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Bahá’í News

April 1978

Bahá’í Year 135

The Festival of Riḍván: April 21-May 2

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REJOICE CONVOCATION SOUTH AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í WOMEN’S CONFERENCE AS IMPORTANT EVENT PROCESS FULL RECOGNITION POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES WOMEN THIS NEW AGE. MAY PRESENT GATHERING INSPIRE PARTICIPANTS WITH VISION THEIR HIGHLY SIGNIFICANT ROLE PROMOTION FAITH AND TRAINING NEW GENERATION FOR COMING SOCIETY PEACE RIGHTEOUSNESS. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE JOINS US SENDING WARM LOVING GREETINGS ASSURANCE PRAYERS HOLY SHRINES SUCCESS DELIBERATIONS. INTERNATIONAL TEACHING CENTRE December 29, 1977 INSPIRED MESSAGE WORLD CENTER FIRST INTERNATIONAL BAHÁ’Í WOMEN’S CONFERENCE SOUTH AMERICA SPONSORED COUNSELORS RECEIVED OFFICIAL MESSAGE FIRST LADY PERU. OBTAINED UNPRECEDENTED COVERAGE RADIO TV NEWSPAPERS PROCLAMATION. DELEGATIONS BOLIVIA CHILE ECUADOR PERU REPRESENTATIVES ARGENTINA BRAZIL COLOMBIA PARAGUAY VENEZUELA AUSTRALIA FRANCE NEW ZEALAND USA TOTAL TWO HUNDRED TEN WOMEN PARTICIPATING ACTIVELY DETERMINED WINNING GOALS REMAINING FIVE YEAR PLAN DESIGNATED SUPREME HOUSE. GRATEFUL PRAYERS. CONFERENCE December 29, 1977 DELIGHTED GREAT SUCCESS WIDESPREAD ATTENDANCE EXCELLENT PUBLICITY PROCLAMATION FIRST INTERNATIONAL BAHÁ’Í WOMEN’S CONFERENCE SOUTH AMERICA. WILL OFFER PRAYERS SACRED THRESHOLD DETERMINATION WIN GOALS PLAN WILL BE CONFIRMED. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE January 3, 1978

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Contents

Peru, Costa Rica host conferences
200 Bahá’í women meet in Lima, 200 Bahá’í youth in San José	2
Teaching campaign sweeps Tasmania
Youth Conference, declarations highlight month-long effort	4
Historic South India Teaching Conference
Area ablaze with more than 2,000 declarations, 45 Assemblies	6
Bahá’í Radio’s miraculous beginnings
First-hand report from Auxiliary Board member Nathan Rutstein	8
Keeping the Faith on Mindoro Island
Auxiliary Board member Baby Mockon reports confirmations	9
Southeast Asia Conference at Singapore
More than 1,000 Bahá’ís pledge selves toward winning goals	10
Around the world
News from Bahá’í communities in every corner of the globe	12

Cover

The month of April brings with it each year the celebration of the Most Great Festival—Riḍván—commemorating Bahá’u’lláh’s public declaration in 1863 of His Divine Mission to unite all the peoples of the world in one universal Faith. The declaration was made in the Garden of Riḍván, near Baghdád, Iraq, as the Holy Family was preparing to depart on yet another journey of exile, to Constantinople. (Photo by Paul Slaughter)

Change of address should be reported directly to Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, U.S.A. Please attach mailing label. Subscription rates: one year, U.S. $8; two years, U.S, $15. Second class postage paid at Wilmette, IL 60091. Copyright ©1978, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States. World Rights Reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

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.

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Peru hosts Bahá’í women; Youth confer in Costa Rica

Three international Bahá’í conferences were held in Latin America between December 21, 1977, and January 8, 1978, covering three vital aspects of Bahá’í activity: radio and television (Panama, December 21-27; see Bahá’í News, February 1978), women’s concerns (Peru, December 29-January 1), and the progress of youth (Costa Rica, January 3-8).

The Conference in Peru

In keeping with the goal set by the Universal House of Justice in the Five Year Plan calling for the promotion of the progress of women, the first International Conference of Bahá’í Women in South America followed closely the historic Asian Bahá’í Women’s Conference in India that was graced by the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum.

More than 200 Bahá’í women attended the conference at Lima, Peru, near the heart of the ancient Inca civilization. They came from the 10 South American republics as well as from the U.S., Australia, France, New Zealand, Panama and Trinidad.

The conference was sponsored by the Continental Board of Counsellors for South America and was attended by five of its members: Mrs. Leonora Armstrong, the first pioneer to South America; Mas’úd Khamsí, Peter McLaren, Raul Pavón and Donald Witzel.

Also present were the first pioneer to Peru, Miss Eve Nicklin, a former Auxiliary Board member in Paraguay, and Auxiliary Board member Miss Mercedes Sánchez, the first Peruvian Bahá’í woman.

The opening session of the conference, held at a municipal library near the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds, was graced by an official greeting from Peru’s First Lady, Mrs. Rosa Pedraglio de Morales Bermúdez, who said that “only the constant and responsible advancement of women will open the way for a better future for our people.”

Talks at the conference were given in Spanish and translated into Quechua for the Indian Bahá’ís.

Topics included the Role of Women in the Progress of Humanity, the Education of Women and Children, Women in Professions, the Station of Women in the Bahá’í Revelation, Participation of Women in Teaching and Administration, Family Life in the Bahá’í Faith, the Contribution of Women Toward the Goals of the Five Year Plan, and others.

A reception was held one evening for distinguished non-Bahá’ís, and another evening was set aside for “folklore night” in which believers from several countries presented something typical of their culture such as dancing, music or a skit.

The Conference in Costa Rica

The youth conference at San José reflected the notable progress being made in depth of spirit and awareness by Bahá’í youth in Latin America of the great responsibility inherent in their vital role in the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.

The conference was attended by about 200 believers from Belize, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico,

Some of the more than 200 Bahá’í women who were present December 29-January 1 at the first International Conference of Bahá’í Women in South America held at Lima, Peru.

[Page 3] Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the U.S.

Three members of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Central America were present: Artemus Lamb, Paul Lucas and Dr. Hedi Aḥmadiyyeh.

A special guest of honor at the opening session was Fernando Soley Soler, Costa Rica’s vice minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, who said in a brief address: “As long as hunger and poverty exist in many corners of the world, there can be no peace; as long as there are differences of a religious or racial nature, there can be no peace. As long as frontiers exist between men and they do not establish a dialogue, there can be no peace.”

The conference was geared toward achieving a goal set for youth in the Five Year Plan by the Universal House of Justice: “The vast reservoir of spiritual energy, zeal and idealism resident in Bahá’í youth ... must be directed and lavishly spent for the proclamation, teaching, and consolidation of the Cause.”

Topics considered at the conference included Character Development, Laws and Morality, Proclamation and Teaching by Youth, the New World Order, Bahá’í Administration, Prayer, the Three Objectives of the Five Year Plan, the History of the Faith in Latin America, the Spiritual Assembly, Life After Death, the Covenant, Marriage, the Role of Youth in the Faith, and others.

In this conference, as at the women’s conference in Peru, the importance of purity and chastity in leading a successful and productive life were emphasized.

On one of the days of the conference, trained teaching teams of youth visited goal areas in Costa Rica.

An evening was devoted to a colorful and artistic program of Costa Rican dances and music.—Gayle Woolson

Right: Sra. Isabel de Calderón addressing a public meeting held in conjunction with the first International Conference of Bahá’í Women in South America at Lima, Peru. She is flanked by Indian women from Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

Below: Some of the nearly 200 Bahá’í youth and guests from Central America, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and the U.S. who gathered at San José, Costa Rica, in January for the International Youth Conference.

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Teaching in Tasmania

Unprecedented month-long campaign highlighted by flood of activity, first Bahá’í conference ever held on Australia’s lovely ‘Apple Island’

Tasmania, known as the Apple Island, and one of Australia’s six states, is special to Bahá’ís because of its specific mention by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Tablets of the Divine Plan.

The unique distinction conferred by the Master on this island was in the minds of the believers early this year when a flood of Bahá’í activity, unprecedented in the 54 years of the Faith’s existence in Tasmania, overtook the small Bahá’í community.

The first nationally-organized, month-long Tasmanian teaching campaign was carried out in January in four localities in the north and south of the island; also, the first national Bahá’í conference ever held in Tasmania—the ninth Australian Bahá’í Youth Conference—took place in Hobart at the mid-point of the teaching campaign.

The importance and purpose of the Tasmanian teaching campaign was expressed in a letter from the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia to the 26 full-time teachers at a briefing/deepening institute December 31-January 2 at the Exeter Bay Boy Scout Camp:

“The project on which you are about to embark is the most ambitious national teaching campaign yet launched in Australia ... The importance of this campaign to the future of the Faith in Tasmania is immense ... Its goal is to revitalize and revolutionize the fortunes of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in that state ... Your task is to search out, teach and confirm a multitude of seeking and waiting souls we know must be there....”

The team members were inspired further by a message from the Universal House of Justice:

“MONTH-LONG TEACHING CAMPAIGN TASMANIA HIGHLY PRAISEWORTHY. PRAYING SHRINES BAHÁ’U’LLÁH WILL SHOWER RICHEST BLESSING CONFIRMATIONS.”

One team followed the other so that each of the four towns—Devonport, Launceston, Glenorchy and Clarence—was visited twice.

Each team spent about one week in each area, and met, taught and confirmed individuals through the use of prayers, pamphlets, books, poster displays, rented rooms in shopping areas used as information centers, films, public meetings and social gatherings. The Bahá’í music group, “1844,” comprised part of one team, and their free concerts attracted many people.

The teaching teams converged in Hobart to join 150 other believers at the Bahá’í National Youth Conference held January 13-18 at the Southern Teachers Center.

The Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Plaister, attended the first session to officially welcome the Bahá’ís to the city and open the conference.

Two addresses were given by the Hand of the Cause H. Collis Featherstone. He shared reports of his recent travels to Bahá’í communities in the Pacific, and urged the Bahá’ís to simultaneously root themselves in the firm earth of the Faith and teach the Cause with conviction, wisdom and love.

Talks and workshops were given by Counsellor Peter Khan and National Spiritual Assembly members Janet Khan and Beverly Stafford.

No less than 15 youth speakers gave book reviews, talks on various aspects of teaching the Faith, the Covenant, the Universal House of Justice, the Nineteen Day Feast, “Love of God,” and “The Life Blood.”

John Davidson, an Auxiliary Board member, and Tom Price produced and directed a highly successful science-fiction musical, “Return to Plutonia 2,” about an inter-galactic teaching trip in the year 1345 B.E. to consolidate new believers on a distant planet.

The three-hour lunch/teaching period each day was effectively used to seek waiting souls and to invite people to hear Dr. Peter Khan’s public talk, “Building a New Tomorrow.”

Highlights and results of the conference were cabled to the Universal House of Justice:

“GREETINGS LOVE SUPREME BODY. CONFERENCE BLESSED PRESENCE HAND CAUSE FEATHERSTONE COUNSELLORS PERKS KHAN FOUR AUXILIARY BOARD TWO NSA MEMBERS. 187 PARTICIPANTS WITNESSED LORD MAYOR HOBART OPENING CONFERENCE MIDPOINT TASMANIAN CAMPAIGN. MATURE UNDERSTANDING FAITH EXPRESSED. DEDICATED SPIRIT GENERATED. FIVE YOUTH INCLUDING TWO CHINESE DECLARED ALLEGIANCE BAHÁ’U’LLÁH. TWENTY-SEVEN TEACHERS ARISEN CONFERENCE AUGMENTING ORIGINAL TWENTY-SIX TASMANIAN CAMPAIGN. TRANSFORMING SPIRIT EMERGING TASMANIA.”

Stimulated by the conference, by the new believers, by generous press and radio coverage, and by the enthusiastic support of the Tasmanian Bahá’ís, the traveling teachers, now more than 50 strong, carried the teaching campaign to a successful conclusion.

In all, 12 declarations were received, more than 40 serious seekers found, two “new believer” institutes scheduled, follow-up teaching activities planned, and at least three Bahá’ís pioneered to Tasmania from the Australian mainland.

—Scott Stafford

[Page 5] The ninth Australian Bahá’í Youth Conference (right) was attended by 187 believers January 13-18 at Hobart, Tasmania. It was the first Bahá’í conference held in that Australian state. The Hand of the Cause of God H. Collis Featherstone is seated in the middle of the photo.

Among the original 26 teachers in the Tasmanian teaching project in January was the Bahá’í music group “1844” (below) whose free concerts attracted many non-Bahá’ís to hear about the Faith. The group’s album, “Dreams of Tomorrow,” is available through the Bahá’í Publishing Trust in Australia.

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‘Arouse the multitudes!’

Historic South India conference hears remarkable news from teaching campaign

The Bahá’ís of India, who have won almost all of their Five Year Plan goals, set in motion an ambitious plan to “arouse the multitudes” at an historic South India Teaching Conference held January 20-22 at Bangalore.

Members of the Continental Board of Counsellors, the National Spiritual Assembly of India, Auxiliary Board members, pioneers and visitors from abroad joined the believers of South India at the memorable conference that the National Assembly says “will surely result in a great upsurge of activities throughout South India.”

About 500 Bahá’ís and guests attended a Unity Feast that preceded the opening of the conference. They were treated to a presentation of the Faith by Auxiliary Board member S. Vasudevan, followed by a cultural program of classical Indian dance.

A highlight of the gathering was the large number of native believers attending from the south, including many from the Sulur Project area.

The conference was opened with devotions, followed by a cable from the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum:

“LOVING THOUGHTS PRAYERS WITH BELOVED FRIENDS. HOPING UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS FERTILE TEACHING FIELD SOUTH INDIA DURING REMAINING MONTHS PLAN. PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED PROLONGED PNEUMONIA CONDITION PREVENTED MY ATTENDANCE CONFERENCE BUT MY HEART WITH YOU ALL NOBLE ENDEAVORS. RÚḤÍYYIH.”

K. H. Vajdi, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, welcomed everyone present, and particularly singled out the friends who had come all the way from Arabia.

Special healing prayers were chanted for Rúḥíyyih Khánum. To the friends who had longed to see her at the conference, it was as though she were in the auditorium.

Counsellor Shirin Boman set the theme: “Arouse the Multitudes.” It was especially fitting that the battle cry should be sounded here, for in a message to a previous teaching conference in Bangalore in 1975, the Universal House of Justice had cabled: “PRAISEWORTHY MANIFOLD ACHIEVEMENTS INDIAN BELIEVERS PAST DECADE SPARKED RAYS HOPE EARLY FULFILLMENT PROMISES MASTER GUARDIAN BRIGHT FUTURE THAT VAST COUNTRY. EARNESTLY APPEAL INDIVIDUAL BAHÁ’ÍS WHETHER VETERAN OR NEW OLD OR YOUNG MEN OR WOMEN RAISE CALL KINGDOM SUCH INTENSITY AROUSE MULTITUDES FROM SLUMBER BEFORE TOO LATE.”

Mrs. Boman urged the believers to arise and answer the call of the Universal House of Justice to “INAUGURATE UNPRECEDENTED TEACHING CAMPAIGN ALL PARTS INDIA SURPASS OVERSHADOW ACHIEVEMENTS MADHYA PRADESH THUS STRENGTHENING ORGANIC HEALTHY GROWTH FAITH LENGTH BREADTH COUNTRY.”

She then outlined some steps toward achieving the goals, drawing on the experiences of some successful past campaigns.

After an inspiring presentation by Counsellor Burháni’d-Dín Afshín who

[Page 7] cheered and delighted the believers, some of whom were attending a Bahá’í conference for the first time, the afternoon session was devoted to questions, answers and the presentation of plans.

Charles Macdonald, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, reviewed the concept of the “basic teaching unit” and urged the friends to marshal their forces and deploy them for a systematic campaign.

He provided the friends with an assessment sheet to record achievements against goals set for them by the National Spiritual Assembly, thus showing gaps to be filled while highlighting goals won or surpassed.

Toward the end of the question-and-answer session, a boy of about nine years of age came to the stage. He had traveled 170 miles by himself, as his father was unable to attend.

In ringing tones the boy recited from memory a prayer in the Kannada language, then gave a fluent 15-minute talk on the Faith. No better conclusion could have been arranged on the opening day than this demonstration of faith and sincerity by a child. It had an electrifying effect on the friends.

The second day’s sessions began with a presentation by R. N. Shah, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, of the status of India’s Five Year Plan goals. While almost all the goals have been won, a few remain unfilled, particularly the strengthening of at least 500 Assemblies with extension goals and the opening of 1,000 new localities.

India, which was given almost one-third of the entire teaching goals of the Five Year Plan, already has reached its target of 7,000 Local Assemblies. Of special significance was the laying last November of the cornerstone for the first Bahá’í House of Worship in India.

The friends, elated by the manifold achievements, greeted the report with a thunderous ovation.

Counsellor Afshín then gave a brilliant and lucid explanation of the workings and relationships of the elected and appointed institutions of the Faith.

At the afternoon session, teaching reports were presented by the State Teaching Committees of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

On the morning of the third day, Counsellor Dipchand Khianra captivated the audience with a narrative presentation of “The Faith in India” in which he traced the enduring ties binding the Cause of God to India.

Afterward, Dr. Sree Ganesh arose to present a thrilling report of the South India Project, sponsored jointly by the National Spiritual Assemblies of India and Malaysia.

Dr. Ganesh reported that more than 2,000 believers had been enrolled and 45 Local Spiritual Assemblies formed, with regular visits and firm guidance from team members continuing. The team is made up of Bahá’ís from Malaysia, India, Hong Kong and England. Satellite projects are to be launched soon in Palghat (Kerala) and Karaikal (Pondicherry).

The friends were deeply moved by the evidence of devotion shown by the team and by the faith it had inspired in the new believers, and when Dr. Ganesh asked for volunteers to help, 105 of the friends, a third of those present, young and old alike, including members of the Auxiliary Board, arose and pledged a period of teaching and sacrificial effort. A wonderful new impetus for the advance of the Faith in South India had been given.

At the afternoon session, Auxiliary Board member Vasudevan spoke of the resolve initiated at the conference to double the number of Bahá’ís in South India in the remaining months of the Plan as a gift from India to the Universal House of Justice.

Counsellor Afshín recapitulated the purpose of the conference and called forward the volunteers, introducing each one, telling how much time he or she had volunteered, and indicating the places to which they would proceed.

Following the conference, Counsellor Zena Sorabjee spoke at a well-attended public meeting with Bahá’í youth presenting a musical program.

Mr. Vajdi thanked the friends on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly and expressed the hope that South India would seize the “palm of victory” from Madhya Pradesh and usher in a great period of growth for the Cause in India.

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Echoes of a miracle

(The following letter was written by Nathan Rutstein, U.S. Auxiliary Board member for propagation, following the Western Hemispheric Bahá’í Radio and Television Conference at Panama City, Panama, in December.—Ed.)

•

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

I witnessed a miracle in Panama. Nothing like a sea becoming a land mass in an instant. Nothing that biblical. It was the birth of Bahá’í Radio, New World Order radio, born despite initial governmental rejection, little money, and few trained broadcasters.

The 125 delegates at the Bahá’í Hemispheric Radio and Television Conference, representing 27 countries, caught a glimpse of the new broadcasting. The miracle unfolded as we heard the story of how the first Bahá’í radio station evolved in Ecuador, of how Bahá’í production centers have begun appearing throughout the Caribbean and Latin America the past two years in spite of little available money. Knowing that these centers are potential stations fired the imagination. Next year the second Bahá’í radio station, in Bolivia, is scheduled to begin broadcasting. Others will follow.

Listening to each country’s story carried us from one height of exaltation to another. The cheers, the cries of “Bravo!,” the tears of joy were expressions of gratitude to Bahá’u’lláh.

As story after story of the successful use of radio by faithful, hard-working Latin American believers, some of them illiterate, were told, I thought of Bahá’u’lláh, weighted down by prison chains in the Síyáh-Chál. My heart throbbed with His cry of “O God, increase My astonishment!”

Seeing a film of the first Bahá’í radio station’s antenna being raised was not only an opportunity to witness history in the making; it also demonstrated the conquering power of faith.

The antenna was not shipped in from some highly industrialized nation. It was put together in Ecuador and raised by Bahá’ís with makeshift rigs. Professional installation would have cost around $10,000. The Ecuadorian Bahá’ís spent $900.

When the conference delegates saw the antenna finally standing straight, stretching into the Ecuadorian sky, they broke into spontaneous applause. Eyes moistened when they heard the first words flow from the station in Spanish:

“O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great Purpose...”

All of the countries represented gave reports. In Peru, we learned, 70 per cent of the country is exposed to 45 minutes of Bahá’í programming each day. In Jamaica, a regular program has attracted listeners to Bahá’u’lláh. Trinidad, Paraguay, Antigua, El Salvador, Panama, and most of the other countries producing programs have experienced the same results.

Through these reports, the North Americans discovered what is essential in developing New World Order radio. It is not through the latest equipment, the most polished performers, the most skilled technicians, though all of that is important. The Latin American and Caribbean believers, with little radio knowledge, demonstrated what is most important. It has to do with attitude, with perspective. And no amount of money can produce that.

Radio is the servant of Bahá’u’lláh. As a consequence, the community is the beneficiary of that service. In essence, the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh sets the tone and focus and clarifies the purpose. All involved are guided by the principle of service to the human race. By operating via spiritual principles, love permeates every program, compassion fills the airwaves, and the cry for unity of the human family threads everything that is done.

The heavily credentialed North American professionals marveled at the spirit communicated in the programs they heard and saw, some of them aired by people who couldn’t read or write. It dawned on us that had we been asked to launch Bahá’í Radio, much old world order professional conditioning would have unwittingly been injected into the programming.

I had gone to Panama thinking I had much to teach the Latin American friends. Instead, I—(and this was true of the other North American delegates as well)—gained much more than I gave.

If the Bahá’ís are going to develop the New World Order broadcasting, then it must be free of the trappings of decaying societies. Our eyes, our minds, our hearts were opened in Panama. Maybe this is why the North Americans had to be at the Third Bahá’í Hemispheric Conference on Radio and Television.

Nathan Rutstein
Auxiliary Board member for propagation

[Page 9]

Island Teaching

On Mindoro, pure souls respond to the Message

(The following first person account of a nine-day training institute held in January 1977 at Mindoro, an island in the central Philippines southwest of Luzon, was written by Auxiliary Board member Baby Mockon of the Philippines.—Ed.)

•

A most memorable nine-day training institute was held last January in a fishing village called Caminawit on the island of Mindoro.

The training was for my assistants and other Bahá’ís, and the village was chosen to consolidate the Local Spiritual Assembly and Bahá’í community there at the same time.

Each night, after deepening in the Writings during the day, a public meeting was arranged to bring in new believers and reinvigorate this two-year-old Bahá’í community, as well as to give the Bahá’ís who were being trained an opportunity to teach.

The first night 20 children from the village were the first to crowd into our meeting. As there were as yet no adults there, the children were taught songs and prayers for children. An hour later the children—ranging in age from 3 to 11—had more or less memorized the prayers.

When the adults arrived the meeting started, with the chairman of the Local Assembly conducting. The opening prayers were said by the children.

Every adult at the meeting asked to become a Bahá’í. The children whose parents weren’t yet Bahá’ís pleaded to be enrolled in the Faith too. Cards were given to them, and on each was written the designation, “Bahá’í child.” The children were very happy and were the first to learn to say “Alláh-u-Abhá.”

The short obligatory noon-day prayer was taught immediately to the new believers, especially to the children who were promised that after they had memorized the obligatory prayer they could open the following public meetings with prayers. The children remained while various questions were asked by the adults regarding such things as alcohol, disunity, etc. Before the meeting ended the children were instructed by the Bahá’ís to invite their parents, relatives and friends to the next public meeting.

The second night the number of children was doubled, and more adults came with the children. One mother even brought her two-week-old infant to the meeting because she had heard that it was for mothers and children too.

All the adults and children there that night declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh. The children who had become Bahá’ís the night before were the first to greet the new believers with “Alláh-u-Abhá,” and the adults could not help but respond and return the greeting.

There were 50 children the third night. One 7-year-old boy brought his father, a man who had a long-standing drinking problem. The man said he came because his son had become a Bahá’í and had told him the Faith is very good. If, he said, he too found it good, he also would become a Bahá’í. Later that evening he declared his belief.

Afterward, the man’s son showed him the short obligatory prayer and told him he must pray every day. He added that from then on he (the father) must stop drinking because it is bad for him.

More children came the fourth night, and more adults who had heard of the meetings came with them. One man asked to become a Bahá’í so his drinking problem might be cured. And automatically, the younger children continued to greet everyone with a cheery “Alláh-u-Abhá.”

The following nights and meetings brought more adults and children. One of the men said he was going to become a Bahá’í because he wanted to be a better person and would start speaking again to certain of his relatives toward whom he had for a long time harbored ill feelings.

Each evening, from 20 to 40 children would wait with torches along the shoreline to accompany the Bahá’í teachers to the meeting place.

By the ninth night, 90 children had asked to become Bahá’ís. The Spiritual Assembly of Caminawit had become conscious of its responsibilities, such as continuing to educate the children in the Teachings of the Faith and to teach everyone in the village until all had become Bahá’ís.

To date a regular Bahá’í children’s class is being held there every Saturday and a Bahá’í women’s class once each week.

It also is worth mentioning what happened at another fishing village elsewhere on Mindoro, a village called Bulalacao. A regional Bahá’í conference was held there last year, and there were many (72) who became Bahá’ís. There also were about 30 children who pleaded to become Bahá’ís and whose names were taken and listed as believers.

Since that time those children have kept the fire of the Faith alive in that village with their singing of Bahá’í songs. Once I visited there and was told by the adults that every night the children would sing “Alláh-u-Abhá” and other Bahá’í songs until they fell asleep. Some of the children were telling other people that they were Bahá’ís.

Whenever a Bahá’í teacher visited that village, he or she would be surrounded by children eagerly waiting to be taught to sing, and to be taught about Bahá’u’lláh. While still on the bus, these Bahá’í teachers would be greeted with “Alláh-u-Abhá” by children clinging to its sides.

This is all I can report for now, although I wish to assure you that many more interesting and inspiring happenings will come our way as we continue to strive to win the goals of the Five Year Plan.

[Page 10]

the southeast asia conference

Gathering of more than 1,000 Bahá’ís at Singapore is two conferences in one as children play major role in its theme of ‘Education for Peace’

More than 1,000 Bahá’ís from 19 countries gathered December 28-31 at the Conference Hall in downtown Singapore for the Southeast Asia Bahá’í Regional Conference, thus helping to fulfill one of Singapore’s goals of the Five Year Plan.

Counsellor Florence Mayberry, a member of the International Teaching Centre, brought the fragrances of the Holy Land to the assembled friends, and also heightened, through her call to action, their resolve to take whatever steps are necessary to win a resounding victory in the Plan.

All five of the Counsellors for Southeast Asia also were present and made their invaluable contributions.

A cablegram received December 29 at the World Center from the Singapore Conference read: “Five Counsellors, 14 Auxiliary Board members, 890 other believers gathered Singapore Conference enthusiastically resolve achieve outstanding results called for. One hundred children participate Children’s Conference. Thirty-five teachers trained from seven countries. Grateful inspiring message Supreme Body, reinforced honored presence Counsellor Mayberry. Solicit prayers success.” The following day, a second cablegram was received from the conference. It read: “Happy, productive spirit prevails Singapore Conference. 1,022 in attendance, including 100 children. South Indian requirements met, 101 arose travel teach, seven pioneers... Educational Children’s Conference very successful. Generous outpouring funds... Deeply grateful your prayers, wise assistance.”

The conference theme was “Education for Peace: Man is the Supreme Talisman,” and one of its distinguishing features was a children’s conference in which more than 100 children ages 3 through 14 participated.

Thirty-five Bahá’ís attended a four-day pre-conference teacher training program to prepare them for the task of activating a measure of the divinely entrusted potential latent within the souls of the children who attended their classes.

The older children served as reporters at the adult conference, interviewing participants, taking notes, and publishing a newspaper, proceeds from the sale of which were given to the Fund.

More than 30 Aslis and Ibans, the aboriginal peoples of Malaysia, traveled at relatively great expense and at some risk to glimpse the worldwide family they had joined and to make their contribution to a Cause they so stoutly espouse.

Hundreds of Indian workers from the rubber plantations also made sacrifices to attend. The conference proceedings were translated into Mandarin, Tamil, Malay, and Persian through a simultaneous translation system.

Taking its cue from a cable from the Universal House of Justice expressing the wish that “outstanding results” would be forthcoming from the conference, and from Counsellor Mayberry’s remarks, the conference was oriented toward action.

At the request of the House of Justice, representatives from each national community in the region met to standardize Bahá’í terms in Chinese, and were successful in doing so.

Workshops were organized by the Counsellors for Southeast Asia on the role of women, literature needs for the area, the role of youth, child education, pioneering, and traveling teaching, and each group reported its findings to the conference at large.

[Page 11] Some 1,032 Bahá’ís from 19 countries including these children attended the Southeast Asia Bahá’í Regional Teaching Conference held December 28-31 Singapore. Counsellor Florence Mayberry of the International Teaching Centre is standing near the center of the photo, wearing a white dress.

Twelve per cent of the friends volunteered as pioneers or traveling teachers. Twenty-three volunteered to go traveling teaching for extended periods in South India, meeting the needs of an exciting project now entering its second phase.

A comparable number offered their services as itinerant teachers in Thailand where the methods of expansion and consolidation that have been so successful in the Philippines are being applied.

A conference highlight was a filmed report of the New Era Bahá’í School in Panchgani, India, by its principal, Dr. Ray Johnson. In the film the friends were given a glimpse of an “education for peace,” grounded in faith and Divine purpose, that no doubt will help usher in the Most Great Peace.

The conference was closed with the celebration of the Feast of Sharaf (Honor), with the largest attendance of any Feast ever held in Singapore. The children sang, danced and acted, the Malaysian aborigines were presented as special guests, and everyone was moved by Counsellor Mayberry’s final remarks.

She described the conference as being characterized by a spirit of determination to fulfill the expectations of the Universal House of Justice, and as a special and loving gift, she presented to Freddy Tan, the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Singapore, a packet of rose petals that she had recently gathered at the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. — Bret Breneman

Children played an important role at the Southeast Asia Conference with the more than 100 youngsters attending having regular classes of their own and even producing a newspaper reporting Conference highlights, proceeds from the sale of which were donated to the Fund.

[Page 12]

Around the World

India

5,600 new believers!

During December, the National Assembly of India enrolled 5,600 believers, while 254 localities were opened and 52 Local Spiritual Assemblies established.

Some of the victories are due to the South India Teaching Project, a joint effort of the Bahá’ís of India and Malaysia.

At last report, the project team had accepted declarations from some 1,500 believers in 45 localities, all of which have elected Local Spiritual Assemblies.

The South India Teaching Project includes 10 Malaysian believers, six from India, and one each from the United States and Hong Kong.

Kenya

Africa’s lions roaring

It was announced at the annual National Teaching Conference for Kenya on November 26-27 that 77 Local Spiritual Assemblies have been formed since Riḍván, bringing the total to 530; that 134 Local Assemblies have been strengthened enough to achieve re-election this Riḍván; and that 84 Local Assemblies are carrying out extension teaching plans of their own.

Many local Bahá’í Centers are under construction, many others are planned, and a large number of plots of land for local endowments has been acquired.

The Hand of the Cause Raḥmatu’lláh Muhájir attended the conference at the Nakuru Bahá’í Center and twice addressed the gathering of 160 believers.

He recalled that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said Africa would roar like a lion. “When a lion roars, all other living creatures look his way. Now, all the people of the world are looking toward Africa. We are the lions of Bahá’u’lláh,” he said.

Dr. Muhájir reminded the audience of Shoghi Effendi’s special love for Africa, and asked them to imagine how happy he must be at the achievements of the African Bahá’ís.

He urged that teaching efforts be made to reach people in the remote areas of Africa, and that every Local Assembly and individual make and carry out teaching plans.

“The secret of progress in Africa is teaching the people to become teachers, but teaching is not enough,” he said. “We need organization and administration, and always more teaching. Neither teaching without administration nor administration without teaching will work.”

Continental Counsellor Isobel Sabri told the group the annual Teaching Conference is second only to the National Convention in importance. She said the Teaching Conference was made a goal of the Five Year Plan so that it would become a part of community life in every country.

Counsellor Sabri expressed pleasure at meeting Bahá’ís in their own homes and communities during a recent tour of Kenya.

“It is significant that Kenya is now a community of Bahá’í families,” she said. She was encouraged and inspired to hear children reciting prayers by heart, to see women’s activities and to witness the building of Bahá’í Centers.

“I have heard the voice of confidence proclaiming that Kenya’s goals shall be won,” she said.

Swaziland

UN Day invitation

For the first time since the government of Swaziland recognized United Nations Day (October 24) as a national holiday, the Bahá’í community was asked to participate in its observance.

A Bahá’í was appointed to the Program and Arrangements Committee for the annual International Friendship Ball. Radio publicity for the Ball mentioned the Faith.

The many people who asked why the Bahá’í community was among the sponsors for the UN Day observance were given a pamphlet explaining the affiliation of the Bahá’í International Community with the UN.

Prior to UN Day, the local UN representative spoke at a United Nations celebration at the Bahá’í National Center in Mbabane. The program ended with a filmed interview of Dr. Victor de Araujo, the representative of the Bahá’í International Community to the UN.

Sri Lanka

Jamshed Fozdar (left) of Encinitas, California, presents to His Excellency President Jayewardene of Sri Lanka and Madame Jayewardene copies of his books, The God of Buddha and Buddha Maitrya-Amitabha Has Appeared. During his four-day visit to Sri Lanka in November, Mr. Fozdar also presented to Their Excellencies copies of All Things Made New, Some Answered Questions, and The New Garden. Before arriving in Sri Lanka, Mr. Fozdar visited Bangkok, Thailand, where he was invited by the prestigious Siam Society to address it on “The Role of the Sangha in the Modern World.”

[Page 13]

Switzerland

200 at Winter School

The Alpine village of Enney in Switzerland’s Gruyere region, known for its cheeses and peaceful surroundings, was the site in late December of a Bahá’í Winter School attended by 200 people from 10 countries. Among those present were many children and some seekers.

Erik Blumenthal, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in Europe, shared the glad news that when Cyprus forms its National Spiritual Assembly at Riḍván it will become the 19th pillar of the Universal House of Justice in Europe.

Topics of study at the school included child education, Bahá’í history (1911-1921), detachment, and the growth and development of Bahá’í institutions.

An evening program by the children included the singing of the Bahá’í song adopted by UNICEF as its theme for Universal Children’s Day 1977, “Ye Are the Flowers of One Garden.”

The children at the Bahá’í Winter School in Switzerland in late December played in the snow between classes.

A Bahá’í Winter School held in Enney, Switzerland, in late December was the first teaching/proclamation event in the area. Several seekers were among the 200 participants from 10 countries.

Cameroon Republic

The National Teaching Conference held September 16-17 in Yaounde, Cameroon, was attended by 91 believers from 31 communities. Skits demonstrating teaching methods were presented, and those who were present later put the methods into practice when they went to nearby towns and invited residents to public meetings and firesides.

New Zealand

Teaching Conference

The National Teaching Conference held in Palmerston North, New Zealand, in September was attended by “hundreds of enthusiastic believers,” says the November issue of the New Zealand Bahá’í Newsletter.

The friends shared news of victories in their home areas, including a story of 15 members of one family who declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh!

The believers also shared prayer experiences—from guidance in personal matters to assistance in Bahá’í activities.

One session was devoted to ways of teaching the Faith to the Maori, a Polynesian people of New Zealand. An important point made was that Bahá’í teachers should offer the Faith to the Maori as a gift rather than lecture them, which is true of all our teaching efforts.

In an entertaining session on the Fund, a “commercial” for the New World Order

[Page 14] Bank was given by National Treasurer Tony Smit. He said that unlike its predecessors, the New World Order Bank will not go bankrupt, and the money on deposit will go to benefit mankind. When a material deposit is made, a spiritual one is made as well; thus the friends are saving in this world to benefit themselves in the next.

After several believers spoke about their international teaching experiences, 31 others arose and offered to travel and teach, and two arose to pioneer.

The New Zealand Bahá’í Newsletter concludes, “The Teaching Conference was especially strengthened by the number of different believers who took part in the sessions—some of them fairly new Bahá’ís....”

El Salvador

Goal localities opened

The National Spiritual Assembly of El Salvador met with its committees December 18-19 at the Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds to discuss the progress and difficulties of winning the goals and to exchange ideas and suggestions to fulfill their role in the successful completion of the Five Year Plan.

All goal localities have been opened, and approximately 80 per cent of the requisite number of Local Spiritual Assemblies formed. While four properties were ‎aquired acquired‎ last year, the properties goal remains to be met.

United States

Bahá’ís at conference

The U.S. Bahá’í community was represented at the National Women’s Conference sponsored by the U.S. State Department in Houston, Texas, November 18-20.

Dr. Wilma Brady, a representative of the U.S. Bahá’í community at the United Nations, said the conference was “the most remarkable example of unity I have seen outside the Bahá’í Faith.”

Other Bahá’ís attending included Dr. Joy Benson, the official government representative from Guam, and Mary Figir, official international guest of the U.S. State Department from the Yap Islands in the Carolines.

The major teaching effort at the conference was the distribution of 1,000 invitations to two Bahá’í receptions hosted by the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Houston.

One of those who received an invitation was an oral historian for the conference, who taped a half-hour interview with Dr. Brady that will be stored at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The conference agenda included interfaith services on Sunday morning. The Bahá’ís worked with members of other religions to plan the program.

“Over-all, the conference was an historic step toward peace,” said Dr. Brady.

Samoa

The building in the top photograph is the new Bahá’í Center for Western Samoa, dedicated August 27, 1977. The lower photo shows another local Center under construction in Fagafau. Ten local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds are to be acquired in Samoa under the Five Year Plan.

Trinidad/Tobago

Assembly goal won

In Trinidad and Tobago, the Five Year Plan goal of 120 Local Spiritual Assemblies has been surpassed with the present number at 128 and several other localities at Assembly status. The localities goal of 300 is well within reach and should be surpassed sometime this year.

Guyana, with an assigned Assembly goal of 36, now has 45 Local Assemblies. Guyana, Surinam and French Guiana also have surpassed their localities goals of 110, 45 and 15, respectively.

Bahá’í School held

The Second Tobago Bahá’í School took place December 9-12 at Mardon House, Fairy Queen Bay, John Dial, Tobago.

It began on Friday with a Unity Feast, and was followed by three days of studying topics such as the Central Figures of the Faith, Bahá’í administration, Bahá’í laws, the Nineteen Day Feast, and living the life.

The need to support the Five Year Plan goals and the Fund was discussed.

Among the speakers were Peter McLaren, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors, and Auxiliary Board members Laurence Coward, Helena Frank and Dr. Keith Thorpe.

[Page 15]

Papua New Guinea

50 attend conference

Some 50 Bahá’ís from 12 provinces attended the National Teaching Conference held November 26-27 in Lae, Papua New Guinea.

For many of those attending, it was the first opportunity to see the new National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Lae. The building is large enough to house the National Spiritual Assembly, which met almost continuously during the conference.

During the conference, discussions were held on the Five Year Plan goals, the Bahá’í Fund, community development and the Covenant.

It was decided that ideas developed during workshops on teaching methods would be published and shared with believers who could not be present.

Burma

New teaching campaign

The Burmese Bahá’í community launched a teaching campaign in January to open 82 localities. Six full-time Bahá’í teachers have been deputized by the National Spiritual Assembly for the duration of the campaign.

The campaign was formulated after the National Teaching Committee, the National Women’s Committee, the National Youth Committee and three Auxiliary Board members met November 11 at the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Rangoon.

Besides opening 82 localities, the plan calls for the construction of local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds at Ngabyema, Htaukkyaik, Letdhite and Minglawyathit; construction of a guest house in Daidanaw, and improvements to the local Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Twante as well as to the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.

Many Bahá’í communities in upper Burma agreed to take on specific teaching and consolidation tasks after a two-day meeting of the National Assembly in Mandalay that included a regional conference.

Centenary observance

The Bahá’ís of Burma will celebrate in May the Centenary of the arrival of the Bahá’í Faith in their country, following the Fourth International Convention in Haifa.

The Burmese friends were unable to leave the country to attend the recent international and regional conferences, and are “thirsty to see our loving Bahá’í brothers and sisters from all over the world,” the National Assembly says, adding that it hopes Bahá’ís from other countries will visit Burma during its Centenary celebration to “carry the water of life to the Bahá’í friends” there.

Paraguay

Radio use increases

Plans for a radio campaign that would bring Bahá’í programming into every home in Paraguay were given a boost on November 1 when visiting Continental Counsellor Mas’úd Khamsí was given a 20-minute interview on the most popular radio station in the capital city of Asunción.

At the same time, thrice-weekly five-minute Bahá’í radio programs were begun in six cities.

On November 2, the interview with Mr. Khamsí was broadcast in six major cities, while that same day he had a seven-minute interview on the only television station in Asunción.

Five days later a second radio station in Asunción interviewed Bahá’ís for one-half hour.

Soon afterward, a Bahá’í couple was interviewed on a popular women’s television program. The five-minute interview, aired on the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, dealt with Bahá’í views on marriage and the status of women.

Canada

Ad campaign sparks tremendous response

The first responses were received on Monday, October 31, less than two days after the first advertisement in the Bahá’í national advertising campaign appeared in Canadian Magazine.

Others came, and are coming, from across the country, from cities and rural areas, from young and old, men and women, French and English, Italian and Spanish, Indian and Irish — the diversity of responses is described as remarkable.

As the December issue of Bahá’í Canada went to press, 223 inquiries had been recorded. Most had returned the label from the ad, often adding short notes or sincere and open letters. “Please send information soon” often was written below the name and address of the inquirer.

Each request is immediately answered. The Bahá’í Information Committee for Canada has prepared a letter thanking the individual for his interest, explaining the principle of the independent investigation of truth, encouraging him in that investigation, and providing the name, address and phone number of the nearest Local Spiritual Assembly, Group or Regional Goals Committee.

Included with the letter are several books and an introductory pamphlet. The Bahá’í Information Committee also writes to that Assembly, Group or Goals Committee, giving the name and address of the inquirer and suggesting that he or she be invited by letter to a fireside or other public event.

Response to the campaign has been steady and continuing, in spite of the fact that the second ad was inadvertently published in only one-third of the areas originally intended.

Perhaps the most touching inquiry came from an elderly couple who phoned the Bahá’í National Center and spoke with Esther Hayes of the Records Department.

After discussing some of the ideas presented in the ad, the gentleman said, haltingly, “We are pensioners. Are we too old to investigate the Bahá’í Faith?”

[Page 16]

Gilbert Is./Tuvalu

Bahá’ís in ceremonies

The Bahá’ís of the Gilbert Islands and Tuvalu were represented in three different ceremonies honoring Japanese soldiers who died in the battle of Tarawa during World War II.

According to Buddhist custom, the final and most important ceremonies for the dead are held 33 years later.

The first ceremony was for 15 Japanese, including the son of the officer who had commanded the Japanese troops in the area. Representatives of government, the churches, and the National Spiritual Assembly were present.

A similar ceremony was held by another group of Japanese families several months later. This group included a Japanese friend of one of the National Assembly members.

On the third occasion, the Bahá’ís of Betio were asked to arrange the program for the dedication of a small memorial to the Japanese war dead. The governor spoke on behalf of the Japanese, who were not able to be present. Jack Pedro, the first Ellice (Tuvaluan) Bahá’í, read the Prayer for Mankind.

United Kingdom

Plan goals studied

A National Teaching Conference held in the United Kingdom December 17-18 in Hatfield was preceded by two Area Teaching Conferences held in October in Swansea, Wales, and in November in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. All three conferences were aimed at marshaling the efforts of the Bahá’ís to win the Five Year Plan goals.

The conference in Swansea was attended by the entire National Spiritual Assembly and was addressed by Continental Counsellor Adib Taherzadeh.

Fully half the Bahá’ís of Northern Ireland, as well as a contingent of 10 believers from the Irish Republic, met in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. Counsellor Dorothy Ferraby was present, as were representatives from the National Spiritual Assemblies of the Irish Republic and the United Kingdom.

The first day of the National Teaching Conference in Hatfield was spent studying the compilation, “The Gift of Teaching,” recently prepared by the Universal House of Justice. Counsellor Taherzadeh concluded the first day’s program with a talk on the philosophy of teaching.

The second day, committees explained their teaching plans and solicited commitments for teaching trips and pioneering.

Irán

Seen here are some of the Bahá’ís who attended a week-long deepening course in September at Buyr Aḥmad, Luristan, in west-central Irán.

Seen here are some of the believers who attended a Regional Teaching Conference in Gílán, in north-central Irán, in September.

[Page 17]

Portugal

Of the 80 Bahá’ís attending this National Teaching Conference in Lisbon, Portugal—the second such gathering in 1977—about half were new believers. At the end of the conference, many of them volunteered for full-time teaching work as part of a national “Victory Plan.”

Benin

Board hosts institute

Benin’s first Auxiliary Board Institute was held January 20-23 at the National Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Cotonou.

The newly-appointed assistants to Benin’s Auxiliary Board member for protection, Frederic Hodonou, were deepened in their challenging responsibilities by Mr. Hodonou and Thelma Khelghati, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for West Africa.

The assistants reviewed the divinely-created Administrative Order and discussed ways to strengthen the country’s 65 Local Spiritual Assemblies.

Counsellor Khelghati thrilled the gathering when she announced the appointment of National Spiritual Assembly member Samuel Zodeougan as Benin’s first Auxiliary Board member for the propagation of the Faith.

Adding to the attendance of more than 25 people were Bahá’í youth and other believers who were invited to participate in the institute.

Ecuador

Women’s Conference

About one-third of the 40 women who attended a one-day conference September 4 in Quito sponsored by the National Women’s Committee of Ecuador were distinguished non-Bahá’í residents of that city.

The visitors later were described as “respectfully interested in the Faith.” They, in turn, invited the Bahá’ís to participate in a non-Bahá’í women’s conference in October.

Sierra Leone

Exhibition a success

The friends in Kambia, Sierra Leone, cooperated to make the Bahá’í Exhibition the weekend of October 1-2 a success.

It was displayed in the District Council Hall and seen by more than 60 people. It depicted several aspects of the Faith: the Central Figures; Bahá’u’lláh’s proclamation to rulers; the oneness of mankind; the diversity of the Faith; and the Administrative Order.

During the weekend, 300 pamphlet-style invitations to a fireside were given out.

This was the second time a Bahá’í Exhibition was held, the first time being in January 1975.

Finland

New Assembly formed

The 70 or so believers who attended the National Teaching Conference in Tampere, Finland, October 15-16 heard the joyous news that a new Local Spiritual Assembly would be formed October 25 at Naantali.

Adib Taherzadeh, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for Europe, was a guest speaker at the conference.

Windward Islands

3 Assemblies added

There are now four Local Spiritual Assemblies in Dominica. The Assemblies at St. Luke, St. Paul and St. Joseph were formed following a teaching trip to Dominica December 6-13 by Counsellor Hedi Aḥmadiyyeh.

Fiji

Bahá’ís show film

The Bahá’ís of Suva, Fiji, showed The Green Light Expedition at the Alankar, a new local theater, to an audience of 600 on October 19.

The Bahá’ís report that “the management was most cooperative and asked for more films.”

The Gambia

Fifty adults and 20 children attended the Bulenghat Teaching Conference held November 27 in the Republic of The Gambia. Auxiliary Board member Muḥammad Al-Salihi is standing second from right in the back row. Auxiliary Board member Nassirou Toidi from Senegal is standing second from right in the middle row.

[Page 18] The building for the permanent Seat of the Universal House of Justice as it appeared on January 16 with concrete being poured on the level of the Council Chamber. The photo was taken looking northward toward ‘Akká; the Shrine of the Báb is at the upper left.