National Bahá’í Review/Issue 42/Text

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[Page 1]

Chicago World Flower and Garden Show

The colorful Bahá’í display was a bright spot in the 1971 Chicago World Flower and Garden Show held in the new McCormick Place building from March 20 through 28. Pink azaleas contrasted with blue cineiaria, interspersed with rhododendron, fountains and statuary. This design was created by Wyatt Cooper, Ground’s Manager at the National Bahá’í Center, assisted by James Edwards

and others. Many thousands crammed the building during the whole week of the showing. At another location in the building was a booth where free Bahá’í literature was distributed, and manned on a rotating basis by nearby Bahá’ís. The displays were sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and gave an opportunity for proclaiming the Faith.

[Page 2]JUNE ‘1971

23 February 1971 Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The advent and liberal supply of tape and cassette recorders in the markets of the world have opened new doors and placed in almost every land at the disposal of the friends new methods for the dissemination of Bahá’í material. It is the hope of the Universal House of Justice that the recording of Bahá’í talks, and other audio features, and their wide use among Bahá’í's and non-Bahá’ís alike, will prove to be a powerful new instrument in the teaching and deepening work everywhere. There is one area, however, where great care must be exercised, and this is in the use of the record of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s voice.

The Guardian, when referring to this record, requested the friends “to exercise restraint and caution.” “In my view,” he added, “it should be used only on

A Letter from the Universal House of Justice

special occasions and be listened to with the utmost reverence. The dignity of the Cause, I am sure, would suffer from too wide and indiscriminate use of one of the most precious relics of our departed Master.”

We request you to share the contents of this letter, in any manner you deem advisable, with the friends residing under your jurisdiction. We are confident that all the friends will strictly observe the Guardian’s exhortation and will not overstep the bounds of courtesy and moderation in the use of a precious relic so lovingly left to us by the Center of God’s Covenant.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice

Additional Assignments for Auxiliary Board Members

The Continental Board of Counsellors in North America announces additional area assignments given to three of the Auxiliary Board Members of North America:

District of Franklin (Canada) and Greenland—Mrs. Peggy Ross

The Bahamas

Bermuda

Miss D. Thelma Jackson Mrs. Katherine McLaughlin

Covenant-breaker Activity

As an outcome of the recent activities of Covenant-breakers in Pennsylvania several Bahá’í communities have received mail from Swarthmore, Pennsylvania signed by “Kamal Amin”, an alias being used by Charles Seeburger, who was recently expelled from the Faith as a Covenant-breaker. Any and all letters received from this source should be forwarded immediately to the National Spiritual Assembly.

In Memoriam

Casey Black Greenville, Texas December 22, 1970

Mrs. Dale M. Caldwell Detroit, Michigan March 8, 1971 Barney F. Crawford Detroit, Michigan March 7, 1971 Mrs. Ethel M. Davison Maria Montana Baltimore, Maryland La Jolla, California March 23, 1971 No Date Charles Everett Ellis, Sr. Terry Tomalak Los Angeles, California Chicago, Illinois March 9, 1971 March 15, 1971 Mrs. Lily Perry Goding Chester Waflford Gambrills, Maryland Santa Ana, California May 26, 1970 March 1971 Mrs. Helen Holmes Mrs. Eleanore Williams Little Rock, Arkansas Lapwai, Idaho April 1, 1971 March 10, 1971 Mrs. Harriett Kelsey Mrs. Thelma Wilson . Bradenton, Florida St. Albens, West Virginia March 18, 1971 April 9, 1971

George C. Loud, Jr.

East Patchogue, New York April 11,1971

Donald Mark

Los Alamos. New Mexico March 29, 1971

Mrs. Lillian Marson

Mt. Vernon, New York No Date

Summer Schools— Additional Information

Davison Bahá’í School

Sessions: Weekly Family Sessions: August 1-7; Aug. 8-14; Aug. 15-21 Senior Youth Session: August 22-Sept. 3 Homecoming Weekend: September 4-6

Registrar: Mrs. Marian Morrell, 4098 S. Center Road,

Flint, Mich.

Rocky Mountain Baha’|' Summer School

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Location: Lyons Organization Camp, Red Lodge, Montana

Session: Sunday afternoon Aug. 22 - Saturday afternoon, Aug. 28 Rates: Room and board—over 15 years —$23.50 age 5-15 20.00 under 5 8.00

Registration fee: $6.00 not refundable after July 15

Northwest Bahá’í' Children’s Conference (Second Session)

Location: Leaburg, Oregon (20 miles east of Eugene)

Session: August 8-14, classes for ages 3-14 and adult

Rates: $12 per person; ages 3-5, half price (family rates available)

Registration: deadline, July 15, $1.00 per person must accompany registration

Registrar: Mrs. Ethlyn Lindstrom, 4874 Cedar St., Astoria, Oregon 97103 Location is a former school with all playground and classroom facilities available for use.

Georgia/ Alabama Bahá’í Summer School

Location: Camp John Hope, near Perry, Georgia

Session: Saturday afternoon, July 3 through Thursday, July 8

Rates: Adults, $28, for the session Deposit, $3.00 per person

Registrar: Mr. Ben Weil, 859 Tranquil Drive, Austelle, ) Georgia 30001

Accommodations: dormitory; limited family rooms.

[Page 3]Review

ANNUAL REPORT

of the

National Spiritual Assembly of the

Bahá’í; of the United States

The American Bahá’í Community has never before witnessed a year of such spectacular victories as the year 127. All the expansion goals on the homefront were achieved in excess of the expectations of the Nine Year Plan—and this two years ahead of schedule.

—346 new and restored Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed this Riḍván, a number surpassing that required at the outset of the Plan to achieve the 600 called for, and bringing the present total of Assemblies to 839.

—approximately 4,000 localities claim Bahá’í residents; the Plan called for 3,000, a goal that was achieved as early as last August.

~the membership of the Community more than doubled with most of the new adherents, some 20,000, residing in the Deep South alone.

The overall expansion of the Community encompassed every minority designated by The Universal House of Justice for our major concentration: thousands of Negroes, hundreds of Spanish-speaking peoples, scores of Indian Americans have embraced the Cause of God; and a breakthrough has been made in reaching the Oriental people in Seattle.

The legal goals—namely, incorporation of Local Spiritual Assemblies, recognition of Bahá’í Holy Days and the recognition of the Bahá’í marriage certificate—have also been achieved in all 48 states and Puerto Rico with only two exceptions: the incorporation of Local Spiritual Assemblies in the States of Virginia and West Virginia where State laws prohibit the incorporation of religious bodies.

Thus, to the already bedecked crown of American Bahá’í achievement can be added another shining jewel, that is, the distinction of not having to win a breathless victory on the homefront during the Nine Year Plan which is, in fact, the first in the series of teaching plans entrusted to the discretion of The Universal House of Justice during this tenth and last part of that divinelyinitiated process that began with the Adamic Cycle six thousand years ago and is destined to usher mankind to the unimaginable splendors and peace of the Golden Age of the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh.

Is it not fitting, then, at this auspicious juncture to contemplate the bountiful confirmations and the farreaching possibilities of the as yet largely unfulfilled promise uttered during the evening of His earthly life by the Center of the Covenant, the Author of the Divine Plan, that masterful teaching charter entrusted to our care?

“Gradually whatsoever is latent in the innermost of

this Holy Cycle shall appear and be made manifest,”

was His confident assertion, “for now is but the beginning of its growth and the dayspring of the revelation of its Signs. Ere the close of this Century and of this

Age, it shall be made clear and manifest how won drous was that Springtide and how heavenly was that

Gift!”

f > Who knows but that this very moment of our triumph m

ight not be one of those which brightened His vision and solaced His heart during the darksome days of His suffering in this world. Who knows but that our “true

brother?’, Shoghi Effendi, as he recited to us on so many occasions in his writings assurances of the Lord of Hosts—“Verily, We behold you from our Realm of Effulgent Glory, and shall graciously aid whosoever ariseth for the triumph of our Cause with the hosts of the Celestial Concourse and a company of Our chosen angels.”did not himself glimpse the prospects of our present joy much to the comfort of his sorely tested spirit? Who knows but that that Celestial Concourse of Light—to which have repaired the martyrs, the heroes, the teachers and administrators of bygone days, whose assistance promised by the Blessed Beauty Himself has been amply demonstrated this year—is at this very moment mingling their joy with ours in a great hosanna between heaven and earth, perhaps chanting such magnificats as these that have streamed forth in profusion from the Supreme Pen Itself:

“Magnified, O Lord my God, be Thy Name, whereby the trees of the garden of Thy Revelation have been clad with verdure and been made to yield the fruits of holiness during this Springtime when the sweet savors of Thy favors and blessings have been wafted over all things, and caused them to bring forth whatsoever had been preordained for them in the Kingdom of Thine irrevocable decree and the Heaven of Thine immutable purpose.”

“Magnified by Thy name, O Thou in Whose grasp are

the reins of the souls of all them that have recognized

Thee, and in Whose right hand are the destinies of all

that are in heaven and all that are on earth!”

And even as our spirits are lifted by such exalted contemplations, as the flush of triumph remains fresh, may we not reflect too with loving gratitude on the sacrificial deeds of the heroes, pioneers, and teachers of the past and the present whose blood, sweat, and treasure continue to nourish the roots of the Tree of Life, the ripening fruits of which are today overwhelming our feeble expectations‘?

Inexpressible indeed is our gratitude, for our success has not been reserved for the homefront alone. We have also accomplished much on the international scene. A total of 205 pioneers have settled in 66 countries since last Riḍván. At that time 172 goals remained to be filled, but these were supplemented by 89 during August. At present 119 posts are yet unmanned. Summer youth projects were held in Mexico and Honduras, and preparations have been made to send youth projecteers to ten countries in Latin America and to Samoa and Switzerland. But the most striking initiative undertaken by us in the international field this year, and one which may well prove to be the forerunner to a more highly developed form of travel-teaching, was sending a mass teaching team of six believers from the Deep South to Jamaica during the month of March. In a matter of four weeks, the team’s vigorous and daring activities produced over 1,000 declarations on the western half of the island which in turn led to the formation of fourteen new Local Spiritual Assemblies. This achievement at once assured that community of the attainment of its Nine Year Plan goals and of a huge reception for the Caribbean Oceanic Conference. [Page 4]JUNE 1971

This was surely a year of victories.

To what practical measures, we may well be inclined to ask, should we credit these awe-inspiring developments both on the home and international fronts? A catalogue of attributions is beyond the scope of this brief report; besides, time has been too short for a proper examination of the anatomy of our success. Suffice it, then, to record at this point that the momentum which was felt at the last National Convention received a great impetus from two memorable and historic visits during the early part of the year, both by Hands of the Cause of God. The first was by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum, who came specifically to address on three occasions the now widely-acclaimed National Youth Conference attended by some 2,000 young people last June. It may reasonably be adduced that this activity set the year on its course to victory. Amatu’l-Bahá’s charming persuasiveness directed the enthusiasm of her youthful admirers toward the establishment of 230 college clubs, thirty more than were assigned to them in their Five Year Program; toward the settlement of pioneer posts in excess of the twenty-five supplementary ones assigned to them at the time of the Conference; toward the formation of twenty-two high school clubs, two more than were originally assigned; and toward a sharp increase of their numerical strength.

The second visit was by the “Father of Victories”, Mr. Enoch Olinga, whose prolonged stay in the Deep South met with an enthusiastic reception and resulted in a burst of energetic teaching that accelerated the enrollments by troops predicted by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and anticipated in the writings of Shoghi Effendi.

Added to these were the equally significant visits -of three members of The Universal House of Justice, Mr. Hugh Chance, Mr. H. Borrah Kavelin, and Mr. Charles Wolcott, the major effect of whose brief presence in Wilmette at different times during the year was the increased confidence they inspired in the National Spiritual Assembly. Bearing in mind Bahá’u’lláh’s positive assertion that “the movement itself from place to place, when undertaken for the sake of God, hath always exerted, and can now exert, its influence in the world,” we cannot ignore the galvanic influence of the tour of this country by Mr. Le Loc, the chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Viet Nam. Without a doubt, each of these visits stimulated the integral processes of proclamation, expansion and consolidation.

There were those other specialized and innumerable visits, too, the effect of which in nurturing the spirit, protecting the life, and stimulating the expansion of the Bahá’í Community cannot be overestimated. They were the visits of the Hands of the Cause of God, Zikru’lláh Ifliadem, John Robarts and William Sears; of the Continental Counsellors Lloyd Gardner, Florence Mayberry, and Edna True, who met with the National Spiritual Assembly on three occasions and maintained an unbroken line of correspondence on matters of protection; and of the Auxiliary Board members, whose voluminous labors on behalf of the entire community defy any justification by the smallness of their numbers. Toward all of them is wafted the fragrance of our gratitude.

Nor can we fail to observe the remarkable evidences of the growing efficiency and broadening vision of our national committees. Three years of revamping, coordinating, and upgrading of their responsibilities by the National Spiritual Assembly have begun now to redound to the planning and executive ability of the national administration. If we peruse the records of the House of Worship Activities Committee whose staff and volunteer helpers handled an average of one thousand visitors a day to the House of Worship during June, July, and August, and whose office facilitated fifty—seven marriages during the year; if we survey the progress of the National

Bahá’í Properties Committee in its endeavors to upgrade its managerial and maintenance stafl’, to maintain all national properties, to assist in the acquisition of foreign properties required by the Nine Year Plan, and to complete the cleaning of the exterior of the House of Worship; if we check the results of the work of the National Bahá’í Schools Committee, a fledgling now in its second year, as represented by the revised Bahá’í Schools Manual of Organization and Operation it introduced in 1970, by the three basic courses it prepared as part of a series to be used in all Bahá’í schools, and by the establishment of five new Bahá’í schools which it recommended; if we take into account the unobtrusive but indispensable ministrations of the Committee for Service to the Blind whose work quadrupled this year; if we scrutinize the activities of the Bahá’í Publishing Committee in its efforts to expand and diversify the operations of the Publishing Trust so as to make available an adequate catalogue of literature, audio-visual aids and special materialsfor a community growing more numerous and diverse in its needs for educational materials—if we evaluate in the aggregate the work and quality of service produced by such committees, we can hardly resist the conclusion that their combined output far outweighs that of any other organization similar in size to the national Bahá’í structure.

The outstanding services of certain other committees, of course, deserve special mention. We cannot overlook the brilliant record of the Public Information Committee which this year, in addition to inducing by its imaginative approach a wider attention to the Faith through the press, radio, and television, heightened the level of its services by arranging for a wide distribution of two Bahá’í films~“A New Wind” and “It’s Just The Beginning”—to organizations and television stations, The distributing agency, Modern Talking Pictures, Inc. was supplied with 90 copies of “A New Wind” owing to growing demands for it and with 50 copies of “It’s Just The Beginning”, which originated from footage filmed at the National Youth Conference held last June. As of February 28, 1971, after nine months of circulation, “A New Wind” had been shown 1,705 times to an aggregate of 71,741 viewers at resorts, schools, colleges, service clubs, churches, hospitals, and business organizations. During three months of circulation “It’s Just The Beginning” had been viewed 383 times by a total of 11,644 people in similar places. Moreover, the film was also televised during a two-month period on over 18 stations to audiences approximating 1,300,000 people. Of special note is the fact that this film was accepted as a religious documentary for entry in the finals of the American Film Festival. It is also notable that the Public Information Committee rendered valuable services to a growing number of other National Spiritual Assemblies. For example, in recent months, Mr. Salvatore A. Pelle, Public Information Officer, has been working closely with the National Spiritual Assembly of Jamaica in publicizing the Faith on that island in anticipation of the forthcoming Caribbean Oceanic Conference.

The International Goals Committee is another primary agency whose rapidly maturing administrative ability should not escape our notice, particularly in view of its prodigious effort to master the following tasks: training pioneers in special institutes before their departures to foreign lands; facilitating travel-teaching projects on an ever-widening scale; aiding in the development of the Faith in the Bahamas, which won its Nine Year Plan goals this Riḍván by establishing two Local Spiritual Assemblies on Grand Bahama Island; aiding the development of the Faith in Bermuda, which exceeded by three the five localities goals set for it by The Universal House of Justice and established a Local Spiritual Assembly in Devonshire Parish; collaborating

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Review

with the National Teaching Committee in an effort to discover and utilize human and educational resources for pioneering, executing youth projects abroad, and for consolidating Bahá’í communities in many countries. The Committee has been particularly instrumental in promoting the Oceanic and Continental Conferences called by The Universal House of Justice in different parts of the world and has handled with an imaginative flair the details regarding the chartering of the S/S Bahama Star, the ship that will be transformed into a floating Bahá’í institute while transporting a large number of American, Puerto Rican, and West Indian believers to the Caribbean Conference in May. In these and

other ways too numerous to mention, the International

Goals Committee has succeeded in assisting the National Spiritual Assembly to manage its world-wide responsibilities. '

But it is the preeminent record of the National Teaching Committee that compels an even fuller measure of recognition and praise. This Committee, by a dazzling display of resourcefulness and stewardship, has indeed vindicated its claim to be regarded as the chief auxiliary institution of the National Spiritual Assembly. Aided by a battery of subsidiary agencies, including the Deep South Committee, the North Plains Indian Teaching Committee, Navajo Reservation Committee, Spanishspeaking Teaching Committee, Area Youth Committees, and the State Goals Committees, this mighty right arm of the National Spiritual Assembly set before it the single-minded ambition of winning all the homefront goals two years ahead of time. Through a strict obedience to principles, a refreshing flexibility in matters of procedure, and an indomitable will to succeed, the Committee almost singlehandedly thrust the Community in one mighty heave toward the shorelines of mass expansion in America. During October it took on the responsibility for publishing The American Bahá’í, whose brief but necessary hiatus was announced at the last National Convention, and set about immediately and adroitly to shape the publication into a powerful instrument of teaching and consolidation. In ministering to a large and ever-increasing number of groups which grew from sixty-eight, in June of 1970 to 235 in March of this year; in catering to the 517 Local Spiritual Assemblies which existed during last year and giving special attention to new, restored, and jeopardized ones; in adapting its organizational structure to the demands of a sudden breakthrough in the South; in originating a variety of instructional aids to meet the special needs in mass teaching areas; in taking on the major task of planning proclamation programs with the collaboration of the Public Information Committee; in cooperating with the International Goals Committee in planning and executing youth teaching projects abroad and aiding the development of the Faith in Bermuda, the Bahamas, and other Caribbean islands; in succeeding to work out a smooth functional relationship with the various other agencies operating at the National Bahá’í Center; in developing a small but highly-talented staff while at the same time drawing upon the varied resources of an increasing army of volunteers—in all these strivings the Committee demonstrated the maturity gathered from its long experience and set an example of efficiency which has evoked the admiration and gratitude of the National Spiritual Assembly. Never before in the history of our community has a major national committee risen to such a high level of organized activity as the current National Teaching Committee.

Among the factors contributing to the early achievement of the homefront goals may also be added activities in proclamation and public relations connected with our work at the United Nations. Through the exertions -of the North American Bahá’í Office for Human

Rights (NABOHR) a series of four regional conferences were held in observance of International Education Year in 1970. Through the joint effort of the Committee for the United Nations, the United Nations Observer for the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and NABOHR, our observance of this special year culminated in a symposium and awards luncheon in New York City at which an organization and an individual each received the Louis G. Gregory Award for Service to Humanity. The recipients were the Children’s Television Workshop for its production of the widely-reputed program “Sesame Street”, and Dr. James L. Olivero, Executive Director, Southwestern Cooperative Educational Laboratory, for his outstanding achievements in devising effective educational measures for deprived minorities. A complete report of these events has been published by NABOHR for release at the National Convention. j

Undoubtedly, there are numerous other factors which may share credit for our overwhelming guccesses this year, but let the present listing suffice, for there are large considerations which as a consequence must now claim our immediate attention. A cursory survey of our present position reveals certain inescapable realities.

The American Bahá’í community has touched upon an awareness of the essential intention of the Nine Year Plan as intimated by The Universal House of Justice when it announced the plan in 1964, namely, that it is both timely and desirable and is a matter of the utmost urgency, in view of the grave dangers hanging over mankind, to awaken the masses to the Message of Bahá’u’lláh. The growth which has been gaining momentum throughout the country over the last several years although it has manifested itself much more dramatically in the Deep South than elsewhere, is accelerating toward a level beyond our present ability to calculate. This demands that the community resolutely and with matching speed develop the means for absorbing huge numbers of new believers and ensuring the transformation of their lives in conformity with Bahá’í principles. It means that ways must be devised to aid the believers in so mastering the provisions of the Covenant that no assault upon the community by the idle, the misguided, or the power-hungry will inflict any damage. It suggests that the administration, though adhering rigidly to established principles, must develop a flexibility in procedures that will accommodate this mighty challenge.

Local Spiritual Assemblies will have to be greatly strengthened in authority and influence; the operations of the State Conventions must be revamped in order to facilitate much larger electorates; Bahá’í education on a much wider scale than we ever before contemplated and in a variety of ways hitherto untried must be provided every stratum of the community; methods of communication must be developed which will not exclude the comprehension of thousands, and perhaps tens of thousands, of illiterate or semi-literate believers; methods of registering and educating thousands of children in the Bahá’í community must be developed and promoted without delay.

In brief, the administrative machinery of the Faith in America has entered upon another phase in its evolution. Much as this evolution will tax our resilience, we do have the assurance and must believe that success will also crown our endeavors.

It is rather remarkable that these realities should dawn upon us at this particular juncture in Bahá’í history just a few months before the fiftieth anniversary of the passing of the beloved Master—an event which made possible the opening of the Formative Age in which we are now living. It appears to come at ou (Continued on page 7) A

[Page 6]JUNE 1971

Naw-R61 Observances

Reports from many communities arriving at the office of the Bahá’í News indicate that it was joyously celebrated with friends, music, food, often very informally.

Spokane, Washington: Bahá’ís and their guests arrived, not only from Spokane, but from Coulee Dam, Cheney, Fairchild AFB, Millwood and western Washington, some fifty strong and in a vibrating out-pouring of the spirit.

Gulfport, Mississippi celebrated Naw-Rue. About si.7cty—five guests attended a Joyous back yard picnic in Gulfport. Several guests had been connected with the clergy.

Naw-—Ruz at the Center in Nashville, Tennessee attracted about fort pre-Bahá’ís, two of whom declared that day. Two carloa s of youth were from McMinnville, Tennessee and were honor guests for a luncheon before the meeting. Speaker was Robert James. Good newspaper publicity was received.

Denver, Colorado celebrated with a dance at the Indian center. A band to which one Bahá’í youth belongs, furnished the music, all of which attracted about 300 guests, many of them youth.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida had an intercommunity potluck supper. Guests came from afar, about 200 of them, and even Canada and Belgium were represented. Ben Levy, pioneer from Africa, now residing in Broward County, was the speaker. Entertainment consisted of dancers, a solo by Lee McBride, director of the Bahá’í chorus, and singing by the audience.

Kansas City, Missouri had a Naw-Rúz Festival inspired by reading page 188 of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era. There was a display of paintings, photography and sculpture and two artists sketched portraits of those who asked them during the festivities. There was singing, instrumentals, readings, and talks from Bahá’ís and pre-Bahá’ís. Teaching on a person-to-person basis continued, interspersed with performances. Participating were persons up to 92 years young, all informal and the emphasis was on fun. Back-up firesides are continuing, sparked by the celebration.

Naw-Rúz in Little Rock

Naw-Rúz came to Little Rock with blustery weather and the largest commemoration of the new year in Arkansas Bahá’í history. Saturday was the day of intensive preparation, as committee members, including children and adults, purchased and wrapped gifts for all of the children to receive the next day. It was a day of decorating, too, with festoons and balloons and chains of colorful paper flowers, and painting a twenty-foot sign with “HAPPY NAW RUZ” in iridescent paint.

Then, on Sunday morning, not too long after dawn, the early workers took the long cloth sign and attached it to poles twelve-feet high, across a circle between two Bahá’í homes. The strong wind caught the sign like a sail, and it billowed proudly in the breeze, proclaiming the new year. A policeman came and spoke to the woman tying balloons to the poles, asking questions such as “When is this thing to begin”? She answered, “Right after Sunday School,” and he left with an “oh”.

Sunday School began at 11:00, with a continuation of the study of the life of Bahá’u’lláh, and then at noon, the Naw-Rúz party began. Bahá’ís from Little Rock, North Little Rock, Hot Springs, Pine Bluff, Searcy, West Memphis and England (Ark.) and their friends gathered in front of the sign for a photograph. The festivities began with group dancing in a large circle and continued with a variety of games, including volley ball. Everyone had brought sandwiches and cookies which were amassed on tables with punch, and they spread out on lawns, blankets, and chairs for lunch.

Then the special event the children had been anticipating—the breaking of the pinata, a colorfully decorated clay container from Mexico filled with candy, suspended from a porch roof, and struck at by blindfolded youngsters with a stick until the container broke and candy spilled on the ground for the eager children to get.

All day long the cars of curious Sunday drivers came, slowing by the sign to read it, some driving their bumpers right up to it, and looking beyond it to the beautifully diverse flowers in this little human garden of God’s, radiant and happy and active.

[Page 7]Review

Then came a discussion of Naw-Rúz, a brief description of the calendars around the world, and this new calendar of a New Day, that begins on the first day of spring. All the children received their gifts with enthusiasm, and the singing carried on until time to depart.

During the drive back to his home in a rural community, a new youngster kept bursting out with one of the songs he had been learning: “We are soldiers—in God’s army——we’ve got to stop—and teach the Word for now; we’ve got to hold up love and unity—we’ve got to hold it up until we die.”

Little Rock: Naw—R12z commemoration. Group in front of “Happy Naw—R1iz” sign.

3

\ ’ - \ ,.

‘It Little Rock: Group singing at Sunday School before Naw-Rúz commemoration.

Did You Know?

When you fail to send in a change of address we_have to wait until you write us before sending more copies to

‘;you; that you are a “lost” Bahá’í until you write in; that ’ postage has to be paid for return copies plus 10¢; that

this adds up to a substantial sum—which could have been saved for the fund?

(Continued from page 5)

moment of unprecedented success and equally unprecedented challenges essentially as a providential reminder of those divine principles enunciated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament, the charter of the Administrative Order, and in a number of His tablets and talks——principles that in the main are concerned with distinguishing the qualities of Bahá’í life. It is to these principles and their power of transforming the inner self that we must address ourselves if we are to succeed ultimately in securing the foundation of the Bahá’í community and coping with the exigencies of administrative development.

The principle of rectitude of conduct with its implications, in the words of Shoghi Effendi, of “justice, equity, truthfulness, honesty, fair-mindedness, reliability, and trustworthiness;” the principle of chastity with its implications, again in his words, of “modesty, purity, temperance, decency, and clean-mindedness”, which as stated by him in The Advent of Divine Justice “can tolerate no compromise with the theories, the standards, the habits, and the excesses of a decadent age”—both these principles are particularly germaine to the challenge we face in this dark period of the Age of Transition. By applying these divine principles conscientiously to our daily lives, we who are being recruited from a decaying order, which The Universal House of Justice affirms cannot be repaired, will be able to achieve that transformation without which all our designs for an enlarged administration, no matter how well conceived, will utterly fail.

In conclusion, as extraordinary as it is at this stage of the Nine Year Plan, and grateful as we must be, our feat of triumph is a mere step on a long, turbulent course toward our manifest destiny. We must press on as never before with more proclamation, more expansion, and infinitely more consolidation. The challenges facing our community are obviously no longer limited to the announced statistical objectives of the Plan, but signalize in a much broader sense the imminent release in greater and greater measure of the as yet largely dammed-up potential of a spiritually endowed community. Our plans for the immediate future must therefore aspire toward this wider vision.

VISITORS AT THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS

June 1932 through April 21, 1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2,505,584 April 21, 1970 through April 21, 1971 . . . . . . . . . ..205,118 April 21, 1969 through April 21, 1970 . . . . . . . . . . . . .161,465

Projected total visitors for Bahá’í Year 127-128 . .250,000

Visitors attendance during June, July, and August (peak months) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..94,000

(Approximately 5% of the 94,000 were Bahá’ís) For the 92 day period, an average of 1,000 visitors a day

availed themselves of the opportunity to learn of the Bahá’í Faith.

Group tours booked and conducted (126-127) . . . . . . ..551 Number of guide man hours voluntarily contributed during year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..18,000

MARRIAGES AT THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP (April 21, 1970-April 21, 1971)

Bahá’í couples married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..22 Non-Bahá’í couples and one Bahá’í and one non-Bahá’í . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..35

[Page 8]JUNE ‘1971 National Bahal Fund INCOME Bahá Fiscalyear "THE YEAR": 1970-1971 (Splendor) to Date A" 5 Regular Contributions $98,718.88 $1,314,562.96 150:0“ Special Contributions 36,013.75 167,745.50 Total Contributions $134,732.63 $1,482,308.46 125,000 Estates 65,504.24 Other Income 14,990.78 W000 W ova‘ Total Income $134,732.63 $1,562,803.48 ‘“°° Budget $134,000.00 $1,862,000.00 75,000 Calendar of Events 5°’°°° Feasts June 5—Núr (Light) 25,000 June 24—Rahmat (Mercy) U.S. National Assembly Meeting June 25-27

Specialevents

d 3 g X § 0 3 U) ‘A June 13, RaceUnity Day Pioneer Conference of Wilmette, No. II “\

Attendees at the second Pioneer Institute to be held in Wilmette at the National Bahá’í Center. From left: Sylvia Parmelee, Ga?) Sommermeyer (on his wa to St. Helena), Evelyn Cram (Dahomey), David Newport (Belize), Barbara Inahara (Switzer lan , Vickie and Eric Wilson Belize),‘Larry and Munir-ih Creitz (Luxembourg) and Eileen Norman.

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