The American Bahá’í/Volume 10/Issue 1/Text
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Editorial The recent teaching victories throughout the American Bahá’í community, and particularly in South Carolina and Georgia, have thrilled the followers of Bahá’u’lláh everywhere. These victories have been hard won and long-awaited. They represent the fruits of many years of devoted labor by institutions and individual believers. They also are the answer to the ardent prayers of the Universal House of Justice, our National Spiritual Assembly, and Bahá’ís all over the world who have been anxiously concerned about our lack of progress on the homefront. The establishment of 1,400 Local Spiritual Assemblies and the anticipated formation of 1,550 Assemblies by Riḍván 1979 are more than merely winning a goal of the Five Year Plan. Our remarkable victory, achieved in so short a space of time, signals the Bahá’í world that the Faith is alive and well in the U.S.—the community referred to by the beloved Guardian as “the citadel of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh” and “the cradle and stronghold” of Bahá’u’lláh’s Administrative Order. OUR VICTORY assures the Bahá’í world that the community which has carried proudly the lion’s share of the global work of the Cause in terms of financial assistance, pioneers, traveling teachers, literature, and administrative leadership is still strong and capable of fulfilling its role as “the champion-builders of a divinely conceived Administrative Order,” a role assigned to it by the Guardian himself. More importantly, our victory takes us forward to a new stage in the development of the American Bahá’í community. In about six months, we have gone from 940 Local Assemblies to 1,400. The implications of this development are deep and widespread, and touch every aspect of the way in which the Faith is administered in this country. By Riḍván the National Teaching Committee and National Education Committee will have some 600 new Assemblies to deepen and consolidate; the ingenuity, funds, and human resources this task will require are great indeed. Obviously, new literature and other materials for deepening these Assemblies will be needed. The volume of mail received at the National Center will increase, and more staff may be required to handle and answer correspondence. Initially, some delay in responding to correspondence may result. The cost of sending a letter to 940 Assemblies ($220) in April 1978 will have risen to $400 for the anticipated 1,550 Assemblies in April 1979. The demands placed on the Data Processing Office staff and computer will be greatly magnified, and new means of measuring the capabilities of the office will have to be found. THE RAPID expansion of the Faith has also increased the diversity within our Bahá’í community. We now have large numbers of believers who are Persian or Spanish-speaking, and we have Bahá’ís of varying degrees of literacy. This means we must find ways of addressing the special needs of particular groups within our community. We have grown so much so rapidly, increasing our diversity so greatly, that we can no longer treat all Bahá’í communities the same way. In 1970, when we were first experiencing enrollments in large numbers, the Universal House of Justice, commenting on the crisis in the National Bahá’í Fund, made the following observation in a letter to each American believer. It applies equally to the challenges now before us: “As the United States’ own mass teaching progresses, your National Fund will have to be expended increasingly on vital deepening and consolidation projects, for it is important that the new believers who are entering the community in such large numbers be rapidly integrated into the life of the whole. The administration of the Cause in the United States is entering a completely new phase, of high promise, challenging problems and golden opportunities. You are the cradle of the Administration, and in this development too you can become a pattern for the entire Bahá’í world. The essential requirement at this time is complete unity and wholehearted support for your National Spiritual Assembly, both in action and in funds.” As we bask in the joy of victory, we must keep in mind that if we are to turn the challenges we face into new and even greater victories, we will have to rise to greater levels of sacrifice, learn to appreciate wider ranges of diversity, and further stretch our minds and spirits in arriving at effective solutions to new problems. As “the leaven destined to leaven the whole,” we can be encouraged and stimulated by the knowledge that our victories are victories for the entire Bahá’í world, and our challenges are opportunities replete with promise for the continued expansion of the world-wide Bahá’í community. |
Unveiling a plaque commemorating the Bahá’í House of Worship’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and the 25th anniversary of its public dedication are (left to right) Warren Burmeister, president of the Village of Wilmette, Illinois; Douglas Martin, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; and Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States. The ceremony was held on the evening of November 25.
House of Worship Status Honored in Ceremony[edit]
More than 400 people, Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís, were present at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois, on Saturday evening, November 25, for a ceremony recognizing the listing of the House of Worship in the National Register of Historic Places.
The designation was granted to the Bahá’í House of Worship by the federal government on May 23, 1978, exactly 134 years after the Báb declared His Mission to Mullá Ḥusayn in Shiraz, Persia.
THOSE attending the ceremony included a member of the Illinois legislature and Bahá’ís from as far away as Connecticut. Twenty-two interest cards were filled out during a social hour following the event, three of which were declarations of belief in Bahá’u’lláh.
In the keynote address, Douglas Martin, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, referred to that country’s contribution to the construction of the House of Worship. During most of the years of construction, Canada and the United States were a single national Bahá’í community.
Canada also supplied the architect for the House of Worship, Louis Bourgeois, who was a French-Canadian. Mr. Martin said that because the U.S. and Canada are the co-executors of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Divine Plan, “this event that we are celebrating is another milestone on that long, long thrilling road” toward completion of the Divine Plan.
Warren Burmeister, president of the Village of Wilmette, unveiled a plaque marking the House of Worship’s new designation.
WILMETTE is “honored,” he said, “to be the ground under which this jewel soars to the sky. We have a feeling here that a community is a place where people live together under the same laws. How comparable that is to the spirit of this place. A world community living together under the same laws, and doing it so very, very successfully.”
Edna True, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors for North America, whose mother, Corinne True, was a prime mover behind the Temple Project in its early days, assisted Mr. Burmeister in unveiling the plaque that reads:
“THE BAHÁ’Í HOUSE OF WORSHIP—DEDICATED AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR ALL MANKIND, MAY 1, 1953. ENTERED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, MAY 23, 1978.”
The meeting was chaired by Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly. Included in the program were a specially created audio-visual presentation on the construction of the building, and singing by the Bahá’í House of Worship a cappella choir.
On the Inside...[edit]
THE BAHÁ’Í International Community responds to recent persecution of Bahá’ís in Irán. Page 2
TWENTY MEMBERS of Bahá’í teaching teams from Georgia and South Carolina visit the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette. Page 2
THE ALTURAS, California, Bahá’í community is the first to receive a new deepening course, “The Greatest Gift,” from the National Treasurer’s Office. Page 3
FOUR YOUNG Bahá’ís from the U.S. undertake a four-month teaching trip to the Solomon Islands and other areas in the Pacific. Page 4
THE NATIONAL Education Committee presents the first in a series of articles and activities designed to promote and strengthen family unity. Pages 6 and 7
THE CALIFORNIA Regional Teaching Committee prepares to launch “Project EBT” (Entry By Troops). Page 8
Teaching Teams Visit the National Center[edit]
Twenty members of Bahá’í teaching teams that have been working in Georgia and South Carolina were in Wilmette, Illinois, November 27-29 to visit the Bahá’í House of Worship and Bahá’í National Center offices.
Team members spent an evening with the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem, and were greeted on behalf of the National Spiritual Assembly by its assistant secretary for administration, Dr. Magdalene Carney.
DR. CARNEY warmly praised the efforts of teaching teams in the South, where nearly 200 new or restored Local Spiritual Assemblies were established in a recent five-week period, a thrust that helped the U.S. Bahá’í community win its Five Year Plan goal of 1,400 Local Assemblies well before the end of the Plan next April 20.
“It is my hope,” said Dr. Carney, “that when the various institutions in the South are planning and budgeting for the consolidation work, they will set aside funds to bring some of the new believers here, to visit the Mother Temple of the West, the heart of the American Bahá’í community, where they can be inspired and uplifted by the tangible, concrete evidences of the New World Order of which they have become a part.”
For many team members, this was the first visit to the Bahá’í House of Worship. A number of them have been Bahá’ís for less than a year, including two of the friends from Georgia who were able immediately after their enrollment to help full-time in the teaching effort.
The visitors were quite impressed by their tour of the National Center offices, which included a visit to the newly-purchased national office building.
“IT’S AMAZING,” one of them said afterward. “I never realized how much work is done at the National Center. It’s not a small place—I can see that now. But I just never knew how much gets done here, or how much there was that had to be done.”
Several team members from Georgia, their departure delayed by inclement weather, joined forces with the friends in Illinois the weekend of December 2-3 for teaching in and around Phoenix, Illinois.
That same weekend, a new Local Spiritual Assembly was formed in Round Lake Beach, in northern Illinois, as a result of teaching in that locality the previous two weekends.
Round Lake Beach is the 78th Local Assembly in Illinois. The goal is to have 99 Assemblies in Illinois by the end of the Five Year Plan.
Bahá’ís in Red Lake Chapter, New Mexico, celebrated Universal Children’s Day October 3 with a party for 30 Navajo Indian children. Among the entertainers were clowns Sheryl (left) and Shawn Belshaw. The party also featured songs and games from around the world. Universal Children’s Day, designed to promote understanding and friendship among the world’s children, is sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
National Assembly Offers Analysis of Conventions[edit]
The National Spiritual Assembly recently completed an analysis of the District Conventions that were held in October. The Assembly was gratified that at every convention the prime topic for consultation was teaching.
Minutes from the various conventions indicate that dozens of offers for immediate activity were received and processed. A statistical analysis shows, however, that participation at District Conventions could be improved.
IN LOOKING at voting statistics, the National Spiritual Assembly found that the average percentage of adults voting as compared to those eligible to vote was 31 percent. This represented a range of as low as .7 percent to as high as 63.7 percent.
The four districts having the highest representation, with 50 percent or more of the eligible voters participating, were Colorado, West; Minnesota, North; Nevada, South; and Rhode Island. Ten districts in the country had less than 10 percent voting.
Some confusion arose in a few districts because the number of delegates had been changed and mailed ballots were received with the wrong number of names on them. This necessitated either contacting those who had mailed ballots or invalidating those ballots. It illustrates the importance of the friends reading the election material that is sent to them. Apportionment of delegates is based on Bahá’í population, and as that population shifts, reapportionment takes place.
IN ADDITION to electing delegates to the National Convention, the District Conventions provide a channel for making recommendations to the National Spiritual Assembly. More than 60 such recommendations were made at District Conventions and forwarded to the National Spiritual Assembly.
Since these recommendations are so voluminous, they are sent to various agencies at the National Center for consideration and implementation. A majority of these recommendations are already under consideration or in process.
For instance, two recommendations dealt with getting more information to isolated believers, including the Feast letter and the Treasurer’s letter. A special task force already has met to consider this matter and methods of implementation are currently under advisement.
Another recommendation dealing with the feasibility of having a toll-free incoming telephone number for the National Center for the convenience of seekers coincided with an investigation into this very matter by the National Spiritual Assembly.
THE REAL challenge in relation to District Conventions, according to the National Spiritual Assembly, is increasing attendance and participation in the voting process.
This is not only the responsibility of the National Spiritual Assembly and the District Teaching Committees, but rests largely with Local Spiritual Assemblies who can encourage their community members to attend, and with individual believers who already attend District Convention and who can encourage and offer rides to their Bahá’í brothers and sisters.
Írán Troubles Spur Reply From Bahá’í Community[edit]
Because recent disturbances in Írán, in addition to endangering the devoted and persecuted friends in that country, have led to misrepresentations of the Bahá’í Teachings in the world news media, the Universal House of Justice asked the Bahá’í International Community to release the following statement, dated November 1978:
The recent disturbances in Írán have attracted the attention of the world’s news media and frequent mention has been made of the Bahá’ís of that country, their tenets and their activities.
Since the Bahá’ís in Írán have been persecuted for more than a hundred years by fanatical elements in their country, the Bahá’í International Community is concerned that the recent developments in Írán may soon lead to a country-wide onslaught on the lives and properties of individual followers of the Faith.
INDEED, already in many provinces in Írán frenzied mobs have ruthlessly attacked and injured Bahá’ís, threatened their lives, desecrated their Holy Places and burned their houses, business premises, and livestock, caused them to flee from their homes, and have tried to force them to recant their Faith.
A disturbing factor is that political adversaries are using the name of the Bahá’í Faith to discredit their political opponents. To inflame the passion of the fanatics, they refer to certain political leaders as Bahá’ís.
The Bahá’í International Community, and indeed Bahá’í institutions throughout the world, have noted with dismay and frustration the publication of misrepresentations of the Teachings of the Bahá’í Faith.
The Bahá’í International Community is particularly concerned at the erroneous impression being given to the world press of the clear position of the Bahá’í Faith on such basic issues as loyalty to government and non-involvement in political and subversive activities. To these have been added the distortions of truth reflected in the local press in Írán about the attitude of the Bahá’í Faith toward Islám.
THE BAHÁ’Í International Community categorically states that as an article of faith no Bahá’í is allowed to participate in partisan politics or to accept any political post.
Furthermore, the Bahá’í International Community affirms that the Bahá’ís believe in the validity of all divinely revealed religions, including Islám, and disclaim any intention to belittle any of the Prophets of the past or to whittle down their teachings. It is hoped that the deliberate and vicious misuse of the name of the Bahá’í Faith and the misrepresentation of its Teachings may not provide cause for further persecution and hardship for the Bahá’ís in Írán.
The Bahá’ís are law-abiding citizens, loyal to their respective governments, and anxious to share wholeheartedly in whatever promotes the best interests of the countries in which they reside.
The Frankfort, Kentucky, Bahá’í children’s class presented a puppet show, ‘The Gift,’ October 14 at the Paul Sawyer Public Library. Foods from around the world were served and the children took part in games and songs. The Frankfort Bahá’í community presented a copy of the children’s book, ‘The Gift,’ to the library in recognition of the upcoming International Year of the Child. Rob Sergent is shown here with one of the 14 puppets used in the production.
Fund Helps To Develop Bahá’í Life[edit]
The Office of the Treasurer rejoices in the news that our goal of forming 1,400 Local Spiritual Assemblies has been achieved! It is gratifying to know that we will be able to exceed this commitment to our beloved Universal House of Justice.
We have another goal, however, toward which our progress is not so easily measured—namely, developing the distinctive character of Bahá’í life.
Do you think of the Fund as one more numerical goal? Rather than looking at the Fund chart only in terms of money, we can regard it as a sign of our community’s spiritual health.
The Institution of the Fund does more than merely pay the bills; it was given to us so that we could develop the attributes of moderation, detachment, and sacrifice.
Bahá’u’lláh does not ask for our money; He asks for our hearts—purified from all attachments. “O Son of Being!” He wrote, “Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent.”
The ideal, then, is to so cleanse our hearts that we support the Fund out of love for God and appreciation for the bounty of serving His Cause, giving no thought to measuring our contributions in terms of worldly things. With this attitude, we can rise above the barriers of attachment and offer Bahá’u’lláh gifts that are precious and pure. In this state, our monthly contributions goal is easily within reach.
National Bahá’í Fund
Contributions
Alturas Community Takes New Treasurer’s Course[edit]
On November 18, the Bahá’ís of Alturas, California, became the first community in America to receive “The Surest Way,” the new course from the Office of the Treasurer.
Gathered in the home of one of the Bahá’ís, nine members of the Alturas community participated in a day-long presentation of the course. Theresa Ganong, the National Treasurer’s Representative who gave the class, commented on the enthusiastic response of the Bahá’ís:
“I SAW a change take place in those people,” she said. “The whole program went amazingly well. We all genuinely enjoyed being together and studying this material.”
One participant said, “It was excellent. I learned a great deal.” Another said, “I enjoyed it all. I also have a better understanding of the importance of supporting the Fund both individually and collectively.”
Every participant commented on how much knowledge of the Faith he had gained. Most said they had a new understanding of the significance of the Fund.
Mrs. Ganong noted that these comments were especially exciting, because these “students” have been Bahá’ís an average of 24 years!
“WE HAVE been preparing this course for about eight months,” said Kurt Hein of the Treasurer’s Office staff. “We hope that every Bahá’í community will use the course for fellowship and deepening.
“ ‘The Surest Way’ provides an excellent opportunity to learn more about ourselves, our attitudes about money, and our relationship to this important Institution of the Faith,” said Mr. Hein. “ ‘The Surest Way’ shows that the Fund is a dynamic institution—it’s fun, too!”
The course was distributed last November to every National Treasurer’s Representative in the country. Divided into five lessons, it covers such topics as Materialism in America, the Fund and the Covenant, the Importance of the Individual, the History of the Fund in America, and the Current Structure of the Bahá’í National Center.
Each lesson is designed to be about one hour long, and the course includes games, group activities, exercises, and filmstrips.
Communities interested in having “The Surest Way” presented in their area are encouraged to contact their National Treasurer’s Representative or the Office of the Treasurer.
Letters Express Joy of Giving[edit]
When Bahá’ís are able to contribute to the Fund, it brings joy to their hearts. The Office of the Treasurer gets “love letters” in the mail every week.
We recently received a dollar from a six-year-old child. He said he wanted to help fix the House of Worship. A young couple had been saving to buy a new home, but they sent their money to the Fund. They said that nothing is more important than giving to the Faith.
One letter said, “Sorry this gift is so small, but I am living on a fixed income. It doesn’t leave much.” A Bahá’í who is an artist sold enough of his work to send a large sum to the Fund.
The Fund also received a gift from a farm worker. He said he wished the Feast was every Friday night so that he could give a part of his wages to the Fund immediately!
Each contribution is special. The gifts that Bahá’ís give to the Fund show the love that they have for the Faith. These gifts also help us to see the beauty of our Bahá’í family, because these contributions come from their hearts.
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Nantucket, Massachusetts, held its Recognition Ceremony on November 12, the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh. Assembly members are (seated left to right) Dorothy Backus, Florence Farrell, Mary Sherman, Anna Hall, and (standing left to right) Laurel Stackpole, John Stackpole, Don Davis, Jeanne Yamartino, Mary Davis.
| CONTRIBUTIONS | Principles of the Fund #1 Only those people who have already given their hearts to Bahá’u’lláh have the privilege of giving to the Bahá’í Funds. |
Painter in California Donates Prize Money to Bahá’í Fund[edit]
“What little talent I have, I owe to God! Please accept this for Bahá’u’lláh.” Thus read a note from Maxine Payton of Mount Shasta, California, enclosed with her special contribution to the National Bahá’í Fund. The contribution was prize money she had received for exhibiting her handiwork at a county fair.
A self-taught amateur painter, Mrs. Payton started painting in 1959, but between working and raising a family, she was not able to produce much until recently.
“THREE years ago,” says Mrs. Payton, “I entered a couple of oil landscapes for judging at the county fair. On my way to pick them up I made a promise to Bahá’u’lláh that if my paintings won any prizes I would send the total amount to the National Fund for His Cause.
“Bahá’u’lláh has blessed my efforts ever since; each year I have won a couple of ribbons.” Mrs. Payton also contributed prize money she received for her crochet work.
In November 1977 Mrs. Payton entered a charcoal portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Siskiyou County Artist Association Contest, and won the first place ribbon.
“There was no prize money,” she says, “but ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Name was spread around the county in subsequent publicity on winners and their entries.” This year the same portrait won second place at the Siskiyou County Fair.
Trust Receives New Spanish-Language Titles[edit]
Two shipments of Spanish-language Bahá’í literature recently arrived at the Bahá’í Publishing Trust from Argentina. Among the 33 titles in the shipments are several recent publications now available for the first time in the United States.
The new books in Spanish include two compilations, The Nineteen Day Feast/Bahá’í Meetings and Bahá’í Education, together with one children’s book, Bahá’í ABCs, by Elaine Phillips.
Other Spanish-language books and booklets now available include Bahá’í Prayers, Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Reality of Man, The Promised Day Is Come, The Goal of a New World Order, Ṭáhirih: Poet and Martyr of Írán, by Martha Root, a pamphlet, Life After Death, and others.
Owing to the rate of inflation in Argentina, prices of many of the Spanish-language items are surprisingly high. The demand for these materials is equally high, however, and the Publishing Trust advises the friends to order without delay, as the supply is limited.
Spanish-language materials may be ordered through Bahá’í librarians or directly from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. Non-English price lists and order forms will be sent to individuals upon request.
ABCedario Bahá’í, a children’s book by Elaine Phillips, is one of several new Spanish-language books and pamphlets available from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. (7-98-94, $2 NET.)
The Mail Bag
New World ‘Sex Roles’ Should Emphasize Equality[edit]
Dear Friends:
I am writing about the article “ ‘Sex Roles’ Shouldn’t Limit Job Choice” in the September issue of The American Bahá’í.
The general objective of the article is commendable in that it proposes to stimulate self-esteem in female youth; however, I might have found another approach and attitude more consistent with my own understanding of our sacred Writings.
Generally, I would have preferred an approach that emphasized new world attitudes of equality of the sexes, elimination of prejudice and compulsory education, and one that de-emphasized statistics and events that support old world, sex-biased attitudes.
Specifically, we might have quoted statistics and reported events within the Bahá’í community and outside it that reflect new world attitudes and the transformation from old world ways.
This would seem to me to be a most positive, reinforcing and inspiring approach to increasing self-esteem in young women and motivating them to unleash their potentialities.
It also concerns me to read comments such as “80 percent of working women are in...teaching, nursing...clerical work” and “women will continue to choose traditional occupations such as homemaker or secretary...” that tend to de-emphasize the importance of these people-oriented, service-oriented occupations while suggesting that careers such as school principal, doctor, executive, that are, to me at least, more removed and administrative in nature, are more appropriate for women.
As I understand the Writings, women are inclined more to be tenderhearted and stronger in the spiritual qualities of love and service (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol. IX, No. 7, p. 87), and I would therefore expect women to be better suited for such occupations as teacher or secretary.
Also, such occupations seem to me to create less of a conflict between wifery and motherhood and, in fact, seem to be more consistent with and supportive of the woman’s role at home.
It is my understanding from a tape about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s views on Bahá’í education by the Hand of the Cause of God A. Q. Faizí that the new World Order woman who has a child will stay at home to educate that child. This is a point I would prefer to see emphasized—that the woman who is fulfilling her responsibilities toward motherhood and family life is making a meritorious contribution and fulfilling an essential role in this beloved Cause.
I might suggest, too, that excerpts from the Writings be selected with an eye toward supporting the theme and content of the article; for example, “O ye handmaids of the Merciful! (as quoted from the article)...be fully versed in the various branches of knowledge...”
To me, this implies that we should keep our education broad in scope, leading to occupations such as teaching, nursing and further preparing us for the full breadth of responsibilities at home.
Also, from the same quote, “...that they may educate their children...” could lead to comments about the woman’s responsibility toward her role as wife and mother.
| Arise! |
In addition, using specific examples of outstanding Bahá’í women who have dedicated their lives to the Cause might be another way of building self-esteem in young women and of encouraging them to realize their potential as treasured servants of Bahá’u’lláh.
I pray that my comments are reflective and supportive of the ideals and attitudes that characterize Bahá’í life. Also, I deeply appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of those who are striving to build strength in our youth as we carry forward this civilization toward the Most Exalted Kingdom.
Norman, Oklahoma
Dear Friends:
Thank you for the magnificent articles about the family in The American Bahá’í (October 1978). I felt supported and encouraged reading them and sharing them with my children. The acceptance of all kinds of family constellations is really appreciated in our single-parent home.
St. Ann, Missouri
4 U.S. Bahá’ís Begin Pacific Teaching Trip[edit]
Four young Bahá’ís from the U.S. began a four-month teaching trip December 22 that will take them to the Solomon Islands, Fiji Islands, New Hebrides, and Papua New Guinea.
The project, which is being coordinated by the U.S. International Goals Committee office, includes visits to rural villages in the islands’ bush country. Young people who live in the area will accompany the U.S. teachers on these trips.
MEMBERS of the project are James Isham from New York State, Darrel Pugh from Illinois, Mark Sisson from California, and June Ritter from Washington, D.C. Miss Ritter is a member of the International Goals Committee.
The Solomons project was initiated shortly after the 4th International Convention last April in Haifa, Israel. At that Convention, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Solomon Islands asked the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly to send a team of young Black Americans to help with the Solomons’ goal.
Later, the National Spiritual Assemblies of Fiji, New Hebrides, and Papua New Guinea asked to become part of the project.
The four-month visit is being funded by the Universal House of Justice and by each of the participating National Spiritual Assemblies.
The teaching team left the U.S. via Los Angeles on December 22 and arrived at Suva, Fiji, two days later. It is to return to the U.S. on April 27.
During their visit, team members will use their talents in flute and dance to attract the public to teaching and proclamation events.
|
VANGUARD Youth News |
Weekend Teaching Drive Inspires California Youth[edit]
The youth in Southern California District No. 2, as a result of the California Summer Teaching Projects, have developed an exciting series of weekends that incorporate teaching, deepening and consolidation.
Called “It’s It,” these weekends regularly attract 30-35 youth. They go to a different city in the district each weekend, staying overnight.
The objectives of “It’s It” weekends are to 1) give youth in the area a chance to socialize with each other; 2) let youth expand their understanding of the meaning of deepening (it isn’t just reading books); and 3) involve youth with teaching activities in goal areas and setting up their own teaching projects. The fluidity of these weekends allows the youth to incorporate many teaching, deepening and consolidation ideas, and the project is still developing.
“TARGET 21” is the name of the deepenings given by Paul Polena as a part of the weekends. The deepenings are aimed at preparing youth for administrative responsibilities—“Target: 21”—but it does so by showing how the Administrative Order is a personal part of our daily lives.
Afternoons are spent in recreation, and this gives youth in the large district a chance to socialize and have a good time.
Teaching is of all kinds, including direct teaching in goal areas. Youth are encouraged to bring friends with them—to teach the people they see every day. Because of the nature of these weekends, new ideas and personal teaching projects are welcomed.
The interest and enthusiasm surrounding the “It’s It” weekends are encouraging when one considers the distance these youth travel to make the weekends successful. They are just one example of how youth are fulfilling their designation as “the Vanguard.”
The Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Virginia, Minnesota, sponsored a booth last July at the St. Louis County Fair in Hibbing. Bahá’ís at the booth gave away brightly-colored paper flowers with streamers that read, ‘In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love...Bahá’u’lláh.’ Shown here next to the flower tree are Mrs. Virginia Juola and her daughter, Sharon Marguerite.
Bahá’í Club at Wright State Sponsors Variety of Events[edit]
The Wright State University Bahá’í Club in Dayton, Ohio, wishes to share its activities of last year with Bahá’í youth across the nation. The following are some events sponsored by the Bahá’í Club on campus:
- A recital by the Dayton Classical Guitar Society.
- A lecture series that included talks on “Alternate Technology in Village India” and “Technology for World Order” by Cecil Cook, and “ANISA: An Educational Philosophy” by the American Friends Service Committee.
In addition, the school radio station broadcast the Jeff Reynolds Bahá’í programs, and the club had table displays about the Faith every month in addition to displays on UN Children’s Day and UN Day.
During the Fast, the club provided a room where Bahá’ís could go for meditation, and ended the Fast with a burrito party.
The Bahá’í Club was the only campus organization to welcome a visiting scholar from Haifa, Israel, with flowers. Also, the club sponsored a bus to a Cincinnati Reds baseball game where “Bahá’í Club” was flashed on the scoreboard.
The school newspaper did a feature article on the Bahá’í Club.
The club plans to hold weekly firesides this year, classes on Islam, table displays, and more.
Young People Clean House of Worship[edit]
Cold weather did not deter a group of 19 youth and pre-youth who came to the Bahá’í House of Worship on Friday, November 24, to clean it up for the Recognition Ceremony honoring it as a National Historic Place, held the following evening.
The young people, ranging in age from 12 to 22, came early at 8:30 a.m. and stayed until sunset. Some worked indoors, dusting, vacuuming, and washing the auditorium. Others assisted outdoors—raking leaves, sweeping, and planting tulip and crocus bulbs.
The work project, sponsored by the National Youth Committee, was open to any young Bahá’í who wished to participate. The response was so positive that the Youth Committee is considering similar one-day projects next spring and summer.
HAVE YOU PURCHASED A NATIONAL YOUTH COMMITTEE ‘WORLD CITIZEN’ T-SHIRT? IT’S GREAT AS A CLUB OR GROUP UNIFIER! BUY YOURS NOW AND ENCOURAGE YOUR CLUB OR GROUP MEMBERS TO BUY THEIRS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE YOUR BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY LIBRARIAN OR WRITE TO THE BAHÁ’Í PUBLISHING TRUST, 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091.
Grades, Degrees Important In Securing Overseas Jobs[edit]
(EDITOR’S NOTE: The 10th in a series of articles on careers for young people was written by Dr. Robert L. Gulick Jr., dean of admissions at the American Graduate School of International Management.)
When planning to secure a job overseas to pioneer, Bahá’í youth need to consider a number of points.
In our previous article, we discussed the need to learn the language and study the culture of one’s new country. This article will cover the importance of earning good grades in school and developing sound technical skills, as well as the need for specific professions in other countries. Preparation for pioneering should be technical, linguistic and ethnic.
Grades and Degrees[edit]
First of all, the grades a Bahá’í youth earns can help or hinder later job opportunities. Students often are too lackadaisical about their lessons during high school and the early college years, and the result is a poor grade-point average.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá urged Bahá’í students to excel in their studies, to be the best students in their classes. He also was in favor of graduate study, and sent His beloved grandson, Shoghi Effendi, to Oxford to attend graduate school.
Advanced degrees such as masters or doctorates are becoming increasingly important, especially for the prospective pioneer. In addition, it is useful to have a technical or professional skill not available in the host country, as this will help greatly in securing a work permit.
Job Opportunities[edit]
In the next 10 years, positions in management and administration will be more plentiful. Bank and finance managers, however, will be in greater demand than, say, restaurant managers. But hotel and restaurant management will become increasingly internationalized. The march of hamburger and pizza stands around the world is something to behold.
Despite a continuing trend toward court suits in this country, many young lawyers are having trouble finding jobs. American lawyers rarely practice overseas, but may find an occasional opening in multi-national companies or with the U.S. government.
Many Americans who have doctorates in language, including English, are either scrambling to find positions or are transferring to other types of employment.
The demand for high school and college teachers is expected to decline between now and 1985, but more scientists and engineers will be needed. Also, the number of computer programmers, systems analysts, and computer service people will increase.
Bahá’ís should follow the injunction of Muḥammad: “Seek learning from the cradle to the grave.” To be the best we can be in our chosen profession, as Bahá’u’lláh tells us to do, requires life-long learning.
As movement from country to country becomes more difficult, the potential pioneer will need to have the ability to make a significant professional contribution to the host country in order to remain there.
To bolster participation in its teaching efforts, the Bahá’í community of Eugene, Oregon, decided to plant a teaching garden. Each flower stalk represents some aspect of the Faith such as holding a fireside, teaching children, ‘living the life,’ praying, giving to the Fund, teaching in Eugene or other communities, giving Bahá’í literature to a friend—some 44 categories in all. At each Feast, believers add petals to the appropriate flowers, representing their participation in teaching activities. Displaying the ‘harvest’ are (left to right) Carolyn Brown, Claire Newport, Sandy Finley, Jan Osuji, Steve Scholl, Mike Jondrow (with Becky Wong on his shoulders), Dale Schreider (with Debbie Wong at his feet), Ruth Hupe, and Jean Stuart.
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We would like to introduce you to a series of four articles under the title “Family Unity Nights” (FUN). The articles will appear in The American Bahá’í in the months of January, April, July and October as part of the American Bahá’í community’s observance of the International Year of the Child, 1979. These articles each center on a different topic, and will offer practical suggestions for strengthening family unity and making the family a building block for a world civilization. Each family should decide how the theme will help strengthen its family unity, and whether the suggested activities are the best way to implement the theme, or if other activities of their own creation would be more successful. When reviewing an article, each family should consider the following:
The National Education Committee would be delighted to hear from your family and learn how the FUN activities have been of benefit to you and how they have been observed. Please write; we are looking forward to hearing from you. |
Strong Family Unit Assists God’s Plan[edit]
The most serious cause of problems in today’s world is that humanity does not understand its purpose. This ignorance lowers man to behaving like the animals, makes him suspicious of his neighbors, allows hatred to fester in his heart, veils him from God and attracts him to material things as a source of fulfillment.
Bahá’u’lláh, the Divine Physician, clearly prescribes the cure for mankind’s illness and urges His followers to administer it:
“THE WHOLE of mankind is in the grip of manifold ills. Strive, therefore, to save its life through the wholesome medicine which the almighty hand of the unerring Physician hath prepared.”1
“That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith.”2
How will involving everyone on earth in the same religion solve mankind’s problems and cure its diseases? The secret lies in the word purpose—after a person accepts Bahá’u’lláh he becomes unmistakably aware of God’s purpose for his life. When people everywhere belong to Bahá’u’lláh’s Faith, they will begin to make decisions based on whether or not their actions are fulfilling God’s purpose for their lives. As a result, the symptoms of our present illness will steadily disappear from the face of the earth.
The family, too, has a purpose, but one symptom of society’s present ills is the obvious decay of the institutions of marriage and family. The divorce rate in America indicates that people are entering into marriage lightly—without a clear understanding of its purpose.
A large number of young people today, many of whom are products of broken homes, have concluded that marriage is the surest way to ruin a relationship. They see marriage as stifling and confining.
UNWILLING to face the extra responsibilities that accompany wedlock, more and more non-Bahá’í young people are turning to less formalized living arrangements to meet their social and sexual needs. “Living together” before marriage has become a widely accepted means of determining a couple’s compatibility.
The increase of promiscuity and homosexuality indicates how confused we have become by our materialistic society’s over-emphasis on sex and physical beauty.
These conditions clearly point to the fact that society has lost sight of the reasons why the family unit should continue to exist. Bahá’u’lláh has reaffirmed the sacred nature of marriage and explained its purpose so that the sickness now evident in this important area of social life can be cured.
In this article, we will explore the Bahá’í Teachings that uphold the family as a purposeful unit.
THE BAHÁ’Í TEACHINGS accord a supremely important station to the family unit. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said that the order and security of mankind’s social life on this planet depend upon the strength and solidarity of its basic unit—the family.3
What makes a family unit strong? The degree to which it fulfills the purpose that God designed for it.
A family’s purpose can be found within the marriage prayers revealed by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
“Marry, O people, that from you may appear he who will remember Me amongst My servants...”4 “...that from the union of these two seas of love a wave of tenderness may surge and cast the pearls of pure and goodly issue on the shore of life.”5
These statements might lead us to believe that the sole purpose of marriage is to rear children. Propagation of the species is, indeed, an important purpose for marriage, but here the emphasis is placed on the quality of the offspring produced rather than upon the quantity.
A strictly literal interpretation of these phrases, however, may be discouraging to those who marry and are unable to have children. One way of thinking about “propagation” as a description of a family’s purpose is to consider that the marriage union is intended by God to produce fruits.
These fruits include rearing and educating children, raising up new Bahá’ís and producing services and qualities that benefit mankind. A family unit—whether comprised of only two people, a couple with children, or extended family with several generations living together—can be regarded as having fulfilled its purpose to “cast the pearls of pure and goodly issue on the shore of life” if it is characterized by love, tenderness, unity and productivity.
The greatest challenge for the family, then, is to create an environment in which family members are individually and collectively assisted to fulfill their purpose.
This means that each person must be able to develop physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. Through such development, the family will become a purposeful unit—the unshakable bedrock of civilization.
Creating such an environment is not easy. It requires a conscious effort on the part of each individual member.
Many of those who live in an all-Bahá’í family will find the task made easier since each member will be striving to some degree to live the Bahá’í life. Fortunately, however, those who live in families where not all members have become Bahá’ís may find themselves in the challenging position of providing the spiritual guidance needed to build unity and solidarity in the family unit.
There are several ingredients that are essential if families are to achieve their purpose. Many of these can be found in the Bahá’í Writings. We have listed several below; perhaps you can think of others:
Servitude—This is, perhaps, the single most important ingredient needed for a successful family unit. The importance of servitude is unmistakably demonstrated in the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Whose name means “Servant of Bahá.”
To Him, servitude was His crowning glory. He wrote: “My name is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My qualification is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My reality is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My praise is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion.”6
Servitude requires selflessness and sacrifice, but it is the surest way to create the needed environment of love and unity within a family.
Can you imagine how happy you would be if the other members of your family were continually thinking of ways to serve you and make it easier for you to achieve your goals in life? One of the FUN activities in this paper is designed to help you and your family incorporate servitude into your daily lives.
Common Goals—As mentioned previously, Bahá’u’lláh’s prescription for solving the world’s ills is to unite everyone in one common Cause. A family, too, must have goals that are common to all members if it is to function in unity and fulfill its purpose.
For Bahá’í families, common goals will most likely center around service to the Faith. Establishing goals such as saving money together to purchase a needed item, or planning weekend and summer family activities, is a tremendous way for any family to become more united and productive. One of the FUN activities in this paper will help your family establish some common goals.
Priorities—Life in America is hectic; we race madly about from morning to night and never seem to get anywhere. It is easy to become so involved with personal activities that family matters get relegated to last priority, making it impossible for the family to become a purposeful unit.
Families should frequently evaluate the priorities they have set for family life. Are other activities (including service to the Faith) so time-consuming for some family members that they are hindering the family from being united and productive?
Family Finds Real Treasure Doesn’t Mean Riches[edit]
By Joyce B. Chalmers
The Mullins family didn’t have much money. Daddy Mullins worked hard every day on the city garbage truck while Mother Mullins stayed home with their six children. They had saved for a long time to buy a house that would be large enough for their family.
One evening Mr. Mullins came home very happy. “I’ve found our house!” he called as he entered the screen door. After Mrs. Mullins had quieted the children, he explained that he had given their savings that morning for their new home and they could move in as quickly as they could make the place ready for their big family.
AFTER supper, the children and Mr. Mullins piled into their truck with Mrs. Mullins and drove over to the house.
“Oh, goodness me!” Mrs. Mullins said, when they pulled up in front of a dirty frame house in a crowded neighborhood. “It looks big enough, but, oh my, it certainly is dirty. Well, we must make it beautiful, that’s all.”
As she and Mr. Mullins helped the children from the truck, they began to plan just what each of them could do to make the ugly old dwelling pretty.
“John, you’re the oldest. Do you think you and I could paint the outside of the house?” Mr. Mullins said. “Sure, Dad,” replied John. “What color?”
“Well, children, what color shall it be?” Daddy Mullins asked.
“BLUE!” the children yelled at once. “Blue with white trim.”
When they entered the front door and saw the ugly, grey walls, Mrs. Mullins said, “Well, I think a good wash job will clean up these walls all right, but we’ll need some new curtains. Mary, you’re 15 now, and you can help me make them. I’ll bet we can get some material real cheap, or maybe even a sheet will do.”
“What can we do, Mama?” the younger children chorused.
“Now, let me see,” Mrs. Mullins mused. “We need someone to scrub the floor and wash the windows and porch—and then there’s the bathroom too.”
On Saturday morning the family members were at their new home very early. They brought buckets, brooms, soap and brushes and set to work while Jimmy and Mr. Mullins began to paint the outside of the house.
EACH DAY they worked very hard, and soon the house began to shine with their effort. At last they were finished and ready to move in.
A week later, Mr. Mullins and his family drove up with their first load of furniture, only to find some neighbors gathered on the sidewalk in front of their house.
One old man shuffled over to Mr. Mullins who was taking a chair off the truck. “Say, mister,” he said, shaking his head slowly, “I don’t know how you folks did all this. I never would have believed that this old house could look like this. It’s right pretty.”
A middle-aged lady with a tired face approached Mrs. Mullins. “Do you reckon you could show me how you made them pretty curtains I see in your windows there?” she asked. “I heard your girl say she was doing the sewing. I just love pretty things but we don’t never have no money and I ain’t got no sewing machine.”
MRS. Mullins smiled gently. “Of course, Mary can show you. We don’t have a sewing machine either, but Mary’s good with a needle, and I’ll bet you have some old sheets at your house. That’s what Mary used to make our curtains.”
That night, after Mrs. Mullins had tucked the children into bed, she joined her husband on the front porch.
“Did you get the kids all bedded down?” he asked his wife.
“Yes, and I’m sure tired after this day of moving.” She sighed and sat down beside him on the front stoop.
“Beth, you’re a good wife. I just wish I could give you more money for things,” Mr. Mullins said softly.
“Why, Sam, we don’t need money. We have our treasure right here in our family.”
Mr. Mullins smiled and nodded. “Yes, I guess that’s a fact, Beth. It surely is!”
FUN Ideas Aid Family Growth[edit]
1. The purpose of this activity is to play the role of another member of the family as you see him or her. Remember: it’s important to see the good and unique things people do. Put everyone’s name in a hat and select “who’s who.” You can do this activity for a set period of time (half-hour) or for the length of some other activity (such as dinnertime, housecleaning, a trip somewhere, etc.). If you wish, you can even wear an item of clothing belonging to the person you are going to role play (Dad’s shoes, Mom’s hat, sister’s sweater, brother’s baseball glove).
2. This activity involves making lists: make one list of people you and your family like to do things with, or who have said, “Let’s get together sometime.” Then make a list of activities you can do, places you can visit, things you can go to see. Prepare your lists with family consultation, then put them someplace handy (on a blackboard, bulletin board, refrigerator). Try to plan in advance a time when your family will want to do something together. Use your lists and make it an opportunity to include a friend or another family in your outing.
3. Intercalary Days can be shared with several holiday celebrations with friends. A possible approach to these days is to give of ourselves in many different situations. For example, the first day could be spent with family, the second with friends, the third with the Bahá’í community, and the fourth with strangers or performing an act of charity. Sharing is the important element. All family members can participate in holiday dinners by bringing something as his or her contribution to the meal. Everyone can help prepare the house by cleaning and decorating together. Invite friends to a party in your home. You can make gifts for your family and also deliver gifts to friends. Children can make cards for their teachers and friends. A family song-fest can be shared with friends who are shut-ins or in the hospital.
4. So often we say “don’t do this, don’t do that” to members of our family and to ourselves. This is a chance to reverse that situation; it takes only one-half hour. It can be done anywhere and can be made into a FUN situation with popcorn, juice, etc. The activity is: GIVE YOURSELF A PAT ON THE BACK. Get together with your family and tell each other your successes over a certain period of time (a week, day or weekend). Make it a relaxed, fun time to share.
5. Surprise a member of your family by doing a job for him that you know he does not like. For example, if you know that your brother hates to make his bed, surprise him by making it for him while he is out of the room. Your family will have fun trying to figure out who the mysterious secret helper is, while you will be feeling good inside for having done something nice for somebody else.
6. Create a family goal chart, listing 10 short-term goals that your family, as a result of consultation, would like to attain during one Bahá’í month. Across the top of the chart, write each of the 10 goals, and down the left side of the chart, list the names of all the family members. As each person attains a goal, his success is recorded on the family goal chart. A new chart can be made for each month. Sample goals could include:
- memorize the teaching prayer for your particular region,
- teach the Faith to one of your neighbors,
- teach the Faith to someone in your local supermarket,
- collect magazines to give to patients at a local hospital,
- plan an activity the family can do together.
7. Watch one episode of a “family” show on television, such as “The Waltons,” “Family,” “Little House on the Prairie,” “One Day at a Time,” etc. After viewing it, discuss how your family would have dealt with the problems presented during the show. How well do you think the television family handled the situations? Were their decisions morally correct according to the Bahá’í Writings? Could your family experience the same problem situations?
[Page 8]
The San Gabriel Valley Bahá’í Center near Los Angeles, California, had its grand opening October 21 with a well-attended open house. The Center, on one of the busiest streets in the Los Angeles area, is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Sierra Madre and coordinated by area communities through a committee of representatives. Current plans call for maintaining the Center until the end of the Five Year Plan, but San Gabriel area Bahá’ís hope it will be possible to keep it open for a much longer period.
Shown here are some of the Bahá’ís who participated in a teaching campaign this fall in California’s San Gabriel Valley. The campaign followed a visit to California by Continental Counsellor Hidáyatu’lláh Aḥmadíyyih of Belize. The teaching teams were well-received, and more than 30 interest cards were obtained in the first week. At the right in the second row is Judge James F. Nelson, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.
California Project Designed To Initiate ‘Entry by Troops’[edit]
The California Regional Teaching Committee announced early in December that “Project EBT” (Entry By Troops) was slated to begin the weekend of January 13-14.
The project is designed to initiate in California the process of “entry by troops” spoken of by the beloved Guardian.
DURING the project, Bahá’ís in California will concentrate their teaching efforts in areas that contain largely Spanish-speaking populations, with the primary emphasis on Spanish-speaking areas of Calexico, near the Mexican border, and Los Angeles. Every believer in the state is being asked to contribute some time to the project.
The opening weekend of Project EBT will include a teacher training institute at which Spanish-speaking Bahá’ís will introduce participants to materials and techniques that have proven successful in teaching Spanish-speaking peoples.
“We want to focus these teaching efforts where the process of entry by troops is self-sustaining,” said Gary Worth, a member of the California Regional Teaching Committee. “We believe this is what the Guardian meant when he referred to ‘initiation’ of the process. The Spanish-speaking people here appear to be quite receptive to the Faith.”
The Regional Teaching Committee says its teaching emphasis has shifted from forming Assemblies to opening localities, in response to a directive from the National Teaching Committee that followed the formation on November 26 of 1,400 Local Assemblies in the U.S., thus winning that goal of the Five Year Plan.
DESPITE the shift in emphasis, however, California remains confident that its Assembly goal will be won before the end of the Plan.
Another goal, that of opening every county in the state to the Faith, moved nearer completion in November when Bahá’ís in the Northern No. 1 District opened Glenn County through a door-to-door teaching effort in Hamilton City, near Chico.
Teams of Bahá’ís went to nearly every home in the town of 900, collecting six interest cards and two declarations. The friends in the district are arranging deepening classes for the new believers.
The victory in Glenn County means that only Alpine County, in the Central No. 2 District, remains unopened. Alpine County is in a rugged mountain area south of Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
California began the Five Year Plan with 52 unopened counties. By Riḍván 1978 the number was reduced to six, five of which have been opened since then.
Classified Ads[edit]
CLASSIFIED ADS in The American Bahá’í are intended as a service to the U.S. Bahá’í community and are printed free of charge.
EDITORIAL TRAINEE and editorial assistant needed. The Bahá’í Publishing Trust is in urgent need of two qualified Bahá’ís to fill these positions. The duties of an editorial trainee or editorial assistant include: checking grammar, punctuation, accuracy of facts, quotations; preparing footnotes and bibliographies when needed; making sure that structure and style are consistent; and aiding in the proofreading when a manuscript is set in type. Skills needed: A solid command of grammar and rhetoric; familiarity with a standard style manual; an appreciation for detail and accuracy, and an ability to solve grammatical and stylistic problems quickly. Anyone who is qualified and interested in these positions should send a résumé and writing samples immediately to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. Or you may phone the Trust at 312-251-1854 for an application.
SIX LOGAN, UTAH, Bahá’ís invite long-term pioneers to settle in this mountain valley at about 6,000 feet altitude surrounded by rural countryside. Seventy percent of Logan’s population of 30,000, including about 10,000 Utah State University students, are of the Mormon Faith. Utah’s cost of living is lower than the national average, and Logan’s cost for housing is quite reasonable. There’s clean air here and skiing 20 minutes away in the Wasatch Mountains. A cannery, meat-packing plant, cheese factory, snow vehicle industry, small industrial truck industry, medical and personnel services, and the University provide job opportunities. If interested please write to Muin or Soheila Afnani, 27A USU Apts., Logan, UT 84321, or phone 801-752-1592.
FOUR ADULT BAHA’ÍS are needed in Post Falls, Idaho, to save the Local Spiritual Assembly. Two Assembly members have left and two more are leaving in January. Post Falls, a small town some 30 minutes from Spokane, Washington, is 15 minutes from Coeur d’Alene in the midst of trees and mountains with lakes nearby. Employment is available in construction or lumber mill work. For more information, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Post Falls, P.O. Box 134, Post Falls, ID 83854.
BAHÁ’ÍS ARE NEEDED to help form a Spiritual Assembly in Germantown, Tennessee, a recently-opened locality six miles from Memphis. Memphis is the home of eight colleges and universities. Immediate employment is available for nurses and industrial engineers. For more information, please contact Roohoollah Hajbandeh, 1923 Corbin Road, Germantown, TN 38138, or phone 901-754-4461.
HOMEFRONT PIONEERS are needed to help reopen the locality of South El Monte, California, east of Los Angeles. Several nearby Assemblies can offer aid and encouragement. More than 80 per cent of the people in South El Monte are of Spanish descent and most are bi-lingual. South El Monte is 30 minutes from the Pacific Ocean and 30 minutes from the mountains. Bahá’ís may contact Bill and Gloria Troy for a place to stay while looking at the area. Their address is 11732 Sitka Street, El Monte, CA 91732. Phone 213-443-0771.
HOMEFRONT PIONEERS are urgently needed in many localities in Wyoming. Bahá’ís are needed to help save jeopardized Assemblies in Newcastle, Wheatland, and the Wind River Indian Reservation. Employment is available, especially in mining, energy, construction, teaching, and skilled labor. Medical personnel and other professional people also are needed. Statewide unemployment is about 3 to 4 per cent. Wyoming has open spaces, majestic mountains, an unpolluted and sparsely populated countryside. For more information, please contact the Wyoming District Teaching Committee, c/o Barbara Deverse, 443 High Street, Buffalo, WY 82834, or phone 307-684-2745.
THE SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY of El Monte, California (near Los Angeles) needs patient, deepened Bahá’ís to help maintain the Assembly’s status. It is presently numerically jeopardized. Patience and love are among the important qualities needed in this excellent area for direct teaching. Good job market, with convenient bus service to Los Angeles. Bahá’ís who are interested in moving to El Monte may contact Bill and Gloria Troy for a temporary place to stay while in the area. Their address is 11732 Sitka Street, El Monte, CA 91731. Phone 213-443-0771.
UTICA, NEW YORK, needs Bahá’ís to help bring this New York State Assembly goal to fruition. Utica, a city of more than 70,000, is within minutes of the lovely upstate New York countryside and has much to offer in the way of culture, education and recreation. The major employers include General Electric and Chicago Pneumatic. There are several colleges in the immediate area. For information, contact the Bahá’ís of Clinton, P.O. Box 139, Clinton, NY 13323, or phone 315-853-5021.
MIDVALE, UTAH, a multi-racial suburb of Salt Lake City, needs four adult Bahá’ís to help the community of five adults, one youth and six children gain Assembly status. An ideal location for families, with plenty of inexpensive housing, excellent job opportunities in a variety of professions, beautiful scenery and a year-round recreational area. For information, please contact Venn Mellor, 511 Ivy Drive, Midvale, UT 84047, or phone 801-255-9291.
BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA, needs a Bahá’í couple who can move there to save its Spiritual Assembly. Experience in Bahá’í administration would be helpful. There is a job opening as director of the Bismarck Early Childhood Education Program (BECEP) for which a master’s degree in special education with administrative experience is necessary. For information, contact the North Dakota District Teaching Committee, Dick Hastings, secretary, 822 7th Avenue NW, Minot, ND 58701, or phone 701-839-2749.
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Meet a Hand of the Cause of God With Bahá’í Films These 16 mm color films are suitable for Bahá’ís and those close to the Faith. Each can be rented for $29 (three-day rental, three showings) Retrospective Our newest rental film—a tribute to the Hand of the Cause of God John A. Robarts on the occasion of his fortieth anniversary as a member of the Bahá’í community. “As a source of deepening for the friends, and a confirming experience for many, it will find intense use at summer schools, conferences, institutes, wherever Bahá’ís and those close to the Faith are gathered.” —Audio-Visual Dept., Bahá’í World Center. Produced by Cine Bahá’í. 50 minutes Invitation A warm and personal interview with the Hand of the Cause of God Rúḥíyyih Khánum in Montreal, Canada, on the occasion of the 1975 commemoration of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to Canada in 1912. Produced by Cine Bahá’í. 60 minutes To order: Order through community Librarians if possible! Send a letter separate from other orders and payments indicating title of film you wish to rent and first, second, and third choices of dates desired. Order at least one month in advance of first choice date. Enclose full payment. For immediate film rental info, call the Bahá’í Book Store at (312) 256-4400. Bahá’í Publishing Trust 415 LINDEN AVE • WILMETTE, IL 60091 |
Papers on Faith Offered At Meeting of Scholars[edit]
Three distinctive firsts for Bahá’ís occurred in New Orleans during the joint annual meeting November 18-21 of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature.
First, the Bahá’í Publishing Trust joined a prestigious group of exhibitors by arranging to rent its own display booth. Several thousand of the nation’s leading scholars in the fields of religion, philosophy, theology, religious history and comparative religion passed by the booth during the four days of the convention.
SECOND, Dr. Ann Schoonmaker, a Bahá’í from Summit, New Jersey, presented a brief report entitled “The Concept of Progressive Revelation in The Kitáb-i-Íqán by Bahá’u’lláh” at a small meeting of the section on the Philosophy of Religion and Theology, as well as a breakfast session paper, “Before Andro-centricism: Recovering the Pre-Oedipal Dimension of Human History,” an indirect approach to the evolution of religion.
Third, a non-Bahá’í, Dr. Dan Bassuk from the University of South Florida, presented a paper on religion in modern India in which he discussed the fulfillment in Bahá’u’lláh of the Hindu prophecies concerning the Kalki Avatar. This was probably the first time that both Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís have presented scholarly papers on Bahá’u’lláh in such a setting.
The book display was manned by Publishing Trust representatives Marie Procter of Lehighton, Pennsylvania, an assistant to the Auxiliary Board, and Dr. Schoonmaker. They were assisted by several members of the New Orleans Bahá’í community who aided in delivering and packing books and in substituting at the booth.
THE MOST rewarding comments made spontaneously by visitors to the Publishing Trust booth were those by professors who reported how impressed they have been by the high caliber of Bahá’í students studying under them.
Other visitors were impressed that the Faith has grown to the extent that it publishes many books and displayed them at the convention. Still others recounted stories about Bahá’ís they have known around the world, as well as their memorable visits to the various Bahá’í Shrines and Houses of Worship.
Dr. Schoonmaker’s participation in this year’s AAR convention fulfilled her personal Five Year Plan goal set in 1975. At that time she began suggesting to the Publishing Trust that it sponsor a booth at the convention, and she also applied to various sections of the American Academy of Religion for the opportunity to present papers related to the Faith.
At the 1977 AAR convention in San Francisco, she presented a paper entitled, “The Story of Ṭáhirih: First Martyr for Women’s Religious Equality.”
A marriage and family therapist with a doctorate in theology, Dr. Schoonmaker is author of Me, Myself and I: Every Woman’s Journey to Her Self, published by Harper and Row in 1977.
The Bahá’í Publishing Trust set up this display booth at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature in November at New Orleans.
Samoa Rally Held to Announce Successes in Five Year Plan[edit]
The Bahá’í community of Samoa held a victory rally November 12, the anniversary of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, to announce that its Five Year Plan goals for Local Spiritual Assemblies, localities, and Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds have been won.
There are now 55 Local Spiritual Assemblies in Samoa, three more than the goal of 52. The goal of 200 localities open to the Faith has been exceeded, with 204 localities now opened.
THE GOAL of 10 Ḥaẓíratu’l-Quds also has been won, with the dedication of the last two the weekend of November 25-26.
In addition, there has been a large increase in the number of believers in Samoa. During the past 10 months almost 700 declarations were recorded, more than doubling the number of Bahá’ís enrolled in Samoa during the Plan.
The Bahá’ís of Samoa have been notified by the Universal House of Justice that an appropriate ceremony is to be held the weekend of January 27-28, 1979, for laying the cornerstone of the House of Worship to be built in Samoa. The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum will represent the Universal House of Justice at the ceremony.
A plan for the House of Worship has been accepted, and work is under way to clear and prepare the site. Construction should begin during 1979.
In a letter to the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly telling of its victories, the National Spiritual Assembly of Samoa said: “We dearly appreciate all you have done to assist this community in achieving the goals of the Five Year Plan, and pray you will share our love with all our dear friends in America.”
Marjorie Morningstarr, a Mi-Wuk Indian, was enrolled in the Faith at the time of the California Central District No. 2 Convention, enabling the District Teaching Committee to achieve a long-time goal of opening the Mi-Wuk Rancheria at Tuolumne, California, to the Faith.
Counsellor Guest At Bosch School[edit]
A visit by Continental Counsellor Florence Mayberry was among the highlights as 75 Bahá’ís and their friends spent two weeks of study and fellowship November 12-26 at the Bosch Bahá’í School near Santa Cruz, California. It was Mrs. Mayberry’s first visit to the site.
The students participated in a review of scriptural promises about the past, present and future. Classes were conducted by National Spiritual Assembly member Richard Betts of Agoura Valley, California, and Marion West of Sparks, Nevada.
Mrs. Mayberry, a member of the International Teaching Centre in Haifa, Israel, recounted her first meeting with John and Louise Bosch, for whom the Bosch School is named. That meeting took place at Geyserville, the first permanent Bahá’í School in California.
At that time, she said, she was deeply moved by the realization that she would eventually become a Bahá’í. She expressed her excitement at being able to visit the spiritual and physical descendant of Geyserville, the Bosch Bahá’í School.
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Catch a Spark of the love of Bahá’u’lláh READ STAR STUDY PROGRAM BOOKLETS Now Available at Special Package Price! The five booklets shown here are part of the Star Study Program. The aim of this program, the National Spiritual Assembly has written, “is to help believers catch a spark of the love of Bahá’u’lláh and become deepened in the basic teachings of the Faith.” By reading the booklets, you can:
To order: Order through your local Bahá’í librarian if possible. Isolated Bahá’ís and Bahá’ís in communities with no librarian may use the coupon order form below. |
Preschool Years Are a Time for Learning[edit]
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third of six articles on children and learning written by Deborah H. Christensen of London, Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Christensen has a master’s degree in education, specializing in early childhood, and has served on the U.S. National Education Committee.)
The preschool years (roughly ages three to five) offer a time of consolidation for the child. The toddler’s internal struggles give way to the more settled, focused behavior of the three-year-old. He works fairly constantly at learning.
It is sometimes said that by the age of four we have learned half of what we will ever know. As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, “Many elementary sciences must be made clear to them (children) in the nursery; they must learn them in play, in amusement.” (Star of the West, Volume 7, Page 142, December 12, 1916)
What should a preschool child be learning? Intellectually, there are a number of concepts that contribute to his growing foundation of knowledge. Classifying—seeing likenesses and differences, and grouping according to a similarity—is one.
HELPING children focus on similarities and differences, giving them many opportunities to sort things according to size, color, shape, use, etc., supports the development of this mental skill.
Seriation—ordering a set of objects from largest to smallest or heaviest to lightest—is another important concept. It develops slowly. A three-year-old may be able to choose the biggest and smallest objects, whereas a five-year-old could put a group of objects in order.
Parents can help children learn the concept of numbers by associating numbers with objects (“Let’s count one block, two beads, three balls,” etc.).
Letter and word recognition can also be introduced if older preschool children are interested, but in a casual way so as not to put undue pressure on them. Concepts like up-down, above-below, here-there, and left-right can be taught through informal games.
LANGUAGE development should also be stressed at this stage. Parents can be helpful in several ways—by giving children labels for new things and experiences, by being available for answering questions and chatting, by reading stories and poetry to them, by singing with them, by listening to their feelings and opinions. These may seem obvious, but their importance cannot be overstated.
Socially, the preschool child has a large agenda. He has to learn the basic social skills for getting along in the world. The roots of success, of course, lie in the quality of the child’s past experiences.
Learning to share and cooperate are difficult skills to acquire, and children need much loving guidance and modeling from adults and older friends to master the arts of consultation and cooperation.
It is unrealistic to expect a 2½-year-old to share automatically. This ability develops gradually and, from the child’s point of view, is quite difficult, for he considers everything in the world his.
POSITIVE efforts should be richly rewarded and negative reactions lovingly and firmly handled without harsh punishment or words. (“You choose which toy Sally can play with. Sharing your pail makes Sally so happy! I know you don’t feel like sharing right now, but it is something we must learn. Sally can play with the pail and we can build a sand castle over here with this shovel.”)
Giving preschool children reasons for rules and decisions is very important. It helps develop their rational powers and teaches them the value of solving problems through reason.
A major step in the reasoning process is being able to see another person’s point of view. Parents can assist in this process by expressing their feelings and opinions and helping a child see himself in another’s shoes.
Physically, the preschool child is very much in control of himself, to his great relief. There are also many skills to challenge him.
MANY opportunities to climb, run, jump, skip, hop, and ride are necessary. Obstacle courses, for example, can be useful along these lines.
His small muscles can be helped by activities like coloring, drawing, painting, simple sewing and embroidery, clay modeling, or building with bricks, blocks, and the many other available construction toys.
Emotionally, the preschooler vacillates between periods of equilibrium and disequilibrium. So much is happening inside, in terms of development, that it’s little wonder a normally easy-going three-year-old seems to fall apart on his fourth birthday. Parents must be lovingly sympathetic, offer what help they can, and at the same time not give in on non-negotiable rules.
All things considered, the preschool years should be a time of processing large quantities of information in an unpressured, enjoyable way. One is reminded of a part of the Master’s first Tablet to Shoghi Effendi, then only five years old:
“Now is not the time for you to read and write, it is the time for jumping about and chanting ‘O my God!’, therefore memorize the prayers of the Blessed Beauty and chant them that I may hear them, because there is no time for anything else.” (The Priceless Pearl, page 8)
Thousands of people saw this float prepared by the Bahá’ís of Wilson Township, Wisconsin, and used in four parades this summer in the Sheboygan and Manitowoc County areas. The float includes a globe over which arcs a rainbow reading, ‘God Is One, Man Is One, Religion Is One.’ The rainbow flows into a pot of gold symbolizing unity. An estimated 20,000 people saw the float in Sheboygan’s 4th of July parade, with thousands more viewing it in the Cedar Grove Holland Festival, and the Kiel and Sheboygan 125th anniversary parades. Children from the Wilson Township Bahá’í community, dressed in various national costumes, were seated at the four corners of the float.
Michigan Towns Proclaim Faith Through ‘Bahá’í Unity Week’[edit]
The Spiritual Assemblies of St. Joseph and Benton Township, Michigan, proclaimed the Faith with a series of exciting events during “Bahá’í Unity Week” October 15-22.
Activities included an International Food and Dance Festival, children’s poster contest, Family Music Night, an awards banquet on the anniversary of the Birth of the Báb, firesides, a prayer meeting, and the film, “Step by Step,” shown at the Benton Harbor public library.
THE MAYORS of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor and town supervisors in St. Joseph Township and Benton Township signed “Bahá’í Unity Week” proclamations. Publicity included three substantial articles in local newspapers.
The week’s events began with the International Food and Dance Festival that drew about 50 people. Entertainers included the Van Buren Folk Dancers and children from the nearby town of Berrien Springs.
The poster contest, sponsored by the Bahá’ís in public schools in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, focused on the unity of mankind. Seventy non-Bahá’ís attended an awards presentation that featured a show by the Garden Puppet Theatre whose theme was taken from Greek and Zairian folk tales.
Winning posters were displayed for a week at the public library. Parents of the awards recipients showed a keen appreciation of the honor their children received.
THE AWARDS banquet honored four area residents for their contributions in the fields of world peace, equality of men and women, promotion of the unity of mankind, and service to humanity.
Marvin Hughes, a Bahá’í from Pontiac, addressed the audience of more than 80 (including about 70 non-Bahá’ís) on the topic “One Planet, One People ... Please.”
The Family Music Night was held at St. Joseph’s First Congregational Church of Christ and featured performances by the Twin Cities Federation of Musicians Local 232 and the Kyle Family Singers from Benton Harbor.
Customers Receive World Order Sets[edit]
A long story ended happily in November when the Bahá’í Publishing Trust shipped nearly 170 bound volumes of World Order magazine to 42 patient customers.
The story began in June 1976 when the Publishing Trust announced the availability of a limited number of complete bound sets of World Order. Eight of the nine volumes were ready at the time, and the ninth volume, with an index, was to be shipped separately in the fall.
However, the index to the nine volumes took longer to prepare than expected. When the index was finally completed and printed, the company that had bound the first eight volumes of the set found that it was unable to bind the ninth volume due to the added bulk of the index.
The search for a bindery equipped for the job was delayed by a number of key personnel changes at the Publishing Trust. Finally, in July 1978, the Trust was able to secure the services of a bindery capable of finishing the work. It was only a few months later—in November—that most of the volumes were shipped to their owners.
The Publishing Trust regrets the inconvenience these delays may have caused. If you ordered but have not yet received your copies of the bound sets of World Order, send a letter to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
The Pioneer Training Institute held October 5-8 in Wilmette, Illinois, was attended by 45 believers who will be filling pioneer posts in Australia, the Bahamas, Belize, Botswana, Central African Empire, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, Guyana, Honduras, Japan, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Transkei, Upper Volta, Venezuela, Zaire, and Zambia.
‘7 Mysteries’ Praised by Reviewers[edit]
The new book, The Seven Mysteries of Life: An Exploration in Science and Philosophy, written by Bahá’í author Guy Murchie, is being widely publicized and praised by reviewers and is helping to proclaim the Bahá’í Faith.
Wall Street Journal book critic Edmund Fuller wrote that “Mr. Murchie has a remarkably comprehensive knowledge of science and writes about it with the gifts of a poet plus a highly personal visionary, mystical spirit that is moving and interesting ... He is much influenced by the 19th-Century Persian mystic Bahá’u’lláh.”
IN A REVIEW published in the Book-of-the-Month Club News, well-known literary critic Clifton Fadiman wrote: “The real hero of Mr. Murchie’s new book is life itself, and the hundreds of examples he offers to illustrate the diversity and interrelationships of living forms are alone worth the price of admission.”
During a recent visit to Chicago, Mr. Murchie taped interviews on WBEZ-FM, the area’s public radio station, and on “Cromie Circle,” a TV show hosted by book critic Robert Cromie. The Chicago Tribune, for whom the author once worked as feature writer, photographer, staff artist, reporter, and war correspondent, made plans to review Mr. Murchie’s book.
On Sunday, November 19, the author addressed a gathering of Bahá’ís and visitors at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette. In his talk, entitled “Humanity’s Coming of Age,” he linked the “seven mysteries” described in his book to the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
By special arrangement with the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Company, The Seven Mysteries of Life is available from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust for $14.95—$3 off the list price. The book may be ordered through Bahá’í librarians or directly from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.
In Memoriam[edit]
- Mrs. Rezvan M. Afnan
- Shaker Heights, Ohio
- October 4, 1978
- Jack Allen
- Sellers, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- David Anderson
- Lynchburg, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- John Austin
- Cheraw, S.C.
- 1978
- Delaney Bachus
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Leroy Baker
- Jefferson, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Dorsey Barden
- Pamplico, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Maggie Barton
- Pamplico, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Sam Beach
- Pamplico, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Carolina Bellamy
- Longs, S.C.
- 1976
- Mrs. Elisa Bellamy
- Longs, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Horace Bellamy
- Longs, S.C.
- 1972
- Roy Bellamy
- Loris, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- James Bethea
- Latta, S.C.
- February 1977
- Joe Bethea
- Latta, S.C.
- 1976
- Miss Sharon Bethea
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Thomas Birch
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Mary Alice Blue
- Lake View, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Mildred Robinson
- Pageland, S.C.
- 1976
- Thomas Robinson
- Pamplico, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Marion McBride
- Trio, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Betty Bronson
- Cades, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Maggie Brow
- Salters, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Charlie Brown
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Henry Brown
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- James Brown
- Belle Glade, Florida
- Date Unknown
- William Brown
- Alcolu, S.C.
- 1977
- Robert R. Bruhl
- Lakeland, Florida
- October 7, 1978
- Mrs. Molly Brunsen
- Rimini, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Essie Buchanan
- Clio, S.C.
- 1978
- Alex Burgess
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Emory Canady
- Byron, Georgia
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Elsie Lee Carter
- Corsicana, Texas
- April 1978
- Bunion Cash
- Chesterfield, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Henery Charles
- Rimini, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mose Clayton
- Cotton Plant, Ark.
- Date Unknown
- Rich Connyers
- Alcolu, S.C.
- January 1978
- Mrs. Thelma Craig
- San Gabriel, Calif.
- October 26, 1978
- Grover C. Crane
- Richburg, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Addie Crawford
- Rains, S.C.
- December 1973
- Lewis L. Crawford
- Rains, S.C.
- April 1977
- Maxie Croker
- Salters, S.C.
- 1975
- Vernon Curry
- Grovetown, Georgia
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Deloris Daney
- Alcolu, S.C.
- 1978
- Mrs. Annie Davis
- Lake View, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Clarence Davis
- Poston, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Earl Davis
- Nichols, S.C.
- 1974
- Buster DeWitt
- Lynchburg, S.C.
- 1974 or 1975
- Edward Dickenson
- Lane, S.C.
- March 1975
- Willie Dortch
- Nichols, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Clem Dove
- Cheraw, S.C.
- 1977
- Mrs. Oneda Dukes
- Greeleyville, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Ada Ellerbe
- Sellers, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Leland Ellison
- Waynesboro, Georgia
- Date Unknown
- Woodrow Fleming
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Janie D. Ford
- Lake View, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Savannah Ford
- Nichols, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Lillian Foxworth
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Willie Freeman
- Rimini, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Elijah Galloway
- Latta, S.C.
- 1972
- Jessie German
- Little Rock, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Jimmie Geter
- Latta, S.C.
- 1973
- Mrs. Essie Gilmore
- Cotton Plant, Ark.
- Date Unknown
- John Grafton
- Richburg, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Blonzer Graham
- Rains, S.C.
- 1974
- Marion Grant
- Holly Hill, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Blanche Green
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Jane Green
- Sellers, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Willie Green
- Rains, S.C.
- 1976
- Wilmer Green
- Pamplico, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Bolin Greene
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Henry Harrison
- Alcolu, S.C.
- March 1978
- Mrs. Blanche Harry
- Lynchburg, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Clara Huckaby
- Corsicana, Texas
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Sarah Hughes
- Corsicana, Texas
- December 1977
- Jack Hunter
- Pamplico, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Marlon Hunter
- PeeDee, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- John Irby
- Tatum, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Latton James
- PeeDee, S.C.
- 1973
- Robert James
- Clio, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Curtis Lee Johnson
- Fort Valley, Georgia
- 1972
- Mrs. Pearl Jones
- Latta, S.C.
- 1973
- Rufus Jones
- Latta, S.C.
- 1972
- Thomas Jones
- Timmonsville, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. L. A. Latimer
- Corsicana, Texas
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Luella Lawson
- Pinehurst, Georgia
- Date Unknown
- David Little
- Chesterfield, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Rose Little
- Holly Hill, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Sam Lockhart
- Pageland, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Neta Louis
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Albert McBride
- Chesterfield, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Henry McCleary
- Lane, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- James McDonald
- Lake View, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Miss Mary McClary
- Lane, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- John MacDonald
- Roberta, Georgia
- Date Unknown
- Willie Mac Luke
- Appling, Georgia
- Date Unknown
- Allcan Mention
- Pamplico, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Ben Milton
- Chesterfield, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Arthur Moody
- Zion, S.C.
- 1972
- Mrs. Connie Moore
- Cheraw, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Randy Moore
- Lake City, S.C.
- 1976
- Julius Myers
- Chesterfield, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Larry Myers
- Chesterfield, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- John Page
- Sellers, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Lizzie Pee
- Centenary, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Robert Perkins
- Effingham, S.C.
- 1975
- Mrs. Bessie Playger
- Cades, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- James A. Pritchard
- Tuolumne City, Calif.
- October 10, 1978
- Albert Profit
- Holly Hill, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Julius Rayscor
- Sellers, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Dozie Robertson
- Nichols, S.C.
- 1973
- Nolan Roberts
- Meridian, Miss.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Mary Robison
- San Carlos, Calif.
- June 1978
- Nathaniel Rogers
- Greeleyville, S.C.
- August 1978
- Daniel Roseboro
- Fort Mill, S.C.
- 1976
- Miss Janice Rouse
- Loris, S.C.
- 1977
- Clarence Russell
- Cotton Plant, Ark.
- Date Unknown
- Ben Scott
- Latta, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- John D. Singletary
- Cades, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Georgia Skinner
- Waynesboro, Georgia
- Date Unknown
- Olin Smith
- Cheraw, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mackey Spann
- Greeleyville, S.C.
- 1977
- Mrs. Gladys Stange
- Spokane, Wash.
- October 23, 1978
- James Strong
- Cheraw, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Mrs. Hattie Stewart
- Rimini, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- James Sullivan
- Williamston, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- James Sutton
- Jefferson, S.C.
- Date Unknown
- Clyde Tart
- Latta, S.C.
- 1975
- Ernest Thomas
- Clio, S.C.
- 1976
- Mrs. Beatrice Williams
- Effingham, S.C.
- 1975
- Mrs. Nancy Williams
- Corsicana, Texas
- Date Unknown
- Floyd Wilson
- Salters, S.C.
- August 15, 1975
- Mrs. Edith Inez Wininsky
- Hermitage, Pa.
- October 7, 1978
House of Worship’s Register Listing Exceptional[edit]
Last June, the National Spiritual Assembly received a letter from Keith A. Scalle, National Register coordinator for the Illinois Department of Conservation, stating that the Bahá’í House of Worship had been entered in the National Register of Historic Places on May 23, 1978. The register is the government’s official list of “the nation’s cultural resources worthy of preservation.”
The National Spiritual Assembly first sought the designation in September 1977 when it filed an application under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. This Act states that “the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to expand and maintain a national register of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology and culture.”
THE APPLICATION specifies 28 areas of significance under which a site or building may be considered for listing. The three areas that apply to the House of Worship are architecture, engineering and religion.
In its application, the National Spiritual Assembly included a statement on each of these points. Some excerpts follow:
Architecture[edit]
“The architectural significance of the building is well stated by H. Van Buren Magonigle, past president of the Architectural League: ‘Mr. Louis Bourgeois has conceived a Temple of Light in which structure, as usually understood, is to be concealed, visible support eliminated as far as possible, and the whole fabric is to take on the airy substance of a dream; it is a lacy envelope, enshrining an idea; the idea of Light, a shelter of cobweb interposed between earth and sky, struck through and through with Light—Light which shall partly consume the forms and make of it a thing faery.’ ”
Engineering[edit]
“The Temple trustees decided to treat supporting structure of the building and exterior ornament as separate problems from financial necessity. They had their engineers design a concrete and steel skeleton on which the exterior ornament could later be hung. A host of structural problems were solved by this decision and it became an ideal example of the principle of separation of structure from ornament so persuasively advocated by John J. Early, the man who made concrete beautiful.”
Religion[edit]
“Mr. Bourgeois, speaking about his model: ‘The teachings of Bahá’u’lláh (Glory of God) unify the religions of the world into one universal religion, and as we know that all great historic religions developed a new architecture, so the Bahá’í Temple is the practical teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. In the Bahá’í Temple is used a composite architecture, expressing the essence in line of the great architectural styles, harmonizing them into one whole.’ ”
Ordinarily, religious institutions and properties that have achieved significance within the last 50 years are not considered eligible for the National Register.
Two exceptions to the rule are religious property deriving its primary significance from architectural or artistic distinction or historic importance, and a property achieving significance within the last 50 years because of its exceptional importance. The House of Worship qualified under both exceptions.
INCLUSION in the listing does not obligate owners of private property to adhere to any special government regulations. It does, however, offer some important advantages.
Aside from the proclamation potential, perhaps the most important benefit for the House of Worship is “protection from arbitrary alteration by any federally funded, licensed, or assisted projects,” as well as projects initiated by state or local governments.
The program also “makes private property owners eligible to be considered for federal grants-in-aid for historic preservation ...” We are not, however, obligated to request such funding, nor is the government obligated to authorize either grants-in-aid (in which the government reimburses half the cost of a project) or federally guaranteed loans.
While the program provides certain tax incentives, the Faith is not affected by them, since the House of Worship is presently tax-exempt as a religious structure.
There are 280 places in Illinois listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and 15,000 nationwide.
As a proclamation event, the listing in the National Register has generated significant public interest, with several Chicago-area magazines, newspapers and radio stations carrying news stories of the achievement.
The first Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Forest Grove, Oregon, was formed July 26 and held its Recognition Ceremony October 21. Members are (front row left to right) Dann Casey, Lois Sokup, Joan Jensen, Helen Becker, and (back row left to right) Joan Roberts, Nancy Lindstrom, William Roberts, Zenna Casey, Joan Giger.
Family[edit]
Continued From Page 8
Some very active families have learned how to make the most of their limited time together and are able to fulfill their purpose, but disunity within a family is an indication that it is time to assign a higher priority to activities that can be shared by the entire family, and to reduce the number of outside involvements that keep the family apart.
Mutual Respect—There is an old saying that “familiarity breeds contempt.” The closer we get to someone, the more we learn about their weaknesses as well as their strengths.
In the extreme familiarity of the family setting, almost no aspect of an individual’s personality is hidden from view. Tempers can flare, insults fly, and, without a generous measure of patience and restraint, physical abuse might be the outcome.
The best way to cope with the tensions that inevitably build up between family members is to cultivate a strong sense of respect for each other as human beings. Each one of us represents the crowning glory of God’s creation, each has the potential to show forth all His attributes.
We also know that we are bound to make mistakes along the way because that is a natural part of the growth process. Perhaps the best way to demonstrate respect is to follow ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example and praise the good qualities we see in each other, not dwelling on those we think are bad.
Family Devotions—Bahá’u’lláh encourages His followers to immerse themselves in the Ocean of His Revelation. By so doing, we are able to remain focused on the purpose of life and our progress as spiritual beings.
Reading the Writings together as a family unit in the morning or evening (or both) will develop good habits of daily prayer and meditation for every member of the family. It takes discipline to begin setting aside time to read together every day, but such a regimen should be established if the family is to become a purposeful unit.
Communication Skills—Imagine trying to build something with a group of people who cannot communicate because they all speak different languages! The task would be difficult, if not impossible.
Similarly, a family that is working to build a purposeful unit needs to be able to communicate effectively if it is to overcome the difficulties and problems it will encounter. Bahá’í families are fortunate to have the principles of Bahá’í consultation to serve as a guide to problem-solving.
It would be helpful for families to practice the art of consultation whenever any difficulties arise. One of the FUN activities in this paper is designed to give you practice with the consultation process.
Undoubtedly there are many more elements that are necessary if the family is to become a purposeful unit, and perhaps the few we have listed here will help you to think of others.
By learning as much as we can about God’s purpose for marriage and family, we will be motivated to acquire Bahá’í virtues, strengthen the fabric of our Bahá’í community life, and offer to a rapidly disintegrating society the keys to happiness, prosperity, and spiritual growth.
- Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, page 81.
- Ibid., page 255.
- For a fuller discussion of the family’s relationship to society as a whole, please read the article “Unity of Bahá’í Family Basis for World Peace” on page 8 of the October 1978 issue of The American Bahá’í.
- Bahá’í Prayers, page 187.
- Ibid., page 188.
- World Order of Bahá’u’lláh, page 139.
