The American Bahá’í/Volume 14/Issue 12/Text

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December, 1983

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[Page 1]December 1983 The American Bahá’í

Office of Social, Economic Development

House of Justice creates development agency[edit]

To the Bahá’ís of the World Dear Bahá’í Friends,

The soul-stirring events in Bahá’u’lláh’s native land and the concomitant advance into the theatre of world affairs of the agencies of His Administrative Order have combined to bring into focus new possibilities in the evolution of the Bahá’í world community.

Our Riḍván message this year captured these implications in its reference to the opening before us of a wider horizon in whose light can dimly be discerned new pursuits and undertakings upon which we must soon embark. These portend our greater involvement in the development of the social and economic life of peoples.

FROM THE BEGINNING of His stupendous mission, Bahá’u’lláh urged upon the attention of nations the necessity of ordering human affairs in such a way as to bring into being a world unified in all the essential aspects of its life.

In unnumbered verses and tablets He repeatedly and variously declared the “progress of the world” and the “development of nations” as being among the ordinances of God for this day.

The oneness of mankind, which is at once the operating principle and ultimate goal of His Revelation, implies the achievement of a dynamic coherence between the spiritual and practical requirements of life on earth.

The indispensability of this coherence is unmistakably illustrated in His ordination of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, the spiritual center of every Bahá’í community round which must flourish dependencies dedicated to the social, humanitarian, educational and scientific advancement of mankind.

Thus, we can readily appreciate that although it has hitherto been impracticable for Bahá’í institutions generally to emphasize development activities, the concept of social and economic development is enshrined in the sacred Teachings of our Faith.

THE BELOVED MASTER, through His illuminating words and deeds, set the example for the application of this concept to the reconstruction of society. Witness, for instance, what social and economic progress the Iranian believers attained under His loving guidance and, subsequently, with the unfailing encouragement of the Guar-

See DEVELOPMENT Page 4

Iran’s National Spiritual Assembly responds to ban with an open letter to the government[edit]

On August 29, 1983, the Revolutionary Prosecutor General of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Siyyid Husayn Musavi Tabrizi, declared in a press interview that Bahá’í religious organizations were illegal and participation in them was a criminal act. The decree outlawed the National Spiritual Assembly, governing body of the Iranian Bahá’í community, and 400 local Spiritual Assemblies, as well as their committees and subsidiary institutions. In conformity with the teachings of their Faith, the Bahá’ís of Iran disbanded all their organizations.

The DISSOLUTION of organizations that the Bahá’ís call administrative institutions means much more than those who are unfamiliar with the role Spiritual Assemblies play in a community that has no clergy may imagine. The Spiritual Assemblies collectively perform the work of priest, teacher, adviser, trustee of funds, and keeper of records. They admit to membership, witness marriages, supervise the religious education of children, settle disputes among individuals, grant religious divorce, encourage good deeds and censure bad behavior. Thus Spiritual Assemblies are central to the life of the Bahá’í community.

The document presented here is a letter written by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Iran in response to the statement of the Prosecutor General outlawing Bahá’í administrative institutions. One will realize the degree of courage it took the members of the National Spiritual Assembly thus to address the Islamic government when one recalls that 17 of their predecessors on the National Assembly had been either abducted or executed by the same regime.

The letter, delivered to some 2,000 government officials and prominent personages in Iran, eloquently testifies to the heroism of its authors and the peaceful nature of the community they led. It exemplifies also the confidence and pride of those who firmly believe that the One unknowable God has decreed the ultimate triumph of truth and justice.

National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States November 1, 1983

The Banning of Bahá’í Religious Institutions An open letter (translated from Persian) September 3, 1983

Recently the esteemed Prosecutor General of the Islamic Revolution of the Country, in an interview that was published in the newspapers, declared that the continued functioning of the Bahá’í religious and spiritual administration is banned and that membership in it is considered to be a crime.

THIS declaration was made after certain unjustified accusations were leveled against the Bahá’í community of Iran, and after a number of its members—ostensibly for imaginary and fabricated crimes but in reality merely for the sake of their beliefs—were either executed, or arrested and imprisoned. The majority of those who were imprisoned have not yet been brought to trial.

The Bahá’í community finds the conduct of the authorities and the judges bewildering and lamentable—as indeed would any fair-minded observer who is unblinded by malice. The authorities are the refuge of the people; the judges in pursuit of their work of examining and ascertaining the truth and facts in legal cases devote years of their lives to studying the law and, when uncertain of a legal point, spend hours poring over copious tomes in order to cross a “t” or dot an “i.”

Yet these very people consider themselves to be justified in brazenly bringing false accusations against a group of innocent people, without fear of the Day of Judgment, without even believing the calumnies they utter against their victims, and having exerted not the slightest effort to investigate to any degree the validity of the charges they are making. “Methinks they are not believers in the Day of Judgment.” (Ḥáfiẓ, a 14th century Persian poet)

The honorable Prosecutor has again introduced the baseless and fictitious story that the Bahá’ís engage in espionage, but without producing so much as one document in support of the accusation, without presenting proof in any form, and without any explanation as to what is the mission in this country of this extraordinary number of “spies”: what sort of information they obtain and from what sources? Whither do they relay it, and for what purpose?

What kind of “spy” is an 85-year-old man from Yazd who has never set foot outside his village? Why do these alleged “spies” not hide themselves, conceal their religious beliefs and exert every effort to penetrate, by every stratagem, the government’s information centers and offices?

See IRAN LETTER Page 26

Counsellor Pavón dies in Lima, Perú[edit]

RAÚL PAVÓN

DEEPLY DEPLORE LOSS ZEALOUS SERVANT CAUSE BAHÁ’U’LLÁH RAÚL PAVÓN DISTINGUISHED PROMOTER FAITH AND INDEFATIGABLE WORKER IN TEACHING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES LATIN AMERICA. HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICES AS MEMBER BOARD COUNSELLORS AMERICAS AND UNIQUE ENDEAVORS ESTABLISHMENT FIRST BAHÁ’Í RADIO STATION WARMLY REMEMBERED. PRAYING HOLY SHRINES PROGRESS HIS RADIANT SOUL WORLDS GOD AND SOLACE LOVING COMFORT HIS BEREAVED FAMILY. FEEL CONFIDENT HIS DEARLY-CHERISHED PARENTS REJOICE ABHÁ KINGDOM RANGE HIS DEDICATED SERVICES. URGE ALL COMMUNITIES AMERICAS HOLD MEMORIAL GATHERINGS BEFITTING HIS HIGHLY-VALUED CONTRIBUTIONS BELOVED FAITH.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE OCTOBER 23, 1983

Index[edit]

Viewpoint	2
Letters	3
Goals Committee	6
Youth News	7
Education	8-9
Teaching	10-11
Native Americans	13
Publications	15
Classifieds	18
Persian	20-24
The Media	25

Share letter, National Assembly urges friends[edit]

The National Spiritual Assembly urges all Local Spiritual Assemblies, Groups, and isolated believers to share with their local media, government officials and leaders of thought the open letter written by the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran in response to the banning of Bahá’í religious institutions by the government of Iran.

“The letter is an historic document of exceptional power,” says Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly. “It is important that community leaders be kept informed about the situation of the Bahá’ís in Iran.”

Copies of The Banning of Bahá’í Religious Institutions—An Open Letter are available (in English or Persian) from the Bahá’í Office of Public Affairs, Wilmette, IL 60091 for a cost-of-production price of 50 cents each. Please make checks payable to “Bahá’í Services Fund” and include 10 per cent additional for postage (minimum postage 75 cents). [Page 2]

Feast letter[edit]

Iranian friends show dignity, courage[edit]

To the American Bahá’í community (For the Feast of Qawl)

Dear Friends,

The letter which the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran sent to the government on September 3 to announce the disbanding of all Bahá’í institutions in that blood-stained land is a document of tremendous significance.

WITH GREAT dignity and supreme courage, nine Bahá’ís, two sets of whose predecessors on the National Assembly had been either abducted or executed, dared to challenge the authorities by exposing the falsehood of the charges leveled against the Bahá’í institutions, showing how incompatible the actions of the Islamic regime were with the genuine teachings of Islam, and reaffirming the dedication of the Bahá’ís to the principles of their Faith.

The National Spiritual Assembly of Iran stated that it was bowing to the edict of the Revolutionary Prosecutor General, but in doing so it was obeying the commands of the Faith.

Love of God and submission to His Will manifested in Bahá’u’lláh motivated their actions and the actions of the 400 local Assemblies. These brave friends boldly proclaimed to their persecutors that "although Bahá’ís are entirely obedient and subordinate to the government in the administration of the affairs which are in the jurisdiction of Bahá’í organizations, in matters of conscience and belief, and in accordance with their spiritual principles, they prefer martyrdom to recantation or the abandoning of the divine ordinances prescribed by their faith."

As we read this inspiring document, let us recall the words of Bahá’u’lláh Who, writing of the trials and tribulations of the friends, proudly noted that "Every single one of these souls was first ordered to blaspheme and curse his faith, yet none was found to prefer his own will to the Will of God." (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 76)

It is this boundless devotion, this unshakeable determination to fulfill the Will of God that guarantees the advancement of the Cause throughout the world and the eventual advent of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.

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

Teaching Committee promotes Campaign of Unified Action[edit]

As a part of the Campaign of Unified Action, Counsellor Fred Schechter and members of the National Teaching Committee participated October 21–22 in a teaching conference sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The District Teaching Committee of West Texas/Southern New Mexico is sponsoring a direct teaching campaign in that area from December 17–January 3. Robert G. Wilson, secretary of the National Teaching Committee, attended another teaching conference October 29–30 in Columbus, Ohio.

On November 5–6, the Bahá’ís in southern Ohio won first prize for their booth in a United Nations Festival. The booth was seen by an estimated 10,000 people, and 30 interest cards were filled out.

The National Teaching Committee is encouraging the friends to save jeopardized Local Spiritual Assemblies and to bring large Groups to Assembly status in the name of disbanded Assemblies in Iran.

As a part of its observance of Universal Children’s Day in October, the Bahá’í community of Springfield, Oregon, presented copies of the books My Name Is Nabil and The Secret in the Garden to the children's librarian, Ellen Williams (center). Shown with Ms. Williams are Bahá’í children Jenny Jones and Daniel Friedrich. The photo was published with an article in the Springfield News. The Springfield community also had a picnic and bike ride for the children.

Comment[edit]

Covenant our ‘spiritual pledge’ to Bahá’u’lláh[edit]

This month's article, "Our Covenant with Bahá’u’lláh," is excerpted from a talk by Auxiliary Board member Jalil Mahmoudi in September 1983 during the annual conference commemorating the visit by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1912 to Colorado Springs, Colorado.*

A Covenant, according to the dictionary, is "a formal, solemn and binding agreement." It is also defined as "a promise for a promise."

The moment we declare our faith in Bahá’u’lláh we sign or enter into a Covenant. It is a spiritual pledge by which we receive certain things and promise to give certain things in return.

THIS two-sided aspect of the Covenant is perfectly demonstrated in the following Hidden Word of Bahá’u’lláh:

"O Son of Being! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant." (Arabic, No. 5, p. 4)

Keeping this two-sidedness of the Covenant in mind, let us look at the promises we receive from our Lord and the promises we give to Him.

His promises to us include (1) faith, love, hope, happiness, tranquillity, highest aspirations of humanity and spirituality, at the personal and individual level; and (2) at the societal level, the unity of mankind, universal brotherhood and universal peace, which result naturally from the adaptation of the above-mentioned personal and individual qualities.

To achieve each of these objectives, He has given us explicit teachings, guidelines and methods.

Among our spiritual and inspirational practices are daily obligatory and other prayers, reading the Creative Word, contemplation and meditation, and fasting, the thorough and constant practice of which are conducive to the purification of heart and sanctification of soul.

ALSO among His invaluable teachings is the commandment of justice. In The Hidden Words Bahá’u’lláh says:

"O Son of Spirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee..."

And at the close of that same passage He says: "Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes." (Arabic, No. 2, pp. 3–4)

Something that is "the best beloved of all things" in the sight of the greatest Manifestation of God must be a great thing indeed, and certainly worth thinking about—especially when He calls it a "gift" from Him and says it is the sign of His "loving-kindness."

There are many definitions of "justice," the most common of which, according to the dictionary, is "the maintenance or administration of what is just." One of the definitions of "just" is something that is "morally right or good."

ONE OF the deepest and most profound statements of Bahá’u’lláh, every word of which requires the utmost deliberation and contemplation, is this:

"Be fair to yourselves and to others, that the evidences of justice may be revealed, through your deeds, among Our faithful servants. Beware lest ye encroach upon the substance of your neighbor. Prove yourselves worthy of his trust and confidence in you, and withhold not from the poor the gifts which the grace of God hath bestowed upon you. He, verily shall recompense the charitable, and doubly repay them for what they have bestowed." (Gleanings, p. 278)

This entire passage should be analyzed for the broad and profound meanings intended in its many-fold aspects:

"Be fair to yourselves and to others that the evidences of justice may be revealed, through your deeds, among Our faithful servants."

To deprive ourselves of obedience to the Divine laws and ordinances is to be unfair to ourselves. To neglect the fulfillment of our pledge to our Lord is to break an item of the Covenant; and to break any item of the Covenant with our Lord is to be unfair to ourselves.

TO BE fair to ourselves and to our friends is to educate ourselves, thus increasing our devotion, and to encourage and deepen our friends, so that they too will say their daily obligatory prayers, and read, study and meditate on the Creative Word.

Remember that Bahá’u’lláh says:

"... Beware, O people of Bahá, lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds. Strive that ye may be enabled to manifest to the peoples of the earth the signs of God, and to mirror forth His commandments. Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct. It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth. Happy is the man that heedeth My counsel, and keepeth the precepts prescribed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise." [Page 3]

LETTERS[edit]

Love, respect important in teaching Christians[edit]

“The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the flash 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.

Letters should be kept as brief as possible (a maximum of 250 words is suggested). Letters are subject to editing for length and style.

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

To the Editor:

This letter is directed toward those dear friends on the teaching front who may be experiencing some degree of futility in their efforts. How about a different approach?

Are all of your energies spent solely in covering the life story of Bahá’u’lláh, His principles, etc.? If so, we can easily run into the danger of being labeled a cult.

WE MUST remember that most of the Christians we are trying to reach love Christ dearly. If we can reveal to them that we, too, revere Christ, it makes it possible for us to win their respect.

For instance, if we can quote some pertinent passages from the Bible, we are then speaking their language. And from there we are in a position to discuss the relationship between Christ and Bahá’u’lláh.

In this respect, I should like to call your attention to the book, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh (Volume I), by Adib Taherzadeh.

In chapter 10 he says, “Instead of explaining at once the proofs of the authenticity of the message of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh first speaks about other Prophets, portrays their lives ... describes the common features of their Faith. In this way He brings to the understanding of the reader the truth of His own religion.

“Having built this strong foundation He then, toward the end of the book (the Kitáb-i-Íqán) speaks of the Báb and His message and applies to this new Revelation the standards He has applied in verifying the truth of other Prophets.”

As I said earlier, there is a basic need for us to be able to quote from scripture, too, whenever there is a need to do so. We should try to avoid having “two strikes against us” when we are teaching.

How would you like to see our numbers double by next Ridván? Here may be a step toward achieving that goal.

I would like to see seminars in various states in which the friends would be instructed in ways of studying certain aspects of the Bible.

In turn, after returning to their communities, these Bahá’ís could organize a series of classes in their area.

As the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears has said, “We need to redouble our efforts”—and here is a way.

You’ll find a wealth of material in his book, Thief in the Night, which could serve us well in the proposed study classes. Let’s all work together on this. Time is running out, and faster than we would like.

Edward W. Clayton South Beloit, Illinois

To the Editor:

I am perplexed by the increasing number of letters to the editor that appear to admonish the friends for failings of which the letter writers would have no information.

There is a marked difference between this kind of letter and one that seeks to clarify a point, asks us to consider another view, or gives an opinion about a topic that is under discussion in the “letters” section of The American Bahá’í.

I’ve been a Bahá’í for 15 years and don’t recall reading anywhere about the right to admonish another for what we assume is his or her shortcoming, failing or problem.

Perhaps if we could exercise more tolerance toward one another, it would lend the warmth of encouragement to our task of mastering this difficult path we have chosen.

As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is quoted (in Star of the West, Vol. VI, No. 6, p. 43) as having said in answer to questions by Dr. Edward C. Getsinger:

“No obstacle should be placed before any soul which might prevent it from finding the truth. Bahá’u’lláh revealed His directions, teachings, and laws, so that souls might know God, and not that any utterance might become an obstacle in their way ...

“To be approved by God alone should be one’s aim.”

Carol Goodrich Bellingham, Washington

To the Editor:

I would like to reiterate a point that was made by Sally Hill (September) and by Anthony Lee (May), namely, interest in community affairs.

If we hope to attract the interest of people outside of the Faith, or even to win friends for the Faith, we should seriously consider becoming involved in the things that concern them.

Many Bahá’ís tend to isolate themselves from mundane affairs and concentrate only on Bahá’í matters. This attitude may be standing in the way of progress for the Faith.

Not every Bahá’í would have to get involved in every phase of community life, but all of us should be involved in some aspect of it ... schools, artistic endeavors, social services, anti-drug movement, care of the elderly, racial problems, unemployment to name only a few.

Check the New Testament and you’ll see that Jesus Christ first reached out to those in need—fed the hungry, ministered to the sick, showed concern and sympathy for those who grieved, and took a personal interest in the problems of those He met—before preaching the Gospel to them.

More recently, the Servant of Bahá certainly showed a keen personal concern for those who needed His help.

This matter, it seems to me, warrants our earnest consideration.

Lena H. Watson Marshall, Texas

To the Editor:

I was touched and wept while reading Ron Frazer’s letter (September) on martyrdom.

It is interesting that he finds cause for martyrdom in the “disobedience of the Bahá’ís,” and that some time in the future there will be an end to martyrdom.

Please see The Hidden Words (Arabic) Nos. 45 and 46: “Is it thy wish to die upon thy bed, or ... a martyr in My path?”

Here is another passage on the positive, vital, necessary and enduring aspects of martyrdom:

“Help them through Thy strengthening grace, I beseech Thee, O my God, to suffer patiently in their love for Thee, and unveil to their eyes what Thou hath decreed for them behind the tabernacle of Thine unfailing protection, so that they may rush forward to meet what is pre-ordained for them in Thy path, and may vie in hastening after tribulation in their love towards Thee.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in The Bahá’í Revelation, p. 171)

Winnie Pringle Hillsborough, North Carolina

To the Editor:

I am not sure what your mandate is; that is, do you have to accept and publish all letters even though they are of little “uplifting” value?

My wife and I (and our two daughters) are in Korea, and one of the highlights each month is receiving The American Bahá’í. Dear friends, do you realize how lucky you really are to be in a country with such freedoms, where you can express yourselves so openly and without reprisal?

I don’t wish to infer that we should have censorship in letters to The American Bahá’í, but it seems logical to me that a publication such as this, which goes to all Bahá’ís in the U.S. including newly-enrolled, often sensitive souls, should not print letters that may turn off or discourage others from serving.

Let’s keep our negative interpretations to ourselves and get on with our main work—teaching the Faith.

Richard Hatch Taegu, Korea

To the Editor:

In the October issue, a letter writer suggested that you “adopt a policy of refusing to publish letters, or parts of letters, that border on backbiting or slander ...”

Censoring opinions or, worse, deleting parts of letters which, in someone’s opinion, do not conform to “Bahá’í standards”—such ideas are frightening.

Bahá’u’lláh gives everyone the right of self-expression. That our opinions may at times be worse than (forgive me) bad breath is the risk we take to make a public statement.

We can presume that this “right” includes the idea that others can read or listen to the opinion, else the right would be merely the privilege of mumbling to oneself without any audience.

Any news organ is capable of propaganda. It is particularly refreshing to read cogent ideas put forth courteously, but unfortunately, some of us don’t write that well, nor are our motives always that pure.

On the one hand, we can become fanatical trying to make all other Bahá’ís conform to the divine standard; on the other, we can become so compassionate and loving as to forgive a misspelled word.

Moderation is not mediocrity. The American Bahá’í seems to be striving for very high standards. Keep it up.

Leo Baldwin Arcata, California

To the Editor:

Regarding your profile (September) on Miss Ella Bailey:

More than 30 years ago, the beloved Guardian made it clear to Bahia and me that he would like to have us pioneer to an Arabic-speaking African country.

OUR dear friend, Ella Bailey, secretly wanted to go to Africa with us but feared that she would be a burden.

Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís alike scoffed at the idea of her going. To settle the question, we sought the advice of Shoghi Effendi who promptly cabled: “Approve Bailey accompany you.” (see The Bahá’í World, Vol. XIII, pp. 685-88)

On the journey to Tripoli and after our arrival, Miss Bailey received constant attention and assistance, particularly from Bahia’s mother, Shawkat-’Alí Faraju’l-lah.

For years, a large part of Miss Bailey’s income had been contributed by the non-Bahá’í son of a prominent believer. Under the impression that the Bahá’ís would take care of her needs in Africa, he stopped providing funds. So five people were persevering in a

See LETTERS Page 30

New from Kalimát Press[edit]

STUDIES IN BÁBÍ & BAHÁ’Í HISTORY Volume One

Edited by Moojan Momen

The first collection of scholarly essays on the history of the Faith ever to be published in book form.

Five challenging essays on the history of Bahá’ís in Iran and in America that begin to separate myth from reality.

$19.95* Available in cloth only. Catalog No. 352-094

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]

Champion builders: HARLAN FOSTER OBER[edit]

From Bahá’í Temple Unity to the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. and Canada; and from the laying of the dedication stone by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá at the site of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette in 1912 to the dedication of the Temple 41 years later, Harlan Foster Ober played an active part in the affairs of the Faith in the U.S., in India (where he was sent by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá), and in South Africa (where he pioneered at the request of the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi).

BORN October 6, 1881, in Beverly, Massachusetts, Harlan Ober became a Bahá’í shortly after he was graduated from Harvard University.

In 1906 he visited ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Who was still confined as a prisoner in ‘Akká.

Later that year he accompanied Hooper Harris on a seven-month teaching trip to India at ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s request. Later, the Master would write, “Truly I say Mr. Ober rendered a great service to the Kingdom of God and undertook a long and arduous trip to India.”

It was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who suggested a marriage between Mr. Ober and Grace Robarts, and the Master was present at their marriage ceremony which took place July 17, 1912, in New York City.

Harlan and Grace, along with their close friend, Alfred Lunt, were involved in various Bahá’í conferences and school sessions at the Green Acre School in Eliot, Maine, where Mr. Ober served on the Green Acre Fellowship Board.

HE SERVED as president and secretary of the Bahá’í Temple Unity’s executive board, as a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the U.S. and Canada (1938-41), and on various national committees.

It was from a room in the Ober home in Cambridge, Massachusetts...

Martha Root biography a modern-day ‘life of saint’[edit]

A review of M.R. Garis’ Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold (Wilmette, IL: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1983), 496 pp., notes, index, photographs. (HC, Cat. No. 332-105, $20; SC, Cat. No. 332-106, $11).

By BRET BRENEMAN

“Who was this woman who heard about the Bahá’í Faith, examined it, and reshaped her life to follow its teachings and to trumpet them throughout the world?”

“Where did Martha Root come from, really?”

“WHO was she? From what level of spirit had their defenses been conquered?”

M.R. Garis’ eminently readable, thoroughly researched, and profoundly edifying biography of Martha Root spends its nearly 500 pages attempting to demonstrate an answer to these questions.

Since they touch on the central mystery of faith, they cannot be answered in any ways other than in those in which the faculty of faith itself will be satisfied—that is, evocatively, spiritually.

And in a certain sense the biographical task was nearly doomed from the start. But the book, like the life of its subject, is a glorious triumph. It succeeds in helping to fulfill a prediction of Shoghi Effendi that Martha Root would serve as an “immortal example” for the Bahá’ís.

In Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold we see a “spiritual skylark” fledgling in its prototypically turn-of-the-century American nest, see it flexing its wings in the commercial and professional world, see it take to the air at the call of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá—its sweet, bright song trailing down—see it soar beyond the highest peaks and disappear slowly over the horizon.

A skylark, rather than a lioness—the title notwithstanding—is what Martha Root seems in this book.

IN FACT, the designation is one of its themes. Martha’s own unfading song resonates throughout, not only in her own often-quoted words and in the record of her amazing deeds, but in the selfless, intelligent, urbane and fluent style of the author.

It is a befitting biography of the “first, finest fruit Formative Age Faith Bahá’u’lláh has yet produced.”

Appropriate to the life of action and steady sanctification it records, Martha Root is organized chronologically. Other biographies of Bahá’ís—such as the two of Shoghi Effendi, by Rúhíyyih Rabbání and Ugo Giachery, and David Hofman’s of George Townshend—are organized according to categories of achievement.

The difference in Martha Root is a heart-stabbing one, for as the author writes, “She was destined to roam, to teach, to love, to endure,” not to accomplish all that she might have, professionally or intellectually.

All of her unique capacity was focused single-mindedly on travel-teaching, on a latter-day apostleship, on fulfilling the Master’s wish expressed in the Tablets of the Divine Plan that American believers spread the Divine Message of consummation throughout the world.

WE SEE in this biography how she became not only the personification of the Master’s words but of those spiritual qualities enjoined by Bahá’u’lláh upon mankind, particularly that of selflessness, which allows the other attributes to shine through.

We read in M.R. Garis’ book a modern-day “life of a saint.”

The problem with a chronological, narrative approach when treating a life so full of incident is that either the text can become monotonous in its inclusion of detail, or the stress on events can outweigh a sense of their significance and of the life’s meaning.

The author has solved this problem by striking a fine balance between the general and the specific. Her text is studded with unobtrusive summaries and statements of theme and pattern.

As necessary, she interweaves history and exposition into her narrative but not in such a way as to interrupt the ascension of the narrative toward its climax when the skylark takes its final flight.

NOT surprisingly, it is the words of Shoghi Effendi, quoted toward the end of the book, that show what Martha Root has become.

Through his letters to her, to the National Spiritual Assembly of Iran before her historic visit to...

Faith profiled in Catholic magazine[edit]

The fall 1983 issue of Catholic Near East magazine has a cover photo of the Bahá’í House of Worship at sunset which accompanies a four-page article entitled “The Bahá’ís: One of the World’s Newest Religions.”

The magazine, which has a readership of about 250,000 in the U.S. and other English-speaking countries, is published by the Catholic Near East Association.

Message from the Universal House of Justice[edit]

Now, after all the years of constant teaching activity, the Community of the Greatest Name has grown to the stage at which the processes of this development must be incorporated into its regular pursuits; particularly is action compelled by the expansion of the Faith in Third World countries where the vast majority of its adherents reside.

The steps to be taken must necessarily begin in the Bahá’í community itself, with the friends endeavoring, through their application of spiritual principles, their rectitude of conduct and the practice of the art of consultation, to uplift themselves and thus become self-sufficient and self-reliant.

Moreover, these exertions will conduce to the preservation of human honor, so desired by Bahá’u’lláh. In the process and as a consequence, the friends will undoubtedly extend the benefits of their efforts to society as a whole, until all mankind achieves the progress intended by the Lord of the Age.

It is indeed propitious that systematic attention be given to this vital sphere of Bahá’í endeavor. We are happy, therefore, to announce the establishment at the World Centre of the Office of Social and Economic Development, which is to assist the Universal House of Justice to promote and coordinate the activities of the friends throughout the world in this new field.

THE INTERNATIONAL Teaching Centre and, through it, the Continental Boards of Counsellors are poised for the special responsibilities which devolve upon them to be alert to possibilities for extending the development of social and economic life both within and outside the Bahá’í community, and to advise and encourage the Assemblies and friends in their strivings.

We call now upon National Spiritual Assemblies to consider the implications of this emerging trend for their respective communities, and to take well-conceived measures to involve the thought and actions of Local Spiritual Assemblies and individuals in the devising and implementing of plans, within the constraints of existing circumstances and available resources.

Progress in the development field will depend largely on natural stirrings at the grassroots, and it should receive its driving force from those sources rather than from an imposition of plans and programs from the top.

The major task of National Assemblies, therefore, is to increase the local communities’ awareness of needs and possibilities, and to guide and coordinate the efforts resulting from such awareness.

Already in many areas the friends are witnessing the confirmations of their initiatives in such pursuits as the founding of tutorial and other schools, the promotion of literacy, the launching of rural development programs, the inception of educational radio stations, and the operation of agricultural and medical projects. As they enlarge the scope of their endeavors other modes of development will undoubtedly emerge.

THIS CHALLENGE evokes the resourcefulness, flexibility and cohesiveness of the many communities composing the Bahá’í world.

Different communities will, of course, perceive different approaches and different solutions to similar needs. Some can offer assistance abroad, while, at the outset, others must of necessity receive assistance; but all, irrespective of circumstances or resources, are endowed with the capacity to respond in some measure; all can share; all can participate in the joint enterprise of applying more systematically the principles of the Faith to upraising the quality of human life. The key to success is unity in spirit and in action.

We go forward confident that the wholehearted involvement of the friends in these activities will ensure a deeper consolidation of the community at all levels.

Our engagement in the technical aspects of development should, however, not be allowed to supplant the essentials of teaching, which remains the primary duty of every follower of Bahá’u’lláh. Rather should our increased activities in the development field be viewed as a reinforcement of the teaching work, as a greater manifestation of faith in action. For, if expansion of the teaching work does not continue, there can be no hope of success for this enlarged dimension of the consolidation process.

Ultimately, the call to action is addressed to the individual friends, whether they be adult or youth, veteran or newly enrolled.

LET THEM STEP forth to take their places in the arena of service where their talents and skills, their specialized training, their material resources, their offers of time and energy and, above all, their dedication to Bahá’í principles, can be put to work in improving the lot of man.

May all derive enduring inspiration from the following statement written in 1933 by the hand of our beloved Guardian:

“The problems which confront the believers at the present time, whether social, spiritual, economic or administrative will be gradually solved as the number and the resources of the friends multiply and their capacity for service and for the application of Bahá’í principles develops. They should be patient, confident and active in utilizing every possible opportunity that presents itself within the limits now necessarily imposed upon them. May the Almighty aid them to fulfil their highest hopes.”

With loving Bahá’í greetings,

The Universal House of Justice October 20, 1983 [Page 5]

500-plus attend Association's 8th Conference[edit]

More than 500 people from 13 countries participated November 4-7 in the eighth annual Conference of the Association for Bahá’í Studies, the first such event ever held outside of Canada.

This year's Conference, at the Palmer House in Chicago, was blessed by the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem.

A SPLENDID array of Bahá’í and non-Bahá’í speakers presented scholarly addresses on a wide range of topics within the framework of the Conference themes, "New Dimensions in Development," "Integrating Personal and Social Change," and "The Elimination of Violence as a Prerequisite for World Peace."

Three simultaneous Saturday evening sessions included presentations on "Uses and Abuses of Power," "Arts and Sciences in the New Age," and "Historical Studies on the Bahá’í Faith."

The annual Hasan Balyúzí Lecture, named in honor of the Hand of the Cause of God whose scholarly works on the history of the Faith are known to Bahá’ís all over the world, was delivered Sunday afternoon by Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, professor of Russian history at Yale University and presently secretary of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly.

Dr. Kazemzadeh's topic was "The Soviet Official Interpretation of Bábí-Bahá’í History."

Another first for this year's Conference was a Sunday evening session at the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette.

THAT session featured a slide presentation and talk on the history of the Temple entitled "The Dawning Place," presented by Bruce Whitmore, administrator of the House of Worship and secretary of its Activities Committee, followed by an address by Dr. Amin Banani, professor of Islamic Studies at the University of California at Los Angeles, entitled "Religion or Foreign Intrigue: The Case of the Bábí-Bahá’í Movement in Iran."

The non-Bahá’í speakers at the Conference were Dr. Ervin Laszlo, director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and Dr. Joanna Macy, an author, community development facilitator and professor at the University of California Berkeley.

Dr. Laszlo's topic was "The Coming Transformation of Global Society and Today's Action Imperative."

Dr. Macy spoke on "A Spiritual Approach to Social Change."

IGC: PIONEERING[edit]

Shown with members of the Inter-national Goals Committee staff and guest speakers are the 32 people who attended a Pioneer Training Institute held October 27-30 at the Bahá’í National Center in Wilmette. The speakers included the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem (standing in third row just right of center), Auxiliary Board member Javidukht Khadem (standing in front of Mr. Khadem) and Dr. Firuz Kazemzadeh, secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly (not shown). Also present was a representative of the Spiritual Assembly of San Diego, California. Participants were planning to pioneer to Malta, Tanzania, American Samoa, the Windward Islands, Belize, Brazil, the Caroline Islands, the Turks & Caicos, Dominica, Denmark, Hong Kong, South Africa, Swaziland and Portugal.

Institutes designed to help prospective pioneers[edit]

Every other month, a picture appears on the Pioneering page of The American Bahá’í showing the people who have attended the most recent Pioneer Training Institute.

You may have wondered: WHAT IS a Pioneer Training Institute? Who can attend one, and how does one find out about them? Why should anyone attend such an Institute? What kinds of information are given during an Institute? What does the program include?

Pioneer Training Institutes are held five or six times each year, usually at the Bahá’í National Center but sometimes at one of the Bahá’í schools.

They are designed to help people who are well along in their plans to leave this country, or who have been working with the International Goals Committee over a period of time.

Because of the specialized and intensive nature of the Pioneer Training Institutes, attendance is limited to an invitation-only basis. About 30 to 35 people usually attend, many of whom have jobs lined up in other countries.

SOME pioneers leave for their posts within a few days after attending an Institute.

Sessions begin on Thursday evening and end at noon Sunday. The program ordinarily includes talks by a Hand of the Cause of God or a Counsellor, a member of the National Spiritual Assembly, an Auxiliary Board member, or other guest speakers, and members of the International Goals Committee staff.

Among the weekend highlights are special tours of the Archives and House of Worship, where each day begins with prayers at 8:30 a.m. Classes begin at 9:15 a.m. and continue throughout the day and evening, usually ending by 10 o'clock.

Individuals who attend the Institutes are responsible for their own meals, and for transportation to and from the Chicago area. Housing is provided by Bahá’ís in the area, and rides are arranged while the Institute is in progress.

A TYPICAL program includes talks on the Covenant; preparations for leaving; what to be aware of after a pioneer arrives at his or her post; adjusting to a new culture; health and medical advice; inspirational stories; specific information about various countries; interviews with the committee secretary, who can help with personal planning; and plenty of time to visit the House of Worship and bookstore, and to see video tapes of Hands of the Cause as they discuss various aspects of pioneering.

Both the spiritual and practical aspects of pioneering are given a great deal of attention during an Institute.

The International Goals Committee feels that the most successful pioneer is one who relies upon God through prayer, meditation, and study of the Writings, as well as having his feet planted firmly on the ground.

"The information and knowledge, the helpful hints and mature counseling shall, we are certain, be with us always, but most of all, we cherish those treasured intimations, so much sought by all of us, of the spirit, the inspiring and animating force of the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh which was so earnestly conveyed to us."

Some prospective pioneers have reasoned that it is expensive to go all the way to Illinois, and that their money would be better spent on air fare to reach their post.

But think of the situation this way: Would it be better to spend a few hundred dollars to come to Wilmette to receive information, counseling and training, or go directly to one's post without the spiritual or practical preparation afforded by the Institute, and have to spend twice as much money to return to the U.S. in a short time?

The International Goals Committee strongly urges the former course of action.

Time and again, various Counsellors and National Spiritual Assemblies around the world have told the committee that, because of the Institutes, U.S. pioneers are better equipped to deal with the changes in their surroundings, to adjust to a new culture, and to become a viable part of their new national community.

Many pioneers have written to the committee to say that the Pioneer Training Institute helped them to settle and remain at their posts.

Others write even before leaving the U.S.:

"THE experience we had at the Pioneer Training Institute ranks second only to pilgrimage as the highlight of our Bahá’í lives. We are eager to settle at our post as soon as possible."

If you are preparing to pioneer, the International Goals Committee hopes that you will plan to attend a Pioneer Training Institute before leaving for your post.

Although it is certainly not the only preparation you should consider, it plays a significant role in the success of your pioneering endeavor. Pioneering is too important a task to risk lack of preparation.

Pioneers urgently needed to help fill remaining overseas goals by Riḍván[edit]

Beloved friends! Can any of the comforts and ease of modern life ever compare even remotely with the spiritual rejoicing you will experience when you open your life to pioneering?

Time is running out. The missionaries, the merchants, the politicians are reaping harvests in countries that should belong to Bahá’u’lláh.

Hurry, before it's too late, and offer your pioneering service, so that you may share the joy of knowing about Bahá’u’lláh with those souls who are awaiting your presence. "Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more!"

A number of countries have not received their full complement of pioneers during the third year of the second phase of the Seven Year Plan. Only a few months remain before Ridván, when the goals must be filled.

A brief description of some of the most urgent goals is given here. Full information can be obtained from the International Goals Committee, the agency of the National Spiritual Assembly that is responsible for sending pioneers overseas.

Truk, in the Caroline Islands, is a large lagoon with many islands within it. In September the U.S. was assigned two goals for Truk, as there is an urgent need for pioneers there. While teaching jobs are sometimes available, a self-supporting couple who could obtain a missionary visa would have a better chance to stay. The Universal House of Justice has asked for "deepened believers who can assist with the consolidation work as well as with bringing in new believers."

Denmark, which lies between the Baltic and North Seas, needs three U.S. pioneers. Only about 100 of million people are Bahá’ís, and that community needs a great deal of help to achieve its goals for the second phase of the Plan. Pioneers who are retired or self-supporting are needed, as people holding passports from European Economic Community countries can usually obtain work permits, whereas Americans usually cannot.

Leeward Islands in the Caribbean include a number of islands, but the greatest need for pioneers is in Antigua, Montserrat and Barbuda. Temperatures are warm and tropical year round, and the lifestyle is simple and quiet. As in Denmark, retired people would be best, as nationalism is growing, many jobs are reserved for local people, and work permits are not readily obtained. However, the need for pioneers and traveling teachers is great. Without them, the goals there will not be won.

Dominica is another Caribbean island, not far from the Leeward Islands, with a similar climate. In May 1983, Dominica elected its first National Spiritual Assembly. One in every 100 Dominicans is a Bahá’í, and there are 17 Local Spiritual Assemblies. Traveling teachers are urgently needed; a minimum stay of two months is requested by the National Assembly, as that is the time that an individual can be most effective.

Marshall Islands in the south Pacific is a U.S. Trust territory that desperately needs pioneers.

Notice[edit]

All travelers are asked to contact the International Goals Committee before making any kind of trip abroad.

This applies to vacation tours, business trips, traveling teaching, relocating or pioneering.

Through the generosity of two Bahá’í families, transportation funds have been contributed to the Goals Committee to help two or more pioneers settle there. However, jobs need to be secured before reaching the islands. Especially needed are school teachers and health professionals such as nurses and public health people. It is possible to start small businesses there. The National Assembly of the Marshalls will help in finding employment.

Easter Island, off the coast of Chile, is famous for its giant stone statues. The small, hilly island is not part of a sunken land mass but is a typical oceanic high island formed by a series of separate underwater volcanic eruptions. The climate is superb, similar to that of Hawaii. About 1,00 people live on the island, most in the village of Hanga-Roa on the sheltered west coast. The goal is to form one Local Spiritual Assembly. Only one Bahá’í lives there, a native who speaks English, Spanish and the local language. Because of the many tourists who visit, there are possibilities for earning a living, but the ideal pioneers would be a retired married couple.

The Bahamas in the Caribbean is a young community in constant need of pioneers either to open new areas and form new Local Assemblies or support and strengthen an existing Assembly. An important goal area is San Salvador, which was mentioned in the Tablets of the Divine Plan, and pioneers of either Native American or Eskimo descent who are used to living in a rural area are needed for this lovely small island. Teaching jobs are available, especially this school year, as are jobs for doctors and nurses.

More information about these extremely important goals, where pioneers are urgently needed, can be obtained by writing the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or by phoning the committee at 312-869-9039.

More than 500 pray in Wichita, Kansas, for Bahá’ís in Iran[edit]

More than 500 people participated October 23 in a Sabbath Day of Prayer for Persecuted Bahá’ís in Iran sponsored by the Inter-Faith Ministries of Wichita, Kansas.

Among those who addressed the audience on the persecution of the friends in Iran was Velma L. Sherrill, a member of the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas.

Also voicing their support were U.S. Rep. Dan Glickman of Kansas and Mayor Margalee Wright of Wichita. [Page 7]

Youth gather rich harvest in Georgia campaign[edit]

In December 1982 four assistants to Auxiliary Board member Adrienne Reeves, meeting at a Bahá’í Regional Youth Conference at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, formulated plans for a campaign of teaching and consolidation to be carried out by youth in south Georgia where there were large communities of largely undeepened Bahá’ís.

With the enthusiastic support of Dr. Reeves and approval from the South Georgia District Teaching Committee, the plans were set in motion and the campaign was scheduled for July 9-August 21, 1983.

SERVING as a base of operations was the spacious Albany home of two of Dr. Reeves’ assistants, Warren and Emma Lombard.

Funds were provided by the projecteers, staff, visitors, the District Teaching Committee, and a pioneer family who made a generous contribution.

During the first two weeks of the campaign, eight youth from three southern states participated. One of them, Geoff Harris of Jupiter, Florida, a newly enrolled Bahá’í, composed a song, "We are the Warriors of Peace... fighting for the oneness of humanity," which became the theme song of a singing group formed by the youth to teach, deepen and attract their peers and others to the Faith.

Before the six weeks were over 28 youth from around the country had taken part in the campaign with two members of the National Spiritual Assembly (Dr. Wilma Brady and Soo Fouts), members of the National Education Committee, National Youth Committee, Race Unity Committee, and many other friends.

EACH morning, the youth arose at 6:30 and gathered for prayers at 7:30. Following breakfast and chores, which were shared by all, morning classes were conducted by staff members or guests.

Afterward, teams were formed and sent to various towns or neighborhoods with specific tasks such as correcting addresses, contacting Local Assembly members, or inviting the friends or seekers to a unity feast or a performance by the Warriors of Peace.

Evenings were spent giving reports of teaching activities, consulting on plans, listening to talks prepared from research assignments, or conducting meetings in goal areas.

The youth themselves gradually assumed greater responsibility for planning and carrying out the work, electing their own officers each Monday through the Bahá’í electoral process and planning new believer-youth conferences each weekend.

Seventeen declarations resulted from the campaign. New Bahá’í Youth Clubs were formed in Albany, Leesburg and Dawson, Georgia, to continue the work begun by projecteers, and another is planned in Americus.

THE YOUTH in that area, monitored and guided by the Auxiliary Board and South Georgia District Teaching Committee, are continuing to work toward consolidating the gains that have been made.

The long-range goal is to develop a strong sense of Bahá’í identity among those who live in that area, to increase their use of the Creative Word, and to activate the Spiritual Assemblies that have already been formed in those communities.

When the Hand of the Cause of God William Sears visited Atlanta on October 9, several members of the Warriors of Peace presented him with a bright red "Warriors of Peace" T-shirt.

Much to the delight of everyone present, Mr. Sears graciously accepted the shirt as he removed his suit coat and vest and donned the T-shirt, which he wore for the remainder of his presentation.

The Hand of the Cause of God William Sears wears his 'Warriors of Peace' T-shirt during an address October in Atlanta, Georgia. To Mr. Sears’ right is Auxiliary Board member Adrienne Reeves.

Members of the Warriors of Peace’ singing group included (front row left to right) Patricia Hunter, Smokey Ferguson, Michelle Ernst; (second row left to right) Wanda Barthel, Jeff Stucking, Diane Hunter, Wayne Landin, and (back row left to right) Shoghi Lombard, Mary Hunter, Warren Lombard.

For many adults and youth who worked in the Albany campaign, a new concept of the role of Bahá’í youth in developing the new World Order was born.

As the Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, wrote in a letter dated October 2, 1951, Bahá’í youth must make up their minds "to do great deeds for the Faith; the condition of the world is growing steadily worse, and your generation must provide the saints, heroes, martyrs and administrators of future years. With dedication and will power you can rise to great heights!"

Youth editorial: Patience, understanding keys to unity[edit]

There has been a great deal of conversation in the American Bahá’í community lately about problems between the American and Persian believers. True, there are some problems.

Instead of giving up in frustration, however, or assuming that the problems will simply go away if we ignore them, there are some basic things that each of us can do to help eliminate any existing tensions.

FIRST OF ALL, we must be open-minded enough to recognize that these problems do exist. Then we must take steps within our lives to correct them. We can't expect the "other guy" to take charge.

There has to be a starting point for the healing of our community. This starting point lies in the realization of two facts:

The first is that those of us who were not raised in Bahá’í families bring all of the prejudices and weaknesses that afflict the world into the Faith with us. Second, those of us who were fortunate enough to be born into Bahá’í families are by no means immune from the corrupting influences of a decadent age.

This is our starting point, the realization that none of us is perfect. Now we must strive for unity within the ranks of the believers, within our communities, and, most important, within our hearts.

Ours is a mighty task. The Bahá’í community must lead the world to the recognition of Bahá’u’lláh as the Supreme Unifier. We have made tremendous strides toward this goal, but we should remember that we must strive continually to unify our own embryonic community.

THE DEGREE to which the Bahá’í community is unified at any given point in time determines the degree of unity that the world at large can achieve at that same point in time. The Master has stated:

"The great and fundamental teachings of Bahá’u’lláh are the oneness of God and the unity of mankind. This is the bond of union among Bahá’ís all over the world. They become united themselves, then unite others. It is impossible to unite unless united."

There are certain other things the Persian and American Bahá’ís can do to deal with our problems. First, the Americans must realize that the Persian believers have been ruthlessly plucked out of their culture, their country, and a certain life pattern.

American Bahá’ís must also recognize that being Iranian in the U.S. at this time brings about the wrath of a still angry populace. We need to be sensitive to the fact that because most Americans still harbor ill feelings toward Iranians, their language, customs and heritage have in effect been rendered invalid. Iranian Bahá’ís are discovering the woes that all minorities have suffered in this country.

For their part, the Persian Bahá’ís must come to realize certain things if we are to put an end to the cultural strains that plague our beloved community. They must first understand that they are here not because of Khomeini, or an accident of history—they are here as a result of the Plan of God which is above the comprehension of all men.

TRAGIC EVENTS in the world create refugees, but the Plan of God has raised a corps of pioneers to serve His Cause. The Persian Bahá’ís are just that—pioneers. They must now prepare to serve the Faith from this country, not bide their time until they can return to Iran.

The home of God is in the heart, not in Iran or in America. The Iranian Bahá’ís should begin to expand their services in the teaching field. They must especially become lights of guidance to the black and Native American peoples.

The Americans and the Persians should begin now to take advantage of the tremendous cultural exchange that exists within the American Bahá’í community. We must share our gifts with each other.

The Persians can teach the Americans reverence, and the need for strong family relations. The Americans should incorporate the Persians into the administrative fabric of the community, the teaching field, and gently help break their fall into a harsh new culture.

Finally, and above all, both Americans and Persians must be patient with each other and actively seek fellowship with each other. This is where unity begins.—Smokey Ferguson

Conference canceled[edit]

The International Bahá’í Youth Conference which had been scheduled for January 1984 in Panama has been canceled.

No further details are available at this time.

San Diego youth conference draws 330[edit]

About 330 young people from California, Arizona, Texas and other areas participated last August 26-28 in a Bahá’í Youth Conference in San Diego, California.

The conference, whose theme was "Arise to the Challenge," was organized by the Bahá’í Youth Committee of San Diego.

The speakers and their topics were:

Marque Sisson ("The Three-Year Youth Plan").
Larry and Traci Gholar ("Relationships").
Dr. Jalil Mahmoudi ("The Seven Valleys").
Lisa Janti ("Science and Religion").

[Page 8]

EDUCATION[edit]

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

Bosch School draws praise for fine Elderhostel program[edit]

“You Bahá’ís are giving these people something they have a hard time finding in the world,” the retired psychologist said, “esteem, and a sense that they have value.”

A woman seated across the table, also a non-Bahá’í, paid a supreme compliment:

“THIS past week here at the school was better than the week I just spent with my granddaughter,” she said. “Really, it was!”

These people were praising the Elderhostel session they were attending in October at the Bosch Bahá’í School in Santa Cruz, California.

Neither had had any previous exposure to the Faith, and both were now favorably impressed with it.

This was the third Elderhostel held this year at Bosch. Elderhostel is a non-profit, non-denominational international organization with several hundred ‎thousands thousand‎ members worldwide.

Members are people over the age of 60 who come together for socializing and education in a variety of settings such as university campuses throughout the U.S., Europe and Israel.

The 45 Elderhostelers attending the Bosch school were lavish in their praise of the program, the kindness with which they were treated by the staff, and the beauty of the school itself.

ONE couple said they had attended about 50 Elderhostels over the years, and that this was the best one.

The Bosch School Council and staff had carefully planned the Elderhostel session, striving for excellence in the program and seeking in all ways to make the Elderhostelers comfortable and happy.

Classes and course content were designed not to teach the Bahá’í Faith but to use Bahá’í principles wherever applicable.

A few of the visitors had expressed on their registration forms an interest in learning about the Faith; most had not.

The five-day program included three daily classes, one of which, entitled “Revelation and Civilization,” was a comparative study of aspects of Christianity, Judaism, Islam and the Bahá’í Faith.

THAT CLASS was taught by Dr. William Maxwell, a professor at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji and former member of the U.S. National Spiritual Assembly.

A second class, “Changes and Challenges: Issues of the 1980s,” dealt with social problems such as nationalism and nuclear war, and emphasized the importance of individual attitudes in solving them.

The class was taught by Robert Phillips, an education consultant from Santa Cruz.

The third class, presented by Dr. Jack Lee of Reno, Nevada, was entitled “Effective One-to-One Communication” and was designed to enhance one’s communication skills.

During the evenings, the Elderhostel program included a dance, a concert, a talent show, and a special reception at the home of the school administrator, James Kelly.

The Elderhostelers were pleased to be invited to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kelly, as such hospitality is “beyond the call of duty” and not typical of Elderhostel sessions.

One man’s parting comments summed up the feelings of many of the Elderhostelers:

“You Bahá’ís have done a disservice to Elderhostel—you’ve spoiled for us the rest of the Elderhostels we’ll attend. I plan to register for the sessions you’ll hold next spring the day I receive the new catalog.”

The Bosch school will host three Elderhostels in the spring of 1984 and several more next autumn.

These events will be publicized in the Elderhostel catalog which reaches 400,000 readers worldwide.

1984 UNICEF WALL CALENDAR[edit]

ILLUSTRATED WITH ART BY CHILDREN FROM AROUND THE WORLD

UNICEF packets are available from the National Education Committee office. Each packet, which can be presented to a Bahá’í child’s teacher to help establish the child’s Bahá’í identity in the classroom, 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); and a fact sheet entitled ‘The Bahá’í Faith and Its World Community’ (for the teacher’s information). The packet costs $6 and can be ordered by request from the National Education Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Louhelen School steps up its community involvement plans[edit]

The Louhelen Bahá’í School Council has taken steps to put the facility to greater use during the fall, winter and spring. This generates additional income while creating a greater public awareness of the Faith.

Among the uses of the Louhelen school that have been arranged are the following:

The Council has launched an after-school remedial and enrichment program for children in grades four through six.

The program, called PRISM, is run by Sandy and Alonzo Coleman and Colleen Williams, and is designed to help children in language arts, math and enrichment areas through small group instruction and learning centers.

The local Mary Kay Cosmetics sales organization held a retreat at Louhelen on September 30 and October 1. The 30 women who attended were impressed with the facility and with the cooperation of the Bahá’í staff, and intend to make the retreat an annual event.

The local chapter of Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship, an interdenominational Christian group interested in a range of spiritual areas, held a retreat October 7-9. Fifty-five people from the mid-Michigan area attended.

At the invitation of the organizers, Alonzo Coleman presented a Saturday evening talk on the Faith. As a result of this conference, many people in the group expressed an interest in the Faith, several bought prayer books, and three more conferences involving their related groups were tentatively booked at the school.

On November 5, the Whaley Hospital Children’s Center held a conference at the school for 80 foster parents.

On November 4-5, the local Presbyterian church held its annual marriage retreat involving 20 couples.

Delinger Resources, a human development organization, has rented a classroom for two weekends every month this year to conduct personal development seminars.

The Thumb Area chapter of Sweet Adelines, a women’s chorale composed of 60 members, practices at Louhelen every Tuesday evening. In exchange, the chorale will perform several times during the year at Louhelen programs.

The school has been approached by several other religious, educational and social service groups about renting the facility.

“These various uses of the school have opened many avenues for direct and indirect teaching,” says Dr. ‎Geof-fry Geoffrey‎ Marks, director of academic affairs.

“Also, these uses have enabled us to have a high visibility in the areas of service and education. The school is functioning more and more as both a center for Bahá’í learning and a center for service to the community.

“We feel that this service aspect will, in the long run, contribute greatly to the growth and stature of the Faith in this area.”

In addition to providing services to the community, these uses of the facility are helping it to become more self-sufficient.

“Groups renting the school are charged the average rate for conference centers in the area—a rate considerably higher than that charged to Bahá’ís,” says Dr. William Diehl, director of administrative affairs. “These uses help us keep rates relatively low for Bahá’í conferences and generate some income. In short, they help us become more independent of the National Fund.”

The Louhelen Council welcomes ideas from the friends about other groups that may be interested in renting the facility or other uses for the school during the non-summer seasons.

A 12-day Spanish Intensive course was held in August at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Michigan. The course was designed to introduce the students to Spanish, acquaint them with the basics of Spanish grammar, provide them with an extensive practical vocabulary and knowledge of Bahá’í terminology, and give them insights into the history and culture of Spanish-speaking peoples. The instructor, David Alley, teaches Spanish and other languages at the University of Georgia and uses an approach that emphasizes visual and participatory learning. Louhelen plans to offer the course again next summer. Shown here are (seated left to right) Carol Bowie, Dr. Alley, Mary Carter, Doris Ballard, and (standing left to right) Kathleen Boerste, Tamineh Parsons, Linda Brown, Paul Hartman, Camilla Hutchinson, Marda Rodriguez, Yasi Javid, Ladan Javid, René Steiner, Paul Meredith. [Page 9]

A question and answer session on LEAP[edit]

The following questions and answers about the Local Education Adviser Program (LEAP) were compiled by the National Education Committee.

Q. What is the Local Education Adviser Program? A. The Local Education Adviser program is a program designed to train representatives of Assemblies and Groups, on a district-wide basis, to serve as education resource persons to their respective local communities, and to help meet the needs of Bahá’í children and youth on a district-wide level.

Q. What is the content of the program? A. LEAP materials and activities are designed to meet a variety of needs but are especially addressed to the directives contained in the Five Year and Seven Year Plans, those dealing with “the active participation of children in Bahá’í community life” and the “establishment of classes for the Bahá’í education of children.”

These complementary aspects of Bahá’í education are represented in LEAP materials. Participants in the adviser program are encouraged to look beyond “classes” as the only means of providing Bahá’í educational experiences for the children. Ways of incorporating children and youth into the “natural” Bahá’í calendar events, particularly the Nineteen Day Feast, form an important focus for consultation.

In addition to exposure to educational theory, methods and materials, an emphasis in the workshops is on consultation and communication skills, so advisers can better serve community efforts to help the children love Bahá’u’lláh and identify with His Teachings.

Workshop topics most recently made available through the program are “Politeness and Manners: Children and the Nineteen Day Feast” and “Developing Bahá’í Lesson Plans.”

Q. What does an adviser do? A. The adviser serves as a specialized resource person to the local community in transmitting information about consolidation and educational materials developed by the National Education Committee. These materials are designed primarily to address the needs of children, as well as of youth and families. Local advisers are encouraged to perform these specific tasks:

conduct deepenings prepared by the National Education Committee;
serve as a child/youth advocate in the local community;
teach or administer children’s classes;
participate in district programs for children and youth, such as District Convention;
help develop district-wide youth events, such as camping weekends.

Not every adviser will carry out all of these tasks, but will carry out those most suited to circumstances in the local community, and to his own capacities and interests. Some advisers will initiate activities other than those outlined here.

Q. Who may become an adviser? A. The program is open to Local Assemblies, Groups, and isolated believers. The interested candidate who lives in an Assembly area is requested to receive permission from his Assembly before contacting the LEAP district coordinator to schedule an introductory training session.

Q. What are the ‎qualification qualifications‎ for an adviser? A. Candidates should (a) have a personal interest in, and a sense of commitment to, Bahá’í children and youth; (b) be prepared to attend all adviser sessions and complete required homework assignments. Following the initial training session, future workshops sponsored by the National Education Committee are held at least twice a year to introduce new skills and topics, and to provide opportunities for advisers to share ideas and experiences with each other. The pace and quality of workshop activities are intensive, and participants should be prepared for this. As a follow-up to LEAP workshops, advisers are often expected to carry out homework assignments in the local community.

Q. Can a community have more than one adviser? A. Yes. The more advisers in a community, the broader the base of support, initiative and information that is provided. The National Education Committee hopes to attract to the program persons who are especially suited for this work, and who are able to make the education of Bahá’í children and youth a priority in their Bahá’í life.

Q. How long does an adviser serve? A. The adviser serves indefinitely. If he moves from one area of the country to another, he is automatically transferred on the national data processing Adviser print-out and can continue LEAP activity in the new area.

If at some time an adviser is no longer able to serve, or does not wish to remain an adviser, he or the sponsoring Assembly need only notify the LEAP district coordinator who removes his name from the adviser list.

Q. What does the LEAP district coordinator do? A. The district coordinator fills a critical role in determining the effectiveness of the program within a district. The coordinator’s specific responsibilities include:

introducing new people into the program;
convening workshops;
encouraging the ongoing work

See LEAP Page 14

California’s New Era School observes ninth year at party[edit]

The New Era Bahá’í School in Sacramento, California, held a party October 9 to celebrate the start of its ninth year of continuous operation in the same location.

The well-attended event was combined with an observance of Universal Children’s Day with a speaker from the local UN Association chapter who discussed with the adult class the work of UNICEF.

The New Era School, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Carmichael, is an intercommunity endeavor that receives regular support from seven Bahá’í communities.

Marc and Sara Platz, members of the South Sacramento Bahá’í community, have served for the past four years as the school’s directors with members of several communities sharing the teaching responsibilities.

Classes for children and adults are held each Sunday morning at premises rented from a private cooperative pre-school.

Representatives from participating communities meet once a month, before class, to make plans and evaluate the progress of the school, which has become an important unifying activity in the greater Sacramento area.

About 150 attend conference at U. of Nebraska[edit]

About 150 Bahá’ís from Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa were present October 29-30 at a “Unified Action” Teaching and Consolidation Conference at the University of Nebraska Center for Continuing Education.

The two-day event was conducted by members of the National Education Committee and Auxiliary Board members Ronna Santoscoy and Robert Postlethwaite.

National Education Committee members served as moderators for workshops on “Setting Goals for Personal Transformation” (David Smith); “Consolidating the Assembly and the Community” (Donald Streets); “Prayer and Deepening—Its Role in Spiritual Development” (Linda Giardina); and “Consultation” (Jayne Mahbubí).

Mrs. Santoscoy and Mr. Postlethwaite conducted a workshop on “Success in Teaching.”

Test your skill in math![edit]

What’s the numerical increase? Can you fill in the blanks? In column A: Of 1,000 children born to Bahá’í parents in 1975, all remain Bahá’ís. At age 25, each marries a person who is not a Bahá’í but each couple brings up their children as Bahá’ís. All couples have two children who remain Bahá’ís. Everyone lives to be older than 75 years. Column B: Same as column A, except only one-half of all children in each case remain Bahá’ís.

Year	A	B
1975	1,000	1,000
2000	3,500	1,750
2025	?	?
2050	?	?
2075	?	?
2100	?	?
2125	?	?
2150	?	?
2175	?	?

See if your figures correspond with the figures to be given in next month’s issue of The American Bahá’í.

New Jersey State Assemblyman Joseph Bocchini (center) presents a copy of a resolution which he co-sponsored declaring October 1 ‘Universal Children’s Day’ in New Jersey to Bahá’ís Eric Simon (left) and Bob Weber. A copy of the resolution was forwarded to Jeanne Kirkpatrick, the U.S. delegate to the United Nations. The Bahá’ís of Hamilton Township observed Universal Children’s Day by visiting the children’s ward at Mercer Hospital in Trenton where stories were told, gifts were given, and ‘Wally the Clown’ entertained the children. [Page 10]

The homefront pioneer[edit]

John H. Wilcott, homefront pioneer from Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Kendall, Montana from 1910 until his death in 1963.

In response to the goals of the Universal House of Justice for the Seven Year Plan, the National Teaching Committee has set a goal of raising 200 homefront pioneers by Riḍván 1984. The homefront pioneer program has been established as a resource to help reach that goal. The questions and answers that follow are a continuation of those printed in this column last month.

Q. What is a homefront pioneer?

A. A homefront pioneer is any Bahá’í who moves to another locality and fills a National Teaching Committee goal.

Q. What kind of person should be a homefront pioneer?

A. Any Bahá’í who has a desire to serve the Faith is a potential homefront pioneer.

Q. How long a commitment must one make as a pioneer?

A. Commitments vary. As a general rule, homefront pioneers are encouraged to remain at their posts for at least two years. This is a subject you should discuss with the homefront pioneer coordinator.

Q. What sacrifices or changes must I make to be a homefront pioneer?

A. All service to the Faith demands some element of sacrifice. A homefront pioneer must consider all aspects of relocation, such as employment, schools, climate and housing.

Q. I am a youth. Can I be a homefront pioneer?

A. Definitely. Youth between 15 and 20 years of age can be homefront pioneers. A youth can be a valuable asset to a Bahá’í community. Youth should contact the National Teaching Committee or National Youth Committee.

Q. My spouse is not a Bahá’í. Can I still be a homefront pioneer?

A. Yes, if the family is willing to relocate.

Q. If I am a student, can I also be a homefront pioneer?

A. Every student should seriously consider homefront pioneering. Many college towns are either homefront pioneer goals or have

See HOMEFRONT Page 11

Green Bay teaching institute focuses on Faith’s history, laws[edit]

On Saturday, October 15, the Bahá’í community of Green Bay, Wisconsin, sponsored a day-long teaching institute at the local YMCA.

About 28 people from Green Bay and nearby communities heard Auxiliary Board member Stephen Birkland speak about the history, Central Figures, and principles of the Faith, and Sue and Rick Schaut from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, discuss Bahá’í laws and administration.

The purposes of the institute were to review the basics of the Faith, reinforce teaching abilities, and provide an introduction to the Faith for seekers.

Sue and Rick Schaut from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, discuss Bahá’í laws and administration during a teaching institute October 15 sponsored by the Bahá’í community of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

New Mexico slates ‘Project Daybreak’ as follow-up to ‘Trail of Light’ campaign[edit]

As a follow-up to the recent “Trail of Light” teaching campaign, the Spiritual Assembly of Española, New Mexico, is sponsoring “Project Daybreak,” an ongoing teaching plan whose focus is on Indians living in the eight Northern Pueblos around Española.

The Trail of Light, which included as teachers Indian Bahá’ís from South America, created new interest in the Faith among the Pueblos, some of whose governors asked that the Bahá’ís return so that they might learn more about the Message of Bahá’u’lláh.

Prayers for the success of Project Daybreak are being said by the Universal House of Justice.

Your participation in this important campaign is invited and would be warmly welcomed. Hospitality and transportation will be provided by the Spiritual Assemblies in New Mexico.

For information please contact Project Daybreak, c/o the Spiritual Assembly of Española, P.O. Box 1443, Española, NM 87532.

The Spiritual Assembly of Miami, Florida, has begun a long-term teaching and consolidation project in that city’s ‘Little Haiti’ section. Teaching teams composed of French-, English- and Creole-speaking Bahá’ís have been entering the area on a weekly basis, and have found the Haitians to be open and receptive to the Bahá’í Message. Future plans include firesides, public meetings, study classes for adults and children, and contact with leaders in the Haitian community. Shown here (left to right) are Bahá’í teachers Carlos Gonzales (a youth originally from South America), Martine Levy (originally from Belgium), Jeannie Robinson (originally from Canada) and her son, Jesse, and Leone Naylor (originally from the Seychelles Islands).

First mid-Atlantic conference to be held in Newark, Delaware[edit]

The first Regional Teaching Conference for the mid-Atlantic states will be held January 14 at the University of Delaware in Newark.

The focus of the one-day gathering, which is sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Newark, will be practical aspects of teaching.

The program includes discussions on making firesides a success, teaching Christians, “Friendship Teams,” and a special presentation on three teaching campaigns that worked.

Speakers will include National Teaching Committee member Dr. Eugene Andrews and Robert Riggs, a Bahá’í from Charlottesville, Virginia, who is the author of Apocalypse Unsealed.

Mr. Riggs will discuss using the Book of Revelation to teach the Faith to Christians.

A special program is planned for children 0-10 years of age.

The conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. Advance registration is $5; registration at the door is $7.50.

The site is Clayton Hall at the University of Delaware, a 10-minute drive from I-95 (exit at Delaware highway 896 or 273).

To register in advance, send a $5 check payable to the Newark Bahá’í Fund to Nelson McMillan, Newark, DE 19711.

At the National Teaching Committee office there is a large map of the United States. On this map, several volunteers located each Local Spiritual Assembly in the continental United States and marked it with a pin. A large section of the map has very few pins.

Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas are large in size but sparsely populated. Large mountain ranges, deserts, and plains separate the small Bahá’í communities in these states.

In Idaho, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming, the enrollments are relatively few. These states can be proud that in October they have welcomed new Bahá’ís into their communities.

The U.S. totals for October: ADULTS, ‎131 113‎; YOUTH, 28; TOTAL, 141. Total enrollments in October 1982 were 248.

	Adult	Youth	Total
Alabama	0	0	0
Arizona	6	0	6
Arkansas	0	0	0
California	14	8	22
Colorado	2	1	3
Connecticut	2	0	2
Delaware	0	0	0
Florida	4	2	6
Georgia	0	0	0
Idaho	2	0	2
Illinois	4	1	5
Indiana	0	0	0
Iowa	0	1	1
Kansas	1	0	1
Kentucky	2	0	2
Louisiana	0	0	0
Maine	0	0	0
Maryland	0	1	1
Massachusetts	2	0	2
Michigan	3	1	4
Minnesota	0	0	0
Mississippi	0	0	0
Missouri	5	0	5
Montana	1	0	1
Nebraska	4	2	6
Nevada	1	0	1
New Hampshire	1	1	2
New Jersey	1	3	4
New Mexico	9	1	10
New York	1	0	1
North Carolina	4	0	4
North Dakota	0	0	0
Ohio	3	0	3
Oklahoma	1	0	1
Oregon	6	2	8
Pennsylvania	0	0	0
Rhode Island	0	0	0
South Carolina	11	2	13
South Dakota	2	0	2
Tennessee	0	0	0
Texas	9	1	10
Utah	1	0	1
Vermont	0	0	0
Virginia	4	1	5
Washington	2	0	2
West Virginia	0	0	0
Wisconsin	2	0	2
Wyoming	3	0	3
Washington, D.C.	0	0	0
TOTAL	113	28	141

[Page 11]

From Iranian prison: A poem of faith, hope, love[edit]

Dear co-workers in the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh:

This month we are sharing with you a translation of part of a poem written by a Bahá’í prisoner in Iran.

This man was imprisoned with several other Bahá’ís in one of the cities of Iran. Their "crime" was their belief in the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

In mid-1982 this man was told that the Islamic court had decreed that he should be put to death. On hearing the decision, he composed a poem for his son, Soroush:

My Soroush, behold your father and see how perplexed he is. He keeps to himself and muses. He is captive in the hands of the oppressors, like Joseph in the well of Canaan. My Soroush... I miss your love and your sweet voice. See how the enemies ruined our home, at this fall season which is followed by winter. You trembled like autumn leaves in the bosom of your mom, when you heard that your father was in the hands of the enemies. They attacked our home... Books, pamphlets and notebooks were all taken, picture of the Beloved too, which was so dear... At this time I heard a sweet message: Why is the bird of your heart so sorrowful? Don't be sad; this is the bounty of the Beloved that you are in this prison corner. His calamity is His providence, rejoice. Good for the head which is given for His path. Drink the everlasting wine from the cup-bearer's hand. If they took ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s picture, why worry? it is engraved on the wall of my heart. If they took the prayer book, many tablets are hidden in my heart. If they broke the tapes of the voices of the friends, the bird of my heart is a sweet-singing bird. They cannot drain the fountain of the Sun, even though clouds are now ruling in this region. Look at the tiny prison cells which are filled with the melodies of prayer and the mention of God. Listen to the cry of "O Bahá, O my God," which echoes like a thunder and roars. The sound of the "remover of difficulties" chanted by the friends, flies to the Heaven of God like an eagle. One friend is saying the song of "Praise be to my God the exalted," and the other is chanting the verse of "O Beloved look at Thy lovers." One is full of joy from the song of "O God," and the other is weeping at the chanting of "Al-mustaghath." One is drunk with the wine of "Our God the Most Pure," and the other is astonished at the inebrity of the wine of "if there were no calamities." We must make the most of these various-colored wines, since the cup-bearer is the beauty of the Beloved. I wonder from which cup I should drink, since there are so many wines in this happy feast. Although the cell is filled with absolute darkness, the beauty of the Beloved is shining in the garden of my heart. If the judge finds out about my joyous state, I am sure that he will regret his decree. Drink from the wine of true understanding in secret, O friends, and whip lashes will be your punishment. Look at the degree of the ignorance of the guard, I am fully drunk and he wants order. Thanks to God since with the help of the Beloved prison has become a palace to His lovers.

Dear friends, let us follow in the footsteps of this beloved prisoner and drink from the wine of true understanding.

Let us teach the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh until the whole world becomes intoxicated with these various-colored wines (of His Teachings) in the happy feast of His wondrous Faith.

Campaign for Unified Action[edit]

As a part of the Campaign for Unified Action, Counsellor Fred Schechter and members of the National Teaching Committee participated October 21-22 in a teaching conference sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Las Cruces, New Mexico. The Southern New Mexico/West Texas district has grown from six Local Spiritual Assemblies only four years ago to a projected 32 by Ridván 1984. The District Teaching Committee is sponsoring a direct teaching campaign there from December 17-January 3. Shown here (left to right) with Counsellor Schechter (fifth from left) are National Teaching Committee members Jerry Bathke, Keyvan Nazerian, Cap Cornwell, Juana Conrad, Eugene Andrews, Tahirih Foroughi, and Robert Wilson. The committee held its regular monthly meeting in Las Cruces. (Photo by Eugene Robinson)

Homefront Pioneering Q&A[edit]

Q. A job transfer or personal situation has forced me to move to a specific location. Can I still be considered a homefront pioneer?

A. If your new location falls within those categories mentioned above, you can indeed be counted as a homefront pioneer.

Q. I have only recently moved to this country. Can I be a homefront pioneer?

A. Yes. The National Teaching Committee encourages new residents in the U.S. to contact our office for a homefront pioneer post.

Q. Can I be a homefront pioneer during my year of patience?

A. The National Teaching Committee advises potential homefront pioneers observing a year of patience to complete the year of waiting before pioneering.

Q. My ultimate goal is to be an international pioneer but it is not feasible for me to leave the country now. Should I consider homefront pioneering?

A. By all means, yes!

Q. Our community has only nine members. Should I consider homefront pioneering?

A. Not at this time. One of the purposes of homefront pioneering is to help strengthen Local Spiritual Assemblies.

Q. I would like to be a homefront pioneer but am afraid I would not be able to stay as long as I would like. Would I be a disappointment if I had to leave my homefront pioneer post?

A. No. A homefront pioneer for any length of time would be of great service to the Faith. However, we do encourage homefront pioneers to make their pioneer post their permanent new home.

Q. I am thinking about moving sometime this year. When should I contact the National Teaching Committee?

A. Please contact the National Teaching Committee immediately.

Q. Once I have contacted the National Teaching Committee, how long does it take for my request to be processed?

A. After contacting the National Teaching Committee, you will be sent a volunteer form. Upon its completion, you will be contacted immediately by the homefront pioneer coordinator. In consultation, you will be apprised of goal areas in the locations you have chosen.

Q. How can I prepare to become a homefront pioneer?

A. The best way to prepare for homefront pioneering is to be of the greatest service you can in your present community. Potential homefront pioneers are encouraged to read the Tablets of the Divine Plan and The Advent of Divine Justice.

Q. I have recently moved but never contacted the National Teaching Committee. Is it too late to be counted as a homefront pioneer?

A. Any Bahá’í who has filled a homefront pioneer goal can be counted as a homefront pioneer. Call or write the National Teaching Committee and let us know.

Q. How can I be sure that I'll be counted as one of the pioneers fulfilling the goals of the current Plan?

A. You'll be counted as a homefront pioneer only when you notify the National Teaching Committee that you have arrived at your post.

Q. I want to be a homefront pioneer. Where do I start?

A. You may wish to begin by consulting with your Local Spiritual Assembly, District Teaching Committee or Auxiliary Board member. Then request a homefront pioneer application form from the National Teaching Committee. You are also free to phone the committee office at 312-869-9039.

The National Teaching Committee is developing booklets and other materials with advice for prospective homefront pioneers. Those who are interested are asked to phone the committee, 312-869-9039.

TEACHING THROUGH FRIENDSHIP TEAMS[edit]

As of this writing, our tally of Friendship Teams has reached 300. These teams live in 172 cities and towns in 42 states.

Your team might ask your Assembly secretary if the Friendship Teams in your community have been reported to the National Teaching Committee (a postcard was provided for that purpose), or you may wish to write us a note yourselves.

We look forward to news of your activities and accomplishments. If you live in a Group area or are an isolated believer, this column will be your main source of information about Friendship Teams.

A Friendship Team is:

A way of achieving teaching plans.
A good resource for Assemblies and committees to use in their activities.
Flexible. It adopts plans and performs services that aid community goals.
Voluntary. They can be formed by individuals, or the Assembly can assist in their formation.
Inclusive. Teams should consist of people from different races, cultures and backgrounds. They help us get to know each other while uniting the community.
Free to help the District Teaching Committee. A DTC may inform an Assembly of goals a Friendship Team may wish to accept.
A teaching team. It can hold firesides, help with teaching projects, develop and assist proclamation activities, etc.
An enjoyable, exciting way to serve the Faith and develop a unified, loving spirit in the Bahá’í community.

Next month we'll list what Friendship Teams are not. Until then, keep having fun, and teaching the Faith through your Friendship Teams.

God's Great Plan reprinted by Trust[edit]

The National Teaching Committee is pleased to remind the friends that the splendid teaching book, God's Great Plan, is back in print. This book, which is quite useful for teaching in rural and inner city areas and as a deepening book for mass-taught Bahá’ís, has a new cover that illustrates the principle of progressive revelation. The price is $2, and it can be ordered from the Bahá’í Publishing Trust. [Page 12]

75th Bahá’í National Convention[edit]

(April 26-29, 1984)

CONVENTION SEATING REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION BY LETTER IS ACCEPTABLE; HOWEVER, PLEASE INCLUDE ALL THE INFORMATION REQUESTED BELOW.

NOTE: THIS DOES NOT RESERVE HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT THE HOTEL DIRECTLY.

(Mr./Mrs./Miss). (Mr./Mrs./Miss)

PLEASE PRINT USE ONE FORM PER FAMILY LIST ALL ATTENDEES 15 YEARS OLD AND OLDER

Bahá’í I.D. No.. Bahá’í I.D. No., Bahá’í I.D. No.. Bahá’í I.D. No..

(Mr./Mrs./Miss). (Mr./Mrs./Miss).

Address Telephone ( )

CHILDREN'S REGISTRATION LIST ALL CHILDREN 14 YEARS OLD AND UNDER Please note special needs (medical, emotional, dietary, etc.)

Child's name Sex Age Special needs

A QUALITY CHILDREN'S PROGRAM IS PLANNED. PRE-REGISTRATION IS ESSENTIAL TO INSURE YOUR CHILD'S PLACE IN THIS PROGRAM. MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS NOW!

Mail to: Office of Membership, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091

More Convention information[edit]

The 75th Bahá’í National Convention will be held April 26-29, 1984, at the McCormick Inn, 23rd & the Lake, Chicago, 60616. The toll-free number is 800-621-6909 (in Illinois, phone COLLECT, 312-791-1901).

RATES: $48 per night (plus tax)-1, 2, 3 or 4 in a room (two double beds). Rollaways are available @ $10 each.

SUITES AVAILABLE: 1 bedroom, $96-$200; 2 bedrooms, $144-$248 per night. (All suites have parlors with sleepers in addition to the bedrooms).

RESERVATIONS: Must be made directly with the hotel. Please be sure to identify yourself as attending the Bahá’í National Convention, April 26-29, 1984. Request confirmation to ensure that your reservation was received. PLEASE (1) give the names of ALL those sharing the room with you, and (2) indicate any special facilities needed for the handicapped (rooms to accommodate wheelchairs, etc.), as the number of such rooms is limited.

SHARING ROOMS: The hotel will NOT find you a roommate. You must make your own arrangements.

There is regular bus service-Continental Air Transport-to the McCormick Inn from O'Hare Airport ($6) and from Midway ($5). Taxis are also available.

The coupon above includes registration information for seating and for the registration of children at the Convention.

When delegates can't serve[edit]

Replacement of delegates to the Bahá’í National Convention:

There have been occasions when an elected delegate has left his district of residence before the Convention. In such cases, it may be necessary to send a replacement.

However, the person who received the next highest number of votes does not automatically become the delegate. This matter must be referred to the National Spiritual Assembly for certification of such an appointment.

In a letter written December 30, 1974, on its behalf, the Universal House of Justice advised that "... there is no provision in Bahá’í procedure for the election of alternate delegates." The Supreme Institution further advised that the replacement of delegates is left to the discretion of the National Spiritual Assembly.

Comment[edit]

Advent of Divine Justice, p. 21)

Bahá’u’lláh has also given mankind a perfect pattern for future society. The pattern includes "the establishment of a world commonwealth... which consists of a world legislature, ... a world executive backed by an international force; and a world metropolis as the nerve center of a world civilization." .... The details of such a "world federal system" are presented by the beloved Guardian in his book, The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh.

OUR promises and pledges to Him include: To try constantly to know Him, to love Him, to obey Him. To endeavor to the best of our ability to carry out each and every one of His principles, teachings, and laws completely, wholeheartedly, and lovingly.

The salient point in our promise is the fact that we pledge to become a Bahá’í; and to become a Bahá’í is a constant, day-by-day endeavor. It is a lifelong effort accomplished by immersing ourselves in the ocean of His writings and teachings.

Unlearning obsolete thoughts and values, and replacing them with high spiritual qualities, requires real effort. Like everything else in life, it takes place over a period of time. It requires extra effort and steps that need to be taken every day.

What makes the task easier is constant, real and wholehearted communion with God.

"To become conscious of this divine bounty of communion," to use the words of Horace Holley, "to practice it day by day as a great musician perfects his power to evoke beauty from a violin, this is the essence of life, for all other gifts and talents become worthless if we fail to commune with God." (From Religion for Mankind, Bahá’í Publishing Trust, Wilmette, 1966, p. 209)

OUR other major promise and important pledge to our Lord is to share with our fellow human beings this great gift of faith that we have received from Him.

In everyday language we refer to this as "teaching," and teaching is nothing else but sharing the invaluable gift of faith. Faith is not a gift to hold-it is a bounty to share.

Proclamations, firesides, and all other means of giving the Word and sharing the Message are wonderful means of teaching the Faith.

There is, however, a personal obligation of each one of us to share this great gift with our brothers and sisters, and this is a person-to-person interaction, as described by Bahá’u’lláh in these words:

"Say: Teach ye the Cause of God, O people of Bahá, for God hath prescribed unto every one the duty of proclaiming His Message, and regardeth it as the most meritorious of all deeds. Such a deed is acceptable only when he that teacheth the Cause is already a firm believer in God, the Supreme Protector, the Gracious, the Almighty." (Gleanings, p. 278)

WHILE we are on the subject of teaching, I would like to share with you the following passage from "Guidelines for Local Spiritual Assemblies," p. 66, quoting the Universal House of Justice:

"The purpose of teaching is not complete when a person declares that he has accepted Bahá’u’lláh as the Manifestation of God for this age; the purpose of teaching is to attract human beings to the divine Message and so imbue them with its spirit that they will dedicate themselves to its service, and this world will become another world and its people another people... If a fire burns only so long as the match is held to it, it cannot be truly said to have been kindled; ... a truly kindled fire will not be extinguished by the first breath of wind."

In short, this is an oversimplification of our Covenant with Bahá’u’lláh. The details of this process are up to every individual Bahá’í to read, to strive toward attaining, and to act accordingly.

Now, dear friends, let us bow our heads to the Center of the Covenant and pay homage and express our gratitude and love to Him Whom our Lord destined to be the greatest Exemplar of His Cause, and we are all here because of Him, our beloved Master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Who taught us how to become Bahá’ís, "little by little, day by day."

Studies[edit]

the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada as the Canadian Association for Studies on the Bahá’í Faith in response to a goal of the Five Year Plan given to the Bahá’í community by the Universal House of Justice.

In 1981, owing to its worldwide expansion, the Association secured the approval of the House of Justice to change its name to the Association for Bahá’í Studies.

The Centre for Bahá’í Studies, adjacent to the campus of the University of Ottawa, coordinates the activities of the Association and serves as a center for research, instruction and information on Bahá’í studies.

In addition to its annual Conference, the Association holds a number of regional conferences each year which provide opportunities for Bahá’ís and others who are interested in Bahá’í studies to make formal presentations and exchange ideas.

The Association's ninth annual Conference, whose theme is "The Vision of Shoghi Effendi," will be held November 2-4, 1984, at the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, Canada. [Page 13]

'Trail of Light' team forges bonds of friendship[edit]

By REGINA ANCHONDO

September 27 marked the beginning of a month-long visit to the United States by the Camino del Sol ("Trail of Light") teaching team.

The team visiting this country was one of three teams comprised of South American Indian Bahá’ís.

THEIR purpose was threefold: (1) to return the visit made to Latin America last year by the Trail of Light teams from North America; (2) to share and exchange cultural traditions, and (3) to spread the Message of Bahá’u’lláh among their indigenous brothers and sisters in Central and North America.

The Trail of Light itself was a cooperative venture that received support from the Continental Board of Counsellors in the Americas and 14 National Spiritual Assemblies.

The 13 members of the three teams first met one another in Panama City, Panama, for orientation and fellowship.

One five-member team remained in Central America, a second team of four departed for Canada and Alaska, and the third team, also with four members, headed for the United States.

The four Bahá’ís who arrived September 26 in Tucson, Arizona, represented three indigenous groups: the Mapuche of Chile, the Quechua of Bolivia, and the Cuna of the San Blas Islands in Panama.

ALTHOUGH the activities of the team varied according to the setting, the Faith was always mentioned, even if indirectly.

During meetings with various tribal councils it was possible to discuss the Faith at length, as it related to traditions and prophecies among the indigenous peoples.

Radio, television and newspaper interviews also offered similar opportunities since the interviewers were intensely interested in the purpose of the tour and the organization that was sponsoring it.

During the many public meetings in which the team participated, cultural presentations were interspersed with the teachings of the Faith and their relationship to the fulfillment of Indian prophecies and traditions.

The fact that the Trail of Light had come from South America was highly significant to many of the peoples visited; they remembered the stories of their ancestors about a time in the past when there were no frontiers, and when such visits were common.

MORE important, they remembered the prophecies that the reinstitution of such visits would signal the renewal of their civilization.

This expectation and the interest in the visit of brothers from the South opened many doors that had previously been closed to local non-Indian Bahá’ís.

In many places, bonds were forged that will never be broken. Even those who could not comprehend the Message of Bahá’u’lláh were inexplicably drawn toward the members of the team and asked permission to accompany them on visits to other nearby Reservations.

Whenever space permitted, these new-found friends were welcome to accompany the team.

It is impossible at this time to measure accurately the impact of the Trail of Light on teaching the Faith to Indians in this country.

PERHAPS a glimmer of the true value of their contribution to our teaching work can be found in the nature and results of various encounters along the way.

In the next two issues of The American Bahá’í, we will follow the Trail of Light from Tucson to Neah Bay, Washington.

In doing so, we will learn about the dedication of the team and those who accompanied it as translators and managers, the generosity of spirit of the Native Americans of North America, and of the Bahá’í communities, institutions and committees that helped make all of this possible.

Most important, we will learn of the foundation that has been laid and upon which we must now build if we are to share the Message of Bahá’u’lláh with the original inhabitants of this continent.

Among the members of the Trail of Light team that visited North America was Auxiliary Board member Sabino Ortega, a Quechua Indian from Bolivia.

The Spiritual Assembly of Montezuma County, Colorado, sponsored a well-attended United Nations Day unity feast October 22 in Mesa Verde National Park. Seven speakers addressed the assemblage including Chester Kahn (seated at far left), a Navajo Indian from Houck, Arizona, who is a member of the National Spiritual Assembly. Shown delivering his talk is Mitchell Silas, a Navajo from Aneth, Utah. Seated next to Mr. Kahn is another of the Native American speakers, Dicky Silas of Aneth. (Photo by Fritz Mann)

Shown playing their handmade musical instruments from South America are two members of the Trail of Light team, Clemente Pimantel (left), a Quechua Indian from Bolivia, and Egon Nieto, a Mapuche from Chile.

Harlan Ober[edit]

setts, where the National Teaching Committee had its office, that the first "Teaching Bulletin" was issued in 1919.

After becoming a Bahá’í, Mr. Ober had decided to divide his time between Bahá’í activities and earning a living as a lawyer following his graduation from Northeastern University law school in Boston.

He was in great demand as a speaker at race unity conferences and at Bahá’í summer and winter schools in the U.S. and Canada.

Following a second pilgrimage in July 1920, during which the Obers visited with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Haifa, they returned to the U.S. via Germany and England.

It was in England that they met Shoghi Effendi who was then attending Oxford University.

THIRTY-SIX years later, after visiting the Guardian in Haifa, Mr. Ober and his second wife, Dr. Elizabeth Kidder Ober (his first wife had died in 1938) carried out the wishes of the Guardian and settled as pioneers in Pretoria, South Africa.

The following year Mr. Ober was appointed an Auxiliary Board member for protection in Africa. He helped form the first all-African Spiritual Assembly in Pretoria and served for two years as a member of the National Teaching Committee of South and West Africa.

For more than 30 years, Mr. Ober regularly received letters from the Guardian in which Shoghi Effendi offered guidance for him and for the newly formed administrative bodies and committees.

Harlan Ober died July 20, 1962, and his earthly remains were laid to rest in Pretoria. The Hands of the Cause of God in the Holy Land summarized his nearly 50 years of service to the Cause in their message:

"Deepest sympathy passing dear Harlan Ober, devoted, distinguished American believer both Heroic (and) Formative ages Faith. Early global travels, membership Temple Unity Board and later National Assembly, historic services Africa pioneer Board member unforgettable. Assure loving prayers Shrine. Hands-Faith."

Bahá’ís in Alaska providing social services to public[edit]

Bahá’í communities in Alaska are providing a variety of social or humanitarian services for the general public.

In Bethel, for example, two Bahá’ís have been producing a weekly radio program for village children for nearly a year. The project was begun in an effort to enrich the spiritual lives and characters of local children.

In Kake, the Spiritual Assembly provides spiritual guidance for people who are being treated for alcohol-related problems through an arrangement with a government counselor who sends his clients to the Bahá’ís for help.

In Point Barrow, Bahá’ís are working to provide a radio news service in the Inupiaq language, and have loaned their Bahá’í Center to a radio station for use as a studio.

Presently, all radio programming in that city is in English.

In Anchorage, the Spiritual Assembly has begun a monthly "coffee house," thus providing a meeting place where alcohol is not served. [Page 14]The front page of the Redlands Daily Facts in Redlands, California, carried an article July 22 about a surprise 100th birthday party for John Collins, a member of the Bahá’í community of Yucaipa. Mr. Collins, a native of Weston Point, England, who came to the U.S. in 1907 and has lived in California ever since, became a Bahá’í in 1979. His secret for longevity: 'Keep on breathing and practice moderation in all things."

Conference[edit]

Fereshteh Bethel ("The Destiny of America"). Edward Diliberto ("Pioneering"). Shahrooz Rahnejat ("Martyrs and Their Impact on Youth").

Daily classes on Saturday and Sunday were combined with evening recreational activities, a talent show and dance for a most enjoyable weekend.

Sunday afternoon, a large number of people came to Mission Bay Park to see a program by the Los Angeles Bahá’í Youth Workshop. The conference ended Sunday evening with a fireside at the San Diego Bahá’í Center.

In a spirit of "universal participation," $700 was raised at the conference for the National Fund. A total of $2,500 was sent to the Fund, the $700 plus another $1,800 in conference fees.

Moreover, in memory of the 170 martyrs in Iran, 170 participants accepted the "Bahá’í Challenge," committing themselves to serving the Cause by teaching, deepening, praying and participating in service projects for 170 days following the conference.

Sheboygan group proclaims Faith with fervor[edit]

The Bahá’í Proclamation Committee of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, formed last March, has had a busy nine months since then.

Its first activity was a bus trip for Bahá’ís and their guests to the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette to observe Race Unity Day, June 12.

TWENTY-ONE Bahá’ís and 28 non-Bahá’ís took the trip, which was financed by Bahá’ís who painted a home for a relative of one of the friends.

Next, the committee entered a float in Sheboygan's annual Fourth of July parade.

About 15,000-20,000 people saw the float, which had the word "Peace" spelled out in several languages on the front of a heart and the dove of peace in tissue on the back of the heart.

Flags of various nations adorned the top of the float, while children of several ethnic backgrounds rode on the back.

The float was also entered in the Kiel parade August 14 in Manitowoc with another 15,000 watching.

Peace was the theme of a Bahá’í booth at the Sheboygan County Fair, and 81 school children participated in a Bahá’í-sponsored essay contest on "My Wish for a Peaceful World."

EACH of the participants was given a book mark designed by one of the Bahá’ís, and all contest entries were displayed at the fair booth.

Invitations were sent to more than 40 individuals and organizations for a World Peace Day public meeting at which Dr. Steve Suhm spoke on "Education for Peace in a World Without War."

A non-Bahá’í, Janet Ross, was presented a copy of the book, Prevent Doomsday, for her work in the peace coalition.

Thirty people including eight non-Bahá’ís attended the event.

A United Nations Day panel discussion in October had as its panelists Kate Marrs, Wisconsin coordinator for UNICEF; Trudy Mesbah, a Bahá’í from Middleton, Wisconsin; Mr. Eckhardt from the Sheboygan Post Office; and Richard Flannery, instructor in international politics from the University of Wisconsin-Sheboygan.

The chairman was Nancy Phillips, the mayor of Sheboygan's United Nations chairman. Ms. Phillips is also chairman of the Bahá’í Group of Sheboygan.

THIRTY-ONE people including 23 non-Bahá’ís attended the meeting, which was taped by a local cable television station.

Universal Children's Day and Halloween were celebrated at a gala costume party whose participants included five non-Bahá’í adults and nine non-Bahá’í children.

Earlier, on September 19, a lengthy article in the local newspaper, headlined "Couple Finds Harmony in Teaching, Religion" profiled David and Rene Lea, members of the Bahá’í Group of the Town of Sheboygan.

The proclamation committee, which is sponsored by the Southern Wisconsin District Teaching Committee, includes representatives from the City of Sheboygan, Town of Sheboygan, Town of Wilson and Town of Lyndon.

It receives help and support from the Town of Meeme in Manitowoc County and the City of Brillion in Calumet County.

The Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, Bahá’í Proclamation Committee entered this float whose theme was 'Peace' in two parades this summer, the Fourth of July parade in Sheboygan and the Kiel parade in Manitowoc County.

2 Minnesota Bahá’ís appear on popular cable TV program[edit]

Two Bahá’ís from Hopkins, Minnesota, Mina Rafiee and Curtis Ewing, appeared in August on the program "Now You Are Aware" on the St. Louis Park cable TV system.

The Bahá’ís were invited to appear by the cable system's coordinator who saw a news release in July in the Hopkins-Minnetonka Sun about an intercommunity memorial service in Minneapolis for the martyrs in Iran.

'Wage Peace' is Peace Day theme[edit]

"Wage Peace" was the theme of a World Peace Day observance September 18 in Whittier, California.

The speakers were Auxiliary Board member Edward Diliberto; Mahlon Woirhaye, professor of communications at Rio Hondo College in Whittier; and Luis Quijada, a Roman Catholic layman from St. Gregory the Great Church.

The moderator was Tom Kavelin, a Bahá’í from Los Angeles.

Dr. Donald Inlay, senior pastor at the East Whittier United Methodist Church, welcomed everyone to the meeting in the church hall, which he graciously allowed the Bahá’ís to use again this year.

Auxiliary Board member Edward Diliberto addresses a World Peace Day audience in Whittier, California. Seated (left to right) are Prof. Mahlon Woirhaye, Luis Quijada, and Mrs. Faith Leith.

LEAP[edit]

of advisers; compiling child/youth statistics and monitoring consolidation progress and needs.

LEAP district coordinators are appointed for one-year terms beginning June 15 each year.

Q. Is the Local Education Adviser Program available in all districts?

A. The program is now in 84 of 94 districts. The National Education Committee intends to introduce it in all districts by June 1984.

Q. How many advisers are there?

A. There are more than 1,000 advisers serving the 84 districts.

Q. What are the plans for the future?

A. Besides introducing the program in the remaining 10 districts, a primary focus will be the increased effectiveness of LEAP district coordinators in carrying out their duties.

The district coordinator serves as the vital link between the worker in the field and the National Education Committee. In addition to stimulating the efforts of advisers at the grassroots level, the coordinator is called upon to provide accurate statistical information about the children and youth in his district.

By the end of the Seven Year Plan (Ridván 1986), the National Education Committee anticipates that all districts will be self-sufficient in their understanding and use of NEC-developed child education materials and strategies.

A National LEAP Conference for advisers and coordinators is to be held next Memorial Day weekend in Wilmette, Illinois. There will be workshops on a variety of child education topics, and opportunities to share ideas and activities from various regions.

'Gift of Love' certificate sure to be appreciated by friends, relatives during Ayyam-i-Há season[edit]

Order a "Gift of Love" gift certificate (Catalog No. 868-000) for friends or relatives for Ayyam-i-Há.

Ordering is simple. Send (1) the name and address of the recipient; (2) your name and address; and (3) a check or money order for the amount of the certificate in full dollars only—there is no handling or postage charge on orders for the gift certificate—to the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone toll free 1-800-323-1880.

You must provide VISA or MasterCard information on all phone orders.

The certificate, in a handsome gift envelope, will be sent either to you or to the recipient, as specified when you order.

To make the gift certificates available, we regret that they cannot be purchased from or redeemed through local or school librarians. They cannot be charged to community or school accounts, and they are not eligible for the 10 per cent community discount.

A certificate may be redeemed any time within two years of the date of issuance by sending it with an order to the Publishing Trust. A letter explaining how the gift certificate can be redeemed will accompany each one sent. [Page 15]

PUBLICATIONS[edit]

December 1983

The Creative Word[edit]

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas[edit]

Where do you turn for inspiration to live the Bahá’í life? How can you demonstrate to others the healing power of Bahá’u’lláh’s message?

The Seven Year Plan calls on us to center our lives around the Creative Word. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá particularly exhorted the Bahá’ís to read “with close attention” the Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh.

He called the Tablets “the dynamic power to motivate the inner self.” He also said they contain “a healing balm for the sores on the body of mankind.” Children in His household learned the Tablets by heart, so important did the Master feel they were to the development of healthy spiritual habits.

Ornaments, Words of Paradise, Glad-Tidings, and Splendors—these are some of the 16 “mighty” Tablets collected by the Universal House of Justice in Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. They represent, according to Shoghi Effendi, the “choicest fruits which His mind has yielded” and should be “read and read over again” by every Bahá’í.

As you look for ways to grow spiritually and aid the needs of your community, what better direction can you find than to turn to Bahá’u’lláh’s own instructions? For therein is the “magnet,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá promised, “to draw down eternal glory.”

Hardcover, Catalog No. 103-021, $10.

NEWS from the Publishing Trust[edit]

New Editions[edit]

Pocket-size edition of Kitáb-i-Íqán New—for your teaching and proclamation efforts. A portable, inexpensive and handsome edition of Kitáb-i-Íqán. Plan a study class on progressive revelation now! (PS, Cat. No. 103-032, $3.50)

God’s Great Plan Now available in a new edition, with large easy-to-read type—Henry Ginn’s popular study guide on progressive revelation. Use the cover to open a discussion about God’s progressive conversations with humankind.

The text draws liberally on Biblical quotations and uses simple explanations of Bahá’í principles to unfold the Bahá’í teachings to the Bible-oriented seeker. (SC, Cat. No. 341-012, $2)

Price of New Era temporarily reduced[edit]

The price on the hardcover edition of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era (Catalog No. 231-004) has been temporarily reduced from $10 to $3 NET, according to Larry Bucknell, general manager of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust.

The special price is possible only because of an overstock of the book. When the surplus is reduced to a suitable level, the softcover edition of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, which is out of stock, will be reprinted, and the price of the hardcover edition will once again return to $10.

The special price for the hardcover edition is $3 NET. “NET” indicates that no discounts will be given to librarians.

The special price is also available only in the 48 contiguous states of the United States. No orders from other countries will be accepted for the $3 NET price.

“Now would be an excellent time,” says Mr. Bucknell, “to purchase copies of Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era for presentation to local libraries or dignitaries.”

New Price[edit]

Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, HC The price on the hardcover edition of J.E. Esslemont’s popular introduction to the Bahá’í Faith has temporarily been reduced from $10 to $3 NET. See article on this page for explanation, and take advantage of the savings. The price is good only in the 48 contiguous states of the United States. (HC, Cat. No. 231-004, $3 NET)

Corrections to 9/215/83 Price List The Open Door, 10/$7.50 Prophecy Fulfilled, 10/$4

Titles from Around the World[edit]

GR—George Ronald KP—Kalimát Press

New

Some Bahá’ís to Remember (GR) In a dozen essays, O.Z. Whitehead portrays believers from the first days in America, England, Japan and Australasia. 304 pp., 24 illustrations. (HC, Cat. No. 332-112, $14.95) (SC, Cat. No. 332-113, $7.50)

Back in Stock

Door of Hope (GR) (SC, Cat. No. 332-100, $9.75)

An Index of Quotations from the Bahá’í Sacred Writings (GR) (HC, Cat. No. 368-062, $37.50)

Miracles and Metaphors (KP) (HC, Cat. No. 332-090, $11.95) (SC, Cat. No. 332-054, $8.95)

Íqán’s higher price a result of rising production costs[edit]

A frequently asked question nowadays, according to Terrill Hayes, production manager of the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, is, “Why does the new pocket-size edition of the Kitáb-i-Íqán cost 50 cents more than the pocket-size edition of Gleanings?”

The answer, says Mr. Hayes, is simple.

“The cost of paper and cover material has gone up since we printed Gleanings back in April 1983. Even though the two pocket-size books are almost the same size, we simply had to pay more when we printed the Íqán in September.

“The increased costs had to be reflected in the price of the book, or we would have lost money on each copy we sold,” Mr. Hayes explains.

“It is important to remember that many printing costs go up approximately every six months or so. A trip to a local bookstore is always a good way to remind oneself that prices of Bahá’í books are still lower than the prices of comparable volumes on bookstore shelves.

“Even so,” he adds, “we are always looking for ways to reduce costs. The pocket-size Gleanings and Íqán would have been impossible even a year or two ago.

“Printing techniques that were available only to large printers a year or two ago are now allowing us to do things that we, as a smaller publisher, had no access to a short time ago.”

The top 10 community librarian accounts for the first six months of 1983-84:
1. San Francisco, CA
2. New York, NY
3. Los Angeles, CA
4. San Jose, CA
5. Riverside, CA
6. Peoria, IL
7. Rapid City, SD
8. Dallas, TX
9. Oklahoma City, OK
10. Lincoln, NE

Where will your community rank at the end of the next six months?

God’s Great Plan[edit]

ABRAHAM KRISHNA MOSES ZOROASTER BUDDHA CHRIST MUHAMMAD THE BÁB BAHÁ’U’LLÁH

Progressive Revelation for Mankind

God’s Great Plan re-issued[edit]

God’s Great Plan, the popular mass-teaching booklet that has been out-of print for several years has been re-issued in a new edition prepared by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust in consultation with the National Teaching Committee.

Written in simple language and printed in large, easy-to-read type, God’s Great Plan, by Henry Ginn, contains many references to Bible prophecy. Hence, it makes an ideal starting point for serious discussions with sincere, Bible-believing Christians.

The cover of the booklet has been deliberately redesigned to enable Bahá’ís to open discussions with seekers about God’s plan for the world.

The words “God’s Great Plan” appear in large type at the top of the cover. Underneath is a list of Manifestations of God beginning with Abraham and ending with the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.

At the bottom of the cover is the subtitle: “Progressive Revelation for Mankind.”

The text of the booklet traces the development of God’s plan through history and shows how Bahá’u’lláh fulfills Bible prophecy.

God’s Great Plan (Catalog No. 341-012, $2) has been reissued in a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch format that makes it ideal for study classes. The text is interspersed with photographs of ethnically diverse groups.

Coupon for Ordering from the Publishing Trust[edit]

Qty	Title	Price	Qty	Title	Price
___	Kitáb-i-Íqán	$3.50	___	Index of Quotations, HC	$37.50
___	Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, HC	10.00	___	Martha Root, HC	20.00
___	Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, LT	6.00	___	Martha Root, SC	11.00
___	Bahá’u’lláh New Era, HC	3.00	___	Miracles Metaphors, HC	11.95
___	God’s Great Plan, SC	2.00	___	Miracles Metaphors, SC	8.95
___	Some to Remember, HC	14.95	___	Open Door, PM	10/7.50
___	Some to Remember, SC	7.50	___	Prophecy Fulfilled, PM	10/4.00
___	Door of Hope, SC	9.75

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 12/83 Prices good through February 15, ‎1983 1984‎

Prices valid only in 48 contiguous states of the United States

Bahá’í Publishing Trust 415 LINDEN AVENUE, WILMETTE, IL 60091 [Page 16]This lovely float with the theme ‘Unite the World ... One Heart at a Time,’ sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Wapato, Washington, participated in 17 parades from April through October, 1983, winning 13 trophies and ribbons including seven first place awards (non-commercial division) in such prestigious events as the Seattle Seafair Torchlight Parade, Moses Lake Moonlight Parade, Omak Stampede, and Ellensburg Rodeo Parade. At its final appearance, in the Issaquah Salmon Days Parade, the float won the special Elks Trophy. It was seen on prime time TV news, noted in newspapers, described on radio, and seen by parade-goers, proclaiming the Faith to an estimated three to four million people in the Pacific Northwest. The float was prepared through the dedicated efforts of two pioneers to the Wapato Reservation, Arne and Joyce Eklund, with help from more than 30 other Bahá’ís.

Archives to undertake oral history project[edit]

The National Bahá’í Archives Committee has started an oral history project to collect personal reminiscences of Bahá’ís.

Anyone who has copies, either taped or written, of personal recollections or who can interview Bahá’ís is asked to write to the National Bahá’í Archives Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Rigby, Idaho, Assembly develops children’s packet for Fast[edit]

The Spiritual Assembly of Rigby, Idaho, has developed a children’s packet, “Ladder of Loftiness,” to be used during the month of ‘Alá.

The packet is designed for children as a way for them to participate and share in the wonderful bounties that are bestowed on everyone during the period of the Fast.

The packet includes a coloring page with stickers; crafts; prayers to memorize (on three levels, suitable to the age of the child); recipes; a “good deeds” chart, and a “certificate of achievement” to be signed by a Spiritual Assembly or Group representative and a parent or guardian as recognition for work well done in the spirit of prayer.

The packet is suitable for non-Bahá’í children and would make an excellent gift.

The cost per packet is $2.50; order now to assure delivery by Ayyám-i-Há 1984.

Send your order to “Ladder of Loftiness,” c/o the Bahá’ís of Rigby, P.O. Box 467, Rigby, ID 83442.

Please make checks payable to the Spiritual Assembly of Rigby. Any profits from the sale of the packets will be forwarded to the National Bahá’í Fund earmarked for repair of the dome of the Bahá’í House of Worship in Wilmette.

Louhelen School schedules ‘youth week’ in December[edit]

A special “youth week” will be held December 18-23 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School.

Programs will be held for senior youth ages 15 and older and for junior youth ages 11-14.

THE PROGRAM for senior youth will feature a course entitled “Bahá’í Administration: Visions of a New World Order,” to be taught by David Rouleau, coordinator of the Assembly Development Program.

Another course, “Human Issues,” will be discussion-oriented and will take its subject matter from issues that concern and trouble youth.

An active recreational and social program also is planned.

“Bahá’í youth rarely have the chance to learn, socialize and interact in an entirely Bahá’í environment,” says Dr. Geoffrey W. Marks, Louhelen’s director of academic affairs. “It’s our hope to give young people a taste of what it would be like to attend a Bahá’í school full-time and to gain a glimpse of what life in a Bahá’í society would be like.”

Enrollment for the junior youth session is limited, and early registration is encouraged.

To register, send a $10 non-refundable check, per person, to the registrar, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

Freeport, Illinois, hosts 2nd youth conference[edit]

Nearly 50 Bahá’í youth participated July 21-24 in the second annual Freeport, Illinois, Youth Conference.

The weekend event, which was co-sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Chicago and the District Youth Committee of Northern Illinois No. 2, was blessed by the presence of the Hand of the Cause of God Zikrullah Khadem who spoke to the youth on Saturday evening.

Other adult speakers were Mark Brush (“Defending the Faith”), Douglas Samimi-Moore (“Marriage and the Family”), and Myrlaina Seraphin (“Choosing a Career”).

Youth speakers were Debby Jackson, Rainn Wilson, Merrill Miller and Tracy Smith.

Other activities included a campfire on registration night, two dances, a Saturday evening talent show, and a Sunday afternoon canoe excursion on a nearby river.

Youth from five states—Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio—attended the conference. [Page 17]

THE FUNDS[edit]

December 1983 17

HEY, UNIPAR— WE NEED MORE GIRDERS

BUILDING WLGI TAKES LOTS OF "GIRDERS" —

USE THIS HANDY WLGI ENVELOPE AND SEND IN YOURS ... AND REMEMBER,

OUR DEADLINE IS:

DECEMBER 31, 1983

WLGI AS OF 11/15/83 $403,000 [Page 18]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.

THE NATIONAL Education Committee is seeking 50 persons to attend a Youth Directors' Training Session to be held April 14-15, 1984, at the Louhelen Bahá’í School in Davison, Michigan. They will be trained to serve as youth directors for Bahá’í schools and for special events. Interested persons are asked to submit their names and a statement of background and experience either by mail or phone to the National Education Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039) before December 25, 1983. Those who are selected will be responsible for their own travel expenses to and from the training session.

COMPUTER positions are abundant in South Africa. The International Goals Committee has information about jobs in computer management, analysis, programming, education, sales, etc. Salaries are good, as are the benefits in most cases. Pioneers are especially needed in the homeland areas. If you have a degree or working experience in computer science, please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

ST. JOSEPH, Michigan, a city of 10,000 in the heart of southwestern Michigan's fruit country, is looking for minority homefront pioneers to diversify the community and help save the Assembly. St. Joseph, on Lake Michigan just 90 miles from Chicago, is known for Whirlpool Corporation, Auto Specialties, and the Heath Company which will soon hire 300 people to fulfill a government contract. Area public schools, including a community college, are excellent, and within 50 miles are Andrews University, Western Michigan University, Notre Dame, Indiana University-South Bend, and Purdue University-Michigan City. Cultural stimulation is readily available, and opportunities to teach the Faith abound. Please contact Adrian Davis, St. Joseph, MI 49085, or phone 616-983-5479.

Librarians must file[edit]

As of June 1, 1983, accounts for Bahá’í librarians who had not filed new account authorization forms were closed. However, librarians can still obtain new authorization forms by calling the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1-800-323-1880, or by writing to the Trust at 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091. A form will be sent by return mail. Any charge order returned with the completed authorization form will be honored.

ARE YOU willing to make a trade-off—city conveniences for a peaceful country way of life? If so, we need you. We are a jeopardized Assembly in southwestern Oregon's Illinois Valley, near the California border (population about 12,000), home of the Oregon Caves, surrounded by beautiful mountains, with a nearby redwood forest, a lovely place for those who long to breathe clean air, drink clean water, have a small farm, or hunt, fish, raft, etc. We are seeking help in developing a more diverse community and in strengthening our teaching efforts. Housing is no problem. Because this is a depressed timber industry area, jobs are scarce, and it would probably be a more suitable area for one who is self-employed or financially secure. The nearest large city is Grants Pass, 30 miles away. For more information please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Illinois Valley, P.O. Box 973, Cave Junction, OR 97523, or phone 503-592-2863.

OPPORTUNITIES for nurses and teachers abound in the U.S. territory of the Mariana Islands. Math, science and special education teachers are especially needed. Nurse educators and nurses in obstetrics and pediatrics are also sought. Salaries are adequate, but living conditions are spartan on the islands. Strong, healthy individuals are preferred. If you are willing to arise to serve the Cause at this Pacific post, contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091 (phone 312-869-9039).

'LET'S GET Spiritual! A Regional Bahá’í Youth Conference will be held July 13-16, 1984, in Concord, California. Fabulously grand! Truly far-out! And definitely the hottest conference to take place next summer. So... BE THERE! Keep watching for more details, or contact the 'Youth Energizing Service' of Contra Costa County, P.O. Box 42, Concord, CA 94522.

URGENT! The incorporated Assembly of Medford, Oregon, is in jeopardy and needs three or more homefront pioneers. Medford, in the Rogue River Valley among the Cascade Mountains, only two hours from the Oregon coast, has been designated one of America's 50 most livable cities because of its good weather, shopping facilities, medical services, cultural events and natural beauty. There are a variety of businesses, but you should have some skill or profession to compete in the job market, or be self-supporting. For more information please write to the Spiritual Assembly of Medford, P.O. Box 534, Medford, OR 97501, or phone Marilyn Boesch, 503-772-5502.

BAHÁ’Í couple is needed to manage a Best Western Motel in Wells, Nevada. Absolutely no children. Prefer a middle-aged couple able to do some repair work. Salary plus furnished apartment. Will be trained to manage the motel. Please phone Jamshid Talabreza, person-to-person, at 801-487-5080 or 702-752-3353.

UNIVERSITY instructors, all levels, all subjects, are needed in South Africa. Specializations needed range from business to agriculture, science to the humanities, arts to education. If you are interested in arising to pioneer, now may be your opportunity. Please write to the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

THE DISTRICT Teaching Committee of Western Colorado desperately needs homefront pioneers to work with Spanish-speaking Bahá’ís who have not been deepened because of a lack of resource people in or near the area who speak Spanish. Needed are pioneers who (1) can speak Spanish; (2) are probably self-supporting; (3) are willing to work with consolidating many Spanish-speaking Bahá’ís and communities; (4) are able to travel over an area that includes several counties of the San Luis Valley in south central Colorado around the community of Alamosa, which has a state college. Please contact the District Teaching Committee of Western Colorado c/o Fred North, Box 666, Mancos, CO 81328, or phone 303-533-7892.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives is seeking copies of the following books, in good or excellent condition: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London (paper, 1912); Foundations of World Unity (cloth, 1927 and 1945); Paris Talks (cloth, 1912, 1951, 1961, 1969); Paris Talks (paper, 1912, 1951, 1961); Some Answered Questions (cloth, 1937). Anyone who is able to donate any of these books is requested to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

PANAMA needs a Bahá’í couple to work in public relations at the House of Worship in Latin America. Should speak English and Spanish, be mature and responsible, no small children, have a good character and the qualities necessary for a dignified appearance before the public, be able to treat with enthusiasm any investigator, and have a deep knowledge of the Bahá’í teachings. Prefer a couple that is economically independent; if necessary, can offer $300 for monthly expenses. Free lodging at the Temple workshop, free water and electricity. For more information, please contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

STUDENTS: Are you seeking a quality education and involvement in a Bahá’í College Club? The University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, is the answer. UOP is a small, private liberal arts and professional school in northern California, one and one-half hours from San Francisco, an hour from Sacramento and three hours from the Bosch Bahá’í School and Lake Tahoe. Members of the Bahá’í Club will soon be graduating, and new members are needed to retain its charter. There is great opportunity at UOP. Stockton has an active Bahá’í community, and the College Club encourages all enthusiastic students to look into the University of the Pacific. Please contact the Office of Admissions, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, or Shirin Lee, Kappa Alpha Theta, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211.

MOVING to the Puget Sound area? A former resident of Olympia, Washington, has a large old-fashioned house for lease to a Bahá’í family. Three-car garage, fruit and black walnut trees, on a large corner lot 15 blocks from downtown, one block from buses, two blocks from an elementary school. Has been used as a Bahá’í Center and could be again if friends move in. Even comes complete with an old-fashioned friendly ghost (honest)! Please phone Janet Tanaka, 206-392-7858 between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. Pacific time.

PSYCHIATRIST is needed on a lovely island in the Atlantic. More information can be obtained from the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091. Phone 312-869-9039.

THE BAHÁ’Í Group of College Park, Maryland, is struggling to regain Assembly status and needs Bahá’ís who can make a commitment to stay. College Park, home of the University of Maryland, is a suburb of Washington, D.C. White collar and/or blue collar jobs are plentiful in the area, as are institutions of higher learning. The Group will try to offer help in finding housing and employment. Write to the Bahá’ís of College Park, Box 42, College Park, MD 20740, or phone the Rishworths at 301-474-4496.

PIONEER(S) needed in Olney, Texas, a lovely town of about 6,000. Possible job is available for hearing aid specialist or audiologist. Will train interested people. Send resumé to P.O. Box 175, Graham, TX 76046.

NEWARK, Delaware, a lovely small city on the east coast, only two hours from New York City, Washington, the finest Atlantic Coast beaches, and one hour from Philadelphia or Baltimore, has an Assembly with eight active members that would welcome with open arms any homefront pioneer who would be interested in joining the community. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware, nationally recognized for its programs in chemistry, business and engineering. Delaware is the home of duPont and many other well-known companies. Though brimming with big-city opportunities, Newark is reminiscent of a small New England college town. For more information write to the Spiritual Assembly at , Newark, DE 19711.

THE SPIRITUAL Assembly of Vermillion, South Dakota, a lovely city of 12,000 on the Missouri River about 45 miles from Sioux City, Iowa, will be in jeopardy in January when one of its members graduates from college. Two others must move next May. Can you help? Vermillion is the site of the University of South Dakota, a four-year university offering a variety of degrees including medicine, law, business, education, and fine arts, with master's and doctoral programs as well. Job openings at the university include assistant professor of bacterial pathogenesis, genetic associate, medical technologist, computer programmer analyst, senior data processing specialist, and part-time nursing instructor. Vermillion has excellent elementary and secondary schools; a nice place to raise a family. For more information please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Vermillion, Box 402, Vermillion, SD 57069, or phone 605-624-8330.

BAHÁ’Í pioneers to Chile wish to sell their newly constructed North American-style home in Temuco. The house, on the edge of town, has a large living room with a chimney specially designed to circulate heat, four bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, family room with a wood-burning stove, utility room and work room. Also, windows on the north side for passive solar heating. Asking $55,000 to $60,000, but would be willing to discuss the price. Please write to Rebecca Johnston, Casilla I Chile, South America.

THE International Goals Committee knows of three job openings for anesthesiologists for a country in Asia. Medical doctors with this specialization are urged to contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or to phone 312-869-9039.

HOMEFRONT pioneers are sought by the Spiritual Assembly of Washington County, Oregon, to live in its goal area, Sherwood, a community of about 2,500 in a lovely rural setting on the outskirts of the Portland metro area (population around 750,000). Many employment opportunities are available within a 30-minute radius, the beach and mountains are a one-hour drive away, offering year-round skiing and many opportunities to teach. Please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Washington County, P.O. Box 451, Hillsboro, OR 97123. [Page 19]Judge Dorothy W. Nelson, treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly, lights one of the ‘seven candles of unity’ during a World Peace Day observance September 18 in San Bernardino, California. To her left are the other two featured speakers, Chris Brown of the Inland Empire Nuclear Freeze Network, and Mary G. Langford, president of the Southern California chapter of the United Nations Association. Also pictured are Mark Peterson, Melissa Peterson, and Ken Jeffers. Among the 300-350 people who attended the event were more than 100 non-Bahá’ís.

Bahá’ís in San Bernardino area attend 24th annual World Peace Day observance[edit]

Bahá’ís from 34 communities in San Bernardino, Riverside and parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties in California supported the 24th annual observance of World Peace Day held September 18 in San Bernardino.

The event was the first undertaking of the recently formed Bahá’í Regional Public Affairs Council sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of San Bernardino.

More than 100 of the 300-350 people who attended were not Bahá’ís.

The speakers were Judge Dorothy W. Nelson, treasurer of the National Spiritual Assembly; Mary G. Langford, president of the Southern California chapter of the United Nations Association; and Chris Brown of the Inland Empire Nuclear Freeze Network.

More than a dozen newspapers carried news releases about the event, there were three hour-long radio interviews with local Bahá’ís, an interview on cable television, and public service spots on at least two radio stations.

More than 650 invitations were sent to members of the press, clergy, civic groups, and other prominent people.

As a result of the event, several firesides have been reported.

Proclamations key Peace Day observance in Harrisburg area[edit]

The Spiritual Assembly of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, sponsored a World Peace Day observance September 18 at a local park.

World Peace Day proclamations were issued by the governor of Pennsylvania, the mayor of Harrisburg, and the Dauphin County board of commissioners.

Representatives of the governor and commissioners were present to read their proclamations.

Prayers for peace were read by a Bahá’í and a representative of the executive director of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.

The speakers were Brian Lepard ("The Long-Lasting Peace") and April Neal ("The Role of Women in the Establishment of Peace").

The event was publicized on radio and television and in a newspaper article. About 40 people attended, half of whom were not Bahá’ís.

News in brief[edit]

Charlotte media committee surges forward; N.Y. Bahá’ís use personal computer to teach[edit]

A half-page newspaper article on the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran is the latest result of the efforts of the Bahá’í Public Information Office of Metrolina, a committee of the Spiritual Assembly of Charlotte, North Carolina.

The article, which appeared in The Charlotte Observer, came after a series of news releases submitted to the paper and several visits to the editor by members of the committee.

The information office, which serves a 16-county area around Charlotte, also has succeeded in obtaining local television coverage of the Iranian persecutions.

It participated in the World Peace Day "Wage Peace" campaign by submitting releases to local papers and distributing taped public service announcements to 30 radio stations.

Adopting the "Wage Peace" theme for the year, the information office plans to mount five "Wage Peace" billboards in the near future.

To raise funds for its operation, the office has designed and printed "Wage Peace" stickers.

The stickers, which measure 1 1/4 x 1 3/4 inches, and are printed in blue and black, 32 to a sheet, are available directly from the Bahá’í Public Information Office of Metrolina, P.O. Box 1661, Matthews, NC 28216.

The stickers sell for $1 a sheet in multiples of 10 sheets.

Bahá’ís in the Town of Katonah, New York, used a personal computer to help teach the Faith during a sidewalk proclamation effort June 18.

About 30 Bahá’ís from the surrounding area participated in manning an information table that was set up along a main avenue in Katonah.

The most unique feature of the display was a personal computer complete with table-top printer.

Passersby were invited to take a pre-programmed multiple choice quiz that included such questions as "Do you believe in life after death?" and "Do you believe that world peace is attainable?"

After each response was entered, the computer calculated the percentage of similar answers based on the number of people who had participated.

Upon completing the survey, each respondent was given a print-out bearing the words "Bahá’í Faith," a copy of the questions that had been asked, and a phone number where further information about the Faith could be obtained.

Three seekers expressed a desire to investigate further by attending firesides.

The Bahá’í community of Carrollton, Georgia, was asked recently to present a program on race relations to resident advisers at West Georgia College.

On Monday, November 7, the program was presented to 65 students at West Georgia by Jack Guillebeaux, a Bahá’í from Montgomery, Alabama.

As a result of efforts by the Spiritual Assembly of Hopkins, Minnesota, the Minnesota Cable Systems Southwest, which covers Hopkins, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka and Richfield, aired the video tape of Congressional hearings on the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran on three dates in October.

More than 190 Bahá’ís gather at 71st Thornton Chase commemorative service[edit]

More than 190 Bahá’ís gathered on a clear, sunny day in Inglewood, California, September 25 for the 71st annual commemorative service for Thornton Chase, who was designated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the first American Bahá’í.

When the Master visited Mr. Chase’s grave in 1912 He ordered the gravestone and revealed a prayer about the spiritual qualities of Thornton Chase, saying, "This illumined personage will shine ever like a star" and that in the future we would understand his station.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá prayed that the friends would annually "visit his grave on my behalf and bring flowers," and "have the utmost consideration for the members of his family."

Following opening remarks by the chairman of the committee, there were prayers in English and Persian, after which a description of Mr. Chase by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was read.

Auxiliary Board member Joyce Dahl made a brief presentation, and there were greetings and a message from Auxiliary Board member Anthony Lease.

The prayer for Thornton Chase revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was read, followed by a prayer for firmness in the Covenant.

The prayer for America ended the formal service, after which refreshments were served.

Youth hold fund-raiser[edit]

On Saturday, October 1, the Bahá’í youth in San Diego, California, held a fund-raising clean-up day at the San Diego Bahá’í Center.

Community members pledged funds for youth to work a certain amount of time. As a result, $700 was raised for the local fund, and the Center was cleaned in time for the District Convention, which was held the following day.

Louhelen rents school to Davison for community education programs[edit]

The Louhelen Bahá’í School Council has entered into an agreement with the Davison, Michigan, community schools to rent a part of the Louhelen facilities for several Davison community education programs.

Under the agreement, the Davison schools are using several Louhelen classrooms and the activities building for adult high school courses, courses in medical technology, and dance and exercise classes.

Additionally, the Davison schools are providing child care to enable parents with younger children to take advantage of the programs.

"While there are some financial benefits to the school under this agreement," says Dr. William Diehl, Louhelen’s director of administrative affairs, "the benefits in terms of community involvement and service are far more important.

"More than 250 area residents are attending programs at Louhelen, with 14 classes being offered. Our visibility as part of the educational structure in the Davison area has helped us become a more integral part of the community and has served to show the public the Bahá’í commitment to education."

People attending school at Louhelen have also been exposed to the Faith through information on bulletin boards and through conversations with staff members.

In addition, all the students enrolled in history classes have been required to do a research paper on the history of the Faith as a part of their study of religions and religious persecutions.

Dr. McClellan, Mrs. Garis to conduct Louhelen winter session[edit]

Auxiliary Board member Sam McClellan and Mrs. Mabel Garis will teach the adult classes at the Louhelen Bahá’í School’s winter session December 26-31.

Dr. McClellan, a psychiatrist from Danville, Kentucky, who has served as director of several community health centers, will teach a course on the Creative Word of God, drawing on passages from Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh and The Hidden Words.

Mrs. Garis, who is the author of Martha Root: Lioness at the Threshold, a biography of the Hand of the Cause of God that was recently released by the Bahá’í Publishing Trust, will teach a course on the life of Miss Root.

Mrs. Garis, who lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, is the present author of the Uncle Wiggily children’s stories, which were originally written and published by her mother- and father-in-law, Lillian and Howard Garis, and later by her husband, Howard Garis.

Mrs. Garis has also served as the National Spiritual Assembly’s representative at the United Nations.

Also on the program will be children’s classes, with Alonzo and Sandy Coleman among the teachers, and a variety of recreational and social activities.

Those wishing to register for the session may send a non-refundable $10 check, per person, to the registrar, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. [Page 20]

زبان شهید[edit]

ما كه شیدائی آن روی جهان آرائیم سر و جان باخته دلبر بیمتائیم

دست پرورده آن طلعت روح افزائیم آنكه جان در ره محبوب فشانـد مائیم

صفت عاشق صادق بجهان جانبازی است تن چو بردار رود باعث سرافرازی است

ما نه آنیم كه جان بیخود و بیهوده دهیم بهر خاک سیه و ثروت آلوده دهیم

بطمع ورزی يك منصب فرسوده دهیم با ‎مـیـد امید‎ بـری و جنت موعوده دهیم

خون ما در ره آئین بها میریزد خون پاكی است كه در راه خدا میریزد

مفتی شهر كه برگشتن ما فتوی داد افتراها زد و بس نسبت بی‌معنی داد

حكم بر زجر و عذاب‌ و زدن و یغماداد اينهمه از ره كين و ستم و بغضا داد

ناصرالدين و ابوجهل چه بردند ثمر تا چه آید بكف قوم ظلوم دیگر

خالق عالم از آنگاه كه این پایه نهاد هر كسی را دو سه روزی بجهان مهلت داد

تا مگر پیشه كند از تـعـدل راه رشاد ندهد عمر گرانمایه بغفلت بر باد

مردم نيك سیر غرق عنایات شوند زشتكاران به سزای سخت مجازات شوند

عاشق این موهبت از دست بباطل ندهد قرص خورشید بيك سايه زایل ندهد

گوش بر گفته هر ظالم جاهل ندهد در دل خویش بنا محرم منزل ندهد

خودسری شیوه هر سفله دنیا دار است غافل از آنچه ز حق دور كند بیدار است

رسم ما نیست كه با كس بجدل برخیزیم با سر خلق خدا خاك مذلت بیزیم

يا بحبل دغل و ریب و ریا آویزیم ما بهر دوست و دشمن بصفا آمیزیم

ما شهيدان ره عشق و فايیم همه عاشق صادق درگاه خدائیم همه

آگست ۱۹۸۳ عبدالـحسین بشر‌الهی

مبلغ صامت و مبلغ ناطق[edit]

WLGI Bahá’í Radio CONTRIBUTIONS GOAL $1,000,000 by 12/31/83 $372,519

مولای مهربان حضرت ولی‌ عزیز امرالله مشرق‌ الاذكار ويلمت را مبلغ صامت خوانده‌اند. فی‌ الحقیقه این عروس ساحل دریاچه میشیگان سالهاست كه شب و روز بتبلیغ امر مالك قدم مشغول است و در كمال زیبائی و وقار طالبان حقیقت را به ساحل فرات احكام و اوامر الهی هدایت می‌نماید. بزودی این مملكت صاحب مبلغی گویا می‌شود كه در جنوب شرقی این سرزمین بنشر نفحات ‎مستكه مقدّسه‎ الهیه خواهد پرداخت. ماه دسامبر آخرین فرصت برای تأمین وجوه لازم برای تكميل بنای فرستنده رادیوی WLGI در مؤسسه بهائی لوئیس گریگوری است. میزان وجوه لازم برای این طرح يك ميليون دلار پیش‌بینی شده كه علاوه بر مخارج ساختمان فرستنده و دستگاه‌های لازم شامل تهیه برنامه‌ها و دستمزد كاركنان فرستنده در دو سال اول حیات رادیو بهائی و همچنین توسعه و تكمیل ابنیه و وسائل مؤسسه بهائی لوئیس گریگوری خواهد بود. ازدیاد امكانات مؤسسه قسمتی مهم از طرح است زیرا تجربه رادیوهای بهائی آمریکای جنوبی نشان داده كه با شروع و پخش برنامه‌های رادیو عده كسانی كه برای كسب اطلاع و آشنائی با اصول و تعالیم امر به مؤسسه مراجعه میكنند يكبا‌ره افزایش مییابد. بعلاوه مؤسسه لوئیس گریگوری بایستی ناشرین نفحات‌ الله و معلمین لازم را برای خدمت در جوامعی كه زير پوشش امواج فرستنده رادیو بهائی قرار میگیرند تربیت كند.

محفل روحانی ملی و احبای ایالت كارولینای جنوبی مترصد اقدام فداكارانه یاران و جریان سیل تبرعات خاص برای این منظورند تا در موعد مقرر طرح بپایان رسد و فرستنده رادیو بهائی شروع بكار كند و مبلغ ناطق در میدان خدمت به آئین الهی به مبلغ صامت ملحق شود.

صندوق ملهوفین[edit]

يكی از یاران مخلص و خدوم ایران كه چندی است در این كشور زندگی میكند و مایملك قابل ملاحظه خود را در ایران از دست داده است در اثر بیماریهای مختلف و شدید خود و قرینه محترمه موجودی مختصر خود را از دست داده است و با ضعف بنیه، مزاج و عدم توانائی كار محتاج به كمك صندوق ملهوفين شده است. متأسفانه این نوع افراد بسیارند و محفل روحانی ملی ‎بساز پس از‎ رسیدگی اطلاعات لازم را در هر مورد برای كسب اجازه تقدیم ساحت رفيع بيت‌العدل اعظم می‌نماید.

صندوق ملهوفين مستقیماً تحت نظر معهد اعلی اداره میشود و گذشته از تأمین احتیاجات آن عده از منسوبین شهدای عزیز ایران كه امكانات مالی كافی در اختيار ندارند در موارد اضطراری به كسانی كه در اثر تضییقات وارده بر احبای ایران با مشكلات مالی روبرو شده‌ اند نيز كمک‌هایی میكند. با توجه به احتیاجات وسیع صندوق مذكور لازم است احبای الهی از هر فرصت استفاده نموده با تقديم تبرعات كريمانه در تقویت آن كوشش نمایند و حقيقت وحدت و یگانگی جامعه بهائی را در این ایام بهترین وجهی جلوه‌گر كنند.

میدان خدمت[edit]

بيت‌ العدل اعظم الهی و محفل روحانی ملی كراراً احبای عزیز را متذكر ساخته‌ اند كه بهترین طریقه برای جبران صدمات و لطماتی كه به جامعه‌های ایران وارد آمده‌است مضاعف نمودن فعالیتها و مجهودات تبلیغی است تا به ازای هر يك از نفوس مقدسه ای كه قدم در میدان فدا گذارده‌ اند صدها بلكه هزارها نفوس در ظل لوای آئین یزدانی وارد شوند و بجای هر محفل محلی كه در ایران تعطیل شده دهها محفل جدید در سایر نقاط عالم تأسیس گردد. آن عده از یاران گرامی كه بدلایلی در این كشور مستقر گردیده‌ اند و در شرایط فعلی امكان عزیمت بصوب میادین هجرت در خارج از ایالات متحده برای آنان موجود نیست میتوانند بسهولت در داخل مملكت به نقاط لازم المهاجره منتقل شوند. حتی آنانكه بعنوان پناهنده در این كشور زندگی میكنند میتوانند به آلاسكا نقل مكان نمایند كه اگر چه از لحاظ تشكيلات امری دارای محفل روحانی ملی جداگانه‌ است ولكن از لحاظ كشوری يكی از ایالات این كشور محسوب میشود.

محفل روحانی ملی آلاسكا مخصوصاً تقاضا نموده‌ اند كه دعوت آن محفل از احبای فارسی زبان با استحضار دوستان ایرانی برسد تا با ‎استقال استقبال‎ احبای پر تجربه ایران اساس امر در آن منطقه وسیع از ایالات متحده مستحكم شود. آن محفل محترم آمادگی خود را برای ارائه راهنمائی و كمك‌های لازم به كسانی كه علاقه‌ مند به استقرار در آلاسكا هستند اعلام فرموده‌اند.

در داخل ۴۸ ایالت متصل بيكدیگر نیز نقاطی كه احتیاج به كمك احبای ایرانی دارند و مخصوصاً از محفل روحانی ملی تقاضا كرده‌ اند بعضی از یاران ایرانی را به آن نقاط اعزام دارند كم نیستند. برای نمونه میتوان خانواده "كاولوسی" را ذكر كرد كه در ایالت مین زندگی میكنند. این خانواده عزیز داوطلب شده‌ اند كه يك خانواده ایرانی را برای یافتن محل اقامت و شغل در شهر خود هدایت و یاری فرمایند.

پیشنهاد‌های مشابه از ایالات مختلف رسیده و میرسد از جمله تگزاس، ویسكانسن، پنسیلوانیا، وايومينگ، واشینگتن، داكوتای شمالی، نبراسكا، كنتاكی، میسی‌سی‌پی. علاوه ایالات كارولینای جنوبی كه بزودی رادیو بهائی در آن منطقه تأسیس خواهد شد و در گذشته شاهد شروع مرحله دخول در دین الله افواجاً بوده است احتیاج شدید به چندین خانواده بهائی ایرانی دارد كه در نقاط مختلف مستقر شده مراكزی قوی برای تشویق و تحبيب و تردید معلومات مصدقین جدید و تقویت محافل روحانیه بوجود آورند.

علاقمندان میتوانند با مراجعه به دفتر لجنه امور احبای ایرانی اطلاعات دقیق درباره هريك از نقاط فوق‌الذكر بدست آورند. [Page 21]

PERSIAN PAGE[edit]

میتوانست در خدمت دولت و ملت قرار گیرد در گوشه زندان‌های مظلم بسر میبرند و چقدر کارمندان فداکار که عمری را در نهایت پاکدامنی بخدمت دولت سپری نموده اند بصرف تهمت‌های فراوان از کار برکنار و بعسرت و بی‌چیزی و نیاز گرفتار گردیدند و حتی ارباب مشاغل خصوصی در بسیاری از موارد از استخدام بهائیان ممنوع شدند. بسیاری از مؤسسات خصوصی بهائیان مصادره و بسیاری از کسبه با ابطال جواز کسب از ادامه کار محروم گشتند. جوانان بهائی از ادامه تحصیل در بسیاری از مدارس و در کلیه دانشکده‌ها و مؤسسات عالی ممنوع گردیدند و دانشجویانی که در خارج از ایران بودند از دریافت هزینه تحصیلی و سایر دانشجویانی که میخواستند در خارج ادامه تحصیل دهند بعلت ممانعت از خروج از نیت خود محروم گردیدند. از خروج افراد بهائی حتی بیماران مشرف بموتی که تنها راه نجات آنان مراجعه به مؤسسات طبی خارجی بود ممانعت شد. گورستان‌های بهائی مصادره گشت و جنائز از قبور بیرون کشیده شد و چه بسا روزها که جنازه‌ای بر زمین ماند شاید اجازه ای تحصیل شود و مکانی تحویل گردد از خاک برش دارد و بخاک بسپارند. هم اکنون هزاران بهائی که از خانه و آشیانه محروم شده به جبر یا بموجب قانون نفی بلد گشتند از دهات و مساکن خود رانده شده اند در سایر بلاد ایران آواره و سرگردانند و ملجاء و پناهی جز آستان حضرت منان و عطوفت دوستان و بستگان ندارند.

جای تأسف است که رسانه‌های گروهی و جرائد و مجلات نه میخواهند و نه میتوانند و نه مجازند که از آنچه بر جامعه بهائی ایران وارد میآید چیزی بنویسند یا خبری بنگارند اگر مجاز بودند و بی طرف اخبار روزمره را مینوشتند چه مجموعه ها که از شقاوت بشری و مظلومیت بیگناهان فراهم نمیگردید.

مثلاً اگر مجاز بودند مینوشتند که هفت رادمرد و ده شیرزن بهائی شیراز که هفت نفر آنان دختران کم سن و سال بودند در نهایت قدرت روحی پیشنهاد حاکم شرع را برای تبری از اعتقاد حتی کتمان عقیده ظاهری نپذیرفتند و مرگ در میدان را بر کتمان ایمان مرجح شمردند و پس از ساعتها انتظار لب تشنه چادر را کفن خویش ساختند و طناب دار را بعشق حق دادار بوسه زدند و جان بجان آفرین سپردند و البته ناظران این صحنه ‎پریلا کربلا‎ برای قاتلین کربلا که با وجود شقاوت بی منتهی بر روی ‎ورقات لبان‎ تشنه شمشیر نکشیدند و بیماران را ‎نیا زردند نیازاردند‎ طلب آمرزش نمودند. افسوس که زبانها بسته و قلم‌ها شکسته است و راز این مظالم برملا نمیگردد تا عبرت جهانیان شود. با ادعای جناب دادستان محترم اینها جاسوسند وای عجب که در همه تاریخ کجا میتوان جاسوسی را نشان داد که برای اثبات حقانیت اعتقاد خویش از جان دست بشوید. متأسفانه در این نامه جای آن نیست که بلایای وارده بر بهائیان بیگناه ایران بیان گردد و با بیکباره اتهامات وارده پاسخ گفته شود ولکن تنها از صاحبان مروت و انصاف سئوال میشود اگر بموجب بیانات جناب دادستان، بهائیان را بعلت عقیده و ایمان نمیگیرند و اعدام نمیکنند و حتی بزندان نمی‌اندازند چگونه است که وقتی جمعی از ایشانرا بجرم واحدی دستگیر میکنند مثلاً بجرم جاسوسی، هر یک از ایشان که تبری کند و ترک اعتقاد کند بلافاصله آزاد میشود و بعنوان نوعی پیروزی عکس و تفصیلاتش در جراید منعکس میگردد و عزت و احترام می بیند این چگونه گناه جاسوسی و خرابکاری و ‎احنکار احتکار‎ و محاربه و توطئه گری است که با ارتداد از اعتقاد پاک میشود آیا خود همین دلیل بی پایگی اتهامات وارده نیست؟

با اینهمه جامعه بهائیان ایران برای اثبات حسن نیت و بر اساس اصول اعتقادی خویش در اطاعت تام از اوامر دولت و حکومت که مبانی آن قبلاً در این بیانیه تشریح گردیده تعطیل تشکیلات بهائی را در سراسر ایران اعلام میدارد و از این پس تا زمانیکه انشاء الله سوءتفاهمات برطرف گردد و حقایق لااقل بر ولاة امور روشن و آشکار شود محفل ملی و کلیه محافل روحانیه محلیه و لجنات تابعه آنها تعطیل است و هیچ فردی عضو تشکیلات بهائی شناخته نمیشود.

جامعه بهائی ایران امیدوار است این اقدام نشانه اطاعت کامل جامعه از حکومت وقت تلقی گردد و ولاة امور منجمله جناب دادستان محترم انقلاب اسلامی که اظهار میدارند با افراد بهائی مخالفت و معاندی ندارند و بکثرت تعدد آنان مقر و معترفند و وجود و حق حیات و آزادی اعتقاد و مراسم مذهبی فردی آنان را رسماً در مصاحبه مطبوعاتی خود تضمین مینمایند متقابلاً حسن نیت و صدق اظهارات خویش را عملاً اثبات نموده دستور فرمایند که از این پس:

۱ — از ادامه آزار و ایذاء و دستگیری و زجر و شکنجه بهائیان تحت عناوین واهی و بی‌اساس و نگاهداری آنان در زندانها خودداری گردد چه که هم خدا میداند و هم ولاة امور که گناه این بی‌گناهان تنها اعتقادات ایشان است نه اتهاماتی که برآنان وارد میآورند.

۲ — امنیت جان، مال و نوامیس آنانرا تضمین نمایند.

۳ — آزادی اختیار مسکن، شغل و معاشرت ایشان را براساس موازین قانون اساسی جمهوری اسلامی تأمین نمایند.

۴ — با توجه باظهارات جناب دادستان کل کلیه حقوق مسلوبه احقاق و اعاده گردد.

۵ — حقوق حقه کارمندان بهائی را با اعاده آنان به مشاغل و پرداخت مطالباتشان تأمین نمایند.

۶ — کلیه زندانیان بیگناه را از زندانها آزاد کنند.

۷ — از اموال مصادره یا توقیف شده بهائیانی که در وطن خویش از اموال خود محروم مانده اند رفع مزاحمت شود.

۸ — اجازه داده شود برای محصلین بهائی که میخواهند در خارج از کشور تحصیل کنند مانند سایر افراد امکانات لازم فراهم شود.

۹ — اجازه داده شود جوانان بهائی که در داخله از ادامه تحصیل محروم گردیده اند بتحصیل ادامه دهند.

۱۰ — اجازه داده شود برای محصلین بهائی که در ممالک خارج از هزینه تحصیلی محروم گردیده مستأصل مانده اند مانند سایرین ارز تحصیلی ارسال گردد.

۱۱ — گورستانهای بهائی اعاده گردد و اجازه فرمایند مردگان طبق مراسم مذهبی خویش دفن گردند.

۱۲ — آزادی بهائیان برای اجرای مراسم دینی خودشان در تشییع و تدفین و نماز بر مردگان و در ازدواج و طلاق و سایر احوال شخصیه و عبادات تضمین شود چه که بهائیان اگر در امور اداری که تعلق بمؤسسات و تشکیلات بهائی دارد کلاً و تماماً مطیع و تابع حکومتند، بموجب عقاید روحانی خویش در امور وجدانیه و فردی شهادت را بر انکار و ترک اوامر الهی مرجح میدانند.

۱۳ — از این پس نفوسی را بجرم عضویت قبلی آنان در تشکیلات بهائی دستگیر و زندانی نفرمایند.

در خاتمه هر چند امریه جناب دادستان کل، انقلاب اسلامی دور از انصاف و عدالت بود بحکم وظیفه دینی پذیرفتیم و از درگاه خداوند یکتا رجا داریم بمدد الهامات و امدادات غیبی خویش ‎غبا غبار‎ تعصب از فؤاد اولیای محترم امور بزداید و بر حقایق امور جامعه بهائی آگاه سازد تا یقین نمایند که جور و ستم بر جمعی مظلوم و ‎اهرا ی دمای بیینه اهراق دماء بیگناه‎ خدایپرستان برای هیچ ملت و حکومتی شکوه و ثواب نداشته و آنچه باقی و برقرار خواهد ماند نیکی و عدل و داد و نام نیکوکاران است که تاریخ زمان در سینه خود با ‎مانت امانت‎ حفظ خواهد کرد.

با تقدیم احترام محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان ایران (۱۲ شهریورماه ۱۳۶۲ شمسی) [Page 22]احتكار مشتی لوازم يدكی كه اكثر خارج از رده بوده و بفرض صحت مدعا مثلاً هفتاد ميليون تومان قيمت داشته كه ميتواند كالای موجود هر فروشگاه متوسط لوازم يدكی باشد دولتی را كه با نهايت قدرت و توان روزانه صدها ميليون تومان مخارج گوناگون دارد ساقط نمود . و اگر ايشان تشكيلات بهائی را جاسوسی ميدانند لااقل بايد جاسوس را آنقدر زيرك و عاقل بدانند كه برای براندازی حكومتی ورزيم مقتدری لوازم يدكی ذخيره نكند . بلی خلافکاری و خرابكاری مورد ادعا چنين است و مشابهش آنچه در داستان دایره اسقفی اصفهان واقع گرديد كه پس از متهم ساختن اين جامعه مظلوم و اعدام نمودن جهت بيگناه از بهائيان بزور مجعول بودن داستان بوسيله دادستان كل كشور اعلام و اعلان گرديد . از جمله اتهامات وارده جمع‌آوری وجوه و ارسال به ممالك خارجه است ای عجب اگر مسلمين براساس اعتقادات مقدس و محترم روحانی خويش ميليونها تومان وجه به كربلا و نجف و بيت‌المقدس يا ساير اماكن متبركه خارج از ايران بفرستند تا خرج اعتاب مقدسه ‎ماركه مباركه‎ اسلامی گردد بسيار پسنديده است ولی اگر بهائی مبلغی ناچيز آنهم در ايامی كه ارسال ارز مجاز بوده است نه در وضع حاضر برای تعمير و نگاهداری اماكن مقدسه برای جامعه بين‌المللی خود بفرستند ديني است لاينفك و دليلی بر تقويت ممالك ديگر .

از اين قبيل اتهامات بسيار است و تحقيق در مورد هريك كاری دشوار نيست تنها نفوسی منصف و بی‌طرف و قاضی خداترس میخواهد تا بطلان يكايك آشكار شود و جامعه بهائی اكيداً تمنا ميكند به اين اتهامات با حضور هيئت منصفه‌ای مركب از قضات و ناظرين بين‌المللی در منظر عمومی رسيدگی گردد تا يكبار و برای هميشه خط بطلان بر مجموع اتهامات كشيده شود و ديگر تكرار نبايد .

و اما در طی پنج سال اخير اصول اعتقادات بهائيان مكرراً اعلام و اعلان گرديد و چون ظاهراً عمداً يا سهواً مورد توجه قرار نگرفته و تكرار اتهامات از طرف يكی از عاليترين مقامات مسئول دليلی است بر اينكه رقائم مكرر هرگز به لحاظ سروران فائز نشده مجدداً يادآوری ميگردد كه :

ديانت بهائی به يكتايی و وحدت ذات الهی مقر و معترف است و حتی حق را ذات غيب منيع لايدرك ميشناسد و مقدس از صعود و نزول و دخول و خروج و تجسم و تجسد ميداند . ديانت بهائی بخدای ناديده ، فرد ، احد ، واحد ، صمد ، وحده لاشريك له معتقد و درگاه عظمتش را ‎ساحت ساجد‎ و كليه اديان مقدسه الهی مؤمن است جميع پيغمبران از آدم تا خاتم را فرستادگان برحق الهی ميشمرد و آنان را مظاهر ظهور حق در عالم خلق و كتب آنان را من‌جانب‌الله ميداند به استمرار فيض الهی و بقای روح وعالم بعد و پاداش و مكافات اكيداً معتقد است و تنها ديانتی از بين اديان موجود است كه حضرت رسول‌اكرم صل‌الله عليه و آله و سلم را پيغمبر برحق و قرآن مجيد را كلام‌الله ميداند .

ديانت بهائی دارای اصول و احكام مستقل است ، كتاب آسمانی مستقل دارد حج و عبادات دارد ، فرد بهائی نماز ميگزارد و روزه ميدارد خمس و زكوة ميدهد و بمراعات جميع صفات و شيم پسنديده و محبت بجميع ابناء بشر و خدمت بعالم انسانی و جانفشانی در سبيل خير و فلاح همنوعان خويش مأمور است و از ارتكاب اعمال ناشايست ممنوع . حضرت عبدالبهاء ميفرمايد : "بهائی را بصفت شناسند نه باسم و بخلق پی برند نه بجسم" حضرت شوقی ربانی ولی امر بهائی میفرمايد : "... هر نفسی كه خود را بشيم و حلل تقدس و تقوی و اخلاق مزين ندارد او بهائی حقيقی نه ولو اينكه باسـم مـوسوم و موصوف و معروف..." و نيز ميفرمايد : "احيای الهی... مأمور بپرهيزکاری و خيرخواهی و بردباری و تقديس و تنزیه و انقطاع از ماسوی‌الله و تجرد از شئون دنيا و اخلاق و صفات‌الاهيه هستند..." احكام و تعاليم ديانت بهائی كل مدلل بر اين حقايق است كتب و آثاری كه خوشبختانه از منازل بهائيان بوفور بيغما رفته و برای مسؤولين امور قابل دسترسی است مصدق اين مطالب ، بهائيان براساس اعتقادات روحانی خويش در سياست دخالت نمی‌نمايند ، با حزب و دسته و گروه يا مليت يا ايدئولوژی و فلسفه سياسی خاصی موافقت يا مخالفت ندارند و از امور مشوشه سياسی بكلی بيزار و بركنارند . حضرت ولی امرالله فرموده اند :

"... اهل بها در ظل هر دولت و حكومتی بصدق و صفا و امانت و تقوی رفتار نمايند... نه تشنه شهرتند و نه طالب رياست نه اهل ريا و تملقند و نه در پی جاه و مكنت نه طالب مسند و مقامند و نه اسير رتبه و نشان از تظاهر و خودنمائی متنفرند و از استعمال قوه جبريه مشمئز ، از ماسوی‌الله چشم پوشيده اند و بوعـده‌های محكمه مولای خويش دل بسته... از خود گذشته اند و بنفع عموم پرداخته... از وظايف سياسی اجتناب و احتراز نمايند وظائف اداری را بدل و جان قبول كنند زيرا مقصد اصلی اهل بها تقدم و پيشرفت مصالح ملت است... اينست طريقت بهائيان اينست مسلك روحانيان و ما عداه ضلال مبين" و نيز بهائيان بموجب تعاليم عاليه خويش ملزم و مكلف باطاعت از حکومت در اين مورد نيز حضرت شوقی ربانی میفرمايد :

"... اهل بهاء مأمور باطاعت و انقياد دولت متبوعه خويشند و اثبات صداقت و خيرخواهی خويش نسبت باوليای امور... بايد بهائيان در جميع اقطار كلاً و طراً من استثناء مطيع و منقاد اوامر قطعیه و قرارهای صادره از مصادر حكومت خويش گردند و تسليم شوند و بمداقت تمام اجراء و تنفيذ حكم حكام خويش را نمايند..." هرچند تشكيلات بهائی هدفی جز خيرخواهی جميع ملل و نحل ندارد و قدمی بـر خلاف مصالح جمهور برنميدارد و بر خلاف آنچه از مماثلت اسمی بذهن راه می‌يابد هيچگونه مشابهتی با تشكيلات معموله در احزاب سياسی نداشته ابداً در امور سياسيه دخالت نمی‌كند و خود بازدارنده افراد بهائی از فعاليتهای مخرب سياسی است و نقطه نظرگاهش "تحسين اخلاق است و تعميم معارف ، ازاله جهل و نادانی و دفع تعصبات است و تحكيم اساس دين حقيقی در قلوب و نفوس ، اعتماد بر نفس است و اجتناب از تقليد ، راستی و صداقت است و جرأت و صراحت و شجاعت ، ترويج صنعت و زراعت است و تعليم اجباری دختران و پسران ، تأكيد در امانت و ديانت است و دقت در حسن معاملات ، تفتن و تدقيق در علوم و فنون زمان است و ترويج مصالح همنوعان ، ترويج صداقت و اطاعت باحكام مشروعه دولت و حكومت است و احترام و تكريم و معاونت ارباب علوم و هنر وصناعت ، معاونت نيازمندان و محتاجان از تمام مذاهب و فرق است و همکاری و همقدمی با هموطنان در خدمات عام‌المنفعه" . وبطور خلاصه آنچه را حضرات روحانيون در اديان سابقه بطور فردی و تنهائی بعهده دارند تشكيلات بهائی بنحو جمعی و انتخابی عهده‌دار است .

و هرچند اظهارات جناب دادستان محترم كل انقلاب مبتنی بر مبانی قانونی بنظر نميرسد و برای محدود ساختن افراد و محروم‌ساختن آنان از حقوقيكه قانون اساسی ايشان دريغ نداشته تصويب قوانين خاصی آنهم بشرطی كه مباينت با قانون اساسی كشور نداشته باشد ضروری است و هرچند در طی سنوات اخير كه ميبايست براساس اصول عدل الهی كه ديانت حقه اسلام مانند همه اديان متأله و موحد بدان معتقد است تضييقات و ‎تشعيبات تشنيعات‎ و فشارهای ۱٣۵ ساله برطرف گردد يا لااقل تخفيف يابد و حقايق با بی نظری تحقيق شود متأسفانه براساس سوء تفاهمات يا تعصبات ديرينه مشكلات بمراتب اضافه شد و ابواب بلا از هر طرف بروجه بهائيان مظلوم و ستمديده ايران مفتوح و كليه حقوق حقه آنان سلب گرديد و بر اثر تحريكات متتابعه از ناحيه ولاة امور و ملاذ جمهور و بعضی روحاني‌نمايان و افتراءات و تهمتهای وارده ، رسماً و غيررسمی ، و اوامر غيرمشروع و غيرقانونی صادره از مراجع شرعی و قانونی چه بسيار خانه‌های پاك كه بخاك هلاك گرديدند و چه بسيار سرهای بلند و سينه‌های ارجمند كه زيب منقار يا آماج تير بار گشت چه مقدار اموال كه بيغما رفت يا مصادره گرديد چقدر نفوس متقن و دانشمند كه با تحمل زجر و شكنجه محكوم بزندانهای طويل‌المدت شدند و هنوز با همه فضائل و تخصصهای خود كه [Page 23]

تعطیل تشکیلات بهائی ایران[edit]

ترجمه[edit]

روز ۲۹ آگست ۱۹۸۳ دادستان کل انقلاب جمهوری اسلامی ایران سید حسین موسوی تبریزی طی یک مصاحبه مطبوعاتی تشکیلات دیانتی بهائی را غیرقانونی اعلام نموده و شرکت در این تشکیلات را جرم شناخت. در نتیجه این حکم محفل روحانی ملی یعنی هیئت اداره‌کننده جامعه بهائی ایران و ۴۰۰ محفل روحانی محلی و لجنه ها و مؤسسات تابعه آنها غیرقانونی گردید و به این دلیل بهائیان ایران بر اساس تعالیم و معتقدات دیانتی خود کلیه سازمانهای خود را منحل نمودند.

اهمیت انحلال سازمانهائی که بهائیان آنرا تشکیلات اداری مینامند بیش از آن است که کسانی که با نقش محافل روحانی در جامعه‌ای که طبقه روحانی ندارد آشنا نیستند بتوانند تصور کنند. محفل روحانی مجموعاً وظایف روحانیون، معلمین، مشاورین، هیئت امنای صندوقهای خیریه، و محافظین مدارک و اسناد جامعه را انجام میدهند. این محافل هستند که افراد را به عضویت در جامعه میپذیرند، ازدواجها را ثبت میکنند، تربیت روحانی و دینی اطفال را سرپرستی مینمایند، مرافعات بین افراد را فیصله میدهند، طلاق‌هائی را جاری مینمایند، رفتار پسندیده اعضاء را تشویق نموده آنان را از ارتکاب اعمال ناشایست منع میکنند. به این ترتیب واضح است که محافل روحانی نقشی اساسی در حیات جامعه بهائی دارند.

سندی که در اینجا ارائه میشود مکتوب محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان ایران است در جواب اعلان غیرقانونی بودن تشکیلات بهائی از جانب دادستان کل انقلاب. میزان شهامت اعضاء محفل روحانی ملی که به این نحو دولت اسلامی را مخاطب قرار داده‌اند وقتی مشهود میشود که بیاد آوریم که هفده نفر از اعضاء سابق آن محفل توسط همین دولت ربوده یا اعدام شده‌اند.

این مکتوب که بجهت ۲۰۰۰ نفر از مسؤولین دولت و شخصیتهای برجسته ایران ارسال گردیده شاهد گویائی است بر شجاعت نویسندگان آن و صلح‌جوئی جامعه تحت قیادت آنان. این سند همچنین نشانه‌ای است از مناعت و اطمینان آن افراد که ایمان و اعتقاد راسخ دارند بر اینکه مشیت ذات غیب منیع لادَرَک ما من فتح و پیروزی نهائی حقیقت و عدالت است.

محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان ایالات متحده اول نوامبر ۱۹۸۳

نامه سرگشاده محفل روحانی ملی بهائیان ایران[edit]

اخیراً جناب آقای دادستان محترم کل انقلاب اسلامی کشور طی مصاحبه‌ای که متن آن در جرائد منتشر گردیده پس از ایراد اتهاماتی ناروا بر جامعه بهائی ایران و محکوم ساختن جمعی از بهائیان که بجرائمی واهی و مجهول و صرفاً بعلت اعتقادات دینی و روحانی دستگیر و زندانی شده ‎اکثرأ اکثراً‎ هنوز محاکمه نگردیده اند ادامه کار تشکیلات دینی و روحانی بهائی را ممنوع اعلام نمودند و عضویت در آن را جرم دانستند.

برای این جامعه و هر ناظر منصف و بی‌غرضی جای تعجب و تأسف است که ‎ولاد ولاة‎ امور و ‎ملاحم ملاذ‎ جمهور علی الخصوص اهل قضا که در پی کشف حقیقت و درک واقعیت قضا یا سالها عمر و وقت خود را مصروف میدارند با یک اثر در جمله یا کلمه‌ای و در ادای حرفی یا صبغه‌ای یا کسره‌ای شبهه ای حاصل شود ساعتها به کسب متعدد مراجعه مینمایند تا صحیح آن معلوم گردد چگونه بخود روا میدارند اتهاماتی ناروا را چنین بی‌پروا و ‎بی‌نرس بی‌ترس‎ از روز جزا بر جمعی مظلوم و ‎سکینه‌وارد سکینه‌وار‎ سازند بی‌آنکه خود به آنچه میگویند کاملاً معتقد باشند یا لااقل در مورد مدعا تحقیقی ولو ‎ناجیز ناچیز‎ انجام داده باشند. "‎کوئیا گوئیا‎ باور نمیدارند روز داوری."

جناب آقای دادستان باز افسانه‌دستان ‎بی‌پا به بی‌پایه‎ و بی‌مایه جاسوسی بهائیان را عنوان نموده‌اند بی‌آنکه لااقل مدرکی ابراز و دلیلی بیان کنند، بی‌آنکه توضیح فرمایند اینهمه جاسوس در یک مملکت به چه‌کاری مشغولند و چه اخباری را از کجا می‌آورند و به کجا میدهند و بچه‌منظوری چنین میکنند.

پیرمرد هشتاد و پنج ساله یزدی که هرگز پایش را از ده خود بیرون ننهاده چگونه جاسوسی است و این جاسوسان ادعائی ایشان چرا هرگز خود را پنهان نمی سازند چرا عقیده خود را کتمان نمی‌نمایند، چرا به لطایف‌الحیل نمی‌کوشند تا در ادارات و مراکز خبری راه یابند، چرا تاکنون در هیچ جای جهان یک جاسوس بهائی دستگیر نشده، جوانان ‎محمل محفل‎ و بانوان خانه‌دار و دوشیزگان معصوم و مردان و زنان کهنسال بهائی که بیگناه ‎بجوبه بچوبه‎ دار سپرده شدند یا هدف تیر تعصب و عدوان گردیدند، کشتگان روستائی بهائی قراء افوس، چنگان قلعه ملک (حومه اصفهان) و قریه نوک بیرجند چگونه میتوانستند جاسوس باشند چه مدارک و وسائل جاسوسی از آنها بدست آمد، کودکان دبستانی که از مدارس اخراج گردیدند چگونه جاسوسی میکردند.

و ای عجب که جناب دادستان شاید نمیدانند و یا نمیخواهند بدانند که جاسوسی جزئی از سیاست است و عدم دخالت در سیاست از اصول مسلمه دیانت بهائی است و از طرف دیگر بهائیان بوطن خود عشق میورزند و هرگز ادنی خیانتی بوطن را جائز نمیدانند.

حضرت عبدالبهاء شارح شارع امر بهائی میفرمایند: "هر ‎دلتی ذلتی‎ را تحمل توان نمود مگر خیانت بوطن و هر گناهی قابل عفو و مغفرت است مگر هتک ناموس دولت و مضرت ملت."

اتهامات دیگر جناب دادستان محترم انقلاب همه از این قبیل است. نسبت خلافکاری و خرابکاری بجامعه بهائی میدهند و بعنوان مثال عمل کثیف احتکار را که جامعه بهائی از آن بیزار است عنوان میکنند و بر اساس مصاحبه‌ای که ساختگی بودن آن اظهرُمن‌الشمس است و بموقع خود طی بیانیه‌ای دلایل مشروع اعلام گردیده، عملی را که انجام آن بکلی مردود است و با معقول دستور تشکیلاتی منافی میفرمایند و بسیار زیرکانه از کنار این نکته میگذرند که چگونه میتوان با... [Page 24]

ترجمه دستخط منیع ساحت رفیع بیت‌العدل اعظم الهی شیدالله ارکانه[edit]

مورخ ۲۰ اکتبر ۱۹۸۳[edit]

خطاب به عموم احباء در سراسر عالم[edit]

ای یاران عزیز روحانی:

وقایع تکان دهنده موطن جمال اقدس ابهی و همزمان با آن بسط نفوذ مؤسسات نظم اداری امرالله در صحنه امور بین‌المللی متفقاً موجب ایجاد و تمرکز امکانات جدیدی در جهت سیر تکاملی جامعه جهانی بهائی گردیده اند. در پیام رضوان هدف السنه این هشت سال بین مفاهیم اشاره شده بود که در برابر ما افق وسیع تری باز شده که در روشنی آن می‌توان اقداماتی و تکالیف تازه‌ای را که باید بزودی آغاز کنیم حدوداً تشخیص داد. این اشارات دخالت و توجه بیشتر ما را با امور مربوط به رشد و توسعه حیات اجتماعی و اقتصادی بشر نوید می‌دهد.

حضرت بهاءالله از ابتدای رسالت عظیم خود ملل عالم را متذکر و متنبه فرموده‌اند که لازم است امور جامعه بشری را بنحوی ترتیب دهند که دنیایی متحد در کلیه وجوه اصلیه حیات بوجود آید. در الواح و آیات مبارکه بیشماری هیکل اقدس بکرات و ‎با نجاء بأنحاء‎ مختلف اعلان فرمود که «تقدم عالم» و «ترقی ملل و امم» از جمله تعالیم الهی در این دور مقدس است. وحدت عالم انسانی که اصل و اساس عملیات و در عین حال هدف غائی و نهائی امرالهی است تحقق ارتباط کامل بین حوائج روحانی و نیازمندیهای عملی زندگی را در این عالم ایجاب میکند. ضرورت قطعی چنین ارتباطی در حکم تأسیس مشرق‌الاذکار، مرکز روحانی هر جامعه بهائی که در حول آن باید ملحقاتی جهت تقدم و پیشرفت اجتماعی، انسانی، تربیتی و علمی بشر تأسیس گردد تعیین و تصریح گردیده است. بدین ترتیب واضح است که اگر چه تاکنون برای مؤسسات امری بطور کلی پرداختن به امور و فعالیت های رشد و توسعه مقدور و میسر نبوده ولکن مفاهیم توسعه اقتصادی و اجتماعی در تعالیم مبارکه الهی مندمج و مستتر است. حضرت مولی‌الوری با گفتار و رفتار متعالی و آموزنده خویش نمونه روشنی از تحقق و اجرای این مفهوم یعنی تجدید بنای جامعه ارائه فرمودند. شاهد بر این آنکه احبای ایران بر اثر تعلیمات و ارشادات آن وجود مبارک و متعاقباً بر اثر تشویقات متتابعه هیکل اطهر حضرت ولی‌امرالله به پیشرفت‌های اقتصادی و اجتماعی چشمگیری نائل شدند.

جامعه پیروان اسم اعظم اینک پس از سالها مجاهدت مستمر در تبلیغ امرالهی بمرحله‌ای وارد گشته که باید جریان این توسعه با فعالیتهای روزمره ای تلفیق گردد و بالاخص توسعه دامنه امرالله در ممالک جهان سوم که اکثریت مؤمنین امر در آنجا ساکنند این اقدام را ضروری ‎میناید مینماید‎. قدمهائی که بایستی برداشته شود لزوماً از ‎جامعه‌باشی جامعه‌سازی‎ و مجهودات افراد اعضاء آن شروع میشود که از طریق بکاربستن مبادی روحانی، درستی و صداقت در اعمال و رفتار، و استفاده از هنر مشورت در امور ترقی نموده و در نتیجه بخودکفائی رسند و متکی به خود گردند. مضافاً این مجاهدات منجر به حفظ و صیانت شرف انسانی که بی نهایت مورد عنایت و توجه جمال مبارک بوده میگردد. نتایج و فوائد مجهودات احبای الهی، در جریان عمل و بالمال، به جامعه خارج نیز تسری خواهد یافت تا بالاخره عالم بشری به اوج ترقی که منظور نظر مظهر الهی است واصل گردد.

اقتضاء دارد که توجهی اصولی و منظم به این دایره حیاتی از مجهودات بهائی معطوف گردد. لهذا به کمال سرور و ابتهاج تأسیس دفتر توسعه اجتماعی و اقتصادی را در مرکز جهانی امر اعلام میداریم. این دفتر مقاصد و ‎مشاعیر مشاعر‎ بیت‌العدل اعظم در ایجاد و تشویق و هم‌آهنگ نمودن مجهودات یاران سراسر عالم در این میدان جدید خواهد بود.

دارالتبلیغ بین‌المللی و هیئت‌های مشاورین قاره‌ای مترصدند که مسؤولیت های خاصی را که به آنان محول گردیده و عبارت از وقوف و آگاهی کامل از امکانات افزایش رشد و توسعه زندگی اجتماعی چه در داخل امر و چه در خارج آن است بعهده بگیرند و هادی و مشوق مجاهدات و کوشش های محافل روحانیه و افراد احباء باشند.

اکنون از محافل روحانیه‌ ملیه دعوت میکنم که ارتباط و تأثیر این مسیر جدید را در جوامع تحت اشراف خود مورد توجه قرار دهند و تدابیر مقتضی لازم را اتخاذ نمایند تا افکار و اقدامات محافل روحانیه‌ محلیه و افراد احباء به تهیه و اجرای نقشه‌هائی که با اوضاع و احوال و منابع موجود مطابقت داشته باشد معطوف گردد.

پیشرفت در عرصه رشد و توسعه تا حدود زیادی منوط به میزان تحرک و فعالیت طبیعی در سطوح پایین جامعه است و بایستی قوای محرکه اش از آن جهت تأمین شود نه آنکه این برنامه ها و نقشه ها در سطوح بالای جامعه تنظیم و به سطوح زیرین جهت اجراء ابلاغ گردد. بنابراین وظیفه اساسی محافل روحانیه‌ ملیه آنست که در ‎تریبد تزیید‎ میزان وقوف جوامع محلیه به امکانات و احتیاجات بکوشند و فعالیت‌های حاصله از این آگاهی را هدایت نموده هم‌آهنگ سازند. هم‌اکنون در بسیاری از مناطق احبای عزیز شاهد شمول تأییدات الهیّه نسبت به مشروعات خود مانند تأسیس مدارس محلی روستائی و آموزشگاههای دیگر، تعلیم سواد، اجرای برنامه‌های ترویج روستائی، بنیان‌گزاری ایستگاههای رادیو تربیتی و آموزشی، و اداره پروژه‌های پزشکی و کشاورزی میباشند. بموازات توسعه دایره فعالیت‌های آنان طرق دیگری در زمینه توسعه و رشد محققاً ظاهر و پدیدار میگردد.

این میدان جدید خدمت کاردانی و ابتکار، انعطاف پذیری، و اتحاد و همبستگی جوامع متعدد تشکیل دهنده عالم بهائی را بسیج نموده و بکار میگیرد. طبیعتاً جامعه‌های مختلف نسبت به احتیاجات مشابه برخورد متفاوت خواهند داشت و راه حل های متفاوت ارائه خواهند نمود. بعضی از این جوامع میتوانند کمک های خود را به خارج عرضه دارند در صورتیکه بعضی جوامع دیگر در ابتدای کار بناچار بایستی کمک دیگران را بپذیرند. ولکن در هر حال همه آنها صرفنظر از اوضاع و احوال و منابع موجودشان بطریقی استعداد اجابت این دعوت را دارند. همه میتوانند در این مشروع سهیم باشند و در این اقدام جمعی که عبارت از بکاربستن منظم و اصولی تعالیم امر در جهت اعتلاء و ترقی کیفیت حیات بشری است شرکت نمایند. کلید موفقیت، اتحاد در روح و در عمل است.

یقین داریم که شرکت خالصانه و صمیمانه یاران در این مجهودات استحکام بیشتر جامعه را در تمام سطوح آن تضمین خواهد نمود. باید توجه داشت که پرداختن به جنبه‌های فنی توسعه و رشد هرگز نبایستی جایگزین تبلیغ امرالهی که در هر حال وظیفه اولیه هر یک از پیروان جمال ابهی است گردد. بلکه فعالیت های روزافزون ما در عرصه رشد و توسعه باید ممد اقدامات تبلیغی و نشانه‌ای از ‎تجعی تجلی‎ ایمان ما در میدان خدمت باشد. زیرا اگر ترویج به امور تبلیغی ادامه نیابد امیدی به موفقیت این جنبه وسیعتر تحکیم اساس امرالله نخواهد بود.

دعوت بکار و روی سخن ما مالاً با فرد فرد یاران از پیر و جوان و قدیم و جدید است. باید قدم به پیش نهند و در عرصه خدمت موقع و مقام خویش را احراز کنند، عرصه ای که در آن شایستگی و استعداد، تحصیلات تخصصی، منابع مادی، و اختصاص وقت و انرژی، و بالاتر از همه مراتب تعلق و تمسک آنان به تعالیم و اصول امرالهی میتواند کلاً در راه اعتلای بشر بکار گرفته شود.

امیدواریم این بیان احلی که از قلم معجز شیم مولای توانا حضرت ولی‌امرالله در سال ۱۹۳۳ عزّ نزول یافته الهام بخش مداوم مستمر عموم باشد:

"مسائلی که در حال حاضر مؤمنین امرالهی با آن مواجهند جداً اجتماعی و چه روحانی خواه اقتصادی و یا اداری بتدریج که عدد یاران و امکانات آنان مضاعف گردد و استعدادشان برای خدمت و اجرای اصول تعالیم امرالله رشد و ترقی کند حل و فصل خواهد شد. باید صبور باشند و مطمئن و هر فرصتی را که در محدودیت های تحمیل شده فعلی بدست آرند غنیمت دانسته و در استفاده از آن ساعی و کوشا باشند. رجا آنکه قادر متعال آنانرا در تحقق ‎سواهای سوداهای‎ والایشان یاری و یاوری فرماید." (ترجمه)

با تحیات ابداعیه بیت‌العدل اعظم [Page 25]

INTERMEDIA[edit]

News from the Office of Public Affairs[edit]

“The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.”

Bahá’í Faith

WAGE PEACE

A “Wage Peace” billboard (pictured above) at Routes 73 and 130 in New Jersey attracted two seekers to firesides the first week it was up ...

The Intercommunity Media Committee of Long Island, New York, presented the “Wage Peace” billboard to a local outdoor advertising company and was offered 79 free billboard public service spaces ...

Spokane, Washington, reports six calls per day from interested seekers resulting from its “Bahá’í, It’s a Revelation” billboard. The area has had 12 declarations this year, many of whom attributed their initial interest to media contact.

The Inland Empire Media Committee built a float that has, to date, won nine prizes ...

“Wage Peace” World Peace Day programs (September 18) made news in Charlotte, North Carolina; Tempe, Arizona; Huntsville, Alabama; Atlanta, Georgia, and other places.

The campaign didn’t end on September 18, however. Bahá’í College Clubs will carry on throughout the year ...

Seattle, Washington, and environs plan to launch a mass media blitz (radio, TV, billboards, bus cards, posters, buttons—the works!). Phone 206-682-6587 if you want to order buttons or T-shirts ...

The World Peace Day program in Atlanta attracted some 125 people. One of the speakers, who is not a Bahá’í, held up a quotation by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá against prejudice and said that’s all he needed to know about Bahá’ís, because it was true! A dramatic moment. After his speech, he was given a standing ovation ...

Sapulpa, Oklahoma, reports its booth at the Oklahoma State Fair was seen by some 430,000 attendees ...

In Denver, Colorado, invitations to teas have gone to a selected number of influential people including the governor. A prominent speaker highlights each affair. Check this out for your own community ...

In Wichita, Kansas, the Inter-Faith Ministries commemorated World Order Sabbath, October 23, with an impressive program of prayers for the Bahá’ís in Iran. Representatives of nine major faiths participated in the event at the Mid-America All Indian Center.

The speakers included Counsellor Velma Sherrill, Mayor Margalee Wright, U.S. Rep. Dan Glickman, and the executive director of the Ministry, the Rev. James Bell. The entire program was video taped ...

Night Line: Don’t forget to keep in touch with the latest events by calling the Office of Public Affairs’ “Night Line” (312-869-9843) after 5 p.m. CST ...

In Montana, the Treasure State Bahá’í Media Service has put together a high profile/low budget media packet of ideas and advertising materials for media use. All this for only $5. (P.O. Box 50125, Billings, MT 59105) ...

Congratulations to the Bahá’ís of Lubbock, Texas, for 400 column inches of news coverage in the last three months! ...

The Public Affairs Committee of greater Phoenix, Arizona, has set a record for the longest run of the Jeff Reynolds Show. Two radio stations have been carrying it for seven years!

To add to that, a TV station in Phoenix ran the Danny Deardorff public service spot free during August and September—a total value of $2,700 worth of viewing time ...

In Saginaw, Michigan, Bahá’í scored with three television programs on the Faith in October ...

Orange County, California, has the “Spiritual Revolution” series on six cable stations! A record? ...

National Assembly launches nationwide drive for resolutions condemning Iran persecutions[edit]

The National Spiritual Assembly has launched a nationwide campaign to ask state legislatures to pass resolutions condemning the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran and voicing support for actions taken by President Reagan, the U.S. Congress and the United Nations on behalf of the Iranian Bahá’í community.

ONE Local Assembly in each state has been selected to coordinate the campaign. (See list of designated Assemblies in box.)

To date, 15 states have either passed resolutions or have one pending. Recent resolutions were passed in Alabama, California, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington state.

Not only is the passage of resolutions being sought at the state level, but every Bahá’í community is now urged to inform its local administrative body (e.g., board of aldermen, city council) of the situation of its co-religionists in Iran and to seek similar resolutions.

In most instances, once representatives are informed of the facts and realize that there are Bahá’ís living in their districts, a resolution is relatively easy to obtain.

It should be requested that copies of the resolution be sent to President Reagan, congressional representatives, the state governor and local representatives in the state legislature so that they will know that positive action on behalf of the Bahá’ís in Iran has been taken.

Background information about the persecutions in Iran is available from the Office of Public Affairs, Wilmette, IL 60091, in a packet that includes The Bahá’ís in Iran and its current Update, the August 29 statement by Iran’s Prosecutor General banning Bahá’í institutions in that country, a sample news release to be given to the media when a resolution has been passed, samples of resolutions passed in several states, and copies of recent news articles and editorials about the Bahá’ís in Iran.

The cost is $5 per packet. Please make checks payable to “Bahá’í Services Fund.”

Assemblies Designated to Coordinate State Resolutions[edit]

**Montgomery, Alabama	Raleigh, North Carolina
Phoenix, Arizona	Jamestown, North Dakota
Little Rock, Arkansas	Lincoln, Nebraska
**Sacramento, California	Concord, New Hampshire
Arapahoe County, Colo.	**Hamilton Township, New Jersey
Hartford, Connecticut	Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wilmington, Delaware	*Reno, Nevada
Palm Beach County N., Fla.	New York City, New York
Atlanta, Georgia	Upper Arlington, Ohio
Des Moines, Iowa	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Boise, Idaho	**Grants Pass, Oregon
Springfield, Illinois	*Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania
*Indianapolis, Indiana	**Newport, Rhode Island
Topeka, Kansas	Charleston, South Carolina
Lexington, Kentucky	**Pierre, South Dakota
Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Nashville, Tennessee
*Beverly, Massachusetts	Dallas, Texas
*‎Prince Georges County Prince George’s County‎, S. Md.	Salt Lake City, Utah
**York, Maine	Montpelier, Vermont
Ann Arbor, Michigan	*Richmond, Virginia
*Golden Valley, Minnesota	**Tacoma, Washington
Jackson, Mississippi	Charleston, West Virginia
Kansas City, Missouri	Madison, Wisconsin
Helena, Montana	Cheyenne, Wyoming

Resolution pending

- Resolution passed

Long Island media team generates wide publicity[edit]

How would you like to be on a media committee charged with arranging for news coverage in more than 60 weekly and three large daily newspapers, on 10 radio stations, nine cable TV stations and several commercial stations, in six university newspapers, and numerous other media outlets such as billboards, train and bus posters, and others?

This is the environment in which the Long Island, New York, Intercommunity Media Project operates.

The media team, sponsored by the Spiritual Assembly of Brookhaven, reports that dedicated persistence has resulted in three major newspaper articles, two editorials, and several letters to the editor in Newsday, the major Long Island daily; a six-week ad campaign in a jeopardized Assembly area; a 30-minute Bahá’í program which was rerun 15 times on cable TV; a large “Wage Peace” billboard project in four cities, and various radio interviews.

In addition, the “Spiritual Revolution” has been confirmed for 26 weeks on one of Long Island’s largest cable TV services.

A quarter-page ad, “And Now They Hang Women,” which cost $2,555, was purchased in Newsday and was published a second time free of charge.

This is truly an impressive record for a three-year-old committee, much of whose success is attributed by its members to the “blood and tears” of the martyrs in Iran.

Record cites Iran persecutions[edit]

The following statement by Sen. Alan Cranston of California appeared in the Congressional Record on November 2:

“I am deeply concerned about the Iranian government’s continuing persecution of the Bahá’ís. The Bahá’í faith, practiced worldwide, believes in the unity of mankind, peace, and brotherhood.”

“It is a tragedy and an outrage that those who hold these laudable principles are being persecuted and executed for their belief.”

“Amnesty International reports that at least 151 Bahá’ís have been executed in Iran since the Khomeini rule began in February 1979. The Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in protest of the repressive regime of the shah. Yet even during the shah’s reign, the Bahá’ís were allowed to practice their faith free from harassment.”

“Under the Ayatollah Khomeini’s rule, the Bahá’ís have faced brutal persecution, imprisonment and even death. I appeal to the government of Iran to stop its policy of persecution of the Bahá’í community and to allow its members to practice their faith in peace, free from harassment and persecution.”

“I urge Tehran to show humanity to the Bahá’ís. And I strongly encourage other governments to appeal to the Iranian government on behalf of the Bahá’ís.”

Bahá’ís interviewed[edit]

Two members of the Bahá’í community of New York City, Dr. Hussein Ahdieh and Charmaine Jones, were interviewed October 16 on “Foundations of Faith,” a weekly Sunday morning program on that city’s WYNY-FM.

The 30-minute interview was requested by Sam Hall, the WYNY news director and program host. [Page 26]

Iran letter refutes government's allegations[edit]

Why has no Bahá’í "spy" been arrested anywhere else in the world?

HOW COULD students, housewives, innocent young girls, and old men and women, such as those blameless Bahá’ís who have been recently delivered to the gallows in Iran, or who have become targets for the darts of prejudice and enmity, be "spies"? How could the Bahá’í farmers of the villages of Afús, Chígán, the Fort of Malak (near Isfahán), and those of the village of Núk in Birjand, be "spies"? What secret intelligence documents have been found in their possession? What espionage equipment has come to hand? What "spying" activities were engaged in by the primary school children who have been expelled from their schools?

And how strange! The honorable Prosecutor perhaps does not know, or does not care to know, that spying is an element of politics, while non-interference in politics is an established principle of the Bahá’í Faith. On the contrary, Bahá’ís love their country and never permit themselves to be traitors. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, successor of the Founder of the Bahá’í Cause, says: "Any abasement is bearable except betraying one's own country, and any sin is forgivable other than dishonoring the government and inflicting harm upon the nation."

All the other accusations made against the Bahá’ís by the honorable Prosecutor of the Revolution are similarly groundless. He brands the Bahá’í community with accusations of subversion and corruption.

For example, on the basis of a manifestly forged interview, the falsity of which has been dealt with in a detailed statement, he accuses the Bahá’í community of hoarding, an act which its members would consider highly reprehensible. The Prosecutor alleges that the Bahá’í administration sanctioned the insensible act of hoarding, yet he subtly overlooks the fact that with the proceeds that might be realized from the sale of unusable automobile spare parts whose total value is some 70 million túmáns—the value of the stock of any medium-size store for spare parts—it would be impossible to overthrow a powerful government whose daily expenditures amount to hundreds of millions of túmáns. If the Prosecutor chooses to label the Bahá’í administration as a network of espionage, let him at least consider it intelligent enough not to plan the overthrow of such a strong regime by hoarding a few spare parts!

YES, SUCH allegations of corruption and subversion are similar to those hurled against us at the time of the Episcopalian case in Isfahán when this oppressed community was accused of collaboration with foreign agents, as a result of which seven innocent Bahá’ís of Yazd were executed. Following this the falsity of the charges was made known and the Prosecutor announced the episode to be the outcome of a forgery.

Bahá’ís are accused of collecting contributions and transferring sums of money to foreign countries. How strange! If Muslims, in accordance with their sacred and respected spiritual beliefs, send millions of túmáns to Karbalá, Najaf and Jerusalem, or to other Muslim holy places outside Iran, to be spent on the maintenance and upkeep of the Islamic sacred shrines, it is considered very praiseworthy; but if a Bahá’í—even during the time in which the transfer of foreign currency was allowed—sends a negligible amount for his international community to be used for the repair and maintenance of the holy places of his faith, it is considered that he has committed an unforgivable sin and it is counted as proof that he has done so in order to strengthen other countries.

Accusations of this nature are many but all are easy to investigate. If just and impartial people and God-fearing judges will only do so, the falsity of these spurious accusations will be revealed in case after case.

The Bahá’í community emphatically requests that such accusations be investigated openly in the presence of juries composed of judges and international observers so that, once and for all, the accusations may be discredited and their repetition prevented.

The basic principles and beliefs of the Bahá’ís have been repeatedly proclaimed and set forth in writing during the past five years. Apparently these communications, either by design or by mischance, have not received any attention, otherwise accusations such as those described above would not have been repeated by one of the highest and most responsible authorities. This in itself is a proof that the numerous communications referred to were not accorded the attention of the leaders; therefore, we mention them again.

THE BAHÁ’Í Faith confesses the unity of God and the justice of the divine Essence. It recognizes that Almighty God is an exalted, unknowable and concealed entity, sanctified from ascent and descent, from egress and regress, and from assuming a physical body.

The Bahá’í Faith which professes the existence of the invisible God, the One, the Single, the Eternal, the Peerless, bows before the loftiness of His Threshold, believes in all divine Manifestations, considers all the Prophets from Adam to the Seal of the Prophets as true divine Messengers Who are the Manifestations of Truth in the world of creation, accepts Their Books as having come from God, believes in the continuation of the divine outpourings, emphatically believes in reward and punishment and, uniquely among existing revealed religions outside Islám, accepts the Prophet Muhammad as a true Prophet and the Qur’án as the Word of God.

The Bahá’í Faith embodies independent principles and laws. It has its own Holy Book. It prescribes pilgrimage and worship. A Bahá’í performs obligatory prayers and observes a fast. He gives, according to his beliefs, tithes and contributions. He is required to be of upright conduct, to manifest a praiseworthy character, to love all mankind, to be of service to the world of humanity and to sacrifice his own interests for the good and well-being of his kind. He is forbidden to commit unbecoming deeds. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says: "A Bahá’í is known by the attributes manifested by him, not by his name; he is recognized by his character, not by his person."

Shoghi Rabbani, the Guardian of the Bahá’í Cause, says: "...a person who is not adorned with the ornaments of virtue, sanctity, and morality, is not a true Bahá’í, even though he may call himself one and be known as such."

He also says: "The friends of God ... are required to be virtuous, well-wishers, forbearing, sanctified, detached from all except God and free from worldy concerns. They are called upon to manifest divine attributes and characteristics."

THE TEACHINGS and laws of the Bahá’í religion testify to this truth. Fortunately, the books and writings which have been plundered in abundance from the homes of Bahá’ís and are available to the authorities, bear witness to the truth of these assertions.

Bahá’ís, in keeping with their spiritual beliefs, stay clear of politics; they do not support or reject any party, group or nation; they do not champion or attack any ideology or specific political philosophy; they shrink from and abhor political agitation.

The Guardian of the Bahá’í Cause says, "The followers of Bahá’u’lláh under whatever state or government they reside should conduct themselves with truthfulness, fidelity, trustworthiness and absolute virtue... They neither thirst for fame nor clamor for leadership. They neither indulge in flattery, nor practice hypocrisy, nor are they impelled by selfish ambition or the desire to accumulate wealth. They are not anxious to attain high ranks and positions, nor are they the bond-slaves of titles and honors. They abhor every form of ostentation and are far removed from the use of such methods as would entail violence or coercion. They have detached themselves from all else save God and have fixed their hearts upon the unfailing promises of their Lord.... They have become forgetful of their own selves and have dedicated themselves to that which will serve the interests of humanity.... They unhesitatingly refuse such functions and posts as are political in nature, but wholeheartedly accept those that are purely administrative in character. For the cardinal aim of the people of Bahá is to promote the interests of the whole nation....

"Such is the way of the followers of Bahá, such is the attitude of the spiritually-minded, and whatsoever else is but manifest error."

Also, Bahá’ís, in accordance with their exalted teachings, are duty bound to be obedient to their government. Elucidating this subject, Shoghi Rabbani says: "The people of Bahá are required to obey their respective governments, and to demonstrate their truthfulness and good will toward the authorities. ... Bahá’ís, in every land and without any exception, should... be obedient and bow to the clear instructions and the declared decrees issued by the authorities. They must faithfully carry out such directives."

BAHÁ’Í organizations have no aim except the good of all nations and do not take any steps that are against the public good. Contrary to the conception it may create in the mind because of the similarity in name, it does not resemble the current organizations of political parties; it does not interfere in political affairs; and it is the safeguard against the involvement of Bahá’ís in subversive political activities. Its high ideals are "to improve the characters of men; to extend the scope of knowledge; to abolish ignorance and prejudice; to strengthen the foundations of true religion in all hearts; to encourage self-reliance, and discourage false imitation; ... to uphold truthfulness, audacity, frankness, and courage; to promote craftsmanship and agriculture; ... to educate, on a compulsory basis, children of both sexes; to insist on integrity in business transactions; to lay stress on the observance of honesty and piety; ... to acquire mastery and skill in the modern sciences and arts; to promote the interests of the public;... to obey outwardly and inwardly and with true loyalty the regulations enacted by state and government; ... to honor, to extol and to follow the example of those who have distinguished themselves in science and learning...." And again, "...to help the needy from every creed or sect, and to collaborate with the people of the country in all welfare services."

In brief, whatever the clergy in other religions undertake individually and by virtue of their appointment to their positions, the Bahá’í administration performs collectively and through an elective process.

The statements made by the esteemed Prosecutor of the Revolution do not seem to have legal basis, because in order to circumscribe individuals and deprive them of the rights which have not been denied them by the Constitution, it is necessary to enact special legislation, provided that legislation is not contradictory to the Constitution.

IT WAS HOPED that the past recent years would have witnessed, on the one hand, the administration of divine justice—a principle promoted by the true religion of Islám and prescribed by all monotheistic religions—and, on the other, and coupled with an impartial investigation of the truths of the Bahá’í Faith, the abolition or at least mitigation of discrimination, restrictions and pressures suffered by Bahá’ís over the past 135 years.

Alas, on the contrary, because of long-standing misunderstandings and prejudices, the difficulties increased immensely and the portals of calamity were thrown wide open in the faces of the long-suffering and sorely oppressed Bahá’ís of Iran who were, to an even greater degree, deprived of their birthrights through the systematic machinations of government officials who are supposed to be the refuge of the public, and of some impostors in the garb of divines, who engaged in official or unofficial spreading of mischievous and harmful accusations and calumnies, and issued, in the name of religious and judicial authorities, unlawful decrees and verdicts.

Many are the pure and innocent lives that have been snuffed out; many the distinguished heads that have adorned the hangman's noose; and many the precious breasts that have become the targets of firing squads. Vast amounts of money and great quantities of personal property have been plundered or confiscated. Many technical experts and learned people have been tortured and condemned to long-term imprisonment and are still languishing in dark dungeons, deprived of the opportunity of placing their expertise at the service of the government and the nation.

Numerous are the self-sacrificing employees of the government who spent their lives in faithful service but who were dismissed from work and afflicted with poverty and need because of hatred and prejudice. Even the owners of private firms and institutions were prevented from engaging Bahá’ís.

MANY privately-owned Bahá’í establishments have been confiscated. Many tradesmen have been denied the right to continue working by cancellation of their business licenses. Bahá’í youth have been denied ac- [Page 27]...cess to education in many schools and in all universities and institutions of higher education. Bahá’í university students abroad are deprived of receiving money for their education, and others who wish to pursue their studies outside of Iran have been denied exit permits.

Bahá’ís, including the very sick whose only hope for cure was to receive medical treatment in specialized medical centers in foreign lands, have been prevented from leaving the country. Bahá’í cemeteries have been confiscated and bodies rudely disinterred. Numerous have been the days when a body has remained unburied while the bereaved family pleaded to have a permit issued and a burial place assigned so that the body might be decently buried.

As of today, thousands of Bahá’ís have been divested of their homes and forced to live as exiles. Many have been driven from their villages and dwelling places and are living as wanderers and stranded refugees in other parts of Iran with no other haven and refuge but the Court of the All-Merciful God and the loving-kindness of their friends and relatives.

It is a pity that the mass media, newspapers and magazines, either do not want or are not allowed to publish any news about the Bahá’í community of Iran or to elaborate upon what is happening. If they were free to do so and were unbiased in reporting the news, volumes would have been compiled describing the inhumane cruelty to and oppression of the innocent.

FOR EXAMPLE, if they were allowed to do so, they would have written that in Shíráz seven courageous men and 10 valiant women—seven of whom were girls in the prime of their lives—audaciously rejected the suggestion of the religious judge that they recant their faith or, at least, dissemble their belief, and preferred death to the concealment of their faith. The women, after hours of waiting with dried lips, shrouded themselves in their chádurs, kissed the noose of their gallows, and with intense love offered up their souls for the One Who proffereth life.

The observers of this cruel scene might well ask forgiveness for the murderers at Karbalá, since they, despite their countless atrocities, did not put women to the sword nor harass the sick and infirm. Alas, tongues are prevented from making utterance and pens are broken and the hidden cause of these brutalities is not made manifest to teach the world a lesson.

The Prosecutor alleges that they were spies. Gracious God! Where in history can one point to a spy who readily surrendered his life in order to prove the truth of his belief?

Unfortunately, it is beyond the scope of this letter to recount the atrocities inflicted upon the guiltless Bahá’ís of Iran, or to answer, one by one, the accusations leveled against them. But let us ask all just and fair-minded people only one question: If, according to the much-publicized statements of the Prosecutor, Bahá’ís are not arrested and executed because of their beliefs, and are not even imprisoned on that account, how is it that, when a group of them is arrested and each is charged with the same "crime" of "spying," if one of them recants his belief, he is immediately freed, a photograph of him and a description of his defection are victoriously featured in the newspapers, and respect and glory are heaped upon him?

WHAT KIND of spying, subversion, illegal accumulation of goods, aggression or conspiracy, or other "crime" can it be that is capable of being blotted out upon the recantation of one's beliefs? Is this not a clear proof of the absurdity of the accusations?

In spite of all this, the Bahá’í community of Iran, whose principles have been described earlier in this statement, announces the suspension of the Bahá’í organizations throughout Iran, in order to establish its good intentions and in conformity with its basic tenets concerning complete obedience to the instructions of the government.

Henceforth, until the time when, God willing, the misunderstandings are eliminated and the realities are at last made manifest to the authorities, the National Assembly and all local Spiritual Assemblies and their committees are disbanded, and no one may any longer be designated a member of the Bahá’í administration.

The Bahá’í community of Iran hopes that this step will be considered a sign of its complete obedience to the government in power. It further hopes that the authorities—including the esteemed Prosecutor of the Islamic Revolution who says that there is no opposition to and no enmity toward individual Bahá’ís, who has acknowledged the existence of a large Bahá’í community, and has, in his interview, guaranteed its members the right to live and be free in their acts of worship—will reciprocate by proving their good intentions and the truth of their assurances by issuing orders that pledge, henceforth:

1. TO BRING to an end the persecutions, arrests, torture and imprisonment of Bahá’ís for imaginary crimes and on baseless pretexts, because God knows—and so do the authorities—that the only "crime" of which these innocent ones are guilty is that of their beliefs, and not the unsubstantiated accusations brought against them;

2. To guarantee the safety of their lives, their personal property and belongings, and their honor;

3. To accord them freedom to choose their residence and occupation and the right of association based on the provisions of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic;

4. To restore all the rights which have been taken away from them in accordance with the groundless assertions of the Prosecutor of the Country;

5. To restore to Bahá’í employees the rights denied them by returning them to their jobs and by paying them their due wages;

6. To release from prison all innocent prisoners;

7. To lift the restrictions imposed on the properties of those Bahá’ís who, in their own country, have been deprived of their belongings;

8. TO PERMIT Bahá’í students who wish to continue their studies abroad to benefit from the same facilities that are provided to others;

9. To permit those Bahá’í youth who have been prevented from continuing their studies in the country to resume their education;

10. To permit those Bahá’í students stranded abroad who have been deprived of foreign exchange facilities to receive their allowances as other Iranian students do;

11. To restore Bahá’í cemeteries and to permit Bahá’ís to bury their dead in accordance with Bahá’í burial ceremonies;

12. To guarantee the freedom of Bahá’ís to perform their religious rites; to conduct funerals and burials including the recitation of the Prayer for the Dead; to solemnize Bahá’í marriages and divorces, and to carry out all acts of worship and laws and ordinances affecting personal status; because although Bahá’ís are entirely obedient and subordinate to the government in the administration of the affairs which are in the jurisdiction of Bahá’í organizations, in matters of conscience and belief, and in accordance with their spiritual principles, they prefer martyrdom to recantation or the abandoning of the divine ordinances prescribed by their faith;

13. To desist henceforth from arresting and imprisoning anyone because of his previous membership in Bahá’í organizations.

Finally, although the order issued by the Prosecutor of the Islamic Revolution was unjust and unfair, we have accepted it. We beseech God to remove the dross of prejudice from the hearts of the authorities so that, aided and enlightened by His confirmations, they will be inspired to recognize the true nature of the affairs of the Bahá’í community and come to the unalterable conviction that the infliction of atrocities and cruelties upon a pious band of wronged ones, and the shedding of their pure blood, will stain the good name and injure the prestige of any nation or government, for what will, in truth, endure are the records of good deeds, and of acts of justice and fairness, and the names of the doers of good. These will history preserve in its bosom for posterity.

Respectfully, National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Iran

Local Outreach[edit]

Mrs. Rouhi Huddleston, a Bahá’í from McLean, Virginia, spoke August 11 in Freeport, Maine, to a group of nearly a dozen Bahá’ís and non-Bahá’ís on the plight of Bahá’ís in Iran. Mrs. Huddleston is originally from southern Iran, and some members of her family who are Bahá’ís continue to live in that country. Her talk was well-received, and a large article with a photograph appeared the next day in the local newspaper. While in Maine Mrs. Huddleston visited several communities, was interviewed on radio and by newspapers, and taped a television interview that was broadcast twice.

Bahá’í scientist informs colleagues of persecutions[edit]

Acting on a recommendation from the Universal House of Justice to acquaint prominent members of one's profession with the Bahá’í Faith, Dr. Keyvan Nazerian, a research scientist from East Lansing, Michigan, recently sent a letter detailing the persecution of Bahá’ís in Iran to a number of his colleagues in this country and abroad.

ALSO INCLUDED was a fact sheet on the nature and goals of the Faith and its world community.

The response to the letter has been uniformly positive. Here are some examples:

"Certainly, I share your moral outrage. From a minority myself, I see my own people consistently harassed and persecuted, so I would certainly stand with you in condemning such persecutions..."

"I am quite familiar with the Bahá’í movement, since I was good friends at Yale with Firuz Kazemzadeh and Howard Garey .Like you, I am appalled by the genocidal campaign against this peace-loving religious group..."

"You have my support and my deep sympathy for the Bahá’í people, and I wonder what you could do to help them and make every government more aware of what is going on in Iran..."

"Having visited Haifa and seen the beautiful Bahá’í World Centre, I was particularly disturbed to learn of the terrible persecution of the Bahá’ís (that is) taking place in Iran. I wish I knew how to be helpful other than to voice my feelings at this outrage. The world would be a better place if the Bahá’í religion were accepted universally."

"The situation is extremely upsetting, particularly, as you had pointed out to me before this all started, since the Bahá’ís are probably the most tolerant of all religions..."

"I warmly support your intentions and your protest against the atrocities committed at present against the Bahá’ís in Iran..."

"Since we became acquainted with the Bahá’ís through the Temple in Wilmette, we have had great respect for the people who embrace the Bahá’í religion ... We will send a donation to Amnesty International. I only wish we could do more than that..."

Dr. Nazerian, a member of the National Teaching Committee for the past three years and presently its chairman, is a researcher working on cancerous diseases in animals.

He is well-known and respected among his colleagues for his valuable contributions toward understanding cancers caused by viruses and for the development of the first vaccine against certain animal cancers. [Page 28]

Llamado a los Bahá’ís hacia el desarrollo mundial[edit]

A los bahá’ís del mundo

Queridos amigos bahá’ís,

Los eventos conmovedores en la tierra natal de Bahá’u’lláh y el avance concomitante de las agencias de Su Orden Administrativo al escenario de los asuntos mundiales se han combinado para hacer claramente visibles nuevas posibilidades en la evolución de la comunidad mundial bahá’í.

NUESTRO mensaje de Ridván de este año captó estas indicaciones en su referencia a la apertura ante nosotros de un horizonte más ámplio, a cuya luz pueden apenas percibirse nuevas actividades y empresas que pronto debemos comenzar. Éstas presagian nuestra mayor intervención en el desarrollo de la vida social y económica de los pueblos.

Desde el comienzo de Su estupenda misión, Bahá’u’lláh urgió a las naciones a prestar atención a la necesidad de ordenar los asuntos humanos de manera tal que se produzca un mundo unido en todos los aspectos esenciales de su vida.

En un sinnúmero de versos y tablas Él declaró repetidamente y de varias maneras que el "progreso del mundo" y el "desarrollo de las naciones" se encuentran entre las ordenanzas de Dios para este día.

La unidad de la humanidad, que es la vez el principio operativo y la meta final de Su Revelación, implica el lograr una coherencia dinámica entre los requisitos espirituales y prácticos de la vida terrenal.

La indispensabilidad de esta coherencia se ilustra inequívocamente en Su ordenación del Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, el centro espiritual de toda comunidad bahá’í alrededor del cual deben florecer dependencias dedicadas al adelanto social, humanitario, educacional y científico de la humanidad.

De esta manera podemos comprender fácilmente que, aunque hasta ahora ha sido impracticable que las instituciones bahá’ís en general enfatizen actividades de desarrollo, el concepto de desarrollo social y económico se encuentra entre las Enseñanzas sagradas de nuestra Fe.

EL AMADO Maestro, por Sus palabras y hechos iluminadores, fijó el ejemplo para la aplicación de este concepto a la reconstrucción de la sociedad. Atestiguen, por ejemplo, el gran progreso social y económico logrado por los creyentes iraníes bahá’ís bajo Su guía amorosa y, subsecuentemente, con el apoyo indefectible del Guardián de la Causa.

Ahora, luego de todos los años de contínua actividad de enseñanza, la comunidad del Más Grande Nombre ha crecido hasta llegar a la etapa en que el proceso de este desarrollo debe integrarse entre sus actividades ordinarias; se requiere acción debido especialmente a la expansión de la Fe en países del tercer mundo donde reside la vasta mayoría de sus adherentes.

Los pasos a dar deben necesariamente comenzar dentro de la comunidad bahá’í misma, con el esfuerzo de los amigos por elevarse, mediante la aplicación de principios espirituales, su rectitud de conducta y el ejercicio del arte de la consulta, y de esta manera llegar a ser autosuficientes y depender de sí mismos.

Además, estos esfuerzos conducirán a la preservación del honor humano, tan deseado por Bahá’u’lláh. En el proceso, y como consecuencia de éste, los amigos sin duda extenderán los beneficios de sus esfuerzos a la sociedad en general, hasta que toda la humanidad logre el progreso contemplado por el Señor de la Época.

Es por cierto propicio que se de atención sistemática a esta esfera vital de esfuerzo bahá’í. Nos complace por ende, anunciar el establecimiento, en el Centro Mundial, de la Oficina de Desarrollo Social y Económico, que habrá de ayudar a la Casa Universal de Justicia a promover y coordinar las actividades de los amigos en todo el mundo en este campo nuevo.

EL CENTRO Internacional de Enseñanza y, por su medio los Cuerpos Continentales de Consejeros, están listos y a la expectativa para asumir las responsabilidades especiales que recaerán sobre ellos, de estar alertos ante las posibilidades de extender el desarrollo de la vida social y económica tanto dentro como fuera de la comunidad bahá’í, y de aconsejar y alentar a las asambleas y a los amigos en sus esfuerzos.

Ahora llamamos a las asambleas espirituales nacionales a considerar lo que implica para sus comunidades respectivas esta tendencia emergente, y a adoptar medidas bien concebidas para envolver el pensamiento y las acciones de asambleas espirituales locales e individuos en el idear e implementar planes, tomando en cuenta las restricciones de las circunstancias existentes y de los recursos disponibles.

El progreso en el campo del desarrollo dependerá en gran medida de la animación e interés espontáneos a nivel local, y debe derivar su fuerza motriz de estas fuentes y no de la imposición de planes y programas desde arriba.

La tarea principal de las asambleas nacionales, por ende, es aumentar la percepción de las comunidades locales respecto de las necesidades y posibilidades, y guiar y coordinar los esfuerzos que resulten de tal percepción.

En muchas áreas los amigos ya están atestiguando las confirmaciones de sus iniciativas en actividades tales como el establecimiento de escuelas tutelares y otras, la promoción de la alfabetización, el lanzamiento de programas rurales de desarrollo, la iniciación de emisoras educacionales de radio, y la operación de proyectos agrícolas y médicos. A medida que amplien el abarque de sus esfuerzos, sin duda emergerán otras formas de desarrollo.

ESTE DESAFÍO evoca la ingeniosidad, flexibilidad y cohesión de las muchas comunidades que componen el mundo bahá’í. Diferentes comunidades, desde luego, percibirán distintos acercamientos y soluciones distintas ante necesidades similares.

Algunas pueden ofrecer ayuda al extranjero, mientras que otras, al comienzo, deben necesariamente recibir ayuda; pero todas, no obstante las circunstancias o los recursos, están dotadas de la capacidad de responder en alguna medida; todas pueden compartir; todas pueden participar en la empresa conjunta de aplicar los principios de la Fe más sistemáticamente a la elevación de la calidad de la vida humana. La clave del éxito es la unidad de espíritu y en acción.

Avanzamos con la seguridad de que la participación de todo corazón de los amigos en estas actividades habrá de asegurar una mayor consolidación de la comunidad en todos los niveles. No debe permitirse, sin embargo, que nuestra ocupación en los aspectos técnicos del desarrollo reemplaze los aspectos esenciales de la enseñanza, la cual continúa siendo el deber principal de todo seguidor de Bahá’u’lláh.

Más bien, nuestras actividades acrecentadas en el campo del desarrollo deben contemplarse como un refuerzo del trabajo de enseñanza, como una manifestación mayor de fe puesta en acción.

Porque, si no continua la expansión del trabajo de la enseñanza, no puede haber esperanza de éxito para esta dimensión ampliada del proceso de consolidación.

EN ÚLTIMO término, el llamado a la acción se dirige a los amigos individuales, sean adultos o jóvenes, veteranos o recién enrolados. Que avanzen para ocupar su lugar en la arena del servicio donde sus talentos y habilidades, su entrenamiento especializado, sus recursos materiales, sus ofertas de tiempo y energía y, sobre todo, su dedicación a principios bahá’ís puedan ser empleados para mejorar la condición de la humanidad.

Que todos deriven inspiración duradera del siguiente enunciado escrito en 1933 por la mano de nuestro amado Guardián:

"Los problemas que confrontan a los creyentes en la hora actual, sean sociales, espirituales, económicos o administrativos, serán resueltos gradualmente a medida que se multipliquen el número y los recursos de los amigos y se desarrolle su capacidad de servir y de aplicar los principios bahá’ís. Deben ser pacientes, confiados y activos al utilizar, dentro de los límites que necesariamente les son impuestos ahora, toda oportunidad posible que se presente. Que el Todopoderoso les ayude a realizar sus más elevadas aspiraciones."

Con cariñosos saludos bahá’ís,

La Casa Universal de Justicia 20 de octubre de 1983

Lamentable fallecimiento Raúl Pavón, Consejero mucho devoto Américas[edit]

LAMENTAMOS PROFUNDAMENTE PÉRDIDA SIERVO APASIONADO CAUSA BAHÁ’U’LLÁH RAÚL PAVÓN DISTINGUIDO PROMOTOR FE Y TRABAJADOR INCANSABLE EN LA ENSEÑANZA DE PUEBLOS INDÍGENAS AMÉRICA LATINA. SUS SERVICIOS SOBRESALIENTES COMO MIEMBRO CUERPO CONSEJEROS AMÉRICAS Y ESFUERZOS SINGULARES ESTABLECIMIENTO PRIMERA EMISORA BAHÁ’Í DE RADIO RECORDADOS CALUROSAMENTE. ORANDO SANTUARIOS SAGRADOS PROGRESO SU ALMA RADIANTE MUNDOS DIOS Y ALIVIO CONSUELO CARIÑOSO SU FAMILIA DOLIENTE. NOS SENTIMOS SEGUROS DE QUE SUS PADRES MUY QUERIDOS SE REGOCIJAN REINO ABHÁ ESCALA SUS SERVICIOS DEVOTOS. URGIMOS A TODAS COMUNIDADES AMÉRICAS REALIZAR REUNIONES CONMEMORATIVAS DIGNAS SUS CONTRIBUCIONES ALTAMENTE VALIOSAS AMADA FE.

CASA UNIVERSAL DE JUSTICIA 23 DE OCTUBRE DE 1983

El Camino del Sol comparte cultura indígena, Fe Bahá’í[edit]

El 27 de septiembre señaló el comienzo de una visita de un més por parte del Camino del Sol a los Estados Unidos.

El equipo que llegó a este país era uno de trés grupos de indígenas bahá’ís sudamericanos.

SU PROPÓSITO era devolver la visita hecho el año pasado a Sudamérica por dos equipos de indígenas norteamericanos, además de compartir e intercambiar sus culturas y tradiciones, y esparcir el Mensaje de Bahá’u’lláh entre sus hermanos indígenas de Centro y Norteamérica.

El esfuerzo se llevó a cabo por la cooperación del Cuerpo Continental de los Consejeros de las Américas y de catorce Asambleas Espirituales Nacionales.

Los trece miembros de los equipos se encontraron por primera vez en la Ciudad Panamá, Panamá, donde se juntaron para orientación y convivencia.

Se formaron los equipos, de los cuales un grupo de cinco se quedó en Centroamérica, otro de cuatro viajaron hacia Canadá y Alaska, y el tercer equipo de cuatro salió rumbo hacia los Estados Unidos.

Los bahá’ís que llegaron a Tucson, Arizona, el 26 de septiembre representaban a trés grupos de indígenas sudamericanos: los Mapuches de Chile, los Quechuas de Bolivia, y los Kunas de las Islas San Blas de Panamá.

Las actividades del equipo variaron según las circunstancias, pero siempre se mencionó la Fe Bahá’í, aun de manera indirecta.

DURANTE las reuniones con miembros de varios consejos tribales era posible hablar de la Fe extensamente en cuanto a su relación a las tradiciones y profecias del pueblo indígena.

Entrevistas para la radio, la televisión y los periódicos ofrecieron una oportunidad semejante ya que los entrevistadores y periodistas mostraron mucho interés en el propósito de la gira y la organización patrocinadora.

Durante numerosas reuniones públicas en las cuales el equipo hizo su presentación, se entremezcló el Mensaje de la Fe y su cumplimiento de profecias indígenas con la cultura, bailes, música y cuentos.

El hecho de que el Camino del Sol vino desde Sudamérica tuvo mucho significado para muchos de los pueblos visitados; recordaron los cuentos de sus antepasados cuando en una época en el pasado no existian fronteras, y tales visitas eran muy comunes y corrientes,

Más importante aún, recordaron que la reanudación de esas visitas señalaría la renovación de su civilización.

Esta esperanza y el interés general en la visita de los hermanos del sur abrieron puertas que antes se encontraban cerradas para la comunidad bahá’í no indígena.

EN MUCHOS lugares forjaron lazos que nunca se quebrarán. Aún los que no lograron captar en Mensaje se encontraron [Page 29]

World NEWS[edit]

As a result of teaching initiated by two Bahá’ís, the number of Bahá’ís in Thailand’s Phanat Nikhom refugee camp now stands at close to 100.

The first to become a Bahá’í at the camp, a Cambodian student who came to Thailand about eight years ago, had been told by fellow refugees that his ideas resembled those of the Bahá’í Faith. After a long search, he finally found the Faith through an English teacher at the camp.

After enrolling he began to teach others, and, as he later learned, on the same day last June that the martyrs were hanged in Shiraz, Iran, 50 of those he was teaching suddenly decided to become Bahá’ís.

The Bahá’í ‎is s‎ in that camp began visiting another camp across the road, and by August there were eight new Bahá’ís there, most of whom are Laotians ...

Some 2,219 women in 187 villages in Uttar Pradesh, India, declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh last July during a teaching campaign aimed especially toward women.

Most of the new declarants are the wives, daughters or mothers of Bahá’ís ...

The Bahá’í float in the 1983 Aloha Week parade in Honolulu, Hawaii, received the Mayor’s Award designating first place in the non-commercial division.

It was the 15th award for the Bahá’ís in 17 years of participation in the parade ...

Sixteen people who were attending a week-long Bahá’í Summer School last August in Dominica declared their belief in Bahá’u’lláh.

One of the new believers was the minister of an important church on Dominica ...

Two hundred-thirty youth from 38 communities in Brazil attended a National Youth Conference last July 15-17 in Salvador ...

A Bahá’í professor at Kenyatta University College in Nairobi, Kenya, has been invited to present a one-year course on the Faith 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 Timonde Tutorial School, established two years ago by the Spiritual Assembly of Timonde, Ghana, has been absorbed into the public school system of the area’s educational district.

“We have therefore the first Bahá’í primary school in the country at Timonde in the Upper East,” reports the National Spiritual Assembly of Ghana ...

Louhelen School schedules intensive course on Islam[edit]

An intensive course on Islam will be held December 26-31 at the Louhelen Bahá’í School.

The course, to be taught by Linda Walbridge of Escanaba, Michigan, will focus on “the age of ignorance” before Islam; the life of Muhammad; the major women in Islam and the effect Islam has had on women throughout the ages; how Islam expanded following the death of the Prophet, the direction it took, and the formation of an Islamic society under Umar; how the early Muslims chose their leaders, and how Islam was divided into Sunni and Shi’ah sects.

The group, which will be limited to the first 25 people who register, will meet for about five hours each day, and students will be given daily assignments.

Mrs. Walbridge, a psychologist and author, earned a master’s degree in psychology at the American University in Beirut. Her first novel, about the life of a fictitious companion of Muhammad, will be published next year.

Those who wish to register for the course may send a non-refundable $10 deposit to the registrar, Louhelen Bahá’í School, 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423 (phone 313-653-5033).

Martha[edit]

Continued From Page 4

the Cradle of the Faith, and in his soul-stirring cables after her passing, the reader gains some understanding of that selfless self that took on such sublime lustre in getting out of the way and letting Bahá’u’lláh’s Light shine through.

All of the imagery of a “frail,” “dowdy,” “gray” woman who manages to learn the spiritual trick of tuning in to spiritual realms fades into nothingness before the Guardian’s overwhelming tributes: “The Pure Leaf, the illustrious teacher, the sign of detachment, the torch of love and affection, the example of courage and faithfulness, the consolation of the people of Bahá ...”

Perhaps the anti-Bahá’í propaganda in an Iranian newspaper claiming that Martha Root was “a daughter of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá” in disguise is not far from the truth after all!

No Bahá’í can read this biography without weeping those tears that will water his or her own soul.

ARCHIVES MANUAL ORDER FORM[edit]

The Guidelines for Bahá’í Archives (59 pages) covers in detail the organization and functioning of a Bahá’í Archives. It is highly suitable for communities faced with the need to organize a local archives. Price $7.50.

TO ORDER: Send this form with a check for $7.50 per copy made payable to “National Bahá’í Services Fund” to:

National Bahá’í Archives

Bahá’í National Center

Wilmette, IL 60091

For overseas orders add $4.50 per copy for air mail or $2.00 per copy for surface mail.

Please send me ____ copies of Guidelines for Bahá’í Archives. I am enclosing a check for $____.

Name ___________________________________________________________

Address ________________________________________________________

City _________________________ State __________ Zip _____________

Camino del Sol[edit]

De Pág. 28

inexplicablemente atraídos hacia los miembros del equipo, y pidieron permiso para acompañarles a otras reservaciones cercanas. Siempre que hubo lugar estos nuevos amigos viajaban con el equipo.

Es imposible medir el impacto total del Camino del Sol en la enseñanza de la Fe a los indígenas de este país en el momento. Tal vez una vislumbre del verdadero valor de su contribución se puede encontrar en el carácter y los resultados de varios encuentros en el camino.

En los próximos dos números del American Bahá’í seguiremos al Camino del Sol desde Tucson hasta Neah Bay, Washington.

Nos enteraremos de la devoción del equipo y de los que les acompañaron como traductores y organizadores, la generosidad de espíritu de los indígenas norteamericanos, y de las comunidades, instituciones y comités Bahá’ís que ayudaron a que esta gira fuera posible.

Más importante, ‎no nos‎ enteraremos del lecho de roca que se ha construido, y sobre lo cual debemos edificar si queremos compartir el Mensaje de Bahá’u’lláh con los habitantes originales de este continente.

Can you identify anyone in this picture?[edit]

The Archives would like the names of the three charming women in this picture. It is not known when or where the picture was taken. Anyone with any information to offer is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Archives seeks copies of Bahá’í books[edit]

The National Bahá’í Archives Committee is seeking copies of the following books, in good or excellent condition:

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London (paper, 1912); Foundations of World Unity (cloth, 1927 and 1945); Paris Talks (cloth, 1912, 1951, 1961, 1969); Paris Talks (paper, 1912, 1951, 1961); Some Answered Questions (cloth, 1937).

Anyone who is able to donate any of these books is asked to contact the National Bahá’í Archives, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

FROM BEHIND THE VEIL[edit]

a gripping novel about Ṭáhirih for all ages—

by KATHLEEN JEMISON DEMAS

New flashes of understanding (along with drama and suspense) illuminate the life of the foremost Bábí heroine and remind you of what it is like to see, but not from behind a veil.

Softcover pocket edition 121 pages, glossary, list of characters Catalog No. 332-108 $2.50*

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 30]

Letters[edit]

Continued From Page 3 foreign land with practically no income. Looking backward, the risks appear frightening, but God walked with us.

After Miss Bailey’s passing, the Hand of the Cause of God Leroy Ioas wrote to us about her spirit of sacrifice.

On one occasion, he said, he had mentioned to her that contributions for the Temple Fund were inadequate. She offered at once to donate $1,000 that she had set aside for burial expenses, remarking that her remains could be laid to rest in a potter’s field. She made the same contribution more than once.

After her passing, the Guardian appointed the three American members of the Tripoli Bahá’í community to choose a design to be placed ultimately on her tombstone, and he said he wanted personally to bear the cost of erecting that monument.

The design, by Knight of Bahá’u’lláh Fawzi Zaynu’l-Abidin, was sent to Haifa; its utilization must await future developments.

By going to Africa, Ella Bailey had achieved the rank of martyr, had shed luster on the annals of American Bahá’í history, and had sanctified the soil of Africa. When she died, the Guardian cabled:

“Grieve passing valiant exemplary pioneer. Reward (in) Kingdom bountiful.”

Robert L. Gulick Jr. Glendale, Arizona

To the Editor:[edit]

I would like to express my feelings about the spiritual training of children and at the same time, mention and quote from a letter in the January 1983 Bahá’í National Review that gives guidance from the Universal House of Justice concerning the proper behavior of children.

THE LETTER, addressed to the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada, says “children should be trained to understand the spiritual significance of the gatherings of the followers of the Blessed Beauty, and to appreciate the honor and bounty of being able to take part in them, whatever their outward form may be.

“It is realized that some Bahá’í observances are lengthy and it is difficult for very small children to remain quiet for so long. In such cases one or the other of the parents may have to miss part of the meeting in order to care for the child.

“The Spiritual Assembly can also perhaps help the parents by providing for a children’s observance, suited to their capacities, in a separate room during part of the community’s observance. Attendance at the whole of the adult celebration thus becomes a sign of growing maturity and a distinction to be earned by good behavior ...”

My feeling is that children have the natural spiritual capacity to appreciate the Bahá’í prayers and music and should be given the chance to participate in these things.

Being able to participate and being given the chance to show his parents that he can not only behave but appreciate the beautiful writings that his parents so love builds a strong bond of family unity.

I FEEL that the expectations of those around the child, especially his parents, also influence the child’s behavior.

If we expect a child to be able to behave, the child senses that positive expectation and will act on it.

It seems also that the primary responsibility for a child’s spiritual education, which includes his training and behavior, rests upon the child’s parents.

If the meeting is a lengthy adult deepening or talk, it is understandable that the children might have a hard time keeping quiet and should be provided with children’s classes to help them grow spiritually and increase their knowledge of the Bahá’í teachings.

The ultimate goal, however, seems to be “to understand the spiritual significance of the gatherings of the followers of the Blessed Beauty, and to appreciate the honor and bounty of being able to take part in them, whatever their outward form may be.”

This also involves the expectations of non-parents that children are indeed capable of developing and manifesting the spiritual attributes of “courtesy, consideration for others, reverence, and obedience to parents.”

I would like to close with a quotation from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in “Bahá’í Education: A Compilation” (p. 23): “Among the safeguards of the Holy Faith is the training of children, and this is among the weightiest of principles in all the Divine Teachings.”

While the parents have the primary responsibility for this spiritual duty, the entire community and the body of believers as a whole should be supportive of the goal.

Penny Boivin Tuba City, Arizona

To the Editor:[edit]

Having read much of the dialogue in “letters to the editor” since the article on “True Feminism” appeared last March, I find that everyone seems to be overlooking the obvious.

Women, in our society, have been and continue to be the “primary trainers of children.” What we need to be concerned about, as Bahá’ís, is the disturbing fact that the average father in America spends less than five minutes a day alone with his children!

Surely, this kind of “absentee fathering” is responsible for many of the problems ‎today’s ,children today’s children‎ will encounter in later life.

In the final analysis, we must acknowledge that children are the joint responsibility of both parents.

Christina Reid-Yaseen Park Forest, Illinois

To the Editor:[edit]

For some time now I have watched with increasing horror and dismay as the letters to The American Bahá’í have degenerated into little better than well-written efforts at mudslinging.

It is the unalterable right of every avowed believer in Bahá’u’lláh to express himself or herself; however, with this right goes the responsibility and/or obligation to couch opinions in the most patient, understanding and loving terms.

We must not forget this injunction of the Blessed Beauty: “Beware, beware lest ye offend any heart,” or this admonition of the Master: “It behooveth all the beloved of God to become as one, to gather together under the protection of a single flag, to stand for a uniform body of opinion, to follow one and the same pathway, to hold fast to a single resolve. Let them forget their divergent theories and put aside their conflicting views since, God be praised, our purpose is one. We are servants of one threshold, we are all gathered in the shade of the same high Tabernacle, we are all sheltered under one celestial Tree.” (Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp. 230-31)

The love for and devotion to each other that first attracted me to the Faith eight years ago I now observe less and less, and when I do see love between the friends as I used to, I am so overcome with joy that my eyes fill with tears and I am revitalized in my belief that this sacred Cause will work and does work after all.

Friends, let us not be so in tune to our own petty feelings and beliefs that we lose sight of our true purpose: to know and to love God and carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.

Lawrence A. Nylin Frederick, Maryland

To the Editor:[edit]

In the August issue of The American Bahá’í there appeared a letter which remarked on the subtle superiority felt by some Bahá’ís and pointed out that we have no monopoly on love.

It was a challenging letter, and I was transfixed as I read it, for I could hear an echo of some of my own thoughts and experiences.

I COULD not, therefore, resist the desire to share some of my own reflections on the matters raised.

As Bahá’ís, we have many diverse ideas about the writings. But we do not have the exact grasp that the Authors, in their infallibility, do.

None of us is Bahá’u’lláh, or ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, or the Guardian. That is why the writings will be as necessary at the close of this dispensation as they are now, and why we have the God-ordained institutions that must grow and guide us.

We are destined to have world peace but with standing armies to secure the nations.

We will have a world tribunal but also a need for that body to settle the problems and disputes that arise between states.

We have laws for now and forever but with sanctions for lawbreakers.

WE WILL become as a race more humane and achieve spiritual heights never before known to man, but we will, after all, still be humans.

If we were capable of absolute perfection there would be no need for another Manifestation of God such as we are promised will appear after our ‎millenium millennium‎.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá described religion (Some Answered Questions, pp. 84-86) as having a spring, summer, autumn and winter in each dispensation. So it shall be with us.

These signs of our human condition point out to us how we must be humble in our understanding of the scriptures.

We have a unique instrument in

See LETTERS Page 32

On Saturday, September 10, the Bahá’ís of Cambridge and youth from the greater Boston area braved 90-degree heat and spent the afternoon cleaning Central Square in Cambridge as a public service. The square, situated in a working class neighborhood between Harvard and MIT, is heavily used and often littered. Several residents expressed surprise that the Bahá’ís, who wore Bahá’í T-shirts, were not being paid for the service. This photo of the young Bahá’ís and their ‘litter bags’ appeared in the Cambridge Chronicle shortly after the event.

On September 26, the Bahá’ís of Miami, Florida, presented a copy of To Move the World, the biography of the Hand of the Cause of God Louis Gregory, to Garth C. Reeves Sr. (left), editor and publisher of The Miami Times. Making the presentation are Mrs. Phyllis Valle, chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Miami, and the Assembly’s treasurer, George Savitt, who has been a Times columnist for 25 years, writing under the pen name ‘Phil Ossofer.’ The Miami Assembly is observing its 50th anniversary this year. [Page 31]

Ten years ago... in The American Bahá’í[edit]

The Universal House of Justice announces that the next global teaching Plan, to be launched at Ridván 1974, will be in effect for five years, making it shorter in duration than any of the four Plans carried out so far.

In a letter outlining the goals of the Plan, the Supreme Body calls upon National Spiritual Assemblies to arrange for conferences and meetings with the Counsellors to consult on its directives, plans which have already been set in motion by the U.S. National Assembly.

The National Assembly decides that the Five Year Plan is to be launched in the U.S. at a large conference August 29-September 1, 1974, in St. Louis, Missouri...

The National Teaching Committee sets winter teaching campaigns for high school and college Bahá’í Clubs to help win the goals for this interim year and to prepare Bahá’í youth for the challenges of the next global teaching Plan.

The committee asks all campus clubs to consider circuit teaching during vacation periods up to April 1974...

About 250 Bahá’ís attend a regional conference in Columbia, South Carolina, that is sponsored by the Southern Regional Teaching Committee.

The speakers include Counsellor Sarah Martin Pereira; Auxiliary Board members Elizabeth Martin, Jane McCants and Nancy Phillips, and a former Counsellor, Dr. William Maxwell.

The conference, which marks the end of a five-month teaching and consolidation campaign, has as its theme "Universal Participation" ...

Sixty Bahá’ís attend a two-day camp-out in Iowa to study the Comprehensive Deepening Program.

The study session, which is organized by the Spiritual Assembly of Iowa City, is held at Palisades-Kepler State Park ...

More than 150 people attend a special program that marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Spiritual Assembly of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The speakers include Charlotte Linfoot, assistant secretary of the National Spiritual Assembly; and Beula Brown and Dr. Loftin Clark, both of whom served as members of the first Spiritual Assembly of Milwaukee ...

About 125 Bahá’ís from three states participate in a media conference in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Arthur J. Schulte, one of first Kansas Bahá’ís, dead at 78[edit]

Arthur J. Schulte, a Bahá’í for 39 years who was one of the first believers in Kansas, died September 2 in Topeka. He was 78 years old.

Mr. Schulte had served as a member of the Spiritual Assembly of Topeka at various times since 1943, when he and his wife Cora, also a Bahá’í, moved to that city from rural Shawnee County to help save the Assembly, which was then in jeopardy.

Throughout their years in Topeka, Mr. and Mrs. Schulte contributed generously to various teaching projects.

Mr. Schulte was born March 9, 1905, in Peoria, Illinois. He worked for the Santa Fe Railway from 1920 until his retirement in 1970.

Surviving, besides his wife, are three sons (one of whom is a Bahá’í), two sisters, one brother, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In its message of condolence to Mr. Schulte's family, the National Spiritual Assembly referred to him as a "staunch believer and devoted servant of the Blessed Beauty ..."

Sylvia Ioas, devoted servant of Cause, dies in Maryland[edit]

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 ABHA KINGDOM. URGE NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES HOLD BEFITTING MEMORIAL SERVICES.

UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE AUGUST 25, 1983

SYLVIA K. IOAS

Sylvia Kuhlman Ioas, the widow of the Hand of the Cause of God Leroy C. Ioas and his companion and helper through the many years of their marriage, died August 24 in Olney, Maryland. She was 87 years old.

Mrs. Ioas was residing in the Holy Land with her husband when, in May 1955, the beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, appointed her a member of the International Bahá’í Council, which served as the forerunner of the Universal House of Justice.

Following Mr. Ioas' passing in 1965, she returned to the U.S. and spent the last 18 years of her life in this country.

Mrs. Ioas is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Anita Ioas Chapman of Alexandria, Virgina, and three grandchildren. Another daughter, Farrukh, died in 1960.

Ads[edit]

Sherwood's mild climate is moderated by the on-shore flow of the Pacific Ocean. If you would like to consider moving to Sherwood, please contact the Spiritual Assembly of Washington County, P.O. Box 255, Beaverton, OR 97075, or phone 503-645-2629.

THE NATIONAL Bahá’í Archives Committee has started an oral history project to collect personal reminiscences of Bahá’ís. Anyone who has copies, either taped or written, of personal recollections or who can interview Bahá’ís is asked to write to the National Bahá’í Archives Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091.

In Memoriam[edit]

Samuel Allen Fort Gibson, MS September 30, 1983

Gertrude Ambrose Beverly Hills, CA October 11, 1983

Jeffrey Bailey Palm Springs, FL August 24, 1983

James E. Beane Lincroft, NJ July 1982

Thelma Cawood Jersey City, NJ October 24, 1983

George Davson East Orange, NJ June 1983

Doris Jackson Rock Island, IL October 1983

Floyd Lahr W. Hollywood, CA September 10, 1983

Arlena Lucas Wake Forest, NC Spring 1981

David Maynard Burns, OR July 1983

Andrew McAleece North Fork, CA October 18, 1983

Catherine Minute Wake Forest, NC 1979

George Morgan Chula Vista, CA March 1981

Ophelia Nichols Englewood, NJ Date Unknown

Donnie Payne Powell Butte, OR 1978

Milton Richardson John Day, OR Date Unknown

May Verhoeven W. Sacramento, CA October 4, 1983

Calvin Weary Bogalusa, LA 1979

Gloria Westerby Mt. Morris, MI Date Unknown.

Robert Williams Dousman, WI October 22, 1983

Maude E. Young Wake Forest, NC 1981

Announcements[edit]

HOMEFRONT pioneers! Please call home! We know you are out there, but many of you have forgotten to give us your new addresses. Let us know you are at your post so we may count you as homefront pioneers. Please phone or write. Love, the National Teaching Committee, Wilmette, IL 60091 (312-869-9039, x235).

CHILDREN’S teachers who wish to teach at the Louhelen Bahá’í School during June, July or August are asked to send a letter indicating what ages they would like to teach and a resumé of their teaching experience to the school at 3208 S. State Road, Davison, MI 48423. Also welcomed are applications from those who are interested in serving as child education director for the summer.

YOUR Bahá’í story is still needed. There is still time to submit the story of how you became a Bahá’í—what attracted you, what you were feeling and thinking, what you heard or saw or read, what made it harder or easier, what barriers had to be overcome. Many excellent stories have been received, but more are needed for the first volume of a compilation to be published in 1985. Please send your typed, double-spaced manuscript with a signed note giving permission to edit and publish, and a permanent address, to Randie Gottlieb, P.O. Box 714, Camuy, Puerto Rico 00627, U.S.A.

GOING to the Youth Conference in Orlando? Stop in Tallahassee for a week-long intensive teaching program December 17-28! For more details contact Steve Gardner, 904-575-3491.

THIS HOUSE has held a lot of love, seen a few tears, had lots of laughter, and we quit counting kids and Bahá’ís years ago. Now we're 65, retired, and moving from Overland Park, Kansas, to Brazil to begin a new career: pioneering for the Faith. We'd like to sell the house (no, that's the wrong word)—we'd like to sell our home to someone who will appreciate and carry on the tradition of love and laughter and living—really living—that permeates the very walls of this lovely place. The memories we'll take with us, but the joy, the friends, the beauty that surrounds it on all sides—that we'll leave for you to enjoy. Oh, gosh, I think I just sold it—to me! I wish... Well, please phone Jim or Margaret Walker, 913-648-4998... and be gentle!

ENGINEERS are needed in South Africa, primarily in the areas of chemical, mechanical, civil, metallurgical, agricultural and mining engineering. Also, jobs related to mining, professional or otherwise, are often in demand. Pioneers are especially needed in the homeland areas. Contact the International Goals Committee, Bahá’í National Center, Wilmette, IL 60091, or phone 312-869-9039.

HOMEFRONT pioneers: If you are moving to the New York or Philadelphia metropolitan areas, please consider living in New Jersey, where there are several Groups and two jeopardized Assemblies that could use your help. For more information contact the District Teaching Committee of New Jersey, c/o Richard Tomarelli, secretary, Woodstown, NJ 08098.

"There can be no limit to one's contributions..." National Bahá’í Fund Wilmette, IL 60091 [Page 32]

Letters[edit]

(Continued From Page 30)

the Covenant that has remained intact. It is perhaps our consciousness of the bond we sense with one another under the unbroken strand of history of the Covenant that leads us to speak of “Bahá’í love.”

I BELIEVE that “Bahá’í love” does mean something special, but we do ourselves a disservice when we set it apart from love in general.

There can be aspects of love, but as the writer states, never a partitioning of love. Otherwise, what would hold us together with mankind or the rest of the universe?

The writer correctly says that no faith has a monopoly on love. Indeed, I have seen some churches manage a loving atmosphere superior to some Bahá’í communities.

The letter mentions walls that some Bahá’ís erect. I think some of that has to do with how one believes that he (she) is a Bahá’í and is therefore not supposed to be prejudiced, and should be a warm, loving and concerned person.

So in an effort to be “Bahá’í,” he convinces himself that he is not prejudiced and is a warm, loving and concerned person.

BUT this is often a presumption that is made irrespective of one’s gut reactions in real situations. It is a false self-perception that overlooks the long, arduous path of growing to genuinely be that way.

This failing can make us susceptible to being smug about ourselves and about having answers to problems the rest of the world doesn’t have.

If we suspect that we are smug, we need only recall that our understanding will never duplicate that of the Authors of our holy writings.

That is why even local and Secondary Houses of Justice will have an appeals system, and only the Universal House of Justice stands as infallible.

The letter maintains that race is an illusion, an excellent and true point, as anthropology has never successfully drawn hard distinctions between the races.

BUT past and modern cultures are deeply ingrained with the habit of making physical distinctions. Our thoughts, behavior and language put us in context that makes the subject impractical to handle in any other way.

We cannot be color-blind, lest the flowers of God’s garden be rendered colorless.

There really are “black” people and “white” people and “brown,” etc., just as there are blondes, brunettes, dwarfs, and those who are physically handicapped.

What requires attention is our fear and suspicion and our outmoded habit of partitioning people. The supreme spiritual test will be, and is, bringing about a change in ourselves, our culture, our vocabulary and thoughts that will eventually reflect more purely the principle of one mankind.

I anticipate that others will reply to the letter, and some may even write strongly worded letters such as others I have seen in The American Bahá’í.

But the letter has points that are worth patient perusal and thought. If the tone is interpreted as objectionable, perhaps we should see it as an expression of frustration, and who in our beloved Faith has not felt that?

We are only 20th century Bahá’ís. We have a minimum of 880 years in which to improve ourselves before the millennium ends. Meanwhile, we should, I think, be patient and loving toward each other.

D. Llewellyn Drong

Bozeman, Montana

To the Editor:

I was enlightened, amused and cheered by the collection of letters (June) under the headline “Opinions in letters should not be so ‘personal.’...”

First, may I say that it is heartening to see the friends rushing to each other’s defense. We may well be in need of this spirit before long.

HOWEVER, as the author of one of the letters in question, I feel the need to respond to the suggestions and remarks.

Whenever I or anyone else write a letter to The American Bahá’í and the letter is published—with name and address attached—the ideas expressed in the letter are left wide open for discussion and remarks. That, as they say, is the nature of the beast.

Do we want this another way? What other way is there to do this?

Second, we need to ask: are we engaged in consultation here? Surely, many of the rules of consultation apply—especially the need to “let go” of our ideas.

That’s fine, but if someone disagrees with my idea, have I been personally attacked? Am I mature enough to realize that this isn’t necessarily the case?

Part of the “absolute freedom” to express our opinions lies in the answer to that question. It needs also to be realized that, since we are dealing with these issues in “slow motion,” as it were, the result of our public searching is more readily visible.

IT IS shared by all of us; therefore, if some of us become a bit more than warm to our subject, it appears to be an attack. But there is a difference between attack and disagreement.

On the other side of this, many of the ideas and concerns expressed have bases in the sacred Scriptures; these cannot be ignored. They are, after all, the basis of what we profess to believe.

We must encourage one another, rather than seek to “put down” another. I would venture the hope that my letter, in response to the initial opinion, contained such encouragement.

In sum, I hope the friends might realize that when an opinion is offered, discussion is bound to ensue, and that that discussion should be carried out in a spirit of love, kindness and encouragement.

We need to understand the difference between discussion of an idea, disagreement with that idea, and attack—personal or not.

Martin R. Flick

San Mateo, California

To the Editor:

I recently happened across a bit of common sense from one of our country’s political leaders, who, for obvious reasons, shall remain nameless. He said, in part:

“We have 10,000 strategic weapons right now, each one infinitely more powerful than the one that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945. How ... can anyone argue that we are one bit safer if, instead of 10,000 warheads, we have 15,000?

“Let us suppose the Russians double their warheads. If the Russians want to commit economic suicide by doubling their nuclear force, let them do it. Because they are not going to be one whit stronger if they do that, nor are we going to be one whit weaker.

“If either side uses nuclear weapons, we are all going to die anyway. We’re all going to die with 20,000 warheads just as surely as we’re all going to die with 10,000 warheads.”

It is heartening to see members of the Bahá’í community participating in such events as the “march on Washington” (The American Bahá’í, October 1983, p. 1) to counter what Glenford Mitchell has referred to as the increasing tendency of American believers to isolate themselves from the rest of society.

Is it too radical to suggest that we also offer our prayers and service in order that the U.S. might be the first country on earth to stop making these ghastly weapons, the threatened use of which is doing so much real damage to the life and spirit of this planet, Bahá’ís included?

Philip H. Costa

Lubbock, Texas

To the Editor:

Having followed with interest the ongoing debate regarding motherhood vs. career, I now find it necessary to add my own comments.

First, one writer stated that breast feeding is desirable for its contraceptive effect as well as for the bonding it affords.

WHILE I doubt that anyone would deny the benefits of bonding given by successful breast feeding, no one should depend upon it for reliable contraception.

It is true that breast feeding retards the conception rate. It does not, however, prevent conception. Those who for economic, physical, or emotional reasons wish to limit their fertility must necessarily use other methods.

Second, much of what an infant learns about loving and trusting is learned by example and through the emotional climate surrounding him/her, especially during the first year.

If this climate can be maintained by a full-time mother, good. If, however, the mother is highly educated and trained, and accustomed to working outside the home, the “joys” of full-time motherhood can quickly turn to depression, resentment, and even rejection of the child.

If this happens, then it seems to me much more desirable for the child to be placed in an excellent day care facility, and for the woman to resume her career.

The quality of time spent with the child thus improves, because the woman’s interests and needs for achievement are largely met outside the nuclear family.

In the Bahá’í Faith, women are encouraged to be educated. Furthermore, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states that society will not attain its potential until women are represented equally in the sciences and the arts.

Because these admonitions are laid upon us, no less than the role of motherhood, it seems to me that motherhood and a career can and should be complementary.

In our roles as mothers and workers, and as active builders of an “ever-advancing civilization,” the role models we present and the personal happiness we achieve and foster in our families are every bit as valid and important as those of the full-time mother.

Barbara Smith-Townsend

San Antonio, Texas

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