Messages to the Antipodes/Glossary

[Page vii]Glossary

Auxiliary Board

An institution created by Shoghi Effendi in 1954 to assist the Hands of the Cause of God.

Continental Board of Counsellors

An institution created in 1968 by the Universal House of Justice as a means of developing “the institution of the Hands of the Cause with a view to extension into the future of its appointed functions of protection and propagation”.

Convention

A gathering of delegates for the purpose of electing and consulting with the National Spiritual Assembly. National Convention is held annually during the Ridván period (21 April - 2 May).

Feast

A gathering of Bahá’í communities held every nineteen days, on the first day of every Bahá’í month. Feasts comprise devotions, consultation, and fellowship, thus fulfilling Spiritual, administrative and social functions for Bahá’í communities at local level.

Gilbert and Ellice Islands

Former name of the two Pacific Island countries, Kiribati and Tuvalu.

Hand of the Cause

Individual appointed by Bahá’u’lláh, and later by Shoghi Effendi, charged with specific duties of protecting and propagating the Bahá’í Faith.

Haram-i-Aqdas

The gardens at Bahjí surrounding the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. The term means “Most Holy Sanctuary”.

[Page viii]Hazíratu’l-Quds

A term meaning “The Sacred Fold”, used to refer to the central offices for a Bahá’í community, whether at national or local level.

Knight of Bahá’u’lláh

A title given by Shoghi Effendi to Bahá’ís who travelled during the first year of the World Crusade (1953-54) to open a “virgin” territory, as well as to those who were the first to arrive at territories that remained to be opened after that date.

Local Spiritual Assembly

The local administrative body which is directly elected from the body of the believers during Ridván, serving for a period of one year.

Mashriqu’l-Adhkár

The term for Bahá’í Houses of Worship and for practices of worship, which means “Dawning-place of the remembrance of God”.

National Spiritual Assembly

The national administrative body of a Bahá’í community, whose members are elected for a one year term by delegates to national convention.

Naw-Rúz

The Bahá’í New Year, which takes place on the spring equinox, generally on 21 March.

New Hebrides

Former name of the Pacific Island country, Vanuatu.

Ridván

A twelve-day festival beginning annually on 21 April, to mark Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration of his mission. Elections for Local Spiritual Assemblies are held on the first day of Ridván, while those for the National Spiritual Assembly are held sometime during the Ridván period.

[Page ix]Society Islands

Former name of some islands within French Polynesia.

Summer School

Residential programs which combine instructional sessions with Bahá’í fellowship.

Universal House of Justice

Supreme administrative body of the Bahá’í Faith, ordained by Bahá’u’lláh in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Its members are elected at five-year intervals by the members of all National Spiritual Assemblies.

World Crusade

A ten year plan of expansion and consolidation planned and initiated by Shoghi Effendi, which commenced in 1953.