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Libraries and Bahá’í’ books
From time to time inquiries and suggestions are received about the classification of Bahá’í books in public libraries. In most libraries the listing is according to the Dewey Decimal Classification system employed by the National Library of Congress with which the National Spiritual Assembly is acquainted. While the classification is not yet satisfactory to us from the Bahá’í standpoint, considerable-improvement has been made since the early days of the‘Faith in this country and the National Spiritual Assembly will continue to follow up with the National Library of Congress for further improvement.
It must be understood that changing classifications of library listings is a ve_ry serious matter and once any change is made it must remain in effect a very long time in order to avoid the tremendous confusion that frequent changes and revisions would create in the library system involving thousands of local public libraries throughout the country.
The proper call number of Bahá’í literature is 297.89. The number 297 is given to Islam, and religions under that parentage are listed in that same general sequence. While we are not a branch of Islam, our roots are in that faith, as the roots of Christianity were within Judaism. We should not become too technical at this point, but rather we should consider ourselves fortunate to have the separate number for BaháTi books that now exists in that sequence. The editor of the Dewey Decimal Classification of the Library of Congress wrote sometime ago that “separate integrity (of the Bahá’í Faith) is clearly shown by the coordinate indention and large type” given to our special number in the 297 series.
Bahá’í’s should not under any circumstances write to the Library of Congress concerning this matter.
This is something for the National Spiritual Assembly to handle and it is extremely important to,
maintain good relations in this respect. The Bahá’ís can be helpful by calling the attention of local
librarians to the proper classification of Bahá’í books as given, above, namely, 297.89.
Most Bahá’í books now have printed in them a special Library of Congress catalog card number. This means that these books are already listed and classified and the library reference cards printed for them. It is not necessary for Bahá’í’s or for local communities to endeavor to secure these cards and present them with the books to the librarians. The librarians are completely familiar with the method of obtaining the cards, and they are readily available to them from the Library of Congress catalog division. The convenience to libraries is established by having these numbers pre-assigned so that the librarians need not wait a long time for a new book to be cataloged and cards to be printed since the cards are already on hand and need only be requested by them from the Library of Congress. Books that are not
processed and given Library of Congress catalog
card numbers for certain reasons, as for example books published outside the United States of America, are still accepted by most libraries which have their own system of cataloging books of this kind.
‘The main endeavor of Bahá’ís should be in seeing to it that all public and college libraries have up-to-date basic Bahá’í books. There are many ways in which this activity can be greatly expanded: by Bahá’í’ assemblies in extension teaching work in surrounding communities, and by other Bahá’ís working under the direction of their District Teaching Committees. Surely in these years of Proclamation no public or college library in America should be without Bahá’í books.
NSA meetings
The National Spiritual Assembly will meet in Wilmette February 15-17, March 22-24, and April 25. National Convention will be held April 26-28, at the National Center. - '
[Page 2]
The Local Spiritual Assembly is our lifeline
“The duties of those whom the friends have freely and conscientiously elected as their representatives are no less vital and binding than the obligations of those who have chosen them. Their functionis to consult, and consult not only among themselves, but as much as possible with the friends whom they represent.” 1
“They must, at all times, avoid the spirit of exclusiveness, the atmosphere of secrecy, free themselves from a domineering attitude, and banish all forms of prejudice and passion from their deliberations. They should, within the limits of wise discretion, take the friends into their confidence, acquaint them with their plans, share with them their problems and anxieties, and seek their advice and counsel.”
“Let us also bear in mind that the keynote of the Cause of God is not dictatorial authority but humble fellowship, not arbitrary power, but the spirit of frank and loving consultation. Nothing short of the
In Memoriam
FEBRUARY 1974
spirit of a true Bahá’í’ can hope to reconcile the principles of mercy and justice, of freedom and submission, of the sanctity of the right of the individual and of self-surrender, of vigilance, discretion, and prudence on the one hand, and fellowship, candor, and courage on the other.”3
“Should we build up the Administrative World Order to a point of absolute perfection but at the same time allow it to be hampered or disconnected from the channels within, through which channels the Holy Spirit of the Cause pours forth, we would have nothing more than a perfected body out of touch with and cut off from the finer promptings of the soul or spirit.”‘*
1 The Local Spiritual Assembly, p. 22 2 II II H II p.
’ 4 II II N u
4 Principles of Bahá’í Administration, p. 1
Mr. William Durham Bristol, Florida Date unknown
Mr. Cyrus P. Francisco “Lexington, Kentucky Nov. 3, 1973
Mr. Eugene Jamison lslandton. South Carolina Date unknown
Mr. Phil Kwon Kim Los Angeles, California December 17, 1973
Mr. Arthur W. Kirkham Tucson, Arizona November 18, 1973
Mrs. Helen Carol Kunzman December 26, 1973 San Joaquin, California
Mrs. Thelma La Fontaine Friday Harbor, Washington December 22, 1973
Miss Rose F. Launderway Hempstead, New York‘ in 1970, date unknown
Mr. John Willie Massey Rock Hill, South Carolina December 8, 1973
Miss Tracy McBride Wilton Manors, Florida December 5, 1973
Mr. Cliff McKeay Santa Rosa, California December 31, 1973
Mrs. Annabelle Okulow New York, New York July 22, 1973
Mr. Arthur Perry West Swanzey, New Hampshire December I7, 1973
Mrs. Ethel E. Redjives
, Brooklyn, New York
July 19, 1973
Mr. Robert Riley Torrance, California Date unknown
Mrs. Elvira Russo Riviera Beach, Florida November 5, 1973
Mr. David Errol Smith Los Alamos, New Mexico June 30, 1973
Mr. James Van Hoof Little Chute, Wisconsin Date unknown
Mr. Clarence Wilder Pentwater, Michigan December 10, 1973
9N,
[Page 3]
REVIEW
Greatest Name symbol
The symbol of the Greatest Name is a sacred symbol of the Bahá’í Faith. The use of this symbol is legally protected for proper Bahá’í use under the trade mark registration by the National Spiritual Assembly through the U.S. Patent Office.
Because of the significance of the symbol it should be displayed only at Bahá’í' centers or homes and should not generally be used in connection with publicity photos: i.e. photos appearing in news media. It has been noted that some Bahá’í communities and groups have used the symbol in news photos to identify the persons in the photo as Bahá’ís.
The symbol of the Greatest Name should not be used in exhibits at fairs, or in store window displays on the Faith.
In addition the symbol should not be used on programs, or on give away literature.
Definition for just government
Permission has been given by The Universal House of Justice to publish for the information of the Bahá’ís of the United States the following excerpts from a letter to an American believer who asked The Universal House of Justice about the meaning of “just government.” The reply calls attention to a letter to a believer dated September7, 1937 in which the beloved Guardian said: _
“As regards the Bahá’í principle of obedience to just governments, what is meant here by just
is recognized and wel1—established authority.”
The Universal House of Justice further states that in a letter to the National Teaching Committee for Central America dated July 3, 1948, the beloved Guardian, in explaining the statement in the Master’s Will said:
“What the Master’s statement really means is obedience to a duly constituted government, whatever that government may be in form. We are not the ones, as individual Bahá’ís to judge our government as just or unjust—for each believer would be sure to hold a different viewpoint, and within our own Bahá’í’ fold a hotbed of dissension would spring up and destroy our unity. We must build up our Bahá’í’ system, and leave the faulty systems of the world to go their way. We cannot change them through our becoming involved in them; on the
contrary, they will destroy us.”
The same believer who asked about the meaning of “just government” also asked whether or not Bahá’í’s should own or buy guns to protect themselves and their families. The Universal House of Justice replied:
“Under the present circumstances in the
United States it is preferable that Bahá’ís not buy or own arms for their protection or the
protection of their families.” .
Persian declarations not to be accepted
A number of National Spiritual Assemblies, including the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States, recently received a letter from The Universal House of Justice which contained the following instructions:
In view of the increasing activities of a number of agencies inimical to the Cause, we have decided to request you, for the present, not to accept declarations of faith by Persians unless you are absolutely sure that they are bona fide permanent residents of your countries. . . .
If Persians who accept the Faith insist on being enrolled, they must be told that when
‘they return to Persia they should apply to the
National Spiritual Assembly of Iran.
These instructions supplement the advice already given to the friends not to seek out Muslims from the Middle East for the purpose of teaching them the Faith.
DTC Address Changes
WESTERN REGION
Eastern Colorado: Mrs. Daura Jean Hanna, Secretary, 5535 Krameria Street, Commerce City, Colorado 80022.
CALIFORNIA District No. 3:
Mrs. Rosalie. Lopez, Secretary, 1830 South 4th Street, El Centro, California 92243.
CENTRAL REGION Michigan: Herbert Merrell, Jr., 2309 Berkeley, Flint, Michigan 48504. '
SOUTHERN REGION Northern Virginia: Mrs. Margaret Gawen, Secretary, 5917 14th Street North, Arlington, Virginia 22205
[Page 4]
FEBRUARY‘ 1974
Directory Changes
Assembly Secretaries Alabama Mobile: P.O. Box 8026, 36601 (same secretary) Arizona
Bisbee:-P.0. Box 1854 (same secretary)
Ganado Chapter: Miss Janet Herbst, P.O. Box 753-A, Ganado 86505
Mesa: Mrs. Lora Lawton, P.O. Box 2417, 85204
Phoenix: Mrs. Rezvan Choudbury, P.O. Box 9961, 85020 Pima County: Mrs. Alice Pace, 6625-C Calle Algeria, Tucson 85715
Arkansas Hot Springs: J. William Mellitt, P.O. Box 23, 71901 California
Alameda: Mrs. Marty McCrea, 820 Riley Dr., 94706 Alturas: Mrs. Marian McKee, P.O. Drawer 1609, 96101 Burbank: P.O. Box 6064, 95010 (same secretary)
Carson: Mrs. Martha Payne, 20509 Campaign Dr., Apt. 21-G, 90746
Chico: Mrs. Nancy Yavrom, 746 Linden St., 95926
Chico Judicial District: Mrs. Susan Ross, Box 59, Cohasset Stage Rd., Chico 95926
Costa Mesa: Mrs. Gwen Janti, 710 W. 18th St. , #12, 92627 Culver Judicial District: Mrs. Sara Jackson, 3452 Floresta Ave., Los Angeles 90043
Daly City: P.O. Box 542, 94015 (same secretary)
Desert Judicial District: Mrs. Famaline Dunbar, P.O. Box 1191, Palm Desert 92260
Downeyz Mrs. Lynn Reynolds, pro-tem, 8277 Duesler St., 90242
El Cerrito: Miss Linda Blalock, P.O. Box 243, 94530 Eureka Judicial District: Mr. Edward Burgess, 4066 Excelsior, Eureka 95501
Fountain Valley: P.O. Box 1864, 92708 (same secretary) Fresno Judicial District: Mrs. Barbara Cook, 6315 N. Teilman, Fresno 97305
Fullerton: Mrs. Diane Guidici, pro-tem, 513 Williamson, 92632 Garden Grove: Mrs. Maureen Brusselars, P.O. Box 1667, 92640
Healdsburg: P.O. Box 158, 95448 (same secretary) lnglewood: Mrs. Sandra L. Meyer, PO. Box 587, 90307 Livermore: PO. Box 189, 94550 (same secretary) Lynwood: P.O. Box 156, 90262 (same secretary) Manhattan Beach: Mrs. Peggy Wad hams, P-T 3012 Manhattan Ave., 90266
Marin County Central Judicial District: P.O. Box 4204 (same secretary) _
Monrovia: Mrs. Gigi Blue, pro-tem, P.O. Box 352, 91016 Monterey: New secretary to be reported
National City: Mrs. Betty J. Farmer, P.O. Box 934, 92050 Norwalk: Mrs. Carolyn B. Corbin, 11101 Ferina St., #14, 90650
Sacramento: P.O. Box 535, 95818 (same secretary) Sacramento Municipal Court District: P.O. Box 6248 (same secretary)
San Mateo County South Judicial District: Mrs. Delia Carpenter, 2325 Pulgas Ave., East Palo Alto 94303
Santa Cruz County South: Mrs. Jane Rhodes, 203 El Camino Del Mar, Aptos 95003 '
Sunnyvale: P.O. Box 2311, 9487 (same secretary)
Colorado Boulder: Mrs. Rose Jean Hanis, 437 Pine St., 80302 El Paso County, East: P.O. Box 5664, Security 80931 (same secretary) Loveland: PO. Box 323, 80537 (same secretary)
I Connecticut
Manchester: Mrs. Pat Hopkins, 44 Bissel St., 06040 Florida Dania: Mrs. Karen Pritchard, 42 SW 14th St., 33004 Deerfield Beach: mail returned -\ Hillsborough County: Mrs. Marilyn Neal, Rt. #4, Box 264-], Tampa 33615 Naples: Mrs. Edna Gavin, Apt. ll-E, Gordon River, 33940 North Miami: P.O. Box 610514, 33161 (same secretary) Georgia Albany: New secretary to be reported Idaho Pocatello: mail returned Illinois Arlington Heights: P.O. Box 5, 60005 (same secretary) Carbondale: Mrs. Christine Kurianowicz, P.O. Box 1013, 62901 . Champaign: Mrs. Jeannette M. Lytle, 1008 Westfield, 61820 Edwardsvillez Mrs. Rosemary S1avik,510 Randle St.-, 62025 Highland Park: Miss Kathleen Cawley, P.O. Box 555, 60035 Skokie: P.O. Box 572, 60076 (same secretary) Wheaton: P.O. Box 782, 60187 (same secretary) Indiana Columbus: P.O. Box 1472, 47201 (same secretary) Richmond: Mrs. Rhonda Koontz, 58 S. 17th St., 47374 South Bend: Miss Druzelle Brenneman, 1125 W. Washington St., 46601 Kentucky Louisville: Mrs. Margaret W. Stevens, 2745 Cleveland Blvd., 40206 1 Louisiana
Baton Rouge East Parish No. 1: Mrs. Pam Carsey, 8316 _
Highland Rd., Baton Rouge 70808 Gretna: Miss Anna Anderson, P.O. Box 1463, 70053 Lafayette: P.O. Box 3151, 70501 (same secretary) St. Martinvillez Mr. Frank Malveaux, 706 Church St., 70582 Maryland ‘ Rockville: P.O. Box 1826, 20850 (same secretary) Massachusetts Gloucester: P.O. Box 3, 01930 (same secretary) Golyoke: P.O. Box 1337, 01040 (same secretary) Springfield: New secretary to be reported Michigan Ann Arbor; Mrs. Helen McClusky, 1421 W. Liberty St., 48103 Superior Township: Mrs. Julie Badiee, 9380 MacArthur Blvd., Ypsilanti 48197 Minnesota Bemidji: New secretary to be reported Minneapolis: New secretary to be reported
(Continued next page)
‘7
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[Page 5]
REVIEW
(Continued from page four)
Olmsted County: Mrs. Pauline Mc/Farlin, P.O. Box 6473,. /~'\ Rochester 55901
Staples: Delete-—“1ost” Assembly
Mississimi Jackson: P.O. Box 1489, 39202 (same secretary) Meriden: Mrs. Yvonne Brown, 1713——l8th Ave., 39301
Missouri 1 Columbia: Mrs. Margaret Berger, 2213 Grace Ellen Dr., 65201 . Kansas City: Mrs. Meredith Barton, 8021 San Rafael Dr., 64119 St. Joseph: mail returned
Nebraska Crete: Delete—not valid
Nevada Clark County: Mrs. Sandra Lichtenfels, 4603 Spencer St., Las Vegas 89109 Elkoz P.O. Box 417, 89801 (same secretary) North Las Vegas: Mrs. Nancy Bagstad, PO. Box 4408, 89030
New Hampshire Woodstock: Miss Deveda Cobum, General Delivery, North Woodstock 03262 '
New Jersey Hopewell: Delete—“lost” Assembly Montclair: New secretary to be reported
New Mexico Alamogordo: Mrs. Pauline Hoff, pro-tem, 1508 Jefferson, 88310 Carlsbad: Mrs. Sara Tolman, pro-tem, 503 N. 2nd, 88220 Roswell: Mrs. Mary Piotrowski, 51 I S. Richardson Ave., 88201
~’’” New York
Brockport: Mr. Bruce A. Watson, PO. Box 127, 14420 Farmington, Town of: Miss Carol Berglund, PO. Box 61, Victor 14564 Hempstead, Town of: P.O. Box 235, East Meadow 11554 (same secretary) Rochester: Mr. David Turriff, C/O Bahá’í’ Center, 10 Winboume St., 14619 North Carolina Raleigh: Mrs. Anne T. Jaláli, P.O. Box 10383, 27605 , Ohio Cincinnati: New secretary to be reported Kent: P.0. Box 244, 44240 (same secretary) Mansfield: P.O. Box 461, 44906 (same secretary) Oregon Corvallis: P.O. Box 309, 97330 (same secretary) Cottage Grove: Mr. James E. Thornton, Chr., 1133 E. Adams St., 97424 Eugene: Miss Jan lvanoff, 625 E. 16th Ave., #3, 97405 ‘Springfield: Mrs. Lois Picknell, 1744 “S" St., 97477 Pennsylvania Lower Merion Township: Mr. Allan Wolpe, 2008 Stone Ridge Lane, Villanova 19085 Middletown Township: Miss Lorraine Applebaum, Box 494, Langhome 19047 State College: Mrs. Ruth Dunbar, P.O. Box 253, 16801 West Goshen Township: Dr. lrwin Schawacker, Jr., 502 Pomona Hill Dr., West Chester 19380 South Carolina ~ Dufford: New secretary to be reported
,.-\ Florence: Mrs. Annie M. Henderson, 829-A Pine, E. , 29501
'‘ Florence County, North: New secretary to be reported _ Newberry: Mr. David Jones, 829 Wardlaw St., 29108 South Dakota" Rapid,City: Mrs. Sandra Scott, 729 Allen, 57701
Texas Corpus Christi: Secretary moved. Use P.O. Box for mail Huntsville: Miss Terri Arnold, 2006‘/2 Ave. “1”, 77340 Kingsvillez New secretary" to be reported Lubbock: PO. Box closed—mail returned McAllen: Miss Bertha Larralde, 1301 S. 9th St., Apt. 37, 78501 Nacogdoches: Mr. Massoud Kazemzadeh, SFA, Box 7360, 75961
Utah Ogden: Mrs. Lily Angell, 3080 Quincy Ave., 84403
Virginia Albemarle County: Mr. Robert Keithley, pro-tem, 104 Cherokee Ct., Charlottesville 22901
Fairfax County: Mrs. Gail Abbasi, 7012 Alicent Ct.,y
McLean 22101
Hampton: Miss Adele Perry, 11 E. Virginia, 23363 Norfolk: Secretary moved. Use PO. Box for mail Roanoke: Miss Martha Dick, 1716-61 Hershberger Rd., NW, 24012 '
Washington
Des Moines: PO. Box 98039, 98188 (same secretary) Everett: P.O. Box 781, 98201 (same secretary)
lssaquah: Mr. Raymond L. Jaques, P.O. Box 743, 98027 Kent: P.O. Box 753, 98031 (same secretary)
King County Commissioners’ Dist. #3: Mrs. Beverly Harthan, P.O. Box 934, Redmond 98052
Kitsap County Commissioners‘ Dist. #1: Mrs. Kathleen Roberts, Rt. #8, Box 8963, Bainbridge Island 98110 Makah Reservation: Mrs. Audrey McCarty, Box 306, Neah Bay 98357
Tacoma: Mrs. Sonnie J. Bates, 410 S. Sheridan #4, 98405 Vancouver: Miss Susan Berg, 2816 E‘. 5th St., #14, 98661 Walla Walla: Mrs. Margaret L. Brownlee, 978 Hobson, 99362
West Virginia Kanawha County; Mrs. Sue Chapman, 5311 Arthur Dr., Charleston 25312 Wisconsin
Shorewood: Mrs. Martha Ahlhauser, 1720 E. Newton Ave.,
- 4, 53211
Caution on use term Bahá’í World Faith
The Universal House of Justice has provided the following guidance on the use of“Bahá’í Faith” and “Bahá’í World Faith."
The following excerpt is from a letter from the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Great Britain published in theirBahá’í’ Journal No. 178, February — March 1967: “ .we realize there are occasions on which the use of the tem ‘Bahá’í‘World Faith’ may be justified and useful. However, it is our hope that the friends will gradually lose the habit of using this term as widely as they do now. The designation ‘The Bahá’í Faith’ is more dignified and is preferable. Any adjective added to this name tends to a diminution of its stature and might be taken to mean there are other ‘Bahá’í Faiths’. . .
[Page 6]
FEBRUARY 1974
Back-biting and Gossip
Outside the Bahá’í Faith and in the highways of the world, the newspapers constantly record with flaring headlines innumerable instances involving deviation from the divine laws as well as the laws of the human world, but the Bahá’í communities are, or are designed to be, dwellings of peace and happiness in which the voice of cheerfulness and deeds of loving service are witnessed. Especially are we favored and admonished through the voice of the Supreme Pen in the promulgation of the command
' relative to back—biting, rumor spreading and gossip,
as well as the descent into mere personal controversies and misunderstandings. Could we realize how instances of this nature afflict the Faith, how this subtle poison attacks the integrity of its sensitive fabric, we would one and all cleave to the divine principle. “Everlasting felicity,” the Master promises, awaits the human world, and the glorification of the spirit will be seen when we have freed ourselves from this age—old affliction. The Master gives us the remedy, i.e., that the balm for this poison and the remedy for this disease is the upliftment of the" tongue in praise of one another and the exaltation of the virtues of the friends. Union and consultation, moreover, are the pillars of our collective Bahá’í' household.
In a Tablet to Dr. N. G. Skinner, Washington D.C., revealed August 12, 1913, atRamleh, Egypt, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said: .
“Thou hast written regarding thy aims. How blessed are these aims, especially the prevention of back-biting! I hope that you may become confimed therein, because the worst human quality and the most great sin is back-biting; more especially when it emanates from the believers of God. If some means were devised so that the doors of back-biting could be shut eternally and each one of the believers of God unsealed his tongue in the praise of the other, then the teachings of His Holiness Bahá’u’lláh would be spread, the hearts illumined, the spirits glorified and the human world would attain to everlasting felicity.
“I hope that the believers of God will shun completely back-biting, each one praising the other cordially and believe that back-biting is the cause of the Divine wrath, to such an extent that if a person back-bites to the extent of one
their shortcomings and speak only of their virtues and not their defects.
“It is related that His Holiness Christ—may my life be a sacrifice to Him!—one day, accompanied by His apostles, passed by the corpse of a dead animal. One of them said: ‘How putrid has this animal become!’ The other exclaimed: ‘How it is deformed!’ A third cried out: ‘What a stench! How cadavorous looking!’ But His Holiness Christ said: ‘Look at his teeth! How white they are !’ Consider that He did not look at all the defects of that animal; nay rather, He searched well until He found the beautiful white teeth. He observed only the whiteness of the teeth and overlooked entirely the deformity of the body, the dissolution of the organs and the bad odor.
“This is the attribute of the children of the Kingdom. This is the conduct and the manners of real Bahá’í’s. I hope that all the believers will attain to this lofty station.”
Every believer of discernment has learned through the shock of experience how quickly the lengthening shadows gather and the divine confimations flee away when any one of the friends unlooses his tongue \in the arena of denunciation of another.
The Covenant of God is like a crystal—pure mirror, upon whose sensitive, radiant surface is reflected the gathering storms of human hearts, and the shadow of every conscious deviation from the Divine Law of the Cycle. Spiritual and physical calamities alike flow from every disturbance of this divinely constituted equilibrium, which has a direct relationship to every believer.
May we, one and all, arise to a new consciousness of this matter, setting aside forever this indulgence and turning our faces stemly against its traces wherever found! May we altogether humbly supplicate the throne of the Ancient of Days that the deeds of the Bahá’í’ communities of the United States shall shine resplendent and in such wise as to attract the beloved friends to a station wherein the world shall say: “What love! What integrity! What shining deeds we witness among the Bahá’í’s!”
word_, he may become dishonored among all the people, because the most hateful characteristic of man is faultfinding. One must expose the praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. The friends must overlook
(Extracts from a letter from the National Spiritual Assembly of June 25, 1930, published in BAHKi NEWS, No. 46, November 1930)
_ "\
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/-\
/mremendous spiritual bounties of contributing regu REVIEW
PosrF1x
CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE TREASURER
Charts are form of Communication
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
While realizing that use of the local Fund report—’ ing charts is not obligatory, our Community feels obliged to protest the general principle of charts. In view of Shoghi Eflendfs remarks concerning “no coercion or solicitation,” and the “purely voluntary” nature of contributing to the Fund, a number of the friends feel that the use of charts, particularly in a Community as small as ours, constitutes undue social pressure. We would appreciate any clarifying statement you can give us on this matter, especially since there is danger of its becoming “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense” to some in the Community.
Warm Bahá’í greetings, Bahá’í Community of
- A chartof any kind is merely a form of communication, nothing more or less. The local Fund charts are designed to help your Assembly fulfill its obligation to report to the friends the progress of your Community’s Bahá’í Fund. While this may be done orally, the information is conveyed more forcefully by the use of charts, for it helps the friends to see at a glance where they presently stand in relation to a previous period.
We are more disturbed by your statement that members of your Community feel the use of charts constitute “undue social pressure.” Contributing to the Bahá’í Fund is both a sacred obligation and the exclusive privilege of those who have accepted the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. Indeed, the beloved Guardian wrote that “every Bahá’í’, no matter how poor, must realize what a grave responsibility he has to shoulder in this connection and should have confidence that his spiritual progress as a believer in the World Order‘ of Bahá’u’lláh will largely depend upon the measure in which he proves, in deeds, his readiness to support materially the divine institutions of His Faith.” (Dawn ofa New Day. page 68).
Our records show that there are some Communities who have deprived themselves of the
larly and with sacrifice. Instead of being dismayed and feeling pressured, the friends should eagerly accept the challenge posed by poor participation and
work to strengthen the ties ofspiritual unity and social fellowship that invariably undergird a thriving Bahá’í Fund.
Observations on proclamation
As the proclamation of the Faith accelerates in our efforts to reach all strata of human society, the National Spiritual Assembly hopes that all who participate in public proclamation in any manner, whether as an individual or as groups, will keep clearly in mind the instructions of The Universal House of Justice contained in its letter of July 2, 1967 published in the September issue of BAH;i_”I News, No. 438.
While not wishing to limit or restrict proclamation to prosaic or serious methods for conveying the Mes-sage of Bahá’u’lláh to the people, it is important that we avoid presentations that may produce negative reactions or wrong interpretations of our attitude of respect and reverence for the sacred nature of our Faith. Experimentation with new forms and new styles of presentations is encouraged. There are many ways to express the joy and promise of the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, but as The Universal House of Justice pointed out in its letter:
“ . the standards of dignity and reverence set by the beloved Guardian should always be upheld, particularly in musical and dramatic items. . . . This does not mean that activities of the youth, for example, should be stultified; one can be exuberant without being irreverent or undermining the dignity of the Cause.”
Those responsible for devising artistic, musical, and dramatic presentations, as well as those who
’ participate in them, should be careful not to use
material out of context, or any that through misinterpretation may produce a negative reaction on the part of the audience, whether Bahá’í or non-Bahá’í’. Careful attention should also be paid to the matters of dress, physical movements, and propriety of the occasion on which the programs are presented.
The same principles of dignity, good taste, and propriety apply to the design and use of any symbols that are intended to attract attention to the Faith, whether they are for use in the home, at public meetings, for personal ornamentation, or on automobiles. As The Universal House of Justice has stated, “a flamboyant approach which may succeed in drawing much initial attention to the Cause, may ultimately prove to have produced a revulsion which would require great effort to overcome.”
[Page 8]
FEBRUARY 1974
NATIONAL BAHA'I FUND
/Individuals significant to Fund
January 10, 1974
To: All Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í’ Groups
I and Bahá’í Dear Bahá’í Friends: Dear Bahá’í Friends: Contributing directly to all of the institutions of the Cause is a distinct privilege of every Bahá’í'. The direct link thus forged to the activities of the National Spiritual Assembly, the Continental Board of Counsellors and The Universal House of Justice reaffirms the organic oneness of every segment of the Bahá’í’ world and gives concrete expression to this cardinal principle of unity.
It is worth noting that since Riḍván of this year, individual contributions have constituted 38% of the
£_ontributions
FT "T T?” ‘F
S 200000 * i l S} 1975 NH MDNIHH GUM j
S lol).i)00 L i 5 50.000 I 4
__~,“;.__=...,,,¢
Information at your fingertips
Month of Masé‘il Year to Date Budget Goal $132,000 $1,716,000 Contributions l24,269 1,214,958 Participation: Assemblies S43 (66%) Groups 304
total income to the National Bahá’í Fund. The direct involvement of thousands of individual contributors has clearly been a significant factor in our achievemments so far this year and has demonstrated the truth of The Universal House of J ustice’s statement that “large numbers of small sums combine into a mighty river that can carryalong the work of the Cause.” (letter of 29 December, 1970).
We pray that all believers will take advantage of the bounties offered by direct participation in all the Funds of the Cause of God.
With warmest Bahá’í' love, NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF
THE BAHA”1s or THE UNITED STATES Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer
Total Number of Assemblies Contributing .-\
700650i con av mnvin 1974 600g 56! 565 S" in 550_ 555 551 an 559 S” ( 500[soa 5°‘ 5” 503 tax 45ntoo} { L I’ g IX x El 2 INCOME Mas5'il Fiscal Year (Questions) to Date Contributions $124,269 $1,214,958 Budget Goal $l32,000 $l,7l6.000 Estates $ $ 63,990
Contribute to Fund
Contributions may be addressed to: National Bahá.”
Fund, 112 Linden Ave., Wilmette, Illinois 6009 ‘
Bahálf International Fund, P.O. Box 155, Haifa, Israe and Continental Bahá’í Fund, 418 Forest Ave., Wilmette, Illinois 60091.
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