Bahá’í News/Issue 473/Text

←Previous

Bahá’í News Issue 473

Next→

Proofread onceReturn to PDF view

[Page 1]

---

No. 473

BAHA’I YEAR 127

AUGUST, 1970

---

Commemoration Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Purest Branch

It was the morning of June 23, 1970, the hundredth anniversary of the tragic death of Mírzá Mihdí, the Purest Branch. Hand of the Cause Paul Haney and members of the Universal House of Justice had forgathered at the Barracks in the prison city of ‘Akká to offer prayers in the cell which Bahá’u’lláh had occupied

[Page 2] for two years, two months, and five days following His arrival in ‘Akká in 1868. The scene of the Martyrdom was also visited and a prayer chanted there.

Immediately afterwards the party proceeded to Bahjí where they joined others serving at the World Center and nearly eighty pilgrims from many countries. All walked around the Ḥaram-i-Aqdas and down the path to the Most Holy Shrine. There the Tablet of Visitation was chanted.

Later that same day, in the waning moments of the 19th of Núr, the friends assembled at the twin monuments of the Purest Branch and his saintly Mother, Navváb, to conclude the program commemorating the centenary of the Martyrdom. Prayers and verses appropriate to the occasion were read and chanted. In our hearts we knew that one day all humanity would surely understand the meaning of the event the Bahá’ís were at this moment observing; one day there would be universal understanding of the significance of the prayer of Bahá’u’lláh: “I have, O my Lord, offered up that which Thou hast given Me, that Thy servants may be quickened, and all that dwell on earth be united.” And so it was possible in this sacred spot to blot out from our consciousness the rumble of the outside world and to fix our thoughts on the event that brought us together, praying all the while that, God willing, the promised redemption of mankind would not be far removed from our time.

---

Auxiliary Board Appointments

The Continental Board of Counsellors for the Protection and Propagation of the Bahá’í Faith in North America has recently appointed eight new members to the Auxiliary Boards for North America. They are:

Mr. Jenabe Esslemont Caldwell

Mrs. Opal L. Conner

Mr. Angus W. Cowan

Mrs. Margaret A. Gallagher

Miss D. Thelma Jackson

Mr. Paul R. Pettit

Mrs. Adrienne Reeves

Miss Thelma Thomas

These appointments are in addition to the reappointment of Mr. Anthony F. Lease in April, 1970. One vacancy still exists; the appointment to fill this vacancy will be announced at a later time. Decision has not yet been made as to whether these appointments will serve on the Protection or Propagation Boards. When it has been made, the friends will be informed.

With the increase of Auxiliary Board Members there will be re-designation of territories which the individual members will serve. The listing of these new assignments will be published soon.

Portugal

The National Bahá’í Convention of Portugal, held in Lisbon at the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds April 24-25.

Cablegram

GRIEVED LEARN PASSING MODELLE MUDD INDEFATIGABLE MAIDSERVANT BAHÁ'U'LLÁH WHOSE LONGTIME SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS ENLIST CAUSE GOD NATIVE AMERICANS UNITED STATES CROWNED BY RECENT PIONEER SERVICE BEHALF INDIAN BROTHERS CANADIAN NORTHWEST PLEASE CONVEY DEAR HUSBAND FAMILY ASSURANCE PRAYERS PROGRESS HER SOUL ABHÁ KINGDOM

May 19, 1970

—UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Ghana

Hand of the Cause of God Abú’l-Qásim Faizí gave a series of talks at the National Bahá’í Center in Accra between June 8 and 12. Among his many delightful and edifying stories and teachings was the message of ultimate victory, discernible even now as thousands of East African Bahá’ís pledge allegiance to Bahá’u’lláh.

Announcement

58th Thornton Chase Memorial Program

The annual observance of the Thornton Chase Memorial will be held Sunday afternoon, October 4, at two p.m. in the Inglewood Park Cemetery at the gravesite (Sierra plot no. 209) in Inglewood, California. An appropriate service is being planned.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited this gravesite on October 19, 1912, and it was His wish that a memorial be held every year. He stated, “This revered personage was the first Bahá’í in America. He served the Cause faithfully, and his services will ever be remembered throughout ages and cycles.” Those who cannot attend in person may wish to say prayers during the scheduled time for this memorial service.

There will be a social hour immediately following the Memorial. It will be held in Centinella Park, across the street from the cemetery, in the area near the tree that was donated to the City of Inglewood in 1966 in memory of Mr. Chase.

For further information, please write the Spiritual Assembly of Inglewood, P.O. Box 587, Inglewood, California 90307.

[Page 3]

A Visit to Brazil

A path of light was blazed from Rio de Janeiro through São Paulo and on to Porto Alegre with the passing through of the beloved and loving Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga, of Africa. It was as though a dear, long-expected friend had come, touched all hearts and departed, leaving all a little richer, a little happier, and poignantly sadder at his going.

In Rio de Janeiro for one day only, besides being interviewed by reporters of three newspapers, Mr. Olinga was received in a brilliant gathering by some thirty Bahá’ís and friends. To these, he spoke simply and movingly of the warm friendship focused from Africa upon the peoples of Brazil.

In São Paulo, Mr. Olinga was the recipient of a warm, spontaneous affection from all the friends in direct response to this love which he, himself, radiates. They gathered in three receptions, one with about sixty friends and contacts from the greater São Paulo area, a luncheon with about twenty-five present, and a meeting with the more or less thirty youth of the city. To all he gave the message of love from the Universal House of Justice, the affection of the friends of Africa, and his simple formula for teaching: “Pray, be entirely sincere, have complete confidence in the help of Bahá’u’lláh, and approach the friends as a lover seeks his beloved.” He personified his own counsel, and captivated all hearts!

The youth were especially impressed by this beloved Hand of the Cause. He said to them:

“The Universal House of Justice has asked me to extend to all the Bahá’ís, young and old, their love and appreciation for the teaching work they have done this year, and especially they wished me to stress the important part which you, Bahá’í youth, can play; and they will continue to pray for your success in all your efforts.

“I wish also to convey to you the love of the African Bahá’í youth. I am here to share with you the joy of being a Bahá’í, to learn from you Bahá’í youth things which I can share with the youth of Africa. I am in Latin America only three days, but what I have seen makes me very happy. I have seen that you Bahá’ís in Rio and São Paulo are happy and strong. I have seen other youth, and I can notice the difference.

“I know why you are happy. You are happy because you are informed of the mysteries of existence. You are happy because you know the Plan of God for humanity. You are happy because you know that your every effort on behalf of the Faith will bring results.

“Acquire a Burning Love”

“We hope you will continue to study the Teachings. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, ‘you must immerse yourself in the ocean of His Utterance!’ Then you must acquire a burning love for mankind. He said that we must develop strong characters. For this, Bahá’u’lláh and other Messengers in the past have come to teach us and to show us the way to develop this strong character.

Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga with some of the friends of São Paulo at the luncheon given by the friends.

That is why we should know the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. Our future depends upon how we are today. As water flows from the river, so our deeds flow from our minds. If the mind is not pure, we will not be good.

“You Bahá’í youth have much to do. Many youth are ignorant. It is your duty to guide them to the right way of life. Immerse yourselves in the ocean of His Utterances. Become so ‎sincrere sincere‎ in your Faith that it will bring about a devotion to Bahá’u’lláh. You must be examples. Your friends and colleagues should be so impressed that they will want to know why you are so. You must become the personification of purity, faithfulness, honesty—spiritual and not material.

Sacrifice yourselves so that the world may become better. We must sacrifice our material natures to become pure, spiritual beings. If we do this, the future of the world is assured.

“Study and pray daily. There is no knowledge higher than the Knowledge of God and following His laws.

“Lastly, we hope the youth will form committees, organize schools, and so forth. In Africa, three out of each five Bahá’ís are youths between fifteen and twenty-five years of age. In Gambia, in 1955, we contacted older people. They did not give up Islám. Now the youth are no longer fettered. They became Bahá’ís.”

After this wonderful talk, there followed a long period of questions and answers, and it came to light that three of those present were planning as soon as possible to go out pioneering. Mr. Olinga arose and embraced each one warmly and was visibly moved.

Sincerity Impresses Interviewers

Many photos were taken during Mr. Olinga’s visit to São Paulo. Three interviews were made, two of which resulted in illustrated articles in leading newspapers. During the third interview, for a chain of illustrated magazines, he so endeared himself to the director that

[Page 4] they conversed for more than two hours. They parted, embracing and kissing as though friends of long standing, each promising to write to the other. That is the effect our dear Hand of the Cause had upon us all.

In Porto Alegre, Mr. Olinga’s visit had been announced previously by three newspapers, two radio stations, and on the local television. He was met at the airport by almost the whole Community of Porto Alegre, by the Bahá’ís of Sapiranga and Esteio, by the representatives of two Athletic Clubs composed mostly of colored people (who had become fast friends of the Bahá’ís), and among them mingled military and airport personnel — all in the salon for the reception of important visitors.

A Climactic Meeting

That night there was a happy meeting with the friends. On the next day, a morning session with the twelve youths of Porto Alegre, a luncheon with the friends and interested contacts, and a beautiful gathering in a nearby park where official photographs were taken. All of this was in preparation for a climactic meeting that night at a festive celebration of Mother’s Day at the Sociedade Floresta-Aurora, the athletic club of the colored friends to which he had been invited as the Guest of Honor.

He was taken from group to group until he had conversed with them all, and then was asked to address them from the platform. He was presented by Dr. Alceu Collares, one of the outstanding directors of a neighboring Athletic Club and a city councilman of Porto Alegre, who spoke about the harmony which existed among them, concluding: “We are all flowers of the same garden.” Mr. Olinga, visibly moved, spoke of the great affection which Africa has for Brazilians, and gave loving messages from many tribes to their brothers in Brazil. Then, indicating his wish to embrace each person present, he turned instead and gave a most loving embrace to the Councilman who had presented him, and covered his face with kisses, leaving that gentleman with tears streaming down his face. Everyone present was touched to tears, and Mr. Olinga, himself, hurried from the auditorium to contain his emotions.

The next day, Monday, was just as busy and momentous as the previous day had been. The morning papers and two radio stations had already given notice of the visit of this illustrious Bahá’í, relating it to the Bahá’í world teaching activity in cooperation with the United Nations International Education Year.

During the morning, Mr. Olinga was taken to visit the Bahá’í School in the neighboring city of Gravataí. There he was greeted by about fifty children, their director and three teachers, besides some members of the local Community. The children sang the National Anthem and two Bahá’í songs, and were rewarded by the loving message of the beloved Hand, each receiving an embrace and a handful of candies.

Audience at State Legislature

After lunch with the friends, the afternoon activities began with an interview at the newspaper, Zero Hour. Their reporter became so intrigued with the Bahá’í Teachings that he kept Mr. Olinga for more than an hour. From there Mr. Olinga was taken to the State

Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga seated with the “mother of the Bahá’ís of South America,” Mrs. Leonora Armstrong, at the meeting of sixty friends from the Great São Paulo area.

Legislature where he was received with special cordiality in an official audience by the President of that body, Dr. Otavio Germano. This meeting was filmed and later projected, with comments of eulogy for the Bahá’í Faith by the local television stations.

Then the beloved Hand of the Cause was taken to the City Council chamber, where he had been invited to speak to the entire body of Councilmen, but because his arrival had been delayed and the hour was late, only six members remained. Among them was the President of the Council, Dr. Aliosio Filho, and Dr. Alceu Collares, whom Mr. Olinga had met on the previous day, and who conversed with him cordially about Africa and about the influence of the Negro culture upon the Brazilian population and the bonds of affection that unite the many races of this people. There still remained time for a quick visit to the newspaper, Correio do Povo, which published an illustrated article of the visit on the following day.

After dinner, Mr. Olinga, accompanied by the Bahá’ís of Porto Alegre, went to the Club rooms that had been prepared for the public meeting. The table in front had been reserved for prominent persons who, with the beloved Hand of the Cause, were presented to the two hundred persons present. After some musical numbers, the chairman of the meeting, Mr. Rangvald Taetz, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil, called upon the various personalities for a few words each, and finally invited our illustrious visitor to speak.

In his inimitable way, Mr. Olinga, noting that the majority of those present were of African origin, spoke principally of the conditions of life in Africa, of the traditional affection of the African peoples for the Brazilians, and then taught his hearers some picturesque words of loving greeting in Swahili: jaimbó; harambé; and quaherí. Bahá’í pamphlets, along with refreshments, were distributed by the Bahá’ís to those present, and many asked for and received the autograph of their distinguished guest. This meeting will be followed very soon by an invitation to this gracious and receptive audience to a meeting in which the Teachings of the Faith will be explained by the Bahá’ís of Porto Alegre.

It was a bitter-sweet parting the next morning for the Bahá’ís as the beloved Hand of the Cause flew onward to Paraguay, but this visit to Brazil by Mr. Olinga would not be forgotten.

— Mrs. Muriel Miessler

[Page 5]

India

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India. Left to right: Dr. (Mrs.) Perin Olyai; P. N. Mishra; R. B. Tripathi; Dr. K. K. Bhargava, vice-chairman; Dr. H. M. Munje, chairman; K. H. Vajdi, treasurer; R. N. Shah, secretary; Sohrab Olyai; Dr. (Mrs.) T. K. Vajdi.

Delegates and friends attending the 41st Bahá’í Convention at the National Headquarters, New Delhi, India, April 27-29.

[Page 6]

India

Bahá’ís of Sholapur Area gathered in a teaching class conducted by P. N. Mishra (holding Greatest Name), a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of India.

Bahá’í youth at Qujarat in one of the deepening classes at Baroda, with Auxiliary Board member A. S. Furudi and K. H. Vajdi, member of the National Spiritual Assembly (standing fourth and seventh from left).

---

Costa Rica

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Costa Rica. Left to right: (seated) José Alberto Arenas, treasurer; Miss Badri Djazayeri; Mrs. Helen L. de Molina, vice-chairman; Mrs. Rosy Vodanović, secretary; J. Antonio Soto G., recording secretary; (standing) José F. Baltodano; Ouillermo Crespo; Samuel García; Salomón Escalante, chairman.

Delegates to the Annual Convention of Costa Rica, with Continental Board of Counsellors member, Mrs. Carmen de Burafato.

[Page 7] A group of Bahá’í youth attending the Winter School in Wanganui, New Zealand, May 30-31.

New Zealand

Things are happening in New Zealand! The Bahá’í youth are using methods for teaching the Faith which would have been regarded as unsuitable for this rather conservative country only a few years ago.

Recently, Winsome Kinraid, Roger Edwards, and Ian Cookson used a “teachmobile” on their teaching trip to Hawkes Bay. Howard Harwood, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors who was visiting Hawkes Bay at the time, was very impressed by their effort. Winsome took charge of the firesides as the two boys transported young inquirers from the streets of Napier to the home of Bahá’í friends, Ian and Valerie Wilson.

The friends throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand are looking forward to further invasions by young Bahá’ís in the near future.

Wanganui Winter School

Thirty-five people attended the week-end Winter School in Wanganui on May 30 and 31, coming from Napier, Hastings, Wellington, and Auckland. Quite a number of youth traveled down from Auckland in a truck. To “stir up” Wanganui, the truck and several private cars, bearing huge “Bahá’í Faith” stickers, traveled around the city, stopping to answer questions of passers-by and to invite them to attend the Saturday evening social.

When the youth started a ball game on the Keith Street School playground, resident Maoris noticed “the happy bunch of people, and wanted to know what was going on. Of course they were enlightened.”

The week-end activities resulted in an inquiry from the local paper, a Methodist minister mentioned Bahá’í in his sermon, literature was given out, and several young Maori men came in for a cup of tea and inquiry. The Saturday night social consisted, in part, of a playlet and sketch contributed by the friends from Wanganui and original Bahá’í “folk” songs by the friends from Hastings.

---

Sweden

Ninth National Convention of Sweden at Riḍván 1970.

[Page 8] First National Spiritual Assembly of the Samoa Islands. Left to right: Mrs. Lilian ‘Alá’í, chairman; Bob Patterson, treasurer; Mrs. Mary Tuataga, secretary; Sione Malifa, vice-chairman; Feti Maiava; Mrs. Marina Nomeneta; Mrs. Lina Kava; Ale Ale; Mrs. Greta Lake.

First National Convention Samoa

On Friday morning, April 24, another chapter began in the history of the Bahá’í Faith with the convening of a two-day, First Annual Convention of the Bahá’ís of Samoa in Apia, Western Samoa.

Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone, Continental Board of Counsellors member Suhayl ‘Alá’í, Auxiliary Board member Niu Tuataga, the nine delegates and over fifty believers, including newly arrived pioneers from Australia and Canada, gathered in the attractive Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of these lovely tropical Islands to participate in the excitement and joy of electing the first National Spiritual Assembly of Samoa. Key speakers inspired the consultation and discussion during the morning, after which the election was held. In the evening, a very successful public meeting was held with over one hundred non-Bahá’ís present.

Saturday morning the new National Spiritual Assembly of Samoa, which includes members from both American and Western Samoa, was introduced to the friends. Everyone present was aware of the bounties being bestowed as well as the challenges that lay ahead. Consultation and discussion continued the rest of the day.

Saturday evening was an informal occasion with the presentation of many lovely gifts to the new National Spiritual Assembly and the receipt of over fifty letters and telegrams from all over the world, followed by an armchair chat with Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone and Mr. ‘Alá’í. This was a joyous closing of this historic occasion in Samoa. To commemorate the uniqueness of the event, Hand of the Cause Mr. Featherstone planted three trees in the beautiful grounds of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.

A teaching conference was held on Sunday, April 26, when the believers were called upon to discuss ways and means of fulfilling the goals of the Nine Year Plan. Many wonderful ideas and pledges of service were given by both adults and youth. The climax of this free-flowing and exciting session was reached with the offer of the first Samoan family to pioneer to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. These were three truly overwhelming days of Bahá’í firsts, Bahá’í love, and Bahá’í joy!

First National Convention of the Samoan Islands in front of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Apia, Western Samoa. Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone is second from right, near Greatest Name.

[Page 9]

Nine Islands

First Teaching Conference of New Hebrides and New Caledonia believers, May 15-17, at the Nur Bahá’í School, Port Vila, New Hebrides Islands. Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone, standing at left end of second row.

Board of Counsellors member Suhayl ‘Alá’í addressing the friends in the presence of Hand of the Cause Collis Featherstone.

Some of the ladies participating in the Samoa Convention—and friends.

Mr. Koukioa and Mrs. Failuga, both Nine Islanders, attended the Convention at Nuku’alofa, Tonga Island. The Nine Islands are near Tonga, but are not attached to any National Assembly.

[Page 10] Seventh Annual National Convention of the Bahá’ís of the Hawaiian Islands, held at the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Honolulu, April 25-26.

---

Germany

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany. Left to right: (sitting) Bozorg Hemmati; Otto Häfner, treasurer; Mrs. Annemarie Krüger, secretary; René Steiner; Dr. Farhad Sobhani; (standing) Peter Mühlschlegel; Saed Motamed; Helmut Schmidt; Huschmand Sabet.

National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Germany, April 25-26, in Frankfurt am Main. Among the guests for the Convention: Hand of the Cause of God ‘Alí Akbar Furútan and Miss Linda Marshall, an American actress.

[Page 11]

Conference Greetings

GREET REPRESENTATIVES VIBRANT ARMY BAHÁ'Í YOUTH UNITED STATES GATHERED NATIONAL CONFERENCE BLESSED INSPIRING PRESENCE PARTICIPATION BELOVED AMATU'L-BAHÁ. GROWING EFFECTIVENESS BAHÁ'Í YOUTH EVIDENCED RISING TIDE ENROLLMENTS AND EAGERNESS STUDY EXEMPLIFY TEACHINGS FAITH EVERY ASPECT LIVES SHOULDER RESPONSIBILITIES PLAN HOME ABROAD SOURCE JOY HOUSE JUSTICE AND INSPIRATION FOLLOWERS BAHÁ'U'LLÁH THROUGHOUT WORLD. FERVENTLY PRAYING LORD HOSTS WILL BOUNTIFULLY REINFORCE EVERY EFFORT AMERICAN BAHÁ'Í YOUTH ACHIEVE GLORIOUS VICTORIES FIVE YEAR PLAN SO AUDACIOUSLY ADOPTED 1968 SETTING SHINING EXAMPLE MAKING OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION COMPLETION WORLD-WIDE NINE YEAR PLAN PROCLAIM CAUSE GOD DEEPLY SUFFERING MANKIND.

June 11, 1970

—UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum.

National Bahá’í Youth Conference

Wilmette, Illinois

At the second National Bahá’í Youth Conference, held in Evanston, Illinois, on June 19-21, Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke to over two thousand Bahá’í youth assembled in Evanston Township High School. This was the largest gathering of Bahá’í youth ever held in the Northern Hemisphere. As she spoke to them, they were impressed by her keen insight into the workings of the modern world, and they were encouraged by her sincere empathy for the youth as they struggle with the terrible pressures of our present society.

In the hours that followed, she illuminated the most pressing questions and problems of the Bahá’í youth. Her knowledge of the Writings, her lightheartedness, and her beautiful logic worked together to weave a spiritual spell which captured the hearts of all those fortunate enough to hear her.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum opened by extending to the youth the love of the Universal House of Justice and of many of the people she had met around the world.

Exploit Youthful Feelings

She told the youth that the only difference between youth and older people is that youth have the feeling that they can do anything. They should exploit this feeling and this time of life when they have freedom of choice in picking future occupations and life plans, for they will not be youth forever. They will become older and settled, and they will have lost their choices.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum told the assembled group that the Bahá’í laws of morality and chastity were not only for the youth, but were for all of mankind. She said that because of the extreme energy of the young people it was necessary to channel all this enthusiasm into the proper framework of endeavor.

She said that Bahá’ís regard sex as a perfectly normal activity in the proper setting, which is marriage. Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings, she added, affirm that the family is the basic building block of society; and that a loving, accepting, and inclusive atmosphere was essential to family solidarity.

Recounting a story of her experience in tribal villages when the ground in front of the Bahá’í speaker was “paved with children,” she said she was amazed when they sat in absolute silence and stillness. The reason was that they were in their proper place as members of the tribe, and would not do anything to lose it. They wanted to do those things which were expected of them by the loving tribal family. The village was not divided into age groups — they were all united as “the family, the village, the tribe, the people!” Since Western civilization doesn’t support this type of family, socially or economically, she believes that Western society is as far from the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh as one can get.

She was appalled at the violence, ruthless brutality, indifference to human suffering, materialism, and dishonesty which prevail in our society, adding that only by judging everything by the standards of the Divine Civilization brought by Bahá’u’lláh could a person hope to overcome the constant bombardment of conflicting information and belief.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum stressed the need for the American community to appreciate the unique value of the Divine Laws of Bahá’u’lláh. For example, the crime of arson is equated with murder by Bahá’u’lláh. The need for laws, she said, is to support society. The Laws of

[Page 12] Bahá’u’lláh are the “strong bones” which will give the New World Order substance. Further, the Bahá’í youth must know and teach this and give the example, and help build these bones in the World Order.

The dire need for the New World Order is why we must not be diverted to other crusades and organizations, no matter how moral. Only the spiritual teachings of Bahá’u’lláh will heal the fundamental spiritual sickness in our world, and if the Bahá’ís aren’t busy spreading the cure, then the basic cause of all the wrongs in the world will never be changed.

Modesty — Our Standard

She stated that modesty, not prudery, is our standard. As regards dress, moderation is enjoined — not conformity. Clothes do not make a Bahá’í. When pioneering, she commented, it is not a good idea to dress in a manner which will be as a test to those whom we are attempting to attract to the Faith.

The youth responded with enthusiastic approbation at her remarks because of the understanding and complete lack of cultural bias that she displayed. She illustrated how styles in one part of the world are opposite in meaning in other places. Dress properly for the place you are going to, she said, and in relation to your own cultural background. An example is that while a Bahá’í pioneer should not dress in a business suit in the jungle, neither should he go naked. The golden mean, or moderation and common sense, should be used to decide on dress.

[Page 13]

Thrift, Courtesy, Reverence

She spoke at length on the qualities that should distinguish a Bahá’í — among these were thrift, courtesy, and reverence.

Thrift is enjoined by Bahá’u’lláh, and she pointed out how far away our present “throw away” culture is from that goal. Even though it does not directly help the starving people in the world to not waste food; thrift is in obedience to a spiritual law. She felt that America’s thoughtless extravagance is displeasing in the sight of God; that something was all wrong in western civilization; that it was certainly not Bahá’í civilization.

Another teaching of Bahá’u’lláh is courtesy. Rúḥíyyih Khánum pointed out to us “that primitive people are extraordinarily courteous, polite, and cultivated,” and that that is a very inexpensive way for a Bahá’í to be distinguished.

She cited reverence toward God and His religion as a recognition of the deep privilege we have of being able to approach Bahá’u’lláh and to pray and commune with Him.

An example of this reverence was found in the South American Indians. While the Indian custom is to always wear a hat, in or out of doors, they always remove their hats as a sign of reverence, when praying, saying the name of Bahá’u’lláh, or singing a song with the name of Bahá’u’lláh in it.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum was impressed with the sterling character of Bahá’í youth and recounted a tale of a young and very poor Bahá’í architect who refused a

[Page 14] very large commission because it was to design three beer factories.

She also told a beautiful story of a fifteen-year-old Bahá’í school boy in England who refused to eat during the Fast even though he had to go to the dining room and sit with all the other boys. And how the social pressure of being different in a very conservative atmosphere was not enough to shake this lad’s determination to obey Bahá’u’lláh.

It was a great bounty, she felt, to be able to go pioneering at the “dawn of the era of mass conversion.” She recited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s plea to be allowed to travel “on foot and with the utmost poverty, and while passing through the cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, cry at the top of my voice ‘Yá-Bahá’u’l-Abhá!’ and promote the divine teachings.” She said that we are to go in place of the Master; we are to “arise and follow in His footsteps.”

She defines “Pioneer”

A pioneer is one who regards ‎evey every‎ foreign land as a homeland, she said, and that the commitment to the people of the land where you go must be complete. You must learn their language and have a useful occupation. Above all, be a peacemaker. A pioneer must carry the essence of the spirit of the Faith by producing unity and harmony in the community where he goes.

She believes that inharmony is a cause of the world’s physical and mental sickness. She said she would rather drive her Land-Rover twelve hours across the 125 degree desert than spend a few hours in a community where there was disharmony.

The Bahá’í youth of today, she emphasized, must become the strong points which will hold together the great masses of new believers. “The youth are more than qualified to do this.”

Concerning tests, Rúḥíyyih Khánum quoted Muḥammad in saying that God tests His servants in five areas: by hunger, children, illness, death, and money. Each of these, she said, must be overcome if we are to be effective followers of the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. She told several beautiful stories to illustrate the purity of heart of Bahá’ís who had been tested in these ways and who had remained unshaken in their belief and love for Bahá’u’lláh.

Our Brother, the Guardian

At the last hour of her presentations to the Youth Conference, Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke about our true brother, Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Cause of God. She evidenced the most deeply felt respect and love for this remarkable Sign of God on earth. She was impressed with his knowledge, his infinite capacity for persevering work, and his precise use of the English language. She wished that all the American Bahá’ís would gain proficiency in their native tongue.

She told how Shoghi Effendi had labored for two years in writing God Passes By. He spent one year in research and one year in writing from copious notes. He then typed the manuscript himself on a tiny portable typewriter; and he and Rúḥíyyih Khánum had added the accent marks to the six copies by hand.

Shoghi Effendi had told her that it was a person’s duty to practice love and kindness and forgiveness to others, and only the institutions of the Faith were to administer justice.

In answer to a question concerning what had made Shoghi Effendi happy, she said that the success of the Faith had made him very happy. Her only wish was that the young people of today would do more than the Bahá’ís of her generation in the way of spreading the Teachings to the people of the planet.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum; from the moment she entered the huge auditorium, received the complete attention of the youth and was tendered their greatest respect. Such a display of courtesy and love bespoke of a devotion to the Cause of God which would seem to ensure the success of the rest of the Five Year Youth Plan.

Things Left Undone

The last part of her final talk was directed toward the youth and their duty to the Faith. She explained “hell” as contemplation of the things you left undone because of laziness, selfishness, or not seizing a chance. She said that the old world is falling, and the masses are waiting. She asked us not to “fiddle while Rome burns.”

She exhorted the youth of today to be “followers in the footsteps of the Dawn-Breakers”; that “we have to attain that degree of consecration, devotion, and conviction in our hearts.” In leaving, Rúḥíyyih Khánum charged the American Bahá’í youth to “arise and really be a new generation of Bahá’ís.”

---

The Evanston Township High School, one of the largest high schools in the nation, was the site of the largest National Youth Conference yet held. Over two thousand Bahá’í youth from every state, and from some twenty foreign nations, attended the three-day Conference held June 19-21 in Evanston, Illinois.

The Conference was opened by the National Spiritual Assembly. The Universal House of Justice sent a special letter to the Conference. The National Teaching Committee’s Office of Youth and Student Activities reported on the progress of the Five Year Youth Program. Following this, the Conference heard Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum speak on, “What Should be the Role of Bahá’í Youth in Today’s World.”

On Friday evening the youth were divided into workshops of twenty-five each, with each workshop in turn divided into three subject areas: Campus Teaching; Proclamation; and Bahá’í Behavior — Marriage, Family, and You.

On Saturday morning the Conference again heard from Hand of the Cause Rúḥíyyih Khánum. She spoke on, “The Call to Pioneer.” After lunch, Dr. Daniel Jordan, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, spoke on, “The Third Field of Service — Trades and Professions.”

Saturday afternoon was devoted to the Pioneer and Trade Fair. The Fair occupied two large rooms at the Evanston School. Since one of the purposes of the Conference was to promote pioneering both at home and abroad, the Fair provided the background information for those wishing to pioneer. One room contained exhibits, by some twenty State Goals Committees, that disseminated information on their areas and their needs for home front pioneers to fill their goals. In another room, the International Goals Committee had exhibits and information on foreign pioneering.

[Page 15] There were also exhibits by the Department of Agriculture, the Public Health Service, and from the University of Massachusetts. These exhibits and information booths were designed to provide youth with information on trades and professions that would be most useful to know if one is going to pioneer in the future.

Devotional Program on Martyrdom

Saturday evening all of the youth attended a devotional program at the House of Worship in Wilmette, held in commemoration of the Centenary of the Martyrdom of the Purest Branch.

Prior to attending these devotions, the youth heard Mr. Jack McCants, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, speak on, “The Significance of the Martyrdom of the Purest Branch.” The devotional program, which was held twice to accommodate the large numbers of youth, was prepared and presented by the Continental Board of Counsellors.

On Sunday morning, Hand of the Cause Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke on, “The Guardian.” Following her talk, the Deep South Committee gave a presentation on mass teaching and deepening. The Conference was closed on Sunday afternoon by members of the National Spiritual Assembly, including the Chairman, Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh; the Secretary, Mr. Glenford Mitchell; and the Treasurer, Dr. Dwight Allen. The Assembly gave the youth new goals for the remaining years of the Nine Year Plan.

Goals of the Youth Program

The central focus of the second National Bahá’í Youth Conference was the Five Year Youth Program. This program, a subsidiary of the Nine Year Plan, was given to the Bahá’í youth by the National Spiritual Assembly on August 31, 1968. Since the birth of the program, unique in the history of American Bahá’í youth activities, had taken place at the first National Bahá’í Youth Conference in June 1968, it was fitting that the second Conference should pay enthusiastic tribute to the progress made and dedicate the youth to winning not only the remaining goals of the program, but the supplementary goals given at the close of this June’s conference.

The major goal victories won so far are:

(1) Of the twenty-five foreign pioneer goals assigned to youth, all had been filled by March 1970.

(2) A doubling by Riḍván 1973 of the number of Bahá’í college clubs, from 61 to 122, with at least one in every state. As of July 6, 1970, there were 134 college clubs, and only seven states were without a club.

(3) Special service projects directed toward minority teaching were to be established. On the day (June 22) following the Conference, fifteen projects staffed by youth, supervised and sponsored by local Spiritual Assemblies and State Goals Committees, and co-ordinated by the National Teaching Committee’s Office of Youth and Student Activities, were launched to major minority areas in the South, Southwest, and Northwest. Numerous other projects have been launched at the local level. Indicative of the success of these projects is the twenty-three declarations reported in Waggoner, Oklahoma (heart of the Cherokee Indian country) in the first week of the project sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The National Spiritual Assembly has challenged the youth to attain yet higher levels of service, including an additional twenty-five youth pioneers to foreign goals.

One of the foreign goals exhibits at the Pioneer and Trade Fair.

Wilmette Bahá’ís Hold Festival

The soul-stirring melodies heard at the Bahá’í Music Festival on Sunday, June 21, and sponsored by the Wilmette Bahá’í Community, did indeed cause the hearts of the listeners to become tumultuous and rise towards the Kingdom of Abhá. The Festival provided a joyous culmination for the National Bahá’í Youth Conference.

Among the many talented Bahá’í performers: Seales and Crofts and Wednesday’s Children, two recording groups from California.

Over eleven hundred were present, and a large portion of these were non-Bahá’í. One indication of the Festival’s success was the great interest in the Faith generated by the enthusiastic youth, both entertainers and audience.

Having so recently heard the call to pioneer from Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, these youth started their teaching right there at the Festival. This resulted in about twenty youth embracing the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh at that moment; and many others are now attending firesides, with declarations still coming in.

Youth attending the Conference were housed at the Y.M.C.A. Hotel in downtown Chicago, at Barat and Lake Forest Colleges in Lake Forest, Illinois, and at homes in Chicago’s North Shore area. A fleet of buses transported the youth to and from their housing, and to the House of Worship for devotional programs.

The Conference was also filmed by Kiva Films of New York City as part of a new youth proclamation film that is being made by that company for the National Spiritual Assembly. The company has made films for the Emmy award-winning television series, “Sesame Street.”

[Page 16]

Panama

This Community is in the process of building a House of Worship. Its completion is a goal of the Nine Year Plan.

The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Republic of Panama. Left to right: (back row) Harry Haye; Cirilo Sanchez; Fred Berest, vice-chairman; Arthur Krummell, treasurer; (front row) Raquel de Constante, chairman; Elsa Campbell; Leota Lockman, secretary; Lucy Berest; and Femaline Fennell, recording secretary.

---

Indonesia

The National Bahá’í Convention, Surabaja, Indonesia, April 25-26. The photo was taken in front of the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.

A view of part of the National Convention in Indonesia.

A Bahá’í Conference in Jogja, Indonesia, on March 28.

[Page 17]

Laos

The fourth National Convention of Laos was held April 27-28, and all delegates present volunteered to teach the Faith to their neighboring villages, answering the call for universal participation in teaching the beloved Cause. Mr. Khudáraḥm Paymán, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Southeast Asia, was present and consulted with the National Spiritual Assembly.

By God’s grace the Faith is fast growing up in Laos. As of Riḍván the total number of local spiritual assemblies had reached twenty-two, with the number of localities at forty-eight.

The Puthai’s are the first refugee (minority) to come into the Faith in the Savannakhet area. They come from the war-stricken province of Muong Phine, east of Savannakhet, close to the border of South Vietnam. Pamphlets and Bahá’í calendars in the Lao language were welcomed by these pure and enthusiastic souls.

The first attempt at showing the slides [apparently sent from the World Center] proved to be a success. A large crowd of adults and youths, in a village ten kilometers northeast of Vientiane, were overwhelmed to see for the first time the great differences of race among Bahá’ís all over the world, and also especially to see its massive temples.

An intense visual aid program for teaching and deepening is in progress.

Friends attending the fourth National Convention in Vientiane, Laos.

Members of the fourth National Spiritual Assembly of Laos. Left to right: (seated) Mr. F. Faridian; Mr. Bouphanh, vice-chairman; Mrs. C. Faridian; Mr. Shong Leng; Mr. F. Aghdacyasl; (standing) Mr. F. Yaganagi, secretary; Mr. F. S. Antipolo, chairman; Mr. D. Saasati; Mr. F. Missaghian.

Couples of the Meo Bahá’ís—hill tribes from the north of Laos.

---

Guatemala’s Tenth Convention

The Bahá’ís of Guatemala were richly blessed by the presence of Dr. Hedi Ahmadiyeh, Auxiliary Board member and representative of the Continental Board of Counsellors, at our Tenth Annual Convention.

Dr. Ahmadiyeh was very forceful and inspirational. He helped the delegates make what they called “Plan Victoria,” which will be the means of attaining our goals. After the Convention he traveled about one thousand kilometers in the country, teaching and winning well over a hundred new souls to the family of Bahá’u’lláh. He has promised to return in July, and again sometime during the year, to give us much needed encouragement and to evaluate our teaching methods and plans. We are most thankful for his fund of knowledge and spirit.

[Page 18]

Bolivia

Tenth Annual Bahá’í Convention, April 30-May 2, Cochabamba, Bolivia.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Bolivia, 1970-71. Left to right: (standing) Andrés Jachakollo, Auxiliary Board member; Mas’úd Khamsí, Continental Board of Counsellors member; Miguel Diez, chairman; Isidro Jachakollo; Carmelo Jachakollo; Reginald Baskin, secretary; Prudencio Peña; Manucher Shoai, Auxiliary Board member; (in front) Dr. E. Ouladi, vice-chairman; E. Rezvani, treasurer; Mario Bravo; Sabino Ortega.

Some of Bolivia’s native traveling teachers.

Pioneers to Bolivia from the United States, Persia, Germany, and Holland, with native pioneers. Left to right: (standing) Gregorio Yanque, Douglas Jones, Eli Rezvani, Sabino Ortega, Manucher Shoai, Reginald Baskin, John Caruana, Ronald Mease, Carmeló Jachakollo, James Ingraham, Arnold Zonneveld, Cynthia Lane, Phillip Lane, Beverly Bennett, Steve Gilbert, Steve Pulley, Ellen Sims, Dr. E. Ouladi; (in front) Isidro Jachakollo, Mario Bravo, E. Rezvani, Richard Hutchins, Louise Jackson, Ursula von Brunn, Gisela Zonneveld, Andrés Jachakollo. Not shown: Shephen Ross, Dorothy Hansen, Valentín Quispe, Livia Barbero, Al Cannon, Anthony Carter.

[Page 19]

An International Conference

Venezuela

Colombia

The first All Quajira Conference, sponsored by the Continental Board of Counsellors for South America, was held on May 16 and 17 in Los Mochos, Venezuela. Nearly two hundred enthusiastic believers from Venezuela and Colombia met to celebrate the magnificent victories already won in the Guajira and to rededicate themselves to the conquest of all the 80,000 Guajiro Indians for the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. Among those attending were two members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Athos Costas and Donald Witzel; two Auxiliary Board members, Habib Rezvani and Peter McLaren; eight members of the National Spiritual Assemblies of Colombia and Venezuela; and outstanding pioneers and traveling teachers from both countries.

The program, offered in both Guajiro and Spanish, included interesting talks on the development of the Faith throughout South America, with special attention to the bolivarian countries. There were also presentations on the recent achievements in the Guajira area. Notable among these was the victory of 110 local assemblies elected in Riḍván this year: 57 in Colombia; 53 in Venezuela.

One could note in the Conference a spirit of loving competition between the Bahá’ís of Colombia and those from Venezuela to see which would achieve the greatest victories for Bahá’u’lláh. One could also see signs of the very close collaboration which exists between the ‎belivers believers‎ of these countries in the planning and execution of teaching and proclamation programs. A real model of international cooperation, the Colombo-Venezuelan Guajira Teaching Committee has organized the interchange of traveling teachers, of pioneers, and of teaching materials.

Los Mochos — The Dawning Point

The place where the Conference was held was very appropriate. Because it was the first Bahá’í community in the Venezuelan Guajira, Los Mochos might well be called the dawning point of the Light of Bahá’u’lláh for that region. As part of the program of the Conference, its new Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds was dedicated.

In many respects, Los Mochos serves as a model for other Bahá’í communities. Its local Assembly, completely indigenous, functions on its own without the aid of pioneers. That same Assembly organized the construction of its Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, organized and operates a school for children, and undertook the establishment of the first Bahá’í cemetery in the country. For all those present, the visit and prayers at the Bahá’í cemetery of Los Mochos was one unforgettable aspect of the Conference. Another manifestation of the strength of this community is the fact that the Continental Board of Counsellors gave the Assembly complete responsibility for lodging and feeding the many participants in the Conference.

On Saturday evening the friends enjoyed the typical Guajira dance and a slide program. Then, on Sunday at midday, the All Guajira Conference reached its emotional height when twenty believers volunteered for travel teaching in Venezuela and twenty-one volunteered for Colombia. The maturity and spiritual force of the Guajiro Bahá’ís, evident throughout the Conference, once again manifested itself with this outpouring of love for Bahá’u’lláh. It was very clear for all those present that with the new stimulus given to the teaching effort by this Conference, the spiritual conquest of the entire Guajira could be achieved within a few short years.

---

Bahá’í International News Service

African Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations: Representatives from seven National Spiritual Assemblies in Africa and from the Bahá’í International Community in New York were the largest delegation to the first African Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 17-21. Of the 104 Non-Governmental Organization delegates and observers attending — representing seventy-four organizations from twenty countries in Africa — ten were Bahá’ís; and two Bahá’í representatives were the only participants from Mauritius and Swaziland.

The Conference agenda dealt with problems of African economic and social development and the goals of the Second Development Decade (1971-1980), an ambitious UN program for raising the standard of living of all peoples through a partnership of the rich and poor nations.

In New York Dr. de Araujo worked for several months on the small Advisory Committee that helped plan the Conference; while, in Addis Ababa, Mr. Teclemariam, a Bahá’í, represented the National Spiritual Assembly of North East Africa on the Hospitality Committee organized by the local Non-Governmental Organizations. He also was chosen to be master of ceremonies, in English and French, for a very fine evening of Ethiopian folk dances and songs performed by an official troupe of the Ethiopian Ministry of Information.

The Bahá’ís were praised for their efforts and dependability by the NGO liaison representative of the Ethiopian government and by other UN personnel.

[Page 20]

Africa

Hand of the Cause of God Abú’l-Qásim Faizí (center) with Auxiliary Board members Mrs. Adrienne Morgan and Jawad Mughrabi.

First National Convention Central Africa

During the week end of May 1-3, delegates and Bahá’í friends from the widely separated Bahá’í communities in the region gathered in Bangui, Central African Republic, to attend the historic first National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Central Africa, comprising the territories of Central African Republic, Tchad, Gabon, and Congo (Brazzaville).

The friends from Tchad traveled two weary days in heat and dust to reach Bangui by bus, but they arrived safely, tired but happy, in time to enjoy a pre-Convention deepening class given by our beloved Hand of the Cause of God Abú’l-Qásim Faizí. The delegates from Gabon found themselves on a chartered plane when their plane failed to make a scheduled connection. They managed to reach Bangui just in time for the Convention.

The Convention opened with a moving chant in Persian by Hand of the Cause Mr. Faizí, representative of the Universal House of Justice. Then the proceedings began, eagerly followed by all present, almost all of whom had much to contribute to the deliberations.

The annual reports gave great encouragement to the believers present, who, fired by victories won in the last few months, later enthusiastically consulted on the goals of the Nine Year Plan given to the region by the Universal House of Justice. They discussed the problems of deepening and consolidation in the mass conversion area of Tchad; the importance of teaching children, youth, and women; the recognition of Bahá’í Holy Days and Bahá’í marriage; and the establishment of the remaining assemblies and localities needed in the Plan.

The Faith has expanded rapidly in nearly all areas during the past year. Tchad reported sixty-three localities at Riḍván and thirty-two local Spiritual Assemblies elected. Gabon doubled the number of local Spiritual Assemblies from two to four, and Congo (Brazzaville) established seven local Spiritual Assemblies, five of them new, and one regained. The Central African Republic reported a rapid increase in the number of declarations in provincial areas and five local Spiritual Assemblies.

The Convention was privileged to have two Auxiliary Board members, Mrs. Adrienne Morgan (Protection) and Jawad Mughrabi (Propagation), who represented the Continental Board of Counsellors for Central and East Africa.

Filled with inspiration and new enthusiasm and having successfully elected their first National Spiritual Assembly and conducted their first National Convention, the delegates and friends returned to their communities with fresh resolve and dedication to achieve the goals of the Faith for their own countries.

Bahá’ís of Accra, Ghana, welcome Hand of the Cause of God Abú’l-Qásim Faizí. Seated in the center, front, is Mrs. Eulalia Bobo, who is travel teaching in West Africa. In second row: Mrs. Stephanie Troxel, Nigerian pioneer, and Mrs. Geraldine Ankrah, Ghana pioneer, second and fourth from the left. In third row, standing: Hand of the Cause Mr. Faizí and Sterling Glenn, Ghana pioneer, second and sixth from the left; and Sam Lynch, Ghana pioneer, upper right corner.

[Page 21] The first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Rhodesia. Left to right: (seated) William Masehla, Auxiliary Board member; Mrs. Helen Hope, secretary; Mrs. Esther Glauder, treasurer; Mrs. Iran Sohaili; Mrs. Bahíyyih Ford, Continental Board of Counsellors member (representing the Universal House of Justice); (standing) John Sargent, Sr.; Leonard Chiposi, chairman; Ernest Glauder; Amos Zauyamakando, vice-chairman; Roger Cole; Dale Allen.

First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Nigeria. (Nigeria was formerly part of the National Spiritual Assembly of West Central Africa). Left to right: (standing) Kingsley Umoh. vice-chairman; Oscar Njang; Fred Assam, secretary; Daniel Udobot; (sitting) Ernest Okon; Duane Troxel, treasurer: Mary Maxwell, recording secretary; Adebayo Obadeyi, chairman; James Olowokere.

The National Convention of Nigeria was held in Calabar. It was the first time since 1967 that there was a National Convention, and the friends were thrilled with the creation of their new National Spiritual Assembly. At the far right is Continental Board of Counsellors member William Maxwell, representative of the Universal House of Justice at the Convention.

First National Convention of Central Africa in Bangui, Central African Republic. Hand of the Cause of God Abú’l-Qásim Faizí, Auxiliary Board members Mrs. Adrienne Morgan and Jawad Mughrabi, with members of the newly elected National Spiritual Assembly, delegates, and visitors.

[Page 22]

National Deepening School Congo (Brazzaville)

Since the territory of Congo (Brazzaville) was first opened to the Faith in 1956 during the Ten Year Crusade, slow but steady progress has been made. A firm and enduring foundation is gradually being laid in centers throughout the country through the devoted efforts of the mother community of Brazzaville.

The Teaching Committee for Congo Brazzaville has been ‎particiularly particularly‎ active since its appointment last November, and has carried out numerous successful teaching trips to different areas.

In March this year, the first national deepening school was held in Brazzaville. It lasted six days, with morning, afternoon, and evening sessions on Bahá’í history, teaching and administrative activities.

Representatives from seven different localities outside Brazzaville were invited to attend. They greatly enjoyed the loving hospitality of the Brazzaville Bahá’í Community. The school was very successful and immediately resulted in enthusiastic teaching in the village communities. There has been a wave of new declarations, and six new local spiritual assemblies were formed this Riḍván, four of which are in localities represented in the ‎schoool school‎, and one lapsed assembly regained.

The Bahá’í Community of Libreville, Gabon, Africa on the occasion of their Naw-Rúz celebration. They are working hard at achieving the Nine Year Plan of a National Spiritual Assembly jointly with Congo (Brazzaville).

Bahá’í students with members of the National Teaching Committee for Congo (Brazzaville) at a deepening school held March 23-28.

Twelve of Freetown’s (Sierra Leone, West Africa) Bahá’ís as of Riḍván 1970 at a meeting in which the first local Spiritual Assembly in Sierra Leone was elected.

[Page 23]

A Guatemala Travel and Teaching Trip

Armed with their Craig cassette tape machine and slides of their pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Ray and Estelle Rouse of Roswell, New Mexico, spent the month of April teaching in Guatemala. Their itinerary was organized under the direction of the National Spiritual Assembly of Guatemala and included seven days of joint travel with the secretary of that body, Louise Caswell. They worked mostly with Louise and other American pioneers (Lewis and Mary Creitz, Marion Tyler, and Thelma Chapman), and in consultation with Edith McLaren, Auxiliary Board member.

Their travels took them to twenty-one cities, towns, and villages across Guatemala, from the Mexican border at Tapachula-El Carmen to Puerto Barrios on the Atlantic coast, within twenty miles of the Honduras border, some sixteen hundred miles in addition to their trip from, and back to, New Mexico.

The places where visits were made, slides shown, and talks given were: Huehuetenango, La Democracia, Chimusinique, Quezaltenango, La Esperanza, Chichicastenango, Quiché, San Andrés, Godinez, Zacualpa, Coatepeque, Retalhuleu, Mazatenango, Jalapa, Puerto Barrios, Livingston, San Agustín, El Rancho, Guatemala City, Antigua, and Barbarena. These are situated in thirteen of the twenty-two “departamentos” (states) of Guatemala.

It was necessary to obtain a written official permission for each public meeting, but no problems developed. Audiences varied from three, in a private home, to over three hundred. All but two meetings were presented totally in Spanish by Mrs. Rouse. On those two occasions, Mr. Rouse spoke in English on “The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh” and “Spiritual Deepening,” with Mrs. Rouse translating into Spanish.

At Zacualpa, a visit to the mayor and school principal resulted in three hundred children and their teachers being dismissed early to see the slides in the municipal hall. At Livingston, where there were three meetings in two days, arranged with the help of two ministers and a hotel and theater manager, a Seventh Day Adventist Church audience learned to sing “Alláh-u-Abhá,” after its meaning had been explained to the pastor, who was humming it as we all left the church.

The Rouses also assisted in the formation of the first local Spiritual Assembly of Puerto Barrios. They witnessed several enrollments into the Faith and enrolled some twenty-five persons for the Bahá’í correspondence course.

Mrs. Rouse reports: We also assisted with clerical work at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds ... The trip was extremely tiring, at times frustrating, but a most rewarding spiritual experience.

---

Riḍván 1970

The first local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Left to right: (back row) Gary Dragna, Steven Homnick, Billy Tapp, Richard Hoff, Robert Harris; (front row) Terry Engles, Pauline Hoff, Myra MacTavish, Claire Segue.

The first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Emporia, Kansas. Left to right: (back row) Kathleen Windsor, Gerald Barnes, Alice Schlageter, Patricia Wilson, Ruby Anderson; (front row) Wayne Wilson, Terry Karch, Olin Karch, Joan Givens.

[Page 24] First local Spiritual Assembly of Anoka, Minnesota. Left to right: (back row) Richard Klann, Karl Borden, Sydney Gulick, David Christensen, Donald Brayton; (front row) Roger Flemming, Jeanette Brayton, Hazel Reeder, and David Britton.

First local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Left to right: (seated) Mrs. Anita Graves, treasurer; Mrs. Josephine Griewark; Mrs. Loretta Edge, secretary; (standing) Mrs. Patricia Dumbrill; John Dumbrill, chairman; Robert Blum, vice-chairman; Mrs. Yvonne Brown; Miss Nancy Krebsbach; (not present) Curtis Schuyler.

The first local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Clearwater, Florida. Left to right: (seated) Alberta Bird, recording secretary: Linda Brown, chairman; Charles Douglas, treasurer; Buren Douglas, secretary; (standing) Wesley Daniels; Melford Lindeman; Rentha Park; Patricia Daniels; Norman Park.

The first local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Perris J. D. (California). Left to right: (standing) Irving Ashby; Mrs. Mary Anne Tracy, vice-chairman; Carlos Kurianski, chairman; Miss Ana Tracy; Stanislau Kurianski, treasurer; (sitting) Mrs. Margarite Kurianski, secretary; Mrs. Elizabeth Kurianski; Mrs. Odile Brown; (not present) Mrs. Beatrice Taylor.

First local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Tallahassee, Florida. Back, row: Leonard Hippchen; June Hippchen, secretary; Betty Entzminger, treasurer; Juanita Sycamore; John Sycamore, chairman. Bottom row: Linda Ruedlinger; Harry Kurit; and Mary Bower; (not present) Robert Entzminger.

The first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Los Alamos, New Mexico. Left to right: (seated) Geraldine Smith; Victoria Mark; Helen Caldwell; Rhea Vose (secretary); (standing) Donald Mark, treasurer; Dorothy Martin, vice-chairman; Mary Dick; David Wade; David Smith, chairman.

---

BAHÁ’Í NEWS is published for circulation among Bahá’ís only by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís 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: Mr. Aaron Bowen, Managing Editor; Miss Charlotte Linfoot, National Spiritual Assembly Representative; Mr. Rexford C. Parmelee, Mrs. Sylvia 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.