National Bahá’í Review/Issue 94/Text

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[Page 1]

Maintaining Assembly status

Once established, the Local Assembly should not be allowed to lose its status. Shoghi Effendi has stated that the Assemblies “must, at no time and under no circumstances, be allowed to diminish in number or decline in strength and in influence.”

Therefore, one of the essential duties of Assembly members is to maintain the status of their Assembly and take every precaution to prevent it from becoming jeopardized. In this regard, the National Spiritual Assembly strongly advises each Local Assembly to establish. as a primary goal the maintenance of at least fifteen adult believers in its community at all times.

Maintenance of Assembly status also depends upon the measure of importance which the individual members give to their God— given duties. A point each Assembly member should bear in mind is that attention to the work of the Assembly is a fundamental obligation and the member should so organize his or her schedule that priority is given to Assembly business throughout the year.

An Assembly which becomes jeopardized because the

number of adult members in its community has fallen below nine should report the matter immediately to the National Spiritual Assembly. This is a critical situation requiring the most urgent and effective attention.

Under the circumstances, the Assembly should suspend all major projects which are not directly related to teaching. The remaining members of the community should then engage in intensive teaching activities, individually and perhaps in teams, so as to effect expansion of its membership from within its own locality. No time should be wasted. Waiting until the last minute to act can be disastrous. And requesting homefront pioneers to fill the void is not a reliable means of dealing with the situation. The numerical jeopardy of Assemblies can be avoided if each Assembly makes certain to maintain at least fifteen active adult believers in its community at all times.

If an Assembly loses its status, the person holding its files and records should seek the advice of the National Spiritual Assembly as to their disposition.

Living a chaste and holy life

“A chaste and holy life must be made the controlling principle in the behavior and conduct of all Bahá’í’s, both in their social relations with the members of their own community, and in their contact with the world at large,” Shoghi Effendi writes in The Advent of Divine Justice, page 25.

The Guardian continues: “Such a chaste and holy life, with its implications of modesty, purity, temperance, decency, and clean-mindedness, involves no less than the exercise of moderation in all that pertains to dress, language, amusements, and all artistic and literary avocations. It demands daily vigilance in the control of one’s carnal desires and corrupt inclinations. It calls for the abandonment of a frivolous conduct, with its excessive attachment to trivial and often misdirected pleasures. It

requires total abstinence from all alcoholic drinks, from ‘

opium, and from similar habit-forming drugs. It condemns the prostitution of art and of literature, the practices of nudism and of companionate marriage, infidelity in marital relationships, andall manner of promiscuity, of easy familiarity, and of sexual vices. It can tolerate no

compromise with the theories, the standards, the habits, and the excesses of a decadent age. Nay rather it seeks to demonstrate, through the dynamic force of its example, the pernicious character of such theories, the falsity of such standards, the hollowness of such claims, and the perversity of such habits, and the sacrilegious character of such excesses.”

In a letter through his secretary, the Guardian wrote on September 5, 1938:

“The Bahá’í Teachings on this matter, which is of such vital concern and about which there is such a wide divergency of views, are very clear and emphatic. Briefly stated the Bahá’í conception of sex is based on the belief that chastity should be strictly practiced by both sexes, not only because it is in itself highly commendable ethically, but also due to its being the only way to a happy and successful marital life. Sex relationships of any form, outside marriage, are not permissible therefore, and whoso violates this rule will not only be responsible to God, but will incur the necessary punishment from society.

[Page 2]National _ Bahai Review.

“The Bahá’í Faith recognizes the value of the sex impulse, but condemns its illegitimate and improper expressions such as free love, companionate marriage and others, all of which it considers positively harmful to man and to the society in which he lives. The proper use of the sex instict is the natural right of every individual, and it is precisely for this very purpose that the institution of marriage has been established. The Bahá’ís do not believe in the suppression of the sex impulse but in its regulation and control.” V

In a letter to an individual believer dated October 17, 1968, The Universal House of Justice said in part:

“It is neither possible nor desirable for the Universal House of Justice to set forth a set of rules covering every situation. Rather is it the task of the individual believer to determine, according to his own prayerful understanding of the Writings, precisely what his course of conduct

should be in relation to situations which he encounters in his daily life. If he is to fulfill his true mission in life as a follower of the Blessed Perfection, he will pattern his life according to the Teachings. The believer cannot attain this objective merely by living according to at set of rigid regulations. When his life is oriented towards service to Bahá’u’lláh, and when every conscious act is performed within this frame of reference, he will not fail to achieve the true purpose of his life.

“Therefore every believer must continually study the sacred Writings and the instructions of the beloved Guardian, striving always to attain a new and better understanding of their import to him and to his society. He should pray fervently for Divine Guidance, wisdom and strength to do what is pleasing to God, and to serve Him at all times and to the best of his ability.”

Committees of the National Spiritual Assembly

This directory is for the exclusive use and information of enrolled Bahá’ is.

National Archives Committee Dr. Betty J. Fisher, secretary, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 . National Education Committee Mrs. Eileen Norman, secretary, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 National Information Committee Mr. William Geissler, secretary, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 International Goals Committee Mrs. Janet Rubenstein, secretary, l 12 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 ' National Properties Committee Mr. Wesley E. Daniels, secretary, 1 12 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 Publishing Committee Mrs. Lois Goebel, secretary, 1 12 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 2 National Reference Library Committee Mrs. Marian Lippitt, secretary, RFD no. 1, Box 389-D, York, ME 03909 National Teaching Committee Mrs. Joan Bulkin, secretary, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091 United Nations Representative Dr. Wilma Brady, 345 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017 World Order Editorial Board Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, editor

Mr. Glenford E. Mitchell, managing editor, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091

Committee Directory Updates

Committees of the National Spiritual Assembly in which recent changes have been made. Secretaries of District Teaching Committees, Local Spiritual Assemblies, etc., should change their directories to reflect the changes.

Child’s Way Editorial Committee

New Committee has been appointed. Change'entire listing to read:

Mrs. Mary K. Radpour, editor, 8108 Streamwood Drive, Baltimore, MD 21208

Mr. Philp Cantor

Mrs. Mildred McClellan

Mrs. Stephanie Troxel

Gregory Institute Council

Change address of secretary to read:

Mr. Allen Murray, secretary, Gregory Institute, Route 2, Box 123, Hemingway, SC 29554

National Youth Committee

New committee has been appointed. Change entire listing to read:

Dr. Philip R. Christensen, secretary, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091

Mrs. Joan Bulkin

Mrs. Eileen Norman

Mr. Robert Phillips

Mrs. Janet Rubenstein

Miss Marcia Walton

[Page 3]November 1975 3

One_of the most important of all divine commandments, especially stressed in the Bahá’í Teachings, is: “Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness.” (Hidden Words, 27.) Bahá’u’lláh further warns that: “Backbiting quencheth the

light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul.” (Gleanings, p. 265.) In His Will and Testament, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá adds: “According to the direct command of God, we are forbidden to utter slander.”

In August, 1913, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote an American believer as follows: “. . . the worst human quality and the most great sin is backbiting, more especially when it emanates from the tongues of the believers of God. If some means were devised so that the doors of backbiting 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 backbiting, each one praising the other cordially and believe that backbiting is the cause of the Divine wrath, to such an extent that if a person backbites to the extent of one 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 their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and not their defects.”

In order to distinguish between legitimate reports to a Bahá’í administrative body which may affect the welfare of a Bahá’í community or an individual member thereof and unwarranted rumors, negative and hearsay gossip, slander and backbiting, intentionally or thoughtlessly circulated, the National Spiritual Assembly offers the following rule of acion for the guidance of the Bahá’í Assemblies and communities under its jurisdiction.

1. In no case should the friends speak to their fellowbelievers in the community of any matter involving personal delinquencies, alleged or actual, of another member of the community, nor permit believers to speak to them of such matters. If a complaint is warranted, it should be brought directly to the Local Assembly for consideration.

2. A Local Assembly should assume jurisdiction only when the acts or words of a member of the Bahá’í community are such as to threaten the integrity of the Cause itself, or to undermine the good name and reputation of a believer. .

3. This rule of action also applies for the protection of

' On gossip, backbiting and slander

believers, from any discussion of their alleged personal shortcomings in Bahá’í communities other than that in which such believers reside.

4. All such personal matters are strictly barred from discussion at the Nineteen Day Feasts.

5. In applying the Law of Bahá’u’lláh relative to the bringing of complaints and information to a Local Assembly concerning the alleged or actual shortcomings of individual believers, the Assembly should not entertain or listen to any complaint based upon hearsay or rumor, but should, in all cases, insist that the complainant or witness speak only of such matters and present such evidence as he or she knows to be true, of his or her own knowledge.

6. In the event that a Local Assembly is unable to stop or prevent the continued discussion or circulation of criticisms and unfounded rumorsafter it has taken jurisdiction of the matter, it is to report such cases immediately to the National Spiritual Assembly. The National Spiritual Assembly, after careful investigation, will take vigorous action to remove the misunderstandings and misrepresentations that have arisen and render full justice to the individual believer or believers concerned.

If any gossip or backbiting is initiated by an isolated believer, the matter should be brought immediately to the attention of the National Spiritual Assembly.

The new World Order is and must be held sacred and free from this grave defect in human relationships which not only often inflicts unmerited injury upon the individual but, more important, destroys the solidarity of the Bahá’í community. Whispering and backbiting is equivalent to separation among the friends of God, and, in the final analysis, is the will to harm and to alienate the hearts.

The National Spiritual Assembly feels assured and confident that all the friends will make every effort to realize in their individual and community lives a greater love and unity of purpose, and be ever mindful of Bahá’u’lláh’s injunction: “Attribute not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have attributed to thee, and say not that which thou doest not. This is My Command to thee, do thou observe it.” (Hidden Words, 29.)

“O my servants! Deprive not yourselves of the unfading and resplendent Light that shineth within the Lamp of Divine Glory. Let the flame of the love of God burn brightly within your radiant hearts. Feed it with the oil of Divine" guidance, and protect it within the shelter of you-r constancy. Guard it within the globe of trust and detachment from all else but God, so that the whisperings of the ungodly may not extinguish its light.” (Gleanings, pp. 325-6.)

—NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

[Page 4]National ’ _ Bahai Review

Handling opposition to the Faith

From its inception, the Cause of God has come under attack from its opponents. The more the Faith advances, the more we may expect attacks upon it. In a letter dated 26 November 1974 addressed to National Spiritual Assemblies, The Universal House of Justice wrote:

“The marvellous victories won in the name of Bahá’u’lláh . . . and the triumphs increasingly being achieved by His dedicated and ardent lovers in every land, will no doubt serve to rouse the internal and external enemies of the Faith to fresh attempts to attack the Faith and dampen the enthusiasm of its supporters . . .”

Opposition to the Faith is expressed in many forms. In the West it is generally expressed through the publication of books which attack or deliberately misrepresent the Faith, through the publishing of articles in the press, or through correspondence which the believers sometimes receive from Covenant-breakers or enemies of the Faith.

Whenever an Assembly becomes aware of any form of

In Memoriam

Mr. Alfred Ahrens

Mr. Herbert K. Lewis

Port Richey, Florida May 21, 1975

Mr. Elijah Baker Florence, South Carolina Date Unknown

Mrs. Frankie C. Barnhardt Dayton, Texas August 28, 1975

Tina May Evans Wichita Falls, Texas Date Unknown

Mrs. Frances L. Gardner Akron, Ohio September 4, 1975

Mrs. Betty E. Gradisar Pueblo, Colorado 1975

Mrs. Diane M. Hicks San Juan Capistrano, California May, 1975

Mr. Jeff lsom North Little Rock, Arkansas 1974 _.

Mr. Charles A. Koppe Safety Harbor, Florida August 30, 1975

Herbert Frank LaVey< Quincy, Massachusetts July 31, 1975'

Boca Raton, Florida June 13, 1975

Mr. Henry Manor Manor, Texas 1972

Mrs. Vera McPherson Bismarck, North Dakota Setpember 11, 1975

Mrs. Maria Theresa Off Chicago, Illinois Date Unknown

Mr. Columbus Ragland Madison, Alabama August, 1975

Miss Daisy Rowan McMinnville, Tennessee June 6, 1975

Mrs. Jacqueline Summers Peoria, Illinois September 10, 1975

Mrs. Mary C. Wunsch St. Louis, Missouri August, 1975

Mr. Frank Yellow Earrings Fort Yates, North Dakota August 1, 1975

Mrs. Maude Young Joliet, Illinois Date Unknown

opposition to the Faith it should contact the National Spiritual Assembly for advice. From time to time, the National Spiritual Assembly issues statements on this subject. Auxiliary Board members also hold meetings and discussions to counsel the friends and Assemblies in this regard.

Use Greatest Name in dignified manner

The National Spiritual Assembly wishes to remind the friends that while there has been no published statement regarding the use of the Greatest Name on cars, shirts, hats, etc., it is in keeping with Shoghi Effendi’s guidance that we urge the friends to use the Greatest Name with good taste and discrimination, and discourage any use of it in an undignified way.

Many states have made provisions for motorists to purchase license plates that are made up of letters of their choice. “Bahá’í” is a form of the Greatest Name and should not be imprinted on license plates. In some areas of the country license plates are transferred with the title when an automobile is sold. We must be careful in our enthusiasm to proclaim the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh to exercise good judgment and avoid any possibility or sugges tion of demeaning the Faith we all love so well.

The 19 Bahá’í months

Month Arabic Name Translation First Day

1st Baha Splendor March 21 2nd Jalál Glory April 9

3rd Jamal Beauty April 28

4th ‘Azamat Grandeur May 17

5th Nur Light June 5

6th Rahmat Mercy June 24

7th Kalimat Words July 1

8th Kama] Perfection August 1

9th Asma’ Names August 20 10th ‘Izzat Might September 8 11th Mashiyyat Will September 27 12th ‘Ilm Knowledge October 16 13th Quadrat Power November 4 14th Qawl Speech November 23 15th Masé’il Questions December 12 16th Sharaf Honor December 31 17th Sultan Sovereignty January 19 18th Mulk Dominion February 7 19th ‘Ala’ Loftiness March 2

[Page 5]November 1975 5

Status of U.S. pioneer goals

Africa Assigned Filled Open V A ssigned Filled Open (P) Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (E) Marshall Islands* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 ——- 3

(E) Botswana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (F) New Caledonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 1 0

(E) British Indian (E) Norlh—East New Guinea . . . . . . . . .3 2 1

Ocean Terr.** . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 ——- 2 (E) American Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 l

(F,E) Cameroon Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 1 (E) Western Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2

(F) Central African (E) Tonga Islands .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2

Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 ‘E?

(F) Dahomey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 O 22 9 13

(F) Gabon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 —— 1 Americas

(E) Ganibia - - ~ - - ~ - » - - - - - - - - - - - - - --2 — 2 (s) Argentina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 0

(E) Gliana - - - - - - - - - ~ - - ~ - - - - - - - - - --2 2 0 (S,E) Belize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0

(P) Gninea-Elena“ (s) Bolivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 7 3

(l’°n- Guinea) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --2 — 2 (P) Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 10 4

(E) lV°nY Geasi - ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - -2 — 2 (s) Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 4 2

(E) Kenya - - - - - ~ - - ~ - - - - ~ - - - - - - ~ - - ~3 2 l (s) Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 5 3

(E) 4 Lesotho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S) Costa Rica _ _ _ _ _ ' _ . _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _4 4 0

Liberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3 1  Dominican Republic . . . . . . . I . I i  2 3

(E) Malagasy Repnblie - - - - - - - - - - - - -2 — 2 (s) Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 1 6

(E) Malawi - - - - - - - - - - » ~ t - - - - - - - - --2 2 0 (s) El Salvador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 1 3

(Pas) Mezainlaiqne - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - ~ -2 l l (F) French Antilles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2

(E) Nigeria ' ' ' ' ‘ ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '3 3 0 (F) French Guiana‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 O

(E) Rhodesia ‘ ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ‘ ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '5 4 1 (S) Guatemala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 4 1

(E) Sierra_Leone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2 1 (E) Guyana . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ ' _ . . _ _ _ _4 _ 4

(E) Snlllll Africa - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - -2 ‘ 2 (F) Haiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

(E) Sn Helena - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --l — l (S) Honduras . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . .6 5 1

(E) Tanzania ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ° ' ' ' ‘ ' ' ' ' ' ' '4 3 1 (E) Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2

T0gO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3 0  Leeward/Virgin Is.’

(F) Zaire ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ‘ Montserrat, St. Kitts . . . . . . . . . . . .9 9 0

66 39 27 (S) Nicaragua (Granada) . . . . . . . . . . . .6 3 3

(S) Panama . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

Asia (S) Paraguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2

(B,E) Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (S) Peru (Cuczo, Puflo) . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 3 1

(E) India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 1 4 (S) Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0

(J) Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 O (S,E) San Andrés Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 — 1

(F) Khmer Republic (I-l,E,Dn) Surinam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0

(Cambodia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (E) Trinidad/Tobago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 — 4

(K,E) Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 1 2 (S) Uruguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 l 1

(F) Laos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (S) Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 5 2

(F,E) Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 1 (E) Windward Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 3 3

(C,P) Macau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 ‘ET?

(E) Nepal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 l

(E) Philippine Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 1 Europe

(E) Sii Lanka (GeYl°n) - - - - - - - - ~ - - ~ -3 l 2 (F) Belgium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 2 4

(E) Taiwan - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - -2 2 0 (Dn) Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 — 3

(E) Thailand - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - ~ - - - - - - -2 2 0 (Fn) Finland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 1 3

(T,A,E) Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (Gr) Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0

(E) Vieinain - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - - - - - - - - --l —_l (1) Iceland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2

35 13 22 (N) Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2 1

(P) Portugal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 —- 8

Australasia A (S) Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0

(E) Caroline Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 O (F,G,It) Switzerland . . . . .6 2 4

(E) Fiji Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 l 2

(E) Mariana Islands* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 37 12 25

[Page 6]National _ Bahá’í Review

Total Assignments to be Completed by October 1976

AFRICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 39 27

AMERICAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150 99 51

ASIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 13 22

AUSTRALASIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 9 14

EUROPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 12 25 310 172 138

• Newly assigned countries

,**Circumstances permitting

Language Key E—Eng|ish J——Japanese

F—French K-—Korean A-—Al'abiC Fn—Finnish N——Norwegian B~—B€ngali G—German P—Portuguese C—Chin€S€ Gr—Greek S—Spanish ' (S0- DIHICCI) H—Hindi T—TurkiSh D—Dulch l——Icelandic Dn—Dam'sh 1t—Italian

Special New York, Illinois, California goals

REGIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE OF NEW YORK

Mrs. Kathleen Javid, Office Manager

43 Lockwood Road

Scarsdale, New York 10583 (914) 472-5127

Eastern District: ASSEMBLIES TO BE FORMED Cortlandt, Troy, Hudson Falls, Babylon, Marion, Brightwaters, Amityville, Lindhurst, Clarkstown, Smithtown, Mt. Vernon, Mineola, Garden City, East Beme, Thomaston.

LOCALITIES TO BE OPENED — Lake Placid, Amsterdam, Long Beach, Lynnbrook, Rhinebeck, Arlington, Colonic, Duansburg, Ellenville, Champlain, Malone, Richfield, Keeseville, Cold Spring, Athens, Sidney, Ilion.

Western District: ASSEMBLIES TO BE FORMED Mexico, Endicott, Syracuse, Potsdam, North Tonawanda, Fredonia, Webster, Clarence.

LOCALITIES TO BE OPENED — Watertown, Alfred, Olean, Hamilton, Deer River, Watkins, Batavia, Belmont, Little Valley, Port Byron, Lowville, Bath, Warsaw, Canton, Wampsville.

REGIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE OF ILLINOIS Mrs. Nancy Allison, Office Manager

2809 West Gilbert

Peoria, Illinois 61604 (309) 688-7984 Northern 1 District: ASSEMBLIES TO BE FORMED Aurora, Downers Grove, Villa Park, Crete, Joliet, Libertyville. LOCALITIES TO BE OPENED — Princeton, Mt. Carroll, Putnam County, Sandwich, Galena, Pecatonica, Winfield, Long Grove.

Northern 2 District: ASSEMBLIES TO BE FORMED Rolling Meadows, Westchester, Bariington, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Township of Elk Grove, Township of Palatine, Forest Park, Evergreen Park, Morris, Park Forest South.

LOCALITIES TO BE OPENED — Berkely, Broadview, Calumet Park, Forest View, Harwood Heights,

Lyons, McCook, Merrionette Park, Norridge, ‘

North Lake, Phoenix, Robbins, Sauk Village, Stickney, Stone Park, Summit, Thornton, Township of Norwood Park.

Southern District: ASSEMBLIES TO BE FORMED Jerome, Peoria Heights, Township of Gardner, Wood River, Kankakee City, Washington.

LOCALITIES TO BE OPENED — Clark County, Crawford County, Albion, Effingham County, Rayette County, Lawrence County, Marion County, Monroe County, Monticello, Olney, Mt. Carmel, Canton, Lewistown, Granite City, Highland.

REGIONAL TEACHING COMMITTEE OF CALIFORNIA

Mrs. Virginia Healy, Office Manager

2401 West Olive Avenue, Suite 205

Burbank, California 91506 (213) 846-1441

Central 1 District: ASSEMBLIES TO BE FORMED ‘Lafayette, Watsonville, Union City, Pleasanton.

Central 2 District: Sierra JD.

Southern 1 District: Carson, El Segundo Montebello.

Southern 2 District: San Dieguito, San Clemente, Yucaipa, Irvine, LaH_abre, West Orange JD.

Southern 3 District: Lompoc JD, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo JD 2 South, San Luis Obispo JD 4.

Northern 1 District: Fair Oaks-Folsom JD.

Northern 2 District: Napa JD, Arcata JD.

LOCALITIES TO BE OPENED — To meet the goals of the Five Year Plan, there are 275 localities which must be opened in California. Divided into the time left in the plan, we must open 71 new California localities each year.

[Page 7]November 1975 /

Status of the Two Year Youth Program

Homefront pioneering

36 100 homefront pioneers

9 2 740 to unopened localities 5 10 of 40 to unopened counties 27 —::] 55 to existing communities 0 1 J5 to Indian reservations

520 traveling teaching "trips

International pioneering

13 25 international pioneers

5 _ 5 filling specific Five Year Plan goals

College clubs

48 . traveling teaching trips

350 Bahá’í 266 college clubs

Youth Clubs

l 51 00 local Bahá’í 32 youth clubs

[Page 8]National Bahá’í Fund

Review 8

To: All Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í’ Groups Dear Bahá’í Friends:

Have you ever wondered why spiritual progress depends, in part, on contributing to the Bahá’í Fund? How can the material act of giving money bring us closer to our Creator? ‘Abdu’l-Bahá illuminated this mysterious concept during one of His many talks in America. Speaking to a Baptist congregation in New York ,City, He said:

“As I entered the church this evening I heard the hymn ‘Nearer my God, to Thee.’ The greatest attainment in the world of humanity is nearness to God. Every lasting glory, honour, grace and beauty which comes to man comes through nearness to God. . . . Divine nearness is dependent upon knowledge of God, upon severance from all else save God. It is contingent upon self sac ‘Nearness to God necessitates sacrifice of self’

sacrifice of self, severance and the giving up of all to Him.”

The Master’s inspiring words reveal the necessity for an ever more fervent degree of sacrifice, and heighten the significance of the National Fund Goal. Is not this goal a ready means by which the followers of Bahá’u’lláh can prove, in deeds, their devotion to His Cause and the extent of their severanceifrom all save God? As we unite in a world-wide day of prayer on November 12, rededicating our energies to the pressing needs of the Five Year Plan, let us contemplate the requisites for success and arise as one to meet the challenges before us.

With loving Bahá’í greetings, NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA'Is or THE UNITED sTATEs Dorothy W. Nelson, Treasurer

(Shortage)

rifice. . . . In a word, nearness to God necessitates October 25, 1975 CONTRIBUTIONS A PARTICIPATION $200,000 ._.. $2,900,000 750

“Nu” 5°“ ‘ 700 Gopl bv '|lm 1975—A§;gn3;IIe;

_ 1975-1976 Monvhl 6 0| 3

sI5o,ooo V ° _ _ 650 "" _ E -— ——y- j ‘J W — : : 4’ sIoo,ooo — _ __ E

H __ __ § 450

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— __ .._. ‘A 400 Goal by 'l|m 1975-Grougs

__ _ 0.

$50,000 — — — 3-33 350 _ I

L: 300 W

— T ' > o - I 7 “ - E, > _" 3 , _ E _ 0 a 3 _ >~ — = __ . , _ _ u o _ 2- - -- .. 35 E.§°°-4: 5-'ge=- _ « °‘-_L§§°°a£..§-2E§s,g§§z5fg;6§§_§g=E5§§§f'};=§§§ mmm Efigggéészéaézéagagfi Month Year Contributions may be addressed to: National Bahá’í Fund, 112 Linden of to Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091; Bahá’í International Fund, P.O. Box 155, , Haifa, Israel; and Continental Bahá’í Fund, 418 Forest Ave., Wilmette, IL Mashiyyat Date 60091. Budget Goal $153,000 $1,377,000 Contributions 1 19,400 1 , 102,965 Overage $(33,600) $(274,035)