Bahá’í News/Issue 353/Text
| No. 353 | BAHA’I YEAR 117 | AUGUST, 1960 |
“Guard Ye the Cause of God”
A Message from the Hands of the Faith Residing in the Holy Land
Beloved Friends:
We have already sent you an account of the reaction of the Bahá’í world to Mason Remey’s claim. It is now clear that a mere handful of believers supported it, but that these have been working actively to get others to join them.
It must be obvious to the friends everywhere that acceptance of this baseless claim, and particularly activity in support of it designed to influence others, constitutes a betrayal of the Sacred Texts upholding the structure of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. This has been unanimously attested by all the National Assemblies in their repudiation of Mr. Remey’s action.
In discharging their responsibility to safeguard the Bahá’í Community, the Hands of the Cause at an early stage instructed that the friends in France should refrain from associating with the former members of the National Assembly there who were active in their support of Mason Remey. The Hands in the Holy Land feel that the time has now come to extend this policy to all individuals who openly support this false claim. The believers everywhere should immediately cease associating, either by direct Contact or by correspondence, with anyone who supports Mason Remey’s claim to be the Guardian of the Faith, because the actions of these misguided people, whatever their intent, can only lead to discord and division within the Cause of God We may indeed rejoice that this latest attempt to create division has, like all others before it, failed utterly to destroy the basic unity of the Faith.
The response of the friends in all parts of the world reflects how faithfully they have heeded the injunction of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament: ‘Guard ye the Cause of God, protect His law and have the utmost fear of discord.’
By unity such as the believers have shown, all attempts to create division can be foiled, and the waverers saved from becoming subject to that most terrible of all punishments described by the Master in His Will when He wrote: ‘Should any, within or without the company of the Hands of the Cause of God disobey and seek division, the wrath of God and His vengeance will be upon him, for he will have caused a breach in the true Faith of God.’
With warm Bahá’í love
In the service of the beloved Guardian
HANDS OF THE CAUSE IN THE HOLY LAND.
Haifa, Israel July 5, 1960
Dear Friends:
The activities of those who, blinded by self-interest, seek to divide the believers by distortion of the Sacred Texts and the writings of the beloved Guardian create a subtle poison which if allowed to infect the soul can only lead to spiritual tragedy. This latest communication from the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land clearly describes the course of action to be taken by all believers everywhere, that is, to “immediately cease associating, either by direct contact or by correspondence, with anyone who supports Mason Remey’s claims to be the Guardian of the Faith . . .”
The letter refers to “the response of the friends in all parts of the world” reflecting their steadfastness. In turn, we wish to share with you the fact that we have received an overwhelming number of such letters from local Assemblies, groups and individuals comprising the American Bahá’í community. The understanding and unity of the friends is indeed a Cause for rejoicing. With this stalwart army of steadfast believers ignoring the latest attempt to subvert the Cause of God, the work of the beloved Guardian’s Crusade is gathering increased momentum. All our attention should now be directed to fulfilling the last objectives by 1963.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES
Distinguished Hand Horace Holley Ascends to Abbá Kingdom[edit]
Grieved announce passing Haifa much loved distinguished Hand Cause God Horace Holley outstanding champion Faith since days Master, praised by beloved Guardian for unique contribution development administrative order. His indefatigable services (in) protection teaching administrative field culminating service (in) Holy Land inspiring example (to) present (and) future generations Bahá’ís, Share above message (with) Hands (and) all national assemblies.
(Signed) Handsfaith
Haifa, Israel
July 13, 1960
Befitting service held yesterday dear Horace laid rest Bahá’í cemetery Haifa beside grave Dr. Esslemont.
(Signed) Handsfaith
Haifa, Israel
July 14, 1960
Dear Friends:
Although the beloved Hand of the Cause Horace Holley had been in frail health for a very long time, the foregoing announcement of his sudden passing on July 12 came as a shock to the entire Bahá’í World, and particularly to the American Bahá’í community which he served so faithfully as secretary of their National Spiritual Assembly for a great many years. He stood as a bulwark of inspiration and guidance and was ever an outstanding example of obedience and diligence in the fulfillment of all responsibilities entrusted to him, whether by the beloved Guardian Shoghi Effendi or the National Assembly.
Our great feelings of loss at the passing of this distinguished servant of Bahá’u’lláh are mitigated by the realization that his devotion to the teaching efforts will now be showered upon all of us in even greater abundance from the Abhá Kingdom.
At the instructions of the Hands of the Faith residing in the Holy Land the National Spiritual Assembly arranged a memorial gathering for Mr. Holley in the Bahá’í House of Worship for the evening of July 30. Local Bahá’í communities in the United States were also requested to hold similar gatherings at an early date.
—UNITED STATES NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
O Son of Man!
Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us. Rejoice not save that thou art drawing near and returning unto Us.
—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
[edit]
Historical events in the American Bahá’í Community and in the American Indian communities of Arizona and New Mexico took place in May when ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum was the guest of the Navajo and Hopi Tribes.
After her over-night visit in Gallup, N. Mex., where members of the Taos, Hopi, and Navajo tribes were guests of the Bahá’ís, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum went by car across the Navajo and Hopi Reservations to Hotevilla on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona, by invitation of the Hopi chiefs.
This invitation to a Hopi feast had come through a letter to the local Spiritual Assembly of Gallup, and stated: “The Hopi people want to give a feast to the lady who has been so interested in us that she has come from the other side of the world to see us.” A Hopi feast is a ceremonial, and an invitation to one is considered a great honor. Among the many dishes making up the supper were the specially prepared bread and corn customarily served on such ceremonial occasions.
Chief Dan Kachingno of Hotevilla, chiefs of other villages in Hopiland, and many elders were among the more than one hundred Indian and white audience crowding into the three-room Hopi home and spilling out the windows and doorways over the surrounding moonlit sands. In Hopiland such silence prevails that the voice carries long distances even at low tones, so all could hear clearly.
The meeting began with the chanting of a Bahá’í prayer by one of the visiting Persians; then followed a Hopi prayer by Chief Dan, spreading the sacred white cornmeal so dear to the heart of the Hopi.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum then spoke of her love for the Indian people and of the necessity of our building a bridge with love between the two Ways of Life. She told them of how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had spoken of the Indian people of America: that they will become as great as the Arabian people after their acceptance of the teaching of Muhammad, if they accept the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, and that Bahá’ís believe the Indian people have, with their characteristics from their forefathers, a great place in the world.
She spoke of the oneness of the Prophets, naming Moses, Christ, and Bahá’u’lláh, and these Names were not translated by the interpreter when he explained her words. She told of the oneness of people and the need for understanding, of mutual sharing of cultures, and of the necessity for building a bridge between the old and new cultures.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum presented to Chief Dan and the
village, as a remembrance of her visit, a beautifully
hued rug made by Persian Bahá’ís, and explained to
him the symbols woven into it of the Bahá’í teachings;
the center meaning “Ya-Baha‘u’l-Abhá” or “O Glory
of the Most Glorious,” which is a way of calling on
the Great Spirit; and around the edge the symbols
meaning “All men are like the fruits of one tree and
the leaves of one branch, and all men must associate[Page 3]
with each other in love and friendship and must live
and cooperate with one another as brothers.”
The people of the village of Hotevilla on the Third Mesa presented ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum with a ceremonial plaque, and one of the Indians, a young man next in line to be chief of the village, spontaneously presented her with a handwoven belt of his own making.
Chief Dan, who is ninety-seven years old and has spent his life in upholding the traditional way of life and teachings of the Hopi, responded with dignity and courtesy, speaking in the Hopi language and stating his agreement with the ideals of brotherhood and spiritual balance, as these ideals had been known to the Hopi for many centuries.
He said he was convinced that salvation was to he arrived at by faithfully following the Hopi pattern of life and teachings on the ancient tablets still guarded by the older people of the tribe. He spoke of the confusion of the Hopi people in these times of rapid changes, and voiced his belief that the Day of Purification would come when all mankind will think as one about the Supreme Being. Until then, he said, the Hopi people will continue to respect all religions while continuing to live according to their ancient pattern of life, and this, he said, is working toward true brotherhood.
This traditional viewpoint of the most conservative of Hopi villages seems to be held by the elders of the tribe, but the younger members, who are less traditional, seemed Well aware of the truths spoken of by Rúḥíyyih Khánum, as evidenced by their attentiveness and the light shining from their eyes as they presented their gifts to her and began their farewells. One of them, who acted as interpreter, made the statement to her that he felt this occasion has the most wonderful thing that had happened to his people.
Thus, a Hand of the Cause of God has met the chiefs and people of Hopiland, where all of the present-day church representatives have been asked to leave because they would not permit the Hopi to worship as he wished.
On the following day Rúḥíyyih Khánum and her party drove to Window Rock, Ariz., where she addressed the Navajo Tribal Council which had just convened its summer session. On this, the first day of the deliberations of representatives of the far reaches of the Navajo Reservation, ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum was introduced by the tribal chairman.
Composite picture of the Temple site at Hachioji, on the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan.
She told them of her serving on the Bahá’í Council
in Haifa, Israel, the International Headquarters of the
Faith. Her address was brief, in deference to the
busy schedule of the Council, but its clarity, dignity,
and sincerity were sure to have reached the hearts
of the councilmen. She spoke with appreciation of the
accomplishments of the Indian people and of the rewards which come from serving God and humanity.
These rewards, she indicated, would surely come to
the councilmen engaged in consultation for the benefit
of their people.
Her own visit to the council chamber she considered a reward to her for having Come so far to visit Bahá’ís and their associates all across the country. She spoke of the sense of oneness which Bahá’ís feel with their brothers everywhere and of the qualities of heart and mind which she knew the Indian people could and will contribute to the councils of the world.
Making reference to the Navajo art of silverwork, Rúḥíyyih Khánum presented the council with a silver pitcher, an exquisite example of Persian craftsmanship. The chairman voiced appreciation on behalf of the council. The talk, the gift, and the spirit of the speaker seemed perfection itself, and evoked a warm response.
View from the Temple site at Hachioji, Japan.
Nine More National Assemblies Report Annual Conventions Recount Goals Won, Determine to Attain New Victories[edit]
South and West Africa[edit]
Inasmuch as the message from the Hands of the Faith in Haifa did not arrive in time for the opening of the fifth Annual Convention of South and West Africa, a letter from the Hands of Africa was read and re-read, for the bountiful inspiration and guidance which it contained, to the eighty-four delegates and friends assembled in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, April 23-25, Every word of the convention was translated into four different language groups— Shona, Nyanja, Bemba, and English, so that everybody would have an equal opportunity to share and contribute.
It was thrilling to see the local African believers participating fully in all the deliberations and bringing forth mature contributions and depth of wisdom. Only two of the delegates present were pioneers, all others being indigenous Bahá’ís.
The annual reports of the National Spiritual Assembly and the National Teaching Committee revealed that there had been a 60% increase in the number of believers in the region during the past year, bringing the total number of Bahá’ís to 1603. The region now has a total of 175 centers and sixty local assemblies, two of these being incorporated and ten others registered with their respective governments.
There are now sixty-three African tribes represented in the fifteen countries and islands of the region, and seventeen other races and groups. During the year, five local Bahá’ís pioneered in places out of their home countries.
On the second day of the convention, late in the afternoon after prayers in twelve different languages, the ballots were cast for the National Assembly in an atmosphere of quiet devotion. Results of the voting and subsequent election of officers were: John Allen, chairman; Rudolfo Duna, vice-chairman; Valera Allen, secretary; Lowell Johnson, assistant secretary; William Masehla, recording secretary; Sue Benatar, treasurer; Bahiyyih Ford, Max Seepe, and Shidan Fat’he-Aazam.
The highlight of the convention came on the final afternoon when the glorious, uplifting, and inspiring message arrived from the Hands in Haifa, It was a perfect climax to three days of intense deliberation, and it called forth the deepest gratitude and reverence from all the friends assembled.
The convention revealed that all of the Ten-Year Crusade goals in the region had been achieved except three, the translation of a pamphlet into Kimbundu, the incorporation of the National Assembly, and of the Local Assembly of Johannesburg. The only other task which the Guardian outlined was “conversion of the masses.” There were many signs that all these goals and tasks would be accomplished before 1963.
Alaska[edit]
The weekend of the fourth Alaska Annual Convention opened with a buffet dinner and public meeting held in Anchorage. The informal nature of the reception gave everyone present an excellent opportunity to get acquainted.
Fifth Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of South and West Africa, held in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, on April 23 to 25, 1960.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay for 1960-1961. Front row: José Mielnik, Ellen Sims, Fabienne
Guillon, and Estunislao Alvarez. Back row: Alejandro
Reid, Athos Costas, Roberto Cazcarra, Salvador Tormo,
and Massouud Khamsi.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela for 1960-1961. Front row: Mercedes Sánchez, Edmund Miessler, Dorothy Campbell, and Jamshid Meghnot. Back row: Cyrus Monadjemi, Gayle Woolson, Enrique Sánchez, Margot Worley, and Ranguald Taetz.
The Convention started the following morning with
eight delegates and fifty-six guests present. The communities of Anchorage, Spenard, Matanuska Valley,
Seward, Juneau, and Douglas were represented.
Barrow, Alaska, reported the thrilling news that they now have their first declared Eskimo youth‘ During the year the first Tlingit Indian couple was enrolled in Juneau, and William Willoya became the first Eskimo to pioneer in his native city of Nome. The establishment of a local spiritual assembly in the Matanuska Valley was another major activity reported.
The following are newly elected members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska: Robert Moul, chairman; Howard Brown, vice-chairman; Evelyn Huffman, secretary; Kathryn Alio, recording secretary; Lois Lee, treasurer; Donald Anderson, Beverly Kolstoe, Richard Mereness, and Verne L. Stout.
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay[edit]
On April 24, 25 and 26, Riḍván 1960, the Fourth Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay was carried out in Montevideo. Uruguay, as the “convention of victories” celebrating all goals completed as well as unexpected victories gained in this past year.
There are no words to describe the atmosphere of high spirituality, serenity and maturity which prevailed through the entire period. Contributing to this highly victorious and successful Convention was the inspired presence of the Revered Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. Hermann Grossmann; of the Auxiliary Board member, Sra. Else Cazcarra; of Mrs. Grossmann, former Auxiliary Board member in Europe; the devotion of the sacrificial group of Persian pioneers as well as the American contingent who have all rendered such outstanding services this year; the presence of the pure-hearted Indian Bolivian believers; the attendance of the heroic band of native Latin pioneers; the coming together of twenty-nine delegates and believers from the five countries.
Among the outstanding victories for this year was the conversion of the masses of Indian believers in Bolivia, now numbering more than a thousand believers; the gaining of all goals with the election of Local Assemblies in Valdivia and Oloncoche, Chile; Minas, Uruguay and Encarnacion, Paraguay; the purchase of land for the Mother Temple of Bolivia; and the surprising propagation of the Faith in far-off Easter Island without the presence of any pioneer on that outpost, given as the last virgin island to be opened as a final goal in the Crusade in this area by the beloved Guardian shortly before his passing.
The National Spiritual Assembly elected to assume the responsibility of assuring the formation of the five independent pillars of the Cause in Riḍván, 1961, has the following membership: Dr. José Mielnik, chairman; Sr. Massoud Khamsi, vice-chairman; Sr. Salvador Tormo, corresponding secretary; Sr. Roberto Cazcarra, recording secretary; Sra. Fabienne Guillon, treasurer; Sr. Athos Costas; Dr. Alejandro Reid; Sr. Estanislao Alvarez; Mrs. Ellen Sims.
India[edit]
The thirty-first annual Bahá’í Convention of India was held at New Delhi. News of sixteen new local assemblies formed during Riḍván thrilled all the believers, as this figure was unprecedented and showed a new enthusiasm in the Bahá’í community.
During the convention the wonderful news was received that the national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of India, which had been requisitioned by the government since 1948, was to be returned to the Bahá’ís during May 1960. All future Bahá’í activities can now emanate from this beautiful building.
The National Spiritual Assembly of India for the year 117 was elected as follows: G. A. Amreliwala, chairman; Mrs. Shirin Boman, vice-chairman; H. Fatheazam, secretary; R. N. Shah, treasurer; R. R. Williams, assistant treasurer; Dr. K. K. Bhargava, Dr. M. E. Lukmani, P. C. Auplish, and Dr. H. M. Munje.
Delegates to the Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay held
in Montevideo, Uruguay, April 24 to 26, 1960.
South Pacific[edit]
The second Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of the South Pacific opened with Auxiliary Board member Miss Margaret Rowling and ten of the nineteen delegates present. Representatives were there from seven of the ten groups of South Pacific islands under the jurisdiction of their regional spiritual assembly, The Convention had been preceded by a one-day teaching conference and convention dinner.
All those present were so happy to receive a cable from the newly formed first Spiritual Assembly in the New Hebrides; to receive the report of the formation of the Assembly at Mu’a in Tonga, the second in these islands; and to hear that plans had been made for the formation of two more in Samoa, another in the Solomon Islands, and possibly two more in the Gilbert Islands.
Other “firsts” reported were summer schools held in Tonga, the Solomons, and in Fiji, while Samoa reported their second summer school. Six teaching conferences had been held throughout the year, and twenty-five smaller islands in the South Pacific were now opened to the Faith in contrast to only two at the beginning of the Ten Year Crusade. Literature has been translated into one more language, the Ellice language. On April 25 the Regional National Spiritual Assembly had received its Certificate of Incorporation from the government of Fiji.
The problem of settling the two virgin areas of the Loyalty Islands and the Marshall Islands was discussed. Following the consultation, one of the Gilbertese delegates related the story of how his father-in-law had some years ago been accidently blown in his canoe to the Marshall Islands, and now he began to think perhaps he could go to visit him and so assist in fulfilling the goals of the Ten-Year Crusade.
After the reading of prayers in the various languages the convention closed, and the friends went by bus to visit the area chosen by the Regional National Spiritual Assembly to be purchased as the Temple site for the Mother Temple of the South Pacific.
Benelux Countries[edit]
Louis Henuzet, member of the Auxiliary Board of the Hands of the Faith and chairman of the outgoing National Spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries, addressed and welcomed the twenty-seven friends gathered from Holland, Belgium, and Luxembourg for the fourth Benelux Annual Convention. This was held in the national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds at The Hague, Holland, with sixteen of the nineteen delegates present.
The present status of the Benelux countries in regard to assembly goals is: Belgium has achieved its goal of four assemblies, two of which, Liege and Charleroi, were formed this year; Holland has two assemblies, and needs six more; Luxembourg has one assembly, and must have three more by 1961.
As very special efforts must be made to aid Holland and Luxembourg to fill their goals, pioneers and settlers have been arriving, and more are needed to help in this glorious work.
It was brought to the attention of the friends that in August the International Esperantist Congress will be held in Brussels. Theo Beets of The Hague will represent the Benelux Community at this Congress.
Members of the newly elected National spiritual Assembly of the Benelux Countries are: Louis Henuzet, chairman; Jan Sijsling, vice-chairman; Ben Levy, secretary; Lea Nys. recording secretary; Pierre Bram, treasurer; Bob van Lith, assistant treasurer; Claude Levy, Roger Swinnen, and Lottie Tobias.
Burma[edit]
The annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of Burma, held in Rangoon, elected the following members to the National Spiritual Assembly for 1960-1961: U. Ba Sein, chairman; Daw Hla Hla, vice-chairman; S. G. Murtaza Ali, secretary; Shah Alam Chaudhri, treasurer; and A. K. Ko Gyi, U. Thein Pe, Daw Thoung Khin, U. Hamid, and U. Doolman.
Seven members of the Regional National Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific for 1960-1951. Front row:
Miss Mabel Sneider, Miss Margaret Rowling, Alvin
Blum, and Miss Irene Jackson. Back row: Mrs. Dulcie
Dive, Suhayl ‘Alá’i, and Mrs. Elsa Blakely. Walli Khan
and Joe Russell were unable to attend the convention.
Second Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of the South Pacific, held at Suva, Fiji, from April 29 to May 1, 1960.
Northeast Asia[edit]
The fourth Annual Convention of Northeast Asia opened with prayers given in three languages, Japanese, Persi n, and English. Hand of the Cause Miss Agnes Alexander and sixteen of the twenty-seven delegates were present.
Purchase of a Temple site was considered the major victory this year. The National Teaching Committee announced that the goal city of Matsue had its first enrollment into the Faith. Also, the first Japanese woman has arisen to go alone on teaching trips.
The Taiwan Teaching Committee reported that the number of centers in Taiwan has increased to six, and the first Chinese Moslem has accepted the Faith. A report of the National Publishing Committee stated that the basic pamphlet (in Japanese), The Tebiki, is now in its sixth edition. Twelve thousand have been printed.
The newly elected members of the National Spiritual Assembly of North East Asia are: Dr. David Earl, William Maxwell, Jr., Masazo Odani, Miss Agnes Alexander, Dr. Ikuo Mizuno, Mrs. Barbara Sims, Noureddin Momtazi, Hiruyasu Takano, Philip Marangella.
[edit]
According to a decision of the Regional National Spiritual Assembly of Scandinavia and Finland that the remaining conventions before 1962 be held in the various capitals outside of Stockholm, last year’s convention was held in Copenhagen and this year it was held in Oslo, Norway.
The Convention was preceded by a day of a well-planned teaching conference which proved both inspirational and informative. Present at this conference, as well as at the Convention, was Hand of the Cause Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel, and Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Modesta Hvide.
Four new local spiritual assemblies have been established in Scandinavia and Finland: in Tampere, Finland, in Uppsala, Sweden, in Stavanger, Norway, and in Bröndby, Denmark,
A Unity banquet and program was carried out which gave opportunity for the friends to introduce themselves and get to know one another. Representatives (mm the four new local spiritual assemblies described in brief some of the last-minute preparations for their formation.
There was constructive consultation on the Message from the Hands of the Faith, and Dr. Mühlschlegel inspired all those present with a desire to be confirmed and rededicated to the challenging tasks ahead.
Elected to the new National Spiritual Assembly of Scandinavia and Finland were: Palle Bischoff, chairman; Hans Odemyr, vice-chairman; John Nielsen, secretary; Gudrun Öfstegaard, treasurer; Modesta Hvide, Josephine Kruka, Trygve Nielsen, Lisbeth Anderson, and Gerd Strand.
Bahá’í's attending the Annual Convention of Scandinavia and Finland, held in Oslo, Norway, in April 1960.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of New Zealand for 1960-1951, Front row: H. K4 Blundell, Mrs. D.
Weeks, Mrs. L. Farmer, S. J. Carr, and Doug Weeks.
Back row: W. P. Leadley, Mrs. M. Hamish, Mrs. B.
Van der Vaart, and T. Stirling.
India National Assembly Chairman Attends Burma National Convention, Summer School[edit]
The Bahá’ís of Burma were greatly inspired by the Visit of Gholam Hosain Amreliwala, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of India, who represented the Indian Bahá’ís at the summer school as well as at the annual Bahá’í Convention, both of which were held in Rangoon.
Mr. Amreliwala arrived by plane from Bombay and was welcomed by the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Burma and the Local Spiritual Assembly of Rangoon. All felt the benefit of the loving and informative talks given by this valiant and veteran teacher of the Faith.
Accompanied by some of the friends, Mr. Amreliwala visited Daidanaw and paid homage at the tomb of the late Revered Hand of the Cause Siyyid Musṭafá Rúmí. Siyyid Musṭafá had a long record of superb services in both teaching and administrative fields. His resting place is regarded as the foremost shrine in Burma. (See The Bahá’í World Vol. X, pp. 517-520.)
The Local Spiritual Assembly of Daidanaw organized a general meeting of local Bahá’ís, and Mr. Amreliwala spoke to them of the World Crusade objectives. He also met the Bahá’í friends of Twante who lovingly received and entertained him.
The Burmese friends are grateful to Mr. Amreliwala for his spontaneous and benevolent services to the Cause of God.
Vientiane Assembly Legally Recognized[edit]
From the time of its formation on April 21, 1958, the Local Spiritual Assembly of Vientiane, Laos, made persistent efforts to obtain legal recognition by the Laotian government. The Regional National Spiritual Assembly of Southeast Asia has reported that these efforts were finally rewarded on January 19, 1960, when the necessary decree was signed by the Prime Minister, President of the Council of Ministers, the Vice-President of the same Council, and the Minister of the Interior.
Bahá’ís of Chile, Mauritius Islands Escape Serious Harm in Earthquakes, Hurricane[edit]
A number of believers have inquired about the fate of the Bahá’ís in the cities of Chile which were devastated by the recent series of earthquakes. We are happy to report that, while Valdivia and Osorno suffered very extensive destruction, the Bahá’ís were miraculously saved, although their homes were badly damaged. In Puntas Arenas, Valparaiso, Viña del Mar, and Loncoche the friends escaped very serious effects. The American Bahá’í pioneer of Chiloé Island happened to be in the United States at the time of the disaster. The fate of the two native believers was unknown up to the first of June, but it is presumed that they, too, are safe.
The revered Hands of the Faith residing in the Holy Land immediately sent funds to supplement the assistance which was being given in the matter of clothing, food, and medical supplies by the Regional National Spiritual Assembly of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Following the hurricane that wrecked great havoc in the Mauritius Islands some weeks earlier on the properties of the Bahá’ís, the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States sent a contribution of $250.00 to aid with the relief work there among the believers.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
German Youth Examine Enthusiasm, Ideals at Karlsruhe World Youth Day Meeting[edit]
A report from Karlsruhe, Germany, tells how they celebrated World Youth Day last March 26 with a talk given by Mr. Beckmann on “What Can Enthuse Youth?”.
Twenty-five young people from eight towns were present, and proved, once again, that most youth are really “rebels without a cause.” They enjoyed a lively discussion on why young people want to draw attention to themselves, why crimes are committed by youth without motive or feelings of guilt, and why it should be the task of adults to direct the excessive energies of youth into right channels, so that they may have a goal towards which to strive. Youth are enthused about almost anything when they are rightly guided.
The following day two more talks were given. Lisa Becker spoke on “Ideals versus Idols of Youth throughout the World.“ She said that an “idol” is an illusion, a false standard. As an example she took certain film stars. The “ideal,” she explained, is the standard worthy of aspiration.
A second talk was given by Uwe Schwarz, “Where Do We Find Ideals?”. He said that it is our aim, as Bahá’ís, to develop ourselves to an ever-higher level. As Bahá’u’lláh states, we bear all the perfections within us; it devolves therefore upon us to become conscious of them and to use them.
Five Communities of India Form New Local Assemblies
Pictured here are Bahá’ís of five localities in India where new local spiritual assemblies were formed on April 21, 1960.
Top left: Members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Sait Palayam, a village near Bangalore.
Top right: The first Local Spiritual Assembly of Ootacmund.
Center left: Members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Karikal, a former French territory assigned to India by Shoghi Effendi in 1953. Since that year two Knights of Bahá’u’lláh, Mrs. Shirin Noorani and Mrs. Salisa Kermani (seated in front row) have lived there.
Center right: Members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of Narakal with several of the friends.
Bottom: Bahá’ís and friends at Bhaktapur, Nepal, with the pioneer Kidar Nath Pradhan (seated in center). Bhaktapur Bahá’ís formed their first local spiritual assembly this year. There were no Bahá’í centers in Nepal, an independent country in the Himalayan range, until 1958. Now there are three assemblies, Kathmandu (formed in 1959), Dohlka Shahr, and Bhaktapur; four groups, Dharan Bazar, Baklong, Pokhra, and Biratnagar; and over one hundred believers, chiefly composed of the intellectual young generation. Mr. Pradhan has since gone to Bhutan, virgin territory under the Ten-Year Plan.
Bahá’í Examples of The Oneness of Mankind Attract Increased Interest in Race Amity Day Observances[edit]
RACE Amity Day this year appears to have attracted much more attention throughout the United States than in any previous year. Many more inquiries were received from organizations and publications for information, announcements, and posters, and the public press gave excellent coverage to the local observances. Most of the reports received reveal unusual ingenuity in planning programs that would be equally attractive to all races and that would impress them, by example rather than by word, with the true Bahá’í concept of the meaning of “the oneness of mankind.”
Following are stories gleaned from only a few of the reports received:
The observance of Race Amity Day in the newly opened YMCA in Dearborn, Mich., was sponsored jointly by the Bahá’í communities of southwestern Wayne County. It took the form of a public meeting at which the speaker was Dr. Howard Y. McClusky, professor of Educational Psychology and consultant in Community Adult Education at the University of Michigan. Dr. McClusky gave many worthwhile suggestions for easing racial tensions and creating true understanding between all the races of the world. He read selections from the Bahá’í scriptures and from the Bible, and expressed the firm belief that there is “a power for unity actively operating throughout the world.” A good portion of the fifty persons present were non-Bahá’í, some of them former students of Dr. McClusky; others were attracted by his fine reputation in educational circles and his recent service on the Detroit Citizens Advisory Committee on School Needs and on the same committee for Dearborn.
In Baton Rouge, La., the Bahá’í community’s first observance turned out to be also the largest public meeting held by the Bahá’ís, in spite of the fact that it conflicted with another important armual event scheduled in the same Church where the Bahá’ís had their meeting. Of those who attended seven were Bahá’ís, five were white, and thirty were Negroes, only four of whom had attended any previous Bahá’í function.
Besides organ and vocal music the program included an address on “Man One Family” by R. H. Tucker, Jr., son of the pastor of the Bethel American Methodist Episcopal Church in which the meeting was held, and by E. S. Campbell, a Bahá’í from Jackson, Miss., on “God’s Supreme Gift to This Enlightened Age.”
Excellent publicity of all kinds preceded the meeting. It included the display of twenty-five large posters in important places of business, mostly Negro, the mailing of 250 circulars announcing the meeting, spot announcements on the local radio, the distribution of circulars among the members of two Negro churches and another hundred to contacts and ministers of selected churches, posters on the campuses of the two universities, and two window displays. The report states that not one poster was rejected, although the library supervisor asked that the one announcing the meeting be taken down because it might cause difficulty. However, she kept the display of Bahá’í material in the window and added other books regarding race and race relations. The local newspaper gave fine space to the event, including, in one issue, the photo graph of Mr. Campbell, the Bahá’í speaker.
The Bahá’ís of Hartford, Conn., observed the event by a public meeting addressed by Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh. Of the thirty-four present only eight were Bahá’ís. Nearly half of the audience heard of the Faith for the first time.
Melrose Township, Ill., a newly formed local spiritual assembly, sponsored a large interracial picnic attended by nearly one hundred, half of whom were Negroes. Although rain spoiled some of the plans for games, the entire group gathered in the basement of the home of one of the Bahá’ís, where they joined in singing and had opportunity for good conversation and fellowship.
The Toledo, Ohio, Bahá’í group held their Race Amity Day program in the local International Institute with forty-one in attendance, representing the Chinese, Spanish, Persian, Negro, and white peoples. Sam Clark was the speaker on the subject, “Man One Family.” The advance publicity for this meeting included the mailing of personal invitations, notices in the local newspapers and in Bronze Raven, a Negro publication, a beautiful poster by a local artist in the public library, and a brief but very effective announcement on a local television program by Dr. Otto Zmeskal.
The El Paso, Texas, Spiritual Assembly held its program in the home of one of the local believers with approximately thirty present, among them representatives of Negro, Spanish, and Persian residents. Music, talks, and prayers in the various languages represented constituted the evening. A question period and the serving of refreshments added to the informality of the gathering.
The newly formed Local Spiritual Assembly of Issaquah, Wash., a small town of about 1,800 people, has sent the following report:
“The Bahá’ís of Issaquah observed Race Amity
Day with a picnic at Lake Sammamish Park for their
friends and contacts. Twenty—seven adults and nine
children attended, including thirteen Bahá’ís and two
children from a Bahá’í family. Four races were represented: American Indian, Negro, Chinese, and Caucasian. The special events committee made two large[Page 11]
attractive signs, one to give directions and one to
mark the site, Race Amity hats, made from paper
plates with four hands cut from colored paper (symbolizing the four races present) stapled to the crown,
were furnished the picnickers. The table cloth was
heavy paper, hand decorated with art work and with
Bahá’í quotations about the oneness of mankind. The
centerpiece was a globe set on an inscribed and decorated base. The children’s table was covered With
plain do-it-yourself paper, with crayons provided for
their own artistic expression.
Bahá’ís of Yakima, Wash., who participated in the
Race Amity Day panel discussion, with the pastor of
Mt. Hope Baptist Church, and a graduate of the Central
Washington College of Education.
“. . . The beautiful site, the perfect weather, the
abundant fare, the swimming, the fellowship, the group
singing—minds cannot grasp, nor hearts contain,
the bounties of the spirit of Bahá’u’lláh which descended upon this memorable gathering.”
The report from Yakima, Wash., states that of the forty-five present at the race amity program in that city only nine were Bahá’ís. In this community the observance was a joint project of the Bahá’ís and the members of the Mt. Hope Baptist Church, which has the largest Negro congregation in that city, The spiritual assembly reports: “The main feature of this year’s program was a panel discussion in the church auditorium on Sunday afternoon, on ‘The Oneness of Humanity.’ The participants included two members of the Mt. Hope congregation, one a deacon of the church and the other a graduate student in education at the Central Washington College of Education. The other two participants were members of the local spiritual assembly, with the vice-chairman acting as moderator‘ A list of questions had been prepared in advance with the approval of the pastor and were mimeographed by him as his contribution to the program.
“Reverend Denman, the pastor, opened the program with an invocation for Divine assistance, following which the young people’s choir sang several heartwarming spirituals. The mimeographed questions were then passed out to the audience and the moderator opened the discussion with an introduction of the panel members and a brief statement on the meaning of Race Amity Day and the Bahá’í concept of the oneness of humanity. The audience was then invited to select questions according to the topics on the mimeographed sheets.
“The discussion was most interesting and showed genuine appreciation of the purpose behind the program. Following the closing remarks by the pastor and the reading of the prayer for unity written by Bahá’u’lláh, al.l adjourned to the church parlors for refreshments served by the Bahá’ís. Several members of the congregation made a special point of telling us how much they had enjoyed the afternoon. These included the pastor, his wife, and the student who took part in the panel.”
The Greensboro, N.C., Baháhs observed their annual Race Amity Day with a social in a private home, at which the only program was the showing of a film illustrating an experiment in racial amity among children and adolescents. Although the event was announced by three newspapers and 100 invitations were sent out to friends and contacts, including members of the local interracial commission, the attendance was very small. The assembly writes that, while this was a trifle disappointing, “it only pointed up the fact that the torch of responsibility in furthering race amity lies very greatly in the Bahá’í community in this ‘gate city to the South.’ ”
The four Bahá’ís comprising the Marion County, Ore., Bahá’í group initiated plans for an entirely different kind of observance, but finding they could not secure a suitable place in the county, they called upon and received the fullest cooperation of the Salem community for holding it at the West Salem Public Library. The program was given twice during the day, once in the afternoon and again in the evening. It was announced by means of ten posters placed at strategic spots throughout the city, fifty attractive invitations, and two newspaper articles. The librarian was pleased to have the display which was offered, and stated that since the library had many of the books suggested by the Bahá’í Press Service she would arrange a display of these in the interest of promoting better race relations.
The program, which was repeated twice, consisted of selected readings from several holy books, including the Bahá’í Sacred Writings dealing with the brotherhood of man. These were interspersed with beautiful music. The three readers sat at the side and rear, and read their respective selections with great feeling. The entire program was very impressive and the Bahá’ís present felt this type of program could be very effective on other special occasions.
In conjunction with the plans for the observance in Salem, a program of fireside and informal discussions was arranged and announced, running from June 21 to August 9.
The Bahá’ís of Sonoma County, Calif., collaborated in the observance of this same event by holding a public meeting in Santa Rosa. Besides an interesting musical program in which two Santa Rosa children participated, Lloyd Haynes, a sociology major at San José State College and a technical illustrator, spoke on “Race Amity—Pathway to Peace.” As Mr. Haynes has travelled extensively in the Far East, he could speak with conviction on the urgency of this principle at this particular time in the world’s history.
An interesting example of what even an isolated Bahá’í can do is that reported by Miss Hortense horst of De Kalb, Ill. Since she could not undertake a public meeting, she approached the local radio station with a good script secured from the Radio Service Committee, in the hope of securing a fifteen-minute spot. When she learned that the cost was beyond her means, she pointed out that race unity is a crucial need in our country today, whereupon the program director consulted his superior, He returned to her in a few moments and stated they would be glad to give her fifteen minutes of time free, immediately following the dinner hour newscast. Surely God assists all those who arise to serve Him!
Amoz Gibson, member or the Auxiliary Board of the Hands of the Faith in the Western Hemisphere, was the speaker at the Race Amity Day observance in Phoenix, Ariz. Although the attendance was not as large as anticipated, the advance publicity, especially in the Negro press, was excellent, as was also the subsequent report. It is interesting to note that four of the seven staff members of the Arizona Sun, the local Negro newspaper which carried the stories and pictures, are Bahá’ís.
The Oklahoma City, Okla., Bahá’ís observed their event by an integrated picnic in one of the public parks with twenty-two Negroes and eleven whites in attendance. The program centered about the entertainment of the children. The local newspapers gave good publicity to the occasion.
Part of the group at the Race Amity Day outing sponsored
by the Sparks, Nev., Bahá’ís at Geiger Lookout,
near Sparks. Present were Negroes, Navajos, Piutes,
a Japanese, and a Hopi-Basque.
Outdoor meeting for Race Amity Day in St. Louis, Mo.
The Minneapolis, Minn., Bahá’ís and some of the
friends from the suburban areas attended church
services in a Methodist church in a nearby village,
whose pastor is a Negro for an all-white congregation.
After the services the pastor and his wife, personal
friends of Miss Elsie Austin for many years, were
guests for brunch at the home of one of the Bahá’í
couples. Afterward there was a brief program in
which the pastor participated, chiefly by giving an account of his recent visit to the Near East.
Thus are the Bahá’ís bringing into bright focus the light and promise of “the oneness of mankind" as taught by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and at a time when the nation as a whole is struggling with menacing and difficult problems arising from America’s present racial situation.
Principals at the Race Amity Day observance held in
Phoenix, Ariz., a cooperative effort of the Phoenix
and Tempe Bahá’í communities: Oscar Engelder, Rosella Powers, Edith Goranson, and Amoz Gibsmt, guest
speaker.
Mrs. Jeanne Frankel and Mrs. Margaret Bates, pioneers to Cocos, Keeling Islands, with Fred Baldwin,
the first believer there. Cocos is one of the goals of the
World Crusade.
BAHA’I IN THE NEWS[edit]
The 1960 calendar distributed thru local agents throughout the United States by the Lumbermen’s Mutual Casualty Company and the Kemper Insurance Company of Chicago uses as its theme “Churches of America,” The illustration for the month of September is a beautiful color photograph of the Bahá’í House of Worship.
In a special feature of The Philadelphia Courier which evidently lists outstanding events which have happened over the years affecting race relations in the United States as “assets“ and “liabilities," the February 6, 1960 edition under “assets” in 1913 mentioned persons of note who attended the annual NAACP parley naming “‘Abdu’l-Bahá of Persia” first in the list.
An extract from Cosmoglotta, being distributed by The British Interljngue Association of England, is an article entitled: “Un Modern Temple e su relation al movement interlinguistic.” It carries a picture of the architect’s model of the Bahá’í Temple to be erected in Germany, and discusses the history and teachings of the Bahá’í Faith.
In a textbook titled “New People in An Old Land,” by Lily Edelman, published by Thomas Nelson and Sons, New York, the following reference appears on page 42: “Adding to the variety in Israel are 300 Bahá’ís, members of an offshoot Moslem sect, whose magnificent gold-domed temple and Persian gardens are among the splendors of Haifa.”
The revised edition of Robert E Humels book, “The World’s Living Religions,” published by Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York, contains references to the Bahá’í Faith on pages 13-14, 221 and 240-241. The author definitely recognizes the Bahá’í Faith as an independent religion.
Chicago’s American January 2, 1960, two editions, carried a front-page story by feature Writer Gladys Erickson about the election of Charles Wolcott as secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, accompanied by a photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott on the steps of the Bahá’í Temple. The Chicago Sunday Tribune, January 3, carried a similar article. The April issue of BAHÁ’Í NEWS contains references to this article which was carried by United Press International and reproduced in a great many newspapers both in the United States and abroad.
Chase’s Calendar of Annual Events, published by Apple Tree Press, Flint, Mich., listing special days, weeks and months in 1960 includes announcement of two Bahá’í events — World Religion Day and Race Amity Day, including a statement of purpose for each.
A catalogue published on the occasion of an exhibition of 224 paintings by Mark Tobey held in the Seattle, Wash., art museum September 11 through November 1, 1959, refers to Mr. Tobey as “an active leader of the Bahá’í Faith which teaches the spiritual unity of mankind and service to suffering fellow men.” It further states: “Several Bahá’í pictures . . . are included in this exhibit.”
The Detroit News on or about Nov. 10, 1959 devoted the Ralph McGill column to discussion of the “religious boom" in the United States, and in stating church membership as 109,000,000, says: “This does not include the substantial Christian Scientist numbers nor the surprising total of Bahá’ís and other philosophic groups.”
Newsweek, February 22, 1960, p. 80, under the subject “One—Man Band" carries a column and a half story, with a photograph of Habib Sabet, referred to as “a self-made Persian potentate.” The article states: “He came from a poor family, he had no government connections, and he was of the Bahá’í rather than Moslem faith — three strikes against any man. But Sabet wove his own flying carpet with sheer drive.” The story tells of Mr. Sabetls many successful business Ventures in Írán, including the launching of his second TV station.
Fourth Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of Brazil,
Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, held at Cali,
Colombia, from April 29 to May 1, 1960.
In the March 14 issue of the same magazine under “Letters to the Editor” there are letters from readers commenting on an article in a previous issue entitled “Life Out There.” One of these written by Nathan Rutstein of Philadelphia, Pa., quotes the following words of Bahá’u’lláh: “Know thou that every fixed star hath its own planets and every planet its own creatures. whose number no man can compute. . .”
In Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr.’s book, “Man of the World, My Life on Five Continents,” published by Crown Publishers, Inc., New York, 1959, there appear several references to the Bahá’í Faith and to Larry Hautz, pioneer in Africa. In the chapter on Israel, pages 311 and 312, he mentions: “In Haifa, near Elijah’s cave, a famous Bahá’í temple with its dome all of gold leaf is the world center of the Bahá’í movement, and its renowned gardens.” On pages 317 to 320 Mr. Vanderbilt recounts his meeting with Larry Hautz in Southern Rhodesia, whom he had known previously in the United States.
Building Construction Illustrated magazine, January 1960, on page 38, carries a picture of a section of the Bahá’í Temple as an example of classical rococo, designed by Louis Bourgeois.
The newspaper El Pais, Montevideo, Uruguay in its December 28, 1959 issue reports in almost a full column a talk given by STA Abraham Sariouis, of the Israel Embassy during an International Exposition of Culture on the day set aside for Israel. He used the title: “Israel, Mosaic of Religions and Communities.” Speaking of the various religious groups in Israel, the newspaper quotes: “There also exists a small Bahá’í colony, the majority of them Persian, who although there are only 250 in Israel, have their importance there since the sacred places of the Bahá’í Faith can be found in Israel, of which this colony is considered the caretakers. The Bahá’ís in Israel live in Haifa, at the foot of Mount Carmel.”
Seven members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the
Bahá’ís of Berlin, Germany, for 1959-1960, incorporated
on February 18, 1960.
Beginning with a syndicated column by Erskine Johnson which appeared in papers throughout the country
starting in April, 1960, a number of columnists, including Dorothy Kilgallen, Louella Parsons, and Irv
Kupcinet, have mentioned that Vic Damone, who is
making a come-back in the entertainment world, credits his new-found peace of mind and improved performance to his new outlook on life which he is finding
in his study of the Bahá’í Faith. Mr. Damone has
given personal testimony to this report on at least
two television programs on which he appeared, the
“At Random” show and the Marty Faye show, both
midnight shows originating in Chicago but with very
large listening audiences.
Newsweek Magazine, June 27, on page 94 refers to the recent visit to the United States of ‘Amatu’l-Baha, Rúḥíyyih Khánum, mentioning particularly her visit to three Indian tribes, including the Blackfoot tribe of western Canada. The article which is entitled “The Nine Hands” also speaks of the Bahá’í Faith whose purpose is to fulfill the revelations of the past and “to reconcile the (seemingly) conflicting religious beliefs of the present.” Rúḥíyyih Khánum is quoted as saying that things are going very well, and she cites the formation of almost fifty new communities in the United States alone last year as evidence of its growth.
The Chicago American, Sunday, May 1, 1960, under a two-column heading “Bahá’í Re-elects Kavelin Leader” carried a six-inch account of the election of the National Spiritual Assembly during the fifty-second annual convention.
Bahá’í delegates and observers at the United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations Conference at UN Headquarters in New York City on May 17 and 18, 1960: Dr. Jon Halland, observer for the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly; Mrs. Mildred R. Mottahedeh, delegate for the Bahá’í International Community; Mrs. Florence Steinhauer, delegate for the U.S. National Assembly; Mrs. Harriett Wolcott, observer for the Bahá’í International Community; and Charles Wolcott, secretary of the U.S. National Assembly, who was a special guest at the conference. Eugene Moye was also a Bahá’í observer at these meetings.
Two views of the newly completed Bahá’í Center at Nagasaki, Japan.
A Bahá’í contact of the believers in Cheyenne, Wyo., while doing research work for college course, discovered the following passage in a biography of William Chaplin Deming. a man of historical importance in Wyoming. A limited edition of the book was published by the Arthur H. Clark Company of Glendale, Calif., in 1944. On page 110 Mr. Deming mentions a “conference on international arbitration” at Lake Mohunk in 1912, and says: “I particularly recall the fine old Persian prophet, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, whose writings and doctrines were much in vogue at that time. He was delightful character and looked and acted as one might expect a prophet to appear.
The April 1960 edition of Oomoto, the official organ of Oomoto and Universal Love and Brotherhood Association, discusses the fundamental principles of this movement, and on page two refers to “Bahaism” as consisting of people of every conceivable religious background “who believe that acceptance of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh enables them to understand better the respective religions of their original following and to attain more fully their objectives, and to discover the unique God who is the common object of belief shared by people belonging to different religions, and find the place where to worship Him.” It says: “If things work this way the religious world will become qualified for a session of the World Parliament referred to in Oomoto’s Sacred Teachings thus, ‘The Parliament cannot be opened by people alone, however long they may try, but only by God. I will show its opening.
Felwewship and Prayer, a magazine published in New York “to promote the practice of prayer among all religious faiths . . . ” carries in its April 1960 issue an article titled “Untapped Fountain" written by Dawn Edwards, identified as “a member of the Bahá’í Faith and author of a recent work, Journey Into Consciousness. In this article she quotes a number of references from the writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bah'a on the subject of prayer.
What appears to have been the first publicity of the Bahá’í Faith in a Portuguese newspaper independently of the efforts of the believers was a full-pa “This grandiose structure was raised as a material expression of the teachings of the Bahá’í World Faith, world unification, spiritual regeneration, and the true brotherhood of man throughout the world.”
The first Bahá’í Summer School held in Naku’alofa,
Tonga, on December 27 to 29, 1955, reported in BAHÁ’Í NEWS for May.
Eastern Religious and Western Thought, by S. Radhakrishman, 21 Galaxy Book published by New York Oxford Press in 1359, refers on page 340 to the Bahá’í Faith and states that “Bahá’u’lláh’s advice to his apostles has nothing in common with fanaticism” and quotes from Bahá’u’lláh to show that He approves association with all religions.
“She Does Good Around the World” was the title of a feature article by James N. Rhea that appeared in the Providence Evening Bulletin, Providence, R.I., April 1, 1960, about Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh. The article quoted extensively from Mrs. Mottahedeh about her travels “from Persia to Africa” in connection with her business and her Bahá’í activities, including her service as special United Nations observer for the Bahá’í International Community.
A folder entitled See the World headlining events in Chicago during the Chicago International Fair June 25-July 5, 1960, lists the Bahá’í Temple as one of the year-round attractions “in and around Chicago.”
A textbook titled, New People in a New Land by Lily Edelman, published by Thomas Nelson and Sons, New York, on page 42 states: “Adding to the variety in Israel are 300 Bahá’ís, members of an offshoot Moslem sect, whose magnificent gold-domed temple and terraced Persian gardens are among the splendors of Haifa.”
The 1960 summer quarterly of The Voice, a twelve-page newspaper published in Southwick, England, dedicated to “universal brotherhood under the Fatherhood of God,” has published on page 4 a very fine brief history of the Bahá’í Faith, and includes the Bahá’í principles as the “essence” of the teachings expressed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá when he spoke to western audiences.
Town and Country magazine for April 1960 contains a beautifully illustrated article by Parry Fells on Israel. A large color picture of the Bay of Haifa at the foot of Mt. Carmel Avenue, taken from the Bahá’í gardens, and a smaller picture in color of the Shrine of the Báb appear together on the facing page with the following caption: “The ancient harbor of Haifa lies at the bottom of a scenic road carved in the side of Mount Carmel. Below: The glistening gold dome of the Bahá’í Temple—dedicated to the cult of beauty—is visible for vast distances from the approach to the harbor.”
On the occasion of the establishment of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Stavanger, Norway, one of the four formed this Riḍván in Scandinavia and Finland under the Ten-Year Plan, the Stavanger Aftenblad carried a notice of the visit to the city of Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel, revered Hand of the Cause.
In their booklet Israel, written by Peggy Mann and put out by the American Geographical Society for their Around the World program, published by Nelson Doubleday, Inc., there is a picture of the Shrine of the Báb, carrying this caption: “The golden-domed Bahá’í Shrine Overlooks Haifa.”
The Bangkok World, a leading English newspaper in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 12, 1960, carried a sixteen-inch, two-column announcement about World Religion Day, mentioning its purpose and giving a good account of the Bahá’í Faith as “a way of life” and listing the basic aims and principles of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
Know Your Baha’i Literature[edit]
Messages to America[edit]
June 21, 1932—December 3, 1946
(Reviewed by Horace Holley)
This compilation of cables and letters from the Guardian addressed to the North American Bahá’ís records the spiritual history of fourteen fateful years. It contains the impetus by which Shoghi Effendi inspired the Bahá’í community to advance along the path to its high destiny.
As the Preface, written by the National Spiritual Assembly in 1947, points out, these messages mark the “shift of interest from the development of the administrative order to the teaching mission conferred upon the American Bahá’í community. . . ” Messages to America follows the communications published in Bahá’í Administration, and accompanies those longer letters issued in The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
The present compilation is not a history of yesterday of concern only to the scholarly Bahá’í student. The Guardian’s guidance does not wither with time because each expression of it continues to be our guidance on that particular problem, or subject, or occasion. The letters and cables of Shoghi Effendi are arrows which invariably strike the mark, and individual Bahá’ís are reminded of the power of these Messages to move the heart, confirm the faith, and increase capacity to teach.
The list of contents illustrates the present and future as well as the past value of this collection. For example: Nabil’s Narrative; Non-Participation in Political Affairs; Separation From Outworn Creeds; The National Fund; Intensify Teaching Work a Thousand-fold; Loyalty to World Order of Bahá’u’lláh; Prove Themselves Worthy of that Priceless Heritage; The Spiritual Potencies of That Consecrated Spot; The Anger of God and His Correction; The One Message That Can Extricate Humanity; A God-Given Mandate, to mention only a few, even now relate us intimately to the spiritual grandeur of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, to the Master’s Divine Plan, and to the beloved Guardian.
Messages to America, 118 pages clothbound, with Notes, Glossary, and Index is available from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust at $1.00 (formerly $2.00).
Altadena library Requests More Copies of “Blessed Is The Spot” for Readers[edit]
Last March the Altadena, Calif., Local Assembly placed a copy of the book Blessed Is the Spot in the local and one of the branch libraries, which resulted in a telephone call from the head librarian who said, rather apologetically: “I’m wondering if you would donate two more copies of that wonderful children’s book Blessed Is the Spot to the library‘ The children love the book, and we have patched it, cleaned it and held it together every way we can, but it is just getting in a condition that means it can't be taken out very many more times. We in the library feel it is an excellent book for the children and therefore We would appreciate it very much if you would donate us two more copies.”
LOCAL ASSEMBLIES FORMED IN THE BAHA’I WORLD RIḌVAN 1960[edit]
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Venezia, Italy, formed on April 21, 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Queluz, Portugal, formed an April 21 1960. Front row:
Girma Beshah, Mileu Mousinho, Loretta Scherer, and
Esmania Mousinho. Back row: Jan Coopen, Carl Scherer, Fernando Mousinho, M. Masrour, and Jose E.
Serafim.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Muktinagar, Bangalore, India, formed on April 21, 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the
Matanuska Valley, Alaska, formed on April 21, 1960.
Front row: Mrs. Janet Stout, Mrs. Marie Guffey, Mrs. Sally Clark, and Mrs. Mary Jane Fowlie. Back row: The
Elmer Guffey, Howard Brown, Donald Van Brunt,
Verne L. Stout, and Jack Fowlie.
Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of San José, Calif., for 1959-1960, incorporated on January 14, 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Pandang, Sumatra, Indonesia, formed on April 21, 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Bakersfield, Calif., formed on April 21, 1960.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Charleroi, Belgium, formed an April 21, 1960.
The first Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Encarnacion, Paraguay, elected on April 21, 1960, is shown at the left. Front row: Sra. Adelina Piava, the first native Paraguayan Bahá’í in Encarnacion; Rezzi Sunshine, Alice Bacon, Eve Nicklin, ana Kayhanoosh Aazampanah. Back row: Assadu’llah Akhbari, Margaret Mills, Luis Van Strate, and Amir Aazampanah. The photograph at the right shows the entire Encarnacion community on the occasion of the visit of Sr. Salvador Tormo, travelling teacher from Bnenos Aires, Argentina, on May 17, 1960. The languages spoken by the eleven original members ay this community are Guarani, Spanish, Hungarian, German, English and Persian. Assembly consultation is translated into English and Persian when necessary.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Hamilton, New Zealand, formed on April 21, 1960. Front row:
Miss F. de Lisle, Mrs. G. Venus, and Miss K. Carpenter.
Back row. T. Stirling, Mrs. D. Weeks, Mrs. D. Stirling,
Mrs. M. Harnish, Mrs. A. Richardson, and Doug Weeks.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Peoria
Heights, Ill., formed on April 21, 1960. Front row: Frances Mathis, Ronald Mathis, Anne Jackson, and Roy
Bottoroff. Back row: Marjean Traff, Thelma Feryler,
Nina Bottoroff, Elizabeth Nott, and Alden Nott.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Cuenca,
Ecuador, formed on April 21, 1960. Front row: Cecile
Hargis, Grove Becker, Patricia Conger, and George
Conger. Back row: Frank Keith, Eda Rae Keith,
Manuel Ignacio Rodriguez, Vida Monadjem, and Freydoun Monadjem. (Photo at left)
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Manizales, Colombia, formed on April 21, 1960. Front row:
Ines Sarmiento, Aura Sánchez, Mary Johnson, and
Mercy Rojas. Back row: Manuel Réategin, Kenneth
Kalantar, Emilie Kalantar, Allah Kalantar, and Domingo Rojas.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Turin, Italy, formed on April 21, 1960. Front row: L. Chahidi, I. Sabet, and M. Majzub. Back row: M. Mirpourian, Itaj Majzub, Elyas Sabet, Nasser Sabet, Manucher Majzub, and M. Rasa’i.
Baha’i Publishing Trust[edit]
Proposals for Charter Revision. (Submitted to the United Nations by the Bahá’í International Community.)
These Proposals for Charter Revision submitted some years ago to the United Nations by the Bahá’í International Community through the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States are as timely today as when first presented The need for consideration of the points it stresses in the interest of a just and peaceful society becomes more urgently obvious each day. The covering letter to Dag Hammarskjöld, Secretary-Genenal of the United Nations is also published in the brochure.
This reprint is the same quality production as the previous edition, 8½ x 11, brown ink on cream colored vellum, but the price is reduced with the expectation that assemblies and groups will make every effort to distribute these extensively throughout the closing years of the World Crusade.
10 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.50
25 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5.00
50 copies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$9.00
National Bahá’í Addresses[edit]
Please Address Mail Correctly!
National Bahá’í Administrative Headquarters:[edit]
536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Ill.
National Treasurer:[edit]
112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.
Make checks Payable to: National Bahá’í Fund[edit]
Bahá’í Publishing Trust:[edit]
110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.
Make Checks Payable to: Bahá’í Publishing Trust[edit]
Bahá’í News:[edit]
Editorial Office: 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.
Subscription and change of address: 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.
Bahá’ís of Bangkok, Thailand, at a farewell gathering
for Sukasem Prasertgao (back row at the left), the
first Thai pioneer, who left on June 1, 1960, for Luang
Prabang, Laos.
Calendar of Events[edit]
FEASTS[edit]
August 20—Asmá’ (Names)
September 8—‘Izzat (Might)
U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS[edit]
September 2-5
Baha’i House of Worship[edit]
Visiting Hours[edit]
Weekdays 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Entire building)
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
Sundays and Holidays
10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Entire building)
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
Service of Worship[edit]
Sundays
3:30 to 4:10 p.m.
BAHÁ’Í NEWS is published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States as is 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.
BAHÁ’Í NEWS is edited by an annually appointed Editorial Committee. The Committee for 1960-1981: Richard C. Thomas, Managing Editor; Mrs. Eunice Braun, International News Editor; Miss Charlotte M. Linfoot, National News Editor; Miss D. Thelma Jackson and Mrs. Harriett Wolcott, Assistant Editors.
Editorial office: 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.
Change of address should be reported directly to National Bahá’í Office, in Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A
