National Bahá’í Review/Issue 101/Text

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[Page 1]

The Bahfé’I’ attitude toward politics

Extractsfrom a letter written to an individual believer in response to questions he asked on the subject of politics.

Dear Bahá’í Friend,

The Universal House of Justice received your letter of May 15 conveying your thoughts on the need for Bahá’ís to become involved as may be necessary in political affairs and to participate in activities aimed at the eradication of injustice. The sincerity which prompted you to write such a letter and to candidly express your sentiments deeply touched the Universal House oflustice. We have been asked to convey its comments to you.

You ask if silence on the part of Bahá’ís will not allow chaos and human humiliation to be a permanent feature on earth, and state that shunning of politics by the Bahá’ís can but weaken the freedom fighters of the world. When viewing the conditions of our society we see a world beset by ills and groaning under the burden of suffering. This suffering, Bahá’u’lláh has Himself testified, is because the “body” of the world. “though created whole and perfect, has been afflicted, through diverse causes, with grave ills and maladies”, and “its sickness waxed more severe, as it fell under the treatment of unskilled physicians who have spurred on the steed of their worldly desires and have erred grievously.” Bahá’u’lláh’s statement in this passage concludes with the assertion that the “sovereign remedy” lies in turning and submitting to the “skilled”, the “all-powerful” and “inspired Physician. This verily is the truth and all else naught but error.”

This Divine Physician has assured us in His writings that God is All-Seeing and All-Knowing and has willed to establish in this Day and among men His everlasting Kingdom. “The whole earth”, Bahá’u’lláh has stated, “is now in a state of pregnancy. The day is approaching when it will have yielded its noblest fruits, when from it will have sprung forth the loftiest trees, the most enchanting blossoms, the most heavenly blessings.” In order to achieve this purpose God sent us the spirit and message of the New Day through two successive Manifestations, both of Whom the generality of mankind have rejected, and have, alas, prefered to continue in their own blindness and perversity. Commenting on such a world spectacle, Bahá’u’lláh wrote: “Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead.” “After a time”, He further wrote, “all the governments on earth will change. Oppression will envelop the world. And following a universal convulsion, the sun ofjustice will rise from the horizon of the unseen realm.”

When we turn to His other writings to learn more of His warning that this “present-day order” is to be “rolled up", we read statements and predictions such as these: “The time for the destruction of the world and its people hath arrived." “The hour is approaching when the most great convulsion will have appeared." “The promised day is come, the day when tormenting trials will have surged above your heads, and beneath your feet, saying: ‘Taste ye what your hands have wrought!’ ” “Soon shall the blasts of His chastisement beat upon you and the dust of hell enshroud ’you.” “And when the appointed hour is come, there shall suddenly appear that which shall cause the limbs of mankind to quake.” “The day is approaching when its (civilization) flame will devour the cities, when the tongue of Grandeur will proclaim: ‘The Kingdom is God’s, the Almighty, the All-Praised!’ " “The day is approaching when the wrathful anger of the Almighty will have taken hold of them. He, verily, is the Omnipotent, the All-Subduing, the Most Powerful. He shall cleanse the earth from the defilement oftheir corruption, and shall give it for an heritage unto such of His servants as are nigh unto Him.”

From the above it becomes clear that the Hand of Providence is at work, and is engaged in fulfilling God’s purpose for mankind in this Age. “God’s purpose", Shoghi Effendi assures us. “is none other than to usher in, in ways He alone can bring about, and the full significance ofwhich He alone can fathom, the Great, the Golden Age of a long-divided, a long—afflicted humanity. lts present state, indeed even its immediate future,.is dark,»distressingly dark. Its distant future, however, is radiant, gloriously radiant——so radiant that no eye can visualize it.”

Let us consider the First World War, which Shoghi Effendi has described in his writings as “the first stage in a titanic convulsion long predicted by Bahá’u’lláh.” Although it ended outwardly in a Treaty of Peace, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá remarked: “Peace, Peace, the lips of potentates andpeoples unceasingly proclaim, whereas the fire of unquenched hatred still smoulders in their hearts.” And then in 1920, He wrote: “The ills from which the world now suffers will multipy; the gloom which envelops it will deepen." And again:v“another war, fiercer than the last, will assuredly break out.” After this Second World War broke out in 1939, Shoghi Effendi called it a “tempest,

[Page 2]Bahá’í 323%?‘

unprecedented in its violence”, and the “great and mighty wind of God invading the remotest and fairest regions of the earth." After the termination of this War and the creation of the United Nations, the Guardian wrote in 1948, anticipating “still more violent convulsions” and referred to the “wings of yet another conflict" destined to “darken the international horizon.” And finally in his last Riḍván Message of April 1957, he left for posterity the following analysis of world conditions in the light of the prophecies and predictions recorded in the writings of the Faith:

‘‘Indeed, as we gaze in retrospect beyond the immediate past, and survey, in however cursory a manner, the vicissitudes afflicting an increasingly tormented _,society, and recall the strains and stresses to which the fabric of a dying Order has been increasingly subjected, we

cannot but marvel at the sharp contrast presented, on the

one hand, by the accumulated evidences of the orderly unfoldment, and the uninterrupted multiplication of the agencies, of an Administrative Order designed to be the harbinger of a world civilization, and, on the other, by the ominous manifestations of acute political conflict, of social unrest, of racial animosity, of class antagonism, of immorality and of irreligion, proclaiming, in no uncertain terms, the corruption and obsolescence of the institutions of a bankrupt Order.

“Against the background of these afflictive disturbances—the turmoil and tribulations of a travailing age—we may well ponder the portentious prophecies uttered well-nigh fourscore years ago, by the Author of our Faith, as well as the dire predictions made by Him Who is the unerring Interpreter of His teachings, all foreshadowing a universal commotion, of a scope and intensity unparalleled inthe annals of mankind.

“The violent derangement of the world’s equilibrium; the trembling that will seize the limbs of mankind; the fundamental changes affecting the structure of government; the weakening of.the pillars of religion; the rise of dictatorships; the spread of tyranny; the fall of monarchies; the decline of ecclesiastical institutions; the increase of anarchy and chaos; the extension and consolidation of the Movement of the Left; the fanning into flame of the smouldering fire of racial strife; the development of infernal engines of war; the burning of cities; the contamination of the atmosphere of the earth——these stand out as the signs and portents that must either herald or accompany the retributive calamity which, as decreed by Him Who is the Judge and Redeemer of mankind, must, sooner or later, afflict a society which, for the most part, and for over a century, has turned a deaf ear to the Voice of God’s Messenger in this day—a calamity which must purge the human race of the dross of its age-long corruptions, and weld its component parts into a firmlyknit world—embracing Fellowship. . .”

Thus we see how the Divine Physician is both the “Judge” of mankind and its “Redeemer”

This same Physician, addressing His followers, “the beloved of the one true God”, wrote: “Forbear ye from concerning yourselves withthe affairs of this world and all that pertaineth unto it, or from meddlingwith the activities of those who are its outward leaders. The one true God, exalted by His glory, hath bestowed the government of the earth upon the kings. To none is given the right to act in any manner that would run counter to the considered views of them who are in authority."

ln another Tablet He laid on His followers the obligation to “behave towards the government of the country in which they reside with loyalty, honesty and truthfulness.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá reaffirmed the same principles. When in America He referred to the “irrefutable command that the Blessed Perfection hath given” in His Tablets, namely, “that the believers must obey the kings with the utmost sincerity and fidelity, and He hath forbidden them (the believers) to interfere at all with political problems. He hath even prohibited the believers from discussing political affairs.”

And finally in His last Will and Testament He wrote:

' “We must obey and be the well—wishers of the government

of the land. . _

We have also been asked to share with you at thisjuncture the following two extracts from letters written by the Universal House of Justice, and it is hoped these will help you in appreciating the significant and vital role Bahá’ís can and must play in the world today:

“We are told by Shoghi Effendi that two great processes are at work in the world: the great Plan of God, tumultuous in its progress, working through mankind as a whole, tearing down barriers to world unity and forging humankind into a unified body in therfires of suffering and experience. This process will produce, in God’s due time, the Lesser Peace, the pol.itical unification of the world. Mankind at that time can be likened to a body that is unified but without life. The second process, the task of breathing life into this unified body—of creating true unity and spirituality culminating in the Most Great Peace——is that’ of the Bahá’ís, who are laboring consciously, with detailed instructions and continuing divine guidance, to erect the fabric of the Kingdom of God on earth, into which they call their fellowmen, thus conferring upon them eternal life. ;

“The working out of Gods Major Plan proceeds mysteriously in ways directed by Him alone, but the Minor Plan that He has given us to execute, as our part in His grand design for the redemption of mankind, is clearly delineated. It is to this work that we must devote all our energies, for there is no one else to do it.”

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“Baha’ is are‘ often accused of holding aloof from the ‘real problems’ of their fellow-men. But when we hear this accusation let us not forget thatthose who make it are

. ‘usually idealistic materialists to whom material good is the only ‘real’ good, whereas we know that the working of the material world is merely a reflection of spiritual conditions and until the spiritual conditions can be changed there can be no lasting change for the better in material affairs.

“We should also remember that most people have no clear concept of the sort of world they wish to build, nor how to go about building it. Even those who are concerned to improve conditions are therefore reduced to combatting every apparent evil that takes their attention. Willingness to fight against evils, whether in the form of conditions or embodied in evil men, has thus become for most people the touch—stone by which they judge a persons moral worth. Baha’ is, on the other hand, know the goal they are working towards and know what they must do, step by step, to attain it. Their wh_ole energy is directed towards the building of the good, a good which has such a positive strength that in the face of it the multitude of evils which are in essence negative—will fade away and be no more. To enter into the quixotic tournament of demolishing one by one the evils in the world is, to a Bahá’í, a vain waste of time and effort. His whole life is directed towards proclaiming the Message of Bahá’u’lláh, reviving the spiritual life of his fellowmen, uniting them in a divinely—created World Order, and then, as that Order" grows in strength and influence, he will see the power of the Message transforming the whole of human society and progressively solving the problems and removing the injustices which have so ‘long bedevilled the world.”

You have asked whether it is possible to have a World‘

Federation when not all countries have attained their independence. The answer is in the negative. Both ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

and Shoghi Effendi likened the emergence of the American Republic and the unification of the “diversified and loosely related elements” of its “divided” community into one national entity to the unity of the world and the incorportation of its federated units into “one coherent system”. Just as the American Constitution does not allow one state to be more autonomous than another, so must the nations of the world enjoy equal status in any form of World Federation. Indeed one of the “candles” of unity anticipated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is “unity in freedom”. ‘

Yet another question is whether it is morally right to remain silent when equality is beingyabused. The beloved Guardian has given us the following guidelines in letters written on his behalf. “Much as the friends must guard against in any way ever seeming to identify themselves or the Cause with any political party, they must also guard against the other extreme of never taking part with other progressive groups, in conferences,-or committees designed to promote some activity in entire accord with our teachings—snch as, for instance, better race relations.”

The Universal House of Justice hopes thatyou and your Bahá’í co-workers in that land will steep yourselves in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, endeavor to follow in your personal lives the noble standards set by Him, attract the

multitudes to the radiance of His glorious Faith,.and enable .

them to wann their hearts and ignite their souls with the flame of that undying Fire which “blazeth and rageth in the world of creation”.

We have been asked by the Universal House of Justice to assure you of its prayers on your behalf in the Holy Shrines. With loving Bahá’í greetings,

Department of the Secretariat

Universal House of Justice

July 7, 1976

Emergency voting procedures for District Conventions

As a preventive measure, the National Spiritual Assembly outlines below the procedures to follow in the event that

there is any problem with the mailing of Convention calls V

this year. If your ballot does NOT arrive, please proceed as follows: , 1. If you are able to attend the Convention you will be provided with ballot paper and an envelope at that time. 2. If you are unable to attend, complete a ballot before the Convention and mail it to the person_who has been designated to receive mailed ballots in your District. To find out

the name of this person, check the listing on Page 2 of The American Bahá’í You may also give the sealed ballot to the Local Assembly secretary who" willtransmit it to the appropriate Convention officers.

3. To vote by mail, write the name(s) of the believer(s) whom you wish to represent your district at the National Convention: Vote ONLY for the number of delegates allotted to your district, and leave enough space between the names so that ballots may be easily separated later. You may discover the number of delegates assigned to your

[Page 4]”’ National

Review

district by checking the listing on Page 2 of The American Bahá’í’.

4. Place your ballot in a small envelope and seal it. Do not make any mark on this envelope.

5. Place the sealed envelope in a larger envelope and either mail it or send it as described above. Write the word BALLOT in the left—hand corner of this envelope and be sure your name is on it so that you may be credited as a voter. I

The National Spiritual Assembly anticipates successful

and problem—free District Conventions this year. However,

if any problem does arise, the Assembly is sure that the believers, armed with these guidelines and with supreme confidence in the sacredness oftheir task, will not hesitate to proceed with the election and other business of their Convention.

National Spiritual Assembly actionson National Convention recommendations

Recommendation: That the National Spiritual Assembly consider establishing a program for circuit teachers, to be subsidized if necessary, to be sentthroughout the United States to stimulate and to carry on the teaching work.

Action.‘ The National Teaching Committee is directed to carry out such a program especially in relation to specific homefront goals. '

Recommendation: That the National Spiritual Assembly

appoint a special committeeto reach those considered

“elite” and who have openly expressed a disenchantment about the state of society. The object of the committee would be to give the Message of Bahá’u’lláh in a more personal and direct manner to such persons, tailoring it to the individual situation.

Action: The National Spiritual Assembly has assigned its National Information Officer to carry out the intent of this recommendation to the extent possible.

Recommendation: That the National Spiritual Assembly prepare a tape recording of music from devotional programs at the House of Worship which will be made available to the Bahá’í Community for use at the devotional portion of the Feast. ’ A

Recommendation: That tape recordings of other kinds of

Committee reports

The annual reports of the committees of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States for the year 1975-76 are available upon request. Any Bahá’í who would like to receive a copy should write to the Bahá’í National Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091. ‘

music, perhaps sing—along songs, also be made available to

the community.

Action.‘ Both recommendations are approved and referred to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust for action.

Recommendation: That the National Spiritual Assembly devise a training program aimed at promoting entry by troops into the Faith.

Action: This recommendation is referred to the National Teaching Committee for action. However, it should be recognized that the Local Spiritual Assembly Development Program,now in process, is an essential part of the training required in preparing the community for entry by troops. V

Recommendation: That a comprehensive audio—visual program of the gardens of the Bahá’í Shrines and Holy Places, including the House of Worship in Wilmette, with

special emphasis on the varieties of flowers, plants, trees,

etc. be prepared for use in teaching the Faith to garden clubs, schools and other institutions.

‘ Action: This recommendation is" approved.

Recommendation: That the National Spiritual Assembly should have a master calendar for national events in order to help local communities avoid conflicts intheir activities.

Action: Steps are already being taken to provide such a calendar. '

Recommedation: That the National Spiritual Assembly consider making information concerning Transcendental Meditation and similar subjects available to the Bahá’í Community through publication in The American Bahá’í.

Action; The following statement is cited from. a letter writtenby the secretary of Shoghi Effendi on his behalf: “there is noset forms of meditation prescribed in_ the

[Page 5]S September 1976 i 5

teachings, no plan, as such, for inner development. The friends are urged—nay enjoined—to pray, and they also should meditate, but the manner of doing the latter is left entirely to the individual.”

Recommendation: That the National Spiritual Assembly make use of the District Teaching Committees, either directly or indirectly, or Local Spiritual Assemblies, in an advisory capacity in the selection of Convention sites and that it be done earlier in the fall.

Action: This is being done.

Recommendation: That the National Spiritual Assembly

-let it be known to The Universal House of Justice that

recommendations came up at the Convention to the effect that the House of Justice permit a Hand of the Cause to be present at each session of Bahá’í’ schools held in the United States andlthat the National Spiritual Assembly ask The House of Justice for a curriculum for our schools, perhaps through the International Teaching Center.

Action: The National Spiritual Assembly does not wish to pass on these recommendations to The Universal House of Justice for two reasons: 1) It is entirely impracticable for a Hand of the Cause to be available at each session of each Bahá’í school conducted in the United States. 2) vlt is the duty of National and Local Spiritual

Assemblies to workout the curricula for the schools they

sponsor and, as a matter of principle, it would neither be proper nor feasible for the House of J ustice or the International Teaching Center to be asked to work out such curricula.

\ Recommendation: That the National Spiritual Assembly

adopt the proposed 1976—77 budget as read.

Action: The National Spiritual Assembly adopts a budget of $3.4 million for fiscal 1976-77.

Recommendation: That the National Spiritual Assembly consider publishing in The American‘Bahá’í the Tablet of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá concerning the friends embracing one another.

Action: A statement on this subject will be prepared for publication in the Ba/zd’l’ Natiohal Review.

Recommendation: That the National Assembly reconsider the format of consultation at District Conventions or

extend the time to allow for greater participation perhaps by

having the friends break into small groups and then reconvening to report suggestions to the entire body.

Action: The National Education Committee has been asked to develop a program which will help the friends to understand better how to function at District Conventions.

Holding Bahá’í’ devotions at World Scout Jamboree

The Fifteenth World Scout Jamboree will be held in Iran in 1979. To enable the holding of Bahá’í devotions at the Jamboree, Bahá’í Scouts and leaders should inform Roy Meyer of the Tall Pine Council, Boy Scouts of America, 202 East Boulevard, Flint, Michigan 48502, that they intend to attend or would like to receive more information

about the World Jamboree.

In accordance with instructions from The Universal House of Justice, Bahá’í Scouts who are Persian, living outside of Iran, should not plan to attend the Jamboree.

Exact date and place of the Jamboree will be announced. It is traditionally held during July or August.

In Memoriam

Mr. Hubert B. Adam Danville. Illinois March I3. 1976

Mr. William Holland Alexander

St. Joseph. Missouri April I6. 1976

Mr. William 8. Allison Beaumont. California February 18, 1976

Mr. ‘Henry Alston

Wake Forest, North Carolina

Date Unknown

Mr. William H_. Anderson Lancaster, Kentucky 1974

Mr. George H. Andrews Sr.

Atlanta. Georgia ‘ April I2, 1976

, Mrs. Eleanor lrene Barrow /

Evanston, Illinois Date Unknown

Mr. Robert R. Beaudette Bloomfield, Nebraska February 1976

Mr. Felix Becerra Rosenburg. Texas 1975

Mr. William Blakey Brookfield, Wisconsin April 24, 1976

Mr. Ricky Blalock Edgefield, South Carolina October 1975

Mr.'Edward Bode Madeira Islands, Atlantic Ocean

March 1976

Mrs. Doris C. Bolton Hartford, Connecticut March 7, 1976

Miss Amelia Bowman Norway 9 1976

Mr. Lewis Bradley Greenville, South Carolina May 28, 1975

[Page 6]I ’!'N t‘ I Bahai R353‘?

Mrs. Rosa Lee Brunson Sumter, South Carolina 1974

Sylvia Ann Burgess Scranton, South Carolina

‘ November 1975

Mr. Lemon Capbell Floydale, South Carolina December 1975

Mr. Joseph Caron Fall River, Massachusetts June 2, 1976

Mrs. Jean Chandler Seattle, Washington October 8, 1975

Miss Terry Lynn Crooks Galveston, Texas April 7, 1976

Mrs. Mary Davis , _ Mullins, South Carolina Date Unknown

Mr. Palmer Matthew Davis Mullins, South Carolina 1974

Mrs. Bess De Nardis San Diego, California January 28, 1976

Miss Letha A. Deemer Lima, Ohio April I2, 1976

Mrs. Maude Derrick New York April 3, 1976

Mrs. Martha Dicks Sumter, South Carolina January 1976

Miss Pauline Dinkins Perry, Georgia 1975

Miss Clara A. Edge Grand Rapids, Michigan May 5, 1976

Mrs. Dorothy M. Eggert Naperville, Illinois May 13. 1976

Mr. Carlis Fields Dillon, South Carolina Date Unknown

Dr. Clell G. Fowler Louisville, Kentucky April 7, 1976

Mrs. Paula Freschmidt Broomall, Pennsylvania November 2, 1975

Mr. Charlie Greene Neah Bay, Washington February‘l6, 1976

Mrs. Eleanor J. Haeckerv Jamestown, New York February 10, 1976

Mr. Juddy Halsen Perry, Georgia 1975

Mrs; Dorothy Hardy Edgefield, South Carolina February 1976

Mrs.«Edith Haskins Maple Springs, New York April I2, 1976

Mrs. Lucille Haupt Clarkdale, Arizona

= March 7, 1976

Miss Nancy Marie Hawk

- Wakpaha, South Dakota

Date Unknown

Mr. John S. Heal Milwaukie, Oregon April 2, 1976 . 4

Mrs. Annaline Hern Mayville. New York May 17, 1976

Mr. William H. Hines Niles, Michigan March I8, 1976

Mr. Willie C. Holden Perry, Georgia

/ 1975

Dr. John Holland ' Ancram, New York May I3, 1976

Mrs. Jane B. Hoover Santa Rosa, California 1976 ‘

Mr. Issac Jackson Winnsboro, South Carolina January 1976

Mrs. Lula C. Jones Billings, Montana April 9, 1976

Mrs. Augusta Keila New York, New York December I6, 1975

Mr. Harley W. Leftwich Farmington, New Mexico May 8, 1976

Mrs. Gussy Littman Thousand Oaks, California June I4, 1976

Mr. Rubbin Louis Fork, South Carolina 1976

Mrs. Blanche Ludwig Little Rock, Arkansas June 23, 1976

Mr. Robert Lumpkin Perry, Georgia 1974 ,

Mrs. Mina Lundquist Temple, Arizona February l7, 1976

Mrs. Margaret Many Guns Browning, Montana April 27, 1976

‘Miss Shirin Marion

Fort Thompson, South Dakota March I 976

Mr. W. C. Mc Cullough Rock Hill, South Carolina Date Unknown

Mr. Robert Miller, Sr. Johannesburg, South Africa 1976 Elisa Mitchell Beaufort, South Carolina February 27, 1976

Mr. Abdollah Modarai Teaneck, New Jersey May 28, 1975

Mr. Richard Morrison Marquette, Michigan December 14, 1975

Miss Ida Ware Mosely Galveston, Texas Date Unknown

Mrs. Helen U. Niss Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 1976

Mrs. Edith B. Odom Pasadena, California 1976

Mr. Bowens Parker Pamplico, South Carolina 1975

Mr. Franklin Parker Bristol, Florida July 17, 1975

Mr. Lewis E. Peeden Red Bluff, California January 10, 1976

Miss Martha Piltz Canon City, Colorado 1976

Mr. John Rhienehart Hartsville, South Carolina Date Unknown

Mr. Ralph Richardson Indianapolis, Indiana March 12, 1976

Mrs. Alyce Jo Rittenhouse Bogart, Georgia March 9, 1976

Mrs. Feebie Ann Robinson Gloster, Louisiana Date Unknown

‘Mr. George Roe Walterboro, South Carolina July 1975

Mr. Lucious Rogers Pamlico, South Carolina Date Unknown

Mrs. Dorothy E. Roscoe New Hampton, New Hampshire

June 3, 1976

Mr. Williarn"Frank Roundtree Perry, Georgia

1974

Mr. Archie Rouse

‘ Darlington, South Carolina

Date Unknown

Mr. Harry Sampson

Reno, Nevada

November 23, 1975

Mrs. Paulette Seichter Scottsdale. Arizona February 5, 1976

Mrs. Laura M. Shahan Del Mar, California February 2, 1976

4 Miss G. Dorothy Sholtis

Virden, Illinois June 19, 1976

Mrs. Margaret Shure Tucson, Arizona April 2, 1976

Mr. Ronald Simjian Greenwich, Connecticut May 1976

Mr. Robert Lee Simpson Belle Glade, Florida 1975

, Elsie Simtustus

Warm Springs, Oregon Date Unknown

Mrs. Barbara B. Stratton Friday Harbor, Washington May 17, 1976

‘ Miss Imogene Talbott

Linclon, Illinois April 24, 1976

Mrs. Lottie Taylor Suffolk, Virginia December 13, 1975

Mr. Scot A. Thomas Mount Clemens, Michigan May 1976

Mrs. Virginia Thomas Petaluma, California March 18, 1976

Mr. Miller Thompson Dale, South Carolina Date Unknown

Mrs. Lucile Thunder Poplar, Montana April 1976

Miss Maude A. Tollefson Santa Rosa, California April 16, 1976

Mrs. Rose Van Vliet Santa Clara, California May 28, 1976

' Mr. Allen Vivier

Belcoun, North Dakota June 1975

Mr. Joe S. Wafer Bakersfield, California March 5. 1976

Mrs. Jessie B. Walker Greenville, South Carolina Date Unknown

Mr. Bobbie L. Watkins Rock Hill, South Carolina Date Unknown

Mrs. Grace Weiss Teaneck, New Jersey May 28, 1976

Miss Emma Lee Wells Sumter, South Carolina Date Unknown .

Mrs. Mabel Wertheimer Victorville, California April 12, 1976

\ Mrs. Willerma Williams

Lake City, South Carolina August 30, 1975

Mr. Robert E. Zeeck Hamden. Connecticut June 6, 1976

[Page 7]Status of U.S. pioneer goals

September 1976 7

1 Africa Assigned Filled Open Americas Assigned Filled Open (P) Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (S) Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 0

(E) Botswana . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (S,E) Belize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3

(E) British Indian Ocean Terr.** . . _ . . . . . . .2 — 2 (S) Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 10 0

(F,E) Cameroon Republic . . . ' . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 I (P) Bfalil - - ~ - . - - - - - - - - . - . - - - - - - - - - ~ .14 14 0

(F) Central African ‘Republic . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S) Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 O

(F) Dahomey . . . . . . . . . . .’. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 .0 (S) ‘ Colombia . . . . . . .l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 8 0

(F) Gabon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 — 1 (S) Costa Rica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

(_E) Gambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , , . . . . . . . . . , .2 — 2 (S) Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . ._. - . . .5 5 0

(E) Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (S) Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 7 0

(P) Guinea-Bissau (P011. Guinea) . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (S) El Salvador. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

(F) Ivory Coast . . . . _ . _ _ , . , , . . . . _ . . , . , _ .2 2 O (F) French Antilles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

(E) Kenya . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 31 0 (F) French Guiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0

(E) Lesotho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 '3 0 (S) Guatemala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 5 0

(E) Liberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2 (E) Guyana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 3 1

(F) Malagasy Republic , , , , _ _ . , _ _ _ , , , , _ _ ,2 2 O Haiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

(E) Malawi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 O (S) Honduras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 0

(P,S) Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 I 1 (E) Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

(E) Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ./ . . . . . . .3 3 0 (E) Leeward/Virgin Is., Montserrat, St. Kitts . . .9 9 0

(E) Rhodesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 5 0 (S) Nicaragua (Granada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 0

(E) Sierra Leone . . . .7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S) Panama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

‘ (E) South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (S) Paraguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2

(E) St. Helena . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..1 « — . 1 (S) Peru (Cuczo, Pufio) . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

(E) Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 y 0 (S) Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . ; . . . . . .' . . . . . .4 4 0

(F) Togo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S,E) San Andres Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 — 1

(F) Upper Volta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (H,E,D) Surinam. . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0

(F) Zaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 6 1 (E) Trinidad/Tobago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . . . .4 ' 4 O

- ‘ ‘K fi T (S) Uruguay . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 O

(S) Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 ,5 2

Asia (E) Windward Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 4 2

(B,E) Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 , 0 142 8

(E) India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 5 0 _

(J) Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 Europe

(F) Khmer Republic (Cambodia) . . . . . . . . . .2 —— 2 (F) Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 5 1

(K,E) Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2 1 (Dn) Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 — 3

(F) Laos . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . , , . . . . . . . . . _ , .2 — 2 (Fn) Finland . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 3 I .1

(F,E) Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 1 (Gr) Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0

(C,P) Macau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (I) Iceland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0

(E). Nepal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 * 2 0 (N) Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0

(E) Philippine Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (P) Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 4 4

(E) Sri Lanka (Ceylon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3, 0 (S) Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0

(E) Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (F,G,It) Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 3 3

(E) Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 W 75 —f

(T,A,E) Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 **Circumstances permitting

(E) Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 — 1 Total assignments to be . T "-3 T completed by October 20, 1976 _ AFRICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 51 17

Adslmlasla AMERICAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . .150 142 8

(E) Cardllds lslsnds - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -2 2 0 ASIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 26 9

(E) Fill lsladds v - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -3 3 0 AUSTRALASIA . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 20 2

(El Madam lslsdds - - - - - - - - - - v - - - - ~ - - - - -2 2 0 EUROPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 25 12

(E) Marshall Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 *Z— T

(F) New Caledonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1 0 3l2 264 43

(E) North-East New Guinea . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 L“‘“g“38° Key

(E) American Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 A—Arabic E—English I—Icelandic S——Spanish

(B) Western Samoa . . . . .' . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2 g*g:ll33ll Il:—FIl:s"¢llh lHislldn‘ T—TUrl<lsh

(E) Tonga Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *3 J (S: Di';’e5:0 G":-G K: !a1(1:)alr1;:;e 2 20 2 D—Dutch Gr—Greek N——Norwegian Dn——Danish H—-Hindi P—Portuguese

[Page 8]National Bahá’í Fund

Further sacrifices required to support victories

To the American Bahá’í Community

Dear Bahá’í Friends:

Those of you who have read Mr. Faizfs Meditations on the Eve Of November 4th will remember the story of Magellan. This courageous hero set before himself a tremendous task——t0 find a shortcut around the tip of South America. He followed his quest with faith and enthusiasm, braved many dangers, weathered many storms, encouraged those who clamored to return home—all this to achieve a goal which seemed only a dream to those of lesser vision. And yet, he was steadfast to the end. He attained his goal, and for the first time the globe was circumnavigated.

/We Bahá’ís are much like Magellan in that we are striving for a seemingly unattainable goal—the unification of mankind. We know that our task is Divine in origin, and that we must never relent in our efforts until it is realized. Yet, the immediate goals which face us in the Five Year Plan still await completion. Our monetary sacrificeS—So much an indication of our spiritual health—have not been sufficient

to provide the foundation of support needed for the overall success of the Plan.

The condition is serious. Valuable time is swiftly running-out. During moments like these, however, we remain confident that the followers of Bahá’u’lláh—the heroes and heroines of the world—will arise to serve their Lord. “Those men of four centuries ago sailed the pathless oceans full of fears and doubts, but we sail the oceans of sacrifice and service which are clearly chartered by His mighty, powerful and inspired pen, with hearts full of hope that the final victory will be for the Cause of God."

With loving Bahá’í greetings, NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or THE BAHA”1s or THE UNITED STATES

Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer August ll, 1976

Contributions

$300,000 . PuIlcvpation—-Asumblhl A Group: Plfl|I:|pll|on%IIdIvlduds 250,000 , ./\ — ?.TTl\/J 200,000 :m.LV¢ 1976-1977 Monthly Goal 3 I V M 3 Y H 1 50,000 I V N \‘ xi § 100,000 \ § \ \ 50,000 0 V i ' ‘ ‘ A r I B cl 1 finial Monthly Contributions “Assemblies & Groups Individuals W u 9e

Month of Year to _ Contributions may be addressed to: NationaI'Bahá’í Fund, 112 Linden

Kalimat Date Ave., Wilmette, Illinois 60091; Bahá’í International Fund, P.O. Box 155,

Contributions $126,162 $614,239 Haifa, Israel; and Continental Bahá’í Fund, 418 Forest Ave., Wilmette,

Budget Goal l58,000 790,000 Illinois 60091. Overage (Shortage) ($31,838) ($175,761)