The American Bahá’í/Volume 14/Issue 10/Text

←Previous

The American Bahá’í October, 1983

Next→

Return to PDF view Proofread once

[Page 1]October 1983

Iran’s Bahá’í administration is dissolved

In response to new government ban

SORELY TRIED COMMUNITY GREATEST NAME IRAN HAS IN RECENT DAYS SUSTAINED YET ANOTHER CRUEL BLOW OPENING NEW CHAPTER ITS TURBULENT HISTORY. ON 29 AUGUST IN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT THROUGH STATEMENT ISSUED ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED BAN BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION, RECITING USUAL FALSE ACCUSATIONS STATING EXISTENCE ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALLY CONSIDERED TO BE AGAINST LAWS CONSTITUTION COUNTRY. HOWEVER STATEMENT SAID BAHÁ’ÍS MAY PRACTICE BELIEFS AS PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS PROVIDED THEY DO NOT TEACH OR INVITE OTHERS TO JOIN FAITH, THEY DO NOT FORM ASSEMBLIES OR HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ADMINISTRATION. SERVING IN BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION NOW SPECIFIED AS CRIMINAL ACT. THIS LATEST ONSLAUGHT DEFENSELESS COMMUNITY CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES IMPLACABILITY FANATICAL ELEMENTS IN THEIR DRIVE SUPPRESS LIGHT GOD’S INFANT FAITH LAND ITS FIRST GLEAMING.

IN CONFORMITY PRINCIPLE LOYALTY OBEDIENCE GOVERNMENT NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY IRAN IMMEDIATELY TOOK ACTION ‎DISOLVE DISSOLVE‎ BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION THROUGHOUT COUNTRY THUS UPHOLDING INTEGRITY COMMUNITY DESPITE HEAVY YOKE CRUELTIES BORNE BY ITS MEMBERS FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS, CONFIDENT THAT STEADFAST TRIED AND DEVOTED FRIENDS THAT LONG-AGITATED LAND WILL FACE NEW SITUATION WITH RADIANT FORTITUDE. AT SAME TIME BAHÁ’ÍS ELSEWHERE ENJOYING FREEDOM PRACTICE FAITH ACUTELY CHALLENGED TO VINDICATE BY THEIR RECONSECRATION TO IMMEDIATE SACRED TASKS UNABATED SUFFERING THEIR GRIEVOUSLY WRONGED IRANIAN BRETHREN. INDEED ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES URGED TAKE STEPS STRENGTHEN FOUNDATION BAHÁ’Í INSTITUTIONS THEIR COUNTRIES AS TRIBUTE SACRIFICES COURAGEOUSLY ACCEPTED MEMBERS COMMUNITY BAHÁ’U’LLÁH’S NATIVE LAND.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE SEPTEMBER 13, 1983

Bahá’ís from several states prepare to hoist their banner and participate in the 20th anniversary ‘March on Washington’ held August 23 in the nation’s capital. About 300,000 people took part in the march for jobs, peace and freedom. (Story, another photo on Page 12)

U.S. informs government, news media

After receiving the above message from the Universal House of Justice, the National Spiritual Assembly immediately dispatched the following cable to selected government officials and news media:

RECEIVED NEWS THAT ON AUGUST 29 IRAN’S ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED COMPREHENSIVE BAN ON BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATIVE INSTITUTIONS, OUTLAWING ALL BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, WHETHER NATIONAL OR LOCAL, ON PRETEXT THAT EXISTENCE BAHÁ’Í ORGANIZATIONS IS CONTRARY TO ISLAMIC CONSTITUTION. MEMBERSHIP IN BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATIVE INSTITUTIONS (GOVERNING BODIES AND THEIR COMMITTEES, YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, EDUCATIONAL OR CHARITABLE GROUPS) NOW SPECIFIED AS CRIMINAL ACT. THOUGH ATTORNEY GENERAL STATED THAT INDIVIDUAL BAHÁ’ÍS MAY PRACTICE THEIR BELIEFS IN PRIVATE, THIS LATEST ONSLAUGHT IS DESIGNED AS ANOTHER STEP IN GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN TO DESTROY BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY.

FAITHFUL TO PRINCIPLE OF OBEYING LAWS OF THEIR COUNTRY, NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF IRAN HAS DISSOLVED ALL BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATIVE INSTITUTIONS IN IRAN. LONG VICTIMIZED COMMUNITY HAS NOW BEEN DEPRIVED OF ITS DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED LEADERSHIP AND ITS INTERNAL STRUCTURE. THIS TRAGIC DEVELOPMENT IS FRAUGHT WITH FAR REACHING CONSEQUENCES FOR THE VERY LIVES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

AMERICAN BAHÁ’ÍS CALL UPON ALL WHO CHERISH FREEDOM AND HUMAN DECENCY TO PROTEST THE NEW BARBARITY.

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 13, 1983

Splendid speakers, workshops key 8th annual Conference of Association for Bahá’í Studies

Lectures, workshops, the presentation of scholarly papers, and prizes for outstanding essays are among the highlights of the eighth annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies.

THE Conference will be held November 4-7 at the Palmer House in Chicago, marking the first time that the Association has sponsored an annual Conference outside Canada.

Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly, will deliver the Hasan Balyúzí Lecture, named in memory of the Hand of the Cause of God whose scholarly works on the Faith are well known to Bahá’ís all over the world.

Dr. Kazemzadeh, who is presently on a leave of absence from his position as professor of history at Yale University, is to speak on “The Soviet Official Interpretation of Bábí-Bahá’í History.”

In addition to Dr. Kazemzadeh, speakers at the Conference will include:

• Dr. Amin Banani, professor of Islamic studies at UCLA: “Religion or Foreign Intrigue: The Case of the Bábí-Bahá’í Movement in Iran.”
• Dr. Gustavo Correa, director of FUNDAEC, Cali, Colombia: “FUNDAEC: A Case Study of an Alternative for Rural Development.”
• Dr. Hossain Danesh, chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada: “Integrating Personal Change and Social Change in the Bahá’í Paradigm.”
• DR. GLEN Eyford, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada and professor of community development, University of Alberta at Edmonton.

See STUDIES Page 4

Index

Viewpoint	2
Letters	3
The Funds	5
Goals Committee	6
Youth News	7
Education	8-9, 13
Teaching	10-11
Race Unity	12
Publishing Trust price list	14-15
Classifieds	16
Persian	18-20
The Media	21
Publications	22-23
Membership & Records	25
Spanish	26

Teaching Committee urges us to redeem Iran’s sacrifice by restoring Assemblies

In an effort to redeem those Local Spiritual Assemblies dissolved by the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran in response to the government decree making membership in any Bahá’í organization in Iran a crime, the National Teaching Committee is urging every Bahá’í in this country to help reclaim every jeopardized Assembly and bring every large Group to Assembly status in the name of one of Iran’s lost Assemblies.

The National Teaching Committee will soon have available a list of the names of Local Spiritual Assemblies in Iran. Do not hesitate to bring your extension teaching goal to Assembly status now, in the name of Iran’s lost Assemblies, and report it to us.

To help the friends with teaching in their extension goals, the National Teaching Committee has developed a month-by-month plan of action:

In October a regular fireside should be established in every extension teaching goal. A traveling teacher can be invited to speak.

In November Bahá’í youth will be called upon to speak on “The Bahá’í Faith—A New Life.”

In December attempts should

See ASSEMBLIES Page 11 [Page 2]

District Convention letter: Darkness can't hide light of Cause

To the Bahá’ís gathered at the 1983 District Convention

Dear Bahá’í friends:

Today you and tens of thousands of other Bahá’ís throughout the United States will cast your ballots for the delegates who will elect the members of the National Spiritual Assembly next Ridván.

Thus you will act as a part of a divinely established administrative order destined to serve as a model for humanity and ultimately to bring peace on earth and a new civilization to mankind.

THESE ARE dark days. The world is in turmoil, its peoples "wandering in the paths of delusion, bereft of discernment to see God with their own eyes, or hear His melody with their own ears."

In the land of its birth the Faith is under siege, and the Bahá’í community is bleeding from the wounds inflicted by old, relentless enemies.

The future is no less dark. The clouds of war hang ominously over the entire planet, threatening to pour down a deadly rain that could wipe out billions of people and leave great cities piles of radioactive rubble. It is at such moments that one's faith is tested.

Those who believe in Bahá’u’lláh, those who have committed themselves to His care, know that His Cause is indestructible. No disaster, no opposition, no persecution can stay the progress of His Cause.

Those who have committed themselves to Bahá’u’lláh know that they are agents of change, the carriers of the Word, the builders of a new World Order.

IT IS WITH this knowledge that we have embarked on our campaign of unified action, a campaign designed to achieve the goals of the last phase of the Seven Year Plan.

We call upon the friends to consult on the ways and means of accelerating the formation of Local Spiritual Assemblies, of greatly increasing enrollments, and, last but not least, of providing the financial backing for our outstanding national goals: the renovation of the Temple in Wilmette and the construction of radio station WLGI at the Louis Gregory Institute in South Carolina.

We are confident that your consultation will generate a spirit of resolution and dedication that will spread in great waves over the entire Bahá’í community and stimulate every individual Bahá’í to vie with his friends in the field of service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

With loving greetings, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States

On August 20-21, a training conference arranged by Auxiliary Board members Robert Harris (back row, left) and Javidukht Khadem (front row, fourth from left) for their assistants serving in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania was held in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. The hosts for the meeting were the Bahá’ís of Eaton Township, Pennsylvania.

Seminar to map plans for House of Worship restoration

The National Spiritual Assembly has scheduled an invitational seminar to plan for the restoration of the House of Worship in Wilmette.

As a part of the continuing drive for universal participation in the restoration of the House of Worship, and in response to the generous offers already received from many members of the community who have expertise that can help us in carrying out this task, the National Assembly will convene the invitational seminar on November 18-20 in Wilmette.

Those who have architectural, engineering, construction, contracting, or other experience that could be useful are invited to send their resumé, or they may be nominated by others to attend the seminar.

A group of about 20 persons will be selected, representing a balance of the skills needed. They must be prepared to provide their own transportation; hospitality may be available.

The agenda will likely include presentations of engineering studies to date, a close on-site inspection of the House of Worship itself, and discussion of possible solutions to the problems we face in restoring it.

The seminar will divide into working groups to be determined by seminar participants themselves. The over-all objective is to present to the National Spiritual Assembly a plan or alternative plans for the next steps.

The seminar will convene Friday evening, November 18, and end at noon Sunday, November 20.

No true religion divides men from from each other

How strange is the world in which we live. In the past, before we made so much "progress," men were more sensitive to their mortality, were more conscious of living each day on the brink of eternity, were not so far removed and "protected" from the ever-present reality of dying and death.

AND, as a consequence, they were more consciously involved with notions of immortality. They were comforted and sustained by a religious vision that lifted them above the frustrations and fluctuations of mortal existence.

But when such a sustaining vision dies, a vision of continuity that transcends worldly existence and prods men to embody a universal view, then, as the writer of Proverbs so clearly saw, "the people perish."

Today, it would seem, the "vision" that preoccupies too many of us is no longer world-embracing, no longer buttressed by an abiding faith in an all-powerful Supreme Being, no longer rooted in a deep-seated belief in the soul's immortality.

Instead, many are dedicated only to the moment, their vision confined to their own petty selves.

The inner peace once afforded to them by an immovable faith is now sought in drugs and chemicals. Tranquillity can be bought with a drug, sleep with a drug, self-restraint with a drug, and perpetual escape with assorted drugs.

THE ESCAPE from the harshness and brutality of our material world into a higher sort of consciousness once offered by religion has been replaced by the poisonous escapes prescribed by doctors and other dealers in drugs.

Others, meanwhile, "escape" into super-materialism, vying with one another to achieve "success" at all costs, never once pausing to realize that this route is dry-rot to the soul and cancerous decay to the spirit.

"Me" first, last and always is the new "religion" today. I, me, and mine are the gods that are worshipped, and such gods exact a tithe so corrupting and corrosive that it soon dehumanizes the worshippers into a state less than that of an animal.

"I" becomes the center of the universe, and all creatures great and small consequently become mere objects for "my" use, convenience, and personal pleasure, or annoying obstacles to be hurdled, overcome or destroyed.

The only semblance of human relationships of which these new "religionists" are capable is one of tacitly agreed upon mutual use of each other.

IN THE new scheme of things, one gives to get; one is charming and considerate to take advantage of another; one is polished and disarming to hide his real motivations; one is only happy when he can succeed in manipulating others cleverly to his own advantage.

How sad! How infinitely sad that men should victimize themselves and others in this cruel and diabolical fashion. How utterly pathetic that any of us would spend these few precious days of mortality in rapacity, greed, selfishness and self-destructive inversions.

The worst of the lot are those who use religion as a vehicle to advance themselves, to enhance their power and prestige.

No true religion may be used to divide men from each other, turn them against each other, or set up a false doctrine of superiority for its adherents.

If religion is not a unifying, uplifting, universalizing, ennobling, love-engendering, compassion-promoting force, then it can only be considered false.

IF HATRED is preached instead of love, intolerance instead of compassion, animosity instead of forgiveness, elitism instead of universality, and "holy" aggression instead of humility and meekness, such a "religion" is anathema and undoubtedly false.

The true religionist sees no one as an "enemy," perceives all others as brothers and sisters, children of the same God, is devoted to service to his fellow-man, is unswervingly dedicated to the sacredness of life, is not motivated by dark egotistical urges to overcome another in any way, and is painfully aware of his own shortcomings in relation to an all-perfect God.

The true religionist makes no display of his religious principles but is consumed with the business of living those principles to the limit of his abilities and is ever deeply concerned about never of—

(This month's article, "Not Always to the Swift," was written by Leonard D. Godwin of Anaheim, California.) [Page 3]

LETTERS

“The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

The American Bahá’í welcomes letters to the editor on any topic of general interest. The purpose of the “letters” column is to allow a free and open exchange of ideas, never to derogate another’s opinions or attack anyone on a personal level.

To assure publication of your letter, please keep it as brief as possible (a maximum of 250 words is suggested). Letters may be edited to conform to length and style.

Please address letters to the editor, The American Bahá’í, National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Ridván message compassionate, encouraging

To the Editor:

When I read the Ridván letter from the Universal House of Justice I was so touched that my heart dissolved in tears. I felt as if Bahá’u’lláh Himself were sending me a personal message of encouragement.

I sometimes feel discouraged and even overwhelmed by the tremendous forces of negativity in our society, the needs of the Bahá’í community, and my own shortcomings. I wouldn’t have been surprised if the House of Justice had gently chided us for not teaching and proclaiming enough, for not giving enough to the Funds, for not being unified enough.

But instead, with such wonderful love and compassion, they point to the evidences of “the growing maturity of a worldwide religious community,” affirm that they have “no doubt” that we “will accomplish all these tasks and go forward to new achievements,” remind us of such a fundamental truth as “the powers released by Bahá’u’lláh match the needs of the times,” and offer us pure inspiration and joy in their final words: “It is a time for rejoicing. The Sun of Bahá’u’lláh is mounting the heavens ... Lift up your hearts. The Day of God is here.”

If ever I needed a demonstration of the effect of looking at good qualities rather than bad ones, surely it is here in this letter. My discouragement has vanished. I feel loved, encouraged, and ready to move on.

Joan West Avondale, Louisiana

To the Editor:

The publication of pocket-sized editions of Gleanings and the Kitáb-i-Íqán fills a large need in teaching and personal deepening.

I am concerned that these two small books might disappear into pockets or purses and become tattered and torn. I hope that the friends will treat these Holy Scriptures with dignity and reverence.

An idea might be to keep the books in small cases or covers at all times. In addition to maintaining our own sense of reverence for the Word of God, we want seekers to see that we treat our holy books with great care and love.

Margaret Warden Maytan ‎Ojebyn Öjebyn‎, Sweden

To the Editor:

As to the profession of journalism, Bahá’u’lláh says, “...they must inquire into matters as much as possible, in order that they may be informed of the real facts and commit the same to writing.”

It is true that most of us are not professional journalists, but perhaps it does behoove us to follow His admonition and, as in consultation, “ascertain all the facts.”

BAHÁ’ÍS as a whole work at trying to be positive, looking always for the good points and placing things in the best possible light.

I think we can still be positive while staying with factual reporting of events.

Have you ever read an account of a proclamation or teaching event in which you participated and wondered if you were reading about that same event?

When we embellish an event beyond recognition, it is not only a poor recording of history, but, I think, creates a more immediate problem for us: It can create disillusionment, discouragement, and feelings of inadequacy.

Those who read such articles could wonder, “Why aren’t our events that successful?” or “Why aren’t I ever involved in a real teaching project?” or “Why do our projects seem to be less by comparison?”

SINCE we are a young Faith, we learn by watching, and listening, and comparing our efforts to others.

Bahá’u’lláh does tell us to refrain from exaggeration. It is discouraging to compare our efforts to those that may have been reported as bigger than life.

It would be sad indeed if we began to feel that we could believe only half of what we read in Bahá’í publications.

M. Sue Tingstad Coupeville, Washington

To the Editor:

When we write to The American Bahá’í, could we not use the same rules that govern consultation in Bahá’í meetings?

If we find offense in an opinion expressed by another, isn’t it possible to state in a positive, loving way our own opinion without dwelling on the errors in the other Bahá’í’s point of view?

I wish to see The American Bahá’í filled with ideas for children’s classes and teaching, ways to better understand the other races in our communities, and expressions of love for the dedicated Bahá’ís who are sacrificing daily for the Cause.

When a person who has not yet discovered Bahá’u’lláh finds a copy of The American Bahá’í, I want him or her to be thrilled by the lofty thoughts of this group of people and moved to seek out the Bahá’ís who must be different and more joyful than the general population.

“I swear this by the beauty of the Lord; whensoever I hear good of the friends, my heart filleth up with joy; but whensoever I find even a hint that they are on bad terms with one other, I am overwhelmed by grief. Such is the condition of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Then judge from this where your duty lieth.” (Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 231)

‘Abdu’l-Bahá also said, “I am waiting, patiently waiting.” I don’t think we can assume that the Master does not know what is printed in The American Bahá’í.

Ron Frazer Phoenix, Arizona

To the Editor:

I would like to express the delight I experienced in reading Marion Yazdi’s book, Youth in the Vanguard, and to share the outstanding points of interest that I felt were made in the book.

I was most impressed with the consistent, careful preparations made for each weekly Bahá’í fireside by the author when a college student.

WRITTEN invitations were sent to important people, personal calls were made, announcements were placed in university dining rooms, and press releases were prepared and sent—all on a weekly basis.

The depth of commitment on the part of student seekers to attend and participate in the meetings was astonishing.

Also exciting to me was the fact that the author as a youth would have realized the historical importance of interviewing Dr. David Starr Jordan, the president of Stanford University, to record his impressions of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and thereby to acquire a central place on campus for weekly Bahá’í meetings.

The humanness with which the story is told, depicting the strengths and weaknesses of the early Bahá’í community, illustrates the heroic efforts made by those Bahá’ís to rise above their shortcomings.

That they succeeded in establishing a firm foundation upon which future successes of the Bahá’í Faith have rested is irrefutable.

Youth in the Vanguard was an inspiration to me—even as I approach middle age—and I would recommend it to anyone, but especially to young men and women who are making a commitment to serve the Faith.

Jan Jackson Torrance California

To the Editor:

I would like to share my feelings about doing volunteer work in my community.

I play the piano at a nursing home during their lunch hour and help at the Lighthouse for the Blind.

These are all senior citizens, and they are so receptive to hearing about the Faith.

I have read them many prayers, taken them to Bahá’í picnics and firesides, and just tried to be their friend and take care of their needs.

As I associate with these people, I feel as if I’ve become more deepened in the Faith as I must always set an example of the Bahá’í way.

I have derived much more from my volunteer work than I have given. I have grown firmer in the Covenant and consolidated my faith.

I urge any and all of the friends to participate more fully in community activities, if possible. Try it! You’ll love it!

Mary Furlet Dallas, Texas

To the Editor:

I was heartened to read Dr. Catherine Elliott’s letter in the July issue of The American Bahá’í. Her comments reflect an understanding that I hope is becoming more prevalent in the Bahá’í community.

I TOO have been dismayed by the attitude of many individuals on the necessity of motherhood. My husband and I are remaining childless by choice. The unfavorable response this prompted me to write to the Universal House of Justice about our decision.

Their opening comment to me was, “...the condition of being childless is a matter personal to the couple, and should not be the concern of their fellow Bahá’ís.”

The significance of marriage and the privilege of child-rearing are evident in the Writings, but not every individual will select these options.

Nothing I have been exposed to (and I was born and raised in a

See LETTERS Page 28

Comment

Continued From Page 2

fending or deliberately harming another soul.

The true religionist is humble but emboldened by the splendor of God, hopes for and expects Divine compassion, is always eager to extend compassion to others, is severe in self-judgment but forgiving of others, prays for those misguided souls who spitefully misuse him, and strives always to see the Face of God in all things.

If anyone were able to measure up to these ideals, he or she would be a perfect Bahá’í.

For my part, the best I can hope for is to ever hold them foremost in my heart and strive to attain some small measure of them.

Perhaps, with the gracious assistance of God, I may be permitted to achieve that small measure as I travel this road, and thus remain essentially human to the end of it.

Two Tales of Discovery for Children

The Spotlessly LEOPARD written and illustrated by WINIFRED BARNUM NEWMAN The leopard’s wish to fly leads, the hard way, to understanding the specialness of being one’s very own self 42 pages 5½ x 8¼ inches Softcover Cat. No. 353-020 $3.00*	B.J. and the Language of the Woodland written by ALVIN N. DEIBERT illustrated by CAROL JOY B.J., a special female frog, learns in seven chapters that communication can be perilous and rewarding 50 pages 5½ x 8¼ inches Softcover Cat. No. 353-019 $3.50*
Order through your local librarian, or send check or money order (including 10% for postage and handling, minimum $1.50) to Bahá’í Publishing Trust 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 *Price valid only in the United States

[Page 4]

the Champion builders

EDWARD B. (SAFFA) KINNEY

Neither extremes of riches nor material want and the loss of loved ones deterred Edward Kinney and his wife, Carrie, from recognizing and serving the Cause of God, moving the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, to designate them as “pillars of the Faith in the City of the Covenant.”

BORN March 9, 1863, in New York City, Edward Beadle Kinney began studying music as a child and obtained his first professional job at age 14 as a church organist.

He attended Richmond College in Virginia and later studied musical composition at Columbia University in New York where he won a scholarship from the American National Conservatory of Music to study under the renowned composer Antonin Dvorak.

Mr. Kinney wrote religious music, taught singing, and held many positions as organist and choir-master in various churches.

He married Helene Morrette, daughter of a socially prominent New York family, who used the name Carrie after their wedding in 1895.

Howard MacNutt, a Bahá’í who was an old friend of Edward’s, invited the Kinneys to his home in the Bronx to hear about the Faith. That same evening, Mr. Kinney wrote to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Within a month, he received a Tablet from the Master, written in red ink, that included the words, “You have been chosen.”

EDWARD became a Bahá’í, as did Carrie not long afterward.

They received permission from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to visit Him in the Holy Land, and with two of their sons, Sanford and Howard, made their first pilgrimage in 1907, shortly after the Master’s release from prison.

In 1909, the Kinney family, accompanied by Juliet Thompson and Alice Beede, again visited See KINNEY Page 27

Bahá’í history conference held in Los Angeles

About 75 Bahá’ís from seven states and Great Britain attended an academic conference on Bahá’í history held the weekend of August 5-7 on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles.

The conference was sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles and the Bahá’í Club at UCLA.

DR. AMIN Banani, a professor at UCLA, opened the conference by stating that it was intended to stimulate greater interest in Bahá’í history and to promote an exchange of information among graduate students and others who are engaged in research.

The weekend’s sessions were organized into four panels, on the Middle East, the Third World, the Bahá’ís of the West, and Ethics and Methodology.

The Middle East panel included a discussion of Dr. Moojan Momen’s paper, “The Bahá’í Influence on the Reform Movements of the Islamic World in the 1860s and 1870s” (Dr. Momen was not present).

Also included were Susan Stiles’ paper on “Conversion to the Bahá’í Faith in Iran,” Juan Cole’s paper on “Siyyid Kazim’s Role in the Attack on Karbila in 1843,” and Diane Taherzadeh’s “Research Into the Life of the Greatest Holy Leaf.”

The panel on Bahá’ís of the West included a paper by Dr. Peter Smith entitled “Emergence from the Cultic Milieu: The Bahá’í Movement in America, 1894-1936.”

ALSO presented were Richard Hollinger’s “Ibrahim Kheiralla and the American Bahá’í Community,” Don Ewalt’s “The Station of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Writings of Shoghi Effendi,” and Dr. John Paul Vader’s paper on “Professor Auguste Forel and the Defense of the Bahá’ís of Iran, 1925-1927.”

The Third World Panel included Dr. William Garlington discussing “The History of the Bahá’ís of India,” Dr. Peter Smith on “The Spread of the Faith in the Third World,” and Anthony Lee on “The Establishment of the Bahá’í Faith in West Africa.”

The final panel, on Ethics and Methodology, stimulated a great deal of fruitful discussion.

A number of those present recommended that the Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles consider making the history conference an annual event.

Shown are panelists at the Bahá’í history conference August 5-7 at UCLA in Los Angeles. From left to right are Diane Taherzadeh, Susan Stiles, Juan Cole, and Amin Banani.

A general view of one of the four panel discussions held during the Bahá’í history conference August 5-7 on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles. About 75 Bahá’ís from seven states and Great Britain attended the conference.

Studies

Continued From Page 1

• Dr. Ervin Laszlo, director, Program on Regional and Interregional Cooperation, United Nations Institute for Training and Research: “The Coming Transformation of Global Society and Today’s Action Imperatives.”
• Dr. Joanna Macy, professor, University of California at Berkeley, and author of Dharma and Development: “A Spiritual Approach to Social Change.”
• Dr. Udo Schaefer, author of The Imperishable Dominion: The Bahá’í Faith and the Future of Mankind and The Light Shineth in Darkness: “Iustitia Fundamentum Regnorum: On the Future of Penal Law.”

The Main Conference sessions are to have three major themes: “New Dimensions in Development,” “Integrating Personal and Social Change: The Bahá’í Paradigm,” and “Elimination of Violence as a Prerequisite for World Peace.”

Other special features of the Conference include:

• Presentation of the 1983 awards for excellence in Bahá’í studies in the high school, college, and general categories. Award winners will then present their works.
• A COMPLIMENTARY reception for Conference registrants from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, November 4.

The reception will include music by Kiu Haghighi of Chicago on the santour; concert pianist Niuta Isserlin of St. Petersburg, Florida; and the Táhirih Bahá’í Chorus of Southern Ontario, Canada.

• A Sunday evening visit to the House of Worship in Wilmette (Conference registrants only) where participants will have prayers in the auditorium, then move to Foundation Hall to hear a brief history of the House of Worship and Dr. Banani’s address on the Bábí-Bahá’í movement in Iran.
• Several workshops Monday morning on the theme “From Ideas to Actions.” Participants will have an opportunity to submit written questions to the resource persons.

The annual meeting of the Association, which is an integral part of the Conference, will be conducted by Dr. Danesh, who is also chairman of the Association’s executive committee.

Dr. Danesh will provide an overview of the development of the Association and a description of plans for its continued development and expansion.

As in past years, Conference sessions will be audio taped by Images International.

TAPES of past Conferences as well as of the upcoming Conference will be available on-the-spot to participants and by mail to those who are unable to attend. The cost is $5 (U.S.) per tape.

The Association has secured a special room rate at the Palmer House, 17 East Monroe St., of $39 plus tax (U.S.) per night for up to four persons.

This means that if four people were to share accommodations, the cost to each per night would be only $9.75.

However, the special rate is good only until October 10. You must register by that date in order to obtain the special rate.

Thereafter, the regular rates of $100 per night for a single room and $120 per night for a double room will apply.

When making your reservation, mention that you are attending the Bahá’í conference. The hotel does not require any deposit.

THE PHONE number of the Palmer House is 312-726-7500.

Registration fees for the Conference itself are $15 (U.S.) for non-members of the Association, $10 for members. Daily fees for those who are unable to attend the entire Conference are $8 for non-members, $5 for members.

Registration fees are non-refundable, but if cancellation is necessary, the fee can be applied toward membership in the Association or its publications.

Don’t miss this chance to participate in the first annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies to be held in the U.S. Send in your registration now by using the form provided below.

REGISTRATION FORM

Eighth Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies November 4-7, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

I wish to register for the eighth annual Conference ___ Member, $10 U.S./person; $12.50 Cdn/person ___ Non-member, $15 U.S./person; $18.50 Cdn/person (Anyone joining the Association pays the reduced registration fee)

___ I wish to reserve accommodations at the Palmer House ($39 U.S./room/night until October 10.

___ I wish to receive further information on transportation by charter bus

Please enclose registration fee (and membership fee, if applicable) payable to the Association for Bahá’í Studies, __________, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7K4 CANADA. (Telephone 613-233-1903)

Name __________________________________________________ Address ________________________________________________ City ____________________ State ________ Zip/Postal code ____ [Page 5]

Treasurer’s Office hosts annual NTR Institute

Members of the staff of the Treasurer’s Office and 42 new and “veteran” National Treasurer’s Representatives from 23 states participated in the annual Labor Day weekend NTR Training Institute, together with National Spiritual Assembly members James and Dorothy Nelson and Alberta Deas, Auxiliary Board member Jalil Mahmoudi, invited guests and spouses.

HELD at the Bosch Bahá’í School in the mountains above Santa Cruz, California, this year’s institute was the first ever held away from the National Center, and with the Bosch staff “ordering up” some exceptional California weather, everyone agreed it was a happy choice.

The theme of the five-day institute was “America’s Spiritual Destiny,” taken from the title of a new deepening course that was presented to the NTRs at the institute and which will be available through them when it is published in November.

The NTRs also received copies of the newly published course, “Where There’s a Will ...,” which provides much useful information on the preparation of one’s will.

From Thursday evening until noon Monday, the NTRs spent their days in orientation classes, sessions devoted to review of courses and presentations, listening to talks by the special invited speakers, and mostly, studying.

Classes and sessions were interspersed with swimming and hiking breaks, dawn devotions in the lovely ‎loas leafy‎ redwood grove, three complete and delicious meals each day, and much joking, punning and singing around a campfire.

SPOUSES and invited guests were kept occupied by programs devised especially for them by the Bosch staff.

The entire Bosch crew—registrar, administrator, kitchen staff, program coordinator—everyone—provided the NTRs and guests with an atmosphere and experience conducive to absorbing much information in a short time.

The National Treasurer’s Representatives program has been expanded to 140 NTRs this year, giving the American Bahá’í community ever greater access to a wealth of deepening material, direct assistance for the local community and for individuals, and the constant inspiration that comes from participation in a nationwide program.

The individuals who carry out this program devote considerable time and energy to it, and their sacrifice was an uplifting example to every one of the staff members who had the opportunity to get to know them.

The enthusiasm generated by the outstanding group of NTRs at the training institute is available for your community to draw on. The Office of the Treasurer soon will publish an updated listing of all NTRs which will be sent to all local Bahá’í communities.

EVERYONE is strongly encouraged to contact the NTR in his area, contact him or her and make arrangements for a presentation of any of the courses available through the NTR program.

In addition to the two new courses already mentioned, “America’s Spiritual Destiny” and “Where There’s a Will ...,” the courses include the following:

• The Individual Believer and the Rhythm of Growth, a course on the spiritual importance of individual participation.
• The Secret of Wealth, a practical course that teaches how to prepare a personal budget and manage family finances.
• The Mystery of Sacrifice, an in-depth examination of the Bahá’í Writings on this fundamental element of Bahá’í life.

Your NTR is trained, enthusiastic and ready to help—draw on this program, and take full advantage of his or her services.

NTRs (from left) Al Okuma (California), John Gallagher (California), Geoffrey Martin (New Hampshire), Norman Ives (Oregon), Lee Carlson (California) and Norman Parks (Oklahoma) are shown during one of the sessions at the Training Institute for National Treasurer’s Representatives held over the Labor Day weekend at the Bosch Bahá’í School.

Questions and answers about Fund’s ‘20,000’

“Dear Treasurer’s Office: There are a few things I don’t understand about being ‘one of the 20,000 ...’”

The Office of the Treasurer continues to receive questions about the National Spiritual Assembly’s goal of 20,000 individuals participating in contributing to the National Fund each Bahá’í month.

In addition, many comments are received pointing out the obvious connection between the relative health of the National Fund and the number of individuals who contribute.

THE OFFICE of the Treasurer would like to take this opportunity to address these questions and comments and to offer another look at this long-sought but still very attainable goal.

In November 1981 a letter was sent to all members of the American Bahá’í community explaining the call made by the National Spiritual Assembly at that year’s District Conventions for “20,000 devoted believers to arise immediately and contribute directly and regularly to the National Fund.”

That call was later echoed by the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears in the 24 special meetings held at his request to honor the martyrs in Iran.

Why the 20,000? How was this figure determined? What is its significance?

First, the National Assembly chose the number because it corresponds to the number of Dawn-breakers who, in the path of the youthful Báb, gave their lives for the Faith.

Those of us in this day, in this country, who have the special joy and privilege of being the “spiritual descendants” of those early faithful, can surely appreciate the appeal and symbolism of that particular number, 20,000.

TO “BE one of the 20,000 today, during this Seven Year Plan day, during this Seven Year Plan of the Universal House of Justice, is a precious opportunity to prove our readiness, as the Guardian put it, “to support materially the Divine institutions of (Bahá’u’lláh’s) Faith.”

Additionally, the National Spiritual Assembly determined that 20,000 individuals contributing to the National Fund every Bahá’í month would assure that the material needs of the Cause in America could be readily met, thus assuring also the uninterrupted achievement of our Seven Year Plan goals.

That first letter regarding the “20,000” included a return card which the individual could use to signify his or her desire to be counted among the 20,000.

To date, some 8,300 responses have been received, although a quick glance at any recent Fund chart will indicate that not every respondent has been able to continue giving regularly.

In October 1982, almost a year after the first letter was sent, the National Assembly sent a second ... See FUNDS Page 17

Treasurer’s Office prepares, publishes new document on preparation of wills

The Office of the Treasurer is pleased to announce the publication of a new document on the preparation of wills.

After more than a year of drafting, “Where There’s a Will ...” was given to the National Treasurer’s Representatives who were present at the annual Labor Day weekend training institute at the Bosch Bahá’í School, and is now available for presentation by your NTR.

THE PURPOSE of the course is to familiarize the American Bahá’í community with both the practical aspects of making a will and the purely Bahá’í considerations.

This information will enable any believer to proceed, together with legal counsel, where required, to prepare a will and thereby satisfy the obligation to obey a law of Bahá’u’lláh as stipulated in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas.

The course is organized in such a way that individuals can work through the material on their own, or gather in groups for a study session of several hours.

The first section, “Why do you need a will?” begins with the “Bahá’í” answers to that question.

Quotations concerning the Bahá’í law to write a will are given, as are explanations of other Bahá’í laws that can be stipulated in a will.

These are divided into three categories: those laws presently binding on the American Bahá’í community; those laws not yet binding; and those that are optional.

See WILLS Page 27 [Page 6]

Letters recount joys, trials of pioneer children

PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL GOALS COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHÁ’ÍS OF THE UNITED STATES

The International Goals Committee receives hundreds of letters each month from every imaginable source—Assemblies, committees, individuals, and of course, from pioneers.

FROM among all those letters, the ones that touch our hearts most deeply are the ones about the children of the pioneers: their tests, their problems, their victories and successes. Two of the most recent letters are reprinted here.

Martha Garman has been a pioneer in Africa since January 1972, and in Nigeria since 1978. She writes of her daughter:

“I took Julie to Lagos to the American ambassador’s house for the American Women’s Club tea and came home inspired to write a verse. It is a composite of three American girls, but basically Julie.

Today my daughter received 3 offers of marriage while buying fruit and drank tea at the Ambassador’s house—she’s a pioneering kid.

Yesterday she slept in a mud house listening to creepy crawlies among the baskets; dined on liver in hot pepper soup—she’s a pioneering kid.

Tomorrow she continues to file hundreds of declaration cards; and will call on our family friend—a State Permanent Secretary—she’s a pioneering kid.

Next month she returns to America for school. She takes her studies seriously, she chose a “minority” for a roommate, she helps others and is polite and considerate and obedient to the extent that the school wrote a special letter of commendation—she’s a pioneering kid.

She wears blue jeans and blond braids, she loves fresh vegetables, she has ever had only 2 small fillings in her teeth, she speaks American English and African English, British English and Asian English, Pidgin English, French and Swahili. Her best friends are velvet black, rich brown, pale white—she’s a pioneering kid.”

This is dedicated to all those parents who didn’t go pioneering because they were afraid of what would happen to their kids.

The Garmans left the U.S. when Julie was six years old.

Nancy Kennedy and her two young daughters left last October to pioneer in Honduras. Recently, Nancy wrote:

“The girls and I just came back from a one-month teaching project here in Honduras. It was really exciting.

“We had a team of about 20 people, all from Honduras. Many of the members were native believers.

“One boy had only been a Bahá’í for two weeks, and he stayed to teach for the whole project. We enrolled a little more than 5,000 Bahá’ís ...

“The girls were marvelous. The days were long and hot, but they endured. They would play with the children wherever we taught.

“Although they got tired and claimed they didn’t want to go teaching anymore, their play time at home was spent re-enacting their teaching experiences and singing the songs they learned on the trip.

“Being a single parent is a big responsibility and difficult at best, and perhaps some parents might feel that pioneering could increase their problems.

“I want parents to know that children are a big responsibility wherever you live, and I don’t notice it being any harder to raise my kids here than in the States.

“In fact, I think it’s better for them here. They are learning two languages rather than one, with apparent ease! ... You build a support system with the Bahá’ís wherever you live.

“And I feel that the pace of living here is healthy. We lack nothing we really need.

“‘Abdu’l-Bahá says children should become accustomed to hardship, and I don’t feel that my children are experiencing much hardship.

“One day while we were walking through a village to help form an Assembly, it was extremely hot, and the girls were feeling quite uncomfortable.

“So I explained to them that when we die, Bahá’u’lláh is going to ask us how we helped the Cause of God and what did we suffer in His path, and that they could talk to Him about when they walked around in the hot sun to help form a Local Assembly.

“The girls always help teach by saying prayers. The people are always impressed that such little children have memorized prayers, and of course they love the beauty of the prayers, so this gives me an opportunity to hand out children’s prayers which we’ve copied off on a sheet ...”

Letters such as these are a constant reminder of the bounties that children bring to our lives. How many of us provide our children with comparable bounties?

It sounds as though Julie Garman and the Kennedy girls are some of the few so blessed.

Combine education, pioneering in Valdivia

“Blessed is he who in the prime of his youth and the heyday of his life will arise to serve the Cause of the Lord of the beginning and of the end, and adorn his heart with His love. The manifestation of such grace is greater than the creation of the heavens and of the earth. Blessed are the steadfast and well is it with those who are firm.” — Bahá’u’lláh

Would you like to combine pioneering with university studies as a means of responding to the call from the Universal House of Justice?

“As to Bahá’í youth, legatees of the heroic early believers and now standing on their shoulders, we call upon them to redouble their efforts, in this day of widespread interest in the Cause of God, to enthuse their contemporaries with the divine Message and thus prepare themselves for the day when they will be veteran believers able to assume whatever tasks may be laid upon them.” (The Universal House of Justice, Riḍván 1982)

The Local Spiritual Assembly of Valdivia, with the consent of the National Spiritual Assembly of Chile, invites you to consider the two institutions of higher education in their college town: (1) La Universidad Austral de Chile, and (2) El Instituto Profesional de Valdivia.

Presently, there is only one Bahá’í studying at each of these schools. Valdivia is a relatively small city with a population of about 90,000.

Classes begin in March. No admissions tests are required of foreigners, though the language of instruction is, of course, Spanish, and one must be able to function in that language.

If you are interested, please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

Committee offers pioneering manual

The International Goals Committee is now the only supplier in the United States of the invaluable guide, A Manual for Pioneers, written by the hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum. The Bahá’í Publishing Trust no longer stocks this book, which is indispensable in preparing to pioneer.

To obtain the book, please send $5.25 (which includes book rate postage) to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Easter Island named new U.S. pioneer goal

In August this year the Universal House of Justice named Easter Island as a goal for the U.S. Bahá’í community.

The island, famous for its carved heads, lies off the coast of Chile in the Pacific and is under the jurisdiction of the National Spiritual Assembly of Chile.

That National Assembly is deeply concerned about the lack of ability, for economic and cultural reasons, to develop teaching plans there. It is hoped that a married couple can settle on Easter Island.

Inquiries from those who are interested in filling this important goal may be addressed to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone 312-869-9039.

Shown with the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem and members of the International Goals Committee staff are the 32 prospective pioneers who attended a Pioneer Training Institute held August 25-28 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette. Speakers at the Institute in addition to Mr. Khadem were Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem; and Susan McLaren of CIRBAL, the Latin American publications arm. Participants came from 17 states and included representatives of the Spiritual Assemblies of St. Louis, Missouri, and Shorewood, Wisconsin; the District Teaching Committees of Missouri, New Jersey and Central North Carolina; and visiting pioneers from the Central African Republic, Switzerland and Venezuela. Those participating in the Institute were making plans to pioneer to Fiji, Chile, Belgium, Honduras, the Ivory Coast, Argentina, Denmark, Colombia, the Mariana Islands, Norway, the Bahamas, Tanzania, Japan, and the Marshall Islands.

Traveling teacher helps make things happen in Gabon

Last winter, the Universal House of Justice asked the American Bahá’í community to send one or two deepened French-speaking Bahá’ís to Gabon, a high priority goal.

RECRUITMENT efforts resulted in finding Saeed Nahvi, a seasoned traveling teacher, who, in spite of ill health and advanced age, spent three months in Gabon, opening many doors to the Faith in that equatorial country on the west coast of Africa.

On a flight from Libreville to Port Gentil, Mr. Nahvi struck up a conversation with a woman who turned out to be the niece of the Gabonese ambassador to Washington.

The woman took him home to meet her husband, and later took him to the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Allen, Bahá’í pioneers to Gabon, where they spent a long time talking.

The couple accepted an invitation to attend the Naw-Rúz Feast at the Allens’ home, and later be-

See GABON Page 25 [Page 7]

YOUTH NEWS

October 1983

College Clubs set for big year of campus teaching

Bahá’í College Clubs across the country are gearing up for a year of proclamation and teaching on campuses as the 1983-84 school year begins.

There are presently 290 College Clubs formed and functioning at various schools, and the National Youth Committee has dedicated fresh resources toward helping the clubs in their teaching efforts.

EARLY in September, the Campus Plan was sent to all clubs. It calls for a minimum level of activity on the part of college clubs, including sponsorship of at least two proclamation events, a service project, and a special deepening on The Promulgation of Universal Peace.

“The Campus Plan is designed to give all the College Clubs a national focus for activity,” says Gilbert Smith, chairman of the National Youth Committee.

“We have also adopted an across-the-board theme this year of ‘Wage Peace Through the Elimination of Prejudice,’ and will be making a variety of materials available to the clubs for proclaiming the Faith under this slogan.”

Materials, he says, will include several poster designs, buttons and bumper stickers, and an assortment of pamphlets that are directed to this issue.

The Campus Plan packet was sent to all current clubs and their sponsoring Spiritual Assemblies and will be sent to those who are forming new clubs as well.

Forming a Bahá’í College Club is a simple process and only requires two Bahá’í members, either student, staff or faculty.

Formation materials are available from the National Youth Committee, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315.

Washington state youth challenge friends to ‘vie’

In the spirit of the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears’ call to the American Bahá’í community to “vie ye with one another,” the Northwest Washington Bahá’í Youth Team has sent a challenge to all District Youth Committees, Youth Clubs and College Clubs in the country to raise funds for WLGI, the first Bahá’í-owned radio station in North America.

Responding to the campaign for unified-action to raise $1 million by December 31, this enthusiastic group of young people is now working on fund-raising plans.

Some District Youth Committees have already accepted this friendly challenge and are themselves making plans for fund-raisers to “compete” with the Northwest Washington group.

For contributions to be counted in this youth challenge, checks should be sent to the National Bahá’í Fund (Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60001) earmarked for “WLGI.”

Also, the National Youth Committee should be notified by mail at Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315, or by phone at 305-462-1919.

So ... let’s get busy, Bahá’í youth! Car washes, bake sales ... new and old money-making ideas can be put in motion. The youth of Northwest Washington are challenging YOUTH!

National Youth Committee set to form Bahá’í Campus Alumni Association

Attention college graduates! The Bahá’í National Youth Committee is now forming the Bahá’í Campus Alumni Association.

As a member, you can help the Bahá’í College Club at your alma mater by contributing time (such as speaking at a conference), money (always welcome), or materials (such as teaching pamphlets).

To join, simply complete the coupon below and send it to the National Youth Committee, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315. The information will be forwarded to the College Club at your university so they can contact you directly.

Yes, I would like to support the Bahá’í College Club at my alma mater by joining the Bahá’í Campus Alumni Association.

Name of College _________________________________

My name _____________________ Phone number ______________

Street _________________ City __________ State ___ Zip ______

I can contribute: _____ Time _____ Money _____ Materials

About 40 Bahá’ís and other students at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, attended a party April 2 sponsored by the university’s Bahá’í Club. The Spiritual Assembly of University City and the Bahá’í Group of Clayton helped arrange the event, which featured six musical groups and refreshments.

Record-breaking audience expected at Disney World youth conference

The fourth annual Regional Youth Conference to be held at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, promises to attract a record-breaking audience of Bahá’ís and their guests this year.

Plans for this exciting conference, which will be held from December 29-January 1, with a New Year’s celebration included in the program, are now being finalized.

The National Youth Committee, which sponsors the event, has prepared a fact sheet on the conference listing all the necessary details for registration and housing.

Anyone who would like a copy of the fact sheet should fill out the coupon below and send it to the Youth Committee office as quickly as possible.

YES! I’d like more information about the Youth Conference at Disney World ... please send me a fact sheet on the conference.

Name _________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

City ______________________ State __________ Zip _________

Mail to: National Youth Committee, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315.

Author Guy Murchie to head trip to India

Guy Murchie, a well-known author and lecturer who has been a Bahá’í since 1929, will participate this November in a group tour of India that will include a visit to the Bahá’í House of Worship near New Delhi.

The comparative religions tour is being led by Mr. Murchie’s daughter, Gretel Goldsmith, who lived in India for many years and is an experienced tour guide.

In addition to New Delhi, the three-week tour will include stops in Agra, Jaipur, Pushkar, Aurangabad, Kovelong Beach, Madras, Pondicherry and Auroville.

Mr. Murchie’s books, which are philosophical in content and speculate on the nature of the universe, include Men on the Horizon, Song of the Sky, Music of the Spheres and The Seven Mysteries of Life.

Shown are many of those who attended a weekend Bahá’í youth conference May 13-15 in Danville, Kentucky, at which plans were made for the formation of a District Youth Committee of Kentucky. The theme of the conference, which was sponsored by the District Teaching Committee of Kentucky, was ‘Preparing for Tomorrow’s World.’

India magazine seeks support

Glory is a Bahá’í youth deepening magazine published by the National Youth Committee of India.

The magazine has received high praise from all levels of Bahá’í administration for its fine contents and excellent articles geared toward helping Bahá’í youth apply the Bahá’í teachings in their daily lives.

If YOUth would like to receive Glory, please fill out the coupon below and enclose the proper subscription amount (a great idea for a birthday or Intercalary Days present!).

U.S. rates are $12 air mail for six issues; $7 sea mail for six issues.

GLORY

SUBSCRIPTION FORM

Please send the next 6 issues of GLORY by [ ] Air Mail [ ] Sea Mail To:

Name (Mr./Mrs./Miss) ___________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

If this is a gift subscription, the gift card should be signed from:

_______________________________________________________

I enclose payment of ___________________ by:

[ ] Bank Draft [ ] Postal Order [ ] Cheque [ ] Money Order (receipt enclosed)

(Subscription Rates Overleaf)

Please cross all cheques and drafts and make them payable to GLORY.

A new subscription will begin with the issue most recently published. Antedated issues will be included (subject to availability) only if specifically requested for.

NOTE: Sea Mail post may take ‎upto up to‎ six months to reach its destination.

Mail to: GLORY Subscription, Lucky Building, Main Road, Panchgani-412 805, Maharashtra, INDIA [Page 8]

EDUCATION

Assembly Development Program Bahá’í Schools Brilliant Star (Child's Way) Magazine Local Education Adviser Program Personal Transformation Program

Paul Couvret, president of the Warringah Shire (Australia) City Council, is shown around the Bahá’í House of Worship by Mrs. Janet Marks, secretary of the Spiritual Assembly of Wilmette, during Mr. Couvret's visit to the village in July. Warringah Shire includes the city of Mona Vale, site of the House of Worship in Australia and Wilmette's 'sister city.' Mr. Couvret was in this country to attend a Sister Cities Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Green Acre school acquires portraits of Louis G. Gregory, Hannah Farmer

"The acquisition of portraits of two people who played important roles in the history of Green Acre was among the highlights of the 1983 summer school session," says Richard Grover, administrator of the Green Acre Bahá’í School in Eliot, Maine.

THE FIRST of these portraits is a pastel of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis G. Gregory. Painted by Theodore Weiss, a Bahá’í from New York, it was first shown at an exhibit of Mr. Weiss' works held at Green Acre in July.

The friends then contributed money so that at a second exhibit in August, the portrait was purchased from Mr. Weiss.

It was to be presented as a gift of love from Green Acre to the Louis Gregory Institute at the Race Amity Conference held October 14-16 in Charleston, South Carolina.

The other portrait is a large oil painting of Hannah Shapleigh Farmer, whose daughter, Sarah Farmer, was the founder of the Green Acre conferences in the 1890s.

Although Hannah Farmer died before her daughter became a Bahá’í, she was well known throughout the area for her humanitarian activities, which included using her home as a way-station for the Underground Railroad and founding a home for disadvantaged mothers from nearby cities.

THE portrait of Mrs. Farmer was painted in 1981. It is owned by a member of the Shapleigh family who visited Green Acre for the first time in July and was so impressed by the Bahá’ís that she loaned the portrait to the school for two years.

Other significant information about Green Acre's history was supplied this summer by Counsellor Bahiyyih Winckler and Dr. H.T.D. Rost, both of whom have been pioneering in Africa and who visited Green Acre this year for the first time in several decades.

Mrs. Winckler's father, Harry Randall, was entrusted with the administration of Green Acre after Sarah Farmer's death in 1916.

Dr. Rost's extensive research resulted in the first disciplined study of documents pertaining to Green Acre's history and to statements about its future.

The most important of Dr. Rost's findings, says Mr. Grover, was a Tablet in which ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states that a House of Worship will be built on Mount Salvat, a hill near the school's main campus.

"An appreciation and understanding of Green Acre's history, which played such an important role in the growth of the Faith in the West," adds Mr. Grover, "will guide us in the ongoing work of developing Green Acre's role for the remainder of the Seven Year Plan and for future Plans as well."

Louhelen marriage institute 'breaks new ground'

The Marriage Institute held August 14-20 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School broke new ground in the application of Bahá’í teachings on marriage in daily life, according to Mrs. Mary Kay Radpour, one of the research assistants working under Dr. Hossain Danesh, who conducted the institute.

"FOR THE research assistants," said Mrs. Radpour, "the week was a peak experience professionally and in terms of Bahá’í deepening and service. We all feel as though we are seeing the world with new eyes."

Dr. Danesh is a professor of psychiatry and family medicine at the University of Ottawa and chairman of both the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada and the executive committee of the Association for Bahá’í Studies.

He has been studying marriage from the point of view of the Bahá’i teachings and has done scientific research for several years with the aim of developing a scientific model for a healthy marriage. It was this work he drew upon in conducting the institute.

Also serving as faculty members were two other members of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, Dr. Glen Eyford and Mrs. Ruth Eyford.

The institute was attended by about 30 married couples and five single people, and by about 35 children who, together with staff, faculty and research assistants, filled Louhelen to capacity.

THE PROGRAM included a keynote talk each day by Dr. Danesh, followed by afternoon discussion groups.

In the evenings, spouses wrote letters to each other on the subject for the day, and separately filled out questionnaire's on the next day's topic which they compared before turning them in.

One of the objectives was to stimulate a spirit of inquiry within the North American Bahá’í community about marriage.

"I was pleased with the response of the participants," said Dr. Danesh. "They showed a high degree of interest and enthusiasm, as well as a lot of earnest self-examination, which is necessary if people are to improve the way they relate to each other."

The institute was sponsored jointly by the Association for Bahá’í Studies and the Louhelen Bahá’í School Council.

"The Association is making an important contribution to the intellectual and spiritual development of the Bahá’í community," said Dr. Geoffry Marks, Louhelen's director of academic affairs, "and we look forward to collaborating further with the Association in holding similar programs in the future."

ANOTHER note: There was an excellent mixture of Americans and Canadians at the institute. Out of about 100 people who participated, roughly 45 were Canadian.

Subjects covered included an overview of Bahá’í marriage, communication in marriage, love in marriage, sex in marriage, and anger and crisis in marriage.

Dr. Eyford, a professor of community development and education at the University of Alberta and a member of the Association's executive committee, served as evaluator of the proceedings and commented daily on the process the faculty and participants were following.

An evaluation of participants will also be conducted six and 12 months after the session to assess whether the institute has had an impact on their marital behavior and attitudes.

Among the research assistants were Mrs. Eyford, a therapist; Dr. Sam McClellan, a psychiatrist; and Mrs. Radpour, a family therapist.

Other assistants were counsellors, educators and graduate students.

Workshop on children, Feast ready

A workshop on the topic "Politeness and Manners: Children and the Nineteen Day Feast" has been prepared by the National Education Committee and will be made available to the U.S. Bahá’í community through the Local Education Adviser Program (LEAP).

Workshops on this topic will be conducted in districts throughout the country during the coming year. Advisers who attend the workshop in their district will be prepared to help their local community to address this issue.

Communities that do not as yet have appointed local education advisers are encouraged to appoint a representative or representatives to attend the LEAP district workshop.

The friends can obtain information about the date and site of the politeness/manners workshop in their district by contacting the LEAP district coordinator, or by calling the National Education Committee office, 312-869-9039.

Silkscreen enhances Brilliant Star cover and aids Endowment fund

Adorning the cover of the September/October 1983 issue of Brilliant Star magazine is a picture of a silkscreen done by Steven Wyandt of Johnson City, Tennessee.

Mr. Wyandt produced this limited edition print for the promotion of the Brilliant Star Endowment.

The Endowment, supervised by the National Treasurer's Office, was established so that, eventually, the magazine will be self-supporting and free of its drain on the National Fund.

Anyone who would like a copy of the print can send a minimum contribution of $25 plus $2 for handling and shipping to Brilliant Star, Suburban Office Park, 5010 Austin Road, Hixson, TN 37343.

The richness of the silkscreen print sets the tone for an issue devoted to poverty and wealth. Read about Abbás from Yazd and how he lovingly offered his possessions to the Cause and the effects his continued sacrifices had. This is based on a true story.

UNIPAR is back once again with the account of Hájí Muhammad Baqir, a merchant and well-known believer.

Rounding out the issue are craft activities, the "Rights of Children," and an expanded "Letters from Our Friends"—from Israel!

You may subscribe by writing to the address given above.

ad, side wr, pruteri ar, mulr of akinine lamp and a brilliant slar. The art the Michts and the Powerfal This' Baks

yes I want to receive Brilliant Star, please enter my subscription for one year $9.00 (six issues) two years. $1700 foreign surface, one year, $11.00 foreign surface, two years, $2100 foreign, air one year. $15.00 foreign, air, two years, $28.00 Please enclose payment

name street city state & zip

Send to Brilliant Star/Child's Way Subscriber Service Suburban Office Park Hixson, Th. 37343

Enclosed is my gift of $ to the Brilliant Star/Child's Way Endowment Fund established in honor of the Bahá’í children of Iran, for the purpose of developing materials for children. I understand that my gift will become part of a perpetual fund whose earnings will support this purpose. [Page 9]

Study Session: The importance of deepening

O My servants! My holy, My divinely ordained Revelation may be likened unto an ocean in whose depths are concealed innumerable pearls of great price, of surpassing luster. It is the duty of every seeker to bestir himself and strive to attain the shores of this ocean, so that he may, in proportion to the eagerness of his search and the efforts he hath exerted, partake of such benefits as have been preordained in God’s irrevocable and hidden Tablets. (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 326)

Introduction

In the September issue of The American Bahá’í the National Education Committee introduced the first in a series of monthly study classes focusing on the importance of deepening.

The classes are designed to explore the essential relationship between one’s study of the Bahá’í Writings and his efforts to live the Bahá’í life, teach, and contribute to the building of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.

Utilizing the recent compilation entitled The Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith, the first class challenged individuals to set specific goals for further study of the Writings.

This month’s study class is divided into two parts. Part I, “Evaluation of Individual Deepening Goals,” is designed to help participants evaluate the deepening goals which they set at the conclusion of last month’s study session.

Part II, “Studying the Creative Word with Children,” is a new study class that focuses on helping young children to relate to and understand the Bahá’í Writings.

Part I. Evaluation of Individual Deepening Goals Class format All session participants should have taken part in last month’s study class. The following questions are to be used in facilitating a discussion based on the individual deepening goals set at the conclusion of that class. The study group should appoint a discussion leader or chairman to read the following text, pose the accompanying questions and assure that every participant has an opportunity to contribute to the discussion. This class should last approximately one hour, depending upon the number of participants. * * * * * Open the session with a prayer. (Discussion leader should read aloud the following information, pausing as appropriate for discussion.) At the end of last month’s study class, each participant was invited to reflect on his past patterns for studying the Creative Word. After reflection, he was to set a specific, measurable and attainable deepening goal and work to accomplish it prior to the start of this month’s class. We will now begin our discussion by having each participant share with the group the specific deepening goal which he has set for himself and, in a few words, explain why he chose that particular goal. (After everyone has had a chance to share his goal and the reason he selected it, take a few moments to compare the goals. How are they similar? How are they different? After this discussion, read aloud the following questions, allowing individuals to respond and comments from the group.) 1. Was the deepening goal both specific and measurable? Is it clear whether the goal was actually accomplished? If you found that your goal was not specific enough, do you now see how it might be made more specific? 2. What kinds of barriers or problems did you encounter while working on your deepening goal? Did you find ways to overcome them? 3. What did you learn from your efforts to set a deepening goal? Was the accomplishment of your goal easier or more difficult than you expected? 4. Did you discover something new in the Writings while working on your goal? Did anything unexpected or surprising happen in your personal life or in your dealings with others as a result of your deepening efforts? If participants successfully accomplished their deepening goals they should be ready to set new ones. Remember, the more specific and measurable the goal is, the easier it will be to monitor and evaluate the progress being made toward its accomplishment. The goal should also be one that is attainable within a reasonable amount of time. If participants are not used to setting specific deepening goals, it is usually helpful to choose a small goal at first and to set aside a specific period of time each day to work on it. A small, measurable and attainable goal might be to memorize a specific prayer or a Hidden Word within a week or to read a certain number of pages from Gleanings before the end of the month. It may also prove helpful to keep a small journal in which your deepening goals and habits are recorded on a daily or weekly basis. After the individual has successfully accomplished a few of his goals, he can go on to more ambitious deepening endeavors. Try to develop the habit of studying the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and the other Bahá’í texts on a daily basis. Remember to set specific, measurable and attainable goals as a means of systematically “immersing” one’s self in the ocean of God’s Word. O my servants! Through the might of God and His power, and out of the treasury of His knowledge and wisdom, I have brought forth and revealed unto you the pearls that lay concealed in the depths of His everlasting ocean. I have summoned the Maids of Heaven to emerge from behind the veil of concealment, and have clothed them with these words of Mine—words of consummate power and wisdom. I have, moreover, with the hand of divine power, unsealed the choice wine of My Revelation, and have wafted its holy, its hidden, and musk-laden fragrance upon all created things. Who else but yourselves is to be blamed if ye choose to remain unendowed with so great an outpouring of God’s transcendent and all-encompassing grace, with so bright a revelation of His resplendent mercy? ... (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 327-28)

Part II. Studying the Creative Word with Children Rationale and class format Anyone who has tried to answer a child’s questions concerning such subjects as the nature of God, life and death, or religion knows that children, because of their lack of preconceived ideas and prejudices, often challenge adults to look beyond their unconscious assumptions and truly investigate the source of their beliefs. Thus, before we can explain the Bahá’í Teachings to others, especially to young children, we ourselves must be able to grasp their essential meaning and spiritual significance. As a general rule in today’s society, children and adults are separated for the purposes of learning, and, in fact, children are further divided according to age groups. While there are obvious advantages to this particular approach to education, it is also possible for children and adults to learn together, as equals, in a multi-age discussion group. This is especially true in the case of studying the words of Bahá’u’lláh. When carefully structured, a study class composed of both children and adults can be a meaningful experience for all participants while at the same time providing valuable insights into the nature and spiritual dynamics within the collective Bahá’í community. To facilitate the success of a multi-age study class, the following points should be considered: 1. Schedule the deepening at a reasonable time when the children will be fresh and able to participate fully. 2. Keep the actual session fairly short, 45 minutes to an hour at the most. 3. Although it is not their role to “provide all the answers,” adults should enter the class prepared to focus on the children, holding off their own conversations until another time. At times the adults will be needed to encourage or draw out the children. 4. If possible, there should be approximately equal numbers of adults and children. Seating should be arranged so that adults and children are mixed together. This will help the children to feel they are a part of the group, and all the adults can help focus their attention, answer questions, etc. In some communities the deepening might work best with several smaller groups rather than one large group of 20 or more that might overwhelm a young child. 5. The children should be acquainted with the format and atmosphere of the class in advance. Time limitations and behavior expectations should also be explained. 6. Keep the class simple and flexible. The amount of material covered is not important. It is better to cover only one sentence and have everyone participate with understanding and interest. Make plans, but be able to cut them short or alter them according to the needs and interests of the group. The over-all goal should be joyful, interested, with universal participation in studying the Creative Word. 7. Have one person serve as the discussion leader for each study class. While there are many possibilities for the actual content of the study class, the following example will provide an idea of how such a class might proceed: Open the class with a small number of prayers chosen and read or recited by children. The discussion leader should welcome the study group with a special acknowledgment of the children who are present. The leader should explain briefly and simply the format of the class and then proceed to lead the group in the following questions and exercises. Exercise 1. What is a Bahá’í? A Bahá’í is _____________. The group should break up into pairs of one child and one adult or youth. Each pair should work to provide answers to complete the statement above. The adults should encourage the children, drawing out their experiences of what a Bahá’í is or seems like. After a few minutes all the pairs should be encouraged to share some of their answers. The discussion leader can make a list of the answers on a chalk board or on a large sheet of newsprint. Exercise 2. How do the Bahá’í Writings and prayers help us to understand how God wants us to live? Materials: oil or kerosene lamp (or flashlight); cloth to clean globe or lens; matches to light the lamp; resources from the Bahá’í Writings. Passages from the Writings should refer to a lamp such as in the following examples: “O God, guide me, protect me, make me a shining lamp and a brilliant star. Thou art the Mighty and Powerful.”—‘Abdu’l-Bahá “O son of being. Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee ...”—Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, No. 11. Discussion questions: 1. What is the purpose of a lamp? What is it for? 2. What does a lamp need in order for it to give light? See STUDY SESSION Page 26

Flint Bahá’ís take part in bluegrass/country music festival

The Bahá’í community of Flint, Michigan, participated August 6-7 in the sixth annual Bluegrass and Country Music Festival at the University of Michigan campus in Flint.

Several thousand people attended the festival whose theme was “Country in the City.”

The Bahá’í booth was entered in the “country crafts” section. Six people signed an “interest book” to receive more information about the Faith and notices of local Bahá’í events. [Page 10]

The homefront pioneer

“If only the friends could realize it, the glory of our Faith is not that people with unique abilities do the work of the Cause, but that it is done by the sacrifice of loving and devoted souls who arise selflessly to undertake work they feel themselves incompetent, sometimes, to achieve. God works through them and endows them with gifts they did not dream they could ever possess.”—Shoghi Effendi

“The need of the hour is teaching on the home front. Its goals can only be won by a new spirit of dedication and consecration on the part of the friends ...”—Shoghi Effendi

A Homefront Pioneer Packet is now available from the National Teaching Committee.

The packet includes a list of all goal localities by state, as well as an application and explanation of the priorities as set forth by the National Teaching Committee.

PLEASE call or write to the National Teaching Committee office even if you are already moving for other reasons but would like to become a homefront pioneer. We will help you in any way possible, even on short notice.

The 23 Bahá’ís listed below have been placed at pioneer posts on the homefront since Ridván by the National Teaching Committee.

Many more (57) have independently moved to goal areas or have been identified as serving in already established posts.

These individuals have demonstrated that Bahá’u’lláh has given them the love, courage, and perseverance to reach and stay at their posts.

Many have made great sacrifices to fulfill these goals of the American Bahá’í community. We deeply appreciate their services.

Their names are:

Virginia Eilers, Kathy and Doug Edwards, Jeanne and Norman Ellig, Carol and Edward Fox, Elsa Hays, Dr. and Mrs. Ray Johnson, Diane Moore-Cason, Brian Nolan.

Also, Connie and Richard Oleson, Susan Patton, Mertie Petree, Hesamaddin Sardari, Elizabeth and Lee Stradtner, Margaret and Steven Vance, Ghodrat Varjavandi, Kathy Wilson.

Three U.S. traveling teachers take part in Mexico campaign

Three traveling teachers from the U.S. participated July 5-August 14 in a teaching campaign in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, that was conducted under the auspices of the National Teaching Committee of Mexico.

The three Americans were Gordon Coates of Hinsdale, Illinois; Donald Boone-Wallis of Euless, Texas, and Elwin Howard, formerly of Hemingway, South Carolina.

THE CAMPAIGN was designed to deepen Bahá’ís in that area of Mexico and to reach their friends and family members with the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

Its organizational phase included a training session for participants conducted by members of the National Teaching Committee of Mexico.

A part of that session included practice in using the Spanish-language version of the orange teaching booklet.

The U.S. teaching team’s first stop was the village of San Pedro Nesicho in the high Sierras, a two and one-half hour walk from the road.

The friends stayed at the home of an indigenous family, many of whose members are Bahá’ís.

During their five-day visit, the team members taught the Faith and helped organize a Nineteen Day Feast.

“BAHÁ’ÍS and non-Bahá’ís were impressed by the fact that we didn’t just come and go, but lived and ate with the indigenous people, most of whom are of the Zapotec tribe,” said one of the traveling teachers.

“The diversity of our team aroused curiosity, and many conversations about the Faith were opened by our being asked what we were doing there.”

The team visited San Pedro Nesicho for two five-day periods. While there, they presented a slide show and conducted deepenings.

Before the team left that village, local Bahá’ís were asking how to conduct their own Feasts and how to hold children’s classes.

Deepening sessions for Bahá’í youth were held in the village of Santo Domingo Tomaltepec, which was visited each Sunday for several weeks.

THE YOUTH thought deeply about what was being taught, and their questions were challenging.

Children’s classes were especially well-received in that village and in San Lorenzo Cacaotepec.

The team visited other villages in the Oaxaca Valley including San Pablo Etla, Guejovela, Guelatao, Laion Zapata, and La Union.

The Bahá’ís were also able to teach many people in Ishtepece, a village located within an hour’s walk from San Pedro Nesicho.

They met with the village president to proclaim the Faith and to receive his permission to return to offer residents a slide program.

The traveling teachers then visited the city of Tehuantepec, where children’s classes and deepenings for older Bahá’ís, one of which included a simulated Spiritual Assembly meeting, were presented.

With tears in her eyes, one young woman in Tehuantepec whose sisters are Bahá’ís declared her belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

At least one new village in Oaxaca State was opened to the Faith, and it is hoped that two Spiritual Assemblies that had not been functioning will be doing so by Ridván as a result of the nearly six-week-long campaign.—Don Boone-Wallis

Traveling teachers Gordon Coates (left) and Elwin Howard (center) from the U.S. are shown with Gregorio Gonzalez Flores, a Bahá’í from Mexico, at the ruins of Monte Alban in Oaxaca State. The friends from the U.S. were participating in a six-week-long teaching campaign held in July and August in Oaxaca State. A third American Bahá’í, Donald Boone-Wallis, also took part in the campaign.

Committee meets Colorado Bahá’ís, hears of victories

During its regular monthly meeting in August, the National Teaching Committee met with Bahá’ís from Colorado in Denver.

The meeting was chaired by Manucher Danesh, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Denver.

DR. KEYYAN Nazerian, chairman of the National Teaching Committee, introduced the guests and welcomed the friends.

Following his remarks, a report was given by Robert G. Wilson, secretary of the National Teaching Committee.

Auxiliary Board member Dennis Jenkins also greeted the friends and reported news of the recent teaching project initiated by the District Teaching Committee that resulted in more than 20 declarations in Fort Collins.

Consultation was held with the 40 Bahá’ís in attendance on such topics as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit in 1912 to Colorado Springs and the September meeting to honor that event; youth and children; youth in Iran; direct teaching; consolidation; and reaching the urban masses with the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

The Denver Bahá’í community shared its recent consultation on identifying categories of people who may be interested in the Faith: those who are looking for spiritual solutions, those who are looking for religious faith, those who are looking for social solutions, those who are intellectually curious, and those who respond with feeling.

Other members of the National Teaching Committee present at the meeting were Gene Andrews, Jerry Bathke, Juana Conrad, Cap Cornwell and Tahirih Foroughi.

Our Great Privilege National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091

One of the goals of the Seven Year Plan is to “strive to achieve an unprecedented increase in the number of avowed adherents of the Faith throughout the country and from all levels of society.” The state of Oregon has taken this goal to heart, launching on April 30 their “Decade of Growth” whose goal is to increase the Bahá’í population in that state to at least one per cent of the population by 1992. Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? And if they continue to teach as they have during the month of August, their victory is assured. The totals for August: ADULTS—182. YOUTH—40. TOTAL—222.

In August 1982, 276 adults and 76 youth were enrolled for a total of 352.

	Adult	Youth	Total
Alabama	0	0	0
Arizona	12	3	15
Arkansas	0	0	0
California	21	4	25
Colorado	1	1	2
Connecticut	0	0	0
Delaware	0	0	0
Florida	9	0	9
Georgia	6	1	7
Idaho	2	0	2
Illinois	4	0	4
Indiana	3	0	3
Iowa	0	0	0
Kansas	0	0	0
Kentucky	1	0	1
Louisiana	0	0	0
Maine	0	0	0
Maryland	3	0	1
Massachusetts	1	1	2
Michigan	4	1	5
Minnesota	3	0	3
Mississippi	2	1	3
Missouri	1	1	2
Montana	0	1	1
Nebraska	1	0	1
Nevada	0	1	1
New Hampshire	3	1	4
New Jersey	0	0	0
New Mexico	2	0	2
New York	8	4	12
North Carolina	5	0	5
North Dakota	1	0	1
Ohio	9	1	10
Oklahoma	1	0	1
Oregon	38	4	42
Pennsylvania	0	0	0
Rhode Island	2	0	2
South Carolina	6	1	7
South Dakota	8	7	15
Tennessee	0	0	0
Texas	8	1	9
Utah	0	0	0
Vermont	8	1	9
Virginia	6	3	9
Washington	1	1	2
West Virginia	0	0	0
Wisconsin	1	1	2
Wyoming	1	0	1
Washington, D.C.	0	0	0
	182	40	222

[Page 11]

Minority Teaching Centers prepare to help win important goal of Plan

One of the most important elements of the Seven Year Plan is the goal of raising up Asian and Hispanic teachers of the Faith.

A few months ago the National Teaching Committee introduced in The American Bahá’í the concept of Minority Teaching Centers whose major goals are to raise up at least two Asian or Hispanic teachers and to sponsor bi-lingual firesides.

Additional goals are to increase the participation of Asian and Hispanic believers in community activities and to provide help to surrounding Bahá’í communities that are active in minority teaching.

Although these communities have been designated as Minority Teaching Centers, every community is encouraged to adopt similar goals if it so wishes.

If your community is within a 50-mile radius of one of the 32 Centers listed below, you are encouraged to collaborate with that community in your minority teaching efforts.

If there is no Minority Teaching Center near you, you may contact the Regional Asian or Spanish Teaching Committee for your area to request advice and assistance.

Minority Teaching Centers

Regional Asian Teaching Committees

• Northeastern states: New York, NY; Boston, MA; Philadelphia, PA.
• Southern states: Washington, DC; Houston, TX; Beaumont, TX.
• Central states: Chicago, IL; Minneapolis, MN; St. Paul, MN; Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI.
• Western states: Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; Sacramento, CA; San Francisco, CA; Denver, CO.

Regional Spanish Teaching Committees

• Northeastern states: New York, NY; Rochester, NY; Hartford, CT.
• Southern states: Tampa, FL; Miami, FL; Seminole County, FL.
• Central states: Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Cleveland, OH.
• Western states: Phoenix, AZ; Colorado Springs, CO; Albuquerque, NM; Fillmore, CA; Bakersfield, CA; San Jose, CA.
• Texas: San Antonio, Dallas, Corpus Christi, El Paso.

Regional Asian Teaching Committees

• Northeastern states: Ms. Roxana Yang, W. Caldwell, NJ 07006.
• Southern states: Mrs. Jacqueline Ralya, Haymarket, VA 22069.
• Central states: Chuck Fuller, Bicknell, Bloomington, IN 47401.
• Western states: Tekseng Lee, Monterey Park, CA 91754.

Regional Spanish Teaching Committees

• Northeastern states: Mrs. Julia Acaba, E. Setauket, NY 11733.
• Southern states: Mrs. Rafaela Nicol, 4218 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 33581.
• Central states: William Allmart, Wheaton, IL 60187.
• Western states: Ms. Francine Marquez, Montebello, CA 90640.

Auxiliary Board members Margaret Gallagher (left) and Paul Pettit are shown with Juana Conrad, a member of the National Teaching Committee, at ‘The First Big Conference This Side of the State’ held April 30-May 1 in Bend, Oregon. All Bahá’í communities in eastern Oregon were represented at the conference as well as guests from western Oregon. The conference was sponsored by the Eastern Oregon District Teaching Committee.

Laramie, Wyoming, letter expresses enthusiasm over ‘Friendship Teams’

Friendship Teams in Laramie, Wyoming, are making friends. Their letter of August 29 relates:

“Thank you for the great idea! Our Assembly has been trying to think of a way to involve our whole community in a teaching program.

“INDIVIDUAL initiative has been fine, but we wanted some method of reaching members of the community who don’t get the opportunity to participate.

“There are some who don’t get to meetings because of health problems, work and/or study loads, or scheduling difficulties. It may simply be a matter of perception on our part, but we have found that by extending a hand to those normally considered ‘inactive,’ they do appreciate the attention and respond to it.

“The Friendship Team concept is what we’ve been looking for. We will, hopefully, be forming five or six teams here.

“We are asking our young people ages 10 to 18 to form the core of the teams. Everyone from children as young as five to senior citizens in their 80s will be invited to participate.

“Each team will have at least one youth, one member of a minority group, and one Assembly member. Unfortunately, we won’t have any Persians, as there aren’t any anywhere in Wyoming.

“WITH this method of structuring our teams, people who normally do not come in contact with each other in their everyday circles will be able to make friends, the sort of atmosphere of mutual cooperation we envision from the Writings.”

See FRIENDSHIP Page 25

Indiana Bahá’ís get big ‘Head Start’ with ‘Befriend’ plan

Bahá’ís in Richmond, Indiana, raised more than $100 last summer for local Head Start classes with this coffee stand at the local farmers’ market. In the foreground is Bahá’í volunteer worker Jim DeGrand. Behind him is Suzanne Weber, another Bahá’í from Richmond.

Last year, when the Spiritual Assembly of Richmond, Indiana, was considering an ‘Operation Befriend’ project, it wanted something that would not only make new friends for the Faith, but would achieve universal participation within the Bahá’í community in a low-cost, low-energy, high-fun way.

What happened after the Assembly asked the community to bake cookies on a one-time basis for local Head Start classrooms far surpassed the Assembly’s fondest hopes.

During Ayyám-i-Há 1982, 60 dozen cookies of all varieties went from Richmond Bahá’ís’ kitchens to about 240 Head Start children.

The children loved the cookies, the Bahá’ís had a wonderful time baking them, and the Head Start directors were so enthusiastic they invited the Assembly to come and tell the children about the Faith.

The invitation led to five visits to classrooms with multi-colored, home-made booklets with writings and figures depicting the oneness of mankind.

The Assembly also sponsored a coffee stand at the local farmers’ market during a part of the summer, raising more than $100 in voluntary donations for Head Start.

The Assembly supplied fresh-brewed coffee, and community members supplied the manpower, arising before the sun and setting up the stand by 7 o’clock each Saturday morning.

Once again in 1983, Richmond Bahá’í is having baking parties for Ayyám-i-Há, making 66 dozen cookies for the children and cementing a firm friendship with the workers at Head Start.

Assemblies

Continued From Page 1

be made to reach all business and professional people in your extension teaching goal. Host a well-advertised meeting on the meaning of excellence in business; invite a business or professional person to give the presentation.

In January invite all your friends to a Persian dinner in your extension teaching goal. Invite a Bahá’í to discuss the culture and history of Iran, or the Islamic religion.

In February have a potluck dinner or potluck dessert using recipes in the WLGI cookbook. Invite your Auxiliary Board member or assistant to speak.

In March host a proclamation event on education. Send personal invitations to educators.

Our increased activities will assure results at Riḍván. Now is the time to arise, using all teaching methods open to us, to raise new Assemblies as a special gift to the Iranian Bahá’ís from our community.

‘Operation Befriend’ big hit in New Jersey

In response to the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears’ request that Bahá’í communities participate in ‘Operation Befriend,’ many of the friends in Hamilton Township, New Jersey, have made serious efforts to become involved in community service activities.

On at least two occasions, the efforts of Bahá’ís have been recognized by the local news media and mention of the Faith has been made.

One individual was honored for her work with the physically handicapped, and another for his involvement with a service to the elderly and sick who live alone.

Operation Befriend, the Hamilton Township Assembly reports, ‘has proven an excellent means to create new contacts and to mention the Faith.’ [Page 12]

Bahá’ís in step in big ‘March on Washington’

‘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-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 54)

Bahá’ís participated August 23 with some 300,000 people from across the nation in a “March on Washington” held to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the famous march for civil rights in which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his memorable “I have a dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial.

THE THEME of this year’s march was “A Call to the Nation: We Still Have a Dream—Jobs, Peace and Freedom.”

This historic event, following closely the “20/20” television broadcast of persecutions in Iran, provided a unique opportunity to proclaim the Bahá’í principles to a large number of people from all areas of the country.

Bahá’í participation in the day’s events was planned and implemented by an ad hoc committee, comprised of Bahá’ís from several communities in the Washington area and sponsored by the national Race Unity Committee.

Its members worked directly with organizers of the march in scheduling Bahá’í-sponsored events that included dawn prayers, a Bahá’í marching contingent, and hospitality and refreshments at the Washington Bahá’í Center.

The Bahá’í-sponsored program of dawn prayers, held at the main assembly point for the march on the Mall, was the opening event of the day.

The program included Psalm 23; a Navajo prayer; Bahá’í prayers for unity read in English, Persian, French, Spanish and Vietnamese; the prayer for America; and a closing song.

THE PRAYERS reached about 5,000 people who were gathered in the area, as well as many more who were within earshot of an extensive sound system that covered the entire assembly area.

A Bahá’í tent was set up near the Metro (subway) to the Mall. Bahá’í banners expressing the oneness of mankind were displayed on two sides of the tent, in full view of the thousands of people en route to the march who arrived by subway.

The Bahá’í contingent in the march consisted of 65 to 70 believers from the District of Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia who exemplified unity in diversity.

The Bahá’í Center in northwest Washington was used throughout the day to provide hospitality for brief periods of rest and refreshment.

The Center was open to all participants in the march, free of charge, and served as an information center for seekers.

In the evening, an informal meeting was held at the Center with Soo Fouts, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly.

A brief period of fellowship and discussion of Bahá’í participation in the march ended the day’s activities.

This tent served as the Bahá’í assembly point during the 20th anniversary ‘March on Washington’ held August 23 in the nation’s capital. About 300,000 people participated in the march.

‘Alí Nakhjavání offers guidance, encouragement

House of Justice member at Gregory Institute

‘Alí Nakhjavání, a member of the Universal House of Justice, was an honored guest Sunday, August 21, at the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute near Hemingway, South Carolina.

IN THE MORNING, 40 members of South Carolina District Teaching Committees who had gathered for a briefing with the Regional Teaching Committee heard Mr. Nakhjavání stress the need for us to develop our own spiritual qualities so that we can encourage other Bahá’ís who need our love and support to arise and become dedicated to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh.

In the afternoon, an overflow crowd of more than 150 Bahá’ís from North and South Carolina and Florida listened to words of guidance and encouragement from Mr. Nakhjavání.

He emphasized the importance of the first Bahá’í radio station in North America and warned the friends that with the bounties the station would bring would come attacks on and misrepresentations of the Faith.

Mr. Nakhjavání strongly suggested that the Bahá’ís deepen on the messages from the House of Justice regarding opposition to the Faith.

The formal program ended with lovely music sung by Bahá’ís from South Carolina.

Happiness was evident on every face as the rest of the afternoon was spent in fellowship with Bahá’ís and the distinguished member of the Universal House of Justice.

‘Alí Nakhjavání, a member of the Universal House of Justice, addresses an audience at the Louis Gregory Bahá’í Institute in South Carolina during his visit to the Institute on August 21.

Members of the Bahá’í community of Cabarrus County, North Carolina, were saddened recently by the deaths, one day apart, of two members of the county’s first Local Spiritual Assembly. Mrs. Maggie Alexander McDaniel (seated center), who was 102 years old, was a member of the Assembly for three years until failing health prevented her from serving. She is survived by two daughters, four grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 20 great-great-grandchildren. A daughter and son-in-law, Mrs. Sue Lee Love and Adam Love, are members of the current Assembly in Cabarrus County. Homer Black (seated at left), who was 79, was also a member of the county’s first Assembly and served for two years. He is survived by six children, 26 grand-children, 44 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

Teaching Committee forms plans to prepare for Ridván formations

The National Teaching Committee is taking immediate steps to prepare for Ridván.

Jeopardized Local Spiritual Assemblies are identified and called by the National Teaching Committee office. They are assigned a traveling teacher, homefront pioneers are directed toward jeopardized Assemblies, and the Assembly is asked to meet with its District Teaching Committee to receive the resources of the district to help remove it from jeopardy.

It is everyone’s responsibility to help save a jeopardized Local Spiritual Assembly.

The National Teaching Committee is also contacting all Local Spiritual Assemblies that have extension teaching goals with seven or more believers to ascertain whether or not these preferred goal Groups can be brought to Assembly status by Ridván.

District Teaching Committees have set their goals as to how many Local Spiritual Assemblies they will have in their district by Ridván. The national goal is 1,750, as called for by the Universal House of Justice. At present, there are 1,685 Local Spiritual Assemblies, 59 of which are jeopardized. [Page 13]

Complete Listing of U.S. Bahá’í Winter Schools

Bosch (California) WINTER I: December 21-25 (4 days). Classes for all ages; activities for children and families. Rates: Ages 21 and over, $92; ages 15-20, $76; ages 11-14, $56; ages 1-10, $40. Pre-register: By December 7, 1983 (information below). WINTER II: December 28-January 2. Limited to adults only, ages 15 or over. Intensive study. Rates: $115. Pre-register: by December 14, 1983. Registrar: Jeremy Phillips, 500 Comstock Lane, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (408-423-3387). General information: Session begins with registration at 3 p.m., dinner at 6, and closes with lunch on the last day of the session. Now accepting MasterCard or VISA for registration. To pre-register, send $15 for each resident student, or $3 for each day student. Facility fee for day students is $3 per person, per day, meals extra. Children must be pre-registered to reserve a space in class.

Conifer Hill Session dates: November 25, 9 a.m., registration—November 27 at noon. Theme: Facing the Social Challenges of This Day. Site: Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, Colorado. Phone 303-794-1550 (emergency, 303-795-6913). Capacity: 70. Pre-registration deadline: November 21. Rates: $5 adult, $5 one child, $7.50 two or more children, plus cost of box lunch. Registrar: Marilyn Fisher, Boulder, CO 80302 (phone 303-443-6422, or 303-678-0095). Speakers: Dr. Dan Popov, Ms. Janet Herbst.

Green Acre (Maine) Dates: November 24, annual Thanksgiving dinner, 6 p.m., pre-registration required. November 25-27, Family Life Institute. December 24-25, Waging Peace the Bahá’í Way, Brad Pokorny. December 26-30, Emphasis on the Creative Word: Gleanings. December 31-January 1, Communication and ‎Consulation Consultation‎ Workshop. Communicate Better! Bob Rosenfeld, Dorothy Hai, team teachers: January 28-29, annual College Club weekend. Pre-register: Green Acre Bahá’í School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903. Phone 207-439-0019 or 207-439-0256.

Great Plains (Nebraska) Dates: November 25-27. Theme: Shoghi Effendi—Beloved Guardian. Class on Shoghi Effendi, Bahá’í historian, conducted by Don Schneider. Seekers: Class for seekers and new believers. Rates: Adults over 20, $46-$50 ($20 per day); 13-19 years, $41.75-$44 ($17.50 per day); 6-12, $35 ($14 per day); 2-5, $25 ($10 per day). Pre-register: Dave Clark, Omaha, NE 68147 (phone 402-734-0344). General information: Indoor swimming, volleyball in the gym.

Indiana (Nur’u’lláh) Dates: December 28-30. Theme: We Live Together as Brilliant Stars (for pre-youth ages 9-14). Site: A private Bahá’í home. For information about girls’ housing, phone 317-632-4795, ask for Joy. For boys’ housing, phone 317-862-4821, ask for Trudy. Pre-register by: December 15. Rates: $20 for each pre-youth, $15 each for two or more from the same family. Registrar: Mike Stump, Mooresville, IN 46158 (phone 317-831-4532). General information: Classes on “Why We Are Bahá’ís,” tour of places of worship in Indianapolis, Learning Centers on history and principles of the Faith. An innovative program for pre-youth. Do come!

Louhelen (Michigan) Dates: November 12-13, celebration of the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, and interstate, cross-cultural party including a fund-raising dinner for WLGI. November 13, benefit concert for WLGI, $3 for adults, $2 for children. November 18-25, community retreats. November 25, Family Day, 11 a.m., $2 per person, $4 per family. November 25-27, Thanksgiving weekend conference including classes for children and youth. December 18-23, Youth Week including limited enrollment for junior youth ages 11-14. December 26-31, family winter session. Classes for children. “Creative Word of God.”

Specialized: Teacher Training Workshops, October 21-23 (two days), 0-23 months; November 18-20 (two days), 1-7 years. Early Islam, December 26-31 (five days), limited to first 25 people to register. Registration: Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (313-653-5033).

Minnesota Dates: November 25-27. Theme: The Message of Bahá’u’lláh—A World Civilizing Force. (Children’s classes 0-15 years; youth attend sessions with adults). Site: Koinonia Retreat Center, Annandale, Minnesota (phone 612-236-7746), 90 acres of wooded area and lake. Comfortable lodging with private baths and excellent food. Rates: Adults (18 and over), $48; ages 7-17, $40; 3-7, $29; 0-2, $8. Pre-register: By November 11. Registrar: Steve Grams, Thistle Dew Camp, Star Route 18, Togo, MN 55788 (phone 218-376-4472). General information: First meal on campus evening of 25th. Last meal at noon on 27th. Topnotch facility. Everyone welcome!

North Carolina Dates: December 2-4. Theme: Arise, Struggle, Attain Spiritualization of Our Inner Lives (with Auxiliary Board member Albert James). Site: ‎Asburn Ashburn‎ Acres, Yadkinville, North Carolina. Pre-register: By November 15. Registrar: Celeste Hicks, Charlotte, NC 28211 (phone 704-366-1713).

North Dakota Dates: February 18-20. Theme: The Power of the Creative Word, Its Use in Our Lives and Teaching. Curriculum basis: The Seven Year Plan. Program: Administration and Consultation Skills; Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation and the Churches; Prejudice: Its Nature and Elimination. Youth classes plus flexible age grouping to allow for individual choice. Special activities in arts, crafts, music and games as well as the selected Bahá’í subjects. Site: Wesley Acres Methodist Camp (capacity 60), Dazey, North Dakota (phone 701-733-2413). Transportation available on request from Valley City to the school site 15 miles north. Facilities for the handicapped. Bring: Your own bedding, linens, pillows, towels, soap, alarm clock. Rates: Estimated at $15 per day which includes room and board—exact rates confirmed upon registration. Pre-register: By February 17. Registrar: Marian Kadrie, Fargo, ND 58103 (phone 701-235-3725). Note: This is the first Winter School in North Dakota! Make plans now to attend!

Oklahoma For information about this winter session contact Elizabeth Wakeham, secretary, P.O. Box 955, Shawnee, OK 74801, or phone 405-273-3385.

Southern California Dates: December 30-January 1. Theme: The Most Challenging Issue. Site: Pilgrim Pines, Yucaipa, California (capacity 200). Phone 714-797-1821. Pre-register: By December 10. Registrar: Gerald Healy, Cardiff by the Sea, CA 92007 (phone 619-942-6383). General Information: Dr. William Roberts, a member of the National Education Committee and clinical psychologist, will guide participants through this weekend.

Tennessee Institute Dates: November 24-27. Theme: Emerging from Obscurity. Speakers to include Parks Scott, Jack McCants, Duane Troxel, with music by Dan Seals and Steve Hampton. Site: Buffalo Mountain Resort, Johnson City, Tennessee. Recreation: Golf course, three tennis courts, nature trails. Special: In connection with this institute, there will be a Tennessee Regional Youth Conference at the Camara Motel in Johnson City, six miles away. Pre-register: By November 15. Rates: Flat rate of $19 per night for two double beds per room. Registration: adults over 14, $7; 3-14 years, $5; to 6 years, no charge. Eight meals: adults over 14, $30; 7-12 years, $20; under 7 years, no charge. Registrar (for the institute and youth conference): Jerry Strain, Hixson, TN 37343 (phone 615-875-5443).

Washington West Dates: December 29-January 1. Theme: Arise, You Are the Leaven of the World. (Emphasis on the Creative Word.) Location: Seabeck Christian Conference Ground, Seabeck Washington (capacity 200). Phone 206-831-5010. Pre-register: By December 20. Registrar: Karl Seehorn, Kent, WA 98031 (phone 206-631-7475).

UNICEF packet helps 7-year-old explain Faith to his classmates

When Adam Mondschein, a seven-year-old who is a member of the only Bahá’í family now living in Elsmere, New York, started kindergarten two years ago, he found that his classmates talked of gifts and lighting Hanukkah candles and Christmas trees, but no one knew about Ayyám-i-Há.

WHEN Adam told his mother about this, she resolved to find a way to share their gift of the Bahá’í Faith with Adam’s teacher and classmates.

Mrs. Mondschein consulted with the U.S. Bahá’í office at the United Nations about using the UNICEF calendar, which shows all the Bahá’í holy days, and U.S. Committee for UNICEF materials that are specially designed for use by small children and their teachers.

She sent a note to school with Adam asking for an appointment with his teacher to explain the family’s religion and Holy Days.

Adam told his teacher he was a Bahá’í, and that his family exchanged gifts on the days of Ayyám-i-Há.

When the day of the appointment came, Adam, his mother, and his sister Emily Anne visited the teacher and presented the gift packet which included a UNICEF calendar, a Bahá’í fact sheet and other material for the teacher’s information, and a special packet of classroom lesson plans and materials that focus on the concept of one world, one family.

The teacher, who hadn’t heard of the Faith before, was delighted with the unique and well-designed materials.

ADAM and his mother also presented her with a copy of the book The Secret in the Garden as a gift from the Mondschein family to the class.

Adam’s Bahá’í identity is now firmly established in his classroom. As he explained to his teacher and classmates, “We believe in God and His teacher, Bahá’u’lláh, Who said all of us in the world belong to one family.”

If you would like to obtain this packet to help your child establish his or her Bahá’í identity at school by presenting it to the teacher, you may do so by requesting it from the National Education Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

The complete packet the Mondschein family used costs only $6. It contains:

• A 1984 UNICEF calendar.
• A special packet of lesson plans, maps, etc., for grades 4 through 6 (teachers can adapt the material for younger children) entitled “Big World, Small World, My World.”
• A fact sheet entitled “The Bahá’í Faith and Its World Community” (for the teacher’s information).

9th ‘Out of Sight’ conference held in Pennsylvania

About 25 Bahá’í children and their adult chaperones gathered recently in rural Andreas, Pennsylvania, for the ninth annual ‎“Out of Sight” Overnight” “Out of Sight” Overnight‎ conference.

Bahá’ís from Philadelphia, Harrisburg, York, West Chester, Andreas, Bristol and Leighton participated in the conference, which was held at the home of Alan and Christina Parker.

The program included prayers and songs of praise, instructions in puppet-making, a puppet show, educational and animated short feature films such as Disney’s “The Reluctant Dragon,” and swimming on Saturday afternoon.

The weekend was sponsored by the District Youth Committee of eastern Pennsylvania and organized and directed by Judy Basso of Harrisburg and Virginia Schawacker of West Chester.

Games and other activities were supervised by Marie Proctor of Leighton. [Page 14]

Bahá’í Publishing Trust Price List

Bahá’í Publishing Trust 415 LINDEN AVENUE WILMETTE, ILLINOIS 60091

ALPHABETICAL DOMESTIC PRICE LIST CURRENT AS OF 09/15/83

EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS USED

• CD = CARDS (GREETING, TEACHING, PRAYER)
• CS = CASSETTE
• EA = EACH (ONE FOR THE PRICE OF...)
• HC = HARDCOVER
• LOB = LIGHT OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH
• LP = LONG-PLAYING RECORD (ALBUM)
• LT = LIGHTWEIGHT EDITION
• NET = NO DISCOUNTS ‎APLY APPLY‎ (PRICE IS NET)
• PER = PERSIAN LANGUAGE
• PH = PHOTOGRAPH
• PM = PAMPHLET
• PSTR = POSTER
• SC = SOFTCOVER
• SET = SET FOR THE PRICE OF...
• SPN = SPANISH LANGUAGE
• 10/ = TEN FOR THE PRICE OF...
• 50/ = FIFTY FOR THE PRICE OF...
• * = NEW IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS

STOCK NO.	DESCRIPTION	TYPE	UNIT/ PRICE
331036	‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ CENTER/CVMNT	HC	EA	$13.95
331037	‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ CENTER/CVMNT	SC	EA	$6.95
106041	‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ IN LONDON	HC	OUT OF STOCK
875047	‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ LITHO 10.5X15	EA	$2.00
870020	‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ LITHOGRAPHS	SET 7/	$5.00
875045	‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ 11X14 LITHO	PH	EA	$1.25
870010	‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ 2X2 LITHOS	PH	10/	$2.00
108001	ADVENT OF DIVINE JUSTICE	HC	OUT OF STOCK
108002	ADVENT OF DIVINE JUSTICE	SC	EA	$5.00
352080	‘ALÍ’S DREAM	HC	EA	$10.95
352081	‘ALÍ’S DREAM	SC	EA	$5.95
332036	ANOTHER SONG/SEASON	HC	EA	$4.00
332037	ANOTHER SONG/SEASON	SC	EA	$2.00
353023	ANTHOLOGY FOR BAHÁ’Í CHILD	OUT OF STOCK
831052	ARE YOU HAPPY?–OLINGA	CS	EA	$6.00
308052	AROHANUI: SHOGHI EFFENDI	HC	EA	$7.00
848094	AYYÁM-I-HÁ BALLOON	CD	10/	$2.00
848087	AYYÁM-I-HÁ FRIEND SHIP	CD	10/	$2.00
848099	AYYÁM-I-HÁ GIRAFFE	CD	10/	$2.00
331050	BÁB:HERALD DAY OF DAYS	HC	EA	$10.95
332052	BÁBÍ & BAHÁ’Í RELIGIONS	HC	EA	$29.50
108004	BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION	HC	OUT OF STOCK
108005	BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION	SC	OUT OF STOCK
831085	BAHÁ’Í ADMINISTRATION,LOB	CS	EA	$9.00
340002	BAHÁ’Í ANSWERS	PM	10/	$2.00
831087	BAHÁ’Í COMMUNITY LIFE,LOB	CS	EA	$9.00
215059	BAHÁ’Í EDUCATION COMP.	SC	EA	$3.50
364003	BAHÁ’Í ELECTRL PRCSS CDP	SC	EA	$4.00
231059	BAHÁ’Í FAITH INTRODUCTION	SC	EA	$1.50
267002	BAHÁ’Í FAITH TCH BKLT ENG	SC	10/	$12.50
332065	BAHÁ’Í FAITH-PRKNS & HNS	SC	EA	$2.00
440004	BAHÁ’Í FAITH:SPIRIT WAY	SC	EA	$1.50
331096	BAHÁ’Í FOLLOWER OF LIGHT	SC	EA	$3.00
855001	BAHÁ’Í FTH PRSNTN FL FLDR	EA	$0.50
340080	BAHÁ’Í FTH:SUMMARY RPRNT	PM	10/	$3.50
831080	BAHÁ’Í HISTORY, LOB	CS	EA	$9.00
831084	BAHÁ’Í LAWS, LOB	CS	EA	$9.00
315085	BAHÁ’Í MARRIAGE/FAM LIFE	SC	EA	$2.50
215056	BAHÁ’Í MTS/19 DAY FEASTS	SC	EA	$2.00
769063	BAHÁ’Í POCKET CLNDR:1983	10/	$0.25
115070	BAHÁ’Í PRAYERS	HC	EA	$7.00
115071	BAHÁ’Í PRAYERS	SC	EA	$3.00
315054	BAHÁ’Í PRAYERS & TBLT/YNG	HC	EA	$5.00
369033	BAHÁ’Í PRAYERS ERRATA SLIP	FREE
315005	BAHÁ’Í PRAYERS GENERAL	HC	EA	$5.00
368003	BAHÁ’Í PUB TRUST '83 CATALOG	EA	$2.00
337050	BAHÁ’Í STDS NBK 1:ESSAYS/PMS	EA	$5.00
337052	BAHÁ’Í STDS NBK 3 MAR/FAMILY	EA	$6.50
337000	BAHÁ’Í STDS 2:SCI/RELIGION	EA	$4.00
337003	BAHÁ’Í STDS 6:VIOLNC-FR SOC	EA	$4.00
332058	BAHÁ’Í STUDIES #10:CRTVTY	SC	OUT OF STOCK
332060	BAHÁ’Í STUDIES #11:SPRTLTY	SC	EA	$4.00
332059	BAHÁ’Í STUDIES #9:MNFSTTN	SC	EA	$4.00
332066	BAHÁ’Í STUDIES NTBK:HLTH	SC	EA	$5.50
340007	BAHÁ’Í TCHNGS FR WRLD FTH	PM	OUT OF STOCK
769043	BAHÁ’Í WALL CLNDR:1983	EA	$0.25
315020	BAHÁ’Í WORLD FAITH	HC	EA	$10.00
340011	BAHÁ’Í WORLD WITH FR MD NW	PM	10/	$3.00
333000	BAHÁ’Í WORLD VOL 1-12	HC	NET	$176.00
333001	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL I - IX	HC	EA	$10.00
333010	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL X	HC	EA	$24.00
333011	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 11 = XI	HC	EA	$24.00
333012	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 12 = XII	HC	EA	$26.00
333013	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 13 = XIII	HC	EA	$27.00
233014	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 14 = XIV	HC	EA	$16.00
233015	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 15 = XV	HC	EA	$17.50
233016	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 16 = XVI	HC	EA	$20.00
233017	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 17 = XVII	HC	EA	$30.00
333002	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 2 = II	HC	EA	$14.00
333003	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 3 = III	HC	EA	$14.00
333004	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 4 = IV	HC	EA	$18.00
333005	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 5 = V	HC	EA	$26.00
333006	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 6 = VI	HC	EA	$26.00
333007	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 7 = VII	HC	EA	$26.00
333008	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 8 = VIII	HC	EA	$27.00
333009	BAHÁ’Í WORLD:VOL 9 = IX	HC	EA	$27.00
368032	BAHÁ’Í WRITINGS:A CONDRDNC	SC	EA	$9.00
215045	BAHÁ’Í YOUTH COMPILATION	SC	EA	$2.00
555100	BAHÁ’ÍS IN IRAN	NET	SET	$3.00
831081	BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, LOB	CS	EA	$9.00
332047	BAHÁ’U’LLÁH:KING OF GLORY	HC	EA	$24.00
231004	BAHÁ’U’LLÁH AND NEW ERA	HC	EA	$10.00
231005	BAHÁ’U’LLÁH AND THE NEW ERA	SC	EA	$2.00
315074	BAHÍYYIH KHÁNUM:GR HLY LF	HC	EA	$10.00
315075	BAHÍYYIH KHÁNUM:GR HLY LF	SC	EA	$5.00
340014	BASIC FACTS/BAHÁ’Í FAITH	PM	50/	$4.00
340015	BECOMING YOUR TRUE SELF	PM	OUT OF STOCK
352055	BIRTH OF BAHÁ’Í FAITH	SC	EA	$1.00
353019	BJ & LANGUAGE OF WOODLAND	SC	EA	$3.50
848085	BLOSSOM-ASSORTMENT OF 3	CD	12/	$2.00
842001	BOOKPLATES, GREEN	20/	$2.00
332026	BUDDHA M-A HAS APPEARED	SC	EA	$9.00
340098	BUILDING A UNIFIED CMTY	PM	10/	$2.50
352084	CALL ME RIDVÁN	SC	EA	$2.50
108050	CALL TO THE NATIONS	HC	EA	$6.00
215058	CENTERS OF BAHÁ’Í LEARNG	SC	EA	$1.50
306035	CHILDREN'S PRAYER	CD	10/	$1.00
331010	CHRIST AND BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	SC	EA	$2.95
106001	CHRIST'S PROMISE FLFLLD	SC	EA	$3.00
441009	CIRCLE OF UNITY	EA	$0.50
108006	CITADEL OF FAITH	HC	EA	$11.00
108007	CITADEL OF FAITH	SC	OUT OF STOCK
332094	‎COMMENTRY COMMENTARY‎ WL/TST ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	EA	$2.25
315011	COMMUNION WITH GOD LG/TYPE	EA	$1.50
315009	COMMUNION WITH GOD STD	SC	10/	$4.00
368052	CONCORDANCE TO HIDN WRDS	SC	EA	$2.50
368065	CONCORDANCE:GLEANINGS/W&B	SC	EA	$9.95
368064	CONCRDNC S/W/‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	SC	EA	$9.00
225002	CONSTITUTION UNIV HS JUST	SC	EA	$1.50
215064	CONSULTATION COMPILATION	SC	EA	$1.50
215067	CONTINENTAL BRD COUN COMP	SC	EA	$3.50
332034	COUNSELS OF PERFECTION	SC	OUT OF STOCK
332097	CROWN OF BEAUTY, A	HC	EA	$14.75
332098	CROWN OF BEAUTY, A	SC	EA	$9.75
332086	CRY FROM THE HEART	HC	EA	$8.50
332087	CRY FROM THE HEART	SC	EA	$2.50
859012	CRY FROM THE HEART	PSTR	10/	$1.50
332041	DAILY LESSONS RECVD AKKA	SC	EA	$3.00
331053	DAWN BREAKERS	HC	EA	$20.00
331054	DAWN BREAKERS	SC	EA	$11.00
332018	DAWN OVER MT HIRA	HC	EA	$4.50
332019	DAWN OVER MT HIRA	SC	EA	$2.00
468007	DECLARATION TRST/BLW LSA	EA	$1.50
365015	DEEPENING PCK FR NW BLVRS	EA	$5.00
315076	DESIRE OF THE WORLD	HC	EA	$8.50
315077	DESIRE OF THE WORLD	SC	EA	$3.50
332107	DIARY OF JULIET THOMPSON	HC	EA	$14.95
315023	DIVINE ART OF LIVING	SC	OUT OF STOCK
340060	DIVINE LAW:SOURCE HMN RTS	PM	10/	$2.75
332099	DOOR OF HOPE	HC	EA	$18.75
332100	DOOR OF HOPE	SC	EA	$9.75
364015	DYNAMIC FORCE/EXAMPLE CDP	SC	EA	$9.00
331014	E G BROWNE & BAHÁ’Í FAITH	HC	EA	$11.95
332032	EARTH IS BUT ONE COUNTRY	SC	EA	$7.00
340056	ENVIRONMENT/HUMAN VALUES	PM	10/	$2.75
103001	EPISTLE TO SON OF WOLF	HC	EA	$11.00
340074	EQUALITY OF MEN & WOMEN	PM	10/	$2.75
365014	EXPLANATION EMBLM GRTST NM	EA	$1.00
106042	FAITH FOR EVERY MAN	SC	OUT OF STOCK
631072	FAREWELL ADDRESS	CS	NET	$4.50
831078	FIFTH INTL BAHÁ’Í CONV	CS	EA	$6.00
835009	FLIGHT	LP	EA	$4.00
364004	FORTRESS FR WL BNG CDP	SC	EA	$5.00
364010	FORTRESS FR WLL BNG GT ED	HC	EA	$12.00
106003	FOUNDATIONS OF WORLD UNTY	HC	EA	$10.00
332108	FROM BEHIND THE VEIL	SC	EA	$2.50
332030	FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH	SC	EA	$2.00
848096	FROST AT DAWN RITES	CD	10/	$2.00
332103 *	GEORGE TOWNSHEND	HC	EA	$19.50
332104 *	GEORGE TOWNSHEND	SC	EA	$9.50
315051 *	GLAD TIDINGS/BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	HC	EA	$5.95
103003	GLEANINGS WRT/BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	HC	EA	$13.00
103031	GLEANINGS WRT/BAHÁ’U’LLÁH FS	EA	$3.00
103004	GLEANINGS WRT BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	SC	EA	$7.50
331074	GOD LOVES LAUGHTER	SC	EA	$5.25
352086	GOD MADE THE STARS	HC	EA	$4.50
108010	GOD PASSES BY	HC	EA	$12.50
108011	GOD PASSES BY	SC	OUT OF STOCK
340057	GOD'S NEW AGE	PM	10/	$1.00
864005	GREATEST NM 3 X 4 BL	OUT OF STOCK
864010	GREATEST NM 8X10 GD W/FLDR	EA	$1.00
864004	GREATEST NM 8X10 GOLD	EA	$1.00
864009	GREATEST NM 8X10 SL W/FLDR	EA	$1.00
352090	GREEN YEARS, THE	EA	$5.00
468037	GUIDELINES FOR LSA'S	SC	OUT OF STOCK
835019	HAPPY AYYÁM-I-HÁ	LP	EA	$4.00
332085	HE LOVED & SERVED	SC	EA	$6.50
331017 *	HEART OF THE GOSPEL, THE	SC	EA	$2.75
103005	HIDDEN WORDS BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	HC	EA	$5.00
103006	HIDDEN WORDS BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	SC	EA	$2.50
352087	HORSE OF THE MOONLIGHT	SC	EA	$2.95
340025	HUMAN RTS ARE GOD GVN RTS	PM	10/	$3.00
215084	IMP DEEP KNOW&UNDER FAITH	SC	EA	$2.00
332110	IMPERISHABLE DOMINION,THE	SC	EA	$8.75
831050	IN DAYS OF GUARDIAN..IOAS	CS	EA	$6.00
830099	IN HIS PRESENCE.SAMANDARI	CS	EA	$6.00
832025	IN MEMORY OF THE MARTYRS	CS	EA	$6.00
340077	IN SEARCH OF SUPREM TLSMN	PM	10/	$5.00
368062 *	INDEX OF QUOTATIONS, AN	HC	EA	$37.50
368063 *	INDEX OF QUOTATIONS, AN	SC	EA	$24.50
369032	INDEX/ERRATA:S/W/‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	EA	$0.00
369031	INDEX/ERRATA:SEL/WRIT BAB	SC	EA	$0.00
369030	INDEX/ERRATA:TAB/BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	EA	$0.00
215060	INDIVIDUAL AND TEACHING	SC	EA	$2.00
315080	INSPIRING THE HEART	HC	OUT OF STOCK
315081	INSPIRING THE HEART	SC	OUT OF STOCK
332093	IRAN'S SECRET POGROM	SC	EA	$5.50
339007	ISLAMIC CONTRIR TO CIV	SC	EA	$5.00
332053	KHADIJIH BAGUM:WIFE/BAB	SC	EA	$3.75
332091	KHANUM: GREATEST HLY LF	SC	EA	$2.75
103008	KITÁB-I-ÍQÁN	HC	EA	$13.00
103028	KITÁB-I-ÍQÁN	SC	OUT OF STOCK
364002	KNOWLEDGE VOLITN ACT CDP	SC	EA	$2.00
497004	LAO FULFIL BUDD PROPH SADDLE	EA	$1.50
497003	LAO NEW GARDEN PERF BOUND	EA	$3.00
497001	LAO PRAYERS & HIDDEN WORDS	SC	EA	$1.00
831054	LEGACIES OF SERVICE:SET 5	CS	SET	$30.00
315079	LET THY BREEZE RFRSH THEM	HC	OUT OF STOCK
530040	LIBRARY PRESENTATION PACKAGE	NET	$30.00
332074	LIGHT OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	SC	EA	$2.50
831089	LIGHT OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH SET/CS	NET	$74.50
332029	LIGHT SHINETH IN DARKNESS	HC	EA	$9.95
332028	LIGHT SHINETH IN DARKNESS	SC	EA	$5.95
215040	LOCAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY	SC	EA	$0.50
831086	LOCAL SPRTUL ASSMBLY, LOB	CS	EA	$9.00
835018	LOTE TREE	LP	EA	$4.00
340031	LOYALTY TO GOVERNMENT	PM	10/	$2.00
315083	MAGNIFIED BE THY NAME	HC	OUT OF STOCK
332105	MARTHA ROOT:LION/THRESH	HC	EA	$20.00
332106	MARTHA ROOT:LION/THRESH	SC	EA	$11.00
364001	MEANING OF DEEPENING CDP	SC	EA	$5.00
340034	MEANING OF WORSHIP	PM	10/	$5.00
106012	MEMORIALS OF THE FAITHFUL	HC	EA	$10.00
332010	MEMORIES OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	HC	EA	$13.50
332011	MEMORIES OF ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	SC	EA	$6.50
340035	MESSAGE OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	PM	10/	$2.00
108015	MESSAGES TO BAHÁ’Í WORLD	HC	EA	$10.00
225008	MESSAGES UNIV HOUSE JUST	HC	EA	$9.00
225009	MESSAGES UNIV HOUSE JUST	SC	EA	$4.00
415061	MIGHTY RIVER	SC	EA	$0.50
331018	MISSION OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	HC	EA	$9.50
353017	MISSION OF YOUTH	CD	10/	$1.50
332071	MOTHERS/FATHERS/CHILDREN	SC	EA	$6.50
339001	MUHAMMAD/COURSE OF ISLAM	HC	EA	$19.50
352001	MULLA HUSAYN	OUT OF STOCK
352053	MY BABY BOOK	HC	EA	$5.00
332092	MY MEMORIES/BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	HC	EA	$11.95
352077	MY NAME IS NABIL	HC	EA	$6.00
831051	MY ONLY DESIRE..ALEXANDER	CS	EA	$6.00
315082	MYSTERY OF GOD	HC	OUT OF STOCK
215042	NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASMBLY	SC	EA	$1.50

[Page 15]

STOCK NO.	DESCRIPTION	TYPE	UNIT/ PRICE
352078	NINE DAYS TO ISTANBUL	SC EA	$2.50
353022	NINE HOLY DAYS		OUT OF STOCK
352048	O GOD GUIDE ME	SC	OUT OF STOCK
859009	O GOD, GUIDE ME	PSTR EA	$1.00
340037	ONE UNIVERSAL FAITH	PM 50/	$4.00
340099	ONE WORLD, ONE PEOPLE	PM 10/	$2.75
340058	OPEN DOOR W/ENVELOPE	PM EA	$7.00
332101	OTHER PEOPLE/OTHER PLACES	HC EA	$13.75
332102	OTHER PEOPLE/OTHER PLACES	SC EA	$6.75
106015	PARIS TALKS	HC EA	$7.50
106016	PARIS TALKS	SC	OUT OF STOCK
406046	PER SEL LTRS ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	HC EA	$10.00
406047	PER SEL LTRS ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	SC EA	$5.00
389048	PER/ARA HIKAYAT-I-DI	HC EA	$13.95
403043	PER/ARA TELT BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	HC EA	$14.00
389053	PER/ENG FIRE TAB/HOLY MARIN		OUT OF STOCK
389054	PER:AD IYYIH HADRAT-I MAHBUB		OUT OF STOCK
389052	PER ATHAR-I GALA-I A’LA		OUT OF STOCK
389049	PER BAHÁ’Í FTH NOT POLITICAL	EA	$4.00
389051	PER GANJINIH-I HUDUD VA AHK		OUT OF STOCK
389066	PER:GULSHAN-I HAQAYIQ		OUT OF STOCK
389067	PER KHATIRAT-I NUH SALIH	HC EA	$15.95
389037	PER KITAB-I IQAN	EA	$20.00
389068	PER LAWH-I IBN-I DHIB	EA	$12.95
389050	PER LONG HEALING PRAYER		OUT OF STOCK
389055	PER MAJMU’H-I ALVAH		OUT OF STOCK
389057	PER:MUNAJAT-I ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ 2		OUT OF STOCK
389058	PER:MUNAJAT-I ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ 3		OUT OF STOCK
389064	PER:NAR VA NUR	EA	$17.50
389063	PER OBLIGATORY PRAYERS		OUT OF STOCK
389059	PER TASBIH VA TAHLIL		OUT OF STOCK
389065	PER:6,000 WORDS DICTIONARY		OUT OF STOCK
364008	PERSONAL TRNSFRMTN PROGRM	SC SET	$20.00
832026	PIONEER	CS EA	$8.50
365001	POWER OF COVENANT-PART 1	SC EA	$2.00
365002	POWER OF COVENANT-PART 2	SC EA	$1.50
365003	POWER OF COVENANT-PART 3	SC EA	$1.50
315078	POWER OF DIVINE ASSIST	SC EA	$2.00
103010	PRAYERS AND MEDITATIONS	HC EA	$11.00
331024	PRESCRIPTION FOR LIVING	SC EA	$3.50
331048	PRICELESS PEARL	SC EA	$8.00
315028	PRINCIPLES/BAHÁ’Í ADMIN	HC EA	$7.00
315027	PRINCIPLES/BAHÁ’Í ADMIN	SC	OUT OF STOCK
103012	PROCLAMATION BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	HC EA	$7.50
103013	PROCLAMATION BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	SC EA	$3.00
831088	PROGRESSIVE REVELATN, LOB	CS EA	$9.00
331025	PROMISE OF ALL AGES	HC EA	$8.25
331026	PROMISE OF ALL AGES	SC EA	$2.75
108017	PROMISED DAY IS COME	HC EA	$10.00
108018	PROMISED DAY IS COME	SC EA	$5.50
106039	PROMULGATION OF UNV PEACE	HC EA	$16.00
340043	PROPHECY FULFILLED	PH EA	$4.00
840025	PUZZLE/PUZZLE	EA	$1.00
352092	QUIOUS		OUT OF STOCK
215068	QUICKENERS OF MANKIND	SC EA	$3.50
352083	REMEMBER MY DAYS	EA	$0.00
331032	RENEWAL OF CIVILIZATION	SC EA	$2.50
332076	RESPONSE	SC EA	$4.50
331090	REVELATION/BAHÁ’U’LLÁH #1	HC EA	$15.00
331092	REVELATION/BAHÁ’U’LLÁH #2	HC EA	$17.00
331093	REVELATION/BAHÁ’U’LLÁH #2	SC EA	$9.95
352076	SCOTTISH VISITORS	SC EA	$2.50
859011	SEAT UNIV HSE JUST	PSTR EA	$2.50
353013	SECRET IN GARDEN	HC EA	$3.00
353014	SECRET IN GARDEN	SC EA	$2.00
106006	SECRET OF DIVINE CIVILZIN	HC	OUT OF STOCK
308043	SELECT WRT SHOGHI EFFENDI	SC EA	$1.00
332005	SELECTED WRIT ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	HC EA	$10.00
106025	SELECTED WRIT ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	LT EA	$6.00
106040	SELECTED WRIT ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	SC EA	$6.00
108040	SELECTED WRIT BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	HC EA	$10.00
106026	SELECTED WRIT BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	SC EA	$1.00
303024	SELECTIONS WRIT OF BAB	HC EA	$9.00
303023	SELECTIONS WRIT OF BAB	LT	OUT OF STOCK
105050	SEVEN MARTYRS OF HURMUZAK	HC EA	$8.50
225005	SEVEN MARTYRS OF HURMUZAK	SC EA	$3.95
225006	SEVEN VALLEYS & 4 VALLEYS	HC EA	$5.00
105051	SEVEN VALLEYS & 4 VALLEYS	SC	OUT OF STOCK
332078	SEVEN YEAR PLAN-1981	SC EA	$1.50
332038	SEVEN YR PLAN:STAT REPORT	SC EA	$2.50
332079	SOCIAL TEACHING, LOB	CS EA	$9.00
103015	SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS	HC EA	$12.00
103016	SOME ANSWERED QUESTIONS	SC	OUT OF STOCK
225051	SOME EARLY BAHÁ’ÍS/VEST	HC EA	$10.95
106020	SPECIAL MEASURE OF LOVE	SC EA	$1.50
859001	SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS	SC EA	$1.50
331064	SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS, LOR	CS EA	$9.00
332082	SPN A B CEDARIO BAHÁ’Í	EA	$4.00
332083	SPN ASAMBLEA ESPRT NACINAL	EA	$3.00
368066	SPN BAHÁ’ÍS UNITY TCH	CD 50/	$2.50
831083	SPN BAHÁ’U’LLÁH NUEVA ERA	SC	OUT OF STOCK
106037	SPN CONSTITUCION CASA U	EA	$5.00
106038	SPN DATOS BSCS FE BAHÁ’Í	PH EA	$0.10
332020	SPN EL REGALO	EA	$7.00
215047	SPN EPISTOLA HIJO DEL LOBO		OUT OF STOCK
215066	SPN FE BAHÁ’Í ALBA NV ERA	PH	OUT OF STOCK
108020	SPN LA FE BAHÁ’Í FAIZI	SC EA	$3.00
108021	SPN LA FE BAHÁ’Í TCH KLT	SC EA	$1.50
452094	SPN NETA NUEVO ORDN MNDL	SC EA	$1.50
415002	SPN NUEVA ERA DE DIOS	PH EA	$0.30
846032	SPN ON BECOMING A BAHÁ’Í	EA	$1.00
431015	SPN ORACIONES BAHÁ’ÍS	SC EA	$2.00
425075	SPN PALABRAS OCULTAS	SC EA	$2.00
440070	SPN PRINCIPS ADMIN BAHÁ’Í	SC	OUT OF STOCK
452068	SPN QUIENES DIOS CONFIA	EA	$0.50
403027	SPOTLESSLY LEOPARD, THE	SC EA	$3.00
440047	STORIES FROM DELIGHT HRTS	HC EA	$9.00
431055	STORY AS TOLD	SC EA	$5.50
231006	STRENGTHENING ADMIN ORDER	CS EA	$6.00
408083	STUDIES BABI & BAHÁ’Í HST	HC EA	$19.95
440051	SUNFLOWER RKS YNG SET 4	SC SET	$4.75
468066	SUNSHINE TREE	HC EA	$9.75
115013	SUNSHINE TREE	SC EA	$2.50
403024	SUPREME GIFT GD TO MN COP	SC EA	$2.00
415032	SYNOPSIS & CODIFIC AGDAS	HC EA	$2.50
468056	TABLETS OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	HC EA	$10.00
353020	TABLETS OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH	LT	OUT OF STOCK
331098	TABLETS OF DIVINE PLAN	HC EA	$5.00
332024	TABLETS OF DIVINE PLAN	SC EA	$1.50
831056	TAHIRIH		OUT OF STOCK
332109	TEN DAYS IN LIGHT OF AKKA	SC EA	$3.00
353005	THESE PERSPICUOUS VERSES	SC EA	$4.50
352088	THIEF IN THE NIGHT	HC EA	$6.50
352089	THIEF IN THE NIGHT	SC EA	$2.95
364005	THY NAME IS MY HEALING	CD 10/	$1.00
103020	TO MOVE THE WORLD	SC EA	$7.00
103021	TRAVELLER’S NARRATIVE	HC EA	$10.00
103029	TRAVELLER’S NARRATIVE	SC EA	$5.00
106010	TRIUMPH OF CAUSE..BALYUZI	CS EA	$6.00
106011	TWO THIRTY-NINE DAYS	HC EA	$12.00
352093	UNFOLDING DESTINY	HC	OUT OF STOCK
332040	UNIVERSAL & LASTING PCE	PM	OUT OF STOCK
332081	VIGNETTES LIF/‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	HC EA	$13.50
331060	VIGNETTES LIF/‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	SC EA	$5.95
331061	VISIT WITH THE MASTER,A	CS EA	$6.00
303025	WE ARE BAHÁ’ÍS	CS	OUT OF STOCK
332073	WELLSPRING OF GUIDANCE	HC EA	$9.00
106027	WELLSPRING OF GUIDANCE	SC EA	$4.00
106028	WHEN WE GROW UP	HC EA	$7.50
831053	WHEN WE GROW UP	SC EA	$3.50
832027	WHITE BLOSSOM RITES	CD 10/	$2.00
332039	WILL/TESTAMNT ‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ	SC EA	$1.50
848098	WILMETTE HOUSE OF WRSHP	PSTR EA	$1.00
106020	WINE OF ASTONISHMENT	SC EA	$2.75
859001	WITNESS OF PEBBLES	HC EA	$10.95
331064	WITNESS OF PEBBLES	SC EA	$5.95
332082	WONDERLAMP, THE	HC EA	$5.00
332083	WORLD ORD/BAHÁ’ÍS IN IRAN	SC NET	$11.00
352094	WORLD ORDER/BAHÁ’U’LLAH	HC EA	$6.50
555200	WORLD ORDER/BAHÁ’U’LLAH	SC EA	$3.00
108020	WORLD ORDER, SPRING 1982	SC NET	$3.00
108021	YOUTH IN VANGUARD	HC EA	$14.00
555163	ZAHRA’S SEARCH	SC EA	$5.00
332089
353018

GENERAL ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS

If an item is not on the price list, it is not available from the Publishing Trust at this time.

IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL, THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO ORDER

1. Through your local librarian 2. Cash order by mail 3. MasterCard or VISA by phone or mail

Through your local librarian: A. If your community has a librarian, he or she can place the order for you. B. Write down what you want and give it to the librarian at Feast. He or she will combine all orders from your community and place one order with the Publishing Trust.

By cash through the mail: A. Use the coupons provided in The American Bahá’í or the order form provided by the Publishing Trust. B. Fill out the order form completely. Add shipping and handling, and include a check to "Bahá’í Publishing Trust." Mail the order to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

By MasterCard or VISA: A. The Bahá’í Publishing Trust accepts MasterCard and VISA for personal orders over $10.00, by telephone or mail. B. To call in your order, phone 1-800-323-1880. Be sure to have your MasterCard or VISA card handy.

IF YOU ARE A LIBRARIAN ORDERING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

A. All Bahá’í communities registered with the Bahá’í National Center (including organized Groups) are eligible to open a charge account for their community librarian. B. The account must be authorized by your Local Spiritual Assembly or Group. C. Authorization forms are available from the Publishing Trust. D. Please notify the Publishing Trust of address changes. A community will be charged a minimum of $5.00, plus postage, for materials returned from a non-functioning librarian.

Discount policy remains unchanged

A. Librarians who have an account with the Publishing Trust will receive a 10 per cent discount on all items except "Rhythm of Growth" packages, Bahá’í World sets, and the deluxe leather prayer book. B. You must order more than $25.00 to receive the 10 per cent discount. C. The short, unmarked line in the lower right-hand corner of the order form is for subtracting your discount. D. The Publishing Trust no longer gives "case lot" discounts.

Postage and handling charges

A. You will be billed for the exact amount of the postage or United Parcel Service charges. B. There are two methods of shipment available: 1. Fourth Class. This is by far the cheapest way (7 cents per pound), but it is also the slowest because it is of low priority in the postal system. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery, (Please do not inquire about your order within the first 5 weeks.) 2. United Parcel Service (UPS). They will deliver almost anywhere in the country in 1 week. (Note: They cannot deliver to a post office box.) If you add to this the few days it takes the Trust to process an order, you should have it in about 2 weeks. This method is more costly, but it is worth the extra expense if you are planning an event and want to be sure to have the order. (Please do not inquire about your order within the first 2 weeks.)

Returning unsold items for credit

A. Unsold items may be returned for credit of 90 per cent of the purchase price, provided the following conditions are met: 1. Notification of intent to return is mailed to: Customer Service Department, Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, within 6 months of the date of invoice for the items being returned. 2. The items are returned, postpaid, to: Bahá’í Distribution Center, 523 Green Bay Road, Wilmette, IL 60091, in saleable condition. 3. A copy of the invoice or a list of the items showing the stock numbers, quantities, titles, librarian's account number and the original invoice numbers is included with the shipment. B. Upon fulfillment of the above conditions, the library account will be credited for 90 per cent of the amount originally charged for the materials.

Returning damaged items and items shipped in error

A. These items are not subject to postage or handling charges. B. You will be refunded or credited for 100 per cent of the amount, plus any shipping charges. C. Send the items to: Bahá’í Distribution Center, 523 Green Bay Road, Wilmette, IL 60091. 1. Enclose a note explaining the error or damage, along with your account number and the number of the invoice on which these items appeared. 2. Try to return merchandise within 30 days. D. Please do not ignore mistakes. We cannot make you happy if you do not make us aware of the problem.

MasterCard and VISA

A. If a librarian calls the Trust with an order, we will charge the librarian's account and give the librarian's discount. B. If the same librarian calls and insists that we put the order (minimum $10.00) on MasterCard or VISA, it will be handled as a personal order, and no discount will be given. [Page 16]

CLASSIFIEDS

Classified notices in The American Bahá’í are published free of charge as a service to the Bahá’í community. Notices are limited to items relating to the Faith; no personal or commercial messages can be accepted for publication. The opportunities referred to have not been approved by the National Spiritual Assembly, and the friends should exercise their own judgment in responding to them.

BROADCAST engineer is sought by the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute for WLGI Radio. Applicants must have a valid FCC General Class (formerly 1st Class) radiotelephone license and at least five years of experience in the installation and maintenance of studio and broadcast transmitter equipment, as well as solid working knowledge of FCC rules and regulations, reports and logs. Please indicate if you have worked with FM stereo equipment and if you have radio production experience. Send letter of application with your resumé to Personnel Office, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

PERSIAN pioneers are wanted in Española, New Mexico, a community of nine active adults and five children, all of whom are eager to have large enrollments among the Native American people. The Española Valley has 10,000 inhabitants including large Hispanic and American Indian populations. The local hospital is accepting applications for Registered Nurses with good benefits. There are also good opportunities for business ventures. For more information write to Box 1443, Española, NM 87532, or phone 505-753-3428.

THE NATIONAL Youth Committee is eager to receive course outlines and/or syllabi for in-depth study programs on the Faith. Please send materials pertaining to the course(s) to the committee at 2259 S.W. 13th Court, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315.

A PIONEER family in Portugal has grown from its original two members to five and must go to another country to earn a living. Their leaving will open a job for a secondary art teacher at a British school, with a salary adequate to support a single person or a married couple on a tight budget. Rents are high in relation to salaries, but food costs are the same as in the U.S. The couple also has a three-bedroom condominium which they would sell. It is 15 miles from Lisbon and one and one-half miles from a beach. Pioneers are badly needed in Portugal. If you are interested, please write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

SENIOR citizens, minorities, college students: we need you to homefront pioneer on the beautiful Oregon coast. We have two small, steadfast Assemblies; two towns with isolated believers; one town with a Group of three; and one town with no Bahá’ís—all in Clatsop County. There is a two-year college (with some four-year degree programs), a large senior citizen population, and few members of minority groups (outside of a local Job Corps center). This is an ideal location for retired persons—or those with an independent income. We have a mild climate; clean, pure air; lovely scenery; many historic sites; growing tourism; quiet living with lots of amenities (theatre, dance, symphony, cultural festivals); and are near Portland. The local economy is beginning to grow. For current job openings or other information, please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Clatsop County, P.O. Box 524, Warrenton, OR 97146, or phone 503-861-3789 or 503-325-2986.

PIONEERS are urgently needed in the Marshall Islands, especially rugged individuals who are willing to live in less-than-ideal conditions. The cost of living in this U.S. territory is low, and it is easily accessible for a person with an independent income. The island of Ebeye needs an elementary school teacher, now. Please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

BRILLIANT STAR magazine needs your creative support: adults and youth and children; writers, poets, crafts persons, cooks, game players, musicians, composers, dancers, idea people, photographers, critics, mothers, fathers, siblings and grandparents—each of you has something to contribute to Brilliant Star. Universal participation makes a better publication. Some of us support by subscribing, some with ideas, some with their creative energies, some with editorial know-how, and some are great at telling others to be aware of a great thing! Don’t sit back and think about it any longer. ACT NOW! A special note to children: Please send us your paintings, preferably in a vertical format, for possible use on the covers of Brilliant Star. We invite you to become excited about Brilliant Star. We invite you to be proud of Brilliant Star. Please send all written materials to the Brilliant Star editorial office, Suburban Office Park, 5010 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343. Send all pictorial materials to Rita Leydon, art and production director, Box 127, Lahaska, PA 19831.

THE UNITED Nations and UNICEF have a variety of job openings in many countries, especially Third World countries. Upper Volta—hydrogeologist, project manager. Nigeria—senior program and water supply officers. Djibouti—transport/equipment maintenance. Ethiopia—education project manager. Tanzania—community development officer. Sudan—project officers. Pakistan—children’s project officer. Burma—water supply/sanitation officer. India—children/women’s project officer. Afghanistan—women/education project officer. Nepal—sanitation officer. Switzerland—chief of finance and administration. For more information contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

HOMEFRONT pioneers: there are three houses for rent in Chesaning, a small town in Michigan. The houses need some painting and repairs, but rents are low. There are at present no Bahá’ís in Chesaning although one Bahá’í lived there this summer and was able to place articles about the Faith in three local newspapers each week. If you would like more information, please phone Mrs. Katherine Faily Perrot in Blairsville, Georgia, at 404-745-5138.

PANAMA needs a mature, deepened Bahá’í couple to handle public relations. They should be enthusiastic teachers with no small children, able to speak English and Spanish, and to make a dignified appearance before the public. A couple with independent incomes is preferred, but a small allowance is available if needed. Living accommodations are provided. For more information contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Spiritual Assembly of Australia has asked me to collect material about the Faith in Australia. Since the 50th anniversary of the formation of the National Assembly is in 1984, I would like to put together a small book for the occasion, and would therefore like very much to make contact with a Bahá’í who could help me obtain material from the U.S. National Archives. Anyone who is interested, please contact Graham Hassall, 20 Day Avenue, Kensington, 2033 Australia.

THE GEYSERVILLE, California, area needs Bahá’ís to help maintain an incorporated Assembly. Come to the beautiful Redwood Empire, with its exceptional climate for working, retirement, and teaching opportunities, near the Pacific Ocean and Russian River. For more information reply to P.O. Box 46, Geyserville, CA 95441, or phone 707-857-3434 or 707-433-1456.

MUSICIANS: I am looking for four-part a cappella choral arrangements of Bahá’í writings for an album and book of musical scores. Please send to Matthew Levine, 1916 Santanella Terrace, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

MUSICIANS are needed, singly or in small mixed teams (black, white, etc.) to travel in the Caribbean. Local ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ in the islands are going back to their churches because ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ do not offer the kind of singing they are accustomed to. Traveling musicians should be able to perform at public events, encourage local musicians to perform, and encourage community singing among ‎Bahá’í’s Bahá’ís‎ by bringing with them song sheets and other materials to leave behind. If you are able to spend a few weeks or more performing this vital service, please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

THE International Goals Committee is aware of several international recruiting agencies for placing teachers overseas. Many of these agencies hold conferences during February and March in various U.S. cities. Attendees can arrange for interviews for many overseas positions. For a listing of these agencies, write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

COME TO sunny California! Vacaville, a lovely small city in the rolling hills of Solano County midway between the state capital, Sacramento, and the San Francisco Bay area, needs four Bahá’ís to reach Assembly status by Riḍván. Vacaville has an excellent school system that includes eight elementary schools, two junior high schools, one high school and a community college. It is within 15-20 minutes of the University of California-Davis, a splendid four-year college. Most kinds of business and industry are represented, with varied possibilities for employment. Typical rents for a nice one- or two-bedroom apartment are $225-$350 a month. The average 1,200-square-foot home sells for around $78,000. If you would be interested in moving to the area and would like further information, please contact Mrs. Zanib Khan, secretary, Vacaville Bahá’í Group, 1150 Elderberry Drive, Vacaville, CA 95688.

THE FRENCH Antilles in the Caribbean needs French-speaking traveling teachers for proclamation work on radio and television and among professional people. Please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

RECREATION and music directors are needed at the Louhelen Bahá’í School. The recreation director should be able to plan and carry out diverse recreational activities for children, youth and adults that involve traditional games and sports as well as new, cooperative games. The music director should be able to lead groups of children, youth and adults in singing songs. If you have a background in recreation or music and would be able to serve as a recreation or music director at Louhelen during summer or winter sessions, please send a letter or resumé to the Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. The Louhelen School is building a resource file of individuals with skills in these areas, and would appreciate hearing from you if you are able to serve in either capacity.

SPEND your winter teaching the Faith in a district that has seen continued success and growth over the last six years. The sixth annual Winter Teaching Project in Southern New Mexico/West Texas will be held December 17 through January 2. Teaching in northern Mexico is a part of this year’s project, as is teaching in Hispanic communities in southern New Mexico. Spanish-speaking teachers are especially needed! Contact the District Teaching Committee of Southern New Mexico/West Texas, 1112 10th St., Alamogordo, NM 88310, or phone 505-437-0173.

AN HOUR to the ocean, a half-hour to a snow-covered playground, crisp apples in the fall, quiet living—yet only an hour to the San Diego metropolis. Yes, such a place does exist, and you can enjoy it while serving the Cause by becoming a homefront pioneer to Ramona, California. For more information contact the District Teaching Committee, Southern California No. 4, 1500 Shadowridge Dr., 201, Carlsbad, CA 92008, or phone 619-942-2440.

ZAIRE needs a French-speaking pioneer family. Must be strong, healthy, deepened in the Faith, and prepared to live simply in rough circumstances. The cost of living is high, so additional income besides employment may be necessary. Some subsidization may be available. Please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039, for more information about filling this goal.

BAHÁ’ÍS who would like to be informed about property for sale in Eliot, Maine, are asked to contact the school administrator at the Green Acre Bahá’í School, P.O. Box 17, Eliot, ME 03903.

INFORMATION is needed to write a Bahá’í history of Bowling Green, Ohio. Anyone who lived in Bowling Green or attended the university prior to 1970, please record facts and activities and send to Joseph W. Stahl, 11110 Newlove Road, Bowling Green, OH 43402.

FEEL like your talents are being under-employed in a large community? Want to feel really needed? Then consider homefront pioneering to Crete, Nebraska, which has had an Assembly for more than nine years but is in jeopardy with only eight adult Bahá’ís. Although jobs are hard to find, we have three major industries, a liberal arts college, a hospital and nursing home, a radio station and weekly newspaper.

See ADS Page 24 [Page 17]

Indiana site of ‘Wildfire Conference’

The first "Wildfire" Conference of the Arts, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Greencastle, Indiana, was held July 8-10 at DePauw University’s Performing Arts Center in Greencastle.

MORE than 300 people from 28 states including about 20 non-Bahá’ís attended the conference which featured more than 50 musical acts ranging from jazz and folk to classical and country-and-western, as well as sing-alongs, choral groups, and four modern and interpretive dancers.

The purpose of the conference was to provide an opportunity for Bahá’ís to share their ideas, talents and creative works in an atmosphere of loving interaction and support, and to produce a tape and song book to distribute to conference participants and, after review by the National Assembly, to the community as a whole to increase the use of music, visual arts, dance and theatrical arts in the Bahá’í community.

The Performing Arts Center has three indoor auditoriums and an outdoor amphitheatre with a stage situated on a reflecting pool with fountains in the middle.

More than half of the conference took place simultaneously on the three indoor stages.

The entire conference was tape recorded, resulting in 30 hours of music, and Roxanne Cheney, a Bahá’í from Detroit, video taped about six hours.

IN addition to the performances, workshops were held on a variety of topics including the Children’s Educational Theatre, arts and crafts, the process of review at the national level, storytelling, and glass-blowing.

Thirty-six visual artists exhibited works that included drawings, paintings, wood carvings, sculpture, photographs, and fabric art.

On Sunday, an all-star orchestra performed with a choral group. Bahá’í composers (Dr. Rosamond Brenner, Anne Elise Schaaf and Richard Snyder) provided original music and directed the orchestra.

A children’s school, conducted by a LEAP adviser, Mrs. Debra Dwyer, was provided for 2- to 6-year-olds.

In addition, Sharon Nesbit-Davis gave a number of mime presentations and conducted a workshop on the use of mime with children.

Two events were proclamation activities open to the public:

FRIDAY evening, 150 to 200 non-Bahá’ís were among those attending an open air square dance and country bluegrass festival with the Unity Bluegrass Band from Chicago.

The following evening, a concert of the arts with 17 music, dance and mime acts drew a large audience that included 100 to 150 non-Bahá’ís.

Invitations to the conference were sent to every residence in Greencastle (population 8,000), and press releases were sent to 10 area newspapers covering a 50-mile radius.

Thirty radio spots advertising the proclamation events were aired on two local stations with 16 free as public service announcements.

The conference coordinators were interviewed a week before the conference on the local radio station, WJNZ in Greencastle.

The conference name, “Wildfire,” was taken from a statement by the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi:

“That day will the Cause spread like wildfire, when its spirit and teachings are presented on the stage or in art and literature as a whole.”

‎Anyon Anyone‎ who wishes to contact the Wildfire Conference Committee about next year’s conference, or would like to order copies of the tape and song book after they have been reviewed by the National Spiritual Assembly, may do so by writing to the Spiritual Assembly of Greencastle, 204 S. Vine St., Apt. 2, Greencastle, IN 46135.

The group ‘New Horizon’ (from left) Chris Wolf, Karen Yoder, Karen McCord, Ernestine Atkins, Sharon McCord, and Kerry McCord performs during the first Wildfire Conference of the Arts in Greencastle, Indiana.

Funds

Continued From Page 5

appeal explaining the goal and asking for increased participation.

THAT letter included a House of Worship photograph that provided check-off boxes as a helpful reminder of individual giving to the National Fund.

The highest average participation in the National Fund since the inception of this drive to 20,000 has been 5,000 individuals.

That number has slipped to the lower 4,000s and then to the 3,000s during the first part of this year. We must now refocus our attention on this goal and to what its attainment will mean to the entire community.

We have a promise from the Guardian regarding our participation in a healthy Fund:

“...the institution of the National Fund,” he said, “...should be increasingly supported by the entire body of the believers, both in their individual capacities, and through their collective efforts ... Its importance cannot, surely, be over-estimated. Untold blessings shall no doubt crown every effort directed to that end.”

Notice that it is individual and collective support that is required.

THE GUARDIAN also said, “Every Bahá’í, no matter how poor, must realize what a grave responsibility he has to shoulder in this connection, and should have confidence that his spiritual progress as a Believer in the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh will largely depend upon the measure in which he proves, in deeds, his readiness to support materially the Divine institutions of his Faith.”

One point that needs clarification, based on the letters and questions to the Office of the Treasurer, is the meaning of the term “regular giving.”

The Guardian never defined what is meant by “regular.” For some, regular giving may be weekly, for others, quarterly.

However, at this time, the National Spiritual Assembly is asking every believer to contribute to the National Fund once each 19 days—in other words, every Bahá’í month.

So much of our lives revolves around this “new” 19-day cycle, and everything about the National Fund certainly does. The practicalities necessitate the assurance of an “every-19-days” flow of contributions to the National Fund.

IF YOUR Assembly or Group has not supported the National Fund in the past, or has done so irregularly, please ask yourself what you can do to help change that.

If you have not been a regular contributor, the National Spiritual Assembly appeals to you to ask yourself why.

Can’t some amount—no matter how small—be found every Bahá’í month for the National Fund, thereby allowing everyone to take his place beside the 20,000 Dawn-breakers?

Points to remember:

• Give directly to the National Fund, either by sending your contribution to the Fund yourself (National Bahá’í Fund, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091) or by having your local treasurer forward it for you.
• Do not expect to be counted if you are giving only to your local Fund, even though that Fund in turn contributes to the National Fund.
• If you are making a contribution that represents several family members, please indicate how many individuals are to be counted, and include ID numbers (pre-youth and children do not have ID numbers).

Try as an individual to give something every Bahá’í month. Participation is what the National Spiritual Assembly is appealing for.

The words of Shoghi Effendi are the best means of conveying the importance of the campaign to reach 20,000 giving directly to the National Fund:

“He wishes you particularly to impress the believers with ... the importance of the institution of the National Bahá’í Fund which, in these early days of the administrative development of the Faith, is the indispensable medium for the growth and expansion of the Movement.

“Contributions to this fund constitute, in addition, a practical and effective way whereby every believer can test the measure and character of his faith, and to prove in deeds the intensity of his devotion and attachment to the Cause ...

“We must be like the fountain or spring that is continually emptying itself of all that it has and is continually being refilled from an invisible source. To be continually giving out for the good of our fellows undeterred by the fear of poverty and reliant on the unfailing bounty of the Source of all wealth and all good—this is the secret of right living.”

Bahá’í News

EVERY EDITION IS HISTORY — and you can be a part of it every month. Subscribe today!

1 year $12 — 2 years $20

Name ____________________ Bahá’í I.D. No. ___________

Address ___________________________________________

City ____________________ State ________ Zip ________

Sorry ... we are unable to provide billing service. Please enclose payment and mail to Bahá’í News, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

World Order

Enlightened Commentaries on Contemporary Thought

World Order assists thinking people in their search for relationships between contemporary life and contemporary religious teachings and philosophy. Features thought-provoking editorials & essays, poetry & book reviews.

Subscriptions: 1 yr. $10, 2 yrs. $18 within U.S. 1 yr. $12, 2 yrs. $22 outside U.S.

WORLD ORDER ● a quarterly magazine 415 Linden Avenue ● Wilmette, IL 60091

Name _____________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________

City ____________________ State ________ Zip ________

(Payment must accompany order) [Page 18]

PERSIAN PAGE

امت‌الله فروزنده خانم بازگیر درباره مشارکت خود در برنامه تبلیغی ایماس گیسن مرقوم فرموده‌اند:

"... فارغ‌التحصیل دانشکده داروسازی و دو سال در این ایالت مقیم بوده‌ام. روزی که درباره این برنامه تبلیغی شنیدم با خودم گفتم حیف که وقت ندارم و نمیتوانم در این برنامه شرکت کنم. بعلاوه از زندگی در منطقه سرخپوستی شدیداً واهمه داشتم... ولی جمال مبارک تصمیم من را عوض کرد... اولین لحظه‌ای که وارد شدم احساس خوشحالی عجیبی در قلبم داشتم، هرچند که محیط زندگیم مثل آپارتمان کوچک و تمیزم نبود و تا چشم کار میکرد بچه در اطراف میدیدم!

اینجا خانمها در ساختمان میخواندند و آقایان در چادر و البته شب‌ها ما از میرزای تحت استفاده میکنیم... میدان خدمت در اینجا وسیع و غیرمنتظره است. سرخ‌پوستها بخاطر شباهت ظاهری بماها اطمینان فوق‌العاده‌ای دارند و محبت زیادی نشان میدهند. حتی خانم‌هایی که زبان انگلیسی را باندازه کافی نمیدانند سعی میکنند که با خانم‌های سرخ‌پوست غیربهائی آشنا شده و در جلسات تبلیغی مناجات بخوانند کمک زیادی است. همچنین خانمهایی که با چرخ خیاطی و کارهای دستی وارد هستند... البته در صورت دانستن زبان انگلیسی روزهای هفته که بچه‌ها در اینجا کلاس امری دارند وجودشان بسیار لازم است.

من در آشپزخانه هم بیشتر وقت‌های اضافی کمک میکنم و غذای ایرانی درست میکنم... برای من افتخار زیادی است وقتی من را آشپز خطاب میکنند. چون هنوز مادرم حتی اطلاع ندارد که من آشپزی میدانم.

خدمت به جمال مبارک بهر صورتی که باشد راه دوری نمیرود... من پاداش خود را در قیافه بچه‌هائی که مناجات حفظ میکنند و در خانه مرتب میخواندند و گزارش آن را از مادرهایشان میشنوم میگیرم... وقتی احبای آمریکایی این چنین در میدان خدمت حاضرند چرا من با ‎بدآوردن بهانه آوردن‎ خودخواه باشم که اقلاً یک هفته از عمر خودم را بحساب ما ایرانی‌ها... در سخنی نگذاردم؟"

جناب نخجوانی در کارولینای جنوبی

روز ۲۱ اکتبر ‎جناب جناب جناب‎ نخجوانی عضو محترم بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی مهمان عالیقدر موسسه بهائی لوئیس گرگوری در نزدیکی شهر همینگ وی ایالت کارولینای جنوبی بودند.

صبح آن روز ۴۰ نفر از اعضای لجنات ناحیه‌ای نشر نفحات‌الله در ایالات کارولینای جنوبی برای آشنایی با لجنه منطقه‌ای نشر نفحات‌الله جمع شده بودند موفق به استماع بیانات جناب نخجوانی شدند که تاکید فرمودند همگی احتیاج به پرورش صفات روحانی خود داریم تا بتوانیم احبای دیگر را که محتاج به محبت و پشتیبانی ما هستند بنوعی کمک کنیم تا به خدمت و فدائی راه حق شوند.

بعد از ظهر آنروز جمعیتی بیش از ۱۵۰ نفر از احبای ایالات کارولینای شمالی و جنوبی و فلوریدا موفق به شنیدن بیانات و راهنمایی‌های دلگرم‌کننده ایشان شدند. جناب نخجوانی تاکید بر اهمیت اولین فرستنده رادیو بهائی در آمریکای شمالی و یاران را متذکر شدند که همراه با برکات و فوائدی که از این فرستنده حاصل خواهد شد حمله و مخالفت اعداء امرالله و کوشش در القاء شبهات درباره آئین الهی خواهد بود. جناب نخجوانی جداً تاکید فرمودند که احباء باید پیامهای بیت‌العدل اعظم را راجع به مخالفت معاندین با آمادگی مطالعه فرمایند. برنامه رسمی آنروز با موسیقی بسیار جالبیکه احبای کارولینای جنوبی اجراء نمودند ختم شد. سرور و فرح در وجوه نورانی جمیع احباء که بقیه بعد از ظهر را صرف آشنایی بیشتر با عضو محترم بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی نمودند آشکار بود.

برنامه تبلیغی ایماس گیسن

چنانکه در شماره قبل باستحضار یاران رسید در تابستان سال جاری برنامه تبلیغی ایماس گیسن در مناطق مخصوص سرخ‌پوستان در ایالت داکوتای جنوبی و نبراسکا اجراء شد. در این برنامه جمعی از احبای مجموعاً ۱۴ نفر از جوانان بهائی ایرانی شرکت داشتند و به موفقیتهای بی‌نظیری نائل گردیدند. گزارشاتی که از مسئولین برنامه مذکور بدفتر لجنه امور احبای ایرانی رسیده است کل دلالت بر فداکاری و خلوص این یاران ایرانی و اثر محبت و صفای آنان در جلب قلوب مردم آن نواحی دارد. ‎بنا بآخرین بنا به آخرین‎ اطلاع بیش از ۷۰ نفر عضو جدید و سه محفل روحانی جدید ‎ابناء از جمله‎ نتایج برنامه مذکور بوده‌است بعلاوه جوانان بهائی موفق شده‌اند مقدمات تشکیل یک کلوپ جوانان بهائی و جلسات تدریس معلوماتی و کلاسهای درس اخلاق برای اطفال را فراهم آورند و شالوده محکم ‎براتی برای‎ دوستی با جوانان سرخ‌پوست آن مناطق بریزند بنحوی که پس از عزیمت جوانان برای شروع سال تحصیلی اهالی محل پیوسته احوال آنها را میپرسند و منتظر مراجعتشان هستند.

از میان نفوس مقدسی که در طول تابستان در این نواحی بخدمت اشتغال داشتند یک خانم جوان آمریکایی با دو فرزند خردسالش و یک دوشیزه جوان که از طرف مادر ایرانی است بقصد مهاجرت به شهر کوچک و سالی در داکوتای جنوبی که یکی از مراکز فعالیت برنامه تبلیغی ایماس گیسن بوده مراجعت کرده‌اند. خانم لیسا مولین که از طرف مادر از خانواده شهیر لبیب هستند و سال گذشته تحصیلات متوسطه خود را بپایان رسانده‌اند تصمیم گرفته‌اند در وامیلی اقامت نموده در مدرسه پرستاری که تقریباً ۸۰ مایل با آنجا فاصله دارد بتحصیل خود ادامه دهند. این جوان پرشور و منجذب در سن شانزده سالگی نیز یکسال در شهر کوچکی در کشور ‎کانا غنا‎ در غرب آفریقا زندگی و تحصیل کرده‌است.

از جمله جوانان دیگری که در برنامه ایماس گیسن شرکت کرده‌اند خانم رویا تأیید، جناب نوید حذیقی و جناب سعید میرافضلی را باید نام برد که بنا به گزارش یکی از سرپرستان برنامه شور و انجذاب و سادگی و صفای آنان اثر عمیقی در قلوب عموم باقی گذارده است و هنگام وداع چشم همگی گریان بوده است. داوطلبانی که در برنامه مذکور مشارکت نموده‌اند آنچنان از قدمهایی که در راه نشر نفحات‌الله برداشته‌اند و از عکس‌العمل مثبت بومیان آن آمریکا نسبت بشعائر ‎الهیم الهی‎ مقدسه خوشحال و راضی بوده‌اند که اکثراً متعهد شده‌اند در تعطیلات سال نو به آن مناطق مراجعت نموده خدمات خود را ادامه دهند.

میدان خدمت

همچنانکه در گذشته باستحضار احبای عزیز ایرانی رسیده است در بسیاری نواحی و مناطق ایالات متحده عده یاران بالنسبه قلیل است و احبای ایرانی نیز کمتر در این نقاط مستقر شده‌اند. غالباً از طرف محافل و جمعیت‌های بهائی در این نواحی تقاضاهای مکرر بدفتر لجنه ملی تبلیغ و دفتر لجنه امور احبای ایرانی میرسد برای دعوت یاران ایرانی به انتقال به آن صفحات و از اینکه ساکنون از نعمت مجاورت و مصاحبت احبای ایرانی محروم بوده‌اند اظهار غبن میکنند.

جهت هر که دوستان گرامی که در شهرهای بزرگ با مخارج سنگین و مشکلات زندگی روبرو هستند این نقاط مستقل شوند تا از آرامش بیشتر شهرهای کوچک برخوردار شده خدمات مهمه‌ای در سبیل نشر نفحات‌الله و تحکیم اساس نظم اداری بهائی در این کشور انجام دهند. فعلاً از ایالت داکوتای جنوبی، وایومینگ، یوتا، میسوری، کنتیکت، پنسیلوانیا، و کارولینای جنوبی اطلاع راجع به نقاط لازم‌المهاجره رسیده است و یقیناً در بسیاری ایالات دیگر هم نقاطی که احتیاج به مهاجر ایرانی داشته باشد فراوان است. از احبای خدوم و جانفشان ایرانی که مایلند ‎بحمدان بمیدان‎ فداکاریهای خواهران و برادران خود در ایران خدمتی انجام دهند دعوت میشود با دفتر لجنه ملی تبلیغ یا دفتر لجنه امور احبای ایرانی تماسی حاصل نمایند.

اسپیدکا وسنی - ایالت مینه سوتا

محفل روحانی بهائی اسپیدکا وسنی اظهار علاقه فرموده‌اند که عده‌ای از یاران ایرانی به آن منطقه منتقل شوند و به ایجاد انس و الفت مابین یاران شرق و غرب کمک نموده موجبات تقویت جوامع بهائی آن صفحات را فراهم آورند.

فاصله این منطقه از دو شهر مینیاپولیس و سنت‌پل ۹۰ مایل و از شهر منکیتو ۷۰ مایل است و در این شهرها جمعی از احبای ایرانی اقامت اختیار نموده‌اند. بزرگتر مهمترین شهر این ناحیه ۵۰ هزار نفر جمعیت دارد و یکی از معروفترین مراکز طبی ایالات متحده (Mayo Clinic) و یک کارخانه مهم در این شهر واقع است. اوضاع اقتصادی این شهر از بسیاری از قسمتهای کشور بهتر است.

علاقه‌مندان میتوانند برای کسب اطلاع بیشتر درباره هریک از نقاط مهاجرت داخل یا خارج کشور توسط دفتر لجنه امور احبای ایرانی اقدام فرمایند.

یادآوری

تعدادی نسخ کتاب "آئین بهائی یک نهضت سیاسی نیست" که در پاسخ اتهامات و افتراءات اعدای امرالله تهیه و تنظیم گشته و بوسیله موسسه ملی انتشارات بهائی آلمان انتشار یافته است و بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی مطالعه این کتاب و توزیع آن را بین دوستان غیر‌بهائی توصیه فرموده‌اند توسط موسسه مطبوعات امری آمریکا وارد شده است. علاقمندان میتوانند کتاب مزبور را بقیمت چهار دلار از موسسه مطبوعات بطلبند و یا بواسطه کتابداری‌های محل خود تهیه نمایند.

حقوق الله

احبای عزیز میتوانند چک یا حواله بانکی مربوط به حقوق الله را بنام Bahá’í Huquq صادر نموده به آدرس یکی از معاونین محترم امین حقوق الله ارسال فرمایند:

در غرب ایالات متحده:

Dr. Amin Banani Santa Monica, CA 90402

در شرق ایالات متحده:

Mr. Moussa Mostaghim P. O. Box 296 Ephrata, PA 17522

کمک به پناهندگان ایرانی

موسسه‌ای بنام National Institute for Migration and Population Services برای کمک به پناهندگان توسط چند نفر از احبای آمریکایی تاسیس شده و رسماً به ثبت رسیده است و اگرچه هیچگونه ارتباطی با تشکیلات بهائی ندارد ولیکن فعالیت‌های آن مورد تصویب محفل روحانی ملی قرار گرفته است. کسانی که بستگانشان قصد دارند با استفاده از ویزای پناهندگی به آمریکا وارد شده به آنان ملحق شوند میتوانند به نشانی ذیل با موسسه مذکور مکاتبه نمایند. همچنین کسانی که مایل باشند با یک یا چند نفر از پناهندگان را در شهر خود بپذیرند و به استقرار آنان در آمریکا کمک کنند میتوانند با این موسسه مکاتبه نموده اطلاعات لازم را بدست آورند.

P. O. Box 3462 Beaumont, Texas 77704 409/835-0505

آئین بهائی چیست؟ اثر هوشمند فتح‌اعظم چاپ بیست و دوم با تجدید نظر ناشر: موسسه ملی انتشارات بهائی آلمان قیمت با مخارج پستی ۲.۵۰ دلار علاقمندان میتوانند با آدرس زیر تماس حاصل فرمایند: Bahá’í Publishing Trust 415 Linden Avenue Wilmette, Illinois 60091

هر ماه تعدادی از شماره‌های نشریه وزین "پیام بهائی" از انتشارات محفل مقدس روحانی ملی بهائیان فرانسه بزبان فارسی، حاوی مطالب متنوع امری و اخبار و بشارات مختلف جامعه‌های بهائی بدفتر لجنه امور احبای ایرانی واصل و بین مشترکین توزیع میگردد. دوستان گرامی که مایل باستفاده از این نشریه باشند میتوانند با ارسال آدرس کامل و مبلغ ده دلار حق اشتراک سالانه مرتباً شماره‌های نشریه را دریافت نمایند.

خانواده جوان ایرانی مقیم حوالی شیکاگو که سرودی صاحب‌فرزندی میشوند احتیاج به یکنفر خانم ایرانی میانسال دارند که در غیاب آنها از طفلشان نگهداری نماید اطاق مستقل و وسائل زندگی از هر جهت فراهم و حقوق مناسبی نیز پرداخت میشود. علاقه‌مندان با تلفن ۳۱۲/۶۷۴-۹۴۳۴ تماس بگیرند. [Page 19]از جمله شهدای عزیز مدینه منوره شیراز ۳ عضو از عائله جلیله اشراقی بودند. جناب عنایت‌الله اشراقی علیه رضوان‌الله در نجف‌آباد اصفهان متولد شده سال‌ها در شرکت نفت صادقانه خدمت کردند و در جامعه بهائی همواره بخدمت قائم و مشکل‌گشای دوست و بیگانه بودند پس از تحمل ۸ ماه زندان در تاریخ ۱۶ جون ۱۹۸۳ بشهادت رسیدند. امة‌الله عزت خانم جامی اشراقی همسر و امة‌الله رؤیا خانم صبیه ۲۲ ساله ایشان نیز بهمراه جناب اشراقی گرفتار شدند و دو روز بعد از ایشان بشهادت رسیدند. اعلی‌الله مقامهم فی ملکوته‌الابهی.

مکتوب جناب دکتر ایرج ایمن از تایلند

بانکوک ۹ آگست ۱۹۸۲

همانطور که ‎معهداً معهوداً‎ در پیام منیع رضوان سال جاری اشاره فرموده اند تقابل و مناظره تاریخی فتح و اعتلا و مصیبت و ابتلا در امر الهی پیوسته همزمان و همراه یکدیگر ادامه داشته و دارد. در این ایام که اخبار تأثرانگیز تشدید و ازدیاد تضییقات و محن و بلایای وارده بر یاران ایران و جانبازی آن عزیزان قلوب دوستان را در سراسر جهان قرین حزن و الم شدید ساخته است ظهور و بروز طلایع فتح و ظفر و نصرت و پیروزی در جوامع بهائی در سایر نقاط بسی امیدبخش و مسرت‌انگیز است. آنچه در این گوشه دنیا در این ایام شاهد و ناظر آن هستیم و فقط جزئی ناچیز از وقایع عظیمه‌ای که در پیشرفت و تقدم امرالله روی میدهد را تشکیل میدهد باختصار و اجمال از این قرار است:

در همان لحظاتی که جانبازان شیراز در نهایت مظلومیت و شجاعت جام شهادت را لاجرعه مینوشیدند در اردوگاه پناهندگان کامبوجی در تایلند جمعی کثیر در حدود پنجاه نفر بمرافق طیبه و قدسیه بامر مبارک اقبال و تسجیل شدند. چندین روز بعد همه متوجه شدند که این دو واقعه همزمان یکدیگر اتفاق افتاده بود. جریان قضیه از این قرار است که از حدود عید نوروز معلم جوانی از فراریان کامبوج که در اردوگاههای مختلف پناهنده و سرگردان بود و ضمن اظهار عقاید و افکار شخصی از دیگران شنیده بود که افکارش نزدیک به عقاید بهائی است با یکنفر از مهاجرین بهائی برخورد کرده بود و مشغول مطالعه آثار و امری شده بود و بالاخره بامر مبارک تصدیق کرده بود. این جوان پرشور که به زبان‌های فرانسه و انگلیسی مسلط است از شدت ذوق و شوق در اردوگاه خودتان کلاسی ترتیب داده و مشغول تدریس اصول و حقایق امری شده بود و مبتدی‌های او کارت تسجیلی را امضاء و اقرار و اعتراف به ایمان به امر مبارک کرده بودند. این یاران عزیز کامبوجی در شرائط بسیار سخت و محدود اردوگاه همه روزه کلاس تبلیغ و کلاس تشریح معلومات امری دارند و تا بحال که کمتر از دو ماه از آن واقعه تاریخی میگذرد تعداد آنان به یکصد نفر بالغ شده است. در روز اول شهر الکمال با اتفاق لیلی برای زیارت این عزیزان به اردوگاه مزبور رفتیم. اولین بار بود که احبای اطراف به دیدن آنان میرفتند و موفق به شرکت در جمع آنان میشدند در گروه ما یکنفر از اعضای هیئت معاونت و یکنفر از اعضای لجنه تبلیغ هم بودند. این دوستان تا زنده اند جلسه ضیافت نوزده روزه داشتند. جلسه را در یکی از کلاسهای درس در اردوگاه ترتیب داده بودند. اطاق مزبور از تخته ساخته شده بود و حدود ۲۵ متر مربع بود در این اطاق حدود ۶۰ نفر از احبای پناهنده بودند که در ایوان و خارج اطاق بودند. برنامه ضیافت را قبلاً تنظیم و تایپ و فتوکپی و تکثیر کرده بودند. برنامه جلسه نشان میداد که چگونه این نوزادان جامعه بهائی یک سره صد ساله رفته‌اند. برنامه جلسه بسیار متین و متقن و عمیق بود. در موقع تلاوت مناجات از خرد و کلان در نهایت ادب و سکوت و سکون نشسته بودند و روحانیت عجیبی در جلسه بود.

همگی مشتاق و شیدای امر الهی و ترویج و اشاعه آن بودند. اخیراً موفق شده بودند پیام الهی را در اردوگاه دیگری که مقابل اردوگاه آنان است ترویج کنند و در اردوگاه مزبور نیز هشت نفر تصدیق کرده بودند. چون افراد خارجی را به این اردوگاه‌ها راه نمیدهند تمام اقدامات تبلیغی و تربیتی و اداری بعهده خود این عزیزان است. عین همین واقعه در اردوگاه پناهندگان لائوسی در شمال تایلند نیز اتفاق افتاده است و تعداد احبای تازه تصدیق در آن اردوگاه نیز به حدود هفتاد نفر رسیده است که از بین خودشان محفل روحانی انتخاب کرده‌اند و با کمال جدیت مشغول اخذ معلومات امری هستند. جوان مبلغی که منشاء و مبداء این اقدامات در اردوگاه کامبوجی‌ها بود میگفت با تقاضای او برای مهاجرت به آمریکا مخالفت شده است و به او اخطار کرده‌اند که باید به کامبوج مراجعت کند اما آن روز اظهار میداشت با تمام این احوال جمال مبارک است که من به کشور خودم مراجعت کنم و بتبلیغ هموطنان بپردازم و در کمال رضا و سرور بود. مشاهده حالات روحانی و ایمانی این افراد که سرگشته و سرگردان بی خانه‌وزندگی در گوشه‌ای افتاده‌اند و حال به نور ایمان قلبشان روشن و دلشان شاد و امیدوار شده است بسیار امیدبخش بود. جز تسلیم و رضا هیچ خواهش و تمنائی نداشتند.

هفته بعد برای زیارت دوستان مالزیا و شرکت در مدرسه تابستانه آن عزیزان به ارتفاعات معروف Cameroon Highland رفتیم. حدود ۲۰۰ نفر از یاران برازنده و خدوم و مشتعل و مؤمن مناطق مختلف آن کشور مجتمع بودند از جمله تعدادی از احبای بومی که از قبائل قدیمی ساکن کوههای مالزیا هستند به جلسه آمده بودند. این یاران عزیز مدت سه شبانه روز در جنگل های انبوه و تاریک و پرکوه و دره پیاده طی طریق کرده بودند تا خود را بمدرسه تابستانه برسانند. در تمام جلسات در نهایت دقت و هوشیاری و وقار و سکون حاضر و مستمع مشتاق بودند. در موقع خداحافظی یکی از آنان که سالخورده بود گفت این آخرین باری است که موفق بزیارت شما میشوم زیرا کهولت سن دیگر بمن اجازه نخواهد داد که بتوانم این کوهها و جنگل ها را بپیمایم اما اگر مرا دیگر ندیدید یقین داشته باشید که در منطقه خودم مشغول تبلیغ هستم و تا آخرین نفس در خدمت امر مبارک خواهم بود. دیگری گفت همانروز که در فرار حرکت داشتیم برادرم فوت کرد اما من دیدم که نعمت دیدار دوستان و شرکت در مدرسه اعظم از هر امر دیگری است لذا بدون وقفه حرکت کردم. خلاصه این نفوس مخلص و عزیز بمرافق طیبه هزاران نفر از بومیان جنگل های این منطقه را تبلیغ کرده اند و همگی آنان چنان مشتاق و مؤمن هستند که هر ماه در بین خود تبرعات امری جمع میکنند و اعانات خود را با زحمت فراوان به شهر های نزدیک میبرند و تسلیم امناء صندوق محفل مینمایند ضمناً چون رفت و آمد شهرنشینان به مناطق آنان ممنوع است.

ناطقین جلسات هم در الحقیقه ما به نهایت سرور و افتخار و امیدواری بودند. مطالب عمیق امری را با چنان تسلط و فصاحت و شیرینی بیان میکردند که ما را بیاد جلسات امری ایران و فضلاء و ناطقین برجسته آن سامان می انداخت. یکی از اعضای هیئت معاونت تجربه و تحلیل تاریخی جالبی از تقارن و تلاقی مصیبت و بلا و فتح و اعتلا بیان کرد که یک درس کامل در تاریخ تحلیلی امر مبارک بود دیگری شرح حیات جمال اقدس ابهی را با چنان جذابیت و تفصیل و افتخار بیان کرد که هنوز میدخشد در منطقه ای که زبان فارسی و عربی را بخوبی میدانند اما همه این کمالات در اثر ایمان و شوق و ذوق به درک آثار مبارکه و مطالعات امری آنان بود. جای همگی خالی فی‌الحقیقه مشاهده این عوالم زنگ غم و اندوه بلایای ایران را میزداید و هر ناظری را عاشق و مشتاق خدمات امر الله میسازد.

یاد دوست

صبح که جانم به نماز ایستاد / دل بملاقات خدا کرد یاد یاد چه یادی همه آه نهاد / خرقه ایمان شد از این غم بیاد یاد عزیزان دل ما خون کند / دیده ز غم بستر جیحون کند

گر چه شهیدند بدار فنا / مرج نشینند به ملک بقا عشق و امیدند به بزم وفا / لیک چو دورند ز انظار ما یاد عزیزان دل ما خون کند / دیده ز غم بستر جیحون کند

گاه شدیم که بر مؤمنین / سهل شود رنج زمان و زمین قدرت بینای چو حیّی خمین / لیک نشد مانع ما این چنین یاد عزیزان دل ما خون کند / دیده ز غم بستر جیحون کند

با همه ایمان به ذات خدا / با همه ایقان به شمس‌بهاء با همه تکریم برب‌العلی / با همه اخلاص به عبدالبهاء یاد عزیزان دل ما خون کند / دیده ز غم بستر جیحون کند

با دل ما از کهری دیگر است / با نگران خطری دیگر است بند مده بی‌ثمری دیگر است یاد عزیزان دل ما خون کند / دیده ز غم بستر جیحون کند

بـر بقـا در قـد مختـار شـان / عشـق بـها نقطـه پـرگـار شـان حـق منبع است نگـهـدار شـان / درک نکردیم چـو اسـرار شـان یاد عزیزان دل ما خون کند / دیده ز غم بستر جیحون کند

تـنـگ آدم انـدر ره او زنـدگی است / سـلطنـت ملـک بـقـا بـنـدگـی است حاصل محـو اسـت کـه بـاینـدگـی است / بـیـش تـنابی اسـت که شرمندگی است یاد عزیزان دل ما خون کند / دیده ز غم بستر جیحون کند

مـا همـه موریـم، سـلیمان توئی / در دل مـا قدرت امکان توئی خار من این جمع پریشان توئی / چاره کن این درد که درمان توئی یاد عزیزان دل ما خون کند / دیده ز غم بستر جیحون کند

بـا آرآنـی دل مـا از آن تـو / جـسـم جان در یـد فرمـان تـو طـاقت مـا نیسـت بـه میـزان تـو / تـا نـرسـد قـدرت شـایـان تـو یاد عزیزان دل ما خون کند / دیده ز غم بستر جیحون کند از: صـا- محبوبی پور

پروژه تبلیغی "سبیل انوار"

"Trail of Light"

پروژه تبلیغی "سبیل انوار" از سه گروه سرخپوستان آمریکای جنوبی تشکیل شده. یک گروه به آلاسکا، دیگری به کانادا و گروه سوم به ایالات متحده آمریکا مسافرت تبلیغی خواهند نمود. امید است که این مجاهدات تبلیغی کمک موثری به توسعه و تحکیم امرالله در میان سرخپوستان بنماید. بمنظور استفاده بیشتر از این برنامه تبلیغی، لجنه ملی تبلیغ یک عضو دفتر آن لجنه را بهمراهی گروهی که در ایالات متحده سفر خواهند کرد میفرستد. این شخص خانم رجینا آن چونده هستند که بزبان اسپانیولی هم آشنائی کامل دارند و با موفقیت های این گروه گزارش و عکس تهیه خواهند نمود.

برنامه مسافرت آنان بدینقرار است: اعضاء "سبیل انوار" ۹ سپتامبر وارد توسان آریزونا Tucson, Arizona میشوند و بترتیب از ۱۲ تا ۱۸ اکتبر به البوکرکی نیومکزیکو Albuquerque, New Mexico میروند و بترتیب از ۱۹ تا ۲۰ اکتبر در ناحیه سرخپوستان ‎پنرپرس Nez Perce‎ و از ۲۲ تا ۲۳ اکتبر در یاکیما Yakima خواهند بود و ۲۵ اکتبر به شهر سياتل واشنگتن Seattle, Washington میروند و بالاخره از ۲۸ تا ۲۹ اکتبر در ‎نیه بی Neah Bay‎ (رزرویشن ماکا Makah) خواهند بود و روز ۳۰ اکتبر به شهر سياتل مراجعت و از آنجا مملکت را ترک میکنند.

با توجه به موفقیت احبای ایرانی در برنامه تبلیغی اما بی سی سی و استقبال سرخپوستان از آنان بجاست اگر جمعی از احبای ایرانی برای مشارکت در برنامه "سبیل انوار" نیز داوطلب شده با گروهی که در ایالات متحده آمریکا بسفرهای تبلیغی میروند همراهی نمایند. علاقه مندان میتوانند برای کسب اطلاع بیشتر با دفتر لجنه ملی تبلیغ یا دفتر امور احبای ایرانی در دارالانشاء محفل روحانی ملی تماس حاصل فرمایند. [Page 20]

پیام تلگرافی بیت‌ العدل اعظم الهی مورخ ۱۳ سپتامبر ۱۹۸۳

در این ایام حزینه صدمه جدیدی بر جامعه منعکس و فصلی دیگر در ایران وارد گردیده که شروع فعلی است جدید در تاریخ پر تلاطم آن جامعه. دولت انقلابی در تاریخ ۲۹ آگوست مبادرت به اقدامی بی‌سابقه نموده، از طریق بیانیه‌ای که توسط دادستان کل صادر شد ضمن تکرار اتهامات کاذبه معموله تشکیلات اداری بهائی را ممنوعه اعلام داشت و رسماً وجود تشکیلات بهائی را مخالف قانون اساسی و مقررات مملکتی دانست. ولکن در این اعلامیه اشاره شده است که بهائیان مجازند بطور خصوصی فرائض دینی خود را اجرا کنند مشروط بر اینکه از تبلیغ و دعوت دیگران بدیانت بهائی و تشکیل محافل و فعالیت تشکیلاتی خودداری نمایند. با این ترتیب خدمت در تشکیلات بهائی جرمی شناخته شده است. این حمله جدید بر جامعه بی‌دفاع، بی‌بناه و سر سختی عناصر متعصب را در کوشش برای اطفاء نور امر ناشی الهی در سرزمین مهد ظهور و اولین اشعه آن بوده بخوبی واضح میسازد.

براساس تعالیم دیانت بهائی مبنی بر لزوم اطاعت از دولت محفل روحانی ملی ایران فوراً اقدام به انحلال تشکیلات بهائی در سراسر مملکت گردید تا درستی و صداقت جامعه را علی‌رغم نوع سنگین قساوت‌هایی که چندین سال اعضاء جامعه تحمل نموده بودند تأیید و تثبیت نمایند. اطمینان داریم که یاران مخلص و ثابت قدم و متمکن آن کشور پرآشوب با سرور و بهجت و شجاعت و استقامت با وضع جدید مقابله خواهند نمود. در عین حال بهائیان اقطار عامره که از موهبت آزادی دیانت برخوردارند به این مبارزه دعوت شده‌اند تا با وقف حیات و توان خود به تحقق اهداف مقدسه‌ای که در پیش دارند آلام و مصائب مستمر خواهران و برادران مظلوم و ممتحن ایرانی خود را جبران نمایند. به عموم محافل ملی توصیه می‌شود بعنوان تقدیر و تجلیل از فداکاری‌هایی که اعضاء جامعه موطن جمال اقدس ابهی چنین دلاورانه قبول کرده‌اند اقداماتی در جهت تحکیم اساس تشکیلات بهائی در ممالک خود معمول دارند.

بیت العدل اعظم

پیام هیئت محترم مشاورین قاره‌ای در آسیا خطاب به احبای ایرانی

شهرالکلمات سنة ۱۴۰ بدیع

ای معشر یاران بشعار اهل وفاق:

بار دیگر ظالمان عنید و عوامل پلید دست خویش را بخون پاک و مطهر شهدای محنت رنگین نمودند و یاران نازنین را در مهد امر ربّ العالمین بر سر چوبه دار آویختند. بار دیگر با ثمرۀ ظلم و اعتساف را شعله ور ساختند و نعرۀ مذلت و عناد را از حلقوم پر لؤم خویش بلند نمودند. بار دیگر رحم و انصاف روا نداشتند و آتش بخرمن پیر و جوان و زن و مرد هر دو یکسان افکندند. بار دیگر یاران مظلوم و ستم و ایام و ماتم هائل گشت و شمشیر بران قوم جفاکار بر فرق یاران معصوم و فداکار ما نازل شد. بفرمودۀ حضرت عبدالبهاء روحی سوا فداه:

«دست تطاول گشودند و از فرعون دوی آلوناد و قوم نمرود و نمود و عاد گوی سبقت ربودند. چشم انصاف بستند و به تیر اعتساف دل مظلومان خستند. آتش بخرمن ستمدیدگان زدند و هر جور و اذیت و عقوبتی را روا داشتند.»

ای عزیزان وارسته، در ادوار سابقه سیر چنین بوده است. نفوسی چند از علما و رؤسا و امرای مغرض و معترض بجهت حفظ مناصب عالیه و کسب مناقب و منافع دنیویه دست جفا و لغو و تطاول بر جان و مال نفوس بریئه دراز می نمودند و قوت یومیه را بر آن ارواح مجرده محروم میساختند. موارد معاش و حوائج ضروریه شان را پایمال می نمودند و از مجالست و معاشرت با آنان عامۀ ناس را ممنوع میساختند. لسان بطعن و لعن میگشودند و جسم نازنینشان را طعمۀ حیوانات درنده می نمودند. در مجالس عیش و عشرت خویش آنان را بهیکال وقاحت و شنعت مورد اهانت قرار میدادند و با دشنه و سیف سخیف و شرحه شرحه میساختند. اطفال معصوم را در برابر دیدۀ گریان مادران مظلوم حلقوم میبریدند و نساء عفیفه را امام وجوه شوهران دل آزرده مورد شکنجه قرار میدادند. اعضاء و جوارح جسم را قطعه قطعه میساختند و لانه و آشیانشان را بیکباره بآتش میکشیدند که شاید بفرموده مرکز عهد و میثاق الهی:

«نار موقدۀ الهیه خاموش گردد و دریای فیض حضرت یزدان از جوش و خروش بیفتد. سحاب عنایت از رشحات منقطع گردد و شهاب هدایت از اشراق بآن مصباح ممنوع گردد. شمیم موهبت از مهب عنایت بازماند و نسیم کل عاطفت از گلزار احدیت مقطوع شود.»

ولی هیهات هیهات که نتیجه برعکس میشد. امواج کبریا روز بروز شدیدتر میگشت و سطوع اشعۀ کوکب اسمی لایحتر و ساطعتر میشد. کلمة علیا بیش از پیش در بسیط غبراء منتشر میگشت و دعائم و ارکانش در جمیع اقطار عالم قویتر میگردید. چنین است لاهوتیه ساوته، علما و رؤسا و امرا و کلهای بدوائر انوار راجع و درکات سفلی ساقط میگشتند و اولیاء واصفیاء و مظلومان شهید با وفا در غرفات جنت اعلی مسکن و مأوی میگزیدند و بساحت عز کبریا وارد و وافد میشدند. حال نیز ای یاران مصیبت زده، از شهادت نزدیکان ناله و شکوه منمائید و مویه و زاری مکنید. اگرچه محن و آلام وارده فی الحقیقه اشک روان بر دیدگان جاری مینماید و آه و انین بر دل و جان وارد میکند و قلب و فؤاد را بخون آغشته میسازد ولی بیقین مبین بدانید که این حوادث مؤلمه و وقایع اخیره و شهادت های نفوس سلیمه مخلصه کل بر وفق مشیت رحمانیه و سنن و رموز بالغه ملکوتیه تحقق یافته است. آن یاران خدوم و با وفا در سبیل هدی کأس بلا نوشیدند و اذیت و جفا را بتسلیم و رضا قبول نمودند. لسان بحمد و ثنای جمال کبریا گشودند و بادعیه و مناجات بدرگاه رب علی اعلیٰ پرداختند. تکبیرگویان بجان و با رعد و لبیک با ربنا الابهی گویان بمشهد فدا شتافتند. تا نفس اخیر ثابت و مستقیم و با وفا ماندند و ادنی تزلزلی در مراتب ایمان و ایقان خویش روا نداشتند تا بنیان وحدت الهیه در اقالیم مختلفه ظاهر و آشکار گردد و شجرۀ زیتونیه لا شرقیه و لا غربیه پر برگ و شاخه شود و کلمۀ قدسیه ازلیه بگوش قریب و بعید رسد و آثار يوم تَبَدَّلُ الارض غیر الارض در آفاق جهان باهر و پدیدار گردد. ‎فَبِبعضل فبمثل‎ هذا فَلْيَعْمَلِ العاملون.

ای دوستان عزیز روحانی، شکی نبوده و نیست که هر نفسی را در این عالم هستی بالاخره اجل موت فرا رسد و این ورطۀ خاک را رها کند و بساحت لولاک مرجوع گردد:

در دفتر حیات بشر کس نخوانده است / جز داستان مرگ حدیث مسلمی

پس چه بهتر آنکه بفرمودۀ آن جمال ربانی این چند روزۀ حیات فانی را در ره آن دلبر حقیقی نثار کنیم و فدیۀ خاک رهش نمائیم و از حیات ابدی بهره و نصیبی بریم و در ‎حشت کله جنت کده‎ لاهوتی مقر و مأوائی یابیم. حضرت مولی الوری بدین بیانات احلی ناطق و گویا قوله العزيز الكريم:

«‎ابن این‎ تن خانۀ یخی است و این نفس قفس هر مرغ خوش سخن. جسم خاک گردد و جسد هدف تیر سهمناک شود. پس اگر در سبیل الهی در میدان فدا قربان گردد موهبت دیگری اعظم از آن نه و نعمتی اکبر از آن نیست. اموال دنیا البته متفرق شود و جمعیتی متشتت. اندوخته اش پریشان شود و افروخته اش بزمرده و بی نشان. گستره اش بهدر رود و کاخ ‎با ورش با ارزش‎ نیز بباد رود. پس اگر در سبیل الهی نالان و تاراج شود بهتر از آنست که خراج سلطنت حوادث گردد. اما خانمان و بیوت عالیه و قصور منیعه هر معموری مطمور گردد و هر بنیان متینی از بنیاد برافتد. پس این بیوت که آوهی از بیت عنکبوت است اگر در محبت سلطان ملکوت خراب شود و از بن و سنگ بر افتد البته بهتر است چه اگر این بیت گلین خراب شود ‎بمفاعل بمقابل‎ قصر مشید در فضای جانفزای ‎علتیین علیین‎ تأسیس شود و اگر لانه و ‎کااشانه کاشانه‎ در کلخن فانی ویران شود آشیانه بی مثل و نشانه در گلشن باقی ترتیب گردد. اینست که احبای الهی جمیع شئونات و عزت قدیمه شان و خدمات جدیدۀ شان و بلایای شدیدۀ شان چون نقش حک بر الواح زمردین در صفحات ملکوت ابهی نقش بندد پس بجمیع عوالم اشراق نماید آن شعاع ساطع چون بر زبان امکان زند مدح و ستایش شود و چون بر قلب اکوان رسد یاد و تخطر اطوار و اعمال و مصایب شود و چون بر صفحات آفاق زند و أجعل لي لسان صدق في الآخرین گردد و چون بر کرۀ خاک زند بقاع مقدسه و مراقد مطهره شود. انتهی»

و در مقامی دیگر آن حمامه قدسی و سرّ لدنی رتبه و مقام یاران و باوران الهی را که در سبیل الهی محنت و مشقت و ‎زمت زحمت‎ و مصیبت تحمل فرموده‌اند و بمذمت و لعن و ملامت مبتلا گشته‌اند این چنین توصیف و تشریح میفرماید قوله عز بیانه:

«‎ابن این‎ ذلت را موهبت عظیمه در پی و این مصیبت را شادمانی بی پایان در عقب. این تلخی را حلاوت حقیقی معدن و این سم قاتل را تریاق اعظم مقدّر. عنقریب تلافی جمیع این آلام و محن در ملکوت تقدیس که منزه از ادارک نفوس است خواهد شد. هر قطره ای را تأثیر صد هزار عنایت جمال منیر و هر کأس تلخی را صد هزار دریای حلاوت اثر بی نظیر. فسوف ترون ثمرات هذه البلایا في الملكوت الابهی لعمر الله هذا حقٌّ معلومٌ بمثل ما أنتم تنطقون.»

شبهه‌ای نه که این وعود حتمیه الهیه و عنایات مصرحه ربانیه شامل آن نفوس مطمئنه میگردد که حالتی دربارگاه عز وجود تلقاء ربّ ودود متبول بآمنه و بخلصت رضا و قبول فائز و نائل گشته‌اند.

اما شرع و وصف این غصّۀ غرور و اهل فتور را در لوح برهان که از براءۀ قدس رحمن نازل چنین زیارت مینمائیم قوله جل جلاله:

«لا تَظُنِّنَّ بعجزِكَ و افتقادِكَ مِثلَكَ كَمثلِ بَقيةِ أَثرِ الشَّمسِ عَلى رُؤسِ الجبالِ سَوفَ يُدرِكُها الزّوالُ مِن لدى الله الغنىّ المتعالِ. قد أخذَ عِزّكَ وَ غَرَّ أَمثالَكَ و هذا ما حَكَمَ بِهِ مَن عِندَهُ أُمُّ الألواحِ. أين مَن حارَبَ اللهَ وَ مَن كانَ جادَلَ بآیاتِهِ وَ أين مَن أعرَضَ عَن سُلطانِهِ و أين الّذين قَتَلوا أصفياءَهُ و سَفَكوا دماءَ أولياءِهِ. تَفكَّرْ لَعَلَّ تَجِدَ نَفحاتِ أَعمالِكَ يا أَيُّهَا الجاهِلُ المُرتابُ. بِكم ناحَ الرّسولُ و صاحتِ البتولُ و خَرِبتِ الدّيارُ و أُخِذَتِ الظُّلْمَةُ كُلَّ الاقطارِ...»

ملاحظه در بیانات مذکوره فوق نمائید که چگونه بصریح عبارات ملیک الارض و السموات مجد و شوکت غصۀ غرور را اخذ فرمود و آفتاب عزت و سطوتشان را بآفول سقوط سوق داد. وعود ثم ره اش کل حاکی بر آنست که امر جمال قدم قاهر و مظهر است و عاقبت معاندین و ظالمین عذاب الیم و نار حجیم. ‎سيهريه من فيصون سیجزیهم بما یفعلون‎ تجزيهم الله ‎جراء جزاء‎ اعمالهم في الدنيا و الآخرة و يجزيهم خزی الدنيا و الآخرة والله منتقم عظيم.

پس ای عزیزان دل و جان باین بنیان جمال جانان مرهم بدل گذارید و بلسم بر دیده نهید و قلب را مطمئن سازید و شکر و صبر پیشه کنید و از شهادت آن بزرگواران دلخون مباشید و محزون نگردید که میفرماید قوله جلت عظمته:

«‎یزدای بندای‎ حق راضی باش و با او ‎مأنیس مأنوس‎ شو. حال جمیع ملاء اعلی بذکر بسرت ‎با نظفند بانتظارند‎ و بوفقش مشغول. لو تغمضین نظرین من الثرى الى الله الفرد الخبير و عنقریب جمیع اهل ارض مشاهده شود شأننا شأن مشغول شوند و بیرایش تبرک جویند. فهل پروردگار تو برکت غنیمت شمار و باش از ‎سپرسکندان سپاسگزاران‎.»

با تقدیم تحیات بدیعه [Page 21]

Media Notes . . .

The Southeastern Colorado Media Committee is running Bahá’í commercials on three area radio stations in “drive time.” They also have an ad in the Pueblo area “Latino Business and Professional Directory”...

In Tucson, Arizona, all three television stations covered the July 9 memorial service for the martyrs in Iran, and in Phoenix all the papers and TV stations carried stories either before or after the event ...

Two TV stations in Chicago have aired recent interviews on the Faith with staff members of the Public Affairs Office. One of them, on cable “superstation” WGN, was a full half-hour, and the teachings of the Faith dominated the discussion ...

The “Rainbow” spot with Danny Deardorff is now running 2-3 times a day on WBZ-TV in Boston and is scheduled to continue for 4-6 months ...

“The Spiritual Revolution” is running on five Detroit-area cable TV systems, and a Race Unity Day observance received six-column coverage in the Detroit Free Press ...

In 139 B.E. and so far in 140, San Bernardino, California, has had newspaper ads and articles totaling 1,017 column inches. From those ads and articles it has received 867 responses, nearly a one-to-one inch-to-response ratio ...

In Huntsville, Alabama, letters including ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s prayer for America were sent to newspapers, radio and television stations for the Fourth of July. The entire prayer was published in an article in the Huntsville Times, and part of it was used on a radio newscast ...

Not only did the mayor of Batavia, Illinois, proclaim July 6 Race Unity Day, he also attended the Bahá’í-sponsored panel discussion. In a letter written after the program, he commended the Bahá’ís for their “dedication toward world equality and understanding” ...

Fifty-five media outlets in St. Louis, Missouri, received a letter from five leaders of religious groups in that city stating their abhorrence of the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran. Assemblies in the St. Louis area have been given permission to use the statement in whatever way they see fit ...

The Bahá’í float used in the Spokane, Washington, area has so far garnered seven awards in the parades in which it has been entered. It has been entered in seven parades ...

Michigan Bahá’í wins women’s writing award

Kristin Hay, a Bahá’í from South Haven, Michigan, recently won a third place award in a writing contest sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women.

Mrs. Hay, a free-lance writer and correspondent for the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Herald-Palladium, received the honor for a series of three historical articles published in that paper and in the Kalamazoo Gazette.

The award was announced during the annual meeting of the NFPW in Vail, Colorado.

In addition to her work for the Herald-Palladium and Kalamazoo Gazette, Mrs. Hay is a correspondent for the weekly Benton Harbor newspaper, The Citizen, and has had two magazine articles published in “Mature Living.”

Mrs. Hay received her bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and a master’s degree in English and library science from the University of Michigan.

She and her husband, Randy, joined the Faith in Millbrae, California, in 1976.

Her husband’s grandparents, John and Frieda Hay, embraced the Faith in the early 1900s and were married in a Bahá’í ceremony in Wilmette, Illinois, in 1906.

KRISTIN HAY

“Wage Peace” theme nets free Long Island billboard space

Bahá’ís on Long Island report that an agent for an outdoor advertising company in New York City is so impressed with the new “Wage Peace” billboard material that he has offered free space on 73 billboards on Long Island.

An average of 28,000 to 30,000 people pass each of these spots each day.

The space, if purchased, would be valued at $250,000. The cost to the Bahá’í communities is the paste-up price of $100 per billboard.

“Wage Peace” billboard material will qualify, in most instances, as a public service display. Bahá’í communities that are interested in obtaining similar exposure can ask local outdoor advertising companies whether they have a “gratis posting program” for non-profit organizations.

“Wage Peace” billboards (30-sheet size) are available from the Office of Public Affairs for $35 each, plus $5 for postage and handling.

Checks should be made payable to “Bahá’í Services Fund.”

“Wage Peace” T-shirts are available from the Bahá’í Northwest Media Committee (c/o Dawn Edwards), 93 Pike St., Apt. 315, Economy Market Building, Seattle, WA 98101. Prices: adult sizes, $9; children’s sizes, $7.

For the first time, the Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Institute was invited to participate August 5-6 in the annual Harvest Festival sponsored by the city of Hemingway, South Carolina. The Bahá’í booth was put together by two young women, Shirlene Brown and Carolyn Heath, who also manned the booth both days. Balloons bearing the name of the Gregory Institute were blown up and given out to children.

Congressmen express support for Faith in pages of the Congressional Record

The Faith continues to be mentioned regularly in the pages of the Congressional Record, the official publication of the U.S. Congress.

On June 30, Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts, saying that “there is no more blatant case of religious persecution in the world today than that which is taking place in Iran against the Bahá’ís,” had placed in the Record an article from the June 22 issue of The New York Times concerning the persecutions which was written by Roy P. Mottahedeh, a Bahá’í from Princeton, New Jersey.

On August 2, Rep. Jim Leach of Iowa, saying “this body has no choice but to continue to protest these gross violations of human rights and to join with the international community in holding the Government of Iran accountable for its egregious offenses of human decency,” had placed in the Record an article from the July 22 issue of the Daily Iowan, the student newspaper of the University of Iowa, which told of the kidnapping in Tehran of Ahmad Bashiri, the father of a student at the university, Mehran Bashiri.

Supplement to white paper on Iran available from Public Affairs Office

A new supplement to the white paper entitled “The Bahá’ís in Iran: A Report on the Persecution of a Religious Minority” is now available.

The supplement updates major developments from July 1982 to July 1983 and should be used in conjunction with the white paper report released last year.

Included in the update are this year’s action by the UN Commission on Human Rights and copies of two articles from Iranian newspapers with translations that show the true motive for the persecutions and the degree of deprivation being endured by the Bahá’ís in Iran.

Copies of the supplement are available from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust (see the order form on the publications page of The American Bahá’í) for $1 each.

If your need for these books is urgent, please contact the Office of Public Affairs, 312-869-9039.

Public Affairs sends almost 7,000 letters about Iran to top women’s organizations

In August the Office of Public Affairs prepared and mailed almost 7,000 letters to prominent women and women’s organizations.

The letters were sent in response to a request from the Universal House of Justice at the time of the execution June 18 of 10 Bahá’í women in Iran to contact women’s organizations.

The letters were signed by Judge Dorothy W. Nelson, treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly, and expressed her concern over the condition of women in general and Bahá’í women in Iran in particular.

Letters were sent to the editors of 38 women’s magazines, to 4,900 local chapters of the League of Women Voters, to Pilot Clubs, the American Association of University Women, the National Organization for Women, to 1,200 women in communication, and to 720 women prominent in science and technology.

It marked one of the largest mailings ever directed to individuals and groups outside the Bahá’í community.

On March 1, the Bahá’ís of Orange County, California, presented a copy of the book A Cry from the Heart to U.S. Rep. Robert E. Badham at his office in Los Alamitos. Shown making the presentation to Rep. Badham is Nosrat Sohljoo. [Page 22]

The Creative Word

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh: A book to kindle flame of love for God

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh—perhaps the first Bahá’í book you ever read, and perhaps still the one you share most often with seekers.

But have you thought of coming back to it yourself to help you win a goal of the Seven Year Plan?

YOU COULD MAKE The Hidden Words the centerpiece of your personal campaign, “with emphasis on the use of the Creative Word,” designed to inspire you to live the Bahá’í life in such a way that you will demonstrate to your friends and acquaintances the “beneficent effects” of the Bahá’í way of life.

Listen to what ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has to say about The Hidden Words in the new compilation “The Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith.” The Master says we should “ponder the inner meanings” of The Hidden Words. Then He says we should “memorize” them and “recite” them day and night.

But that isn’t all. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá emphasizes the importance of acting in accord with The Hidden Words (which have been described as the red and green lights governing our lives).

Moreover, He says we should “pray fervently” that we will be enabled to act in accordance with Bahá’u’lláh’s precepts.

The rewards the Master promises are glorious. If we do act and follow The Hidden Words, we will, He says, become aflame with the love of God. We will embody the qualities of humility, evanescence, and selflessness. The “door of mysteries” will open to us.

That is a lot of help for you—and a lot of help for the Seven Year Plan. (Hardcover, Cat. No. 103-005, $5; softcover, Cat. No. 103-006, $2.50.)

In Amherst, Massachusetts

Reception honors Mabel Garis, author of Martha Root biography

Mabel R. Garis, the author of Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold, released in May by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, was honored July 28 at a reception in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Mrs. Garis spoke to some 50 people about her book, read excerpts from it, and answered numerous questions about Martha Root and her worldwide travels on behalf of the Faith.

Mrs. Garis was introduced by Neal McBride.

The reception, held at the Minot Jones Library, was arranged by the Spiritual Assembly of Amherst.

The library presented a display of Mrs. Garis’ Uncle Wiggily stories and of the many books published by her mother- and father-in-law, Lillian and Howard Garis, and her husband, Howard Garis.

Mabel R. Garis, author of Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold, speaks at a reception in her honor held July 28 in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Martha Root (HC, Cat. No. 332-105, $20; SC, Cat. No. 332-106, $11) can be ordered from the coupon on the publications page in this issue of The American Bahá’í.

Making plans for UN HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, December 10? See Publishing Trust ad on facing page for new materials for your proclamation!

Changes in new Bahá’í prayer book authorized by House of Justice

A number of letters have been received at the Publishing Trust inquiring about differences between the old green prayer book and the new edition of Bahá’í Prayers.

Any changes you may have noticed, according to Dr. Betty J. Fisher, the editor of the new prayer book and general editor of the Publishing Trust, have been authorized or approved by the Universal House of Justice.

One of the most frequent questions involves five prayers that formerly were attributed to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and are now attributed to Bahá’u’lláh.

The Universal House of Justice asked that the changes be made, as all five prayers were, in fact, revealed by Bahá’u’lláh.

According to Dr. Fisher, the Publishing Trust takes full responsibility for all typographical errors.

“But,” she adds, “you can be sure that all other changes, down to the lowliest comma, have been either initiated or approved by the Universal House of Justice.”

Publishing Trust has free errata slip for new prayer book

A free errata slip is now available for the new edition of Bahá’í Prayers, according to Dr. Betty J. Fisher, general editor of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust.

The errata slip is gummed and will allow you to correct the erroneous line printed on page 202, line 14 (which should read “strengthened in Thy Covenant and their hearts”).

The errata slip also will allow you to correct typographical errors on pages 21, 70, 145, 231 and 260.

You may obtain copies of the errata slip (Catalog No. 369-033, free) for yourself or your community by writing to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, or by including your request with a book order.

Titles from Around the World

ABS—Association for Bahá’í Studies BV—Bahá’í Verlag Canada—Canada Bahá’í Distribution Service PB—Pensée Bahá’í

Out of Stock

• Bahá’í Studies, Vol. 3 (Physical Reality)
• Bahá’í Studies, Vol. 4 (Bahá’í History)
• Bahá’í Studies, Vol. 7 (Response to Revelation)
• Bahá’í Studies, Vol. 10 (Creativity)
• A Call to the Nations, SC
• Mullá Husayn, SC
• Quddús, SC
• Selections from the Writings of the Báb, lightweight
• Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, lightweight
• Táhirih, SC

Back in Stock

The Power of Divine Assistance A pocket- or purse-size compilation from the writings of the Central Figures and Shoghi Effendi on divine assistance. (Canada) (SC, Cat. No. 315-078, $2)

Nar va Nur A compilation in Persian about calamities and death and the blessings hidden in suffering. (BV) (HC, Cat. No. 389-064, $17.50)

The Power of the Covenant, Part 1 Discusses how the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh is the key to the spiritualization and unification of mankind and the basis of the promised global civilization. (Canada) (SC, Cat. No. 365-001, $2)

Bahá’í Studies, Vol. 2 (Science and Religion) Essays by Dr. William S. Hatcher on science and religion. (ABS) (SC, Cat. No. 337-000, $4)

Bahá’í Studies, Vol. 6 (The Violence-Free Society) By Dr. Hossain Danesh. (ABS) (SC, Cat. No. 337-003, $4)

Bahá’í Studies Notebook, Vol. 1 (Essays and Poems) Essays and poems by 16 authors on a variety of topics. (ABS) (SC, Cat. No. 337-050, $5)

Bahá’í Studies Notebook, Vol. 2 (Health and Healing) Eleven articles on such topics as health and healing, sexuality, music therapy, homosexuality, and nutrition. (ABS) (SC, Cat. No. 332-066, $5.50)

Bahá’í Studies Notebook, Vol. 3 (The Divine Institution of Marriage) Eight essays on various aspects of marriage and the family. (ABS) (SC, Cat. No. 337-052, $6.50)

Pioneer Joany Lincoln, in a cassette dedicated to pioneers, sings 15 songs in four languages including “Strong Brilliant Sunshine” and the so-called Persian pioneering song. (PB) (Cassette, Cat. No. 832-026, $8)

NEWS from the Publishing Trust

New Pocket-Size Book

Pocket-size edition of the Kitáb-i-Íqán

Now available—a new pocket-size edition of the Kitáb-i-Íqán, Bahá’u’lláh’s remarkable exposition of progressive revelation. Bound in maroon and stamped in gold to match the pocket-size Gleanings. (PS, Cat. No. 103-032, $3.50)

New Prices

Circle of Unity (SC, Cat. No. 441-009, 50 cents)

A Concordance to The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh (SC, Cat. No. 368-052, $2.50)

From Strength to Strength (SC, Cat. No. 332-030, $2)

God’s New Age (SC, Cat. No. 340-057, $1)

The Local Spiritual Assembly (SC, Cat. No. 215-040, 50 cents)

A Mighty River (SC, Cat. No. 415-061, 50 cents)

My Baby Book (HC, Cat. No. 353-053, $5)

Puzzle/Puzzle (Cat. No. 840-025, $1)

The Secret in the Garden (HC, Cat. No. 353-013, $3) (SC, Cat. No. 353-014, $2)

Selected Writings of Shoghi Effendi (SC, Cat. No. 308-043, $1)

Selected Writings of Bahá’u’lláh (SC, Cat. No. 303-023, $1)

Sunflower Books (set of 4) (SC, Cat. No. 353-005, $2)

Coupon for Ordering from the Publishing Trust

Use the order form at the right to order any of the titles on the publications page or elsewhere in The American Bahá’í.

Cash orders must be accompanied by a check or money order for the full amount (including 10 per cent for postage and handling, minimum $1.50).

Credit card orders are accepted by phone (1-800-323-1880) and by mail; a VISA or MasterCard account number and expiration date must be included. Send orders to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Qty	Title	Price	Qty	Title	Price
	Hidden Words, HC	$5.00		Bahá’í Studies, No. 6	4.00
	Hidden Words, SC	2.50		Notebook—Essays	5.00
	Kitáb-i-Íqán, PS	3.50		Notebook—Health	5.50
	Sel. Writings Bahá’u’lláh	1.00		Notebook—Marriage	6.50
	Nar va Nur	17.50		Human Rights	10/2.00
	Sel. Writ. Shoghi Effendi	1.00		Building Unified	10/2.50
	Power Divine Assistance	2.00		Divine Law: Source	10/2.75
	Local Spiritual Assembly	.50		Environment Human	10/2.75
	Martha Root, HC	20.00		Equality Men Women	10/2.75
	Martha Root, SC	11.00		One World, One People	10/2.75
	Concordance Hidden Words	2.50		One Universal Faith	10/2.75
	To Move the World, SC	7.00		Pioneer	8.00
	Mighty River	.50		Secret in Garden, HC	3.00
	Strength to Strength	2.00		Secret in Garden, SC	2.00
	Circle of Unity	.50		Sunflower Books	2.00
	Power of Cov., Part 1	1.50		Puzzle/Puzzle	1.00
	God’s New Age, SC	1.00		My Baby Book	5.00
	Bahá’í Studies, No. 2	4.00		Errata, Bahá’í Prayers	free

Enclosed is my check or money order for $_________ (including 10 per cent for postage and handling, minimum $1.50).

Charge to: ($10.00 minimum order)

Visa ____________________ Card expires __________

MC ____________________ Card expires __________

Name ________________________________________

Address ______________________________________

City ____________________ State _________ Zip ______

(All orders are NET—no discounts. No charges on librarians’ accounts accepted. Credit card orders accepted by phone: 1-800-323-1880.)

TAB 10/83 Prices good through January 15, 1984 Prices valid only in 48 contiguous States of the United States [Page 23]

A Fall Potpourri of Books

to help you win the second goal of the Seven Year Plan

Emphasis on the Creative Word

Kitáb-i-Íqán: The Book of Certitude Now available for the first time in a pocket-size edition! Bahá’u’lláh’s eloquent discussion of progressive revelation. Bound in handsome maroon and stamped in gold to match the pocket-size edition of Gleanings. Pocket-size Catalog No. 103-032 $3.50

Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh The popular $3 edition of Gleanings introduced at the National Convention, together with the new pocket-size Íqán, makes a compact deepening duo for you—or a handsome gift for a public official. Pocket-size Catalog No. 103-031 $3

The Promulgation of Universal Peace The fundamental principles of the revelation and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh set forth by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in his 239-day visit to the U.S. in 1912. Hardcover Catalog No. 106-039 $16

New Compilations

The Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith A new compilation bringing together many passages, a number previously unpublished, that provide a new dimension to our study of the Creative Word and remind us of the basic elements of our Faith that must be mastered in order to achieve personal growth and success in teaching and administrative activities. Softcover Catalog No. 215-084 $2

Bahá’í Marriage and Family Life A new book on the institution of marriage, preparation for marriage, and family life—96 pages of quotations from Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi. Softcover Catalog No. 315-085 $2.50

More for the Family

Bahá’í Studies Notebook: The Divine Institution of Marriage Eight essays on various aspects of marriage and the family—from the Association for Bahá’í Studies. Softcover Catalog No. 337-052 $6.50

About the Hands of the Cause of God

To Move the World By popular demand—a softcover edition of Gayle Morrison’s biography of Louis G. Gregory, who was posthumously appointed a Hand of the Cause of God. The sterling example of his life shows how devotion, discipline and integrity can help make the oneness of mankind a reality. Softcover Catalog No. 332-073 $7

Martha Root Let Martha Root, another ardent Bahá’í named a Hand of the Cause of God after her death, give you a lesson in following in the Master’s footsteps. Shy about taking a trolley across town, Martha Root—armed with the Creative Word of Bahá’u’lláh—was fearless in sharing His message with all whom she met. By M. R. Garis. Hardcover Catalog No. 332-105 $20 Softcover Catalog No. 332-106 $11

For UN Human Rights Day (December 10)

UN Position Paper Packet Contains a selection of position papers of topical interest for Human Rights Day. Catalog No. 342-006 $3

Human Rights Are God-Given Rights Catalog No. 340-025 10/$3 Now 10/$2

Divine Law: Source of Human Rights Catalog No. 340-060 10/$2.75

The Environment and Human Values Catalog No. 340-056 10/$2.75

Equality of Men and Women Catalog No. 340-074 10/$2.75

One World, One People: A Bahá’í View Catalog No. 340-099 10/$2.75

A Novel for Everyone

From Behind the Veil Táhirih and the Bábis come alive in a new novel that captures the bravery and audacity of the foremost woman Bábí teacher. By Kathleen Jemison Demas. Softcover Catalog No. 332-108 $2.50

For Children—With Love

The ‎Spotlessly Spotless‎ Leopard The leopard without spots will help your children understand the importance of being their own selves and of developing a strong Bahá’í personality. Sure to evoke many questions. By Winifred Barnum Newman. Softcover Catalog No. 353-020 $3

B.J. and the Language of the Woodland A chapter book about a green frog that brings the realities of unity and cooperation and the importance of a universal auxiliary language down to a level your child can easily understand. For 6-11 year olds. By Alvin N. Deibert. Softcover Catalog No. 353-019 $3.50

Photographs of the Master

‘Abdu’l-Bahá Lithograph, 10 1/2 x 15 inches A majestic three-quarter length formal portrait of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá suitable for homes and Bahá’í Centers. Lithograph Catalog No. 875-047 $2

‘Abdu’l-Bahá Lithographs, set of seven A new selection of seven lithographs of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in a variety of poses, formal and informal. All suitable for framing. Brown duotone. Two 8 x 10s; three 5 x 7s; and two 4 x 5s. Lithograph Catalog No. 870-020 $5

Coupon for ordering from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust

Qty	Title	Price	Qty	Title	Price
___	Kitáb-i-Íqán, PS	$3.50	___	Human Rights/God Given Rights	10/2.00
___	Gleanings, PS	3.00	___	Divine Law	10/2.75
___	Promulgation, HC	16.00	___	Environment Human Values	10/2.75
___	Importance of Deepening, SC	2.00	___	Equality Men/Women	10/2.75
___	Bahá’í Marriage and Family, SC	2.50	___	One World, One People	10/2.75
___	Notebook—Marriage, SC	6.50	___	From Behind the Veil, SC	2.50
___	To Move the World, SC	7.00	___	‎Spotlessly Spotless‎ Leopard, SC	3.00
___	Martha Root, HC	20.00	___	B.J. Language of Woodland	3.50
___	Martha Root, SC	11.00	___	Master Photograph, 10 1/2 x 15	2.00
___	UN Position Packet	3.00	___	Master Photographs, set of 7	5.00

Enclosed is my check or money order for $__________ (including 10 per cent for postage and handling, minimum $1.50).

Charge to: ($10.00 minimum order)

Visa ____________________ Card expires ____________

MC ____________________ Card expires ____________

Name ___________________________________________

Address _________________________________________

City ____________________ State ________ Zip _______

(All orders are NET—no discounts. No charges on librarians’ accounts accepted. Credit card orders accepted by phone: 1-800-323-1880.)

TAB 10/83 Prices good through January 15, 1984 Prices valid only in 48 contiguous states of the United States

Bahá’í Publishing Trust 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 [Page 24]

World NEWS

A six-member delegation representing the National Spiritual Assembly of Bophuthatswana was received last May by His Excellency Kgosi L.M. Mangope, president of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.

Also present were three ministers of religion, one of whom is the country’s Minister of Internal Affairs ...

A lengthy article about Radio Bahá’í in Ecuador appears in the May 15 issue of “Frequency,” the official newsletter of the World Conference of Community Oriented Radio Broadcasters.

The article stresses the Quechua-language programming of Radio Bahá’í which, from the beginning, made up 35 per cent of the station’s programming and has increased to 50 per cent with a goal of 80 per cent by 1985.

A recent survey shows a remarkable listener figure for Radio Bahá’í—94 per cent of the potential audience in the region, despite the fact that 30 stations can be heard in Otavalo ...

At Kenyatta University College in Nairobi, Kenya, a Bahá’í professor on the faculty of education has been invited to present a course in the department of philosophy and religious studies to candidates for the M.A. degree who are training to be tutors in Kenya’s teachers colleges.

The course will run for a full year and consist of 52 lecture hours divided into 10 parts. After segments on eight earlier religious traditions, units 9 and 10 will deal with the Bábí and Bahá’í Faiths ...

As a result of successful teaching in the Lenakel area of Vanuatu, there are now Bahá’ís in inland villages around Sidni.

There are 11 new believers in Waisisi, and children’s classes are being held in six localities ...

More than 160 Bahá’í youth from 10 countries attended an International Youth Conference last March 31-April 2 in Siguatepeque, Honduras.

Among the participants were Counsellors Hedi Ahmadíyyih, Artemus Lamb and Ruth Pringle, and members of the Auxiliary Board from Guatemala and Honduras ...

A statement was submitted by the Bahá’í International Community last April 26 to the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements in Helsinki, Finland.

The Bahá’í paper draws on the Writings to endorse the preparations being made for the International Year of Shelter to the Homeless to be observed in 1987 ...

‘Women in a Changing World’ theme of 1st Olean conference

About 100 women and men were present over the Fourth of July weekend for the first Bahá’í Women’s Conference ever held in Olean, New York.

The conference, whose theme was “Women in a Changing World,” was co-sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Olean and St. Bonaventure University.

As a result of mailed brochures and two pre-conference newspaper articles, as well as personal invitations, about a dozen non-Bahá’ís were among the attendees.

Participants were able to choose from among 18 sessions during the two-day conference whose speakers included Dr. Jane Faily from Canada, Dr. Ann Schoonmaker from Maine, Carol Handy from Michigan and 20 other “presenters.”

Among the topics offered were “Women as Peacemakers,” “The Family as a Workshop and Refuge,” “The Spiritual Reality of the Equality of Men and Women,” “Career Planning,” “Interpersonal/Communication Skills,” “Nutrition and Health Care,” “Blended Families,” “Communication in Marriage,” “Surviving High School and College,” and “The Role of Men Today.”

Because of the positive response received from participants, the Spiritual Assembly of Olean is planning a similar conference for next year.

Dr. Jane Faily, a psychologist and member of the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, conducts a course in ‘Career Planning’ during a two-day Bahá’í Women’s Conference held over the Fourth of July weekend in Olean, New York.

Ads

(Continued From Page 16)

Crete, a community of 25,000, is 25 miles southwest of Lincoln, home of the University of Nebraska, and commuting is possible. For information write to P.O. Box 54, Crete, NE 68333, or phone 402-826-4134.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA needs a couple or single man to serve as caretaker(s) at their National Center. Applicants must be self-sufficient and able to help in running the national office. No carpentry or repair skills are needed. A two-bedroom house is provided on the National Center grounds, and all utilities are paid by the National Assembly. If you have been considering pioneering in the Pacific, this may be your chance. Write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or telephone 312-869-9039.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives Committee is seeking to locate, at the request of the Universal House of Justice, original letters from the Guardian to the following individuals: Arthur Agnew, Mrs. H.W. Birins, Ralph C. Browne, Miss Helen Campbell, Walter Guy and Laura D. Walsh. The originals or photocopies of these letters are needed by the Universal House of Justice in its efforts to study and compile the letters of the Guardian. Anyone having information regarding the whereabouts of any of these letters is requested to contact the National Bahá’í Archives Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

YES, AMERICA, Delaware does have a capital. Its name is Dover. Homefront pioneers are needed there to help the Group grow toward Assembly status. Delaware State College and a large Air Force base offer opportunities for possible employment. Contact Nelson McMillan, DelMarVa District Teaching Committee, Apt. 307, Newark, DE 19713.

I AM interested in finding someone who might have extra copies of two Bahá’í record albums that I have, through a series of moves, managed to misplace. They are no longer being published, and therefore are not available from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. The first album, the “Bahá’í Victory Chorus,” from the ’60s, was a popular album with a bright green cover. It seems to me that it was conducted by Russ Garcia. The second album is entitled “Fire and Snow.” If anyone has copies of these albums that they would be willing to sell, please contact Margo Cornish Tracy, 1205 W. Water St., Elmira, NY 14901.

ARE YOU retired and searching for a way to serve the Faith? The lovely Bahá’í Center in San Diego, California, needs a resident caretaker—retired couple preferred. Our Center is large, as is the community, and duties will include maintenance, minor repairs, and participation in community activities. Small studio apartment and remuneration in return for services. If this sounds interesting to you, please write to the Assembly secretary, Doris Rodgers, 16255 Silver Hill Lane, San Diego, CA 92127, or phone 619-487-4968.

Order form for	Guidelines for Bahá’í Archives
Price for U.S., Alaska, Canada, Hawaii, Mexico $7.50 U.S. All others add $4.50 U.S. per copy (total $12 U.S.) for air mail or $2 U.S. per copy (total $9.50 U.S. per copy) for surface mail.
Guidelines for Bahá’í Archives (72 pages) covers in detail the organization and functioning of a Bahá’í archives. It is highly suitable for larger communities faced with the need to organize a local archives.
Name __________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________
City _________________________ State _______________ Zip _________________
Order forms with payment should be sent to: National Bahá’í Archives Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Can you identify anyone in this picture?

The Archives would like to identify the name of the group, the location and date of the picture, and all of the individuals shown. If you have any information to offer, please contact the National Bahá’í Archives Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

New Britain Bahá’ís have ‘Main St.’ booth

The Spiritual Assembly of New Britain, Connecticut, had a booth June 5 in the city’s annual “Main Street U.S.A.” event.

Three seekers attended a follow-up fireside that was announced in attractive flyers designed and handed out by Bahá’í youth. [Page 25]

Membership & records answers your questions

Secretaries and correspondents

Are you a Group correspondent for the very first time?

Have you just been elected secretary of your Local Spiritual Assembly and you’ve never served in that capacity before?

Does your community have the basic supplies necessary for maintaining records on the local level?

Do you know what information needs to be forwarded to the National Assembly?

Do you know what forms are available from the Office of Membership and Records?

Do you have any questions?

If so, simply phone the Office of Membership and Records for help.

Perhaps the following information will also be of help:

What are the important things to remember about membership changes?

The most important thing to remember in all changes is to report information as completely as possible. This means that Bahá’í identification numbers, complete names (no nicknames), and current addresses and telephone numbers are always important.

In addition, it often helps us to identify the person in question if we have the last known address, the name under which the person was enrolled, and, sometimes, the birthdate.

For transfers-in to the U.S., the individual is responsible for obtaining his/her current Bahá’í credentials from the previous National Assembly. It is preferable that the believer carry current Bahá’í identification with him/her at all times, unless of course the person is traveling in an area designated as “sensitive.”

If a Bahá’í does not have current Bahá’í credentials, he should write, cable or phone his former National Spiritual Assembly requesting that his Bahá’í membership be transferred to the U.S.

What happens to reports of changes when they arrive at the National Center, and what problems can occur?

All changes are first checked to be sure the information is complete and legible, then they are “entered” onto the computer data base. This process should normally take no more than a few days, although the production of an identification card requires between one and two weeks depending on the day the enrollment request was received.

The delays that are caused in processing changes involve a variety of problems. Often, information that is vital to making the change is left off the report. The information must be researched, and this takes time.

Often, the missing information makes it impossible to identify the person in question, and we must request further information from the community.

There have been occasions when the name and address of the community had to be determined before we could inquire about the change, simply because the correspondent left off the name and address of the Assembly, Group or District Teaching Committee.

Another problem that may arise is that a person reports a change just before, or just after, labels for The American Bahá’í are printed. When that issue is still mailed to the old address, the person may think we did not receive or process the change when in fact, there is simply a problem of timing and the change will be reflected in the mailing labels for the next month’s issue.

Friendship

Continued From Page 11

“Because of this, we do not expect to have ‘instant’ teams. We are seeking quality, not speed.

“We do expect an increase in fireside activity almost immediately, though. The Assembly has placed emphasis on holding firesides as the primary task of each team. Even before the teams are filled out they are expected to hold a fireside before next Feast.

“Pray for our success. We’ll keep you posted.”

Does your community have members who can’t attend meetings because of work or classes? Do you want to start an activity that will include children, youth and senior citizens? How about several firesides a week in your community instead of, say, one every 19 days?

A Friendship Team can do the job and have fun doing it!

Does your community have any Friendship Team stories? Send them to the National Teaching Committee.

MUSICIANS: WLGI needs you! Musicians are encouraged to compose and, if possible, record “station I.D.’s” (i.e., musical introductions) for WLGI. These should be forwarded to WLGI at the Bahá’í National Center. The National Spiritual Assembly will then select the one(s) to be used on the air in South Carolina.

Membership print-outs

The National Spiritual Assembly periodically produces Bahá’í membership print-outs which are mailed to Local Assemblies and District Teaching Committees. These membership listings serve a variety of purposes and generally will not be produced for special requests outside of the normal production schedule.

If a community has a special need, it should contact the Office of Membership and Records. District Teaching Committees should make their requests through the National Teaching Committee office.

The community membership print-outs are a worksheet with which the Local Assemblies and District Teaching Committees can compare their local records so that address, locality and other corrections may be forwarded to the National Assembly.

It should be remembered that the listings should not be considered an official membership list until the Local Assembly or District Teaching Committee has verified that the information is accurate.

Here is a checklist of things to look for on the membership print-out:

1. Are all members of the community noted on the list, including new arrivals?

2. Are all their addresses (including apartment numbers and zip codes) and telephone numbers correct?

3. Are there Bahá’ís still listed who have already moved from the community?

4. Are there Bahá’ís identified as having had mail returned? The community should try to contact these Bahá’ís personally to verify if they have moved or whether their mail has been incorrectly returned from a good address.

5. Are all Bahá’ís correctly identified as either youth (Y) or adult (A)?

6. Are all community members who have requested not to receive The American Bahá’í so noted on the print-out? The notation “No American Bahá’í” will appear next to the name.

7. Are all community members who have requested not to receive any Bahá’í mail so noted as “No Mail Requested”?

All membership changes should be forwarded to the Office of Membership and Records on Bahá’í Membership Data Report forms—one for each person on whom a change is reported.

Please do not submit changes by writing corrections on the print-out and returning it to the National Assembly.

Two most asked questions about The American Bahá’í

1. What about couples or families who only want to receive one copy of The American Bahá’í?

It is not possible for us, at this time, to address this publication to “Mr. and Mrs.” or “Joe and Sue.” If a believer wishes to discontinue his/her personal copy, he/she need only report that desire, along with his/her Bahá’í identification number, to the Office of Membership and Records. The address change form in The American Bahá’í is specially designed to facilitate this request.

2. We get an extra copy of The American Bahá’í addressed to the Group or Local Spiritual Assembly. How can we discontinue the extra copies?

Copies of the newspaper are always sent to Bahá’í communities for which we have current address information. It is intended that each community should keep copies of The American Bahá’í in the community files.

It is not possible to discontinue the mailings to the Bahá’í community. If, however, an individual wishes to discontinue his/her personal copy and read the community copy, that person need only inform the Office of Membership and Records of his/her desire.

What information should be reported to the National Assembly through the Office of Membership and Records?

1. Changes in mailing and residence addresses for individuals.

2. Changes in work and home telephone numbers.

3. Changes in honorific titles (i.e., Mr., Mrs., Miss, Dr., etc.).

4. Requests for Bahá’í identification cards.

5. Marriages.

6. Name changes and the reasons for them.

7. Deaths (please note dates).

8. Enrollments (please remember to include birth dates, especially for youth).

9. Transfers-in and out of the country.

10. Assembly by-election reports.

11. Changes in Assembly or Group officers.

12. Changes in Assembly or Group addresses.

Please note the following:

• Assembly elections, Group formations and District Teaching Committee changes should be reported directly to the National Teaching Committee.

• All changes should be reported as completely and as soon as possible.

• Reports of year of patience, divorce, or withdrawal from the Faith must be reported by letter to the National Spiritual Assembly.

Forms

A variety of forms are available to help the community in making these reports. Except where noted, these materials may be ordered from the Office of Membership and Records by letter or by using the Supply Request postcard form.

Bahá’í birth certificates are the only item available to all individuals, although Local Spiritual Assemblies still must record the births.

Persian believers may request the Bahá’í Membership Questionnaire from the Office of Persian Affairs to help the National Assembly in processing their transfer into the U.S. Bahá’í community.

Spiritual Assemblies may request all of the forms that are available from the Bahá’í National Center. District Teaching Committees may request all of the forms except the marriage certificates, which can only be used by Spiritual Assemblies.

Please note that enrollment cards are not issued to Bahá’í Groups since Groups have not been authorized to countersign enrollments. A Group must request help from the nearest Local Spiritual Assembly or from its District Teaching Committee.

The National Assembly sends letters of welcome to individuals whose transfer into the American community from another country is in the process of being completed.

The letters of welcome arrive before the identification cards and can serve as credentials until the Bahá’í membership identification card arrives. These letters of welcome may not be ordered by the community, but you should be aware of their use.

Gabon

Continued From Page 6

came quite friendly to both the Allens and the Faith.

Mr. Nahvi held regular firesides and meetings at the Bahá’í Center in Libreville, which will be the seat of a new National Spiritual Assembly at Riḍván 1984.

HE MADE proclamations to public officials in Moanda, Franceville and Port Gentil.

In Moanda, the mayor said, “I feel that I am already a member of this (Bahá’í) community.”

He then took Mr. Nahvi and other Bahá’ís who were with him to other rooms and introduced them to his colleagues and subordinates.

During Mr. Nahvi’s visit two new members were added to the Bahá’í community of Libreville and two Assemblies were formed, doubling the number in Gabon.

Also, the first radio and television interviews with Bahá’ís ever to take place in Gabon were held, with the promise to have more in the future.

Says Mr. Nahvi: “These are all blessings of God, and tangible examples of the penetrating influence of the words of Bahá’u’lláh.”

‘Potluck picnic’ held

Bahá’ís and their guests from many places participated August 14 in the third annual potluck picnic sponsored by the Bahá’ís of Currituck County, North Carolina.

Visitors from India, England and Iran were among the 57 people who enjoyed swimming, food and fellowship with those from Florida, Virginia and North Carolina. [Page 26]

En Chicago se ‎reunen reúnen‎ para estudiar y enseñar

Unos de los participantes en la reunión de profundización toman un descanso.

En una charla hogareña, los amigos de habla hispana escuchan una charla sobre la ‎Fé Fe‎ Bahá’í en español ... mientras en otra sala un contacto camboyano explica su punto de vista en inglés.

Cada viernes un grupo de Bahá’ís hispanos de Chicago y comunidades cercanas se ‎reunen reúnen‎ para estudiar los Escritos Bahá’ís. Estas reuniones tienen como meta la profundización de los participantes para poder enseñar la Fe mejor y con más confianza.

LA REUNIÓN, que cambia de casa en casa, siempre empieza con oraciones.

Después, los participantes leen de los Escritos sobre temas variados, dando oportunidad para hacer preguntas y comentarios sobre lo leído. Se termina con más oraciones, refrescos y conversación.

Estas reuniones están bajo la dirección de un comité hispano nombrado por la Asamblea Espiritual de Chicago.

Cada cuantos meses el comité se reúne con los demás participantes para planificar el programa para el próximo trimestre. Las actividades planificadas incluyen eventos sociales.

Una meta importante que el comité ha adoptado es la de apoyar cualesquier proyectos de enseñanza en su comunidad. Han mostrado su intención de cumplir con su determinación asistiendo a las charlas hogareñas sobre la Fe dirigidas a los ciudadanos camboyanos en Chicago.

Su presencia en ellas, aún no entendiendo el idioma, muestra la sinceridad y el deseo de compartir su amistad con todos.

La gran amistad que ha crecido entre las familias de los participantes ha demostrado que cuando los Bahá’ís trabajan en grupo, se logra la unidad y el entendimiento.

Sylvia Ioas, sierva fiel de Bahá’u’lláh, fallece

ENTRISTECIDOS FALLECIMIENTO SIERVA DEVOTA BAHÁ’U’LLÁH SYLVIA IOAS. SUS LARGOS AÑOS SERVICIO UMBRAL DIVINO APOYO CONSTANTE COLABORACIÓN ESTRECHA SU DISTINGUIDO MARIDO CORONADOS POR SU NOMBRAMIENTO POR AMADO GUARDIÁN COMO MIEMBRO CONSEJO BAHÁ’Í INTERNACIONAL Y SU ELECCIÓN SUBSIGUIENTE MISMA INSTITUCIÓN HISTÓRICA Y COMO VICE-PRESIDENTE DE LA MISMA. SU MANERA GRACIOSA, SU MODO DE SER TAN GENIAL, SU ESPÍRITU HOSPITALARIO PERDURAN COMO IMPRESIONES IMBORRABLES SU VIDA FRUCTÍFERA. ORANDO ‎FERVEROSAMENTE FERVOROSAMENTE‎ SANTUARIOS SAGRADOS SU ALMA RADIANTE SEA LIBERALMENTE RECOMPENSADA REINO ABHÁ. PEDIMOS ASAMBLEAS NACIONALES CELEBRAR DIGNO SERVICIO CONMEMORATIVO.

CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA 25 DE AGOSTO DE 1983

Study session

Continued From Page 9

3. Does it matter if the lamp is clean or dirty? How does it shine when it is dirty? How does it shine when it is clean? How do we clean the lamp?

4. What is the lamp like when it is lit? How does it look? How does it feel?

5. Can we be like the lamp? How?

Similar exercises can be done using mirrors to demonstrate the nature of the soul or the nature of the Manifestations of God. Another idea would be to have the entire class take a nature walk together or bring in leaves, fruits, acorns, etc. This would open the discussion on passages from the Writings in which man is compared to a tree that must have praiseworthy fruits or attributes.

An exercise like this one might be closed by having small groups or families discuss what activities they might undertake within the next month to be like lamps, fruitful trees, etc. Possible projects might include:

• making a special package and taking it to a shut-in;
• cleaning up part of a park or playground;
• planning a small program for a class at school in recognition of a Bahá’í Holy Day or special United Nations day.

The study class should end with a prayer, and, if desired, refreshments served by the children.

Need archives experts

The National Bahá’í Archives Committee would like to have the names of Bahá’ís with expertise in the following areas: archives; preservation of textiles, photographs or tape recordings; history or library professions.

The Archives Committee has the need at times to consult with Bahá’í professionals in these fields. Please send a resumé of your education and experience to the National Bahá’í Archives Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Un verdadero Bahá’í alcanzará distinción

Extractos de los escritos de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Ruego a Él que otorgue sus confirmaciones a esos amados, moradores de esa tierra pura y santa, y les conceda resultados exitosos en todas las cosas; que en su carácter, su comportamiento, sus palabras, su forma de vida, en todo lo que son y hacen, El les haga alcanzar distinción entre los hombres; que los ‎reuna reúna‎ dentro de la comunidad mundial, sus corazones llenos de éxtasis y fervor y anhelando amor, con sabiduría y certeza, con firmeza y unidad, con sus rostros hermosos y brillantes. (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pág. 260)

• * *

... ellos deberían, en cada aspecto de sus vidas, ejemplificar aquellos atributos y virtudes que nacen de Dios y deberían justificar su pretensión de ser bahá’ís mediante hechos y no por el nombre.

Un verdadero bahá’í es aquel que se esfuerza día y noche para progresar y avanzar a lo largo del sendero de las realizaciones humanas, cuyo más apreciado deseo es vivir y actuar en forma tal, como para enriquecer e iluminar al mundo, cuya fuente de inspiración es la esencia de la virtud Divina, cuya meta en la vida es conducirse en forma tal que sea la causa de progreso infinito.

Solamente cuando alcance dones tan perfectos podrá decirse de él que, es un verdadero bahá’í. Porque en esta Dispensación, la consumación gloriosa de edades y ciclos pasados, la verdadera Fe no es un mero reconocimiento de la Unidad de Dios, sino, más bien, vivir una vida que manifieste todas las perfecciones y virtudes que tal creencia implica. (Citado en El Divino Arte de Vivir, pág. 15, EBILA 1978)

• * *

Por lo tanto, oh bienamados de Dios, esforzaos con vuestros corazones y almas, para que seáis calificados con la moral y los atributos de la Bendita Perfección, y participéis de las mercedes de Su santidad; que os convirtáis en signos de unidad y en estandartes de unicidad, descubráis la esencia de la singularidad, cantéis con misericordiosas melodías acordes y baladas en este jardín divino; que os volváis aves agradecidas, y cantéis una canción en el rosedal de la existencia, la cual pueda pasmar las mentes y los sentidos; que icéis un estandarte en la cima del campo del mundo visible que produzca frutos de extrema delicadeza y frescura. (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pág. 374)

No es la cantidad, sino el espíritu ... Fondo Nacional Bahá’í Wilmette, IL 60091

Aún ‎continua continúa‎ la opresión de nuestros hermanos en Irán

PERSECUCIÓN AMIGOS IRANÍS SIGUE SIN DISMINUCIÓN. OLAS DETENCIONES BAHÁ’ÍS EMINENTES INTENSIFICADOS ÚLTIMAMENTE. CON PESAR COMUNICAMOS QUE SIGUIENTES PERSONAS DETENIDAS EL 28 DE JULIO:

TIHRÁN: MAHBÚBÍ NÁDIRÍ, SUHRÁB DÚSTDÁR. KARAJ: GHULÁM HUSAYN FARHAND, IHSÁNU’LLÁH KATÍRÍ, NA’ÍM BÁDÍ’Í, FIRÚZ ATHÁRÍ, YÚNIS NAW-RÚZÍ, ‘INÁYATU’LLÁH HAQÍQÍ, TÁHIRIH MUTLAQ, JAMSHÍD PURUSTÁDKÁR, ‘INÁYATU’LLÁH IZÁDÍ, PARÍ VUJDÁNÍ, ABÁZAR SADRÍ, BAHRÁM ÍSHÁNÍ, NÚRU’LLÁH YIKÁN, NÁSÍR ARDALÁN, MAHBÚBIH MUVAFFAQ.

CONTINÚEN ESFUERZOS CON OFICIALES GUBERNAMENTALES, MEDIOS NOTICIEROS.

CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA 2 DE AGOSTO DE 1983 [Page 27]

Ten years ago in The American Bahá’í

The Hand of the Cause of God John Ferraby passes away suddenly September 15 at his home in England, and the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly schedules a memorial service at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette...

Two members of the Universal House of Justice, Hugh Chance and Dr. David Ruhe, visit the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette. The National Assembly plans receptions on each of the two weekends of their arrivals so that the friends may greet them...

More than 92,000 people visit the House of Worship during the three-month period ending September 15, which marks the peak of the summer visiting season. During all of 1972, some 214,000 people visit the Temple....

The Hands of the Cause of God Shu’á’u’lláh ‘Alá’í, Zikrullah Khadem, Jalál Kházeh and ‘Alí Muḥammad Varqá are among those who attend an Inter Zonal Bahá’í Conference in Tehran, Iran, that is sponsored by the Continental Board of Counsellors in Western Asia.

Mr. Khadem, accompanied by his wife, also attends Iran's National Convention...

For the first time in the history of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a Bahá’í, Dr. Jalil Mahmoudi, addresses a class of cadets. About 100 people including cadets hear Dr. Mahmoudi speak during a class on "Great Religions of the World"

The Spiritual Assembly of Hopewell, New Jersey, sponsors a two-day institute on Islam at Princeton University. The institute is conducted by Roy Mottahedeh, a Bahá’í who teaches early Islamic history and Arabic at Princeton...

Indian artist David Villaseñor, who is a Bahá’í, demonstrates the art of sand painting during an exposition of Indian art at the University of Nevada. His appearance is sponsored by the Bahá’ís of southern Nevada...

Counsellor Florence Mayberry conducts a daily class on the Covenant at the Arizona/New Mexico Summer School in Prescott, Arizona...

The tribal newspaper on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in western Colorado publishes a long article on the Faith with photos taken during the National Bahá’í Youth Conference. The paper's readership includes nearly every resident of the Reservation...

Devoted servant of Cause Sylvia Ioas dies

SADDENED PASSING DEVOTED MAIDSERVANT BAHÁ’U’LLÁH SYLVIA IOAS. HER LONG YEARS SERVICE DIVINE THRESHOLD CONSTANT SUPPORT CLOSE COLLABORATION HER DISTINGUISHED HUSBAND CROWNED BY HER APPOINTMENT BY BELOVED GUARDIAN AS MEMBER INTERNATIONAL BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL AND HER SUBSEQUENT ELECTION SAME HISTORIC INSTITUTION AND AS ITS VICE-PRESIDENT. HER GRACIOUS MANNER, CHEERFUL DISPOSITION, HOSPITABLE SPIRIT REMAIN AS INDELIBLE IMPRESSIONS HER FRUITFUL LIFE. FERVENTLY PRAYING HOLY SHRINES HER RADIANT SOUL MAY BE RICHLY REWARDED ABHÁ KINGDOM. URGE NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES HOLD BEFITTING MEMORIAL SERVICES.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE AUGUST 25, 1983

Correction

"ENTERING their home."

In the May 1983 issue of The American Bahá’í, it was reported that Sohrab Solati of Danville, California was deceased. That report was incorrect. Mr. Solati is alive and well. We regret the error.

Kinney

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Holy Land. One day at lunch, the Master turned to Edward, saying that He had answered everyone else's questions, and now it was Edward's turn to ask one. With tears in his eyes, Mr. Kinney replied, "There is only one question in my soul. How can I love you more?"

Later, while the Kinneys were seated with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá one evening on the porch of His home in Haifa, the Master spoke of the material want suffered by Bahá’u’lláh and of the deprivations and sufferings of His family.

"MAY GOD give you the treasure of the Kingdom, the breath of the Holy Spirit," said ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. "If, perchance, you are overtaken by poverty, let it not make you sad. At best, you will then become companions of Christ."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave Edward the name "Saffa," which means sincerity, honesty. Carrie Kinney was given the name "Vaffa" (faithfulness).

The Kinneys' large home in New York City had more and more become a gathering place for Bahá’ís and their friends. On April 11, 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived in New York. A large group of Bahá’ís was at the dock to greet Him, but He sent word from the ship that they should leave and meet Him later that day at the home of the Kinneys.

The Master gave His first talk in the U.S. in that home. Later, during one of His stays in New York, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed with the Kinneys. He asked Edward and Carrie to be His guests, and He paid all the household expenses including the servants' wages.

The friends gathered there day and night, whenever it was possible to be with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

Howard Colby Ives wrote in his book, Portals to Freedom, "the roar of the city, the elegance and luxury of Riverside Drive, the poverty and wealth of our modern civilization all seemed to merge into a unity of nothingness and one entered an atmosphere of Reality."

A few years after ‘Abdu’l-Bahá's visit to the U.S., Edward and Carrie, who had been living in comfort, free from financial worries, lost their wealth, and became dependent on Mr. Kinney's uncertain income as a musician.

They moved from their large home in New York to a small cabin in Eliot, Maine, then to a suburb of Boston where their son, Sanford, became seriously ill and died at the age of 19.

The Kinneys' eldest son, Howard, died in 1938 at the age of 33, leaving Edward and Carrie with one surviving son, Donald. Several years later they moved back to New York City and settled in an apartment at the Woodward Hotel.

"...With unabated zeal and love and the deepest spiritual insight," Juliet Thompson wrote of Edward Kinney, "Saffa served this great Cause till the last hours of his life. In his blessed home, as the friends gathered there, the wings of the Covenant were stirring above us and the presence of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was living in our midst."

When Mr. Kinney died on December 15, 1950, at the age of 87, the Guardian sent this cable:

"Grieve passing dearly loved, highly admired, greatly trusted, staunch, indefatigable, self-sacrificing teacher, pillar (of) Faith, Saffa Kinney. His leonine spirit, exemplary steadfastness, notable record (of) services enriched annals (of) closing period Heroic Age (and) opening phase Formative Age (of) Bahá’í Dispensation. Bountiful reward assured (in) Abhá Kingdom beneath shadow (of) Master he loved so dearly, served so nobly, defended so heroically until last breath."

Wills

ALSO included in this section is a discussion of what occurs when a person dies without a will. It ends with a helpful list of "legal terms" used in preparing one's will.

The second section deals with the actual preparation of a will, covering the often-discussed question of whether a lawyer is needed to draw up the will. Having established the importance of legal counsel in most cases, the material provides tips on identifying and hiring a lawyer. In addition, it includes a list of information to take to a lawyer to help in the preparation of the will. Information is then given on methods of disposing of an estate, creating a trust, making gifts to the Bahá’í Faith, and selecting and executor as trustee and guardian.

ALSO included are helpful suggestions on what to do with a will after it is drawn—where to keep it and how often it should be updated.

The third section is comprised of pertinent quotations from the Bahá’í Writings covering such subjects as the obligation to make a will, burial laws, and cases of intestacy (dying without benefit of a will). Last, there is a section of most commonly asked questions.

Your National Treasurer's Representative will be pleased to present this material to your community, your Bahá’í school, or to individuals, if time allows—but keep in mind that the NTRs are not legal, tax, insurance or investment advisers. The Office of the Treasurer advises everyone to seek competent, professional assistance in any of those areas.

Initial feedback on the material contained in the course has been positive, and the Treasurer's Office is certain that the entire community can benefit from having access to this important information. Every community is encouraged to contact its NTR to learn more about the subject of wills.

The first Spiritual Assembly of Queeny Township, Missouri, was formed at Riḍván and already has held a public Recognition Ceremony. Its members include (front row left to right) Elizabeth Bohn, Anthony Bohn, Billie Weaver, and (back row left to right) Pamela Barr, Bob Barr, Julianna P. Scheel. Members not shown are Mary Jane Beasley, Keith Laken and Virginia Laken.

In Memoriam

Homer Black Kannapolis, NC June 25, 1983

Mrs. Annie Brown Fairmont, NC Date Unknown

Mrs. Marie Esterer Conneaut, OH February 25, 1983

Alvia Floyd Fairmont, NC Date Unknown

Eddie W. Frye Broomfield, CO August 2, 1983

Mrs. Inez Greeven Carmel, CA July 21, 1983

Don L. Guernsey Live Oak, CA May 4, 1983

Lawrence Hamilton Bellevue, WA 1982

Mrs. Sylvia Ioas Woodbine, MD August 25, 1983

Mohammed Khazei Richardson, TX Date Unknown

Rosenthal Knight New York, NY February 14, 1983

Isiah R. Mays Lansing, MI July 6, 1983

Mrs. Maggie McDaniel Kannapolis, NC June 26, 1983

Shepherd Moody Richmond, VA Date Unknown

Lisle Pollard Lancaster, NH January 1983

Mrs. Victoria Richards Dayton, OH August 25, 1983

Mrs. Gladys Roberts Colorado Springs, CO October 30, 1982

Mrs. Margaret McConaughy Evansville, IN July 1983

Charles Tibbetts Sarasota, FL August 26, 1983

Mrs. Lula Mae Townsend Rowland, NC May 1983 [Page 28]

Letters

Continued From Page 3

Bahá’í family) indicates that one’s spiritual growth is hindered or placed in jeopardy by not getting married or having children.

Yet the attitude in the Bahá’í community has tended toward judgment on unmarried people or married couples without children.

Hopefully, we can concentrate our energies on the spiritual and material choices we have made as Bahá’ís and concern ourselves less with others’ choices which may be different from our own.

“Living the life” does not limit us to only one lifestyle.

Linnea Brush Glencoe, Illinois

To the Editor:

We have devised a procedure at Feast in our community (East Baton Rouge Parish) that we would like to suggest to others since we have found it valuable.

At the beginning of each business portion of Feast, we ask for and share teaching experiences. We always remember to ask our youth and children for their stories too.

We find that this places proper emphasis on teaching and often stimulates consultation as well. Having a special time for sharing teaching experiences has been well worth it.

Mrs. Ann Pal Baton Rouge, Louisiana

To the Editor:

In regard to the continuing discussion of letters that contain demeaning or defamatory references to previous writers’ intentions, character, etc., I suggest that such letters violate two basic Bahá’í principles:

The first is the principle of consultation. In Bahá’í consultation, once an idea or concept has been presented it “belongs” to the consultative group. The person who voiced the idea or position no longer “owns” it.

FURTHER discussion of the idea, concept or “position” must focus on the merit or lack of merit of the idea itself.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá said the spark of truth emerges from the clash of differing opinions, not the clash of differing personalities.

It is acceptable and often necessary in Bahá’í consultation to disagree with already expressed ideas. But to do so requires the critic to give reasons why he or she feels that a previous position is unsound. It requires that alternate ideas be backed up with valid reasoning.

Above all, our Writings require the utmost courtesy and moderation in “frank and loving consultation.” Derogatory or emotional outbursts cannot have any part in Bahá’í consultation.

Likewise, such outbursts should have no part in a Bahá’í “letters” column, which is Bahá’í consultation, albeit in written form.

SECOND, I believe that printing such letters violates the Bahá’í principle regarding backbiting and gossip.

We Bahá’ís are forbidden to communicate gossip or backbiting which we may have forced to listen to, or may have overheard.

The editor cannot prevent people from writing such letters, but that does not give the editor license to print material that is, for all practical purposes, backbiting, and in some cases, slander.

The standards of The American Bahá’í must be Bahá’í standards; they cannot be compromised.

I recommend that The American Bahá’í adopt a policy of refusing to publish letters, or parts of letters, that border on backbiting or slander, and that do not address, as Bahá’í consultation requires, the issues or concepts being discussed.

The adoption of such a policy would eliminate the harm that many of us feel is being conveyed by the printing of such material in a Bahá’í journal.

Richard Gurinsky Alamogordo, New Mexico

To the Editor:

President Reagan’s action on behalf of the Bahá’ís in Iran was an historic and valuable one.

Bahá’u’lláh’s praise for the leaders of countries who come to the aid of the Bahá’í community is very generous. See His “summons to the kings and rulers of the world,” pp. 3-14 of The Proclamation of Bahá’u’lláh.

We would do well to take to heart these words of Bahá’u’lláh from the Tablet of Bishárát:

“The Fourth Glad-Tidings: ‘Should any of the kings—may God aid them—arise to protect and help this oppressed people, all must vie with one another in loving and in serving him. This matter is incumbent upon everyone. Well is it with them that act accordingly.’” (Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 22)

Bahá’ís in every country should be entirely free from any of the partisan comments and criticisms of our elected leaders that are so common in the world around us.

Our attitudes toward our political leaders should be those attitudes—and only those—expressed in the Writings of the Faith.

As in all things, we should see with Bahá’u’lláh’s eyes.

Brent Poirier Santa Cruz, California

Moving? Tell us your new address

To avoid unnecessary delays in receiving your copies of The American Bahá’í send your new address and your mailing label which includes your ID number to the Office of Membership and Records, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, as soon as you know that you are going to move and what your new address will be. We will do our best to see that changes are processed quickly so that the transfer of mail to your new home is accomplished with all possible speed.

NOTE: Use this form for individual changes only.

Name	Mr. Mrs. Miss	Full name—DO NOT use nicknames
Residence Address	House or Space Number, Street, or Description
	City	State	Zip Code
Mail Address	Street, Rural Route, or Post Office Box Number
	City	State	Zip Code
Home Telephone	Area Code / Number	Work Telephone	Area Code / Number
New Bahá’í Community	Name of Local Assembly, group, or isolated locality where this person resides
Moving Date	Mailing label should accompany address change form

We have been receiving more than one copy of The American Bahá’í. Because we don’t need extra copies, please remove my name from the mailing list for this publication. Please check box.

BAHÁ’Í NATIONAL CENTER Wilmette, Illinois 60091

THEN it occurred to me that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá used repetition in His teaching, and that teaching the Faith is similar to administering CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation).

In CPR you repeat the same action over and over again (teach, teach, teach) regardless of the lack of response until the patient revives (spiritually) or the rescuer drops from exhaustion.

Bahá’ís are obligated to perform “spiritual” CPR on the human race. Discouragement is not a viable alternative.

Because of the dire circumstances affecting our Bahá’í brothers and sisters in Iran, the feeling of urgency grows daily.

When I first saw it, I thought the most recent ad concerning the martyrs was too audacious for rural Illinois. But perhaps it is perfect.

After all, something must cause my sleeping friends and neighbors to wake up. Surely it can’t be too long before our CPR “patient” begins to revive.

Grant House Payson, Illinois

To the Editor:

I was happy to read the article by Ann Dahland in the June issue of The American Bahá’í entitled “Youth finds teaching Faith to family is a gradual but rewarding process.”

For some time I have been concerned about the antagonism that so often exists between Bahá’ís and their non-Bahá’í parents and relatives. Sometimes the antagonism grows into alienation and estrangement.

The situation disturbs me because it is the exact opposite of what one would expect.

When a person becomes a Bahá’í, he is filled with love for God and love for every living soul, and his family will see vast changes in him and will find him a magnet of love and kindness, and a finer and better person that ‎he-ever he ever‎ was before.

One would therefore expect that family relationships would be better than ever before.

My own relatives were very upset at one time. When my mother became a Bahá’í, many years ago, her father, a clergyman, said sternly to her, “Please give up this crazy religion.”

BUT mother was firm and wise and concerned. She lived the life of a loving, warm, caring person.

Through gentleness, sensitivity, awareness, caring and compassion, she gradually won the respect and love of her family and her relatives.

Through delicate handling of difficult situations, she proved the power of love and won their hearts.

Another example is that of my husband, whose family were Episcopalians.

They were unhappy about our being Bahá’ís, and after we had been married for about a year, my husband felt that something had to be done.

One July afternoon, in the garden of his parents’ home, he invited everyone to sit down to a discussion of the Bahá’í Faith.

The discussion, around a large picnic table, lasted about two and one-half hours. Every kind of question was asked, and every answer was detailed and fully given.

AT THE end, a new feeling emerged ... one of understanding and acceptance, and gradually, the feelings of hostility faded away.

I am reminded of these words from the writings: “Be most loving to one another.” “Let deeds not words be your adorning.” “One thing and only one thing will unfailingly and alone secure the undoubted triumph of this sacred Cause, namely the extent to which our own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendor of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u’lláh.”

As the spirit of love and compassion transforms our lives and our character, we will gradually see changes in our relationships with parents, relatives and friends.

Margaret Ruhe Haifa, Israel

To the Editor:

Regarding the dialogue on women’s place:

Perhaps the crux of the matter is this, that women should have a choice about where to spend their energies, whether as primary educators of children or as equals with men in all the affairs of humankind.

Every woman deserves support and encouragement however she chooses to invest herself.

Winnie Cromer Hillsborough, North Carolina