The American Bahá’í/Volume 11/Issue 12/Text

←Previous

The American Bahá’í December, 1980

Next→

Return to PDF view

[Page 1]

‘The real treasury of man is his knowledge.’—Baha'u’llah

December 1980

The American

Bahai

Hand of the Cause of God Abu’l-Qasim Faizi dies

Europe Parliament decries oppression of Baha'is in Iran

On September 19 the European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, Germany, unanimous: ly adopted an extraordinary resolution condemning the persecution of Baha'is and other minorities in Iran and calling upon the community of European nations to impose an embargo on all sales of surplus agricultural products to Iran until full human rights are restored to all the citizens of that country.

The Parliament, composed of more than 400 representatives of the free nations of Europe, expressed its deep concern over what it termed “the systematic campaign of persecution directed in tran against the 300,000 members of the Baha'i community ... and the accompanying violations of elementary human rights” including:

© THE REFUSAL of any legal protection to the Baha’i minority.

• The summary arrest, detention and execution of leaders of

the Baha'i community.

• The confiscation or destruction of the resources and means

of subsistence of the Baha'is and the arbitrary dismissals or refusal to employ Baha'is.

• Threats and acts of violence

against Baha'is in an effort to force them to repudiate their Faith.

The resolution condemns the violation of the human rights of all religious minorities in Iran, and “more particularly (those of) the members of the Baha'i Faith” whose rights as a religious minority, it points out, are not recognized by the Iranian Constitution.

It then calls on the government of Iran to grant the Baha'i community the legal recognition and protection to which all minorities

Please See IRAN Page 4

What’s inside

PRAYER service caps weeklong World Peace Day observance in Houston, Texas. Page 4

NATIONAL Spiritual Assembly taped message recounts Fund crisis. Page 5. ¥

YOUTH Committee outline: new plan to win goals of the opening phase of the Seven Year Plan. Page 7

MORE SOUTHEAST Asians enter the Faith in California and Texas. Page 11.

SPECIAL visit programs are a memorable experience for many Baha'is. Page 14

COUNSELLOR Leonora Armstrong of South America dies. Page 25.

HEARTS FILLED WITH SORROW PASSING INDEFATIGABLE SELF-SACRIFICING DEARLY LOVED HAND CAUSE ABU’L QASIM FAIZI. ENTIRE BAHA'I WORLD MOURNS HIS LOSS. HIS EARLY OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS IN CRADLE FAITH THROUGH EDUCATION CHILDREN YOUTH STIMULATION FRIENDS PROMOTION TEACHING WORK PROMPTED BELOVED GUARDIAN DESCRIBE HIM AS LUMINOUS DISTINGUISHED ACTIVE YOUTH. HIS SUBSEQUENT PIONEERING WORK IN LANDS BORDERING IRAN WON HIM APPELLATION SPIRITUAL CONQUEROR THOSE

LANDS. FOLLOWING HIS APPOINTMENT HAND CAUSE HE PLAYED INVALUABLE PART WORK HANDS HOLY LAND TRAVELLED WIDELY PENNED HIS LITERARY WORKS CONTINUED HIS EXTENSIVE INSPIRING CORRESPONDENCE WITH HIGH AND LOW YOUNG AND OLD UNTIL AFTER LONG ILLNESS HIS SOUL WAS RELEASED AND WINGED ITS. FLIGHT ABHA KINGDOM. CALL ON FRIENDS EVERYWHERE HOLD BEFITTING MEMORIAL GATHERINGS HIS HONOUR, INCLUDING SPECIAL

Please see FIAZI Page 9

Another believer is martyred in Tabriz

SORROWFUL NEWS JUST RECEIVED ANOTHER BELIEVER REZA FIRUZI MARTYRED TABRIZ TENTH NOVEMBER. NEWS ITEM ISSUED PARS NEWS AGENCY AND REUTERS AND PUBLISHED IN TEHERAN PAPERS CHARGES HIM WITH BEING PROMINENT BAHA’i AND INFIDEL AND INCLUDES USUAL LIST TOTALLY UNFOUNDED ACCUSATIONS. WHEREABOUTS NINE MEMBERS NA TIONAL ASSEMBLY AND FEW OTHERS STILL UNCERTAIN. STRONG FEARS HARASSED COM. MUNITY ONCE AGAIN FACING AFTER BRIEF LULL FRESH WAVE OPPRESSION LEADING TO SHAM TRIALS MERCILESS ATROCITIES.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE November 14, 1980

ABU'L-QASIM FAIZi

Iran sufferings free ‘spiritual energies’

MEMBERS VENERABLE COMMUNITY OF BAHA’U’LLAH’S FOLLOWERS IN HIS NATIVE LAND ARE FACING WITH UTMOST NOBILITY HEROISM AND IN TRADITION THEIR ILLUSTRIOUS FOREBEARS ORDEALS SEVERITY OF WHICH IS REMINISCENT OF FEROCITY PERSECUTIONS HEROIC AGE OUR FAITH. INNOCENT BLOOD THEY ARE SHEDDING ALTAR SACRIFICE, INTENSE SUFFERINGS THEY ARE SERENELY BEARING IN LOVE HIS PATH ARE RELEASING SPIRITUAL ENERGIES WHICH ARE ACCELERATING MOMENTUM PROGRESS FAITH OPENING UP NEW HORIZONS AS IT IRRESISTIBLY FORGES AHEAD TOWARDS ITS ULTIMATE DESTINY.

UNITED NATIONS SUBCOMMISSION ON PREVENTION DISCRIMINATION PROTECTION MINORITIES MEETING IN GENEVA FOLLOWING PRESENTATION MADE BY REPRESENTATIVE BAHA’l INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DISCUSSED APPROVED ON 10 SEPTEMBER RESOLUTION EXPRESSING PROFOUND CONCERN OVER SAFETY

House of Justice announces important property acquisitions

WITH HEARTS BRIMMING WITH GRATITUDE FOR BOUNTIFUL CON BAHA’IS IRAN AND REQUESTING UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL CONVEY THIS CONCERN TO AUTHORITIES IRAN AND CALL ON THEM PROTECT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS BAHA’! COMMUNITY.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEETING IN STRASBOURG AND COMPRISING OVER 400 MEMBERS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED ON SEPTEMBER 19 HISTORIC RESOLUTION WHICH DENOUNCES SYSTEMATIC CAMPAIGN PERSECUTION IRANIAN BAHA'IS AND VIOLATION THEIR ELEMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS, CALLS UPON GOVERNMENT IRAN GRANT BAHA'I COMMUNITY LEGAL RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION, AND UPON FOREIGN MINISTERS EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES MAKE URGENT REPRESENTATIONS TO IRANIAN AUTHORITIES CEASE PERSECUTION BAHA'IS ALLOWING THEM PRACTISE THEIR RELIGION FREELY AND ENJOY FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS, AND REQUESTS MEMBER STATES

IMPOSE EMBARGO ON ALL SALES OF SUBSIDIZED SURPLUS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO IRAN UNTIL FULL HUMAN RIGHTS ARE RESTORED TO IRANIAN CITIZENS. THIS REMARKABLE DOCUMENT ENDS WITH STATEMENT THAT EVIDENCE SUGGESTS ARRESTS EXECUTIONS OF BAHA'IS ARE CONTINUING AND INCREASING ACCORDING TO PRE-ARRANGED PLAN AND ONLY SPEEDY RESPONSE BY EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CAN STOP THESE DEVELOPMENTS. REPORTS RECEIVED FROM ALL CONTINENTS ELOQUENTLY BEAR TESTIMONY TO SENSE OF UNITY FELT BY FRIENDS EVERYWHERE IN FACE DEPRIVATIONS THEIR PERSIAN BRETHREN, GENEROUS OFFERINGS OF TIME, EFFORT, AND RESOURCES IN MEMORY MARTYRS AND ON BEHALF IMPRISONED FRIENDS, AMONG WHOM ARE A COUNSELLOR, AUXILIARY BOARD MEMBERS, ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS MEMBERS SEVERAL LOCAL ASSEMBLIES.

‘Operation Befriend’ aims to win community’s heart

tion of all our neighbors, and the

FIRMATIONS BLESSED BEAUTY ANNOUNCE FOLLOWING RECENT

ACCOMPLISHMENTS HOLY LAND:

IN BAHJI JUST ACQUIRED STRIP OF LAND 13,150 SQUARE METRES IN AREA BORDERING DRIVEWAY FROM WESTERN GATE BAHA'I PROPERTY. AREA ACQUIRED ADJACENT TO AND SOUTH OF PRESENT BOUNDARY OLIVE GROVE ENABLES SOUTHWEST QUADRANT GARDENS SURROUNDING MOST HOLY SHRINE TO BE COMPLETED. THIS ACQUISITION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY EXCHANGE AGAINST PROPERTY ON MAIN ROAD TO NAZARETH DONATED WORLD CENTRE BY

DESCENDANTS LATE HUSAYN BAQIR KASHANI.

ALSO PURCHASED NEARLY 50,000 SQUARE METRES AGRICULTURAL

LAND ADJACENT TO AND NORTH OF MAZRA’IH PROPERTY AS PROTECTION TO MANSION IN RAPIDLY DEVELOPING AREA.

SHIPMENT OVER 1,000 PIECES COMPRISING 120 CUBIC METRES KAT RINA CEDAR WOOD FROM TURKEY JUST CLEARED FROM HAIFA

PORT FOR USE RESTORATION HOUSE ABDU’LLAH PASHA IN ‘AKKA.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

Department of the Secretariat

September 24, 1980

72nd Baha’i National Convention,

“Let them (the lovers of God) at all times concern themselves with doing a kindly thing for one of their fellows, offering to someone love, consideration, thoughtful help.”

This quotation, on the very first page of Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Baha, inspired the beloved Hand of the Cause of God William Sears on the eve of his departure for his new post in Africa to conceptualize a service project that he named OPERATION BEFRIEND.

IN MR. SEARS’ words: “Operation Befriend is designed to win the allegiance, respect and affec civil authorities in the places where we dwell, because of our loving service on their behalf; so that they, in turn, will arise to support and defend us against our enemies in those critical and challenging days of crisis yet to conve.”

The National Teaching Committee, moved by the potential force of such an undertaking to attract the hearts and win respect for Baha'is in their communities, invited the Assemblies in Washington, D.C., and the goal states of California, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York to

Please See BEFRIEND Page 9

April 1981—Details on Page 6!

[Page 2]VIEWPOINT

The American Baha’

Editorial lran spurs community response

The response of the American Baha'i community to the National Spiritual Assembly's efforts to publicize the recent events in Iran has been most gratifying and the community deserves a hearty commendation.

As of the third week in October, 1,009 column inches of newspaper coverage on the nationwide memorial services had been reported.

THE PUBLIC Affairs Office estimates that this is only a small percentage of the total coverage and reports that clippings continue to pour in.

From the accounts received so far, it appears that the memorial services helped communities establish strong lines of communication with local news media and were instrumental in winning greater recognition for the Faith as a bona fide religion in the eyes of editors and reporters.

Throughout the country the media have shown a greater interest in the Faith. A number of editors, prompted by the news supplied to them by local Baha'is, have written editorials about the persecution being waged against the Baha'is in Iran, and the National Spiritual Assembly has received numerous requests for radio and television interviews.

At the House of Worship, more than 1,000 Baha'is and their friends rallied to honor their martyred brothers. One visitor, moved by the power of the occasion, declared her belief in Baha'u'llah and joined the ranks of the faithful.

With respect to the crisis in the National Baha'i Fund, the initial response to the National Assembly's message to the District Conventions has also been encouraging.

RESULTS just tallied for the month of Mashiyyat, ending October 16, show high water marks were reached for the year with respect to the number of participants and amount of contributions.

The continuing attacks against the followers of Baha’u'llah in the land of His birth and the campaign of proclamation launched by the Baha'is of the West demonstrate once again the beloved Guardian's description of the Divine dynamic that propels the Cause of God ever forward:

“The resistless march of the Faith of Baha'u'llah ... propelled by the stimulating influences which the unwisdom of its enemies and the force latent within itself, both engender, resolves itself into a series of rhythmic pulsations, precipitated, on the one hand, through the explosive outbursts of its foes, and the vibrations of Divine Power, on the other, which speed it, with ever-increasing momentum, along that predestined course traced for it by the Hand of the Almighty.”

Comment

Education: Parental

By RONALD S. GILPATRICK Baha'i world: Public schools and professional “At the heart of all activities, educators have been severely the spiritual, intellectual, and

criticized throughout the last decade by the press, business community, legislators, and the general population. In some instances, Baha'is have contributed actively to the criticism.

Because American secular education quite obviously is not rooted in spiritual concepts, Baha'is often discount the value of our public schools, longing for the day when we can build Baha'i tutorial schools.

IT IS of paramount interest that the Universal House of Justice directly addressed the issue in its Naw-Ruz 1979 message to the

The American Baha’i

(USPS 042.430) Published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 636 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. Se: cond class postage paid at Wilmette, IL.

Editor: Jack Bowers Associate Editor: David E. Ogron

‘The American Bahd’i welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Ar ticles should be written in a clear and concise manner; black and white glossy photos should be included whenever possible. Please address all materi ‘The American Baha'i, Wi

Copyright © 1980 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahd’ls of the United States.

community life of the believers must be developed and fostered requiring ... Baha'i education of children, including the holding of regular Baha'i classes and, where necessary, the establishment of tutorial schools for the provision ‘of elementary education ...”

As Baha'is perceive it, there is a need to strike a balance between secular and spiritual education. “‘Abdu'l-Bahá has told us we must:

m ee to it that the children are raised up to embody the highest perfections of humankind, to such a degree that every one of them will be trained in the use of the mind, in acquiring knowledge, in humility and lowliness, in dignity, in ardor and love.” (Baha’i Education: A Compilation, p. 32)

Thus, the establishment of Baha'i tutorial elementary schools is most certainly a noble goal.

As a public school educator, however, | must take exception to some of the criticism directed toward our schools.

IN THE ABSENCE of Baha'i tutorial schools, the friends must make the best of the educational tools that are available to them.

Unfortunately, what many Americans frequently do too much of is criticize or blame

. principal i

Kenneth and Mary Zemke, Baha'is from Woodland Hills, California, and their children, Kris, 9 (second trom left), Kirsten, 15 (seated), and Erica, 13, performed October 11 at the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmete, Illinois. The appearance was one of 30 ‘singing firesides’ the Zemkes presented in 11 states while

o LJ

‘on the first leg of an around-theworld teaching trip the family is makjing en route to a pioneering post in New Zealand. In California, Mrs. Zemke served as choral director for Baha'i singing groups including ‘The Children of Baha.’ Kris, the youngest member of the family of performers, spent six months in the National

Company production of the hit musical, ‘Evita.’ Ken Zemke, an Emmy Award-winning film editor, plans to make a documentary film of the family's teaching trip as well as films about the growth of the Faith in India. The Zemkes left the U.S. for Europe during the first week in December.

New ID cards to be ready in February

The green Baha'i

identification cards that American believers carry in their wallets or purses are due to expire January 31, 1981.

New identification cards are being prepared, but dential

The new blue and white cards and will be valid for a three-year

made of plastic period.

Watch for further details about the new Baha’i cre will not be ready before the present cards expire.

in the January issue of The American Baha'i.

responsibility for Baha’is

This month's arti “Educa: tion—A Parental Responsibility,” was written by Dr. Ronald S. Gilpatrick, an elementary school San José, California, who is a member of that city’s Spiritual Assembly, an assistant to Auxiliary Board member Margaret Gallagher, and a member of the Bosch Baha’i School Council.

for the objectives they wish to achieve.

Baha'is must be careful that they do not become a part of the “criticize/blame" syndrome.

Baha'is are in a unique position to bring a more balanced perspective of parent-schoo! cooperation to the learning process.

‘Abdu'l-Baha has given us a clear direction as to the responsibility for education that devolves squarely on the shoulders of parents:

is enjoined upon the father and mother, as a duty, to strive with all effort to train the daughter and the son, to nurse them from the breast of knowledge and to rear them in the bosom of sciences and arts. Should they neglect this matter, they shall be held responsible and worthy of reproach in the presence of the stern Lord.’ (Tablets of

IT HAS BEEN my observation that many parents, in the last decade, have handed over to the schools the entire responsibility for educating their children.

These same parents pursue their own adult interests, are consumed with the pursuit of their careers, and use television as an opiate to drown out the realities of their hectic, chaotic world.

The time they devote to their children in general, let alone to educational matters, is minimal. For example, the findings of a recent sociological study indicate that the average American father spends less than one-half hour per week in direct contact with his children.

If we are to accept, as Baha'is, “Abdu'l-Baha’s admonition to parents regarding their responsibility for the education of children, we must recognize the vital role parents should play in the educative process.

Children, no matter how well they are taught to read in school, will be poor readers if little or no reading is done in the home—not only by the children themselves, but by parents.

Parents, after all, serve as the child's first and most important role models.

If parents seldom or never read, little can be expected of their chil

ed at school must be put into practice at home.

IF PARENTS provide little or no classroom reinforcement, the child’s chances for educational success will be greatly diminished.

Even with the establishment of Baha’i tutorial schools, the need for parental involvement in and assumption of responsibility for their children’s education will be required.

As long as we do not have the resources to build our own Baha’i schools, it is even more critical that we take an active role in our children’s education, because we must provide the spiritual instruction our public schools are unable to offer.

As Baha’is, we are in a poor position to criticize public education if we fail to do all we can to meet our responsibilities as parents.

Actually, most public schools have much to offer children—and parents—who work cooperatively with teachers and staff to secure a meaningful education.

It is that spirit of cooperation, understanding, and acceptance of responsibility that fosters a good public school educational climate.

Who but Baha'is are in the best position to promote such harmony

World rights reserved, Printed in the USA’ without taking the responsibility ‘Abdu’l-Baha, pp. 578-579) dren in this regard. What is learn: and understandi

[Page 3]

i | | !

LETTERS

December 1980

Attendance at Baha’i events really a matter of priorities

To the Editor:

| would like to add a note to the editorial that appeared in the September 1980 issue of The American Baha'i.

It is certainly true that some Baha'is avoid District Conventions because they think those events are “boring.”

Some of us avoid other activities including Feasts, firesides, committee or Assembly meetings, Holy Day observances—you name it, and someone will think it is not exciting enough for him or her to attend. After all, we're usually busy with numerous other commitments and responsibilities.

But the question is not really how busy we are. After all, ‘Abdu'l-Baha was a busy Person, but He always found time for everything and everyone—especially when it pertained in even a remote way to the Faith.

So as we strive to pattern our lives after the True Exemplar, let us keep in mind the real issue that is at stake: priorities.

Shouldn’t Baha'u'llah and all He has revealed for us be our first

The American Baha’i welcomes letters to the editor on any subject of general interest. Letters should be as brief as possible, and are subject to editing for length and style. Please address letters to The Editor, The American Baha’ 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

priority? Shoulan't our goal be to see that everything we do with our lives is in harmony with Hi Teachings, and, whenever possible, to be of service to humanity in some way?

It seems to me that there's nothing boring about that. Nothing could be more exciting than to know you are an instrument for carrying out the Will of God on earth!

Loralee Lindsley

To the Editor:

All over the country one hears “principles” stated as reasons for action or excuses for inaction that are nowhere to be found in the Baha'i Writings.

Members of the first class on the Personal Transformation Program conducted by the Baha'is of Irvine, California, are shown during graduation exercises March 30. Graduates

were (front) Neda Ghiami; first row

(left to tight) Saeed Danandeh, Faranak Danandeh, hostess and

host Mrs. and Mr. Ghiami, class facilitator Ida Thomas, Jan Smith, and back row (left to right) Ralph Fartington, Siamak Danandeh, Nosrat Danandeh, facilitator Jim Thomas, Ghodsieh Danandeh, Ingrid Farrington.

Four permanent Baha’i Funds

Local Baha’i Fund (Local address)—Supports teaching, consolidation and administrative work of the local Baha'i community. National Baha'i Fund (112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091)—Supports the efforts of the National Spiritual Assembly to direct, stimulate and coordinate Baha'i activities throughout the country.

Continental Baha'i Fund (418 Forest Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091)—Enables the Continental Board of Counsellors and its Auxiliary Boards to perform their missions of protection and propagation of the Faith.

Baha'i International Fund (P.O. Box 155, Haifa, Israel 31-000)—Enables the Universal House of Justice to assist the work of National Spiritual Assemblies around the world, to maintain and beautify the Holy Shrines at the World Centre, and to provide services to Baha'i pilgrims.

Let's stop corrupting our communities and our institutions with these statements.

For instance, let's stop saying and hearing that we would teach about Baha'u'llah and His Message if we had someone to come to our firesides.

The Writings require that we teach actively, find interested, receptive souls, and not judge, but teach all.

Children expect immediate gratification, but mature Baha'is should look to the Writings and not keep waiting for results or rewards to do what is required of us and really gives us joy—teach!

Virginia Schroader San Rafael, California

To the Editor:

My daughter, 10-year-old Heidi Lanier, came home from school one recent day all excited about a film the children had seen.

The film dealt with the handicapped employees at a telephone company in Michigan. In one scene, my daughter noticed a hand at a typewriter, and on the hand was a Baha’i ring!

My daughter realized at that moment that she was the only one in her school who knew what it meant. What excitement!

Mrs. J.R. Lanier Largo, Florida

To the Editor:

So many times we hear pleas for pioneers to go to those places where the Faith has not been mentioned or established.

1 became a pioneer to the Southern Ute Indian Reservation as a result of such a plea by the beloved Hand of the Cause of God Dr. Muhdjir.

THE FIRST Spiritual Assembly of the Southern Ute Reservation was formed 10 months later, in November 1977.

Since then many local people have enrolled in the Faith; some have already gone on to the Abha Kingdom, while others are relatively inactive.

There have been real growing pains. Sometimes | gasp for “spiritual breath,” and sometimes | cling to the Cord of the Covenant with such desperation that ! can’t help but cry out in agony.

What enables me to hang on is a ferocious desire to see this Cause firmly established in every corner of the world.

It's true, pioneers are needed everywhere. But the pioneers who are already in the field need sustenance to maintain their posts.

All we ask is your prayers. And your love. There are so many ways we can manifest the cooperation and unity the Faith embodies.

Those who can’t pioneer, for whatever reason, can pray for those who are able to go. Please say a prayer for us.

Sue Emme!

The Baha'i World, Volumes | through 12, covers the years 1925 through 1954, 7" almost the entire period of the Guardianship. They are an invaluable historical chronicle of the development of the Faith during the early years of the Formative Age—a must for teachers, administrators, historians, new and deepened Baha'is, anyone interested in the growth and spread of the Baha'i Faith.

For a limited time, through midnight January 31, 1981, you can purchase Volumes | through 12 of The Bahd’i World

• at the special prepublication price of $150 NET.

You can also reserve individual volumes. of The Baha’i World in a special prepublication offer, through midnight January 31, 1981. After February 1, 1981, individual volumes will not be available.

Volumes will be printed and shipped three at a time:

® Vols. 1, 2,3 available February 1, 1981 Vols. 4,5,6 available May 1, 1981 ® Vols. 7,8,9 available August 1, 198]

® Vols. 10, 11,12 available November 1, 1981 = es oes ee ee (Clip and mail today) — ——

YES! Please send me The Baha'i World volumes indicated bel Quantity Amount

Price

Vol. No. Set Vols. 1-12 Vol. 1

Vol. 2

Vol. 3

Vol. 4

Vol. 5 4 Vol. 6

Vol. 7

Vol. 8

Vol. 9

Vol. 10

Vol. Vol.

Enclosed is my check or money order for $_______(including 10% for postage and handling on orders under $100; minimum $1.00; OR including 10% discount on non-Net items over $100).

Catalog No.

My name is (please print)

Street, Rural Route, or P.O. Box Number

City Zi

iii Publishing Trust

523 Green Bay Road/Wilmette, IL 60091

Send coupon with payment to:

TAB 12/80 J ae es ee Ee Se Se ee Se ee

por eee ee ee

Ignacio, Colo:

[Page 4]

PROCLAMATION

The American Baha’i

DR. KHALIL AKHTAR KHAVARI

Baha’ given teaching award in Wisconsin

Dr. Khalil Akhtar Khavari, a professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, has received the 1980 Award for Teaching Excellence, the only one given by the university.

The award letter said in part: “this Award is presented upon the nomination and recommendations of your former students, who have had the opportunity to reflect on how they were influenced by your teaching.”

Dr. Akhtar Khavari maintains an active research program and is the author of nearly 50 research publications.

He also serves as an assistant to Auxiliary Board member D. Thelma Jackson.

The University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee is the state's second largest university with a student body of nearly 25,000. Its academic program spans all levels from bachelor's degree to doctorate in a wide variety of subjects.

Joliet is host to Auxiliary Board Team Conference

An Auxiliary Board Team Conference, one of 47 throughout the U.S. this fall, was held October 18-19 in Joliet, Illinois, site of the “Project Olinga” teaching campaign.

Participants in the conference included Counsellor Edna M. True; Dr. Magdalene M. Carney, assistant secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board members Stephen Ader, D. Thelma Jackson and Javidukht Khadem, and their assistants.

By mid-October the number of enrollments in Project Olinga had reached 134.

The project, named in honor of the Hand of-the Cause of God Enoch Olinga, began last July and has been extended until Ridvan 1981.

esr eZ OER AE I SE ESE

Virginia believers — in Israeli festival

Baha'i communities in Tidewater Virginia participated September 2-20 in “Israel the Beginning,” a celebration sponsored by a fashionable Norfolk department store

The three-week program presented the culture, customs and products of Israel to Tidewater residents.

BAHA'IS in Norfolk, who were told of the upcoming celebration by one of the friends in nearby Suffolk, approached the sponsors, pointing out that the Baha'i World Centre is in Haifa, Israel, and that the Holy Land is especially revered by Baha'is.

The sponsors were so impress: ed that they offered to construct a special wall for the Baha’i exhibit and to secure anything else that was needed.

John Higgins, a Baha'i from Norfolk who had built a small scale model of the Shrine of the Bab, took a week off from work to get the model ready for display.

Meanwhile, the sponsors had arranged for a shipment of priceless Yemenite jewelry and other articles to be sent from the Israel Museum for the celebration.

Strangely, the jewels were stolen from the museum before they could be taken to Tel Aviv for shipment, and the Baha'is were offered the exhibit space originally designed for these precious articles

The Baha'i display featured photos of the World Centre on a deep blue backdrop with special lighting that seemed to cause the model of the Shrine of the Bab to glow.

Baha'is in Norfolk, Virginia (left to right) Pepper Oldziey, Steve Hailey, John Higgins and Peter Oldziey with the model of the Shrine of the Bab used September 2:20 in a Baha'i ex.

Live cypress trees lined the passageways leading to the area in which the Shrine sat, thus adding to the authenticity of its appearance.

Several thousand people view

hibit at

‘Israel the Beginning,’ a celebration sponsored by a Norfolk department store. The model of the Shrine was built by Mr. Higgins.

ed the exhibits during the celebration, and many of them—including the, sponsors—remarked that the Baha'i display was the most striking and successful of any that were there.

Public prayer service caps Houston ‘Peace Day’

A multi-lingual prayer service at the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas, was the capstone of a week-long series of activities sponsored by the Baha'i community of Houston leading up to its World Peace Day observance September 21.

Artist David Villasefior was in Houston from September 12-22 and_was instrumental in opening many doors and helping the Baha’is re-establish friendships in the Hispanic and Indian com munities and with the media.

TEN OF Mr. Villasefior's sand paintings were hung at the Adept New American Folk Center, a nonprofit center dedicated to black and Indian arts and culture.

The paintings were hung a week before his arrival and were still being viewed in mid-October.

‘On the opening day of the exhibit, Mr. Villaseflor demonstrated sand painting and explained its spiritual significance, weaving the

The Baha'i communities of Grass Valley, Nevada City, and Nevada Judicial District, California, joined forces August 21-24 to present this display booth at the Nevada County Fair. There was no Baha'i literature in front of the booth; those who were

Iran

Continued From Page 1

are entitled under provisions of various UN pacts and conventions ‘on human rights.

The resolution urges foreign ministers of the European communities to make “urgent representations to the Iranian authori

interested were free to walk around the booth where they could choose literature from a table, see additional display materials, and ask questions.

One to three Baha'is were present at the booth during the hours the fair grounds were open.

ties” to end the persecution of the members of the Baha'i community there and allow them to practice their religion freely without fear of reprisal or persecution.

It goes on to recommend an embargo on sales of surplus agricultural products to Iran where subsidies by European taxpayers are involved “until full human rights are restored to Iranian citizens.”

Teachings of Baha'u'llah into his presentation. More than 175 people, most of whom were non-Baha’is, witnessed the demonstration.

The local public television station sent a crew to film for 10 minutes, but they were so impressed by what they saw that they video-taped the entire 45-minute presentation.

The film, “Sands of Time,” was shown 11 times during the week to various groups that Mr. Villasefior visited including three schools (two of which are bi-lingual), the Indian Inter-Tribal Council, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the MexicanAmerican Community Center, and the C.G. Jung Educational Center.

Mr. Villasefior spent one evening demonstrating sand painting to some recent arrivals to Houston, refugees from Laos who are fast becoming friends of the Faith.

MR. VILLASENOR also spent time at a nursing home, many of whose residents are Spanishspeaking; at an Inter-Tribal Council dinner; and at Hispanic Cultural Week festivities at the Veterans Administration Office.

He was a guest speaker at the Mexican-American Community Center following the Fiestas Patrias performance by the Houston Pops orchestra.

The audience of 50 included a priest who had met Mr. Villasefor in Houston a year ago and who said after the concert that he would go home and write a wonderful sermon about everything Mr. Villasefior had said.

Mr. Villaseftor also gave .a deepening, two firesides, and two public talks on Indian prophecy and symbolism.

On Saturday, September 20, the Baha'is participated in the Fiestas Patrias parade, part of an obser vance by the Hispanic community in appreciation of its culture and marking its release from oppression.

The Baha'i float, whose theme was ‘Una planeta, un humanidad ... por favor,” had thousands of handmade tissue paper flowers surrounding a large globe with children of several races in native costume seated among the flowers.

THE FOLLOWING day, World Peace Day, the Baha'is sponsored a picnic in a Spanish-speaking area of the city.

Later, the Baha'i community held prayers for world peace at the Rothko Chapel, a non-denominational edifice that is the site of many religious activities attended by many segments of Houston society.

The prayers, all of them Baha’i prayers, were offered in Arabic, Chinese, Danish, English, Ewe, German, Italian, Japanese, Ponopaen, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, sign language for the deaf, and chants in English, Persian and Zuni.

Mr. Villasefior's visit and the prayer observance were covered by both large Houston daily papers as well as by the Texas Catholic Herald and the Jewish Herald-Voice.

One of the local TV stations filmed a part of the prayer service.

More than 200 invitations were sent along with a brief explanation of the Faith to various dignitaries, religious and humanitarian organizations, and friends of the Faith.

Another 100 were handed out to visitors to Rothko Chapel in the week prior to the observance.

Among the results of these activities have been more inquiries about the Faith along with words of appreciation and enthusiastic invitations for the Baha'is to return,

[Page 5]

THE FUNDS

December 1980

National Assembly outlines Fund revenue crisis

the Feast of Qudrat (November 4), the National Spiritual Assembly released a taped message to the American Baha'i community describing the present status of the National Fund and the financial picture facing the National Spiritual Assembly.

The message was presented by the secretary of the National Assembly, Glenford E. Mitchell, at the Assembly's request.

MR. MITCHELL began by describing the memorial service for the seven martyrs of Yazd, held September 27 at the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette.

The event received wide publicity including coverage by two major Chicago area television sta For

tions.

“The National Assembly,” said Mr. Mitchell, “was meeting that same day in Wilmette, and... all the actions it had to take were greatly influenced by the everpresent thought of the innocent blood shed by the heroic martyrs of Yazd.”

Among the matters brought before the National Assembly for its consideration was the condition of the National Fund, which had reached a deficit of $360,000 by the end of August.

Expenses were running at 94 per cent of the budget while income had reached only 71 per cent of anticipated revenue.

Fewer Assemblies and fewer individuals were giving to the Na

UNIPAR

OF THE YEAR

Universal participation is *

teaching, in living the Baha'i life, in con'

the dedicated effort of every believer in

g to the Fund, and par ticularly in the persistent effort to understand more and more the significance of Baha’u'llah’s Revelation.” —The Universal House of Justice

Death of martyrs releases immeasurable spiritual power

To an uninformed person the death of a martyr may seem to be a great loss, a needless waste of human life.

Yet seen through the eyes of faith, martyrdom is an act of heroism that releases immeasurable spiritual power.

ON SEPTEMBER 8, seven Baha'is in Yazd, Iran, including an 85-year-old man, were executed for no other reason than that they

professed a belief in Baha'u'llah.

The avowed enemies of the Faith saw in this grievous crime the highly commendable removal of “enemies of Islam” and “spies for the U.S. and Israel.”

However, through the act of their martyrdom, and in the videotape of the trial, the persecution of the martyrs served to

Please See MARTYRS Page 23

tional Fund when compared to last year’s figures.

The situation was quite serious, and the National Assembly met with its senior staff to determine what cutbacks could be made.

YET THE $5 million budget was already very lean, and could scarcely cover the basic needs of the Faith.

“Our Assembly was ther faced with a heart-wrenching dilemma,” Mr. Mitchell explained. “How could it reduce a budget that already was not enough? Worse still, how could it entertain the idea of limiting the activities of the American Baha'i community when the members of the Persian Baha'i community were paying such a high price—the highest price, their life's blood—to uphold the Cause of Baha’u'llal

The National Spiritual Assembly decided to make the situation clear to the American Baha'i community, certain that the friends would arise to meet the challenge.

Mr. Mitchell went on to explain. some of the many activities supported by the National Fund.

Foremost, he said, is the $1 million contribution to the International Fund, an “irrevocable allocation” that is given top priority.

Temple maintenance to keep the House of Worship operating and in good repair costs $500,000 a year. There is also a longdelayed renovation taking place on the apron of the House of Worship at a cost of $570,000.

OTHER AREAS of support cited by the secretary include public relations, International Goals activities, National Teaching Committee expenses (slashed in half from the previous year), and the need to furnish the new administrative office building.

“How then could we cut back?” Mr. Mitchell asked. “From what would we cut back?

“It would be like asking us to cut the marrow of the bone... To cut back would simply mean to us a diminishing of possibilities to answer the opportunities of the moment. And the opportunities, friends, are very very great at this time.”

Mr. Mitchell further explained that we live in a free country, and are able to act at a time when there is a great openness to the Faith.

The opportunities for teaching and proclamation are unprecedented, and the victories must therefore be unprecedented as well.

The secretary then referred to the messages of the Guardian, emphasizing the paramount position of the American believers as

“the one chief remaining Citadel,

The Fund Is the Life-Blood of the Faith

112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091

the mighty arm which still raises aloft the standard of an unconquerable Faith...”

HE QUOTED a Message from ‘Abdu'l-Baha, encouraging us to extend our efforts a thousandfold, for“ ...the scope of your exertions must needs be extended, the wider its range, the more striking will be the evidences of divine assistance.”

Mr. Mitchell pointed out that the answer to our present Crisis lies, not in the plans of the Institutions of the Faith, but in the hands of every individual believer.

looks to each of the followers of Baha'u'llah in America to arise and meet the pressing needs of the hour.

“Delicate and strenuous though the task may be,” the Guardian wrote, “however arduous and prolonged the effort required, whatever the nature of the perils and pitfalls ... the all conquering potency of the grace of God vouchsafed through the Revelation of Baha'u'llah will undoubtedly, mysteriously and surprisingly enable whoever arises to champion His Cause to win complete and total

Thus the National Assembly victory.”

Notes. . . from the Treasurer

Receipts sometimes delayed ...

It is typical for several weeks to pass between the time a contribution is mailed to the National Fund and the arrival of a receipt for that contribution.

Some believers have established the habit of waiting for a receipt before making another contribution, since the rec also includes a return envelope. This habit could result in a Baha'i month passing before the receipt arrives, interrupting the monthly flow of contributions to the National Fund.

We would like to remind the friends that any envelope can be used to send a contribution, whether the believer addresses an ordinary envelope himself or uses a pre-printed National Fund envelope or a receipt-return envelope.

Please be sure to include your Baha’i 1D number with your contribution. The address for the Fund is: National Baha'i Fund, Wilmette, IL 60091.

National Assembly's loan program explained ...

Some of the friends have asked recently about the National Spiritual Assembly's loan program. Briefly, it is a way in which Baha'is can make money available to the National Spiritual Assembly at lower interest rates than commercially available.

The minimum for such loans is $2,000, and the minimum term is one year. The interest rate is individually negotiated and paid semi-annually.

Where there’s no will ...

At a recent Baha'i gathering with 30 believers present a survey was made to determine how many of them had prepared a will. It was shocking to learn that only three people in the room had done so!

Research has shown that Americans in general do not devote sufficient time to planning for the disposition of their assets. One study reported that people spend an average of 85,000 hours during their lifetime amassing their assets, but devote only about 10 hours to making plans for distributing those assets at the time of their death.

Preparing a will is a Baha'i law. It is not optional.

It might be interesting to take a confidential survey of those in your Baha'i community (have them write “yes” or “no” on a blank piece of paper) to determine how many of them have or have not prepared a will.

Ifa significant number have not yet done so, the Assembly or Group might consider ways in which it could assist the friends to comply with this law, such as pro' 1g a list of several lawyers along with their fees for preparing a simple will; obtaining a list of information that should be gathered before seeing a lawyer to facilitate writing the will; inviting a lawyer to make a presentation to the community about the steps involyed in preparing a will, etc.

Planned Giving Program progresses ...

The Planned Giving Program, initiated by the National Spiritual Assembly through the Office of the Treasurer, provides information to the friends concerning the nature of estate planning and giving to the Fund from accumulated assets.

The Planned Giving newsletter and the previous booklets have been well received by the community. One believer wrote: “I thank you for the splendid information you have sent me on Planned Giving... It is a splendid service that the Treasurer's Office is giving. To have our attention called to numerous details is most helpful.””

To help the believers understand the relationship between contributions to the Faith and the complicated U.S. tax structure, the Office of the Treasurer is offering a booklet entitled “Minimizing Your Income Taxes.”

To receive this booklet, and other information about the Planned Giving Program, please write to the Office of the Treasurer, Wilmette, IL 60091, to be placed on the mailing list.

[Page 6]NATIONAL CONVENTION

The American Baha'i

1981 BAHA’/ NATIONAL CONVENTION EVERYONE IS INVITED!

The National Spiritual Assembly cordially invites you to attend the

72nd BAHA'I NATIONAL CONVENTION April 30-May 3, 1981 at the

BAHA’i HOUSE OF WORSHIP Wilmette, Illinois and the

McCORMICK INN 23rd and Lake Shore Drive Chicago, Illinois 60616

The convention site will be the McCormick Inn. Devotional programs and some other activities will be held at the Baha’i House of Worship. Shuttle bus service will be provided between the hotel and the House of Worship. A limited number of rooms are available at the nearby Essex and Ascot hotels. Shuttle bus service will be provided between the three hotels.

Room Rates at the McCormick Inn range from $44 per day single to $58 for four persons.

Rates at the Ascot and Essex Hotels are approximately $10 less.

There will be no charge for children 16 and younger if accompanied by two adults.

Room reservations should be made directly with the hotels. Don’t forget to indicate “Baha'i convention” on your request.

TOLL FREE reservations at any of the three hotels: (800) 621-6909 In Illinois call collect (812) 791-1901

Child care services will be provided at the convention; parents need not arrange for the care of their children on an individual basis. Please list the name, sex and age of each child on your reservation request.

Since seating at the 72nd Baha’i National Convention will be limited, those who wish to attend should notify the Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 as soon as possible. Seating reservations will be accepted on a firstcome, first-served basis.

(SS RN RTS

YOUTH ENERGY ZONE

EVERYONE ~ AGES 13 ~ 16

YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO BE PART OF A WEEK YOU'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER

DECEMBER 28th, 1980 — JANUARY 3rd, 1981

b \ NVBEEY souriicicaac eoaclabon Reece c WHERE. USCISOMATA (yd. Scheo of Mave snd the Ara) IOYLLNILD , CALIFORNIA

ie $115.00 —_ THE SCHOOL IS LIMITED TO 60 STUDENTS.

APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILAULE SOON FROM THE LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OR OTC NEAREST YOU!

Youth Committee notes

Youth Energy Zone scheduled

A week-long Youth Energy Zone school is being planned in Southern California from December 28-January 3.

The school, open to youth ages 13-16, will be held at the Idyllwild School of Music and Arts (ISOMATA) at the University of Southern California in Idyllwild.

Youth Energy Zone will be limited to 60 participants, and the fee for the week is $115.

Southern Wisconsin youth plan winter institute

The District Youth Committee of Southern Wisconsin is planning a three-day institute December 26-28 at Camp Bryon, near Fond du Lac.

The program will cover teaching, deepening and social interaction for Baha'i youth. Cost for the weekend is about $35.

To register, please contact Kooroush Saeian, 5034 North Woodruff, Whitefish Bay, WI 52317.

Florida youth plan Disney World conference

The District Youth Committee of South Florida is planning a statewide conference at Disney World, near Orlando, from December 26-28.

The youth will camp at the Fort Wilderness Campground at Disney World, enjoy the rides and other attractions at the theme park, and share in campfire deepenings at night. Seekers are welcome too!

For information, please contact Margaret Randall, 2219 S.E. 13th St., Pompano Beach, FL 33062, or phone 305-781-8993.

Peer pressure is discussed by a Florida District Convention held Ocgroup of pre-youth at the South tober 5 in Clewiston, Florida.

[Page 7]YOUTH NEWS

December 1980

Youth respond warmly to committee’s new plan

Young Baha’is at District Conventions across the country in October learned details of the new National Youth Plan designed to win the goals of the first two-year phase of the Seven Year Plan.

The new plan was developed by the National Youth Committee, a subcommittee of the National Teaching Committee.

“WE'RE VERY pleased with the response from the Baha'i youth community to the new plan,” said Charles C. Cornwell, secretary of the National Youth Committee.

“From various parts of the country we've learned of the enthusiastic and sacrificial reaction to this charter for action. Seminars are being held, conferences are being planned, and teaching efforts are being devised to meet the objectives of the plan. The American youth community is poised for action!”

Mr. Cornwell explained that the Youth Committee is eager to learn of efforts by individual youth and by youth clubs and committees that are being made to help accomplish the assigned goals.

The deadline for successful completion of the plan is Ridvan 1981.

The goals of the plan include the formation of at least 500 functioning college clubs, local youth clubs and District Youth Committees, with each of them sponsoring at least four teaching events and enrolling at least four new Baha'i youth by Ridvan.

Special emphasis is to be placed on reaching minority groups. In addition, District Youth Committees have been asked to sponsor at least 10 traveling teaching trips in their area.

MR. CORNWELL also explained that the Youth Committee designed personal goals for each Baha'i youth to achieve.

Youth are being asked to set personal goals for teaching that include telling a fellow youth about the Faith each week and enrolling at least one new young believer into the Cause.

Youth have also been given a reading assignment and are encouraged to make a special effort to attract members of minority groups to the Faith.

Progress reports on the status of the National Youth Plan are to appear in future issues of The American Baha’i.

Baha'i youth at the South Florida District Convention discuss the new Na:

tional Youth Plan designed by the

National Youth Committee to win the goals of the first two-year phase of the Seven Year Plan.

National Youth Plan goals

The individual

To win the assigned goals of this and subsequent plans, every Baha'i youth must apply himself to two sacred responsibilities: sharing the Message of Baha'u'llah with his fellow-youth and personal deepening in the Writings.

The Baha’i National Youth Committee calls upon each youth to undertake the following tasks—tasks that are designed to meet these responsibilities:

1. Reach and teach your peers. Each week, tell someone you are a Baha’. Strive to share not only the facts of the Faith with your friends, but endeavor also to impress them through your example, your radiant spirit, your deeds.

2. Welcome at least one youth into the Faith before Ridvan 1981. When you find that seeking friend, invite him to become a Baha'i.

3. Make a special effort to attract members of minority groups to the Faith.

4. Read and study The Advent of Divine Justice and pages 1-26 of The World Order of Baha’u'llah before the Feast of Sharaf, December 30. (When you've finished your reading, please send the Youth Committee a note letting us know!)

The youth network

If you belong to or support a Baha’ college club, high school club, District Youth Committee or local

youth club—you are part of a network of Baha'i youth working in groups.

Each of these special groups, under the supervision of a sponsoring Assembly, has a role to play in the successful completion of the youth plan.

The Baha'i National Youth Committee has called for the formation of at least 500 functioning clubs and youth committees by Ridvan 1981.

Each of these clubs or committees should undertake the following tasks:

1. The sponsorship of at least four teaching events by Ridvan 1981. These events might be teaching trips, firesides, canoe trips, or social activities open to seekers ... in short, any event that will involve the interaction of Baha'is and seekers.

2. The enrollment of at least four new Baha’i youth by Ridvan 1981... that’s one new Baha'i for each sponsored event!

3. At least 10 traveling teaching trips to be planned by District Youth Committees by next Ridvan. Remember ... teaching trips can be as simple as going to the next town to give a fireside or as vast as organizing a team to reach the masses across the state.

4, Place special emphasis on reaching minority youth, and, on college campuses, make special efforts to reach foreign students.

Site is chosen for 81 National Youth Conference

The National Spiritual Assembly has chosen a site for next summer's National Youth Conference to be held over the Fourth of July weekend.

From July 2-5, youth from across the U.S. will gather in Kansas City, Missouri, for this special event.

Details about the conference will be reported in future issues of The American Baha'i. ‘

Bay, Wisconsin, hosted the Twelfth Day of Ridvan with a festive party that featured songs, decorations, presents and refreshments—all planned and carried out by the chil: dren themselves. Preparation for the day began four weeks earlier with study of the Twelve Days of Ridvan. In each weekly Class the story of the First, the Ninth and finally the Twelfth Day was read and discussed. One week before the celebration the presents and decorations were

made and the menu planned. The children made roses of brilliantly colored tissue paper to share with their guests, as Baha'u'llah had shared roses with visitors to the Garden of Ridvan. Members of the children’s class are (back row left to right) Ben Rayome, Kristina Ogron, Tonya Cap pasola, Scott Yuron, and (front row left to right) Angela McCotter, Max McCotter, Melissa Grych, Jamal Block, J.R. Cappasola, Jamal Belknap.

Reading assignment

a vital part of plan

..have YOU read the Youth Reading Assignment?

As a part of his personal contribution to the goals of the National Youth Plan, every Baha'i youth has been asked to read The Advent of Divine Justice and pages 1-26 of The World Order of Baha'u'llah.

When you have finished these readings, please fill out the coupon below and send it to the National Youth Committee office.

The Youth Committee is eager to record the names of those Baha'i youth who have successfully completed this important personal goal.

Teaching Fever Is CONTAGIOUS! — have YOU Caught the Fever Yet?

Thirty Baha'i youth and pre-youth attended a conference last May that was organized by the Albuquerque, New Mexico, youth group to elect a District Youth Committee and involve youth from isolated areas in the district in teaching and social ac tivities. The conference theme, ‘How

Baha’i Youth Can Deal with Anxiety in Today's Society,’ was the subject of workshops and discussion groups. Auxiliary Board member Ermest Bruss also addressed the conference.

Youth in San Jose establish special ‘Quest’ meeting group

The Baha'i youth of San Jose, California, have developed a special series of meetings to meet a variety of youth needs.

The youth have formed a “Quest Group,” and meet weekly on Sunday evenings with programs rotating throughout the month.

The group was formed to share some of the problems common to Baha’! youth in a crumbling world order; consultation is held on possible solutions to these dilemmas.

Each month, the youth enjoy a guest speaker whose topic is then discussed at the following Sun

day's meeting.

Other weekly meetings are held to consult on youth activities. A youth fireside also is held each month.

The youth of San Jose have planned a wide variety of social events that are open to non-Baha’i guests. Movie nights, camping trips and teaching programs are among their activities.

The youth also helped with registration at children’s classes and entertained the children as a special service to their younger Baha'i counterparts.

[Page 8]IGC: PIONEERING

The American Baha’i

Letters... from pioneers

Dear Friends:

Baha'u'llah has really blessed us over and over since we came to Ghana.

First, of course, is the bounty of pioneering, which | am not literate enough to describe adequately.

The experience certainly entails “going away from an old self to a new one,” as Horace Holley is reported to have said, but | think going to a new place, moving for thé Faith and forsaking one’s homeland helps.

PIONEERING is a kind of protection or “fortress for well-being,” like marriage. It forces one to face and overcome self through the tests, trials and difficulties it brings, and at the same time therevare less preoccupations and distractions, less materialism, to deflect one from the spiritual course.

| sometimes wonder why more American Baha'is don't pioneer. There is no limit to the opportunitiés for growth and service that one finds in the pioneer field.

| read in The Priceless Pearl that the Guardian said that not a few Americans should go forth, but that troops should settle in other countries and establish theiFaith.

And what fertile ground this is for the growth of the Cause. Here the soil is so fertile, the hearts so receptive, that one can mention the Faith to anyone (in any stratum of society) and he or she will be interested—and not two per cent are ready to enter the Faith, but 20 per cent.

When I read the letters from the Guardian, | wonder if we are really fuling our spiritual destiny, if we are truly being “the executors of \bdu'l-Baha’s Will” and the chief prosecutors of the Divine Plan. Notwithstanding the above, or our personal inadequacies, the Faith is advancing at a rapid pace in Ghana.

THE LOCAL believers share fully in the work, and we are truly coworkers. In fact, they do most of the teaching.

A three-month teaching campaign this summer has netted 30 new Spiritual Assemblies and more than 1,000 new believers so far.

We have also been blessed materially since coming here.

When we first came | had a contract with the Ghanian government. The work placed me in the category of the underemployed, since | couldn't use or develop my skills as an economist.

At, the same time | wasn't being paid enough to feed my family or make ends meet. Now, however, thrqugh the aid of the Blessed Beauty, | am starting a new job as technical adviser provided by the American Agency for International Development.

No need to recount the tests we've faced in the last two years, but it ‘certainly has been worth it. We would do it over any time.

Barry Shapiro Ashanti, Ghana

2 young U.S. believers recount summer teaching trip in Chile

From July 22. through September 1, Angie and Margie Diliberto, a'is from Long

Beach, California, taught the Faith in Chile. Here is a brief report of their activities there:

Chile is a long, narrow country on the southwestern coast of South America.

Teaching the Faith in Chile is of two kinds, urban or rural, and there is a great difference between the two.

Urban areas are much like the U.S.: the people are drowning in a sea of materialism and are reluctant to accept the Faith.

IN RURAL AREAS, the people are far more receptive. Many of them live in huts, usually without electricity or running water, and can be reached via dirt roads by bus or car, or on horseback.

The things these rural people cherish most are their families, their brotherhood, and their crops.

There are no barriers between them and others; many do not belong to any religion because they choose not to. So it is relatively easy to introduce the Faith to them.

As we approached one house, the man asked who we were. When we said we were Baha'is and had a new Message from God, he swung wide his gate and invited us into his yard.

The man said many religious people had come past his house, and the Baha'is were the only ones he had let through his gate.

One woman told us she had been waiting to become a Baha'i but no one had told her what time the Baha'i meetings were! Another women said she had dreamed of the Baha'is and was waiting at her hut for them to arrive.

TEACHING the Faith to these people is the easy part. The hard part comes with consolidation, establishing Local Spiritual Assemblies, deepening them in the Writings (many are illiterate), and encouraging them to arise and teach the Faith to others.

One successful teaching aid the Baha'is in southern Chile have is a Baha'i school, supported and funded by the Chilean govern: ment.

The teachers there are Baha'is, and the 60 or so elementary school students come from Baha'i families.

The long-term goal is that in 10 years these children, who are Mapuche Indians, will be strong Baha'i youth and it will be natural for them to teach their fellow Mapuches.

In fact, one can already see signs of change among the indigenous peoples.

One day, two of us went out among the village huts to invite the people to a meeting at the Baha’i school.

We were approached by a Mapuche Indian who said, “You must always keep oil in your lamp. so the light won't burn out. And

you know what will keep your lamp burning, don’t you? Our Lord, of course—Baha'u'llah!”

1 SIGHED and thought to myself, “Who's teaching who here?”

Some of the Chilean Baha'i youth presented an interesting theory to me.

They said they'd been teaching the Faith in the Mapuche zone for 10 years. If they had begun teaching 40 years ago all of the larger cities would know of the Faith, because the Indians migrate to the cities.

In 30 years, they said, all of Santiago will know of the Faith—“that if they aren't Baha'is alread .

These youthful Chileans realize what an honor and bounty it is to be able to teach the Cause of Baha'u'llah to others.

One young girl asked me to encourage more pioneers from the U.S. to come and participate in harvesting these fruits and take advantage of the God-given gift of teaching His Cause.

During our stay in Chile, we had the opportunity to meet with three Continental Counsellors: Rat! Pavon from Ecuador, Mas'ud Khamsi from Peru, and Athos Costas from Argentina.

They suggested that any pioneers who come in the future should strive to live either in the rural areas of the south or the

Please See CHILE Page 11

Goals Committee announces project in Belize

On September 19, the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Miami, Florida, donated $230 to the city’s Olive B. Alexander Day Care Center to replace educational materials stolen or destroyed during recent riots in the Miami area. Mrs. Lydia J.

Neasman, Early Childhood Development Program administrator at the

center, shows the check to the children as Mrs. Gladys Stuart and George Savitt, members of the Spiritual Assembly of Miami, look on.

The International Goals Committee is pleased to announce a consolidation project in Belize, Central America, during August 1981.

The project will be similar to the highly successful consolidation effort held in Belize last summer.

The objective of the project is primarily consolidation aimed at expansion. Teachers will be involved in

deepening and strengthening the believers, activating Local Spiritual Assemblies, and conducting children’s classes.

For more information please send the form below to the International Goals Committee, Wilmette, IL 60091.

PLEASE SEND ME INFORMATION ABOUT THE BELIZE CONSOLIDATION PROJECT AUGUST 1981

NAME _

ADDRESS

Phone Number Home

Baha'i Community

Belize, formerly British Honduras, is a British territory that attained its independence in 1964. Ithas a multi-racial population with inhabitants from African, Mestizo, Mayan Indian, Oriental and European backgrounds.

Population: 140,000.

Belmopan.

English is the official language of Belize and is almost universally spoken. In the north and west, particularly, Spanish is the preferred languag

Work

Climate: The rainy season lasts from June to October with a short dry spell, usually about two weeks, in August. It will be hot and humid in Belize City with daytime highs in the 80s and 90s.

Visa requirements: No visa is required for a visit of less than six months. Proof of citizenship is required, not necessarily a passport (a valid driver's license or notorized affidavit of birth will suffice).

How to get there by air: The international airport is nine miles outside of Belize City. Regular service from the U.S. is available via Miami and New Orleans.

[Page 9]| | } |

TEACH

December 1980

Befriend

Continued From Page 1

participate in Operation Befriend.

As a first step, the Teaching Committee recommended that they consult with the friends at Feasts and Assembly meetings, and with their Auxiliary Board members and their assistants, to decide how they could best serve their fellow-men locally to create new respect for the Faith and attract new believers.

These communities were encouraged to see themselves as part of an Army of Light, engaged in a great campaign, with each community participating at its own pace but cognizant of the fact that its members are soldiers in the same spiritual army, engaged in the same over-all campaign.

Although only the Assemblies in the goal states and District of Columbia were asked initially to join Operation Befriend, at Ridvan 1981 all other states will be invited to join and swell the ranks.

OPERATION Befriend will reach its climax at Ridvan 1982, the beginning of the year marking the 25th anniversary of the passing of the beloved Guardian, the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf, and a time when Mr. Sears hopes to return to the US. on a teaching mission.

The National Teaching Commit tee has prepared a simple set of guidelines using a genial character known as “General Love” to introduce Operation Befriend to the believers.

Should any community outside the goal states wish to receive this plan before Ridvan, the committee will be happy to send a copy.

Write to the National Teaching Committee, Wilmette, IL 60091.

| Cone year (6issues) $6.00 | C)two years $11.00

' name_ t 1 street

| city.

| state &zip

1 send to: | child's way | Bahali Subscriber Service , 415 Linden Ave. | Wilmette, T11.60091

BE A FRIEND TO YOUR COMMUNITY

THROUGH

OPERATION BEFRIEND.

Dr. Nguyen Van Chau (left) receives the Enoch Olinga Memorial Award for Human Service from Kirk Red

dock, representing the Beaumont, Texas, Baha'i community.

Beaumont Baha’is give Olinga award to doctor

On October 3, the Baha'i community of Beaumont, Texas, presented the Enoch Olinga Memorial Award for Human Service to Dr. Nguyen Van Chau, an educator and nationally recognized figure in refugee resettlement and human service programs.

Dr. Chau is executive director of a Beaumont-based refugee resettlement Gperation that is responsible for the successful relocation of thousands of Southeast Asian refugees.

A graduate of the Sorbonne in Paris and former deputy director of Vietnam's National Rural Development Training Center, Dr. Chau was a partner in an ambitious social service effort sanctioned by the Vietnamese Council of Bishops and administered by his friend, Bishop Nguyen Van

Thuan.

After emigrating to the U.S., Dr. Chau was named a special assistant to the U.S. Catholic Conference Director while at the Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, relocation center.

He moved to Beaumont with the first mass relocation group, and within a few months was named to his present position.

Among the programs initiated under Dr. Chau's direction are the Indochinese Social Services for Southeast Texas, a mental health service, two day'care centers, a Special Business Bureau, and the Indochinese Employment Service.

The Olinga award honors the Hand of the Cause of God who was murdered with his wife and two of their children in September 1979 at their home in Kampala, Uganda.

Teaching. . . Questions and answers

Question: So much talk is heard about project teaching (“‘teain” or “street”) with articles in The American Bahi bout its success and the large number of enrollments, but very little attention is given to the Baha’i who hosts a small fireside in his home once every 19 days. Does the National Teaching Committee feel that “‘street” teaching is the better method that the friends should be using?

Answer: Certainly not. All methods of teaching should be used. Large teaching campaigns receive attention because of the excitement of having many new believers come into the Faith at One time. But this does not imply that fireside teaching is not as important or as exciting. On the contrary, the beloved Guardian himself told us that the fireside is the most effective way of teaching: “...It should not be overlooked, however, that the most powerful and effective teaching medium that has been found so far is the fireside meeting, because in the fireside meeting, intimate personal questions can be answered, and the student find the spirit of the Faith more abundant there.”

We must remember that “street teaching,” “mass teaching,” “door-to-door teaching" and so on are quite irrelevant terms. It is all teaching. It doesn't matter what one calls it or what “method” is used; what matters is that we teach the Faith and that we do so continually. ‘Abdu’l-Baha has explained that every individual must adopt the teaching method and manner that best suits his or her character.

Another thing to keep in mind is that regardies of how many teaching projects we are involved in, we are still enjoined to conduct a fireside at least once every 19 days, and to lead at least one soul into the Faith each year.

Statistically, if each believer fulfilled this obligation, and brought ‘one soul into the shelter of the Faith, the Cause would increase geometrically in such a way that the entire world would become Baha'is in 10 years. Therefore, we should not worry about the “best” teaching methods, but should concern ourselves with the act of teaching.

Q: After reading The American Baha'i | was shocked to Ii how far the U.S. is behind in its Seven Year Plan goals. What does the National Teaching Committee plan to do to help win the goals?

A: It should be kept in mind that neither the National Teaching Committee nor the National Spiritual Assembly is itself capable of winning the goals. It is through individual efforts that goals are won. Too often, it seems, the friends wait for some “plan” to come from the National Assembly before going out and bringing people into the Cause. Teaching shouldn't be dependent on a national plan or project. During the days of the Bab and Baha'u'llah, there were no National or Local Assemblies to guide the believers. Yet it was these devoted souls who established the Faith.

The beloved Guardian, speaking of the duty of the individual, stated: “Without his (the individual’s) support, at once wholehearted, continuous and generous, every measure adopted, and every plan formulated, by the body which acts as the national representative of the community to which he belongs, is foredoomed to failure. The World Centre of the Faith itself is paralyzed if such sup: port on the part of the rank and file of the community is denied

soe Faizi Continued From Page 1

COMMEMORATIVE MEETINGS HIS NAME IN HOUSES WORSHIP ALL CONTINENTS. MAY HIS SHINING EXAMPLE CONSECRATION CONTINUE INSPIRE HIS AD

MIRERS EVERY LAND. PRAYING HOLY SHRINES HIS NOBLE RADIANT SOUL MAY BE IMMERSED IN OCEAN DIVINE MERCY CONTINUE ITS UNINTERRUPTED PROGRESS IN INFINITE WORLDS BEYOND. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE November 20, 1980

| re cm RR EERIE ECE SERA GSE! RE FER FORE ST SS RE EE

[Page 10]TEACHING

The American Baha’i

Soon after the Seven Year Plan was launched in 1979, the Assemblies and Baha'i Groups in San Luis Obispo County, Californi: agreed to plan and sponsor proclamation activities together, mindful of the direction by the National Spiritual Assembly to use a systematic approach rather than to pursue “spasmodic ill-conceived campaigns.”

The Baha'i _Inter-Community Association (BICA), the name adopted by this group, is comprised of public information representatives of Baha'i communities in San Luis Obispo County who meet regularly to plan-and sponsor the observances of annual proclamation days such as Race Unity Day, World Peace Day, World Religion Day, and so on.

THE BICA HAS been highly successful not only in the number of non-Baha’is it has attracted to its programs, but also in its impact ‘on the Baha'i communities themselves, creating a stronger bond between them and a deeper commitment to serve our beloved Faith.

During the past year the following positive developments have been realized:

1. County-wide proclamation on a systematic and regular basis.

2. Initiation of county-wide media coverage.

3. Elimination of costly duplication of effort.

4, Closer communication with and stimulation of Groups.

5. Strengthening the bonds of love and affection among the believers.

To assure harmonious interaction among the participating communities and ascertain the responsibilities and functions of member localities, certain agreements and guidelines had to be set up.

THE COMMITTEE therefore compiled an ‘Agreement of Cooperation” and “Guidelines” for the procedures and direction of the BICA.

The key element in the smooth functioning of the BICA appears to be the fact that its sponsorship is set up on a yearly rotating basis. This assures each locality equal rights and equal responsibilities.

The BICA has thus far conducted the following proclamation events with an inspiring degree of success;

Race Unity Day 1979

This proclamation was a music festival that featured artists of differing racial backgrounds presenting their ethnic heritage in song and play. Participants were mostly non-Baha’ifs with whom Baha'is had been in contact for some time.

Over-all attendance was 86 including 31 non-Baha’is. The event showed great organization, and showed residents of the area the Baha’i ideal of the oneness of humanity.

San Luis Obispo communities cooperate to proclaim Faith

World Peace Day 1979

This event began with a talk on world peace in which David Villaseftor explained the Baha'i concept of world unity and peace. During his presentation, Mr. Villasenor displayed a large (4 feet in diameter) colorful Aztec calendar, and explained the deeper meanings of its intricate symbols.

The BICA later presented the calendar to the county Board of Supervisors and the people of San Luis Obispo County. That night the presentation of the calendar was reported on a local television station. It is now on display at the county courthouse and bears a plaque with the quotation from Baha'u'llah: “This handful of dust, the earth, is one home—let it be in unity.”

United Nations Day 1979

This event, a Child Information Faire, was conceived, organized and hosted by the Baha’i community of Morro Bay with the full cooperation of the BICA.

It was a service project, designed to acquaint families with the agencies and organizations in the area that provide activities and services for young families and children, and was successful in helping to establish the “good reputation” of the Baha'is mentioned by the Universal House of Justice in its 1979 message an

Please see BICA Page 28

More than 30 people, Baha’is and non-Baha’is, were present May 24 at the fifth annual Women's Awards Luncheon sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Geneva, New York.

This year's recipients of special awards for service to the citizens of Geneva were Mrs. Shirley Thibault and Mrs, Helen Stepowany.

MRS. THIBAULT has been ac

Award recipients Mrs. Shirley Thibault (seated at left) and Mrs. Helen Stepowany chat with speaker

tive in community affairs since moving to Geneva about 10 years ago. Her most significant contribution has been her involvement as three-term president of the Center for Concern, the purpose of which is to help meet the needs of the disadvantaged.

A former member of the sheriff's Citizens Advisory Committee and the Community Action Committee (COMAC), she helped

fifth annual Women's Awards Luncheon May 24 sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Geneva, New

Robert Rosenfeld (right) during the —_York. World. The presence of this man and all the Native Americans present

Geneva, N.Y., Baha’is honor 2 women

institute the Youth Employment Service and serves on the advisory committee for the Department of Social Services’ Head Start program.

Mrs. Stepowany is a home services director of the Fingerlakes Affiliate of the state United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, working with handicapped preschoolers and infants in a fourcounty area.

The awards luncheon was begun in 1976 in conjunction with the United Nations International Women’s Year.

At that first gathering, a oneday symposium on “Women Today and Tomorrow” was held. It included seminars, workshops and panel discussions on the many facets of women's changing roles.

It was decided at that luncheon to present an annual award to two women to recognize their significant contributions to the Geneva community.

Each year, a prominent member of the U.S. Baha'i community is invited to speak. This year's speaker, Robert Rosenfeld of Rochester, New York, an assistant to the Auxiliary Board, spoke on “The Role of Women in Today's

Willie Big George of Lake of the Woods, Canada, performs a traditional Indian pipe ceremony during the North American Native institute

held August 23-24 on the Ojibway Reservation in Grand Portage, Minnesota.

150 learn of Indian traditions at Minnesota Native Institute

About 150 people from the U.S. and Canada participated August 23-24 in the Grand Portage North American Native Institute held on the Grand Portage Ojibway Reservation in northeastern Minnesota.

The event was sponsored by the District Teaching Committee of Northern Minnesota. Its purpose was to give those who attended a better understanding of the life, spiritual teachings, and cultural heritage of Native Americans.

EMPHASIS was placed on providing an environment of spiritual unity and love so that, through speakers, films and other presentations, non-Indians could learn about the original inhabitants of our continent.

Joining keynote speaker David Villaseflor were local Native Americans, Baha'i and non-Baha'i, who spoke on many topics including traditions, the meaning of ceremonies and symbols, prophecy, honor, our relationship to the earth, the challenge of our age, the awakening of the Native American people, and their relationship to the Baha’ Faith.

Gracing the walls of the conference room was a collection of sand paintings by Mr. Villasefior, each one a holy book in itself, understood through the language of symbols.

A key figure at the conference was Willie Big George, an Ojibway Baha’i from Lake of the Woods, Canada, who is widely known among the Native Americans as a traditional man, a former chief who lives in accordance with the old ways.

his family showed clearly how the traditional Indian spiritual path is in essence akin to the spiritual path of the Baha'i Faith.

Mr. Big George performed pipe and drum ceremonies, and spoke throughout the weekend, reminding everyone that we are all being watched by the Great Spirit, “Gitchee Manitou.””

PRESENT AT a Saturday evening pow wow were the four races of humanity: red, yellow, black and white. All danced in a circle of unity accompanied by a drum, the heartbeat of the Native American people.

Mr. Villasefior, offering his opinion about the best way to teach the native: peoples, said, “This must not be forced, but rather any practical method of service to their community would be a wise approach.

“To offer yourself because of your belief in the duty of service and the oneness of humanity will be respected, and will allow for teaching through example and opportunity to serve the Cause of God.”

The next day, following a pipe and drum ceremony, prayers in Ojibway, Persian and English, and a presentation of the film, “The Sands of Time,” Mr. Villasefior demonstrated the art of Navajo sand painting, explaining its meaning and purpose, and how the paintings are used by medicine men for honoring and healing.

The institute then closed with a traditional Indian “give-away.” As Mr. Big George performed an honor song, gifts were given on behalf of the Baha'i community to

[Page 11]TEACHING

December 1980

Laotian believers renewing friendships in

Abolfazl “Bijan” Bayzaee was a young man of 21 when he arrived in Laos in February 1964 as a pioneer from Iran.

By the time he left Laos in August 1968 at the ripe old age of 25, he had participated in an untold number of teaching projects, had seen the entry of many Laotians into the Faith—especially among the Hmong tribal people of northern Laos—and had witnessed the format in 1967 of the first National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Laos.

LAOS IS a country that has been wracked by war since 1954. The doors to Laos were closed totally to Baha’! pioneers and traveling teachers in 1975, some 19 years after the arrival of the first Baha'i pioneer.

Refugees by the thousands have fled Laos in recent years.

“BIJAN’ BAYZAEE

Welcome!

The following is a partial listing of more Asian Americans who have been enrolled in the Faith on the West Coast of the U.S. The total number of these believers, most of whom were Baha'is in Southeast Asia, has passed 60.

Bakersfield, California: Dang Van Nguyen.

San Diego, California: Thor Lee Cha, Va Seng Cha, Chong Yeu Cha.

Portland, Oregon: Chaing Lao Cha, Yee Vang Cha, Chai Va Cha, Po Kou Cha, Vue Yer Cha, Pao Lee Cha, Siong Deux Cha, Tsu Chao Cha, Lee Khue Cha, Neng Cha, Tou Fu Cha, Mee Vang Cha.

Chile

Continued From Page 8 cities of the north.

There are many opportunities to teach the Faith in all areas of Chile and South America. The bounty is out there waiting for us.

To serve Baha'u'llah is to teach His Cause—wherever the opportunity arises.

Some of these refugees are Baha’is, and some are now living in the U.S.

Mr. Bayzaee, too, now lives in this country, in Skokie, Illinois.

When the National Teaching Committee learned this fall of the presence of substantial numbers of Laotian refugees who are Bahd’is living in Portland, Oregon, and San Diego and Long Beach, California, as well as of exciting teaching activities among refugees in Houston, Texas, it sent Mr. Bayzaee to visit these communities in October as its representative.

His first stop was Portland, where the Spiritual Assembly has estimated that there are more than 160 Laotian refugee Baha'is in the community and is working to identify them and place them on the rolls.

Mr. Bayzaee was able to meet more than 40 of these Laotian believers during his three-day visit to Portland.

ALL OF THE refugees there are Hmong. It was the Hmong, a minority people who lived in mountain villages, with whom Mr. Bayzaee had had the most contact during his stay in Laos.

Of all the ethnic groups in Laos, the Hmong have been subjected to the most incredible suffering in recent years.

Magazine articles, such as one in the October 1980 issue of Reader’s Digest, estimate that in 1960 there were as many as 500,000 Hmong in Laos, but that there are probably only 70,000 left there today, with another 50,000 in refugee camps in Thailand and another 35,000 relocated to other countries including the U.S.

One of the Hmong believers, now living in Portland, had served on the National Spiritual Assembly of Laos.

Although Mr. Bayzaee did not recognize the name, he soon recognized the face of this believer when he entered his home and was greeted.

Among the photos of the friends in Laos he had known in the 1960s were many photos of this man, Chong Khue Cha.

Mr. Cha had demonstrated time and again while in Laos that he was a person of exceptional capacity.

ALTHOUGH a guerilla war was raging, he had been a traveling teacher for years, ranging through many especially dangerous areas in an effort to nurture and maintain contact with the friends in outlying communities.

While visiting with Mr. Bayzaee, Mr. Cha recounted how often he had thought of the possibility of being killed during these trips, and how he had always said to himself that he would trust God to protect him while he was doing God's work, and that if he were killed while on this path, it would be the will of God.

There were others in Portland besides Mr. Cha whose faces were to be found in the 14-year-old

Some of the Southeast Asian refugees who have contacted the

photos Mr. Bayzaee had brought.

It was an exquisite reunion for Mr. Bayzaee and the friends. There was so much catching up to do, so many plans to be made.

During his stay, Mr. Bayzaee was able to meet with the Spiritual Assembly of Portland and its Teaching Committee, and to encourage them to strive to identify the Laotian believers and to integrate them into the Portland Baha'i community.

Mr. Bayzaee’s Portland experience was repeated in San Diego. Of the Laotian believers who had recently been found and placed on the roils, there were several, such as Mr. Cha Hu, whom Mr, Bayzaee had known in Laos.

Mr. Cha Hu had been a member of the Spiritual Assembly of the village of Bon Nam Than, and Mr. Bayzaee had the photos to prove it.

MR. CHA HU and the others like him were the product of 24 years of effort by the Hands of the Cause, Counsellors, Auxiliary Board members and other dedicated traveling teachers and pioneers in Laos.

Every week more Laotian believers are being rediscovered in the San Diego area. While Mr. Bayzaee was there the friends contacted another former member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Laos, Mr. Cha Lao Chu. Once again, Mr. Bayzaee’s photo album was the catalyst.

In his position with the local refugee center in San Diego, Mr. Chu is involved night and day with the situation of Southeast Asian refugees.

He has distinguished himself in the U.S. with his leadership, as he had distinguished himself as a leader among the Hmong people in Laos. Mr. Bayzaee and Mr. Chu talked at length about the past and the future.

The San Diego community is involved not only in recontacting Laotians who already are there,

in Houston. Texas, in recent weeks gather for a meeting at the

abet Soe! Baha'i Center in Houston.

If you have served as a pioneer to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam or Thailand and would like to help with teaching and consolidation work among Southeast Asians in the U.S., please contact the National Teaching Committee. Phone (toll free) 1-800-323-4390.

but also in teaching others—Laotians, Vietnamese and Cambodians.

Mr. Bayzaee was able to visit with many of these new friends as well as with his old friends.

Mr. Chu mentioned that he had five brothers, all Baha'is, who lived in Long Beach.

SINCE MR. Bayzaee was scheduled to visit that community as well, he made a special point of visiting these believers—all 14 of them, including wives and other family members.

In addition to several believers who accompanied Mr. Bayzaee from San Diego, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Long Beach was able to participate in this joyous meeting.

From Long Beach, Mr. Bayzaee traveled to Houston, the last stop on his itinerary.

The community there includes several refugee believers from Vietnam. But as far as the friends knew, there were no Laotian Baha'is in Houston.

There were, however, a number of Laotian seekers who had come to the Baha'i Center in Houston to request information.

Through the efforts of a nonBaha'i from Laos who has a close friend in Los Angeles who is a Baha'i, word was spread among the Laotians about a Baha’i-sponsored potluck and party to be held at the Houston Baha'i Center on

the occasion of Mr. visit.

At least 70 refugees attended that party, some of whom had been in the States for a matter of weeks or days.

THERE WAS food, songs in English, songs in Lao, Baha'i songs, and Lao and Thai dancing that evening.

Bayzaee’s

After a Baha'i prayer was read in Lao, someone came forward and identified himself as a Baha'i. He had, he said, become a Baha'i in 1968 when traveling teachers visited his village. His wife also had become a Baha'i, and their son became a Baha'i in 1978.

The potential for growth of the Faith among the refugees in Houston is considerable. There are perhaps other Baha'is there waiting to be found.

The members of the Spiritual Assembly of Houston and the local Teaching Committee with whom Mr. Bayzaee met appear ready for the task.

Portland, San Diego, Long Beach, Houston—these aren't the only communities in which there are Laotians or other Southeast Asian Baha'is.

Mr. Bayzaee will undoubtedly be called upon to make other trips to other communities to help the friends with teaching work among these peoples. He, too, stands ready.

13 Baha

Thirteen Baha’is and three seekers participated August 15-17 in a weekend Youth Institute at the mountaintop home of John and Michael Fanning near Kermit, West Virginia.

enjoy weekend institute

The theme of the institute, which included. discussions of alcohol, peer pressure, and Baha'i marriage and courtship, was “The Challenge of Youth.”

| cere RC ZS SSS SE SSE SE SESE SE SEE,

[Page 12]

PUBLICATIONS

The American Baha’i

12

‘Baha’i World’ volumes reflect painstaking care

In November the Baha'i Publishing Trust announced a special limited printing of volumes 1 through 12 of The Bahi World. You may be asking yourself what all the fanfare is about.

The beloved Guardian has left us many magnificent evidences of an emerging worid order—his comparable history, God Passes By; his many letters, such as those collected in The World Order of Baha’u'llah, Baha'i Administration, and The Promised Day Is Come; the meticulously planned gardens surrounding the Shrines in Haifa—and the superstructure of the Shrine of the Bab itself.

BUT ONLY IN the volumes of The Baha'i World did Shoghi Effendi collect the scraps and pieces of our Baha'i lives and weave them into the pattern of an emerging world religion.

Ruhiyyih Khanum, in The Priceless Pearl, notes that the Guardian “dramatized the progress of the Faith in these volumes’ and made “a mass of scattered facts and unrelated photographs ... testify to the reality of the claim of that Faith to be world-wide and allinclusive.”

She goes on to relate how the Baha’i World volumes came about and how they were prepared:

“It is interesting to note that the actual suggestion for a volume along the lines of The Baháa’i World came to Shoghi Effendi from Horace Holley in a letter he wrote in February 1924—though | have no doubt that it was the breadth of vision of the young Guardian and the shape he was already giving to the work of the Cause in his messages to the West that, working on Horace’s own creative mind, stimulated him to this concept.

“Shoghi Effendi seized on this idea and from then on Horace

Baha’i History Calendar ready

The 1981 Hawaii Baha’i History Calendar is now available.

The unique feature of the calendar is the listing of hundreds of events in Baha'i history on the dates on which they occurred.

Designed as a deepening and teaching tool, the calendar features artwork inspired by The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah, thus combining visual charm with the grace and beauty that sparkle from those gemlike verses of uplifting spiritual power.

The calendar is available for $4 each from the Baha'i National Library, 3264 Allan Place, Honolulu, H! 96817. Payment may be made by personal check, bank draft, or international money order payable to the Baha'i National Library.

There is a postage and handling charge of $1.50 minimum; however, the exact amount of postage be billed by the rary at the time of shipment.

became Shoghi Effendi’s primary instrument, as a gifted writer, and in his capacity as Secretary of the American National Spiritual Assembly, in making of The Baha’i World the remarkable and unique book it became.

“Volume One, published in 1925 and called Baha'i Year Book—which covered the period from April 1925 to April 1926 and comprised 174 pages—received its permanent title, in Volume Two, of The Baha'i World, A Biennial National Record, suggested by that National Assembly and approved by Shoghi Effendi.

“AT THE TIME of the Guardian's passing twelve volumes had appeared, the largest running to over 1,000 pages. Although these were prepared under the supervision of the American National Assembly, published by its Publishing Com: mittee, compiled by a staff of editors and dedicated to Shoghi Effendi, it would be more in conformity with the facts to call them Shoghi Effendi’s Book.

“He himself acted as Editor-inChief; the tremendous amount of material comprised in each volume was sent to him by the American Assembly, with’ all photographs, before it appeared and his was the final decision as to what should go in and what be omitted.

“As six of these books were published during the period | was privileged to be with him | was able to observe how he edited them. With his infinite capacity for work Shoghi Effendi would go over the vast bundles of papers and photographs forwarded to him, eliminating the poorer and more irrelevant material; the various sections, following the Table of Contents which he himself had arranged, would then be prepared and set aside until the entire manuscript was ready to be mailed back to America for publication.

“He always deplored the fact that the material was not of a higher standard. It is due solely to his determination and _perseverance that the Baha'i World volumes are as brilliant and impressive as they are.

“The editors (some of whom he had nominated himself), struggling against the forces of inertia that beset any body trying to achieve its ends through correspondence with sources thousands of miles away, and seeking to work through often inexperienced and inefficient administrative organs, would never have been successful in assembling the material required without the drive and authority of the Guardian behind their efforts.

“An interesting sidelight of this work is that Shoghi Effendi, after the book was published, had all the original manuscripts returned to Haifa and stored at the World Centre.

“AS SOON AS one volume was

published he began himself to collect material for the next one. In

addition to the repeated reminders he sent to the American National Assembly to do likewise, he sent innumerable letters and cables to different Assemblies and individuals.

“In one day, for instance, he cabled three National Assemblies: ‘National Assembly photograph for Baha'i World essential’; he cabled such isolated and out-ofthe-way outposts as Shanghai for material he wanted. ‘Baha'i World manuscript mailed. Advise speedy careful publication’ was not an unusual type of message for the American Assembly to receive.

“It was Shoghi Effendi who arranged the order of the volume, had typed in Haifa the entire Table of Contents, had all the photographs titled, chose all the frontispieces, decided on the colour of the binding of the volume to appear, and above all gave exact instructions, in long detailed letters, to Horace Holley, whom he himself had chosen as the most gifted and informed person to write the International Survey of Current Baha'i Activities, to which he attached great importance. ‘Detailed letter mailed for International Survey confident your masterly treatment collected data’ he cabled him.

“An example of how com prehensive and painstaking Shoghi Effendi’s letters on this subject were is provided by the following excerpts from a letter to Horace, written by Shoghi Effendi’s secretary, but | have little doubt dictated by the Guardian himself: ‘This material Shoghi Effendi has carefully examined, altered, arranged, enriched by adding fresh material that he has collected, put them in their final form and will mail the entire manuscript to your address before the end of this month ... He has devoted considerable time to its minute examination and arrangement and has found the work very exacting and arduous... He wishes to stress the importance of adhering strictly to the order he had adopted. He hopes that, unlike the previous volume, nothing will be misplaced.’

“WHAT SHOGHI Effendi himself thought of The Baha’i World he put down in writing. As early as 1927, when only one volume had been published, he wrote to a non-Baha’i: ‘| would strongly advise you to procure a copy of the Baha’i Year Book ... which will give you a clear and authoritative statement of the purpose, the claim and the influence of the Faith.’

“In a general letter addressed, in 1928, ‘To the beloved of the Lord and the hand-maids of the Merciful throughout the East and West,’ and entirely devoted to the subject of The Baha’i World, Shoghi Effendi informs them: ‘I have ever since its inception taken a keen and sustained interest in its development, have personally Pi ated in the collection of its material, the arrangement of its

contents, and the close scrutiny of whatever data it contains. | confidently and emphatically reccommend it to every thoughtful and eager follower of the Faith, whether in the East or in the West .. “He wrote that its material is readable, attractive, comprehensive and authoritative; its treatment of the fundamentals of the Cause concise and persuasive, and its illustrations thoroughly representative; it is unexcelled and unapproached by any other Baha'i publication of its kind. “This book Shoghi Effendi always visualized as being—indeed he designed it to be—eminently suitable for the public for scholars, to place in libraries and as a means, as he put it, of ‘removing the malicious misrepresentations and unfortunate misunderstandings that have so long and so grievously clouded the luminous Faith of Baha’u'llah.” “It was a book that he himself often gave as a gift to royalty, to statesmen, to professors, universities, newspaper editors and nonBaha'is in general, mailing it to them with his simple personal card ‘Shoghi Rabbani’ enclosed. “THE REACTION of one of these—an American professor—conveys very clearly the impression the gift Shoghi Effendi

had sent him produced: ‘Two copies of Baha'i World have reached us...! cannot tell you

how much | appreciate being able to study the book, which is exceedingly interesting and inspiring in every way ...| congratulate you especially for developing the literature, and keeping alive such

a wholesome spirit amongst the persons of many different groups who look to you for leadership.’

“But perhaps the greatest tribute to the calibre of this publication, into which Shoghi Effendi poured throughout the years so much time and care, was that a proud Queen should write for it special tributes to the Faith and consent that these and her own photograph should appear as frontispieces in its various volumes.

“‘No words,’ Shoghi Effendi wrote to Martha Root in 1931, upon receiving from her one of Queen Marie’s specially written tributes, ‘can adequately express my pleasure at the receipt of your letter enclosing the precious appreciation which will constitute a valuable and outstanding contribution to the forthcoming issue of the Baha'i World.’”

The fanfare over the announcement of a limited printing of volumes of The Baha’i World is fully justified. You have this special opportunity to share in the excitement.

Beginning February 1, 1981, the Baha'i Publishing Trust will release, three volumes at a time, the first 12 volumes of The Baha’i World (including Volume 1, which was called The Baha’i Year Book).

THE PREPUBLICATION price for the entire set of 12 volumes (Catalog No. 7-33-00), through midnight, January 31, 1981, will be only $150 NET.

Prepublication orders for individual volumes also will be ac

Please See BAH

Page 15

[Page 13]LOUHELEN SCHOOL

December 1980

Most eastern states approve Louhelen Offering

Approval by most of the states in the eastern half of the country was given in late October to an Offering of promissory notes to be used as a way of raising funds for the Louhelen Baha'i School reconstruction project.

Baha'is in those particular states may invest in the notes as a way to help the National Spiritual Assembly build new facilities at the Michigan school.

A SMALL GROUP of Baha'is in those states has been registered

Sam Clark of Ferndale, Michigan (standing at left), a member of the Louhelen Baha'i Schoo! Task Force, explains the architect's plans to. Baha'is who are helping in the sale of

with state governments permitting them to represent the National Spiritual Assembly in the sale of the notes.

These volunteer “agents” are presently inviting other small groups of Baha'is to meetings to learn more about the project.

They welcome the initiative of Baha’is in those states who contact them for information about the project or to purchase a note (see Page 32 of the November issue of The American Baha'i for a list of names and addresses of

ee aoe promissory notes to help underwrite a $1.8 million construction project at the school. The meeting was held August 30-31'in Wilmette, Ilinois.

these agents).

A great boost to the financing of the construction came in September with the commitment from a Baha'i for a long-term loan of $100,000.

Other aspects of the project continue to progress. Bids were opened October 28 on the first phase of the project.

That phase includes foundations for four buildings, preliminary site work, underground utilities, and the superStructure of the School Center building.

Construction of Phase 1 can get under way when $1,250,000 of the total of $1.8 million has been raised.

A SPECIAL card expressing the National Spiritual Assembly's appreciation is béing mailed to those who support the project either through direct contributions or the purchase of prom: issory notes.

The card features a small-scale reproduction of the artist’s conception of the completed school. No doubt these cards will become treasured mementos over the years.

Although there are many difficulties facing the world and the Faith at this time, plans for construction of the school will continue.

Dr. Peter Khan, a member of the

Th

Jational Spiritual Assembly

gratefully acknowledges the contribution

toward the reconstruction

of the Louhelen Baha'i School made by:

uh

ubelen School

row in the futuce to be f Baha'i education,

This card expressing the National Spiritual Assembly's appreciation is being sent fo those who support the

Continental Board of Counsellors for Australasia and a former member of the Louhelen School Council, spoke to Baha'is at the Louhelen School site September 1, saying that there is a spiritual process involved in moving forward with plans.

The Counsellor explained that the same procedure was carried out by the Guardian when he completed the embellishment of the Shrine of the Bab in the midst of the Arab-Israeli war.

$1.8 million construction project at the Louhelen Baha'i School near Davison, Michigan.

Or. Khan pointed out that now, when the Faith is facing renewed persecutions in Iran, the Seat of the Universal House of Justice is being brought to completion while throughout the world National Assemblies are embarking on new ventures with renewed vigor.

These acts, he said, demonStrate that the Cause of God can never be stopped by any opposition or difficulty—not in Iran, not in Israel, not in America, not in any part of the world.

Baha7i workshop is part of education convention

Baha’is participated July 17-19 in “Space for the Future,” an international convention on education in the Space Age at George Wash

• ington University in Washington,

D.C.

The conference was organized by the Amicitia (Friendship) International School for the Future, a non-political organization.

REPRESENTATIVES of more than 50 educational groups participated in the informative conference that included general sessions and creative workshops.

The Baha'i participation was a follow-up to the Symposium on Science and the Future of Mankind:at New York’s Pace University last March that was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of New York City.

At that symposium Mrs. Nancy Kobryn, president of the Amicitia. School, had been introduced to the Baha’is by one of the speakers, NASA scientist Jesco von Puttkamer.

Mailing reminder

Whenever an Assembly or Group does not receive mail from the Baha'i National Center for more than a few weeks, there is most likely a mailing problem. If this happens, please contact the Office of Membership and Records, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Mrs. Kobryn, who was familiar with the Faith, having read several Baha'i books, invited the friends to participate in the “Space for the Future” convention.

“| feel that we need spiritual guidance at this time,” she said, “and | recognize that the Baha'i Faith represents the spiritual leadership of the future. I'll be very glad to have the Baha'is represented at our convention.”

The Baha'i workshop, listed in the convention agenda under the title “Spiritual Development in the Future,” was presented by Harvey Wiener, a retired professor of science and mathematics.

THE BAHA'l message was warmly received by those at the conference including Mrs. Evelyn Gonzales, special assistant to Mayor Marion S. Barry Jr. of Washington.

Guests at a private banquet following the conference included film producerlwriter Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek and other works).

Mr. Roddenberry conversed at length with the friends and said he was quite impressed with the Baha'i teachings on arts and sciences.

As a further result of the conference, Mrs. Eliane Hopson, a Baha'i from New York City, was invited by Mrs. Kobryn to serve on the Board of Advisers of Amicitia International.

For Universal Children's Day, and in anticipation of t Nations Year of the Handicapped in 1981 aha'is from two communi southeastern Pennsylvania presented this bulletin board with

’

SPAY hed

alphabets in Braille and sign language to the Melinda Cox Library in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, along

with a copy of the children’s book, The Gift. Mary Ann Crozier (left), the

children’s librarian at the Cox Library, accepts the board from Rita Leydon of Lahaska, Pennsylvania, no created the display with Kathy Cerruti of Chaltont.

West Chicago Baha’is sponsor 4th music festival

The Baha'is of West Chicago, Illinois, sponsored their fourth annual Music Fest on August 17.

In spite of unexpected rain, attendance was good, with several seekers enjoying the music and asking questions of the friends.

Local Baha'i musicians participating were Gary Allain, Jerry Holt, Brad Smith, Fran Wilmot and

Doug Edwards

Music included Baha'i songs, popular songs, and a bluegrass sing-along.

Adults and children enjoyed a magic show by Doug Edwards that also included an explanation of principles of the Faith.

The West Chicago community is planning now for its next Music Fest to be held the third weekend

in August 1981.

The planning committee welcomes musicians, dancers, singers, theatre groups, mimes or other entertainers who would like to participate.

If interested, please contact Gary Allain, 1215 Kings Court, Apt. 12, West Chicago, IL 60185, or phone 312-231-5665.

[Page 14]HOUSE OF WORSHIP

The American Baha’i

185 believers enjoy ‘Special Visit’ tours

The 1980 Special Visit Programs are now history, although the happy memories and the spiritual energy they released will be felt fora long time to come.

The programs, held at the Baha'i National Center this past summer, were attended by 185 Baha'is from 26 states and five foreign countries.

THE VISITORS experienced three full days of activities while in Wilmette.

They toured the offices of the Secretariat and those of all National Committees, visited the

Baha'i Home for the aged, participated in a special presentation at the Baha'i Publishing Trust, and viewed the National Archives.

In addition, they had an opportunity to speak at length with Glenford E. Mitchell, the secretary

of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Dr. Magdalene M. Carney, the assistant secretary.

Other highlights of the program included stories of the early days of the Faith in America by Continental Counsellor Edna M. True, and presentations on the Institution of the Boards of Counsellors and the history of the Baha'i House of Worship.

There was also time for prayer, shopping at the Baha'i Book Store, and getting to know their fellow program participants.

All in all, the Special Visit Program proved to be a time to confirm one's commitment to the Faith and to grow spiritually.

This past summer witnessed, in addition to four regular Special Visit Programs, one designed especially for families.

THE PROGRAM was held over the Independence Day weekend with 36 adults and 33 children par ticipating Wrote one of the younger participants: “I liked meeting new

friends, seeing the House of Worship, having the picnic, seeing the fireworks, seeing the carpet in Foundation Hall, and | especially enjoyed the musical programs.

“| liked my classes and seeing the cornerstone. | got a Baha'i ring. | liked the gardens, and | liked being a part of the Special Visit Program.”

In anote, the youngster’s father ‘said: “I think it was great because it was a family visit. The day after we returned home my 8-year-old son said to me, ‘Dad, | can’t wait

Participants in the Special Visit pro: grams toured the new Baha'i ad ministrative office building (top) and heard talks by Auxiliary Board

member D. Thelma Jackson (above) and Dr. Magdalene M. Carney (below), assistant secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly.

until | become a Baha

This was the first time an extended family program has been held at the National Center. Its success has ensured that it will become an annual event.

Perhaps the easiest way to describe the Special Visit Program is to let those who participated speak for themselves:

“THE SPECIAL Visit Program, by allowing me a_behind-thescenes view of the work and activities of the National Spiritual Assembly and to take part in Temple devotions, was an invaluable deepening experience,” wrote one believer.

“In understanding and being aware of the activities of the National Spiritual Assembly and the activities of the Baha'is concerned with the Temple, | feel much more a part of the greater Baha'i community beyond the level of the family and local community.

“Last and certainly most important, to be in proximity to the House of Worship for a period of days and to partake of the spirit of the staff and the other participants was truly a profoundly mov. ing experience.”

Another Baha'i commented: “I'm better prepared to teach the Faith. I’m full of spiritual qualities | never knew | had. I'm better educated in all areas of the work done at the Temple, and the Administration.

“Thank you for all the wonderful things you did for me.”

House of Worship end-of-year attendance soars

With the persecutions in Iran directing more public attention toward the Faith, attendance at the Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette showed a significant increase during the first eight months of 1980.

The visitor count at the House of Worship during that time was 138,118, an increase of 18.4 per cent above the 116,617 who visited the Temple during the corresponding period in 1979.

In July and August alone the House of Worship received visitors from every state in the union as well as from nearly 100 other nations.

The foyer of the new Baha'i ad: ministrative office building attracts some of the Special Visit participants

Yet another participant wrote: “It was so inspiring, | want to be a more spiritual person, and | now feel more motivated than ever.

“JUST BEING with all those wonderful Baha'is was a marvelous experience. | felt so close to so many of them, when we left, that it was as if we were leaving our family.

“| wanted so badly to stay. How 1 wish I could go back for the other four programs this summer!

“The Temple is truly God's House, and | feel so safe and comfortable and secure there. | sure have a lot to tell my Baha'i and non-Baha’i friends, and | haven't

Visit

The Special families included entertainment by

Program for

1% (above) while children (below) take

part in one of the classes during the Special Visit Program for families.

stopped talking since we got home.

“I want everyone in the world to become a Baha'i, and will try my best to reach as many of them as possible. Thank you for this fantastic program.”

The Special Visit Programs are available to every Baha’i in the U.S. Four programs are scheduled for summer 1981 and registration forms will be available in the April 1981 issue of The American Baha’

Plan now to attend one of these exciting and informative programs

the Unity Bluegrass Band. during one ‘of the Family Night programs.

[Page 15]

NATIONAL CENTER

December 1980

15

The editor of Bah speak at a recent Baha'i Youth asking a question:

are involved in producing Bah: News and The American Bahi each month?”

Several hands were raised. The guesses ranged from 50 to 100. No one guessed less than a dozen.

“ACTUALLY,” the editor said, smiling, “there are two of us.”

The youth were surprised, as are most Baha'is upon learning that the publications are produc

The American Baha'i is printed and ready for mailing (top) but not before

News and The American Baha'i, asked to

Workshop in Wilmette, began by “How many staff members do you suppose

ed by a staff of only two.

“When | arrived at the National Center,” says Jack Bowers, who has been editor of Baha'i periodicals since June 1977, “what surprised me most was the small number of people who were putting out the publications.”

“Iwas another of those who imagined quite a large staff here. Actually, the two of us are responsible for almost every aspect of the publications,” says Mr. Bowers.

The editor is assisted by reporter/photographer David Ogron who joined the staff last December. Working together they gather the news, write and edit copy, take many of the photos, and handle layout, scheduling, filing and correspondence.

Editing copy for The American Baha'i has been done electronically since early 1979.

“I felt that to produce the publications more quickly and efficiently," says Mr. Bowers, “it was necessary for us to move from the ‘old style’ editing with Pencil or pen to the newer, more modern technique.”

THE CONTENTS of each issue of the newspaper are entered into an electronic terminal that resembles a typewriter keyboard with a “television screen” above it.

As each word is typed it appears on the screen and is record

it has been carefully edited (above) and the layout completed (below).

ed on a small, round “floppy disc” similar to those used in computers. Each disc holds up to 86,000 characters.

The size, style and spacing of type is controlled by information typed onto each disc by the editor.

Once completed, the discs are sent to the typesetter, where they are placed into a machine that sets type automatically.

The resulting sheets of type, or galleys, are returned to the Periodicals Office for editing and use in layout

Layout involves determining the placement of articles, headlines and photos that appear on each page of the newspaper or magazine.

THE GALLEYS of type are cut into pieces and individual articles pasted onto the pages. The completed layout is sent to the typesetter for creation of a camera-ready paste-up—the “master form” of each page that is photographed for printing after a final check by the editor.

Once copy for Baha’i News or The American Baha'i has been written, it is carefully reviewed by a special committee established for that purpose at the National Center.

The paste-up of each issue of The American Baha’i is reviewed by the secretary and assistant secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Much of the news that appears in The American Baha’i is supplied by Baha’ communities or individuals around the country.

Articles in Baha’i News about Baha'i activities in other parts of the world are sent by correspondents or taken from reports prepared by the Baha’i International News Service or appearing in Baha'i newsletters and bulletins.

Whenever the staff learns of a local or regional Baha'i event of interest, the sponsoring community is contacted and a request made for photos and a written report

SOMETIMES the information for a news or feature article can be gathered on the phone.

“In some cases the friends who plan to forward reports and photos of an event don’t realize the importance of sending the i formation as quickly as possible, says Mr. Ogron

“Our deadlines are such that we must have material about a month before the paper is actually printed and mi |. If we don’t receive it in time, it has to wait for the next issue.”

The American Baha’i, first published in 1970, has undergone some recent design changes to give it a more modern and contemPorary appearance.

The four-column format has given way to five-column, page headings have been enlarged, body type reduced in size, and news has been “compartmentalized” with certain pages set aside for regular features such as

a

Top left: A pressman looks over a copy of The American Baha'i. Top right: Editor Jack Bowers (right) and assistant David Ogron check page proofs. Above: David Ogron types an article for the paper. Right: Mary Lubben of Students Publishing Com: pany checks galleys as they are typeset for The American Baha’i

editorials, letters to the editor, classified ads, and articles from various committees and departments at the National Center.

Perhaps the most noticeable change is the size ot the paper. It is now a tabloid, making it more compatible with printing processes and bringing about lower printing costs.

“WE'VE RECEIVED a lot of favorable comments about the new look,” says Mr. Bowers. “Our feeling is that we're moving in the right direction, but we have a long way to go. In other words, we have still more improvements in mind.

Periodicals Office produces newspaper, magazine

“In any case, we love to hear from the friends, whether or not they like what we're doing.

“When they praise us, it indicates that we're on the right track, and so we try to think of ways to give them an even better and more interesting paper to read.

“When they don't praise us, the result is exactly the same—we simply roll up our sleeves and work that much harder to improve The American Baha’i, and Baha’i News, so that they will become, as the Guardian once said about Baha'i News, the foremost Baha'i journals in the world.’"”

Baha’i World

Continued From Page 12 cepted through midnight, January 31.

The prepublication prices of individual volumes are as follows:

Volume 1 (Catalog No. 7-33-01), $8; Volume 2 (Catalog No. 7-33-02), $10; Volume 3 (Catalog No. 7-33-03), $10; Volume 4 (Catalog No. 7-33-04), $13.50.

Volume 5 (Catalog No. 7-33-05),$ 17; Volume 6 (Catalog No. 7-33-06), $18.50; Volume 7 (Catalog No. 7-33-07), $16; Volume 8 (Catalog No. 7-33-08), $24.

Volume 9 (Catalog No. 7-33-09), $24; Volume 10 (Catalog No 7-33-10), $23; Volume 11 (Catalog

No. 7-33-11), $17.50; Volume 12 (Catalog No. 7-33-12), $21.50.

As of February 1, 1981, the price of Volumes 1 through 12 will be $176 NET. Orders for individual volumes will not be accepted after January 31, as those orders must be included with the initial print runs.

To order the entire set of The Baha'i World, Volumes 1-12, or individual volumes, see your local Baha'i community librarian, or order directly from the Baha'i Publishing Trust, 523 Green Bay Road, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Please include 10 per cent for postage and handling on orders under $100 (minimum $1), or include 10 per cent discount on nonnet items over $100.

[Page 16]EDUCATION

The American Baha’i

Education Advisers active at District Conventions

Advisers in 10 districts in which the National Education Committee’s Local Education Adviser Program (LEAP) has been introduced were active in planning and staffing children’s programs for District Conventions in October.

Advisers and other volunteers were instrumental in providing meaningful Baha'i educational experiences for children and youth attending programs at District Conventions in Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Northern IdahoEastern Washington, Southern Louisiana, Southern Minnesota, Southern Ohio, and Vermont.

LEAP IS concerned with consolidatian efforts within each district, especially with respect to meeting the needs of children and youth,

According to David L. Smith, secretary of the National Education Committee, the program is expected to be introduced in the following districts in spring 1981: Central Florida, lowa, Kentucky, Northern Illinois No. 2, Northern Ohio, Northern Virginia, and Western Colorado.

The following reports were received by the National Education Committee from children’s program directors in time for publication in this issue of The American Baha'i:

Northern Idaho-Eastern Wash ington

Sixty-two children representing 31 families attended classes or the nursery school.

Here’s the numerical breakdown along with names of teachers responsible for each class:

NURSERY, 0-3 years old, 18 students (Karen McConnell); Kinder, 4-5 years old, 14 students (Kathy Schmidt); Primary, 6-8 years old, 12 students (Sandra Hatch); Intermediate, 9-11 years old, 8 students (Judy Reneau); Junior Youth, 12-14 years old, 10 students (Pat Barrett).

Joe Erlacher and Randy Reneau were recreation directors. Cindi Strong directed music for the 4-8 year-olds. The nursery school was treated to a puppet show. About 30 people gave at least an hour helping in the school. Ted Barrett directed the intermediate and junior youth groups in choral reading.

Success? You know it. It was beautiful. Children were involved in purposeful activities all day, had some good thinking times, and enjoyed some real Baha’i identity working and playing with fellow-Baha’is all day.

The program at the end of Convention consisted of a prayer read as a choral selection by junior

3. Wears glasses. 4. Can hop on one foot. 5. Was born in another state.

a 6. Was born in another country.

7. Has gone pioneering. 8. Likes spinach.

13. Has a birthday in October.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU GAME (Southern Minnesota Children’s School)

Find a different person for each category below and write down his or her name. Parents can help you.

1. Knows when the next Feast is. 2. Knows the Birthday of Baha'u'llah.

9. Can say a Baha’ prayer from memory.

10. Goes to Baha'i children’s classes.

41. Can play a musical instrument.

12. Knows how to count backward from 10 to 1.

14. Has dimples in his/her cheeks.

15. Knows the Birthday of the Bab.

16. Has a baby brother or sister.

17. Wants to be on the Local Spiritual Assembly someday.

-_ &

Children carry out a. class activity during the Northern idaho-Eastern

Washington District Convention

youth, a portion of the Bab’s address to the Letters of the Living, read by the intermediate class, and the singing of “The Family of Man” by the 4- to 8-year-olds who were dressed in costumes from around the world.

Everyone had something to take home to remember the Baha’i Convention school—flowers, pictures of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, or illuminated Writings.

What I’m most impressed with, though, is that our teachers, many of whom are Education Advisers, are so happy about what they're doing.

They know the significance of

Baha'i child education, and they're devoted to it. As one teacher said: “I've learned so

much. | won't make the same mistakes next time.”

We've got enthusiasm! ... And we're gaining more and more expertise.—Joye Lucas, District Convention Children’s School Director

Southern Minnesota

The Southern Minnesota District Convention children’s program enrolled 43 children, 75 per cent of whom were pre-registered in response to a letter sent to all Southern Minnesota Baha'i communities via Education Advisers.

The breakdown in enrollment by age groups is as follows: 4-5 years old, 10; 6-8 years old, 9; 9-11 years old, 13; 12-14 years old, 3; nursery school (under 4 years old), 8.

The facilities were excellent. The Convention and classes were held at the Apple Valley Middle School in Apple Valley, Minnesota.

This is an open school—each subject department has an entire area, with classes divided only by furnishings.

The children’s program was able to use the whole language arts area, the gym, and a lecture room. The nursery was housed in the music room with access to its own bathrooms and to a separate exit to the playground.

The class schedule followed closely the guidelines suggested by the National Education Committee. We had a gathering time consisting of music, prayers, an overview of the day, and a time for each child to introduce himself or herself.

Children who arrived early were given a “Getting to Know You” game to occupy them.

Children then went to their respective class areas for the rest of the morning. Each group had two lessons, divided by a snack break and outdoor play. Topics for each group were as follows:

4-5 years old: “Living the Life’—kindness to others and kindness to animals. The stories “The Black Rose” and “The Blue Rose,"’ and stories about “Abdu'l-Baha’s kindness to animals were used for discussion and activities.

6-8 years old: ‘‘To Love Mankind” —crafts and activities were arranged around four objectives: knowing and loving God,

Local Education Advisers and children's class teachers at the Michigan District Convention in October included (front row left to right) Kathryn Saylor, Jim Cooke, Fred Pitt thinking positively about others, serving others, and the Baha’i law against backbiting.

9-11 years old: “Baha'i: A Lover of Mankind’—the story of “The Black Rose” was used as a basis for lessons on the oneness of mankind.

12-14 years old: “Standards of Baha’i Life’’—this group also performed a service project by providing and serving the snack.

In the afternoon the children gathered ‘together for filmstrip adaptations of two children’s stories. Then each group worked on posters to illustrate the songs “Look at Me, ‘Abdu'l-Baha” and “We Are Drops of One Ocean.”

They also made paper flowers to give to the adults after singing these two songs to them at the end of the day.

The nursery program included story times, singing and dancing, and playing with play dough, cray‘ons.and paint.

Nine people offered their services as teachers. The same person worked morning and afternoon with the 12: to 14-year-olds, while others spent half the day with their assigned groups. Teachers were asked to get their own assistants.

The program coordinator helped during the large group meetings and with the presentation to the adults.

A nursery-help sign-up sheet was available during registration. An average of two adults, not all parents, signed up for each hour. This, with the session teacher, proved to be adequate.

A fee of $1 per child was charged, producing a total income of $41. Expenses for the Children’s program were $31 for supplies, $7 for snacks, and $15 for room rental. The first two items were covered by the fees, the room rental from the amount the District Teaching Committee was requested to budget for the children's program.

The advisers devised an evaluation form that was given to parents at registration. Seven forms were returned, and all gave favorable responses. The only negative comments were that

man, Mark Kranz, and (back row left to right) Rob Voigt, Wes Taborn, Bonnie Mack, Carol Gendein, Dean

Silveri.

classes were too large, thére were no drinks with the snack, and one of the activities for 6- to 8-yearolds was too hard.

| agree with what was said. | think the program was highly successful.

Each Education Adviser was in charge of a certain age group, planning its curriculum, choosing teachers, and overseeing their progress through the day.

They worked very hard before the Convention and had things well prepared. Most of those at Convention did their best to help whenever needed.

The whole day went quite smoothly because of the preparation and work. It, certainly was. indispensable to have had the training we had.

There are some improvements I'd like to see next year. First, we should start planning earlier. Classes should be smaller, five to six children maximum. And the ‘starting time should be stringently enforced.

| would also like the Minnesota Advisers to build a greater stock of craft supplies and resource activities so that we can have more to work with next year.—Denise E. Carlson, Southern Minnesota Education Adviser Coordinator

Vermont

The theme of children’s classes was “The Holy Family.” Besides teaching the children about the lives of the Central Figures of the Faith and their families, the classes would relate the information to their own families.

The program for each age group: Nursery (age 3 and under),

Dawn Staudt, planner—No specific program. There were 14 children registered, though some infants went back and forth with parents. Two 3-year-olds stayed with the 4- to 5-year-old group for several reasons: 1. the nursery was too small to accommodate that many children; 2. the older ‘ones were too active to be around so many smaller ones who were still crawling; and 3. the 3-year Please See CHILDREN’S Page 17

[Page 17]EDUCATION

December 1980

Children’s programs a success

Continued From Page 16

olds were interested in the projects that the older group was involved in.

The facilities at Hartford High School were perfect for this age group, with a separate room adjacent to the nursery area for napping, carpeting and bathrooms in each area, and many toys and books already available since the room is used normally for a preschool program.

4-5 years old, Nancy Rogers, planner—There were 10 children including the two 3-year-olds mentioned above, with one teacher and one pre-youth assistant.

In the morning. the children discussed family life, the family of man, and the Holy Family, using pictures from magazines, the book The Family of Man, and Child’s Way magazine.

Before lunch the children had an outdoor activity period. In the afternoon they did an art project, making a family coat of arms, and had a nature walk that included talking’ about the Kingdoms of God.

6-8 years old, Robin West, planner—There were 10 children in this group with one teacher. They discussed what good attributes are and who they know who exemplifies them. Afterward, they made “Family/Friends Attribute Trees” as an art project. They also had an outdoor activity before lunch.

In the afternoon they saw the filmstrip “The Red Velvet Story,” discussed ways in which children can teach the Faith, and did another project in which they made a “Helping Hands” wall hanging to help them think of ways to help their family and friends.

'S (above) were an integral part of District Convention children’s programs. At right

9-14 years old, Barbara Gutherie, planner—There were five children in this group with one teacher. The children discussed in detail stories of the Holy Family from Child’s Way magazine.

They discussed divine attributes in relation to the imprisonment of the Family, Mirza Mihdi’s death, Assiyih Khanum’s wealth, and ‘Abdu'l-Baha’s marriage.

For a craft project they made family medallions and family trees using splatter painting. After lunch they saw “The Red Velvet Story” and had an outdoor activity time. This group also created a brief skit to present at the end of the day concerning the proper and improper ways for a family to prepare for Feast.

General information: Total attendance, 38 children. Nutritious snacks were served to all age groups in the morning and after

CHILDREN’S PROGRAM SCHEDULE

(Northern Idaho-Eastern Washington) 9:30:10 a.m.—Greet the children in your classroom as they come in. Have independent activities ready for them to work on at various Learning or Activity Centers around the room. 10-10:45 a.m.—Present a prepared lesson or activity around the theme “Baha’i—A Lover of Mankind,” or you may select a favorite topic you are experienced with that is appropriate. (Part 1 of the lesson) 10:45-11:15 a.m.—A nutritious snack will be brought to your room between 10:30 and 10:45. An “enrichment” activity with a special resource person or an outdoor large-muscle activity. 11:10-noon—Morning lesson (Part 2).

LUNCH

1:15-1:45 p.m.—Greet children in your room as they return from lunch. Have independent activities ready for them at various Learning or Activity Centers around the room. 1:45-2:45 p.m.—Present a prepared lesson or activity that is compatible with the theme, or otherwise appropriate. 2:45-3:15 p.m.—Outdoor activity. Plan something fun (and meaningful). Children will be more tired in the afternoon than in the morning, so provide them with the opportunity for large muscle activity. Please be careful to keep track of all your children when you are outside with them! 3:15-3:45 p.m.—Nutritious snacks will be brought to your room between 3 o'clock and 3:15. A movie, a light-hearted activity or game could be planned for this time. 3:45-4:10 p.m.—Song practice. Classes will be together with a music director to practice a song or two to sing for/with adults at the Convention. 4:10-4:15 p.m.—Walk in an orderly, prescribed manner to the adult Convention entrance. Enter at a signal (nursery excluded).

children frame quotations from the Baha'i Writings.

noon. All classes learned the song “O God, Educate These Children” and sang it for the adults at the end of the day. All groups placed great emphasis on courtesy and cooperation.

It was felt that asking parents to contribute $1 per child at registration was not a good idea this year, since the state newsletter had already gone out and there was no way to inform parents in advance.

Instead, a special fund box for those who wished to contribute for the children’s program was made, and $10 was collected by this means.

A major aspect of registration involved a system devised by Education Advisers to help adults sign up to teach the children’s program.

The centerpiece of the system is a large chart on which age groups for the program are written horizontally and specific time slots for each activity period when teachers are needed are written on the vertical axis.

Envelopes containing file cards with directions for each age group and time slot are taped in place. On the outside of each envelope, the person who wishes to be in charge of that time slot writes his or her name.

Directions in each envelope are as detailed as possible. This makes signing up more inviting and facilitates volunteers choosing areas that best suit their interests and capabilities.

~~

AE SE A Some of the 60 children who attend: ed the District Convention for Nor

Another feature of the system is a brief orientation (10-15 minutes) for all teachers at the beginning of the day. At that time all programs are explained, so that every teacher has an idea of the day's program—not just of his or her own time slot.

Teachers can ask questions about their activities, and ground rules can be discussed so that teachers hold the same expectations of the children.

Information about emergency procedures also is provided.

Advantages of the system: The friends are quick to volunteer because 1) it’s only an hour (or 45 minutes) out of the adult program instead of half or all day, and 2) they feel they know exactly what is expected of them because of the detailed cards.

Disadvantages of the system: Children, especially the younger ones, may be somewhat confused by so many different teachers. It is hoped that a thorough orientation at the beginning of the day coupled with warmth and understanding from the teachers can minimize the problem.

One other aspect is that the

pose for a photo before entertaining

the adults with songs.

position of a director or coordinator is essential to help keep things running smoothly. It is recommended that the coordinator receive a basic outline of each age group's program prior to the event to enable him or her to better assist with questions that arise during the day.

The Advisers felt that the registration system worked quite well at Convention. Many of the teachers also expressed enthusjasm for it.

Resource persons: Sarah Keller of Burlington, a talented musician who is experienced in leading children’s singing programs, was asked to teach the children to sing “O God, Educate These Children,” which she did during the morning orientation and during a practice session at the end of the day.

Youth consultation: During balloting, the youth from Vermont met with Margaret Parrott, an Education Adviser and member of the District Teaching Committee, to discuss their concerns and interests.

The youth were enthusiastic and said they would like to see more statewide youth activities, as well as activities planned with youth from neighboring New Hampshire.

Recommendations for future programs: 1. Three-year-olds should not be included in the nursery age group. They seemed to do well with the 4- to 5-yearolds.

2. There should be only one age group activity in a room at a time if it is at all possible to arrange for separate space.

3. Take into consideration that the ratio of boys to girls in the 9-14 age group is uneven. (This was suggested by one of the teachers in that group.)

Please See LEAP Page 23

[Page 18]EDUCATION

The American Baha’i

Nearly 5,000 attend Baha’i Summer Schools in the U.S.

Nearly 5,000 people attended Baha'i Summer Schools in the U.S. during 1980, according to David Smith, secretary of the National Education Committee.

This information was compiled from reports received by the National Education Committee from the 18 Summer Schoo! committees presently serving the American Baha'i community.

EACH SEPTEMBER the committees submit reports that give information about attendance, number of sessions held, the degree of diversity represented at the school, and number of declarations received.

The reports also analyze the strong and weak points of each session so that the National Education Committee can build upon the strengths and shore up those areas that are weakest.

The reports provide some interesting insights into Baha'i Summer Schools, Mr. Smith ex

oa ies

plains.

This year, for example, more than half of those attending were children or youth. The National Education Committee was especially pleased to learn that well over 900 youth—a sizable in crease over the past several years—went to Baha'i schools this summer.

The backbone of the Baha’i school system continues to be the permanent schools, Bosch and Green Acre.

Between them they held 133 days of school this summer, serving 2,100 students.

THE REMAINING 16 Bahai schools are spread throughout the country and hold one- or twoweek sessions each summer in rented facilities.

“The committee was pleased to note that there were at least 38 declarations at Baha'i schools

this summer,” says Mr. Smith.

Baha’i artist featured in New York f

Le Ann Bartok Wilchusky, a Baha’i artist and sculptor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, participated last July in “Art 1980,” the 15th annual international fair of contemporary art in New York City.

The fair is concerned with the innovative use of public spaces for the creation and presentation of the newest work in every medium available to the contemporary artist. Mrs. Wilchusky’s participation

included a filmed presentation of her Skyworks, 3 and 4 Mile Drops, originally presented in the Southwestern U.S. with sky divers as performers.

Also presented were an installation and performance of welded steel sculpture and wood sculptures called “music boxes” that produce sounds when “played” by the artist, and a monolith double paint collage of acrylic on canvas entitled “Cagey Dreaming.

“The Guardian told us long ago that ‘the institution of the Summer School constitutes a vital and inseparable part of any teaching campaign and as such ought to be given the full importance it deserves in the teaching plans and activities of the believers.’ ”

The Education Committee was concerned that the friends may have lost sight of this important objective in recent years, so school committees were encouraged to make every effort to invite non-Baha’is to this year's sessions

The Education Committee was quite pleased with the results, and hopes that the Baha'is themselves will take full advantage of this powerful teaching tool by continuing to invite their interested friends to attend sessions at the Baha’i schools.

One area of disappointment this summer, from the Education Committee’s viewpoint, was the relative lack of cultural diversity at all of the schools.

REPORTS indicate that of the total attendance 10 per cent was Persian, 3 per cent was black, and 2 per cent were from other minority groups.

Attracting minorities is an ‘ongoing challenge for the Baha’i schools, and a successful solution will require a broad base of community support.

The presence of an Auxiliary Board member is often cited as a highlight of Baha'i school sessions,

This summer, according to the Counsellors’ central office, which schedules their school visits, 16 Auxiliary Board members attended one or more Baha'i schools.

Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem attended the Georgia-Alabama school, the New York Baha'i School, and a session at Green Acre.

Long a supporter of Baha'i Summer Schools, Mrs. Khadem feels they are a great source of love and fellowship for the friends and give them a splendid opportunity to draw on one another's strengths.

After visiting the Washington East Baha'i School, Auxiliary Board member Peggy Ross said: “| feel the school achieved the objectives expected of it very well indeed, and the spirit, as well as the classroom instruction, will stay with the friends all during the year before another such happy Baha'i event comes again.”

THE NATIONAL Education Committee is responsible for the over-all administration of the Baha'i schools and lends its support and encouragement to the committees.

In September, a special training session was held for Baha’i school children’s program directors in connection with the Green Lake Conference in Wisconsin.

It is expected that these trained directors will become a valuable

resource to the schools that will further strengthen their children’s classes and activities.

Two conferences are scheduled in January to train school commit tees in the South and Midwest.

The training will utilize a new Baha'i Schools manual prepared by the National Education Committee and will help the committees handle their various responsibilities as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Mr. Smith stresses that the success of the Summer Schools has resulted from the diligent and of

ten sacrificial efforts of volunteer Baha'is who labor behind the scenes to attend to the multitude of details involved in producing ‘such an event.

Each year, he says, hundreds of such dedicated believers serve on committees, plan programs, and prepare classes for Baha'i schools.

“They really deserve the lion’s share of the credit for having accomplished so much this summer,” says Mr. Smith. “The National Education Committee is really proud of their work.”

Archives seeks personal papers

The National Baha'i Archives Committee has undertaken a systematic program to locate and acquire the personal papers of Baha'is of national import whose papers are not already in the National Baha’i Archives.

The committee has identified more than 160 Baha'is whose papers would be a valuable addition to the Archives. The Archives Committee has found that personal papers are important to historians as they often contain historical information not found elsewhere.

The committee is especially interested in letters, diaries, personal recollections and photographs.

One difficulty the committee has is that most of the early

Baha'is have been dead for many years, and the location of their papers is not known.

The Archives Committee would like to learn the names of descendants of early Baha'is, whether Baha'i or non-Baha’i, so that they might be contacted to try and locate these persona! documents.

Among the papers being sought are those of Dr. Zia Bagdadi, Soraya Chamberlain, Helen Campbell, Dr. Frederick D'Evelyn, Mary Hanford Ford and Florence R. Morton.

Anyone having information about the personal papers of these or other early Baha’is is asked to write to the National Baha'i Archives Committee, Baha'i Na ional Center, Wilmette, IL 6009"

[Page 19]

The American Baha’i

December 1980

Children in the Central DeKalb Coun ty, Georgia, Baha'i community celebrated Universal Children's Day October 1 by collecting aluminum cans, selling them to a recycling

Treasurer’s appeal draws response

Arising to the appeal from the National Spiritual Assembly to overcome the current shortfall in contributions to the National Fund, the American Baha'i community has begun to send in a stream of contributions.

Also received were letters that shared stories of devotion and sacrifice. One believer wrote:

“| WANTED so much to help the. National Fund. | have very little income. ..Today | thought of a way | could help. | sold my wedding tings and a rign that was given to me several years ago...

4 ure Baha'u'llah and | love the

,{ Faith and | want to serve ene iy the best of my ability. Please accept this gift with my love and prayers.

Another of the friends wrote: “I was moved by the presentation sent to District Conventions. | am selling some pieces of silver to in

plant and donating the proceeds to UNICEF, the United Nations children’s agency, The activity was sponsored by the Spiritual As of Central DeKalb County.

crease my contributions to the Na: tional and International Funds directly, for any ‘treasures’ that we now possess need to be where our hearts are.”

Finally, from another believer: “In realizing the desperate state of the National Baha'i Fund we've set out once more to apply the Spiritual quality of sacrifice to our lives and have decided to make the Fund the top priority...

“We are now sending a contribution to the Fund every time we receive money, be it a paycheck, gift money, or from a sale of something...

“Our contribution can only put a small dent in the large needs to be met by the National Fund, but it sure helps us realize what's really important. Even though it's hard to spare the money, we are truly happier.”

Mayor Lawrence E. Stone of Sunny: vale, California, presents a proc lamation designating September 21 ‘World Peace Day’ in Sunnyvale to

Vivian Thompson, secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Sunnyvale.

Sunnyvale hosts Peace Day meeting

The Baha'is of Sunnyvale, California, sponsored a World Peace Day observance September 21 at the city’s Washington Park.

About 50 Baha'is from neighboring communities were invited and supported the activities that included a picnic, games, fellowship and a talk by Dick Groger of

San Francisco.

Invitations were sent to about 35 city officials and service organization directors, and flyers were distributed in the area. Mayor Lawrence E. Stone of Sunnyvale proclaimed September 21 “World Peace Day” in the city.

Participants in the final Special Visit Program of 1980 held over the Labor Day weekend (August 28-31) at the Baha'i National Center are shown at the Baha'i House of Worship. Front row (left to right) are Juliette Wing (in her mother's arms), Ruth Wing, Janet Richards, Tim Hankins, Mertaj Rouhipour, Nevin Jenkins, Ali Allié. Steve Wisman, Paul Cone, Brett Wisman, Dawn Jenkins. Second row (left to right) are Glenford Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; Alice Thaggard, Adam Cone, Mary Lou Jenkins, Riaz Taher.

Baha'is from several communities in the Columbia, Missouri, area attended a summer institute held north of Columbia last June 7. The theme was ‘The Power of Unity,’ and the emphasis was on fellowship and shar zadeh, Sue Chehrenegar. Catherine

Betty. Third row (left to right) are Michael Karch, Heather Hankins, Harriet Allié, Loree Foroughi-Gross, Joe Foroughi-Gross, Hossein Rouhipour, Diane Taherzadeh, Zekrollah Chehrenegar, Zinat Chehrenegar, Evelyn Schultz, Ata Foroughi. Fourth row (left to right) are Bruce Whitmore, secretary of the House of Worship Activities Com: mittee; Winnie Merritt, Faranguis Ferguson, Deborah Martin, Barbara Rudolph, Deborah Fenigstein. Back

ing. Children at the institute spent the day making a large Baha'i symbol from rocks in an area prepared for them by the Baha'i owners of the property where it was held.

Why Deepen?

“The Sacred Literature of the Baha’i Faith conveys enlightenment. It inspires life.

It frees the mind.

It disciplines the heart.

For believers, the Word is not

a philosophy to be learned, but the sustenance of being throughout the span of mortal existence.” . —Horace Holley Religion for Mankind, p. 64

row (left to right) are Gary Hankins, Bruce Barick, Ronald Allen, David Foroughi-Gross, Kenyon Foroughi Gross, Jean Marc Lepain, Kern Wisman, Not shown are Jared Fenigstein, Melissa Fenigstein, John Hatcher, Lucia Hatcher, Laura Kraft The visitors came from California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, II linois, lowa, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Washington and France.

Baha’i House of Worship Wilmette, Illinois

Winter Hours: October 15 to May 14

Auditorium 7 am. to 10 a.m. (Open for worship) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Open to visitors)

Visitors Center (Foundation Hall) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Book Shop 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sunday Activities Devotional Program—3 p.m. Public Meeting—3:40 p.m.

Information on transportation,

food and lodging is available from

the Baha'i House of Worship Activities Office, 112 Linden Avenue,

Wilmette, IL 60091.

a Service for Blind

AVAILABLE NOW:

In Braille or on tape—

• Tablets of Baha'u'llah

• The Priceless Pearl

• Selections from the Writings

of the Bab

• The Revelation of Baha'u'llah

(Vols. 1 and 2) PLUS more than 80 other titles For a printed catalog write:

Baha'i Service for the Blind

3110 East Lester St.

Tucson, AZ 85716

[Page 20]PERSIAN PAGE

The American Baha’1

20

olesls Wiebe

ale oe ele worl) JOS ers ls, wl Ls Segre sual Ny eet exis eae sidan le 5 Sb ye ls Sadr GLEE icyy ens ASST pants Maile eal Jie 99 oop ge te

a rb JES Ite y plo peso Ob lee lye gels yolks SECM Fat sakes jrephty ty Soong

+ peaSarisinl ly splot G5

(gales eSHR RS Cae og Be oily Ls ge bmn pl! 50 Gy yah tae Gp lolty yl ele I bet cs 53 oye 39,5 stein, 41885 ge I) eee DST be ey ep Ly cla LEE no tingae, Ube y esas sews Sin ly wrol le 29 98 9 ape oT us le Ta! a LE USS I diet Spe 51S Gel ley eg tae ab jae 56 ot! gle peace

oe ae ht gt wig le pabiyine ds Fy ali hy. Zy bas. Sipas la, Wy OT opine ok Ste eh ype Jel 55a 5! ee SUS SaaS Sky tS 5) ea Ss cy Lae, SE area SOLE lr aSilee ey lerita cas. y) asianb dees +9978. SMGI ce 5 GAS SL LIT

peti Glos ps orate eye 389 Le g lngn 51 ols pels are gL; Bo led Ue cual cy lee, ters pene Sil BIT Ere by 39 ob Gola! 6 ge lSels coke 33 AS! obs ee ESE aes ae Soe gge Las ah It 60370 ¢ Ge Slaszene solaasle eS aa hed ses eS 5 bey Sl ore lyje gee S Ie LE 59 x Sy yes ESOL 4 ort tee ooet oe! SE & asl glu ray Go LS IS LG

MOZA Publications Ltd.

P.0.Box 836 Chattanooga, TN 37343

BBS SS OS ac Sra Ne rot 5 av Na ee er

op Lemans yop 23,5 53% 5 63 Ip—— t lyus! dime 5 23t bl ob Ob Das pbb bls pled a8 Wc aeb pnd es Unies ees LS 29) patel piers erzesc gene teed go lee niet 9 dai! Sule ee

Ll

ASU ab ish alba LS 53"

Shs pet et iS Spe oe Le” PSUS soles Ree Tegas colaas ley Mg tie) al SIS

old glele Gira bpin je gy Le et cee Ge 5S5 epee woe Si ls ob gy bw 5S! et tgs Sp tte ons paar l os nt Lee 5 tp lasso 125 Troe Slat Gl antl 5 Eee Sey Veh we Gb ope Elegy gine gil - cas 5 o> Wyte pate cae 9 2918S oats

ole sol pele aie cob!

wy Lego lan 5 aa lyre 955 re prale Ip eer bas picts ete he ly jog wis bby slob, rls Ile GEL 55 5 ee Mle! phew pis el 5 29 cue

Plysyule y bye » ob, hl paad, gepihghl ay Ly LailenaaSiobooa AS33050 Spete gud le oS S305

ore y bye Uy plsel soy Ss sip Ue laa liye!

le Wy path gps lse |

+ S9 pd Lee

5\y lL A 53 Mayo pelea rm ee ose l

ots Ce lg ylaua sali Job Ls (nov) vva-retT

ealesGT Gotetey ell yl oS AAS Ls E49 9595 Jp jo bl Saxe 39 3 Sobel Viste 5! Soe ttl ols ote T oe past lone: (aS LS ley! a,

(Vid) Tad-vare Gab L aul sin

GS ea tele

pity Le pice Vd hags cae ol Week Sar eGo st gan Sele bl y Ls jf» Sips Vy eel yg way hs argc Seb lye JUS tl. a5, 185 UI cree ly, weeny aes G eas iorl, oel5! yas eles ow Ij al eee lo Tay eS Se pes 0 Ey eS as opto pL bl aU 51 gael) Seta Ga be lio y yey Jaa Grae gs sete, She eye oe DE Se eos Wee oh eases feeewieca bis (S55 lant > syle

ay site Cua by y/sibieseal tae

aN (gn S Ug aglaw y Vices be cep Rie Site gay cea te ie Oy Et Grle 5 a re hy pee Ls I NGS ie, HIATUS! 5 xs Le Sos yo be pot l sp Se Se oly ks BU Gb Garis pSS ceers Gy ySmpa tes dysecmhs Sl CIG S550 joel old oe Ty 252 951) Dae de dee pe ste 9 a ES Ls g ca I Ie pert Gees po Bas Ze gale By paella 25 Sy Sel 69 G Pb Se phe | Ve Ubi et LI Ree eens ess Leal ed cian cu dey opte oly Sb sas pel 9 Sieg Sere los rey ter erty tele 51 IS, sas 5! po bSa, Sa ons

pole pdrcte IOS ele elo wee gee Ll Cole 23 tee Ve Soe Io 5295 IL! 50 Byron salaplaTny es Le py tab iyneee AAS Mia Wiles LIP a Caer eed. ky ek Ik los & Pals saltecusts ay pleat olor. plas, jo 5 Sable! SPS We EW syne) eles SessNS)5) Jone gly ber Fy STEM S53

orl xe oy

eile SL 5 lel

9, “teed cedesiyan icles Sir yShy La yipla paso aS gaicaa Saar opSas ote oy A a as oye EES oleae ey ies VT 4S GyeSnte aos ee 9) gees et oles ile hee Wy pol go et pele

ote

SU! Sy ESI ee pee athe

oltlossse ote dies sols by! ok 3 gl oly, dim bp S

clake Vs ab 1S oy pre Jae WG, WS a5lo Goss 5 ays CS

pele 59S ote el ghee 9 Sy JL GUT Lin, opt SIS EIU! WT pie Ls By 9TL 5 tle Fheuek

ae 33097 ote 39 gel Gab 51 ven WEIN peed ys Seep CL aoa a Le pg LS eS og) ake Fes UG 1,5 Gh ips by yogs at JL ol bs Vj aS pene Le Lis Jey 69S oan les 'y Jo Gtlas atl 9 LS eels yo toySig Lepchat 9 aeg Ly 1, (pled pln Sie ole eel OS Oy UST jo cS polis! gece aS ages |, Wieley ohae! cles US phe ole 5 Gree og adlace yy lgol jo 4S ona los Sy vce oaans ye GS tle ely ple

aoe LS Sy Wa Le

oly cel VAYY de joy lad 50 32a AAS yates y Ev gaie pans Sle Sop GS pr Gor 51 es 59

ys Spe eee cp gee o> VAYA pee le 0S 1, he aS cabs dap as aol

im od! phel Jalon spay tt ebay srk ke leas Jbstaasl gl as oll ele! ols the aul jo ple bl! an yaya [hreneroprrennreecmrenrrreers |i) eth Slee so yS 515 Samy 2900 lay tlw Le Ss Gee pyhee Lis oS 5 ae SJL Io lngs wt CLT 5! epee bs os apg 80 5059 clas only om ca aay

vaslesls cogs gl Jims abo Glow Ley, S yy Glo! pyet 5! Slim Gy sys cslye 'y soe YR a pty is 5 ae Sa get a Leo ge pis

[Page 21]PERSIAN PAGE

December 1980

oo be eS I Ls sg pel put Gl aes y pL! we LL ow

MMU Was Sy 9 cry Uy co easy lecmng Stas GTS IS SL OS am ol Ts pepSee se Tuzss one pals phe! To pee Se go Erbe 50 FS8 Gg Gs ley Lae te S185, eek Ss Ges pl ILS 5 Gol e978 G99 GAG 5g Gases Gls ya es eth srasitey UStasar Gs 50 ates locas ys apace plas ya 15 pe Ry ake) Bylo alan 5 (sg eee, give le Sry hd or oly cent aeee Fey aSd55) 002) 05 (SS ua Usa yany + SBS INS pps, 089 299° star o=+(Lucknow ) 5 SY ~~ 59 aS 2 1S 0595.9 LY 5! tle wks, Jims ek olicl & s,,Goln Ny ote te asl oh. 2 OT jo gl ES Pee TE Sa Re rene 3 9o—S ole'(Uttar Pradesh ) 5! eS 0595 4 4p 39 stot th! 2 eS G8 om ort pe te So | pe ely bs blebs" S3—$—w be OT pt ls 51 05 Bi deaeless joel 5 oie isos ALE KORO LS eNe I h eps le Ny tle ot Tee semesy! Bale 9 che glee 9 GIS » “ope px 9 pare 9 USY able pls "Lapis oe Gy sae g HS Obs Grell Oso5Sypiall W, Gsley alleas IES or pel, ply pb sybloe sedge any Ib thy slo! Repo Spates eh ares hs pote S 9S ae gp eae ols gloye 59 ILS pls 9 9595 0 yw plo yt ales 405 avlls ols 52S Gb 22S & pee Gee ob pr Gols 5! aS (Contour ) ay les 43 atlin Glas 59 Gl yas wie eye GIL ge ol Vat or he Ube choo ool ol ass I” Sle gles eI 0055 oT eS 59 9 oer the ot & DAs py J Gesne o5y oad actys jl SU Gyo opt ee a55S Uae cL gle ky, Jim oe J Ss ores es 0 -ol 7 WWwjct, a lolas Jl age 59 dim 60 5! (lm obs, Ge & - Soll oars,S IL jlyaes a Sr olny Gs! JL> 9555 O99) VAYIRYT Go Legace & QUILL et ere Eb 6S 05 Jake Be 59 oy stysinde 99 91 SS ts yo Lngae

Gergana 50 jet SI aI JL pene ope 8S UI Saul Jeg, & a 5s SLB Ging 09S pie oleyae 50 Sey dash re silat Cae a Ele 4 ope 9 te NS Wye OMEN he GIGS Gree 9 Ga bolas eel 2a 9555) pat SIa5yb » atte yo 639 590 S aol ince leo5.: 49 (Baha’i House ) ar rr 9 1959 5! eae 2292S golly passer lee -aaasile ja mo os EU GS pw Gh ota 6 ple oe em Ls gee rA39 Se 9 orem ortts oa lee 9 oat olmne 9 deans ELEN, olaegae oP opt Ce 519 ly beget eo Smeg eg pe pls eS Hie tat GET 5 ole Sl ri ein bey 5 es OE peg Lt oe! Gu Stas! 209 TAS '5 poze ee te ot lee stanly GOI goay aula b rae hs Spo gi Sly I) 998 Gh ails cy Gesiluip: bash aS be ceeds 5 OT oy ee pie et Te cal eueg ese Late Sy 50 st lee (899 \p—$ ra > aot ety cle o> D.N. Sanjeva Reddi SoS ASL cele LbI ons he Olle play ce! anit es yp Engaie el GL! gy lrg Hoar lees! laab Se pe by cee UL he "Loy le QelS cas lye me is Ly oe te il Gh SS Lab lo 7755 5 225 ol aw ier 5 tee poels ly ob Sea hey onl ays bal pAb cols a abl ene 51 dy oy oll ceed Sh WI ple 4 ee > ee elias ee EE loess) (Former Chief Justice Hameedullah

Beg) 2 Ss ees li gS cogil is bars ois lhe ecole eb llcaseaelent |

1555 5025, paiolles Uy 4S pileaeo gS oS 1, GES 5,5! Gel 35 oeesaay pes lS) "Sas eset as pele 5! pais 5 ay go Ny p—mey Oe UN Uy SIS Ne es ho aS al Ge esata 9 pam to Geel eae are Gel ge tpaesNxs pants) Say ISS UGS), cad lpg) aaa Shepxe SS ya eeeyal eS) a Ls the gay 655 (IT oS

© She IE lS ys oe Ly oT Jal y UsulS ok, Ls pas USS ly ls Sa Ste es ey ! top Wal Dyce ek ys we spp Tob bel gos, 6l~ Sy Sed pad g ae aalys ooLT Ole or ye GTU A 51S ie + Sytige 7oS75 55) 085 guns

Ve aS yee el eb eo ote oT pads ergs oy We Le age htslee jes cee 0s tte soe als garb tle aul 59 i ie pe Sten Ue! pte ss ledges Gladys Glyg! ps ay p last er Lepscry ger OS ttle 5! aasss L ope Baa Tee ooh ot ole BSL we DL oS Erroll ache Ly ane Lb tees a by owl yo bo ont SN gt el test ae gee 4 og Le glu!

ReaS SoS pnd que

lee ye Gj LG 0,5 5155! sree cI! Z1EIU! yp 50 gles gatasls 29, 1S ey ppre LO! a eV UN GT sel pani caer bys elt 1, 9,5 gly! or! phils blpoybl wlolkul fete Jae Gd gle ly pe SHLE oT yo Gl lel or G Ges o ce Gene a eblisyy ws Woes cI! pL 50 aS Poles. praise Garb 5! saslyaee Gly lp aesS SS ys oeds el Sexe Wrote slinyery a, 05,5 rat sales 2550 gl Jim asb 51 sls Saye Glee JS Scr lian G Yo 5150 santas opel S pie oe 14ay JL cuST ol Gls! ely! lS j late CyyTee Cs 255 ea ljeciege ouayT oe jase yo igls co lbs 59 leans Gls syrttye S pe olel - aT be pel 223 S'y9! es Gly se law plSarbs & eyo bbls & Bote oe! jab GL LG 088 Gees

saaybeyd Joby ls yl dine

Oly 999 rer od pS Hues 05 US, 2S ade yaks) 90163 less!) pes JL SES 5 saya5S ISL Gleglsys ay 2 Ort Jo Le sassy, wots abl Shey pals) ole te pane 0rd CI ne ee 39 Sil SI, Hog Gy Nas Gee ILI 9 SES Ear Sig le assy CS ely seacees: sae, rte Jame 5 UN 558 yoy BLL 5 yan 5s lees GL Sle lolol, vols a), te et DS Ld

TY 593 Moe HL G52 4S! oy oy pins poll yar) GST pig Wo NaS! og Glacee gulcpeei ayaa BS" Ul ype toy py “at lees 9 ples tee” Us Us

1. 055 “SUES oUSSSNS 5 ay 5

SMe ee aaegaen clos sb a oi Ot 58 tt! oes T cee nne dees 9 SL aby opt elas gandy bens! tapes olay) Slee ye og! polos yo SLL Ss IS SS tas eae eas PEL saeT lS 35 lyre > ole PeMESO se ae Ge more aU ys GLO Ll on GS eh eels 73 oS Wnt ep ILS Uh UIE Le eS) UIE y ele sg oe P50 yes Suh dey de el ay aS! ! —s o> ols Sy Bae Wo bb ololl slaw pS sac lscrss 5 kaya oly oT 53 Se Gb L, 99—$— Sa rome? eye play Sl Syd oe! 95S! 5 535 pine abeys GEL LT Sye57 5b Js le te Se el tery Gay Sag IS J ice: aasSS Ls) SN ype BUS loge ye earl see hes 8g Sat 5 aa Ts Lh JL oe GEL tet cob Gp borers gh tet dhe 9g pees gad Sas lenges a Weg SS Synge GL, 5! ss Wola L 3515)

no orcrccrcircr ec ieoeeannUU

[Page 22]

PERSIAN PAGE

The American Baha'i

SeSdes bbls sous IL. cul aIgb jem lanl 5) slab Jy Gone oS TN aces Ne, St Tak poy emacs pe cbel, pe, ats Se) ea iene 9) oe oIG Ge atsS G25 ay lanl Ses as lesge55 plasty ot anlys Lash lel stl po ele Plas SS, Gy ISlas y bop seets gael Sele Le wh Lass Jyam cin ye tly tee Secu l

Hays, abaly

sy aes li 535 Scio Ny 3 Ub P eagle g Sine, eg th cee pty pte wile fT y Wisetts cs yeas lyse) 5. 8h pam aS Ld 5h als pee 5 Sane dete JG Dis 05" ke ple Sp pl 5) ob “pl pple hts) Les else al PLS 43 pe Sle JL” eS! ash os SIS 9 sop oasy prime tl BAL ole GU ot FAL ESI oe Jad g GLI ALI oe SY ye tes met on fst era eb sre ot! oll gy Tee OS pee ig bos Uo: amash ass Ll 1 tS Gee oo 9 po SNS aS pully. Mh otge oe pees go ge Ny op Sa; ermal lay eS as Gs Teter ols yobs 5) y ty Temar yas | ped ye AST aby aye! Ss ol we tS OL Ls dS ane Ta Ua he 5s OTN AL aS pS cls gy tes ye ae pe ott they et OL nf ise id

pov lepine aslo Lb. bel als

Sted ESS go pV Eas gle Nyy et WS gle gS y they pSartyy Gt

Uns

ola 5951599 gc lbine Ie pl Jal oytes oy 5sl UT os 5 plgs Sg LAL Gy! 5! GVES Nyy ye Sateas Sey 5 5 !s,S SE Gat eh Ly cuss pbs Gel SUL, thks eae ye SI, ceding 0S tp ceeys SL y Ligh 5 Sn Syte I ng, Saghils Le 5 I piel nals AS bey gTe wgpteles 5 rhe yt sale ig) I cunts sed LESPSSABN gyal tees (Fy Seg ls ALE a stbie Upp jpn eae Sas gts lina, gent pV oles el lan 5 eh yeh pe Ls ee SH LT opts toy pills Qe SUES Aa Mya 5 ties /5) BL! ger tam Gl eee 5 ow, p day hile L

Rano er ec Piha te Skis WEE Silty gle Mies a oN setae Gl ol folie G aes els tee JE ele 3 ho Se pages Las pas GIL 4 USacy 4g aT SL cles oTolae G rope 2 Hes OL LY Gl ply ot heey a ges ke SI a ws deb older y oye gy Gell

spl ne ges UI a

Sp Fs 923s jy pee ol tly elacal clo SolLTots5t 9s Ss yy T lh JE oat 59 LET INE ee ORE se Lie aris Gy! ab, 5! os Ls GoL ols ace Stee lel Ga john asa illoalce 5

Say edge Oates ola! cle! SAS Gslblys aS glans 51 See SIs 1 eS Seok oo 5) Se Oe paayleys ale 1, eee oy! pass

L pope ley yo de ib) lr! ols Sle aoe SNe yoke Sy See ome = ls) ypbiSeyliest os Las,

soaaue aipae 49 0, bt gezgTee a bo joo lw! yo! Ly gcnge GLARE oad Gared

aalys gly ola! 3556 Qadyb pho vas

pole yiee pied! ant de pas Je

J Sp Sas pga tetas yo wl oF ek JS pitty Ss DP ot Sutty piece gel SW base ose at gale pl 5! oS pol

eG! el jo 4S saelks Ge hl wks olsly solels 5l sr Bb! Spans aeTo Gls ghee, Sl elidb lag S Sy giNSa0! s lpo Gilg | 5 El cle Syne glad psy pm i zb lest Ol Gye GS 6S amas pS | eet So el oy

Sen Lilef less

So ot 55 JL pad Sale plo 5! gaol ol oot 59 pe broths pga! oSauds Gly 5! grgb" : gh 5 Spite aden el aes lice le Saw gis .o 505 p Ld pts jletrog aS 59 4S etl pao po bony | aot

"aS yey Lame 8 phd Ge! atS JUL 5 Gb cle!

Coyyeriy ce F abe oo Lew Tons L)

4 ME pee nc LA 4, rr mF yhb tf! te ee

His oy, CU Se By oS C GN EL »

Giyich, bus sel: “ee Slits Bh

«uted iris ote ata fe iN A Wf fea) Sis ory) Japp 4 Bi bs seoS JA LPS Bsa dy!

a a Left iby Se, Py

Luis

A

sie Kc Naar eg Die. Epes pig ates a Beng Bae Soe Pail I Ga AW lbh te che! ery pipe ter bogey

Reps

ayy ie 9 sha ees PH ztyleet Meyrtp dene Cid Hip a, CAE He ey SM a ete, Sree

MF ed yy bby al Pia ” Siete asbeiy! » Qbry ute by) Yistey eats slot Haw a rae a eee

é ee

Ma Vie ei Ce iy

[Page 23]The American Baha'i

December 1980

Introducing a magnificent line of cards for Holy Days, Ayyam-i-Ha, special times,

all occasions.

some are blank

TAB 12/80

fer eee seeatsS---—

Martyrs

Continued From Page 5

demonstrate unswerving faith in the Cause of Baha'u'llah and an attachment to a Truth greater tne the precious possession of life.

The deaths attracted the eyes of the world and brought an unprecedented amount of publicity and teaching opportunities to the Baha’ community.

To help us understand the reality and importance of this sacrifice, we can compare it to a time about 100 years earlier, once again in the city of Yazd.

In God Passes By, Shoghi Effendi relates the story of seven martyrs in Yazd, killed during Baha'u'llah’s imprisonment in ‘Akka.

“ AT THE INSTIGATION of the mujtahid of that city reported, “...seven were death in a single day in horrible circumstances.” Among those killed was an 85-year-old believer, grimly underscoring the parallel of history.

The seven Bahd’is were led from place to place in the city. At each stop one of the friends was killed, and the body dragged

Inside, some contain quotations from the Writings;

for your personal message.

Send coupon with payment to:

Bahai Publishing Trust

523 Green Bay Road/ hii: 8 IL 60091

through the streets to the next destination behind the still living companions.

One by one these detached souls met their deaths, through strangulation, beheading, stoning or other gruesome means. Finally only two brothers remained, and they were beheaded by the crowd.

“The stomach of the latter,” the Guardian stated, “was ripped open and his heart and liver plucked out, after which his head was impaled on a spear, carried aloft, to the accompaniment of music, through the streets of the city, suspended on a mulberry tree, and stoned by a great concourse of people.”

The bodies of the martyrs were taken to the outskirts of the city, viciously pelted with stones, and finally dumped into a pit.

“A holiday was declared by the governor for the people,” Shoghi Effendi wrote, “all the shops were closed by his order, the city was illuminated at night, and festivities proclaimed the consummation of one of the most barbarous acts perpetrated in modern times.”

WHAT WAS THE effect of this persecution and the many similar acts that took place during this time, resulting, as ‘Abdu'l-Baha testified, in the deaths of 4,000

Qty. Name of Card

B—Naw Raiz Four Seasons Cand C—Naw Raz Porat Brocade Card D—Magnolia Holy Day Card E—Blewsed Is the Spot Card F—Buterfly Card

—G—Blowom Note Cards (asst)

_—_H— Ayyim-- Hi Giraffe Card

J Ayyim isi Leaf Design Card

My name is (please print)

Street, Rural Route, or P.O. Box Number

souls in a single year?

The Guardian explained: “this fresh outpouring of the blood of the martyrs served to further enliven the roots which that holy Sapling had already struck in its native soil.

“Careless of the policy of fire and blood which aimed at their annihilation ...the followers of Baha'u'llah were multiplying in number and silently gathering the necessary strength that was to enable them, at a later stage, to lift their heads in freedom, and rear the fabric of their institutions.”

Every grave calamity facing the infant Faith of Baha'u'llah has resulted, according to Shoghi Effendi, in “a still more liberal effusion of celestial grace enabling its upholders to accelerate still further its march and win in its service ‘still more compelling victories.”

This was true of the seven martyrdoms in Yazd more than 100 years ago, as it is true of the seven martyrdoms in Yazd last September.

We who survive these martyrs must seize that outpouring of “celestial grace,” and win “still more compelling victories” for the Cause of God.

M— White Blowom Card N— Waterfall Card O—Frost at Dawn Card P— Wildflower Card

Celebration Card

LEAP

Continued From Page 17

4. Set up for registration at least an hour before people are due to arrive. Half an hour wasn’t enough.

5. Consider having non-Baha’i spouses who would be interested help in teaching children’s classes or covering the nursery area. This was suggested by a believer whose wife would have been interested in helping if we had contacted her.—Dawn Staudt, director, children’s program

Michigan

This year’s Michigan District Convention children’s program served more than 125 children with some 40 staff. It was unique for both its program and its organization.

Planning for the program began three weeks before the Convention at a meeting sponsored by the Local Education Advisers held near the Convention site so that teachers were able to survey the facilities and inventory the resources.

Teachers later reported that the pre-Convention planning session helped streamline planning for

K—Ayyien 4-H Tulip Card

L—Ayyien Hi Balloon Card

Q—Hands Around the World Card. Pack of 10 6-48-79 $4.50 __

hm a NN A SS A AG A PS A GO I Please send me the items indicated on this coupon.

Enclosed is my check or money order for $______ (including 10% for [J postage and handling on orders under $100, minimum $1.00; OR including | 10% discount on non-Net items over $100).

Count So Price Amount Qty. Name of Card A— Shrine of the Bib Holy Day Card Pack of 10 6-48-93 $4.50 Pack of 10 6-48-48 $4.50 Pack of 10 6-48-47 $4.50 Pack of 10 6-48-92 $4.50 Pack of 10 6-48-84 $6.00 Pack of 10 6-48-91 $6.00 Pack of 12 6-48-85 $5.00. _ Pack of 10 6-48-99 $4.50 Pack of 10 6-48-46 $4.50 _

coun "NO" Price Amount Pack of 10 6-48-45 $4.50

Pack of 10 6-48-94 $4.50 Pack of 10 6-48-98 $4.50 Pack of 10 6-48-81 $4.50 Pack of 10 6-48-96 $4.50 _ Pack of 10 6-48-80 $4.50 —___.

Pack of 10 6-48-82 $4.50 ___

Ce a eee

teaching teams and made for a well-organized program.

During the Convention itself, a “unity session” provided a time during which the children joined the adults in the main Convention hall.

Following a welcome by Local Education Adviser Program coordinator Robert Voigt, the children led the Convention in singing.

Morning classes for children featured visits by musicians and puppet theatre performances. The afternoon included group games outside and a tour of the lovely Michigan State University campus where the Convention was held.

Policy prohibits publishing poetry

Recently The American Baha'i has received several poems from the friends with requests that they be published in the newspaper.

While we appreciate the thoughtfulness of the friends in sending poetry, it has been a long: ‘Standing policy of the paper not to include it, as there are no facilities for proper review.

We would suggest that poems be forwarded for consideration to The Baha'i World or World Order magazine.

a

[Page 24]

CLASSIFIEDS

The American Bahai

CLASSIFIED notices in The American Baha'i are printed free of charge as a service to the Baha'i community. Notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no commercial or personal messages can be accepted for publication.

APPLICATIONS are being accepted for the following positions at the Baha'i National Center: Cook, Baha’i school—Requires experience in food planning and preparation for 40-50 people. Job includes some housekeeping and maintenance work. Painter/skilled—Prepares, paints and finishes metal, wood and concrete surfaces of buildings, equipment and furnishings. Must have all technical experience required to plan, direct and carry out jobs, such as assembling scaffolding, replacing glass, repairing and refinishing surfaces. Maintains logs and reports. Helps in other maintenance trade areas as required. Executive secretary—Requires superior secretarial skills, typing 70-plus wpm, shorthand, 100-plus. Must have proven ability to work with confidential information, ability to work well under pressure with limited supervision Must be mature, discreet and well organized. Program coordinator—Under direction of the National Teaching Committee, acts as a liaison with minority teaching committees. Coordinates programs, activities and volunteer services. Must be fluent in Spanish and English; supervisory skills required. Project engineer—Degreed civil engineer. Licensed construction trade inspector preferred. Will supervise all work performed by outside contractors relating to construction, repair or modification of Baha'i National Center buildings. Requires 12 years experience in concrete, steel. Secretaries—Requires two years office experience, typing 55 wpm, strong organizational skills. For more information about any of these positions, please contact the Personnel Office, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, Ik 60091, or phone 312-256-4400.

A WEEKEND Regional Baha'i Conference sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Athens, Georgia, will be held December 12-14. For more information, please phone Iraj Khodadoost, 404-543-2951, or Jacquie Jones, 404-543-5150.

JOBS AVAILABLE overseas: teachers, agriculturists and skilled tradesmen are needed for job openings in pioneer areas. El Salvador—high school math teachers and a librarian. Bolivia—English teachers. Guatemala—fifth grade mathiscience teacher. Guyana—Spanish, English, math and science teachers. Bophuthatswana (South Africa)—high school math and science teachers. South Africa, Venda, and Bophuthatswana—agricultural engineers, agronomists. South Africa also needs _bricklayers, plumbers and electricians. For fur SRE TSE RT SE STS TEESE TSDC EAP RTE ESE STORES A ES OC EL ORES

ther information please contact the International Goals Committee, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-256-4400.

THE FIRST Icelandic International Baha'i Winter School will be held December 27-January 4 at Olfusborgir. For more information please contact the International Goals Committee, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-256-4400.

JOIN A GROWING Baha'i community approaching Assembly status in upper Michigan. A Baha’i family with two working parents needs someone to watch two children, ages 20 months and 8 months, for about 30 hours a week. The “granny” will have a private bedroom and half-bath in a large home plus meals and a weekly salary. For more information please contact Dr. and Mrs. Greg Lawton, 113 South Staffon, Ludington, MI 49431, or phone 616-845-7977.

PIONEER to Botswana, one of the goals of the initial two-year phase of the Seven Year Plan. A Baha’i-owned company there is seeking an experienced administrative secretary who is capable of managing the routine of a business office as well as type letters and do bookkeeping. This individual will also supervise two.or three office employees. For further information please contact the International Goals Committee, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-256-4400.

WANTED! Pioneers to settle in the New Orleans, Louisiana, area. (1) LaPlace, which needs four adults to form its first Spiritual Assembly, is less than half an hour from New Orleans. Jobs are available in chemicals, sales, structural construction, petrochemicals, as well as jobs in New Orleans. Contact Bob Ancker, 1712 Carrollwood Drive, LaPlace, LA 70068, or phone 504-652-6512. (2) Hammond, home of Southeastern Louisiana University, is less than an hour from New Orleans in Louisiana’s Ozone Belt. A growing town, it has opportunities for almost any business. The present Group needs more Baha'is. Contact H. Ravanbakhsh, P.O. Box 3341 SLU, Hammond, LA 70402, or phone 504-542-4066.

THE NATIONAL Baha'i Archives Committee has undertaken a systematic program to locate and acquire the personal papers of Baha'is of national import whose papers are not already in the National Baha'i Archives. The committee has identified more than 160 Baha'is whose papers would be a valuable addition to the Archives. The Archives Committee has found that personal papers are important to historians as they often contain historical information not found elsewhere. The committee is especially interested in letters, diaries, personal recollections and photographs. One difficulty the Archives Committee has is that most of the early Baha'is have been dead for many years, and the location of their papers is not known. The committee would like to learn the names of descen dants of early Baha'is, whether Baha’i or non-Baha’i, so that they might be contacted to try and locate these personal documents. Among the papers being sought are those of Dr. Zia Bagdadi, Soraya Chamberlain, Helen Campbell, Dr. Frederick D’Evelyn, Mary Hanford Ford and Florence R. Morton. Anyone having information about the personal papers of these or other early Baha'is is asked to write to the National Baha'i Archives Committee, Baha'i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

GIVE-AWAY! Are you pioneering or traveling to Australia, Costa Rica, Germany, Guam, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore or Thailand? We have four two-forone passes good from October 26 to December 14, 1980, and from January 11 to February 28, 1981, on Pan Am/National Airlines, and will mail them to Baha’is who plan to travel to any of these places. If you can use these passes, please phone us at 213-598-8884, or send a stamped self-addressed envelope to Joe and Gwyne Magaditsch, 1856 Lave Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815. These four passes mean that eight adults can travel for the price of four, and of course, priority will be given to those who wish to pioneer on a “first request/first receive” basis.

HOMEFRONT pioneers needed in a lovely retirement community on Florida’s Gulf Coast. We are an active Group of six with the goal of establishing an Assembly by Ridvan. Employment is available in \dical and teaching fields. For information, write to Ada Reynolds, 204 5th Avenue High Point, Brooksville, FL 33512, or phone 904-596-3453.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES in the Caroline Islands. Doctors, lawyers and engineers can obtain employment in the Caroline Islands, an area in which pioneers are urgently needed. Also, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Caroline Islands needs an administrator in its national office in Ponape. The job requires an individual with experience in office management, typing and bookkeeping. For more information please contact the International Goals Committee, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-256-4400.

BAHIYYIH Khanum, the Greatest’ Holy Leaf, is the foremost woman of the Baha’ Dispensation, but information about her, now stored in the memories of those who met and knew her, will be lost to history if it is not recorded. To prevent this loss, personal impressions, stories and other details that shed life upon the life and .personality of Bahiyyih Khanum are being collected. If you have any such gems, large or small, or if you know of ‘someone who has, please write to Diane Taherzadeh, 2620 International Drive, Apt. 913A, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, or phone 313-434-3744.

HELP! The education committee of Phoenix, Arizona, would like to benefit from your experience. We need ideas on how to involve

the community, develop enthusiasm, and overcome apathy! How do you handle children at Feast, especially during consultation? What are you doing about children’s classes and youth activities? Please write to us about your successes. Let’s exchange ideas. Send correspondence to Julie Loucks, secretary, 18014 N. 33rd Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85023.

CLINICIANS—Baha’i physicians are needed for volunteer clinical work in-an important goal area, the Turks and Caicos Islands. There is a tremendous need for all disciplines. Spend two weeks to a month on a regular basis. Rich cultural and clinical experience; must be able to provide own expenses. Air fare and out-of-pocket costs tax deductible. Please contact the International Goals Committee, 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-256-4400.

JOBS ARE AVAILABLE in the Dominican Republic for English teachers at Baha’i-owned English Language Institutes. The salary is sufficient to support a single person but not a family. For further information please contact the International Goals Committee, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone

312-256-4400.

Y'ALL COME to the Carolinas Baha'i Winter School, December 5-7 at Camp Hanes in King, North Carolina. The theme is “In the Spirit of Badasht.” For more information please contact Celeste Hicks, 2107 Arden Drive, Monroe, NC 28110.

ATTENTION: plumbers, electricians, carpenters and unskilled but willing workers. No exciting plans for the winter holidays? Come to St. Vincent in the Windward Islands to help restore Ness Cottage, the recently acquired property that is to be the Seat of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Windward Islands, to be elected at Ridvan 1981. Leave winter behind and come teach in the Caribbean! For more information please contact the International Goals Committee, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-256-4400.

A RESTAURANT in an excellent location in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with a seating capacity of 72 is being offered for sale at a reasonable price. The local Baha’i community could use the help of active and deepened Baha'is. For more information please phone 919-786-6979.

Some of the friends enjoying the fund-raiser June 7 sponsored by the Baha'is of Minneapolis, Minnesota,

at which $1,000 was raised for the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.

House Seat given $1,000 from Minneapolis auction

Baha'is from northern and southern Minnesota and from Wisconsin attended an “Amazing Appetite Assuager, Auction and Amusement” sponsored by the Baha'is of Minneapolis last June 7 that raised $1,000 to help with construction of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice.

Funds were raised through a number of activities. Entrance “admission” was paid at a rate of either 4 cents per inch of height or 2 cents per pound of weight.

Included in the schedule were a silent auction of mementos, books, crafts and jewelry, and a “mexican” auction of contributed items—among them a ceremonial

pipe, hand-crafted of pipestone for the event by an Indian believer from northern Minnesota; complete Chinese and Mexican dinners; a banner specially made by the children of the community; a cross-stitch sampler, and other marvelous items. :

Baked goods, popcorn and fruit were sold, and fun and fellowship continued throughout the afternoon.

A potluck meal followed, and the evening’s entertainment included a delightful presentation of music and art with Mark Ochu at the piano. (Mr. Ochu declared his belief in Baha'u'llah shortly afterward!)

Lawton, Oklahoma, reaches Assembly status

Two declarations resulted from a teaching effort September 27-28 by 17 Baha’is in-Lawton,

Oklahoma, raising that city to Assembly status.

[Page 25]The American Baha’i

December 1980

29

Jack Kahn, head of family of Baha’is, dies at age 71

SADDENED PASSING JACK KAHN HEAD DISTINGUISHED NATIVE AMERICAN FAMILY WHOSE MEMBERS ARE SERVING OUR BELOVED CAUSE WITH DEVOTION. KINDLY CONVEY FAMILY OUR LOVING SYMPATHY AND ASSURANCE OUR PRAYERS TO THE GREAT SPIRIT FOR PROGRESS HIS SOUL SPIRITUAL

WORLDS BEYOND. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE September 18, 1980

.

Jack Kahn, a Navajo believer from Houck, Arizona, who was the father of nine Baha'is including Franklin Kahn, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, died September 12 at the age of 71.

Mr. Kahn, a Baha'i for nearly 20 years, will be remembered as a Quest at several Baha'i National Conventions including that of 1978 during which he chanted the “Navajo Blessing Way” prayer under a large tent that had been set up behind the National Haziratu’l-Quds in Wilmette.

ACCORDING TO his son, Franklin, Mr. Kahn, who was a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Oak Springs Chapter, Arizona, encouraged his family to actively serve the Faith.

The elder Mr. Kahn, who raised cattle and sheep, lived in Houck during a part of each year, and near Pine Springs, Arizona, the

Elise Briskey, a 60-year-old Baha'i from Tampa, Florida, who began a three-year-long bicycle trip last May through the 48 continental United States and the southern provinces of Canada, died during that trip October 15 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after suffering a stroke. Mrs. Briskey had visited 19 states along the East Coast and two eastern Canadian provinces when this photo was taken near the end of August during a stopover at the Baha'i National Center in Wilmette, Illinois. In making the trip, Mrs. Briskey said she hoped to attract attention to the need for bicycle trails along U.S. highways while encouraging the elderly to fulfill their own dreams and aspirations.

oS SSR EE SSIES PE TSE

Jack Kahn (left), a Navajo believer trom Houck, Arizona, with one of his nine Baha’i children, Franklin, a member of the National Spiritual

rest of the time.

Survivors include his wife, Alta, who also serves on the Spiritual Assembly of Oak Springs Chapter, and eight of their children: Franklin of Flagstaff, Arizona; Chester of Houck, Arizona; Benjamin of Window Rock, Arizona; Raymond of Window Rock; Alfred of Houck; Eva Kahn Castillo of Ganado, Arizona; Susie Kahn Benally of Greasewood, Arizona, and Della Kahn Woody of San José, California.

Another son, August 12, 1979.

A tribute to Jack Kahn was paid by Amoz Gibson, a member of the Universal House of Justice, who knew the Kahn family for a number of years when he was an American homefront pioneer to the Navajo Reservation in Arizona.

In a letter dated September 21, Mr. Gibson wrote to Franklin,

Andrew, died

Assembly, at the 1978 Baha'i National Convention in Wilmette. Mr. Kahn died September 12 at the age of 71

Chester and Benjamin Kahn and their families:

“Oh my brothers! The Great Spirit has called your beloved father into His other realms where beauty will be always before him, beauty behind him and beauty above him.

“Surely he will continue his service to the Cause of Baha'u'llah from these worlds of God. As he was in this life, he will be your guide and your inspiration from the realms above.

“I remember him well in all of my meetings with his great dignity and serene appearance at all times.

“Please extend to your dear mother heartfelt sympathy from Mary and myself. You and he shall be remembered in our prayers on God's Holy Mountain.

“Your brother,

Amoz E. Gibson”

Karen Woodead, pioneer to Trinidad

TO NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY TRINIDAD:

GRIEVED LEARN PASSING DEVOTED PIONEER KAREN WOODEAD.

HER MERITORIOUS SERVICES FAITH SOUTH AMERICA ADD LUSTRE

HER COURAGEOUS EFFORTS IN UNITED STATES DURING NINE YEAR

PLAN. KINDLY CONVEY OUR LOVING SYMPATHY TO DAUGHTER AND ASSURANCE PRAYERS PROGRESS MOTHER'S SOUL.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE

October 22, 1980

In memoriam

Mrs. Tahirih Akrami Artee Leavell Miss Mary Quillen Chester, Virginia Lancaster, Kentucky Terre Haute, Indiana September 13, 1980 July 1980 July 4, 1980

Mrs. Susan Shepler Rochester, New York September 22, 1980

Mrs. Ruth Chavis Danville, Illinois September 1980

Robert McConnaughey Fort Lauderdale, Fla. October 5, 1980

Miss Estelle Suchow Brooklyn, New York February 1980

Mrs. Sadie McCray Norway, S. Carolina Date Unknown

Carl Daniels Wilmington, N.C. 1980

George C. Gilles Kelso, Washington September 7, 1980

Counsellor Armstrong, Herald of Kingdom, dies

Counsellor Leonora Armstrong is shown here with the Hand of the Cause of God Enoch Olinga during

TO NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY BRAZIL: HEARTS SADDENED PASSING DISTINGUISHED COUNSELLOR LEONORA STIRLING ARMSTRONG HERALD OF THE KINGDOM BELOVED HANDMAIDEN ABDU'L-BAHA SPIRITUAL MOTHER SOUTH AMERICA. HER SIXTY YEARS VALIANT DEVOTED SERVICES CAUSE BRAZIL SHEDS LUSTRE ANNALS FAITH THAT PROMISING LAND. REQUESTING MEMORIAL SERVICES MASHRIQU’L-ADHKARS WILMETTE PANAMA URGE ALL COMMUNITIES BRAZIL LIKEWISE HOLD SERVICES. OFFERING ARDENT SUPPLICATIONS MOST HOLY SHRINE PROGRESS HER RADIANT SPIRIT ABHA KINGDOM. UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE October 21, 1980

What is the secret in the garden?

the Baha'i international conference in Bahia, Brazil, several years ago.

Winifred Barnum Newman's winning book about an old woman’s secret and the observant young girl who shares the secret with the mystified village is a must for 5-10 year olds, friends, and libraries. Illustrations also by Winifred Barnum Newman. Catalog No. 7-53-13 Cloth $5.00 Catalog No. 6-32-05 Cassette $3.00 Catalog No. 7-53-15 Book/Cassette $7.50

YES! Please send me copies of the book The Secret in the Garden at $5.00 each; copies of the cassette at $3.00 1 each; and copies of the book and cassette at $7.50. I enclose a check or money order (including 10% for postage and handling on orders under $100.00; minimum $1.00) for $—______ made payable to the Baha‘f Publishing Trust.

Ship to: My name is (please print)

Street, Rural Route, or P.O. Box Number

Gty Sta

ite Zip Send order with payment to: Bahai Publishing Trust 523 Green Bay Road/Wilmette, IL 60091

fe 12/80

ee ee ee ee

[Page 26]

BAHA'I PUBLISHING TRUST

26

New Fall/Winter

For Your Winter Hearth!

is : P 1981. Calendars —

butes of God. An ideal gift for children of any age and faith, this charming album will provide hours of entertainment and joy for the entire family. Produced by Warren Kime and Susan Engle for the Baha’i Publishing Trust.

Quickeners of Mankind a new compilation essential for all pioneers and prospective pioneers See ordering details on next page!

Prayers and The Hidden Words: NEW Laotian Paper 7-97-01 $1.00 1981 Bahd‘i Date Book: NEW Date Book 6-69-31 $1.50 Edition Need to keep track of all your appointments and For the Laotian teaching work: a small 54-page meetings, Feasts, and Holy Days? The 1981 compilation of Bahai prayers and Hidden Baha’i date book is a must. Includes 15 months eee Words in Lao. Attractively printed with (January 1981-March 1982), larger squares for , mustard-color cover. Handy for purse and each day, and Gregorian and Baha'i days of the pocket. Inexpensively priced. 5% x 4% inches. month. Weeks begin on Sunday, end on Saturday. New gatefold cover allows you to mark the Spiritual Foundations: Prayer, Meditation, and Paper $1.50 month or carry extra notes. Metallic silver cover i A the Devotional Attitude: NEW Booklet features filagree ornamentation on Wilmette Bui ‘A new compilation that will help us all attain a House of Worship. 34/2 x 64 inches. goal of the Seven Year Plan—nurturing the > spiritual life of our community. Contains many 1981 Baha’i Wall Calendar: NEW Calendar 6-69-41 $1.90 passages previously unavailable. Plan a deep- New format features a 10-inch picture of the ening on spiritual foundations. Compiled by the Seat of The Universal House of Justice (suitable Research Department of The Universal House of for framing) and an 842 x 11-inch, 15-month Justice. 51/2 x 8¥2 inches. 20 pp. calendar that is easier than ever to read. The type is larger than last year’s, Feasts and Holy Centers of Baha’i Learning: NEW Booklet Paper 7-15-58 $1.50 Days are color coded, and Baha’i months for the For those interested in Baha'i schools and year 138 alternate in white and yellow. Hang the institutes of all kinds—here is a stimulating § calendar on the wall for easy reference and a compilation on Baha’i summer schools and eet conversation piece; fold picture over and carry teaching institutes. Covers importance, pur- ae | to meetings. 842 x 11 inches, folded. pose, administration, courses, curriculum, ee 1981 Baha'i Pocket Calendar: NEW Calendar 6-69-61 $.10 teaching the public, attracting ethnic minorities, | Fits conveniently in purse or billfold. 2% x 342 youth activities, pioneers, pioneering, and tithes? prospects for the future. Compiled by The Uni- | versal House of Justice. 54/2 x 82 inches. 20 pp. 1981 Baha’i Memo Pad Calendar: NEW Calendar 6-69-91 $1.50 Back again! A 15-month calendar pad with one A Concordance to The Hidden Words of Paper $5.00 Gregorian month per tear-off sheet. Indicates all i sauna, Baha‘u’llah: NEW eens Baha’i Holy Days and Nineteen Day Feasts. In- i By Jalil Mahmoudi. An excellent aid to help you cludes ample space for writing in dates of your ap- a find passages in The Hidden Words. Almost every pointments, meetings, and firesides. Use flat on word in the book is listed in alphabetical order. desk, hang on wall, or carry in three-ring binder. Every phrase in which the word appears is listed Perfect for use at committee and Local Spiritual 5 under that word’s entry. Use it to select readings | Assembly meetings. 81/2 x 11 inches. ' for Feast or to plan an unusual deepening. Fore- | word by Hand of the Cause of God A. Q. Faizi. | —_—_— ee See 4% x 6¥2 inches. 88 pp. Ps New Jewelry The Secret in the Garden: NEW Cloth 7-53-13 $5.00 A charming new book for 5-10 yearolds. Anold Cassette 6-32-05 $3.00 Ringstone Lapel Pins: NEW Silveripltd. 6-61-85 $5.00 woman brings a special gift to a lovely but not — Book/ Wear the Baha'i ringstone symbol on elegant Goldipltd. 6-61-86 $6.00 very peaceful village. A small, observant girl fi- Cassette 7-53-15 $7.50 _ new lapel pins. Available in silver plate or gold nally helps the villagers see that unity in diver- plate. sity is the secret in the garden. Excellent for gifts to non-Baha’i friends and to public libraries. Ringstone Pendant with 18” Chain: NEW Silver/pltd. 6-61-90 $ 8.00 Written and illustrated by Winifred Barnum The elegant ringstone design may also be pur-_ Gold/pltd. 6-61-91 $10.00 Newman. Also available in a Secret in the Garden chased asa new pendant. Available in silver plate, Sterling cassette narrated by Susan Engle, who com- gold plate, and in sterling silver, all with an 18- _ silver 6-61-92 $20.00 posed a song especially for the book. 32 pp. inch plated chain. Enhance your own wardrobe. Give one to a friend. Come and Sing: NEW Album/Stereo Cassette LP Album 6-35-21 $7.50 Anappealing collection of songs created to assist Stereo children to understand and develop the attri- Cassette 6-32-20 $8.00

[Page 27]

e & Wasi 2M ei es me Be ’ Fa, The American Baha’i December 1980 | - ___ Back in Stock For Pioneers|Prospective Pioneers Bahd‘u'llah and the New Era: Revised Edition Paper 7-31-05 $1.50 Quickeners of Mankind: NEW Pay 7-15-68 00 At long last! Both the paper and the cloth edi- Cloth 7-31-04 $12.00 s E tions of Esslemont’s introductory work are back A Manual for Pioneers: Back in stock Paper 7-67-13 $4.50 in stock. Order your copies now. Se Meditations on the Eve of November 4th: Tablets of Baha'u'llah Cloth 7-03-21 $9.00 Back in stock Cloth 7-31-44 $2.00 Selections from the Writings of the Bab Cloth 7-05-50 $7.50 A Call to Pioneering: Challenge to Baha'i Youth: Back in stock Paris Talks Cloth 7-06-15 $8.00 au in stoc! Cassette 6-31-02 $8.00 Paper 7-06-16 $4.50 eee ee es (Clip aNd Mail today) se me ms mm oo coe meno Call to the Nations Cloth 7-08-50 o it ' Pia esata soir Yes! Please send me the following materials! Enclosedis my % check or money order for $. (including 10% for postage Guidance for Today and Tomorrow Paper 7-08-27 $5.00 1 and handling on orders under $100, minimum $1.00; OR includ- ! q i ing 10% discount on non-NET items over $100), made payable to 1 Baha’i Administration Cloth 7-08-04 $10.00 | the Baha'i Publishing Trust. I Pr 7. i - ee 08-05 $ 5.00 : Cat. No. Quantity Price Amount { Cat.No. Quantity Price Amount : Baha’i Prayers (British edition) Cloth 7-15-12 $5.00 g 702 9.00 7-31-61 2.50 I ire 7-05-50 7.50 7-31-81 3.95 The Pattem of Bahd’i Life -15Paper 7-15-30 $1.00 ; 7-06-15 8.00 7-32-17 7.50 2 : Principles of Baha’i Administration Cloth 7-15-28 $6.00 I 706-18 450 7-82-20 9.95 I Paper 7-15-29 $4.00 I 7-08-50 5.00 7-32-21 5.50 l The Glad Tidings of Bahá’u’llah Paper —«7-1552-«§2.00 So a ae row I I (7-08-27 5.00 7-39-01 18.50 i Political Non-Involvement and Obedience 7-08-04 10.00 7-39-04 18.00 to Government Booklet 7-15-63 $1.50 Z 7-08-05 5.00 rae D ! All Things Made New Paper 7-32-17 97.50 7? 8.00 ie . I I 7-15-30 1.00 7-40-56 A 1 The Earth Is But One Country Cloth 7-32-31 $15.00 17 6.00 7-40-61 D 1 The Dawn-Breakers Cloth 7-31-53 $1800 7 ora ee oe i Paper 7-31-54 $8.00 1 7-15-52 2.00 7-52-67 3.00 1

17 1.50 7-53-13 5.00 1

The Priceless Pearl Paper 7-31-48 $8.00 1s 1.50 7-53-15 7.50 I Dr. J. E. Essl f Paper 7-31-06 $2.50 4p 7 1.50 7-67-13 4.50 : 7-15-68 4.00 7-68-52 5.00 Thief in the Night can gate 4 ' 7-31-04 12.00 7-97-01 1.00 1 eh 2 s p73" 1.50 6-31-02 8.00 1 The Sheltering Branch Cloth 7-31-33 $4.75 B70 2.50 6-32-05 3.00 1 7-31-16 5.50 6-32-20 8.00 i The Flame Cloth 7-31-81 $3.95 ; 7-31-21 7.95 6-35-21 7.50 I Some Early Baha’is of the West Cloth 7-32-20 $9.95 po 2.95 6-61-85 5.00 I Paper 7-32-21 5.50 § 73136 11.95 6-61-86 6.00 I ‘Abdu'l-Baha Cloth 731-36 gues 6 ATS, 6-61-50 8.00 1 po 1.50 6-61-91 10.00 I The Heart of the Gospel Cloth 7-31-16 $5.50 731-4 2.00 6-61-92 20.00 I me I 7-31-48 8.00 6-69-31 1.50 I Portals to Freedom Cloth 7-31-21 $7.95 | 7308 18.00 ee 1.00 i Religion for Mankind Paper 7-31-30 «$2.95 sf 7-31-54 8.00 6-69-61 10 : 7-31-60 6.50 1 1.50 ‘Amatu’l-Baha Visits India Paper 7-31-42 $1.50 ' c 1 ey: Muhammad and the Course of Islam Cloth 7-39-01 $18.50 1 a—10°51.60; 2583.20; 100/$11.50 ' 1 D—10/4.00; 25/8.00; 100$25.00 The Seven Mysteries of Life Cloth 7-39-04 $18.00 1 hed : I Ordered by: (please print) tl The Wonder Lamp Paper 7-52-54 $1.00 ; I Stories of Baha‘u’llah by Pokka Paper 7-52-67 $3.00 WrREeErT a I pe 1 I Baha’i Teachings on Economics Pamphlet 7-40-61 : Sere ake WROTE etches Lite —4 Human Rights are God-Given Rights Pamphlet 7-40-25 A I oe 4 oe : Gy State Zip Becoming Your True Self Pamphlet 7-40-15 D : Send coupon with payment to: Bah at Publishing Tr I The Environment and Human Values Pamphlet 7-40-56 A E18 12/80 523 Green Bay Road / Wilmette, If 60091 1 |

[Page 28]

2 oS bili sacle The American Baha’i Sonica ANSEL ovo: ch Cekeeas: Postage Paid At Wilmette, IMinois December 1980 is a Dr. Pereira honored be a | Moving? Name 6) Mra Be Se ae ae I BG Mise FuilnameO0 NOT use nicknames 1 by University of D.C pect te sone nas | new address ere eT ~Hiause or Space Number, Street, or Description i | Dr. Sarah Martin Pereira, who To avoid unnecessary delays, in raitedthis yaar asia crevessorin aa | ee eee er ae City he ee == | the Department of Foreign ¥ dress and your mailing label which in- Mait Pen gpewes ac tne Univers ty oUt 1 coces yours0 cuca tne Otee Adee ar pout 3 Pol Olan BOX Noor —____—_—_———] District of Columbia, was honored [ Nationat Center, 112 Linden Avenue. : I during convocation ceremonies in J Witmer i 5000198 s00n a8 you ail es cara I October for her 22 years of service Poh len Rev natress sll batwe city To Caie § to the university. J tee our beat to see tat changes ‘Mew Bana { Dr. Pereira, a member of the J} tonsterot malt o your new nome is ” — same of Local Assembly. group, or isolated locality where Tis person resides, Continental Board of Counsellors | scomtched wir a psn epee ' for North America, was given a a iS 2 plaque that read: I Moving 9° aiing label should accompary address change form I Es gated erp aMarO | 112 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091 | outstanding leadership, scholarly endeavors, effective teaching, | years of dedication and devotion | to the University of the District of I Columbia and its predecessor in- I stitutions.” I Dr. Pereira, who taught Por- 7 HRS Co ecb hones Peis iy sain Dealer ce ead cee masters degree from Case Wes- [ torm iat

tern Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and her doctorate in Romance Languages from Ohio State University.

She served for 13 years as a member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly and for 10 years as an Auxiliary Board member before she was named a Counsellor seven years ago.

‘An accomplished speaker in several languages, Dr. Pereira has lectured widely on such subjects as world unity, the oneness of mankind, the equality of men and women, universal education, race unity, and the need for a universal auxiliary language.

BICA .

Continued From Page 10

nouncing the Seven Year Plan, and in fostering good relations between the Baha'is and local organizations.

Human Rights Day 1979

This event again featured a community service project, initiated by the Baha'i Club of Cuesta College, and received wide publicity. It involved clean-up, repairs, repainting, etc., of the children’s playground at the college.

Another program, a public address that focused on the rights of children, was held in conjunction with the International Year of the Child.

World Religion Day 1980

This event consisted of a public meeting at the Women’s Club in Grover City where Charles McAIlister of Los Gatos spoke on “The Baha'i Faith—A World-Unifying Force.”

The efforts exerted by this intercommunity group are exemplary, and typify the levels of proclamation that can occur when Baha'is involve themselves ir, community service projects.

Arise!

DR. SARAH M. PEREIRA

800-plus attend Massanetta Conference

Five declarations were among the highlights of the second Massanetta Springs (Virginia) Baha'i Conference August 29-31 that was attended by more than 800 Baha'is and their guests.

For the second year in a row, the conference in Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley was blessed by the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem.

ALSO PARTICIPATING were Dr. Peter Khan, a Continental Counsellor for Australasia, and his wife, Dr. Janet Khan, vicechairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia; Auxiliary Board members Robert Harris, Albert James, Javidukht Khadem, Adrienne Reeves and William Tucker; and Dr. Wilma Brady, a member of the National Teaching Committee.

The theme of this year’s conference was “The Covenant:

Requirements of the Present Hour.” Dr. Tucker served as co chairman with Kathy Jewett of Richmond, Virginia.

More than 100 children attended the conference. Children’s activities coordinators Judith Welman of Front Royal, Virginia, and Roger Davis of Milboro, Virginia, were helped by more than 60 parents and others.

The conference coordinator was Ed Price of Richmond. Mrs. Dorothy Page-Loten of Silver Spring, Maryland, was the registrar.

The audio system was operated by Don Davis. Information about tapes from the 1979 and 1980 Massanetta Springs Conferences can be obtained by writing to Mr. Davis at 396 E. Gay St., Harrisonburg, VA 22801.

While some of the sessions were being held in the large open auditorium on a hill overlooking the green expanse of trees and grounds at the conference center, simultaneous sessions in Persian

were conducted pavilion.

MOST OF THE sessions featured lovely music written and performed by many of the talented believers who use their gifts to proclaim the Cause.

Another hightight was a preview showing of a new teaching film made primarily for youthful and college-age audiences by the Baha'i Media Committee of the Spiritual Assembly of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Mr. Khadem opened and closed the conference with messages of great spiritual and emotional impact.

The Hand of the Cause told his audience that Baha'u'llah knows

in a nearby

our hearts, knows our supplications. “Friends,” he urged, “turn to

Him. Baha'u'llah is so generous, so kind.”

Comparing the spirit in which the friends had come to Massanetta Springs to receive spiritual food to that of the conference at Badasht, Mr. Khadem stressed the importance of the Baha'is coming together to prepare themselves “‘to go and serve Him (Baha'u'llah) and give everything for Him.”

GOD, HE SAID, “has not created any greater joy than being with the friends.”

Mr. Khadem said that for every triumph there is a sacrifice.

Speaking of the power of the Teachings of Baha'u'llah, the Hand of the Cause reminded his listeners that ‘‘this is the power...to use to become victorious ..no one in the whole world can withstand it.”

Responding to requests from the friends, Mr. Knadem told many stories about the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, each of them relating to obedience to the institutions of the Faith.

“Dear friends,” he said, “read God Passes By, not once, twice, a

Lovely late summer weather greeted participants at the second Massanet. ta Springs Baha'i Conference held

hundred times would not be too much ... every word is significant.

“If something is not in accord with that book, leave it. This is the standard!”

Counsellor Khan, speaking on “Spiritual Survival in Global Chaos” at a Saturday evening public meeting, said, “Sacrifice is a fundamental element of religion.”

THROUGH sacrifice, he said, the power of the Holy Spirit is attracted, comes to us, energizes us, and transforms our life.

The Teachings of God, he continued, promise us over and over again that through sacrifice and its resulting spiritual development, we will find true happiness.

Pointing out how the Baha'i Faith has encircled the globe in little more than 130 years, the Counsellor explained that this time of growth is critical to the continued expansion and con

-solidation of the Faith.

“We must sow the seeds now,”

August 29-31 in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia

he said, “for harvesting in the next century.”

The one sad note at this year’s conference was the news that the Spiritual Assembly of Staunton, which sponsors the conference, has become jeopardized through the recent loss of three of its members.

Nevertheless, plans for the 1981 Massanetta Springs Conference have already begun.

Newspaper spotlights Oklahoma believer

Alex Resnick, a Baha'i from Bethany, Oklahoma, who is an assistant to the Auxiliary Board, was the subject of a recent article in Bethany’s shopping newspaper.

The article explained why Mr. Resnick’s franchise printing business closes for Baha'i Holy Days and how he lets customers know about it.