Bahá’í News/Issue 457/Text
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| No. 457 | BAHA’I YEAR 126 | APRIL, 1969 |
Bahjí from the air looking northeast.
Teaching — A Gift of God to His Loved Ones[edit]
ENOCH OLINGA GIVEN AT PALERMO AUGUST 1968
Beloved Friends, Ours is the opportunity and this is
the time to make up our minds. Time is too short
and unless we make the effort, ... humanity will
continue to be afflicted with misery, sin and suffering.
Let us be as the cloud, so that from us “may be
showered that which will refresh and animate the
earth”. We cannot afford to rest on our laurels, when
there is so much to be done, when the Universal House
of Justice is calling and calling. Let us recall the
powerful message from this infallible body the source
of all good and freed from error, which they sent to the
Bahá’í world, at the launching of the Nine Year Plan.
“The divinely-propelled process described in such awe-inspiring words by our beloved Guardian which began
six thousand years ago, at the dawn of the Adamic
Cycle and which is destined to culminate in ‘the stage
at which the light of God’s triumphant Faith shining
in all its power and glory will have suffused and
enveloped the entire planet,’ ” wrote the Universal
House of Justice, “is now entering its tenth and last
part. The Ten Year Crusade, so recently consummated
in a blaze of victory and rejoicing, constituted the
entire ninth part of this process. It saw the Cause of
God leap forward in one mighty decade-long effort to
the point at which the foundations of its Administrative
Order were laid throughout the world, thus preparing
the way for that awakening of the masses which must
characterize the future progress of the Faith.” With
these words so powerful and full of promise, the supreme and all-powerful Universal House of Justice —
this healing Body, this matchless instrument of the
Blessed Beauty, raised the hopes of the followers of
Bahá’u’lláh throughout the world, and summoned them
to the service of His glorious and triumphant Faith.
Teaching Intensity to Increase[edit]
Earlier in 1963, immediately after its coming into being, the Universal House of Justice, preparing the Bahá’í World for the tasks which lay ahead of them, said: “The Cause of God, launched on the sea of the Divine Plan of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has achieved, under the superb leadership of its beloved Guardian, and spread throughout the world such a momentum which must now carry it forward on the next stage of its world-redeeming mission: the second epoch of the Divine Plan.” “The great work of teaching,” appealed the Universal House of Justice, “must be extended, not only in those areas where mass-conversion is beginning, but everywhere ... the high intensity of teaching activity reached at the end of the World Crusade, far from slackening, must now be increased by the friends everywhere, drawing on the vast spiritual powers released as a result of the celebration of the Most Great Jubilee and emergence of the Universal House of Justice.”
The second epoch of the Divine Plan which we entered “blessed beyond compare and riding the crest of the great wave of victory produced for us by our beloved Guardian,” must witness acts of heroism and sacrifice hitherto unknown.
Matchless Hour of Service[edit]
Beloved Friends, We should be exceedingly happy and eternally grateful that we are alive in these wonderful days and were assisted in accepting this glorious Faith. What a message we have for ourselves and for the people of this world — a message that makes all men free and teaches them to rejoice in the coming of their salvation, — a message which teaches us to throw off all shackles and bonds. “The Ancient Beauty,” revealed His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh, “hath consented to be bound in chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a Prisoner within this Mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto liberty.... He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow that all the people of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness.” Yes, we have a matchless Message, that teaches us how to live our material as well as spiritual lives; a Message that brings us all beauty, love and wisdom, understanding, truth and happiness; a Message that speaks of service, service, service.
The precious Herald commanded the Concourse of Kings of the earth to arise and teach His Cause. To the people of the West He said: “Issue forth from your cities, O peoples of the West, to aid His Cause.” Addressing His Letters of the Living, the same Báb ordered them to “scatter throughout the length and breadth of this land, and, with steadfastness and sanctified hearts prepare the way for His coming ... Arise in His Name, put your trust wholly in Him, and be assured of ultimate victory.”
His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh calling the friends of God to service, said “Say, Teach ye the Cause of God, O People of Bahá, for God hath prescribed unto every one the duty of proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it as the most meritorious of all deeds.” “The day of service is now come”, admonished the Lord of mankind, “Countless Tablets bear the testimony of the bounties vouchsafed unto thee. Arise for the triumpth of My Cause, and through the power of thine utterance subdue the hearts.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said: “May my life be sacrificed for you! Behold the portals which Bahá’u’lláh hath opened before you. Consider how exalted and lofty is the station you are destined to attain; how unique the favors with which you have been endowed. The full measure of your success is as yet unrevealed, its significance still unapprehended. Ere long you will, with your own eyes, witness how brilliantly everyone of you, even as a shining star, will radiate in the firmament of your country the light of divine guidance, and will bestow upon its people the glory of an everlasting life. I fervently hope that in the near future the whole earth may be stirred and shaken by the results of your
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achievements and that ye will accomplish that which
will adorn the pages of history, and become the envy of
the world and be blessed in both the East and the West.
Exert yourselves, your mission is unspeakably glorious.”
The Purpose of Creation[edit]
Teaching is a gift from God to His loved ones. We are taught that the purpose of creation is that man should know and worship God, which implies that his instinctive craving should be recognition of and obedience to the laws of God. Bahá’u’lláh has come to bring about a spiritual or religious renaissance, using men as His tools. Each person has certain talents, collectively these are sufficient to achieve the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth, but each person has free will and must want to play his part. Each person has a God-given right to happiness and this is waiting for us if we find the key to unlock the door of the strong-room where it is stored. The key is service in the Cause of God — service which stretches our ability to the uttermost. Then will we experience the flow of fully extended endeavor, be raised above the station of men and become what we really are by the bounty of God. “Of all the gifts of God,” says our beloved Master, “the greatest is the gift of teaching. It draweth unto us the grace of God and is our first obligation. Of such a gift how can we deprive ourselves? Nay, our lives, our goods, our comforts, our rests, we offer them all as a sacrifice for the Abhá Beauty and teach the Cause of God.”
Beloved Friends, The most important thing today is to guide the people of the world to Bahá’u’lláh, to love, to peace. There is still much cleansing to be done, much purifying and much re-generating. This is the time for us, the Bahá’ís, to whom are entrusted the task of spreading the truth, of guiding the human race to security, to look within ourselves and see whether we are not called upon to re-dedicate our lives to the vision which has often lost some of its pristine glory. Let us stir ourselves to use our lives as instruments of the great power of the spirit of our glorious Faith, which desires to unite the world. Let us be united in this undertaking and for the sake of God, never allow ourselves to be engrossed with the material problems of our world that we loose sight of the great spiritual realities behind them. We are well equipped. We have the faith and guiding principles. We have knowledge which is our light, teacher and great helper, but we have to make use of it for the betterment of the world and of ourselves ...
The Challenging Tasks of the Hour[edit]
In their momentous message to this Conference, the Universal House of Justice has again called our attention to the challenging tasks of this critical hour. “At this midway point of that Plan, although great strides have been made”, explained the Universal House of Justice, “more than half of the goals are still to be won. “We have been told where the deficiencies are. They are in the opening of new centers where Bahá’ís reside and the formation of local spiritual assemblies, which inevitably affects the ability to establish national spiritual assemblies.” How are we to correct these deficiencies? The answer is given by the Universal House of Justice: “It is only by a dramatic upsurge of teaching” — effective teaching, that is. Universal participation is the key. Universal participation in teaching, in giving to the Fund and in pioneering. Pioneers are badly needed now, so are traveling teachers both local and international. This is the time for positive action. We cannot afford to wait. Speed should be our motto. Speed should be the motto of national spiritual assemblies, local spiritual assemblies and each and every follower of Bahá’u’lláh. Speed in the swiftly-vanishing years of this divinely-propelled Plan. The idea is, every one everywhere must, in the words of our beloved Universal House of Justice in their message to this Conference, “rise as one man to demonstrate their love for Him who suffered for them, by such deeds of sacrifice and devotion as shall outshine the deeds of the past and sweep away every obstacle from the onward march of the Cause of God.”
Swiss Bahá’í summer school held in Interlaken in a neighborhood where Shoghi Effendi spent some time. Fifteen countries, 160 participants including twenty-five non-Bahá’ís were present. The Proclamation of
Bahá’u’lláh was presented to the Mayor and other town authorities as well as the local newspaper editor. A representative of the town council was present at the closing school banquet.
Panama Temple Site — Scene of Prayer and Inspiration[edit]
Bahá’ís at Temple site in Panama for the first of three planned prayer sessions for the teaching work.
A series of three monthly sunrise prayer sessions
began on December 8 at the Panama Temple site. They
are being sponsored by the National Teaching Committee of Panama as a source of spiritual stimulation
toward winning more goals by Riḍván. Thirty-eight
Bahá’ís gathered on the mountain top in cool, brisk,
sunny air, amidst the breathtakingly beautiful surroundings, for the first meeting. The next, January 5,
found an increasing number adding their prayers for
the fulfillment of Panama’s goals. After the sessions the
friends meet briefly at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds for fellowship and refreshments.
Wonderful things are happening in Panama — Bahá’ís who had never made a teaching trip before are going out to the nearby towns to carry the Message of Bahá’u’lláh!
Bahá’í Cemetery Established In Guajira Area[edit]
Since the earliest recorded history of the Guarjiro Peninsula the Indians inhabiting the area have followed certain well-defined traditions for burial of the dead. Shortly after death the body was wrapped in palm leaves and then laid in a shallow grave. After several years the bones were disinterred and placed in a large earthenware vase which in turn was buried in a cemetery with the mouth of the vase just showing above the ground. Both the original burial and the reburial of the bones were accompanied by the gathering of many friends and relatives from near and far, and the drinking of large quantities of “chirinche,” a locally produced fermented drink with a high alcoholic content.
In more recent times, through the influence of Christian churches, in some areas the cemeteries have taken on a different appearance. In these areas the remains are placed in small concrete vaults above the ground, on top of which is placed a cross. But the burial continues to be an occasion for heavy drinking in many parts of the Guajira area.
Naturally it is necessary that these customs change in the Bahá’í villages, and so it was suggested about a year ago in a meeting of the Guajiro Teaching Committee, that a suitable site be found, and a first Bahá’í cemetery be established where burials would take place according to the Bahá’í laws. Although everyone liked the idea of a Bahá’í cemetery, some of the older people reacted and were not willing to give up the customary type of grave and marker. The subject was not pushed in further committee meetings but the Guajiro believers went on discussing the idea among themselves on numerous occasions. Gradually there developed an awareness of the importance of this matter, which culminated in the establishment during August, 1968, of the first Bahá’í cemetery in Venezuela. In the Guajiro village of Los Mochos, Nectario Hernandez, one of the oldest Bahá’ís of the community, offered a suitable piece of land, and the Local Spiritual Assembly of Los Mochos approved the use of that site as the Bahá’í cemetery.
The death of an infant son of an outstanding Guajiro Bahá’í teacher provided the final impulse for the establishment of the cemetery, and this child became the first person to be buried there. While the concrete marker was being prepared at the gravesite, about twenty-five Guajiro Bahá’ís gathered nearby under the shade of a large tree and took part in a beautiful fireside discussion of the Bahá’í teachings on life after death, during which excellent questions were asked and profound observations were made by many of the believers.
It is expected that this new Bahá’í cemetery will inspire other Guajiro Bahá’í communities to follow the example of Los Mochos and establish their own cemeteries. The Local Spiritual Assembly of Los Mochos plans to build a fence around the cemetery and beautify the grounds with flowering plants.
A Year of Progress in Costa Rica[edit]
The Costa Rica Bahá’í community has persevered, and its gains have been steady during the past year.
The National Assembly has held institutes all over the country, often simultaneously on the east and west coasts.
The Indian work shows a substantial increase among believers. Three Indian teachers have arisen as a result of the deepening work of the institutes and summer school, one from the Talamanca area and two from the Terraba Indian Reserve.
Teaching and consolidation work is progressing in Guanacaste where the people are mainly “campesinos” (farmers). Two fine teachers have developed in this area.
Costa Rica has benefited from the visits of Auxiliary Board members Gabriel Torres and Ruth Pringle, and from members of the Continental Board of Counsellors: Alfred Osbourne, who attended the summer school in December, and Artemis Lamb, who spent one week in Costa Rica on Proclamation work with radio and press interviews, a conference at the University, and a visit to Limon.
There have been new areas opened to the Faith on the Pacific side of the country in the Golfito area, and on the Atlantic side in a number of localities.
The Proclamation program has alerted the whole country to the Faith, with radio broadcasts weekly on the Pacific in Puntarenas and on the Atlantic in Limon, and intermittent radio programs for special events in the Meseta central from San Jose. Articles appear twice monthly in the leading newspaper and have attracted much attention.
Richard Mirkovich, a pioneer for ten years to Costa Rica, left with his wife and children who are native Costa Ricans for Bolivia, where Richard will serve as Auxiliary Board member to that country and his wife as a pioneer. Costa Rica is one of the Latin American countries which sent pioneers in earlier years to Nicaragua, where they are still serving, and also to the Galapagos Islands.
Letters to the Editor[edit]
“I am sure you have heard from other pioneers over the years how very much the BAHÁ’Í NEWS means to us out in the field. It is our one real link to keep up with what is happening everywhere, such an inspiration when we read of what is going on in other countries, an inspiration too for the local believers when we report this news to them at the Feasts, or pass around the News so all can read it; and such a joy to be able to keep track of our special friends as reports of their activities reach us through this medium. We watch the mails eagerly as the time comes when it should arrive and I, for one, just drop everything and sit down and read from cover to cover before I can go on with daily activities. So, a heartfelt thanks from me and the other pioneers as well as from the local believers for the bounty of having it.”
Alfred Osbourne, member of Continental Board of Counsellors
of Central America, Miss Badri Djazayeri, Iranian pioneer to
Costa Rica and Antonio Soto G., secretary of the National
Spiritual Assembly, at the Bahá’í Institute held in Alajuela,
Costa Rica, during December, 1968.
This neat and attractive display was prepared by the Bahá’ís
of Honduras as a Proclamation project and is shown in a
new building in the center of Tegucigalpa.
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Two views of the newly acquired Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Monrovia, Liberia.
Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds Completed in West Africa[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of West Africa joyfully announces the completion of their National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, a goal of the Nine Year Plan. This beautiful building, shown on this page, is just off the main highway in Monrovia, Liberia, and was dedicated on December 28 with the public invited and with good coverage given by local newspapers of Monrovia.
The dedication was blessed by the presence of three members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Northwestern Africa. The National Spiritual Assembly of West Africa is happy in the anticipation of holding their next national convention in their own Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.
School at Bomi Hills[edit]
Another successful session was held in Bomi Hills, Liberia, of the Summer School of West Africa, from January 16 to 26. Daily classes were held on Bahá’í History, Bahá’í Administration, and various other subjects. A new course was given on the Muslim Faith, which was particularly enjoyed in this predominantly Christian country. The warm spirit of Bahá’í fellowship prevailed throughout.
A total of forty-one attended this session, with one declaration and one offer of travel teaching. This was the third annual session and was enjoyed by all who attended, several of whom were very new believers.
Teaching Institute of Cameroon Republic[edit]
The first session at the Teaching Institute of the Cameroon Republic at Tinto was held December 1 to 14 and brought excellent results. There were two teachers, Mr. Simeon Arreneke and Mrs. Zora Banks (American pioneer), and sixteen students.
The students were divided into two classes and studied: Bahá’í history, the Covenant and Administration, public speaking and the conduct of children’s classes as well as other related topics. Consideration of the goals of the Nine Year Plan brought so much enthusiasm that, in addition to the daily classes, evening classes were held for practical experience in teaching. During the weekend the students scattered to nearby villages to teach the Faith and encourage the Bahá’ís already there.
The Bahá’ís of Tinto I and Tinto II villages where the Institute was held were most cordial in extending hospitality to the students. A graduation ceremony was held on the last day to which local friends, Chiefs and Councilors as well as Bahá’ís were invited.
Three more courses are scheduled to be held this winter and spring and promise to have full attendance. At least seventy-five students will have taken these courses by Riḍván 1969.
International News Briefs[edit]
In Ethiopia there are about twenty-five Bahá’ís with good positions in the Ethiopian airlines. Twelve of these have agreed to fly to goal towns for teaching during weekends and on their vacations. As of early January these flying teachers had visited four goals.
The Minister of Communication of Mauritius, in Ethiopia on business, chose to visit the Bahá’ís of Addis Ababa where he spoke at a Bahá’í meeting on January 19. In referring to the Bahá’ís he said that it is encouraging to find that a fraction of the world population in utter disregard for material advantage is working for universal brotherhood. He added that his own ministry in Port Louis (Mauritius) is in charge of a Bahá’í during his absence.
During the latter part of December a School was held at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of Addis Ababa. There was good attendance for the excellent lectures which covered such subjects as: Bahá’í History, Administration, The Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, the Nine Year Plan and way to attain its goals for Ethiopia.
World Religion Day was celebrated in Addis Ababa with a talk on “Progressive Revelation” which included a brief account of the world religions and their
International News Briefs (Con.)[edit]
revelations. Letters were sent to local organizations offering to provide speakers on this subject at any time convenient for the listeners. This was the first time such a plan was undertaken in Addis Ababa for World Religion Day.
Summer Schools and Teacher Training Courses Held in Íran[edit]
The Bahá’í summer school was held in the Hadeegheh in Ṭihrán this past summer. Five terms of six days’ duration each were given, in which believers from Ṭihrán and the provinces participated, numbering about 177. One day was scheduled for visitors within each term, about 1500 believers participating.
The National Education Committee drew a five-year education plan for the progress of Bahá’í Education, and a fortnightly class was established in the Hadeegheh for the implementation of that plan. Representatives from Ṭihrán and the provinces took part. The training of instructors was carried out according to schedule so that the representatives could implement the plan in their own localities.
A summer school at the Sangsar Bahá’í Center was established in Shahmirzad in which sixty believers participated.
Aid to Earthquake Victims[edit]
Bahá’ís assisted the earthquake stricken people of Khorassan according to ability. In the town of Kashan, a sum was donated to the Red Lion Society in the name of Kashan Bahá’í Community. In Ṭihrán, in addition to material aid extended to the victims, three Behyars, graduates of Missaghiyyeh Nursing School were sent to the earthquake stricken areas.
A Visit to the Chiriqui[edit]
... If they arise to teach My Cause, they must let the breath of Him Who is the unconstrained stir them ... It behooveth them to choose as the best provision for their journey reliance upon God ... If they do so, their words shall influence their hearers.
This truth was impressed upon a Bahá’í pioneer recently when she and a few friends took a teaching trip
to the Chiriqui, to visit the Indian believers. Lucy
Berest and two other believers went in early November
stopping first in Plan de Choicha where, despite a
heavy rainstorm 24 adults and many children gathered
to hear recent news of the Faith. A summary of the
most recent messages of the Universal House of Justice
was given; there was a talk on prayer and consultation
on teaching and pioneering to nearby areas. On the
following day the little party walked for nine hours,
arriving at the destination in Boca de Soloy footsore
and too tired even to talk, just before a heavy two hour
rainstorm. To their surprise, however, about fifty of the
Indian believers were on hand at the Center to greet the
visitors and hear their messages and news of the Faith.
Lucy, exhausted from the trip and feeling no inspiration for her talk to the friends turned earnestly to
Bahá’u’lláh and to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Although until the
very moment when she rose to speak she felt completely devoid of ideas, suddenly she found herself speaking
in a strong voice, words coming so fast that she could
hardly restrain herself, and an energy such as she
never had before. She says of the Indians they visited:
“In this community I felt a fraternity and a sincerity
that made me feel closer to the world of the spirit. One
of the most impressive experiences in this Boca de
Soloy area is to notice how the children from the age of
one run out of their houses to greet you ... with ‘Alláh-u-Abhá. This gives us an idea of what the future
generation of the Indian friends will be like.”
Bahá’í summer school held in the Hadeegheh in Ṭihrán near the Temple site.
World Religion Day in Saskatoon[edit]
World Religion Day in Saskatoon this year was a rare and qualitatively different experience for everyone in attendance. For the Bahá’ís, it was an indescribably precious gain, one which will surely have far reaching effects.
They planned a gathering in which people would experience as well as hear the message, and chose the beautiful Mendel Art Gallery as the setting — a place which represents some of the best of the culture which sprang from the Europeans who settled these prairies, and where the art of the Indians of North America and the Eskimos is cherished. Then they all but threw out all of the practices most familiar to Euro-Canadians. There were no programs, no chairman, no rows of chairs, no stage or lectern. As guests arrived, they were greeted by members of the community who seated them at tables (usually with people they didn’t know) and served them coffee, tea and cakes. Other than that, there was nothing except silent color slides of beautiful Indian and Eskimo faces flashing on a wall.
They prayed that three things would happen: 1) that the non-Indian guests would experience a small degree of the uneasiness felt more often than not by Indian people when guests at gatherings where the format is alien to them, and, thus, learn something about the disadvantage that grows out of such a situation; 2) that they would be put at ease by the Spirit of Bahá’u’lláh as expressed by Indian believers; and 3) that the Indian guests would feel at home. All three things happened!
After everyone was settled and a sort of uncertain expectance settled over the room, Harvey Ironeagle, distinguished Bahá’í teacher from the Pasqua Reserve, walked to the front of the room and welcomed the guests on behalf of the Saskatoon Assembly. Even though he had just arrived, having driven over 200 miles through treacherous weather and over icy fogged roads, his radiance and warmth immediately enveloped the room, as he began to share stories of the loving, sharing, industrious, God-guided way of life of his people — one which has all but been lost to them now. He spoke with a quiet eloquence, a healing love, a compelling humility which surely reflected the crowning spiritual edifice which the love of Bahá’u’lláh has built upon his noble heritage.
One could feel the traditional tension and estrangement between Indian and White begin to melt away, and the room took on a palpable charge. Then Ethel Martens, known to many as a teacher who has worked and waited for many years to see Canada’s deep social wounds healed by the influence of the Blessed Beauty, made the joyous announcement — “Human Rights are God-given Rights” — the powerful, fate-laden proclamation of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada that those rights cannot be granted by one human being to another, that the road to social justice can only be built upon this divine law, that no one need fear the censure of the misguided, for this principle is designed by God to protect the identity and safeguard the future of every soul and every people.
Suddenly, as if all had tuned into the very heartbeat of mankind, the room was alive with dancers, as a drum began to throb and Harvey and John Bird (Secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Mosquito Reserve and only four hours out of hospital) sang joyous songs of brotherhood, encouragement, forgiveness, hope, of the elemental beauty and goodness of life. There, in that brightly illumined glass building, shining out over the river, the spirit of love and reconciliation rang out as young and old, rich and poor, teachers and students, scholars, artists, housewives, working people, Bahá’ís, Jews, Christians, even Nuns, all danced the disciplined, but compelling, Circle Dance of the Plains Indians — breaking the circle only to welcome another in — to the circle of unity!
It was not only the Bahá’ís who knew that something irreversible had happened in that room. The loving call to unity, to understanding — the invitation to share u higher plane of existence — had come from the Indian Bahá’ís, and the others had accepted! They had experienced their created kinship and the veils of those erosive, retarding, false assumptions of superiority had begun to drop away. They had learned about the transcendental, resuscitating love of God from people whom they had considered, only hours before, sorely in need of them (not God) and they had responded, some with great eagerness and hunger.
Guests Comment[edit]
One beloved friend of the Bahá’ís, a Roman Catholic Nun who has often asked assistance in her attempts to teach her students the reverence and respect due all revealed religions, expressed a mingled sadness and yearning, saying that “schools cannot do this job if it is not in the home and community. Religious bigotry is everywhere except among the Bahá’ís”. She asked permission to visit our children’s classes to “see how you do it”.
Another guest, a remarkable teacher with considerable experience in Eskimo and Indian villages of the Arctic, asked “What is the spirit in this room?” He admitted amazement at the atmosphere of relaxation between Indian and White and the mutual acceptance he saw as he eagerly consulted Bahá’ís at random about solutions to his teaching problems.
The new Director of the Indian-Metis Friendship Center, one of the Indian guests, concurred by saying that never in his experience had he felt anything like this and immediately began to question “what is this Bahá’í”, particularly of the Indian believers in the room.
Only one more step on a long, long road, but every now and then come the confirmations to remind believers that if they will only make an effort, He will do the rest.
International News Briefs[edit]
World Religion Day continues to be an outstanding event in Vietnam. Not only did many newspapers give front page coverage to the event, but also newsreel, radio, the local U.S. Armed Forces TV, and the Voice of America. It is celebrated in many towns of the country, and Kien Giang province which celebrated it for the first time this year drew an attendance of 500 persons.
The Faith continues to make steady progress in Vietnam with 1,000 new believers enrolling in the month of December.
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A group of children at the Australian summer school held at “Bolton Place” in Yerrinbool.
Local Assembly of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, at time of its incorporation, the first in the Territory,
November 19, 1968. Seated: Mrs. Bernice Boss, Miss Virginia
Evans, Mrs. Eileen Boyd, Mrs. Helen Kelly; standing: Jack
Boyd, Nolond Boss, Miss Rosemary Thrasher, Paul Henning,
and Dan Kelly.
First New Guinea Bahá’í Attends Australian School[edit]
Two very successful weekly sessions were held at “Bolton Place,” Yerrinbool, December 22 to January 3. The first session attracted a large number of enthusiastic youth, while many new Bahá’ís attended the second session.
Stimulating courses were held on: “Ministry of the Báb”; “World Religions”; “Islám”; a workshop on the “The Divine Art of Living”; a laboratory course on “The Local Spiritual Assembly and the Community”; and “Education”. Special talks were given on “Arts, Sciences and Laws”; “Marriage and Marriage Requirements”; and “Youth Responsibilities”.
Youth and adults actively participated together in all sessions to make these courses rewarding. It was a privilege to have Hand of the Cause, Collis Featherstone, encourage the friends to press forward to meet the requirements of the Nine Year Plan. Auxiliary Board member Marc Towers read to the friends letters from Shoghi Effendi which had been addressed to Hand of the Cause in Japan, Miss Agnes Alexander. Geoffrey Heard and his wife, Leila, and their first New Guinea believer, Endi, shared experiences in pioneering and gave us insight into their community life through slides. Endi spoke in Pidgin English, which was translated by Geoffrey. The latter also described the areas covered by Australian pioneers to this land.
A public meeting at Mittagong attracted nineteen visitors to a musical fireside, and to watch Tushar Kanti-Paul, world-renowned finger painter, demonstrate aspects of the Bahá’í Faith through painting. Excellent local publicity was gained by this function and also by the summer school.
International News Briefs[edit]
Mrs. Gerd Strand, former secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Norway, has been appointed as an Auxiliary Board member for propagation by the Continental Board of Counsellors for Europe, “for promotion and stimulation of the teaching and expansion of the Faith in Norway, Lofoten and Spitzbergen.”
Mrs. Modesta Hvide continues as Auxiliary Board member for Protection for Scandinavia and Finland. Both Auxiliary Board members met with Mrs. Dorothy Ferraby, member of the Board of Counsellors, when she visited Oslo, and besides meeting with the National Assembly of Norway, attended a Nineteen Day Feast and met many of the Bahá’ís. Mrs. Ferraby gave a very inspiring and challenging talk on the importance of serving the Cause of God today.
[edit]
An Inter-Scandinavian Summer School will be held from Saturday, June 28 to Saturday, July 6 at the Ringsaker Folkehyskole at Ringsaker, between Hamar and Lillehammer in Norway. It is very easy to reach the School by train from Oslo by taking a train from Oslo to Hamar (about three hours’ ride) and then a local train to Ringsaker which is about a half hour more. Study courses will be conducted in Norwegian and English.
For further information write to: National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Norway, P.O. Box 5391, Majorstua, Oslo 3, Norway.
BOOK REVIEW[edit]
Review by Cynthia Macdonald
Christ and Bahá’u’lláh by George Townshend, first
published in 1957, represents a final plea toward the end
of his life from a former Christian minister (at one time
a Canon of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland), to
his fellow Christians to investigate the teachings of the
Bahá’í Faith.
“O, Christian believers!” he cries in the final paragraph, “—for your own sakes and for the sake of the Churches, for the sake of all mankind, for the sake of the Kingdom, cast away your conflicting dogmas and interpretations which have caused such disunity and led us to the verge of wholesale self-destruction. Recognize the age of Truth. Recognize Christ in the glory and power of the Father, and heart and soul, throw yourselves into His Cause.”
The purpose of the book, the author states, is “to prove from the undoubted facts of history what is the true interpretation of Jesus’s prophecies about the character of His era; to show the justice of His warnings, especially at this time when the events He foretold have reached the crisis of fulfilment.”
This Townshend sets out to do with a calm but incisive logic that forms the basis of attraction or repulsion that the reader may experience, according to his belief in the truth of Christian doctrine and dogma as opposed to the pure teachings of Jesus.
He sets out the Biblical teachings regarding the coming of the Promised One of All Ages, and traces this through the Judaic and Christian Dispensations. He shows how Jesus came to change the hearts of men, not to establish an earthly Kingdom, how the early believers lived by the new teachings and a Christian civilization grew up centered on Byzantium, reaching its height in the fourth century under Constantine. Then, as Jesus had warned, the false prophets began to pervert and add to the original teachings trying to build a material Kingdom on what had been intended as an individual message. The downward trend to what is now known as the Dark Ages became inevitable. Townshend quotes Bahá’u’lláh’s tribute to Jesus at length, showing that “when He comes He will testify of Me.” Had the Christians interpreted the words of Jesus correctly they would have realized that at the darkest hour the dawn approaches in the spiritual as well as the material world. The Christ spirit was again to come to mankind and renew civilization.
The following chapters on the Revelation of Muḥammad are perhaps some of the most valuable that any Bahá’í has written. Many Western Bahá’ís tend to skirt round this vital aspect of the Faith when introducing it to inquirers. Islám, in both its political and religious aspects is still regarded with suspicion. To ask the average Christian to believe or even consider that Christ has returned is difficult enough, to ask him also to accept Muḥammad, whom at best he regards as a legend in strange, Arab dress, at worst as an infidel and anti-Christ, as a co-equal with Jesus in God’s plan, seems to him dangerously like heresy. Townshend makes no compromise in putting the Revelation of Muḥammad fairly and squarely where it belongs. He is “unrestrained as the wind” in giving Biblical authority for the expectation of Muḥammad and shows how the evolution of the nation (contribution of the Islamic Civilization) was necessary before mankind could appreciate the next step in the Divine Plan of world unity. He gives us a brief and beautiful picture of life as it was established under Muḥammad’s rule, and quotes much of the Qu’rán and distinguished writers on Islám. It is interesting to note that Muḥammad, like Bahá’u’lláh after Him, sent letters to six world rulers of His time, proclaiming His Prophethood.
The violation of Muḥammad’s Covenant, the seizing of power by men bent on worldly gain inevitably followed the death of the Prophet, although the basic goal of the establishment of the nation had been achieved. The great outpouring of knowledge that comes to men with every Manifestation of God was released and Townshend makes evident the power and influence of Islám in all spheres of science and commerce — the great and exciting civilization that grew up, finally to awaken the European Christians from the Dark Ages of superstition and ignorance into which they had fallen, and which in 1094 brought them into conflict with Islám. This conflict, the Crusades to free the Holy Shrines from the “infidels” (though commercial interests also play their part) resulted in terrible slaughter and suffering, but also brought about the Renaissance of learning, art and spiritual seeking.
The new civilization that began to grow found itself vigorously opposed by the established Christian
[Page 11]
Church. In the rise of modern Europe the Reformations
that took place were, the author points out, more
concerned with reforms of doctrines and rites than of
Christian conduct. As the new sciences that followed
the new Revelation became established and men saw
them to be good, a great rift between the Church and
reason began to grow and the demarcation between
spiritual and material, between science and religion,
became more and more apparent. Instead of recognizing the vital new spiritual force that flowed from Islám
the Christian Church rejected it as heresy, and with it
all the new knowledge that it brought. Because all knowledge is from God, the new sciences could not be
ignored, and men split the two — a split from which
humanity still suffers today, and which some scientists
and religionists are now attempting to reconcile.
Townshend calls to account the orthodox Church and in this chapter one glimpses the personal despair he felt as an eminent Churchman, when the new teachings he had recognized were rejected by his fellow clergy.
The chapters that follow, tell of the dawn of Messianic hope in the early 19th century, and the advent of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. Here the reasoning, gentle power of the new Manifestation seems to take over from his burst of personal emotion. In a later chapter he points out how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá never attacked the “arrogant white races” nor developed brilliant overpowering arguments to justify Bahá’í teachings, but rather “appealed to reason, faith and fact,” and the great ideal He held before His audiences was “Unity through Love.”
The history of the Faith is briefly outlined but gives us strikingly beautiful pictures of all three central Figures, and their words are quoted extensively. We read in full from “The Unfoldment of World Civilization” Shoghi Effendi’s marvellous description of the civilization that the new race of men will enjoy ... a description that reads like the wildest hopes of science fiction except to those who realize that this “fiction” is substantiated and made possible by the spiritual teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and the administrative pattern of the New World Order.
In his final epilogue Townshend reiterates his plea, “It is the plain duty of every earnest Christian to investigate for himself, this Faith.” Quoting Professor Whitehead he points out how Christianity has resisted each step of intellectual progress — clinging to doctrine and dogma, it has gradually retreated in undignified disarray until it has degenerated into “a decent formula wherewith to embellish a comfortable life.” In science, when a Darwin or Einstein have proclaimed theories which modify our ideas it is called a triumph for science; in religion it is considered a defeat when old ideas have to be abandoned. In this atmosphere of continual defeat it is no wonder that men feel God is dead and belief in Christ’s return abandoned. It is no wonder that the Christ spirit has come twice to the world since the time of Jesus, and men blinded by the established religion have failed to recognize Him. The reading of Christ and Bahá’u’lláh is very worthwhile at this time of the Proclamation for it gives us the basis of what we are proclaiming. Though it looks a little book it is packed full of quite indigestible meat for many non-Bahá’ís. The style is beautifully terse and concise. In this age of verbosity it is refreshing to read an author who never uses two words where he can use one, and so each word is important. That he quotes historical authorities whose views today may seem outdated is not so much an indictment of the author as an illustration of the rapid spread of Bahá’í ideas in only the last ten years. Attitudes are changing daily and those that Townshend describes in 1957 are not necessarily those of 1968. Books by Bahá’ís about their Faith have to be read in their historical context for so rapidly does this Faith change the world and itself develop that such books soon become dated — however sincerely they are written.
In 500 years Christ and Bahá’u’lláh by George Townshend may be forgotten but the writings of Bahá’u’lláh
will still be fresh as the day they were revealed to guide
the new race of men then inhabiting the earth.
_____
This title is available in both clothbound and paperbound editions from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust in Wilmette, Illinois, a first American edition being published in 1966.
Bahá’í Center at San Bernardino[edit]
Bahá’ís of San Bernardino, California now have an attractive well equipped Center, bequeathed to them by Norman Gauerke, who was active in the community for many years and whose dream it was to provide such a center for the believers. It is a large two story apartment, the former home of Mr. Gauerke, and contains the things he carefully collected over a period of many years for this purpose. A large Bahá’í library, wonderful art collection and art library, audio-visual equipment, music and tape library are among the treasures which the community can use in its many activities.
Dedication of the Center took place December 6, 1968 in an impressive program at which Hand of the Cause William Sears, Mrs. Sears and Mr. Sears’ secretary, Mr. Roger White, were present and participated. Mr. Sears gave an inspiring talk, stressing the important role that the new Center is destined to play in the community.
The newly dedicated Center has a flourishing Bahá’í children’s class which meets there every Sunday morning. Under the able direction of Mrs. Elaine Calle who planned the curriculum the school has in eight weeks grown to an attendance of nineteen children and twelve adults with four classes, including one for adults. The school has the enthusiastic cooperation of all and is the best attended of any of the events in the Center.
New Center Provides a Teaching Opportunity[edit]
Peoria, Illinois, Bahá’ís acquired a center December 19, 1968, on a prominent street which will be made into a four-lane expressway. Before the transaction was finalized, however, the Bahá’ís had a valuable proclamation and teaching experience when eleven of the new neighbors presented a petition objecting to their locating there. The Bahá’ís had their attorney draw up a petition supporting their location, and the Bahá’ís called upon the objectors, told them of the Faith and presented literature. All reversed their position and an additional eight neighbors signed, making a total of nineteen supporting. This action and reversal was witnessed by the members of the City Council.
Presentations[edit]
L. to r., Joe Dan Osceola, President of the Seminole tribe of
Florida; Mrs. Betty Mae Jumper, Chairman of Seminole Tribal
Council accept The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh from Michael Jamir, Chairman of Local Spiritual Assembly of Hollywood, Florida. The presentation was in late January. Mr. Osceola is the great-great grandson of the famous Chief who led the fight against American soldiers in 1837. Today, through their cooperation and with peaceful hearts the Seminoles are joining the Bahá’ís in working toward unity of mankind.
Governor Don Samuelson, left receives a copy of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh from Miss Elizabeth Adelmann and Adolf Volder on behalf of the Bahá’ís of Idaho in observance of World Religion Day. This picture appeared in the Idaho
Daily Statesman, of Boise, Idaho.
Teaching Aboard the Redstone[edit]
The only Bahá’í aboard the USNS Redstone had the bounty of delivering the spiritual side of the Christmas program when that ship was engaged in the communication and tracking of the spacecraft and astronauts during the history-making Apollo Moon Shot in December.
The mission was to transport the 300 men aboard somewhere near the Equator between Port Moresby and Kwajalein during the Christmas holidays. The ship’s officials called for a lay minister from the Catholic, Jewish or Protestant faiths to lead the spiritual program, to be attended by one to two hundred men. After a few days passed with no one volunteering, the Bahá’í offered to do it. He selected the theme “Oneness of Mankind”, included readings from Thief in the Night and concluded with “The Prayer for America”, revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. He related the historic setting — men of many races and faiths together on that Christmas at sea in the support function of three astronauts racing to and from the moon — to the Faith by stating that the astronauts themselves, on seeing the world from a new perspective, could be thinking, “The Earth is truly but one Country and Mankind its Citizens.”
Bahá’í in the News[edit]
A full-page advertisement appearing periodically in the Registered Nurse Magazine and the American Journal of Nursing designed to recruit nurses for the Evanston (Illinois) Hospital has a large low angle aerial photo of the hospital that shows the Bahá’í House of Worship in the background.
The July-August 1968 issue of Orion Magazine on pages 17 and 18 has an article titled: “The Challenge of Atheism” by Olga Finke. The article is illustrated with a photo of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and mentions Bahá’u’lláh as the Divine Physician for this new age. On page 58 of the same issue there is a quotation by Bahá’u’lláh. The magazine is published by the Christian Spiritual Alliance, Inc., a brotherhood at Lakemont, Georgia.
The November 1968 issue of Hot Line, a publication of the Kenmore Stamp Company of Milford, New Hampshire is devoted to old Persian stamps. The center spread of the 4-page publication has an article titled: “The Birth of a New Faith.” This tells the story of the martyrdom of the Báb and how the Bahá’í Faith came to America. A photo of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is included in the article.
PENNSYLVANIA WINTER INSTITUTE[edit]
Once more the Pennsylvania Winter Institute has come and gone and once more it was a rousing success with over 200 in attendance and 11 declarations during the two and one-half day session. Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Goals Committee, the Institute included separate classes for two children’s groups, youth classes and a fully staffed nursery.
[Page 13]
At the Bahá’í winter school, Millersylvania, Washington, held December 27-30, 1968.
The Institute began on Thursday, December 26, 1968,
at the YMCA Camp Hilltop in Downingtown, Pennsylvania and concluded the following Sunday morning.
Speakers for the adults included Mrs. Peggy Ross,
Auxiliary Board member who spoke on the subject
“The Goal of a New World Order” and Dr. Mary Kate
Yntema who spoke on the “Universal House of Justice’s Messages”. Workshops were held on: Consultation, Publicity, How to be a Bahá’í Chairman, Teaching, Dating and Marriage (for youth), The Most
Challenging Issue, Deepening, Being Bahá’í Parents,
Prayer, and then the final session Sunday morning was
held with a panel answering questions from the floor.
Mr. Ed Widmer closed the Institute with a short talk
entitled “Progressive Revelation”.
The younger children’s theme was “Children in Other Lands” and the older children used the theme “How High Up Is Heaven?”. The different sessions devoted to the latter theme were: Science and Religion, World Evolution, Tree of Man, Life on Other Planets and God’s Worlds in Me. The purpose of this session was to give the 9-12 year olds a practical understanding of the worlds of God.
Other activities during the session included singing and folk dancing. Bob Wright showed a slide & tape show as did Larry Sliker. “The Progressive Revelations,” a singing group from State College, entertained one evening followed by reports on youth pioneering from Randa Avis, Rick Tomarelli and Tom Williams, all of whom had participated in last summer’s international youth projects.
Everyone who attended had a wonderful time and plans are already being made for the next Institute which will be held December 26-28th, 1969.
THE MILLERSYLVANIA WINTER SCHOOL[edit]
Fifty adults and youth enjoyed the Winter School at Millersylvania Youth Camp near Olympia, Washington, December 27-31, 1968. In near zero weather, in deep snow and unheated cabins for sleeping, the School was a rich experience of deepening in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and will be long remembered by all those attending. The cold weather and close confinement within quarters made for a group eager to study, pray and enjoy fellowship.
Dr. Jalil Mahmoudi of Salt Lake City, Utah; Mrs. Georgina Moul of Douglas, Alaska; Mrs. Ethlyn Lindstrom of Astoria, Oregon; Mrs. Elizabeth J. Harris of Seattle, Washington; and Mr. Jack Tingstad of Bellingham, Washington, comprised the very fine faculty to carry out the theme “The Bahá’í Way — The Spiritual Path and The Practical Path”.
Mrs. Moul and Mrs. Harris taught classes for prospective children’s teachers on “Techniques on Teaching Children”.
Mr. Tingstad had a class of twelve fourteen-year old youth who studied material preparatory for enrollment in the Bahá’í Faith.
Two Bahá’í professional cooks prepared the meals, which earned warm praise from all and were satisfying to the healthy appetites of youth. Chores of housekeeping were cheerfully performed by youth and faculty, causing no generation gap in either work or study!
A special attraction for youth was offered at this school — one which may be repeated in the future — sessions in “learning to lead singing groups”.
Enthusiastic plans are now underway for the next session at Millersylvania, which will be held the last week in June.
Bahai Life[edit]
— Springtime and Harvest[edit]
WHEN BAHÁ’U’LLÁH WAS A YOUNG MAN and gave so much of His gracious compassion that He was known as the Father of the Poor, what was the reaction of those who met Him at that particular time in history? Were any of them aware that they had been face to face with the World Savior? They must have experienced an uplift in His presence, but was there a flash of recognition? With the exception perhaps of Krishna, it is strange that we know little or nothing of the boyhood and youth of the great Men of God such as Jesus, Buddha or Muhammed. We do not know what effect they had on their early youthful contemporaries.
A few weeks ago I was discussing with a Christian friend this point of unawareness, or unconscious awareness. She remarked that had she lived in the time of Jesus she would have known her Lord immediately. She had attended Bahá’í firesides for some time and I could not help thinking that as she had not recognized the Divine Reality of the present, she could not have possibly recognized the Reality of the past, had she met Him in person. We remember that Jesus said to the orthodox of His day, “Had ye believed in Moses ye would have believed in Me.” Had they really believed the Divine qualities manifested in Moses, they would have recognized those same qualities in the later Manifestations. But they did not. Bahá’u’lláh Himself states this truth in very plain and unequivocal language: “... he who turns away from this Beauty hath also turned away from the Messengers of the past and showeth pride towards God from all eternity to all eternity.”
It is a bewilderment to some of us that so many people whom we often consider to be finer than ourselves cannot recognize the Manifestation in his “new attire.” Is it a particular quality of the spirit? What is it that enables us to recognize Him? Is it that same difference that distinguished Martha from Mary and the two thieves on the Cross?
Everyone is in quest of the Holy Grail but there are few who find it.
When one first becomes a Bahá’í one feels a curious exaltation, an uplifting of the soul. It is flower time, the woods are filled with the pale gold of the primroses and the very air is music. When the first ecstasy has passed, and we begin to struggle against the lower ego, where are the primroses? And the lovely blossoming time? Nothing has been lost, but we have emerged from one state to enter into another and are now worthy enough to give of the fruit in our orchards. It is the law of evolution and the ascent from lower to the higher is accompanied by a certain amount of spiritual pain. We have our moments of despondency, inevitable in the ebb and flow of spiritual life. But progress has been made however unsuspected by ourselves. And the outside world notices it. Otherwise why are we Bahá’ís? We saw the sun uprise and we know that the harvest is near.
Hand, of the Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery addresses meeting in El Cajon, California.
Hand of the Cause Gives Talk[edit]
A recent meeting at El Cajon, California featured the Holy Land of Israel and was addressed by Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery and guest speaker Dr. Samuel B. Nuzie. There were colored slides of Israel showing the Holy Places of the Faiths there, and Dr. Nuzie commented upon these from historical and religious points of view. Dr. Giachery told of the Bahá’í Faith as it relates to the Holy Land. About 125 attended, many of whom had never before been to a Bahá’í meeting. The meeting was well received and the friends in the El Cajon J.D. community are happy to have thus reached many who might not have been ready to attend a meeting devoted solely to telling about the Faith.
Proclamations in New Hampshire[edit]
Bahá’í Information Week was officially proclaimed in Laconia, New Hampshire last May in a statement signed by the Mayor stating the purpose of the week to be to “spread the knowledge of the oneness of all revealed religions and to gain recognition of religion as the motivating force for world peace.”
The Governor of New Hampshire, John King, last October received a delegation of three representatives of the New Hampshire Bahá’í Community, Ruth Hampson, Mary Elliott and Alden Marshall, who presented him a copy of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh. The Governor was very gracious and stated that he would take time to read it. On the same day this Bahá’í delegation met with the state librarian, Mr. Emil Allen who warmly received them and mentioned the fact that he knew of the unifying feature of the Faith. He was presented with The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh and The Reality of Man.
On the U.S. Homefront[edit]
Bahá’ís in Key West, Florida, a named goal for an assembly in the Crusade and the Nine Year Plan, keep up a steady effort to win new souls. Their World Religion Day release was published in its entirety in the local paper, the Key West Citizen. They also place weekly notices of the fireside in this paper with frequent
On the U.S. Homefront (con.)[edit]
inquiries resulting. Recently a gentleman came to the fireside carrying in his hand the newspaper notice of the meeting. He explained that on his way to Key West from Wisconsin he happened to pass through Wilmette, saw the House of Worship, but did not stop to visit it. When he saw the picture of the same building in the Key West paper he was anxious to come to learn more.
The Bahá’ís of Brookfield, Wisconsin hold monthly buffet dinner meetings as a new approach to introducing the Faith to friends and neighbors. Each meeting is held in a different home on a volunteer basis and everyone invites his friends to come. The meal is kept simple, with work at a minimum. Following the dinner a short (thirty minutes at most) presentation of the Faith is given, either a talk or slide show. People who hesitate to come to a public meeting will be happy to come to these more informal gatherings. There is consistent follow-up of the socials with firesides for those interested and the community is gratified to have had ten declarations in the past year as a result. This has been a united effort in which prayer has been used consistently and the friends realize that they have received much more than they have given.
In Great Falls, Montana there have been several declarations; local believers Tom Blazier and Dan Engle were invited to speak to two classes at the Catholic High School; and a recent visit from Mrs. Hazel Mori of Edmonds, Washington resulted in a round of successful activities. She spoke at three classes at the local public high school, appeared on a TV program, addressed a public meeting in the local hotel and led several inspiring meetings with the believers and one with a very responsive group of children.
When Dr. and Mrs. Amin Jazaab moved recently to Avon Park, Florida (where there were no believers) a picture was featured in the local paper showing the Jazaab family with a model of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, and an accompanying article telling of his professional assignment and describing in some detail the Bahá’í Faith. The family places announcements of their firesides in the paper including quotations from the Bahá’í Writings. They have placed Bahá’í books in the local libraries.
The program of the believers of Kansas City, Missouri includes a monthly three hour deepening class with pot luck dinner afterwards; a speaker training workshop; and a plan to place books in fourteen area libraries of their nearby goal cities. There is also opportunity for more extensive study of the teachings in “Deepening by Demand”, a class in the home of Mrs. Ruth Munson who lives near the University campus. This class, held at the convenience of the ones wishing it, is frequented regularly by members of the Bahá’í college club and their friends.
Santa Fe County, New Mexico reports that attendance at weekly firesides has increased since their proclamation week in January. Mary Lou Martin, guest from St. Charles, Illinois has spoken at their meetings and youth activity on nearby campuses has increased since last Riḍván.
The Bahá’í Community of Providence, Rhode Island was among the supporters of a musical production, sponsored by the Human Rights Commission in observance of Negro History Week this February. By selling 100 tickets they were listed among the sponsoring organizations. The musical drama, a revue spanning Negro history in the United States, was well received, playing to a full house. At the end of the evening the Deputy Director spoke from the stage giving credit to those who had worked for the success of the evening and mentioned the Bahá’í Community of Providence. Special thanks were given to Mrs. Beth Newport, Secretary of the Local Assembly. The Providence Bahá’í Assembly is happy to be publicly recognized with the “doers” and “workers for the right” in their community.
The Bahá’í Group of Whittier J.D., California was recently invited to send a guest speaker to a meeting of the Bible Department of the Whittier Woman’s Club. Dr. Alfred Neumann gave an illustrated lecture on “Village Life in India and the Impact of the Bahá’í Teachings” which forcefully demonstrated the power of the Faith and its influence on the lives of people. His talk was very well received.
Excellent publicity has recently been given the Bahá’ís of San Leandro-Haywood J.D., California where a seventeen column inch description of the Bahá’í World Center appeared in the Morning News and a fifteen column inch account of the Faith was printed in the San Francisco Chronical. Both articles are factual and give aspects of the Faith which will arouse interest of youth.
A recent brief visit of Linda Marshall to Howard County, Maryland included a talk at the Catonsville Community College to an audience of 200, two firesides, a talk at a Presbyterian Sunday School and two radio interviews.
Publicity for the Faith in Attleboro, Massachusetts resulted from a talk by Dr. James Shamey, Bahá’í, to a class in comparative religion at the Catholic High School in that city. A picture of the speaker and some of his listeners appeared on the front page of the local paper. As a result two invitations for similar talks on the Faith have come from another high school and the Kiwanis club.
A proclamation dinner at Geyserville Bahá’í School in California last November attracted over 325 guests, most of whom were of Indian, Spanish or Hawaiian backgrounds. The program following the dinner was varied, showing the spirit of oneness in the Faith and announcing the Promised One. There was excellent cooperation by the local believers in carrying out the many details of the large undertaking.
This year’s proclamation by the Bahá’í Community of Manatee County, Florida was an exhibit at the Fair, which brought excellent response and will probably be repeated next year. The booth was designed and set up by Rayson Dobbs and Robert Schennum from Sarasota
On the U.S. Homefront (con.)[edit]
County. Mrs. Irma Fuller as director had the cooperation of all the members of this small community in manning the very attractive exhibit.
Proclamation Week in Atlanta, Georgia, held in January, included four public lectures at the Bahá’í Center (by Mrs. Ruth Moffett from Iowa), a question and answer program on the radio, and a World Religion Day meeting at a downtown hotel at which Jack McCants spoke on “Building a Better World”. Attendance at all the meetings was excellent.
The December 1, 1968 issue of The Astral Projector, an 8-page tabloid-size newspaper published at Albuquerque, New Mexico devotes one page to “Basic Facts of the Bahá’í Faith” taken from the Bahá’í pamphlet with the same title.
The U.S. Navy in a publication series “Navy Personnel Response Handout Series C-1” has issued a pamphlet titled; “A Survey of the Religions of Vietnam.” The first religion discussed is “Vietnamese Bahá’ísm.” This six page article tells of the Bahá’í Community in Vietnam and includes information on its National Spiritual Assembly and membership. It also covers the history of the Faith and a summary of the principles and teachings.
SANE (National Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy) has printed a calendar for 1969. Opposite the week of September 8th it has the following quotation: “How terrible it is that men, who are of the higher kingdom, can descend to slaying and bringing misery to their fellow beings for the possession of a tract of land.” The quote is identified as being by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911 from “Instead of Violence.”
Bahá’í Publishing Trust[edit]
New Edition of Bahá’í Administration[edit]
Bahá’í Administration consists of messages from Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá’ís of America, or to the National Spiritual Assembly, during the years when that National Assembly and several others were in the process of formation. Herein are outlined the fundamental principles upon which the institutions of the Faith are established, based upon the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh and the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
Shoghi Effendi was a young man, still a student at Oxford University, when the call to Guardianship came to him in 1921 through his appointment in the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. His realization of the enormity of the task and of the station of Guardianship are poignantly reflected in his early letters in this volume. As the months and years of Shoghi Effendi’s Guardianship progressed and the actual instruments of the administrative order began to evolve under his guidance, the wisdom and power inherent in that appointment became consummately manifest to the community of Bahá’ís throughout the world.
While these messages contain the guiding principles that have raised the edifice of Bahá’í administration throughout the world, they are much more than a pattern or set of rules. Through them the Bahá’ís came to understand both the spirit and the substance out of which a new world order was being brought into being, of which they themselves were the instruments. In this way the structure of Bahá’í administration has been erected, beginning with the first few local spiritual assemblies, until 1963, when the fifty-six national assemblies existing at that time elected the first Universal House of Justice, the supreme administrative body of the Bahá’í Faith, located at its World Center, Haifa, Israel.
Bahá’í House of Worship
Wilmette, Illinois Daily Visiting Hours
Sunday Devotions
Sunday Public Meetings
|
This new edition contains four additional messages, from Messages to America. It has a new and greatly expanded index prepared by Mrs. Amine DeMille which will be of considerable assistance in using this work. An attractive jacket has been added to the book, designed by Mrs. Marge Hawbaker. Bahá’ís will also find an improvement in the quality of printing of this edition, new plates having been made via offset process. 209 pp. plus Introduction by Horace Holley. For the time being, the price of many years will remain.
Per copy | $2.50 |
Order from Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 110 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
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 Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A. 60091.
