to the three Regional National Spiritual Assemblies to be elected in 1956 in the African continent, of thirteen National Spiritual Assemblies, some of which will be

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The Hazíratu’l-Quds of Auckland, New Zealand, recently purchased. The fice-room house stands on e quarter-race piece of land with a fifty-foot frontage on Parnell Road in a central part or the city. The lot goes through to the next street, Aorere Street. A room measuring twenty by fifteen feet, to be used for meetings, overlooks, beyond the immediate neighborhood, a beautiful stretch of native bush, above and to one side of which is the stately War Memorial Museum. Cost of the property was thirty-one hundred pounds.

The photograph at the left shows the newly acquired Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Bahrayn in the Persian Gulf. Above is Hazíratu’l-Quds of Suva, Fiji Islands, recently purchased.

regional, others independent, some interim and others permanent.

These National Spiritual Assemblies, representing no less than forty-two territories will be established in four continents of the globe. Four will be in Asia: in Japan, in Pákistán, in the Arabian Peninsula and in South-East Asia. Three will be in Europe: in Scandinavia and Finland, in the Benelux countries and in the Iberian Peninsula. Five will be in America: the first, combining within its jurisdiction the Republics of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia; the second, comprising the Republics of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela; the third including Mexico and the Republics of Central America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama; the fourth embracing the Islands of the Greater Antilles, Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and the fifth in Alaska. And lastly, one will be in the Antipodes, in the Dominion of New Zealand.

Responsibility for the convocation of the eight Bahá’í Conventions, whose delegates are to elect eight National Spiritual Assemblies in North, Central and South America and in Europe, and which are to be held in Anchorage, in Panama City, in Port-au-Prince, in Buenos Aires, in Lima, in Stockholm, in Brussels and in Madrid, will devolve upon the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States of America; for the convocation of the four conventions whose delegates are to elect four National Spiritual Assemblies in Asia, and which are to be held in Tokyo, in Karachi, in Baḥrayn and in Jakarta, upon the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Bahá’ís of the United States of America, of Persia, and or India, Pákistán and Burma; and for the convocation of the convention whose delegates are to elect the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand, which is to be held in Auckland, upon the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Australia and New Zealand.

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Hands of the Cause to Attend Historic Conventions

I call upon the following Hands of the Cause to act as my representatives at these thirteen historic conventions, that are to pave the way for the erection, in four continents of the globe, of the pillars destined to support, in varying measure, the Universal House of Justice, the final unit in the construction of the edifice of the Administrative Order of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh: Valíyu’lláh Varqá and Horace Holley at the South American Conventions to be held in Buenos Aires and Lima respectively: Corinne True at the Greater Antilles Convention to be held in Port-au-Prince; Dhikru’lláh Khádem at the Central American Convention to be held in Panama City; Paul Haney at the Alaska Convention, to be held in Anchorage; Hermann Grossmann and Adelbert Mühlschlegel at the Scandinavian-Finnish Convention to be held in Stockholm; George Townshend at the Benelux Convention to to be held in Brussels; Ugo Giachery at the Iberian Convention to be held in Madrid; Ṭaráẓu’lláh Samandarí at the Arabian Convention to be held in Bahrayn; ‘Ali-Akbar Furútan at the South East Asian Convention, to be held in Jakarta; Shu’á‘llah ‘Alá’í at the Pákistání Convention to be held in Karachi; Jalál Kházeh at the Japanese Convention to be held in Tokyo; Clara Dunn at the New Zealand Convention to be held in Auckland.

I urge, moreover, as many members as feasible of the Auxiliary Boards appointed by the afore-mentioned Hands of the Cause, in the American, the European, the Asiatic and the Australian continents, to attend these momentous gatherings, at which the representatives of as many as forty-two Bahá’í Communities will assemble, and, through their active participation, reinforce and widen the scope of the deliberations of the elected delegates.

Furthermore, I cannot too strongly emphasize the vital necessity for all the Bahá’í groups, scattered throughout these forty-two countries, to brace themselves, and make a supreme effort, during these intervening two years, to achieve assembly status, ensuring thereby their participation in the election of the delegates to these fate-laden conventions, and contributing, through this act, to the broadening and strengthening of the foundations of these projected pivotal institutions, destined to play so prominent and vital a part in ushering in the last phase in the gradual establishment of the structure of an Administrative Order that must needs slowly evolve into the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, and which in turn will give birth, in the fullness of time, to a world spiritual civilization, which posterity will hail as the fairest fruit of His Revelation.

Guardian‘s Appeal to Upholders of the Faith

Finally, I direct my appeal, through the Assembled delegates, to the entire body of the believers whom they represent, and indeed, on this occasion, to all the upholders of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh wherever they reside in all the continents of the globe, to arise, at so auspicious an hour in the fortunes of the Faith, synchronizing with so fateful and perilous an hour in the fortunes of mankind, and consecrate themselves afresh, throughout this last, fast-fleeting year of the present phase of this momentous, world-girdling Plan, to the furtherance of the immediate objectives enumerated in my last year’s Convention Message, ensuring thereby a befitting conclusion to a stage in its resistless unfoldment destined to usher in its third and most brilliant phase —— a phase on which the triumphant consummation of the Plan itself must so largely depend.

It is indeed my fervent and constant prayer that the members of this firmly-knit, intensely alive, world-embracing Community, spurred on by the triple impulse generated through the revelation of the Tablet of Carmel by Bahá’u’lláh and the Will and Testament as well as the Tablets of the Divine Plan bequeathed by the Center of His Covenant—the three Charters which have set in motion three distinct processes, the first operating in the Holy Land for the development of the institutions of the Faith at its World Center and the other two, throughout the rest of the Bahá’í world, for its propagation and the establishment of its Administrative Order — may advance from strength to strength and victory to victory. May they hasten, by their present exertions, the advent of that blissful consummation when the shackles hampering the growth of their beloved Faith will have been finally burst asunder,

The recently purchased Hazíratu’l-Quds of Tunis, Tunisia, exterior and interior views, which will become the Regional Hazíratu’l-Quds of North-West Africa. The building is located at 20 Rue Soult.

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when its independent status will have been officially and universally recognized, when it will have ascended the throne and wielded the scepter of spiritual and temporal authority, when the brightness of its glory will have illuminated the whole earth, and its dominion will have been established over the entire planet.

—SHOGHI

April, 1955

COMMENTARY: NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Beloved Friends:

The Message which the Guardian has addressed to the Annual Bahá’í Convention is for all twelve Conventions being held during the Riḍván period of 1955. As we consider it here so it is being considered by Bahá’ís attending the Conventions in Canada, Central America, South America, the British Isles, Germany and Austria, Italy and Switzerland, Egypt and Sudan, ‘Iráq, Írán, India, Pákistan and Burma, Australia and New Zealand. These respective National Assemblies have not only presented this Message to delegates but also are providing copies for the believers throughout their area of administration.

This is a document in which the revered Head of a World Community reports the achievements of the second year or the Ten-Year Plan and likewise sets up particular goals for the period ending with Riḍván. 1957.

The Guardian’s survey reveals a vast expanse in terms of the present membership of the Bahá’í Community, and a vast theater of operations in which energy and resources have accomplished specific tasks. It behooves each Bahá’í to “survey with me,” as Shoghi Effendi invites the delegates, “the multiple evidences of the progressive unfoldment of the incalculable potentialities with which this . . . enterprise has been endowed by the Author of the Tablets of the Divine Plan. . .”

In this statement the believer is impressed by the startling realization that the power of achievement is vested in the Plan itself, and is communicated to all who sincerely arise to serve the Crusade which is the Divine Plan’s present application. How different from those human schemes and devices which at their best only rely upon degrees of wealth

The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Ann Arbor, Michigan, newly incorporated November 15, 1954.

and talent operating without reinforcement from above!

Through . paragraph after paragraph the epic tale majestically proceeds, enhancing with spiritual meaning our collective efforts which so often appear ineffective and burdensome. Here the drama is written by the great Dramatist of the age, and by His magic spell the most unassuming actor is transformed into the heroic and sublime.

What is the reckoning? One hundred and eight virgin territories opened . . . Sovereign states and chief dependencies with Bahá’ís raised to two hundred and thirty-six. . . . All territories opened outside the Soviet zone. . . . Sixty—four out of seventy-two islands occupied. . . . Forty races now represented in the Bahá’í community. . . . Bahá’ís reside in well over thirty-two hundred cities, towns and villages. . . . Literature has been or is being translated into one hundred sixty-seven languages. . . . Steps taken to prepare a Synopsis and Codification of the Laws of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. . . . A Fund has been inaugurated for preliminary measures for construction of Bahá’u’lláh’s Sepulcher. . . . These and many other accomplishments fill the heart with grateful pride.

But achievement is one step in a stair leading to the mountain top. “Such marvelous progress . . . impels me to announce . . . the formation, during Riḍván, 1957, in addition to the three Regional National Spiritual Assemblies to be elected in 1956 in the African continent, of thirteen National Spiritual Assemblies. . . .”

‘‘Furthermore,’' the Guardian states, “I cannot too strongly emphasize the vital necessity for all the Bahá’í groups, scattered throughout these forty-two countries, to brace themselves, and make a supreme effort, during these intervening two years, to achieve Assembly status, insuring thereby their participation in the election of the delegates to these fate-laden Conventions. . . .”

“Finally,” addressing us all, “I direct my appeal . . . to the entire body of the believers and . . . to all the upholders of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh . . . to arise . . . and consecrate themselves afresh. . . .”

It is only in the stillness of the heart that we can make our true response to the appeal uttered to us by the Commander of so small an army enlisted to win the final spiritual freedom of mankind.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

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Note: The Guardian’s Message to the 1955 Convention in its next to last paragraph appeals to the entire body of believers to consecrate themselves afresh, to the furtherance of the immediate objectives enumerated in his 1954 Convention Message. For the information of the friends those objectives are listed as follows:

Immediate Objectives Listed in 1954 Convention Message

1. Energetic and systematic prosecution of the all-important teaching work both at home and abroad, to increase rapidly the number of active supporters of the Faith.

2. Preservation of prizes won in the newly opened territories of the globe.

3. Maintenance of the status of local Spiritual Assemblies.

4. Multiplication of isolated centers, groups and local Assemblies to hasten the emergence of forty-eight National Spiritual Assemblies in East and West.

5. Completion of negotiations for purchase of Temple sites.

6. Initiation of Funds for establishment of National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in capital cities of Sovereign States and chief cities of Dependencies listed in the Ten-Year Plan.

7. Speedy translation and publication of Bahá’í literature in specified languages.

8. Continued acquisition of Bahá’í Holy Places in Persia.

9. Preparatory measures for construction of Temples in Ṭihrán and Frankfurt.

10. Establishment of First Temple Dependency in Wilmette.

11. Inauguration of National Endowments to pave way for formation of National Spiritual Assemblies.

12. Fresh impetus to incorporate local Assemblies.

13. Establishment of Bahá’í Publishing Trusts.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

BAHA’I PUBLISHING TRUST

The National Spiritual Assembly has completed action on the Guardian’s direction that a Publishing Trust be established in Wilmette.

Through correspondence with the British National Spiritual Assembly, since the British Publishing Trust serves as the model or pattern, the necessary information was obtained in order to record the proper votes in the Minutes of meeting held February 11-13, 1955.

The substance of these votes (1) terminated the services of Bahá’í Publishing Committee as of April 30, 1955; (2) established as of April 30, 1955 the “Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States” as successor body to the Publishing Committee; (3) transferred to the Publishing Trust the inventory, office, cash assets and accounts of the Publishing Committee; (4) authorized the Publishing Trust to publish and distribute the Bahá’í Sacred Writings and such books, pamphlets or study material as are approved by the Reviewing Committee and are authorized by the National Spiritual Assembly; (5) appointed Mrs. Eunice Braun, Managing Director of the Publishing Trust with authority to engage the services of a staff of assistants and workers.

This action represents a continuance oF the publishing functions vested in the National Spiritual Assembly.

The effect of the Guardian’s plan as directed to various National Assemblies will be to set up a number of Bahá’í Publishing Trusts throughout the Bahá’í world, thus creating an organic unity of concept for this vital function of spreading the Message in printed form in all the many languages into which it has been and will be translated and published.

This action means for the believers that on and after April 30,1955, orders are to be addressed to Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the United States, 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, and all checks and orders made payable to the Publishing Trust instead of the Publishing Committee as hitherto. The bank account will be maintained in the name of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. Payments made on accounts opened with the Publishing Committee prior to April 30 are to be made to the Publishing Trust. The friends are requested to note this in order to eliminate confusion in the handling of checks and money orders received after April 30.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

WORLD CRUSADE

TWELFTH PIONEER REPORT

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 in World Crusade goal areas.

ARRIVALS IN VIRGIN AREAS

Mr. George Putney arrived in Unalaska, Aleutian Islands, November 8, 1954, where he joined his wife and children.

Mr. Matthew Bullock returned to Curacao, Dutch West Indies, December 6, 1954.

Dr. Malcolm King returned to Georgetown, British Guiana, December 8, 1954.

Mrs. Frances Benedict Stewart arrived on Juan Fernandez Island, Chile (date not reported).

Mr. and Mrs. Herman Hilke, with their children Leo Curtis, John Herman, Alice Debra and Susan Rosella, arrived in Key West, Florida, March 5, 1955.

ARRIVALS IN CONSOLATION AREAS

Mrs. Marinobel Smith Wheelock arrived in Cuernavaca, Mexico, November 4, 1954.

Miss Rezi Sunshine arrived in Cochabamba, Bolivia, January 26, 1955.

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Barrett arrived in Bogotá, Colombia, in January, 1955.

Mr. and Mrs. Ken Fredericks arrived in Rosario, Argentina, February 10, 1955.

Mrs. Frances G. Heller arrived in Puebla, Mexico, March 13, 1955.

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Mr. and Mrs. A. Ivan Cottrill, with their children Richard and Laura, arrived in Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii, March 15, 1955.

Mr. and Mrs. Mario Rodriguez arrived in Huancayo, Peru (date not reported).

Mr. and Mrs. Lucien McComb, Jr., with their children Jeffrey, Michael and Gordon, arrived in Orleans, France, January 18, 1955.

Mrs. Edith Marangella arrived in Orleans, France, January 18, 1955.

Mrs. Ella Guthrie arrived in Orleans, France, January 18, 1955.

Mr. and Mrs. Ben Levy arrived in Bordeaux, France, January 19, 1955.

Mr. Ben Bentley arrived in Perigueux France, January 25, 1955.

Miss Gretta Jankko arrived in Helsinki, Finland, January 25, 1955.

Mr. Theodore Harris arrived in Orleans, France, February 3, 1955.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Randall arrived in Durban, South Africa, April 8, 1955.

PIONEER LETTERS

The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to share the following passages from pioneer letters, in accordance with its policy of keeping the Bahá’í world informed of the spirit and some of the incidents which characterize the unfoldment of the World Crusade.

Excerpts from Pioneer Letters to the Western Hemisphere Teaching Committee

VENEZUELA (Caracas) From Joan Lozier

“. . . Any Bahá’í who has the desire to pioneer should have no fear of anything. Simply put your trust completely in Bahá’u’lláh and rely on Him. Do not think of yourself as being inadequate because ‘you’ have nothing to do with it once you put yourself at the disposal of God. ‘You’ are simply the channel through which the current flows and which sets everything in action. Once you experience this tremendous power and feel it and see it working all around you, you immediately lose all self-identity and become part of it and nothing more. Then you are completely dependent upon God and are completely free for the first time perhaps in your life. To achieve this you must above all be sincere, and go out with only one thought and wish, to serve humanity and, of course, doing this with the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. Also, we must be absolutely obedient to the laws and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, and be obedient and work through our Administrative bodies when we go into and are in the pioneering field.

Make a Positive Step

“A Bahá’í who is thinking of pioneering must be practical about it. It right now you feel you would Like to go somewhere, but you don’t know where, pick a large area in the world and start studying all countries which fall into that area. Study a language for that area immediately. You‘ll be that much further ahead by the time you leave and that much better equipped to earn your living. Study Spanish, for example, and take a look at the globe and see where you can go with the Spanish language. There is all of Central and South America, where help can be used in every country. There are many islands in the Caribbean where one might go. Make a positive step and after the first positive step the assistance will come and push you through the next few steps. (This is when you begin receiving one confirmation after another regarding yourself and the Bahá’í Faith and you feel the firmness and steadfastness sinking into you.) Then make another positive step and again the help will come to push you through the next few. Don’t sit around and think about pioneering, do something about it—expose yourself to the tremendous power that is in the Faith and feel it move through you and around you!

“Ask where help is needed the most in the pioneering field, work through the Administrative bodies. If you ask the proper committees where they need people and state your qualifications, the right place for you will be set in front of you and there you are with something to strive for. Then you can lay the ground work for getting there. Have faith! It will get you there. And be sincere, and tread the spiritual path with practical feet.

_ “Also, I want very much to mention this. The number of people whose souls are crying the world over for this Revelation—particularly in the Consolidation and Goal areas — warrants our not hesitating a single moment. Leave the large cities and come to the small places where the people with pure hearts are waiting for us to pass by with this glorious Message. Let's not keep them waiting too long.

“No matter what the sacrifice might be, your returns will be ten and twenty-fold. It's the best investment in the universe and your guarantee is immortality and infinite peace and joy in knowing that you are being of service. There are many examples and instances which I might cite, but they would take too long to tell, so I must limit myself to saying: It does happen. We are assisted — more so than we would dare to dream or hope for. I know, because it is happening to me every day, and it can happen to you. Put your trust in God and act!”

BOLIVIA (Cochabamba) From Rezi Sunshine

“Praise and thanksgiving for the glorious Naw-Rúz greetings! It came just when I was going to write to you and keep you informed of affairs in Bolivia. I deem it a glorious privilege to be here; so much more because of the great need here . . . Our hearts are focused on Bahá’u’lláh and all is well and will be well! . . .

“. . . After six weeks of constant advertising and going from door to door I rented an apartment for $25 a month, in the heart of the city in a very desirable place for the Faith and my dressmaking. . . . Already I am getting used to the elevation and many other general conditions. . And the teaching is a delight of my life. The day I moved a professor came in to our glorious Faith. So you can imagine our joy. . . .

“How God is creating a new world in front of our eyes! Indeed the hope is in the youth of the day—and the ones that are attracted are gems, rare gems from the bottom of the ocean. . . .”

Anyone who is interested in pioneering in Latin America should contact the Western Hemisphere Teaching Committee, Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin, Secretary, 73 College Road West, Princeton, New Jersey.

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First Bahá’í public meeting in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, held March 6, 1955 at the home of the pioneers, Charles and Mary Dayton.

Excerpts from Pioneer Letters to the Asia Teaching Committee

From Mr. S. A. Suleimani

Formosa: “The 9th of February was one of the most bountiful and happiest days yet spent in this wonderful island. Accompanied by dear Mr. Jerome Chu, we went to visit the Chiayi friends. In the evening of that day the Rotary Club of that city had its regular meeting, and through the kindness of Mr. Wang, we three were invited and after dinner I spoke on our beloved Faith and Írán’s past glory and poets. About 40 members were present. Mr. Wang translated. Pamphlets were distributed to the members of the Club after the meeting.”

Mr. Suleimani also reports that study classes have started in four centers, and that for the benefit of the new believers the plans for the Nineteen-Day Feasts include readings from the Guardian's letters on the World Crusade, beginning with those sent during the Holy Year.

From Mr. Carl A. Scherer

Macao: “For Brotherhood Sunday five teachers and one doctor attended. Good questions were asked. The pamphlet, ‘Man One Family,’ was distributed. Arrangements have been completed to give a talk at a non-sectarian school. We have been asked to speak once a week for several months but have not committed ourselves for further talks until we can see how our first one is received.”

Mr. Scherer also reports that a teacher who has been attending fire sides gave a 45-minute talk on the Faith before 300 students in his college and was enthusiastic about the spiritual uplift he himself received from this experience.

From Mrs. Anthony Y. Seto

Hong Kong: “Progress of the Faith here is not marked. People have difficulty in attending an evening gathering due to the late hours in leaving their offices and shops. The long noon hour tiffin (12 to 2:00 p.m.) makes the hour of closing late, and dinner in Hong Kong is around eight o'clock. So now we have planned to keep ‘open house’ on Sundays from three in the afternoon to seven in the evening. The work is still in the seedsowing stage.

“We had two very well attended meetings in January and February, one on World Religion Day with nineteen, and the other in observance of World Brotherhood with seventeen present.

“The Service Men's Guides Committee (volunteers) recently entertained all the American women in the colony at a tea. It was interesting to see and meet so many American women at one time in a land where an American is a foreigner.”

From Charles Duncan

Brunei: “When a person doesn’t write for a while it is because nothing has been happening or a lot has been happening. This time it is the latter. A few weeks ago I stepped into one of the coffee shops for coffee and a young man waved to me to join him. I did. He said he wanted to study English. I told him I would teach him English in exchange for lessons in Brunei Malay. That was agreeable to him. A few days later a few of his friends met me and wanted to study, too. That made a total of four, but when the first class convened there were six. The next class had about nine and the one after that had twelve. That was too many, so I cut the class down to seven and they seem to be doing quite well. We met three times a week after work. The Malay lessons have not been so good because the boys are not systematic in teaching and I have had no time to study. Also I coach two young Malays three times a week after work and that makes six days a week teaching.

"As a stratagem, I recently changed from eating in the Chinese restaurant to the Malay restaurant and the desired effect was achieved. The Malays seem to be exceptionally friendly and people are constantly wanting to study English with me, but I have to turn them down. There is a limit to the hours in a day.

“Other kinds of teaching are slow. The people who come to my room see the picture of the Master and the Temple on my desk and the Greatest Name on the Wall. I get to say a sentence or two and that is about all. I have been finding out slowly that people just think this is a Negro religion (just like Islám is a Malay religion to them) so to counteract that I am going to have the intercontinental teaching conference pictures framed and put on the wall. Regarding being friendly to everyone, which I am, this leaves only the impression that Negroes are nice people. Offhand I don't know what to do next in the way of teaching but I am not discouraged—just perplexed. If I sit and wait for an opportunity to come, I feel I am being lax: and if I keep bringing up the subject, I feel I am forcing things.”

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

CANADA

Beaulac Summer School

Canada's only National Bahá’í School, at Beaulac, Quebec, opens its doors this year for two summer sessions: July 1-10 and August 7-14. This Laurentian vacation-land setting, in the heart of a beautiful mountain region, is ideal for concentrated study of the Teachings.

Rates: July 1-10, $35.00

August 1-14, $28.00

Single day, $4.00

For further information write:

Miss Dorothy Walsh, 4613 Wellington Street, Verdun, Quebec, Canada.

Bahá’í on the Campus

Among activities of the National University Committee of the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly the following item is reported in the March Bahá’í News of Canada.

“At Queen‘s University, Kingston, excellent teaching work has been

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MAY, 1955

The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Maui, Hawaii, newly incorporated February 21, 1955,

carried out for the past few years and they are a recognized chartered group. However we all have to graduate sometime and next year, Queens will be left without any Bahá’ís unless someone can be found to pioneer on the campus. There are some excellent courses offered at Queens and any believers going there would have the support of the Kingston community in their teaching efforts.”

Publicity on Shrine of the Báb

An article entitled “Bahá’í in Israel, Symbol of Goodwill" appeared in the January 21, 1955, issue of the Canadian Jewish Review, a paper having a wide circulation among Jews in Canada. The article told of the building of the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel.

Contact with Indians

The National Indian Service Committee of Canada reports that a Bahá’í is a member of the executive committee of the Friends of the Indians Society, which has just celebrated its tenth anniversary in Edmonton, Alberta. Other members of the executive committee include a Roman Catholic priest, a Unitarian minister, and a Mormon elder.

INDIA

Literature In Vietnamese

Two thousand copies of the “Message of Bahá’u’lláh” have been printed in the Vietnamese language, for use in Indo-China, according to the Bahá’í News Bulletin of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India, Pakistan and Burma.

NATIONAL NEWS

UNITED STATES AFRICA TEACHING COMMITTEE

Africa News

News continues to pour in of systematic, well-planned teaching activities being carried on by the new believers as well as the Bahá’í pioneers throughout the territories of Africa. Reports from Mr. Músá Banání, Hand of the Cause, tell of pioneer activities by new believers in Ashanti Protectorate, French Equatorial Africa, Belgian Congo, Zanzibar, Basutoland, Union of South Africa and Zululand. Classes for the wives of the believers in Usumbara, Ruanda-Urundi, combine teaching of knitting and of the Bahá’í principles. On the island of Mahe, Seychelles, regular teaching classes are held weekly and teaching work is being carried on also on the nearby island of Praslin.

During the month of January Mr. Banání reports that 88 Bahá’í declarations have been received from new believers in 12 different countries.

U.N. COMMITTEE REPORT

( Omitted from 1954-55 Annual Reports owing to late arrival.)

The Department of Public Information of the United Nations called a Conference for the International Non-Governmental Organizations November 17-19, 1954, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Our delegates were Hilda Yen Male. Habib Sabet and Mildred R. Mottahedeh. The Conference was routine, dealing with matters of distribution of information regarding the United Nations. The only new subject under discussion was the celebration of U.N. Day on October 24, 1955, marking the tenth anniversary of the birth of the U.N. All organizations accredited to the Department of Public Information were asked to give careful attention to the formulation of special plans for this significant anniversary

The United Nations Committee reported to the Convention last year that, at the Conference on Technical Assistance held in March 1954, one of our delegates made a suggestion regarding the work of Technical Assistance. The suggestion was that, under the sponsorship of the United Nations Technical Assistance Board, a series of exhibitions be held at the most important trade fairs throughout the world. These exhibitions were to consist of photographs showing the progress in the fields of health, education, agriculture, nutrition, transportation and development of resources and handicrafts in the underdeveloped countries. In addition to the photographic exhibits actual samples of the products be displayed to acquaint possible buyers with new potential sources or raw and finished materials. Films on the work done in the development of these underdeveloped countries were also to be shown. In this way the splendid solid accomplishments of the Technical Assistance Department of the United Nations would become known to sizable segments of the world’s population and new markets could be found for the products of the underdeveloped countries.

The suggestion was warmly received by the Technical Assistance Board and numerous conferences were held with members of this Board. When Mrs. Mottahedeh received word from the Guardian to visit the Bahá’ís in the newly opened territories of Southeast Asia and the Pacific she asked the Technical Assistance Board whether they would like her to make a liaison with the governments in these areas in order to secure their cooperation in making the exhibition project possible. They were pleased to have her do so as no survey had yet been made of the resources of this area. They suggested that she contact the Specialized

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Agencies like UNESCO, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Labor Organization that have their central offices in Europe, They also approved of contacting some of the governments that sponsor trade fairs. The Technical Assistance Board issued a letter to Mrs. Mottahedeh stating their approval of the project so that the letter could be used in making liaison with the different governments. From the middle of May to the middle of September, 1954, she was able to enlist the support of the governments or administrating authorities in all the countries through which she passed as well as holding conferences with UNESCO, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East and trade fair officials in Germany and Italy.

The project is still in work and it is hoped that it will begin action in the coming year.

A Conference for International NonGovernmental Organizations with consultative status was held in Geneva Switzerland in April, 1955. The subject of the Conference was “Eradication of Prejudice and Discrimination.” Since the Bahá’í International Community does not have consultative status we were only able to send observers. Honor Kempton of Geneva, Marion Little of Lausanne and F. Kasemsade of Frankfort were chosen as observers. No report has as yet been received.

At the annual University of Kansas United Nations Conference we were ably represented by Dr. and Mrs. David Ruhe. The Conference was held in Lawrence, Kansas, January 24-25, 1955. The Ruhes report: “From the standpoint of Bahá’í teaching the conference offered real opportunities to make favorable contacts on behalf of the Faith with the internationally-minded persons in this area of Kansas. The environment is an excellent one psychologically for discreet Bahá’í teaching. And it is an excellent occasion for the Bahá’ís to learn of the important progress of our colleagues who are engaged in creating a world which will ultimately be fitted for the Faith. We were able to mention our status as Bahá’í's many times and, even though questions about the Faith were slow in coming, we felt free to explain the Cause. A good many had heard of it before and spoke of Bahá’ís they had met in

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís or San Juan, Puerto Rico, incorporated October 22, 1954.

other cities . . There would seem to be no a priori reason why any and all Bahá’ís who might be able to arrange their affairs and expend the dollars should not fruitfully attend. Indeed, many of the younger Bahá’ís in this area might well assume such conference attendance as part of their training for teaching the Faith and learning about the U.N.”

This year the General Assembly of the United Nations will consider the matter of charter revision. The U.N. Committee is preparing a series of suggestions on this subject. All the National Spiritual Assemblies have been invited to send their suggestions and these are being incorporated with those of the U.N. Committee. The final draft will be printed and distributed at the San Francisco meeting of the General Assembly which will be held to mark the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Charter. The Committee believes this pamphlet will prove to be a valuable teaching medium for general use as well as acquainting the U.N. delegates with the Bahá’í plan for world government.

For several years the United Nations Committee has exerted vigorous efforts to win United Nations personnel to the Faith. It has held various types of fireside meetings to interest them with but small success, A core of good friends for the Faith was built up but no actual declarations resulted. This year the Committee decided to hold a series of firesides inviting U.N. personnel and other non-Bahá’ís of similar point of view. Since the Committee desired to draw from the group a study class of those actually desiring to study the Faith with a view to becoming Bahá’ís, the subject chosen for the series was purely religious: “Authoritative Presentation of Six of the Living Faiths.” Speakers of unusual erudition and understanding of these faiths were secured with the result that interest and enthusiasm has been higher than ever before. The series will close with an exposition of the Bahá’í Faith and then will embark upon a more detailed study of the Faith. From present indications the Committee will be able to draw a small serious study class from the entire group and it is hoped that some of these will declare themselves.

From the person in charge of the conferences called for the Non-Governmental Organizations in Latin America we have had an enthusiastic report of the participation of our delegates in the Latin American conferences. They have proven themselves outstanding by their cooperation, intelligence and dignity and by the fact that, unlike many other international organizations, the Bahá’ís do have delegates native to the region where the conference is being held. Other organizations are strong in only a few countries and therefore must frequently send delegates from their international headquarters to these conferences rather than native residents for whom these meetings are actually called.

The United Nations Committee continues in its double task of gaining recognition and prestige for the Faith at the United Nations and of trying to win converts for the Faith. We have been more successful in the first than in the second. There seems to be, however, an awakening desire to seek in the field of religion for that

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Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Madison, Wisconsin, incorporated March 9, 1955.

impetus so sadly needed at the U.N. There has been much disillusionment at the failure of the U.N. to achieve the high goals it originally set in San Francisco and this has stimulated a search for a factor which can bring their ideals to fruition. Continued strenuous effort will be required by the U.N. Committee

National Bahá’í Addresses

NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS:

536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Illinois.

NATIONAL TREASURER:

112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.

Make checks Payable to: National Bahá’í Fund

BAHÁ’Í PUBLISHING TRUST:

110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.

BAHÁ’Í NEWS:

Editorial Office:

110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois

Subscription and change of address:

112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois

to find those in the U.N. willing to accept the Bahá’í solution.

——UNITED NATIONS COMMITTEE

Mary L. Burnet, Chairman

Renee Welsh, Rec. Sec'y.

Mildred R. Mottahedeh, Corr. Secy.

George Goodman

Peter Gravina

Hilda Yen Male

Rafi Y. Mottahedeh

Bahereh Sabet

Habib Sabet

Isabel Silk

Clarence Welsh

BAHA’I SCHOOLS

The institution of the summer schools (is) designed to foster the spirit of fellowship in a distinctly Bahá’í atmosphere, to afford the necessary training for Bahá’í teachers, and to provide facilities for the study of the history and teachings of the Faith, and for a better understanding of its relation to other religions and to human society in general.

Shoghi Effendi in God Passes By, p. 340.

Louhelen Summer Session

Carrying out the spirit of Shoghi Effendi’s words, the Louhelen School Program Committee is happy to announce the following program for the summer of 1955. The school session will begin at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, July 2, and continue through Monday noon, September 5. The subjects for the sessions are:

July 2-4 Week-end: East Central States Area Teaching Conference.

July 5-15 Junior Youth Session (Ages 10-14).

July 16-17 Week—end: Teaching Institute on Child Education.

July 18-29 Family Session I.

July 30-31 Week-end: Islám

August 1-5 Family Session II.

August 6-7 Week-end: Israel

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Wilmington, Delaware, incorporated March 22, 1955.

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August 8-12 Family Session III.

August 13-14 Week-end: World Pioneering

August 15-19 Family Session IV

August 20-21 Week—end: Public Relations

August 22-September 2 Senior Youth Session

September 3-5 Week-end: Homecoming

Public meetings are planned weekly at 3:00 P.M. on Sundays and 8:00 P.M. on Wednesdays. In each Family Session, there will be a course on the spiritual teachings, a course on administration or Bahá’í history and an afternoon course, “Equipping Bahá’ís for Service.” There will be classes for the children during the four Family Sessions. During the Youth Sessions, both junior and senior, there will be counsellors as well as teachers.

Reservations should be made directly with:

Registrar: Louhelen Bahá’í School

3208 S. State Road

Davison, Michigan

Green Acre Summer Session

The 1955 Green Acre Summer School program, which follows, will be supplemented by a course on the fundamentals of the Bahá’í Faith, offered every week for non-Bahá’ís attending the school; and a program of advanced study for students who have a good background in the Teachings and who have taken other courses at the summer school over the years. The advanced course is not offered the first week.

The first two weeks of the school there will be a Youth session and children‘s classes will be conducted from July 11 to August 26.

July 5-9

1. The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh

2.Palis Talks of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

3. Do’s 5; Don’ts for Bahá’í Teachers

July ll-15

1. Gleanings, I

2. Unfoldmemt of World Civilization

3. Principles & Practice of Bahá’í Consultation

4. Fifty Questions non-Bahá’ís Ask

July l8-22

1. Gleanings, II

2. Divine Art of Living

3. Sound Methods at Studying the Bahá’í Writings

4. Toward a Better Understanding of Catholicism

July 25-29

1. Gleanings, III

2. God Passes By, I (The Báb)

3. How to Give a Bahá’í Talk

4. What is the Mature Bahá’í?

Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Palo Alto, California, incorporated January 31, 1955.

Aug. l-5

l. Gleanings, IV

2. God Passes By, II (Bahá’u’lláh)

3. Do’s & Don’ts for Bahá’í Teachers

4. How to Give a Bahá’í Talk

Aug. 8-l2

1. The Hidden Words

2. God Passes By, III (‘Abdu’l-Bahá)

3. How to Study the Bahá’í Writings Effectively

4. Toward a Better Understanding of Judaism

Aug. 15-19

1. Extracts from the Súratu’l-Haykal and the Words of Paradise

2. Solving Community Problems

3. Fifty Questions non-Bahá’ís Ask

4. What is a Mature Bahá’í?

Aug. 22-26

1. The Tablets of Tajallíyát, Glad Tidings, Ishráqát

2. Foundations of World Unity

3, The Covenant

4. Principles & Practice of Bahá’í Consultation

For further information write:

Green Acre Bahá’í School Committee

Miss Vera Olsen, Secy.

9 West 73rd Street

New York 23, New York

BAHA’I IN THE NEWS

The State of Israel Government Year-Book (1954), in the chapter on Religious Affairs (p. 207), announces the establishment of a Bahá’í Department in its Ministry of Religious Affairs.

“Although the number of Bahá’í adherents in Israel is not large, a special Department was established for this denomination this year, to deal with the special problems of the Bahá’í faith which has its world religious centre in Haifa. During 1953, the splendid Bahá’í mausoleum was completed on the slopes of Mount Carmel.”

A tourist pamphlet on the City of Acre (‘Akká) in Israel includes an illustration of the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh and this reference: “The World Centre of the Bahá’í Faith is in Acre. The central edifice is the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith. Adjoining the Shrine is the ‘Mansion of Bajhi,’ where Bahá’u’lláh spent the closing years of His life, and passed away. It is an old Arab Mansion, and has now been converted into a Museum.

“Both the Mansion and the Shrine are open to the public, Saturdays. Sundays and Mondays, and on other days by special appointment. The Gardens are open at all times.

“Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Faith, was banished from His homeland in Persia, because of His teachings of Universal Brotherhood, Universal Faith and Universal Peace.

“The cell in which Bahá’u’lláh was incarcerated in the penal fortress of Acre for two years is now a ‘Bahá’í

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Some of the friends who attended the first Italo-Swiss Summer School It Bex-les-Bains in the mountains of Switzerland, September 17-24, 1954. (See Bahá’í News, December, 1954, page 4.)

Holy Place. He was confined within the old walled city for another seven years, and His home, where many of the Bahá’í spiritual teachings were revealed, is shown elsewhere in this folder, and is a Bahá’í Holy Place, which can be visited by the public.”

Then follows the Guardian's statement explaining the Faith, and an aerial view of the Shrine, the Mansion and the Gardens.

Acknowledgement is made to Helen M. Ames for reporting that Mademoiselle magazine for February, page 66, has a reference to the Bahá’í World Center.

A Turkish newspaper named Hüreyet, dated 6 Subat, 1955, carries on its front page a photograph of John C. Eichenauer with an interview which unfortunately has not been translated.

Wilmette Life for March 17, 1955, has a front cover illustration taken from the north side of the harbor channel showing the Temple in the background.

AREA NEWS BULLETINS

The following inspiring reports of Bahá’í community activities are taken from the bulletins available to BAH’Í NEWS at press time:

The Gulfstates Crewsaider, bulletin of the Gulf States Area Teaching Committee, reports the continued activity of the new group in Galveston, Texas, with excellent press coverage including a weekly announcement of the fireside, and books placed in the public library. Public meetings in Jackson, Mississippi, New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Texas cities of San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Houston, with good radio and press coverage, were planned around the teaching tour of Auxiliary Board member, Marjorie McCormick. The Bulletin reports new enrollees in Corpus Christi, Dallas, and Mesquite, Texas, and in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Southwestern States Area Bulletin welcomes the new enrollees in Alameda and Oxnard, California, and in Apache Junction and Globe, Arizona. A report from northern California mentions public meetings that were well attended with good radio and newspaper publicity, all due to the efforts of just two or three Bahá’ís in the communities sponsoring them.

NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

In Fairbanks, Alaska an intensive teaching campaign was conducted over a period of a few days, with a Bahá’í speaker from Anchorage, Alaska giving two public lectures with an average attendance of over fifty guests. Four radio programs, one TV show, several press interviews and news articles gave excellent publicity to the campaign. In addition to a meeting with the NAACP, many firesides were held, now being continued with the new contacts attracted through this effort.

Miami, Florida reports a childrens class held regularly each Sunday morning in cooperation with the Bahá’í community in Miami Beach.

Reno, Nevada Bahá’í Assembly has been granted authority to perform marriages anywhere in the state of Nevada,

Further Reports on Brotherhood Week

Miami, Florida sponsored a Brotherhood program given by the members of the children’s class.

San Antonio, Texas held a public meeting at the Y.W.C.A., followed by a buffet luncheon at a Bahá’í home.

The Bahá’í group of Greensboro, North Carolina, was given an unusual opportunity to present the Bahá’í Faith to an audience of between fifty and sixty people on the occasion of the closing activity for Brotherhood Week held in the Negro Y.W.C.A. of that city. Participating in the panel discussion were a Jewish Rabbi, a leading Christian minister, a representative of the Quaker group, and a Bahá’í.

The Quaker representative stated, “We are living at present in a world of confused ideals and lost goals. If the old religion cannot meet this challenge, surely God will raise a mighty Voice to call out to His people, ‘There is but one God.’ ”

This was a perfect introduction for the Bahá’í speaker, who told them that the “Mighty Voice” had come and was calling the people of the earth to the recognition of the one God, and informing them that there is but one religion and one race—the human race.

The Ft. Wayne, Indiana Bahá’í Community were invited to appear on Station WKJG, March 9, on the weekly program “A Faith to Live By”. A talk was given on “Worship” and Temple pictures were used. This is Ft. Wayne’s first TV appearance.

A CRUSADE IS IN PROGRESS

Theme of Area Youth Conferences

On the week end of February 19 and 20, area youth conferences were held in Chicago, Illinois; Phoenix, Arizona; Fresno, California; Dumont, New Jersey; Los Angeles, California; Richmond Highlands, Washington; Rochester, New York, Discussion centered around plans for World Youth Day, ways of improving meetings on university campuses, on the need for youth to prepare themselves to he effective pioneers in the World Crusade through ability to teach and live the Bahá’í life and by preparing to be self-supporting through learning vocations that will be useful in this respect.

VISUAL AIDS FOR TEACHING AND EXHIBITS

The Audio-Visual Education Committee announces that slides of the Temple and the Shrine of the Báb are soon to appear throughout the country on the Atkins Travel Slides. The friends may buy these same slides from the Sales Committee or the Audio-Visual Education Committee at prices lower than in stores.

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Part of a religious display held at the Chapman Memorial Library of Downer College of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 13 through March 27, which included a model of the Bahá’í Temple.

Soon to be available will be views of the Temple in three-D for the Viewmaster.

The three-wing display unit originally prepared for use during Jubilee year is still excellent exhibit material. The low price of $3.50 includes cost of shipment to any address in the United States.

Tapes of hi-fi music are available for use at firesides and special meetings. Send for the committee‘s bulletin, “Sound Preslzntatiorls.”

The committee also offers “Words for the World” in two 10-inch long playing records, consisting of the complete series of sixteen four-minute broadcasts; and the 7-inch l.p. record voice solo of Carol Kelsey, a member of the Fred Waring Orchestra, singing “From the SweetScented Streams.”

Valuable information about tape recorders, projectors and other media for use in the Ten—Year Crusade appears in Visi-News Bulletin No. 10 available on request from the:

Audio-Visual Education Committee

126 Evergreen Place,

West Englewood, N.J.

DEVOTIONAL PROGRAMS AT HOUSE OF WORSHIP

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 Capella Choir.

The programs for the month of April follow:

Order of Devotions——April 3, 1955

The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is Lo safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men.

—Bahá’u’lláh

CHORAL SELECTION

O Thou, by Whose Name (Prayer of Bahá’u’lláh—Charles Wolcott

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Gleanings, p. 243 Gleanings, XCIX, p. 200

OLD TESTAMENT

Malachi 2:10; 3:1-3; 3:16-18; Isaiah 11:1-9

NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew 22:36-40; John 10:14·16

QUR’AN

Sura III:98-100

CHORAL SELECTION

Blessed Is The Spot (Prayer of Bahá’u’lláh) Charles Wolcott

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Gleanings, CVII, p. 214; pp. 215-216; CXI, p. 217

Baha'i Prayers, p. 45

CHORAL SELECTION

Alleluia Lord God! - Giovanni Palestrina

Order of Devotions—April 10, 1955

In all Dispensations the law of prayer hath constituted a fundamental element of the Revelati on of alt the Prophets of God.

—Bahá’u’lláh

CHORAL SELECTION

Almighty God of Our Fathers—James

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Baha’i Prayers, p. 82

OLD TESTAMENT Job 33:26; Psalms 50:14-15; 34:1-8 ; 117; 100; 67

NEW TESTAMENT

Mark 11:22-26; Luke 11:5-13 ; Matthew 6:5-13

CHORAL SELECTION

Alleluia—Randall Thompson

QUR’AN

Sura II:147-148; Sura XI:116-117; Sura I

BAHA'I SACRED WRITINGS Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh (from the Arabic), No. 16, 43

Kitáb-i-Iqán (The Book of Certitude), p. 39

Gleanings, pp. 294, 265, 266, 243, 295

Advent of Divine Justice, p. 70

Bahá’í Prayers, p. 75

CHORAL SELECTION

From the Sweet-Scented Streams (Prayer of Bahá’u’lláh)-Charles Wolcott

Order of Devotions April 17, 1955

O men! This is a matchless Day. Matchless must , likewise, be the tongue that celebrateth the praise of the Desire of all nations, and matchless the d eed that aspireth to be acceptable in His sight. The whole human race hath longed for this Day, that perchance it may fulfil that which well beseemeth its station, and is worthy of its destiny.

—Bahá’u’lláh

Window display in color, used in Montevideo window exhibit at the Agencia de Transportes Varig and in the Lavadero Durolux.

CHORAL SELECTION

Arise, O God, and Show Thy Might-Haydn M. Morgan

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Prayers and Meditations, pp. 35-36

OLD TESTAMENT

Psalms 24; Micah 4: 1-5

NEW TESTAMENT

Revelation 21:1-5

QUR’AN

Sura LXXV: 1-12

CHORAL SELECTION

Our God Will We Praise—Sergei Rachmaninoff

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Gleanings, p. 213, p . 39; VII, p. 10

Gleanings, p. 6, p. 7

The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, pp . 106-107

Prayers and Meditations, CLV, p . 248

CHORAL SELECTION

We Thank Thee, Lord—Dimitri Bortniansky

Order of Devotions—April 24, 1955

Make mention of Me on My earth, that in My heaven I may remember thee, thus shall Mine eyes and thine be solaced.

—Bahá’u’lláh

CHORAL SELECTION

Sing and Rejoice—Will James

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Prayers and Meditations, CLXV, p. 258

OLD TESTAMENT

Psalms 19 and 23

NEW TESTAMENT

Mark 12:29-31; Romans 8:28 ; 1 Corinthians 13 :1-7 ; 2:9

QUR’AN

Sura 11:256-258

CHORAL SELECTION

God Is A Spirit—Alexander Kopyloff

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Gleanings, pp. 304-305

The Kitáb-i-Iqán, pp. 192-197 Prayers and Meditations, CLXVI, p. 259

CHORAL SELECTION

Glory Be to God in the Highest—G. B . Pergolesi

PUBLICATIONS

Bahá’í Glossary, By Marzieh Gail. A glossary of Persian and Arabic words that appear in the Bahá’í writings, with pronunciation clearly indicated and definitions of the meanings. This work is a necessity to every serious student of the Bahá’í writings and will add much enlightenment and enjoyment to the reading of The Dawn-Breakers, God

[Page 16]16

MAY, 1955

Passes By, The Kitáb-i-Íqán, The Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, and others. 8½ x 11 in., 60 pages, paper cover.

Per copy .....................$1.50

Foundations of World Unity

The much-loved selection of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s addresses and letters on the spiritual foundations of world unity is again available. This book is a “must” for public library presentation as well as for personal Bahá’í libraries, and an excellent book to give to new contacts who have had some previous attraction to the Teachings. The cloth copy is beautifully bound in natural linen, stamped in blue-green; paper copy is tan, stamped in red, size 9¼ x 6.

Bound in cloth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.00

Bound in paper. (Price remains) . . . . . . . . . . . ..$1.00

Prophecy Fullfilled. by Elizabeth Cheney. A revised edition of this useful pamphlet on the fulfilment of Biblical prophecy, dealing with prophecies more pertinent to today, is now available. It has been newly set in a modem typeface with an attractively designed cover, black on autumn red. The price of the new edition has been reduced.

Ten copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..$ .50

100 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$4.50

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

HOLY DAYS

April 21-May 2, Feast of Riḍván (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh)

May 2, Twelfth day of Riḍván

May 23, Declaration of the Báb (May 22, about 2 hours after sunset.)

May 29, Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (3:00 A.M.)

FEASTS

May 17 — ‘Aẓamat, Grandeur

June 5 — Núr, Light

June 24 — Rahmat, Mercy

BAHÁ’Í HOUSE OF WORSHIP

Visiting hours

Weekdays and Saturdays:

1:00 P.M.—4:30 P.M., 7:00 P.M.— 9:00 P.M.

Sundays: 10:30 A.M.—9:00 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:

Declaration of the Báb, May 23

Holy Days and Anniversaries celebrated at the Bahá’í House of Worship are open to the public. The meeting begins at 8:15 P.M. of the day preceding the anniversary date, in Foundation Hall.

IN MEMORIAM

"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.”

—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

Mrs. Lucy Lucas

Phoenix, Arizona

Feb. 20, 1955

Mr. August E. Anderson

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Feb. 16, 1955

Mr. William Roessler

New York, New York

Jan. 20, 1955

Mrs. Martha Wright

New york, New York

Feb. 11, 1955

Mr. Arthur Allen DuBuque

New York, New York

Feb. 13, 1955

Miss Lee Friedman

New York, New York

(date not reported)

Mrs. Bea Durando

Phoenix, Arizona

March. 1955

Jewett P. Hilts

Omak, Washington

March 10, 1955

Miss Gertrude M. Foshay

Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Feb. 10, 1955

Mr. Lucian N. Nash

Forest Grove, Oregon

March 23, 1955

Mrs. Audrey Danial

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

March 21, 1955

Mr. James Bolton (youth)

Ashuelot, New Hampshire

March 28, 1955

William H. Maddex

Orange, New Jersey

March 29, 1955

Mrs. Oziebel Turney

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

March 27, 1955

Miss Pauline Roth

Fort Wayne, Indiana

April 2, 1955

Mr. Perry Haynes

Wolfeboro, New Hampshire March 18, 1955

Mrs. Katheryn B. Mielke

Escondido, Calilornia

March 23, 1955

MARRIAGES

“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 goo through Thy bounty and grace. . .”

—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

Columbus, Ohio—Mrs. Ruth Smith to Mr. Willard Denney, February 23, 1955.

Chula Vista, Calif.—Miss Patricia L. Car ter to Mr. Edward J. Carlson, January 22. 1955.

BAHA’I DIRECTORY CHANGES AND ADDITIONS

Missouri

St. Louis: Mrs. Mildred Birkett, 4053 Llndell. Z. 8

Texas

Dallas: Mrs. Allene Squires. 6941 Lakeshore Dr.

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 trons national committees and local assemblies of the United States as well as from National Assemblies or other lands. Material is due in Wilmette on the drst 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.