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No. 369

BAHA’I YEAR 118

DECEMBER, 1961

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The Dedication of the Sydney Temple

Part of the audience at one of the two public inaugural services held at the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár on Sunday, September 17, the day following the private dedication of the Temple by ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum.

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Hand of Cause ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum Dedicates the Mother Temple of the Antipodes

In the weeks preceding the dedication, the friends from overseas had gradually been assembling; then those nearer at hand moved toward the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár for this historic event, like birds who have heard their homing call. There came to mind a favorite prayer of our beloved pioneer and Hand of the Cause, Clara Dunn: “. . .’Neath the shade of Thy protecting wings let me nestle.”

Upon the arrival of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum in Sydney, she was given a mayoral reception by the Lord Mayor. The official program commenced on the afternoon of Thursday, September 14, when the National Assembly was “at home” to enable the Press to meet the overseas visitors.

Hands of the Cause ‘Amatu’L-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and H. Collis Featherstone (front row, just left of center) with more than 300 believers gathered on the steps of the Temple at the conclusion of the private dedication.

Visitors from Twenty Countries and Island Groups

That evening Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone presided at a reception held at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. Following devotions and his address of welcome,

Hand of Cause ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum

international visitors were presented, messages were read and the roll of believers called country by country. Present were representatives from Israel, the British Isles, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Singapore, Fiji, Portuguese Timor, Iran, Arabia, Tahiti, Indonesia, the New Hebrides, Samoa, Pakistan, Italy, New Caledonia and Tasmania.

Because of need to conserve her strength, Rúḥíyyih Khánum did not attend, but a warm welcome was extended to Miss Jessie Revell, member of the International Bahá’í Council, who spoke informally of her memories of the beloved Guardian and some of his statements about the Antipodes. She recounted how his leadership and planning had been responsible for the construction of the Australian House of Worship.

It was heartwarming to mingle with and welcome the visiting believers. Australia has been a country of one language, and to entertain during the dedication period Bahá’í visitors for whom an interpreter was[Page 3] needed proved a truly deepening experience for the Australian believers.

Hearts swelled with love and thanksgiving when the first full-blood Australian aboriginal Bahá’í was welcomed. “Uncle” Fred Murray said, “I joined the Faith two months ago and when I saw the Temple, the tears came to my eyes. Dear friends, yes, I would like to see my friends, my colored people, join this Faith.”

Pre-dedication Teaching Conference

A vital preliminary to the dedication was a teaching conference held on Friday to review accomplishments and remaining goals in the three Antipodal areas: New Zealand, where the great challenge is that of bringing some of the Maori people into the Faith; the South Pacific, where the notable gains include establishment of the Regional National Assembly, twenty local assemblies, ninety centers, five day schools and seven Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds; and Australia, where zealous efforts directed toward the Pacific area in the early Crusade years now make it essential to concentrate on the home front in order to establish and incorporate a number of local assemblies.

‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum opened the afternoon session by reading a special message sent by the Hands in the Holy Land to the pre-dedication conference. It emphasized the need to deliberate on the teaching requirements of the Crusade in the Antipodes, in order to strengthen the home fronts and to bring about the mass conversion called for by the Guardian. Toward the close Rúḥíyyih Khánum presented leis of shells, made by Samoan Bahá’ís, to Hands of the Cause, Knights of Bahá’u’lláh, aboriginal believers, and representatives of the various countries.

Believers Gather at the Resplendent Temple

September 16 was the time scheduled for the dedication of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in a service attended by the Bahá’ís only. The believers were ready for their buses at noon and were transported the twenty-two miles from the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds to the Temple. Many of the friends were seeing it for the first time and were overwhelmed by the beauty of the experience.

Like the opal which is mined from the heart of Australia, the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár is unchanging yet never the same. When the skies are blue the facets of the crushed quartz which encrusts the walls sparkle in the sunlight, and we see a building of dazzling white. 011 other days it is a soft pearly gray, and the six turquoise stars on each of the wrought-iron doors glow with a peacock brightness.

As the moment for the dedication approached the sky was veiled with clouds and the Temple color was a creamy white. From within, looking through the glass which is set in the lacy framework and the wrought iron of the doors, the believers could see a strong wind arise and sweep through the surrounding bushland, just as the breezes of thanksgiving and dedication were at that moment sweeping through their own hearts.

Loving hands had adorned the Temple with exquisite carpets, which were gifts from Persian believers, flowers and growing plants. On the door opening toward the Qiblih was hung the green silk carpet from the

Rúḥíyyih Khánum reading the message of dedication at one of the two public inaugural services. Hanging in the doorway behind her is a. silk rug from the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. On the floor in front of the carpet, and to the right, is one of two silver oases presented as gifts by the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land.

Most Holy Shrine, made infinitely more precious by the signs of service upon it. This carpet was one of those specially set aside by the beloved Guardian as gifts to the Temples. Two beautiful large spherical vases of chased silver, gifts from the Hands in the Holy Land, held long curving sprays of orchids.

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‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum addressing the public meeting held in Sydney on Saturday evening, September 16. With her is Chairman Peter Kahn of Sydney.

“To the Glory of Bahá’u’lláh I Dedicate this Sacred Fane”

Finally the moment came when ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum rose and addressed the assembled believers in these words:

“Beloved Friends:

“To the glory of Bahá’u’lláh I dedicate this sacred fane, this blessed Mother Temple of the Antipodes. On this memorable occasion our hearts turn to our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, in infinite love and gratitude.

“This Mashriqu’l-Adhkár was initiated by him, its design- chosen by him, its site approved by him. The Sacred Dust from the inner Shrine of the Founder of our Faith was placed in its foundation as his gift, according to his instructions and at the time set by him. Its completion as the fourth House of Worship of this world-encircling Faith is surely the consummation of the high hopes he cherished for this part of the globe, so dear to his heart, and cannot but signalize the opening of a period of extraordinary expansion of the Cause of God throughout the entire Pacific and South East Asian area. In more ways than one this Temple is Shoghi Effendi’s gift: he contributed liberally to its erection; in answer to his appeals, and following his example, the Bahá’ís of East and West rallied to its support; he spurred on the efforts of the National Spiritual Assembly responsible for its erection, and every evidence of progress in their great undertaking met with his warm appreciation, his loving encouragement.

“Now today, nineteen months before the close of our glorious Crusade, this beautiful Temple opens her heart to the people of Australasia and bids men of all creeds, all colors, all nations and all classes to enter her doors and join the followers of Bahá’u’lláh in worship of the one true God, in a Temple dedicated to three fundamental verities animating and underlying the Bahá’í Faith — the unity of God, the unity of His Prophets, the unity of Mankind.

“Even though our beloved Guardian is no longer in this physical world, I can greet and welcome you in his name and invite you to share the words regarded in the sacred Scriptures, which We know are the repositoriesof all the fundamental truths revealed by God in various ages for the guidance and salvation of mankind.

“I request you to rise while I read these words of prayer revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and chosen by the Guardian himself. . . .” (The words read by Rúḥíyyih Khánum ‘appear on pages 59, 60, 98 and 99 of Prayers and Meditations, U.S.A. edition.)

These sanctified moments will live long in the memDry of over 300 Bahá’ís who were present. After the short service Rúḥíyyih Khánum placed upon the draped table, which was scattered with white camellias, the portraits of His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh and His Holiness the Báb. After being anointed with attar of roses brought from the Holy Land, the believers filed past, privileged to gaze upon the likenesses of these Purest Gifts of God.

The official photograph was taken on the Temple steps just as a light misty rain began to fall, but it dampened no spirits, and served perfectly to refresh the strong little cypress tree which was then planted by Rúḥíyyih Ighémum in the grounds, in the direction of the Point of Adoration.

On the evening following the dedication a public meeting was held in the Anzac House Auditorium in Sydney. Here Rúḥíyyih Khánum addressed an attentive audience of over 350, her subject being “Bahá’í Faith A World Religion.” After a most inspiring talk, about half an hour was spent in an informative question period.

Public Inaugural Services Conclude Ceremonies

The dedication ceremonies were concluded on Sunday afternoon with public inaugural services. It was necessary for special buses to run from the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds[Page 5] as they had on the previous day. Cars filled the parking area and ranged for long distances along the road outside the grounds, as the interested public came to watch an unfoldment of the spiritual significance of the Temple.

The inaugural service commenced at 2:30 p.m. and to accommodate the large number of people was repeated at 3:45. About 900 attended each session and quite a number were unable to gain admittance.

‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum welcomed the public with the following words:

“Friends:

“It gives me great pleasure to have the privilege of welcoming you within the doors of this first Bahá’í House of Worship to be raised in the Antipodes, on the occasion of its inaugural service.

“This building is dedicated to the three fundamental verities animating and underlying the Bahá’í Faith: the unity of God, the unity of His Prophets and the unity of Mankind, Its doors are open to the peoples of all creeds, all races, all nations and all classes. Within its walls will be heard the prayers and sacred Scriptures of not only our own Faith, but of the other great revealed religions of the world. We believe these sacred Scriptures to be the repositories of the eternal and fundamental truths revealed by God in various ages for the guidance and salvation of all mankind.

“It is the hope of the Bahá’ís that everyone will feel free to come and pray in this Temple and share with us in its services of praise to the God we all love, to Whom we all turn in adoration and from Whom we all seek an outpouring of divine mercy and blessing on this troubled world of ours.

“I will read these Words of Bahá’u’lláh, the Author of the Bahá’í Faith. . . .” (The words read by Rúḥíyyih Khánum appear on pages 59, 60, 98 and 99 of Prayers and Meditations, U.S.A. edition.)

During the service choral selections were rendered by the Lindfield A Cappella Choir, who included in their program four excerpts from the words of Bahá’u’lláh specially set to music for the occasion.

Many hearts must have been uplifted that day, as eyes ranged from the bronze plaque in the form of a star in the center of the auditorium, covering sacred dust from the Most Holy Shrine and plaster from the Prison Fortress of Máh-Kú, up the nine slender pillars soaring to the soft green of the dome, where a pale golden light seemed to reflect to the symbol of the Greatest Name.

A Final Informal Gathering

An informal gathering at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds on Sunday night completed a wonderful four days. Mr. Habib Sabet delighted the friends by showing his movie film of the Kampala Temple dedication. It brought the believers very close in their hearts to the friends in Africa, who had so recently been blessed with the same bounteous favor which now shines upon Bahá’u’lláh’s followers in the southern continent.

This last evening together was one of quiet and intimate benediction, when dear ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum insisted upon being present, despite great fatigue, to speak informally upon the privileges and obligations of membership in the mighty Cause of this wonderful age. Deepest love and blessings went with her on her return to the Holy Land. —JOY STEVENSON

The audience of about 400 addressed by Rúḥíyyih Khánum at the public meeting. Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone, Mrs. Featherstone, and International Bahá’í Council member Miss Jessie Revell are second, third and fourth from left in from row.

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International Council Reviews Progress in Bahá’í World Community

Dear Friends:

This year has witnessed a historic occurrence—the dedication of two Bahá’í Temples within nine months of one another. This fact alone demonstrates the astonishing acceleration in the growth of the Faith in recent years. The dedication of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Sydney on the week end of September 15-17 was attended by the Hands of the Cause ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, who was accompanied by Miss Jessie Revell, the treasurer of the International Council, and Collis Featherstone. The raising of this building not only completes another goal of the Crusade but also marks the completion of the second stage of that “ambitious three-fold enterprise, designed to compensate for the disabilities suffered by the sorely tried community of the followers of His (Bahá’u’lláh's) Faith in the land of His birth.” Four hundred Bahá’ís from twenty countries were present at the dedication, and eighteen hundred people attended the two public services. There was extensive publicity for the occasion, adding to that which the Temple had already attracted during the course of building, and there is no doubt of the potency that this silent teacher will evince in the immediate future. In other countries, too, this event has attracted attention. In Pakistan the occasion was used to hold a reception to mark the dedication, which was attended. by ten members of the diplomatic corps and one hundred officials and other guests.

Commemorations Mark Semicentennial of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s First Visit to the West

This year is also memorable as being the fiftieth anniversary of the Master’s first visit to the western world. He sailed from Egypt on August 11, 1911 on the S.S. “Corsica” bound for Marseilles, and after a brief stay in Thonon-les-Bains proceeded to London, where He arrived on September 4. There He made His first address to a western audience in the City Temple, was received by the Lord Mayor in the Mansion House, and spoke at evening service in the Church of St. John the Divine, Westminster. “Whilst He sojourned in England,” our beloved Guardian writes, “the house placed at His disposal in Cadogan Gardens became a veritable mecca to all sorts and conditions of men, thronging to visit the Prisoner of ‘Akká Who had chosen their great city as the first scene of His labors in the West.”

On September 4 this year the Bahá’ís of the British Isles began a series of gatherings to commemorate this event of supreme importance in the history of their islands. The Hands of the Cause Leroy Ioas and Hasan Balyuzi spoke at a public meeting in London on September 8, which was also attended by Mrs. Sylvia Ioas, vice-president of the International Bahá’í Council, and Dr. Lotfullah Hakim, one of the members of the Council, who was in England during ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit. Gradually as these next two years pass, the wave of celebrations will sweep across the western world in the wake of the Master’s epoch-making journeys.

The seeds then sown by the Master’s hand in the soil of Europe are now springing up, and in the heart of that continent the third stage of the “three-told enterprise,” of which the Kampala and Sydney Temples are the first two stages, is advancing steadily on the outskirts of Frankfurt. On August 8 the erection of the bottom sections of the dome ribs was begun, and by August 20 seven sections were erected and eleven lay ready for erection, the remaining nine still being in preparation. Each of these bottom sections is six meters high and weighs seven tons; the middle sections will be twelve meters high and will weigh about fourteen tons.

In the same city a continental conference called by the Hands of the Cause for Europe was held on June 23-25. This was the latest of a regular series that have been held twice to thrice a year and have proved of immense value to the work on that continent and to the drawing together of its Bahá’ís. This conference had particular cause for joy, being held so shortly after the winning of all the local assembly goals in Europe. The first day was a meeting of the Hands only; on the second they consulted with their Auxiliary Board members, and on the third day these were joined by members of the eight European National Spiritual Assemblies. To all who have attended these conferences, the experience of a number of Bahá’í institutions consulting together in this way for the service of the Cause and their mutual help is unforgettably moving.

Faith Carried Forward in Widely Separated Regions

In the far north of Europe a valiant pioneer has gone to live among the Lapps in northern Sweden, and the Knight of Bahá’u’lláh in Spitzbergen and his companion are once again preparing for their long, dark winter vigil in that desolate outpost. A letter from there last April reported: “No less than two people have sought accommodation with us” — in their small hut — “in order to get away from the town. During the winter we had two visits of dog teams; the first arrived at 3 a.m. and left at 10 a.m., sleeping the hours in between, while the second did almost the same, and that is the entire record of our contact with other human beings for the winter ’60-’61!”

On the other side of the North Pole, in the Yukon, Northern Canada, the work among the Indians is still developing. A letter from two pioneers, who had recently been on pilgrimage, reports: “Since our return we are overjoyed to report twelve new declarations[Page 7] (including eleven Indians) as well as evidence of interest from many others. Six Bahá’ís (including four Indians) from the Yukon attended the Alaska Bahá’í Summer School and had the wonderful privilege of meeting and hearing the Hand of the Cause, Zikru’lláh Khádem. His visit in the Yukon on July 11 and 12 was a most outstanding event in the lives of all the Yukon Bahá’ís.” During Mr. Khádem’s visit one new believer declared himself, and ten more people indicated they wanted to be Bahá’ís. On September 2-4 the fourth annual Yukon Conference was held.

In Bolivia 650 new believers have joined the Faith in the past two months, and the teaching work among the Indians is spreading to neighboring countries. In Carabuela, Ecuador, we have four new Indian believers. This is the third Indian village to be conquered for the Faith since the convention, and already they have surpassed the total number who accepted the Faith in Ecuador during the whole of the past year.

From Central and East Africa comes the thrilling news of the conversion of some hundred pygmies to the Faith. Kenya now has approximately 4,000 believers, having raised the number of its local assemblies this year by twenty-three to a total of 134. The Honolulu community in the Pacific Ocean has doubled its number in a single year. Cuba not only held a triumphant national convention and elected a dedicated National Spiritual Assembly, but has now organized its first historic summer school.

Rapid Advances Continue in India

The rapid spread of the Faith in India continues, and a recent letter reports: “These new believers are the same as those souls about whom we read in the history of the Cause. Though they are three or four months old in the Cause they are quite deep in understanding and firm and steadfast in faith. Though they know very little reading and writing their hearts are fountainheads of reasoning and proofs. It seems that they have studied for long years. . . .

“In the mornings we had regular classes and at night general meetings where we answered questions, debated, sang songs and chanted prayers. During this short lapse of time they have composed more than twenty poems. I believe they are so sweet that we do not have their equal in the whole of the Bahá’í World . . . .There is a boy ten years old. He has already memorized many prayers and during the whole fifteen days of classes never ceased to listen or to write. These people are religious and spiritual in their essence and they themselves said that like unto gold they must glitter in the fire of tests which surely would appear on their paths. . . . It was 11:30 p.m. and before the closing prayer was chanted one of them got up and in the most poetic way addressed us a farewell speach. . . . I can repeat some of the words he said: ‘Dear teachers, your departure from our midst creates a pain in our hearts but it is a pleasant pain, because thus we understand that you came by yourselves and you gave us freely of the treasures you had so that we in our turn give it to our Children and the generations to come.’ ”

In Australia the first full-blood aboriginal Bahá’í, Fred Murray, made his declaration following a study and social week end held at Murray Bridge on June 10-11.

In the last news letter we mentioned antagonism towards the Faith from ministers of religion in Australia. Now comes the significant and joyful news of the declaration of Ronald J. Parsons of Calgary, Canada, who was a minister of the United Church of Canada. Also we hear of a meeting in one eastern country where a local Muslim religious leader “praised the teachings of the Cause and recommended all the people to have a free and complete investigation of the Bahá’í Faith. Should they desire, they may accept it as their own religion. . . .”

Significant Progress in Preparation of Archives at World Center

Here in the Holy Land it was found possible during July to resume the work of furnishing and equipping the new Archives Building. Led and inspired by the indefatigable energy of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum a band of the believers resident here began the task of moving cabinets, lining them with beautiful cloths, stenciling them with exquisite Japanese designs, and all the other multitude of little details that are required to insure that a befitting setting is prepared for the infinitely precious objects which are preserved here, During the progress of the work the revered Hand, Hasan Balyuzi, came from England to assist Rúḥíyyih Khánum with the preliminary arrangement of the archives themselves. All about us as we worked were objects recalling with inefiable poignancy the lives and sufferings of the Central Figures of our Faith and those holy souls who served Them with such devotion: a portion of the bloodstained shirt of the Báb; locks of the flowing black hair of Bahá’u’lláh, lovingly preserved by the Greatest Holy Leaf; the sword of Mullá Ḥusayn; and such uniquely precious documents as the original tablets to the Letters of the Living, and tablets in Bahá’u’lláh’s own hand addressed to the Most Great Branch.

As the work progressed and the various cabinets, pictures and ornaments were assembled and arranged in the breathtakingly beautiful Archives Building, we were struck again and again by the marmer in which each article preserved or bought by the beloved Guardian for this room seemed to fit into its own special place, as if he could have had the whole finished effect in mind when he was gathering them. It is with humble gratitude to him that we can see at last the fulfillment of that vision which he had from the outset of the Crusade, and for the first time, this winter, and always thereafter, the pilgrims will thus be able to view the sacred archives in the glorious setting which Shoghi Effendi had designed and destined for them.

—INTERNATIONAL BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL

World Center of the Faith,

Haifa, Israel.

September 30, 1961.

The foregoing is the second News Letter issued by the recently elected International Bahá’í Council. The first one appeared in the September issue of BAHÁ’Í NEWS.

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View in the Hotel de la Pain: as 125 persons, including both Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís, befittingly commemorated ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Geneva visit in 1911 in the same room in which the Master had spoken in half-century earlier.

Guests of honor at the celebration; from left: Dr. Ugo Giachery, Hand of the Cause; Mrs. Mona Haenni de Bons, Auxiliary Board member; Mr. Reina, President of the Canton of Geneva; Mr. Jacquenoud, Chief Commissioner of Police.

Fiftieth Anniversary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s 1911 Visit is Celebrated in Switzerland

“Much work has to be done on this lake,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is reported to have said in 1911. He was speaking at the Hotel de la Paix, situated on beautiful Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Fifty years later, on September 30, 1961, these same words were re-echoed through the same room in which He had spoken.

The President of the Canton of Geneva and his Chief Commissioner of Police, Bahá’ís from Italy and both French and German sections of Switzerland, non-Bahá’í friends and reporters — all gathered to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Master’s coming to Geneva. The event had attracted much attention, including that ot Cooperation, a large-scale publication in French Switzerland, which paid a long and rare tribute to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the first page of its September 23 issue.

The program opened with “Sweet-Scented Streams,” sung in English. Hand of the Cause Dr. Giachery then spoke in French, lovingly and reverently describing the force of the Master’s personality and character. “He was so magnetic in His love that when He walked down the street people who passed Him would turn around to look again.”

Mrs. Mona Haenni de Boris, Auxiliary Board member for Europe, shared recollections of her meeting with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and carried her listeners fifty years into the past as “witnesses” to the occasion when her mother received a tablet from the beloved Master. The tablet on unity between East and West, revealed in Paris, was read, and the program closed with one of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s prayers, chanted in Persian.

Refreshments offered by the hotel management were served amid general conversation and questions from interested guests. Many made their way to a dignified display of portraits of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, both photographic and in oil, prominently placed at one end of the large room. Toward the close, copies of the tablet revealed to Mrs. de Bons’ mother, and pictures of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, were distributed among the believers, And as a souvenir for all, a 20-page booklet containing information on the Faith was presented to Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike,

Hands in Africa Appoint New Auxiliary Board Member

The Hands of the Cause in Africa have appointed Mr. Oloro Epyeru to the Auxiliary Board for Protection, to replace Mr. ‘Ali Nakhjavání who has moved to Haifa to assume his responsibilities as president of the International Bahá’í Council.

Mr. Epyeru has been one of the devoted African believers since the early days of the Faith in Uganda, and a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Central and East Africa since its inception in 1956.

Two More U.S. Cities Grant Recognition of Bahá’í Holy Days

The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States has announced the recognition of the nine Bahá’í Holy Days by the public school systems of Alhambra, California. and Urbana, Illinois. In the case of Alhambra the recognition crowned an eight-year effort on the part of the Local Spiritual Assembly.

Approximately seventy school systems and two states in the United States now recognize the Holy Days.

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Faith Continues Its Progress Among South American Indians

Top right: Pioneers Juliano, Rocabado, Costas and Khamsi on a teaching trip through southern Bolivia in July. The other pictures at right indicate, in succession, fruits of their journey in three of the villages which they visited, as follows:

In Redencionpampa ninety of the beloved Indians enrolled. Some of them had already memorized six Bahá’í prayers in their own language.

In Marapampa one hundred enrolled. Following enrollment the new Bahá’ís stayed up all night to memorize prayers.

In Manzanillo sixty enrolled. some of the enrollees had walked two days and a night in order to meet the pioneer instructors.

Bottom left: Six-year-old Ahmad Khamsi (holding picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá) with children of the Bahá’í school at Llapallpani.

Directly below: Carmello Jachakollo, first Indian international pioneer. with pioneers Mr. and Mrs. Costas and Mr. and Mrs. Khamsi, on the eve or his departure from Bolivia to teach the Faith to the Indians of Peru. Additional native pioneers will soon go to Chile and other countries. Carmella Jachakollo and his brother Andres were the first two members or their race to embrace the Faith in Bolivia.

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U.S. National Assembly Stages Thirty-Five World Crusade Conferences

With the culmination of the beloved Guardian’s World Crusade a bare eighteen months away, the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States recently blanketed the country with a series of invigorating conferences. It was the fifth series of such widespread meetings since the launching of the home front consolidation program adopted in August of 1958. All have been aimed particularly toward closer communication and cooperation between the individual believers and the National Assembly, to insure complete success in the Crusade tasks assigned by Shoghi Effendi to the American Bahá’ís.

The latest series of conferences were held in thirty-four cities of the continental United States and in San Juan, Puerto Rico, all during the last week end in September and first week end in October. Seven members of the Auxiliary Board, seven members of the National Spiritual Assembly, three members of the American National Teaching Committee and the managing director of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust acted as leaders of from one to three of the meetings. An approximate total of 2,200 registered Bahá’ís, youth and adults, attended.

The central theme was the role of the individual believer in assuring the completion of the remaining tasks of the Crusade, including those on the home front, where every Bahá’í can make a direct and personal contribution.

Hugh E. Chance, recently elected secretary of the Us. National Spiritual Assembly, led the NSA-sponsored conference held in Wilmette, Illinois, on September 30.

Vital Tasks Abroad and at Home

At each conference the leader opened the morning session by giving a brief and stirring review of the many assigned tasks already achieved, and by listing those few still to be accomplished. In the international field the latter comprise assistance in the construction of the Mother Temple of Europe, assistance in the formation of the eleven independent national spiritual assemblies in Western Europe, and the maintenance of pioneers in the newly formed national Bahá’í communities in Latin America, for purposes of further consolidation. All call for a great outpouring of funds on the part of individual Bahá’ís and communities during these crucial months.

Most of the day, however, was devoted to consultation on how to win resounding victories on the home front, where there is still need for establishing approximately one hundred additional “firmly grounded, well-informed, actively functioning” local assemblies; swelling the ranks of new believers; and proclaiming the Faith more widely on both the local and national levels. Adequate support of a national budget of $550,000 and dispersal from the large centers to goal cities both received special emphasis. but the bulk of the consultation revolved about the obligation of every

Believers and friends at the Green Lake (Wisconsin) Institute, which was combined with one of the thirty-five conferences sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly on two week ends.

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Sixty-five believers attended the NSA-sored conference held in Sarasota, Florida, on October 8. The leader was Curtis D. Kelsey, member of the Auxiliary Board.

individual Bahá’í to deepen his own knowledge of the Faith, to become a center of attraction, to teach and proclaim the Faith among the souls waiting for the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, and to maintain constant contact with his fellow believers in relation to these activities.

An Impressive Conference Climax

A moving and impressive conclusion of each conference was the presentation of a series of Color Slides entitled “Call to Action,” with narration by the leader. The slides recapitulated some of the many goals won during the first eight years of the Crusade, depicting Bahá’í assemblies, summer schools, Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Houses of Worship already established, the truly global extent of the Bahá’í World Community, and the areas of mass conversion. They also presented visually the items which make up the national budget for the current Bahá’í year, and the direct teaching activities which must be accelerated to achieve the objectives on the home front.

Most impressive of all was a final group of slides which dramatically called attention to the heart-stirring words of the beloved Guardian in a message to the American believers: “Ours is the duty to fix our gaze with undeviating attention on the duties and responsibilities confronting us at this present hour, to concentrate our resources, both material and spiritual, on the tasks that lie immediately ahead, to insure that no time is wasted, that no opportunity is missed, that no obligation is evaded . . . the time (is) too short. the hour too perilous, the workers too few, the call too insistent, the resources too inadequate, for us to allow these precious and fleeting hours to slip from our grasp. and to suffer the prizes within our reach to be endangered or forfeited. . . .”

Immediate results of the conferences included expressions of gratitude by the host assemblies and many individual Bahá’ís for the new sense of pride they feel over the collective Crusade achievements of the believers throughout the world, and for the greater understanding they have gained of their individual roles in insuring total victory.

A Commemoration of

World Religion Day

. . . the most widely recognized Bahá’í special event, will help to further strengthen the Faith — and your community

Central States Area Committee Conducts Effective Institute at Green Lake

Some 250 believers and their friends gathered at Green Lake, Wisconsin, on October 6 and 7 for the Central States area institute. The two days were replete with stimulating sessions, and were highlighted by one of the many conferences being conducted at that time by the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly to emphasize the role of the individual in the final phase of the World Crusade. The special conference was led jointly by Hugh E. Chance and Miss Charlotte Linfoot, secretary and assistant secretary, respectively, of the National Assembly.

Institute Presents a Comprehensive Program

The institute itself was opened with presentations of the essential verities of the Faith and the attributes of the true Bahá’í. A panel of area committee members continued the analysis of the role of the individual believer during the remaining months of the Crusade, and a series of charts was used to demonstrate how relatively few settlers or new Bahá’ís could bring ten area goal groups to assembly status.

The role of the area committee in this process, proclamation at the local level, and expansion of youth activities were ably explored. Two requisites to success in teaching — spiritual development of the individual and thorough knowledge of Bahá’í literature—were covered by additional presentations.

A continuous children’s program during the sessions, on-the-spot firesides for non-Bahá’í guests, and many other adjuncts helped to complete an exceptionally well-planned and ably executed institute.

[Page 12]

Inspiring Summer Schools Held by Many National Communities

Five out of the numerous Bahá’í summer schools conducted in 1961 in the northern hemisphere are touched upon here. These gatherings were attended by one or more Hands of the Cause, by Auxiliary Board members, other outstanding teachers and pioneers.

In Germany three localities — Ohle, Gauting and Berlin — served as host cities to successive school sessions of one week each, spaced at intervals from June 24 to August 6. They were weeks of true inspiration and deepening, and their effect is expected to be far-reaching.

France’s sixth summer school was held at St. Nectaire (Puy de Dome) from August 26 to September 3. The spirit of the large student group was of a quality so elevated that many believers remarked that at no time, or in any country, had they felt the power of the Covenant more strongly.

The fifth annual school of the Bahá’ís of Japan was held on August 19 and 20 in Takarazuka, where a great assemblage of believers was favored with the presence of beloved Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander.

Austria’s sixth summer school, attended by about one hundred people, took place in a beautiful setting on Faaker Lake, province of Kärnten, during the week of August 26 to September 3. Hand of the Cause Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel and a notable group of other teachers left with the students a feeling of enhanced gratitude to Bahá’u’lláh for His great message, and a glowing desire to hand it on to others.

From September 17 to 25 the Swiss mountain village of Bex-les-Bains was the scene of the Italo-Swiss summer school, which included a commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit fifty years ago. Well over two hundred believers came from thirteen countries. They prayed, and were taught, in five languages, and departed with many significant insights, including one of particular urgency that no doubt had its parallels in all the schools: “If we know the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, we know the day in which we are living. If we know the writings of Shoghi Effendi. we know the hour.”

[Page 13]

On opposite page, at top: Bahá’ís at the second and third German summer school sessions, held in Gauting and Berlin. In the first picture. Hand of the Cause Dr. Adelbert Muhlschlegel is fourth from left; in second picture at extreme right. At an earlier session, held in Ohle, Hand of the Cause Shu’a’u’lláh ‘Alá’í was also present.

On opposite page, at huttom: Believers at French summer sdmol. Dr Muhlschlegel is in second row center. Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery also attended.

Above: Fifth summer school of Japan. Hand of the Cause Agnes B. Alexander appears in second row center, dressed in white.

Below: Italo-Swiss summer school. Dr. Muhlschlegel appears, in gray suit, toward right end of second full row.

At right, glimpses of Italo-Swiss sessions. Upper pictures: Dr. Giachery explaining the importance or “Prayers and Meditations,” recently published in Italian; Dr. Muhlschlegel during a question-and-answer period. Lower pictures: Italo-Swiss NSA member Dr. Walker Ott during his course, given in German, on spiritual aspects of the Faith; Dr. Alessandreo Bausani, Italo-Swiss NSA member, translating from Persian into Italian in a course given by Mr. Mahboubi, pioneer in Padua, Italy.

[Page 14]

Sixth Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of South and West Africa

The Region of South and West Africa held its sixth annual convention in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, April 27 to 30. Present were seventy-six believers including nineteen delegates — the majority being Africans. Of the fifteen countries of the region, eight were represented.

The convention took place in a school hall artistically decorated with flowers, book displays and bulletin boards on which various national committees exhibited photographs, booklets and maps. The booklets are a very important part of the region’s literature as they are written in simple English which is easily translated into other languages.

The news of the election of the twenty-one national assemblies in Latin America, and other international achievements contained in the message from the Hands in the Holy Land, thrilled the assembled friends and gave all a deep feeling of the oneness and universality of the Faith.

A real sense of devotion and reverence was expressed in the way in which the friends sang and chanted some of the prayers of Bahá’u’lláh. The African believers of the region have composed many good songs which all enjoyed singing in such languages as Zulu, Bemba, Nyanja and Swazi. Everyone was delighted to hear that these songs are being written down in tonic solfa (the method by which the Africans are taught to read music) and put into book form.

The delegates brought with them good ideas and suggestions. There was much consultation on ways and means of bringing into the Faith a greater number of believers. In fact, this was the theme throughout the convention. Another interesting activity was a stimulating panel discussion on “How Should Bahá’í Committees Function.”

A spirited Pioneers’ Conference was held one evening at the Salisbury Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds with discussion on problems related to the spreading of the Faith. Following the convention there was a Teacher Training School which included lectures and workshops. The school was well attended and enthusiastically supported.

The National Spiritual Assembly, after its election and organization, stood as follows: John Allen, chairman; Andrew Mofokeng, vice-chairman; Lowell Johnson, secretary; Valera Allen, assistant secretary; William Masehla, recording secretary; Shidan Fat’he-Aazam, treasurer; Rudolfo Duna, Bahiyyih Ford and Max Seepe.

Momentous First National Convention Held in Cuba

The first national convention of the Bahá’ís of Cuba took place in Havana on April 28 to 30. Both the spirit of the memorable meeting and its consultation on the budding national community’s responsibilities were immeasurably aided by the presence of Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga. In addition Sra. Celestina Perez lent valuable guidance as representative of the National Assembly of the Greater Antilles.

The election of Cuba’s first National Spiritual Assembly, and its subsequent organizational meeting, resulted in the following roster: Juana Ortuño, chairman; Celestina Pérez, vice-chairman; Carmelo Pérez, secretary; Gloria Ortega, recording secretary; Josefina Camacho, treasurer; Antonio Cubera, Migdalia Diez, José Hinojosa and Viva Lismore.

Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga, when interviewed on television in relation to his presence in Havana, stated that he brought friendly greetings to the people of Cuba from their brothers in Africa. He also gave the basic principles of the Faith, together with their origin, and emphasized that Bahá’ís labored in the Cause to establish world peace. At a luncheon held in honor of the beloved Hand, the Bahá’í youth gave him a special greeting with the expression, “Bienvenido, Padre de Victorias!” This referred to the name Abú Fútú, or Father of Victories, which Shoghi Effendi gave him.

Delegates and visitors at the Sixth Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of South and West Africa, held in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia April 27-30, 1961

[Page 15]

Two Asian National Communities Celebrate Dedication of Sydney Temple

In response to a request from the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land, two far-eastern National Spiritual Assemblies held special mid-September receptions to celebrate the dedication of the Australian House of Worship.

On September 15, at Bahá’í Hall in Karachi, the National Assembly of Pakistan welcomed as guest of honor Mr. A. R. Taysom, representative of the High Commissioner for Australia in that country. Ten other members of the diplomatic corps in Karachi, representing Germany, France, India, New Zealand, the United States and the United Nations, also attended. Present, likewise, were judges of the Pakistan High Court, leading lawyers, advocates, high-ranking government officials, businessmen, college administrators and professors, and members of the elite of the city numbering approximately one hundred. About 150 members of the Karachi Bahá’í Community also participated.

The chairman of the National Assembly addressed a brief welcome to Mr. Taysom and the other guests, and the Australian representative replied. There were no formal speeches but the guests were free to move about the hall of the national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, profusely decorated and embellished with colorful Persian rugs. The gardens, also decorated and illuminated with multicolored lights, enhanced the festive atmosphere.

A brochure prepared for the occasion was presented to each of the guests and mailed to those unable to attend. It contained a photograph of the new Temple; a brief account of its construction. dimensions and surroundings; mention of the Houses of Worship in Wilmette, Kampala, ‘Ishqábád and Frankfurt; and a page devoted to Bahá’í principles.

Another Outstanding Celebration

Another reception of similar significance was held in Tokyo, Japan, on September 17. The National Spiritual Assembly of North East Asia arranged for the celebration, mindful of the significance attached to the relationship between the northern and southern areas of the Pacific by the beloved Guardian, who compared them to two magnetic poles of a spiritual axis, destined to shed illumination on all the peoples inhabiting the shores of that ocean.

The Bahá’í Community of Tokyo had the privilege of

At top left: At the Karachi celebration Mr. A. R. Taysom, representing the High Commissioner for Australia in Pakistan, replies to the welcoming address of the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly.

At top right: Some of the 250 guests and believers listening to Mr. Taysom’s words.

Directly above: Mr. Taysom looking at a Sydney Temple photograph Included in the brochure presented to him.

preparing the reception. The Australian ambassador, who was to have been the guest of honor, was unable to attend, but sent a representative. Other guests were from social, educational and American government circles. About 120 persons, three-fourths of them guests, were present.

The setting was the Garden Room of the Sanno Hotel. The management had made a replica of the Sydney Temple in ice, and this appeared in the center of a long table, surrounded by flowers. Trays were spread with artistically arranged hors d’oeuvres, and Japanese and American hostesses served tea and coffee.

A special guest was Mr. Bernard Leach, worldfamous artist and pottery expert, and a Bahá’í, Who on a previous visit had made a profound impression in Japan and is credited with furnishing the inspiration for the now widespread Mingei (folk-craft) movement. A fifteen-minute talk by Mr. Leach, on the reasons why he is a Bahá’í, became an active topic of conversation.

This splendid affair, like the one in Karachi, drew much favorable attention, and was a credit both to the Faith and to the sponsors.

[Page 16]

The first new believer to be enrolled, after several years of pioneer efforts, on the island of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, is shown above (front row, center). He Is Knud J. Jensen. At left and right are Charles Dayton and Ellerton Harmer. Behind them, left to right, are Sheila Rice-Wray, Marjorie Harmer and Mary Dayton. The Harmers and Daytons are resident pioneers, while Miss Rice-Wray’s present field Is the Dominican Republic.

National Teaching Committee of Jamaica Carries Out Three Teaching Conferences

In August the National Teaching Committee of Jamaica, acting on a request from its National Spiritual Assembly, called conferences in Kingston and Port Antonio for those towns and surrounding areas. When believers in Annotto Bay found themselves unable to attend the Port Antonio conference, a third meeting was held in their own town a few weeks later.

The same program was followed in all three conferences; namely, teaching in all of its ramifications, including individual effort, firesides, classes and public meetings. It was the consensus that success or failure in any of these phases depends upon each individual Bahá’í.

Pioneering Among Guaymi Indians of Panama Bears Its First Fruits

Believers of the province of Chiriqui, Republic of Panama, have begun pioneering work among the Guaymi Indians in the mountains, and two distinct areas have been opened to the Faith.

In their many trips to these areas the pioneers have lived with the people as members of their households, teaching the simple message of love and brotherhood, both by word and by deed. First fruits of their devoted efforts were realized when an all-Indian family identified itself with the community of the Greatest Name.

International News Briefs

The Bahá’í community of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. participated in the fourth annual Bucks County Peace Conference, held in Fairless Hills on September 8. More than thirty cultural, labor and religious groups had booths at the site of the conference, which attracted about 4,000 people, including leading television, radio and press personalities. A great deal of Bahá’í literature was dispensed, and a number of the inquirers appeared at the Philadelphia community’s World Peace Day meeting, Some of them are now attending firesides.

Fifty friends and contacts recently attended the first Bahá’í marriage to be held at the Bahá’í Center in La Paz, Bolivia, The principals were Wana Velasquez and Sabino Ortega, the latter a member of the National Assembly of Bolivia and an outstanding pioneer among his fellow Indians.

A woman member of the Ada County, Idaho, community who, with her husband, pioneered in Sweden in 1960, was asked by a local club to present a color-slide travelogue of their European journey, and of their subsequent pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The presentation was so well received that it resulted in other invitations, including one to show the slides, with commentary, on television.

Over seventy persons from widely scattered areas attended the fourth annual Yukon Bahá’í Conference, held on the Labor Day week end, September 2-4. Classes were held in the United Church Hall in Whitehorse, and at the Bahá’í cabin twelve miles from town. Series of talks were given on the Gospel of the Red Man, The Tablet of Ahmad, Bahá’í Administration and “Thief in the Night.” Activities included a highly successful pub11:: meeting Saturday evening. Classes for some of the native people, followed later by the playing of a tape recorded by Hand of the Cause Zikru’lláh Khádem in Whitehorse last July, bore fruit in the form of seven declarations.

Some of the believers. students and visiting friends who attended the Dominican Republic’s first Bahá’í national teaching conference, held in the inland city of Moca on August 12 and 13. A series of talks, followed by question-and-answer periods, were given by Bahá’ís from the communities of Cuidad Trujillo, Santiago and Puerto Llliertador, with “Christ and Bahá’u’lláh” as the central theme.

[Page 17]

The pioneer stationed in the Cook Islands reports that classes are being held regularly, but there is great need of more translations and more visitors — particularly men. The friends in the Islands request prayers.

A by-election was held not long ago to fill a vacancy on the British National Spiritual Assembly created by the resignation of Mr. Ian Semple, who moved to Haifa to serve as assistant secretary of the International Bahá’í Council. Mr. Charles Macdonald was elected as his successor.

(This space reserved for advertising or publicity copy. Suggestion for copy is supplied with the layout. )

Special Publicity Layout Offered for World Religion Day

Shown above in reduced size is a layout offered by the Bahá’í Public Information Service for use in publicity or paid advertising in connection with World Religion Day. Its actual size is 8⅝ X 10½ inches, reducible to any proportional size. The Temple pictures are excellent photographic copies suitable for reproduction purposes. The headline is part of the layout.

This special item can be suggested to newspaper editors as a basis for an editorial feature, or it can be used by Bahá’í communities as an advertisement. A suggestion for copy is included. Separate 5 X 7-inch photographs of each of the Temples are also available.

World Religion Day Layout, complete with suggested copy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.00

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Order promptly from Bahá’í Public Information Service, 121 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois.

Bahá’ís of Djambi, South Sumatra, Indonesia.

“How I Serve the Masses”

By K. Panthi, a village teacher (From Bahá’í News Letter of India)

I am here to train and educate the village folks. Early in the morning the children come; if their garments are torn and buttons missing, they are stitched. Then they are taken to the river for washing and bathing. Later, under the shade of some tree, prayers are chanted and social subjects (such as history, geography, civics and general science) are studied. Then the children return home and attend the Government School at 11 o’clock at Mandoda.

At twelve noon women of the village are taught Hindi; arithmetic and home science as well as Bahá’í knowl

Social period of a. fireside held weekly in Haarlem, Netherlands, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harold South.

[Page 18]

Eight members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Iberian Peninsula for 1961-62. Left to right, front row: F. Salas, S. Tiffon, A. Jimenez, C. M. Ioas. Back row: L. Ortuño, R. Escartin, J, L. Monge, A. Carneiro. Not shown: I. Torrella.

edge is imparted to them. At 4 p.m. the children return from school. They are helped in doing their homework and their difficulties are solved so that they can answer in the school in a better way on the next day. Then they play. Letter cards in English have been made with which also they play and learn.

At 6:30 adult education starts. It being evening time, all come, including children, youth and old. Their studies are as follows: (1) Hindi, (2) Arithmetic, (3) Social studies, (4) English, (5) A lesson from Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. This they continue up to 11 p.m., and on the next day the program starts again as given above.

“Let a Bird Depart With Its Fish”

Impressions of the First Samoan Teachers’ Training Institute

By Niuoleava P. Tuataga

(Condensed from Bahá’í Bulletin, published by the Regional Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the South Pacific.)

On Friday, July 14,1961, friends from Western and American Samoa gathered together at Taputimu, American Samoa, for the first teachers’ training institute.

While having our devotional session the following morning chiefs of Taputimu village came on a traditional Samoan welcome known as “usu,” which is the presentation of kava root, to the visitors from Western Samoa. Soon after this ceremony two chiefs from Vailoatai village arrived with more kava root. One of the chiefs, who is my uncle, put up two questions: (1) Why are there so many religions in the world if there is only one God? (2) What is the Bahá’í Faith and its Teachings? Here in Samoa there is only one religion of the past and that is Christianity, but the serious thing is that it has been divided into many sects.

At the end of the morning session the friends shared the midday meal and the American Samoa believers provided another Samoan traditional custom, called “sua.” It was the presentation of a roast pig by Chief Melei and his family for the Western Samoan believers.

“Teach His Cause With All Your Might”

After this we all gathered together to put up the big tent where we were to sleep. To me the putting up of the tent with all our strength and efforts was like a voice that spoke in every one of us: “Be united! Cooperation is badly needed! Arise and teach His Cause with all your might and sacrifice! He will surely assist everyone!” . . .

On Sunday morning we talked about the general teachings of the Faith and more questions were answered. After a short rest the friends were keen to know more proofs from the Bible to help them in their teaching work. At this time other Bahá’í friends, who had not been before, arrived. One came by plane from Western Samoa and I asked myself, “Why? What caused them to come?” To me it seemed that it was their love for Bahá’u’lláh that urged them, and their knowledge that this was the Greatest Cause revealed to mankind . . .

“There Was Much Harmony and Happiness”

And we came to the end of our institute. But still some of the friends did not wish to leave so we continued our classes for another day. There was much harmony and happiness. One friend from Western Samoa, on his departure, said that all his life he thought only of material gifts but now he had learned that there was another sort of gift—a spiritual gift.

We learned many things. Now is the time for us to play our part. There is a. Samoan expression, “Let a bird depart with its fish.” Show forth what fish you caught, share it with others, let them eat your fish. You are not going to cook it. Bahá’u’lláh has prepared it nicely. It is not a physical fish really, but a spiritual fish which will last for 500,000 years . . .

Miss Baher, Persian pioneer in Bologna, Italy, giving a course on ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at Italo-Swiss summer school. Students shoum are mostly Italians and Persians.

[Page 19]

BAHA’I IN THE NEWS

The 1961-62 Great Lakes Tour Book, one of several such publications issued annually by the American Automobile Association, urges that vacationing members take pictures of each other at important points of interest. As an example it shows a picture-taking scene with the Wilmette Temple as background.

The March-April issue of Crónicos-Israel y América Latina, published in Colombia, carried an article on the Faith, which it characterized as “the youngest of the monotheistic religions.” Included was an illustration of the Shrine of the Báb.

The Bahá’í Faith received prominence in both headline and body of a feature story which appeared in the September 2 issue of the Sarasota (Florida) News. The immediate subject was Mrs. Alice McCants, who was interviewed as one of the newcomers among Sarasota’s high-school teachers. The article stressed the Faith as a principal reason for her moving to Sarasota.

In the midst of front-page stories about the critical world situation, the August 22 issue of The Winnipeg (Canada) Tribune carried a striking article in which a Bahá’í teacher discussed the possibility of achieving the Lesser Peace now, provided enough people pay heed to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. The teacher, Robert Cameron of Duluth, Minnesota, was spending a week in Winnipeg to lead firesides and give a public talk.

In the conclusion of an essay which appeared in the autumn 1960 issue of The American Scholar, published by the United Chapters of Phi Beta Kappa (national scholastic honor society), the late Albert Guérard wrote: “Recently I came across a ten-point program of the Bahá’í fellowship. With every one of these points I agree, heart and soul. I know of no other

First Local Spiritual Assembly of Mitcham, South Australia, formed April 1961. Left to right, front row: Eric Bowes, Mrs. M. Bowes, Mrs. H. Broadbent, Mrs. B. Roe. Back row: Graham Bowes, Mrs. I. Leedham, Eric Leedham, Mrs. A. Lorking, William Roe.

Progress of the Mother Temple of Europe near Frankfurt, Germany. At this point all of the twenty-seven rib-like pillars that will support the auditorium and dome had. been placed in position.

group — nation, church or party — that has so compacted them together. They seem to me necessary and sufficient. . . ." Unfortunately, Mr. Guérard was not a Bahá’í and did not consider the principles of the Faith as divinely inspired.

It has been said that publicity can sometimes be beneficial even if it is not accurate. An example of this may possibly have been the reference to Mr. Charles Wolcott, secretary-general of the International Bahá’í Council, in the October 12 issue of Wilmette (Illinois) Life. “Mr. Wolcott,” said this weekly newspaper, “has . . . left for Haifa, where he represents Bahá’í in the assembly of four religions—Christianity, Mohammedanism, Judaism, and Bahá’ísm.”

The October Dodge News Magazine, a widely circulated publication of the Chrysler Corporation, motorcar manufacturer, included a page of advice an arranging one’s color slides of travels for showing to friends. The only illustration on the page bore this caption: “Bahá’í Temple, one of the most beautiful temples in the world, provides colorful background for photos at Wilmette, Ill.”

What may constitute a record in publicity on the Faith was a story in Portuguese which appeared in the August 5-18 issue of Revista do Globo, a biweekly magazine published in Brazil. It covered six of the magazine’s 8 x 11-inch pages, Entitled “O Grande Mundo dos Bahá’ís,” it included nine illustrations: two of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, a full—page picture of the Wilmette Temple and another large one of the Shrine of the Báb, an excellent picturization of twelve principles, three illustrations of Porto Alegre believers and a final one showing an assortment of Bahá’í literature. The 1850 words of text covered the history of the Faith, its principles, and activities of the Porto Alegre community. Concluding the article was a boxed summary of Bahá’í laws and other important points.

The June issue of the Canadian magazine, Fate, carried a review of “All Things Made New,” by Hand of the Cause John Ferraby. The article opens thus: “Is it not time that a new spiritual force came forth to

[Page 20]

Persian, American, Swiss, French, Italian and Arabian children reciting at Italo—Swiss summer school during fiftieth-anniversary celebration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit in Geneva.

hold us back from the oblivion that daily threatens us? . . . The Bahá’í Faith . . . has long claimed to represent such a force.” The book is then referred to as offering an “excellent summary of the spiritual teachings of the Bahá’ís, liberally sprinkled with quotes from their Sacred Writings. Even those who cannot intellectually accept the infallibility of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá . . . can find much of power and beauty and insight in their Teachings . . . ”

Mrs. Nettie J. Asberry, Ph.D., founder of the Tacoma (Washington) chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, social worker, music teacher and a Bahá’í for eighteen years, was the subject of a long newspaper article in the July 23 issue of the Tacoma News-Tribune. The article, published as one of many tributes to Dr. Asberry on the occasion of her ninety-sixth birthday, mentions her Bahá’í affiliation and quotes her in relation to the Faith.

On August 7 The Evening Sun, prominent daily newspaper in Baltimore, Maryland published a four-column syndicated story recalling the crucial World War II campaign on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Included is this reference to two Bahá’í pioneers: “The only American ex-service man who has returned to Guadalcanal to live is Alvin J. Blum, of Little Rock. Arkansas. He and his American wife. leaders in the Bahá’í religious faith, run a general store and the town’s only dry-cleaning plant.” The town is Honiara, built since the war.

On July 22 — the birthday of Sarah J. Farmer, founder of Green Acre at Eliot, Maine (now Green Acre Bahá’í Institute) — the Portsmouth (New Hampshire) Herald ran an illustrated feature article on Miss Farmer and the Faith. It recalled that she originally established Green Acre to provide a forum for "a series of conferences on progressive subjects such as religion, science and arts.” Among subsequent visits there by various renowned personages, the climactic one for Bahá’ís was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s week-long stay in 1912.

New light is shed on the Master’s visit to the United States in 1912 in An Historical Study of the North American Speaking Tour of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and a Rhetorical Analysis of His Addresses, a dissertation by an American Bahá’í, Allan L. Ward, Ph.D. Copies of the 271-page manuscript (Microfilm $3.50; Xerox $12.40) are available from University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Calendar of Events

FEASTS

December 12 — Masá’il (Questions)

December 31 — Sharaf (Honor)

U.S. STATE CONVENTIONS

December 3

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

December 10 — Prelude to a New Age

U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS

December 29 — January 1

Baha’i House of Worship

Visiting Hours

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

Sundays

3:30 to 4:10 p.m.

Public Meeting

Sunday, December 17

4:15 p.m.

BAHÁ’Í NEWS is published for circulation among Bahá’ís only by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, as a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í World Community.

BAHÁ’Í NEWS is edited by an annually appointed Editorial Committee: Mr. and Mrs. P. R. Meinhard, Managing Editors; Mrs. Eunice Braun, International News Editor; Miss D. Thelma Jackson, National News Editor: Miss Charlotte M. Linfoot, National Spiritual Assembly Representative.

Material must be received by the twentieth of the second month preceding date of issue. Address: Bahá’í News 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