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No. 295

BAHA’I YEAR 112

SEPTEMBER, 1955

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THE GUARDIAN

GUARDIAN DIRECTS APPEAL TO PRESIDENT EISENHOWER

The following cable was received on August 16:

“Owing (to) aggravation (of the) situation, (the) hacking (to) pieces (of the) bodies (of) seven believers (in the) vicinity (of) Yazd, (and the) likelihood (of) worse massacre (in the) approaching months, advise all groups (and) Assemblies (in the) United States (to) address telegraphically President Eisenhower, appealing (for) his intervention for protection (from) further massacres (of our) offenseless, law-abiding coreligionists (in) Írán (and the) safeguard (of their) human rights. Include brief reference (to the) worst atrocities. National Assembly should address him similar message both (in) writing (and) telegraphically. Include list (of) atrocities in accompanying memorandum . . . ” August 15, 1955.

—SHOGHI

Beloved Friends:

The Guardian’s direction was immediately reported to the Assemblies and groups. It is necessary for the entire American Bahá’í community, from communities to groups having only two or three believers, to participate in this supreme effort to save our brethren in Írán. The slaughter of seven “offenseless, lawabiding co-religionists” has signalized the breaking of a new and more terrible wave of oppression in Írán.

As explained in this issue of BAHÁ’Í NEWS, an official Bahá’í appeal has been filed with the Secretary-Generall of United Nations, a step made imperative by the failure of Írán to respond to the cabled and written appeals sent in great volume by the National Spiritual Assemblies, local Assemblies, and groups throughout the world.

Now we take the third step—an appeal by American Bahá’ís to their President, chief Magistrate of the country whose spiritual mission has been so vividly defined by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and by the Guardian.

What is happening to the Bahá’ís is a new and supreme manifestation and resolve that no religious party or government shall outlaw and destroy a Bahá’í community. We have been caught up into the workings of Divine Providence, and as we act so shall we be reinforced by the Almighty Arm of Bahá’u’lláh!

Sincerely,

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

“ONE OF THE MOST DEVOTED BAHÁ’ÍS”

“The Guardian was very sorry to hear of Julia Goldman’s death. She was one of the most devoted Bahá’ís of that older generation, ever loyal, ever active. He will certainly pray for her soul’s progress.” (From letter written on behalf of the Guardian by the Secretary, July 9, 1955.)

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

PERSECUTION OF íRÁNIAN BAHÁ’ÍS

Appeal to United Nations

The story of the appeal to United Nations—a truly historic event for all Bahá’ís—is divided into two parts.

This story begins with the Guardian’s cable of July 18: “ . . . Advise appeal United Nations. Mention atrocities, act vigorously.”

Since sessions were soon to be held in Geneva, it was apparent that action by the Bahá’í International Community would have to be taken immediately in Geneva. Our United Nations International Observer, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh, flew to Geneva carrying with her the material needed for an appeal: record of atrocities committed, press clippings, photographs showing demolition of the dome of the National Bahá’í Center in Ṭihrán, Bahá’í literature, etc.

At that point it seemed necessary to secure the cooperation of a government or a large international non-governmental organization to sponsor the Bahá’í appeal. Cables were sent to a number of Bahá’ís in Europe asking them to participate.

The next step was the Guardian’s recognition of an international committee consisting of Dr. Ugo Giachery, Dr. Hermann Grossmann, Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh. Mr. Aziz Navidi, and Mr. John Ferraby, to bandle the appeal.

This committee found it possible, under a section of the Economic and Social Council, to file the appeal directly with the Secretary-General of United Nations, and this was done on August 1, 1955. The appeal was signed by Charles Mason Remey, President, International Bahá’í Council, Dr. Ugo Giachery, Chairman of the Appeal Committee, and John Ferraby, Secretary of the Appeal Committee, on behalf of the Bahá’í International Community.

A copy of the appeal was presented to all United Nations delegates present, and a Press Conference was held in Geneva on Wednesday, Au-

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SEPTEMBER, 1955

gust 3. The Appeal Committee consulted experts in connection with the various aspects of its great project. The covering statement referred to Article 18 of the Declaration of Human Rights, and to Articles 13, 55 and 56 of the Charter of United Nations.

“The Bahá’í International Community respectfully requests the United Nations and its Member Govrments to investigate recent happenings in Írán described hereafter and to take ‘joint and separate action’ as provided for by . . . the Charter to prevent further persecution of the Bahá’ís in Írán, to remedy the injustice perpetrated against them and to restore the freedom to practice their faith in places of worship in Írán now partly demolished, closed or seized,”

This introductory statement was followed by excerpts from press articles, the text of instructions issued by the Minister of Interior in Parliament, a brief presentation of the Bahá’í teaching on obedience to Government, a warning that new antiBahá’í excesses may take place during the Muslim mourning months of Muharram and Safar, and a reference to the thousands of appeals which have been sent to the Sháh, the Government, the Majlis and the Senate which have had no effect, compelling the Bahá’í International Community to apply to United Nations “to protect the lives, Holy sites and the property of the Bahá’í Cornmunity in Írán and to re-establish freedom of belief for hundreds of thousands of Bahá’ís in Írán, faithful and law-abiding citizens of their country.”

The appeal was accompanied by sixteen separate Annexes.

The decisive step has been taken. Under our beloved Guardian’s leadership the Bahá’í world community has officially and formally challenged the existing international political body to investigate and act in a matter of basic human rights. The Bahá’ís, in fact, are the anvil on which Providence is shaping the united and humane world of the future. The Bahá’ís symbolize the new, universal principles which humanity needs. Their sacrifice gradually establishes these Divine principles in human society.

The fact that the Bahá’í appeal is unsponsored by any powerful body or nation means that we must exert ourselves to make the appeal a living issue and not a document to be filed and forgotten. Publicity comes first, but as other plans are devised by the National Spiritual Assembly the friends will be informed.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

REPORT OF PERSECUTIONS IN PERSIA

In the documentation for the appeal to the United Nations by the International Bahá’í Community, there was included a list of atrocities known to have been committed upon Bahá’ís during May and June, 1955, following the government’s edict outlawing the Bahá’í Faith in Írán.

The Bahá’í Press Service also issued a release to all local Spiritual Assemblies, leading newspapers, and wire services, summarizing these atrocities which the Bahá’ís throughout the world have endeavored to bring to an end through their direct appeals to the Sháhinsháh and the Prime Minister, all of which appeals have gone unheeded to the present time.

At left, first Ionic column completed at Chiampo, Italy, for the International Bahá’í Archives Building on Mt. Carmel. Each column, without base or capital, is about nineteen feet high. Below is shown a small section of the storing yard It Chiampo. The material is ready to be packed in Wooden cases for shipment to Haifa. Nearly eighty tons of carved stone is ready for shipment. At extreme left is one of the capitals; on the right, the base of a column.

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For the information of the friends, the National Spiritual Assembly presents the following summary of the sufferings of our Persian fellow-believers as reported so far:

In southern Írán, the head of the Department of Finance openly encouraged the people to kill and plunder the Bahá’ís, and the governor cooperated. As a result, a number of priests and several thousand persons attacked the homes of individual Bahá’ís, and beat those they found on the streets.

A large number went to the Bahá’í cemetery, broke the grave stones. felled trees and started to open the graves. Several Bahá’ís were taken to the mosque under threats of death and violation of their women; they were forced to recant their faith. About forty Bahá’í homes in the vicinity were set on fire and plundered.

In another town four Bahá’í houses were burned and three homes plundered and torn down. Coal oil was poured on a cow belonging to a Bahá’í and set on fire. One Bahá’í, a government employee, was beaten and his hand broken; later his wife’s head was split open with a cutlass.

In a third town the local police openly approved the persecution of Bahá’ís. The house of a Bahá’í was burned down, and he himself had to hide from the mob bent on killing him.

In a fourth city a large number of people seized a girl and stripped her naked. They severely heat two Bahá’í men, one of whom is believed to have died of the wounds received.

The Bahá’ís of the city do not dare leave their houses, as Bahá’ís are being taken to a special building, and no one knows the fate of those taken away. The governor and the superintendent of police openly protect the persons committing these acts.

In a principal city of southwestern train the homes of Bahá’ís were plundered and demolished. In nearby localities Bahá’ís and their homes were plundered and a group severely beaten.

Bahá’í children in schools in this region were insulted and beaten. Their teachers failed them in examinations.

In a neighboring town the furnishings of a Bahá’í’s house were destroyed, and his wife was publicly stripped naked. In the same region, a Bahá’í factory director was dismissed, and he was obliged to leave the vicinity.

A local dignitary and a Muslim preacher went to attack the house of a Bahá’í factory worker. The Bahá’í was dragged from his home and told to either become a Muslim or be killed. He fled to a nearby city for protection. In that city butchers and bakers received instructions not to sell bread or meat to Bahá’ís.

In western Írán inhabitants of one town cursed the Bahá’ís and their religious observances, and stoned their houses. A number of their children were expelled from the schools.

In another western town three men attacked the daughter of a Bahá’í, and she was beaten and raped.

In central Iran Bahá’ís were prevented from practicing their profession, the making of rose water. A number of Bahá’ís taking their harvest to market were beaten and their harvest plundered. Four harvest storehouses belonging to Bahá’ís were set on fire, as were their houses.

In the same region the populace broke down the wall of the Bahá’í cemetery, entered it, and dug open a grave. They carried away the corpse and the Coffin.

In northern Írán, the house of a Bahá’í was attacked; the police refused to take action. Nearby, a Bahá’í was severely beaten, and when unconscious was taken to the house of a Muslim. A rumor started that he entered the Muslim’s house to waylay suspicion. He was arrested and imprisoned, and will be prosecuted.

Two other Bahá’ís were attacked and beaten. They were afterwards placed backwards on donkeys and led with ridicule through seven villages. They were held until morning, and sent to a nearby city in a car. On arrival, the populace assaulted and beat them. Officials there took no action to punish the perpetrators.

Particularly tragic to Bahá’ís throughout the world has been the desecration of the house of the Báb, the martyr prophet, holiest Bahá’í shrine in Írán. '

In one town the Ḥaẓira was seized by the Government and handed over

Model of Door for the International Bahá’í Archives Building on Mt. Carmel, showing detail of one of the panels.

to the Red Cross for use as their headquarters. In another town the Ḥaẓira was demolished by representatives of the Army and in the Province of Núr the House associated with Bahá’u’lláh was officially occupied by the Military.

The most recent atrocity reported is the slaughter of seven Bahá’ís, six men and one woman, in a village by a mob of some two thousand persons.

These widespread attacks of brutal repression clearly indicate the necessity of an appeal to an international body.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

PRAYER FOR AMERICA

Presented to President Eisenhower

The special edition of the Master’s Prayer for America prepared for presentation to high officials was shown at the Convention. A copy of this beautiful and dignified edition has been presented by the National Spiritual Assembly to the President, with a covering letter.

President Eisenhower has acknowledged its receipt with a letter expressing his thanks and appreciation in very gracious terms.

Copies of the special edition can be obtained from the Sales Committee for local presentations.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

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SEPTEMBER, 1955

MEMBERSHIP IN FREEMASONRY

A recent issue of the British Bahá’í Journal contained the text of two cables from the Guardian concerning membership of Bahá’í's in Freemasonry:

“Disapprove membership (in) Freemasonry” (November 11, 1954); “Any Bahá’í determined retain membership (in) Freemasonry loses voting rights” (December 22, 1954).

The National Spiritual Assembly inquired of the Guardian whether this directive applied to the United States. In a letter written on behalf of the Guardian, dated July 9, 1955, this question was answered: “The directive regarding membership in Freemasonry should be carried out by your Assembly in all areas under your Assembly’s jurisdiction.”

The Guardian’s directive about Freemasonry is an application of the general principle he laid down some years ago to the effect that Bahá’ís are not to affiliate with organizations, any of whose purposes and methods contradict fundamental principles of the Bahá’í teachings. This directive closes our ranks for the forthcoming new period of public responsibility when enemies of the Cause will do their best to find ways to discredit our principles of complete neutrality with respect to various social organizations in East and West.

This is published as a notice to the friends and to the administrative bodies functioning in and for all U.S. territories of the Ten-Year Plan.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

QUAKER SCHOOL RECOGNIZES BAHÁ’Í HOLY DAYS

From the Bahá’ís of Poughkeepsie, New York, we learn that Oakwood. a private school conducted by Quakers, has given permission for a Bahá’í youth to be absent on Bahá’í Holy Days.

The School wrote: “We are happy to grant permission for Bahman Samandari to be absent from school during the Bahá’í Holy Days as per your request of April 11. Sincerely yours, William W. Clark, Principal.”

WORLD CRUSADE

ANCHORAGE HAZÍRA DEDICATED

The newly purchased Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds at 820 Eighth Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska (see BAHÁ’Í NEWS, June, 1955, page 6), destined to become the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Alaska, in April, 1957, was dedicated on Saturday, August 6, 1955, at 2:30 p.m. The dedication was conducted by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Anchorage, with Mr. Rex King as chairman and Mrs. Florence Mayberry, member of the American auxiliary Board, as guest speaker.

The opening prayer, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s prayer for America, was read by Mrs. Kathy Rodgers of Fairbanks, Alaska. The chairman then welcomed the Bahá’ís and guests present and read greetings from the three American Hands of the Cause —Mrs. Corinne True, Mr. Paul Haney and Mr. Horace Holley; from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Canada, the Western Hemisphere Teaching Committee, the Ketchikan (Alaska) Bahá’í Group, the Bahá’ís of Barrow on the Alaskan Arctic Ocean, and from Honor Kempton, first pioneer to Alaska in 1939 under the first American Seven-Year Plan. A tape recorded message from Mr. Rafi Mottahedeh of New York City was also received.

The Governor of Alaska, Mr. B. Frank Heintzelman, sent a message explaining why he could not accept the invitation to be an honored guest at the Dedication. He said in part: “Please extend my greetings to the Anchorage Bahá’í Assembly and accept my best wishes for your efforts toward the establishment of unity, justice and peace—goals which we should all strive earnestly to attain.”

The actual Dedication program began at 3:53 p.m. with the reading by the chairman of Bahá’u’lláh’s words, “Blessed is the spot . . . ” Passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s Writings, from the Old and New Testament and the Qur’án, and from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were then read; a recording of “The Sweet-Scented Streams” was played, and the program was concluded with Bahá’u’lláh’s prayer for all nations.

A copy of the Jubilee booklet “The Mission of Bahá’u’lláh” and of “Faith for Freedom” had been placed on each chair, and public open house was held following the Dedication to give opportunity for inquiry about the Faith.

Gifts to the future Haziratzrl-Quds of Alaska included the painting by Mark Tobey, “The Tree of the Martyrs,” from Mrs. Frances L. Wells, who also presented a rare copy of The Polo Altan for Novemher 1, 1912, which contains the full account of ‘Abdu’l-Baháls visit and lecture to Stanford University.

WESTERN HEMISPHERE TEACHING

The Western Hemisphere Teaching Committee suggests, for those who contemplate pioneering and wish to learn Spanish or French, that it is possible to borrow Linguaphone courses at local public libraries. A slight charge is made by the library for loan of the books and records, usually fifty cents a week.

PIONEER LETTERS

Western Hemisphere

From The Crusaders, published by the Western Hemisphere Teaching Committee of the United States National Spiritual Assembly, are cited the following excerpts from pioneer letters:

Falkland Islands

John Leonard writes: “Life continues to be wonderful. This job is so interesting and absorbing and I like the open life and the people so much, that sometimes I feel like bursting with gratitude. A short time ago one of the well-meaning friends Wrote and said that any time I felt I was ready for a vacation, she would get together with a few other friends and raise funds for me to take a trip back. I wrote back that the real hardship would be to return to the States, and that it’s more of a vacation for me to remain here. There is no feeling of homesickness. These people are very much a part of my family now.”

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Santa Ana (El Salvador)

Marjorie Stee writes from San Salvador: “Some of the interesting things about the new Bahá’í Center in Santa Ana are as follows: The fact that the rent for the little tworoom house is in accord with the purse-possibilities of the two pioneers also makes it the kind of place where one can contact what we would refer to in the U.S. as the ‘grass roots’ of the population. Here we might call it the ‘earthen-floor’ or ‘barefoot’ group. Truly the neighbors have been fascinated from the beginning at all the events taking place in the little casita. Margaret Mills stood in the doorway one afternoon watching the people of the street—the little short street running off at a tangent in comparison with the surrounding ones and appropriately named ‘Calle Diagonal’. The neighbors from next door came to ask questions and the little girl from across the street who had been sent by her parents. They were told that in this house we were going to offer lessons — lessons in English gratis and also lessons in the Bahá’í Teachings. They were told it was for adults, and the young teen-agers (some less than 15) wanted to know if they could come too. The news spread like wildfire around the neighborhood.”

Curacao (Dutch West Indies)

Mr. and Mrs. John Kellberg write: “Sometimes our progress here seems slow, but we are not at all discouraged for the Master has told us, ‘If few people come to your gatherings do not lose heart, and if You are ridiculed and contradicted be not distressed . . . Only have faith in the Mercy of God and spread the Divine Truth.‘ "

NEW ASSEMBLIES IN AFRICA

Thirty-seven new Spiritual Assemblies were formed on April 21, 1955, in African territories under the jurisdiction of the British National Spiritual Assembly, according to report in the British Bahá’í Journal for June, 1955. These new Assemblies are distributed as follows: Uganda 17, Kenya 8, Tanganyika 1, British Cameroons 8, British Togoland 1, Gold Coast 1, Belgian Congo 1. In Uganda there are now 861 declared Bahá’ís, and in Kenya, 116.

JAPAN NATIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE PLANS CONFERENCE DETAILS

The Asia Teaching Committee of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly reports that an all-out effort is being made to insure the success of the Asia Regional Teaching Conference to be held in the historical city of Nikko, Japan, September 23-25. Twenty delegates from seven World Crusade areas in addition to at least fifty Bahá’ís from Japan itself are making plans to attend. An especially honored guest will be Mr. Dhikru’lláh Khádem. Hand of the Cause of God in Asia.

The Zen-fukyo-I (National Teaching Committee) of Japan has appointed eight having special responsibilities at the conference, including such functions as conducting daily devotions, simultaneous translation of all talks into the several languages represented, publicity, and general coordination of the program and for physical arrangements.

In planning this conference in cooperation with the Asia Teaching Committee, the Japanese believers are gaining valuable experience for the time when they will be called upon to plan for the national convention in April, 1957, for the election of their first Zen-sei—kai, the National Spiritual Assembly of Japan.

Memorial erected by direction of the Guardian at the grave of William Sutherland Maxwell, Hand of the Cause of God, in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal, Canada.

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SEPTEMBER, 1955

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

BRITISH ISLES

National Assembly Elected

Election of the following as members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles has been announced in its Bahá’í Journal for June:

Hasan Balyuzi, Chairman

Ernest Gregory, Vice-Chairman

and Treasurer

John Ferraby, Secretary

Dorothy Ferraby

Alma Gregory

Marion Hoffman

Betty Reed

Louis Ross-Enfield

Ian Semple

Liverpool incorporated

This Assembly reports in the same issue that the Liverpool Spiritual Assembly has now been incorporated.

CENTRAL AMERICA

Monthly Bulletin to Be Issued

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Central America, Mexico and the Antilles has appointed a National Bulletin Committee to publish a monthly mimeographed bulletin in Spanish and English from the Canal Zone, which is to be translated into French in Haiti. In this way this Assembly hopes the news will reach Bahá’ís under its Jurisdiction as speedily and effectively as possible.

GERMANY

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany and Austria reports in its Bahá’í Nachrichten for June that forty-one German Bahá’í communities and groups sent cablegrams or airletters to support the pleas for help for the Bahá’ís of Persia.

INDIA, PAKISTAN, BURMA

National Assembly Elected

In its monthly newsletter the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India, Pákistán and Burma announces election of the following members to that body for the Bahá’í Year 112 (1955-1956):

UNITY IN GIVING

Dearly Beloved Friends:

The World Crusade advances on all fronts in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles under the inspiring generalship of our beloved Guardian.

With each advance, we perceive more brightly the advent of the divinely ordained institutions that will be the pillars of a New World Order.

Weakness on one front threatens to retard the progress of the Crusade. That weakness affects the Institution of the National Fund which must sustain and serve as the “life-blood” of all of the other institutions.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá has said that spiritual progress cannot be attained except through material means. Each of us is, in a sense, a gardener as well as a harvester, but only in the degree to which we comprehend the divine character of the institutions which have been ordained by Bahá’u’lláh for the establishment of World Order. Every maturing Bahá’í welcomes the opportunity of understanding the true nature of these institutions among which one of the most vital, at this moment, is that of the National Fund. When we realize that many of our valiant and sacrificial crusaders in the remote areas of the globe are sustained wholly by our devotion to and support of this institution, we understand that we are not truly participating in the Crusade unless we support this institution in the spirit of gratitude as well as sacrifice.

During the first four months of this Bahá’í Year, an alarming deficit has developed which threatens to undermine the success of the many objectives to which we are committed during this year. Far from being sufficient to fully meet all of our financial requirements this year, it will be necessary to implement the budget of $550,000 if all our objectives are to be attained. Many of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds that must be acquired this year may have to be purchased on an all-cash basis in order to effect substantial savings in those acquisitions. It should therefore be clearly understood that the budget of $550,000 is a minimum amount which, added to loans that may have to be arranged, will enable your National Assembly to successfully carry forward our program.

The American Bahá’í Community has truly achieved a praiseworthy degree of unity in many aspects of our beloved Faith. That spirit of unity will successfully promote all the interests of our Faith only when we have attained the same degree of unity in giving, so that there is no separation and no gap in any of the elements that represent true unity.

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

Isfandiar K. B. Bakhtiari, Chairman und Assistant Treasurer

G. A. Amreliwala, Vice-Chairman

K. J. Ḥakimian, Treasurer

Abbasally Butt, Secretary

Prof. D. L. Khianra

Prof. Pritam Singh

Mrs. Shirin Boman

H. Fathe’azam

M. Samimi

SOUTH AMERICA

Radio interview on Faith

The latest issue of the bulletin of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South America reports that a radio interview on the Faith was held in Puerto Montt. The director of the radio station, who is familiar with the Teachings, interviewed members of the National Spiritual Assembly of South America and an assistant of the Loncoche School about the Santiago, Chile, Bahá’í community for seventeen minutes.

NATIONAL NEWS

FESTIVAL OF FAITH

Further Report on Bahá’í Participation

The Festival of Faith held in San Francisco preceding the United Nations Tenth Anniversary meeting was organized by the San Francisco Council of Churches, Mr. Arthur L. Dahl, Jr., the Bahá’í representative, reports, and was the idea of its president, a woman active also in the World Afiairs Council. The Bahá’ís were asked to support the Festival as a group, through their attendance

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MONTHLY REPORT ON WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET

National Bahá’í Fund

Third Year

1955-1956

As of August 15, 1955

Where we are $81,000

Where we should be $161,O00

Total Budget for Entire Year .................................$550,000.00

(Average Monthly Requirements ....................$46,000.00)

Monthly receipts to date:

May 1-15 .......... $15,500

May 15-June 15 ... $22,500

June 15-July 15 .... $23,500

July 15-Aug. 15 ....$19,500

Total ......................$81.000

Accumulated deficit as of August 15, 1955 .........................$80.000

—NATIONALS SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

as a body, through selection of a prayer to be printed in the program, and through having a representative on the speakers’ platform to give a Call to Prayer with six other religious leaders representing Buddhist, Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim Faiths. Behind the speakers’ platform was a choir of 1500 voices from various churches, in robes of different colors, with a large section of brass and drums from three Army bands all conducted by Robert Shaw.

The clergy from all Faiths, many wearing colorful vestments, sat in the first fifteen rows, “including a pair of Buddhists who looked as if they were straight from Tibet.”

Mr. Dahl reports that the huge Cow Palace, where the Festival was held, “Was filled to the rafters, the crowd being estimated at over 15,000. There was a definite air of excitement, anticipation, and spirit in the hall.”

As the representatives of the various Faiths marched to the platform “the band broke out into Aaron Copeland’s ‘Fanfare for the Common Man,’ . . . proclaiming that this was no ordinary occasion.” After the seven representatives of the religions stepped to the upper podium, forming a semicircle (see photograph in BAHÁ’Í NEWS, August, 1955, page 3), and read the Calls to Prayer, in alphabetical order, the Bahá’í first, they stood with hands linked, “while the whole assembly silently prayed, silently, that is, except for the incessant popping of flash bulbs.”

Addresses by Secretary of State Dulles and Sir Leslie Munro, Ambassador of New Zealand to the United States, who mentioned the Faith, followed.

The entire program was televised over KQED and plans were made to record it for The Voice of America. Excellent publicity was given to the event, each of the four San Francisco newspapers mentioning the Bahá’í Faith as a participant, usually as one of a group of “major” religions. The TV columnist of the San Francisco Chronicle called the telecast “one of the most inspiring in years.”

Mr. Dahl concludes his report: “To me the most significant thing about this is that the Faith has been identified in a dignified but very public and publicized manner with the other great Faiths. This was no cult or sect situation. This was seen by some of the delegates, and men of the stature of Secretary Dulles and Sir Leslie Munro, as well as large numbers of people in the area. Tonight, as we were leaving the Sir Francis Drake dining room, I overheard a woman say to her companions, ‘There is the man who spoke for the Bahá’ís at the Festival of Faith.’ She remembered. It’s a good sign.”

BAHÁ’Í IN THE NEWS

A Visit Israel leaflet has come to hand which features “Carmel and Zebulon.” “Today the slopes house the major church of the famed Carmelite order and the World Bahá’í Faith Centre whose gold and marble Temple of Justice dominates modern Haifa.” By “Temple of Justice” is meant the Shrine of the Báb.

A feature article, “Jim Crow Goes to Church—No. 11," by James N. Rhea, was published in Providence Journal, June 15. The author, who recently visited the Bahá’í Temple, is making a study of racial integration in worship, and the Bahá’í position is explained.

The Braille Book Review, March, 1954, published by the American Foundation for the Blind, publishes this note: “Copies of the following books have been given to all regional libraries by the organizations indicated, and can be borrowed like any other book: Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, gift of Bahá’í Service for the Blind.”

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SEPTEMBER, 1955

Bahá’ís and guests at the Naw-Rúz Feast, 1955, held at St. Pierre, Reunion Island. Standing at left is ‘Ali Nakhjavání, member of African auxillary Board.

INTER-RACIAL COMMITTEE SUGGESTIONS

At this time when Bahá’í communities and groups are planning their teaching activities for the fall and winter, the Bahá’í Inter-Racial Teaching Committee wishes to remind the friends of the Guardian’s instructions concerning teaching among the Negroes.

The Bahá’í directory announces the membership of the Committee for 1955-1956 and states the functions the Committee is expected to perform in aiding the American believers to carry out the Guardian’s appeal to “. . . remedy, while there is yet time, through a revolutionary change in the concept and attitude of the average white American toward his Negro fellow-citizen, a situation, which, if allowed to drift, will, in the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, cause the streets of American cities to run with blood. . . .”

This appeal, quoted from the Guardian’s message of July 28, 1954, is a repetition of the calls to action that have been coming with everincreasing emphasis since 1938 when, in Hie Advent of Divine Justice, the Guardian directed the special attention of the American Bahá’í co munity to this “most challenging issue.“ It is strongly recommended that the friends study these stirring messages again and consider seriously what can be done locally to bring the attention of the local community to the supreme importance of this subject.

The Bahá’í Inter-Racial Teaching Committee is prepared to make one of its members available to any group wishing to set up inter-racial public meetings and to serve as guest speaker without cost. Speakers will be made available also to the larger communities, but the costs of public meetings and banquets in the larger centers must be met locally.

In planning teaching activities with the Negroes, the following suggestions, which are applicable to all public teaching efforts, should be considered:

Hold public meetings where the public, colored and white alike, can attend;

Invite contacts by telephone, letter or in person, and even offer transportation if possible, thus demonstrating true Bahá’í cordiality and love;

While a special effort is made to attract the Negro, the Negro friends must also put forth effort to invite and bring white friends to the meetings and to follow up their interest;

Use newspaper advertisements, including appropriate excerpts from the Bahá’í Writings;

Make sure that basic Bahá’í books are in the public libraries for those who wish to investigate the Faith but hesitate to attend meetings;

Seek contacts in kindred organizations which are working for integration;

Attend the programs of universities, colleges, churches.

The Bahá’í Inter-Racial Committee is eager to assist any community or group in planning a program that will awaken the consciousness of the community to the importance of the principles of the Oneness of Humanity, Requests and reports should be sent to the Committee secretary: Miss Lydia J. Martin, 2392 East 40th Street, Cleveland, Ohio.

AMERICAN INDIAN SERVICE

A chart has been prepared by the American Indian Service Committee to show Bahá’í teaching activities among American Indian Tribes on or near Reservations. This Chart is available from the Committee free of charge. Listed are eighty-three cities or towns which are located nearest to major Indian tribal concentrations. Of these localities fifteen are goal cities of the Home Front in the World Crusade.

The Committee points out that “It is important to remember that teaching the Faith among the Indians is not limited to reservations, for one third of the American Indians live, work or go to school in towns across the country. Thus most

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Bahá’ís have the opportunity to be neighbors and make friends with their Indian fellow-citizens: to demonstrate and then teach the Faith.” “Every believer, every group and every community has its part in this task” of making contact with the American Indians as one of the goals of the Ten-Year Spiritual Crusade.

The Teaching Brochure Supplement gives many ways of approach in making the first contact and suggests that Bahá’ís can do much to correct false conceptions concerning the Indian, by studying the actual facts in his history and speaking of these facts when some one uses derogatory phrases concerning the Indian.

Both the Chart and the Supplement may be ordered, free, from the American Indian Service Committee, c/o Mrs. Nancy Phillips, Secy., 736 Encanto Dr., S. E., Phoenix, Arizona.

NORTHWESTERN AREA CONFERENCE

The Area Teaching Committee for the Northwestern States reports the holding of the first conference in the goal city of Bellingham, Washington, on June 26. Highlights of the Conference were the enrollment of the first Bellingham Bahá’í, a salmon bake on the Lummi Indian Reservation prepared by the son of the Indian Chief who himself was unable to attend, the participation of Bahá’ís from Canada as well as sixty-nine from Boise, Idaho; Vancouver, West Vancouver and New Westminster, British Columbia; and from Seattle, Everett, Richmond Highlands, Kirkland and Anacortes, Washington, The number of Bahá’ís and guests attending the afternoon outdoor festival on the Indian Reservation rose to eighty-five and included Negro and Oriental, American and Canadian, young and old. In the evening Mrs. Helen Wilks addressed a public meeting on “What Is the Bahá’í Faith?”

OBSERVANCE OF MARTYRDOM OF THE BÁB

The Anniversary of the Martyrdom

of the Báb was observed July 9 by the Bahá’ís of Upper New York with an outdoor evening program held on the beautiful campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Seneca Town sponsored the program in co-operation with Assemblies and Groups of the Upper New York Inter-Community Relations Project. About sixty-five persons, including twelve guests, attended, coming from Geneva, Rome, Rochester, Syracuse, Waterloo, Penn Yann and Victor. The program consisted of a dramatic reading for three voices, based on episodes from The Dawn-Breakers, with the use of “Words for the World” between parts of the performance, and background music. The script was written by William Grammar, chairman of the Seneca Town Spiritual Assembly and teacher of English and dramatics in the Geneva High School.

Other communities which have reported observance of the Martyrdom of the Báb were San Diego, California, New Haven, Connecticut, and San Antonio and Galveston, Texas. At Galveston, a goal city, Kenneth Wiley was speaker and of thirty-four present only nine were Bahá’ís. Some guests came from Houston. Newspaper coverage was reported as amounting to seventeen inches. At the New Haven meeting, Horace Holley pointed out in his talk that science has made more progress in the last one hundred years than in the previous five thousand years, and that in the teachings of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh we have the means of bringing about the Kingdom for which Jesus told us to pray, to save us from the unmoral rule of science.

The Bahá’ís in the area of Flint, Michigan, observed the Anniversary at noon on July 9, and obtained widespread publicity for the occasion in twenty-one free announcements over six radio stations of the area and in five newspaper articles. Two newspapers used photographs of the Shrine of the Báb on Mt. Carmel.

EDITORIAL Note: The foregoing reports were the only ones available to BAHÁ’Í NEWS at press time, although undoubtedly many other communities observed the Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Báb with special meetings.

CONFERENCE ON TRAINING OF CHILDREN

A very successful conference on the training of children was held in Dayton, Ohio, May 29, with the cooperation of the Area Teaching Committee (see preliminary report in BAHÁ’Í NEWS, August, page 14),

The theme of the conference was a paragraph from one of the Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (see Bahá’í World Faith, page 383) stressing four areas of training of children. The topics for discussion were these four areas, as follows:

1. Nurture them from the breast of the love of God.

2. Urge them toward spiritual matters, to turn unto God.

Some Bahá’ís of Holland from Amsterdam, Bussum, Voorbnrg, Rotterdam and The Hague, gathered together on the occasion of the Nineteen Day Feast of Light, June 5, 1955, in The Hague.

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SEPTEMBER, 1955

3. To acquire good manners, best characteristics and praiseworthy virtues and qualities in the world of humanity.

4. Study sciences with the utmost diligence.

Each topic was introduced by the reading of carefully chosen passages from such books as Bahá’í Prayers, Divine Art of Living, and Bahá’í World Faith, after which the subject was opened for discussion of questions and problems in the various areas of training and how parents, teachers, individual Bahá’ís, and the Bahá’í community and its institutions can assist in answering them.

The report from the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Dayton noted the following highlights of the conference:

1. The love that needs to surround the child must come not only from his parents but from others in the community.

2. The child needs to feel that he is wanted and loved by all.

3. The child is never too young to learn to pray.

4. The children’s classes and other Bahá’í activities should not be viewed as competitive with Christianity, but rather as being inclusive and fulfilling.

5. Constant contact with other Bahá’í young people (schools, conferences, etc.) is necessary to develop a wholesome attitude of being different.

6. Finally, the best teacher is that parent, friend, or community that sets an “example” for the child to follow.

Area Teaching Committees and Bahá’í communities throughout the country may well find that conferences such as this will give great impetus to Bahá’í child education, and since the subject of religious education of children is of concern to most parents and teachers, such conferences would undoubtedly receive good local publicity.

BOOKS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES

It is encouraging to see the widespread interest of the friends in placing books at the disposal of the public throughout the country. In going over quantities of mail, the Library Service Committee is asked many questions, some of which can be answered here.

Many of the friends have been disturbed by the subject headings for Bahá’í books in the Library of Congress. We are happy to share with you a letter on this subject from Horace Holley, Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly: “A letter has come from the Editor of the Decimal Classification, Library of Congress, assuring us that the Bahá’í classification will be corrected in the 16th edition. That is, the Faith will no longer be listed under Islám. When the 16th edition will appear or what the new decimal classification number will be, we do not know.”

We are often asked what books are most suitable to be placed in public libraries. Lists of such books may be found in BAHÁ’Í NEWS for December, l9S4, page 4; March 1955, page 8; and April, 1955, page 5. Bound copies of Foundation: of World Unity may now be obtained from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust in Wilmette. This makes an excellent gift to a public library. We find that The Promised Day is Come is sometimes confused with The Promise of all Ages. The latter is more appropriate as an introduction to the Faith for general readers.

Sometimes the friends ask us what books are to be found in the libraries in their localities. Our committee is too small to be able to answer many such inquiries. You may easily find this out by going to the library and looking in the card catalogue or asking the librarian.

We are, of course, happy to know that you intend to place a certain book in your public library, but what we really want to know is that the book has been placed. Don’t forget to notify us when the book actually goes in. And be careful to give us the correct name of the library, not merely that of the town where it is located.

Your attention is called to the change in the name of this committee, as indicated below. Correspondence should be sent to the secretary, Miss Flora Emily Hottes, 406 West Iowa Street, Urbana, Illinois.

—NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE COMMITTEE

AREA NEWS BULLETINS

The Southwestern States Area Bulletin for July announced that enrollments of Bahá’ís in this area for 1954-1955 were double those of the previous year.

Members of the Tennessee Valley State: Area Teaching Committee held Conferences with Bahá’ís in the following communities, to consult on ways or effective teaching: Louisville, Kentucky; Chattanooga (goal city), Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee; and Jackson, Mississippi. The last-named conference was attended by pioneers from the goal cities of Meridian and Gulfport, Mississippi.

The New England States Area Teaching Committee’s Bulletin tells of several public meetings and firesides held during July and August, in Hamden and Stamford, Connecticut; in Falmouth and Plymouth, Massachusetts; in Jaffrey, New Hampshire; and in Brattleboro and Derby Line, Vermont. Mr. Horace Holley was the speaker at the Stamford meeting, Mr. Matthew Bullock at the meetings held in Falmouth and Plymouth. Mr. Guy Murchie addressed the Jaffrey meeting which was held at the Amos Fortune Forum July 22, and was attended by two hundred people.

Many joint community Conferences have been held in the North Atlantic States Area, according to this Committee’s Bulletin. Bahá’ís from Closter, Westwood, Oradell, Harrington Park, Paramus and New Milford, New Jersey, gathered for a Conference picnic on July 17. The regular Westchester (New York) Conference was held in Yonkers. Several of this Area's “Projects” held Conferences: Southern New York in Albany, at which Mrs. Nura Mobine told of her trip to Latin America; Southwestern New York and Erie (Pennsylvania) in Jamestown, New York, at which John Carew of Erie pointed out that “by only attending Bahá’í functions and by socially visiting only our Bahá’í friends, we never meet new contacts”; Northwestern New York. in Niagara Falls; and Long Island, New York, in Levittown.

Deepening Classes

Several Bahá’í communities have been making their own “summer schools” by holding deepening classes during the summer months,

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to revitalize themselves in preparation for intensive teaching work to achieve the goals ahead. Among the communities reporting study of the Advent of Divine Justice are San Diego (Clairemont), California, and Helena, Montana. Butte, Montana, studied Bahá’u’lláh’s Epistle to the Son of the Wolf. Wilmette, Illinois, held an Institute on the Covenant and Administration, and Grangevi’le, Idaho, reported that regular deepening classes were continuing throughout the summer. This shows the real Bahá’í spirit—if you can‘t go to a summer school, bring the summer school idea to your Community.

Extension Teaching

The Northwestern States Area Bulletin reports that extension teaching work is being done by the Boise, Idaho, Spiritual Assembly in Pocatello, Idaho, a goal city.

BAHÁ’Í ON CAMPUS

At the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, and at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Graham Conroy, a student at the University of Iowa, has been putting on a one-man Bahá’í teaching campaign, according to the Central States Area Teaching Committee Bulletin. He has issued personal invitations, had publicity in the Daily Iowan and Iowa City Press Citizen, and displayed pictures of the Bahá’í Temple throughout the University buildings. He spoke by invitation to a student group at the Methodist Church in Iowa City, to a class of thirty-two students at the University of Iowa School of Religion, and was member at a symposium, with a Catholic priest and a professor of Judaism, discussing the “philosophy of the history of religion,” presented in the University of Iowa Department of History.

YOUTH CONFERENCES TO BE HELD

The National Bahá’í Youth Committee is announcing the first Youth Conferences of the year, to be held October 22 and 23 in places tobe designated by the Area Teaching Committees. Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís are to take part in this Conference, which takes as its theme “Finding the True Unity,” in each of the thirteen national Areas.

SALES COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS

Temple Model Still Available

The Bahá’í Sales Committee wishes to remind the friends that the attractive Temple Model is still available The model stands 9⅜ inches high and is 11¾ inches wide (see photo in BAHÁ’I NEWS, March, 1955, page 3), and lends itself eifectively for local displays. It can be purchased at a cost of $15.00, from Bahá’í Sales Committee, c/o Mr. H. E. Walrath. 909 West Foster Street, Chicago 40, Illinois.

Greatest Name Plaques

A new shipment from Florence, Italy, of the tooled leather plaques with the Greatest Name in gold lettering has been received by the Sales Committee. These may also be ordered from this Committee. The price is $3.50.

PUBLICATIONS

The Principle of Religious Unity. Talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Temple Emmanu-El in San Francisco in 1912. Text is the same as the pamphlet, “Christians, Jews and Muhammadans,” now out of print. This is a limited supply of a special edition prepared by the former Bahá’í Public Relations Committee some years ago. Eight pages, 8½x11.

Six copies (minimum order) .. $ .25

Thirty copies .................. $1.00

Bahá’í Archives, Colorprint. (Special Quantity Price.) Description of this print is listed on page 23 of June, 1955 BAHÁ’Í NEWS. This was produced at the special directive of Shoghi Effendi with the request that it be distributed widely throughout the Bahá’í World. Will you help to accomplish this?

Per copy (as previously listed) .$ .30

Twelve copies .................$3.00

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 Cappella Choir.

The programs for the month of August follow:

Order of Devotions — August 7, 1955

The purpose of God in creating man hath been, and will ever be, to enable him to know his Creator and to attain His Presence. To this most excellent aim, this supreme objective, all the heavenly Books and the divinely-revealed and weighty Scriptures unequivocally bear witness.

—Bahá’u’lláh

CHORAL SELECTION

He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over Thee —Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Prayers and Meditations, CLXI, p. 253

OLD TESTAMENT

Jeremiah 31:31-35: 32:38-40; Isaiah 2:10-11 ; 34:1; Psalm 100

NEW TESTAMENT

John 14:1-4

QUR’AN

Sura I; XXXV:l-3

CHORAL SELECTION

Cherubin Song—Dimitri Bortniansky

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Gleanings, pp. 64-66, p. 70, p. 215 ; CXI, p. 217 ; Prayers and Meditations, p. 171

Prayers and Meditations, IV, p. 6

CHORAL SELECTION

Send Forth Thy Spirit—Schuetky

Order of Devotions — August 14, 1955

Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest.

—Bahá’u’lláh

CHORAL SELECTION

Judge Me, O God—Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Prayers and Meditations, LIX, p. 94; Gleanings, pp. 288-289

BHAGAVAD-GITA (Hindu Scriptures)

OLD TESTAMENT

Isaiah 64:8·9; Malachi 2:10; Leviticus 19:1, 2, 17, 18

NEW TESTAMENT

Acts 17:24-28; I John 2:9-11 ; Galatians 5:13

QUR’AN

Sura XLII:22; II:209

CHORAL SELECTION

Bow Down Thine Ear—Haydn M. Morgan

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh (from the Arabic), No. 68; Gleanings, pp. 218-219;

The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 202-203

Prayers and Meditations, XXIII, p. 26

CHORAL SELECTION

Hear My Prayer, O Lord—A. A. Arkhangelsky

Order of Devotions — August 21, 1955

O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.

—Bahá’u’lláh

CHORAL SELECTION

Alleluia! We Sing with Joy—Jacob Handl

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Prayers and Meditations, CXXXIX, p. 227 ; Gleanings, p. 340

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SEPTEMBER, 1955

OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis 2:7; 1:26, 27; Isaiah 64:8, 9 ; Psalm 8:1, 3-7

QUR’AN

Sura L:7-11, 14, 15

CHORAL SELECTION

Blessed I the Spot (Prayer of Bahá’u’lláh)— Charles Wolcott

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Gleanings, p. 259-260; pp. 326-327; p. 194

Prayers and Meditations, LIX, p. 94

CHORAL SELECTION

Now We Sing Thy Praise—Tschesnokoff

Order of Devotions — August 28, 1955

Faith in God, and the knowledge of Him cannot be fully realized except through believing in all that hath proceeded from Him, and by practicing all that He hath commanded and all that is revealed in the Book from the Supreme Pen.

—Bahá’u’lláh

CHORAL SELECTION

O Lord, Increase My Faith—Orlando Gibbons

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Prayers a nd Meditations, XXIX, p. 33

Gleanings, XXXVII, p. 86

OLD TESTAMENT

Psalms 1:1-4; 34:1-8

NEW TESTAMENT

Hebrews 11:1-7

QUR’AN

Sura XXIV:41-52

CHORAL SELECTION

The Desert Shall Blossom As the Rose—Paul Christiansen

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Bahá’í World Faith, p. 188; Gleanings, p. 251, p. 337, p. 338; LXXIII, p. 140

CHORAL SELECTION

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

BAHA’I SACRED WRITINGS

Bahá’í Prayers, p. 93

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FEASTS

September 8—‘lzzat, Might

September 27—Mashiyyat, Will

PROCLAMATION DAY

September 23—to proclaim America’s spiritual mission; to observe the anniversary of the introduction of the Faith to America.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS

September 2, 3, 4, 5

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 good through Thy bounty and grace . . .”

—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

Chicago, Illinois—Miss Bette Dee to Mr. Thomas West,

July 2, 1955.

Maywood, Illinois—Miss Alice Jean svendsen to Mr. William John Smith,

April 30, 1955.

Wilmette. Illinois—Mrs. Eleanor H. Reeves to Mr. William Haithcox,

August 14, 1955.

Beverly. Massachusetts—Miss Elizabeth Small on Mr. 0. Rodney Dryman,

July 18, 1955.

Beverly, Massachusetts—Miss Mimi O. Sheinfeld to Mr. Conrad Jeller,

June 29, 1955.

New York, New York—Mrs. Mollie Adado to Mr. Myron Schlesinger,

July 5, 1955.

Columbus, Ohio—Miss Margaret K. Lathes to Mr. James G. Coleman,

June 1, 1955.

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. Kathryn Blake

Miami, Florida

July 29, 1955

Mrs. H. C. Bowen

Santa Cruz, California

July 6, 1955

Mrs. Josefene A. Duval

Muskegon, Michigan

July 4, 1955

Mrs. Mathilde Gilligan

Seneca Falls, New York

July 11, 1955

BAHÁ’Í DIRECTORY CHANGES

COMMITTEES

North Atlantic States Area Teaching

Mr. Fred Sudhop (delete)

Convention Arrangements

Mr. J. Harvey Redson, Chairman (correction)

Temple Worship

Mrs. Florence Gibson (add; omitted in error)

ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES

Arizona

Phoenix: Mrs. Genay Thompson, 2210 West Flower

California (North)

Millbrae Mrs. Anne Ferrari, Sec. Pro Tem, 313 Taylor Blvd.

California (South)

South Gate (delete—not an assembly)

Colorado

Jefferson County: Mrs. Julie B. Hathaway, 6307 W. 38th

Ave., Wheatridge

Indiana

Fort Wayne: Mrs. Mildred Holmes, 2005½ St. Joe Blvd.

Iowa

Waterloo: Mrs. Virginia V. Finch, 102½ Cottage Grove Ave.

Massachusetts

Boston: Mrs Marion Rapper, 637 Boylston St., Zone l6.

New York (West)

Hamburg Twp: Mrs. Ruth Thorpe, 510 South Park Ave.,

Hamburg.

Syracuse: Mrs. Mildred Hurst, H8 Fabius St., Apt. 705.

North Carolina

Greensboro: Miss Elah Cowart, 707 Summit Ave.

Puerto Rico

(area not defined): Mr. Francisco Peréz, Ave. Borinquen

1960, Santurce

Washington

Seattle: Mrs. Doris Dahl, 9843 60th Ave., South

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 first 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 1955-56: Mrs. Eunice Braun, Mrs. Beatrice Ashton, Miss Charlotte Linfoot.

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.