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Bahá’í News

May 1976

Bahá’í Year 133

Excavation on Mount Carmel completed

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Contents

Universal House of Justice Riḍván message	1
Excavation on Mount Carmel completed	4
Contract is signed for marble for Universal House of Justice Building
International Teaching Conferences	6
Many activities planned in conjunction with conferences
Around the world	7
Benin; Bolivia; Central African Republic; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Ethiopia; Finland; France; Germany; Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana; India; Iran; Ireland; Ivory Coast, Mali and Upper Volta; Liberia; Luxembourg; Mexico; Niger; North West Pacific Ocean; Panama; Peru; Portugal; Samoa; South and West Africa; South West Pacific Ocean; United Kingdom; United States

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On the cover: the completed excavation on Mount Carmel for the Seat of The Universal House of Justice and an artist’s conception of the building.

Bahá’í News is published monthly for circulation among Bahá’ís only by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, as a news organ reporting current activities of the Bahá’í world community. Manuscripts submitted should be typewritten and double spaced throughout; any footnotes should appear at the end. The contributor should keep a carbon copy. Send materials to: Bahá’í News Editorial Office, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, U.S.A.

Change of address should be reported directly to Office of Membership and Records, National Bahá’í Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, U.S.A Please attach mailing label.

Subscription rates: one year, US $8; two years, US $15.

Second class postage paid at Wilmette, Illinois 60091.

Copyright ® 1976, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

[Page 1]

Universal House of Justice

Riḍván message Many gains reported, but goals of Plan are lagging seriously behind Announce delegates assembled national conventions glad tidings completion excavation Mount Carmel preparatory raising majestic center legislation God’s Faith that sacred spot, signature Italy five and half million dollar contract for supplying over two thousand five hundred cubic meters Pentelikon marble from Greece and fashioning therefrom the columns facings ornamentation befitting monumental building. Deeply moved enthusiastic response believers all parts world this challenging glorious task. Developments World Center paralleled further unfoldment administrative structure continental national levels through raising number Continental Counsellors to sixty-one by appointment Thelma Khelghati Western Africa, William Masehla Southern Africa, Burháni’d-Dí Afshín South Central Asia, Hideya Suzuki North-Eastern Asia, Owen Battrick Australasia and Adib Taherzadeh Europe, authorization Boards Counsellors appoint ninety more members Auxiliary Boards, and call for election at Riḍván 1977 of seven new National Spiritual Assemblies: two in Africa, Mali with its seat in Bamako and Upper Volta with its seat in Ouagadougou, two in the Americas, the French Antilles with its seat in Point-A-Paramaribo, and Surinam and French Guiana with its seat in Paramaribo, one in Europe, Greece with its seat in Athens, and two in the Pacific, the New Hebrides with its seat in Port Vila and the Marshall Islands with its seat in Majuro, the latter being supplementary achievement of Plan. Number National Spiritual Assemblies thus raised one hundred twenty-four following dissolution account local restrictions National Assemblies Equatorial Guinea Nepal. Of nine hundred fifty-three pioneers called for specific posts four hundred ninety-two already settled. Also four hundred seventy-seven other pioneers proceeded goal countries. Great outflow international traveling teachers recorded. Moved pay tribute indefatigable services Hands Cause God past year in promoting above successes and in fields teaching protection preservation proclamation and literature Faith as well as signal services International Teaching Center constituting great accession strength World Center relief burdens resting Universal House Justice. Middle year Five Year Plan now opening will witness gathering followers Bahá’u’lláh eight ‎Interational International‎ Teaching Conferences designed generate tremendous impetus progress Plan accomplishment whose goals now lagging seriously behind. Most pressing need Faith this critical juncture its mission redeem mankind is for every believer all Assemblies national local concentrate attainment goals placed before Bahá’í world, promote process entry by troops, achieve vast increase size community, increase number steadfast self-sacrificing believers dedicated conform every aspect their lives high standards set Sacred Texts. The field is vast the time short the laborers lamentably few but on the efforts we followers of the Blessed Beauty now exert, on the degree to which we successfully and speedily proclaim and teach His Message to our fellow human beings, depends in great measure the course of human history in the decades immediately ahead. The Universal House of Justice Naw-Rúz 1976

[Page 2]

Universal House of Justice

As announced in the Riḍván message, The Universal House of Justice has appointed six new Counsellors and has authorized the appointment of 90 more Auxiliary Board members. Below is a complete list of the members of the Continental Boards of Counsellors. At right is a statistical breakdown of the Auxiliary Boards. MEMBERSHIP OF THE CONTINENTAL BOARDS OF COUNSELLORS — MARCH 1976 AFRICA
AFRICA
Northern Africa	— Muḥammad Kebdani, Muḥammad Muṣṭafá, ‘Imád Ṣábirán
Western Africa	— Ḥusayn Ardikání, Friday Ekpe, Zekrollah Kazemi, Thelma Khelghati, Mihdí Samandarí
Central & East Africa	— Húshang ‘Ahdíyyih, Oloro Epyeru, Kolonario Oule, Isobel Sabri, Peter Vuyiya
Southern Africa	— Seewoosumbur-Jeehoba Appa, Shidan Fat’he-Aazam, William Masehla, Bahíyyih Winckler
WESTERN HEMISPHERE
North America	— Lloyd Gardner, Sarah Pereira, Velma Sherrill, Edna True
Central America	— Carmen de Burafato, Rowland Estall, Artemus Lamb, Paul Lucas, Alfred Osborne
South America	— Leonora Armstrong, Athos Costas, Mas’úd Khamsí, Peter McLaren, Raúl Pavón, Donald Witzel
ASIA
Western Asia	— Íraj Ayman, Masíḥ Farhangí, Ḥádí Raḥmání, Manúchihr Salmánpúr
South Central Asia	— Burháni’d-Dín Afshín, Shirin Boman, Salisa Kermani, Dipchand Khianra, Zena Sorabjee
North-eastern Asia	— Richard Benson, Elena Marsella, Rúḥu’lláh Mumtází, Hideya Suzuki
South-eastern Asia	— Yan Kee Leong, Firaydún Mitháqíyán, Khudáraḥm Paymán, Vicente Samaniego, Chellie Sundram
AUSTRALASIA
Suhayl ‘Alá’í, Owen Battrick, Howard Harwood, Violet Hoehnke, Thelma Perks
EUROPE
Erik Blummenthal, Anneliese Bopp, Dorothy Ferraby, Louise Hénuzet, Betty Reed, Adib Taherzadeh
The passing of dedicated Bahá’í, famous artist Mark Tobey Deeply grieved announce passing distinguished dedicated servant Bahá’u’lláh Mark Tobey. Ever remembered his constant support Bahá’í community participating activities devoted services England Japan Switzerland United States unstinting testimony inspiration Faith as his fame increased. Ardent prayers offered Sacred Threshold progress his soul Abhá Kingdom. The Universal House of Justice April 26, 1976

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AUXILIARY BOARDS—RIḌVÁN 1976
	Former Number		Present Increase	New Total
AFRICA
Protection:
Northern	5│		—	5│
Western	5│	27	6	11│	36
Central and East	13│		—	13│
Southern	4│		3	7│
Propagation:
Northern	5│		—	5│
Western	11│	45	3	14│	54
Central and East	19│		—	19│
Southern	10│		6	16│
WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Protection:
North America	9│		—	9│
Central America	9│	27	2	11│	36
South America	9│		7	16│
Propagation:
North America	18│		—	18│
Central America	9│	54	7	16│	72
South America	27│		11	38│
ASIA
Protection:
Western	9│		—	9│
South Central	3│	18	3	6│	27
North-eastern	3│		—	3│
South-eastern	3│		6	9│
Propagation:
Western	18│		—	18│
South Central	15│	63	15	30│	90
North-eastern	15│		—	15│
South-eastern	15│		12	27│
AUSTRALASIA
Protection:	9		—	9
Propagation:	9		9	18
EUROPE
Protection:	9		—	9
Propagation:	27		—	27
TOTAL	288		90	378
Total Protection	90		27	117
Total Propagation	198		63	261

[Page 4]

Excavation on Mount Carmel completed

The Universal House of Justice has announced the glad tidings that the first step toward erecting the majestic edifice which will be the center of legislation of the Bahá’í Faith has been completed.

Completion of the excavation work on Mount Carmel was announced in the Riḍván 1976 message of The Universal House of Justice. The message also reported that a contract has been signed for $5.5 million in Pentelikon marble which will be used for fashioning 58 stately columns, facings, entablature, and the dome. More than 200,500 cubic meters of marble will be used in the monumental building.

The Universal House of Justice said it is deeply moved by the enthusiastic

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The photograph at left shows the western half of the upper basement level. ‘Azíz Khabírpúr, resident engineer for the project, is standing behind the stake showing the northwest edge of the building and the man at left is at the southwest edge of the building, the distance between them being 111½ feet. The stake in the right foreground is at the center line of the building, the total length of which will be 230 feet. Bulldozers remove the last of the excavated material at right. Below, the surveyor at right is standing in line with the front of the building and the surveyor’s helper at left is on the ground floor level.

response of the believers in all parts of the world to the challenging, glorious task of raising a befitting seat for the Administrative Order, the greatest single undertaking of the Five Year Plan.

In announcing the project on June 5, 1975, The Universal House of Justice wrote: “It is now both necessary and possible to initiate construction of a building that will not only serve the practical needs of a steadily consolidating administrative center but will, for centuries to come, stand as a visible expression of the majesty of the divinely ordained institutions of the Administrative Order of Bahá’u’lláh.”

Meanwhile, the World Center revealed further details of the building. It will be approximately 230 feet long, 111½ feet wide, and 85 feet from the ground floor to the top of the dome, considerably larger than the International Archives Building.

The portico surrounding the ground floor will have a colonnade of 18 columns on the front and rear, eight at each end, and six at the head of the staircase, for a total of 58. Each column, including the base and the Corinthian capital, will be 36 feet in height. All elements of the capital, which will be composed of three fluted drums, will be of marble quarried in Greece and cut and dressed in Italy. The same marble will be used for the dome of the building and for facing the upper terraces which have been carved from the side of Mount Carmel.

There will be an upper basement and a lower basement below the ground floor, three full floors above the ground floor, and a mezzanine under the dome, for a total of 5½ floors.

The building will contain a council chamber of the House of Justice, a library, a concourse for the reception of pilgrims and dignitaries, accommodation for the secretariat and many other ancillary services that will be required, and storage vaults with air purification for the preservation of original Tablets and other precious documents.

The building will face northward toward Akká ‎anf and‎ Bahjí with the Shrine of the Báb and the International Archives Building to the northwest.

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International Teaching Conferences

Many activities planned in conjunction with Conferences

Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum

Ugo Giachery

Collis Featherstone

A series of regional teaching conferences and Bahá’í Schools will be held in conjunction with the first three International Teaching Conferences scheduled by The Universal House of Justice.

In its Riḍván message, The Universal House of Justice said the eight conferences are designed to “generate tremendous impetus” toward winning the goals of the Five Year Plan.

The first conference will be held July 5-8 in Helsinki, Finland, with the Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery representing The Universal House of Justice. The second of the Arctic conferences will follow July 23-25 in Anchorage, Alaska, with Hand of the Cause of God Collis Featherstone representing The Universal House of Justice. Both conferences will feature discussions on teaching the native peoples of the Arctic—the Lapps, Eskimos, Indians, Aleuts, and Gipsies.

Paris, blessed by the presence of Abdu’l-Bahá ‎buring during‎ His travels to the West, will host the third conference August 3-6. The participation of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum as representative of The Universal House of Justice will recall her distinguished mother’s association with that city at the turn of the century. Large delegations from America, Europe, North Africa, and Iran are expected to attend. The Paris International Conference Committee has requested that the friends dress conservatively to avoid attracting negative criticism. The Paris conference will be the first large gathering of Bahá’ís in France.

The five other International Teaching Conferences are scheduled October 15-17 in Nairobi, Kenya; November 27-30 in Hong Kong; January 19-22 in Auckland, New Zealand; January 28-30 in Bahia, Brazil; and February 4-6 in Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Below is a list of activities planned in conjunction with the first three conferences:

July 9-15—teaching activities throughout Finland.

July 10 National Teaching Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.

July 10-17—Summer School, Inverness, United Kingdom.

July 16-18—National Teaching Conference, Gothenburg, Sweden.

July 22-24—National Teaching Conference, Bodo, Norway.

July 25-31—Scandinavian Summer School, Uldum, Jylland, Denmark.

Following Alaska conference—Native Council, Alaska.

Prior to Paris conference—Summer School and camping session, Italy.

August 8—National Teaching Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark.

August 8—National Teaching Conference followed by two-week teaching campaign, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

August 8-9—National Teaching Conference, Lenzburg, Switzerland.

August 12-16—Summer School and National Teaching Conference, Belgium.

August 21-29—Summer School and National Teaching Conference, Ireland.

August 24-29—Summer School, Ansembourg Castle, Luxembourg.

Beginning August 27—Summer School, Iceland.

Following Paris conference—National Teaching Conferences, Toronto and Vancouver, Canada.

Following Paris conference—National Teaching Conference, Spain.

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Around the world

Benin

Walking teacher reaches herdsmen

A young traveling teacher recently walked 25 miles into the bush of Benin (formerly Dahomey) to meet a village of Peulh herdsmen, thus making the first contact for the Faith with that tribe. Roger Attiogbe was with youth from Benin and America on a summer project.

The youth were following the example of the first youth from Benin to take an unaccompanied traveling teaching journey.

Vincent Aguemon of Porot-Novo began that journey by meeting with several heads of villages in the Mono province. One mayor was so impressed with the Faith that he loaned his motorcycle to Vincent so the Bahá’í teacher could reach neighboring towns.

Vincent proceeded to form a Spiritual Assembly in one village, enroll nine new Bahá’ís in the next, and enroll the principal of the public school in another. The principal took a Bahá’í prayerbook so he could share his morning prayers with his students.

Bolivia

Teaching project nets many victories

Four participants in Bolivia’s first yearlong international teaching project, which ended in April, have stayed in Bolivia as pioneers. Bolivia’s second international teaching project will begin in July and continue through August.

The first project involved 20 Bahá’ís from Argentina, Mexico, Germany, and the United States. A notable success was the enrollment in the Faith of 28 student-teachers at a rural teachers’ college in Paracaya.

“We were assigned the goals of proclamation, teaching, and consolidation in the four provincial capitals of Valle Alto: Punata, Arani, Cliza, and Trata,” wrote one projecteer. “In each town, we began by contacting the mayor, explaining who we were, and requesting permission to teach. In Tarata, one of us was able to meet informally with the mayor for one and a half hours. In one day we were accorded access to the municipal theatre, made appointments to give a 30-minute program to each grade in three schools, and to offer talks to the high school and three teachers’ colleges. We showed films twice on market day in Tarata to large audiences and proclaimed with the exposition in the park ... The exposition has also been used in Punata and Cliza along with felt board presentations, music programs, and personal teaching. There is one new Bahá’í in Punata ... Groups of students followed us to the central plaza after one talk in Punata and asked questions about the Faith for over half an hour.

For the second successive year, the Bahá’ís of the Central African Republic marched in the Independence Day parade December 1. Forty believers, including Africans and pioneers, participated. In the foreground carrying a sign reading, “The Bahá’í Faith,” are Sabone Pierre, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Meherangiz Munsiff, an international traveling teacher.

“Over 200 young soldiers at the military barracks in Cliza have welcomed us on four separate occasions, learning and enjoying some Bahá’í songs, listening intently to our short presentations on the elimination of prejudice, spiritual growth, the history of the Bahá’í Faith, life after death, progressive Revelation, and the healing social teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. They have asked many questions. Two have become Bahá’ís ... Two radio stations, one in Cliza and the other in Punata, have given us free radio time, up to two hours weekly for a year.”

The July-August project will involve consolidation work in the more than 4,000 rural Bahá’í communities in Bolivia, which include about 35,000 Indian believers. Projecteers will also teach in cities, universities, and colleges; help train Bahá’í teachers at special institutes; and help prepare audio-visual aids, including radio tapes.

Central African Republic

Television used to proclaim Faith

The president of the Central African Republic recently granted the Bahá’í community and the other three major religious groups of the country an extension of radio and television time.

The 40 Bahá’í marchers in the Independence Day parade had experienced happy results of their three-year-old weekly 30-minute radio program. Children and youth serenaded them with the theme song of the program. People called, “La Foi Bahá’í,” and “Bahá’u’lláh,” to the marchers, who were led by the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly and a traveling teacher from India who wore her colorful sari.

Following Independence Day celebrations, the president met with all participating organizations.

During the meeting with the president, the National Spiritual Assembly representatives congratulated him for putting into effect some of the teachings of

[Page 8] Bahá’u’lláh, such as the equality of men and women, universal education, and the equality of religions.

Responding to a request from the representative of another religion, the president allotted television time to each religion and extended their radio times from 15 to 30 minutes.

With 48 hours notice, the Bahá’ís prepared their first television show. They included a children’s chorus and two speakers, who, with visual aids, demonstrated the unity of God, religion, and humanity.

Each of the four major religions of Central Africa now has 30 minutes of television time every Sunday evening. Central Africa was one of the few African nations to have proclamation through television as a special Five Year Plan goal.

Bahá’í pioneer admitted to Bar

A Bahá’í pioneer was the first non-French lawyer to be admitted to the Bar in the Central African Republic. Albert Lincoln of the United States was sworn in during a ceremony on November 1 which was broadcast on national radio and television, and was attended by his fellow-members of the National Spiritual Assembly.

During the ceremony, the Attorney General mentioned that Mr. Lincoln is a Bahá’í and, because of his knowledge of the country and its culture through his involvement in Bahá’í activities, he would be well able to serve the needs of the people.

The president of the republic recently waived the requirements governing the nationality of lawyers.

Dominican Republic

First week-long school is held

In the central mountains of the Dominican Republic, Bahá’ís met for the first week-long summer school in the history of that country December 22-28. Special speaker was Continental Counsellor Carmen de Burafato, who spoke of her participation in the United Nations-sponsored International Women’s Year Conference in Mexico City.

One of the most talked-about developments at the school was the help which men gave in cooking, washing dishes, and mopping floors. This is a great contrast with current Dominican customs.

Mrs. de Burafato also gave presentations on the progress of the Five Year Plan in the Caribbean and throughout the world. Some other classes were about the Kitáb-i-Íqán, The Obligatory Prayers, and the history of the Faith in the Dominican Republic.

Ecuador

Radio programs being expanded

“We are thankful to have been allowed to participate in the first stages of what will surely become one of the most powerful organs for Bahá’í education on the continent,” said members of the Bahá’í National Radio Committee of Ecuador. They are working toward winning the goal of having a Bahá’í radio station in Ecuador.

Currently, Bahá’í programs are broadcast on six stations, giving Ecuador nearly nationwide exposure to the Faith.

This year, Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era is being translated into Quechua for broadcasting. The Quechua edition of Children’s Stories from the Dawn-Breakers is being adapted for radio.

Two special conferences in Otavalo and Cuenca began the training of Bahá’ís who want to work in radio. Ecuadorian Bahá’í composers and musicians frequently help prepare tapes and also make television appearances.

The committee has aided international projects and assists United Nations projects in Ecuador.

Its library of radio scripts includes many on general aspects of the Faith as well as single scripts or series on children’s education, literacy, the development of the Faith among American Indians, Bahá’í answers to Christian questions, and women in society.

Ethiopia

Translation wins goal of Plan

A goal of the Five Year Plan was recently won with the translation and publication of the Hidden Words into Tigrinya, an African Semitic language spoken by about 1.5 million Coptic Christians in Ethiopia. The work was done by the National Spiritual Assembly of Ethiopia in cooperation with and on behalf of the Spiritual Assembly of Sudan.

A few prayers for children, material for children’s classes, and a pocket-sized prayer book were also translated into Tigrinya and mimeographed.

Finland

Pioneers report loving atmosphere

Alaskan pioneers in Finland recently wrote: “What to say: how to express what we feel? There is such a joy, a richness, and a fullness in our lives these days. . .

“Bahá’u’lláh has sent us wonderful friends in the Finnish Bahá’í community. I could never have believed it possible that any community could be so warm and loving and close-knit and alive in their love for Bahá’u’lláh. It is so powerful that often when prayers are read there is a silence afterward filled with awe and power ... It’s hard to believe we’ve only been here a little over a month, so like home does it feel ... How God has blessed and guided us!”

Finnish Bahá’í magazine published

The first issue of the Finnish-language Bahá’í magazine, Maailmankansalainen (World Citizen) was published in January. Maailmankansalainen is patterned after the Herald of the South and World Order and is produced under the auspices of the National Spiritual Assembly by Harri Peltola of Helsinki, who is editor and general manager.

The January issue contained 60 pages of articles, some of them the original texts and translations of material by Bahá’í authors of other countries. There were also photographs and original artwork.

France

Architecture student talks about Faith

An isolated believer in Bordeaux addressed an audience of more than 350 people about the Faith recently.

Farhád Háshimízádih arrived in south-western

[Page 9] France in Bordeaux, a goal city of the Five Year Plan, a year and a half ago. He is a student at l’Ecole Superieure d’Architecture de Bordeaux.

With the agreement of his teachers, he studied for a year “The Bahá’í Faith and Architecture,” and then gave a two and a half-hour presentation to his large audience, which included his professors of art and psycho-sociology. He showed the film, “It’s Just the Beginning,” spoke of the Central Figures of the Faith, and gave a slide show of the building of the House of Worship in Panama and its dedication. Between each phase of the program, the audience asked questions.

Mr. Háshimízádih is helping 15 seekers to study the Faith.

Germany

Enthusiastic youth plan developed

Children prepared the program for the 19-Day Feast during the Bahá’í Winter School at Herl. The Hand of the Cause of God Adelbert ‎Muhlschlegal Mühlschlegel‎ taught at the school.

Soon after the school, 250 friends met for the National Youth and European Teaching Committee Conference in Langenhain where they instigated an enthusiastic youth plan with goals to be achieved by Riḍván 1977.

More than 200 friends attended the winter school, some of whom were from Greece, Austria, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Two students from the school spoke in two public meetings.

Classes included detailed study of some of the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, workshops on Spiritual Assemblies, and the relationship of the Bahá’í Faith with Islam.

India

Non-Bahá’í sponsors meeting on Faith

A non-Bahá’í organized a public meeting for the Bahá’ís in the Belaghata Trikon Park locality of Calcutta and 500 people came. They filled the hall and many stood

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Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana

Children gather for conference

Children from nine communities in Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana participated in the Second Annual Conference in Georgetown March 28. A total of 128 children gathered at the National Bahá’í Center.

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[Page 10] outside and sat on house-tops that adjoined the hall.

Tapan Deb told the audience that he had first come into contact with the Faith at a meeting addressed by Auxiliary Board member S. Chatterjee, and had wanted to sponsor a meeting ever since.

Mr. Chatterjee spoke to the large gathering, which was chaired by Manik Banerji, headmaster of Belaghata Deshabandhu High School. Mr. Banerji thanked those who had organized the meeting with Mr. Deb and assured them “of every assistance for the propagation of its glorious teachings which meet the need of the day.”

The meeting began with the recitation of Bahá’í prayers in various languages. Abinash Chakrabarty spoke on the history of the Faith, and Mr. Chatterjee presented the Faith as the solution to the world’s problems.

Official receives Bahá’í delegation

Continental Counsellor Shirin Boman recently visited Home Minister of India, K. Brahmananda Reddy, on January 24. Accompanied by K.H. Vajdi and R.N. Shah, chairman and secretary, respectively, of the National Spiritual Assembly, she gave Mr. Reddy The Bahá’í World, Vol. XIV.

“Mr. Reddy did not know much about the Faith, and we took this opportunity to acquaint him with the fundamental verities of the Cause,” the Bahá’ís wrote.

K. Brahmananda Reddy, home minister of India chats with (front to back) Continental Counsellor Shirin Boman, R.N. Shah, and K.H. Vajdi on January 24.

Iran

Chiefs receive tapes on Faith

Some tribal chiefs in southern Iran recently requested tapes on the Faith in their own languages for use with Bahá’í filmstrips. Local Spiritual Assemblies in the areas of Bakhtiari, Lur, and Arab tribes of Khúzistán have filled the request.

In Kirman, a high school teacher assigned compositions on various religions to his students. One group of non-Bahá’ís were to write about the Bahá’í Faith. They went to the Local Spiritual Assembly for consultation and guidance, and with the help of a local believer, they wrote and presented an article on the Faith. Another teacher asked a Bahá’í girl to describe the Teachings to her fellow-students, and then suggested that the students ask their parents to investigate the Faith.

Auxiliary Board assistants raised

To help win the goals of the Five-Year Plan, the Continental Board of Counsellors in Western Asia has raised the number of assistants to the Auxiliary Board to 100.

Each assistant attends a series of training seminars for nine hours of study.

Special three-day teacher training courses are also conducted by the Counsellors in collaboration with the National Youth Committee and the National Teachings Committee. “The number of applicants among the youth to attend the training courses increases daily,” it was stated.

Ireland

School, conference set Aug. 21-29

The Bahá’ís of the Republic of Ireland will host a summer school August 21-29. The school will include a special two-day teaching conference.

Ivory Coast, Mali, and Upper Volta

88 new believers form community

“In one village near the border of Liberia, our team of three succeeded in attracting to the Faith a number of people and this, we feel, augurs the beginning of mass conversion in this area of the country,” wrote a traveling teacher from Abidjan on the Ivory Coast.

“Fifty-three adults and 35 youth accepted the Faith. A Local Spiritual Assembly was formed on the spot and the officers of this Assembly met with the chief of the tribe and officially introduced themselves. The children were taught prayers and Bahá’í songs and gradually all the Bahá’ís of the village began to sing these songs in their own language. Prerecorded tapes of these songs were played to make it easy for the local believers to learn them ...

“A gathering was organized at which the chief of the tribe gave a talk and expressed his delight that the Bahá’í Faith had come to his village. He spoke of his happiness in knowing that the Faith brings love and unity. The chairman of the Local Spiritual Assembly replied. Then both shook hands and pledged to help each other to promote that spirit of unity. They requested us to establish a school for children and it was decided that one member of our team who speaks the local language would come two or three times a week to the village and would teach the children prayers and Bahá’í songs, as well as how to read and write.”

The team of three established Bahá’í communities in 14 other villages, formed another Spiritual Assembly, began preparations

[Page 11] for the formation of three more Assemblies, and presented deepenings, with specially printed booklets and compilations, in many areas. And that team was only one of many that traveled through the western part of the Ivory Coast during the Christmas holidays.

Abidjan to host youth conference

The purpose of the International Youth Conference in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, July 9-11, will be to launch “a great West African teaching project ... in an effort to accomplish all the teaching goals ... by October, midpoint of the Five-Year Plan.”

Sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Ivory Coast, Mali, and Upper Volta, the conference will be preceded and followed by teaching projects. It will be similar to one held last summer in Accra, Ghana, and attended by youth from Europe, Iran, West Africa, and the United States. Ghana and nearby communities are still feeling the enthusiasm and energy of that gathering.

President greeted by Bahá’í group

Representatives of the Bahá’í Faith were greeted warmly by the President of the Republic of the Ivory Coast when they visited him and wished him a happy new year January 1.

They had sponsored a Human Rights Day meeting in December with the cooperation of the minister of the interior and the minister of information. Their gathering, in the French Cultural Hall of Abidjan, was filmed by the television station and featured on the news.

The mayor of Abidjan allowed the Bahá’ís to display posters in prominent places, and many invitations were sent to professors and university students, government officials, dignitaries, and executives. Many Bahá’í books and pamphlets were distributed at the meeting.

Liberia

Believers share stories of Master

On the last night of the Summer School in Bomi Hills in late December, Bahá’ís from Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone shared their best-loved stories of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The gathering in honor of the Master capped joyous days that met the school’s goal of universal participation.

Auxiliary Board member Vera Edwards spoke on “Prayer and Meditation,” and during a public meeting two Bahá’í films were shown to an audience of 45. Three hours of classes and three hours of workshop time were allotted each day, but enthusiasm carried every session over-time.

Luxembourg

Faith proclaimed to prime minister

His Excellency Gaston Thorn, the prime minister of Luxembourg, recently received The Bahá’í World, Vol. XIV, and a comprehensive portfolio of Bahá’í literature, during a 15-minute audience with a Bahá’í delegation. Mr. Thorn is also the chairman of the United Nations General Assembly.

Representing the Bahá’ís of Luxembourg were Robert Bontemps and Berthy Schoos, chairman and secretary, respectively, of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Anita Bontemps, a member of the National Press and Proclamation Committee.

The three Bahá’ís said their meeting with Mr. Thorn was relaxed and friendly. Mr. Bontemps pointed out to Mr. Thorn the importance of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh at this critical stage in world affairs, saying that in his role as chairman of the United Nations General Assembly, he would be more aware than anyone of the need for peaceful solutions to universal problems.

Mr. Thorn was very interested in the growth of the Faith in Luxembourg.

TV, newspapers report proclamation

Continental Counselor Anneliese Bopp spoke on women’s rights during a three-day proclamation in Luxembourg City. The meeting she addressed was both televised and reported in the newspaper.

With Marco Kappenberger of Switzerland, Miss Bopp met many prominent citizens during the December 8-11 proclamation.

Mexico

Audiences respond to teaching trip

The University of Merida requested traveling teachers Marvin and Jan Dreyer, of El Salvador, during their recent two-week teaching tour of Mexico, to give a concert in its theater. Five hundred people came, including the rector of the university and his wife, who is the director of cultural activities. The university had placed a large ad and photograph in the newspaper. After the concert, 50 seekers attended a fireside at the Mérida Bahá’í Center.

Before the university concert, the Dreyers had performed at the Instituto Tecnologico to an audience of 300.

The Dreyers were interviewed on television and radio; the television interviewer went with them to a fireside that lasted until 2 a.m. The newspaper also printed a fine article about the Faith after interviewing them; it was the first feature on the Faith ever printed in Mérida.

As the Dreyers waited for their plane in Mérida Airport, a newspaper reporter recognized them and they were interviewed again.

Mérida is the site of one of the International Teaching Conferences.

In Mexico City, Bahá’í youth organized activities for the Dreyers.

Responding to invitations distributed by the youth in the neighborhood of the Bahá’í Center, 20 seekers heard the Dreyers sing international folk songs and saw the film “Paso al Paso.” After another series of songs with Bahá’í themes, the Bahá’ís circulated among the guests, answering their questions, and one young man declared.

On the second evening, 15 people came to a meeting, and, on the third, after an invitation by Chela Lucas, students and teachers from six English classes were present.

“The youth of Mexico City are really wonderful,” the Dreyers said. “Their teaching is spontaneous and they are very knowledgeable. They said that it was their first attempt at this kind of program at the Bahá’í Center and they considered it a smashing success. Already, they have planned follow-up programs.”

The Dreyers also visited Bahá’ís in Yaxpoil, a Mayan village, where they presented a music program and showed a

[Page 12] Bahá’í film to an audience whose response, they said, was “respectful and dignified.”

Niger

Weekend classes highly stimulating

Classes at teaching institutes held once or twice each month in Niger are taught by youth. Traveling teachers serve as guest speakers.

Youth bring their friends who are studying the Faith. Occasionally, the gatherings take the form of picnics.

“We have found these weekends together to be highly stimulating and they provide a splendid opportunity to learn the Bahá’í life,” said the National Spiritual Assembly.

North West Pacific Ocean

Santo Island forms first Assembly

The formation of the first Spiritual Assembly on Santo Island, in the Kwajalein Atoll of the Marshall Islands, was announced January 1.

All the teachers involved in the formation were Micronesians.

The activity evolved under the direction of the National Teaching Committee of the Marshall Islands, with the help of the Spiritual Assembly of Ebeye, another island in the Kwajalein Atoll.

Panama

Five Counsellors make special visits

Television cameras whirred as the friends, colorful in their diversity and radiant in their love, streamed out of the Panama Temple. Later, Bahá’í smiles made the news.

The friends were going from Sunday devotions to a special fireside in the home of the Temple’s caretakers, Ed and Anita Dougan. Fireside speakers were Continental Counsellors Carmen de Burafato, Rowland Estall, and Artemus Lamb, who, with fellow Counsellors Alfred Osborne and Donald Witzel, made a series of special visits in Panama February 13-20.

San Blas and Guaymi Indians, who had met the Counsellors at a teaching institute in Villa Virginia, met them again at the fireside, as did friends from as far away as Chepo, and friends from Colon who came in a bus. Others walked long miles to the meeting.

The Counsellors spoke to the Bahá’ís and their guests in Spanish and English. Then all enjoyed a huge, anonymously-donated cake.

The Counsellors also visited the Bahá’í National Center, where Mr. Lamb recalled the growth of the Panama Bahá’í community: 10,000 Bahá’ís in only 30 years. Many times this rate of growth is required during the Five-Year Plan; the Counsellors reminded the Bahá’ís that the Plan is the Will of God and of Bahá’u’lláh, therefore, all the goals can be won. Mr. Estall emphasized the need for each Bahá’í to become a channel for the love of Bahá’u’lláh, so that His will may be done.

Mr. Lamb and Mr. Osborne also spoke at Don Bosco in the San Miguelito area. Mr. Estall spoke on “Creating the World Community” at the Training Center in the Canal Zone, and Mr. Witzell spoke at the Cristobal YMCA to 60 Bahá’ís and guests.

Peru

100 enrolled, two Assemblies formed

The Ninth International Bahá’í Summer School in Lima January 10-25 was set aglow by the film of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America, the enrollment of over 100 people in the Faith, the formation of two new Spiritual Assemblies, and the celebration of the Feast of Sultán with prayers in 10 languages and dialects. These dialects included those of Indians from Cuzco, Puno, Hunacayo, and the upper Amazon. Two Aguarunas from the Amazon were the first of their tribe to attend a Bahá’í School.

The urging of Continental Counsellor Mas’ud Khamsí sent the Bahá’ís into Chincha, an area with a large black population, about 175 miles from Lima. After two weeks, 95 people were enrolled and two Assemblies were formed.

Other enrollments were in Chaclacayo, near Lima.

Bahá’ís from Ecuador, Belize, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, and France, joined Peruvian ‎friendsn includng friends including‎ pioneers from Iran, Canada, and the United States, for classes with teachers such as Alejandro Reid of Chile, translator into Spanish of The Dawnbreakers and The Priceless Pearl.

An address by Mr. Khamsí about the station of the Master prepared the friends to view the priceless film of the Master in America. The next day with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s image in their hearts the friends heard Mr. Khamsí assist their National Teaching Committee with its explanation of goals and plans. Six people arose to pioneer and many others volunteered to travel and teach.

Bahá’ís gather for the Ninth International Bahá’í Summer School in Lima, Peru, January 10-25. Believers from Peru, Ecuador, Belize, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand, France, Iran, Canada, and the United States attended.

[Page 13] Portugal

National Assembly wins incorporation

The incorporation of the National Spiritual Assembly of Portugal, a goal pursued by the Assembly since its formation in 1962, was confirmed by the ministry of justice December 26.

“We are very happy that we have fulfilled this goal, so long wished for,” that Assembly wrote to The Universal House of Justice.

Samoa

Prayers are said at Temple site

On the mountain-top where Samoa’s Bahá’í Temple will be built, 130 Bahá’ís from the recent summer school said prayers to bless the land. They stood in the cool rainy tropical breeze, surrounded by lush greenery and tall trees, while Continental Counsellor Suhayl Alai told them the story of the purchase of the 12 acres.

When the temple is completed, travelers on every plane and ship will see it as they arrive in Samoa.

About 65 children were among the friends on the mountain-top. They spent the four days of the school singing, dancing, and learning prayers in Samoan. Most of the classes were taught by youth.

A special feature of the school was a song competition. Song competitions in Samoa have brought forth wonderful new songs, including one for the Five Year Plan which the Bahá’ís sing with an air of victory. A tape of this song is being sent to the Alaskan International Teaching Conference.

Patients, elderly hear the Message

“Keep singing, the patients are happy,” said the nurses to Bahá’í adults, youth, and children who recently visited a new hospital in Apia. As the Bahá’ís explained the song, tears were seen on many of the patients’ faces.

The Bahá’ís were to stay 20 minutes, and instead remained for 2-½ hours, singing in every ward. They gave a box of surgical supplies to the hospital. Their photo appeared in the paper, and the radio also reported the visit.

The next day, residents of the Catholic Old People’s Home also wept as they heard the Bahá’í Message. They repeated, over and over again, “Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’u’lláh.”

Bahá’í programs are broadcast

People in Samoa and Tonga can hear 15-minute Bahá’í radio shows every Sunday morning. Songs and the Writings of the Faith in Samoan help deepen the Bahá’ís and aid the teaching work.

Programs made by Samoan Bahá’ís and New Zealand Bahá’í youth are used on television. One, about Mount Carmel, has been shown six times. A half-hour interview was televised in January, and 13 Bahá’í shows from Hawaii are being shown as a 26-week series. These shows all take advantage of free broadcasting time.

South West Pacific Ocean

Teaching follows Yahoue conference

As six teams from the New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands Sixth National Teaching Conference spoke to seekers in four towns, they felt courage created by the conference’s unity. They taught in Yahoue, Noumea, Mont-Dore, and Paita during the last afternoon of the conference.

The highlight of the conference, which was in Yahoue, February 6-8, was teaching demonstrations acted out by teams of two. One person played the Bahá’í, the other the non-Bahá’í. The goal was for the Bahá’í to mention the name of Bahá’u’lláh within three minutes.

Other conference events were reports from traveling teachers, a social, and workshops on consolidation.

The conference finished with a public meeting in Yahoue where the praises of the Faith were sung with Samoan, Hebridian, French, English, and Marean Bahá’í melodies. Andre Trabe introduced the Faith and Jean Sevin gave a moving account of the Dawn-breakers. The meeting climaxed joyously with a Samoan farewell dance by Pilli Muaulu and Akatoto Saliga.

Teams went to Thio the weekend after the conference, and planned to keep going.

The road leads to unification

Under a blue sky, in the soft air of Lifou (Loyalty Islands) five Bahá’ís and a friend walked along the road. Pilli Muaulu suddenly said in English, indicating the non-Bahá’í friend, “What about this young man? Wouldn’t he like to become a Bahá’í?” Luc Herson translated that to his wife, Kenyie, who said to the young man, who was her brother, in the language of Lifou, “Look, we are all Bahá’ís except you.”

Antoine Goetro’s face lit with joy, and he said, “I also would like to become a Bahá’í.”

He was immediately embraced by his Bahá’í brothers and sisters, and they continued together down the road.

Special programs highlight school

Two cyclones did not dim the enthusiasm of the Bahá’ís at New Hebrides’ first week-long summer school January 16-23. The school was a special project of the Spiritual Assembly of Fila Island.

Many non-Bahá’í children joined the 40 Bahá’ís each evening for special programs that featured members of the National Spiritual Assembly, Auxiliary Board members Owen Battrick and Alick Soalo, Assistant Auxiliary Board member Jimmy Martin, a traveling teaching team from New Zealand, pioneers, New Caledonian, Samoan, and New Hebridian believers.

The friends studied the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, The Universal House of Justice, National Spiritual Assemblies, and Local Spiritual Assemblies; the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh; “How You Become a Bahá’í;” the evolution of the Faith in New Hebrides; goals of New Hebrides in the Five Year Plan; the unity of mankind; and the equality of men and women.

[Page 14] South and West Africa

Boy, 11, teaches Assembly class

Eleven-year-old Deric Qunta taught a class on “The Duties of a Local Assembly” at a recent conference in Chalumna in the Eastern Cape Region. “The way he taught his lesson ... was excellent,” participants in the conference said.

Other topics discussed at Chalumna and in sister conferences at Jojweni Village and Mdantsane were progressive Revelation, Bahá’í attributes, the Five Year Plan, and future planning.

United Kingdom

Mr. Hainsworth speaks in House of Commons

A Bahá’í shared the platform at a symposium in the House of Commons February 11. The symposium was called “Spiritual Paths to World Government.”

“It is a significant development in our emergence from obscurity that a Bahá’í has been asked to share a platform with such nationally-known, distinguished speakers,” the National Spiritual Assembly commented.

Philip Hainsworth, secretary of the National Assembly, represented the Bahá’ís in a panel that included the Rev. the Lord Soper, who is a Methodist minister, and the Rt. Rev. Trevor Huddleston, Bishop of Stepney.

The symposium was arranged by the Association of World Federalists.

Total Assemblies now at 111

The formation of the Spiritual Assemblies of Worthing, Eastbourne, and Greenwich, raises the number of Assemblies in the United Kingdom to 111, the National Spiritual Assembly announced in February.

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United States

Teaching conferences held across country

Teaching was the theme of conferences on March 27. Below, from left to right, are scenes in Kentucky; Kingsland, Texas; Oak Park, Illinois; and Utah (bottom).

Bahá’ís who gathered at teaching conferences in every district of the United States and in Bermuda and the Bahamas March 27 were enveloped by the prayers of The Universal House of Justice, which cabled:

FERVENTLY SUPPLICATING HOLY THRESHOLD BESEECHING CONCOURSE ON HIGH STIMULATE STRENGTHEN PARTICIPANTS COUNTRYWIDE TEACHING CONFERENCES ENABLE THEM EMBARK STRENUOUS CAMPAIGN ATTRACT MULTITUDES AS YET UNAWARE TEACHINGS BAHÁ’U’LLÁH. ASSURE YOU AND AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY OUR LOVING PRAYERS.

Highlights of the conference were recorded interviews with the Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir. Dr. Muhájir spoke of the urgent need for teaching

[Page 15] Methods for teaching were discussed in detail at the conferences. The pictures, from left to right, are from: top: Oak Park, Illinois; Geneva, New York; Kentucky; above: Springfield, Illinois; ‎Blairesville Blairsville‎, Pennsylvania; and below: Oak Park, Illinois.

now to begin troop enrollment in the Faith. He encouraged the friends to be sincere and fearless to teach with a vision of the future, to go forward toward the New World Order of Bahá’u’lláh step by step, goal by goal. “You don’t turn back,” he said, “you go and go and go.”

The National Spiritual Assembly implored the friends to “seize the shimmering chance for heroic attainment which the Five Year Plan holds before us, and which every individual must now forthrightly address. For it is ultimately upon the individual’s resolute action that must rest the fate of the entire Plan.”

Planning sessions and workshops were built on the urgency of these messages, and on March 28 many of the believers went into action with proclamations, public meetings, and personal teaching. At least seven people became Bahá’ís at the conferences, and others joined the Faith afterward. “People just went teaching and found them,” said one report of three declarations in York, South Carolina.

Many friends at the conferences volunteered to homefront pioneer and to do extensive traveling teaching. There were many special contributions to the National Bahá’í Fund.

Volunteers mount slides, save funds

Bahá’ís hand-mounted 5,500 slides in a home in Montrose, California, saving the National Bahá’í Fund over $2,300. The slides were part of a special presentation for the 89 District Teaching Conferences on March 27.

They “turned the house into a slide factory for Bahá’u’lláh,” said Russell Roberts, one of the coordinators of the project. A dozen volunteers from a Sunday school class in the nearby home of James and Dorothy Nelson assisted.

Mrs. Nelson, treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly, commended their service, saying it was of great help to the Bahá’í community, the National Fund, and the National Center staff.

44 complete pioneer institute

On the balcony, beneath the light-filled dome of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, 44 friends softly sang “Alláh-u-Abhá.” They had spent four days at a pioneer institute April 8-11, and were about to disperse throughout the world. The Hand of the Cause of God Dhikru’lláh Khádem, addressing them on their first morning together, cited examples of Manifestations and Prophets who were emigrants: the exiles of Bahá’u’lláh, the journey of Muḥammad from Mecca to Medina, the sojourn of Joseph in Egypt.

“The beloved Guardian told me,” said Mr. Khádem, “that the progress of the Faith that makes everyone astounded is because of the Plans. And the Guardian never said that the Plans relied upon himself; the Bahá’ís always carried out the Plans, the Bahá’ís won the goals, the Bahá’ís built the Administrative Order, the Bahá’ís spread the Faith throughout the world.”

His listeners ranged in age from 11 to 70. Lea Degan, 70, has homefront pioneered in Colorado, but she has never been overseas. “I want to inspire the young ones,” she said. She is going to Kenya.

[Page 16] At right, Bahá’ís gather at the pioneer institute held April 8-11. Above, the Hand of the Cause of God Dhikru’lláh Khádem (right) greets the friends. Below, Lea Degan, 70, will leave to pioneer in Kenya “to inspire the young ones.”

And Katherine Faily, who is also 70 and who pioneered in Guam and aided the establishment of the Faith in South Carolina for 19 years, is going to Barbados.

Continental Counsellor Edna True outlined the history of pioneering for the friends, and Auxiliary Board member ‎Javidokht Javidukht‎ Khádem, speaking on the Power of the Covenant, also reminded them that their services make the history of the Cause.

“We’re going back because we love it,” said Anita and Dermot McHuth, who served in Zaire for a few years in the Peace Corps. And Frank Mausley, who went to India two years ago with a teaching project, is returning to pioneer because, he said, he developed a love for the people, an admiration of their subtle spiritual qualities. He is the third of the five Bahá’ís who served that project to settle as a pioneer in India.

8 Assembly members agree to pioneer

The Hand of the Cause of God Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir prompted eight members of the Spiritual Assembly of Pomona, California, to go pioneering soon. “It was something we’ve all discussed,” explained Gloria Buis. “But Dr. Muhájir made us decide faster.”

Taw and Priscilla Womack, who are going to Chile, and Tom and Caroline Gosling, who are going to Bangladesh, heard Dr. Muhájir speak in Los Angeles and returned home so excited that the four other prospective pioneers flew to San Francisco to hear him.

Mrs. Buis and Nat Anderson are going to Africa. Andy and Gladys Johnson are going to Brazil. All plan to leave this summer.

Traveling teaching trips on increase

Traveling teaching trips from the United States totaled 322 at Riḍván, compared with 139 the previous year. Of the 322 trips, 258 were to countries assigned to the U.S. by The Universal House of Justice in a special international traveling teaching program.

Believers from abroad have also been assigned to travel and teach in the United States. Some communities which will send traveling teachers to the U.S. are Alaska, Canada, the Hawaiian Islands, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, and Mexico.

The Universal House of Justice said that this flow of traveling teachers reinforces the teaching work throughout the world.

Inquiries double in just one year

The Bahá’í National Information Office received 2,253 requests for information on the Faith from January 1975 to January 1976, double the number of inquiries received the previous year. And the rate of inquiries increased by 30 per cent during January and February this year.

Almost half of the inquirers tell how they heard about the Faith. Of these, nearly half heard through Seals and Crofts’ records or concerts.

Most want to know the history and origin of the Faith, and are very interested in Bahá’í attitudes toward other religions. Often, they ask how they can meet Bahá’ís in their communities.

The largest number of inquiries came from Illinois, followed by New York, California, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

[Page 17]

Mr. Gillespie honored by South Carolina

Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie was honored at a special joint session of the South Carolina Legislature in Columbia March 9. Mr. Gillespie received a plaque from the South Carolina Arts Commission commending his contribution “to the world of music and the state of South Carolina.”

Mr. Gillespie accepted the plaque, identified himself as a Bahá’í, and said that he was “full of hope for America as it honors its Bicentennial.” He read ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s words: “The continent of America is in the eyes of the one true God the land wherein the splendors of His light shall be revealed, where the mysteries of His Faith shall be unveiled, where the righteous will abide and the free assemble.”

He also read the entire editorial, “Two Hundred Years of Imperishable Hope,” from the Bicentennial issue of World Order magazine.

Governor James B. Edwards, present for the award ceremony, during which Mr. Gillespie’s quintet performed, later joined the musician for a press conference before television news cameras.

Special guests at the legislative session were Charles Jackson, Mayor of Cheraw, which is Mr. Gillespie’s home town, and many other friends from that area. These friends joined Mr. Gillespie at a reception for 300 in the Governor’s guest house, and later at a private dinner given by the Governor for Mr. Gillespie, the quintet, and members of the South Carolina Arts Commission.

Dizzy Gillespie, left, and members of his ‎quintent quintet‎ perform in the chambers of the South Carolina Legislature where Mr. Gillespie was honored for his contribution “to the world of music and the state of South Carolina.” Mr. Gillespie played his specially-designed trumpet. The ‎quintent quintet‎ also performed at colleges and communities in South Carolina during a six-day visit.

The ceremonies in Columbia crowned a six-day visit by Mr. Gillespie and his quintet, during which they gave a concert at the University of South Carolina and workshops at Benedict College. They also visited Walterboro and Greenville.