Bahá’í News/Issue 502/Text
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| No. 502 | BAHA’I YEAR 129 | January, 1973 |
|
The Universal House of Justice
Adoption of its Constitution
(signed)—THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
Haifa, Israel |
Mrs. Phoebe Apperson Hearst
Early Believer in the Faith[edit]
Mrs. Phoebe Apperson Hearst.
Of gentle, aristocratic background, Phoebe Apperson
Hearst was born in Franklin, Missouri in 1842. Her
parents had social position. They were prosperous owners
of slaves. At the age of seventeen, after she had gained
some knowledge of French, she became a school teacher.
Two years later, in 1862, against the wishes of her parents, she eloped with rough, but kindly, George Hearst, aged forty-one. He had business interests in San Francisco, where he lived and was possessed of considerable wealth. They went to live in his native city.
In 1863 William Randolph Hearst, her only child, was born.
Extremely beautiful, Mrs. Hearst was firm, determined, and unusually generous. She had a fine moral sense. Although strong and generous like his wife and highly principled in business, Mr. Hearst did not always share her highest ideals. This situation brought her closer to her son and caused her to become a possessive mother.
A biographer has written, “Although she was conventionally God-fearing, she found her chief faith in secular self-improvement and her religion in the upbringing of her child.”1
In the spring of 1873, when her husband was living some distance from the city, taking care of his mining interests, she rented their large house on Chestnut Street and left for Europe with her son and his tutor, Thomas Barry.
While travelling in Dublin, she wrote in her diary, “The poorer classes are so terribly poor, Willie wants to give away all his money and clothes too, and really I felt the same way, if we could have relieved even half of them.”2
In Rome, characteristically, she succeeded in arranging an audience with Pope Pius IX. “He was so kind and lovely, spoke altogether in French, asked where we came from,” she wrote to her husband. “When he came to Willy, he placed his hand on his head, and blessed him.”—(February 7, 1874).3
On their return from Europe, she found that her husband had suffered a serious financial reverse. As a result, while he remained away from the city in order to recover his mining interests, she and her son lived in a modest boarding house. But Mr. Hearst had a genius for business. It did not take him long to revive his fortunes and to become much richer than before.
At this time Mrs. Hearst began her philanthropic work in earnest. Without any sectarian bias, she not only gave away enormous sums of money, but also unsparingly devoted her time and energy to worthy causes.
She helped in the foundation of the first Homeopathic Hospital in San Francisco, named after Dr. Hahnemann, the developer of that medical science.
As well as contributing to orphanages and to a children’s hospital, she established seven kindergartens in that city.
Several years later Mrs. Sarah B. Cooper, President of The Golden Gate Kindergarten Association, wrote to her: “Your seven kindergartens are a beacon light guiding the little ones to the port of peace—may we all reach the port of peace at last.”4
In 1886, the Governor of California appointed George Hearst, Senator. As a result, of course the Hearsts moved to Washington D.C. While there, she established more kindergartens, helped the Polyclinic Hospital, and did much to relieve the suffering caused by an earthquake in Charleston, South Carolina. In their house in Washington D.C. at 1400 New Hampshire Avenue, she gave big receptions, often in aid of some charity or a struggling artist.
In February 1891, Senator Hearst died peacefully. His widow, then forty-eight, now had control of an enormous fortune.
She returned to San Francisco for a short time. The new responsibilities recently thrust upon her combined with the problems that a number of grasping people created for her, led to the breakdown of her health. After resting for some months in the country, she returned to Washington and lived there for the next nine years except when she made frequent visits to San Francisco and occasional trips to Europe. She built the National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington. Mrs. Hearst was a co-founder of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in 1897.
Robert Turner[edit]
In a sketch, Louis G. Gregory has informed us that Robert Turner, her Negro butler, held a position of some responsibility in her household and affirmed that “he was faithful, dependable, and wise.”5
Some time before 1898, Lua Getsinger, whom ‘Abdu’l-Bahá had called Liva (meaning “Banner of the Cause”)
[Page 3]
visited San Francisco. During this trip she called on Mrs.
Hearst and spoke to her about the Bahá’í Faith. Even
without access to the facts it is not hard to imagine the
thrilling scene that ensued. Robert Turner let Mrs. Getsinger into the house and showed her into a finely furnished sitting-room. After giving her a gracious welcome,
Mrs. Hearst asked her guest to sit down next to her on
the sofa. After first serving the tea, Robert stood near to
them. In a most moving manner, Mrs. Getsinger spoke
to them both about the Bahá’í Faith. On this occasion
and surely on those that followed Robert did all that he
could to learn about the Faith and he became a believer.
In God Passes By, Shoghi Effendi has referred to the fact that an American Negro, Robert Turner was “the first member of his race to embrace the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in the West.”6
First Western Pilgrims[edit]
Deeply moved by what she had heard, in 1898 Mrs. Hearst decided to visit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Holy Land. She generously invited others to go along with her and made up a party which consisted of Lua Getsinger and her husband, Dr. Ibrahim Khay’ru’lláh, a Syrian doctor, who had been teaching the Cause in Chicago for four years, his wife, and Robert Turner.
In Paris, Mrs. Hearst added to the party her two nieces, Miss Pearson and Ann Apperson, another American, May Ellis Bolles (later Mrs. Maxwell) as well as two English believers, Mrs. Thornburgh and her daughter, Miriam Thornburgh-Cropper. In Egypt, Dr. Khay’ru’lláh’s daughters and their grandmother joined this historic party. They travelled from Egypt to Haifa in a small, uncomfortable boat. The outbreak of a storm did not make the journey easier.
Because of the serious dangers that constantly threatened ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the fifteen pilgrims visited the prison city of ‘Akká in three separate groups.
At nightfall their first day in Haifa, December 10, 1898, the first group which seems to have included the Getsingers, Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper, Mrs. Hearst and Robert Turner, took a carriage to the prison house.
As they went upstairs there, Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper has recorded: “Someone lighted the way for us with a small piece of candle which cast strange shadows on the walls of this silent place. Suddenly the light caught a form that at first seemed a vision of mist and light. It was The Master which the candlelight revealed to us. His white robe and silver flowing hair, and shining eyes gave the impression of a spirit, rather than of a human being. We tried to tell Him how deeply grateful we were at His receiving us. ‘No,’ He answered, ‘you are kind to come.’ This was spoken in a very careful English. Then He smiled and we recognized the light which He possessed in the radiance which moved over His fine and noble face.7
Their first meeting with The Master so overwhelmed the other members of the group that they failed to notice that Robert Turner had not entered the room. Thinking of him immediately, The Master went to the door and found Robert standing outside.
Mr. Gregory has written, “At sight of the Master he dropped upon his knees and exclaimed, ‘My Lord! My Lord! I am not worthy to be here!’ ” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá raised him to his feet;8 and embraced him like a loving father.
Hand of the Cause of God, Hasan M. Balyuzi, has described another meeting between The Master and Robert. “One day as the Master sat with the pilgrims, He asked whether everybody was there, and then He noticed that the butler was absent. ‘Where is Robert?’ He enquired, and as soon as that pure, devoted man came into the room, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá rose to His feet and greeted Him affectionately. He made Robert, a servant, sit down with the rest, and said: ‘Robert, your Lord loves you. God gave you a black skin, but a heart white as snow.’ ”9
When The Master led the party into The Most Holy Tomb and even into its innermost chamber, Robert was, of course, present. He, of no seemingly worldly importance, brought along at least partly to serve Mrs. Hearst, was greatly affected by The Master’s most loving welcome and understanding treatment and became deeply convinced by Him of the Reality of God’s Cause for this day. The Master assured him that “if he remained firm and steadfast until the end, he would be a door through which a whole race would enter the Kingdom.”10
A year after her pilgrimage, Mrs. Hearst wrote to a friend, “Those three days were the most remarkable of my life ...”
Shortly afterwards, in another letter she has described The Master in these words: “I must say He is the most wonderful Being I have ever met or ever expect to meet in this world. Although He does not seek to impress one at all, strength, power, purity, love and holiness are radiated from His majestic, yet humble personality, and the spiritual atmosphere which surrounds Him and most powerfully affects all those who are blest by being near Him is indescribable.... I believe in Him with all my heart and soul....”11
Mrs. Hearst had done an unforgettable service for the Bahá’í Cause in bringing the first pilgrimage of believers from a Christian background and from the West to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and to visit The Most Holy Tomb.
As Shoghi Effendi has pointed out, “The return of these God-intoxicated pilgrims, some to France, others to the United States, was the signal for an outburst of systematic and sustained activity, which as it gathered momentum and spread its ramifications over Western Europe and the States and Provinces of the North American continent, grew to so great a scale that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Himself resolved that as soon as He should be released from His prolonged confinement in ‘Akká He would undertake a personal mission to the West.”12
After she had returned to her home in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Hearst gave a reception there for prominent educators of the Negro race. Mr. Gregory felt that she did this partly “because of her experiences at ‘Akká and her esteem for Robert Turner.”13 She spoke to them all most ardently about the coming of Bahá’u’lláh.
Later Years[edit]
Unfortunately, as a result of the activities of certain unprincipled individuals who left the Faith and tried to take advantage of Mrs. Hearst’s generosity she became estranged from the Cause but she never lost her love for the Master.
In 1900, after selling her mansion in Washington, she returned to California with her niece, Ann Apperson, to live in an attractive house of Spanish architecture, called Hacienda, which she had built at Pleasanton, a suburb of San Francisco.
On her arrival there she began again and continued without ceasing her philanthropic work in California. She did more perhaps for the University of that State than for any other institution. In the summer of 1912 she helped to establish a permanent camp for the Young Women’s Christian Association.
During the next October ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited California. Although separated from the Bahá’í Community, Mrs. Hearst asked Him and His attendants to visit her house in Pleasanton, and at the same time asked many of her friends to meet Him. “Because her invitation was sincere, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá accepted it.”16 Arriving on October 13th He stayed there for three nights.
The first to bring up the Faith directly, she asked Him
[Page 4]
to chant again a certain prayer in Arabic that had
moved her deeply when she heard Him chant it during
her pilgrimage fourteen years earlier. Without any hesitation He did so. Her guests seemed greatly affected by
His chanting. On the next day He said a prayer for them
before lunch. On the night afterwards, the last of His
visit, He said one before dinner.
Before leaving, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked to meet all of the servants in the house. He spoke to them like a father and gave each one a present of money.
One can well imagine that He and Mrs. Hearst spoke more than once about her devoted Robert who had passed away some time before. She took Him and His attendants back to San Francisco. During the trip He explained to her that those who tried to extort money from people and were anxious to get hold of possessions belonging to others could not be called Bahá’ís.
After she had strenuously served her country in humanitarian work during the First World War, she died on April 13, 1919.
Mr. W. A. Swanberg, a biographer of her son, has called her, “California’s greatest lady and one of the nation’s most remarkable women.”17
In a Tablet to Mr. A. W. Randall (translated by Azziz’ullah, Mt. Carmel, Palestine, June 25, 1920), referring to the San Francisco Examiner founded by Senator George Heart and then inherited by his son and heir, William Randolph Hearst, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has written, “The papers of Mr. Hearst are verily striving for the protection of the rights of the people. I am supplicating that they may become the first papers serving the good of the world of humanity so that they may keep alive the blessed name of Mrs. Hearst and that this name, Hearst, may live permanently till eternity.”18
Notes:
- W. A. Swanberg, Citizen Hearst: A Biography of William Randolph Hearst, Longman’s, 1962, p. 8.
- Winifred Black, The Life and Personality of Phoebe Apperson Hearst, San Francisco: Bonfils, 1928, p. 37.
- W. A. Swanberg, Citizen Hearst, p. 16.
- Winifred Black, The Life and Personality of Phoebe Apperson Hearst, p. 58.
- World Order, Vol. XII, “Robert Turner” by Louis G. Gregory, p. 28.
- Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, Wilmette, Ill.: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, p. 259.
- Lady Blomfield, The Chosen Highway, p. 235.
- World Order, Vol. XII, p. 28.
- H. M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, London: George Ronald, 1971, p. 72.
- World Order, Vol. XII, p. 28.
- Bahá’í World, Vol. VII, pp. 801-802.
- Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 259.
- World Order, Vol. XII, p. 29.
- Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 259.
- World Order, Vol. XII, p. 29.
- H. M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 307.
- W. A. Swanberg, Citizen Hearst, p. 8.
- Star of the West, Vol. 11, No. 7, p. 112.
Youth Conference in Honduras[edit]
On July 7 through 9, 1972 nearly fifty Bahá’í youth from nine localities of Honduras gathered in La Ceiba, on the Caribbean Coast for a Youth Conference.
Classes covered Bahá’í History, the Administrative Order, the Fund, and “Living the Life”. The Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Báb was held on Sunday, July 9. The public meeting Saturday night with songs and a slide show attracted nearly a hundred people. When the youth departed Sunday, it was with a clearer and deeper understanding of the Faith.
Proclamation in Chinatown, New York City[edit]
“And ye who are the people of the Orient—the Orient which has ever been the dawning-point of lights—from whence the Sun of Reality has ever shone forth casting its effulgence upon the West—ye therefore must become the manifestations of lights. Ye must become brilliant lamps. Ye must shine as stars radiating the light of love toward all mankind. May you be the cause of love amongst the nations. Thus may the world become witness that the Orient has ever been the dawning-point of illumination, the source of love and reconciliation. Make peace with all the world. Love everybody; serve everybody. All are the servants of God. God has created all. He provideth for all. He is kind to all. Therefore must we be kind to all.
I am greatly pleased with this meeting. I am joyous and happy, for there in these western regions I find Orientals seeking education, and who are free from prejudice. May God assist you!”
Members of the Northeast Oriental Teaching Committee
top, left: Y. Stephen Yamamoto, Soo Fouts, Ann M. Carpenter and Edward Goldberg in front of Public School 23.
[Page 5]
These words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted at the Gateway
Conference on September 9, 1972, served to bring into
sharp focus the aim of the Northeast Oriental Teaching
Committee, to bring the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh to the Oriental peoples of the Northeastern States so that through His
power, their true station will be achieved. Although the
reader of this passage was unaware of it, the words had
still more significance for Stephen Yamamoto, a member
of the committee: it was his grandfather who arranged
the meeting in Oakland, California at which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
delivered this talk in 1912.
At our first meeting in Chinatown, New York, (September 16) we got a glimpse of the immense possibilities for spreading the Faith that were ahead. While waiting for the others to arrive, two committee members distributed handouts and talked to people at the corner of Canal and Mott Streets—the heart of Chinatown. We saw how readily we could give out material throughout Chinatown. Standing there we saw single people and entire families, well-to-do people and those of modest means, young and old, strolling or hurrying about their Saturday shopping. Although most people we spoke to were extremely courteous and receptive, we could gauge the response of the youth more easily because they spoke English fluently. We immediately saw the need for having material written in Chinese for older people. (Later we observed that the Chinese language publications also attracted young people’s interest.)
On our first visit our aim was to familiarize ourselves with the neighborhood and to locate a place for our first public meeting. We walked around and inquired again and again among residents. Finally one man advised us not to telephone, but to follow up each lead in person. We did this, and were successful in renting the auditorium of Public School 23, on Mulberry and Bayard Streets.
It was vital that we have our first public meeting directly in Chinatown, for it is here that the Chinese live in great numbers and they are reluctant to travel out of its vicinity. Above all, we knew the inestimable value of attracting spiritual power to that area and of demonstrating the love and harmony among people of diverse races working to proclaim Bahá’u’lláh’s Message.
Once the building for our public meeting had been secured, we had flyers, handouts, and a brief pamphlet printed in English and Chinese. At our second meeting in Chinatown (October 14, 1972), we sat in Columbus Park, directly across from Public School 23. As people walked through the park, we noticed that they were watching us—the racial diversity and the love and joy of our committee drew them to us; the flyers in Chinese aroused their curiosity. It was easy to teach!
On the weekend before the proclamation, two committee members and others distributed about sixty posters in Chinese and English among the stores in the heart of Chinatown. We found most merchants cooperative in posting our notices. The following week we were pleased to see that most posters were still up.
Our secretary sent announcements to Bahá’í communities in all nine Northeastern States apprising them of the proclamation and inviting them to assist us. These announcements were read at the Feast of Knowledge. In addition, she sent flyers and personal letters of invitation to everyone whom the committee members had met—people who had given them leads, advertising men in the local newspaper offices, storekeepers, youth center directors, et al. During the week before the public meeting the committee had notices in Chinese printed in the two largest daily newspapers.
On Saturday, October 28, 1972, twenty-seven Bahá’ís met at the New York Bahá’í Center for prayers and orientation before going to Chinatown to distribute flyers and literature. Despite a steady, heavy downpour, we stood outside and handed out material during the
Soo Fouts hands out flyers and pamphlets in Columbus
Park, Chinatown, New York City. In background, a steady
stream of people enter park.
major part of the day. Our aim was to inform people of
the meeting the next day, presenting them with an image
of dignity and reserve and thereby attracting them to
the Faith. This time there was a significant number of
older people who responded positively—they readily accepted the material, thanked us for it, and read it carefully. Their gracious attitudes encouraged even the shy
ones who had never done street teaching before. Before
the group re-assembled at 4:30 p.m. all of us had grown
in spiritual strength and confidence, and we truly understood Bahá’u’lláh’s words, “The source of courage
and power is the promotion of the Word of God and
steadfastness in His Love.” (Words of Wisdom, p. 4)
A large group of the friends gathered at the Bahá’í Center in New York City, Sunday morning the 29th. Prayers were read for Divine guidance. Then we all went downtown to Chinatown. The rain had stopped, but the skies were dark and overcast. Still, with hearts full of joy, we began distributing literature. As more friends arrived—from New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, D.C.—our joyous spirits overcame the weather. Again the radiance of our groups attracted the interest of the residents of Chinatown.
Twenty-five Chinese were present at our public meeting, along with about twenty other seekers and about seventy-five Bahá’ís. Most of the Chinese were of middle age; some brought their whole families. Only a few were unaccompanied. All of us were inspired by the program: a multi-media presentation of songs, dance, slides, recitations, readings and instrumental solos by the Bahá’í Singers; and a talk by Eric Byrd on “What is the Bahá’í Faith?” Most of the Chinese seekers received a booklet in Chinese to take with them. Several persons whom we spoke to at the end of the program said that they would definitely come to our second public meeting, to be held on November 19 in the same place.
Many of the friends found Chinatown to be an area of limitless possibilities. All of us feel encouraged by the fact that twenty-five Chinese have already come to hear Bahá’u’lláh’s Message; our re-doubled efforts in the time ahead may attract others in greater numbers; from them we may find those who will become attracted to Bahá’u’lláh and will remain steadfast in His Cause.
A Triumph in Living the Life—Institute in New Guinea[edit]
The new institute building was in the last stages of completion in Arufa, New Guinea when nearby Bahá’ís began arriving on foot late in October 1972. New Guinea is the large island just north of Australia, one of the last places on the face of the globe to be explored with its tropical rain forests and in the north-east, highlands, even mountains. But the unknown evidently had been faced with confidence by heroic Bahá’í pioneers who had carefully planted the seeds of the Faith and now the harvest was beginning. (Read the exciting story of the river trip of Sue Podger in a different part of the island, Papua, in August 1971 BAHÁ’Í NEWS.)
Arufa, in the highlands of the north-east, had reached a high point in its Bahá’í growth, and its first building to house a teaching institute was scheduled to be completed for its first session from October 21 to 27, 1972. The faithful teachers were anxious: would the building be completed in time? Would the village Bahá’ís be able to cope with the visitors? Well they might be concerned for this Institute was to upset hundreds of years of traditional inter-tribal belligerency. On the local level believers would have to divest themselves of prejudice hardened into habitual antagonism. Were believers strong enough to “live the life”, to accept former tribal enemies as brothers?
The last day or two before the great event, a calamity occurred. The bridge over the river was removed so no
New Teaching Institute building in Arufa, North-East New Guinea.
Some of those who attended sessions of the first Teaching Institute at Arufa, New Guinea.
[Page 7]
Silipo, one of the first Bahá’ís in the Highlands. She was
responsible for cooking the meals for students attending
the Institute in Arufa, New Guinea.
vehicles could come into Arufa. Surely under these
conditions it is impossible to hold the Institute, the
pioneers reasoned. But no, some visitors were already
arriving through jungle trails and there was no way to
send word out to cancel the session. The Institute had to
be held And, lo, it was done!
The building is a traditional round house such as is used by the highland people. It has a wooden frame, plaited bamboo sides, cement floor and a tin and fibre glass roof which can be seen gleaming in the sun for several miles along the highway. Students slept in small grass and bamboo houses in the village.
Daily sessions were attended by as many as twenty students, representing twelve localities. The evening sessions, enlarged by Arufa and Goroka Bahá’ís, numbered about eighty.
Auxiliary Board member Violet Hoehnke and the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly traveled from Lae to Goroka to assist.
Morning sessions consisted of study classes on the topics of “Progressive Revelation”, “The Covenant”, “Bahá’í Laws”, and practice Local Assembly meetings and Feasts. Afternoons were free for rest and gardening. Evenings featured slide shows, discussions and singing. A party was held at the end of the school attended by ninety-one men, women and children. The sessions were conducted by Dan Himes, Noel Bluett, Margaret Bluett, and Violet Hoehnke, who noticed an eagerness to teach and live the life. A telegram was received from the Sogeri Institute, held at the same time, and a reply was sent.
While the school was in session the Local Government Council had a crew of men installing a cement bridge near by, and a large bulldozer worked up and down the hilly track preparing to lay an all-weather road into Arufa. To the Bahá’í residents, this modern engineering miracle, coinciding with the holding of the first Institute was a sign that a new age had arrived in their village.
Indeed, this was a demonstration of the power of the Faith to bring about a spiritual change in the hearts of mankind. It is the fervent hope of the National Assembly that this Institute in Arufa, together with the two other Institutes in Sogeri and Madina, will prove to be the most effective means of deepening the believers and inspiring the work of teaching in New Guinea.
Trinidad and Tobago Goals Achieved[edit]
| Goals | When Achieved |
|---|---|
|
March 23, 1970 |
|
July 9, 1970 |
|
October 9, 1970 |
|
October 9, 1970 |
|
June 20, 1972 |
|
August 23, 1972 |
|
August 25, 1972 |
The main difficulty encountered on all these
achievements was in locating the properties.
Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Trinidad and Tobago. Seated, left to right: Mr. Ramdass Ramkissoon; Mr. Fitzroy Sookoo; Mrs. Edna R. Caverly; Mr. Joel Caverly, Treasurer. Standing, left to right: Mr. Donald Swihart, Vice-Chairman; Dr. Lavern Johnson; Mrs. Nikoo Amarsing Rauljan; Mr. Leopold Fraser, Secretary; Miss Shamsi Sedaghat, Chairman.
The Bermuda Conference—November 23-26, 1972[edit]
The Bermuda Bahá’í Teaching Conference held November 23-26 at the Hamilton Princess Hotel was a successful climax to many proclamation activities held in Bermuda during the week preceding the Conference. Most exciting to the Bermuda Bahá’ís was the acceptance by the Bermuda Society of Arts of the paintings of Mark Tobey, along with string pictures of Shahokh Makhanian, a Persian artist living in Italy, and sandpaintings of David Villasenor, all Bahá’ís, for showing during their Annual Exhibition. The Society of Arts opened the exhibition with special thanks to the Bahá’ís of Bermuda.
There were three television presentations of the Faith. The first was the film “Give Me That New Time Religion” featuring Dizzie Gillespie, Seals and Crofts and Geraldine Jones. This was followed by a half-hour program which introduced Robert Imagire (member International Goals Committee) in his capacity of expert on Japanese flower arranging. Mr. Imagire was interviewed by Lee Johnson of Bermuda, one of the two Bahá’í radio announcers on the Island. That program was called “Leaves of One Branch—Flowers of One Garden”. On November 22, Dr. Daniel Jordan, Vice-Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, was introduced on ZBM-TV by Mrs. Annette Lightbourne, Chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Devonshire, Bermuda in a program called “Keys to Harmony”. Many Bermudians expressed their enjoyment of this program, and the others.
The Bahá’ís arriving in Bermuda on Thursday, November 23 were met by blustery winds, but were soon warmed by the hospitality of the Bermudians, Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í alike.
The Conference, having the theme “Arise and Struggle” began Thursday evening with a Unity Feast which was conducted by Mr. Hubert Simmons, Chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Pembroke.
Mrs. Marjorie Gladwin, Secretary of the Bermuda Teaching Committee, gave a detailed and informative history of the growth of the Faith in Bermuda. The Faith was introduced on the Island for the first time in 1949 by Mrs. Pauline Campbell, whose husband was then attached to the U.S. Air Force Base. The first Bermudian to enroll under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh was Mr. Brian Burland, who actually declared in Canada with his Canadian wife, Gail. Together they had many firesides and proclamation events in Bermuda before moving back to Canada. Administratively, Bermuda was served by several National Spiritual Assemblies, lastly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. It was the latter who decided that as Bermuda has nine parishes and two cities, it should have eleven Local Assemblies. To date Bermuda has two Local Spiritual Assemblies and seven groups.
These two Assemblies and three of the groups prepared displays on Bahá’í themes for the Conference. The St. George group displayed a few of their materials for the archives, which included a receipt from Shoghi Effendi for a sum of money sent to the Fund from Bermudian Bahá’ís in 1956. The Hamilton group displayed the works of the Guardian under the name of “The Priceless Pearl.” The Sandys Group had an interesting display of hand-lettered quotations from Hidden Words, artistically arranged with leaves and flowers. The Local Assembly of Devonshire displayed a map of Bermuda made with local shells and sand from the beaches of Bermuda on a blue background. The Assembly of Pembroke composed a verse opposite the name of Bahá’u’lláh written vertically, and called Him “The Prince of Peace”—this against a gold background.
On Friday, November 24, Dr. Daniel Jordan addressed the Conference on the topic—“The Bahá’í Faith and the Individual.” Dr. Jordan stressed the fact that the individual living in present day society is bombarded by pressures and illustrated how the Bahá’í prepares himself or gathers ammunition to combat these pressures. Because these pressures are temporary and changing, a non-Bahá’í must have temporary and changing outlets, but a Bahá’í, through deepening in the ocean of the Words of Bahá’u’lláh will have a permanent and ever appropriate-outlet.
Friday consisted of several sessions and Mrs. Elizabeth Haynes discussed “The Bahá’í Faith and the Family”. Her most salient points dealt with youth and the aged. She warned parents against cloaking themselves with guilt when their adolescent children become caught up by the mores of the permissive society stating that in this condition, parents could be of little help to their children. Mrs. Haynes also shared her experiences gained in her contacts with the elderly and pleaded for more love and attention for them. Someone in the audience mentioned
[Page 9]
the importance of allowing ourselves to become
‘elderly’ and related the ‘ecology’ of family life, and the
need of youngsters to have elderly folk around them.
Mrs. Annette Lightbourne, Chairman of the Devonshire Assembly, made the Guardian’s writings about the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh clearer in her touching dissertation about the failure of the leaders of the world to lead in the right direction.
On Saturday, Nov. 25, Dr. Jordan once again addressed the Conference. This time the topic was “The Bahá’í Faith and the World.”
Bahá’ís in the audience of the various sessions were encouraged to speak at certain times and they took full advantage of this opportunity for participation and imparted some valuable knowledge.
On Friday and Saturday afternoon the visiting Bahá’ís busied themselves all over the Island with teaching the Faith and proclaiming Bahá’u’lláh. The majority reported that Bermudians were indeed familiar with the name Bahá’í.
A music festival Saturday evening was hosted by Van Gilmer, known to many for his musical talents. Dr. Jordan once again performed his “Keys to Harmony” and Bermuda Bahá’í Lloyd Williams thrilled everyone with his saxophone and flute. Bermudian artists who participated were the Liberation Dancers and their musicians, soprano Jean Shaw and the Milt Robinson Trio.
At the Silver Leaf Guest House where many of the American Bahá’ís stayed, a gathering after the music festival continued with songs. Here a new Bahá’í declared. He told us that Mr. Leroy Stines, well known Bahá’í from Bermuda (now deceased) told him about Bahá’u’lláh when the Faith was first introduced in Bermuda.
On Sunday, November 26, everyone gathered for the commemoration of the Day of the Covenant. Dr. Jordan was the speaker and advised that the Covenant provided the maximum liberty or freedom that we could attain, while at the same time providing the maximum amount of security necessary for our well being. He spoke of the Power of the Covenant as being the means for bringing together for the Conference such a varied group including people of Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, Christian and other backgrounds.
The Conference closed with an expression of thanks to the Bahá’ís for coming to Bermuda and for helping the Bermuda Bahá’ís to teach.
Appointed by the Bermuda Teaching Committee, the Conference Co-ordinating Committee consisted of Leighton Rochester, Lloyd Williams, Valerie Stines and Merle Martin. The committee was assisted by each of the Bermuda Bahá’ís, the International Goals Committee and the National Public Information Committee of the United States.
A group photo of those attending the Bermuda Conference.
FAITH RECOGNIZED IN PAKISTAN[edit]
A victory has been won! A goal of the Nine Year Plan has been achieved! History was made when the Islámic Republic of Pakistan issued a letter from the Law Minister, Honorable Mr. Mahmood Ali Qasuri, stating that all the minority religious communities of Pakistan, including the Bahá’ís, are free to profess their Faith and that in the Interim Constitution freedom of expression has been guaranteed to all citizens.
The Government of Pakistan invited the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís to send a delegate to participate in a Conference of the Religious Minorities. Delegates were also invited from the Hindus, Christian, Parsee (Zoroastrian), Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Adivasis (primitives) and Scheduled Caste believers.
The conference was held on September 2, 1972 at Islamabad with the Honorable Raja Tridiv Roy, Minister for Minorities, presiding. Some of the delegates traveled 1,000 miles to attend.
The Bahá’í representative was Mr. A. C. Joshi, in the legal profession in Karachi. Mr. Joshi acted as an informal spokesman for the conference which included only one representative for each group. Col. Ayyoob Partov, Iranian pioneer and member of the Rawalpindi Spiritual Assembly, was able to attend as an observer.
The plenary session of the conference was held in the auditorium of the Secretariat in the afternoon of September 2, 1972. Mr. Joshi made several motions in writing for the adoption of resolutions, which were duly seconded. Among these were: 1) The appointment of a Registrar of Bahá’í Marriages to be solemnized according to Bahá’í law with marriage certificates to be issued by the Government. This proposal was accepted with the stipulation that such Registrars would be Bahá’ís who are law graduates of Pakistan who would not make any charge, and that the registration fee (for license) would be deposited in the Government treasury. 2) Declaration of the nine Bahá’í Holy Days as optional public holidays.
At right is Mr. A. C. Joshi, Bahá’í delegate to the Conference of the Minority (religious) Communities. Ayyoob
Partov, Bahá’í observer, is in the center and Mr. Mangalia, delegate of the Scheduled Caste, is on the left.
Delegates from the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Christian,
Bahá’í, Jain, Adivasis (primitives) and Scheduled Castes
meeting at the Conference of the Minority Communities
(religious) of Pakistan. The Bahá’í delegate, Mr. A. C.
Joshi, is second from the right. The Honorable Minister
for Minority Affairs, Raja Tridiv Roy, is fourth from
right.
Temple Site in Pakistan[edit]
The Bahá’í Temple site is in Karachi and about seven miles from the General Post Office and four miles from the Bahá’í Hall. The plot consists of eight acres of land. The National Spiritual Assembly is putting up a fence around the property. A well was sunk in the middle of the plot and it yielded water at eight feet. A twelve-foot seam of Fuller’s earth has been struck. This is a sedimentary clay and has many industrial uses, chiefly in clarifying petroleum and refining edible oils.
Summer Projecteers in Honduras[edit]
There were two groups of youth teaching in Honduras during the summer of 1972, one in the north, one in the south. As our correspondent was of the southern group, the story can only deal with this part of the effort, and the rest of the story, we hope will be supplied later.
The southern group was composed of Santiago Martinez of Honduras and from the United States, Brett Brenneman, Nel Simonds, Alan Halm, Laurie Roberts with Chris Ruhe, American pioneer assisting. The U.S. visitors were in Honduras from the middle of July to the middle of August. The first week was spent proclaiming in La Ceiba where eighty-five new Bahá’ís enrolled. Under the guidance of pioneer Bill Stover, they enrolled twenty-eight more.
Next the group journeyed to San Pedro Sula where two weeks were spent proclaiming the Faith in various poor barrios of the city, as well as in two outlying villages.
Usually the strategy used by the team was first in the afternoon to pass out invitations to a slide and song program at night. This bore fruit as statistics testify. There were 102 new Bahá’ís in San Pedro Sula, 67 in Los Caminos, and 42 in Choloma. Two North Americans enrolled, a member of the Peace Corps, and a Medical Aide on a vaccination project in the campo of Honduras. The grand total of enrollments of both the north and south groups was 429 new Bahá’ís. The story is still not complete, for some youth projecteers were still with pioneer Jere McKinney in Western Honduras.
Bahá’ís at the San Pedro Sula Fair, Honduras[edit]
The geodesic dome constructed by pioneer Dale Morrow has again magnificently served the Faith. (See BAHÁ’Í NEWS, Dec. 1971, p. 23). Bahá’ís of San Pedro Sula received permission to place the dome in the fairgrounds at the annual fair. From early morning until late at night, sometimes until 11:30 p.m., Bahá’ís manned the dome. It shone like a pastel beacon, attracting thousands to it and its Message of hope for mankind.
The fair lasted for a week, late in June. During this time 7,000 pamphlets were given out. Radio announcements were regularly used, heard all over the fairground. The great majority of the people who entered the dome had never before heard of the Faith. They were attentive and asked many questions. All different viewpoints were expressed, from atheism to vocal evangelism.
There was no campaign, no public meeting, slide show or refreshments. The spiritually hungry horde came knocking at the door.
Our correspondent, Chris Ruhe, added “Every community should have a geodesic dome.”
Bahá’ís of Magetan, Indonesia[edit]
Bahá’í community of Magetan, Indonesia at Riḍván,
1972. Many in the group are traveling teachers, including girls. In the back row, center, smiling, is Auxiliary
Board member for East Asia (in Java), Mr. Salijanto.
Pakistan Summer School[edit]
The 1972 session of the Summer School was held at the Abottabad Hill station 930 miles from Karachi. About eighty young people from all parts of the country participated. The program not only was planned to deepen believers but it had great variety, ranging from quizzes, to outings. Participating were Auxiliary Board members Mr. Bakhtiari and Ilmi, and Mr. Phuladchi, representing the National Spiritual Assembly.
European Youth Conference
Padova, Italy—August 1-7, 1972[edit]
The Bahá’í European Youth Conference held at Padova, Italy, from August 1-7, 1972 and then at Plön, Germany, from August 12-17, was the last of a series of conferences which opened the previous year at Namur. These conferences symbolize the youth campaign to open the doors of the Faith to all the people in Europe, especially the young. Over 1600 participated from more than forty nations. Hands of the Cause of God Mr. Olinga, Mr. Faizí and Mr. Mühlschlegel were inspiring forces of this conference.
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Declarations were about 270. The afternoons of this historic conference were dedicated to teaching in the near-by towns and villages. A public conference was held in Padova attended by thousands.
Now begins the consolidation work of deepening the new believers and teaching those who have come
in contact with the Faith.
Summer Projects Assisted by Music Teams[edit]
The overwhelming success of the international Summer Projects of 1972 was brought about in no small measure by the assistance of two music teams which traveled constantly throughout Europe putting on music programs to assist the teaching teams. These two musical aggregations, titled “New Garden, North” and “New Garden, South” covered over 30,000 kilometers and visited ten countries in a two-month period.
Two not-so-new vehicles were used to transport the teams to the places they were to visit and a frugal diet of salami and cheese sustained them (not the tourist brochure’s idea of a European vacation!). When the team reached a town, they would assist the resident teaching team with pre-show publicity before actually putting on their show. In many areas, they also stayed on a few days to assist with the follow-up work.
The “New Garden, North” consisted of Mike Wood, Mark Harries, Steve Burleson and John Anastasio, all Americans. The “New Garden, South” consisted of American youth Dan Chadwick, Martha Elliott, Sheri Dressier, Charles and Sandi Bullock and Bob Farley along with Reinhart Meyer-Troeltsch of Germany, May Hofman of England, Claude Kuhne from Switzerland and Ada van der Borden of Holland. This international group was a tremendous attraction and also provided facility with language which was greatly needed.
Greg Dahl served as coordinator for the music teams and, with the help of some dedicated and ingenious European Bahá’ís, was able to bring together youth from very diverse backgrounds and put together groups of united and enthusiastic singers and musicians who brought in great numbers of new believers wherever they went. Both teams also had the added bounty of attending and participating in the Youth Conference in Padova, Italy.
To quote one youth, “... all of us in the singing groups had a fantastic summer, and the benefits in teaching and individual growth can never be measured. I think giant strides were made in mastering the difficult art of international cooperation, and if projects are continued in future I am sure they will be wildly successful and productive of results.”
Singing group from “New Garden, South”, at Zug, Switzerland in July 1972. Left to right: Claude Kuhne, Martha
Elliott, Reinhart Meyer-Troeltsch, Sheri Dressler, May
Hofman, Greg Dahl, Poova Bullock (infant), Sandi Bullock, Charles Bullock, Dan Chadwick. Ada van der Borden
and Bob Farley were not in the photo. The group visited
Luxembourg, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Italy.
Photos by Gregory Dahl
Bahá’í singing group “New Garden, North” at Padova
Youth Conference at Padova, Italy. Left to right: Mark
Harries, Mike Wood, Steve Burleson, John Anastasio.
They visited Luxembourg, Germany, Norway, Finland
and Italy.
At left:
The friends in Varkaus, a goal city in Finland. Included are United States pioneers John Jason, David Bergen, Liisa Shafer and Larry Niemi. Melinda Alpaugh, who became a believer in Sweden, is standing between David Bergen and the little girl sitting on the stage. Included is Persian pioneer, Kamran Nomdar.
Impressions of Travel-Teaching in Tasmania[edit]
Left to right: Helen Perkins, Kate Dwyer and Mahvash
Master. At extreme right, Kate Dwyer before she became
a Bahá’í.
When Mahvash Master asked me to join a weekend
teaching team to Devonport, Tasmania, I agreed because I felt I had had sufficient time to adjust to my new
way of life and was now ready to go.
Why had I needed the adjusting period? Well, you see, until June 4th, of this year, I had been living in a convent, where I had spent thirty-three years as a Roman Catholic Nun.
I will take this opportunity of adding a little about my life during those years. It was certainly a very happy period of my life and never for a moment did I dream of any other. At the time of embracing the Faith, I was the Superior—that is, the person in charge of the Convent where sixteen nuns were living. There was much love, peace and joy among us.
Through personal contact with two very wonderful Bahá’ís, I became interested in the Faith and reached the “point of no return”. Then followed the hardest decision I have ever had to make—to leave that loving happy community of nuns who looked up to me for guidance, strength and companionship. But the grace of God is stronger than any earthly ties, so here I am to continue with my impression of Devonport.
Mahvash, Peter Seery, a Monash University student, and myself were to comprise the team. Peter unfortunately took ill and was unable to go. However, Helen Perkins replaced Peter and this meant we were an “all girl” team, the first I believe in Australia.
Having decided to go, I posed the question at a Nineteen Day Feast—“Why go travel teaching when there is so much to be done on the local scene?” Would it not be better to concentrate on one’s own area? Back came the answer like a breath of fresh air—“Still water becomes stagnant—keep an ever-flowing stream through the pool and you maintain fresh, invigorating water”. How true I found this to be.
We were going away to teach— a fresh responsibility was ours, therefore we were on our toes. The Tasmanian Bahá’ís were expecting us, they were on their toes. Their contacts knew they were going to be introduced to Bahá’ís they had not met before. This would be another insight into the Faith for them.
I could talk about the air-hostess who was so interested in the Faith—the joy of being met by the Devonport Community at the airport, the sweet thrill of knowing a young devout Roman Catholic girl whom I had known in Melbourne was open enough to stop and talk with two of the team. I had passed Julie by, choosing not to upset her by making myself known. Tears were in my eyes on learning that Julie accepted the Faith and signed the declaration card.
Then there were the other two teenagers who told us God was dead, and that they had long since finished with religion. Had they? To their own joyful amazement, they both declared and remained the whole afternoon for deepening.
The two firesides, attended by contacts of the local community and others whom we had invited during the mass teaching were further enlivened by the presence of Bahá’ís who had traveled from as far away as Hobart.
I felt so proud of our Tasmanian Bahá’ís. Their answering of questions so clearly and concisely showed that a deep study and living of the Faith was theirs.
Devonport is not so large a place, and some may consider we did not meet a great number of people. I feel the grace of Bahá’u’lláh touched many hearts. Speaking for myself, I know I am a better person for having been part of the team.
Those of you who have experienced travel-teaching will understand what I am trying to say. To any Bahá’í who has not yet had the privilege, I implore you to exert yourself in the Name of Bahá’u’lláh.
—AUSTRALIAN BAHÁ’Í BULLETIN
THE GREAT SAFARI[edit]
of Hand of the Cause Rúḥíyyih Khánum[edit]
Part eleven
Our one week stay in the capital city of Occidental
Kasai, Luluabourg, (recently changed to Kananga) was
very fruitful for the Cause. This city is divided into four
townships, each with a separate Local Assembly. The
representatives of these Local Spiritual Assemblies
called on Amatu’l-Bahá formally at her hotel and with
her help and advice arranged for the program of the
week she was to be with them. A week-end conference
was planned for all the friends to attend not only from
these townships, but also for the villages surrounding
the city. This was a very wonderful occasion and over
180 Bahá’ís from 21 centers came to the Saturday afternoon and Sunday sessions, eagerly listening to Amatu’l-Bahá and asking many questions on different aspects of
the Faith.
The Bahá’ís in this area are wonderful singers and have one of the finest choirs in the whole of the continent. Beautiful addresses of welcome were read. Then Amatu’l-Bahá spoke on the meaning and purpose of creation. She said: “The story of creation, according to the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, is really a most beautiful love story. Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth and all therein, felt the desire to love and to be loved in return, therefore He created man and endowed him with the most precious gift of all, an immortal soul.
The soul of man, unique in all creation, yearns to return to God and so the journey of the soul begins from the moment a child is conceived. It is a long journey, it is the journey of a lover towards the Beloved One. This material world is the first step in the journey of man towards his Creator, and should prepare him to be worthy of appearing before his Beloved in the next world. Here we must develop the spiritual qualities we need in the next life, the eternal life. This is why, while he is living in this world, it is so important for man to recognize the Manifestation of God. We might liken the period of each Manifestation, in other words the Dispensation each one of them brings, to the electric current we have in the walls of this building; there are outlets, from which, if we plug into them, we can receive the power of the electricity. We can light a lamp, run a radio, a refrigerator, a television set, a motor, depending on what we plug in. In other words each individual receives power in accordance with his capacity. The important thing is for every human being to make this connection now with the divine source in the world today. Our responsibility as Bahá’ís is to ensure that this connection is made.
A question often asked in Zaïre, both in the cities as well as the villages, was about the portrait of
Amatu’l-Bahá with the Chief and some of the Bahá’ís in the village of Bakua Mbuyi, Occidental Kasai, Zaïre, January 5, 1972.
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Bahá’u’lláh and whether it is possible for them to see it
or not. Rúḥíyyih Khánum would explain that because it
is the picture of the Manifestation of God it must be
treated with great respect and reverence and cannot be
made available for every one to have in his home as the
pictures of Christ which are sometimes treated with
irreverence and disrespect. Then immediately the next
request was: “Please tell us what He looks like”. The
beautiful black eyes of the friends would gaze at her and
try to visualize the blessed face she was describing and
to picture its beauty and majesty. It was very touching.
Their love for Him was written on their shining, eager
faces.
In one meeting they asked if any member of Bahá’u’lláh’s descendants had remained firm in the Cause. Rúḥíyyih Khánum explained what this Covenant of God is and how from the beginning of time, since Cain slew Abel, this principle of light and darkness has existed, often caused by the jealousy of a brother. This process has repeated itself at the time of the appearance of every Manifestation of God. She told them how the Covenant-breaking had begun with the jealousy and hatred of the young half-brother of Bahá’u’lláh, and how this poison had penetrated one generation after another until at the time of the passing of Shoghi Effendi, not one soul from the blessed Root had remained firm. Amatu’l-Bahá then said this is why in the Writings we read special prayers supplicating the mercy and protection of God so that we may remain firm to the last hour of our earthly life.
She told the friends of the wonderful services, the loyalty and steadfastness of the Hand of the Cause of God Mr. Taráẓu’lláh Samandarí who had remained firm and devoted through three periods of the growth of the Cause. He had had the privilege and bounty of meeting Bahá’u’lláh as well as serving both ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the beloved Guardian and had lived until the age of ninety-three, yet just a few days before his passing in Haifa, when she went to the hospital to see him, his last words—after almost a century of devoted service to the Cause of God—had been: “Pray for me that until my last breath I remain firm in the Faith”.
During her visit to the villages of Tshingana and Mampanyi Tambwe, not too far from the city of Luluabourg, someone asked Amatu’l-Bahá if the person of Satan was a real being. She answered that evil is not a specific being or object like the sun, the object and source of light. The absence of the sun automatically produces darkness. Good is a positive force and its absence is evil; otherwise evil has no reality of its own.
The Mayor of Luluabourg[edit]
On the last day of our stay in this city we were able to meet the Mayor of Luluabourg as well as the mayor of one of the townships. It was a very friendly and cordial visit lasting nearly forty minutes. The Mayor himself had called the local newspaper reporter to be present and ask questions. Later on an interesting article about the Faith and Rúḥíyyih Khánum was published. The Mayor presented Rúḥíyyih Khánum with several beautiful artifacts of this Province and wished her a very safe and successful journey. He was eager that a public meeting be arranged and was willing to make all the preparations through his office. Unfortunately, however, due to our plans for leaving the city and reaching villages many miles away the next day, the time was too short to arrange anything for that night.
The following day, on a terrible road, for the first time in almost 23,000 miles, we had the indignity of getting stuck in mud and having to be pulled out by a truck. Fortunately there was a truck and we had a towline!
Sometime that afternoon we reached the village of Bakwa Kayembe. We slept two nights there in the home
Amatu’l-Bahá, second from right, and Auxiliary Board
member Ola Pawlowsky with some of the Bahá’ís in
Lubumbashi, Zaïre, January 1972.
of a believer and had a very nice meeting with the
friends. Over 120 from many villages had gathered and
eagerly listened to Amatu’l-Bahá. One of her main objectives in talking to the village Bahá’ís in particular is
to widen the horizon of their understanding. With patience she would explain in detail and show them that
this world is far more immense than they imagined.
Although Christianity is the religion they have heard
about, it is but one religion in a world full of other
beliefs and ideas. There is such a thing as what we call
science and the truths of science. The villagers are
eager and thirsty to acquire knowledge and were always
fascinated by her explanations.
How to Banish Superstition[edit]
Many times the questions would be on the subject of witchcraft and its relation to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. One must remember witchcraft has never ceased to exist in Africa and still exerts a profound influence over Pagan, Christian and Muslim, educated and uneducated alike. As a matter of fact it is on the increase all over the world as men frantically try to find answers to their problems. Rúḥíyyih Khánum developed an original and convincing approach and answer to this question that satisfied her hearers.
The way to dispel dark and superstitious beliefs is with the light of Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings, clinging to His Words and His prayers. This acts exactly like the rays of the sun which dispel the night. The Chief of that area, a very dignified old man, the fourth generation of chiefs in his family, had come to this village to personally welcome Rúḥíyyih Khánum and stayed and listened to her talk until the end of the meeting.
In the village of Bena-Mvula over sixty Bahá’ís and their friends, gathered in their beautifully decorated Bahá’í Center to welcome and listen to Amatu’l-Bahá. As many women were present she decided to speak on the role of women in this age and the great mercy and bounty of Bahá’u’lláh in giving women equal rights with men for the first time in the history of mankind. She then explained that the meaning of the equality of the sexes, does not necessarily mean that both have the same functions. In the city of Mbuji Mayi, the capital of Oriental Kasai where we spent two nights, Amatu’l-Bahá was able to meet with the Bahá’ís and also visit the friends in the village of Bena Kasukuila. When we reached this village sixteen miles away from the city, over very treacherous sandy tracks, we learned that all the Bahá’í men with one exception, having heard on the
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Amatu’l-Bahá with the Bahá’ís of Tshingana village,
Occidental Kasai, Zaïre. Front row, second from the left
is Auxiliary Board member Sylvain Ngindu, who acted
as translator.
radio that Amatu’l-Bahá was in the city, had left to
meet her there. The Bahá’í women, who could not leave
their children and homes, were thrilled to not only have
this unexpected privilege of meeting their beloved
guest but having her all to themselves in an unexpected
meeting and learning from her that she was going to stay
and talk especially to them. Several ladies and many
children recited prayers by heart. This is a very wonderful thing one sees all over Zaïre, the friends memorize the Bahá’í prayers. That evening on our return to
Mbuji Mayi Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke to the villagers
and the town Bahá’ís on the power of the Word of God.
She said the Word of God is like a grain of corn. When
planted in the soil of the heart it grows and multiplies
and yields a rich harvest of knowledge and understanding. Obedience to the laws and ordinances of God
causes spiritual growth and maturity. She quoted the
words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who said: “I desire for you distinction.” The Bahá’ís through their deeds and characters must be distinguished so that people will recognize
us as Bahá’ís through our behavior.
Three days of tiring travel over awful roads—almost 700 miles—brought us to the end of our visit to Zaïre. The week we spent in the beautiful city of Lubumbashi, formerly called Elizabethville, brought back to Amatu’l-Bahá memories of her stay there in 1940 with our beloved Guardian when they crossed the continent during the war. They were a number of times in Kisangani, formerly Stanleyville. She said, “In 1970, it was thirty years since I was there with Shoghi Effendi and now here it is thirty-two years since we were here together in this city!” She recalled how that visit to the Congo had fulfilled a life-long desire of the beloved Guardian to see that country. Truly an eternal blessing was showered on this land!
Meetings Forbidden[edit]
Unfortunately as the result of an emergency decree, meetings of any sort were forbidden throughout Zaïre just at this time and so the Bahá’ís of Lubumbashi were not able to hold a meeting for their dearly loved Hand of the Cause. In small informal groups they came to the garden in our hotel and over refreshments we were able to have a number of visits with them. One of the believers in this city, a Bahá’í of eighteen years who had embraced the Cause through the efforts of dear Rex and Mary Collison in the early days of its introduction into the neighboring country then called Ruanda Urundi, told us of the sufferings he had endured in the path of God. Twice through the instigation of a priest he was imprisoned because he was a Bahá’í. He is a staunch and valiant defender of the Cause of God.
The unanimous cry of the believers in this vast and uniquely receptive country is for more pioneers. From Kinshasa to Lubumbashi, a distance of almost 2,000 miles, there is not one single pioneer. The teaching possibilities in Zaïre are unlimited. The villagers as well as city Bahá’ís all asked that more pioneers come from abroad, saying the demonstration of the oneness of mankind, when whites and Africans work together, has much more effect than when they teach alone.
The sorrow of parting from our newly found friends is always the saddest part of our trip. Somehow leaving Zaïre was even more difficult than usual. We had come to deeply love this country and its people. Our one consolation is the fact that God willing, we shall once again enter it, next time to visit the Province of Kivu, where the vast majority of the Bahá’ís of Zaïre are to be found.
Rúḥíyyih Khánum with the Bahá’ís of Luluabourg at an all day Conference. January 1972.
FALKLAND ISLANDS IN ACTION[edit]
The Falkland Islands Spiritual Assembly was recently elected, thus filling an important and difficult goal, and is already busy with many activities. A showing of “It’s Just the Beginning” was accompanied by a display on the theme of progressive revelation, and showed the Bahá’í Temples in different parts of the world. The correspondent, John Leonard, wrote: “There were pictures clipped from BAHÁ’Í NEWS showing Bahá’ís throughout the world, and these excited great interest, as I suspect many people had the idea that the small group of Bahá’ís here were all that existed.”
He continued: “We now appear to have two further declarations pending, and if these actually take place we will have an active community of twelve. This gives us no feeling of complacency, as several of them expect to be leaving within a year, but despite that, it seems quite incredible to have so many Bahá’ís in the Falklands. We feel tremendously confirmed ... and are grateful beyond words.”
Members of the first Local Spiritual Assembly of the
Falkland Islands, formed October 20th, 1972. Left to
right, front row: Mrs. Winona Hardy; Mrs. Brenda
Whitney; Mrs. Sally Steer; Mrs. Margaret Leonard,
Chairman. Left to right, back row: John Leonard, Treasurer; David Hardy, Recording Secretary; Gregory Edwards, Vice-Chairman; Martin Dibble; Bernard Steer,
Corresponding Secretary.
In front of the display in connection with showing the film “It’s Just the Beginning” are some of the
Assembly members with Mrs. Christina Edwards. Mr. Edwards is wearing the checked shirt and Mrs.
Edwards is next, right. The child is one of the two Hardy children.
ARGENTINE INTERNATIONAL WINTER SCHOOL[edit]
The Argentine Winter School was held from July 27 to 30, 1972 in Presidencia Roque Saenz Peña and was a great success. Present were three members of the Continental Board of Counsellors; Mr. Mas’ud Khamsi, Mr. Donald Witzel and Mr. Hooper Dunbar. Also present were Auxiliary Board members Mrs. Maralynn Dunbar of Argentina and Mr. Ramón Moreira of Uruguay. About 200 friends gathered from all over the country, representing the Toba, Pilagás, Mataco and Mapuche tribes. Mr. Jorge Fragnaud represented Paraguay.
The first day of the school sad news was received that several who were on their way to attend the school had an accident. Also it was learned that four-months old Virginia Bufi, traveling with her mother, had died. This news created a great spirit of unity among those attending, who continuously prayed for those who were in this accident, and anxiously waited for news of them.
Because Counsellor Athos Costas, scheduled to participate, could not come and Mr. Moreira of Uruguay was late, due to the accident, it became necessary to make some changes. All classes, however, were given as scheduled.
In the evenings public talks were held at the school attended by not only the inhabitants of Saenz Peña, but also some tourists. With permission from the Mayor, a Bahá’í exhibit was held in the main plaza during the school sessions.
The National Proclamation Committee was active in using the occasion of the school to gain publicity. A week before the school members of this committee and the Secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly went to the Chaco to complete details of this important event. Some of the Committee went to Saenz Peña while others stayed in Resistencia, Capital of the Chaco Province, to begin there a proclamation of the Faith.
In Resistencia the news services were immediately contacted and several articles about the Faith were published. With permission from the radio director of the President’s press office in Buenos Aires, a series of six talks, five minutes each, was given at the Radio Nacional. The day before the beginning of the school the Governor of Chaco Province granted an interview to a group consisting of three Counsellors; representatives of the Toba, Mataco, Pilagás, Mauche tribes; Americans and Persians. Another interview was held with the Mayor of Resistencia. Each of these officials was presented with the volume The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh.
Meanwhile, members of the Proclamation Committee in Saenz Peña were in touch with newspapers and radio, obtaining news publicity and a series of radio talks. A press conference was scheduled and the next day the radio station phoned requesting some Bahá’ís for a radio interview as many people were phoning in asking for information about the Bahá’í Faith.
The Mayor of Saenz Peña granted an interview and the proclamation volume was presented to him. The Mayor commented that it was the first time anyone came to the Mayor’s office to offer something without asking for anything.
On Saturday during the school a luncheon was held, attended by the Mayor, various authorities and important people of the city with National Spiritual Assembly members, three Counsellors, representatives of the various tribes of the area and other Bahá’ís. Counsellor Hooper Dunbar gave a welcoming speech. In his reply the Mayor expressed his happiness at being with the Bahá’ís and wished them much success in teaching this Message of love and unity.
After this lunch, the Bahá’ís and many residents of Saenz Peña gathered in the main plaza to let loose some 250 balloons to spread an awareness of the word “Bahá’í” to more distant places.
Luncheon in honor of the Mayor of Saenz Peña Mr. Enrique Gomez (standing). Seated to his right
is Mrs. Angelica Costas, National Spiritual Assembly Secretary, and to his left, Mrs. Costas. On the
left side are the Continental Counsellors Mr. Hooper Dunbar (corner). Next to him, Mr. Mas’ud
Khamsi—and across the table Mr. Donald Witzel.
[Page 21]
Three Counsellors, members of the National Spiritual
Assembly of Argentina and members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Saenz Peña during the International
Winter School. Kneeling, left, Counsellor Donald Witzel;
standing, to left, Counsellor Hooper Dunbar; tall man
standing behind the little boy in front row is Counsellor
Mas’ud Khamsi.
Four Bolivian travel-teachers entertaining the friends at the National Study Course with native music.
Traveling teachers and pioneers of Bolivia attended a
National Study Course at the National Institute,
Cochabamba, Bolivia on July 3, 1972. It was preceded by
a one-day Conference for pioneers. The purpose of the
gathering was to encourage universal participation and
consolidate the local institutions, as requested by The
Universal House of Justice. The friends were summoned
to heroic activity—and recalled the cry of Mullá Ḥusayn: “Mount your steeds, Oh heroes of God”. So the
Bolivian friends responded by mounting their burros in
the mountains, their bicycles in the flat Alto Plano, and
their own two feet.
Bolivian Regional Study Course[edit]
Quechua, Aymara and Spanish languages were used in teaching at the Regional Study Course of Cochabamba Department for volunteer teachers held in the Bahá’í National Institute in Cochabamba, Bolivia, from September 19 to 23. Visual aids in giving the Message were demonstrated, supplemented with a compilation. Topics of discussion were the functioning of the Local Spiritual Assembly and Nineteen Day Feasts. Each participant was asked to make a definite plan of activities to carry out after the Study Course. More than twenty part-time volunteer teachers were deepened in the course.
Part-time teachers attending the Regional Study Course at Cochabamba Department, Bolivia. Pioneers
shown in the photo are Miss Beverly Bennett, Mr. Stephen Pulley, Mrs. Ellen Sims, Mrs. Crystal Baker
Shoai, and Bolivian pioneer Sr. Sabino Ortega. Two Bolivian Auxiliary Board members (not in the
photo), Mr. Manucher Shoai and Sr. Andres Jachakollo, contributed greatly to the spirit of the course.
Fourth National Bahá’í Youth Conference in India[edit]
A successful National Youth Conference, inaugurated by Hand of the Cause Mr. A. A. Furútan and aided by
the presence of Counsellor S. Vasudevan, National Assembly representative Dr. Munje and Auxiliary Board
members B. Afshin, Mrs. S. Kermani and S. B. Mobedzadeh ended in Poona on May 7, 1972, when forty-five delegates from twenty-five youth centers pledged to open 260 colleges and 560 new localities to the Faith, construct
seven local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, consolidate 238 old villages, have model Bahá’í villages, send representatives to
neighboring countries, bring in 17,000 new believers and send nineteen youth pioneers to the goal towns in India.
Press reporters were present in one of the sessions of the Conference and the proceedings of the gathering appeared in five leading newspapers.
IN INDIA[edit]
Bahá’ís of Surat district gathered at Broach for the election of a delegate. Auxiliary Board member A. S. Furudi is in the center.
Audio-Visual Materials[edit]
PANAMA TEMPLE DEDICATION[edit]
Motion Picture, Filmstrip and Slide Programs[edit]
To celebrate the completion of the Panama House of Worship, the culmination of a four-and-a-half-year labor of love, in April 1972 nearly four thousand Bahá’ís from more than forty countries gathered in Panama to participate in the Dedication of the Mother Temple of Latin America, the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the Dawning Place of the Mention of God.
A new 15 minute 16 mm. sound color motion picture
film, The Dedication in English, El Alba in Spanish,
shows the simple beauty of the Panama House of Worship and recreates the sights, sounds and uplifting
atmosphere of the historic, momentous hours of the
Dedication. They are suitable for firesides, television,
public meetings and other proclamation events as well
as deepening sessions such as Bahá’í institutes and
schools. The movies show in vivid color some of the
many people from diverse backgrounds—Guaymis from
the mountains of Chiriqui, Cunas from the San Blas
Islands, Chokus from the jungles of Darien, farmers and
professional people, men, women and children from all
over the world arriving in Panama to share in the
important events to come. The unity of their purpose
can be seen in the faces of the participants as they listen
to Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s inspiring message, the prayers and readings of other speakers and as
they hear the chorus in songs of praise and joy.
Another audio-visual program, The Dawning Place of the Mention of God, explains the spiritual significance of this singularly beautiful Bahá’í House of Worship and traces the history of the construction of the Temple from the laying of the cornerstone in October 1967 through its completion, the dedication ceremonies and the conference that followed during Riḍván 129, 1972. The Dawning Place of the Mention of God is available as a filmstrip or slides with English narration book, and with or without an English cassette sound track. Particularly suitable for proclamation and teaching, it contains a fine collection of views of the newest Bahá’í House of Worship and makes an excellent companion piece for showing with the motion picture as it contains more detail and treats the subject from a different viewpoint.
All of these new teaching aids will be welcome, valuable additions to Bahá’í teaching and proclamation activities, as well as for Bahá’í libraries and archives.
Because it is a timely subject, the film or the slides may be of keen interest to television program directors. Public Information representatives are urged to consider contacting the television stations as soon as possible.
Shrine of the Báb, Haifa, as seen in the
slide and filmstrip program “Carmel... The Mountain of God.”
The profoundly inspiring and beautiful slide program, “Carmel ... The Mountain of God,” is available for distribution. It links Carmel, the “Mountain of the Lord” to which “all nations shall flow” with the Central Figures of the Faith and emphasizes the unique association of the spiritual and physical realities existing from ancient times in the Holy Land.
This enthralling program is ideal for deepening the friends and those who are close to the Faith. It is
- a vitalizing influence for national and regional Bahá’í conventions and conferences
- an enlightening text for Bahá’í institutes and schools
- an inspiring stimulant to deepening courses
- a quickening interlude for Assembly meetings and Feasts
- a treasured addition to Bahá’í community, school and personal libraries
- an untiring assistant to traveling teachers
- and a fertile source of slides for a program on a different theme.
Views include Mount Carmel, the room in Shíráz where the Báb declared His Mission, the táj of Bahá’u’lláh, the house where the Súriy-i-Mulúk was revealed, the original Tablet of Aḥmad, the Shrines of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb, the House of ‘Abbúd, and Mazra‘ih. The narrative and music of the sound track adds a professional touch to the presentation and greatly increases involvement of the audience. It is not recommended for general proclamation as it requires a considerable understanding of the Bahá’í Faith.
Copies of these programs as well as prices and delivery information may be obtained through your local Bahá’í librarian or the Publishing Trust or other distribution committee authorized by your National Spiritual Assembly.
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Temple site for Trinidad and Tobago. It consists of
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Members of the National Assembly of Kenya[edit]
Members of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kenya elected on April 29, 1972 at the Annual Convention held in Kisumu, Kenya. From right to left: Laban Wekesa; Frank Mukoyani; Christopher Musambai; Julius Makanda, Chairman; John Asalache, Vice-Chairman; M. Sohaili, Treasurer; Justus Wekesa; Bonaventure Wafula, Secretary; and Joel W. Kundu.
He That Hath an Ear to Hear, Let Him Hear[edit]
Auxiliary Board member for Propagation in Chad, Mr. Ernest Ndouba, attests that it is the heart of man which receives the Message of our Lord.
In the village of Mata, to the south of Chad, following the visit of Miss Mona Yazdi, traveling teacher, with Mr. Ndouba and two pioneers, a deaf man embraced the Faith. For some months, the Auxiliary Board member had noticed that this young man had stayed somewhat apart from the people gathered to hear his teaching. But on this occasion, no doubt attracted by the especially radiant spirit of the visitors, he came closer and closer to the group until he reached Mr. Ndouba. Sensing by the expression in the eyes of the deaf man that his spirit was ready to embrace the Cause, he thought “How can I give the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to this soul?”
Suddenly, inspired it seemed by the Holy Spirit, the Auxiliary Board member began to explain the Bahá’í Faith in sign language, demonstrating to the deaf seeker the unity of the whole world—the unity of the races—the unity of religions; and, pointing to Miss Yazdi—the equality of men and women.
Without words, the lamp of the deaf man’s heart was illumined. Bahá’u’lláh’s love had reached him. Asking for a declaration card, he signed his name as a Bahá’í.
Physically, this new Bahá’í is deaf. But, spiritually, he hears.
Published by the NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF CHAD
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