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No. 399

BAHA’I YEAR 121

JUNE, 1964

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MESSAGE FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD

BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTER

Haifa, Israel

April, 1964

To the Bahá’ís of the World.

Dearly loved Friends,

The divinely propelled process, described in such awe-inspiring words by our beloved Guardian, which began six thousand years ago at the dawn of the Adamic cycle and which is destined to culminate in “the stage at which the light of God’s triumphant Faith shining in all its power and glory will have suffused and enveloped the entire planet,” is now entering its tenth and last part.

The Ten Year Crusade, so recently consummated in a blaze of victory and rejoicing, constituted the entire ninth part of this process. It saw the Cause of God leap forward in one mighty decade-long effort to the point at which the foundations of its Administrative Order were laid throughout the world, thus preparing the way for that awakening of the masses which must characterize the future progress of the Faith.

From the beginning of this Dispensation the most urgent summons of the Word of God, voiced successively by the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, has been to teach the Cause. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in His own words, “spent His days and nights in promoting the Cause and urging the peoples to service.” Shoghi Effendi, discharging the sacred mission laid upon him, raised the Administrative Order of the Faith, already enshrined within the Sacred Writings, and forged it into a teaching instrument to accomplish through a succession of plans,

Members of the Universal House of Justice in the Shrine Gardens on Mt. Carmel. From left: Charles Wolcott, Amoz Gibson, Hooshmand Fatheázam, Hugh Chance, H. Borrah Kavelin, Ian Semple, Lotfullah Hakim, David Hofman, ‘Alí Nakhjavání.

[Page 2] national, international, and global, the entire Divine Plan of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and he clearly foresaw in the “tremendously long” tenth part of the process already referred to, a series of plans to be launched by the Universal House of Justice, extending over “successive epochs of both the Formative and Golden Ages of the Faith.”

The first of these plans is now before us. Opening at Riḍván 1964, while the memories of the glorious Jubilee of 1963 still surge within our hearts, it must, during its nine year course, witness a huge expansion of the Cause of God and universal participation by all believers in the life of that Cause.

Tasks at the World Center

At the World Center of the Faith the tasks of the Plan include:

Publication of a synopsis and codification of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book;

Formulation of the Constitution of the Universal House of Justice;

Development of the Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, in consultation with the body of the Hands of the Cause, with a view to the extension into the future of its appointed functions of protection and propagation;

Continued collation and classification of the Bahá’í Sacred Scriptures as well as of the writings of Shoghi Effendi;

Continued efforts directed towards the emancipation of the Faith from the fetters of religious orthodoxy and its recognition as an independent religion;

The preparation of a plan for the befitting development and beautification of the entire area of Bahá’í property surrounding the Holy Shrines;

Extension of the existing gardens on Mount Carmel;

Development of the relationship between the Bahá’í Community and the United Nations;

The holding of Oceanic and Inter-Continental Conferences;

The co-ordination of worldwide plans to commemorate, in 1967/68, the centenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s Proclamation to the kings and rulers which centered round His revelation of the Súriy-i-Mulúk in Adrianople.

Tasks for the World Community

In the world community the Plan involves:

The opening of seventy virgin territories and the resettlement of twenty-four;

The raising of the number of National Spiritual Assemblies, the pillars sustaining the Universal House of Justice, to one hundred and eight, nine times the number which embarked on the first historic World Crusade in 1953;

Increasing the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies to over thirteen thousand seven hundred, scattered throughout the territories and islands of the world, at least one thousand seven hundred of them to be incorporated;

The raising of the number of localities where Bahá’ís reside to over fifty-four thousand;

The building of two more Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, one in Asia and one in Latin America;

The acquisition of:

Thirty-two Teaching Institutes,

Fifty-two national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds,

Fifty-four national Endowments, and

Sites for sixty-two future Temples;

Wide extension of recognition by civil authorities of the Bahá’í Holy Days and Bahá’í Marriage Certificates;

The translation of literature into one hundred and thirty-three more languages, and its enrichment in major languages into which translations have already been made;

The establishment of four new Bahá’í Publishing Trusts, and

A vast increase in the financial resources of the Faith.

The Role of the Individual

The healthy development of the Cause requires that this great expansion be accompanied by the dedicated effort of every believer in teaching, in living the Bahá’í life, in contributing to the Fund, and particularly in the persistent effort to understand more and more the significance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation. In the words of our beloved Guardian, “One thing and only one thing will unfailingly and alone secure the undoubted triumph of this sacred Cause, namely, the extent to which our own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.”

Twin Objectives of the Nine Year Plan

Expansion and universal participation are the twin objectives of this initial phase of the second epoch of the Divine Plan, and all the goals assigned to the sixty-nine National Communities are contributory to them. The process of cooperation between National Spiritual Assemblies, already initiated by the beloved Guardian, will, during the course of this Plan, apply to over two hundred specific projects and will further strengthen this process which may well assume great importance in future stages of the Formative Age.

Once more, dear friends, we enter the battle but with an incomparably greater array than that which embarked upon the World Crusade in 1953. To that small force of twelve national communities, now veteran campaigners, have been added fifty-seven new legions, each under the generalship of a National Spiritual Assembly, each destined to become a veteran of this and future campaigns. That Crusade began with slightly more than six hundred Local Spiritual Assemblies, the greater part of which were situated in Persia, North America and Europe; the home fronts now comprise nearly four thousand six hundred Local Spiritual Assemblies scattered throughout the continents and islands of the world. We begin this Plan with a tremendous momentum, exemplified by the addition,

[Page 3] since last Riḍván, of over four thousand new centers and thirteen National Spiritual Assemblies, and by the beginning, in several countries, of that entry by troops into the Cause of God prophesied by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and so eagerly anticipated by Him.

The Standard Bearers of this Nine Year Plan are those same divinely appointed, tried and victorious souls who bore the standard of the World Crusade, the Hands of the Cause of God, whose advice and consultation have been invaluable in the working out of this Nine Year Plan. Supported by their “deputies, assistants and advisers,” the members of the Auxiliary Boards, they will inspire and protect the army of God, lead through every breach to the limit of available resources and sustain those communities struggling over intractable or stony ground, so that by 1973 the celebrations befitting the centenary of the Revelation of the Most Holy Book may be undertaken by a victorious, firmly established, organically united world community, dedicated to the service of God and the final triumph of His Cause.

Therefore let each of the sixty-nine communities seize its tasks, at once consider how best to accomplish them within the allotted span, raise its band of pioneers, consecrate itself to unremitting labor and set out on its mission. Now is the golden opportunity. For whatever convulsions the waywardness of a godless and materialistic age may yet precipitate in the world, however grievous may be the effects of the rolling up of the present order on the plans and efforts of the Community of the Most Great Name, we must seize the opportunities of the hour and go forward confident that all things are within His mighty grasp and that, if we but play our part, total and unconditional victory will inevitably be ours.

—THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

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CONVENTION GREETINGS FROM UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

April 23, 1964

(On) occasion (of) Riḍván festival extend (our) loving greetings (to) Hands, Delegates (and) friends present (at) historic conventions launching first enterprise (of the) second epoch (in the) unfoldment (of) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan. Hail formation (of) thirteen additional National Spiritual Assemblies testifying (to the) resistless development (of the) World Order (of) Bahá’u’lláh. Convey (to) all friends (the) joyful news (of the) dedication (of the) Mother Temple (of) Europe July 4. Assure (all) (of our) ardent prayers (for) victories (and) bountiful favors (during) course (of the) plan now launched.

CABLEGRAM FROM 1964 U.S. CONVENTION TO THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

April 23, 1964

Eagerly awaited Nine-Year Plan attests (to the) immeasurable bounties released through (the) establishment (of) The Universal House of Justice. Offer prayers of profound thanksgiving. Enthusiastically anticipate executing thrilling tasks which will increase momentum engendered by Ten Year Crusade and Most Great Jubilee. Resolve increase (our) sacrifices one thousand fold in cooperation (with) emerging Bahá’í World Community. Humbly supplicate prayers (at) most sacred threshold that we may lay before our Beloved (the) fruits (of the) fulfillment (of) His plan.

REPLY FROM UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO 1964 U.S. NATIONAL CONVENTION

April 25, 1964

Hearts warmed (and) overjoyed (at) Convention’s enthusiastic unqualified acceptance (of the) tasks (of the) nine year plan (and the) continuing role (of) friends (in the) cradle (of the) administrative order as chief prosecutors (of the) Divine Plan (of) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Assure (all) (of our) prayers (and) supplications (at) holy shrines (that) distinguished American Community be given strength, resources (and) guidance (to) achieve victory (on) all fronts.

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Hand of Cause Leroy Ioas Visits ‎Throughtout Throughout‎ U.S.

Thousands of Bahá’ís from dozens of communities in at least ten states, many of them traveling hundreds of miles, had the great bounty of spending several hours with Hand of the Cause Leroy C. Ioas and his wife, Sylvia, during a cross-country series of week-end conferences arranged by the National Spiritual Assembly for Mr. and Mrs. Ioas from mid-January to mid-April.

Beginning in Sarasota, Florida, where Mr. Ioas was resting at the time, they began an itinerary of week-end conferences hosted in order by the Spiritual Assemblies of Miami and Tampa, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana; Austin, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Phoenix, Arizona, and Riverside, Los Angeles and San Francisco, California.

While in each city the program consisted primarily of three talks by Mr. Ioas for Bahá’ís only, some of the communities also arranged informal teas and dinners and similar social events for families and contacts. Also, where his health permitted, Mr. Ioas attended firesides and met with small groups of Bahá’ís for more intimate discussion of the Faith.

At all eleven conferences Mr. Ioas’ talks were designed to bring the friends a greater understanding of the oneness of the Faith, the love and spiritual power of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the beloved Guardian, and a deeper knowledge of the unique position and responsibility of the Universal House of Justice as the supreme and divinely guided institution of the Faith. As a result of the inspiration given to all those who were privileged to hear him, there has been released a dynamic spirit of devotion and dedication already expressing itself in greatly accelerated teaching service in several areas which he visited.

For many believers this was the first time they had ever had an opportunity to meet and hear a Hand of the Cause and they, as well as all the others, were deeply moved by Mr. Ioas’ accounts of his intimate association

Leroy Ioas, Hand of the Cause, meeting with members of the Austin, Texas Spiritual Assembly. Austin was one of the cities where conferences were scheduled.

Hand of the Cause Leroy Ioas with some of those attending meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

with the Master and the beloved Guardian, and his description of the Holy Shrines and their surrounding gardens in whose development, under the direction of Shoghi Effendi, Mr. Ioas had spent much time.

Space does not permit making more than brief reference to reports and letters of appreciation from the host and visiting communities, but the following excerpts are indicative of the enthusiasm, love and gratitude inspired by the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Ioas.

“The coming of Mr. and Mrs. Ioas provided the greatest spiritual experience this section of the South has known in many years.... This community was blessed beyond measure by these wonderful souls being here.” This was from New Orleans, Louisiana. The Jackson, Mississippi Assembly hired a bus to take the believers to this meeting.

“It was a privilege to have Mr. Ioas in Phoenix for all too short a time. We know his words have touched the hearts of many and will be lasting inspiration for years to come. It was a true bounty for us.” Thus reports the Assembly of Phoenix, Arizona. While in that city Mr. Ioas conducted the funeral service for Mr. Larry Gimlin, member of the American Indian Service Committee who had passed away unexpectedly. A living “oneness of mankind” was portrayed in the dignified service since the Bahá’ís present represented a sprinkling of various races, as did the pall bearers.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the United States is very grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Ioas for the great inspiration and encouragement they have given so many communities and individual Bahá’ís during this trip.

Mass Conversion Continues in India

The spirit of Bahá’u’lláh has penetrated five hundred villages in the area of Gwalior, India and twenty thousand people have entered the Faith since January 1961. Plans are being formed to purchase a beautiful fifty acre piece of land near Gwalior to establish a teaching institute. Men and women from every village will be invited to study Bahá’í history, the teachings, laws, administration and to learn prayers and Bahá’í songs by memory. They will elect a trial assembly, practice consultation, make decisions and learn how to give a Bahá’í talk. After graduation they will return to their

[Page 5] homes to teach others and to travel by foot, bicycle and ox cart to virgin villages.

Institute Aids Mass Teaching

For many months a Teaching Institute has been operating at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, which is the heart of one of India’s early mass teaching areas. Selected villagers eat, sleep and attend classes in the small red brick building. Both students and teachers freely give their time to the classes which last seven hours a day for one week and when the week is over the villagers return from twenty to a hundred miles to deepen their neighbors in the Cause of God.

Tribal Villages Scenes of Stirring Events

Kwetyapani, a two hour drive from Indore by asphalt and bullock cart roads, is a tribal village. Six years ago this village was inhabited by two hundred illiterate and undisciplined “bow and arrow” Indians. Today Kwetyapani is a model Bahá’í village composed of twenty-one mud and rock houses which encircle the Bahá’í school. In this school students are instructed in the reading and writing of Hindi, arithmetic and Bahá’í history and principles. No child is too young to know the prayers by heart or to answer questions about the “Dawnbreakers” of the Faith.

The late Dorothy Baker, Hand of the Cause, talked with the villagers of Harshodhan, outside of Ujjain, in 1953, the opening year of the World Crusade, thus planting the seeds. When Hand of the Cause Dr. Muhájir came to Harshodhan five years later he realized that most of the villagers were already believers. Subsequently Harshodhan became one of India’s foundation stones in mass conversions. This village is one of hundreds which have been transformed by the spirit of Bahá’u’lláh. While the figure mounts each week, no less than 120,000 Indian villagers — living in the forests, mountains and prairies — have declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh since January 1961.

Comparatively Few Teachers Work Constantly for Cause

Searching out the virgin villages and deepening the Bahá’í villages demands every free moment of the travelling pioneers. Mrs. Shirin Bowman, one of the pioneers, remarked: “The Bahá’ís who are able to go to the villages are very few. If we had more, Bahá’u’lláh would conquer this land in an instant.

Very few Bahá’ís are carrying the words of Bahá’u’lláh into the villages yet the Message travelled like wildfire across the hot sands of Madhya and Uttar Pradesh, the jungles of Mysore, the mountains of Nilgiris and the coastal villages of Madras.

In Bomur Aghara the 78 year old headman said: “I thank God each day that I have found Bahá’u’lláh. At last I can die in peace.”

In Madhakapura, a tiny, impoverished village in central India, a man answered a Bahá’í from America: “My greatest discovery? It is to know that you and I can love each other. Bahá’u’lláh looks at us with the same expression.”

In Immdihelli, where every village official is a Bahá’í, the headman smiled: “Bahá’u’lláh built a circle around us. This Faith brought unity of purpose to our place.”

In Malli Keri every man, woman and child listened to the visitors for more than two hours. After the meeting, one half of the villagers immediately declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh. An elder embraced the Bahá’í guests saying: “Your visit has been like God coming to us.”

And so the work goes on — bringing the Faith to a people starved for it.

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“Be ... an answerer of the cry of the needy”

Last October Sgt. Marshall N. White, Negro member of the Ogden, Utah, police force was gunned down in an attempt to apprehend an escapee from a state institution. Three days later he died leaving besides his widow, three children and his mother without funds to face the future.

Learning of the straitened circumstances of this family and stirred by her strong feeling that a community owed a moral obligation to the loved ones of those who sacrifice their lives in their dedication to the service of their community, Mrs. Clair D. Schneider of the Ogden Bahá’í community, almost single-handed and without much initial encouragement from any except the Bahá’ís launched the Marshall N. White Memorial Fund which brought in several thousand dollars from many individuals, organizations and firms throughout Utah to be presented to Mrs. White at Christmas time.

While a number of individuals in positions of prominence applauded Mrs. Schneider’s efforts, only a few were able to arouse any appreciable cooperation largely because of the general deep-seated prejudice against Negroes in the state.

On the close of the campaign Mrs. Schneider issued a public statement of thanks and appreciation to those, including Governor George D. Clyde, who gave support to her efforts, at the same time pointing out that everyone needed to be genuinely concerned about settling so cheaply this account of one who “had great faith and pride in his community and performed his job of dedication beyond the call of duty.”

Commenting on the degree of the community’s responsiveness, Mrs. Schneider asked how much is the life of a public officer worth, and what effect the meagerness of this gift would have upon the morale of the other men now on the police force who are expected to make the community safe for our children.

On invitation of the city’s Mayor, Mrs. Schneider appeared before the city council where she was commended for her activities and services. The Mayor’s letter of invitation to Mrs. Schneider stated: “Our community has been given greater dignity and stature because of the interest you took in the Marshall N. White family.” One member of the council commented: “It is appropriate that this recognition is given during Brotherhood Week.”

In reporting the matter to BAHÁ’Í NEWS Mrs. Schneider mentioned that during the drive no mention was made of race — that it was kept completely on the police level.

The Editorial Committee of the BAHÁ’Í NEWS takes pleasure in reporting this service as another example of how Bahá’ís may demonstrate through service the spirit of the Faith and particularly its fundamental principle of the oneness of mankind.

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Teaching Continues in Guatemala

Teaching efforts continue in Guatemala with holding of Summer schools. Clockwise from upper left: Huehuetenango, January 24-25, Sacapulas, January; Chichicastenango, November 16-17; Coban, March 26-28. School was also held in Quezoltenango and public meetings have been held throughout the country. Auxiliary Board member Artemus Lamb (seated in upper left picture) has been extremely active in bringing the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to the ‎Guatamalan Guatemalan‎ people.

Information Regarding Dedication of Mother Temple of Europe

The dedication of the Mother Temple of Europe, Langenhain, Germany, will take place Saturday, July 4, but the actual hour has not yet been announced.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Germany asks that all Bahá’ís planning to attend make their own hotel reservations through local travel agencies and to inform the NSA of their plans to attend either or both the dedication and the European Teaching Conference on July 5 and 6. The cost of hotel rooms varies from DM 8 to DM 25, roughly from $2.50 to $6.50 per day.

The hall of the Gesellschafthaus im Zoo, Frankfurt, will be open from 9:00 a.m., July 4, where the friends can receive further information. Each one attending must produce current Bahá’í credentials.

Beginning at 8:30 a.m., on July 4 bus service will be available from the Zoo to Langenhain for the dedication. The accompanying map will help those who wish to plan their own transportation.

[Page 7] Part of the Bahá’í community on the island of Grenada, Windward Islands, British West Indies, gathering in St. Georges to celebrate Naw-Rúz, with the resident pioneer, Winston Evans. Windward Islands was a virgin goal of the Ten Year Crusade, selected by the late Hand of the Cause, Dorothy Baker, as a base for Latin American teaching and it was her destination at the time of her passing on January 10, 1954, while returning from a teaching trip to India at the request of Shoghi Effendi. Shortly after the air crash that took her life near the island of Elba, Frank Baker, Dorothy’s husband, and her mother, Mrs. Luella Beecher, proceeded to fill this pioneering post as originally planned, later joined by Mr. and Mrs. Don Corbin for a four-year period. The Windward Islands are part of three island groups to form a National Spiritual Assembly in the Nine Year Plan, and Grenada has already achieved its assigned goal of two Local Spiritual Assemblies, established this Riḍván.

Alaskan Bahá’ís Marshall Forces for Nine Year Plan Following Disastrous Earthquake

The Bahá’ís of Alaska have expressed gratitude for the prayers and concern of the friends everywhere, and for the letters, phone calls and wires that reached them following the great earthquake in March. All of the friends survived with no serious injuries, even though many were badly shaken up. A check was made of all affected areas as soon as communications were resumed, verifying the well-being of the friends.

A number of Bahá’ís in Anchorage became displaced because it was impossible to return to homes due to the destruction and danger of landslides. Most have now been able to locate in other places, at least for the present.

The Hazírá, which is located near a part of the seriously damaged section, was greatly weakened and lost the large chimney to the main section of the building, but it is still standing. The caretakers quarters were not noticeably affected, so work can be carried on there.

Several Bahá’ís in Anchorage and the isolated Bahá’í in Seward were in positions enabling them to be of service both in the Civil Defense and health and sanitation work. One of the friends with the State Sanitation Department in Fairbanks (which was not affected by the quake) has been working in Anchorage constantly. The manager of the radio station in Cordova, a Bahá’í, reported on conditions almost around-the-clock the first few days.

Altogether, this was a harrowing time for everyone concerned. Nevertheless, the Bahá’ís of Alaska have received the new Nine Year Plan and are enthusiastically planning for their part in it.

Winter school held February 23 at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Borum, Norway. Meeting was highlighted by the declaration of a pharmacy student.

[Page 8] Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Nairobi, Kenya. The building is on an acre lot covered with beautiful flowers and green shrubs.

150 Attend Prayer Powwow

Five inches of rain failed to dampen the spirits of the Bahá’ís and their friends who met for the third time at Lake Eucha(oo-chee) near Jay, Oklahoma April 4 and 5.

Sponsored by the Bahá’í Assembly of Rogers, Arkansas, the Prayer Powwow convened on Saturday afternoon beneath threatening skies. Before the opening of the gathering, cars carrying the friends, both Indian and Bahá’í began to arrive from Wisconsin, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, some having driven nearly 800 miles. The guest book gave evidence of visitors from many areas of the four states, including 108 Indians among the 150 in attendance.

Following the opening prayer by Chairman Gerald Abas, prayers were offered in Persian and in Finnish. Greetings were read from the Universal House of Justice, from the Hands in the Holy Land who offered prayers on the very days of the Powwow “that the dear Indian friends will indeed be illumined with the light of the Faith so that they may become pure channels for this light to reach many new souls.” Hand of the Cause Zikru’lláh Khádem sent a wire expressing his deep regret at being unable to make what would have been his third visit to the Oklahoma Indians.

Loving messages were also read from the National Spiritual Assembly, from the American Indian Service Committee and from the American National Teaching Committee, as well as from several Bahá’í Groups and individuals.

United States Senator J. Howard Edmondson sent his best wishes, “for an inspiring and enriching conference,” and Oklahoma’s Governor Henry Bellmon sent “best wishes for a meaningful gathering.”

Mrs. Beth McKenty spoke of the Message sent to all peoples in this Day.

Music, both instrumental and vocal, added to the joyous spirit.

The acme of the Powwow was reached when a Cherokee couple signed registration cards. This was followed by another declaration.

Bahá’ís at the Bahá’í Center of Tainan, Taiwan during the visit by Hand of the Cause Dr. Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir, fifth from left, top row. Pioneer S. A. Suleimani is seated at the left and Mrs. Suleimani is seated on the couch, second from the right.

[Page 9] The Bahá’ís of Phnom Penh, Cambodia together with Mr. and Mrs. Dempsey Morgan, resident pioneers there. At present there are over 300 believers in Cambodia located in four provinces. Most of the believers belong to the Khmer race.

Luxembourg National Bahá’í Summer School held at Mondorf-les-Bains August 31 - September 2, 1963.

Bahá’í Youth Hold Meeting

Three youth conferences were held recently in New York, New Mexico and Idaho drawing youth from three widely separated sections of the country.

Over forty youth and their friends from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Colorado attended a Youth Conference held in Gallup, New Mexico on March 27, 28 and 29. The theme of the Conference was “The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh” and included classes given by both adult teachers and youth. Arrangements were made for the youth to drive out to Bread Springs, New Mexico, an Indian Day School, on Saturday and on Sunday morning a group from the Conference drove to Pine Springs, Arizona to hold classes with the Indian believers there, who do not have much opportunity to meet with other Bahá’ís.

A conference was held March 27-29 in Boise, Idaho and was attended by youth from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. The theme of the Conference was “Man’s True Destiny.”

The Local Spiritual Assembly of Hamburg, New York assisted their youth in holding a conference April 3-5. Young people came from Ohio; Ontario, Canada and New York including people of several nationalities and races. The theme of the conference was “The Bahá’í Youth Perspective of the Modern World.”

News Briefs

The Minnesota State Commission Against Discrimination (MSCAD) will request the 1965 State Legislature to change present laws dealing with public and private housing and employment of minority groups. Walter Warfield, MSCAD field representative, outlined the proposed legislation during a Human Relations Conference which was sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Duluth on Saturday, February 15. Warfield spoke at a dinner which followed four afternoon workshops dealing with “The Causes of Prejudice and Its Control,” “Race Relations,” “Human Relations Within the Community,” and “Human Relations in the Field of Employment.” Group leaders were Dr. Edward Flaccus, co-chairman of the Duluth Round Table; Dean Elias, member of the board of the Duluth Citizens Committee on Human Rights; David Morris of the Minneapolis Bahá’í Community, and Kenneth Jeffers of the Rochester Bahá’í Community.

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The Program Preview for the week April 12-18, 1964 sent out by the Theodor Herzl Institute in New York City listed Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh as speaker on the Bahá’í Faith, the second in a series entitled “Religions in Israel.”

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Station KOTA-TV of Rapid City, South Dakota devoted the entire Black Hills Almanac Show to an interview on the Bahá’í Faith. Two local Bahá’ís, one of whom was a Negro sergeant from Ellsworth Air Force Base, were the guests. Mrs. Ruth Moffett had appeared as a guest on the same show when she was in Rapid City last October.

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A weekly 45 minute radio program called “Focus,” heard on station WLAC in Nashville, Tennessee, featured

A Bahá’í gathering at Ulu Pedas rubber plantation sponsored by the believers of Seremban, Malaya on February 9, 1964.

[Page 10] The Spiritual Assembly of Beverly Hills, California held a public meeting at which it presented awards to two landlords for their courage in renting to Negros despite militant opposition. 175 Bahá’ís and guests attended the meeting. In the picture Mr. and Mrs. Irving Bobo (left) watch as Richard Maimes (right) presents awards to (left to right) Mr. and Mrs. Hugo Berman and L. Schwartz on behalf of the Bahá’í Community.

Bahá’ís on three occasions. Judy Otey appeared in two brief interviews and on March 18 Robert Hayden, associate professor of literature at Fisk University, was allowed the entire 45 minutes to talk about the Faith.

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The Bahá’í Club of Jackson State College in Jackson, Mississippi recently conducted the Vespers Services in the Dansby Hall Auditorium. Readings were from Gleanings followed by a talk explaining the mission of Bahá’u’lláh. On the back of the printed program the times of the meetings of the Bahá’í Club were listed along with a cordial invitation to all those interested to attend.

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The Bahá’í Intercollegiate Club of Western New York held its second symposium on Sunday, December 8 from

Spiritual Assembly of Enfield, Australia, recently incorporated. Left to right, front: Matthew Appleton, Mrs. J. Moreira, Mrs. D. Appleton, Mrs. Phyliss Cameron, Eric Lewis. Back: Mrs. F. Lewis, Mrs. M. Chittle Borough, J. Chittle Borough, K. Moreira.

Gathering for youth fireside at Malibu, California. Pageant program first put on for World Religion Day has been found so effective it is repeated throughout Southern California.

10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at University College in Syracuse, New York. The program consisted of three Bahá’í speakers, a morning “coffee klatch” and lunch. The event was publicized by posters and by newspaper announcements. Twenty-one people attended including two new contacts.

BAHA'I IN THE NEWS

The March-April issue of Liberty, a Seventh Day Adventist magazine had an article about the Bahá’ís who were imprisoned in Morocco. The article stated that the Bahá’ís had been imprisoned on charges of winning converts from Islam. In addition, it stated, the group had been accused of participation in a political plot to overthrow the government. The Bahá’ís were released because, according to the statement of the Supreme Court, there was no law in Morocco specifically banning proselyting therefore the group could not be tried legally. The other charges were dismissed. The

Members of the first Bahá’í Community of Negritos, New Cabalaan, Zambales, Philippines. Rose Mangapis and Juanita Stuart are standing behind the group.

[Page 11] Bahá’í group of Nome, Alaska. Three members are native Alaskans of Eskimo origin. From the left: Bernard Blumenstein, Rita Blumenstein, Jeanette Brisbois, Robert Summers, Willie Wiloya.

article concluded by mentioning that the Moroccan constitution guarantees religious freedom and that the country had signed the United Nations statement which branded religious intolerance as a violation of the U.N. Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

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The Wichita Beacon, a Wichita, Kansas newspaper ran a Lenten series entitled “What My Religion Means to Me,” in which articles were written by representative area laymen. On March 4 the article was written by Erwin Schawacker, member of the Local Spiritual Assembly. He stated that the Bahá’í Faith offers him an inspiring and demanding purpose in life as well as the divine wisdom and love of Bahá’u’lláh. In the remainder of the article he presented the basic teachings of the Faith.

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Another newspaper which ran a Lenten series was The Detroit Free Press of Detroit, Michigan. This series was entitled, “I Walked Where Jesus Walked” and consisted of descriptions of places in the Holy Land frequented by Jesus. On March 4 the article was about Mount Carmel and was written by Ervin Leroy Thomas, a local Bahá’í. The foreword to the article mentioned that it was questionable whether Jesus ever saw Mt. Carmel but that Elijah, Jesus and Moses stood together on another mountain (Mount Tabor) closer to Nazareth during the transfiguration of Jesus. It then introduces Thomas as a member of the Bahá’ís, erroneously defined as “a Persian oriented eclectic group which meets regularly on the Wayne State University Campus.” In the article Thomas describes the strong emotions which he experienced when he first gazed upon Mt. Carmel. He then quotes the verse from Isaiah which states that Carmel shall see the glory of the Lord and demonstrates how Bahá’u’lláh fulfilled this prophecy. The article concludes with several quotations from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.

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The November 30, 1963 edition of the Detroit Courier had an article about a Bahá’í, Mrs. Louella McKay, entitled “Personality of the Week.” The article states that Mrs. McKay has been a Bahá’í for twenty years and that she was a pioneer in Spanish Morocco for five and one half years.

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A book titled Historic Churches of the United States by Robert C. Broderick contains three full page photographs of the Bahá’í Temple in Wilmette as well as explanatory text. In addition, the Temple is pictured on the outside jacket.

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The January 1964 issue of Catholic Digest contained a three and a half page article about the Bahá’í Faith. The article appeared as the answer to a letter to the editor which asked how the Bahá’í World Faith compares with the Catholic religion. The reply was generally

Students and teachers gathered for the official photograph of the First Guajiro Bahá’í School in Venezuela.

Some of the Guajiro students shown with visual aids used during the classes.

[Page 12] accurate and sympathetic although the author was attempting to demonstrate the superiority of the Catholic religion. He traced the origins and history of the Faith but was considerably inaccurate in describing the difficulties perpetrated by Ṣubḥ-i-Azal after the declaration of Bahá’u’lláh. In fact he seemed to emphasize the defections caused by both Ṣubḥ-i-Azal and Mirza Muḥammad ‘Alí, the half-brother of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He says of the Faith towards the end of the article, “Bahá’í is truly a serious faith, claiming millions of members and worthy to be associated with the more ancient and widespread religions of mankind, but it can hardly hope to supplant any of them. Its doctrine rates high in intelligence and morality, and Christians claim that some of it was borrowed from them.”

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The Spiritual Assembly of Pago Pago applied on behalf of the entire Bahá’í Community in American Samoa for exemption from school for Bahá’í children on the nine Holy Days. The Director of Education granted the exemption.

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The December issue of the Village Defender, an Amityville, New York Negro monthly newspaper, contained a poignant story about the Faith called “A West African Story.” It is the story of a young African Bahá’í who embraced the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh and who was so filled with love and enthusiasm that he travelled by bicycle to the neighboring villages to bring the message to the people.

Baha’i Publishing Trust

Up-to-date Fact Brochure Available

Bahá’í World Faith: Summary of its History, Teachings and Administrative Order. This 1964 edition of the fact sheet gives up-to-date, factual material on all aspects of the Faith. The cover shows three World Center photos and the four Bahá’í Temples. A footnote for news editors explains that photos may be obtained from local Bahá’í publicity representative or from national headquarters.

Copies of this brochure should be presented to newspaper editors and to radio and TV stations for their files of information of the Faith. A general mailing to various community leaders and organizations to keep them advised and informed would also be a good local undertaking. This edition has been folded to make it a self-mailer for added convenience.

Order brochures only from the Publishing Trust — photos are not available here.

10 copies	$1.00
50 copies	$4.50

Group attending the Waukesha Youth Conference, February 28. Thomas Schwandes holds slide as (left to right) Steve Yamamoto, Mrs. Ann Holmstrom, Maureen Bunyan and Larry Schwandes look on.

Calendar of Events

FEASTS

June 5 — Núr (Light)

June 24 — Rahmat (Mercy)

PROCLAMATION EVENT

June 14 — Race Amity Day

U.S. NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY MEETING

June 19, 20, 21

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Baha’i House of Worship

Visiting Hours

Daily

10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Entire building)

Service of Worship

Sundays

3:30 to 4:10 p.m.

Public Meeting

Sunday, June 21

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: 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.