Bahá’í News/Issue 470/Text
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| No. 470 | BAHA’I YEAR 127 | MAY, 1970 |
| The Declaration of the Báb | The Ascension of Declaration of the Báb
| |
| May 23, 1844, signalizes the commencement of the most turbulent period of the Heroic Age of the Bahá’í Era, an age which marks the opening of the most glorious epoch in the greatest cycle which the spiritual history of mankind has yet witnessed. No more than a span of nine short years marks the duration of this most spectacular, this most tragic, this most eventful period of the first Bahá’í century. It was ushered in by the birth of a Revelation whose Bearer posterity will acclaim as the “Point round Whom the realities of the Prophets and Messengers revolve,” and terminated with the first stirrings of a still more potent Revelation, “whose day,” Bahá’u’lláh Himself affirms, “every Prophet hath announced,” for which “the soul of every Divine Messenger hath thirsted,” and through which “God hath proved the hearts of the entire company of His Messengers and Prophets.”* | With the ascension [on May 29, 1892] of Bahá’u’lláh draws to a close a period which, in many ways, is unparalleled in the world’s religious history. The first century of the Bahá’í Era had by now run half its course. An epoch, unsurpassed in its sublimity, its fecundity and duration by any previous Dispensation, and characterized, except for a short interval of three years, by half a century of continuous and progressive Revelation, had terminated. The Message proclaimed by the Báb had yielded its golden fruit. The most momentous, though not the most spectacular phase of the Heroic Age had ended. The Sun of Truth, the world’s greatest Luminary, had risen in the Síyáh-Chál of Ṭihrán, had broken through the clouds which enveloped it in Baghdád, had suffered a momentary eclipse whilst mounting to its zenith in Adrianople and had set finally in ‘Akká, never to reappear ere the lapse of a full millenium.* | |
| *Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 3 | *Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 223 |
Guam[edit]
The Bahá’ís of Guam had a glorious weekend on January 17-18 when representatives of four of the institutions of the Faith gathered with them on their island for a two-day deepening conference.
Hand of the Cause of God Abú’l-Qásim Faizí, after participating in deepening conferences in various parts of the South Pacific and in Hawaii, honored the Bahá’í Community by his presence and inspiration for the event. Arriving with him was Mr. Suhayl ‘Alá’í from American Samoa, member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia. Also present, Mr. Tracy Hamilton, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands, and representing that body, and Miss Virginia Breaks, Auxiliary Board member for the Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands.
As a preface, the distinguished Hand of the Cause from the Holy Land was greeted by the press at a breakfast interview. A three-column, front-page news story with his picture appeared in the Guam Daily News, the Island’s leading newspaper. Comparable reports were also given in a prime-time newscast over KUAM-TV and subsequent radio and local news media.
Opening on Saturday morning, greetings were extended by Mr. ‘Alá’i, Mr. Hamilton, and Miss Breaks on behalf of their institutions, and by Thomas Smithwick, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Guam. Then, an address by Mr. Faizí on “Human Knowledge,” which dealt with problems that confront Bahá’ís. He also paid tribute to the late John Faily, who passed away a few days before Mr. Faizí’s arrival.
In the afternoon session, Mr. ‘Alá’í spoke on “The Bahá’í Covenant — Bounties and Responsibilities of the Believers.” Later, Mrs. Charlene Sooman and Mr. Joon Chung spoke on aspects of the role of youth. That evening, in the home of a newly declared believer, Mrs. Barbara Newhouser, Mr. Faizí spoke about the Kitáb-i-Íqán, its background and significance.
Sunday morning, as part of the discussion on the institutions of the Faith, Mr. Hamilton spoke of Hawaii’s share of the Nine Year Plan as applicable to their overseas goals in the Mariana, Caroline, and Marshall Islands.
As the afternoon session adjourned, guests began arriving for the public meeting, and Mr. Faizí spoke, touching the hearts with his simple exposition of the Bahá’í Faith. Later, as a finale for the Feast of Sultán that evening, the Bahá’í film, A New Wind, was shown.
Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Faizí visits Guam. Thomas Smithwick (left), Mrs. Cynthia Olson, Mrs. Anna Smithwick (right).
Continental Board of Counsellors visits Nicaragua[edit]
Taking advantage of the trimestral meeting of the members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Central America, Mexico, Panama, and the Antilles, the National Spiritual Assembly arranged for several interesting proclamation activities.
Mr. Alfred Osborne visited the communities of El Trapiche, Jalapa, and Estelí, holding public meetings in each as well as a fifteen-minute radio talk in Estelí. Mr. Artemus Lamb participated with the believers in a teaching institute on January 31 in Jinotepe. This meeting culminated with an interesting roundtable discussion. Mrs. Carmen de Burafato visited the community of Masaya.
On February 1 the Counsellors held consultations with the National Spiritual Assembly in the morning. In the afternoon a teaching conference was held in Managua, with seventeen attending from Managua, Bluefields, Jinotepe, Sandy Bay, Estelí, and Masaya. This conference resulted in a youth enrollment.
That evening the Counsellors held a public meeting in the auditorium of Radio Station 590, with “World Unity, the Basis of a New Civilization” as the central theme. Questions were answered, and the thirty-eight people present came from the meeting filled with enthusiasm, happy. One of the audience enthusiastically offered his services to paint part of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, and has done so — without charge.
(Above) Board of Counsellors member Alfred Osborne addressing a public meeting audience in Managua, Nicaragua.
Members Artemus Lamb and Mrs. Carmen de Burafato are
seated at the table.
(Below) Mrs. de Burafato speaks with group of young people during conference recess.
KENYA[edit]
Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá with Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Kenya. At far right, Board of Counsellors members: (standing) ‘Azíz Yazdí; (seated) Kolonario Oule.
El Salvador[edit]
Participants at the Institute in Las Lomas, El Salvador. Auxiliary Board member Gabriel Torres is in front row, third from
left; (seated) Jaleh de Torres, pioneer from Iran with Gail
Woolsen, pioneer from United States; (rear, tallest) Tim Ferrand, pioneer from United States.
Public meeting, January 24, Santa Tecla, El Salvador.
Institute in Las Lomas. Tim Farrand, pioneer, holds one of the classes.
First of the series of Institutes in Nahuizalco; Gabriel Torres, Auxiliary Board member, teaching.
London, England[edit]
The Bahá’í Assembly of Wandsworth, London, held its annual Bahá’í Ball on November 15. There were about two hundred and thirty guests from all over the country, and a few from France. A running buffet was provided all night by professional caterers, with discotheque music for dancing.
The Assembly’s guest of honor, the Mayor of Wandsworth, Miss Gwynneth Morgan, after being presented with Some Answered Questions by Lady Kathleen Hornell, gave a short speech of thanks and opened the dancing with the chairman of the Assembly, Eruch Munsiff. The Member of Parliament for the borough, and his wife, had been invited as the Assembly’s guests and called in on their way to another function. They stayed most of the evening.
Both the Mayor and the wife of the Member of Parliament commented on the unique harmony between generations evidenced in the occasion and which they had not seen elsewhere. The Member of Parliament, who at one of the Assembly’s monthly public meetings had discussed “Unity of Mankind,” remarked to a member of the Assembly that he now understood what unity meant.
Among other guests for the occasion was the chairman of the local United Nations branch. The happy atmosphere impressed many people, guests and new Bahá’ís alike.
B.B.C.[edit]
The World Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation has been running a series of interviews under the title, “This is your faith.” The last in the series was an interview with Mrs. Mehrangiz Munsiff and Ted Cardell, and the broadcast went out all over the world on February 16. The questions were of a searching nature, but they were asked in a creative way, designed to bring out personal views in a spontaneous manner.
Mrs. Peggy True wrote from the Canary Islands that a large group had gathered at one of the friend’s home there. After the broadcast their discussions went on till two in the morning.
Another letter arrived from Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone in Australia congratulating Mrs. Munsiff. A few days later the program’s director called Mrs. Munsiff to say she had had an inquiry from Portugal. It is expected that additional responses will be received.
The Annual Wandsworth Ball, London, November 15, 1969.
Cambridge University[edit]
It seems rather ironic that the words of that famous description of Bahá’u’lláh by E. G. Browne should have been heard within the very walls of that Professor’s own college — Pembroke — during the program of music and readings at Cambridge’s World Religion Day meeting this year.
But the Lent Term at Cambridge has seen a few other high spots planned by the University Bahá’í Society. Not content with inviting, cajoling, and even dragging friends along to the usual Bahá’í Society meetings, we have now devised new tactics: We go to them, but in such a way that they end up thinking they invited us. The first of these operations was carried out as a joint African Society/Bahá’í Society meeting, when Moojan Momen and Shahab Fatheázam showed slides and talked to members and friends of the African Society about their wonderful experiences traveling for the Faith in Africa.
Recently, St. John’s College and Magdalene College were the scene of a Bahá’í weekend school. Bahá’ís from Cambridge, London, and towns far and near, gathered there with friends and contacts, bringing the dynamic spirit of the new age into those ancient colleges. The program included talks on child education and the tapes on “Consultation” produced by the American Community.
El Salvador[edit]
As a result of an inspiring Central American Regional Conference called by the Continental Board of Counsellors for Central America, the National Teaching Committee, in collaboration with the National Proclamation Committee, launched a series of proclamations and nine one-day institutes for nine consecutive weekends in nine different localities where there are local spiritual assemblies in process of consolidation.
In six of these nine localities, the institutes were preceded by a public meeting based on the format of the public meeting held during the above mentioned Conference. That meeting in San Salvador was held at the National Theater, and its program consisted of international folksongs, presented by pioneers Marvin and Jan Dreyer, and two conference themes: New Scientific Era, by a man speaker; and New Spiritual Era, by a woman speaker. At the San Salvador meeting, Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir was the “guiding light” of the Conference, and members of the Continental Board, Artemus Lamb, Alfred Osborne, and Mrs. Carmen de Burafato, were present.
More than thirteen hundred attended the public meetings, and more than four hundred signed up for correspondence courses. At the end of each conference materials used during the conference were left for each member of the community, together with a booklet, “Teaching the Bahá’í Faith.”
After this series, and as a result of their success, seven additional proclamations were held in Departments where there are only one or two Bahá’ís, with comparable attendance and correspondence course signups. Two additional proclamations are planned beginning in April.
[Page 5]
Steel Rods and Concrete — Foundations for Strength and Beauty as Panama House of Worship settles into place on mountain top.
On March 17 the National Spiritual Assembly of Panama reported that all concrete for the nine footings for their House of Worship has been placed. Six foundation points have been completed and two star points have been poured. Pouring of the concrete for the wing walls was started on March 14 and, with one being completed each two weeks, they hope to have them finished by July 10.
Forms for the ribs of the dome are now being constructed, and plans are to pour the first rib by March 30. Diligent consultations with experts are underway to determine the best possible method of pouring the concrete dome.
Steel workers placing horizontal bars for wing wall reinforcing.
Workers erecting forms to be used for pouring concrete for far end of wing wall.
Wing wall at far end with form and reinforcing bars for entire wall.
Reinforcing bars in place for two wing walls. Open area is where gates will be.
Mr. Robert McLaughlin, consultant and representative of the
Universal House of Justice on the Temple project, visits
Panama. Photo shows him with Continental Board Counsellor
member Alfred Osborne, and Temple Committee. Left to right:
Mr. McLaughlin, Leota Lockman, National Spiritual Assembly
Secretary, Engineer Ed Stevenson, Raquel de Constante, National Spiritual Assembly Chairman, Mr. Osborne, and project
engineer, Mr. Paul Thiele.
Form work for wing walls (two) and steel reinforcing bars being put in place.
Friends gathered at Temple site for prayers, Sunday, February 8.
Denmark[edit]
[edit]
As host for this year’s Scandinavian Summer School, Denmark announces it has succeeded in finding an excellent location “near beach and wood in Skaade Bakker near Aarhus, important traffic center in the mainland of Denmark, Jutland ... all modern teaching aids will be at our disposal ... (including) simultaneous translation ... in any of the three Scandinavian languages and English ... The price per day, four meals included, will be kr. 55.- per person.”
The National Teaching Committee extends a cordial invitation to the friends for “this week, a living demonstration of the Bahá’í unity in a colorful and gay diversity.” The Committee’s address: National Teaching Committee, Sofievej 28, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark.
Sweden[edit]
Members of the Student Committee, Uppsala University inaugural gala, and two friends.
University of Uppsala[edit]
The Uppsala Bahá’í Student Committee sponsored a display in University Hall during the inaugural Gala of the University of Uppsala. The arrangement, first of its kind in Sweden, was an exciting and rewarding event. The display, on the third floor of the building, consisted of notice boards, Bahá’í literature, brochures and pamphlets, in Swedish and English. A record player and the “Bahá’í Victory Chorus” record were provided and soon the music reached down to the first floor.
As many as three hundred students of various fields of Arts and Sciences visited the exhibit and obtained information. The exhibit extended its influence even beyond the Gala, for the next day a local paper headlined an article, “Religion of the Global Era.”
Mississippi[edit]
From the Mississippi State Goals Committee comes word of a victory in the enrollment of Miss Helen Marie Henry, “first native Mississippi Indian (Choctaw) believer.” Two Indian Bahá’ís from Chicago, Kelly Fox and Francis LeQuiere, have been recently staying and teaching on the reservation in Philadelphia.
Louisiana[edit]
Home front pioneer, Miss Sandra Parr teaching in Bogalusa, Louisiana.
California[edit]
Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of National City, California, achieved incorporation October 10, 1969.
Bolivia[edit]
Second Departmental Summer School held in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, November 7-9, 1969.
Recently appointed Auxiliary Board members for Bolivia: Manucher Shoaí and Andrés Jachakollo.
National Youth Study Course, National Bahá’í Institute, Cochabamba, Bolivia, January 9-13.
Sr. Athos Costas, Continental Board of Counsellors member,
and his wife, Angelica (National Spiritual Assembly Secretary
for Bolivia), after ten years of devoted service to mass conversion efforts in Bolivia. They have returned to their country,
Argentina, because of health conditions suffered from high
altitude.
Group of youth from Sucre, Bolivia, who attended the National Youth Study Course, with the two pioneers, Reginald
Baskin and Ellen Sims. Sucre is an all-youth Bahá’í community of university and college students. Until recently, all
young men; in the last several months, nine señoritas have
enrolled in the Faith.
[Page 8]
Spiritual Assembly of Lompoc, California 1969-70. Left to right:
(rear) Jesse Oliver, Donald E. Foster, Morris Sobhani, Earl H.
Christensen; (front) Mrs. Jean Eaton, Mark Eaton, Mrs. Corrine Christensen, Mrs. Gloria Sobhani; (insert) Miss Cheryll
Hughes.
Vietnam[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly of Vietnam reported recently that during February they had an enrollment of more than 6800 believers. This is nearly equal to the total number of enrollments for the entire previous year. The significant factor is, however, that 5800 of the new members are Mountagnards.
This influx of believers was sparked when an automobile, used for teaching work and bearing the name “Bahá’í,” attracted the attention of an educated Mountagnard. He said he has known of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh for several years and that he is so happy that he knows where he can go to declare his faith. He is one of the five new Mountagnard Bahá’í teachers spreading the fragrance of Bahá’u’lláh amongst the highland people.
One of the problems in teaching the highland people was the difficulty of gathering them for meetings. It is now known that they hold their own meetings in the mornings before going to their work. Another discovery was that it was best to approach the village chief first. He gives permission and convenes his people for a meeting. At these meetings, the individual learns of the Message so that each individual soul personally accepts the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
Pictures of Bahá’ís throughout the world gathered in love and fellowship appeal deeply to the Mountagnards’ sense of human oneness.
The Assembly expects that over two thousand souls will attend a conference over Naw-Rúz in Pleiku, a major city in the Highlands.
Revised Edition
Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era[edit]
The third edition of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, revised under the direction of the Universal House of Justice, has now been published. Since 1937 no revision has been made to the text of Dr. Esslemont’s book, although some minor corrections were introduced in 1950. Since the previous revision, there has been a tremendous development and expansion of the Bahá’í Faith, adding to Bahá’í bibliography a rich legacy of expositions, translations, and historical accounts from the pen of Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Faith and appointed interpreter of its Sacred Writings.
The updating in this new edition consists chiefly of footnotes and an epilogue giving current statistics and new developments in the unfoldment of the Faith, with a minimum of alteration having been made on the text itself.
This basic text of the Bahá’í Faith covers the historical background of the Faith, the Central Figures, administrative order, various spiritual and ethical principles and teachings, and gives a look at the future prospects of the Faith and of mankind itself.
Although first published in 1923, Dr. Esslemont’s book continues to be one of the most widely used introductory books on the Bahá’í Faith, as evidenced by the fact that since 1937 the number of translations has increased from thirty to fifty-eight. Several of the early chapters of this book were actually translated into Persian for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá shortly before His passing, so that He could make notes and corrections.
Both a very inexpensive paperback edition, to greatly forward the teaching effort, and a large clothbound library edition are now available. It is hoped that this new, impressive library edition will be met with a strong response also for public and college library placement.
Paperbound edition | $ .50 |
Clothbound edition | $3.50 |
All community orders should be sent through the community librarian to:
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