National Teaching Committee Bulletins/1920/May 25/Text
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The believers...must come together periodically and discuss the practical ways and means whereby the Cause is promoted and the people summoned to the Kingdom of GOD.
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ (Divine Plan, Page 43).
They (the believers) must never be satisfied with the services they have rendered to the Cause, for there are always greater services to be rendered.
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ (Divine Plan, Page 42).
Washington, D. C., May 25, 1920[edit]
To all Bahá’í Sisters and Brothers in America.
GREETINGS.
Dear Friends and Co-workers:
The Center of the Covenant, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 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 know 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 much 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 all members of the Bahá’í 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 and Love has said: "I have summoned all to the conveying of the Message."
First you will want to know 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 divisions, as designated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the so-called 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 Eastern Division[edit]
Wm. H. Randall, 35 Congress St., Boston, Mass. Montfort Mills, Apthorp Apts., Broadway & 78, N.Y.C. Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, 415 Madison Ave., New York City.
Southern Division[edit]
Mrs. A. J. Parsons, 1818 N St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Mrs. R. F-H. Ledyard, 1922 Sunderland Pl., Mrs. Mariam Haney, The Mendota,
Central Division[edit]
Mrs. Ida B. Slater, Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Ill.
Carl Scheffler, 56 E. Congress St., Chicago, Ill.
Dr. Pauline Barton-Peeke, Rose Building, Cleveland, O.
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Western Division
(Mrs. Eleanor Cooper — 2550 chanan St., San Francisco, Cal.
George Latimer — 295 - 12th St., Portland, Oregon.
Henry McConaughy — Box 45, Seattle, Wash.
Canada Mrs. Wm. S. Maxwell — 716 Pine Ave., Montreal, Canada.
At Large Mrs. Lizzie V. Cowles — 14 Tower Ave., 11 Π Mrs. Mabel Rice-Wray — 68 Peterboro St., Detroit, Mich. Mrs. Stuart W. French — 363 Grove St., Pasadena, Calif. Roy Wilhelm — 104 Wall St., New York City. Howard MacNutt — 935 Eastern Parkway, Brocklyn, N. Y. Howard C. Ives — 1451 Broadway, Room 206, New York Cit
Immediately after the close of the Convention, the Committee met and appointed. Mrs. Parsons, Chairman; Mr. Randall, Treasurer., and 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 their respective sections, so that this information may be circulated in any way which will further the teaching service, as well as to keep the travelling teachers informed regarding the work accomplished in various parts of the country. The name and address of each regional secretary follows:
Regional Secretaries[edit]
Win. H. Randall — 35 Congress St., Boston, Mass. Mrs. Mariam Haney — The Mendota, Washington, D. C. Mrs. Ida B. Slater — Plaza Hotel, Chicago, Ill. George Latimer — 295 12th St., Portland, Oregon. Mrs. May Maxwell — 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 given 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 greater 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 Covenant calls all the believers on this Continent, for we read in the "Divine Plan" (page 57) that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 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 subjects were discussed harmoniously, resulting in "all opinions coinciding; " and a really fundamental unity was established.
The following outline of a general plan decided upon for the forwarding of this great work of teaching, will help you, we hope, to keep closely in touch with us, and we feel assured that all will earnestly, 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 effect 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 unit: namely, by means of new inventions, new discoveries of various kinds, new laws and international laws and other undertakings 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’l-Bahá (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 that 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 Bahá’í in this country may be in vital and close contact with every other Bahá’í. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has summoned all the believers to arise for this teaching service, and each and every one must 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 Committee and every teacher in the field, as well as to the delegates representing the various Assemblies in this Convention; and it shall be the trust and responsibility of the delegates, at a specially called meeting in their respective Assemblies, if necessary, to see that the Bulletin is read and discussed 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 teaching service. If at any time the friends have suggestions to offer, they will be gratefully received. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá tells us that
"From every 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 and 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 Teaching Committee will gradually become a central bureau of classified information to which all teachers 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 demand for teachers as well as co-operation in every way. This will include the distribution of literature 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 devised a similar plan, as follows:
It is impossible for every Bahá’í to have a vital connection with this great work of seed sowing unless it is expressed on every plane, and we know
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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 members 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 felt that a fair average among all the faithful servants would be $1.00 per month, and that each and every Bahá’í in America would gladly and cheerfully become a sustaining member of the Teaching Unity at that rate.
We are herewith enclosing a Pledge Card, as a matter of convenience, so 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 recognition as possible, so that the Treasurer may know definitely about our resources.
All funds will go to the National Treasurer (Mr. Randall), who will deduct monthly the amount necessary for the support of the national teachers in the field; the remaining sum to be divided equally among the five sections. Each section will therefore receive one-fifth of the amount 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 toward the teaching program, is to see that plans and arrangements are successively 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 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent to this country. His presence and sacrificial services will be naught but "Pure Bounty" to the entire country. He has received instructions from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to visit forty-eight States, and at some time during the coming year this wise teacher will visit every Assembly in America and Canada. In the coming to us of this great teacher there 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 lovingly admonished to "forget the past", therefore each 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 effort will bring results - good fruits and this is what we are all striving 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.
"Deeds are the standards."
"Magnanimity is necessary; heavenly exertion is called for."
This heavenly exertion is attainable if we have a conscious realization that "Firmness in the Covenant means love and obedience to the Commands of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá."
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"It is evident that the axis of the oneness of the world of humanity is the Power of the Covenant and nothing else."
(Divine Plan, page 67).
Respectfully and lovingly submitted, THE TEACHING COMMITTEE, By Marian Haney, Secretary.
Address: The Mendota, Washington, D. C.