Bahá’í News/Issue 365/Text
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| No. 365 | BAHA’I YEAR 118 | AUGUST, 1961 |
Newly Elected International Council Holds First Meeting
“Rejoice (to) announce (the) first momentous meeting (of the) Hands (of the Faith in the) Holy Land (and) all members (of the) newly elected International Council held in (the) precincts (of the) Holy Shrine (of) Bahá’u’lláh (where they) consulted (on) measures necessary (to) discharge (the) historic duties destined (to) fulfill (the) high hopes (of the) beloved Guardian (and to) pave (the) Way (for the) election (of the) supreme House (of) Justice (on the) occasion (of the) Most Great Jubilee. Share message (with) Hands (and) National Assemblies,”
(Signed) HANDSFAITH
Haifa, Israel
June 27, 1961
“Hearts greatly encouraged by enthusiasm, energy (and) determination (of) elected International Bahá’í Council (to) discharge (its) vital (and) ever-increasing responsibilities, Delighted (to) share news (of) election (of) following officers: Ali Nakhjavani. Sylvia Ioas, Charles Wolcott, Ian Semple, Jessie Revell (as) President, Vice-‘President. Secretary-General, Assistant Secretary (and) Treasurer, respectively. Other members (are) Ethel Revell, Lotfullah Hakim, Mildred Mottahedeh, and Borrah Kavelin member at large. Share message (with) Hands (and) National Assemblies.”
(Signed) HANDSFAITH
Haifa, Israel
June 30, 1961
Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land meeting with the International Bahá’í Council. From left: A. Furútan, Charles Wolcott, William Sears, Leroy Ioas, Sylvia Iozzs, Ian Semple, Jnhn Ferraby, Paul E. Haney;, Lotfullah Hakim, A. Q. Faizi, Rúḥíyyih Khánum, Jessie Revell, ‘Ali Nakhjavání, Ethel Revell, Mildred Mottahedeh, H. Borrah Kavelin, Jalál Kházeh.
Hand of the Cause Paul E. Haney Visits Ten Cities in the United States[edit]
Many hundreds of the American Bahá’ís in addition to those who had attended the Fifty-Third Annual Bahá’í Convention had the great bounty of meeting and hearing Hand of the Cause Paul E. Haney who was able to remain in the United States for approximately six weeks after the convention and to visit cities in nine states and the District of Columbia, besides conferring with the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly at its first session.
Although the meetings were planned primarily for Bahá’ís only, Mr. Haney also addressed a small number of public meetings and fireside groups and made radio and television appearances in several cities. At the meetings attended by believers only, Mr. Haney spoke about the progress of the World Crusade and the activities of the Faith at its world center in Haifa, afterwards giving the friends ample opportunity to ask questions about present activities around the world, the functions of the newly-elected International Bahá’í Council, and plans for the formation of the Universal House of Justice.
This was Mr. Haney’s first visit to the United States since leaving in 1958 to become one of the resident Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land following the passing of the beloved Guardian.
The cities included in his itinerary were: Detroit, Mich.; Kansas City, Mo,; Denver, Colo.; Carmel, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, Calif.; Dallas, Texas; Atlanta, Ga., Boston, Mass.; New York, N.Y.; Washington, D.C., and nearby communities in Virginia.
This visit by Mr. Haney, who had been a member and chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States for many years prior to his departure for Haifa three years ago, has greatly increased the feeling of closeness of the friends to the World Center and to the beloved Hands of the Cause who have been carrying forward without any interruption or set-backs since the passing of the Guardian the tremendous tasks related to the complete fulfillment of Shoghi Effendi’s Ten-Year Plan.
International Bahá’í Community Represented at NGO Conference[edit]
Nine Bahá’ís were among the 240 delegates, observers and guests representing 116 organizations who attended the annual Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations held at the United Nations headquarters in New York May 23 and 24. This session was called by the United Nations Office of Public Information to discuss social problems arising from industrialization and urban growth.
Col. Eugene Keller and Mrs. Mildred R. Mottahedeh were present as delegates for the International Bahá’í Community, and Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin, Mrs. Clara Keller and Dr. Parvi Vahdat served as official observers.
The Bahá’í International Community reported that, as its contribution to the adjustment of underprivileged peoples to industry, it had established schools in Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Kenya, Uganda, Southern Rhodesia, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Mexico, the New Hebrides, and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. These schools offer literacy programs, encourage social integration, and help to prepare the students for the role that they will eventually have to play in the immediate and long range programs of their communities. They serve as integration centers, represent all religious, social and ethnic groups in their communities, and are also used as adult education centers for literacy and community development activities.
Four Australian Newspapers Publicize Faith[edit]
In recent weeks free publicity has been accorded the Faith in four different newspapers in Australia. In South Australian Methodist an editorial headed “The Busy Bahá’ís” stated that the activities of the Bahá’ís in South Australia had been of concern to a number of ministers, and it severely criticized the Faith.
The Devonport Advocate, circulating through the north-western part of Tasmania, published a long editorial called “Basis Is Unity” which mentioned among other things that unity is the central theme of the Bahá’í Faith and referred to the Sydney House of Worship. Later, a letter to the editor written by a minister was published which criticized the Faith. The Devonport Bahá’í group placed an excellent sixteen column-inch advertisement in the paper, listing twelve basic Bahá’í principles.
In The Beacon, a monthly newspaper published by the Melbourne Unitarian Church, a letter to the editor appeared which was written by a person who attended a World Religion Day meeting, and he criticized the beliefs of the three speakers—Buddhist, Islamic and Bahá’í.
In Sloga published in Perth by the Yugoslav community, with a circulation throughout the world outside the Soviet bloc, there was a twenty-five column-inch article on the Faith in a question—and-answer column. It contained a number of inaccuracies, and was corrected in another issue With a twenty-three column-inch article written by a Bahá’í from Woodville community. This prompted a letter of twenty-eight column-inches from a minister who stated “there is no mention in the Holy Scriptures of the second coming of the Son of God,” and challenged the Bahá’í to state why he “abandoned” the Christian Faith. The final article of fifty-six column-inches, written by the Bahá’í together with photographs of the Shrine of the Báb and the Australian and American Houses of Worship, though restrained and courteous in its tone, emphasized that Bahá’ís “prefer not to indulge in religious arguments.” It dealt with Scriptural references to the return of Christ, the distinction between spiritual and temporal laws of a religion, and pointed out that the same Light which was manifested through Jesus Christ has now been manifested through Bahá’u’lláh.
Six More Latin-American NSAs Report on Formation
Brazil[edit]
By a happy coincidence the first day of Riḍván falls on a national holiday celebrated throughout Brazil. The main streets of Rio de Janeiro were gaily bedecked with flags, and at night the city and the bay shimmered in a flood of dazzling colored lights. In this setting the historic first National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Brazil was held in the large auditorium of the Brazilian Press Association building in the heart of the city.
The program covered two days of pre-convention school and three days of convention. Its theme was based on the beloved Guardian’s plea to carry the message of Bahá’u’lláh to the masses.
The convention was attended by nine delegates representing eight communities and ninety Bahá’í visitors from thirteen centers. Prayers in Portuguese, English, Persian, Spanish and German opened the sessions. The evenings were spent in social meetings and entertainmerit.
Hand of Cause A. A. Furútan represented the Hands of the Faith at this historic meeting. He spoke on Bahá’í administration, individual and social aspects of Bahá’í Life, teaching requirements, pioneering, child education and the spiritual development of Latin America.
The birth of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil marked the triumphant consummation of forty years of teaching and pioneering work which was initiated in 1921 by the valiant resident pioneer, Leonora Holsapple Armstrong, who was present in person at the convention. Members and officers of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil: Margot Worley, chairman; Edmund Miessler, vice-chairman; Vivaldo Ramos, secretary; Nylza Taetz, recording secretary; Ildemir de Lima, treasurer; Rangvald Taetz, Muriel Miessler, Dr. Mario Dantas, Habib Taherzadeh.
Colombia[edit]
In the city of Bogota, Colombia, the delegates and visitors met to elect the first National Spiritual Assembly of that country and to deliberate upon the means by which the lifegiving waters of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh might be more effectively brought to a nation so in need.
Hand of the Cause Shu’á’u’lláh ‘Alá’í was present during the convention and the pre-convention school which preceded it. Also present was Mrs. Florence Mayberry, Auxiliary Board member, who spoke on the Covenant.
During one of the evenings the youth group of Bogota entertained with a presentation of a drama. Another evening one hundred persons heard Hand of Cause General ‘Alá’í give a public address in the Museum of Colonial Art, exhorting the people to take notice of the Bahá’ís.
The following members were elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of Colombia: Allah K. Kalantar, chairman; Ervin L. Thomas, vice-chairman; Gloria de Fritzsche, secretary; Leonor Porras, recording secretary; Jamshid Meghnot, treasurer; Charles Hornby, assistant treasurer: Habib Rezvani; Luis Montenegro; Marjorie Waddell.
First National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Brazil, held
in Rio de Janeiro, April 21-26, 1961. Hand of Cause, Mr.
A. A. Furútan, second row, center.
First National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Colombia,
held in Bogatá, 1961, with Hand of Cause Shu’á’u’lláh
‘Alá’í holding Greatest Name.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Brazil, 1961-62. Seated, left to right: Mrs. Margot Worley, chairman; Mrs. Muriel Miessler; Sra. Nylza Taetz,
recording secretary. Standing, left to right: Edmund
Miessler, vice-chairman; Habib Taherzadeh; Rangvald
Taetz; Ildemir Lima (in front), treasurer; Vivaldo
Ramos, secretary; Maria C. Daritas.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Guatemala, 1961-62. Front row, left to right: Mrs.
Louise Caswell, Mrs. Jennie Taylor, treasurer; José
Trinidad Gramajo, secretary; Miguel Angel Rivera,
Manuel Agueda, recording secretary. Back row, left to
right: Harold Neff, vice-chairman; Artemus Lamb,
chairman; Mrs. Marion Tyler, Alberto Landau.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Colombia, 1961-82. Standing left to right: Charles Hornby, Leonor Porras, Allah K. Kalantar, Gloria de Fritzsche,
Jamshid Meghot, Marjorie Wadell, Ervin LeRoy
Thomas. In front: Habib Rezvani, Luis Montenegro.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Ecuador, 1961-62. Left to right: Gayle Woolson, Juan
Luis Aguirre, Guillermo Sotomayor, Raúl Pavón Mejía,
Dorothy Campbell, David Beckett, {{|Kh}}alílu’llah Bihjati,
Freydoun Monadjem, Patricia Conger.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Haiti, 1961-62. Left to right: Eustace Bailey, recording
secretary; Alcide Narcisse, vice-chairman; Jean Desert, Joseph Albert Bajeux, Ellsworth Blackwell, chairman; André St. Louis, secretary; Joseph C. Pierre,
Mrs. Ruth Blackwell, Mrs. Circé Brantome, treasurer.
First National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Ecuador,
April 24-26, 1961. Hand of Cause Hasan Balyuzi, holding Greatest Nome.
Ecuador[edit]
The first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Ecuador was elected April 24, 1961 in Quito during the first Annual Convention, by nine delegates representing the Bahá’í communities of Guayaquil, Cuenca, Otavalo and Quito.
The program of the convention began on April 21 with the observance of the Feast of Riḍván followed by two days of pre-convention school and then three days of the convention.
Present throughout the entire period was Hand of the Cause Hasan Balyuzi, guiding and assisting the believers at every step. He spoke of the soul-searching prayer and consultation through which the Hands of the Cause have passed in arriving at the momentous decisions which must direct the Cause to the fulfillment of the Ten-Year Crusade.
Following the reading of the convention message so eagerly awaited by the entire Bahá’í world from the Hands of the Cause, and the message from the Hands in the Western Hemisphere to the twenty-one new national conventions, consultation centered on accomplishing consolidation and mass conversion in Ecuador, and assisting in the erection of the Mother Temple of Europe.
Members of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Ecuador are: Juan Luis Aguirre, Dorothy Campbell, David Beckett, Freydoun Monadjem, Raúl Pavon Mejia, Gayle Woolson, Guillermo Sotomayor, Khalil Bihjati, Patricia Conger.
Haiti[edit]
The first National Convention of Haiti was convened on April 23, 1961 in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. Hand of Cause
First National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Haiti, held
in Port-au-Prince, April 28-30, 1961.
Dr. Ugo Giachery was present to inspire and teach
the believers, and spoke at a public meeting in the
evening.
The message from the Hands of the Faith was read and discussed at length. There were many messages received from friends, committees, national assemblies, etc. The election of the National Assembly of Haiti was approached with great excitement and anticipation. Members elected to this historic first National Spiritual Assembly of Haiti were: Ellsworth Blackwell, chairman; Alcide Narcisse, vice-chairman; Andre St. Louis, secretary; Eustace Bailey, recording secretary; Mrs. Circé Brantome, treasurer; Joseph Albert Bajeux, Joseph C. Pierre. Jean Desert, Mrs. Ruth Blackwell.
Mexico[edit]
The first National Bahá’í Convention took place the twenty-second and twenty-third of April, 1961. Present were Bahá’ís from Mexico City, Puebla, Guadalajara, Monterrey, San Miguel de Allende, San Rafael Comac which is the first all-Indian Bahá’í community of Mexico, and from the United States.
Hand of the Cause Paul E. Haney flew ten thousand miles to attend this historic gathering and his presence brought to the convention the spirit from the World Center which inspired the sessions.
A reception, offered by the Bahá’ís of Mexico City to the more than one hundred Bahá’ís and guests, was given on the evening preceding the opening of the convention at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Murray,
The convention opened with the reading of prayers
by the Bahá’ís from San Rafael Comac. This new allIndian community was not formed in time to be assigned delegates to the convention but had requested[Page 6]
permission to have representation of voice but not vote.
Mr. Haney told the convention that it had been the
dream of the beloved Guardian that the Indians of this
hemisphere would have active participation in the Divine Plan.
As loving messages were received from around the globe the location from which each came was pointed out on a map, that the friends might see with their own eyes how the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh has enveloped the globe.
Consultation on the messages from the Hands of the Faith was animated by the desire of the delegates to augment and facilitate the spread of the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh throughout the republic, especially in the Indian pueblos now beginning to open their doors to the Faith.
Members of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Mexico elected on this historic occasion were: Samuel Burafato, chairman; Dr. Edris Rice-Wray, vice-chairman; Mrs. Valeria Nichols, secretary; Sra. Carmen Burafato, recording secretary; Harold Murray, treasurer; Mrs. Florence Mayberry, Mrs. Anna Howard, Mrs. Chappie Angulo, Earl James Morris.
Six delegates to the National Convention from the
Congo, Kivu Province, April 1961.
Uruguay[edit]
The first National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Uruguay was held Apr. 29-30, 1961 in Montevideo. Present was Hand of Cause A. A. Furútan who inspired the believers as he discussed the conduct of the individual and the responsibilities of national assembly membership.
One of the outstanding reports was that of the outgoing National Teaching Committee. They had been assigned the task or forming a group in the city of Maldonado. and there are now twenty believers there. During the convention a newly-declared youth of eighteen years, a Uruguayan from Maldonado. offered to
First National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Mexico,
April 22-23, 1961. Hand of Cause Paul Honey in back
row, center.
pioneer. He is the first youth to pioneer in his own
country. The spiritual force of this convention brought
two new believers into the Montevideo community.
The members elected to the first National Spiritual Assembly of Uruguay are: Leopoldo Caraballo, chairman; Sra. Else Cazcarra, vice-chairman; Roberto Cazcarra, secretary; Srta. Mary Dutra, recording secretary; Francisco Flores, treasurer; Sra. Elena Caraballo, Mario Regina Marius, Sra. Carola Escofet, Edward Belcher.
North East Africa Convention Held in Eritrea[edit]
The annual convention of the Bahá’ís of North East Africa was held this year April 29-30 in Asmara, Eritrea, on instruction of the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land. Out at the nineteen delegates elected by the Bahá’ís of Addis Ababa, Asmara, Khartoum, Khartoum North, Mogidiscio, Port Sudan, Massawa and Tripoli, fifteen were able to attend the convention.
During the teaching conference preceding the convention and throughout the convention sessions discussions and deliberations centered on the goals of the Ten-Year Crusade and the subsidiary Seven Year Plan assigned by the Guardian to this region The immediate threefold tasks confronting the Bahá’í world mentioned in the message of the Hands of the Faith, namely, the consolidation of the Home-front, the process of mass conversion and the rearing of the Mother Temple of Europe received particular attention. and ways and means for prosecution of these tasks in various territories of North East Africa were discussed in detail.
The following were elected to the Regional Spiritual Assembly for 1961-62: Mr. Jamshid Munnajjim, Mr. Gila Bahta, Dr. Leo Niederreiter, Mrs. Ursula Samandari, Dr. Houshang Ahdieh, Mr. Ali Hussein Ruhi, Dr. Heshmat Farhoumand, Mr. Food Ashraf, Mr. Gamal Rushdy.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Benelux Countries, 1961-62. Front row, left to right; Pierre Bram, treasurer; Mrs. Lea Nys, recording secretary;
Mrs. Lottie Tobias; Jan Sijsling, Back row, left to
right: Roger Swinnen, secretary; Ben Levy, chairman;
E. Claude Levy; Luis Henuzet; Bob van Lith.
National Spiritual Assembly oy the Bahá’ís of Central
and East Africa, 1961-62. Front row, left to right: ‘Alí
Nakhjavání, Max Kenyerezi, Mrs. Isobel Sabri, Sosporter Isimai. Back row, left to right: Hassan Sabri,
Kolonerio Oule, Charles Nyalika, Oloro Epyeru, Philip
Hainsworth.
First National Convcention of the Bahá’ís of Guatemala,
held in Guatemala City, April 29-30, 1961.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany,
1961-62. Back row, left to right: Dr. Bozorg Hemmati,
Huschmand Sabet, Ruprecht G. Krüger, vice-chairman; Erik Blumenthtal. Front row, left to right: Hans
Randel, Miss Anneliese Bopp, secretary; Dr. Eugen
Schmidt, chairman; Mrs. Margot Dörnbrack, Mr. Otto
Häfner, treasurer.
National Convemion of the Bahá’ís of Central and East Africa, held in Mbane, Uganda, 1961.
Race Amity Day Emphasizes Brotherhood of Man in Action[edit]
The brotherhood of man in action, the age-long goal of humanity, was manifest and given special emphasis in the Bahá’í Observances of the annual Race Amity Day. The programs for this the fourth observance proclaimed the oneness of mankind as revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, through radio, TV, newspapers, public meetings, firesides and picnics.
Over sixty Bahá’ís and their friends of North Carolina were guests at a Race Amity Day picnic sponsored by the Greensboro Bahá’í community. The Bahá’í talk on the oneness of mankind as one of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh clearly portrayed the independent status of the Bahá’í Revelation. The observance proved to be the most successful Race Amity Day program planned by the Greensboro Assembly.
Another Race Amity Day picnic was sponsored by the group in Jackson, Mich., and was attended by well over one hundred adults and children from the nearby communities. Approximately half were non-Bahá’ís and included some international students. The success of this observance was due to careful planning and the spirit of informal friendship and warmth.
The custom of several years was followed in the observance of Race Amity Day by the Greenwich, Conn., community, with an evening of fellowship and an informal program in the home of one of the members. A brief explanation by the Bahá’í chairman of what Race Amity Day means to the Bahá’ís and a program of entertainment including songs by the choir of a Negro Church and a short movie were followed by refreshments and a happy exchange of conversation.
Burmese Bahá’ís with Hand of Cause Tarázu’lláh Samandari and Mirza Ahmad Khan Samimi on Feast of Naw-Rúz, March 1961, in Rangoon.
People from South American countries, the Bahamas,
Japan, China, Persia and Ethiopia were among some
sixty persons whose enthusiastic participation helped
the Urbana, Ill., Bahá’ís celebrate Race Amity Day.
The late afternoon and evening program contained a
Bahá’í talk, buffet supper followed by discussions, Ethiopian folk songs, games, and the showing of color
slides portraying peoples of the world and of the Bahá’í
Shrines in Haifa. The slides were explained by those
who had taken them, and Hand of the Cause Mr.
Khádem told about the Bahá’í Holy places.
Newspaper publicity and ad, radio broadcasts, and invitations were used to announce a week-end observance of Race Amity Day in Waterloo, Iowa. Bahá’í talks on race amity—its true meaning and a way to peace — were given by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Harris of Mattoon, I11., at a public meeting and a picnic. A fireside was held with close contacts on the last evening.
Ventura and Oxnard, Calif., cooperated in sponsoring a Race Amity Day picnic which featured two Bahá’í speakers and was attended by over fifty people representing the Negro and white races. Publicity was given this event in both local newspapers, spot announcements were broadcast by radio, and personal invitations were sent, resulting in an impressive and happy occasion.
A four-minute TV interview including an announcement of a public meeting and general comments on
the Faith, as well as radio spot announcements and a[Page 9]
newspaper ad prefaced an afternoon observance of
Race Amity Day by the Bahá’ís of Binghamton, N.Y.,
which was well attended by Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís
representing the American Negro and white, and Iranian nationalities A non-Bahá’í spoke on the evolution
of religion, and a Bahá’í spoke on the understanding of
the Negro race through study of their poetry and
spirituals.
The annual Race Amity Day meeting held by the Bahá’ís of Duluth, Minn., featured a talk on “Man, One Family” by Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Margery McCormick and was attended by twenty-four non-Bahá’ís and thirteen believers including six from Canada. Invitations had been mailed to nearly one hundred people, and a special letter written to the Mayor of Duluth and church and social groups stating the Bahá’í teachings on the oneness of mankind and the urgency for action by all people everywhere in promoting racial amity. Several of the audience expressed interest in attending the follow-up fireside.
The Salem, Oregon, Bahá’ís sponsored a public meeting with one of the Persian friends giving a talk on “Man, One Family.” Their observance of Race Amity Day was announced to the public through newspaper ad and articles, spot announcements on two radio stations and posters placed in prominent places.
The TV and radio script furnished by the National Press Service for Race Amity Day was taped by members of the Pleasantville, N.J., Bahá’í group and this tape Was used by four of the radio stations in the area. The group prefaced its Race Amity Day observance by an earlier meeting of its members to read “The Most Challenging Issue” from The Advent of Divine Justice. The event was celebrated with a small fireside for a group of Puerto Rican friends, and later, a program of prayers. music and a brief talk was presented at the Atlantic City Colored Old Folks’ Home.
Denver, Colo., Bahá’ís mailed 200 invitations and used posters and a newspaper announcement to proclaim their observance of Race Amity Day. A panel of three speakers representing different races made up the program of a public meeting which was attended by forty-five persons.
The Tucson, Ariz., public meeting held at the Jewish Community Center attracted an audience of forty people, half of whom were non-Bahá’ís. An announcement of this event was broadcast by a TV station.
An isolated believer in Erie, Mich., publicized a Race Amity Day meeting in the local newspaper and invited a Bahá’í from Toledo, Ohio, to be the speaker. As a result, twenty adults and children attended this observance.
The Stockton, Calif., Race Amity Day picnic was enjoyed by twenty-nine persons and featured slides of the Holy Land and the Bahá’í House of Worship.
A display ad containing the page-long statement by the National Spiritual Assembly called “The Most Challenging Issue” publicized Race Amity Day in the Winnetka, Ill., newspaper.
The New York community presented :1 public pro gram at its Center on June 11 on the theme of “The Oneness of Mankind.”
Bahá’ís of Alor Star, Malaya, on the occasion of Mrs.
Shirin Fozdar’s visit on a Lecture tour, Alor Star formed
its first Local Spiritual Assembly on April 21, 1961.
The Bahá’ís of Orange County, Calif,, marked the
fourth annual observance of Race Amity Day by presenting to the public a program of proclamation and
open discussion. Santa Ana was the host at this occasion, The program was composed of a five-member
panel of Bahá’ís of varying racial and cultural backgrounds presenting views on such subjects as Education, Social Justice, Cause of Prejudice, and Religion. Four of the non-Bahá’í audience requested a
study Class on the Bahá’í Administrative Order, and a
seminar on this subject is being planned by the local
teaching committee.
The above represent some of the nationwide activities promoting amity among all races.
First Bahá’í group of Bandjarmasin, South Borneo,
Indonesia.
Hand of Cause Dr. Rahmutu’lláh Muhájir on a visit to
the Indian believers in Vagobundo, Ecuador, May 24,
1961.
San Blas Indian Congress Invites Bahá’í Representation[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of Panama sent two official representatives, Mrs. Edna Moses and Donald R. Witzel, to the San Blas General Congress which was held May 20-22 on the small, picturesque, native island of Ustupo which is completely covered by Indian villages. After landing on the tiny airstrip they were taken by canoe to the island Where this indigenous community has traditionally resided since it fled from the Spanish conquerors in Colombia.
After their arrival at the council house where the sessions were being held, the Bahá’í representatives were officially presented to the assembled Indian delegates. They expressed the sincere love and interest of the Panamanian, Latin American and World Bahá’í communities for the Indian peoples, and emphasized the Bahá’í principles of the unity of mankind, God and His Prophets. From that time on, the Bahá’í delegates were constantly being questioned about some aspect of the Faith and were shown loving hospitality in the homes of the San Blas people.
The highlight of this visit was when the second-general-chief oi the islands called his people together in the council building to hear about the Bahá’í Faith. This afforded excellent opportunity to present the Teachings. The people listened attentively to both Bahá’í speakers as they outlined the purpose of the coming of Bahá’u’lláh. The chief was deeply moved. He told how other “sects” had come to divide his people and had turned them from their traditions. He explained that two great Prophets had come in antiquity to the San Blas Indians — Diegun and Olocana-Kunki — who progressively taught the oneness of God, a set of commandments, concepts of organized village life based on the laws of reward and punishment, sanitary laws, dietary and medical principles and many other things.
The Bahá’í representatives thanked him for this wonderful exposition and assured him that God, our heavenly Father, loves all His children and had sent divine teachings to them all. It was explained that the Bahá’ís would not oppose his traditions. He invited them to come to the island of Ustupo, suggesting that a travelling teacher be sent from island to island by boat.
The National Spiritual Assembly of Panama is making every effort to find pioneers who would be willing to dedicate themselves to this glorious task.
Indian-White Teething Team Visits Canadian Indian Reserves[edit]
Teaching on the Indian Reserves in Canada has attracted the attention of the London Daily Mail which quoted Chief Samson Knowlton, a Bahá’í from the Peigan Reserve in Alberta as follows: “I think that by converting the Canadian tribes to the Bahá’í Faith, we can overcome the religious, political and tribal differences which for so long have split our people.”
Chief Knowlton, new chairman of the first Peigan Reserve Bahá’í Assembly, is an elected member of the Band Council for the Peigan Band of the Blackfoot Confederacy. Bahá’í News of Canada states: “Samson’s quiet and sincere testimony of the power of the Faith in his own life carried weight with all who heard him.” He was accompanied by John Hellson a Bahá’í formerly of Cornwall, England, now of Alberta, who is an adopted member of the Mohawk nation.
The team carried letters of introduction to the chiefs of all the Six Nations Reserves in Ontario and Quebec and were welcomed with a special ceremony on some of the Reserves. Their itinerary included the following Re serves: Nanaimo, British Columbia (Nanaimo), Capilano, British Columbia (Squamish), ohsweken, Ontario (Mohawk), Kettle Point, Ontario (Chippewa), Tyendenaga, Ontario (Mohawk), Curve Lake, Ontario (Mississauga), and Caughnawaga, Quebec (Mohawk). Literature was made available, including the small prayer book, Communion with God, which has meant much to the new Indian Bahá’ís on the Reserves in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
During the past year over sixty Indians have enrolled in the Faith. Local assemblies were formed on four Indian Reserves for the first time, one in Alberta, two in Saskatchewan, and one in the Yukon where there has been a large influx of Indian believers. The latter three are all—Indian Assemblies. Much of the original teaching on the Reserves in Saskatchewan was done by an earlier Indian-white team, Tom Anaquod and Angus Cowan of Regina. Arthur and Lily-Ann Irwin of Calgary, Alberta were the first to take the Bahá’í teachings to the Peigan Reserve. Thus, a small handful of dedicated believers gave deeply of their time and material resources and won the respect and friendship of the Indians because they, as Bahá’ís, respected the Indian culture, valued the teachings of the ancient Indian religion, and exhibited in their lives their entire freedom from racial prejudice. Now the new Indian believers are themselves carrying the Message to other Reserves in Western Canada.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of New
Zealand, 1961-62, with Hand. of Cause H. Collis Featherstone. Left to Tight: Mr. Featherstone, Mrs. D. Weeks,
Mr. M. Alai, Mr. H. Blundell, Mr. T. Stirling, Mrs. P.
Milne, Mrs. B. Van der Vaart, Mrs. L. Fenner, Mr. P
Leadley, Mr. J. Carr.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Italy,
1961-62. Seated, left to right: Miss Elsa Steinmetz; Mrs.
Anna Kunz, secretary; Prof. Mario Fiorentini, assistant
treasurer; Mrs. Mona Haenni de Bona, recording secretary. Standing, left ta right: Dr. Walter on; Mr. Fritz
Semle, vice-chairman; Mr. Fritz Schär, treasurer; Dr.
Alessandro Bausani. Absent: Dr. Ugo Giachery, chairman, who as a Hand of me Cause was in Central
America.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Alaska
for 1961—62, Left to right: Verne Stout, Evelyn Huffman,
Donald Anderson, Lois Lee, Karl Stettler, Janet Smith,
Robert (Pat) Moul, Kathryn Alia, Howard Brown.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Austria,
1961-62. Left to right: Mr. Franz Pollinger, Mr. Gunther
Hang, Dr. Ahmedzadeh, Miss Bertha Matthiesen, Dr.
Mendi Varqa, Mrs. Johanna von Werthern, Mrs Helga
Ahmedzadeh, Miss Ursula Kohler, Mr. Manutschehr
Samyi.
Eight members of the National Spiritual Assembly of
Burma, 1961-62. Front row, left to right: A. K Ko Gyi;
U. Ba Sein, chairman; Dam Hla Hla, vice-chairman;
A. Rahman; U. Thein Pe. Back row, left to right: U.
Myit; S. G. Murtaza Ali, secretary; Shah Alam Chowdhuri, treasurer.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Corvallis, Oregon, formed April 21, 1961. Left to right:
A. L. Thompson, Frederick C. Hall, Blossom Hay
(seated), Florence Wilburt, Farhang Monadjem, Frederick S. Laws, Peter Vuyiya, Elizabeth S. Laws,
Marjorie Thompson.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of Thun, Switzerland,
farmed Riḍván 1961. Left to right: Angela Gray, Marilyn
Bierman, secretary; Seymour Weinberg, Howard J.
Snider, treasurer; Marta Rothchild, Bonnie Sparks,
Robert W. Sparks, Jr., vice-chairman; Olga Schar,
chairman; Fritz Schar, recording secretary.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Vevey,
Switzerland, formed Riḍván 1961. Seated, left to right:
Mrs. Alice Brawley, Mrs. Abrar, Adolph Kuster, Mrs.
Yvonne Gordon, Mrs. Eleanor Hollibaugh. Standing,
left to right: George Brawley, Miss Irene Bennett, Mrs.
Marion M. Little, Mr. Abrar.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Amherst Township, New York, farmed Riḍván 1961. Front
row, left to right: Miss Sue Wooster, Mrs. Marge Galle,
Mrs. Florence Watson, Les Watson, Mrs. Gene Pritchard, Jack Cotten. Back row, left to right: Mrs. Gladys
Flanders, Lewis Flanders, Mrs. Harriet Pettibone.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Hawaii
County, formed Riḍván 1961. Front row, left to right:
Mrs. Nedra Murray, Mrs. Lorrol Jackson, Mrs. Helen
Forbis. Back row, left to right: Hugh Chapman, chairman; Mrs. Rachel Chapman, Mrs. Nila Sewell, secretary; Miss Evelyn Maccahia, recording secretary; Mrs.
Joan Ives, vice-chairman; Norman C. Ives, treasurer.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Neuchatel, Switzerland, formed Riḍván 1961. Front row,
left to right: Jan Carlisle, Janet Lindstrom, William
Hatcher, Pauline Jicot. Back row, left to right: Rouhi
Haghighi, Anne Lynch, Edvard Lindstrom, Terrance
Roland, Doris Halley.
BAHÁ’Í YOUTH AROUND THE WORLD[edit]
Youth group started in Taipeh, Taiwan, following the Taiwan Summer School, November 1960.
Some of the members of the Bahá’í Club at the University of California, Berkeley, Calif., with one of three
permanent easels for displaying publicity posters on the campus. The club sponsored thirty-one meetings of
various types between September 1960 and May 1961,
twenty-two of them in International House.
Rangoon children at prayer reciting competition held
under auspices of National Assembly of Burma. Miss
Ruhiyyih Shirazi, instructress, standing in back row
Sponsored by the Youth Committee of Almada, Portugal, the friends from Almada, Lisbon, Amadora and
Queluz went on an excursion May 28, 1961.
Sunday School children of Mandalay, Burma. In middle of front row is Daw Thoung Khin, headmistress of Taing Chit English High School and a member of the National Assembly of Burma.
Two More School Systems Recognize Bahá’í Holy Days[edit]
On May 15, 1961 the Bahá’í Spiritual Assembly of Santa Rosa Judicial District, Calif., reported that the Oak Grove School of Sebastopol has given consent for Bahá’í children to remain away from their classes on Bahá’í Holy Days On June 15, 1961 the same permission was granted by the superintendent of the Erie, Mich., school system, but with the understanding that the children will bring notes from the parents following such absences so that they may be assisted to make up the work that is missed and thus prevent their grades being jeopardized.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Pasadena Workshop Conference Draws Large Attendance[edit]
On May 20 and 21 the Bahá’ís of Pasadena, Calif., were hosts for a Bahá’í workshop conference sponsored by the local Spiritual Assembly of that city in cooperation with the Assemblies of Altadena, Pomona, Temple City and the Area Teaching Committee for the Southwestern States. More than 150 persons attended the oponing assembly after which each one went to one of the fourteen different workshops for two hours of study and discussion. These workshops were devoted to such subjects as: Study Classes for Bahá’ís, How to Interest the Non-Bahá’í, Nineteen Day Feasts, Youth and Youth Activities, How to Prepare a Bahá’í Talk, and Education of Bahá’í Children. Each workshop was in charge of a leader and recorder who were responsible for encouraging every member to participate in the discussion and for keeping the consultation on a positive and constructive level.
A banquet and social evening followed the first workshop session, attended by 128 Bahá’ís and their husbands and wives. Dr. Joseph J. Engholm, President of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, was the guest speaker on the subject, “Prescription For Living,” during which he expressed his agreement with the Bahá’í principles.
Following the second session of the workshops on Sunday morning, five-minute reports on each of the fourteen groups were given to the general assembly, including suggestions that had come out of the consultation. Before adjournment, evaluation sheets were passed out to be filled out and returned to the conference leaders.
After luncheon, for which 115 believers remained, almost 200 Bahá’ís gathered to hear the reports from delegates from Southern California who had attended the Fifty-Third Annual Bahá’í Convention. The enthusiasm and warmth with which the delegates shared their experiences and their notes made everyone feel as though they had also been present and had received fresh inspiration and encouragement to meet the challenge for the victorious completion of the World Crusade.
During the conference ofFIcial pictures were taken for inclusion in a film being prepared for Pasadena’s Diamond Jubilee.
Know Your Baha’i Literature[edit]
“Epistle to the Son of the Wolf”[edit]
This is the last major outstanding Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh. This is the last of the hundred books He revealed for us. It was written to a priest in Iṣfahán, a priest called the “Son of the Wolf.” His father had spoken the words that sent the “twin shining lights,” the King of Martyrs and the Beloved of Martyrs — to their death. They were laid in two sandy graves near Isfáhán.
This priest, Áqá Najafí, had committed the unforgivable sin; he had violated the Covenant and blasphemed against the Holy Spirit; that is, he had hated, not the lamp, not the Prophet of God as an individual — from ignorance, or because he did not recognize Him;but the light itself, the perfections of God which the Prophet reffects; he had hated the light in the lamp — and “this detestation of the light has no remedy . (Some Answered Questions, 146) . . .”
This priest was, then, the most hopeless of sinners. His evil found expression in many ways . . . And yet, Bahá’u’lláh begins this Tablet with a prayer of repentance for Áqá Najafí to recite. He offers this breaker of the Covenant forgiveness; just as, in His Most Holy Book, He offers forgiveness to Mírzá Yaḥyá, the treacherous half-brother who tried to destroy him. This offering is a demonstration of . . . the principle of the free operation of the Will of God, Who doeth whatsoever He willeth and shall not be asked of His doings. It proves how mistaken is that large group of human beings who believe that everything is on a mechanical basis—that this much sin brings this much punishment, and so much good buys so much reward. To them, God is a blind force, operating mechanically — something like the third rail in the subway.
“Thou beholdest, O my God, him who is as one dead fallen at the door of Thy favor, ashamed to seek from the hand of Thy loving-kindness the living waters of Thy pardon.”
Throughout the Tablet, he is several times directed to pray; is addressed as would be one of Bahá’u’lláh’s own sons; is told to arise and serve the Faith; to believe, serve and trust; to enter the presence of Bahá’u’lláh (Whom he had never seen); to save men from the “mire of self,” to “seek the Most Great Ocean” and that “thereupon will the doors of the Kingdom be flung wide before thy face . . .” He is told: “O Shaykh! We have enabled thee to hear the melodies of the Nightingale of Paradise . . . that thine eyes might be cheered. . . .”
The varying titles by which Bahá’u’lláh addresses Áqá Najafí indicate that the Letter is intended for a much larger audience than he. It is “a presentation of the Faith to humanity;” many aspects of man are singled out and addressed.
This Tablet, then, is much more than a letter to an individual. It is an important general presentation of the Faith. In this Work, as the Guardian tells us, Bahá’u’lláh “quotes some of the most characteristic and celebrated passages of His own writings, and adduces[Page 15]
proofs establishing the validity of His cause.” (God Passes By)
You want, though it is almost impossible, to read this at one sitting. It comes rapidly, and the English translation by the Guardian is flawless.
It contains sentences like these:
“I belong to him that loveth Me . . .”
“. . . others had, at times, to nourish themselves with that Divine sustenance which is hunger.”
“In the treasuries of the knowledge of God there lieth concealed a knowledge which, when applied, will largely, though not wholly, eliminate fear.”
“Man’s actions are acceptable after his having recognized (the Manifestation).”
It offers historical material which in future will stimulate the keenest research. We learn, for example, of the Master’s first betrothal; of Bahá’u’lláh’s arrest in Niyávarán and of the kind of chains He was bound with; of the machinations against Him by Persian officials in Constantinople and of the suicide there of Hájí Shaykh Muḥammad-‘Alí; the fact that Mírzá Yaḥyá was not exiled out of Persia; that he abandoned the writings of the Báb in Baghdad; that Hádí Dawlat-Ábádí tried to destroy every copy of the Bayán; that the Azalís tried to claim Siyyid Javád-i-Karbalá’í as one of themselves, pasting his picture under that of Mírzá Yaḥyá; that Bahá’u’lláh had never read the Bayán; that in 1863 (this date is given in God Passes By) Bahá’u’lláh suggested to a Turkish official, Kama] Pasha, that his government convene a gathering to plan for a World language and script.
It gives us a moral code, including such precepts as: “If anyone reoile you, or trouble touch you, in the path of God, be patient, and put your trust in Him Who heareth, Who seeth. He, in truth, witnesseth, and perceiveth, and doeth what He pleaseth, through the power of His sovereignty.” “The sword of wisdom. is hotter than summer heat, and sharper than blades of steel . . .” “. . . withhold not from the poor the things given unto you by God through His grace. He, verily, will bestow upon you the double of what ye possess.” “If ye become aware of a sin committed by another, conceal it, that God may conceal your own sin.” “Be . . . thankful in adversity . . .” “Be fair in thy judgment and guarded in thy speech . . . Be . . . a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression . . . a home for the stranger. . . .”
Bahá’u’lláh also answers, in this Work, a question often asked: Why a new religion? He says, by implication to the Muslims, that if they prefer what is ancient, Why did they adopt the Qur’án in place of the Old and New Testaments? And He states that if bringing a new Faith be His crime, then Muḥammad committed it before Him, and before Him Jesus, and still earlier, Moses. He adds, “And if My sin be this, that I have exalted the Word of God and revealed His Cause, then indeed am I the greatest of sinners! Such a sin I will not barter for the kingdoms of earth and heaven.”
Swiftly, in this Book, the scenes pass. There is the dungeon, and the dream there, and the promise: “Verily We shall render Thee victorious by Thyself and by Thy Pen . . . Erelong will God raise up the treasures of the earth — men who will aid Thee . . . ” There is the dramatic suicide in the mosque, of Hájí Shay{{u|kh}] Muḥammad-‘Alí. There is the “city, on the shores of the sea, white, whose whiteness is pleasing unto God . . . ” The mood varies, the tempo shifts. You can hear these swift questions and answers in music, as a kind of spiritual: “Hath the Hour come? Nay, more; it hath passed . . . Seest thou men laid low? Yea, by my Lord . . . Blinded art thou . . . Paradise is decked with mystic roses . . . hell hath been made to blaze . . . ”
People who must choose often ask whether they should add this or that book to their private library. My reasons for owning this one are: Its beauty of text, translation, and format; its brevity; its richness from the academic point of view — the materials it offers for study; its comprehensiveness —for, although it is an independent creative work, having its own unity of form, its own personal spirit — it is almost an anthology, and one selected by Bahá’u’lláh Himself.
Bahá’ís of Phuoc Long village and some friends from
Saigon in front of Ḥaẓiratu’l-Quds of Phuoc Long which
is also the Bahá’í school building.
And then, there is the totality of its impact on the
reader, and the eternal gift it holds out to him, of the
mercy of God.
Yes, it helps us to enter His presence: it brings us to “Him Whom the world hath cast away and the nations abandoned . . . ”
Where has Áqá Najafí gone now? Where has he taken all his hatred’! In any event, it became the occasion of this Book, this last earthly gift to us from Bahá’u’lláh; His enemies brought Him poison, but He changed it into honey for His loved ones.
(ED. NOTE: The above review is condensed from an article by Marzieh Gail in World Order Magazine, May, 1946. Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, 197 pages with glossary. is available from Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette. Illinois. Cloth. $2.50)
Display used at local conference on Peace, Montclair, N.J.
Montclair Bahá’ís Participate in Local Conference on Peace[edit]
The Montclair, N.J., Bahá’í community was one of eleven cooperating organizations that sponsored a conference in Montclair on May 21 on the theme, “Channels to Peace.“ One of the four workshop discussions was “The United Nations and World Development,” with Mrs. Mildred Mottahedeh as its leader. She was announced in the program as the “Non-Governmental Observer at the United Nations for the Bahá’í World Faith.”
The newspaper account of this conference not only referred to the participation of the Bahá’í’s but also mentioned some of the Bahá’í principles which were brought out in the workshop sessions and included in the final reports to the entire gathering. The exhibits also included a very attractive Bahá’í display and giveaway literature on the subject of peace and America's spiritual destiny.
New Zealand Recognizes Bahá’í Marriage[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand is very happy to announce the achievement of one of its important goals, After two and a half years of persistent effort, recognition of Bahá’í marriage was given on May 10, 1961, by the Department of Justice of the New Zealand government.
Hands Warn of Covenant Breakers in Latin America[edit]
In recent communications, the Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land report the expulsion of Mrs. Frances Stewart of Argentina and Mr. Tony Fillon of Ecuador because of their continued activities in opposition to the Covenant. The voting rights of both Mrs. Stewart and Mr. Fillon had been removed some years ago but their current activities leave no doubts as to their intentions to sow the seeds of disunity wherever they go. The friends are admonished to have no further association or contact with them whether by correspondence or in person.
—U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
Calendar of Events[edit]
FEASTS[edit]
August 20—Asmá’ (Names)
September 8—‘lzzat (Might)
U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS[edit]
September 1 - 4
Baha’i House of Worship[edit]
Visiting Hours[edit]
Weekdays
10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Entire building)
7:00 pm. 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 a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í World Community.
Reports, plans, news items, and photographs of general interest are requested from national committees and local assemblies of the United States as well as from national assemblies of other lands. Material is due in Wilmette on the first day of the month preceding the date of issue for which it is intended.
BAHÁ’Í NEWS is edited by an annually appointed Editorial Committee. The Committee for 1960-61: Mrs. Eunice Braun, International News; Miss Charlotte M. Linfoot, National News; Miss D. Thelma Jackson and Mrs. Harriett Wolcott, 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.
