National Bahá’í Review/Issue 27/Text
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INTERN ATIONAL PROPERTY GOALS
A Progress Report
A very important part of the Nine Year Plan is the acquisition of Bahá’í property in many countries of the world. The United States Bahá’ís have been assigned a major role in assisting other National Spiritual Assemblies in achieving this goal. With Riḍván approaching, we wish to bring the friends up to date on the report published in the April, 1969 National Bahá’í Review. Unfortunately, the progress has been slow for reasons given below, but five goals have been accomplished, making a total of eleven out of the nineteen, and two more in process as of February 1, 1970. An additional $13,333.00 has been expended, bringing the total financial assistance from the United States Bahá’í community to $62,263.38.
Since last April the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of West Central Africa has acquired its Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Accra, Ghana, with assistance from our National Bahá’í Fund. Land for the site of the House of Worship in Chile was acquired by the National Spiritual Assembly of Chile, again with help from our National Fund. In the Netherlands, several appropriate lands for a House of Worship site have been discovered, and the National Spiritual Assembly of the Netherlands has been assured of financial support in their negotiations. From the National Spiritual Assembly of Venezuela has come word that they are considering, for a Temple site, land offered by a local believer. There are legal complications and if these are not resolved by Riḍván, they plan to purchase other land. Financial support from our National Bahá’í Fund has been confirmed.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Indian Ocean, which has its headquarters in Port Louis, Mauritius, informs us that their Teaching Institute goal is considered completed, by use of the building formerly used as a Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds. Assistance from the United States community will enable them to modify and improve this Teaching Institute.
African Teaching Institutes
Your funds had already assisted the Bahá’ís of West Africa in acquiring their Teaching institute in 1967 and their Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in 1968. New, increasing attend ances at their Bahá’í summer schools has necessitated an additional building at their Institute in Bomi Hills, Liberia, and financial assistance has been requested for this project.
The National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of South and West Africa, with headquarters in Johannesburg, has one of the most complicated goals, the establishment of Teaching Institutes, in a country which does not permit such institutes for Africans in urban areas, and forbids dual language instruction for them except for English/Afrikaans. Since the Tswana language is needed in the Transvaal, the Zulu language in Natal or Zululand, and the Xhosa language in the Transkei, all tribal lands where property cannot be purchased, the task of acquiring sites for institutes is very difficult. Nevertheless, progress is being made and low-cost prefab buildings will soon be erected for Teaching Institutes in all these rural areas, and possibly a permanent Institute for teaching English/Afrikaans in Cape Town._ Financial assistance for all these projects has been given.
It is difficult too for the National Spiritual Assembly of Uganda and Central Africa, in Kampala, Uganda, where English is the language, to follow up on their goal of a Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds in Brazzaville, Congo, where the official language is French, and communication is veryslow. Funds advanced for a deposit on a building in Brazzaville arrived too late to prevent its sale to someone else, but they are now available in Brazzaville to facilitate future negotiations on a building for their Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds.
Realty Pioneers Needed
A few months ago, one of the members of the U.S. International Goals Committee visited Norway and Portugal, met with members of their National Spiritual Assemblies, and inspected properties being considered as sites for Houses of Worship. Lands suitable for Houses of Worship near the capital cities are difficult to find 'and are almost prohibitively expensive. The active Bahá’í’s are working people or students with little time and experience for this work. What we need are American friends with realty or related business experience, to go as pioneers with the specific objective to help our sister communities complete their property goals and to stay and teach at least until these goals are accomplished. Are there friends who will undertake such tasks?‘We need one, preferably French speaking, to help complete our final Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds goal, the one
in Brazzaville, Congo. We need three to help acquire the temple site goals in Norway, Portugal, and the Virgin Islands. Are you one who can help? If you cannot actually pioneer, could you devote this summer to working on this task in Europe, for example. Funds are available to help qualified friends who will dedicate themselves to this task. If you can go, or if you
MARCH 1970
have any ideas or suggestions to further any of our international property goals, please call or write either Rexford C. Parmelee at the National Bahá’í Center or ‘William C. Wold, Conway, NH. 03818, telephone: 603-447-5780.
—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY
1970 National Convention
April 30 - May 3 '
(The following applies to all youth and adults who plan to attend).
OUR NINE YEAR PLAN PROPERTY GOALS ABROAD STATUS AS OF FEBRUARY ‘I, ‘1970 NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY UNITED STATES (PLACE) GOAL ASSISTANCE TO DATE STATUS
1. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas) Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds $ 378.99 Searching
2. Indian Ocean (Reunion Island) Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds $10,013.30 Completed 1968 3. Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds $13,513.75 Completed 1968 4. Uganda and Central Africa Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds $ 1,532,84 Searching
(Brazzaville, Congo) 5. West Africa (Monrovia, Liberia) Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds $ 8,408.65 Completed 1968 6. West Central Africa Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds $ 9.262.65 Completed 1969 (Accra, Ghana)
7. Taiwan (Taipei) Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds $ 6,011.60 Completed 1967 8. Netherlands (The Hague) Temple Site Advisory In process
9. Norway (Oslo) Temple Site Searching
10. Portugal (Lisbon) Temple Site Searching
11. Chile (Santiago) Temple Site $ 4,500.00 Completed 1969 12. Venezuela (Caracas) Temple Site In process
13. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas) Temple Site Searching
14. Indian Ocean (Mauritius) Institute Completed 1969 15. South and West Africa Institute $ 2,250.00 Completed
16. WestAfrica(BomiHills, Liberia) Institute $ 3,102,80 Completed 1967 17. Bolivia (Cochabamba) Institute $ 3,000.80 Completed 1967 18. Ghana Institute 288.00 Completed
19. Virgin Islands Endowment Unknown
19 Goals $62,263.38 11 completed 2 In process Attention
Current Bahá’í identification cards are required for admittance to the National Bahá’í convention. Outdated cards must be renewed before coming to Wilmette to attend the Convention. Renewals cannot be made in
Wilmette after you arrive here!
Each member of a Community should check his card NOW and, if it expires before May 1, 1970, should get his
card renewed by his Community's secretary.
Each Bahá’í in an isolated center or group should also check his card NOW. If it will expire before May 1, 1970, he should write NOW to the National Bahá’í Center, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091 and ask for a renewal card. Be sure and specify your first name, middle initial, and last name, as well as your current mailing
address, when you write for card renewal.
[Page 3]
REVIEW 3
/3 W42.o‘aJ/(I , /16
bzar ‘awe, National Bahá’í Fund _\_ 1,_)im\\— *5 5.€m}\ $2735 +0 Ha‘ i s MONTHLY INCOME: I96‘?-1770 It (8 ‘Frown WW mm“ L) ._ ‘F X ? Y ‘-‘Wk. 34* sl-col’; VV‘€- ' W3 ears +1: . ’« |75.oooieu 1' V cl; AA“ \°°"">' BM“ ' °°°”V"l’ +0 We. V\Mc . HM. FU OK , “C7 H’ s5o,ooov\ :'\(e 30?’ I 70;," '25'ooo Monthly Goal roo,ooo 75,ooo / 5o.ooo \ ,_\ 25.000 January Fiscal Year ‘ ' INCOME 1970 V to Date Regular Contributions .. . 3 35.02530 5 7l5.090-37 Special Contributions , |6,473.47 |b5,253.84 Total Contributions $|0|,499.27 $ 880.34-1,7| Es+a+es .. . 4.38I.I7 35,275.52 Other Income .. . . 782.37 20,303.47 (V Total Income .. . §LN>.b62.8| $i3i9_23.70 Budget §2§.o()(_).0o $I,250.ooo.oo 68:35/Ubo/ID . 1,1 The National Buha I Fund Brendon is a Bahá’í child only four years of age. His parents did not realize he even knew about the Bahá’í Fund until he informed them he wanted to contribute the contents of his penny bank—his entire life's savings. The beautiful letter you see reproduced here is in Calendar of Events Brendon’s own words, written by his mother at his Feasts request.
March 2—‘Alé’ (Loftiness)
This moving example of sacrifice for the Cause of March 21_Bahá(Splendor)
God by a young Bahá’í child is one worthy of following by all Bahá’ís. It again illustrates the significance of
F fN -R',M h21 these words of’ the Universal House of Justice: easto aw "1 an
Contributing to the Fund is a service that every Period of the Fast
believer can render, be he poor or wealthy; for Nineteen days beginning March2 this is a spiritual responsibility in which the
amount given is not important. It is the degree U.S.NationalSpiritua|Assemb|y Meetings of the sacrifice of the giver, the love with which April3—5
he makes his gift, and the unity of all the friends
in this service which bring spiritual confirma- U,S,NafionuIBc|hé’fConvenIion
tions. April 30-May 3
[Page 4]
I3 UNFILLED UNITED STATES GOAL AREAS IN EUROPE
As of January I5, 1970 ESTABLISHED FOR RIDV/KN 1970 BY THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
‘Azores
cmadeira
1» _)
0161 HDUVW
[Page 5]
<7‘
REVIEW
Norway
Norway's sensational scenery and its midnight sun have been wonderingly described by overawed visitors since the first Greek navigators carried home word of this unbelievable country. The people are cordial, friendly, and scrupulously honest. It is a rugged country, but the cities are cosmopolitan.
The Universal House of Justice assigned us a goal of settling four pioneers in this little country.
We share with you excerpts from a letter we recently received from the National Teaching Committee of Norway:
“Why I was chosen to write you, is first because I am the secretary of the National Teaching Committee of Norway, and second because I am one of the ten youth in Norway. We are so few that we don’t even have a National Youth Committee; many of the youth are serving in ‘grown-up’ activity, such as National Committees on proclamation and teaching.
“Here in Norway we need desperately pioneers, and this time I am approaching the youth because they are what we really need, and male! No, anyone will be most warmly welcomed; we are so few in numbers, our capacity can by no means reach the opportunities that seem to be opening up for us at last. My husband and I are both students. We have lived in Trondheim since August, and have found that so many doors are open, ‘full-time’ work (teaching) if we want to, and do we! But there is a limit as to where our capacity can reach.”
This young couple is studying at one of two schools in Trondheim. There is an advanced Teachers College and the Technical University of Norway in that city. Other universities in Norway of interest cover teacher training in arts and handicraft, metalwork, woodwork, textiles, drawing, home economics, applied arts and crafts, music, and a Fishing Trade School.
“Since practically all instruction during the regular terms at the University of Oslo is held in Norwegian, language courses for foreigners are arranged during both the autumn and the spring terms, beginning respectively September 3 and January 15. They range from an elementary course to an advanced seminar in Norwegian literature.. A modern language laboratory supplements class work.”
This young couple tells us that they are members of the “youngest local Spiritual Assembly in Norway.” All this information is of particular interest to youth who have been exposed to the Norwegian language, as well as to those ambitious to learn it and to study these interesting subjects in a beautiful country, with wide opportunities to spread the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. Let
P us give you more information.
INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE 112 Linden Avenue
Wilmette, Illinois 60091
Phone (312) 256-4400
A Learning-Teaching Opportunity
To all Bahá’u’lláh between the ages of18 and 25.
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
Have you volunteered for this summer’s 1970 International Youth Projects‘? These projects are generally set for a period of four to six weeks, extending from late June into the early part of August. Each volunteer will be responsible for self—financing of the entire project. Later on we will give you costs, itineraries for the several different countries, and tell you of the requirements, including necessary shots, equipment, etc. We estimate that you will need between $350.00 and $500.00, depending on the country and conditions. The figure may be less, and hopefully there will be a choice for you of several projects, depending on the number of volunteers. Soon we hope to be able to give you more precise information. It is possible that a prerequisite for some of the projects will be a speaking knowledge of Spanish.
Can you speak Spanish‘? Can you save the funds required by summer? Will you be free between June and August?
Take advantage of six weeks pioneering experience outside of the United States in preparation for future pioneering.
We urge you to volunteer now for this learning-teaching opportunity.
Warmest Bahá’í love,
—INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091
Duchess County, New York
The Bahá’ís of Duchess County, New York (Beacon, Fishkill, Poughkeepsie, Hyde Park, and LaGrange), are reviewing their exhibit at last year’s Duchess County Fair with a larger area in mind for 1970’s Fair so that the display will be readily visible to a viewer's eyes.
Last year, the display panels were designed by Mrs. Louise Winters. The side boards listed the Bahá’í principles and the periodic Revelations, while the center board emphasized the Faith and the major religious symbols. Miss Linda Marshall was interviewed at the booth by an announcer from Poughkeepsie’s radio station WKIP.
Salt Lake County, Utah
A week-end gathering at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Parker in Emigration Canyon recently gave Bahá’ís and their friends in the area two and a half days of readings from various scriptures of the world, firesides, music, dancing. Many were exposed to the Message of Bahá’u’lláh for the first time, while others were deepened in understanding.
The report states that “we just relied on the resources of our community, organized work and prayer” in our effort to make the week-end meeting a success.
[Page 6]
MARCH 1970
Colleges and Universities in Goal Countries
AFRICA (Engli sh speaking)
Ethiopia Haile Selassie I University, Addis Ababa, coed. Ghana University of Ghana, Legon, coed, small. University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, coed. University College of Cape Coast, coed, under 500 enrolled. Liberia University of Liberia, Monrovia, coed, small. Cuttington College, Suacoco, coed, under 500 enrolled. Maryland College of Our Lady of Fatima, Cape Palmas. Nigeria University College of Ibadan, coed. University of Nigeria, Naukkah, coed. University of Lagos, coed, under 500 enrolled. Rhodesia University College of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Salisbury. Sierra Leone University College of Sierra Leone, Freetown, small. Uganda University of East Africa (Uganda component: Makerere University College, Kampala, coed). Zambia University of Zambia, Lusaka. AFRICA (French speaking) Cameroon University Federale du Cameroun, Yaou ndé, small.
Congo-Kinshasa
Ivory Coast
A SIA Japan
Philippines
EUROPE Fi nla nd
France
Italy
Luxembourg Netherlands
Norway Switzerland
LATIN AIVIERICA
Jamaica Mexico
Puerto Rico
Free University of the Congo, Kisangani, coed, under 500. Lovanium University, Kinshasa, coed, small.
Universite Officielle du Congo, Lubumbashi.
University of Abidjan, coed, small.
Sophia University, Tokyo, courses in English.
International Christian University, Tokyo, courses in English.
University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Manila.
Los Banos, Iloilo City. Language of instruction: English, (Los Banos is now forming first Bahá’í college club).
University of Helsinki, Helsinki.
The Technical University of Helsinki, Otaniemi.
University of Turku, Turku.
University of Oulu, Oulu.
General information on the above: No entrance exams for qualified foreign students; some courses given in English.
University of Montpellier, Montpellier.
University of Grenoble, Grenoble, medicine and pharmacy.
University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg.
University of Lyon, Lyon.
Language of instruction: French. Courses at all of the above in arts, sciences, law, and economic sciences.
University of Cagliari, Cagliari. Language of students admitted after two years of college.
European Study Center of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam. Lectures in Dutch; textbooks in English.
University of Utrecht, Utrecht.
University of Groningen, Groningen.
University of Leiden, Leiden. Large number of foreign students; can get along with English.
University of Oslo, Oslo, Cultural Orientation Summer School; foreign students admitted after two years of college. Language of instruction: Norwegian.
University of Fribourg, Fribourg. Language of instruction: French and German.
instruction: Italian. Foreign
University of the West Indies, Kingston. Language of instruction: English.
University of the Americas, Mexico City. Language of instruction: English. Emphasis on Latin American studies.
Inter-American University ‘of Puerto Rico, San German. Language of instruction: English.
REVIEW
Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Jav1'.duk_ht I_{_h¢idem with Bahd'z's of Des Moines, Marshalltown, and Knoxville, Iowa.November 1969.
Bahá’í' Directory Changes
Assembly Secretaries
Arizona Tempe: Miss Carole Pritchard, PO. Box 504, 85281
Southern California Dist. No. 1 Long Beach: Mrs. Evelyn M. Diliberto, 1300 W. 32nd St., 90810
Southern California Dist. No. 2
Oceanside: Mrs. Cecilia Carson, 209-A Bluebell, Camp Pendleton 92055
Santa Ana: Mrs. Norma Quick, P.O. Box 6091, 92706
Florida
Fort Lauderdale: Mrs. Patricia S. Meier, P.O. Box 22752, 33315 ‘
Hillsborough County: Mrs. Susie Porch, 5201-131st Ave., Tampa 33617
Northern Illinois _ Waukegan: Mrs. Louise Niblack, 1000 Pine St., 60085
Kansas Salina: Mr. Fred Cairns, pro-tem, 101 N. Chicago, 67401
Louisiana Shreveport: Miss Carolyn E. Ebert, 726 Cotton, 402 Townhouse Apts., 71101
Nebraska Lincoln: Mrs. Jeanne Jeffers, pro-tem, 2701 N.61st St., 68507
Nevada Las Vegas South: Mrs. Margy Marzoline, 6180 Anne Oakley, Las Vegas 89112
New Mexico McKinley County: Mrs. Elizabeth L. Smith, P.O. Box 201, Ft. Wingate 87316
Ohio Lima: Mrs. Nettiemae Walters, 1513 E. 4th St., 45804
Oregon Portland: Mr. Mark Hopkins, pro-tem, 1111 S.W. Market, 97201
South Carolina Richland County: Mr. Harold Brooks, Chr., 710 Knollwood Dr., Columbia 29203
EasternTexas Bellairez Mrs. Dorothea Lacy, pro-tem, 5121 Patrick Henry, 77401
Western Texas A Amarillo: Mrs. Anne Bell, P.O. Box 9103, 79105
Western Washington King County Commissioners Dist. No. 6: Mrs. Patricia Martinez, R. 2, Box 880, Maple Valley, 98038
Wisconsin
Green Bay: Mrs. Marjorie Leonard, pro-tem, 414 S. Webster, Apt. 1, 54301
Shorewood: Mrs. Jeanette Schmidt, 1822 E. Jarvis, 53211
State Goals Committee Secretaries
Western Texas Mrs. Gloria Barding, 2414 Waco, San Angelo 76901
[Page 8]
Alaska
The Alaska Bahá’í News for January expresses an appreciation for our international news and photos “unavailable anywhere else.” But of more interest to United States Bahá’ís is their reporting of the extensive teaching program Eugene and Melba King did there last fall.
Of their six international goals, five have been committed; and an interesting article on one of their goals, Swaziland, is included in their January issue.
South Dude County, Florida
Fifty-four persons, twelve of them non-Bahá’í's, attended a slide program of places holy to Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá’í Faith for this World Religion Day observance on January 17. Publicity included items in three newspapers and a TV announcement.
-Iowa
Auxiliary Board member Mrs. Javidugt Khádem visited four Bahá’í communities in Iowa in November 1969: Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Waterloo. Her informative talk, “A Day with a Friend,” included comments about the Covenant and Administration and inspirational guides to effective teaching.
In Memoriam
community’s'
Hyman Abrons Los Angeles, California No date
Miss Joy Berry Wilmington, Delaware December 13, 1969
Pacora Blue Mountain Guayaquil, Ecuador December 25, 1969
Mrs. M. Elizabeth Edwards St. Charles, [llinois January 16, 1970
John N. Faily Greenville. South Carolina December 31, 1969
Miss Edith A. Goranson Tempe, Arizona December 19, 1969
Mrs. Edna M. Hood Folsom, West Virginia December 13, 1969
Mrs. Alice B. Mays Pomona, California October 22, 1969
Mrs. Stella B. Rasmussen Marshfield. Wisconsin May 13, 1969
Mrs. Marie L. Rice Arlington, Virginia December 18. 1969
Mrs. Mae I... Vaughn Lima, Ohio November 8, 1969
MARCH 1970
Items in the News
An article in the Chicago Daily News for January 12 discusses how a year of college study in Vienna prepared one person “to accept the ‘broad world views of the Bahá’í’ religion.” '
Lompco, California: A January 17 World Religion Day release also carried general data on Bahá’í activities in that area.
Starting with a discussion of the “Millerite Millennial Agitation” and “the chill night of October 22, 1884,” the Feterborough, New Hampshire, Transcript for January 8, finally states: “And it was in 1844 that the telegraph was invented, opening the age of electronics.” The balance of this non-Bahá’í writer’s long article indicates some fascination with the Bahá’í Faith, its teachings and possible significance.
A newsphoto report of the presentation of the Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh (“The good book of the Bahá’í Faith") to the Mayor of Davis, California, was in the December 17, 1969, Davis Enterprise. The Bahá’ís of Davis smiled for the photo.
Among the many technical magazines that are ‘still reporting on the cleaning of the House of Worship in Wilmette, is the January Concrete Contruction magazine with a beautiful picture and story article.
The January issue of the American Library Association’s Newsletter for Intellectual Freedom quotes the Oak Park, Illinois, Oak Leaves for September 17, which felt “the park board of Oak Park is committing serious error in requiring a religious organization to submit copies of speeches to be delivered on park property.” The item resulted from an effort to hold a World Peace Day program in Oak Park, as the commissioners were wary of “unpatriotic statements.”
PLANNING TO MOVE DURING THE NEXT 30 DAYS?
Help us keep your address up-to-date CUT OUT OR PROVIDE SAME INFORMATION ON POST OFFICE CARD FORM 357/8/AND MAIL TO: NATIONAL BAI-lA’l CENTER 112 LINDEN AVENUE, W-ILMETTE, ILL. 60091
ATTACH YOUR OLD ADDRESS LABEL HERE
Name (Please Print)
NEW Address
City! _ _ State Zip
I‘ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I NEW Telephone: Area I
- Name of new locality| (If different from city name)
u___---.._----_.---------___--.-.----_..-J Reminder: Have you ALSO notified your community and SGC secretaries of your new address?