Bahá’í News/Issue 298/Text
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| No. 298 | BAHA’I YEAR 112 | DECEMBER, 1955 |
PASSING OF HAND OF CAUSE[edit]
On November 12 the NSA of Germany cabled as follows: “Grieved convey passing (of) Varqá, Hand (of the) Cause (on) Birthday (of) Bahá’u’lláh, burial (November) fifteenth (in) Stuttgart.”
This message reported the great loss to the Bahá’í world of Mr. Valíyu’lláh Varqá, esteemed and beloved Hand of the Cause of Persia, whose services are so well known to Bahá’ís of East and West.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
APPOINTMENT OF HAND OF THE CAUSE[edit]
On November 15 the NSA of the United States received this cabled message from the revered Guardian: “Inform Hands (and) National Assemblies (that) Varqá's son, ‘Ali Muḥammad (has been) appointed (to) succeed his father now gathered (into the) concourse on high (in the) Abhá Kingdom, as Trustee (of) Huquq (and) elevated (to) rank (of) Hand (of the) Cause.” (signed) SHOGHI.
To Mr. ‘Ali Muhammad Varqá the friends will direct their spiritual appreciation and prayerful good wishes for the success of his responsible two-fold mission in service to the Faith.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
RECOGNITION OF BAHÁ’Í HOLY DAYS[edit]
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Madison, Wisconsin, reports that on October 17, 1955, the Board of Education for the Madison Public Schools recognized the Bahá’í Holy Days in relation to the absence of Bahá’í children from school on those days.
Life in the Kingdom Membership In the Community[edit]
Beloved Friends:
Each year there are fewer American Bahá’ís who can testify from their own experience to the spiritual effect which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's presence produced upon the believers in 1912. Year by year the membership of the community changes as new applicants are enrolled. At any one time, the community includes Bahá’ís whose membership has lasted from a few days to forty or more years. Thus throughout the community there is necessarily a wide diversity in the inner understanding of what the Faith is and what membership means, for in its unfoldment the Bahá’í community emphasizes one aspect at one time and another aspect at another time. We meet believers who so emphasize the spiritual that they seem to regard the administrative order as an interference with the processes of the inner life, and on the other hand there are believers so engrossed in administrative affairs that they regard the spiritual life as a byproduct, or idealistic background for the community program of meetings and activities.
Can we find a common understanding, acceptable to all, which reconciles these two contrasting types or points of view?
A Bahá’í who has been confirmed and not merely enrolled lives simultaneously in three worlds. He lives in the Kingdom, he lives in the Bahá’í community and he lives in the world of humanity.
Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is a creation: He re-created the pure life of the Kingdom in wafting over mankind the breaths or the Holy Spirit. To be a Bahá’í is to be born into this realm of reality and be motivated by its state of faith and love. Its bounty is a sense of ecstacy which rises from mysterious depths and transmutes the conditions of life from the mean to the noble. It is from this realm that the believers can and must derive understanding of the laws and principles of the Administrative order, and from this understanding a willing obedience to the Laws and Ordinances of the New Age.
His Revelation also created a pure order of truth uniting the heart and mind with the Kingdom, with the cosmos and with human society. In this world man’s destiny calls upon the soul to strive to attain order in society reflecting the order of the Universe. Therefore the Bahá’í does not remain quiescent in the ecstacy of the love of God but like a warrior he enters upon the field of struggle and sacrifice. The connection between the worlds of the Kingdom and of the Administrative order is that the former generates the vision and maintains the ardor of service while the latter represents the specific task to be achieved. The purpose of the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh is to unite humanity in one Faith and one Order. Unity in one Faith is not a complete and enduring unity. There must be unity in one Order as well.
But though the loyal Bahá’í gives his best effort to the work of the community he does not depart from the Kingdom—he seeks to convey its spirit and its love to the community of believers. The laws and ordinances are blessings from God which the Bahá’í endeavors to establish as pillars of a new society. The institutions, he realizes, are divinely created in order to establish peace and justice upon earth. Contact and association with fellow Bahá’ís is his
Progress of the International Bahá’í Archives Building on Mt. Carmel, Haifa, as of September, 1955. Left, shuttering and steel for the beams: right, columns supporting the main floor and shell of the building.
opportunity to demonstrate the life
of the Kingdom.
To be a Bahá’í means confirmation and rebirth, that a new heart and a new mind may be attained; and it then means enrollment as one’s consecration to serve with the gifts of the spirit. Both realms are real, both essential, both must be experienced in becoming a Bahá’í. Some attain confirmation quickly, others win it by long and patient work and prayer. Fortunate the believer who has balance, living consciously in both the Kingdom and the Administrative order with a soul at peace, neither aloof nor self-absorbed on the one hand, nor immersed in petty detail on the other. The new World Order can only be established from the Kingdom. Bahá’ís who are confirming souls and strengthening the institutions are rendering the utmost service to mankind. No human activity can compare in value to the work of the Faith.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
WORLD RELIGION DAY THEME ANNOUNCED[edit]
“Religious Liberty” will be the theme "of the Seventh Annual World Religion Day observance on January 15, 1956, the National Spiritual Assembly has announced.
World Religion Day is now the most important of all Bahá’í public proclamation events, and all Bahá’í communities are urged to plan outstanding programs and publicity to further acquaint the public with the Bahá’í principle of the fundamental oneness of religion.
The National Spiritual Assembly has issued a special statement on the subject of “Religious Liberty,” which will be made available to all communities for wide distribution to contacts (see announcement in Publications).
Bahá’í Press Service will mail a news release and a suggested advertisement to the Bahá’í press representatives to assist in local publicity.
With these materials, communities should be well prepared to carry out a strong public relations program for this event.
SAVING TIME AND EXPENSE[edit]
Observe Correct Addressing of Mail
The great number of requests and orders coming to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, the BAHÁ’Í NEWS, and the National Administrative Headquarters for forwarding to the various committees or offices is placing
The Bahá’í World, Vol. XII[edit]
Preliminary Announcement[edit]
Volume XII of THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD embraces the period Riḍván, 1950, to Riḍván, 1954, and therefore includes such tremendous events as the Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Báb, the Centenary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh’s Mission, the dedication of the House of Worship, the completion of the Shrine of the Báb, the Intercontinental Teaching Conferences, and the beginning of the World Crusade.
The publication date and price will be reported as soon as possible. Meanwhile, since this is news of such world-wide importance to the Bahá’ís, and a publishing enterprise of great magnitude, the believers are urged to place advance orders now, with deposit of $5.00, with the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. Not only will this cooperation expedite the flow of published works to the readers but also enable the Publishing Trust to make a more accurate estimate at the quantity required.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
ROY WILHELM MEMORIAL[edit]
This memorial to Roy Cochran Wilhelm, erected by one of the friends on behalf of the Guardian, is located at an elevation of 150 feet on the side of Spreckled Mountain, five miles from North Lovell, Maine, which is about 130 miles north of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
The land area of the memorial is about a quarter of an acre, and lies in about the center of the property on which Mr. Wilhelm lived for the last twelve years of his life. Mr. Wilhelm discovered this spot while on a hunting trip in 1929 and was so impressed by the inspiring view of Keazar Lake and the surrounding mountains that on retirement from business some years later he built a beautiful log cabin 700 feet up the side of Spreckled Mountain, where he lived until his death in December, 1951.
a great strain on facilities and personnel already overburdened with
details. Many hours of time and
much expense can be saved, and
more efficient service provided, if
the friends will make better use of
the Bahá’í Directory which is published for their convenience. Before
sending in a request or making a report, please check the Directory and
BAHÁ’Í NEWS for the addresses of
committees or offices responsible for
handling such matters. Instructions
are always given in detail on any
special item or project announced in
BAHÁ’Í NEWS.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
WORLD CRUSADE[edit]
PIONEER LETTERS[edit]
Africa
French Somaliland
The United States Africa Teaching Committee has given permission for publication of excerpts from a letter received from the pioneers in Djibouti, French Somaliland:
“On August 6, two other Bahá’ís and myself went by jeep to Hetgeisho, British Somaliland. The object of the trip was to try to find a job for one of the believers from Egypt. I took three Bahá’í books with me and said to myself ‘I shall make this a Bahá’í teaching trip.’
“Our program was to spend one day only in Hergeisho. As soon as we reached our destination, we met a young educated Somali. ‘This is one of the three,’ I promised myself, ‘and the first to whom I shall deliver the message.’ But, I did not know how to start the subject. We went together in search of a hotel. Wherever we went, we were told there was no accommodation. Finally, we got to a small place right at the other end of town. Here the answer was ‘Yes, we can put you up.’
“An elderly gentleman with white hair and white skin met us. ‘Are you Egyptians?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘I am from Haifa,’ he said. Imagine my surprise, my happiness, and my uncontrollable urge to lead the conversation to the Faith. I asked, ‘Did you visit the Bahá’í Holy Shrines?’
“The man’s face lit like a shining star. He shouted with happiness, ‘Are you Bahá’ís?’ ‘Yes!’ With a voice trembling with emotion, the old man said, ‘I knew ‘Abdu’l Baha!’ and told us with excitement what he knew about the Master. Tears were flowing from my eyes. My Bahá’í friend and the young Somali were listening intently to the touching story. I asked the young Somali, ‘Did You hear about the Bahá’í Faith?’ ‘No.’ I gave him one of the books.
“I remained with the old man until 10 p.m. The name Bahá’í was familiar to him, but he knew nothing of the principles of the Faith. I gave him the second book to read.
“I remembered one of our new Bahá’ís, who had temporarily gone away on a business trip. I also knew he had written to his brother, urging him to investigate the truth. I inquired about the young man, found him, spoke to him, and gave him the third book.
“Some time ago we sent you the declaration card of a well-known, well-educated man. When he became a Bahá’í he began to teach the Faith and to declare openly that he was the first one of this territory to accept the new Prophet, Bahá’u’lláh. This increased the jealousy of the enemies of the Faith, and their anger against us. Ten days ago a group of hooligans attacked his home with stones, etc. Nevertheless, he is still teaching the Faith, and nothing can intimidate him.
“Our two children came home to spend the school holidays. One night they went to the cinema, and there a group of fanatics attacked them and threw stones on them. One was hit on the chest, the other was hit on the head and fainted. The police could not catch the culprits.”
Gambia
Mr. F. Roozbehyan, Bahá’í pioneer in Bathurst, Gambia, writes: “I arrived by air in Bathurst, Gambia, on February 19, 1954, and since then have remained here. Up to six or seven months, however I tried, I only was able to confirm one Christian Syrian and was so fed up with illness and lack of success that I wrote a petition to our most beloved Guardian asking for his fervent prayers in the Holy Shrines for my success and
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Bathurst, Gambia,
elected April, 1955.
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Lamin, near Bathtrust, Gambia, elected April, 1955.
health. As soon as the petition
reached Haifa my health improved
and I was able to confirm one more
Christian in the Hospital in the same
ward where I was. There also I got
an inspiration to try to collect some
of the prophecies in the Qur’án regarding this Holy Faith, for the benefit of the Muslim population who
have a majority here. As soon as
I was out of the hospital I collected
these prophecies and began to teach
the Cause to an influential Muslim
and in a short time he was convinced and confirmed. Then the mercies of the Most Merciful God began
to pour on me and in a short time
I was able to get a large number
of the pure souls confirmed in this
Holy Faith, and this was only due
to the fervent prayers of our most
beloved Guardian. During the Riḍván
of this year four Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed in four towns
of Bathurst, Serekunda, Lamin and
Brikama and a group was formed
in the town of Bakau. Now there
are several hundred Bahá’ís in Gambia and daily this number is increasing.”
Latin America
French Guiana
From Hart Friedland the following news has been received:
“Twice a week I visit the hospital where some of the leper patients are kept. I read in them as well as to the others. One of the staff doctors always drives me home after these visits, and occasionally I show him certain passages in the Bahá’í Writings which are of interest to him. He has given me permission to leave Bahá’í literature in his reception room for the patients to read. This type of cooperation is one of the blessings that Bahá’u’lláh is sending me in answer to your prayers. The number of readers of Bahá’í literature is increasing from week to week.”
Falkland Islands, South Atlantic
From John Leonard comes word:
“An interesting development in the progress of the teaching here is the number of people who are using the short healing prayer, or the beautiful one by the Master, beginning . . . ‘O God, refresh and gladden my spirit . . .’ One lady, who has been more or less an invalid attributes her recent improvement to the use of the Bahá’í healing prayer, which she uses morning and evening . . . I am doing substitute duty for one of the lighthouse keepers. It is a wonderful disciplinary experience for a Bahá’í. Just as he sees to the needs of the beacon, which will help guide those attempting to find their way through the stormy seas of the South Atlantic, so he becomes more aware of the need for constantly attending to the greater Light. In this job, you come to focus every energy on keeping the light going—Keeping the light going—keeping the light going.”
Uruguay
Ed Belcher writes: “I just wrote to a Bahá’í saying how pioneering swells the heart with a love that could never be obtained any other way. I feel as though Bahá’u’lláh measures my steps and times me for making contacts. If I had waited until I was prepared for pioneering in a foreign land, I would never have gone anywhere; but taking Dr. Edris Rice-Wray’s suggestion, ‘to keep in motion,’ things happened and you can see that Bahá’u’lláh directs you to a certain place at a certain time for that contact. Just in motion for a walk, Bahá’u’lláh steers me into many wonderful experiences giving the Glad Tidings. Let all Bahá’ís try this. They will be amazed at the results, keeping in motion and looking for and making opportunities for teaching.”
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND[edit]
Pidgin English and Roviana are the latest languages into which Bahá’í pamphlets have been translated through the instrumentality of the Australia-New Zealand National Spiritual Assembly. The Roviana translation was done by one of the
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Serekunda, Gambia,
elected April, 1955.
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Brikama, Gambia, elected April, 1955.
new Solomon Islands Bahá’ís. The
Pidgin English translation was done
in Rabaul and is entitled “Olsamting
Long Bilip Bahá’í.” This pamphlet
is expected to have wide distribution
throughout Melanesia.
AMERICAN INDIAN SERVICE[edit]
Progress in translation of the pamphlet “A New Day Comes” into a second Indian language, Navajo, is reported by the American Indian Service Committee. The translation is now in the process of being reviewed,
This Committee also reports that two American Indians have been recently welcomed into the ranks of the Faith, one a Cherokee and the other a Sioux.
CANADA[edit]
The New Territories Committee of the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly reports that as of October 19, 1955, four of their goals are unfilled. These are Anticosti Island, Iceland, Keewatin, and Marquesas Islands. The following goals have only one resident Bahá’í: Greenland, Grand Manan Island, Newfoundland; and in Labrador, Magdalen Islands, St. Pierre and Miquelon Islands there are only two resident Bahá’ís. For these goals additional pioneers are needed. In Samoa Islands, Queen Charlotte Islands and Baranof Island there are live Bahá’ís resident, and on Cape Breton Island the four pioneers held their first public meeting in Sydney, in November, with Mrs. Laura Davis of Toronto as speaker.
CENTRAL AMERICA[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Central America and the Antilles reports the acquisition of a Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds for El Salvador in San Salvador, thus fulfilling another objective of the Global Crusade for this National Assembly.
El Salvador Hazíra Opened
For the opening of the new Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, on October 19, fortyfive printed invitation cards had been sent out by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of San Salvador. Four talks were given at the meeting held during the opening: by Marjorie Stee who selected a number of quotations from the Writings to explain “What Is a Bahá’í?”; by Ofelia Montalvo, on the Bahá’í Faith in El Salvador; by Amanda Mena on the birth of the Faith, illustrating her talk with a beautiful poster pioturing the unity of mankind; by Mr. William DeForge, member of the American Auxiliary Board, who spoke on world unity, emphasizing that Bahá’u’lláh brings the return of the Christ spirit; and by Margaret Mills on what the future holds. Mr. Marc Antonio Martinez of Nicaragua was chairman of the meeting. Bahá’ís and their friends worked together to make the occasion a joyous one. Twenty-eight people attended the celebration ot the opening of the new Ḥaẓíra.
SOUTH AMERICA[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South America reports progress in their tasks of the World Spiritual Crusade. The spirit of the pioneers in their goal territories reveals that “although lite on an island or in any new territory can have its very lonesome moments, the bounty of being able to obey and serve the beloved Guardian in this Day is a priceless one.”
On Juan Fernandez the Bahá’í Community of ten Bahá’ís meets twice a week and youth groups of different ages have been formed.
In British Guiana and the Windward Islands, particularly, the Faith is becoming more and more widely known.
Maori Translation Printed
From Cook Islands comes the news that the first translation into Maori has been printed. This Bahá’í pamphlet is entitled “Te an Tume Mamaata o Te Akarongo Bahá’í.”
WESTERN HEMISPHERE/ALASKA CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA[edit]
“The believers of God must display the utmost effort, upraise the divine melody throughout those regions [Alaska, Mexico, and the Republics of Central and South America], promulgate the heavenly teachings and waft over all the spirit of eternal life, so that those Republics may become so illumined with the splendors and effulgences of the Sun of Reality that they may become the objects of praise and commendation of all other countries . . . ”
—America’s Spiritual Mission, p. 19
About Pioneering[edit]
“ONE other thing I would like to say about pioneering: you teach constant’y, which is one of the greatest blessings. It is as though we were doctors who are on call 24 hours a day. Bahá’u’lláh keeps us busy constantly. If you want to sincerely serve the Faith, and I'm sure you do, it will be a step you will never regret. You will get on your knees and thank God that you got on that plane or boat and traveled to one of these countries.”
—From an American pioneer in Venezuela to a prospective pioneer in the U.S.A.
Right, above, shows a fireside held on Sunday afternoons at Adelaide, New Providence, in on Bahama Islands. Left below is the First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Georgetown, British Guiana, formed April, 1955. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Backwell, pioneers from England, are standing second from right (rear) and second from left (front), respectively.
Letters From Pioneers[edit]
From Frances Benedict Stewart on an island off Chile:
“General unrest and many strikes in Chile have caused much turmoil, so we were without mail or even food suppiies for over two months from the Continent! Food, other than fish and mutton and gcat’s meat, must all be sent from Chile. But neighbor shares with neighbor, and a lovely woman dentist from Bolivia insisted that I must have my meals with her and her husband (who is a refugee from Estonia). This revealed the fact that she is an expert in two of the most important Indian languages of all South America, and she is now translating some Bahá’í prayers into Guichué and Aymará, languages used by the Indians in Peru and Bolivia. She is also studying the Faith with me. So — the wonders of His Assistance and ever-present Guidance are limitless, and there is indeed, not enough paper on which to record it all!”
From Shirley Warde and Cora Oliver in British Honduras:
“One is reminded that ‘God works in mysterious ways His wonders to perform’ as events in the lives of the people turn them to us for answers. A young boy of fifteen went out in a little dory with another, and the boat was blown out to sea where it collapsed. The boys were drowned. The grandparents, an uncle, and a niece came to us for solace and comfort. Life after death took on a new meaning as they read the Bahá’í teachings. Little by little, understanding filled their hearts, and they tried to comfort the parents of the boy and help the rest of the large family to understand. It has brought them very close to us.”
GOALS IN LATIN AMERICA[edit]
Before Ridvan — 1956
Central America — 7 Pioneers
South America — 14 Pioneers
These are the minimum number of pioneers who must travel to countries in Latin America during the next few months to assist in the building of new Local Spiritual Assemblies by April 21, 1956.
These pioneers will be performing important tasks in the formation of four Regional National Spiritual Assemblies in Latin America — to be elected in April, 1957.
If you are interested in being one of the 21 pioneers to “push off” by April of 1956, please write for a pioneer application to:
Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin
Western Hemisphere Teaching Committee
73 College Road West
Princeton, New Jersey
ALASKA[edit]
With a cablegram from the Guardian calling for formation of the Alaska National Spiritual Assembly by Riḍván 1957, the teaching campaign of Alaska went into high gear. Goal cities for this year are Juneau and Ketchikan, with work among the Eskimos, another goal, being actively carried on in Pt. Barrow, where Frances Wells settled last summer.
The new Ḥaẓíra in Anchorage, dedicated August 6, fulfilled a major goal, now supported by three thriving Assemblies, Anchorage, Anchorage Recording District, and Fairbanks.
PRACTICAL POINTS[edit]
1. If you are interested in pioneering in Latin America, start to study Spanish immediately. It is possible to borrow Linguahone courses from public libraries.
2. Consult with the Western Hemisphere Teaching Committee about job ooportunites, destination, and living conditions in Latin America. The committee has compiled a library of facts and figures on every aspects of pioneering. Each member of the Committee wishes to assist you pioneering to the particular goal that is right for you.
3. Please do not contact foreign consulates or authorities without first consulting with the Committee. Through consultation, you will be referred to the exact office or party that can assist you.
Left. Indian Children at the Bahá’í Indian Cultural Institute, Chichicastenango, Guatemala. On the right five members of the Spiritual Assembly of Managua, Nicaragua, meeting with Artemus Lamb (central front), chairman of the Central America National Spiritual Assembly, when incorporation papers from the government of Nicaragua were received.
Bahá’ís who attended the first Asia Teaching Conference held in Nikko, Japan, September 23-25, 1955.
Besides Japan, the following countries were represented: Caroline Islands, Formosa, Guam, Hong Kong, Korea, Macao, Irán, and the United States of America
Echoes From Nikko[edit]
"Fervently praying unprecedented victories.” With these words from the beloved Guardian’s cablegram ringing in their hearts, the Bahá’í pioneers and delegates went home from the Asia Teaching Conference in Nikko, Japan (see report in November BAHÁ’Í NEWS) with confidence that somehow, somewhere they would find ready souls waiting to help them achieve these promised victories.
The first was one in Nikko itself. Here one who had been studying the Faith for some time declared his acceptance and was enrolled as a believer within an hour after the close of the conference.
Before this historic gathering ended the newly formed World Council for Inter-Faith Cooperation invited Bahá’í representatives to meet with about thirty outstanding educational and religious leaders in Tokyo.
Here the address of the beloved Hand of the Cause of God, Mr. Dhikru’lláh Khádem, aroused such response that several of the group asked where they could learn more about these things of which he spoke, The immediate follow-up meeting arranged by the Tokyo Bahá’ís brought to the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds a number of these same people and several others, some of them arriving an hour before the time set for the meeting.
Mr. Khádem spoke again, this time going more deeply into such subjects as the nature of religion, its motivating influence on society, the nature and spiritual power of the Prophet, and progressive revelation.
One of those who attended both meetings is a leader of a religious group of 20,000 members. He became so deeply attracted that arrangements were made for him to spend two entire days with Mr. Khádem at the home of one of the Bahá’ís in Osaka where further discussion of the Teachings went on from early morning to late at night. The ultimate decision of this soul is in the Hands of God, but his response has reminded the Bahá’ís of Japan of the promise of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá referred to at the Nikko conference, that when the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh reach the religious leaders of Japan the Cause will spread like fire
For three weeks following the conference Mr. Khádem and some of the other visiting Bahá’ís traveled to various cities throughout Japan always finding new souls ready and waiting for the Faith.
In Hiroshima, the city that has
suffered so much at the hands of
man, Mr. Khádem, Mr. N. Momtazi
and Miss Agnes Alexander found, in
a meeting with an English conversation club, a young man so enthusiastic that he, too, spent two whole[Page 9]
days with them, accepted the Faith
completely, visited the Bahá’ís in
Kobe a few days later, and returned
to open a Bahá’í center in his home
where a dozen or so friends from
Kansai and some thirty Hiroshima
students heard Mr. Khádem and inaugurated a program of weekly firesides. One of the believers writes:
“Thus, the situation in Hiroshima
has changed from difficult to very
favorable in less than three weeks.”
There were new contacts too, in Osaka, where Philip Marangella and the visiting Bahá’ís spoke before the English-speaking club of one of the leading newspapers of Japan.
These are but a few of the many illustrations of how the beloved Guardian’s prayers for Japan are being fulfilled. One of the delegates who attended the conference expresses it this way: “We have been so busy since Nikko that we can’t even remember what has happened, except that we know everything is different now.” And another, a new Japanese believer, writing of her experiences in the three weeks following the conference, says: “When we received the beloved Guardian’s conference cablegram mentioning ‘unprecedented victories’ I did not realize its full meaning then. Now, you know, everything got on fire.”
In Nikko there is an enormous bell which was hand made in Korea many years ago. Each hour from six in the morning to nine at night, a little kimono-clad Japanese mounts the stairs of the platform beneath the bell. and with all the strength he can muster, he pulls back and then releases a long and heavy pole which strikes the bell and tolls the time of day, In the studied interval between the strokes, the beautiful peal of the bell echoes and re-echoes through the surrounding groves of cryptomeria trees, and every hearing ear listens and counts the strokes. The last stroke follows the preceding one in quicker succession, indicating that it is the last and thus proclaims the hour of the day. During those days in Nikko we often compared the tolling of that beautiful bell to the progress of the World Crusade in Japan. The first stroke of this historic hour in that land was the announcement in Chicago in 1953 of the part that was to be played by the Japanese believers in the Ten-Year Plan. The subsequent acquisition of the national Ḥaẓíratu’l
Seventeen of the nineteen Japanese Bahá’ís who attended the Asia Teaching Conference in Nikko, Japan, September 23-25, 1955. This represents about half the total number of Japanese Bahá’ís.
Quds in Tokyo, the incorporation of
the Faith, the conference in Nikko.
the gift of a piece of property for
the national endownment—al1 may be
likened to the successive peals of
that bell in Nikko, each releasing
a fresh spiritual impact upon the
hearts and minds of those among
the vast millions waiting to hear the
Word, and each announcing the accomplishment of another stage toward the final and all-important moment in 1957 when the National Spiritual Assembly will have been established and Japan takes its place
as one of the cornerstones of the
World Order of Bahá’u’lláh on which
will rise the Universal House of Justice.
—ASIA TEACHNG COMMITTEE
by Charlotte Linfoot, Secretary
INTERNATIONAL NEWS[edit]
AUSTRALIA[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Australia and New Zealand reports that the Australian edition of Magazine Digest for July, 1955, carried a reprint of an article about the Faith written by Elsie Paterson Cranmer, entitled “The Prophet Who Warned the Rulers.” The article originally appeared in Prediction.
NATIONAL NEWS[edit]
BAHÁ’Í IN THE NEWS[edit]
Fate Magazine for July, 1955, has an article on Reincarnation and Space-Time which refers to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s “arguments against reincarnation in 1907.”
Valdez Breeze, mimeographed newspaper of Valdez, Alaska, already mentioned in this column, continues to publish a serial on Bahá’í World Faith, sponsored by the Anchorage Assembly.
A reference to the Faith is contained in Religion Without Magic, by Phillips Endicott Osgood, Beacon Press, 1954. “Handicapped by a tendency to numerology and the tradition of embodied mystical authority descending from the Báb to Bahá’u’lláh to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and now to Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian. The habits of oriental speech make the Bahá’í scriptures seem too purple for Western Consumption.” The author evidently seeks a religion based on western rationalism.
The choir-leader of the First Baptist Church, Butte, Montana sang Charles Wolcott’s musical rendering of “From the Sweet-Scented Streams,” at a church service on July 10, 1955. The musical program was announced in the Montana Standard under “Church Services.”
Bahá’ís from Belgium, Luxembourg
and the Netherlands attending the
Benelux Regionnl Bahá’í Conference
and summer School in Aerdenhout,
Holland, August 6-14, 1955.
A recent editorial in a Chicago paper, written about the visit of seven
Russian journalists by permission of
the State Department, mentions the
fact that the Bahá’í Temple cannot
be visited by these journalists because the area is legally forbidden
to persons from their country.
A copy of Catholic Digest for October, 1955, contains an article “Catholics in Turbans.” “This town of 6,000 souls was entirely Catholic, with the exception of the Governor, a charming and popular Bahá’í, and a family of three Jews charged with the care of the tomb of the prophet Nahum.”
Memorial erected at the grave of Johanna Schubarth, “founder of the Faith
in Norway.” She is buried In the beautiiui Western Cemetery at the foot of
Holmenkollen mountain, Oslo.
These feature articles on the Faith
deserve special mention:
Hawaiian Life, the weekly magazine supplement issued by the StarBulletin, Honolulu, devoted an entire page on August 13 to an article entitled “What is a Bahá’í?” prepared from material provided by the Honolulu Assembly. It is therefore an interesting rewrite of material already approved. Consisting of questions and answers, the article presents fifteen questions and their Bahá’í answers, thus creating an interesting and excellent summary of the teachings for the general reader.
A few weeks later, in Beloit, Wisconsin, the Beloit Daily News for September 2 presented on its editorial page a three column feature “Bahá’í Temple in Wilmette Is Center of World Faith in the United States,” illustrated by two large cuts of the House of Worship. This admirable artic’e was written by a staff writer who had access to authoritative information. The result is a clear impression of the teachings exemplified by our Temple.
A week later, in the Wichita (Kansas) Beacon of September 11 a staff writer featured “Bahá’í Faith in Wichita“ in a detailed article about the teachings, leading off from local Bahá’í history and illustrated by a three-column picture of the South Central States Bahá’í Teaching Conference held there that weekend.
Life Magazine for October 31 presents several pages of photographs of the effects of the recent storm in Connecticut. On page 43 we note a picture of Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh in her Stamford home with the caption “Wet pamphlets are dried out by Mrs. Rafi Y. Mottahedeh, an art importer, in her home near Stamford.” In the photo can be seen copies of Star of the West.
A very attractive program providing three days of activities for the 22nd Annual Convention of the Service Finance Conference includes a visit to the Bahá’í Temple “one of the most unusual buildings in the world.” A photo of the House of Worship has been reproduced in the program.
The Sunday Globe Boston, October 2, carries an illustrated story by Barbara E. Hayden about Guy Murchie, author of the famous Song of the Sky. Entitled “To Write An Adventure Book He Ran a N.H. (New Hampshire) Camp,” the article presents an interesting biographical sketch tracing the stages through which Mr. Murchie passed in becoming a Bahá’í.
Once more it is gratifying to find a Bahá’í reference in literature issued by the Israeli Tourist Bureau. The latest example is a large page size illustration of the Bahá’í gardens overlooking the Bay of Haifa in a very attractive pamphlet entitled Israel. “The unforgettable panoramic view of Haifa Bay’s dazzling sands, green-carpeted hills and foamtopped breakers, framed by the misty purple hills of Galilee—seen from the Bahá’í gardens, one of Haifa’s many picturesque gardens and parks on the slopes of Mount Carmel.” (Published by Israel Government Tourist Center, Jerusalem.)
OXNARD FLORAL FLOAT WINS CIVIC AWARD[edit]
A novel teaching medium brought acclaim and reward to a group of California Bahá’ís this Fall. It was a flower-covered float that Won first prize in competition.
The prize-winning float, covered with five thousand azaleas and zinnias, was surmounted by a sweeping
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Damanhour, Egypt,
April, 1955.
arch reading “Bahá’í World Faith”
in navy blue. In the center stood a
replica of the Bahá’í House of Worship, made of button mums. A picket
fence enclosed a garden whose flowers were children of all races,
dressed in their native costumes, and
above them were the words “We are
the flowers of one Garden.”
The queen of the float, representing peace and love, tossed pink camellias tied with white satin ribbons into the crowd of 30,000 spectators along the 2½ mile route; on each ribbon, in gold letters, was a quotation from the principles of the Faith.
This first-place award was for beauty, originality and principle, adjudged by the Women’s Service Clubs. The announcement, over public address systems and radio, stated “The Bahá’ís of Ventura County, Oxnard. Their theme, ‘World Peace through World Faith.’ ” Such was the achievement of seven Bahá’ís of Oxnard, California, with the cooperation of their fellow Bahá’ís of Santa Paula and Ventura, all working in a warm spirit of sacrifice, love and unity.
As a result of good contacts that had been established in the community over a period of time, local business organizations offered assistance and materials, loaned the truck to carry the float, and the necessary flowers to complete it.
Besides promulgating the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, this beautiful float represented the dynamic force of the Bahá’í Faith, for here were the Bahá’í principies of racial unity put to work in the creation of a work of art.
The Library Service Committee requests that . . . .[edit]
all correspondence concerning the placing of books in libraries, and all other matters pertaining to their work, should be sent to the National Library Service Committee, and not to the secretary of the National Assembly, the National Office, or any other department. Much time can be saved and prompter replies assured by writing directly to the committee secretary, Miss Flora Emily Hottes, 406 West Iowa Street. Urbana, Illinois.
LOUHELEN WINTER SCHOOL[edit]
Winter Session at Louhelen Bahá’í School will begin on Monday, December 26, and will continue through Sunday, January 1.
This year’s courses will include “The Art of Teaching” and “A Dynamic Study of the Ten-Year Crusade.” An added feature will present intimate glimpses of the founders of our Faith in “Stories That Will Live Forever.”
A public meeting will be sponsored by the Detroit Community on Sunday, January 1, providing an ideal way for those who cannot attend the
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Shebin el Kom,
Egypt, April, 1955.
entire session to share in the Bahá’í
fellowship of Louhelen School, and
to introduce their friends to others in
the Bahá’í Community.
Reservations should be sent as early as possible, addressed to Registrar, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Rd., Davison, Michigan. Rates for the session have been set at $4.00 per day.
Plans are now being made for next year’s Summer Session, which will mark the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Louhelen Bahá’í School. We are looking forward to seeing you then, and will welcome, in the meantime, any suggestions you may have as to courses and special events to make this Anniversary year a great success.
Address your communications to the committee secretary, Miss Louhelen Eggleston, 24 N. Anderson, Pontiac, Michigan.
SUMMER SCHOOL FOLLOW-UP[edit]
Louhelen Bahá’í School Program
Committee for the 1955 session re[Page 12]
ports that more than 200 individuals
and family groups were students at
the school last summer. The names
of all the Bahá’ís who attended have
been sent to their respective local
Spiritual Assemblies and the Area
Teaching Committees with the
thought that these individuals could
be encouraged to become more actively involved in local and area
teaching activities.
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Seremban, Malaya, April, 1955.
TEMPLE VISITORS[edit]
The Temple Guides Committee reports that 86,387 persons visited the Bahá’í House of Worship between January 1 and September 30, 1955. This figure includes 7,750 tourists brought out by one of the sightseeing bus companies which made four trips to the Temple daily between June 1 and September 30. The number of visitors would probably have been much larger had it not been for 45 days of over-90 degree temperatures in the Chicago area during July and August when the tourist season is usually at its peak.
The regular guides have come from 28 communities in the vicinity of the Temple and five from a much greater distance who devoted from three days to two weeks to this service.
Approximately 715,000 persons have visited the Temple since it was open to the public in 1932.
AREA NEWS BULLETINS[edit]
The Southwestern Bahá’í’ Area Bulletin reports that nine Area Teaching Conferences have been held in that Area so far this year, with attendance between 135 (Pasadena) to 10 (Reno). Reports of the Conferences received by the Area Teaching Committee indicate that the Workshop type of conference was preferred and was most fruitful of ideas and results. The Conferences were held in Camp Verde, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Reno, Nevada; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Pasadena, San Diego, San Mateo and Stockton, California.
The first Cherokee Indian to become a Bahá’í is welcomed to the Faith in the Area Bulletin for the Central Atlantic States.
In this area a Montgomery County Youth symposium was held to discuss “How Can Youth Contribute to World Peace.” The chairman of the symposium was an eight-year-old girl, and other members discussing the aspects of the topic were 13, 14 and 16 years old. Sixteen adults and 11 children attended the meeting. Other activities of the Montgomery County group include placing Bahá’í books in libraries of the County.
Successful inter-racial meetings have been reported by the Area Bulletin for the Gulf States, in New Orleans and Fort Worth. The former meeting was addressed by Dr. Samuel L. Gandy, Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Dillard University. Dr. Gandy was a Virginia State delegate in 1955 to the National Human Relations Conference held in New York City. The Fort Worth meeting received good local publicity and was well attended. It was followed up by a public meeting with guest speakers from Dallas, who supported their talk on “The Atom—Paradise or Doomsday” with two movie films.
The Bulletin of the Area Teaching Committee for the Northwestern States reports that an Area Conference was held in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday, October 16, at the Women’s City Club. The theme was “The World Crusade depends on Me!” Conference chairman was Marvin Newport of Eugene. Subjects for consultation at the Conference were “teaching on the home front” and “building a firm foundation.” The latter topic included establishment of groups, bringing contacts to enrollment, and how to consult through Administrative channels, and was discussed by groups of the Area: Corvallis, Eugene, Pendleton and Astoria, Oregon; and Yakima and Everett, Washington. A public lecture was held in the evening, given by Mrs. Clair Kuhnle of Marysville, Washington, on “Man’s Search for Assurance.” Mr. Gordon Jackson of Eugene sewed as chairman of the meeting,
The Indianapolis Spiritual Assembly was host for an Area Teaching
Conference held October 15-16 at the
Indianapolis YWCA, the East Central States Area Teaching Committee reports. Subjects for consultation
included the individual’s obligation
to teach, sustaining the interest of[Page 13]
contacts, deepening and preparation
for enrollment, and deepening after
enrollment.
Extension Teaching
The Galveston (Goal City), Texas, group is already doing extension teaching work. One person attending their fireside comes from still another nearby community.
CENTRAL STATES CONFERENCE IN DECATUR[edit]
The third Central States Conference for this year was held in the goal city of Decatur, Illinois at the Orlando Hotel on September 25. Decatur is a friendly city of about 66,000—clean and attractive. There are a college, good transportation and other attractions which make it a city well worth considering for Bahá’ís making plans to help establish an assembly in a goal city.
The Urbana Extension Teaching Committee assisted the Decatur Group in making arrangements for a well-ordered conference resulting in an attendance of over eighty.
Mrs. Anna Kunz, of Zürich, Switzerland, secretary of the Italo-Swiss National Assembly, expressed the thanks of the European friends for the prayers and support of the Bahá’ís in the United States which was a great source of help to them. Marguerite Sears spoke of the work in Africa. Some thoughts she voiced were: Are we demonstrating in our lives understanding of others, whether Bahá’ís or non-Bahá’ís? Do we show justice? In teaching we cannot give others more than we have ourselves —we should pray daily for understanding.
Winston Evans gave a talk on the subject “What About Me?” This subject has been handled by different people at each of the three conferences from three different and interesting angles. Charles Reimer, chairman of the Central States Area Teaching Committee, spoke on the Guardian’s message and made a plea for the fund to help the Iranian friends.
Others who contributed to the program were Hazel Skiles who told of her recent pilgrimage to Haifa, Vivian Fellows who discussed “Bahá’í Obligations,” and Ellsworth Blackwell who spoke on “Unified Action.” The two latter speakers both men-
MONTHLY REPORT ON WORLD CRUSADE BUDGET[edit]
Third Year
National Bahá’í Fund
1955- 1956
As of November 15, 1955
Where we are $197,500.
Where we should $299,000.
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.
Aug. 15-Sept. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . .$37,000.
Sept. 15-Oct. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . .$39,500.
Oct. 15-Nov. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . .$40,000.
Total $197,500.
Accumulated deficit as of Nov. 15, 1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$101,500
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
tioned the need to love and obey the
Guardian in order to achieve victories for the Cause.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 with the feeling that this had been one of the best conferences of the year.
EDNA VOIGT, Secretary
BAHÁ’ÍS CELEBRATE UNITED NATIONS DAY[edit]
Twenty-eight communities have reported their meetings in observance of the Tenth Anniversary of United Nations Day.
The most significant fact gleaned from these reports is that many Bahá’í groups took the lead in their communities in planning and presenting the local United Nations Day meeting.
Many groups gave prominence to the Bahá’í proposals for revision of the United Nations Charter, both in talks at the meetings and in newspaper publicity.
Jersey City, N.J., mailed 200 invitations to civic and religious leaders, placed 50 posters in show windows and public places, distributed news stories to newspapers and radio stations. The meeting, at the Hotel Fairmount, attracted 60 people, half of whom were non-Bahá’ís. Speakers represented the Technical Assistance Board of the United Nations, and the Bahá’í Faith.
Butte, Montana, achieved wide
newspaper publicity before and after
their meeting. The topic was “The
United Nations and Bahá’í Proposals[Page 14]
for the United Nations Charter Revisions,” with a Bahá’í speaker. In
addition, a Bahá’í representative was
invited to speak at Congregation
B’nai Israel on a UN program with
a Jewish rabbi and a Protestant minister.
Flint, Mich., held a public meeting at the Federation of Women’s Clubs, with a Protestant minister as the speaker. Publicity included 10 free announcements on seven radio stations, and news items in seven newspapers in Flint and the surrounding area.
Anchorage, Alaska’s meeting featured a speaker from the Pacific Chapter of the American Association for the UN, and the UN film, “Workshop tor Peace.” A question and answer period followed. Two local newspapers published articles on the meeting, The Anchorage Recording District Assembly placed announcements over three radio stations. The YMCA-USO Director, and the League of Women Voters asked to use the film for subsequent meetings.
Three of the largest radio stations in Chicago, WGN, WLS, and WMAQ. broadcast news of the Bahá’í UN Day program, titled “Bahá’u’lláh and the United Nations.” A representative of the American Association for the United Nations, and a Bahá’í were the featured speakers.
Elmhurst, Illinois, sponsored a banquet in the local junior high school, with an attendance of over 260 people. The Bahá’í community of Addison Township took part in this joint UN-Bahá’í observance.
Kansas City, Mo., Kalamazoo, Mich., and Portland, Ore., combined a Bahá’í talk and a UN film in their program. Dumont and Ridgewood, N.J., joined in presenting a non-Bahá’í speaker and a UN film.
New York City presented a panel discussion program at their Center.
New Haven, Conn., West Orange, N.J., Boston, Mass., Peoria, Ill., Enid, Okla., and Buffalo, N.Y., sponsored programs featuring a Bahá’í speaker.
Communities pairing a non-Bahá’í and a Bahá’í speaker included Montclair, N.J., Pasadena, Calif., Tacoma, Wash., Madison, Wis., Beverly Hills, Calif., Phoenix, Ariz,, Batavia, Ill. and Temple City, Calif.
Wilmette, Ill., joined with the Wilmette Committee for United Nations Day in a cooperative village-wide observance of the Tenth Anniversary celebration at a local school. featuring a UN film. Newark, N.J., cooperated with a number of civic organizations in presenting the ambassador from New Zealand, and a symphony concert.
Radio broadcasts were arranged for the proclamation of Bahá’í relationship with UN in Rogers, Arkansas.
NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS[edit]
Bahá’ís Contact with Indians
At the Twelfth National Congress of American Indians in Spokane, Washington, Bahá’ís joined the Indians in their festivities. Robert Niss,
Bahá’í pioneer in Lewiston, Idaho, who was present, writes that he was A “asked to drum for the Indian danct and since I have had some experience at it, I worked right with the Indians.” The Chief of the Nez Perce Indians, who is a friend and neighbor of Mr. and Mrs. Niss, beat the drums for the ceremonial dance.
The Prescott, Arizona Evening Courier has published a weekly series of articles on the Bahá’í Faith written by Clara A. Edge, running from May through September.
Subjects have included Meditation the Bahá’í belief in Jesus, a detailed biography of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh and the principles of the Bahá’í Faith.
The Anchorage Recording District Assembly publicized their public meeting in observance of the Birthday of the Báb with announcements over radio stations KWNI, KBYR and KFQD, and in the local newspapers. The public meeting celebrating the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh, sponsored jointly with the Anchorage Assembly, received similar wide publicity.
The Anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh was observed by the San Francisco Community with a public meeting at their Center. Mrs. Joyce Dahl of Carmel was the guest speaker, and the program included musical selections and refreshments.
Bahá’ís of Anchorage, Alaska played a leading role at a Civil Rights Conference, Banquet and Mass Meeting on October 14-16, arranged for the visit of the Secretary Counsel. West Coast Region,
Bahá’ís and their friends at the second Bahá’í Southern Conference held
in Blue Ridge, North Carolina, August 27-30, 1955. (See report in November BAHÁ’Í NEWS.)
NAACP. A representative of the Faith served on the welcoming committee. the committee planning the Mass Meeting, and as one of the official hostesses. Zora Banks, Bahá’í of Fairbanks, was honored as President of the Fairbanks NAACP Branch, and was made Coordinator of all NAACP Branches in Alaska.
CHICAGO CENTER PRESENTS HUMAN RELATIONS FORUM[edit]
The “Human Relations Forum,” a monthly panel discussion program featuring speakers from many fields, has been reported by the Public Relations Committee of the Chicago Bahá’í Assembly.
In October the topic was “World Peace Through Human Relations.” Speakers included Mrs. David Miner, Executive Director of the Illinois Branch of the United World Federalists: Milton Rakove, of the Political Science Department of the University of Chicago; and Horace Holley.
The November topic was “A New Day for the American Indian.” Participants included a Winnebago Indian from Macy, Nebraska; Benjamin Bearskin, a representative of the All-Tribes American Indian Center of Chicago; and Mrs. Marion Oas, the Bahá’í representative to the Advisory Board of the Indian Center.
PUBLICATIONS[edit]
Bahá’í Calendar, 1956, illustrated with an unusually dramatic picture of the Archives Building in Haifa, Israel; another of Carl Scheffler’s drawings, (which are considered in professional circles to be among the finest of scratchboard artwork), this one with background highlighted in blue. Feast Days and Holy Days depicted in blue and deep yellow, with all other pertinent information contained on back. 8¾x12.
Each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ .25
Ten copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.00
Religious Liberty. A special statement issued by the National Spiritual Assembly, this is a time’y message, following upon the wide publicity given to the persecution of the Iranian Bahá’ís. A sample of this item .is enclosed‘ in this issue of BAHÁ’Í NEWS and it is designed for wide distribution to contacts in relation to the celebration of World Religion Day. This item is referred to in the World Religion Day announcement on page 2.
Printed on single sheet, 8½ x 11.
30 copies (Minimum order) . . . . $1.00 100 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.50
(Quantities under 30 copies will be charged at 5 cents each.)
The Bahá’í Faith (Japanese). This is a new translation; a brief, introductory pamphlet. Per copy . . . .$ .15
Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era (Polish). Per copy . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.75
(The price on Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era in other languages varies considerably according we our original cost of importing this item).
Available from
BAHÁ’Í PUBLISHING TRUST
110 Linden Avenue
Wilmette, Illinois
North Atlantic States Area Youth Conference, held October 22-23. 1955, in
West Englewood, New Jersey.
The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
By Shoghi Effendi. Defines the relation of the Faith to the process of
social evolution in this new age. In
addition to the Introduction by
Horace Holley, this edition contains
a new Preface written by Horace
Holley. 206 pp. and index. Newly designed cover, bound in cloth.
Per copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.75
Bahá’í Prayers for Children. Selected from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, The Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Illustrated with pen and ink drawings by Jean Hutchinson. 64 pp., hardbound, yellow cover, size 6⅛ x 7¾. Available approximately December 15.
Per copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.25
Foreign Literature
A small stock of the following items has recently been acquired:
DEVOTIONAL PROGRAMS AT HOUSE OF WORSHIP[edit]
The Bahá’í House of Worship at Wilmette, Illinois, is dedicated to the Unity of God, the Unity of His Prophets, the Unity of Mankind. In this spirit, public worship is conducted each Sunday at 3:30 P.M. in the auditorium. Readers at these devotional programs include Bahá’ís and guests. Choral selections are by the Bahá’í House of Worship A Cappella Choir.
The readings for November are repetitions of former programs as follows: November 6, those presented on July 3
November 13, those presented on June 19
November 20, those presented on May 29
November 27, those presented on June 26
CALENDAR OF EVENTS[edit]
FEASTS[edit]
December 12—Masá’i1 (Questions)
December 31—Sharaf (Honor)
January 19——Sulṭán (Sovereignty)
PROCLAMATION DAY[edit]
December 4—to publicize delegate attendance at State Conventions and progress of the Ten-Year World Spiritual Crusade.
STATE CONVENTIONS[edit]
December 4
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS[edit]
December 30, 31, January 1, 2.
BAHÁ’Í HOUSE OF WORSHIP[edit]
Visiting hours
Weekdays and Saturdays:
1:00-4:00 P.M.
(the Auditorium only will be Open)
Sundays: 10:30 A.M.—5:00 P.M.
(the entire building will be open)
Service of Worship: Sunday at 3:30 P.M., lasting until 4:15. (No guided tours will be conducted during the program of worship.)
IN MEMORIAM[edit]
“Death proffereth unto every confident believer the cup that is life indeed. It bestoweth joy, and is the bearer of gladness. It conferreth the gift of everlasting life.”
—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
Mr. Oscar Hellstrom
Seatlle, Washington
(date not reported)
Mr. J. R. Reynolds, Sr.
Houston, Texas
(date not reported)
Mrs. John D. Nolan
Chicago, Illinois
(date not reported)
Mr. Willis R. Whittenbaugh
Madison, Wisconsin
(date not reported)
Miss Harriet A. Weir
San Francisco, California
October 12, 1955
Mrs. Katherine Miller
West Haven, Connecticut
Sept. 18, 1955
Mr. Oscar E. Nordstrom
Kirkland, Washington
October 4, 1955
Mrs. Elmer Crink
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
(date not reported)
Mrs. Lephemia Williams
Phoenix-Harvey, Illinois
(date not reported)
Mr. Eugene A. Dorsey
San Diego, California
July, 1955
Mme. M. L. Plise
San Francisco, California
(date not reported)
Mrs. Rose Roberts
New York, New York
October 3, 1955
Mr. Herbert H. Tarbell
Buffalo, New York
October 18, 1955
MARRIAGES[edit]
“Glory be unto Thee, O my God! Verily, this Thy servant and this Thy maid-servant have gathered under the shadow of Thy mercy and they are united through Thy favor and generosity. O Lord! Assist them in this Thy world and Thy Kingdom and destine for them every good through Thy bounty and grace . . .”
—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
Sääksjärvi, Finland: Miss Lotus Grace Peterson to Mr. John H. Nielsen on August 28, 1955.
New York, New York: Miss Dorothea Morrell to Mr. Alfred B. Reed on October 1, 1955.
Kenosha, Wisconsin; Miss Georgia Halbertadt to Mr. Thomas E. Haisler on October 15, 1955.
Teaneck, New Jersey: Miss Natalie Anderson to Mr. Aaron Bowen on September 10, 1955.
Teaneck, New Jersey: Miss Carol Kelsey to Mr. Nat Rutstein on June 4, 1955.
Seatlle, Washington: Miss Shirley Winship to Mr. Robert Ballard on October 14, 1955.
BAHÁ’Í DIRECTORY CHANGES[edit]
ASSEMBLY SECRETARIES
Alaska[edit]
Anchorage: Mrs. Mable Amidon, 820 8th Ave.
California (Southern)[edit]
El Monte J. D.; Mrs. Margaret Rice, 5453 N. Halifax, Temple City
District of Columbia[edit]
Washington: Miss Bernice Bernardo, P.O. Box 950, Benjamin Franklin Sta.
Florida[edit]
Miami: Mrs. Gladys Layman, 6605 N.W. 3rd Ave., zone 38
Maine[edit]
Eliot: Mrs. Dorothy C. Cress, Eliot
Michigan[edit]
Niles Twp.: Mrs. Louise W. Love, 53 Miller St., Niles
Montana[edit]
Great Falls: Mrs. Amelia Heaton, 21 Alder Dr. Helena: Mr. Robert J. Gagnon, 9911 E. 6th, Apt. 3
New Jersey[edit]
Dumont: Mrs. Pauline Sylvester, 60 Knickerbocker Rd., Apt. 24
Pennsylvania[edit]
Philadelphia: Miss Sophia Rieger, 3458 Hurley St.
Tennessee[edit]
Memphis: Miss Johanna Zimmermann, 245 South Watkins Ave.
South Dakota[edit]
Sioux Falls: Mrs. Vera D. Esinhart, Bahá’í Center, 219½ Main St. So.
Washington[edit]
Seattle: Mrs. Dorris Dahl, 11728 35th St., N.E., zone 55
BAHA’I NEWS is published by the National Spiritual Assembly at the Bahá’ís of the United states as new organ reporting current activities at 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.
