National Bahá’í Review/Issue 48/Text

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[Page 1]

Bahá’í Service Man Describes Bounties He Has Received

My Dear Bahá’í Brothers:

Alláh’u’Abhá.

"O Son of Man! The true lover yearneth for tribulation even as doth the rebel for forgiveness and the sinful for mercy."¹

To those of you who are just beginning your two-year service in the United States Army, you are, no doubt, experiencing diverse reactions and moods. Because I am completing my time in the Army within a few weeks, I felt that I would like to share impressions with you and indicate what a rich bounty you have to be a servant of Bahá’u’lláh while in the Army. It is a gift so profound that we will never be able to see all of its effects.

First of all, please realize that you are in the Army because God wants you to be there . . . not because you got drafted, or because America is involved in a tragic war, or because you are destined to really suffer for two years. You are there because you are placed there by God's will.

Dear brothers, all around you there are hundreds of humans hungering to hear of Bahá’u’lláh. It has been my gift to see over forty people embrace Bahá’u’lláh while in the Army. . . many of them at Fort Sam Houston. As Bahá’ís, our greatest joy should be to share the Light of Bahá’u’lláh. This joy can be experienced to the greatest extent right within your barracks. Bahá’u’lláh said that there is a universe wrapped within our hearts. So many of us have not even left the city block that we were born on, but now is the time to truly recognize the mysteries that lie within us. Now is the time to be a servant of Bahá’u’lláh.

Friends, you cannot be servants of Bahá’u’lláh if you become cynical or bitter. Granted, you are in an environment that gives birth to many tragic experiences and an environment that creates many deep psychological scars, but I ask you, what better place to radiate with the Light of servitude to God? This is where people are most sensitive to the tenderness of God's love. It is also the place where people are most sensitive to hypocrisy. So strive to make your identity with this Cause one that can translate the Holy Spirit into pure deeds.

I write you this letter because of my own lack of vision when I first came into the Army. In all honesty, I did not "radiantly acquiesce" to the situation. But I certainly should have. Just look at the bounties that God bestowed upon me:

Literally dozens of young Bahá’ís were introduced to Bahá’u’lláh by me while we served together in the Army.

I had the great bounty of serving on the Local Spiritual Assembly in San Antonio and begin to appreciate the beauty of the administration of the Bahá’í Faith.

I had the great bounty of pioneering in Germany where there is a great need for Bahá’í teachers.

It was also my bounty to attend the European Bahá’í Youth Conference and meet Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥiyyih Khánum, a most blessed gift.

As if this weren't enough, due to the gift of being a Bahá’í in the Army, I was able to make my pilgrimage and visit the Shrines in Israel, a bounty so great that my eyes filled with tears of joy and humility.

There were no Bahá’ís where I am in Germany when I first came and now there are ten.

Still yet, friends, there was the fruitful gift of daily discipline.

Oh, dear brothers, my heart swells with such a deep desire to convey how truly wonderful these two years can be for you.

"O Son of Man"!

"If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee."²

It is God's pleasure that we are in the Army. Let us release deeds from out of our hearts that sing a song of gratitude. Let us, like ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, be too involved with service to those around us to let the tragedies of this dying world bring us down. Let us, finally, unravel the first layer of that universe of mystery that lies within us and make Bahá’u’lláh a reality of the heart and not just the mind. Let us look outside ourselves and serve, for there are lonely hearts waiting for the joy you have to share.

In the end I suppose that is what it is all about—to ease the burden of those lost. What a great place to do this kind of service!

Your brother in Bahá’u’lláh, —Shelby Pittman

(1) Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, No. 49 from the Arabic (2) ibid No. 7

Reminder for Bahá’ís Who Are Subject to Military Service

Bahá’í youth who become eligible for military service through the Selective Service process (military draft) are reminded that they should definitely register for the draft and should seek to be classified with the 1-A-0 status. In this status the Bahá’í serves as a non-combatant. Many Bahá’ís write about seeking classification in the 1-0 status. This is the status which calls for alternative service. Bahá’ís are reminded here that only the 1-A-0 status is the classification approved as being in consonance with Bahá’í teachings.

Full information on the Bahá’í position on military service and on the non-combatant position and obedience to government along with how to fill out the various forms connected with the draft are contained in a special booklet titled: Draft and Military Service Information for Members of the Bahá’í Faith. This booklet is available by writing to Draft Information, National Bahá’í Center, 112 Linden Ave., Wilmette, Illinois 60091. Questions on the draft can be sent to the same address.

Many Bahá’í youth find themselves in trouble with the draft because they didn't follow the correct procedures or delayed answering correspondence from their Selective Service Board. Be sure to follow the law in this matter and those Bahá’ís who will become eligible for the draft should send for the above booklet. [Page 2]

Method of Determining Status of Inactive Believers

Twice annually the Local Spiritual Assemblies and the District Teaching Committees are called upon to review their Bahá’í membership lists in preparation for Bahá’í elections. Once is prior to the Annual State Conventions when the National Spiritual Assembly checks the accuracy of its own records regarding the believers who are eligible to vote for delegates to the Annual National Convention, and the second is prior to the election of Local Spiritual Assemblies in April.

Each time the local Assembly or the Area or District Teaching Committee is asked to take into account the degree of activity of its members, and this in turn necessitates investigation as to the reasons why any believer has not attended a Nineteen-Day Feast or participated in any local Bahá’í activities for several months or years.

It is expected that every effort will be made to communicate lovingly and sympathetically with all the inactive believers before reporting to the National Spiritual Assembly simply that a particular individual is "inactive."

Since it is the obligation of the National Assembly to determine the actual status of every enrolled Bahá’í, frequently the National Assembly itself communicates with the inactive believer, but it is the general practice to do so only after the Local Spiritual Assembly or the Area or District Teaching Committee has exhausted all efforts to reactivate the individual or to determine his attitude toward the Faith.

All too often it has been found that a believer reported to be "inactive" has a valid reason for non-participation, such as personal illness or illness in the family requiring constant care, lack of transportation at night, a job requiring working at night, etc. Obviously, these are not sufficient grounds for removing an individual from a membership list, and the National Spiritual Assembly hopes that the Local Spiritual Assembly or the Area or District Teaching Committee, whichever is involved, will investigate fully before referring the name to the National Assembly for action.

Several Local Spiritual Assemblies faced with this problem of determining the degree of activity in their community members have adopted the following criteria which are applied in their survey:

1. Attendance at Feasts and Holy Day observances and anniversaries. 2. Attendance at conferences and other meetings (public or otherwise). 3. Contributions to the local Fund and contributions through the local Fund and designated for other Bahá’í Funds. 4. Participation in Bahá’í elections. 5. Willingness to respond to various appeals from the Local Spiritual Assembly.

If an individual is conforming to at least one of these criteria, he is considered an active believer.

Believers found to be completely inactive are interviewed by a member appointed by the Local Spiritual Assembly in order to ascertain the reasons for inactivity. Only after the failure of all attempts to communicate with or reactivate the believer, is the name of the individual referred to the National Spiritual Assembly with a report by the Local Assembly on its efforts and its recommendations.

The National Spiritual Assembly strongly recommends that some such plan be adopted by all Local Assemblies, not only that they may be currently informed of the problems and status of each of their community members, but to reduce the amount of correspondence which results from incomplete information.

What most so-called inactive Bahá’ís need is some loving attention from their fellow believers, and help in deepening their understanding of their obligations as enrolled Bahá’ís.

Withdrawal from Membership in the Bahá’í Community

When an individual withdraws from membership in the Bahá’í Community, it is important that the reason or reasons be made known to the National Spiritual Assembly. Since each person who wishes to become a Bahá’í makes application for membership over his own signature, so also it is desirable that his wish to withdraw be made over his own signature. Sometimes withdrawal is the result of misunderstanding of his obligations as a Bahá’í or of some aspect of the Teachings. Every effort should be made to clear up these misunderstandings through discussion with a well-informed Bahá’í or in correspondence with the National Spiritual Assembly.

In any case when an individual withdraws from the Faith, this does not mean that all association with him or her should be cut off. On the contrary the friends should maintain warm and loving relations with him or her to whatever extent possible in the hope that he or she will ultimately desire reinstatement in the Faith.

Attacks on the Faith

Within recent months the number of articles that either attack the validity of the Bahá’í Faith or give completely erroneous information on the Faith have been on the increase. This is to be expected. The more the Bahá’ís proclaim and the more Bahá’ís teach the Faith, the greater will be the interest in the Faith and this in turn will stir the opposition of those forces that see the Bahá’í Faith as a threat to their interests.

What can individual Bahá’ís do in this matter?

First, they should not as individuals attempt to correct or set straight these matters. This is the function of the institutions. In many cases the incorrect information was obtained from a Bahá’í. In one article the author quotes an individual Bahá’í on Bahá’í beliefs on Christian teachings. The Bahá’í, if quoted correctly, is wrong in his or her information on the matter and as a result misinformation on Bahá’í beliefs and teachings is generated. A Bahá’í should not answer any questions about the Faith unless he is very sure of the Teachings or Bahá’í facts on the subject. When dealing with news media the Bahá’í should when possible, refer the person to the local Bahá’í Public Information Representative or the secretary of the Local Spiritual Assembly or group.

Second, in most matters of this kind, the local Bahá’í Community or group should bring the matter to the attention of the National Spiritual Assembly for guidance on further action.

Third, and most important, Bahá’ís should know the teachings and where they can find the appropriate reference to answer questions on the Faith. They should be careful not to spread misinformation or stories about the Faith that have no real basis in fact. Check your sources—refer to the writings.

Attacks or question on the Faith are good signs that more people know about Bahá’u’lláh. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes, "This day the powers of all the leaders of religion are directed towards the dispersion of the congregation of the All-Merciful, and the shattering of the Divine Edifice. The hosts of the world whether material, cultural or political are from every side launching their assault, for the Cause is great, very great. Its greatness is, in this day, clear and manifest to men’s eyes." (The Advent of Divine Justice, page 5) [Page 3]

Bahá’í Wills and Bequests

REVIEW

According to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh it is incumbent upon every Bahá’í to write a will during his lifetime stating how his property is to be disposed of after his death. We take great care of our assets while we are alive but are sometimes careless or indifferent when it comes to the equally important protection of this property at death. A will is particularly essential if we desire the Bahá’í Faith to share in our capital as it has done during the period of income, for without a will the disposition of the estate is handled under state law. Unless it is specified in the will, our wishes regarding bequests to the Faith may not be carried out.

Wills can also be used to record our wishes with respect to Bahá’í burial, proper disposition of Bahá’í literature and files and records, and Bahá’í education for our children. Except in instances when assets consist solely of personal property of modest value, it is desirable to consult an attorney when preparing a will. The cost should not be great, and because of the great variation in the state laws, the help of an attorney is the only way to be sure that, under one's particular set of circumstances, one's intentions will be carried out.

To provide a bequest for use by the National Bahá’í Assembly, the beneficiary should be described in these terms: "The Trustees of the national Bahá’í administrative body, elected by the Bahá’ís of the United States, and known as National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, whose headquarters are located in the Village of Wilmette, County of Cook, Illinois."

All wills must be signed and witnessed in accordance with the law of the state where the will is to be probated. The National Spiritual Assembly must not be named as executor or trustee under a will. Wills, once made, should be reviewed periodically, particularly if one moves to a new state or if there is a change in family or business circumstances.

It is important that a copy of the finished will be sent to the National Spiritual Assembly for its files in order to assure proper carrying out of the testator's wishes in regard to the Bahá’í bequest.

If there is any doubt whether the relatives would arrange for a Bahá’í service, instructions to have this done should be included in the will, thus making a Bahá’í service a legal obligation upon the non-Bahá’í family or executor. Attention is also directed to the Guardian's instruction that, in accordance with a law of the Aqdas, a body should not be transported more than one hour's journey from place of death to place of interment.

If you have reason to believe that burial might take place before the will is read, you should give your Assembly a written request for a Bahá’í funeral, or a signed copy of statement by yourself that you desire a Bahá’í funeral can be carried in purse or handbag. If you have any further information about making your will, you may send your inquiry to the National Spiritual Assembly.

Elgin, Illinois, Local Spiritual Assembly at the time of its incorporation. Seated, left to right: Hal Maggiore, Chairman: Amber Spahn, Secretary; Ralph Overton; Jean Cailliau, Treasurer. Standing, left to right: Feddra Goscinski, Gerald Granrot, Frances Monroe, Richard Enochs, Leslie Sites. [Page 4]DECEMBER 1971

Application for Pilgrimage to the Bahá’í World Center

Since the pilgrimage to the Bahá’í World Center is a privilege and bounty extended only to Bahá’ís in good standing, The Universal House of Justice has instructed that from now on applications for pilgrimage are to be made through the believer's own National Spiritual Assembly and are not to be sent directly to The Universal House of Justice. Therefore, any American Bahá’í wishing to make the pilgrimage should write to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. The initial request must indicate the number of adults and children for whom the application is requested and a preferred time for the pilgrimage. However, since there is a long waiting list there can be no guarantee that the preferred date can be granted.

During 1973 there will be no pilgrimage between April 3 and June 4 as the World Center will be occupied with the International Convention during that time.

When an individual has been assigned a date and later finds that he cannot go, he must not offer his time and space to another individual whom he knows would like to make the pilgrimage but has not yet applied for permission. Neither should an individual, hearing of someone who is unable to keep his assigned date, write and ask to take the place of the person who has had to cancel his date. When it is necessary for anyone to cancel his assigned date he should notify the National Spiritual Assembly at once so that another person who may have been on the waiting list for some time may be given that place.

It should be noted that it is not possible for the National Spiritual Assembly to provide traveling companions for the elderly or ill or incapacitated Bahá’ís who wish to make the pilgrimage. Nor can such assistance be provided by personnel at the Bahá’í World Center.

Under no circumstances is it permissible for Bahá’ís to visit Israel or the Bahá’í World Center in Haifa without prior permission from The Universal House of Justice. This instruction applies whether the visit is part of a tour, for business, for study, or for personal visits to friends living in Israel.

In the event a Bahá’í who has been assigned a date for his pilgrimage wishes to visit Irán enroute to or from the Bahá’í World Center, he must notify the National Spiritual Assembly at the time he requests permission for the pilgrimage, because there are certain important forms which he must fill out for the National Spiritual Assembly of Írán and which are to be returned to that Assembly through the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States.

Transfer of Bahá’í Members from Abroad

In order to clarify the procedure for accepting into the Bahá’í Community members from other countries, the National Spiritual Assembly offers the following directives:

1. The individual, even though he may be an American returning from extended residence or a pioneer post abroad, is expected to present current credentials, whether in the form of a letter or a membership card signed by the National Spiritual Assembly of the country from which he comes.

2. His arrival and address in the community should be reported promptly to the National Spiritual Assembly by the Local Spiritual Assembly, group, or District Teaching Committee, or by the individual himself. The notice of arrival should be accompanied by the credentials which he brought with him.

3. If the incoming individual has no credentials, the facts should be reported to the National Spiritual Assembly so that credentials may be procured from abroad.

4. In the case of Persian Bahá’ís, the National Spiritual Assembly sometimes receives advance copies of the credentials directly from the National Spiritual Assembly and these are held until the individuals arrive and provide their addresses. If a Persian Bahá’í presents his credentials to a Local Spiritual Assembly, a group, or District Teaching Committee it must be forwarded at once to the National Bahá’í Office. If the credentials are several months or years old, the holder should be asked where he has lived during the time intervening between the date of the credentials and his arrival in the United States.

5. In cases where Persians claiming to be Bahá’ís have no credentials, it is necessary for the National Spiritual Assembly to check their Bahá’í status with the National Assembly of Írán before they can be registered as members of the United States Bahá’í Community. To facilitate this procedure the individual must be asked to give his full name, the name and address of his parents, his birthplace, date of birth and supply three small photographs (passport size) of himself with his signature at the back. If he has in his possession an identification number assigned him by the National Spiritual Assembly this should be included.

6. Persian Bahá’ís with credentials who come to the United States for a brief visit may retain them for identification purposes while they are in the country.

7. Students and visitors from Irán who are not registered as Bahá’ís at home, cannot be enrolled as believers in the United States without prior permission from the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States.

Sample of "clip art" available from:

Bahá’í Public Information Department 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Ill. 60091

Substitute for "Contact"

Semantically speaking, the use of the word "contact" by Bahá’ís is questionable when we mean an individual who is being told about the Faith. "Contact" means to touch or a connection through which an electric current passes. To some, it first brings to mind a medical connotation—one who has been exposed to a disease.

What are better words to use? We may use seeker, or mention an inquirer, or sympathizer, or simply a friend of the Faith. Have our readers some suggestions?

The American Way, in its November 1971 issue carries a small but accurate item on the Bahá’í Faith, entitled "In Keeping with the Faith." This magazine is published monthly by American Airlines and is distributed to passengers on all American Airlines planes and has a potential readership of ten or more million passengers monthly. [Page 5]

Teaching in Prisons

Some months ago the National Spiritual Assembly announced to Local Spiritual Assemblies and Teaching Committees the policy it had adopted regarding teaching the Bahá’í Faith in prisons. This policy is now made known to all Bahá’ís in order to answer the many questions that have come to the National Spiritual Assembly on this subject.

We feel that it is in the best interest of the Cause at this time to discourage Spiritual Assemblies, Committees, and individuals from planning teaching projects with the express purpose of enrolling prisoners. Projects of this kind do not contribute effectively or directly to meeting the immediate goals of the Nine Year Plan. We therefore urge Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í committees not to initiate any teaching plans aimed at prisons. They should, instead, phase out those programs now underway. Where unusual developments in an ongoing prison teaching program make it unfeasible to apply this instruction, the Institution involved should present particulars to the National Spiritual Assembly for review and advice.

While individuals are not prohibited from teaching prisoners, they should regard this activity as a personal project in much the same way as teaching the Faith at a fireside in one's home. They should not be permitted to divert the time and resources of their local communities from the major objectives of the Nine Year Plan in order to support their prison projects. Nor should their interest in these projects become a source of contention at Feasts and other Bahá’í gatherings. Bahá’ís in prison are, of course, free to teach their religion to fellow prisoners.

Prisoners who wish to be registered as Bahá’ís should be encouraged, but not required as such, to submit in writing their declaration of faith in the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. Since membership application forms are not readily available in prisons and Assemblies are not always accessible to prisoners, expressing their belief in writing is a direct way for prisoners to make their intentions known and enables the Institutions to sense the declarants' understanding of the Faith. Nonetheless, wherever possible Spiritual Assemblies or District Teaching Committees concerned should arrange to have their representatives interview declarants in prison in order to make certain that the declarants are thoroughly acquainted with basic information about the Faith.

New believers in prison will receive a letter of welcome from the National Spiritual Assembly, but their enrollment as members of a particular Community will be postponed until they are released and settled in a locality having a Local Spiritual Assembly or Bahá’í Group.

It should be generally understood that a declarant who is a prisoner may be registered as a Bahá’í. He should also participate in Bahá’í activities permitted by the law and his circumstances; but since these circumstances vary, it is to be expected that the application of this principle will have to be decided upon in individual cases from time to time. Whatever the degree of the prisoner's freedom to participate in Bahá’í community life, this vital point, as stated by The Universal House of Justice, should guide the judgment of Bahá’í Institutions: "A prisoner may never have the opportunity to attend a Bahá’í function yet he may achieve to its fullest his relationship and obedience to the Will of God and His Manifestation."

Let all concerned be impressed with the necessity for exercising great wisdom in the application of the above guidelines.

—NATIONAL SPIRTUAL ASSEMBLY

Film "A New Wind" Withdrawn from Modern Talking Picture Service

Starting January 1, 1972 the film "A New Wind" will no longer be distributed by Modern Talking Picture Service. Because of new Bahá’í films that are expected to be available in the near future, the film "A New Wind" has been withdrawn to make room for other films that Modern will probably distribute in the future. Also the cost of distributing both "A New Wind" and the film, "It's Just the Beginning" is more than the present budget can handle.

The film "A New Wind" will be available from Bahá’í Publishing Trust for rental at three-day rental fee of $10.00. Bahá’í communities requesting the film should get their requests in early. Specific dates should be requested at least one month in advance. Rental fees are due in advance and there is a $6.00 additional fee for rush orders.

The film "It's Just the Beginning" will continue to be distributed by Modern Talking Picture Service both to organizations and to television stations. A report dated October 31, 1971 from Modern shows that the film has had 107 showings over television. Recent cities where the film was shown over television include: Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia; Columbus, Georgia; Paduca, Kentucky; Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Duluth and Superior, Minnesota; San Antonio, Texas; Honolulu, Hawaii; Montrose, Durango and Grand Junction, Colorado; Flagstaff, Arizona; Sacramento and Stockton, California; Kingsport, Tennessee; Greensboro, North Carolina; Bay City, Michigan; Russell, Kentucky; Gallup, New Mexico; Abilene, Texas; Hobbs, New Mexico; Lake Charles, Louisiana; and Worcester, Massachusetts.

Modern reports that the film "It's Just the Beginning" has been seen by an estimated 3,448,000 persons over television.

Public Information Materials Available

The following materials prepared by the Public Information Office and previously sent to most Public Information Representatives and Bahá’í Communities are available in limited quantities for those who may need them. They will be sent free—one copy only of each item. Please only request if needed.

• Public Information Kit for showings of "It's Just the Beginning."
• Public Information Kit for showings of "A New Wind."
• Sheet of "Ready to Use Art" for printing ads, invitations, posters, etc. of the special designed lettering of the name of Bahá’u’lláh and Bahá’í Faith.
• Bahá’í Proclamation Ads Series No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4. (The latter is the proclamation ad on Bahá’u’lláh)
• Public Information Kit for Pilgrimage to the World Center of the Bahá’í Faith.
• If You Want Air Time—a booklet by the National Association of Broadcasters (limited supply).
• Instruction Sheet for new Public Information Representatives.

The following clip-art sheets are available for those needing them: Bahá’í House of Worship Clip-art; various size skitches for ads, invitations, etc.; nine-pointed rosette design for ads, invitations, etc. [Page 6]

INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE

Revised List of Unfilled Goals as of October 15, 1971

AFRICA (F) Central Africa Republic 1 (F) Afars & Issas (Fr. Terr.) 2 (E) Botswana 2 (F) Cameroon Republic 2 (F) Republic of Zaire (Congo Kinshasa) 3 (E) Ethiopia 1 (F) Ivory Coast 1 (E) Lesotho 1 (E) Malawi 1 (E) St. Helena 2 (E) South West Africa 2 (E) Tanzania 2 (F) Togo 2

THE AMERICAS (S) *Argentina 2 (S) Bolivia 2 (P) Brazil 3 (S) Chile 3 (S) Dominican Republic 2 (S) Ecuador 2 (S) Peru 5 (D) Surinam 2 (S) Uruguay 2 (S) Venezuela 2

ASIA

1. 1

Afghanistan 4 Indonesia 5 Japan 2

• • Kazakhstan (CP) 2

Laos 6 (P) Portuguese Timor 1 Near East 1

• • Ukraine (CP) 1

PACIFIC ISLANDS (E) Gilbert & Ellice Islands 2 (E) Tonga Islands 4 (E) Western Samoa 1 1 EUROPE Austria 1 (P) Azores 1 Denmark 3

• Finland 2

Norway 2 Netherlands 4 Portugal 1

KEY: D — Dutch-speaking E — English-speaking F — French-speaking P — Portuguese-speaking S — Spanish-speaking

• — Circumstances permitting
  • — Special circumstances: check with I.G.C.

All applications or inquiries should be sent to: International Goals Committee 112 Linden Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091

Community Relations Important to Bahá’í Communities

Community relations is a planned program, on a continuing basis, to earn and maintain understanding for the Bahá’í Faith in the local community. Good public relations applied to the local Bahá’í communities, means how well the Bahá’í community gets along with the local non-Bahá’í community. You can have excellent press publicity but still have bad community relations. The press may say many complimentary things and give excellent information on the Faith but still the local non-Bahá’í community may not be impressed or have a favorable opinion of the Bahá’ís in their midst.

Developing good community relations first requires that you have a knowledge of the various publics that make up the community in which your Bahá’í community is located. The publics are many and varied and the list that follows while by no means complete, gives you an idea of some of them: city, county and state officials; business leaders; school and education officials; newspaper publishers and editors; radio and television executives; service clubs (Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc.); labor organizations; women's organizations; youth groups; welfare and civic organizations; other religious institutions; and human relations and racial groups.

You can make up your own list of the various publics in your area and you can make up various classifications of these publics depending on your purpose in making up such a list. You can make up lists of the opinion leaders in a community, of those of the same religious beliefs, of those in a certain age bracket, of those who have some knowledge of the Faith, of those hostile to the Faith, of those in groups that would more likely be susceptible to the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith and so on.

Community relations has two main aspects. First a positive program to build understanding and friendship for the Faith and second, correcting or preventing bad community relations.

There are many ways that bad community relations can develop and the following are a few examples to watch for.

Bahá’í meetings can be a source of bad community relations. Bahá’ís attending these meetings, either in private homes or at a Bahá’í Center, (which is often located in a residential area), can, by their actions, annoy or even anger the local people. They can, for example, park in areas which inconvenience others or they can hold loud discussions in the streets late at night. Will these people think of the Bahá’ís as thoughtful, considerate and courteous? What kind of image will the Bahá’ís project? All this can be corrected by making sure the Bahá’ís and those attending Bahá’í meetings know where to park when coming to the meetings—even to including it in the meeting notice if necessary.

Bahá’í Centers can be a source of bad community relations. Is the center a credit to the area in which it is located? Is the exterior area kept clean, neat, and made as attractive as possible? It isn't a question here of type of center but rather how it fits into its surroundings. A center can be simple and inexpensive but still by the effort of the local Bahá’ís be made a thing of beauty. This can be done with well kept grass, flowers and a well-kept entrance. If the Bahá’í Center is an eye-sore to the neighborhood it will not help build a good opinion of the Bahá’ís. [Page 7]

BAHÁ’Í DIRECTORY CHANGES

Assembly Secretaries

Alabama Mobile: New secretary to be reported

Central California Dist. #1 Pacific Grove: Mr. Marvin Newport, Chr., P. O. Box BH, 93950

Southern California Dist. #2 Santa Ana: Mrs. Virginia Wessel, , 92705

Colorado Durango: Mrs. Belinda A. Boren, Box 144, Ft. Lewis College, 81301

Connecticut Bridgeport: Mrs. Mary Williams,

Delaware

1. C2, 06610

Wilmington: New secretary to be reported

Florida Tallahassee: Mrs. Janice L. Turner, P. O. Box 2032WS, 32304

Georgia Athens: Mrs. Sandra Hottell, P. O. Box 6123, Alps Road Station, 30604

Northern Illinois DeKalb: Miss Lynda Quarantello, , Apt. 1, 60115 Evanston: Mrs. Althea Murrell,

Southern Illinois

1. 210, 60202

Normal: Mrs. Helen N. Hendron, , Lot 32, 61761

Kansas Newton: Mr. Edward C. Sinclair, , Apt. 1B, 67114

Louisiana Lafayette: Mrs. Farideh Mottahed, pro-tem, , 70501

Massachusetts Somerville: Mr. Paul Haynes, , 02143

Nevada Carson City: Mrs. Beatrice Tuggle, 89701 North Las Vegas: Miss Lyla F. Whitmyer, 1, 89030

New Mexico Las Cruces: Mrs. Victoria Hu, , 88001

Eastern New York Town of Islip: Miss Janet Hernandez, P.O. Box P-462, Bay Shore 11706

Oregon Eugene: Mrs. Myrna Tonkinson, 97401

South Carolina Charleston: Mr. Arthur A. Zucker, pro-tem, 29401 Lancaster: Mrs. Carrie Tinsley, pro-tem, 29720 Summerton: New secretary to be reported

South Dakota Rapid City: New secretary to be reported

Western Texas Lubbock: Mr. William L. Vittitow, Box 8609, 79401

Western Washington Everett: Mrs. Sylvia Strandell, 98201 Puyallup: Mr. Gustav Piff, N.W., 98371

Eastern Washington Toppenish: Mrs. Wendy Burns, P.O. Box 228, 98948

Wisconsin Milwaukee: Mr. Randall G. West, ,53205

District Teaching Committee Secretaries

Arkansas Mrs. Julia Shows, Fayetteville 72701

Minnesota Mr. Gary Colgrove, I Cottage Grove 55016

Missouri Mrs. Cathy Vance, Asst. Secty., University City 63130 , S.,

In Memoriam

(Joe) Dearborn Adams Costa Mesa, California August 19, 1971

Mrs. Alice Akridge Chicago, Illinois October 9, 1971

Mrs. Dorothy Alden Cape May, New Jersey October 17, 1971

A. Mansfield Bright, Jr. Los Angeles, California October 3, 1971

Mrs. Maude Carter Decatur, Illinois October 17, 1971

Clair Hallock Coquille, Oregon September 15, 1971

Mrs. Lillian Mae Clark Montgomery, Alabama July 18, 1971

Robert Coleman Evanston, Illinois October 14, 1971

Anthony Corea No. Tewksbury, Mass. August 9, 1971

Mrs. Anna Edwards Compton, California August 22, 1971

Mrs. Lillie Ellis Lumpkin, Georgia No Date

Mrs. Lucille Good Lumpkin, Georgia No Date

Mrs. Lola Grafmiller Fort Wayne, Indiana September 29, 1971

L. Paul Harris Mattoon, Illinois November 6, 1971

Mrs. Florence Herron San Antonio, Texas No Date

Mrs. Elizabeth Larson Downers Grove, Illinois November 7, 1971

Luther Littlejohn Arlington, Texas September 1971

James O. Jones Seattle, Washington November 3, 1971

James Merrifield Albuquerque, New Mexico August 17, 1971-

Mashalah Mohageri Orange, California October 11, 1971

Michael Payne Burlington, Vermont August 1971

Alfred Burgin Smith Marietta, South Carolina April 19, 1971

Miss Doris Wolff Minnetonka, Minnesota November 3, 1971 [Page 8]

Calendar

December 12—Masá’il (Questions) December 31—Sharaf (Honor) January 19—Sultán (Sovereignty)

National Spiritual Assembly Meetings

December 10-12 January 7-9

Special Events

December 10—Human Rights Day January 16, 1972—World Religion Day

World Religion Day - Important Guidelines

An important Bahá’í Special Event Day is World Religion Day which will be observed on January 16, 1972. Theme of this year’s observance is: World Religion—Basis for Universal and Lasting Peace.

Bahá’í communities are reminded that the purpose of World Religion Day is to associate the term “world religion” with the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh and to proclaim His Faith as the quickener of souls and the unifier of races and nations. All program materials should be based upon the theme that religion has always been the source of unity and that world religion is the source of world unity.

The Bahá’í story stands in sharp contrast to the effort of older faiths to form interfaith committees and call the result religious unity. However, in the past Bahá’í communities have invited representatives of other religions to appear on their Bahá’í platforms to discuss their faiths, with a Bahá’í as one of the speakers or serving as a moderator. This was done either to build an audience by attracting members of several religions represented and thus exposing them to the Faith or to demonstrate the unity of religions rather than proclaiming directly and clearly that only the Bahá’í Faith is the source of world unity.

Bahá’í communities are reminded that belief in progressive revelation, raised above all religious, national and racial prejudices, is a unique contribution to the world that no other religion can make, and that the long-range purpose of World Religion Day is to educate the public’s understanding of world religion.

It is more and more evident that the older religions are incapable of providing the spiritual impetus and direction sorely needed by the world today, and therefore it has become less and less appropriate for the Bahá’ís to provide a platform for their representatives on our World Religion Day. Indeed, National Spiritual Assembly members and other Bahá’í speakers have frequently declined invitations to appear on panels of representatives of several religions on this occasion. On a number of occasions, unpleasant situations have arisen when the panels have included persons who have taken the opportunity to attack the Faith; thus confusing the public and embarrassing the Bahá’ís.

World Religion Day was the first of several Bahá’í public proclamation events and it should continue to be used as a direct Bahá’í teaching event.

The National Bahá’í Public Information Office has sent to Bahá’í Assemblies, groups, clubs, District Teaching Committees and to all Public Information Representatives, the Public Information Kit for World Religion Day. This Kit has suggested press, radio and television releases, proclamations by the Mayor and other material. Extra copies of this kit are available from the Public Information Office.

Proper Use of the National Bahá’í Review

While THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í is designed for the information and inspiration of the believers in the United States, it is permissible to share it with friends who are close to the Faith. THE NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í REVIEW which is included as an insert is for the registered Bahá’í only and therefore should be removed from THE AMERICAN BAHÁ’Í before the latter is shown to any one else.

THE NATIONAL BAHÁ’Í REVIEW is in essence a communication from the National Spiritual Assembly to enrolled Bahá’ís and therefore should be carefully studied and preserved for future reference and instructional purposes.

National Bahá’í Fund 1971-1972

Monthly Goal: $120,000

Mashivyat (Will)

• Regular Contributions: $74,893.42
• Special Contributions: $3,000.00
• Estates: $4,524.67
• Other Income: $746.72
• Total Income: $83,164.81
• Budget: $120,000.00

‘Ilm (Knowledge)

• Regular Contributions: $73,464.89
• Special Contributions: $13,896.75
• Estates: $3,365.73
• Other Income: $974.38
• Total Income: $91,701.75
• Budget: $120,000.00

Fiscal Year to Date

• Regular Contributions: $727,168.28
• Special Contributions: $21,543.15
• Estates: $46,715.87
• Other Income: $10,182.17
• Total Income: $805,609.47
• Budget: $1,200,000.00

UNIVERSAL PARTICIPATION

“All, no matter how modest their resources, must participate. Upon the degree of self-sacrifice involved in these individual contributions will directly depend the efficacy and the spiritual influence which these nascent administrative institutions, called into being through the power of Bahá’u’lláh, and by virtue of the design conceived by the Center of His Covenant, will exert.” Shoghi Effendi in Wellspring of Guidance, p. 19.