National Teaching Committee Bulletins/1920/May 25/Text
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The believers...must come together periodically anc discuss the practi- cal ways and means whereby the Cause is promoted and the people summoned to
the Kingdom of GOD. ABDUL-BAHA
(Divine Plan, Page 43).
They (the believers) mst never be satisfied with the services they have rendered to the Cause, for there are always greater services to be rendered,
iit
ij no Plan, Pa 750
I (Divine Plan, Page 42). 6 ~-~-~---------------- pilastoe
24 Washington, D. C., May 25, 1920.
To all Bahai Sisters and Brothers in America, GREETINGS.
Dear Friends and Co-workers:
The Center of the Covenant, Abdul-Baha, instructs us in the Tablet on Page 67 “Unveiling of the Divine Plan", that "one of the greatest divine wisdoms regarding the appearance of the Holy Manifestations is this: the souls may come to imow each other...and that the power of the Love of GOD May make all of them the waves of one sea, the flowers of one rose-garden, and the stars of one heaven."
Taking these Words mach to heart and pondering over: their meaning, the members of the Teaching Committee appointed this year by the delegates to the Convention, distinctly feel the indissoluble bond which binds together ali members of the Bahai family in a Unity born of the Spirit.
As members of this great family, we consider it a privilege and a joy to fully inform you regarding the teaching program as thus far outlined;- for, in relation to the Center of the Covenant, all are equal, especially as He whom we know to be the Center of Life and Light anc Love has said: "IT have summoned all to the conveying of the Message."
First you will want to mow the personnel of the Teaching Committee aS appointed by the delegates to the Convention.
It was thought best to divide the country into five sections or divi- Sions, aS designated by Abdul-Baha in the so-calied Teaching Tablets, and to choose three members from each section and four at large, making a Committee of nineteen members, as follows:
N.E,and {| Wm. H, Randall 35 Congress St., Boston, Mass. Eastern |; Montfort Mills Apthorp Apts., Broadway & 78, N.Y.C. Division \ Mirza Ahmad Sohrab 415 Madison Ave., New York City.
- Southern jMrs. A. J. Parsons 1818 N St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Division (Mrs. R, F-H. Ledyard 1922 Sunderland Pl., " "
Mrs. Mariam Haney The Mendota, . "
Central - jMrs..Ida B. Slater Plaza Hotel, Chicago, I11. Division (Carl Scheffler 56 E. Congress St., Chicago, Ili.
Dr. Pauline Barton-Peeke Rose Building, Cleveland, 0.
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Western
Division
Mrs. Eleanor Cooper George Latimer \Henry McConaaghy
Mrs, Wm S. Maxwell Mrs. Lizzie V. Cowles Mrs. Mabel Rice-Wray
Canada
Irs. Stuart W. French
At Roy Wilreim Large ig ward MacNutt
Howard ©. Ives
—_ 25c0 ivicranen St., San Francisco, Cal. a2J5 - l2th €t., Portland, Oregon.
Box 45, Seattle, Wash.
716 Pine Ave., Montreal, Canaca. 14 Tower Ave., " 8 68 Peterboro St., Detroit,-. Mich.
363 Grove St., Pasadena, Calir. 104 Tall St., New York City.
935 Eastern Parkway, Brocklyn, N. 1451 Broadway, Room 2C6, New York
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Le Pia & .. Vd.
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Inmediately after the close of the Convention, the Committee met and appointed Mrs. Parsons, Chairman; Mr. Randall, Treasurer., 1% later, Mrs.
Haney, Secretary.
Also from this Committee of Nineteen, regional secretaries were chosen, whose duty will be to keep the National Teaching Committee (through it's Secretary) informed of the progress of the work in thsir respective sections, so that this information may be circulated in any way which will further the
teaching service, as well as
ing the work accommlished in various parts of the country.
to keep the travelling teachers informed regard-
The name and aé-
dress of each regional secretary follows:
Wn. H, Randall Mrs. Mariam Haney Mrs. Ida B. Slater George satimer Mrs. May Maxwell
35 Congress St., Boston, Mass. The Mendota, Washington, D. C. Plaza, Hotel, Chicago, Ill.
295 - l2th St., Portiand, Oregon. 716 Pine Ave., Montreal, Canada.
We feel sure that all hearts will rejoice to know that the work of Spreading the Glad-tidings of the Kingdom and the teaching service which was so explicitly givon to this Country and Canada in the "Divine Plan" last year, has been taken up with a renewed energy, with an enthusiasm born of the Spirit, and with a greator grasp of its scope and importance.
While the Teaching Committee last year felt that a little step had been taken in the right path and a certain few things had been accomplished,- yet they also felt that this was only a very small begiming and that they had not arrived at the exalted station of ACTION to which the Center of the Cove.. nant calls all the believers on this Continent, for we read in the “Divine Plan" (page 57) that Abdul-Baha instructs all of us:
"Up to this time ye have displayed great magnanimity} but after this, ye must add a thousand times to your effort."
The Committee meetings have been extremely interesting. Various sub- jects were discussed harmoniously, resulting in "all opinions cainciding;" and a really fundamental unity was established.
The following outline of a general plan decided upon for the forwarding
or this great work of teaching, will help you, we hope, to keep closely in
toueh with us, and we feel assured that all will carnestly,sincerely and
Lovingly co-operate to the extent of their ability.
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On page 17 of the "Divine Plan" you will find an instruction to the et- fect that when the Great Manifestation of GOD came to the world to establish the Oneness of the World of Humanity, He first prepared the world by making the world externally a wit: namely, by means of new inventions, new discover ies of various kinds, new laws and international laws and other unaer taking~ which made the significance of co-operation most prominent and indicated its essential purpose. Thus the means were first created in the material world for facilitating the establishing of spiritual unity.
We have all realized the great longing of the heart of our Beloved Abdu. Baha (as expressed in so many, many Tablets) to see actually demonstrated, a unity of His servants on this western Continent, and we realize that this cannot be fully achieved without the outer means and expression of unity. For this reason we have formulated a plan which will outwardly facilitate tha great union of the hearts, and as an expression of devotion and service in the path of the Center of the Covenant, so that both materially and spiritually every Bahai in this country may be in vital and close contact with every other, Bahai. Abdéul-Baha has summoned all the believers to arise for this teaching service, ani each and cvery one mst be vitally connected with this work, Therefore it has been decided:
That there shall be a monthly Bulletin issued by the Teaching Committee on the 19th of every month, giving a report of the various activities of the teachers in the field all over America and Canada, as well as a financial report.
That this Bulletin shall be sent to every member of the Teaching Com- mittee and every teacher in the ficld, as well as to the delegates represent- ing the various Assemblies in this Convention; and it shall be the trust and responsibility of the celegates, at a specially called meeting in their res- pective Assemblies, if necessary, to see that the Bulletin is read anc dis- cussed as widely as possible among all the believers,- the purpose being to share with the friends any and all information obtainable on the subject of actual teachirg service. If at any time the friends have suggestions to of- fer, they will be gratefully received. Abdul-Baha telis us that
"From cvery standpoint, ways and means for the teaching of the Cause of GOD must be prepared. The question of teaching, like any other question, is evolutionary anc not revolutionary. This matter must become very plain to everyone, so that all the friends like so many spirits in one temple, may arise in the accomplishment of this great service."
Through this Bulletin and other co-operative service the National Teach- ing Committee will gradually become a central bureau of classificd informatim to which all tcachers may apply regarding the needs of any special locality, openings for work and the character of work to be done. To which, likewise, all centers may turn in the demanid for teachers as weli as co-operation in every way. This will include the distribution of litcrature to teachers in the field, establishing circulating libraries in every center: in short, all the glorious work pertaining to seed sowing.
Likewise for the co-operative financing of this great work, we have de- vised a similar Zlan, as follows:
It is impossible for every Bahai to have a vital connection with this
great work of seed sowirg unless it is expressed on every plane, and we lmow
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gihe
that every heart will eagerly respond to this call just as we are humbly striving to do.
Some of the believers of GOD are in a position to become sustaining mer- bers at the rate of $10.00 per month; others at $5.00; others at $1.00, and still others at perhaps less; but, in consultation, we fel€ that a fair average among all the faithful servants would be $1.00 per month, and that each and every Bahai in America would gtadly and cheerfully become a sustain- ing member of the Teaching Unity at that rate.
We are herewith enclosing a Pledge Card, as a matter of convenience, S¢ that those wishing to contribute may sign the same and send it with their contribution to the National Treasurer who will have the.same recorded, and then forward it to the Secretary for filing and future reference.
We hope you will give this matter as prompt consideration and recogni- tion as possible, so that the Treasurer may know definitely about our re- sources.
All funds will go tg the National Treasurer (Mr. Randall), who will de- duct monthly the amount necessary for the support of the national teachers in the field; the remaining sum to be divided equally among theifive sections. Each section will therefore receive one-fifth of the amomt remaining in the Teaching Fund after the national teachers have been supplied. This work will be carried out always through consultation.
Our first great trust this year, and our very great responsibility to- ware the teaching program, is to see that plans and arrangements are success- ively made and executed for the furtherance of the services which will be rendered in this country by Mirza Fazel Mazandarani, the great modern teacher whom the Beloved Abdul-Baha sent to this country. His presence and sacrifi- cial services will be naught but "Pure Bounty" to the entire country. He has roceived instructions from Abdul-Baha to visit forty-cight States, and at some time during the coming year this wise teacher will visit ecvory As- sombly in America and Canada. Inthe coming to us of this great teacher thore is an added incentive afforded us to dedicate our services and contributions.
The members of the Teaching Committee have tried to realize in their own hearts just as much as capacity admits, the great significance of the Words - "These great days are swiftly passing." Also we are not unmindful of the fact that all have been most lovingiy admonished to "forget the past", therefore cach and every "firm one in the Covenant" has the opportunity to write on the new page turned for us, that which he wills. A united cifort will cbring results - good fruits - and this is what we are all striwing for.
In closing this heart to heart talk with you, we simply wish to repeat that we are all co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, and that we feel you are all at-one with us in the hope that the oft repeated words about mutual co-operation may be crystallized into deeds. |
"Decds are the standards." "Magnanimity is necessary; heavenly excrtion is called for."
This heavenly exertion is attainable if we have a conscious realization that "Firmess in the Covenant means love and obedience to the Commands of Abdul-Baha."
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of humanity
"Tt is evident that the axis of the oneness ef the wo
is the Power of the Covenant and nothing else." (Divine Plan, page 67).
Respectfully «nd lovingly submitted, THE TEACHING COMMITTEE, By Maxian Huney, Secretary. Adéress: The Mendota,
Washington, D. C.
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