Bahá’í News/Issue 34/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 CITYO ye Daughters and Sons of the Kingdom!
When the proclamation of God was exalted and spread in the East and the West and the souls became attracted to the Words of God, and heard the call with perfect devotion, joy, happiness and gladness, all the veils of doubt were torn and they were saved from imitating their fathers and ancestors; they beheld with their own eyes, and not through those of others; they heard with their own ears, and not through the ears of others, and they comprehended with their own minds, and not through the minds of others. Such souls were the lovers of light, and when they beheld the morn of Reality and the light of the Divine Sun, they became attracted, enkindled and believed in the Kingdom of God. They became the receivers of benevolence and the manifestors of light, because of the Dawning Point of the Mysteries.
They chanted the verses of righteousness, and turned unto the Kingdom of Abhá. Blessed are such souls who have recognized the Promised Beauty and have entered under the shadow of the Lord of Hosts.
Such souls are today the army of salvation, they are the hosts of light, they are occupied with heavenly victories in the East and West, and are engaged in dominating the hearts in Asia and America. At every moment they receive assistance from the Kingdom of Abhá, and every day an army will descend to them from the Supreme Concourse; this is why you see that when a single person will reach a country or city and begin to teach, he will at once see his words having great effect in the Holy Souls and the light of assurance and belief will shine in splendor.
The call of the Kingdom is like a spirit; it produces a sudden effect on the nerves, arteries, hearts and souls and regenerates the people; baptizes them with water, spirit and fire; the second birth will be produced and new people will be raised; but other souls are like those whom Christ mentioned in the Gospels, saying that they have hearts but do not comprehend, and I cured them.
In short, I say that these souls were awakened and quickened by the proclamation of God, but the others are still in ignorance, doubtful and deprived from the sea of life, and are deprived of the benevolence of the Lord of Signs, have become shareless from the heavenly beauties, portionless and remote from Heavenly blessings; they have soiled themselves with the things of this perishable world and neglected the everlasting world and eternal life.
They satisfied themselves with a drop and became shareless from the waves of the Sea; they attracted their hearts to a ray of the sun and became remote and indifferent to the Sun of Reality.
It is a source of great regret that a man in this enlightened age and divine century will become deprived of the heavenly blessings.
If a tree will not become fertile and green through these life-giving breezes of the spring season, and will not bring forth blossoms and fruit and leaves, then in what season may it become verdant and fertile and at what time will it bear fruit?
Be assured, it will be forever and ever deprived and for all eternity hopeless.
Now you ought to give thanks to God that you have attained to a share of the effulgence of the Sun of Reality and have had a portion from the heavenly Grace.
Having heard the call of God, you have attained to life through the breezes of the Holy Spirit, and have entered into the eternal world and received everlasting Mercy.
You have attained to such favors that you are able to shine forever, like unto the morning star, through centuries and ages. Like the life-giving breezes of the paradise of Abhá, you will become the cause of eternal life for many people.
- Upon you be Bahá’i-Abhá.
- (Signed) ’ABDU’L-BAHÁ ABBAS.
Translated by Moneva Khanum,
Acca, Syria, November 12, 1908.
Meeting of the National Assembly[edit]
The meeting held by the American National Spiritual Assembly in New York on September 14 and 15, 1929, is summarized for the information of the friends.
The following cablegram sent to Shoghi Effendi on August 30 was recorded: “National Assembly sends devoted love Guardian and household, praying victory Bahá’u’lláh’s Cause of universal peace.” Loving greeting and grateful appreciation was conveyed through the chairman to Miss Fanny Knobloch, recently returned from South Africa. A letter drafted by Mr. Louis Gregory for the Inter-racial Amity Committee, and sent to Mrs. Hoover at the White House by this body on August 10, was cordially approved. Consultation was held by Miss Orcella Rexford concerning the best methods for sending teachers to lecture on the Cause following her lectures in various cities. The meeting received from Mrs. Loulie Mathews a photographic reproduction of a Tablet
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of the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada
P.O. Box 139, Station D, New York City Address for telegrams Horace Holley, 129 East 10th Street New York City Office of the Treasurer 1821 Lincoln Street Evanston Ill. “The NEWS LETTER which you have lately initiated fulfills a very vital function and has been started admirably well. I would urge you to enlarge its scope, as much as your resources permit, that in time it may devote a special section to every phase of your activities, administrative, devotional, humanitarian, financial, educational and otherwise. That it may attain its object, it must combine the essential qualities of accuracy, reliability, thoroughness, dignity and wisdom. It should become a great factor in promoting understanding, providing information on Bahá’i activity, both local and foreign, in stimulating interest, in combating and safeguarding the institutions of the Cause. It should be made as representative as possible, should be replete with news, up-to-date in its information, and should arouse the keenest interest among believers and admirers alike in every corner of the globe. I cherish great hopes for its immediate future, and I trust you will devote your special attention to its development, and by devising well–conceived and world-wide measures transform this NEWS LETTER into what I hope will become the foremost Bahá’i Journal of the world.”—— SHOGHI EFFENDI |
in the Bab’s handwriting, made by her from the original in the British Museum. The financial report sent to the meeting is reprinted elsewhere. The report of the Green Acre Committee was approved. Mr. Lunt as attorney reported that the annual meeting of the Green Acre Fellowship on August 12, 1929, had voted unanimously to authorize the Green Acre Trustees to execute an Indenture of Trust conveying Green Acre land and properties to trustees for the benefit of the National Spiritual Assembly. By this action, Green Acre is under the full Bahá’i jurisdiction and control in the same manner as the Temple property at Wilmette. Mr. McDaniel reported having made a complete survey of Green Acre, from which surveyor’s maps are to be prepared for permanent record. The treasurer was authorized to pay such duty as may be necessary on the silk rug donated by Shoghi Effendi to be sold for the Temple Fund. A special committee was appointed to arrange a mortgage on Mr. Bourgeois’ house. Mr. McDaniel as an engineer was authorized to take suitable steps, subject to approval by a special committee of three, to protect the Temple shore land from being undermined by rising water and storms on Lake Michigan. Voted to request all committees using appropriations from the National Fund to render monthly statements and draw their allowance by formal requisition. The secretary was instructed to secure printed copies of the minutes of the 14th Session of the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations, which approved the petition from the Spiritual Assembly of Baghdad in the matter of the houses of Bahá’u’lláh. A uniform letterhead was adopted for all national committees. Interesting and constructive reports were received from the Teaching Committee, Pacific Coast Summer School Committee, and Western States Teaching Committees. The Publishing Committee reported that a new catalog will be issued very shortly. A report from the Reviewing Committee was approved. Reports were received from the Assemblies of Urbana, Los Angeles and Lansing, and the new Bahá’i group of Phoenix, Arizona.
RATIFICATION OF INDENTURE OF TRUST[edit]
By Annual Convention of Bahá’i Temple Unity
The legal processes necessary for the transference of title of the Temple property at Wilmette from Bahá’i Temple Unity, the inter-Assembly body organized in 1909, to Trustees for the benefit of, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’is of the United States and Canada, were concluded at the recent Annual Convention by the unanimous adoption of the resolution quoted below. The resolution is quoted in full, that the record may be clear and complete to all the friends.
“WHEREAS, the Bahá’i Temple Unity, a religious corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Illinois, has heretofore by a certain Indenture of Trust, dated the sixth day of October, 1928, and executed by it and by its Trustees or Executive Board, conveyed to Allen B. McDaniel, of Washington, D. C.; Alfred E. Lunt, of Beverly, Massachusetts; Horace Holley, of New York City, New York; Carl Scheffler, of Evanston, Illinois; Roy C. Wilhelm, of West Englewood, New Jersey; May Maxwell, of Montreal, Canada; Louis G. Gregory, of Boston, Massachusetts; Amelia Collins, of Princeton, Massachusetts; and Nellie S. French, of Pasadena, California, and to their successors in trust, as Trustees for the use and benefit of the Bahá’i Religion revealed and established by Bahá’u’lláh, its founder, elucidated by ’Abdu’l-Bahá, its interpreter and exemplar, and by Shoghi Effendi, its guardian and his successors, and administered, exercised and carried on in behalf and for the benefit of the Bahá’i Cause and of the believers in the United States and Canada under a Declaration of Trust dated at New York City, April 4, 1927, and as thereafter from time to time amended, and subject also to certain terms and provisions stated and set forth in said Indenture of Trust, recorded in said Cook County as document No. 10204534 in Book 26427 at Page 586 on the thirteenth day of November, 1928; conveying certain real estate at Wilmette, in Cook County, Illinois, therein described;
“AND WHEREAS Further said conveyance is in accordance with Bahá’i principles and organization;
“AND WHEREAS Further, it was intended by said deed aforesaid to convey all of the lands and buildings at Wilmette, Illinois, title to which stood in said Bahá’i Temple Unity, but by clerical error a small portion of said land was omitted;
“AND WHEREAS, This Unity is the owner of a certain parcel of land located in Muskegon, Michigan, the use of which was dedicated to Temple purposes, and to purposes similar
TO COMPLETE THE TEMPLE FUND BY JANUARY 1, 1930[edit]
A Message from the National Spiritual Assembly
In order to place contracts and begin the actual construction of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár by the opening of the next Annual Convention, the Temple building fund of $400,000.00 must be completed by January 1, 1930.
The interval between January 1 and the date of the Convention is required for that important preliminary work involving the selection of building materials and the placing of contracts, in which the services of leading architects and engineers will be secured in a consultative and advisory capacity.
Since the Guardian has declared that no expense must be incurred until the full sum of $400,000.00 is on hand (in cash not pledges), the National Assembly will be unable to carry out this preliminary work, with the assistance of a consultative board of architects and engineers whose advice and experience is so vastly essential in the case of a structure of this size, complexity and importance, until the fund is complete.
Hence, as far as the date of the actual construction is concerned, to fall short of the full sum by a few thousand dollars is exactly the same as failing by a hundred thousand.
To realize the supreme ideal of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in America—actual construction of the Temple on or before the opening of the 1930 Convention—what amount must we all contribute between now and January 1?
Consider the following financial statement:
| April 1, 1929, balance on hand | $212,462.82 | ||
| Receipts to August 1 | 115,640.39 | ||
| Total | $328,103.21 | ||
| April 1 to August 31, budget expense | $ 12,819.52 | ||
| April 1 to August 31, capital expense | 1,338.06 | ||
| April 1 to August 31, Convention minutes | 368.91 | ||
| $ 14,526.49 | |||
| August 31, balance on hand | $313,576.72 | ||
| Received since August 31 | 8,852.11 | ||
| 8,852.11 | |||
| September 14, balance | $322,438.83 |
This shows the sum of $400,000.00 less $322,438.83, or $77,561.17 is still
needed, to which must be added the amount to be spent on budget between September
1, 1929, and January 1, 1930, estimated at $8,000.00.
Thus, if the American believers are to be successful in their Temple building plans, the sum of $85,561.17 must be contributed during the next three months.
The members of the National Spiritual Assembly bring these facts to the attention of local Assemblies, local groups and individual Bahá’is throughout the United States and Canada, in the profound conviction that the believers will share their view that the goal will be attained. Let us concentrate our spiritual and material forces as never before!
The following message from Shoghi Effendi was received by Mr. McDaniel on August 1, 1929:
My dear and precious co-worker:
Your subsequent letter of June 19 has also been received and I hasten, though exceedingly tired by my unceasing and ever extending activities, to assure you of my keen eagerness to witness a definite achievement regarding the Plan of Unified Action by the American believers. I trust and pray that before the end of this year the full amount will have been subscribed and I would again urge the utmost economy and careful consideration of every preliminary expenditure. A body of experts should be consulted that unnecessary expenditures may be strictly avoided. May the Beloved guide you and sustain you in your efforts.
- Your true brother,
to those set forth in the Indenture of Trust;
“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED That the action and conveyance of the Bahá’i Temple Unity in conveying said land aforesaid to said nine persons as Trustees as set forth aforesaid, and the further action of said nine persons in accepting title to said real estate as Trustees as herein set forth be and each of said matters and things is hereby ratified and approved and confirmed and further that said Allen B. McDaniel, Alfred E. Lunt, Horace Holley, Carl Scheffler, Roy C. Wilhelm, May Maxwell, Louis G. Gregory, Amelia Collins and Nellie S. French, Trustees, and their successors in trust be and they are hereby authorized and directed to manage and administer said property as Trustees in accordance with the terms and provisions of said Indenture of Trust, and also further that said Bahá’i Temple Unity do execute a further conveyance conveying the balance and any and all further land at Wilmette, Illinois, title to which now stands, of record in its name, to the said same nine Trustees aforesaid and to their successors in trust and subject to the same trusts, powers and obligations as set forth in said Indenture of Trust aforesaid and said aforementioned Declaration of Trust; and also further described in said further conveyance above referred to.”
CONVENTION MINUTES[edit]
Extracts from the Minutes of the 1929 Convention
Mr. McDaniel’s Report on Temple Construction Plans
“In our negotiations with the late
Major Burt, who was our engineer,
employed by the National Spiritual
Assembly, and working in close cooperation
with our architect, Mr. Bourgeois,
we knew that the structural
drawings and specifications covering
the mechanical and electrical work
had been made as a condition precedent
for securing the permit for the
construction on this site, that is, to
build this present structure to date, but
those were not at all complete, as Major
Burt informed us at the time, and
over a period of some years, because
you remember that the major portion
of this structure was finished along
about seven years ago, and that he suggested
that from time to time money
be appropriated so that he, in his spare
time, could go ahead with the preparation
of the structural drawings, but
[Page 4]
no agreement was reached with Major
Burt, on account of our feeling that
we needed to economize in order that
we might carry out the wishes of our
Guardian and accumulate the necessary
$400,000. I think the cablegram
which our Secretary has just read
confirms the wisdom of your national
representatives in that matter.
[Published in May, 1929, NEWS LETTER.]
“We may say that the preliminary investigation that we made during the past two months has not cost the Temple Construction Fund one single cent. So that fund is still untouched, in accordance with the wishes of the Guardian.”
“Now, we have, during a period of about two months, carried on an investigation which has largely consisted in securing available facts with relation to the present status of the architectural drawings and of the structural drawings, and what would be needed in the way of further architectural details and structural plans, and also plans and specifications to cover the mechanical and electrical and the other utilities.
“Of course, we will have to have those for this structure when completed, and in getting those facts, and in accordance with the request of the National Spiritual Assembly, we have consulted with the believers in the Cause as far as has been available and those who are specializing in architectural and engineering work, and also with such outside authorities as were available.
“This consultation has included a number of the believers, Mr. Remey and Mr. Potter and Mr. Fred Woodward and Mr. Roger Boyle of Boston, and Mr. Maxwell of Montreal, not a complete list, but just mentioning some of them. Also, the consultation has included the Temple Maintenance Committee, the other two members of the Temple Maintenance Committee, Mr. Carl Scheffler and Mr. Matthisen, who have consulted with Mr. Struven, our care-taker at the Temple, Mr. Bourgeois, our architect, and with the local engineers here who previously were associated with the work under Major Burt’s direction, Mr. Brown, of Smith and Brown, Engineers, and Mr. Shapiro.
“Mr. Shapiro is the structural engineer who made the actual structural drawings, the original structural drawings, under the direction of Mr. Bourgeois.
“We have also consulted with such official sources as the United States Bureau of Standards, the Portland Cement Association here, the Aluminum Company of America, the American Brass Company, and other concerns that we thought might be interested in and might later be called upon to cooperate with us in the construction of this great building. Our purpose has been, friends, simply to gather together all available and pertinent data, first, for the information of the National Assembly on March 16th, and then, after a discussion of this report, your National Spiritual Assembly decided to consult with or request the Guardian to consult with us, on the basis, friends, that the Guardian has intimated in the past that he was interested in the Temple, and he has intimated to some of the pilgrims that he had some suggestions to make, and we thought, friends, it would be most appropriate for him to make the suggestions before we decided what we wanted to do. That is, we thought, the proper basis of the consultation was to simply collect the facts and present them to the Guardian and have the Guardian advise and direct us in regard to this whole work.
“Those of us who have been studying the matter, and I am sure that Mr. Bourgeois, the architect, will agree with me, realize that this noble design is unique in the history of architecture. As I remember, at the Temple Convention in New York, when this design was selected, a noted architect of New York City, I think Mr. MacGonigle, stated that he considered this the first new idea in architecture since the Middle Ages, and, friends, the more we study this remarkable and unique design the more do we realize that it is different from the Classic architecture, from the Gothic architecture, from the Romanesque style of architecture, from all the architecture of the past generations and ages. It is something new. It is something that is universal in character, and it will be impossible for us to slavishly follow the methods of detailed design or construction that have been used in previous buildings, such as the Roman temple or the Gothic cathedral, and I think, friends, we have realized more and more, as we have studied this design, that while being universal in character, it is somewhat restrictive in the use of materials which have been developed in a marvelous way in the last decade, even, since the World War.
“I remember talking this matter over quite in full one day here in this room before it was completed with the late Major Burt, and we were discussing the structural features, and Major Burt said at that time, “Mr. McDaniel, this is a remarkable problem. It is a problem, and it is fortunate that you are unable to proceed with the construction of this Temple at this time, because I have a feeling that as the years roll by you will find that the construction of this Temple is a matter of growth. It is a matter of growth of our knowledge of construction, our knowledge of materials, which is rapidly developing.” And so it has proved, friends, because what would have seemed almost impossible ten years ago now, with the development of our knowledge, we will say, of concrete, today becomes definitely possible, and we have gone into this sufficiently with the various experts in the concrete field, in the Federal Government, the Portland Cement Association, the Concrete Institute, and the other great organizations of this world that are concerned with this new and plastic material, to realize that what Major Burt said in those days has been borne out by developments during the past ten years.
“So, friends, we have gathered together all the facts, including statements from our Advisory Board and from these various specialists, and that report early this month, or I think it was the latter part of last month, of March, was forwarded in toto to our beloved Guardian, who now has the report, and who is considering it, and it is for that reason that your Temple Maintenance Committee today is unable to present to you the full facts concerning the construction of the Temple, that is, the data we collected. Otherwise, we’d be very glad, indeed, to have it here for your inspection. But it is our understanding that the Guardian in his reply will probably return the facts, will return the report.
“Now, in connection with our study, I may say about the middle of February, Mr. Bourgeois came to Washington. He went on to New York at the invitation of the friends and gave them a lecture on the Temple, which made the friends very happy, and as a result there was a substantial contribution to our Temple.
“Then he came to Washington and
consulted with a number of us there.
He gave a lecture to the local Assembly
and met with such members of the
Advisory Board as could be present,
including Mr. Remey, Mr. Woodward
and Mr. Roger Boyle, who came in
especially from Boston to meet with
us. We also had several consultations
with Mr. Earley, Mr. Earley is one
[Page 5]
of the pioneers in the development of
this new type of concrete, which has
been considered very favorably in connection
with the construction of the
Temple, and Mr. Earley went over
with us this whole proposition, and
discussed it with us in full, with regard to
the possible use of this material in
connection not only with the construction
of the next stage of the Temple, but
also of the entire structure.
“Then he also took us out and showed us a number of examples of his work in and near Washington, a notable one of which is a Byzantine type of church on Sixteenth Street, which is a very beautiful piece of work, and you will probably also recall, friends, that Mr. Earley cooperated with Mr. Lorado Taft in the construction of the Fountain of Time out here in the Park.
“Then a week later this servant came to Chicago and had some conferences with the other two members of the Temple Maintenance Committee, and also consulted with Mr. Brown concerning the structural engineering work and materials. We also consulted with Miss Greenacre in regard to some legal phases of the work. We also at that time had a conference with Mr. Bourgeois concerning the Temple, and inspected the site here.
“Now, as a result of all these conferences and a study of the whole situation, we made this very brief report to the National Spiritual Assembly.
- “1. The architectural drawings are
completed, in the opinion of the architect, Mr. Bourgeois. A careful inspection of the drawings, however, indicates the absence of details showing the construction of walls and piers and other minor details, which can and should be furnished by the structural engineer.
“That is, the design part of the drawing is completed, both in the small scale, the eighth scale, the three-eighths scale and full size drawings. It will be necessary, however, to prepare and present some structural details in order to complete the drawings to be presented to the contractors so that the work may go ahead.
- “2. Early action should be taken to
secure a structural engineer to succeed the late Major Burt, either directly or indirectly through the architect. Under the existing conditions the former method is perhaps preferable. In any case, it is of the greatest importance that a supervising engineer be appointed to coordinate all of the engineering, architectural and construction work that will be required in the building of the superstructure of the Temple. While such service will involve some additional expense, a responsible and properly qualified man may and probably will save in the expedition of the work and avoidance of errors many times his salary or fee.
“For example, one feature that has come to our attention is the matter of providing for the surroundings of the Temple. It was the original plan of Major Burt, and I think also of Mr. Bourgeois, to fill in the grounds here. The idea has been suggested, to some extent developed by the architect, of utilizing the space around this side of the Temple for storage. The construction of the Temple will require a large number of molds and models, and these will have to be stored, and the construction of an open steel or reinforced concrete structure of a permanent character adjacent to the main Temple structure here will provide for such storage, and also for the storage of automobiles. I don’t know as we can look far enough ahead now to try to provide for the storage of airplanes, but at least we can provide for the storage of the vehicles of transportation that are more customarily used at this time. Perhaps, however, it might be well to provide some landscaping. The architect might bear that in mind, because this Temple is for all time, and we want to look ahead of the present. The drawings have not been prepared for that construction. There is a phase of the work that will have to be done and will have to be coordinated with the main structure of the Temple, if it is decided to do the work in that way.
“Smith and Brown, Engineers, and Benjamin B. Shapiro, of Chicago, competent structural engineers, have submitted independent bids for the preliminary work ranging from $8,500 to $12,000. Mr. Brown was formerly associated with the late Major Burt, and Holabird and Roche, in the preliminary engineering work, the cooperative work in connection with these drawings that was done in the office of Holabird and Roche. They are architects and engineers of national fame and reputation, located in Chicago, and Major Burt at that time, after his war service, was General Manager of this concern, and Mr. Brown was working under him. The actual structural drawings which were used to secure the permit here, in order that we might get a permit for the construction of this present structure, were made by Mr. Shapiro under Major Burt’s direction. It is my estimate that this entire engineering work—including the completion of the architectural drawings, and the plans and specifications for the structural, mechanical and electrical work—can be prepared for about $10,000.
- “3. Now, as a result of our conferences
in Washington, it was decided at the conference that I mentioned, that Mr. Bourgeois attended and Mr. Remey and Mr. Boyle and Mr. Woodward and Mr. Earley, it was decided that the most practicable method of constructing the Temple would be to prepare, in view of its unique character, drawings and specifications to let a contract for the framework of the building, that is, for the skeleton of the building, and then a supplemental contract for the ornamental work, of which Mr. Bourgeois have the complete drawings, even to full scale drawings, some of them, I believe, running up one hundred and nine feet in length for sections of the dome. That will be let as a separate contract, because there is where a different class of work comes in. It is a class of work which probably very few, a mere handful of men in this country might be able to do at this time, while the skeleton and framework is a type of work that any one of a very large number of builders and contractors would be able to handle.
- “4. With relation to the material
for the Temple, it should be noted that the preliminary design provides for a framework of steel and reinforced concrete construction. It is necessary that these drawings (prepared for the purpose of securing a building permit) shall be redrawn in accordance with the architect’s final plans, which has not yet been done.
- “5. The design of the Temple is
unique and somewhat exotic. The exterior
ornamental work suggests a
plastic material. I think that is very
true, friends, and very unusual from
many points of view, of practicability
and economy, so that the use of the ordinary
materials in this building would
be impracticable and certainly inadvisable.
That is, for example, natural
stone. I think any one of us looking
at that design would realize that it calls
for a plastic material. Now, there are
two general classes of plastic material
that might be used, and the reports
from our experts rather indicate just
two materials, either a cast stone, that
is, an artificial stone, such as Mr. Earley’s
concrete, or some other type of
concrete, and a metal, and you will
note, friends, in the Temple there is
a great deal of repetition. You take
[Page 6]
any one of the panels in the first
story, in the second story or in
the dome, and it is practically the
same as the other panels, so that
it will be possible to prepare a
mold, and that mold can be used either
nine or twenty-seven, perhaps in some
cases thirty-six times, so that either
some form of cast stone or metal
seems to be the material that should be
used and probably will be used.
“Your committee is not at this time prepared to recommend any form, any specific form of material, because we are still studying the problem, and we are still getting the facts; such facts as we have secured, as we say, have been sent to the Guardian for his consultation and advice, because we feel, friends, in the beautiful words that were expressed yesterday by our good brother, Mr. Windust, when he spoke of the Year Book as the Guardian’s Year Book, we feel that although this Temple is the result of the genius revealed to him of our good brother, Mr. Bourgeois, that it is in a sense the Guardian’s Temple, and we feel that in every step of the way that work of this Temple should be made in full, free and frank consultation with our beloved Guardian, and we feel that insofar as we do that, all of us, the architect and the engineers and the National Spiritual Assembly consulting, will our work be truly confirmed.
“In the selection of the proper material, the various elements of practicability, adaptability, durability, appearance and cost must be considered. Undoubtedly, the governing factors are permanency and cost.”
Report of National Teaching Committee
When the beloved Master left this country having deposited the priceless jewel of His teachings in the custody of the friends, they were a widely dispersed group from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the South into Canada.
They had no organic form, nor expression, but in the midst of a material civilization they were indissolubly linked by the inner bond of the Spirit and drew their life and sustenance from the flame of His love. When the time came that He must leave them all in the outer world He created a temple, “not made with hands,” for their shelter and protection, the Divine Administration, of which, through the blessed Guardian, the Beloved, is the heart and center and every individual Bahá’i is a living unit. Then the Cause took on organic form and life, all the activities and functions became coordinated and harmonized, and as this spiritual Temple of the Cause emerged its outer symbol appeared in the growth of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár.
Gradually Bahá’i activities found a more complete and orderly expression and became more closely and vitally related to the actual needs of a suffering world. This we see in every phase of the Administration today, the true ministration of God to humanity, the remedy for a sick and distracted world.
The depth and power of Bahá’i teaching in this country have been a steady growth since the Master impregnated this land with his Holy Essence and quickened this continent through the breaths of the Holy Spirit. The teaching has passed through many phases and last year culminated in its first national expression through the visit of a member of the Holy Family when Ruhi Effendi visited some thirty-five centers and through the mutual cooperation of the National Teaching Committee and Local Assemblies made many public addresses and penetrated more widely the cultured and educational groups than had heretofore been possible.
At the beginning of this year, the National Spiritual Assembly wrote the following to the National Teaching Committee, “Over and above the special work which your Committee is called upon to do, the matter of assisting in the promotion of the Plan of Unified Action with all your collective resources will, we sincerely trust, be your primary aim and effort throughout the balance of the year.”
With this need of strict economy, which loyalty to the purposes of the Guardian imposed on every National Committee, on local Assemblies and on every individual Bahá’i it has been impossible to carry out a National public program of any scope. Nevertheless, the work has been everywhere sustained, and the wave of responsive enthusiasm generated last year has permeated the activities of the friends.
In view of this need for economy the National Spiritual Assembly affiliated the National Teaching and Amity Committees through their secretaries, Mr. Louis Gregory and Mrs. May Maxwell, and through this collaboration and with one thousand dollars at their disposal, inspiring results have been obtained in those centres where the friends could cooperate.
A series of public Bahá’i conferences, along inter-racial and inter-religious lines were held in the following cities: Geneva, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Portsmouth, Columbus, Dayton, Chicago and New York.
It becomes increasingly evident in this country that our beloved brother, Mr. Louis Gregory, is a unique instrument in the binding together of the white and colored races, and being himself totally devoid of race consciousness he lifts his audience into the atmosphere of the future whose accent is the oneness of mankind.
The Bahá’i Magazine Star of the West[edit]
Most encouraging are the renewals of subscriptions and the list of new subscribers to the Star in the last few months. The cooperation and encouragement of the friends in various parts of the country and of the world has been appreciated exceedingly.
The plan sponsored by the Spiritual Assemblies of appointing one of the friends to represent THE BAHÁ’I MAGAZINE in each Assembly has, in actual practice, worked most successfully, particularly in New York through the indefatigable efforts of Miss Julia Threlkeld, and in Los Angeles through the intelligent and brilliant work of the Librarian, Mrs. Kuehne. From these two Centers subscriptions have flowed in to the Business Office. Many other Centers, too, are doing their best: all of which shows what can be accomplished when we strike the encouraging note, and when all realize that the Star of the West is the property of the Cause of God, and that in its publication the Bahá’i law of cooperation can be fully demonstrated.
The September number will carry
many interesting articles, among them
one by Miss Florence Pinchon on what
a Spiritualist will meet on his approach
to the Bahá’i Cause; the last
chapter in the series by Mrs. Loulie
Mathews which will be at the Administration
of the Cause under the Guardianship
of Shoghi Effendi; the first
chapter in a series of articles on “The
Light of Assurance,” by Mrs. Keith
Ransom-Kehler ; a delightful little historical
sketch by Miss Agnes Alexander
on the New Era in Japan; an article
by Miss Marzieh Nabil which she
has entitled, “Speaking of Talking,”
together with a Sonnet from her pen;
“Steps to God,” by Dr. Walter B.
Guy; and many other interesting features.
Also in the near future a splendid
article will appear on “Life’s Purpose,”
by Shahnaz Waite; and a very
informing and thrilling article by Miss
Martha Root on her work in German
Universities. This we feel sure everyone
[Page 7]
will agree is one of the most important,
if not the most important
contribution which has ever been published
from the pen of this devoted
and confirmed maid-servant of God.
- BAHÁ’I MAGAZINE COMMITTEE,
- STANWOOD COBB,
- MARIAM HANEY,
- MARGARET B. McDANIEL.
Important Meeting in Delhi[edit]
The supreme will of the Blessed Perfection is so manifestly asserting itself that one feels lost in wonder at the rapidity of events in the present day world.
He willed that there must be a common language in the whole world and several movements came into existence to find such a language.
He willed that war MUST cease and the disputes of the nations be settled in an International Court of Justice and the Statesmen of the world, amidst the din of war preparations, were found to create a League of Nations.
He willed that there MUST be peace in the world and the warring factions of all walks of life began to bow down before Him.
We saw this wonderful scene on the 28th of January, 1929.
India, as is well known, is a medley of races and religions that are ever found warring with each other for very trivial matters. This year in this arena of warring religions several conferences were held to find ways and means to bring about unity among its people. One of these conferences was held under the auspices of the Arya Samaj on the 28th of January, 1929, and the question for discussion was: Can unity be accomplished among the existing religions? If yes; how? If not; why not?
There was a gathering of about 3,000 people of almost every race and religion. There were representatives of all sects of Hindoos, Christians, Mohammedans and others. The Bahá’is were represented by Mr. Mahfuz-ul-Haq Ilmi, the Editor of the Kaukab-i-Hind and he spoke for about an hour on the question. He first dealt with the history and teachings of the Blessed Cause and told the audience that Bahá’u’lláh appeared in the world to bring about Peace and Unity. He then proceeded to show that unity among the existing religions was an impossibility as long as they adhered to their dogmatic beliefs. If they would throw away dogmas and catch hold of the principles, they will find that they were all one and united. He then very beautifully showed that complete unity could only be accomplished through the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and then gave an explanation of such teachings as the oneness of humanity, oneness of Divine Revelations, etc., etc.
He made a powerful appeal to the people and the audience seemed spellbound by his enfoldment of these Divine teachings. The President summing up said that:
He admitted that unity was impossible in the present forms of the existing religions.
He was, however, not despaired as the world was going to have ONE religion and under that religion all will be united.
When the meeting dispersed the writer moved among the people and found everyone talking about the soundness of the Bahá’i Teachings.
We are confident that this transitional period through which the world is passing at the present time will end ere long, and the Almighty Will shall soon usher that millennium in this sorely afflicted world which is so clearly prophesied by the Blessed Perfection.
We shall feel obliged if the secretaries of the spiritual Assemblies will kindly send their circular letters directly to the Kaukab-i-Hind Office, as we desire to give news of the Bahá’i World in every issue for the benefit of our readers.
Editors of Bahá’i Journals such as the Star of the West and others are respectfully requested to send their journals to us regularly so that special articles may be translated into Hindustani and published in the Kaukab.
Editor, Kauka-b-i-Hind,
Karl Bojh, Delhi, India.
Green Acre Summer School[edit]
AT FELLOWSHIP HOUSE
GENERAL THEME FOR THE SUMMER OF 1929
- I. How to unite the new knowledge
in physics, sociology, psychology, education, international relations and the history of religions with the universal Bahá’i teachings.
- II. How to present this new synthesis
to the present day world.
- III. How to attain the radiant life.
- Children’s Summer School—9:00
A. M. meeting daily, except Saturday and Sunday.
THE SCIENCE OF SPIRITUAL TEACHING
At ten o’clock in the morning
How to teach the Bahá’i Cause—preparation, speaking, answering questions.
This course was conducted from July 9th to August 29th, on Tuesday and Thursday, by Mr. Louis Gregory. Special addresses were given at this time by Mr. Gregory upon: “New Visions of Heaven,” “The Prophet and Religion of Islam,” “The Divine Covenant and Testament,” “Bahá’i Administration,” “The Banner of Youth,” “The Significance of Conversation,” “The Manifest and Hidden,” “The Ladder of Ascent,” “Can Human Nature be Changed?” “The Awakening of the Soul,” “Reason and Religion,” “Four Journeys.”
From August 5th to August 23rd, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Mr. Albert Vail conducted the course. He and the other speakers, at the end of each morning session, gave talks upon the philosophy of universal religion, the new interpretation of the bibles of the world and their prophecies, the vital question—how to attain the radiant life.
SIX COURSES IN UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES
At four o’clock in the afternoon
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- July 22-26. Proofs of Reality.
Philosophy and Religion. Mr. Gregory and Mr. Philip Marangella.
- July 29-Aug. 2. Scientific and
Spiritual Proofs of Human Unity. Mr. Gregory.
- Aug. 5-9. The Coming Union of
Science and Religion. Prof. Shook, Mr. Vail.
- Aug. 12-16. Recent Studies in the
History of Religions. One of the Great Sciences of the Future. Mr. Vail.
- Aug. 19-23. Discoveries in Progressive
Education. Prof. Stanwood Cobb.
- Aug. 26-30. Bahá’i Economics and
the Science of Universal Peace. Mr. Alfred E. Lunt. Mr. Marangella. Mrs. Keith Ransom-Kehler.
All courses are arranged in weekly units—Monday to Friday. Anyone can take as many weeks as are desired. It is suggested that everyone bring a loose-leaf notebook, Some Answered Questions, and the Book of Ighan.
A Notable German Believer[edit]
Dr. Ernst Kliemke, brilliant lawyer
of Berlin, President of the Esperanto
Society of Germany, a new Bahá’i but
with a marvelous capacity suddenly
passed on to the Abhá Kingdom, February
20, 1929. His last words were:
“I see God!” Dr. Kliemke first heard
of the Bahá’i Teachings from Miss
Jessie Revell, at the annual Congress
[Page 8]
of the Esperanto Society of North
America, held in Philadelphia in 1926.
He visited Bahá’i groups in Philadelphia
and New York, returned to Berlin,
associated himself with the Bahá’i
Society and at once began the study of
the Persian language in order to translate
the economic solution of Bahá’í'u’lláh
and other Teachings into the German
language. He spoke on the
Bahá’i Principles in the Universal
Congresses of Esperanto in Danzig and
Antwerp in 1927 and 1928. As a
writer his nom-de-plume was Dr.
Heinrich Nienkamp and his book
“Uncrowned Kings” is well known in every
land. His lectures on the Bahá’i
Teachings have been translated and
published in several countries. His
face was always full of light and
every soul who met him was cheered,
sustained and refined.
Miss Rexford in New York[edit]
On Sunday afternoon, September 22nd, Orcella Rexford spoke to a splendid audience in the Bahá’i Centre, New York City. Quite a number of strangers were present and Miss Rexford, in connection with her subject “Divine Service” to which she did full justice, gave a comprehensive idea of the Bahá’i Message and the Divine Power and Authority back of it.
She referred to the spirit of this age as the spirit of service, that the very atoms had been charged with a new activity and people felt this so that even great successful business enterprises of the day are run on the basis of service; that in this day work and service had been dignified and glorified and in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh work and service, when performed in the spirit of cooperation and in the love of God with the feeling that it was helping humanity, was an act of worship; that Bahá’u’lláh had commanded all to engage in arts, crafts and sciences and that the highest service to humanity today was to work with heart and soul for the establishment of the four great Bahá’i Principles—Universal Language, Universal Education, Universal Religion and Universal Peace. Miss Rexford pointed out that modern science in the invention of modern day utilities, such as the aeroplane, the radio, the automobile and movietone pictures, was rapidly making the first two of these principles an absolute necessity. Universal Peace was also a necessity but that must be brought about in God’s own way because without Universal Religion there could not be any lasting and durable Peace.
Bahá’i Summer School at Guyserville=[edit]
The Science of Religion:
a. From God to Man Aug. 5
- Mr. Leroy C. Ioas.
b. From Man to God Aug. 6
- Mr. Leroy C. Ioas.
- Comparative Religion:
a. The Underlying Point of Unity
Aug. 7
- Mrs. Helen Bishop
b. The Influences on Society Aug. 8
- Mrs. Helen Bishop
c. The Continuity of Manifestations
Aug. 9
- Mrs. Louise R. Waite
d. The Return of the Manifestations
- “The Promised One” Aug. 10
- Mr. Willard P. Hatch
- “The Promised One” Aug. 10
The Spiritualization of Psychology
Aug. 12
- Mrs. Ella G. Cooper
The Urge Toward Immortality
Aug. 13
- Mr. Geo. O. Latimer
Bahá’i Economics Aug. 14
- Mr. Geo. O. Latimer
The Oneness of Humanity Aug. 15
- Mrs. Louise Caswell
Bahá’i Administration Aug. 16
- Mrs. Amelia F. Collins
The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
Aug. 17
- Mrs. May Maxwell
Racine, Wisconsin[edit]
To all the Friends Throughout the World: Greetings in His Holy Name.
We wish to express our appreciation of the many letters received and would like to have replied to them individually, as each has some individual message, but time will not permit the writer to answer each one separately. Your letters are shared with all the believers in our Group and are the cause of new enthusiasm and strengthening of the Bonds of Unity, Rays of Light in the Hours of Darkness when the Clouds of Material Activities overshadow the Spiritual Sun.
You may not be interested in the history of our little group; nevertheless, we want you to become acquainted. Perhaps, some day when the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar is completed, you will make a pilgrimage to see it and worship God there. We are within fifty miles of the temple or a ride of an hour and a half. Our Group of Believers was formed about thirty years ago by our Sister Assembly of Kenosha, Wisconsin, with whom we have close contact, often uniting with one another in Gatherings of Love and Harmony to spread the Glad Tidings of this Great Day of God manifested in Bahá’u’lláh. When ’Abdu’l-Bahá, the Servant of God, visited the Kenosha Assembly, the Racine Believers were invited to share this visit and to meet that venerable Servant of God. We would like to call Him Master, for we are so inferior in Servitude, so insignificant that we have no right to the name of the Servants of God.
The Bahá’i Cause in Hamburg[edit]
The 85th year of the Cause proved extraordinarily active and gratifying for our group activities, as well as regards the upbuilding and fortifying the Bahá’i ideas.
Some 54 meetings took place officially with an attendance totalling 981 persons. We endeavored to arrange the widest possible latitude for general entertainments, we also arranged for meetings in the different sections of the great city with the results. The teaching meetings took place in Hamburg, the weekly meetings were held in Wandsbeck, the encouraging attempt of a lecture in a small farm in Farssen, will be continued during the winter months.
The Spiritual Assembly met three times for consultation. With the outside groups and friends correspondence quite active was kept up for cooperation and furtherance. A closer connection with the group at Uhlenhorst was looking for in “The New Salems Light” in whose circle Dr. Grossman spoke by request several times.
Printed teaching material was given out outside of the Hamburg friends in 53 cases, and altogether 72 writings and 724 flyleaves (excluding Esperanto), besides several thousand circulars were distributed in the dwellings of Hamburg, Wandsbeck and Farmsen, as well as in the Post Offices, R.R. Stations, in the Banks, Libraries, etc., and also some 1000 through the bookstore of Sauermann in Wandsbeck.
The “Diaspora Committee” (the Committee for the friends dwelling in foreign countries) reprinted two pamphlets of Dr. Grossmann “You must be reborn” and “Soul wanderings, re-incarnation, resurrection, and the Bahá’i teachings.” He dispatched all together some 103 copies as well as four copies of “Information” with 107 copies, a total of 210 copies to 34 addresses in foreign countries.
The Information or News Letters of the Bahá’i Movement in Hamburg appeared ten times and were sent to 90 addresses in Hamburg.
