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No. 384

BAHA’I YEAR 119

MARCH, 1963

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World Center Shares Stirring Events of Moroccan Drama

“I know not, O my God, what the Fire is with which Thou didst light the Lamp of Thy Cause, or what the Glass wherewith Thou didst preserve it from Thine enemies. By Thy might! I marvel at the wonders of Thy Revelation, and at the tokens of Thy glory. I recognize, O Thou Who art my heart’s Desire, that were fire to be touched by water it would instantly be extinguished, whereas the Fire which Thou didst kindle can never go out, though all the seas of the earth be poured upon it. Should water at any time touch it, the hands of Thy power would, as decreed in Thy Tablets, transmute that water into a fuel that would feed its flame.”

—BAHÁ’U’LLÁH   (Prayers and Meditations, page 150)

Beloved Friends:

For the second time in the course of this glorious Ten Year Crusade, the enemies of the Cause of God have raised a commotion which is resounding in the ears of all mankind. The “water” with which they thought to extinguish the light of the Faith in an obscure district of Morocco has indeed been transmuted by the Hand of God into a “fuel” which has caused the world to blaze.

At the time when these lines are being written the ultimate fate of our imprisoned brethren is still unknown, the date for the hearing of their appeal has not yet arrived, nor can the repercussions of the events of the past weeks be accurately gauged. Now certainly is not the time to relax our efforts or to cease our fervent prayers, nor can the full story in all its details be told. But it is an opportune moment for the World Center to share with the entire Bahá’í world the broad outlines and some of the stirring events of the first acts of this drama still unfolding before our eyes.

The first event in this extraordinary sequence was the arrest in Nador, on April 12, 1962, of four believers of that city. Immediately afterward, four believers from Tetuan, hearing of this, went to Nador and were themselves arrested, and finally the number of imprisoned Bahá’ís reached the total of fourteen. On May 3 a cable from the National Spiritual Assembly of North West Africa reached the Hands resident in the Holy Land with news of these actions, and it was decided that there should be no intervention from outside the country, but that every effort should be made to obtain the release of these innocents by local legal defense and interviews with government officials.

From the very outset the purpose of the Bahá’ís has been to obtain justice with as little publicity as possible, and to keep the matter local to Morocco. Even within the Bahá’í community news was not disseminated to the believers until it had already been published in the press of the world as a result of the actions of the enemies of the Faith.

The influences motivating these arrests are by no means clear. The mulláhs had for some time been opposing the Faith and one of the ministers was also reported to have said that “during sixty years of occupation the French were unable to convert even one of our subjects. These people (i.e. the Bahá’ís) during a short time have succeeded in taking away many of our well-educated and intelligent people.”

Believers Show Wonderful Devotion

The imprisoned believers, all of whom are young in years, and all except one of whom are young also in the Faith, showed wonderful devotion in their plight. The spirit of the wives of some of them is exemplified

[Page 2] The grim and forbidding wall around the penal colony of ‘Akká.

by the wife who, on learning that an appeal for clemency written on her behalf by an acquaintance stated that the accused regretted their acts and asserted their adherence to Islám, unhesitatingly said, “Destroy the letter. My husband is a Bahá’í, and he will remain a Bahá’í. He was imprisoned for the Faith of God.” Another wife who was not a Bahá’í, who is only seventeen years old and whose husband had been imprisoned fifteen days after their wedding, has now become deeply attracted to the Faith and intends to declare herself a Bahá’í.

For four months, while a legal committee of the Bahá’ís of Morocco, aided by an able French lawyer of Rabat, explored in vain all ways to obtain either the release of the prisoners or an early hearing of their case, these fourteen souls were kept in strict isolation from their fellow-Bahá’ís, and only a few messages could be passed orally via the women members of their families who could occasionally visit them. In August a devoted Egyptian Bahá’í lawyer arrived in Morocco to join in the defense of the believers. The authorities returned no answer to his applications, but he was able to see the prisoners to bring them news and assurance, and to bring back to the Bahá’í community an account of the steadfastness and devotion of these dear friends.

There had been a number of attacks on the Faith in the Moroccan press, but on August 10 the French newspaper Le Monde published an article headed “Inquisition in Morocco,” which drew forth a reply in a Moroccan paper. On August 22 the Hands asked the United States National Spiritual Assembly to make representations to the Moroccan diplomatic missions in Washington and at the United Nations to make clear to them the non-political character of the Faith, its world-wide extent and true nature, as it was evident that the authorities in their country had been misinformed on these points.

At last, on October 31, after more than six months of imprisonment, the fourteen accused were arraigned before the Regional Court of Nador which reviewed the accusations and committed the prisoners for trial before the Criminal Court of the same town on the charges of (1) rebellion and disorder, (2) attacks on public security, (3) constitution of an association of criminals, (4) constitution of an illegal association and (5) attacks on religious faith.

Public Attitude Becomes Favorable

Contrary to the expectations of the enemies of the Faith, the reaction of the general public at the initial hearing, having at first been indifferent, became steadily more favorable to the accused and more and more indignant at the nature of the trial.

Early in October it had been reported to the Hands residing in the Holy Land that the mulláhs were inciting the ignorant against the Faith and that pressure was being brought to bear on local lawyers not to defend the Bahá’ís. The non-Bahá’í parents of the accused

[Page 3] were also being used to try to persuade them to renounce their faith.

In view of these developments and the lack of response from official circles in Morocco, the Hands cabled certain national spiritual assemblies to contact Moroccan representatives in their countries and also contact was established with the ambassadors of certain countries in Morocco, requesting the aid of their good offices on an unofficial level. The aid of other influential bodies was also obtained, particularly that of the International League for the Rights of Man whose chairman, Roger Baldwin, wrote to the Minister of Justice in Morocco.

On December 10 the trial in the Criminal Court of Nador opened, the accused being defended by four of the most able lawyers in Morocco who were advised by two Bahá’í lawyers. It quickly became apparent that no attempt was being made to prove the five charges of the indictment, rather were the accused being charged by the presiding judge with not conforming to the practices of Islám, to which the accused explained that, as they were Bahá’ís, these practices did not concern them.

“So you believe that this Religion follows Islám?”

“Yes.”

“Then it abrogates Islám.”

“It rather renews Islám.”

“How does it renew Islám whilst it has changed prayers, fasting, pilgrimage, etc.?”

“It renews Islám in the same way as Islám renewed the Christian Religion.”

The trial was thus seen to be a direct attack on the Bahá’í Faith and its followers as such and involved the far-reaching question of whether a Muslim may change his faith or not. In a specific instance of a Muslim becoming converted to Judaism, the Minister for Islamic Affairs, Allal El Fassi, had publicly declared that he had nothing to say against it. For this reason, and because he had instigated the prosecution of the Bahá’ís, the defending counsel requested that Allal El Fassi be called as a witness. This the court refused.

Finally, on the grounds that the prisoners were being interrogated on matters that had nothing to do with the five counts of the indictment, the defending lawyers refused to plead any further and withdrew from the court.

A Shocking Announcement

The verdict of the trial and the sentences imposed were:

Sentenced to death:

Muḥammad Muḥammad ‘Alí Al-Kabdání, 23 years of age, unmarried, schoolteacher.

Muḥammad Ba-Arafa Ma’anan, 29, unmarried, inspector of police.

Fu’ád Muḥammad Javád At-Tahhan, 38, married, three children, school director.

Imprisoned for life:

‘Abdu’l-Azíz ‘Abdu’lláh Al-Waryashí, 22, married, no children, school bursar.

Muḥammad Al-Jabbání Al-Ḥassan, 24, married, one son, teacher.

‘Abdu’s-Salam Al-Haj Salim As-Sabti, 31, married, instructor.

Muḥammad Muḥammad Sa’íd Al-Baggalí, 20, unmarried, tailor.

Muḥammad Aḥmad As-Sabti, 32, married, one child, cashier.

Imprisoned for 15 years:

‘Abdu’s-Salam Milwad Ash-Shukrí, 28, married, one child, state official.

The announcement of these sentences came as a thunderclap. The response from the press of the world was immediate and indignant. By a curious irony of fate the new Moroccan Constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion had only recently been overwhelmingly accepted by a national referendum, and on December 7, three days before the trial opened, Morocco had voted in favor of a United Nations Resolution for a draft convention on the elimination of all forms of religious intolerance.

In view of these events and the reputation of Morocco for religious tolerance, the widespread reaction was one of stupefaction at this resurrection of a medieval inquisition in the twentieth century. One Moroccan newspaper wrote on December 17: “It can be seen that there is no question in this affair of any accusation other than that of having embraced a new Faith. A right which Allal El Fassi has recognized in his time in connection with a Muslim converted to Judaism.

“ ‘The purposes of God are inscrutable,’ the severity of this verdict and its intransigence are, on the contrary, very clear. The attachment of Morocco to the Charter of the United Nations, to the Declaration of Human Rights, which has been many times proclaimed; the recent vote of our representative at U.N.O. supporting a proposal recommending the elimination of all discrimination and of all racial and religious intolerance; the fundamental principles of our Constitution are all diametrically opposed to such a trial and such a verdict.

“There is no doubt that the Nador affair will provoke profound repercussions here and abroad and that it will disappoint all those who thought that liberalism and tolerance were one of the brightest gems of Morocco.”

This was followed by a long, most excellent article describing the Bahá’í Faith. In response, Allal El Fassi wrote two articles attacking the Faith and threatening to institute legal proceedings against the writer of the above articles. The reply of the paper’s editor to this threat was to open a column headed “Tribune” inviting his readers to submit any articles they wished on the Bahá’í Faith. A subsequent edition of this paper carried articles favorable to the Faith occupying almost a whole page, including a feature in which Allal El Fassi’s description of the Faith was set side by side with the description from Larousse Encyclopedia.

Widespread Efforts at Redress

Immediately upon receipt of the news of the verdict an office was set up in a New York hotel where ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had once stayed, where the work of obtaining redress for these innocent Bahá’ís could be organized. Since then a group of believers has been working there day and night.

All efforts to obtain an unbiased hearing based on constitutional law having failed, and pending the outcome

[Page 4] The “Most Great Prison”—‘Akká. The two windows at upper right are those of Bahá’u’lláh’s cell.

Bahá’u’lláh’s cell in the prison at ‘Akká, where He spent so many months.

come of the appeal, the Hands authorized national spiritual assemblies throughout the world to obtain widespread publicity in the press. Approaches to various governments were authorized, including a telegram from the British National Assembly to Queen Elizabeth II. The Bahá’í International Community wrote to U Thant, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and other dignitaries, and, quite independently, the British U.N. Association cabled U Thant requesting his intervention. The United States National Assembly made strong representations to high government officials on behalf of the United States Bahá’ís.

As the session of the General Assembly of the United Nations was to close on the evening of December 21 telegrams were sent to thirty-five delegations appealing for help under the Genocide Convention, which is part of International Law.

The next day, causing widespread consternation, a report appeared in the Observer of London that the death sentences were to be carried out the following Wednesday, Christmas Day. Immediately most national spiritual assemblies were asked to cable U Thant. Fortunately this report turned out to be in error.

Since that date the stream of comment in the press of the world has swelled far beyond anything that was produced by the Persian persecutions of 1955, and assistance has been forthcoming from influential people in many lands, including the International Commission of Jurists which is considering sending an observer to the appeal trial at the end of January.

On January 1 all national and local spiritual assemblies were asked to cable the Sultan of Morocco appealing for justice, an action that should leave no doubt in the minds of the authorities of the world-wide spread of the Faith.

Then, on January 2 it was announced over Monaco Radio that Allal El Fassi and two other cabinet ministers of Morocco had had to resign. This cabinet crisis had a number of causes, of which a prominent one was the furore which had been aroused by the Nador trial.

That is how the situation stands at the moment, pending the hearing of the appeal at the end of January or early in February. News has just arrived that it was again possible for the Bahá’ís, on December 24, to visit the prisoners, who are showing exemplary fortitude under great stress. Indeed one of them, Fu’ád Tahhan, the Syrian pioneer, bewailed the fact that his sentence had been appealed against, for this, if successful, would deprive him of the bounty of martyrdom.

As we stated in our last News Letter, such attacks on the Faith are only to be expected following great victories in teaching, and, as we can already witness, the fruits of the attacks are still further victories which excel anything we could have achieved without them.

From the beginning of this affair the sole aim of the Cause has been to obtain justice and liberty for the persecuted Bahá’ís. At no time have we wished to bring the Kingdom of Morocco into disrepute, but the intransigence and unwisdom of the enemies of the Faith in that country have themselves aroused the attention and censure of the whole world, and have forced the Bahá’í community step by step to the point where our only recourse was to appeal to the highest international authorities and to the good will of the masses of mankind. Thus the enemies of the Faith find themselves now bereft of their power and facing the fact that they have blazoned the name of the Faith not only to the entire population of Morocco but from end to end of the world.

—INTERNATIONAL BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL

World Center of the Faith
January 19, 1963

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‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum Visits Luxembourg

Luxembourg experienced the great blessing of a visit from ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, who was in the country for a conference called by the European Hands, December 7-9. she was accompanied by international Council member Miss Jessie Revell.

Also attending the conference were three Hands for Europe: Mr. Balyuzi, Dr. Giachery, Dr. Mühlschlegel; Hand for the Western Hemisphere Dr. Grossmann, fourteen European Auxiliary Board members and fifty members of the various national assemblies. Following reports to the Hands, the conference consultation centered on ways and means to complete the goals set by the beloved Guardian in order to help bring his Crusade to a victorious conclusion.

Saturday evening in the conference room of the Hotel Kons, Rúḥíyyih Khánum addressed the Bahá’ís in general — not only those from Luxembourg but from other countries as well, who had heard that she would be present and hurriedly gathered.

Speaking in English, the distinguished visitor began by saying: “I am thinking how happy Shoghi Effendi must be, because, after all, your being here, and the work you have achieved, is really Shoghi Effendi’s victory! He took over the prosecution of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan after the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in spite of his own sorrow, his own broken heart and his own sense of inadequacy, which, I assure you, was in the early days much stronger than the Bahá’ís realize. But he forged ahead, and he gave us the Bahá’í world. He gave us the present fifty-six national assemblies; he gave us the thousands and thousands of centers, the mass conversion that we now have. All are the gift of Shoghi Effendi! If he had not emphasized ... that this phase must be characterized by mass conversion, we would not have had the results that we have today, and we would not be facing this Most Great Jubilee in just a few months with such joy and such infinite gratitude in our hearts.”

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On Sunday, in the Buffet de la Gare, about 165 believers and their guests gathered for dinner with Rúḥíyyih Khánum. In the main she addressed the guests, in order to show them in an amusing and masterly fashion how to overcome the difficulties of accepting the Bahá’í Faith. The talk was translated into German, with many asides and remarks in perfect German by the speaker herself.

Special Request from Hands Recalled The Hands of the Cause in Haifa feel that it is unsuitable to take photographs of people when they are in the court immediately surrounding the monument at the grave of the beloved Guardian. This applies both to people who are in the photographer’s party and to people who are not. All believers who visit the grave are consequently asked to refrain from this practice.

Later, consultative sessions continued far into the night. Then, the visiting believers regretfully left the great spiritual magnet to return to their homes with renewed dedication and confidence.

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Luxembourg had the added privilege of ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and Miss Revell at the Feast of Questions, for which the friends of the four communities gathered in the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. After the devotional period, Rúḥíyyih Khánum again addressed the friends. Her words were translated into Persian, with many fluent interpolations by the speaker herself in the same language, to the intense delight of the Iranian pioneers. She greatly encouraged and moved the friends, who, as always, were overwhelmed by the example of her sacrifices to the Cause of God, and her matchless services to the beloved Guardian.

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Truly Luxembourg must have been shaken to its foundations by the concentration of spiritual energy which was generated throughout the week end.

Holy Relics Repositioned in Wall of Sydney Temple

In a simple but solemn ceremony at the Australian House of Worship, Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone placed the holy relics in the foundation wall of the building on December 1. The ceremony, attended by the members of the National Spiritual Assembly and other believers, included prayers and readings from the Holy Writings.

The relics had originally been placed in the center of the Temple auditorium floor, and were moved at the suggestion of the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land.

U.S. Covenant-Breakers Removed by Hands

On January 29 the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land expelled Reginald (Rex) King, his wife Myrtle, and his sons Ted and Eugene, based on Mr. King’s own evidence that he and his family are supporting the false claims of Mason Remey. All correspondence and association by Bahá’ís with any member of this family is now forbidden.

Covenant-Breaker in Chile Is Expelled

At the request of the Hands residing in the Holy Land, the Hands of the Western Hemisphere have announced the defection of Fabien Guillon of Santiago, Chile, and her expulsion as a Covenant-breaker. All association with her is forbidden.

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Hand of Cause Spurs Mass Conversion in Central and East Africa

Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga visited the Central and East African region from the end of May to mid-October. During his stay in the area he traveled continuously; first, in Uganda, then in Kenya and Tanganyika, then back to Uganda, and finally to the Congo. His meetings with the friends, wherever he went, were a source of stimulation and consolidation; and his teaching work brought outstanding results.

UGANDA Mr. Olinga’s visit here was divided into two periods: fifteen days in June, and three weeks in August-September. The first period was spent in the Districts of Teso and Lango; the second, in Bukedi, Bugisu and Busoga. Before his traveling began it was agreed by the teaching committees that Mr. Olinga should speak to both Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís, making every effort possible to teach and confirm new believers.

Throughout the entire five weeks, spot announcements were made periodically on the radio in the appropriate vernacular languages, to publicize the meetings. Twenty thousand handbills, including Mr. Olinga’s photograph, a brief story of his life, the timetable of his meetings in each district and an invitation to attend, were given out wherever he was to speak. In all districts, the county, sub-county and village chiefs were informed and formally invited to attend meetings. The county chiefs were invited by special letters personally delivered by a representative of the Uganda Teaching Committee. In each area where one of the meetings was to be held, two traveling teachers were sent a week in advance to make necessary preparations; and to remain in the area for about a fortnight after his visit, to do follow-up work. In each district local believers accompanied Mr. Olinga on his travels, and in many places he stayed in the homes of the friends. Throughout the tour one or another representative of the Uganda Teaching Committee traveled with Mr. Olinga.

While in the country Mr. Olinga attended the Uganda Independence celebrations. He was officially invited to the Independence Tattoo, the Independence Ceremony and the Governor’s Garden Party. He was interviewed three times on Radio Uganda, and the newspaper carried a long article about him and his tour.

A total of thirty meetings took place, attended by more than 6,600 people and resulting in over 500 declarations!

The report from the Uganda Teaching Committee speaks enthusiastically of Mr. Olinga’s visit as follows: “His teaching methods have been a real lesson to us all. His relatively short talks attracted the interest of the audiences; and his long, detailed and truly inspiring answers to specific questions touched on almost every aspect of the Faith. He is a truly inspired question-answerer! His willingness to stay with the friends during the night hours, talking, answering questions, watching the entertainments which they put on for his benefit, singing, sharing their meals, all had a wonderful effect. The friends have a great love and respect for him, and they are proud that he is the first Hand of the Cause of Africa.”

KENYA Mr. Olinga’s visit to Kenya was made in two periods of a week each. His talks in Tiriki, Nandi

Gathering at the dedication of the Bahá’í Center of Nairobi, Kenya, on August 1, 1962. Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga is seated at left center.

[Page 7] LEFT: A piece of plaster from the fortress of Máh-Kú is presented to the Center by Mrs. ‘Alá’í. MIDDLE: The speakers who participated in the dedication ceremonies. RIGHT: On behalf of the Regional Assembly of Central and East Africa, the treasurer presents a Persian rug.

and Nyangore, Nyanza Province, were received with tremendous enthusiasm, resulting in 150 declarations and the completion of three new Bahá’í Centers in that area.

He then proceeded to Kisii. Special teachers were sent the week previously to spread the news of his coming, having first obtained written permission from the local District Commissioner. On their way they met with some followers of a political party who demanded that the Bahá’ís join their party. When they were told that Bahá’ís do not involve themselves in politics, they became very angry and took away the District Commissioner’s letter of credential. When informed of this, the District Commissioner sought out the politicians and angrily reprimanded them, demanding that his letter be returned to the Bahá’ís. When Mr. Olinga and his party arrived they learned that the Bahá’í meeting place was only a few yards from where the political party was holding a mass rally two hours later. When the Bahá’í meeting began, it attracted large numbers of the people who had come for the political rally. After a short talk and question period, Mr. Olinga attempted to close the Bahá’í meeting, not wanting it to conflict with local events; but he was prevented from doing this by the politicians, who were now deeply interested in the Faith. Eventually the rally got under way two hours late, the tribal leaders having waited patiently until the Bahá’í meeting finished. This particular meeting resulted in about 450 declarations.

Talks in Nairobi, Mombasa and Wundanyi completed the first part of the Hand’s visit in Kenya. After a visit to Tanganyika, he returned to Nairobi on August 1 to dedicate the newly completed Bahá’í Center there. This project ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum had initiated by turning the first sod, a year earlier. The second part of Mr. Olinga’s visit to Kenya included large, enthusiastic meetings in the new Bahá’í Center in Kabras, a spot which he designated as the spiritual heart of Kenya.

TANGANYIKA Here Mr. Olinga, whose tour had been announced on the radio and in the local newspapers, addressed gatherings at Usambara Estate, where about 1,400 people heard him; at Dar-es-Salaam, where two meetings were held; at Kivukoni College and at Mnazi Mmoja attended by over 150 people. His presence and his message were deeply appreciated by all who heard him.

CONGO The report of Enoch Olinga’s visit to the Congo, during the month of September, is full of accounts of happy gatherings of the friends, of songs of praise of Bahá’u’lláh, of tales of adventure and sacrifice of the believers, and of coming together in prayer for the unity of mankind. The tour began with three days at Miki, where Mr. Olinga and his party arrived at 4:00 a.m., and were greeted lovingly by more than a thousand Bahá’ís, who had waited up for their arrival. Then on to Mikiaina, Kangure and Lulingi.

The Lulingi community was opened by three ladies who immigrated from Kabwali. The villagers paid no attention to them at first, because they were females. One of them returned to their home for help; but received none. She did bring back, however, half of a Swahili prayer. She and her friends then began to pray day and night to Bahá’u’lláh, seeking for His aid to form a Bahá’í community. One morning a young man came to them and said he wanted to know about their religion so that he could teach it in the village. There are now over sixty-five Bahá’ís in Lulingi, who, when they heard of the visit of the Hand, arose and prepared a road to enable his car to get to their village, which is five miles from the main road.

Lulenge, Balaka, Usumbura, Kiriba and Lubalika were also the places of enthusiastic gatherings with Enoch Olinga. At Kaboke, the center of the Faith in the Congo, the largest gathering known as the Kaboke-Kabumbe Conference was held, September 17-21. Bahá’ís traveled long distances to attend this meeting and some came from the new country of Burundi.

About 8,800 Bahá’ís and 1,500 non-Bahá’ís heard Mr. Olinga during his tour of the Congo. The meetings were held in ten different locations; and the largest attendance was at the conference in Kaboke, with 3,850 Bahá’ís and 463 guests.

There are now 196 local assemblies in the Districts of Mwenga, Fizi, Uvira and Bushi in the Congo; and a total of at least 20,410 believers.

* * *

The Bahá’ís of Central and East Africa, by their loving and enthusiastic reception of Enoch Olinga, have shown their deep appreciation of the enormous service he has rendered them and the unceasing effort he has made — to the point of exhaustion — on their behalf. “Wherever he went the blessings of God were brought to the people of those regions,” and the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh was advanced.

[Page 8] Teaching conference held in Kyongju, Korea, December 29 and 30, 1962, which resulted in the enrollment of nineteen adults and one youth, and the immediate establishment of a local spiritual assembly.

Progress of the Faith Surges Forward in Korea

Kyongju and Pusan in the southeastern Taegu area of Korea and the southwestern islands near Mokpo have been the scenes of amazing teaching successes in recent months.

Kyongju, the ancient capital of Korea, near which are located most of the historic tourist sites, was the first city to be converted to Buddhism and has been the seat of Korea’s highest cultural achievements. Its ancient population once estimated at one million today numbers 70,000. This city, first opened to the Faith by William Maxwell, Jr., and Lee Yoon-Sup, was chosen as the location for a teaching conference the end of December 1962 which resulted in the enrollment of nineteen adults and one youth in one day, December 30.

The initial event leading to these results was a contact made with a city employee in July. Weekly firesides were begun in September, culminating in the plans for the conference and these twenty new believers. The conference itself was dramatically opened by the city’s mayor who presented a “Kamsajang” (certificate of appreciation) to William Maxwell, expressing gratitude for bringing the Bahá’í Faith to Kyongju, which is a de facto recognition of the independent character of the Faith.

Although planned primarily for the Bahá’ís and contacts of Kyongju, the conference was attended by fourteen believers from Pusan who were able to meet the necessary expenses by bringing their own rice for their meals and cooking it themselves. Also present were three believers from Seoul: William Smits, John McHenry III and Song Tae Am; and Kim Chang-Zin from Suwon.

One of the most inspiring highlights of the conference was a brilliant speech by a middle-aged lady with minimal education on the station of the Báb, the significance of the events of His life and His relationship, not only to Bahá’u’lláh but also to the preceding Manifestations of God. The concluding event was a unity luncheon of forty Bahá’ís and five of the senior policemen of the city.

The impressive enrollment ceremony arranged for the twenty new believers was conducted by Kim Chang-Zin and the secretary of the national teaching committee, Suh Byong-In. Following their enrollment the first local spiritual assembly was elected.

William Maxwell, Jr., who reported this conference and the following developments, wrote that these achievements in Kyongju were actually the result of the teaching efforts of the first Bahá’í contact, Yang Jae Kyong, chief tourist officer of the city, and a former devout Christian. It was he who spread the message of the Faith to practically every inhabitant of the city through letters and circulars, and who made all the necessary arrangements for the firesides and the conference. Many of the new believers are important civic and cultural leaders.

When the American pioneers to Pusan, Mr. and Mrs. Dale Enger, left that city in August to teach in Taipei, Taiwan, there were twenty believers but by the end of December the number had increased to fifty-four with fifteen more preparing for enrollment.

One of the Pusan Bahá’ís who is now pioneering in his native village, explained at the Kyongju conference that since the lifting of the curfew the devotional services, the classes for inquirers, for enrollment and for deepening in the Faith, as well as preparation for pioneering often continue past the midnight hour. Four of the older believers add to these meetings by explaining

[Page 9] some of the deeper teachings from the Bahá’í writings not yet translated into Korean, and a score of posters have been devised to assist in visual presentation of certain subjects.

One of the chief undertakings of the local Spiritual Assembly of Pusan has been to sponsor three pioneers for teaching in their remote native provinces for periods of three or four weeks, to be followed by large conferences supported by delegations of believers from Pusan. Prior to sending the pioneers to these villages the assembly wrote letters to the residents inquiring whether they would like a conference and numerous affirmative answers were received before the pioneers set out on their assignments on New Year’s Day.

Several Pusan believers have also visited the islands on the southwest side of Korea where they found some of the believers unknowingly breaking Bahá’í laws. Following consultation, the local assembly wrote encouraging letters to each of the believers who now number about one hundred, reviewing for them the obligatory laws of Bahá’u’lláh and other vital teachings.

Over the week end preceding Christmas, William Smits and John McHenry III of Seoul together with one of the Pusan believers conducted a teaching conference on an island near Mokpo. The new Bahá’ís on two islands on their own initiative formed two local spiritual assemblies, bringing the number of island assemblies in Korea to three.

The new Bahá’ís of Kyongju with the two pioneers who opened the city: Lee Yoon-Sup, standing second from left, and William Maxwell at extreme right.

On the island of Husado there are ten believers and forty-one persons preparing for enrollment. The assembly chairman estimates that within a few weeks the entire island will be Bahá’í.

Kajido Island has fourteen believers, and Koahdo thirty-six. Mr. Smits who opened this area claims that this is only a beginning, that the islands are vying with each other in increasing their membership, and that as one travels from island to island, farther and farther from the mainland, one finds increasing receptivity to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

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Additional Goals Fulfilled in Australia

Through the enrollment of four new believers and the transfer of two home-front pioneers, it was possible to form the Spiritual Assembly of Warringah, the civil area within which the Mother Temple of the Antipodes is located. This achieved another Crusade goal, and the new assembly will aid greatly in realizing the tremendous teaching potential in the vicinity. Firesides, already held regularly at the caretaker’s cottage, are attracting great interest.

* * *

Three additional assemblies have incorporated, making a total of eleven in Australia. To this figure should be added three incorporations in New Zealand for an overall total of fourteen of the nineteen specified by the Guardian for Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Raymond Piper, Well-Known Friend of the Faith, Passes Away

The death of Dr. Raymond F. Piper on December 31, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, removed a real and highly valued friend of the Faith. Over the years he had spoken many times for the Bahá’ís in various parts of the United States, and in 1944 he was the guest speaker at the banquet held during the U.S. observance of the Centenary of the Declaration of the Báb.

Articles by Dr. Piper were published in World Order Magazine as well as in The Bahá’í World. Before his retirement a few years ago, he always included the Faith in his courses on comparative religion at Syracuse University.

Three youngsters of the Punan tribe, children of believers in Brunei, British Borneo. Although the Punan is a wandering and most primitive tribe, a number of its members have embraced the Faith.

[Page 10] LEFT: Mrs. Mayberry addresses a gathering in Belize, British Honduras. RIGHT: One of the store windows arranged with Bahá’í literature, publicly displayed for the first time in the country.

British Honduras Benefits from Visit of Board Member

For the week-long visit last November of Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Florence Mayberry of Mexico, the believers of Belize, British Honduras, rented a vacant store on a main business street. This provided a place for public meetings and for the friends to gather, and also an opportunity for the first public display of Bahá’í literature in the country. Included in the proclamation effort was a radio interview with Mrs. Mayberry.

Answering the Question, “What is New in the Baha’i Faith?”

During a Victorian State Conference (Australia) the topic of answering questions was considered, taking as an example of the typical question: What is new in the Bahá’í Faith? Isn’t it enough if one really follows the teachings of Christ?

This question was considered in terms of what should be said, and how it should be said.

The Explanation

Religion is basic to man’s nature, and is unchanging from century to century. It must operate in two worlds, however: the spiritual and the material.

The material world constantly changes, while the spiritual world changes only in the depth of understanding with which we regard it. Religious laws expressed in terms of the material world constantly change their guise, so that they achieve the same beneficial results as the demands of the material world change. Religious laws expressed in terms of the spiritual world never change.

Thus the Bahá’í religion is not a new religion but religion renewed, the faith of Christ for the modern age.

The Bahá’í should point to the similarities between religions and show how the differences arise from the needs of new social conditions and a greater capacity in man to respond to deeper levels of spiritual guidance.

The Faith is not different from Christianity; it is its fulfillment. The basic aim of religion is to teach one to love God and his fellowman; this aim is not lost but furthered when a different method of teaching is used in a more sophisticated and materialistic age than met the message of Christ.

How to Make the Explanation

The important thing is to find out what the person means when he asks the question. The Bahá’í can draw him out by asking him about his views on it, and what caused him to ask the question. He should be given a straightforward answer to his question and not fobbed off on to some other topic.

However, it should be remembered that most people ask a conventional kind of question because they feel shy or strange about asking the one their heart is seeking.

A simple sincere response, given in one’s own words, is better than too hasty use of books and pamphlets. The sincerity of the believer’s religious feeling strikes a responsive chord and impresses the contact with what the religion means to one in his own situation.

Everyone wants to be loved and to be happy. The Bahá’í should surround the contact with love and happiness, both in his own relationship with him, and by bringing him into the love and unity of the group.

The sun gradually warms the snow until it flows into the lifegiving waters of the river. Too sudden a heat can cause a flood and too meager a heat, only a trickle of water. The contact must not be pushed or held back but given an atmosphere of love and happiness in which he can do his growing for himself. In such an atmosphere he is helped to experience the spiritual awakening which is necessary to religious belief.

We should open our spiritual eyes so that we see God’s handiwork in everything and can convey our belief and happiness in His All-Encompassing Presence to the seeker.

(From Bahá’í Bulletin of Australia)

[Page 11] At right: Indian students from first indigenous school, together with friends, as they viewed the Panama Canal locks.

At right, below: Students at Panama’s first indigenous school. Included are nine Kuna Indians and ten Guaymi Indians with teachers Alan and Ruth Pringle and Donald Witzel (in background).

Two Baha’i Schools Conducted in the Republic of Panama

FIRST INDIGENOUS BAHÁ'Í SCHOOL

Held in Panama December 9-22, this first school for the indigenous believers of the country drew nine Kuna Indians from the San Blas Islands and ten Guaymi Indians from Chiriquí Province, representing widely scattered island and mountain villages, for two weeks of concentrated study, educational trips and social activities.

The sessions were officially opened on the morning of December 9 by Kenneth Frederics, chairman of the National Assembly, with most of the Assembly members present. A reception was held in the afternoon, attended by about eighty people. Supper was followed by the showing of color slides of previous Bahá’í activities.

Daily classes, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., were given on spiritual qualities, administration, and health and hygiene, with participation by fifteen teachers from Panama City, Colón, Canal Zone, David and La Concepción. Also, there were workshops on the formation of local assemblies, election of officers and conduct of Nineteen Day Feasts. Many non-Bahá’í Kunas visited the school, including a Kuna chief. Four new Choco contacts also made a visit.

The USIS for Panama furnished films on health, Indian culture, agriculture, etc., used on three evenings. Students attended firesides in Panama City and the Canal Zone, and were invited to the homes of the friends for dinner. The Canal Zone community entertained the pupils with a barbecue and social at the Center. A tour of the Canal Zone Museum and locks was arranged, and a ride on the Canal Zone government launch from Pedro Miguel to Gamboa ended with a picnic at Summit Gardens.

All of the students attended the Human Rights Day celebration, which was held in the Canal Zone Center. This was a joint meeting of the communities of Panama City and the Canal Zone with Alfred Osborne as speaker and Adolphus Holder giving the translation. The communities of Colón and La Chorrera were also represented in the audience.

The school closed with graduation on December 22, when diplomas were presented to the pupils. One by one each rose to offer words of appreciation and of inspiring plans for going out to conquer for Bahá’u’lláh. The evening concluded with a “despedida.”

SECOND ANNUAL SUMMER SCHOOL

Santiago was the site of the second summer school of Panama, November 24-25. Eleven communities from many areas were represented, partaking of the fine spirit of comradeship as well as the more serious aspects of the courses. Present were six Guaymi Indians, five of whom are traveling teachers, and two Kuna Indians, one of whom is also a traveling teacher.

In addition to the regular sessions of the school, many stories of the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá were told by Frederick Berest and Annette Frederics. A public meeting on Saturday evening attracted several contacts, two of whom returned Sunday for the entire morning session.

[Page 12] LEFT: Segment of audience listens intently during one of the proclamation meetings in Foundation Hall of the Wilmette Temple. RIGHT: C. C. Cheng of the Chicago community reads a prayer; seated at left is the speaker, Winston Evans, and at right the chairman, Hugh Chance.

Public Proclamation Increases on the U.S. Home Front

During this Bahá’í year extensive proclamation programs have been carried out, as recommended by the National Assembly, in five areas of the country. As in Seattle, reported last month, each of the campaigns called for tremendous effort in planning and execution. Each was an effective means of telling the public about the Faith, utilizing radio, TV, newspaper advertising and publicity, invitations, posters, car cards and literature displays. All of the areas had large public meetings with well planned follow-up, which included additional public meetings, firesides, open meetings at Bahá’í Centers, picnics and so forth. Most followed the suggestion that members of minority groups be included in public programs.

In some cases several communities joined forces, making the project truly cooperative; not only providing greater public coverage, but also giving the believers the rewarding privilege of working together. New contacts were thus able to become acquainted with believers in their own communities, surrounding the city where the large meetings took place.

TEMPLE AREA Four public meetings were held in Foundation Hall of the House of Worship, with Winston Evans as speaker for the first three and H. Borrah Kavelin for the fourth. A number of nearby communities carried out special teaching plans during and after the month-long campaign. The printed programs and a display in the corridor listed the firesides within a considerable distance.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN Four public lectures were given on the campus of the University of Michigan by Winston Evans to audiences estimated at 60% non-Bahá’í. This was a cooperative effort involving several communities as well as the Bahá’ís on campus. Letters were sent to about 235 ministers, priests and rabbis, and to each of the religious organizations at the university. The latter also received a copy of the letter sent to their clergy, and an offer of Bahá’í speakers for their meetings. A large poster was placed in the busiest spot on campus, now being used to advertise weekly student meetings. Each of the six campus book stores accepted a dozen Bahá’í books on consignment, and there was a display of free literature in a main corridor of one of the large classroom buildings. In the Ann Arbor public library the newer Bahá’í books were displayed on a “Special Feature” shelf, and all were checked out within two days.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA The proclamation started with a large meeting commemorating ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the city in 1912. Robert Quigley was the speaker, and present were two ladies who had met

Guests examine a display in the corridor outside of Foundation Hall after a meeting in the proclamation series held at the House of Worship in Wilmette.

Panelists presented “The Promised One Is Come,” at a meeting in Fort Myers, Florida — one of many proclamation efforts sponsored on the local level.

[Page 13] ‘Abdu’l-Bahá — Mrs. Flora Clark and Mrs. Edith Camp. The community then continued its program with other meetings, and is now holding cooperative firesides.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA In spite of the worst storm in history a sizable audience attended the anniversary celebration of the Master’s visit, inaugurating the proclamation, at which Paul Pettit spoke. The gathering was well supported by the friends, some traveling 200 miles, and one group even chartered a bus. Four young Mormon ministers were most attentive and stayed to talk later with the speaker. Many of the guests lingered for over an hour to hear more about the Faith, and then a large group adjourned to a restaurant for coffee and continued discussion. Additional meetings have been held, including two on November 4 at which Amoz Gibson and Robert Quigley alternated as chairman and speaker.

* * *

In addition to the foregoing areas, many communities across the country, even across the Pacific to Honolulu and Kauai in Hawaii, have made extensive proclamation efforts. Some were carried out by a single assembly, while others involved the cooperation of several communities. The mass media and other publicity means, mentioned earlier, were used to the extent that was possible and practicable.

* * *

Now the emphasis is on follow-up — to capitalize on the great amount of publicity and the large number of contacts who have demonstrated continuing interest — and on concentrated teaching in order to vastly increase enrollments in the brief period remaining before the close of the World Crusade.

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Teaching Work Progresses in Hawaiian Islands

On November 24 in Honolulu a special meeting of representatives from all the islands was called by the National Assembly so that the secretary, Hugh Chance, could consult with them about teaching, follow-up and mass declaration. Hawaii has been designated as one of the areas where mass declaration could be expected — toward the goal of 10,000 new believers.

Some of the conclusions were: Coordinated teams of speakers will be sent to all fertile areas. All islands will share talent and Bahá’í-power. Special programs will be developed for specific groups, such as Filipinos, Hawaiians, etc. A history of the Faith in Hawaii will be prepared for a series of articles in the press or a magazine.

The meeting produced an electrifying stimulus, and resulted in a flurry of activity and a highly charged State Teaching Conference the following week.

* * *

In December two teachers visited three Filipino Camps on Hawaii Island, and met with much enthusiasm and interest. They also spoke at a fireside in Pepeekeo, where contacts gathered from many homes in the area. As a result of this teaching work, thirty-five Filipinos became definitely interested in the Faith.

* * *

The Honolulu community has been carrying out extraordinary public teaching during the year with splendid results, judging by the number of enrollments. The Honolulu Center is in constant use, and some large meetings have been held at McKinley Auditorium. Guest speakers in the past few months have included Miss Agnes Alexander, William Sears, Hugh Chance, Arthur Dahl and Robert Quigley. At one proclamation meeting forty written questions were submitted by the audience. The answers were given by a panel of Bahá’ís.

* * *

This encouraging note is taken from the Hawaiian Bulletin: “Our portion of this ‘year of the 10,000’ is set at 2600 ... if each of the believers in the state brought one person per month into the Faith, we would surpass this goal by 200 at the end of four months. Additional dedication and sacrifice of time on the part of the believers could easily bring in two per month per believer. By Riḍván, 14,175 newly re-awakened souls would have enlisted under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh.”

About a third of the community gathered on steps of the Honolulu Center during State Convention of Hawaii.

[Page 14] Celebration of the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh was held at the home of a believer in Lucerne, Switzerland. A turkey dinner was followed by an appropriate spiritual program. Also celebrated was the declaration of the newest Swiss Bahá’í, seated at the far end of the table.

Window display in Vevey, Switzerland. Well executed, it served to acquaint many people with aspects of the Faith to which they might never have been exposed otherwise.

International News Briefs

United Nations Day was celebrated in Luxembourg by a reception and buffet supper at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, followed by greetings and short talks explaining the special interest of Bahá’ís in this world effort for peace and social betterment. During a refreshment period, music and other entertainment created a warm atmosphere for informal discussion of the Faith with the guests.

Two press photographers took pictures, and stayed to enjoy the event. Articles and reports about the occasion were given space in the local papers.

〇

Late in November the Bahá’ís of Neah Bay, Washington, with the assistance of an extension teaching committee, were hosts at a proclamation dinner on the Makah Indian Reservation. Following dinner, prepared by the Makah and Bahá’í women, Indian believer Eugene King spoke to nearly one hundred adults and children about the Faith. His talk, embodying one of the Makah legends, was both direct and challenging.

The next day a fireside which involved use of a blackboard heightened interest and helped to offset opposition from a church element. A week later Sebastian LaChester, aged 76, enrolled, saying that he had “prayed every morning and evening since 1908 to be shown the right path.” 1908 was the year the Indian church of which he was a member broke up, and he had never doubted that eventually the right way would come.

〇

This year the Bahá’ís were invited for the first time to participate in an annual Friendship Tea sponsored by a number of religious groups in Peoria, Illinois. Scheduled for January 27 at a high school, the theme of the gathering was “Love Thy Neighbor.” One of the local believers was a member of the planning committee, and in connection with the occasion the Faith was prominently mentioned in newspaper publicity as well as in radio and TV ‎anouncements announcements‎.

[Page 15] LEFT: On an inundated and bumpy highway, the secretary of the National Assembly and members of the National Teaching Committee of the Dominican Republic drove six hours in order to assist in the election of an assembly in Cabrera. RIGHT: Bahá’ís and their friends gathered to celebrate the formation of the new administrative unit. Pioneer Fello Peña, whose devoted efforts resulted in twenty-eight enrollments in six weeks as well as the new local assembly, is fourth from left.

BAHA'I IN THE NEWS

On December 29, in connection with the naming of a public elementary school in her honor, the Call and Post, Cleveland, Ohio, featured the life story of Mrs. Mary B. Martin, who became a believer in 1912. The article said that she was “the first Negro to serve on the Cleveland School Board,” “a fearless board member in behalf of all citizens,” “one of the earliest members of the Bahá’í Faith, a world-wide religious group” and, quoting from her obituary in 1939, “ ‘We honor her for her sincerity, her nobility of character, her living faith in God and her genuine love for humanity.’ ”

〇

On December 30 the widely circulated newspaper The Fresno (California) Bee published, as one of a series on various wedding customs, a feature article on the Bahá’í marriage of Margie Fortney and Paul Hanz. Accompanied by a large specially posed picture of the young couple reading the Bahá’í marriage certificate, the article covered the spiritual elements of a Bahá’í wedding in detail.

〇

An advance two-color folder announcing Chicago’s World Flower and Garden Show said, in describing its attractions, “Garden of Bahá’í — Bahá’í House of Worship re-creates one of its loveliest Temple gardens.” The U.S. National Assembly sponsored the display at the show, scheduled for an eight-day run from March 16 to 24.

〇

The Miami (Florida) News of January 13 devoted most of the space in its weekly “Florida Living” magazine not to sun-country material but to an exciting illustrated story of a Miami family who traveled to Alaska as Bahá’í pioneers. Eight of the magazine’s twelve pages — including the cover, and color as well as black-and-white pictures — were given over to the feature, which contained signed accounts written by the father of the family, Tom Baumgartner, and a son

First Spiritual Assembly of Cabrera, Dominican Republic, formed December 23, 1962. From the left: Teofilo Santos, José Concepción Peguero, Angel Suarez, Felix Joaquin Acosta Jr., Carlos Martinez Gonzalez, Rafael Rodriguez, Ramon Acosta Raposo, Eva Santos de Rodriguez, Juan Anibal Rodriguez.

— Mickey, aged sixteen. Topping it all off was a quarter-page box emphasizing the history and principles of the Faith.

〇

On December 22 the important Chicago Daily News ran one of its expert periodic write-ups on the Faith signed by religion writer Dave Meade. Under the four-column headline “Bahá’ís Back World Order” he harked back to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s 1912 visit to the city, then succinctly covered the principles and history of the Faith, ending with a reference to the London Jubilee which, he said, “will be the culmination of plans stemming from Bahá’u’lláh’s dream for world order.”

[Page 16] The January 17 edition of the Bradenton Morning Call (Florida) carried an interesting three-quarter-page feature story about the Faith based on an interview with Curtis D. Kelsey, member of the Auxiliary Board and chairman of the Manatee County Assembly. A large illustration of the Wilmette Temple dominated the page, and two smaller pictures were included — one of Mr. Kelsey holding Gleanings, which was identified in the caption.

〇

The first (January 1963) issue of a new magazine of modest proportions called Saturnia, “a review of current efforts toward peace,” devoted a page to “The Goal of the Bahá’í Faith: Unity of the Human Race.” The article consisted almost entirely of quoted excerpts from Shoghi Effendi. The magazine is published at Eugene, Oregon.

Baha’i Publishing Trust

The Bahá’í Community. A summary of its Organization and Laws. Compiled by the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. This revised work is considerably expanded from the previous edition. It contains material from Trustees of the Merciful (now out of print) and other similar compilations. It is the basic handbook of administration for assemblies, groups, committees and all members of the community. 64 pps., 6 x 9, two-color cover on ivory antique stock.

Per copy	$.50

(Unit price remains the same as previous edition. Please delete group price in catalog no longer applicable.)

Your Experience as a Bahá’í. A revised and newly designed edition of this inspirational piece which discusses the relation of the individual believer to the Bahá’í community. Sent to new enrollees by the National Assembly, it is useful to all believers to reaffirm the true Bahá’í spirit for vital functioning in the community.

Per copy	$.20

(Unit price remains the same as previous edition. Please delete group price in catalog no longer applicable.)

Bahá’í Pocket Calendar. May 1, 1963 to April 30, 1964. Indicates all Feast and Holy Days, sized to fit billfold. Photo illustration.

Per copy	$  .05
25 copies	$1.00
100 copies	$3.00

NOTE: Minimum mail order for one or several items combined, $3.00.

The Ohio State Convention, held at the Holiday Inn, Mansfield, was well advertised. The sign, put up by the management, was the largest for a long distance on a main east-west highway — visible for a quarter mile.

Calendar of Events

FEASTS

March 21 — Bahá (Splendor)

April 9 — Jalál (Glory)

DAYS OF FASTING

March 2 to 21

HOLY DAY

March 21 — Naw-Rúz (Bahá’í New Year)

U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS

March 29-31

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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, March 17

4:15 p.m.

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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 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.