Bahá’í News/Issue 440/Text
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| No. 440 | BAHA’I YEAR 124 | NOVEMBER 1967 |
“The Time is Ripe”[edit]
MESSAGE FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO THE INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCES
To the Six Intercontinental Conferences
Dearly-loved Friends,
On this, the hundredth anniversary of the sounding in Adrianople of the opening notes of Bahá’u’lláh’s proclamation to the rulers, leaders and peoples of the world, we recall with profound emotion the circumstances surrounding the Faith of God at that time. In a land, termed by Him, the “Land of Mystery”, the Bearer of God’s Revelation had arisen to carry that Faith a stage further in its divinely-ordained destiny.
Internally, the infant Cause of God was convulsed by a crisis from whose shadows emerged the majestic figure of Bahá’u’lláh, the visible Center and Head of a newly-established Faith. The first pilgrimages were made to His Residence, a further stage in the transfer of the remains of the Báb was achieved, and above all the first intimations were given of the future station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the Center of the Covenant and of the revelation of the new laws for the New Day. Externally, the full significance of the new Revelation was proclaimed by no one less than its Divine Bearer, His followers began openly to identify themselves with the Most Great Name, the independent character of the Faith became established and its fearless exponents took up their pens in defense of its fair name.
Now, a hundred years later, the friends gathered in the six Intercontinental Conferences to commemorate the events of the past, privileged to gaze upon the portrait of their Beloved, must consider the urgent needs of the Cause today. As the Bahá’í world enters the third phase of the Nine Year Plan we are called upon to proclaim once again that Divine Message to the leaders and masses of the world, to aid the Faith of God to emerge from obscurity into the arena of public attention, to demonstrate through steadfast adherence to its laws the independent character of its mission and to brace ourselves in preparation for the attacks that are bound to be directed against its victorious onward march. Upon our efforts depends in very large measure the fate of humanity. The hundred years’ respite having ended, the struggle between the forces of darkness — man’s lower nature — and the rising sun of the Divine teachings which draw him on to his true station, intensifies day by day.
The Centenary campaign has been opened by the Universal House of Justice presenting to 140 Heads of State a compilation of Bahá’u’lláh’s Own proclamation. The friends must now take the Message to the rest of humanity. The time is ripe and the opportunities illimitable. We are not alone nor helpless. Sustained by our love for each other and given power through the Administrative Order — so laboriously erected by our beloved Guardian — the Army of Light can achieve such victories as will astonish posterity.
We pray at the Holy Shrines that these Intercontinental Conferences will be centers of spiritual illumination inspiring the friends to redouble their efforts in further expanding and consolidating the Faith of God, to arise to fill the remaining pioneer goals, to undertake travelling teaching projects, and to offer generously of their substance to the various funds, particularly to the vital project of erecting the Panama Temple, the foundation stone of which is being laid by ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum during the course of these Conferences.
As humanity enters the dark heart of this age of transition our course is clear — the achievement of the assigned goals and the proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh’s healing Message. It is our ardent hope that from these Conferences valiant souls may arise with noble resolve and in loving service to ensure the successful and early accomplishment of the sacred tasks that lie ahead.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
Bahá’í World Center
Haifa, Israel
October, 1967
Third Phase Nine Year Plan Begins[edit]
HEARTS FILLED PROFOUND GRATITUDE REJOICE ANNOUNCE INAUGURATION THIRD PHASE NINE YEAR PLAN THROUGH SUCCESSFUL CONSUMMATION SIX INTERCONTINENTAL CONFERENCES ATTENDED BY 9,200 BELIEVERS INCLUDING NEARLY ALL HANDS CAUSE, LARGE NUMBER BOARD MEMBERS, REPRESENTATIVES ALMOST ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES BAHÁ’Í WORLD, OVER 140 TERRITORIES AND HOST OF ASIAN AFRICAN AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES. INESTIMABLE PRIVILEGE CONFERRED PARTICIPANTS THROUGH VIEWING PORTRAIT ABHÁ BEAUTY. SPIRIT HOLY LAND AND ADRIANOPLE CONVEYED SIX DISTINGUISHED REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE JUSTICE. FIRST PRESENTATIONS BEHALF HOUSE JUSTICE PROCLAMATION BOOK HEADS OF STATES MADE BEFORE AND DURING CONFERENCES. FRUITFUL DELIBERATIONS HELD PROCLAMATION EXECUTION REMAINING GOALS PLAN. SOLIDARITY BAHÁ’Í WORLD FURTHER EVINCED THROUGH INGENIOUS SCHEME TELEPHONIC EXCHANGE GREETINGS ALL SIX CONFERENCES. SPIRITUAL POTENCIES THIS NEW PHASE REINFORCED THROUGH FORMAL LAYING BY ‘AMATU’L BAHÁ OF CORNERSTONE MOTHER TEMPLE LATIN AMERICA. OVER 230 OFFERS MADE AT CONFERENCES JOIN RANKS VALIANT PIONEERS CAUSE. RAISE SUPPLIANT HANDS BAHÁ’U’LLÁH ENDOW FRIENDS EVERY LAND FRESH MEASURE CELESTIAL STRENGTH ENABLE THEM PURSUE WITH INCREASED VISION UNABATED RESOLVE GLORIOUS GOALS AHEAD UNTIL THIS NEW PERIOD PROCLAMATION YIELDS ITS SHARE IN DIVINELY PROPELLED PROCESS ESTABLISHMENT KINGDOM GOD HEARTS MEN.
—UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
Haifa, Israel
October 15, 1967
COMMENTARY: The foregoing cablegram from the Universal House of Justice, that divinely guided, infallible, Supreme Institution of the Cause of God, received within a week following the six Intercontinental Conferences calls upon the entire Bahá’í world to push forward with new vision and unabated resolve toward the achievement of all unfinished goals of the Nine Year Plan. The Plan itself, launched at Riḍván 1964, when the memories of the glorious Jubilee in London were still fresh in the minds of the more than 6,000 Bahá’ís who attended that historic gathering, calls for “a huge expansion of the Cause of God and universal participation by all believers in the life of that Cause.”
The first and second phases of the Nine Year Plan were announced by the Universal House of Justice in its Riḍván Messages of 1965 and 1966, respectively, each emphasizing the necessity of arming for the third phase, the worldwide proclamation of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, now formally launched by six Intercontinental Conferences. To the more than 9,000 believers attending these historic conferences there has come a new spirit of dedication and surely a firm resolve to share the inspiration of these great gatherings with their fellow Bahá’ís and to take the lead in enlisting their full cooperation and participation in the prompt achievement of every goal of this glorious Plan, the first in the second epoch of the Divine Plan of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
—UNITED STATES NATIONAL
Spiritual Assembly
Bearers of the Intercontinental Message[edit]
House of Bahá’u’lláh in Tihrán
Hands of the Cause of God who delivered the Message from the Universal House of Justice to the six Intercontinental Conferences. From left to right: Dr. Ugo Giachery to Sydney, Australia; Paul E. Haney to Frankfurt, Germany; ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum to Panama; Abu’l-Qásim Faizi to New Delhi, India; Tarázú’lláh Samandari to Wilmette, Illinois; ‘Ali Akbar Furútan to Kampala, Uganda. Photograph taken in front of the Shrine of the Báb.
Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh — November 12, 1817[edit]
I testify before God to the greatness, the inconceivable greatness of this Revelation. Again and again have We in most of Our Tablets borne witness to this truth, that mankind may be roused from its heedlessness. . . . That which hath been made manifest in this preeminent, this most exalted Revelation, stands unparalleled in the annals of the past, nor will future ages witness its like.
BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
Divine Education — The Root of Knowledge[edit]
by
Hand of the Cause Mr. Abu’l-Qásim Faizi
The following article from a letter received by the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada and published in Canadian Bahá’í News of July, 1967, expresses Mr. Faizi’s thoughts on the important subject of education and will be interesting and helpful to all Bahá’ís.
The Journey of Truthseeking[edit]
Of all the basic principles of Bahá’u’lláh for the safeguarding of the world order and unity of mankind, this principle of Independent Investigation of Truth is one of the few which is directed solely to the individual while the others are basically collective and primarily involve a social change. For example individuals are not responsibe to adopt the international language or to formulate a universal system of education, but they do have to investigate the truth and to conduct the investigation independently of others. It is equally significant for us to realize that this principle is a two-edged sword; one edge separates falsehood from the truth, the other protects the individual believer against his own ego when confronted with divine tests.
This principle does not only apply to man’s spiritual life, but it is important to know that it is equally applicable to whatever he desires to do He goes through this process of investigation in all his major and minor actions. It is indeed inevitable and one of the most fundamental prerogatives of every individual.
The question is whether the attitude of Bahá’í parents toward their children should be to bring them up as Bahá’ís or to leave them to themselves, on the very wrong assumption and slender hope that the children would find the Faith by themselves.
The latter is a misinterpretation of the Divine Utterances and one of the greatest factors that contributes to the decrease in numbers, the spiritual destruction of Bahá’í families, and the lack of progress in the work of the Faith in many lands.
It is indeed unfortunate that some newly enrolled believers, due to their lack of knowledge about our all-comprehensive Faith, and in their desire to tread the path of least resistance and to silence the voice of their conscience, misconstrue this very fundamental principle of man’s eternal life. Thus the gift of God entrusted to us to be used as a torch which casts its rays through the obscure paths of life is changed into a fire which consumes every fibre of our spiritual entity and allows nothing to survive, except the skeleton of our physical creation, destined to be transformed into dust.
I found to my utter grief that some Bahá’í families, though themselves active members of different Bahá’í communities, due to their grave misunderstanding of this fundamental principle, have not uttered even a word to their children about our eternal legacy — the glorious Faith. Unmindful of the consequences of this ignorance in the hearts and minds of their dear ones, they act as if they belong to a secret society. There is not a single token of the Faith in their well furnished houses. I even found some of them ashamed to mention their religious affiliations. Thus the Faith remains unknown to their children who, I am sure, will disperse from their homes never gazing at the immense horizon floodlit with the rising Sun of Truth.
When asked, the parents have invariably answered, “We want them to find it by themselves and investigate it independently.”
Such answers brought so much sorrow to my heart that I could not find adequate words and expressions to pour out my feelings.
“To find it by themselves!" What a false dictum! How will they find it? Through whom and from where, if not in their own homes, from their own parents’ loving and vigilant directions? If we do not pity our children and throw them to the devouring waves of this turbulent ocean, called “society,” how do we expect others to pity them, hold their hands, save them and set them on the shores of safety and security?
If this is what we mean by “Independent Investigation” why do we then exert our utmost to arrange schools for them, register their names well ahead of time, even many years in advance for attendance at some universities? Why do we keep on urging them to attend all the classes at every period, encourage them to do better work and take pride in their daily advancement in what is called arts and sciences? Why do we not leave them free to find their own way to educational institutions and abandon them to their own choice, never asking them whether they spent their days in school, or in bars and gambling houses?
For material education we surely urge our children to go into special training, require discipline, and we are vigilant to see that they will never lose any opportunity. But alas! In this, the most vital matter which is like unto sunshine in all the aspects of the lives of our dear ones, and which insures their eternal happiness, we remain heedless, nonchalant and carefree.
Should our intention be limited to raising ourselves from the distress of unbelief, doubt, and scepticism to the condition of recognition, faith and certitude in the truth of the Mission of Bahá’u’lláh, when we do reach this ultimate goal and recognize Him as the Divine Educator, then our journey ends. It means that thereafter every act of Bahá’u’lláh and every Utterance revealed by Him will have to be accepted as the manifestation of truth; and the spirit of investigation will help the traveller who has embarked on this journey to discard the impurities of falsehood from the gems of truth and advance on this path until every member of his physical temple and even every hair will find tongues to proclaim the light of the faith ignited in his heart and soul.
But the journey is not ended. Having reached the station of faith the traveller is at the shore of an endless and fathomless ocean of divine utterances. He has to plunge into it, not to examine the truth of every word, verse, principle or precept, nay on the contrary, with a heart full of certitude and an attitude of utter humility and supplication the believer will meditate and pray and then seek to discover pearls of wisdom and will behold abiding beauty and innumerable mysteries enshrined in every word.
The Object of All Knowledge[edit]
Before turning to the main subject of this letter, let us refer to the following two extracts from the immortal Narrative of Nabil to refresh our memory of the glorious deeds of the heroes and saints of our beloved Cause. These illustrate the two aspects of the problem at hand and will, I feel sure, shed much light on our research.
“As soon as the call from Shíráz reached his ears, Ḥujjat deputed one of his disciples, Mullá Iskandar, in whom he reposed the fullest confidence, to inquire into the whole matter and to report to him the result of his investigations. Utterly indifferent to the praise and censure of his countrymen, whose integrity he suspected and whose judgment he disdained, he sent his delegate to Shíráz with explicit instructions to conduct a minute and independent enquiry. Mullá Iskandar attained the presence of the Báb and felt immediately the regenerating power of His influence. He tarried 40 days in Shíráz, during which time he imbibed the principles of the Faith and acquired, according to his capacity, a knowledge of the measure of its glory.
“With the approval of the Báb, he returned to Zanján. He arrived at a time when all the leading ‘ulamás of the city had assembled in the presence of Ḥujjat. As soon as he appeared, Ḥujjat enquired whether he believed in, or rejected the new Revelation.
“Mullá Iskandar submitted the writings of the Báb which he had brought with him, and asserted that whatever should be the verdict of his master, the same would he deem it his obligation to follow. ‘What!’ angrily exclaimed Ḥujjat, ‘But for the presence of this distinguished company, I would have chastised you severely. How dare you consider matters of belief to be dependent upon the approbation or rejection of others?’ Receiving from the hand of his messenger the copy of the Qayyumu’l-Asmá’, he, as soon as he had perused a page of that book, fell prostrate upon the ground and exclaimed: ‘I bear witness that these words which I have read proceed from the same Source as that of the Qur’án. Whoso has recognized the truth of that sacred Book must needs testify to the Divine origin of these words and must needs submit to the precepts inculcated by their Author. I take you, members of this assembly, as my witnesses. I pledge such allegiance to the Author of this Revelation that should He ever pronounce the night to be the day, and declare the sun to be a shadow, I would unreservedly submit to His judgment, and would regard His verdict as the voice of Truth. Whoso denies Him, him will I regard as the repudiator of God Himself.’ With these words he terminated the proceedings of that gathering.” (Nabil’s Narrative pp. 178-9)
“It was in those days that his special envoy, Mashhadi Aḥmad, whom he had confidentially despatched to Shíráz with a petition and gifts from him to the Báb, arrived at Zanjaá and delivered into his hands, while he was addressing his disciples, a sealed letter from his Beloved. In the Tablet he received, the Báb conferred upon him one of His own titles, that of Ḥujjat, and urged him to proclaim from the pulpit, without the least reservation, the fundamental teachings of his faith. No sooner was he informed of the wishes of his Master than he declared his resolve to devote himself to the immediate enforcement of whatever injunction that Tablet contained. He immediately dismissed his disciples, bade them close their books, and declared his intention of discontinuing his courses of study. ‘Of what profit,’ he said, ‘are study and research to those who have already found the Truth, and why strive after learning when He who is the Object of all knowledge is made manifest?” (Nabil’s Narrative, pp. 532-3)
Every human temple, regardless of race, color, country or clime, is considered by Bahá’u’lláh as a mine in which God has, through His inscrutable wisdom and boundless love, deposited gems which are to be discovered, polished and cultured through the process of proper, divine, all-embracing education. These gems are the latent powers and talents with which every individual is endowed. When these powers and talents are discovered and correctly trained, the world of humanity will become the mirror of Heaven in which all divine perfections are gloriously reflected.
Divine Education — The Root of Knowledge[edit]
The vast subject of Bahá’í education has many ramifications stretching over all aspects of man’s life and our Bahá’í literature is replete with elucidations which reveal to our eyes the most obscure corners of the human soul. How lamentable that mankind stubbornly abandons these abundant divine bounties and chooses the path of disgrace and perdition!
It is still more lamentable if those who believe in the Supreme Manifestation of God, deprive themselves of following His loving advice. Until such time as we will have authorized classifications and translations of all the holy texts, I shall limit myself in this letter to the references on parents’ obligations towards their children.
We must first know that there is a vast difference between education, in the sense of character training, and instruction. The beloved Master has emphasized that education must always have priority over mere accumulation of knowledge. To know many facts, to memorize numerous formulae and to repeat parrot-like theories of science is not honor for man. True honor lies in man’s education and moral conduct which enable him to be the mirror of divine perfections and shine like unto a guiding star, ready to die rather than to apply his knowledge for the destruction of humanity.
It is towards this ultimate goal that we are encouraged to advance. Divine education is considered by Bahá’u’lláh to rank as “The most exalted” amongst His commandments and is a “great protection” for the Cause of God. Educational Institutions must first instill divine laws and precepts in the hearts and minds of children. Thus the children grow to worship God and to love one another as His sons and daughters. Immediately after giving us this commandment Bahá’u’lláh warns us against excess of any system which, individually or collectively, inculcates prejudice and intolerance in the innocent hearts of our children.
Parental Responsibility[edit]
As we clearly understand from the Texts, there is no coercion in the Faith. Under no circumstances are the parents to force their children to be Bahá’ís, but according to the explicit Texts, they are responsible for the spiritual birth and growth of their children.
Let us take a lesson from nature. When a mother conceives, nature creates a certain condition in her physical temple which forms the home of the growing foetus. In that proper atmosphere the physical growth of the child starts. The parents, though intensely eager to behold the face of their little ones, never force its birth. On the contrary, they patiently await the approach of the hour appointed by Providence and keep every other thing in perfect harmony with the natural process. When that blessed moment comes through the operation of natural forces, the child is born into this immense world.
Now let us apply the same rule to the second home of the child into which it is introduced through its physical birth.
By divine education at home we mean the creation of an atmosphere in which the child can breathe the spiritual powers of this Age, and in due time, like unto a rose, may blossom out, unfold, and proclaim his existence in the garden of God under the care and protection of the Divine Gardener. This cannot be achieved by force or by any form of compulsion, just as the child’s birth cannot be realized by outside forces. We never try to pull the flower out of its stem in winter. The flowers will adorn the stems in due time, according to the rules and regulations especially conferred upon the plants by the Creator.
Let us illustrate this by giving an example. The children who grow up in houses where the music of Mozart or Beethoven is often played, surely grow to enjoy that kind of music. This is achieved because the atmosphere of the house was filled with such melodies. The child has breathed them in. AS a matter of fact this united aim becomes a focus which brings parents very close to each other.
Should the parents read the Writings each morning and evening as commanded by the Ancient Beauty; hold firesides in their homes where they show love, respect and reverence to the people regardless of race, class and creed; recite the obligatory prayers; fast; attend the Nineteen Day Feasts; celebrate the nine Holy days; and in all of these commemorations have the children comprehend the importance and significance of each act, then there remains nothing for the parents to fear. They will proudly watch the growing flowers in their own homes. Thus the spirit of the Cause will fill every layer in the atmosphere of the house. The warmth and light of this divine love emanated from such a home will definitely help the little ones to grow into fruitful trees in the Garden of God, and in due course they will proclaim not only by their words but also by the sanctity of their deeds that they are gathered under the banner of the Greatest Name; committed to be soldiers in the army of life, winning victories in the forefront of the battle lines of teaching, consolidation and pioneering fields of service.
Our writings further indicate that expectant mothers are advised to recite the Words of God to foster the spiritual growth of the conceived children. After the birth of the child, the mother is exhorted to say prayers as she puts her dear ones to bed. The influence of these words on the infants’ hearts has been described as the influence of the light and the heat of sunshine on the growing flowers. As the children grow the parents are called on to teach them the Words of God. At the age of five they are to be gathered together to receive divine education. We clearly observe that education is emphasized and is given the first rank in the order of importance. It is explicitly recommended to first teach the children courtesy and reverence after which comes the acquisitions of knowledge.
Need for Early Spiritual Training[edit]
Knowledge must go hand in hand with divine education, otherwise man’s learning will be governed by greed and lust. These qualities will change science into a disgrace and bring about the eventual destruction of all man’s achievements. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in His love for children, begs the friends to do their utmost to give proper Bahá’í education to their dear ones so they may understand the importance of the practice of its precepts in their lives. He promises that the children trained in the divine gardens of love and in homes imbued with the Bahá’í spirit will learn in one month what others will learn in twelve. He urges the parents to be diligent in directing the frail steps of their little ones to the path of eternal glory. All of this should be done with tender affection, loving care and kindness. He warns us against beating the children and making them the victims of tongue lashings and rebukes. Experience shows that such treatment is detrimental to the proper growth of the child’s mental, spiritual and even his physical powers; it dams the opening and the onflow of his latent powers. In addition, he grows to hate his home and all that pertains to it.
We must always remember this fundamental principle of the Master affirming that education of the child who is more than fifteen is extremely difficult and in some cases, impossible. Can we straighten a branch when it has become hard and stiff? Such children, we are warned by the Master, will be left in the abyss of misery, the victims of iniquity, arrogance, pride and ignorance and very often of mental deficiencies. They will be despised and humiliated, sick and invalid and forever ashamed of themselves. They will barely pass the tests of life.
What will they think of their parents who had the torch of guidance and did not try to show it to their loved ones?
Parents who thus reduce their offspring to such depths of misery through their negligence will surely be responsible to God. We are emphatically warned by the Ancient Beauty that He will charge the parents with this negligence and will consider this as a great sin — a sin which will never be forgiven.
The injunction of Bahá’u’lláh to parents about the divine education of their children is so emphatic that, as pointed out by Him, those who ignore such a responsibility are in the sight of God, deprived of their rights of parenthood.
I appeal to the hearts of the parents who desire nothing but the welfare of their children, the apples of their eyes or as the Arabs say, “the fragments of their hearts which walk on earth." I supplicate them to ponder upon the conditions prevailing in the world and find out for themselves whether children need protection or whether they should be left to themselves and to the cruel influences of life.
That the world is too much with us and that society is overcome by many social diseases, no sound mind can ever deny. Pollutions have penetrated into all the pores of man’s existence and the swamps of moral corruption have flooded the farthest and driest deserts and the most remote corners of every barren waste. Carnal desires and animal passions are unleashed and all aim to be gratified. Gratification of this beast of lust is to be fulfilled by all means — at the risk of breaking every sacred standard in man’s life. To accede to the desires of self has become a universal verdict.
Plunged in this overtly immoral world, where the raging beast of lust is the domineering monarch, caught in the throes of its devilish machinations, unable to separate the diabolical from the divine, and almost insensible to benevolent love, pity and reverence; our children, our poor children, find themselves engulfed by their own urges within and hypnotized by their dazzling and alluring lights. Don’t they need lamps at their feet, an inherent and powerful force to enable them to live as true men, to walk with celestial pride and to lead a clean, a holy and pure life as a prelude to the eternal one?
Protection of Bahá’u’lláh's Teachings[edit]
Whatever the explanation the world may give and however it justifies its present plight, it is crystal clear to the adherents of our Faith, that the road projected by Bahá’u’lláh through this world enveloped in darkness, is illumined and safeguarded by the protective measures of His teachings.
The unpardonable forgetfulness and negligence of parents in their attitude towards their children is the result of wrong deductions and will ultimately bring the children to the abyss of disgrace and shame, and in the life to come will hold them subject to God’s justice.
If we live in a house without a lamp the consequences of unseen troubles and even disasters will no doubt await us. If we do not ignite the fire of faith in the hearts of our little ones the decline of their mental, physical and spiritual lives will immediately set in. Where there is light, everything is properly placed and clearly seen; and the residents of the house can use everything with proper perspective. The same thing is true of the light of faith when ignited in the hearts and souls of children. Then all their God-given gifts, talents and capacities will function harmoniously and efficiently.
As the immense horizon of life stretches in front of our children’s eyes, we see them torn between two forces. The one pulls them down to the point where all their pleasures turn into agony and the other, symbolized by a voice within them, which seeks to lift them to summits of splendors where even death is changed into glory and eternity. Look at them with their expecting, innocent and bewildered eyes, undecided amidst the controversial and devouring forces of life. Do we sit comfortably in our seats as Roman spectators and watch human lives thrown into the mouths of beasts? Or, as honest parents, do we help them, guide them and assist them to raise their eyes and behold the rising sun of Glory?
Backbiting Quenches the Spirit[edit]
From my experience I know of one calamity which pitilessly brings gradual death to the growing spirit of our children. This disaster is very often an undesired guest, but alas, sometimes is invited, given the best seat — our hearts — and is offered the sweetest moments of our precious lives. It is like the freezing breeze of mid-winter which passes through almond groves, kills the blossoms and leaves the poor farmers who were comfortably settled in their warm rooms, poverty-stricken and sorrowful.
This hideous intruder is backbiting. No matter how much we endeavour to bring up our children in the spirit of the Faith, to teach them its laws, principles and precepts, if there is the slightest whisper of backbiting in our homes, let us be sure that our dear little ones are gone forever and irretrievably lost.
The perilous effects are so imperceptible that one’s own ego is not warned and the parents are not alerted to the symptoms of the spreading spiritual ailment. One of the old teachers of the Cause used to say that we try to pull a very heavy load to the top story of the house, and when the load is up, an ignorant man applies the sharp edge of his knife to the rope carrying the load. The downfall is sure. All the efforts of the many laborers who pulled the load are lost forever and in one instant. The same thing is true of the poisonous atmosphere created by this hideous guest in our own abode.
We think the children are playing with their toys and are not paying attention to what we are saying. It may be true that they do not consciously respond to the conversation of their elders, but their eyes see and their ears hear and register things within.
The children’s hearts and souls are like clean mirrors or containers of pure, crystal and translucent water. Every word uttered by us against other friends, like a drop of ink, sinks deep into the transparent hearts. At the beginning, the color may not seem to have changed, but we know that it is absorbed with all its poisonous effects. Should the drops of poison be repeated, the child’s whole existence becomes victim to a spiritual disease, the first symptoms of which are his reluctance to attend Bahá’í classes, and his grudges, even sometimes his hatred towards other Bahá’ís.
What do we expect our children to do when we as elders sit in our homes and talk against our fellow Bahá’ís, members of committees and Local Spiritual Assemblies, and perhaps the Secretary or a member of the National Assembly? The children look up to these Divine Institutions and we raze them to the dust in their growing minds and loving hearts. Then when they are of age, they do not feel any sense of security and safety in the friends’ homes, nor do they trust Bahá’í committees, Local Spiritual Assemblies or the National Spiritual Assembly. That is why when we ask them to attend classes or summer schools, their reaction is obviously antagonistic. It is exactly as if we paralyze the child and then ask him to run, or starve him and then demand the performance of athletic feats.
Moroccan School Welcomes Seventy Participants[edit]
Fifth National Summer School in Meknes, Morocco, held September 3-9, 1967. Friends from fourteen localities attended. A message from the Universal House of Justice was read in reply to a cable supplicating the prayers of that august body. A young girl from Marrakesh delivered a well-prepared lecture on the role of women in the Bahá’í Faith. All present were impressed by this manifestation of the creative force of the Word of God, transforming the habitually shy and withdrawn Moroccan women into efficient and active participants.
Swaziland, Lesotho, and Mozambique National Assembly Formed[edit]
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique, elected April, 1967, at Mawelawela Camp in Swaziland, South Africa.
Mawelawela Camp in Swaziland, South Africa, was again the setting for the National Convention. Many familiar faces were absent, for it was the hour for the new National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique to be born. The mother region of South and West Africa was about to be divided again. One more link in the chain of Bahá’u’lláh’s expanding World Order was being forged, and it was a solemn moment. A sense of unworthiness and a feeling of wonder prevailed, for such bounty had come so quickly to this little corner of a great continent. But as a young bird must leave its nest to try its Wings, so God in His mercy is allowing these countries an opportunity to become a sister National Assembly among the pillars supporting our supreme administrative body, the Universal House of Justice.
Registration took place Friday evening, April 21. The Convention was opened Sunday morning by vice-chairman John Allen, of the National Spiritual Assembly of South and West Africa, who welcomed three Auxiliary Board members, the representative of South and West Africa, the eighteen delegates and visiting friends. William Masehla, representative of the Mother Assembly, gave an inspiring message.
The message of the Universal House of Justice was given by selected readers and translators. The onward march of the Faith was proclaimed, with its victories and achievements, as well as the goals and projects immediately ahead. After the reading of a second message from the Universal House of Justice outlining goals for this region, there was discussion as to what progress had been made. Various problems were brought forth, chief of which was a need for competent teachers. The Universal House of Justice placed priority on the goal of acquiring a Teacher Training Institute, but this and other property goals are being delayed by the need to obtain the sanction of town management boards and government officials. Stress was placed on teaching youth and children as the source of future strength, also a goal of the Nine Year Plan.
The Convention was fortunate in having three auxiliary Board members present — Helen Wilks, Joseph Nkambule and Paddy Mazibuko. Mrs. Wilks explained the relationship between various institutions of the Faith, illustrating her talk with a chart. Joseph Nkambule read the message from the Hands of the Cause in Africa, giving both the English and Zulu translations. Paddy Mazibuko Came from Johannesburg to be with his fellow-Swazis. He gave the Riḍván Message, telling again of the Declaration of Bahá’u’lláh to His followers in the Garden of Riḍván, near Baghdád.
Benjamin Dlamini and Christopher Kuhlase summed up the goals assigned to the three countries of this region with emphasis on strong, functioning local assemblies. Rudolfo Duna from Mozambique outlined the functions of the National Spiritual Assembly, stressing the great responsibility that rests upon that body, elected as follows: Bothata Pokane, Wellington Malindise, Christopher Kuhlase, Rudolfo Duna, Benjamin Dlamini, Charles Ducker, John Allen, Dale Allen and Valera Allen. All countries of the new region were represented.
A vote of thanks went to Enola Leonard, sister of John Allen visiting from California. Mrs. Leonard trained a chorus of lovely voices who sang for devotions, for entertainment, for enticing stragglers back into the convention hall and simply for the love of singing and uplifting the hearts of all. The flow of the spirit which gave birth to the new National Spiritual Assembly caused the delegates and friends to rise and reaffirm their dedication to the tasks assigned them by the Universal House of Justice. They pledged to carry on, in this little corner of the world, the Work ‘Abdu’l-Bahá so longed to do.
First National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique held in April, 1967, in Swaziland, South Africa
Summer School in Somalia[edit]
A group of Bahá’ís and friends from Mogadiscio, Somalia, taken during their thirteenth Summer School, held August 31 - September 8, 1967.
Israeli Ambassador to Korea Calls at Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Seoul[edit]
The Israeli Ambassador to Korea, Mr. Mordechai Arbell, honored the Bahá’ís of Korea with a visit to the Bahá’í National Headquarters in Seoul on August 8, 1967. He was greeted by five officers of the National Spiritual Assembly: John S. McHenry, Kim Chan Zin, Kim Yong Yon, Cho Ching Yong and Mrs. Elizabeth McHenry, as well as several local Bahá’ís. A small tea was served in his honor.
Mr. Arbell explained that while serving his military duty in the Israeli army some years ago he had been stationed in ‘Akká and while there visited the mansion of Bahjí. “It was my good fortune,” he said, “to be accompanied on this visit by two Bahá’ís. They explained the Bahá’í Faith to me and gave me an appreciation of their Faith and the Bahá’í holy shrines located in Israel. Ever since I have had an especially warm place in my heart for the Bahá’ís and consider myself their friend.” He further stated that he had noticed the Bahá’í sign on the building and wanted to pay his respects to the Bahá’ís of Korea.
Israeli Ambassador to Korea (front row, center) making call at national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Seoul, Korea, in August, 1967.
New Korean School Inaugurated With Institutes and Summer School[edit]
The new teaching institute building, bought with some of the funds donated by the friends in Ardistan, Iran, was first put into use June 1-5. 1967. The building is located in the city of Kyongju, in the Province or Kyongsan-Buk-To, the area in Korea the most heavily populated with Bahá’ís. There are over 2500 Bahá’ís living in this area, with twenty-five local Spiritual assemblies. Invitations to the school were sent first to just ten students and a faculty of four in a trial~run. This session, because it was so successful, put many fears at rest, i.e.: maybe people wouldn’t be interested enough in studying to come; perhaps farmers would be too busy with their crops to come; if it were attended would the local Bahá’ís be able to house and provide food for everyone in the institute. But instead of these fears coming true, more applications came in than expected and Suh Yonk Hak, temporary caretaker oi the building, Mrs. Song, who keeps a restaurant locally with her husband (also a Bahá’í), and Miss Yu, member of the Kyongju Spiritual Assembly, rose magnificently to the occasion and managed the physical needs of the institute with aplomb. As a result, the plans of the National Teaching Committee to hold institutes the last three to five days of each month throughout the year went forward.
The second monthly institute was a full-scale affair. sixty-one Bahá’ís and inquirers, including faculty members, gathered from Seoul, Kwangju and Pusan, attended the institute and put in eight hours a day of concentrated, serious enthusiastic study. Special guests at the school were two Auxiliary Board members: Rouhollah Momtazi from Japan and Mr. Charles Duncan, whose last post was Taiwan but who is now permanently residing in Korea. The school was more than launched — it was on its way!
Sixty-seven Attend Summer School[edit]
An even greater success was experienced when the summer school was held in mid—August from the tenth through the fifteenth — the first summer school held in Korea in three years. Sixty-seven Bahá’ís from all over Korea attended and participated in the classes, recreational tours and evening entertainment. The summer school presented an even greater challenge to organizational talent than the institutes, for, whereas a great number of students for the institutes lived nearby and went home at night and for some of their meals, the summer school students came from far and wide and had to be fed at the school and housed either at the school or in inns. In spite of crowded conditions, extremely hot and humid weather, and an abundance of mosquitoes, morale couldn’t have been higher.
Four classes were held each morning starting at 8 am.; workshop classes were held on three of the atternoons in a nearby park under magnificent trees, with secretaries reporting to all the assembled students their group’s answers to workshop questions. The park was largely deserted and seemed placed there just for the Bahá’ís.
Kyongju City was once the ancient capital of Korea, and is the site of many historically famous places — including a famous Buddhist Temple and the oldest observatory in the world. Buses were chartered, and a tour to some of these places was arranged for the Bahá’ís one afternoon and a trip to the beach, one hour away, on another afternoon. As many of the Bahá’ís had never before seen or been in the ocean, this provided a special treat.
On the strength of such successful institutes and the summer school, plans are being considered for holding a winter school. Also, hopes are high that additional funds may be found so that another teaching institute can be secured in Mokpo, a city in southern Korea, centrally located for the many Bahá’í communities in the surrounding islands.
Teaching Institute recently acquired by the Bahá’ís of Korea, at Kyongju is the scene of a study session in July, 1967, as shown above. Photo at right is of one of the classes. During August a summer school was held at this Institute as pictured below.
Photo at left shows Bahá’í children and friends from Trapiche de Jalapa, Nicaragua, who were given lessons in reading and writing by Bahá’í teacher Mrs. Olga Harper. At right, Bahá’ís and guests of the community of Trapiche de Jalapa, with pioneer Jorge Harper.
Teaching in Nicaragua Brazil Costa Rica
Indian Bahá’ís of the Kiriri tribe, Bahá’í, Brazil.
Left: Costa Rica recently held its first teaching institute at Newcastle on the Atlantic seaboard. The National Spiritual Assembly of Costa Rica, shown above, chartered a bus to transport approximately thirty-five Bahá’ís to the Intercontinental Conference in Panama.
Sixth Convention in Norway
Sixth National Convention of the Bahá’í’s of Norway, held in Oslo, with some participants coming from Lofoten Island, above the Arctic Circle.
The Dawn-Breakers in Process of German Translation[edit]
The Publishing Trust or Germany, Bahá’í Verlag, is in process of translating a number of publications including The Dawn-Breakers, that soul-stirring narrative by Nabil which Shoghi Effendi stated was an essential adjunct to teaching programs, an “unchallengeable textbook in . . . Summer Schools, as a source of inspiration in all literary and artistic pursuits, as an invaluable companion in times of leisure, as indispensable preliminary to future pilgrimage to Bahá’u’lláh’s native land, and as unfailing instrument to allay distress and resist attacks of critical, disillusioned humanity.” (BAHÁ’Í NEWS, July, 1932)
The Publishing Trust of Germany states: “The importance and value of the preparations (i.e. translation and publication) should not be underestimated. With the present costs in Germany, the pure cost of translating the book God Passes By is more than $4,000.00. Hence translating done by Bahá’í friends is a very interesting means of contributing to the Faith in more than one way: the actual translations; and the saving of essential funds for other purposes.”
The German Trust also translated and published The Promised Day Is Come during the past year, an important text for Proclamation activities.
School in the Dominican Republic
Regional school in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, was held August 19-20, with good attendance from several communities.
Vancouver School Holds Three Sessions[edit]
In a beautiful seaside setting, blessed by sunny summer weather, the Canadian Pacific Summer School at Bowser, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, provided children, youth and adults with knowledge and understanding of the Faith and inspiration for the responsibilities awaiting them. Three separate, one-week sessions were held:
The Northwest Projects Committee of the United States sponsored the first session — a training class for young people prior to their setting out on summer youth projects. Most gratifying to all present was the enthusiasm of the youth, who are already planning next year’s session.
The second session was the school, for youngsters ages five to fifteen, aimed at giving the children an experience in Bahá’í living. Each child or family group was accompanied by an adult, thereby providing the staff needed to supervise children in a camp setting.
The third session was the adult school, with study sessions held mornings, afternoons and evenings. The staff included Hand of the Cause John Robarts and his wife Audrey, Auxiliary Board member; Mrs. Rinde of California and Tom Garroway of Baker Lake in Canada's Arctic. Mr. Robarts inspired his listeners with reminiscences of Africa, stories of prayer in action and thoughts on the future of the Faith.
The Canadian Pacific Summer School at Bowser on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Convention in Southwest Pacific Ocean[edit]
Annual Convention of the Bahá’í of the Southwest Pacific Ocean, Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. The following National Spiritual Assembly was elected: William Laing (chairman), A.J. Blum (vice-chairman), Mrs. G. Blum (secretary), Alek Sualou, Mr. Hoahania, Johnson Sukulu, Johnson Talimae, A. Fassy (treasurer) and Mrs. Mary Fassy.
At the Makah Council Fire, left to right, top: Auxiliary Board member Chester Kahn, Melba King, Joseph Hillaire; bottom: Rita Barbre, Bill Tyler preparing salmon, John Thomas.
Fifth Annual Council Fire Held on the Makah Reservation[edit]
On the Makah Reservation at Neah Bay, Washington, amid tall trees with the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Sooes river on the other, the Fifth Annual Council Fire attracted 600 Bahá’ís and guests, including representatives from many Indian tribes. The Makah believers and friends sang traditional songs with dances and story telling.
Auxiliary Board member Chester Kahn, a Navajo Indian from New Mexico, represented the Hands of the Cause. He stressed the importance of teaching the American Indians. Eugene King, a Tlingit Indian of Seattle, and Melba King, Eskimo, spoke of Biblical prophecy as it relates to the Faith and its teaching. Joseph Hillaire, member of the Lummi tribe and noted orator and carver from the Northwest, spoke to the friends and guests with radiance and feeling about how he had found the Faith and how much more each one can do.
Prayers, music and delicious baked salmon, as well as the messages from other speakers were joyfully shared by all. Plans are already underway for an even bigger Council Fire next year and all are invited to attend.
Arizona Governor Jack Williams proclaimed September 17 as World Peace Day. With him are Mrs. Beatrice Bechtold, and Col. C. B. Cleveland of the Phoenix Local Spiritual Assembly.
Maine Governor Curtis signs proclamation with Bahá’í onlookers James Calahan, Marie Hoover, Wayne Hoover, Juanita Rowe and Lawrence Gray.
World Peace Day Proclaimed Throughout the United States[edit]
“Many Nations — One World” was this year’s theme for the eighth annual Bahá’í World Peace Day observance held September 17 promoting America’s spiritual destiny to raise the standard of peace in the world. Early reports indicate the day was observed by more than sixty communities in thirty-one states. Newspaper publicity became the most successful means of promotion with over seventy papers carrying more than 900 column inches. This year press coverage was especially extensive because of the mention of the six intercontinental conferences marking the 100th anniversary of Bahá’u’lláh’s call to kings and rulers of the world for peace and unity. The press releases prepared by the Bahá’í Public Information Department in Wilmette, Illinois were well received by editors and, with paid ads, constituted the major portion of coverage. Radio and television spot announcements and interviews of prominent Bahá’í speakers were also used to explain the Bahá’í Day to Americans. Other methods included window and library displays, posters and beautifully printed invitations. The latter were mailed to ministers, human relations workers, town and county officials, civic groups, and educators in several localities.
This year there were fourteen governors’ (Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Wyoming) and four mayors’ (Hollywood, Florida; Florissant and Webster Groves, Missouri; Alexandria, Virginia) proclamations and statements designating September 17 as World Peace Day. These are in addition to the unknown number which were renewed from the thirty proclamations previously acquired since the inception of the Day in 1959.
Bahá’ís promoted World Peace Day with imagination and variety. The public was invited to attend everything from public meetings with speakers and panel discussions to afternoon coffees, shopping center exhibits, movie and slide shows, and potluck dinners. The Phoenix, Arizona Local Assembly gave the city a living memorial of the Day by planting a Peace rose in a heavily traveled area of Encanto Park in Phoenix. Mayor Milton Graham took part in the program by accepting the rose and helping with the planting. Many non-Bahá’ís were present to hear his remarks and those of the Bahá’í, Dr. Robert Gulick. The Bahá’ís presented a permanent plaque, “Peace Rose Presented to the city by the Bahá’ís of Phoenix, Arizona, in Commemoration of World Peace Day, 196 Hoping to include all areas of the town in the observance, the Bahá’ís in another part of town had earlier held a panel discussion on universal language, universal education and elimination of all prejudice. The Local Spiritual Assembly was also represented at Governor Jack Williams’ issuance of the proclamation for the State.
A small group of New York Bahá’ís (five adults and two youth) in Rockland County hosted seventy-five guests at a buffet dinner. The three major county papers gave it extensive coverage. Among the thirty guests present was a refreshing abundance of young people as well as five teachers and a high school guidance counsellor, all invited by a newly declared youth and his brother.
A Bahá’í children's chorus conducted by five year old Tony Kahn and an a cappella choir rounded out the Gallup, New Mexico, program which featured speakers Auxiliary Board member Chester Kahn and Mrs. Bernice Fairchilds, a public school teacher.
Bahá’ís of Hollywood, Florida, invited leaders of different denominations and religions to speak at their city-wide observance in the Theatre Under the Stars. Mayor Maynard Abrams proclaimed the Day. About 300 attended the meeting which received notable press advance and follow-up coverage. Jointly the Bahá’ís of Ft. Lauderdale, Eroward County and Boca Raton, Florida, sponsored a public meeting in Ft. Lauderdale with Herbert Lewis speaking on the Bahá’í Peace Plan. He also addressed seventy-five Kiwanians on the Faith.
World Peace Day Observed in Many Ways[edit]
Public Meetings
(speakers indicated where known)
Arizona, Scottsdale: Mrs. Lia Tanti
California, Apple Valley: Miss Nora A: Newman
Ventura: Fred Schechter
Newhall: Reuben Busby
San Diego: John Stroessler (followed by buffet supper)
Santa Monica: Hugh Lineberger
Santa Rosa: Fair-Oaks, J.D.: Willis Sprattling
Shell Beach-Pismo Beach: Mr. and Mrs. John Marino
Laguna Beach: James Nelson
Colorado, Jefferson County: Seymour Weinberg
(also booth at shopping center)
Florida, Ft. Myers: Mrs. Nina B. Matthisen
(also gave book to library)
Tallahassee: David West
Hollywood: (see story)
Tampa:
Illinois, Danville: Terry Boland
Quincy: Henry Weil
Peoria: Mrs. Margaret Bustard
Urbana and Champaign: Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Parmelee
Maine, Portland: Mrs. Robert McLaughlin
Iowa, Waterloo:
Maryland, Montgomery County: Thomas Thompson
Massachusetts, Brockton:
Michigan, Grand Rapids: Mrs. Carol Lynn
Missouri, Webster Groves: Mrs. Naomi McCord
Nebraska, Lincoln: State Sen. Marvin B. Stromer, Mrs.
Elizabeth Holand Gibson
New Hampshire, Peterborough: Mrs. Marzieh Gail
New Jersey, Teaneck: Dr. Eugene Byrd
New Mexico, Gallup: Mrs. Bernice Fairchilds and Auxiliary Board member Chester Kahn
New York, Rockland County: (see story)
North Dakota, Fargo: Mrs. Catherine Hanson
Ohio, North Olmsted: Steven Foster
Columbus: Robert Richard
Oklahoma, Tulsa: Mrs. Carol Allen
Pennsylvania, Swarthmore: Auxiliary Board member
Mrs. Javidukht Khádem
West Chester:
Rhode Island, Providence: Mason McCracken
(also booth at State Fair)
South Carolina, Greenville: Mrs. Jane McCants and
Joseph Vaughn
Washington, Spokane: Dr. Arnold A. Stirtan and Keith
E. Brown
Yakima: Roy Hudson
Wyoming, Laramie: Dr. Julian Abas and Dr. Lois Abas
Ohio, Mansfield: Mrs. Mary Maxwell
Toledo: John Copeland
Fireside: Tucson, Arizona: home fireside with tapes Hillsboro, Oregon
Audio-Visual Shows
Mobile, Alabama: slide program at hotel
Redondo Beach, California: Film, “And His Name Shall
Be One” shown at shopping center
Jackson, Mississippi: film “And His Name Shall Be
One”
Butte, Montana: slide program
Hempstead, New York: films, “And His Name Shall Be
One” and “The Minds of Men”
Panels
Miami, Florida: “Paths to Peace”
Prince Georges County, Maryland: “The Lesser and
the Most Great Peace”
Salem, Oregon
Snohomish County, Washington: Youth panel
Omaha, Nebraska
Other Programs
Phoenix, Arizona: (see story)
Greenwich, Connecticut: fall opening of Bahá’í School
Key West, Florida: afternoon tea and talk
Park Forest, Illinois: press publicity
Ipswich, Massachusetts: buffet and discussion
Plainville, Massachusetts: display of Bahá’í books in
public library for week of Sept. 10-17
LaPorte, Texas: press publicity
Fort Worth, Texas: coffee and talk
Alexandria, Virginia: pot luck supper with Arlington,
Virginia
Issaquah, Washington: race unity picnic
Oshkosh, Wisconsin: privately in homes
Kenosha, Wisconsin: chicken supper followed by talk
Cheyenne, Wyoming: supported program at Laramie,
Wyoming
World Peace Day Panel, Sept. 17, 1967, Snohomish County Intercommunity Meeting held in Everett, Washington. Youth Panel speaking on World Peace, in picture from left to right, Jonathan Piff, Tacoma Community College; Harold Javid, Cascade High School in Everett; John Martig, Olympic Community College; Janine Thorson, University of Washington; and Kip Yotter, Chairman, Shoreline Community College of Edmonds.
Alaska Governor Walter J. Hickel signing World Peace Day Proclamation in Juneau. Standing, left to right: Robert Milton, chairman of the Local Assembly of Juneau, John Kolstoe of the National Spiritual Assembly, Janet Smith (NSA secretary), and Marion Johnson (secretary of the Alaska Baha’i Proclamation Committee).
Rhode Island Baha’is obtain Governor’s Proclamation.
Some of the group of over fifty believers and friends at a Race Unity picnic at Lake Sammamish State Park, Washington on August 20. Special prayers for unity and peace were read; there was a bountiful potluck dinner with songs and good fellowship to create the Bahá’í spirit of unity. This gathering received good local publicity and paved the way for World Peace Day meeting in September.
Briefing Session Maps Plans for Action[edit]
In Eastern New York State the information and enthusiasm for carrying out the teaching plans for the coming year have been passed to the communities and isolated believers speedily and effectively. After a briefing session for members of the State Goals Committee held on September 10 a similar session was held September 24 in Rockland County, New York, where newly appointed representatives of the areas met with members of the State Goals Committee to prayerfully consider plans for implementing programs locally.
Basic to the consultation was the 1967 Riḍván message from the Universal House of Justice and the Tablets of the Divine Plan. The role of area representatives was explained, practical suggestions for teaching were given and the importance of the individual believer was stressed. As the representatives return home they will in turn pass on to the local believers the renewed spirit of dedication generated at this Conference, thus translating national plans into community action.
Briefing Conference, September 24 in Rockland County, New York. Left to right, standing: Arthur Grossman, Dan Barrett, Richard Suhm, Bob Jordan, Tom Moore, Jim Bornn; sitting: Hella Weiland, Barbara Barrett, Virginia Cooper, Lisel Lowen, Nancy Monschein, Josephine Lasoff.
Bahá’ís and friends at the Rocky Mountain Bahá’í Institute, September 1-4, 1967.
Colorado Institute Inspires Participants[edit]
The Rocky Mountain Bahá’í Institute held at a boys’ camp near Arvada, Colorado on the weekend of September 1-4, attracted over eighty Bahá’ís and close seekers. Those who came were richly rewarded with food for thought and action, there was opportunity for fellowship and sharing of thoughts, and the program included sessions for the youth.
Teachers of the courses were: Auxiliary Board member Beth McKenty, Winston Evans, Jane McCants and Kay Zinky. Some highlights of these sessions are as follows:
Beth McKenty: That action is needed as well as knowledge of the Faith. It is not sufficient to know, but to know and to do. We can be like a drop of water that evaporates from the top of an ocean, or we can become a part of that ocean that contacts the companions of God. In all cases our response should be one of kindness, not acting in a superior manner, but remembering our station as servant of God.
Jane McCants: On teaching people of different backgrounds, remember that souls are ignorant, lowly, mature or not mature, not that people are black, white, Spanish speaking etc. Find the need of each individual. Teaching is the product of love for God demonstrated in loving service to mankind. If your words affect your own heart, they will effect the heart of others. The Tablets to the Kings mark the beginning of the Day of Judgment when all humanity is called to account.
Winston Evans: The immediate future of the American Bahá’í community depends on proclamation. The principles given by Bahá’u’lláh are no longer a challenge to people, but proclamation must center on Who Bahá’u’lláh is. People are wrapped in a “strange sleep” and Bahá’ís must not be affected. The greatest calamity for Bahá’ís is spiritual death. The Guardian urged that Bahá’ís have courage and not be conscious of frailties.
Kay Zinky: The importance of deepening should be stressed, aids for this are to be found in the Hidden Words and the Gleanings which are as gems of His Knowledge from the Pen of Power. Backbiting is the most grievous error for it quenches the light of the heart and soul.
News Briefs[edit]
Villa Gonzalez, Dominican Republic, dedicated a new Center with a well-planned program by the Bahá’ís of Santiago. Also the Bahá’í youth of Santa Domingo and San Pedro de Macoris co-sponsored a picnic attended by fifty-five Bahá’í youth and their friends on August 27, 1967.
On July 9, 1967, the government-owned radio station, Radio Belize, used a twenty minute radio dramatization of the Martyrdom of the Báb, written and produced by Shirley Warde. The program received so much popular comment throughout the country that the station decided to rebroadcast it during September.
New avenues of publicity have been opening up in an encouraging way in New Zealand, including a number of newspaper articles. A twelve minute talk was also broadcast on the “I Believe” series over all national stations during the month of August. The talk was given by John Carr, member of the National Spiritual Assembly of New Zealand.
The Bahá’ís of Niagara Falls, New York marked the anniversary of the visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to that city in 1912 with a two day Institute for Bahá’ís, September 9 and 10, concluded with a public meeting. Held at a local hotel the commemoration featured three sessions by Mrs. Beatrice Rinde on Bahá’í Law.
The group of over seventy believers enjoyed meals together in the hotel, with the added opportunity for fellowship. The public meeting at the conclusion of the Institute attracted over one hundred, at least twenty-five being inquirers. Auxiliary Board member Dr. Peter Khan gave a very inspiring talk on “ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Architect of World Order”.
The joy and inspiration resulting from this activity is felt by the believers in the area and there have been tangible results in the way of opportunities to publicize the Faith on the radio.
Proclamation Cortez — An Overwhelming Success[edit]
Bahá’ís singing at the Cortez proclamation, August 26, after the presentation of “The Martyrs”.
Bahá’í youth and seekers in the pamphlet table in the Grace Speck room, City Building, Cortez, where proclamation was held.
There is a small town of 6000, Cortez, Colorado, where the four states of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado meet. It serves a population many times its size because of the outlying ranches, hamlets and Indian reservations. Here, with no other Bahá’ís for miles around, live two Bahá’ís, the Paul Brocks and their son Paul, and here the Colorado State Goals Committee, with the cooperation of the three other states, sponsored Bahá’í Proclamation Days, August 26-27 with results far exceeding expectations.
Over twenty seekers joined with thirty-five Bahá’ís in the Saturday evening presentation of “The Martyrs”, a dramatic reading involving the life of the Báb. At least fifteen attending the Sunday afternoon lecture heard Seymour Weinberg on “Challenging Pathway to Peace”.
Many of the seekers were youth who filtered in during the day on Saturday in groups of two and four, and were given a more or less continuous fireside by the Bahá’í young people from Colorado and New Mexico.
The only radio station in the area carried comprehensive news bulletins of the proclamation and many listeners were surely impressed with the affable interview with Seymour Weinberg and Eldon Dennis on the station. This was most warm and personal, with the hostess stressing the “wonderful opportunity for people in the area” to learn more of the Faith. She ended with, “people who are curious and interested surely are welcome.” The subsequent station break emphasized that the proclamation was the most exciting event in the listening area that weekend.
The excellent posters and souvenir edition of the program, mailed to many including the churches in the area, were most effective as were ads in the local papers.
The Bahá’ís of Colorado have never before undertaken a major proclamation event in an underpopulated area, but feel that this was a most auspicious beginning. Not the least of the reasons for its success was the devoted efforts of the Brock family who have lived there for two years as Bahá’í pioneers, preparing the way, and attracting confirmations which are now becoming evident.
News Briefs[edit]
Sixty Bahá’ís and their friends who gathered in El Paso, Texas on the first weekend of September for an institute were happily rewarded in experiencing Bahá’í fellowship and cooperation in action. All worked together to make the program run smoothly in little as well as big details. Classes were offered for children and youth as well as adults, with programs suited to the audiences. Subjects considered included: “The Bahá’í Way to Peace”, “The Laws of the New Age” and “Spiritual and Material Balance in Life.” The believers of El Paso feel especially blessed to have hosted the event.
For the third consecutive year the Bahá’ís of Urbana, Ohio have had a display at the Champaign County Fair, which was August 6 through 11 this year. Over 300 pamplets were taken, Life After Death and Man one Family being most popular.
Part of the group of sixty who attended the Institute in El Paso, Texas, September 1-4.
Planning for Human Rights Year — 1968[edit]
On September 13 and 14 eight Bahá’ís attended the Annual Conference for Non-Governmental Organizations held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Dr. Victor deAraujo, Mildred R. Mottahedeh, Dr. George Goodman and Badi Foster were appointed by the Bahá’í International Community; and Ellen Parmelee, Charlotte Donaldson, Juliet Soderberg and Salvatore Pelle by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States to attend as delegates and observers. They joined those of more than 150 organizations also accredited to the Office of Public Information.
Preparations for the International Year for Human Rights was the theme for the four sessions with addresses from distinguished United Nations personnel and panels of experts in related fields. On Wednesday afternoon, there was a reception for those attending the conference to meet members of the United Nations Secretariat.
At the first session Mr. Mark Shreiber, Director of the Division of Human Rights, introduced plans for the International Year. He made repeated reference to the important contribution the N.G.O.’s can make to the celebration of this anniversary in 1968. Next, experts from various specialized agencies outlined work done towards support of specific rights to education, to work and of the child. A panel followed with discussion encouraging the organizations to assist in stimulating and informing their respective groups.
To enhance the diversity of the presentations, the Ambassador of Jamaica, Mr. E. R. Richardson, presented an account of the United Nations’ efforts for the elimination of racial discrimination. His talk was most frank and pointed to the difficulty the governments are facing in implementing the Rights as outlined in the Covenants.
The discussions which followed each session often raised the question of what an organization can do to support the Year for Human Rights. It was stated that the United Nations does not have the means or position to adequately inform the public of its work in this field. Therefore, great emphasis was placed on the role of the N.G.O.’s in carrying to their groups the news of the international efforts for the rights of man. To this discussion the Bahá’í delegation, with its distinguished variety of races, ages and backgrounds, was outstanding in its regular attendance and constructive contributions.
As a result of the Conference, the Bahá’í’s better understand the opportunities available to work more closely with the United Nations in celebration of International Human Rights Year — 1968. It also was more apparent how urgent is the need for Bahá’ís to understand and teach the spiritual basis of the unity of mankind as proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.
U.S. Bahá’í Committee for the United Nations.
Southeastern School Continues to Grow[edit]
Bahá’ís from as far away as California, Ohio and Florida, plus twelve other states gathered at Camp Dorothy Walls, for another Southeastern Bahá’í Summer School — July 16-22. This year’s school was the second one held at the camp located near Asheville, North Carolina. Despite following the largest Southeastern School ever — 302 at Covington, Georgia — and preceding the Centennial Celebration in October, 170 Bahá’ís attended the school.
Auxiliary Board member William Tucker conducted the orientation session. Later, refreshments were served from a beautiful “Heavenly Table”, a table decorated with a model of the Wilmette House of Worship and heavily laden with ripe fruit and tempting goodies. From this first night the spirit began to mount.
The children, some fifty strong, were met by equally strong and capable teachers and teacher aids, Day and night baby sitting was also provided.
Seven o’clock prayer sessions began the days at the mountain camp. Classes following were: The Dawn Breakers, with Auxiliary Board member Albert James conducting; Bahá’í Law with Mrs. Beatrice Rinde; Tablets to the Kings led by Mrs. Jane McCants.
The adults and the youth separated for the evening session with the adults going into discussion groups. Terah Cowart-Smith, was the discussion group coordinator. Mrs. Nancy Jordan was the teacher of youth classes, on Friendship, Love and Marriage.
The teaching effort was further assisted by Allah Kalantar, one of the many discussion leaders. His special topic was, Answers to Questions about the Bible. The midweek arrival of Auxiliary Board members Beth McKenty and Jack McCants, further heightened the spirit of fellowship and deepening among the friends.
The wrap-up session of the summer school began Friday evening, under the pavilion, down by the lake. After several talks by teachers and Auxiliary Board members, the children’s group and the youth group made special presentations.
Amid tears of sadness and joy, smiles, hugs and hearty hand shakes, the Bahá’ís departed Camp Dorothy Walls Saturday afternoon, after another successful Southeastern Bahá’í Summer School.
Fourteen youths who declared themselves at Homecoming Weekend at Davison Bahá’í School in Michigan.
Part of the booth sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Huntsville, Alabama in the county fair, held September 4 to 9. It is a popular occasion which attracts many visitors.
At the Benton County, Oregon, Fair, August 11-15, where the Spiritual Assembly of Corvallis presented “Words for the World” interspersed with choral music from the Bahá’í Victory Chorus Record. There was also a slide show demonstrating unity of men and including several pictures of Bahá’í Houses of Worship and Shrines.
Booth at Tribal Fair Attracts Many Visitors[edit]
The Message of Bahá’u’lláh was proclaimed in Window Rock, Arizona (capital of the Navajo Tribe) by means of a booth at the Navajo Tribal Fair September 7-10, 1967.
It was a joint effort of Bahá’ís of McKinley county and Gallup, New Mexico, and of Fort Defiance and Phoenix, Arizona, with the generous assistance of the American Indian Service Committee.
Attendants at the booth worked in teams, Indian and non-Indian, whenever possible so that there could be conversation with Navajo and English speaking people.
Many of the visitors lingered to talk and ask questions. Some had even visited the House of Worship in Wilmette, while others were anxious to take pamphlets for perusal later.
A Roman Catholic nun, observing the activity in the booth, remarked, “The Bahá’ís act as Christians should.”
The use of two feathers (shown in picture) is related to Navajo prophecy concerning the return of Twin Holy Beings in a time of great change and upheaval.
At Navajo Tribal Fair. Left to right: Mrs. Inge Rollins, Mrs. Linda Brown, Franklin Kahn, Hoskie Wilson, Cal Rollins and daughter Birgit.
Prelude to Proclamation[edit]
The Bahá’í community of Denver, Colorado sponsored a series of meetings and activities during the last week of August which were successful both in bringing the Faith to the attention of the public and in quickening and enthusing the local believers for future teaching. Winston Evans spoke twice during the week to well attended public meetings, evoking much interest as well as thoughtful questions from many of those attending. He appeared on a television program, during a morning news period in a live interview, and was featured on a radio program for one evening in which listeners telephoned in questions. In answer to a question concerning miracles he quoted the words of Christ concerning judging Him by His fruits, pointing out that the fruits of this Faith are evident in its spread to over 300 countries and territories. In a meeting for believers Mr. Evans stressed the importance of deepening and preparation for the forthcoming period of proclamation.
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