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

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December 1981

The American

Baha’i

Two members of the Universal House of Justice, Dr. David Ruhe (left) and Hugh Chance, spoke to Chicago area Baha’is in October in Foundation Hall at the Baha’ House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois. Dr. Ruhe spoke mainly of the rapid development and use of communications media in the

Photo: David B. Ogron

Faith, especially the use of radio in Latin America, and showed slides of progress in building the permanent Seat of the Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel. Mr. Chance, in his wide-ranging talk, touched on the recent persecutions in Iran and the challenge

Photo: Dorcus Hudson they present to Baha'is all over the world. It is up to each of us, he said, to deepen himself in the Writings of the Faith and to teach the Cause with renewed vigor as a tribute to those whose blood is being shed in the path of Bahdru'llih,

Slight upswing noted in giving to Fund

The Nationa! Fund has recently been helped by an increase in contributions and in participation by individuals giving directly.

Although still slightly below the goal of $316,000 per Bahd’{ month, the upswing reflects the community’s growing awareness of the Fund’s critical situation, emphasized in the National Spiritual Assembly’s report to the District Conventions as well as at the 24 area meetings called for by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears.

IN EARLY November the

What’s inside

BAHA‘{ YOUTH make steady progress toward winning goals of the Two Year Youth Plan. Page 7

MORE THAN 50 pioneers are at their posts in overseas goal areas, surpassing the International Goals Committee’s quota for the first year of the second phase of the Seven Year Plan. Page 8

THE ASSOCIATION for Baha’i_ Studies holds its first U.S. conference at the Green Acre Baha’ School. Page 10

A GREATER CHICAGO area Inter-Assembly Conference is held at the Baha’{ National Center in Wilmette. Page 13

Fund deficit reached $800,000 for the year. The deficit is an indication of how far income has fallen behind planned expenses.

For a short time, this imbalance between income and expenses was offset by cash on hand, and then, when cash was depleted, by loans from the bank.

In September, however, the National Assembly decided it had reached the limit of the amount of money it was willing to borrow, and determined instead to reduce expenses.

The effect of these cuts was immediately apparent. For example, certain positions at the National Center were eliminated, and fur ther staff cuts were considered.

Ongoing programs also were curtailed, as demonstrated by postponing the spread of the National Education Committee’s programs of child education, Assembly development, and Personal Transformation to other states.

In addition, the annual National Treasurer’s Representative training conference was canceled.

New opportunities that arose for the spread of the Faith could not be exploited. A number of radio stations that broadcast in Chinese offered free time for programs on the Faith. Although it is

Please See FUND Page 5

National Assembly meets in N.Y.C.

During its meeting October 23-25 in New York City, the National Spiritual Assembly met with more than 400 Baha’is from that city and surrounding areas on Saturday, October 24, at an elementary school auditorium in Greenwich Village.

In a tape-recorded message to the friends, the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears described plans for a 24-day period of prayer and sacrifice extending

from the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab on October 20 to the anniversary of the Birth of Baha’u’ll4h on November 12.

MR. SEARS called for the gathering of at least 1,000 Baha’ is in each of 24 American cities, corresponding to the 24 cities in which recent martyrdoms have taken place, to pray for the believers in Iran and to find

Please See N.Y. Page 4

Mr. Sears enkindles

¢ tO,

natior.,

ide campaign

of prayer, sacrifice

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears, stirred by the events taking place in the Baha’i world, especially in Iran, returned to the U.S. in October from his post in South Africa to propose a special period of prayer and sacrifice by the American believers in the 24-day period from October 20, the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab, through November 12, the anniversary of the Birth of Baha’u’ lah.

Mr. Sears’ plan was heartily endorsed by the National Spiritual Assembly, and a series of 24 meetings in 24 U.S. cities was launched October 24 with gatherings in New York City and Los Angeles, with Mr. Sears himself present at the latter and all members of the National Spiritual Assembly attending the former.

THE CAMPAIGN proposed by Mr. Sears included two other elements: first, that 2 1/2-hour

prayer vigils be held in every community in this country on the Holy Days beginning and ending the campaign; and second, that during the intervening 22 days of the campaign every believer search his or her own heart to determine what sacrifices could be made to increase his degree of material support for the Cause of God.

The purpose of the prayer vigils, the National Spiritual Assembly said in a letter to every Baha’i in the U.S. that was read at the anniversary of the Birth of the Bab, was ‘‘to seek divine protection for those now in the claws of the oppressors of the Faith, and to supplicate for divine assistance in the accomplishment of our goals.””

In addition to New York City and Los Angeles, special meetings ‘were held in these cities:

Phoenix, Arizona; San Diego

Please See MR. SEARS. Page 11

SaaeeGeEe

The original Louhelen farmhouse (background) is framed by a bulldozer as work begins on the $1.8-million reconstruction of the

50-year-old Baha’{ school near Davison, Michigan. Target date for completion of the initial phase of the project is summer 1982.

Border campaign sees more than 70 Native Americans embrace Faith

A teaching trip in October to several Indian Reservations in the northwestern U.S. by three Baha’is from Canada has resulted in the enrolment of more than 70 people in the Faith.

Members of the teaching team were Rick Belcourt (Cree Indian) from Calgary, Earl Healy (Blood) from Fort MacLeod, and Fari Jalili-Otsali, a Persian Baha’{ who is living in British Columbia.

THEIR VISIT, which began October 3 at the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, was carried out under the auspices of the American Indian Teaching Com

mittee in response to a goal of the second phase of the Seven Year Plan to develop ‘‘cross border projects giving special attention to Indian Reservations ...’”

Efforts to teach the Arapaho and Shoshone tribes at Wind River date to the 1940s and have continued to the present time.

One year to the day before the arrival of the teaching team, the Baha’is of Wyoming circled the Reservation with a day of prayer that the Indian people might respond to the Teachings of Baha Please See WIND Page 17

nsession eigr

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The American Baha’i

Editorial

Teacher must be ‘parent’ to new believer

The birth of a child is a long-awaited, happy event. But as any parent knows, that birth is only the beginning.

A new baby requires large amounts of |.

arent’s time and energy.

Even the child’s most basic needs must be take care of by others.

OBVIOUSLY, no one would expect an infant te valk and talk like an adult, but slowly, as the child grows, the expectations about what he can do change in accordance with his new capacities.

Finally, the child reaches maturity and becomes able to stand alone

and be responsible for himself.

Teaching the Faith follows much the same process. All too often we think that when a seeker has declared his belief in Baha’u’ll4h, our job

as teacher has ended.

But like new parents, we must continue to nurture the new believer as he grows and matures in his commitment to the Faith.

That may require such time-consuming efforts as offering him hospitality and friendship, giving him transportation to meetings, lending him books, corresponding with him, and helping him to teach the Faith

to his friends and family.

This nurturing almost always requires patience, for just as a new baby cannot act and comprehend like an adult, so too it may take the new believer time to shed old beliefs and habits.

IT IS NOT uncommon that the wisdom, tact, patience and warmth we extend to a seeker is withdrawn as soon as he or she possesses a

membership card.

The result is often disillusionment, inactivity, and sometimes, God

forbid, withdrawal from the Faith.

Let us therefore engrave upon our hearts the advice to the Baha’i teacher from the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, as presented in

The Advent of Divine Justice,

p.44:

“Let him not be content until he has infused into his spiritual child so deep a longing as to impel him to arise independently, in his turn, and devote his energies to the quickening of other souls, and the upholding of the laws and principles laid down by his newly-adopted Faith.””

Comment

Oregon is site of Peace and SR Fair

The Baha’ is of Josephine County, Oregon, played a large role in planning and presenting a Peace and Unity Fair September 19 in Grants Pass.

Spurred by the Baha’is, some 20 churches, service clubs and other community organizations formed a Peace and Unity Fair Planning Committee whose weekly meetings were chaired by Kenneth Stephens, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Grants Pass.

The fair, launched with proclamations by the governor of Oregon and mayor of Grants Pass, included day-long activities for adults and children, as well as booths and exhibits representing some 24 organizations.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Hideo Hashimoto, a Methodist minister and professor emeritus at Lewis and Clark College in Portland. His topic was “Non-violent Action for Peace.”

There were several audio-visual presentations, puppet shows, folk dancing, group singing, arts and crafts, clowns and other entertainment, and the release by the children of 100 helium-filled balloons bearing the message ‘‘One Planet, One People ... Please.”

The following day, World Peace Day, the Baha’is hosted a devotional service followed by a

Short walk leads to memorable

When I was in New York City in July 1967, I visited George Roth. Ted Claus in New Mexico had asked me to look him up, saying he was an older Baha’i who had an interesting past.

According to Ted, George had been something of an underworld figure years ago. To me, it was important to meet such a man who had become a Baha’i.

I CALLED to ask if I could come by, and he gave me directions. George Roth lived off Stuyvesant Street, a couple of blocks from St. Marks Church where ‘Abdu’ l-Baha had spoken in 1912.

When I arrived he had a visitor, a young Persian man whose family. were dealers in antiques. He had just made George a gift of a Roman coin encased in glass,

The American Baha’i

(USPS 042-430) Published monthly by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States, 536 Sheridan Road, Wilmette, IL. 60091. Second class postage paid at Wilmette, IL. Editor: Jack Bowers Associate Editor: David E, Ogron ‘The American Bahá'{ welcomes news, letters and other items of interest from individuals and the various institutions of the Faith. Articles should be written in a clear and concise manner; black and white glossy photos should be included whenever possible. Please address all materials to The Editor, ‘The American Bahs"i, Wilmette, IL 60091 Copyright © 1981 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States. World rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

which George showed me and which he called a Roman ‘‘kern’” in his characteristic Brooklynese.

George looked well but said he’d had a heart attack and lost a lot of weight. He was giving away all the clothes that no longer fit him.

There were a lot of suits, and I was asked to help his visitor carry them down to a car. They were bound for some charity.

When I returned, George sat me down and offered me some fruit from a mound of grapes and pears and plums in a bowl, also a gift from the family of his Persian friend.

High on a wall was a framed tablet of Arabic calligraphy. I asked what it meant, and George replied, ‘“‘Abdu’l-Baha, Center of the Covenant.’’

I thanked him for the fruit, and he said that these days he was largely dependent on the generosity of his friends.

IT WAS THEN that I asked about his background, his work.

“I was a horse thief,’’ he said.

I thought he was merely using a figure of speech, but he elaborated. He said he’d once had a number of horses, and that he would sell one and then “‘retrieve’’ it later.

Thad been told that George was Hungarian; I knew that he had

This month’s article, ‘‘One Evening in July,”’ was written by Brooks Garis of Greenwich, Connecticut.

been a youth in the days of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s visit to America, so the whole tale had a swashbuckling ring of old world times and places.

“I had restaurants,”” he continued. ‘Several of them. That’s how I got so big, eating all the time.””

“You look pretty good now,”” I said.

“Well, that was a long time ago, years ago. And then I had this heart attack. I lost a lot of weight.”

I remember traveling over a road in Massachusetts some years later and hearing the story of how George Roth met ‘Abdu’l-Baha. It was quite a story.

GEORGE, I was told, was the leader of a gang of street toughs. They heard there was an old man giving coins to poor people in the Bowery.

Perhaps the plan was to steal his money, or possibly to harm him. There were about 14 youths, and George was at the head of the pack as they came up behind ‘Abdu’l-Baha, hurling BECKS and stones.

Suddenly, the story goes, ‘Ab $ anh is but onc and mankind i:

Baha’is from Josephine County, Oregon, are shown explaining Baha’i principles of peace and unity to visitors to the Baha’{ booth at the first ‘Peace and Unity Fair’ held September 19 in Grants Pass,

potluck luncheon social.

These events were so successful, with some 500 people participating in the two days of activities,

country citizens

Oregon. Booth design and construction was by the county’s Baha’i youth with quotations from the Writings on each of three sides.

that the planning committee has become a permanent body to be known as the ‘‘Alliance for Peace and Unity.”

lesson in teaching

du’l-Baha turned and riveted the little band with His penetrating eyes. It took all the fight out of the boys, and they were forced to call off the project.

I never heard the details of how, years later, George Roth became a Baha’i.

But something interesting happened during my visit with him that has greater meaning for me now than it did at the time.

He decided we would take a walk. He was going to show me St. Marks where ‘Abdu’l-Baha had addressed the congregation some 55 years before; it was just down the street.

As I stood to open the door, George, still in his chair, reached for a prayer book and motioned for me to sit.

“] ALWAYS say a prayer for teaching before going out,” he said. I sat, and each of us said a prayer.

It was early evening, and the walk to the church was leisurely. One or two elderly people said hello as we passed them.

It always surprised me that in a city of 10 million people anyone could ever see the same face twice, but New York is also a city of neighborhoods. George seemed neighborly, kind, and yet maintained the slightly urbane air of one who has been around.

St. Marks is surrounded by an iron fence mounted on a waisthigh wall of brown stone, the kind popular for building in New York around the turn of the century.

A boy and girl, who couldn’t have been more than about 20, were trying to remove a sign from the fence that told people to curb their dogs.

George asked what they were doing, and they said the city oughtn’t to have put a sign on the church fence and they were taking it down.

George explained that the city was trying to solve a problem for pedestrians and that the sign was a necessary reminder.

WE TALKED some more and then, somehow, the four of us were finishing our conversation while walking back to George’s apartment for a cup of tea.

That evening, we sat while George told about ‘Abdu’l-Baha and His visit to New York City, about the history of the Faith and Baha’u’llah.

It all seemed quite natural then, but the specialness of that occasion is only now beginning to reach me,

On an evening in July, in the teeming City of the Covenant, George Roth said a prayer and

Please See COMMENT Page 6

SS REC SRR A A RR A IRMA RN TN

[Page 3]LETTERS

December 1981

3

Only universal participation can

To the Editor:

What would you say if a doctor diagnosed your illness as due to a 99 percent dysfunction of the liver caused by poor and/or improper diet, lack of exercise, and the accumulation of excess substances?

Would you feel secure in the knowledge that only one percent of your liver was struggling to keep your body alive?

THERE ARE approximately 100,000 Bahd’is in the U.S., and like that 99 percent portion of the diseased liver, most are allowing the “body” (i.c., the Fund) to suffer through neglect. One percent cannot sustain all the functions required of the whole organ.

T hope that this simple analogy will convey a clear message. Perhaps the expression, ‘‘Physician,

heal thyself,”’ also could be applied in this situation.

After all, how can we offer the Divine remedy for the ills that be‘set our countrymen when we take on the same infirmities and degenerate and apathetic attitudes?

As Baha'is, we must decide to demonstrate by action and sacrifice our sincerity and heal our sluggish and lethargic condition.

If we don’t, death will surely follow. Not a physical death, but a deadness of heart that is unresponsive as the stone.

Universal and consistent participation in giving to the Fund is a tangible indicator of our sincerity.

IF THE REST of society perceives 100,000 as 99 percent insincere, how are they to know the validity of those Teachings that must be translated into the language of everyday living? Are the American Baha'is for real—or have they become vaporous breaths dispersed and dissipated by the chance winds and storms of these hours?

The purpose of this letter is not to be rude, but rather to stimulate the spiritual sensibilities and awaken the minds that are dulled, numbed or depressed by the clamor and counterfeit glitter of the events around us ... to evoke a higher level of feeling for the needs of the age in which we live.

Ours is a spiritual battle—as significant a conflict as that which is taking place in the cradle of the Faith. We must demonstrate the feasibility of living sacrifice.

Our “‘body,”’ the Fund, needs our focus and our love; it requires wholesome nourishment and constant maintenance.

If we fail to support the Fund, and thereby heal our own illness, the purging process that must necessarily come may purge us along with the rest of humanity.

D.J. Singles Wautoma, Wisconsin

To the Editor:

The September issue of The American Baha’{ included a letter expressing deep concern about the “apparent lack of interest and excitement toward the Faith in this country.””

A_ second article, headlined “Unity among believers only cure for inactivity,” also addressed this issue.

INDEED, this is a serious matter and is significantly related to all aspects of the spiritual and admibistrallys development of the

ait

“Unity among the believers’’ is the all-important point here. ‘Abdu’l-Baha said: “The great and fundamental teachings of Bahd*u’lláh are the oneness of God and the unity of mankind. There is the bond of union among Baha’js all over the world. They become united themselves, then unite others. It is impossible to unite unless united.’’ (Divine Art of Living, p. 116)

Further, He said, “Until such time,. however, as the friends ¢stablish perfect unity among themselves, how can they summon others to harmony and peace.’” (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, p. 207) ee

It seems to me that many Baha'is think of unity as something that develops automatically among the friends simply because they are Baha'is.

Having been in the Faith for 11 years and served on two Spiritual Assemblies and many committees, I know for a fact that unity among Baha'is is not something that happens by itself. It is not something we can ever take for granted.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the spirit of unity at a Baha’i conference where we are together in large numbers for a relatively short period of time. But living and working day after day with the Baha’is in our own community

Appleton observes Children’s Day,

The Bahd’i community of Appleton, Wisconsin, observed Universal Children’s Day October 1 with a public meeting and panel discussion entitled ‘Tomorrow Belongs to the Children.”

The panel, moderated by a Baha’i, included local county supervisors of various child care services, the Wisconsin coordinator for UNICEF, the assistant director of special education in the Appleton public schools, and a social

worker whose work focuses on juvenile delinquency.

A movie produced by UNICEF illustrating the situation of many third world children introduced the panel discussion.

Another film, “‘Tomorrow Belongs to the Children,’ was incorporated into the Baha’ display at the meeting.

Half of the 22 people who atee the program were non-Ba 45, .

The American Bahd’t 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 Bahd’t, Baha'i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091,

brifigs us back down to earth.

OUR HUMAN frailties produce a certain amount of friction in our interpersonal relationships that, if left unchecked, can weaken the fabric of community life.

I feel that Baha’js often are unable to deal with this friction effectively because they are afraid of the confrontation or conflict that may result from the inevitable clash of personalities and opinions.

As Baha'is we tend to view conflict as something that is diametrically opposed to unity, and thus we try to avoid it. But in avoiding conflict we run the risk of avoiding each other. And if we avoid each other, consciously or unconsciously, we cannot be united.

There is a remedy for this problem. Regarding the nature of Baha'i consultation, ‘Abdu’lBahá has said: “The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions.’’ (Principles of Baha’i Administration, p. 54)

We need to remember that consultation is not something that is restricted to Assembly meetings. It is a process that all Baha’is can use for dealing with personal or community problems.

I urge all Baha’is to study again the principles of consultation and to put them into practice whenever possible.

The development of unity in a Bahd’i community is, perhaps, proportional to the extent to which the friends use the process of consultation in breaking down the barriers that separate individuals from one another spiritually and socially. We must strive in this manner to unite our hearts in Baha’i love, for unity is the spiritual magnet that attracts new souls to our Cause.

Theodore S. Heizer Eau Claire, Wisconsin

To the Editor:

As a woman in society as it exists today, I have sympathy for any woman who feels trapped in the home by her children.

My sympathy is for the lack of support and love shown by our Baha'i communities. As women, we must accept the responsibilities laid before us by the beloved Master as mothers.

‘Today’s emphasis on the individual and on doing what ‘‘you’’ need to be fulfilled has taken value from the role of mother and educator. The basis of the World Order of Baha’u’ll4h starts with

‘heal’ body of Fund

the mother.

We must take a brave approach to the issue of staying home with our children, and work together with our communities to nurture our “‘tender trees’? to grow and develop as the world’s new hope for unity.

Mrs. Ann Clavin Bedford, Ohio

To the Editor:

There is so much in Baha*u’lláh’s Writings that brings people together that disunity among Baha’is would seem impossible.

Yet we see disunity everywhere. The most tragic evidence of this,is our divorce rate.

PERHAPS the consultation between the man and woman or between the couple and Assembly is limited to day-to-day events, activities or problems on the surface of their lives. This is often necessary, but we must understand the problem at all levels.

The Bab asked, “‘Is there any Remover of difficulties save God?’ How have we answered His question?

Of course, we have turned to God—but on what level? Prayer is important. It is part of the answer.

We have to read the Writings and meditate on them. This is also part of the answer.

But another part is simply abandoning yourself to God and allowing Him to- guide you. It is the essence of being on the spiritual path.

Baha'u'llah describes the spiritual path in a lovely passage on

Page 105 of Baha'i World Faith entitled “The Morn of Divine Guidance.””

Christians believe that the reccognition of the prophet or the act of declaration is a light switch that produces salvation. Too many of us carry over this idea to our Baha’ life.

THE SPIRITUAL path that you start on at birth and that takes a new direction with your Baha’i declaration is a difficult one.

It is difficult. because God makes it that way. That’s what our tests and difficulties are about.

There is a saying in India that “one does not clean the mud from. the bottom of the pond without dirtying the water.’’ We Baha'is are at various stages of cleaning the spititual mud from our spiritual ponds.

It is the nature of the ego to blame nearby objects (often spouses) for tests. We must learn when a thought or emotion is coming from the ego.

This is easy to learn. If it’s not love or unity, it’s the ego.

Another meaning I find in the clouded water is that the person undergoing purification is not able to perceive things clearly. It is important to recognize that perception is distorted by emotion and ego.

If you are a Baha’i, prayer and meditation are your tools for overcoming these tests, and will then dissolve your ego.

Please See LETTERS Page 19

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[Page 4]The American Baha’i

4

Personal PROFILE

Name: Dr. Jack Keller Community: Logan, Utah Occupation: Irrigation engineer Background: Dr. Keller stated in the 6lst Faculty Honors Lecture at Utah State University, “‘To me, irrigation system design is a game like putting a puzzle together. The purpose of system design is to develop assemblages of individual components that will fit together to make a workable and optimized irrigation system for a specific site.””

Dr. Keller has been teaching and practicing irrigation engineering for 26 years. At present, he is the department head of Agricultural and Irrigation Engineering at Utah State University, president of his own consulting engineering company, and project leader of an interdisciplinary irrigation analysis team for the Agency for International Development (AID). He has worked on irrigation projects in more than 30 countries. Through his many publications, books, teaching and consulting, Dr. Keller has become internationally known as one of the world’s foremost irrigation engineers. He loves his work, and considers it a form of worship.

During a sabbatical leave to the Technion in Haifa, Israel, Dr. Keller had an opportunity to meet Hugh Chance, a member of the Universal House of Justice, who, with Dr. Keller’s mother, had a profound influence on his becoming a Baha’i. After his visit to Haifa, Dr. Keller independently investigated the Faith for two years before declaring himself as a Baha’{ in 1974. He is presently serving on the Spiritual Assembly of Logan.

Jack, with his wife and three children, enjoys backpacking, fishing, bicycling and cross country skiing. He is also an avid gardener and home repairman.

“With optimistic vision,”’ he says, “I see the Sun is slowly rising, bringing a brighter tomorrow; and though progress is painfully slow, I sense a feeble but relentless momentum toward a universal concern for all mankind—so I truly believe in Irrigating for Rainbows.””

N.Y. meetings focus on crises in Iran, Fund

Continued From Page 1

suitable means! by which to redeem their ifice.

Each individual, said Mr. Sears, must decide for himself what part he is to play, for ‘‘only Baha’u’llah knows what is in our hearts.””

Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, speaking on behalf of the National Assembly, addressed his remarks to the present crisis in the National Fund, pointing out the inequity between monthly income and the expenditures necessary to serve the growing number of believers in this country.

Of the 100,000 Baha’is in the U.S., he said, only about 3,500 individuals contribute directly to the National Fund on a regular basis.

Emphasizing that the National Spiritual Assembly would like to see that number grow to at least 20,000 each month, Dr. Kazemzadeh asked that his audience, and all Baha’is, place themselves ‘in the midst” of the Iranian situation, reiterating that “‘we are one people, one body.””

Judge James F. Nelson, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, served as chairman of the meeting and referred in his introductory remarks to the ‘‘emergence from obscurity’ of the Faith in this country owing to the sacrifices of our brethren in Iran.

THE AFTERNOON program ended with the members of the National Assembly answering written questions from the audience.

Dr. Dwight Allen, responding to a question about how to deal with negative reactions to being approached about giving to the Fund, reminded his audience that “‘it_costs money’? to build the World Order of Baha’u’llah.

It was his hope, he said, that when speaking of the Fund, it would be done “‘in such a way that gives us a quickening of the spirit rather than constant depression.”

Dr. Daniel Jordan, addressing a

Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, vice-chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly, discusses the persecution

of Baha'is in Iran during the Na | eu SESS SE, SE SO ERE ESE SOS EHS a meer re

Juana Conrad, chairman of the National Teaching Committee,

question about the underlying purpose of teaching and-the mystery of unity, said that ‘‘Baha’u’llah came to stimulate us to undertake the single greatest collective enterprise the species has ever witnessed,”’ and ‘‘as we align our lives with that purpose ... we become like magnets and attract the people around us.’’

The evening session with the National Assembly was opened with the second half of the taped message from Mr. Sears.

Following that message, a spontaneous series of prayers was offered for the Baha’is in Iran.

Earlier that day, the National Spiritual Assembly met with the two District Teaching Committees in New York State and with representatives of Local Spiritual Assemblies in that area.

Entertainment at the afternoon meeting with the National Assembly was by soprano Janis-Rozena Peri, accompanied by flutist Norman Dee and pianist Angela Manslo.

In the evening, entertainment was provided by guitarist/vocalist Christie Callahan, the percussion and woodwind ensemble Do’a, and the musical duo Swan.

Y 3 Photos: John MeNair tional Assembly’s meeting October 24 with the friends in the New

York City area.

addresses the friends who were present October 24 in New York

Among the entertainers at the special meeting October 24 between the National Spiritual As sembly and Baha’is in the New

City for a meeting with the tional Spiritual Assembly.

York area was the musical duo

Swan,

Sacramento believers set to launch second Baha’i Festival of the Arts

Building on the success of last year’s initial effort, the Baha’i community of Sacramento, California, is preparing to launch the 1982 Baha’i Festival of the Arts.

The first festival, held at the Sacramento Community Center, ed the talents of many Bais from the Sacramento area and many other localities.

PEOPLE of other faiths participated as well, thus helping to fulfill the primary purpose of the festival—that of spreading the Word of Baha’u’ lah.

Artists from all over the U.S. submitted their works, and prizes were given for best two-dimensional and three-dimensional works.

Ron Goldberg and Joan Hoover, Baha'is from Nevada City, California, and Denver, Colorado, respectively, won for painting and sculpture.

Singers, dancers, musicians, actors, and Indian story tellers from three Western states performed before enthusiastic audiences.

A few of those who lent their’ talents to this historic enterprise were the Tablets Repertory Theatre Company from the Wapato Indian Reservation in Washington state; the Eyrie Summit; the Sierra Brass Ensemble; the Sierra Chamber Singers; the Spiritual Vibrations, and Grant Suhm.

The late Harry Thompson of Novato, California, showed his collection of Baha’{ films throughout the festival.

Gary and Barbara Ellison of Atascadero, California, brought sand paintings by David Villasefior and lectured on the symbolism and significance of this ancient Indian art form.

Meanwhile, teaching teams roamed the shopping mall outside the Center, giving ‘‘firesides’’ and inviting passersby to the festival.

This year, the Baha’is of Sacramento are planning an even bigger and better event, and invite all artists, in whatever medium, to join them in making the second Baha’i Festival of the Arts an even greater success.

[Page 5]THE FUNDS

December 1981

Fund crisis calls for widespread spirit of sacrifice

“Continued From Page 1

a specific goal of the Seven Year Plan to reach Chinese-speaking people, there was no money available to produce the programs.

PERHAPS the worst aspect of the present Fund crisis is the fact that the National Spiritual Assembly’s goal of $1 million this year in support of the Baha’i International Fund is not being met.

Thus far only $160,000 has been sent to the World Centre in Haifa, although $581,000 should have been sent. It is the hope of the National Assembly to meet in full its pledge to the Universal House of Justice by next Ridvan.

The alternative to continued cutbacks or further borrowing lies in increasing revenue. Mr. Sears came to America, in part, to remind us of our sacred responsibility to support the Funds.

His meetings in 24 cities across the country were for the twofold purpose of calling for divine assistance for our brothers and sisters in Iran, and to help our commu WORLD ORDER, a Baha'i magagazine, stimulates, inspires, and serves thinking people in their search. to find relationships between contemporary life and contemporary religious teachings and philosophy.

nity arise to meet the challenges facing us to teach and support the Faith materially.

The National Spiritual Assembly is confident that increasing individual participation in giving to the National Fund will make it possible to overcome our present obstacles. It has called for 20,000 believers to contribute directly to the National Fund each month.

So far this year we have averaged 3,000 individuals per Baha’i month, but recent letters addressed to the Treasurer’s Office indicate that the friends are beginning to take up this challenge.

“INCLUDE ME as one of the 20,000!” exclaimed one note from a believer in New York who had just come from the Sears meeting in that area, which was also attended by the National Spiritual Assembly.

A Baha’{ from Los Angeles sent the following message with his contribution: ‘‘While the friends in Iran give their lives, this is the very least I can do. As Mr. Sears said—now is the time to arise and do what we can.’”

Another letter seemed to summarize the thoughts of all those who wrote, stating:

“Please accept the enclosed token of love ... love for so many things: the gift of Bahd’u’llah, the Faith, and the believers. Along with this token comes a more meaningful pledge—to serve

A part of the audience at the special meeting of prayer and sac more, to give more, to.pray more, and to be more.””

A beginning has been made, but there is still an urgent need for wider participation and greater sacrifice.

At this point, the goal of 20,000 individuals contributing directly to the National Fund each month seems far off, and the deficit of

Unity is ‘distinguishing feature’ of Bahd’u’lláh’s Faith

As the American Baha’i community strives to achieve the goal of 20,000 individual believers giving directly to the National Fund each month, the importance of such unified action should be kept in mind.

Baha’u’llah describes unity as the ‘‘distinguishing feature’ of His Revelation, and urges His followers to be as ‘‘the fingers of one hand”’ and as ‘‘one soul in one body.’”

THE UNIVERSAL House of Justice described the ‘‘accession of power which will result to the whole body, and which will give rise to further growth and the showering of greater blessings’ when each individual unites with others to fulfill his sacred responsibilities.

An example of the supreme importance of unity in action, which also demonstrates Baha’u’ll4h’s high regard for this concept, can be found in a story told by the Hand of the Cause of God Hasan Balyuzi in his book, Baha’u’llah: The King of Glory (pp. 201-203)

When Baha'u'llah and His followers were in Constantinople, news came one day of the possibility of their being transferred to Adrianople. This transfer, it was said, was to be in the form of banishment called for by the Sultan and his advisers and instigated

Will you be

one of

through the intrigues of enemies of the Faith.

Bahd’u’ll4h was angered by the news. He had done nothing to deserve such treatment, and had held Himself aloof from the political affairs of the capital.

To one of the conspirators endeavoring to remove the Baha’is from Constantinople, Bahá*u’llah, as attested by one of His followers, sternly stated: ‘‘We,

few that we are, will stand our ground, until every one of us meets a martyr’s death.””

When this man told Baha’u’ll4h that it was not possible to withstand a government, Baha’u’ll4h strongly rebuked him, saying that all the Manifestations of God had faced oppression and injustice, yet were never hindered, even though

Please See UNITY Page 6

v auf rifice held November 1 for Chicago area Bahi’is at the National

$800,000 seems staggering.

But as Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, said, quoting from a letter written on behalf of the beloved Guardian in Mr. Mitchell’s message to the District Conventions, ‘‘There-is no pressure but

College of Education in Evanston.

the pressure of historical circumstances ...The American believers have so far never failed in any mission they undertook ... he feels sure that with the help of Baha’u’lláh they will arise to the occasion which history has literally thrust upon them.’’

In contributing to Fund, amount is voluntary, but not the act of giving itself.

(This is the second in a sevenpart series on important aspects of the Baha’f Fund. Although man functions in a material world through material expressions, he is called upon to acquire divine attributes and to manifest spiritual behavior. The Fund, as a Divine Institution, provides man with a means to grow spiritually and to demonstrate that growth through action. The purpose of this series is to highlight the spiritual principles that underlie the outwardly material act of giving.)

°

How often have we heard at firesides or deepenings the comments: “‘Giving to the Fund is voluntary,’’ or ‘‘No one will ask you to contribute,’”’ or perhaps, “You don’t have to give money when you are a Baha’i.’”

In one sense, all of these remarks are true. In the Baha’{ Faith an individual can enjoy all the privileges the Faith offers, from birth to death, without ever having to contribute one cent. This includes marriage, burial, counseling by Assemblies, etc.—all at no cost.

YET THIS IS not quite what is meant by the voluntary nature of

the Fund.

Consider first the concept of appeals for money. The beloved Guardian did state that all gifts should be “‘purely and strictly voluntary” and that no form of “coercion” should be used to force a believer to give.

However, in the same statement he indicated that general appeals—those to all believers—are permitted.

In fact, a letter written on his behalf states: ‘The Guardian would advise your Assembly (the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. and Canada) to continue impressing upon the believers the necessity of their contributing regularly to the National Fund, irrespective of whether there is an emergency to be met or not.’’

We can see from this quote, and from others in the same vein, that far from avoiding the subject of money, National Assemblies are encouraged to communicate their needs and to appeal to the friends for their support.

The Guardian described the voluntary aspect of giving to the Fund by stating that the individual is free to determine the nature, the

Please See GIVING Page 9

scuneenaneaianeeiananaine [Page 6]

YOUTH NEWS

The American Baha’i

At its most recent meeting in October, the National Youth Committee held extensive consultation on the enrollment of young believers in the U.S,

“The committee felt that the goal of doubling the number of youth in this country could be readily won if each and every youth did his part to teach the Faith,’’ says committee Chairman Walter Heinecke.

“WHEN THE National Youth Plan was designed, goals were established that would affect both

. the individual youth’s development and the development of the Faith as a whole.’””

A goal of increasing the number of youth enrollments was set, he says, so that by the end of the three-year phase of the Seven Year Plan the population of Baha’{ youth in the U.S. would have doubled from 3,000 to 6,000.

“This goal of doubling our numbers is a small challenge,’’ says Mr. Heinecke, ‘‘if every youth will dedicate himself to the task of welcoming at least one friend into the Faith.”

The National Youth Committee has decided to launch a concentrated campaign to achieve this goal, and is asking every Bahd’i youth to focus his or her energies on the completion of this task by Ridvan 1982.

“We are hoping that with universal participation,’ says Mr. Heinecke, ‘‘every youth will make a supreme effort to bring in one new Baha’{ youth by next April. We are asking every youth to take

(pteps to get this goal won!””

Welcoming a new Baha’ youth is a relatively simple task if we prepare ourselves for it. The National Youth Committee recommends the following steps:

1. Pick a person—perhaps a friend who has asked about the Faith.

2. Pray for that person every day without fail. Ask for guidance in your teaching work, and pray that the person you have chosen will become a seeker.

3. Be of service to your friend.

Committee maps plans to double youth enrollments

Call him or her up and offer to be of help ...Can you give him a ride somewhere? Can you help her with a test? Can you feed their fish while they’re out of town? In short, let your deeds show your belief! 4. In your conversations, slip in the word ‘‘Baha’i’’ from time to time. You might mention that you are going to a Feast or fireside ... or you might tell her that you won’t be in school tomorrow because it’s a Bahd’i Holy Day.

5. Invite him or her to a Baha’{ function ... preferably a function other youth will be attending. And before you go, tell the other youth who will be there that you are bringing a special friend so they'll make an extra effort to reflect the Teachings of the Faith.

6. Keep praying! Every day without fail! This will not only keep you on your toes, but will send spiritual guidance to your friend. It will also serve as a daily reminder that teaching is the most important service one can offer to the Faith.

7. Be persistent and loving! You are literally loving this person into becoming attracted to the Faith of God.

8. Invite the person to become a Baha’{. Tell him or her how we are building a Faith that will serve as a shelter for all mankind, and that we will need everyone’s help to unite the world.

9. When your friend embraces the Faith, don’t neglect him or her, but go back to Step 1 and start over again! You’re a successful teacher, and nothing can stop you now!

Notice v

Assembly secretaries and Group correspondents—Please include your telephone numbers at home and at work on all correspondence sent to the Baha’i National Center.

Dear Youth Committee:

Name.

The National Youth Committee will be happy to send you information on forming a Baha’i Club at your college, high school or in your local community. Please fill out the coupon below and mail it to the National Youth Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Please send me information on building the Youth Network! I would like to help form the following in my area:

Local Youur Club (Community)

High School Club (Name of school__.__ TY

College:Club: (Nameiof schools to)

Address.

City.

in my area.

State.

Zip.

J would also like to find out about the District Youth Committee

ws eee i’ youth from all of the

Northeastern states

Ohio, Florida and Georgia attend ed the first of this year’s five

in mid-September at the Green

Acre Bahi’i School in Eliot,

from Regional Youth Conferences held Maine.

Illinois youth continues to spread Faith at Iowa college

An article in the April 1981 issue of The American Baha’i told of a young Baha’i, Cindi Chessick, who had decided to serve as a homefront pioneer while attending college.

At that time, Miss Chessick, a student at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, had written to the National Youth Committee to tell of her experience as an isolated believer and of her trials and joys in serving the Faith as a student pioneer.

THE COMMITTEE was so impressed by her dedication and steadfastness that the article was prepared for the Youth Page so that other Baha’i youth might be inspired by Miss Chessick’s example.

Cindi is now back in school and recently wrote asking for information about forming a Baha’i Club there.

Since there must be at least two Baha’is at a school to form a club, the committee was curious and wrote back, asking how she was doing. We are pleased to share some excerpts from her reply:

“One of my classmates has enrolled in the Faith and now we are forming a College Club ...

“Ym very hopeful that Bahd’u’llah will assist our efforts. So far we have established a weekly meeting place where we hold firesides ...

‘We plan to have the director of our International Students Organization give a talk. This would be a wonderful opportunity for publicity, and there are 90 students associated with that organization alone.

“The school paper did an arti Comment

Continued From Page 2

went for a walk among the people.

It was so simple, and now, thinking about fishers of men down through history, I believe that never was it done differently.

That was the only time I ever saw George Roth. He passed away a few years later.

cle on religion and the Faith got a paragraph of friendly explanation on the front page. Our school radio station taped an explanation I gave of the Faith when we submitted the Club constitution to the Student Government, and aired it on the 4 p.m. news!

“WE HAVE decided to hold an Towa College Club conference at Grinnell, with Baha’u’llah’s assistance. This is a big task, but if we succeed much power will be released in Grinnell.

“‘We feel the campus is ready. Our goals are high, and we hope that if we arise, Baha’u’ll4h will choose to light Grinnell ablaze!””

Miss Chessick closes by saying

Unity

Continued From Page 5

the power of the world was leagued against them.

HE THEN TURNED to His followers and asked if they were now ready to share martyrdom with Him.

“No better time can there be than now to offer your lives in the path of your Lord,’’ He reportedly stated. ‘Our innocence is manifestly evident, and they have no alternative but to declare their injustice.”

Those accompanying Baha Oregon to be site of Regional Conference

Oregon has been chosen as a site for the Regional Youth Conference for the Western States for the first year of the three-year phase of the Seven Year Plan.

The National Youth Committee has announced that the conference will be held March 19-21 at Camp Arrah Wanna at Mount Hood.

Details about the conference will be published in future issues of The American Baha’i. Keep watching the Youth Page for in formation on all of the Regional

Youth Conferences.

how happy she is that she is no longer an isolated believer.

The committee is happy too. Cindi’s dedication and courage has paid off not only in tangible ways, but we are sure that her heart and devotion to the Faith have been strengthened by her experience as a homefront pioneer.

If this sounds like the sort of task you'd like to consider, please contact the National Youth Committee. We’ll be happy to help you find a school or locality where you can serve as a homefront pioneer ...and where you can grow and become a Light for Baha’w'llah ... just like Cindi.

’u'llah were delighted. But then Mirz4 Yahya, Baha’u’ll4h’s halfbrother, along with a few others, became alarmed and began to draw up various schemes to try to save their lives.

Finally, perceiving that the Baha’is were becoming divided amongst themselves in a way that could harm the Cause, Bahd’w'llah reluctantly agreed to leave Constantinople, but stated that a golden opportunity that would have greatly added to the glory of the Cause had been lost.

“They called us here as their guests,’’ He is reported to have said, ‘and innocent as we are, they turned on us with a vengeance. If we, few as we are, had stood our ground to fall as martyrs in the midmost heart of the world, the effect of that martyrdom would have been felt in all the worlds of God. And possibly nothing would have happened to Uist Today, although we are not in this country called on to give our lives for the Cause, the National Spiritual Assembly is calling for our united support on behalf of the Fund.

If we work together to achieve 20,000 individual contributions to the National Fund each month, we will be astonished at the spiritual, as well as the material power that will be called forth to accelerate the progress of the Faith.

| eer carrer ernest ePID VU PA STE PETTERS SS

[Page 7]YOUTH NEWS

December 1981

7

At the District Conventions in October, the National Youth Committee announced that all Districts were being assigned numerical goals for the growth of the Youth Network.

These goals called for the formation of a target number of Baha’i College Clubs as well as for a specific number of local Youth Clubs and High School Clubs in each Baháa’{ district.

THE GOALS were to be undertaken by the District Youth Committees, and in areas where no committee has been formed, the District Teaching Committee has been asked to assume responsi Name of District

Alabama, Northern

Arkansas

California, Central No. 1

California, Central No. 2

California, Northern No. 1

California, Southern No. 1

California, Southern No. 2A

California, Southern No. 2B

California, Southern No. 3

Colorado, Eastern

Florida, Central

Florida, Northern

Florida, Southern

Georgia, Northern

Georgia, Southern

Idaho, Northern/ Washington, Eastern

Illinois, Northern No. 2

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Maine/New Hampshire

Maryland/D.C;

Massachusetts, Eastern

Michigan, Mainland

Minnesota, Northern

Minnesota, Southern

Navajo-Hopi

Nevada, Southern

New Jersey

New Mexico, Northern

New Mexico, Southern/ Texas, Western

New York, Southeastern (Greater New York City)

North Carolina (all districts)

North Dakota

Ohio, Northern

Ohio, Southern

Oklahoma, Western

Oregon

Pennsylvania, Eastern

Pennsylvania, Western

Rhode Island

South Carolina, Northern

Tennessee, Western

Texas, Central No. 1

Texas, Eastern No. 1

Texas, Eastern No. 2

Utah

Virginia, Northern

Washington, Northwest

Wisconsin, Southern

College Clubs CURRENT GOAL CURRENT GOAL

MNOCHRYAUEYURKWURSD SCHNRWOWLH AWE DED

WNNWUN-O-O-hWOWENUY

bility for the goal.

Those areas without District Youth Committees also were asked to work on forming a DYC,

The response to these assignments has been enthusiastic and immediate.

“Youth from all over the country have been contacting the National Youth Committee to express their commitment to the goals, and in some cases, the goals already have been won,’’ says Tracey Jeter, a member of the National Youth Committee.

“At our meeting in October,”’ she says, “‘only three weeks after the goals were assigned, we tallied

The National Baha’{ Youth Committee has assigned numerical goals for the formation of Baha’{ College Clubs, local and high school Youth Clubs for the districts listed below. All functioning District Youth Committees are asked to help in the formation of these clubs to enable the American Baha’ youth to reach that goal.

High School or Local Youth Clubs

KURA ZENENY MRK oNnoHLUHoHuco NEeKENYUUARNARK—

me COOH NwWOSCSCOR =H Ee NN=HKNOUONK=NKRNOYwW

WR REAENRKNRNUAHKUALVAO VY NYNOHK HK URMDMOAUANEAADN

m= O-o-SCCo-o--~coSoScCO oO BONNE LEE NE Nee DnNeEA

up those districts that had shown progress and found that 13 had won their goals for college clubs and four had reached the goal number for new local Youth Clubs.””

Miss Jeter also reported that three new District Youth Committees have been established in areas where no DYC had existed: Northern Arizona, Western Colorado and Northern Texas.

“THE NATIONAL Youth Committee is so pleased with this response,’’ says Miss Jeter, “‘that we’ve decided to assign supplemental goals to those districts that win their goals early.””

The additional goals will continue to aim at increased numbers of clubs as well as an increase in the number of youth enrollments.

Some districts, however, still have not yet formed any clubs, and the National Youth Committee is eager to have the Youth Network built in those areas.

The following districts have no Baha’{ College Clubs on record with the National Youth Committee: 5

DelMarVa; Georgia, Southern; Navajo/Hopi; Nevada, Southern; Oklahoma, Western; Rhode Island; South Carolina, Eastern; South Carolina, Southern; South

The National Baha’f Youth Committee has assigned numerical goals for the formation of Baha’{ College Clubs, local and high school Youth Clubs for the districts listed below. These districts do not have a functioning District Youth Committee. The establishment of such a committee should be considered a first priority.

Name of District

College Clubs

High School or Local Youth Clubs

CURRENT GOAL CURRENT GOAL

Alabama, Southern/ Florida, Northwest

Arizona (all districts)

California, Northern No. 2

Colorado, Western

Connecticut

DelMarVa

Idaho, Southern

Illinois, Northern No. 1

Illinois, Southern

Louisiana (all districts)

Massachusetts, Western

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada, Northern

New York, Northeastern (Eastern Hudson Valley)

New York, Western

Oklahoma, Eastern

South Carolina, Central

South Carolina, Eastern

South Carolina, Southern

South Carolina, Western

South Dakota

Tennessee, Eastern

Texas, Central No. 2

Texas, Northern ‘

Texas, Southern

Vermont

Virginia, Southern

Washington, Southwest

West Virginia

. Wisconsin/Michigan

Wyoming

PRE rR ae UnNOn==2

mONCwHKO-Ow-SCCO- HUN

2 0 1 9) 1 8) 2 2 8 2 0 1 5 0 3 1 0 1 a 0 1 3 0 2 5 0 2 3) Bn 3 5 0 1 2 0 1 2 2 3 2 0 1 3 0 1 2 y nO. 1 3 1 2 7 0 2 2 0 1 2 2 3 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 0 1 2 0 1 4 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 1 4 1 2 1 0 1 3 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 1

ATTENTION, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS! Before you choose your college or university, why not consider going to a school in a goal area. Write to the National Youth Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 ... and we'll do all we can to steer

you to a goal area.

All U.S. districts assigned Youth Network targets

Carolina, Western; Tennessee, Western; Texas, Central No. 2; Texas, Southern; Wisconsin/Michigan,

In addition, 47 districts in the U.S. do not have any recorded local youth or High School clubs.

The National Youth Committee urges all Youth Clubs to contact the National Youth Office to be sure that every club is tabulated.

Each of these clubs counts toward the successful completion of the goals of the National Youth Plan for the three-year phase of the Seven Year Plan.

Special events are planned for Bahai youth

Mark your calendars <.. there are some special events planned for youth that you won’t want to miss!

¢ The third annual College Club Conference will be held January 30-31 at the Green Acre Baha’i School in Eliot, Maine. For more information, contact the school at P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903, or phone 207-439-0256.

• The District Youth Committee of Southern Wisconsin has

planned its second annual Baha’i Youth Institute for January 1-3 at Camp Byron near Fond du Lac.

You may contact the committee for details c/o Katherine Khavari, 910 East Wahner Place, Bayside, WI 53217, or phone 414-351-5859.

• College students in the Washington, 'D.C., area are invited to a

College Club Conference on January 23 at Howard University. Contact Kelly Clark Shanklin, 3000 7th St. N.E., Apt. 224, Washington, DC 20017, or phone 202-269-3190 for more details.

© Regional Youth Conferences will be held as follows: Disney World, Orlando, Florida, December 27-30; Mount Hood, Oregon, March 19-21; Lake Murray, Oklahoma, April 9-11; Green Lake, Wisconsin, April 9-11.

Summer ’82 to see overseas projects

International teaching projects are being organized for next summer by the International Goals Committee and National Youth Committee.

“Projects will be held in Bolivia and France. Other sites also are under consideration.

Youth who are interested in participating in any of these projects should begin making their plans now to serve next summer as an international traveling teacher.

Please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

— ed

[Page 8]IGC:PIONEERING

The American Baha'i

World NEWS

Two Local Spiritual Assemblies were formed and more than 160 people declared their belief in Baha’u’ll4h during a teaching campaign last August in Belize that involved 11 traveling teachers from the U.S.

The project was planned and carried out by the National Spiritual Assembly of Belize and the U.S. International Goals Committee...

A group of seven traveling teachers from Denmark, Norway and the U.S. proclaimed the Faith in Molde, Norway, last July 26-August 10 during a week-long gathering of 3,000 Christians from throughout Scandinavia and a week-long European jazz festival, both of which were held in Molde ...

Thousands of residents of La Paz, Bolivia, visited a Bahd’i literature display last July that was part of a week-long book fair in that city.

Among the visitors to the Bahé’{ display was the mayor of La Paz who promised to read the several Baha’{ books he was given ...

A new Baha’i Center has been built on Christmas Island, Kiribati (formerly the Gilbert Islands) through the efforts of Peter King, a pioneer to Tarawa, Kiribati, and the Baha’is on Christmas Island ...

A 15-minute program planned entirely by Baha’is was broadcast June 6 on Sweden’s national radio. The program included music, readings from the Bahda’i Writings, and information about the Faith ...

One of the goals given by the Universal House of Justice to the National Spiritual Assembly of Papua New Guinea for the second phase of the Seven Year Plan has been accomplished with the opening to the Faith of Goodenough Island in the Dentrecasteaux Group southeast of the mainland in Milne Bay ...

The Faith was proclaimed among academic and government officials in Bangladesh last August during a two-week visit by Dr. Alfred K. Neumann, a Baha’i from the U.S. who is a member of the International Goals Committee and a consultant to the United Nations Development Program ...

A four-member Bahda’i delegation met last August with the governor of Pakistan’s Sind Province and presented him with a volume of The Baha’i World. The governor welcomed the believers warmly and asked them questions about the Faith ...

Conferences offer many teaching chances

“Upon our efforts depends in very large measure the fate of humanity.”—The Universal House of Justice, Wellspring of Guidance, p. 1

.

Next month ushers in 1982 which signals the year of the momentous International Conferences called for by the Universal House of Justice.

Now is the time to arise by deciding to attend what promise to be the largest and most exciting Baha'i gatherings of the decade.

DO KEEP in mind the significance of the fact that at each of these conferences a Hand of the Cause of God will be present representing the Universal House of Justice.

The success of these conferences can be assured at this very moment by your deciding to partake of this bounteous occasion.

Still there’s more to consider! The Universal House of Justice has alerted the National Spiritual Assemblies to the opportunities that will be presented when many friends attending these conferences undertake teaching assignments in connection with travel to or from the conference.

Once again, the doors to the East and West of the world have been flung open. We need only walk through them and seize the chance to perform the ‘‘most great service” by becoming a cause of guidance for innumerable souls.

Once the decision has been made to arise, the spirit is released throughout the planet. Isn’t this our ultimate goal: to spiritualize the whole world?

To assist in the accomplishment of this goal, the International Conference Committees have submitted various alternative teaching routes in both rural and urban areas.

FOR EXAMPLE, in Nigeria the country has been divided into

three areas. The north is Muslim, and teaching is restricted. The south is Christian with some Muslims, and teaching/proclamation is wide open. The Middle Belt is reserved for Baha’is, Dr. Muhajir said of the potential that exists in that area.

With regard to Australasia, guidance has been given in light of

The 36 believers attending a Pioneer Training Institute held October 29-November 1 at the Baha’f National Center in Wilmette were making plans to pioneer to Ga effective teaching for both the countries and islands in that area.

Within the planning minimum, lengths of stays vary from two weeks in Tuvalu to an eight-week period for an extended islandhopping teaching trip.

Should you need help in pricing air travel, selecting routes for teaching, securing hotel accom y j 7

bon, Zaire, Haiti, South Africa,

Colombia, Uruguay, the Windward Islands, Paraguay, Hong Kong, Honduras, Liberia, Botswana, Bophuthatswana, Finland,

modations, choosing proper clothing for climate conditions, or with any other aspect of plam for the conferences, information is available through the International Goals Committee.

You may contact the committee at the Bahd’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or by phoning 312-869-9039.

Ecuador, Venezuela. Participants included representatives of the Spiritual Assemblies of Madison, Wisconsin, and Denver, Colorado.

57 pioneers arise to fill overseas goals

Jubilantly, the International Goals Committee has reported to the National Spiritual Assembly that as of the end of October 57 overseas goals of the second phase of the Seven Year Plan were filled.

Of the 279 world-wide goals assigned by the Universal House of Justice, the International Goals Committee had set a minimum of 50 goals for the U.S. community for this year.

The Philippine International Convention Center in Manila is the site of the first of five International Baha’i Conferences to be called in 1982 by the Universal House of Justice. The Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery will represent the Supreme Body at the

conference, scheduled for May 7-9 as the Baha’i world approaches the half-way point of the Seven Year Plan. A special feature of this and the other conferences in 1982 will be the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf.

IN ADDITION to the 57 goals filled, another 67 pioneers also left this country as pioneers to countries not designated as goals.

Because of the lack of funds in its budget, the Goals Committee has not been able recently to assist pioneers with transportation costs.

Despite this fact, the committee wants to send another 50 pioneers to goal areas this year for a total of 100.

These additional pioneers would help fill the void left because of the inability of Iranians to leave their beleaguered homeland for pioneer posts as they have done so magnificently in the past.

The committee wishes to share some recent letters from three of the 50 who have reached their posts this year.

From Arthur and Fran Del Moro in the Transkei, where they are taking care of the National Center:

“The highlight of our lives is when the National Spiritual Assembly is finished with the day’s business. We all sit down to eat ... and begin to sing and dance after dinner.

“WE ARE so aroused by the great spirit and to see the African believers’ love for Baha’u’ll4h, that we must join in.

“If the Bahd’is in the U.S. could see and feel the Africans’

spirit and love of God, would you believe that your pioneering goals would not only be fulfilled, but far exceeded? Our brothers and sisters don’t know what they are missing.

“Sure, it gets tough being away from relatives and friends, but Baha’u’llah compensates for the void a thousand times over.

“You know, we didn’t really know what the oneness of mankind was before pioneering, but we see it more clearly since we’ve been here.

“A good example is that we told the Baha’is here that we have a House of Worship in Wilmette, and that all the Bahd’is ... visited and prayed there for the Baha’is all over the world ...The local believers turn their heads to one side and say, ‘Yes, we have seen our House of Worship (in Uganda) and although we have never visited or prayed there, we still see, it in our prayers and meditations, and we pray for them as they pray for us.

“Sacrifices are everyday occurrences, but we are repaid and rewarded a million times over, for our love of God grows stronger every day as our growth in this great Faith continues.”

FROM SANDY SPELL, a youth who is pioneering to Den Please See PIONEERS Page 20

[Page 9]EDUCATION

December 1981

9

KEITH BOEHME

Baha'i given award for service to disabled children

Keith Boehme, a Baha’i from Richmond, Indiana, has received an award from the National Organizations Advisory Council for Children for outstanding service on behalf of children with disabilities.

Mrs. Janice Talamantes, a staff member in the National Education Committee’s office in Wilmette, accepted the award on behalf of Mr. Boehme at the organization’s national conference October 22 in Chicago.

Mr. Boehme, who has been a teacher of children with multiple handicaps in Richmond, is especially interested in curriculum ‘lopment, and has interrupted ‘eaching a ‘ity to pursue further studies in that area in Washington, D.C.

Giving Continued From Page 5

amount and the purpose of his contribution. This does not imply, however, that voluntary giving means optional giving.

ON THE CONTRARY, Shoghi Effendi said that it is ‘‘the spiritual obligation of every conscientious and faithful servant of Bahau’llah who desires to see His

Louhelen benefit held in Marietta, Georgia

An auction to benefit the Louhelen Baha’i School was held August 23 in Marietta, Georgia.

The auction, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Marietta and coordinated by the Marietta Activities Committee, raised $4,000 for the Michigan school.

More than 65 Baha’is from the greater Atlanta area attended the event, one of whose highlights was the auction of a string of prayer beads given to an American BaBaha during His 1912.

Assembly plays big role in life’s big events

This is the eighth in a series of articles on the development of Local Spiritual Assemblies prepared by the National Education Committee. This month’s article is about the Assembly’s responsibilities in connection with births, marriages and burials.

°

1. Why is it necessary for Assemblies to be concerned about births, marriages and burials?

The Universal House of Justice has stated, ‘‘Local Spiritual Assemblies, which are embryonic Local Houses of Justice, should develop as rallying centres of the community. They must concern themselves not only with teaching the Faith, with the development of the Baha’i way of life and with the proper organization of the Baha’i activities of their communities, but also with those crucial events which profoundly affect the life of all human beings: birth, marriage, and death.’’ (Letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated April 17, 1981)

2. How should the Assembly respond to births in its community?

The Universal House of Justice writes, “‘When a Bahd’i has a child it is a matter of joy to the whole local community as well as to the couple, and each Local Spiritual Assembly should be encouraged to keep a register of such births, issuing a birth certificate to the parents. Such a practice will foster the consolidation of the community and of the Assembly its (Letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated April 17, 1981)

3. Is this guidance still applicable if only one of the parents is a Baha’{?

Cause advance, to contribute freely and generously for the increase of (the) Fund.”

Giving to support the Faith is therefore not only a privilege (as described in Part 1 of this series) but is also a spiritual obligation.

Of course, no one will ever approach an individual and ask for his or her gift; no one will ask why a contribution was not given. Contributing to the Fund arises from the individual’s love for Baha’u'llah.

Meeting this “‘spiritual obligation’’ is the voluntary act of one who wishes to serve. The following statement of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd best summarizes the principle of the voluntary nature of the Fund:

“Man reacheth perfection through good deeds, voluntarily performed, not through good deeds the doing of which was forced upon him ...For the harvest of force is turmoil and the ruin of the social order. On the other hand voluntary sharing, the freelychosen expending of one’s substance, leadeth to society’s comfort and peace. It lighteth up the world; it bestoweth honor upon human!

parents is a Baha’i, the Assembly could register the birth of the child, and upon application of the Baha’i parent issue the certificate.” (Letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated April 17, 1981)

4. What are the responsibilities of the Assembly regarding marriages?

The Universal House of Justice has written, ‘‘The carrying out of the Baha’{ marriage laws, as given to the friends throughout the world, is a vital obligation of every believer who wishes to marry, and it is an important duty of every Local Spiritual Assembly to ensure that these laws are known to, and obeyed by, the believers within their jurisdiction ...Each Assembly, therefore, must conscientiously carry out its responsibilities in connection with the holding of Bahd’i marriage ceremonies, the recording of Baha’ marriages in a register kept for this purpose, and the issuing of Baha’{ marriage certificates.’” (Letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated April 17, 1981)

5. How should the Assembly help educate its community about the Baha’{ marriage laws?

The National Spiritual Assem

Child’s Way magazine shared a table with New Jersey’s Nationai Treasurer's Representative at the

bly has stated that each Local Assembly should ‘‘conduct a deepening on marriage at least once a year for Baha’ youth and young adults who have not yet been through such a deepening,” and ‘‘review the Baha’{ teachings on marriage and divorce with couples who wish to marry.”” (Letter to all Local Spiritual Assemblies dated January 24, 1980)

6. What should the Assembly’s role be in matters of Baha’{ burial?

The Universal House of Justice writes, “The burial of the dead is an occasion of great solemnity and importance, and while the conduct of the funeral service and the arrangements for the interment may be left to the relatives of the deceased, the Local Spiritual Assembly has the responsibility for educating the believers in the essential requirements of the Baha’i law of burial as at present applied, and in courteously and tactfully drawing these requirements to the attention of the relatives if there is any indication that they may fail to observe them.”’ (Letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated April 17, 1981)

7. Specifically, what does the Baha’{ burial law require?

The Universal House of Justice has stated, ‘‘These requirements are: that the body not be cremated; that it not be transported more than an hour’s journey from the place of death to the place of burial; that the Prayer for the Dead be recited if the deceased is a Baha’{ of fifteen years of age or more; and that the funeral be carried out in a simple and dignified manner that would be a credit to

tober. Janet Richards (seated) offered subscription brochures and back issues of the magazine to Kathy Tomarelli and many others

the community.’’ (Letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated April 17, 1981)

8. Many funeral directors are unfamiliar with the requirements of Baha’{ burial. How should they be informed of these requirements?

The National Spiritual Assembly has written, ‘Each Local Spiritual Assembly has the responsibility of calling to the attention of the local funeral directors the fact that Baha’is are not to be embalmed unless required by state law; nor are their bodies to be cremated; nor should their bodies be transported more than an hour’s journey from the place of deatli.”” (Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies, p. 99)

| 9. How will the Assembly’s carrying out of its birth, marriage and burial responsibilities help to strengthen the local Bahá’{ community? The Uni

writes, ) <0.) blies have arisen to carry out these responsibilities, the believers have acquired a sense of security and solidarity, and have become confident that in such matters they can rely upon the agencies of the World Order of Bahd’u’ll4h.”” (Letter to all National Spiritual Assemblies dated April 17, 1981)

(Additional information on Baha’{ marriage and burial laws can be found in Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies. Bahd’{ birth and marriage certificates can be obtained from the Office of Membership and Records; Bahi’{ funeral kits are available from the Office of Public Affairs.)

who stopped by. Fund envelopes and other information were given out by NTR Rod Richards.

[Page 10]The American Baha’i

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ion ers

Cithe bal

MARTHA ROOT

For the last 20 years of her life, the Hand of the Cause of God Martha L. Root traveled to teach the Faith on all five continents, circling the globe four times.

Born August 10, 1872, in Richwood, Ohio, Martha Root was graduated from Oberlin College and attended the University of Chicago. She taught school before starting her career as a newspaperwoman.

MISS ROOT learned of the Faith during a chance meeting with a Baha’i in a restaurant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1912 she used her press connections to arrange a speaking engagement for ‘Abdu’l-Baha who addressed an audience of 400 at a Pittsburgh hotel.

In 1919, at the age of 47, she began her world-circling teaching trips in response to ‘Abdu’lBaha’s Tablets of the Divine Plan. On a ship that was bound for South America, she called her fellow passengers together and told them of the nature of her trip.

This ‘‘unique and great-hearted apostle of Bahd’u’ll4h,”’ as the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, called her, supported herself through journalism and kept the strictest budget by traveling third class, eating little, and dressing simply.

She carried the Message of Baha’u’llah to all strata of society, from laborers and dervishes to artists, newspaper editors, and even kings, queens and presidents. She spoke at large meetings and in intimate interviews as well as on radio and at royal receptions.

Miss Root took the Message to Queen Marie of Rumania, who, in 1926, became the first sovereign to accept the Faith.

She described King Haakon of Norway as “‘this spiritually lovable King ... who will never talk about himself ...’” Miss Root also had audiences with King Faisal of Iraq and with Prince Paul and

Please See MARTHA Page 19

‘Baha’i Studies’ group has Ist U.S. meeting

The Association for Baha’i Studies held the first U.S. conference in its history over the Labor Day weekend at the Green Acre Baha’i School in Eliot, Maine.

Seven papers were presented, along with two panel discussions and several musical performances.

THE PAPERS included “Economics and Moral Values,”’ by William Hatcher, a professor of mathematics at Laval University in Quebec; an analysis of Baha’u’llah’s Four Valleys in relation to Islamic mystical thought by John Walbridge, a graduate student in Islamic philosophy at Harvard University; portions of a planned book by Hossain Danesh, a psychiatrist and member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada; a discussion of the life of Thornton Chase, the first American Baha’i, by Robert Stockman, a student at the Harvard Divinity School; ‘‘The Practice of Detachment”? by Robert Atkinson of New Hampshire; ‘‘Education: Enhancing the Process of Becoming,’’ by Susan Maranon, an educational consultant from Massachusetts; and a discussion of the history and character of the Master Index of the Baha’{ Writings by Marian Lippitt, who has worked on that project for almost 30 years.

Other weekend highlights included panel discussions on Bahda’{ scholarship and on the history and aims of the Association for Baha’{ Studies.

The Association, formerly the Canadian Association for Studies on the Baha’{ Faith, was formed in 1974 to further a Five Year Plan goal to cultivate opportunities for formal university courses and lectures on the Faith in Canada.

Since then it has acquired members in several other countries and grown into a Baha’{ society that

sponsors conferences, publishes Bahd’{ scholarly works, and brings together Baha’{ scholars and laymen. ‘ Membership in the Association is open to Bahda’is in any country. Dues are $15 a year for individuals, $25 for couples, and $10 for students, pioneers or senior

Association offers tapes, books at special prices

The Association for Baha’i Studies has made available several tapes from its sixth annual Conference held May 29-June 3 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

In addition, the Association now has a selection of its past publications for sale at special prices.

A complete set of these publications including Baha’i Studies, Volumes 2-8, and Volumes I and Il of the Baha'i Studies Notebook, which would sell regularly for $22, is now priced at only $15, plus $1.50 to cover postage and handling.

The cassette tapes, each of which is priced at $6, are:

© Address to the sixth annual Conference by the Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Baha Ruhiyyih Khanum,

© Address to the International Baha’i Conference on Marriage and the Family by Amatu’l-Baha Ruhfyyih Khanum.

¢ “Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Personal Growth’? by Hossein Danesh.

• “Healthy Communication in

Marriage’’ by Hossein Danesh.

« “John the Baptist, the Forgotten Manifestation’” by Jack McLean; ‘‘Mishkin Qalam—His Calligraphy and Humor’’ by Gol Aidun.

• “Automatic Document and

Passage Retrieval Methods” by Edward Fox; ‘‘Myths, Models

Ps BEN ed Jim LaMacchia (right), a staff member in the Office of Public Affairs at the Baha’{ National Center, participated July 25 in a press conference at the Bloomington, Hlinois, Public Library that focused on religious persecution in Iran. Also participating in the conference, which was sponsored by the Bahd’f community of Bloomington-Normal, were (left

to right) Connie Donley, a Baha’ from Bloomington; Rabbi Issac Neuman of Sinai Temple, Champaign; and the Rev. Richard Bennett of St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Bloomington. Mr. LaMacchia and Rabbi Neuman also participated in a memorial service that followed the press conference.

citizens (over 70). Members receive the Association’s publications and other benefits.

A regional conference is planned for British Columbia in December, with others tentatively scheduled in the next year in New England, the Canadian prairie provinces, Quebec, and the

and Mysticism’’ Hatcher.

• “View of Man in Development Thinking’? by Michael

Bopp; ‘‘Queen Marie’’ by Robert Postlethwaite.

° “Marriage Breakdown in North American Society: Psychosocial Aspects’’ by Kerry Mothersill (non-Baha’{).

e ‘Applications of Positive Psychotherapy for Marriage and Family Therapy”’ by N. Peseschkian.

© ‘Marriage and the Nuclear Family: A Baha’{ Perspective” by Khalil Khavari; ‘‘Parental Authority—Its Uses, Misuses and Implications—A Baha’i Perspec by William

American Midwest.

Those who are interested in joining the Association, or in making scholarly, literary, musical, or artistic presentations should contact the Association at P.O. Box 2577, Station D, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1P 5W6.

tive’? by Sandra Roberts.

¢ “‘Adaptive Response to Stress in Family Life’? by A.M. Ghadiria: “The Poetry of Loving—Family Therapy and the Baha’{ Faith’’ by Michael Bruwer.

¢ “The Family: A Refuge and a Workshop’ by Jane Faily.

© “Relevance of Baha’{ Principles to Contemporary Marital Therapy’’ by Frank Haendel.

• “Lifelong Integrated Education for the Family” by Yoshiko

Nomura (non-Baha’i).

These materials may be ordered from the Association for Baha’i Studies, P.O. Box 2577, Station Pi Ottanes Ontario, Canada K1P

Children explore the ‘nature lab’ during the first Summit Lake

More than 70 Baha’is gather at Wisconsin camping weekend

More than 70 Baha’i adults, youth and children gathered August 21-23 at the first Summit Lake Farm (Wisconsin) camping weekend to study Baha’{ administration and experience a Baha’i lifestyle.

The camping weekend was followed by a prayer meeting at a wooded lakefront park in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

Speakers at the farm were Auxiliary Board member Stephen Birkland and Dr. Khalil Khavari, an assistant to the Auxiliary Board.

While adults were in class, the children were quite active, with nature walks, non-competitive

Farm camping weekend August 21-23 in Wisconsin.

games, a ‘‘virtue trail’ (blazing and hiking), nature lab, mud sculpting, and a walk to a natural amphitheatre with Baha’i musician Jerry Johnson.

The friends also saw a wrought iron latch hook from a watershed at Bahji, given to Mrs. Agnes Puza of Brookfield, Wisconsin, by the Guardian, and heard a recording of a prayer chanted by the Master, ‘Abdu’l-Baha.

The site in Eagle River, purchased in 1962 by Stanley Puza, has been deeded to the National Spiritual Assembly for use as a Baha’{ school or other such facility.

[Page 11]

The American Baha'i

December 1981

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Mr. Sears’ message relates horror of Iran persecutions

Continued From Page 1

-and San Francisco, California; Denver, Colorado; Washington, D.C.; Gainesville and Miami, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; Boston, Massachusetts; Detroit, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri; Charlotte, North Carolina; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Portland, Oregon; Memphis, Tennessee; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Seattle, Washington, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Mr. Sears called for at least 1,000 Baha’is to be present at each of these meetings.

EACH GATHERING heard two taped messages from Mr. Sears. The first outlined details of the 24-day campaign, while the second related instances of heroism and sacrifice by the beleaguered followers of the Faith of Baha’u’llah in Iran.

Here is an excerpt from that second taped message from the Hand of the Cause of God:

“Beloved friends, I would like to tell you a story about some of the heroes and heroines in Iran, and about a young 24-year-old mother in particular. Imagine this scene:

“Tt

is Tuesday—a beautiful

sunny afternoon. You are doing

fs ON 4

MRS. GERTRUDE JACOBY

Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’fs of Los Angeles

Awareness circumstances forcing Mrs. Gertrude Jacoby retire from membership Los Angeles Assembly impels us- to express warm sentiments evoked by our recollections her decades selfless, tireless, incalculable services to American Baha’{ community in variety of capacities.

Her twenty-eight-year tenure Los Angeles Assembly testifies to staunchness her devotion to World Order Bahd’u’ll4h, While we are certain she will continue to serve Cause in any way open to her we are happy for this opportunity to pay her loving tribute and to thank her for noble efforts she has already exerted in promoting our glorious Faith.

Assure her and husband our prayers their behalf. ‘i

National Spiritual Assembly

the lunch dishes, chanting one of the beautiful poems of Tahirih, when you glance out of the window and see your children racing toward the house. Only a moment ago you heard them laughing and playing. Now they are frightened, crying.

“They rush through the door, sweep across the kitchen and hide behind your skirts. You look out the window again and you see men entering the farmyard—the destroyers have come.

“You and the children are shoved roughly out of your own house. You stand helplessly beside the front door, trembling, holding each child by the hand. You watch, outraged and helpless, as the looters carry out your cherished furniture and dump it rudely in a heap in the front yard.

“YOU CRY OUT against the injustice and warn them that when your husband comes home from the village where he has gone with the vegetables he will complain to the authorities.

“Their laughter is vulgar, loud and ugly. They warn you that in this matter they are the authorities. There is no appeal to anyone against what they are doing.

“They can take everything—even your lives, as they did with your sister and her husband in the city. Their business was seized and sold, their bank account confiscated, their home burned, pension stopped, they were arrested, tried and shot to death.” So they tell you that you are lucky to get off so easily, and that you had better keep quiet.

“The looters come out of your house a second time, laughing, their arms loaded down with the intimate personal belongings of your family. One of the children cries out as a special and dearlyloved toy is hurled onto the heap. The child tries to break away and rescue it, but you hold tight and restrain him. You are only too well aware of the danger.

“You stand numb to further hate and loss. The thieves seize you roughly and strip away whatever personal jewelry you may have. They take your rings, your bracelet, your watch, enjoying their brutality.

“The two children try to protect you and are kicked away. You shelter them quickly in your arms, proud of their bravery but fearful for their lives, so you hug them tightly to you and put their eyes against you so they cannot see as the arsonist goes forward and sets torches to your dearly-loved home.

“THE WORK of the terrorists is still not at an end. They have not yet taken everything. You look on, dry-eyed and chilled, as they cut down and level your orchard to the ground.

“Your vegetable crop is scattered and destroyed, the melons are trampled and crushed, your

pets destroyed, some of your cattle confiscated to be sold for profit and the rest of the poor animals pitilessly slaughtered.

“The terrorists are satisfied at last. They survey the smoking embers of the house and ride off your devastated property joking with each other, enthusiastically slapping each other on the back for a job well done.

“You stand there in the ruins of your whole life, of all you once held dear. Your heart is pounding in fear for your husband’s life. You want to rush to the village to find out about him, but what can you do with the children? Will it be safe for them anywhere? Ever?

“Your arms are embracing them and holding them tight. They are crying. The children are bewildered and terrified by what they have seen. They cannot understand what is happening to their lives. They only know that it is hard to be a Baha’i.

“This is only one of the moving reports coming out of Iran that I have read.

“TEN THOUSAND beloved friends are homeless, hiding in the mountains and the caves and the deserts. And even the stony hearts of the terrorists and persecutors are touched when in the early hours of dawn from those caves and those deserts and those mountains they hear the sweet voices of the children chanting the prayers, thanking God as the sun makes rosy another dawn, thanking Him for the day ahead and praying that they may be strong and steadfast to the very end and carry out the wishes of their beloved Bab and Baha’u’llah.

Well-known actors Hans Conried, Carol Bilger and Salome Jens (left to right) rehearse their parts for an episode of ‘Fireside Playhouse,’ a 13-week Bahd’{ radio series produced in Hollywood for the National Spiritual Assembly. As of the end of October, 104 stations in the U.S. were broadcasting the series or had already done so.

The registration desk was the first stop for Baha'is attending the 24 regional meetings for prayer and sacrifice inspired by the Hand of

““My heart weeps for the wives and the sons and daughters of these gallant and heroic men, the martyrs and all the heroes, heroines and children across the face of that land. The enemies can kill them if they want, but they are going ahead with the work of God.

“Do you know what they have done in Iran to support the Fund? Even though they have lost almost all their sources of revenue, the friends have doubled their contributions from the year before!

“Even without great resources, they arose and poured out what they had—sacrificing everything if necessary so that the heroic National Spiritual Assembly (its members later kidnapped and replaced) would have the funds to carry on. i

“Beloved friends, tears were running down my cheeks as I read this report from Iran—tears like

Ninety-five percent of this air time has been offered by the stations at no cost. Listeners in several northeastern states and in California, [llinois,. Missouri, Montana and New Mexico have phoned the National Center to ask for more information about the Faith. Five radio stations in Alaska have requested Fireside Playhouse dem Photo: Julie Johans the Cause of God William Sears. Here one of the friends registers for the meeting in St. Louis, Missouri.

the rains of spring. I was planning to write to you, my beloved friends in America, to try to express the depth of my feeling. It was then that Marguerite came back from an African conference and said: ‘Don’t write. Go, and tell them now, in person!’

“When I come back next summer, and step before you and say, “I have come to tell you about the beloved Guardian,’ I would like to know by looking at your faces that you have already honored him in your heart by pouring out a mighty river of all you own in honor of those who have died and are still dying for you and for me.

“May the Baha’i world always remember what we did here during these days when it had to be done, and may they forever sing our praises in the Concourse on High!”’

onstration records, and two others, KFSK in Petersburg and KCAW-FM in Sitka, already have begun broadcasting the series. Other requests for information about Fireside Playhouse have come from as far away as the Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands and Virgin Islands.

|e se A SS ES EA REST SE NE ESE PSC SE SE TE SS ET

[Page 12]RACE UNITY

The American Baha’i

12

‘When the racial elements of the American nation unite in actual fellowship and accord, the lights of the oneness of humanity will shine . . .’ (‘Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 54)

Baha’i wins prize for essay on black woman activis

The following essay by Leslie Daniels, a 15-year-old Baha'i youth from New Haven, Connecticut, won first prize last year in a. contest co-sponsored by Yale University and WYBC Radio in New Haven.

It is interesting to note that Ida Wells-Barnett, about whom the essay is written, was an acquaintance of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis Gregory. She attended the dedication ceremony in 1953 for the House of Worship in Wilmette.

.

This essay will briefly discuss the life of Ida Wells-Barnett, and attempt to demonstrate the significant role she played in the antilynching crusade.

Great courage, brilliance, beauty and determination were only a small portion of the fine characteristics of Ida Wells-Barnett. She was remarkable because only death could deter her in the fight for justice for black people.

THE NUMBER of accomplishments she achieved in her life was staggering. Among the most significant were that she set a wonderful image for blacks—young and old; she encouraged black people to stand up against the oppressing attitudes and cruelties of white racists; she was the key factor in stopping the brutal lynchings of black people.

Even as a child, she was known to be determined and strongwilled. Due to the death of her

parents, she gained a tremendous responsibility since she was the eldest of the children.

Even at age 14, she would stand up for what was right. Her life seemed to be a smooth road to success—first as a teacher, then as a journalist and finally as a representative of such groups as the National Women’s Clubs.

Ida Wells-Barnett did not stop with represefitation for blacks in the United States. In 1893 she first lectured on lynchings in England, Scotland and Wales, informing the people of the heinous treatment of blacks in America.

What impresses me greatly is that a black woman who was born in 1862 during the time of slavery was able to rise up against sexism and racism to defend black Americans at home and abroad. She did not withhold for a moment the truth about the horrible treatment of blacks while she was visiting England.

When one studies the life of Ida Wells-Barnett, he cannot attempt to comprehend all the hard work and challenging obstacles that she managed to overcome. She accomplished this with dignity and grace.

HER FIRST choice of professions was journalism. Her reason is given in the pamphlet ‘‘Southern Horrors’:

“The Afro-American papers are the only ones which will print the truth, and they lack the means to employ agents and detectives to

get at facts.’’ 5

It is ironic that her statement still holds true today with regard to publishing the truth about black people.

She went from writing pamphlets on the horrors of lynchings to publishing her own newspaper and writing articles in a dozen other papers across the country.

Toward the end of her career, Mrs. Wells-Barnett wrote an autobiography. She had the great honor to write and edit for Free Speech, a black newspaper in Memphis, Tennessee, and also held a financial interest in that paper.

Demonstrating great courage, she clearly portrayed the horrors of lynching in her pamphlets such as ‘Southern Horrors,” “A Red Record,’’ and **Mob Rule in New Orleans.’”

THESE PAMPHLETS marked the beginning of the anti-lynching crusade. Writing them demonstrated courage because they were written during the late 1880s and early 1890s when the number of lynchings was at a peak.

This didn’t stop Ida Wells-Barnett; she continued to write the truth about lynchings, no matter how violent, gruesome or inhumane. Her pamphlets received nationwide attention because the facts were presented clearly and without equivocation.

Mob violence and hatred toward her were so extreme that she lost her paper and nearly lost her

On September 6, the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles sponsored a ‘One Planet, One People ... Please’ Day—at the beach! Hundreds of Baha’ is wearing their special T-shirts with that Baha’i

motto gathered at various meeting places on the shore of the Pacific

Ocean, from Hermosa Beach to Malibu. Once there, the groups of Baha’is played volleyball, went roller skating or bicycling nd proclaimed and taught the Faith, holding innumerable informal discussions and giving away hunis of phiets and more than

tes ae 1,200 balloons the ‘On

Planet, One People ... Please’ slogan. To promote the event, the Los Angeles “Assembly rented an airplane that flew up and down the coast pulling a large banner that read ‘One Planet, One Peo

life. One white newspaper called her a “‘black scoundrel.’’ But Ida Wells-Barnett continued writing.

An accomplishment that best exemplifies her characteristics is that in 1884 she was among the first group of blacks to go to court and charge the railroads with discrimination against blacks. To protest this injustice, she refused to ride on trains.

Mrs. Wells-Barnett had the ability to defeat the problems that she confronted and to accomplish many great tasks. Her most challenging problem, of course, was that she was both black and a woman.

This doubled her difficulties because she had to cope with sexism from black and white males. She gave encouragement to others because she demonstrated that if one wants to succeed in life, he or she

can in spite of the problems that hinder individuals along the way.

HER EXPERIENCES make one feel that it would be unfair to oneself, and to other blacks, if he did not strive to become educated and work for advancements in civil rights.

Today’s youth are faced with many dilemmas and problems, but these do not equal those of Ida Wells-Barnett and other blacks during the 19th century.

Ida Wells-Barnett was a woman whom everyone should try to learn more about. Her characteristics and accomplishments should be held in high esteem.

She inspired everyone who met her, and today, long after her death, that inspiration to strive for the best in life and to work for racial harmony in America still lingers on.

Mayor Diane McKenna (right) of Sunnyvale, California, presents a certificate proclaiming September 20, 1981, ‘World Peace Day’ in that city to Mrs. Marilyn Pain, a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Sunnyvale. The mayor was given a copy of Tokens from the Writings of Bahd’u’lláh and a

Photo: Bill Fernandez reprint of the article on the Faith from the Encyclopedia Britannica. The Baha’ is sponsored a picnic at a city park after a morning spent inviting neighbors to the

observance. A member of the city council was among those who attended.

Sheboygan Baha’is’ party honors disabled and handicapped citizens

On October 24, the Baha’i communities of Sheboygan and the Town of Wilson, Wisconsin, with help from the Spiritual Assembly of Shorewood, gave a United Nations Day party at the Rehabilitation Center in honor of the handicapped and disabled citizens of Sheboygan.

The UN Committee of Sheboygan co-sponsored the event. Coffee was provided by the mayor of Sheboygan.

About 110 people were present to enjoy songs and dances, in costume, performed by Greek and German children, Japanese and Vietnamese women, a Scottish exchange teacher, a former American Friends Service (AFS) student to Japan, and a Laotian (Hmong).

Personal invitations were sent to many civic organizations, and to present and former AFS exchange students.

[Page 13]

The American Baha’i

December 1981

13

Ten. MSG0

in The American Baha’i

Bahd’is in New York, the City of the Covenant, participate in a three-day proclamation whose focus is the 50th anniversary of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.

The proclamation begins November 26 with a public meeting at Columbia University that is followed by a special viewing of a robe and slippers worn by the Master and a showing of photos of His visit to New York City in 1912.

The following day, more than 200 Baha’is participate in a motorcade tour of some of the places visited by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Four buses take the friends to the Church of the Ascension where the Master made his first public address in the U.S.; the Bowery Mission; the J.P. Morgan Library _ where ‘Abdu’l-Bahd revealed a prayer that He autographed in the library’s album, and the Ansonia and Great Northern hotels where He stayed.

The address that ‘Abdu’l-Baha delivered April 14, 1912, is read from the pulpit of the Church of the Ascension by a Baha’{ woman of Jewish background during the morning church service that is attended by more than 100 members of the congregation and visiting Baha’{s. Later, the friends present the pastor with Baha’i books.

Immediate results from the proclamation include coverage in two New York City newspapers and a wire service, and calls from people who see the press’ coverage ...

Fifty-seven Baha'is and their guests attend a weekend deepening conference sponsored by the Baha’{ Group of Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, that includes a discussion of prayer and meditation, a talk on freedom and the Baha’{ Faith, and a slide presentation of the Icelandic Oceanic Conference ...

Nearly 500 people from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania attend a one-day conference in Rockland County, New York, that is designed to give new believers, especially youth, an opportunity to learn about Baha’{ laws as they apply to daily living.

The seminar, sponsored by the Baha’{ Group of Rockland County, is preceded by a Saturday night square dance attended by nearly 300 people ...

The attorney general of Minnesota authorizes recognition of Baha’{ Holy Days for employees of school districts and other governmental units ...

First Chicago area Inter-Assembly Conference held

A greater Chicago area interAssembly Conference was held October 18 at the Baha’{ National Center.

The main purposes of the conference, which was co-hosted by the National Teaching Committee and the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago, were to:

• strengthen the spiritual fabric

of the area;

• set common goals that can be

achieved by inter-Assembly collaboration;

• and create a system for preventing overlap of major activities.

More than 65 people representing some 23 Spiritual Assemblies in the Chicago area attended the meeting. Every Assembly in the two northern districts of Illinois was invited to send representatives, as were the District Teaching Committees, and the Auxiliary Board and its assistants.

Glenford E. Mitchell, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, and Auxiliary Board member D. Thelma Jackson were among, the speakers.

Following the formal program, the participants formed seven discussion groups for topics ranging from teaching, education, youth and service projects to use of the media, intercommunity gatherings and establishment of a Baha’f Information Center.

A report from each of these groups was given to the conference as a whole, outlining suggestions of each group concerning intercommunity cooperation and what it would like to see happen in that part of the country.

These suggestions were given to a five-member Coordinating Task Force that will forward them to each Assembly in the districts by mail and will be responsible for creating a systematic method for

BAHAT FAITH

arses cams

This banner, painted by the Baha’is of Adrian, Michigan, was carried in that city’s Fourth of July parade. During fair week in August, a tent was raised and Baha’i

The O’Connell Bridge in the heart of Dublin, Ireland, seen here in the foreground, spans the Liffey River that flows eastward through the city into the Irish Sea. Dublin, the charming capital city of the Republic of Ireland, is the site of

Photo: John Davis literature distributed. Many people who said they hadn’t heard of the Faith asked questions and accepted literature.

the second of five International Bahi’i Conferences called for 1982 by the Universal House of Justice. On June 25-27, the conference will take place in one of the halls of the venerable Royal Dublin Society at Ballsbridge. The

4

Seven discussion groups considered a number of topics such as teaching, education and use of the media during the greater Chicago

coordinating the resolutions and decisions made at the conference and devising a method for monitoring the progress of the goals

Mayor Jack Evans of Dallas, Texas, is presented with the book Call to the Nations by three members of the Spiritual Assembly of Dallas after the mayor proclaimed September 20 ‘World Peace Day’

Hand of the Cause of God H. Collis Featherstone will represent the House of Justice. The gathering will be dedicated to the memory of the Greatest Holy Leaf on the 50th anniversary of her passing.

veo

area Inter-Assembly Conference held October 18 at the Baha’ National Center in Wilmette.

that are undertaken.

Another Inter-Assembly Conference has been scheduled for January 24.

in that city. Shown (left to right) at the August 31 meeting are Mrs. Elizabeth Washington, Mayor Evans, Mrs. Jean Maddox and Dr. Ali Golestaneh.

Poster contest held by Bahda’is at Fair in Sheboygan County

The Baha’i communities of Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, carried out a successful proclamation effort at the Sheboygan County Fair in Plymouth over the Labor Day weekend.

A poster contest whose theme was ‘“‘Love Makes the World Go ’Round’’ was held for children and youth ages 5 through 17.

The posters were displayed at a booth containing a large heart with the words ‘‘In the Garden of Thy Heart Plant Naught but the Rose of Love.””

Prizes awarded in four age categories included the book The Secret in the Garden, a one-year subscription to World Order magazine, and a UNICEF craft book and record album.

The posters were returned to the artists in a “‘Love That Child” folder.

[Page 14]PAGINA HISPANA

The American Baha’i

David Villasenor dedicando su vida al arte

Artistas contempéraneos trabajan principalmente con materiales nuevos-proyectando sus sensibilidades artisticas en proyectos combinados o conceptuales que abarca la tecnologia y vocabulario’ del siglo veinte.

David Villasefior se concentra en una forma de arte originado por los indigenas del Suroeste de América del Norte.

SUS MATERIALES son antiguos, formados a través de siglos de ciclos continuos de la naturaleza, nacimiento, vida y muerte—y renacimiento espiritual.

Los “‘Tapices en Arena’’ de Villasefior, reflejan el espiritu de la pintura de arena de los Indigenas en que su uso de simbolos esta basado en el conocimiento mistico, mds bien que en los aspectos fisicos ritualistas de la pintura de arena.

Su método de creacion es una combinacién de imaginacién ritual y tecnologia moderna-abrillantado por una profunda reverencia por la vida y las humanidades.

Nacido cerca de Guadalajara, Jalisco, su madre de herencia Huichol y Otomi, su padre descendiente de espafiol. Huérfano por la Revolucion Mejicana, fue criado y educado en Cruz Galvez, una escuela industrial y de artes graficas, en Hermosillo, Sonora, México.

Acerca del 80 por ciento de los nifios eran indfgenas de varias tribus. En adicién a los cursos académicos, eran introducidos a los métodos bdsicos indigenas 0 lo que es categorizado hoy dia como arte.

En 1942, Villasefior adopté la ciudadania estado-unidense y se

_ unié al Ejercito de los Estados Unidos—sirviendo como un escultor anatémico en el Cuerpo Medico.

FUE INTRODUCIDO en la pintura de arena cuando dos de sus amigos Navajos le llevaron donde su abuelo, Curandero en Chinle, Arizona en una reservacion Navajo. De acuerdo a la costumbre, una pintura de arena fue hecha en su honor para darle la bienvenida en la familia.

La herencia Indigena de Villasefior y su dedicacién a los prin cipios de la Fe Baha’{ son centrales en la creacion de sus “‘Tapices en Arena.’’ La unidad de Dios, la unidad de la religion y la unidad de la humanidad son los principios basicos en las ensefianzas de Baha’u’ll4h.

Significativamente la posicién de los Indigenas en la Fe Baha’i es muy alta. Por lo tanto Villasefior se identifica a si mismo como un ciudadano del mundo—y su arte un vinculo directo al Gran Espiritu.

La pintura de arena es una forma de arte efimera de los Indigenas del Suroeste. La ceremonia refleja un perfecto acorde con el conocimiento universal logrado por vivir en estrecho contacto con la Fuente de toda vida.

Porque la ceremonia es considerada sagrada, la pintura de arena son empezadas, terminadas y destruidas en un periodo de doce horas.

Tomé varias decadas para Villasefior, desarrollar su técnica de pintura de arena permanente.

DESPUES de inventar el proceso, paso tres afios en Lockheed Aircraft’s Research Engineering Division, perfeccionandolo.

Villaseftior ha exhibido en el Museo de Los Angeles, el Museo Southwest, el Museo de Historia Natural en Nueva York, la Legion

Tomé varias decadas para que el Sr. David Villasefior desarrolle su

de Honor en San Francisco, el Museo de Historia Natural en Santa Barbara, el Instituto de Tecnologia en Pasadena, California, el California Polytechnic Institute en Pomona, y han habido innu técnica de pintura de arena per merables universidades y escuelas donde se han exhibido sus obras.

David Villasefior ha aparecido en CBS y NBC y sus trabajos estan en exhibicion permanente en el

Centro Baha’{ en Israel.

(Articulo traducido del Catalogue essay by Betje Howell, Art Critic, Santa Monica (California) Evening Outlook.)

Todos los creyentes deben contribuir al Fondo Baha’

En ocaciénes anteriores hemos leido sobre la importancia del Fondo, y que contribuir al Fondo es una responsabilidad y privilegio espiritual

que sdlo los baha’is tenemos.

Ahora, vamos a abordar el tema de cémo contribuir al Fondo, pregunta que tiene varias respuestas, segun como la veamos.

Primeramente, cémo contribuir al Fondo es una pregunta espiritual, y ‘Abdu’l-Bahd nos dice al respecto: ‘‘Todos los creyentes deben contribuir de acuerdo con sus posibilidades, por pequefia que sea la suma. Dios no pide de alma alguna, excepto, de acuerdo con sus medios.”’ ‘El grado de sacrificio de donador, el amor con que hace su ofrenda y la unidad de todos los amigos en este servicio, es lo qué produce las con firmaciones espirituales.””

• Abdu’l-Bahd nos asegura que si contribuimos de esta manera, en un

espiritu de sacrificio, amor y unidad, atraeremos la aprobacién y bendi ciones de Dios:

...tened seguridad de que en lugar de esta con tribucién, vuestro comercio, vuestra agricultura e industrias seran ben dicidas muchas veces.

“El que hace una buena accién, Dios le recompensaré diez veces. No hay duda alguna de que el Sefior viviente ayudara y confirmaré el alma

generosa.’”

Los Consejeros Rail Pavén y Carmen de Burafato durante la

grabacién de programas para la television.

Service for Blind

AVAILABLE NOW:

In Braille or on tape—

• Tablets of Baha’u’ll4h

• The Priceless Pearl

© Selections from

Writings of the Bab

• The Revelation of Bahau’llah (Volumes 1 and 2)

PLUS more than 80 other titles For a printed catalog write:

Baha’ Service for the Blind

3110 East Lester St.

Tucson, AZ 857116

the

Extractos de la ultima voluntad y testamento, y tiltimas cartas, del Sr. Mihdf Anvari, de Shirdz, mientras que ayunaba en la prision antes de su ejecucién el 17 de marzo de 1981.

°

.. El valor y la personalidad de un individuo estan relacionados con su paciencia y firmeza en tiempo de adversidad. Dos hombres miraban hacia afuera entre las barras de su prisién. Uno miraba hacia arriba y exclamdé, “Qué cielo mas claro! jQué estrellas mas centellantes!’’ El otro, mirando hacia abajo a la tierra, dijo, ‘‘Qué suciedad polvorienta.””

Si uno logra el reconocimiento de la verdad, no estara jamds atormentado con preocupaciones ...

Durante nuestro encsarcelamiento, aparte de periodos breves cuando nos vimos obligados a descansar, hemos llenado nuestras horas con oraciones. No pasa momento alguno sin que estemos ocupados con el recuerdo de Dios. Por fuera la gente puede llegar a la conclusién que somos indiferentes © estdicos, pero nuestros corazones estan fuera de control. Por medio de nuestras oraciones nos hemos esforzado por preparar nuestros corazones para servir como un asiento de lo divino—no sé si somos dignos de que nuestros

‘Ayunaba en la prisién antes de su ejecucién el 17 de Marzo 1981’

corazones se conviertan en los recipientes de Su misericordia; sin embargo, deseamos Sus generosidades y favores ...

Los medios que cambian este fuego (de tribulacién) en un rosedal son las lluvias de la confianza en Dios y las dulces brisas de la devocién. ‘El hace lo que Le place ...’’ El fuego del amor no puede ser apagado por agua ni extinguido por una brisa ...

Nuestras manos estan vacias, pero nuestras aspiraciones y nuestra resolucién, son exaltadas. Cuando Ilegue la prueba, sera, comprobada la resolucién, de las personas y sera, manifiesta su confianza (en Dios) ...

Oro ardientemente para que mis hechos sean aceptados ante el Umbral de Dios. No tengo nada que ofrecer sino pecados, sin embargo. La mia fue una vida humilde, y la cedo por el bien de la humanidad.

iQué Dios nos conceda el favor de alcanzar Su beneplacito!

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

[Page 15]PUBLICATIONS

December 1981

15

Rhythmic pattern important in building Baha’i library

The “Rhythm of Growth’’ is the program adopted by the National Spiritual Assembly to guide the American Baha’i community during the last five years of the Seven Year Plan.

The ‘‘rhythm”’ is the pattern of expansion and consolidation essential to the growth and health of every Baha’i community.

TO “KEEP the rhythm going,” a community must have the knowledge required to function properly at whatever stage it finds itself.

To aid in providing that knowledge, the Baha’{ Publishing Trust has designed packages of materials to suit a community of any size, from one to 30 or more.

These packages were presented. in the ‘‘Rhythm of Growth catalog’’ that appeared in the June 1981 issue of The American Baha’i.

In the July issue of The American Baha’i, we explored the reasons for the selections in ‘‘Stage One: Organizing Yourself.’’

In the August issue we discussed “Stage Five: Building a Group,’’and in the September issue ‘Stage Nine: Building a Local Spiritual Assembly.’””

In this issue we will look at “Stage Fifteen: Building Your Community Library.”

According to the rhythmic pattern of growth set by the National Spiritual Assembly, a community of 15 Bahd’is has three primary goals: incorporating its Spiritual Assembly, adopting an extension teaching goal, and doubling its number to 30.

THE FIVE packages in Stage Fifteen of the Rhythm of Growth catalog are designed to help the community of 15 build a community library.

Such a library will enable all the friends to have access to a wide variety of books they might not be able to purchase for their personal libraries. It will help them to understand more fully the scope of the Faith they are trying to spread and the institution they are helping to consolidate.

The first package in Stage Fifteen is ‘“‘I1SAl: Starting Out’’ (Catalog No. 515-011-10; $46.50 NET). This core of basic books contains five books by Baha’u’ll4h, one by the Bab, one by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and two by Shoghi Effendi. All are frequently quoted from and often referred to in other Baha’i literature.

Baha’u’llah is represented by Gleanings from the Writings of Bahd’u’llah, Prayers and Meditations, The Kitab-i-fqan, Tablets of Baha’u’llah, and Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas.

Selections from the Writings of the Bab introduces the Baha’i to the wealth of writings by the Bab.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá is represented by Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahaé, and Shoghi Effendi by The World Order of Bahd’w’ll4h and The Promised Day Is Come.

The- second package in Stage Fifteen, ‘Adding On’? (Catalog No. 515-012-10; $37 NET), will add three important works by

• Abdu’l-Baha.

Kalimat offers gripping new Baha’i adventure, Nine Days to Istanbul

Nine Days to Istanbul, a true Baha’i adventure story by Jeanne Frankel de Corrales, is available from Kalimat Press in Los Angeles.

The book recounts a memorable journey across Europe on the Orient Express in the early weeks

~ of 1963 when Jeanne Frankel was en route from Stamford, Connecticut, to a pilgrimage at the Baha’i World Centre in Israel.

The train became stranded in the snow during one of the worst winters in memory.

While she and the other passengers fought the elements to survive, Jeanne Frankel learned how the barriers to the unity of mankind can crumble in the face of necessity as she organized a team to care for the sick and needy.

Single copies of Nine Days to Istanbul (paper) are $2.50 each from Kalimat Press, 10889 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

Standard discounts are available to Baha’ librarians and Baha’i distribution services when books are ordered in certain quantities

directly from Kalimat Press: 10-24 books, 10 percent discount; 25-49 books, 15 percent; 50-99 books, 20 percent; 100-199 books, 30 percent.

Larger quantities are available at higher discounts by special arrangement with Kalimat Press.

PARIS TALKS is a series of informal talks on a variety of Baha’i teachings. Foundations of World Unity is a compilation of addresses and Tablets on the spiritual foundations of world unity. The Secret of Divine Civilization analyzes unity as the basis of true civilization.

Two historical works describe the birth and growth of the Fai God Passes By, Shoghi Effendi’s survey of the first century of the Faith, and The Dawn-Breakers, an eyewitness account of the early years of the Baha’i era.

“Growing in Knowledge”’ (Catalog No. 515-021-10; $55 NET), the third package in Stage Fifteen, will add biographies of Bahd’u'llah, the Bab, ‘Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi to your community library and will personalize their lives for you.

Bahd’u'll4h and the New Era will put on your community library shelf a comprehensive introduction and a handy source of finding answers to seekers’ questions.

“And More Yet’’ (Catalog No. 515-022-10; $17 NET), the fourth package in Stage Fifteen, will aid your community in other ways. ‘On Becoming a Baha’ will orient new believers to the Faith.

Four volumes of the Comprehensive Deepening Program (The Meaning of Deepening; Knowledge, Volition and Action; The Supreme Gift of God to Man; and The Dynamic Force of Example) can aid the spiritual development of your community members.

Messages to the Baha’{ World: 1950-1957, Shoghi Effendi’s reports on and guidance for the developing institutions of the Administrative Order, will serve to heighten the world-consciousness of your community.

THE FINAL package in Stage Fifteen, ‘‘A World-Embracing Vision’’ (Catalog No. 515-031-10; $45 NET), will add some works on specific topics, another work by Baha’u’llah, messages from the Universal House of Justice, and a survey of the growth of the Cause.

With Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, your community can turn to some of Baha’u’llah’s most famous passages and read His reaffirmation of the validity of His Cause.

Two collections of messages from the Universal House of Justice (Wellspring of Guidance: 1963-1968 and Messages from the Universal House of Justice: 1968-1973) convey guidance on a number of important issues and trace the development of the Administrative Order and the systematic spread of the Faith.

Two works on pioneering—a practical, no-nonsense Manual for Pioneers and a-multi-faceted compilation entitled Quickeners of Mankind—stress its urgency and importance.

Finally, the most recent volume

of The Baha’i World portrays the growth of the Faith through articles, documents and photographs.

Many elements go into consolidating a community of 15 Baha’is as it incorporates its Spiritual Assembly, begins to reach out to another community via its extension teaching goals, and works to double its number to 30.

One element in that process of consolidation is making sure that its community members have ac cess to a variety of the Baha’{ writings.

In a coming issue of The American Baha’i we will look at ‘Stage Thirty: Placing Books in Libraries.’”

To order the packages available in Stage Fifteen, simply use the coupon on Page 16 of the ‘‘Rhythm of Growth” catalog available by mail from the Publishing Trust.

Three Baha’ calendars for 1982 are available from Publishing Trust

The Baha’{ Publishing Trust now has available three calendars for 1982.

The 1982 Wall Calendar (Stock No. 760-042-10; $1) commemorates the 25th anniversary of the passing of Shoghi Effendi. ,

This lovely Gregorian calendar covers the 15 months from January 1982 through March 1983.

The back of the calendar (designed so that it can be read while the calendar is hanging) is a handy reference list of the Feast days, Holy Days, and days of fasting, all of which are highlighted on the front.

The theme of the 1982 Date Book (Stock No. 769-032-10; $1.50) is the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf.

The cover features a photo of the monument erected in memory of the Greatest Holy Leaf.

The Baha’i Date Book provides a full calendar for 15 months from January 1982 through March

Hawaii publishes

The Baha’{ National Library of Hawaii has published a beautiful and informative Baha’i history calendar for 1982 (B.E. 138-139) commemorating the 25th anniversary of the passing of the Guardian and the 50th anniversary of the passing of the Greatest Holy Leaf.

The calendar contains special

Board member meets with Nebraska friends

On Sunday, September 13, Mrs. Ronna Santoscoy, the Auxiliary Board member for Nebraska, met with area media representatives at a conference called by the Spiritual Assembly of Grand Island.

Newspaper, radio and television representatives attended the meeting after receiving a letter from the Assembly that described recent events in Iran.

Among the immediate results was a television program on the Faith that was aired on September 26 in Grand Island, the third largest city in Nebraska.

1983. The Gregorian and Bahda’{ days of each month are displayed, with Feasts and Holy Days shaded for easy recognition.

Many quotations from the Baha’i Writings are included to inspire and guide your activities.

The 1982 Pocket Calendar (Stock No. 769-062-10; $1) is a Gregorian calendar for the 12 months from January to December 1982. It is printed in brown ink on white stock.

All of the Feast days, Holy Days, days of fasting, and days on which work should be suspended are listed on the back and highlighted on the front.

When ordering, please include $1.50 for shipping and handling unless the order is over $15.

For orders over $15, include 10 percent for shipping.

Send the order with a check or money order for the total amount to the Baha’i Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

‘history calendar’

Tablets for Shoghi Effendi and the Greatest Holy Leaf and charts on their lives and activities.

The calendar, based on the Gregorian year, has a page for each month and ample space for writing. It may be used as a desk or wall calendar.

It uses color to indicate Baha’i Feasts, Holy Days, and the period of fasting. Dates of historical significance are scattered throughout the calendar.

The history calendar also includes some previously unpublished photos in a special section on the Hands of the Cause of God Agnes Alexander and Martha Root.

The history calendars are not

carried by the Publishing Trust but are easily obtained through the mail from the National Baha’i Library of Hawaii, 3264 Allan Place, Honolulu, HI 96817. . Prices are as follows: 1-24 copies, $4.25 each; 25-100 copies, $3.75 each (for less than 101 copies you will be billed for shipping); 101 copies or more, $3.50 each with free shipping.

| ecm aar S905OR A PES PE ETTEDCEOTE I T F I LE ST ES ST PE EEE TE ET EE EE ETE EES SAS AGREE AT

[Page 16]CLASSIFIEDS

The American Baha’i

16

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.

°

PERSONNEL are needed at the Baha’i World Centre in Haifa in several areas including construction foreman with at least 10

a rience to assume responsibilities connected with maintenance and repair of Holy Places and other buildings at the World Centre; executive secretary, a highly responsible position requiring composing and drafting letters, conducting research, ‘high level typing skills, shorthand, and accuracy in organizing and maintaining files; inventory control person with experience in organizing and maintaining stock inventory; painter foreman with at least five years’ experience in supervision and familiarity with various painting techniques and materials; photo lab technician with professional experience in processing and printing black-and-white and color film; structural engineer with experience in building construction and architectural design. In anticipation of the occupancy _ of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the World Centre also is seeking applications for prospective personnel in these areas: maintenance, janitorial and security personnel, bookkeeping, building trades, general office, library assistant, printer assistant, and systems analysts/programmers. If you are interested and qualified for any of these positions, please send the following information to the Department of Organization and Personnel, P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel: Baha’ background, education and

work experience, personal data (age, marital status, health, nationality, language skills, etc.), Baha’{ and professional references, typing speed and other skills, if applicable, and any other relevant information. Please indicate also date available and length of service desired.

HOUSE for sale next to the Louhelen Baha’{ School in Michigan. Brick, 6 bedrooms, 3 full baths, full basement, completely refurbished last year. On two acres of land. For more information, please contact Lewis Eggleston, 313-653-2492.

RESEARCH is being done for a documentary on the life of Sarah Farmer, founder of Green Acre. Any photos, personal letters, or articles would be greatly appreciated. Willing to help with cost of duplication. Please contact Ms. Shay Whitman, research assistant, Spiritual Assembly of Salem, 180A Federal St., Salem, MA 01970, or phone 617-745-9856.

ARE YOU bored? Got that “drab” feeling? Want to “‘get up and go’’? Well, come to beautiful, scenic Orange County in fabulous New York State where homefront pioneers are desperately needed. And what better time to do it than right now! There are about 10 Bahais scattered throughout the county, and more are needed to help consolidate. There are many employment opportunities: computer-related and retail firms are top employers, with many private and state hospitals, resorts and private industries and a large school system. Convenient commuting to New York City—only 60 miles by car, bus or train. Real estate and housing are plentiful, land is cheap and taxes are low. Orange County is a lovely, safe,

Three International Conferences scheduled to take place in 1982

As previously stated, three more International Conferences will take place during 1982: in Quito, Ecuador (August 6-8), Lagos, Nigeria (August 19-22), and Montreal, Canada (September 2-5).

All of these conferences will be dedicated to the memory of the Greatest Holy Leaf on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of her passing.

It is estimated that at least 3,000 believers from more than 40 countries will attend the Conference in Manila, referred to in the Ridvan message from the Universal House of Justice as ‘taking place at the mid-point of an axis whose poles are Japan and Australia,” a reference to a statement by the Guardian about the development of the Faith in the Pacific Ocean area.

Baha’is from many European countries are expected to attend the Conference in Dublin—perhaps 2,000 or more.

Those who wish to offer their

services for traveling teaching either before or after any of the Conferences should begin planning now. They should write to the appropriate Continental Pioneer Committee (as listed below), either directly, or if they wish, through their National Spiritual Assembly, to channel efficiently their offers of service.

Africa—Hassan Sabri, secretary, P.O. Box 47934, Nairobi, Kenya.

Americas—Mrs. Shirley Baldwin (CPCA), 1701 Pelican Cone Road, GL 361, Sarasota, FL 33581, United States.

Asia—Freddy Tan, 34 Cowdray Ayenue, Serangoon Garden Estate, Singapore 1955, Republic of Singapore.

Australasia—Mrs. Avilda Reid, secretary, 10 Laught Avenue, Black Forest, South Australia 5035, Australia.

Europe—Eruch Munsiff, secretary, 28 Inner Park Road, London SW19 6EG, England.

clean area with excellent schools. Those who are interested are welcome to write for more information to Neil and Patrice Rothfeder, 306 Stratford Lane, Apt. 69, Middletown, NY 10940, or phone 914-342-4250 anytime.

CARETAKER for Haziratu’lQuds is sought by the National Spiritual Assembly of New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. The person may be male or female and should be hospitable, patient and well-deepened in the Faith. A French-speaking Iranian couple would be ideal. Independent accommodation for a small family would be provided. If interested,

please contact the International”

Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in South Idaho. There are goal areas in scenic small towns near places such as Craters of the Moon, Sun Valley and Yellowstone Park. Jobs are available in social work, psychology, forestry, lumber work, engineering, teaching, and health care. Let us know your needs; we’d love to welcome you to Idaho! Write to the Sou thern Idaho District Teaching Committee, c/o Seme Newlin, secretary, Massacre Rock State Park, American Falls, ID 83211, or phone 208-548-2677.

THE NATIONAL Baha’i Archives Committee is seeking to locate, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original Tablets from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the following individuals: Mrs. Paul K. Dealy, Arthur Pillsbury Dodge, Col. Nathan Ward FitzGerald, Dr. Rachel Halloran, liam H. Hoar, Arthur James, Annie L. Palmerton, Margaret B. Peeke and Dr. Rufus H. Bartlett. The originals or photocopies of these Tablets are needed by the Universal House of Justice in its efforts to study and compile the Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of these Tablets is asked to contact the National Baha’i Archives Committee, Baha’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. DEEPENED Baha’is are needed in Roseville, California, a growing community of 25,000 about 20 miles from Sacramento with a good economy, nearby colleges and recreational facilities. A knowledge of Spanish is helpful in this diverse community in which the Assembly needs help to reach its goal of a fully functioning body of nine. Extension teaching goals offer additional opportunities. For more information or assistance, contact Steve or Patty Shown, 124 Shasta St., Roseville, CA 95678 or phone 916-783-7354.

WANTED: Baha’i individual or family to open Brightwaters Village, a goal area within the Islip, New York, Baha’{ community—a fine residential area with good local schools, many nearby

colleges, and two large hospitals within two miles. Brightwaters is on the Great South Bay, a wellknown boating area with nearby beaches, about 50 miles from New York City with good public transit for commuting. The nearby Islip community is quite active. For information write to Deborah Fenigstein, secretary, Spiritual Assembly of Islip, 11 Andrew Avenue, Islip Terrace, NY 11752, or phone 516-581-8593.

BACK ISSUES of The American Baha’{ and Child’s Way magazine are needed at the Baha’{ World Centre. Anyone who is willing to donate the February, March, April and/or November 1970 issues of The American Bahai kindly contact the World Céntre Library, P.O. Box 155, Haifa 31 001, Israel. The library also is interested in obtaining back issues of Child’s Way and other publications. If you are willing to donate any, please write, sending a list of the items you have to offer.

WANTED—Active, enthusiastic Baha’{ adults and youth to live in Lowell, Massachusetts, for at least two years and help the community reach Assembly status by Ridvan 1982. Lowell, an historic city about eight miles from the New Hampshire border and an hour’s drive from the Green Acre Baha'i School, offers a full curriculum of studies in engineering science at the local university, city bus transportation, and substantially lower rents compared to surrounding cities in eastern Massachusetts. There are ample employment opportunities in all technical fields, especially electronics and computer technology. More information may be obtained by writing to the Baha’{ community of Lowell, c/o Lorraine Matthews, 49 Robbins St., Lowell, MA 01851, or by phoning 617-459-1604 after 5 p.m. EST.

THE BAHA’E National Center needs a programmer/analyst with a minimum of three years successful experience. The operating environment has a mini-computer system with online and batch processing, using Cincom TOTAL Data Base. Knowledge of COBOL and RPG is required. To apply or obtain more information, please contact the Office of Personnel Affairs, Bahd’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

MUSICIAN is soliciting Baha’{ music from every country for a compilation to be used as a teaching tool for the friends. Please send lyrics (words), if that is all you have; lyrics and melody line; complete scores; lead lines with chords, or whatever—or if you can sing the tune, send a cassette (returnable with appropriate postage). If you have lyrics only, they will be transcribed. Please include the name and address of the composer(s), if known, for permission to be obtained. If you are the composer, please include per mission to use. The music book will not be sold, but is intended solely to help the believers in their teaching and worshiping. Please send materials to Cora Munn Watters, Ridvén Valley, 696 Blacks Run Road, Lynx, OH 45650, or phone 513-544-2264.

ENERGETIC young Baha’i community in a lovely, treecovered suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, is looking for Baha’{s to help save its jeopardized Spiritual Assembly. The community has excellent schools and other facilities and is centrally located for commuting. The Assembly, which was formed in 1980, is comprised mostly of professional people who work outside the home. Nevertheless, last year the Assembly (1) organized and ran a conference for Baha’is in a four-state area, (2) assisted with the first Baha’i Continental Youth Conference, and (3) embarked upon an ambitious direct mail campaign designed to reach every household in the community with the Message of Baha’u’ll4h. For more information or help, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Prairie Village, P.O, Box 8572, Prairie Vil “lage, KS 66208, or phone Bill or

Marcia Gitchell, 913-648-3931; Dan or Paula Jolly, 913-831-428! or Parviz or Manijeh Massarat, 913-341-4748,

PIONEER to Korea and fill an important goal for this phase of the Seven Year Plan. An American firm is seeking a civil engineer for the design of water, sewer and drainage systems, road and pavement design, and site layout and grading. Also sought is a structural engineer to work in the area of design. These jobs come with a number of military personnel benefits. Salary is paid in U.S. currency. For more information please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

LOOKING for a motivated Baha’{ interested in working in an outdoor program with the disabled (Baha’{s and others) in northern Minnesota wilderness area. Knowledge of finance and organizational skills essential. Please contact Donna Mienk, 776 Laurel Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104, or phone 612-227-4714.

SOUTH DAKOTA will more than double the number of its Local Spiritual Assemblies, from nine to 19, by Ridvan 1982. If you would like to be a part of this audacious plan through prayer, traveling teaching, or homefront pioneering, please contact the District Teaching Committee of South Dakota, c/o Barbara Rudolph, secretary, 202 S. Pine, Vermillion, SD 57069, or phone 605-624-8330.

WOULD YOU like to help deepen more than a thousand new Baha’is without leaving your

Please See ADS Page 20

[Page 17]NATIVE AMERICANS

December 1981

Wind River teaching trip by 3 Canadian Baha’is kindles Sioux, Arapaho

Continued From Page 1

’u'lláh.

The response so far has been most gratifying with more than 50 new believers enrolled in the Faith, one new locality (Fort Washakie) opened, the Baha’{ Group in Riverton restored to Assembly status, and preparations under way for election of the first Spiritual Assembly of the Wind River Reservation.

Among those who have declared their belief in Bahdé’u’ll4h are an Arapaho and a Sioux medicine man.

After the teaching team was interviewed by two reporters from the Wind River Journal, both of the young women were enrolled in the Faith.

To assure adequate follow-up in deepening and consolidating the new believers, and to provide help for the new Assembly on the Res

Che James Big Lake of the Crow Agency in Montana signs a Baha’i declaration card as Rick Belcourt a traveling teacher from Canada, looks on. Mrs. Big Lake (in car)

ervation, the American Indian Teaching Committee has appointed a six-member Consolidation Task Force.

THE SECOND stop for the Canadian teaching team was the Crow Reservation in Montana whose Assembly was lost at Ridvdn when membership slipped to seven.

Earl Healy had friends there from the Pow-Wow Circuit who he felt would be interested in the Faith.

Several of these people were enrolled including Douglas and Janette Adams. Mr. Adams is a medicine man and Tribal Council member.

Mr. Healy also knew Ed Little Light who had attended the “Great Council Fire’’ near Tucson, Arizona, in 1962, where he met the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem.

also was enrolled in the Faith during a teaching effort in October by Mr. Belcourt and two other Baha’is from Canada, Earl Healy and Fari Jalili-Otsali.

s » o Margaret Kill-Other-Bull (in car) is shown with visiting Baha’is Earl Healy and Fari Jalili-Otsali from

Mr. Little Light had accepted the Teachings of Baha’u’llah at that time and has considered himself a Baha’i for almost 20 years, but has only now been officially enrolled in the Faith.

In all, there were 14 enrollments at the Crow Reservation, which will enable it to restore its Assembly at Ridvan, ij

A brief visit was made to the Lame Deer area of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation where the team was met by a recently settled homefront pioneer, Steve Blakely, and several Northern Cheyenne friends.

As a result, five new believers came into the Faith, further strengthening the Baha’i community and Assembly on that Reservation.

Music conference set in Bogota, Colombia

Don’t forget that an International Baha’i Music Conference will be held next February 12 in Bogota, Colombia.

For information about this important event, please contact the National Radio Committee, Apartado Aereo 042502, Bogota, Colombia, South America.

SUMMER TEACHING PROJECT

FRANCE 1982

1 am interested in participating in the 1982 summer teaching project in France. Please send me information

about the project. Name,

Address,

Baha’t 1.D..

Telephone: Home.

Baha’{ Community.

Work:

Please send this coupon to: International Goals Committee, Baha’i National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091

SS AR PE SESS PS SESS SSE ES RATS

Canada at the Crow Agency in Montana. Seven members of Mi

Joan Willow (left) and Rhonda Headley, reporters for the Wind River (Wyoming) Journal, are shown with Earl Healy, a Baha’ from Alberta, Canada. After in More than 250 Baha'is and their guests gathered September 4-7 in

250-plus at 2nd Tennessee Institute

More than 250 Baha’is and their guests from 13 states gathered September 4-7 in Monteagle, Tennessee, for the second Tennessee Baha’i Institute.

The conference theme “Building a Baha’i Society.”

Among the speakers were Dr. Wilma Brady of New York City, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly (‘A Pattern for Future Society”); Dr. Jane Faily, a psychologist from Ottawa, Canada (‘From Strength to Strength’); and Mary Kay Radpour, editor of

was

Kill-Other-Bull’s family have en tiie \

terviewing a three-member teaching team from Canada who were visiting the Reserva both

Faith.

Monteagle, Tennessee, for the second Tennessee Baha’i Institute.

Child’s Way magazine (‘The Family: Fortress for WellBeing’).

In addition, workshops on several subjects were conducted by well-qualified teachers.

The conference witnessed one declaration. A contribution of $550 from the Baha’i attendees was sent to the National Baha’i Fund.

Posters advertising the conference were placed in town, and a public meeting received coverage in three local newspapers.

[Page 18]PERSIAN PAGE

The American Baha'i

18

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[Page 19]3

The American Baha'i

December 1981

19

I PROFILE

Name: Lawrence M. Miller Community: Roswell, Georgia

Occupation: Management consultant

Background: Developing a syndicated news column on management and a five-part film series on productivity improvement are two of Larry Miller’s current projects.

A native of New York City and an alumnus of Parsons College in Iowa, Mr. Miller is president of Tarkenton & Company, an Atlanta-based management consulting firm that has offered productivity improvement services for such major corporations as Exxon, Honeywell, Pan Am, American Express and United Technologies.

Mr. Miller is widely published in the field of behavior management. The most recent of his three books on the subject, Behavior Management: The New Science of Managing People at Work, was published in 1978.

In addition, he initiated and served as editor of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management.

Mr. Miller’s Baha’i activities have included service on Local Spiritual Assemblies, on several District Teaching Committees, and as a member of the National Teaching Committee.

He has served as an assistant to the Auxiliary Board, and on the Alabama-Georgia Baha’{ Schools Committee. He has spoken at Baha'i schools and participated in direct teaching campaigns.

In his spare time, Mr. Miller combines his enthusiasm for sailing with Bahd’{ teaching. He and his wife, Carole, and a few other believers have sailed down the Atlantic coast stopping at several places to conduct firesides on Mr. Miller’s sailboat or nearby,

Mr. Miller and other believers in the Atlanta area have sponsored businessmen’s luncheons during which the guest speakers, who are Baha'is, discuss some Baha’i-related topic or some aspect of the Faith itself.

Mr. Miller and his wife have three children, Layli, Natasha and

Langdon. Date Unknown

Letters

Continued From Page 3

THERE ARE, of course, times when the battle of the egos has gone on long enough to turn love into something less than love and unity into something less than that. ;

It is difficult, but possible, to come back from that stage. A year ~ of separation, spent in earnest prayer and meditation, should find at its end two people who are more spiritually mature and who can live together in harmony.

There are really two “‘years of patience.” The first you spend alone. The second year, you learn to love again someone God has given you to help you find your way to Him.

In closing, I would like to ask this question: Where would the Baha’i Faith in America be today if, in 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Baha had merely arrived, enumerated our shortcomings and left in disgust?

Ron Frazer Phoenix, Arizona

To the Editor:

There is an issue that I have yet to see addressed in the Baha’i community.

I feel that it is a disturbing problem affecting all of us and should be discussed frankly.

IT CONCERNS certain attitudes we have in dealing with each other in our commu! life.

Perhaps we have misplaced the idea of ‘unity’? by concerning ourselves with aspects of each other’s lives that are none of our business.

We Baha’is have become, in varying degrees, real busybodies, a thorn in the side-of others, with little or no consideration for the feelings or situation of others.

These attitudes seem to have replaced true loving-kindness and compassion.

I’ve found these attitudes so pervasive at Baha’{ gatherings that it seems that inappropriate and offensive questions and critical remarks often take the place of polite conversation and cooperation.

In fact, I think it may well be that occurrences of this kind have alienated some of the friends and

kept them from greater involvement in their communities. Must we be a test for each other in this way?

In a world ready for the Teachings of Bahd’u’ll4h, we should be ever mindful of our own conduct.

We must stop being so concerned about how others live their lives, and concentrate on our own shortcomings, having far more respect for each other.

Marcia Winkler Flick

To the Editor: Evanston, Illinois

In regard to the problem of contributions to the Fund, I would like to share with the members of the Baha’{ community some observations which—while made in former dispensations—are, I feel, timeless in their message and application.

“*A liberal man will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.’ (Proverbs 11:25)

“Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.”’ (Malachi 3:10)

“Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put in your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’”’ (Luke 6:38)

“The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”” (2 Corinthians 9:6)

There is a spiritual law of supply indicated by these statements that I have always found to be true.

The more one gives, the more one receives. Sometimes the return is in spiritual development, sometimes in both spiritual and material increase.

As I’ve heard it said, ‘‘You can’t out-give God.’’

Put God (or Bahda’u’lláh) ‘‘to the test,’’ as Malachi says, and see if you don’t have an ‘‘overflowing blessing”? poured down on yourself and your family.

John Ives Albany, California

In Memoriam

Bert Barns Jr. San Juan County, N.M. June 30, 1981

William M. Doull Sr. Rumford, Rhode Island May 25, 1981

Sandy Dudley Moore, Oklahoma September 14, 1981

Frank Gonzales Wilton Manors, Fla. Date Unknown

Juan Hernandez on, Oklahoma

Fontella Jenkins Ruffin, S. Carolina January 16, 1979

Kenneth Jenkins Ruffin, S. Carolina June 17, 1981

Melvin McCormick Flagstaff, Arizona March 7, 1981

Gertrude Mitchell Byron, Georgia July 24,

Maretta Rankin Belleville, N.J. September 16, 1981

Annette Reed Mansfield, Ohio August 6, 1981

Dawn Shafer Lancaster, Pa. Date Unknown

Jane Sires Waterloo, lowa

1981 April 8, 1981

Martha Continued From Page 10

Princess Olga of Yugoslavia.

HAVING ALWAYS admired Tahirih, the valiant follower of the Bab who gave her life for the Faith, Miss Root went to Iran and researched Tahirih’s life by interviewing members of her family and others. Later, she published a book entitled Tahirih the Pure, Tran’s Greatest Woman, as well as the only existing collection of Tahirih’s poetry.

Miss Root’s 15-month stay in }. India was perhaps the crowning point of her efforts. The Baha’is there wrote, ‘‘Martha Root has opened the whole of India for us.””

The Guardian once wrote to her, ‘I assure you, that but for your letters I would feel completely broken-down and exhaustdicen

The Guardian’s ‘dearest Martha’’ served as his representative at Esperanto and other international congresses. At his request, she had Baháa’i literature translated into several languages.

Miss Root was in Shanghai in 1937 when the Japanese bombarded that Chinese city. She escaped under gunfire to Manila.

From the Philippines, Miss Root traveled by steamer.to Bombay, India. In December 1938 she left India for Australia and New Zealand.

Although she was on her way back to the U.S. in the spring of 1939, illness forced her to leave

first anniversary of his death,

me of the events he!

ng with Baha’u'llah.

illustrations. 19.8 x 12.9 cms. 52 pages.

\

KHAD{JIH BAGUM The Wife of the Bab

by HASAN BALYUZI

The poignant story of Khadijih Bagum is first told for English readers in this late id of the Cause, and it is now published to mark the

recounted are her marriage to the Bab, the birth and of their son, her early recognition of her Husband’ the distressful news of His martyrdom, and her sad deprivation of a

Ina valuable Foreword, the author's son Robert describes his father’s kinship to, Khadijih Bagum, his love and reverence for her, and his final act of homage.

This special edition includes a beautiful colour frontispiece of the interior of the room where the Bab declared His mission, and four additional half-tone

the ship in Hawaii. After months of illness, she passed away there on September 28, 1939.

Upon learning of her passing, Shoghi Effendi cabled: ‘‘Martha’s unnumbered admirers throughout Baha’{ world lament with me earthly extinction her heroic life. Concourse on high acclaim her elevation rightful position galaxy Baha’{ immortals. Posterity will establish her as foremost Hand which ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Will has

raised up first Bahd’{ century ...’”

Mrs. Emma ‘Jennie’ Wilson, a Baha’i from Kalamazoo, Michigan, died October 10, only two months short of her 103rd birthday. Mrs. Wilson had been a Baha’i for more than 40 years.

Te ey

SPECIAL EDITION

ition, His arrest and

332-051-10 $5.95

J

[Page 20]

The American Baha'i

Gey (ae

VA

o—_p»io

Bahai delivers keynote address at statewide Arkansas conference

The Arkansas Medical Society and the Interdenominational Executive Roundtable, aided by a funding grant, co-sponsored a recent statewide conference whose focus was the ways in which the medical profession and religious community might cooperate more meaningfully.

A speaker was chosen by each organization to deliver two keynote addresses on its behalf.

The Roundtable, composed of representatives of all the Christian, Jewish and other religious groups in the state, selected Dr. Allan L. Ward, vice-chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Little Rock, to deliver the addresses for that group.

Dr. Ward’s presentations also

will be printed in the medical so‘ty’s publication.

Service for the Blind

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Tablets of Baha'u'llah

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• Selections from the Writings

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Bahá’i Service for the Blind 3110 East Lester St. Tucson, AZ 85716

DR. ALLAN L. WARD

Second Class Postage Paid 2 oO At Wilmette, Minois December 1981 i ae eae a = Me | Moving? See anes sme DO NOT use mecknames ! I Tell us your Rosisence 4 | p new address A eae Touse or Space Number Sweet or Desenphon ! To avoid unnecessary delays in re | | copies Of The American I I nd your new address and Gy Siate Tip Code | li the a ne I Re =-or Fost Omnce ; | i 57 Post Omice Box Nariber i pee oe | eee een Gi atarod TSGSUIT SONG THE BRSGOA TOETAT ! oeee es 1 | Mong Oate | ang Tabel SHOWS BCCOMpanY BARES Change Tom I { Baha i National Center. Wilmette, Iilino1s 60091 — I i 1 | | i | I | I Clip along dotted line. Mailing label should accompa |

Baha’is in business and professions confer

More than 70 Baha’is gathered in Wilmette, Illinois, September 11-13 for the first national Conference for Baha’is in Business and the Professions.

The conference was called by the National Spiritual Assembly to begin a concentrated and coordinated effort to reach unprecedented numbers of business and professional people with the teachings of the Faith.

CONSULTATION focused on the needs to (a) increase the per

Ads

Continued From Page 16

house? We are trying to develop English- and Spanish-language materials to deepen our new Baha’is in New Mexico, West Texas. and Mexico. You needn’t speak Spanish to help. Black and white drawings that could easily be copied would be most helpful. For information about how you can help by spending only a few hours of your time researching the Writings, please write to Liz Arrambide, P.O. Box 1255, Fabeno, TX 79838.

THE CAROLINE Islands are in great need of pioneers. The Universal House of Justice calls them one of the most crucial areas in the Pacific. There are presently many Peace Corps openings. Opportunities also exist for math and science teachers at the high school and college level, medical personnel, and lawyers. High priority goals include the islands of Yap, Palau and Truk. English is commonly spoken throughout this tropical paradise of coconut palms, rolling hills and friendly people. For more information please contact the International Goals Committee, Baha’{ National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

Sr a TST SS ASS SS PS SA ES ESTES SY

HOMEFRONT pioneers are needed in Ankeny, a central lowa community of 18,000 with an active Group of six Baha’fs. Ankeny, located between Des Moines and Ames, has excellent schools and public services, ample housing (apartments or single family units), and shopping centers. Job opportunities exist in health care, technical skills, industry, insurance and education. Contact Bonnie Monaghan, 213 S.W. State St., Ankeny, IA 50021, or phone 515-964-2926.

ARTS FESTIVAL. The second annual Baha’{ Festival of the Arts will be held in May 1982 in Sacramento, California. Painters, sculptors, photographers please contact Doris Klumb for information and entry blanks; performers who wish to lend their talents, contact Bonnie McCarty, both c/o the Spiritual Assembly of Sacramento, P.O. Box 161252, Sacramento, CA 95816.

ATTENTION retirees: You are desperately needed to help maintain the Spiritual Assembly of Fremont County, the climate capital of Colorado. You'll find the cost of living in this friendly county to your advantage, plus many other benefits. For more information write to Mrs. Ruth Tobey Hampson, secretary, 1228 Grand Avenue, Canon City, CO 81212.

centage of Bahd’is from these strata of society, (b) raise the activity level of Bahd’is from these groups, (c) better utilize their skills and talents in teaching and other community activities, and (d) clearly define and understand the moral and ethical issues faced by Baha’is in business and the professions.

Although the participants met only briefly, a wealth of ideas and suggestions was generated. Here is a sampling:

• Increase the number of firesides directed toward leaders of

thought and members of the business and professional communities.

© Organize traveling teaching

Pioneers

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mark:

“You ask what it is to be a youth pioneer? It’s intense, it’s hard, it’s enriching, rewarding, and enlightening.

“It’s an intense period of growth; one is forced to grow ... in ways that he never could at home. You grow spiritually and practically and much closer to Baha’u’ll4h.

“It’s hard because of the tests, »

but knowing that each test draws you closer to Bahd’u’ll4h, your Best Beloved, makes them endurable and even appreciated ...

“It’s enriching because by giving up the comforts and familiarity of ‘home’ you gain more than you could at any other time. You meet people and have experiences that are unique to the pioneering field.

“It’s rewarding because you know you are doing God’s work and helping to bring about a new World Order. You're playing your part in God’s Plan.

projects in selected cities.

© Sponsor business and professional luncheons/breakfasts to teach the Faith.

• Cooperate with college clubs

tory Baha’ materials aimed at the specific needs and interests of the various business and professional groups, and publish more articles on Baha'i perspectives on man agement and business/professional issues.

¢ Establish a nationwide directory/network of Baha’is engaged in business and the professions.

MANY INDIVIDUALS made personal commitments during the

“By pioneering, you’re being obedient to the Universal-House of Justice, which is the same as obedience to God, and that’s a good feeling.

“THERE ARE TIMES when you feel so unworthy and unqualified, but at these times all you have to do is think that you have arisen with a pure heart and turn to the Writings, and then you will be guided.

“Knowing that by pioneering you are making Bahd’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi happy gives you a deep sense of satisfaction.

“Even when you’re sad—and there will be times when you are sad—way down deep in your heart, you’re happy.

“The House of Justice says,

...we must go forth rejoicing in the knowledge that the work we are privileged to perform is God’s work and will bring to birth a world whose splendour will outshine our brightest visions and surpass our highest hopes.’ ””

From Jill and Gary Spense in Zaire:

“We've been spending much more time with each other. In the States we were so busy that we

weekend to initiate teaching projects and share the spirit and results of the conference with the Baha’is in their communities.

A highlight of the conference was a meeting with the members of the National Spiritual Assembly to share results of the consul tation. The conference ended Sunday

afternoon, and the friends left refreshed and reinspired to redouble their efforts to teach and live the life. Nearly everyone expressed a desire to hold other such national or regional meetings in the future to.continue generating the support and inspiration needed to carry forward the Teachings of Baha’willah in every aspect of their lives.

were like ships passing in the night, and pioneering has been very good for our marriage.

“THE DEDICATION and perseverance of the pioneers here has really been an inspiration to us. There is one Iranian Baha’{ woman who walks miles alone on teaching trips ...On Saturdays at noon, when classes were over, she would walk 30 km. (more than 18 miles) to a village to teach, stay through Saturday night, and return Sunday night just in time to teach the following Monday at the government school.

“When we arrived in Kibombo, we introduced the Faith to the Commissioner of the zone ...He insisted that we stay with his family the entire week we were there. It was a wonderful example of African hospitality.

“He also took us to meet the tribal chief of the people of Kibombo who said he welcomed all religions because they worship the same God, and offered us land for a Baha'i Center ...

“The commissioner’s son is also very interested in the Faith ...They all have such a thirst for knowledge and cannot get enough Baha’{ books to read.””

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National Review

Insert to The American Bahd’t published by the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States for Baha’fs only.

December 1981

No. 116

Bahai

August 1981

Compiled by: The Research Department of the Universal House of Justice

EXTRACTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF BAHA’U’LLAH

Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when the day star of My beauty is set, and the heaven of My tabernacle is concealed from your eyes. Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men. We are with you at all times, and shall strengthen you through the power of truth. We are truly almighty. Whoso hath recognized Me, will arise and serve Me with such determination that the powers of earth and heaven shall be unable to defeat his purpose. (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahd’u’lláh, p. 137; Synopsis and Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, p. 14)

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Let not your hearts be perturbed, O people, when the glory of My Presence is withdrawn, and the ocean of My utterance is stilled. In My presence amongst you there is a wisdom, and in My absence there is yet another, inscrutable to all but God, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing. Verily, We behold you from Our realm of glory, and shall aid whosoever will arise for the triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of the Concourse on high and a company of Our favoured angels. (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahd’u’llah, p. 139; Synopsis and Codification of the Laws and Ordinances of the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, p. 16)

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Dost thou believe thou hast the power to frustrate His Will, to hinder Him from executing His judgement, or to deter Him from exercising His sovereignty? Pretendest thou that aught in the heavens or in the earth can resist His Faith? No, by Him Who is the Eternal Truth! Nothing whatsoever in the whole of creation can thwart His Purpose. ...

Know thou, moreover, that He it is Who hath, by His own behest, created all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth. How can, then, the thing that hath been created at His bidding prevail against Him? (Gleanings. from the Writings of Bahd’u’lláh, p. 220)

°

By the righteousness of God! Whoso openeth his lips in this Day and maketh mention of the name of his Lord, the hosts of Divine inspiration shall descend upon him from the heaven of My name, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. On him shall also descend the Concourse on high, each bearing aloft a chalice of pure light. Thus hath it been foreordained in the realm of God’s Revelation, by the behest of Him Who is the All

The Power of Divine Assistance

Glorious, the Most Powerful. (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahd’u’lláh, p. 280) } .

They that have forsaken their country for the purpose of teaching Our Cause—these shall the Faithful Spirit strengthen through its power. A company of Our chosen angels shall go forth with them, as bidden by Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Wise. How great the blessedness that awaiteth him that hath attained the honour of serving the Almighty! (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahd‘w'lláh, p. 334)

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Great is the blessedness of him who hath in this Day cast away the things current amongst men and hath clung unto that which is ordained by God, the Lord of Names and the Fashioner of all created things. He Who is come from the heaven of eternity through the power of the Most Great Name, invested with so invincible an authority that all the powers of the earth are unable to withstand Him. Unto this beareth witness the Mother Book, calling from the Most Sublime Station. (From the Tablet of Tajalliyat (Effulgences), Tablets of Bahd’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitdb-iAqdas, p. 48)

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This is the most great, the most joyful tidings imparted by the Pen of this Wronged One to mankind. Wherefore fear ye, O My well-beloved ones? Who is it that can dismay you? A touch of moisture sufficeth to dissolve the hardened clay out of which this perverse generation is moulded. The mere act of your gathering together is enough to scatter the forces of these vain and worthless people. (From the Lawh-i-Dunya (Tablet of the World), Tablets of Bahd’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, pp. 84-85)

°

The source of courage and power is the promotion of the Word of God, and steadfastness in His love. (From the Asl-i-Kullu’l-Khayr, Tablets of Bahd’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitdb-i-Aqdas, p. 156) o

... He, verily, will aid every one that aideth Him, and will remember every one that remembereth Him. To this beareth witness this Tablet that hath shed the splendour of the loving-kindness of your Lord, the All-Glorious, the All-Compelling. (Quoted in The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 64)

°

Every single letter proceeding from Our mouth is endowed with such regenerative power as to enable it to bring into existence a new creation—a creation the magnitude of which is inscrutable to all save God. He verily hath knowledge of all things. (Quoted in The Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 67-68)

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It is in Our power, should We wish it, to enable a speck of floating dust to generate, in less than the twinkling of an eye, suns of infinite, of unimaginable splendour, to cause a dewdrop to develop into vast and numberless oceans, to infuse into every letter such a force as to empower it to unfold all the knowledge of past and future eae (Quoted in The Advent of Divine Justice, p.

)

°

We are possessed of such power which, if

brought to light, will transmute the most deadly

of poisons into a panacea of unfailing efficacy.

(Quoted in The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 68) °

Say: Beware, O people of Bah, lest the strong ones of earth rob you of your strength, or they who rule the world fill you with fear. Put your trust in God, and commit your affairs to His keeping. He, verily, will, through the power of truth, render you victorious, and He, verily, is powerful to do what He willeth, and in His grasp are the reins of omnipotent might. (Quoted in The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 69)

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By the righteousness of God, should a man, all alone, arise in the name of Baha and put on the armour of His love, him will the Almighty cause to be victorious, though the forces of earth and heaven be arrayed against him. (Quoted in The World Order of Bahd’u’lláh, p. 106)

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By God besides Whom is none other God! Should any one arise for the triumph of our Cause, him will God render victorious though tens of thousands of enemies be leagued against him. And if his love for Me wax stronger, God will establish his ascendancy over all the powers of earth and heaven. Thus have We breathed the spirit of power into all regions. (Quoted in The World Order of Bahd’u’lláh, p. 106)

°

EXTRACTS FROM THE WRITINGS AND UTTERANCES OF THE BAB

Rid thou thyself of all attachments to aught except God, enrich thyself in God by dispensing with all else besides Him, and recite this prayer:

Say: God sufficeth all things above all things, and nothing in the heavens or in the earth or in whatever lieth between them but God, thy Lord, sufficeth. Verily, He is in Himself the Knower, the ‘Sustainer, the Omnipotent.

Regard not the all-sufficing power of God as an idle fancy. It is that genuine faith which thou cherishest for the Manifestation of God in every Dispensation. It is such faith which sufficeth above all the things that exist on the earth, whereas no created thing on earth besides faith would suffice thee. If thou art not a believer, the Tree of divine Truth would condemn thee to extinction. If thou art a believer, thy faith shall be sufficient for thee above all things that exist on earth, even though thou possess nothing. (Excerpt from the Dald’il-i-Sab‘ih, Selections from the

Writings of the Bab, p. 123)

°

Say, verily any one follower of this Faith can, by the leave of God, prevail over all who dwell in heaven and earth and in whatever lieth between them; for indeed this is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the one true Faith. Therefore fear ye not, neither be ye grieved.

Say, God hath, according to that which is revealed in the Book, taken upon Himself the task of ensuring the ascendancy of any one of the followers of Truth, over and above one hundred other souls, and the supremacy of one hundred believers over one thousand non-believers and the domination of one thousand of the faithful over all the peoples and kindreds of the earth; inasmuch as God calleth into being whatsoever He willeth by virtue of His behest: Verily He is potent over all things.

Say, the power of God is in the hearts of those who believe in the unity of God and bear witness that no God is there but Him, while the hearts of them that associate partners with God are impotent, devoid of life on this earth, for assuredly they are dead. (Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 153)

When the Day-Star of Baha will shine resplendent above the horizon of eternity it is incumbent upon you to present yourselves before His Throne. ...

Ye have, one and all, been called into being to seek His presence and to attain that exalted and glorious station. Indeed, He will send down from the heaven of His mercy that which will benefit you, and whatever is graciously vouchsafed by Him shall enable you to dispense with all mankind. ... Indeed if it be His Will He can assuredly bring about the resurrection of all created things through a word from Himself. He is, in truth, over and above all this, the AllPowerful, the Almighty, the Omnipotent. (Selections from the Writings of the Bdb, pp. 164-166)

°

Hallowed be the Lord in Whose hand is the source of dominion. He createth whatsoever He willeth by His Word of command “‘Be,”’ and it is. His hath been the power of authority heretofore and it shall remain His hereafter. He maketh victorious whomsoever He pleaseth, through the potency of His behest. He is in truth the Powerful, the Almighty. Unto Him pertaineth all glory and majesty in the kingdoms of Revelation and Creation and whatever lieth between them. Verily He is the Potent, the All-Glorious. From everlasting He hath been the Source of indomitable strength and shall remain so unto everlasting. He is indeed the Lord of might and power. All the kingdoms of heaven and earth and whatever is between them are God’s, and His power is supreme over all things. All the treasures of earth and heaven and everything between them are His, and His protection extendeth over all things. He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and whatever lieth between them and He truly is a witness over all things. He is the Lord of

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Reckoning for all that dwell in the heavens and on earth and whatever lieth between them, and truly God is swift to reckon. He setteth the measure assigned to all who are in the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them. Verily He is the Supreme Protector. He holdeth in His grasp the keys of heaven and earth and of everything between them. At His own pleasure doth He bestow gifts, through the power of His command. Indeed His grace encompasseth all and He is the All-Knowing. (Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 171) °

... Glorified art Thou, O God, Thou art the Creator of the heavens and the earth and that which lieth between them. Thou art the sovereign Lord, the Most Holy, the Almighty, the All-Wise. Magnified be Thy Name, O God, send down upon them who have believed in God and in His signs a mighty succour from Thy presence such as to enable them to prevail over the generality of mankind. (Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 176)

.

«+. Praised art Thou, O Lord! At Thy behest Thou dost render victorious whomsoever Thou willest, through the hosts of heaven and earth and whatsoever existeth between them. Thou art the Sovereign, the Eternal Truth, the Lord of invincible might. (Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 177)

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O Lord! Assist those who have renounced all else but Thee, and grant them a mighty victory. Send down upon them, O Lord, the concourse of the angels in heaven and earth and all that is between, to aid Thy servants, to succour and strengthen them, to enable them to achieve success, to sustain them, to invest them with glory, to confer upon them honour and exaltation, to enrich them and to make them triumphant with a wonderous triumph. (Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 192)

°

«.. Send forth, O God, such hosts as would render Thy faithful servants victorious. Thou dost fashion the created things through the power of Thy decree as Thou pleasest. Thou art in truth the Sovereign, the Creator, the All-Wise. (Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 211)

°

... Heed not your weaknesses and frailty; fix your gaze upon the invincible power of the Lord, your God, the Almighty. Has He not, in past days, caused Abraham, in spite of His seeming helplessness, to triumph over the forces of Nimrod? Has He not enabled Moses, whose staff was His only companion, to vanquish Pharaoh and his hosts? Has He not established the ascendancy of Jesus, poor and lowly as He was in the eyes of men, over the combined forces of the Jewish people? Has He not subjected the barbarous and militant tribes of Arabia to the holy and transforming discipline of Muhammad, His Prophet? Arise in His name, put your trust wholly in Him, and be assured of ultimate victory. (Addressed to the

Letters of the Living, quoted in The Dawn-Breakers, p. 94) . EXTRACTS FROM THE WRITINGS AND UTTERANCES OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHA

These souls are the armies of God and the conquerors of the East and the West. Should one of them turn his face toward some direction and summon the people to the Kingdom of God, all the ideal forces and lordly confirmations will rush to his support and reinforcement. He will behold all the doors open and all the strong fortifications and impregnable castles razed to the ground. Singly and alone he will attack the armies of the world, defeat the right and left wings of the hosts of all the countries, break through the lines of the legions of all the nations and carry his attack to the very centre of the powers of the earth. This is the meaning of the Hosts of God. (Tablets of the Divine Plan, pp. 47-48)

°

If in this day a soul shall act according to the precepts and the counsels of God, he will serve as a divine physician to mankind, and like the trump of Isrfil, he will call the dead of this contingent world to life; for the confirmations of the Abha Realm are never interrupted, and such a virtuous soul hath, to befriend him, the unfailing help of the Company on high. Thus shall a sorry gnat become an eagle in the fulness of his strength, and a feeble sparrow change to a royal falcon in the heights of ancient glory. (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 23)

°

.-. Know thou of a certainty that thy Lord will come to thine aid with a company of the Concourse on high and hosts of the Abha Kingdom. These will mount the attack, and will furiously assail the forces of the ignornant, the blind. (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 43)

° ... If a small number of people gather lovingly together, with absolute purity and sanctity with their hearts free of the world, experiencing the emotions of the Kingdom and the powerful magnetic forces of the Divine, and being at one in their happy fellowship, that gathering will exert its influence over all the earth. The nature of that band of people, the words they speak, the deeds they do, will unleash the bestowals of Heaven, and provide a foretaste of eternal bliss. The hosts of the Company on high will defend them, and the angels of the Abha Paradise, in continuous succession, will come down to their aid. (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 81) °

He will come to your aid with in le hosts, and support you with armies of inspiration from the Concourse above; He will send unto you sweet perfumes from the highest Paradise, and waft over you the pure breathings that blow from the rose gardens of the Company on high. He will © breathe into your hearts the spirt of life, cause you to enter the Ark of salvation, and reveal unto you

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His clear tokens and signs. Verily is this abounding grace. Verily is this the victory that none can deny. (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’lBahd, pp. 186-187)

°

.. Rest ye assured that if a soul ariseth in the utmost perseverance and raiseth the Call of the Kingdom and resolutely promulgateth the Covenant, be he an insignificant ant he shall be enabled to drive away the formidable elephant from the arena, and if he be a feeble moth he shall cut to pieces the plumage of the rapacious vulture. (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 209)

The confirmations of Him Who is the EverForgiving have wrapped every clime in light, the armies of the Company on high are rushing forward to do battle at the side of the friends of the Lord and carry the day ...(Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 229)

°

All praise and thanksgiving be unto the Blessed Beauty, for calling into action the armies of His Abha Kingdom, and sending forth to us His never-interrupted aid, dependable as the rising stars. (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’lBahd, p. 237)

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Whensoever holy souls, drawing on the powers of heaven, shall arise with such qualities of the spirit, and march in unison, rank on rank, every one of those souls will be even as one thousand, and the surging waves of that mighty ocean will be even as the battalions of the Concourse on high. (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 260) ¢

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+, O ye servants of the Sacred Threshold! The

triumphant hosts of the Celestial Concourse, arrayed and marshalled in the Realms above, stand ready and expectant to assist and assure victory to that valiant horseman who with confidence spurs on his charger into the arena of service. Well is it with that fearless warrior, who armed with the power of true Knowledge, hastens unto the field, disperses the armies of ignorance, and scatters the hosts of error, who holds aloft the Standard of Divine Guidance, and sounds the Clarion of Vic achieved a glorious triumph and obtained the true victory. (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’lBahd, p. 264)

. Be not grieved at the smallness of your number and thank God for the power of your spirits. He shall assist you with such a confirmation whereat minds will be astonished and souls will be amazed. (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 80) °

Be ye assured with the greatest assurance that, verily, God will help those who are firm in His Covenant in every matter, through His confirmation and favour, the lights of which will shine

thereof. He will make them the signs of guidance

tory. By the righteousness of the Lord! He hath_

forth unto the east of the earth, as well as the west _

among the creation and as shining and glittering _ stars from all horizons. (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 83)

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Arise with every power to assist the Covenant of God and serve in His vineyard. Be confident that a confirmation will be granted unto you and a success on His part is given unto you. Verily, He shall support you by the angels of His holiness and reinforce you with the breaths of the Spirit that ye may mount the Ark of Safety, set forth the evident signs, impart the spirit of life, declare the essence of His commands and precepts, guide the sheep who are straying from the fold in all directions, and give the blessings. Ye have to use every effort in your power and strive earnestly and wisely in this new century. By God, verily the Lord of Hosts is your support, the angels of heaven your assistance, the Holy Spirit your companion and the Centre of the Covenant your helper. Be not idle, but active and fear not. (Tablets of ‘Abdu’lBahd, p. 162; Bahd’f World Faith, p. 362)

°

By the Lord of the Kingdom! If one arise to promote the Word of God with a pure heart, overflowing with the love of God and severed from the world, the Lord of Hosts will assist him with such power as will penetrate the core of the existent beings. (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 348)

.

- It is known and clear that today the unseen

divine assistance encompasseth those who deliver the Message. And if the work of delivering the Message be neglected, the assistance shall be entirely cut off, for it is impossible that the friends of God could receive assistance unless they be engaged in delivering the Message. (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, pp. Sane

. Your Lord hath saebiedty promised His servants who are firm and steadfast to render them victorious at all times, to exalt their word, propagate their power, diffuse their lights, strengthen their hearts, elevate their banners, assist their hosts, brighten their stars, increase the abundance of the showers of mercy upon them, and enable the brave lions to conquer.

Hasten, hasten, O ye firm believers! Hasten, hasten, O ye steadfast! Abandon the heedless, set aside every ignorant, take hold of the strong rope, be firm in this Great Cause, draw light from this Evident Light, be patient and steadfast in this wise Religion! Ye shall see the hosts of inspiration descending successively from the Supreme World, the procession of attraction falling incessantly from the heights of heaven, the abundance of the ‘Kingdom of El-Abha outpouring continually and the teachings of God penetrating with the utmost power, while the heedless are indeed in evident loss. (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, pp. 442-443)

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Today, any soul who looseneth his tongue in the delivery of Truth and is engaged in the diffusion of the fragrances of God, he shall undoubtedly be assisted and confirmed by the Holy Spirit and can resist the attacks of all the people of the

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world, (for the) power of the Realm of Might shall prevail. That is why thou seest that, although the disciples of Christ were physically weak and apparently vanquished by the persecution of every king, yet in the end were victorious over all and brought them under their protection. (Tablets of “‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 508) .

Should anyone in this day attach his heart to the Kingdom, release himself from all else save God and become attracted to the fragrances of holiness, the army of the Kingdom of Abha will help him and the angels of the Supreme Concourse will assist him. (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahd, p. 591)

Remember not your own limitations; the help of God will come to you. Forget yourself. God’s help will surely come!

When you call on the Mercy of God waiting to reinforce you, your strength will be tenfold.

Look at me: I am so feeble, yet I have had the strength given me to come amongst you: a poor servant of God, who has been enabled to give you this message! I shall not be with you long! One must never consider one’s own feebleness, it is the strength of the Holy Spirit of Love, which gives the power to teach. The thought of our own weakness could only bring despair. We must look higher than all earthly thoughts; detach ourselves from every material idea, crave for the things of the spirit; fix our eyes on the everlasting bountiful Mercy of the Almighty, who will fill our souls with the gladness of joyful service to His command “Love One Another.” (Paris Talks, pp. 38-39)

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How great, how very great is the Cause; how very fierce the onslaught of all the peoples and kindreds of the earth! Erelong shall the clamour of the multitude throughout Africa, throughout America, the cry of the European and of the Turk, the groaning of India and China be heard from far and near. One and all they shall arise with all their power to resist His Cause. Then shall the Knights of the Lord, assisted by grace from on high, strengthened by faith, aided by the power of understanding and reinforced by the legions of the Covenant, arise and make manifest the truth of the verse: ‘Behold the confusion that hath befallen the tribes of the defeated!’’ (Quoted in Baha’i Administration, p. 123)

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The Bab hath said: ‘‘Should a tiny ant desire, in this day, to be possessed of such power as to be able to unravel the abstrusest and most bewildering passages of the Qur’4n, its wish will no doubt be fulfilled, inasmuch as the mystery of eternal might vibrates within the innermost being of all created things.’’ If so helpless a creature can be endowed with so subtle a capacity, how much more efficacious must be the power released through the liberal effusions of the grace of Baha*u’llah! (Quoted in The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 39)

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The Kingdom of God is possessed of limitless potency. Audacious must be the army of life if the confirming aid of that Kingdom is to be repeatedly vouchsafed unto it ... Vast is the arena, and the time ripe to spur on the charger within it. Now is the time to reveal the force of one’s strength, the stoutness of one’s heart and the might of one’s soul. (Quoted from a letter dated January 28, 1939, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States and Canada; Messages to America, p. 17)

°

And now you, if you act in accordance with the teachings of Bahd’u’lláh, may rest assured that you will be aided and confirmed. In all affairs which you undertake, you shall be rendered victorious, and all the inhabitants of the earth cannot withstand you. You are the conquerors, because the power. of the Holy Spirit is your assistant. Above and over physical forces, phenomenal forces, the Holy Spirit itself shall aid you. (Quoted in Star of the West, Vol. 8, No. 8, p. 103)

.

O ye my soldiers of the Kingdom!

... Be ye valiant and fearless! Day by day add to your spiritual victories. Be ye not disturbed by the constant assaults of the enemies. Attack ye like unto the roaring lions. Have no thought of yourselves, for the invisible armies of the Kingdom are fighting on your side. Enter ye the battlefield with the Confirmations of the Holy Spirit. Know ye of a certainty that the powers of the Kingdom of Abha are with you. The hosts of the heaven of Truth are with you. The cool breezes of the Paradise of Abha are wafting over your heated brows. Not for a moment are ye alone. Not for a second are ye left to yourselves. The Beauty of Abhd is with you. The Glorious God is with you. The King of Kings is with you. (Quoted in Star of the West, Vol. 13, No. 5, p. 113)

. EXCERPTS FROM THE WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI AND LETTERS WRITTEN ON HIS BEHALF

THE WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI

Difficult and delicate though be our task, the sustaining power of Baha’u’llah and of His Divine guidance will assuredly assist us if we follow steadfastly in His way, and strive to uphold the integrity of His laws. The light of His redeeming grace, which no earthly power can obscure, will if we persevere, illuminate our path, as we steer our course amid the snares and pitfalls of a troubled age, and will enable us to discharge our duties ina manner that would redound to the glory and the honour of His blessed Name. (From a letter dated March 21, 1932, to the Bahd’is of the United States and Canada; The World Order of Bahd*u’lláh, p. 67)

.

“Peter,”’ ‘Abdu’l-Baha has testified, ‘‘according to the history of the Church, was also incapable of keeping count of the days of the week. ‘Whenever he decided to go fishing, he would tie up his weekly food into seven parcels, and every

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Review

day he would eat one of them, and when he had reached the seventh, he would know that the Sabbath had arrived, and thereupon would observe it.’’ If the Son of Man was capable of infusing into apparently so crude and helpless an instrument such potency as to cause, in the words of Baha’w'lláh, “the mysteries of wisdom and utterance to flow out of his mouth,” and to exalt him above the rest of His disciples, and render him fit to become His successor and the founder of His Church, how much more can the Father, Who is Baha’u’llah, empower the most puny and insignificant among His followers to achieve, for the execution of His purpose, such wonders as would dwarf the mightiest achievements of even the first ‘apostle of Jesus Christ! (The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 38) .

... There is no time to lose. There is no room left for vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the Bread of Life. The stage is set. The firm and irrevocable Promise is given. God’s own Plan has been set in motion. It is gathering momentum with every passing day. The powers of heaven and earth mysteriously assist in its execution. Such an opportunity is irreplaceable. Let the doubter arise and himself verify the truth of such assertions. To try, to persevere, is to ensure ultimate and complete victory. (From a letter dated January 28, 1939, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States and Canada; Messages to America, 1932-1946, p. 17)

.

Faced with such a challenge, a community that has scaled thus far such peaks of enduring achievements can neither falter nor recoil. Confident in its destiny, reliant on its God-given power, fortified by the consciousness of its past victories, galvanized into action at the sight of a slowly disrupting civilization, it will—I can have no doubt—continue to fulfil unflinchingly the immediate requirements of its task, assured that with every step it takes and with each stage it traverses, a fresh revelation of Divine light and strength will guide and propel it forward until it consummates, in the fulness of time and in the plenitude of its power, the Plan inseparably bound up with its shining destiny. (From a letter dated July 4, 1939, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States and Canada; Messages to America, 1932-1946, p. 26)

.

... The field, in all its vastness and fertility, is wide open and near at hand. The harvest is ripe. The hour is over-due. The signal has been given. The spiritual forces, mysteriously released, are already operating with increasing momentum, unchallenged and unchecked. Victory, speedy and unquestioned, is assured to whosoever will arise and respond to this second, this urgent and vital call. (From a letter dated July 28, 1939, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States and Canada; Messages to America, 1932-1946, pp. 28-29)

++. The vastness of the field, the smallness of

your numbers, the indifference of the masses, must neither discourage nor appal you. You should at all times fix your gaze on the promise of Baha’u’llah, put your whole trust in His creative Word, recall the past and manifold evidences of His all-encompassing and resistless power and arise to become worthy and exemplary recipients of His all-sustaining grace and blessings. (From a letter dated June 29, 1941, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’ is of India; Dawn of a New Day, p. 90) .

... If the friends, individually and collectively play their part and exert their utmost the abundant blessings of Baha’u’llah will be fully vouchsafed and the triumph of the Plan will make a glorious chapter in the history of the Faith. (From a letter dated December 18, 1945, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’fs of the British Isles)

... Forces mysteriously released designed direct operation stimulate processes ensure consummation second stage Divine Plan inconceivably potent. Full rapid use these forces by organized community alive sublimity mission imperative. Manifold agencies local regional national intercontinental directly responsible prosecution Plan now called upon achieve respective spheres ...successes so conspicuous as shall immeasurably fortify hopes winning stipulated time total decisive victory ... (From a cablegram dated October 7, 1946, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States and Canada; Messages to America, 1932-1946, p. 108)

°

«+. The invisible hosts of the Kingdom are ready and eager to rush forth to the assistance of such as will have the courage to weigh the issues involved and to take the decision commensurate with these issues. (From a letter dated September 6, 1949, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the British Isles)

.

..- Time is short. Opportunities, though multiplying with every passing hour, will not recur, some for another century, others never again. However severe the challenge, however multiple the tasks, however short the time, however sombre the world outlook, however limited the material resources of a hard-pressed and adolescent community, the untapped sources of celestial strength from which it can draw are measureless, in their potencies, and will unhesitatingly pour forth their energizing influences if the necessary daily effort be made and the required sacrifices be willingly accepted. (From a letter dated July 5, 1950, to the American Baha’{ community; Citadel of Faith, p. 85)

.

-.. The invisible battalions of the Concourse on High are mustered, in serried ranks, ready to rush their reinforcements to the aid of the vanguard of Baha’u’llah’s crusaders in the hour of their greatest need ... (From a letter dated November 23, 1951, to the American Baha’{ community;

ois [Page 27][Bahai See

Citadel of Faith, p. 105) °

... Lord Hosts King of Kings pledged unfailing aid every crusader battling His Cause. Invisible battalions mustered rank upon rank ready pour forth reinforcements from on high. (From a cablegram dated October 8, 1952; Messages to the Bahd’f World, p. 44)

.

Putting on the armour of His love, firmly buckling on the shield of His mighty Covenant, mounted on the steed of steadfastness, holding aloft the lance of the Word of the Lord of Hosts, and with unquestioning reliance on His promises as the best provision for their journey, let them set their faces towards those fields that still remain unexplored and direct their steps to those goals that are as yet unattained, assured that He Who has led them to achieve such triumphs, and to store up such prizes in His Kingdom, will continue to assist them in enriching their spiritual birthright to a degree that no finite mind can imagine or human heart perceive. (From a letter dated April 1956; Messages to the Bahd’t World, p. 102)

.

Delicate and strenuous though the task may be, however arduous and prolonged the effort required, whatsoever the nature of the perils and pitfalls that beset the path of whoever arises to revive the fortunes of a Faith struggling against the rising forces of materialism, nationalism, secularism, racialism, ecclesiasticism, the allconquering potency of the grace of God, vouchsafed through the Revelation of *Baha’u’ll4h, will, undoubtedly, mysteriously and surprisingly, enable whosoever arises to champion His Cause to win complete and total victory. (From a letter dated July 19, 1956, to the American Baha’{ community; Citadel of Faith, p. 149)

.

... the sustaining grace promised to all those who will arise with single-mindedness, courage, dedication and high resolve, to aid in the attainment of these noble objectives, is of such potency that no earthly power can resist the ultimate fulfilment of so glorious a task, or even delay its eventual fruition. (From a letter dated June 27, 1957, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of New Zealand) .

.

The Concourse on high watches over them ready to vouchsafe its aid and confer its blessings on their valiant and concerted endeavours. The Author of the Divine Plan will, as promised by Him in His epoch-making Tablets, assist them to surmount whatever obstacles they may encounter

~ in their path, and crown their historic enterprise with a resounding victory. The Founder of their Faith Himself will not fail to reward them in His own Kingdom, and in accordance with His wisdom and bounty, for their share in the furtherance of the interests of His worldencompassing Order, and to exalt them amidst the company of His immortal saints and heroes dwelling in the Abha Kingdom. (From a letter dated July 2, 1957, to the National Spiritual Assembly

of the Baha’is of the Iberian Peninsula) . FROM LETTERS WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF SHOGHI EFFENDI

Perhaps the reason why you have not accomplished so much in the field of teaching, is the extent you looked upon your own weaknesses and inabilities to spread the Message. Baha’u’ll4h and the Master have both urged us repeatedly to disregard our own handicaps and lay our whole reliance upon God. He will come to our help if we only arise and become an active channel for God’s grace. Do you think it is the teachers who make converts and change human hearts? No, surely not. They are only pure souls who take the first step, and then let the spirit of Baha’u’llah move them and make use of them. If any one of them should even for a second consider his achievements as due to his own capacities, his work is ended and his fall starts. This is in fact the reason why so many competent souls have after wonderful services suddenly found themselves absolutely impotent and perhaps thrown aside by the Spirit of the Cause as useless souls. The criterion is the extent to which we are ready to have the will of God operate through us.

Stop being conscious of your frailties, therefore; have a perfect reliance upon God; let your heart burn with the desire to serve His Mission and proclaim His call; and you will observe how eloquence and the power to change human hearts will come as a matter of course.

Shoghi Effendi will surely pray for your success if you should arise and start to teach. In fact the mere act of arising will win for you God’s help and blessings. (From a letter dated March 31, 1932, to an individual believer)

°

... You should never look at your own limitations, much less to allow them to deter you from promoting the Message. For the believers, whether capable or not, whether poor or rich, and whether influential or obscure, are after all but mere channels through which God carries His Message to Mankind. They are instruments, whereby He communicates His will to His people. The friends, therefore, must cease looking at their own deficiencies in a way that would kill in them the spirit of initiative and of service. They should have confidence in the divine assistance promised to them by Baha’u’llah, and strengthened and revived by such an assurance they should continue to toil till the very end of their lives. (From a letter dated March 18, 1934, to an individual believer)

°

... The invisible hosts of the Kingdom are ready to extend to you all the assistance you need, and through them you will no doubt succeed in removing every obstacle in your way, and in fulfilling this most cherished desire of your heart. Baha’u’llah has given us promise that should we persevere in our efforts and repose all our confidence in Him the doors of success will be widely open before us. (From a letter dated September 22, 1936, to an individual believer)

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day he would eat one of them, and when he had reached the seventh, he would know that the Sabbath had arrived, and thereupon would observe it.”” If the Son of Man was capable of infusing into apparently so crude and helpless an instrument such potency as to cause, in the words of Baha’u'llah, “the mysteries of wisdom and utterance to flow out of his mouth,” and to exalt him above the rest of His disciples, and render him fit to become His successor and the founder of His Church, how much more can the Father, Who is Baha’u’ll4h, empower the most puny and insignificant among His followers to achieve, for the execution of His purpose, such wonders as would dwarf the mightiest achievements of even the first “apostle of Jesus Christ! (The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 38) .

... There is no time to lose. There is no room left for vacillation. Multitudes hunger for the Bread of Life. The stage is set. The firm and irrevocable Promise is given. God’s own Plan has been set in motion. It is gathering momentum with every passing day. The powers of heaven and earth mysteriously assist in its execution. Such an opportunity is irreplaceable. Let the doubter arise and himself verify the truth of such assertions. To try, to persevere, is to ensure ultimate and complete victory. (From a letter dated January 28, 1939, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahd’is of the United States and Canada; Messages to America, 1932-1946, p. 17)

Faced with such a challenge, a community that has scaled thus far such peaks of enduring achievements can neither falter nor recoil. Confident in its destiny, reliant on its God-given power, fortified by the consciousness of its past victories, galvanized into action at the sight of a slowly disrupting civilization, it will—I can have no doubt—continue to fulfil unflinchingly the immediate requirements of its task, assured that with every step it takes and with each stage it traverses, a fresh revelation of Divine light and strength will guide and propel it forward until it consummates, in the fulness of time and in the plenitude of its power, the Plan inseparably bound up with its shining destiny. (From a letter dated July 4, 1939, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States and Canada; Messages to America, 1932-1946, p. 26)

.

-.. The field, in all its vastness and fertility, is wide open and near at hand. The harvest is ripe. The hour is over-due. The signal has been given. The spiritual forces, mysteriously released, are already operating with increasing momentum, unchallenged and unchecked. Victory, speedy and unquestioned, is assured to whosoever will arise and respond to this second, this urgent and vital call. (From a letter dated July 28, 1939, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of the United States and Canada; Messages to America, 1932-1946, pp. 28-29)

. ++. The vastness of the field, the smallness of

your numbers, the indifference of the masses, must neither discourage nor appal you. You should at all times fix your gaze on the promise of Baha’u’ll4h, put your whole trust in His creative Word, recall the past and manifold evidences of His all-encompassing and resistless power and arise to become worthy and exemplary recipients of His all-sustaining grace and blessings. (From a letter dated June 29, 1941, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of India; Dawn of a New Day, p. 90)

.

... If the friends, individually and collectively play their part and exert their utmost the abundant blessings of Bahd’u’llah will be fully vouchsafed and the triumph of the Plan will make a glorious chapter in the history of the Faith. (From a letter dated December 18, 1945, to the National Se Assembly of the Baha’is of the British Isles)

... Forces mysteriously released designed direct operation stimulate processes ensure consummation second stage Divine Plan inconceivably potent. Full rapid use these forces by organized community alive sublimity mission imperative. Manifold agencies local regional national intercontinental directly responsible prosecution Plan now called upon achieve respective spheres ...successes so conspicuous as shall immeasurably fortify hopes winning stipulated time total decisive victory ... (From a cablegram dated October 7, 1946, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahda’is of the United States and Canada; Messages to America, 1932-1946, p. 108)

.

«+. The invisible hosts of the Kingdom are ready and eager to rush forth to the assistance of such as will have the courage to weigh the issues involved and to take the decision commensurate with these issues. (From a letter dated September 6, 1949, to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’ is of the British Isles)

°

... Time is short. Opportunities, though multiplying with every passing hour, will not recir, some for another century, others never again. However severe the challenge, however multiple the tasks, however short the time, however sombre the world outlook, however limited the material resources of a hard-pressed and adolescent community, the untapped sources of celestial strength from which it can draw are measureless, in their potencies, and will unhesitatingly pour forth their energizing influences if the necessary daily effort be made and the required sacrifices be willingly accepted. (From a letter dated July 5, 1950, to the American Baha’i community; Citadel of Faith, p. 85)

.

«+. The invisible battalions of the Concourse on High are mustered, in serried ranks, ready to rush their reinforcements to the aid of the vanguard of Baha’u’llah’s crusaders in the hour of their greatest need ... (From a letter dated November 23, 1951, to the American Baha’{ community;