Bahá’í News/Issue 409/Text
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| No. 409 | BAHA’I YEAR 122 | APRIL, 1965 |
A Visit to Persia[edit]
Continued
Birthplace of Bahá’u’lláh[edit]
April 2
Bahá’u’lláh’s House in Tihrán was built about a decade before His birth in what was then the fashionable northeastern section of the city. Invited to visit it, I was first cautioned to speak no English as we walked through the streets and to keep my camera concealed because of the many and dangerous enemies of the Cause in the area who, if they realized it were a place of pilgrimage venerated by Bahá’ís, would likely attack and demolish it as they have so recently done to the Báb’s house and others.
Leaving a broad street we made our way for three or four hundred yards through circuitous alleys where boys were playing ball, finally entering an ordinary-looking door which opened into a large courtyard. There we were greeted by the unpretentious
Bahá’u’lláh House in Ṭihrán, showing ventilator on roof and basement which kept the vaulted brick underground rooms cooler in summer.
Room in which Bahá’u’lláh was born in Ṭihran between dawn and sunrise on November 12, 1817.
custodian and his family who conducted us without
delay to the holy Home, which was actually built by
Mírzá Buzurg, Bahá’u’lláh’s father, as the first of seven
houses in a family compound. This walled enclosure
of several acres, typical among the oriental nobility,
included when completed a central kitchen building
where meals for all the homes were prepared before
being carried to their destinations by the ubiquitous
servants. The courtyard of Bahá’u’lláh’s house is about
sixty feet long by fifty wide with a small grape arbor,
rose bushes and many small fruit trees such as apple,
pear and pomegranate, and flanked in some places by
colonades of thin spiral columns. Walls are mostly of
buff-colored brick with red windows rounded at the top,
arched doorways, circular decorations here and there,
and blue tile latticework at ground level to ventilate
the basement rooms and keep them cool in summer.
Several bedrooms upstairs open upon flat roof areas
while still higher rise special towers serving as the
upper vents of the basement circulation system.
We soon climbed up the very steep three brick steps that led to the main parlor or receiving room, the steps being comparable in height and steepness to those of a railroad coach when you mount from the level of the rails, the accepted thing in the old days and presumably requiring a strong helping hand or boost for ladies and children. Touching our foreheads to the threshold, we entered the large parlor without shoes, stepping silently upon the exquisite pale carpets that covered the floor from wall to wall, some thirty feet one way and twenty feet the other. This was the room Bahá’u’lláh was actually born in, appropriately just before sunrise on the morning of November 12, 1817. It was traditional to use the best parlor for such an important event as a birth. The most conspicuous
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feature of the room is the south wall facing the courtyard with its three great windows with fairly large
panes of glass between wooden muntins, most of the
panes transparent but a few colored bright red, blue,
yellow and green. Since the house was ransacked in
1852 at the time Bahá’u’lláh was put into the dungeon
of Síyyáh-Chál, and remained in Muslim hands for some
half a century, the present windows are only copies
of the originals. Other features in the room, appear
of high standard, the general style giving prominence
to the Romanesque arch with not only the windows
rounded at the top but the pale blue plastered walls
lined with niches, each rounded at the top and ending
at the bottom in a shelf or mantel about three feet
from the floor. There is also a small fireplace about
fourteen inches wide and two feet high in the middle
of the north wall, a mantelpiece above its arched top
also. The theme of round-topped niches continues
throughout the mansion apparently, for all the basement rooms have it, including the luxurious bath suite.
We found the basement rooms pleasantly cool with their vertical ventilating shafts and vaulted brick ceilings of a pinkish but varicolored hue, and I noticed that the main room directly below the birth chamber has nine niches arrayed along its north side. In the west basement is a small kitchen with a chimney above the arched stove niche, evidently used before the central kitchen building was built or perhaps for minor meals. The bath suite of three rooms was especially interesting. At the bottom of the steep flight of stairs extending about eight feet below ground, we came first to a sort of dressing room, roughly octagonal with a central footbath of blue tile (also approximately octagonal) about two feet deep, than farther on, a bigger washing room likewise more or less octagonal but with alcoves that have attractive floral tracery in the tiled lower levels of their niches and, last of all, a short flight of steep steps leading up into a smaller pool room kept four or five feet deep in hot water and, if desired, filled with steam. The steps all around the pool could accommodate children of various ages and no doubt Bahá’u’lláh played there with His brothers when they were growing up.
Cool basement entrance to Bahá’u’lláh’s House in Ṭihrán used during the heat of summer.
Porch of the House in Ṭihrán.
Detail of basement ventilator.
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This mansion was unusual, having been designed
for Bahá’u’lláh’s father as one of the Sháh’s important
ministers whose specific assignment was to advise
and look after the Sháh’s eldest son, a young prince
who then had the title of governor of the province
of Luristán. As Bahá’u’lláh grew to manhood, the house
was more and more used for guests who were particularly attracted by its provisions for escaping summer
heat, not only in the vaulted basements by day but
while sleeping upon its extensive roofs by night, usually beneath specially-made mosquito net canopies,
these insects being plentiful in Ṭihrán throughout most
of the year. After His father died when Bahá’u’lláh
was twenty-two, He grew accustomed to spending
more of His time at His various country houses to the
north, usually leaving the Ṭihrán house entirely in the
hands of guests.
The Black Pit[edit]
April 3
This morning we drove to the Sháh’s old summer palace high up toward the foothills of the Elburz Mountains and saw the approximate place where Bahá’u’lláh was arrested in August 1852, stripped of His outer clothing and driven barefooted and bareheaded before an abusive mob all the many miles down to the dungeon to be imprisoned in heavy chains for four months. We drove over the same road He trod in His bare feet. It was probably a dirt road then but is now asphalted. Along both sides remain many old trees that were there on that terrible day and younger ones that have grown up since. Most of them are ash, I believe, with occasional planes and mulberry trees among them.
There is not much to see of the dungeon of Síyyáh-Chál, which means Black Pit, because it is underground and inaccessible because of the large modern buildings now being erected around it, but from the third story of one of these a few rubble-strewn ruins and portions of brick wall could be glimpsed behind a row of poplars. These ruins, however, are undoubtedly the remains of a domed building constructed above the Síyyáh-Chál after Bahá’u’lláh was there and which collapsed relatively recently. The actual dungeon is entirely underground, having originally been built as a water reservoir for one of the city’s public baths, then later adapted as a place for confining the most dangerous criminals and enemies of the state. It is described as about eighteen feet deep, watertight and undrainable, with no opening but a small aperture at the top of three flights of very steep stairs. It was almost pitch dark and reeked with the foul stench from nearly 150 prisoners kept there under heavy chains and their legs in stocks without any provisions for sanitation. There was no structure above ground at that time but an open “prison yard” to which the prisoners were hauled up each day at the time of the noon prayer for a little air and exercise — presumably so they wouldn’t just rot away in the pestilential vermin-infested hole and thus spoil the program of torturing and killing them. The Sháh evidently took some personal interest in their treatment for his city palace and its ample gardens adjoin the Síyyáh-Chál on its north side and stand there today as a public museum with glittering hallways of millions of tiny mirrors and elaborate exhibits of royal gifts from the crowned heads of Europe and Asia. It is said that in 1852 the Sháh in his bed at night must have actually heard the prayers chanted by Bahá’u’lláh and His many fellow Babis who were exultantly awaiting martyrdom just beyond his garden wall.
Leaving the Síyyáh-Chál, we visited a near by large circular public square where many Babis were beheaded during that same period of persecution, there having been a raised brick platform there at the time so the large blood-thirsty crowds could see every detail without obstruction. We also saw the garden where Táhirih was martyred, apparently some half a mile northwest of the Síyyáh-Chál. The area belonged then to the “chief of the nomads” in the Ṭihrán region who, I understand, lived in a comfortable house near by. The garden probably contained many large pine trees, ashes, elms, etc, for tall and beautiful old pines still stand there and many other trees, though now the city is closing in. A “modern” hospital is already there and tennis courts and a swimming pool. Yet birds continue to enjoy the garden and I noticed wagtails, hooded crows and sparrows. The well where Táhirih was buried is now unmarked and unknown but, I’m told, ‘Abdul-Bahá reasonably predicted it would be discovered in time and made into an appropriate and beautiful shrine.
The road over which Bahá’u’lláh walked barefoot and bare-headed on His way to the Síyyáh-Chál in southern Ṭihrán. The trees are said to have been mostly ash with occasional planes and mulberries.
Fourth World Religion Day Held in Saigon National Hall of Culture[edit]
A banner announcing the fourth World Religion Day observance in Vietnam appears in front of the National Hall of Culture (former Parliament House) in Saigon, in photo at right. A portion of the distinguished audience of over 400, representing many cultural, religious and diplomatic levels and including many dignitaries is shown below. The national radio, the government press, eight Vietnamese, two French and two English newspapers gave wide publicity to the panel program presided over by the Notable Luong-Truong-Tuong, third from right in panel photo. The Bahá’í speaker, Trinh-dinh-Khoi, second from right, stressed not only the need but the power that exists today for achieving peace and tranquillity.
Further signs of the stirring progress of the Faith in Vietnam is evidenced by the 2,000 recently enrolled members of the Cham community in Central Vietnam, part of whom are shown in photo at lower right.
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Left, above: attendants at Owom, Nigeria Conference. Conference leaders and translators are shown in photo at right. Left to right, standing: Mrs. Mughrabi, chairman; Mr. B. Akparika, Mr. Ekpenyong. Seated: Mrs. Elizabeth Njang, Mr. K. Umoh.
Village Teaching Conference Held in Eastern Nigeria[edit]
Over the holiday period, December 25-26, 1964, the Regional Teaching Committee for Eastern Nigeria arranged a teaching conference in the village of Owom near the Nigeria-Cameroon frontier. Owom is the most central village of a group of five in which Bahá’ís reside. Christianity has scarcely penetrated into this area, and many of the believers, formerly pagan, were very ready to accept the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. Now believers number about 130 including two village chiefs.
Two of the Committee members as well as other believers arrived some days before to help make arrangements. Transportation was a problem solved by using an ancient minibus which could do the trip over rough and winding mountain road. The drive was beautiful through seventy-two miles of cool primeval forest of stately trees, palms and flowering evergreens, the home of the elephant, gorilla, chimpanzee and deer. The people are hunters and farmers growing cocoa, oil palm, coffee and rubber.
A very warm welcome greeted the travellers arriving late in the evening. The village was filled with moving lanterns, with laughing, singing and cries of “Alláh’u’Abhá, Alláh’u’Abhá.” All the visitors were accommodated in the village and the Owom Community built a fine shelter of bamboo and palm for a meeting place.
News of the conference spread quickly and drew inquirers who walked several miles from nearby villages. Nothing of the kind having ever been held in the region before, the visitors from nearby villages were fascinated and favorably impressed to see that Bahá’ís had taken so much time and trouble to come to their area. Attendance at the conference sessions was good, even though it coincided with another festivity held in the same village. Several declarations were accepted even before the close of the conference and the believers feel sure that the Faith will grow and spread throughout the region in the days to come.
Delegates and visitors attending the National Convention, Victoria, West
Cameroon. Seven members of the newly elected
National Spiritual Assembly are seated in the front
row with Hand of the
Cause Mr. John Robarts.
Left to right: Solomon
Tanyi, Mrs. Lillie Rosenberg, Oscar Njang, Mrs.
Johana Ngompek, John
Robarts (Hand of the
Cause); Moses Akombi,
Mrs. Janet Mughrabi, Jawad Mughrabi.
Hand of the Cause William Sears Revitalizes Bahá’í Communities[edit]
One of the clearest testimonies to the existence of a Divine Creator is the human hand, in its coordination, its unity, its delicacy, its strength. It holds the pen, transcribing thought to word and with a single gesture, myriad truths are conveyed. Witness it extended in friendship, grasped in love, uplifted in prayer!
In this Day of God, how blessed are we to have in our midst the Hands of the Cause of God, functioning with all the attributes of the human hand, and more.
Since his return to this country from the Conclave of the Hands in the Holy Land in November, Hand of the Cause William B. Sears, with the pen of love, has written on the tablets of the hearts of over one thousand Bahá’ís, the message from the Hands for now, here, today. In addition, the glorious Message of Bahá’u’lláh has been announced by him to over six hundred people at both intimate and public meetings. Inestimable numbers have been reached through television, radio, local publicity and through the Associated Press release of an interview with Mr. Sears by George W. Cornell, Religious Editor. The publication of this article was not only timely in relation to his numerous visits, but the efforts of many other communities and circuit teachers were aided by the release. Several newspapers tied in local Bahá’í announcements with the Sears interview.
An excerpt from a report from Atlanta states: “We hurried from the fireside to our television sets. A reporter from the city’s major television station interviewed Mr. Sears on the evening newscast, viewed throughout the city and surrounding areas. It was TV time we could never have paid for and publicity beyond our hopes.”
Mr. Sears, along with his dear wife, Marguerite, was besieged by blizzards and rain storms, from the midwest to the south, but “... none can withstand the operation of Thy sovereign Will.” The report from Atlanta bears this out. “The rain which had drenched the city all day continued steadily into evening, and the thought occurred to us that perhaps we had overindulged our faith in renting the largest hotel banquet room in the city for our public meeting, since the maximum attendance we had ever had was eighty-six. We could hardly believe our own eyes, in spite of the hard work, long hours of preparation and concentrated prayers, when over 300 people flooded, literally, into the room and hung their umbrellas! At least 200 were non-Bahá’ís.”
Various accounts indicate that the effect of this vital message on the friends differed, for the most part, from reactions at comparable meetings in the past. It is felt that a great process of self-examination has been set in motion by his visits. He has held some forty meetings, not to amuse the believers, although in his warm, unique manner, he does, but rather, he has given every ounce of his strength to awaken us from lethargy, to give us courage and self-assurance, to revitalize us to the point that we do, indeed, “know in what Day” we were created.
Mr. Sears discussed the Administrative Order in all
Mr. Sears in Manatee County, Florida, at an impromptu meeting with the friends.
of its aspects; the importance of teaching, stressing
the responsibility of each individual to share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, according to his own capacity and
means and the significance of the Funds and their
relationship to the fulfillment of the goals of the Nine
Year Plan.
He spoke at length about the grave transgression of gossiping and backbiting, refering to the destructive resulting disunity. Quoting from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, April 1912 Letter to USA: “... were it not for this difference among you, the inhabitants of America in all those regions, would have by now, been attracted to the Kingdom of God and would have been your helpers and assisters.”
He emphasized that America is in a “time of world peril,” and told of the many things that each and every Bahá’í can do NOW, individually and collectively. It is important to act, and act promptly and decisively — “That is the need of the present hour.”
Quoting from some of the reports from the visited communities: “Aside from the wonderful spirit, quite beyond all words, and the magnificently glowing love which Mr. Sears brought to Sarasota and the whole Florida west coast area, and aside from the thrilling message he gave to everyone who attended our public meeting, Mr. Sears’ visit to the believers seemed to change every Bahá’í into a new being. He brought to them not merely inspiration, which can subside, nor resuscitation nor reinvigoration, which can come and go, but the realization of a new being. I feel as if I have come out of a prison. And, from the general comments we heard, we believe it is reasonable to conclude that every Bahá’í attained to a new stage of growth.” “It was two days of precious, eternally preserved moments when new veils were lifted from each weeping eye and the warmth of love flooded anew each heart.”
“It is impossible to describe the power of Mr. Sears’ message, the new light flooding with each moment our souls. He spoke on pioneering, contributing to the Fund, praying for constant guidance that we may be used as clear channels, avoiding rigidity and needless complexity in our teaching and administering, and on testing every action and every goal by the touchstone of: ‘Is it bringing in new believers?’ ”
“As he spoke, he seemed to be helping us to sweep away the imaginary or real obstacles that hold us
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from total commitment, total self-abnegation, total glory. Every problem seemed to dissolve into nothingness. We caught a glimpse of the significance, the
power and the blessing of the Universal House of
Justice. We wanted to shout for joy that we receive
direction and divine, infallible guidance from this institution. Suddenly there were no problems — our dilemmas were resolved; our action nothing but getting up; our duty only to find and fulfill our glorious,
God-given destiny, burning out with rapidity, zeal and
entire selflessness the candles of our transient lives,
that the darkened, groping earth may quickly be illumined with the Glory of the Kingdom of Bahá.”
Not only have these meetings resulted in rededication, but many new Bahá’í brothers and sisters have declared their faith, and undoubtedly, there will be more in the future, for each individual has his own critical moment of unfoldment.
It is hoped that many more communities will be visited by Mr. Sears after Riḍván. The importance and bounty of attending meetings planned in or near your city cannot be expressed. New life is being poured into the veins of the American believers. Go and receive your share!
Bahá’ís of South Africa Hold School at Rustenburg[edit]
There is a belief among the Africans that anything that begins with rain has the blessing of God. On the evening of December 5 clouds gathered and a gentle shower of rain fell in Rustenburg where, inside the house where the Bahá’ís were to hold a school, gathered believers who had come for the first session. On Sunday, the 6th the school was opened with a talk by the Chairman who concluded eloquently, “The panel of teachers is bursting with eagerness to impart their knowledge, and the students are just as eager to be the recipients of this wonderful treasure.”
This school, forerunner of the training institute called for by the Universal House of Justice in their Nine Year Plan, was attended by over forty believers from various centers including South West Africa, Natal, the Cape, Transvaal and Swaziland. It lasted three weeks, during which time a wide variety of subjects including the Covenant, laws and administration of the Faith were covered specifically and in concrete detail. Thus the students learned that each one can take the work of the Faith firmly in his own hands with the realization that he can perform the necessary functions. On the last day of the school, when time for parting came, the believers were consoled with the thought expressed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that, “If you love Me, go far away from Me.” So ended a glorious three weeks that will be remembered and echoed thus, “Oh Bahá’u’lláh, what have You done?”
First National Spiritual Assembly of Kenya, formed
April, 1964. Standing, left to right: James Wasilwa,
Aziz Yazdi, Elamu Muswahili, Taherih Ala’i, Festos
Mulkalama. Seated, left to right: Bonaventure Wafula,
Julius Makanda, Frank Mukoyani, Christopher Musambai.
Wedding party in Seremban, Malaysia. This marriage
on December 20 was attended by 100 friends who came
from great distances, including Malacca, Selangor and
Borneo.
Sixteen friends of Dang area attending the first teaching
class held at newly acquired Institute Devlati, India
from December 20 to 24, with members of the Institute
Committee.
First National Spiritual Assembly of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar) formed April, 1964. Standing, left to right: Jamsheed Samandari, Lamuka Mwangulu, Allen Elston, chairman; Glory Nyirenda, v. chairman; Jalal Nakhjavani, treasurer. Seated, left to right:
Wallace Ngallamba, Marye Elston, secretary; Ruhulah
Yazdami, Hussein Akida. As of Feb. 1965 there are 75
local assemblies and Bahá’ís in about 265 localities.
World Religion Day Observed Throughout the U. S.[edit]
Pageants, teas, large public meetings, talks before various groups and clubs as well as liberal use of the press, radio and television furnished the means by which Bahá’ís in the United States brought World Religion Day with the theme “Oneness of Religion” before the public. The following accounts are representative of the types of meetings held and serve to show the variety of means which can be used successfully.
In Seattle, Washington a large public meeting was held in the beautiful Seattle Civic Center Playhouse. Mrs. Florence Mayberry, Auxiliary Board Member, addressed an audience of 700 on “The Bahá’í Story.” Particularly noteworthy is the fact that this meeting is the beginning of a concentrated teaching program in that area, planned to reach nearby Indian reservations as well as many towns. Radio, television and press interviews are being used extensively. Mrs. Mayberry, staying for the entire month of February is scheduled for at least thirty public appearances. At the time of this report sixteen declarations had been received. The Los Angeles Bahá’í Center was the scene of a youth pageant, “The Pageant of World Religions” enthusiastically received by a capacity audience. Material for this pageant, which has been presented previously in the area, was prepared from readings from the scriptures of various religions. The use of scriptures of other religions proved very effective at the meetings in both Hamburg, New York and Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. At the latter place the readers were themselves members of the faiths represented. In both places these readings were followed by talks by Bahá’í speakers. A potluck supper followed by showing slides of the Temple and Holy Land proved to be a friendly and effective way to convey the message of World Religion Day in Waterloo, Iowa. On the same weekend a tea as well as public fireside was held in this community. One community in the Atlantic City, New Jersey area, was invited to send a speaker to a church youth group which was studying various religions. The ready made audience was very receptive. A program of slides of the Holy Land, piano music and a brief talk on progressive revelation was held at a tea given in a public inn in Manatee County, Florida.
World Religion Day meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The speaker, Miss Katherine Meyer from the Virgin
Islands was guest on the first Bahá’í television program
in San Juan.
Stephen Moses reads Prayer for All Mankind with Senior High Bel Canto Choir in background. At this meeting
in Seattle the choir sang arrangements from Bahá’u’lláh’s writings.
Visitors outnumbered Bahá’ís at this gathering and of
particular note is the fact that the management warmly welcomed the integrated group and invited them to
return at a future date. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says (B.W.F. p.
378), “Singing and music are the spiritual food of the
hearts and souls.” Reports from many communities
show that the use of this spiritual food at public gatherings is increasing. In Greenville, South Carolina the
chorus of a local high school opened the meeting with
four well sung selections. Two highly qualified Bahá’í
speakers and the use for the first time of a room in the
largest and most attractive downtown hotel were the
ingredients of a highly successful World Religion Day
meeting. In Fort Worth, Texas members of the Bahá’í
children’s classes sang at the opening of the meeting.
This community is happy to report a new surge of
activity and marked increase in enrollments, arising,
undoubtedly from the fact that the members have, for
the past month, been united in an intensive program of
prayer.
These sample reports will serve to show that World Religion Day, which has been observed by the Bahá’ís in the U.S. since 1949 has once again been effectively used by believers in communities both large and small to tell the world the simple yet important truth: the foundation of all religions is one.
Part of a well attended meeting in San Francisco at which Val Sage spoke on “Oneness of Religion.”
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The Bahá’í Faith received indirect but noteworthy attention recently when a Bahá’í couple of Ostend, Belgium, Mr.
and Mrs. Iran Mowlavi, arranged a public exhibition of outstanding Iranian art in the halls of their home. The event
was televised over the national network and included in the distinguished list of guests the Mayor of Ostend and the
Iranian Ambassador to Belgium, second and third from right. Others who attended were the Iranian Director of
Public Information for Europe from Paris and many municipal officials.
Belgian Bahá’ís Honor Opening of Ghent[edit]
On December 13, 1964, at Ghent, Belgium, the National Teaching Committee of Belgium officially recognized the City of Ghent as a Bahá’í Community having a representation of two. Bahá’ís from Brussels, Antwerp, Leige and Charleroi participated in this official opening.
Mr. Phillipe De Coster of Ghent presided over the program which had as its theme, “The Rights of Man.” Causeries were given by Mrs. Lea Nys on “The United Nations and the Bahá’í Faith”; Mr. Fernand Radar on “Universal Peace” and Mr. Louis Henuzet on “The Right of Religious Liberty.”
This was a most inspiring and memorable day for the Bahá’ís of Belgium and a splendid opportunity for bringing the attention of the Faith to the people of Ghent.
A group of those attending an inspiring winter school held in Loosdrecht, Holland in December, 1964.
News Briefs:[edit]
During the month from December 17, 1964 to January 17, 1965 the Bahá’ís of Kenya, Africa were hosts to Mrs. Mary Gibson, from Haifa. While in Nairobi, Kenya Mary appeared on “Women Talk,” a Voice of Kenya television program and for a half hour discussed the Faith and answered questions from the other five ladies on the program. As a result the “Daily Nation” newspaper printed a letter to the editor inquiring about the Faith. The local Spiritual Assembly’s prompt reply to this inquiry was the first publicity of this sort given to the Faith in Kenya, as was the television program.
The week of February 14 was called “Spiritual Exploration Week” at Arizona State University, the theme for the daily program of lectures and “buzz sessions” being, “Does Anyone Care?” Speakers included members of the clergy, Protestant, Catholic and Jewish. The Bahá’í Faith was well represented by Mrs. Robert Gulick who was one of five leaders of the sessions, leading discussions on topics such as, “Our Faith Under Fire,” and “Life With a Capital L.” Mrs. Gulick also addressed classes in education and religion and was happy to find that the students asked intelligent questions and seemed convinced by her answers.
The Bahá’ís of Hollywood, Florida held a very successful fireside on February 14 at which Dr. Farzio Davachi, Bahá’í physician from Persia, gave a warm and well varied talk about the Faith, explaining its laws and giving a vivid picture of the early days of the Faith in Persia. The audience, almost half of whom were visitors, received the talk with interest, and lingered long afterwards for discussion. Newspaper publicity for the gathering was excellent.
The Bahá’ís of Niagara Falls, New York were recently invited to send a guest speaker on the United Nations at the local Kiwanis Club luncheon. The program consisted of the color slide taped lecture “United Nations, Capital of Our World” and was enthusiastically received by the audience of thirty-five business men. Reference to the Faith was made through the reprint of the Kiwanis Magazine article, “The Embrace of the Bahá’í” and an invitation was extended by the club for a more detailed talk about the Bahá’í Faith.
District of Columbia Acquires Center[edit]
After years filled with hopes and plans and after an intensive year of sacrificial giving the Washington, D.C. Bahá’í Community, with the approval of the National Spiritual Assembly, has acquired a Center. It is a large corner residence on prominent 16th Street, which cuts through the very heart of the city, extending northward from the Washington Monument and the White House. Its location alone provides a means of proclaiming the Faith. The new Center is adequate for public meetings, the holding of simultaneous classes of the Pioneer School, the name given by our Beloved Guardian to the children’s classes, and the extension of hospitality to visiting Bahá’ís. The acquisition of the new Center not only reflects the recent growth of the Faith in the Nation’s Capital but presages a significant further expansion as many new activities are made possible.
House at 5713 16th Street in Washington, D.C., recently purchased by the local Bahá’ís for a Center.
Sketch for Bahá’í garden, featuring the theme, “The
Earth is One Country and Mankind Its Citizens” to be
displayed in the 1965 Chicago World Flower and Garden
Show, March 20-28. In commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the United Nations, this and other exhibits
are designed to feature an international theme.
Participants in meeting in Meriden, Conn., jointly sponsored by local chapter of N.A.A.C.P. and Bahá’ís, in
recognition of Negro History Week. Left to right: Mr.
John Rogers, research worker in Negro History; Miss
Vivian Taylor, Dr. Samuel McClellan, and Mrs. Leon
Joyce, program chairman.
What One Bahá’í Can Do[edit]
A Bahá’í at Iowa State University had the singular privilege of having Dr. Daniel Jordan, member of the National Spiritual Assembly, appear on a religious program at the University. It was sponsored by the Student Religious Council, of which he is a member.
The program, called IMPACT, composed of a series of religious lectures, was designed to bring religious concepts to the attention of the student body for its evaluation.
Dr. Jordan chose for his theme, “Bahá’í: A New Force in Religion.” He, together with members of the University Council, was available for classroom presentations, residence discussions and personal confrontations. He also appeared on a faculty forum. Public invitation was extended to a reception held for Dr. Jordan in the Gallery of Memorial Union.
Because of the determination and dedication to serve the Faith on the part of this one Bahá’í college student, many heard of Bahá’u’lláh and His Message for the first time. Aside from his studies, this busy young student fulfills speaking engagements on the Faith at the “Y’s” and in church groups, not to mention weekly firesides.
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First local Spiritual Assembly of Asheville, North
Carolina, elected April 21, 1964. Left to right: Jack
Guillebeaux, William Reid, Miss Margaret Greenlee,
treasurer; William Tucker, chairman; Mrs. Mary Sue
Turner, Herbert Turner, Mrs. Maebell Bethea, Douglas
Phillips, vice-chairman; Mrs. Bernice Tucker, secretary.
BAHA'I IN THE NEWS[edit]
The Bermuda Mid Ocean News for January 23 carried a detailed account of the Bahá’í Faith, telling of the establishment of the first local assembly there, and including a picture of that assembly. The article is accurate and objective, referring to the fact that the Faith has no clergy and describing the followers as spending much time in learning about their faith and as being “among the most well informed on their religion of any denomination.”
Omnibus, a local Chicago magazine, for February has a brief article about the world headquarters of the Faith on Mt. Carmel and includes pictures of the Shrine of the Báb and of the International Archives. The author refers to the “magnificent” Bahá’í Temple in Wilmette and mentions its similarity to the beauty of the center on Mt. Carmel.
De Kalb Illinois Daily Chronicle February 12 printed a three-quarter page spread on the Bahá’í Faith, including a large picture of the Temple in Wilmette. The article entitled “Those That Have Eyes, Let Them See — The Case of the Missing Millenium” gives a full account, with liberal quotations, of the book “Thief in the Night.” The writer then tells about his visit to the Temple in Wilmette and the very profound impression he received. He speaks of what a welcome change it is, “after big impressive cold cathedrals, after chromium plated modernistic churches.” He states: “This is the only religion I know that officially recognizes the existence of any other religion.” The closing sentences of the article are: “The prophecies are much less important than what Bahá’u’lláh has to say to the world. You, yourself, must choose what you will believe.”
An Associated Press feature article on the Bahá’í Faith has appeared in January in many papers throughout the United States. It was written by George W. Cornell, AP religious writer and bears the title “Bahá’ís Expect Their Faith to Win the World!” The article, based on an interview with William Sears, touches on the ideals of Bahá’í character, prayer, the concept of a Prophet of God as well as giving a brief history of the Faith.
Calendar of Events[edit]
- FEASTS
- April 9 — Jalál (Glory)
- April 28 — Jamál (Beauty)
- HOLY DAYS
- Feast of Riḍván — April 21-May 2
- (Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh)
- ANNUAL CONVENTION
- Bahá’í House of Worship
- April 29, 30, May 1, 2
Baha’i House of Worship[edit]
- 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)
- Sundays
- 3:30 to 4:10 p.m.
- Sunday, April 18
- 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: Mrs. Sylvia Parmelee, Managing 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.
