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Bahá’í News

January 1978

Bahá’í Year 134

‘As the Bahá’ís in those islands are one and united, there is no doubt that the luminosity of the Kingdom will illumine those islands like unto a spiritual rose garden, will decorate it with flowers and myrtle, the Word of God will penetrate, and the Holy Spirit will bestow life.’ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Hawaii ‘The Light of the Pacific’ Part 2

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Contents

The Bahá’í Faith in Hawaii, part 2
The Islands keep shining their light in the Pacific	2
Cleaning up at the House of Worship in Sydney
A new ‘ring dome’ and winch system make the job easier	9
Around the world
News from Bahá’í communities in every corner of the globe	10

Cover

As the quote on the cover by the Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, indicates, the Hawaiian Islands were destined from an early time to play a significant role in the advancement of the Faith in their part of the world. The second of our two-part series on the Faith in the Islands deals with developments there since the formation in 1964 of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Hawaiian Islands.

CORRECTION: On Page 7 of the December 1977 issue of Bahá’í News, Mrs. Velma Sherril is identified as an Auxiliary Board member. She is a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors. Also on Page 7, the first line of type was inadvertently omitted. It should read “God, and first Hawaiian Bahá’í; and Mrs.”

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The Bahá’í Faith in Hawaii

Progress in the Islands has been marked by steady growth, constant teaching, and innovative use of radio, television, and other media to spread the Faith

By TONY A. PELLE

Second of two parts

When the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Hawaiian Islands was first formed in April 1964, it was immediately assigned the following goals by the Universal House of Justice: to raise the number of Local Spiritual Assemblies in the islands to nine, to incorporate the National Spiritual Assembly, to acquire a national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Honolulu, to establish a national endowment, to acquire the site for a future House of Worship, and to obtain official recognition of Bahá’í Holy Days, in addition to foreign teaching goals in the Pacific and Philippine Islands.

Today the Hawaiian Bahá’í community includes 28 Local Spiritual Assemblies: seven on the island of Oahu, five on the island of Kauai, five on Maui, nine on Hawaii (the Big Island), one on Molokai, and one on Lanai.

Within recent years the Faith has continued to grow and develop in Hawaii. Here are some of the highlights of that growth:

• In 1968, Dr. Claude V. Caver of Honolulu was appointed a member of the Auxiliary Board for the Hawaiian Islands. In

[Page 3] A group of early Bahá’ís in the Honolulu community. Miss Catherine Nourse (third from right) is still a member of the Bahá’í community in Hawaii.

1973, Miss Elena Maria Marsella, a Hawaiian believer, was appointed by the Universal House of Justice as a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for North East Asia. Recently, other members of the Auxiliary Board for Hawaii were added: Healani Alama Hamilton, Gertrude V. Garrida and Ben Ayala.

• By Riḍván 1972, the Bahá’ís of the Hawaiian Islands had acquired a site for a House of Worship, a national endowment, and had witnessed the signing of a bill by the Hawaiian legislature recognizing Naw-Rúz as a Bahá’í Holy Day. On April 25, 1974, the governor of Hawaii signed legislation giving the authority to perform marriage ceremonies to the institution of the Local Spiritual Assembly rather than to individual Bahá’ís, as was done previously.

• In November 1970, the first large-scale teaching campaign was launched in Hawaii and was continued through 1971. Using cultural programs with songs and dances of the various ethnic groups in Hawaii, the teaching teams hopped from island to island, and at Riḍván 1972 were instrumental in the formation of a Local Spiritual Assembly in the leper settlement on Molokai.

The teaching effort brought in hundreds of new believers. In May 1972, the Hawaiian teaching vanguard for a period of 120 days again gave a new spirit to expansion and consolidation throughout the islands. In 1973, after the close of the Nine Year Plan, the National Spiritual Assembly issued Hawaii’s One Year Teaching Plan.

• In June 1974, the Hawaiian Bahá’í community received specific goals from the Universal House of Justice, one of which is to acquire local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds on the islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Hawaii and Molokai. As of this date, centers have been acquired on Hawaii and Maui, and an active effort is being made to secure the remainder. High land and building costs and the scarcity of suitable land that could be used as Bahá’í centers have hampered the effort. A site for a Bahá’í summer school has been acquired on the

The Bahá’ís of Hawaii have over the years developed many different types of exhibits and displays to be used at shopping centers and other public places to give the Bahá’í Message. Shown here is part of an exhibit developed by the Honolulu Bahá’í community and displayed at the world’s largest shopping center, the Ala Moana mall in Honolulu.

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island of Hawaii, but initial efforts to build have been blocked by disapproval of the plans by the county commission. Further efforts are being made to obtain permission.

• On January 1, 1971, the Hand of the Cause of God Agnes Baldwin Alexander passed on to the Abhá Kingdom. Her grave is only three miles from that of Martha Root in a family plot at the old Kawaiahao Church in downtown Honolulu.

In 1975, the National Spiritual Assembly established NAHBOHR—the National Assembly of Hawaii’s Bahá’í Office of Human Rights—and in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the birth of Miss Alexander created the Agnes Baldwin Alexander Award for Service to Humanity. The award has been presented twice to date at NAHBOHR-sponsored banquets, to Betty M. Vitousek, a distinguished judge who was at the time the only woman judge in Hawaii, and to Hawaii’s best-loved entertainer, Hilo Hattie, for her many community services.

• As many had predicted, Hawaii has been and continues to be in the forefront of assisting the growth of the Faith in the Pacific area. It was from Hawaii that the Hand of the Cause Agnes Alexander brought the Faith to Japan and many other areas of the Pacific. Hawaii fulfilled its pioneering goals during the Nine Year Plan, which included pioneers to American Samoa, the Philippines, Japan, the Marianas, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, New Zealand, and the Caroline Islands.

On the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Hand of the Cause of God Agnes B. Alexander, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Hawaiian Islands arranged for a new headstone to be placed on her grave in Honolulu. The new headstone indicates that Miss Alexander was a Hand of the Cause of God and includes a quotation by Bahá’u’lláh: ‘Light and Glory, Greeting and Praise be upon the Hands of His Cause.’

In addition to offering financial support to many Bahá’í communities, Hawaii in the Nine Year Plan assisted with pioneers to Tahiti, Portugal and other areas, and sent traveling teachers to the Philippines and to Micronesia.

As the Five Year Plan draws to a close, Hawaii already has sent pioneers to the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Western Samoa and the Caroline Islands, and is in the process of filling new international pioneer and traveling teaching goals given to it. In addition, Hawaii has helped many Pacific areas publish Bahá’í literature in their special languages and dialects.

• Although Hawaii does not have a formal Publishing Trust, its Bahá’í publications are being used in many areas of the world. Among its publications are those

The National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds of the Hawaiian Islands at 3264 Allan Place, Honolulu. On January 1, 1972, fire destroyed the entire second floor of the building. About one year later, thanks to a marvelous effort by the Bahá’ís who performed much of the work, the National Center was rededicated after having been rebuilt and refurbished.

[Page 5] In May 1975 the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Hawaiian Islands presented 132 trees of 23 varieties to Honolulu Community College as a part of the National Assembly’s observance of the U.S. Bicentennial and the 132nd anniversary of the Bahá’í Faith. Here Bahá’ís and students at the college plant a Jacaranda tree.

prepared for use by children, such as “A Bahá’í Picture-Coloring Book,” and “A Bahá’í Puzzle Book.” Others include “Bahá’í Quotations on Education,” “God’s New Age” in Japanese, Palauan and Ilocano, and “Memoirs of Agnes B. Alexander.” A large picture teaching book developed originally for the direct teaching campaign in 1972 is used in many areas of the Pacific.

• One of Hawaii’s more significant contributions to the Faith has been in the area of proclamation. This has included the use of floats, radio and television programs, banquets, tree-plantings, and exhibits.

For the past 12 years the Bahá’ís of the Hawaiian Islands have entered a float in the annual Aloha Week parade in October. Nine times they have won either a first, second or third place award in the noncommercial category. They have won five first place awards including 1977. For days, Bahá’ís from all over the islands gather on Oahu to work on building the float which has a Bahá’í theme and always includes the words “Bahá’í Faith” in large letters on the front and back.

The parade is not only seen by many thousands in person, but also is televised in Hawaii, then shown again on Thanksgiving Day in the continental United States and televised in Japan as well.

In December 1973, the National Spiritual Assembly started production on a television series entitled “The New World.” The series consists of 13 half-hour color videotapes, and presents the Bahá’í story through songs and interviews.

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears prepared the scripts, and either narrates or is a guest on each segment in the series. The programs also feature Seals and Crofts, England Dan and John Ford Coley, Dizzy Gillespie, Dorothy and James Nelson, Russ and Gina Garcia and others. Assisting in the series’ production was Robert Quigley, a Bahá’í who is the producer of several popular television quiz shows.

The Bahá’ís were able to put the series together because of their “let’s get the job done” attitude. When it became apparent that production costs would be too high for filming or hiring someone to videotape, the friends put together the production themselves by working during the late night and early morning hours. To do this, they literally rented a television station during those hours, along with its camera crew.

Hawaiian Bahá’ís assist the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears (extreme left) in the production of a deepening tape at the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Honolulu.

[Page 6] Noted composer-arranger Russ Garcia conducts the Hawaii New World Chorus at the Bahá’í International Youth Conference-Hawaii 74 held August 4-8, 1974, at the Hilo Civic Auditorium. Mr. Garcia also conducted the chorus during videotaping of a Bahá’í television series, ‘The New World.’

Today their efforts are paying dividends, as the series not only was shown several times without cost over Hawaiian television, but has been used with great results in Alaska and Western Samoa and is now being used by many other Bahá’í communities around the world. Now the Hawaiian Bahá’ís are preparing to produce with the help of Mr. Sears another series of 13 half-hour segments—and this time they are receiving financial support from many areas of the Bahá’í world.

The banquets sponsored by NAHBOHR to present the Agnes Baldwin Alexander award have become outstanding events. Through these banquets the Bahá’ís have been able to reach government and community leaders with the Bahá’í Message. A recent award banquet was attended by the governor of Hawaii, two U.S. senators, a U.S. congressman, a state legislator, and the executive director of the Council of Churches of Christ, among others.

In 1975, when a community college was expanding and needed trees, the Hawaiian Bahá’ís provided 132 trees to the school, the Honolulu Community College, the number corresponding to the number of years from 1844. The result was excellent television and newspaper coverage.

Each year on March 21, or the closest date to it that the state legislature is in session, a Bahá’í is invited to open the state Senate session with a prayer. Each year the governor is photographed signing a proclamation on behalf of World Peace Day, a Bahá’í-sponsored event. The Bahá’ís have received a great deal of

Bahá’ís gather at Wailoa State Park where they ate their meals during the Bahá’í International Youth Conference-Hawaii 74 held August 4-8, 1974, at the Hilo Civic Auditorium.

Bahá’ís attending the International Youth Conference-Hawaii 74 at Hilo in August 1974 form a great circle at the Hilo Civic Auditorium to sing Bahá’í songs. About 1,000 Bahá’ís from around the world attended the conference.

[Page 7] George R. Ariyoshi, governor of Hawaii (second from right) proclaims September 19, 1976, World Peace Day in Hawaii as (left to right) Ceferina Caver of the Ewa Bahá’í community; Tracy Hamilton, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Hawaiian Islands, and Florence Csigi of the Koolaupoko Bahá’í community look on. The governor praised the Bahá’ís for their work on behalf of peace.

publicity for their leadership in a continuing effort to persuade the board of education in Hawaii to grant public school students excused—rather than unexcused—absences for religious holidays. To existing Bahá’í special event days, Hawaii has added Mankind Day, observed on the second Sunday in June, and Youth Recognition Day, observed on the first Sunday in February.

In 1974, a Bahá’í International Youth Conference was held in Hawaii, the first Bahá’í international conference ever held in the Islands. It generated the most favorable publicity the Faith had ever received in Hawaii. More than 16,000 persons attended proclamation events held in connection with the conference. Thousands more heard the Bahá’í Message on radio or television. The conference, held August 4-8 on the Big Island of Hawaii, was attended by 1,000 Bahá’ís from 35 countries. Three Hands of the Cause of God—A. Q. Faizí, H. Collis Featherstone and William Sears—were present along with three Continental Counsellors and several Auxiliary Board members.

Seals and Crofts and England Dan and John Ford Coley entertained at proclamation events in Hilo and Honolulu. Hugh Clark, Hilo reporter for the Honolulu Advertiser, wrote in his column: “Bahá’ís turned the week into a smooth sales pitch for their faith to Hiloans. All without knocking on a single door or bothering a single person. As a practicing agnostic of many years, we had to be impressed.”

In a Tablet dated December 9, 1920, to Dr. and Mrs. George Jacob Augur of Honolulu, Abdu’l-Bahá wrote in part:

“It is my hope that the islands will be quickened with great spirituality; that the people of different ‎nationalitites nationalities‎ may gather under one banner; that such enthusiasm and ardour may be generated as to stream out into the other islands.”

Today the Bahá’í community of Hawaii, like the first believers in the Islands, is faced with the challenge of increasing its membership. As Hawaii is a crossroads of the Pacific, many come into the Faith there and then move on. The moment teaching activity slows down there is no increase in the Bahá’í population; in fact, the numbers may begin to drop.

To overcome this, the National Spiritual Assembly is engaged in a series of short-term teaching efforts to increase the number of believers, to meet new pioneering and traveling teaching goals, and to increase the support of the various Bahá’í Funds. It can look back at its early believers and draw from them the strength, the

Louis LeClaire of Haiku, Maui, who designed and carved the Agnes Baldwin Alexander Award for Service to Humanity, shows the award to its first recipient, Judge Betty M. Vitousek of the Family Court in Honolulu. The award is named in honor of Agnes Alexander, the Hand of the Cause of God who introduced the Bahá’í Faith to Hawaii and other areas of the Pacific, and who died in Honolulu in 1971.

Mrs. Marguerite Sears (right) helps to plant two trees at the grave site of the Hand of the Cause Martha Root at the Nuuanu Cemetery in Honolulu. Standing next to Mrs. Sears is Tracy Hamilton, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Hawaiian Islands. The trees were planted by the Hawaiian Bahá’í community during a visit to Hawaii by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears in December 1976 to speak at the Bahá’í Winter School and take part in the 75th anniversary observance of the Bahá’í Faith in Hawaii.

[Page 8] Delegates to the 1976 Bahá’í National Convention in Hawaii reflect the racial diversity of the Hawaiian Bahá’í community.

resolve, and the perseverance to achieve victory.

The title of the monthly Bahá’í journal for Hawaii is The Light of the Pacific. That light reflects the true goal of the Faith in the Islands, as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stated in the Tablet revealed in 1921:

“As the Bahá’ís in those islands are one and united, there is no doubt that the luminosity of the Kingdom will illumine those islands like unto a spiritual rose garden, will decorate it with flowers and myrtle, the Word of God will penetrate, and the Holy Spirit will bestow life.”

Members of the Hawaii New World Chorus appearing on the television series, ‘The New World.’

Jack Lord, star of the television series ‘Hawaii 5-0,’ pauses in front of the Hawaii Bahá’í float during the 1976 Aloha Week parade in Honolulu. The Bahá’í float was included in the television promo made to advertise the parade’s nationwide showing on Thanksgiving Day and won first prize in the parade.

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Cleaning up at the House of Worship in Sydney

John Quittner (right) and a fellow engineer maneuver the ring beam into final position atop the Bahá’í House of Worship near Sydney, Australia. The maintenance system designed by Mr. Quittner cost $10,000 to install.

A helicopter from a Sydney television station lowers a ring beam into place atop the Bahá’í House of Worship at nearby Mona Vale. The beam, which weighs 180 kilograms (396 pounds), supports an external access buggy that allows maintenance staff to reach any part of the outside of the dome.

One of the problems invariably associated with a domed structure as large as the Bahá’í House of Worship at Mona Vale, near Sydney, Australia, is that of maintenance.

To solve the problem, the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia employed John Quittner of Quicksteel Engineering to design a new maintenance system.

Mr. Quittner devised a system of winches and hoists to carry maintenance personnel to the top of the building from the inside; outside, he designed a unique ring beam to fit around the lantern that sits atop the dome. The ring beam, which weighs 180 kilograms (396 pounds) and was lowered into place by a helicopter from a Sydney television station, supports an external access buggy that enables maintenance personnel to reach any part of the ‎ouside outside‎ of the dome.

The system cost $10,000 to install. The addition of the ring beam attracted considerable attention; it was covered on the evening news on Sydney television, and the Sydney Morning Herald carried a report with photographs. Representatives of the New South Wales Department of Labor and Industry were present at the installation of the ring beam and photographed the event for their records.

Once installation of the system was completed, an inspection of the dome was carried out and the necessary repairs made.

John Quittner (left), who designed the maintenance access system for the Australian House of Worship, rides to the top of the structure with another engineer in a special ‘dome buggy’ that will be housed in the aluminum fleche, or lantern, at the top of the building.

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Around the World

Israel

Construction of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice is proceeding on schedule. Workmen are pouring the perimeter concrete slab at ground-floor level that will support the colonnade of the building. Columns will rest in each of the sunken squares. At the center of the photograph, taken October 12, can be seen the structural pillars that will support the dome of the completed edifice.

India

Rúḥíyyih Khánum places cornerstone in India

The Hand of the Cause Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum laid the cornerstone of the Mother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent in a ceremony on October 17.

A cablegram from her to the World Center said in part:

“...Temple site ceremony worthy great spiritual occasion laying cornerstone seventh precious House Worship. Continental Board Counsellors, National Bahá’í Assembly India deserve highest praise ardent thanks great achievement...”

The new House of Worship will be built just south of Delhi, on a highland site of eight acres overlooking both old and New Delhi on the road to Agra and Bombay and southern India. The land was purchased in 1953 as a goal of the Ten Year Crusade. The beginning of construction of the edifice is a goal of the Five Year Plan.

Rúḥíyyih Khánum, in a brief address before she placed the cornerstone, pointed out that all the Messengers of God — Krishna, Buddha, Zoroaster, Moses, Christ and Muḥammád, as well as the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh — were, in the utmost happiness and joy, watching over the establishment of this House of Worship.

The ceremony took place in a tent erected on the site that provided seating for 10,000 persons. Prayers were offered in 10 languages.

Architect Fariborz Ṣahbá designed the new House of Worship. It will be in the shape of a nine-petaled lotus, paying homage to the glory of both the Buddhist and Hindu religious Dispensations, which arose in India.

It is interesting to note that Bahapur, the district in which the House of Worship site is located, means literally “town of Bahá.”

Opposite the site is an area named Kalka. “Kalka Avatar” — literally “Manifestation of Kalka” — is one of the titles of the Promised One of the Hindu religion, which says that the advent of Kalka in the world will herald the age of peace, prosperity, and universal brotherhood.

After the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár site was purchased, the area was re-zoned as a “green belt,” where no construction would be allowed.

But after long negotiations between the National Spiritual Assembly of India and the Urban Development Committee it was finally agreed — a scant two weeks before the cornerstone ceremony — that the House of Worship could be built there.

Europe

European Counsellors host Boards, Assemblies

Every year the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe invites the Auxiliary Board members, their assistants and members of the National Spiritual Assemblies to a Conference of the European Institutions.

This year the gathering took place on October 29-30. The following cable was sent to the Universal House of Justice:

“Hearts greatly uplifted presence Hand of Cause Dr. Giachery and Madame Giachery, Counsellor Florence Mayberry representative of the International Teaching Centre, presence six Counsellors, 34 Auxiliary Board members, 32 assistants, 4 National Spiritual Assembly members, 3 members Continental Pioneer Committee. Feel inspired confidence ability achieve all goals, transform Europe, renewed spirit dedication. Beseech prayers assist us this great task. Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá.”

The Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery spoke with the friends about the spiritual prerequisites and the practical ways of winning the Five Year Plan goals.

Counsellor Florence Mayberry spoke about the spirit of the Faith being the

[Page 11] power that helps carry mankind to its highest station.

She said early victory in the Five Year Plan goals will be achieved to the extent that each Bahá’í uses every opportunity to mention the Faith.

The Counsellors said the institutions of the Faith must work in absolute unity, and the Auxiliary Board members and their assistants should actively support the plans of the National Spiritual Assemblies.

Brazil

Teaching surge brings goal victories near

“Teaching activities are continuing on all fronts,” reports the National Spiritual Assembly of Brazil.

“The North, Northeast, Central, South and Southwest are all actively engaged in spreading the Word of Bahá’u’lláh.

“Only one Local Spiritual Assembly is lacking to complete our Local Assembly goals, and the hope is to add many others to that list.

“Only 50 localities are lacking, and we feel it will be far surpassed before long.

“News from the far north in the region of Belem and the Ilha of Marajó indicates the gains are constant, exciting, and seem to be of a permanent nature. The ‘direct teaching methods’ are bringing such results...!

“Our velocity of growth has been about 100 per cent within the past year....”

Youth pledge to help in forming Assemblies

At a recent Bahá’í Congress in Curitiba, Brazil — a city of more than 600,000 people — the youth present made definite plans to help form 19 Local Spiritual Assemblies, all part of their Plan for this year.

Nineteen groups of youth volunteered to either directly help to form the new Local Spiritual Assemblies themselves or to be responsible for creating teaching teams to assist them.

Another ‎goup group‎ of Bahá’í youth, not in attendance at the Congress in Curitiba and unaware of the plans that had been made there, set almost the same goals for themselves. They took responsibility for the formation of 19 Local Assemblies!

These youth, mostly new Bahá’ís, also pledged to give almost one-third of the over-all goal for contributions by youth to the National Fund by Riḍván 1978.

El Salvador

Hillside gatherings note Feast, Holy Day

The imposing Chinchontepeque volcano and the Pacific Ocean, visible from the five-acre spot on a hillside that is the property of the Bahá’ís of El Salvador, lent majesty to two events held there last summer.

The first was the Feast of Núr, on June 4. At this Feast the centenary of Bahá’u’lláh’s release from the prison-city of ‘Akká to Mazra’ih was observed. As part of the observance a tree was planted, along with a sequoia seed brought from California.

The anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb, July 9, was observed in a cleared circular area in a wooded grove near a meadow.

At the same time, the friends dedicated the “Permanent Institute,” a blue-trimmed white cottage recently completed. It has two rooms, and is the first of many buildings planned for the site.

The carpenter-builder of the Permanent Institute became a Bahá’í during the building’s construction. He and his family were present at the dedication ceremony.

Nicaragua

More than 40 present at first National Children’s Institute

At the first National Children’s Institute to be held in Nicaragua, more than 40 children attended classes on the lives of Bahá’u’lláh and the Báb, Bahá’í qualities, the importance of children, the need for education, the Nineteen Day Feast, prayer, and the Bahá’í Fund.

The institute, for children ages 10-14, took place September 17-18 in the newly-opened locality of Diria. The children were from 10 communities.

Prayers, songs and games were interwoven in the two-day institute to bring about an increased awareness on the part of the children that they belong to a large and united Bahá’í community.

The children enjoyed an evening of music and a slide presentation about the Holy Land.

Teachers for the institute were knowledgeable and experienced Bahá’í adults, including Auxiliary Board member Edith McLaren who gave a class on the Bahá’í family.

The first National Children’s Institute in Nicaragua was attended by more than 40 children ages 10-14 on September 17-18.

[Page 12] Malawi

Rhodesia pioneers have productive week-long visit

While the Bahá’ís of Rhodesia are obligated by the Five Year Plan to make teaching trips to Malawi, it has become increasingly difficult for Rhodesians to obtain permission to travel there.

It was most helpful last summer when Mr. and Mrs. Philip Harvey, pioneers to Rhodesia, were able to spend a week teaching in Malawi on a trip planned by the Rhodesian National Assembly.

The Harveys also were able — unexpectedly — to assist Malawi with one of its Five Year Plan goals, that of having contact with the higher echelons of the police and government.

It happened while lunching at the home of one of their hosts that a police inspector arrived with instructions to convey “the strangers” to the office of the Commissioner of Police.

The Commissioner was shocked when he saw Mrs. Harvey, since he did not know a European woman intended to travel in the sometimes troubled countryside.

However, the Commissioner knew of the Faith, applauded its aims, and said he would not hamper the Harveys’ movements.

When, upon his advice, they agreed to cancel an overnight stay in a more unstable part of the country, he was relieved.

Meanwhile, Mr. Harvey, preparing to leave the Commissioner’s office, picked up a small bundle of pamphlets about the Faith and turned to go. But the Commissioner extended his hands and said, “My hands are begging for your gift.” He took the pamphlets and said, “Not only will I read these, but my deputy and my assistant shall read them thoroughly also.”

The police inspector returned the Harveys to the home of their hosts, and asked the family, “How are you going to feed these Europeans?”

When told that the Harveys would share Malawian food with the family, the inspector was astonished. Even the most dedicated missionaries never did this; it was unheard of!

On subsequent days in Malawi, the Harveys traveled by car and on foot to many villages, among them Chilemele, Umi, Jali, Paluse, St. Mary’s, Zomba, Zamasiya, Limbe and Livalo.

The Area Teaching Committee for the region, which held its first meeting after the Harveys arrived, accompanied them on many of their trips.

Some of the meetings were held in the new regional Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds at Umi, some in the homes of Bahá’ís in the villages, and some along the roadside.

“We went to Malawi to help and to encourage the Bahá’ís,” the Harveys said. “We wanted to give, but we also received. We received a great uplift in our hearts at perceiving the love for and devotion to Bahá’u’lláh of the entire Bahá’í community, and we look forward eagerly to repeating the experience and renewing the association with this particular part of our Bahá’í family.”

Írán

Children’s classes make friends of non-Bahá’ís

The Continental Board of Counsellors for Western Asia says that for more than 50 years, children of diverse religious backgrounds have been attending Bahá’í classes in Írán.

Many of the children from non-Bahá’í families who attended these classes in their early years are now “responsible officers” of government in Írán, “and wherever they are, they are very sympathetic and helpful to the Faith.”

Currently, the Counsellors report, “we have quite a number of non-Bahá’í children attending classes in various towns with the consent and persuasion of their parents.

“What is more important and interesting is the growing interest of parents... in the necessity of Bahá’í ‘character-building’ classes for their children.”

Africa

Members of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Africa met with Auxiliary Board members for Central and East Africa in late October 1976. Standing, left to right, are Counsellors Húshang ‘Ahdíyyih and Oloro Epyru; Auxiliary Board members Festus Shayo, Enayat’u’llah Fananapazir, Festus Sunguti, Sadegh Eghtessadi, Louis Kalombo, Hebat’u’llah Khodadad, Counsellor Kolonario Oule, Auxiliary Board member Chowghi Rouhani, Counsellor Isobel Sabri. Seated, left to right, are Auxiliary Board members Anselme Nkouka, Selemani bin Kimbulu, Paul Hanbury, Ola Pawlowska and Javon Gutosi.

[Page 13] Ecuador

These Bahá’ís were among the 450 present at the Third All-Quechua Conference in Ecuador in July. Standing on the left are Andres Jachakollo and Sabino Ortego, Auxiliary Board members for Bolivia. Rufino Gualavisi, an Auxiliary Board member from Ecuador, is second from right. In the back center is Mario Leon, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Peru.

More than 400 Bahá’ís worked to build this nine-sided hut in Otavalo, Ecuador, where 450 believers met in July for the Third All-Quechua Conference.

All-Quechua Conference an overwhelming success

Constructing a wood and straw building 14 meters (15 yards) in diameter was a joyous task for Quechua believers in the Otavalo, Ecuador, area. They were preparing for the Third Quechua Tantanakuy (All-Quechua Conference) in July.

Quechua, once the language of the Inca civilization, is spoken today by some four million people in the Andes mountains.

The three National Spiritual Assemblies involved — Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia — also prepared for the conference. In Ecuador, pamphlets, a small prayer book, song books and recordings were made in the Quechua language.

In Bolivia and Peru, chapters from Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era were translated into Quechua.

Communities with Quechua believers prepared for the Tantanakuy (conference) by holding deepening classes.

Construction of the conference building, says the Continental Board of Counsellors for South America, “motivated an entire Quechua area and generated a renewed spirit of work and service. Finally the nine-sided hut became a reality ... and eventually sheltered more than 450 Bahá’ís.”

During the month of construction, more than 400 helpers carted straw, erected the wooden frame, and thatched the building.

The All-Quechua Conference had as its Quechua-Spanish translator Ralph Dexter, an Auxiliary Board member from Ecuador.

[Page 14] When the three-day Tantanakuy opened on July 29, a strong spirit of unity was evident.

The believers sought ways to study the Revealed Word in their own language. They also studied the history of the Faith, the importance of universal participation, and the goals of the Five Year Plan.

The Quechua believers had an opportunity at the Tantanakuy to express in their own language their love for Bahá’u’lláh and their understanding of His Teachings.

Radio Bahá’í Test broadcast successful

A cable to the World Center from the National Spiritual Assembly of Ecuador contained the joyful news that the first test broadcast for Radio Bahá’í was successful.

The broadcast took place at 11:10 a.m. on October 12. The National Assembly says this will “open a new path” in teaching the Faith.

Canada

Regional conferences map victory strategy

To ensure a victorious conclusion to the Five Year Plan, the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada called eight regional conferences, held in September and October. The featured speaker at each conference was the Hand of the Cause John Robarts.

The conferences were designed to launch systematic deepening, teaching and proclamation efforts that will enable 75 Local Spiritual Assemblies to form by Riḍván 1979.

Bahá’ís met in Esmeraldas, Ecuador, on October 16 for one of four regional conferences called by the National Spiritual Assembly to encourage homefront pioneering. Raúl Pavón, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, was present. The jeep in the photograph belongs to the National Spiritual Assembly.

The series of conferences began on September 3-4 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and ended in Montreal on October 22-23.

Other conference sites were Sylvan Lake, Alberta; Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; Whitehorse, Yukon Territory; Vancouver, British Columbia; Winnipeg, Manitoba; and Toronto, Ontario.

Mr. Robarts generally gave four talks at each conference.

He spoke about “Tapping the Power,” relating his experiences as a Bahá’í teacher in previous teaching plans, and as a pioneer in Africa.

In his second talk, he related stories about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as told to him by Harlan and Grace Ober, whom he lovingly referred to as the “spiritual mother and father” to him and his wife.

His third address dealt with victories in Canada during the Ten Year Crusade. He recalled the “tremendous” things that happened when “all the Bahá’ís began to pray.”

His final talk focused on “Putting the Power to Work.” He specifically pointed to the power of prayer, and recommended the Long Obligatory Prayer for daily use by the friends, and as a topic for study classes.

The conferences brought both newspaper and radio coverage for the Faith.

The Hand of the Cause of God John A. Robarts (center, in gray jacket) was the featured speaker at a conference in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada, on September 10-11. The conference was the second of eight called by the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada to focus the attention of believers on the remaining goals of the Five Year Plan.

[Page 15] Nigeria

Chance meeting turns to memorable experience

One of the more memorable moments during a teaching trip in Nigeria last summer by Amy Black, a Bahá’í from the United States, occurred in Ugep: “A beautiful young girl walked up to me and embraced me like a long-lost sister. She did not know anyone in our group and I had never seen her before. She just gazed at me with such love and trust that afterward everyone said she was one of those rare, pure souls who are led by God to be attracted to Bahá’ís. She was very shy. She said her name is Gladness and that she was 14 years old. She radiated gladness in her smile.”

Dr. Charles Lerche, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, told Miss Black a touching story that he felt demonstrated how dedicated Nigerian Bahá’ís can be.

Mr. Lerche said there was a believer in the Port Harcourt area who was ill. Probably with tuberculosis. This did not deter the believer from agreeing to deliver building materials to a remote area where Bahá’í Centers were being built.

A few days before the delivery was to take place, the man’s brother was killed by armed robbers. The Bahá’í was not only grief-stricken, but had to make all funeral arrangements himself.

This responsibility completed, he carried the construction materials to the difficult-to-reach area, traveling in pouring rain.

He then returned home and died, the materials safely delivered.

Conference at Enugu focuses on teaching

Teaching was on the hearts and minds of the more than 240 Bahá’ís from 17 countries who met in Enugu, Nigeria, August 13-14.

The friends were addressed by members of the Continental Board of Counsellors: Friday Ekpe, Thelma Khelghati and Mihdí Samandarí.

A message from the Universal House of Justice to the International Teaching Conference in Enugu was read by Mr. Ekpe.

This was followed by a talk by Dr. Samandarí about the Cause of God in Africa. He said African Bahá’ís must be deepened in preparation for the day they will leave Africa to teach the Faith in the West. He particularly directed this statement to the youth of Africa.

Mr. Ekpe, speaking about the history of the Faith in Africa, marveled at the relatively short span of time it has taken the Faith to become known the length and breadth of the continent.

Mrs. Khelghati reminded adults that children observe and imitate their elders. “We must be careful of what we say or do,” she said.

At the close of the conference, a public meeting was held. Requests for literature about the Faith exceeded the supply on hand.

Bangladesh

Cooperation hallmark of regional meetings

Four regional teaching conferences and a teacher training institute in Bangladesh were the fruits of cooperative planning between the Continental Board of Counsellors and the National Spiritual Assembly of Bangladesh.

The teacher training institute lasted two days, the first day being spent in instruction and the second in actual teaching. The teaching, done in a new area of Dacca, brought 100 individuals into the Faith and caused three localities to be opened.

The institute, held in Dacca, was attended by five traveling teachers in that area and by an observer from the Faridpur area. Discussion, led by Auxiliary Board members, centered on the Five Year Plan.

Germany

The Bahá’í House of Worship near Frankfurt, Germany, is visible behind the friends assembled for the 47th National Convention held April 30 — May 1.

[Page 16] The first of the four regional teaching conferences was held at Jessore, and was attended by 80 people, 60 of them Bahá’ís.

It was conducted by two National Assembly members and a Bahá’í from Dacca. Firesides were given both evenings of the conference.

The National Assembly said a report about the conference appeared in a local newspaper, with the article stressing “the non-political character of the Faith and obedience to government.”

The regional teaching conference in Mymensingh “created a new spirit in the women there,” reported the National Spiritual Assembly. A number of families present became Bahá’ís.

The conference in Rajshahi brought about some “valuable contacts” for the Faith, according to the National Assembly. An Auxiliary Board member at the conference met with local dignitaries and visited Chapai Nawabganj, a subdivisional headquarters city. Firesides were conducted during the conference.

Twenty-five of the friends met at the regional conference in Dacca. They planned for the re-election of Local Assemblies in their four home communities and discussed the Five Year Plan.

Bermuda

Two declarations follow observance

One of those who attended the observance of the birth of the Báb, held at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Hamilton, Bermuda, was a non-Bahá’í from Bogota, Colombia, in Bermuda with the ship “Doric.”

After listening to prayers and readings from the Writings, and songs led by two traveling teachers, he declared his belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

He had with him a friend who one week later also became a Bahá’í.

TV interview program twice features Bahá’ís

One of the more popular television interview programs in Bermuda — Good Morning Bermuda — had a Bahá’í as its guest in both May and June.

The program’s hostess, Marlene Butterfield, said to Georgia Sanchez, a pioneer from the U.S., “I am amazed at Bahá’ís. You are so involved in life.”

Since the two interviews, close ties have been formed between the Bahá’ís and Good Morning Bermuda management.

One evidence of the goodwill of the management is that selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and Bahá’í prayers have been included on a rotating basis with readings from other religions as a beginning for Good Morning Bermuda.

Most Bahá’í proclamations and public events are now announced weekly in the TV Calendar portion of the program.

New Hebrides

Two island areas visited first time by teaching team

The first teaching trip to Big Bay and Santo on the island of Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides has been made.

The team that spent eight days on the islands consisted of three women and three youth, one of whom is not a Bahá’í.

They traveled from Santo to Port-Olroy after arriving on Espiritu Santo. While waiting three days for transportation to the town of Matantas, they gave two evening firesides.

After reaching Matantas, they walked 20 kilometers (12 miles) around Big Bay and across six rivers to reach the village of Jereviu.

Three days were spent in Jereviu, where proclamations and firesides were held. The people there asked the Bahá’ís to return soon.

Children at a Bahá’í class in Port Vila, New Hebrides, color drawings about the Nineteen Day Feast, reinforcing what they have learned during a discussion period.

Hawaii

Dr. Jordan speaker at Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds

Dr. Daniel Jordan, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, was the guest speaker at the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Hawaii on August 29.

Dr. Jordan told the audience of 150 that Bahá’ís are bringing forth a new race that will solve many of the oppressive problems of mankind.

Dr. Jordan is in the process of making an index of these problems, and already has included crime, poverty, injustice, superstition and war.

[Page 17] He said all such problems are soluble if man’s attention and energies can be re-channeled.

He said civil agencies are impotent to change humanity, and that it is the responsibility of the Bahá’ís to do it.

Dr. Jordan is a professor of education at the University of Massachusetts in the United States.

Youngsters live, learn at Child Institute

Youngsters ages 4 to 17 made musical instruments and studied bird life at Kilauea Lighthouse in the Hawaiian Islands during the annual Child Institute.

The Kauai Island Teaching Committee sponsored the event August 6-7, using the theme “Unity Through Diversity.”

The children were enthusiastic and particularly enjoyed memorizing prayers.

Auxiliary Board assistants briefed

At a training session for his assistants July 23-24 at the Hawaiian national Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, Auxiliary Board member Ben Ayala told them about their duties and responsibilities, the relationship between the institutions, how to work with both Local Spiritual Assemblies and individuals, and methods of teaching and consolidation.

The assistants assessed the teaching activities in their home communities. Based on these assessments, which were reported to the group, the assistants made personal goals and goals as a team.

Central African Empire

Several members of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Berbérati, in the Central African Empire, as they appeared in April 1977. Gene Hendershot, the first pioneer to live outside the capital city of Bangui, is on the right.

Pioneer reports teaching upsurge

Gene Hendershot, a pioneer to the Central African Empire for the last four years, says there has been a significant upsurge there in recent months in teaching activities geared toward winning the goals of the Five Year Plan:

“The first couple of years of the Plan weren’t very fruitful as far as new Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í Centers were concerned. But our continued radio programs and other activities kept the Faith well-known throughout the country.

“This last year, ending at Riḍván 1977, saw a great intensification of teaching efforts, owing to suggestions from the Universal House of Justice and an awareness by the believers of how much needs to be accomplished.

“We now have around 45 Local Spiritual Assemblies, whereas at Riḍván 1976 there were only 20.

“There are now three pioneers outside the capital, but many more are needed. Many receptive people in the towns and villages are waiting to learn more about this Cause that they have heard about from time to time.

“It takes continuous contact and slow deepening over a period of many years for these nascent Bahá’í communities to develop.”

Alaska

20th Summer School a ‘dynamic’ event

A ferry boat strike prevented some Bahá’ís from attending the 20th annual Summer School in Alaska, but the smaller-than-usual group from Alaska, Canada and the United States had a “dynamic” school anyway, reported some of the participants.

They met in Juneau August 4-7, with children outnumbering adults 60-45.

Teaching in native Alaskan villages and appreciating cultural differences among Alaskans were major topics at the school.

Auxiliary Board member Lauretta King spoke to the group about the Native Council. The Council was established by the National Spiritual Assembly of Alaska to broaden understanding between native and Western cultures, and to help native believers form Bahá’í identities.

The friends also studied the Covenant, education, teaching, child-rearing, and making the most of one’s potential.

Hand of Cause Furútan present at conference

The Hand of the Cause ‘Alí-Akbar Furútan was present at a teaching conference in Petersburg, Alaska, in September.

Sixty-six adults and children from eight communities in Alaska and one in Canada met with Mr. Furútan for a Unity Feast and three discussion sessions.

Ghana

Properties pursued

The Local Spiritual Assemblies of Asebu and Asamang, in Ghana, are actively pursuing the goal of acquiring suitable properties for their Bahá’í Centers.

The Local Assembly in Asebu has been offered a site that soon will be purchased.

[Page 18] Cleaning up at the House of Worship in Sydney
see page 9