Bahá’í News/Issue 356/Text
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| No. 356 | BAHA’I YEAR 117 | NOVEMBER, 1960 |
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh: November 12, 1817[edit]
We Have Chosen Thee to Be Our Most Mighty Trumpet
THIS is the Day whereon the unseen world crieth out: “Great is thy blessedness, O earth, for thou hast been made the foot-stool of thy God, and been chosen as the seat of His mighty throne.” The realm of glory exclaimeth: “Would that my life could be sacrificed for thee, for He Who is the Beloved of the All-Merciful hath established His sovereignty upon thee, through the power of His Name that hath been promised unto all things, whether of the past or of the future.” This is the Day whereon every sweet smelling thing hath derived its fragrance from the smell of My garment — a garment that hath shed its perfume upon the whole of creation. This is the Day whereon the rushing waters of everlasting life have gushed out of the Will of the All-Merciful. Haste ye, with your hearts and souls, and quaif your fill, O Concourse of the realms above!
Say: He it is Who is the Manifestation of Him Who is the Unknowable, the Invisible of the Invisibles, could ye but perceive it. He it is Who hath laid bare before you the hidden and treasured Gem, were ye to seek it. He it is Who is the one Beloved of all things, whether of the past or of the future. Would that ye might set your hearts and hopes upon Him! . . .
Arise, and proclaim unto the entire creation the tidings that He Who is the All-Merciful hath directed His steps towards the Riḍván and entered it. Guide, then, the people unto the garden of delight which God hath made the Throne of His Paradise. We have chosen thee to be our most mighty Trumpet, whose blast is to signalize the resurrection of all mankind. . . .
This is the Day whereon He Who is the Revealer of the names of God hath stepped out of the Tabernacle of glory, and proclaimed unto all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth: “Put away the cups of Paradise and all the life-giving waters they contain, for 10, the people of Bahá have entered the blissful abode of the Divine Presence, and quaffed the wine of reunion. from the chalice of the beauty of their Lord, the All-Possessing, the Most High.”
Forget the world of creation, O Pen, and turn thou towards the face of thy Lord, the Lord of all names.
Adorn, then, the world with the ornament of the favors of thy Lord, the King of everlasting days. For We perceive the fragrance of the Day whereon He Who is the Desire of all nations hath shed upon the kingdoms of the unseen and of the seen the splendor of the light of His most excellent names, and enveloped them with the radiance of the luminaries of His most gracious favors—favors which none can reckon except Him, Who is the omnipotent Protector of the entire creation. . .
The Best-Beloved is Come. In His right hand is the sealed Wine of His name. Happy is the man that tnrneth unto Him, and drinketh his fill, and exclaimeth: “Praise be to Thee, O Revealer of the signs of God!” By the righteousness of the Almighty! Every hidden thing hath been manifested through the power of truth. All the favors of God have been sent down, as a token of His grace. The waters of everlasting life have, in their fullness, been proffered unto men. Every single cup hath been borne round by the hand of the Well-Beloved. Draw near, and tarry not, though it be for one short moment.
Blessed are they that have soared on the wings of detachment and attained the station which, as ordained by God, overshadoweth the entire creation, whom neither the vain imaginations of the learned, nor the multitude of the hosts of the earth have succeeded in deflecting from His Cause. Who is there among you, O people, who will renounce the world, and draw nigh unto God, the Lord of all names? Where is he to be found who, through the power of My name that transcendeth all created things, will cast away the things that men possess, and cling, with all his might, to the things which God, the Knower of the unseen and the seen, hath bidden him observe? Thus hath His bounty been sent down unto men, His testimony fulfilled, and His proof shone forth above the Horizon of mercy. Rich is the prize that shall be won by him who hath believed and exclaimed: “Lauded art Thou, 0 Beloved of all worlds! Magnified be Thy name, 0 Thou the Desire of every understanding heart!”
Gleanings, pages 30-35
Nov. 20 Set for Laying of Foundation Stone of Mother Temple of Europe Near Frankfurt[edit]
The long-awaited laying of the foundation stone of the Mother Temple of Europe will be held on November 20 at 11 a.m. at the Temple site in Langenhain, near Frankfurt, Germany.
This joyful event will climax a seven-year struggle by the German National Spiritual Assembly for permission from the governmental authorities for the erection of this edifice.
A conference or the European Hands of the Cause, their Auxiliary Board members, and members of the various European national assemblies will be held on November 19 and 20 at Frankfurt.
Friends are invited to attend the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone, and may obtain further information from the German National Spiritual Assembly, Frankfurt/Main, Westendstr. 24, Germany,
September 14-l7 Set for Dedication of Australian House of Worship[edit]
Dedication of the Australian House of Worship has been set for September 14 to 17, 1961, by the Australian National Spiritual Assembly, with the approval of the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land. This date replaces the April 1961 date announced in a recent message from the Hands of the Cause.
‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum Visits Peigan Indians During Tour of Canada[edit]
During ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s tour of Canada last Spring, she made a request to meet with the Peigan Indian chiefs. The Canadian National Indian Teaching Committee wrote to the head chief, John Yellowhorn and each councillor, inviting them to meet with her at the home of Councillor Samson Knowlton on Saturday, May 21. The Peigan Bahá’ís and others concerned prayed constantly for the realization of this unique meeting.
On the morning of May 21, Rúḥíyyih Khánum, Mrs. Jean Chute, Arthur Irwin, Lily Ann Irwin, and John Hellson drove from Calgary to the Peigan Reserve and were met at the Knowlton home by members of the Peigan Bahá’í group and two of the councillors, Walter Bastien and Charlie crow Eagle, the latter of whom, although elderly and in poor health, had walked three miles to attend the meeting. When Rúḥíyyih Khánum was seated, Head Chief John Yellowhom, Councillor Pat Bad Eagle, and Councillor Joe Crowshoe, entered and were introduced. Other guests continued to arrive until there were thirty adults and about twelve children present.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum, in addressing the gathering, spoke of her early and continued interest in the Indian people and of her recent visit to the Hopi Indians in the United States. She told them that Bahá’ís believe the Indians have a great destiny, and indicated the need of civilization for the qualities that the Indian people could bring to it.
She then said, “When I knew I was coming here I did not know whether you had a place in which to meet, but I understand that you will soon have one. I want to offer to your chief for the people not for the Bahá’ís or for any particular person, but for the people, a gift from me, something that is made in Persia, because I thought it would interest you, and it has some very beautiful words on it. It is a little rug. I think it was made by Persian Bahá’ís. And this (pointing to the Greatest Name in the center of the rug) is a prayer. It says, ‘O Glory of the Most Glorious’—in other words. a prayer to God that is Highest of all high things. Brightest of all bright things. And these are words in Persian which are very beautiful and I know we all believe them. They say that all men are like leaves on one branch and branches on one tree. The other part says we must all associate with each other with the greatest of friendship and kindness. I think you believe this, and I believe it.”
Chief Yellowhom received the gift graciously on behalf of the Band Council, and said that when the new hall was built this year it would be framed and hung where all could see it.
Then Councillor Crow Eagle asked that all go outside so that they might give a special name to Rúḥíyyih Khánum. Outside, the two eldest councillors stood on either side of Rúḥíyyih Khánum, and the rest of the gathering stood nearby. As the sun came out from behind a cloud, Councillor Crow Eagle raised his right hand and called out in his own language for the Great Spirit to come and bless this lady with a holy name. He then named her “Our Blessed Mother.”
The visit concluded with a luncheon prepared by the Peigan Bahá’ís, and then Rúḥíyyih Khánum and others left for Calgary, where a meeting was scheduled for that evening.
—CANADIAN BAHÁ’Í NEWS
Bahá’ís Promulgate Faith at Forty-Fifth Universal Esperanto Congress at Brussels[edit]
The forty-fifth Universal Esperanto Congress was held at Brussels, Belgium, on July 31, 1960, with Bahá’ís leading the program. Theo Beets, representative of the Benelux Bahá’ís, opened the session with words of Weicome, and then W. v.d. Ley gave a talk in Esperanto on “The Unity of Mankind.”
Mr. Ley made a deep and lasting impression on the audience of twenty-one guests and eleven Bahá’ís, when he spoke of the world-embracing ideas which will be brought to effect through the Bahá’í Faith. This was apparent in a lively discussion that centered on the problem of how we can find ways to help mankind.
As we are confirmed by Bahá’u’lláh, a universal language will, and must, be a means to complete harmony and a final overcoming of dividing prejudices. These thoughts, expressed in a little leaflet by Lidja Zamenhof, daughter of the founder of Esperanto, and also a Bahá’í, were given to all present. Prayers of Bahá’u’lláh were read by the Bahá’ís to close this successful meeting, another means of spreading the Bahá’í Faith.
South and West Africa Teaching Committees Prepare Pioneers With Schools and Conferences[edit]
THE second annual Bahá’í Teacher Training School in the South and West Africa region was held in Salisbury, S. Rhodesia, following the annual convention. The school lasted three days and had a total attendance of thirty-six from S. Rhodesia, N. Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Mozambique, and South Africa. Twenty-six were Africans and ten were whites. Five language groups were represented, making it necessary to translate from English into four indigenous languages.
Courses taught were in response to a questionnaire mailed earlier in the year. They were “Bahá’í Character Development,” “How to Give a Bahá’í Talk,” and “The Covenants of God.” In addition, a series of discussions was held by the National Teaching Committee on the goals and methods of the Mass Teaching Program. One evening was devoted to music and the use of dramatics in teaching the Faith.
Student reaction was very enthusiastic, with such written statements as, “We gained courage in speaking through practice. We also learned to organize our ideas.” “We learned how to apply the teachings and the class gave suggestions on how we can improve.”
“The course was of great practical value.”
The National Assembly considers it vital that these teacher training schools continue, and is already making plans for the next one in Riḍván 1961.
Three very successful area teaching conferences were also held in S. Rhodesia and Nyasaland during the past year. The first of these was held by the Area Teaching Committee of Salisbury, S. Rhodesia and Southern Nyasaland. The Workshop method was used on the question, “How Can We Have and Encourage Interest in the Bahá’í Faith?”
The Nyasaland Conference started with a public meeting on the subject, “One God—One Religion.” The highlight of this conference was reports on activities given by representatives of the many communities in the area. This was a great help to the Area Teaching Committee in its evaluation and planning.
The theme of the first teaching conference in Bulawayo, conducted by the Area Teaching Committee of Bechuanaland and Bulawayo, S. Rhodesia area, was “Preparation for Teaching the Multitude.” Out of these discussions came a recognition of the need for deepening in the Faith, and for great effort to be poured forth to reach the country areas. As though God had sent emissaries to emphasize the latter need, several of the friends and contacts who attended were people from the Filabusi Reserve who had never been to a
Bahá’ís who attended the first teaching conference in Bulawayo, South Rhodesia, conducted by the Area Teaching Committee of Bechuanaland and Bulawayo.
city before. As a direct result of this Area Teaching
Committee’s work, a new local assembly was formed
in Filabusi at Riḍván.
—NATTIONAL HISTORY AND ARCHIVES COMMITTEE OF SOUTH AND WEST AFRICA
Salvador Tormo, Indefatigable Servant of Faith, Dies in Airplane Crash in Uruguay[edit]
Bahá’ís throughout the world were saddened to learn of the death of Salvador Tormo, one of the first believers in Latin America and an indefatigable worker in the Faith since the Guardian‘s first Seven-Year Plan. Salvador Tormo has died in the battlefield of service; he was on a mission for the Cause when his plane went down in Uruguay.
Upon notification of this sad event the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land sent the following cable:
“GRIEVED NEWS PASSING SALVADOR TORMO EARLY LATIN AMERICAN BELIEVER LONG STANDING INDEFATIGABLE SERVICES UNFORGETTABLE EXTEND LOVING SYMPATHY FAMILY FRIENDS ASSURE ARDENT PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES”
—HANDSFAITH
Mr. Tormo’s lifelong contributions to the work of the Faith are much too numerous to mention here in this short space. We mention only a few: The establishment of the Spiritual Assembly on the island of Juan Fernandez off the coast of Chile in 1953; manager of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust in Buenos Aires since 1957. In this capacity he was a translator of numerous Bahá’í writings, a task he was engaged in for many years previously. In April 1960 he was elected secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, of which he has been a member since its establishment in 1957.
In his capacity as international teacher, translator, and administrator, Salvador Tormo contributed inestimably to the establishment of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA, CHILE, PARAGUAY, AND URUGUAY
The council room of the Town Hall in Cologne, Germany, where the meetings of the World Association of
World Federalists were held. The Bahá’í representatives are seated in the row in front of the speaker,
at the fourth desk.
Bahá’ís Contribute Spiritual Teachings To Cologne World Federalist Conference[edit]
Appointed to represent the Bahá’í International Community, Mme. Lea Nys of Brussels, Belgium, and Edward Bode of Arnhem, Holland, attended the three-day conference of the World Association of World Federalists held in Cologne, Germany, on September 19-21, 19604 The conference was held in the wide and beautiful council room of the Cologne Town Hall. Presentation of the one hundred and ten participants was made, and an excellent welcome was given to the Bahá’ís. Many attending had heard of the Faith at the Round Table Conference held in Paris last year.
Present were the Hon. K. A. Gbedemah, Minister of Finance of Ghana and President of WAWF; Mr. C. Maxwell Stanley, of the United States of America, Chairman of the Council of WAWF and first vice-president; and Dr. Chr. N. van Wijngaarden, chairman of the Executive Committee and second vice-president. Two professional linguists translated every word into German, English, and French.
The Lord Mayor of cologne, Dr. Theo Burauen, delivered a dynamic and warm welcome, emphasizing that this city of Brussels was proud to give shelter to such a distinguished and important meeting.
The opening address was made by the Honorable Lord Attlee, ex-Prime Minister of Great Britain, who said, “We want a better world, not uniform but united. We believe in ‘unity in diversity.’ There is no refuge save in uniting the world.”
An address by Lord Pakenham explained the distressing condition or Germany in 1947 when he was working with the High Commission in Germany, at the time Lord Attlee was Prime Minister. “World order, world security, world law,” he said, “are linked together. The world must strive to overcome the present anarchy. Never have we been faced with such severe conditions, The moral aspect of the problem is essential. World security must be entrusted to a world police force and the International Body. Needs in the undeveloped countries are tremendous; division must disappear. Patriotism is not sufficient anymore; we must think internationally. Underdeveloped countries are not the origin of our present difficulties, but anarchy, which is ruling everywhere. We must all realize this is one world and we are all children of one God.”
The chairman, Maxwell Stanley of the U.S.A., explained the functioning of the deliberations. Participants would divide into two commissions, one English-French, and the other English-German, each having a chairman and two rapporteurs. He said, “We must concentrate on the points relative to the topic of this conference, ‘World Order and World Development.’ We must strive to advance rapidly, accelerate world development, but it should not come before world order.”
The Bahá’í representatives chose the English-French commission. Lord Attlee and Lord Pakenham also chose this commission. The Bahá’ís had asked permission to distribute the Bahá’í statement prepared for the WAWF, and the Bahá’í Peace Program pamphlet. During this session it was brought out by the Bahá’í representative that “the aims of the WAWF are very close to the hearts of the Bahá’ís throughout the world, who work diligently to establish a spiritual foundation for the oneness of mankind which will act as a catalyst to bind mankind together in one federated world.”
On the second day, the participants began to come to the Bahá’ís, some asking information about specific teachings, others offering surprising remarks showing they already knew much about our Faith, such as: “I am happy to meet you as I had the privilege of being with the Greatest Holy Leaf when a guest of the Holy Family in Haifa in 1929.”
During the conference sessions participants seemed to refrain from approaching the subject of religion, but once the meetings were over they came individually to ask questions; delegates from Holland, Colombia, England, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, France, U.S.A., Luxembourg, Puerto Rico, and Denmark expressed their agreement and enthusiasm about the idea of incorpo
Mrs. Lea Nys, ti Bahá’í representative at the World
Federalists’ Conference in Cologne, Germany, is seated
with Lord Clement Attiee, former prime minister 0]
England. Standing behind them are Dr. Ikki Hitaka,
a member of the Japanese delegation; Edward Bode, a
Bahá’í representative; and Dr. Beumer, executive director of the World Association of World Federalists.
rating the spiritual element in World Federalism.
Dr. Lozano, the delegate from Colombia, said from the floor, “We must find a new ideal, a way and proposals acceptable not only to the intellectuals but to the illiterate people. Man is not only an ‘economic animal,’ it is necessary to give him another direction. That is the particular task of our time. It is the result of the evolution that pushes mankind forward.”
The Bahá’ís were invited on the third day to go to the English-German commission to give their spiritual point of view, and a short address was given assuring this commission “of the friendly cooperation of the Bahá’ís all over the world in 5,000 centers who have understood the principle of federalism, among others, as far back as 1863 when Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, gave provisions for establishing World Peace and to make of mankind one human family. To federalism we must add spirit. Together we are building a new civilization.” The Bahá’ís were invited to distribute their literature to this commission also, so that everyone of the one hundred and ten at the conference was provided with our literature.
At the final plenary session, the deliberations of the entire conference, the thoughts, suggestions, and plans for achieving world order and world development were to be gathered into a final published report and pre sented to the United Nations and various governments. The Bahá’ís were anxious to have the spiritual aspect included in this report, and asked the chairman to be allowed to contribute during this final session. This request was granted‘ They made two proposals on behalf of the Bahá’í International Community, both of which were voted upon and passed by a great majority.
It was felt by our representatives that this conference offered outstanding and extraordinary opportunities to enhance the prestige of the Bahá’í Faith. It can truly be said that the Bahá’ís were the defenders of the spiritual values of the conference.
Two Hands of the Cause Inspire Bahá’ís At Fifth Summer School of France[edit]
Amidst the tranquil countryside of Central France, in the little town of La Roche-Posay, the fifth Bahá’í Summer School of France was a living tangible example of true Bahá’í unity, steadfastness, and devotion on the part of all its participants.
The school was especially blessed in many ways: by the presence of two Hands of the Cause, Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel and Dr. Ugo Giachery, who gave so much inspiration and guidance to many sessions; by the presence of Mrs. Ugo Giachery and Mr. M. Navidi, members of the Auxiliary Board of the Hands of the Cause for Europe; and by the overall attendance of eighty-three persons, representing fourteen localities in France and fourteen different countries.
From the first day, August 20, until he day of departure on August 28, a remarkable spirit was felt by all. Three persons were inspired to declare themselves as a result of this spirit, and of the wonderful courses held.
This year was also outstanding, in that it was the first time that special classes for children were held, and that increased activities for the youth were planned.
Among the participants of the school this year were twenty-three youth: thirteen from France, eight from Belgium, one from Italy, and one from England. The beautiful Weather afforded the youth the opportunity of assembling outside for their recreational activities, as well as the two special youth meetings that were organized by the National Youth Committee of France.
Special programs were held each evening, and a public meeting was held on August 21, with Mlle. Lucienne Migette, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of France giving a splendid talk on “The Reconciliation of Religions and the Unification of the
The 1960 French Bahá’í Summer School was held at La Roche-Posay (Vienne) France. At the left is the group
attending the first four-day session. Hand of the Cause D1. Adelbert Mmilschegel holds the plaque of The
Greatest Name. To the right is the group enjoying a mid-week piecic at a nearby chateau. Hands of the
Cause Dr. Adelbert Milhtschlegel and Dr. Ugo Giachery are standing in the back row.
World.” At least fifteen new inquirers were among the audience of sixty-five, and all took the leaflets offered. By the close of the school, eighty such leaflets had been given to inquirers at the hotel where the school was held.
The evening program of August 24 closed the first session of the school, and featured a talk by the revered Hand of the Cause, Dr. Mühlschlegel,’ who was attending his eighth summer school and would be leaving the following morning for the one in the British Isles. He stressed the importance of carrying on the World Crusade, and the willingness to sacrifice on the part of the believers. As a brilliant example of such sacrifice, he cited in detail what had recently happened in the Scandanavian countries, where six new local spiritual assemblies were formed last Riḍván.
Mr. and Mrs. Habib Sabet attended the school during its closing sessions, and Mr. Sabet spoke at the Unity Banquet, held on the closing evening with over fifty persons present. He stressed the importance of the institution of the summer school, as emphasized by beloved Shoghi Effendi.
Mr. M. Navidi, Auxiliary Board member, also spoke at the Unity Banquet. He reminded us of the great responsibility that all Bahá’ís have in accomplishing the Ten-Year Plan, left to us by the beloved Guardian, under the direction of the Hands of the Cause of God.
The highlight of the Unity Banquet was an inspiring talk by Hand of the Cause Dr. Giachery. He expressed what was in each heart when he presented Bahá’í books as gifts from the National Assembly of France to the three new believers, saying that we hoped we would always be together, both in this world and in the world of God.
Dr. Giachery spoke of the beloved Guardian, of his zealous labors for the Faith over thirty-six years of increasing work, and of his universal love that gave everyone life and spirit. He went on to explain that the Tablet of Carmel is the Charter of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, that it refers to the spiritual World Center of the Faith,and that the term “Ark” used in this Tablet is the Universal House of Justice.
In his closing words, Dr. Giachery reemphasized that, while waiting for the Universal House of Justice to be established, the believers must turn toward the Hands of the Cause, and he read selections from the Teachings on this subject.
He compared the work of the Bahá’ís to a pyramid, at whose base is the great army of the believers, at whose mid-section are the local and national spiritual assemblies, and at whose pinnacle is the Universal House of Justice. We are, he stated, all engaged one way or another in the construction of this pyramid, as Shoghi Effendi worked to establish this grand structure.
Dr. Giachery’s gift to all present was the attar of roses from the Holy Land, with which he went among us, anointing each hand. As its fragrance rose heavenward, so likewise did our spirits in profound joyfulness and gratitude for having been enabled to participate in the summer school this year, and for receiving so much inspiration.
—AYNED McCOMB
Uganda Teaching Committee Publishes Bi-Monthly “Uganda Teaching News”[edit]
The first issue of Uganda Teaching News, Sept. 1960, was published by the Bahá’í Uganda Teaching Committee, who hopes that this news bulletin will help the Bahá’ís in three ways: by reading it they will soon know each other better; they will learn more about Bahá’í community life when they know about the activities of the believers in other parts of the country; and when they know how much other Bahá’ís are doing for the Faith, they will also want to do much more themselves.
This bulletin will be published every two months in Mesa, Luganda, Acholi, English, and other languages if there is need. The first issue lists the members of the Uganda Teaching Committee and the District Teaching Committees, composed almost entirely of native believers. and gives a general outline of their working plans.
Left: First public meeting held in the goal. city of Puerto Liberatador, Dominican Republic, on June 17, 1960.
Right: The speaker, Dr. Daisy Garcia de Varas, whose subject was “The Unity of the World Created for
Brotherhood.”
First Annual Observance of World Peace Day Proclaims America’s Spiritual Destiny[edit]
The World Peace Day panel at Ventura, Calif., featured Elder Roy Ash, pastor of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latte? Day Saints; Judith Posner, Ventura County Jewish Council youth; Janice Wildman, the moderator, member of the Ventura County Bahá’í Assembly; Robert Swelley, representing the American Association of the United Nations; and Lisa Janti, the Bahá’í guest speaker of Beverly Hills, Calif.
WORLD Peace Day, sponsored by the U.S. National
Spiritual Assembly, was inaugurated on September 15, 1960. The purpose and objective is to commemorate the introduction of the Bahá’í Faith to the
United States on September 23, 1893, and to emphasize
the spiritual destiny of America in the establishment
of universal peace. Assemblies, groups, and isolated
Bahá’ís were encouraged to use this occasion to proclaim the Faith.
A rewarding and successful observance of World Peace Day was held in Ventura, Calif, A panel of guest speakers was used with a community member serving as moderator. The panel was represented by a member of the Mormon, Jewish, and Bahá’í Faiths, and by a representative of United Nations. Good publicity was secured.
The Mansfield, Ohio, Bahá’í community celebrated with a public meeting at the Mansfield Leland Hotel, with Fred Sudhop of Fort Wayne, Ind., as speaker.
Greensboro, N.C., held a meeting in a private home, showing two short sound films, followed by a talk by Terah Cowart-Smith on the Bahá’í concept of World Peace.
Flint, Mich., held a meeting at Davison Bahá’í School, at which Frank Meese of Detroit spoke on “World Peace—America’s National Purpose.”
World Peace Day was celebrated by the Bahá’ís of Los Angeles, Calif., with a program consisting of three speakers, Tom Middleton representing the Hollywood Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy; Orwyn Cook, from the World Federalists and United Nations; and Anthony Lease of the Los Angeles Bahá’í community.
The first large public meeting undertaken by the group at Hermosa Beach, Calif., for this occasion was well attended. “The Spiritual Destiny of America” was presented by a panel of Bahá’í speakers, including Janet Lake, Charles McAllister, Elwyn Van Zandt, and moderator John Cook.
Auxiliary Board Member Dr. Hushang Javid of Chicago was the World Peace Day speaker for the Rochester, Minn., community. His topic was “Freedom to Choose.” Excellent publicity was secured in newspapers and on radio, After the meeting the Bahá’ís and some of the guests were invited to a buffet supper. Follow-up meetings are to be held each week.
St. Louis, Mo., celebrated with a pot-luck buffet held at the Carondelet Y.W.C.A., followed by a talk on “World Peace” by Dan Jordan of Chicago, Ill. Good publicity resulted in very good attendance.
The Baltimore Bahá’í community dedicated their new Center with the observance of World Peace Day, with Ben Kaufman as guest speaker. A singular honor was bestowed on the Bahá’í community in an official capacity when, through a representative of their publicity committee, who approached the Governor in Annapolis, in the name of the Bahá’ís, they obtained a “Proclamation Declaring September 18, 1960, as World Peace Day in Maryland,” officially signed by the Honorable J. Millard Tawes, Governor of the State of
World Peace Day window display prepared by the
Bahá’ís of Little Rock, Ark.
The Casper, Wyo., World Peace Day panel included
George Reitemeier, manager of the Casper Chamber
of Commerce; Al Foreman, Bahá’í speaker; William
Bon, attorney; Dr. Brendan Phibbs, physician; and
Rudy Martinez, chairman of the Social Science Department of Casper College.
Maryland, with the Great state seal. This they will
frame and hang in their new Center.
Aimed at attracting public attention to the need for World Peace, the Little Rock, Ark., group prepared a very attractive display which remained in a downtown store window for nineteen days. Their World Peace Day meeting was held at the Lafayette Hotel with speaker Lawrence Falk, a senior at Centenary College in Shreveport, La.
The Local Spiritual Assembly of Issaquah, wash., sponsored an observance with a pot-luck dinner and program. This first large advertised meeting in Issaquah was held in Gibson Hall in the local park. There were seventy-two in attendance. with four races represented. Bahá’ís from surrounding communities supported the meeting.
The following quotes are from a letter from the Local Spiritual Assembly of Casper, Wyo.: “The influence of the Casper celebration of World Peace Day will not soon be forgotten, either by the Bahá’í community or the townspeople. The observance was in the form of a four-man panel discussion, plus moderator, held at Casper College. This was by far the most outstanding Bahá’í event we have had in this community. . . . The committee began work early in July contacting potential panel members . . . who were, with one exception, men with whom We had had no previous contact . . . an attorney, a physician, the head of the Social Science department at the College, and our Bahá’í speaker, and the presentation was moderated by the manager of the Casper Chamber of Commerce.
“Like most communities, We just assumed the Bahá’í speaker would have to he an out-of-town guest, and we sent urgent pleas to every Bahá’í committee we could think of to send us someone, all to no avail. With hindsight, we can see that our being forced to use one of our local speakers was guidance really being manifested. The speaker we used was a young man who has been in the Faith only two and one-half years, but who is practically a native of the local citizenry. Incidently, he is also a member of the Toastmasters. and gave his portion of the panel at their meeting the following night, for which he won the award for the best speech of the meeting.
“The talks of the panelists dove-tailed beautifully. You would almost have thought these were all Bahá’í speakers when the professor spoke of the need to overcome nationalism, the doctor on international cooperation in his field, and the attorney on the urgency of a strong World Court; but the really outstanding feature is the fact that this one small community has proven to itself that consultation really works, that the assistance from the concourse is really there to be tapped, and that Bahá’u’lláh really will use any willing channel—for no matter how many pioneers and circuit teachers tell you these things, no matter how many times you read them in the Teachings, until you've really put them into practice, you can’t realize what real faith can accomplish. . .”
Uganda Teaching Committee to Train Pagan-Area Pioneers for Teaching[edit]
As early as Riḍván 1958 the first spiritual assembly was formed in a pagan area of Uganda, at remote Moroto in Karamoja. A Test: believer, Yokolamu Okello, spent much time in 1957-58 as a resident teacher there, living under very arduous conditions.
Last year he returned to Moroto as a lone pioneer and devoted himself to conducting adult literacy classes, in an effort to attract the local people who are very primitive nomadic herdsmen. One young Karamojong Bahá’í joined him towards the end of the year as a traveling teacher to neighboring localities.
This year the Uganda Teaching Committee has determined to spread the Faith to other parts of Karamoja, and has also adopted Kitgum in northern Acholi as their second pagan area. A special questionnaire is being sent to the thirty Uganda believers who volunteered at the annual convention to pioneer to the pagan areas. When the four most likely candidates are selected, they will be taken for a brief visit to the pagan areas concerned, and then brought to Kampala for a special training course on the nature, needs, tests, and work of pioneering in pagan areas. They will then be sent for a trial period in their new posts, and later helped to settle and become self-supporting. In this way, it is hoped to discover those with the special aptitudes and qualities for work among very primitive people.
Bahá’í community of Padang Pandjang, Sumatra, Indonesia in April 1960.
International Grotius Foundation Welcomes Bahá’í Speaker at Annual Meeting in Munich[edit]
For the first time the Bahá’í Faith was represented at the annual meeting of the scholars for International Law in Munich on Aug. 23, 1960. The invitation was given by the International Grotius Foundation, which celebrated its annual meeting in the Town Hall. The patron saint of the Grotius Foundation is the Dutch lawyer and theologist Hugo Grotius. who died on August 28, 1645, and who is called the “Father of International Law.” His leitmotiv was: The rules of love are stronger than the rules of law.
The international members sponsor the spread of these fundamental ideas of International Law by constantly choosing up-to-date themes for their annual meetings. Twelve discussions were held, which dealt with the relation of religion and International Law. Each speaker tried to approach this main topic from another point of view.
Prof. Fr. W.v. Rauchhaupt (University of Heidelberg) traced back the Law to its religious sources in the main religions; Dr. Karl Baer (a senator of Innsbruck. Austria) specified the efforts of Buddhism in the field of International Law; and Prof. Dr. Aufhäuser (University of Munich) said in his lecture that the primitive human being defended his rights by tome, and the more he advanced to a higher plane of culture the more enlightened spirits arose who proclaimed peace by the aholishment of force and war. In his statements he mentioned “the youngest of all world religions,” the Bahá’í Faith, which proclaims an ardent love for peace from its spiritual center in Haifa. Moreover he drew the attendants’ attention to the fact that two representatives of this religion were present.
Dr. Keller, chairman of the meeting, also mentioned the Bahá’í Faith in his statements as the “youngest religion.” Prof. Dr. Wieth-Knudsen (Copenhagen) doubted that the religious, especially the Christian Faith, would be able to help us in the difficulties of today.
When Huschmand Sabet, the Bahá’í speaker, explained in simple and clear words how Bahá’u’lláh, an oppressed prisoner, had shown humanity a way out of all these afflictions, Prof. Dr. Wieth-Knudsen was
Haitian Bahá’ís Prepare for Election of National Assembly in 1961
Top left: A teaching conference held in Port-au-Prince on September 3 and 4 was conducted by Miss Bettijane Walker, from Cap Haitien. She stressed the fact that each local assembly is a part of the Whole, and if it is not strong it can collapse the complete structure.
Top right: A public meeting was held at Port-au-Prince on September 8, at which Auxiliary Board Member Dr. Sara Pereira spoke. On the day before, she met with Bahá’ís, and answered many questions. Dr. Pereira was interviewed by a reporter from the Haiti Sun, a weekly English language newspaper, and the story was published.
Bottom left: A public meeting in Liancourt on August 28 featured Donald Corbin as speaker. This meeting was preceded by a two-day teaching conference for Bahá’ís of St. Marc and Liancourt, conducted by Mr. Corbin.
so enthusiastic about this fact that he invited Mr. Sabet to come to copenhagen. Prof. Aufhäuser, too, asked the Bahá’í speaker to come to Munich and give a lecture on the Bahá’í Faith to his students.
The precise words of the Bahá’í speaker made a strong impression on all participants. He mentioned the principles of the Bahá’í Faith, and stated that at present we are too close to the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh to be able to recognize the whole significance of International Law as seen from a Bahá’í viewpoint.
Primitive Masai Tribesmen of Africa Hear of Faith from Tanganyika Bahá’í[edit]
One of the most primitive and war-like tribes in Africa, famed for their courage as lion-hunters, the Masai are nomadic herdsmen inhabiting a vast savannah region partly in Kenya and partly in Tanganyika. The Masai have for decades persistently resisted every effort to introduce Christianity, and are pagan in the truest sense of the word.
To this spiritually-parched land recently went native Tanganyika believer Stanley Nyirenda. He writes: “God was with me very much. I was taken by one of the Masai to his village and taught for one day. About fifty people were listening what I was teaching them. it will be very hard for me because they don’t know Swahili properly, but in the power of Bahá’u’lláh I shall have a local assembly there next year. Is it not wonderful, the Faith to enter the hard hearts of people like Masai. They are friends of me now. Please, pray for me night and day. . . . These people they stay in a very primitive way. Oh, I offered myself to sleep in their huts. These people stay in the forest, and they are bushmen. Such people, they are hard-hearted
Bahá’ís attending the Benelux Summer School on July 2 to 9, 19-60, at Oisterwijk, Holland. Hand of the Cause
Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel, second row right, is holding a photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Bahá’ís of Hiep-Phuoc, Vietnam, gathered to greet the
Bahá’ís from Saigon.
human beings—let the Bahá’í Faith grow in them. I don’t fear them whatsoever. This work is hard. But God is with us. I pray night and day.”
Four Bahá’í Teachers Visit Fast-Growing Hiep-Phuoc Village in South Vietnam[edit]
On June 26 Auxiliary Board Member James Fozdar. Mr. Avaragan. Mr. Trieu, and Mr. Be visited the fast-growing Bahá’í community of Hiep-Phuoc village in South Vietnam. They were met by the Chairman and secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Hiep-Phuoc as they left Saigon, and were taken down river by canoe.
The journey on the river took an hour, and then the friends had to trudge inland for another three kms. However, they were amply rewarded by seeing over
Participants from eight different centers of Vietnam
at the Bahá’í Teacher Training Class held at Saigon.
In the background are the twin nine-pointed stars on
the main entrance of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.
forty persons gathered at the home of Dinh-Van-Cang,
of which twenty-seven were believers. This is steady
progress from the time of Riḍván, when their first local
assembly was established from eleven believers. At the
conclusion of the meeting the hosts provided a sumptuous least consisting of native fruits, and crabs and
prawns caught from the nearby river.
First Teacher Training Class Completed in Vietnam[edit]
During the visit of Hand of the Cause Dr. Ramatu’lláh Muhájir to Vietnam in May, he suggested that the friends there institute teacher training classes every month or every two months, and invite representatives from surrounding Bahá’í communities to attend in order to obtain a strong foundation in the fundamentals of the Faith in preparation for conveying the Message to the masses.
It was decided by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Saigon that Mr. H. Avaragan and Pham Trong Cap would conduct week long classes, starting on July 4, and the local assembly would provide lodging and food for all the friends attending. Transportation costs to Saigon were to be borne by those attending or by their communities.
Classes commenced each day at 8:00 a.m., with ten participants from eight different centers of Vietnam, and ended at noon. The afternoon was left free for individual study or working in the garden of the Saigon Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. The evening classes were held from 7:30 to 9:30. Mrs. Pham Trong Cap and her daughter prepared all the meals for the friends throughout the week.
On Saturday evening, July 9, all the friends were taken to Phuoc-Long to participate in a joint public meeting and to see the Bahá’í school there.
The next institute of this kind was scheduled for the last week in August. It is hoped that those attending will reap an abundant harvest as sowers of the seeds of the Faith in Vietnam.
Canadian Schools Stress Covenant in Summer Teaching[edit]
The Bahá’í summer schools in Canada placed emphasis this year on the Covenant of God, each course relating the individual Bahá’í directly to the mighty flow of spiritual power released today in the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, stressing the need to understand and function with this spiritual force so that it may be utilized in efforts to teach the Faith. Charles Grindlay conducted the course for the Maritime school held in Nova Scotia this year. At the Ontario school held at Lake Couchiching, Fred Graham developed this same theme through an audience participation technique. Curtis Kelsey, Auxiliary Board member from Teaneck, New Jersey, led sessions on this vital subject at the
Two summer schools in Canada during 1960 were attended by these Bahá’ís photographed at (left) the Beaulac Bahá’í Summer School, and (right) the Western Canda Summer Conference held at Banff, Alberta.
This four-color, 14 by 20 inch poster is designed to
publicize World Religion Day, with space at the bottom
for the date and place of your public meeting. These
posters are available at 500 each, five for $2,00, third
class mail. Send orders with money to the Bahá’í Press
Service, 434 Thomas Ave., Rochester 17, N.Y.
Laurentian school held at Beaulac, Quebec. A similar
course was also given at the Banff conference in Alberta, although details of the sessions there are not
available.
Another subject that related closely to the Covenant was a study of Biblical prophecy as well as scriptures from the Koran. Nancy Campbell presented a study of Christian scripture at the Maritimes school with Muriel MacLeod relating prophecies from both Christian and Islamic Holy Writings. At the Ontario school, the Old Testament and the New Testament were highlighted separately by Ben Kolterman and Douglas Martin, while Harriet Kelsey demonstrated at Laurentian the illumination that the Bahá’í Writings give to Biblical prophecies.
Winifred Harvey, member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, chose the subject, “Tools for Living,” for a course at Maritime school, pointing out a need to understand with our hearts as well as minds, and stressing the special gifts we have been given in this day. She also gave a session on “Ethnic Teaching,” a subject that Ethel Martens, representative from the Ethnic Teaching Committee, outlined at the Ontario school. Additional courses given at the Laurentian school, which reported a total registration of over sixty for the two—week period, included a dramatic presentation on the life of Bahá’u’lláh by Lois Nochman, and “Know Your Bahá’í Literature” by Mrs. Eunice Braun from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust in Wilmette.
A special two-day school session on “The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh” was also scheduled for Laurentian for October 3-10, with Mrs. Peggy Ross, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, as speaker.
Calendar of Events[edit]
FEASTS[edit]
November 4—Qudrat (Power)
November 23—Qawl (Speech)
HOLY DAYS[edit]
November 12—Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
November 26—Day of the Covenant
November 28—Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (1:00 a.m.)
U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS[edit]
November 25, 26, 27
U.S. STATE CONVENTIONS[edit]
December 4
Baha’i House of Worship[edit]
Visiting Hours[edit]
Weekdays
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
Sundays and Holidays
10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Entire building)
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 a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í World Community,
Reports, plans, news items, and photographs 0! 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 l960-1961: 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, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A.
