Bahá’í News/Issue 76/Text

From Bahaiworks

[Page 1]


BAHA’I NEWS


Published by
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís
of the United States and Canada
General Office: Evergreen Cabin, West Englewood, New Jersey


No. 76
AUGUST, 1933

THIS CRUCIAL TIME[edit]

A Letter from the National Spiritual Assembly

To the Bahá’ís of the United States and Canada.

Beloved Friends:

The National Spiritual Assembly feels a profound responsibility in assisting the American Bahá’í community to arrive at a unified understanding of the crucial nature of this period in the history of the Cause.

The Guardian’s urgent emphasis of the extreme necessity of completing the Temple dome; his unusual cablegram to the Convention delegates; and the tone of many letters received from Local Spiritual Assemblies since the Convention, all combine to impress the members of the National Assembly with the need of thoughtful analysis and firm grasp of the essential elements in our present universal task.

What was that opportunity which the Convention was so passionately called upon to seize? What is the limit of that fateful time granted us in which to achieve our share of success in the development of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh?

The members of the National Spiritual Assembly do not presume to have full knowledge of the Guardian’s thought and purpose. The Assembly, however, can perhaps suggest some important considerations that will serve as a basis for the collective sacrifice and positive action required on the part of American believers in these swiftly passing days.

We are all witness to the rapid and momentous trend toward nationalism throughout the East as throughout the West. We have recently seen the outbreak of revolution on a large scale in one of the great civilized nations—revolution with its inevitable result in increased domination of society by the civil state. Such tension has come to exist within a preponderant area of the world that not only in Persia but in several other countries also the Bahá’ís are unable to exert any effective public influence. Save in America, the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh is grievously hampered and confined.

Anticipating this fateful trend, the Guardian more than a year ago informed us that the qualities of the “heroic age” of the Cause were now transferred from Persia to America. It is to America that Shoghi Effendi now looks for such powerful action on the part of Bahá’ís as to more than counterbalance the new limitations imposed upon the faithful believers in other lands. In the completion of the Temple dome we have been charged with responsibility for the one public achievement which will have greatest results for the Cause everywhere upon earth.

We must therefore attain to a fresh and greatly enlarged conception of what it means to the Cause to complete

CABLEGRAM FROM SHOGHI EFFENDI


On July 19 the National Spiritual Assembly sent Shoghi Effendi the following cablegram: “Temple work proceeding full schedule without interruption. June appropriation fifteen thousand, July eighteen thousand. All making supreme effort.”

The Guardian on July 25 sent the following reply: “Much relieved, confident supreme continuous effort will be exerted until entire dome completed ere closing (of) Exposition. On early conclusion this mighty enterprise must chiefly depend satisfactory solution (of) grave issues confronting Faith throughout (the) East.” (signed)

SHOGHI.

the Temple dome in the “allotted time.”

It means nothing less than a ‎ manifestation‎ on earth of the spiritual power and grandeur of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh—a manifestation in a form and to a degree corresponding to the particular requirements of the present hour. Just as the era of the Báb called for a manifestation of faith in the form of physical martyrdom, so now the era of the first Guardian calls for a manifestation of faith in the form of that collective sacrifice and unified action which the Temple involves.

The Temple, we are assured, will in its completion vastly extend the Guardian’s range of influence to include the liberal and progressive members of the general public. Such messages as “The Goal of a New World Order” will become factors molding the public consciousness, and not merely communications directed to the believers. But until the world has been given a visible and material evidence of the innate power of the Cause, it will not recognize the full significance of the Guardianship.

The Master’s prophetic statements are more clearly understood when we realize that Shoghi Effendi is the focal point of the world order of Bahá’u’lláh. Our devotion and sacrifice in completing the Temple are to reveal him as head of a World Faith compelling attention and respect. When the power of the Teachings is exemplified by the achievement of the believers, the “Golden Age” of the Cause will dawn.

Within a few months, with the completion of the dome, we have his positive assurance that the Cause will enter a new phase, the very “Golden Age of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.” Then, when the enemies begin to assail the impregnable Shield of the Covenant, and the friends seek the shelter of the divine Will,—then can at last the be-

[Page 2] lievers be fulfilled spiritually in living and teaching the Cause; then can the Guardian begin to bring to the general public the principles of the Most Great Peace.

This, we believe, is in outline the thought that every American Bahá’í can well take to heart—the conscious resolve to sacrifice his all for the sake of the Temple, and concentrate mind, heart and substance upon the achievement of this single purpose.

Consider these words which the Guardian has sent to America since the Convention: “Critical situation calling for further sacrifice combined resources. My heart yearns for immediate response.” (Cablegram to Mr. Siegfried Schopflocher). “The completion of the Temple dome is, indeed, of an imperative necessity, and the Guardian feels that during these five months the believers should persevere more than ever in order to safeguard the prestige of the Cause. Great as has been the measure of their self-sacrifice, yet, unless they redouble their efforts and concentrate all their resources to bring the whole work to a successful completion, their energies will have been spent in vain ... In these exceptionally hard days we have to do our best and be confident in God’s unfailing guidance and help. He will surely inspire us with hope and will lead us out of this worldwide and unprecedented chaos.” (Letter to Mr. Philip Sprague.)

And in a letter addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly, dated June 17: “The thing, however, that is most urgent and of supreme importance is to insure by every means at our disposal the uninterrupted progress of the ornamentation work of the Temple. The cessation of work in connection with so noble and so sacred an edifice at so critical a time would not only create an unfavorable impression in the minds of the millions of visitors who will gather in Chicago this summer but will inflict grave injury on the prestige and the international standing of the Cause throughout the world. That the American believers, who have already on several occasions contributed so strikingly to the strengthening and widening of the basis of Bahá’í institutions will allow them to suffer as a result of their failure to prosecute this glorious enterprise, the Guardian refuses to believe. He will continue to pray, and has sufficient confidence in the vitality of the Faith that animates them to feel assured that the hopes and expectations centered on them by the Bahá’ís of the world will not be disappointed,

MEMORIAL TO THE GREATEST HOLY LEAF ERECTED BY THE GUARDIAN

and that the successful termination of what is only the first stage in this historic enterprise will serve to ennoble the heritage bequeathed to them by a wise and loving Master.”

In the Guardian’s hand: “I am so eager to hear of the latest developments in connection with an enterprise in which so much that is vital to the immediate future of the Cause is involved. The American believers are deeply and solemnly committed to this stupendous task. It was gloriously conceived and nobly initiated. Its triumphal progress must suffer no setback. Its termination must be hastened with zeal, determination and vigor. Its concluding stages must redound as much to the glory and fair name of our beloved Faith as the initial steps taken for its establishment. I appeal to each of the champion builders of this majestic and unique Structure not to rest until the final section of the external ornamentation of the dome has been cast and set in position.”

Do these words leave room for either divided opinion or hesitation? Can any conscientious believer hope to render true and effective service by performing any Bahá’í action that involves or implies neglect of the one overwhelming duty? Is it the time for conspicuous teaching plans devised as an alternative measure of Bahá’í service? Our hopes depend entirely upon the full realization of Shoghi Effendi’s oft-repeated plea for the completion of the Temple dome. We shall be straying outside the Kind Shepherd’s fold if we think that Bahá’í success can be erected upon any other basis than this one supreme task.

But the task has already gone far toward completion. The $15,000 appropriated for Temple construction in June, and the $18,000 appropriated in July, leaves only four more months of equal effort and sacrifice, since the present schedule calls for a completion of the work in November. The considerable sum required for materials—quartz, steel, hoisting equipment, etc. (aggregating some $24,000) will all be paid in August, which means that the work of casting the sections can go forward more rapidly than ever. At the present schedule of $18,000 a month, all the sections will be cast by October 21. Meanwhile the work of placing them on the dome will soon begin, so that by maintaining this financial schedule the work will be entirely completed by November first.

The response to the telegram sent to Local Assemblies a month ago has been truly extraordinary. Not only was it possible by July 15 to appropriate the entire $18,000 needed for the July schedule, but by July 25 the National Spiritual Assembly also had on hand $6,000 toward the $18,000 needed for August. Much depends upon our collective capacity to contribute the additional $12,000 which the August schedule requires.

The Guardian’s appeal to “each of the champion builders of this majestic and unique Structure” will, we trust, be emphasized by all Local Spiritual Assemblies. We urge the believers to give most thoughtful consideration to the facts brought out in this general letter, and the communities to discuss them freely at the Nineteen Day Feasts. When we have one will and one mind, no power on earth can prevent us from meeting the Guardian’s standard of success; but response to every passing mood and division of our precious powers by undertaking this or that local suggestion can only result in having our energies up to this point spent in vain.

Faithfully yours,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY.

ASSOCIATION WITH THE WORLD FELLOWSHIP OF FAITHS[edit]

A letter to the National Spiritual Assembly dated Haifa, June 17, 1933, conveys the Guardian’s explanation of the general principle underlying the association of Bahá’ís with the World Fellowship of Faiths and similar Societies. This statement merits careful

[Page 3] attention from Local Spiritual Assemblies and National Committees, as well as individual believers, since it will enable American Bahá’ís in future to meet whatever problems arise in connection with cooperation with non-Bahá’í organizations.

“Regarding association with the World Fellowship of Faiths and kindred Societies, Shoghi Effendi wishes to reaffirm and elucidate the general principle that Bahá’í elected representatives as well as individuals should refrain from any act or word that would imply a departure from the principles, whether spiritual, social or administrative, established by Bahá’u’lláh. Formal affiliation with and acceptance of membership in organizations whose programs or policies are not wholly reconcilable with the Teachings is of course out of the question. In the case of the World Fellowship of Faiths, however, Shoghi Effendi sees no objection if the American National Assembly decides to appoint one or two Bahá’í representatives to address some of the public meetings held under their auspices. To merely address such gatherings on one or two occasions on a subject which is in harmony with the spirit of the Teachings does not constitute acceptance by the Bahá’í speaker of the entire program of the Fellowship. We should welcome and seize every opportunity that presents itself, however modest it may be, to give a wider publicity to the Cause, to demonstrate its all-inclusiveness and liberal attitude, its independence and purity, without committing ourselves, whether by word or deed, to programs or policies that are not in strict conformity with the tenets of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi hopes that this principle will guide your distinguished Assembly in its dealings with various associations which will increasingly seek, in the days to come, the support of Bahá’í individuals and Assemblies for the attainment of their ends.”


BAHA’I DIRECTORY*[edit]

Secretaries of Local Spiritual Assemblies in the United States
and Canada 1933-1934
[edit]

Mr. W. V. McCoy, 385 N. 4th Ave., Phoenix, Ariz.

Mrs. Laura Kelsey Allen, 198 Bret Harte Road, Berkeley, Calif.

Mrs. Pearl Feldmeyer, Geyserville, Calif.

Mrs. Loretha Beckett, 324 W. Windsor Road, Glendale, Calif.

THE STANDARD OF SACRIFICE


“The important visits you have made to various Bahá’í centers throughout the United States, together with the enthusiasm you have been able to create among the friends are, indeed, highly praiseworthy. You have set a good example before the friends. It is hoped that every one of them will arise to serve, as devotedly as you did, the beloved Temple and will be ready to suffer for its sake every possible deprivation.” (From letter to Mr. Philip Sprague, dated Haifa, June 8, 1933.)

Mrs. Doris E. Goodrick, 1157 So. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, Calif.

Mr. J. V. Matteson, 3225 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland, Calif.

Mrs. S. W. French, 501 Bellefontaine Street, Pasadena, Calif.

Miss Nadeen G. Cooper, 291 Broderick Street, San Francisco, Calif.

Miss Helen E. Starr, 122 W. De La Guerra Street, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Miss Alice Rouleau, Greenacre Drive, Visalia, Calif.

Mr. E. V. Harrison, 1362 Greene Ave., Westmount, Montreal, Canada.

Mrs. Rhoda Harvey, 1460 Bute Street, Vancouver, Canada.

Mrs. L. O. Wilson, 1332 N. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, 4141 Xavier Street, Denver, Colo.

Mrs. Charles P. Hillhouse, 462 First Ave., West Haven, Conn. (for New Haven Assembly).

Mr. George D. Miller, 1717 Kilbourne Place, N. W., Washington, D. C.

Miss Corinne d’Armour, 44 N. W. 10th Ave., Miami, Fla.

Mrs. Josephine E. Jones, Florida Normal and Industrial School, St. Augustine, Fla.

Mrs. E. I. Adolphson, 712 17th Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii.

Miss Sophie Loeding, 4318 Greenview Ave., Chicago, Ill.

Mrs. Carl Scheffler, 1821 Lincoln Street, Evanston, Ill.

Miss Helen Hindson, 922 5th Ave., Peoria, Ill.

Mrs. Riecke Jurgens, 201 W. Calhoun Ave., Springfield, Ill.

Mr. H. J. Snider, 501 W. Penn Ave., Urbana, Ill.

Mrs. Anne W. Bartholomew, 1627 Forest Avenue, Wilmette, Ill.

Mrs. A. E. Keller, 3443 Birchwood Ave., Indianapolis, Ind.

Miss Louise Thompson, Eliot, Me.

Miss Amelia L. Mann, 23 S. Highland Ave., Baltimore, Md.

Mrs. Margaret R. Patzer, Box 31, Cabin John, Md.

Mrs. Z. O. Mapp, Box 526, Avon, Mass. (for Boston Assembly)

Miss Fanny M. Holmes, 103 Webster Street, Worcester, Mass.

Mrs. L. W. Eggleston, 201 E. Kirby Ave., Detroit, Mich.

Mrs. Mary Frazer, R. F. D. No. 1, Box 138, Fruitport, Mich.

Mrs. Helene Bagg Maxfield, 332 Jackson Ave., Muskegon, Mich.

Mrs. Lucille Melendy, 607 N. Magnolia Street, Lansing, Mich.

Miss Fritzi L. Steinmetz, 904 W. 22nd Street, Minneapolis, Minn.

Mrs. Clement Woolson, 1553 Portland Ave., St. Paul, Minn.

Miss Anna E. Van Blarcum, 19 Walnut Crescent, Montclair, N. J.

Mrs. W. U. Witman, 68 Scotland Road, So. Orange, N. J. (for Newark Assembly).

Mr. A. G. Tichenor, 126 Evergreen Place, West Englewood, N. J.

Miss Millie B. Herrick, 18 North Street, Binghamton, N. Y.

Mrs. Morris S. Bush, 77 Livingston Street, Buffalo, N. Y.

Miss Bertha Herklotz, Bahá’í Center, 119 West 57th Street, New York, N. Y.

Mrs. Lillian Stoddard, 40 Caryl Ave., Yonkers, N. Y.

Mrs. H. F. Fenton, 876 Wyley Ave., Akron, Ohio.

Miss Hilda Stauss, 3640 Epworth Avenue, Westwood, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mrs. Dale S. Cole, 3174 Corydon Road, Cleveland, Ohio.

Mrs. Margarete Hespelt-Acebo, R. F. D. 1, Box 100, Black Lick, Ohio. (for Columbus Assembly).

______
* To be followed by a more complete Directory containing names of all members of Local Spiritual Assemblies, names of all members of National Committees, and also Secretaries of National Spiritual Assemblies in other lands.

[Page 4] Mrs. Cecile Hill, 432 Ohio Street, Toledo, Ohio.

Mr. J. W. Latimer, 1927 N. W. 40th Street, Portland, Oregon.

Miss Jessie E. Revell, 2531 North 19th Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

Mrs. Ruth Randall Brown, Box 9, Ingomar, Pa. (for Pittsburgh Assembly).

Miss Chrisella Newell, Monroe, Wash.

Miss Elsa Nordquist, 4508 18th Ave., N. E., Seattle, Wash.

Mrs. Isabelle Campbell, 1427 So. Madison Street, Spokane, Wash.

Mr. Louis J. Voelz, 6108 Sheridan Road, Kenosha, Wis.

Mrs. Orol J. Clark, 1702 N. Farwell Ave., Milwaukee, Wis.

Mr. Harold R. Olsen, 1332 Russet Street, Racine, Wis.


THE BAHA’I WORLD, VOLUME IV[edit]

The Guardian has given special emphasis to this international Bahá’í work on the appearance of each successive volume.

The American believers are urged, one and all, to acquire a copy if possible, and if not to borrow one from the Lending Library of their Spiritual Assembly. In this work we have before us the mighty worldwide panorama of the Cause, its international character, as in no other Bahá’í text. It is, besides, a necessary reference book in its various address lists, bibliographies and reproductions of such important documents as the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, as well as its extensive quotations from the Bahá’í writings. The present volume contains a large number of special articles, preceded by the Guardian’s “The Goal of a New World Order.” Its large collection of photographs will acquaint all the friends with the sacred shrines and places associated with the Cause, and with representative groups of their spiritual brothers and sisters in other lands.

In size Volume IV represents a great enlargement over previous volumes, having a total of 547 pages.

All its material was gathered together and sent to Shoghi Effendi, who added new material and arranged the contents for publication. We quote his words concerning The Bahá’í World, written in December, 1928: “This unique record of worldwide Bahá’í activity attempts to present to the general public, as well as to the student and scholar, those historical facts and fundamental principles that constitute the distinguishing features of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to this age.”

Copies may be obtained from the Bahá’í Publishing Committee at $2.50.

Recognizing its value in the field of general publicity and also teaching, the National Spiritual Assembly has placed copies in newspaper editorial offices and also with the directors of important educational, peace and religious organizations. Local Spiritual Assemblies can render great service by donating copies to Public Libraries.


COMMITTEE ON HISTORY OF THE BAHA’I CAUSE IN AMERICA[edit]

Acting at the request of the Guardian, the National Spiritual Assembly has recently appointed an important special committee to undertake a brief but complete history of the Cause in the United States and Canada. Its members are: Mr. Charles Mason Remey, Chairman, Mrs. Mariam Haney, Mrs. May Maxwell.

This committee has been requested to direct and supervise the preparation of the history of the Bahá’í Cause in America, with authority to request Local Spiritual Assemblies and also groups to delegate qualified believers to be associated with the committee, and with authority to appeal to individual believers for assistance and to search the Archives and any other available sources of information.

Local Assemblies and individual believers are requested to extend every possible cooperation for the early and successful completion of this unique task.


CONTACTS COMMITTEE[edit]

Another new national committee recently appointed is the Contacts Committee consisting of Miss Martha Woodsum, secretary, Mrs. Ruth Brandt, Miss Lucy Marshall, Mr. Rowland Estall and Miss Sophie Loeding.

This committee came into being as the result of the very successful experience of a local committee appointed by the New York Spiritual Assembly last year. The local committee sent Bahá’í literature and personal letters to a large number of prominent people, with excellent results.

The Contacts Committee will extend this “teaching by correspondence” work on a national scale. The National Assembly is confident that its activities will fill an important place in our efforts to carry the Message to the general public.

Local Assemblies are requested to cooperate by suggesting names of influential people of liberal outlook, sending the names and addresses directly to the nearest regional member of the Contacts Committee. (Miss Woodsum covers the Southern as well as Eastern States.)


PACIFIC COAST BAHA’I SUMMER SCHOOL[edit]

The Program which has been issued by the Committee of the Pacific Coast Bahá’í Summer School for its Seventh Session, from July 23 to August 5, 1933, is very impressive. The believers in those States can be heartily congratulated for their privilege of attending such a well developed program of conference and instruction.

The essential elements of the program consist of Round Table Discussions, Training and Teaching Children, Public Meetings, Unity Feast, Teaching Conference, and Courses of Study on the following subjects: “Influence of Religion on Society,” “The History of the Bahá’í Faith,” and “Principles of Bahá’í Administration.”

The classes are conducted by Prof. N. F. Ward, Mrs. Helen Bishop, Miss Marion Holley, Mrs. A. R. Seto, Mrs. Louise Caswell, Mrs. E. G. Cooper, Mr. H. R. Hurlbut, Mr. George O. Latimer, Mr. Ali M. Yazdi and Mr. Leroy Ioas.


PUBLISHING ANNOUNCEMENTS[edit]

The Publishing Committee wishes to remind the friends that “Seven Valleys” has been out of stock for many years, and that according to the Guardian’s instruction this Tablet cannot be reprinted until a new and better translation has been made.

On account of the high cost of printing The Bahá’í World, Volume IV, Local Librarians can be given a discount of only 10% on orders for this book. If the Publishing Committee were to extend to Assemblies the usual discount of 33⅓ per cent, it would be obliged to raise the price of the book, and this would be undesirable.

The important compilation on inter-racial amity made by Mrs. Mariam Haney and Mr. Louis Gregory, published under the title of “Oneness of Mankind” has been reduced in price from 25c to 15c per copy.

When the present supply of Autographed Edition copies of “The Dawn Breakers” is exhausted, no more will be available. Believers who wished a copy of the beautiful edition autographed by the Guardian will be well advised to order it without delay.