Bahá’í News/Issue 398/Text
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| No. 398 | BAHA’I YEAR 121 | MAY, 1964 |
Looking out through one of the entrances of the Sydney Temple.
Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum Visits Baha’is of India[edit]
Reception for ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum at Palam Airport on February 4, 1964.
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Above, left and right: A visit to the temple site where prayers were offered. Left: ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum addresses Delhi community on February 6. Below: Meeting with the National Spiritual Assembly. |
Dedication of German Temple Set for July 4[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of Germany has announced that the dedication of the Bahá’í House of Worship at Langenhain/Taunus between Wiesbaden and Frankfurt has been set for July 4, 1964. This will be followed by a European Teaching Conference on July 5-6, 1964 in the Gesellschaftshaus im Zoo. In view of the fact that this is the last Bahá’í Temple which has been erected under the direction of the beloved guardian, Shoghi Effendi, who established it as a major goal of the Ten Year World Crusade, it is a highly significant event for the entire Bahá’í World. It is hoped that believers from many countries will be represented on this joyous occasion. The late Mrs. Amelia Collins was the representative of the Hands of the Faith in the Holy Land on November 20, 1960, when the cornerstone of this Mother Temple of Europe was dedicated.
In her address at that time, Mrs. Collins stated: “Both ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi repeatedly pointed out that these Bahá’í institutions are the great silent teachers of the Faith; they not only enhance its prestige in the eyes of the people of the world, but from them stream spiritual power and blessings upon believer and non-believer alike.”
Uncle Fred Murray Dies[edit]
Uncle Fred Murray, first Australian aborigine to accept the Bahá’í Faith, died on December 21. Sorrow at his passing must be mitigated by the knowledge that he had attained the apex of his desires when he spoke to the friends at the Bahá’í World Congress in London last year. Those who attended recall his inspired talk on his discovery of the Bahá’í faith and the miracle of his attendance at the conference. He was a symbol of the unifying power of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. In what other religion or in what other time could one of his race attend an international religious conference as an equal member, as a chosen speaker. The Bahá’í Faith gave much to Uncle Fred Murray and he shared it with all of us.
Baha’is Leave Kenitra Prison[edit]
ABOVE: Moroccan prisoners leaving the Kenitra Prison. LEFT: Prisoners gathering at the home of a Bahá’í following their release. Left to right, sitting: Fouad Tahhan, Kebdani Mohammed Ali, Bou Arafa Maanan. Standing: Mohammed Sebti, Abdessalam Sebti, El Amrani, Al Waryachi, Mohammed Maanan, Jabbari Hassan, Abdessalam Miloud.
First Aborigine Summer School Held in Malaya[edit]
Houses School Sessions Held in December
During November 1963 the Bahá’ís of Kampong
Chang built their own Bahá’í Center. The men contributed an hour a day to go into the jungle and cut
bamboo and ratan. The women plaited the atap for
the roof and made the walls. No outside financial help
was required.
From December 20 to 22 the first Bahá’í Summer School for Aborigine Bahá’ís was held in this new Bahá’í Center. The building, in the center of the village, is similar to all houses in the village, but is by far the largest. During the school sessions it held over eighty people.
[edit]
One of the successful activities of the summer school was the sharing of meals. It is not common for the Semai to eat together — a new tradition was established and a new sense of Bahá’í brotherhood was created.
It was not easy to cook for eighty people on the small wood fire (left) at one side of the house. Much credit must go to Mrs. Lilly Ng (shown lower left helping in kitchen), who not only helped plan the meals but was instrumental in getting the many women to work together — and more important gave each woman a sense of contributing to the success of the school.
Over Eighty Attend Three-Day Session[edit]
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Photos counter clockwise from upper left Large group of those attending Some of the many children A great number of women joined the sessions The school held interest for those of all ages Participation in group games was The village chief with other Bahá’ís |
Swiss Mountain Villagers Show Interest in Faith[edit]
Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel, Hand of the Cause from Germany, opened the first teaching conference to be held in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland on January 3-5 in Locarno, canton of Ticino. Forty Bahá’ís attended the seminars that included a special class on “village teaching.” Some twenty Bahá’ís in the Ticino have brought the Faith to forty different villages. In three years, one local assembly has been established (with the help of American pioneers) in Locarno, one group of seven and four isolated centers. Their goal is to win the first European village to the Faith. The conference also provided for time to attend a public meeting in Bellinzona, capital city of the canton.
Teams of Bahá’ís have been touring mountain villages with a station wagon and by foot, sleeping in chalets or under tents. They mark foot and cattle paths 8000 feet high in the mountains, restore sinuous roads after avalanches and assist villagers in putting up their hay. This demonstration of the principles of the Faith has caused the mountaineers to become friends of the Bahá’ís and to respect the Faith. They have attended informal slide shows where the teachings are openly proclaimed for the first time in a discreet and friendly way. The Ticinese Bahá’ís also have plans for a spice and flower growing project in a deserted mountain village.
Youth Camp Attracts 220 to Meeting[edit]
The little village of Bosco Gurin (photo) in the Ticino also witnessed considerable Bahá’í activity when twenty young people from eight countries gathered there for their winter school December 25 to January 3. Two hundred and twenty villagers turned out for the recreation evening that featured songs and a short play on a Bahá’í theme, including many from neighboring villages, some fifteen miles away. The mountaineers are beginning to show interest in a Faith that can bring together in harmony young people from East and West, of three religious backgrounds and varying nationalities, speaking diverse languages. The local Swiss communal secretary, who lives 5000 feet up in the Alps, was the first to become a Bahá’í from the mountain villages.
Altogether this teaching plan initiated last Riḍván by the Swiss community has brought the Faith to over 100 small localities in the country.
More Schools Recognize Bahá’í Holy Days[edit]
The Board of Education of the School District of Clayton, Missouri on January 14, 1964 went on record as granting permission for children of members of the Bahá’í community of Clayton to observe the Bahá’í Holy Days on an excused absence basis. Similar action was taken about the same time by the Superintendent of schools of the San Juan Unified School District, California, when the North Sacramento Judicial District assembly was advised that excused absences would be allowed upon written permission by the children’s parents and on condition that any school work missed would be made up.
In response to a request from the Local Spiritual Assembly of Ann Arbor, Michigan for Bahá’í children to be excused from classes on Bahá’í Holy Days, the Superintendent of schools wrote: “It has been a long standing policy of the Board of Education to recognize the Holy Days of all religions represented in the public school system in reference to excusing pupils from schools.”
This brings to 89 the number of School Districts in 31 states and the District of Columbia where Bahá’í Holy Days are recognized by Boards of Education. Since many of the school districts and states cover a large number of schools it is impossible to estimate the actual number of schools which now grant Bahá’í children permission to observe their Holy Days without penalty other than making up their lost work.
Mayans of Yucatán Respond to Faith[edit]
The Peninsula of Yucatán contains the states of Yucatán and Campeche and the territory of Quintana Roo. It is bounded on the west and the north by the Gulf of Mexico and on the east by the Carribean Sea. The climate is tropical with jungles, swamp areas and vast stretches of flat country where hennequin is grown. It is the main center of the Mayan civilization in Mexico. To the south, in the state of Chiapas, magnificent Mayan ruins have also been found buried beneath the jungle growth and a small group of Mayas, known as the Lacondones, still live there in isolation carrying on their ancient traditions.
In 1962 a Bahá’í pamphlet in Maya was published, fulfilling a World Crusade goal of the beloved Guardian. In May of 1961 the following message had been received from the Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land: “It would indeed be wonderful if Yucatán, the scene of so much Mayan splendor in the past, and where many descendants of the noble and independent race still live, could receive the visits of Bahá’í teachers.”
Activity Begins in Merida[edit]
For more than two years the National Spiritual Assembly sought Bahá’í teachers and pioneers for Yucatán. Then in November 1963 Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Foster and Mrs. Edna Ford volunteered to go. The first contacts came from a group of Mayans attending the newly discovered ruins of Dzibichaltúm, some miles from Mérida capital of Yucatán. In December six of them became the first Mayan Bahá’ís of Yucatán. Further assistance arrived through the unexpected transfer of Dr. Alejandro Cervantes to Mérida for a year’s service in a hospital there, replacing Mr. and Mrs. Foster whose period of service in Yucatán had come to an end. The Mayan people have great spiritual capacity. They are an open-minded, intelligent and peaceable people.
At the present there are eighteen Bahá’í Centers, over 260 believers and ten or more communities ready to form their local spiritual assemblies during Riḍván. The present pioneers, Mrs. Edna Ford and Mrs. Esther de Krieger, are greatly encouraged by signs that large numbers, and perhaps whole villages, will shortly come into the Faith.
The largest community, in the sizable village of
Mayan Bahá’ís is the village of Muna, Yucatán, January 1964.
Class of December 15 in Muna, Yucatán at site since purchased for the first local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Mexico.
Muna, Yucatán, elected its Local Spiritual Assembly in April 1963. A large lot has recently been purchased as the site of the first local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Mexico. The Bahá’ís have already begun construction on the simple building under the auspices of their Local Spiritual Assembly.
An all-day Bahá’í School with an attendance of about sixty believers and contacts from four villages was held in Muna late in 1963. A second all-day school will take place this April with the participation of Auxiliary Board member Artemus Lamb from Guatemala. Believers from the eighteen centers will meet and study together.
The teaching work in the Peninsula has been greatly aided by the assistance of Auxiliary Board members Hooper Dunbar and Florence Mayberry. The work also received much needed help from the visit of Mrs. Louise Caswell of Guatemala and later from a prolonged visit of Mr. Albert Rakovsky who, at the invitation of the Hands of the Faith in the Western Hemisphere, came from Canada in his little car to lend much needed assistance to the pioneers. He was accompanied by Juvenal Guterrey who acted as interpreter. The teaching work in the Peninsula is carried on by bus trips and walking many miles in intense heat over rocky and dusty roads, sometimes late at night with only lanterns to light the way. The experiences of the pioneers and visiting teachers with herds of bulls on the lonely roads and sudden storms were many. During Mr. Rakovsky’s stay the schedule of steady visits to the villages to open new localities was enormously increased by the use of his car.
The National Spiritual Assembly is extremely grateful and proud of the development of pioneers among the Mexican Bahá’ís who have also gone to Yucatán. Mrs. Esther de Krieger volunteered in the fall of 1963 to leave her home in Mexico City to assist with the teaching work there. Rafael Quiroz from the Puebla spent three months in Yucatán in the summer of 1963. Doree Thomas, a returning pioneer from Sarawak, also visited Yucatán to assist the pioneers. These outward evidences of assistance are signs of that promise of Bahá’u’lláh: “God will assist all those who arise to serve Him.”
Now the Mayans of Yucatán are taking their place in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.
A BAHÁ’Í VIEWPOINT ON HUMAN RIGHTS[edit]
Shortly before the end of 1963, many of the governments of the world took official note of the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly. While it may be unfortunately true that not all of the governments concerned have gone so far as might be desired in the direction of putting the ideal into practice, still to the Bahá’ís of the world the subject of human rights and official support for the ideal of human rights are topics of deep significance. The fact that human rights became the object of so much publicity during the year 1963, a year which held such a special connotation for Bahá’ís, is also noteworthy.
To the world in general, the term “human rights” has a pleasant but vague sound. If pressed to define it, most people would probably find it difficult to state just what it meant to them, although they might eventually agree that it referred basically to such rights as life, liberty, and the ownership of property. In terms of modern problems, this might include rights to education, employment, housing, etc., as well as such older rights as freedom of religion and equal enforcement of the law. But essentially, however they may be analyzed or stated in detail, we can assume that “human rights” will add up to two of the most fundamental aspirations of the human spirit: justice and liberty.
Liberty Must Involve Restraint[edit]
Put in these terms, the idea of “human rights” is not particularly new in human history, even though what was celebrated last December was merely the fifteenth anniversary of an event connected with this idea. So long as civilized man has contemplated abstract ideas, philosophers have attempted to define the terms “justice” and “liberty.” Long ago, Plato gave a definition of justice which has never been excelled in its pointed brevity: “to each his own.” In modern times, there has been widespread acceptance of a definition of liberty which was postulated by John Stuart Mill, among others, and which holds basically that “liberty consists of the right to do anything which will not interfere with another’s similar liberty.” In other words, the only freedom which can be socially meaningful is an equal freedom for all, not the unbridled license of one. This in turn means that liberty in the highest sense of the word must involve restraint; but here we face a new problem — if we are to be free, it must be self-restraint. Perhaps the philosophers are demanding too much of ordinary human nature, and true liberty is, after all, unattainable.
God’s Laws — Source of Justice[edit]
At this point, we as Bahá’ís can begin to see the close connection between “human rights” as an ideal, and the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. On the one hand, when “human rights” are a topic of conversation, we can lead the discussion directly into the Bahá’í Teachings; but on the other hand, in order to do so, we must ourselves be aware that one of the great purposes of Bahá’u’lláh’s coming to this earth was to establish human rights: “justice” and “liberty” are actually cardinal points in His Teaching. If we doubt this, we have but to turn to His revealed Word:
O Son of Spirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee.... Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.1
Know verily that the essence of justice and the source thereof are both embodied in the ordinances prescribed by Him who is the Manifestation of the Self of God amongst men, if ye be of them that recognize this truth. He doth verily incarnate the highest, the infallible standard of justice unto all creation.2
Say: True liberty consisteth in man’s submission unto My commandments, little as ye know it. Were men to observe that which We have sent down unto them from the Heaven of Revelation, they would, of a certainty, attain unto perfect liberty.... Say: The liberty that profiteth you is to be found nowhere except in complete servitude unto God, the Eternal Truth.3
Man’s Freedom and Social Progress[edit]
The philosophers have shown us logically that true liberty must involve restraint; Bahá’u’lláh puts it even more strongly: “True liberty consists in submission” — but if that submission is to the Will of God alone, and if, as Bahá’u’lláh assures us, justice is the best-beloved of all things in His sight, then submission to the Will of God on the part of all must unerringly result in Justice for all.
Another pregnant statement of Bahá’u’lláh sheds additional light on this subject:
All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. The Almighty beareth Me witness: To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all the people and kindreds of the earth.4
If liberty consists in submission to the Will of God, and the Will of God is for the unfoldment of an ever-advancing civilization, then again, the freedom of the individual is bound up with the good of society — or we may say that in the development of society, the individual finds his highest opportunity for freedom.
Viewing this from the standpoint of the individual, respect for human rights, which, as Bahá’u’lláh has shown us, means respecting the rights of others, may be considered as one means of showing “submission to
[Page 9]
the Will of God,” which in turn is one of the motivating forces in “carrying forward an ever-advancing
civilization.”
In other words, the newly-publicized ideal of “human rights” is an integral part of Bahá’u’lláh’s great plan for the human race, little though a heedless world may understand it at this time. It is one more of those steps to be taken during the Lesser Peace which will unmistakably lead us to the Most Great Peace. How strange and mysterious are the ways of Bahá’u’lláh, that in that same year which we marked as the birth-year of the Universal House of Justice, the nations of the world, still in great part ignorant of the healing Message of Bahá’u’lláh, should nevertheless have publicly proclaimed and supported principles which cannot be separated from His Message! Surely this is yet another stage in the fulfillment of Bahá’u’lláh’s firm promise: “... these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the ‘Most Great Peace’ shall come.”5
- 1 BWF, p. 156.
- 2 BWF, p. 140.
- 3 BWF, p. 137.
- 4 BWF, p. 114.
- 5 Quoted by Edward G. Browne in Introduction to A Traveller’s Narrative, p. XL.
Dr David M. Earl has been pioneering in the Far East since 1952 and for the past few years has been chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of North East Asia. Presently living in Seoul, Korea, he is associated with the Far East division of the University of Maryland. Many Bahá’ís will recall his article entitled “The Bahá’í Faith and World Government” published in Common Cause in September, 1950 and reprinted with the permission of the University of Chicago Press in Bahá’í World, Vol. XII.
Bahá’ís Participate in Memorial Benefit Program[edit]
The Bahá’í concept of the oneness of mankind was proclaimed to well over 3500 people in Greenville, South Carolina, on Sunday, February 16, 1964. The program, sponsored by a non-Bahá’í attorney as a benefit for the families of Medgar Evers and the victims of the Birmingham church bombing, featured Charles Evers of the NAACP and Rev. Young of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference as speakers. Both of these civil rights leaders were from out of state. The participation of Greenville residents was limited to religious musical selections, except in the case of the Bahá’ís, who were the only local speakers in the program. This added greatly to the prominence and impact of the Bahá’í portion of the program.
A Bahá’í interracial speaking team, Mrs. Carolyn Fulmer and Charles Abercrombie, were the opening speakers. The image of hope and spiritual power they effectively presented set a high tone for the entire afternoon.
Bahá’í contributions also included remarks by Richard Benson, a Bahá’í attorney known by the community for his steadfast efforts to promote racial amity. The creativity and warmth of the Bahá’í spirit was communicated to the audience when William Pleasant, a Bahá’í from Savannah, Georgia, sang a Negro spiritual with Bahá’í lyrics of his own composition.
The reality of the Bahá’í ideal of the oneness of mankind inspired the audience when an interracial group of Bahá’ís joined Mr. Pleasant on the platform to sing.
The tense racial atmosphere of this deep southern city was evidenced both by bomb threats and a heavy police guard around the auditorium. Thus highlighted, the trust and love uniting the members of different races in the Bahá’í family movingly proclaimed the Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh that afternoon.
Among the many positive reactions expressed by non-Bahá’ís following the meeting were: the profound gratitude of the program’s sponsor of the Bahá’í contributions, new contacts who sought out the Bahá’ís and have begun attending firesides, and a multitude of reactions like the following comment overheard: “When I got home and thought about the Bahá’ís I got so full I couldn’t keep the tears back. And I wondered why all people couldn’t be like those people!”
Publishing Trust Issues New Catalog[edit]
One copy of the new Bahá’í literature catalog has been mailed to each local literature representative and assembly secretary on record at the time of mailing.
It is important that every individual in the community have his own personal copy of the literature catalog so that he may be thoroughly acquainted with the basic texts of the Faith as well as cognizant of the extensive list of pamphlet literature available for many different teaching needs. Anyone may secure a copy for ten cents ($.10) through his local literature representative (or librarian). Isolated Bahá’ís may write direct to the Trust for their copy.
Groups who have not established a literature service in their community are urged to appoint a local literature representative and to combine their community orders.
Since changes are frequently being effected in the literature list, the catalog should be kept updated from information appearing in BAHÁ’Í NEWS on new or discontinued titles.
More than forty youth from all parts of Italy attended
the three day conference in Florence that centered its
discussion around the unique teaching problems of this
country. A lively interest was shown at the Sunday
public meeting. The group untilized part of the last
day to become acquainted with the artistic beauties of
this historic renaissance city.
Garden Show Proclaims Faith to Public[edit]
For the second year, and again at the invitation of the Board of Directors of The Chicago World Flower and Garden Show, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States was able to have a striking Bahá’í exhibit, at practically no cost, among the feature gardens and exhibits covering more than 200,000 square feet in McCormick Place in Chicago, March 7-15, 1964.
This exhibit, titled “A Garden of Man and Faith,” was widely featured in all pre-exhibition publicity released throughout the central states by the public information department of the World Flower and Garden Show, often with a picture of the artist’s sketch. More than 356,000 visitors, including many from England, France, Japan, Germany and other foreign countries and from every state in the United States, attended the show and all must surely have seen the Bahá’í exhibit because of its prominent location.
A Bahá’í information booth located in another part of the building where the traffic was heavy distributed thousands of pieces of Bahá’í literature. Many visitors signed the guest book requesting information and talked to the Bahá’í attendants who were on hand from the opening to the closing of the show each day.
While last year’s exhibit featured one of the gardens at the Bahá’í House of Worship in front of a large model of the Temple itself, this year’s exhibit, covering an area of 20 by 26 feet, was a small reproduction of one of the eight-pointed star gardens which surround the Shrine of the Báb on Mt. Carmel, against a background mural photograph of the Shrine and the International Archives Building, flanked by tall Chinese juniper trees. The one chief variation was the installation of a small fountain in the center to provide movement and thus attract attention.
Using almost 1,200 plants, the star was outlined by gray santa linas and reddish-brown aults, filled in with dwarf lemon-drop marigolds. The blue-lined fountain in the center was set off by a double circle of white begonias and black pansies. The entire design was set within an expanse of green grass bordered by red and white azaleas and multi-colored pansies against dark green yews. Featured in each corner were globe yews and small geraniums grown from original slips from the Bahá’í World Center. The variety of flowers and colors was chosen especially to symbolize the unity of the human race.
The four major newspapers in the Chicago area included reference to the Bahá’í exhibit at least once before and once during the show. An interesting error appeared in one which carried a six-column wide, six-inch long picture of part of a very large exhibit having certain similarities to the Bahá’í garden but in much greater proportions. This picture was mistakenly credited to the Bahá’ís under the bold print caption, “Star Garden of Haifa Will Star Here, Too.” In smaller print there appeared an explanation of the symbolism of the Bahá’í exhibit and some details as to its composition.
The official guide book for the show included four references to the Bahá’í exhibit. The artist’s sketch used for advance publicity, prepared by Harlan Scheffler of Elmhurst, Illinois, bore the caption “A Garden of Man and Faith,” stating that this “unusual garden” is “a replica of the plantings on Mt. Carmel at Haifa, Israel” featuring the “Haifa geranium ... native to Mt. Carmel.” It also mentioned that each of the points of the eight-pointed star represents a major religious faith and the central quadrant plantings the major races of man.
Crediting the design to “Wyatt Cooper of the Bahá’í Temple in Wilmette,” the article explains that it emphasizes “the oneness of religion and the oneness of mankind.” On page 28 there appeared a picture of Mr. Cooper in one of the Temple gardens, and page 29 carried a 100-word sketch of Mr. Cooper as Superintendent of the Bahá’í Temple in Wilmette, “most interesting among professional gardeners though not a commercial producer” who “designed and built the ... Temple gardens which are today considered floral masterpieces.”
This year, as last, the Bahá’í exhibit won a blue ribbon president’s award.
Six times a day throughout the entire show the Chicago Horticultural Society offered a free half-hour lecture of colored slide show in the Garden Theatre located only a few feet from the Bahá’í exhibit. As representative of the New Trier (Winnetka, Illinois) Men’s Garden Club, Mr. Cooper on the Saturday noon-time program presented a narrated show of the gardens at the Bahá’í House of Worship, views of some of the spectacular gardens on Mt. Carmel and at the Mansion of Bahjí, as well as a few pictures of the Bahá’í Temples in Frankfurt, Kampala and Sydney, the latter two with their colorful landscaping.
The National Spiritual Assembly has received a warm letter of thanks from the managing director of the show for its participation in this sixth annual event and an invitation to participate again in March 1965.
Bahá’í exhibit at Chicago World Flower and Garden Show, March 7-15, 1964.
News Briefs[edit]
The Bahá’ís of Gallup, New Mexico celebrated the Intercalary Days with a children’s party on Saturday. The Bahá’í children of the community decorated one of the rooms of the Bahá’í Center with displays of the various kingdoms. On Sunday an art show of paintings, pottery, fabrics, baskets and carvings from Israel, Persia, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Hungary, Mexico and the United States was held.
The Jackson, Michigan Local Spiritual Assembly sponsored a program for a Bahá’í youth panel from the University of Illinois the week-end of March 14-15. The panel, consisting of Joan Andrews, Mary K. Osborn, Riaz Khadem and Byron Larson, was scheduled to address a Methodist youth group on Saturday but found that the meeting had been cancelled the night before. A “meet the Bahá’ís” party was quickly planned by the Assembly and some twenty Bahá’ís and thirty guests from surrounding communities gathered for an evening of music, dancing and refreshments after which the panel spoke on “What is a Bahá’í.”
The following morning the panel addressed about thirty young people on the same subject in the Haven Methodist Church and then accepted an invitation to the home of one of the contacts for several hours’ further discussion. Afterwards a meeting was held in the YMCA where the panel spoke on “The Spiritual Solution to the American Racial Problem.” This meeting was to have been sponsored by the youth group of the local NAACP, but they had to cancel the arrangements because of difficulties which had arisen. Again the Bahá’ís stepped in and carried the program forward. Some 100 persons, both youth and adults, attended one or more of the three programs. Two study classes were set up and further meetings planned.
The Bahá’ís of Verona, Virginia gave a Naw-Rúz party for believers from the surrounding area and their friends. Ten Bahá’ís, twenty non-Bahá’í adults and twelve non-Bahá’í children were present. A short talk was given followed by a reading from the Bahá’í Writings. Afterwards a buffet dinner was served followed by music and singing.
San Antonio and Austin, Texas joined in an inter-community observance of the Intercalary Days with a picnic held at Douglas MacArthur Park in San Antonio on February 29. Eighty people were present including children and representatives of many races and nationalities. Florence Mayberry, Auxiliary Board Member, gave a brief talk on the basic principles of the Bahá’í Faith.
The Local Assembly of Miami, Florida is making a special effort to reach the Spanish speaking population of that area. Since two local radio stations are Spanish the Assembly sends cards in that language to them weekly announcing Bahá’í activities. Eleven radio and three television stations are now receiving publicity regularly. One large station has a program called “Spiritual Inspirational Thoughts” which uses quotations from the Bahá’í Writings regularly. The Local Assembly has been recording twelve quotations at a time and has been asked to supply a second collection.
The Human Relations Committee of the Ann Arbor, Michigan Local Spiritual Assembly wrote a letter to the Ann Arbor Board of Education recommending that more Negro teachers be added to the faculty of the public schools, particularly in the elementary grades where the potential benefit would be the greatest. In addition, a copy of this letter was sent to seven local organizations interested in human rights for the purpose of enlisting their support of this recommendation.
A reference to the Bahá’í Faith was made on the January 14 broadcast of “Ask Dimension,” a program that is broadcast by the 221 stations of the CBS radio network. The program is five minutes long and it is narrated by Walter Cronkite. It consists of his answers to questions which are submitted by listeners. One of the requests on the January 14 program was, “Describe the Bahá’í World Faith, its origin and its precepts.”
The Springfield, New Jersey Assembly recently sponsored a series of nine public proclamation talks. The title of the series was “The Workable Solutions to the World’s Problems.” Some of the individual topics were: Can the Religions of the World Unite? How Can Racial Difference be the Cause of Love, Harmony and World Peace? Are We Experiencing the Negroes’ Second Emancipation? The Bahá’í Solution to the Growing Problem of Juvenile Delinquency. The talks were held in the home of two of the believers and attendance was excellent. In addition, there was good publicity for each talk in the two weekly Springfield newspapers.
The Bahá’ís of Greenville, South Carolina have had success with their church attendance program. An integrated group of Bahá’ís attend a regular church service together. This approach has been successful in getting contacts and in having the Bahá’ís invited to put on programs in the churches. This program has been used primarily with Negro congregations.
Honolulu, Hawaii celebrated the Intercalary Days with a five day program starting on Wednesday, February 28. Many of the friends spent that day performing individual acts of charity while others gathered at the Mid-Pacific Center and engaged in a bit of spring house cleaning. On Thursday night a party was given by the Youth Committee and attended by about ninety people. There was entertainment, dancing, singing and special refreshments that featured tiny birthday cakes for the thirty-five Bahá’ís who had declared themselves since December. Sue Pickering, Miss Hawaii, was one of the flower girls who presented a blossom to each woman present. About twelve people who were visiting the Center for the first time that night also attended the fireside held on the following evening. There were about a hundred people present then.
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On Saturday night pot luck dinners were held in Honolulu and in three of the outlying areas that will achieve
assembly status at Riḍván — Oahu, Ewa and Waianae.
Nearly one third of the 150 people who attended were
non-Bahá’ís. On Sunday morning the annual Intercalary Day picnic sponsored by the Child and Youth Education Committee was held at the zoo. Sunday evening
the Feast of ‘Alá was held, bringing to an end the Intercalary Days and ushering in the Fast.
On the week-end of February 15-16, the Pasadena Bahá’í Community sponsored a youth conference for Southern California at the spacious Calamigos Ranch located in Malibu Canyon. Over fifty Bahá’í youth and their friends gathered for a program of Bahá’í education and entertainment.
Lisa Janti introduced the Faith on Saturday afternoon stressing the oneness of mankind and presenting excerpts from the writings of past religions. After dinner the Bahá’ís and their friends sang folk songs together. Later on in the evening there was a dance with live music.
A post-breakfast devotional was held Sunday morning followed by a discussion of the Bahá’í view on love and marriage led by Hugh and Nancy Lineberger. The week-end was closed with recreational activities.
The San Francisco Bahá’í Community held a National Brotherhood Week Program on Sunday February 16 at the International Music Hall. Over 175 people attended, 100 of whom were non-Bahá’ís. There were two speakers: Dr. William L. Cobb, a non-Bahá’í, and Mr. Richard F. Groger who gave a brief Bahá’í talk. The International Choir sang several selections. After the meeting about 35 people had dinner together at a nearby restaurant.
The Child’s Way[edit]
The Child’s Way is published by an editorial committee appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly. A bi-monthly, eight-page magazine, it is a guide for parents and teachers, offering suggestions and materials. The opportunity for exchange of ideas and reports of activities is world wide, the service it renders applies to all Bahá’ís as they are all teachers. The responsibility for the education of children affects all whether there are presently children in the community or not. The Child’s Way prepares one for teaching and deepens one’s understanding of the Writings by investigating the endless bridges that lead to the inner truth through outer evidence.
This magazine is to be ordered through The Child’s Way, Box 245, Wilmette, Ill. 60091. Checks are to be made out to The Child’s Way. Cost of an annual subscription is $2.00 in continental U.S.A., Canada and Mexico. Overseas orders are $2.50. A set of six back issues is available for $1.00 overseas; 50c in continental U.S.A. Please order by Bahá’í year. Previous to Year 116 the sets are not complete but substitutes can be made. Single copies are 35c; previous to year 116 they are 10c.
Correction[edit]
On page 10 of the October 1963 issue of BAHÁ’Í NEWS the reference in a “Bahá’í in the News” item to the International Language Review contained an error. The International Language Review is not sponsored by any organization but is the de facto organ for the international language movement. Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Hardin of Denver are the editors.
Calendar of Events[edit]
- FEASTS
- May 17—‘Aẓamat (Grandeur)
- June 5—Núr (Light)
- HOLY DAYS
- May 23—Declaration of the Báb
- May 29—Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (3:30 a.m.)
Baha’i House of Worship[edit]
(as of May 15)
- Weekdays
- 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Entire building)
- 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
- Sundays and Holidays
- 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Entire Building)
- 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Auditorium only)
- Sundays
- 3:30 to 4:10 p.m.
- Sunday, May 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: James Cloonan, Managing Editor; Mrs. Lilian Cloonan, Assistant Editor; Mrs. Eunice Braun, International Editor; Miss Charlotte 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.
