Bahá’í News/Issue 486/Text
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| No. 486 | BAHA’I YEAR 128 | SEPTEMBER, 1971 |
Langenhain, Germany[edit]
Participants of the Youth Symposium, Langenhain, Germany, on the Temple grounds.
FROM THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE[edit]
To All National Spiritual Assemblies
Dear Bahá’í Friends,
We have noted with deep satisfaction that some National Spiritual Assemblies have already initiated plans to befittingly commemorate the Fiftieth Anniversary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the inception of the Formative Age of the Bahá’í Dispensation.
We feel it would be highly fitting for the three days, November 26 to 28, during which the Day of the Covenant and the Anniversary of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá occur, to be set aside this year by all National Spiritual Assemblies for specially arranged gatherings and conferences, convened either nationally or locally or both, on the three following main themes: The Bahá’í Covenant, The Formative Age, and The Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
We hope that these gatherings will serve to intensify the consecration of the workers in the Divine Vineyard in every land, and provide them with the opportunity, especially in the watches of the night of that Ascension, when they will be commemorating the passing hour of our Beloved Master, to renew their pledge to Bahá’u’lláh and to re-dedicate themselves to the accomplishment of the as yet unfulfilled goals of the Nine Year Plan.
The Hands of the Cause in the Holy Land, the members of The Universal House of Justice, and all resident and visiting believers at the World Center will, on that memory-laden night, visit the Shrine of that Mystery of God on behalf of the entire Community of the Blessed Beauty and will supplicate for the stalwart champions of the Faith laboring in the forefront of so many fields of service and winning fresh triumphs in His Name, for the self-sacrificing believers without whose support and sustained assistance most of these victories could not be achieved, and for those who will be inspired to join the ranks of the active and dedicated promoters of His glorious Cause at this crucial stage in the development of the Plan, that we may all meet our obligations and discharge our sacred trust, thus making it possible in the latter months of the Plan for our entire resources to be devoted to an even greater expansion of the Faith in its onward march towards the spiritual conquest of the planet.
—THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
July 12,1971
Youth Symposium — Langenhain, Germany[edit]
“Mount your steeds, oh heroes of God!” Do you hear
the cry? Do you hear the call issued forth inviting the
world to arise and join the march of victory? A new
spirit has been born! Awaken, awaken! Can you feel it?
Can you see it? Will you join it? “Mount your steeds, oh
Heroes of God!” Just as at Fort Shaykh Tabarsí, a
spark has been kindled which will soon grow into a
flame of fire igniting the whole of Europe, enveloping
that continent in a light so intense and brilliant as to
cause the heads of all to turn their faces towards the
source of the light and behold the Glory of God—waiting—loving!
Participating with over 100 enthusiastic Bahá’í youth were Hand of the Cause of God Mr. William Sears, members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, Anneliese Bopp and Erik Blumenthal, members of the Auxiliary Board, Doris Katzenstein and Anna Grossmann, and all of the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Germany.
Under the protective umbrella of the Most Great Name, this symposium was one of victory and promise: victory over the past and promise of the future. Apathy is gone. A new spirit is born through the grace of God. The gathering was blessed with over one hundred inspired youth—all so filled with the love of Bahá’u’lláh that it resulted immediately in nine declarations. Through this same love and desire to serve, twenty-six new teaching teams arose. Out of it all came the birth of the German Dawnbreakers—radiant Bahá’í youth chorus dedicated to spiritually conquering the continent
The group in front of the Bahá’í House of Worship, Germany.
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through the songs of the heart.
These were not the only blessings: a message from The Universal House of Justice, all the members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Germany, two members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, two Auxiliary Board members, and Hand of the Cause of God Mr. William Sears and his wife. Mr. Sears, stirring the wakening souls onward toward complete, ultimate and total victory likened this gathering to the gathering in the garden of Badasht. He said: “Táhirih, at Badasht threw off the veil and broke with the past. She said ‘I am the trumpet blast of the last days,’ and all of the Bábís in that day forgot the past. I was thinking of this country where it has been slow—for seven years we only had six Assemblies, now we have to make twenty-five Assemblies in two years. Now is the time with the trumpet blast. From this conference I hope something wonderful will happen in Germany. Every day a new song, an ode was composed. The believers sang the way to victory saying ‘The past is over; all that is finished and it’s a new day.’ I hope that is what will happen here and you will begin to start the new day and bring on and fulfill this glorious destiny of Germany. This conference is much like Badasht when everything was changed and a whole new spirit began all through Persia and the world. They were almost all young and they went on foot into all of the nearby villages. That is really why we are here. I can see all over Germany, from your faces, the goals already beginning to be fulfilled.”
At the time Mr. and Mrs. Sears departed there had only been seven declarations. He said: “Already you have seven new Bahá’ís. That’s one for each of the years of the plan gone by and now the doors are thrown wide.” As if in proof of this statement, there were two more declarations, and then there was one for each year of the Nine Year Plan. The valiant horsemen ripped the doors to complete victory from their hinges and began to charge through onward toward Fiesch. At every turn of the road there was Divine confirmation.
During one of the early sessions we sat discussing methods of mass teaching with an illumined soul actively involved with mass teaching in the Deep South. He had come straight from pilgrimage, unknowingly, into the heart of this gathering. As he was speaking there came the unmistakable call to action. A group of about seventy-five German hikers came from the House of Worship exclaiming “Bahá’í, Bahá’í, Bahá’í.” We went to meet them, greet them, and give them the loving message of Bahá’u’lláh. We never returned to the discussion. With hearts steeped in the love of God we rode the wave of Divine Guidance and diffused into the countryside to spread the fragrance of the Blessed Beauty
Counsellor Anneliese E. Bopp, Auxiliary Board member Doris Katzenstein, Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.
far and wide.
Watch for the results, listen and you too will hear the echoes reverberating throughout the valleys, the wilderness, the mountain, the forests, and the seas: “Mount your steeds, oh heroes of God!”
Langenhain, June 13, 1971. Suddenly speechless were the fifty Bahá’ís from Stuttgart and the surrounding area who had come to Langenhain in a bus. Was it or was it not Rúḥíyyih Khánum? Yes, it was! Rúḥíyyih Khánum visited the House of Worship for a short time while passing through. What happiness it was for the friends who were there!
Seventy-five German hikers, seekers.
A New Consciousness in Italy[edit]
Something new is happening in Italy. If until recently this country, torn by political and social unrest, seemed to be spiritually indifferent, now it is gaining a new consciousness. The Bahá’í community, rapidly growing in native adherents, is animated with a fresh spirit and determination to teach the Cause of God at every level.
Youth School[edit]
The National Bahá’í Youth School was held in Pisa, a goal town, from April 9-11. The program consisted of study groups and a final round-table discussion. The last day was dedicated to teaching. The “Dawn-Breakers” sang Bahá’í songs, alternated at intervals by briefings on the Faith. This took place in the square facing the Cathedral and the Leaning Tower. Walking along on this sunny Easter holiday, many natives and tourists stopped to inquire about the posters, asking the meaning of the word “Bahá’í” and what the Faith teaches. It is interesting to note that the square of the Cathedral is property of the Church and it was necessary to obtain official permission to have this occasion. A public conference followed, which was advertised by posters placed in various parts of the city. Eight new believers resulted from this effort as well as three offers to go pioneering.
Weekend at Island of Ischia[edit]
The weekend of May 1-2 was devoted to teaching on the Island of Ischia, organized in collaboration with a group of resident pioneers. This island is a goal of the Nine Year Plan and it was the first time the Faith was publicly proclaimed.
For two days the “Dawn-Breakers”, a singing group, performed in the main square. They sang Bahá’í songs and songs of peace, and attracted a large audience, especially of young people, who were drawn by the posters with quotations from the Bahá’í Writings. Many questions were asked and answered by Bahá’ís present. Enthusiasm grew so that a large group attended the conference on the theme “Bahá’í World Faith and World Unity”. Some were so eager to learn more that they did not leave until late in the night. As a follow-up, firesides were held with interested young people participating. Several natives of Ischia made their declarations of Faith.
National Italian Youth School, Pisa, April 10, 1971.
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“The Dawn-Breakers”, Bahá’í singing group during the Bahá’í weekend, May 1, 1971 at Ischia Island, Italy.
National Youth Symposium in San Marino[edit]
Friends from all Italy participated in the National Youth Symposium in San Marino on June 1-3. The main purpose of this meeting was to make plans for the European School to be held in Fiesch, Switzerland in August. There was a public debate about the Faith one evening, attended by leading personalities of the Republic. Before the Symposium was over four persons accepted the Faith. The spirit was so pervasive that all Bahá’ís present were inspired to work harder to achieve all goals before the end of the Nine Year Plan.
In Perugia[edit]
The Bahá’í community of Perugia presented Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh to the Mayor of the city. Reporters were present on this occasion and articles with photograph were published in the newspaper with a wide circulation. The event was broadcast on the local radio program. The Mayor received the volume with great courtesy and asked to be invited to the next Bahá’í event of the city. The Bishop of Perugia was also presented with the book. He talked at length with Bahá’ís about religious problems and seemed to show some interest in the Faith.
Surely this new consciousness in Italy will bring forth a bountiful harvest!
Right: Newly elected members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy at the annual Convention, Rome, April 25, 1971.
Midway Report—Youth Project in Switzerland[edit]
The thirty youth from the United States divided into
five main teams and accompanied by local believers,
started a vigorous direct teaching campaign from several centers located in urban, rural and mountainous
areas of Switzerland, soon after leaving the briefing
conference held in Schaffhausen, in the beginning of
July. Language and social barriers were soon overcome
with the help of songs, warm fellowship and local
Bahá’ís. The teaching method consisted of meeting with
people in large gatherings, on the street, in villages, in
the fields, in recreation areas, and in engaging in conversation centered on the coming of Bahá’u’lláh. Those
expressing an active interest were invited to study and
join the Faith, and to attend “Unity Feasts” for the announcement of which special posters and handouts reading “BAHÁ’U’LLÁH/CALL TO UNITY” had been prepared in four languages.
Such feasts or firesides are either hosted by local Bahá’ís or held in public halls, in restaurants, youth centers or in the open. The program of such meetings is kept informal; it includes music, songs in which the newcomers are invited to join (a songbook in French and English had been prepared), prayers and short, spontaneous presentations and comments about the Faith by Bahá’ís. A question and answer period followed.
The youth also call on local authorities, if appropriate, to acquaint them with the tenets and aims of the Faith, and on news media in order to obtain publicity for the Faith and for the European Youth Conference at Fiesch. Two radio programs devoted some thirty to fifty minutes of broadcasting time to the Faith, one in Lugano, in Italian-speaking Switzerland, the other from Lausanne, in French. Moreover, in Fribourg, a conservative paper owned by the Catholic Bishop, which previously refused to accept paid advertisements for the Faith, sympathetically commented on the Faith proclaimed by the young Bahá’ís. A widely circulated radio
Bob Phillips, American Coordinator of the teaching project
representing the National Spiritual Assembly of the United
States, tries to explain a little about the goals and aspirations
of the Swiss Teaching Project.
Margarie Seiffert, team coordinator, tries to show the photographer how she thinks the teams should indicate their localities.
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and television weekly Radio TV Je Vois Tout presented Linda Marshall as a Bahá’í militant for the cause
of peace and unity, stating that the “Faith proclaims
the return of the Christ Spirit”. This followed her interview on a popular youth program broadcast by Radio-Lausanne.
Concrete results are apparent everywhere and at different levels. Whereas during June 1971, some twenty declarations were registered, July brought in sixty new believers, mostly youth.
Other results are seen within the Bahá’í Community. Awareness that times are changing in the progress of the Faith in Europe; a deeper sense of responsibility; the need to reach minorities, including the relatively large foreign, mainly Italian labor force; new degrees in service; the devotion of the new believers who vie with the American youth for new victories; the radiant happiness of the hardworking pioneers and veteran believers who can at long last harvest a first measure of their efforts—all these are signs of a new spirit animating the body of believers in the heart of Europe. The fact that the youth project will coincide with an unprecedented youth teaching campaign and Youth Conferences sponsored by the Continental Board of Counsellors will help gather momentum in the process of conversion to the Faith. The trend of increased enrollments under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh has now been set in irreversible motion toward the total and complete victory of the Nine Year Plan in Europe. By their splendid contribution to the progress of the Cause in Europe, the youth of the United States walk in the footsteps of a generation of
Debbie Clark, an American Bahá’í attending school for the
summer near Fribourg, Switzerland (left), and Linda Marshall
(center), invite a young man to come to the songfest. Linda came
several months ahead and visited each of the Swiss communities
to ask for their support and guidance in the fulfillment of all of
their goals.
Young teachers putting on a songfest. “Uno Mundo” sung in three languages, draws people.
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American pioneers who laboriously and patiently raised
the administrative structure of the Old World and thereby fulfill the mission entrusted to their community by
the beloved Master.
Shanta Murday and Linda Marshall, at the request of the National Coordinating Committee toured all the major Bahá’í communities in Switzerland to prepare them for the project and instruct them in mass teaching. Both made crucial contributions to the success of the Swiss project.
The National Coordinating Committee was appointed by the Swiss National Spiritual Assembly to direct the project. There were six centers where teams were headquartered, generally in the homes of local Bahá’ís: Vernier, near Geneva; Zurich; a traveling group in the Fribourg—Neuchatel—Bienne area; Wolfhalden, Calerina, near St. Moritz and Lugano—Lucarno. Each team is approximately two-thirds from the United States and one-third of its members Swiss. These groups will continue in areas assigned until the Fiesch Youth Conference. Declarations have come from all strata in Swiss society with definite interest shown by many Italian workers in the country.
Denmark: When Robert Phillips, American Coordinator of the Swiss project, took a team to the southern part of Denmark for some training in mass teaching, they reached a park where preparations were being made for a radio show. No time was wasted by Bob in arranging for Bahá’í participation. When he returned with five native Danish Bahá’ís, one to give the message, 600 people had gathered. But this was the Danish National Radio, and in addition to the audience present, the message reached 500,000 listeners—Denmark’s largest proclamation! Three teaching teams were organized to go the next week for a follow-up.
Hand of the Cause Dr. Muhájir at Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand[edit]
On June 13, 1971, Hand of Cause of God Dr. Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir arrived by plane at Hawke’s Bay. He had dinner with the friends and a half-dozen close contacts that evening, and later went to the home of Mrs. Gowdy in Hastings for further discussion, a heart-warming occasion. He talked of his experiences in many parts of the world. He compared the Faith to sowing seeds; you have to allow them time to germinate. He pointed out that we are now in a phase of growth. Some further discussions about teaching are reported below:
“There are two kinds of proclamation. One is through Bahá’ís and the other is through non-Bahá’ís. Non-Bahá’ís can achieve publicity for the Faith in areas over which we have no control. Mass conversion will come! Indigenous people will do mass conversion. The hour will come when many catastrophes will occur. Many countries are just at the threshold of coming into the Faith. New Zealand is now very near to it.... Definitely our prayers will be answered. We should play our part and God will play His. The people are ready, but how much are we using this readiness? There is a power in teaching the Faith. We might not know what we are doing, but there is power in your talking about the Faith to your friends, to the man in the street.”
Dr. Muhájir continued:
“Many people will (according to their customs) accept the Faith in groups. This is very important to know. A good example of this is the people in the Pacific
Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Adelbert Mühlschlegel addresses the combined groups of American, Swiss, German and Persian youth for the teaching effort in Switzerland.
Islands. The communal system plays a strong role in their lives.” Dr. Muhájir stressed the importance of teaching the Faith to them in groups or villages. “Do not teach the Faith individually to these people or you will be separating them from their loved ones, splitting up their close-knit families.... A whole village in the Fiji Islands declared its Faith in Bahá’u’lláh immediately after the Oceanic Conference in Suva.” Dr. Muhájir stressed the point of not knocking on people’s doors because we do not want to disturb the privacy of families. “Teach them outside, when you see them in their gardens.” We were encouraged to travel-teach in family groups. “Take your wife and children along. People will trust you more.”
Before his departure Dr. Muhájir presented two Assemblies with a rare photograph of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. It was an ecstatic occasion which shall be remembered as unique in the history of Hawke’s Bay.
(Extracted from Bahá’í Newsletter of New Zealand June 1971.)
THE PANAMA TEMPLE[edit]
Progress is being made toward completion of the Panama Temple. Machine brought from Miami to be used for guniting the dome, left, top.
Men guniting dome, left, second and third photographs.
Top of dome, shows mesh over which gunite is sprayed. The Temple is scheduled to be completed in December and dedicated at Riḍván, 1972.
INCA PILGRIMAGE[edit]
It was to the Inca holy places of Lake Titicaca and the Island of the Sun that a group of Bahá’ís journeyed soon after the 1971 National Convention in La Paz, Bolivia. According to Inca legend, it was on the Island of the Sun that the Sun God created the first Inca, Manco Capac and his sister, instructing them to set out and teach the arts of civilization to the Indians living in darkness.
It was the first time, even in the memory of the oldest of the group, that Indians from their area had visited these holy places of their past. It was probably the first time these places had been visited by an organized group since the Inca Empire was conquered by the Spanish.
The pilgrims included Indian Bahá’í teachers from the Departments of Potosi and Chuquisaca, accompanied by American pioneers, Rich Hutchins and Phil Lane, who is of North American Indian descent. They traveled by truck and then by boat.
The trip was especially meaningful as the evening before the group was to leave on their trip, one of the
Climbing the stairs leading to the royal bath of the Incas on the Island of the Sun in Lake Titicaca.
At the entrance to the House of
the Incas some of the friends fell
spontaneously to their knees and
with tears running from their eyes
raised their hands in prayer to
God and Bahá’u’lláh.
Indian volunteer teachers was hit by a car and killed
outside the National Bahá’í Center. This happened while
the believer was running to buy an envelope to send a
letter to a Hand of the Cause of God from the Indian
believers. His last words were that he wanted a Bahá’í
funeral. He wished that “the door be opened” as he
wanted to leave this world and go to be with Bahá’u’lláh.
Even though it has been the custom for centuries that the Indian dead of this area be buried in their own land, close to their family, when the friends were informed that Bahá’u’lláh had given a law that the dead should not be buried at a spot more than an hour’s journey from the place of death, these devoted believers arose as one to fulfill the law and the wishes of their deceased brother, burying him in La Paz, more than two days journey from his home. After the burial, one of the oldest and most valiant of the traveling teachers, Meletone Gallardo, said: “We complete the Laws of God to the death.”
It was in a pure and dedicated spirit then, that the friends left and went to the holy places of the Incas, high in the Andes and raised the call of Bahá’u’lláh to all the world. They prayed for The Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assemblies, the Continental Counsellors, remembering particularly Counsellor Hooper Dunbar on his teaching trip to their Indian brothers of North America. It was the most fervent wish of all the group that these prayers offered to God and Bahá’u’lláh will aid the Indian people of both North and South America to arise as one, with love for all mankind, and fulfill the promises given them by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that “through the Divine Teachings, they will become so enlightened that the whole earth will be illumined.”
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National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of India for 1971-72.
Left to right, Mr. R. N. Shah, Secretary; Mr. Dushyant Kumar;
Dr. (Mrs.) Perin Olyai, Vice-Chairman; Mr. P. N. Mishra; Dr.
(Mrs.) T. K. Vajdi; Mr. Sohrab Olyai; Dr. H. M. Minje, Chairman; Mr. A. K. Furudi and Mrs. Zena Sorabjee, Treasurer.
Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of
Germany. Left to right: Dr. Farhad Sobhani, Dr. Udo Schäfer,
Dr. Bozorg Hemmati (Chairman), Annemarie Krüger (Secretary), Peter Mühlschlegel, Saeed Motamed, Rene A. Steiner
(Vice-Chairman), Huschmand Sabet, Otto Häfner (Treasurer).
On top of the House of the Incas, on the Island of the Sun, in Lake Titicaca where, according to legend, the first Inca Manco Capac went forth to teach the arts of civilization to the Indians living in darkness.
Challenge Met in Lesotho[edit]
It was said that a bounty and a challenge were extended to the Bahá’ís of Lesotho—that they should have
their own National Spiritual Assembly in 1971. Now that
challenge has been met with many thanks due to the
early pioneers, like the Fred Laws, who spent years in
Lesotho, finding hearts that were receptive, and such as
the Chadwick Mohapi family, who made them welcome,
who became Bahá’ís and helped spread the teachings of
Bahá’u’lláh in this beautiful country. Chadwick Mohapi
was the first Bahá’í to declare his belief.
The challenge was a large one for the National Spiritual Assembly of Swaziland, Lesotho, and Mozambique, which so capably carried the torch, along with the Continental Counsellors, the Auxiliary Board, and the Bahá’ís who pioneered, and those who lived here. No National Community comes into being without spirit and perseverance on the part of many souls.
There was much preparation prior to the momentous day when the first prayer was read and the Convention became a fact. Facilities are not as attainable as might be desired, either in housing or in meeting-places, so we felt fortunate to get the British Consul Hall in the center of Maseru, making it accessible to all necessary points of other activities. Meals were prepared for the most part outside in the yard of the home of three of the pioneers. Large iron pots were placed over open fires, which was an unusual sight for Westerners.
The delegates, many of whom came from mountain areas, began gathering during the afternoon on Friday. There was an air of expectancy about them as they were registered and met other friends for the first time. Auxiliary Board member William Masehla made special badges for the Convention and Counsellor Bahíyyah Ford gave each one present a beautiful green nine-pointed star which she had made.
Following a simple dinner in the evening the friends gathered at the convention hall for a further get-acquainted time and a song-fest of Bahá’í songs. Nowhere in the world do you hear them sung any more sweetly than in Africa. And whenever there was a moment of waiting at anytime during the Convention, a song just naturally filled the air.
A special favor was the presence of Hand of the Cause Adelbert Mühlschlegel representing The Universal
Oceanic Conference — Singapore[edit]
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House of Justice, and his lovely wife Ursula, Auxiliary
Board member who serves behind the Iron Curtain.
Others who added much to the spirit of the Convention
were Continental Board of Counsellors member, Mrs.
Bahíyyah Ford and Auxiliary Board members, Mrs. Helen Wilks and William Masehla.
There were many highlights in this initial Convention. The election of the first National Spiritual Assembly was approached with the realization that a very special event was taking place.
The election of the National Spiritual Assembly and later of its officers resulted as follows: Mr. B. Pokane, Chairman; Miss M. Mofolo, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. K. Alio, Recording Secretary; Mr. R. Carson, Treasurer; and Mrs. J. Pokane; Mrs. L. Silvers; Mr. G. Molapo; Mr. A. Muqutu; Mr. P. Setathe.
There was loving acceptance of the members of this first National Spiritual Assembly of Lesotho. Dr. Mühlschlegel remarked as they gathered for consultation with the delegates that “moments like these only come once to a country. Shoghi Effendi thought much of Africa and be assured he blesses us from on high. The Universal House of Justice puts many hopes in Lesotho, because a stage of maturity has been reached.”
Early in the Convention letters and messages of welcome and greeting were read from many National Spiritual Assemblies, giving a warm feeling of unity with the Bahá’í world.
There was a special moment of merriment as members of the National Assembly of Swaziland and Mozambique shared the literature of the former combined National Spiritual Assembly with the new one. “We’re even sharing our members with you,” said John Allen, “giving you two of our members for your new Assembly.”
This first Convention radiated love and spirit and determination, some most vital ingredients for successful teaching and growth, and prayers with this intention closed the formal program of the Convention. After this all the Bahá’ís drove out to the area designated as Bahá’í property, a truly lovely spot with a picturesque view of the surrounding scenery, where prayers were read and Bahá’í songs ended the day and the Convention in this hard-pressed, beautiful little country of Lesotho.
MALACCA: When the call came from The Universal House of Justice to “enroll large numbers of the talented Chinese race” a special effort was made in Malacca. A large number of Chinese responded to a campaign of pamphlet distribution, which resulted in the formation of the new Spiritual Assembly of Bukit Baru, Malacca.
When the news of the Oceanic Conference at Singapore was published in the April 1971 issue of Bahá’í News, a photograph of all those attending was not available. We take the opportunity of publishing it here, because of its historical value. The Conference was held January 1-3, 1971.
Bahá’í Race Unity Day Becomes Community-Wide Event[edit]
Because the Bahá’í community was small and racially unbalanced, the Spiritual Assembly of Clearwater, Florida, decided that its best contribution toward the cause of race unity would be to serve as a catalyst to spur the various human relations organizations in the city into working together on a Steering Committee for the observance of Race Unity Day. Everyone who was invited to participate was involved in local human relations activities. All, black and white, were pleased with the idea and promised to help. The first meeting, held only twelve days before the event, was attended by twelve people representing eight organizations: the City Human Relations Board, League of Women Voters, Clearwater Neighbors (a neighborhood improvement group), the Ministerial Association, the United Nations Association, St. Pete Junior College, the Religious Community Services and the Bahá’í Faith. Unable to attend planning meetings, but kept informed by mail, were representatives of NAACP, the Benevolent Society and the Negro Ministerial Alliance.
Those present at the Steering Committee meeting were well acquainted with each other. They had been dealing with the race question for years at the top level but the closest that Clearwater had come to a bi-racial get-together was the annual Clearwater Neighbor’s Banquet held in a local cafeteria.
The Bahá’í representatives went to the first meeting with a plan: a bring-your-own picnic, sit on a blanket, a 1-4 p.m. gathering in a small park in the Negro neighborhood. A Negro representative of Clearwater Neighbors explained why that plan would not work and suggested another, which proved to be successful. We decided on a later afternoon time, 4-7 p.m., to allow for church and dinner hours. A larger park was picked in a neutral, both black and white, neighborhood which had more recreation possibilities. We voted to provide light refreshments, ice cream and cold drinks, and to obtain city recreational equipment for organized games. The original idea of live musical entertainment was retained
The Mayor of Clearwater, Everett Hougan, (center), signed the
Race Unity Day proclamation and a photograph was taken with
the Race Unity Day Chairman, Norm Park, (left), who is also
Chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly, and Calvin Harris,
(right), a member of the Junior College staff who served on the
Steering Committee, receiving the proclamation. The handsome,
framed proclamation was on display at the Race Unity Day
gathering and was publicly presented to a member of the City
Commission, and accepted on behalf of the Clearwater Neighbors
to be displayed for several months in their center, then to rotate
to other groups represented on the Steering Committee.
The Young twins, two sets of them, Bahá’í singing sisters from High Springs, Florida, entertained the people at Race Unity Day in Clearwater. They are, right to left, Janet and Jenette, Joyce and Joycelyn Young, part of a big Bahá’í family of ten children.
and a list of singing groups and singers was made. By
the end of the Steering Committee meeting, all participants were excited about the idea and were volunteering
for various duties such as publicity, refreshments, entertainment. They got busy phoning, interesting other
people.
On the morning of Race Unity Day the Bahá’í children’s class met in the park and said prayers for the success of the day and all Bahá’ís in the vicinity were asked to pray individually beginning Saturday night and continuing until the hour of the meeting.
When the hour arrived over 400 people had gathered together to enjoy the music, games, and refreshments, while thirty-two Bahá’ís, the instigators of the event, provided the spiritual leavening.
A local ice-cream merchant donated 300 cups of ice cream and fifteen cases of a cold drink were contributed by a local distributor. Refreshments were plentiful and lasted through the event. Expenses to the Bahá’í community for the celebration were zero.
Bahá’í teaching was accomplished in many ways. In most newspaper accounts and in the TV news story, the Bahá’í Faith was given credit for creating the idea of Race Unity Day. In a Sunday guest sermon on June 13, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was quoted extensively and the fact that Bahá’ís of the United States had been observing Race Unity Day since 1921 was established. Name tags bearing plastic flowers and the words of Bahá’u’lláh: “Ye are the flowers of one garden” were worn by everyone. The Bahá’ís added “Bahá’í Faith” below their names on the tag and identified their town. Some Bahá’ís traveled 150 miles to attend. An interracial Bahá’í chorus from Gainesville sang many Bahá’í songs as part of the
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entertainment, and the friends conducted many a fireside and passed out many a pamphlet during the afternoon. Members of the press, newspapers and TV, inevitably seemed to wind up interviewing the Bahá’ís and
each left with several pamphlets in their pockets. At a
barbeque held in a Bahá’í home just after the picnic,
four people signed Bahá’í declaration cards. These new
believers are black and provide balance to the Clearwater community. The following week another declaration resulted from the Race Unity picnic.
The Clearwater Sun was most cooperative, printing all articles submitted and sending photographers to the Mayor’s signing and to the picnic itself. The Sun reporter was impressed and kept commenting “This is really great.” He stayed for almost the full time of the event and filled a yellow pad interviewing guests. The radio and TV stations aired the announcement. Norm Park was periodically congratulated on the air for being Race Unity Day Chairman and Chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Clearwater. The Promotion Director wanted to learn more of this “new religion” so a press kit was personally delivered to his office within the hour.
Flyers were posted in many public places and Steering Committee representatives distributed them among their own groups. Personal telephone invitations were probably a factor in the large attendance. Each Steering Committee member had promised to phone ten friends.
The most frequently expressed comment among guests at the gathering was that they wanted “to do this again.” Most wished they did not have to wait a year. This Race Unity Day celebration will become an annual event, without question, and it is probable that the second affair will be even more successful than the first.
CHINESE BAHÁ’ÍS IN VIETNAM[edit]
Chinese Bahá’ís in Vietnam met in Saigon on June 6, 1971. They came from Long-Khánh, Dinh-Tuong, Long-An, Tay-Ninh and Saigon, the Cho-Lon section. A Chinese Language Committee has been established and is actively working among the Chinese in spreading the Faith. The second man from the right on the first row is Auxiliary Board member Nguyen Van Loi, and the third man from the right is Mr. Le Loc, Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Vietnam.
National Convention in Sweden[edit]
National Convention for 1971 in Sweden was an exciting one for it marked the achievement of the Assembly goals of the Nine Year Plan, two years before schedule. Now the National Spiritual Assembly has set a new goal of two more Local Spiritual Assemblies.
Highlights of other events during the year are:
1) The proclamation book was presented to the civil and church dignitaries of the nation. A new wave of proclamation is scheduled to begin on November 12, 1971, for this same group.
2) Publication of the first book on the Faith in the Swedish language entitled The Illumined Horizons by Svere Holmse, Swedish Bahá’í author. Four-hundred of the libraries of the nation ordered it, thus entering it in the official book catalogue.
3) Successful teaching conferences were held in Gotland, an island off the south-east coast in the Baltic sea; also in Umeå, on the north-west shore of the Gulf of Bothnia. The result was seven new declarations, all youth.
4) Planning and launching an intensive teaching campaign and youth project in Samerna (Lapp) in the north both above and below the Arctic circle.
5) Translation and publication of the long-awaited Samerna (Lapp) language pamphlet.
6) The establishment of the Swedish Bahá’í Publishing Trust.
7) A brief television interview in which The Greatest Name and the picture of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá appeared.
8) A successful Summer School with over 100 participants from nine countries, resulting in four new declarations.
9) An interesting youth program taped by the Swedish Radio to be broadcast on July 24.
10) A number of youths of Sweden set an example by volunteering to pioneer a few months before Riḍván, resulting in the formation of two new Assemblies, Karlstad and Malmö, which achieved the Nine Year Assembly goals for Sweden.
Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Sweden: left to
right, front row: Torleif Ingelög, Mrs. Mehri Afsahi, E. Jazayeri,
Sven Mards; rear, Paul Ojermark, Steffen Rasmussen, Hans
Odemyr, R. Golmohammadi, Kaj Winberg.
Historic Swedish Broadcast[edit]
In a unique and unprecedented Radio program, organized and directly broadcast by the Swedish Bahá’í youth, the Faith was comprehensively presented to several million people. May Afṣaḥí and Ulf Eriksson introduced the history, the teachings, and the principles of the Faith in a dignified and informative way. Each subject was followed by a song, relevant to the theme introduced. They were the following:
“This World Citizen,” “This is the Day,” “Toko Zani,” “Mount Your Steed,” “Prince of Peace,” “There is Only One World,” “A New Wind,” “The Glory of God.”
The broadcast on July 24, 1971 marked a turning point in the teaching and proclamation efforts in Sweden, and perhaps, in the whole of Scandinavia. One of the leading newspapers phoned right after the program and congratulated the National Spiritual Assembly on the success of the broadcast. Other papers had mentioned the program before its broadcast. The ice is now broken and we can surely expect thrilling events to follow this historic broadcast.
National Convention of Sweden, 1971.
In Thailand[edit]
Mrs. Shirin Fozdar and Miss Carmen Rabena are on their way to
the village of Chang Khien on the
mountains of Doi Pui in Chiengmai Province. They are accompanied by some Bahá’ís from the
Meo tribe. This whole mountain is
inhabited by the Meos.
The Bahá’í group lunching in the
forest on the mountains of Doi
Pui. The son of the Chief of the
Meos, Mr. Surpong, is reclining
against the trunk of the tree. He
acted as interpreter for Mrs. Fozdar.
After the talk on the Faith by Mrs.
Fozdar to the Meo tribe in Chang
Khien, the Meos are lining up to
accept the Faith. They cannot
read or write and so three Bahá’ís
sitting in the background are listing their names. Mrs. Fozdar and
Miss Carmen Rabena are standing
on the right.
THE GREAT SAFARI[edit]
of Hand of the Cause Rúḥíyyih Khánum[edit]
Part three
Originally it had been the intention of Amatu’l-Bahá,
after the African Continental Conference held in Monrovia, to visit the centers in Liberia and then motor to
Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, Mali and Upper Volta
and return to Ghana. However, we were informed if we
followed this plan, that by the time we reached Mali and
Upper Volta the heat would be unendurable so we went
first to them in January and February and returned to
Abidjan in the Ivory Coast where we reluctantly left the
Land Rover to visit these other West African countries
by air.
On March 3rd we arrived in Monrovia, this time to visit the Bahá’í communities in the South and West of Liberia. Although during the Liberia Conference two months previously the Faith had been fully and adequately publicized, again at this time the National Assembly was able to arrange for more publicity. Amatu’l-Bahá had two very good television interviews, on one of which she appeared with the American Ambassador. The interview of the other was broadcast over the radio the following day. The story of two women who have driven over 18,000 miles from East Africa to West Africa is obviously a very interesting story and one of these television programs was almost entirely about Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s African safari. She also had a very good radio interview mostly on this same topic. Interviewers often ask her why she travels over land which must be a very tiring and difficult mode of travelling in Africa. To this Amatu’l-Bahá answers: “The purpose of my trip is to visit the Bahá’ís of Africa in as many places as possible. To get to the villages one needs a car. There are many Bahá’ís who travel and meet with the Bahá’ís of the cities and towns and occasionally some villages, but very few have the opportunity of visiting their brothers and sisters in the villages.” The interviewers were surprised and usually pleased by her praise of the villagers and the emphasis she places on the spiritual and human qualities of the usually wholly illiterate villagers.
Teaching About Life After Death[edit]
In Monrovia the friends were privileged to have Amatu’l-Bahá in four of their regular firesides. Rúḥíyyih Khánum often spoke in such meetings, as well as in her public meetings, on the concept of life after death in the Bahá’í teachings. She has been urging the friends everywhere to speak more on this subject. In Africa the fear of death and belief in the presence of ghosts and spirits is very deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The witch doctors’ power is to a large degree based on the belief that they can control and exorcise these apparitions and protect the living from the dead. Amatu’l-Bahá declares that to combat this fear and superstition the Bahá’ís must speak more on this wonderful topic in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and let the people know that the power of prayer can exert a tremendous influence on the souls of the dead. In this way
Amatu’l-Bahá with the Bahá’ís and their friends in the village of Gbendembou, Sierra Leone.
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the people can be freed from their fears and superstitions. The beautiful examples she uses tend to clear
away the doubts and fears of the people. Once she gave
the example of a bird in a cage. She said: “If you have a
bird who has lived in a cage all his life and one day you
open the door of the cage you can see how frightened the
bird is of leaving the cage. He comes to the door of the
cage, he may even come out of it, but again he will go
back to his cage. Several times he may hesitate at the
door until he realizes he is at last free and then with joy
he will fly away, higher and higher. Often the spirit of man
is in the same way attached to the cage of his body and
his environment and is afraid to leave them, but
through the power of prayer his soul will be freed and
learn to fly to its celestial home.”
In Buchanon, Bomi Hills, Mano River and Kongotown[edit]
After an over-night visit to the Bahá’ís in the port town of Buchanon where Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke to some of the believers and their friends we spent some days visiting Bomi Hills, Mano River and Kongotown. This was a wonderful trip. Bomi Hills is one of the oldest Bahá’í Communities in Liberia. During the life-time of our beloved Guardian the Bahá’ís acquired an endowment which became the first Bahá’í Summer School. Now it is the Teaching Institute of West Africa. They had just completed a large additional building on this site to enable a greater number of students to be accommodated at the courses. A well advertised public meeting brought over forty people, Bahá’ís and their friends, to hear Amatu’l-Bahá expound the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
The following night we slept in Mano River, also a mining town, and she spoke at another public meeting. A question period and an intimate and very lively discussion followed until late that night. The next morning we started on our way back to Bomi Hills to spend another night and have another meeting. In the schoolhouse in Kongotown she spoke to a group of Bahá’ís and their friends. It was a wonderful experience to see that many of the dear new believers in both Mano River and Bomi Hills were keeping the Fast. We all know that obedience to His Laws attracts the bounties of Bahá’u’lláh.
The Importance of Harmony and Unity[edit]
After our return to Monrovia a very well attended talk was held in the University of Liberia. In that same hall we had held the African Continental Conference. It was full of pleasant memories for us. The President of the University, Mr. Patrick L. Seyon acted as Chairman for Rúḥíyyih Khánum. She spoke on the “Role of Youth in the Modern World.” The students would have continued asking questions indefinitely if she had not had to leave to give another talk to over 700 students in the Episcopal High School. Amatu’l-Bahá has often remarked on how gratifying it is to speak to the students, as the future of society lies in the hands of the youth. A meeting with the Monrovian believers at the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds marked the end of our second visit to Liberia. Amatu’l-Bahá spoke to them on the importance of unity and harmony. She said “These are not mere pleasant sayings of Bahá’u’lláh but great spiritual laws for this day. If we ignore and break them we bring spiritual ill health upon ourselves and forfeit the blessings of God.” She said, “Inharmony can make one actually physically ill as it is poisonous and against the whole intent of the Teachings which are to produce love and harmony, in the family, in the community, in society, throughout the world.
Interview with the Governor General of Sierra Leone[edit]
During Amatu’l-Bahá’s visit in Sierra Leone from March 16 to 26 every door seemed to miraculously open for a befitting proclamation of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum, helps clean the vegetables while waiting for the meeting to start in the village of Gbendembou, Sierra Leone.
The first Bahá’í meeting ever held in the fishermans’ village of Lakka, Sierra Leone, on Naw-Rúz day.
Naw-Rúz gathering with pioneers and believers, Freetown, Sierra Leone. The lady with the white hair is Vivian Wesson, pioneer in Africa since 1954.
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Amatu’l-Bahá with His Excellency Sir Banja Tejan-Sie, Governor General of Sierra Leone on the occasion of her courtesy call on him.
It was the first time such tremendous publicity was
accorded the Bahá’í Faith. The then Governor General
of Sierra Leone, Sir Banja Tejan-Sie, received Amatu’l-Bahá in his palace and for over a half-hour a very frank
and friendly discussion was held on the tenets of the
Bahá’í Faith. In the course of this conversation he said
“the majority of the people of Sierra Leone are Muslims,
next come the so-called pagans and last the Christians;
in spite of every effort they have not been able to convert the Muslims to Christianity.” Rúḥíyyih Khánum
said “naturally they cannot convert Muslims to Christianity because Muslims, through the words of Muḥammad in the Qur’án, already believe in the divinity of
Christ and there is no need for them to take a step
backward in history.” He liked this very much as if
such a logical answer had never occurred to him before.
He said that he was a devout and practicing Muslim.
When Rúḥíyyih Khánum praised the Muslims she had
met in West Africa and observed how they follow the
laws of Muhammed and do not drink, he felt a bit
uneasy and said, “Well I don’t see what harm it does
anyone if a hard working man takes a glass of whisky
now and again to stimulate his tired mind.” Rúḥíyyih Khánum told him “A law is always aimed at the greatest
good for the greatest number.” This is an argument he
could well appreciate, as he himself is a barrister. She
related her observations on this subject and said “How
unfortunate are the consequences of drinking in places
like Bolivia and Africa, where every penny of the already poverty-stricken families goes to pay for the
drinking of the parents. As a result the children are
often deprived of even elementary education, of the
clothes and food and medicine they need to live.” He
then agreed with her that for the good of the majority of
mankind such laws should be enforced. He was very
cordial and jovial and expressed his desire to join us in
our trans-Africa safari.
Talks at Colleges[edit]
Amatu’l-Bahá spoke in both the University of Fourah Bay College in Freetown and its auxiliary institution in the South, Njala College near the city of Njala. At Fourah Bay there was a large attendance of students, who kept asking questions for almost an hour. Dr. Koso Thomas, Professor of Engineering, acting as Chairman, seemed to take as much interest in the questions as the students themselves.
At Njala College there is a devoted American Negro Bahá’í pioneer who transferred to this small African university in order to spread the Faith. It is most encouraging to see how many of the Bahá’í youth are doing this in Africa. His counterpart, a young Persian pioneer, is studying in Fourah Bay College. The Chapel of the College had been placed at our disposal for the lecture but just before the time it was scheduled to take place all the lights on the campus went out. We never-the-less decided to go over and see if anyone had come and discovered two students sitting in the dark interior. By the light of three candles placed on the floor Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke to about fifty young people who went on and on asking questions when she had finished her talk. It was eerie to see the circle of faces, barely discernible in the huge black interior of the Chapel, but it seemed to create a more intimate atmosphere among us as Rúḥíyyih Khánum went on tirelessly explaining the wondrous Message of Bahá’u’lláh.
The title of both of these lectures was “The Spiritual Destiny of Africa”. There are two aspects to this subject which she emphasizes. She said: “Bahá’u’lláh once compared the colored people to the black pupil of the eye surrounded by the white. In this black pupil is seen the reflection of that which is before it, and through it the light of the spirit shineth forth.” She pointed out “because we Bahá’ís believe these words spoken by the
Amatu’l-Bahá with the Prime Minister of Sierra Leone, Dr. Siaka Stevens taken in his office in Freetown.
Messenger of God are divinely inspired we attach great
importance to them. As the pupil of the eye alone is the
seat of vision it behoves us to weigh the spiritual significance of this statement.” On the other hand she points
out: “Although Asia has always been a great source of
spiritual inspiration to mankind, she seems to lack at
present the vitality to export this wonderful quality to
the rest of the world. Europe and the Americas, the
great centers of the white man’s civilization which is
today the fountain head of our technological and material civilization in the world, are proving themselves at
the present time to be materialistic and lacking spiritual or moral fibre. Because of this they now find themselves faced with self-destruction and deprived of the
spiritual vision necessary to lead the world. Amatu’l-Bahá refers to those powerful words of Bahá’u’lláh:
“The civilization, so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences, will, if allowed to overleap
the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon men
... If carried to excess, civilization will prove as prolific
a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept
within the restraints of moderation.” This is given as a
proof of the moral failure of this Godless civilization of
the white man. If at present it seems unlikely that we
are to receive moral and spiritual leadership from either Asia or the West, she asks “what remains except
Africa? The black race in Africa, old in itself, yet young
and vital at this point in world history is now showing
immense vitality, while at the same time it has not yet
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Amatu’l-Bahá with President Leopold Seghor in his office in Dakar, Senegal.
lost its spiritual and moral values; it seems to hold
promise of that leadership so desperately needed today.
This can be Africa’s glorious destiny if she arises to
fulfill it and seizes her opportunity, if she takes from the
West what is good and useful for her technological
advancement and shuns the poisonous materialism and
amoral outlook of Western civilization and refuses to
forfeit her spiritual and moral values.” Rúḥíyyih Khánum often concludes her talk by saying, that she
sees no other hope.
The next day we drove back to Freetown where Amatu’l-Bahá was received by the Prime Minister, Dr. Siaka Stevens and the Minister for Education who happened to be with him.
At Sierra Leone[edit]
In looking back over our visit to Sierra Leone it seems to me it would be impossible to secure more publicity or ensure a greater proclamation of the Faith than took place during this brief visit. I asked myself why this was so. First there was the firm basis of all successful Bahá’í activity, a loving and united community. The Persian-English pioneer couple have welcomed into their home as a much loved, adopted mother, one of the oldest American Negro pioneers in West Africa, Mrs. Vivian Wesson, a Knight of Bahá’u’lláh. She is now seventy-six years old, still pioneering, but too frail to live alone. It is to this hospitable home that the friends come for teaching and meetings. Through a series of things that only happen to Bahá’ís who arise to serve the Cause of God, the right contacts were made to secure publicity. Third, the things Rúḥíyyih Khánum was inspired to say in her press conference were of a nature that pleased the officials at the moment when the country was going through a violent political crisis of which she was wholly unaware at the time.
There were about fifteen people present, including a representative of Tass, the Russian Press Agency. Rúḥíyyih Khánum answered their questions for over an hour and at the end said there were two points she asked them to mention, regardless of anything else they chose to write up: “non-interference in political matters and strict obedience to government; whatever government, in whatever part of the world in which the Bahá’ís live, they must obey. We Bahá’ís believe in change through proper channels, never in violence; evolution not revolution.” For her this was purely routine as she always stresses these two points. For them, however, it was evidently the right words at the right time for in huge black headlines the Daily Mail next day printed: “Violence not a solution says Bahá’í leader”—and went on: “Violence is a short-time solution for a local problem.” The government agencies were evidently so pleased by these views that the radio news broadcasts mentioned Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s visit to the country and quoted her words.
It was probably due to these factors that when Amatu’l-Bahá went to the television station for her interview and asked how many minutes she had they told her she could talk indefinitely as they were planning to use it on the radio as well the next day. A live broadcast of three-quarters of an hour then took place, full of animated discussion between the two participants, Rúḥíyyih Khánum and Dr. Thomas, who had been her Chairman at the University. She often says “In the treasure house of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh we can always find that specific teaching which will apply to any situation or person or group of people; the remedy for everything is there if we but learn to apply it—tactfully!”
In Milton Margai Teachers’ College Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke on “The Role of Youth in Modern Africa”. Over fifty students heard her heart-warming thoughts and aspirations on this subject. As this was not directly a Bahá’í talk she very casually stated at the beginning of her speech, as she usually does: “As I am a Bahá’í naturally my thoughts are colored by the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith”. When the period of questions came, everyone wanted to know more about this Faith and so a second lecture was delivered by her on this subject! On that day there was one young man, a very fine Bahá’í, who was the only believer in that Teacher’s College. However, a few days later at the celebration of the Feast of Naw-Rúz this dear young man very proudly told us that now there were five Bahá’ís in the college.
How Rúḥíyyih Khánum Approaches New People[edit]
In one of His talks given in America ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said that on the Bahá’í New Year it was highly praiseworthy to inaugurate some good undertaking. It was on Naw-Rúz day that Amatu’l-Bahá opened two new villages to the Faith. The first was the village of Lakka, a very beautiful and prosperous community of fishermen. In explaining why we had come to see them she said: “If one of you goes to the sea and finds a lot of fish if you are a good man you will surely come and inform the rest of the village where the fishing is good and guide them to it. Now we have come in that same spirit to tell you of the spiritual abundance of God’s grace and bounty in this day. Then she told them of the coming of Bahá’u’lláh and His life-giving Message of love and brotherhood.
In the second village, Malekei, the inhabitants of which are farmers and traders, Rúḥíyyih Khánum gave another beautiful example. She said, “If one of you goes into these beautiful green hills and finds a fresh spring of water, will you not come back and inform the rest of the village that in that spot good water is to be found? We have come to tell you that today Bahá’u’lláh has brought us that eternal spiritual water of life and we invite you with love to drink from it.” She then gave them a brief outline of the Teachings and answered their questions. In both these places the reaction was sincere and warm and the villagers asked the Bahá’ís to visit them regularly and teach them more.
In the Methodist Boys’ High School there was a Bahá’í youth who had been made fun of and laughed at because he belonged to an entirely unknown religion. When his teacher saw Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s television interview he became so interested in the Faith that the next day he asked the Bahá’í youth to see if Rúḥíyyih Khánum would come and speak to the school. The Vice-Principal acted as her Chairman in a gathering of over a hundred students. The young Bahá’í found himself fully vindicated.
We were able to visit two other villages, where Bahá’í groups had already been established; Gbendembou, where over fifty people gathered, and Goderich, where the majority of the inhabitants are Muslims. As the coastal area around Freetown is mainly Christian the reaction of the Muslim villagers was interesting. One of them asked (no doubt remembering missionary activity in the past); “have you come here to make us change our religion and join yours?” Rúḥíyyih Khánum then once again gave the example of the fisherman and said, “I
[Page 22]
have only come to bring you this wonderful news; for
your own sake I hope you look into it, otherwise it makes
no difference to me what you do with it; having heard
about it, then it is up to you to decide.” They liked this
answer so much that they asked the Bahá’ís to come
regularly to their village.
The exciting part of this trip was the day of the attempted coup d’etat, when for six hours we could not leave our hotel room because of the fact that soldiers were shooting from the hotel grounds at the offices of the Prime Minister across the street and the fire was being returned from the guards defending them. As our room opened onto a corridor into which every now and then bullets came through the glass louvered wall, we dared not attempt to go downstairs and inquire what was happening. We presumed there was a revolution going on. Eventually, when the firing died out, we went downstairs. It was a dangerous and uneasy period; fortunately we were leaving the country.
In Senegal[edit]
From March 26 to April 8 Amatu’l-Bahá visited the friends in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. She was received by the President, Leopold Senghor, in an interview lasting almost half an hour and presented him with a French copy of that wonderful essay of the beloved Guardian The Goal of a New World Order as well as the pamphlet on obedience to government. An excellent official press conference was held at the Ministry for Information as well as two individual interviews with representatives of different papers. During two radio interviews Rúḥíyyih Khánum was able to speak very openly and in detail about the Bahá’í Faith.
A representative of the Ministry for Information arranged a public meeting at the Centre Culturel which was attended by about 200 young people, mostly university students. Senegal has not been immune to the current student riots. For months the government had to close the university, so it was to a discontented and in some degree truculent audience that she spoke. She emphasized that she wanted them to think, to get new ideas based on the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, and at least examine them even if they did not agree with them. She spoke of obedience to government and non-violence, and dwelt at some length on the effect upon society this one teaching would have: to mention the good qualities and be silent about the bad ones, to praise instead of constantly criticizing. She said “this could not only be applied individually but could well be applied amongst nations, as they almost never had a good word to say about each other!” She laughingly asked the audience “Not to fall upon her too hard when the question period came; and to have some consideration for her age”; she said that French was not her native language.
The question period was stormy; of course immediately negative criticism about everything started, to which she said: “You see what I mean? Today we can not even open our mouths without criticizing and being entirely negative in our approach.” A nice man, a little older than the students, came and stood beside her and said he agreed with everything she said and was ready to defend her views. It was hectic, the room was overcrowded, some of the youth openly scornful. We have heard since then, however, that several of the young men who attended this meeting have accepted the Faith.
In the towns of Rufisque and Pikwe Amatu’l-Bahá met with the Bahá’ís and their friends. The Persian pioneer family in Dakar have succeeded in laying a firm foundation of faith in the hearts of the new believers, almost all of Muslim extraction. This year the first Local Spiritual Assemblies in these two towns were elected. The loving and attentive reception Amatu’l-Bahá received from all the Bahá’ís in Senegal touched her deeply and added a new series of precious memories to this trans-Africa tour.
Meeting held in Rufisque, Senegal, where a new Assembly was formed during Riḍván, 1971.
BAHA’I PUBLISHING TRUST[edit]
Memorials of the Faithful. By ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Translated by Marzieh Gail.
This book, recently translated into English, is being made available over a half century after the passing of the Master. It consists of remembrances of some seventy companions of Bahá’u’lláh, who followed Him into exile and prison, recollected by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the closing years of His life. Many were humble people, not otherwise known to later generations, but who earned their place in Bahá’í history through their complete love and devotion to Bahá’u’lláh.
The translator has written concerning this work: “The reader will probably find himself in these pages, whether he is the jeweler from Baghdád, one of the dishwashers, or the professor who could not endure the arrogance of his compeers. Mystic, feminist, cleric, artisan, merchant prince are here.... For this is more than the brief annals of early Bahá’í disciples; it is, somehow, a book of prototypes.... These are short and simple accounts, but they constitute a manual of how to live, and how to die.... And if, to the cynical, these believers seem better than ordinary men, we should remember that the presence of the Manifestation made them so, and that they are being looked at through the eyes of the Master....”
The following comments are by Dr. Amín Banání, who acted as reader of the translation while in manuscript form: “The language of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is figurative. He makes use of a rich fund of literary devices—rhymed phrases, symmetrical forms, alliterations, assonances, metaphores, similes and allusions—that far from sounding contrived and artificial, are naturally matched to the content of this book: the essence of faithfulness. With concrete images He describes spiritual states and psychic levels of consciousness, as if to assert the primacy and reality of the realm of the spirit. To convey these qualities of language in translation is not an easy task. The able translator has taken the only path open to her and given us a faithful and literal rendering.... Let the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá trace in his [the reader’s] mind the shape of the valley of love and faithfulness.... In His usual self-effacing way, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says almost nothing about Himself in this book. But occasional events in the lives of these companions are interwoven with His own.... His observant, warm and tender love surrounds these faithful believers, and through them, fills us with the same qualities.”
This book has been artistically designed in a two-piece binding of fern green and ivory cloth, stamped in gold, with an attractive jacket. A calligraphic design in the form of a bird of paradise appears on the book and jacket. It is by the well-known Bahá’í calligraphist, Mishkín Qalam whose life is extolled in this book.
Hand of the Cause of God, Zikru’lláh Khádem has written concerning it: “It is a beautiful art form ... of the words Bismi’lláhi’l-Bahíyyi’l-Abhá (in the name of the Glory, the Most Glorious), encompassing the thought of the bird of paradise in the form of the Greatest Holy Name sitting on the tree of Touba (i.e. name of a tree of paradise, meaning blessedness or excellent).... This art form can be found in many Bahá’í houses in Persia, framed and hung in a place of honor.”
The book contains a frontispiece portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; 230 pages.
Per Copy | $3.50 |
In commemoration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the entire Fall issue of WORLD ORDER will be devoted to the Master. Included are articles on:
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—The Person
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá During the War Years
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Literary Legacy
- The Passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Special features include:
- Excerpts from Juliet Thompson’s Diary
- Review of Books about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Make plans now to use the Fall issue of WORLD ORDER for deepening and proclamation.
Subscription rates effective with the Fall 1971 issue: Domestic, $4.50 (Students, $3.50), Foreign, $5.00. Please indicate whether new subscription, gift, or renewal. No billing.
Change of address—especially for Local Spiritual Assemblies and groups—should be reported immediately to avoid expense and delay in receiving issues.
All checks and address changes should be mailed to:
- World Order, Subscription Service
- 415 Linden Ave., Wilmette, Ill. 60091
MALAYSIA: Less than one month since Convention, conferences have been held throughout Malaysia and Singapore. Every mile of roads has been assigned for opening of the Faith. As Bahá’ís go into the jungle in Pehang, others dock at the long-house in Sarawak; while another team leaves Sungei Patani for an estate, another from Kauntan goes to a kampong while another team climbs the flats of Queenstown; others walk the road from Ipoh to Seremban or from Muar to Malacca.
A giant plan was presented at the Convention. Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Muhájir reminded the friends that the Faith had to be carried to every single soul as soon as possible. The goal was set for ten islands to be opened in the next six months.
To Langkawi, a beautiful island called the “Pride of Kedah”, Ganesan and Jayabalan on April 2, 1971, went on a teaching-excursion trip with a School Historical Society. By chance Balan met an old friend who promised to arrange a fireside, which did not materialize. But the friend said the Temple priest had some time ago mentioned something about the Faith. So off they went to the Temple and there, to their great surprise, was a familiar face coming to greet them. The priest was a Bahá’í, who had declared a few years ago in Tanjong Pau Estate in mainland Kedah. The priest, Mr. Ganapathy, explained that he had come to Langkawi six months ago and had mentioned the Faith to a number of people.
It was clear that Mr. Ganapathy was sincere, but sheer necessity had kept him in his present job. While the Bahá’ís were talking to him, a group of youths came marching to the Temple singing hymns and ringing bells. As they neared the Temple, the priest rushed off to perform the necessary rituals. Ganesan took the opportunity to ask two of the youths whether they understood what they were doing. The answer was a blunt “No.” As Ganesan began to explain that we should always ask ourselves why we do a certain thing or perform a ritual, the crowd began to gather around the Bahá’ís. The whole choir group attended a fireside right inside the Temple, with the priest standing next to Ganesan, urging the youths to listen to what he was saying.
There was a declaration the same evening, another the following day, and clear indications of others following in the near future.
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SARAWAK: At the Sarawak Trade Fair, Bahá’ís manned a booth for three weeks starting March 27, 1971. Thousands of people flocked to the fair and none could have missed the big bold sign “Bahá’í Faith”. Besides posters, a slide show drew people like a magnet. As they watched, a Bahá’í handed out a pamphlet to each, in Chinese and English, which included a prepaid reply card. More than 7000 of these were given out, and very soon 200 replies had been received.
The friends were organized on a roster basis to man the booth, but some even came back when not on duty to help with the teaching.
The booth was a glorious “first”, but only one of the approaches used by Bahá’ís in Sarawak, for they have had extensive newspaper publicity, regular radio broadcasts and proclaimed to the highest dignitaries in the land.
Bahá’í Holy Days are listed in the Sarawak Gazette and the Sarawak Almanac. Because of this, a radio station, on its own, to the astonishment of the Bahá’ís in the region on April 21, made the announcement: “Today 10,000 Bahá’ís in 240 localities are celebrating the first day of Riḍván ... and elections of Spiritual Assemblies are taking place all over the country.”
Bahá’í News and National Bahá’í Review[edit]
As previously reported, BAHÁ’Í NEWS is being placed on a subscription basis beginning with the October issue. This action has become necessary because of finances.
This notice applies only to Bahá’ís in the United States.
We are attempting here to answer some of your questions in order to save you from writing in. Each Local Spiritual Assembly of the United States will receive, free of charge, three copies of BAHÁ’Í NEWS. One should be kept on file and the other two may be circulated among the members, although one of these two should be preserved in the local library for further use. Each Bahá’í group will receive one free copy of BAHÁ’Í NEWS. For some months BAHÁ’Í NEWS has not been sent to new believers because the flood of declarations came in just at the time when the National Bahá’í Fund was at low ebb. To receive BAHÁ’Í NEWS from now on an individual must be a subscriber. However, all Bahá’ís in the United States are receiving the September issue without charge to help them decide whether or not they wish to subscribe.
The NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í REVIEW will now become an insert in THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í which is sent free of charge to each Bahá’í living in the United States. The purpose of THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í is to stimulate the teaching effort in this country and to share with the friends news of outstanding teaching activities while BAHÁ’Í NEWS will continue to publish the bulk of the international news about the Faith. The NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í REVIEW is designed primarily to serve as a channel for information from the National Spiritual Assembly to Bahá’ís in the United States. It will appear in such a form that it can and should be removed from THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í, folded and cut to fit a file or binder 8½ x 11" where it can be kept for permanent reference.
The order to the printer for the required number of copies of BAHÁ’Í NEWS must be placed at least a month before each issue. This means that a person who wishes Bahá’í News must have his subscription in by September 13 in order to continue receiving the publication without interruption. It is imperative, therefore, that there be no delay in sending in your subscription. If someone decides later that he wants the October issue, it might not be available. The subscription price for BAHÁ’Í NEWS is $6.00 a year, and it is for Bahá’ís only. If you subscribe to WORLD ORDER the price for both publications is $9.00. If you change your address, the information must continue to be sent to the National Bahá’í Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, 60091. If you subscribe to BAHÁ’Í NEWS and/or WORLD ORDER, the subscription and changes of address for the mailing of BAHÁ’Í NEWS and/or WORLD ORDER should be marked to the attention of:
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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: Mrs. Evelyn Hardin, 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 Membership and Records. National Bahá’í Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A. 60091.
