Bahá’í News/Issue 480/Text
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| No. 480 | BAHA’I YEAR 127 | MARCH, 1971 |
| Joyful Announcement from The Universal House of Justice |
| January 30, 1971 |
| JOYFULLY ANNOUNCE BAHÁ’Í WORLD PROCESS ENTRY BY TROOPS RAPIDLY ACCELERATING UNITED STATES EVIDENCED BY ENROLLMENT 8000 NEW BELIEVERS SOUTH CAROLINA COURSE SIX WEEKS CAMPAIGN RAISING NUMBER NEW BELIEVERS ENTIRE COUNTRY 13,000 SINCE RIḌVÁN PROCESS GATHERING MOMENTUM INDICATIONS SIMILAR DEVELOPMENT OCCURRING NEW AREAS NORTH SOUTH AMERICA MAY VALIANT WORKERS FAITH TOILING THROUGHOUT WORLD GAIN CONFIDENCE ADDED STRENGTH THESE UPLIFTING VICTORIES WON IN HIS NAME REAP SIMILAR HARVEST HOMEFRONT ALL CONTINENTS
UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
|
A Letter from The Universal House of Justice[edit]
| To the Followers of Bahá’u’lláh in every land: | December 29, 1970 |
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
We have reached a critical point in the progress of the Nine Year Plan. In many lands multitudes are thirsty and eager to embrace the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. In others, materially advanced but spiritually backward, a great effort is needed to awaken the people to the light of this New Day. The recently-established National Spiritual Assemblies in many lands are occupied in acquiring the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Temple Sites, National Endowments and Teaching Institutes essential for the proper development of the Administrative Order and the deepening of the Bahá’í knowledge of their believers, while in the heart of the Western Hemisphere, the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of Panama requires several hundred thousand dollars for its completion. To accomplish these many essential tasks the resources of the Cause are being stretched to their uttermost.
At this crucial moment, when the activities of the believers and the expenditure of funds should be increased to seize the opportunities which lie before us, the Bahá’í International Fund finds itself plunged into a grave crisis by a steep reduction in contributions. Undoubtedly worldwide economic difficulties are one of the causes of this, but we are confident that the believers throughout the world will respond to this challenge and will make every sacrifice to ensure that the work of the Cause of God goes forward unimpeded.
Since 1963 when there were fifty-six National Spiritual Assemblies, to the present time when there are nintey-four (soon to be 101), the work of the Cause has expanded so rapidly, both in the teaching field and at the World Center, that The Universal House of Justice has had to increase more than four-fold the annual international budget of the Cause. This year fifty-eight percent of the International Fund is being expended outside the Holy Land on projects such as assistance to National Spiritual Assemblies (fifty-six of which receive a large part, if not all, of their budgets from the World Center), contributions to the work of the Hands of the Cause and the Continental Boards of Counsellors, defense of the Cause in lands where it is facing persecution, and our expanded activities at the United Nations.
In order to meet the present situation the Universal House of Justice must drastically reduce the expenditure of the Bahá’í International Fund until the flow of contributions is restored.
While the work on the International Archives Building necessary to protect the precious Tablets and relics from the high humidity and increasingly polluted atmosphere of Haifa city has been completed, the projects of further developing the Gardens in Bahjí and of starting upon an extension of the terraces below the Shrine of the Báb, as well as additional developments to the office facilities of the World Center, must now be postponed. In addition we are reluctantly compelled to reduce by ten percent the next two quarterly remittances of assistance to National Spiritual Assemblies, and we call upon these Assemblies now to reduce their own expenditure to take account of this.
These, however, can but be temporary measures designed to minimize the present emergency. The real answer lies, not in restricting the activities of the friends at this time when mankind stands in such dire need of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, but in the universal participation of every believer in the work of the Cause.
The poor believers vastly outnumber the wealthy ones, and this majority will grow rapidly as mass teaching spreads. Thus, although the work in mass teaching areas will continue to be assisted by the contributions of the friends in prosperous lands, and these believers must for the immediate future continue to be the main support of the International Fund, it becomes ever more urgent for the friends in mass teaching areas to finance their own activities to an ever greater degree. The backbone of the Fund must be the regular contributions of every believer. Even though such contributions may be small because of the poverty of the donors, large numbers of small sums combine into a mighty river that can carry along the work of the Cause. Moreover the unity of the friends in sacrifice draws upon them the confirmations of the Blessed Beauty.
The universal participation of the believers in every aspect of the Faith—in contributing to the Fund, in teaching, deepening, living the Bahá’í life, administering the affairs of the community, and, above all, in the life of prayer and devotion to God—will endow the Bahá’í community with such strength that it can overcome the forces of spiritual disintegration which are engulfing the non-Bahá’í world, and can become an ocean of oneness that will cover the face of the planet.
We ask every one of you to ponder these matters deeply, and to join us in fervent prayer that this momentary crisis will prove to have been a providential test that will spur the community of the Greatest Name to new heights of dedication and triumphant achievement.
The Universal House of Justice
Mass Teaching in the South, U.S.A.[edit]
Like a hungry flame, news of the new Faith of God spread itself from town to town and village to village across nearly ten thousand square miles of Carolina farmland.
Inspired by the cry of “Win Increasing Numbers,” a meager handful of Bahá’ís — many of whom had come from distances — spread out from Dillon, South Carolina, seeking souls who would respond to their message: “Have you heard the good news? ... God has sent a new Prophet to the world ... His name is Bahá’u’lláh, The Glory of God ... His Laws will eliminate poverty, prejudice, injustice ...”
And the souls responded. On the first day, a week before Christmas, a few hundred. By the holiday itself, nearly two thousand. In a few more days, four thousand. And the teaching goes on; increasing numbers are being won.
Already, nearly 150 localities where people have never been blessed by hearing the healing message of God have been opened to the Faith. Over forty will have local spiritual assemblies at Riḍván. A dozen are among the largest Bahá’í communities in America.
The new believers themselves can best tell the story, and it is perhaps their soul-felt comments that will endure in the history of these days as told in future ages.
“Lord, Lord — I’ve waited all my life to hear this message” is frequently their response, often accompanied by tears of joy and happiness. “Please, come with me to tell my mother” is another. “Would you give me one of those (pamphlets), so I can tell my friends about this?” is heard. “The world needs this — I hope it isn’t too late.” And: “I’d like to join. I guess it won’t do any harm.”
Many of the new Bahá’ís dropped whatever they were doing and joined their new friends, leading them to neighbors, relatives and acquaintances. Success is added to success, victory to victory.
Inspiring stories are told and retold at the end of each day. One tiny lady, a widow who has served Bahá’u’lláh for most of her life, was trying to talk to two husky men standing atop a platform on the back of a trash-collection truck. They couldn’t hear what she was trying to say — the truck was making too much noise. Without even thinking about it, the little woman climbed up beside them, and told them of Bahá’u’lláh. Both joined the Faith on the spot.
One team of Bahá’í teachers spent a whole half-day trying to get from one end of a two-block-long street to the other. They never did get all the way, but that street now has 74 new Bahá’ís among its residents.
Music is important. Everyone sings the praises of Bahá’u’lláh, often in songs composed while they teach. Some carry guitars. They gather crowds wherever they go, and the crowds become Bahá’ís. The new believers disappear for a moment, and come back leading others who also wish to become Bahá’ís.
Ministers of small churches meet Bahá’ís on the streets, and invite them to come and sing their songs and tell their story to their congregations. It has happened that the congregation became Bahá’í and the minister, too.
Meetings are held every evening in a rented hall in Dillon. There are frequent interruptions as teams of Bahá’í teachers come in from nearby towns, present a dozen or a score or a hundred new enrollment cards to the chairman, eat something (if time allows), and go back out to meetings in those same little towns. They return again — sometimes well after midnight — with another handful of enrollments and another story of the miracles God is performing in the Carolinas.
Comfort is not important. The weather is often freezing cold, drizzling with rain or blown with snow. The Bahá’ís sleep in uncomfortable and crowded quarters, eat food they couldn’t describe ten minutes later, and teach, teach, teach. And the people respond, respond, respond.
Hartsville, 165 new Bahá’ís ... Kingstree, 123 ... Lake City, 160 ... Latta 206 ... Marion 483 ... Mullins 456 ... Sumter 97 ... Fairmont 157 ... Dillon 277 ... Bennetsville 72 ... Darlington 152 ... Florence 167 ... Conway 68 ... Sellers 67 ... Pamplico 66 ... and on and on and on.
Sometimes the ground is fertile, and the first day’s teaching in a brand-new city will yield 100 new believers. The second day, 150 will respond. Sometimes, it is infertile. Nobody will respond, even after three or four days. Like the early Christians, the Bahá’ís literally “shake the dust of that place off their feet,” and move on. Souls are waiting.
The Book of Acts in the New Testament — the story of how the Disciples spread the message of Christ across Asia and through the Mediterranean — is a source of inspiration, wisdom and comfort. It is the same today
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—in a new Age, with a new message from a new
Manifestation of God.
Some of the teachers have to return to their homes, to take up again jobs, responsibilities, duties. Others come — from Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Georgia, anywhere — to take their places. The harvest is waiting, and workers are needed.
Messages crackle back and forth between the site of this bountiful garden and Haifa and Wilmette, and to Bahá’í communities all across America. Telegrams, letters, telephone calls bring inspiration, guidance and the promise of reinforcements.
Perhaps most important to the Bahá’ís who are teaching the Faith of God throughout that wide expanse of the two Carolinas is the tablet called “Heralds of His Name,” found on page 354 of Bahá’í World Faith. In that tablet, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá repeats a promise from Bahá’u’lláh that “... through the outpourings of the grace of God and the aid and assistance vouchsafed from His Kingdom on high, souls will arise and holy beings appear ... heralds calling forth the name of the one true God, and establishers of the world’s supreme foundation.”
The tablet continues: “These shall labor ceaselessly by day and by night, shall heed neither trial nor woe, shall suffer no respite in their efforts, shall seek no repose, shall disregard all ease and comfort and, detached and unsullied, shall consecrate every fleeting moment of their life to the diffusion of the divine fragrance and the exaltation of God’s holy Word ... I am waiting, eagerly waiting for these holy ones to appear ...”
There is much, much more to that Tablet. Every Bahá’í should read it for himself, and recognize that perhaps he is one of those “souls that will arise and holy beings that will appear.”
There will be many opportunities to “Win Increasing Numbers” now that the harvest has been proved bountiful and accessible. Mass teaching conferences are already planned in Mississippi, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, the Carolinas, and other states.
And in reality, every place a Bahá’í travels can be a place where hundreds of souls can be found who will respond to the healing, all-powerful message of Bahá’u’lláh.
Summary of Mass Teaching[edit]
Southern States[edit]
**Texas — West | 125 |
**Texas—East | 600 |
Oklahoma | 250 |
*Louisiana | 150 |
*Mississippi | 200 |
Alabama | 175 |
Georgia | 1,375 |
**Florida | 800 |
***South Carolina | 8,000 |
***North Carolina | 200 |
West Virginia | 157 |
Virginia | 250 |
Kentucky | 123 |
*Mass teaching conferences scheduled for these states as well as Arkansas, Tennessee, Maryland, Delaware and Washington, D.C. area
**Includes many of Mexican-American descent as well as Negro
***Includes over 200 Lumbee Indians
Israeli Officials Receive Bahá’í World, Volume XIII[edit]
In December 1970, a delegation from the Bahá’í World Center on behalf of The Universal House of Justice presented a copy of THE BAHÁ’Í WORLD — VOL. XIII, to His Excellency Zalman Shazar, President of the State of Israel.
The President recalled with evident enjoyment his reception by The Universal House of Justice in Haifa in 1964, and was delighted to accept an invitation to come again during the springtime and perhaps also visit Bahjí.
More than once during the interview President Shazar spoke warmly of the high regard in which the Bahá’í Community is held, and expressed his pleasure that Bahá’ís considered Israel their home.
Following this presentation, the Bahá’í Department of Israeli Affairs on behalf of The Universal House of Justice presented copies of the same book to the Prime Minister Golda Meir; the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education and Culture Yigal Allon; the Minister of Justice Ya’acov S. Shapira; the Minister for Foreign Affairs Abba Eban; the Minister of Finance Pinhas Sapir; the Minister of Defense Moshe Dayan and the Minister for Religious Affairs Zerah Warhaftig.
From left: His Excellency Zalman Shazar, President of the State of Israel; members of The Universal House of Justice—Charles Wolcott, Hushmand Fatheázam, H. Borrah Kavelin; and the Secretary-General of the Bahá’í Department of Israeli Affairs, John T. Wade.
Hand of the Cause Agnes B. Alexander: A. Eulogy[edit]
Hand of the Cause Agnes B. Alexander on her ninety-fifth birthday.
Agnes B. Alexander, who was the oldest living Hand
of the Cause of God and the only Hand mentioned in the
Tablets of the Divine Plan, passed from this world on
January 1. Miss Alexander, termed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
“the daughter of the Kingdom, the beloved maid-servant of the Blessed Perfection.”1 was a direct descendent of two of the early Christian missionary families of
Hawaii. There, as the first Bahá’í in the Islands, she
began her long years of pioneering services. Because of
her teaching efforts in Hawaii, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote in
the Tablets of the Divine Plan, “I declare by the Lord
of Hosts that had this respected daughter founded an
empire, that empire would not have been so great! For
this sovereignty is eternal sovereignty and this glory is
everlasting glory.”2
As greater and greater numbers of people began to embrace the Faith, Miss Alexander liked to say that she understood mass conversion because she herself was “a mass conversion Bahá’í.” She would repeat an analogy made by another pioneer in Asia, likening the process to a baby being born: it first sees the light, but only gradually learns the full use of its faculties. In 1900, while on a trip to Europe, Miss Alexander was profoundly impressed by a woman and her two daughters, who had just returned from visiting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Holy Land. When Miss Alexander asked what it was they had, the woman gave her a piece of paper on which was written a prayer and told her they would see her the next morning. During the night Miss Alexander experienced the tremendous realization that Christ was on the earth again. The next morning she told her new friends what had happened and asked if there were others who believed. She was given the addresses of other Bahá’ís and she signed a letter to be sent to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá declaring her belief that the Promised One had come. “That day, which was November 26, 1900,” she wrote in her memoirs, “I was born again and a new and wonderful life opened to me. Then I was left alone for three months with only one prayer and God to
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guide me.” She began to develop her spiritual faculties
by reading the Bible, its prophecies unfolding “little by
little ... until at last I felt I must know others who
believed.” She wrote to May Ellis Bolles, who was to
become the mother of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, and arranged to meet the nascent Bahá’í
community in Paris.
Agnes Alexander spent the first years of her new life in Hawaii, where, although her family was strongly opposed to her new Faith, she established the first Bahá’í group. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Miss Alexander was again in Europe, this time hoping to go to the Holy Land to meet her beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. She wrote to the Master requesting permission to visit Him in ’Akká and also mentioning a desire to carry the message of Bahá’u’lláh to far-off Japan. On August 21, she received a Tablet from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in which He responded:
Thy letter was received. It imparted great happiness. Praise be to God, that that dear daughter is sacrificing herself in the path of Bahá’u’lláh and enduring every difficulty.
It is now more advisable for thee to depart directly to Japan and while there be engaged in the diffusion of the fragrances of God....
Today the greatest of all divine bestowals is teaching the Cause of God, for it is fraught with confirmations. Every teacher is confirmed and is favored at the divine threshold. In the estimation of the Ideal King, the army which is in front of the battlefield is encircled with the glances of his mercifulness and in the sight of the Divine Farmer, the sower of the seed is accepted and favored.
I hope that thou mayest be like unto a realm-conquering army and a farmer. Therefore, thy voyage to Japan is preferred to everything else. Still thou are perfectly free.3
Miss Alexander never forgot how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would make a suggestion, yet leave the individual free to decide what to do. She decided “to depart directly to Japan.”
Consequently, Agnes Alexander never met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in this world and she did not make her pilgrimage to the Holy Land until the beloved Guardian invited her to come in 1937; instead she reaped the bounties of pioneering in Japan. She was the first Bahá’í to settle in Japan, where she lived in a modest apartment in Kyoto. In the Tablets of the Divine Plan ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stated, “she is gaining spiritual victories in Japan!”4 and He praised her for her “distinguished service” in a Tablet dated December 27, 1918. In that same Tablet the Master wrote. “Thou has raised the Call of the divine Kingdom and hast become the cause of enlightenment and the wisher for the education of human souls.”5 From Japan she carried the message of Bahá’u’lláh to Korea, and largely through her efforts the Korean believers received one of the last Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, which arrived sometime after the news of His passing. She returned to Hawaii for the duration of World War II, but then quickly returned to her pioneering post in Japan.
In March 1957, upon the passing of the outstanding Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. George Townshend (the ex-Canon of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland), the beloved Guardian cabled to the Bahá’í world that he had elevated Agnes Alexander, “distinguished pioneer (of the) Faith” to the rank of Hand of the Cause of God and stated that he was “confident (her) appointment will spiritually reinforce teaching campaign [the Ten-Year World Crusade] simultaneously conducted (in) North, South (and) Heart (of) Pacific Ocean.”6 Miss Alexander was present at the formation of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of North East Asia, in 1957 with its seat in Tokyo, and continued to aid the teaching work in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the Pacific Islands. She also made memorable teaching trips to the Philippines to assist in the mass conversion taking place there in the early 1960’s. She was appointed the representative of The Universal House of Justice to the election in 1964 of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Hawaii, an altogether fitting occasion for the first Bahá’í of her homeland.
In 1965, while in Tokyo to attend a World Esperantist Congress, Miss Alexander fell and broke her hip, necessitating a long period of hospitalization. She never fully recovered. Two years later she moved from Tokyo to Honolulu. There, although house-ridden, she continued to be an effective force in the teaching field, receiving visitors and serving as a source of inspiration to the Bahá’í community of Hawaii.
Martha Root and Agnes Alexander traveled together many times, carrying the Message of Bahá’u’lláh throughout Japan, to Korea and mainland China.
Agnes Alexander was nearly 96 years old when she passed away. Her life spanned the closing epoch of the Apostolic Age of the Faith and the earliest epoch of the Formative Age, saw the erection of National Spiritual Assemblies in lands where she was once the lone Bahá’í, and also witnessed the birth of the long-promised era of The Universal House of Justice. And now at long last Agnes Alexander is with her beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in the Abhá Kingdom.
Truly Miss Alexander was one of the heroines of the formative age of the Bahá’í Faith. She was buried in the family plot of the Kawaiahao Church in downtown Honolulu, which was established by the very early missionaries to Hawaii. Her body now rests just two or three miles from the star teacher of East and West, Martha Root, who died in Hawaii in 1939.
NOTES:
- Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 13
- Ibid—pp. 13-14
- Star of the West, Vol. VII, June 5. 1916, p. 35
- Tablets of the Divine Plan, p. 13
- Star of the West, Vol. 10, April 9, 1919, p. 17
- Bahá’í News, May 1957, p. 1
Gary Morrison, author of the above Eulogy, was closely associated with Miss Alexander for ten years and was privileged to share her memoirs. He wrote: “her steadfastness, her faith, her absolute certitude in the Cause, her strict obedience and loyalty to the Covenant have been a high standard to emulate.... It is difficult to capture the balance between, on the one hand, her continual childlike wonderment, purity and innocence, and, on the other hand, her formidable, audacious and persevering teaching qualities.”
A Year of Progress in Trinidad[edit]
The year 1970 was an eventful one for Bahá’ís of Trinidad. Some of the accomplishments which were goals of the Nine Year plan are:
- Incorporation of the Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Port-of-Spain.
- The exemption of Bahá’í children from attendance at school on Bahá’í Holy Days.
- Permission to perform Bahá’í marriages and licenses for “Marriages Officers.”
- The opening of the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Port-of-Spain.
The Trinidad believers were enriched by visits of Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum and Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga. Details of their visits are given elsewhere in this article.
A two-day Deepening Conference was held at the Bahá’í Center, 3 Petra Street, Woodbrook, on Dec. 18-20, 1970. Present were Counsellor Donald Witzel and Auxiliary Board members, Charles Hornby, Peter McLaren and Gamshid Arjomandi. The Conference was attended by members from the various Bahá’í communities of Trinidad, and was inspiring and a success. A radio station interviewed the Counsellor and Board members participating, and good newspaper publicity was secured of the conference.
A series of traveling Bahá’í teachers continued to nourish the spiritual growth of the believers. Mrs. Shanta Murday, formerly of Mauritius, now of Atlanta, Georgia, spent a month visiting in various localities in Trinidad.
Auxiliary Board member Dr. Hedi Ahmadiyeh visited Trinidad on October 28, 1970. On the afternoon of the first day he addressed the friends at the Bahá’í Center, Diego Martin. On the second day he went on a teaching trip to Shanty Town, where he enrolled six believers. That evening he addressed a gathering at Arima. The next day he visited the friends in San Fernando. On Saturday, Oct. 31, he again visited Shanty Town. The three-day visit was rewarding with thirty-five new believers enrolled.
Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga arrived in September, 1970 for a five-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago. At the airport he was greeted by a large party of friends, and at his arrival at the residence of Miss Shamsi Sedaghat, his hostess, a group of friends had gathered to meet him. In the afternoon Mr. Olinga paid a courtesy call on the Mayor of Port-of-Spain, Counsellor Hamilton Holder and refreshments were served to the party in the Mayor’s office. A cordial conversation lasted for over an hour. Photographers and reporters were present, and the newspapers gave extensive coverage. Later Mr. Olinga recorded a lengthy interview on the Faith. Immediately following, Mr. Olinga appeared on a live broadcast on Radio Trinidad which lasted for fifteen minutes; next, he appeared on the television show “Panorama.” To complete the evening, Mr. Olinga went to Morvant and at the home of Mr.
The visit to Trinidad and Tobago of Hand of the Cause Mr. Enoch Olinga: sitting, Mr. Olinga; standing, left to right, The Mayor Counsellor Hamilton Holder; Miss Shamsi Sedaghat, Mrs. Edna Caverly, Mr. Joel Caverly and Mr. Leopold Fraser.
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Ervin Rocke, addressed a large crowd gathered there.
On Sept. 3 in the morning, Mr. Olinga paid a courtesy call to Senator Nicholas Simonette. He also visited the Governor-General, Sir Solomon Hochey at his residence. The party who accompanied Mr. Olinga on official calls consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Caverly, Miss Shamsi Sedaghat and Mr. Leopold Fraser.
In the evening he addressed a large and appreciative audience at the Public Library Hall, Port-of-Spain, on the topic “The Unity of Mankind.” The Chairman, Senator Simonette, gave an illuminating presentation of the Faith.
The Minister of Health and Local Government Dr. Max Awon also received a call from Mr. Olinga. At a luncheon in honor of Mr. Olinga on Friday, Oct. 4, among the guests were Dr. Hugh Spicer; Senator Nicholas Simonette; Mr. Hugh Harris, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs; Miss Lynette Weston, Broadcasting Officer and a few Bahá’ís.
On a visit to Tobago on Saturday, Oct. 5, Mr. Olinga addressed a large crowd at the Mason Hall Community Center. The wide series of activities and publicity in connection with it, undoubtedly accelerated the teaching work in Trinidad.
Jan and Marvin Dryer visited Trinidad on Nov. 23rd, 1970. They recorded a song recital and interview for future use at the Government Broadcasting Unit and entertained at a concert for teachers and students at the Guardian Sports Club—in the afternoon and in the evening gave a second concert. The next morning they again recorded a song and instrumental presentation which included an interview about the Faith.
Mrs. Helen Hornby from Ecuador visited Trinidad. Miss Creadell Haley from Venezuela arrived on December 23, 1970 for a month of teaching and consolidation. Two new pioneers, Mrs. Edna Caverly and Dr. Laverne B Johnson have arrived. Due to the continuing efforts of visitors, resident pioneers and native believers, a large number of the indigenous people of Trinidad and Tobago have embraced the Faith. It is planned that the election of the first National Spiritual Assembly of Trinidad and Tobago will take place in April 1971.
Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum visited Trinidad on May 7-10, 1970. She held three radio and one television interview. She paid courtesy calls on the acting Governor General of Trinidad and Tobago, Sir Arthur Hugh McShine and Lady McShine; the Mayor of Port-of-Spain, Counsellor Hamilton Holder; Mrs. Hugh Harris, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs. A luncheon party was given in her honor and attended by the Mayor of Port-of-Spain, Counsellor Hamilton Holder and other high governmental officials. Rúḥíyyih Khánum talked to many Bahá’ís while visiting villages in Trinidad.
Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum pays call
to the acting Governor General of Trinidad and Tobago. From
left to right: Mrs. Rhoda Vaugh, Bahá’í pioneer; Lady McShine;
Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum; Sir Arthur McShine, the
Acting Governor General; Mrs. Violette Nakhjávaní, Miss
Shamsi Sedaghat, Bahá’í pioneer.
Counsellor’s Deepening Conference December, 1970
Guests at the opening of the Bahá’í Center in Woodbrook. From left to right: The Chief Justice of Trinidad and Tobago, Sir Arthur H. McShine; Miss Edna R. Caverly; His Excellency the High Commissioner for India, Mr. L. N. Ray; Miss Shamsi Sedaghat; the Mayor of Port-of-Spain, Counsellor Hamilton Holder; Mr. Wilfred Henry, Deputy Town Clerk; Barrister-at-law, Mr. Shiva Persad.
Panama Temple Progress Report to January 15, 1971[edit]
Unseasonal and heavy rains are still curtailing the progress of construction. To compensate for this, we have (weather permitting) been working the welding crew as late as 9:00 p.m. We expect the 4-ton 145-foot boom mobile crane on Monday, January 18. This crane will be used to move the ribs into place; also the big steel girders which will form the base for the forms to support the reinforcing steel of the dome and hold them in the proper alignment conforming to the parabolic curve.
The forms and reinforcing steel for the top star are nearly completed. The forms for nine large and nine small perimeter arches are well along the way towards completion. Paving slabs and steps are being cast and Díaz y Guardia are doing a good job. We will close all openings in the wing walls by Guniting the holes closed. This is to avoid cracks and shrinkage on the interior surfaces.
All other work is in progress and our only concern is to get enough dry weather so that the dome can be completed during the dry season. Wet ground will cut the work time of the crane as it cannot move on wet and slippery surfaces. This, however, will not delay the completion date of December 1, 1971 as there is plenty of time for the remaining work.
Drawings for a circular water tank and engineering data have just been received from Díaz y Guardia. As soon as they submit the cost data, all information will be forwarded to all parties concerned.
We are still awaiting the design of the rest rooms and caretaker’s cottage, parking and immediate temple area, as well as layout and instructions for “The Greatest Name.” We should like to receive these as soon as possible as on occasions we have used equipment on site for other purposes which would be more economically used sometimes for the above mentioned projects.
All work on the temple is meeting highest standards of quality and accuracy due to the conscientious work being done by a young engineer, Mr. Gonzales, who is being kept on the site full time by Díaz y Guardia. We are most fortunate to have him available to us as it has made the task less difficult for all.
World Religion Day in Vietnam[edit]
World Religion Day in Vietnam. Speakers are,
from left to right: Rev. Father Nguyên-Hòa-Nhâ
(Catholic), Mr. Nguyên-Văn-Loi (Bahá’í Auxiliary Board Member), Mr. Nguyên-Công-Riêu
(prominent person), Mr. Lê Cân (Bahá’í Vice-Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly),
Reverend Thích-Giác-Dúc (Buddhist monk).
Over a thousand people including leaders and representatives of the Government, the unions, and religious
officials gathered on January 10 at the ThongNhat Hall
to observe the Tenth World Religion Day in this country.
The theme of the Conference was “The Mission of Religions Towards the Actual Situation.” Mr. Nguyên Công Riêu also known as Ba Liêu and Mr. Nguyen van Loi Bahá’í Board Member were co-Chairmen of the meeting. They introduced the following distinguished speakers: Reverend Thich Giác Dúc Professor at the Van Hanh University, Reverend Father Nguyen Hòa Nhâ Representative of the Catholic Church and Mr. Lê Cân Vice-Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Vietnam.
The organizing committee proposed that the congress of the representatives gathered for the observance of World Religion Day request and petition the Government to formally declare a Sunday in January as “World Religion Day.”
Present at this Conference were representatives of the Unified Buddhist Association; Reverend Father Hò Văn Vui represented Archbishop Nguyen văn Binh of the Saigon diocese; Mr. Lê Lôc Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Vietnam; Reverend Father Cao, vān Luân; Reverend Father Hò Ngoc Thu representative of the Apostolic Delegation; Reverend Father Ho Thiên; Senator Son-Thái Nguyên Chairman of the Theravada Laymen Association; Mr. Ngô văn Ninh, representative of Luong Trong Tuong of the Hoa-Hao Buddhist Sect; lawyer Trán Ngoc, Lieng Chairman of the National Progressive Force; Mr. Vu Thăng, Chairman of the Oriental Medicine Association; Senator Trán Duy Dôn; Deputy Huynh Diêu and other personalities in the Capital.
The function was reported by twenty daily newspapers. Clippings were sent to Bahá’í News totaling ninety-one inches, which included three front page top headlines. News also came about the event by radio, television and newsreel in the cinemas. This volume of publicity was found to be very helpful in proclamation and teaching.
Representatives of the Government and religious leaders at the tenth World Religion Day in Vietnam January 1971.
First National Convention and National Election of Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana[edit]
The first National Convention of the Bahá’ís of Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana, held in Georgetown, Guyana, May 2-3, 1970.
Seated on front row, left to right: Mrs. Violette Nakhjávaní; Counsellor Mr. Hooper Dunbar of the Continental Board; Hand of the
Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum; Counsellor Mrs. Betty Reed, also representative of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles; Counsellor Don Witzel; and Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Mr. Hart Friedland.
First National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana with Hand of the Cause and Continental
Board of Counsellors. Standing are assembly members, left to right: Mr. Henry Dolphin, Mrs. Eileen Hill, Mr. August Holland,
Mrs. Ellen Widmer, Mr. Jamshid Arjomandi, Mrs. Daisy Hahnfeld, Mr. Ivan Frazer, Miss Cheryl Pierre, Mr. Rivadavia da Silva.
Seated: Left to Right: Mrs. Violette Nakhjávaní, Continental Board of Counsellors Mr. Hooper Dunbar; Hand of the Cause of God
Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum; Continental Board of Counsellors, member Mrs. Betty Reed (representing the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the British Isles) and Mr. Donald Witzel.
Victories in Bermuda[edit]
“A Spiritual Charge No Force Can Resist”[edit]
The fire of the love of God has spread in recent months to Bermuda where progress for the Faith has already been marked by a number of victories with more in prospect for the immediate future.
Surely this has been caused by the united efforts of the Bermuda believers, in complete obedience, as referred to by the Universal House of Justice:
“... a constant activity throughout the world of teaching and administration—a perpetual movement ... within the Bahá’í community, which is the real cause of its growth.... local spiritual assemblies facing difficult problems, devising new plans, shouldering responsibility ... these constant services attract the confirmation of Bahá’u’lláh ... and ... release into the world a spiritual charge ... which must eventually bring about the complete triumph of the Cause.’ (Wellspring of Guidance, pp. 104-5)
In December the Bahá’í Marriage Act of 1970 was made law with its signing by his Excellency the Governor of Bermuda Lord Martonmere. This legislation gives authority for the performing of Bahá’í marriages according to the laws of the Faith and stipulates that any person satisfying conditions for a Bahá’í marriage may have this ceremony.
Membership in the Bahá’í community has grown in the past year by more than sixty percent and there is accelerated activity: The holding of regular firesides, social events, and a program of mass teaching which includes activities planned by youth such as a Bahá’í music group, talks to students and the placing of books on the Faith in school libraries.
Special events days have been marked with public meetings and good publicity in all media: radio, television and the newspapers. In observance of Bahá’u’lláh’s Birthday the film “The New Wind” was shown on television.
Conferences and seminars held at frequent intervals have been well attended and spark renewed enthusiasm for teaching.
At present a program for mass teaching in the city of Hamilton and in each of the nine parishes of Bermuda is in progress. On each Sunday afternoon for two Bahá’í months beginning in January the city of Hamilton is to be visited by Bahá’ís in pairs and the Bahá’í Center is kept open by believers acting as coordinators. Similarly, in each parish, teams visit definite areas such as clubs, schools and homes.
The Nine Year Plan goal for Bermuda is the formation of two local spiritual assemblies and the settling of five localities. Of the nine parishes and two incorporated cities where spiritual assemblies can be formed, the present objective is to form two at Riḍván 1971 and hopefully assemblies in all nine parishes by the end of the Nine Year Plan. The goal of five localities is already met.
The first Bahá’í funeral was held in January for Mr. Larry Stines, who has been an active supporter of the Faith in Bermuda for many years. At present it is hoped that the Bahá’ís will be granted a part of the Parish Cemetery in Pembroke for Bahá’í burials.
The spirit of whole hearted and unified participation in spreading the Cause of God shown by the believers in
Lord Martonmere, Governor of Bermuda, signs the Bahá’í
Marriage Act into law. He told the Bahá’ís that he signed the
bill within ten minutes of receiving it and added that he
would be happy to cooperate in every way possible.
Bermuda will undoubtedly enable them to achieve
many noteworthy victories.
Bahá’ís Manage Radio Stations[edit]
It was almost too good to be true—on Christmas day 1970, all three ZBM radio stations in Bermuda were taken over by members of the Bermuda Bahá’í Community.
Since the day was a public holiday, the radio stations—along with most businesses open that day—were only staffed with skeleton crews.
By sheer coincidence (?) the three outlets operated by ZBM Radio were all manned by Bahá’ís.
Lee Johnson, the Chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Bermuda, was in control on ZBM FM; Leighton Rochester manned the controls of ZBM-1; while Lee Harvey was the disc jockey on duty at ZBM-2.
All three stations are housed in the same building, and from early morning until mid-afternoon the only personnel around the stations were the three Bahá’ís.
As if that wasn’t enough—at one point during the ZBM FM programming, Lee Johnson offered what he termed “a prayer for Christmas.” Then, with traditional Christmas music playing in the background, he read the Bahá’í Unity Prayer for the listening audience.
Needless to say, this really made the day for all the Bahá’ís in Bermuda who were listening.
We can foresee the day when the public will stop celebrating Christmas from the social and commercial aspect, and concentrate on the spiritual meaning of the event. When that happens, we may even think back to Christmas of 1970 when the majority of Bermuda’s radio audience were tuned in to Bahá’ís on the air.
Harvey and Rochester work full-time at ZBM Radio, while Johnson now works only on weekends and holidays after seven or eight years in full-time employment of the company.
Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga Visits Papua and New Guinea[edit]
Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga, arrived in Papua, New Guinea on December 2, 1970. He spent two weeks travelling through the country visiting various centers and during that time also visited the Solomon Islands.
While in this land he was able to visit Port Moresby, Goroka, Rabaul, Medina in New Ireland and Lae. In Port Moresby he had several interviews with the press and radio and these interviews resulted in very favorable national coverage on his visit, arousing subsequent interest in the Faith from many areas. His presence was a great inspiration to the believers.
In spite of the shortage of time he was able to visit five villages where Bahá’ís reside. These visits gave great joy to the believers and to the Hand of the Cause himself.
Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga with friends at his departure from the airport at Goroka, New Guinea.
Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga in the village of Arufa, New Guinea, with Bahá’ís of that village.
Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga with friends at Port Moresby.
Proclamation in Belize[edit]
Two new and successful proclamation efforts have recently been undertaken in Belize, augmenting the extensive publicity for the Faith attained through the visit of Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga, in July.
On November 14th and 15th the Bahá’ís manned a booth at the Agricultural Fair, held this year at the new Capital of Belmopan, some fifty miles west of Belize City. With short time for preparation, an attractive booth was achieved with posters, a large display of books and mounted photographs of Bahá’í properties and inter-racial groups.
The booth proved a magnet to draw a continuous crowd throughout the two days. Many pamphlets were given out, a good many books and pamphlets sold and many questions asked, some inquirers staying a long time to discuss the Faith. Three on-the-spot declarations resulted with many promising to read and investigate further.
The Premier and other officials complimented the Bahá’ís highly on the booth and we were later officially thanked for participating. We were the only religious group represented and as the fair drew people from all the districts the seeds were widely sown.
The second and larger proclamation event came with the long awaited visit of Jan and Marvin Dreyer on their tour of fifteen counties, ours being the thirteenth.
Publicity on the radio was continuous for the full eight days. Their arrival and their charity concert later were given top space on the newscasts and daily announcements followed their activities throughout the country. All three of our local newspapers gave excellent stories, two giving large front page space on their background, tour and itinerary here. They were interviewed on the radio and sang two songs the afternoon of their arrival, which was broadcast that night and heard throughout the country, as we have only the one government station.
That same night, December 23, they were presented at the Capital, Belmopan, to an audience of about sixty persons and, in spite of a power failure in the middle of their slide program, all stayed to hear the full message. On Christmas eve they sang in two villages, each bringing out over 100 to hear them. On Christmas night they gave an open air concert in the far west town of San Ignacio and showed the slides to the enjoyment of more than 200. The next night, still a holiday here, they delighted an invited audience of around 250 at Bliss Auditorium in Belize City, with such prolonged and enthusiastic applause that they often had to wait before they could continue. Again the slide program and commentary was most effective in presenting the Message and many said afterwards that it was the first time they had really understood what the Bahá’í Faith was.
On the Sunday they sang at Corozal, 100 miles to the north and the 200 attending were most receptive to the Faith. Monday found them in Burrel Boom, near Belize City, where, in the Community Center, some 150 warmly responded. On Tuesday the 29th, they gave a Charity performance in Belize City at a large motion picture house, donated by the owner, in aid of a Fund for enlargement of the Children’s Ward at the Belize Hospital. Despite much publicity and posters only around 250 persons attended as holiday spending seemed to have emptied the pocketbooks but their singing was highly appreciated and all seemed much impressed with the slides, several hard-boiled scoffers saying at the end that they had entirely changed their minds about the Faith. We have at least started a Fund for the hospital and won much good will from the authorities.
We are most grateful for the eight days the Dreyers spent with us and all were captivated by them and by their young son, Tracy, who had joined their plane in Salvador for the last lap of their tour, only Honduras and Guatemala remaining to be visited. We feel that wide-spread proclamation was achieved which will, in future, bring rich results. Fourteen new adult believers were enrolled at the time of the concerts and many more may be expected.
Jan and Marvin Dreyer, folk singers, touring Latin America.
Spiritual Assembly of Palm Springs, California[edit]
Incorporated January 1971.
Front Row — left to right: Corinne Jewell, Marguerite Sears, Jessica Bryant and Alice Hendershot.
Back Row — left to right: Thomas Funk, Leroy Segundo, Joanne Saxelby, Alfonso Lockett and Roger White.
Activities in the Dominican Republic[edit]
Presenting The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to the Governadora of province Duarte, of the Dominican Republic. Left to right: Rafael Benson, Secretary, National Spiritual Assembly of the Dominican Republic; Señora Juana Castillano, Governadora of the province Duarte; Dale Woods, Bahá’í pioneer; Estervino Paulino, Chairman of the Assembly of San Francisco de Macoris.
Bahá’í school held in Nagua, Dominican Republic, one of the many held throughout the country this year. Included in the photo are Dale Woods, Maria Aybar, Rafael Benson and Mrs. Benson (above center with dark glasses), Rafael F. Pena, instructor for the day (above top row); and many Bahá’ís and their children.
Proclamation Volume presented to Asantehene of Ghana[edit]
The presentation of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to the Asantehene in Kumasi, Ghana, marks a point of history of the Faith in Ghana. It occurred at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Nov. 20, 1970. Mrs. Geraldine Ankrah, American pioneer to Ghana was instrumental in making the presentation.
The Asantehene has recently been called to high office in a ceremony called “the Enstoolment” in which he ascends the Golden Stool and presides over the Ashanti House of Chiefs. The name of the new Asantehene is Otumfuo Opoku Ware II, and His Honor is also known as Nana Poku. A barrister by profession, he has served in many high positions.
He was elected first President of the African Civil Aviation Commission and was appointed as Ghana’s Ambassador-designate to Italy.
A round-about series of events led to the presentation of the volume. Pioneer Mrs. Geraldine Ankrah presented Bahá’í literature to the bank manager of Barclays in Kumasi in opening a checking account for the Local Assembly, and in doing so became acquainted with a bank clerk who attended firesides. Discussing the recent Enstoolment of the Asantehene, Mrs. Ankrah mentioned her desire to present The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, which was presented to many important personages. Her friend suggested contacting the private secretary of the Asantehene. Two visits were made to the private secretary in making arrangements, and finally the date arrived.
Mrs. Ankrah wrote: “The big black official car arrived. Immediately an attendant held up a huge umbrella over the door and the Asantehene stepped out. We stood up and he personally greeted each of us. The Secretary introduced each person and read an introduction to the Faith. At this point I presented the Santehene with the book. He said he was sure he would be a better Christian after reading it. We talked about twenty minutes on his travels in the United States. He said that if we had any problems to come to him. He promised to read the book in a month.”
Deepening Courses in Bolivia[edit]
A soccer team composed of some of the Bahá’ís
attending a Deepening Study Course in Oruru,
Bolivia, November 4-8, 1970. They played a
friendly football game with a non-Bahá’í team
in the city of Oruru on the last afternoon of
the gathering.
Volunteer teachers attending a five day Deepening Study Course at Chuquisaca, Bolivia, November 18-22, 1970.
Pioneer to Maldive Islands - Fills Goal of South East Asia[edit]
Miss Martharoot Tebyani, seated near microphone, with principal of school in Male, standing, and Ministers of Finance, Agriculture and Education of the local government.
Miss Martharoot Tebyani in center with principal and teachers of school in Maldive Islands.
Miss Martharoot Tebyani, a pioneer from Írán, is
fulfilling one of the goals of South East Asia while
studying at the University of Ceylon. Along with personal proclamations, she was recently interviewed by a
Ceylonese newspaper. The paper mentioned the name
of Bahá’u’lláh, and gave the Bahá’í teachings on progressive revelation, the oneness of religions, and education for women. The article went on to say that Miss
Tebyani had come to the island not only to study
Buddhism at the University, but also to spread the
“Bahá’í gospel” with “unconcealed religious zeal.”
Miss Martharoot Tebyani is the youngest of eight children, and moved from her home in Teheran to India to study psychology at the Punjab University for one and one-half years. She was named after the first Hand of The Cause of God from the United States: Miss Martha Root. Her life-style as well as her name is modeled after Miss Root. Martha Root traveled around the world four times teaching the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh in out-of-the-way villages on every continent. At Miss Root’s death in 1939 she was appointed a Hand of The Cause by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith.
Focus on Maori:[edit]
Exhibit in Taumarunui, New Zealand[edit]
A very successful race relations project was carried out by Rob Bowater in Taumarunui. He organized and conducted an exhibition entitled Focus on Maori with the aims of presenting the Maori culture to the Europeans, rekindling in the Maoris an interest in their heritage and at the same time uniting the people from all the different tribes in the Taumarunui district.
One upper Wanganui River Maori elder was made happy when told he should listen to the voice of God in his heart and uphold the beliefs of his ancestors in preference to those of the church.
Mr. Charles Bennett, former High Commissioner in Malaysia, opened the show and said it was a remarkable exercise in race relations. Climax of the five-day exhibition was a Family Day when hundreds arrived to watch the carving, taniko and basket-making demonstrations and to enjoy a hangi dinner. That evening the district’s newly formed cultural clubs performed to a packed hall. Rob was accorded a glowing tribute for his efforts from a prominent Maori elder. Taumarunui is still talking about it. It augers well for spreading the Faith in the future.
Off Campus Bahá’í Club — Sonoma State College, California[edit]
The Off Campus Bahá’í Club of Sonoma State College presenting The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to the College President Earl W. Jones From left to right: Paula Stafford, Coojan K. Penny, Rob Siegel, Judy Stuber.
Beginning on Monday, Nov. 8, the club set up three
display cases in the library consisting of the writings
of Bahá’u’lláh and using the new posters bearing His
Name. The regular fireside-dinner was also held this
night. On Tuesday the club gathered for its usual
meeting. On Wednesday, pamphlets were distributed
announcing the showing of “A New Wind” and giving
some basic facts on the Bahá’í Faith. On the birth of
Bahá’u’lláh the week climaxed in the showing of “A
New Wind,” the manning of an information and book
table outside the cafeteria, and the presentation of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to the President of the
college, Earl W. Jones. We were most surprised when
the President gave us a fireside on unity. His closing
remark was that he was “spiritually with us”!
Progress in Laos[edit]
Eighteen souls embraced the Faith in Nakhon Phanom, a Thai border town facing the town of Thakkek, last October. This jubilant achievement heralded the first town along the Mekong river strip to come under the Thai Border Teaching Project of our National Spiritual Assembly. It is fervently hoped, that this would start to link the towns included in our teaching goal along this area, which will have their local spiritual assembly by next Riḍván.
The lengthy porch-living room of Mr. Janphanh’s residence at Ban Nong Pheu, Thakkek was overflowing to capacity when the Bahá’ís at Thakkek area gathered to hold their local conference on the 19th of September. Fifty believers came from several Bahá’í villages, which included several “Po Bans” (village chieftains) and “Tasengs” (area heads).
Laotian, Chinese and Vietnamese Bahá’í youths gathered in
love and unity at the Savannakhet’s Area Conference last 19th
of September, 1970.
From the central town of Thakkek came Mr. Vanthong, and a pioneer from Savannakhet. Mr. Vanthong
spoke extemporaneously about the Faith, his experience in attending a Bahá’í Conference at Singapore
several years back; the importance of giving to the
Fund, etc. Notable was the absence of alcohol during
the meal. Instead, ovaltine and fruit beverages were
served.
“Alcohol is forbidden in the Bahá’í Faith,” said Mr. Janphanh.
So, our believers are learning, and they are taking seriously what is forbidden in the Faith.
The Conference was a success, the number of the believers attending was more than what was expected.
The Savannakhet Area Conference was held on the 26-27 of September. The two nights Conference was, as yet, the most memorable gathering witnessed in this community. On the first night the narrow Bahá’í Center was congested. With almost fifty in attendance some stood up in the adjoining kitchen.
The talks planned for deepening were not strictly followed as the friends brought in some of their non-Bahá’í friends. The spiritual atmosphere generated an impact to those who just heard of the Faith for the first time. Their reactions to the talks were reciprocal and several asked intelligent questions.
From Thakkek came Mr. Janphanh and Mr. Khampiang. Mr. Janphanh spoke about ‘Religious Unity.’ He brought down the house with his humor. The talk he prepared was well received. Mr. Khampiang, charmed the listeners with the talk he and Mr. Janphanh gave on “The Bahá’í Faith.” The importance of prayer was the talk which opened the Conference.
The second night of the Conference was given over to the new seekers, although the number in attendance was far less than the first night. The result was two declarations from that memorable evening. Several more are expected to declare their faith soon!
Several more seeds are newly planted in this very receptive
“Alcohol is forbidden in the Bahá’í Faith,” said Mr. Janphanh. Instead he served ovaltine and fruit beverages at the local conference at Thakkek last 19th September, 1970, which he hosted. Here he is seen speaking to the youths at Savannakhet’s Area Conference.
- An active Bahá’í from one of the villages at Thakkek area, Mr. Janphanh is serving the Faith part-time.
town. Two Bahá’í youths from Vientiane came
unexpectedly to the Conference.
Paksong, a small hilly town 54 kilometers northeast of Pakse, was opened to the Faith last September.
Seven Laotians and three Laotheung who constitute the newly declared believers from this town are truly remarkable. With the spirit they showed very soon an increase in the number of believers will be witnessed!
Mr. Khamphanh has already brought a soul into the Faith, the very day he declared. Mr. Pola, seventy years of age, shared the book New Garden in Lao, to the monks at a nearby Buddhist Temple, happily announcing that this is the first religion which will unite all religious beliefs and ideals.
Guanacaste, Costa Rica[edit]
For the first time since the beginning of the Nine Year Plan in Costa Rica, the teaching goals are within sight, due mainly to the recent success in Guanacaste, an agricultural area bordering on the Pacific Coast, and dotted with small towns and villages of from fifty to a few thousand persons each.
Work had been started there some years ago, but had been practically abandoned, due to lack of traveling teachers. Upon analyzing where the needed nineteen local assemblies could be established, to fill the total of forty-five required by the Nine Year Plan, Guanacaste seemed the only possibility, so a plan was made by the National Spiritual Assembly of Costa Rica and the Resident Counsellor.
The first step was the settlement as pioneers of Samuel and Teresa Garcia and their four children, native Costa Ricans, in February 1970. Through their strenuous and sacrificial efforts, the eight Local Assemblies were resuscitated by Riḍván. Then followed a series of teaching visits by Auxiliary Board member Edith McLaren, Ken and Marty Rutan and family, Resident Counsellor Artemus Lamb, Auxiliary Board member Hedi Ahmadiyeh with pioneers Rodney Hughes and Razi Fereidani. About November 1 U.S. pioneers Rodney and Eleanor Hughes and three children, and the Persian pioneer Razi Fereidani, also went to settle in the area. On December 8 and 9 a most successful deepening institute was held for a limited number of native Bahá’ís selected for their devotion, sincerity and capacity, from one-half of the area, and with the help of the resident pioneers, United States pioneers Russ and Jeanette Roberts and daughters, and Resident Counsellor Artemus Lamb and his wife Dee. The same institute will be repeated on January 9 and 10, for the other half of the area.
The results so far are: eight of the local spiritual Assemblies and many groups and believers reactivated; some 400 new believers; many new villages opened; ten villages with sufficient numbers to elect local assemblies next Riḍván and whose number will undoubtedly be greater by that time. Now, God willing, native teachers will be developed to carry on and expand the work.
Teachers’ Institute, Rio Grande, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Second row: Second and third from left, pioneers Samuel and
Teresa Garcia
Back row: Fourth from right. Resident Counsellor Artemus Lamb and his wife Dee just in front of him.
Instituto Dr. Ugo Giachery
Alajuela, Costa Rica
Lunchtime
Bangkok, Thailand: a Fireside with Professor Avaregan[edit]
Professor Husayun Avaregan shown at one of the many firesides arranged during his visit to Bangkok from September 29th to October 12th. These firesides were attended by students from the Bangkok School of Industrial Technology where Mr. Perumal, a pioneer from Malaysia, is a teacher. As a result of these firesides two students became Bahá’ís.
At a lecture given at the Alliance Francaise, Professor Avaregan spoke about the meaning of life according to some of the greatest scientific thinkers of the modern age and their faith in its spiritual purpose.
Professor Avaregan, a pioneer to Italy, made a tour of South East Asia to help and encourage the Bahá’ís at the request of the Universal House of Justice.
Report from Tacoma, Washington[edit]
The volume The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh was presented to Mayor Joe Vraves of Fife, Washington and to Mayor Gordon T. Johnston of Tacoma, Washington. Several other pieces of literature were presented to these mayors. The Human Rights Year activities report was given to the mayor of Tacoma.
Visits with the two mayors were most cordial. In meeting with Mayor Vraves, instead of a short meeting over coffee as expected, the visit lasted over an hour. Lyle Ames and George Galinkin were asked many questions about the Faith and the Mayor asked to be notified of the coming public meeting. Mrs. Julie Frank, Sue and Loyd Myatt and George Galinkin presented books and other materials to Mayor Johnston. The mayor had been home ill but he got out of bed to keep his appointment to receive the books. He asked many serious questions about the Faith and asked each person present something about his religious background, why he became a Bahá’í and what the Faith had done for each in their personal life. He offered his assistance in whatever way he could to the Bahá’í community of Tacoma.
Three books were presented to the Fife High School librarian. Two books for children were presented to the Tacoma Public Library, Children’s Division. Bahá’í literature was presented to the editor of the Pierce County Herald, a weekly county newspaper published in Puyallup, Washington. Bahá’í literature was also presented to the editor of the Tacoma Facts and a new black weekly in Tacoma.
A public meeting with Dr. Daniel Jordan on December 30 in Fife, Washington, was announced with fifteen posters placed in black business houses in Tacoma, also in the shopping area where the meeting was held. Two prayer and planning sessions were held in advance at the location of the public meeting. A thousand invitations were mailed in Tacoma-Pierce County; special announcements were mailed to schools, teachers and educators in the area.
Leila Galinkin, age eight, presenting two Bahá’í books for children to the children’s division librarian of the public library at Tacoma, Washington.
Over 130 attended the public meeting with about fifty
non-Bahá’ís present. Follow-up evaluations and firesides
were held. An increase in fireside attendance was noted
with several declarations within several days after the
public meeting.
The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh being presented to the Mayor of Tacoma, Washington, Gordon T. Johnston. Representing the Bahá’í Community are: left to right, Julie Frank, Loyd
Myatt, George Galinkin and Sue Myatt with the Mayor.
Sarawak Officials Receive Proclamation Volume[edit]
The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh being presented to the volume The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh, (fourth in picture). Bahá’ís making the presentation are: (left to right) Mr. Thinathayalan, Mr. Bobby Wee, Dr. John Fozdar and Mr. Among anak Nyanggau. Volumes were also presented to the Hon. Mr. Stephen Yong, Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak; Speaker of Council Negri, Mr. William Tan and President of the Kuching Municipal Council
Developments in West Bengal, India[edit]
The Bahá’ís of Radhaballavatala in Joynagar made extensive plans for a public meeting which was scheduled for 8 November. Late on the evening of the 7th a crowd of hostile Muslims began to gather in front of the meeting place, only to disperse and re-gather each time in larger force, until finally a crowd of some 2,000 gathered and shouting that they would not allow such a meeting to take place tore down the platform, destroying it. A number of the Bahá’ís were injured and local Hindus began to defend them causing a melee which was ultimately quelled by the arrival of the police.
Inasmuch as the Muslims insisted that such a meeting could not be held during the month of Ramadán the police requested the Bahá’ís to postpone their meeting. The friends agreed to this but following consultation, decided to hold the meeting in a nearby town, where they first obtained police permission. Again the Muslims, learning of the newly scheduled meeting tried to disrupt it but police protection was given and the meeting went forward with some 300 people present.
Having failed in the second attempt to despoil the meeting, the Muslims asked the electrician who installed the microphones to arrange a tape recording of the Bahá’í talks. The Bahá’í speakers were, of course unaware that the talks they were giving were being taped but spoke of progressive revelation and of Muhammad with great love and honor.
In an effort to prove the harmful influence of the Faith, the tape was then played to the Muslims in a nearby Mosque.
Later the same evening the District Magistrate visited one of the Bahá’ís to assure him that the leader of the troublesome group had been arrested. Several of the Muslims who had heard the tape recorded talk approached the Bahá’ís to offer apologies for their behavior which they admitted was based on ignorant assumptions. The object of the meeting was amply fulfilled with the Message reaching the ears of many more people than had ever before heard of the Bahá’í Teachings.
Italian Summer School at Igea Marina[edit]
The eighth Italian Summer School took place at Igea Marina, on the Adriatic coast, Sept. 12-21, 1970. Among the guests at the school were Mrs. Gloria Faizi who gave a brilliant course on the history of religion and the Dawn Breakers; Continental Board member Miss Annelise Bopp who explained the function of the Hands of the Cause, the Continental Board members and Auxiliary Board members. Mr. Kamran from Belgium spoke on Bahá’í Economics explaining Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings on the solution of the economic problem afflicting the world today. The evenings were devoted to discussion of the Nine Year Plan and on experiences in pioneering. Mrs. Faizi told about her life as a pioneer in Arabia, Mr. Speranza spoke on his recent experiences in Uruguay and Miss Linda Marshall on present activities in the United States. Almost 300 people participated with friends attending from seventeen countries. The youth, numerous in attendance, participated in the organization of the program contributed to the success of the school which was blessed by the declaration of nine new believers.
El Salvador International Fair[edit]
The International Fair of El Salvador is a biennial event now registered as a World’s Fair. Two years ago the Bahá’ís of El Salvador had such success with their booth at the Fair that this year they determined to make their stand the focal point of a proclamation program.
A non-Bahá’í aviator volunteered to drop leaflets from his plane free of charge for the believers. His offer was accepted and 30,000 leaflets were printed which stated the twelve principles of the Cause and repeated the theme of the Fair booth. These leaflets were dropped over thirteen cities from one end of the country to the other. They were designed as invitations to visit the booth at the Fair or to inquire at local Bahá’í Centers for further information about the Faith.
The National Spiritual Assembly reports that correspondence has been received with inquiries from persons who received the leaflets dropped over their cities.
There were an estimated 400,000 visitors to the Fair who were introduced to the name of the Faith and to the name of the Blessed Beauty. The Bahá’ís attending the booth distributed 72,050 pamphlets to people who passed the booth. Thirty-five percent of those receiving literature entered the booth for further information. More than 1,000 people asked for correspondence courses on the Faith, leaving their names and addresses.
(From Bahá’í International News Service, Haifa.)
El Salvador School — in January[edit]
The Bahá’í Summer School in El Salvador was a smashing success. Beginning Friday night the second of Sharaf (the first of January) we were not only blessed with the great turnout of more than fifty-five people but also with the presence and greetings of Continental Board of Counsellors member Mr. Artemus Lamb. Saturday, twenty-five more youths and adults showed up with about half a dozen additional children.
There was a class on the Hidden Words by Mr. Artemus Lamb, and another on Bahá’í Administration held under the shade of a giant tree overlooking green valleys and mountains. The “Nineteenth Day Feast” and “How to Hold an Election” were presented in drama form with the view of Lake Illopango and the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Talks on daily prayer, alcohol, fasting, and marriage laws were held in an atmosphere of discussion with everyone joining in the questions and answers.
There were displays of books in Spanish and local Bahá’í activities portrayed in photographs. There was also singing and football. The evenings were spent in playing Bahá’í games (like charades ... quotes from the writings, lines from Bahá’í songs, etc.) and the lights of the capital, San Salvador, twinkling under the bright moon made a backdrop for the side show and dancing which followed.
The weekend was further highlighted with youth declarations, donations to the national fund, and attendance of a group of Bahá’ís from one of our materially poor communities.
Sunday continued with more of the same except with our spirits soaring as the final hours of the school went by. And finally, closing prayers with chanting in Persian.
A Bahá’í summer school in a country in Central America is a little different in its material aspects; such as no water, cooking rice and beans over wood stoves, sleeping in hammocks or on piles of corn husks, hot sun and mosquitoes: it’s also different when a pair of shy brown eyes search you out and a timid voice says, “I’m not a Bahá’í but I want to be one.”
As everyone was waving ‘Adios’ and saying “Alláh‘u’Abhá”, members of the National Proclamation Committee piled into a car as is their custom on Sundays, went to hold two proclamation meetings which resulted in ninety-nine more souls embracing the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.
That’s how the first few days of 1971 were spent in El Salvador; what did you do?
Incorporated Assembly of St. Lambert, Province of Quebec, Canada[edit]
Left to right standing: Jim Milne, Philip Cunliffe, Cathleen Lanning, Robert Thomson, Iraj Majzub
Left to right sitting: Louise Cunliffe, Nadia Majzub, Hilda Burgin, Margery Lanning
National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland[edit]
From right to left: Mrs. Ursula Namdar; Mr. Faizollah Namdar,
Chairman; Mr. Fritz Semle, Vice-Chairman; Mr. Fritz Schär;
Mr. Edward Lindström, Treasurer; Miss Claude Hunziker, Secretary; Mrs. Olga Schär; Mr. Daniel Schaubacher; Mrs. Marjorie
Giorgi, Recording Secretary.
First Hawaiian Bahá’í[edit]
Mrs. Mary Fantom has the distinction of being the first Bahá’í
of Hawaiian blood. She is affectionately known as Auntie May.
She was a long time resident of Maui and closely associated
with Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander. The photograph was
made on Auntie May’s nintey-first birthday.
Philippine Teaching in Southern Luzon[edit]
The “Husayn Team” of Los Banos, Laguna started its extensive teaching trips to southern parts of Luzon in November 1970. Areas covered are Laguna, Batangas, Quezon, Oriental Mindoro, Bicol Region, Cavite and Rizal: also Marinduque is a sideline area.
In Quezon province, there were twelve areas opened and a Bahá’í Youth Club was formed. A total of seventy-two new believers declared. The Quezon group composed of Bert Tamis, Tahereh Vadedaghi, Bella Dapilos and Delia Pareja went for a two-week teaching trip, November 7-22. Zeny de Leon and Farangis Houshmand joined the group for two days.
More than a thousand people heard of the Faith for the first time. These include officials of the towns, students in various colleges and universities in that province as well as barrio people who were very much affected by the uniting power of Bahá’u’lláh. (From Philippine BAHÁ’Í NEWS, November 1970)
Visit of Dr. Marcus Bach to New Zealand[edit]
Dr. Marcus Bach, world traveler, author and popular interpreter of inter-cultural relations, considered to be one of the foremost authorities on contemporary religions in the world, visited New Zealand in November. Dr. Bach is a personal friend of both Universal House of Justice member Hugh Chance and Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga whom he met with briefly during their recent visit to Auckland. Dr. Bach is the author of some twenty books including Shoghi Effendi — An Appreciation. Dr. Bach informed Mr. Olinga that he has just completed a new book on comparative religions which will include a section on the Bahá’í Faith.
Five Bahá’ís attended Marcus Bach’s talk given in Christchurch. During his talk he asked if any Bahá’ís were present and acknowledged the friends sitting together in the front row and then proceeded to tell of the Bahá’í unity and teachings. He constantly referred to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh throughout his talk. When asked about reincarnation the Bahá’ís were asked to answer. Enquiries were made directly to the believers after the exhilarating talk was over. (From the December BAHÁ’Í NEWSLETTER of New Zealand.)
Joyful Announcement from the Universal House of Justice | 1 |
A Letter from the Universal House of Justice | 2 |
Mass Teaching in the South U. S. A. | 3 |
Summary of Mass Teaching, Southern States | 4 |
Israeli Officials Receive Bahá’í World, Volume XIII | 5 |
Hand of the Cause Agnes B. Alexander: A Eulogy | 6 |
A Year of Progress in Trinidad | 8 |
Panama Temple Progress Report to January 15, 1971 | 10 |
World Religion Day in Vietnam | 11 |
First National Convention and National Election of Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana | 12 |
Victories in Bermuda | 13 |
Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga Visits Papua and New Guinea | 14 |
Proclamation in Belize | 15 |
Spiritual Assembly of Palm Springs, Calif. | 15 |
Activities in the Dominican Republic | 16 |
Proclamation Volume Presented to Asantehene of Ghana | 17 |
Deepening Courses in Bolivia | 17 |
Pioneer to Maldive Islands — Fills Goal of South East Asia | 18 |
Focus on Maori: Exhibit in Taumarunui, New Zealand | 18 |
Off-Campus Bahá’í Club | 18 |
Progress in Laos | 19 |
Guanacaste, Costa Rica | 20 |
Bangkok, Thailand: a Fireside with Professor Avaregan | 20 |
Report from Tacoma, Washington | 21 |
Sarawak Officials Receive Proclamation Volume | 21 |
Developments in West Bengal, India | 22 |
Italian Summer School at Igea Marina | 22 |
El Salvador International Fair | 23 |
El Salvador School — in January | 23 |
Incorporated Assembly of St. Lambert, Canada | 23 |
National Spiritual Assembly of Switzerland | 23 |
First Hawaiian Bahá’í | 24 |
Philippine Teaching in Southern Luzon | 24 |
Visit of Dr. Marcus Bach to New Zealand | 24 |
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