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STAR OF THE WEST
"We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; that all nations shall become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened, that diversity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be; these fruitless strifes; these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall come."—BAHA'O'LLAH.
Vol. IX Nur 1, 74 (June 5, 1918) No. 5
Report of the Tenth Annual Convention of the Bahai Temple Unity
Held at the Auditorium Hotel, Chicago, April 27th to 30th, 1918
TUESDAY MORNING SESSION—Continued
(Continued from page 56)
The Chairman: "Just pardon me till I appoint this Auditing Committee, whose duties should begin immediately. I appoint the following committee: Edward D. Struven, Chairman, Mrs. Breed and Mrs. Ella G. Cooper.
Mr. Tate: "I would like to get some information in reference to the 'first commune.'"
Mr. Windust: "This question has been up for a number of years. I wrote to Abdul-Baha asking him the direct question, and he answered in a tablet,* I cannot quote it, but I can give you the substance of it, and it is this:
"In the past there have been many who took the words of Christ and the apostles and compiled them in such a manner as to make a new combination of words, thus creating certain ideas by that combination, which were in a measure more or less true. Therefore, do
*Tablet referred to is as follows:
To his honor, Mr. Albert Windust, Chicago, Ill.
Upon him be Baha'o'llah-El-Abha!
HE IS GOD!
O thou servant of God!
Thy letter was received. Thou hast written that the publication of the book of Mirza Abul Fazl (the Bahai Proofs) is commenced. This is very acceptable, for his books are written with the utmost sincerity. Likewise, the translation of the Hidden Words that you are just thinking to print another edition, this is also acceptable.
If Kheirollah claims that one of the communes is written by him, do not be astonished at this. For there is an ignorant, uneducated man in the United States, nay in Chicago itself, who has written a pamphlet, and after printing it, he is circulating it abroad. His aim is no other than the promotion of the superstitions of Mirza Yahya (Ezel). Amongst other things he alleges that the Book of Ighan, (Tablets of)
not be astonished if you find in this day some souls are doing likewise, that they are taking the words of the Blessed Beauty, and are combining them to present them as their own creation."
Dr. Harper: "While Abdul-Baha was here, I was riding on the same train with him to Washington, D. C, and I have here the prayer book in which he wrote his name, and this prayer is on page 35, and I asked him about it, and told him that there was a question in regard to its use. He said, 'While they are the words of Baha'o'llah yet they were compiled and put there by the nakezeen, and we will not use them'."
The Chairman: "That is the 'first commune.'"
Mrs. Hoagg: "I was in Haifa when that question came through me to Abdul-Baha, and while, as I remember, he said they were probably the words taken from
Tajalleyat and Ishrakat are written by Mirza Yahya. Consequently do not be astonished at the claims of others. There are and there may be found some souls who collect the supplications of the Blessed Perfection and take out of every supplication a phrase or a sentence and then attribute it to themselves. Such people are like unto the man who gathers out of the Gospel sundry sayings of Christ—that is, he selects from every page a few words, and as a result he composes phrases and sentences, and claims to be the original writer.
Be ye engaged with your own occupations. Do not trouble yourself with these statements. Such articles are like unto the mirage; they will vanish. That which is real will remain firm and established in the world of existence.
Upon thee be Baha'o'llah-El-Abha!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Translated by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 13, 1914, home of Abdul-Baha, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Syria.)
Baha'o'llah, yet, as Dr. Harper said, they were of the nakezeen and should not be used."*
Mr. Kinney: "During the past winter there has been a so-called tablet circulated quite extensively amongst the believers with the idea that it came from Abdul-Baha; and I know there must have been a number of other alleged tablets that are sent around with the idea of deceiving the believers—I cannot imagine any other idea—as they are not authentic at all. Can there not be established some precedent to govern this matter? That alleged tablet made the statement—many of you must have seen it—that the believers were going to fail in their duty, and others would arise in their stead who would take the place of the believers and do the work."
Mrs. Rice-Wray: "That was not a tablet. That was a dream, written down and afterward spread as a tablet from Abdul-Baha."
The Chairman: "I feel that these matters are of the greatest importance, because often false teachings are based on one little piece of paper; and I think that the Committee on Publications, or the Convention, in some way, ought to take action to guard against further repetition of those things. If you feel that the Committee on Publications could properly handle that matter, I think you would have a right to add to their jurisdiction to that extent, or to ask them to give attention to that matter."
Mr. Hall: "I think we all recognize the direct authority of Abdul-Baha as the authority for the guidance and use of this Board; and this committee has very properly been doing the work that Abdul-Baha gave it to do. There never was a time when that work was more imperative than it is now. It should have been done long ago. You all know of a piece of literary work that has been thrust upon the public, and that draws
*In regards to the "first commune," Abdul-Baha wrote to me the following: "It is not from me."—Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi.
all of its inspiration from the errors and misstatements of our enthusiastic friends who have written about this Cause, but they have been allowing their imagination to take the place of facts. That is unfortunate, and it is going to hurt. It will drive many sincere souls away from the Cause. Now, I think we have an excellent committee, and their love of good literature is splendid and fine; nobody has a finer ear for it than Miss Masson. I feel that while I rise to move the acceptance of that report, and to add our commendation to it, that there is something that I would like to direct your attention to, a suggestion I would like to make. Now, too much strictness and criticism might act as a damper upon some; and at the same time you should encourage literary expression among us. There ought to be a creative as well as a repressive movement going on. You will not do everything by censoring. Abdul-Baha has written about that, and he has said to get these voices among you cultivated; have a school of the writers.
"So, in moving a commendation, and a hearty one, of the action of the committee, I want to offer this suggestion of encouraging the creative force amongst us and let us either by enlarging the committee, or enlarging its duties, call their attention to that idea."
The Chairman: "The Chair understood Miss Masson to express that very idea, that the committee desired to encourage and stimulate writing; and, of course, the committee in so doing, is only endeavoring to obey the instruction of the Convention, to carry out in turn the instructions of Abdul-Baha. Brother Hall moves, I understand, the acceptance of the report of the committee, and that we also extend to them our commendation for their splendid work."
Mrs. Ober: "I second the motion."
Motion carried.
The Chairman: "Now, what is your pleasure as to the personnel or makeup
STAR OF THE WEST
PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR
By the BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the post office at Chicago, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Editorial Staff: ALBERT R. WINDUST — GERTRUDE BUIKEMA — DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI
Honorary Member—MIRZA AHMAD SOHRAB
Terms: $1.50 per year; 10 cents per copy
Make Money Orders payable to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
To personal checks please add sufficient to cover the bank exchange.
Address all communications to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
TABLET FROM ABDUL-BAHA.
HE IS GOD!
O thou Star of the West!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Vol. IX
No. 5
of the committee for the coming year? I assume that you will wish to take some action on that."
Mrs. Rice-Wray: "I move that the President be authorized to appoint that committee, either the same, or such other number, as in his judgment would be best."
Motion seconded; motion carried.
Mrs. True: "Mr. Vail has gotten out a work for the Unitarian Sunday School, Chicago, and there are some things in it about the Bahai teachings. I think some of the clouds that have arisen concerning that should be cleared away and I think we might have a little statement from Mr. Vail, regarding the book. I have asked him if he would be willing to make a statement."
Mr. Vail: "I am willing to do this, because I want you to understand it, because nobody under heaven would have undertaken to write that book for any other purpose except to try to be of a little service to the Cause. It was a difficult work. My wife and I started to work on it, and we resigned once, and we felt so happy to think that we were free from it. We were not allowed to resign; and then we had to go back to it and fulfill our contract. We tried in every way we could to get out of it and not to write it. Well, strangely enough, we seemed compelled to do it. I just say that as a prelude.
"Then we decided that probably we were compelled to do it, because it would be of real service to children. In the religious education of children there are very few books on religion. It had to be written under the closest supervision, almost every step was supervised, the conditions stood there like adamant, and we had to write this book within those conditions. However, the other side of it is this, that it is a part of the Lincoln course, which is one of the few attempts ever made to have a progressive course in universal religion, and think it is the only course known in literature upon universal religion."
Mr. Vail then stated that the object of the book was to present the lives of the great prophets of the world and their central teachings so as to give an idea to children eleven years old of what they are and also to assist older people in a study of comparative religion.
"Just as far as we knew we tried not to put a word in the book that was not in perfect accord with Abdul-Baha's teachings. The only is when you get to the end of the book. There was the question. We could have left Abdul-Baha out and just written about the others, but we would not have written
a book on the prophets unless we had an opportunity to put Abdul-Baha in. We had the choice of leaving him out or putting him in with the others. It seemed to us, and we prayed about it a great deal, that it was better to put him in, put these prophets in, and give their life just as fully as we could make it, and try to show that they were absolutely perfect in character, that they were flawless in life; and to put in another chapter to endeavor to offset what Wilson* said. We felt that it could not but be of benefit to the Cause. We felt that anyone reading it could understand something of Abdul-Baha. So that was our endeavor.
"Now, of course, I am just saying this because perhaps some of our Bahais might like to use it for the education of their children. We felt that God was back of us, but it was hard work preparing it. We wondered if perhaps it might not be useful to all of our children, and the advantage it has is this: it will be circulated in all the Unitarian schools in this country, and by many libraries besides, and in that way it will reach many people."
Mrs. True: "Mrs. Harrison has a very valuable statement that she is timid about making."
Mrs. Harrison reported a talk given in Acca by Abdul-Baha in which he said: "I want you to tell the Americans that they must not put Abdul-Baha on the inside of a book but at the front or the back." The lesson, it became evident through further discussion, was that he stands singly and alone. We should not mix him with anyone else.
The Chairman: "Dr. Bagdadi may we hear from you?"
Dr. Bagdadi: "In the first place, Abdul-Baha always humbles himself, always humbles himself before the Blessed Beauty. He made it a rule with all the believers of the orient that they should never mix the tablets of Baha'o'llah with
*Note—Refers to a book by S. G. Wilson, criticizing the Bahai Revelation.
those of Abdul-Baha. We have a book, and in it we write the communes or the tablets of Baha'o'llah; when we come to the middle we leave one or more sheets white, blank, and then we begin with the tablets of Abdul-Baha. He always emphasizes that. He always wanted his tablets to be separate from those of the Blessed Beauty. I received a tablet, and I have it now, in the handwriting of Abdul-Baha, in regard to the printing of any book, whether from the holy utterances, or from the composition of the friends, it must be with the permission of the Center of the Covenant; otherwise it will produce great harm.*
"The wisdom of this tablet is manifest. We may have either an ignorant writer, or an enemy, and who can prevent them from writing a book? No one can prevent them, unless with this command that it must be with his permission.
"But Abdul-Baha has repeatedly approved of all of the holy utterances that we have, such as the Ighan, the Hidden Words and all those that we have in print. He has approved of the writings of Mr. Remey, and he has approved of the pamphlets of Mr. Wilhelm. He approved of the writings and pamphlets of some others. But a tablet was received, without the signature of Abdul-Baha, saying that the Convention may pass on the writings of the friends, that is, if any one wants to write a book, a committee perhaps will be authorized by the Convention to look at and study that particular book, and if they approve of it, then it is good to print it. Now, I am not in a position to say whether that tablet is authentic or not. We can easily find out who received that tablet and how he received it and whether it is authentic or not. Now, that tablet was after Abdul-Baha left America."
*This is the statement referred to, written by the blessed hand of Abdul-Baha in a tablet sent to me from New York City, dated May 30, 1912: "With regard to the printing of any book that concerns the Cause, it is not permissible except with permission from the Center of the Covenant, whether that be of the blessed tablets or the composition of the friends, otherwise there is great danger."—Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi.
After a discussion it was moved by Dr. Woolson and seconded by Mrs. Ober that a committee be appointed to telegraph Roy C. Wilhelm in New York inquiring as to the actual attachment of Abdul-Baha's signature to the tablet authorizing the formation of the Publications Committee.
The Chairman appointed Dr. Woolson, Dr. Bagdadi and William H. Randall on the Committee.
Mr. Windust then gave a detailed and interesting statement illustrating the great care exercised by Abdul-Baha in publishing The Brilliant Proof.
The Chairman next called for a report from the committee authorized to gather together the tablets on the teaching of children and in the absence of Mrs. Pauline A. Hannen requested Mrs. Ober outline what had been accomplished.
Mrs. Ober reported that the committee had received responses from all over the country, had brought together a very wonderful compilation which it was understood would be printed shortly in the STAR OF THE WEST. The committee decided unanimously that no word should go into the compilation but the creative word, the creative utterances.
Mrs. Hoagg testified to the beauty of the compilation and the success of the method of teaching as carried forward by Mrs. Hannen.
On motion of Mrs. Rice-Wray duly seconded it was voted to accept the report of the committee and empower it to continue with the work.
The Chairman called upon Mrs. Struven, who spoke about the necessity of giving spiritual food to the little babies and children, because by the wonderful stories as well as by the words the thoughts are put into the little minds.
Mrs. Gillen spoke of the educational side of the Mashrekol-azkar.
The Chairman then called upon Mrs. Maxwell to report for Montreal.
Mrs. Maxwell gave a most interesting narrative of the experiences of the several Bahai teachers who have gone forth in Canada to spread the glad tidings.
The Chairman: "The Chair will now announce the committee on the compilation of tablets concerning The Most Great Peace. The names of the committee mentioned are as follows: Mrs. Claudia Coles, chairman, Mrs. May Maxwell, Mr. Charles Mason Remey, Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, Mr. Albert R. Vail, Mrs. H. Emogene Hoagg, and Mrs. Ella G. Cooper; a committee of seven.
Mrs. Maxwell suggested that Miss Juliet Thompson's name be added to that committee.
The Chairman: "If there is no objection then the name of Miss Juliet Thompson may be added to the committee."
The Chairman then added the name of Mrs. Mary Rabb, making nine members.
Mrs. Cole as chairman of the committee appointed, asked for definite information relative to the stand taken by Miss Thompson in regard to the violation of the Covenant in Chicago.
The Chairman announced that he had received assurances from Mrs. Maxwell after Miss Thompson's name had been submitted stating that she abides by the decision of the committee and will not associate with the violators.
Mrs. Maxwell offered to telegraph Miss Thompson asking her to state her stand in order to clear up the matter.
The Chairman: "That will be very wise and helpful. . . . We can let the completion of this committee stand until the afternoon."
Mrs. Coles: "I think the words of Abdul-Baha are the words of the Manifestation of God on earth today; and I feel that the answer or decision in regard to that is not a matter of opinion. It is a matter of obedience to the firm command. Therefore, I feel that unless a person recognizes and realizes the fact that violation is, as it were, pathological, like gangrene in the spiritual body of the world, as much as other things are in the physical body of the world; unless
one can realize that, they do not understand what this violation means."
Mrs. Struven related an experience which she had had in Acca in company with a friend who had received seventeen very wonderful tablets. She felt her unworthiness and asked Abdul-Baha how it was that these wonderful things had been penned to her when she felt she was so unworthy. He called her by a wonderful title, a station which she knew she had not attained, and the explanation which he gave to her may help us on deciding our position on certain questions. He said, "When Abdul-Baha writes tablets, he is calling the souls to a station which they are potentially able to attain. It does not mean that they have attained that station at the time of the writing."
Mrs. Struven: "Now, it is possible for them to attain the station for which he calls them. When he says that we are his companions, or we are with him in all the worlds, it means, that we are with him, if we are Bahais. I just say that, because in this day when one person or another is brought to our attention, and this great question of their firmness in the Center of the Covenant is before us to decide, some say, 'Why, they have had a wonderful tablet!'"
Mrs. Hoagg: "I was just thinking that Abdul-Baha has often said, 'You are confirmed in love,' or 'you are confirmed in obedience,' or 'you are confirmed in this way,' or 'you are confirmed in that way.' He has said to some 'you are confirmed in this way' and we know afterwards that they have lost that station. . . . It seems to me today that we have to have more than love, we have to have obedience and it is the call to obedience that Abdul-Baha is making today. Let us call for obedience and love will come."
Dr. Bagdadi said in part: "Our purpose in coming here is to spread the light of Baha'o'llah through all regions. You who represent all the States of America have come here bringing your light and your joy, and taking also a light and a joy from the Manifestation of God, who today is speaking to us through the language of the spirit. There is no more important subject to the real Bahais than the matter of firmness in the Covenant. Firmness in the Covenant, Abdul-Baha says, means obedience to the commands of the Center of the Covenant, Abdul-Baha. He said the American believers, praise be to God, are firm in the Covenant, but the firmer they are, the better they become, or the firmer they become, the better they are.
"We know a violator, Abdul-Baha says, as we know a donkey when we see him, because violation of the Covenant, he says, has a pungent odor, a pungent smell, a sickening smell, while firmness in the Covenant has a fragrant odor. We must use the nostril of the spirit or inhale with the nostrils of the spirit, then we can distinguish between violation and firmness.
"The Lord Christ, two thousand years ago, spoke of the importance of finding the lost sheep, so that you have even to leave ninety-nine sheep, in order to go and find the lost lamb, and the joy is greater in finding the little lost lamb than over the ninety-nine sheep. This is the truth. But we must know also that in the divine tests, changes always come; the great among us have to fall down, and the low ones have to rise. This has been shown in all the Manifestations of the past. In the Koran it says that when the great test comes, the high will fall low, and the low will rise high.
"We are all apt to make mistakes. We make mistakes every day; and to speak about the Covenant and to speak about violation, is to remind us not to make such mistakes. This is important to all of us, and we must all be mindful always of Abdul-Baha's words, that they have to be obeyed to the letter. That preserves the unity, and does away with all mistakes."
After outlining the difficulties that had
come to the Cause in Chicago through violation and, as a consequence, the dwindling of the numbers of the believers, Dr. Bagdadi said:
"We have tried many experiments. I have seen that. But now, friends, praise be to God, that cancer is cut out, and the body of the Cause is perfect. Many, on account of ignorance or self interest, tried to spoil the work. Many mistakes were made, but on the 12th of November, that great feast was held in perfect harmony, and the Committee of Investigation was elected, and they were efficient, and whenever communication is resumed, you will hear commendation from the Center of the Covenant, for always he recognizes, always he confirms those that stand for the Covenant; always he shuns those who oppose the Covenant. The members of that committee have sacrificed their time, their energy and their money, and they have received arrows of criticism from all parts and they have come here and finished their work.
"Criticisms were raised, and yet those souls who criticized the committee, never contributed any help in removing the conditions. That is, they did not remove the stagnation in Chicago, and they did not cut off any of the cancerous tissues. It is a very easy thing to sit down and criticize and find fault. It is characteristic of the violators to sit down and criticize, and do nothing else. The friends in Chicago are not tying the hands of anybody. Those who want to work in harmony are welcome. To those who want to work their own way, we say, 'work your own way.' Yet, some people think that we should mingle with those people. This cannot be done.
"There is not in all Persia one violator today, because the believers, when they hear of a suspicion, immediately look into it and find out whether it is true or not. . . . There is no compromise where violation is.
"Moreover, Baha'o'llah says, 'O God, confirm those who are firm in the Covenant, and condemn those who violate the Covenant.' He never said, 'Pray for the violators.' His only command was to shun them.
"Maybe the opinion of one is not to shun them, the opinion of another to be a little kind. But what is best? Shall we take Abdul-Baha's words, or some one's opinion? Undoubtedly every intelligent, faithful and loving Bahai will take the decision of Abdul-Baha, in order to protect the unity of the believers.
"The Committee of Investigation has done its part, and the Convention is here, and I beg of them to take the right stand now. If anyone did not receive the report, a copy can be had by asking for it; and if they wish, let them withhold judgment until an opportunity can be had to read it. But I beg of those who have read the report to stand with a rising vote and commend the committee for its work, and they may rest assured that the divine confirmation will surround them."
The Chairman: "I did not hear your closing remarks, Dr. Bagdadi."
Dr. Bagdadi: "May I repeat them?"
The Chairman: "Yes."
Dr. Bagdadi: "I said, let those of the friends here who have not yet received the report of the committee wait and read the entire report; but I beg of those who have received the report of the Committee of Investigation, if they find that it has done a great piece of work—in order to preserve the Cause, in order to stop the stagnation in this city—that they stand up and commend the committee."
Mrs. Maxwell: "May I make a motion that this report of the Committee of Investigation be accepted?"
Dr. Bagdadi: "That is what I mean, by a rising vote."
The Chairman: "The matter now before us is that the report of the Committee of Investigation on violation in America he accepted. Are you ready for the question? All those in favor will rise. The purpose of this, as I understand
it,—if I am mistaken, Dr. Bagdadi will inform me—"
Dr. Bagdadi: "Delegate or non-delegate, all those who received the report."
The Chairman: "The secretary will call the roll."
The delegates arose and remained standing during the calling of the roll.
The Chairman: "It appears officially that the Convention has recorded its unanimous approval and acceptance of the report of the committee."
Mr. Gregory: "I suggest that we let all the friends vote."
The Chairman: "All right. Kindly sit down, you who are delegates. Now, for a general expression, which I know many of you wish to make, those who are not delegates, who are present, kindly rise, if you share this feeling."
The remainder of the attendance at the meeting arose to their feet.
The Chairman: "Are there any who vote, no, on the motion? If so, please rise. It appears that by the unanimous vote of the entire body gathered here this morning, you have approved and ratified the report in full of the Committee of Investigation on violation in America. And I so declare it."
Mrs. Partridge: "May I say a word? I want to say in regard to violation, that I straddled the fence on the Bahai Cause for several years. I believed in the teachings, as far as reasoning can make one believe, but I saw nothing in Baha'o'llah or Abdul-Baha but another great leader, the same as in other 'isms' that the world has offered. I don't know that I could have been persuaded to wade through another. I was given the compilation of tablets on violation by a friend who knew that I would be just as firm in my convictions, if I were convinced, and she said to me, 'Read these.' I knew then that in my soul I felt there was only one autocrat, that is God; the whole spiritual realm is autocracy, and one who enters the spiritual realm must obey those commands and laws. One's opinion is nothing. When I got that revelation I knew I had the truth; and I have not wavered one minute since."
After the chanting of a prayer by Mr. Williams, the Convention adjourned to three o'clock P. M. of the same day.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION,
Auditorium Hotel, ninth floor.
The Convention was called to order at 3 o'clock P. M.
The Chairman: "Now, I feel that we saved some time before we recessed, with the very positive action that you took regarding the committee's report, and that was one of the matters I thought might take more time this afternoon. Now, shall we devote the next hour to the reports of the delegates; bearing in mind the vital necessity of limiting these reports to five-minute talks? It is very important to save time and I know you will realize it. I am sure you will bring to us the message you have to bring, the spiritual message from the different assemblies. Let us hear first from Miss Alexander."
Miss Alexander made an inspiring report of her experiences in teaching the Cause in Japan and read to the Convention translations of letters that had been sent by some of the Japanese believers.
Mrs. Hoagg: "I move that we immediately proceed to business."
Motion seconded.
The Chairman: "The motion is that we take up items of specific business at this time. Are you ready for the question? In voting upon that have in mind that possibly the delegates may not be able to report formally to the Convention, but perhaps informally tomorrow. Those in favor say, aye."
Motion carried.
The Chairman: "The Convention will proceed to business. What is your pleasure?"
Dr. Woolson: "I have an answer from Mr. Wilhelm to the telegram of the committee. It says: 'Tablet concerning publications dated April 11, 1916, through Ahmad, unsigned.'"
The Chairman: "You have heard the answer of Brother Wilhelm to the telegram sent by your committee, inquiring as to the genuineness, or shall we say the fact of signature to the original tablet? Last year you took action regarding the protection of publications in the Cause, based upon that tablet. We have again taken action this year. We know that it is impossible to obtain outer communication with Abdul-Baha, or has been, and may still be for some time. I would simply suggest to the Convention to have that in mind, and if you should deem it wise to rescind your action on this matter, to consider whether you would not have to take other action to protect the matter of publications pending the opening or re-establishment of communication with Abdul-Baha. What is your pleasure in the matter, if you desire to take any further action?"
Mrs. Hoagg: "Volume one of the Tablets of Abdul-Baha has been placed into my hands. In the introduction is a tablet revealed in 1906 stating that the Boards of Council in New York, Chicago, Washington and Kenosha, should take charge of publishing matters. Now, it seems to me, since he entrusted that into the hands of the friends at that time, that he showed a desire for us to shoulder that responsibility. Has he expressed any other desire since then to the contrary?"
The Chairman asked for suggestions from Dr. Bagdadi.
Dr. Bagdadi: "It would be very wise to investigate this further just as we investigated today and found that the tablet in regard to the printing of books was not signed by the handwriting of Abdul-Baha. Why not investigate further and find out if there is any other tablet that has come signed by Abdul-Baha? We will compare the tablets and we will follow the latest tablet and the latest instruction.
"Would it not be well if a committee were appointed to search for any tablet that has come in this manner? Would it not be right for the Chairman to appoint that committee, or the Convention? I leave it to the Chair."
The Chairman: "You mean to search between now and the time of adjournment so that we may be able to know what to do? Or do you mean to report another year?"
Dr. Bagdadi: "We could make a decision—if it is agreeable to the Convention we will make a decision now, namely, to follow the latest tablet that is strictly authentic and the latest date of instruction."
The Chairman: "That is concrete and right to the point."
Dr. Bagdadi: "I make that as a motion."
The Chairman: "I might suggest that Brother Gregory this morning said that he thinks in volume four of the STAR OF THE WEST is a later word on that point, which continues the idea expressed in the former tablet of leaving it to the gathering of the friends. If there is such a tablet, this committee should find it."
Dr. Bagdadi: "We should make a decision now to follow that tablet, and that tablet will be spread all over the country, after the Convention—after the investigation."
The Chairman: "Yes. The motion then is that the committee be appointed, or elected, as you prefer, to investigate the entire field of the tablets in this respect."
Dr. Bagdadi: "My idea is to be guided by the last authentic tablet in the matter; or by the consensus of all of them, if there appears to be any question on that."
Mrs. Coles: "Would it not be well to let the Publications Committee be that committee, to authenticate their own work?"
The Chairman: "You have heard the suggestion of Mrs. Coles. Is that your desire?"
Mrs. True: "Miss Jean Masson's tablet is here and signed by Abdul-Baha and it is as late as February, 1917. She has Abdul-Baha's signature at the bottom of that letter."
The Chairman: "Does that give any help on this?"
Mrs. Coles: "I do not know about that. There are tablets signed as late as 1917."
The Chairman: "Is there any objection to Mrs. Coles' suggestion that the Publications Committee as now constituted shall have the matter in charge, the subject of Brother Bagdadi's motion?"
Mrs. Hoagg: "Do I understand that you will appoint a committee, or the Publications Committee will do that?"
The Chairman: "Mr. Hall's motion this morning was to the effect that the present committee be continued unless it was desired to change. I do not think there is any desire to change it unless you want it changed. Is there any objection? If that is the consensus of the opinion, then I will record the motion as embodying and reconstituting that committee for this purpose. All those in favor of the motion say, aye; contrary, no."
Motion carried.
The Chairman: "It is so recorded. What is the next item of business? Now, several of the friends have suggested the necessity of having something done about indexing. Mrs. Rice-Wray has a word on that."
Mrs. Rice-Wray, Mr. Remey, Mrs. Partridge and Mrs. Hoagg shared in the discussion relative to the importance, at this time, of having a complete index of all the authentic publications in the Bahai Cause.
Mrs. Rice-Wray: "I would like to make a motion that the Publications Committee, with the addition of Mr. Remey and Mrs. Partridge and Miss MacCutcheon, or any one else they think would be of help to them, take this matter up and look after the indexing."
Mrs. Coles: "I second the motion."
Motion carried.
The Chairman: "The committee as named will please take the matter in hand; that is, the Publications Committee and Brother Remey, Mrs. Partridge and Miss MacCutcheon, and, I understand, any others they desire to call into the service. Now, do you wish to take up, at this time, the question of the Mashrekol-azkar grounds? Mrs. True is not here right now. She may be back by the time Dr. Bagdadi has given us an outline of it."
Dr. Bagdadi: "The greatest part of our Convention concerns the Mashrek-ol-azkar, concerns the temple, concerns the building of the temple. It concerns the grounds of the temple. At the present time we have the grounds; God willing the temple will be built.
"Those who have seen the grounds testify they are situated in the best place in Chicago, or a suburb of Chicago, Wilmette. Those grounds became sacred by the presence of Abdul-Baha. It is sacred because the believers of Chicago and outside, who go there, always pray there.
"It has been the custom in Chicago to hold the summer Sunday meetings on the temple grounds, on account of the heat. We meet at the Masonic Temple every Sunday, right in the heart of the city, but during the months of July, August and September, that hall is unbearable, and, therefore, we hold our Sunday meetings on the temple grounds.
"A few years ago the people of Chicago became accustomed to visit those grounds in order to escape the heat and to enjoy themselves. Many of them attended the meetings and some of them benefited by the meetings. They saw the harmony and the unity of the Bahais,
how they associated and visited together. It touched the hearts of many. But many of the young folks thought it was nothing but a playgrounds. So baseball and other playing went on, to the extent that believers in Chicago became deprived of the use of the grounds; that is, they lost the best part of the grounds. Most of the grounds were occupied by the outside people who made it a playgrounds.
"Then the Executive Board took the matter into their hands, and after consultations they found that it would be necessary to have some one to take care of the grounds, to clean them and to protect the trees, and they appointed or permitted a fisherman to establish his quarters there, with a certain concession that Mrs. True, I am sure, is more able to tell you the details of than I. The idea was that the fisherman should keep the grounds clean, and keep the trees from being injured and cut down, and at the same time be allowed to sell gasoline and some refreshments. And there was no objection to that. The fisherman did his best to abide by the instructions of the Board; but in the last two or three years matters have become very bad. The fisherman established a place to sell dinners, fish dinners, and more refreshments; and the mind of the fisherman really became more occupied in selling things than in taking care of the property."
Dr. Bagdadi then outlined in detail certain abuses of the hospitality of the Unity in opening the ground to all the people, abuses of such a nature that the neighbors entered complaints and ultimately a special policeman was ordered to keep the Mashrekol-azkar grounds in order.
"We took the matter up with the assembly here and formulated a letter. I wrote the letter myself to the Executive Board, and explained to them—Mrs. True also did all she could in writing—that the solution for this problem was that the sacred grounds must be kept sacred, and the solution was to fence the property. Some of the members of the Board wrote back, 'We shrink from hearing the word "fence," because the Mashrekol-azkar is for all the nations and for all people. How can we fence it and close it in the face of any soul? It is contrary to the teachings.'
"I wrote to them another letter, and in that letter mentioned the following: That those who went to Acca, and those who did not go to Acca, but who have a book of the pictures of the sacred spots, testify that all the sacred spots in Acca and in Haifa are fenced. The tomb of Baha'o'llah is fenced. There is a fence, and the nails are sharp nails so no one could jump over the fence. The tomb of the Báb is surrounded by a fence; and the garden of Abdul-Baha is surrounded by a fence, and he himself built the fence. The fence is not to shut the people out; the fence is to keep the grounds in order. In all these sacred spots there is always a guard. He opens the door and permits everybody to come in and enjoy themselves; when the darkness comes and everybody is supposed to go to his home, the door is then closed. Nobody raised any objection when Abdul-Baha fenced the properties there, or the Mashrekol-azkar, which was fenced in Ishkabad. Nobody objected here except a few members of the Executive Board, and they could not see why it should be fenced.
"Moreover, the idea is that the temple grounds should have a fence and every Sunday a meeting be held on the temple grounds; then the door be open, because it is only on Sundays that people go there, on beautiful summer days, and the door be open all day until the night, and the Bahais would welcome them. If they want to attend the meetings, they can attend the meetings, and if they want to walk around, they can walk around; and if they want to use the trees and flowers or anything of that sort, with moderation, in the right way, they can use them and nobody will prohibit
them. But when the night comes, then they will not be allowed to stay in there, because it is against the law of the country; it is against the will of the neighbors, and it is against the law of morality."
Mr. Remey: "It occurs to me to suggest to the Chairman and the Convention that this matter be suspended for a few moments until we can elect our Board for the coming year, for there are several of our friends who are leaving, and who, I feel, ought to be allowed to participate in the election. If we can do that, this question can be taken up afterwards. I move that we now proceed to the election of the Executive Board."
Motion seconded and carried.
The Chairman: "It is your duty now to elect a Board of nine for the ensuing year."
Mr. Remey: "Mr. Chairman and friends, I would suggest that before we proceed with this election we have a few moments of prayer and supplication, that we may elect a Board, that we may entrust into the hands of those who are most fitted for it, the work of this Unity for the next year. We are up against many very, very vital problems. We have had some very vital problems to meet this last year, and we have met many in this gathering yesterday and today. And it occurs to me to make this suggestion of prayer, that we may be spiritually guided by our beloved Abdul-Baha, to make the choice he wishes."
The Chairman: "The Chairman would like to read a prayer at this time, and then Dr. Bagdadi has a word to say."
Prayer by the Chairman.
Chairman Mr. Lunt: "Dear friends, I believe that we have been sent here this year as no body of delegates has ever been sent in the history of the world. You have been sent here after hearing the divine injunctions towards firmness in the Covenant. You have been sent here because you are firm. You have been sent here because you love Abdul-Baha and have raised the standard of obedience to his command. Therefore, what cannot you accomplish in this Convention if you will realize your oneness, if you will realize the wonderful significance of this beautiful circle here* and what it has meant to us ever since we came into this room; because it seems to me to be the very burning glass of God through which the fire of his love is pouring, centering, concentrating to such a degree as to melt every heart into one heart, to show forth the guidance and the will of God in this Convention, and to render the blessings to this great nation which you are capable of bringing to the world; here in the midst of us is the Greatest Name of the Almighty; it is glory; it is not glory alone; it is love, it is majesty, it is generosity, it is sovereignty and power, and it is guidance. It is oneness. And, just as in the burning glass of the scientist, the central point in that glass is capable alone of exerting the greatest heat, the greatest power, the greatest amalgamating force, just so in the center of this divine burning glass of the Greatest Name reposes the heart and power of the Covenant of God, and if we will only come in line with that Center, of which this may be regarded as a symbol, will we not all become melted into one soul, one thought and one purpose, to choose those whom he desires chosen today to represent this Bahai Temple Unity of America? And not only to choose them, but to perform every act which this Convention has come here to perform. And, if we were united in that sense, in one hour, or half an hour, we could perform all the business of the Convention, and it would all come before us picture after picture, occasion after occasion until all would be accomplished. There would be no dragging.
*Pointing to a large gilded disc above the platform resembling the rising sun, bearing the Greatest Name.
So shall we not enter into this blessed flame of the love of God at this moment, and do his will?"
Dr. Bagdadi: "What more can I add to Mr. Lunt's remarks? Whatever you do under the roofs will be proclaimed from the house tops. That is a law. The whole world is looking towards America and towards this Mashrekol-azkar. One Mashrekol-azkar is to be built. It is the men of God, Abdul-Baha said, who will build the temple, the souls who are confirmed by God. All of you are confirmed; all of you are firm and steadfast believers; otherwise we would not be here.
"The time has come for the separation of violation from firmness. There is no doubt about the sincerity and firmness in this Cause of God on the part of all those who are here. If you become members of the Board, it means one, and if one becomes the Board it means all. You are all in one, and one in all. This oneness lasts as long as that fire of the love of Abdul-Baha is burning in the heart; and the main issue, the main thing, which is firmness in the Covenant, is the greatest qualification in all elections of committees.
"Abdul-Baha wants us to look in our hearts at this moment and see how we stand, and each one will be the cause of making others who are firm firmer. This is in obedience to Abdul-Baha, and I am going to do as we all must, think of that in this election. So far, my dear friends, we must not think of it as if he were my friend or my sweetheart, or my old friend, or my associate—the time has come when we are on a plane higher than that. To show that this Cause is the Cause of God, the Báb gave his life; Baha'o'llah spent his life in agony; Abdul-Baha has lived in prison; 24,000 or more gave their lives. We are to serve such a Cause. Who is going to be my friend, my wife, my child, when I look at the sacrifices that have taken place? Will it not be a shame, more than a shame, to put any name on this paper before I in my heart and soul hear Abdul-Baha say to me, 'Well done.' Because I am going to face him; you are going to face him sooner or later. We are facing him now in the spirit. He is watching and counting all these things we are doing now. What can I say more than these words of his, those who are to be elected must be well known Bahais; they must be known for their firmness in the Covenant. Can I make a statement stronger than that? Is it possible? Let us begin."
The Chairman thereupon named Mrs. Barbee, Mr. Scheffler, and Dr. D'Evelyn as a committee to distribute, collect and count ballots.
The delegates were brought together into the center section and the roll call of delegates and alternates was read.
While the ballots were being counted the Chairman called for the report of the Auditing Committee.
Mr. Struven reported for the Auditing Committee that they had gone over the books and found them correct. The committee recommended that in the future since the work has grown so large, arrangements be made to have regular certified public accountants do this work, because it takes so much time of the Auditing Committee and keeps them from sharing in the bounties of the Convention. It might be proper, of course, in the wisdom of the Convention to have some one or two of the friends go over the affairs after the regular official auditors, so that we may understand the books and have the matter fully explained to them.
On motion of Mr. Ober duly seconded the report of the Auditing Committee was accepted.
On motion of Mrs. Breed seconded by Mr. Ober it was voted that an expert accountant be engaged another year to take care of the books.
The Chairman called attention to the fact that whereas the temporary organization had listened to the reports of the
officers of the Unity, not being then in permanent form, no motion was made to accept the reports.
On motion of Mrs. Rice-Wray duly seconded it was voted that the reports of the various officers listened to yesterday be accepted.
Mrs. True: "Has the Executive Board full authority to do anything that should be done on the temple grounds or do we have to have the Convention vote on the matter?"
Chairman Mr. Lunt: "I think the Executive Board has full authority; but the thing has been so troublesome, we wanted you all to know about it, that is all."
Mrs. True: "The only thing was that I wanted to know if the Executive Board had some authority, because it seems to me we will have to take some very drastic steps. That piece of ground is most attractive, and it has been used as an amusement grounds, without any control over it, and the people there are rather obstreperous. And another question, and a very serious question is, 'Are the Bahais of the world keeping up an amusement grounds, or are they keeping up a sacred piece of ground?' Therefore, I would like this Convention to instruct its Executive Board to take every measure possible to make that ground absolutely sacred, that the people of Chicago and the world may know that there is one spot on this continent that is dedicated to God and kept as such."
The Chairman: "I cannot think of any better form of words than our sister has used, in making a motion. You make a motion to that effect, Mrs. True?"
Mrs. True: "Yes."
Mr. Ober: "I second that motion."
Motion carried.
The Chairman: "Are there any other matters that we can consider at this time while we are waiting for the counting of the ballots? The question was suggested to the Chair during the recess, that in a certain way the tablets relative to the reception of orientals in America and associating with them are somewhat allied to this question of violation, and that subject has been the cause of much difficulty to many of the friends, in different parts. It has given us a good deal of worry at Green Acre, for instance, where we attempt to open our doors to all nations and people. I do not know whether you would care to take that up at this time. I simply want to open the way for it, if anybody wants to take it up."
Mr. Ober: "Mr. Chairman, I think that it is increasingly evident to the Convention and the believers, all over the country, that these questions are never settled until they are settled right; and until we get the explicit, complete teachings of Abdul-Baha on any of these subjects, in application to all possible conditions,—we do not have the complete expression of his wisdom; we rather have only the partial expression of that wisdom.
"This question of the orientals has come up several times. It has not been settled yet,—I mean to the satisfaction of all.
"Now, since there are a number of tablets from various sources, I suggest, and for the purpose of bringing the matter to a head, I make it as a motion, that a committee of three be appointed by the Chair to make a compilation of all the instructions of Abdul-Baha on this subject, for the purpose of reporting later, for the guidance of the believers of the country; and issue them to the assemblies."
In the discussion that followed Mrs. Gillen outlined in detail some of the difficulties in Seattle and other parts of the Pacific coast relative to this question and ended by saying "I think we should stick absolutely to Abdul-Baha's command about letting no oriental come among us without Abdul-Baha's orders
because he knows who is safe and who is not."
The Chairman: "You have heard Brother Ober's motion that a committee of three be named to collect all the tablets on this subject of association with visiting orientals, and submit them and have them published and distributed to the assemblies and friends as soon as possible."
The question of the expense of carrying out the work of such a committee as proposed was raised.
The Chairman: "The question has been asked how we will pay for the expense. Now, the Conventions in past years have occasionally authorized certain minor expenses, and the Executive Board, in carrying out directions has felt justified in taking from the regular Mashrekol-azkar fund in the belief that that included those particular matters. Abdul-Baha has sent certain tablets here which indicate that the teachings are part of the work of the Mashrekol-azkar. This particular matter relates, perhaps, not directly to the teachings, but it relates to the protection of the friends; and if it is your wish it can be authorized to be taken from the regular treasury, or if you prefer to provide for it independently, this is the time to do so."
Mrs. Ober: "I move that it be taken from the regular fund, as it is to teach us in order that we may teach others; and that it should come from the Mashrekol-azkar."
Mr. Ober: "The expense ought not to be very great; $25 or $50 at the most."
The Chairman: "May that be added to the motion then?"
Mr. Ober: "Yes."
Motion carried.
Mr. Remey then made a supplementary report of the work of the Library Committee.
The Secretary read communications from absent delegates from Lakeland, Florida, and Buffalo, N. Y., and Mr. Gregory was authorized to write to these friends with messages of love from this Convention.
Mrs. Maxwell: "I have a message from Miss Thompson. Instead of wiring her I telephoned. Miss Thompson sends her cordial love and greetings to the Convention, says that she has already accepted the report of the Committee of Investigation, that she stands absolutely with the committee and is quit of the violators and she wishes to be with you in the power of the Covenant, in this Convention. . . . Now may I propose Miss Thompson's name on the committee for the compilation of tablets on The Most Great Peace?"
Mrs. Coles: "I second the motion."
The Chairman: "If there is no objection Miss Thompson's name will be recorded in addition to the names already given."
The Secretary, Mr. Gregory, then read the names of the Compilation Committee:
Mrs. Coles, chairman, Mrs. Maxwell, Mr. Remey, Mrs. Cooper, Dr. Bagdadi, Mr. Vail, Mrs. Hoagg, Miss Thompson, Mrs. Rabb.
The Chairman called upon Mrs. Diggett.
Mrs. Diggett read the following extract from a tablet written to her by Abdul-Baha when he was in Paris. "The winds of tests are so violent that they are liable to uproot the strongest trees. It is my hope that the believers in Chicago may withstand the tests with firmness and steadfastness."
Mr. Remey: "Friends, I have a motion that I would like to put before the Convention. I think we all feel that this compilation of the holy utterances upon the matter of our duty towards the government, or our duty in war and peace, is going to be of the greatest blessing right now at this time, for so much depends upon the stand and the work of the Bahais along this direction.
Therefore, it has occurred to me to suggest in the form of a motion, that when this Compilation Committee has finished its work, and when this compilation is completed and ready to send out, that the committee be empowered by this Convention to send a copy of this, together with a letter giving the Bahai principles, to the President of the United States. I put that in the form of a motion."
Motion seconded.
Dr. Bagdadi: "May I suggest that when the compilation is perfected we send it not only to the President but to every ruler in the world whom we can reach."
Mr. Remey accepted this suggestion.
In the discussion which followed relative to the method to be adopted by the committee in carrying on its work, it was agreed that the committee should, as a whole, be free to request the cooperation of any other committees or individuals whose assistance it desired.
The Chairman: "My understanding is that the Convention lays upon each member of this committee the responsibility of personally passing upon every bit of the manuscript and upon all of you the injunctions of Baha'o'llah rest, in reference to consultation."
Mrs. Coles: "On everything we do there should be perfect and complete consultation between members.
The Chairman: "I am quite sure that the committee will be guided aright."
Motion carried.
The Chairman: "We are ready to listen to the report of the committee that has the ballots in charge."
Mr. Scheffler reported the result as follows: True 44, Bagdadi 40, Remey 36, Gregory 33, Lunt 33, Hoagg 32, Maxwell 30, Ober 28, Coles 18, Randall 18, Cooper 14, Rice-Wray 12, Windust 9. There were some scattering votes below this number.
On the basis of the committee's report the Chair declared eight persons elected, all of them having more than 24 votes which were necessary for election and one more to be elected who has not yet received the required number of votes. The committee was requested to distribute ballots for the election of the remaining member of the Executive Board.
Mr. Remey reported the receipt of two telegrams, one from Mr. and Mrs. Latimer in Portland, the other from George Latimer sent from Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia. Both regretted their inability to attend the Convention.
On motion duly made and seconded it was voted that the greetings of the Convention be extended to these friends.
Mr. Ober: "I have been requested by some of the friends here who are not delegates or alternates and, therefore felt they could not speak on this matter, to bring up again the subject of Mr. Vail's book, which was mentioned this morning; but nothing definite was done about it; and some of these friends feel that a wrong impression was given, because the conversation slid off into something else and was not completed. Now, of course, we realize that our attitude in all these things is purely a question of education. It is not a question of our sincerity, or anything of that sort. We are all earnest and sincere, but I know we are constantly making mistakes."
Mr. Ober then brought up some of the questions that had been mentioned to him in regard to the construction of the book and its use for Bahai children.
(Continued on page 73)
