God Passes By (Holley)/Text

[Page 1] GOD PASSES BY

Third Period: The Ministry of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Fourth Period: The Inception of the Formative Age of the Bahá’í Faith

GREEN ACRE STUDY COURSE

July 23-28, 1945.

Conducted by Horace Holley [Page 2]

I. THE STATION AND MISSION OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ[edit]

1. Preliminary discussion: -

A. "God Passes By" has two aspects: the Manifestation; the World Community.
B. The principle of sacrifice: to the Manifestation; to mankind.
C. The mystery of the Twofold Manifestation: the return of all the Prophets; the Báb’s attitude to Bahá’u’lláh signalizes true faith.
D. The Bahá’í community is the union of the faithful of all races and nations; the cleansing of the earth and the judgment of nations; doctrine of responsibility.
E. ‎ Subject‎ for research and discussion: What has been the connection between prophet and community in past Dispensations?

2. The institution of the Covenant, pp. 237-240

3. Station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 240-243

4. The Mission of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 252

A. Foundation of World Center, pp. 276-277
B. American Bahá’í community, pp. 255-256
C. Two Journeys to the West, pp. 280-281
D. Exposition of Bahá’í Principles, pp. 281-282

Display: Certified copy, Will and Testament of Bahá’u’lláh; illustrations bearing upon the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, volumes of the Bahá’í World.

II. SOURCE AND NATURE OF ADMINISTRATION ORDER[edit]

1. Preliminary discussion: -

Each Dispensation annuls the existing social order.

2. Source of the Administrative Order, pp. 324-326

3. Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 328

4. Nature of the Administrative Order, pp. 326-327

5. Subject for research and discussion: Administrative developments to 1921.

Display: Certified copy, Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá; 1944 edition, Will and Testament.

III. ESTABLISHMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER[edit]

1. Preliminary discussion: -

Bahá’u’lláh’s World Charter reverses the process of political evolution.

2. The Formative Period, p. 329 [Page 3] 3. ‎ Preliminary‎ Steps, pp. 329-330

4. Ordination of Local Assemblies, pp. 331-332

5. Functions of Local Assemblies, p. 331

6. Institution of National Assemblies, pp. 332-333

7. National Committees, p. 333

8. National Constitutions, pp. 334-336

9. Incorporation of Local Assemblies, p. 336

10. National and Local Endowments, pp. 337-339

11. Subject for research and discussion: Sources of information concerning the nature and formation of House of Justice.

Display: Executed copy, Declaration of Trust; 1945 edition, Declaration of Trust and By-Laws; Wilson Indenture executed by Shoghi Effendi; Green Acre Indenture.

IV. COLLECTIVE UNDERTAKINGS[edit]

1. Preliminary discussion:-

Faith as dynamic to action

2. Haziratu’l-Quds, pp. 339-340

3. Mashriqu’l-Adhkar, p. 340

4. ‎ Summer‎ Schools, pp. 340-341

5. Youth Activity, pp. 341-342

6. Nineteen Day Feast, p. 342

7. Public Conferences, pp. 342-343

8. Contacts with civil authority, ‎ pp.‎ 343-345

9. World Center, pp. 345-346, 347-348

10. First Temple of the West, pp. 348-351

11. Teaching the Cause, ‎ pp.‎ 376-377, 379, 386-387

12. Development of publications, pp. 380-383

13. Subject for research and discussion: Significance of the Divine Plan.

Display: Temple Indenture; Temple Report, 1909-1925; Final Report, Supervising Engineer; Plat of dedication; Progress photographs.