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Insert to The American Bahá’í publishe/d‘
‘States for Bahá’ís ofily.
February 1976 Bahá’í Year 132 No. 97
True economy required on our Bahá’í mail
To the American Bahá’í Community Dear Bahá’í Friends:
It is costing more to mail a letter these days. The recent increase in the postal rates of all classes of mail averages 26 percent. Mailing this letter to each Feast cost three cents more than the last time. These facts raise a number of questions. The immediate question that is asked when costs rise is whether to cut back, to economize. In this case, should the National Spiritual Assembly writer fewer letters? We should, of course, economize at all times. But fewer letters? We think not.
What we need is more not fewer avenues of communication. The Five Year Plan calls for increased and more efficient communications on the international scale. Can we do less on the national scale? At the last National Convention, the delegates recommended that the National Spiritual Assembly increase the flow of news in the community. Furthermore, they asked the National Assembly to comment on current events in order to assist the friends in gaining a proper understanding of the times and of the challenges of the Five Year Plan. The National Spiritual Assembly decided thereafter to send a general letter to each Nineteen Day Feast. It intends to continue to do so, regardless of the new postal rates. However, there is need to
reflect on the means of true economy under the circumstances: we need to check whether we are taking full advantage of the communications coming from Bahá’í institutions.
It takes much of the time and energy of the institutions to communicate with the friends. Yet all too "frequently letters from the National Assembly, and even from The Universal House of Justice, are either ignored or given only casual treatment. What must be borne in mind is that proper attention to such communications accomplishes a great many things all at once: For example, it brings needed guidance, prevents confusion, keeps the friends connected with their divinely ordained institutions, reduces the need for repetition,_conserves energy, alerts us to the needs of the moment. Such accomplishments, as can readily be seen, far outweigh the mere material cost of postage.
Let us then pay attention to our Bahá’í mail. Let us practice true economy.
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or THE I3AHA”Is or THE UNITED STATES
Glenford E. Mitchell, Secretary January 6, 1976
How you can help Local Assembly Development Program
\
To the American Bahá’í. Community Dear Bahá’í Friends:
As you know, we must devote much time and energy to the development of Local Spiritual Assemblies during the Five Year Plan. You are aware that an intensive training program for these Assemblies has been launched. Since last August, 1 18 training teams have been raised up, and SI Assemblies have taken the full thirty—hour program. Their enthusiasm for the program has been most encouraging.
Two vital efforts will ensure the success of the program, namely: the determination of every Local Assembly member to take the complete program, and the measure of support each Assembly receives from the believers. The Universal House of Justice states that “This great prize, this
gift of God within each community must be cherished,’
nurtured, loved, assisted, obeyed and prayed for.” We call yourparticular attention to the need to nurture and assist the Local Spiritual Assembly. The training program lends every believer an opportunity to fulfill these two requiremerits.
First, at the heart of the program is the new manual entitled “Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies.” It will be made available by Naw—Rtiz to all believers, Assembly members or not. Each believer can acquire a copy, learn from it about the functions of the Assembly, and act in accordance with the guidelines it provides. Second, the believers in each community can assist in making it possible for the members of their Local Spiritual Assembly to attend all the sessions of the training program. This can be done through their moral support and encouragement of the Assembly members, the provision of adequate funds, the offer
by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Unitegi
[Page 2]
B h ”’ National
a Review
of assistance to the children of Assembly members who are scheduled to attend program sessions and, indeed, through a variety of other means which each community has the capacity -to devise.
In short, we eagerly invite each of you to join in the Local Spiritual Assembly Training Program in these ways: Acquire a copy of the new manual, and assist your Assembly to participate in the_,program. We are confident that through such endeavors the orderly progress of our community can
be fully realized and the attainment of the Lesser Peace be assured. With loving Bahá’í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or ' THE Bahá’ís or THE UNITED STATES
Glenford E. Mitchell, Secretary December I‘), 1975
The meaning of Ayyam-i-Ha, the lntercalary Days
The Báb showed the importance of the new Age which He came to announce by starting a new calendar. Bahá’u’lláh upheld this new measurement oftime forthe world oftoday and tomorrow. The Bahá’í year has 19 months and each
month has 19 days. This comes to 361 days. However, the _
earth takes 365% days in its journey around the sun. That means there are four days (five in “leap years,” that is, every fourth year) which must, be added or put into the calendar. This is the meaning of the word “ intercalary” (pronouncedin-TER-ka—lary). The lntercalary Days are between the 18th Bahá’í month (February 7-25) and the 19th Bahá’í month (March 2-20).
The lntercalary Days, called “Ayyaym-i—Ha,” have been
named by Bahá’u’lláh as days to be specially devoted to hospitality, to the giving of presents and gifts, visiting and looking after the sick and the poor. These days and activities are both ajoyous time of fellowship and service to others, as well as a time of preparation for the spiritual experience of the Fast which follows immediately after the close of Ayyam-i-Ha. First comes the happy expression of Bahá’í’ love and brotherhood carried out in actions of kindness towards others, and then comes the time of‘ the Fast when we Bahá’í's seek our full ration of spiritual food through special remembrance of God. — Based on letter from the National Spiritual Assembly oflndia, Ba/zd’z’News, (U.S. Supplement, P. 2)'Feb. 1967.
The true significance of the Fast
“Prayer and fasting is the cause of awakening and mindfulness and conducive to protection and preservation from tests . . .”—‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í World Faith.
“As regards fasting, it constitutes, together with the obligatory prayers, the two pillars that sustain the revealed Law of,God. They act as stimulants to the soul, strengthen, revive, and purify_it, and thus insure its steady development.
“The ordinance of fasting is, as is the case with these three prayers, a spiritual and vital obligation enjoined by Bahá’u’lláh upon every believer who has attained the age of fifteen. In the Aqdas He thus writes: ‘We have commanded you to pray and fast from the beginning of maturity; this is
’- ordained by God, your Lord and the Lord of your
forefathers. He has exempted from this those who are weak from illness or age, as abounty from His Presence, and He is the Forgiving, the Generous.’ And in another passage He -says: ‘We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw—RI'Iz as a feast . . . The traveler, the ailing, those who are with child or giving suck, are not bound by the fast . . . Abstain from food anddrink, fron sunrise to sundown, and beware lest
desire deprive you of this grace that is appointed in the Book.’
“‘Also in the ‘Questions and Answers’ that form an appendix to the Aqdas, Bahá’u’lláh reveals the following: ‘Verily, I say that God has appointed a good station for
fasting and prayer. But during good health its benefit is’
evident, and when one is ill, it is not permissible to fulfill them.’ Concerning the age of maturity, He reveals in the appendix of that same book: ‘The age of maturity is in the fifteenth year; women and men are alike in this respect. . .’ “The fasting period, which lasts nineteen days starting as a rule from the second of March every year and ending on the twentieth of the same month, involves complete absten ‘tion from food and drink from sunrise till sunset. It is
essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make
the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh '
and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally
’ spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder
of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires.”—Shoghi Effendi, through his secretary, Bahá’í'INews, March 1936.
[Page 3]
February 1976 3
Dateof Naw-Rúz is clarified
For the friends who may think that the Feast ofNaw-Rúz and the Nineteen-Day Feast of Baha are one and the same because they fall on March 2] , the following excerpt from a letter to the National Spiritual Assembly from the Guardian through his secretary on July 5, 1950, will clarify the misunderstanding:
“The Naw-Rúz Feast should be held on March 21 before
sunset and has nothing to do with the 19 Day Feast. The I
19 Day Feast is administrative in function whereas the Naw-Rúz is' our New Year, a Feast of hospitality and rejoicing.” I’
(Quoted in Bahcfi News October 1950 and in March 1956)
This instruction make-s it clear that the Nineteen-Day Feast of March 21 should be observed separately from the
Feast of Naw-Rúz which can be shared with members of the family and friends who are not Bahá’ís.
The hours during which the Naw-Rúz Feast may be celebrated are after sunset on March 20 and until sunset March 2|. . . . r
In light of the above instructionfrom Shoghi Effendi, Local Spiritual Assemblies must make provision for ,the holding of the Nineteen-Day Feast (Baha or Splendor) separate and apart from the celebration of Naw-Rúz. It would be ideal if this could be held before sunset on March 2] , but if this is not possible it may be postponed to an early
date in the month of Baha, well before April 9 which is the ‘
beginning of a new Bahá’í month (Jalál, or Glory). In this connection we refer to the following excerpt from the same letter from the Guardian quoted above: “He would like to point out that if the believers gather before sundown on a certain date it does not matter if the meeting continues after sunset; it may still be considered as being held on the day they gathered.”——Ba/Mi’iNews, March 1967. '
In Memoriam
I
Mr. Leo Wilson
Mrs. Rebecca D. Butler Greenwood, S.C. November 8, 1975
Miss Nancy Jean Brown Monterey. Calif. December 18, 1975
Mrs. Beatrice Deas Bennettsvile, S.C. June 1974
Mr. Edward Easterlings Bennettsville, S.C. Date Unknown
Mr. Billy Ray Edwards Orlando, Fla. October 27, 1975
Miss Maybell Faceton Goldsboro, N.C. Date Unknown
Mr. Laurence Foster Hawthrone; N.Y. October I7, 1975
Mrs. Aillar Graves Latta, S.C. Date Unknown
Mr. Azimat Kiyani 9 Concord, Calif. December l'975
Mrs. Nellie T. Mereness Butte, Mont. December 8, 1975
Mr. Richard Morrison Marquette, Mich. 1975
Mr. Joseph Patterson, Sr. Roper. N.C. Date Unknown
Mrs. Dorothy Redson Northbrook, lll. December 28, 1975
Mrs. Opal Joy Shark Reno, Nev. November 30, 1975
Mr. John Stuckey Johnsonville, S.C. Date Unknown
Mrs. Evelyn R. Twyne Brooklyn, N.Y. 1975
Mr. Tom Waring Adams Run, S.C. 1974
Mrs. Sammie Way Richland, Calif. May 7, 1975
Mrs. Veronica Wentland
Oconto Falls, Wis. Pamplico. S.C. October 1975 July I, 1974
Mrs./ Annie Maude White Mr. Jim Yates Richland, Calif. Gaddys Mills. S.C. May 13, 1975 July I, 1975
Mrs. Cecil Williams Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 1975
Reinstatement of a former member of the Faith
When a former member requests reinstatement in the Faith it is not necessary to have another declaration card signed. Once an individual signs a declaration card it is kept permanently, even though he or she withdraws, from membership or loses his administrative rights. If and when the time comes that that individual wishes to be reinstated he or his Assembly forwards his request for reinstatement to the
National Spiritual Assembly. If his reinstatement is ac-I
cepted, his original declaration card is reactivated and his name is placed on the membership and mailing lists. He does not have to sign another declaration card. A second declaration card simply increases the chances that the individual may appear on the lists twice and this is not desirable. The reinstatement is not effective until approved by the National Spiritual Assembly. ‘
[Page 4]
Bahá1’I' 323$]
Incorporation of the Local Spiritual Assembly
“It is surely very important to give the Local Spiritual Assemblies some legal standing, for as the Cause progres ses and its adherents increase, they will be confronted with duties they cannot even imagine at present. Not only will they have to make contractsfor acquiring halls for their meeting place, but also they will be obliged to create new institutions to care for their sick, poor, and aged people. We hope that before long the Bahá’ís will even afford to have schools that would provide the children in the intellectual and spiritual education as prescribed in the writings of
Local Spiritual Assemblies there will be an increasing need for a legal standing. They will have to be considered as a legal person with the power of making binding contracts. “In small centers wherethe friends are still few, the taking of such steps is rather premature and may add to the complexity of Bahá’í administration.” (Shoghi Effendi) Note: In the United States Local Spiritual Assemblies are not incorporated unless there areal least 15 adult members in the Bahá’í community. Whenever an Assembly feels that it is ready to incorporate, it should contact the National
-Bahá’u’lláh and the Master. “For such duties that will naturally devolve upon the
Spiritual Assembly before taking any action.
Jeopardiied Local Spiritual Assemblies
Arizona Georgia Michigan e Cheektowaga Texas
Bisbee Athens Royal Oak Syracuse McAllen
Prescott Clarke County Taylor I
Cobb County S Marquette Nevada Utah
California Valdosta Elko Logan
Auburn Minnesota . Auburn JD Idaho Anoka Ohio Washington Bakersfield JD Lewiston Falcon Heights B6aV6rCreek Twp. Cowlitz CO. CD N0. 1 Burlingame Olmsted County East Cleveland Franklin County CD No. 3 Chico JD Illinois ' Kent Kent
Claremont Libertyville Twp. Montana Xenia Mason Co. CD No. 3 Compton JD Normal Butte Yellow Springs Snohomish Co. CD No. 2 Daly City ’ Blackfeet Indian Res.
Del Mar Indiana Oklahoma West Virginia Eureka JD Gary Nebraska Bethany Huntington
Fairfield Greencastle Aurora Morgantown Liverrnore Greenfield Crete Oregon Princeton
Manteca Richmond Grand Island Hillsboro
Menlo Park West Lafayette Klamath County Wisconsin
Paradise New Hampshire Klamath Falls Appleton
Pittsburg Iowa , Concord
Riverside JD Ames Pennsylvania Wyoming
Salinas Council Bluffs New Jersey Lower Merion Twp. Riverton ,
San Jose JD Cherry Hill Middleton Twp. ’
San Juan Capistrano -Kansas Piscataway Twp. Swarthmore
Seaside Hutchinson Plainfield
Westminster Manhattan North Plainfield Rhode Island
Colton East Providence
Maine New Mexico ‘
Colorado Eastport Gallup 5011“! Carolina
Boulder Co. McKinley County Kershaw
Cortez Massachusetts
Durango Shutesbury New York South Dakota
Greeley Somerville Albany Vermillion
Yarmouth Brighton
Brockport
[Page 5]
February 1976 5
Progress of Two Year Youth Program
Homefront pioneering
36 - V 100 homefront pioneers
9 I [40 to unopened localities
5 0 of 40 to unopened counties 27 —:l 55 to existing communities
0 [ ]5 to Indian reservations
Homefront teaching 500 domestic 530 traveling teaching trips
3 ‘ J10 lasting two months or more
International pioneering
13 25 international pioneers
5 5 filling specific Five Year Plan goals
r International teaching 48 traveling teaching trips
College clubs 350 Bahá’í 282 L , college clubs Youth Clubs
. 100 local Bahá’í 42 youth clubs
[Page 6]
'2' N 't' I
Bahal Rg\liCer\1/3
The need for international traveling teachers
Institutions write about their requirements for traveling teachers:
AMERICAS
Continental Board of Counsellors for Central America “Sufficient notice must be given ifsuccess is desired.”
Continental Board of Counsellors for South America—“It is important that they be willing to dress and conduct themselves in a dignified manner.” Alaska—“Particular needs for believers who Could reach the upper and middle class of society and who are
familiar with working among the urban blacks.”
Belize-—“This country is in great need of teachers to meet the Bahá’ís and deepen them in the Faith. The best time fortraveling in this country" is in the dry season: January, February, March, and April.”
C olombia—“The principal work of the teacher will ‘be the consolidation of these communities, therefore knowledge of the Spanish language is indispensable.”
Guyana/Surinam,——“A practical arrangement for an English—speaking traveling teacher would be to make visits to Guyana and Surinam on the same trip. The main focus of the traveling teacherwould be in rural villages where mass teaching is taking place and where there is a great need for deepening and consolidation activities as well as continued expansion.” ’ .
Costa Rica—Spanish—speaking . . the teachers who visit us should be moderate in their dress and speech so that there will not be any danger oftheir being compared with ‘hippies!’ No teaching project to the indigenous zones should be less than three weeks. “In the captial it would be beneficial to visit the believers of special capacity, doctors, professors, outstanding persons in radio and television, etc.”
ElSalvador—“Speak Spanish.” Traveling teachers needed “for short projects of about one week in each place for an intensive plan of teaching and deepening . . . at times under uncomfortable conditions. Teachers to proclaim and teach on the level of cities, including the possibility ofgiving public talks. Teachers who have some specialty . . . artistic, scientific, professional, etc. that could lend itself to a cultrual educational television program, possibly in interview style, or who could communicate, with people in his own field . . . Teachers ofChinese and
‘Japanese origin, of the black race or Chicanos, to demonstrate the diversity of the Faith.”
Guatemala—-“Must speak Spanish. Two kinds preferred—of special capacity for public talks, radio, T. V. and press interviews, in the cities; and to go to rural
areas to help functioning Local Assemblies teach Bahá’í laws, etc.”
Jamaica—English speaking. “We prefer young, active, energetic and deepened travel teachers. In order to get fruitful results we recommend that traveling teachers who plan to come to Jamaica should stay here at least three weeks to work exclusively with one locality. Specifically during February, May, and June.
Leeward/Virgin lsla_nds——English and French speaking. “A constant flow of traveling teachers is needed,
particularly long-term visits. Interracial teams excellent. ‘.
Nicaragua—“Traveling teachers for deepening to visit towns and remain there one week in orderto be effective, as well as teachers prepared to give public proclamations. It would be good to have a team of teachers prepared to present an institute on some special theme."
Panama—“Spanish—speaking. We would like groups of Bahá’í youth to visit the Temple and take part in proclamation projects.”
Puerto Ric0—“Spanish a must. Especially interested in community and Local Spiritual Asssembly deepening.”
Trinidad and Tobago—“Traveling teachers should be in good physical ‘health and should have the necessary experience and capacity for deepening and consolidation activities as most oftheir work would be carried out in the rural villages where mass teaching is taking place. It would also be valuable for them to have experience working with youth and groups which sing and play musical instruments.”
Windward lslands—“English—speaking traveling teachers are always welcome in all the islands, especially those with experience in the consolidation of Local Spiritual Assemblies. We desperately need help in the islands other than Barbados. -F
» Venezuela—Well-deepened, Spanish—speaking, especially
to work in mass teaching areas. ASIA Hong Kong——“Chinese—speaking (especially Cantonese) traveling teachers. Traveling teachers who have achieved renown in their chosen proofession.” . 1na'ia—“English—speaking for special teaching programs in universities and educational institutions. The besttime is I July to November. India needs traveling teaches whose assistance in our efforts to expand and consolidate the widely scattered Bahá’í communities will be much appreciated.” . Japan—“Traveling teachers able to accept any kind of accommodations, to be clean and create a good impression.” _ Sri Lanka (Ceylon )—“English—speaking persons with deep knowledge of the Faith.”
[Page 7]
Status of U.S. pioneer goals Fe“'“"“” ‘9"°' 7
Africa \ Axxigned Filled Open Americas ' Asxigned Filled Open
(P) Angola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2’ —’ 2 (S) Argentina . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 0
(E) Botswana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (S,E) Belize . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0
(E) British Indian * ‘ (s) Bolivia. .6 . . . . _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 9 I
Ocean Terr.** . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (P) Brazil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I4 9 5
(F,E) Cameroon Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 I I (S) Chile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . .6 2 4
' (F) Central African A (S) Colombia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 7 I
Republic , , , . . _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ _ _'. _ _ _ _ , _ . _ , _3 3 0 (S) Costa Rica . . . . . . . . . . . . .‘ . . . . . . .‘. . . .4 4 O
(F) Dahomey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (S) Dominican Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 3 2
(F) Gabon . . . . . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..I — I (S) - Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 I 6
(E) Gambia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 I I (S) El Salvador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 I 3
(E) Ghana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 (F) French Antilles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 0 4
(P) Guinea-Bissau (F) French Guiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0
(Port. Guinea) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 —— 2 (S) Guatemala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 4 I
(F) Ivory Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (E) Guyana‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . .4 2 2
(E) Kenya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (F) Haiti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _. . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0
(E) Lesotho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S) 2 Honduras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 6 0
(E) Liberia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0 (E) Jamaica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2
(F) Malagasy Republic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (E) Leeward/Virgin Is.,
(E) Malawi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 Montserrat. St. Kitts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 7 2
(RS) Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 I I (S) Nicaragua (Granada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 3 3
(E) Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[ . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (S) Panama . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0
(E) Rhodesia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 5 0 .(S) Paraguay . . . . . . . . \ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2
(E) Sierra Leone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2 I (S) Peru (Cuczo, Pufio) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 4 0
(E) South Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 —'— 2 (S) Puerto Rico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . .4 4 0
(E) St. Helena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 —— I (S,E) San Andres Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .l — I
(E) Tanzania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 3 I (H,E,D) Surinam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 ‘3 0
(F) Togo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0 (E) Trinidad/Tobago . . . . . . .‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 — 4
(F) Zaire - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 3 4 (S) Uruguay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , .2 I I
_ T T3 T3 (S) -Venezuela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . .7 5 2
Asia (E) Windward Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 4 2
(B,E) Bangladesh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 150 102 48
(E) India ...; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 5 0 Europe
(I) Japan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0. (F) Belgium - - - - - - - - - ~ - - - ~ --=- - . . . . - .6 2 4
(F) Khmer Republic (Dn) Denmark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 — 3
(Cambodia) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ _ _2 — 2 (Fn) Finland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .4 l 3
(K,E) Korea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 ‘ 0 (Gr) Greece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 3 0
(F) Laos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (1) Iceland ~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -( - - - - - - - - -2 — 2
(F,E) Lebanon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 1 (N) Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2 I
(C,P) Macau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . .2 — 2 (P) P0119331 . - - - - - - - - - - - - ~ - - ~ ~ - - U - . — . . .8 — 8
(E) Nepal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‘ .2- I 1 (S) Spain - - - - - - - - - - ~ ~ - - » - . - . . - - . . - - . - -2 2 0
(E) Philippine Islands . _ _ , _ . _ _ _ , _ , . . . _ _ _ .2 1 1 (F,G,It) Switzerland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 2 4
(E) Sri Lanka (Ceylon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 I 2 T fi '75
(E) Taiwan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 *Newly assigned countries
(E) Thailand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 **-‘Circumstances permitting
(T,A,E) Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 1 I Total Assignments to be
(E) Vietnam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . L 4 Completed by April 21,719.76 35 20 15 I Australasia AFRICA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 43 23
(E) Caroline Islands _ _ _ . _ V. . _ , . . _ _ , _ _ , , , ,2 2 OI AMERICAS . .4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .l50 l02 48
(E) Fiji Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3_ I 2 ASIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 20” I5
(E) Mariana Islands* _ . , . _ f _ . _ _ , , , , _ , , _ _2 — 2 AUSTRALASIA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 l0 l2
(E) Marshall Islands* , _ _ _ _ , _ _ _ _ , , , , . _ , , _3 — 3 EUROPE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 I2 25
(F) New Caledonia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I I I O W 187 123
(E) No11h—East New Guinea . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 2 I r I ,
(E) American Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 2 0 Langllage Key gn__l)StaC£Sh gjggik H:g:)°nr:Vgeuge'::
(E) Western Samoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2 2 A—Arabic E_Eng]iSh ‘ [_]ce1-andic s_spani5h
(E) Tonga Islands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 — 2 B—B€n8«'*li F—French It—Italian T—Turkish —" ’—"’ C—ChlflCS€ Fn—Finnish J—Japanese
ml N 5 5
(50 Di8l€Cl) G——German K-Korean
[Page 8]
Bahá’í National Fund
Review 8
A goal is won by touching, sacrificial contributions A A
To: All Local Spiritual Assemblies and Bahá’í’ Groups
Dear Bahá’í Friends:
“We give you one Santa Gertrudis heifer, about 475 pounds. We also give you one barrow pig weighing 50 pounds. When it reaches 220 pounds we will send you the proceeds from its sale and also those from the heifer when she reaches 1000 pounds.”
Thus read a note enclosed with a recent contribution to the Bahá’í National Fund. This gift could hardly be characterized as “the widows mite!” However, it demonstrates the same selfless desire which motivated the impoverished widow oflong ago—a desire to give whatever one can to the Cause one loves. Such gifts are inspired by generosity and are rewarded by a pervading certainty that the unfoldment of Gods Kingdom on Earth has somehow been_assisted. It is this subtle and penetrating certitude which helps improve our nature, lends nobility to our character, and assists our spiritual growth.
/ I
Many touching and sacrificial contributions have been recieved by the Office of the Treasuer in recent months, indicating that believers throughout the country are coming
to learn the spiritual bounties of giving. The effect is clearly 7
demonstrated by this months national goal chart. It is still possible to recover lost ground and win our annual contributions goal if, like the famed widow of ancient times and the devoted ranch couple of today, we each arise, “resolutely and unreservedly, to play our part, however small, in this greatest drama of the worlds spiritual history!”
With loving Bahá’í greetings,
NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY or THE BAHA'Is or THE UNITED STATES
Dorothy W. Nelson, treasurer . January '9, 1976
. Q I V CON rRIBUTIONS .. PARTlCIPATION—NATlONAL BAHA I FUND _ ‘ ”°°’°°° : 52,900,000 750
- ANNUAL GOAL Goal —— Assemblies
_ 7oo 0| 5150000 19754976 Monthly Goal 7 650 _ _ :3 60° -- — 2% 4? $100,000 — ” §, — h jg 450 i — 2 400 Goal ——Groups
- A 3
$50,000 ~ 0 350 E. 3oo Ww o I - Q’ - , E —— - '5 3% g.‘§:E§5'§1:i"3TE§§-_*,,°7, W GTE’ 333%-; §~§§E..:.».. T‘-"E~<i3§?2>?<?-”é’»=E<ic'%z‘="w“’3§3§3 °""”""""°"‘ §5'2§;i§§§§l£Zs§é£i§;°$§§ Month of Year to Contributions may be addressed to: National Bahá’í Fund, 112 Linden M »,.l Date Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091; Bahál International Fund, P.O. Box 155, $15a35f:)E)0 $1 989 000 Haifa, Israel; and Continental Bahá’í Fund, 418 Forest Ave., Wilmette, IL Budget goal . , 5 , 60091. Contributions 160,743 1,676,223. Overage $ 7,743 $(3l2,777)
(shortage)
