Bahá’í News/Issue 26/Text
THE BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
OF THE BAHA’IS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Office of the Secretary
P. O. BOX 139, STATION D, NEW YORK CITY“O friends of ’Abdu’l-Bahá and his co-sharers and partners in the servitude of the Lord of Hosts! Verily the greatest affair and the most important matter today is to establish a Mashriqu’l-Adhkar and to found a Temple from which the voice of praise may rise to the Kingdom of the majestic Lord. Blessings be upon you for having thought to do so and intending to erect such an edifice, advancing all in devoting your wealth in this great purpose and in this splendid work. You will soon see the angels of confirmation following after you and the hosts of reinforcement crowding before you.”
“When the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar is accomplished, when the lights are emanating therefrom, the righteous ones are presenting themselves therein, the prayers are performed with supplication towards the mysterious Kingdom, the voice of glorification is raised to the Lord, the Supreme, then the believers shall rejoice, the hearts shall be dilated and overflow with the love of the All–living and Self–existent. The people shall hasten to worship in that heavenly Temple, the fragrances of God will be elevated, the divine teachings will be established in the hearts like the establishment of the Spirit in mankind; the people will then stand firm in the Cause of your Lord, the Merciful.”—’Abdu’l-Bahá.
National Assembly Letter No. 4 1928–1929[edit]
To the Local Spiritual Assemblies and Delegates of the 1928 Convention.
Beloved friends in El—Abhá:
Have any of us realized deeply enough just how important it is to build the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar on this continent at the present time?
’Abdu’l-Bahá informed us that the standard of Universal Peace must be raised in America. He also made it clear in a written Tablet that the nations had not learned the spiritual lesson of Peace even from the unparalleled suffering of the European war.
How can the power of Bahá’u’lláh be manifested to the peoples whose souls are not yet turned to the spiritual realm—who are still incapable of recognizing the person of the Manifestation and the Center of the Covenant?
The Mashriqu’l-Adhkar expresses all of the truth of the Bahá’í Faith in visible, concrete form. It can be understood by millions who long for a religion of peace but whose vision is confined to the material plane. The Master again and again spoke of the mighty power which would be released when the Temple arose in all its beauty and majesty of universal Truth.
May we not connect all these facts together and appreciate our responsibility in building the Temple which will be a strong bulwark between humanity and the chaos of another war? Our human ambitions, our personal desires and our material fortunes would all be swept away by another international conflict. Whatever we dedicate to the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar—in thought, in loving enthusiasm, in self-sacrifice through regular donations—will endure forever, and have an infinitely greater effect than if employed in the ways of men.
The supreme call from the world of light, uttered through the lips of our beloved Guardian, is for utter devotion to the one task of completing the Temple at Wilmette.
Yours faithfully, in service to Shoghi Effendi,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’IS OF The UNITED STATES AND CANADA
- Allen McDaniel, chairman,
- Alfred E. Lunt, Vice-Chairman,
- Horace Holley, Secretary,
- Carl Scheffler, Treasurer,
- Roy C. Wilhelm,
- May Maxwell,
- Louis G. Gregory,
- Amelia Collins,
- Nellie S. French.
National Assembly Letter No. 5 1923-1929[edit]
To the Local Spiritual Assemblies and Delegates of the 1928 Convention.
Beloved friends in El-Abhá:
In order that the friends throughout the country may better understand the situation regarding the growth of the National Bahá’í Fund and the success of the Plan of Unified Action, we have analyzed the record of contributions received during these four months from April 1st to July 31st.
During these four months $51,275.70 has been received. For this amount a total of 401 receipts has been issued. The amounts ranged from 75c to $25,000. There were 225 receipts issued for amounts ranging from $1 to $25; 72 receipts for amounts from $25 to $50; 53 receipts for amounts from $50 to $100; 29 receipts from $100 to $200; 15 receipts from $200 to $500; 5 receipts from $500 to $1000; 1 receipt for $2000; 1 receipt for $25,000.
It must be borne in mind that these receipts not only represent individual contributions, but the greater number of them are issued to the treasurers of assemblies. This will give everyone a pretty clear idea of how the contributions are coming in. The month of July has been the best so far since the beginning of the fiscal year, not from the point of total amount received, but for the reason that a greater number of individuals participated. One hundred and thirty-seven receipts were issued representing a total of $7,833.17.
|
of the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada
P.O. Box 139, Station D, New York City Office of the Treasurer 1821 Lincoln Street Evanston, Ill.
|
On July 31, 1928, the total cash, securities on hand in the national treasury was $40,889.96, which is about 10 per cent of the amount we aim to raise during the coming five months left to the close of the three year Plan of Unified Action. Of the amount on hand $25,000 has been invested in United States Certificates of Deposit that were bought at a price which will give us a yield of 4.62 per cent. These Certificates will mature Dec. 15, 1928. This issue was chosen instead of a later issue because it is firmly believed that the entire amount of $400,000 will be on hand before the end of the year, in which case all the funds will be needed to start the construction work on the Temple.
The National treasurer wishes to point out to the friends that inasmuch as the National Spiritual Assembly is making every effort to reduce the expenditures in the National activities of the Cause, the believers in every assembly should likewise do so in their activities. Every means should be used to save as much as possible from the income of each assembly so that the largest percentage may be turned over to the National Bahá’i Fund. He would suggest also that each assembly immediately institute a system of budgeting its own expenses, and instructing the treasurer to regularly make report to the National treasurer of income and disbursements, so that through this means the National Spiritual Assembly may be in a position to appreciate the possibilities of each assembly giving better than before and perhaps also be placed in a position to intelligently advise the treasurers of the different assemblies regarding their work of collecting funds to bring the Plan of Unified Action to success this year.
As promised in our Letter No. 1, we enclose financial reports for June and July, and will send you similar statements at regular intervals during the remainder of the year. But this information, to be useful in showing the progress of the Plan of Unified Action, and stimulating greater devotion and sacrifice, ought to be shared with all members of each local Bahá’i community at the Nineteen-Day Feasts. By placing our collective Bahá’i interests on the basis of the Bahá’i Calendar, we not only insure frequent consultation and inspiration from the Teachings, but also take a long step forward on the path of the worldwide administration which the Guardian was instructed to establish in the Will of ’Abdu’l-Bahá.
We take this opportunity to bring to your attention the fact that the National Assembly has recently voted to request all believers in the United States and Canada (not believers in other countries) to assist in the development of the NEWS LETTER by contributing 50c per year toward its cost. Will each local Spiritual Assembly cooperate in bringing this matter before the friends, collecting this special contribution from each active member, and transmitting the sums received to the National treasurer in the usual way. It should be presented as a voluntary offering, and not made to work a hardship upon any believer.
In conclusion, it is a great joy to state that the sum of $10,000 has been added to the permanent Temple Construction Fund since the July financial report was prepared. This makes a total of $35,000 in that Fund, which must amount to $400,000 before work on the Temple can begin.
Yours faithfully, in service to Shoghi Effendi.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’IS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA,
- Allen McDaniel, chairman,
- Alfred E. Lunt, vice–chairman,
- Horace Holley, secretary,
- Carl Scheffler, treasurer,
- Roy C. Wilhelm,
- May Maxwell,
- Louis G. Gregory,
- Amelia Collins,
- Nellie S. French.
Meeting of the National Assembly[edit]
Since the publication of NEWS LETTER
No. 25, the National Spiritual
Assembly has held one meeting—at
Green Acre, Eliot, Maine, August 18
and 19, 1928. To summarize the matters
acted upon at this meeting: after
full consideration of the essential subject
of the Plan of Unified Action,
the National Assembly appointed Mrs.
Corinne True to the new office of
Financial Secretary, in which capacity
this experienced and devoted believer
will assist the Treasurer in his correspondence,
cooperate with him in insuring
prompt payment of current
bills and accounts, countersign all
checks, keep the National Assembly
regularly informed of the progress of
the National Fund, and coordinate the
office of the National Treasurer with
the Finance Committee as secretary
of the latter committee without being
a member thereof. Another step in
the direction of stimulating the Plan
of Unified Action was the appointment
of a new committee, to be known as
Committee on Plan of Unified Action,
consisting of Mrs. Corinne True, Mrs.[Page 3]
Elizabeth Nourse and Mr. Carl Scheffler,
with the request that they carry on
regular correspondence with the American
Assemblies and groups in behalf
of the National Fund, to assist in
raising the required sum of $400,000
for the Temple. The sum of $10,000
was voted into the permanent Temple
Construction Fund, making this Fund
total $35,000 as of August 31, 1928.
A joint meeting was held with the
Green Acre Committee, which reported
on current matters and made recommendations
for next year. In view
of the fact that the National Assembly
had before it several proposals from
individual believers which involved
methods of raising Bahá’i funds
through commercial activities carried
on either in the name of the Cause or
making use of Bahá’i administrative
facilities, the Assembly felt it necessary
to record in its minutes the fact
that it could not recognize nor approve
any such commercial undertaking. It
was felt inadvisable to sanction commercial
activities of a nature tending
to divert the interest and attention of
the friends from the vital spiritual objects
of the Cause, especially in view of
the Guardian’s standard of sacrifice
as the basis of our collective success
in building the Temple. Another consideration
was the fact that the
amounts which might be donated to
the Bahá’i Fund from the profits of sales
made to believers would at best represent
only a comparatively small
fraction of the money spent on the
transaction. On the other hand, the
National Assembly encourages all possible
enterprise on the part of individual
believers in increasing their earnings
through legitimate business and
professional activities, for the purpose
of contributing more to the Fund. The
Legal Committee was requested to examine
copies of the proposed Indenture
of Trust and report with a recommendation
at the next meeting. The
Treasurer and Financial Secretary
were instructed to send out to all
American Bahá’i communities a financial
report every nineteen days, to be
available at the Nineteen-Day Feasts.
Meetings in Temple Foundation Hall[edit]
In order to insure the most effective use of the Foundation Hall for teaching purposes, the National Assembly in July appointed the following Foundation Hall Program Committee: Mrs. Corinne True, chairman; Mrs. Shelley Parker, secretary; Mrs. Sarah Walrath, treasurer; Dr. William F. Slater; Mr. Willis Hilpert.
The result of their devoted services
|
Letter from local Assembly of Kenosha, Wis. To the members of the N.S.A. Beloved co-workers,— Your recent letter brought great joy to all here and we want you to know that we will do all we can to help the plan of Unified Action. Since you wrote us a short time ago suggesting that our Feasts be observed with the threefold service, we immediately adopted it and are now doing our contributing then instead of on the 9th of each month as in the past. Our believers are now contributing about three times as much to the P. of U. A. as they did previous to the Convention. Although nearly all of us are heavily in debt with mortgages, etc., and earn only small wages here, and our contributions small as a result, we know you appreciate our efforts and will not expect too much from us. Your statement that the Nat. Office had been discontinued and various other expenses cut to the minimum, was great and wonderful news, because the N.S.A. is intended to be the example for all the local Spiritual Assemblies to follow and all sacrifices you make will be a great inspiration to us in the field. Keep up the great work of expense cutting (this year at least) and tell all the believers about it and we are sure you will be amazed at the vast amount of co-operation and funds you will receive from everywhere. Such sacrifices on the part of the N.S.A. are what all the American believers have been patiently waiting for, and we heartily thank you for the excellent start you have now made. The believers here all send their Abha love and await more good news from you.
Louis J. VOELZ, Sec.,
6108 Sheridan, Rd.,
Kenosha, Wis.
|
has been to arrange a programme of public meetings, the attendance of which has steadily increased. During August, 1928, the following addresses were delivered: “The Universal Ideals of the Bahá’i Temple,” by Mrs. Corinne True, August 5; “Harmonizing the Bibles of the World with Modern Science,” by Mr. Albert Vail, August 12: “The Universal Religion of the Future,” by Mr. Albert Vail, August 19; and “The Lives of the Great Bahá’i Educators,” by Mrs. Corinne True, August 26. Under present conditions, the Foundation Hall at Wilmette represents the supreme rallying point for believers throughout the Middle West, and it is to be hoped that regional meetings will be arranged at suitable intervals this year.
Nineteen-Day Feast Dates[edit]
In view of the essential importance which the Nineteen-Day Feasts now have, on account of their threefold character as recently explained by Shoghi Effendi through the National Assembly, the dates of all Nineteen-Day Feasts from now until the 1929 Annual Convention are given here for the convenience of the friends.
- September 27, 1928
- October 16, 1928
- November 4, 1928
- November 23, 1923
- December 12, 1928
- December 31, 1928
- January 19, 1929
- February 7, 1929
- March 2, 1929
- March 21, 1929
- April 9, 1929
- April 28, 1929
Activities of Bahá’i Students at Beirut[edit]
In a letter reporting the election of the new Spiritual Assembly at Beirut, the activities of the students are mentioned as follows: “It is a great pleasure and privilege to have in Beirut a number of Bahá’i students from different Persian cities. These young men, who have realized the importance of Bahá’i education and who know that their future influence depends upon its careful assimilation, have organized regular Sunday meetings where they discuss questions related to the Cause, for the development of their spiritual power. They have already sent out their yearly program, which shows the scope of their activities.”
Mrs. Ford in England[edit]
From the general Assembly letter of June issued by the New York Spiritual Assembly we learn that Mrs. Mary Hanford Ford has been in England and spent three weeks giving the Message at meetings arranged for her by Mr. and Mrs. Romer. Mrs. Ford then went to Antwerp to attend the International Peace Congress, and to Amsterdam as delegate to the International Esperanto Congress, where she spoke on the Cause in the Esperanto tongue.
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA’IS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Statement of Cash Receipts and Disbursements for Period June l, to July 31, 1928.
CASH AND SECURITIES| On Hand June 1, 1928 | |||
| Northern Trust Co. | $ 8,412.76 | ||
| Northern Trust Co. Savings Account | 400.00 | ||
| Northern Trust Co. Spe. | 7.30 | ||
| State Bank & Trust Co. | 29,348.00 | ||
| Stocks & Bonds | 200.00 | $38,368.06 |
| CASH RECEIPTS | |||
| For Temple | 84.53 | ||
| For Budget | 1,655.82 | ||
| Interest | 58.44 | $1,798.79 | |
| $40,166.85 |
| DISBURSEMENTS | |||
| Temple | $213.55 | ||
| Teaching | 310.50 | ||
| Star of the West | 22.50 | ||
| International Fund | 360.00 | ||
| Publication | 16.82 | ||
| Administration | 1,169.84 | $2,093.21 | |
| $38,073.64 |
| CAPITAL EXPENDITURES | |||
| Foundation Hall-Temple .. | $2,502.69 |
| On Hand June 30, 1928 | |||
| Northern Trust Co. | $3,845.36 | ||
| Northern Trust Co. Savings Account | 400.00 | ||
| Northern Trust Co. Spe. | 7.30 | ||
| State Bank & Trust Co. | 31,118.29 | ||
| Stocks & Bonds | 200.00 | $35,570.95 |
| Northern Trust Co. | $3,845.36 | ||
| Northern Trust Co. Savings | 400.00 | ||
| Northern Trust Co. Special | 7.30 | ||
| State Bank & Trust Co. | 31,118.29 | ||
| Stocks & Bonds | 200.00 | $35,570.95 |
| CASH RECEIPTS | |||
| For Temple | 703.51 | ||
| For Budget | 6,462.66 | ||
| Interest Earned | 56.56 | ||
| Refund from Pub. Comm. | 700.00 | $7,922.73 | |
| $43,493.68 |
| DISBURSEMENTS | |||
| Temple | $168.02 | ||
| Teaching | 407.00 | ||
| Greenacre | $730.90 | ||
| Less—Amount Cont. | 17.00 | 713.90 | |
| Star of the West | 400.00 | ||
| Publication | 54.80 | ||
| Administration | 579.10 | $2,322.82 | |
| $41,170.86 |
| CAPITAL EXPENDITURES | |||
| Foundation Hall–Temple | $280.90 | ||
| CAPITAL EXPENDITURES | $40,889.96 |
| July 31, 1928 | |||
| Northern Trust Co. | $6,228.82 | ||
| Northern Trust Co. Savings | 400.00 | ||
| Northern Trust Co. Special | 7.30 | ||
| State Bank & Trust Co. | 34,053.84 | ||
| Liberty Bonds | 50.00 | ||
| Stocks | 150.00 | $40,889.96 |
New Bahá’i Literature[edit]
The Publishing Committee calls the attention of the friends to the following titles, which may be obtained from Bahá’i Publishing Committee, P. O. Box, 348, Grand Central Station, New York City, for the price indicated, plus postage. A discount of 10 per cent is allowed on orders from Assembly librarians amounting to $10.00 or more.
The Coming of the Glory, by Florence E. Pinchon. This work, which has received the cordial endorsement of Shoghi Effendi, has appeared serially in The Bahá’i Magazine. A beautiful gift book, $0.80.
The Divine Secret for Human Civilization, compiled by Miss Storey, Geneva, Switzerland, and published with the Guardian’s approval. It contains the Master’s interpretation of the Bahá’i Principles; the passage from “The Mysterious Forces of Civilization” in which ’Abdu’l-Bahá reveals the condition for Universal Peace; the Fourteen Points laid down by President Wilson, and the Covenant of the League of Nations. In two editions. Paper, $0.60; Parchment, $1.00.
Bahá’i Administration, containing extracts from the Will of ’Abdu’l-Bahá, the complete text of the letters of Shoghi Effendi to the American N.S.A. and believers, and the text of the Declaration of Trust adopted by the American N.S.A. This work is essential to full understanding of the constitutional basis of the Cause in its local, national and international aspects, $1.50.
Voice Record, preserving the voice of ’Abdu’l-Bahá, $1.00.
Leather Binder, for holding copies of the NEWS LETTER and other Bahá’i records of letterhead sizes. Stamped with the Greatest Name, $1.50.
Bahá’i Calendar, relating Bahá’i dates to the ordinary calendar for March, 1928 to March, 1929. Designed by Curtis Kelsey, $0.10.
