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1 /Baha’i Summer Schools
Importance and Purpose
1. ‘‘He was very happy to hear of the success of the school, especially that it has been the means of bringing to light hitherto unsuspected capacities among the friends... . The Summer School has been carrying on the divine work of bringing forth jewels from the mine of humanity and it is the hope of Shoghi Effendi and the friends here that those who have been trained in the Summer School will carry on the work in the various local- ities from which they havecome. .. .”’
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, quoted in Baha'i News, No. 10, February 1926, p. 3)
2. ‘Such gatherings will give a chance to friends from different localities to come together and exchange views on the different problems of the Cause and also attract new souls to the spirit and teachings of the Faith. Not only will their knowledge of the writings deepen but also the unity of the Cause will be strength- ened and the work of teaching be enhanced. . . .
- Shoghi Effendi was very glad to hear that so many souls were
confirmed there. As we see the suffering around us, caused by the prevailing financial crisis, we should redouble our efforts in bring- ing the message of comfort and peace to those desperate souls, and add to our labors, that the golden age promised by Baha’u’ll4h may
dawn sooner. (From a letter dated 18 November 1931 written
on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, quoted in Baha’i News, No. 63, June 1932, p. 4)
3. “‘Shoghi Effendi feels that the real purpose of these Summer Schools is to deepen the knowledge of the friends. Lectures are very essential for they give a wonderful picture of the subject mat- ter. But it is not sufficient to have a picture; the friends should deepen their knowledge and this can be achieved if, together with
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the lectures, there are study classes and seminar work carried on by the same lecturer. The world is undoubtedly facing a great crisis and the social, economic and political conditions are becoming daily more complex. Should the friends desire to take the lead in informing the world, they should start by educating themselves and understand what the troubles and problems really are which baffle the minds of men. It is in these Summer Schools that this training should be provided for the friends.”’
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to an individual believer, quoted in
Baha’ i News, No. 63, June 1932, p. 3)
4. ‘*The Guardian fully agrees with your idea that the permanent welfare of the Faith demands the steady development of local Ba- ha’f community life. This is the bedrock of Baha’i national growth and development. Great emphasis, he feels, should be placed upon Baha’f Summer Schools. A greater number of believers and vis- itors should be encouraged to attend them, their scope should, if not too expensive, be systematically widened, the atmosphere pervading them must be given a distinctive Baha’i character, and the level of their discussions and the standard of their studies must be raised.”’
(From aletter dated 10 September 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada)
5. “‘How wonderful it would be if all the friends could arrange to spend at least a few days in one of these summer schools and take an active part in their development. These centers could attract many souls if properly arranged and made interesting; those non- Baha’is who visit them will then have some time to get into the spirit of the place and make a study of the Cause. . . . We con- stantly receive letters from people who became Baha’ is by visiting one of these centers and obtaining the Message there.”’
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, received about | May 1932, quoted in Baha’iNews, No. 67, October 1932, p. 4)
6. ‘‘Regarding your Summer School; he is indeed grateful to
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your Assembly for the great success that has attended your efforts for the formation of this institution, the teaching value of which for England cannot be overestimated... . The Guardian would, therefore, urge all the believers to persevere in their efforts for rais- ing the standard, both intellectual and spiritual, of their Summer School and to heighten its prestige in the eyes of the friends, and of the general non-Baha’t public outside. The institution of the Sum- mer School constitutes a vital and inseparable part of any teaching campaign, and as such ought to be given the full importance it de- serves in the teaching plans and activities of the believers. It should be organized in such a way as to attract the attention of the non- believers to the Cause and thus become an effective medium for teaching. Also it should afford the believers themselves an oppor- tunity to deepen their knowledge of the Teachings, through lec- tures and discussions and by means of close and intense commu-
nity life.”” : (From a letter dated 17 October 1936 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles)
7. ‘‘He has noted with deepest satisfaction indeed that your meetings have been well attended this year, and that the program had been made as varied and interesting as possible, and com- bined, as every Baha’t Summer-School should, the threefold fea- tures of devotion, study and recreation. Only through such a har- monious combination of these three elements can the institution of the Summer-School yield the maximum of beneficent results, and fulfill its true function of deepening the knowledge, stimulating the zeal, and fostering the spirit of fellowship among the believers in every Baha’icommunity.
‘*The Guardian cherishes the hope that at the termination of your school this summer every one of the attendants will have de- rived such mental and spiritual benefits, and acquired such a fresh enthusiasm to serve as will enable him, upon his return to his local community, to labor with a determination and vigor that will excite the envy and admiration of his fellow-believers, and stimulate them to greater heights of consecration to the service of our be-
loved Cause.”’ (From a letter dated 15 August 1938 written
on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Louhelen Baha’i Youth)
8. ‘He is truly delighted to know that the attendance at the school has been satisfactory, and that the young believers, in par- ticular, have been most enthusiastic about it. What he feels now is most essential is for the N.S.A. to make arrangements to have this school held regularly every year so that it may develop into an ef- fective, and increasingly vital, instrument for the propagation of the Faith, and also for the education and training of Baha’i teachers.
“It is the Guardian’s fervent hope that as this institution ex- pands, and fulfills the high hopes you all set upon it, it will be felt advisable by the N.S.A. to consider the possibilities of estab- lishing, in due time, one or two more of such schools, thus per- mitting those friends, who in view of their limited means are not in a position to travel over large distances, to avail themselves of the benefits derived from these nascent Baha’/ institutions of learning.”’
(From a letter dated | December 1938 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma)
g. ‘‘What other community has shown the foresight, the organ- izing ability, the enthusiastic eagerness, that have been respon- sible for the establishment and multiplication, throughout its ter- ritory, of those initial schools which, as time goes by, will, on the one hand, evolve into powerful centers of Baha’i learning, and, on the other, provide a fertile recruiting ground for the enrich- ment and consolidation of its teaching force?’’
(Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice , p. 7, 25 December 1938)
10. “‘He. . . hopes that from now on you will become a regular attendant at all future sessions at Louhelen, or at either one of the two remaining summer-schools now operating in the States. Faith- ful attendance at any of these institutions of Baha’f learning would be indeed the best preparation for all prospective Baha’i teachers, and should as such be welcomed most heartily by all the believ- s (From a letter dated 22 August 1939 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
11. ‘‘He is indeed immeasurably delighted to know that thanks to your earnest and wise efforts, and to the loving assistance and co-
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operation of the friends Louhelen Ranch is steadily progressing and is increasingly fulfilling those ideal conditions which it should be the aim of every Baha’i Summer-School to create, maintain and enforce namely; close association and fellowship, both social and spiritual, among the attendants, intellectual training in the history, principles and teachings of the Cause, and the application to one’s daily life of the principles of moral conduct as explained and classified by the Guardian himself in his ‘Advent of Divine
Justice.” ; ustice (From a letter dated 24 August 1939 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
12. ‘‘Equally important as a factor in the evolution of the Admin- istrative Order has been the remarkable progress achieved, partic- ularly in the United States of America, by the institution of the summer schools designed to foster the spirit of fellowship in a dis- tinctly Baha’i atmosphere, to afford the necessary training for Baha’i teachers, and to provide facilities for the study of the his- tory and teachings of the Faith, and for a better understanding of its relation to other religions and to human society in general.”’ (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 340, 1944)
13. ‘‘It is not enough to bring people into the Faith, one must edu- cate them and deepen their love for it and their knowledge of its teachings, after they declare themselves. As the Baha’ is are few in number, especially the active teachers, and there is a great deal of work to be done, the education of these new believers is often sadly neglected, and then results are seen such as the resignations you have had recently. In this respect, the Summer Schools can be of the greatest help to the friends, new and old Baha’ts alike, for in them they can study, and enjoy the feeling of Baha’f companion- ship which is, alas, usually lacking in their home communities, owing to the smallness of their numbers.”’
(From a letter dated 18 July 1957 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual
Assembly of Canada)
Administration
14. ‘‘The Baha’t Summer-Schools were originated in America to meet the requirements of the friends. They have been adapted by
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other Baha’f Communities the world-over, but there is no reason why they should be called ‘Summer-Schools.’ There is nothing rigid about the term, it is purely descriptive. The Guardian feels that although you can have the immediate affairs of your Summer-Schools managed by a convenient local assembly, they should remain under the direct supervision of the National Spir- itual Assembly as they are national in character and not purely local.”’
(From a letter dated 26 December 1941 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual
Assembly of Australia and New Zealand)
15. ‘‘Regarding the Summer-Schools in general; although there is no objection to their being under the direct management of a spe- cial committee elected for that purpose, they must be generally supervised by the N.S.A. in respect to policy, etc. In other words they must be considered as a national and not a purely local insti- tution.”’
(From a letter dated 18 April 1942 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual
Assembly of Australia and New Zealand)
16. ‘‘Baha’tsummer schools in the United States originated in the same informal manner as Yerrinbool; they were (and some still are) the property of individual believers who resided on them, but they are administered by Committees appointed by the N.S.A. and which usually include, out of courtesy and consideration, the owners. The American friends also desired to have many more summer schools, but the Guardian has so far not permitted them to add to the number, as it dissipates the energy and funds of the believers and would at present weaken those already existing.”’ (From a letter dated 13 May 1945 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand)
17. ‘‘Welcome expansion scope annual Conference through in- auguration Summer School designed prolong sessions Confer- ence stimulate spirit Baha’i fellowship deepen understanding fundamental spiritual administrative principles Faith fix pattern
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future independent national Summer Schools ten European goal countries. . .
- (Shoghi Effendi, cable dated 20 July 1950
to Third Baha’i European Teaching Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, published in Bahd’i News, No. 236, October 1950, p. 1)
18. “‘As regards the question you asked about a Summer School, there is no reason why a property should either be rented or bought for this purpose. You can arrange to hold a Summer School in any suitable place where the friends can find accommodation, and a hall can be rented for its sessions. This is what they have done in England for many years to great advantage. It is a simple and eco- nomical way of holding the School. The primary purpose of the School is to deepen the knowledge of the friends in the Teachings, to enable them to consort, as Baha’is, with each other, and to con- firm any contacts who may have attended. The School may be held during the winter season or any other time of the year.”’
(From a letter dated 30 June 1957 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual
Assembly of Alaska) Courses and Curriculum Ig. ‘*. . . he sincerely trusts that these summer courses will serve
to deepen the knowledge and the understanding of the friends and enable them to diffuse the teachings of the Faith to the struggling and almost hopeless world.
‘**The wide range of the topics that are to be discussed and stud- ied by the friends cover most of the important aspects of the Cause and such a plan will undoubtedly give them a broad and a sound knowledge of the essentials of the Faith. Special stress, however, should be put on the history of the Movement as well as on the guiding principles of Baha’ Administration—for on these two points most of the believers are not adequately informed. It is, therefore, a great opportunity for them to strengthen the basis of their beliefs and to try to deepen their understanding of the basis of the present-day Baha’f administrative system.”’
(From a letter dated 5 August 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
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20. ‘‘Definite courses should be given along the different phases of the Baha’i Faith and in a manner that will stimulate the stu- dents to proceed in their studies privately once they return home, for the period of a few days is not sufficient to learn everything. They have to be taught the habit of studying the Cause con- stantly, for the more we read the Words the more will the truth they contain be revealed to us.”” (From a letter dated 24 November 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, quoted in Bahd’i News, No. 100, May 1936, p. 2)
21. ‘‘The basic purpose of all Baha’t summer schools, whether in East or West, is to give the believers the opportunity to fully ac- quaint themselves, not only by mere study but through whole- hearted and active collaboration in various Baha’i activities, with the essentials of the Administration and in this way enable them to become efficient and able promoters of the Cause. The teaching of the Administration is, therefore, an indispensable feature of every Baha’i summer school and its special significance can be better un- derstood if we realize the great need of every believer today for a more adequate understanding of the social principles and laws of the Faith. It is now, when the Cause is passing through some of the most difficult stages of its development, that the friends should equip themselves with the necessary knowledge of the Adminis- tration. The Guardian wishes you, therefore, to stress again, in all the coming summer schools, this vital point and in this way add to the effectiveness and success of your efforts along this line.”’ In his own hand the Guardian adds: *‘\ certainly advise you to concentrate next year on the ‘Dawn-Breakers’ as well as on the needs, the principles and the purpose of Baha’i Administration. The Cause in your land is still in its formative period. It needs men and women of vision, of capacity and understanding.”’ (From a letter dated 25 September 1933 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, quoted in Bahd’iNews, No.79, November 1933, p. 4)
22. ‘‘He feels that in your next summer meetings continued em- phasis should be laid upon the teaching of the Administration, es- pecially in its relation to the outside world, so as to impress the
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non-Baha’i attendants at the School with the nature, character and world-significance of the World Order of Baha’u’llah. The teaching of the Administration should, indeed, be considered as forming a permanent and vital feature of every Baha’f summer school. For upon its thorough and intelligent understanding by the entire community of the believers must inevitably depend the ef- fectiveness and continued expansion of Baha’i activities through-
out the world.”’ . (From a letter dated 6 November 1934 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, quoted inBahd’i News, No. 90, March 1935, p. 4)
23. ‘‘With regard to the school’s program for the next summer; the Guardian would certainly advise, and even urge the friends to make a thorough study of the Qur’an as the knowledge of this Sa- cred Scripture is absolutely indispensable for every believer who wishes to adequately understand and intelligently read the Writ- ings of Baha’u’llah. Although there are very few persons among our Western Baha’ is who are capable of handling such acourse ina scholarly way yet, the mere lack of such competent teachers should encourage and stimulate the believers to get better ac- quainted with the Sacred Scriptures of Islam. In this way, there will gradually appear some distinguished Baha’ts who will be so well versed in the teachings of Islam as to be able to guide the be- lievers in their study of that religion.”
(From a letter dated 2 December 1935 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer, quoted in Bahd’i News, No. 102,
August 1936, pp. 3-4)
24. ‘‘As regards the study courses for the next year’s session; the Guardian wishes you to cover the same subjects, namely the Ad- ministrative Order and Islam, but feels that these should be studied through more detailed and concentrated examination of all their aspects. An effort should be done to raise the standard of studies, so as to provide the Baha’i student with a thorough knowledge of the Cause that would enable him to expound it be- fittingly to the educated public.”’
(From a letter dated 8 November 1937 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
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25. ‘‘The course on character building . . . the Guardian feels, is particularly important and should be given due emphasis and stud- ied carefully and thoroughly specially by the young believers in at- tendance at the school. Those standards of Baha’f conduct, which he himself has set forth in his last general epistle, ‘The Advent of Divine Justice,’ and which it should be the paramount duty of ev- ery loyal and conscientious believer to endeavor to uphold and pro- mote, deserve serious study and meditation, and should constitute the main central theme of this year’s program at all the three Baha’t Summer-Schools in the States.
- Since the purpose of the Summer-School is not only to impart
knowledge of the Teachings, but to infuse in the hearts of all those present such spirit as will enable them to translate the ideals of the Cause into daily deeds of constructive spiritual living, it is more than fitting therefore that this year’s meetings should be princi- pally devoted to the study of Baha’i morals, not only in their theo- retical aspect, but first and foremost in their relation to the present- day needs and requirements of Baha’i Community life.
‘*The principles and methods laid down by the Guardian in his ‘Advent of Divine Justice’ on this vital subject of Baha’s ethics, should indeed prove of invaluable inspiration and guidance to all the students and friends attending the Summer-School classes, and thus prepare them to better appreciate the privileges, and more adequately discharge the responsibilities, of their citizenship in the World Order of Baha’u’]lah.”’
(From a letter dated 20 May 1939 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
26. ‘*. . . there is as yet no such thing as a Baha’f curriculum, and there are no Baha’i publications exclusively devoted to this sub- ject, since the teachings of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha do not present a definite and detailed educational system, but simply offer certain basic principles and set forth a number of teaching ideals that should guide future Baha’i educationalists in their efforts to formulate an adequate teaching curriculum which would be in full harmony with the spirit of the Baha’i Teachings, and would thus meet the requirements and needs of the modern age.
‘These basic principles are available in the sacred writings of the Cause, and should be carefully studied, and gradually incor-
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porated in various college and university programs. But the task of formulating a system of education which would be officially recognized by the Cause, and enforced as such throughout the Baha'i world is one which the present-day generation of believ- ers cannot obviously undertake, and which has to be gradually ac- complished by Baha’ scholars and educationalists of the future.”’
(From a letter dated 7 June 1939 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
27. ‘‘He feels . . . that some of the courses are not sufficiently Baha’i in nature, but carry the student off into an unnecessary study of special techniques—history, psychology or whatever it may be, which however valuable these topics may be in training the human mind and fitting the individual for contact with others, are a waste of time, in view of the very limited period that most of the Baha’ is spend at a Baha’i summer school.
‘*The friends should concentrate on deepening their grasp of the Teachings, particularly on studying what has already been done, and what must be done to fulfill the goals of this World Crusade.”’
(From a letter dated 11 May 1954 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States)
28. ‘‘He thinks the less time spent on such topics as ‘Current Events in the Light of the Baha’i Faith’ and ‘The Baha’! Faith and Modern Science’ the better. There is no harm in having an evening lecture by a qualified speaker once on each of these subjects, but he certainly does not feel that much time should be spent on them, for the very simple reason that there is so little that can be said on the subject. The Baha’is are not scientists and cannot very well go into details of the relation of the Baha’i Faith to Modern Science; and ‘Current Events in the Light of the Baha’t Faith’ is also a topic which can be dealt with briefly.
‘*He feels that the most important thing for the Baha’i Schools all over the world at present to do is to strongly impress upon the Baha’i attendants the urgency of arising not only to fulfill pioneer goals and to consolidate the work on the home front, which is get- ting weaker every year instead of stronger, but also to bring home to the friends the necessity of dispersing... .
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‘‘The Baha’is must realize that they belong to a worldwide Order, and not an American civilization. They must try and intro- duce the Baha’i atmosphere of life and thought into their Sum- mer Schools, rather than making the Summer School an episode and a pleasant vacation period, during which they learn a little more about the Faith.”’
(From a letter dated 23 May 1954 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Green Acre Program Committee, quoted in Baha’ i News, No. 282, August 1954, p. 2)
29. ‘‘Through the intensive study of Baha’f Scriptures and of the early history of the Faith; through the organization of courses on the teachings and history of Islam; through conferences for the promotion of interracial amity; through laboratory courses de- signed to familiarize the participants with the processes of the Ba- ha’i Administrative Order; through special sessions devoted to Youth and child training; through classes in public speaking; through lectures on Comparative Religion; through group dis- cussion on the manifold aspects of the Faith; through the estab- lishment of libraries; through teaching classes; through courses on Baha’i ethics and on Latin America; through the introduction of winter school sessions; through forums and devotional gatherings; through plays and pageants; through picnics and other recreation- al activities, these schools, open to Baha’ is and non-Baha’is alike, have set so noble an example as to inspire other Baha’ commu- nities in Persia, in the British Isles, in Germany, in Australia, in New Zealand, in India, in ‘Iraq and in Egypt to undertake the ini- tial measures designed to enable them to build along the same lines institutions that bid fair to evolve into the Baha’ universities of the
mise (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By , p. 341, 1944)
Teaching the Public and Attracting Ethnic Minorities
30. “‘The Summer Schools provide a splendid setting and en- vironment to which the best element among the colored race should be specially attracted. Through such association prejudice can be gradually eradicated, and ‘Abdu’|-Baha’s ardent wish fully realized.
‘The Guardian finds it impossible to overestimate the impor- tance and urgency of this sacred duty that confronts both the local and the national assemblies.”’
(From a letter dated 28 July 1936 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada, quoted in Baha’i News, No. 103,
October 1936, p. 1)
31. “The Guardian welcomes your suggestion to extend to vari- ous groups and clubs in Davison and the adjoining centers, whom you find to be well-disposed and sympathetic towards the Faith, an invitation to attend certain special meetings at the Louhelen Summer-School. He will pray that this plan you have con- ceived may result in further intensifying the campaign of teaching throughout those regions.”’
(From a letter dated 27 January 1939 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
32. ‘‘He hopes your Committee will continue to endeavor in rais- ing the standard, both intellectual and spiritual, of the school, and make it an attractive center not only to the believers but specially to non-Baha’ts. It is, indeed, the teaching value of the school which you should particularly emphasize. The courses, lectures and gen- eral activities conducted by the friends should be arranged in such a way as to attract the attention of the outside public to the Cause. The Summer School is a high occasion for teaching the Message. Through daily association with the believers, non-Baha’is will come to see the Cause functioning as an active and living commu- nity entirely dedicated to the service of what is best and highest in the world. The lectures will familiarize them with the principles underlying the New World Order, while their participation in the social field of the believers will enable them to see the way in which these very same principles are put into operation.
“This is the aspect of the Summer School which the Guardian wishes your Committee to stress. He is confident that thereby the teaching work will receive a powerful impetus.
- As regards the courses, he would advise you to continue laying
emphasis on the history and teachings of Islam, and in particular
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on the Islamic origins of the Faith.”’ (From a letter dated 14 October 1936 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Central States Baha’i Summer School Committee, U.S.A.)
33. ‘‘He was delighted to hear of the great success your ‘Winter Institute for Baha’ i Education’ met with. Such progressive activi- ties, especially when carried on in cooperation with local people who are not Baha’is, do a great deal of good, and not only expand the knowledge of the believers themselves but bring the Faith before the public in an excellent light.”’
(From a letter dated 9 February 1949 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Local Spiritual
Assembly of Phoenix, Arizona)
Youth Activities
34. “Indeed it is very important for the Faith, to extend the teach- ings of Baha’u’llah amongst the youth, as it is through their activi- ties, that the Cause of our Beloved Master will in future spread all over the American Continent. They have upon their shoulders all the responsibilities for the progress of the Movement; it is our duty to rear their spiritual feelings, enlighten their hearts with the light of guidance which has been shed before us by the Master.
‘The Guardian was pleased to learn of the interest and sympa- thetic understanding which are growing amongst these students. He hopes that through your help, you will every year widen the scope of their activities and give them fresh opportunities, to their sincere endeavors to spread the teachings.”’
In his own hand the Guardian adds: ‘‘\ wish to urge the
necessity of concentrating, at your next summer session, on the
systematic study of the early history and principles of the Faith, on public speaking, and on a thorough discussion, both for-
mally and informally, of various aspects of the Cause. These I
regard as essential preliminaries to a future intensive campaign
of teaching in which the rising generation must engage, if the spread of the Cause is to be assured in that land. May you succeed in your efforts to attain that goal!”’ (From a letter dated 2 November 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
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35. ‘‘He would advise you, however, to devote some more of your time to active teaching in public. To that end he would urge you to attend, if possible, all the sessions and meetings at the Gey- serville Summer School, that you may not only deepen your knowledge of the Teachings, but also acquire the necessary train- ing for expounding them to the public. The ambition of every young Baha’i should be, indeed, to become a well-informed and competent teacher. For this very purpose the institution of Baha’t summer school has been established, and its importance so strong- ly and repeatedly emphasized by the Guardian.”’
(From a letter dated 21 June 1935 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
36. ‘‘The obligation to teach is essentially the responsibility of young believers. Their whole training should therefore be direct- ed in such a way as to make them competent teachers. It is for this very purpose that Baha’i summer schools, which constitute the very basis upon which the Baha’i universities of the future will be established, should be widely attended by young believers.
‘“*The Guardian would appeal to each and every member of your group to do his utmost to be present at least in one of the three sum- mer schools now existing in the States. And for those young be- lievers who will be traveling abroad during the summer months it is always possible to attend the German Baha’i summer school at Esslingen.”’
(From a letter dated 15 May 1936 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada)
37. ‘“‘Remembering the strong emphasis repeatedly laid by the Guardian on the importance of the institution of the summer school, both as a center for the preparation and training of prospective teachers and pioneers, and for the commingling and fellowship of various elements in the Baha’f Community, the Baha’f Youth, on whom Louhelen Ranch has exercised a particular and indeed irre- sistible appeal, and whose sessions they have so frequently and in such large numbers attended, have a peculiar responsibility to shoulder in connection with its development into that ideal Baha’i University of the future, which should be the aim of every existing
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Baha’ t Summer School to establish in the fullness of time.”’ (From a letter dated 29 July 1939 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Youth who attended the first session of the 1939 Louhelen Baha’i Summer School)
38. *‘As regards the questions you asked him: There is nothing in the teachings against dancing, and any arrangements for it at sum- mer schools, etc., is left to the discretion of the Committee or as- sembly in charge to make.”’ (From a letter dated 24 February 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
Pioneers and Pioneering 39. ‘*. . . itshould be the main concern of the teaching bodies in charge of the Central and South American teaching campaign to provide all such prospective pioneers with the fullest opportunity not only to acquire a perfect mastery of Spanish but in addition to familiarize themselves, as thoroughly as possible, with the his- tory, customs, and the social and religious background and tra- ditions of the people in these Latin American countries. The Summer-School, one of whose chief aims is to train and prepare the believers to become well-qualified and competent teachers, offers indeed good prospects of developing into a training ground for all prospective Central and South American Baha’! pioneers, and it would be therefore most opportune if the Committees in charge of our three Summer-Schools decide to start classes for the teaching of Spanish, and of any such subjects as would be helpful for teaching in Spanish-speaking countries.”
(From a letter dated 29 July 1939 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
40. ‘‘He was pleased to hear that you were able to attend the Summer-School at Geyserville this year, as these institutions are of the greatest help to the friends and inspire them to carry on their often lonely pioneer work with renewed zeal.”’ (From a letter dated 22 November 1941 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
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41. ‘‘Nor should any occasion be neglected by the pioneers of at- tending, if their personal circumstances permit, either the British or German Baha’i summer schools, and of forging such links with these institutions as will not only assist them in the discharge of their duties, but enable them to initiate, when the time is ripe, an institution of a similar character, under the auspices of the Euro- pean Teaching Committee—an institution which will be the fore- runner of the summer schools that will have to be founded sepa- rately by the future assemblies in their respective countries.”’
(Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith: Messages
to America 1947-1957, froma letter dated
5 June 1947)
Prospects for the Future
42. ‘‘Shoghi Effendi hopes that your summer school will increas- ingly develop and will become an important center for the spread of the Message. You should try to raise its intellectual as well as its spiritual standard and to pave the way for its future develop- ment into one of the foremost Baha'i universities in the West. Much stress should be laid on the thorough study of the history and of the teachings of the Cause, and particularly of the nature, basis and outstanding features of the Administration.”’
(From a letter dated | October 1933 written
on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the friends
in Esslingen, Germany)
43. ‘‘He was also very pleased to hear that the Summer-School is becoming an institution of national importance, and that the friends are increasingly attending it and realizing its great value in the life of the entire community of believers. In a country such as India it might grow to be the first permanent institution of Baha’i learning if the believers support it sufficiently and carry out their teaching campaign with whole-hearted devotion and zeal; for, with the influx of many new Baha’is into the Cause in that coun- try, itshould not be difficult to evolve it into a Baha’f university as
time goes by. (From a letter dated 10 January 1942 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma)
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