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No. 464

BAHA’I YEAR 126

NOVEMBER, 1969

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A closeup of the clerestory of the Shrine of The Báb

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Board of Counsellors Cite Latin American Goals

The Continental Board of Counsellors held special conferences during the month of August, 1969, during the visit of Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. R. Muhájir, in Quito, Ecuador; Lima, Peru; and Cochabamba, Bolivia, relative to the teaching requirements.

In South America, the mass conversion countries of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela have an indigenous population of more than nine million. The Continental Board of Counsellors has recommended to their respective national spiritual assemblies that from now on they work as a unit in mass teaching, with an interchange of teachers and sharing of their experiences. Each National Spiritual Assembly is launching a one year plan beginning August, 1969 with the prayerful hope of being able to attend the Continental Conference to be held during the month of August, 1970 in Bolivia to celebrate the victories. There plans are being based on the conclusions of the conferences held in Quito, Ecuador August 9-11; in Lima, Peru, August 16-17 and in Cochabamba, Bolivia, August 23-24.

Special emphasis will also be placed on proclamation through National Proclamation Committees using such media as correspondence courses, public meetings, exhibitions, radio, press and television, placing books in libraries, giving gift books to meritorious students and presenting books to authorities.

Child education will be stimulated using all available materials, as well as developing a series of lessons for kindergarten, primary and secondary levels as well as training teachers for children’s classes.

Goals and Requirements of Mass Teaching

Basic Requirements	Goals for August 1969-1970
BOLIVIA	Enroll 3990 Bahá’ís and open 163 new localities.
Reinforce the number of pioneers in general.	Establish 400 local spiritual assemblies.
Two married couples to establish residence in Beni and Pando.	Initiate contributions to the National Fund in rural areas.
Raise up 200 traveling teachers to teach in free time.	Deepen and train (in institutes and courses) 890 Bahá’ís.
Obtain two institutes: in Sacaca and Oruro.	Teach the Faith to seventy-five rural teachers.
Construct thirteen local centers.	Start mass teaching in Santa Cruz.
COLOMBIA
Establish a pioneer and raise up traveling teachers in the Choco.	Double number of Bahá’ís in country.
Establish pioneers in Vichada and in Sierra Nevada.	Start mass teaching in the Choco and enroll Negroes and Cunas.
Raise up a Guajira pioneer for San Andres.	Continue opening new provinces in accordance with
Establish an institute in the Choco region.	the goal assigned to Colombia.
ECUADOR
Settle pioneers in Ibarra, the region of Cotopaxi, Bolivar, Tungurana and Chimborazo.	Raise the number of Bahá’ís to more than 10,000 in the country.
Acquire an institute in Otavalo.	Enroll Negroes of Chota.
Raise up pioneers and traveling teachers among the natives for other areas.	Start mass teaching in the area where pioneers settle.
	Augment local spiritual assemblies and establish one among the Jibaros.
	Cooperate with mass teaching in Cajamarca, Peru.

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Basic Requirements	Goals for August 1969-1970
PERU
Raise up traveling teachers.	Double the number of Bahá’ís.
Acquire an Institute in Cuzco.	Start mass teaching in the Departamentos of Cajamarca, Ancash, Huancayo and Puno.
Send traveling teachers to Cajamarca and Puno to participate in the mass teaching project together with the friends from Ecuador and Bolivia who will come to cooperate there.	Continue opening new Departamentos to the Faith.
VENEZUELA
Settle a pioneer in Puerto Ayacucho.	Double the number of Bahá’ís among the Guajiros, as well as among the Guajibos and Piaroas in the Amazons, among the Carina, and among the Hindus and Negroes in Trinidad and Tobago.
Acquire two Institutes, one in the Guajiro zone and the other in the Carina zone.	Open a village of the Negro population in Barlovento to the Faith.
Make visits with mobile equipment to the Motilones and Yaruros.

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Regional Conference Results in Master Teaching Plan

The first Regional Conference under the auspices of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Central America was held in San Salvador, El Salvador, June 20-22, 1969. Attending were Hand of the Cause Dr. R. Muhájir; members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Central America, Artemus Lamb, Carmen de Burafato, and Alfred Osborn; Auxiliary Board members; representatives from the National Spiritual Assemblies of Central America: Mexico, Panama, and Belize; and members of national committees. The public meeting Friday night in the National Theater, well advertised by radio, television, newspaper, posters, and personal invitations, drew an audience of almost capacity in spite of a torrential rain. Consultation sessions Saturday and Sunday resulted in a master teaching plan which considers the whole region as one country, with ways and means for helping each other to fulfill the remaining goals of the Nine Year Plan, including a Proclamation team which will travel throughout the region. The most moving event at the conference took place when the professional photographer, who was familiar with the Faith and had studied some, said as the official count was being taken of the Bahá’ís present that he also should be counted as he wished to be a Bahá’í.

At the final reception, June 22, 1969, of the first regional conference for Mexico, Panama and Belize, held in San Salvador, El Salvador.

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The Power of Prayer

by Eleanor Hutchins

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof;
the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalms, 24)

Those words have been familiar to most of us since childhood, yet we live as if we did not believe them. If we did, all of our thoughts, words and actions would circle about God’s will for us. Prayer is indispensible to the God-directed life.

The rock becomes perfect with age and pressure. The flower becomes perfect with good soil, sunshine and moisture. The animal becomes perfect with protection from its enemies, and with food and water. But the perfecting of man does not come about as simply. The human being can never attain his full development except through the power of prayer.

It is true that a man may look perfect without prayer. He may have good features, a splendid physique, and a prosperous bearing as a result of good nutrition and material advantages. He may have trained his mind so well that he is able to earn a good livelihood, but, without spiritual development he is only a partial man. He is one of those whom Jesus called “dead.” For man is not just a body and a mind. He is a complex organism with a body, mind and spirit, all of which must be developed if he is to grow to perfection.

The difference between a person without prayer and a person with prayer is like the difference between a dry gladiolus bulb on the florist’s shelf, and the bulb that has been allowed to bloom. It is the difference between a lamp which is unlighted and one which sheds its radiance upon all. It is the difference between a mirror covered with dust and one that is polished brightly, reflecting all that shines into it. The person without prayer is only potentially a spiritual being. The person who prays regularly and fervently is a growing spiritual being.

As creatures of God, we must orient ourselves to God’s purpose if we would fulfill ourselves.

The Collective Purpose of Man

Bahá’u’lláh teaches that man has a two-fold purpose. Collectively, man has been “created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.”¹ We tend to think in small terms and in short spans of time: last week at the office, last month in Chicago, last year in Colorado. Let us push our minds beyond the present, beyond our own environment and time. Mankind as a whole has a fascinating history of growth, of ever-advancing civilization. Much of man’s history preceded written records, but from the recorded histories we are coming to have greater respect for the influence of the great Prophets — Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Christ and Muḥammad.

These religious Leaders of the world have prepared the way for civilization by the laws which They revealed. The religions that They founded have united men geographically so that within each region there developed an independent civilization where before there was chaos. Men placed themselves under the leadership of their Prophets, and through prayer acknowledged their dependence upon God. By prayer men changed from selfish individuals to cooperating members of a community.

Each religion has a history; each shows progress made by the coming of successive teachers from God. The Christian Faith teaches of the inspiration of the minor prophets and the towering figures of Abraham, Moses and Christ. The Muslims add Muḥammad to those revered by Christians. In Asia the Hindu Faith records the teachings of several lawgivers. Buddhism adds Buddha to the Hindu revealors. New conditions call for new guidance from God. For each long stride forward, mankind has been provided with new leadership to enable it to follow the majestic plan of God.

Bahá’u’lláh Came to Unite Mankind

Bahá’u’lláh came in the last century to unite mankind by fulfilling the prophecy in each religion. He taught that we have come to the time in history when God desires the unification of the entire human race and the creation of a world civilization.

For several centuries philosophers have dreamed of a day when the rulers of the world will lay down their armaments and will cooperate in a parliament of the world. The difference between a philosopher and a prophet is this: a philosopher says that it is reasonable and desirable that mankind should be united; the prophet says that it is the Will of God that mankind shall be united and dwell as members of one family upon the face of the earth.

The prophet of old said, “Thus saith the Lord.” Jesus said, “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”² “He that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard of him.”³ Muḥammad declared of Himself: “Your compatriot erreth not, nor is he led astray, neither speaketh he from mere impulse. The Koran is no other than a revelation revealed to him; One terrible in power taught it him.”⁴

For centuries Christians have prayed. “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When we pray that God’s Kingdom will come, we are praying that God will rule as sovereign over the world. We are pledging that we will be His obedient servants, are we not? Obedience to God means obedience to His Voice, to His Revelation when it comes. Because Bahá’u’lláh makes a mighty claim, declaring that He speaks not as a man, but that He speaks from God, we have a grave responsibility. To disbelieve the Word of God is to place one’s own soul in jeopardy and to delay

[Page 5] that promised day when the Kingdom of God will be established upon the earth.

If God has spoken again through Bahá’u’lláh, every one must search His Writings, must measure His Words by the standard of Truth set in the soul of each. We must pray sincerely and fervently that we may be guided to accept this truth if it is the Will of God. We can pray for confirmation. Prayer has the power to guide us. God will not let us make a mistake if we pray earnestly.

A Remarkable Demonstration

History describes a remarkable demonstration of this power of prayer. In 1844 a group of disciples of the Persian religious leaders, Shaykh Aḥmad and Siyyid Káẓim, began a breathtaking search. They had been taught that the time was approaching when prophecy would be fulfilled, when religion would be reborn, when God would speak again. They had been given signs to guide them in their search. They had been told that the Promised One was of medium height, of the descendants of Muḥammad, of known piety, of chaste and pure habits, and that He was endowed with innate knowledge. They set out, separately and on foot, to search for that one throughout the land of Persia. One by one, eighteen of them found and recognized the Báb, the title meaning “the Gate” to spiritual regeneration which was taken by Mirzá ‘Alí Muḥammad. That inspired Soul was able to transform the hearts of His countrymen, but He was soon opposed by the clergy of Persia and put to death. However, He prepared His followers for One even greater than He, Who would transform the world. He prepared the way for Bahá’u’lláh.

We may not all have the purity of heart or the integrity of purpose of those original eighteen who were led to the Báb. But if we pray and search, if we investigate the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and then pray some more, we too will be guided.

If Bahá’u’lláh gives the law for this Day, no one can be obedient to God who does not obey that law. Mankind as a whole progresses through obedience to God’s law. The Kingdom of God will be a reality when God has been made King in human hearts.

The Purpose of the Individual

The collective purpose of man, according to Bahá’u’lláh, is to “carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.” But the purpose of the individual is to know and worship God. Prayer is one of the greatest means for attaining that purpose. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá taught that “Prayer is conversation with God” and went on to explain that we need to make an effort to attain that spiritual communion in which conversation with God becomes possible.

Bahá’u’lláh taught, “Deliver your souls, O people, from the bondage of self and purify them from attachment to anything beside Me. Remembrance of Me cleanseth all things from defilement, could ye but perceive it.”⁵

“Turn your faces away from the contemplation of your own finite selves and fix your eyes upon the Everlasting Radiance; then will your soul receive in full measure the Divine power of the Spirit and the blessings of the Infinite Bounty,” advised ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.⁶

Prayer, in this sense, is forgetfulness of ourselves and our needs in the wonder of all that is God.

But how can we know God? Is not God far away? Infinite? Unknowable? Of course, God, Who fashioned the universe with its galaxies, in which the whole earth is but a speck of dust, and yet Who created all the intricate living organisms upon the face of the earth, Who created the thinking and feeling being we call man — God cannot be comprehended. He cannot be encompassed by the human mind.

One of the prayers of Bahá’u’lláh, in referring to God declares: “... Whomsoever Thou willest Thou causest to draw nigh unto the Most Great Ocean, and on whomsoever Thou desirest, Thou conferest the honor of recognizing Thy Most Ancient Name. Of all who are in heaven and on earth, none can withstand the operation of Thy sovereign Will.” That portion of the prayer acknowledges that God is beyond human comprehension, but Bahá’u’lláh goes on to pray for that measure of knowledge which man can have of God.”

“... Illumine, O Lord, the faces of Thy servants, that they may behold Thee; and cleanse their hearts that they may turn unto the court of Thy heavenly favors ,and recognize Him Who is the Manifestation of Thy Self and the Day-Spring of Thine Essence.”⁵

How may we know God. By becoming illumined. By cleansing our hearts and turning to God’s Mediator. By recognizing His heavenly Messengers. This is a subject that needs careful study, meditation and prayer. God manifests Himself in certain Men Who reflect His attributes as mirrors reflect the sun. Jesus declared, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” Bahá’u’lláh taught, in speaking of all the Manifestations: “These sanctified Mirrors ... are, one and all, the Exponents on earth of Him Who is the central Orb of the universe, its Essence and ultimate Purpose ...”⁶

The Nearness of God

Bahá’u’lláh further taught that although God is beyond the comprehension of any man, yet He is near to every one of us.

“O Son of Man! Love Me that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.”⁷ It is as if the light of the love of God were within us all of the time, but unless we turn the switch, we can never be illumined by His love. We are surrounded by God’s love, but unless we are aware of it, we are not made happy by it.

Another prayer of Bahá’u’lláh teaches the readiness of God to hear our prayers:

“... Thou art in truth, He whose mercy hath encompassed all the worlds, and whose grace hath embraced all that dwell on earth and in heaven. Who is there that hath cried after Thee, and whose prayer hath remained unanswered? Where is he to be found who hath reached forth towards Thee, and whom Thou hast failed to approach? Who is he who can claim to have fixed his gaze upon Thee, and toward whom the eye of Thy loving-kindness hath not been directed? I bear witness that Thou hadst turned toward Thy servants ere they had turned toward Thee, and hadst remembered them ere they had remembered Thee. All grace

[Page 6] is Thine, O Thou in Whose hand is the Kingdom of Divine gifts and the source of every irrevocable decree.”⁸

The Power of Revealed Prayers

Because the Messenger of God speaks not of Himself, but for God, He teaches us the kind of prayers that are acceptable to God. It was never intended that we should not pray out of our own needs or our own full hearts, but the volumes of revealed prayers give us an education as to the nature of God. They give us courage to pray for things for which we might hesitate to pray were it not for the assurance, “Thy might, verily, is equal to all things.”⁹

One of Bahá’u’lláh’s prayers begins by expressing this idea of God’s infinite mercy and His absolute power:

“Thou art He, O my God, through Whose names the sick are healed, and the ailing are restored, and the thirsty are given drink, and the sore-vexed are tranquillized, and the wayward are guided, and the abased are exalted, and the poor are enriched, and the ignorant are enlightened, and the gloomy are illumined, “and the sorrowful are cheered, and the chilled are warmed, and the downtrodden are raised up ...”¹⁰

The Healing Power

Most people, in thinking of the power of prayer, want to know whether prayer will heal the sick and answer the needs of their lives. In prayer we are given the bounty of being able to ask for whatever our heart desires, whether it is for healing for ourselves or another, for the material necessities of life, or for the spiritual awakening of ourselves or our loved ones. The power of God is ready to be channeled through our prayers.

Healing is both physical and spiritual. If our illness has a physical cause, the healing is accomplished by God through the medicine or surgery our physician recommends, through diet or change of climate, and through prayer. If, however, our illness has a spiritual cause, only our prayers and the prayers of our friends can effect a cure. And in one of the short healing prayers of Bahá’u’lláh, healing is shown as coming only when we turn our faces away from the contemplation of our own finite selves and fix our eyes upon the Everlasting Radiance:

“Thy Name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”¹¹

This prayer teaches that the love which sustains us in this life also sustains us after death, and that healing may be either in this world or the next. Nearness to God is more important than anything else.

Those who doubt the power of God to heal may say, “God created the universe according to certain natural laws. He would not break His own laws to answer our prayers.” They speak only a partial truth. We know only a few of the laws by which God governs the universe. And we know that certain of those laws give way to the operation of higher laws. We know that the law of gravity is one of the fundamental natural laws. But we have learned to use other laws which overcome the force of gravity and allow us to fly large planes. How can we, with our small knowledge, set a limit upon what God can do with His infinite resources, wisdom and power?

Prayers Are Answered

We can pray with absolute faith and assurance. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá declares, “Assuredly, God answers every sincere prayer.” Jesus explained that God’s answers to our prayers are based upon His love and compassion. Sometimes the answer which God gives to our prayers is not what we expect. Sometimes the answer is “no”. This is not because God does not love us, but because we are not always wise in what we ask.

To grow through prayer, we must pray regularly and often. Ideally our thoughts, our words, and work will be prayer-directed. Until that time when we live, move, and have our being in God, we must at least observe daily prayer. Bahá’u’lláh taught:

“Chant (or recite) the Words of God every morning and evening. The one who neglects this has not been faithful to the Covenant of God and His Agreement, and he who turns away from it today is of those who have turned away from God.”¹²

But the manner of our prayer and reading is all important, for Bahá’u’lláh goes on to say,

“To chant one verse with joy and gladness is better for you than reading all the Revelations of the Omnipotent God with carelessness.”¹²

Here is an opportunity for us to do some independent investigation. Here we may conduct an experiment by reading some of the Bahá’í prayers over and over until we are familiar with their meaning, then pray them. Let us see if we can thus share the experience of the many others who have felt their souls reach beyond themselves. Let us wait humbly for the power of God to touch our spirits.

The prayer of The Báb is, “Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say, Praise be to God. He is God. All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding.”¹³

Does this not mean that others may be the instrument by which God answers our prayers? Does it not also follow that we may if we truly pray, be the means by which God will answer the prayers of others? If prayer is “Communion with God” as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá taught, we must listen as well as speak. We should not give orders to God when we pray.

We can be part of the power through which God heals the sick, restores the ailing, gives drink to the thirsty, tranquilizes the sore-vexed, guides the wayward, exalts the abased, enriches the poor, enlightens the ignorant, illumines the gloomy, cheers the sorrowful, warms the chilled, and raises up the downtrodden.

Shakespeare made a profound observation when he said in The Merchant of Venice, “We do pray for mercy, and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy.” By prayer we become sensitive to opportunities to fulfill our own prayers and the prayers of others.

The most satisfying prayer is the one in which we surrender ourselves completely to God. This surrendering

[Page 7] Audiencia Zamora, at right, first Mataco Indian believer, from Argentina, to visit Bolivia. He is shown with pioneer Manucher Shoai at a national teaching conference in July held by the Continental Board of Counsellors.

Faithful Indian teacher of Bolivia, Francisca Manuelani, who has been teaching the Bahá’í Faith for several years. Though elderly, and often persecuted, she voluntarily walks throughout the Departamento of Chuquisaca giving the Message.

Bahá’ís attending study course in Tamata Palca, Norte Potosi, Bolivia, August 11-12, 1969.

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The Power of Prayer (con.)

to God means our fulfillment. It is like the plant surrendering to sunshine and rain, like the child surrendering to education, like the patient surrendering to the physician, like the part surrendering to the whole. It is our spiritual perfecting. It is the path to happiness. We develop to our full capacity only as we work in obedience to God’s desire for us; for “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

REFERENCES—

1. Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 215
2. John 7:16
3. John 8:26
4. Koran, Rodwell translation p. 69
5. Bahá’í Prayers 1969 ed. p. 57
6. Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh p. 47
7. The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh p. 4
8. Prayers and Meditations by Bahá’u’lláh p. 254
9. ibid p. 45
10. ibid p. 236
11. Bahá’í Prayers 1969 ed. p. 36
12. Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, Esslemont p. 114-115
13. Bahá’í Prayers 1969 ed. p. 106

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Five South American Countries Participate in Proclamation Conference

The Regional South American Proclamation Conference at Porto Alegre, Brazil, September 5-7, 1969, called by the Continental Board of Counsellors at the request of Hand of the Cause Dr. R. Muhájir, was attended by Bahá’ís from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil. Besides Dr. Muhájir, those attending were Hooper Dunbar, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for South America; Miss Eve Nicklin, Osmar Mendes, David Baral and Edmund Miessler, members of the Auxiliary Boards; seventeen National Assembly members from the five countries; and many members of local assemblies and friends from Porto Alegre and other cities. The theme, “Proclamation of the Faith,” brought out wonderful consultation on every related subject: publicity; presentation of Bahá’í books not only to public figures but also to libraries, museums, etc.; the use of correspondence courses; youth participation; completion of the remaining goals through publicity, travel teaching, and pioneers; and finally, to give it the spiritual power needed for success, the participation of every Bahá’í of these countries in a veritable crusade of prayer. This conference marks the beginning of a new phase of cooperation between the participating national spiritual assemblies in every field of teaching work, including frontier pioneering in the twin cities on the borders between the countries. The wonderful spirit which reigned throughout the conference reached a special climax with the pioneering offer of a Brazilian family to open up one of the remaining distant states and the declarations of two youths of Porto Alegre.

Participants at the Regional South American Proclamation Conference September 5-7, 1969, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

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Youth Form Club in Panama

On July 6, 1969, in the city of Concepción, the first Bahá’í Club in the Republic of Panama was formed. This event, which could have far-ranging significance for the future of the Faith in Panama, resulted largely from the efforts of two young Panamanian pioneers, Famaline and Felicia Fennell.

The inspiration for its formation came from discussions held on this subject at a recent conference in San Salvador which Famaline attended under the sponsorship of the National Spiritual Assembly of Panama. Upon her return to this country, she and Felicia diligently channeled their efforts until this new entity emerged.

The Club has already grown from fifteen to twenty-two members, all of whom are youth between the ages of thirteen and twenty-one years. Officers have been elected, and Harry and Leonor Hay, pioneers for many years in Chiriqui Province, act as counsellors on behalf of the local Spiritual Assembly of Concepción.

These young people meet regularly to discuss the Bahá’í teachings and to plan events to attract new friends. One of their first projects was a “Verbena” to which were invited youth from many parts of the Republic. About fifty attended this affair and there was much singing and dancing, and a huge meal of arroz con pollo. Considerable attention was, in this manner, attracted to the Club and to the Faith whose name it bears.

Ten members of the Club are now Bahá’ís and many more are learning of its teachings. It is a shining

Left to right: Mrs. Leonor Hay, sponsor of the group; Felicia and Famaline Fennell, pioneers who founded the group; Harry Hay, sponsor.

example of what can be done with dedication and perseverance, and further, it testifies to the wisdom of providing opportunities for our young Bahá’ís to travel to and participate in youth conferences where they can receive new ideas and the inspiration to carry them through.

Youth group in La Concepción, Panama

[Page 10] National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Panama 1969-70. Left to right: Front row: Mrs. Lucy Berest, Raquel de Constante, Chairman and Leota Lockman, Corresponding Secretary. Second row, Cirilo Sanchez, Guaymi Indian from Chiriqui mountains, and Tomás Nelson De Leon, Kuna Indian from San Blas Islands. Back row, Arthur Krummell, Treasurer, Alan Pringle, Recording Secretary; Harry Hay; and Fred Berest, Vice-Chairman.

National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Santiago, Chile, 1969-70. Left to right: Mr. Konrad Popp, Mrs. Yolanda P. de Nordenflycht, recording secretary, Mr. Claudio Vera, Mrs. Lina S. de Roe, secretary, Mr. Eduardo Roe, Mr. Sergio Aparicio, chairman, Mrs. Jose Rodriguez, vice-chairman; Below: Mr. Gabriel Rodriguez and Dr. Alejandro Reid, treasurer.

International News Briefs

Travels of Hands of the Cause

Nearly 400 Bahá’ís gathered at the Royal Commonwealth Society Hall in London to hear ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum on Saturday evening, July 26. Friends came from all over the British Isles and were inspired, delighted and energized by her talk and the question and answer period that followed. Hand of the Cause Mr. Jaláh Kházeh shared the platform with her and also spent three weeks in the British Isles. After spending four days in London, Mr. Kházeh participated in the Irish Summer School in the south of Ireland, then went to Northern Ireland, across to Scotland and up to the highlands, continuing further north to the Orkneys.

During the past months Hand of the Cause Dr. Ugo Giachery has participated in the Bahá’í summer schools of Luxembourg and Scandinavia, has met with national spiritual assemblies in Europe and has visited many communities where he spoke at firesides and other meetings. His visit to Norway resulted in good publicity in the local press. He was happy to report that in Scandinavia some of the new believers have promised to translate needed literature into Scandinavian languages. In Sweden Dr. Giachery visited Mr. Sverre Holmsen, a well known author of some fifteen books, who has become a Bahá’í. Mr. Holmsen, a world traveler, discusses the Faith with his many daily visitors and has written a book about the Faith which is now being printed. There have already been many requests for copies from individuals and from public libraries in Sweden.

Hand of the Cause Dr. Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir recently visited the friends in Samoa while enroute to Mexico. He suggested holding of conferences and teacher training institutes and as a result a teaching conference has been held and the first teacher training institute conducted. A Samoan newsletter has been published.

Chile

The Faith is attracting attention of the general public through exhibits in Chile. Nearly 2000 people recently viewed a Bahá’í exhibition of more than 100 photographs, charts and drawings in the central area of the city ‎af of‎ Valparaiso, and a second display was held later at the Chilean-British Cultural Institute in Vina del Mar. There was good publicity with a brief presentation on television which was viewed by many.

Fiji Islands

Mr. Roddy Lutchmaya, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Indian Ocean recently visited Fiji where he spoke at three public meetings and was interviewed over the radio and spoke at a number of firesides. He also visited Fijian villages where his warm and loving personality greatly attracted the people, including the chiefs.

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Institute Generates Peace in Heart of Congo

The teaching institute in the village of Bena-Leka, Kasai Province, Republic of Congo, began the morning of July 19 with forty to fifty eager and attentive students, including many women. Some of the friends had walked as far as twenty kilometers and everyone’s desire to learn was great. Discussions went on late into the nights, under the bright moonlight, with numerous villagers coming to learn about this new Faith.

Roads and transportation are very nearly nonexistent in the interior of the Congo and one travels on the back of a truck with as many as sixty or seventy other people, over an extremely rough, single-lane road, interrupted by breakdowns and punctures. Auxiliary Board member and Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Ola Pawlowska traveled about twenty kilometers from the city of Luluabourg to attend the institute. It was an eight-hour journey into the dark, but the warm greetings and songs of the welcoming friends were as refreshing as a night’s sleep. The unbelievably beautiful singing of the Congolese Bahá’ís, their voices falling naturally into perfect harmony, rang out like clear, pure bells. Tired, hot, and mosquito-ridden listeners were deeply inspired by the beauty of their singing, the music generating inner peace and happiness.

Mme. Ola Pawlowska travels constantly throughout the Congo, ignoring the incredible difficulties, to visit, encourage, and teach the friends. The fruits of her efforts are very visible, in the staunch, well deepened, and active communities in the Central Congo, which are in turn branching out, teaching others, building Bahá’í centers, and overcoming the numerous problems facing them.

International News Briefs

Zululand

Two friends in Zululand, inspired by the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “O, that I could travel, even though on foot and in the utmost poverty, to these regions ...” left Gesinsila to go to Entumeni in June, covering the distance of thirty-six miles on foot. They held a meeting there and then ‎proceded proceeded‎ to Impapala, thirty miles away, using bus for only ten miles and walking on a very rough noad. After the meeting in Impapala they left to go to Mbanga Iwana, ten miles away, where they opened a new community.

Malawi

Mr. Peter Smith, a Bahá’í youth from the British Isles, who is spending a year traveling in Africa, recently visited five of the six local spiritual assemblies in Malawi. He was welcomed in Amalika by a song of greeting which the friends had written for him. In Naminyuku, following a meeting at the Bahá’í center, there were two declarations, both youth. Following his visit in Malawi, Mr. Smith joined Mr. Shidán Fatḥ-i-A’ẓam, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in southern Africa, on a two week trip through Botswanna.

Teaching institute held at Bena-Leka, Kasai Province, Republic of the Congo, July 19-25, 1969, attended by Ola Pawlowska, Auxiliary Board member, and Mike Brooks, traveling teacher, in front of Bahá’í Center.

[Page 12]

Women Take Leading Role in South Pacific Islands

In answer to the call of the Universal House of Justice to teach in another country, Mrs. Antelise Porter of American Samoa and Mrs. Mele Pateta of the Kingdom of Tonga, both left their homes and their families to teach beyond the shores of their islands. Mrs. Porter, with her five year old daughter, Caroline, took the Divine Message to many islands of the vast and remote Trust Territory on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands. Several months were spent on Ponape, the island of her birth, and together with Caroline who recited prayers and sang Bahá’í songs, she held many firesides, often navigating by canoe on the open seas to travel to the otherwise inaccessible parts of Ponape. As a result, several groups were formed in different areas.

Mrs. Pateta left her home and her two small children, aged two and four, to teach for two months in the outer islands of the Lau Group in Fiji, where she strengthened the newly enrolled believers and had the bounty of seeing new souls accept the teachings.

Since the women of the islands are accustomed to remain at home with their families relying on the men to do the teaching, both Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Pateta have been a source of much encouragement to other Bahá’í women who have since arisen to teach, thus visually proving the Bahá’í principle of the equality of men and women.

Several years ago when the call was raised for pioneers to the Tokelau Islands, Toma Aviata of American Samoa, arose to serve saying that since he had been given such a precious gift it was his duty to take it to his people. Although advanced in years and not in the best of health, he left his wife and children and went alone to the Tokelau Islands where he remained for almost three years. These tiny atolls, the largest only four miles long and a few hundred yards wide, can be reached by boat about four times a year. On his arrival in his homeland he was informed that he was forbidden to teach the Faith on the pain of expulsion, but after quietly living the Bahá’í life and reciting the prayers of Bahá’u’lláh at every opportunity, upon leaving the Tokelaus to visit his family and attend convention, he was given

Mr. Toma Aviata of American Samoa. First Tokelauan Bahá’í who returned to his homeland to carry the Word of Bahá’u’lláh to his people.

Left: Mrs. Antelise Porter of American Samoa, first woman islander to travel teach outside the area of the South Pacific. Right: Mrs. Mele Pateta of the Kingdom of Tonga who arose to travel teach for three months in the outer islands of the Lau Group, Fiji.

permission to teach the Faith openly on his return.

The Bahá’í youth in all the islands have been actively teaching, holding youth and children’s classes, participating in schools and teaching in villages. One outstanding Fijian youth, Savenaca Seniolo, returned to Fiji from the last convention with such a firm determination to teach that he not only strengthened the community in which he resided, but left it after some months to open a new village, and was able to announce to the convention that a spiritual assembly had been formed!

Summer schools, teaching conferences, deepening weekends and teaching institutes have been held in Fiji, Samoa Tonga and the Cook Islands, as well as a number of very successful public meetings, radio and press interviews when Hand of the Cause, Dr. R. Muhájir; Counsellor Howard Harwood of Australasia; Auxiliary Board member of North America, Dr. Peter Khan and his wife Janet; and other devoted traveling teachers visited a number of the islands.

The annual convention and teaching conference was held at Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga with more than 200 believers attending, including friends from New Zealand and Niue Island, Peter Mathews, the first Maori believer to visit the South Pacific and Ollie Olsen of Guam who was on a special teaching trip through Australasia. The convention and teaching conference closed with a tremendous feeling of enthusiasm when thirty Bahá’ís, many of them youth, arose in response to the Riḍván Message from the Universal House of Justice to pioneer or travel teach to all local goals.

The governments of both Western Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga have officially commended the Bahá’í communities of their islands for their gifts of

[Page 13] Friends attending the Summer School at Neiafu, Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga. Four Tongan teachers sailed 170 miles from the main island to teach at the School.

Left: Auxiliary Board member, Mr. Mosese Hokafonu, of Tonga, who represented the Continental Board of Counsellors in Australasia at the Annual Convention and Teaching Conference. Right.: Mr. Peter Mathews, first member of the Maori race to attend the Annual Convention of the South Pacific Ocean. Mr. Mathews made a special journey from New Zealand through several of the Pacific islands to meet the believers and participate in the Convention.

several tons of medical supplies at a time when both countries were in need. These supplies were collected by Dr. L. Beers and Auxiliary Board member, Dr. C. Caver of Hawaii. Announcements of these gifts were broadcast in the news sessions on the radio and covered by the press.

Some 27 believers from Fiji, American and Western Samoa, Niue Island and the Vava’u Group, Tonga, who arrived by ship to attend the Convention held at Nuku’alofa, Kingdom of Tonga.

[Page 14]

Convention Elects National Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Ocean

Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the South Pacific Ocean. Left to right seated. Mrs. Lilian Ala’i (Treasurer), Mrs. A. F. Leedham (Chairman), Mrs. Irene Williams (Secretary) Standing: Mr. Lisiata Maka (Vice-Chairman), Mr. Kelepi Toutai, Mr. Anitelu Fielea, Mr. Latu Tu’akihekolo and Mr. Feti Maiava (Mrs. Mary Tuataga not present)

A portion of the attendance at the Annual Convention and Teaching Conference of the Bahá’ís of the South Pacific Ocean.

A Tribute to a Pioneer to Samoa

The Samoan Bahá’ís were grieved to learn of the loss of one of the early pioneers to their islands, Mr. Nemat Ala’i, who passed away recently in England. During his years as a pioneer, in spite of language difficulty, he won the love and admiration of many friends and his home was the center of teaching and witnessed the enrollment of the second Samoan Bahá’í, and the formation of the first local spiritual assembly of which he was chairman. Previous to that he also pioneered with his family in Afghanistan. On his passing a memorial service was held in Apia, Western Samoa, with friends from many islands present, during which the cablegram from the Universal House of Justice addressed to Nemat’s brother, Hand of the Cause General Ala’i, was read as follows:

GRIEVED LOSS BELOVED BROTHER NEMAT STAUNCH SUPPORTER VALIANT PROMOTER FAITH HIS STEADFASTNESS DEVOTED SERVICES CRADLE FAITH PIONEERING FIELD UNFORGETTABLE WORTH EMULATION. PRAYING SHRINES SPIRITUAL PROGRESS HIS RADIANT SOUL CONVEY MEMBERS FAMILY LOVING SYMPATHY.

[Page 15]

Teaching Journey Under Nigerian Skies

Having received the approval of the Universal House of Justice and the Emergency Administrative Committee of West Central Africa, two pioneers (Stephanie and Duane Troxel) and two African believers (Friday Ekpe and Daniel Udobot) completed a twenty-six-day teaching trip in Nigeria’s South-Eastern State, by motor cycles in June and July, 1969. This region is the cradle of the Faith in Nigeria ever since Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga’s historic pioneering mission there in 1953-54, and this single state of Nigeria’s twelve states accounts for more than half of all the believers in West Central Africa’s five countries of Nigeria, Togo, Dahomey, Ghana, and Niger. Because of internal difficulties, some areas visited had not seen a Bahá’í visitor since 1965. Others had been out of touch with the outside world since 1967 because of the war’s disruption of postal services.

“So many feelings and scenes crowd our senses,” writes the pioneer, “while reflecting upon our journey. Envision quiet farming villages, dotted with clay and wattle dwellings, snugly hemmed in by dense undergrowth, and bereft of all modern conveniences. The contrasts of sound and silence ... darkness and light, are heightened, almost purified. The tempo of life is relaxed and dignified. Courtesy and custom dominate the style of life. The ‘effect of a solitary light or a single distant cry’ stirs the emotions.”

Since the trip took place during the rainy season, with monsoonal torrents, the vehicles would at times have to be lifted aboard dugout canoes for paddle-powered crossings of swollen rivers. At every village they were hailed by a large turnout and usually escorted to the house of the village chief. After giving a talk through translators, the people would eagerly ask questions, while women and children thronged the courtyard and windows of the house, straining to get a glimpse of afia-owo (white man).

“One of the sweet customs of the people is to give a gift to visitors,” the pioneer’s letter states. “One morning in the village of Ikot Uba we were introduced to a bent and withered old lady in tattered clothes. Her head was cocked to one side, her face etched with age and suffering. As she bade us Alláh-u-Abhá she parted her cupped hands to reveal a single white egg — a gift she had walked miles to bestow on us! So precious a gift couldn’t be eaten by us. Daniel Udobot paid us for the egg and it was agreed that the money should be sent to the Panama Temple fund in her name.... Once while we were in a village we had a new teaching experience. The people of the village were having their market day, the day when everyone brings produce to sell in the village market. The isolated Bahá’í we were visiting, Mr. Uman, walked with us into the market and called the people to come over to the little mound we were standing on. Shortly some fifty brightly dressed people were pressing around us. It was a strange feeling standing out under the open sky, deep in the jungle, extolling the virtues of God. Afterwards we led them to the home of Mr. Uman where they were engaged in lively discussion when we left to visit another place.”

During the course of the trip the traveling teachers covered over 400 miles on foot, in dugout canoe, and aboard a ship. They met with Bahá’ís in some twenty-six localities. Twenty-one souls declared their faith in Bahá’u’lláh, two villages were opened, and over 200 people heard of the “glad tidings” for the first time. To grasp the difficulties facing Bahá’í teachers, the example of Cameroonian pioneer Oscar Njang is cited. Oscar, a farmer, is the only pioneer in an area a third larger than New Hampshire. In a land festooned with swamps, brush, and rivers, dear Oscar travels on his bicycle from village to village teaching the friends. It is impossible for him to visit the friends in his area even once in a year! How much more difficult is it for a mere nineteen pioneers who live in West Central Africa’s five countries to teach the over seventy million waiting souls. These rural areas are the areas of the hearts ... virgin soil waiting to assist in supporting the Tree of this heavenly Cause. But when one reflects on the teachers needed to nourish those seventy million souls, the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá come to mind: “I am waiting, eagerly waiting for these holy ones to appear; and yet, how long will they delay their coming?”

International News Briefs

Kenya

A formal invitation from the Office of the President of the Republic of Kenya was extended to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kenya to attend the Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1, 1969 in Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi. The chairman and secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly who accepted the invitation and attended the celebrations were well received and seated with the distinguished guests. This is the first time in the history of the Faith in Kenya that such an invitation has been officially extended to the National Assembly.

Rhodesia

Mrs. Audrey Robarts, wife of Hand of the Cause Mr. John Robarts, recently visited in the following places in Rhodesia: Bulawayo, Plumtree, Filabusi, Gwarda and Burnside.

Mr. Canaan Neube, a Bahá’í in Bulawayo volunteered to travel and teach the Faith during his holidays. He visited many places and met with cordial response as well as some declarations.

The spontaneous spirit of enthusiasm of the Youth Committee in Rhodesia prompted them to make a weekend teaching trip to the Glendale area. They reported: “We were received with open arms and in a warm-hearted, joyful attitude and on that same afternoon we arrived we had a meeting. ... We left that Sunday with the whole village in spiritual upsurge and joy.”

[Page 16]

Teaching Plan Launched at Harlech School

Like Haifa, Harlech is built on a mountainside and looks westward over the sea. It is also a place where Bahá’ís meet, but there the resemblance ends for Harlech is a very small town indeed set in the climatically temperate land of Wales.

Summer schools at Coleg Harlech (“coleg” is Welsh for college) are always very happy occasions and the one this year was no exception. With lectures and workshops in the mornings, recreation in the afternoons, and talks and social events in the evenings, the time slipped happily and all too quickly away.

The theme of the school was “The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh — the sole refuge for a disintegrating and tottering civilization.” The courses spanned a wide horizon — from the rolling up of the old order to the spreading out of the new one; proclaiming the Cause; teaching; and the art of consultation. There were also talks on the Central Figures of the Faith, on pioneering, and the Universal House of Justice.

At the summer school the National Spiritual Assembly launched its new project for the British Isles: to find 200 new believers by Riḍván, the first 100 to be found by the early January teaching conference. There were

Coleg Harlech, site of Bahá’í Summer School in Wales, August 23-September 4, 1969.

several evenings of entertainment, including a barbecue on the last night. Then back into the world and on with the work, with the determination that many more of the goals will be won before summer school time comes round again next year.

Scandinavian Summer School Held in Norway

The Scandinavian Bahá’í Summer School held at Ringsaker, Norway from June 28 to July 5 was blessed with the presence of two Hands of the Cause of God: Dr. Ugo Giachery, and Jalal Kházeh, who brought an impetus and inspiration which resulted in eighteen offers to do travel teaching during the remaining years of the Nine Year Plan. Dorothy Ferraby, member of the Board of Counsellors for Europe, was also present and made a special plea for universal participation through an increased love for God on the part of each individual Bahá’í. Three Auxiliary Board members also assisted: Mrs. Johanne Hoeg of Denmark; Mrs. Modesta Hvide; and Mrs. Gerd Strand of Norway.

At the public meeting held in Lillehammer, Paul Ojermark of Sweden was the guest speaker and he also prepared a course on “The Gleanings” for the School program. Dr. Vahman of Denmark spoke on the history of Bahá’u’lláh; and Islám, its teachings and culture, was presented by Dr. Hooshang and Pauline Rafat.

A special day for the youth provided an opportunity to study the letters from the Universal House of Justice. For the smaller children a very active program was arranged by Mrs. Ase von Krogh, and Mrs. Edel Lange-Nielsen assisted by volunteers.

Mr. and Mrs. Gunnar Lange-Nielsen, host and hostess for the school, left nothing undone to make the eighty guests comfortable during those days, and Ernst Holm, chairman for the sessions, kept the program running smoothly.

A memorial service was held for Loyce Lawrence, pioneer to Lofoten Island during the Ten Year Crusade, who passed on to the Abhá Kingdom on December 18, 1968, and for Britt Gaunas of Denmark who was buried at the time of the memorial held at the school.

At the Scandinavian Summer School Ringsaker, Norway, June 28-July 5, 1969.

[Page 17]

Astronaut Receives Bahá’í Book

Col. Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr. of the U.S. Air Force, the second man to step on the moon in July 1969 was presented with a Bahá’í book, Foundations of World Unity by the Bahá’ís of Montclair, New Jersey. The occasion was the observance of “Buzz Aldrin Day” on September 6 when Montclair welcomed its distinguished resident with a parade attended by some 40,000 people.

The Bahá’ís participated in the parade with a float carrying a six foot tree bearing crepe paper flowers and streamers and surrounded by Bahá’ís representative of the diverse people in the Faith. The car carried a poster in front reading: “Ye are all the fruits of one tree, the leaves of one Branch” — Bahá’u’lláh” and a side poster saying: “From the Moon it is clear that ‘This Earth is One Country and Mankind its Citizens’ — Bahá’í Writings”

The copy of Foundations of World Unity given to the astronaut was inscribed: “All men have been created to carry forth an ever-advancing civilization” and signed “from the Bahá’ís of Montclair.”

Col. “Buzz” Aldrin holds Bahá’í book presented him in Montclair, New Jersey.

Lectures Arranged by German Students

The International Student Club of Munich, Germany, instituted a series of lectures on religions of the world. Representatives of the Bahá’í Faith and of Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islám spoke, followed by a discussion period. The Bahá’í address, given by Fazlollah Berdjis, attracted the most attention. On August 16 and 17, Mr. Berdjis shared a platform with two religious doctors in Bad Aibling. During the expositions, a clear contrast was evident between the Christian theory which expressed the closing of Revelation with Christ, and the Bahá’í principle of progressive Revelation. Lively discussion followed these presentations. Many new friends were made by the Bahá’ís through this effort.

A Bahá’í student, Erik Blumenthal, spoke on the topic, “Is Psychology a Substitute for Religion?” in the main building of the University in Giessen, Germany. The meeting was arranged by the Bahá’í students and a favorable article appeared in the Giessener Allgemeinen Zeitung, a daily newspaper.

The Seventh Annual Neah Bay Council Fire

The seventh Annual Bahá’í Council Fire was held August 9 and 10 at the Makah Indian Reservation, sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Neah Bay, Washington. Guests began to arrive three days early from Alaska, Oregon, California, Idaho, Oklahoma, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Canada, and as far away as American Samoa and Iran and from various tribes.

Some 1,300 people made camp in cars, station wagons, tents, trailers and campers. Some camped and slept on the beach in the open. The camp grounds among the trees, bordered by the Soas River and the Pacific ocean, remains in its natural state of beauty — uncluttered by civilization. The feeling of peace, serenity and fellowship was all pervading.

Blessed with perfect weather one could feel the very essence of the spirit of love of Bahá’u’lláh as the friends greeted each other with faces glowing with love and the phrase “ ‘Allah-u-’Abhá”. The same spirit carried in the greetings of warm welcome to the many guests who shared the bounty of hearing the message of Bahá’u’lláh, many for the first time.

The Council Fire officially opened on Saturday morning with prayers and the performance of the Jin’ai Singers. One of the special visitors was Mrs. Florence Mayberry representing the Continental Board of Counsellors who spoke inspiringly of the progress of the Faith and reminded the friends of the task before them.

In the afternoon the guests enjoyed a delicious salmon ‎barbeque barbecue‎. As the sun began to set in all its splendor over the ocean, Miss Brenda Fields (part Cherokee) and Mr. Grant Gaston (Apache descent) exchanged marriage vows in the presence of members of the local Spiritual Assembly of the Makah Reservation. The ceremony consisted of several prayers and songs.

At nightfall a huge beach bonfire was lighted and the great crowd gathered for a song fest and to hear National Spiritual Assembly member Mr. Jack McCants speak of the need for reaching the many young people who are in such a state of confusion. He stressed the importance of youth in the Faith and their roll as leaders in the future.

At the close of Sunday’s program the Makah dancers presented tribal dances and songs and shared Indian legends.

Seven persons declared during the Council Fire.

As the Council Fire closed with the chanting of a prayer by one of the direct descendants of Mulla Ḥusayn unashamed tears of joy, peace and understanding streamed down many faces.

[Page 18] Summer school organized by the Bahá’í Youth of Saigon-GiaDinh in LongThành from August 1 till August 3 1969.

The Bahá’í youth of Saigon-GiaDinh (left) offer books and medicine to the orphans at LongThành orphan village, (right); assist in building houses for the orphan-village of LongThành where there are 2000 children who have lost parents in the war.

News Briefs

North Carolina

The local Spiritual Assemblies of Winston-Salem and Asheville, North Carolina, assisted a non-Bahá’í family to publicize and organize a very successful public meeting on August 31 in Morganton. A dozen Bahá’ís and two dozen guests gathered in warm fellowship in a public meeting room of the local bank to hear National Spiritual Assembly member Jack McCants speak on principles of the Faith. Follow-up firesides are being held at the homes of a newly settled Bahá’í and the non-Bahá’í family in Morganton.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Miss Thelma Thomas, member of the New Orleans Community and Mr. Ralph Grunewald, pioneer to Honduras were invited to participate on the New Orleans NET affiliate (WYES-TV) “Coffee House,” a program geared to the college and young adult audience. The Bahá’ís were given approximately 20 minutes to speak on Bahá’í Youth activities.

Miss Thelma Thomas, student at Tulane University, New Orleans was invited by the professor to speak to a Sociology class on the Bahá’í Faith. Considerable interest was shown by the 45 students and during the discussion period it was learned that one of the students lived near the House of Worship at Wilmette, and another had visited Haifa. The entire class period, one and one-half hours, was devoted to the Faith. Miss Thomas’ Biology professor on learning of the recent Bahá’í Youth Conference, became interested and asked for Bahá’í literature.

Iowa

In nine short days about 855 persons stopped at the Bahá’í booth at the recent Iowa State Fair to ask questions, receive literature and/or sign cards asking for more information. Additional hundreds who passed the booth but did not stop saw the name Bahá’í and perhaps for the first time.

The booth was erected by the Des Moines Bahá’í Community in colors predominantly of orange and blue and featured many eye-catching and informative posters and free literature.

The Iowa State Goals Committee was instrumental in making the project a statewide effort and all who assisted were rewarded by the diversity of the persons who sought to know more about the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

[Page 19]

Rocky Mountain Institute at Conifer Hill

Variety was the keynote of the Rocky Mountain 4th of July Institute, “Individual Participation in Proclamation,” held at Conifer Hill, Lyons, Colorado. There were study classes given by Rhoderoi Myers, Marion West, Steve Garrigues, Sam Jackson, Ken Jeffers, and Dr. Dan Jordan. The topics included “The Privilege of Contributing to the Cause of God,” “The New Morality,” “The Latest Message from the Universal House of Justice,” “Communicating with People from Various Cultures,” “Teaching People in the Ghettos,” “Teaching the American Indians,” and “Understanding and Developing Your True Self.”

Dave Fisher explained the geological makeup of Conifer Hill and how it had developed. There was time for nature hikes and quiet meditation. There were dawn devotions, sometimes in the meeting tent and sometimes on the mountain tip. There was music around the campfire in the evenings — including an exciting talent show in which every performance was in the spirit of a joyous offering of worship to the Creator. There were anecdotes and stories from the rich history of the Faith, and there was spirited singing, with Libby Harris providing original songs and the accompaniment for them. Some classes were under the sunlit sky and others were under the meeting tent amid thunder, rain and hail.

Throughout the weekend the spirit of cooperation and love was abundant. More than 160 people, several of whom were seekers, were privileged to enjoy the beautiful setting and share the flowing spirit. The friends are already anticipating the 4th of July weekend in 1970, in hopes that it will find them back at Conifer Hill.

Cold amid the hail storm, the friends still didn’t want to miss a word.

The friendship circle at parting. Alláh’u’Ábhá.

Left to right: Dr. Dan Jordan’s spirits were not dampened by the rain. The trophy beside him was awarded the Bahá’í float in the State Fair, 1968. Rhod Myers warms to her subject and the sun comes out. Ken Jeffers speaks about pioneering among the Indians of Canada and the United States. Sam Jackson taught under sunny skies.

[Page 20]

The Bahá’í Institute

Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan

The Bahá’í Institute (shown at left) overlooking Mission Lake at Fort Qu’Appelle, was established in 1967 and has been decorated externally by a British Columbia artist using authentic Indian designs. The disc under the roof peak was taken from a basket design made in Western United States and is titled “The People Gather”. Across the balcony, left to right, are tribal designs from the Algonquin, Zuni, Eskimo, Kiowa, Sioux, West Coast Indian and Eastern Woodlands people. Most of the designs contain sacred symbols, including “the four directions of God.”

The Institute is a Bahá’í teaching center where “learning” passes in both directions between teacher and student. Courses emphasize the contributions of the native peoples to Canadian society and the importance of the Indians’ own spiritual values, using discussions, film programs, and Pow-wow-style gatherings.

The various programs provide a milieu where Indian, Metis and non-Indian people can meet on an equal footing, as for instance at a recent discussion meeting for anthropology students from the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus, where many of the young people had their first opportunity to meet socially with Indians.

Teaching By Presentations

The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh is presented to Mayor Kile Morgan of National City, California by Mel Chester, Bahá’í, ‎whlie while‎ Arnie Stein looks on.

South Dade, Florida

Bahá’ís of South Dade, Florida, have launched a proclamation program of giving three Bahá’í books — Prescription for Living, Thief in the Night and God Loves Laughter — to a different hospital every 19 days. Already reports are coming in of enthusiastic readers among patients and hospital staff. Six newspapers carried brief articles on the project.

Charles Trebus, director of public relations for the Christian hospitals in Florissant, Missouri receives Bahá’í books from Miss Kathy Davenport, a Florissant Bahá’í in September, 1969.

Kay Koehl, left, librarian, presents books to Mrs. William Albaugh, President of South Miami Hospital Woman’s Auxiliary.

[Page 21] Local Spiritual Assembly of Hoonah, Alaska formed April 21, 1969. Top row left: Tom Baumgartner, Jr., chairman; Harold McKinley, vice-chairman; Stuart Ashton, Ralph Houston, Simon Koenig.

Front row, left: Mrs. Dottie Baumgartner, treasurer; Mrs. Gloria McKinley, Mrs. Belle Koenig, ‎nad and‎ Mrs. Donna Ashton, secretary.

Local Spiritual Assembly of Gallup, New Mexico, at the time of incorporation, July 10, 1969. Left to right, sitting: Gordon Laite, vice chairman; Owen Creightney, chairman; Mrs. Roan Stone, corresponding secretary; Raymond Collins, treasurer; standing: Miss Augustina Walters; James Schroeder; James Stone: Mrs. Jeanne Laite, recording secretary; Ronald Ballew.

Historic Funeral Held in Fort Yukon

With such an indomitable spirit as Charley Robert’s, it was appropriate that this first Athabascan Bahá’í from Fort Yukon would also have the first Bahá’í funeral in Fort Yukon. To him the truth was as manifest as the sunlight, and he had no patience with those who could read the Message and not accept it, for Charley could not read. From the day of his declaration, May 22, 1962, until the day of his passing, August 6, 1969 he was a staunch and outspoken Bahá’í. During his first year as a Bahá’í, Charley had been responsible for some 25 people recognizing Bahá’u’lláh and had been instrumental in the formation of three local assemblies — this radiant, determined Bahá’í who could neither read nor write.

News Briefs

For the past five years the Bahá’í community of West Hollywood, California has sponsored a spot announcement radio program covering the entire southern California area. The taped program is changed frequently and the most recent one, geared to youth, has met with enthusiastic response. Requests for information are acknowledged with Bahá’í pamphlets and the statement that their names are being referred to Bahá’ís near them. Through this program the message of Bahá’u’lláh has been heard at frequent intervals by many waiting souls.

○

The Takoma Park, Maryland Bahá’í community participated in the July 4th parade of the town by selecting a representative group of Bahá’ís to ride in the car carrying the sign “Bahá’í” and quotations from the Writings: “Ye are the fruits of one tree ...” and “The earth is but one country ...” Favorable comment and interest was evident.

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A Bahá’í father and son of Garden Grove, California, have participated in the activities of the Indian people by studying Indian dancing and appearing locally in the annual show, “Council of the Seven Fires.” This show is arranged by a non-Bahá’í Sioux Indian who participated in the Bahá’í community’s Race Unity Day observance by presenting the Wambidusa Indian Dancers.

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The small town of Vassar, Michigan, with its population of 2800 people is hearing about Bahá’u’lláh and seeing the principles of the Faith in action because of the teaching efforts of the resident Bahá’ís — one adult and one youth.

Of the several activities undertaken by the two Bahá’ís was the placing of a Bahá’í booth at the local fair, manned almost continually for a week by the local youth and supported by friends from Saginaw, Davison, Flint, Alma, Mt. Pleasant, and Ferndale, Michigan and Euclid and Cleveland, Ohio.

For the second year in a row, the Bahá’ís have received a mayoral proclamation for Race Unity Day. The first year the Bahá’ís had the opportunity to explain about the Faith to the mayor and councilmen. The second year, because the councilmen were not in session, unanimous approval for the proclamation was received by telephone, at request of the mayor.

The Bahá’í adult also had the bounty of being the first person at a manufacturing firm to hire a Negro. This was done through the school’s coop program with business.

[Page 22]

Oregon Bahá’ís Place Prize Winning Exhibit in State Fair

The Salem Oregon Community, assisted by nearby Marion County Group, had an unusual 10-day Proclamation of the Faith at the Oregon State Fair through a “Meditation Garden for the Praise of God.” Fair officials had selected the theme “God and Country” for the floral department and the full scale Bahá’í garden plot entered in the division “Most imaginative to the future” won an award and prize.

Featured in the garden was a diorama with the House of Worship model and its gardens reproduced to scale using natural plants, surrounded by institutions of the future in landscaped grounds. A beautiful plaque done in tile proclaimed “A Pattern for Future Society.” The diorama and another plaque, “The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens,” created considerable interest and comment. As follow-up in teaching to the Fair project a series of quotations from the Writings with offer of an information kit is being run weekly in the newspaper.

Meditation Garden at Oregon State Fair sponsored by Bahá’ís of the community of Salem and the Marion County Group.

Children’s Conference Held on “The Kingdom of Man”

The Northwest Bahá’í Children’s Conference Committee reports another good conference, July 20-26, 1969. There were 101 in attendance all week: 72 children and youth (40 of them 8 years and younger).

Classes were held for all ages, including adults not otherwise busy, each morning. The general theme of the conference this year was “The Kingdom of Man”. Teachers used their own methods and ideas to explore in greater depth the unique challenge of being Man.

In the afternoon there were exceptionally good art and craft classes for everyone, followed by recreation. Recreation was usually swimming at the nearby lake (or wading pool for the littlest ones), but various trips were taken to explore the many historic and beauty spots around Astoria. In the evening there was a different planned activity each night: slides, tapes, talks, picnic, and of course, The Talent Night on Friday.

As usual a closed campus kept the Bahá’í spirit glowing throughout the week, with morning and evening devotions being the nerve center of the conference. And, of course, there was lots of singing!

There was a wonderful spirit. Many felt it was the best Conference ever.

At the Northwest Bahá’í Children’s Conference held at Astoria, Oregon July 20-26, 1969.

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Bahá’í Headquarters at the UN

The attractive offices of the International Bahá’í Community are located in the UN Plaza Building. The work of the International Bahá’í Community and the United States Bahá’í United Nations Committee becomes increasingly important as ties with the United Nations are strengthened. Seated at right is John Miller, former US Bahá’í UN Committee chairman. It is of interest to note that the buildings and property occupied by the United Nations is international property, and is not owned by any nation. It is staffed by its own security force and is not under the jurisdiction of the state of New York. If you have not yet attended a Bahá’í UN Seminar, plan now to be at the next one. It is an impressive and informative experience which can make you feel the impact of Bahá’u’lláh’s promises for the world in a new and more meaningful way.

News Briefs

Blaine, Washington

The Second Annual Human Family Picnic sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, was held on August 24 at Peace Arch near Blaine, Washington, where hundreds of Canadian and American Bahá’ís, their friends, and hundreds of passers-by on foot and in cars were attracted by the visible evidence of the Human Family.

The Peace Arch is located in a small park on the border between the two roads in and out of the United States and Canada and served well to stage the program consisting of the Jin’ai Singers of the Seattle area, a bagpipe and drum band from Vancouver, B.C., an Irish songster, Indian dancers from Canadian Indian tribes and others.

Clyde Johnson leads the Jin’ai Singers of Seattle in songs of praise during the recent Second Annual Human Family Picnic near Blaine, Washington.

Deer Park, Washington

Bahá’ís of Spokane and Spokane County Commissioner’s District 2 prepared and manned a booth at Deer Park, Washington Fair in August. The youth and young adults were especially helpful in this very successful project. Deer Park is a goal area town and the exhibit resulted in a declaration as well as numerous requests for information. The display included Holy books of other religions as well as a generous selection of Bahá’í literature. There was a model of the House of Worship in Wilmette displayed on a blue cloth which harmonized with the blue and white color scheme of the exhibit.

Bahá’í in the News

The Daily News of Whittier, California carries a regular weekly feature “Sunday Sermon” written by clergymen of various denominations. The Sermon for June 21 was written by Milton Lundblade, chairman of the Bahá’í group of Whittier and was on “The Light of Unity”, an article stating the Bahá’í principles and developing the theme of world peace and unity. Favorable response to this article was evident.

The travels of a Bahá’í on a teaching trip through the Trust Territories of the Pacific were briefly related in The Instructor (an educational magazine) for June and July 1969. The article told of the trip taken last summer by John Spock, Bahá’í of the Hawaiian Islands and noted that the Bahá’í Faith has no professional clergy.

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THE NORTHWEST BAHÁ’Í SUMMER SCHOOL

From June 21 to 29, during what was probably the rainiest eight days of the Summer, the Northwest Bahá’í Summer School was held in beautiful Millersylvania State Park in the state ‎af of‎ Washington. The inclement weather dampened clothing and the outdoor facilities but not the spirit of the more than 100 attending.

Under the capable tutelage of John Kolstoe of Fairbanks, Alaska, the adults and some of the older youth delved deeply into: “Techniques of Deepening” “Writings of the Guardian”, and “Messages from the Universal ‎ House‎ of Justice.”

Bahá’í House of Worship Daily Visiting Hours 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Devotions 3 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday Public Meetings 3:45 p.m.

An excellent teaching staff taught three classes daily for the children and youth ages three to twenty-one. Swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, group singing, story hours, a talent show, and a combined experience in meditation by all, were some of the more popular events rounding out the program.

Evening programs featured talks by John Kolstoe and Kavous Monadjemi. A special bounty was the privilege of hearing pioneers Vern Zuelsdorff, and Beth and Frederick Laws, both Knights of Bahá’u’lláh, tell of some of their experiences along with slide illustrations.

Many of those attending commented that the school was a deeply rewarding experience.

At the Northwest Bahá’í Summer School held in June, 1969 in the State of Washington. In the front row are (center from left) John Kolstoe and Beth and Frederick Laws, Knights of Bahá’u’lláh who pioneered in Africa. Vern Zuelsdorff is in the back row on the left. He pioneered in Mexico and Central America.

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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.