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Bahá’í News

May 1977

Bahá’í Year 134

The Gleaming Angel of Sydney
Mother Temple of the Pacific

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Riḍván message

‘Greatest challenge is in fields of expansion and consolidation’

To All National Spiritual Assemblies

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

Rejoice outstanding events and achievements marking midyear Five Year Plan: publication in English selection Writings Blessed Báb opening to eyes Western followers Faith a priceless treasury His immortal utterances, a bounty which cannot fail draw hearts ever nearer youthful Martyr-Prophet; successful holding eight International Conferences, blazoning name Cause God before a receptive public, knitting more closely ties linking friends all lands, resulting upsurge intense activity teaching pioneering, conferring awareness urgent challenge presented by goals Plan this critical period; profoundly significant visit to resting place beloved Guardian by first reigning monarch to accept Faith Bahá’u’lláh; departure former tenants house ‘Abdu’llá Páshá enabling Faith obtain possession recently purchased Holy Place initiate process restoration preparation eventual opening to visits by pilgrims; arrival Haifa first four consignments marble and initiation actual construction Seat Universal House Justice Mount Carmel; appointment three additional Counsellors North Central America, Australasia; attainment goal settlement midway point Plan majority pioneers called for during first phase accompanied great outflow international travelling teachers; dramatic resurgence teaching work Cradle Faith by individual believers under local plans; finally, election this Riḍván six new Pillars Universal House Justice, National Spiritual Assemblies of Upper Volta in Africa, of the French Antilles in the Caribbean, of Surinam and French Guiana in South America, of the Marshall Islands, and of the New Hebrides in Pacific Ocean, and of Greece in Europe, raising total number National Spiritual Assemblies to 123 to take part in fourth election Universal House Justice in Holy Land during Riḍván 1978.

National Conventions in 1978 will be on weekend preceding or following 23 May feast Declaration Báb. Call for formation at that time six more National Spiritual Assemblies: Burundi and Mauritania in Africa, the Bahamas in America, Oman and Qatar in Asia, and the Mariana Islands in the Pacific.

Present rate growth Community prospect acceleration process entry by troops its spread new areas impel us strengthen still further the Auxiliary Boards whose services so vital sound development Community.

Announce authorization increase membership Boards by 297 raising total to 675 of which 279 are Auxiliary Board members for protection and 396 for propagation of Faith.

In early days of June 1877 Bahá’u’lláh left city ‘Akká and took up residence in Mazra’ih. To mark centenary this termination confinement Ancient Beauty within walls Prison City we call upon His followers all lands devote nineteen day feast of Núr commemoration historic event, rededicating themselves urgent tasks before them, so that pent-up energies His precious Faith may be released to reach ever greater number seeking souls in ever wider circle their fellow men.

Greatest challenge facing followers Bahá’u’lláh last two years Plan is in fields expansion consolidation. Tremendous upsurge needed in services individual believers on whose deeds ultimately all progress depends. Momentum generated by International Conferences must be accelerated without delay and spirit released must permeate all communities. Great increase must take place in enthusiastic teaching carried out with confidence, imagination and perseverance by young and old, rich and poor, learned and illiterate, whether at home or travelling. Particularly call upon Bahá’í women, whose capacities in many lands still largely unused, and whose potential for service Cause so great, to arise and demonstrate importance part they are to play in all fields service Faith.

Bounties in abundance waiting descend from Supreme Concourse. That the friends of God will now surge ahead with resolute radiant spirits in every continent islands of the seas, to bring Message of Bahá’u’lláh to waiting souls win their allegiance His Cause, ensuring overwhelming victory Plan to which they are now committed, is our high hope and ardent prayer at Sacred Threshold.

The Universal House of Justice

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Contents

Message from The Universal House of Justice	inside cover
“Ye are the Angels”	2
Mother Temple of the Pacific: a pictorial essay	8
Equality of men and women topic of U.N. session	12
Around the World	14

Cover photo

The Mother Temple of the Antipodes, in Australia, shines forth. Please see page 8.

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page 8

page 16

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 © 1977, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

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‘Ye are the Angels’

Part II of the history of the Bahá’ís of Kenosha

by William P. Collins

‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived at the Bahá’í Hall in Kenosha on September 15, 1912.

Despite solid accomplishments, the Kenosha Bahá’í Community experienced little growth, since the Khayru’lláh episode had so badly damaged the community’s strength and its prestige in the eyes of non-Bahá’ís. No more fitting commentary on the despondency of the Kenosha believers can be found than the following draft of a letter to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:

“To the Center of the Covenant of God,

“Abdul Baha Abbas.

“Our beloved Master!

“We are a little band of believers in Kenosha, who are trying to hold together throught [sic] all difficulties caused by the Nakazeen [Covenant-breakers] of this town. This is their stronghold in America. We humble [sic] beg that Thou wilt intercede for us that we may be strengthened through the confirmations of the Spirit, to keep our numbers together, to hold to the Center of the Covenant, and be enabled to draw these deniers nearer to Thee. We also beg that we may grow more and more spiritually, and that we may be characterized by Thy characteristics, and by our lives and deeds declare the Kingdom of God to our Fellow Man. We thank God that we were enabled to withstand the tests and to pass through them victoriously...”³⁵

That ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent at least 10 Tablets³⁶ to this beleaguered band of faithful followers is a clear indication of His undying love for them: “Ye will see your faces shine as stars in the horizon of guidance and your heads crowned by the crown of success in the Supreme World.”³⁷

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s missionary tour of the United States in 1912 was the fulfillment of the above prophecy. Nothing could make the faces of the Kenosha Bahá’ís “shine as stars” except the visit of the Beloved to their city. Mrs. Henry L. Goodale had long cherished the hope that the Master would visit Kenosha, and sent Him a letter of invitation. He graciously accepted to take a day from His stay in Chicago in order to spend time with the Kenosha friends.

In comparison with the attacks on the Faith in 1899, the far more significant visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá received little publicity. The newspaper articles that did appear were generally quite favorable. The Kenosha Union warmly reported the upcoming visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, asserting that “it is not often that Kenosha people have the opportunity to see and hear the head of any great religious movement and it is expected that there will be a large crowd at the services tomorrow evening.”³⁸

Before leaving for Kenosha on September 15, 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke several times to the Chicago Bahá’ís about the need for firmness in the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, and that violators of that Covenant must be shunned. He spoke of this because Dr. Ibráhím Khayru’lláh was then residing in Chicago and had attempted to stir up discord over ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit. One of Dr. Khayru’lláh’s associates, a Dr. Knott, was told by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that if Dr. Khayru’lláh’s intention was pure, he would come to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in all sincerity like everyone else. The Master took Dr. Knott with Him to Kenosha to witness all that transpired as evidence of the triumph of the Covenant.³⁹

Thus on the morning of September 15, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His entourage arrived at the station of the Chicago North Shore and Milwaukee R.R. (Electric Line) at Evanston. Among those accompanying the Master was Saichiro Fujita who was to serve in Haifa throughout the ministry of Shoghi Effendi and under The Universal House of Justice until his death in 1976.⁴⁰ When the awaited train pulled into the station, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá paced the platform unconcerned and never boarded his railroad car. To the dismay of His companions, the train for Kenosha left without them. After boarding the next train for Kenosha, the Master’s party came upon the wreckage of the first near Waukegan. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, “The protection of the Blessed Beauty [Bahá’u’lláh] was with us.” He narrated how some of the Bahá’ís had wished Him to sail to America on the maiden voyage of the Titanic, but Bahá’u’lláh had guided Him to come direct via the S.S. Cedric.⁴⁰

‘Abdu’l-Bahá was met at the Kenosha train station by Bahá’ís who transported Him by automobile to the Bahá’í Center in Gronquist Hall (616 57th Street) where a feast was prepared for them. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stood at the head of the stairs and shook hands with each person who came into the hall. Grace Anderson, who was 19 at the time of the visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, described the moment of meeting:

“It’s something you can’t explain exactly. It’s not for anybody to describe unless they have themselves experienced it. I don’t think I can describe it, the moment when He shook my hand. The only thing I can

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After boarding the next train for Kenosha, the Master’s party came upon the wreckage of the first. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said, ‘The protection of the Blessed Beauty was with us.’

liken it to at all would be an electric shock. Not unpleasant. But like something just kind of went through you. It thrilled you. And He looked at you. Right through you. And the first thing He did was to say to you in English, ‘Are you happy?’ ”⁴²

‘Abdu’l-Bahá then spoke to the gathered believers:

“I am very happy in meeting you. I thank God that His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh has such friends. Their faces are illumined and their nostrils are perfumed with the fragrances of the love of God.

“The Cause of God has always appeared in the East, but it spreads more widely in the West, just as in the case of His Holiness Christ His signs were greater in the West. ...Though He appeared in the East, Bahá’u’lláh was neither an Oriental nor an Occidental. He was sanctified above all regions. He is with those who are of the Kingdom, who are heavenly, who are divine, be they of the East or of the West...

“His Holiness Christ was the Word of God. He was the Spirit of God...Twelve persons believed in His Holiness Christ in His lifetime. One of them became an opponent. Eleven remained. Those also wavered in their faith after the death of Christ. Even Peter, although he was the greatest disciple, at one time denied Christ thrice, but later repented and became firm and steadfast in the Cause of His Holiness. Indeed, the cause of the firmness of the disciples after the crucifixion of Christ was Mary the Magdalene.

“But today the cause and name of the Blessed Beauty Bahá’u’lláh is incomparable. Twenty thousand people have sacrificed their lives, and under the sword they used to dance. Look how faithful and self-sacrificing they were. In truth, the people of the East have demonstrated the utmost devotion. They sacrificed their glory; they sacrificed their very existence in the path of God... Indeed, they have shown the utmost self-sacrifice, so that through the power of His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh the hearts became united and the souls became attracted.

“Therefore I am hopeful day by day that this unity may be increased, this love may become greater; the oneness of the world of humanity may become resplendent; the heavenly light may illumine the hearts so that all may be in the greatest love and unity. That they may have spiritual bonds, and become the cause of spreading the oneness of humanity, through the aid and favor of Bahá’u’lláh. That all who are on the surface of the earth may become united; all races become harmonized together; all religions find unity and fellowship. So that through the power of His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh the banner of the oneness of the world of humanity may be raised, and Universal Peace may pitch its tent. That the fragrances of holiness may be diffused; the breath of the Holy Spirit revive the hearts; the nostrils become perfumed; and that the eyes may be seeing, the ears be blessed with hearing; that they may acquire eternal happiness and obtain everlasting life, and become the cause of ideal and material attainments. Through the bestowal of Bahá’u’lláh this is easy... Therefore, in the utmost humility render ye thanks unto the Divine Threshold, that praise be to God, He has illumined the eyes, the ears He has made hearing. You have heard the divine call, become believers in God, and under the shadow of the Blessed Beauty Bahá’u’lláh you have advanced. Then be ye in the greatest happiness that such a blessing has been granted and that such a bounty has surrounded you...

“Praise be to God! Ye are all confirmed, full of cheer, and walking in the divine path. I was 40 years in the prison of two kings [Persia and Turkey] who were in the direst enmity. They closed all the roads. Not a single person was able to go out of the fort of ‘Akká. They did not allow anyone to come near nor did they let me go out... No one thought that I could go on with such hardships and severe persecution. I trusted, and in the Blessed Beauty Bahá’u’lláh I had confidence, until suddenly God removed the chain from my neck, and chained the neck of ‘Abdu’l-Hamid, the Sultan of Turkey.⁴³ I came out of the fort. He entered it. I became free. He became a prisoner. All that he did to me, all the conditions of the past, have become reversed. Praise be to God! Through the favor of Bahá’u’lláh I have come to America. I have seen your faces. It surpasses

On the evening of September 15, 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a talk to a capacity audience at the First Congregational Church pictured below. He said, “The Holy Manifestations were one in essence.”

[Page 4] Louis J. Voelz, secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly, built two cardboard models of the House of Worship, one of which was viewed by more than 20,000 people a day at a Chicago exhibit.

the imagination; but through the favor of the Blessed Beauty Bahá’u’lláh all the doors were opened, the divine banner was raised. The fame of the Cause of God has enveloped the East and the West. The influence of the word of Bahá’u’lláh has surrounded the world.”⁴⁴

After He had finished speaking, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá went to a long table bedecked with flowers and laden with food. It had long been a custom that two empty chairs be placed in Kenosha’s Bahá’í meetings, one in commemoration of Bahá’u’lláh, the other for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, hoping for such a day as this when He would arrive. The Master went directly to the chair which had always been set for Him, saying: “This is where I am to sit.”⁴⁵ He then thanked the Bahá’ís for the opportunity to visit them:

“I too desired that matters be so arranged that I might come to Kenosha to meet the friends. God has upset heaven and earth that I might come to America and Kenosha. He has changed two kingdoms that I might see your faces. I am hopeful, I am hopeful that from this meeting great results may be obtained, a new motion may appear in the souls, a new spirit may be acquired, and that the Bahá’í activity here may become very great.”⁴⁶

Following this meeting, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. Goodale (6108 Sheridan Road) where He stayed through most of the day. A contemporary narrative records that

“after the arrival of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and His party at the Goodale home, they visited in the first floor apartment and received the many believers and friends who came to pay their respects to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and hear His words of wisdom. Later, He and His party went for a short walk accompanied by myself, Louis Voelz. We all walked at a respectful distance behind ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. While walking through a small park I remarked to the interpreters that a believer [Mrs. Frank Harmon] living across from the park intended coming to our home to see ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, but due to sudden illness could not come. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá overheard me and asked the interpreters what I had said, and upon being informed of the believer’s illness, He immediately left the sidewalk, crossed the grass and crossed the street and walked up the steps of the ill one’s home [6219 10th Avenue], to visit her. However, no one was home and I was much embarrassed. We went back home and there we found that the ill one had recovered sufficiently to come over to see Him. This incident illustrates how keen ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is in visiting the ill.”⁴⁷

On the evening of September 15, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a talk to a capacity audience at the First Congregational Church [5934 8th Avenue]. His address concerned the oneness of the Messengers of God and the differences arising among their followers. “The Holy Manifestations,” He said, “were one in essence. But their followers differed, owing to their attachment to false dogmatic imitations.”⁴⁸

‘Abdu’l-Bahá remained overnight in Kenosha, lodging in the Goodale apartment at 6108 Sheridan Road. The Bahá’ís were able to speak further with Him in the evening. The Master left by train for Chicago on the afternoon of September 16, 1912. The Kenosha Union of that date reported:

“An audience which filled the entire auditorium of the church gathered at the Congregational church Sunday evening to listen to an address by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, head of the Bahá’í religion. The Bahá’í Assembly in Kenosha was one of the first formed in this country. The speaker of the evening filled all the preconceived ideas of what the leader of a religious movement should represent in his own person, being a man of commanding presence and great personal magnetism. Although he spoke in Persian and his remarks had to be translated to the audience, he held the closest attention of his hearers to the end of his address, and his exposition of the scriptures was clear and concise from the standpoint of the believers in the new religion. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has been in this country since spring and his lectures and addresses have greatly strengthened the Bahá’ís of America. The spread of Bahaism is one of the wonders of the modern world and already the new faith or rule of living numbers its converts by the tens of thousands in the Orient and is gaining in numbers rapidly in the western world.”⁴⁹

The visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, though short, was the confirmation of, and reward for, the faithfulness to the Bahá’í teachings exhibited by the Kenosha believers in the face of the fierce opposition of ambitious

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The Master went directly to the chair which had always been set for Him, saying, ‘This is where I am to sit.’

‘Abdu’l-Bahá walked in this park during His visit to Kenosha. The visit of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, although short, was the confirmation of and the reward for the faithfulness of the Bahá’ís of Kenosha.

and vacillating souls who had attempted to seize their allegiance. Dr. Knott, the Khayru’lláh associate who accompanied ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, witnessed the deference with which the Master was treated by the Kenosha clergy, and the strength of a Bahá’í community which had faced so many severe external and internal tests in its short 15-year history.

Achieving unity in Bahá’í communities is a process requiring slow and painful growth toward maturity. In this process, groups of believers often suffer as much at the hands of friends as at the hands of ill-wishers. The Kenosha Bahá’ís underwent serious difficulties in preserving community unity in 1916 as a result of the domineering attitude of one of the members, who was able to undermine true Bahá’í consultation and to prevent the immature Spiritual Assembly from exercising its collective authority. The community’s membership declined by nearly half, many of whom later returned to active participation in the Faith; but unwisdom and individual imperfections had once again caused great damage to the morale of the believers.⁵⁰ In 1920 Jináb-i-Fáḍil, a highly learned Persian Bahá’í, was sent by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the United States.⁵¹ He visited with the Kenosha Spiritual Assembly to aid it in solving community problems and to offer outside encouragement.

During this period immediately after World War I many Bahá’ís were responding to the call for pioneers and traveling teachers which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá issued in His Tablets of the Divine Plan.⁵² One of those who arose was Kenosha’s August Rudd who, with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s approval, laid the foundations for Bahá’í communities in Boviken and other localities throughout Sweden.⁵³

At the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921 the Kenosha Bahá’ís all remained faithful to the provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, turning to His grandson Shoghi Effendi as Guardian of the Cause of God. The following year, in response to the oft-expressed wishes of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi for more international communication, the Kenosha Spiritual Assembly became the first to establish regular 19-day newsletters to all Bahá’í communities in the world. Inspiring correspondence was received from many communities, but after three years letters were sent only every three months, and after eight years the project was discontinued due to a poor response and limited funds.⁵⁵

Kenosha was also the first Bahá’í community to hold a service in the foundation of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, on June 4, 1922. Louis J. Voelz described the scene: “We of Kenosha entered the foundation amongst all the timbers that were still erected like a forest for the purpose of supporting the foundation dome molds, and there we held a regular Bahá’í service, sitting on any piece of timber that was handy, while the Chicago Bahá’ís had gone to Chicago to their Hall for their regular meeting.”⁵⁶

Through the decade of the 1920s the Kenosha Community was still struggling against the blows it had received in its youth, declining to as few as 16 believers in 1925. Determined to attract the public through more than lectures hidden away in upstairs halls, the Spiritual Assembly of Kenosha rented a vacant store in a prominent business street where many citizens passed every day. The storefront was rented for six weeks and decorated with descriptive cards, photographs and statements of basic Bahá’í principles. A series of lectures was offered each evening and twice Sundays. Among those speaking in this series were Mrs. Robert Lee Moffett and Dr. Zia Baghdadi,⁵⁷ both of whom achieved sustained publicity in the local

[Page 6] After His talk at the Congregational Church, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá visited further with the Bahá’ís in the home of the Goodales.

media. The result was six new Bahá’ís and the return of nine former members to active participation in community activities. The youth also conducted a bi-monthly lecture series on such topics as “Idolatry past and present” and “Is atheism tenable?” By 1938, the community had once again reached 50 believers.

It was a source of amazement to non-Bahá’ís in the 1930s that the Bahá’ís could be building a Temple during the Depression. It was a source of unity among the Bahá’ís to be sacrificing for the construction of what they considered to be the holiest Bahá’í House of Worship ever to be erected to the name of Bahá’u’lláh. The secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Kenosha, Louis J. Voelz, built two cardboard models of the House of Worship, one of which was exhibited at the Century of Progress exhibition in Chicago in 1933 and seen by 20,000 people every day. The other model was constructed at the request of the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, who placed it in Bahjí, the mansion of Bahá’u’lláh near ‘Akká, where it remained until the mid-1960’s.⁵⁹

Kenosha, which had already shown itself to be a pioneering Bahá’í community through the introduction of the 19-day newsletter and the holding of the first Bahá’í service in the foundation of the House of Worship, became in 1937 the first incorporated Local Spiritual Assembly in Wisconsin.⁶⁰

The Second World War severely limited Bahá’í activities around the planet. Nevertheless, Kenosha’s Bahá’í community was able to send Flora Hottes as a pioneer to Bolivia in 1942, followed by Lauretta Voelz to Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1943. Flora Hottes remained in South America for five years, and Lauretta Voelz spent four years in Regina until a Local Spiritual Assembly was securely established. Work on the Temple in Wilmette was progressing well enough that nearby communities, including Kenosha, were asked to prepare believers to serve as guides there on a regular basis. The 1940s and 1950s also saw a galaxy of prominent Bahá’í speakers come to Kenosha, including Dorothy Baker, Horace Holley, and Louis Gregory.⁶¹

The golden anniversary of the establishment of the Kenosha Bahá’í Community which was celebrated in 1947 called forth paeans of praise from the National Spiritual Assembly, which addressed the Kenosha Assembly as “a stalwart and loyal pillar of the blessed new World Order” whose “ardent services have spread the holy fragrances far and wide.”⁶² Shoghi Effendi himself cabled the community that he was “moved express dearly beloved steadfast devoted members community heartfelt congratulations warm admiration spirit animating them service Faith. Ardent hope extension range meritorious labors.”⁶³

In the 30 years since that golden anniversary, the Kenosha Bahá’í Community has not grown significantly. Though there have been more youth entering the Faith, the stigma of the Vatralsky attacks in 1899 and the defection of Khayru’lláh in 1900 have continued to color the Christian view of Bahá’ís in that city, and have prevented many from investigating the Bahá’í Revelation.⁶⁴

At its 75th anniversary, the Bahá’í Community of Kenosha was honored by loving messages from well-wishers around the world, from the National Spiritual Assembly, and from The Universal House of Justice. The followers of Bahá’u’lláh in Kenosha have undergone the flush of success, the fire of ecclesiastical opposition and internal attack, the reward for faithfulness bestowed by a loving Master, and emergence into the continuous struggle to persevere and remain steadfast. Louis Voelz summarized the state of the Kenosha community in 1947—a statement as applicable today:

“We have not increased in numbers as we apparently should have, yet we have remained firm and steadfast, patient and hopeful and have contributed our abilities and sacrifices far outside of the confines of our city limits, even into other countries.”⁶⁵

Perhaps it is these attributes of firmness, steadfastness, and patience which have characterized the Kenosha Bahá’ís that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was addressing when He wrote these words to the Bahá’ís of that small Wisconsin city:

“Ye are the angels, if your feet be firm, your spirits rejoiced, your secret thoughts pure, your eyes consoled, your ears opened, your breasts dilated with joy, and your souls gladdened, and if you arise to assist the Covenant, to resist dissension and to be attracted to the Effulgence! Verily, I say unto you that the Word of God has assuredly been explained and has become an evident sign and a strong and solid proof, and its traces shall be spread in the East and West, and to these all heads shall bow, and all souls shall submit and kneel down with their faces to the ground.”⁶⁶

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‘God has upset heaven and earth that I might come to America and Kenosha. He has changed two kingdoms that I might see your faces.’

‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived at the Kenosha train station nearly 65 years ago. He stayed in Kenosha September 15-16, 1912.

35. Draft of letter to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá dated Jan. 23, 1904, Kenosha papers in the National Bahá’í Archives, Wilmette, Ill.

36. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets, I, pp. 141-7. Five of the Tablets are printed in this collection. Translations of the others could not be located.

37. Ibid., p. 141.

38. Kenosha Union, Sept. 14, 1912.

39. H.M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 271.

40. Louis J. Voelz, “Manuscript history to 1947,” p. 4, and Louis J. Voelz, “Narrative of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Visit to Kenosha,” obtained from Z. Khadem, Evanston, Ill. Saichiro Fujita will be remembered by over fifty years of Bahá’í pilgrims who met him in Haifa and were treated to his warm and loving service at the Holy Places.

41. H.M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 267; and Mirza Mahmud Zarqani, Diary, pp. 103-4, translation obtained from Z. Khadem. Evanston, Ill.

42. Grace Anderson, quoted by Beth McKenty, “In Memory of Grace Anderson,” Bahá’í News, no. 521, Aug. 1974, p. 9.

43. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was imprisoned with Bahá’u’lláh in 1868 in the penal colony of ‘Akká. He was not released from house arrest until the Young Turk revolt of 1908.

44. Manuscript of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talk at Gronquist Hall, obtained from Paul Voelz, Kenosha, Wis.

45. Beth McKenty, “In Memory of Grace Anderson,” p. 9.

46. Manuscript of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s talk at Gronquist Hall.

47. Louis J. Voelz, “Narrative of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Visit to Kenosha.”

48. Mirza Mahmud Zarqani, Diary, pp. 103-4.

49. Union, Sept. 16, 1912.

50. Louis J. Voelz, “Manuscript history to 1947,” p. 4.

51. H.M. Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 443.

52. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1971), p. 14. These Tablets are the charter of the international teaching plans now carried out by Bahá’í under the guidance of the Universal House of Justice.

53. Louis J. Voelz, “Manuscript history to 1947,” p. 4.

54. The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is called by the Guardian “the Charter of a future world civilization.” It established the Guardianship, the National Spiritual Assemblies, and the method of election of The Universal House of Justice.

55. Louis J. Voelz, “Manuscript history to 1947,” p. 5. Though unsuccessful at the time, such efforts were the prelude to the much-improved international communication which today aids the formation of the organic unity of the worldwide Bahá’í community.

56. Ibid.

57. Mrs. Robert Lee (Ruth) Moffett is a long-time Bahá’í speaker and author. Dr. Zia Baghdadi was an active Bahá’í teacher in Chicago who accompanied ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His tour of the United States.

58. Louis J. Voelz, “Manuscript history to 1947,” p. 5, and Kenosha newspaper clipping scrapbook, Kenosha Bahá’í Archives, Kenosha, Wis.

59. Ibid., p. 6, and conversation with Paul Voelz, Kenosha, Wis., March 5, 1977.

60. Ibid., pp. 6-7. Members were: Genevieve Kraai, Chairman; Louis J. Voelz, Secretary; Grace Anderson Anderson; Carrie Gates; William Schend; Earl Parker; Gertrude Collins; Iva Russell; Theodore Lorentzen.

61. Ibid., and newspaper clipping scrapbook. All three of these prominent believers were later named Hands of the Cause by Shoghi Effendi. Louis Gregory was the first black Hand of the Cause. Horace Holley served as secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the U.S. for many years, and is considered one of the greatest Bahá’í scholars yet produced in the western world.

62. Ibid., p. 8.

63. Bahá’í News, no. 205, March 1948. p. 4.

64. Conversation with Paul Voelz, Kenosha, Wis., March 5, 1977.

65. Louis J. Voelz, “Manuscript history to 1947,” p. 8.

66. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets, I. pp. 145-6.

[Page 8] Pictorial Essay

Mother Temple of the Pacific

by Scott Stafford

The Mashriqu’l-Adhkár of the Antipodes, the Mother Temple of the Pacific, was completed in 1961 and dedicated on September 16, by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum.

Since that time, an average of 30,000 people per year have visited the “Silent Teacher.” The House of Worship auditorium is open daily to all people for prayer and meditation. Regular weekly services are held each Sunday with selected readings from the Sacred Writings and a capella music.

Other buildings on the grounds are the Assembly Hall, which serves as a general information center; the National Office, which serves as an administrative center and houses the Council Chambers where the National Spiritual Assembly meets; and the Pilgrim Hostel, which accommodates visiting Bahá’ís.

Top, this page: Standing nearly 40 meters high, the House of Worship was constructed between 1958 and 1961 at a cost of 210,000 pounds sterling. The Temple has steel-reinforced concrete dome and walls, molded cement decorative panels with inserts of glass around the windows and doors, and an exterior finish in opaque quartz. The Temple’s base is 37.8 meters. Bottom, this page: The auditorium and gallery seat 600 people. The diameter of the auditorium is 23.3 meters. Opposite page, top: The Greatest Name, an Arabic inscription, is etched in glass inside the dome above the House of Worship auditorium. It is illuminated during the day by sunlight. Center left: The Mother Temple of the Pacific is situated 31 kilometers north of the center of Sydney in the sparsely-populated suburb of Ingleside, an old Scottish word for “fireside.” Center right: The moon is seen through the open door of the Temple. Bottom: The aluminum fleche (lantern) was lifted into place by helicopter. It weighs approximately 360 kilograms and is approximately five meters high.

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[Page 10]

[Page 11] Pictorial Essay

Top left: The interior walls, columns and dome are a soft light green color. Top center: Dawn breaks over the House of Worship. Top right: The Temple is illuminated at night. Bottom left: The National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds contains administrative offices, a council chamber and offices for the National Secretary and Treasurer. The Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Pilgrim Hostel and Assembly Hall were built in 1974. Their brown brick exteriors, blend well with the natural surroundings. Bottom right: The nine-sided Assembly Hall, close to the main entrance of the House of Worship, functions as a general information and inquiry center, where books and pamphlets about the Faith may be obtained. It is shared by the Book Sales department, which distributes Bahá’í literature throughout Australia.

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Bahá’í International Community

‘Seize opportunity to promote equality of men and women,’ Bahá’í representative admonishes believers

A statement containing suggestions on the kind of education needed to implement the principle of the equality of men and women was presented by the Bahá’í International Community to the 26th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (see box). This statement, which was circulated as an official United Nations document in English, French, and Spanish, to all participants in the Session, was the Bahá’í contribution to the Commission’s consultation on the goals of the United Nations Decade for Women (1976-1985).

The Decade for Women was adopted at the end of 1975 when the United Nations realized that much remained to be done to make the equality of men and women a reality. The Decade will continue to focus on the three goals for International Women’s Year (1975): the promotion of the equality of men and women; the integration of women in the total development of their countries and of the planet; and the contribution of women to the strengthening of world peace.

In 1980, at the midpoint of the Decade for Women, the United Nations will hold a world conference. The Bahá’í International Community, as a Non-Governmental Organization in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council, representing Bahá’í communities around the globe, will be invited to participate. A full delegation will be sent.

Our representative at the United Nations writes, “We hope, therefore, that Bahá’ís everywhere will seize the daily opportunities offered by the United Nations Decade for Women to promote the Bahá’í principle of equality of the sexes, at the same time that they implement in their own lives this most vital principle of Bahá’u’lláh.”

The statement presented to the United Nations Commission appears below.

Statement presented to United Nations

The Bahá’í International Community, concerned with bringing about change in the thinking and acting patterns which have hindered the advancement of women, would like to make the following observations bearing on the implementation of the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women:

There would seem to be general agreement that the status of women is deeply affected by the many prejudices - religious, racial, cultural, political, or economic - preventing unity of conscience. This unity of conscience, which the Bahá’í International Community sees as an essential prerequisite to long-range and lasting achievement of the goals of International Women’s Year and the United Nations Decade for Women, is the coming together of the minds and hearts of men and women in devotion to the common good, a willingness not only to cooperate, but even more, to sacrifice selfish interests for the happiness of others. This can only be achieved through the awakening of human beings to the spiritual reality of life. The knowledge that prejudices are destructive and lead only to contention, strife, and ultimately, war, is not sufficient for their eradication, as the condition of our present world testifies. In the same way, a desire for the full social and economic development of all peoples is not sufficient motivation for a constructive change in attitude.

Recognizing that religion has been a most powerful influence in establishing behavior patterns, and is indeed at the core of most customs and traditions, we wish to comment on a quite new dimension in religion which, while not denying past contributions, expands and deepens the understanding of the role of religion in the life of humanity.

As materialistic pursuit and attachment increase in the world, humanity becomes ever more a captive of nature, struggling for physical existence and well-being. Concern for material wealth alone, while it may seem to bring temporary security and freedom, finally can be seen to have entrapped all people in a maze of insecurity, doubt, and lack of freedom, as the competition to achieve positions of advantage and power intensifies.

It is the view of the Bahá’í International Community that these materialistic attitudes must be balanced by the realization that the goal and reality of human life is spiritual in nature. Awareness of our humility before the Creator, and our desire to acquire the highest moral virtues and qualities - honesty, trustworthiness, justice, love and compassion - as expressed in the fundamental teachings of all religions, is the beginning of spiritual awakening. Only as men and women free themselves

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Bahá’ís represented at U.N. session on status of women The Bahá’í International Community was represented at the 26th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women last fall by Marco G. Kappenberger, Counsellor Anneliese Bopp, and Lea Nys. The Commission on the Status of Women ended its session with an important accomplishment: it drafted a Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. The Convention is another step towards the legal achievement of equality for men and women. After it is approved by the United Nations General Assembly, which will probably occur this fall, the Convention must be signed and confirmed by at least 30 nations before it has the power of law. When this happens, its many articles will be binding for those countries that have accepted the Convention; equal rights, privileges, and opportunities for members of both sexes will become world-wide law. (In 1967, the United Nations approved a Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. A Declaration, unlike a Convention, is a statement of intention without the force of law.) The representatives of the Bahá’í International Community participated in the meetings at the Session, lunched with delegates from many countries, attended several official receptions, and made many friends, offering constructive comments and suggestions based on the Bahá’í Writings. They were often asked about the concern of Bahá’ís for the status of women and shared information with the delegates on the principle of the equality of the sexes and on many other Bahá’í teachings.

from the materialism which today dominates all aspects of life can they begin to experience true dedication to the whole of humanity and to recognize the organic oneness and absolute interdependence of all members of the human family.

To this end, education, beginning in childhood and extending throughout life, should place great emphasis on the following principles:

The unfettered investigation of truth. Every person has not only the right but the responsibility to make his own search for truth, reaching his own conviction so that the source of his actions will not be an imitation of the thoughts and beliefs of others.

The agreement of science and religion. An awareness of the essential harmony of science and religion, as aspects of one reality, abolishes the unscientific concepts which grow out of human interpretations of religion and cause misunderstanding and superstition.

A universal standard of justice. As minds unite in the recognition of the organic oneness of mankind, a truth which is above partisan interests, discrimination because of sex, race, religion, economic, and social status gradually disappears.

The fundamental oneness of religion. The basic truths of every faith should be taught and fully accepted, since the religions are stages in the unfoldment of a divine plan - each religion awakening, in different places and times, deeper insight of truth in the human mind, and establishing new social laws and teachings necessary for the progress of peoples.

The equality of men and women. Equal opportunities, rights, and privileges must be advocated for members of both sexes. The education of women is, in fact, so important that if both boy and girl cannot be educated equally in a family, preference should be given to the girl as a future mother, since the education of children in the early years determines in great part the level of achievement which humanity can attain.

Through these principles, the Bahá’í International Community has made considerable progress toward the elimination of obstacles preventing the advancement of women, as may be seen in the desire of women for education, in their full participation in the process of Bahá’í election, consultation, and decision-making, in their service on Bahá’í administrative bodies, and in community service. This progress has been made possible through the Bahá’í administrative system, which provides for the free expression and consideration of all points of view - of youth and adults of both sexes - maintains unity and encourages continued growth in understanding of the principles and laws which today are essential to human growth and development. In the Bahá’í International Community, the changing attitudes of men and women from over 1,600 ethnic and indigenous backgrounds are leading to an ever greater realization that human happiness comes from dedication to the oneness and wholeness of the human race.

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New Publication

Italian magazine published

Opinioni Bahá’í is a new quarterly magazine in Italian edited by the National Spiritual Assembly of Italy with the aim of proclaiming and spreading the Teachings to non-Bahá’ís as well as deepening and increasing the knowledge of believers.

The magazine is intended for Bahá’í communities in those countries where people of Italian origin reside: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, the United States, and others.

The ‎suscription subscription‎ rate for four issues is 5,000 lira, which includes postage, and should be sent to your National Spiritual Assembly along with full name and address, for forwarding to Italy.

The editorial board of Opinioni Bahá’í poses in their office.

Around the World

Australia

Weekly teaching efforts spreading Faith

A dozen Bahá’ís in Melbourne, Australia, decided a year ago that they would like to meet in a public park every Saturday at 2 p.m. to pass out Bahá’í literature.

On the first Saturday, the friends began with a round of prayers, collected pamphlets and worked in pairs to approach people. Most people listened for a few moments when the friends told them about the Faith, and accepted a pamphlet.

Later in the afternoon one of the Bahá’ís noticed a man reading a pamphlet given to him by another team member. He said he would like to know more about the Faith and that he had visited the House of Worship in Wilmette. He later attended a fireside.

The teachers met a few days later to review their progress, and decided to change their meeting place to a park with a coffee shop nearby, so they could invite individuals to discuss the Faith over a cup of coffee.

The following Saturday the friends tacked posters on a picnic table in the park, letting that serve as an information headquarters. They worked individually this time, and met a person whose brother is a Bahá’í. She accepted information about the Faith, and said she would accompany her mother to a public meeting to be held later in the month.

Bahá’ís of Melbourne, Australia, meet each Saturday for a day of teaching the Faith.

One hundred twenty-five people attended the public meeting, and most of them bought Bahá’í books. The Melbourne Bahá’ís ask that prayers be said each Saturday for the success of their teaching efforts, and have decided that teaching in the parks “has come to stay in Melbourne.”

Belize

Hand of Cause visits Belize

The one week visit of Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga and his wife Elizabeth to Belize resulted in many advancements for the Faith there. Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Gayle Woolson was also there.

During the visit, Bahá’ís were granted

[Page 15] Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga, fifth from left in the second row, visited the Bahá’ís of Belize and taught the Faith there during a one-week visit in February.

an interview over Radio Belize - the only radio station in the country - after two years of denial of airtime. The only other Bahá’í interview during the two-year period was with Hand of the Cause of God Rahmatu’lláh Muhájir a year earlier.

The news coverage of Mr. Olinga’s visit was extensive. From the day of his arrival, Radio Belize covered Mr. Olinga’s activities in every broadcast, followed his movements each day, and reported on his actions the morning of his departure. The Bahá’ís provided the station with press releases about activities that week, but reporters called for more information. Newspapers also covered the visit.

At a banquet given in honor of Mr. Olinga, the Minister of Home Affairs commended the Bahá’ís for their universal concept and their close association with the United Nations. The book Divine Symphony, by Mrs. Woolson, was presented to the mayor and Chief of Police at the banquet.

The mayor quoted from Divine Symphony the following evening in an introductory speech at a public meeting. He affirmed the truth of progressive revelation, the unity of God’s Messengers, and Bahá’u’lláh’s station. He called the Faith “this great religion” and urged all to investigate its claims and teachings.

In a two-hour visit with the Commissioner of Police, the Bahá’ís were told that if they ever encountered any difficulties they were to contact him immediately. The Commissioner also insisted that the Assistant Commissioner and the rest of the staff read Divine Symphony.

Mr. Olinga made a courtesy call on the Governor, who said he was reading Volume XIV of Bahá’í World, which had been presented to him by the National Spiritual Assembly. The Governor had once lived in Africa and was delighted to converse in Swahili with Mr. Olinga.

Before his departure, Mr. Olinga visited the Deputy Premier of Belize, who expressed the hope that the Hand of the Cause would return soon.

India

Baluchistan site of teaching trip

An extensive teaching trip was made to Baluchistan, Pakistan, in December, by three Indian believers. Baluchistan is an arid and mountainous region.

The first town visited in the province of Baluchistan was Kalat. Nasir Shah, a new believer there, welcomed the travelers and arranged a meeting which was attended by many inquirers. The report of the traveling teachers said, “We held long discussions on many aspects of the Faith and during the course of these conversations, Bahá’u’lláh’s unfailing confirmation blessed the region of Baluchistan with a new Spiritual Assembly, the first in Kalat, where nine souls enrolled in the Army of Light.”

The team also visited the four local believers of Pasni, addressed some inquirers who had been studying the Faith, answered questions they had prepared, and had the joy of witnessing the formation of the first Local Spiritual Assembly as a result of the acceptance of the Faith by some of the inquirers.

Through the enrollment of an inquirer in Jiwini and in Khuzdar, two new localities were opened to the Faith.

Youth from 16 countries gather

The Third West Asian Youth Conference, held in August 1976, in Lucknow, India, was attended by over 200 Bahá’ís from 16 countries.

Highlights of the four-day conference were the address by Counsellor Shirin Boman on behalf of the Board of Counsellors in which she extolled the enthusiasm and vigorous achievements of Bahá’í youth; talks by Farideh Farhang, Dr. A. Rastogi, and Dr. J. S. Narula, Auxiliary Board member.

In pre-conference activities, a Unity Feast was held. The governor of Uttar Pradesh, Dr. M. Chenna Reddy, addressed the Feast. The event was covered on both radio and television, and filmed by the Films Division of the Government of India.

Northwest Pacific Ocean

Teaching trips part of conference

Consecutive teaching conferences were held in Guam and Truk, in the Northwest Pacific Ocean, in December, and attended by more than 200 persons.

Keynote speakers at the Guam conference were Continental Counsellor Richard Benson and Auxiliary Board members Masaki Ushibata and Claude Caver.

A number of the friends who attended the Guam Conference proceeded to Truk, where they were warmly greeted by a reception committee. A proclamation and display booth on the Faith were prominently located at the airport.

The believers traveled by small fishing boats to the island of Udot for the opening session of the conference. Udot, an island with approximately 900 inhabitants, may be circled by foot in a couple of hours.

The opening session was held in the recently completed meeting hall in the village of Manito.

[Page 16] Chief Kintoki Joseph, a Bahá’í, gave the opening address.

On the second day, teams of Bahá’í teachers went to the nearby island of Romalum and to other villages on Udot. Other Bahá’ís stayed in Manito where deepening classes were held for two days. One group went to Moen for proclamation activities there.

The conference ended with a public meeting in Moen, with the teams meeting there the afternoon of the public meeting.

Hawaii

Delegates elect National Assembly

The newly elected members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Hawaii are pictured here. Front row, left to right: Ben Ayala, Treasurer; Elizabeth Habermann, Recorder; Claude R. “Chief” Mauldin; Elizabeth Hollinger, Secretary. Back row, left to right: Craig Quick; Brad Hollinger, Assistant Treasurer; Michael Woodward; Tracy Hamilton, Chairman; Tony Pelle, Vice-Chairman.

Delegates and visitors to the Bahá’í National Convention of the Hawaiian Islands met May 1 at the Bahá’í National Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Panama

Cuna Indians learn of Faith

Hedi Ahmadiyeh, a member of the Central American Continental Board of Counsellors, and Manuel Flores, who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Panama, visited the San Blas Islands, which have a population of 2,000 Cuna Indians, in December.

Dr. Ahmadiyeh writes: “We spoke to a meeting of the Indians in their ‘Congresso’ and many were interested in the Faith. The Chief of the Indians on this island, who also has a government position, invited his people to return at 4 p.m. the next day if they wished to ask questions about the Bahá’í Faith. Around that specific hour, the Chief and many people came and we had person-to-person contact and discussion. Twenty-three accepted the Faith, including

[Page 17] the Chief himself and a brilliant young man, the Secretary of the ‘Congresso’ who translated our talks from Spanish to Cuna.

“Earlier the same day, another Chief accepted the Faith. He recommended that the people investigate the Faith and asked to speak to the gathering. There was a wonderful spirit of love and harmony and we welcomed the new believers and encouraged the others to investigate the Cause.

“These beautiful, dignified Cuna Indians are living according to the standards of the Faith and are characterized by honesty, lack of violence, and kind and loving relationships with people. We did not observe anyone drinking alcoholic beverages and we felt a great sense of morality and respect for the women among these purehearted people. The children were uninhibited, as well as the adults, in asking us who we were and why we were on the island. As we talked to them, we found that they were very interested in the teachings of the Faith.”

Rhodesia

Five Year Plan goal won

The National Spiritual Assembly of Rhodesia has joyfully announced that by January its Five Year Plan goal of establishing the Faith in 500 localities in Rhodesia had been surpassed by 26, and that plans for consolidation of the achieved goal and for further expansion are being vigorously pursued.

Surinam

Message spread during river trip

Three believers in Surinam were joined by Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga for their journey up the Marowijne and Tapanahony Rivers December 25-28 to visit the Granmans or chiefs of two Bush Negro tribes.

They started up river from the town of Albina, travelling in a canoe with an outboard motor. The first night was spent in a village where the Village Captain gave them his own shop in which to tie their hammocks for the night.

The next day, the group reached Drietabbetje (Three Islands) in the Tapanahony River, the home area of the Granman of the Aucaner tribe. After spending the night in one of the government houses, the Bahá’ís received a message that the Granman was waiting to see them. They were cordially received by the Granman, who was surrounded by tribal dignitaries. Following a warm and courteous conversation with Mr. Olinga, the Granman granted permission for the Bahá’ís to teach the Faith in his village.

The following day, the group reached Langatabbetje (Long Island) in the Marowijne River, where they were met and embraced by the Granman of the tribe, who is now a Bahá’í. The Granman asked Mr. Olinga to take his Bahá’í greetings to all his brothers and sisters in Africa and other places. He also gave the Bahá’ís permission to teach his people.

The two boatmen, Bush Negroes of the Paramaccaner tribe, became Bahá’ís by the end of the journey. One of them said, “I have never before made a trip with city people who shared everything with us, who let us eat off their own plates, who cooked and served us food, and who included us so completely in their group.”

Sweden

Faith taught at winter market

One of the goals of the Five Year Plan in Sweden is to teach the Faith to the Samish people, a minority group in the Lapland regions of the country. In accordance with this goal, a Bahá’í booth was displayed at the annual Jokkmokk winter market in February, where large numbers of Samish people gather to sell their goods. Approximately 15-18,000 people from all over Lapland congregated at the 371st Jokkmokk market.

Bahá’ís have participated in two previous Jokkmokk markets, but the number of visitors to this year’s Bahá’í display was greater than in previous years.