Bahá’í News/Issue 443/Text
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| No. 443 | BAHA’I YEAR 124 | FEBRUARY 1968 |
Night view of the octagon and drum of the Shrine of the Báb now Illuminated on all sides.
Re-gilding at the Shrine of the Báb[edit]
Above: Scaffolding and tent erected on pinnacles of the octagon as support and protection from wind and sun during re-gilding work on the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa. Right: Turkish gilder re-applying gold leaf to the base of the pinnacle on the octagon of the Shrine of the Báb in Haifa. Below: Scaffolding erected on the pinnacle of the octagon to support gilder during re-gilding (upper left), and workers preparing the wrought-iron railing for painting and subsequent re-gilding.
The Attitude of Bahá’ís Towards Politics[edit]
A STATEMENT BY THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
The Universal House of Justice has sent to all National Spiritual Assemblies relevant portions of a letter written on December 8, 1967 to an individual believer who asked questions about the relationship of Bahá’ís to the social and political forces presently operating in the world. Since this letter has general application to conditions in many parts of the world it is published in this issue of Bahá’í News with the approval of the Universal House of Justice:
. . we will gladly attempt to clarify some of the points which bewilder you in the relationship of Bahá’ís to politics. This is a matter of very great importance, particularly in these days when the world situation is so confused; an unwise act or statement by a Bahá’í in one country could result in a grave set-back for the Faith there or elsewhere — and even loss of the lives of fellow-believers.
The whole conduct of a Bahá’í in relation to the problems, sufferings and bewilderment of his fellow men should be viewed in the light of God’s purpose for mankind in this age and the processes He has set in motion for its achievement.
When Bahá’u’lláh proclaimed His Message to the world in the nineteenth century He made it abundantly clear that the first step essential for the peace and progress of mankind was its unification. As He says, ‘The well-being of mankind, its peace and security are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.’ (The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh p. 203). To this day, however, you will find most people take the opposite point of view: they look upon unity as an ultimate almost unattainable goal and concentrate first on remedying all the other ills of mankind. If they did but know it, these other ills are but various symptoms and side-effects of the basic disease — disunity.
Bahá’u’lláh has, furthermore, stated that the revivification of mankind and the curing of all its ills can be achieved only through the instrumentality of His Faith. “The vitality of men’s belief in God is dying out in every land; nothing short of His wholesome medicine can ever restore it. The corrosion of ungodliness is eating into the vitals of human society; what else but the Elixir of His potent Revelation can cleanse and revive it?” (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, XCIX) “That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith. This can in no wise be achieved except through the power of a skilled, an all-powerful and inspired Physician. This, verily, is the truth, and all else naught but error.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, CXX).
The Impotence of Statesmanship[edit]
In similar vein the beloved Guardian wrote: “Humanity, whether viewed in the light of man’s individual conduct or in the existing relationships between organized communities and nations, has, alas, strayed too far and suffered too great a decline to be redeemed through the unaided efforts of the best among its recognized rulers and statesmen — however disinterested their motives, however concerted their action, however unsparing in their zeal and devotion to its cause. No scheme which the calculations of the highest statesmanship may yet devise; no doctrine which the most distinguished exponents of economic theory may hope to advance; no principle which the most ardent of moralists may strive to inculcate, can provide. in the last resort, adequate foundations upon which the future of a distracted world can he built.
“No appeal for mutual tolerance which the worldlywise might raise, however compelling and insistent, can calm its passions or help restore its vigor. Nor would any general scheme of mere organized international cooperation, in whatever sphere of human activity, however ingenious in conception, or extensive in Scope, succeed in removing the root cause of the evil that has so rudely upset the equilibrium of present-day society. Not even, I venture to assert, would the very act of devising the machinery required for the political and economic unification of the world — a principle that has been increasingly advocated in recent times — provide in itself the antidote against the poison that is steadily undermining the vigor of organized peoples and nations.
“What else, might we not confidently affirm, but the unreserved acceptance of the Divine Program enunciated, with such simplicity and force as far back as sixty years ago, by Bahá’u’lláh, embodying in its essentials God’s divinely appointed scheme for the unification of mankind in this age, coupled with an indomitable conviction in the unfailing efficacy of each and all of its provisions, is eventually capable of withstanding the forces of internal disintegration which, if unchecked, must needs continue to eat. into the vitals of a despairing society.” (The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 33, 34).
Two Great Processes at Work[edit]
We are told by Shoghi Effendi that two great processes are at work in the world: the great Plan of God, tumultuous in its progress, working through mankind
as a whole, tearing down barriers to world unity and forging humankind into a unified body in the fires of suffering and experience. This process will produce, in God’s due time, the Lesser Peace, the political unification of the world. Mankind at that time can be likened to a body that is unified but without life. The second process, the task of breathing life into this unified body — of creating true unity and spirituality culminating in the Most Great Peace — is that of the Bahá’ís, who are laboring consciously, with detailed instructions and continuing divine guidance, to erect the fabric of the Kingdom of God on earth, into which they call their fellow men, thus conferring upon them eternal life.
The working out of God’s Major Plan proceeds mysteriously in ways directed by Him alone, but the Minor Plan that He has given us to execute, as our part in His grand design for the redemption of mankind, is clearly delineated. It is to this work that we must devote all our energies, for there is no one else to do it. So vital is this function of the Bahá’ís that Bahá’u’lláh has written: “O friends! Be not careless of the virtues with which ye have been endowed, neither be neglectful of your high destiny. Suffer not your labors to be wasted through the vain imaginations which certain hearts have devised. Ye are the stars of the heaven of understanding, the breeze that stirreth at the break of day, the soft-flowing waters upon which must depend the very life of all men, the letters inscribed upon His sacred scroll. With the utmost unity, and in a spirit of perfect fellowship, exert yourselves, that ye may be enabled to achieve that which beseemeth this Day of God.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, XCVI)
The Most Important Tasks[edit]
Because love for our fellow-men and anguish at their plight are essential parts of a true Bahá’í’s life, we are continually drawn to do what we can to help them. It is vitally important that we do so whenever the occasion presents itself, for our actions must say the same thing as our words — but this compassion for our fellows must not be allowed to divert our energies into channels which are ultimately doomed to failure, causing us to neglect the most important and fundamental work of all. There are hundreds of thousands of well-wishers of mankind who devote their lives to works of relief and charity, but a pitiful few to do the work which God Himself most wants done: the spiritual awakening and regeneration of mankind.
It is often through our misguided feeling that we can somehow aid our fellows better by some activity outside the Faith, that Bahá’ís are led to indulge in politics. This is a dangerous delusion. As Shoghi Effendi’s Secretary wrote on his behalf: “What we Bahá’ís must face is the fact that society is disintegrating so rapidly that moral issues which were clear a half century ago are now hopelessly confused and what is more, thoroughly mixed up with battling political interests. That is why the Bahá’ís must turn all their forces into the channel of building up the Bahá’í Cause and its Administration. They can neither change nor help the world in any other way at present. If they become involved in the issues the Governments of the world are struggling over, they will be lost. But if they build up the Bahá’í pattern they can offer it as a remedy when all else has failed.” (BAHÁ’Í NEWS No. 241, Mar. 1951. p.14) “. . . We must build up our Bahá’í system, and leave the faulty systems of the world to go their way. We cannot change them through becoming involved in them; on the contrary, they will destroy us.” (BAHÁ’Í NEWS No. 215, Jan. 1949, p.1)
Other instructions from the Guardian. covering the same theme in more detail, can be found on pages 24 and 29 to 32 of Principles of Bahá’í Administration (1963 edition); you are no doubt already familiar with these.
The key to a true understanding of these principles seems to be in these words of Bahá’u’lláh: “O people of God! Do not busy yourselves in your own concerns; let your thoughts be fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the hearts and souls of men. This can best be achieved through pure and holy deeds, through a virtuous life and a goodly behavior. Valiant acts will ensure the triumph of this Cause, and a saintly character will reinforce its power. Cleave unto righteousness, O people of Bahá! This, verily, is the commandment which this wronged One hath given unto you, and the first choice of His unrestrained Will for everyone of you.” (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, XLIII).
THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
Bahá’í world Center
Haifa, Israel
December 3, 1967
A CORRECTION
The story on the International Bahá’í Conference in Chicago published in the December issue of Bahá’í News contains certain mistakes in the report on page 13 of the address of Hand of the Cause of God Zikru’lláh Khádem which the editors wish to correct in accordance with Mr. Khádem’s request. These conferences are important as historical facts.
The reference to Bahá’u’lláh’s last night in Constantinople is inaccurate. Rather it was the night after the return of Shamsi Big who had been instructed to deliver the Tablet of Bahá’u’lláh into the hands of ‘Ali Pashá, the night Shamsi Big reported “I know not what that letter contained . . . .” (see GPB p. 160.)
The fifth, sixth and seventh lines, beginning with “He vowed” should read “He vowed that with twelve of His followers He would overthrow their dynasty.” It is not known how many followers were with Bahá’u’lláh that night.
The report states that Mr. Khádem chanted two verses from the Tablet of Naw-Rúz revealed on that night. These verses were from the Tablet of Náqús, not Naw-Rúz, and it was not revealed on that night but earlier in Istanbul. It was chanted on that historic night by a group of believers on the return of Shamsi Big. The phrase “as the original faithful twelve had done” should be stricken from the report.
Hand of the Cause Visits Canada and Alaska[edit]
Left: Mr. Samandari and his son, Medhi, being greeted at Juneau airport by Robert Moul, member of the Alaskan National Assembly. At right: Dr. Samandari and his son at a meeting with Bahá’ís in Juneau.
Hand of the Cause Mr. Samandari, with his son Dr. Samandari visit the friends at Kelowna, B.C. in early November. Shown here are believers who came from as far north as Prince George to as far south as the U.S. border.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum Brings New Vision to Bolivia[edit]
The Bolivian community will long remember having Hand of the Cause of God, Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum with them for twenty-eight days November 2-30, 1967. Accompanied by her cousin, Mrs. Jeanne Chute, she covered approximately 2,200 kilometers over mountainous roads by jeep and stimulated the Indian campesinos at six congresos. She spoke to a special group of young instructors preparing themselves to assume the responsibility of certain areas, each of which will embrace at least eleven indigenous communities with established local assemblies, while they were engaged in study courses at the National Bahá’í Institute in Cochabamba. She attended the Nineteen Day Feast (Qudrat) in Cochabamba, showing slides of her travels and enjoying an outdoor South American style barbecue where she sat under a large shady fig tree and spoke informally with the friends. The event received considerable newspaper and radio coverage.
Public talks were given in La Paz and Cochabamba, and two unscheduled talks to the “Asociacion Feminina Christiana,” where she shared the platform first with a Protestant minister and then with a liberal young Catholic priest.
Brings sins of Vision, Enthusiasm[edit]
The special gifts which Rúḥíyyih Khánum brought to
Bolivia were her vision, her enthusiasm, her positive
outlook and the great love for the Indian campesinos.
Their desire to know and meet with their distinguished
hermana (sister) was evidenced by a frail, seventy-year-old woman who walked five days coming and
going to tell the friends Rúḥíyyih Khánum was coming.
Another campesino, handicapped by a badly-knitted,
fractured hip, walked four days for the same purpose.
A number of campesinos also journeyed for several
days to be with her. In one congreso the native women
presented her with flowers they had cultivated and then
distributed flowers among all those present. In that
same indigenous community one couple provided all
the hospitality, including meals. In another area a
group of the friends who had walked a distance to greet
her, welcomed her with a colorful arch of woven cloth
(continued on page 8)
Above: Congreso held in Jankarachi, North Potosi, Bolivia. At left: Rúḥíyyih Khánum with a group of the friends in front of the Bahá’í institute, Cochabamba. Opposite page, above: Congresso held in Dejauta, Oruro. Center left: Rúḥíyyih Khánum in front of jeep used in her Bolivian travels, E. Rezvani, Persian pioneer and member of the Bolivian National Spiritual Assembly, and little Hilmer (the youngest pioneer), son of a German couple. Center right: Rúḥíyyih Khánum and friends under a lush fig tree, institute grounds. Below: Congreso held in Chacoma, La Paz Depto.
decorated with flags.
In spite of strenuous travel conditions, she set an example of courage and patience, making herself at home everywhere, sleeping in the homes, eating the meals, chatting and working informally with the women. She dismissed all physical discomforts, stating that the teachings and the Message which she brought were the important part of her travels. Stressing the great need to give the Message to the uneducated people of the country, she said: “These simple people who live primitively in isolated areas are still the major part of the world’s population and they are waiting with wide-open, empty hands to receive something. Whatever we put in these hands they will accept, whether they are given material things, politics, or whether they receive the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.”
Urgency of Teaching Now[edit]
At the Bahá’í National Institute in Cochabamba the young instructors opened the meeting with a song. Rúḥíyyih Khánum then addressed them saying that she could see that they were very good teachers of the Faith. She told them she knew how arduous and lonely their trips through the mountains were, and how Shoghi Effendi had loved the mountains and had climbed them for many years, and that he was surely with them on their trips. Stimulating the instructors to greater efforts, she said it is as if we are standing on one mountain and wish to cross to the opposite one. Now we can fly there if we accept the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. If not, those who do not accept the Manifestation will have to descent into the valley of a decadent civilization before they can climb up, slowly and laboriously, to the heights of the Faith on the other mountaintop. So all must make every effort, while there is time, to reach as many people as possible. She said that the campesinos should never feel inferior because they cannot read or write, as this has nothing to do With their innate intelligence.
Another point emphasized was that there should be no doubt whatever but that these humble souls are truly Bahá’ís. When the arrow of Bahá’u’lláh had struck their hearts, they were connected with Him.
Glory of Bolivia — 600 Assembly Goal[edit]
To the instructors, pioneers and administrators she showed her comprehension of all the mass teaching problems but left no doubt of eventual victories, explaining that the glory and blessing of Bolivia is the 600 Local Spiritual Assembly goal given by the Universal House of Justice, and that “God gives us no burdens we cannot assume.” Her coming to Bolivia was like the strings of a harp being touched and a new song reverberating throughout the country. There was new awareness, a fresh stimulus, a new spirit everywhere among the believers.
As Rúḥíyyih Khánum was about to board the plane to
leave Bolivia, her parting words to the friends were:
“With great love in my heart for the marvelous Bolivian National Community, I say ‘adios.’ I pray that each
one of you will arise to serve Bahá’u’lláh for He surely
deserves this service. Raise His banner in the highest
mountains. Carry His Message to all the people of this
land which so needs it. Persevere and your services
will surely be crowned with success.”
The Task of Youth Holy — Enthralling[edit]
The following letter written by the beloved Guardian through his secretary to Mrs. Nellie French on October 26, 1932 is published at this time upon the advice of the Universal House of Justice:
“Surely in this very critical period of human history when old institutions are beginning to crumble down or being considerably modified, there is a certain amount of maladjustments and unfortunate happenings; but such a condition is not permanent. The Cause and its institutions will gradually take their place and with its virile spirit secure the full obedience of its followers and of the peoples of the world as a whole. So we need not be too pessimistic as to the future or take passing conditions too seriously. The young people who are Living between these two eras, and seeing the destruction of old institutions are therefore apt to discard all respect for them and in fact view with contempt any person that may still cherish the old. Hence we see the loose morality prevalent among them. This condition is not true only of America and Europe but also of the East, and I dare say in the East more than in the West.
Even though the Bahá’í youth should feel with the condition in which they see their non-Bahá’í friends and not indict them for it, they should not let themselves be carried by the wave of world events as they are being carried. Whereas they see before them only a world that is crumbling down we are also seeing a new world being built up. Whereas they experience the destruction of old institutions that commanded their respect, we are beholding the dawn of a new era with its strict commands and new social bonds. Their materialistic outlook shows them the futility of all things; while our faith in a regenerated and spiritualized man makes us look to the future and build for it. To make them follow our ways we should sympathize with their plight but should not follow their ways. We should take our stand on a higher plane of moral and spiritual life, and setting for them the true example, urge them up to our level. The young people should read what Bahá’u’lláh and the Master say on such matters and follow them conscientiously. That is if they desire to be true to the teachings and establish them throughout the world.”
To the above letter Shoghi Effendi appended the following postscript in his own handwriting:
“The activities, hopes and thoughts of the Bahá’í youth in America, as well as in all other parts of the world, are close and dear to my heart. Upon them rests the supreme and challenging responsibility to promote the interests of the Cause of God in the days to come, to co-ordinate its world-wide activities, to extend its scope, to safeguard its integrity, to exalt its virtues, define its purpose, and translate its ideals and aims into memorable and abiding achievements. Theirs is a mighty task, at once holy, stupendous and enthralling. May the spirit of Bahá’u’lláh protect and sustain them in their divinely appointed task!”
Hand of the Cause Dr. Giachery Visits New Zealand[edit]
The Bahá’ís of New Zealand received a great spiritual lift from Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Giachery’s visit October 15-21, 1967. A reception for Bahá’ís and their friends was held at the Royal International Hotel, Auckland, October 15. Bath Dr. and Mrs. Giachery gave some of their impressions of the Sydney Conference which they had attended earlier in the month. On the same evening Dr. Giachery addressed a large audience of Bahá’ís and guests at a public meeting at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.
On October 16, Dr. Giachery left to meet with Bahá’ís in Whangarei, a city 103 miles north of Auckland, and addressed a public meeting there. From Whangarei, he proceeded to Kaikohe, a town farther north, meeting Bahá’ís and visiting Maori friends in the neighborhood.
A farewell picnic was held in the Rose Gardens, Parnell, Auckland.
At right: Dr. Giachery with Mr. Te Paa, a Maori believer from Northland, New Zealand, in from of Royal International Hotel, October 15, 1967. Below: Dr. and Mrs. Giachery with a group of New Zealand Bahá’ís outside the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds October 15, 1967. Auxiliary Board member Marc Towers appears at extreme right.
Press, TV, and Radio Aid Proclamation in Switzerland[edit]
The Swiss summer school held last September was a foretaste of Proclamation. Over 200 people from many countries gathered at the Hotel Universitaire in Leysin in the Vaud Alps to attend courses and seminars on Bahá’í community life. Several Swiss newspapers carried announcements about the school.
Fifty-five Bahá’ís from Switzerland participated in the Frankfurt Intercontinental Conference, including eight National Spiritual Assembly members and an Auxiliary Board member. Hand of the Cause Paul Haney’s subsequent visit to Bern and Geneva late in October greatly inspired and stimulated the friends.
Part of the audience at commemoration of the Proclamation in Bern.
Banquet Highlights National Commemoration Event[edit]
On November 5, 1967, the National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland invited Bahá’ís and guests for a banquet at the Kursaal in Bern. Seventy-five persons participated, including journalists and members of various organizations. Mr. Semle, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, welcomed the friends and briefly presented the purpose of this dual commemoration — the Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to the Kings and Rulers one hundred years ago and the 150th anniversary of His birth.
In the late afternoon over 200 persons attended the public commemoration. Excerpts from the Tablets to the Kings were read and slides were shown on the lives and fates of those who received these historic documents. Dr. Eugen Schmidt, Auxiliary Board member from Stuttgart, Germany, spoke on, “A New Era for Mankind,” emphasizing the need for unity and religion. A summary of his remarks in German and French was distributed to the audience. All guests received a copy of the Proclamation issue of Bahá’í Briefe. In the interim between the banquet and the public meeting, as well as after the commemoration, many stayed to see an exhibition of diagrams, photos and books on the Bahá’í Faith. Music for both events included a string quartet, a pianist and a professional (Bahá’í) soprano, Mrs. Fohr-Afiatpour, whose selections included two numbers by Bahá’í composers.
Good Press and Television Coverage[edit]
Switzerland’s largest daily, Tages-Anzeiger of Zurich, published a long article on the Bahá’í Faith. Other important newspapers such as Der Bund, Berner Tagblatt and local dailies, carried either their own reports or the release prepared for the Swiss Telegraphic Agency, which was also used by Agence France Presse. The Swiss television presented a German-speaking program that included an excellent five-minute presentation of the Faith in its November 7 news broadcast, “Die Antenne." The program included pictures of the Tabriz barrack square, views of Tihrán, Baghdád, the Riḍván Garden, photographs of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London and Paris, pictures of Bahá’í groups and Mashriqu’l-Adhkár. The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to the Kings was vividly presented. Dr. Schmidt was interviewed on the social and economic teachings of the Faith after the religious principles had been clearly enunciated. An estimated one million people saw the program, which included the reading of the prayer for unity by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Although the name “Bahá’í" was not shown in writing and no mailing address was given, several inquiries were received. The program was repeated on Sunday afternoon, November 12.
Proclamation Repeated in Lausanne[edit]
A similar Proclamation event was held November 12 at the Hotel Palace in the French-speaking city of Lausanne. The commemoration was organized by the communities of Lausanne and Vevey. Approximately 200 friends were present when Gilbert Robert of Nice spoke on “Lumieres sur le monde” (Light on the World), telling of the coming of the great educators of mankind and the need for a new Dispensation in this dark age. Following Mr. Robert’s talk, which moved Bahá’ís and newcomers alike, Mark Tobey, well-known Bahá’í artist, was interviewed concerning his art and his religious beliefs. Auxiliary Board member Haenni-de Bons, of Geneva, presented the Proclamation book. Dr. Max Habicht, World Federalist and Geneva jurist, addressed words of appreciation to the Bahá’ís on behalf of the Society of Friends (Quakers) for “their great contribution to the unity of mankind and world peace.” Professional musicians lent dignity and inspiration to the occasion.
At 6:30 p.m. that evening, when radio broadcasting has a maximum audience, an interview with Mrs. Haenni-de Bons was presented by Radio-Sottens in French. Mr. J. P. Nicod, Head of Switzerland’s National Programs in French, questioned Mrs, Haenni for over five minutes on the history, teachings and expansion of the faith. She also mentioned the purpose of this current Proclamation.
Dr. Eugen Schmidt speaking on “New Era for Mankind” at commemoration of Proclamation to the Kings and Rulers November 5, 1967 in Bern, Switzerland.
Several newspapers of Swiss romande included brief reports of the Lausanne commemoration.
Next Steps[edit]
The next step in Switzerland’s Proclamation plan will be the mailing of the Proclamation issue of Bahá’í Briefe and La Pensee Bahá’íe to approximately 10,000 organizations and individuals, as well as a brochure in Italian with a letter pointing to Bahá’u’lláh’s Letters to the Kings. The Proclamation book will be presented to the President of the Swiss Confederation, to H. H. Prince Franz Joseph of Liechtenstein, to members of the Federal, National and State councils and, on a cantonal and local basis to other magistrates. This program will be supported by intense teaching activities in fifteen centers and in local commemorations until Riḍván 1968. An exhibition in Geneva is planned. Materials used for the Proclamation included press releases, bulletins, press reviews, folders for presentation of the Proclamation book or of literature, the CBS film “And His Name Shall Be One,” slides, special envelopes, traveling exhibitions, etc. The various origins of the material speak for the universality of the Faith, coming from the five continents and from all the neighboring countries in Europe.
European Auxiliary Board Member Passes Away[edit]
Prof. Mario Fiorentini of Rome, Italy, passed away suddenly on December 16, 1967. He was one of the early believers of Italy. A dedicated follower of Bahá’u’lláh, he served as a member of the Italo-Swiss National Assembly from the time of its inception and of the Italian National Assembly from 1961. He was appointed a member of the Auxiliary Board of the Hands of the Cause of God in Europe in 1964.
“The friends of Italy are deeply grieved by the loss of such a dear friend and collaborator,” Dr. Giachery, Hand of the Cause in the Western Hemisphere, has written. Dr. Giachery, formerly of Italy, and Prof. Fiorentini were long time friends.
Prof. Fiorentini will not only be missed by his many friends in Italy but by believers around the world.
Incorporation in Italy[edit]
Incorporation document for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Italy, reproduced by permission of the Central Archive of the State of Italy, under authorization No. 1865/VIII, announced in February, 1967 BAHÁ’Í NEWS.
Many Bahá’ís who visited Rome, often returning from their pilgrimages, will recall how much he did to make their visits a happy experience, both from the standpoint of Bahá’í hospitality and on behalf of a city which he loved. He was deeply knowledgeable in respect to the historic and artistic treasures of Rome and loved to add to the enlightenment and enjoyment of the friends by making these treasures more meaningful to them also.
CORRECTION
A photo on page 14 of November, 1967 BAHÁ’Í NEWS is actually that of the annual convention of Costa Rica, April, 1967, rather than an institute in Newcastle as attributed.
HE WHO LEARNS
“He who learns, teaches.” — African proverb
Thick green bush graduating to towering evergreen forests fringes the western coast of Africa and banks the great muddy rivers splayed out in sinuous veins on their timeless roll to the sea. Little brown villages nestle in the shade of the forests and sharp-angled cities erupt from the venerable coastal enclaves of trading posts, fishing towns and European fortress settlements. Universities and libraries, hospitals and hotels, factories and modern department stores slip from drawing boards onto solid foundations in the African earth. The tradesmen, diplomats and travelers of the world congregate here in confidence and ease, for mosquito nets, insecticides and prophylactic medicines have all but abolished the hazards of “the white man’s grave.”
Perhaps on a school, sometimes a street, occasionally a clinic or hospital a name is preserved from among those whose bones inhabit that fecund, amorphous grave which, during the 19th century, swallowed up hosts of Christ’s expectant keepers of the vineyard. An impulse had pervaded Christendom — the Second Coming was at hand —— and the faithful streamed out to early deaths on foreign shores that they might not be found wanting when He came. Two weeks, two months, perhaps a year they labored before the fevers, the plagues, the wracking chills forever closed their eyes. The slow boats carried back the letters announcing their deaths and begging for early replacements. Replacements came . . . and came. . . and came.
The heirs of these sainted efforts, the Bahá’í pioneers of the World Crusade, cannot fail to acknowledge the great legacy of literacy, Biblical knowledge and practical training which they found among the West African peoples and which made their endeavors so much easier. If those early workers in His Cause unwittingly made errors, gave offense or failed to understand the people whom they taught, so likewise did the pioneers; and we can only pray that their efforts and ours be acceptable to Him — according to His Grace and Mercy —for their intent rather than for any unfortunate effect.
The pioneer arrived in the village after a long jolting ride by public transportation in a crowded lorry. The friendly, hospitable townspeople quickly gathered to greet her, each inquiring in traditional fashion after her health and that of her people in America. Someone stepped forward with a glass of water. The pioneer was thirsty — the oranges eaten en route as thirst quenchers had been very sweet — but she had been repeatedly cautioned about drinking water from unknown sources. Quickly, in low tones, a local Bahá’í prevented the faux pas she was about to make: “To refuse will be an insult.” With a silent prayer for protection, the glass was drained. From time immemorial a fundamental element of courtesy and hospitality has been to greet the hot and weary traveler with a drink of water.
“Can this religion teach us to have visions?” An eager group of bright-eyed young men, students in a West African trade school, were gathered around the unseasoned Bahá’í pioneer. Were they serious? They were, and the abashed pioneer was hard put to produce an acceptable and accurate answer. Having visions, she was to learn, was much cherished among a people finely attuned to the presence of the unseen forces.
Several students conferred in whispers over an open Bahá’í book. Respectfully, one spoke: “If this religion says ‘every good thing’ was ordained for men, why is polygamy forbidden?” The pioneer wrestled with this one as supplementary questions expanded the subject to cover all domestic relationships. Personal relationships have an immediacy and import to West Africans largely lost or thoroughly submerged in American life.
Crowds of village children surrounded the two unthinking pioneers, one of whom had a camera. With highapitched childish giggles, everyone pressed together, posing for a picture . . . Suddenly, a woman dashed from a doorway to jerk several naked children from the group, her acid stare at the photographer not lost on him. There is no one left in West Africa who has not heard of nude photographs of their people displayed in Europe and America as proof of their being “uncivilized.”
“We always believed in one God,” said the university graduate, ending his story of how the towns had been divided into Christian, Moslem and “pagan” quarters and the people warned against intermingling. “How can Europeans call us ‘pagan’ because we believe in many approaches to God when they do the same thing with their saints and figurines? We speak to Him through nature, and we are ‘animists’. They pray to statues, and they are ‘Christian’.” Indeed, the omnipotence and attributes of a Supreme Being were acknowledged in his native language long before the arrival of Europeans: Onyame — He Who made me; Onyankopon — the Great Friend; Otumfoo — Almighty; Onnyiewie — Eternal; Odomankoma Boadze — Giver of grace and Creator of all substance; Omaa Ewia no Nsu — Giver of sunshine and rain.
The dark, sodden forest pressed around the open grave, yawning by lamplight in the blackness of the night. It had been opened late in the evening, the harrowed gravediggers struggling to complete the job before another torrential downpour caved in the sides. With two local Bahá’ís, the pioneer, faint after a day without food or rest, rode out from the town where they had consulted for three hours with the village elders until it was decided where the first local Bahá’í to die could be interred. Neither Christian, Moslem nor traditional cemetary would receive the body. Finally, this inhospitable spot. Three bone-weary Bahá’ís to conduct a funeral service in the middle of the night while the gravediggers muttered at the length of the Congregational Prayer and the first heavy drops of another drenching rain began to fall.
Word swept down from the impoverished plains country beyond the great forest belt. Five villages had come into the Faith! The flagging pioneer and her weary coworkers on the coast were enkindled anew. It had been done by the least of them, a young, illiterate, jobless man, barefoot and always hungry as he pedaled some twenty miles among the grassland villages in “the hungry times” of the dry season. “Take this money to
SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD[edit]
buy your food on the way, Apania,” urged the African pioneer in the inland capital. Apania refused. The Bahá’ís had told him no one was paid to do God’s work in this religion, and he would not risk the possibility of forfeiting the spiritual rewards for the temporary satisfaction of eating regularly. He would depend upon God, he said, and in serene and confident trust he had gone forth to proclaim the Message “wholly for the sake of God.”
ELOISE MITCHELL
Pioneer to West Africa in the Ten Year Crusade
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of West Central Africa, with Hand of the Cause William Sears third from right.
First Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Rahimyar Khan, Pakistan elected 1967.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Colombia, elected April 30, 1967. Front row, left to right: Ines de Montenegro, Leonor Porras, Teresa Alarcon, Ines de Simmons, Luis Sanchez. Rear: Hector A. Varela, Luis Montenegro, Habib Rezvani and Hamilton Breton.
National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Austria. From left, seated: Paul Bernert (vice-chairman), Ursula Mühlschlegel (secretary), Ingrid Missaghi, Lili Hermann. Standing: Gunther-Haug (treasurer), Dr. Said Berdjis, Abraham Medhane, Roland Philipp, Dr. Massoud Berdjis (chairman).
The Faith is Proclaimed on Bahá’u’lláh’s Birthday[edit]
Additional reports on observances of the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh indicate that this was indeed a well used opportunity to commemorate this historic occasion and to proclaim to the world the message which He brought.
The Bahá’ís in the area of Redondo Beach, California (ten communities cooperated) celebrated with a banquet, attended by 125, at which Dr. Daniel Jordan presented the Faith through music in his talk “Keys to Harmony.” A number of dignitaries, including the Mayor of Redondo Beach and his wife, attended and showed a great deal of interest, and there was an excellent description of the evening written by a reporter who attended for the local daily paper. Mr. Robert Quigley was master of ceremonies and Mrs. Manila Lee gave a brief introduction.
In Montclair, New Jersey a meeting was held at which, under the chairmanship of a Bahá’í, a Catholic lay leader, the deputy mayor, and a Protestant minister, as well as a Bahá’í speaker, addressed the audience.
The Bahá’ís of Arlington, Virginia, (see photo) featured a singing group and narration followed by an open house at a Bahá’í home.
Left to right: Charles Jennings, Bahá’í chairman; John Quincy Adams, Catholic lay leader; Deputy Mayor Matthew Carter; Ben Kaufman, Bahá’í speaker; and Rev. Lincoln McGee, Protestant minister.
LEFT
Observance of the Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh in Costa Rica. In response to a radio and press invitation, many inquirers came to celebrate this Holy Day with the Bahá’ís.
BELOW
An audience of over 400 persons gathered to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh at the Bahá’í National Headquarters in Saigon. The audience included many religious and civic leaders.
Reflections from the India Conference[edit]
ABOVE
Some of the participants from Malaysia.
Hand of the Cause Mr. A. Q. Faizi talking with Jagjivan Ram, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Government of India, during public meeting on October 9. Hand of the Cause General Ala'i looks on.
RIGHT
Hand of the Cause General A1a’i wtth Ethiopian friends.
BELOW
Faces of some of the participants of the India Conference reflecting intense interest.
PROCLAMATION IN GERMANY[edit]
Attendants at Bahá’í booth at International Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, October, 1967, in which the Publishing Trusts of London and Brussels also participated.
Germany has experienced a wave of proclamation activities since the Intercontinental Conference. Festivities in conjunction with Bahá’u’lláh’s 150th birthday anniversary brought an opportunity to present the teachings of the Faith. Successful meetings are reported from Cologne, Giessen, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Esslingen and Leinfelden. Above photo shows part of exhibition held in Erlangen.
Bahá’í Marriage Ceremony in Taiwan[edit]
A Bahá’í marriage ceremony performed by the Local Assembly of Tainan, Taiwan. About 150 guests learned something of the Faith through this act of the Assembly on behalf of the young couple, one of whom (the groom) is of Buddhist background.
Bahá’í in the News[edit]
Favorable public mention of the Faith was made in the Grand Cayman Islands, British West Indies, in October when an article in the Caymanian Weekly for October 24 told of the visit of Captain and Mrs. Bud Gilman on their way back from the Intercontinental Conference in Panama. Brief mention was made of the Bahá’í teaching of unity of men, countries and religions and of the fact that the six conferences were linked together by telephone.
Prize-Winning Float in Hawaii.[edit]
Bahá’í float which won first prize in its category in the Aloha Week Parade, viewed by over 50,000 people in Hawaii. Children of various races emerged from each star. Hawaiian legend translates: “The Youth is the Life of the Land.”
Board Team Conference Held at Wilmette[edit]
An Auxiliary Board Team Conference was held at the Foundation Hall of the Bahá’í House of Worship, Wilmette, Illinois, on December 9-10, 1967. Convened by the Central States Board members Mrs. Beth McKenty, Mrs. Javidukht Khádem, Dr. Peter Khan and Mrs. Velma Sherrill, with the co-operation of the host community of Evanston, this Conference was blessed by the distinguished presence of Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Abu’l-Qásim Faizi. Miss Edna True represented the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. Over 350 believers from ten States were present, partaking of the wisdom, warmth and love of this gathering.
Opening the Conference, Dr. Khan stated its purpose to be deepening in the foundation of Bahá’í belief, so that the believers might be better equipped to meet the great challenges, and to seize the great opportunities, of the period of proclamation in the Nine Year Plan. A special welcome was extended to Mr. Faizi, continuing his journey around the world following his attendance at the New Delhi Intercontinental Conference.
On Saturday afternoon December 9, Mr. Faizi addressed the Conference on the great pillars of the Teachings of the Faith — the laws pertaining to the individual life; the spiritual principles which define communal obligations and regulate group behavior: and the administrative principles, which provide a channel for individual and group activities. He stressed the indispensibility of each one of these three pillars, and emphasized the importance of supporting all three.
Mr. Faizi’s remarkable qualities as a teacher, together with his great insights into the Faith and his capacity to “diffuse the Divine Fragrances”, uplifted and inspired the believers. He gave a general description of The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, characterizing it as the Teachings in an implicit form. Discussing this precious book, Mr. Faizi drew attention to its statements concerning the nature of man and the spiritual journey he must undertake along the path to his Beloved. The believers left this session inspired and motivated to study anew the Creative Word of Bahá’u’lláh.
The Saturday evening session opened with a panel discussion on The Tablets of the Divine Plan. Mrs. Khádem’s review of the unique station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as Center of the Covenant and Perfect Exemplar was followed by a detailed analysis of the successive stages in the unfoldment of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, presented by Mrs. Sherrill. The panel concluded with Mrs. McKenty recounting a moving story of the sacrifices made by the believers in Africa, illustrating vividly the significance and rewards of pioneering and dispersal. The rest of the evening session was devoted to a question-and-answer period in which, for more than two hours, Mr. Faizi masterfully and lucidly answered a wide variety of questions addressed to him by the believers.
The final scheduled Conference session, on Sunday morning, opened with an address by Miss True on the destiny and mission of the American Bahá’í community, in which she drew upon her own background of Bahá’í service to illustrate the highlights of the worldwide mission entrusted to the American Bahá’ís by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Following this address Mr. Faizi again poured out his deep understanding of the Writings, speaking on the principles of Bahá’í education. He placed great emphasis on the responsibility of Bahá’í parents to provide education in the Faith to their children, and pointed out that this education should begin with the mother’s prayers before the birth of the child.
So enthusiastically was Mr. Faizi received that a further Conference session was arranged on Sunday evening, during which Mr. Faizi spoke on the Kitáb-ifqán, describing the conditions under which it was revealed, and its unique position in the literature of religion. He outlined an interesting technique for the systematic study of this book, through division of its subject matter under the headings of the topics listed by the beloved Guardian in his summary of the Kitáb-ifqán (see God Passes By, p. 139).
The Conference inspired and exalted the believers, binding them together with bonds of love, and moving them to a new dedication to systematic and persistent study of the Holy Writings. This spirit of unity and harmony was further reinforced by the beautiful singing of the Bahá’í Choir under the direction of Mrs. Margaret Jensen. As the gathering dispersed reluctantly, all expressed their deepest appreciation to the dear Hand of the Cause Mr. Faizi for the scholarship, the world perspective and, above all, the spirit which he so abundantly brought with him to Wilmette.
Memorial to First Ameriran Believer[edit]
Once again a very beautiful and inspiring Memorial Service was held for Mr. Thornton Chase (the first American to accept the Bahá’í Faith) on Sunday October 1, 1967 at the gravesite in the Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, Calif.
Over 100 Bahá’í's and friends came to hear the beautiful prayers and readings. The Bahá’í Chorus participated, and an impressive highlight was the large group of children who sang and placed flowers on the grave.
Following the Memorial Service, light refreshments were served in Centinella Park, the area where a tree is planted in memory of Mr. Chase. This tree was donated to the City of Inglewood in October of 1966.
The Florida communities of Broward County, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano, Boca Raton and several isolated believers cooperated to observe the Day of the Covenant with talks by Elmer and Annaline Schwandes on the meaning of the Covenant. About 50 Bahá’ís and guests were present for the meeting and bountiful pot luck supper. The very happy occasion was climaxed by the declaration of one young man of his belief in Bahá’u’lláh.
A Pure and Spotless Body, Its Influence on the Spirit[edit]
The following Tablet by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is printed in Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá pages 581-585 and in Bahá’í World Faith pp. 333-336, Herein the beloved Master discusses the subject of cleanliness, sanctity, purity and delicacy and admonishes “the companions of God” to become “the princes of the pure, the free, and the wise.” The Tablet appears here in its entirety except for two sentences that mention the Druses known for their superiority in bravery, health, beauty and grace because of their abstinence from evil habits.
O pure friends of God!
Cleanliness and sanctity in all conditions are characteristics of pure beings and necessities of free souls. The first perfection consists in cleanliness and sanctity and in purity from every defect. When man in all conditions is pure and immaculate, he will become the center of the reflection of the manifest Light. In all his actions and conduct there must first be purity, then beauty and independence. The channel must be cleansed before it is filled with sweet water. The pure eye comprehendeth the sight and the meeting of God; the pure nostril inhaleth the perfumes of the rosegarden of bounty; the pure heart becometh the mirror of the beauty of truth. This is why, in the heavenly Books, the divine counsels and commands have been compared to water. So, in the Qur’án it is said, “and we have caused a pure water to descend from heaven;” and in the Gospel, “Except a man hath received the baptism of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” Then it is evident that the divine teachings are the heavenly grace and the showers of the mercy of God, which purify the hearts of men.
The meaning is, in all conditions, cleanliness and sanctity, purity and delicacy exalt humanity and make the contingent beings progress. Even when applied to physical things, delicacy causeth the attainment of spirituality, as it is established in the Holy Scriptures.
External cleanliness, although it is but a physical thing, hath a great influence upon spirituality. For example, although sound is but the vibrations of the air which affect the tympanum of the ear, and vibrations of the air are but an accident among the accidents which depend upon the air, consider how much marvelous notes or a charming song influence the spirits! A wonderful song giveth wings to the spirit and filleth the heart with exaltation. To return to the subject, the fact of having a pure and spotless body likewise exerciseth an influence upon the spirit of man.
Now, see how much purity is approved in the Court of God, that it should be especially mentioned in the Holy Books of the Prophets. So the Holy Books forbid the eating of any unclean thing, or the use of anything which is not pure. Certain prohibitions are absolute and imperative for all: he who commits that which is forbidden is detested by God and excluded from the number of the elect. This applieth to the things forbidden by an absolute prohibition and of which the perpetration is a grave sin; they are so vile that even to mention them is shameful. There are other forbidden things which do not cause an immediate evil and of which the pernicious effect is only gradually produced. They are also abhorred, blamed and rejected by God, but their prohibition is not recorded in an absolute way, although cleanliness and sanctity, spotlessness and purity, the preservation of health and independence are required by these interdictions.
One of these last prohibitions is the smoking of tobacco, which is unclean, malodorous, disagreeable and vulgar and of which the gradual harmfulness is universally recognized. All clever physicians have judged, and have also shown by experiment, that one of the constituents of tobacco is a mortal poison and that smokers are exposed to different indispositions and maladies. That is why cleanly people have a marked aversion for its use.
His supreme Highness (the Báb) — may my soul be His sacrifice! — in the beginning of His Cause, openly forbade it and all the friends abandoned its use. But, as it was a time for caution and he who abstained from smoking was ill-treated, persecuted and even killed, therefore the friends were obliged, as a matter of prudence, to smoke. Later, the Kitáb-i-Aqdas was revealed and as the prohibition of tobacco was not clearly stated in it, the friends did not renounce it. But the Blessed Perfection had always a marked aversion for its use. At the beginning of the Cause, for certain reasons, He smoked a little, but later He abandoned it completely, and the holy souls who obeyed Him in all circumstances, also entirely gave up smoking.
I wish to say that, in the sight of God, the smoking of tobacco is a thing which is blamed and condemned, very unclean, and of which the result is by degrees injurious. Besides it is a cause of expense and of loss of time and it is a harmful habit. So, for those who are firm in the Covenant, it is a thing reprobated by the reason and by tradition, the renouncement of which giveth gradual repose and tranquility, permitteth one to have stainless hands and a clean mouth, and hair which is not pervaded by a bad odor.
Without any doubt, the friends of God on receiving this epistle will renounce this injurious habit by all means, even if it be necessary to do so by degrees. This is my hope.
As to the question of opium, disgusting and execrated, I resign myself to God for its punishment. The formal text of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas forbids and reproves it and, according to reason, its use leads to madness. Experience hath shown that he who giveth himself up to it is completely excluded from the world of humanity. Let us take refuge in God against the perpetration of so shameful a thing, which is the destruction of the foundations of humanity and which causeth a perpetual unhappiness. It taketh possession of the soul of man, killeth the reason, weakeneth the intelligence, maketh a living man dead and extinguisheth the natural heat. It is impossible to imagine anything more pernicious. Happy is he who never mentioneth the word opium! But what is the fate of those who make use of it!
O friends of God! Force and violence, constraint and oppression are condemned in this divine cycle, but to prevent the use of opium, all means must be employed, so that the human species may be delivered and freed from this great calamity. Otherwise, alas! for all the negligent before God. (continued on p. 19)
O Lord! Give to the people of Bahá cleanliness and holiness in all conditions, purify and free them from all defilement, deliver them from the use of all that is execrated, liberate them from the chains of habits, so that they may be pure and free, clean and spotless, that they may be worthy servants of the Sacred Threshold and may deserve to enter into relation with God. Deliver them from alcohol and tobacco, and save them from opium, the purveyor of madness! Make them companions of the holy breezes, in order that they may know the pleasures of the wine of the love of God, and that they may attain to the joy and the happiness of attraction of the Kingdom of Abhá!
Hast Thou not said, “All that thou hast in thy cellar will not appease the thirst of my love — bring me, O cup-bearer, of the wine of the spirit, a cup full as the sea!”
O friends of God! Experience hath shown how much the renouncing of tobacco, wine and opium, giveth health, strength and intellectual enjoyments, penetration of judgment and physical vigor. . . . Therefore strive that the greatest cleanliness and sancity, which is the great desire of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, should be resplendent among the Bahá’ís, and that the companions of God should surpass the rest of mankind in all conditions and perfections; that they may be physically and morally superior to others; that through cleanliness and purity, refinement and health, they may be the chief of wise men, and that by their affranchisement, their prudence, and the control of their desires, they may be the princes of the pure, the free anal the wise. Upon you be the glory of EL-ABHÁ!
HANDS OF THE CAUSE INSPIRE BY VISITS[edit]
LEFT: A one-day youth conference in Belle Rose, Mauritius. Hand of the Cause ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum is seated in the foreground dressed in a sari.
BELOW, LEFT: Hand of the Cause Mr. A. Faizi inspecting the proposed Temple site for Vietnam (one of the two remaining goals for that country in the Nine Year Plan). Shown with him are some members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Vietnam, Auxiliary Board member Nguyen van Loi and some of the Bahá’í friends.
RIGHT: Mr. Faizi is greeted at the Taipei, Taiwan international airport on the occasion of his visit to the National Bahá’í Center on November 7, 1967.
World Order Reprints No. 1[edit]
A limited reprint of volume I, number 1 of World Order, the first issue, is now available at $1.00 each. Please order copies from: WORLD ORDER, 112 Linden Ave., Wilmette, III. 60091.
International News Briefs[edit]
New Zealand Bahá’ís have been securing excellent publicity in recent months. A number of newspapers have carried reports on the public appearances of Mrs. Gertrude Blum, American pioneer who has spent many years in the Solomon Islands. She travelled to New Zealand following the Intercontinental Conference in Australia.
Another newspaper covered a tree planting ceremony held at the Grande Vue Road reserve in Manurewa at which the Mayor of Manukau City officiated. This was one of the events sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Manukau City and is a part of their Centenary celebration. The unifying aspects of the Bahá’í Faith were publicly expressed at this time.
The Newsletter of the Cameroon Republic states that on November 16, 1967 National Spiritual Assembly secretary Mrs. Mughrabi and Mrs. William Maxwell, recent pioneer to Africa from the United States, began a week’s visit to the Spanish Territories of Fernando Poo and Rio Muni. They met with Bahá’ís in Santa Isabel and spent the weekend with the friends in Bata. Two meetings with seekers were held in Bata as well as consultation with the Local Spiritual Assembly. Pioneer Joseph Pamo, reported an invitation to participate in the Reunification Day celebrations at the Cameroonian Consulate. The Consul, who is himself studying the Bahá’í Faith, invited Mr. Pamo to speak on the Faith at that gathering.
In Santa Isabel, pioneer Bassey Ime’s visa was extended for an additional six months and valuable foundations were laid for the eventual registration of the Faith throughout Equatorial Guinea, again with the help of the Cameroonian Consulate. The number of Bahá’ís now in Fernando Poo is estimated to be at least twenty.
The Bahá’ís of Victoria, Seychelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean, attracted sixty guests to a meeting at the Bahá’í Center to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh. Radio Seychelles also played a taped Bahá’í program which brought forth the following comment from a listener: “This program was wonderful, quite out of the ordinary thing we are hearing these days!” The Seychelles Bahá’ís have been given an additional goal, that of forming five more local assemblies to make a total of ten.
Bahá’í Publishing Trust[edit]
General Catalog Available for Students of Faith
In addition to the complete catalog available to all Bahá’í communities and individuals, the Bahá’í Publishing Trust of the U.S. has issued a general edition of the catalog. This edition includes all of the books in the first half of the catalog, but does not contain listing of pamphlets, study guides, administrative aids and other items of interest to Bahá’ís only.
This, in addition to the illustrated folder (seIf-mailer), Literature of the Bahá’í Faith, listed on page 25 of the complete catalog, enables Bahá’ís to assist serious students of the Bahá’í Teachings in further research and in gaining information on the source of Bahá’í books. The small brochure should be made readily available to all inquirers at public meetings and firesides; and the general edition of the catalog itself should be considered for presenting to more serious students. Each one should be stamped with name and address for securing Bahá’í books and information locally. Please order as Bahá’í Catalog, General Edition (through your local librarian when possible).
10 copies (minimum quantity) . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.00
About fifty Bahá’ís and friends attended the Human Rights Day observance at the Bahá’í Cultural Center in Panama City, Republic of Panama, to hear Dr. George Westerman deliver an address on “The Significance of Human Rights.” Following the talk there was a Bahá’í workshop dealing with the theme “Human Rights Development.”
First Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Albany, California formed Riḍván, 1967. Left to right: seated, Mrs. Milagros Baler, Mrs. Linda Brown, Mrs. Patricia Peikart (secretary), Mrs. Betty Cook (recording secretary). Standing: Mr. Herbert Baler (chairman), Mr. Richard Todhunter, Miss Monireh Labib, Mr. Behrouz Peikari (Vice Chairman), Mr. Arthur Deuberry (treasurer).
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; Mr. Rexford C. Parmelee.
Change of address should be reported directly to National Bahá’í Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette. Illinois, U.S.A. 60091.
Changes received by the 15th of the month will take effect in the next month’s mailing.
