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No. 507

BAHA’I YEAR 130

JUNE, 1973

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Universal House of Justice Members

NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE ALI NAKHJAVANI, HUSHMAND FATHEAZAM, AMOZ GIBSON, IAN SEMPLE, DAVID HOFMAN, CHARLES WOLCOTT, BORRAH KAVELIN, DAVID RUHE, HUGH CHANCE.

—UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Haifa, Israel
3 May 1973

Members of The Universal House of Justice being introduced to the delegates.

[Page 2]

Third International Convention

Rúḥíyyih Khánum gives information on election procedures to delegates on the first morning of the International Convention. The chief tellers are standing on stage and seated at right are the secretaries of the Convention.

Delegate casts ballot during election for The Universal House of Justice.

[Page 3] Some of the more than 500 delegates who attended the Third International Convention.

Delegates in group discussion on progress of the Bahá’í Faith during the next decade.

[Page 4]

Riḍván Message of The Universal House of Justice

To the Bahá’ís of the World

Dearly-loved Friends,

We announce with joyful and thankful hearts the completion in overwhelming victory of the world-encircling Nine Year Plan. The Army of Light has won its second global campaign; it has surpassed the goals set for expansion and has achieved a truly impressive degree of universal participation, the twin objectives of the Plan. With gratitude and love we testify to the unceasing confirmations which Bahá’u’lláh has showered upon His servants, enabling each and every one of us to offer Him some part of the labor, the devotion, the sacrifice, the supplication which He has so bountifully rewarded. At this Centenary of the Revelation of the Most Holy Book, the Community of the Most Great Name lays its tribute of victory at His feet, acknowledging that it is He Who has bestowed it.

The Cause of God at the end of the Nine Year Plan is immensely more widespread, more firmly founded, and its own international relations more closely knit than in 1964 when the Plan was launched. Ninety-five new territories have been opened to the Faith; the 69 National Spiritual Assemblies which shouldered the world community’s task have become 113, 5 more than called for. These embryonic secondary Houses of Justice are supported by more than 17,000 Local Spiritual Assemblies, 3.000 in excess of the goal and 12,000 more than at the beginning of the Plan. Bahá’ís reside in 69,500 localities, 15,000 more than called for, and 54,000 more than in 1964. Bahá’í literature has been translated in 225 more languages bringing the total number to 571; 63 Temple sites, 56 National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, and 62 National Endowments have been acquired bringing the total numbers of these properties to 98, 112 and 104 respectively; 50 Teaching Institutes and Summer and Winter Schools are playing their part in Bahá’í education and 15 Publishing Trusts produce Bahá’í literature in major languages of the world. The Mother Temple of Latin America has been built and dedicated. Among those goals whose achievement is dependent on favorable circumstances outside our control are the incorporation of Assemblies and recognition of Bahá’í Holy Days. It is gratifying to record that 90 National Spiritual Assemblies and 1,556 Local Spiritual Assemblies—181 more than the total number called for—are incorporated, while Bahá’í Holy Days are recognized in 64 countries and Bahá’í certification of marriage in 40.

This great expansion of the Faith required an army of international pioneers. Two major calls were raised, for 461 and 733, which together with others for particular posts made an overall total of 1,344. The Community of the Most Great Name responded with 3,553 who actually left their homes, 2,265 of whom are still at their posts.

At the World Centre of the Faith the collation and classification of the Bahá’í Sacred Scriptures and of the writings of Shoghi Effendi have been carried forward in ever increasing volume, a task supported and enriched by the labors of a special committee appointed by the Persian National Spiritual Assembly. The material at the World Centre includes some 2,600 original Tablets by Bahá’u’lláh, 6,000 by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and 2,300 letters of Shoghi Effendi. There are in addition some 18,000 authenticated copies of other such Tablets and letters. All these have been studied, important passages from them excerpted and classified, and the subject matter indexed under 400 general headings.

A Synopsis and Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas—completing the considerable progress made by the beloved Guardian in this task—is being published on the Centenary of the Revelation of the Most Holy Book, which, as already announced, is to be celebrated both in the Holy Land and throughout the Bahá’í world during this Riḍván.

The Constitution of The Universal House of Justice, hailed by Shoghi Effendi as the Most Great Law of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, has been formulated and published.

The gardens in Bahjí and on Mount Carmel have been significantly extended and plans have been approved for the befitting development and beautification of the entire area of Bahá’í property surrounding the Holy Shrines in Bahjí and Haifa.

World-Wide Proclamation

The world-wide proclamation of the Faith, an intensive and long-to-be-sustained process initiated during the third phase of the Plan, opened in October 1967 with the commemoration of the Centenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s Proclamation to the kings and rulers which had centered around His revelation of the Súriy-i-Mulúk in Adrianople. This historic event was commemorated at six Intercontinental Conferences held simultaneously around the planet. A further nine Oceanic and Continental Conferences held during the Plan gave great impetus to this proclamation program. The fifteen Conferences were attended by nearly 17,000 believers and attracted great publicity by press and radio and were made the occasion of acquainting dignitaries and notabilities with the Divine Message. The presentation, on behalf of The Universal House of Justice, to 142 Heads of State, of a specially produced book containing the translation into English of the Tablets and passages of Scripture in which Bahá’u’lláh, some hundred years before, had issued His mighty Proclamation to mankind, initiated this campaign, which will continue long beyond the end of the Nine Year Plan.

The outstanding development in the relationship of the Bahá’í International Community to the United Nations was the accreditation of that Community as a non-governmental organization with consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Bahá’í International Community now has a permanent representative at United Nations and maintains an office in New York.

The Institution of the Learned

The loved and revered Hands of the Cause have rendered sacrificial and distinguished service throughout the Nine Year Plan. They have, in all parts of the world, inspired the friends, assisted National Spiritual Assemblies, promoted the teaching work and played a vital part in the success of the Plan. The lagging fortunes of more than one national community have been revolutionized

[Page 5] by a visit of a Hand of the Cause; swift and energetic action, inspired by the Hand, has been followed by astonishing results, completely reversing that community’s prospects. They have added distinguished works to the literature of the Faith.

The goal of the Plan to develop “The institution of the Hands of the Cause of God, in consultation with the body of the Hands of the Cause, with a view to the extension into the future of its appointed functions of protection and propagation”, was accomplished in stages, leading to the establishment of eleven Continental Boards of Counsellors, whose members were appointed by The Universal House of Justice and who assumed responsibility for the Auxiliary Boards for protection and propagation. The beloved Hands no longer remained individually identified with any particular continent—except insofar as their residence was concerned—but extended their sphere of action to the whole planet. The Continental Boards of Counsellors, advised and guided by the Hands of the Cause of God and working in close collaboration with them, have already, in their brief period of office, performed outstanding and distinguished services.

Three Portentous Developments

Three highly portentous developments have taken place during the Nine Year Plan, namely, the advance of youth to the forefront of the teaching work, a great increase in the financial resources of the Faith, and an astonishing proliferation of inter-National Assembly assistance projects.

The first, the heartwarming upsurge of Bahá’í youth, has changed the face of the teaching work; impenetrable barriers have been broken or overpassed by eager teams of young Bahá’ís, dedicated and prayerful, presenting the Divine Message in ways acceptable to their own generation from which it has spread and is spreading throughout the social structure. The entire Bahá’í world has been thrilled by this development. Having rejected the values and standards of the old world, Bahá’í youth are eager to learn and adapt themselves to the standards of Bahá’u’lláh and so to offer the Divine Program to fill the gap left by the abandonment of the old order.

The vast increase in the financial resources of the Faith called for under the Plan has evoked a heartwarming response from the entire Bahá’í community. Not only the Bahá’í International Fund but the local, national and continental Funds of the Faith have been sacrificially supported. This practical proof of the love which the friends bear for the Faith has enabled all the work to go forward—the support of pioneers and travelling teachers, the raising of Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs and acquisition of Bahá’í properties, the purchase of Holy Places in the Cradle of the Faith and at the World Centre, the development of educational institutions and all the multifarious activities of a vigorous, onward-marching, constructive world community. It is of interest that sixty percent of the international funds of the Faith is used to assist the work of National Spiritual Assemblies, to promote the teaching work and to defend the Cause against attacks in many parts of the world. Without such help from the Bahá’í world community many National Assemblies would be paralyzed in their efforts of expansion and deepening. The administration of Ḥuqúqu’lláh has been strengthened in preparation for its extension to other parts of the world. An International Deputization Fund was established at the World Centre to assist pioneers and travelling teachers who were ready to serve but unable to provide their own expenses, and this Fund was later extended to the support of projects on national homefronts. Contribution to the Fund is a service which will never cease to be open to all believers; the growth of the Faith and the rise of its Administrative Order require an ever-increasing outpouring of our substance, commensurate in however small a measure with the bounty and liberality of the outpouring confirmations of Bahá’u’lláh.

When the Plan was launched 219 assistance projects were specified whereby national communities would render financial, pioneering or teaching aid to others, generally remote from them geographically. The intention was to strengthen the bonds of unity between distant parts of the Bahá’í world with different social, cultural and historical backgrounds. At the end of the Plan more than 600 such projects had been carried out. Intercommunity cooperation has been further developed in the field of publishing Bahá’í literature, notably in Spanish and French and the languages of Africa. A vast field of fruitful endeavor lies open in this respect.

In some countries due to lack of freedom, to actual repression in others, to legal and physical obstacles in yet others, certain particular goals—mainly those requiring incorporation or recognition—could not be won. Foreseeing this, The Universal House of Justice called upon national communities in lands where there is freedom to practise and promote the Faith, to exceed their own goals and thus ensure that the overall goals would be won. It has proved still impossible to begin work on the erection of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár in Ṭihrán, but contracts have been signed for the preparation of detailed drawings, geological surveys are being made, and everything made ready for immediate action whenever the situation in Persia becomes propitious.

Additional Events

During the period of the Nine Year Plan a number of important and interesting events, not directly associated with it, have taken place. First and foremost was the commemoration, in the precincts of the Qiblih of the Bahá’í world, of the centenary of the arrival at the prison-city of ‘Akká, as foretold in former Scriptures, of the Promised One of all ages.

The Mansion of Mazra‘ih, often referred to by the beloved Guardian as one of the “twin mansions” in which the Blessed Beauty resided after nine years within the walled prison-city of ‘Akká, and dear to the hearts of the believers by reason of its associations with their Lord, has at last been purchased together with 24,000 square metres of land extending into the plain on its eastward side.

The raising of the obelisk, marking the site of the future Mashriqu’l-Adhkár on Mount Carmel, completes a project initiated by the beloved Guardian.

The decision has been made and announced to the Bahá’í world, and the initial steps have been taken for the erection on Mount Carmel, at a site on the Arc as purposed by Shoghi Effendi, of the building which shall serve as the Seat of The Universal House of Justice.

The progress of the Cause of God gathers increasing momentum and we may with confidence look forward to the day when this Community, in God’s good time, shall have traversed the stages predicated for it by its Guardian, and shall have raised on this tormented planet the fair mansions of God’s Own Kingdom wherein humanity may find surcease from its self-induced confusion and chaos and ruin, and the hatreds and violence of this time shall be transmuted into an abiding sense of world brotherhood and peace. All this shall be accomplished within the Covenant of the everlasting Father, the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.

—THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Riḍván 1973
Bahá’í World Centre
Haifa, Israel

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J. E. Esslemont — Named a Hand of the Cause at His Passing

By O. Z. Whitehead

John Ebenezer Esslemont, the youngest son of his father who had the same name, was born on May 19, 1874, at Fairford Cults, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. After first attending Ferryhill public school and afterwards Robert Gordon College, he went to Aberdeen University. On his graduation from there with honors in April 1898, he received not only the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and of Surgery, but also a Philip Research Scholarship. During part of 1899, he did valuable research work at Bern and Strassburg.

In December of 1899, he became assistant to Professor Cash at Aberdeen University. A little more than a year later, he moved to Australia. While living in that country, on December 19, 1902, he married. At the end of two years, because of ill health, he returned to Aberdeenshire.

On finding that the climate there did not improve his health, he went to South Africa and stayed in that country for five years. In 1908, he again returned to Scotland and accepted the position of resident medical officer at the Home Sanatorium, Southbourne, Bournemouth.

In 1912, while practicing there he, along with some other doctors, became interested in State medical service. Two years later he wrote a paper on this subject and read it before the British Medical Association. The Advisory Committee on Public Health gave his paper careful attention and found it very useful.

Always a seeker after truth, Dr. Esslemont had not yet found a belief that he could accept.

One Sunday in December of 1914, he had dinner in London with another doctor, also interested in State medical service, and his wife. On this occasion he heard from this lady, for the first time in his life, the word “Bahá’í.” Because of his eager response she gave him the Bahá’í Message. She spoke too of her meeting with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His historic trip to London in 1911. In answer to Dr. Esslemont’s request for literature, she lent him some pamphlets.

This conversation with her and his reading of the pamphlets led him to make a thorough investigation of the Cause. Without delay he wrote to the Bahá’í Assembly of London for further information and bought all of the Bahá’í books in English that he could find. He studied these books so intensely that soon, in a series of letters to the lady who had given him the Message, he was making suggestions of books that he thought might interest her.

In February of 1916, about fourteen months after he had first heard of the Cause, he wrote a long letter to a believer in Manchester. A touching portion of this letter concludes:

Ah! may people all over the world soon turn to God, as revealed in Bahá’u’lláh, with humble and contrite hearts, begging for His forgiveness and blessing and imploring His mercy and bounty! Then shall His Kingdom come in men’s hearts and the whole world become one home and all mankind one family.¹

Dr. Esslemont became the first Bahá’í in Bournemouth. His teaching in that town was largely responsible for the establishment of its first Spiritual Assembly. Elected its first Chairman, and also Vice-Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of England, he served in both offices until he left that country in 1924. Deeply convinced of the necessity for the establishment

Dr. J. E. Esslemont

of an international language that must play an important part in the achievement of the unity of mankind, he learned to read, speak and write in Esperanto. Anxious to study carefully all the Bahá’í books that he could find and not content just to read those available in English, he also took the pains to learn Persian.

Keenly aware of the scarcity of literature in English, and of his own difficulty in finding the knowledge that he wanted, he decided to try and write a book that might help others in their spiritual journey.

In a letter Shoghi Effendi wrote to Major W. Tudor-Pole in Cairo, Egypt, from Haifa, Palestine, on December 17, 1918, he included the translation that he had made the day before of the following Tablet by the Master:

To his honor, Dr. Esslemont—Upon him be greeting and praise!

O thou lover of all mankind!

Verily, have I chanted thy verses of praise to God, inasmuch as He hath illumined thine eyes with the light of guidance, the light of the oneness of the world of humanity; so much so that thy heart overflowed with the love of God, and thy spirit was attracted by the fragrance of God, and I supplicate divine Providence that thou mayest become a torch to that gathering, so that the light of knowledge might shine out from thee, that thou mayest be confirmed to act in accordance with the significances of the Hidden Words and strengthened by God under all circumstances.

Concerning the book you are editing, send me a copy thereof.... Convey my greetings to the respected maid-servant of God, M.............

I pray the Lord to support thee in the service of all humankind, irrespective of race or religion. Nay rather, thou shouldst deal with all according to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, which are like unto life to this Glorious Age.

Upon thee be greeting and praise!

(Signed) ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ‘Abbás.²

On January 9, 1919, Dr. Esslemont sent a copy of this precious Tablet to the editors of Star of the West. He gave them permission either to print it or to use it as they saw fit.

In the same letter he wrote: “We are delighted to

[Page 7] welcome your President (Woodrow Wilson) to Europe and hope that great good will result from his visit. There will be much unrest and fermentation in Europe for years yet, I expect, but unrest is better than the placid acquiescence with vile conditions, with slums, drunkenness, prostitution, sweated labor, and profligate extravagance; and it seems to me that on the whole, things are moving towards a better state of affairs—towards the Most Great Peace.”³

Following the Master’s suggestion in His Tablet, Dr. Esslemont sent Him a rough draft of the first nine chapters of his book. After the Master had read them, He invited Dr. Esslemont to visit Him in Haifa and bring along the entire manuscript. Most happy to do this, during the winter of 1919-1920, he spent two months and a half there as the Master’s guest.

Dr. Esslemont has written, “ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá discussed the book with me on various occasions. He gave me several valuable suggestions for its improvement, and proposed that, when I had revised the manuscript, He would have the whole of it translated into Persian, so that He could read it through and amend or correct it when necessary.”⁴

In an appealing description of the Master’s daily life at that time when He was seventy-six, Dr. Esslemont has stated: “His unfailing patience, gentleness, kindliness and tact, made His presence like a benediction.”⁵

Rúḥíyyih Khánum has informed us that during his visit Dr. Esslemont not only got to know Shoghi Effendi, but also collaborated with him and some other believers in the translation of an important Tablet by the Master.

On his return home Dr. Esslemont completed the revision of his book and sent it to the Master. After its translation into Persian, He was able to correct three and a half chapters (I, II, V. and part of III) before His passing.

In the spring of 1920, Shoghi Effendi came from Haifa to England and entered Oxford. The friends knew well that his reason for doing this was to gain more knowledge of English so that he would be able to translate the Tablets of the Master and all the Holy Writings into this language with even more facility than before.

Dr. Esslemont was one of the dear friends who welcomed Shoghi Effendi to England “with genuine warmth and affection, ... He visited Dr. Esslemont more than once at his private sanitorium in Bournemouth.”⁶ A charming photograph shows them, seated together, relaxed and happy, on the front piazza.⁷

Some years after the passing of Dr. Esslemont, Shoghi Effendi wrote to a friend, “I shall ever recall the happy and restful days I spent at Bournemouth in the company of our departed friend, John Esslemont, and I will not forget the pleasant hours we spent together while taking our meals in the sanitorium.”⁸

On November 29, 1921, at 9:30 in the morning the following cable reached the office of Major Tudor-Pole in London at 61, St. James Street, near to Piccadilly, and a short distance from Buckingham Palace.

CYCLOMETRY LONDON

HIS HOLINESS ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ ASCENDED ABHÁ KINGDOM. INFORM FRIENDS.

—GREATEST HOLY LEAF. ⁽⁹⁾

Urgently asked by Major Tudor-Pole to come to his office, Shoghi Effendi arrived there at midday. After he had read the heartbreaking news in an open telegram he collapsed. Miss Grand, a believer from Toronto, Canada, living in London, took him to her home and put him to bed for several days. She, Lady Blomfield, his sister, Rouhangeze, and some other believers helped look after him.

Without delay Dr. Esslemont wrote him the following warm and understanding letter.

The Home Sanatorium,
Bournemouth.

Dearest Shoghi,

It was indeed a “bolt from the blue” when I got Tudor-Pole’s wire this morning. “Master passed on peacefully Haifa yesterday morning” ... It must be very hard for you, away from your family and even away from all Bahá’í friends. What will you do now? I suppose you will go back to Haifa as soon as possible. Meantime you are most welcome to come here for a few days ... Just send me a wire ... and I shall have a room ready for you ... if I can be of any help to you in any way I shall be so glad. I can well imagine how heart-broken you must feel and how you must long to be at home and what a terrible blank you must feel in your life ... Christ was closer to His loved ones after His ascension than before, and so I pray it may be with the Beloved and ourselves. We must do our part to shoulder the responsibility of the Cause and His Spirit and Power will be with us and in us.¹⁰

Several days later in a letter to a Bahá’í student, Shoghi Effendi wrote: “The friends have insisted on my spending a day or two of rest in this place with Dr. Esslemont after the shock I have sustained and tomorrow I shall start back to London and thence to the Holy Land.”¹¹

In February 1922, just a few months after the Master’s passing, Dr. Esslemont cabled the Guardian, “Convalescing satisfactorily testament received your’s devotedly.”¹²

Despite his constant struggle against ill health Dr. Esslemont not only continued to teach both in person and in letters, and to fulfill his Bahá’í administrative duties, but also to help the National Bahá’í Assembly of England to prepare his book, which he now called Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era for publication in 1923 by George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London.

It is certainly no exaggeration to state that this now rightly famous book written at a time when there was still a dearth of authentic literature in English, or in any Western language, and published twenty-one years before Shoghi Effendi’s immortal history of the first century of the Bahá’í Era, God Passes By was published, has already served thousands of grateful believers in many countries as a much needed introduction to the history and teachings of the Bahá’í Cause.

The Guardian has referred to Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era as “the text book of the Faith”¹³ and said that it “would inspire generations yet unborn.”¹⁴

Marie, Queen of Rumania, the first member of Royalty to recognize the Station of Bahá’u’lláh, read this book first and felt that others should do the same. She called it “a glorious book of love and goodness.”¹⁵

This absorbing and comprehensive book contains such a large number of inspiring passages that it is hard to choose only a few from which to quote.

In Chapter I entitled “The Glad Tidings,” Dr. Esslemont clearly explained: “Bahá’u’lláh asked no one to accept His statements and His tokens blindly. On the contrary, He put in the very forefront of His teachings emphatic warnings against blind acceptance of authority, and urged all to open their eyes and ears, and use their own judgment, independently and fearlessly, in order to ascertain the truth.”¹⁶

In Chapter III “Bahá’u’lláh: The Glory of God”, first published as a separate pamphlet, he has movingly written “From His place of confinement in distant ‘Akká, Bahá’u’lláh stirred His native land of Persia to its depths and not only Persia; He stirred and is stirring the world. The spirit that animated Him and His followers was unfailingly courteous and patient, yet it was a

[Page 8] force of astonishing vitality and transcendent power: it achieved the seemingly impossible. It changed human nature. Men who yielded to its influence, became new creatures. They were filled with a love, a faith, and enthusiasm, compared with which earthly joys and sorrows were but as dust in the balance. They were ready to face lifelong suffering or violent death with perfect equanimity, nay, with radiant joy, in the strength of fearless dependence on God.”¹⁷

At the conclusion of Chapter V “What is a Bahá’í?” he wrote in the same vein: “The life to which Bahá’u’lláh calls His followers is surely one of such nobility that in all the vast range of human possibility there is nothing more lofty or beautiful to which man could aspire. Realization of the spiritual self in ourselves means realization of the sublime truth that we are from God and to Him shall we return. This return to God is the glorious goal of the Bahá’í; but to attain this goal the only path is that of obedience to His chosen Messengers and especially to His Messenger for the time in which we live, Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet of the new era.”¹⁸

During the autumn of 1924 a conference on living religions was held in London. Dr. Esslemont wrote both a general pamphlet, “Bahá’u’lláh and His Message” and a small leaflet, “What Is the Bahá’í Movement?” for this occasion.

In a section of the former entitled, “The Baffling Modern Problems” he has made clear the need for the coming of a new prophet to heal the countless social illnesses of this day that the Christian Church has even failed to mitigate.

By the end of 1922 the Guardian’s already heavy burden of work had so greatly increased that “what he urgently needed was more helpers....” In January 1923 he wrote to the London Bahá’ís: “The presence of a competent assistant in my translation work at present in Haifa would be most welcome and highly desirable, and I submit this matter to the members of the Council that they may consider the matter of sending for a time one of the English friends who would attend with me to this all-important work.”¹⁹

During that year, owing to the death of the proprietor, the sanitorium in Bournemouth closed and Dr. Esslemont lost his position. In 1924 Shoghi Effendi sent him a warm invitation to spend the winter in Haifa. Early in November of that year he left London to go there. On November 15th from Malta he wrote the friends in England that he was greatly enjoying his trip and that his health had much improved. While he was spending a day or two at Port Said, he had some happy meetings with the friends. On November 21st he arrived in Haifa. Without delay he began to work for Shoghi Effendi.

The immortal Martha Root has written a touching tribute to Dr. Esslemont. During April of 1925 in Haifa she met him for the first time. She went to see him as did many others in the hospital where he lay ill. Soon after her visit there he became well enough to return to his own room. He lived in a house with some other Bahá’ís near to the Guardian’s apartment in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s house. The Guardian made sure that Dr. Esslemont received the best possible care.

Every evening his Persian teacher used to talk Persian with him for about an hour. In the mornings when Martha came to work with him, he would tell her in Esperanto the thrilling stories about the Bahá’í Cause that his teacher had told him the evening before.

Martha has written, “Our Bahá’í brother was a great scholar. Everything he did bore the mark of extreme efficiency.... In our Esperanto work he was not satisfied just with any word, but sometimes we would discuss a dozen words and search for their exact meanings in several dictionaries to find the word that would most brilliantly express the spirit of each thought.”²⁰

One day when his illness prevented him from working she said to him, “If you do not do anything, you are still doing much work every day, for your book is spreading the Bahá’í Message in every land.”²¹ During the last few months of his life among other tasks he was trying to complete a translation of his book into German.

On November 22, 1925, just a year and a few days after his arrival in Haifa he died.

Martha, with her usual refreshing simplicity, has written, “Dr. Esslemont’s sudden passing into the Eternal Realm brings home to us the importance of appreciating the value of the time. Are we working to the utmost and happily? Is our work efficient? If it is, whether in this world or in the next, we are joy-bringing to our friends and to all humanity.”²²

On November 30, 1925, in a deeply moving letter to the believers of the West, Shoghi Effendi has described Dr. Esslemont:

To me personally he was the warmest of friends, a trusted counselor, an indefatigable collaborator, a lovable companion.

With tearful eyes I supplicate at the Threshold of Bahá’u’lláh—and request you all to join—in my ardent prayers, for the fuller unfolding in the realms beyond of a soul that has already achieved so high a spiritual standing in this world, for by the beauty of his character, by his knowledge of the Cause, by the conspicuous achievements of his book, he has immortalized his name, and by sheer merit deserved to rank as one of the Hands of the Cause of God.²³

Note: Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era by J. E. Esslemont, by 1963 had been published in English and the following languages: German, Assamese, Gujarátí, Hindi, Kanarese, Kashmiri, Malaysian, Nepalese, Oriya, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Sindhi, Tamil, Teleguz, Kurdish, Portuguese, Albanian, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Bulgarian, Burmese, Chin, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Esperanto, Finnish, French, Hebrew, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Marathi, Norwegian, Polish, Rumanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Vietnamese (Annamese), Xosa, and Zulu (one chapter). It was in manuscript form in: Amharic, Swahili, Tagalog, Tigrigna, and Sesutho. In addition the volume was available for the blind in English, Japanese and Esperanto. This total of almost fifty languages in which the book is now available, with five more in manuscript and with three languages printed for the blind, shows that for the majority of literate humanity a basic source of information on the Faith is now available.

(Information from Bahá’í World, Vol. XIII)

1. “Dr. J. E. Esslemont” by the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of England. The Bahá’í Magazine, February 1926. Volume 16, No. 11. Page 715.
2. Letter from Shoghi Effendi, foreworded by W. Tudor-Pole, Star of the West. Volume IX, No. 17. Page 195-196.
3. Letter from J. E. Esslemont, Ibid. Page 157.
4. J. E. Esslemont. Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. Third revised edition. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Wilmette, 1970. ‎Inroduction Introduction‎ Page XI.
5. Ibid. Page 76.
6. Rúḥíyyih Rabbani. The Priceless Pearl. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 27 Rutland Gate, London, S. W. 7, opposite page 32-34.
7. Ibid., opposite page 265, “Shoghi Effendi in England” 1920-1921.
8. Ibid. Page 34.
9. Ibid. Page 39.
10. Ibid. Page 40.
11. Ibid. Page 41.
12. Ibid. Page 91.
13. Ibid. Page 102.
14. Ibid. Page 91.
15. Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Wilmette, Illinois, 1970. Page 382.
16. Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. Page 21.
17. Ibid. Page 62.
18. Ibid. Page 98.
19. The Priceless Pearl. Page 91.
20. “An Appreciation” by Martha Root. The Bahá’í Magazine (Star of the West). Vol. XVI, February 1926. No. 11. Page 718.
21. Ibid. Page 718.
22. Ibid. Page 719.
23. Shoghi Effendi, Bahá’í Administration. Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Wilmette, Illinois, 1968. Page 97-98.

[Page 9]

Goals Achieved in the United States

More than 800 Local Spiritual Assemblies have reported forming in the last Riḍván election of the Nine Year Plan, surpassing the U.S. goal of 600 Local Spiritual Assemblies set by The Universal House of Justice at the start of the Plan by more than 200.

A final count will not be available until the National Spiritual Assembly meets to review the results sometime after the National Convention, May 17-20.

Pioneers

The last pioneering institute of the Nine Year Plan was held at the National Bahá’í Center in Wilmette, March 22-25. It was attended by forty adults and youth, and four children.

This group which was assigned to countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, filled the remaining United States pioneering goals of the Nine Year Plan.

The four-day Institute was the tenth conducted in Wilmette since December 1970. These Institutes have trained and dispersed more than 230 pioneers.

In the past nine years, 1064 pioneers have traveled to foreign countries from the United States to settle. At the present time, there are 640 pioneers of the Nine Year Plan serving at their posts.

The training for the prospective pioneers includes classes on the history of pioneering, basic medicine, and dynamics of culture shock, and the Tablets of the Divine Plan. Continental Counsellors, Auxiliary Board members, and National Spiritual Assembly members assist with instruction at the sessions.

Just ten days before the start of the March Institute a cablegram from The Universal House of Justice instructed the United States to send four additional pioneers to Finland before Riḍván. In less than a week, four volunteers—two of whom spoke Finnish—were recruited by the International Goals Committee and invited to the institute to prepare for their journey.

One family is traveling to the island of St. Helena, located off the west coast of Africa, to occupy long unfilled pioneering posts. When they arrive, the first Spiritual Assembly of St. Helena will be formed. This Assembly will be under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly of South and West Africa.

The majority of the United States pioneering assignments were given by The Universal House of Justice in 1969. More than 300 posts were assigned to the American Bahá’ís to fill. An additional 89 assignments were added by The Universal House of Justice in 1970.

—From THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í, May, 1973

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PIONEER TRAINING INSTITUTE—MARCH 22-25, 1973

Pioneer Training Institute held in Wilmette, March 22-25, 1973. Front row, left to right: Richard Hicks, Janet Cockcroft, Lea Bradley, Mrs. Liana Volk, Mrs. Roxanne Gardner, Mr. Gerald Gardner, Mr. Travis Griffith. Second row, left to right: Mrs. Brenda Hicks, Mrs. Gladys Tranter (Canadian believer), Brian Averill, Kathleen Zeislar, Jeffrey Kiely, Mr. Thomas Volk, Mrs. Barbara Griffith, Michael Lemon. Third row, left to right: Richard Tranter (Canadian believer), Mrs. E. Ruth Johnson, Mrs. Vida Grassie, Clare Katz, Nora Schwartz, Philip Johnson, William Michael Day, Herman Freeman. Back row: Mrs. Edda Rasekhy, Lynn Hippler, Rebecca Gullion, Gary Scott, Larry Lindner, Michael Burns, Ralph Grunwaldt. Others attending Institute not pictured here: Mrs. Anna Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. Troy Copsy and Miss Diane Susan Millard, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Harmsen, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Jorgensen, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Unterschuetz, Mr. Clyde Johnson.

[Page 10] Part of the group which celebrated the official recognition of the Faith in Rwanda and the achievement of its goals.

RWANDA ACHIEVES GOALS

The National Spiritual Assembly of Rwanda was formed at Riḍván, 129 B.E., through the guidance of The Universal House of Justice, although this was not part of the original Plan.

On March 26, 1972, the following additional goals were given to Rwanda by The Universal House of Justice:

1. Raise the number of localities to at least 50.
2. Increase the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies to at least 25.
3. Promote the teaching work among the Pygmies.
4. Incorporate at least one Local Spiritual Assembly.
5. Incorporate the National Spiritual Assembly.
6. Convert the local center into the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.
7. Acquire a national endowment and local endowment.
8. Acquire a Temple site.
9. Establish a teaching institute.

The National Teaching Committee planned a series of institutes in order to achieve these goals, also for deepening, encouraging the friends, and to consolidate all the Assemblies and centers. This project was successful.

After some months of activity, the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies increased to 38 and with 140 localities where believers reside, these exceeded the goals. The National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, national and local endowments and the Temple site were acquired. The Temple site is well located near Kigali, above the hill just beside the main road.

The most important and difficult task was official recognition of the Faith. Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s visit to Rwanda in January 1973 gave a new impetus to the Cause. On February 27, 1973, Dr. Aziz Navidi arrived in the country and by his activities in connection with the National Spiritual Assembly, finally obtained recognition on March 24, 1973. This joyous day was celebrated at the Bahá’í Center with profound gratitude. Dr. Navidi was on fire with the love of God. He encouraged the friends to consciously work to acquire the virtues that Bahá’u’lláh wants each one of us to have, to study the Writings of the Faith, and to teach. Rwanda goals have been achieved, and thanks and praises given to Bahá’u’lláh.

—Mrs. Zaherah Taaid, Reporter

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Faith Represented at Reception in Westminster Abbey

Mr. John Long, Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom was invited, with other religious leaders, to a United Nations Association reception held in Westminster Abbey on January 30, 1973. Also attending were the Archbishop of Canterbury; Cardinal Heenan; the Chief Rabbi; and the Heads of the Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim Faiths.

Notices of this meeting appeared in the Leicester Mercury and the Stamford Mercury, the two newspapers which circulate in Rutland (Mr. Long lives on Oakham, Rutland), as well as in a front-page article in the New World, the UNA Journal, under the large headline, “Historic UNA Event ... Religious Leaders Meet at the Abbey.”

In his appeal to the religious leaders for support of the United Nations, Mr. Erick Price Holmes, Vice Chairman of the National Executive of UNA, reminded his listeners of the principles of the UN Charter—to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, and to promote social progress and better standards of life—and remarked that “we have to seek to counter the prejudice and bitterness of past generations and change the hearts and minds of all peoples.”

Since the Bahá’í world community has from its inception not only shared these basic ideals but has been working to make them a reality, Mr. Price’s appeal found a responsive Bahá’í ear. The Bahá’ís of the United Kingdom have always given wholehearted cooperation to the UN through national and local activities—for example, the National Spiritual Assembly is a member of the United Kingdom Standing Conference for the Second United Nations Development Decade—making better known UN goals and programs. They have also participated, since 1948, in the activities of the Bahá’í International Community at the United Nations.

[Page 11]

Mass Teaching Conference in Honduras

It was truly a historic gathering for Bahá’í youth in Honduras sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly the first week-end in February, 1973. Friday evening and early Saturday morning Bahá’ís poured in from all points of the Honduran map; from Choluteca, from Olancho with pioneers Dale and Jeannie Morrow, from Siguatepeque with pioneers Khalil and Jackie Cornell, from Taulabe, from San Pedro Sula with pioneers Richard and Virginia James and Chris Ruhe, from Santa Rosa de Copan with pioneer Jere McKinney, making a total of seventy.

Orientation sessions were conducted by Jorge Pavon and Alfonso Hernandez with emphasis on how to mass teach and teach in the streets. Prayers were said for the success of the Conference and teaching effort. Meals were served in shifts at a nearby small restaurant.

At the National Bahá’í Center after prayers groups were organized each with a leader, and a specific area assigned to invite people to the program that evening. In an hour and a half, 1500 invitations were given out in all the huge barrio on the side of a hill which is dusty or muddy, depending on the season.

After supper, the groups assembled for the program which took place in one corner of a large auto-mechanic shop in the center of the barrio. Everything was in order with pamphlets and declaration cards ready, the projector, the stage, the screen set, guitars and banjos tuned for the special occasion of the weekend. As the music began, the people came, a number impossible to count in the surrounding darkness. The people were respectful and friendly, the children calm. Songs were sung, duets played, the welcoming talk given. When the slide show began the people were enraptured. After the show, the group continued with more explanatory talks, handing out pamphlets, more music, and invitations to those who wished to accept the Faith. The count of souls enrolled—eighty-nine! Where there had been two Bahá’ís in the barrio, now there were eighty-nine baby Bahá’ís who would require the closest attention so that they would become functioning, active Bahá’ís.

The band slept soundly that night, boys at the Center and girls at various Bahá’í homes.

The next morning another planning session was held with the emphasis on street teaching. The goal was to enroll more than 100 in the twenty-four hour period. So phase three of the operation began as the youth returned to Barrio Reparto for a follow-up. The people were very friendly and receptive as they went about their Sunday morning business. Very few Bahá’ís were rebuked or put off. New Bahá’ís were given special materials for their deepening. Twenty-seven more souls were enrolled under the banner of Bahá’u’lláh.

Back at the Center, testimonials were given by many of the youth. The final count of new Bahá’ís was tabulated to the joy of everyone—almost 120 new Bahá’ís! Prayers were read. Finally, the youth and adults joined hands in a great circle and sang of their joy for being allowed to share and contribute in this great undertaking. It was a moment of priceless unity after winning an important victory for the Cause.

Then there was a rush to say goodbye and to climb aboard the pick-up truck or van that would take them home.

This, in brief, is what happened in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on the first weekend of February, 1973, ... 129 B.E.

—Chris Ruhe, Correspondent

Pioneer Richard James with some of the youth who attended the Conference

[Page 12]

Unit Convention of Thatta, Pakistan

As directed by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Pakistan a Unit Convention was held on March 23, 1973, at Thatta, Islampur, Village of Khatanmal. Mr. Asrar Hussain, Mr. Meherban Jamshedi and Mr. A. C. Joshi went to Thatta for a preliminary survey and to make arrangements. After a sub-committee from the Thatta Assembly consulted at the Karachi National Office, a program was planned and two were delegated to go out to the surrounding fifty-six miles in jeeps and a bus to make the convention call.

On March 22, 1973, Mr. Behrooz Rowhani and Mr. A. C. Joshi went to Thatta to supervise the election and begin the convention. They arrived at about 9:00 p.m. and were received with loud Bahá’í greetings all along the main bazaar through which they passed. About 400 turbanned believers came from villages of Mithi, Matli, Chachro, Tando Md. Khan, M’pur, Bathoro, Nagar, and others. Some had walked twenty-five miles to attend the Bahá’í Mela (a term given to treat the convention as a festival, too). At about 10:00 p.m. they all squatted in the compound on dhurries and Mr. Joshi addressed them, explaining the purpose of the convention and generally explaining the Teachings of Mahatma Bahá (Lord Bahá’u’lláh).

At about 11:30 p.m. the meeting was directed to another gathering where 150 new believers were singing devotional songs. Among the musicians were well-known singers Bhagat Soomro of Tando Md. Khan, Maharaj Bachandas of Mithi and Mahant Janoo Shah. Mr. Joshi added two original compositions, Bahá’í songs, in the style of the singers, and played on the ancient musical instruments, the kartal, the majira and the jaanj pakhawaj. The devotional song session went on until after midnight.

The next day about 550 new believers gathered under the shamiana (canopies) with Mr. Khatanmal as Chairman. Six headmen of the Bhils from far villages also attended. Bahá’í prayers in Sindhi were recited by the Bhil children. On behalf of the National Spiritual

Mr. A. C. Joshi representing the National Spiritual Assembly of Pakistan at the Unit Convention of Thatta

A section of the believers at the Unit Convention of Thatta

Assembly, Mr. A. C. Joshi acted as Chairman of the Convention and spoke on the necessity of steadfast adherence to Bahá’í administration, in spirit and form. As he spoke in the Sindhicum-Thari language, the headmen of several villages learned much which would assist them in teaching in their villages to the more than 56,000 Bhils in their areas.

After twenty-five delegates were elected, several proposals were made. Seth Khatanmal said he would be ready to offer space if the National Spiritual Assembly would open up a school in Thatta. Mr. Annoo and Mr. Pyaro, trained school teachers, offered to serve in such a school if given a subsistence allowance. A great need was felt for having a jeep for travel in the desert area of Tharparkar District, as the only other means of transportation are by bullock carts or on camel back.

The President of Pakistan has announced that a second Religious Minorities Communities Conference will be held when he returns from Iran.

The Convention was memorable.

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Shoshone Translation Goal Achieved

Three prayers were to be translated into Shoshone to fill a goal of the Nine Year Plan. This has now been accomplished, the work of Zem Leon at Fort Hall, Idaho. As Shoshone is not a written language, it was a challenge to write it phonetically.

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Youth Conference in Sweden

Bahá’ís from many countries are invited to attend the Nordic Youth Conference which will be held in Jokkmokk, Sweden from June 27 to 30, 1973. Jokkmokk is the cultural center for the Same (Lapp) population. The town is situated in the interior of northern Sweden a short distance north of the Arctic circle. During and after the conference, group teaching activity will be organized to spread the Message of the Faith to the local population.

[Page 13]

Teaching in Coatepec, Mexico

The people of Mexico, called “sons of the shaking earth”, inhabit a land of which only seven percent is suitable for cultivation. The hearts of the people preserve their traditions which are an amalgamation of over 800 years of native beliefs with the conquistador importation. Teaching in Mexico requires painstaking perseverance.

Donna Victora, of Coatepec, reminds one of the jeweler. For more than twenty-five years she has taught the Cause of God in her native land. She was introduced to the Faith by Louise (Lisa) Baker, and was visited by Hand of the Cause of God Dorothy Baker. She has received letters from both the Guardian and Rúḥíyyih Khánum.

There is now an Assembly in Donna Victora’s city, Coatepec, Veracruz, just south of the capital of Jalapa; the first in this Gulf Coast state. This Assembly was formed in July, 1972. How was this attained? “Dios sabe”

Early in 1971 a teaching team traveled the four-hour distance from Puebla to Coatepec. They presented a program which included “Lamp Unto My Feet” with a Spanish tape recorded by Continental Counsellor Carmen Burafato. More than fifteen souls embraced the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh at that time.

More than six months later, in August 1971, after some informal visits by teachers, a second teaching team, including four summer projecteers, all girls, visited that center of coffee plantations and ignited a spark that has become a flame. This team took the nephew of Donna Victora, Juan Mendez, to the shore village of Chachalacas, just north of the city of Veracruz, for a combination teaching and recreation weekend. Three souls from this village of fishermen entered the ranks of the Faith during a proclamation program. It was here that Juan stated: “This is the first time I’ve known that Bahá’ís could have fun.” Juan has now journeyed to various spots through Mexico to teach and attend Bahá’í conferences. He is a school teacher, he is studying the flute and cello, as well as painting; he plays the drums and has his own band called “Naw-Rúz.”

In October 1971, under the direction of the Regional Teaching Committee, two pioneers made monthly teaching trips from Puebla to Coatepec to deepen and encourage the friends and to prepare for their first Local Spiritual Assembly. These trips continued until April 1972 when they drove to the Panama Conference. Due to some difficulty over visas, they were unable to return for the formation of this Assembly, and another pioneer went in their place; however the Assembly for various reasons could not be formed until the following July, and under the direction of a fourth team.

In January 1973, the original two pioneers returned to Coatepec—this time to preserve the Assembly. Out of the fifteen who had enrolled earlier, only six could now be found. The firmness of Rosalia Garcia Santander and her family was a joy to the teachers for she secured Bahá’í books and taught the Faith to her children. It was through this family that Angel Garcia embraced the Faith. He is a school teacher, and had the experience of seeing an impetuous student grab his prayer book and mockingly begin reading it to the class, only to be struck with reverence for the Message. The class was awed by the transformation this made in her.

The outpouring continues. The teaching perseveres. In time, if God wills, the water of the spirit will well up and form an oasis.

Bahá’ís of Coatepec; front, seated left to right: Martha Mendez Garcia, Rosa Mendez Garcia, Rosalia Garcia Santander, Donna Victora. Standing, Nancy de Taylor (Puebla teacher), Mavis Vaughn (pioneer), Angel Castro Ganas, Paul Vaughn (pioneer), Juan Mendes Contraras.

[Page 14]

Concluding United Nations Day and Human Rights Day Reports of 1972

United Nations Day is annually observed on October 24, Human Rights Day on December 10.

INDIA

Nearly 4,000 people in all attended United Nations Day and Human Rights Day public meetings in 21 large cities such as Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, New Delhi, and Bangalore. A letter from the National Spiritual Assembly of India revealed successful meetings, all of which featured Bahá’í speakers with, in some cases, prominent persons who were not Bahá’ís serving as chairmen. In addition to hearing the speakers’ messages on the need for unifying world action and for recognition of the human rights of all people, those attending the meetings received literature supplied by both the United Nations Information Center and the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly. Publicity brought the attention of the general public to the words “Bahá’í” and “United Nations.”

ALASKA

A bold headline stretching across three columns of the Anchorage Daily Times announced, “Area Bahá’ís To Celebrate United Nations Day Here.” Since the celebration was to be in the form of an international dinner with entertainment, two large pictures were placed beneath the headline. One was of three Bahá’í ladies wearing various native costumes, while the second was of a Bahá’í woman preparing one of the foreign dishes which would be served. Included in the story was the presentation of several of the recipes which contributed to the success of the evening. Three hundred people responded by attending the dinner which was held at the armed forces branch of the YMCA. During the evening they heard talks by Professor Peter Blewett of the Community College and Mr. Hugh Chapman, a Bahá’í, and they were entertained with songs of other lands and a native dance.

In Spenard, Human Rights Day was observed with a tea in a private Bahá’í home. A film was shown and a brief talk given. An immediate result of the publicity was a telephone call requesting the Bahá’í view on the oneness of mankind.

SAMOA

The first United Nations Day observance in American Samoa a number of years ago was wholly sponsored by the Bahá’í community, with an invitation to the government to join in the activities. The Bahá’í community continued to be the organizer of observances supporting U.N. Day until two years ago when the government asked to be the sponsoring agent. Since then Suhayl Ala’i, a Bahá’í, has been appointed annually to the planning committee and each year has served as the committee’s secretary. He served in this capacity for UN Day 1972.

In Western Samoa the Bahá’í community has held observances of UN Day in private homes. This year the first attempt was made to participate in a public event. The Secretary of the National Teaching Committee contacted the United Nations office there, offering Bahá’í cooperation in any event the office might be planning. Nothing was programmed for 1972 as the office was in the midst of moving, but the UN office expressed delight with the Bahá’í offer, noting that it was the first time anyone outside the UN Office had shown interest in such an undertaking and anticipating a cooperative effort in 1973.

BRAZIL

An excerpt from one of the number of newspaper stories covering the Human Rights Day observance in Porto Alegre reflects the dignity of the occasion. “... The ideals which nourish the United Nations regarding the rights of men continue to be today the hope for a better world in which eventually the desired goal will be attained: world peace and the harmonious cooperation for social and economic progress of all the peoples.... The Bahá’ís of Porto Alegre, representing a non-governmental entity with the United Nations, and the Satélite-Prontidão, will celebrate together this world date with a program planned by the Cultural Department of Satélite....”

The program consisted of a panel of distinguished speakers, followed by a dance. The speakers were: Professor Zilah Totta, Congressman Carlos Santos, Congressman Alceu Collares, Dr. Cláudio Dias, Dr. Gilberto Brasil, and Mr. Rangvald Taetz (Bahá’í).

THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

By being the only organization in the city of Panama supporting a public program on United Nations Day, the Bahá’í community of Panama City drew the notice of their fellow citizens in newspaper publicity given to the occasion. The event was a public meeting, with about 100 people attending. The speaker was Mr. Fred Berest, a Bahá’í of the Canal Zone.

A welcome to a distinguished newcomer to the Canal Zone was the basis for a successful Human Rights Day event in Balboa. The event was sponsored by several Bahá’í communities. It was held at the Jewish Welfare Building. The speaker was Judge Darryl Brown, the first Negro judge to serve here. The report from Panama states: “Judge Brown had just arrived in the Canal Zone when plans were being formed for our Human Rights Day program. We were eager to extend a welcome to Mr. Brown, and what better way than to sponsor him in his first public appearance in Panama? His talk was excellent ... We look forward to further association with him.”

GERMANY

A press conference was called by the Bahá’í community of Trier for the planned United Nations Day observance of that community. Resulting press stories, reaching 100,000 homes, not only presented details of the meeting, with mention of the Bahá’ís cooperation with the United Nations, but also informed the readers about the copper relief wall-hanging which the Bahá’ís of Trier had presented to the Bahá’í International Community office at the United Nations. A photograph of the copper relief was shown in the papers. The relief depicts a map of Trier in 1675. It is outstanding not only as an art decoration but also as a promotional item for this historic and picturesque town. In addition to the publicity and to the meeting, itself, the Bahá’ís further promoted the United Nations with the distribution of more than 1,000 copies of the address of the UN Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim to youth.

A cooperative effort in Leinfelden between the German Society for the United Nations and the Bahá’í community was the holding of a public meeting with two speakers and a panel. The speakers were, from the German Society, Mr. Bartels, and from the Bahá’í

[Page 15] community, Mr. Dieter Herth. Panelists joining the speakers after their formal talks were: Dr. Eugen Schmidt, the moderator; Erma Schmidt; Angelika Baur; and Gishert Schaal. The audience participated in the panel discussion, which was then followed with music. Posters and newspaper publicity informed the public about the meeting. About fifty people attended.

In Wuppertal, the Bahá’ís celebrated United Nations Day with a public meeting, featuring Professor Naqua. A newspaper reporter was present, asking numerous questions.

Human Rights Day in Munich was celebrated as the result of the work of the Students Committee of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Munich. The events consisted of a talk on a radio youth program; posters and publicity; a public meeting; and an exhibition at the University of Munich of posters and booklets provided by both the German Society for the United Nations and the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Munich. The president of the Section of Bavaria of the German Society for the United Nations was officially invited to the public meeting. He attended along with three other members of the Society. The speaker was a Bahá’í, Dr. Eugen Schmidt. The title of his talk was “United Nations—Unified Mankind.”

REPORTS FROM SPAIN, SINGAPORE, SWAZILAND AND TANZANIA

In Spain public meetings were held for Human Rights Day in two places. The Bahá’í community of Barcelona sponsored a public meeting, with Don Luis Ortuno talking on “Human Rights and Religion.” In Tarasa the Bahá’ís cooperated with the Association of the Friends of the United Nations in sponsoring a public meeting. The speaker was Economist Don Santiago Serra Gasulla. His subject was “The History of the Philosophy of the Rights and Duties of Man.”

From Singapore came the report of a newspaper account of the Bahá’í support of United Nations Day, along with the mention of a book display at the National Bahá’í Center.

In Swaziland, where United Nations Day is a public holiday, the Bahá’ís attended the government-sponsored observance which took place in front of the Parliament Building with the King and the Prime Minister present.

United Nations Day was recognized by three Bahá’í communities in Tanzania, with public meetings held in Dar-es-Salaam and Arusha and a village meeting in Kigoma Area. Mr. James King, Director of United Nations Information Service, spoke at the meeting held in Dar-es-Salaam and entertained the audience of 100 people with a UN film “The Grand Design”, while in Arusha a speaker representing the United Nations shared the program with Mr. Festus Mukalama of the Bahá’í community at a gathering of 200 people.

A LETTER TO BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITIES

A letter sent to the Bahá’í International Office from Mr. David Exley of the United Nations Office of Public Information carried praise for Bahá’í activities in 1972 supporting the U.N. The letter said, in part: “Once again you have sent us an impressive report on the world-wide observances sponsored by Bahá’í communities on United Nations Day ... May I express our sincere gratitude to all those Bahá’í communities whose dedicated efforts are contributing to a wider appreciation of United Nations aims and activities....”

This letter was sent before Mr. Exley received the Bahá’í International Community office’s report on Human Rights Day activities, which were as impressive as those of U.N. Day.

Club Bahá’í for 1972-73 at The University of the Americas, Puebla, Mexico. Seated, left to right: Paul Vaughn, Chairman; Tom Freidrich; Sheryl Fischman, Secretary-Treasurer. Standing: Jack and Roni Kortz; Todd Fletcher, Vice-Chairman; Jennifer Heller; Fred Frazelle. Absent, Madelyn Park and Manuel Megige of Guatemala.

Latin-American Club Bahá’í. Puebla, Mexico

The Latin American collegiate outpost entered its second year of operations on The University of the Americas campus, Puebla, Mexico, on October 1972. Taking on the full and courageous goal of proclaiming His Holy Name to the entire student body, the Club planned and executed a proclamation week that included four nightly meetings, a week-long art show, and two noted Bahá’ís speaking before four classes and one other society.

Jorge Angulo, a nationally known anthropologist, spoke on subjects of his field to two classes and to their society. One evening he presented a slide-talk program on Progressive Revelation using anthropological materials.

Dr. Edris Rice-Wray, daughter of Mrs. Howard Colby Ives spoke before two sociological classes, once on Mexican population growth, and once on the Bahá’í Faith, using the film “The New Wind”. In the evening, she participated in a panel discussion on “Men and Women: the Wings of the Bird of Humanity”. The Dean of Students, an anthropology teacher; a woman’s club organizer; and a member of Club Bahá’í also shared in the discussion.

Chappie Angulo, the artist wife of Jorge, displayed three of her paintings from her series on the twelve principles and spoke on “Art in the Modern World”. As a result of this, she now has a full exposition on campus which opened April 2, 1973.

Proclamation Week included a constantly manned pamphlet table in the Student Center. On the final night Paul Lucas, Auxiliary Board member, spoke on “Who is Bahá’u’lláh?”

Before and after this Proclamation Week, regular Monday night meetings were held as well as lawn gatherings to share the Glad Tidings.

The winter quarter ushered in a time of challenge and crisis for Club Bahá’í. Through circumstances as yet still uncertain, a movement arose within the University Administration to curtail the Club’s activities or prevent the Club from functioning at all. This movement is directed toward the expression of any religious thoughts on campus by student groups.

Though the Monday night meetings have come to an end, the Faith of God received unprecedented and clear publicity including a one-time Bahá’í column in the school press. Letters of explanation were circulated to administrators with copies of the Bahá’í statement on loyalty to governments. The Club members themselves found a new source of unity as they arose to the challenge of continuation of the Club.

[Page 16]

PANAMA BAHÁ’Í SUMMER SCHOOL

The annual summer school held in Panama from February 9 through 18, 1973, blossomed out into an international school this year with a large group of eager young Bahá’ís from Costa Rica and Peru. The whole emphasis was on deepening both spiritually and in our knowledge of the laws of Bahá’u’lláh.

The curriculum included a thorough course on The Seven Valleys, lead by Dr. H. Ahmadiyyah, Auxiliary Board member from British Honduras, whose classes the first three days drew large crowds from Panama City, as well as the group actually staying in Villa Virginia, our National School. He pointed out the parallels between The Seven Valleys and The Hidden Words; both are mystical books that teach us “the object of existence.” The Seven Valleys is a chart that shows us our way in the Bahá’í life. Each valley is a further growth in our progress to God.

The presence of our Counsellors for Central America, Mr. Alfred Osborne of Panama, Mrs. Carmen Burafato of Mexico and Mr. Artemus Lamb of Costa Rica, gave the opening days of the school a tremendous beginning. Each of them spoke and held classes. All stressed the need, more than ever, to teach and to deepen not only individuals but the Local Assemblies in their duties, preparing them for the work ahead.

Also Miriam and Richard Mirkovitch of Costa Rica gave most practical classes and discussion periods on the marital laws of Bahá’u’lláh. The youth and adults alike were made more solidly aware of the obligations of a Bahá’í.

The evenings were filled with varied programs of movies, slides, song sessions, talks by the Counsellors and dramatic improvisations, that very aptly demonstrated the need for local and national Assemblies to prepare themselves for the coming era when they will have to face, as Houses of Justice, the challenge both of teaching and of administering the Faith. This dramatic technique has an uncanny way of showing how unready we are for the tasks that are not only a part of the future, but are already with us.

One evening was devoted to an illustrated talk and discussion on the influence of religion on art. The speaker pointed out that art grew out of religious expression and the great art periods have always followed closely on the coming of a Manifestation. The talk had to cover, very briefly, almost a million years of history and prehistory, and, as the speaker pointed out, could only be an introduction to promote further study.

This year also we attempted to have a children’s school apart from the adults. Villa Virginia, with its little stony brook, is kiddy heaven and much time was allowed to these predominantly city children to race and play, running free in the meadow and making dams and sailing boats in the brook. With all this they had some part in the devotions, discussed figures in the Faith, wrote a little Bahá’í song and did some nature study. The arts and crafts included making belts and kites as well as the usual drawing, painting and clay, and flower making, in which they helped an adult project. Gamboa, one of our new groups, made flowers and gave them out as invitations to a Bahá’í meeting. The children very happily contributed to this work. Always in Panama there are singing sessions and the children sang old songs, and learned some new ones.

Devotions were held out of doors in the mornings, under the trees, and the early morning peace was full of the glorious words of the prayers and the soft singing, accompanied by auto-harp and guitar.

On Sunday, the school went en masse to the Temple for the afternoon service. Some of the international

Group photo of those attending the Panama Summer School

[Page 17] students had never seen it before and were thrilled and moved by its serene beauty.

Truly we felt that our summer school came of age this year. The visiting youth contributed much to its success with their warm and loving cooperation. We took home with us new concepts, new understanding and new devotion to work that lies ahead. When the storms come we hope to be able, as the song says, “To stand there and teach anyhow!”

—National Spiritual Assembly of
the Bahá’ís of Panama

The Panama Temple Today

How can one describe the wonder, awe and joy of this “House” where daily the “mention of God is made and His praise glorified.”?

Surely the blessings emanating from this most Holy House of Worship of Latin America, must be stirring the hearts of “all righteous men.” Some are unaware, but many others are stirred by its beauty and attracted to make the rather difficult trip up the mountain, many times families with several children coming on foot. They absorb the gifts of peace and love which is the reward of their effort. They find the tranquility and spiritual magnetism so powerful that most stand for a moment at the entrance exclaiming “belleza, bellisima” (beautiful, beautiful). Many respond to this power and sit for a moment in prayer or reading the literature which is given to all the visitors.

How exciting to see five or six bus loads of children (one time 700) fill the parking lot and the children come tumbling out like a great flock of birds. Soon, however, they are brought to order by their teachers or chaperones and after an introduction and explanation of the purpose of the Temple, march inside to gaze in wonder. Their favorite spot is from the upper story where the view is unobstructed for 360 degrees.

From one point the city of Panama and the Pacific Ocean, from another archway the Transisthmian Highway which bisects Panama and connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. From yet another side virgin mountain vistas stretch as far as visibility permits “belleza, belleza”.

Who are these people who come to visit the Temple?

The largest number, of course, are Panamanians as many as 500 to 1000 some weeks but there are others who are travelers from foreign countries, businessmen, Bahá’í relatives and friends. The Temple is one of the two or three outstanding attractions in Panama. One is the Panama Canal to which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá referred in the Tablets of the Divine Plan, wherein the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans come together through the Panama Canal. It is a center of travel and passage from America to the other continents of the world, and “in the future it will gain most great importance.”

Visitors from most of the countries of Europe, Canada and South America have come here, also from Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Japan and India. Of course many Americans come, those who reside in the Canal Zone and many of their relatives and guests from the United States.

One day recently, a group of eleven Yugoslavian engineers from a hydroelectric project which is being built in Panama, came to the Temple. Their interest was intense, especially one professor of language attached to the school at the project. After their tour of the Temple, we invited them to tea at the Temple lodge where we answered their many questions. Francis Czerniejewski, who speaks Spanish pretty well now,

Children having fun at the Panama Summer School

carried on an hour’s conversation on the Faith with them. The professor saw a framed colored photograph of the Temple and asked for copy which we inscribed and gave to him. They all seemed most receptive and responsive. One of the two young women in the group spoke English well, and asked to correspond with us. The professor very sincerely invited us to visit him in Yugoslavia!

Another incident stands out. One day as I was guiding, two men were coming up the stairs speaking in a foreign language. Suddenly I recognized it as Polish. When they came near, I greeted them in Polish. They stopped short in astonishment. When they recovered from their surprise, they bombarded me with questions: “What are you, a Pole, doing in Panama? How do you happen to be here?” A wonderful door-opener!

The fact that I could say a few sentences in Polish pleased them so much. It developed that one of the gentlemen is a resident of Panama and a commercial representative for Poland and the other was a manufacturer’s representative on a week’s business trip. They took several pictures of the Temple and some literature. The gentleman from Poland seemed much more interested and asked many questions. The next day he telephoned and gave us his address in Warsaw and extended an invitation to visit him and his wife. How hospitable people are!

These past two weeks have been days of great expectancy. Panama is host to the United Nations Security Council which is debating the question of the Canal, and we have been anticipating visits from the delegates and their party. The National Spiritual Assembly has extended a formal written invitation to all the representatives and their delegation to visit the House of Worship.

One day last week two aides and their wives from the Russian delegation came. They made a very brief tour of the Temple, and were given the regular pamphlets in English and departed. A little later a lovely family of ten spent an hour with us, talking about the Faith, sharing our lunch at the house.

We must look ahead to tomorrow and a new opportunity to serve at this Holy House of Worship, as it stands overlooking Panama, stark white against the blue sky by day, glowing with luminescence by night, radiating a promise of hope and love of a truly new tomorrow.

—Jane Czerniejewski

[Page 18]

THE GREAT SAFARI

of Hand of the Cause Rúḥíyyih Khánum

By Violette Nakhjavani

Part Seventeen

At the public meeting in Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, Amatu’l-Bahá gave a beautiful talk on “The Spiritual Destiny of Africa” which was followed by an animated and interesting discussion. At an evening meeting at the Lesotho High School in that same city, presided over by the Principal and Vice-Principal, and attended by over 200 students, one felt a certain resistance by those present to what may have been considered religious propaganda. This feeling was entirely dissipated by the universal theme of Rúḥíyyih Khánum’s talk on “The Role of Youth in Modern Society.” She said, “Today our society is based on competition, the aim to beat others. Whatever we do, we seem to think of values in relation to the others around us, not in absolute terms. Our aim should be to do a job—or whatever we are concerned with, to the best of our ability; to do it well for its own sake and not just to out-do others.” She pointed out that the Bahá’í Faith teaches that work done in the spirit of service is a form of prayer. She added: “The universal truth applied to hundreds of generations before us ‘as you sow, so shall you reap’ applies to us today. If you sow corn you reap corn; if you sow hate you reap hate, and if you sow love and goodwill, you are bound to reap love and goodwill—contrary to what many people imagine today, that if you sow anarchy, revolution, and bloodshed you reap peace, love and goodwill!”

An interesting feature of Lesotho society is its many chieftainesses. A wife of a chief, after the death of her husband, may inherit the position of her husband, her son acceding her only after her death. In many of our village meetings we met with chieftainesses, some of them outstanding, and a few of them Bahá’ís.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Lesotho assigned its Chairman, Secretary and some of its other members to escort Amatu’l-Bahá on her visits to various villages. In Mofelis, over a hundred people welcomed her. The weather was icy cold and we adopted the practical custom of wrapping up in two blankets, one from the waist to the ankle and the other over the shoulders. The scenic beauty of Lesotho is unique with its series of large and small mountains and beautiful rock formations resulting from erosion. Most of the villages were

Amatu’l-Bahá planting the first tree on the Temple land near Maseru, Lesotho on July 30, 1972.

built on mountain tops. The mud huts were beautiful with their perfectly trimmed thatching and smooth mud floors. Sometimes the outside walls were decorated like a mosaic, incised with intricate designs or painted in a different natural color of clay.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum spent two days in the town of Butha Buthe and was able to meet many Bahá’ís and their friends in nearby villages. At Likhetlane, where the chief is an active Bahá’í, a good number of people from several villages eagerly listened to their distinguished guest. Here Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke on the importance of obedience to government for the benefit of the many Bahá’ís present.

At these village meetings, every day at around three in the afternoon, a delicious hot meal was served to all, consisting of meali meal (boiled corn meal grits) and stewed mutton, two dishes which Rúḥíyyih Khánum likes especially.

In the village of Liphaleng, she was met a mile from the village by Bahá’ís on horseback, and Rúḥíyyih Khánum asked if she could ride one of the horses back to the village. To her delight, and the delight of the mountaineers, she mounted and rode into town.

The dignified old Chieftainess and many distinguished members of the village community attended the meeting for Amatu’l-Bahá in this village, and paid their respect to their honored guest. Looking down over the valley and toward the gigantic mountains on the horizon, the villagers told us proudly that this valley was the birthplace of the ancestors of the king, and therefore of their people. The talk of Amatu’l-Bahá was about creation, the purpose of life and belief in life after death. In explaining the nature of heaven and hell she gave a beautiful example. She said: “Last night this sun set and an icy chill gripped the earth. The sun was not here and we felt its absence keenly and yearned for it. Now that the sun is out again, we are all so happy, enjoying its warmth that enters our body and fills our being. God is like this sun; our souls yearn to be near Him and partake of His life-giving love. Hell is as if, when the sun has set and one is freezing cold, one is not even allowed to enter a hut and warm oneself by the fire; therefore hell is that condition of knowing of the heat, longing to bask in the sunlight of God’s good pleasure and love, but because of one’s own actions in this life, unable to get near it. Heaven is that blissful state of nearness to our Creator, our goal and our eternal beloved.” She repeated: “The greatest force in creation is the force of love; love is the most precious gift of God to man and the greatest love of all is the love of God for His creation. To be deprived of this love is man’s true hell.”

The public meeting in Butha Buthe was attended by officials of the area and many of the religious dignitaries of the town. Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh and the purpose of religion for man. The wisdom and tolerance Amatu’l-Bahá shows when introducing the Faith is a lesson to all. She never uses words which offend people or insult other people’s beliefs. She brings out points of similarity and encourages everyone. I can never remember in these many years of having the privilege of being present at her meetings, of ever hearing a word of criticism of other religions or their leaders, or a word of argument or dispute. As a

[Page 19] result of this attitude, at the end of her meetings people are drawn to her and to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, no matter in what spirit they may have come. Often, with deep sincerity, she has praised in her speeches and on television and radio interviews the services of Christian missionaries in Africa, reminding people of the great deal of good they have done in the past and still continue to do.

The village of Belos was the scene of great festivity and rejoicing. The famous Chieftainess Mamazibuku, originally a Zulu, was our hostess. Over 250 people, including a number of skilled dancers, both men and women, who came from neighboring villages, entertained us. After Amatu’l-Bahá had been formally introduced, she spoke on the power of love and unity.

We then adjourned for a delicious lunch of meali meal and mutton. The Chieftainess, Mamazibuku, is eighty years old, has a delightful sense of humor and is a very perceptive person. She was instantly drawn to Rúḥíyyih Khánum and ordered her son to bring her a jar of homemade jam. She then turned to Rúḥíyyih Khánum and said: “You and I are married today, and this jam is our wedding sweet.” This highly unusual announcement took Amatu’l-Bahá back and I could see she was surprised. But after a moment of hesitation, she said: “Well, that is very interesting, but if you and I are married are you the bridegroom?” To this Mamazibuku promptly answered “You are the bridegroom and I am the bride.” Rúḥíyyih Khánum smilingly said: “Why should I be the bridegroom? After all, this marriage is your idea, not mine!” This was with a great deal of laughter and joking, and Rúḥíyyih Khánum could see that it was done to honor her in the highest degree, and as a sign of affection and esteem.

When Rúḥíyyih Khánum returned to Maseru she received a letter on behalf of Mamazibuku, asking her to call on her sister (who turned out to be a cousin) in the hospital. When we went to the hospital to visit this elderly woman, she greeted Amatu’l-Bahá with much love and said: “I know who you are, you are my new brother-in-law!” They are a merry lot of very fine people, the Lesothos.

In meeting with the Bahá’ís of Maseru, Amatu’l-Bahá spoke of the life of the beloved Guardian, his sufferings, the divine inspiration that guided him, saying that he often sensed things without having been given any information about them. She recalled how once he entered the house and for some time spoke angrily about a Covenant Breaker without anything bringing the subject up. Rúḥíyyih Khánum was astonished and later asked him how he knew this person had been in the house at that very moment. The Guardian was surprised and said he had no idea this person was in the house. “The Guardian was like a spiritual barometer” said Amatu’l-Bahá, “as he registered impressions which affected him deeply.”

In the village of Seqonoka, at the home of the first believer of Lesotho, they proudly showed us the hut where the dear pioneers and Knights of Bahá’u’lláh* had lived when they arrived in 1954 in what was then called “Basutoland.” A meeting was held, attended by many non-Bahá’ís, so Rúḥíyyih Khánum introduced the Faith. Someone asked why God sends different prophets, causing so much confusion in the world. An old man gave a beautiful answer. He said, “In our village, our chief sends many messages, each time he asks a different man to convey his message to the people. Now, is the importance in the message or the messenger who delivers it?”

In the village of Sephapos Neck a large number of devoted believers welcomed Amatu’l-Bahá. A very active Bahá’í children’s class gladdened our hearts with the recital of many prayers they had memorized, and the singing of Bahá’í songs. This class was formed and is conducted by a devoted Bahá’í, mother of six, who felt deeply that the children, if well trained and brought up in the Faith, will provide the firm foundation of this

*Mr. and Mrs. Fred Laws

Amatu’l-Bahá with Bahá’ís in the village of Liphaleng, Lesotho on July 22, 1972.

[Page 20] Amatu’l-Bahá with the Spiritual Assembly of Thababosiu, Lesotho, composed of women only, on July 27, 1972.

community in the future. This fine woman, one of the few literate ladies of the village, seeing the need for education, without help or encouragement from anyone, has opened a school for the children and teaches them reading and writing and the prayers and Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

In the meeting Rúḥíyyih Khánum spoke on the spiritual teachings of the Faith. At the question period she was asked if a devoted believer, at the end of her life, as a result of physical suffering and pain and possibly mental dullness loses her deep spiritual awareness—then what happens to her soul in the next world? Rúḥíyyih Khánum replied, “In the Writings we are repeatedly assured of the Mercy of God and are told that ‘His mercy exceedeth His justice’.”

The Chairman of this meeting, a wonderful and devoted believer, with a voice trembling with emotion said: “If I were a dog my tail would be wagging with joy at this moment, for being near you. Alas! as a man I have no way of showing you how deeply grateful I am for your visit to our village!”

The village of Thbabosiu, twenty-five miles from the capital, had a special uniqueness; the Local Spiritual Assembly was composed of nine women and the efficiency with which they conducted the meeting was exemplary. During the talk, Amatu’l-Bahá pointed out that this community is a living example of the role of women in society. “Where we have strong, devoted Bahá’í women, the strength and stability of the community is assured.”

One of the highlights of the Lesotho visit was the trip to the Northern mountains of that country. On our way we stopped for a night with a newly arrived pioneer family from Canada. He is the only doctor in the area and is employed by the Catholic Mission. A Father from the Mission, a French Canadian, came over after dinner and he and Rúḥíyyih Khánum talked theology for over two hours—it was on his initiative. They got along famously and their mutual tolerance made possible a most harmonious meeting of minds.

The next day we took the Land Rover high up into the snow covered mountains, ten thousand feet above sea level, through some most frightening passes. More than once it seemed as if even this car, built for just such rough terrain, would not make it.

We spent two nights in the village of Thaba-Li-Mpe, meaning “very bad mountains”, a highly appropriate name, with the family of one of the members of the National Spiritual Assembly who had accompanied us on this trip. This village of only a few huts was six miles from the little town of Tlokoeng. The only road to it was a narrow horse track running straight up and down the side of the mountain. I have no doubt but that on that day, once again, the Supreme Concourse guided the arms of our able driver and saw us through some hazardous moments.

Over eighty believers attended a day-long conference, many of whom had traveled over the mountains for fifteen to twenty miles, many on horseback, the women on foot, some carrying babies. These wonderful mountain folk are among the most active and devoted believers of that country. There are several Local Spiritual Assemblies functioning in the area, despite the fact that they very rarely receive a traveling teacher, least of all one from outside the country. The reason is the extreme inaccessibility of the villages. Only a four-wheel drive vehicle has sufficient power and clearance to go on the non-existent, so-called “roads”. Although small planes are used in this area, this is only a partial solution, and the main transportation is by horse or on foot.

All of us huddled up in our blankets as a slight protection against the bitter dust-filled wind, sitting gratefully in the warmth of the sunshine. Those eager and devoted souls drank in every word from Amatu’l-Bahá and asked many questions. Late in the afternoon we all enjoyed sharing the delicious mutton and mealie meal which was prepared for all the friends. We were told that we were the first white Bahá’ís ever to reach their village, and the fact that their first guest was their beloved Amatu’l-Bahá was not lost on them.

A man who arrived almost frozen with the cold announced that just before he left home his wife had given birth to a son. He wanted to know if he should call the baby “Shoghi Effendi.” Rúḥíyyih Khánum lovingly advised him that it would be better if he called his son “Rabbani”, which was also the name of the beloved Guardian given him by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Himself. She said she felt it was more respectful and better for the Bahá’ís

Rúḥíyyih Khánum with the Canadian pioneers Dr. Guy, his wife and two sons at their home in the St. Charles Catholic Mission in Lesotho. At the left is National Spiritual Assembly member Mapheko Mofolo (August, 2, 1972).

[Page 21] to keep these four names of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi precious to our Faith and not use them for children. The man was exceedingly happy for this suggestion and took the name of “Rabbani” for his son.

An elderly Bahá’í, who had been a delegate to the convention last year and was still proudly wearing her name tag, had walked fifteen miles on these treacherous mountain paths and arrived late at night, cold and tired. I took her in my arms and said, “You have come a long way and must be very tired.” With a charming smile she replied, “What is the distance I have come compared to the distance our precious guest has come? If her love for us brought her so far over such terrible roads, would not my love for her and for Bahá’u’lláh bring me this little way?” The joy of being with these devoted souls was great.

At one point a local politician slightly disturbed the meeting and tried to attract some attention to himself and his views. However, Amatu’l-Bahá’s sincere love, wisdom and patience quieted him. Later, some of these devoted believers turned to a young lady, a National Spiritual Assembly member who had accompanied us to act as interpreter, and asked her why she did not request all the Bahá’ís to stand up and show that man how many we are and how much we love Bahá’u’lláh.

These mountains are bare of trees and shrubs so there is almost no fuel, only dung which produces a hot fire that smokes heavily, soon burns out and has a ghastly odor. The choice was between fifteen minutes of heat with eyes burning and watering, or shivering and chattering, bundled in blankets and clothes. When we finally reached our mud hut we were grateful to our hostess who sent us a wire bucket burning merrily with some of her precious fuel. We preferred crying to freezing.

Leaving Lesotho the next day and driving down to the Republic of South Africa was one of the most fantastic experiences of this entire Safari. When we left the village after two nights, we retraced the perilous path by which we had come. The day before Rúḥíyyih Khánum had gone down on horseback to see if the car could get out of the river and then climb immediately up a steep bank. We made this hazard safely and eventually came to the main road. We traveled forty-five miles over treacherous

Amatu’l-Bahá is driving the Land Rover, approaching the Sani Pass, in Northwest Lesotho on August 4, 1972.

mountain passes in four hours in order to reach the border. The Sani Pass, known as the roof of Africa, takes one down a drop of 5000 feet in five miles, three miles of which consists of twenty-nine hairpin curves. Annually, able and outstanding drivers from all over this part of Africa and even from Europe come to participate in a rally, the main part of which consists of driving this pass, considered the most challenging. This was the nightmare of a road over which Rúḥíyyih Khánum drove! Some of the hairpin curves were so sharp that she had to reverse the car on the loose dirt road covered with loose gravel, only wide enough for one car—before she could get around at all. Needless to say, I sat on the edge of my seat, held my breath, counted the bends and prayed—all at the same time! When early in the morning before starting this drive, Amatu’l-Bahá, with a glowing face, told me she had dreamed of the beloved Guardian and that he was happy and pleased, I felt assured that the ever protecting grace of Bahá’u’lláh is surrounding this loved handmaiden of His, and He would watch over her as always.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum with Bahá’ís of the village of Thaba-Li-Mpe, in the mountains in Northwest Lesotho on August 3, 1972.

[Page 22]

Teaching Project in Peru

A teaching project was held in the Department of Ancash, Peru, from March 4 to 14. Youth participating were Patricia Kemper, Kiko Sanchez, Fernando Loyza and Richard Tomarelli from Peru, with Raul Dexter from Ecuador.

They met in Chiclayo, at the home of Pablo Flores and Alberto Guerrero. These Bahá’ís had just made contact with a member of the Aguaruna Indians and were translating the noonday prayer into that language. Left to right: Alberto Guerrero, Rosaria Guerrero, Maria Flores, Jose Bungos, Yolanda Flores, Pablo Flores.

Peru is a large country with many believers, but only a few are deepened, which makes it difficult to consolidate many remote areas. The believers broke up into two groups, one to each area in which there would be a convention to elect delegates for the National Spiritual Assembly; one group went to Chavin de Huantar and the other to Tinco. These were only 60 kilometers apart, but travel time was eight hours by bus. In Chavin, during the day, classes were held, and in the evening the Regional Convention, which elected one delegate. Shown are, left to right: Victor Castillo, Andres Palacios, Richard Tomarelli, Aurelio Castillo, Senora Castillo, Mario Banes, Senora Castillo.

The next day there was a fiesta which featured a tree that was planted in the town square and had soft drinks, fruit, and candies in its branches. The people danced around the tree, throwing white powder on each other. Then each person took a turn at cutting down the tree with a machete. When the tree fell, everybody ran for the goodies.

From Ancash the combined groups went to Lima to attend a three-day deepening institute. Each day they had dawn prayers before breakfast. Lessons were especially devoted to living the Bahá’í life. Some of those who attended are, left to right: Isabel Sanchez, Monica Sanchez, Richard Tomarelli, Olga Peralta, Dr. Enrique Sanchez, Roxanna Cortez, Oscar Rojas, Auxiliary Board member Mercedas Sanchez, Patricia Sanchez, Raul Dexter, Rosa Peralta, and Nico Sanchez.

[Page 23] The other group went to Tinco where two delegates were elected. Left to right: Patricia Sanchez, Raul Dexter, Fernando Loyza, an unidentified woman, Richard Tomarelli, Saul Minaya, Mateo Minaya. Two men from Mancos became Bahá’ís.

---

NEWS FROM INDIA

Kanpur: A public fete was held on October 8, 1972, and the first stall was of Bahá’í books which was visited by more than 20,000 persons. About 350 Bahá’í pamphlets were distributed and numerous books sold. Many contacts were made and inquiries are still coming from the fete.

Calcutta: A week of proclamation resulted in nine colleges being opened to the Faith. Books were presented to the principals of the colleges and the libraries, and pamphlets were distributed. In each gathering, 200 to 500 students heard the Message. Ten thousand posters were distributed, in English and Bengali. Announcements were given to the three leading newspapers.

Bangalore: A six-day proclamation resulted in eight colleges being opened to the Faith. Declarations numbered 310, and 250 reply cards were received indicating a desire for more information, with some expressing their intention of making a declaration.

Gwalior: A Local Youth Committee has been appointed.

Nagpur: Believers in this location have opened Wardah to the Faith, which location now has nineteen new believers and one experienced believer from Nagpur has settled there as a teacher.

Chandigarh: Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Braun of the United States, (she was formerly Director of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust in Wilmette and now is an Auxiliary Board member) were in this city from October 16 through 24, 1972, when a successful and exciting proclamation was held. All colleges, hospitals and business offices were visited and books were presented. One evening a party was held for officials of the city, which consisted of shows and dancing, and Bahá’ís spoke to them about the Faith. Afterwards the people were so interested that many of the Bahá’ís were invited to different homes. Two public meetings were held, one was a luncheon for a large group. Six declarations of faith in Bahá’u’lláh were made.

—Information from THE NINETEEN DAY STAR, published by the New Era High School, Panchgani, District Satara, India.

Windflower in England

Windflower is a musical group from Alaska. They arrived in London in two groups; the first had to handle the baggage—18 pieces of luggage, weighing about 4,000 pounds, carrying it three blocks to the subway during the rush hour. At the little hostel where they stayed, they met many young people from all parts of the world and held continuous firesides.

The next day they left for Shrewsbury for a Bahá’í oriented concert, and were warmly accepted. Next stop was Hanley on the Thames where they all stayed at a huge brick home, a youth center owned by a New York woman. They held a concert attended by fifteen to twenty non-Bahá’ís, and one made his declaration of faith.

Epsom was the next stop. It has an art college attended by five Bahá’ís who did some lovely posters. A fireside was held. Three reporters interviewed the group. The concert they gave at Oakham was interrupted by two gangs but by discreet handling trouble was averted and the gangs left. About eighty percent of the 180 who attended were non-Bahá’í, so seeds were planted and the community felt uplifted and inspired.

At Nottingham they attended a Unit Convention, and spoke on some of their teaching techniques. At Aylsbury ninety to a hundred people attended, coming from as far as seventy miles. One adult declared, which saved the Assembly for this town. When the group arrived they said rounds of prayers and then went street-teaching in freezing weather. They felt there was a special, wonderful feeling at the concert. Afterward they discovered it was the date when the Persian Bahá’ís have a special celebration because according to the lunar calendar the birthday of both the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh fall at the same time on that night. Perhaps that is why their efforts were blessed and the spirit of love permeated the atmosphere!

—Adapted from ALASKA BAHÁ’Í NEWS, March, 1973.

The Windflower musical group with Bahá’ís in Shrewsbury, England

[Page 24]

CONTENTS

Universal House of Justice Members (Photograph) 1 Third International Convention (Photographs) 2 Riḍván Message of The Universal House of Justice 4 J. E. Esslemont—Named a Hand of the Cause at His Passing 6 Goals Achieved in the United States 9 Pioneer Training Institute—March 22-25, 1973 (Photograph) 9 Rwanda Achieves Goals 10 Faith Represented at Reception in Westminster Abbey 10 Mass Teaching Conference in Honduras 11 Unit Convention of Thatta, Pakistan 12 Shoshone Translation Goal Achieved 12 Youth Conference in Sweden 12 Teaching in Coatepec, Mexico 13 Concluding United Nations Day and Human Rights Day   Reports of 1972 14 Latin American Club Bahá’í, Puebla, Mexico 15 Panama Bahá’í Summer School 16 The Panama Temple Today 17 The Great Safari of Hand of the Cause Rúḥíyyih Khánum 18 Teaching Project in Peru 22 News from India 23 Windflower in England 23 First Bahá’í Conference in the Folklands 24

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First Bahá’í Conference in the Falklands

Strengthened by the presence of six visiting American Bahá’í pioneers from Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina, the Falkland Islands Bahá’ís held the first conference in the islands from February 26 to March 4, just four months after attaining Assembly status.

Primarily aimed at promotion of the Faith in the islands, the conference included nightly activities to which the public was invited, including a fireside presenting the six visitors; a panel discussion with three Bahá’í speakers; a public talk; and a musical evening. Afternoons were primarily devoted to two classes for Bahá’ís only—on the Kitáb-i-Iqan, and a history of the Administrative Order. A radio interview with the visitors enhanced the image of the Faith in the islands. Over the weekend two outings served to introduce the travelers to the scenic splendors and penguin residents in the vicinity of Stanley.

Considerable interest was shown by some of the young people. Several books were borrowed. In a community where the appearance of a single speaker is a rare treat, an event such as the conference constitutes a milestone in the development of the Faith.

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