Bahá’í News/Issue 64/Text
| ←Previous | Bahá’í News Issue 64 |
Next→ |
 Proofread onceReturn to PDF view
|
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís
of the United States and Canada
General Office: Evergreen Cabin, West Englewood, New Jersey
O SON OF SPIRIT!
My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting.
A CABLEGRAM FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI[edit]
“Assembly’s momentous decision fraught with incalculable consequences, worldwide benefits. Greatest Holy Leaf filled with delight. Both devoutly praying (for) unrelaxing determination (to) consummate heroic enterprise. Abiding gratitude.”
Haifa, June 10, 1932,
LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY[edit]
The Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada.
Beloved friends:
The Guardian’s cabled message, quoted above, clearly indicates the importance which Shoghi Effendi attaches to an action taken by the Temple Trustees since the June number of Bahá’í News was issued.
This action consisted in the decision to make an immediate beginning of construction work on the Temple dome unit—the goal of our collective effort this year—rather than to await until the entire sum of $150,000 had been raised.
The Trustees had on hand a Temple Construction Fund of $10,000. They were informed of the urgent need to have the work begun at once, as otherwise the time required on construction would make it impossible to complete the dome by the date, June 1, 1933, fixed by the Guardian. The Trustees were also informed that it would be possible to make a contract under the terms of which the construction might proceed as rapidly as permitted by funds in hand, without assuming liability for any amount aside from whatever definite appropriations are voted from time to time.
|
“Feel impelled appeal entire body American believers (to) henceforth regard Nabil’s soul-stirring Narrative as essential adjunct to reconstructed Teaching program, as unchallengeable textbook in their Summer Schools, as source of inspiration in all literary (and) artistic pursuits, as an invaluable companion in times of leisure, as indispensable preliminary to future pilgrimage (to) Bahá’u’lláh’s native land, and as unfailing instrument to allay distress and resist attacks of critical, disillusioned humanity.”
|
Such a contract, therefore, has been made. The contractor is John J. Earley of Washington, D. C. Mr. Earley has perfected a process which the late Louis G. Bourgeois, Temple architect, considered by far the best for the carrying out of his unique plan of external decoration. Mr. Earley, furthermore, has been recommended by two different committees appointed to investigate the matter of material adapted to the external decoration of the Bahá’í House of Worship. The model prepared by Mr. Earley a few years ago and since then exposed to the weather on the Temple grounds, has perfectly met the test. Moreover, specific requests made to other firms for an estimate of cost have brought no satisfactory result.
The believers may have full confidence that in Mr. Earley we have a creative genius and an experienced, conscientious craftsman whose skill and whose enthusiasm fit him ideally for the task of producing a material embodiment of Mr. Bourgeois’ marvelous and intricate design which will reflect its beauty and endure for centuries to come.
The Research Service. Inc., which supervised the building of the Temple superstructure, have been appointed the engineering representatives to supervise the work for the Trustees, at the special request of Mr. Earley.
Among the structures which have already proved the quality of the Earley process are: Church of the Sacred Heart and Ambulatory of the Monastery, Washington, D. C., the Parthenon, Nashville, Tenn., the Fountain of Time, Chicago, and the great Du Pont Conservatories, Wilmington, Del.
The vital thing is that an important step has already been taken to fulfil the Guardian’s ardent hopes respecting the completion of the Temple dome unit (as made known to the believers in Bahá’í News for June) before the opening of the Exposition at Chicago next spring. The $10,000 already appropriated on the contract will make a substantial beginning, but the members of the National Assembly must rely upon the power of the Faith, inspiring the believers throughout the United States and Canada, to continue a steady flow of contributions so that the mighty task may proceed without interruption.
The progress of construction work, illustrated whenever possible by photographs, will be reported regularly to the believers.
Imbued by steadfast faith, steeled by true spiritual understanding, inspired by Shoghi Effendi's Providential leadership, and whole-heartedly unified in an indomitable effort to play our part at this time of worldwide confusion, may the American believers give evidence, as it has been given by the Persian believers before us, that the Bahá’í Faith offers the sole source of regeneration and order in this Day of God!
Do we feel the lack of capacity; are
we inclined to the attitude that inaction
at least has the merit of real humility?
But the Guardian—in a
cablegram appearing in this same issue
[Page 2]
of Bahá’í News—asserts that if we
turn to the Nabil Narrative we shall
find a source of power greater than
ourselves.
Ten years have passed since the Guardian evoked the station of maturity among the believers. Surely now at last we can put behind us the doubts and troubles and hesitations of spiritual childhood, and concentrate calmly and firmly upon our constructive task.
Faithfully your co-workers,
The National Spiritual Assembly,
- HORACE HOLLEY, Secretary.
NATIONAL COMMITTEES[edit]
Requests to accept committee appointments have been sent to the believers named in the following lists. The National Assembly hopes that each of these believers will recall the Guardian’s advice about not refusing the results of Bahá’í elections and appointments, and endeavor to render active service, despite any obstacles that may confront him or her at this time.
Teaching Committee: Leroy Ioas, Chairman, Charlotte Linfoot, Secretary. Regional members for the Pacific States—Prof. Forsythe Ward, Ella G. Cooper, George Latimer, Robert Theiss, C. G. Nordquist. Bishop Brown, Vice-Chairman, Ruth Randall-Brown, Secretary (executive members for the Eastern division). Regional member for Ohio and Pennsylvania. Dale S. Cole. Regional members for the Central States—the members of the Temple Program Committee. Regional member for New England, Florence R. Morton. Regional member for Washington, D. C., Baltimore and Philadelphia. Stanwood Cobb. Regional members for Eastern Canada—May Maxwell, Rosemary Gillies. Regional member for metropolitan New York City area, Helen Campbell. Regional member for New York State outside the metropolitan district, R. C. Collison.
Inter-Racial Amity Committee: Loulie A. Mathews, Chairman, Louis G. Gregory, Secretary. Mrs. Witt, Dr. Bagdadi, Mabelle L. Davis, Coralie Cook, Mrs. Shelley N. Parker, Dorothy Richardson, Mrs. Edwin Horne.
Temple Program Committee: Carl Scheffler, Chairman, Mrs. Bartholomew, Secretary, Willis Hilpert, Sara Walrath, Mrs. Albert Matthisen, Mrs. Shelley N. Parker, Dr. Edris Rice-Wray, Monroe Ioas, Mrs. Ullrich.
Study Outlines: Mary Collison, Marguerite McKay.
Training and Teaching Children: Mrs. J. W. Gift, Chairman, Miss Charlotte Linfoot, Secretary. (Other members to be appointed.)
Free Literature: George Latimer, Chairman, Louise Caswell, Helen Bishop.
Publishing Committee: Horace Holley, Chairman. Marion Little, Secretary, Roy C. Wilhelm, Marie B. Moore, Bertha Herklotz, Clara B. Wood.
Bahá’í Magazine—Editorial: Editors—Stanwood Cobb, Mariam Haney, Mrs. John Kirkpatrick. Contributing Editors—Leroy Ioas, Willis Hilpert, May Maxwell, Doris McKay, Loulie A. Mathews, Alfred E. Lunt, Sylvia Paine.
Bahá’í Magazine—Business Manager: Margaret McDaniel.
Bahá’í News Service: Willard McKay, Chairman, Doris McKay, Secretary, Alice A. Parker. Consulting members—Allen B. McDaniel, Horace Holley.
Reviewing Committee: Doris Holley, Chairman, Marie B. Moore, Dr. Genevieve Coy.
Editorial Committee: Dr. Genevieve Coy, Chairman, Marie B. Moore, Horace Holley.
Editing Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Báha: Corinne True, Chairman. (Other members to be appointed .)
Archives Committee: Albert R. Windust, Chairman, Gertrude Buikema, Secretary. May Scheffler.
Green Acre Faculty: Glen A. Shook, Chairman, Mary S. Coristine, Vice-Chairman, Dr. Genevieve Coy, May Maxwell. Louis G. Gregory.
Bahá’í Summer School at Geyserville: John D. Bosch, Chairman, George Latimer. Leroy Ioas, Amelia Collins, Ella G. Cooper.
Bahá’í' Summer School at Louhelen Ranch: L. W. Eggleston, Dorothy Baker, Mrs. John Kirkpatrick.
Editorial Committee, The Bahá’í World (Volume V): Horace Holley, Chairman. Nellie S. French, Secretary, Albert R. Windust, Wanden LaFarge, Marion Holley, Bahiyyih Lindstrom.
Committee on Bahá’í Music: Louise D. Wright. Chairman, Mrs. Albert Matthisen, Secretary, Albert R. Windust, Edith Inglis, Margeret Klebs, Ruth Lunt.
Sales Committee: George Spendlove. Chairman, R. Y. Mottahadeh, Ali M. Yazdi.
Legal Committee: Horace Holley, Chairman, Allen B. McDaniel, Louis G. Gregory. Siegfried Schopflocher, C. G. Nordquist.
Accountant: Albert Matthisen.
Economics Committee: To be appointed.
O SON OF SPIRIT!
The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away there-from if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behoveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.
NATIONAL TEACHING[edit]
To the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada:
Beloved Friends:
In appointing the National Teaching Committee this year, the National Assembly has sought, by consultation with officers of this Committee and by consideration of recommendations made by officers of the previous Teaching Committee, to adopt a general policy and attitude conforming to the special needs of this time.
The Teaching Committee, through its Western and Eastern executive members, takes this opportunity to convey to the Local Spiritual Assemblies and to the body of American believers its understanding of the aims and methods to be embodied in the National Teaching program during the present Bahá’í year.
The Committee feels profoundly the immensity of our mutual responsibility, as American believers, to present the Bahá’í Faith as the sole solution of the dire conditions threatening the collapse of civilization throughout the world. The time surely has come to give to humanity in greater and purer measure the constructive principles and regenerating spirit revealed by Bahá’u’lláh. No longer can we be passive and silent in the face of the progressive disintegration of human hopes, for knowledge of the path to God is identical with the most active and self-sacrificing efforts to summon others to that path.
The completion of the physical structure of the Temple, and the publication of the Guardian’s translation of The Dawn-Breakers, combine as evidences that a new and mighty wave of spiritual power has arisen to reinforce the efforts of every faithful believer.
The hearts of the friends, we are
assured, are stirred to the depths by
[Page 3]
the consciousness of the divine task we
are called upon to do. The only question
is agreement upon ways and
means, and true inner unity necessary
to attract the confirmation of the Holy
Spirit.
The following outline of a National Teaching Plan contains no essentially new elements, but is rather the result of endeavor to penetrate more deeply into the realities of the Faith in relation to the needs of this crucially important year.
1. Let us regard every confirmed believer as a teacher, sharing his or her measure of responsibility for the triumph of the Cause. Unlike the older religions, we are not divided into a clerical and lay body. Even though some souls have greater capacity and experience than others in teaching, nevertheless this does not create arbitrary distinction nor confer special privilege. Our spiritual status is one —all are servants, all have the same rank as voting members of the Bahá’í community.
The hope is that this year more individuals will become active in the teaching field. None can hide behind the accomplishments of others. The same Power will confirm the efforts of one as confirms the effort of another.
2. The essential administrative unit is the Local Spiritual Assembly and its community. The Cause must go forward on the knowledge, loyalty and unified action of the Local Assemblies. An important part of the work of the Teaching Committee this year is to assist Local Assemblies to become more energetic and more efficient in promoting teaching plans which will include, if possible, every member of their community. Bahá’í teaching, unlike the work of formal churches, can and must be done in hundreds of different ways. Every type of believer is needed. As the Guardian has said, the most useful suggestion might be advanced by the humblest believer. The Teaching Committee hopes that the subject of teaching will be discussed continuously in all Local Communities, until each Assembly becomes the focal center of a mighty outflowing spiritual power.
Specifically, each Local Spiritual Assembly is requested to undertake the development of at least one new Bahá’í community in its locality, sending a succession of teachers there until the community is prepared to elect its own Assembly. The more work we do in a new field, the better we can serve in our own home community. Let us kindle the enthusiasm of all Bahá’í workers, and give free rein to initiative
|
The July issue of Bahá’í Magazine is a special number, devoted entirely to a study in Bahá’í Economics and Socialization entitled “The Supreme Affliction” by Alfred E. Lunt. It is hoped that each American believer will make a careful study of this important article, that it will be discussed in the Summer Schools and local Teaching Classes, and that National Committees and Local Spiritual Assemblies will secure extra copies to give to non-Bahá’ís. The prevailing economic difficulty should enable the friends to make fruitful use of this special number of Bahá’í Magazine. Single copies, 25c. Ten copies, $2.00. Order from The Bahá’í Magazine, 1112 Shoreham Building, Washington, D. C. |
in serving the Cause.
3. To achieve complete success, every teacher should work directly under the supervision and recognition of his or her Spiritual Assembly. A teacher traveling to another city, where an Assembly exists, is to serve under that Assembly while in its sphere of jurisdiction.
4. With increased individual service, more Assembly effort and the expansion of the Cause into new localities, the need of mutual assistance in providing teachers and planning follow-up work will tend to bring neighboring Assemblies into active cooperation.
Where conditions justify it, inter-Assembly conferences can be held at intervals, the result of which will be to stimulate new ideas, increase enthusiasm and energy and lead to more openings for believers hitherto inactive. In some localities, inter-Assembly conferences have been the greatest factor in developing teaching activity. These conferences, however, are not a direct part of Bahá’í administration, and should be regarded as having consultative value but not special authority.
5. A new National Committee has been appointed to perfect ways and means for the education and training of children. When this Committee reports. Local Assemblies will be better fitted to discharge their responsibility toward children.
6. With means lacking to meet the expenses of large public meetings, and for any considerable travel on the part of teachers, the right use of Bahá’í literature seems of vital importance. Other Committees are at work studying the field of free literature, and this subject will be referred to more adequately at a later date.
7. Most essential of all is the holding of local Study Classes, that the believers themselves may become better grounded in the Teachings, and that those attracted by lectures and addresses may have opportunity for continuous progress until they become fully confirmed. The vital importance of “The Dawn-Breakers” as a textbook is emphasized in the Guardian’s cablegram of June 21, published elsewhere in this Issue.
8. Each Assembly, and every individual believer, should keep in close and constant communication with the National Teaching Committee in the development of new communities. The National Assembly has voted that before any community is accepted as having a Spiritual Assembly, the recommendation of the National Teaching Committee will be secured that the new group is prepared for service in the Cause.
9. In order to carry on its work more effectively, the Teaching Committee has been organized with an Eastern and a Western branch, with regional members covering all parts of the country.
The duties of the regional members will consist particularly in visiting Local Assemblies, encouraging the extension of teaching work, and serve the aims described above by maintaining constant contact with Assemblies and groups in their respective regions. They will also initiate inter-Assembly conferences and assist in their success.
In conclusion, we express the heartfelt hope that this year, as never before, all believers will become conscious that their Bahá’í life depends upon active service as cells in the new spiritual organism, and that as the result of deeper consciousness and greater devotion, the Guardian’s wishes for the Temple may be completely realized.
- Yours faithfully.
- National Teaching Committee,
- By: LEROY C. IOAS, Chairman,
- Bishop Brown, Vice-Chairman.
O SON OF MAN!
Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.
LETTERS FROM HAIFA[edit]
The National Assembly is grateful to the Assemblies and individual believers who from time to time share the contents of letters received from Shoghi Effendi. Excerpts from such letters recently received are here published for the inspiration and guidance of our co-workers.
“Public speaking is undoubtedly very important for a person who desires to teach, but this should be learned in schools and classes especially arranged for such training. We should not permit an inferior presentation of the Cause to the public for the sole reason that we desire to learn to do it better in the future. The youth should be encouraged to train themselves in public speaking while they are still pursuing their studies in schools or colleges.
“It is surely very necessary that the friends should keep in touch with the modern social movements, but their main objective should be to draw more people to the spirit and teachings of the Cause. They should learn from the experience of others and not permit themselves to go (off) at a tangent, and finally be so absorbed in other movements as to forget the Cause of God.” (To Mrs. Harding, Urbana, through Ruhi Afnan. Received December 25, 1931).
“You mentioned in one of your letters that some of the old believers who for many years had kept away are now coming back and attending the meetings. How wonderful it would be if all such persons, together with all those who met the Master and whose life was changed through His influence would come along and help us in spreading these divine teachings! Perhaps the friends should take the initiative and make their meetings so inspiring and their activities so interesting and far-reaching in importance that they would of their own accord come forward and lend us their help.” (To Roy C. Wilhelm, West Englewood, through Ruhi Afnan, March 9, 1932.)
“Every now and then we hear that a new Assembly has been formed and that more people are being attracted to the Cause, but there is still much to be desired. As you mention in your letter the Cause needs some more people who are able to shoulder its responsibilities and extend real help in promoting its many interests, both spiritual and material. These people whom we are so eagerly awaiting to appear will not, however, come of their own accord. They have to be brought in. It is for us to become active and really spread the Message.” (To Allen B. McDaniel, Washington, D. C., through Ruhi Afnan, April 4, 1932.)
“Another essential thing is that those who do embrace the Faith should be constantly urged to study the literature of the Cause. It is not sufficient that our numbers should increase, we want people whose faith stands on a rock no trial can move. We want people who in turn arise and carry the message to other people and guide other souls.
“From every corner of the earth letters come to Shoghi Effendi asking for teachers, but he is far, far from being able to answer all the demands. The only way we can satisfy that need is to have every Bahá’í follow the command of Bahá’u’lláh and become himself a teacher. And that task is not so very impossible; it only needs a thorough knowledge of the teachings and a burning desire to spread the message.” (To Spiritual Assembly of Fruitport. Mrs. Frazer, Secretary, through Ruhi Afnan, April 13, 1932.)
“As to teaching work in colleges and universities, this is very important, for students as a whole are open-minded and little influenced by tradition. They would easily enter the Cause if the subject is properly presented and their intellect and sentiments properly satisfied. This, however, should be attempted only by persons who have had university training and are therefore acquainted with the mind of the intelligent and educated youth.
“The movement surely needs educated and devoted souls who will through their deeds as well as pen promulgate the teachings throughout the world.” (To Mrs. Mabel Paine and Miss Sylvia Paine, Urbana, through Ruhi Afnan, received in April, 1932.)
“A group that does not progress and show signs of life will soon die out and be forgotten. We have to keep virile and remain active if we desire our Cause to prosper and become an active force in shaping the destiny of the world. . . . You asked concerning some plans whereby funds could be gathered for the Temple. Shoghi Effendi believes that the best and noblest method is to have free donations that are made spontaneously and with the sense of making some sacrifice in furthering the Cause. It is with sacrifice that this Temple is to be built. This is the truly worthy method. This principle therefore excludes any method whereby the help of non-Bahá’ís is included.” (To Kenosha Spiritual Assembly, through Ruhi Afnan, April 14, 1932.)
“He (Shoghi Effendi) was very sorry to learn that you are passing through difficult times, but such seems to be the fate of every single person on the surface of the earth at the present time. When such a crisis sweeps over the world no person should hope to remain intact. We belong to an organic unit and when one part of the organism suffers all the rest of the body will feel its consequences. This is in fact the reason why Bahá’u’lláh calls our attention to the unity of mankind. But as Bahá’ís we should not let such hardships weaken our hope in the future. Read the last general letter of Shoghi Effendi (“The Golden Age of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh”) and see the description of the future which he has tried to put before our eyes. We may be suffering at present but that will soon cease and glorious days will dawn.
“In all such matters as you mention in your letter, Shoghi Effendi wishes the friends to take the Assemblies into their confidence and discuss it with them. Being on the spot they can judge better and take into consideration all the different aspects of the problem. We should always trust the Assemblies and go to them for advice. Our debts, however, should be considered as sacred and take precedence over any other thing (i. e., payment of debts comes before contributions to the Cause) for upon this principle does the foundation of our economic life rest.” (To a Bahá’í family of Kenosha, through Ruhi Afnan, April 14, 1932.)
BAHA’I DIRECTORY[edit]
Each Local Assembly will be supplied with a Bahá’í Directory for Inter-Assembly correspondence as soon as the National Assembly receives the Assembly Enrollment forms which were sent out in May. Returns are awaited from Buffalo, Eliot, Visalia, Racine and Baltimore.
A CORRECTION[edit]
On page 2 of the special Convention Issue of Bahá’í News, in the Convention Report under sub-heading “Feast of Ridván,” where Mr. Windust refers to Some Answered Questions as shedding light upon the station of the Guardian, the reference should be to page 67 and not 57 of that volume.
O SON OF MAN!
If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee.
