Bahá’í News/Issue 448/Text
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| No. 448 | BAHA’I YEAR 125 | JULY, 1968 |
The Call for Sacrificial Outpouring of Resources[edit]
WITH JOYFUL MEMORY OF DEDICATED SPIRIT MATURE DELIBERATIONS SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION HAIL GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY NATIONAL CONVENTIONS AS CRUCIAL MIDWAY POINT NINE YEAR PLAN APPROACHES GALVANIZE BELIEVERS DIRECT ALL EFFORTS ACHIEVEMENT EVERY REMAINING GOAL AND SIMULTANEOUSLY EXTEND ACCELERATE UNIVERSAL PROCLAMATION DIVINE MESSAGE STOP WITH UTMOST LOVE CALL UPON ALL BAHAIS FOR SACRIFICIAL OUTPOURING ENERGIES RESOURCES ADVANCEMENT REDEEMING ORDER BAHAULLAH SOLE REFUGE MISDIRECTED HEEDLESS MILLIONS STOP WORLD CENTRE FAITH SCENE PROLONGED PRAYERFUL CONSULTATION WITH ASSEMBLED HANDS CAUSE GOALS PLAN INCLUDING FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIVE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTION HANDS VIEW EXTENSION FUTURE GODGIVEN DUTIES PROTECTION PROPAGATION STOP SUPPLICATING CONTINUALLY HOLY SHRINES LORD HOSTS BOUNTIFULLY REWARD DEDICATED ARDENT LOVERS COMPLETE GLORIOUS VICTORY.
Haifa, Israel
May 9, 1968
‘Amatu’l Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum Visits Venezuela and Colombia[edit]
Three different Indian tribes, three different climates, and five different modes of travel in a period of a month were experienced by Hand of the Cause ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and her traveling companion Violette Banání Nakhjavání during the Venezuela and Colombia part of her South American tour of Bahá’í communities.
The trip to the Guahibos was made by plane to the Orinoco River in the Amazon area, in company with the Weldon Woodwards and Trina Gil, pioneers. After much trouble and discouragement about reaching the island dwelling Guahibo Bahá’ís and nearly giving up because they were told positively that the Indians had left their island for some kind of festivities, the motorized canoe to reach them and the assurance that they were really on their island were offered. Rúḥíyyih Khánum found the Bahá’ís friendly and remarkably steadfast for not having been visited for about two years. Lacking in all manner of material means, the Guahibos asked for nothing but someone to teach them more about Bahá’u’lláh. Though a spiritually satisfying experience, physically it was made difficult by the new experience of sleeping, or trying to sleep, in hammocks, by swarms of black flies that bit viciously and would not be repulsed by chemical repellents, by having to drink swamp water, and by being aboard a plane on the return trip that lost its way over the jungle and had a battery failure in its radio. The plane, finally, nearly out of gas, found an oil camp landing field and from there was able to radio to Caracas for fuel, batteries and a new crew to proceed to their destination.
On the arrival in Maracaibo, the Bahá’ís of the world may be distressed to learn, Rúḥíyyih Khánum was suffering over 500 insect bites, a good many of them infected. Violette was also seriously affected and had to seek an antidote for the poisoning. The physical discomfort was not allowed to interfere with itinerary, and the day after her arrival in Maracaibo Rúḥíyyih Khánum shopped for provisions and equipment for the Guajira, insisting on going to the public market for pots and pans because they would be cheaper. Here she was interviewed by a newspaper reporter of Panorama for a story that appeared complete with an excellent picture, “Misionera de la Fe Bahá’í Llegó on Jira a Maracaibo” and also gave a public lecture at a private club, the Bella Vista, before an audience of about 30, visiting at length at the Club and at the home of the McLarens with some interested young men who were attracted by an excellent pre-arrival article in the paper, “Viene a Maracaibo Primera Dama de la Comunidad Bahá’í.”
Guajira Journey[edit]
The following morning, Sunday, February 25, Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s party started off by Volkswagen and public bus to the Venezuela Guajira Indians. The
Rúḥíyyih Khánum in front of the Prieto Bahá’í Center in Venezuela with two friends who wove Greatest Name for her.
Teaching a Guajiro boy to print letters.
National Spiritual Assembly of Venezuela was represented by Peter McLaren, pioneer to Venezuela from
the United States, and Eloy Carrascal; the Auxiliary
Board of the Hands of the Cause by Charles Hornby;
and the Maracaibo Spiritual Assembly by Angelina
Bravo. The six year old daughter of Peter and Judy
Long McLaren, Munirih, a veteran of three years
pioneering experience among the Guajiros, added her
special charm and sweetness to the group. In the field
the party was joined by pioneers Creadell Haley from
the United States and Marrisa Hoyes from Colombia,
who teach on a full-time basis among the Venezuela
Guajiros.
In the vicinity of Los Mochos, at the Center contributed
[Page 3]
Enjoying the companionship of the Guajiros at Prieto. Rúḥíyyih Khánum sits in center with pioneer Creadell Haley at her left.
At the Bahá’í Center near Los Mochos, Venezuela. Rúḥíyyih Khánum mounts a burro just for fun with Cecilia Iguaran’s
little boy Dido. Cecilia and Rogelio Hernandez also appear in
the picture.
to Bahá’í use by Manuel Baluena and his family,
where a daily school for about 50 children is operated
by Cecilia del Carmen Iguarán (daughter of Sr. Baluena) and the pioneers, a group of about 70 Bahá’ís
gathered under a tent erected for the occasion. They
warmly greeted Rúḥíyyih Khánum with their customary affectionate pat on the shoulder and their “Tagwarla Bahá’í!” (Bahá’í brother or sister) greeting. She
was presented with a Guajira manta which she promptly put on. She and Violette found the manta a most
comfortable desert dress and later bought more to
supplement their wardrobes.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum told the Guajiros that the border freedom that they enjoy is consistent with the Bahá’í teaching, that they are already practicing a Bahá’í attitude by not having a national prejudice, since for them Venezuela and Colombia are like one country. She told them that she had always loved the Indians of America, for in the country where she grew up, Canada, there are many Indians. She said that as a child she cried because she had not been born Indian, so that the best she could do was now visit these peoples indigenous to the Americas, with whom she feels so much at home and so happy. Rúḥíyyih Khánum said “They know that the missionaries come to these people because they feel sorry for them. But the Bahá’ís do not come for this reason. The people of the city and missionaries treat the Indians as if they are children. The Bahá’ís call them brother and sister.”
“We come to them,” said Rúḥíyyih Khánum, “for two reasons: first of all because Bahá’u’lláh says ‘this is the Message of God for today’ and He tells all the Bahá’ís, ‘you go and share it with others. We don’t have any priests and so we have to do it ourselves.’ ” And at this point Rúḥíyyih Khánum expressed the hope that some of the Guajiro Bahá’ís would make teaching trips to the Guahibo Indian brothers of the Amazon territory in order to spread this Message of Bahá’u’lláh, that they should be able to establish a better understanding with them.
The second and most important reason was likened to the coming of Muhammad and His acceptance by the Arabs, “who became so filled with light that they illumined the whole world.” ... “And it says in the Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith that if the Indians will accept Bahá’u’lláh, they will be like those people and they will illumine the whole world.... And we Bahá’ís, knowing that the words of Bahá’u’lláh are the words of God Himself, believe in what He says, and for this reason we come to you to help you fulfill this promise. You, the Indians will illumine the whole world, through accepting Bahá’u’lláh and becoming Bahá’ís.”
At Los Mochos and the next day at Prieto, two other members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Venezuela greeted Rúḥíyyih Khánum, both of them local Indians, Rogelio Hernandez and Ana Josefa Pirela, so that with the near-quorum of four she met to discuss teaching problems, having already met at Caracas with the balance of the National Assembly and the executive member of the Auxiliary Board, Donald Witzel.
Sunday in the dark of the night, spotlighted by flashlights, young people of Los Mochos danced the Chicha Maya for Rúḥíyyih Khánum to the rhythm of a sharply rapped drum. In the Chicha Maya, a special scarf is placed over the head of the girl, and she holds her ankle length skirt, spread out to its ample fullness and then with tiny steps sweeps and sways, seeming to skim over the sand like a humming bird, while her partner, somewhat less gracefully walks and runs backwards, daring finally to let her get close enough to him that he risks being tripped. The dance ends when one or the other, or sometimes both fall in the soft sand, to the delight and loud cheers of the spectators.
Other than with their dances and the drum beating, the Venezuela Guajiro Bahá’ís entertained Rúḥíyyih Khánum from time to time with original tunes on tiny reed flutes, by their own sing-song chanted folksongs that tell a story, and similar tunes and rhythms hummed through an instrument they presumed to be
[Page 4]
original, but was a close copy of what we in our
childhood called (no doubt traceable from a racial
prejudice rather than origin) a Jew’s harp. On two
occasions Rúḥíyyih Khánum and Violette built fires on
the ground and made a big pot of soup for those who
would otherwise have gone hungry rather than missing
being with her through the evening of songs and conversation.
Scene Changes to Barren Interior[edit]
Monday the Volkswagen and the Scout loaded with passengers, food, and baggage left the dunes of Los Mochos to go deeper into the interior where the hot, dry, and barren sand changed gradually to hot, dry baked clay with a scrub tree and cactus cover, laden with brown dust. The destination was Prieto and the rancheria of Martin Semprúm and his brothers. Martin has carefully and with excellent craftsmanship built a structure for a Bahá’í Center with the benches and table to outfit a daily school for children. He is also, along with Ana Josefa Pirela, one of the principal teachers serving like Cecilia Iguarán and Rogelio Hernandez at Los Mochos without compensation.
A trip to rancheria Maritchpay was on the schedule for Wednesday, an excursion into a new area the day before having produced no results. Maritchpay was a cleared area on the wind-swept, dusty terrain. Short, dusty-green or barren trees surrounded the area for three or four houses, a corral for goats, a hammock shelter and store for saddles etc., and a cooking corral to keep out animals (and perhaps the little ones). Little ones are not much of a problem here, however. They are remarkably well-mannered, obedient and quiet. They freely participate in the adult activities and shyly give their greetings with a gentle pat.
The coming to Maritchpay was not advertised as presumed and only the lady of the house was active, and she shortly put her big round ceramic water jug in its rope harness on her back and trudged off, leading a burro toward the water hole. The children were curious and unafraid and Rúḥíyyih Khánum took out a ballpoint pen and began to see whether the older one, about 12, could write. It seemed they had no school to attend. The child could manage the pen very well and make excellent copies of Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s alphabet. The bright-eyed, luminous faces of the children spoke of intelligence and eagerness to learn and Rúḥíyyih Khánum bemoaned the fact that people of such capacity should be deprived of an education.
We learned that the father in the house was sleeping off a night of heavy rum drinking to commemorate the occasion of the transferral of the bones of one interred about seven years before. Another man slept face down in hammock under the shelter. When the indigenous teacher returned with several women and a man for the meeting, he, in spite of the condition of the man of the house, suggested that Rúḥíyyih Khánum move into the hammock beside the recovering celebrant. So, carrying their little benches they entered the house and made a half circle around the reclining “dueño.”
Ruhiyyih Khanum Teaches[edit]
Rúḥíyyih Khánum began to talk quietly. She spoke of how she had come a long distance to see her Bahá’í brothers and sisters. She spoke of the shortness of life on earth and the fact that we came into the world nude and we go out the same way, empty handed. She admired the handiwork of the hammock or chinchorro (which is more than an ordinary hammock) and a woven bag. The housewife, now at ease and smiling, sewed on a little dress with tiny stitches. The husband relaxed in his chinchorro. When the Indians seemed to lose their power of concentration in the middle of an example from East Indian philosophy, she let the topic drop and became preoccupied with rewinding and untangling a white horsetail fly-chaser from Africa which had come in handy to flick away insects.
Then Rúḥíyyih Khánum wondered out loud in English if she could tell him the Bahá’í law about drinking. One person did not think she should, that in his state it would do no good. However, she kept saying, “This is a good man and a good father. And she is a good woman. He is very easy to talk to. He must be in a chastened state of mind.” She asked him about funerals. Did they sometimes fight when drunk? At first he said “no”, but
The Bahá’ís of Prieto, Venezuela with Rúḥíyyih Khánum after her talk there. National Assembly member Ana Josefa Pirela is at her right and National Assembly member, Rogelio Hernandez at her left. Pioneer Marrisa Hoyos is next to Rogelio, wearing dark glasses.
[Page 5]
when asked why it was that he said she could not go, he
admitted that sometimes “bad people” were there who
fought with the “good people” — but “the Bahá’ís don’t
fight anymore.”
Rúḥíyyih Khánum then began the story of the old man who was a recent Bahá’í when his grandson died. He asked of the pioneer how he should perform a Bahá’í funeral. He was told, “You can make it as pretty as you like. You can have flowers, if you can get them and want to. You should have prayers, many prayers. But there should be no drinking, neither at the house nor at the cemetery.” So this is what he did, though it was rigid custom to drink. But he was courageous.
Sometime later he came to Rúḥíyyih Khánum during her teaching visit, told his story and asked how he could be sure that he would have a Bahá’í funeral, since both of his adult sons were not believers nor sympathetic. So, Rúḥíyyih Khánum said, “It’s true, is it not that children among your people are very obedient to their parents?” Getting an affirmative answer, she told the old man to call his sons together and give them an order that they must give him a Bahá’í funeral and no drinking!
Then she spoke of education for children, said she prayed that schools would come, and stuck her ballpoint pen in the pocket of the boy Herman, who had printed so nicely for her, at which he grinned from ear to ear. The father asked if she couldn’t come every day to teach his children and she explained that she had come a great distance and could not come back. Before she left, the man gave her the small hand-woven bag or “mochillo” which she had admired. Rúḥíyyih Khánum told him that she has a small personal museum in the Holy Land and that this would be placed there so that people from all over the world can see the nice work that they do.
Back in Prieto the next morning some twenty of the most devoted adults and children of the vicinity had waited two or three hours to see Rúḥíyyih Khánum off. The first delegate from the Guajira to a National Convention, Clenticia Sencial and her husband were there (BAHÁ’Í NEWS, March 1966, page 6). Later with emotion Rúḥíyyih Khánum showed a string of little red beads placed on her neck by Clenticia who had removed them from her own neck as a gift to her. Three little children shared their precious mis-matched, worn glass and ceramic beads to make one string for Rúḥíyyih Khánum. One little girl gave her two red seeds that she had found. One of Martin’s brothers gave her a Greatest Name in black on red that he had woven, another reached for a metal bird marker and gave it to her, his precious pocket piece.
Back at Los Mochos the rest of the party settled for the night, the Venezuela Assembly representatives from the cities having returned to job responsibilities on Tuesday. Rúḥíyyih Khánum was determined to take down the big canvas tent shelter which had already been damaged in the wind, and before the others knew what was happening had coiled loose ropes, had begun pulling steel base feet from the two-inch pipe legs, and was climbing a tall ladder that had been found somewhere to loosen a tie at one end of the ridge pole, saying, “I have done more heavy work as Rúḥíyyih Khánum than I ever have done before.”
Love and Unity — Essential[edit]
“... that union and harmony may day by day increase among the friends of God ... Not until this is realized will the affairs advance by any means whatever.”
In these words ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has raised the condition of love and fellowship above the purely personal joy that comes to an individual who is able to live harmoniously to the vital position whereby, until it is reached, the affairs will not advance “by any means whatever.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá also said “Real love is impossible unless one turns his face towards God.” Therefore if love and harmony do not exist, some spiritual law is not being followed. We cannot impose spiritual law on another person; only upon ourselves. Others may become more loving as we progress; but this is only a bonus. The first spiritual law to which we should turn is “... that man should know his own self”. Why do we not feel love?
The reasons for disharmony may seem as many and varied as the faults we find in other people. However, basically they fall into two categories: (1) how we think other people feel about us and (2) how we feel about other people. In the first category lie such things as our feelings of hurt, of being un-loved, scorned, misunderstood etc. In the second is our opinion that certain other people are ignorant, boorish, neglectful, unkind. In both instances the feelings arise within the self.
Let us apply spiritual law to the first cause of disunity — how we think other people feel about us. When we accept another’s appraisal of our actions, we are looking to them as our judge. Bahá’u’lláh exhorted man to “see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others”. He also said “Set before thine eyes God’s unerring Balance and, as one standing in His Presence weigh in that balance thine actions every day, every moment, of thy life”. No other person can possibly know our inner motivations, difficulties and strivings. Therefore no individual is qualified to judge us. Only God. The one exception to this is if our actions appear to be harming the Cause. Then an Assembly will judge our actions.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said “Be unmoved by either praise or false accusations.” However, often the things which people say lie dangerously close to what we know to be our own weaknesses. It is here that the spiritual law regarding truthfulness is so essential. “Without truthfulness, progress and success ... are impossible for any soul.”
... Our challenge is to be courageous and truthful enough to recognize those shortcomings, ask for forgiveness and go forward with the sense of God’s love surrounding us....
Italian Youth School and Proclamation Events Forward Faith[edit]
The National Youth Committee of Italy organized a highly successful national youth school at Passignano (near Perugia) April 11-14, 1968. The school was held in a hotel on the shores of Lake Trasimeno with 110 people participating, twenty of whom were friends of the Bahá’ís. The courses, centering on problems concerning young people today, were: “The Importance of Deepening New Believers in the Faith,” by Mario Morano, representative of the National Spiritual Assembly; “The Attitude of Bahá’ís toward Recent World Events” and “Bahá’í Spiritual Solutions to these Problems,” by Fedross Imani. The highlight of the school was the presence of Dr. Blumenthal, Auxiliary Board member of Germany, who conducted a course on the responsibility of man and how he must strive to reach the more spiritual side of his nature.
A public conference on the last day was attended by many citizens of Passignano who had not heard of the Faith before and who asked many questions. Posters for the school were set up in Passignano and Perugia. Articles appeared twice in the newspaper, with pictures of the participants. The Bahá’í spirit pervaded this school where the very young, the youth and the not-so-young enjoyed being together.
Proclamation and Travel Teaching[edit]
Three big conferences were organized this past winter for proclamation in Bari, Genova and Padova. Excellent publicity preceded the events and formal invitations were sent out to leading personalities. Many of those who attended the meetings showed considerable interest and two persons in Genova declared themselves after the conference.
Stephen Ader, a young Bahá’í traveling teacher from California, was in Italy in March and visited many Italian cities giving public talks, speaking at firesides and to the friends. Mr. Ader’s talks attracted a number of interested people and encouraged the Bahá’ís to proclaim the Faith to all levels of society in their teaching work. The Community of Milano is active in making contacts in the university and in cultural clubs. During Mr. Ader’s visit a big public conference was organized, attended by 150 persons.
Bahá’ís Participate in Brussels Human Rights Year[edit]
For the past few months the Bahá’ís of Brussels have tried to establish contact with the Belgian Committee for the International Human Rights Year. Their efforts were rewarded when the national secretary of the committee, Mr. B. De Schutter, asked a Bahá’í to take part in the study meetings which bring together government officials, senators, judges, university professors and representatives of non-governmental associations. The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Belgium was given copies of all documents distributed during the first such meeting, as well as suggestions for intensifying relations with the United Nations Association and the Human Rights League of Belgium.
On April 10, a luncheon was organized by the Committee for the International Human Rights Year, presided over by U Thant, secretary-general of the United Nations, in the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. Among those participating were Mr. Gibson Parker of the U.N. in Paris, ambassadors of many countries, secretaries of state, government and religious leaders, representatives of universities, the bar, the press, etc. — a colorful and international audience where all groups mixed easily.
For the first time in Belgium a Bahá’í delegation was invited to take part in this important gathering. Delegates were Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Janus, American Bahá’ís returning from the Holy Land, an Iranian pioneer, a Congolese Bahá’í and two members of the Brussels Bahá’í community. Mr. De Schutter, secretary of the Committee for the International Human Rights Year and organizer of the luncheon, indicated his pleasure at their participation. He invited them to a discussion in his office and offered to send material on Human Rights and a special message for inclusion in Bahá’í bulletins. This future meeting will give an opportunity to present the committee with Bahá’í Proclamation material.
National Youth School held at Passignano, Italy April 11-14, 1968.
Proclamation in Switzerland[edit]
Massimo Boldracchi, a young Bahá’í who is an Italian teacher
in Genova and editor of the Italian Bahá’í Bulletin, addressed
the proclamation meeting on March 30, 1968 in Locarno in the
Italian speaking part of Switzerland. Almost fifty persons heard
his talk “Toward A New Era” and received it with enthusiasm,
asking many questions. Also present was Stephen Ader a young
traveling teacher from the United States who has just been to
India and Iran who helped answer questions and gave a well-attended fireside the next day in Lugano.
Bahá’í exhibit at Swiss Muba Fair, in Basel, April, 1968.
Thousands saw the word Bahá’í and many spontaneously took
an information sheet giving the principles in French, German
and Italian. In reply one person wrote from Germany “These
principles will save the world.”
Commemoration of the Súriy-i-Mulúk held March 30, 1968 in
Locarno. Seventeen Bahá’ís from Italy made the trip to this
Italian-speaking part of Switzerland to help the believers in
their proclamation efforts.
News Briefs:[edit]
Professor Alessandro Bausani, of the Rome and Naples Universities and member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy, addressed a public meeting for proclamation on April 6, 1968 at the Hotel de la Paix in Geneva, Switzerland. Over one hundred persons attended and heard the distinguished professor define the religious crisis of today and emphasize the need for one common Faith uniting all mankind. He was later interviewed by the Swiss radio and by the Tribune de Geneva which termed him a “sensible man”. He also spoke of his experiences in Asia at a meeting in Lausanne which was reported with favorable comments in La Feuille d’Avis de Lausanne.
Events in Germany[edit]
Bahá’í seminar held at Langenhain, Germany March 23, 1968.
A National Teaching Conference was held in Frankfurt, Germany January 27-28, 1968. Lectures were given
by Hands of the Cause P. Mühlschlegel and H. Grossman and by Annaliese Bopp. Following the lectures
the participants were split into work groups, enabling
all to participate in the Conference.
Bahá’í Youth Winter School 1967-68 at Freudenstadt in the Black Forest in Germany.
Flooded Alaskan Libraries Replenished[edit]
As an example that the Bahá’í world is one world we are publishing the following letter in respect to the aid extended to the Alaska Bahá’ís after the widely publicized, disastrous flood of last August in north central Alaska. No count was made of the vast number of books and pamphlets sent through the U.S. Publishing Trust and the National Spiritual Assembly, but it is known that the Publishing Trust donated over $200 worth of new books. The Davison Bahá’í School in Michigan and the State Goals Committee of Huntington, West Virginia, also sent literature, and over $130 in cash was contributed for the purchase of books by the three affected communities themselves. Gifts from the Pasadena, California, library included books and valuable literature which belonged to Nellie French, Bahá’í from the earliest days of the Faith in America. The Nenana Community alone reported receiving approximately 1,225 pamphlets, study guides, postcards, 238 books (including many precious out-of-print books), sheet music, a framed picture of ’Abdu’l-Bahá walking up Mt. Carmel, and $45 in cash to purchase books that had not been replaced by donations.
Birdella Mundy, librarian for the Fairbanks Bahá’í Community, sent the following letter of thanks to those who responded to the needs of the flood victims:
“During and after the Fairbanks and surrounding area flood in the late summer of 1967 the three Bahá’í communities involved — Fairbanks, Tenana Valley and Nenana — received many gifts of clothing, books and cash.
“Due to the frenetic living conditions and endless cleanup work, addresses were often misplaced, records were inadequate and some boxes arrived without identification.
“We are therefore afraid that some of the donors were overlooked in thank-you letters and wish to take this means of attempting to reach all who so generously sent things to us. Especially the books! We have been so beautifully cared for in that department that we have been able to give assistance to other isolated believers who had little to work with.
“Treasured old volumes went into the lending library and many of the booklets and pamphlets were distributed among the believers who needed them. The rest went into the regular libraries to fill the needs of contacts and new believers in replenishing lost libraries or building new ones. The cash and checks sent were used to buy the books still needed. Our heartfelt gratitude to every person or community who sent these things in the time of our great need.
“Our summer institute, held one week prior to the flood, had stressed the consideration of impending calamities and one class actually got down to the specifics of which three books they would take with them in time of disaster. Little did we know we were rehearsing for a real disaster which was soon to be upon us! And in the massive struggle to get back in some order before the severe winter weather set in, all Bahá’ís here, when asked what assistance they most wanted, replied: ‘Our books; our libraries. If only we could have our libraries replaced.’
“Thanks again from all of us to all of you. The knowledge that so many loved and cared was as heartwarming as the gifts themselves.”
More than fifty cities in twenty-five states are represented in the donor list.
Australian Youth School Brings Inspiration to Many[edit]
The first youth school of its kind in Australia was held at the Bahá’í School in Yerrinbool April 12-15, 1968. Over forty youth attended from Japan, Malaysia, Portuguese Timor, Great Britain, New Zealand and from various Australian states. It is pictured at the right.
Malcom Pledge, Tony Voykavic and Dianne Trueman handled the day-to-day running of the school with the help of rostered members whose diverse chores ranged from setting tables to chopping wood. Workshops, lecturettes, acting, miming and singing kept the young people engrossed.
Excellent talks were given on local spiritual assemblies, the relation of the Faith to present society, the opportunities and challenges of youth and on The Divine Art of Living. Two of the talks were augmented by tape recordings of Hands of the Cause William Sears and Dr. Ugo Giachery. The Message from The Universal House of Justice to youth was read.
On the last evening a Japanese believer intrigued all with his Japanese tea drinking ceremony.
The atmosphere of cooperation, love and enthusiasm was an inspiration to the older members present and a promise of future development.
North West Africa[edit]
North West Africa convention delegates at national convention
held April 27-28, 1968. It was attended by eighteen of the nineteen delegates, outgoing National Spiritual Assembly members
and Board member Mohammad Othmani Kebdani. Various
means of achieving the remaining goals of the Nine Year Plan
were discussed.
Newly elected National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of North West Africa, elected April, 1968.
Taiwan[edit]
The incorporation of the Local Assembly of Tainan, Taiwan
was achieved by the above members of the Assembly, based
upon property ownership, the property consisting of the Bahá’í
Center in that city. The purchase of the endowment is also
near completion. It consists of 333 square meters at the city
of Chang Hua.
Bahá’ís of Tainan, Taiwan welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Edward
Clayton (center front), pioneers returning from Africa, who
presented a program of slides and commentary to the friends.
Vietnam[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of Vietnam celebrated Riḍván at its National Center in Saigon. A thousand Bahá’ís were present,
as well as religious and civic leaders. Le Loc, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, spoke at length on the Bahá’í Faith
and the program concluded with a motion picture of Bahá’í activities throughout the world. Three newspapers, The Saigon Daily
News, The Saigon Post and Le Vietnam Nouveau, carried articles and pictures on the Bahá’í Riḍván and the event was reported on national radio and television.
The Fifty-Ninth Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United States[edit]
FROM THE THURSDAY evening celebration of the
anniversary of the Declaration of the Báb until the
closing session’s invitation to disperse and pioneer, the
Fifty-ninth Convention of the Bahá’ís of the United
States was blessed, invigorated and deepened by the
presence of two Hands of the Cause, Mr. Zikru’lláh
Khádem and Mr. Collis Featherstone. There were 1045
registered believers in attendance. Dr. Daniel Jordan
was elected chairman.
Two Hands Enrich Sessions[edit]
Mr. Khádem was moved to share with the friends the experience in 1944 of 95 Persian Bahá’í delegates who had been asked by the Guardian to gather quietly in the House in Shiráz where the Blessed Báb had made His Great Announcement. All night the Persians prayed and meditated in that holy spot to mark the centenary of that great event in the world’s religious history. Then Mr. Khádem said, “We are gathered in the holiest House of Worship to dedicate our hearts, our resources, and ourselves to propagate the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.”
The stirring message from The Universal House of Justice was read Friday morning. The Hands of the Cause opened the discussion of the message. Mr. Featherstone reminded us that we are living in a world that is drifting, drifting, drifting. We as Bahá’ís hold not only our own destiny, but, in large measure the destiny of the world in our hands. The Universal House of Justice wrote, “With utmost love (we) call upon all Bahá’ís for (the) sacrificial outpouring (of their) energies (and) resources (for the) advancement of the redeeming order (of) Bahá’u’lláh, (the) sole refuge (for the) misdirected heedless millions.” If we do not arise, who will? How much will we sacrifice at the threshold of Bahá’u’lláh? What can we achieve in the time left to us in our lives? These were some of the solemn questions Mr. Featherstone asked of us. Then Mr. Khádem pointed out the necessity of plans in achieving victories. Half of the time allotted has passed, but many of the goals of the Nine Year Plan remain unfinished. The Universal House of Justice does not ask of us more than we can achieve, but we must not wait too long to arise! How can a Bahá’í go to bed at night when he sees that a goal remains unaccomplished? Let the friends try for themselves the truth of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s promise that if we but arise, the Concourse on High will rush to our aid.
The World Scope of the Faith[edit]
Throughout the Convention, members of the National Spiritual Assembly shared their deepened awareness of the world-wide scope of the Faith gained from their recent experience at the World Center for the election of The Universal House of Justice. They came home feeling that the universal needs of the Faith were so great that America should assume an even larger proportion of the International Fund than had been planned. The evening devoted to a report on the International Convention concluded with a slide presentation, “The World Center of the Faith.”
After the presentation of the Treasurer, Mr. Arthur Dahl, telling of a more than 60% increase in giving last year, the delegates, aware of the degree of sacrifice on the part of some devoted Bahá’ís last year, but also of the need for universal participation, approved a budget of $1,218,000. This includes funds to make up for the deficit of the past two years and an increase in the allocation to the World Center.
In another session a representative of the National Spiritual Assembly, Dr. Dwight Allen, shared some of the statistical information made available to delegates at the World Convention. These facts reveal some of the remaining goals of the Nine Year Plan:
| 1968 | 1973 | ||
National Spiritual Assemblies | 81 | 110 | |
Temple Sites | 51 | 107 | |
Local Spiritual Assemblies | 5,902 | 13,833 | |
Incorporated Local Assemblies | 585 | 1,392 | |
Languages carrying Bahá’í Literature | 411 | 506 | |
| Homefront goals were listed thus: | |||
| 1963 | 1968 | 1973 | |
Localities where Bahá’ís reside | 1,710 | 2,152 | 3,000 |
Local Spiritual Assemblies | 331 | 394 | 600 |
Six states have yet to recognize the Bahá’í Holy Days
and Bahá’í Marriage Certificates.
Members of the Foreign Goals Committee told of responsibilities of the United States in Africa and the Western Hemisphere, and issued a call for pioneers to fill these goals. Mr. Franklin Kahn and Miss Magdalene Carney, members of the Indian and Negro minorities pointed out the need for dispersal to 19 Indian reservations and the states of the South. The delegates recommended training of pioneers for both the home front among minorities and abroad to reduce “cultural shock.”
The National Teaching Committee had prepared a map of the United States and its Bahá’í population which showed that the local spiritual assemblies are now concentrated around the large cities. The Committee representative reminded us that when the Guardian asked us to disperse, he did not mean “Move two miles,” but to go to the towns, villages, and rural areas where there are no Bahá’ís.
Reaching Minorities[edit]
Several of the sessions reserved for open discussion were spent in talking about reaching the minorities. At the request of delegates, eight or ten Negro delegates spoke from their hearts. They expressed the need: to “let preconceived ideas go down the drain when becoming Bahá’ís;” to listen to each other in consultation with humility and attention; to teach by deeds, service, not just words; to use weapons of love; to recognize the Negro yearning for pride in his blackness; to inform
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Left: Hands of the Cause Collis Featherstone and Zikru’lláh Khádem address the Convention. Right: Members of the Auxiliary Board in the United States gather on the platform and are introduced to the Convention.
ourselves of Negro history, experience, and literature;
to be Bahá’í first, then Negro, white; to go, if we are
white, into white ghettos to teach racial unity. One
delegate reminded us that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was audacious
when He was in America, performing an interracial
marriage at the very time that Jim Crow customs were
solidifying.
The Navajo delegate suggested that all of us while at the House of Worship pray for strength and go out purely as Bahá’ís. He asked whether the aboriginal Americans were being forgotten in our consideration of how to reach the minorities. A pioneer on an Indian reservation reported that the Indians respond to the language of the heart and of the spirit.
Election of NSA[edit]
The latter part of Saturday morning was devoted to prayerful voting for members of the National Spiritual Assembly. All 171 delegates voted, 145 in person and 26 by mail. By late afternoon the result of the balloting was announced, and by Sunday morning the officers had been elected by the new NSA as follows: Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, Chairman; Dr. Daniel Jordan, Vice-Chairman; Mr. Glenford E. Mitchell, Secretary; Miss Charlotte M. Linfoot, Assistant Secretary; Miss Edna M. True, Recording Secretary; and Mr. Arthur Dahl, Treasurer. Other members are Dr. Dwight W. Allen; Dr. Sarah M. Pereira, and Mr. Paul R. Pettit.
Visitors’ Session[edit]
Non-delegates attending the convention were offered the opportunity of attending a special session on Saturday afternoon at the National College of Education. There, visitors to the convention were able to consult together and share ideas in much the same way as the delegates in regular session.
Albert Porter was chairman with the assistance of Nancy Phillips. Dwight Allen presented a message from the National Spiritual Assembly. He pointed out that the challenge of our times is seen in the world at large as pangs of death, but that within the Faith it represents the pangs of birth. He called attention to the twin goals of expansion and consolidation given us by The Universal House of Justice and proclamation as a vehicle for attaining them.
Dr. Peter Khan read the message to the National Bahá’í Convention from The Universal House of Justice and reminded the visitors to the convention, as they prepared to discuss the message, to think about the nature of consultation: that all are equal in consultation, that there are no “wrong answers,” and that what is important is ideas — not who has them. Two parts of the message were discussed separately; the information given and the call to action. On the question of how to bring about universal participation, ideas brought out in discussion were: that we remember to love and encourage each other, that a task for everyone be part of any teaching plan, that an effort be made to find out the talents of each person so that they could be put to use, and that a variety of techniques be used in deepening sessions to make them more attractive and better attended.
Consultation on Proclamation and Expansion[edit]
Natalie DiBuono of the Public Information Department was the keynote speaker on the subject of proclamation. She pointed out that at last, after many years, we now have the resources and the numbers to publicize the Faith widely, as well as a directive from The Universal House of Justice to do so. As evidence that the Faith is fast becoming emancipated from obscurity she cited recent articles in national magazines and the increasing number of full-page newspaper stories. Some of the suggestions for successful proclamation which were brought out by the visitors in consultation included making use of every medium, starting well in advance, providing for all to participate, planning a follow-up to teach those who had been informed by the proclamation event, and making the event an intercommunity effort of all nearby communities. Since creativity is so important in teaching it was suggested that in our local consultation we make a special effort not to “shoot holes” in a new idea brought up but that we try to find some way of carrying it out consistent with Bahá’í principles.
Glenford Mitchell keynoted the discussion of expansion and consolidation. Two special questions were considered, minority teaching and consolidation among youth — the ability of the Bahá’í community to absorb smoothly the ever-increasing youth enrollment, which amounted to 37% of the total this year. It was pointed out that youth are more aware of the evils of society and that this sensitivity can make them effective teachers of Bahá’u’lláh’s new way of life, especially since they are free of administrative responsibilities and can teach unhampered.
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Left: Eight members of the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly of the United States on Convention platform. Right: Dr. Daniel Jordan, chairman of the Convention and vice chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly plays for the delegates and friends. The piano is a recent gift.
Some Questions Answered[edit]
On Saturday evening the new National Spiritual Assembly was greeted with a standing ovation and song of loving greeting. They volunteered to answer questions puzzling the friends.
Later in the evening the friends saw pictures of Bahá’í life in a village in India, representative of the work of Mr. George C. Stoney a non-Bahá’í maker of documentaries who traveled around the world with 20 graduate students to make a movie of the Bahá’í world community.
The Closing — A Call for Action[edit]
During the concluding moments of the Convention the beloved Hands once again called the Bahá’ís to action and showered their love upon us. Mr. Featherstone praised the delegates for consulting so impartially, each contributing his share to the progress of the Faith we all love so dearly. He warned us not to “pass the buck” to the NSA, but to realize that Bahá’u’lláh has passed the responsibility to each of us. The rolling up of the old order should not concern us so much as our duty to give birth to a world civilization, to build the Kingdom of God. We have been warned we may go through fire and ordeal, but the result must be our emergence as pure gold. We have knowledge, a plan, hope for the future, the Words revealed by God. Time is so short, there are so few of us, so much to do, so vast an area to do it in! When we leave this world, let us have no regrets.
Then Mr. Khádem asked us to remember that our time and energies belong to Bahá’u’lláh. We are not to use them for our own desires. Nor can we be still — this is the virtue of a dead man. Whatever is happening in the world is for the promotion of the Cause of God. All of the forces of mankind cannot change what has been decreed by Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi. Now, when the world situation is so critical we should open our ears to the words of The Universal House of Justice, “source of all good and free from all error.” The youth, the most precious assets of the Faith, must consult their consciences in every trifling matter — Is it good for the Faith? The people of the world are watching us. Bahá’u’lláh is watching us. Mr. Khádem also described the serious charge given to the Hands by the Guardian to protect the Faith and beseeched the Bahá’ís as devoted servants, “day and night to share in this great responsibility of protection.” In conclusion he asked that all faces shine with the light of Bahá’u’lláh, and that those who had determined to disperse and pioneer come forward. One at a time and by families, forty-five came to offer their services. One volunteer had been a Bahá’í only four days. The hearts of all in the Convention accompanied in imagination and spirit these valiant souls who volunteered to join the crusaders who had gone before them to all parts of the world, hastening the day when the Glory of God would cover the face of the earth.
Left: Four member panel addresses delegates and friends during Convention. Right: Dwight Allen charts goals.
Seattle Auxiliary Board Team Conference[edit]
Converging upon Seattle from Canada, Swaziland, Alaska, South Dakota, Texas, Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Illinois, New Mexico, California, and all parts of Washington, 253 Bahá’í adults and youths attended the Auxiliary Board Team Conference on April 6 and 7. It’s purpose? To rededicate one’s whole being to the Cause of God. To deepen in knowledge and in spirit. To delight in two days of reunion and companionship with fellow believers.
Mr. Zikru’lláh Khádem, Hand of the Cause of God, was the keynote speaker and with his first words began to lift the hearts and minds of those present. Assisting him were Auxiliary Board members Mrs. Javidukht Khádem, Chester Kahn and Mrs. Florence Mayberry of the United States. An added treat was the presence of Mrs. Helen Wilks, African Auxiliary Board member and pioneer in Swaziland.
To further uplift the friends and broaden their vista of the Faith, Arthur C. Dahl, National Treasurer, represented the National Spiritual Assembly in a splendid presentation of the aims, plans and accomplishments of that body, and of the believers as a whole.
Mr. Khádem opened the session with moving heart-to-heart stories of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, and later presented a stirring talk on the vital meaning, strength and glory of The Universal House of Justice. Other inspiring talks during the two days were “ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá” by Chester Kahn; “Shoghi Effendi and His Writings” and “The Covenant” by Mrs. Khádem; “Universal Participation” by Mrs. Wilks and Mr. Kahn; “The Hands of the Cause of God” by Mrs. Mayberry.
Strong emphasis to the future role of Western Hemisphere Indians in world establishment of this Revelation was given by Mr. Kahn, himself of Navajo background. This was highlighted by the presentation to the Hand of the Cause of a fine carving created by the Neah Bay totem artist, Lewis Gary Hillaire. Mr. Hillaire is the gifted grandson of Joseph Hillaire, recently deceased Bahá’í, who was world famous for his totems displayed at the Seattle World Fair and in the Orient. Representatives of several Indian Reservations were present.
The evening session featured a stimulating question and answer period held with the Hand of the Cause and Auxiliary Board members.
Throughout the conference musical programs of high quality were presented by the Washington Bahá’ís, primarily by the Janai Singers of the greater Seattle area. This chorus was led by Clyde Johnson, and featured his unusual and spiritually moving arrangements.
As children save the best sweet for the last, said the chairman at the last session, so the Hand of the Cause would close this happy gathering. Mr. Khádem’s words more than lived up to this promise as he carried the hopes and resolves of the friends to a still higher peak of spirituality. Tears of feeling too deep to be spoken streamed down the cheeks of many — their farewells had to be wordless. And those who could speak were saying — “How wonderful to be a Bahá’í!” — “How much we owe to Bahá’u’lláh!” — “I must — I will! — do more for this glorious Cause!”
Landmark Seminar in New York Weighs Issues of Human Rights[edit]
Human rights, one of the most vital issues confronting governments and organizations today, was discussed and studied at the first national seminar of its kind, held in New York City, May 3 to 4. About 100 Bahá’ís from throughout the nation participated in a series of lectures and workshops planned by the United States Bahá’í Committee for the United Nations in cooperation with the North American Bahá’í Office for Human Rights (NABOHR).
Since the subject of human rights is a complex one, the purpose of the seminar was simply to stimulate Bahá’ís into developing a broader understanding of it and to become active in the promotion of human rights in their home communities. The issue was approached on an international level, on local levels, and from the singular point of view of the Bahá’í as an individual.
The first session of the program, which began after a morning of registration and orientation, dealt with human rights on the international level. Speakers from the United Nations Secretariat addressed the audience of Bahá’ís in the Dag Hammarskjöld Memorial Auditorium of the United Nations Library Building, bringing them glimpses into the great variety of areas of human rights in which the United Nations is working. These include efforts to utilize “inner space — the vast, untapped resources of the seabed.” Mr. Victor J. Gauci of the American Mission to the U.N. said, “This must be made available to all mankind ... for it was provided by nature for all on this earth and the results of these natural bounties must be shared by all.” Mr. Gauci explained how the seabed can provide food for the world’s growing population.
Mr. Philip Singer of the United Nations Social Development Program stated that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts that basic human nature is independent of time, place, and circumstance and is true for all time. He said that man is a creature of culture and that the United Nations is providing a universal culture pattern. Mr. Singer said, “The United Nations is an instrument in this age of enlightenment.”
Other speakers of the afternoon who sparked excitement among the seminar participants by bringing them a keener realization of how human rights relate to a world of peaceful nations were Mrs. Pilar Santander-Downing of the Status of Women, Division of Human Rights of the U.N.; and Mr. C. D. Beebe of the New
[Page 14]
Zealand Mission to the United Nations. Their talks
opened a wider horizon of understanding of how the
United Nations is working for the good of all mankind.
The Bahá’í and Human Rights[edit]
The second morning began with a series of workshops in which the Bahá’ís were able to relate themselves specifically to particular human rights. There were five workshops on the topics of: the right to live in peace, the right to education, the rights of women, the elimination of racial discrimination, and the subject of food, health, and population.
In exchanging ideas the participants sparked among themselves an acute awareness of the problems of economic, social, civil, and cultural injustices. Just as on the previous day one of the United Nations’ speakers had stated that goal-setting must be done on an individual basis, so again this was stressed but with emphasis on the fact that Bahá’ís have even greater responsibilities than do other citizens for, “Bahá’ís have the missing ingredients given to the world by Bahá’u’lláh.” A general report at the end of the morning from all workshops revealed that significant consultations had left a stimulating impact on the overall seminar, imparting enthusiasm for further study.
The first two speakers of the second afternoon were Dr. Victor de Araujo, director of the Bahá’í International Office in New York City, who showed how the international Bahá’í-United Nations relationship is valuable in protecting the human rights of Bahá’ís in those countries where persecution is experienced, and Miss Ellen Parmelee, U.S. national observer to the United Nations.
“Stand Up and Be Counted”[edit]
The efforts extended in promoting human rights on the national level were vividly described as guides for local action by both Director of the Public Information Department Salvatore Pelle and Mr. Richard Betts of NABOHR. National efforts include wide distribution to government and organization leaders of the “Bahá’í Statement on Human Rights,” the initiation of regional human rights workshops, and plans for continuing efforts in working with other organizations in the promotion of human rights.
Mr. Pelle and Mr. Betts then suggested specific ways Bahá’ís on local levels can “stand up and be counted” as citizens who know about and are concerned about human rights. Among them were “joining other organizations whose ideals are compatible to ours and working with them in human rights promotions” and “sponsoring local workshops on human rights.” Literature for further study was recommended, some of it provided in the kits of material presented to all seminar participants.
A New Pamphlet[edit]
During the seminar banquet, the first evening, an announcement was made that just the day before a new pamphlet “Human Rights — Basis for World Peace” had come off the press and was being readied for distribution. The pamphlet had been prepared by the Bahá’í Committee for the United Nations, co-sponsored by the United Nations Association of the United States. It is an introduction to the subject of human rights, particularly in the development of a world code of human rights law.
The United Nations Association had pre-sold the pamphlet to other national religious, social, and political organizations in the quantity of about 300,000. The pamphlet significantly contains two quotations of Bahá’u’lláh and a quotation of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States.
Bahá’í communities will be informed about ordering it by the national Public Information Department.
Enthusiasm Marks Seminar’s Closing[edit]
The seminar’s meetings were held in the General Assembly building of the United Nations, the United Nations Library building, and in the Church Center for the United Nations.
The seminar closed at the end of two full days of activities with the general opinion that a deeper understanding of the complex subject of human rights had been established. It was felt that this seminar was the first step toward a continuing study of the subject and “continuing action.” Many of the participants were looking forward enthusiastically to attending the regional workshops during the summer as planned by NABOHR, which would be concentrating on specific human rights problems facing communities in the United States.
the United Nations
Secondary School Library Guide Selects Esslemont Book[edit]
Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, by J. E. Esslemont, standard text of the Bahá’í Faith for many years and highly commended by Shoghi Effendi, has been listed in the new, 1968 Secondary School Library, guide for selection of books distributed by The Baker and Taylor Company. This is the oldest and largest book wholesaler in the United States. The selections were made by Dorothy A. McGinniss, Associate Professor, Syracuse University School of Library Science, with the assistance of an advisory committee of prominent librarians.
The first step in the selection made by Miss McGinniss and the committee was to obtain a shelf list from a good high school. For this purpose Oak Park-River Forest High School of Illinois was chosen since it was the largest of the Knapp School Libraries Project demonstration schools. After this, the points of view of librarians in other types of schools throughout the country were solicited by the editor. Then a revised list was again sent to each of these librarians for their recommendations or deletions and suggested additions which they had found useful.
In her introduction to the Guide, Miss McGinniss states: “In this list then we have a group of books selected and used by librarians, teachers and students in a large senior high school with additions suggested by librarians representing different kinds of schools with different curricula and different types of students and teachers.... The points of view of a large number of people are represented.”
Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era has been given an “S” classification in this Guide, which indicates that the book “seems to be for the very best or the most mature readers.”
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At the Human Rights Seminar New York May 3 and 4
Bahá’í Publishing Trust[edit]
Manifestation — Not Incarnation. The Reality of Christ. By Albert Entzminger. Introduction and epilogue by Winston Evans. This material has been prepared at the request of The Universal House of Justice in connection with the meeting of the World Council of Churches to be held in Uppsala, Sweden in July. A number of the pamphlets will be taken by Mr. Evans to the Council meeting in Uppsala.
Some Bahá’ís may recall this excellent article which was published a number of years ago under the title The Manifestation. The present edition has been edited to a slightly briefer version.
The subject matter deals with one of the most difficult and provocative problems for modern theologians: the traditional concept of the incarnation and the fact that Christians today are finding it increasingly difficult to accept a theory which implies that Jesus was God. The only alternative has been a humanistic concept. The introduction states: “Once the true Reality of Christ is recognized, Christians are better prepared to comprehend the “return” or “second coming” issue which was the focal point of heated discussion when the World Council met in Evanston in 1954.”
This brochure fills a long-felt need for presenting the Teachings to Liberal Christians and should open new avenues for Proclamation. It has been prepared in the “slimline” format similar to a series now available, in antique gold color.
Ten copies | $1.00 |
50 copies | $4.50 |
The Earth Is But One Country. By Rachel Weller.
Reprint from Friends Journal. This article shows an
unusual depth of understanding of the Bahá’í Faith, its
principles and organization. The author is a member of
the Urbana-Champaign Meeting at Urbana, Illinois and
a long-time friend and acquaintance of Garreta Busey
through whom she has acquired a sympathetic interest
in Bahá’í teachings. Though concise, the article gives a
clear explanation of Progressive Revelation, the Bahá’í
principles that apply to bringing about world unity, and
Bahá’u’lláh’s plan for world order. Comment is made
upon Bahá’í worship services; the method of taking
action and making decisions through consultation; and
the Bahá’í relationship to political activities.
Bahá’ís will find this reprint of great value in all Proclamation and teaching efforts at this time. It has been prepared in 8½ x 11 size, folded to become a self-mailer. It can well be the spearhead in any Proclamation campaign.
25 copies (minimum order) | $1.00 |
100 copies | $3.50 |
500 copies | $15.00 |
Order through community librarian from: the Bahá’í
Publishing Trust, 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois
60091
Bahá’í in the News[edit]
The Chinese World the oldest Chinese daily in America and the only bilingual, Chinese-English newspaper in the United States, carried a story of a California Bahá’í in its issue for May 2, 1968. The account, with a picture, told of Victor Tom who was elected to membership on the Local Spiritual Assembly of Santa Barbara, California. In speaking of the Faith it was stated, “The Bahá’í is an organization of faith which professes the unity of all religions, all men and all races ...”
Life a monthly published in Korea devoted a page and a half to the Bahá’í Faith in its April issue. It was an account of the Naw-Rúz celebration of the Bahá’ís in Seoul and included pictures of the group, the table at the Feast and the Greatest Name.
The July 1968 issue of Fate, a monthly magazine with circulation of nearly 100,000 carries an article “The Paranormal Basis of Bahá’í” by Marcus Bach. The nine page article, with illustrations, is well written and quite free of inaccuracies, ending with the following paragraph, “In our divided world, whether we believe in Bahá’u’lláh or not his words of prophecy and truth, spoken 100 years ago, well might be considered the foundation of today’s ecumenical movement, the convergence of cultures and the growing recognition that all men are brothers, for he said, ‘The earth is one country and mankind its citizens.’ ”
The April 24, 1968 issue of The Lutheran, has a two page article on the Faith in a series titled “Your Neighbor’s Faith.” The article, “Bahá’í World Faith Sees Word of God Revealed by Special Manifestations” is by Louis Cassels, religious editor for United Press International. It states in part, “Bahá’í in its emphasis on ‘the oneness of all humanity’ vigorously opposes all forms of racial prejudice, discrimination and segregation ...”
The April 4, 1968 issue of The Sentinel, a weekly publication of Jewish interest published in Chicago, has a feature story on the Faith titled “Bahá’í Religion Also Finds Place In Israel.” The story is written by The Sentinel’s correspondent in Israel, Carl Alpert. Speaking of the Bahá’ís the writer states, “They subscribe to the prophecies of the Bible and see in many Biblical verses predictions of the rise of their own faith.... They note that the establishment of the State of Israel did not take place in the Moslem era nor in the Christian era, but in what they call the Bahá’í period of history. When their pilgrims come here to mark their 100th anniversary they will at the same time, and in all sincerity, also join in celebrating Israel’s twentieth year.”
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.
Material must be received by the twenty-fifth of the second month preceding date of issue. Address: Bahá’í News Editorial Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091, U.S.A.
Change of address should be reported directly to National Bahá’í Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A. 60091.
